Himalayan goral

The Himalayan goral ("Naemorhedus goral") is a bovid species found across the Himalayas. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List because the population is thought to be declining significantly due to habitat loss and hunting for meat.
Characteristics.
The Himalayan goral is in length and weighs . It has a gray or gray-brown coat with tan legs, lighter patches on its throat, and a single dark stripe along its spine. Males have short manes on their necks. Both males and females have backward-curving horns which can grow up to in length.
In addition to certain peculiarities in the form of the skull, gorals are chiefly distinguished from the closely related serows in that they do not possess preorbital glands below their eyes, nor corresponding depressions in their skulls.
Distribution and habitat.
Himalayan gorals are found in the forests of the Himalayas including Bhutan, northern India including Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal, southern Tibet, and possibly western Myanmar. They inhabit most of the southern slopes of the Himalayas from Jammu and Kashmir to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. In India and Nepal they are present at elevations from . In Pakistan they have been recorded from altitude but their present occurrence in Punjab is doubtful. Group home range size is typically around , with males occupying marked territories of during the mating season.
In Pakistan, a minimum of 370–1017 grey goral are distributed in seven isolated populations as of 2004.
Ecology and behaviour.
Himalayan goral often form small bands of four to twelve individuals, although they are also known to pair off or, especially in the case of older males, be solitary. The animal is crepuscular, being most active in the early morning and late evening. After a morning meal, it often drinks and then rests on a rock ledge through the day. It feeds on leaves and associated softer parts of plants, mainly grasses.
The Himalayan goral is very agile and can run quickly. Due to its coloration it is very well camouflaged, so that it is extremely difficult to sight it, especially since it spends much of the day lying still. However, it is hunted by various predators, notably the Himalayan wolf. When threatened, the Himalayan goral will vocalize with hissing or sneezing sounds.
Himalayan goral can live for 14 or 15 years. The female gives birth after a gestation period of 170–218 days, usually to a single offspring. The young are weaned at 7 or 8 months of age and reach sexual maturity at around 3 years.
Conservation.
"Naemorhedus goral" is listed in CITES Appendix I. It is listed as an endangered species in all of its range countries.


Codringtonia neocrassa

Codringtonia neocrassa is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.
Geographic distribution.
The native distribution of "C. neocrassa" includes southern Albania and north-western Greece (western Epirus and Corfu).


List of arachnids of the Indiana Dunes

Indiana Dunes National Park is a National Park Service unit on the shore of Lake Michigan in Indiana, United States. A BioBlitz took place there on May 15 and 16, 2009. During that time, a list of organisms was compiled which included a preliminary listing of the arachnids of the area.
List of arachnid species.
Acari
Spiders: Araneae


Elachista beorella

Elachista beorella is a moth of the family Elachistidae. It is found in Canada, where it has been recorded from Newfoundland.


Parnassius maharaja

Parnassius maharaja, the maharaja Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in India and west China. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus ("Parnassius") of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Range.
North-western India, west China
Status.
Local. Not known to be threatened.


Ctenosaura macrolopha

Ctenosaura macrolopha, the Sonoran spiny-tailed iguana, is a species of iguana native to Mexico.


Talas tuco-tuco

The Talas tuco-tuco ("Ctenomys talarum") is a species of tuco-tuco endemic to eastern Argentina.
Description.
The Talas tuco-tuco is a large rodent ranging in size from , more than twice the size of a house mouse. Its tail length varies from and it weighs approximately . The species shows significant sexual dimorphism. The Talas tuco-tuco basically has a cylindrically-shaped body, but is larger around the head and shoulders. It has short fine hair, which is normally a mix of hazel, gray and red on the back, and white on the underparts. It also has a distinct white patch on either side of the head, along the lower edge of its ears. Its eyes and ears are small compared to its headband it has very long, curved claws on all four feet.
Distribution and habitat.
The Talas tuco-tuco is subterranean, living in burrows. Only one inhabits a particular burrow at a time; however, some build extensive burrowing systems connecting individual burrows with tunnels. They prefer areas with loamy soil, grass, perennials plants and woody shrubs. In some cases, they can be found in sandy soils as well. They are usually found along the coasts of the Buenos Aires, La Pampa and Santa Fe provinces.
Biology.
Talas tuco-tucos are herbivorous, feeding on roots and grasses. Unlike most subterranean rodents, Talas tuco-tucos leave their burrows to forage for vegetation above ground.
Males can be sexually active throughout the year, but females have a much more restrictive breeding season, so that most pregnancies occur around August. An average litter consists of four offspring, with a slight about 1.63 females being born per male. The lactation period is estimated at about 45 days. In a study, one male was found to have copulated with all the females in the area.
Predators include the burrowing owl, short-eared owl, barn owl, and variable hawk. Lice that feed on the species include "Eulinognathus americanus", "Gyropus parvus", and "Phtheropoios forficulatus".
 Trichostrongylids can be found in the small intestine, and trichurids in the caecum of the Talas tuco-tuco.
Behavior.
The Talas tuco-tuco is solitary, aggressive and territorial. They use scent recognition to distinguish between individuals. Males engage in one on one confrontations with other males for prospective mates, using their sharp incisors as weapons. These can also be used as digging tools, but they prefer to use their claws when building their burrows. Although they are subterranean, they spend much of their time above the ground, foraging for food.


Oocatochus

Oocatochus is a genus of snake in the family Colubridae that contains the sole species Oocatochus rufodorsatus. It is known as the Chinese garter snake, frog-eating rat snake, or red-backed rat snake.
It is found in East Asia, in eastern China, Korea, and Russia. The Reptile Database also mentions Taiwan, but other sources do not support this.


Agyneta bueko

Agyneta bueko is a species of sheet weaver found in Nepal. It was described by Wunderlich in 1983.


Orgyia antiqua

Orgyia antiqua, the rusty tussock moth or vapourer, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Distribution and status.
"O. antiqua" is native to Europe, but now has a transcontinental distribution in the Palaearctic and the Nearctic regions.
The species is not on the IUCN (2007) Red List; and in the UK is considered a common resident.
Habitat.
In the UK, "O. antiqua" may be encountered in a variety of shrub-based habitats, including gardens, parks, open woodland, fens, hedgerows, heaths. and moors.
Description.
A striking dimorphism exists between the male and the female moths of this species. The male moth typically has orange- to red-brown (ochreous red and dark brown) wings; each fore wing has a white comma-shaped (tornal) spot. He has marked plumose (short, bipectinate) antennae. The wingspan measures between 35 and 38 mm. The female moth has vestigial wings and is flightless; she is light grey-brown (ochreous grey), has "shortly bipectinate" antennae, and a swollen abdomen. The compound eyes of the two genders differ not only with regard to their size, number of facets and internal organization and ultrastructure, but also with regard to their sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation
The hairy caterpillar is spectacular, with "humps", "horns", and a "tail" in a combination of dark grey, red, and yellow.
Lifecycle.
Egg.
Several hundred eggs are laid on the outside of the female's empty cocoon, usually attached to a host plant or something close by (e.g. fence, wall). The species overwinters in the egg stage. Each brownish egg is rounded, somewhat flattened top and bottom. A small darker depression is seen in the upperside.
Caterpillar.
The larvae hatch early in the spring, as soon as foliage starts to appear. They are easily recognized by their horn-like tufts of hair-like setae. Four toothbrush-like tufts occur along the back, and hair pencils project from the sides at the front and at the back. The body is dark grey to black, and red tubercules are along the sides and back.
They have defensive glands at the back, and wipe their setae against them to charge them with toxins. They grow to about 30–40 mm, females being considerably larger than males. In the UK, caterpillars can be found between May and early September.
The caterpillar is a minor forest pest in North America, and may become a pest in cities in the UK.
Pupa.
The pupa forms in a crevice (e.g. in tree bark or fence) inside a silk cocoon. It is glossy black and hairy.
Imago.
The male flies in a zigzag pattern—often high up in search of females—and is active during the day or at night. Males occasionally come to light. In New Brunswick, adult males are attracted to pheromone traps set in commercial forests for white-marked tussock moth ("O. leucostigma").
The female is flightless, spending her brief life attached to her cocoon. The female attracts other males via release of a pheromone, the males find the female via the concentration gradient of the released pheromone. The female mates and lays her grey-yellow eggs in large numbers on her fine-meshed cocoon.
The adult moths do not feed, so only live a short time. The two (sometimes three) generations fly from May till October; in North America, only one generation occurs in a year. In the UK, one protracted generation, from July to October in the south, and from September to October in the north, is believed to happen.
The males are diurnal, flying during the day, but are occasionally attracted to light.
Host plants.
Caterpillars are polyphagous and feed on a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, such as birch ("Betula"), "Crataegus", lime ("Citrus"), "Prunus", "Quercus", "Rubus", "Salix", "Tamarix", "Vaccinium", "Aeonium haworthii" or "Delonix regia".
In Scotland, the species is almost always found on birch, but has also been recorded damaging Sitka spruce.


Nebria composita composita

Nebria composita composita is a subspecies of ground beetle in the Nebriinae subfamily that can be found in Qinghai province and Tibet.


Melanophryniscus klappenbachi

Melanophryniscus klappenbachi (common name: Klappenbach's red-bellied frog) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Gran Chaco in northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), and possibly in Bolivia. Its specific name refers to , a Uruguayan zoologist.
Its natural habitats are shrublands, and it can also be found in disturbed areas such as livestock farms. It is an explosive breeder utilizing temporary pools.
Alkaloids produce toxins when consumed in large amounts, and one of the toxins that is given off is batrachotoxin-homobatrachotoxin, which contributes to the toxicity of the species. When fed diets with low levels of alkaloids, there was a decrease in the amount of this toxin produced.
"Melanophryniscus klappenbachi" is a common species facing no significant threats. It is present in the international pet trade.


Philautus petilus

Philautus petilus is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae.
It is endemic to Laos.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.


Rhinogobius duospilus

Rhinogobius duospilus is a species of goby native to China and Vietnam where they can be found in fresh or brackish waters. This species can reach a length of TL. In their natural environment these fish consume larvae or other similar creatures, but they can be fed brine shrimp or blood worms.


Calosima fabulae

Calosima fabulae is a moth in the family Blastobasidae which is endemic to Costa Rica.


Heligmomerus taprobanicus

Heligmomerus taprobanicus, is a species of spider of the genus "Heligmomerus". It is endemic to Sri Lanka.


Asaphocrita alogiae

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


Alagoas heart-tongued frog

The Alagoas heart-tongued frog ("Phyllodytes acuminatus") is a species of frog in the family Hylidae, the tree frogs and allies. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known from coastal regions in Bahia, Alagoas, and Pernambuco.
This frog is associated with bromeliads. It is a common and widespread species but its populations are decreasing due to habitat loss.
This species can be differentiated from other members of genus "Phyllodytes" by the double row of papillae surrounding its mouth.


Greater necklaced laughingthrush

The greater necklaced laughingthrush ("Pterorhinus pectoralis") is a species of passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. It is introduced to the United States. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
This species was formerly placed in the genus "Garrulax" but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus "Pterorhinus".


Sand gerbil

The sand gerbil ("Gerbillus syrticus") is distributed mainly in northeastern Libya. Less than 250 individuals are thought to be left in existence. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the pygmy gerbil.


Abronia lythrochila

Abronia lythrochila is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae known by the common name red-lipped arboreal alligator lizard.
Distribution.
This species is endemic to the state of Chiapas in Mexico.
Habitat.
This species lives in montane dry pine-oak forest, at an elevation of 2000–3000 m. It has a relatively small range but it is common there; it is threatened by deforestation but much of its range is in protected areas, including Lagunas de Montebello National Park.
Description.
These lizards can reach a length of about 7 – 11 Inches. The basic body colour is greenish-olive, with irregular dark blotches. They show spiny horn-like scales on each sides of the head, The infralabials are blood-red (hence the common name). The tail is prehensile.
Biology.
They mainly feed on insects.


Brachychilus literatus

Brachychilus literatus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Blanchard in 1851. It is known from Chile.


Craugastor berkenbuschii

Craugastor berkenbuschii is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae.
It is endemic to Mexico.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


Zonites algirus

Zonites algirus is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropodmollusk in the family Zonitidae.
Distribution.
This species occurs in Turkey, southern France and other areas.


Diploderma micangshanense

Diploderma micangshanense is a species of lizard native to China.


Fauna of Bangladesh

The fauna of Bangladesh includes about 1,600 species of vertebrate fauna and about 1,000 species of invertebrate fauna based on incomplete records. The vertebrate fauna consists of roughly 22 species of amphibians, 708 species of fish, 126 -species of reptiles, 628 species of birds and 113 species of mammals. The invertebrate fauna includes about 30 species of aphids, 20 species of bees, 178 species of beetles, 135 species of flies, 400 species of spiders, 150 species of lepidopterans 52 species of decapods, 30 species of copepods, 2 species of starfish and some species of sand dollars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Bangladesh's wide variety of ecological conditions, encompassing the long sea coast, numerous rivers and their tributaries, lakes, , , ponds and other forms of wetlands, lowland evergreen forests of tropical nature, semi-evergreen forest, hill forests, moist deciduous forests, swamps, and flat lands with tall grasses, has ensured the vast diversity of species found in the country. However, the increasing population, unplanned urbanization and expansion of agriculture and industry have been significantly affecting the ecological structure of Bangladesh, leaving several species extinct and many others endangered.
Invertebrates.
The invertebrate fauna so far recorded in Bangladesh comprises about 1,000 species. 18 species of bees have been discovered. Most of them are solitary bees consisting of 11 species. The rest include 4 of honeybees, 2 of bumblebees and the only stingless bee species, "Trigona fuscobaltiata".
There are a total of 35 species of scarab dung beetles found under 8 genera. The most common genus is "Onthophagus". Another 30 species of leaf-eating scarabeids are also found. The ladybirds includes about 93 species, 80 of which are beneficial. 20 species of fireflies have also been discovered in the country.
The most common indoor flies include housefly, the lesser housefly, the stable fly, the blue bottle fly, the green bottle flies and the flesh flies. The common outdoor flies include the black flies, the deer flies, the horse flies, the hover flies, the crane flies and some muscoids. There are also some 113 species of mosquitos discovered in Bangladesh, the most common genera are "Anopheles", "Culex", "Aedes", "Mansonia", "Psorophora" and "Haemagogus".
More than 400 species of spiders are found under 134 genera, and 22 families. The largest family is Araneidae, consisting of some 90 species.
About 124 species of butterflies have been discovered. Most of the species dwell in the northeast and southeast regions of the country. There are also some species of moths, most commonly the snout moths, "Scirpophaga incertulas", "Chilo polychrysus", "Cnaphalocrocis medinalis", "Achyra nudalis", "Scirpophaga nivella", "Leucinodes orbonalis", "Corcyra cephalonica", "Plodia interpunctella" and soforth.
Many species of fresh and marine-water crabs, shrimps and lobsters have also been recorded in Bangladesh. 4 species of freshwater and 11 species of marine crabs have been discovered. The most commercially exploited species of the coastal area is "Scylla serrata" (mud crab). There are at least two species of king crabs found in the coastal zone. About 10 species of freshwater shrimp/prawns and 19 species of marine shrimps are recorded. Six species of lobsters are found to occur in the Bay of Bengal, "Panulirus polyphagus" and "Thenus orientalis" are the two most commercially important species. "Daphnia" is a common freshwater genus among the 20 copepod species. Two species of starfish have also been recorded.
Vertebrates.
The vertebrate fauna includes about 1,600 species. Fishes hold the largest number of species among them. Of the 708 species of fishes, 442 are marine and the rests are of fresh and brackish waters. The marine fishes are split into 18 orders and 123 families. Their species include 56 of cartilaginous fishes and 386 of bony fishes. The 266 species of inland fishes belong to 61 families, of which Cyprinidae is the largest, having 61 species. There are also 55 species of catfishes found in the fresh waters of Bangladesh.
The amphibians in Bangladesh include only the species of the order Anura. From the 22 amphibian species, 8 are recognized as threatened. The number of reptiles species found is 126 which includes 109 inland and 17 marine species. From the 109 inland reptiles, 2 are crocodilians, 21 turtles and tortoises, 18 lizards, and 67 snakes. The marine reptiles comprise 12 snakes and 5 turtles.
There are 628 species of birds found in Bangladesh under 16 orders and 67 families, including 276 passerines. Resident species total 388 (including 171 passerines) under 16 orders and 60 families, while the remaining 240 species (including 105 passerines) under 10 orders and 33 families are migratory. The mammals of Bangladesh comprise 110 species of inland mammals under 12 orders and 35 families, and three species of marine mammals only from the order Cetacea.
Conservation efforts.
So far a number of creatures have disappeared completely from the country and a further 201 species are threatened. The dhole, also called the Asiatic wild dog, is now endangered by habitat and prey-species loss and human persecution. Notable animal species that have disappeared from Bangladesh are the greater one-horned rhinoceros, the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, the gaur, the banteng, swamp deer, nilgai, Indian wolf, wild water buffalo, marsh crocodile and common peafowl.
The majority of the human population lives in or around large cities and this has helped to limit deforestation to some extent. However, the growth rate continues to increase and this has placed large demands on the environment and lead to subsequent clearing of numerous natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large portion of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by this growth.
In 2016, conservationists surveying the super-remote, little-known Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh took the country's first ever photos of the sun bear and gaur. Moreover, the team also captured photos of the Himalayan serow, Asian golden cat, sambar deer, barking deer, leopard cat and dhole. Locals in the Chittagong Hill Tracts led conservationists to a new population of Arakan forest turtle. Once thought extinct, the critically endangered species was assumed only to survive in neighbouring Myanmar.
Olive ridley sea turtles nest on the shores of Bangladesh, where they are threatened by marine plastic pollution.


Bythinella viridis

Bythinella viridis is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Amnicolidae. This species is found in Belgium and France.


Boana phaeopleura

Boana phaeopleura is a species of frog in the family Hylidae that is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Austromerope brasiliensis

The forcepfly Austromerope brasiliensis is one of only two living representatives of the genus "Austromerope" (the other is the Australian "Austromerope poultoni"). It is apparently endemic to Brazil, with large forceps-like structures at the tail and two pairs of wings. Only adults are known - no larval stage has been seen.


Rufous-backed wren

The rufous-backed wren ("Campylorhynchus capistratus") is a songbird of the family Troglodytidae, the wrens. It is a resident breeding species from southwest Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica.
This large wren breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to altitude in forest or open woodland, scrub, second growth and savanna. It is found mainly on the Pacific side of the central mountain ranges. Its spherical nest has a side entrance and is lined with seed down. It is constructed high in thorny trees or shrubs, especially bull's-horn acacia. This species sometimes nests close to the nests of wasps and there is experimental evidence that those that do so are afforded substantial protection from predation by doing so.
The female alone incubates the three to five brown- or black-spotted white eggs for about two weeks until hatching, and the young fledge after about the same length of time again. After breeding, families sleep together in dormitory nests like those used for breeding.
The adult rufous-backed wren is long and weighs . It has a black crown and eyestripe separated by a strong white supercilium, a rufous nape, and cinnamon-brown upperparts streaked with black and white, especially on the rump. The wings and tail are barred with black and greyish-white. The underparts are white. Young birds have duller upperparts and buff underparts.
This species has a short rasping call. The song is a mix of rich whistles, chatters and gurgles often given as a duet.
The rufous-naped wren forages actively in low vegetation in pairs or family groups. It eats mainly insects, spiders and other invertebrates. This species is often tame and inquisitive.
Three main populations vary markedly in size and coloration, and now represent separate species: Veracruz wren (restricted to central coastal Veracruz), Sclater's wren (north and west from western Chiapas), and rufous-backed wren (south and east from western Chiapas). They were previously considered conspecific and called the rufous-naped wren. Some taxonomic authorities do not recognize the split, including the American Ornithological Society.


Euscorpius beroni

Euscorpius beroni is a scorpion species endemic to Albania.


Birinus russeolus

Birinus is a monotypic snout moth genus. Its only species, Birinus russeolus, is found in Guyana. Both the genus and species were described by Carl Heinrich in 1956.


Hemidactylus foudaii

Hemidactylus foudaii is a species of gekko in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to North Africa.
Etymology.
The specific name, "foudaii", is in honor of Egyptian conservationist Moustafa Mokhtar Fouda.
Geographic range.
"H. foudaii" is found in Egypt and possibly Sudan.
Habitat.
The natural habitats of "H. foudaii" are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas.
Conservation status.
"H. foudaii" is threatened by habitat loss.
Further reading.
Baha El Din SM (2003). "A new species of "Hemidactylus" (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Egypt". "African J. Herp." 52 (1): 39–47. ("Hemidactylus foudaii", new species).


Ulemosaurus

Ulemosaurus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids that lived 265 to 260 million years ago, at Isheevo in Russian Tatarstan. It was a tapinocephalid, a group of bulky herbivores which flourished in the Middle Permian. "Ulemosaurus" and other tapinocephalians disappeared at the end of the Middle Permian.
Description.
Only several partial skeletons and skulls have been found. The skull bones are extremely dense: about at its thickest. This thickening is possibly related to head-butting behavior, as some researchers suggest. The species is considered a herbivore, but because the mandible is heavily constructed some palaeontologists consider it a carnivore, with the species being able to use muscle power to cut prey up with its incisors.
Classification.
Ulemosaurus is a large "Moschops"-like form from Russia; it is probably similar enough to be included as a separate species of "Moschops". Despite its advanced characteristics, it lived slightly before the Karoo forms, showing that the Moschopines, and indeed the Tapinocephalidae in general, had already attained their acme by early Capitanian time.


Platylomia viridimaculata

Platylomia viridimaculata is a cicada species from Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.


Procapperia tadzhica

Procapperia tadzhica is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Tajikistan and is native to the country.


Stripe-tailed hummingbird

The stripe-tailed hummingbird ("Eupherusa eximia") is a species of hummingbird endemic to subtropical moist forest and adjacent clearings of Middle America, from the Gulf slope of southeastern Mexico to Panama.
Description.
This medium-sized hummingbird can measure up to long, and weigh up to . The male has metallic green upperparts that grade to bronze at the rump and tail. It sports a conspicuous rufous wing patch when the wings are folded. The underwing is mostly rufous-cinnamon. The namesake striped tail is formed by dark bronze green central rectrices and outer rectrices which have black outer webs, white inner webs and broad black tips. The female has a metallic green back but her underparts and the sides of her face are light brownish grey. On both sexes, the bill is straight and black.
The female lays two white eggs in a small cup nest lined with plant fibres.
The white-tailed hummingbird and the Oaxaca hummingbird are sometimes considered subspecies of this species.


Wiehlenarius boreus

Wiehlenarius boreus is a species of Araneomorph spider in the Linyphiidae family.
The species is endemic to Russia. It is known from Siberia.


Brown-eared woolly opossum

The brown-eared woolly opossum ("Caluromys lanatus"), also known as the western woolly opossum, is an opossum from South America. It was first described by German naturalist Ignaz von Olfers in 1818. The opossum is characterized by a brown to reddish brown coat and similarly colored limbs, yellow to orange underbelly, hairless, brown ears with a hint of pink, and a tail furred on the back for up to half of its length. The brown-eared woolly opossum is nocturnal (active mainly at night), solitary and omnivorous. The IUCN lists it as least concern.
Taxonomy.
The brown-eared woolly opossum is one of the three members of "Caluromys", and is placed in the family Didelphidae. It was first described by German naturalist Ignaz von Olfers as "Didelphys lanata" in 1818. It was given its present binomial name, "Caluromys lanatus", by American zoologist Joel Asaph Allen in 1900.
A 1955 revision of marsupial phylogeny grouped "Caluromys", "Caluromysiops", "Dromiciops" (monito del monte) and "Glironia" (bushy-tailed opossum) under a single subfamily, Microbiotheriinae, noting the dental similarities among these. A 1977 study argued that these similarities are the result of convergent evolution, and placed "Caluromys", "Caluromysiops" and "Glironia" in a new subfamily, Caluromyinae. In another similar revision, the bushy-tailed opossum was placed in its own subfamily, Glironiinae.
The following four subspecies are recognized:
Two additional subspecies, "C. l. nattereri" and "C. l. vitalinus", are sometimes recognised, but have been considered to be junior synonyms of "C. l. lanatus" and "C. l. ochropus", respectively.
The cladogram below, based on a 2016 study, shows the phylogenetic relationships of the brown-eared woolly opossum.
Description.
The brown-eared woolly opossum is characterized by a brown to reddish brown coat and similarly colored limbs, yellow to orange underbelly, hairless, brown ears with a hint of pink, and a tail furred up to half of its length dorsally (on the back) and up to 20% of its length at the base. The coat may be tinged with gray, and develops a shade of orange on the shoulders, limbs and the crown; young are typically grayer. The fur is fairly long, soft and thick. The tail becomes less bushy towards the tip, leaving the last 30% of the length bare. This naked part is typically white with a yellowish tinge, and spotted with brown. Faint orange rings circle the eyes on the grayish white face. A dark stripe runs up the nose and between the eyes up to the back of the ears. The subspecies may vary in coloration; "C. l. circur" is largely grayish brown, while "C. l. lanatus" is a pale brown and does not show spots on the tail.
The head-and-body length is between , and the tail is long. The opossum weighs . Hindfeet measure , and the ears measure . The dental formula is – typical of didelphids. The brown-eared opossum differs from the bare-tailed woolly opossum in having a bushier tail (in the bare-tailed opossum, the tail turns bare abruptly after the first one-third of the length) and a pouch that opens to the front rather than along the midline. Derby's woolly opossum differs from the brown-eared opossum in having white limbs and gray fur between the shoulders. The brown-eared opossum differs from other opossums in having a comparatively large braincase.
Distribution and status.
The brown-eared woolly opossum inhabits humid tropical forests (such as primary, secondary and gallery forests), plantations, in mangrove and xerophytic forests, and even in the more densely wooded parts of the cerrado and pantanal. It typically occurs up to above the sea level, though individuals have been recorded up to . The range lies to the east of the Andes – from Bolivia, central Colombia, eastern Ecuador, Peru and western and southern Venezuela to northeastern Argentina, western, central and southern Brazil, eastern and southern Paraguay. The IUCN lists this opossum as least concern given its wide distribution and presumably large numbers, though it is threatened by deforestation in some parts of the range.
Ecology and behavior.
The brown-eared woolly opossum is nocturnal (active mainly at night) and solitary, though individuals have been observed foraging in pairs. These opossums are omnivorous and feed on fruits (of plants such as "Cecropia", "Piper" and Solanaceae species), nectar, small invertebrates and vertebrates. A study presented it as a typical frugivore, with a well-developed cecum. By feeding on nectar, the opossum could probably help in the pollination of "Pseudobombax tomentosum" and "Quararibea cordata" flowers. They are nocturnal, and generally silent and solitary, although they have occasionally been seen foraging in pairs.
The estrus cycle is 27–29 days long; females will develop a pouch prior to carrying young. The litter size ranges from one to four, while the bare-tailed woolly opossum can have up to seven young.


Silphedosuchus

Silphedosuchus is an extinct genus of therocephalian therapsids from the Early Triassic of Russia. It is a member of the family Ericiolacertidae, along with the genus "Ericiolacerta" from South Africa and Antarctica. The type species "Silphedosuchus orenburgensis" was described in 1977 on the basis of a single holotype skull from Orenburg Oblast.
"Silphedosuchus" was found in the Rassypnaya locality of Orenburg Oblast, dating back to the Olenekian stage of the Early Triassic. It was found in a fine-grained sandstone that contains few other vertebrates. This layer was deposited in a large floodplain that covered much of European Russia during the Early Triassic. At the Rassypnaya locality, a lens of coarser sand, presumably deposited by an ancient river, cuts through the finer-grained sandstone. This deposit contains many tetrapods such as temnospondyls and archosauromorphs, but the fossils are part of a different faunal assemblage.
The skull is about long, with a long and pointed snout. "Silphedosuchus" lacks the large canine teeth present in most other therocephalians, and has rounded crushing teeth at the back of the jaws with several cusps. "Silphedosuchus" has large orbits or eye sockets with raised edges. The eye socket is not entirely closed because the postorbital process, which forms the posterior margin of the orbit, does not reach the jugal bone below, which forms the bottom margin of the orbit. Characters that distinguish "Silphedosuchus" from "Ericiolacerta" include a narrow contact between the palatine and vomer bones on the roof of the mouth, a contact between the vomer and the maxilla that is positioned farther forward, and very wide buccal or cheek teeth.


Incilius bocourti

Incilius bocourti (formerly "Bufo bocourti"; common name Bocourt's toad) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in southwestern Guatemala and in Chiapas in the adjacent Mexico. Its phylogenetic position is uncertain; it might not to belong to this genus, being the sister taxon of "Anaxyrus" instead. It is named after Marie Firmin Bocourt, a French zoologist and artist.
Its natural habitats are coniferous highlands, but it can also occur heavily disturbed, treeless areas. Breeding takes place in temporary ponds. There are no major threats to it.


Platyptilia gravior

Platyptilia gravior is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is known from Costa Rica.
The wingspan is 24–28 mm. Adults are on wing in April, May and June.


Nidirana pleuraden

The Yunnan pond frog ("Nidirana pleuraden") is a species of frog in the family Ranidae found in south-western China (Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces) and possibly in adjacent parts of Myanmar. The total length of this medium-sized frog is .
Its natural habitats are swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, ponds, aquaculture ponds, open excavations, irrigated land, seasonally flooded agricultural land, canals, and ditches. It is a common species, though it has recently declined.


Stigmella fibigeri

Stigmella fibigeri is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It was described by Puplesis and Diškus in 2003. It is endemic to Nepal where it is found on elevation of .


List of non-marine molluscs of the Pitcairn Islands

The non-marine molluscs of Pitcairn Islands are a part of the molluscan fauna of the Pitcairn Islands.
There is a high degree of endemism of these species.
Gastropoda.
Land gastropods.
Land gastropods and semi-terrestrial gastropods include:
Hydrocenidae
Helicinidae
Assimineidae
Ellobiidae
Achatinellidae
Pupillidae
Vertiginidae
Subulinidae
Endodontidae
Charopidae
Helicarionidae
Pristilomatidae
Gastrodontidae
Agriolimacidae


Smooth-billed ani

The smooth-billed ani ("Crotophaga ani") is a large near passerine bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, northern Argentina and southern Chile. It was introduced to Galápagos around the 1960s and is potentially impacting native and endemic species across the archipelago.
Description.
The smooth-billed ani is a mid-sized species, larger on average than the groove-billed ani but smaller than the greater ani. It measures in length and weighs . The adult is mainly flat black, with a long tail, deep ridged black bill and a brown iris. The flight is weak and wobbly, but the bird runs well and usually feeds on the ground. This species is called "el pijul" in Venezuelan folklore. It is mentioned in the popular Veracruz song "El Pijul".
Habitat.
This ani is found in open and semi-open country and areas under cultivation. The nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky blue eggs in the nest and then share incubation and feeding. This common and conspicuous species has greatly benefited from deforestation.
Declining.
Smooth-billed ani declines in South Florida as state delays protection decision.
Breeding.
Each female is capable of laying up to seven eggs, and nests have been found containing up to 29 eggs, but it is rare for more than ten to hatch. Incubation is 13–15 days, with another 10 days to fledging. Up to three broods may be raised in a season, with the young of earlier broods helping to feed more recent chicks.
Diet and calls.
This is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups. The calls include a whining "ooo-leeek". The smooth-billed ani feeds on termites, large insects and even lizards and frogs. They will occasionally remove ticks and other parasites from grazing animals.


North-east Saint Helena Important Bird Area

The North-east Saint Helena Important Bird Area is a 48 km2 tract of land covering about 39% of the island of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports several colonies of breeding seabirds, including the red-billed tropicbird, as well as much of the remaining habitat of the endemic, and critically endangered, Saint Helena plover.
Description.
The site covers north-eastern Saint Helena, from the eastern end of Diana's Peak National Park to the basaltic stacks of Shore Island, George Island and other offshore rocks which support the seabird colonies. The three vegetation zones comprise an arid, eroded lowland below 350 m, an intermediate zone at 350–500 m of pasture and non-indigenous woodland, and a moist highland zone characterised by woodland and flax plantations. The coast is dominated by sea cliffs rising mainly to between 300–570 m. The islets are bare with heavy guano deposits.
Localities within the site include eight Saint Helena plover breeding sites – Bottomwoods, Deadwood Plain, Horse Point Plain, Longwood Farm, Sane Valley, Prosperous Bay North, Prosperous Bay Plain and Upper Prosperous Bay. Horse Point Plain is the only place from which live specimens of the critically endangered, possibly extinct, invertebrates "Labidura herculeana" and "Aplothorax burchelli" have been recorded. There are also important fossil sites at Dry Gut, Flagstaff Hill, Prosperous Bay and Sugarloaf.


List of fishes in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country with thousands of rivers and ponds and is notable for being a fish-loving nation, acquiring the name "Machh-e Bhat-e Bangali" which means, "Bengali by fish and rice".
Ilish is the national fish of the country where it contributes 13% of country's total fish production. Fish are caught both from natural resources and by farming in self-made ponds.


Proburnetia

Proburnetia is an extinct genus of biarmosuchian therapsids in the family Burnetiidae, from the Late Permian of Russia. It had bizarre bumps and protrusions on its skull.
 "Proburnetia" had a 20 cm skull, and a total length up to 1.5 m.


Yanomamia hoogmoedi

Yanomamia hoogmoedi is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Guyana.


Stenodactylus grandiceps

Stenodactylus grandiceps, also known as the Jordan short-fingered gecko or stout gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is found in the Middle East.


Ichthyolestes

Ichthyolestes ("fish thief") is an extinct genus of archaic cetacean that was endemic to Indo-Pakistan during the Lutetian stage. To date, this monotypic genus is only represented by "Ichthyolestes pinfoldi."
Like other members of the Family Pakicetidae, which are considered the earliest and least specialized of the archaic cetaceans, "Ichthyolestes" represents an early quadrupedal phase of the land-to-sea transition which occurs in the cetacean lineage.
Discovery and Classification.
"I. pinfoldi" was initially known only from teeth, which were found in the Eocene locality Ganda Kas, Pakistan. Upon their discovery, "I. pinfoldi" was placed within the Family Mesonychidae, a group of terrestrial mammals from which cetaceans were previously thought to have evolved. Due to morphological distinctions from other mesonychids, "I. pinfoldi" was later acknowledged and described as an archaeocete, making it the first Pakicetid to be described.
Cranial and postcranial material of "I. pinfoldi" have also been found in the Kuldana Formation, Pakistan, from the early-middle Eocene, and from the Subathu sediments of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Description.
"Ichthyolestes" is the smallest Pakicetid, approximately 29% smaller than "Pakicetus", and has been considered “fox-sized.” They retain many features typical of terrestrial Eocene artiodactyls, including long and gracile limb bones, a fused sacrum, small mandibular foramen, and no cranial telescoping. The body plan of "Ichthyolestes" is generally similar to "Pakicetus", but smaller and more gracile. Therefore, locomotion is also thought to be reliant on quadrupedal paddling.
Teeth.
"Ichthyolestes" exhibits heterodont and diphyodont dentition with cusped cheek teeth. The upper second molar has pointed cusps with a high narrow paracone and a lower connate metacone behind it. The molars are also relatively labio-lingually compressed with serrated crests along the labial cusps.
Cranial.
"Ichthyolestes" has dorsally oriented eyes and a narrow skull, which is smaller than the skulls of both "Pakicetus" and "Nalacetus". Like other Pakicetids, "Ichthyolestes" lacks a supraorbital shield; however, there is some variation in supraorbital morphology between the three genera. The supraorbital region of "Ichthyolestes" and "Pakicetus" is cup-like and cradles the dorsal portion of the eye. "Ichthyolestes" also has a weaker incisure on the dorsal side of the supraorbital region compared to "Pakicetus".
All three Pakicetid taxa largely retained the peripheral ear morphology of terrestrial mammals, but likely used bone conducting mechanisms when hearing underwater. The tympanic bulla also differs between Pakicetid taxa. The absolute size of "Ichthyolestes" tympanic bulla is smaller than either "Pakicetus" or "Nalacetus"; but when compared relative to their body size, the tympanic bulla of "Ichthyolestes" is proportionally larger than that of "Pakicetus".
The semicircular canal system of the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear, which is involved in neural control of locomotion, is similar in size to that of Eocene artiodactyls. They do not show the size reduction as seen in other Pakicetids and Eocene cetaceans like "Remingtonocetus", "Indocetus", and "Dorudon", which have canal sizes within the upper range of modern cetaceans. This suggests that "Ichthyolestes" had not fully invaded aquatic ecosystems and still remained somewhat terrestrial.
Postcranial.
Although "Ichthyolestes" is the smallest Pakicetid, some features are larger or more robust than "Nalacetus", such as the astragalus, calcaneus, and pelvis. "Ichthyolestes" also has proportionally longer lumbar and caudal vertebrae relative to its shorter limb segments.
"Ichthyolestes" also has long digits and strong post-thoracic vertebrae. The sacrum is composed of four elongate vertebrae with complete fusion, except for the spinous processes of S2 to S4 which are columnar with smooth ventral faces. The lumbar vertebrae are narrower and shallower to "Pakicetus" and "Nalacetus". Although still relatively large compared to other related taxa, the atlas vertebrae of "Ichthyolestes" is smaller and more gracile than "Pakicetus" or "Nalacetus", and the neural canal is disproportionately large.
Terrestrial or Semi-aquatic Locomotion.
The astragalus bone, which is present in the ankle of artiodactyls and archaic whales that retained feet, has similar dimensions in both Eocene artiodactyls and "Ichtyolestes". In addition to lending evidence to the theory of a direct relationship between artiodactyls and cetaceans, this knowledge has led to two competing hypotheses about the locomotion of "Ichtyolestes" and other Pakicetids. The first states that "Ichtyolestes" and "Pakicetus" were terrestrial and cursorial, implying that aquatic locomotor adaptation occurred after the origin of Cetacea. The second states that "Ichtyolestes" and "Pakicetus" were already semi-aquatic and cetaceans originated from an earlier unknown Eocene artiodactyl, such as "Elomeryx" or "Indohyus," implying that aquatic locomotor adaptations occurred before or during the origin of Cetacea.
Although the postcranial anatomy of "Ichtyolestes" is similar to that of Eocene artiodactyls and implies cursoriality, the assessment of bone morphology and microstructure indicate that they, and other Pakicetids, were semi-aquatic like Protocetids. Hypermineralization occurs in all regions of the skeleton; in particular, the long bones and ribs had small or absent marrow cavities due to the thick cortices which developed. Hypermineralization of load-bearing skeletal elements put "Ichtyolestes" at an increased risk of fractures during prolonged terrestrial loading and this risk increased with velocity, implying that terrestriality was limited. Additionally, the dense skeletons may have allowed bottom-walking or wading in shallow pools as it would counteract buoyancy created by inflated lungs and fur-trapped air. Therefore, the retention of an artiodactyl-like astragalus does not signify full terrestriality or cursoriality in "Ichtyolestes".
Paleoenvironment.
Fossil findings indicate "Ichthyolestes" shared habitat with its relatives "Pakicetus" and "Nalacetus". Their fossils are usually found around river channel deposits, not marine deposits or fauna. The regions around northern Pakistan and northwest India, where fossils have been recovered, are thought to have been an arid environment with ephemeral streams and moderately developed floodplains. "Ichthyolestes", therefore, had an affinity for water and were either terrestrial or semi-aquatic. The fluvial facies of the lower Kuldana Formation represent shallow tropical riverine complexes and were likely habitats for the initial stages of transition into water.
External Sources.
Ichthyolestes in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved June 2013.


Otter civet

The otter civet ("Cynogale bennettii") is a semiaquatic viverrid native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It is listed as "Endangered" because of a serious ongoing population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the past three generations (estimated to be 15 years), inferred from direct habitat destruction, and indirect inferred declines due to pollutants.
"Cynogale" is a monospecific genus.
Characteristics.
The otter civet possesses several adaptations to its habitat, including a broad mouth and webbed feet with naked soles and long claws. Its muzzle is long with numerous long whiskers. It is in many ways similar to the Hose's palm civet ("Diplogale hosei") but has a shorter tail and no whitish underparts.
Distribution and habitat.
Otter civets are distributed in Sumatra, Borneo and peninsular Thailand. Preferred habitat appears to be lowland primary forest, but they have also been recorded in secondary forest, bamboo and logged forest. The supposed origin of Lowe's otter civet ("C. lowei") known only from one holotype found in 1926 in northern Vietnam was not confirmed.
They are thought to be largely confined to peat swamp forests, though there are recent records from lowland dry forest.
In March 2005, an otter civet was camera trapped within an acacia plantation in central Sarawak during 1,632 trap-nights. Between July 2008 and January 2009, ten otter civets were photographed in an area of about in Sabah's Deramakot Forest Reserve, a lowland tropical rainforest in Borneo ranging in altitude from . In May 2009, the presence of otter civets was documented for the first time in central Kalimantan, where two individuals were photographed in the Sabangau Peat-swamp Forest at an elevation of about .
Ecology and behaviour.
The otter civet is a nocturnal species that obtains most of its food from the water, feeding on fish, crabs and freshwater mollusks. It can also climb to feed on birds and fruit. Given its rarity and secretive nature it is a very poorly known species.
Threats.
Conversion of peat swamp forests to oil palm plantations is a major threat. There is no evidence that the species is specifically hunted, but as a ground-dwelling species it is exposed to snares and other ground-level traps set for other species.
Clear-cut logging is one of the major factors contributing to decline in suitable habitat, and even selective logging may sufficiently alter habitat such that it is the species can no longer occupy it; combined, this loss of primary forest may be responsible for the current rarity of the otter civet.
Conservation.
"Cynogale bennettii" is listed in CITES Appendix II.


Epicrionops parkeri

Epicrionops parkeri, or Parker's caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Rhinatrematidae endemic to Colombia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and intermittent rivers.


Gyraulus bekaensis

Gyraulus bekaensis is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.
The specific name "bekaensis" is named after the Beqaa Governorate, where it occurs.
Distribution.
The type locality is Aammiq, Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon.
Habitat.
In freshwater habitats.


Pseudacanthicus fordii

Pseudacanthicus fordii is a species of armored catfish endemic to Suriname where it occurs in the coastal river drainages. This species grows to a length of TL.


Macropholidus huancabambae

Macropholidus huancabambae is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Peru.


Chinese pond heron

The Chinese pond heron ("Ardeola bacchus") is an East Asian freshwater bird of the heron family, (Ardeidae).
It is one of six species of birds known as "pond herons" (genus "Ardeola"). It is parapatric (or nearly so) with the Indian pond heron ("A. grayii") to the west and the Javan pond heron ("A. speciosa") to the south, and these three are presumed to form a superspecies. As a group they are variously affiliated with the squacco heron ("A. ralloides") or the Malagasy pond heron ("A. idae"). As of mid-2011 there are no published molecular analyses of pond heron interrelationships and osteological data is likewise not analyzed for all relevant comparison taxa.
Description and ecology.
The Chinese pond heron is typically long with white wings, a yellow bill with a black tip, yellow eyes and legs. Its overall colour is red, blue and white during breeding season, and greyish-brown and flecked with white at other times.
It is found in shallow fresh and salt water wetlands and ponds in China and adjacent temperate and subtropical East Asia. Essentially a lowland bird, its range is delimited by the subarctic regions in the north, and by the mountain ranges in the west and south.
The species is prone to some vagrancy. One individual in breeding plumage was seen by the river at Bonzon near Gangaw – just inside the Chin State of Burma – west of the species' usual range, on April 8, 1995. A stray bird stopping over on Saint Paul Island, Alaska on August 4–9, 1997 was the first recorded occurrence of this species in North America.
Its food consists of insects, fish, and crustaceans. The Chinese pond heron often nests in mixed-species heronries. It lays a clutch of 3–6 blue-green eggs.
It is fairly common and not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.


White-tailed tropicbird

The white-tailed tropicbird "(Phaethon lepturus)" is a species of tropicbird. It is the smallest of three closely related seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tropical Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It also breeds on some Caribbean islands, and a few pairs have started nesting recently on Little Tobago, joining the red-billed tropicbird colony. In addition to the tropical Atlantic, it nests as far north as Bermuda, where it is locally called a "longtail".
Taxonomy.
There are six subspecies:
Description.
The adult white-tailed tropicbird is a slender, mainly white bird, 71–80 cm long including the very long central tail feathers, which double its total length. The wingspan is 89–96 cm. The bird has a black band on the inner wing, a black eye-mask, and an orange-yellow to orange-red bill. The bill colour, pure white back and black wing bar distinguish this species from the red-billed tropicbird.
The white-tailed tropicbird breeds on tropical islands, laying a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge. It disperses widely across the oceans when not breeding, and sometimes wanders far. It feeds on fish and squid, caught by surface plunging, but this species is a poor swimmer. The call is a high screamed "". Sexes are similar, although males on average are longer tailed, but juveniles lack the tail streamers, have a green-yellow bill, and a finely barred back. The white-tailed tropicbird does not have a yearly breeding cycle; instead, breeding frequency depends on the climate and availability of suitable breeding sites. The bird can reproduce 10 months after the last successful breeding, or 5 months after an unsuccessful one.
Behavior.
The white-tailed tropicbird feeds mainly on flying fish, squid and crabs. It catches its prey by diving from height of up to 20 meters, as do gannets. However, flying fish are caught in flight. It usually feeds in pairs. Prey is often detected by hovering above the surface as the bird swallows it before taking off.
Conservation status.
Population trends are unknown. In Mexico it is not under any category of protection, and no specific conservation programs for these tropicbirds are known. However, the species is found in various conservation programs as an American waterfowl. It is recommended to conduct studies on the biology of this species at sea, as well as monitoring of breeding colonies. Globally it is considered a species of Least Concern.
Folklore.
The ancient Chamorro people called the white-tailed tropicbird "utak" or "itak", and believed that when it screamed over a house it meant that someone would soon die or that an unmarried girl was pregnant. Its call would kill anyone who didn't believe in it. Chamorro fishermen would find schools of fish by watching them.


Wrymouth

The wrymouth, "Cryptacanthodes maculatus", sometimes called ghostfish, is a slim, eel-like creature belongs to the wrymouth family Cryptacanthodidae. It outgrows the blennies, its relatives, and may reach a length of TL A low spiny dorsal fin stands along the entire back. This includes about 70 spines and unites with the caudal and anal fins. Small eyes lie near the top of its big head. The mouth slants sharply above a ponderous lower jaw. Along its reddish brown upper sides extend several irregular rows of small dark spots. The dorsal and anal fins also show spots. The lack of ventral fins and a pronounced upward pointing mouth are characteristic.
Distribution and habitat.
Dwelling along the North Atlantic coast of North America, it ordinarily hugs the bottom from shallow water down to a depth of around . It creates burrows in the mud bottom on which it lives. About 2 inches around and 1.5 to 3 in below the surface, the burrow branches into tunnels. Sometimes, however, the burrow stands as high as 4 feet above the low water mark. It begins in a centrally placed mound with smaller openings along the tunnel and at its end. At night, they may be seen protruding about a head's length from their burrows, but are seldom seen out in the open. In thousands of hours of night diving in their habitat, we only observed one out of its burrow once, and when disturbed it returned immediately to the nearest opening. It spawns in the winter, probably in deep water. Little is known about their food, but it seems likely that they feed mainly on amphipods, polychaete worms and the occasional small fish.
Reproduction.
Almost nothing is known about their reproductive biology. Small, but well developed fry have been recorded from the northern parts of their range in Howe Sound in early spring, suggesting that spawning may take place in winter. Eggs and early fry are completely unknown, suggesting the possibility that spawning may take place inside the burrow system. Nothing is known about territoriality, mating strategies, or whether they provide parental care.
In the aquarium.
In aquaria the wrymouth has been known to utilize a rubber tube as a ready-made burrow.


White-throated swift

The white-throated swift ("Aeronautes saxatalis") is a swift of the family Apodidae native to western North America, south to cordilleran western Honduras. Its coastal range extends as far north as Northern California, while inland it has migratory populations found throughout the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain regions, ranging as far north as southern British Columbia. White-throated swifts are found in open areas near cliffs, rock faces, or man-made structures, where they roost. Swifts are social birds, and groups are often seen roosting and foraging for flying insects together.
Description.
The white-throated swift is medium-sized bird that is primarily black and white. Its back and wings are blackish-brown or black, and its breast, belly, chin, and throat are white. In newly molted adults, the dark feathers may have a slight greenish sheen, though this is rarely observable in the field. Sexes cannot be distinguished by plumage. Juvenile (first basic) plumage is similar to adult (definitive basic) plumage, but with the feathers on juveniles' heads and necks appearing duller and paler.
Adults are generally 15–18 centimeters in length, and have a tail with a relatively shallow 10 millimeter-deep notch. Adult swifts weigh between 28 and 36 grams, with a mean weight recorded as 32.5 grams, and there is no difference in size between males and females. The white-throated swift has a wingspan of 35.5 cm. White-throated swifts can appear similar to American black swifts and Vaux's swifts, which also occur in western North America, but they can be distinguished by their white underparts which both other species lack.
Taxonomy.
The order in which white-throated swifts are placed is debated, with some taxonomies placing them in Caprimulgiformes, but others putting them in Apodiformes. The difficulty in taxonomic placement is largely due to the morphological similarities between swifts which make determining the history of evolutionary divergence difficult. At lower taxonomic levels, White-throated swifts belong to the family Apodidae and the genus "Aeronautes.""Aeronautes" includes only two other species, the Andean swift ("Aeronautes andecolus") and the white-tipped swift ("Aeronautes montivagus"). There are two subspecies: "A. s. saxatalis", and "A. s. nigrior". The "A. s. saxatalis" subspecies comprises birds that winter in North America south to the Isthmus of Tehantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, while birds of the "A. s. nigrior" subspecies are found wintering below Oaxaca south to Honduras. Birds of "A. s. saxatalis" tend to have a more prominent superciliary streak, darker upper parts, and a broader white abdominal streak than those of "A. s. nigrior".
Habitat and distribution.
Distribution.
White-throated swifts are year-round residents of coastal and southern California, southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas, central Mexico, and the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountains. Migratory breeding populations can be found from Arizona and New Mexico north to southern British Columbia, and from central California east to eastern Colorado and Wyoming. In the southern part of its migratory range, birds arrive in mid-March and depart in mid-October, while in the northern portion, they do not arrive until mid-April to early-May, and depart in late-August to mid-September. There are two main areas in which non-breeding wintering populations can be found: the first includes southwestern California, eastern Arizona, the Texas Panhandle, while the second is in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Mexican state of Chiapas.
Habitat.
Swifts roost in cliffs, bluffs, and canyons, as well as man-made structures like bridges, overpasses, and walls of quarries. In natural settings, swifts form colonies of as many as 400–500 birds in protected cliff crevices that are generally 6–50 meters above the ground. White-throated swifts will sometimes roost and nest in amongst colonies of other swallows species, including cliff, violet-green, and northern rough-winged swallows. While foraging, White-throated swifts are found flying over meadows, agricultural fields, and open areas along the edges of ridges and hills.
Behavior.
White-throated swifts are rapid fliers who rarely land except to roost. Swifts usually fly 10–100 meters above the ground, and can be observed taking advantage of wind currents and updrafts to gain speed. White-throated swifts usually leave their roosts in the morning, and will remain flying and foraging all day until late afternoon or evening. While in flight, swifts can sometimes be observed bathing by hitting the surface of the water with their underside, which is followed by airborne preening. Occasionally, they will fight with one another while in flight, and may chase or strike other white-throated swifts or violet-green swallows ("Tachycineta thalassina").
Diet and predators.
Swifts are aerial insectivores who frequently forage in areas of rising air along the edges of canyons, foothills, or mountains to capture insects. White-throated swifts have also been observed foraging over agricultural lands, and are known to follow harvesting machinery to capture insects disturbed by the equipment. Stomach content analysis has found that beetles, flies, bees, and true bugs (Hemiptera) constitute a majority of the white-throated swift's diet. Adult swifts nourish their nestlings by carrying a bolus of arthropods in their buccal cavity, and feeding it to the young. Swifts derive most of their water from their diet, but can also be skimming the surface of ponds to drink.
Known predators of White-throated swifts include peregrine falcons, prairie falcons, and American kestrels. When predators are detected, swifts are known to quickly lower their altitude and fly just above the vegetation. There is no data available on levels of nest predation.
Vocalizations.
White-throated swifts make vocalizations while in the air that are described as "staccato chattering", and may also make a sharp one- or two-note call or a shrill drawn-out "scree" call. In the morning and evening, "twittering" sounds may be made at their roost sites. Additionally, juveniles may make begging sounds that are higher-pitched versions of the adult's shrill scree call.
Reproduction.
During the courtship season, white-throated swifts may perform gliding displays and plummeting courtship falls prior to forming monogamous pairs. Once a pair is established, nests made of plant material and feathers held together with saliva are built on rocky cliffs faces or human-made structures. These nests are usually 8–10 centimeters across, and 2.5–2.8 centimeters deep, and may be used for several years in a row. An average of 4–5 white matte eggs are laid over the course of 4–6 days, with incubation generally beginning only after the last egg is laid. In southern parts of their range, egg-laying occurs in April, but in more northerly areas, clutches are usually laid throughout May, with a median first-egg date of May 13. The incubation period lasts on average 24 days, with swifts weighing approximately 2 grams upon hatching. Both parents feed the nestlings, and by the time of fledging, swifts may weigh up to 46 grams. There are no documented cases of swifts attempting a second brood if the first nest fails.
Conservation status.
Across North America, white-throated swift populations have declined by 2.8% from 1966–1998, which is considered to be a significant decline. Such declines could be related to loss of roosting and nesting sites from quarrying, mining, and the demolition of older buildings, as well as reduction in food supply due to pesticide use. However, in certain areas swift populations appear to have increasing trends, and most populations appear stable. The patchy distribution of this species makes interpreting these data difficult, but the apparent overall decline is of concern given the concurrent declines of other aerial insectivores.


Caligo martia

Caligo martia is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species can be found in Brazil.
The larvae feed on "Echinochloa crus-galli" and "Pennisetum purpureum".


Branchinecta brushi

Branchinecta brushi is a species of fairy shrimp found at an altitude of in the Chilean Andes.
Distribution and discovery.
The type specimens of "B. brushi" were collected on December 13, 1988 by Charles F. Brush during an attempt to break the world record for the world's highest SCUBA dive. This attempt took place in a small pool, across, at an altitude of near the summit of the stratovolcano Cerro Paniri () in the Antofagasta Region of Chile.
"B. brushi" was collected, along with some other species, from below of ice. The specimens were stored in 70% ethanol at the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the United States National Museum for nearly 20 years before being re-examined; the species was eventually described in 2010, and given the specific epithet "brushi" to commemorate Brush.
Description.
Males are long, while females are only . In common with other fairy shrimp, the males bear complex structures on their second antennae, which are used in mating. "B. brushi" closely resembles "Branchinecta valchetana", from which it differs in the form of the antennae and the gonopods.
Ecology.
"Branchinecta brushi" shares the record for the crustacean living at the highest altitude with the copepod "Boeckella palustris", also found in the same pool. The only higher record, which claimed that "Branchinecta paludosa" occurred at is "almost certainly a typographical error". Crustaceans are rarely associated with life at high altitudes, but fairy shrimp such as "B. brushi" produce dormant cysts which are capable of surviving prolonged desiccation, and aid in dispersal. The closed nature of the water body probably reduces the risk of predation, allowing "B. brushi" to complete its life cycle.


Adelophis copei

Adelophis copei is a vulnerable species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species was originally described by Alfredo Dugès in 1897, and is endemic to Mexico. It is the type species of the genus "Adelophis" .
Etymology.
The generic name, "Adelophis", is from the Greek words "adēlos" meaning "uncertain" or "obscure" and "ophis" meaning "snake", together referring to Dugès' uncertainty of the taxonomic placement of the genus. The specific name, "copei", is in honor of American herpetologist and paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope.
Description.
"Adelophis copei" is a small and moderately slender snake that has a maximum total length (including tail) of . The tail is about one fifth of the total length.
Habitat and geographic range.
"Adelophis copei" lives in the wetlands of west-central Mexico, in such areas in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and northern Morelos.
Conservation status.
"Adelophis copei" is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and human settlement. Mexico has placed national laws protecting the species, and the species is being researched for more ways to protect it. It is protected in the Sierra Los Huicholes reserve.
Further reading.
Dugès A (1879). "In": Cope ED (1879). "Eleventh Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". "Proc. American Philosoph. Soc." 18: 261-277. ("Adelophis copei", new species, pp. 265–266).


Eleutherodactylus pipilans

Eleutherodactylus pipilans is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is found in southern and southeastern Mexico (south-central Guerrero to southern Oaxaca to southern Chiapas) and southwestern Guatemala.
Taxonomy.
Two subspecies are sometimes recognized:
"E. p. nebulosus" was first described as a separate species, but became treated as a subspecies by Duellman in 1958. Common name nebulous chirping frog refers to this subspecies, whereas common name whistling chirping frog may either refer to the species as a whole or the nominotypical subspecies "E. p. pipilans". The subspecies differ in relative tympanum size and coloration.
Description.
Adult males measure and females in snout–vent length. Skin of the dorsum is smooth or shagreened. The eyes are relatively large. The tympanum is visible and oval in shape. The arms are long while the legs are relatively short. The dorsal background color is dark brown to slightly lighter brown. There are yellow, orange, light brown, or greenish blotches or spots. The limbs are banded. Males have vocal slits.
Habitat and conservation.
Its natural habitats are tropical seasonal forests at elevations of above sea level. Individuals are found in a range of microhabitats: on the rocks, on the ground, under rocks and debris, and in a cave. Although locally abundant and tolerating some habitat modification, it is threatened by habitat loss.


Chilean rose tarantula

The Chilean rose tarantula ("Grammostola rosea"), also known as the rose hair tarantula, the Chilean fire tarantula, or the Chilean red-haired tarantula (depending on the color morph), is probably the most common species of tarantula available in American and European pet stores today, due to the large number of wild-caught specimens exported cheaply from their native Chile into the pet trade. The species is also known from Bolivia and Argentina.
"G. rosea" is a common pet of tarantula hobbyists. Females have been known to live as long as 20 years, but due to the limited time they have been available on the market (and hence for extensive study), they may live considerably longer than 20 years. Considerable confusion exists between this species and "Grammostola porteri", with some arguing that many of the "G. rosea" in the pet trade actually are "G. porteri".
Habitat.
The natural habitat of "Grammostola rosea" is the desert and scrub regions of northern Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. While previously thought to be wanderers in nature, large numbers have been observed living in burrows in their natural habitat. They generally do not burrow in captivity. They are usually active in the evening or at night.
Diet.
This tarantula has a diverse diet, including grasshoppers, crickets, moths, beetles, cockroaches, mealworms, small lizards, and mammals. When tarantulas are kept as pets, the best food that can be provided for them are crickets that have been gut-loaded on vegetables, as this is the best source of hydrated nutrition for the tarantula.
Reproduction.
"Grammostola rosea" has been bred in captivity for years either for research purposes or for trade, and the females profit from a 'cooling period' of a few months preceding the introduction of a male for mating. Once a male has reached sexual maturity, he will create a sperm web before he is introduced to the female's terrarium. He eventually approaches the female's burrow with caution, tapping and vibrating his legs to attract her out of her shelter. At the opportune moment, the male lunges himself forward and using his hooks, holds the female's chelicerae, pushing his mate into a vertical position, giving him access to the female's epigyne (external genitalia). The male inserts one (or even both left and right) pedipalp into the female's epigyne and injects the fertilizing fluid.
In the weeks following fertilization, the female produces a large egg sac (usually containing around 500 spiderlings).
As pets.
"Grammostola rosea" is relatively docile, low-maintenance, and inexpensive, so they are popular as pets, kept in terrariums. Though docile, they can become aggressive if handled too frequently. "G. rosea" can be kept in relatively low humidity. They can be kept at temperatures around 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), on a diet of crickets or locusts. The spider can fast for weeks to months at a time. Fasting is sometimes an indication of an upcoming ecdysis (moult).
"G. rosea" is usually skittish, running away from danger rather than acting defensively, but it may also raise its front legs and present its fangs in preparation to defend itself. It can act especially defensive for days after moulting; this may be innate in the spider's behavior. As with the majority of tarantulas from the Americas, it has small, spine-like urticating hairs on its abdomen that it kicks off or releases when threatened as a defense.
In February 2009, a British man was treated for tarantula hairs lodged in his cornea. The urticating hairs were thrown from the man's pet "G. rosea" while he was cleaning its tank. Medical authorities urge owners to wear protective eyewear when handling "G. rosea". The venom of the Chilean rose tarantula contains multiple toxins, which may help it immobilize and digest prey, as well as deter predators. A specific peptide found in this venom, termed GsMTx4 (Grammostola rosea Mechanotoxin 4) has been shown to inhibit mechanosensitive ion channels in living cells.


Allobates caeruleodactylus

Allobates caeruleodactylus is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae.
It is endemic to the Amazonas state of Brazil.
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


Caligo eurilochus

Caligo eurilochus, the forest giant owl, is an owl butterfly (tribe Brassolini of nymphalid subfamily Morphinae) ranging from Mexico, through Central America, to the Amazon River basin in South America. It is a very large butterfly, among the largest in its family, with a wingspan up to 17 centimetres. The type locality is Suriname.
Several subspecies are recognized, but many more have been proposed.
The larvae feed on several host plants, including "Calathea latifolia" (Marantaceae), "Heychium" sp. (Zingiberaceae), "Heliconia latispatha" (Heliconiaceae), and "Musa" spp. (Musaceae). The larva also feed on the fruit of most Musa species. The female lays a large number of eggs of one of the host plants and the small larvae hatch after about 3 to 5 days. Fertile eggs develop a grey ring just above the center. Infertile eggs collapse. The first instar of the larvae are white with two orange/brown stripes down the length of their body leading to two little spindles at the end. Later on in life the larvae develop hairs mimicking spines and a crown made of four horns at the back of their head. The larvae then find a high enough spot to pupate and begin the change of metamorphosis. The large owl butterfly emerges and begins to pump out its wings, later searching for food. the butterflies drink the juices of fermenting fruits and a wide variety of nectar plants.


Chattering kingfisher

The chattering kingfisher ("Todiramphus tutus") is a species of bird in the kingfisher family Alcedinidae.
The species is found in the Cook Islands and the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The species is probably closely related to the white-bellied collared kingfishers of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Description.
It resembles the collared kingfisher but is smaller and lacks any rust colour in the plumage. The breast and throat is white, and the back, wings and crown are blue-green (although the crown of the Atiu subspecies is almost entirely white). It can be told from the Tahiti kingfisher by the complete white collar.
Diet.
The chattering kingfisher lives singly or in pairs and feeds on insects and lizards taken on the wing or from the ground. The species nests in tree cavities.
Habitat.
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forest. The species prefers primary forest in montane valleys, but will move into secondary growth and old plantations. The species has an uneven distribution and is rare in some locations; a survey of the island of Tahiti found none between 1986 and 1991, although it had been reported on the island in the past. Nevertheless, it is not considered threatened with extinction by the IUCN.


Ceromitia lizeri

Ceromitia lizeri is a moth of the Adelidae family or "fairy longhorn moths". It was described by Pastrana in 1961. It is found in Argentina.


Iberochondrostoma lusitanicum

Iberochondrostoma lusitanicum, or the boga-portuguesa (its common names in English and Portuguese are the same), is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found only in a very restricted area in Portugal, and is threatened by pollution and habitat destruction (dams).
"Iberochondrostoma lusitanicum" live in coastal rivers and terminal segments of main rivers, and reach a maximum length of about TL.


Greyish miner

The greyish miner ("Geositta maritima") is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Chile and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.


Calosima megarae

Calosima megarae is a moth in the family Blastobasidae which is endemic to Costa Rica.


Scopula andresi

Scopula andresi is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Max Wilhelm Karl Draudt in 1912. It is endemic to Egypt.


Trichomyia lengleti

Trichomyia lengleti is an extinct species of Cretaceous flies found in the Charentes region of France.
It was discovered in 2008 when x-ray technology was used to peer into opaque pieces of amber.


Suboestophora jeresae

Suboestophora jeresae is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Trissexodontidae, within the Helicoidea.
This species is endemic to Spain.


Sitana sivalensis

Sitana sivalensis is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Nepal. Its common name is the Siwalik sitana


Antirrhea philoctetes

Antirrhea philoctetes, the common brown morpho or northern antirrhea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.
The larvae feed on "Geonoma longivaginata".


Acanthodoxus machacalis

Acanthodoxus machacalis is a species of longhorn beetles of the subfamily Lamiinae. It was described by Martins and Monné in 1974, and is known from Brazil.


Leptodactylus latrans

Leptodactylus latrans is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is native to much of South America east of the Andes, and Trinidad and Tobago. It has many common names, including rana criolla, sapo-rana llanero, butter frog, and lesser foam frog.
Habitat and ecology.
This is a common species in many parts of its range. It can be found in a variety of habitat types, including swamps, savannah, grasslands, and tropical forest ecosystems. It tolerates disturbed habitat and can be seen in gardens and urban areas. It breeds in temporary water bodies, such as ponds and floodplains, where it creates a foam nest for its eggs. In some cases, one parent, usually a female, guards the tadpoles and attacks potential predators.
Taxonomy.
This taxon is considered to be a species complex, or a component of one, and taxonomic studies may distinguish several different species among its populations.


Telmatobius stephani

Telmatobius stephani is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae.
It is endemic to Argentina.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and rivers.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


Oriental Basin pocket gopher

The Oriental Basin pocket gopher ("Cratogeomys fulvescens") is a species of pocket gopher which is endemic to Mexico. It was first described in 1895 by Clinton Hart Merriam. It was considered to be a subspecies of Merriam's pocket gopher ("Cratogeomys merriami") in the late 20th and early 21st century but has been reinstated as its own species. The IUCN Red List has evaluated it to be of least concern.
Description.
"C. fulvescens" is mid-sized for the genus "Cratogeomys" and exhibits sexual dimorphism in size. Adult males weigh of and adult females weigh . Its fur coloration is "grizzled yellowish-brown" with "a strong mixture of black-tipped hairs"; the underside is paler than the dorsal fur. The cranial width of its skull is typically less than , making it small for the genus. The dental formula is . Each upper incisor has a longitudinal groove along its anterior surface. The total body length is .
Distribution.
This species is endemic to a small region in the southern half of Mexico. Its range is in the Oriental Basin of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and is within the Mexican states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz. The elevation in its distribution spans . Merriam noted the type locality as: "Chalchicomula, State of Puebla, Mexico"; this city is now known as Ciudad Serdán. The type locality for the formerly-recognized subspecies "C. f. subluteus" is Perote, Veracruz.
Taxonomic history.
The American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam wrote the species description for "C. fulvescens" in 1895. Merriam based his description on eleven specimens from Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico. In Merriam's classification of "Cratogeomys", "C. fulvescens" was grouped with "C. castanops" on the basis of cranial morphology.
In 1968, Robert J. Russell reclassified "Cratogeomys" to be a subgenus of "Pappogeomys". Russell also analyzed Merriam's "C. fulvescens" as being a subspecies of what was in his work called "Pappogeomys Cratogeomys merriami". Russell stated that of the seven subspecies he recognized for "P." ("C.") "merriami", "the most divergent" was "P." ("C.") "m. fulvescens" due to differences in coloration, size, and cranial morphology. This classification in E. Raymond Hall's 1981 "The Mammals of North America" also used the combination "P." ("C.") "m. fulvescens" for this taxon. "Cratogeomys" was reinstated as a genus in 1982; the third edition of "Mammal Species of the World" refers to this taxon as "C. m. fulvescens".
"C. fulvescens" was reinstated as its own species in 2005 due to a genetic and morphological study by Mark S. Hafner and colleagues. They placed it in the "C. castanops" species group.
No subspecies are presently recognized. A subspecies, "C. f. subluteus" had been described in 1934 by Edward William Nelson and Edward Alphonso Goldman. This subspecies was also known by the common names "yellow pocket gopher" and "fulvous pocket gopher".
The holotypes for "C. fulvescens" and for "C. f. subluteus" are both in the collections of the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Each specimen consists of its preserved skin and its skull. Nelson and Goldman collected both holotypes: The "C. fulvescens" holotype was collected in 1894, and the "C. f. subluteus" holotype was collected in 1893.
The specific epithet (, "yellowing") is the Latin present participle of the inchoative form of the verb meaning "to become tawny". The epithet of its formerly recognized subspecies, (), is a Latin adjective meaning "yellowish". The common name for the species, Oriental Basin pocket gopher, refers to the Oriental Basin in Mexico, where it is found. Its common name in Spanish is .
Biology.
"C. fulvescens"'s diet consists of rhizomes, bulbs, and roots. Pregnancy has been observed from December through February. Because pregnancy was not observed in July, it is thought they only have one litter each year.
Two species of chewing lice in the genus "Geomydoecus" have "C. fulvescens" as a host: "G. fulvescens" and "G. veracruzensis". Both species were described in 1971 by Roger D. Price and K. C. Emerson. The flea species "Dasypsyllus megasoma" and "Meringis altipecten" were also observed on "C. fulvescens"; although it is thought the presence of "M. altipecten" is thought to have been accidental rather than due to being a typical ectoparasite for the species. The nematode species "Vexillata convoluta" is also a parasite of "C. fulvescens".
Genetics.
Its diploid number is 2n=40 and its fundamental number is FN=72. "C. fulvescens" contains an autapomorphic allele for the gene RAG1 distinguishing it from "C. perotensis" and "C. merriami".
Conservation status and relationship with humans.
The IUCN Red List has classified this species as a least-concern species, and SEMARNAT did not include it in its 2010 list of threatened or endangered mammals of Mexico. Although its observed habitat is less than , it is believed to be "common and adaptable". Part of its range is affected by habitat loss due to human expansion. "C. fulvescens" were found as roadkill along a highway going through its range. Mark S. Hafner wrote there ought to be further studies on its conservation status, particularly as its geographic range is smaller than that of other Mexican pocket gophers. "C. fulvescens" have been observed in farmland and might be considered to be a pest as they destroy crops including wheat, corn, and beans.


Catonephele numilia

Catonephele numilia, the blue-frosted banner, blue-frosted Catone, Grecian shoemaker or stoplight Catone, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae found in Central and South America.
Description.
There is sexual dimorphism in the adults, with the males being black with six orange dots on the dorsal surface of the wings, whereas females are black with a light yellow band across the centre of the forewings. This butterfly usually flies along the ground and close to the ripe fruits and flowers. It can live a month. Adults feed on rotten fruits, while caterpillars feed on "Alchornea" species (family Euphorbiaceae).
Distribution.
"Catonephele numilia" can be found in most of Central and South America.


Chinese mole shrew

The Chinese mole shrew ("Anourosorex squamipes") is one of four species of Asian mole shrew in the genus "Anourosorex".
Despite the name, it is found not only in China but also in northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Like all other species of the genus "Anourosorex", the Chinese mole shrew is fossorial, and is found in montane forests.
In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control reported this species can carry a version of the hantavirus which is genetically distinct from rodent hantavirus and new to science.


Cedros Island mule deer

The Cedros Island mule deer ("Odocoileus hemionus cerrosensis") is a subspecies of mule deer found only on Cedros Island off the coast of Baja California. Only about 50 individuals remain, with no captive population. Its behavior is similar to that of other subspecies of mule deer. The subspecies is threatened by feral dogs and poaching.
Anatomy.
The Cedros island mule deer shows a reduction in body size and antler size compared to mainland deer, which is an effect of isolation in a relatively small island, according to the "island rule" of Leigh Van Valen. There are also differences in fur coloration which distinguish "cerrosensis" from other mule deer, but most closely resembling "Odocoileus hemionus" "fuliginatus."
Subspecies classification.
"Cerrosensis" is one of the ten named subspecies of mule deer. Although it may be a may be synonyms of "O. h. eremicus" or "O. h. peninsulae," studies based on DNA samples, rather than observation, can show clearer objective differences. In the case of the Cedros deer, its status as a valid subspecies can be defended due to their endemicity to the island, morphological differences, and distinct mitochondrial patterns.
Distribution.
Cedros deer primarily occupy the northern side of the island, being less common in the southern section, where human activity is more prevalent.


Hemidactylus kolliensis

Hemidactylus kolliensis, the Kolli rock gecko is a species of gecko. It is endemic to India.


Brachinus albarracinus

Brachinus albarracinus is a species of ground beetle from the Brachininae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.


Alopoglossus danieli

Alopoglossus danieli, Daniel's largescale lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Alopoglossidae. It is endemic to Colombia.


Liolaemus umbrifer

Liolaemus umbrifer is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. It is endemic to the Catamarca Province in northwestern Argentina.
It is a moderately-sized to large-bodied species. It is brown to black in coloration. It is commonly encountered on rocky hillsides and outcroppings in the Andean foothills at relatively high elevation.


Brachytarsophrys carinense

Brachytarsophrys carinense (common names: Burmese horned toad, Karin Hills frog, and many others) is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is now understood to include "Brachytarsophrys platyparietus" of China. Defined this way, its distribution area includes southern Myanmar and the adjacent Thailand and southern China.
In Thailand, it is found in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province and in Khao Nan National Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
Taxonomy.
"Brachytarsophrys platyparietus" is now considered a synonym of "Brachytarsophrys carinense". This taxon represented the Chinese component of the present "B. carinense". In 2004 the International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed "Brachytarsophrys platyparietus" to be of "Least concern".
Description.
"Brachytarsophrys carinense" are large frogs, particularly females: males grow to about and females to about in snout-vent length. Tadpoles are small in comparison, up to in length.
Habitat and conservation.
"Brachytarsophrys carinense" are associated with forest streams where their larvae develop. In China it is common where it occurs, whereas in Myanmar and Thailand it is considered to be uncommon to rare.
The species is widespread and there are no major threats, but it is potentially threatened by habitat loss. In China it is collected for local consumption, but at present this is not a major threat.
Behavior.
When disturbed, it produces a distress call that is a loud scream lasting 6 to 10 seconds long.


Elaphe hodgsoni

Elaphe hodgsoni, the Hodgson's rat snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in parts of Asia around the Himalayas.
Etymology.
The specific name, "hodgsoni", is in honor of British naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson.
Description.
It grows to in total length, including a tail 9 inches (23 cm) long. It is brownish-olive above, with most of the scales black-edged. The young have blackish cross bands. Its lower parts are yellowish, with the outer part of the margin of each ventral shield blackish.
Its rostral is as deep as it is broad, and visible from above. The suture between the internasals is much shorter than that between the prefrontals. Its frontal is as long as its distance from the end of the snout or a little shorter, and shorter than the parietals. The loreal is longer than deep, and often united with the prefrontal. It has one large preocular (a small subocular below the preocular is rarely present) and two postoculars. Temporals are 2+2 or 2+3. Normally there are 8 upper labials, the fourth and fifth entering the eye, and 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shields. The anterior chin shields are as long as the posterior chin shields or a little longer. The dorsal scales are in 23 rows, feebly keeled on the posterior part of the body. Ventrals 233–246; anal divided; subcaudals 79–90.
Geographic range.
It is found in Nepal, India (Sikkim, Assam, Kashmir),
and China (Tibet).
Type locality: "China: Ladakh" (Günther 1860) = "Tibet: Ladakh, Tsomoriri" (Boulenger 1894).


Persian onager

The Persian onager ("Equus hemionus onager"), also called the Persian wild ass or Persian zebra, is a subspecies of onager (Asiatic wild ass) native to Iran. It is listed as Endangered, with no more than 600 individuals left in the wild and only 30 individuals living within North American institutions.
Taxonomy and history.
The Persian onager is also simply named "" (گور) meaning "zebra" in Persian. "Onager" is from the Greek "ὄναγρος" (onagros), meaning "wild ass".
Sometimes, the term "onager" is reserved specifically for this subspecies. However, as the whole species of the Asiatic wild ass is known simply as onager, it now also serves as the Persian wild ass's scientific name, as well ("Equus hemionus onager"). Information on the basic biology of the subspecies and how it differs from others is lacking, which hampers conservation efforts.
Onagers used to be numerous from the Middle East to China. However, until the 19th century, their population has been reduced from several thousand to a few thousand. Currently, more than 600 Persian onagers are living in the wild.
Habitat and distribution.
Persian wild asses are known to inhabit mountain steppes, semidesert, or desert plains. They are usually found in desert steppes. Their largest population is found in Khar Turan National Park.
Threats.
The Persian onager is listed as endangered by IUCN Red List, as it is close to extinction. Currently, poaching for meat and hides, competition with livestock, and drought are the greatest threats to this species.
Conservation status.
Asiatic wild asses are highly and legally protected; hunting them is forbidden. The European Endangered Species Programme reserved for European Association of Zoos and Aquaria is helping save the Persian onager from extinction, by breeding them in captivity and reintroducing them to their former ranges, including in new locations once inhabited by Syrian onagers in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Ukraine.
On August 30, 2014, Iranian officials reported that three Persian onagers were born in Khar Turan National Park reserve near Shahroud in Semnan province, where it also has the largest populations of the equids.
In captivity.
A few Persian onagers are breeding in various zoos of Europe and the Middle East, such as Chester, Whipsnade, and Yotvata. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, also breeds Persian onagers, including two born in June 2015. The first ever artificial insemination of any wild equid was in this species, and resulted in two Persian Onager foals at the Wilds conservation center in Southeastern Ohio, in collaboration with experts from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Introduction projects.
Since 2003, Persian onagers have been introduced in Saudi Arabia, where the Syrian wild ass once lived. Introduced Persian onagers live in deserts foraging on grasses and branches or woodier plant material in dry seasons.
In 1968, 11 Persian and Turkmenian onagers were flown from their countries to Israel in exchange for Israeli gazelles. These were bred in captivity at the Hai Bar Yotvata wildlife sanctuary. Together, they bred a few Persian/Turkmenian hybrids in Israel. Offspring were introduced into the wild in the Negev Mountains area, intended to replace the local subspecies gone extinct. The introduced onagers have since established a stable population around 200 individuals.


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