Rough-legged buzzard

The rough-legged buzzard or rough-legged hawk ("Buteo lagopus") is a medium-large bird of prey. It is found in Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Russia during the breeding season and migrates south for the winter. It was traditionally also known as the rough-legged falcon in such works as John James Audubon's "The Birds of America".
Nests are typically located on cliffs, bluffs or in trees. Clutch sizes are variable with food availability, but three to five eggs are usually laid. These hawks hunt over open land, feeding primarily on small mammals. Along with the kestrels, kites, and osprey, this is one of the few birds of prey to hover regularly.
Description.
This fairly large raptorial species is with wingspan ranging from . Individuals can weigh from with females typically being larger and heavier than males. Weights appear to increase from summer to winter in adults, going from an average of in males and from in females. Among the members of the genus "Buteo", it is sixth heaviest, the fifth longest, and the fourth longest winged. Among standard measurements in adults, the wing chord is , the tail is , culmen is and the tarsus is . The plumage is predominantly brown in colour and often shows a high degree of speckling. A broad brown chest-band is present in most plumages and a square dark carpal patch contrasting with the white under-wing is an easily identifiable characteristic in light morph individuals. A wide variety of plumage patterns are exhibited in light vs. dark morphs, males vs. females and adults vs. juveniles. Extensive field experience is required to distinguish between certain plumage variations. Compared to its more common Nearctic and Palearctic cousins, the common buzzard ("Buteo buteo") and the red-tailed hawk ("Buteo jamaicensis"), it is slightly larger, though may be outweighed by the latter.
Its feet are feathered to the toes as an adaptation to its Arctic home range. Its scientific name reflects this feature; the genus name "Buteo" is the Latin name of the common buzzard, and "lagopus", is derived from Ancient Greek "lago" ("λαγως"), meaning "hare", and "pous" ("πους"), "foot". Its talons are relatively small, reflecting their preferred choice of prey.
Distinguishing characteristics in all plumages include long white tail feathers with one or more dark subterminal bands. The wing tips are long enough to reach or extend past the tail when the animal is perched. The common buzzard can be similar-looking, with a similar long-tailed shape and can be notoriously variable in plumage. The rough-legged is longer-winged and more eagle-like in appearance. The red-tailed hawk is chunkier-looking and differs in its darker head, broader, shorter wings, barring on the wings and the tail, dark leading edge to the wings (rather than black wrist patch) and has no white base to the tail. The ferruginous hawk is larger, with a bigger, more prominent bill and has a whitish comma at the wrist and all-pale tail.
It is the only hawk of its size (other than the very different-looking osprey) to regularly hover over one spot, by beating its wings quickly.
Taxonomy.
The rough-legged hawk is a member of the genus "Buteo", a group of moderately large raptors exhibiting broad wings, short tails and wide robust bodies. This group is known as hawks in North America but referred to as buzzards in Europe.
There are at least three recognized subspecies of "Buteo lagopus":
Habitat and distribution.
The rough-legged hawk breeds in tundra and taiga habitats of North America and Eurasia between the latitudes of 61° and 76° N. Rough-legged hawks occurring in North America migrate to southern Canada and into the central United States for the winter, while Eurasian individuals migrate to southern Europe and Asia. It is the only member of its diverse genus found in both of the Northern continents and has a complete circumpolar distribution. During these winter months, from November to March, preferred habitats include marshes, prairies and agricultural regions where rodent prey is most abundant.
Breeding sites are usually located in areas with plenty of unforested, open ground. Depending on snow conditions, migrants arrive at breeding grounds during April and May. Home ranges vary with food supply but are commonly reported to be during the winter, but little is known about home ranges during the breeding season. Although frequently attacked in skirmishes by other highly territorial birds such as gyrfalcons and skuas, the rough-legged hawk is not strongly territorial. However, wintering rough-legged hawks seems to behave aggressively towards common buzzards in Sweden and both species with try to keep the other off a fixed hunting range.
Behaviour.
Diet.
This species is carnivorous, typically feeding on small mammals, which make up 62–98% of its diet. Lemmings and voles are the major prey items of this species, seasonally comprising up to 80–90% of their prey, but this varies with seasonal availability. Some evidence suggests that these hawks may be able to see vole scent marks which are only visible in the ultraviolet range, allowing them to cue in on prey. Despite generally preying on rodents, a 2015 paper reported the species breeding on rodent-free Kolguev Island in Arctic Russia with goslings a main prey. In the North-West of Russia, rough-legged hawks could feed on small rodents, in the years when rodent density is high, and shift for alternative prey (ptarmigans and hares) in the years when small rodents are scarce. The rough-legged hawk will also supplement its diet with mice, rats, gerbils, pikas, and insects. Besides mammals, birds are the second most favored type of prey for rough-legs. Most avian prey species are small passerines such as snow buntings ("Plectrophenax nivalis"), Lapland longspur ("Calcarius lapponicus") and American tree sparrow ("Spizelloides arborea"). However, they will also prey on birds slightly larger than the passerines typically targeted, especially ptarmigan ("Lagopus ssp."), as well as waterfowl, shorebirds (such as ruffs ("Philomachus pugnax")) and short-eared owls ("Asio flammeus"). They usually target bird prey which are young and inexperienced, with relatively large avian prey often being snatched in their fledging stage. When small mammals are scarce, the rough-legged hawk will also feed on larger, medium-sized mammals including prairie dogs ("Cynomys ssp."), ground squirrels, muskrats ("Ondatra zibethicus"), weasels ("Mustela ssp."), and even adult black-tailed jackrabbits ("Lepus californicus") of approximately twice their own weight. During winter, shrub-steppe habitats seem to encourage a strong dependence on rabbit prey. In developed areas of England, wintering rough-legged buzzards have been recorded preying most regularly on relatively large prey such as common wood pigeon ("Columba palumbus") and invasive European rabbits ("Oryctolagus cuniculus").
This avian predator hunts opportunistically, occasionally supplementing their diet with carrion, but focusing primarily on the most locally abundant small vertebrates. Rough-legged hawks will steal prey from other individuals of the same species as well as other species such as the red-tailed hawk, hen harrier ("Circus cyaenus"), American kestrel ("Falco sparverius"), and common raven ("Corvus corax"). Prey sizes typically range from and adults require of food daily, around the body mass of the largest species of vole or lemming although most species weigh a bit less. These raptors hunt during the daytime. Like most "Buteos", rough-legged hawks have been reported both still-hunting (watching for prey from a perch and then stooping) and watching for prey while in flight. Unlike most other large raptors, they may engage in hovering flight above the ground while search for prey.
Reproduction.
Sexual maturity is reached at about two years old. Breeding generally occurs during May but is variable depending upon dates of arrival at breeding grounds. The rough-legged hawk is thought to be monogamous, mating with a single individual for multiple years. No evidence currently suggest otherwise.
Nests are built soon after arrival to breeding grounds and require 3–4 weeks to complete. Twigs, sedges, and old feathers are used as building materials. Nests are in diameter and in height. Cliff ledges and rocky outcroppings are preferred nesting sites. Females can lay 1–7 eggs but will typically lay 3–5. Average egg size is in length by in width. Minimum incubation period is 31 days, provided almost exclusively by the female. The male feeds the female during this incubation period. After hatching, young require 4–6 weeks before fledging the nest. Fledglings depend on parents to provide food for 2–4 weeks after leaving the nest.
Rough-legged hawks could nest in association with Peregrine falcons ("Falco peregrinus"). Peregrines chasing away small rodent predators from their nesting territory and Rough-legged Hawks could use these hot spots as a nesting territory.
Longevity and mortality.
Rough-legged hawks that survive to adulthood can live to an age of 19 years in the wild. One female being kept in an Idaho zoo is over 25 years of age and there is a female that is a minimum of 38 years old living in Redding, CA . However, perhaps a majority of individuals in the wild do not survive past their first two years of life. The threats faced by young rough-legs can include starvation when prey is not numerous, freezing when Northern climes are particularly harsh during brooding, destruction by humans, and predation by various animals. The chances of survival increase incrementally both when they reach the fledging stage and when they can start hunting for themselves. Death of flying immatures and adults are often the result of human activity, including collisions with power lines, buildings, and vehicles, incidental ingestion of poison or lead from prey or illegal hunting and trapping.
Most predation recorded on this species is on the young at the nest. Arctic foxes ("Vulpes lagopus"), brown bears ("Ursus arctos"), and wolverines ("Gulo gulo") have all eaten eggs and young of this species if they are capable of accessing nests on foot. Avian scavengers, especially maurading groups of common ravens, will also readily prey on eggs and nestlings, as will skuas ("Stercorarius ssp."). Snowy owls ("Bubo scandiacus") are a potential predator at the nest as well. Adults, being a large raptorial bird, have fewer natural predators but may die in conflicts, especially if they are defending their own nests and are occasionally preyed on by other large raptorial birds. Raptors who prey on rough-legged hawks of most ages at varied times of year may include numerous eagles (especially the golden eagle ("Aquila chrysaetos"), though also sometimes other "Aquila" in Eurasia and seldomly "Haliaeetus" eagles) as well as large falcons. While wintering, rough-legged buzzards or hawks may be vulnerable to predation by night to Eurasian eagle-owls ("Bubo bubo") or great horned owls ("Bubo virginianus") and rarely, during day, other large "Buteo" hawks, including those of their own species.
Besides predation, it could be other reasons for nestling mortality among rough-legged buzzards. Nestlings in their first two weeks have a lousy temperature regulation. In the tundra landscape, they nest on the ground and during hot weather, they could go out of the nest seeking shelter from the sun. If weather then rapidly changes to the thunderstorm (which is common in the Arctic) nestlings could die without parent protection in a short time in 3–5 m from the nest. Other reasons for nestling mortality are earth-slides of the river-banks, where rough-legged buzzards often build their nests, and chilling.
Vocalization.
Adult rough-legged hawks will vocalize alarm calls when intruders approach a nesting site. It is described as a downward slurring whistle, sounding like "kiu wiyuk" or a lengthy descending "kee-eer" similar to that of the red-tailed hawk. This cry is given in flight or from a perch every 15–30 seconds. During courtship, both sexes have been recorded to give a whistling sound that changes to a hiss. Following copulation, females will give a cluck-like sound and males vocalize a whistling noise. Fledglings will give begging calls while waiting for parents to provide food.


Homonota taragui

Homonota taragui is a species of gecko. It is endemic to Argentina.


Scopula astheniata

Scopula astheniata is a moth of the family Geometridae first described by Viidalepp in 2005. It is endemic to Russia.


Baronia

Baronia brevicornis, commonly known as the short-horned baronia, is a species of butterfly in the monotypic genus Baronia and is placed in a subfamily of its own, the Baroniinae, a sister group of the remainder of the swallowtail butterflies. It is endemic to a very small area of Mexico, where the distribution is patchy and restricted.
The genus is named after a Mr Baron who collected the first specimen in the Sierra Madre region of Mexico. The species was then described by Salvin.
Morphological characteristics include an abdominal scent organ in females.
"Baronia" is unique among swallowtail butterflies or their relatives in having an "Acacia" species, "Acacia cochliacanha" (family Leguminosae) as its larval food plant.
Taxonomy.
"Baronia brevicornis" is of particular importance due to its relict nature and uncertain relationship to other subfamilies such as the Parnassiinae. It is now considered to represent the monotypic subfamily Baroniinae. The butterfly was considered as the most primitive extant papilionid taxon and shares some features with the fossil taxon Praepapilio, however a comprehensive 2018 molecular phylogeny suggests that they are a sister group of the remainder of the Papilionidae.
References.
Illustrated works:


Emblemariopsis occidentalis

Emblemariopsis occidentalis, the Flagfin blenny, Blackfin blenny or the Redspine blenny, is a species of chaenopsid blenny found around the Bahamas, Brazil, and the Lesser Antilles, in the western Atlantic ocean. Males of this species can reach a maximum length of SL, while females can reach a maximum length of .


Eryxia annobioides

Eryxia annobioides is a species of leaf beetle from Morocco. It was first described by Spanish entomologist in 1914.


Leptobrachium ailaonicum

Leptobrachium ailaonicum (variously known as the Ailao spiny toad, Ailao moustache toad, or Yunnan moustache toad) is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is found in Yunnan in southern China and on Fansipan mountain in northern Vietnam. Its type locality is Xujiaba in the Ailao Mountains in Jingdong County, Yunnan. At the time of the IUCN assessment in 2004, the population on Fansipan was considered a separate species, "Leptobrachium (Vibrissaphora) echinatum", and assessed to be an endangered species.
The natural habitats of "Leptobrachium ailaonicum" are tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Darevskia daghestanica

Darevskia daghestanica is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.


Centruroides jaragua

Centruroides jaragua is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae.


Philodromus bosmansi

Philodromus bosmansi is a spider species found in Sardinia and Algeria.


Cephalopholis fulva

Cephalopholis fulva, the coney or the butterfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the western Atlantic. It is associated with reefs and is a quarry species for commercial and recreational fisheries. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Description.
"Cephalopholis fulva" has an oblong-shaped, robust body with a snout that is longer than the diameter of the eye. It has large and round eyes, sitting above a pointed snout. The dorsal profile is flat to convex between the eyes and the posterior end of the upper mandible is exposed when the mouth is closedforming a bony knob. The closed mouth reaches beyond the rear margin of the eye. The majority of the teeth are movable. It has a rounded preopercle which is finely serrated but does not have any spines or notches. There are 46-54 scales in the lateral line. The [[dorsal fin has 9 spines and 14-16 soft rays while the [[anal fin]] has 3 spines and 9 soft rays. There are deep notches between the spines in the dorsal fin. The [[caudal fin]] is convex with angles at the corners. The maximum recorded [[fish measurement|total length]] recorded is .
There are three colour phases in this species: a deep water red phase, a shallow water bicoloured or orange-brown phase and a xanthic or yellow phase which can be found in shallow to deep water. The bicoloured phase is the normal red or brownish orange above a line which runs from the tip of the snout to the rear rays of the dorsal fin and pale below this. In the red and bicoloured morphs, there is a patterning of small blue spots with fark margins which covers the head and body. In the yellow morph these spots are restricted to the head and the anterior part of the body and there are less of them. There are two small black spots on top of caudal peduncle and another two at tip of lower jaw which are present in all three colour morphs. The bicoloured pattern shown by the shallow-water morph seems to be an excitement pattern, and it the fish can switch this pattern on and off in a few seconds. At night they generally adopt a pale colouration with irregular vertical bars and a dark forked line between the eyes. When breeding the male has a horizontal dark brown band which runs from the lower end of base of the [[pectoral fin]] to the tip of the caudal fin, a black margin to the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin, a dark stripe through eye and a white spot on the body near the centre of the base of the dorsal fin. The juveniles are either bicoloured or uniformly gold and have a white spot on the middle of the back and have four black spots on the lower lip and two white spots on upper base of the caudal fin.
Distribution.
"Cephalopholis fulva" occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean from [[South Carolina]] and [[Bermuda]] to the Bahamas and into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] where it is found in [[Florida]] from the [[Florida Keys]] as far north as [[Cedar Key, Florida]] and the [[Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary|Flower Garden Banks]]. In the west of the Gulf of Mexico it is found from [[Tuxpan]] in Mexico south along the coast of the northern [[Yucatan Peninsula]] and off northwestern Cuba. It also occurs throughout the [[Caribbean Sea]] and along the northern coast of South America, with a gap in the region of the [[Amazon Delta]], to southern Brazil, It is also found around the [[Fernando de Noronha]] Archipelago, [[Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago|St. Paul's Rocks]] and [[Trindade and Martin Vaz|Trinidae Island]].
Habitat and biology.
"Cephalopholis fulva" are found in coral reefs and clear water, at depths of , and it may also be found over rocks and coral heads, but only infrequently in the water column. During the day it normally shelters in caves or under ledges. It emerges at night to feed on small fish and crustaceans. They have been known to follow [[moray eel]]s and [[Ophichthidae|snake eels]] to feed on prey flushed by these predators. The juveniles are mimics of [[damselfish]]. The coney is a [[protogynous hermaphrodite]], the females attain sexual maturity at a total length of and when they attain a total length of they begin to change sex to become males. In Bermuda, females have been reported to be mature at 4 years old. The males are [[Territoriality|territorial]] and guard [[Harem (zoology)|harems]] of females. [[Spawn (biology)|Spawning]] takes place at dusk and occurs over a few days. Small groups made up a male and a number of females take part in the spawning. The breeding season can be as long as ten months off central Brazil although briefer breeding seasons were noted in other areas. On the [[Abrolhos Archipelago|Abrolhos Bank]] off Brazil, breeding is from July to August, in [[Pernambuco]] it runs from August to October and in Fernando de Noronha spawning occurs July and August, but may extend into September. In Bermuda, spawning has been recorded from May to July. They are reported to have a long larval period which allows for effective and long range dispersal of young. They are thought to grow most rapidly in their early life, attaining around 60% of their possible maximum size in their first year, then the growth rate reduces markedly over the remainder of its life. They have been reported to reach an age of 25 years off Brazil while in tropical areas they grow more quickly and live shorter lives. The oldest fish recorded was from Bermuda and this was 28 years old, Bermudan fish are also the slowest growing.
Utilisation.
"Cephalopholis fulva" is a small species which means that it is of little interest to commercial fisheries although it appears in markets throughout the [[West Indies]] where it is caught by hook and line and traps. It is commercially fished for in Brazil and is exported It is also captured as juveniles for the aquarium trade.
External links.
[[Category:Cephalopholis|fulva]]
[[Category:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1758]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Fish of Cuba]]
[[Category:Fish of the Dominican Republic]]


Dendrosauridion

Dendrosauridion, the Yanesha tree microtegu, is a genus of the lizard family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus is monotypic, i.e. it has only one species, "Dendrosauridion yanesha". It occurs in Peru.


Sibilant sirystes

The sibilant sirystes ("Sirystes sibilator") is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with the western sirystes, the white-rumped sirystes, and Todd's sirystes.
Distribution and habitat.
It is found from northwestern Brazil to northeastern Argentina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.


Pyla fusca

Pyla fusca is a snout moth of the subfamily Phycitinae and inhabits the Holarctic. It is distinct from the other species of the genus "Pyla", which are only found in North America, and has been proposed for separation in a monotypic genus Matilella. Considering the insufficient knowledge of Phycitinae, this may be warranted, and eventually relatives of this specimens might be discovered in the Old World, or it might turn out to be a cryptic species complex. On the other hand, its separation might render "Pyla" paraphyletic, in which case it would not be warranted. More research is required to resolve this question.
The wingspan is 25–28 mm. The moths are on wing from June to August depending on the location. The larvae feed on "Erica" and "Vaccinium" species.


Nyearctia

Nyearctia is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae described by Watson in 1975. Its only species, Nyearctia leucoptera, was first described by George Hampson in 1920. It is found in French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana and Venezuela.


Xerocrassa zaharensis

Xerocrassa zaharensis is a species of air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Hygromiidae, the hairy snails and their allies. This species is endemic to Spain, where it is only known from its type locality in Zahara de la Sierra, Cádiz.


Eurycantha horrida

Eurycantha horrida, the thorny devil walking stick, is a species belonging to the stick insects (order Phasmatodea) and to the family Phasmatidae.
Description.
"Eurycantha horrida" can reach a length of about in males, of about in females. The body color ranges from pale green to brown. The young insects are glossy greenish. These ground-dwelling stick insects resemble bark or rotten wood. They have numerous small spines on their body and on their hind legs. Both sexes are wingless and look very similar. They exhibit the sexual dimorphism of many phasmids, as the males are darker, smaller and thinner and have enlarged hind leg femurs with a curved spine or thorn on the underneath side. Females are also brighter than the males and have a larger abdomen tipped with a beak-shaped ovipositor with which they lay the eggs in damp soil.
Distribution and habitat.
This species occurs in Papua New Guinea. It can be found in tropical rainforests in trees, shrubs and ground litter.
Life cycle.
The eggs hatch after about 4 months. Young insects mature after about 5–6 molts in 4 to 6 months. Life expectancy from hatching to the death is of about 2 years. They are nocturnal and they feed on a wide range of plants, mainly on leaves of Rosaceae species (blackberry, raspberry, wild rose, hawthorn, cherry, cotoneaster, etc.) but also on leaves of oak, beech, hazel, chestnut, eucalyptus, etc.


Gecarcinus ruricola

Gecarcinus ruricola is a species of terrestrial crab. It is the most terrestrial of the Caribbean land crabs, and is found from western Cuba across the Antilles as far east as Barbados. Common names for "G. ruricola" include the purple land crab, black land crab, red land crab, and zombie crab.
Description.
Four colour morphs exist within the species: black, red, yellow and green. The carapace of "G. ruricola" grows in width at a rate of about per year, with the crabs reaching maturity after 5 years, and living for up to 10 years in total. "G. ruricola" have a number of adaptations to terrestrial life, mostly regarding water conservation. They are nocturnal, to prevent the hot sun from drying them out. They also have a "nephritic pad", onto which urine is released, in order to be cleaned by microbes before the water is then reabsorbed.
Distribution.
"G. ruricola" is found across much of the Caribbean, from Cuba and the Bahamas in the west through the Antilles to Barbados in the east. It has been reported from Florida and Nicaragua, but few confirmed examples exist from the mainland; Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas marks the northernmost limit of its island distribution, which extends across the Bahamas and Cuba, through the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles, to Barbados. Outlying populations exist on Curaçao, in the Swan Islands off Honduras, Half Moon Caye of Belize, and in the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina off the Colombian coast.
It can be found many kilometres from the sea, and at high altitudes: crabs have been observed above on the island of Dominica, and at over on Jamaica.
Life cycle.
The eggs of "G. ruricola" hatch in the sea, where the larvae live as plankton. The return of the larvae to land seems to be infrequent, but when they do return, they return as megalopa larvae, in sufficient numbers to turn roads red. They move at a speed of , or faster if startled. For the next three years, the young crabs live in burrows inhabited by other crabs and eat food brought back to the burrow by the older crab.
After mating, mass migrations occur with the females returning to the sea to release their fertilised eggs. An average female carries around 85,000 eggs.
Ecology.
"G. ruricola" is an omnivorous scavenger, feeding mostly on nitrogen-poor plant matter.
The meat of "G. ruricola" is rich in protein, and has often been harvested by local people. Other predators may include birds, although information is scarce. When confronted, they rear up and hold their open claws outwards in a defensive posture.
"Drosophila".
"G. ruricola" is the host organism for two species of commensal flies in the genus "Drosophila". They were first observed on Montserrat by Henry Guernsey Hubbard in 1894, and presented at a scientific meeting later that year (where the crab was misidentified as "Cardisoma guanhumi"), but no further research was conducted until 1955, when specimens were again collected, this time from Mona Island, and named as "Drosophila carcinophila" by M. R. Wheeler.
In 1967, a second species of fly, "Drosophila endobranchia" was discovered on "Gecarcinus ruricola", although it also inhabits the closely related species "Gecarcinus lateralis". "Drosohila endrobranchia" is not closely related to "D. carcinophila", and this trait appears therefore to have evolved convergently. (A third species of fly, "Lissocephala powelli" has evolved a similar habit on Christmas Island, where it lives on the land crabs "Gecarcoidea lalandii", "Geograpsus crinipes" and "Cardisoma carnifex", and the terrestrial hermit crab "Birgus latro".) "D. endobranchia" evolved from a group of species which breed on fungi or bark, while "D. carcinophila" evolved from a group which breed on cacti.
The flies spend most of their lives on the crab, and are reluctant to leave. They do not need to flee predators, because the crabs they inhabit are fast animals and will flee:
The flies … hardly move at all, are extremely reluctant in leaving their host crabs and are hard pushed to take flight. Although the flies are sluggish, the crabs on which they reside are anything but. Chasing after crabs through a pitch-black jungle (growing on a razor sharp labyrinthine limestone ground), while trying to aspirate flies from their carapaces is not trivial. Obtaining large amounts of flies in this way is simply a nightmare.
The eggs are laid around the crab's compound eyes; the first instar larvae migrate to the crab's nephritic pad, and live there, feeding on the microbes that cleanse the crab's urine. The second instar is spent in the crab's gill chamber. The third instar sees the larvae return to the mouthparts before falling to the ground to pupate.
Linnaeus.
Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1758 (the starting point for zoological nomenclature), noting the species' annual migrations from the forests to the coast ("Habitat in America, sylvas vastissimis agminibus quotannis deserens littora maris petiturus": "lives in America; every year, an army marches out of the forests towards the sea").
Philately.
"G. ruricola" appeared on two African postage stamps for the "International Year of the Ocean" in 1998, under the name "mountain crab". These were a Tanzanian stamp worth 500 shillingi and a Ugandan stamp worth 250 shillings.


Acalyptris novenarius

Acalyptris novenarius is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It was described by Puplesis and Robinson in 2000. It is known from Belize.


Alucita acutata

Alucita acutata is a moth of the family Alucitidae. It is found in mainland Italy and on Sicily and Sardinia.


New Mexico spadefoot toad

The New Mexico spadefoot toad ("Spea multiplicata") is a species of American spadefoot toad found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other species of spadefoot toad, they get their name from a distinctive spade-like projections on their hind legs which enable them to dig in sandy soils. "Spea multiplicata" can be identified by its wedge-shaped spade. Some sources also refer to the species as the Mexican spadefoot toad, desert spadefoot toad or southern spadefoot toad.
Description.
The New Mexico spadefoot toad grows from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length, and has a round body, with relatively short legs. They are green, to grey, to brown, usually reflecting the soil color of their native habitat, often with black and orange colored speckling on their back, and a white underside. They have large eyes, with vertical pupils.
Behavior.
Like all species of spadefoot toad, the New Mexico spadefoot toad is nocturnal and secretive. If handled, these frogs might emit a peanutlike odor, which can cause tearing and nasal discharge if in close contact with the face. Spending most of its time buried in the ground, the spadefoot emerges during periods of summer rainfall to feed on insects and to breed. Breeding takes place in temporary pools left by the rain. Eggs laid in large masses, often hatch in as little as 48 hours. The tadpoles are forced to metamorphose quickly, before the water dries up. "S. multiplicata" tadpoles exhibit phenotypic plasticity. Tadpoles that ingest fairy shrimp, when present, may express a novel carnivore phenotype. This novel phenotype increases the rate of development, helping the tadpoles to escape drying ponds more rapidly.
Taxonomy.
The species was once classified as a subspecies of the western spadefoot toad, "Spea hammondii", but distinctive morphological characteristics led researchers to reclassify it as its own species. The New Mexico spadefoot toad is also known to hybridize with the Plains spadefoot toad, "Spea bombifrons" in the areas where their ranges overlap, making distinguishing the species from each other difficult.


Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi

Phyllocnistis wygodzinskyi is a moth of the family Gracillariidae, known from Argentina. It was described by German entomologist Erich Martin Hering in 1958. The larvae feed on Asteraceae species. They probably mine the leaves of their host plant.


Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi

Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi is species of a diplectanid monogenean parasitic on the gills of the White grouper "Epinephelus aeneus". It was described in 1984 as "Diplectanum hargisi" and transferred to the genus "Pseudorhabdosynochus" by Santos, Buchmann & Gibson in 2000. Its systematic position has been clarified by Kritsky, Bakenhaster & Adams in 2015, who differentiated it from "Pseudorhabdosynochus americanus".
Description.
"Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi" is a small monogenean, 0.5-0.8 mm in length. The species has the general characteristics of other species of "Pseudorhabdosynochus", with a flat body and a posterior haptor, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal.
The sclerotized male copulatory organ, or "quadriloculate organ", has the shape of a bean with four internal chambers, as in other species of "Pseudorhabdosynochus".
The vagina includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure.
Etymology.
The name of the species, "hargisi", honours "Dr W. J. Hargis Jr, from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point (USA)".
Hosts and localities.
The type-locality is the Lagoon of Bardawil (Sinaï, Egypt). The type-host is the halfmoon grouper, "Epinephelus aeneus".


Holcocera laudis

Holcocera laudis is a moth in the family Blastobasidae which is endemic to Costa Rica.


Micropterix italica

Micropterix italica is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Heath in 1981. It is known from Italy.


List of mammals of Svalbard and Jan Mayen

This is a list of mammal species recorded in Svalbard and Jan Mayen. There are seventeen mammal species in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, of which three are endangered and three are vulnerable.
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 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing.
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.


Short-billed canastero

The short-billed canastero ("Asthenes baeri") is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
Three subspecies are recognized:


Dismorphia boliviana

Dismorphia boliviana is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Bolivia.
Adults have white undersides that are mottled in grey and yellow.


Eupithecia weigti

Eupithecia weigti is a moth in the family Geometridae first described by Vladimir G. Mironov and Ulrich Ratzel in 2012. It is found in Syria.
The wingspan is about . The ground colour of the forewings is ash grey with distinct, narrow, blackish-brown transverse lines. The hindwings are paler, whitish grey.
Etymology.
The species is named in honour of German specialist on Eupitheciini Mr. Hans-Joachim Weigt (Schwerte).


Helicops leopardinus

Helicops leopardinus is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in South America.


Bolivian recurvebill

The Bolivian recurvebill ("Syndactyla striatus") is a bird species in the family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Bolivia.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.
It was formerly classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. But new research has shown it to be not as rare as it was believed. Consequently, it is downlisted to near threatened status in 2008 and least concern in 2012.


Eusparassus levantinus

Eusparassus levantinus is a spider species found in Spain.


Macrothele calpeiana

Macrothele calpeiana, commonly known as the Gibraltar funnel-web spider or Spanish funnel-web spider, is one of the largest spiders in Europe. "Macrothele calpeiana" is the only spider species protected under European Union legislation.
The satin black colour and long, flexible spinnerets are characteristic of this spider. The carapace is low and flat and the eyes are in a compact group. The female resembles the male but has a larger abdomen. The male can grow to nearly long; females are typically larger. Like all funnel-web spiders, this spider's web is funnel-shaped with trip-threads around the entrance, built among stones and roots. Its geographical range includes Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal and north-west Africa. This species has been observed occasionally in France. The venom is not deadly to humans.
It is the type species of its genus.


Canthocamptus campaneri


Paracrossochilus acerus

Paracrossochilus acerus is a species of cyprinid in the genus "Paracrossochilus". It inhabits Malaysia and has a maximum length of . It is found in large schools, and is considered harmless to humans.


Rufous-breasted hermit

The rufous-breasted hermit or hairy hermit ("Glaucis hirsutus") is a hummingbird that breeds from Panama south to Bolivia, and on Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada. It is a widespread and generally common species, though local populations may change in numbers and disappear altogether in marginal habitat
Description.
It is long and weighs on average. The bill measures around and is strongly decurved, long and thin – though compared to the bills of other hummingbirds, it is rather robust. The rufous-breasted hermit has a brownish head, bronze-green upperparts and rufous underparts. The tail has green central feathers and rufous outer feathers, all tipped white. The bill has a yellow lower mandible and a black upper mandible. Sexes are similar, but the male has yellow streaking on the upper mandible, and the female may be slightly duller in plumage. The bill of females is also proportionally a bit shorter (though this is hardly recognizable) and more decurved (which is quite conspicuous in direct comparison).
Males are somewhat more distinct, resembling a barbthroat ("Threnetes"). They were once described as a distinct species, the "black barbthroat" ("T. grzimeki"). Similarly, the proposed subspecies "abrawayae" is apparently based on individual variation occurring in adults and not taxonomically distinct either.
The call of this species is a high-pitched "sweet".
Ecology.
This hermit inhabits forest undergrowth, often near running water. The rufous-breasted hermit's food is nectar, taken from a variety of understory flowers, and some small invertebrates.
"G. hirsuta" has very discriminating feeding habits. It will only visit flowers whole corollar length and curvature precisely matches that of its bill, while most other hummingbirds are far more flexible. Thus, its foodplants are found across almost the entire diversity of angiosperms. Very popular with this bird are Zingiberales, such as "Costus scaber" (Costaceae), or "Heliconia standleyi" and "Heliconia stricta" (Heliconiaceae). Other well-liked foodplants of this hummingbird include Gentianales like "Duroia hirsuta", "Palicourea lasiantha", "Psychotria bahiensis" and "Psychotria platypoda" (Rubiaceae), Lamiales such as "Sanchezia peruviana" (Acanthaceae) or "Drymonia semicordata" (Gesneriaceae), and Myrtales like "Cuphea melvilla" (Lythraceae). Even congeneric plants with flowers of slightly different length and curvature are avoided on the other hand.
Given the difference in bill curvature between males and females, it seems likely that the sexes avoid competing for the same food resource by visiting different plants, but there has been little in-depth study. Whether there has been any coevolution between the hairy hermit and its foodplants is more difficult to determine, but if anything, it seems to be less widespread than it could be presumed. Most plants visited by this hummingbird are also pollinated by less discriminating species. But for some (such as "Cuphea melvilla", "Psychotria bahiensis" and "P. platypoda") the hairy hermit seems to be a pollinator of crucial importance, indicating that – though less often than the characteristic bill shape suggests – strong mutualisms between this bird and some of its foodplants do indeed exist.
The female rufous-breasted hermit lays two eggs in a small cup nest with a tail, made of rootlets and attached to the underside of a palm, fern or "Heliconia" leaf one or two meters (3–6 ft) above ground or so. The nests are often near a stream, waterfall or roadside, and are surprisingly easy to find. Incubation is 17 days with 23 more to fledging, and this species may nest up to four times in a season. The male of this aggressive and inquisitive hummingbird helps to build and defend the nest, but does not incubate the eggs. At least regionally (e.g. in Colombia), the species breeds all year.


Bharattherium

Bharattherium is a mammal that lived in India during the Maastrichtian (latest Cretaceous) and possibly the Paleocene. The genus has a single species, Bharattherium bonapartei. It is part of the gondwanathere family Sudamericidae, which is also found in Madagascar and South America during the latest Cretaceous. The first fossil of "Bharattherium" was discovered in 1989 and published in 1997, but the animal was not named until 2007, when two teams independently named the animal "Bharattherium bonapartei" and "Dakshina jederi". The latter name is now a synonym. "Bharattherium" is known from a total of eight isolated fossil teeth, including one incisor and seven molariforms (molar-like teeth, either premolars or true molars).
"Bharattherium" molariforms are high, curved teeth, with a height of . In a number of teeth tentatively identified as fourth lower molariforms (mf4), there is a large furrow on one side and a deep cavity (infundibulum) in the middle of the tooth. Another tooth, perhaps a third lower molariform, has two furrows on one side and three infundibula on the other. The tooth enamel has traits that have been interpreted as protecting against cracks in the teeth. The hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth of sudamericids like "Bharattherium" are reminiscent of later grazing mammals, and the discovery of grass in Indian fossil sites contemporaneous with those yielding "Bharattherium" suggest that sudamericids were indeed grazers.
Taxonomy.
A gondwanathere tooth, catalogued as VPL/JU/NKIM/25, was first discovered in the Maastrichtian (latest Cretaceous, about 70–66 million years ago) Intertrappean Beds of Naskal, India, in 1989, but it was not identified as such until another gondwanathere, "Lavanify", was found on Madagascar in the middle 1990s. The discoveries of "Lavanify" and VPL/JU/NKIM/25 were announced in "Nature" in 1997. Gondwanatheres were previously known only from Argentina; these discoveries extended the range of the gondwanathere family Sudamericidae across the continents of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
In 2007, two teams of scientists independently named the Indian gondwanathere on the basis of new material; both teams included VPL/JU/NKIM/25 in their newly named species. Guntupalli Prasad and colleagues named the animal "Bharattherium bonapartei" on the basis of an additional tooth, VPL/JU/IM/33, from another Intertrappean locality, Kisalpuri. The generic name, "Bharattherium", combines "Bharat", Sanskrit for "India", with the Ancient Greek "therion", meaning "beast", and the specific name, "bonapartei", honors Argentine paleontologist José Bonaparte, who was the first to describe a gondwanathere fossil. G.P. Wilson and colleagues named "Dakshina jederi" on the basis of six teeth (in addition to VPL/JU/NKIM 25), and identified some additional material as indeterminate gondwanatheres. Of these teeth, three (GSI/SR/PAL-G059, G070, and G074) are from a third Intertrappean site at Gokak and three (GSI/SR/PAL-N071, N210, and N212) are from Naskal. "Dakshina", the generic name, derives from Sanskrit "daakshinaatya" "of the south", and refers both to the animal's occurrence in southern India and to the distribution of gondwanatheres in the southern continents. The specific name, "jederi", honors University of Michigan paleontologist Jeffrey A. Wilson, nicknamed "Jeder", who played an important role in the project that led to the discovery of "Dakshina". Wilson and colleagues also described three other gondwanathere teeth from Gokak (GSI/SR/PAL-G111, G112, and G211), which they tentatively identified as a different species of gondwanathere on their small size. In 2008, Prasad commented that "Bharattherium bonapartei" and "Dakshina jederi" represented the same species and that "Bharattherium", which was published first, was the correct name.
Description.
"Bharattherium bonapartei" is known from a total of eight isolated teeth. Among the seven teeth in their sample, Wilson and colleagues tentatively identified five as fourth lower molariforms (mf4)—because gondwanathere premolars and molars cannot be distinguished, they are collectively known as "molariforms"—one as a third lower molariform (mf3) and one as a lower incisor (i1). These determinations were made on the basis of comparisons with a sample of the South American gondwanathere "Sudamerica ameghinoi", in which all eight molariform positions are known. However, the large number of mf4s led Wilson and colleagues to suspect that the criteria used for distinguishing "Sudamerica" tooth positions may not apply directly to "Bharattherium". Prasad and colleagues did not assign their two "Bharattherium" teeth to any tooth position, but suggested that they may represent different tooth positions and that one may come from the upper and the other from the lower side of the jaw. As is characteristic of sudamericids, "Bharattherium" molariforms are hypsodont (high-crowned) and have a flat occlusal (chewing) surface atop a high tooth, with furrows that extend down the height of the tooth. "Bharattherium" molariforms are the smallest of any sudamericid; those of "Lavanify", for example, are about 35% larger. Unlike "Sudamerica" molariforms, those of "Bharattherium" taper towards the top.
Molariforms.
GSI/SR/PAL-G074, a well-preserved right mf4 that Wilson and colleagues selected as the holotype of "Dakshina jederi", is 7.57 mm high and has a crown of 3.66 × 2.99 mm. It is curved, with the base more distal (towards the back) than the top. The occlusal surface is rectangular. On the lingual side (towards the tongue), there is a deep furrow (filled in part with cementum) that extends from the top to near the base of the tooth. There is also a much smaller indentation on the buccal side (towards the cheeks). The occlusal surface is mostly covered with enamel surrounding a dentine lake, but there is a V-shaped islet in the middle, with the tip of the V towards the lingual side, that forms the remnant of an infundibulum—a deep cavity in the tooth. Perikymata—wave-like bands and grooves—are visible in the enamel.
The right mf4 GSI/SR/PAL-G070, which is damaged on the buccal, distal, and lingual sides, is 8.40 mm high, but has an occlusal surface of only 2.49 × 1.75 mm. Unlike in GSI/SR/PAL-G074, the dentine on the occlusal surface is not exposed, and the occlusal surface is oval in shape. Furthermore, the V-shaped islet is larger and the lingual furrow is less prominent at the occlusal surface, because it tapers near the tip of the tooth. In the heavily damaged left mf4 GSI/SR/PAL-N071 (height 7.16 mm), only the distal side is well preserved. The infundibulum is exposed internally; it extends 4.01 mm down the crown. The occlusal surface is poorly preserved, but its dimensions are at least 2.14 × 2.42 mm. GSI/SR/PAL-N212, a right mf4, is damaged on the mesial side and has a height of 5.86 mm and an occlusal surface of at least 2.66 x 2.04 mm. Cementum fills the V-shaped islet.
VPL/JU/NKIM/25 was the first Indian gondwanathere fossil to be described; it is damaged on one side. Wilson and colleagues identified it as a left mf4 (implying that the damaged side is buccal) with strong similarities to GSI/SR/PAL-G070, including a curved crown and a V-shaped enamel islet atop a deep infundibulum. The occlusal surface is oval. The tooth is 6 mm high and Wilson and colleagues estimate that the occlusal surface is 2.5 × 1.8 mm, close to the dimensions of GSI/SR/PAL-G070. They suggest the tooth probably had enamel on all sides of the crown, but Prasad and colleagues point to a possible enamel-dentine junction on the damaged side as evidence that enamel may be absent there.
GSI/SR/PAL-G059, identified as a left mf3, has a height of 5.97 mm at the mesial side, but only 2.02 mm at the distal side because of curvature. On the lingual side, two long furrows are visible, and on the buccal side breakage exposes three long infundibula, of which the most mesial one is the longest and the most distal one the shortest. In the occlusal surface, these three infundibula merge into a single islet. In addition, three dentine lakes are visible in the occlusal surface, which has dimensions of 4.58 × at least 2.52 mm. Although in "Sudamerica", mf2, mf3, and the upper molariforms MF3 and MF4 all have three lophs, like GSI/SR/PAL-G059, its curvature matches the mf3 of "Sudamerica" best.
VPL/JU/IM/33, the holotype of "Bharattherium bonapartei", is 7.33 mm high, 2.66 mm long, and 2.0 mm wide. The occlusal surface is about rectangular and is mostly covered by a V-shaped dentine lake, which encloses a small heart-shaped enamel islet at the top of an cementum-filled infundibulum. A vertical furrow is also present. Near the top of the tooth, enamel covers the entire crown, but further down there is no enamel on the concave face of the tooth.
Incisor.
The left i1 GSI/SR/PAL-N210 is flat on the medial side (towards the middle of the head) but convex on the lateral side (towards the side of the head) and bears a shallow groove on the lateral side. At the base, the tooth is broadest on the lower end. The tooth is slightly curved upward towards the tip. Measured on the lower side, the tooth is 11.76 mm long, but breakage means the true length is probably larger. The depth of the tooth is about 3.39 mm. Wilson and colleagues identified this incisor as "Dakshina" on the basis of its size; the upper and lower incisor that they assigned to an indeterminate gondwanathere are smaller.
Enamel microstructure.
The microstructure of the enamel of VPL/JU/NKIM/25 has been studied. Unlike other gondwanatheres, it has enamel consisting of three layers—radial enamel, tangential enamel, and PLEX. The rows of small, round enamel prisms are separated by interprismatic matrix that forms crystals oriented at right angles relative to the prisms. Prisms arise at the enamel-dentine junction, run through the enamel, and meet the outer enamel at a high angle. These features of the enamel are apparently adaptations that protect the tooth from cracks.
Relationships.
"Bharattherium" is identifiable as a sudamericid because it has hypsodont molariforms with cementum-filled furrows. Among the four known sudamericid genera—"Gondwanatherium" and "Sudamerica" from Argentina; "Lavanify" from Madagascar; and "Bharattherium"—it shares with "Sudamerica" and "Lavanify" the presence of furrows that extend down to the base of the tooth. In addition, it shares several features with "Lavanify", suggesting the two are closely related. Wilson and colleagues list three features shared by the two: the presence of an infundibulum (seen in only one of two specimens of "Lavanify"), interprismatic matrix, and perikymata. Prasad and colleagues also interpreted the interprismatic matrix as a shared character, but added the absence of enamel on one side of the tooth crown. Wilson and colleagues identified the presence of a V-shaped enamel lake on mf4 and of three layers in the enamel as autapmorphies (uniquely derived characters) of the Indian sudamericid.
Range and ecology.
Remains of "Bharattherium" have been found at three widely separated Late Cretaceous sites in peninsular India—Naskal, Andhra Pradesh; Gokak, Karnataka; and Kisalpuri, Madhya Pradesh. All sites are in the Intertrappean Beds (part of the Deccan Traps) and are Maastrichtian (latest Cretaceous) in age. The Intertrappean Beds have yielded a variety of fossil animals, including eutherian mammals such as "Deccanolestes", "Sahnitherium", and "Kharmerungulatum". In the perhaps slightly older Infratrappean Beds, a possible member of the ancient and enigmatic mammalian group Haramiyida has been found, "Avashishta". Members of the family Sudamericidae, in which "Bharattherium" is classified, are also known from the Cretaceous of Argentina, Madagascar, and possibly Tanzania and from the Paleogene of Argentina and Antarctica, and the second gondwanathere family, Ferugliotheriidae, is known with certainty only from the Cretaceous of Argentina. Thus, "Bharattherium" is an example of a Gondwanan faunal element in India and indicates biogeographic affinities with other Gondwanan landmasses such as Madagascar and South America.
In modern mammals, hypsodont teeth are often associated with diets that include abrasive vegetation such as grasses. Hypsodonty in sudamericids has been interpreted as indicating semiaquatic, terrestrial habits and a diet with items like roots or bark, because it was thought that grasses had not yet appeared when sudamericids lived. However, grass remains have been found at Intertrappean sites contemporary with those where "Bharattherium" was found, suggesting that sudamericids like "Bharattherium" were indeed the first grazing mammals.
It is among the two Indian mammal taxa that are inferred to have survived the KT event in India, alongside "Deccanolestes".


Mexican cacique

The Mexican cacique or yellow-winged cacique ("Cassiculus melanicterus") is a species of cacique in the family Icteridae. It is found only on the west coast of Mexico and the northernmost edge of Guatemala. It is monotypic in its own genus.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and heavily degraded former forest.
The genus "Cassiculus" was introduced by the English ornithologist William John Swainson in 1827.


Lima leaf-eared mouse

The Lima leaf-eared mouse ("Phyllotis limatus") or Lima pericote is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in a variety of habitats on the western slopes of the Andes from northern Chile to west-central Peru at elevations from sea level to 4000 m.


Athyma cama

Athyma cama, the orange staff sergeant, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in tropical and subtropical Asia.
Subspecies.
The subspecies of "Athyma cama" found in India are-


Pagrus major

Pagrus major, the red seabream is a fish species in the family Sparidae. In Japan, "Pagrus major" is known as "madai" (, or "genuine tai") and is prized both for its flavor and for its traditional use as an auspicious food, often served at New Year's and at festive occasions such as weddings. Successful sumo wrestlers are often photographed holding the fish. It is also the most commonly eaten fish in Taiwan. Habitat preference is genetically coded in juveniles, which helps them to choose the optimal microhabitat in a fluctuating environment. Habitat preference is only observed in juvenile fish up to the age of 30 days, while adult fish do not show any habitat preference.
It is widespread in the Northwest Pacific from the northeastern part of South China Sea (Philippines excluded) northward to Japan. It is a marine subtropical oceanodromous demersal fish.
References.
Takahashi, K and Masuda, R. “ Nurture is above nature: nursery experience determines habitat preference of red sea bream Pagrus major juveniles” Journal of Ethology 37.3 (2019): 317–323. Web. Sep-2019.


Eteobalea klisieckii

Eteobalea klisieckii is a moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. It is found in Morocco.
The wingspan is about 25 mm.


Red-necked pond turtle

The red-necked pond turtle ("Mauremys nigricans") is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae endemic to China. It is most likely restricted to Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, although pre-historic skull remains have been found in northern Vietnam and Hainan. Other common names include Kwangtung river turtle and black-necked pond turtle.
Anatomy and morphology.
A megacephalic form of the red-necked pond turtle exists, commonly called 'dumb-head'. This form is rarer than the smaller headed individuals. This species has strong sexual dimorphism with a significant size difference between males and females. The largest recorded male's carapace measured 185mm (7.2 in) in length whereas females with a size up to 298 mm (11.7 in) have been found.


Lestes numidicus

Lestes numidicus is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. Its common names include Algerian spreadwing and late spreadwing. It is thought to be endemic to Algeria, but its range may extend into Tunisia, Morocco, and France.
This species occurs in freshwater wetlands. It retreats to higher altitudes after the breeding season, where it aestivates in cork oak forests.


Grey-hooded fulvetta

The grey-hooded fulvetta ("Fulvetta cinereiceps") is a bird species in the family Sylviidae. Like the other typical fulvettas, it was long included in the Timaliidae genus "Alcippe".
Formerly, "F. cinereiceps" was known as Manipur fulvetta, the birds properly referred to with this name have been split off and are now usually treated as a distinct species, "F. manipurensis". Another former subspecies of "F. cinereiceps" that is nowadays usually considered distinct is the Taiwan fulvetta ("F. formosana").
Its natural habitat are temperate forests. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN.


Jabiru

The jabiru ( or ; ) is a large stork found in the Americas from Mexico to Argentina, except west of the Andes. It sometimes wanders into the United States, usually in Texas, but has been reported as far north as Mississippi. It is most common in the Pantanal region of Brazil and the Eastern Chaco region of Paraguay. It is the only member of the genus "Jabiru". The name comes from a Tupi–Guaraní language and means "swollen neck".
Taxonomy.
Hinrich Lichtenstein described the jabiru in 1819. The name "jabiru" has also been used for two other birds of a distinct genus: black-necked stork ("Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus"), commonly called "jabiru" in Australia; and sometimes also for the saddle-billed stork ("Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis") of Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, Gardiner's Egyptian hieroglyph G29, believed to depict an "E. senegalensis", is sometimes labeled "jabiru" in hieroglyph lists. The "Ephippiorhynchus" are believed to be the jabiru's closest living cousins, indicating an Old World origin for the species.
The proposed Late Pleistocene fossil stork genus "Prociconia" from Brazil might actually belong in "Jabiru". A fossil species of jabiru was found in the early Pliocene Codore Formation near Urumaco, Venezuela.
In Portuguese, the bird is called tuiuiu, tuim-de-papo-vermelho ("red-necked "tuim"", in Mato Grosso) and cauauá (in the Amazon Basin). The name jabiru is used for the wood stork ("Mycteria americana").
Description.
The jabiru is the tallest flying bird found in South America and Central America, often standing nearly the same height as the flightless and thus much heavier American rhea. For the continent, it also has the second largest wingspan, after the Andean condor (that is, excluding the great albatross occasionally found off the coast of southern South America). The adult jabiru is long, across the wings, and can weigh . Sexual dimorphism is high, possibly the highest of any stork, with males being about 25% larger than females. Males weigh an average of whereas females weigh an average of . Large males may stand as tall as . The beak, which measures , is black and broad, slightly upturned, ending in a sharp point. Among other standard measurements, the tail measures , the tarsus measures long and the wing chord measures . The plumage is mostly white, but the head and upper neck are featherless and black, with a featherless red stretchable pouch at the base. The sexes are similar in appearance but the male is larger, which can be noticeable when the sexes are together. While it can give the impression of being an ungainly bird on the ground, the jabiru is a powerful and graceful flier.
Life history.
Food and feeding habits.
The jabiru lives in large groups near rivers and ponds, and eats prodigious quantities of fish, molluscs, and amphibians. It will occasionally eat reptiles, bird eggs and small mammals. It will even eat fresh carrion and dead fish, such as those that die during dry spells, and thus help maintain the quality of isolated bodies of water. They feed in flocks and usually forage by wading in shallow water. Jabirus detect prey more through tactile sensation than vision. They feed by holding their open bill at a 45 degree angle to the water. When prey is contacted, the storks close their bill, draw it out of the water, and throw their head back to swallow. It is an opportunistic feeder. In one instance when house mice experienced a population explosion in an agricultural area, several hundred jabirus could be seen in each field feeding on the rodents (unusual for a bird that's rarely seen in large numbers anywhere). On rare occasions, jabirus have been seen attempting to kleptoparasitize the two smaller storks it co-exists with, the wood and maguari storks.
Breeding.
The nest of sticks is built by both parents around August–September (in the Southern Hemisphere) on tall trees, and enlarged at each succeeding season growing to several meters in diameter. Nests are often deeper than they are wide, they can be up to wide and deep. Half a dozen nests may be built in close proximity, sometimes among nests of herons and other birds. The parents take turns incubating the clutch of two to five white eggs and are known to more territorial than usual against other jabirus during the brooding period. Raccoons and other storks (including their own species) are occasion predators of jabiru eggs, but most nest predators appear to avoid these huge-billed birds and there are no known predators of healthy adult jabirus. Although the young fledge around 110 days old, they often spend around another 3 months in the care of their parents. Because of this long length of time spent brooding, pairs have difficulty breeding in successive years. Less than half of active pairs in one season are active the next season. Only 25% of successful pairs are successful the next season. The lifespan average is 36 years.
Conservation.
Jabiru are widespread but not abundant in any area. They are considered a species of least concern by the IUCN, an improvement from a status of near threatened in 1988. Jabiru gained protected status in Belize in 1973. Since then, their numbers in that area have slowly risen. They have been granted protected status by the U.S. Migratory Bird Act.


Rusty-collared seedeater

The rusty-collared seedeater ("Sporophila collaris") is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, formerly placed in the related Emberizidae.
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, and heavily degraded former forest.
The rusty-collared seedeater was included by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in 1775 in his "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux". The bird was also illustrated in a hand-coloured plate engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet in the "Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle" which was produced under the supervision of Edme-Louis Daubenton to accompany Buffon's text. Neither the plate caption nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert coined the binomial name "Loxia collaris" in his catalogue of the "Planches Enluminées". Buffon mistaken believed that his specimen had come from Angola. In 1904 the Austrian ornithologist Carl Eduard Hellmayr designated the type location as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The rusty-collared seedeater is now placed in the genus "Sporophila" that was introduced by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1844. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ' meaning "seed" and ' meaning "-loving". The specific "collaris" is Latin for "of the neck".
Three subspecies are recognised:


Thais chocolata

Thais chocolata, common name locate in Spanish, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails.
This species is endemic to the west coast of South America: (Chile, Ecuador and Peru). The snail is found in the intertidal zone and is quite common on rocky shores, both in sheltered waters and on the open coast.


Amphisbaena nana

Amphisbaena nana is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae. It is endemic to Brazil.


Ammatucha longilepigera

Ammatucha longilepigera is a species of snout moth in the genus "Ammatucha". It was described by Ren & Li, in 2006, and is known from China.


Marisora roatanae

The Roatán skink ("Marisora roatanae") is a species of skink found on Roatán in Honduras.


Consul fabius

Consul fabius, the tiger leafwing, is the most common and well known species of the genus "Consul" of subfamily Charaxinae in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae). It is found all over the Neotropics.
Description.
The length of the forewings reaches about . The uppersides of the wings have a bright orange and black pattern, with two yellow bands across the angular forewings. The hindwings are tailed. This butterfly is part of a mimicry ring, as a matter of fact the cryptic undersides of the wings mimic a dead leaf. The eggs are laid on the leaves of various species of Piperaceae ("Piper tuberculatum", "Piper auritum", "Piper umbellatum", etc.), of which the caterpillars feed. The caterpillars are dark green with reddish spots along the back, while the chrysalis are pale green.
Distribution.
"Consul fabius" occurs from Mexico to the Amazon basin (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad, Venezuela).
Habitat.
This species is present in deciduous forest, rainforest, and cloud forest. It usually prefers the forest canopy, the banks of rivers and the forest edges, at elevations between sea level and about 1200 m.


Zodarion bacelarae

Zodarion bacelarae is a spider species found in Portugal.


Sombre tit

The sombre tit ("Poecile lugubris") is a member of the tit family found in southeast Europe and southwest Asia.
Sombre tits occur in low density in thin woodlands at the elevation range between 1000 and 1600 metres above sea level. Similar to the other tit species, the sombre tit is a cavity-nesting species, which makes the nests in the holes in juniper, willow, poplar, and other relevant tree species. In some cases they nest in iron pipes (e.g. the ones used for orchard fencing), and in artificial nest-boxes. The clutch usually consists on 4 to 9 eggs, having two clutches per year. The species appear to be resident in the country with slight local movements. They breed on mountain slopes and in open deciduous forest; lower down on in trees and bushes in rocky terrain, as well as in fruit orchards. The breeding season lasts from early April till end of July - beginning of August. The food mainly consists on insects.
Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the sombre tit is sister to the white-browed tit ("Poecile superciliosus").


Tephrinectes

Tephrinectes sinensis, the Chinese brill, is a species of flatfish in the large-tooth flounder family, Paralichthyidae. It is the only member of its genus "Tephrinectes". Like the rest of the large-tooth flounders, it has both eyes on the left side of its head.
It is a demersal fish that lives in sub-tropical waters. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean, from Taiwan to the coast of mainland China. It has been used in Chinese medicine.


Rice paddy snake

The rice paddy snake or plumbeous water snake ("Hypsiscopus plumbea") is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake endemic to South Asia.
Geographic range.
"H. plumbea" is found in Andaman Islands (India), Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, southern China, and Taiwan.
Habitat.
The rice paddy snake is a common and abundant species associated with all sorts of wet habitats.
Taxonomy.
DNA evidence suggests that this taxon might be a species complex.
Description.
The rice paddy snake is a relatively small snake, reaching a total length (including tail) of up to .This snake feed readily on small fish, frogs, and occasionally small lizards. It has countershading coloration, which is dark brown to grey in upper part of its body, and light colored white to yellowish color at the bottom of its body. This snake mostly nocturnal, and give birth to live young (ovoviviparous)


Cryptocellus adisi

Cryptocellus adisi is an arachnid species in the order Ricinulei. It occurs in Central Amazonia in Brazil.


Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus

Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is found in southeastern Pacific Chiapas, Mexico, and in the adjacent southwestern Guatemala. The specific name "rubrimaculatus" is Latin and means "spotted with red", and refers to the coloration of this species. Common names dusky chirping frog and red-spotted chirping frog have been coined for it.
Description.
Adult males measure and adult females (in a small sample) in snout–vent length. The tympanum is distinct and relatively large. The digital tips are scarcely expanded. The inner metatarsal tubercle is elongate and twice the size of the small, conical
outer metatarsal tubercle. The dorsum is brown with small red spots. The venter is gray. Males have vocal slits.
Habitat and conservation.
"Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus" occurs in cloud forests to about above sea level. It is an abundant species within its restricted range, but habitat loss and alteration caused by agriculture and logging are major threats to it. It is found in Encrucijada and El Triunfo Biosphere Reserves in Mexico.


Bachia geralista

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


List of birds of Greece

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Greece. The avifauna of Greece included a total of 455 species according to the Hellenic Rarities Committee of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (Ελληνική Ορνιθολογική Εταιρεία) as of April 2021. Of them, four have not been recorded since 1950 and two have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of "The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World", 2019 edition.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence. Species without tags are regularly occurring residents, migrants, or seasonal visitors which have been recorded since 1 January 1950.
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.
Pheasants, grouse, and allies.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Flamingos.
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
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.
Sandgrouse.
Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Bustards.
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
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.
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.
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.
Cranes.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
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.
Oystercatchers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Plovers and lapwings.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Sandpipers and allies.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. 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.
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.
Loons.
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
Northern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern 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.
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.
Storks.
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
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.
Hoopoes.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
Kingfishers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
Bee-eaters.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
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.
Woodpeckers.
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Falcons and caracaras.
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
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.
Old World orioles.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
Shrikes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.
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.
Tits, chickadees, and titmice.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Penduline-tits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
Larks.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Bearded reedling.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Panuridae
This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.
Cisticolas and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
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.
Long-tailed tits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Kinglets.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.
Wallcreeper.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Nuthatches.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
Treecreepers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Wrens.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
Dippers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.
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.
Old World flycatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
Waxwings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
Accentors.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.
Old World sparrows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Wagtails and pipits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
Finches, euphonias, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
Longspurs and snow buntings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
Old World buntings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.


Fauna of Albania


Hahnia oreophila

Hahnia oreophila, is a species of spider of the genus "Hahnia". It is endemic to Sri Lanka.


Aculepeira talishia

Aculepeira talishia is an orb-weaving spider species found in Turkey, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.


Common slug snake

The common slug snake ("Pareas monticola") is a species of snake found in Northeast India (Sikkim, Assam, Darjeeling; Arunachal Pradesh (Mokto – Tawang district)), Vietnam, and Southwest China (Tibet, Yunnan). It is common. The species was first described by Theodore Cantor in 1839.


Anabarilius maculatus

Anabarilius maculatus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus "Alburnus", that can be found in Nan Pan Jiang basin in south-eastern China. It is threatened by invasive non-native species, domestic and urban waste water, agricultural pollution and dams. The species have not been studied well, therefore its ranked as Data Deficient.