Wednesday, 12 May 2021
12-5-2021 SANTA POLA, ALICANTE - SPANISH MARBLED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Melanargia ines)
Melanargia ines, the Spanish marbled white, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It can be found on the Iberian Peninsula and western North Africa.
The length of the forewings is 23–25 mm. Seitz- M. ines Hoffgg. (— thetis Hbn.) (39 e). Above similar to syllius, but the short transverse band of the forewing heavily black, placed exactly in the centre of the cell and not united with the black discocellular spot. On the hindwing beneath the ocelli are magnificently coloured, the sky-blue centre being successively encircled by russet-red, yellow and lilac rings, the costal ocelli of the upperside being always centred with blue.
Found on stony heights which are almost bare of vegetation excepting flowers. Abundant. The butterflies fly in one generation from May to June.
The larvae feed on various grasses such as Brachypodium pinnatum and Bromus madritensis.
Tuesday, 11 May 2021
20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - REED (LONG TAILED) CORMORANT (Microcarbo africanus)
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Reed cormorants are small, long-tailed fishing birds native to sub-Saharan Africa that hunt underwater by diving for fish, frogs, and crustaceans. Their feathers are not fully waterproof, which helps them dive, but they must dry their wings after swimming by holding them open in the sun. They build nests of sticks and vegetation in colonies near water and are listed as a species of "least concern" globally.
Physical characteristics
Size: They are small cormorants, approximately 20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 cm) long, with a wingspan of 31 to 35 inches (80 to 90 cm).
Appearance: Adults are glossy black with a short crest and red eyes, while juveniles are brownish with paler underparts.
Adaptations: Unlike most birds, their feathers absorb water, which makes them more efficient at diving but requires them to dry their wings after feeding.
20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - VERVET MONKEY (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)
The vervet monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, being found from Ethiopia and extreme southern South Sudan all the way down to South Africa. It is not found west of the East African Rift or the Luangwa River, where it is replaced by the closely related malbrouck (C. cynosuros) species. The vervet monkey inhabits savanna, riverine woodland, coastal forest, and mountains up to 4000 m (13,100 ft).
They are adaptable and able to persist in secondary and/or highly fragmented vegetation, including cultivated areas, and sometimes are found living in both rural and urban environments. Annual home range size has been observed to be as high as 176 ha, with an average population density of 54.68 animals/km2.
Vervet monkeys that are naturalised (introduced by humans) are found in Cape Verde, Ascension Island, Saint Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados. Dania Beach, Florida, is home to about 40 introduced vervets.
Monday, 10 May 2021
Sunday, 9 May 2021
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