The Life of Animals: October 2011

Eclectus Parrot

The Life of Animals | Eclectus Parrot | The Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus, is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is unusual in the parrot family for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colours of the plumage; the male having a mostly bright emerald green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage. Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see Eclectus Parrots thought they were of two distinct species. Large populations of this parrot remain, and they are sometimes considered pests for eating fruit off trees.

The Life of Animals | Sun Parakeet | The Sun Parakeet or Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis) is a medium-sized brightly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female are similar in appearance, with predominantly golden-yellow plumage and orange-flushed underparts and face. The species is endangered, threatened by loss of habitat and trapping for the pet trade. On average, Sun Parakeets weigh approximately 110 g (4 oz) and are around 30 cm (12 in) long.

The Life of Animals | Cape Dwarf Chameleon | The Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), is a chameleon native to the South African province of the Western Cape where it is restricted to the region around Cape Town. This gives the chameleon the ability to catch insects some distance away. Like the Knysa Dwarf Chameleon it seems to be a basal offshoot of the ancestral stock which gave rise to all Bradypodion

The Life of Animals | Black Headed Dwarf Chamaeleon | The Black-headed Dwarf Chamaeleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum) is a lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae and is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This chameleon is found in the coastal areas (mostly around Durban) and parts of the Midlands of southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The current species may consist of several separate species.

The Life of Animals | Karoo Dwarf Chameleon | The Karoo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion karrooicum) is a chameleon native to South Africa. It inhabits rather dry habitat on the border between the Great and Little Karoo of eastern Northern Cape and western Free State provinces, South Africa.

The Life of Animals | Blue Whale | The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales (called Mysticeti) At 30 metres (98 ft) in length and 180 metric tons (200 short tons) or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed Long and slender, the blue whale's body can be various shades of bluish-grey dorsally and somewhat lighter underneath There are at least three distinct subspecies: B. m. musculus of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, B. m. intermedia of the Southern Ocean and B. m. brevicauda (also known as the pygmy blue whale) found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. As with other baleen whales, its diet consists almost exclusively of small crustaceans known as krill

The Life of Animals | North Atlantic Right Whale | The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) which means "good, or true, whale of the ice") is a baleen whale, one of three right whale species belonging to the genus Eubalaena formerly classified as a single species. With only 400 in existence, North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered whales in the world.

The Life of Animals | Bowhead Whale | The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is a baleen whale of the right whale family Balaenidae in suborder Mysticeti. This thick-bodied species can weigh 75 tonnes (74 long tons; 83 short tons) to 100 tonnes (98 long tons; 110 short tons) second only to the blue whale, although the bowhead's maximum length is less than several other whales. It lives entirely in fertile Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, unlike other whales that migrate to feed or reproduce. It is also known as Greenland right whale or Arctic whale. The bowhead is perhaps the longest-living mammal, and has the largest mouth of any animal

The Life of Animals | Humpback Whale | The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorquals species, adults range in length from 12-16 meters (39-52 ft) and weigh approximately 36.000 kilograms (79.000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Found in Oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25.000 kilometres (16.000 mi) each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off Their fat reserves.

The Life of Animals | Sperm Whale | The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale (odontocete) having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter. It is one of three extant species in the sperm whale superfamily, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale.

The Life of Animals | Beluga whale | The beluga or white whale, Delphinapterus leucas, is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. This marine mammal is commonly Referred to simply as the Beluga or Sea Canary due to its high-pitched twitter It is up to 5 m (16 ft) in length and an unmistakable all-white color with a distinctive protuberance on the head. Populations of seven Canadian beluga, two are listed as endangered, inhabiting eastern Hudson Bay, and Ungava Bay.

The Life of Animals | Arabian leopard | The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is a leopard subspecies native to the Arabian Peninsula and classified as critically endangered by IUCN since 1996. Less than 200 animals remained in 2006, and the population trend is decreasing The Arabian leopard is the smallest leopard subspecies The Arabian leopard was tentatively affirmed as a distinct subspecies by genetic analysis from a single captive leopard from Israel of south Arabian origin, which appeared most closely related to the African leopard

The Life of Animals | African leopard | The African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is a leopard subspecies occurring across most of sub-Saharan Africa. African leopards exhibit great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Male leopards are larger, averaging 60 kg (130 lb) with 91 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 35 to 40 kg (77 to 88 lb) in average. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb) Leopards inhabiting the mountains of the Cape Provinces appear physically different from leopards further north. African leopards used to occur in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats.

The Life of Animals | Indian leopard | The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the five big cats found in India, apart from Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard. In 1794, Friedrich Albrecht Anton Meyer wrote the first description of Felis fusca, in which he gave account of a panther-like cat from Bengal of about 85.5 cm (33.7 in), with strong legs and a long well-formed tail, head as big as a panther’s, broad muzzle, short ears and small, yellowish grey eyes, light grey ocular bulbs; black at first sight, but on closer examination dark brown with circular darker coloured spots, tinged pale red underneath.

The Life of Animals | Discus | Discus belong to the genus Symphysodon, which currently includes three species: The common discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), and a new species which has been named Symphysodon tarzoo However,

The Life of Animals | Marine Iguana | The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The Iguana can dive over 30 ft (10 m) into the water. It has spread to all the islands in the archipelago, and is sometimes called the Galapagos Marine Iguana.

The Life of Animals | Knysna Dwarf Chameleon | The Knysna Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum) is a species of dwarf chameleon in the Bradypodion ("slow footed") genus of chameleons that are endemic to South Africa. It is a forest dweller, found only in a limited range in the afromontane forests near Knysna, South Africa, and in certain other areas.

The Life of Animals | Eastern Rosella | The Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) is a rosella native to southeast of the Australian continent and to Tasmania. It has been introduced to New Zealand where feral populations are found in the North Island (notably in the northern half of the island and in the Hutt Valley) and in the hills around Dunedin in the South Island.

The Life of Animals | Basilosaurus | Basilosaurus averaged about 18 meters (60 ft) in length, and is believed to have been the largest animal to have lived in its time It displayed an unparalleled degree of elongation compared with modern whales. Their very small vestigial hind limbs have also been a matter of interest for paleontologists. The species is the state fossil of Mississippi and Alabama in the United States.

The Life of Animals | Aedes Aegypti | Aedes aegypti is the type of mosquitoes that can carry dengue virus causes dengue fever. Adult mosquito Aedes aegypti has a medium body with a brownish-black. At the back (dorsal) body were two curved vertical lines on the left and right which is characteristic of this species. The scales on the body of mosquitoes are generally easy to fall off or apart making it difficult to identify in the old mosquitoes.

The Life of Animals | Mexican Tarantula Redknee | The Brachypelma smithi (also Called Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula), is a terrestrial tarantula native to the western faces of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges in Mexico. They are quite large, very docile and believed to be one of the most long-lived tarantulas. The mature Brachypelma Smithi has a dark-colored body with orange patches on the joints of its legs, the second element of the legs (the trochanter) is orange-red. Following moulting, the colors are more pronounced.

The Life of Animals | Bluering Centipede | Ethmostigmus species, Probably trigonopodus. Sold as "Tanzanian Bluering" and ID'ed as Scolopendra morsitans, but the centipede in question has spiracles on segments 7 AND 8, making Ethmostigmus Likely and removing most of the genus Scolopendra as a possibility. Note: this centipede is Often sold as S. morsitans, but check the spiracle Will reveal the truth.

The Life of Animals | Nigerian Dwarf | The Nigerian Dwarf goat is a miniature dairy goat breed of West African Ancestry. Nigerian Dwarf goats are popular as hobby goats due to Their easy maintenance and small stature. Though, now it is Considered a dairy goat breed, According to the association ADGA show. There are two different height standards for the Nigerian Dwarf goat.

The Life of Animals | Polygonia C-Album | The Comma has a white marking on its underwings resembling a comma. The wings have a distinctive ragged edge, Apparently a cryptic form as the butterfly resembles a fallen leaf. The caterpillars are also cryptic, resembling a bird dropping. In the UK the larvae feed on hop, stinging nettles, elm, and black currants; in other parts of its distribution (eg, in Sweden) it also feeds on Sallow and birch.

The Life of Animals | Cassowary | The cassowaries are ratites, very large flightless birds in the genus Casuarius native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, nearby islands and northeastern Australia There are three extant species recognized today. The most common of these, the Southern Cassowary, is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird, smaller only than the ostrich and emu.

The Life of Animals | Ostrich | The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member(s) of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies. Ostriches share the order Struthioniformes with the kiwis, emus, and other ratites. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at maximum speeds of about 97.5 kilometres per hour (60.6 mph), the top land speed of any bird The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any living bird (extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of New Zealand did lay larger eggs).

The Life of Animals | Canada Goose | The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body. The Canada Goose was one of the many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work Systema Naturae It belongs to the Branta genus of geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey species of the Anser genus. The Cackling Goose was formerly considered to be a set of subspecies of the Canada Goose. The Canada Goose is also referred to as the Canadian Goose

The Life of Animals | Gull | Gulls (often informally called seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae. Until recently, most gulls were placed in the genus Larus, but this arrangement is now known to be polyphyletic, leading to the resurrection of several genera. Gull species range in size from the Little Gull, at 120 g (4.2 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 inches), to the Great Black-backed Gull, at 1.75 kg (3.8 lbs) and 76 cm (30 inches).

The Life of Animals | Inachis Io | The European Peacock (Inachis io), more commonly known simply as the Peacock butterfly, is a colourful butterfly, found in Europe, temperate Asia as far east as Japan. The Peacock butterfly is resident in much of its range, often wintering in buildings or trees. The Peacock butterfly has figured in research where the role of eye-spots as anti-predator mechanism has been investigated

The Life of Animals | Cethosia Cyane | Hind wing: three or four spots just beyond apex of cell, a subterminal row of spots and the termen broadly black, the last with a series of white lunules as on the fore wing. Underside variegated with red, white, pale blue, ochraceous and black; the terminal margins of both wings broadly black with white lunules as on the upperside; in the middle of each lunule a short white streak from the margin

The Life of Animals | Greta Oto | The wings are translucent, with a wingspan of 5.6 to 6.1 cm (2.2 to 2.4 in) Its most common English name is glasswinged butterfly, and its Spanish name is "espejitos", which means "little mirrors."

The Life of Animals | Dryas Iulia | Dryas iulia (often incorrectly spelled Julia) commonly called the Julia Butterfly, Julia Heliconian, or The Flame, is a species of brush-footed butterfly.

The Life of Animals | Morpho | A Morpho butterfly may be one of over 80 species of butterflies in the genus Morpho. They are Neotropical butterflies found mostly in South America as well as Mexico and Central America. Morphos range in wingspan from the 7.5 cm (3 inch) M. rhodopteron to the imposing 20 cm (8 inch) Sunset Morpho, M. hecuba. Many Morpho butterflies are colored in metallic, shimmering shades of blue and green.

The Life of Animals | Polyura Athamas | Upperside black. Fore and hind wings with a discal broad transverse area from below vein 4 in fore wing to vein 2 on hind wing, a moderately large spot in interspace 5, a minute preapical dot beyond in interspace 6 on fore wing, and a subterrninal row of spots with two or three spots beyond them on the tornal angle of the hind wing, pale yellow, sometimes with an ochraceous, sometimes with a greenish tinge.

The Life of Animals | Rama-rama Monarch | The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus, subfamily: Danaidae - Milkweed butterfly family), is perhaps the most well-known of all North American butterflies. Like all insects, Monarch butterflies have 6 jointed legs, 3 body parts, a pair of antennae, compound eyes and an exoskeleton. Its wings are coloured an easily recognizable orange and black pattern, with a wingspan of 8.5 – 12.5 centimetres (3.34 inches – 4.92inches).

The Life of Animals | Lange's Metalmark | Large-scale sand mining and industrial development fragmented the sand dune habitat until only a small portion of the original ecosystem remained. Nonnative grasses and vegetation encroached on the sand dunes to crowd the few remaining endangered plants. By the time the Antioch Dunes Refuge was established, only a few acres of remnant dune habitat supported the last natural populations of the endangered Antioch Dunes evening-primrose, Contra Costa wallflower, and Lange's metalmark.

The Life of Animals | Riodinidae | The Riodinidae (or metalmarks) are a family of butterflies. There are approximately 1,000 species of metalmark butterflies in the world. Although mostly neotropical in distribution, the family is represented both in the New World and the Old World

The Life of Animals | Gonepteryx Rhamni | On the upper side the male is sulphur yellow and the female white with a greenish tinge but both have an orange spot in the centre of each wing. G. rhamni lives in Europe, North Africa and Asia as far east as Mongolia.

The Life of Animals | Delias Eucharis | Upperside is white. The forewings have the veins broadly black, this colour broadened triangularly at the termination of the veins, costal margin narrowly black; a broad black postdiscal transverse band from costa to dorsum sloped obliquely outwards from costa to vein 4, thence parallel to termen. Hind wing with the veins similar but for three-fourths of their length much more narrowly black; a postdiscal transverse black band as on the forewing but much narrower, curved and extended only between veins 2 and 6; beyond this the veins are more broadly black and this colour as on the forewing broadens out triangularly at the termination of the veins; the interspaces beyond the postdiscal black band pink, due to the vermilion coloration of the underside showing through.

Animal Eyes | Pieris Napi | The underside hind wings are pale yellow with the veins highlighted by black scales giving a greenish tint, hence Green-veined White. The eggs are laid singularly on a wide range of foodplants including Hedge mustard Sisybrium officinale Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata, Cuckoo flower Cardamine pratense, Water-cress Rorippa nastutium-aquaticum, Charlock Sinapis arvensis, Large bitter-cress Cardamine amara, wild cabbage Brassica oleracea and wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum and so it is rarely a pest in gardens. It is often found feeding on the same plant as the Orange Tip but never competes for food because it only feeds on the leaves whereas the Orange Tip caterpillar feeds on the flowers and developing seed pods.

The Life of Animals | Common Mime | Forewing: a subterminal series of outwardly truncate or emarginate white spot; the spot in interspace 4 shifted inwards out of line; those in interspaces 6,7 and 8 oblique to the costa, the lowest and the upper two spots elongate; this is followed by a terminal series of smaller white spots, two in interspace 1, one above the outer, and two in interspaces 8; lastly, a single spot between the subterminal and terminal series. Hindwing: a discal series of inwardly conical and outwardly emarginate, triangular, elongate white spots; a prominent tornal yellow spot broadly divided across the middle by a bar of the ground colour.

The Life of Animals | Pipevine Swallowtail | The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a swallowtail butterfly found in North and Central America. The butterflies are black with iridescent blue hind wings. The black or red caterpillars feed on Aristolochia species, making them poisonous as both larvae and adults, while the adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers.

The Life of Animals | Crimson Rose | Male Upperside black. Fore wing with a broad white interrupted band from the subcostal nervure opposite the origin of veins 10 and 11, extended obliquely to the tornus, and a second short pre-apical similar band; both bands composed of detached irregularly indented broad streaks in the interspaces. Hind wing with a diseal posteriorly strongly curved series of seven crimson spots followed by a subterminal series of crimson lunules.

The Life of Animals | Blue Mormon | Males have the upper wings rich velvety black. The fore wing has a postdiscal band composed of internervular broad blue streaks gradually shortened and obsolescent anteriorly, not extended beyond interspace 6.

The Life of Animals | Cairns Birdwing | A closely allied species, the New Guinea or Priam's Birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus) reaches 19 cm and is the largest butterfly species found in Australia, but it is not endemic.

The Life of Animals | Scarce Swallowtail | The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a Palearctic swallowtail butterfly found in gardens, fields and open woodlands. It is also Called Sail Swallowtail Swallowtail or Pear-tree. The Southern Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii), is Sometimes treated as a subspecies. The scarcity of UK migrants is Responsible for the Classic common name.

The Life of Animals | Great Plains Wolf | The Great Plains wolf (Canis lupus nubilus), also known as the Buffalo wolf, is the most common subspecies of the gray wolf in the continental United States. Like all wolves, the Great Plains wolf is a very social animal that communicates using body language, scent marking and vocalization with an average pack size of five to six wolves.

The Life of Animals | Eastern Wolf | The Eastern Wolf (Canis lycaon), also known as Eastern Canadian Wolf or Eastern Canadian Red Wolf, may be a subspecies of gray wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) or a distinct species of canid native to the eastern part of North America since the Pleistocene era It seems to be closely related to the Red Wolf. Many names were proposed, including the Eastern Wolf, Eastern Gray Wolf, Eastern Timber Wolf and Algonquin Wolf, although Eastern Wolf has appeared to gain the most recognition.

The Life of Animals | Eurasian Wolf | The Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus), also known as the, European, Common or Forest Wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf which has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Mongolia, China, Russia, Scandinavia, Western Europe and the Himalayan Mountains. Compared to their North American cousins, Eurasian wolves tend to have longer, more highly placed ears, narrower heads, more slender loins and coarser, tawnier coloured fur. Compared to Indian wolves, Eurasian wolves are larger, and have longer, broader skulls. In Europe, wolves rarely form large packs like in North America, as their lives are more strongly influenced by human activities. Because of this, Eurasian wolves tend to be more adaptable than North American wolves in the face of human expansion.

The Life of Animals | Mexican Wolf | The Mexican Wolf is the smallest Gray Wolf subspecies present in North America. Until recent times, the Mexican Wolf ranged the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts from central Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona. Hunters also hunted down the wolf because it killed deer. Trappers and private trappers have also helped in the eradication of the Mexican Wolf. (Note that recent studies completed by genetics experts show evidence of Mexican Wolves ranging as far north as Colorado). In 1976, the Mexican Wolf was declared an endangered subspecies and has remained so ever since. Today, an estimated 340 Mexican Wolves survive in 49 facilities at the United States and Mexico.

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