16-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CRAB SPIDER (Genus Bassaniodes)

AI Mode conversation: Genus BassaniodesGenus BassaniodesBassaniodes is a genus of crab spiders belonging to the family Thomisidae. First described by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock in 1903, these spiders are characterized by their distinct crab-like appearance, wide movements, and unique hunting adaptations.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)

Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order: Araneae (Spiders)

Family: Thomisidae (Crab spiders)

Genus: Bassaniodes (Pocock, 1903)

Physical CharacteristicsMembers of the Bassaniodes genus typically exhibit physical traits specialized for ground-dwelling and camouflage:

Appearance: They generally feature dull, textured bodies with combinations of dark brown, black, grey, or dark red-brown tones. Many species have mottled light or yellow spots that allow them to blend into soil, sand, and stones.

Legs: The first two pairs of legs are robust, distinctly long, and heavily armed with frontal spines, optimized for grabbing passing prey.

Sexual Dimorphism: Females are considerably larger than males. For example, a female Bassaniodes bufo can reach 10–12 mm in length, whereas the male usually measures only 4–5 mm.

Habitat & BehaviorUnlike well-known crab spiders that camouflage on colorful flowers, Bassaniodes species are primarily ground-dwellers.

Microhabitat: They are frequently discovered hiding beneath rocks, among stony debris, in leaf litter, or crawling over sand and short grass.

Hunting Strategy: They are ambush predators that do not build webs to catch food. Instead, they sit completely still and rely on their cryptic coloration to remain invisible until a target walks within striking distance.

Distribution & Notable SpeciesThe genus comprises around 39 recognized species widely spread across the Palearctic realm, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

16-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline.

The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

24-10-2021 ATTICA ZOO ATHENS, GREECE - ORINOCO GOOSE (Oressochen jubatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/514125-Oressochen-jubatus

15-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOARY FOOTMAN MOTH (Eilema caniola)

Eilema caniola, the hoary footman, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1808.

This species can be found in North Africa, in western and southern Europe, in eastern Europe up to south-western Russia, in the Near East, in the eastern Palearctic realm, and in the Oriental realm. These thermophilic moths usually occur in urban areas and as a caterpillar on old walls, roofs, shingle beaches, and rocky areas.

The wingspan is 28–35 mm. It is almost the same in colouring as Eilema griseola and Eilema lurideola but the forewings are much smaller, the outer margin is oblique, only slightly excurved; the colour is much lighter, more yellowish grey, so that the pale yellow costal stripe is less prominent. Hindwings are very pale, scarcely darker at the costal margin, with the apex much more pointed than in the two species mentioned, with which it might be confounded.

15-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CUTWORM MOTH (Cerastis faceta)

The Cutworm Moth (Cerastis faceta) is a species of noctuid moth belonging to the family Noctuidae, first described by German entomologist Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1835.

Key Characteristics & Biology

Appearance & Flight: Medium-sized (30–32 mm wingspan) with camouflaged gray-brown forewings. Adults fly early in the season, from February to April.

Larval Behavior: Nocturnal feeders on various low-growing plants that hide underground during the day.

Habitat & DistributionThis Mediterranean species is found across North Africa and Southern Europe, including regions such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and various islands.

15-11-2021 LORCA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MANTIS (MALE) (Mantis religiosa ssp. religiosa)

The adult male European mantis (Mantis religiosa), including the subspecies Mantis religiosa religiosa, is a slender, winged insect native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: Measures approximately 50 to 80 mm (5–8 cm) long, making it noticeably smaller and more slender than the bulkier female.

• Coloration: Varies from bright green to tan, yellow, or light brown, depending on local humidity and vegetation.

• Head & Vision: Features a highly mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes capable of rotating nearly 180° to 300° for binocular tracking.

• Raptorial Legs: Equipped with specialized front legs featuring inner spikes and a distinctive black-ringed spot (eyespot) near the base on the underside.

• Wings: Possesses two pairs of fully developed wings that extend to or past the tip of the abdomen, allowing males to fly actively in search of mates.

• Sensory Organs: Features a single ventral ear located on the metathorax to detect high-frequency sounds and bat echolocation.

Habitat & Distribution

• Range: Widely distributed across Southern Europe, the Mediterranean (including the Iberian Peninsula), and parts of Central Europe, and introduced to North America.

• Environment: Prefers sunny, open, shrubby, or grassy areas, tall erect vegetation, field margins, and Mediterranean meadows.

Behavior & Life Cycle

• Diet: Operates as a diurnal ambush predator feeding on flies, bees, moths, grasshoppers, and caterpillars.

• Reproduction: Adults reach maturity by late summer or autumn. Males actively seek out females, though sexual cannibalism occurs in a portion of encounters, after which females deposit eggs in a foamy structure called an ootheca.

15-11-2021 LORCA, VALENCIA - STUBBLE ROSEGILL (Volvopluteus gloiocephalus)

Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, commonly known as the big sheath mushroom, rose-gilled grisette, or stubble rosegill, is a species of mushroom in the family Pluteaceae. For most of the 20th century it has been known under the names Volvariella gloiocephala or V. speciosa, but recent molecular studies have placed it as the type species of the genus Volvopluteus, newly created in 2011.

The cap of the mushroom is about 5–15 cm (2–6 in) in diameter, varies from white to grey or grey-brown, and is markedly sticky when fresh. The gills start out as white but they soon turn pink. The stipe is white and has a sack-like volva at the base. Microscopical features and DNA sequence data are of great importance for separating V. gloiocephalus from related species. V. gloiocephalus is a saprotrophic fungus that grows on grassy fields and accumulations of organic matter like compost or woodchip piles. It has been reported from all continents except Antarctica.

15-11-2021 LORCA, VALENCIA - DOTTED STALKED SUILLUS (Suillus granulatus)

Suillus granulatus is a species of fungus in the genus Suillus. It has been commonly known as the weeping bolete or the granulated bolete. It is a pored mushroom similar to S. luteus, but can be distinguished by its ringless stalk.

The species often grows in a symbiosis (mycorrhiza) with pine. It is native to the Northern Hemisphere and has been introduced elsewhere. It is edible.

The orange-brown, to brown-yellow cap is viscid (sticky) when wet, and shiny when dry, and is usually 4 to 12 centimetres (1+1⁄2 to 4+3⁄4 in) in diameter. The pale yellow stem is about 4–8 cm (1+1⁄2–3+1⁄4 in) tall 1–2 cm (3⁄8–3⁄4 in) wide, and of uniform thickness; it has tiny brownish granules at the apex[10] and lacks a ring. The tubes and pores are small, pale yellow, and exude pale milky droplets when young. The flesh is also pale yellow.

Suillus granulatus is often confused with S. luteus, which is another common and widely distributed species occurring in the same habitat. S. luteus has conspicuous a partial veil and ring, and lacks the milky droplets on the pores. Also similar is S. brevipes, which has a short stipe in relation to the cap, and which does not ooze droplets from the pore surface. S. pungens is also similar.

Bioleaching is the industrial process of using living organisms to extract metals from ores, typically where there is only a trace amount of the metal to be extracted. It has been found that S. granulatus can extract trace elements (titanium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and lead) from wood ash and apatite.

Suillus granulatus grows with Pinus (pine trees) on both calcareous and acidic soils, and sometimes occurs in large numbers. It is the most widespread pine-associating Suillus species in warm climates.

The species is native to the Northern Hemisphere.

Suillus granulatus sometimes causes contact dermatitis to those who handle it.

15-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SHIELDBACK KATYDID (Thyreonotus corsicus)

Thyreonotus corsicus is a species belonging to the family Tettigoniidae subfamily Tettigoniinae. It is found in the western Mediterranean from the Iberian Peninsula over the south of France to the southwestern Alps. Isolated populations are found in Corsica and Sardinia.

Shieldbacks have a substantial pronotum that looks like a shield. 

They look like tiny armored tanks – rounded, plump, sturdy - but they are not as invulnerable as they appear and can be seriously injured if dropped. It might be a good idea to leave them where you find them (should you be fortunate enough to locate one) and simply watch what they do - including catching and eating other insects. I observed a Protean Shieldback about to grab and eat a male Japanese beetle that was in the process of mating!

They live in woodland edges and shrubby meadows, and their shades of brown blend very well with bark, shrub stems, and dry leaves. These katydids are generally nocturnal and are predators on smaller insects. Although I seldom see or hear them, they seem to mature in the beginning of July.

Their song is an electrical buzzing reminiscent of a humming wire. Although non-native, they mature earlier than our native meadow katydids and don’t seem to be a problem. Listen for them in grassy meadows from later June into July.

Habitat:

Thyreonotus corsicus inhabits most often areas with strongly developed vegetation (bushes, dwarf shrubs, grasses) like garigues, scrub, maquis or dry open woodland.

Life cycle:

The adults appear between late June/July and November. The adults often rest in elevated position in bushes such as Buxus or Juniperus.

Remarks:

Thyreonotus corsicus occurs in SW-Europe (Iberian Peninsula, S-France, Corsica and Sardinia).

15-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TOAD CRAB SPIDER (Bassaniodes bufo)

Bassaniodes bufo is a species of crab spider in the genus Bassaniodes , family Thomisidae . It was scientifically described by Dufour in 1820.

This species is found in the Mediterranean.

The toad crab, Hyas coarctatus, is a 'true crab' and therby has a heavily calcified, flattened carapace with a short abdomen folded up beneath it. The first appendages form large claws. It is a member of the spider crab family and has long, thin legs, and claws of the same length as the legs. Its stalked eyes are visible from above. 

Hyas coarctatus can reach up to 61 mm in carapace length and is reddish-brown above and white underneath. It has longer claws than the giant spider crab, Hyas araneus, and the two forward-projecting horns on its head are slightly longer and further apart than those of the giant spider crab.

Found throught the British Isles but absent from the west coasts of Ireland.

The toad crab is a benthic species found on both hard and sandy bottoms from the intertidal region down to a depth of up to 50 m.

Spider crab is up to 61 mm in carapace length.

Cornea of the retracted eye is visible from above and not concealed under the orbit.

Post-orbital spine is flattened and expanded laterally.

Basal antenna segment is less than twice as long as it is wide.

Abdominal region is dilated laterally and, with the post-orbital region, forms a harp-shaped shelf.

14-11-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13729-Anthus-pratensis

14-11-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/117016-Phylloscopus-collybita

14-11-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

The European goldfinch, or simply goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), is a small, vibrant passerine bird belonging to the finch family. This charming avian species is adorned with a striking red face, encircled by black markings near the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks exhibit a warm buff or chestnut brown, while the wings are black with a prominent yellow bar. The tail is black, and the rump is a contrasting white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though the male boasts a slightly more extensive red mask.

Upon closer inspection, one can discern the male goldfinch by its larger, more vivid red mask that extends just beyond the eye. The female's red face does not reach past the eye, and her shoulder feathers are brown, as opposed to the male's black. The bill is ivory-colored, long, and pointed, and the tail is forked. Juveniles can be identified by their plain heads and greyer backs, but the yellow wing stripe is a clear indicator of their species.

14-11-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small, charismatic passerine bird, exhibiting a blend of dark and vibrant plumage. Males are distinguished by their dark grey to black upperparts and breast, with a striking orange-red rump and tail. Females and juveniles are more subdued in color, with grey to grey-brown feathers and the same vivid tail coloration that is the hallmark of the species.

Adult males are easily identified by their dark upperparts and black breast, contrasting with the orange-red lower rump and tail. The belly and undertail may vary from blackish-grey to orange-red, depending on the subspecies. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with overall greyer tones and a distinctive orange-red rump and tail. The presence of pale fringes on the secondaries forms a whitish wing panel in some subspecies.

The Black Redstart has adapted remarkably to urban environments, often found nesting in crevices or holes within buildings. Originally a dweller of stony mountainous regions, it now thrives in industrial areas with similar structural features.

This species is widely distributed across south and central Europe, Asia, and north-west Africa. It is a resident in milder regions, while populations in the northeast migrate to warmer areas during winter.

The Black Redstart is known for its robin-like movements, including quick ducks of the head and body, and frequent tail flicking. Males possess a rattling song and a tick call, adding to their distinctive presence.

The Black Redstart's vocal repertoire includes a variety of calls, which differ among subspecies. The male's song is a rattling melody, while its call is a sharp 'tick', often heard during its active foraging.

Typically monogamous, the Black Redstart begins breeding in mid-April. Nests are built by females in sheltered nooks, lined with soft materials. Clutches consist of 4 to 6 eggs, incubated primarily by the female. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 12 to 19 days.

The Common Redstart shares some similarities but can be distinguished by its different behavior, ecological requirements, and less dark plumage.

The Black Redstart's diet includes insects, which it often catches mid-flight. It is also known to forage in coastal areas for tiny crustaceans and flies.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black Redstart as Least Concern, indicating a stable population across its extensive range.

14-11-2021 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)

The Eurasian collared dove, also known as the collared dove or Turkish dove (Streptopelia decaocto), is a bird of modest size, presenting a grey-buff to pinkish-grey plumage that is slightly darker above than below. It is recognized by its distinctive black half-collar edged with white on its nape, from which it derives its name. The species exhibits a blue-grey underwing patch and a tail that is grey-buff above, with dark grey and white-tipped feathers below. The sexes appear similar, with juveniles displaying a less developed collar and a brown iris.

To identify the Eurasian collared dove, look for its medium size, slimmer and longer-tailed body compared to a rock pigeon, and a shorter stature than the wood pigeon. The red legs, black bill, and red iris surrounded by a small area of bare skin, which may appear white or yellow, are key features. The bird's song, a three-part cooing "goo-GOO-goo," and a harsh screeching call are also distinctive identifiers.

This species is often found in proximity to human habitation, particularly where food is plentiful and trees are available for nesting. It is not uncommon to see these doves frequenting bird tables and farms.

Originally from warm temperate and subtropical Asia, the Eurasian collared dove has expanded its range dramatically, colonizing colder countries and becoming a permanent resident in many. Its range now includes Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.

14-11-2021 POTRIES, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13094-Erithacus-rubecula

14-11-2021 POTRIES, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY 1

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48548-Vanessa-cardui

 

13-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CUTWORM MOTH (Cerastis faceta)

The Cutworm Moth (Cerastis faceta) is a species of noctuid moth belonging to the family Noctuidae, first described by German entomologist Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1835.

Key Characteristics & Biology

Appearance & Flight: Medium-sized (30–32 mm wingspan) with camouflaged gray-brown forewings. Adults fly early in the season, from February to April.

Larval Behavior: Nocturnal feeders on various low-growing plants that hide underground during the day.

Habitat & DistributionThis Mediterranean species is found across North Africa and Southern Europe, including regions such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and various islands.

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - VARIABLE CATTLEHEART BUTTERFLY (Parides erithalion)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/148356-Parides-erithalion

13-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

Iris oratoria, known by the common name Mediterranean mantis (or less frequently iris mantis), due to humans first studying it in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, is a species of praying mantis. Its range is expanding in the Middle East, Western Asia and the United States.

The Mediterranean mantis is known for two distinctive behaviours, apart from the ambush hunting common to other mantids: cannibalism and deimatic or threat displays. The sexual cannibalism of mantids known in popular culture occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of I. oratoria.

When the mantis is under attack, it sets in motion a complex series of actions which combine to form a startling deimatic display. The mantis turns to face the aggressor, rears up by arching its back, curls its abdomen upwards (dorsiflexion), raises and waves its forelimbs, raises its wings to displays the large brightly coloured eyespots on the hindwings, and stridulates by scraping the edge of its hindwings against its tegmina, the leathery front wings.

3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - FOREST BUFFALO (MALE) (Syncerus caffer ssp. nanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/199289-Syncerus-caffer-nanus

3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - DRILL (Mandrillus leucophaeus)

The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is a primate of the family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys), related to baboons and even more closely to mandrills.

Drills are found only in Cross River State in Nigeria, southwestern Cameroon (south to the Sanaga River), and on Bioko Island, part of Equatorial Guinea, in rainforest habitats. Their entire global range is less than 40,000 km2.

Drills are among Africa’s most endangered mammals, and are listed by the IUCN as the highest conservation priority of all African primates. Drill numbers have been declining in all known habitat areas for decades as a result of illegal commercial hunting, habitat destruction, and human development; as few as 3,000 drills may remain in the wild, with the highest population estimate only 8,000. A total of 174 drills recovered from illegal capture are in semicaptivity at the Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Nigeria, with high success rates in breeding recorded there, and about 40 in other zoos internationally.

The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is a highly endangered Old World monkey native to the tropical rainforests of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Bioko Island. Closely related to the mandrill, this striking primate is easily recognized by its jet-black face, crimson lower lip, and vividly colored purple and red buttocks.

Key Characteristics

Appearance: The drill has a short tail and stout body. Males are significantly larger, weighing around 25 kg, which is more than double the average size of females (11.5 kg).

Social Structure: They are gregarious and diurnal omnivores, living in groups (troops) that range from a single male and several females to aggregations of over 100 individuals.

Habitat: They are primarily terrestrial foragers but are adept climbers that forage for fruit, insects, and small prey.

Conservation StatusThe drill is considered one of the most threatened primates in the world. Its wild populations face severe decline due to intensive hunting for bushmeat and widespread deforestation.

3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - COMMON BROWN LEMUR (Eulemur fulvus)

The common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) is a species of lemur in the family Lemuridae. It is found in Madagascar and has been introduced to Mayotte.

The common brown lemur has a total length of 84 to 101 cm (33 to 40 in), including 41 to 51 cm (16 to 20 in) of tail.[5] Weight ranges from 2 to 3 kg (4.4 to 6.6 lb). Common brown lemurs are unique amongst Eulemur in that they exhibit little-to-no sexual dichromatism: in both males and females, the face, muzzle and crown are dark gray or black, with white or tan "cheeks" of varying thickness. Some individuals may have pale-colored eyebrow patches, and the eyes are almost always a deep orange-red. The short, dense fur of the body is primarily brown or gray-brown, with a lighter gray or tan underside. The fur on the back of their hands is often a medium orange or reddish color, and their long, bushy tail may either be similar in color to the dorsal pelage or, more commonly, a darker shade of gray, black, or brown.

Due to the species' history of containing all fellow brown lemurs as subspecies, they are very commonly misidentified in images and texts, and often confused with other species (such as red-fronted lemurs and gray-headed lemurs) or with various other unrelated hybrids.

Similar lemur species within their range include the mongoose lemur (E. mongoz) in the west and the red-bellied lemur (E. rubriventer) in the east. They can be distinguished from these species by the fact that E. mongoz is more of a grey color and E. rubriventer is more reddish. There is also some overlap with the black lemur in northeast Madagascar in the Galoko, Manongarivo and Tsaratanana Massifs.  There is also overlap and hybridization with the white-fronted brown lemur, E. albifrons, in the northeast portion of the common brown lemur's range.

The common brown lemur's diet consists primarily of fruits, young leaves, and flowers.  In some locations it eats invertebrates, such as cicadas,spiders and millipedes.It also eats bark, sap, soil and red clay (see geophagy). It can tolerate greater levels of toxic compounds from plants than other lemurs can.

 

The common brown lemur lives in western Madagascar north of the Betsiboka River and eastern Madagascar between the Mangoro River and Tsaratanana, as well as in inland Madagascar connecting the eastern and western ranges. They also live on the island of Mayotte, although this population has been introduced there by man. 

3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - WESTERN GORILLA (Gorilla gorilla)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/43580-Gorilla-gorilla

3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - AFRICAN SPURRED TORTOISE (Centrochelys sulcata)

The African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), also called the sulcata tortoise, is a species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa. It is the largest mainland species of tortoise in the world, and the third-largest in the world. It is the last remaining species in its genus, Centrochelys, with the five other species in the family already extinct.

C. sulcata is currently ranked as an endangered species.] Studies suggest that African spurred tortoises exist in approximately 16.7% of the area where they had previously been found. These studies also show an average of 1-5 tortoises per site canvassed which indicates a rapid decline of the species. The species faces threats from livestock as they have to compete for resources. The main source of resource competition African spurred tortoises face is from cattle which also graze on grass. The effects of competition for grazing land is compounded by wildfires which can destroy large portions of grass land which kills and rescues the resources available to C sulcata. They also face threats from the pet trade as they are over harvested from their natural environment. Approximately 9000 tortoises are taken from the wild for the pet trade. Other threats that the species face are habitat loss due to climate change and predators which hunt the tortoises or their eggs.