MINER BEE as a “Pollen Vector” - by request
Families Andrenidae & Anthophoridae
©Alliec2007
Pollen vectors are animals, usually insects, that transport pollen of plants when using the flowers for feeding, breeding or hiding. The pollen is found adhered to insect’s body parts such as face, legs and mouth parts or to mammal’s hairs, resulting or helping in the pollination of many plant species. An example are wasps, which can transport pollen and contribute for the pollination of several plant species, being potential or even efficient pollinators.
This is an unusually good shot of pollen grains adhering to a miner bee.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination
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HOATZIN - the vegetarian ruminant bird
Opisthocomus hoazin
La Selva Lodge, Ecuador
©Christopher Plummer post by jujuba
The Hoatzin, also known as the Hoactzin, Stinkbird, or Canje Pheasant, is a 24” long pheasant-sized species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangrove of the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America. It is notable for having chicks that possess claws on two of their wing digits.
The Hoatzin is arguably the most enigmatic living bird in regard to its phylogenetic relationships. No satisfying evolutionary hypothesis has been proposed, and the situation has actually become worse with the availability of DNA sequence data.
Moving clumsily, the Hoatzin uses a leathery bump on the bottom of its crop to help balance itself on the branches. It was once thought that the species could only eat the leaves of arums and mangroves, but the species is now known to consume the leaves of over fifty species. One study undertaken in Venezuela found that the Hoatzins diet was 82% leaves, 10% flowers and 8% fruit. Any feeding of insects or other animal matter is purely accidental.
One of this species’ many peculiarities is that it has a digestive system unique amongst birds. Solely vegetarian, hoatzins use bacterial fermentation in the front part of the gut to break down the vegetable material they consume, much like cattle and other ruminants. Unlike ruminants, however, which possess the rumen (a specialized stomach for bacterial fermentation) in the Hoatzin this is the function of the crop (an enlargement of the esophagus). The crop of the Hoatzin is so large as to displace the flight muscles and keel of the sternum, much to the detriment of their flight capacity giving way to their nickname “Flying cow.”
Because of aromatic compounds in the leaves they consume and the bacterial fermentation, the bird has a disagreeable, manure-like odor and is only hunted by humans for food in times of dire need.
For Anonymous who asked Why the Hoatzin eats tender green leaves? I’m assuming as they are easier to digest than mature vegetation.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoatzin
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Deep Sea ATOLLA JELLYFISH
Atolla wyvillei
©NOAA/Edith A. Widder, NOAA-OE*
In August, I received an email from ocean bioluminescence expert Edith Widder from NOAA with a link to her speech at TED — which is here (it’s 12 minutes long) This video which completely blew away my preconceptions of deepwater work and changed the way I look at ocean life. I knew there were glowing animals in the ocean but I had no idea how commonplace and complex they were.
A shorter video about the Atolla Wyvillei exhibiting bioluminescence is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjaNzZt2olk
The deep-sea schyphozoan jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei, as seen from the Johnson-Sea-Link submersible with the lights on and then in the laboratory, after capture, with the lights off, exhibiting a burglar alarm display. Video courtesy of Operation Deep Scope 2005 Exploration.
Why bioluminescence?
It is believed that animals use bioluminescence to attract food, find a mate, and to ward off predators.
A deep-sea jellyfish, the Atolla wyvillei sends out a rotating pinwheel of blue light that illuminates around the circumference of its body as a “burglar alarm.” That is, when a predator has the jellyfish in its clutches, the Atolla wyvillei emits the bright, flashing circular light patterns in hopes of attracting an even bigger predator to attack the original predator. If the jellyfish’s burglar alarm plan works, their original predator will let go and swim away out of fear. Or the attacked predator may loosen their grip on the jellyfish, providing it a chance to escape.
*National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.
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![RED ROCK CRABGrapsus grapsus©NOAA Photo Library/Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps
Grapsus grapsus is one of the most common crabs along the western coast of the Americas. Known variously as “red rock crab”, “abuete negro”, and, together with other crab, as “Sally Lightfoot”. It is found along the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, South America (as far south as northern Peru), and nearby islands. It is one of the many charismatic species that inhabit the Galápagos Islands, and is often seen in photos of the archipelago, sometimes sharing the seaside rocks with the marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus).
Grapsus grapsus was collected by Charles Darwin during his voyages on HMS Beagle, and also by the first comprehensive study of the fauna of the Gulf of California, carried out by Ed Ricketts, together with John Steinbeck and others. Steinbeck records:
Many people have spoken at length of the Sally Lightfoots. In fact, everyone who has seen them has been delighted with them. The very name they are called by reflects the delight of the name. These little crabs, with brilliant cloisonné carapaces, walk on their tiptoes, They have remarkable eyes and an extremely fast reaction time. In spite of the fact that they swarm on the rocks at the Cape [San Lucas], and to a less degree inside the Gulf [of California], they are exceedingly hard to catch. They seem to be able to run in any of four directions; but more than this, perhaps because of their rapid reaction time, they appear to read the mind of their hunter. They escape the long-handled net, anticipating from what direction it is coming. If you walk slowly, they move slowly ahead of you in droves. If you hurry, they hurry. When you plunge at them, they seem to disappear in a puff of blue smoke—at any rate, they disappear. It is impossible to creep up on them. They are very beautiful, with clear brilliant colors, red and blues and warm browns.
Source:
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Sally Lightfoot Crab
Shame-Faced or Bashful Crab
Rosy-Lipped Cocos Island Crab](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grapsus_grapsus_Galapagos_Islands.jpg)
RED ROCK CRAB
Grapsus grapsus
©NOAA Photo Library/Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps
Grapsus grapsus is one of the most common crabs along the western coast of the Americas. Known variously as “red rock crab”, “abuete negro”, and, together with other crab, as “Sally Lightfoot”. It is found along the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, South America (as far south as northern Peru), and nearby islands. It is one of the many charismatic species that inhabit the Galápagos Islands, and is often seen in photos of the archipelago, sometimes sharing the seaside rocks with the marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus).
Grapsus grapsus was collected by Charles Darwin during his voyages on HMS Beagle, and also by the first comprehensive study of the fauna of the Gulf of California, carried out by Ed Ricketts, together with John Steinbeck and others. Steinbeck records:
Many people have spoken at length of the Sally Lightfoots. In fact, everyone who has seen them has been delighted with them. The very name they are called by reflects the delight of the name. These little crabs, with brilliant cloisonné carapaces, walk on their tiptoes, They have remarkable eyes and an extremely fast reaction time. In spite of the fact that they swarm on the rocks at the Cape [San Lucas], and to a less degree inside the Gulf [of California], they are exceedingly hard to catch. They seem to be able to run in any of four directions; but more than this, perhaps because of their rapid reaction time, they appear to read the mind of their hunter. They escape the long-handled net, anticipating from what direction it is coming. If you walk slowly, they move slowly ahead of you in droves. If you hurry, they hurry. When you plunge at them, they seem to disappear in a puff of blue smoke—at any rate, they disappear. It is impossible to creep up on them. They are very beautiful, with clear brilliant colors, red and blues and warm browns.
Source:
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MORPHO BUTTERFLY — have ears on their wings
Morpho didius
© m0nz0
Scientists thought butterflies were deaf until 1912 when the first butterfly ears were identified. Only in the past decade or so have researchers examined the anatomy and physiology of butterfly ears, which they are finding to be quite diverse and present in several butterfly species. The latest discovery was made with the blue morpho butterfly.
Scientists knew from relatively recent research that the morpho sports simple wing ears. In the new study, Kathleen Lucas of the University of Bristol in England and her colleagues were interested in the odd-looking hearing membrane that sits at the base of the blue morpho’s wing. The tympanal membrane, as it is called, is oval-shaped with a dome at its center that kind of resembles the yolk at the center of a fried egg, Lucas said.
Sound waves from, say, crackling leaves or a singing bird hit the membrane and get converted into nerve impulses by nearby sensory organs. Those impulses are picked up by nerve cells.
As for why the morpho butterfly would need such expert ears, Lucas speculates they could help the butterflies figure out if birds are about to attack. Lower pitch sounds would indicate the flapping of bird wings, Lucas said, which could signal the butterflies to turn tail and fly away.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33483193/#.Tp3bKnHoxGJ
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HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE riding a JELLY FISH
Eretmochelys imbricata riding Crambione mastigophora
Truuk Lagoon, Micronesia
©SuperJolly
About the Turtle:
The hawksbill’s appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and flipper-like arms, adapted for swimming in the open ocean. E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. Hawksbill shells slightly change colors, depending on water temperature. While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs.
About the Jellyfish:
This is written about the Marshall Islands, but it likely true across Micronesia.
The jellyfish Crambione mastigophora is probably the most common of the large jellies we see here at Kwajalein. They can be found both in the lagoon and drifting along the oceanside reefs. Occasionally they travel in large groups. Periodically a mass of them might drift into the Kwajalein end of the lagoon and end up filling the harbor and being washed ashore along the beaches. Do be wary of these, since their trailing tentacles can pack a pretty powerful sting.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksbill_sea_turtle
http://underwaterkwaj.com/dvd1/Crambione-mastigophora.htm
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WEEDY SEA DRAGON
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
© Doug Anderson
——-
mad-as-a-marine-biologist:
A relative to the seahorse - it is the only member of the genus Phyllopteryx. Adult weedy seadragons are a reddish colour, with yellow and purple markings; they have small leaf-like appendages that provide camouflage and a number of short spines for protection.
Weedy seadragons can reach 45 cm in length.
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
SPOTTED LINSANG or TIGER CIVET
Prionodon pardicolor
© Ch Boudet - Mammals’ Planet
The Spotted Linsang is a linsang found in the forests of the central and eastern Himalaya. It is short, light coloured terrestrial mammal, with a slender body, a pointed head and small limbs. It stalks its prey by crawling on its belly, where it is often mistaken for a python or other heavy-built, even venomous snakes due to its slender appearance. Its diet consists of insects, rodents, lizards, birds and small mammals. It weighs less than 2 pounds (1 kilogram).
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_Linsang
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DOR BEETLE Appearing to Surrender :)
Macro Ventral View
Trypocopris vernalis
©nikolarahme
Geotrupidae (from Greek geos, earth, and trypetes, borer) is a family of beetles in the order Coleoptera. They are commonly called dor beetles or earth-boring dung beetles. Most excavate burrows in which to lay their eggs. They are typically detrivores, provisioning their nests with leaf litter (often moldy), but are occasionally coprophagous, similar to dung beetles. The eggs are laid in or upon the provision mass and buried, and the developing larvae feed upon the provisions. The burrows of some species can exceed 2 metres in depth.
A few species communicate by stridulation (rubbing body parts together to make sounds).
See the entire beetle here or click on the photo.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotrupidae
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GREEN MANTLE BUTTERFLY
Caria mantinea, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
©Adrian Hoskins
If ever you need to identify a butterfly or moth try Adrian Hoskin’s site: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com is an excellent resource and nicely organized. Amazing photos too!
The genus Caria contains some of the most beautiful and elusive species on Earth. Although fairly common they are rarely seen due to their secretive habits, and are virtually impossible to follow in flight. Once seen these glittering jewels of the Amazon are never forgotten.
This species is confined to primary rainforest at altitudes between about 100-800m. It is usually found in the vicinity of rocky or pebble-strewn streams.
They have a rapid and erratic flight which is virtually impossible to follow with the eye. However with practice it is often possible to relocate them once they resettle, as they tend to only cover quite short distances. Usually they settle on the ground, but sometimes they land on foliage, or on a damp sunlit rock or boulder, on which they can very easily be overlooked due to their remarkable resemblance to a patch of wet moss.
The butterflies always bask in the characteristic posture illustrated in the photographs, with the forewings swept back, half covering the hindwings.
Source:
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Amazon%20-%20Caria%20mantinea.htm
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SOUTHERN CASSOWARY
Casuarius casuarius
©Paul IJsendoorn
The Southern Cassowary, also known as Double-wattled Cassowary, Australian Cassowary or Two-wattled Cassowary, is a large flightless black bird. It is a ratite and therefore related to the Emu, Ostrich, and the genus Rhea. Cassowaries are closely related to the kiwis — these two bird families diverging from a common ancestor 40 million years ago.
It has hard and stiff plumage, a brown casque atop its head, blue face and neck, red nape and two red wattles hanging down its throat. The plumage is sexually monomorphic, but the female is dominant and larger with a longer casque and brighter-colored bare parts.
The three-toed feet are thick and powerful, equipped with a lethal dagger-like claw up to 12 cm (4.7 in) on the inner toe. The blade-like claws are capable of killing humans and dogs if the bird is provoked.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Cassowary
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TONGUE-EATING LOUSE parasitizing Striped Anemonefish
Cymothoa exigua in Amphiprion clarkii
© Ross Gudgeon
Look in the fish’s mouth - see that little face? That’s a parasite. It has eaten the fish’s actual tongue and moved into the fish’s mouth where it now acts as the tongue - it eats when the fish eats.
There’s a disturbing video about it here:
http://animal.discovery.com/videos
Cymothoa exigua, or the tongue-eating louse, is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. It tends to be 3 to 4 centimetres (1.2 to 1.6 in) long. This parasite enters through the gills, and then attaches itself at the base of the tongue. It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy from lack of blood.
The parasite then replaces the fish’s tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish. Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host’s blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing the host organ it destroys.
It is currently believed that C. exigua are not harmful to humans unless picked up alive, in which case they can bite
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua
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GREEN VINE SNAKE — by request
a example of convergent evolution
Oxybelis brevirostris
©pbertner
Oxybelis is a genus of colubrid snakes known commonly as Vine Snakes. They are found through Central America, to the northern countries of South America. Though similar in appearance to the Asian species of vine snake of the genus Ahaetulla, they are not related, and are an example of convergent evolution.
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.
The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_evolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxybelis
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HAPPY FACE SPIDER - by request
Theridion grallator
©Caters
Theridion grallator, also known as the “happy face spider,” is a member of the Theridiidae family.
The Hawaiian name is nananana makakiʻi (face-patterned spider). The binomial grallator is Latin for “stiltwalker”, reference to the species’ long spindly legs.
The spider is about five milllimeters long overall.
Certain morphs have a pattern uncannily resembling a smiley face or a grinning clown face on their yellow body. Each spider has a unique pattern, and the patterns differ from island to island. Some lack markings altogether. On the island of Maui, the happy types seem to follow simple Mendelian inheritance rules, while on other Hawaiian islands the body inheritance patterns seem to be sex-limited. The variation is possibly a kind of camouflage against birds, their only natural enemies of significance, to counteract pattern recognition by predators.
As the pattern may change according to what food the spider has eaten (Gillespie, 1989) and as T. grallator is very small, hides during the day, and is thus not a significant prey item for any species of predator, it is more likely that the bizarre variety of patterns serves no significant adaptive purpose at all.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theridion_grallator
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FALLOW DEER Buck
Dama dama
©Manav Gupta
The beautiful Fallow Deer is a common ruminant mammal species that is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere.
The species has great variations in the colour of their coats, with four main variants, “common”, “menil”, “melanistic” and “white” - a genuine colour variety, not albinistic. The white is the lightest colored, almost white; common and menil are darker, and melanistic is very dark, sometimes even black (easily confused with the Sika Deer).
Pictured is the Common color morph - Chestnut coat with white mottles that are most pronounced in summer with a much darker, unspotted coat in the winter. Light-colored area around the tail, edged with black. Tail is light with a black stripe.
Only bucks have antlers, which are broad and shovel-shaped. They are grazing animals; their preferred habitat is mixed woodland and open grassland. During the rut bucks will spread out and females move between them, at this time of year fallow deer are relatively ungrouped. The rest of the year they generally live in groups of up to 150.
Fact Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallow_Deer
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