#biology

Drymophila genei byMarcelo Müller

Caprimulgus fraenatus byRhys Marsh

Chloropsis kinabaluensis byanna pang

Anas nesiotis byJake Osborne

Anabacerthia amaurotis byFábio Manfredini

Phasianus colchicus bySteve Whiteley

Zosterops flavus byYohanes Prabekti

Cacatua sulphurea byJeet Sukumaran

Nesospiza acunhae byBrian Gratwicke

These are the kind of jokes I live for

Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)

The pyjama shark is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to the coastal waters of South Africa. This abundant, bottom-dwelling species can be found from the intertidal zone to a depth of around 100 m, particularly over rocky reefs and kelp beds. With a series of thick, parallel, dark stripes running along its stout body, the pyjama shark has an unmistakable appearance. It can grow up to a length of 1.1 m long. The pyjama shark is primarily nocturnal, spending most of the day lying motionless and hidden in a cave or crevice or among vegetation. It often forms groups, particularly during summer. This species is an opportunistic predator that feeds on a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates; it favors cephalopods and frequents the spawning grounds of the chokka squid. When threatened, it curls into a circle with its tail covering its head. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying rectangular, dark brown egg cases two at a time year-round. 

photo credits: Guido Zsilavecz,Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa

Smooth trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter)

The smooth trunkfish is a species of boxfish found on and near reefs in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and subtropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean. The smooth trunkfish has an angular body sheathed in plate-like scales, growing to a maximum length of 47 cm, though 20 cm is a more normal size. The smooth trunkfish is found down to a depth of about 50 m on coral reefs and over sandy seabeds. The smooth trunkfish is normally solitary but sometimes moves around in small groups. It uses its protuberant lips to expel a jet of water which disturbs the sandy seabed and reveals any shallowly buried benthic invertebrates. It feeds on small molluscs, polychaete worms, acorn worms, peanut worms, small crustaceans, sponges and tunicates.

photo credits: Kevin Bryant

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

The loggerhead sea turtle is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around 90 cm in carapace length when fully grown.  The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg, with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kg. The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. The loggerhead sea turtle is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It spends most of its life in saltwater and estuarine habitats, with females briefly coming ashore to lay eggs. The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Its large and powerful jaws serve as an effective tool for dismantling its prey. Young loggerheads are exploited by numerous predators; the eggs are especially vulnerable to terrestrial organisms. Once the turtles reach adulthood, their formidable size limits predation to large marine animals, such as sharks. The loggerhead sea turtle is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In total, 9 distinct population segments are under the protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, with 4 population segments classified as “threatened” and 5 classified as “endangered”.

photo credits: Brian Gratwicke,Brian Gratwicke,Strobilomyces,Jean-Lou Justine

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

The common Quaker is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe and is also found in Turkey, Israel, Transcaucasia, Russia and eastern Siberia. This is a variable species, the ground colour of the forewings ranging from greyish to orangey brown, sometimes with a broad dark band. The most distinctive features are two large stigmata, each edged by a narrow pale line, with a similarly coloured subterminal line.The wingspan is 34–40 mm. This moth flies at night in March and April and is attracted to light and sugar. The larva feeds on various trees and shrubs including apple, buckthorn, elm, oak, pear, poplar and willow as well as various Prunus species. The species overwinters as a pupa.

photo credits: Olaf Leillinger,Harald Süpfle

Napoleon snake eel(Ophichthus bonaparti)

The Napoleon snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including Durban, South Africa, Mauritius, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, and the Penghu Islands. It is known to dwell at a depth of 20 metres, and inhabits lagoons and reefs; it forms solitary burrows in sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 75 cm.

photo credits: Christian Gloor,divemecressi,Rickard Zerpe

Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)

The little blue heron is a small heron belonging to the family Ardeidae. These herons breed in the Gulf states of the United States, through Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay. It is a resident breeder in most of its range, but some northern breeders migrate to the southeastern US or beyond in winter. This species is about 64–76 cm long, with a 102 cm wingspan, and weighs 325 g.These herons prefer freshwater swamps and lagoons in the South, while on islands in the North they inhabit coastal thickets. They breed in sub-tropical and tropical swamps with mangrove vegetation, wetlands (bogs, fens, peatlands, etc.) and marine intertidal salt marshes. It eats fish, frogs, crustaceans, small rodents and insects.

photo credits: Dario Sanches,Sandhillcrane