Callerebia scanda

Callerebia scanda, the pallid argus, is a brown (Satyrinae) butterfly that is found in the Himalayas.
Range.
The butterfly is found in Afghanistan, and the Himalayas from Safed Koh, Astor, Chilas, Gilgit, Chitral, Kashmir and Kulu eastwards across to Sikkim.
Status.
As per William Harry Evans, it is common from Chitral to Sikkim, and not rare westwards.


Alai mole vole

The Alai mole vole ("Ellobius alaicus") is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is known only from Kyrgyzstan, where it has been found in temperate grassland in the Alai Mountains. Little else is known about the vole.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


Newfoundland wolf

The Newfoundland wolf ("Canis lupus beothucus") was a subspecies of grey wolf that was native to Newfoundland.
Description.
It was described as being a medium-sized, slender-skulled wolf with a white pelt, though melanists also occurred. In comparison to its mainland relatives it bears a striking difference in its internal accessory cusp angles allowing for distinction between subspecies. The last specimen was reportedly killed in 1911.
Taxonomy.
This wolf is recognized as a subspecies of "Canis lupus" in the taxonomic authority "Mammal Species of the World (2005)". In 1912, Gerrit S. Miller Jr have concluded that in North America, specifically west of the Mississippi River and Hudson Bay, and north of the Platte and Columbia rivers, there are three types of wolves: timber-wolf, plains-wolf, and tundra-wolf.
Recent sightings.
In 2019 a wolf was shot in Newfoundland after being confused for a coyote. DNA evidence found it, and a second wolf found on Newfoundland to be a Labrador wolf, which are often seen in neighbouring Labrador but rare on Newfoundland.
References.
https://www.whalehouse.ca/nature/the-newfoundland-wolf-is-back/


Hemidactylus siva

Hemidactylus siva, also known as the Hampi rock gecko, is a species of house gecko from India.


Rufous-thighed hawk

The rufous-thighed hawk ("Accipiter erythronemius") is a small hawk found from southeastern Bolivia and southern Brazil to Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. It is usually considered a subspecies of the sharp-shinned hawk by most taxonomists, including the American Ornithological Society, but the taxonomy is far from resolved, with some authorities considering the southern taxa to represent three separate species: white-breasted hawk ("A. chionogaster"), plain-breasted hawk ("A. ventralis"), and rufous-thighed hawk ("A. erythronemius").
Taxonomy.
The breeding ranges of the rufous-thighed and sharp-shinned hawk is entirely allopatric. This allopatry combined with differences in plumage ("see appearance") and, apparently, certain measurements, has been the background for the split, but hard scientific data are presently lacking (AOU).
Description.
This is a small "Accipiter" hawk, with males long, with a wingspan of and weight from . As common in "Accipiter" hawks, females are distinctly larger in size, averaging some 30% longer, and with a weight advantage of more than 50% being common. The female measures in length, has a wingspan of and weighs . The wings measure each, the tail is long and the tarsus is . Measurements given here are for the sharp-shinned hawk, but they are comparable for the remaining species. Adults have short broad wings and a medium-length tail banded in blackish and gray with the tip varying among individuals from slightly notched through square to slightly rounded (often narrowly tipped white). The remiges (typically only visible in flight) are whitish barred blackish. The legs are long and very slender (hence the common name) and yellow. The hooked bill is black and the cere is yellowish.
The rufous-thighed hawk resembles the sharp-shinned hawk, but upperparts are darker, streaking to underparts rufous or dusky, cheeks are typically with a clear rufous patch (occasionally lacking almost entirely) and iris is yellow ("contra" illustrations in some books). Juveniles resemble juveniles of sharp-shinneds, but streaking to the underparts are typically restricted to throat and central underparts, with flanks scaled or barred (often also the belly).
Distribution.
The species is found in Uruguay, Paraguay, north-eastern Argentina and south-eastern Bolivia. It is, as far as known, resident in some regions and migratory in others. The movements are generally poorly understood, but it only occurs seasonally at some localities in Argentina. The rufous-thighed hawk is found in tropical and subtropical regions; both in lowlands and highlands.
Diet.
These birds surprise and capture most of their prey from cover or while flying quickly through dense vegetation. They are adept at navigating dense thickets, although this hunting method is often hazardous to the hawk. The great majority of this hawk's prey are small birds, especially various songbirds such as sparrows, wood-warblers, finches, wrens, nuthatches, tits, icterids and thrushes. Typically, males will target smaller birds, such as sparrows and wood-warblers, and females will pursue larger prey, such as thrushes and flickers, leading to a lack of conflict between the sexes for prey. They often pluck the feathers off their prey on a post or other perch. Rarely, rufous-thighed hawks will also eat rodents, lizards, frogs, snakes, and large insects.
Reproduction.
Rufous-thighed hawks construct a stick nest. Clutches of 3 to 8 eggs have been recorded, but 4 to 5 eggs is the typical clutch size. The eggs measure and weigh about . The incubation period is thought to average at about 30 days. After hatching, the young are brooded for 16 to 23 days by the female, while the male defends the territory and catches prey. The young fledge at the age of about a month and rely on their parents for feeding and protection another four weeks. The breeding behavior of the rufous-thighed hawk is comparably poorly known, but based on the available knowledge they appear to differ little from that of sharp-shinned hawks.
Conservation.
The rufous-thighed hawk is fairly common (but easily overlooked due to their secretive behavior) and presently considered safe.


Gansu hamster

The Gansu hamster ("Cansumys canus") is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, endemic to China. It is the only species in the genus Cansumys.


Aplastodiscus eugenioi

Aplastodiscus eugenioi is a species of frog in the family Hylidae.
It is endemic to Brazil.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.
It is threatened by habitat loss.


Eared pitta

The eared pitta ("Hydrornis phayrei") is a species of bird in the pitta family, Pittidae, and is found in Southeast Asia.
Description.
It has formerly been placed into its own genus, "Anthocincla", on account of its apparent primitive characteristics. It is the only species in the Pitta family with entirely cryptic colours in the adults of both sexes. As with other "Hydrornis" species, they exhibit sexually dimorphic plumage, and a cryptic juvenile plumage.
The adult male has a central black line over the crown, reaching and covering the nape. The plumage either side of this is rufescent buff, with feathers margined black besides having a black bar near their bases. The lores, sides of face and nape are black. The supercilium ends in lengthened pointed feathers, white and barred black, which protrude up to an inch beyond the occiput. The upper part plumage, wings and tail are all rufescent brown. Primaries with their greater coverts are blackish brown, except for a buff bar at the base of the primaries. The chin and middle of throat are white. Sides of throat, flanks and abdomen are however ferruginous brown; the sides of throat and flanks also spotted black. The undertail-coverts pale vermilion. The bill is black, but the mandible reddish brown at the gape. The iris is deep brown; the feet and claws flesh-coloured.
The female has her breast and sides more densely spotted with black; the ear-coverts, head and occiput plumage of the same colour as the mantle and back, but the ear-coverts are pencilled with black. The lengthened superciliary feathers are shorter than that of the male, and less pure white; the under tail-coverts paler. In other respects the female plumage resembles that of the male.
Habitat.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Status.
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be rare or very rare in most localities though occasionally locally common.
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure. For these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern.


Cerion alberti

Cerion alberti is a species of terrestrial gastropod in the family "Cerionidae". It is endemic to coastal vegetation in the Ramón de Antilla Peninsula, Cuba. "C. alberti" is the most restricted species of "Cerion" in the Holguin Province, occurring within only 1 km2 of sea grapes and coastal vegetation. Historical collections have reported a Cañón de Banes locality, in which several species including "C. alberti" occur.


Calathus fracassii

Calathus fracassii is a species of ground beetle from the Platyninae subfamily that is endemic to Italy.


Mediodactylus stevenandersoni

Mediodactylus stevenandersoni is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. It is endemic to western Iran.


Slender sheartail

The slender sheartail ("Doricha enicura") is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.
It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and heavily degraded former forest.


Calathus tombesii

Calathus tombesii is a species of ground beetle from the Platyninae subfamily that is endemic to Italy.


Dahira nili

Dahira nili is a moth of the family Sphingidae which is endemic to China.
It is similar to "Dahira taiwana" but the forewing upperside has a stronger and more contrasting pattern of transverse lines, with diffuse pale yellow patches in the distal half, and in the orange colour of the hindwing upperside being restricted to a large central patch, surrounded by very dark brown on all sides.


Northern dusky salamander


Nebria derkraatzi

Nebria derkraatzi is a species of ground beetle in the Nebriinae subfamily that is endemic to the Chinese capital, Beijing.


Flavescent warbler

The flavescent warbler ("Myiothlypis flaveola") is a species of bird in the family Parulidae. Its name comes from flavescent, a yellowish colour. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.


Indian brown mongoose

The Indian brown mongoose ("Herpestes fuscus") is a mongoose species native to the Western Ghats in India and the western coast in Sri Lanka. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Characteristics.
The Indian brown mongoose appears large compared to the other mongoose species in southern Western Ghats. This species has a dark brown body and its legs are noticeably in black colour. Head to body length is 33-48 cm. Tail is about 20-34 cm which is two-thirds of its body length and more furry than that of the small Indian mongoose. A pointed tail and fur beneath the hindleg help to distinguish this species from others. Males are larger and heavier than females with a weight of 2.7 kg. Young are much darker in color with yellowish eyes.
Distribution and habitat.
In South India, the Indian brown mongoose lives at an elevation range of from Virajpet in south Coorg and Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills, Tiger Shola in the Palni Hills, High Wavy Mountains in Madurai, Kalakad-Mundanthurai in Agasthyamalai Hills, Valparai plateau in the Anamalai Hills, and Peeramedu in Kerala. In Sri Lanka, the species is confined to west coast, central hills and western urban centers.
In the 1970s, it has been introduced to Fiji, where it lives in sympatry with the Javan mongoose.
Behaviour and ecology.
The Indian brown mongoose is nocturnal in nature, prefers to live in isolation, and maintains its habitats in dense forests. In Sri Lanka, it prefers jungle patches covered with ferns and brush to tea estates. Generally a shy animal that avoid human habitation, but sometimes enter suburban gardens to feed on snakes and mice. When threaten, it will flee to a hole or termitaria but make ferocious fight when cornered.
When ready to breed, Indian brown mongooses burrow in densely-packed rocks and give birth to two to three young. The brown mongoose is opportunistic carnivore, feeding primarily on small rodents, snakes, lizards, spiders, grubs, birds, eggs, frogs and at times also on berries and flowers. During hunting, it stops motionless to detect sound emitted by the prey and quickly pounce on the prey with a bite to head.
Parturition is usually in a burrowing dug well concealed embankment or underneath a rock or a anthill. Female lays three to four pups in any time of the year.
Taxonomy.
"Herpestes fuscus" was the scientific name proposed by George Robert Waterhouse in 1838 for a greyish brown mongoose skin that had been purchased in Madras.


Cnemaspis amith

Cnemaspis amith, also known as the Amith's daygecko, is a species of diurnal gecko. It is endemic to island of Sri Lanka.


Long-tailed meadowlark

The long-tailed meadowlark ("Leistes loyca") is a passerine bird of southern South America and the Falkland Islands, belonging to the meadowlark genus "Leistes" in the icterid family that looks very similar to the related endangered species, the Pampas meadowlark.
It is 25 to 28 cm long with a fairly long tail and a long, pointed bill. The male is mostly dark brown with blackish streaking. The breast and throat are bright red and there is a white spot on the face near the base of the bill. The bold supercilium is white behind the eye and red in front of it. Females are paler than the males with the red markings restricted to a wash on the belly and the supercilium and throat are buff.
It breeds in southern Chile and southern and western parts of Argentina. Some birds migrate northwards in winter. An endemic subspecies, "L. loyca falklandica", occurs in the Falkland Islands, where it is known as the military starling. Long-tailed meadowlarks are found in open habitats such as grassland where they forage on the ground, feeding mainly on invertebrates.
The nest is made of dry grass and is built by the female. It is placed on or near the ground amongst grass. Whenever the female leaves the nest, she first walks a few meters from it hiding among the dry grass in order to prevent the nest from being found by predators who see her leave. The same method is used when arriving at the nest, she first lands a few meters from the nest and then walks towards it. Two clutches of two to four eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are bluish-white with dark blotches and streaks.


Peninsular shrew

The peninsular shrew ("Crocidura negligens") is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the Malay Peninsula and Thailand (south of the Kra Isthmus). It is also found on the adjacent islands of Koh Samui, Pulau Tioman, and Pulau Mapor.


Rhizotrogus flavicans

Rhizotrogus flavicans is a species of beetle in the Melolonthinae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.


Ablepharus darvazi

Ablepharus darvazi is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Asia.
Geographic range.
"Ablepharus darvazi" is known only from the Darvaz mountains of Tajikistan. The species may live in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.


Grey-backed shrike

The grey-backed shrike ("Lanius tephronotus") is a bird in the family Laniidae inhabiting South-east Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics.
The grey-backed shrike was first described in 1831 by Nicholas Aylward Vigors as "L. tephronotus" collected near Darjeeling, India. It is closely allied with "L. schach", and formerly treated as conspecific, but differs in morphology; moreover, the two species are largely sympatric and, although race "lahulensis" sometimes considered to represent a hybrid population between them, there is no definite proof of interbreeding. Two subspecies ("L. t. lahulensis" and "L. t. tephronotus") are recognized.
Description.
The species is 21–25 cm long and weighs 39-54 g. It is a shrike with long tail. The nominate race has black lowermost forehead (just over base of bill) and facial mask through lores and eye to rear ear-coverts; crown to nape and most of upperparts dark grey, small rufous rump patch; upperwing black, most wing-coverts, secondaries and tertials fringed pale rufous to whitish, sometimes tiny white patch at base of primaries (often lacking); tail chestnut-brown, tipped buffish, outermost pair of rectrices light brown; throat and undertail brownish-grey; iris dark brown; bill black or dark green; legs dull black or dark green. Sexes very similar. Juvenile is browner above than adult, with less marked brown (not black) facial mask, horn-colored lower mandible, has crown finely barred, upperparts and much of underparts heavily barred dark brownish. Race "lahulensis" is smaller and weaker-billed than nominate, also much paler, brownish-grey above, with rufous lower back and rump, white primary patch usually slightly larger and more visible, tail sometimes blackish (not brown).
Voice: Rough, breathing-like call. Territorial call described as harsh "zzert-zzert...", "tchert-tchert..." or "tzert-tzert..."; repertoire includes also a repeated "ktcht-ktcht-ktcht" given at dusk or as alarm. Breeding song subdued and musical, with mimicry of other bird calls lasting several minutes. Voice seems to be similar to that of "L. schach".
Distribution and habitat.
The grey-backed shrike has two subspecies. "L. t. lahulensis" (Koelz, 1950) breeds from north Kashmir east to central India (Uttar Pradesh), and southwest China. "L. t. tephronotus" (Vigors, 1831) breeding range extends from Nepal east to northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh), and center and south China (southern Gansu, Ningxia and eastern Shanxi south to southeast Qinghai, south and east Xizang, southeast Yunnan and central Guizhou); non-breeding distribution stretches south to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina.
Breeds at high elevations in forest clearings, plateau plains and mountain meadows dotted with small trees or fairly large bushes; to at least 4500 m in Nepal (becoming common from 2700 m upwards) and in south China (Yunnan). Post-breeding habitat in Sichuan (south China) either young open coniferous stands with forest clearings dominated by bushes, or pastures at higher elevations; at lower altitudes occurs in extensive agricultural valleys near human settlements. On non-breeding grounds in valleys and plains found in variety of habitats, including gardens and abandoned cultivation.
Behavior and ecology.
Breeding.
The grey-backed shrikes nest between June and July in India and April and August (mainly May-June) in south China (Xizang), at elevations of 4010–4540 m with a delay in nesting time with increased elevation. Territorial; residents maintain territory throughout year. Nests were built mostly in bushes, 0.7-3 m above the ground. Nests are bulky, with rather untidy-looking cap, external diameter 11–20 cm and height c. 8.5 cm, made mainly of moss, straw, rose stem, grass stem and brown palm, inlaid with blue eared pheasant's feather and slender grass stem. Nests are placed about 2 m up in small tree or bush, either isolated or in streamside thicket or row of trees. Clutch 3-6 eggs and clutch size smaller for pairs that nested later at higher elevations. Female lay one egg each day after nested. Eggs pale grayish with numerous lavender marks and brown or grey-brown blotches or spots, and usually form rings at the blunt end. Incubation by females begin after the last egg been laid and lasts 15–18 days. During the incubation the females are reluctant to be away from her nest, and males act as nest defenders, make a rapid "ga.ga.ga..." call when other animals approach the nest and fly to drive them away. Nestlings are cared for by both parents for 14–15 days.
Compared with their lowland congeners, the grey-backed shrikes nesting in alpine habitats experienced shorter breeding seasons, produced fewer broods, smaller clutches, and larger eggs. They followed a life history strategy that allowed them to compensate for reduced annual fecundity under harsh conditions.
Food and feeding.
Mostly insects, such as moths, crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and caterpillars; small vertebrates, such as lizards, frogs, birds and small rodents, may also be consumed. The grey-backed shrikes are mainly sit-and-wait predators, often perching at the top of high grasses, bushes, or trees while looking for moving prey, so the availability of good quality perch sites in foraging areas is important for them. They taking prey mostly on ground but occasionally also hawk insects in the air. During the breeding season they only hunt within 150 meters near the nest. They also have the preference to impale prey and keep larder just as other shrikes.
Movements.
Most individuals winter at lower altitudes within breeding range. Northwest race "lahulensis" appears to be resident or to descend to foothills of Himalayas, whereas nominate race either undertakes altitudinal movements or migrates to non-breeding areas farther south. Non-breeders recorded from plains of south China, India south to west Bengal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, north Thailand, Laos and north Vietnam. Migrants arrive back on breeding territories by early May. Chinese breeders appear to be mainly altitudinal migrants within their breeding range.
Relationship to humans.
Grey-backed shrikes preferred sites close to human settlements, because these habitats offered a better foraging substrate and places safe from large predators. They appears to be naturally common across a widespread area and there is no evidence of them being globally threatened. But this species is more at risk if their habitats are altered by changes in land management activities, and high-elevation habitat considered more secure than lower-lying ones.
Status.
The grey-backed shrike has an extremely large range and appears to be naturally common across a widespread area. The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.


Gastrotheca zeugocystis

Gastrotheca zeugocystis is a species of frogs in the family Hemiphractidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from its type locality on the Cordillera de Carpish, Huánuco Region. The specific name "zeugocystis" refers to the paired brood pouches in this species (from the Greek "zeugos", meaning pair, and the Greek "kystis", meaning sac).
Description.
The holotype, an adult female, measured in snout–vent length; an adult male measured in snout–vent length. The tympanum is visible. The dorsum and head are brown and have small, irregular markings. The dorsal skin is smooth. The iris is reddish brown and has black reticulations. The brood pouches are paired and lateral (most "Gastrotheca" have a single, dorsal brood pouch).
Habitat and conservation.
"Gastrotheca zeugocystis" inhabits cloud forest at about above sea level. Specimens have been found under leaves and under a piece of wood.
"Gastrotheca zeugocystis" is only known from two individuals. It is threatened by deforestation caused by agricultural expansion and firewood extraction. It is not known from any protected area.


Coleophora aervae

Coleophora aervae is a moth of the family Coleophoridae that is endemic to Iran.
The larvae feed on the leaves of "Aerva persica".


Scopula aniara

Scopula aniara is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Prout in 1934. It is endemic to Costa Rica.


Stenoptilodes duckworthi

Stenoptilodes duckworthi is a moth of the family Pterophoridae that is known from Argentina.
The wingspan is about . Adults are on wing in February.


Guatemalan myotis

The Guatemalan myotis ("Myotis cobanensis") is a species of vesper bat. It is found only in Guatemala.


Goniurosaurus sinensis

Goniurosaurus sinensis is a species of geckos endemic to Hainan Island, China.


Cochlostoma parnonis

Cochlostoma parnonis is a species of small land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Cochlostomatidae.
Geographic distribution.
"C. parnonis" is endemic to Greece, where it occurs in the south-eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.


Yahyaoui barbel

The Yahyaoui barbel ("Luciobarbus yahyaouii") is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to Morocco found in the Moulouya River.


Carabus cavernosus variolatus

Carabus cavernosus variolatus is a subspecies of black coloured ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae that is endemic to Central Italy.


Fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina

See


Microhyla kodial

Microhyla kodial, the Mangaluru narrow-mouthed frog, is a frog species belongs to family Microhylidae. It is likely endemic to a small portion of India, and was discovered in the urban part of Mangalore. This new discovery was published at international journal "Zootaxa" on Tuesday May 16, 2018.
Description.
"Microhyla kodial" is a very small species with a snout to vent length of about 16.9-17.4mm in male and 18.0 to 20.4mm in female. Its snout is rounded in ventral and dorsal view, the canthus rostralis is indistinct and the snout protrudes beyond mouth in ventral view. Vertebral stripes are absent along with the absence of superciliary tubercles.
Distribution and habitat.
The exact distribution of "M. kodial" is uncertain, but it is believed to be restricted to a small geographical area around Mangalore on the west coast of India, where its typical habitat is marshy vegetation with open grassland with herbs and shrubs. However, it is not closely related to any of the native Indian "Microhyla" species, and genetic analysis indicates that its closest relatives are "Microhyla" species in Southeast Asia. The area in which it was found is also known to have formerly been a dumping area for imported timber. Thus, it has been speculated that "M. kodial" is actually native to Southeast Asia and was introduced to India on timber shipments, where it established a small population.


Euphlyctis aloysii

Euphlyctis aloysii is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to Karnataka, southwestern India. It was described from a female holotype from Mangalore, Karnataka.
Description.
Adults are small compared to other members of this genus; head is wider than long; snout appears pointed; nostrils are closer to the tip of snout rather than the eye; the nostrils are farther apart as compared to the distance between the eyes; tympanum is distinct and large, forming nearly 75% of the eye diameter; no webbing between fingers; first finger longer than the second but smaller than the third; foot longer than the femur and shank length; toes moderately pointed; fourth toe longer than others; webbing between toes are full, reaching the tips of all toes and sharply incised between toes; inner-metatarsal tubercle is indistinct; supratympanic fold present, but does not reach the base of arms; dorsum interspersed with small, rounded ridges; flanks, thigh and venter are smooth; a pair of dermal projections seen from anterior edge of forelimbs until groin. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that "E. aloysii" is closely related to "E. hexadactylus" and another potentially un-described species.
Color in life.
Dorsum appears greenish brown with a thin, greenish mid-dorsal line running from tip of snout to vent; upper jaw near snout appear greenish as do the flanks, with the green coloration reducing gradually towards the groin. Based on the coloration, the adults of this species may be confused with juveniles of "E. hexadactylus".
Etymology.
This species is named in honor of Aloysius Gonzaga, a prince in Italy who entered the Jesuit order and died in Rome, serving people during an epidemic plague. The institution where one of the authors completed most work in describing the species is named after St. Aloysius as well.
Ecology and natural history.
The ova in female specimens are pigmented and about 1 mm in diameter. Gravid females have been collected from the months of May until late July and implied that they may spawn in early August. "E. aloysii" co-occurs with other congeners such as "E. hexadactylus"; "E. cyanophlyctis" and "E. karaavali". Other species include "Hoplobatrachus tigerinus", "Microhyla ornata", "Minervarya sahyadris", "Minervarya caperata" and, "Indosylvirana intermedia".
Distribution.
Currently known from Adyar and Bajpe in Mangalore and Manipal in Karnataka.


Eupithecia verprota

Eupithecia verprota is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to central China (Shaanxi).
The wingspan is about . The forewings are pale grey and the hindwings are pale whitish grey.


Long-winged harrier

The long-winged harrier ("Circus buffoni") is a common bird of prey species endemic to South America. They are members of the family Accipitridae, under the genus "Circus" which encompasses other harrier species. Its range encompasses most of South America, in grassland and wetland all across the continent. The long-winged harrier is a carnivorous bird, and will feed on many different animals found in its habitat.
Like owls and other harrier species, the long-winged harrier has a distinctive facial disc, which is used to triangulate the bird's hearing while it is hunting.
The long-winged harrier is classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List, however their population has been observed to decline due to habitat degradation by human activity.
Description.
The long-winged is mid-sized bird of prey, and like most birds of prey species, the females are larger than the males. Males will weigh from 390 g to 464 g (13.8 oz to 16.4 oz) and females will be slightly heavier, ranging from 400 g to 645 g (14.1 oz to 22.8 oz). Their length can range between 46 cm and 60 cm (18.1 in to 23.6 in) and their wingspan ranges between 120 cm and 155 cm (47.2 in to 61.0 in). As other harrier species, the lon-winged harrier can be identified by its long and narrow tail and its especially long wings. Their wings and their back are mostly grey, with the primary feathers on the wings being much darker than the rest of the wing feathers, which are streaked with variants of white, grey and brown.
The long-winged harrier can arbor 2 different morphs, a dark morph and a light morph. In dark morph individuals, the belly is all black with females having more of a brown undertone. The light morph individuals can be identified by their white underparts, which contrasts heavily with their dark morph counterpart. Juvenile long-winged harriers usually have the same colour patterns as females, but they have a more speckled chest. The long-winged harrier morphologically resembles its close relative, the cinereous harrier ("Circus cinereus"), which can also be found in South America, but their range rarely overlaps.
As all other birds of prey species, the long-winged harrier possesses sharp talons used to catch their prey on the ground or in the air, and their legs are bright orange. The species also shares the large hooked beak of other birds of prey, which it uses to tear apart meat once it catches its prey.
The long-winged harrier is part of the only diurnal bird of prey group to possess a facial disc. The facial disc is formed by a group of easily recognizable group of feathers that form a disc shape around the bird's face. These feathers can be raised in response to sounds and can improve the bird's hearing when it is hunting by triangulating sounds in its ear holes.
Taxonomy.
The long-winged harrier is classified in the genus "Circus" alongside 15 other harrier species, and it is most closely related to the cinereous harrier, which is the only other harrier species native to South America. The genus name, penned by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède, can be translated from the Ancient Greek work "kirkos" meaning circle. This refers to the harrier's hunting strategy of flying in large circles in order to localize their prey.
The species name "buffoni", referring to French naturalist and director of the Jardin du Roi George-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon, was first coined by German naturalist J.F. Gmelin in 1788, when the species was mistakenly classified under the genus "Falco".
Habitat and distribution.
The long-winged harrier's year-round range encompasses most of eastern South America, including eastern Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, and extends up to Colombia, Venezuela, and the northern tips of Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana. The species has also been observed occasionally in extant areas such as Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Trinidad and Tobago, and all the way down to Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina. It is vagrant to Panama and the Falkland Islands.
This species occupies large grasslands and agricultural fields, where their wide-range active hunting technique is very effective. Their habitat also includes savanna, marshes and wetlands of South America.
Behavior.
Vocalization.
Little is known of the long-winged harrier's vocalization, as is not a very vocal bird. It will call mostly when in flight and some variation of the bird's call include a fast succession of "klee-klee-klee", and a more quiet "thrill" with a quickly descending pitch.
Diet.
As all of the extended members of the family Accipitridae, the long-winged harrier is carnivorous, feeding on a large variety of animals due to its widespread distribution. Their diet includes small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds, with birds consisting the majority of their food intake. Its hunting strategy differs vastly from other hawks sharing the same habitat such as the Roadside Hawk ("Rupornis magnirostris"). Instead of opting for a passive hunting strategy consisting of the use of high perches to locate their prey, the long-winged harrier will fly slowly in large circles above its range in order to find its prey, using its keen vision and hearing.
Reproduction.
The long-winged harrier nests on the ground, building its nest between September and October in the grasslands of its habitat. The nests are usually made out of rushes and grass, and are built no more than 3 meters up the ground and no less than 1 meter away from bodies of water. Their breeding season can vary vastly across their range, but it will usually take place in the summer months (September to January). During their reproduction cycle, the nests will usually hold between 3 and 4 eggs per clutch.
Conservation.
Although the species population has been found to be declining, the extended range of the long-winged harrier allows it to be classified as a species of 'least concern' by the IUCN Red List. Their population decline has been attributed to the degradation of its habitat, most notably wetlands, due to drainage, pollution, and other human-caused circumstances. No conservation efforts are currently in action concerning the long-winged harrier as an individual species, but their range occurs in a wide variety of conservation sites and protected areas.
References.
EbookCentral.


Schizocypris altidorsalis

Schizocypris altidorsalis, common name gorgak, is a species of cyprinid in the genera "Schizocypris". It inhabits Sistan, Iran. It is classified as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List.


Santa Cruz mouse

The Santa Cruz mouse ("Peromyscus sejugis") is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on two small islands in the southern Gulf of California. Feral cats on Santa Cruz Island are a threat.
Description.
The Santa Cruz mouse is a relatively large member of its genus, measuring in total length, including a tail long, and weighing an average of . The fur on the upper parts of the body is a dull greyish color, with a yellow-brown face, and sometimes a yellowish line along the flanks. The underparts are white, and the tail is distinctly darker on its upper surface than on its lower. It is generally similar in appearance to the North American deermouse, but is larger, with a longer snout and a duller color.
Distribution and habitat.
The mouse is found only on Santa Cruz Island and the neighboring islet of San Diego, both of which lie in the south-western Gulf of California, about from the mainland. The larger island, with an area of , is rocky and rugged, with the dominant vegetation including elephant trees, clustervines, and nettlespurge. Mice have been collected from the bottoms of ravines on the island, rather than on the hilltops. San Diego Island, with an area of just , is little more than a single rocky mound with some ground vegetation and cacti. Santa Cruz mice are the only native mammals known to live on the islands.


Italian bleak

The Italian bleak or white bleak ("Alburnus albidus") is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae, endemic to Italy. The species and three of its synonyms were described by O. G. Costa in 1838.


Kessleria insubrica

Kessleria insubrica is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in Italy.
The length of the forewings is 7.5–8 mm for males and 6.5-7.4 mm for females. The forewings are white with brown and ochre sprinkling. The hindwings are light grey. Adults are on wing from the beginning of June to the end of August.
The larvae feed on "Saxifraga caesia". They live in a spinning (a shelter like the web of a spider).


Bradytriton

Bradytriton is a monotypic genus of salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. it is represented by the species Bradytriton silus, commonly known as the Finca Chiblac salamander, and has been considered the sister taxon of the genus "Oedipina". It is found in north-western Guatemala and in Chiapas, south-eastern Mexico.
Description.
Adult males measure and adult females in snout–vent length. The body is stocky. The head is relatively broad and essentially continuous with the body. The tail is short and laterally compressed, appearing stout when viewed from the side. The limbs are short and slender with diminutive digits that are, apart from their tips, fused together. Dorsal coloration is reddish brown. The head is mostly black and there are black flecks on the anterior part of the body. The cheeks, sides of the tail, and lower flanks are black with dense white flecks.
Habitat and conservation.
In north-western Guatemala, "Bradytriton silus" is known from both disturbed and undisturbed wet forest at an elevation of about above sea level. Specimens were found under pieces of wood and logs. Development is presumably direct (i.e., no free-living larval stage) and not dependent on water.
The area of the type locality is subject to severe habitat loss caused by the settlement of refugees and expanding agriculture; the species has not been recorded there after 1976, despite later searches. However, another population was reported from Chiapas, Mexico in 2015.


Calathus granatensis

Calathus granatensis is a species of ground beetle from the Platyninae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.


Groove-billed ani

The groove-billed ani ("Crotophaga sulcirostris") is a tropical bird in the cuckoo family with a long tail and a large, curved beak. It is a resident species throughout most of its range, from southern Texas, central Mexico and The Bahamas, through Central America, to northern Colombia and Venezuela, and coastal Ecuador and Peru. It only retreats from the northern limits of its range in Texas and northern Mexico during winter.
Description.
The groove-billed ani is about long, and weighs . Wingspan ranges from 41-46 cm (16-18 in). It is completely black, with a very long tail almost as long as its body. It has a huge bill with lengthwise grooves running the length of the upper mandible. It is very similar to the smooth-billed ani, some specimens of which have bills as small as the groove-billed and with grooves on the basal half. The two species are best distinguished by voice and range. In flight, the ani alternates between quick, choppy flaps and short glides.
Habitat and diet.
Like other anis, the groove-billed is found in open and partly open country, such as pastures, savanna, and orchards. It feeds largely on a mixed diet of insects, seeds, and fruits.
Breeding.
The groove-billed ani lives in small groups of one to five breeding pairs. They defend a single territory and lay their eggs in one communal nest. All group members incubate the eggs and care for the young.
Protected status.
The groove-billed ani is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.


Common miner

The common miner ("Geositta cunicularia") is a passerine bird of South America, belonging to the ovenbird family. It is a ground-dwelling bird which feeds on insects and seeds. It has about 9 different subspecies, some of which may be better treated as separate species.
It is 14 to 16 cm long with a fairly long, slightly downcurved bill. The plumage varies geographically but is basically brown above and pale below with a streaked breast, pale stripe over the eye, dark edge to the ear-coverts and pale rufous bar across the wing. The tail is dark with a buff base and variable amounts of buff on the outer feathers. The trilling song is often given in flight and also varies geographically.
The species occurs in open habitats such as grassland, sand dunes and beaches from sea level to high in the Andes. It is widespread and sometimes common across much of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, parts of Peru and Bolivia and in southernmost Brazil. In winter there is some northward migration by southern birds with a few reaching Paraguay.
The bird lays two or three white eggs in a chamber at the end of a tunnel, up to 3 metres long, dug into an earth bank or sand dune.


Macrovipera schweizeri

Macrovipera schweizeri is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Cyclades Archipelago in the Aegean sea. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Etymology.
The specific name, "schweizeri", is in honor of Swiss herpetologist Hans Schweizer (1891–1975).
Description.
"Macrovipera schweizeri" grows to an average total length (including tail) of , with a maximum of .
Geographic range.
"Macrovipera schweizeri" is found on the Greek islands of the Cyclades Archipelago in the Aegean Sea: Milos and the three smaller, adjacent islands of Siphnos, Kimolos and Poliaigos. The type locality is given as ""Insel Milos" ".
Conservation status.
This species, "M. schweizeri", is classified as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii,v) (v3.1, 2001). This indicates that the extent of its occurrence within its geographic range is estimated to be less than 5,000 km² (1,930 sq mi), that its populations are severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations. Furthermore, a continuing decline is observed, inferred or projected in the area, extent and/or quality of habitat, as well as the number of mature individuals.
So listed because its extent of occurrence is, in fact, not much greater than 100 km² (39 sq mi) – it is known from only four small islands. There is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and it is experiencing a decline in the number of mature individuals due to persecution and over-collecting. Year assessed: 2009.
It is also listed as strictly protected (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.
Venom.
It is narrated by G.A. Boulenger in his book "The Snakes of Europe" that "Dr. de Bedriaga observed this much dreaded snake, the bite of which is probably as bad as that of its Indian ally, the Daboia, "Vipera russelli" ". It is probable that the snake he assumed was "Macrovipera lebetina" is in fact the Milos Viper.


Copelatus bangalorensis

Copelatus bangalorensis is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus "Copelatus" in the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Vazirani in 1970. It is endemic to Mysore, India.


Indian roundleaf bat

The Indian roundleaf bat ("Hipposideros lankadiva"), also known as the large Ceylon leaf-nosed bat or Kelaart’s leaf‐nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with marginal populations also detected in Southeast Asia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and caves. "Hipposideros schistaceus" is a synonym for the species.
"H. lankadiva" is a large leaf-nosed bat and is yellowish-brown in color. A key trait of the bats is the reduced fourth supplementary leaflet on the noseleaf, along with a lack of a fleshy elevation behind the posterior nose-leaf and the absence of white patches on the shoulders, which helps differentiate from similar species such as "H. armiger" and "H. diadema".
The bat has three subspecies that occur in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. The Indian subspecies, "H. l. indus", is smaller than the ones found in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, although there are no other characteristics that differentiate the subspecies.
The bat has been assessed by the IUCN as least concern, although the species is threatened in parts of its range by roost disturbance and collection for consumption and medicinal use.
Taxonomy.
The species was described by Kandy in the central hills of Sri Lanka. Anderson considered the species to be restricted to Sri Lanka, but then also recorded it from Bhamo in Myanmar on the basis on two immature specimens. Anderson then described 5 taxa from India: "H. indus indus" from Gersoppa , which he distinguished from "H. lankadiva" on the basis of size; two new subspecies, "H. i. mixtus" from Kolar and "H. i. unitus" from Mundra; and one additional species, "H. schistaceus" from Vijayanagar. Kemp reported specimens of "H. lankadiva" from the Siju Cave in the Garo Hills in India. Tate included lankadiva, unitus, indus, mixtus, and schistaceus in a ‘mainland offshoot of the diadema group' in 1941, but did not specify their taxonomic status.
Hill treated "indus" as a distinguishable subspecies of "H. lankadiva" and mixtus as a synonym. He included "unitus" as a subspecies of "H. lankadiva" without comment. "H. schistaceus" was maintained as a separate species. This arrangement was followed by Corbet and Hill who considered the distribution of "H. lankadiva" as being confined to central and southern peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
Upon the collection of specimens in West Bengal, Agrawal suggested a review of the status of subspecies of the bat was necessary. Bates and Harrison included all specimens of "H. lankavida" from Sri Lanka in the nominate subspecies "H. l. lankadiva". This material averaged significantly larger than those seen from throughout peninsular India. All Indian material was referred to "H. lankadiva indus", with "schistaceus", "mixtus" and "unitus" also included as synonyms.
The taxon "Hipposideros schistaceus" was previously considered to be distinct at the species level, but is now considered a synonym of "H. lankadiva".
The bat belongs to the "diadema" species group. There are 3 subspecies of the bat:
Description.
This species is large leaf-nosed bat. The pelage of the bat ranges from pale cream to brown and is darker on the head and shoulders, while being relatively paler on the belly. They have an average forearm length of 83.5 mm, with a range of 75-99 mm. Their average weight is 59 g.
The bat has four supplementary leaflets on its nose-leaf, with the fourth leaflet being reduced. The intermediate leaf is expanded, with an inflated and swollen central part, and an evenly concave surface. The posterior leaf is brown and its upper border is trilobate.  The ears of the species are large and acutely pointed, and had their posterior margins slightly concave behind the tip.
The bats found in Myanmar are considerably larger in size than those found in India, and are comparable to those found in Sri Lanka.
The bat has are nine pairs (1-9) of metacentric and six pairs (10-15) of subtelocentric autosomes. The X is the largest element of the male karyotype and metacentric in nature. The Y, on the other hand, is subtelocentric. The morphometrical details for the male karyotype of this species are given in Table 2. The sum of the mean length of the chromosomes of a haploid set has been calculated as 39.25 p.m. The various autosomes fall in the range of 1.23 - 3.77 p.m. The mean length of X is 3.82 p.m and that of Y 1.05 p.m.
Biology.
This bat does not hibernate.
Reproduction.
The bats mate once a year. They have a gestation period of 260 days, after which a single young is born.
Diet.
The bats are insectivores. Their diet is composed mainly of coleoepterans, especially scarabaeids, and other large, hard-bodied, and slow-flying insects, like nuptial ants and bugs. The high proportion (79%-100%) of beetles in the observed feces of these bats in Sri Lanka suggest that they forage for food selectively.
Echolocation.
The bat echolocates at a very low frequency, with the calls being at a mean of 78.33 kHz, with a range of 62.96-82.96 kHz. The species' calls have a comparatively short CF component and a longer tampering FM component, suggesting that the bat uses these to hunt insects in narrow spaces. This can also be explained considering that the bats roost in deep recesses with narrow openings.
The cochlea of this bat is at an intermediate state between that of non-specialized bats and long-constant-frequency bats.
Distribution and habitat.
The bat is found patchily but widely across the Indian subcontinent, with some records also being found in Myanmar in Southeast Asia.
India.
It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, and West Bengal.
Sri Lanka.
It is found in the Central, Eastern, North Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Western provinces.
Bangladesh.
It has been recorded in Netrokona in Bangladesh.
Myanmar.
The bat has been recorded in Kachin state.
The bat has a wide but patchy distribution through a variety of habitats. Despite its wide distribution, the bat is known only from a few locations in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, the bat is known from the southern dry zone, lower foothills and wet zone hills. It is found up to an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level.
It is a gregarious species roosting in groups of 50 to several thousand individuals. It roosts in caves, old disused tunnels, old temples, old forts, dark deep channels under dam sites and cellars under old buildings.
Conservation.
The bat is assessed as least-concern by the IUCN because of its wide distribution, its tolerance of a number of different habitats, its large population, and lack of significant population decline.
Threats to the bat include roost disturbance, as the bat seems to be extra-sensitive to disturbance of roosts, and the collection of the bats for medicinal and biological use.


List of birds of the Solomon Islands

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Solomon Islands. The area covered by this article refers to the state of the Solomon Islands. It does not include Bougainville Island which is part of the state of Papua New Guinea. The area's avifauna include a total of 321 species, of which 72 are endemic, and three have been introduced by humans. Of these, 28 species are globally threatened.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of "The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World", 2019 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Solomon Islands.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl.
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Megapodes.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All, but the malleefowl, occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring.
Pheasants, grouse, and allies.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, grouse, ptarmigan, and junglefowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Grebes.
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pigeons and doves.
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Cuckoos.
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Frogmouths.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects.
Nightjars and allies.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Swifts.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Treeswifts.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae
The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.
Rails, gallinules, and coots.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Thick-knees.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Stilts and avocets.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Plovers and lapwings.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Sandpipers and allies.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Buttonquail.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
Pratincoles and coursers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards.
Skuas and jaegers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Gulls, terns, and skimmers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Tropicbirds.
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Albatrosses.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are a family of large seabird found across the Southern and North Pacific Oceans. The largest are among the largest flying birds in the world.
Southern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Northern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
Shearwaters and petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Frigatebirds.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Boobies and gannets.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Cormorants and shags.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Pelicans.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
Herons, egrets, and bitterns.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Ibises and spoonbills.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Osprey.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Hawks, eagles, and kites.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Barn-owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Hornbills.
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.
Kingfishers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers, a family which includes the kookaburras, have large bills, very short legs and often brilliantly coloured plumage. The group includes three subfamilies, two of which have representatives in the Solomon Islands. The woodland species are not always closely associated with water. They pursue small animal prey of all kinds in forest and woodland habitats. The river kingfishers are usually found close to water, and hunt small fish and similar aquatic prey by diving, either from a branch or from the air. Both types dig their own nest holes, frequently in an earth bank, a rotted stump or a termite nest.
Rollers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
Falcons and caracaras.
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
Cockatoos.
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Cacatuidae
The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.
Old World parrots.
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from to in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
Pittas.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pittidae
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.
Honeyeaters.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Meliphagidae
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines.
Thornbills and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acanthizidae
Thornbills are small passerine birds, similar in habits to the tits.
Cuckooshrikes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.
Whistlers and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pachycephalidae
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.
Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. The cracticids: currawongs, bellmagpies and butcherbirds, are similar to the other corvids. They have large, straight bills and mostly black, white or grey plumage. All are omnivorous to some degree.
Fantails.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.
Drongos.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.
Monarch flycatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.
Crows, jays, and magpies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. There are 2 species which occur in the Solomon Islands.
Australasian robins.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Petroicidae
Most species of Petroicidae have a stocky build with a large rounded head, a short straight bill and rounded wingtips. They occupy a wide range of wooded habitats, from subalpine to tropical rainforest and mangrove swamp to semi-arid scrubland. All are primarily insectivores, although a few supplement their diet with seeds.
Reed warblers and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
Grassbirds and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
Swallows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Leaf warblers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.
Bush warblers and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae
The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.
White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
Starlings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Thrushes and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Flowerpeckers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicaeidae
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.
Sunbirds and spiderhunters.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
Waxbills and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
Old World sparrows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds, typically small, plump, brown or grey with short tails and short powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters, but also consume small insects.


Amblema plicata

Amblema plicata, common name the threeridge, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.


Ectopoglossus lacrimosus

Ectopoglossus lacrimosus is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to western Colombia where it is known from the drainage of Atrato River, San Juan River, and Guanguí River. It is a very rare frog found along streams in lowland and foothill forests and may be declining from threats such as deforestation for agriculture (including illegal crops), logging, human settlement and pollution from spraying of illegal crops. The only conservation measure known is that it occurs in .
"Ectopoglossus lacrimosus" is greenish-brown in coloration, with white spots on the upper arms. The only known male specimen measured to be 15.8mm long. Females are generally larger than males, having a snout-cloaca length ranging from 17.7 to 19.6 mm.


Agyneta brevis

Agyneta brevis is a species of sheet weaver found in Peru. It was described by Millidge in 1991.


Carabus akinini elisabethae

Carabus akinini elisabethae is a black-coloured subspecies of ground beetle from family Carabidae, that is endemic to Kazakhstan. The males of the subspecies are ranging from , while females are long.


Bachia micromela

Bachia micromela is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Brazil.


Brachinus olgae

Brachinus olgae is a species of ground beetle in the Brachinoaptinus subgenus that is endemic to Spain.


Scopula concinnaria

Scopula concinnaria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1842. It is endemic to Spain.


Ansonia minuta

Ansonia minuta is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae, described from the forests of Sarawak in 1960. It is known by a number of common names: tiny stream toad, dwarf slender toad, and minute slender toad. It is endemic to Borneo (both Indonesia and Malaysia) and occurs in tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Systematics.
Recent phylogenetic studies found that "A. minuta" forms a sister relationship with another as yet undescribed member of "Ansonia", and is positioned in a clade consisting of "Ansonia hanitschi", "Ansonia spinulifer", "Ansonia platysoma", and the undescribed species.
Description.
"A. minuta" is a smaller member of the genus "Ansonia". Males range up between while the females measure up to in snout–vent length. The species is slender, with a wide truncate snout. Ear tympani are visible; the feet have rudimentary webbing. The skin on the back is tuberculate with rounded warts, while flanks and throat are more finely granulated. The male possesses a vocal sac with a longitudinal slit on the left side of the mouth. Larvae are recorded to grow up to .
Distribution and habitat.
The species is endemic to Borneo and known from western and central Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia and adjacent western Kalimantan (Indonesia) between elevations of above sea level. It has a terrestrial lifestyle and occurs in the lowland rainforests, where it breeds in small, rocky streams with clear flowing water. Larvae develop within streams.
Conservation.
"A. minuta" is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, as it is believed to suffer from habitat loss through logging and the species will not inhabit disturbed habitats.


List of reptiles of Finland

This is a list of reptiles of Finland. There are five species and all but one ("Vipera berus") are protected by law. Currently "Coronella austriaca" is classified as vulnerable.
Lizards.
Sauria:
Snakes.
Serpentes:


Choreutis pentacyba

Choreutis pentacyba is a species of moth of the family Choreutidae. It is found in Egypt.


List of mammals of Sardinia

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sardinia, Italy.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Order: Rodentia (rodents).
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to .
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs).
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae and pikas. Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures).
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons).
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.
Order: Chiroptera (bats).
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Order: Cetacea (whales).
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans).
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates).
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.


Dodona eugenes

Dodona eugenes, the Tailed Punch, is a small but striking butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.
Description.
From Charles Thomas Bingham (1905) "The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma, Butterflies", Vol. 1:
Male: Upperside: closely resembles "D. dipaea" in the ground-colour and markings, but on the hind wing the markings are broader and more diffuse, and the lobe has a short filamentous black white-edged tail. Underside a brighter brown than in "D. dipaea"; the markings very similar, but twice as broad.
Biology.
The larva feeds on "Adundinaria"


Radiated ratsnake

The radiated ratsnake, copperhead rat snake or copper-headed trinket snake ("Coelognathus radiatus") is a nonvenomous species of colubrid snake.
Temperament.
These snakes are generally very defensive. They are very confident in their ability to defend themselves so you must be very confident in order to remotely have a chance at controlling this species. They are also a good trainer snakes for those looking to get into cobras and other elapids.
Distribution.
Type locality: Java


Acanthocyclops hypogeus

Acanthocyclops hypogeus is a species of copepod in the family Cyclopidae. It is endemic to Slovenia.


Large myotis

The large myotis ("Myotis chinensis") is a species of vesper bat. It is found in central and southeast China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, and northern Vietnam. It is also expected to occur in northern Laos, but not yet documented there.


Eremiaphila ammonita

Eremiaphila ammonita is a species of praying mantis native to Jordan.


Agyneta jiriensis

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


Ctenophryne minor

Ctenophryne minor is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from its type locality in the upper Río Saija drainage, Cauca Department. Common name Colombian egg frog has been coined for it.
Description.
The type series consists of one subadult female that measures in snout–vent length. The head is relatively narrow, barely narrower than the body. The snout is essentially rounded with slight indication of a blunt point when seen above and rounded and slightly projecting in lateral view. The canthus rostralis is rounded. The eyes are relatively small. There is no external sign of tympanum. The finger tips are rounded. The toes have flattened tips and are basally to one-half webbed. The coloration is grayish brown dorsally and black laterally, with a pinkish line that extends from the groin to above the eye and onto the canthus rostralis separating them. The dorsum has a few, scattered blotches of paler brown, a few scattered white dots middorsally, and sparse pale blue speckling dorsolaterally. The ventral surfaces are black with some very pale blue spots.
Habitat and conservation.
"Ctenophryne minor" is known from humid tropical forest at about above sea level. It is a leaf litter species. Males calls from beneath leaf litter and from leaf-litter covered holes in the ground. No major threats to this species have been identified because it occurs in an area of little human impact. It is a rare, secretive species that might occur more widely than currently known.


Golden cownose ray

The golden cownose ray or Pacific cownose ray ("Rhinoptera steindachneri") is a species of eagle ray, family Myliobatidae. It is found in the East Pacific along the coast of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. Its natural habitats are open seas, shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, intertidal marshes, and coastal saline lagoons. They are often in schools, and sometimes associated with the spotted eagle ray"."
Like all members of eagle rays, they demonstrate ovoviparity. Ovulation and birth occurred in May, June and July, with a low fecundity, large size at maturity and birth and a continuous and synchronous annual reproductive cycle.
They are not of much value within fisheries and are harmless to humans, however one of the main threats to this species is overexploitation and habitat destruction.
The parasites that inhabit this species are most influenced by body size, diet, and feeding behavior.


Aplastodiscus arildae

Aplastodiscus arildae is a species of frog in the family Hylidae.
It is endemic to Brazil.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.


Acrossocheilus longipinnis

Acrossocheilus longipinnis is a species of cyprinid fish from the Pearl River basin in southern China. It has sometimes been included as a subspecies of "A. iridescens", but recent authorities recognize them as separate species. "M. longipinnis" reaches at least in length. Juveniles are pale yellowish with 5–6 narrow dark bars, but in adults (over long) the dark bars are broad.


Rarotonga starling

The Rarotonga starling ("Aplonis cinerascens") is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Cook Islands.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Opheodrys vernalis


Parnassius acdestis

Parnassius acdestis is a high-altitude butterfly found in India. It is a member of the genus "Parnassius" of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. The species was first described by Grigory Grum-Grshimailo in 1891.
Description.
Note: The wing pattern in "Parnassius species" is inconsistent and the very many subspecies and forms make identification problematic and uncertain. Structural characters derived from the genitalia, wing venation, sphragis and foretibial epiphysis are more, but not entirely reliable. The description given here is a guide only. For an identification key see P.R. Ackery (1975).
Hindwing with very narrow marginal band, the submarginal spots isolated, small; the ultracellular costal spot of forewing continued by grey scaling, forming an s-shaped band.
Range.
Kirghistan, Nepal, northern India (Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim), western China, Sinkiang and Szechwan.
Status.
Very local. Rather rare. Not known to be threatened.


Gypogyna

Gypogyna is a genus of jumping spiders that occurs in Paraguay and Argentina. Its only species is Gypogyna forceps.


Dark sheath-tailed bat

The dark sheath-tailed bat ("Mosia nigrescens") is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is the only species in the genus Mosia.
It is found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.


Cream-backed woodpecker

The cream-backed woodpecker ("Campephilus leucopogon") is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and far northwestern Uruguay. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.
Description.
The cream-backed woodpecker is a distinctively-coloured large woodpecker growing to a length of . The male has a red hood, consisting of head, chin, neck and crest, with a small patch of black and white beneath the ear-coverts. The female has a black hood and crest, with some red on the ear-coverts, nape and throat, and with a black-bordered white streak running from the beak to the ear-coverts. The body plumage, both upper parts and underparts, are black in both sexes, with a buff or cream-coloured patch on the mantle and back, and a short black tail. The beak is long and ivory-coloured, and the legs are grey.
Distribution and habitat.
The cream-backed woodpecker is native to South America. Its range extends from northern Bolivia, through western and central Paraguay, north central Argentina and northern Uruguay to southeastern Brazil. It is a resident species found below about . It is not a bird of dense forest, preferring open woodland, savannah with clumps of trees, palm groves and farmland.
Ecology.
The cream-backed woodpecker feeds alone, in pairs or in family groups. Its diet mostly consists of wood-boring beetle larvae and it forages at all levels of the canopy as well as on fallen logs and tree stumps. This woodpecker produces a short, kettledrum-like roll of four to seven strikes. It also communicates with a quiet "ahem" and various soft and squeaky chattering calls.
Status.
The cream-backed woodpecker is described as uncommon, but it has an extremely large range and no specific threats have been identified, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".