East Pacific red octopus

Octopus rubescens (Commonly the East Pacific red octopus, also known as the ruby octopus, a preferred common name due to the abundance of octopus species colloquially known as red octopus) is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast, and a ubiquitous benthic predator in these habitats. Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California at least to the Gulf of Alaska, but may also occur in the western Pacific Ocean. "O. rubescens" occurs intertidally to a depth of 300 m.
Taxonomy.
In the years prior to the description of this species in 1953, "O. rubescens" was widely considered to be a young "Enteroctopus dofleini". Many early descriptions were based on a combination of "O. rubescens" and "E. dofleini". To date, the taxonomy of this species remains somewhat unresolved. S.S. Berry’s 1953 description is in truth a brief diagnosis, and considering the exceptionally wide range of the species, the animals currently covered under "O. rubescens" may prove to represent several subspecies or a species complex.
Size and description.
"O. rubescens" generally grows to a mantle length of 8–10 cm (3.1 - 3.9 in), and arm length of 30–40 cm (11.8 - 15.7 in). Adult weight is generally 100–150 grams (3.5 - 5.3 Oz), but animals up to 400 grams (14.1 Oz) in weight have occasionally been observed.
Like all octopuses, "O. rubescens" can change its color and texture, making its appearance highly variable. Color can vary from a deep brick red, to brown, to white, or mottled mixtures of the three. It can be easily confused with small individuals of "Enteroctopus dofleini" in the northern end of this species' range. The two can be differentiated by the presence of three eyelash-like papillae below the eyes of "O. rubescens" that are absent in "E. dofleini".
Intelligence.
Like most octopuses, "O. rubescens" is thought to be among the most intelligent of invertebrates. The presence of individual personalities is a hallmark of intelligence, and "O. rubescens" was the first invertebrate in which individual personalities were demonstrated.
Diet and foraging behavior.
"O. rubescens" is a generalist predator and has been maintained on a wide variety of gastropods, bivalves, crabs and barnacles in the lab. So far, very little quantification of its diet in the wild has been made. The two studies on the subject determined diets in Puget Sound, Washington to be dominated by gastropods, particularly "Nucella lamellosa" and "Olivella baetica", but also composed of clams, scallops and crabs. The planktonic larvae of "O. rubescens" have also been observed in the wild to consume krill.
As part of its feeding behavior, "O. rubescens" will pounce on prey and display a stereotypical sequence of color changes at the moment of capture. Following the capture of bivalve prey, it will often drill a hole through the shell to deliver venom and more easily open the shell. The octopuses will often concentrate their drill holes near the adductor muscles of the bivalve prey.
A recent study has suggested "O. rubescens" may choose prey based on fat digestibility rather than on the amount of calories the octopuses is able to obtain from the food items. If this is true, the authors further argue, this would make "O. rubescens" a specialist predator by some measures, rather than a generalist, due to it specific nutrient requirements.


Napaeus nanodes

Napaeus nanodes is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Enidae. This species is endemic to Spain.


Yellow-bibbed fruit dove

The yellow-bibbed fruit dove ("Ptilinopus solomonensis") is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in the Bismarck and Solomon Islands archipelagos. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.


List of mammals of Albania

This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 58 mammal species occurring in Albania. One of them is endangered, one is vulnerable, and four are near threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as published 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: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs).
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures).
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons).
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Order: Chiroptera (bats).
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals. In Albania, 32 species were recorded.
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.


Slaty-tailed trogon

The slaty-tailed trogon ("Trogon massena") is a near passerine bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. It breeds in lowlands from southeastern Mexico south through Central America, to Colombia, and a small region of northwestern Ecuador.
It is a resident of the canopy and higher levels of damp tropical forests, but comes lower in adjacent semi-open areas. It nests high in an occupied termite nest or decaying tree trunk, with a typical clutch of three white or bluish-white eggs laid in a chamber reached by an ascending tunnel. Both sexes excavate the nesting chamber.
Slaty-tailed trogons feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. They typically perch upright and motionless.
Trogons have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. This species is about long and weighs . It has a uniformly dark grey tail, and the wing coverts also appear grey, although actually finely vermiculated in black and white. The male slaty-tailed trogon has a green back, head and breast, red belly and orange bill. The female has a dark grey back, head and breast, red belly and only partially orange bill, most of the upper mandible being black.
The call is a nasal "uk uk uk".


Kaniska canace

Kaniska canace, the blue admiral, is a nymphalid butterfly, the only species of the genus Kaniska. It is found in south and southeast Asia.
Subspecies.
Subspecies are:
Description.
Adult.
"Kaniska canace" has a wingspan of about . The upperside of forewings and hindwings is black, while the underside is black and brown. Also the body is completely black. Forewings have a blue band at the wavy outer edge, a blue or white spot at the wing leading edge and a little white spot in the wing tip. Hindwings show a wide blue transversal band, with a row a small black spots and a narrow blue band at the outer very wavy edge.
Frederic Moore wrote in 1899:
Larva.
Subspecies "K. c. canace" "Segments alternately orange and white, with numerous black spots on the orange segments and black streaks on the white; seven white, branching, black-tipped spines on each orange segment."
Subspecies "K. c. haronica" "Light red; spotted with black, the segments divided by blackish and purple lines; anal segment slightly humped; segments armed with eight longitudinal rows of yellow branched spines; head and legs black. Feeds on Smilax." (Moore, 1899)
Pupa.
Subspecies "K. c. canace" "Variegated reddish brown, with frontal gold and silver spots; head produced and bifid."
Subspecies "K. c. haronica" "Reddish brown; abdominal segment with two dorsal rows of small reddish pointed tubercles; thorax angular; headpiece he is a good emperor produced and bifid." (Moore, 1899)
Biology.
Larvae grow on various Smilacaceae species ("Smilax aspericaulis", "Smilax zeylanica (in India)", "Smilax bracteata", "Smilax china", "Smilax lanceifolia", "Smilax perfoliata", "Smilax riparia", "Smilax sebeana", "Smilax sieboldii", "Heterosmilax japonica") and Convallariaceae species ("Streptopus amplexifolius", "Tricyrtis hirta") and Liliaceae ("Lilium lancifolium").
Habits.
This species is highly territorial and will chase butterflies that move into its territory. It uses well defined perches and will bask with wings open but often sits with half-open wings.
Distribution.
This very widespread species can be found as far north as southeastern Siberia, west to Japan and Korea, east to India and Taiwan and south to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and parts of Indonesia with a number of well marked geographic races.


Mountain viscacha rat

The mountain viscacha rat or mountain vizcacha rat ("Octomys mimax"), historically viscacha rat or vizcacha rat, is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Argentina.
It is the only living species within the genus Octomys. This diploid genus (2n = 56) may be ancestral to the two unusual suspected tetraploid species "Tympanoctomys barrerae" and "Pipanacoctomys aureus". However, some genetic studies have rejected any polyploidism in mammals as unlikely, and suggests that "amplification and dispersion of repetitive sequences best explain the large genome size".
Description.
The mountain viscacha rat is a rat-like animal with a head-body length of about and weighing from . The feet are relatively long, while the tail measures . It has light brown fur with white underparts and a bushy tail.
Unusual features of the viscacha rat include greatly enlarged auditory bullae, and the presence of numerous whiskers on the roof of the mouth behind the incisor teeth. The exact function of the whiskers is unclear, but they may enable the animal to sense the position of food inside the mouth.
Distribution and habitat.
Mountain viscacha rats are found only in the Monte Desert region of northwestern Argentina, specifically in the provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja, San Luis, San Juan. They inhabit rocky desert and semidesert environments up to above sea level.
Behaviour.
Mountain viscacha rats are nocturnal and solitary, spending the day sheltering in rock crevices. Although it does not construct burrows, it may place pieces of cactus close to crevice entrances to help protect against predators. Individuals occupy large home ranges of around , often overlapping with those of their neighbours. They are herbivorous, feeding on the leaves and seeds of shrubland vegetation. During the dry season, their diet consists largely of the leaves of "Prosopis" trees, supplemented by caperbushes and alkaliweeds. During the wet season, they eat more seeds and fruit, including those from plants such as "Maytenus" and boxthorn shrubs.


Dawkinsia exclamatio

Dawkinsia exclamatio is a species of cyprinid fish found in Kallada River, Kerala, India where it occurs in areas with clear water with pebble and rock substrates. This species can reach a length of SL.


Pearly-bellied seedeater

The pearly–bellied seedeater ("Sporophila pileata") is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It was lumped with the copper seedeater, ("S. bouvreuil") and known together as the capped seedeater before being split in February 2012.
It is found in southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.
All capuchinos (as they are known in Spanish), including the pearly-bellied seedeater, are experiencing severe population declines due to illegal trapping for pet trade and loss of natural habitats, as a result of grasslands being used for agricultural uses.


Mongolicosa gobiensis

Mongolicosa gobiensis is a species of wolf spider only known from a single female collected in Khürmen district, Ömnögovi Province, Mongolia.
This spider, 6.8 mm in length, has a blackish-brown carapace and a dark grey, sparsely hairy abdomen. The legs have pale banding.


Cibyra fasslii

Cibyra fasslii is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is known from Colombia.


Solenopsis solenopsidis

Solenopsis solenopsidis is a species of ant in the genus "Solenopsis". It is endemic to Argentina.


Maiestas hastatus

Maiestas hastatus (formerly "Recilia hastatus") is a species of leafhopper from the Cicadellidae family that is endemic to India. It was formerly placed within "Recilia", but a 2009 revision moved it to "Maiestas".


Morpho epistrophus


Elachista bazaella

Elachista bazaella is a moth of the family Elachistidae that is found in Spain.


Niphargus spoeckeri

Niphargus spoeckeri is a species of crustacean in the family Niphargidae. It is endemic to Slovenia.


List of non-marine molluscs of Peru

The non-marine molluscs of Peru are a part of the molluscan fauna of Peru (wildlife of Peru).
A number of species of non-marine molluscs are found in the wild in Peru.
There are 852 species of gastropods (89 species of freshwater gastropods, 763 species of land gastropods) and 40 species of freshwater bivalves living in the wild.
There is altogether 129 species of freshwater molluscs in Peru.
Freshwater gastropods.
Freshwater gastropods include:
Ampullariidae
Planorbidae
Lymnaeidae
Physidae
Land gastropods.
There are other 30 genera of land gastropods, than mentioned below next to families, with 56 species.
Helicinidae - 2 genera, 25 species
Neocyclotidae - 4 genera, 20 species
Orthalicidae - without Bulimulinae has 4 genera and 18 species in Peru.
Orthalicidae, Bulimulinae - only Bulimulinae has 15 genera, 424 species in Peru
Veronicellidae
Subulinidae - 5 genera, 19 species
Clausiliidae - 14 genera, 75 species
Scolodontidae - 8 genera, 55 species
Charopidae - 3 genera, 13 species
Pleurodontidae - 2 genera, 13 species
Camaenidae - 2 genera, 12 species
Helminthoglyptidae - 2 genera, 33 species
Freshwater bivalves.
Freshwater bivalves include:
Hyriidae
Mycetopodidae
Etheriidae
Sphaeriidae
Corbiculidae
See also.
Lists of molluscs of surrounding countries:


Hyalinobatrachium talamancae

Hyalinobatrachium talamancae is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae. It is endemic to the Limón Province, Costa Rica. Its common name is Talamanca glass frog.
Its natural habitats are premontane wet forests. It is a regularly seen frog in suitable habitat.


Fauna of the Netherlands

Fauna of the Netherlands may refer to:


Rufous-breasted spinetail

The rufous-breasted spinetail ("Synallaxis erythrothorax") is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.


Aplastodiscus cochranae

Aplastodiscus cochranae is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the coastal mountains of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The specific name "cochranae" honors Doris Mable Cochran, an American herpetologist. Common name canebrake treefrog has been coined for this species.
Description.
Adult males measure and adult females, based on only two specimens, in snout–vent length. The overall appearance is robust. The snout is rounded, but may be truncated in lateral view. The tympanum is covered by skin but is visible in most specimens. The supra-tympanic fold is well-developed. The fingers have large discs and webbing between fingers II to IV. The toe discs are smaller than those on the fingers; there is basal webbing between the toes II to V. The dorsal coloration is cream-rosy to reddish-brown with scattered melanophores. A black line passes from the nostril along the canthus rostralis to the eye. The lower parts have light pink color, and flanks and joints show violet tones. Males have single subgular vocal sac.
Late-stage tadpoles (Gosner stage 36) are dorsally grayish brown and ventrally grayish. They measure in total length, of which the body makes one third.
Habitat and conservation.
"Aplastodiscus cochranae" live in understorey vegetation of the edge of rainforest at elevations of above sea level. Breeding takes place in small water-filled holes in the ground.
"Aplastodiscus cochranae" is an abundant species, and the overall population is considered to be stable. The major threat to this species is cattle that trample vegetation and cause water pollution. It occurs in the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park as well as in several private reserves.


Strongylognathus dalmaticus

Strongylognathus dalmaticus is a species of ant in the genus "Strongylognathus". It is endemic to Croatia.


Ephedrophila algerialis

Ephedrophila algerialis is a species of snout moth in the genus "Ephedrophila". It was described by George Hampson in 1900, and is known from Algeria, from which its species epithet is derived.


Hellinsia lacteolus

Hellinsia lacteolus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is known from Japan (Honshu, Kyushu), North Korea and China.
The length of the forewings is 10–11 mm.


Mountain hawk-eagle

The mountain hawk-eagle ("Nisaetus nipalensis") or Hodgson's hawk-eagle, is a large bird of prey native to Asia. The latter name is in reference to the naturalist, Brian Houghton Hodgson, who described the species after collecting one himself in the Himalayas. A less widely recognized common English name is the feather-toed eagle. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. Its feathered tarsus marks this species as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae. It is a confirmed breeding species in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, from India, Nepal (hence the epithet "nipalensis") through Bangladesh to Thailand, Taiwan and Japan, although its distribution could be wider still as breeding species. Like other Asian hawk-eagles, this species was earlier treated under the genera of "Spizaetus" but genetic studies have shown this group to be paraphyletic, resulting in the Old World members being placed in "Nisaetus" (Hodgson, 1836) and separated from the New World species. As is typical of hawk-eagles, the mountain hawk-eagle is a forest dwelling opportunistic predator who readily varies its prey selection between birds, mammals and reptiles along with other vertebrates. Although classified currently as a least-concern species due its persistence over a rather wide distribution, this species is often quite rare and scarce and seems to be decreasing, especially in response to large-scale habitat degradation and deforestation.
Description.
Size and taxonomy.
The mountain hawk-eagle is a large raptor and fairly large eagle. Although described not infrequently as "slim", it is usually perceptibly bulkier and more massive than most other members of its genus. It is seemingly the largest member of the 10 currently recognized species in the genus " Nisaetus", notwithstanding the recently recognized Flores hawk-eagle ("Nisaetus floris") (which was separated from the changeable hawk-eagle). The latter critically endangered island hawk-eagle seems to be of broadly similar size (weight is unknown), albeit with shorter wings, however the Flores species seems to be linearly outmatched by the largest mountain hawk-eagle. The mountain hawk-eagle attains a total length of and a wingspan of . Like most birds of prey, females are larger on average than the male, with a typical size difference of 3-8%, though it can rarely range up to a 21% difference. Although its wings are relatively short compared to eagles of open country, it has the longest wings of any of the hawk-eagles, even relative to their size. Mountain hawk-eagles have a short but strong bill, long and often erect crest (though can also be very short), short wings, a longish three-banded tail, feathered legs and powerful feet. It is usually rather unobtrusive, perching rather upright inside of canopy, with its wing-tips coming to less than one-fifth down the tail. There are two currently recognized races of the mountain hawk-eagle: the nominate subspecies ("N. n. nipalensis") and the subspecies native to Japan ("N. n. orientalis"). The nominate race is found throughout mainland range and includes the likely dubious southeast Chinese races of "N. n. fokiensis" and "N. n. whiteheadi". The average total length of the nominate subspecies is estimated to be . Among standard measurements in the nominate race, the wing chord of males ranges from while the female's ranges from . In both sexes, the tail ranges from and the tarsus from . 9 males of the nominate race were found to average in wing length, in tail length, in hallux claw length (the large rear talon often utilized by accipitrids as a killing tool), in tarsus length and in bill length. 13 females of the nominate were found to average in wing length, in tail length, in hallux claw length, in tarsus length and in bill length. One unsexed mountain hawk-eagle from northern India was found to weigh . A single male from the Yangtze area of east-central China was found to have weighed while two females from there weighed , suggesting size increases further north in this subspecies in accordance with Bergmann's rule.
The Japanese race averages about 9% larger than mainland race, and also has a proportionately longer tail and longer wings. The populations from Taiwan and the possible ones in Hainan are also probably part of this race. "N. n. orientalis" is generally paler than the nominate race with less heavy markings below. The underside in this race has a paler ground colour against much browner and darker barring, often showing less of the warmer or rufous tones typical of mainland mountain hawk-eagles. The throat often has reduced blackish streaking compared to mainland birds and the upper chest can be whitish and nearly unmarked. "N. n. orientalis" has black mottled or light streaked wing-linings and a small, often vestigial crest compared to the rather ample one of the mainland birds. Sometimes, "N. n. orientalis" is hypothesized to be a separate species. Among standard measurements wing chord of males ranges from while the female's ranges from . In both sexes, the tail ranges from and the tarsus from . From a sample of unknown size from the Suzuka Mountains, males of "N. n. orientalis" were found to average and females in total length. From the same sample, males had a mean wing chord length of , tail length of , culmen length of and tarsus length of . Meanwhile, females had a mean wing chord length of , tail length of , culmen length of and tarsus length of . Perhaps most surprisingly, the Suzuka mountain birds were not noticeably discrepant in body mass from known weights of mainland mountain hawk-eagles, especially similar to that of the apparently larger hawk-eagles from east-central China. The Suzuka sample as above found males to weigh from , with an average of , while females were found to weigh from , with an average of . Another Japanese survey found the smallest male to weigh , the lightest known weight known anywhere for the species.
At one time largish hawk-eagles found in Sri Lanka and southwestern India was deemed to be part of the mountain hawk-eagle species under the subspecies "N. n. kelaarti". A 2008 study based on the geographic isolation and differences in call suggest that this be treated as a full species, "Nisaetus kelaarti", Legge's hawk-eagle. The full species status of Legge's hawk-eagle appears to be further supported by DNA studies, with an average difference in mitochondrial DNA of 4.3% (usually the minimum difference to differentiate species is considered to be 1.5%). Although extremely isolated in distribution from true mountain hawk-eagles, Legge's hawk-eagle is physically distinct as well, often being much paler and less marked below with the throat stripes characteristics of the mountain species often absent (occasionally faint stripes may manifest) being instead largely plain buff about the throat. Like mainland mountain hawk-eagles, Legge's hawk-eagles have a strong crest. The hand in flight on a Legge's is often plain buff in colour (or with some very faint streaking) and the banded wing feathers are rather faded. Legge's hawk-eagle appears to be about 10% smaller than mountain hawk-eagles and was found to differ in almost all bodily proportions from mountain hawk-eagle, with relatively smaller wings but the smaller species also has a larger bill and larger talons than the mountain hawk-eagle.
Colouring and confusion species.
Adult mountain hawk-eagles are dark brown above with slightly paler edges, which tend to be clearest on median and greater coverts. On adults, the head is fairly rusty above with strong black streaks, though the volume of streaks tends to decrease on the neck, which in turn may suggest a rufous collar. The crest is largely black with a small buffy tip. Their tail is grey-brown, with a whitish tip and rather obscure blackish banding above. The malar area and throat are marked with blackish, ragged and sparse but rather bold stripes which contrast with the rest of their underside which is predominantly barred with rufous over a whitish ground colour. The barring continues, though the white base colour narrows and the rufous becomes a somewhat browner hue, down to the crissum and the legs. In some cases, the colour about the legs has appeared variously chestnut or even blackish. The underside of the tail is boldly banded with blackish and grey. The juvenile mountain hawk-eagle is also dark brown above but usually has clear cream to whitish feather edges causing the wing coverts to have a scaled effect; meanwhile, the feather bases of median and greater coverts form tawnier mid-wing patches. The juvenile's tail is thinly banded alternately with lighter and darker brown but usually have a whitish tip like the tail of the adult. The juvenile mountain hawk-eagle's underside is all plain buffy to tawny. The underside colour also extends to the head and part of the neck flanks while the crown, cheek, nape and hind-neck all streaked with dark brown. The crest is black with a small white tip. The juvenile leg feathers are whitish. The markings on the underside begin to develop by the 2nd year, starting from the flanks and gradually increasing inward to the breast, but the young hawk-eagles are still quite paler below until their 3rd year, which is also when the tail starts to resemble the adults. Full adult plumage is attained at no later than the 4th year. Adults have golden or even yellowish-orange eyes, with juveniles having pale bluish-grey to pale yellow eyes. In the adult the cere is blackish-grey, while in juveniles it is dull-grey. In all ages, the feet range from dull yellow to yellowish white. In flight, it is notable for its rather prominent head and relatively short rounded wings, an effect emphasized by their broad hands and bulging secondaries, which tend to pinch in at the rear bases. The mountain hawk-eagle is capable of fast, agile flight "with astonishing manoeuverability". They usually glide with powerful, shallow beats interspersed with glides on level wings, but soaring birds hold their wings in a shallow V, pressed slightly forward. The wing linings of adults are a rusty similar to flank coloring, becoming paler on forepart and marked with dusky mottling which becomes darker mid-wing. Blackish-brown bars are apparent over greyish ground colour on the secondaries, the feathers here relatively broadly barred with blackish while the primaries are whiter based and darker tipped. Flying juveniles are fairly heavily mottled with white above. Juveniles show more buff to tawny colour below extending to their wing linings while the wing-tips are black, in some cases extending to primary coverts form a vague carpal arc. Juvenile flight feathers are whitish grey with thin and rather faded looking dusky barring, with less white showing at the base of the primaries. Juveniles in flight usually evidence a less distinct subterminal band than do adults.
Confusion of mountain hawk-eagle in all plumages is possible with pale morph changeable hawk-eagles ("Nisaetus cirrhatus"). However, the latter species only has a vestigal crest in most areas of overlap from northern India to southeast Asia. Furthermore, the changeable is a slighter, more slender bird with a relatively longer tail. The latter species also has narrower wings with more even trailing edges. While soaring, changeable hawk-eagles tend to have flatter wing shape than mountain hawk-eagles. Changeable adults also have streaking rather than heavy rusty barring on their underside, apart from subtle parts of wing linings and flanks, and also have narrower tail bars. In flight, the changeable also has clear white base to their primaries and less whitish on the rump when seen from above. Juveniles of the two species are more easily mistaken but wing proportions always differ, the mountain juveniles usually appear perceptibly bulkier and changeable juveniles (of relevant races) are generally much paler, rather than warm buffy to tawny, on the head and underparts. The mountain hawk-eagle also overlaps somewhat in range, in southeast Asia, with Blyth's hawk-eagle ("Nisaetus alboniger") and Wallace's hawk-eagles ("Nisaetus nanus") but both are much smaller and different in multiple ways (especially the bold black-and-white of adult Blyth's). Another, albeit unlikely, potential source of confusion for the mountain hawk-eagle is with Jerdon's baza ("Aviceda jerdoni"), which is far smaller, and of a far more compact and chunky build. The baza is somewhat similar in marking to adult mountain hawk-eagles, but the baza lacks feathered legs and has relatively much longer and differently shaped wings. Mountain hawk-eagles can usually be told from the slighter, smaller crested honey buzzard ("Pernis ptilorhynchus"), beyond the latter being polymorphic, as even most similarly plumaged individual honey buzzards have bare legs, much smaller and slimmer head and bill with a longer neck and deeper wing beats on relatively longer, more slender wings.
Vocalizations.
Mountain hawk-eagles are silent apart from their breeding season. Their call is a shrill treble note, with a quality often compared to a penny whistle. Their typical call is often likened to the "klu-weet-weet" of a green sandpiper ("Tringa ochropus") or the "kee-kikik" of the common green magpie ("Cissa chinensis"). Sometimes the call is written in Japan as "pie-pie-pie" or "pipipi". The hawk-eagles, including both members of a breeding pair, may call both in flight and while perched. Another call of a rapid bubbling quality, which is considered comparable to that of the little grebe ("Tachybaptus ruficollis"), is probably produced only during sky-dances. A study in Taiwan diagnosed seven call types consisting of different quality trills in Taiwan during the breeding cycle, including different calls emitted during flight or while perched and food-begging or alarm calls by nestlings. The calls of mountain hawk-eagles are said to be expertly mimicked by drongos in some parts of the range.
Distribution and habitat.
Both the northern and southern limits of this widely found raptor are surprisingly poorly known to this day, with historic records suggesting that the species may take up residence hundreds of kilometers north of its accepted range and year-around reports of this species from areas formerly considered only to be visited by wintering migrant or vagrant hawk-eagles. The mountain hawk-eagle is distributed through the Himalayas, extending from northeastern Pakistan through north India in at least the states of central Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, continuing into Nepal, Bhutan to northern Assam thence southward into the north and east Burmese highlands, west and peninsular Thailand, also the northern parts of Laos and probably Vietnam. Their range continues eastward into southeastern China where they may be found in Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong Province northward in the east to the lower reaches of the Yangtze in Anhui and Zhejiang. Their range also extends to Hainan, an offshore island of China. Mountain hawk-eagles are additionally found in the island nations of Taiwan and Japan, with the highest concentration known on northern islands such Hokkaido but they may be found on nearly all the islands of Japan. The mountain hawk-eagle has been recorded under the status of "rare breeder" in areas much farther north than is conventionally accepted as part of their range, such as far eastern Mongolia and the landlocked, extreme southern part of the Russian Far East such as in Primorsky Krai. To this date, the IUCN has not updated the range maps for mountain hawk-eagles to reflect the species’ presence in these areas, although their status as continual breeders here may still need confirmation. Through much of their range, mountain hawk-eagles are typically sedentary but both adults and young hawk-eagles sometimes also disperse in descent from higher grounds in winter and it may be characterized as a partial migrant. There are several recorded cases of the species wandering in north India down into Indo-Gangetic plains. In Bhutan, fragmentary information suggest short-distance altitudinal movements are not infrequent. Relatively low volumes of migrant mountain hawk-eagles were detected in Nepal, however. With a fair amount of consistency, the hawk-eagles found in the northern part of southeast Asia range into more lowland areas of Burma, eastern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, they are also similar movements to lowlands in Japan with some Japanese ones moving to the Korean peninsula. In some of the areas above such as Thailand and Malaysia (mainly far northern part of country), year-around reports of mountain hawk-eagles may suggest small, isolated pockets of residency and/or breeding occurring. Mountain hawk-eagles have been recorded as a vagrant in Hong Kong and Cambodia. Broader vagrancy has been reported in the case of a mountain hawk-eagle that turned up in the island of Borneo.
The mountain hawk-eagle tends to reside in dense hill and montane forests at any point up to the tree line. They are mainly found in various wooded foothills. Typically, primary evergreen or mixed forests are preferred, with the presence of nearby streams a plus. However, in some areas the species can range into second growth. In non-breeding times, mountain hawk-eagles may sometimes wander through wooded plains and briefly near fairly developed villages and even cities. In Japan, they reportedly entirely avoid woods near urban areas. Elevations the species has been known to live at in the Himalayas are mostly above sea-level. However, they've been recorded at elevations of up to in northern Yunnan. In Japan, they usually reside somewhat lower than in their mainland haunts, typical at between . Mostly only during winter, the species has been recorded (albeit seldomly) down to or even lower as vagrant.
Behaviour and ecology.
Mountain hawk-eagles are well adapted to living in forests. As is the case for all "Nisaetus" species, their physical form and flight style is typical of forest-dwelling raptors in general and is often found to be roughly comparable to the features of true hawks or "Accipiters" in particular larger species such as the occasionally sympatric Northern goshawk ("Accipiter gentilis"). Like most other forest raptors, mountain hawk-eagles (and "Nisaetus" species in general) have a long tail, short broad wings and relatively long but powerful legs, all of which impart greater maneuverability and quicker strike times in denser wooded hunting grounds than other raptorial body plans. The common name hawk-eagle is apparently in reference to their similar adaptations to true hawks. Contrary to the suggestion that, based on their physiology, especially their longer wings and tarsus but shorter talon and bill length, when physically compared to the Legge's hawk-eagle implies that the mountain hawk-eagle is morphologically adapted to hunting birds more so than mammals, dietary studies indicate that the mountain hawk-eagle is not necessarily a specialized bird predator but rather a generalist and opportunist like many predators. In fact the small handful of dietary studies of the species show that the mountain hawk-eagle somewhat prefer small mammals as prey but readily takes both birds and reptiles given the opportunity. Typically, the mountain hawk-eagle tends to still-hunt from a concealed perch in foliage, stooping down to take prey. Most prey is taken on the ground. Mountain hawk-eagles have also been observed catching passerines on the wing by giving chase from an ambush or when the prey is flushed by flying low at the canopy level. They will also readily take arboreal mammals and birds from a perch or roost if they're able to fly upon them in an ambush. While most of their prey are relatively small, well within typical prey size range for most raptorial birds, mountain hawk-eagles can take remarkably large prey. Therefore, Brown & Amadon (1986) consider the species as markedly "rapacious and powerful".
One study that reviewed 118 prey items in several nests from southern Taiwan, revealed a surprising preferred prey type for mountain hawk-eagles, giant flying squirrels. The Indian giant flying squirrel ("Petaurista philippensis") and the red and white giant flying squirrel ("Petaurista alborufus"), both weighing about on average, accounted for 47.4% of the food items in Taiwan. How they capture these elusive and nocturnal rodents is not clear, but perhaps the flying squirrels’ relatively huge size makes them more conspicuous from the hawk-eagle's lofty perch. A rather smaller true squirrel, the approximately Pallas's squirrel ("Callosciurus erythraeus"), made up a further 19.5% of the mean diet here. In total, 78.3% of prey taken in the southern Taiwan study was mammalian. However, the fourth most often taken prey species here was the Swinhoe's pheasant ("Lophura swinhoii"), constituting on average 6.7% of the prey. A study in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan reviewed 142 prey items of a single breeding pair. Quantitatively, most prey deliveries by this pair were rather (almost surprisingly) small in body size, whether this is typical of Japanese hawk-eagles is not clear given the lack of comprehensive study. About 17.5% of the nest prey deliveries were unidentified small birds, of an estimated mass of (mostly brought by the male), while 7.7% of prey deliveries were unidentified medium-sized birds, of an estimated mass of . These were followed by the merely Japanese shrew mole ("Urotrichus talpoides") which constituted 7% of prey deliveries (again largely by male) . The most often delivered prey (18.2% of her 44 deliveries) by the female once she resumed hunting were larger class "Elaphe" snakes, in excess of length and . Overall, the estimated size of nest prey deliveries here ranged from a Japanese grass lizard ("Takydromus tachydromoides") to several Japanese hares ("Lepus brachyurus") weighing an estimated mean of , the latter presumably constituting a majority of the prey biomass. In another study, the mean size of Japanese hares caught was apparently estimated as somewhat larger at about . In Jim Corbett National Park, India, prey reportedly consisted largely of smallish or medium-sized birds (albeit probably larger than those in the above Japanese study) such as mynas, doves, parakeets, nightjars, owls and village poultry. In the Russian Far East, apparently the most important prey types were reported as Manchurian hares ("Lepus mandshuricus"), a close cousin and of the same size as the Japanese hare, and hazel grouse ("Tetrastes bonasia"), while most of the remainder of the diet consisted of a mixture of smallish mammals like (moles, hedgehogs and flying squirrels) and largish forest birds (woodpeckers, pheasants and owls). Quantitatively rare prey items that have been recorded have including amphibians and, recorded only once, fish.
While most of the prey mentioned above is of relatively modest size, the mountain hawk-eagle is not infrequently reported to attack prey of quite large sizes, including prey equal to their own size or larger. Mountain hawk-eagles have been reported to attack young ungulates but often relatively very young and small ones, probably close to a neonatal state. In Taiwan, they took the young of Formosan serow ("Capricornis swinhoei") that were estimated to weigh on average under . Of similar size, in Japan, they took young piglets of the wild boar ("Sus scrofa"), averaging about . Reportedly, newborn sika deer ("Cervus nippon"), weighing at least , have been preyed upon in Japan as well. Scavenging of sika deer killed by human hunters has also been reported. Larger avian prey has been taken by mountain hawk-eagles, including adult Indian peafowl ("Pavo cristatus") weighing up to an estimated . In Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park, Japan, mountain hawk-eagles have been recorded attacking exclusively relatively large water birds on several occasions namely: the mallard ("Anas platyrhynchos"), the grey heron ("Ardea cinerea"), the greater white-fronted goose ("Anser albifrons") and the bean goose ("Anser fabalis").
Carnivorans taken by mountain hawk-eagles can also be relatively large as well as potentially dangerous. An estimated kit of a Japanese badger ("Meles anakuma") was preyed upon by a female. Meanwhile, four adult Chinese ferret-badgers ("Melogale moschata"), weighing on average about , were taken in Taiwan, while a Japanese marten ("Martes melampus") of the same estimated weight was taken there by a female hawk-eagle. Sable ("Martes zibellina") are also likely at threat from these birds. More impressive carnivoran prey dispatched by this species included an adult yellow-throated marten ("Martes flavigula") weighing an estimated , an adult red panda ("Ailurus fulgens") weighing an estimated and reportedly adult raccoon dogs ("Nyctereutes procyonoides"), which weigh an average of , not to mention (in a similar size range) an occasional domestic cat ("Felis silvestris catus") taken by this species. Of a similarly impressive nature in size and defensive temperament are primates, of which the mountain hawk-eagle is an occasional predator. However, a rather large portion of primate prey, such as monkeys, are taken as infants or juveniles, and most but not adults killed by them are perhaps are likely to be previously injured or sickly. Taking even infant monkeys can be provide some risk for hunting hawk-eagles due to the protective nature of mothers as well as the overall monkey troops. For example, Formosan rock macaques ("Macaca cyclopis") recorded to be taken in Taiwan were infants, weighing only an estimated . An Assam macaque ("Macaca assamensis") juvenile taken by a mountain hawk-eagle weighed an estimated . Cases of possible predation have also involved rhesus macaques ("Macaca mulatta") in the Indian subcontinent. The mountain hawk-eagle is also considered a potential or confirmed threat to some larger primates (though largely or entirely younger, more vulnerable members of their troops) including: the François' langur ("Trachypithecus francoisi"), the black snub-nosed monkey ("Rhinopithecus bieti"), the lar gibbon ("Hylobates lar") and the eastern hoolock gibbon ("Hoolock leuconedys"). However, the most impressive primate kill was an adult Japanese macaque ("Macaca fuscata"), estimated to weigh somewhere between , that was taken alive and subsequently dismantled by a large (presumed female) mountain hawk-eagle.
Interspecies predatory relationships.
The mountain hawk-eagle overlaps in distribution with several other eagles, including about three species of "Aquila" and three species of "Haliaeetus" that are broadly similar in size to them as well as one slightly (in Japan) to notably (mainland) larger "Aquila", the golden eagle ("Aquila chrysaetos"), and two much larger "Haliaeetus" species. However, the mountain hawk-eagle is the largest eagle in its range to live mostly within the confines of forest habitats, thus habitat differences against other larger eagles would normally provide ample partitioning and lessen competition. Some writers have claimed in life history and dietary habits that the mountain hawk-eagle warrants comparison to the top African forest eagle, crowned eagle ("Stephanoaetus coronatus"). While the mountain hawk-eagle and crowned eagle do show similarities in their territorial display and primary hunting techniques, beyond being larger with proportionately larger feet and talons, the latter is significantly more prone to taking primates and to taking extremely large prey (both relative to itself and compared to other eagles). In some of its range, the mountain hawk-eagle overlaps and shares forests with three other "Nisaetus" species and, often, with various species of "Accipiter", the latter of which lead a comparable lifestyle but are far smaller and more agile. However, usually these other forest raptors can co-exist with the larger raptor by focusing on more generalized and usually smaller prey, largely birds but also reptiles and amphibians, than the mammals seemingly preferred by the mountain hawk-eagle. Larger owls sometimes also occur in the mountain hawk-eagles range and are a potential source of competition (excluding the fish owls, which are more restricted by diet) despite the temporal partitioning implied in their nocturnal habits. Although the Eurasian eagle-owl ("Bubo bubo") usually prefers more open and rockier environments, the little-known spot-bellied eagle owl ("Bubo nipalensis") has a very similar central distribution and habitat preferences as the mountain hawk-eagle, and despite being slightly smaller, it goes after exceptionally large prey with perhaps even more aplomb.
In Japan, mountain hawk-eagles are regarded as the fourth largest eagle after the Steller's sea eagle ("Haliaeetus pelagicus"), the white-tailed eagle ("Haliaeetus albicilla") and the golden eagle. Despite the golden eagle race in Japan ("A. c. japonica") being much smaller than other races and the larger size of Japanese mountain hawk-eagles, the golden eagle here still has a slight size advantage (about 7% larger) and much larger wings which gives them an advantage at fighting and hunting in open air but less maneuverability. While the golden is more a bird of open and rocky environments, the two species prey selection overlaps here (probably more so than mainland populations of the two species), with both taking Japanese hares supplemented by pheasants whenever possible, and this can cause a level of direct competition despite their different preferred habitats. In at least one case, a golden eagle attacked and may have preyed upon a mountain hawk-eagle. On the other hand, a mountain hawk-eagle may have preyed on the young of the black eagle ("Ictinaetus malaiensis") in Taiwan. The mountain hawk-eagle is an occasional predator of a wide diversity of owls. Owl prey known to have been taken has included Asian barred owlet ("Glaucidium cuculoides"), jungle owlet ("Glaucidium radiatum"), brown boobook ("Ninox scutulata"), barn owl ("Tyto alba"), Ural owl ("Strix uralensis") and, once reportedly, even an Eurasian eagle-owl, a species of similar size and power to the hawk-eagle itself.
Breeding.
The mountain hawk-eagle maintain their home range with a rather spectacular aerial display. Display activities tend to peak within the time period prior to breeding. Their aerial display includes conspicuous and often noisy high circling, both single and mutual, and undulating sky dance of steep dives and climbs with bubbling call uttered at each peak. Like many raptors, the display is likely largely to proclaim ownership to conspecifics but also probably has some function in reinforcing existing pair bonds. The breeding season falls between February and June in the Himalayas while in Japan, it falls from April to July. The laying dates largely correspond to early spring or colder dry season in most of their range. The pair builds a large stick nest, that can be up to across and deep (after repeated uses). Pairs may have as many as 2 to 3 nests but usually have just one. The male in the pair is said to bring most of the nest materials while female is said to primarily construct the nest. As in many accipitrids, active nests are more often than not lined with greenery, usually either green leaves or conifer sprigs. Nests are usually located at above the ground in a large forest tree, though also sometimes more isolated trees such as Deodar cedars ("Cedrus deodara"), which were popular in the Himalayas region. In the Indian subcontinent, sal trees ("Shorea robusta") and red cedar ("Toona ciliata") are favored at slightly lower elevation forests whereas deodar cedars, pines, holly, saj ("Terminalia elliptica") and moru oak ("Quercus floribunda") are often favored at higher elevations. Many nests are often near a steep-edged ravine, or alternately near a natural tree line, freshwater wetland or other environment that provides ample view of the surrounding area. Clutch size is usually 1 or 2 but up to 3 eggs in a clutch have been reported in Japan. It is claimed that one egg is considered the norm in most of the range, as is invariably the case in the related changeable hawk-eagle. The egg is pale clay-colored or reddish in colour with varied freckling of darker red or pure white, and often with blotches and spots of red at the large end. A sample of egg sizes in the nominate subspecies showed a range of in height, with an average of while the range in diameter was , with an average of . One egg from "N. n. orientalis" measured . It has been claimed that only the female will incubate and will be fed by the male. Hatching dates seem to peak around mid-March in the Indian subcontinent. At one nest, an immature male was recorded as the mate of an adult female. In another case, when the female in a pair died during nesting, the following year the male paired with another female and used a nest from the original nest.
As is typical of accipitrids, the female takes by far the primary role in brooding and protecting the young, while the male makes prey deliveries into the nest or the nearby nest vicinity. Reportedly, the female is very aggressive if nest is disturbed but male is less so or not at all. The aggressiveness of the female may rival that of the often co-occurring spot-bellied eagle-owl and even outrival the defensive attacks on human by the more powerful African crowned eagle. Cousins such as the Legge's and changeable hawk-eagle do not typically display any aggression or, if so, are very mild in protective behaviour towards humans while nesting. Apparently, wood-cutters in particular often attract the ire of the female mountain hawk-eagle. Unlike attacks on humans by crowned eagles and northern goshawks, the attack of mountain hawk-eagle is unlikely to be deterred either by traveling in parties or counterattack. Even when struck with branches, machetes or fist and hit with buckshot by humans, apparently the female will still not cease her attack unless killed or grievously injured. In one case, a local woman in the Kumaon division of northern India fell victim to a "particularly savage" attack by a female mountain hawk-eagle and subsequently died from the injuries sustained. Cases have been observed in north India where rhesus macaques, northern plains gray langurs ("Semnopithecus entellus") and yellow-throated martens, all known nest predators, have been driven off by the female hawk-eagle, in the case of the marten while repeatedly raking the back as it ran off. The males may make up to two prey deliveries each day but in the area of nests around disturbed village-side forest in India seemed to have problems procuring a sufficient amount of prey. Caches of food may be kept during incubation and the early nestling stage but generally cease thereafter. After about three weeks, the young are more active and may engage in wing stretching and flapping. At this point, the female takes to a perch about away but continues to watchfully protect the young. The young may soon also be able to feed themselves but are often apparently fed by the mother well after this. Reportedly family remains together for some time after young fly and the young eagle is fed until they can fly more strongly. In Japan, an eaglet that hatched in April flew by the end of June. In India, the minimum amount of time from hatching to leaving the nest was claimed as 53 days. The breeding cycle lasts for at least 80 days.
Status.
Though it is not considered a globally threatened species, the mountain hawk-eagle is never more than uncommon to rare locally. It occurs over a rather large distributional range that apparently extends over 19 million square kilometers. However, in estimations from the late 1990s, it was considered doubtful that the density of mountain hawk-eagle was high enough to reach 10,000 individuals, even with the now-separated Legge's hawk-eagle included at that time and all juveniles. High levels of various habitat degradation and deforestation is probably the primary driver of declines throughout the range. In particular, the increasing density of human populations in northern India, southeastern China and Japan are likely to continue to facilitate declines in forest quantity and quality. Likely more localized and minor threats from humans are persecution as occasional killers of domestic poultry. Despite their popularity in Asian falconry, it is unlikely gathering of hawk-eagles for this is a significant problem. Lead poisoning from consuming carcasses of sika deer, left there by human hunters using lead bullets, have resulted in the death of some mountain hawk-eagles. Mountain hawk-eagles may be vulnerable to viruses and helminths as well. Similar threats are faced by all "Nisaetus" hawk-eagles, with only the changeable hawk-eagle shown to be resilient to human interferences and not in decline at the species level. The Japanese population of mountain hawk-eagles is particularly showing signs of decline. In the 1990s, the Japanese population was estimated at 900–1,000 total individuals and may have reduced even more so today from that figure. As the species is a K-strategist like all eagles, it was feared that the ongoing population reduction of "N. n. orientalis" might lead to loss of genetic diversity, and consequently inbreeding depression. However, genetic diversity was shown to be still considerable at present.


List of mammals of Sweden

There are 84 mammal species (with two uncertain) recorded in Sweden according to the IUCN Red List. Two are endangered, one is vulnerable as well now extinct, and four are near threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
Even-toed ungulates.
Even-toed ungulates are members of the order Artiodactyla. 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.
Carnivorans.
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises.
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.
Bats.
Bats are members of the order Chiroptera. The most distinguishing feature of bats is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Lagomorphs.
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
Rodents.
Rodents are members of the order Rodentia. Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to .
Shrews, hedgehogs and moles.
Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, gymnures look more like large rats, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.


List of mammals of Latvia

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


Gastrotheca griswoldi

Gastrotheca griswoldi is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. The species is endemic to central Peru.
Geographic range.
"G. griswoldi" is known from the Huánuco, Junín, and Pasco Regions of Peru.
Etymology.
The specific name, "griswoldi", honours John Augustus Griswold Jr (1912–1991), an American aviculturist and ornithologist.
Common names.
The "common name", Griswold's marsupial frog, has been coined for "G. griswoldi".
Habitat.
The natural habitats of "G. griswoldi" are dry puna grasslands, including traditionally cultivated arable land, at elevations of asl.
Conservation status.
"G. griswoldi" is a relatively abundant species that does not appear to face major threats.


Puntius waageni

Puntius waageni is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Puntius. This species is endemic to Pakistan.


Villosa iris

Villosa iris, the rainbow mussel or rainbow-shell, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Reproduction.
All Unionidae are known to use the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. Female "villosa iris" attract host fish by imitating a crayfish. Elongate papillae on the mantle margin resemble antennae, legs, and eyes. They also mimic crayfish behavior, moving the papillae independently like legs, and use "tail tucking" motions. Juvenile mussels bury in the sediment just below its surface, and feed on bacteria and bacterial-sized particles including algae.
Distribution.
This species is widely distributed throughout the St. Lawrence, upper Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland River Basins.
Conservation Status.
"Villosa iris" is considered globally secure, but is the focus of conservation concern at the edges of its range in areas like Ontario and Wisconsin. In Canada, "V. iris" is listed as endangered by COSEWIC and Ontario. In Wisconsin, it is listed as state endangered.


Rhizotrogus nevadensis

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


Rhinella scitula

Rhinella scitula is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the southwestern Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and in the adjacent southeastern Paraguay (Amambay and Concepción Departments).
Description.
Males measure and females in snout–vent length. The species has a robust appearance. The snout is rounded with a small apical apophysis in dorsal view and sub-acuminate in lateral profile. The coloration is variable. The dorsum is generally light brown to dark brown. Light-colored individuals have no pattern or have a cream vertebral line. Darker specimens have a broadish, light brown vertebral stripe. There is a black, triangular inter-ocular spot facing backward, as well as an oblong dorsal blackish spot that connects to another black spot near the urostyle. The belly is light creamy, marbled with light gray.
Habitat and conservation.
"Rhinella scitula" is associated with seasonal forests and mountainous landscapes at elevations between above sea level. Breeding takes place in small pools in slow-flowing streams after rainfalls and is of explosive type. Males call mainly during twilight. The species is abundant in seasonal forest areas with rocky outcrops. As of 2004, no threats to this then recently described species had been identified.


Areolate grouper

The areolate grouper ("Epinephelus areolatus"), also known as the yellowspotted rockcod, areolate rockcod, green-spotted rock-cod, squaretail grouper or squaretail rock-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It inhabits coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. They are produced through aquaculture and commercially fished. They currently face no threats to their survival.>
Description.
The areolate grouper is a large fish (up to 47 cm long, 1.4 kg) that lives near coral reefs. Its coloration is whitish to gray with rounded brownish spots; it is particularly identifiable by a narrow, white, straight margin on its truncate tail. It has 11 dorsal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 8 anal soft rays.
It is often confused with the brownspotted grouper ("Epinephelus chlorostigma") found in the Persian Gulf and several other many-spotted species.
Distribution.
The areolate grouper is found in the tropical region ranging from 35°N - 33°S, 29°E - 180°E. They are found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Natal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. It was recently recorded to have been observed in Tonga, but appears to be absent from areas in the western Indian Ocean. In 2015 an areolate grouper was recorded in the Mediterranean Sea probably having entered through the Suez Canal as a Lessepsian migrant from the Red Sea.
This grouper is usually found in seagrass beds or on fine sediment bottoms near rocky reefs, dead coral, or alcyonarian corals. in shallow continental shelf waters. Juveniles are common at water depths to ; eggs and early larvae are probably pelagic.
Reproduction and feeding.
Like other groupers, the areolate grouper is a sex-changing species; young are female, and some change to male with maturity. Maturity is reached at a fork length of , and spawning usually occurs during the months of May, June, October and December.
After hatching, wild grouper larvae eat copepods and other small zooplankton. Areolate grouper feed on fish and benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates, primarily prawns and crabs.
Commercial production.
The areolate grouper is one of about 16 species of groupers commonly raised using aquaculture. Floating net cages, the primary culture method, are supported by a floating frame of plastic pipe, wood, or other material, and usually are anchored to the sea floor. This method is simple, has low capital investment, and uses existing bodies of water, so production can be easily increased or decreased. Disadvantages compared to pond culture include vulnerability to external water quality problems and predators. Also, no control over water temperature, which is known to strongly affect growth rates, is possible.
Grouper consistently demands a high market price, so fishing pressure is intense. To alleviate the pressure on wild grouper stocks, many nations have promoted aquaculture in the hopes of producing a more sustainable grouper yield. Hong Kong is the primary producer of areolate grouper raised by aquaculture, and about 155 metric tons were produced in 2004. Full-cycle culture of most grouper species, including the areolate grouper, is not yet possible, although several important advances have been made in recent years. For this reason, about two-thirds of all grouper culture, including culture of "E. areolatus"
, involves the capture of wild grouper eggs which are then grown out in aquaculture. This is called capture-based aquaculture (CBA). The wild eggs are gathered by a variety of artisianal methods, and because success is not predictable, the production varies as well.
Commercial fishing for areolate grouper done with long lines and hand lines. While its popularity for food has led to some species being threatened, currently no threat to the survival of "E. areolatus" exists. The table at right shows the amount of areolate grouper produced by farming between 1992 and 2004 and the amount produced by capture in Saudi Arabia (Indian Ocean) between 1996 and 2004, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations


Great roundleaf bat

The great roundleaf bat, also known as the great Himalayan leaf-nosed bat ("Hipposideros armiger") is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. It gives birth to two young a year. It has been assessed as least concern by the IUCN.
Taxonomy.
There are 4 recognised subspecies of the bat. They are:
Description.
The great roundleaf bat is similar in appearance to the closely related intermediate roundleaf bat ("H. larvatus"). However, the great roundleaf bat is larger and possesses four, not three, lateral accessory leaflets on each side of the main noseleaf. This bat has a forearm length up to 9.8 cm, and weighs up to 60 g. After an experiment published by Kathryn Knight, in which they painted the accessory leaflets and the ears and videotaped, it was concluded that when they clicked the leaflets closed and their ears bent down. When listening to the clicking they opened their noseleaf and their ears.
Biology.
Reproduction.
It breeds once a year and gives birth to two young. Females have been found pregnant from January to early May, while the young were seen attached to their mothers from February to June.
Diet.
The bat is insectivorous, with its diet mainly being composed of beetles, butterflies and moths, flies, and Hymenoptera. It has been observed foraging in cleared woodland, gardens, between avenues of trees, and around street lights.
Echolocation.
The bat echolocates with a frequency of 65 — 75 kHz.
Parasitism.
This species is a food source of the parasite Sinospelaeobdella, a jawed land leech.
Habitat and distribution.
The bat has been recorded throughout South and Southeast Asia.
It has been recorded in Northern and Northeastern India, along with Central, Eastern and Western Nepal in South Asia. It is found south of the Yangtze river in China, and has also been recorded on the islands of Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Southeast Asia, it has been recorded in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It has been recorded at elevations of 100-2031 meters asl.
It is a low-flying species. In South Asia, the species is a high altitude species that is found in montane and bamboo forests. It has been recorded roosting alone, as well as in small colonies of several bats, sharing its roosting space in caves, lofts of houses, verandahs of old houses, and old temples with bats of other species.
In China, the species is found in a variety of habitats. They are known to roost in caves and a variety of man-made structures in colonies of hundreds of bats that are shared with "Rhinolopus" bats.
In Southeast Asia, the bat roosts in caves, but is known to forage in areas far from its roosts.
Conservation.
The species is common throughout its range, and has a large population. It has been assessed as least concern by the IUCN.
Localized threats to the species include deforestation, agriculture, mining, and roost disturbance in South Asia, and roost disturbance and subsistence hunting in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The species occurs in several protected areas across its range.


Acalyptris platygnathos

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


Iglica soussensis

Iglica soussensis is a species of aquatic subterranean hydrobiid gastropod endemic to wells in the Souss Plain, Morocco. "I. soussensis" is only known from the type locality, a well in the Ait Msia village in the area of Agadir, or described by the IUCN as 'a well at Tamait Izder south of the Souss River north of Temsia, Morocco'. This species is a stygobiont, being restricted to aquatic subterranean habitats
Description and taxonomic affinities.
Shell is high-spired and turriform, with enlarged sutures, elliptic aperture disjunct with simple peristome. Shell is 2.1 mm tall, 0.4 mm wide, 0.4 mm in aperture height, and 0.16 mm in aperture width. With the exception of "Iglica seyadi", the only endemic Moroccan species of this genus, no other "Iglica" is found in the region. In addition, "I. seyadi" is morphologically closer to "Heideella." The closest species to "Iglica soussensis" is "I. tellinii", however specimens differ in several aspects.


Boana guentheri

Boana guentheri is a species of frog in the family Hylidae that is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.


Paraplexippus

Paraplexippus is a genus of Caribbean jumping spiders that was first described by P. Franganillo B. in 1930. it contains only two species, found only on the Greater Antilles: "P. quadrisignatus" and "P. sexsignatus". The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek "para" (), meaning "alongside", and the salticid genus "Plexippus".


Ithystenus curvidens

Ithystenus curvidens is a species of straight-snouted weevils belonging to the family Brentidae.
Distribution.
This species can be found in Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago: New Britain; Woodlark Island; West Papua; Aru Islands.


Red-winged tinamou

The red-winged tinamou ("Rhynchotus rufescens") is a medium-sized ground-living bird from central and eastern South America. Other common names for the species include "perdiz grande", "rufous tinamou", and "ynambu".
Taxonomy.
All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
Coenraad Jacob Temminck first identified the red-winged tinamou from a specimen from São Paulo state, Brazil, in 1815.
Subspecies.
The red-winged tinamou has three subspecies:
Previously, the taxon "maculicollis" was considered a subspecies of the red-winged tinamou, but following SACC it is now considered a species in its own right; the huayco tinamou.
Etymology.
Its common name refers to the bright rufous primaries, which mainly are visible in flight.
Description.
The red-winged tinamou is approximately in length, and weighs , and the female may be slightly larger. It has a black crown, rufous primaries, and light gray to brown underneath. It may have black bars on flanks, abdomen and vent. Also, the throat is whitish, the foreneck and breast are cinnamon. The curved bill is horn-coloured with a blackish culmen. Juveniles are duller.
Range.
Its range is southeastern, northeastern and central Brazil, eastern Paraguay, southeastern Peru, Bolivia and eastern Argentina
Habitat.
At lower elevations (), it favours marshy grasslands (seasonally flooded) and forest edges. While, at higher elevations, up to , it will frequent arid shrubland, pastures, and grain fields. Overall it prefers dry savanna.
Behavior.
The red-winged tinamou have vocal males that are a longs ringing single whistle followed by shorter sad whistles. The female does not call. This species is most active during the hottest parts of the day.
Feeding.
Its diet varies by season; it taking insects and other small animals (even small mammals) in the summer, and switching to vegetable matter, such as fruits, shoots, tubers and bulbs, in the winter. It can be an agricultural pest, feeding on cereals, rice and peanuts, as well as being predatory, taking poisonous snakes and even jumping up into the air to snatch an insect off a leaf.
Reproduction.
The male of the species attracts the female by follow feeding and after the attraction will move to the nest where she lays her eggs that he will incubate only and then raise the chicks.
Conservation.
Like all tinamous, the red-winged tinamou is a popular target for hunters, and in areas of high human population density number have declined, but the species has also increased in some areas where forest clearance has created favourable habitat. Overall, it is not considered threatened and is therefore listed as Least Concern by IUCN. It has an occurrence range of .


Carabus dufouri dufouri

Carabus dufouri dufouri is a subspecies of black coloured beetle from family Carabidae, found on Gibraltar and in Spain.


Chinese bamboo partridge

The Chinese bamboo partridge ("Bambusicola thoracicus") is a small Galliform bird. It is one of two species in the genus "Bambusicola", along with the mountain bamboo partridge of the Himalayas. Long believed to be a relative of "Perdix", scientists established that bamboo partridge are close relatives of the long-billed partridge and junglefowl.
Description.
The Chinese bamboo partridge is a small bird, intermediate in size between the "Coturnix" and "Perdix" species, reaching a size of 31 cm, with males being slightly larger than females. The breast and back are mottled in black, chestnut, and cream colours, with black spots on the flanks and above. The partridge's face and throat have rich fulvous and rufous tints. The breast is yellow-ochre, with pale greyish blue and taupe above the eye and down to the neck. Like the long-billed partridge, bamboo partridge exhibit well-developed flight feathers. Their tails are broad and squared. The wings are long and narrow. The birds are capable of sustained flight and move from the sub-canopy of steep hillside forest to the forest floor several times throughout the day.
Behaviour.
Like many Galliform bird species, the birds prefer hiding to flight, but will readily flush if approached, startling pursuers with loud wingbeats. Within the forest, bamboo partridge are known to fly uphill, weaving through timber. This is an unusual behaviour, recorded only in the unrelated koklass. Like the related "Coturnix" species, francolins and junglefowl, males broadcast loud, multi-syllabic calls throughout the day and throughout the year. These vocalisations serve as challenges to other birds as well as location calls and anti-predator alarms. The loud contact call, often rendered as "ki-ko-kuai" or "kojukkei" (the latter rendition being adopted as its Japanese name) is repeated several times before slowing to a stop. This call is heard far more than the bird is usually seen, and though the species is common throughout its limited range, it is elusive and secretive.
Distribution and habitat.
The bird is native to eastern mainland China, and has been introduced successfully to Japan, Hawaii and Argentina. It is found in warm forests and grasslands and is not entirely dependent on bamboo, despite its name. The Taiwan bamboo partridge was formerly considered a subspecies.
Introductions.
The bird was intentionally introduced first to Japan in 1919, then with varying success to Hawaii, where it is listed as an introduced bird not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An introduced population also exists on remote Iwo Jima. Despite its success elsewhere, Chinese bamboo partridge has been extirpated from Hong Kong, and a reintroduction program in 1961 failed to produce a viable breeding population.
Aviculture.
Chinese bamboo partridges have been part of Chinese aviculture for centuries. In captivity, these tiny birds are pugnacious and care should be taken as to what other terrestrial species should be kept in mixed-species aviaries. They are compatible with crestless firebacks and eared pheasants but not with junglefowl or francolin.


Lasiochernes cretonatus

Lasiochernes cretonatus is a species of pseudoscorpions discovered in the late 1990s in the Souré cave in Crete.


Pomacea aurostoma

Pomacea aurostoma is a South American species of freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.
Distribution.
The native distribution of "P. aurostoma" is Colombia and Venezuela.


Tarahumara salamander

The Tarahumara salamander ("Ambystoma rosaceum") is a freshwater species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae, endemic to Mexico.
Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, freshwater marshes, pastureland, and ponds.
The Tarahumara salamander may actually be two different species separated by the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. It's classified as Least Concern, but habitat loss, introduced predatory fish, and increasing agriculture in the area pose threats to its survival. The Government of Mexico classifies it as Pr, meaning Special Protection.
Description.
The Tarhumara salamander is a medium-sized salamander with a maximum snout to vent length of about and a tail of about . Females have longer bodies and shorter tails than males. Newly-hatched larvae are a uniform brownish-black, older larvae have rows of yellow and black mottling and most terrestrial adults have large spots or streaks of yellow on a dark background, though some are plain. Some individuals are paedomorphic and do not pass through metamorphosis to the terrestrial adult state but remain as aquatic, gilled paedomorphs. This happens most often in montane streams and ponds.
Distribution and habitat.
The Tarhumara salamander is endemic to Mexico where it occurs in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range at elevations of above sea level. It is an adaptable species and generally occurs in pine and pine-oak forest with small, slow moving streams, or near springs and ponds. It is also found in thornscrub and tropical deciduous forest in some areas, and on farms and ranches where it sometimes breeds in cattle ponds.
Status.
This salamander is listed as being of "Least Concern" by the IUCN as its population seems stable. It has a wide distribution and presumed large population, and does not appear to be declining fast enough to qualify to be listed in a more threatened category.


Grasshopper sparrow

The grasshopper sparrow ("Ammodramus savannarum") is a small New World sparrow. The genus "Ammodramus" contains nine species that inhabit grasslands and prairies.
The Florida grasshopper sparrow ("Ammodramus savannarum floridanus") is endangered.
Description.
These small sparrows measure in length, span about across the wings and weigh from , with an average of . Adults have upperparts streaked with brown, grey, black and white; they have a light brown breast, a white belly and a short brown tail. Their face is light brown with an eye ring and a dark brown crown with a central narrow light stripe. There are regional variations in the appearance of this bird.
Distribution and habitat.
Their breeding habitat is open fields and prairie across southern Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America, with a small endangered population in the Andes of Colombia and (perhaps only formerly) Ecuador. The northern populations migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Like many grassland birds, this bird's numbers have declined across many parts of its range, including a 98% drop in New York State.
Behaviour.
The nest is a well-concealed open cup on the ground under vegetation. They forage on the ground in vegetation, mainly eating insects, especially grasshoppers, and seeds.
Call.
This bird's song is a buzzy "tik tuk zee", resembling the sound made by a grasshopper. Unlike some other members of the Ammodramus family of sparrows, they will readily sing from open and exposed perches.


Centrolene savagei

Centrolene savagei is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae that is endemic to the Andes of western Colombia, specifically the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central. Its common name is Savage's Cochran frog.
Description.
"Centrolene savagei" is a small glassfrog: adult females measure about in snout–vent length and adult males in snout–vent length, It has a wide head with a rounded snout and bulging eyes, and a slender body. The fingers and toes are tipped with adhesive pads. The body and legs are liberally covered with rounded whitish warts. The dorsal surface is bright green speckled with white or pale green, which makes it well-camouflaged on leaves, and the underparts are white and semi-transparent; the bones are green. The species has a number of defenses such as foul-smelling skin secretions and a variety of defensive postures and behaviors.
Reproduction.
Adult male "Centrolene savagei" call at night after there has been rain during the day. The male advertisement call consists of 1–3 "peep" notes, each about 17 milliseconds in length (range 10–22 ms), and separated by silent intervals 302–442 ms in duration. Larger males have lower-pitch calls and higher mating success. Females lay 15–27 cream-coloured eggs on leaves; males can guard the eggs for 24 hours or more. The newly hatched tadpole drop off the leaves into the water below. Tadpoles grow up to in length.
Habitat and conservation.
Its natural habitats are sub-Andean and Andean forests at elevations of above sea level. Its typical habitat is trees and vegetation close to running water. It can also occur in secondary forests. It is currently listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Redlist. Its distribution is fragmented and relatively limited in area, and its habitat is lost to agriculture (crops and livestock) and pollution.


Cibyra biedermanni

Cibyra biedermanni is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is known from Brazil.


Caucasian Mountain ground squirrel

The Caucasian Mountain ground squirrel (Spermophilus musicus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the North Caucasus.


Bothriechis thalassinus

Bothriechis thalassinus is a venomous pitviper species native to Guatemala and Honduras.
Description.
This is a medium-sized pitviper with a slender body and strong prehensile tail. Adults are usually long, with a maximum recorded length of . It has 21-23 dorsal scale rows at mid-body. The head and body usually have a greenish dorsal color, shading to yellow-greenish along the sides. The belly is generally lighter in color: cream, yellow-green or pale green. The dorsal pattern may have irregular blotches, turquoise to black, or speckling that doesn't reach very far down the sides.
The head has two black stripes and black speckling on top, which are less visible towards the tail. Like all other pitvipers, "B. thalassinus" has heat sensitive organs, or loreal pits, located on either side of the head between the eye and the nostril.
Geographic range.
Its range extends from eastern Guatemala to western Honduras. In eastern Guatemala it is found in several mountain ranges, including Sierra de Caral in Izabal and the Sierra del Merendón in Zacapa.
Habitat.
Occurs in lower montane wet forest and lower montane moist forest at elevations of .
Behavior.
Like other "Bothriechis" members, this species appears to be mainly nocturnal and arboreal. It preys mostly on frogs, lizards, and sometimes small mammals or birds. "B. thalassinus" is not known to be an aggressive species, but may strike quickly when surprised or disturbed.
Reproduction.
Like most other pitvipers, "B. thalassinus" is ovoviviparous. Average litter size is probably less than 10–12 young per litter.
Venom.
The characteristics of its venom are not yet well known. It is mainly hemotoxic, and possibly contains mild neurotoxic or myotoxic factors. Seldom encountered by humans, there are very few reported bites of humans. Typical envenomation symptoms include local pain, swelling, mild local tissue necrosis, nausea, "tingling" of a digit or limb, and nausea. No confirmed deaths of humans have been reported for this species.


Laminacauda luscinia

Laminacauda luscinia is a species of sheet weaver found in Tristan da Cunha. It was described by Millidge in 1985.


False serotine bat

The false serotine bat ("Hesperoptenus doriae") is a species of vesper bat. It is found only in Malaysia.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
Description.
With very dark brown or black curly fur and a blunt nose, the false serotine bat has a sheep-like head and face. The ears are short and rounded, the flap of skin inside them, known as the tragus, has a slightly hatchet shape. The wings are dark and long with pointed tips to improve flight speed and the tail is long.
Size:
Forearm length: 38 – 41 mm
Tail length: 40 mm
Biology.
Very little is known about this rare and elusive bat species. The female false serotine bat gives birth to a single pup each year which is fed milk until it can fly and forage alone. It feeds on small insects above rivers and in open spaces in the rainforest, such as around tree falls. It uses echolocation to navigate its surroundings and to locate its prey. Repeated ultrasonic shouts are emitted which bounce off nearby objects, returning to the bat’s ears as echoes. These echoes are interpreted by the bat’s brain and a picture is built up of its environment.
Range and habitat.
The false serotine bat is found in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, in primary forest and caves between 500 and 1,500 metres above sea level.
Conservation.
The habitat of this species is being lost as a result of human activities. Deforestation of primary rainforest is ongoing in order to create land for homes, agriculture and, importantly, oil palm. Oil palm plantations cover vast areas of Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo and are highly profitable, since palm oil is a versatile product. Malaysia’s production of palm oil has doubled in the last 20 years, whilst Indonesia’s has tripled. Together they hold a large proportion of the global market, with 88 percent of the world exports coming from these two countries alone.
Deforestation of primary forest for oil palm plantations, including within protected areas, is an issue of major concern and one that relies on both governmental action and consumer concern. Some large retailers have agreed, in collaboration with the WWF, to source products containing palm oil from plantations that are not on deforested land (6). Many scientific and charitable groups contribute to bat monitoring and local education programmes that can help to reduce persecution and raise awareness of the natural assets of the land.


Vesperus fuentei

Vesperus fuentei is a species of beetle in the Vesperidae family that is endemic to Spain.


Bachia remota

Bachia remota is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
Description.
The snout of a bachia remota is rounded whilst the body is long and small in width. The tail is longer than the body and there are four limbs, with each limb having four digits. It also has scales along its entire body.


Xenophidion acanthognathus

Xenophidion acanthognathus, also known as the Bornean spine-jawed snake is a species of snake in the monotypic family Xenophidiidae.
It is found in Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, Malaysia.


Temnothorax fragosus

Temnothorax fragosus, also known as the Ragged Divided ant, is a species of ant endemic to Alberta, Canada.


Hebius boulengeri

Hebius boulengeri is a species in snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is also known as the Tai-yong keelback or Boulenger's keelback.
Etymology.
The specific name, "boulengeri", is in honor of Belgian-British herpetologist George Albert Boulenger.
Geographic range.
It is found in Cambodia, China, and Vietnam.


Daboia palaestinae

Daboia palaestinae, also known as the Palestine viper, is a viper species endemic to the Levant. Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is considered a leading cause of snakebite within its range. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description.
It grows to an average total length (body + tail) of , with a maximum total length of .
Geographic range.
It is found in northern and central Israel, Palestine, western Syria, northwestern Jordan, and Lebanon. Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range as relatively restricted, with the distribution being concentrated in the Mediterranean coastal plains to the inland hills of Lebanon and Israel, along with the adjoining regions of Syria and Jordan.
The type locality given is "Haifa, Israel."
Conservation status.
This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). It was given this status due to its relatively wide distribution, the fact that it is found in a wide range of habitats, its presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2005.
In 2018 the viper was named Israel's national snake.
Taxonomy.
The classification of this species has resulted in much taxonomic controversy. Before Franz Werner (1938), this snake was included in "Montivipera xanthina", and subsequently synonymized with "V. lebetina" by Boulenger (1896). Mertens (1952) moved it back to "M. xanthina" as a subspecies, and more recently a number of authorities, including Obst (1983) and Mallow et al. (2003) have included it as part of the genus "Daboia". The result is that many studies related to this medically significant species have been published under different scientific names.


Deltophora digitiformis

Deltophora digitiformis is a moth of the family Gelechiidae that is endemic to China.


Hypopetalia pestilens

Hypopetalia pestilens, the white-dotted redspot, is a monotypic species of dragonfly in the family Austropetaliidae. It is endemic to central Chile. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Pharmacis anselminae

Pharmacis anselminae is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It is known from Italy.


Upper Laos caecilian

The Upper Laos caecilian, Ichthyophis laosensis, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to Laos and only known from a single specimen (holotype) collected from the imprecise type locality, "Upper Laos". Presumably a tropical moist forest species, nothing definite is known about its habitat or ecology.


Zizeeria knysna

Zizeeria knysna, the dark grass blue or African grass blue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Africa, on Cyprus and the Iberian Peninsula.
Sometimes mistakenly called "Zizeeria lysimon" (Hübner), that species name is invalid as it is preoccupied by "Papilio lisimon" Stoll, [1790], a butterfly in the family Riodinidae.
The wingspan is 18–23 mm for males and 21–26 mm for females. The butterfly flies nearly year-round.
The larvae feed on "Medicago", "Melilotus", "Acanthyllis", "Armeria delicatula", "Polygonum equisetiforme", "Tribulus terrestris" and "Oxalis".