Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Monday, 30 August 2021
30-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Family Geometridae)
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek geo γεω (derivative form of γῆ or γαῖα "the earth"), and metron μέτρον "measure" in reference to the way their larvae, or inchworms, appear to measure the earth as they move along in a looping fashion. A very large family, it has around 23,000 species of moths described, and over 1400 species from six subfamilies indigenous to North America alone. A well-known member is the peppered moth, Biston betularia, which has been subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are notorious pests.
Sunday, 29 August 2021
22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - ETHILIA LONGWING BUTTERFLY (Heliconius ethilla)
The Ethilia Longwing (Heliconius ethilla) is a striking neotropical butterfly found from Panama to southern Brazil, distinguished by its elongated wings and signature orange-and-black coloration. Belonging to the brush-footed family Nymphalidae, it is famous among scientists for its longevity, pollen-feeding habits, and complex mimicry defenses.
Appearance & Physical Traits
Wingspan: Averages between 60 to 70 mm.Wing Patterns: The forewings are primarily orange with a black margin and four black spots. The hindwings are also orange but feature two black stripes.
Size: Males are slightly larger than females.
Subspecies: Because this species is highly diverse, it features several regional subspecies across Central and South America with varying patterns and color combinations.
29-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FUNNEL WEAVER SPIDER (Genus Textrix)
%2020.jpg)
Textrix is a genus of funnel weavers first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833. They have a mainly European distribution, with one species in Ethiopia. The type species of the genus is Textrix denticulata.
The spiders in the genus Textrix have a strongly recurved posterior row of eyes with the medial eyes larger than the lateral eyes. They have a narrow head which is distinct from the thorax. These spiders may resemble wolf spiders as they are often recorded running about in sunshine, but their long and segmented posterior spinners are very marked and identify them as funnel web weavers.
29-8-2021 POTRIES, VALENCIA - ORANGE WINGED DROPWING DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Trithemis kirbyi)
Trithemis kirbyi, also known as the Kirby's dropwing, orange-winged dropwing, or scarlet rock glider is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi. It is also present in southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean Islands and South Asia to India.
Since 2003 this African tropical dragonfly has been colonizing Europe helped by a widespread increase in temperatures. It is now breeding successfully in Spain, Portugal and France.
The adult male abdomen measures 21–24 mm and hind wing 24–27 mm. Female abdomen measures 23 mm and hind wing 26–30 mm. The male is a medium-sized scarlet dragonfly with a broad reddish amber patch on the base of transparent wings. The female is similar to the male, but duller in color. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical streams and rivers. It breeds in marshes, ponds, and lakes, and prefers to perch on exposed rocks, dry areas, and boulders in riverbeds.
Saturday, 28 August 2021
9-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - MALLARD HYBRID (MALLARD X MUSCOVY DUCK) (Anas platyrhynchos × Cairina moschatas)
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/6912-Anatidae
10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - ZEBRA FINCH (Taeniopygia guttata)
Zebra finches are considered to be a model organism. Scientists study them to learn about the mating behavior, social interactions, and sounds of similar birds (like the closely related estrildid finches).
The male zebra finch is capable of composing unique songs. This behavior is so interesting that scientists have studied the finch’s genome for its implications in the evolution of human speech. It’s known that mutations in important genes will produce changes and even impairments in the bird’s sounds.
The zebra finch was first described by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1817.
The zebra finch was one of the first birds to have its genome sequenced.
The zebra finch exhibits some surprisingly human-like aspects in its mating behavior. For instance, there’s a clear tension between complete faithfulness and infidelity with its mate. It’s also been observed that chicks are more likely to survive childhood when the parents can freely choose their mates (as opposed to forced bonding), which may suggest an element of attraction is at play in their relationships. “Happy” pairs make for better parents. This is only a hypothetical suggestion, however, and merits further study.
10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (JUVENILE) (Muscicapa striata)
%20(Muscicapa%20striata)%2020.jpg)
The juvenile Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) is uniquely characterized by its heavily spotted plumage, a trait that actually gives the species its common name. While adult birds are mostly streaked rather than spotted, the young birds feature a highly distinct, mottled look.
Physical Appearance
Pronounced Spotting: Upperparts feature dark brown feathers covered in prominent cream or ochre-buff spots.
Scaly Underparts: The creamy white breast is marked with scaly brown spots rather than fine streaks.
%20(Muscicapa%20striata)%2021.jpg)
The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a modestly adorned yet charming small passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It is a migratory species, breeding across Europe and the Palearctic as far as Siberia, and spending the winter months in Africa and southwestern Asia. Despite its widespread presence, there is concern over its decline in certain areas.
Adult Spotted Flycatchers possess grey-brown upperparts and a somewhat pallid underbelly. Their crown and breast are streaked, which is the origin of their common name. They have short, black legs and a black bill shaped to suit their insectivorous diet. Juveniles can be distinguished by their browner plumage and the presence of spots on their upperparts.
10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - INDIAN BLUE PEAFOWL (FEMALE) (Pavo cristatus)
The Indian peafowl, also known as the common peafowl or blue peafowl, is a species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a bird of resplendent beauty, with the male, or peacock, showcasing a spectacular array of iridescent colors. The peacock's most striking feature is its fan-like crest of spatula-tipped wire-like feathers and the long train made up of elongated upper-tail covert feathers adorned with colorful eyespots. These feathers can be raised into a fan and quivered during courtship displays. Despite their size, peacocks are capable of flight. The female, or peahen, is more subdued in coloration, with a white face, iridescent green lower neck, and overall dull brown plumage.
The Indian peafowl is unmistakable within its range. The male has a metallic blue crown, a fan-shaped crest, and a spectacular train with eye-spot markings. The peahen is smaller, with a rufous-brown head, mottled upper body, and dark brown lower parts. The loud "pia-ow" or "may-awe" calls are distinctive and often indicate the presence of predators.
Indian peafowl are ground-dwelling birds that prefer open forest or land under cultivation. They are adaptable and can be found near water sources in both moist and dry-deciduous forests.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)