Cyclura nubila

The Cuban rock iguana ("Cyclura nubila"), also known as the Cuban ground iguana or Cuban iguana, is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the second largest of the West Indian rock iguanas (genus "Cyclura"), one of the most endangered groups of lizards. A herbivorous species with red eyes, a thick tail, and spiked jowls, it is one of the largest lizards in the Caribbean.
The Cuban iguana is distributed throughout the rocky southern coastal areas of mainland Cuba and its surrounding islets with a feral population thriving on Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico. A subspecies is found on the Cayman Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Females guard their nest sites and often nest in sites excavated by Cuban crocodiles. As a defense measure, the Cuban iguana often makes its home within or near prickly-pear cacti.
Although the wild population is in decline because of predation by feral animals and habitat loss caused by human agricultural development, the numbers of iguanas have been bolstered as a result of captive-breeding and other conservation programs. "Cyclura nubila" has been used to study evolution and animal communication, and its captive-breeding program has been a model for other endangered lizards in the Caribbean.
Taxonomy.
John Edward Gray, the British zoologist who first described the species in 1831 as "Iguana (Cyclura) nubila" or "Clouded Guana", gave it the specific name "nubila", Latin for "cloudy".
The closest relatives of "Cyclura nubila" are the Grand Cayman blue iguana ("Cyclura lewisi") and the Northern Bahamian rock iguana ("Cyclura cychlura"); phylogenetic analysis indicates that these three species diverged from a common ancestor three million years ago.
"Cyclura nubila" was previously considered to have three subspecies, the Grand Cayman blue iguana (termed "Cyclura nubila lewisi"), the Lesser Caymans iguana ("Cyclura nubila caymanensis"), and the nominate Cuban subspecies ("Cyclura nubila nubila"). This classification was revised after later mitochondrial DNA analysis and research into the scalation patterns on the heads of Caribbean iguanid lizards (these patterns are unique by species and act as a "fingerprint" of sorts). The Grand Cayman blue iguana is now recognized as a separate species.
Anatomy and morphology.
The Cuban iguana is a large lizard, only beat out in size by the rhinoceros iguana on Hispaniola; it has an average body length of from snout to vent (the base of the tail). On rare occasions, individual males with lengths of when measured from the snout to the tip of the tail have been recorded at the wildlife sanctuary within the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (GTMO), Cuba with females being two thirds that size. The species is sexually dimorphic: males are much larger than females, and males have enlarged femoral pores on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones to attract mates and mark territory. The skin of male Cuban iguanas ranges in color from dark gray to brick red, whereas that of females is olive green with dark stripes or bands. In both sexes, limbs are black with pale brown oval spots and solid black feet. Young animals tend to be dark brown or green with faint darker striping or mottling in five to ten diagonal transverse bands on the body. These bands blend in with the body color as the iguana ages. Both sexes possess a dewlap (skin hanging below the neck) and a row of spines running down their back to their thick tail. Their heads and necks are short and stout, their teeth are solid and broad, and they have powerful jaw muscles. Their jowls, which grow larger as the animal ages, are covered in spiky protuberances called tubercles.
The Cuban iguana's eyes have a golden iris and red sclera. Cuban iguanas have excellent vision and the ability to detect shapes and movement at long distances. Sensory cells called "double cones" give them sharp color vision and enable them to see ultraviolet wavelengths. By seeking out locations with more ultraviolet sunlight to bask in, the Cuban iguana optimizes vitamin D production. Cuban iguanas have poor low-light vision, because they have few rods or photoreceptor cells. Like other iguanids, Cuban iguanas have a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads, called the parietal eye. This "eye" has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images, but it is sensitive to changes in light and can detect movement.
Diet.
Like all "Cyclura" species, the Cuban iguana is primarily herbivorous; 95% of its diet consists of the leaves, flowers and fruits from as many as 30 plant species, including the seaside rock shrub ("Rachicallis americana"), thistle, prickly pear ("Opuntia stricta"), black mangrove ("Avicennia germinans"), red mangrove ("Rhizophora mangle"), olives, and various grasses. Aiding in the digestion of this high-cellulose diet, colonies of nematodes occupy 50% of the contents of Cuban iguanas' large intestines. Cuban iguanas occasionally consume animal matter, and individuals have been observed scavenging the corpses of birds, fish and crabs. Researchers on Isla Magueyes observed a single episode of cannibalism in 2006 when an adult female iguana chased, caught, and ate a hatchling. The researchers wrote that the dense population on Isla Magueyes could have caused this incident.
Like other herbivorous lizards, the Cuban iguana is presented with a problem for osmoregulation: plant matter contains more potassium and has less nutritional content per gram than meat so more must be eaten to meet the lizard's metabolic needs. Unlike those of mammals, reptile kidneys cannot concentrate urine to save on water intake. Instead, reptiles excrete toxic nitrogenous wastes as solid uric acid through their cloaca. In the case of the Cuban iguana, which consumes large amounts of vegetation, these excess salt ions are excreted through the salt gland in the same manner as in birds.
Mating and behavior.
Cuban iguanas reach sexual maturity at an age of two to three years. Males are gregarious when immature, but become more aggressive as they age, vigorously defending territories in competition for females. Females are more tolerant of each other, except after laying their eggs.
Mating occurs in May and June, and females lay single clutches of three to 30 eggs in June or July. According to field research, females deposit their eggs at the same nesting sites each year. The nests are built near each other as suitable nesting sites are becoming rare. On Cuba's Isla de la Juventud, Cuban iguanas nest in pockets of earth exposed to the sun by Cuban crocodiles, after the crocodiles' eggs have hatched. These nests are separate from where adult iguanas live. In areas without crocodiles, the iguanas excavate nests in sandy beaches. At the San Diego Zoo, a female built a nest at the end of a long chamber she excavated in the sand. She stood near it for weeks, defending it by shaking her head and hissing at anyone who approached; this behavior demonstrated that Cuban iguanas guard their nest sites. The hatchlings spend several days to two weeks in the nest chamber from the time they hatch to the time they emerge from the nests; dispersing individually after emergence.
Although Cuban iguanas typically remain still for long periods of time and have a slow lumbering gait due to their body mass, they are capable of quick bursts of speed for short distances. Younger animals are more arboreal and will seek refuge in trees, which they can climb with great agility. The animal is a capable swimmer and will take to nearby water if threatened. When cornered they can bite and lash their tails in defense.
Distribution and habitat.
The Cuban iguana is naturally distributed in rocky coastal areas on Cuba and throughout as many as 4,000 islets surrounding the Cuban mainland, including Isla de la Juventud off the southern coast, which has one of the most robust populations. Relatively safe populations are found on some islets along the north and south coasts and in isolated protected areas on the mainland. These include Guanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve in the west, Desembarco del Granma National Park, Hatibonico Wildlife Refuge, Punta Negra-Quemados Ecological Reserve, and Delta del Cauto Wildlife Refuge, all in eastern Cuba. Because of this wide distribution, accurate information about the number of distinct subpopulations of Cuban iguanas cannot be determined. The population on the US Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay has been estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 individuals, and the animals are treated well and protected by US forces stationed at the base. An unusual incident occurred when a detainee in the prison assaulted a guard with a bloody tail torn from a Cuban iguana in May 2005.
The subspecies, "Cyclura nubila caymanensis", is endemic to the "Sister Islands" of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The population on Cayman Brac is less than 50 of these animals and Little Cayman supports 1,500. A feral population of "C. n. caymanensis" has been established on Grand Cayman.
The Cuban iguana makes its burrow near cacti or thistles, sometimes even within the cactus itself. These thorny plants offer protection and their fruit and flowers offer the iguanas food. In areas without cacti, the lizards make their burrows in dead trees, hollow logs, and limestone crevices.
In the mid-1960s a small group of Cuban iguanas was released from a zoo on Isla Magueyes, southwest of Puerto Rico, forming an independent free-ranging feral population. As of 2000, there has been talk of removing or relocating this population of iguanas by the US Department of Interior. This feral population is the source for 90% of the captive Cuban iguanas held in private collections and was the source for part of a study on animal communication and evolution conducted by Emilia Martins, a biologist at Indiana University.
Emilia Martins' 1998 study compared the head-bob displays from the source population on Cuba with these animals on Isla Magueyes. The durations and pauses were longer by as much as 350% in the feral population. In comparison, the blue iguana of Grand Cayman's head-bob displays differed from those of the animals on Cuba by only about 20%. The rapid change in display structure between the colony of animals on Isla Magueyes and those on Cuba illustrated the potential of small founding population size as a catalyst to evolution with regard to communication or display. In this case the difference was by only six generations at most.
Conservation.
The Cuban iguana is well-established in public and private collections. Many zoological parks and private individuals keep them in captive breeding programs, minimizing the demand for wild-caught specimens for the pet trade. Cuban iguanas are listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, as is the predominant Cuban subspecies, while the Cayman Island subspecies is "critically endangered". The total population in Cuba is estimated at between 40,000 and 60,000 individuals, and the feral population on Isla Magueyes is estimated at over 1,000. According to Allison Alberts, Chief Conservation Officer of the San Diego Zoo and lead researcher in Cuba, among the many wildlife species at GTMO, "The Cuban Iguana is one of the largest, undoubtedly the most visible, and certainly the most charismatic. It seems that no one completes a tour of duty at GTMO without getting to know these prehistoric-looking giants."
In a round-about way, the Cuban iguana's status under the US Endangered Species Act made its way into US jurisprudence. In the fall of 2003, attorney Tom Wilner needed to persuade the justices of the US Supreme Court to take the case of a dozen Kuwaiti detainees being held in isolation in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without charges, without a hearing and without access to a lawyer. According to Peter Honigsberg, a professor of law at the University of San Francisco, Wilner unsuccessfully made two arguments before the Court to hear his case; in his third argument he changed tactics by mentioning US law and the Cuban iguana. Wilner argued, "Anyone, including a federal official, who violates the Endangered Species Act by harming an iguana at Guantanamo, can be fined and prosecuted. Yet the government argues that US law does not apply to protect the human prisoners there". According to Honigsberg, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case because of this argument.
Decline.
In general the species is in decline, more quickly on the mainland than on the outlying islets. The Cuban mainland populations have been declining at a rate of over 1% per year for the last 10 years. The Cuban iguana is no longer found on the northeastern coast of Havana, the Hicacos Peninsula, or Cayo Largo, areas where it was found in great numbers some 30 to 40 years ago.
As opposed to other West Indian islands where iguanids are found, consumption of iguana meat is not widespread in Cuba. Certain fishing communities do practice it for subsistence, but for the most part the animal is not eaten by Cubans. According to naturalist Thomas Barbour, this is based on unfounded superstitious beliefs which suggest that the iguanas emit a dark fluid reminiscent of the black vomit of yellow fever victims when they are killed. One of the reasons for their decline is habitat destruction caused by the overgrazing of farm animals, housing development, and the building of tourist resorts on the beaches where the animals prefer to build their nests. Populations of iguanas suffer by the direct predation of introduced animals such as rats, cats, and dogs. Feral hogs are responsible for destroying many iguana nest sites which they dig up for eggs. Ant predation of iguana eggs is another threat to the species.
Recovery.
All but one of the major iguana concentrations are either partially or fully protected by the Cuban government. Although no captive-breeding program exists within Cuba, the "Centro Nacional de Areas Protegidas" (the National Center for Protected Areas) has suggested it will explore this route in the future. In 1985 the Cuban government issued a commemorative peso depicting a Cuban iguana on the head side of the coin in an attempt to raise awareness for this animal.
In 1993 the San Diego Zoo experimentally tested the utility of a "head-starting" program for newly hatched Cuban iguanas with funding from the National Science Foundation's Conservation and Restoration Biology Program. "Head-starting" is a process by which the Cuban iguana's eggs are hatched in an incubator and the animals are protected and fed for the first 20 months of their lives. The purpose is to get the animals to a size where they are more capable of fleeing from or fighting off predators. This technique was originally used to protect hatchling sea turtles, Galapagos land iguanas, and "Ctenosaura bakeri" on the island of Útila, but Alberts used it for the first time on a "Cyclura" species with the Cuban iguana. The purpose was not only to help the Cuban iguana population, but to test the overall effectiveness of headstarting as a conservation strategy for more critically endangered species of "Cyclura".
The strategy proved successful, according to Alberts, when the released head-started iguanas reacted to predators, foraged for food, and behaved like their wild-born counterparts. This strategy has been implemented with great success with other critically endangered species of "Cyclura" and "Ctenosaura" throughout the West Indies and Central America, notably the Jamaican iguana, Grand Cayman blue iguana, Ricord's iguana, Allen Cays iguana, Acklins ground iguana, and Anegada iguana.


Caecilia albiventris

Caecilia albiventris is a species of caecilian in the family Caeciliidae. It is endemic to Suriname. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.


Hampala sabana

Hampala sabana is a species of cyprinid in the genus "Hampala". It is native to Malaysia and has a maximum length of .


Black giant squirrel

The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel ("Ratufa bicolor") is a large tree squirrel in the genus "Ratufa" native to the Indomalayan zootope. It is found in forests from northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and western Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Bali and nearby small islands).
Description.
The black giant squirrel is one of the largest species of squirrel in the world. On average, an adult black giant squirrel weighs around , has a head–and–body length of , and the tail is long. The subspecies "R. b. condorensis" of Vietnam's Côn Sơn Island averages only in head–and–body length and the tail , but otherwise it resembles the typical subspecies.
This species is typically distinctly bicoloured with dark upperparts and pale underparts. The back, top of the head, ears and bushy tail are deep brown to black and the underparts are light buff-coloured. In Sumatra, Java and Bali the hairs of the back and tail are light-tipped, making these sections appear relatively pale (however, the back is still distinctly darker than the underparts). On small islands off Myanmar and in the Strait of Malacca the black giant squirrel has reddish-yellowish underparts.
Habitat.
"Ratufa bicolor's" range includes a variety of bioregions that all share the commonality of being forested. It ranges in elevation from sea level up to at least , in some of the most rugged land in the world. However, in recent decades, "R. bicolor's" habitat has been steadily encroached upon by human settlement, timber harvesting and agriculture, which along with overhunting by human predation in parts of its range, has resulted in a total loss of up to 30% of the population in the past ten years. However, in some places this species is protected from hunting by law or tradition.
In South Asia "R. bicolor" dwells among tropical and subtropical coniferous and broadleaf forests.
In Southeast Asia "R. bicolor" lives in tropical broadleaf evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, but is rarely seen in coniferous forests.
In the tropical rainforest of the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, "R. bicolor" is not as abundant as elsewhere in its range, which is probably due to competition from other arboreal species (especially primates) for food in the upper forest canopy.
Among the better places to sight the black giant squirrel is the Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam, India.
Behavior.
"R. bicolor" is diurnal and arboreal, but sometimes climbs down from the forest canopy to feed on the ground. The black giant squirrel rarely enters plantations or settlements, preferring the wild forest.
Its diet consists of seeds, pine cones, fruits, and leaves. It is primarily solitary, and has a litter of from 1 to 2 young, which it raises in a drey (or nest), often located within a hollow space of a tree.
Taxonomy.
Further study is required to determine whether "Ratufa bicolor" actually represents several similar species.
The table below lists the ten recognized subspecies of "Ratufa bicolor", along with any synonyms associated with each subspecies:


Salamandra longirostris

Salamandra longirostris, the Penibetic salamander or long-snouted salamander, is a species of urodelan amphibian of the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the Penibetic mountain range in Andalusia, Spain. It was originally described as a subspecies of "Salamandra salamandra", the fire salamander, but was raised to full species rank in 2009.
It is a large salamander, very similar to the fire salamander, with which it does not share a distribution area. The body is black with quadrangular yellow spots and some very characteristic spots on the head. The snout is pointed and the belly greyish, without spots.
It lives in humid areas, with watercourses nearby where it reproduces.


Trefoil horseshoe bat

The trefoil horseshoe bat ("Rhinolophus trifoliatus") is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. In Borneo locally common up to 1,800m, including mangroves.
Description.
"Rhinolophus trifoliatus" is a medium-sized horseshoe bat (forearm 47-52mm, 10.5-18 grammes) This bat has fluffy, pale grey fur, with a yellow nose leaf and ear membranes.
Ecology and Behaviour.
"R. trifoliatus" is caught in the understory of primary and secondary rainforest. This species is thought to be solitary, with individuals observed roosting hanging underneath exposed leaves. As with the neotropical "Ectophylla alba" it is thought that their pale fur may be an adaptation to make them camouflaged when roosting, as sunlight filtering through the leaf will make them appear green.


Cephrenes acalle

Cephrenes acalle, commonly known as the plain palm dart, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. An examination of the type specimen showed that it was identical to "Cephrenes chrysozona lompa" Evans 1934 based on genitalia. This has led to "Cephrenes chrysozona" being treated as a synonym. The species breeds on palms including coconut, "Calamus", "Elaeis", "Roystonea" and "Prychosperma".
Subspecies.
There are seven subspecies within the distribution range that extends from India through Indo-China into the Philippines.


Minute fruit bat

The minute fruit bat "(Cynopterus minutus)" is a species of megabat within the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Sulawesi.


Asaphocrita furciferae

Asaphocrita furciferae is a moth in the family Blastobasidae that is endemic to Costa Rica.


Insular myotis

The insular myotis ("Myotis insularum") is one of over 100 of species of vesper bat in the genus "Myotis". It is found in possibly American Samoa and possibly Samoa.


List of Lepidoptera of Norway

The Lepidoptera of Norway consist of both the butterflies and moths recorded from Norway. This list includes species recorded from Svalbard and Jan Mayen.


Epidelaxia albocruciata

Epidelaxia albocruciata, is a species of spider of the genus "Epidelaxia". It is endemic to Sri Lanka.


Liopeltis calamaria

Calamaria Reed Snake ("Liopeltis calamaria") is a species of snake found in some parts of South Asia.
Description.
The following description is from Malcolm A. Smith's "The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma". Reptilia and Batrachia volume, (page 184-185).
Maxillary teeth 24-26; head not depressed and fairly distinct from the neck; snout not projecting, not twice as long as the eye; nostril very small and in a long undivided nasal, which is united with the loreal; normally 7 supralabials, rarely only 6, 3rd and 4th touching the eye; anterior genials a little longer than the posterior. Scales in 15:15:15 rows. Ventrals 126–142 in the male and 130–154 in the female; Caudals 68–78 in males and 53–72 in the females.
Hemipenis like that of "frenatus" in general construction, but the calyces smaller, more deeply scalloped, and packed so closely together that only the papillae are visible on the surface; the spines are shorter, thicker and more numerous; there is a fold.
Light brown, greyish-brown or greenish, above, the scales usually edged with black, showing as more or less distinct longitudinal lines, the most conspicuous being one on each side of the vertebral region; they are separated from each other by five rows of scales. The area enclosed between them may be of a darker colour than that of the rest of the body; lower parts whitish (yellow in life); a series of dark spots on each side of the head, the remnants of the temporal stripes.
Total length of male 335mm (tail 108mm); females 390mm long with the tail of 100mm.
Geographic Range.
Found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India {the Western Ghats as far north as Matheran; Tirunelveli Hills, Mysore Plateau, Bangalore, Almora district, Chhota Nagpur (Surguja)} and possibly in Bhutan.


Longest climbing salamander

The longest climbing salamander ("Bolitoglossa longissima") is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae.
It is endemic to Honduras.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


List of birds of Newfoundland and Labrador

This is a list of bird species confirmed in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Bird Records Committee of Nature Newfoundland & Labrador (Nature NL) lists 398 species as occurring in Newfoundland as of March 2016. Of them, 113 are rare and 71 are very rare as defined below. Two were introduced to North America. One species is possibly extinct, and another extinct species believed to have formerly been found in Labrador is not on the Nature NL checklist.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds", 7th edition through the 61st Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the "Check-list", except that Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following codes are used to describe some categories of occurrence.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl.
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Pheasants, grouse, and allies.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Grebes.
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pigeons and doves.
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit, and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Cuckoos.
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Nightjars and allies.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Swifts.
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Hummingbirds.
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Rails, gallinules, and coots.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Cranes.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Stilts and avocets.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Oystercatchers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Plovers and lapwings.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Sandpipers and allies.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Skuas and jaegers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Auks, murres, and puffins.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture, and some of their habits, however they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
Gulls, terns, and skimmers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Tropicbirds.
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.
Loons.
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.
Albatrosses.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus "Diomedea" have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
Southern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.
Northern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
Shearwaters and petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Frigatebirds.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Boobies and gannets.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Cormorants and shags.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.
Pelicans.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
Herons, egrets, and bitterns.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
Ibises and spoonbills.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
New World vultures.
Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.
Osprey.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.
Hawks, eagles, and kites.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Barn-owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Owls in the family Tytonidae are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces.
Owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Kingfishers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Woodpeckers.
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Falcons and caracaras.
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
Tyrant flycatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
Shrikes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.
Crows, jays, and magpies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Larks.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Swallows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Tits, chickadees, and titmice.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Nuthatches.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.
Treecreepers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Wrens.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
Gnatcatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Polioptilidae
These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish grey in colour and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails.
Kinglets.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds in the genus "Regulus". The adults have coloured crowns, giving rise to their name.
Old World flycatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
The Old World flycatchers are a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.
Thrushes and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Mockingbirds and thrashers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull greys and browns in their appearance.
Starlings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.
Waxwings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
Old World sparrows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Wagtails and pipits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
Finches, euphonias, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
Longspurs and snow buntings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that were traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
New World sparrows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae
Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
Yellow-breasted chat.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteriidae
This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.
Troupials and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
New World warblers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
Cardinals and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae
The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.


White-browed fulvetta

The white-browed fulvetta ("Fulvetta vinipectus") is a bird species in the family Sylviidae. Like the other typical fulvettas, it was long included in the Timaliidae genus "Alcippe".
Ranging across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is endemic to Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.


Xerocrassa jimenensis

Xerocrassa jimenensis is a species of air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Hygromiidae, the hairy snails and their allies. This species is endemic to the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga and Seville in Andalusia, southern Spain.


Batesia hypochlora

Batesia is a monotypic butterfly genus of the family Nymphalidae. It contains only Batesia hypochlora, the painted beauty.
Distribution.
This species is found in the upper Amazon areas of Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Description.
"Batesia hypochlora" can reach a wingspan of 85-95 mm. The upperside of the wings is blue, with a submarginal band of the same color surrounding the outher margin of the hindwings. On the forewings there is a large pink patch. The underside of the hindwings is yellow, varying in tone from pale cream to deep saffron depending on locality.


Bugun liocichla

The Bugun liocichla ("Liocichla bugunorum") is a passerine bird species from the family Leiothrichidae closely related to the Emei Shan liocichla. First spotted in 1995 in Arunachal Pradesh, India, it was described as a new species in 2006. The description was made without the collection of a type specimen as they were too few to risk killing one. It is thought to be an endangered species, with a small population, and a very restricted distribution range within which commercial development threatens the habitat.
Description.
The Bugun liocichla is a small babbler () with olive-grey plumage and a black cap. The face is marked with prominent orange-yellow lores, and the wings have yellow, red and white patches. The tail is black with crimson coloured undertail coverts and red tips. The feet are pink and the bill is black at the face fading to pale white. A second duller individual was mist netted, which was probably the female. The voice is described as fluty and distinctive.
A study of the evolution of the species within the genus "Liocichla" based on mitochondrial DNA sequence similarity showed that the species is most closely related to "L. omeiensis" with the Hengduan Mountains possibly acting as the isolating barrier between the two.
Distribution and habitat.
All sightings of the species have been at an altitude of on disturbed hillsides covered with shrubs and small trees, with the exception of one sighting on the edge of primary forest. It lives in a territory similar to that of the Emei Shan liocichla. Small flocks were observed during January, whereas pairs were observed in May, with an estimated total of 14 individuals. It is thought that pairs may hold and defend territories. The Bugun liocichla is only currently known from just one location. Populations may be discovered in other areas of Arunachal Pradesh or neighbouring Bhutan.
Attempts have been made to identify new locations where the species could occur based on identification of suitable habitats using computational models.
Species discovery.
The species was described in 2006 after being discovered in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India, by an astrophysicist, Ramana Athreya. The species was first spotted in the sanctuary in 1995 but was not seen again for ten years. Athreya spotted them again in January 2005 but did not publicize it until he was able to confirm it to be a new species. It was initially identified as appearing most similar to an Emei Shan liocichla, "Liocichla omeiensis", a species of Liocichla endemic to China. It was however distinctly different and the full description was finally made by capturing and examining two individuals using mistnets, in May 2006. Due to the apparent rarity of the species no type specimen was collected, instead feathers from the mist net, photographs, recordings and notes were used as the holotype. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature does not allow for new species to be described without the collection of type specimens, but this provision was circumvented in this case by the collection of feathers (the Code allows for "any part of an animal" to be treated as a type specimen; Art. 72.5.1). The 1991 description of the Bulo Burti boubou ("Laniarius liberatus"), an African bushshrike species later considered invalid, lacked a specimen and only blood samples were collected and has been more controversial. A detailed review of the discovery of the species was published in 2007.
The first report of the species was made in a posting to Nathistory-India, an electronic mailing list in 1996. It was only in 2006, however that the species was formally described.
Taxonomy and systematics.
The species' scientific and common names are derived from the Bugun tribe in whose communal forests the species was discovered.
The species is a sister of "Liocichla omeiensis" and the speciation may have been caused by the isolating geographic barrier of the Hengduan mountains.
Threats and conservation.
For a "spectacular bird" with distinctive calls to have been overlooked until 1995 suggests that the species is not common. Only three breeding pairs are currently known and is listed as critically endangered. While the species is capable of living in degraded forests, its small population is considered threatened, especially in the light of plans to build a highway through an area thought to be its primary habitat.


Goniurosaurus kadoorieorum

Goniurosaurus kadoorieorum, sometimes known as Kadoories's cave gecko, is a gecko endemic to China.


Malacoctenus boehlkei

Malacoctenus boehlkei, the Diamond blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the central western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea where it is an inhabitant of coral reefs at depths of from . This species can reach a length of TL. The specific name honour the ichthyologist James E. Böhlke (1930-1982), of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.


Moko (dolphin)

Moko (2006 – 7 July 2010) was a male bottlenose dolphin who associated with humans on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand from 2007 to 2010.
Moko, short for Mokotahi, a headland on Mahia Peninsula, was three-years-old as of July 2009. He resided at Mahia Beach for two and a half years from 2007 to September 2009, and became a major attraction there. He received worldwide fame when he rescued two pygmy sperm whales in March 2008. A year later, he trapped a woman out at sea. At the beginning of September 2009 Moko moved 80 km up the coast to Waikanae Beach, Gisborne, and in January 2010 he moved to Whakatāne in the Bay of Plenty for five months before following a fishing boat to Tauranga on 3 June. Scientists were worried about Moko's welfare after a study found he had been scarred by boats and a fish hook. He was found dead on a beach at Matakana Island near Tauranga on 7 July 2010.
History.
Rescue of pygmy sperm whales.
In March 2008, Moko was seen helping two pygmy sperm whales that were trapped between a sandbar and Mahia beach. A local man who found the whales told his neighbour, Malcolm Smith, who was a Department of Conservation worker. Smith and other rescuers tried for an hour and a half to re-float the whales, with no success. Smith was wondering if it would be better to kill the two whales when Moko appeared. Moko approached the pair of distressed whales and led them through a narrow channel to the safety of the sea.
Stranding of a swimmer.
In summer many people swam with Moko at Mahia, but residents believed that during the winter, when there were fewer people, the dolphin got lonely and bored. During the winter (July) of 2009, a New Zealand swimmer, who left late to go swimming at Mahia on her own, started to play with Moko. Difficulties arose when the woman became tired, and the dolphin, who was still playing, did not allow her to return to the shore. As a result of this, the woman began to panic. People back at shore heard the now exhausted woman screaming for help, and rowed out to rescue her. They found her wrapped around a buoy, and took her back to the shore. Later the woman said that going out on her own at that late time had probably been unwise and that Moko had meant no harm.
"Soul in the Sea" (2013).
New Zealand filmmaker Amy Taylor directed and produced a documentary about Moko, titled "Soul in the Sea", which premiered at the 2013 New Zealand International Film Festival. Filmed in the six months leading up to Moko's death, the film follows Moko's impact on the town of Whakatāne.
Welfare.
Scientists became worried about Moko's safety after finding that he had been scarred by boats and had received a scar on his upper-right jaw from a fish hook. They noted that out of 30 "lone" dolphins that have been identified around the globe, 14 have been killed or injured as a result of their interactions with humans.
A marine welfare organisation, Project Jonah, said that people should give the dolphin his space.
Moko was found dead a few months later.


Lesser bamboo rat

The lesser bamboo rat ("Cannomys badius") is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is monotypic within the genus Cannomys. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand.
Description.
The lesser bamboo rat is a small, stocky mole-like rat. It reaches a length of about with a tail of around , weighing between . The ears are small and completely hidden in the coat. The fur is soft and dense, reddish-brown to greyish-brown on the upper parts and rather paler and thinner on the underparts. Sometimes, white stripes are on the crown of the head or some white on the throat. The tail has a few hairs. Lesser bamboo rats have a robust, cylindrical body, small ears and eyes, and short, stout legs.
Behaviour.
The lesser bamboo rat is a burrowing animal usually found in bamboo groves in mountainous areas, but also occurring in woodland, plantations, and disturbed ground. The burrow entrance may be at the foot of a tree, under a clump of bamboo, in a bank, or in the open. Excavated earth is flung up in a mound at the entrance of the tunnel and further mounds occur at intervals along the course of the burrow. The main tunnel runs horizontally beneath the surface and may reach a depth of and total length as long as . It ends in a roomy nesting chamber. When the animal is underground, the entrance of the burrow is plugged with earth.
The lesser bamboo rat emerges above ground at dusk to forage for plant material such as shoots, especially of bamboo, and roots. These rats become sexually mature at the age of one year and females produce litters of two to five offspring after a gestation period of about six weeks. Weaning takes place some eight weeks later.
Status.
The lesser bamboo rat has a wide range and is abundant in places. The threats it faces include being hunted for food and killed as a pest in rubber plantations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed its conservation status as being of "least concern".


Horned coot

The horned coot ("Fulica cornuta") is a species of bird found in the Andes of South America. It was described by Bonaparte in 1853 based on a specimen collected in Bolivia. For a long time it was known only from the type specimen.
Description.
Horned coot males average a little larger than the female. With a total length of 46–62 cm (18–24 in) and a reported body mass from , it averages slightly smaller than the related giant coot as the second largest coot and the third largest extant species of rail.
While most coots have a horny shield on the forehead, the horned coot has three wattles in both sexes. The central wattle is large and may possibly be erectile. The three wattles terminate in tufts of filoplumes. At the base of the beak and below the wattle is a fleshy caruncle which is whitish. The bill is olive yellow, brightening to dull orange towards the base. Unlike the giant coot, the legs of the horned coot are dull greenish.
Breeding.
The horned coot is monogamous, and sometimes breeds in colonies of up to 80 pairs. The huge nest is typically located about 40 metres from the shore in the waters of the high altitude lakes where it breeds. Pebbles are piled by the birds to form an artificial island that reaches the water surface. This island is then covered with algae to form the nest. It has been estimated that the pebble mounds may weigh as much as 1.5 tons and they are refurbished in each season. They breed from November to January.
Distribution and habitat.
The coot occurs in the altiplano of north-western Argentina, south-western Bolivia, and north-eastern Chile. It is almost entirely restricted to lakes at altitudes of 3000–5200 m.a.s.l., but has occasionally been recorded at lower altitudes.
Status and conservation.
It is generally a low-density species and the total population has been estimated at 10,000–20,000, with as few as 620 in the Chilean part of its range. Consequently, it is considered to be near threatened by BirdLife International and IUCN.


Scytodes kumonga

Scytodes kumonga is a species of spider in the Scytodidae family native to Iran. It was described in 2020. The specific name "kumonga" refers to the spider kaiju Kumonga, a recurring monster in the "Godzilla" franchise by Toho, whose name in turn is derived from the Japanese word for 'spider', .


Bolitoglossa ramosi

Bolitoglossa ramosi is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae.
It is endemic to Colombia.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, and urban areas.


Tachina chaetaria

Tachina chaetaria is a species of fly in the genus "Tachina" of the family Tachinidae that is endemic to Tajikistan.


Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides

The flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides in north west Scotland comprises a unique and diverse ecosystem. A long archipelago, set on the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean, it attracts a wide variety of seabirds, and thanks to the Gulf Stream a climate more mild than might be expected at this latitude. Because it is on the Gulf Stream, it also occasionally gets exotic visitors.
Wildlife.
Birds.
Three hundred and twenty seven species of birds have been recorded in the Western Isles and more than 100 breed. The Islands provide a natural flyway for migrating landbirds to and from their Arctic breeding grounds and a refuge for windblown vagrants from America and northern Europe. Many species of bird breed in the Western Isles and the surrounding islands, including, most of Britain's corncrakes which breed on the croftlands of all the islands.<ref name="http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile/environment/wildlife.htm">Local Authority Web Site </ref>
Many species of seabirds inhabit the coastal areas of the islands, such as shag, northern gannets, northern fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots and multiple species of gull.
In the Uig hills in Lewis, it is possible to spot golden eagles; it has also been claimed that white-tailed eagles have been seen in the area.<ref name = "http://www.isle-of-lewis.com/">Isle-of-Lewis.com</ref> In the Pairc area, it is possible to see feeding Eurasian oystercatchers and Eurasian curlews.
A few pairs of peregrine falcons survive on coastal cliffs and merlin and common buzzard are not uncommon anywhere on hill and moor. Red-throated divers nest on countless small tarns and a few black-throated divers can be found on bigger lochs. Arctic skuas are spreading south from Lewis as far as South Uist but the great skua is still found breeding only in Lewis, St Kilda, North Rona, the Shiant Isles and Barra Head.
An important feature of the winter bird life is the great diversity of wildfowl. A variety of duck, such as common eider and long-tailed duck are found in the shallow water around Lewis.
Great Bernera hosts numerous seabird species, including gulls, waders and ducks such as goldeneye. More unusually, a jack snipe was observed on the island in 2007.
The Shiant Isles have a large population of seabirds, including tens of thousands Atlantic puffins breeding in burrows on the slopes of Garbh Eilean, as well as significant numbers of common guillemots, razorbills, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, common shags, gulls and great skuas. Although St Kilda has more puffins, the sheer density on the Shiants is greater.
Berneray (North Uist).
The crofting practises on Berneray encourage a wide array of birdlife. On early summer evenings you can sometimes hear snipe drumming, and even the rasp of a corncrake. Mute swans can be seen on Loch Brusda, and greylag geese are common. In the winter they are joined by barnacle, and a few brent geese. Ravens and buzzards are often to be seen. Golden eagles and hen harriers are rarer sights, usually in the winter. Wading birds on the shore include redshanks, sanderlings, turnstones, oyster catchers, dunlin, curlews, whimbrels, ringed plovers and herons. Further out, around the shores of Berneray, are mallards, eiders, red-breasted mergansers, and, more rarely, black-throated and great northern divers. Shags and cormorants fish in the seas around Berneray throughout the year, and in summer you can see gannets diving.
St Kilda.
St Kilda is a breeding ground for many important seabird species. The world's largest colony of gannets, totalling 30,000 pairs, amount to 24 percent of the global population. There are 49,000 breeding pairs of Leach's petrels, up to 90 percent of the European population; 136,000 pairs of Atlantic puffins, about 30 percent of the UK total breeding population, and 67,000 northern fulmar pairs, about 13 percent of the UK total. Dùn is home to the largest colony of fulmars in the UK. Prior to 1828, St Kilda was their only UK breeding ground, but they have since spread and established colonies elsewhere, such as Fowlsheugh. The last great auk ("Pinguinus impennis") seen in Britain was killed on Stac an Armin in July 1840. Unusual behaviour by St Kilda's bonxies was recorded in 2007 during research into recent falls in the Leach's petrel population. Using night vision gear, ecologists observed the skuas hunting petrels at night, a remarkable strategy for a seabird. A subspecies of Eurasian wren, the St Kilda wren "Troglodytes troglodytes hirtensis", is unique to St Kilda.
Marine life.
Salmon frequent several Lewis rivers after crossing the Atlantic. Many of the fresh-water lochs are home to fish such as trout. Other freshwater fish present include Arctic char, European eel, 3 and 9 spined sticklebacks, thick-lipped mullet and flounder.
Offshore, it is common to see seals, particularly in Stornoway harbour, and with luck, dolphins, porpoises, sharks and even the occasional whale can be encountered.
Occasional turtles, mainly loggerhead and leathery, may be met in coastal waters.
In Great Bernera, sea life is especially rich where there is tidal run between the "Caolas Bhalasaigh" (English: "Valasay Straits/Kyles") and the inner sea-loch of "Tòb Bhalasaigh". There are numerous molluscs, sponges, brittlestars and starfish, the latter growing noticeably larger in size than normal. Cup coral, snakelocks anemone and dead man's fingers coral, may also be found here. Common fish include shanny and butterfish and Atlantic and common seals are regular off-shore visitors.
Common seals often congregate at low tide on the rocks in Bays Loch in Berneray (North Uist), grey seals, which are larger and can be distinguished by the long noses, are also to be found there occasionally, but are more common off the West Beach. The grey seal now breeds on Hirta but did not do so before the 1930 evacuation.
The beach at Village Bay in St Kilda is unusual in that its short stretch of summer sand recedes in winter, exposing the large boulders on which it rests. A survey of the beach in 1953 found only a single resident species, the crustacean isopod "Eurydice pulchra".
Amongst the more exotic species found off the Outer Hebrides, is the giant squid ("Architeuthis") - specimens are occasionally washed up on the islands.
Land mammals.
There is only 1 native land mammal in the Western Isles, the Eurasian otter. The red deer, European rabbit, blue hare, hedgehog, brown and black rats, feral cat, mink and polecat were introduced by humans. The origin of mice and voles is uncertain.
There has been considerable controversy over hedgehogs on South Uist. The animals are not native to the islands, having been introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. They now pose a threat to the eggs of ground nesting wading birds on the reserve. In 2003 Scottish Natural Heritage undertook a cull of hedgehogs in the area.
American mink are another introduced species (escapees from fur farms) and cause problems for native ground-nesting birds, the local fishing industry and poultry farmers.<ref name="http://www.snh.org.uk/scottish/wisles/species.asp">SNH - Hebridean Mink Project</ref> Due to this impact and following a successful eradication<ref name="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5306182.stm">BBC News</ref> of the species from the Uists and Barra, the second and ongoing phase of the Hebridean Mink Project aims to rid mink from Lewis and Harris in similar fashion.
The Shiant Isles are home to a colony of black rats, which may originally have come ashore from a shipwreck. Apart from one or two small islands in the Firth of Forth, the Shiants are the only place in the UK where the black rat or ship's rat ("Rattus rattus") can still be found. There are thought to be about 3,000 rats on the islands. Analysis of their stomach contents has shown that the Shiant rats do eat seabirds, but it is impossible to tell if they prey on live birds or simply scavenge dead remains.
A subspecies of wood mouse known as the St Kilda field mouse ("Apodemus sylvaticus hirtensis") is unique to St Kilda. A subspecies of house mouse known as the St Kilda house mouse ("Mus musculus muralis"), vanished completely after the evacuation of human inhabitants, as it was strictly associated with settlements and buildings. It had a number of traits in common with a sub-species ("Mus musculus mykinessiensis") found on Mykines island in the Faroe Islands.
The St Kildans kept up to 2,000 sheep, which were removed at the time of the evacuation, but a herd of 107 indigenous Soay sheep were transferred onto Hirta from Soay and now live in a feral state. Soay sheep are a very primitive breed that do not require shearing. Numbers vary from 600 to 1,700 on Hirta, and 200 remain on Soay. A few have been exported to form breeding populations in other nations, where they are valued for their hardiness and small size. On Hirta and Soay, they prefer the plantago pastures, which grow well in locations exposed to sea spray and include red fescue, sea plantain and sea pink. There is also a breed of feral sheep residing on Boreray, which is one of the most endangered British sheep in existence.
There are claims that the Stornoway castle grounds are home to bats.<ref name="http://www.echoesecology.co.uk/documents/AnIntroductionToTheBatsofScotlandEdition1Dec2006_002.pdf"></ref> In addition, there are farmed animals such as sheep, cattle and a few pigs.
Reptiles and amphibians.
In common with Ireland, no snakes inhabit Lewis, only the slowworm which is merely mistaken for a snake. Actually a legless lizard, it is the sole member of its order present. The common frog may be found in the centre of the island though it, along with any newts or toads present are introduced species.
Insects.
The island's most famous insect resident is the Highland midge which is ever-present near water at certain times of the year.
During the summer months, several species of butterflies and dragonflies can be found, especially outwith Stornoway.
The richness of insect-life in Lewis is evident from the fact that carnivorous plants, such as the sundew, thrive in parts of the island.
Plant life.
The machair is noted for different species of orchid and associated vegetation such as various grasses. Three heathers; ling, bell heather and cross-leaved heather are predominant in the large areas of moorland vegetation which also holds large numbers of insectivorous plants such as sundews. The expanse of heather-covered moorland explains the name Eilean an Fhraoich, Gaelic for The Heather Isle.<ref name = "http://news.scotsman.com/gaelic.cfm?id=140952005">Scotsman piece with 'Eilean an Fhraoich' translation</ref>
Lewis was once covered by woodland, but the only natural woods remaining are in small pockets on inland cliffs and on islands within lochs, away from fire and sheep. In recent years, Forestry Commission plantations of spruce and pine were planted; but, most of the pines were destroyed by moth infestation. The most important mixed woods are those planted around Lews Castle in Stornoway, dating from the mid-19th century.<ref name="http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile/environment/flora.htm">Local Authority Web Site </ref>
Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower ("Calystegia soldanella"), reputedly originating from French seeds dropped by Bonnie Prince Charlie is, in Scotland, found only on Vatersay and Eriskay.
Plant life in St Kilda is heavily influenced by the salt spray, strong winds and acidic peaty soils. No trees grow on the archipelago, although there are more than 130 different flowering plants, 162 species of fungi and 160 bryophytes. Several rarities exist amongst the 194 lichen species. Kelp thrives in the surrounding seas, which contain a diversity of unusual marine invertebrates. The St Kilda dandelion ("Taraxacum pankhurstianum") is a species of dandelion endemic to the island of Hirta, identified in 2012.
On Mingulay there is but a single tree — a 2 metre high poplar on a cliff overlooking Mingulay Bay. Sea holly ("Eryngium maritimum"), otherwise rare in the Western Isles, has grown on Mingulay since at least the late 19th century, and sea milkwort ("Glaux maritima"), normally only found at sea level is able to grow on the high cliff tops due to the ocean spray and seagull manure.
Nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Isle of Lewis.
There are 15 SSSIs on Lewis in the biology category, spread across the island. Additionally, the Lewis Peatlands are recognised by Scottish Natural Heritage as a Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site, showing their importance as a wetland habitat for migratory and resident bird life.
Balranald RSPB Reserve.
Situated on the extreme western point of North Uist, the RSPB reserve at Balranald includes sandy beaches, rocky foreshore, marshes and sand dunes. An information centre explains the importance of traditional crofting agriculture for corncrakes and other wildlife.
Many wading and farmland birds nest on the flower-rich machair and croft-land - perhaps your best chance to hear and to even see corncrakes.
South Uist Nature Reserve.
Loch Druidibeg in the north of the island is a national nature reserve owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. The reserve covers 1,677 hectares of machair, bog, freshwater lochs, estuary heather moorland and hill. Over 200 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the reserve, some of which are nationally scarce. South Uist is considered the best place in the UK for the aquatic plant slender naiad ("Najas flexilis") which is a European Protected Species.
Nationally important populations of breeding waders are also present, including redshank, dunlin, lapwing and ringed plover. The reserve is also home to greylag geese on the loch and in summer corncrakes on the machair. Otters and hen harriers are also seen.
Monach Islands Nature Reserve.
The Monach Islands are a national nature reserve for the undisturbed machair and their grey seal population. About 10,000 come ashore each autumn to have their pups and mate, making it one of the largest such colonies in the world. There are also a large number of nesting seabirds and a rich flora. Grey herons nest in some of the abandoned buildings.
Mingulay and Berneray.
Mingulay and nearby Berneray became a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1983.
Mingulay has a large seabird population, and is an important breeding ground for razorbills (9,514 pairs, 6.3% of the European population), guillemots (11,063 pairs) and black-legged kittiwakes (2,939 pairs). Shags (694 individuals), fulmar (11,626 pairs), puffins (2,072 pairs), storm petrel, common terns, Arctic terns, bonxies and various species of gull also nest in the sea-cliffs. Manx shearwaters nested on Lianamul stack until the late 18th century, when they were driven away by puffins, and tysties have also been recorded there.
Sheep graze the island’s rough pastures and there is a population of rabbits, introduced by shepherds after the 1912 evacuation. Grey seals are abundant, numbers having grown substantially since the departure of human residents. Although they do not breed, up to 1,000 make use of the beach in winter.
Flannan Isles.
The Flannan Isles provide nesting for a population of seabirds, including Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, European storm-petrels, Leach's petrels, common shag and black-legged kittiwakes. There is a gannetry on Roaireim. From the late Middle Ages on, Lewismen regularly raided these nests for eggs, birds and feathers.
There is a population of Arctic hares, brought to the islands by the lighthouse keepers, and crofters from Bernera graze sheep on the most fertile islands.
Minke and pilot whales, as well as Risso's and other species of dolphin are commonly observed in the vicinity.
The islands became a Site of Special Scientific Interest in December 1983.
St Kilda.
On his death on 14 August 1956, the Marquess of Bute's will bequeathed the archipelago to the National Trust for Scotland provided they accepted the offer within six months. After much soul-searching, the Executive Committee agreed to do so in January 1957. The slow renovation and conservation of the village began, much of it undertaken by summer volunteer work parties. In addition, scientific research began on the feral Soay sheep population and other aspects of the natural environment. In 1957 the area was designated a national nature reserve.
In 1986 the islands became the first place in Scotland to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its terrestrial natural features. In 2004, St Kilda achieved a joint 'marine' status for its superlative natural features, its habitats for rare and endangered species, and its internationally important population of seabirds. By 2005 St Kilda thus became one of only two dozen global locations to be awarded World Heritage Status for both 'natural' and 'cultural' significance. The islands share this honour with internationally important sites such as Machu Picchu in Peru, Mount Athos in Greece and the Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Park in South Africa.
The St Kilda World Heritage Site covers a total area of 24,201.4 hectares (93.4 sq mi) including the land and sea. The land area is 854.6 hectares (2,111.8 acres).
St Kilda is a scheduled monument, a national scenic area, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a European Union Special Protection Area. Visiting yachts may find shelter in Village Bay, but those wishing to land are told to contact the National Trust for Scotland in advance. Concern exists about the introduction of non-native animal and plant species into such a fragile environment.
St Kilda's marine environment of underwater caves, arches and chasms offers a challenging but superlative diving experience. Such is the power of the North Atlantic swell that the effects of the waves can be detected below sea level. In 2008 the National Trust for Scotland received the support of Scotland ’s Minister for Environment, Michael Russell for their plan to ensure no rats come ashore from "The Spinningdale", a Spanish fishing vessel grounded on Hirta. There was concern that birdlife on the island could be seriously affected. Fortunately, potential contaminants from the vessel including fuel, oils, bait and stores were successfully removed by Dutch salvage company Mammoet before the bird breeding season in early April.


Elachista hispanica

Elachista hispanica is a moth of the family Elachistidae that is endemic to Spain.


Pulchellodromus simoni

Pulchellodromus simoni is a spider species found in Portugal, Spain and Algeria.
The species was first described in 1875 by Eugène Simon as "Philodromus pernix". However, this name had already been used, so in 1929, Mello-Leitão gave it the replacement name "Philodromus simoni". It was later moved to the genus "Pulchellodromus".


Rufous-backed sibia

The rufous-backed sibia ("Leioptila annectens") is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae.
It was formerly placed in the genus "Heterophasia" but is now the only species in the genus Leioptila.
It is found from the Himalayas to south-central Vietnam.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.


Scania tephra

Scania tephra is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Chile.


Plains viscacha rat

The plains viscacha rat, plains vizcacha rat, red viscacha rat, or red vizcacha rat ("Tympanoctomys barrerae") is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae native to Argentina. It is one of three species in the genus "Tympanoctomys".
Description.
The plains viscacha rat is a moderately-sized rat, with a large head, long tail, and short ears. Adults measure about in total length, with a tail, and weigh an average of , with males being slightly larger than females. The rat has buff-yellow fur with white underparts, fading to dark brown at the tip of the tail.
Distribution and habitat.
The plains viscacha rat is endemic to central western Argentina, where it has a fragmented range in Mendoza Province and western La Pampa. Its natural habitat is desert scrubland, dunes and salt flats, between . There are no recognised subspecies.
The species is threatened by destruction of its fragmented and restricted habitat.
Biology and behaviour.
Plains viscacha rats are solitary, and nocturnal. They construct complex burrow systems within large artificial mounds. Typical mounds are across, and in height, and have an average of 23 burrow entrances. Within the mound, the burrow system has up to three levels and contains numerous chambers and dead-end tunnels.
The rats are herbivorous, feeding primarily on halophytic vegetation, such as "Atriplex" and "Suaeda", although they will occasionally eat other plants such as grass. The rats scrape off and discard salt from the leaves of "Atriplex" saltbushes with their teeth and bristles around their mouths before eating them. Although this reduces their salt intake, they still produce highly concentrated urine to help maintain their water balance.
The young are born blind, and weighing about . Their eyes open at about six days, and they begin to take solid food at ten days.
Genetics.
This species of rodent has (as of 2017) the largest number of chromosomes of any known mammal, 2n = 102.
It was described as the first known tetraploid (4x = 2n) mammal, thought to have arisen by hybridization and chromosome doubling from an ancestor (very possibly closely related to the mountain vizcacha rat, "Octomys mimax", chromosome count 2x = 2n = 56). Some later studies have cast doubt on its tetraploid nature, while others have reasserted it. The doubling of its chromosome number was presumably by errors in mitosis or meiosis within the animal's reproductive organs. A comparison of the chromosomes of the plains viscacha rat and the mountain viscacha rat suggested that the chromosomes of the plains viscacha rat increased relatively rapidly (in evolutionary terms) due to a diverse set of highly repetitive elements. The animal's spermatozoa are roughly twice normal size, thought to be by virtue of having twice as many sets of chromosomes.
The rodent is not a rat, but a caviomorph, kin to guinea pigs and chinchillas.


Indian peacock softshell turtle

Indian peacock softshell turtle ("Nilssonia hurum") is a species of turtle found in South Asia, and is listed on the IUCN Red List as an endangered species.
Geographical range.
The Indian peacock soft-shell turtle is found in Bangladesh, India (the states of Mizoram, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Nepal and Pakistan.
Type locality in India: Fatehgarh, Ganges, to Barrackpore (about 23 kilometers north Calcutta), West Bengal, India".


Coleophora agenjoi

Coleophora agenjoi is a moth of the family Coleophoridae that is endemic to Spain.


Psilogramma wernerbacki

Psilogramma wernerbacki is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from the Solomon Islands.


Cottus aturi

Cottus aturi is a species of fish in the family Cottidae. It is found in France and Spain. It inhabits the Adour and Nivelle river drainages. It reaches a maximum length of 10.0 cm. It prefers streams with clear, cool, moderate to swift water and stone substrate.


Nebria andarensis

Nebria andarensis is a species of ground beetle in the Nebriinae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.


Hemiphyllodactylus nilgiriensis

The Nilgiris slender gecko ("Hemiphyllodactylus nilgiriensis") is a species of gecko. It is endemic to Tamil Nadu, India.


Diplodon pfeifferi

Diplodon pfeifferi is a species of bivalve in the family Hyriidae. It is endemic to Brazil.


Altiplano Laucha


Pristimantis melanogaster

Pristimantis melanogaster is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to northern Peru where it is only known from vicinity of the type locality in the Bagua Province, Amazonas Region.
Its natural habitats are páramo and elfin forest within very humid montane forest at elevations of asl. It is known from only three locations in a region subject to destruction of habitat through agriculture, livestock grazing and wood extraction.


Karenites

Karenites is an extinct genus of therocephalian therapsids from the Late Permian of Russia. The only species is "Karenites ornamentatus", named in 1995. Several fossil specimens are known from the town of Kotelnich in Kirov Oblast.
Description.
"Karenites" is known from a partial holotype skeleton, two partial skulls, and isolated jaw bones. Although incomplete, the skulls preserve small and delicate structures like nasal turbinates on the inside of the skull and the stapes bone of the ear. The skull of "Karenites" is about long, with the snout much longer than the temporal region of the skull behind the eye sockets. Viewed from above, the skull is triangular. The snout is broad, and the skull widens toward the occiput or posterior margin. Two large holes behind the eye socket called temporal fenestrae occupy most of the posterior skull. Between these fenestra is a narrow sagittal crest. In front of this crest, the skull roof bones are weakly pitted with small bumps and ridges for blood vessels. Some specimens include parts of the sclerotic ring, a ring of bone embedded in the eye.
On each side of the upper jaw are five incisors, two or three precanines, one canine, and eleven or twelve postcanines. The incisors and precanines are long, thin, and slightly curved, separated from each other by a small gap. The canine is much longer, projecting slightly forward from the tooth socket and curving backward along its length. The postcanine teeth are shorter and broader than the incisors and precanines. Toward the back of the skull the tips of the teeth flatten. The lower jaw is thin and curves upward to the arch of the cheek, except for a large coronoid process that extends to the articular-quadrate jaw joint at the back of the skull. The lower jaw has three small incisors angled slightly forward, a large canine tooth projecting upward, and thirteen small, blunt postcanine teeth. The farthest postcanine teeth have small secondary cusps behind their tips. These multicusped teeth may have been adaptations for crushing food, although they are not as well developed as the teeth of other therocephalians like "Ericiolacerta".
In 1999, thoracic plates were reported to be present in the holotype of "Karenites". Thoracic plates are plates of bone on the underside of the rib cage that are typically found in reptiles, and unusual for mammal relatives like therocephalians. This bone was later reinterpreted as an interclavicle, part of the pectoral girdle common to all early therapsids.
Paleobiology.
The presence of a sclerotic ring in "Karenites" may be an indication that it was aquatic. Pits on the skull have been interpreted as evidence for well-developed whiskers, which may have been used in hunting aquatic prey. Some therocephalians like "Perplexisaurus" have also been interpreted as aquatic predators, and share many similarities with "Karenites". While these aquatic forms had strong sutures between cranial bones, which may have stabilized the skull when consuming large aquatic prey like fishes, "Karenites" had weaker, slightly movable skull joints associated with feeding on smaller terrestrial prey like insects. Its multicuspid teeth also suggest it fed on insects. "Karenites" has long limb bones that indicate a fully terrestrial rather than aquatic lifestyle.
Ridges on the inside of the skull of "Karenites" form a series of sinuses. These sinuses may have been associated with improvements in the sense of smell of therocephalians, but they are not thought to be olfactory structures.
Bony projections on the underside of the lower jaw of "Karenites" may have supported tissues that transmitted sound to the stapes bone in the ear. Early therapsids like "Karenites" lack the well-developed auditory system of mammals, which had evolved from a restructuring of bones in the back of the skull and the lower jaw, and probably had a poor sense of hearing. As an early stage in the development of the mammalian auditory system, "Karenites" may have been able to hear some sounds by placing its jaw on the ground to detect vibrations.


Tetramorium schmitzi

Tetramorium schmitzi is a species of ant in the genus "Tetramorium". It is endemic to Israel.


Rusty-capped fulvetta

The rusty-capped fulvetta ("Schoeniparus dubius") is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.


Leptodeuterocopus gratus

Leptodeuterocopus gratus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae that is known from Peru.
The wingspan is about . Adults are on wing in March.


List of marine molluscs of Sri Lanka

The marine molluscs of Sri Lanka are a part of the molluscan wildlife of Sri Lanka.
Land Snails.
Phylum: Mollusca
According to 2006 survey by De Silva, there are 240 marine snails species identified, which belong to four classes out of seven in the world.
Endemic species are highlighted with an asterisk (*).


Red dragonet

The red dragonet ("Foetorepus altivelis") is a species of dragonet native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs at depths of from . Males of this species reaches a length of SL while females only reach SL. This species is of commercial importance to local fisheries.


Hemicrepidius guizhouensis

Hemicrepidius guizhouensis is a species of click beetle belonging to the family Elateridae. It is endemic to China.


Pyralosis terminalis

Pyralosis terminalis is a species of snout moth in the genus "Pyralosis". It was described by Walter Rothschild in 1915. It is found in Algeria.


Psychrophrynella kempffi

Psychrophrynella kempffi is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Bolivia where it is known from the Serranía Siberia in the Cochabamba and Santa Cruz Departments.
Its natural habitats are cloud and elfin forests where it has been found near rocks along a road, under stones and logs, on moss, and on tree roots. It can be active both day and night. It is threatened by habitat loss, and potentially, by climate change.


Rhinocerocephalus

Rhinocerocephalus is an extinct genus of dicynodont synapsid from the Middle Triassic of the Orenburg Oblast from Russia.


Gyraulus chinensis

Gyraulus chinensis is a species of small freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.
Distribution.
This species is native to Asia.
The non-indigenous distribution for this species includes:


Thetystrombus latus

Thetystrombus latus, commonly known as the Bubonian conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Description.
The shell size varies between 70 mm and 165 mm.
Distribution.
The Bubonian conch occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa, Senegal, Gabon, Cape Verde, Ascension Island and Angola.


Toloella

Toloella is a monotypic genus of Panamanian jumping spiders containing the single species, Toloella eximia. It was first described by Arthur Merton Chickering in 1946, and is found only in Panama.


Mussurana

Mussurana or musurana (Portuguese: muçurana) is a common name which is used for several species of New World snakes, especially species in the genus Clelia. "Clelia" is a genus of large snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Central America and South America, and species of "Clelia" are found from southern Mexico to Brazil. They specialize in ophiophagy, i.e., they attack and eat other snakes. Currently seven species are recognized as being valid. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America and cribo on some Caribbean islands (though they are not related to "Drymarchon)".
Species.
The genus "Clelia" contains the following species which are currently recognized:
"Nota bene": A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than "Clelia".
Etymology.
The specific name, "hussami", is in honor Brazilian herpetologist Hussam Zaher.
The specific name, "langeri", is in honor of German-born Dominican friar Brother Andres Langer, who is a missionary in Pampagrande, Bolivia.
Description.
Mussuranas have an average total length (including tail) of about , but may grow up to about . When young, the dorsal color is light pink, which becomes lead-blue when adult. The ventral color is whitish yellow. They have 10 to 15 teeth at the front of the upper jaw, which are followed, after a space, by two enlarged grooved teeth at the back of the mouth (opisthoglyphous teeth) which they use to grasp the head of the attacked snake and push it into the gullet. Then they coil around the prey, killing it by constriction (this is the reason these species are called pseudoboas). Ingestion of the whole body follows. The long body of the ingested snake is compressed as a wave in order to fit into the mussuranas' gastrointestinal system.
Reproduction.
Mussaranas are oviparous.
Venom.
Although mussuranas are rear-fanged and produce a mild venom, these snakes pose no danger to humans. Even when handled they usually do not bite. Very few envenomations have been reported and they were not fatal. Mussuranas are immune to the venom of the snakes they feed upon, particularly the smaller Central and South American pit vipers of the genus "Bothrops". They are not immune to the venom of the coral snake, though. In the absence of other snakes, mussuranas can feed also on small mammals. It has been reported that at least some captive specimens will accept only live snakes as prey.
Habitat and behavior.
The preferred habitat of mussuranas is dense ground-level vegetation. They are diurnal.
Conservation.
In some regions, farmers keep mussuranas as pets in order to keep their living environment clear of pit vipers, which claim annually a large number of deaths of domestic animals, like cattle. In the 1930s a Brazilian plan to breed and release large numbers of mussuranas for the control of pit vipers was tried but did not work. The Butantan Institute in São Paulo, which specializes in the production of antivenins, erected a statue of "Clelia clelia" as its symbol and a tribute to its usefulness in combating venomous snake bites. Mussuranas' immunity to bothropic venom was studied by the Brazilian scientist Vital Brazil in the 1920s. Mussuranas are increasingly rare due to the disappearance of their prey and have disappeared in many habitats.


Enantia limnorina

Enantia limnorina is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Brazil (Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro). The species was first described in 1865 by C. & R. Felder as "Leptalis limnorina".


Buthus ibericus

Buthus ibericus is a scorpion species found in western Spain and Portugal.


Mordellistena parapentas

Mordellistena parapentas is a species of beetle in the genus "Mordellistena" of the family Mordellidae. It was described by Ermisch in 1977 and is endemic to Italy.