Panamanian golden frog

The Panamanian golden frog ("Atelopus zeteki"), also known as Cerro Campana stubfoot toad and other names, is a species of toad endemic to Panama. Panamanian golden frogs inhabit the streams along the mountainous slopes of the Cordilleran cloud forests of west-central Panama. While the IUCN lists it as critically endangered, it may in fact have been extinct in the wild since 2007. Individuals have been collected for breeding in captivity in a bid to preserve the species. The alternative common name, Zetek's golden frog, and the epithet "zeteki" both commemorate the entomologist James Zetek.
Description.
Despite its common name, the Panamanian golden frog is a true toad, a member of the family Bufonidae. It was first described as a subspecies of "Atelopus varius", but is now classified as a separate species.
The Panamanian golden frog is a national symbol and is considered to be one of the most beautiful frogs in Panama. The skin colour ranges from light yellow-green to bright gold, with some individuals exhibiting black spots on their backs and legs. Females are generally larger than males; females typically range from in length and in weight, with males between in length and in weight.
Toxicity.
The Panamanian golden frog has a variety of toxins, including steroidal bufadienolides and guanidinium alkaloids of the tetrodotoxin class. One of the latter, zetekitoxin AB, has been found to be a blocker of voltage-dependent sodium channels several orders of magnitude more potent than its analog saxitoxin. Their toxin is water-soluble and affects the nerve cells of anyone who comes in contact with it. Panamanian golden frogs use this toxin to protect themselves from most predators. Due to the risk of testing the poison on humans, it has been done with mice. Large doses can be fatal in 20 or 30 minutes. Death is preceded by clonic ("grand mal") convulsions until the functions of the circulatory and respiratory systems cease.
Distribution.
The Panamanian golden frog is endemic to Panama, living close to mountain streams on the eastern side of the Tabasará mountain range in the Coclé and Panamá provinces. Its geographic range previously extended as far east as the town of El Copé in western Coclé Province before the onset of the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which caused the El Copé population to rapidly collapse in 2004. Vital habitat is lost each year to small farms, commercialized agriculture, woodlot operations, livestock range, industrial expansion, and real estate development. Individuals are kept in captive-breeding programmes in more than 50 institutions across North America and Panama.
Ecology.
The lifespan of the Panamanian golden frog is 12 years.
This toad is unusual in that it communicates by a form of semaphore, waving at rivals and prospective mates, in addition to the sounds more usual among frogs. This adaptation is thought to have evolved in the Panamanian golden frog because of the noise of the fast-moving streams which formed its natural habitat. The male tends to stay near the streams where breeding occurs, while in the nonbreeding season, the female retreats into the forests. The male uses a soft call to entice prospective mates, then grabs the female and hangs on when she crosses his path. If she is receptive, she will tolerate amplexus; if not, she will attempt to buck him off by arching her spine. Amplexus can last from a few days to a few months, with oviposition usually taking place in a shallow stream.
Life history.
The development of "A. zeteki" can be divided into four stages: larva or tadpole, juvenile, subadult, and adult. During the larval stage, individuals emerge from their eggs after 2 to 10 days of development. They are entirely aquatic creatures at this stage and are found in waters with a temperature range from 20.4 to 21.3 °C and with depths of 5 to 35 cm. After emerging, they mostly spend time resting in shallow pools below cascades. This behavior is similar to "A. certus". Wherever water pools in a stream, they are likely to be found, as long as it is connected to moving channels. The tadpoles, however, do not venture into the moving channels. Clinging to surfaces by suction of their flattened bellies, the larvae can be characterized as "gastromyzophorous". They are typically around 5.8 mm in length and 4.3 mm in width. Their snouts are rounded, as well as their tails. The longest caudal fins on their tails are about three-fifths the length of the tail. Their mouths are large and ventral surrounded by labia which form an unbroken oral disc about 3.6 mm wide. The posterior lip has no papillae, but other lips are lined with single rows of small, blunt papillae. They are colored from dark brown to black dorsally, with golden flecks on their bodies. They develop this black and gold coloration as melanin floods their dermal layers, giving the larvae protection from the sun. When metamorphosing, their golden flecks are replaced with dark green ones. The tadpoles feed on algae and spend 6 to 7 months developing and growing.
The juveniles of this species are amphibious, but have a far smaller range than subadults and adults. Normally, the juveniles are not found more than 2 m from their streams, and recently metamorphosed juveniles are more likely to be found next to the stream pools teeming with tadpoles. Like their adult counterparts, the juveniles go to higher elevations and recede into trees to prevent predation; however, due to their small size, the juveniles are not able to cover as much elevation and climb as highly into trees and shrubbery. At the onset of heavy and consistent rains, the juveniles flee from the open streamsides, which are normally where the grown adult males, which are very territorial, are known to roam. Territorial behaviors by adult males could be initiated by these rains. Visually, the juvenile has snout-to-vent lengths ranging from 8.4 to 17.1 mm. Their dorsal coloration is a deep and vivid green which matches the color of the moss that grows on the rocks in and around the streams of their habitat. There are also dark brown to black dorsal markings. Some of the juveniles are also known to have small dark markings on their digits. Their abdomen is either white or goldenrod yellow, occasionally with dark markings that do not match the ground color.
The subadults of this species have full ranges, but they are sometimes found near adult males which is noteworthy because males of this species are fairly solitary and combative in the presence of other males. The subadult is about 28.3 mm long and weights about 1.1 g. They are more greenish in color which more closely resembles the color of the metamorphic juvenile than the brilliant and sometimes spotted golden color of the adult. The patterning of subadults is significantly darker than the adults.
Behavior.
The Panamanian golden frog appears to socialize with other amphibians using sounds from the throat and hand-waving, like the semaphore motion used in courtship. The movements may be friendly or aggressive warnings. It is an "earless" species of frog, meaning it lacks tympanum. This, however, does not inhibit its ability to communicate with other members of its species through throat sounds. Despite lacking eardrums, the "earless" frog responds to vocalizations produced by members of its own species. The male frog responds to a pulsed vocalization, characterized by lower frequencies followed by higher frequencies, and so on, by exhibiting antagonistic behaviors such as turning to face the source of the sound and producing a pulsed vocalization in response. The pulsed call is used to demonstrate male position during combative situations. Like "Atelopus varius", it is very territorial, living in the same site most of its life. As a result of this site fidelity, it will not hesitate to vocalize when another male frog encroaches on its territory. If this is not enough to get the intruder away, the frog is not hesitant to defend its territory through aggressive behavior. When encountering another male, male frogs will wave their forefeet as a sign of defense.
The Panamanian golden frog, apart from recognizing sounds, is also able to locate the origin of a sound. This means it is capable of directional hearing. In all other species of frogs, the role of the eardrum is to pinpoint the direction of sound. Due to the very small size of the Panamanian golden frog, it is difficult to imagine another system of hearing that does not involve an eardrum apparatus.
When "A. zeteki" encounters a predator, it often waves and lifts its foot at the predator to call attention to its stunning and beautiful coloring. This coloring is a warning of its toxicity, which is enough to make a predator no longer consider the frog as a meal. If the predator continues to approach, undeterred by the frog's warnings about its toxicity, the foot waving, often accompanied with vocalizations, will continue and increase in frequency and volume. Its toxicity is not a foolproof method of protection, since some animals, such as the colubrid snake "Liophis epinephalus", are able to metabolize the frogs' poison. Ways to ward off predators and prevent predation are different in their diurnal habits versus their nocturnal ones, especially because the poison alone will not ward off every predator. Adult males, which are active on the ground during the day, recede into the trees and perch there at night. This is most likely a defense mechanism. If the predator is approaching at night, the frog cannot rely on a visual strategy for fleeing. They perch on trees because it gives them the advantage of hearing approaching predators or feeling their weight on the tree branch. The noise and tactile advantages of climbing a tree are better than the advantages of burrowing in the ground.
Conservation.
The Panamanian golden frog began vanishing from its high mountain forests in the late 1990s, prompting a scientific investigation and rescue process that continues today. It was filmed for the last time in the wild in 2006 by the BBC Natural History Unit for the series "Life in Cold Blood" by David Attenborough. The remaining few specimens were taken into captivity and the location of filming was kept secret to protect them from potential poachers. Although captive populations seem to thrive well, reintroducing them to an area will not stop the threat of chytridiomycosis. No current remedies prevent or control the disease in the wild, but efforts are being made. One attempt was made to protect a wide variety of frogs from the disease by using the bacterium "Janthinobacterium lividium" that produces a chemical against the infections; however, the skin of Panamanian golden frogs was unsuitable for the bacterium used. The San Diego Zoo started a conservation effort and received their first frogs in 2003. Since then, they have been able to successfully breed 500 individuals in captivity but will not release them into the wild until the fungal disease is less of a threat. The San Diego zoo also sends money to Panama to keep up the conservation effort in the frogs' native country.
Populations of amphibians, including the Panamanian golden frog, suffered major declines possibly due to the fungal infection chytridiomycosis. The infection is caused by an invasive fungal pathogen that reached El Valle, the home of the Panamanian golden frog, in 2006. Additional factors, such as habitat loss and pollution, may have also played a role.
The temperature at which these amphibians keep may be correlated to chytridiomycosis; the fungus is more prevalent in colder conditions. If a cold period occurs, the behavior and immunity of the frogs may change around the same time more spores are released. When these frogs are infected with the fungus, their body temperatures rise to fight off the fungus. However, even if the infection leaves the frogs and body temperatures return to previous normal levels, the infection can re-emerge. Another study found that dry conditions added an average 25 days to the lifespan of infected individuals, while higher temperatures only added 4 days.
Not only do these frogs face the threat of the fungal disease, but they also are threatened by human development. As trees are cleared for housing and urbanization, the habitat of "A. zeteki" is destroyed. Other threats include encroachment by agriculture, pollution, pet trade, and aquaculture.
Project Golden Frog is a conservation project involving scientific, educational, and zoological institutions in the Republic of Panama and the United States. The intended outcomes of this project include a greater understanding of the Panamanian golden frog, a coordinated conservation effort by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations, heightened awareness of current global amphibian declines, greater respect for wildlife among Panamanians and global citizens, and greater land preservation for threatened and endangered species throughout the world. This organization will use education and field studies, producing offspring through the already captive toads, and offering financial support to help preserve these toads.
Two significant efforts to save these frogs have been made. The Amphibian Recovery Conservation Coalition, which started in 2004, exported the endangered amphibians to the US, believing it was a better environment for the endangered species. In 2005, the Houston Zoo established the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC) in Panama, so the endangered frogs could have protected facilities in their native country. EVACC has become a tourist attraction and the populations of the housed species are watched closely by researchers.
In early 2006, EVACC exceeded its capacity for housing golden frogs. In order to continue collection efforts, a partnership was formed with the Hotel Campestre in El Valle whereby rooms 28 and 29 of the resort were loaded with terrariums as a stop-gap measure. This was one of several conservation efforts covered in Elizabeth Kolbert's "". Over 300 toads were kept in the so-called "golden frog hotel" and treated to daily cleansing rinses, 24-hour room service, and exotic lunches of specialty crickets until space could be made available in the EVACC.
Experiment.
Prior to the spread of the "Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis" fungus into Panamanian golden frog habitat, conservation organizations collected Panamanian golden frogs and placed them in captive survival assurance colonies. The skin of amphibians is host to a diverse resident bacterial community, which acts as a defense mechanism in some amphibians to inhibit pathogens. Researchers characterized the bacterial community from wild and captive Panamanian golden frogs originating from the same population with sequencing to assess how long-term captivity has affected this community. Species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and community structure of the skin microbiota were found to be significantly different between wild and captive Panamanian golden frogs. However, after approximately eight years of living in captivity, the offspring of the original captive Panamanian golden frogs still shared 70% of their microbial community with wild frogs. These results demonstrate that host-associated microbial communities can be significantly altered by captive management, but most of the community composition can be preserved.
Reintroduction efforts from captive assurance colonies are unlikely to be successful without the development of methods to control chytridiomycosis in the wild. Researchers have experimented by using "Janthinobacterium lividium" to control the skin temperature in hopes the fungus would be kept at bay. It seemed to be a protective treatment at the early stage, but the frogs began to die after two weeks as the "Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis" is the causative agent of chytridiomycosis. Other methods of focusing on the phenotypic and genetic concordance to do the conservation have been used. Researchers designated "A. various" and "A. zeteki" as separate species, but they are poorly sorted based on physical characteristics, and better sorted based on mitochondrial DNA.
In culture.
The Panamanian golden frog is something of a national symbol, appearing on state lottery tickets and in local mythology. When the toad dies, it is thought to turn to gold and to bring good luck to those fortunate enough to see it. In 2010, the Panamanian government passed legislation recognizing August 14 as "National Golden Frog Day". The main celebration event is marked annually by a parade in the streets of El Valle de Anton, and a display of Panamanian golden frogs at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in the El Nispero Zoo, El Valle. The highly toxic skin of the frog has also been used for centuries by the native people of the Panamanian forests for arrow poison.


Loryma aridalis

Loryma aridalis is a species of snout moth in the genus "Loryma". It was described by Rothschild in 1913. It is found in Algeria.


Chevron-spotted brown frog

The chevron-spotted brown frog ("Rana chevronta") is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, endemic to Mount Emei, Sichuan, China. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Boana joaquini

Boana joaquini is a species of frog in the family Hylidae that is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, and pastureland.


Amblyptilia scutellaris

Amblyptilia scutellaris is a moth of the family Pterophoridae that is known from Colombia.
The wingspan is about .


Xylophanes meridanus

Xylophanes meridanus is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from Surinam.
It is similar to "Xylophanes amadis", but the pale median band is always interrupted by black streaks along the veins, particularly those of the posterior part of the wing.
The larvae possibly feed on "Psychotria panamensis", "Psychotria nervosa" and "Pavonia guanacastensis".


Borosia

Borosia is a monotypic snout moth genus described by László Anthony Gozmány in 1959. Its only species, Borosia aegyptiaca, described by the same author in the same year, is found in Egypt.


Typhlatya monae

Typhlatya monae is a species of basket shrimp in the family Atyidae. It is found in the Caribbean and Africa.
The IUCN conservation status of "Typhlatya monae" is "LC", least concern, with no immediate threat to the species' survival. The IUCN status was reviewed in 2013.


Hainan hare

The Hainan hare ("Lepus hainanus") is a hare endemic to Hainan Island, China. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1870.
Description.
The Hainan hare is small; its body length is less than and weighs only . Its head is small and round. It has long ears that are longer than its hind feet. The upper part of the tail is black, while the under parts are white. It has a more colorful coat than most other hares: its back is brownish black and white, its belly is white, the fur on the flank is a mixture of brownish yellow and brownish white, and its limbs are dark brown.
Behavior.
The Hainan hare is a solitary animal and active at night or dusk. It does not live in burrows, but hides in bushes. It likes to live in flat, cool land with many bushes.
Habitat and distribution.
The Hainan hare is found in the dry grassland of western Hainan Island. It does not live in mountains or agricultural land.
Threats.
In previous years, the Hainan hare was slaughtered for skin, and this continues to some degree. It is also threatened by loss of habitat. Most of the habitat and animals on Hainan are threatened by similar factors, like the Hainan black crested gibbon, one of the world's rarest primates.
Conservation.
There is no control for overhunting of this rabbit and habitat destruction, even though it is considered endangered. Little is known on specific populations.


Gonyostomus goniostomus

Gonyostomus goniostomus is a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Strophocheilidae.
This species is endemic to Brazil. Although it has sometimes been thought to be extinct, it has nonetheless been found on the Buzios Island off the northern coast of the São Paulo State


Kalophrynus menglienicus

Kalophrynus menglienicus is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is known from the vicinity of its type locality in Menglian County in southern Yunnnan, China, and from northern Vietnam; it is likely to occur in adjacent Myanmar and northern Laos. Common names Menglien grainy frog, Menglien narrow-mouthed frog, and Menglien dwarf sticky frog have been coined for this species, in reference to the type locality, as is the specific name "menglienicus".
Description.
Males measure in snout–vent length (female length is unknown). The body is comparatively slim. The tympanum is visible. Fingers and toes are not webbed. Males have a single vocal sac.
"Kalophrynus menglienicus" have been observed to feed on insects, in particular ants.
Habitat and conservation.
"Kalophrynus menglienicus" inhabits fields near forest and small ponds. Breeding takes place in ponds and flooded paddy fields. Pollution might threaten this species.


Abisara savitri

Abisara savitri, the Malay tailed Judy, is a small butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.


Drilliola mangaoparia

Drilliola mangaoparia is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Borsoniidae.
Distribution.
This fossil species was endemic to New Zealand.


Athyma perius

Athyma perius, the common sergeant, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Description.
The "Athyma perius" male has black wings with a series of white markings, while the female is a blackish brown. The underside of the wings are ochre yellow with the white markings as on the upperside but heavily margined and defined with black. The antennae are black and there is a spot of ochre between the eyes. The thorax has a band or two of bluish spots anteriorly and posteriorly. The abdomen is transversely and narrowly barred with bluish white; beneath, the palpi, thorax and abdomen pure white. In the female, the abdomen has a double lateral row of minute black dots.
Subspecies.
Listed alphabetically:
Distribution.
"Athyma perius" is found throughout the Himalayas, India, Burma, Tenasserim, to Siam and the Malay Peninsula.
Life history.
"Athyma perius" uses "Glochidion lanceolatum", "G. velutinum" and "Wendlandia thyrsoidea" as food plants.


Amphisbaena ignatiana

Amphisbaena ignatiana is a species of worm lizards found in Brazil.


Daurian starling

The Daurian starling ("Agropsar sturninus"), or purple-backed starling, is a species of bird in the starling family found in the eastern Palearctic from eastern Mongolia and southeastern Russia to North Korea and central China.
Taxonomy and systematics.
The Daurian starling was previously placed in the genus "Sturnus". It was moved to the resurrected genus "Agropsar" based on the results of two molecular phylogenetic studies that were published in 2008.
Description.
The Daurian starling is distinguished from other starling species by its dark mantle and crown and narrow wing bars.
Distribution and habitat.
The natural habitats of the Daurian starling are boreal forests and temperate forests.


Sargocentron spiniferum

Sargocentron spiniferum, common name sabre squirrelfish, giant squirrelfish and spiny squirrelfish, is a large Indo-Pacific species of squirrelfish belonging to the family Holocentridae.
Description.
"Sargocentron spiniferum" is the largest squirrelfish in its range and can reach up to in length and in weight (the Atlantic "Holocentrus adscensionis" can surpass the length, but it is slimmer). A more common length for "S. spiniferum" is . The body is oval and laterally compressed. The head has a pointed snout and large eyes, being largely nocturnal. The basic colour is bright red. It has silver scale margins, a spinous dorsal fin and a large deep red patch just behind the eyes. The lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. It bears a very long preopercle spine (near the gill-opening). The anal and ventral fins are yellowish. The caudal fin is clearly bifid.
Distribution.
This species is widespread throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean up to Hawaii, Japan and southern Australia.
Habitat.
This squirrelfish can be found in tropical waters on coral reefs, from shallow water to a depth of .


Tytthoscincus jaripendek

Tytthoscincus jaripendek, the Cameron Highlands forest skink, is a species of skink. It is endemic to Malaysia.


Grey-crested cacholote

The grey-crested cacholote ("Pseudoseisura unirufa") is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is sometimes known as the rufous cacholote, but this is potentially confusing, as this name also was used for the "combined" species when "P. unirufa" was considered a subspecies of "P. cristata". It is mainly found in semi-open habitats in the Pantanal-region in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, but also occurs in north-central Bolivia.
Description.
The grey-crested cacholote grows to a length of about . The head, body, wings and tail are a uniform cinnamon-rufous colour, and the bushy crest, which can be raised expressively, is usually grey. The iris is yellow. It is a noisy bird, especially near its nest, one bird of a pair making a descending series of "chup" notes ending in an extended churring sound, and the other responding with a series of "che" sounds in a complex, raucous duet. This species could be confused with the Caatinga cacholote, but that species is a little paler, the bill is longer, and the crest lacks grey; besides this, the two species do not share a common range.
Behaviour.
This bird inhabits gallery forests and patches of woodland in the Pantanal, a seasonally-floody area of swamps and wetlands, as well as scattered trees around buildings, at altitudes of up to about . The nest is a bulky affair built of sticks in a tree. The birds often move about in pairs, foraging in trees, and sometimes descending to the ground to walk or hop about in a rather ungainly fashion.
Status.
The grey-crested cacholote has a wide range in Bolivia, northern Paraguay and southwestern Brazil. It is common in at least part of its range and populations seem stable, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern.


Micrurus frontalis

Micrurus frontalis (Southern coral snake) is a species of a highly venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in South America.
Description.
This species grows on average to 75 cm in length, with a maximum of 164 cm already reported. The color of the head varies, with a gray pigment on the top of the snout. The body pattern consists of very wide red bands that are separated by a series of 10-15 narrower black triads with 3 blacks separated by narrow white bands. The dorsal scales are red, with black tips of dark appearance. The tail has two complete triads.
It is a nocturnal, terrestrial and fossorial snake, which digs loose soil or litter, has been one of the main accident-causing corals in Southeast South America, although it is not relatively aggressive towards humans, it has Oviparous reproduction, although eggs / clutch has not been reported.
Distribution and Habitat.
It is located in Brazil and Argentina. It mainly lives in humid forests, tropical and subtropical deciduous forests, savannas, sandy and rocky areas, in secondary vegetation such as pastures and agricultural land, close to marshes and streams, it inhabits lowlands, from sea level to an elevation of 700 m .
Diet.
It feeds on lizards and other snakes (including blind snakes). Cannibalism has been reported in this species.
Venom.
Like all elapids in Brazil, Micrurus frontalis has post-synaptic neurotoxins (except for Micrurus corallinus) that bind to terminal motor acetylcholine receptors, the toxin is composed of low molecular weight polypeptides, which are rapidly absorbed by the body after inoculation and symptoms can appear in minutes, the toxin acts peripherally, blocking neuromuscular transmission. Muscle paralysis is a consequence of the action of the toxin with the neurotransmitter by the nicotinic receptor on the end plate.
At the site of the bite, edema and paresthesias occur, the initial systemic symptoms of most coral accidents, include eyelid ptosis and diplopia, which are followed by facial muscle paralysis, visual impairment, anisocoria, dysarthria, dysphagia, salivation and generalized loss of muscle strength, in severe cases, life-threatening respiratory arrest occurs, with patients requiring artificial ventilation. The median lethal dose is 22 μg for mice weighing 4-29 grams, and 0.69 mg/kg. The average yield is 20-30 mg (dry weight), according to Minton. Roze (1996), describes an average yield of 10-12 mg (dry weight).


Yarkand hare

The Yarkand hare ("Lepus yarkandensis") is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It has soft, straight, sandy brown dorsal pelage which has grayish-black stripes, and completely white ventral pelage. Endemic to China, the Yarkand hare is restricted to the Tarim Basin in Southern Xinjiang, China. It is mainly nocturnal, and forages on grass and crops. The female produces two or three litters annually, each consisting of two to five young. It is rated as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species and by the Red List of China's Vertebrates. However, Chinese geneticists have stated the species is "endangered" due to limited habitat and its fragmentation, and over-hunting and poaching.
Taxonomy.
In 1875, the German zoologist Albert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther first described the Yarkand hare, giving it the name "Lepus yarkandensis", in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Gureev in 1964 and also by Averianov in 1998 placed the species in the subgenus "Tarimolagus". It has no recognized subspecies. Low gene flow and genetic subdivision occurs among isolated populations of the Tarim Basin. The analysis of mitochondrial D-loop sequence has shown that significant genetic divergence was observed among some populations, but not much genetic divergence was observed among other populations. In the populations inhabiting the southern periphery of the Taklamakan Desert, a lower level of genetic diversity was found. It is thought that the pattern of lineage mixing shown by the mitochondrial Cytochrome b DNA data could be due to the extensive gene flow among the Yarkand hare populations. It could be explained by the probable demographic expansion of the species during the late Pleistocene interglacial period. The eastern and northern distribution ranges may have undergone three postglacial colonizations.
Description.
It is a small hare, measuring in length, and weighs . The skull is small, measuring in length. It has narrow nasal cavities with their back portions being straight and flat. The supraorbital process is low and flat, or are slightly curved upward. The auditory bullae are round and tall, and the palatal bridge is narrow. It has soft, straight, sandy brown dorsal pelage which has grayish black stripes, and completely white ventral pelage. It has long ears, measuring in length, which lacks black at the tips. The winter pelage is lighter in tone, and is light sandy brown above. The underparts are white. The tail is long, and is smoke gray in colour, having whitish or creamy yellowish white below and along the sides. The upper incisors are filled with cement, and have V-shaped grooves. The forefeet are very pale and are brown at the front, and the hindfeet are paler, brown at the front too, and measure in length.
It is distinguished from the desert hare ("Lepus tibetanus"), by its lack of black near the tip the peripheries of the ears. It is also distinguished from the "Lepus oiostolus pallipes", by its lack of grey at the rump. It is also smaller in size and has thinner legs, than both the desert hare and the "Lepus oiostolus pallipes."
The species is easily distinguishable from other Chinese hares, having longer ears than the South Chinese hare. Like the woolly hare ("Lepus oiostolus") and the South Chinese hare, an examination of the skull shows the groove on the front face of the upper incisors is filled with cement.
Distribution and habitat.
Endemic to China, the Yarkand hare is restricted to the Tarim Basin in Southern Xinjiang, China. Its complete distribution, according to Angermann, falls in between 36° N and 42° N latitudes, and 76° E and 92° E longitudes.
It prefers basins and desert areas vegetated with Chinese tamarisk ("Tamarix chinensis"), brush, or poplar ("Populus"), along the peripheries of rivers that surround the mountains in the Taklamakan Desert. This distribution of the Yarkand hare is ring shaped. It also uses reed vegetation along rivers for shelter, and tends to avoid agricultural fields. About 200,000 individuals are estimated to inhabit the Tarim Basin.
However, in 2010 Y.H. Wu of the Chinese Academy of Science flatly writes that the species is "endangered" due primarily to its fragmented and isolated islands of population. As Professor Wu wrote:The Yarkland hare is an endangered species. ... [It] is distributed in scattered oases which are physically isolated by desert. Thus, its "natural fragmented habitat makes it an ideal object for study effect of habitat fragmentation on its genetic structure."
Behavior and ecology.
It is a mainly nocturnal species, generally out in early morning or late evening, but may also feed at night. It hides in depressions, under vegetation, during the day. Foraging on grass and crops, the hare uses traditional foraging routes which can be long. Breeding season begins in February and can be seven to eight months long, extending up to September. The female produces two or three litters annually, each consisting of two to five young. Although there is no information on its home range, a high population density was previously inferred. In 1983, Gao recorded that in three hours observing in the field, four people could find 20 or more Yarkand hares.
Their main predator is the eagle.
Status and conservation.
Since 1996, it has been rated as a near threatened species on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. This is because it has a restricted area of occupancy; although it is a widespread species and has been reported as commonly found within its distribution. Additionally, its population trends, declining about 30%, warrants it a near threatened status, nearly meeting the criteria to be rated as vulnerable. It is hunted as a game species and, between 1958 and 1981, annually about 10,000 furs were produced from the Yarkand hare. Human activities such as transportation development and petroleum exploration has led to the population decline of the species. The Red List of China's Vertebrates has listed it as near threatened, and earlier it had been regionally listed as vulnerable. It occurs in the Aerjinshan, Luobupoyeluotuo, and Talimuhuyanglin Nature Reserves. As the IUCN report notes: However, increased human activity within its range is undoubtedly impacting this species negatively. At present, there are no data available to quantify ongoing population decline. It is assumed that declines are moderate (approximately 30%) and is, therefore, listed as Near Threatened nearly qualifying for listing as Vulnerable (VU) under A2cd. The species occurs only in the widely spaced oases that surround the Tarim – making it highly fragmented; the majority of the desert has no water or vegetation. More data are needed on the actual population level of L. yarkandensis in the oases that define its AOO, as well as whether or not the species is currently poached for food or pelts. Although it was regionally "classified as VU under criteria A1cd (Wang and Xie 2004)" a better criterion A2 was preferred, as the cause(s) of decline have not ceased and are expected to continue in the future."
The synergy of habitat loss, habitat patchiness and unsustainable harvest are cause for conservation concern. As indicated previously, Chinese researchers think it is "endangered."


Plexippus devorans

Plexippus devorans is a jumping spider that has a distribution that stretches from Greece to Central Asia and also includes Algeria. Originally placed in the genus "Salticus" by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1872, the species was transferred into the genus "Hasarius" by Eugène Simon in 1876, into "Menemerus" by Jerzy Prószyński in 1984 and eventually into "Plexippus" by Prószyński in 2003.
Synonyms.
Synonyms for the species include:


Amorphoscelis naumanni

Amorphoscelis naumanni is a species of praying mantis native to Afghanistan.


Chilobrachys guangxiensis

Chilobrachys guangxiensis (known as the "Chinese fawn tarantula") is a species of tarantula native to China, in Hainan. Despite the name, the spider probably does not occur in Guangxi.
Note that species "Chilobrachys jingzhao", identified in 2001, was found to be a synonym of "Chilobrachys guangxiensis" in 2008.


Coleophora satellitella

Coleophora satellitella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found in Libya.


Emmelina jason

Emmelina jason is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Brazil.
The wingspan is 20 mm. The forewings are light greyish‑ochreous, with whitish reflections. The hindwings are grey.


Hemaris aksana

Hemaris aksana, the Atlas bee hawkmoth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Ferdinand Le Cerf in 1923. It is known from the Middle and High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The habitat consists of flower-rich meadows at elevations between 1,300 and 2,500 meters.
The wingspan is 44–51 mm. It is a diurnal species. Although mimicking a bumble bee in coloration, its flight is much more rapid and agile. Adults are on wing in March, June and August. At higher altitude, the flight period is the latter half of May or June. Here, there is generally one generation per year, although a partial second generation may occur in August.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on "Scabiosa" species.


Epicephala lanceolaria

Epicephala lanceolaria is a leafflower moth of the family Gracillariidae. The only known host of the larva is "Glochidion lanceolarium" which is pollinated by the imago (flying moth).
Distribution.
The moth is endemic to China and found in the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan and Hong Kong. It was described in 2012 from the type locality taken from the South China Botanical Garden.
Biology.
The eggs are laid in April and May on the flowers of "Glochidion lanceolarium", with the adult moth pollinating the plant at the same time. "G lanceolarium" differs from other leafflower trees by producing their fruit in January and the larvae emerge from the eggs, at that time, to feed within the fruit. The larvae pupate within the mature fruit in March and the moths fly out in the following months to lay eggs on the newly emerged flowers.


Lake lamprey

The lake lamprey, "Entosphenus macrostomus", also known as the Vancouver lamprey or Cowichan lamprey, a recent derivative of the pacific lamprey, is a species of freshwater lamprey endemic to two North American lakes: Lake Cowichan and Mesachie Lake in Vancouver Island, Canada. The lamprey was originally called the Vancouver Island lamprey, until an error in filing shortened it to the Vancouver lamprey. The alternate common name of "Cowichan lamprey" was coined and promoted by the species' describer, Dr. Dick Beamish, who originally identified the species in the 1980s.
Description.
An adult lake lamprey is dark blue or dark brown with a lighter belly, and the body is 11.8-27.3 cm in length. The lamprey's disc-like mouth is filled with sharp teeth. The Vancouver lamprey has eyes on the top of its head, two dorsal fins, a caudal fin, and an anal fin.
Distribution and habitat.
The lake lamprey is found only in the Cowichan and Mesachie Lakes on Vancouver Island, and is not migratory. The lamprey lives and spawns in shallow gravel areas and typically remains in the lake rather than venturing up streams. The ammocoetes larvae are found in silt depositions along the shores of both lakes. They have been found to be capable of surviving in saltwater through experimentation, but remain in fresh water in the wild. An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 live in the entirety of the two lakes as adults.
Diet.
The adults of several lamprey species, including those of the lake lamprey, are hematophagous predators that latch onto other fish species to feed on their bodily fluids. Young salmonids such as cutthroat trout and the coho salmon are common prey. Wounds have been known to penetrate into the body cavity of hosts, though the majority of prey are only scarred and are not fatally wounded. Only 15% of prey are mortally injured from lamprey feedings. Lampreys are one of the leading predators of salmonids, as shown by the high frequency of salmonids with scars (50-80%) found in the lakes.
Reproduction.
Lampreys breed once in their lives around 8 years of age. Spawning is from May to August in shallow gravel bars or the mouths of creeks in their respective lake. Over 10,000 eggs are produced in 2 to 3 weeks. The ammocoetes larvae can be found in silt, mud, or sand with relatively still water, and feed on fine organic materials. These larvae undergo a metamorphosis after 5 to 6 years to become adult lampreys. The adult lifespan is only 2 more years before they return to gravel lake shores to spawn.


Noblella ritarasquinae

Noblella ritarasquinae is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Bolivia and only known from near its type locality in the San Matéo River valley, Chapare Province. The range is within the Carrasco National Park. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is a terrestrial, leaf-litter species.


Indian crested porcupine

The Indian crested porcupine ("Hystrix indica") is a hystricomorph rodent species native to southern Asia and the Middle East. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It belongs to the Old World porcupine family, Hystricidae.
Description.
The Indian crested porcupine is a large rodent, weighing . Their body (from the nose to the base of the tail) measures between with the tail adding an additional . The lifespan of wild Indian crested porcupines is unknown, but the oldest known captive individual was a female that lived to be 27.1 years old.
It is covered in multiple layers of modified hair called quills, with longer, thinner quills covering a layer of shorter, thicker ones. The quills are brown or black with alternating white and black bands. They are made of keratin and are relatively flexible. Each quill is connected to a muscle at its base, allowing the porcupine to raise its quills when it feels threatened. The longest quills are located on the neck and shoulder, where the quills form a "skirt" around the animal. These quills can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) long, with most measuring between . Smaller (20 cm) and more rigid quills are packed densely on the back and rump. These smaller quills are used to stab at potential threats. The base of the tail contains shorter quills that appear white in color, with longer, hollow quills that the porcupine can rattle to produce a warning sound when threatened. Contrary to popular belief, Indian crested porcupines (like all porcupines) cannot shoot their quills.
The Indian crested porcupine has a stocky build with a low surface area to volume ratio, which aids in heat conservation. It has broad feet with long claws used for burrowing. Like all porcupines, the Indian crested porcupine has a good sense of smell and sharp, chisel-like incisors.
Distribution and habitat.
Indian crested porcupines are found throughout southwest and central Asia, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Yemen. Due to their flexible environmental tolerances, Indian crested porcupines occupy a broad range of habitats. They prefer rocky hillsides, but are also common in tropical and temperate shrublands, grasslands, forests, plantations, and gardens. Their range seems to be limited by seasonal densities of forage and the availability of suitable substrates for digging burrows. More specifically, the northern range of the Indian crested porcupine is limited by minimum summer night duration: they do not occur above latitudes where minimum night duration is less than 7 hours, presumably because of the amount of foraging time required to meet their dietary needs.
In 2018, a porcupine was spotted at Wadi Wurayah in the United Arab Emirates.
Diet.
Indian crested porcupines have a very broad and mostly herbivorous diet. They consume a variety of natural and agricultural plant material, including roots, bulbs, fruits, grains, drupe and tubers, along with insects and small vertebrates. Because they are cecal digesters, they are able to exploit low quality forage. They have also been known to chew on bones to acquire minerals, such as calcium, that aid in quill growth. Their capability to form substantial fat reserves is a useful adaptation for living in seasonally fluctuating habitats.
These porcupines can act as substantial habitat modifiers when excavating for tubers. They are also considered serious agricultural pests in many parts of their range due to their taste for agricultural crops. For these reasons, they are often regarded as a nuisance.
Behaviour.
Like other Old World porcupines, the Indian crested porcupine is nocturnal. Both adults and weaned juveniles spend an average of 7 hours foraging every night. They tend to avoid moonlight in the winter months, which could be a strategy to evade predation. However, during summer months they do not avoid moonlight (likely because there are less dark hours during which to forage), but instead tend to stay closer to their dens. During the day, they remain in their dens, but throughout the winter, they occasionally emerge from their dens during daylight hours to bask in the sun.
The Indian crested porcupine is semifossorial. They live in natural caves or in excavated burrows. Because they do not climb or jump well, they spend most of their lives on or under the ground. However, they are good swimmers.
Predators of the Indian crested porcupine include large cats, caracals, wolves, striped hyenas, Asian wild dogs, Saltwater crocodiles and humans. When excited or scared, a porcupine stands its quills up to appear larger. It can also rattle the hollow quills at the base of its tail, stomp its feet, growl, grunt, or charge backward into the threat.
Reproduction.
Indian crested porcupines mate in February and March. Gestation lasts an average of 240 days. A female gives birth to one brood of two to four offspring per year. Young are born with open eyes and are covered in short, soft quills that harden within a few hours after birth. Young are fully weaned 13–19 weeks after birth, but remain in the den with parents and siblings until sexual maturity around 2 years of age. It has been reported that the Indian crested porcupine is usually monogamous and mates every night throughout its life, not only for reproduction, but also to maintain and strengthen the pair bond, the relationship between the male and female partners. Previously, this had only been found in humans, Bonobos, and some dolphins.
Conservation.
Due to its adaptability to a wide range of habitats and food types, the Indian crested porcupine is listed by the IUCN Red List as Least Concern as of 2008. Populations are stable and not severely fragmented, and while population status varies across its range, in many places it is common enough to be considered a pest. However, as a result of urbanization, infrastructure development, and pesticide use, suitable porcupine habitat is currently declining.
The Indian crested porcupine is protected under the India Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, amended up to 2002. Nonetheless, because it is destructive to gardens and agricultural crops, it is widely hunted. It is traded for consumption and medicinal use.


Amalau Valley

Amalau is the name of a valley and a bay within the National Park of American Samoa. Amalau Valley is located between Vatia and Afono, and it is an isolated valley with various wildlife such as large numbers of native bird species and flying fox megabats. Amalau Valley is reached on the road leading to Vatia. There are only a few homes at Amalau.
A significant site in the valley contains the remains of an old village. The Tu'ulaumea Tupua near Amalau Valley is an important legendary site. In Amalau Cove, pillow lavas can be observed along the shoreline. The pillow lavas indicate extrusion under water. The beach at the head of Amalau Bay is a mixture of cobbles and basaltic boulders, also with big chunks of coral which have been rounded by the ocean waves.
Amalau Valley has been described as a “prime bird- and bat-watching area."
Wildlife.
Amalau Valley has been described as the best place in American Samoa to observe the Many-colored Fruit Dove. There are also large numbers of White-tailed Tropicbirds, White Terns, and Brown Noddies present. Amalau Valley is a particularly great site to observe fruit bats, especially the Samoa flying fox.
The Samoan flying fox can easily be observed in the Amalau Valley during early morning or in the late afternoon. At some parts of the year, the bats remain visible throughout the day. A raised “Bat Observation Tower” platform has been proposed erected in the Amalau Valley in order to allow visitors to observe avifauna such as the flying foxes who frequent this area.


Pseudamnicola macrostoma

Pseudamnicola macrostoma is a species of very small freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Hydrobiidae.
Subspecies.
Two subspecies are recognised, the nominotypical P. m. subsp. macrostoma and P. m. subsp. negropontina, the latter being treated as a distinct species ("Pseudamnicola negropontina") by some authors.
Geographic distribution.
"P. macrostoma" is endemic to Greece. The species was originally described from a number of springs in the vicinity of Athens but was later also recorded from Evvia as well as several islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas.


Salvator duseni

Salvator duseni, the yellow tegu, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is found in Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.


Agyneta castanea

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


Rhizotrogus villiersi

Rhizotrogus villiersi is a species of beetle in the Melolonthinae subfamily that is endemic to Portugal.


Small Asian sheath-tailed bat

The small Asian sheath-tailed bat ("Emballonura alecto") is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae.
It is found in Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia), Sulawesi, and the Philippines.


Hemiphyllodactylus longlingensis

Hemiphyllodactylus longlingensis, also known as the Longling slender gecko, Longling gypsy gecko, or Longling dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko. It is found in China (Yunnan). It is named after its type locality, Longling.


Gracillaria toubkalella

Gracillaria toubkalella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Morocco.
The larvae feed on "Fraxinus" species. They mine the leaves of their host plant.


Austral thrush

The austral thrush ("Turdus falcklandii") is a medium-sized thrush from southern South America. There are two subspecies, the Magellan thrush ("T. f. magellanicus") from south Argentina and south and central Chile, and the Falkland thrush ("T. f. falcklandii") from the Falkland Islands.
The austral thrush is similar to the European blackbird, also of the genus "Turdus", with a yellow bill and feet, a dark brown head, back and wings and paler underparts. The smaller "T. f. magellanicus" is more olive below, while in " T. f. falcklandii" the underside tends towards ochre. Both subspecies have streaked throats.
In Chile and Argentina the austral thrush lives in a variety of habitats from "Nothofagus" forests to agricultural lands and even gardens. On the Falkland Islands it makes use of human altered habitat as well but is most numerous in tussac grasses near beaches.


Pseudatemelia pallidella

Pseudatemelia pallidella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Jäckh in 1972. It is found in Italy.


Nemipterus tambuloides

Nemipterus tambuloides, commonly known as the fivelined threadfin bream, is a marine fish native to the western Pacific Ocean and Andaman Sea.


Craugastor sabrinus

Craugastor sabrinus, also known as the long-legged streamfrog, is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Belize and eastern Guatemala. The specific name "sabrinus" is derived from the Latin "sabrina", meaning "river nymph", and alludes to the stream-side habitat of this species.
Description.
Adult males measure and adult females in snout–vent length. The canthus rostralis is moderately sharp. The tympanum is distinct. Dorsal skin is smooth–granulate, with few scattered tubercles and weak parietal and supra-scapular ridges. The finger and toe discs are moderately developed, up to 1.5 times the digit width. The fingers and the toes have well-developed lateral keels or narrow flanges; the toes are moderately webbed. The dorsum is dark olive-brown, reddish brown, or tan. A yellow, orange, or tan vertebral line or stripe is sometimes present. A dark brown interorbital is present but is often ill-defined. The larger tubercles or folds are often tan or pale brown, with black edges. Limbs have darker brown bars that are not too conspicuous. The flanks are lighter. Males have whitish throat with dark mottling; the chest is whitish, grading to yellow on the belly. Females have less yellow on the belly.
Habitat and conservation.
"Craugastor sabrinus" occurs in lowland and premontane wet and moist forests at elevations up to above sea level. It lives in and alongside pristine streams and does not occur in degraded forests, although it can be found in areas that have been farmed in the past. The eggs are laid on land and the development is direct (i.e., no free-living larval stage).
This species has declined in Guatemala but is still common in Belize. It is threatened by habitat loss, which is principally caused by agricultural development, but also by logging, hydroelectric development, oil and mineral extraction, and expanding human population. It occurs in a number of protected areas.


Xylophanes godmani

Xylophanes godmani is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from Panama.
It is most similar to "Xylophanes rhodina", but the outer margin of the forewing is scalloped, the apex more falcate and the tornus more pronounced. The forewing upperside is also similar to "Xylophanes rhodina", but the pattern is more variegated, the basalmost postmedian band is sinuate and the area distal to the longitudinal band is conspicuously paler than the rest of the wing. The hindwing is narrower than in "Xylophanes rhodina".
Adults are probably on wing year-round.
The larvae probably feed on "Psychotria correae", "Psychotria elata", "Psychotria eurycarpa" and "Exostema mexicanum" and possibly other Rubiaceae species.


Chinese monal

The Chinese monal or Chinese impeyan ("Lophophorus lhuysii") is a pheasant. This monal is restricted to mountains of central China. The plumage is highly iridescent. The male has a large drooping purple crest, a metallic green head, blue bare skin around the eyes, a reddish gold mantle, bluish green feathers and black underparts. The female is dark brown with white on its throat.
This is the largest of the three monals and, by mass, is one of the largest pheasants (after the turkeys and the green and Indian peafowls). Males measure in length while females measure . The mean weight is reportedly .
The scientific name, "lhuysii", commemorates the French statesman Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys.
Due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, limited range and illegal hunting, the Chinese monal is evaluated as vulnerable on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.
In captivity.
London Zoo and Beijing Zoo have kept Chinese monal but all attempts to establish a captive breeding population failed.


Bythinella bicarinata

Bythinella bicarinata is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.
Shell description.
The shell of this species measures about 2.2–2.6 mm long and has a pupoidal shape (shaped like a fly's puparium). In the population first described, there are two ribs running along the length of the shell; hence the scientific name "bicarinata" ("two-keeled").
Distribution.
This species was believed to be endemic to France and severely threatened with extinction. In 1996 it was classified as Critically Endangered (A1ce) by the IUCN, as its habitat – essentially the Fontaine de la Vierge and nearby springs in the Dordogne – was being affected by pollution and the local snail populations had declined more than 80% in the late 20th century.
Genetics.
However, analysis of mtDNA COI and nDNA ITS1 sequence data showed that the "typical" two-keeled "Bythinella bicarinata" are actually part of a clade widespread in central to northeastern France and nearby regions. Consequently, "Bythinella dunkeri", "Bythinella lalindei", "Bythinella moulinsii" and "Bythinella poujolensis" are now provisionally treated as junior synonyms of "Bythinella bicarinata". These all lack the shell keels, though "Bythinella lalindei" and "Bythinella poujolensis" are otherwise essentially identical. The other two differ a bit more, though those described as "Bythinella moulinsii" are quite variable in size and shape. As the study proposing the synonymy applied the phylogenetic species concept which does not recognize subspecies, the question whether the other taxa are valid subspecies or simply local morphs remains unresolved.
Considering the lack of the two-keeled phenotype outside the extreme southeastern end of the range of "Bythinella bicarinata" and the fact that the region where it occurs is at the very limits of the range, it is probably advisable to recognize several subspecies. In any case, "Bythinella bicarinata" in the loose sense is not globally threatened. The populations from Belgium and western Germany described as "Bythinella dunkeri" were in 1996 classified as Vulnerable (B1+2c), as they were known from less than ten freshwater springs which are affected by pollution. Given that they occur at the other end of the species' range and are consistently most distinct morphologically from the "keeled" specimens, they might also warrant recognition as subspecies.


Coleophora karsholti

Coleophora karsholti is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found in Libya.


Lama dwarf hamster

The Lama dwarf hamster ("Cricetulus lama") is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in the mountains of western China where it inhabits grassland, shrubby marshes and steppes. Although it has a limited range, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Description.
The Lama dwarf hamster has a head-and-body length of between and a tail length of . It is very similar in appearance to the Chinese striped hamster ("Cricetulus barabensis"), but is rather smaller, has a shorter tail and lacks the blackish markings on the dorsal fur and upper thighs that that species often has. The dorsal fur is dark greyish-brown, the underparts are greyish white and there is a sharp dividing line where the two colours meet. The tail is thick and well-covered with guard hairs, having a dark stripe at the top and otherwise being white, with a wholly white tip.
Distribution and habitat.
The Lama dwarf hamster is endemic to western China where it is found in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is a mountain species and is found at high altitudes. Its typical habitat is upland grasslands, shrubby marshes and open steppe.
Behaviour.
The behaviour of the Lama dwarf hamster has been little studied but it is believed to be similar to that of the Chinese striped hamster, in fact some authorities consider the Lama dwarf hamster to be a subspecies of "C. barabensis". It lives in a burrow, ventures out to forage for seeds, carries some back to the burrow to store in specially constructed chambers and breeds in the summer.
Status.
The Lama dwarf hamster has a limited range but is presumed to have a large total population. The population trend is unknown, but no particular threats have been identified and it may be present in some protected areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has therefore assessed the hamster's conservation status as being of "least concern".


Mailed butterflyfish

The mailed butterflyfish ("Chaetodon reticulatus"), also known as the reticulated butterflyfish or black butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, This species is found on reefs in the central and western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Description.
The mailed butterflyfish is a relatively dull coloured species of butterflyfish and it has a mainly blackish body with light grey centres to the scales and a pale back. It has a broad vertical band with yellow edges which runs through the eye with a broad, white vertical band behind that. The dorsal fin is white, the anal fin. The caudal peduncle is black while the caudal fin is whitish blue with a yellow band on the margin which itself has a black submargin. The tail of juveniles is transparent. The dorsal fin has 12-13 spines and 23-29 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 20-22 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of .
Distribution.
The mailed butterflyfish has a wide distribution in the western central Pacific and it is found from Taiwan and the Philippines through Polynesia as far as Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands and the Pitcairn Islands. It extends north as far as the Ryukyu Islands south to New Caledonia. In Australia it is found on the Great Barrier Reef with juveniles being found as far south as the Solitary Islands.
Habitat and biology.
The mailed butterflyfish is a relatively common species of exposed seaward reefs, but it may also be found in sheltered lagoon areas, where there is a rich growth of corals and clear water. The juveniles prefer more protected waters than the adults. It is normally encountered in pairs but schools have been recorded. These fish live at depths between and they are obligate corallivores which feed mainly on the species in the genus "Acropora". This species is oviparous and they breed in monogamous pairs.
Taxonomy.
The mailed butterflyfish was first formally Species description in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Tahiti. It is a close relative of the ornate butterflyfish ("C. ornatissimus") and the scrawled butterflyfish ("C. meyeri"). Together they make up the subgenus called “Citharoedus”, but as this name had already been used for the mollusc genus when it was given to the fish, it is not valid. They are probably quite close to the subgenus "Corallochaetodon", which contains the Melon Butterflyfish ("C. trifasciatus"). Like these, they might be separated into "Megaprotodon" if the genus "Chaetodon" is split up.
Utilisation.
The mailed butterflyfish occasionally appears in the aquarium trade but its specialised diet means that captrive specimens frequently starve to death.


Myotis taiwanensis

Myotis taiwanensis is a species of mouse-eared bat. It was for some time considered to be a subspecies of "Myotis adversus".


Puntilla tuco-tuco

The Puntilla tuco-tuco ("Ctenomys coludo") is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to central Argentina. The common name of the species comes from the municipality of La Puntilla at the type locality. It was first described by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1920 after being collected by Emilio Budin, an Argentine specimen collector who worked with Oldfield Thomas.
Taxonomy.
This species is treated by some authorities as synonymous with the tawny tuco-tuco ("Ctenomys fulvus"), a species found in Chile, and further investigation needs to be done before its affinities can be resolved.
Description.
The Puntilla tuco-tuco is a fairly large species of tuco-tuco. The type specimen has a head-and-body length of and a tail length of . It is an even pale colour and is distinguished from other tuco-tucos living in the same area by the long tail, the narrow skull and the broad auditory bullae (hollow bony structures on the skull that enclose parts of the middle and inner ear). The Catamarca tuco-tuco ("Ctenomys knighti") is a darker colour and Foch's tuco-tuco ("Ctenomys fochi") is smaller.
Status.
This species is known only from the location in La Puntilla in the Catamarca Province of Argentina from which it was first collected, at an elevation of about above sea level. Not enough is known about the species, its population size and trend, to enable the International Union for Conservation of Nature to assess its conservation status, so it has been rated as "data deficient".


Central Antillean slider

The Central Antillean slider ("Trachemys stejnegeri)", is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is found on three islands in the West Indies: Hispaniola, Great Inagua, and Puerto Rico.
Etymology.
The specific name, "stejnegeri", is in honor of Norwegian-born American herpetologist Leonhard Stejneger.
Geographic range.
"T. stejnegeri" is found on the islands of Puerto Rico, Great Inagua, and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti).
Subspecies.
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
"Nota bene": A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than "Trachemys".


Bufoides

Bufoides is a small genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. The genus is endemic to Northeast India, with one species known from the Garo and Khasi Hills.
Taxonomy and systematics.
"Bufoides" was erected in 1973 to accommodate "Ansonia meghalayana". It remained monotypic until 2016 when Chandramouli and Amarasinghe transferred "Pedostibes kempi" to "Bufoides", in their quest to achieve monophyletic "Pedostibes". The move was supported by the morphological similarity and geographic proximity of the two species, and rendered "Pedostibes" monotypic and restricted to the Western Ghats. However, it remains possible that the two "Bufoides" species are actually conspecific. The closest relatives of the genus remain unknown.
Description.
"Bufoides" are small toads; the maximum sizes of the two species are in snout–vent length. Supraorbital, preorbital, and postorbital ridges are present. The parotoid glands are short and oval. No externally visible tympanum is present. The tips of the digits have rounded, poorly dilated discs. Dorsal skin is granular. The fingers have basal webbing whereas the toes have complete webbing.
Species.
There are two recognized species:


Little-scaled least gecko

The little-scaled least gecko ("Sphaerodactylus microlepis") is a gecko species mainly found on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, where it was once thought to be endemic. It has also been recorded on St. Croix, Martinique, Monito Island, the British Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica.
Both sexes reach a length of 34 mm snout-to-vent. Its color pattern is variable, usually with six or seven dark bands between its limbs and a light brown or gray ground color; these markings may fade in some adults. Its tail is bright pink to pale orange with ladder-shaped markings. Its ventral surface is white or yellow, with dark stripes extending from its chin to its throat or chest. The top of its head is light brown or yellow, with dark stripes extending from behind its eyes and joining behind its neck.


List of birds of Jordan

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Jordan. The avifauna of Jordan include a total of 439 species, of which 7 have been introduced by humans.
22 species are globally threatened.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of "The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World", 2019 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Jordan.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
Ostriches.
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl.
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Pheasants, grouse, and allies.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Flamingos.
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Grebes.
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pigeons and doves.
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Sandgrouse.
Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Bustards.
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Cuckoos.
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Nightjars and allies.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Swifts.
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Rails, gallinules, and coots.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Cranes.
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Thick-knees.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Egyptian plover.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.
Stilts and avocets.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Oystercatchers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Plovers and lapwings.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Painted-snipes.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Sandpipers and allies.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Crab plover.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae
The crab plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
Pratincoles and coursers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Skuas and jaegers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Gulls, terns, and skimmers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Tropicbirds.
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Loons.
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
Southern storm-petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Shearwaters and petrels.
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Storks.
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Frigatebirds.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Boobies and gannets.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Anhingas.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae
Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
Cormorants and shags.
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Pelicans.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Jordan.
Herons, egrets, and bitterns.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Ibises and spoonbills.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Osprey.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Hawks, eagles, and kites.
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Barn-owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Owls.
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Hoopoes.
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
Kingfishers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
Bee-eaters.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
Typical rollers.
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
Woodpeckers.
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Falcons and caracaras.
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
Old World parrots.
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
Old World orioles.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
Shrikes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
Crows, jays, and magpies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Tits, chickadees, and titmice.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Penduline-tits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
Larks.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Cisticolas and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
Reed warblers and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
Grassbirds and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
Swallows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Bulbuls.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
Leaf warblers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
Bush warblers and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae
The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Laughingthrushes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae
The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.
Kinglets.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.
Wallcreeper.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Wrens.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
Starlings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Thrushes and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Old World flycatchers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
Sunbirds and spiderhunters.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
Waxbills and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
Accentors.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.
Old World sparrows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Wagtails and pipits.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
Finches, euphonias, and allies.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
Old World buntings.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.


Anomiopus ataenioides

Anomiopus ataenioides is a species of true dung beetle that is endemic to northern Argentina, and is known from Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán and Corrientes provinces. It is believed to share ant colony nests (myrmecophile).


List of amphibians of Malaysia

The amphibians of Malaysia are diverse.


Crematogaster atitlanica

Crematogaster atitlanica is a species of ant endemic to Guatemala .


Ancylosis citrinella

Ancylosis citrinella is a species of snout moth in the genus "Ancylosis". It was described by Émile Louis Ragonot, in 1887. It is found in Algeria.
The wingspan is 8 mm.


Jamaican blackbird

The Jamaican blackbird ("Nesopsar nigerrimus") is a species of bird in the New World blackbird and oriole family Icteridae. It is the only species (monotypic) in the genus Nesopsar. The species has sometimes been included in the genus "Agelaius", but molecular systematics have shown it not be closely related to any living New World blackbird or grackle. The species is endemic to Jamaica, where it is restricted to Cockpit Country, some central areas and the Blue and John Crow Mountains.
Description.
The Jamaican blackbird is a small icterid with all black plumage. It has a short tail that is often flayed (see below).
Habitat.
It is strictly arboreal and has a wheezing call. Pairs occupy large territories in a variety of wet montane forest types, including elfin and mist forests, that have substantial epiphytes and mosses on the trees. The Jamaican Blackbird's are confined to areas of above 575m and are rarely seen in lowland areas.
Ecology.
In the absence of specialised tree probers such as the woodcreepers, ovenbirds and woodpeckers, which occur in similar forests on the mainland, the Jamaican blackbird has evolved to fill this ecological niche. The majority of the food taken by this species is found on the trunks of trees and their inner branches, feeding on animal prey, mostly insects, which it finds in bark or in bromeliads. It has shorter legs and longer claws that typical icterids, uses its tail for support when climbing tree trunks, both of which are adaptations to its niche, and has a longer bill and stronger jaw muscles than other New World blackbirds used for probing, spreading and hammering. It utilises a different niche from the other (semi) endemic icterid, the Jamaican oriole, which forages mainly in the outer branches of the trees.
Conservation.
The principal threat to the Jamaican blackbird is habitat loss. There are numerous threats to Jamaican forests, including bauxite mining, charcoal production, forestry, farming and development. This species is particularly vulnerable because it is dependent on large trees which support many epiphytes. Because of these threats it is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. It is protected in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, and efforts are underway to stop bauxite mining in Cockpit Country.


Grayish baywing

The grayish baywing ("Agelaioides badius"), formerly known as the bay-winged cowbird, is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is currently placed in the genus Agelaioides but has traditionally been placed in the genus "Molothrus". It is found in the northern half of Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern and central Brazil, The isolated population in north-eastern Brazil is usually now considered a separate species, the pale cowbird or pale baywing ("Agelaioides fringillarius"). The greyish baywing has been recorded as a vagrant in Chile.
Description and behavior.
It has a total length of approximately 18 cm (7 in). It is overall ashy-brown with contrasting black lores and rufous wings. The taxon "fringillarius" has more black in the face and is overall more rufescent (less ashy).
It is social and commonly seen in small groups. Unlike the "true" cowbirds in the genus "Molothrus", this species is not a brood parasite. In contrast, the screaming cowbird is a brood parasite of the grayish baywing, and while adult screaming cowbirds are overall blackish, juvenile screaming cowbirds closely resemble grayish baywings.
Habitat and status.
It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats, including scrub and light woodland. It is generally fairly common, and consequently considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.


Notocelia rosaecolana

Notocelia rosaecolana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm, where it has been recorded from China (Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Gansu), Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Iran, Central Asia, Russia and Europe.
The wingspan is 15–20 mm. The moth closely resembles "Notocelia trimaculana" and "Notocelia roborana".The forewings are dilated, the costa is moderately and evenly arched and the fold does not reach the middle. The ground colour is white. The costa is strigulated with dark fuscous.The basal patch is dark fuscous, its edge rather rounded, followed by some grey marks towards costa and dorsum. The lower half of the central fascia is fuscous spotted with black, preceded by a grey mark. The ocellus is edged with leaden-metallic, enclosing three or four black dots. There are some brown or ferruginous and leaden-metallic streaks towards the apex. The hindwings are light grey.The larva is purplish-brown, beneath whitish ; head brown ; plate of
2 black :
Adults are on wing from late May to August in western Europe.
The larvae feed on various roses, including "Rosa multiflora", "Rosa davurica" and "Rosa rugosa".


Phrynonax poecilonotus

Phrynonax poecilonotus is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the New World.
Common names.
P. poecilonotus is commonly known in Trinidad and Tobago as dos cocorite, in Brazil as papa-ovo, and in English as the puffing snake or the bird snake.
Geographic range.
"P. poecilonotus" is found from Mexico through Central America to northern and central South America and Trinidad and Tobago.
Diet.
"P. poecilonotus" apparently eats any terrestrial vertebrate small enough to handle and is well known as a predator of bird eggs (hence some of the common names).
Description.
"P. poecilonotus" is one of the most variable snakes in the world. For about the first year of their life, they look very dull in color, and even look all the same upon hatching. for the first four years of their life, the snake's appearance will change rapidly, from slate grey and yellow, to slate and orange, ect. Past the first four years of life, changes will be very slow, but they will change in appearance. The snake's can be combinations of black with red, orange, yellow, and/or lavendar, or slate and red, yellow, orange, and/or lavender. However, when handled, their behavior is similar, and they will readily bite.