An Animal A Day
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Turkish Van
The Turkish Van (Turkish: Van Kedisi) (also known as the Turkish Swimming Cat) is a rare, naturally occurring breed of cat originally found in the Lake Van region of southeastern Turkey. The word van refers to their color pattern, where the color is restricted to the head and the tail, and the rest of the cat is white. It is the maximum expression of the piebald white spotting gene that makes the van pattern. The spotting gene appears in many different species (like the horse and ball python). It also shows up in the common house cat, so a cat that shows this color pattern but is not registered or from the Van region, is called a "Vanalike".
Immature male red tabby Turkish Van
Characteristics
The coat on a Van is considered semi-longhaired. While many cats have three distinct hair types in their coat, guard hairs, awn hairs and down hairs, the Turkish Van only has one. This makes their coat feel like cashmere or rabbit fur, and the coat dries quickly when wet. Lake Van is a region of temperature extremes and the cats have evolved a coat that grows thick in the winter with a large ruff and bottlebrush tail for the harsh winters and then sheds out short in the body for the warm summers. The full tail is kept year round.
The Van is one of the larger cat breeds. The males can reach 20 lb (9 kg) and the females weigh about half of that. They have massive paws and rippling hard muscle structure which allows them to be very strong jumpers. Vans can easily hit the top of a refrigerator from a cold start on the floor. They are slow to mature and this process can take 3-5 years. Also, their fetching skills are quite good and they are quick to learn.
Another interesting trait is their fascination with water (rare among cats). Vans are also called the "Swimming Cats" since they have been known to take a dip in Lake Van in their native country. They may have acquired this trait due to the very hot summers and have extremely waterproof coats that make bathing them a challenge. Most Vans in the US are indoor cats and do not have access to large bodies of water but their love and curiosity of water stays with them. Instead of swimming they stir their water bowls and invent fishing games in the toilet.
Breed standards
Breed standards allow for one or more body spots as long as there is no more than 20% color and the cat does not give the appearance of a bicolor. Although red tabby and white is the classic van color, the color on a van's head and tail can be one of the following: Red, Cream, Black, Blue, Red Tabby, Cream Tabby, Brown Tabby, Blue Tabby, Tortoiseshell, Dilute Tortoise, Brown Patched Tabby, Blue patched Tabby and any other color not showing evidence of hybridization with the pointed cats (Siamese, Himalayan, etc).
Preservation
Turkish Vans are a naturally occurring breed of cat. They can still be found in east Turkey, near Lake Van. Their numbers have diminished, but both the Vans and the Turkish Angora, (which is a separate breed with different characteristics from central Turkey) are under the protection of the Turkish government and are bred at the Ankara Zoo. The genetic traits of the cats have not been modified from their originals and breeding programs seek to preserve their unique combination of athleticism and loyalty.
Vans are sometimes confused with Turkish Angoras, although a side-by-side comparison reveals vastly different characteristics. Angoras are named after Ankara (Angora) and descended separately from the Vans. Angoras also carry the W gene associated with white fur, blue eyes and deafness while Vans do not. Van eye color can be amber, blue or odd (one each, amber and blue) but Vans with two blue eyes are not deaf like Angoras.
Origins
Turkish Vans have been living in their native Turkey for thousands of years and various references to "white ringtail" cats through history show this. The classic red tabby and white pattern gives the ringtail appearance and has been found depicted on Hittite jewelry of antiquity.
In 1955 two British women, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday, saw Vans in Turkey for the first time and decided to bring them home. They immediately bred true, confirming they are a true natural breed.
The first Vans were brought to the United States in 1982 and accepted into championship for showing in the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in 1994. Since then, CFA has registered approximately 100 Vans born each year in the US, making them one of the rarest cat breeds. However, the gene pool thrives because it still uses Vans imported from Turkey. Imported Vans have no human breeding intervention and are quite robust.
Vans as pets
Turkish Vans are very intelligent, and will easily take over their home and owners. Vans are people cats that want to be with people wherever they go. They like to play and jump and explore anything in their reach, which is quite large. They are energetic; they play hard and sleep hard. Many Vans are dedicated to fetching their particular object of interest, and many owners describe them as "dogs in a cat suit" because of their unusual personalities.
Common Nickname: Van, Swimming Cat
Country of origin: Turkey
Issue #373 -
Arabian Oryx
The Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) was found in steppe and desert areas in the Middle East.
Arabian Oryx stand about a metre high at the shoulder and weigh around 70 kilograms. Their coats are an almost luminous white, their undersides and legs are brown, and there are black stripes where the head meets the neck, on the forehead, on the nose and going from the horn down through the eye to the mouth. Both sexes have long straight ringed horns which reach just over half a metre.
Arabian Oryx, Oryx leucoryx
Arabian Oryx eat buds, grass and leaves. Arabian Oryx rest during the heat of the day and can detect rainfall and will move towards it, this means that they have huge ranges, a herd in Oman ranges over 3,000 square kilometres. Herds are of mixed sex and contain between two and fifteen animals.
Arabian Oryx were hunted to extinction in the wild by 1972. However a breeding program in zoos around the world brought them back from the brink and a hundred animals have been reintroduced in Oman, Jordan and Israel, with six hundred more in captivity.
The Bible uses the Hebrew word re’em for the Arabian Oryx, although this word may also refer to the Aurochs. The legend of the Unicorn probably originated in part from the Arabian Oryx, which when seen in profile frequently appears to have only a single horn. In the King James Version of the Bible the word “re’em” is translated as “unicorn”.
Conservation status: Endangered
Issue #374 -
Dalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia to China in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a crude heap of vegetation.
Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus
This is a large pelican, at 170 cm length and with a 3 m wingspan. It differs from the White Pelican in that it has curly nape feathers, grey legs and greyish-white (rather than pure white plumage). It has a red lower mandible in the breeding season. Immatures are grey and lack the pink facial patch of immature White Pelicans. The latter also has darker flight feathers.
This pelican migrates short distances. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the flock moving in synchrony. The neck is then held back like a heron's.
As is well known, pelicans catch fish in their huge bill pouches, most, like this species, while swimming at the surface.
Like the White Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution. As of 1994, there are around 1,000 breeding pairs in Europe, most of them in Russia, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Issue #375 -
Originally posted by poon cho tang:
I'm quite fascinated by the swimming cat:
[b]Turkish Van
The Turkish Van (Turkish: Van Kedisi) (also known as the Turkish Swimming Cat) is a rare, naturally occurring breed of cat originally found in the Lake Van region of southeastern Turkey. The word van refers to their color pattern, where the color is restricted to the head and the tail, and the rest of the cat is white...
Immature male red tabby Turkish Van
More cute pics
Max is not a Turkish Van though...see the way he's climbing up from the pool....Urghhhh!!
Photos are copyrights of Tom and Polly Rodman. -
max is ur cat?Originally posted by Wanda:I'm quite fascinated by the swimming cat:
More cute pics
Max is not a Turkish Van though...see the way he's climbing up from the pool....Urghhhh!! -
No leh, he's some ang mo's cat I found on the net. So cute hor?Originally posted by poon cho tang:max is ur cat?
I don't have cats now...I've fostered strays and rehomed them (ie got them adopted). -
wah seh, a very devoted cat lover indeed...u know aiyo! ? she is another cat lover who has gone MIAOriginally posted by Wanda:No leh, he's some ang mo's cat I found on the net. So cute hor?
I don't have cats now...I've fostered strays and rehomed them (ie got them adopted). -
Dunno who she is...sounds like a cat carer/volunteer. I don't do much, compared to some of my very devoted friends who are very compassionate about strays.Originally posted by poon cho tang:wah seh, a very devoted cat lover indeed...u know aiyo! ? she is another cat lover who has gone MIA
Do you have a pet? Or your pc is your pet? -
nope, yes u r riteOriginally posted by Wanda:Dunno who she is...sounds like a cat carer/volunteer. I don't do much, compared to some of my very devoted friends who are very compassionate about strays.
Do you have a pet? Or your pc is your pet? -
Marginated Tortoise
The Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata) is the largest European tortoise, reaching a weight of up to 5 kg (11 pounds) and a length of 35 cm (14 inches).
Marginated Tortoise, Testudo marginata sarda
Its shell is oblong and has a notable thickness around the middle of the body. The posterior end of the shell has a saw-like formation, flanged outward like a bell. The carapace of adult specimens is almost completely black, with yellow highlights. The ventral shell is lighter coloured and has pairs of triangular markings with the points facing the rear of the animal. The front sides of the limbs are covered with large scales. In old female specimens, the rear flaps of the underside of the plastron are somewhat moveable. The tail is notable for a lengthwise marking and for an undivided carapace over the tail. Males have a longer tail, which is thicker at the base than the females. Their underside is more strongly indented. Males are also often larger than the females. The females lay their hard-shelled spherical eggs in the soil in May and June.
Habitat and feeding habits
The natural range of the Marginated Tortoise is southern Greece, from the Peloponnesus to Mount Olympus. They are also found in isolated zones of the Balkans and Italy, with a somewhat broader range in northeastern Sardinia.
The Marginated Tortoise lives in more mountainous regions than Herman's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni). It can be found in elevations as high as 1,600 m (5,250 feet). The black color of the carapace is helpful for survival in this environment, as it allows the tortoise to absorb a great deal of heat in a short time, helping it maintain its body temperature. Similarly, the lighter colored underside slows the radiation of body heat into the cold ground. Early in the morning, Marginated Tortoises bask in the sun to raise their body temperature, and then search for food. After feeding, the tortoises return to their shelters in the hot midday hours, leaving them again in the late afternoon.
Marginated Tortoise's food source consists primarily of plants from their native Mediterranean region. In captivity, the primary foodstuffs are dandelions, clover, salad leaves such as rocket or watercress, and also leaves from bean, radish, and crowfoot plants. Sometimes even grass and hay will be eaten, along with fruits. Lettuce will be eagerly devoured, but owing to its low nutrient value should not generally be given. They are primarily herbivorous, but they need a small amount of animal protein in their diet, particularly in the case of babies and egg-laying mothers. This protein is generally provided by earthworms and snails.
Subspecies and related species
The primary subspecies of Testudo marginata is Testudo marginata marginata (Schoepf, 1789), described above. Two additional varieties are generally mentioned in connection with the marginated tortoise. Testudo marginata sarda (Mayer, 1992) is a separate population in Sardinia. This subspecies has less strongly bent tiles in the posterior of the carapace, and the posterior of the carapace is almost smooth compared with the saw-like Testudo marginata marginata.
T. marginata marginata (left) and T. marginata sarda (right).
A particularly small variation of the marginated tortoise was discovered in the southwestern part of the Pelopponesus. However, the Dwarf Marginated Tortoise is not a subspecies, but rather a related species in the same genus (Testudo weissingeri, Bour, 1996).
Testudo marginata is also closely related to the Greek Tortoise or Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca). Both have very similar bodily characteristics, for example, an oblong carapace, large scales on the front legs, large covering for the head and cone-like scales on the upper thigh, undivided tail covering, moveable stomach plates, and lack of a tail spike. Presumably, Testudo marginata evolved from Testudo graeca as a population more suited for life in the mountainous regions. Evidence in favor of this is the wide geographical region and the extremely large number of subspecies of Testudo graeca, including a subspecies in Turkey with strongly bent carapace tiles, like the Marginated Tortoise. Testudo marginata on the other hand, despite the two subspecies, presents a much more unified appearance, which points toward an earlier appearance in evolutionary history. In captivity, the two species often cross-breed.
Mating and reproduction
Immediately after waking from hibernation the mating instinct starts up. The males follow the females with great interest, encircling them, biting them on the limbs, ramming them, and trying to mount them. During copulation, the male opens his mouth, showing his red tongue and making loud cries. The tone of the copulation cry is almost sobbing with long, deep tones, in contrast to Testudo hermanni, in which there is a much higher-toned peeping noise.
During mating, the female stands still and holds her head to the side, looking up to see the opened mouth of the male. It appears that the red tongue serves a signalling function. The female moves her head from left to right in the same rhythm as the male's cries.
Afterwards the female seeks out an adequate location to lay her eggs. Once such a place is found, the female stands still, propping both front legs firmly against the ground. Then she digs out a hole with her hind legs, alternating between left and right, beginning with simply scratching the ground but eventually moving large quantities of soil which are piled up beside the hole. The depth of the hole is determined by the length of her hind legs. If the ground is too hard to dig, the female releases water from her anal gland to soften it.
Once the hole is dug egg laying begins. Each egg is gently rolled back into the hole. After the last egg the female immediately begins refilling the hole, again using her hind legs. Finally, she stamps the opening closed with her feet so that the ground regains its natural hardness. Larger animals may lay eggs as many as three times per summer, with about 15 eggs per clutch.
Issue #376 -
Why is the tortoise marginated? Is it bec he's been marginalised?
The other one I cannot understand is the articulated python (is it in here somewhere?). Why the python very articulate meh?
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called marginated for its flared marginals at the rearOriginally posted by Wanda:Why is the tortoise marginated? Is it bec he's been marginalised?
The other one I cannot understand is the articulated python (is it in here somewhere?). Why the python very articulate meh?
thought it is reticulated python? -
The tortoise is quite cute though.Originally posted by poon cho tang:called marginated for its flared marginals at the rear
thought it is reticulated python?
Oops....yes, thanks for correcting me, "reticulated" (whatever that means) . Pai seh pai seh.
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Migratory locust
The Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is the most widespread locust species. It occurs throughout Africa, Asia and Australia. It used to be common in Europe but has now become rare there. Because of the vast geographic area it occupies, which comprises many different ecological zones, numerous subspecies have been described. However, not all experts agree on the validity of some of these subspecies. The main ones are:
- Locusta m. migratoria (West and Central Asia, eastern Europe)
- Locusta m. migratorioides (mainland Africa and Atlantic islands)
- Locusta m. capito (Madagascar)
- Locusta m. manilensis (eastern Asia)
Female Migratory locust, Locusta migratoria
A polymorph insect
They transform enormously behaviourally and physically under the effect of overpopulation and are thus called polymorph insects. There are two main phases:
1.The solitary phase
2.The gregarious phase
As the density of the population increases the locust transforms progressively from solitary phase towards the gregarious phase with intermediate phases:
Solitaire = solitary phase -> transiens congregans (intermediate form) -> gregarious phase -> transiens dissocians (intermediate form) -> solitaire = solitary phase.
Pigmentation and size of the migratory locust
Pigmentation and size of the migratory locust vary according to its state (gregarious or solitary or intermediate form) and its age (larva, mature or immature adult).
Gregarious larvae have a yellow to orange covering with black spots. Solitary larvae are green or brown.
The gregarious adult is brownish with yellow, the latter colour becoming more intense and extensive on maturation. The solitary adult is brown with varying extent of green colour depending on the colour of the vegetation.
Gregarious adults vary in size between 40 and 60 mm according to the sex. They are smaller than the solitary adults.
Often confused with the desert locust, there are some major differences between the migratory and desert locust.
A Devastating Insect
Locusts are highly mobile, and usually fly with the wind at a speed of about 15-20 km/h. Swarms can travel about 5-130 km or more in a day.
Locust swarms can vary from less than one square kilometre to several hundred square kilometres with 40 to 80 million locust per square kilometre.
An adult locust can consume its own weight (about 2 grams) in fresh food per day. For every million locusts, one tonne of food is eaten.
Issue #377 -
Grey Nurse Shark
The Grey Nurse Shark, Spotted Raggle-Tooth or Sand Tiger (Carcharias taurus) is a large shark inhabiting coastal waters worldwide, with many different names in different countries in the world. Despite a fearsome appearance and strong swimming abilities, it is a relatively placid and slow moving animal.
Grey Nurse Shark, Carcharias taurus
Distribution
The sharks typically congregate in coastal waters, at depths of 10-60 metres, although deeper depths have been recorded. Often they will shelter in caves or gutters during the day, and come out at night to feed. During the day they exhibit sluggish behaviour, becoming more active during the night. Research indicates that generally the shark remains within a kilometre of its aggregation site, and stays close to the ocean floor. Present throughout the world, in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the shark is a common sight in many areas of the world. Through the 1950s and 1960s it was exterminated due to biased opinions. It was near extinction in Australian waters by spearfishing, and numbers there are only slowly making a resurgence. The Eastern Australian population is critically endangered, whereas in the west of the continent the population is listed as vulnerable.
Anatomy
Their bodies are stout, with two large dorsal fins and the tail is elongated and have a long upper lobe. The shark has a precaudal pit but no caudal keels. It grows to a length of 3.2 m (about 10' 6"). Male grey nurse sharks mature at 2.1 m (about 6' 11"); and females mature at 2.2 m (about 7' 3").
Reproduction
The species is ovoviviparous, i.e. bearing live young from eggs which hatch inside the uterus. Female sharks have two uteruses. Inside the uterus the young sharks develop and eat each other, so typically only two young sharks are born for each gestation period, which lasts 6-9 months. This process, also known as intra-uterine cannibalism, is making it harder for the shark population to rebound from the near extinction. As a result, scientists are working on an plan to artificially inseminate and breed the sharks with test tubes, in order to increase their population.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Issue #378 -
Porcelain crab
Porcelain crabs are decapod crustaceans in the family Porcellanidae, which superficially resemble true crabs. They are a good example of carcinization, whereby a non-crab-like animal (in this case a relative of a squat lobster) evolves into an animal that only a specialist would know is not a true crab. They live in all the world's oceans, except the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic.
Porcelain anenome crab, Neopetrolisthes sp. with the sea anemone Condylactis sp.
Porcelain crabs are small, usually with body widths of 1-2 cm. They are common under rocks, and can often be found and observed on rocky beaches and shorelines, startled creatures scurrying away when a stone is lifted.
Porcelain crabs can be distinguished from the true crabs by the apparent number of walking legs (three instead of four pairs, the fourth pair is actually hidden under the carapace), the apparent lack of a wrist (carpal) segment on the chelipeds, and long antennae originating on the front outside of the eye stalks. The abdomen of the porcelain crab is long and folded underneath it, free to move. In fact, when alarmed, the crab might swim by flapping its abdomen.
Porcelain crabs share the general body plan of a squat lobster (Galatheidae), but their bodies are more compact and flattened, an adaptation for living and hiding under rocks, as well as squeezing into little nooks and crannies. The porcelain crabs are quite fragile animals, and will often shed their limbs, hence their name. This trait is useful for these crustaceans because it helps them escape if a limb is grabbed by a predator or caught between rocks shifting in the current. A broken-off piece of limb may still continue to move for a short while, distracting the would-be predator as the crustacean flees. The lost appendage can grow back over several molts. Porcelain crabs have large chelae (claws), which are used for territorial struggles, but not for catching food. Feeding is accomplished instead by combing plankton and other organic particles from the water using long setae (feathery hair or bristle-like structures) on the mouthparts, where they will later be scraped off and consumed into the mouth. These animals will also scavenge on the sea floor for detritus and in aquaria, they will consume meaty pieces of fish or shrimp.
Some of the common species of Porcellanids in the Caribbean are Petrolisthes quadratus, found in large numbers under rocks in the intertidal, and the red-and-white polka-dotted Porcellana sayana, which lives commensally within the shells inhabited by large hermit crabs.
Genera
* Aliaporcellana
* Capilliporcellana
* Clastotoechus
* Euceramus
* Enosteoides
* Eulenaios
* Lissoporcellana
* Megalobrachuium
* Minyocerus
* Neopetrolisthes
* Neopisoma
* Pachycheles
* Parapetrolisthes
* Petrolisthes
* Pisidia
* Polyonyx
* Porcellana
* Porcellanella
* Pseudoporcellanella
* Raphidopus
* Ulloaia
Issue #379 -
Asaphus kowalewskii
Asaphus kowalewskii is one of the 35 species of trilobites of the genus Asaphus (sometimes called Neoasaphus). Fossils of this species are popular among collectors because of their prominent stalked eyes, many an inch or more in length.
Fossil of Asaphus kowalewskii
During the Ordovician period, several species of the genus Asaphus developed remarkable adaptations to changes in turbidity, with Asaphus kowalewskii presumably arising in a time of increased turbidity. The trilobite may have lain in wait buried in a benthic layer of loose debris or sediment with only its periscope eyestalks protruding above, looking out for danger or prey.
Most of the fossils of this species are found in the middle Ordovician deposits of the Wolchow River region near Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Conservation status: Fossil
Issue #380 -
American Staghound
The American Staghound is a type of sighthound that is used in hunting to track a variety of game. Although they have been bred for many years, Staghound is not currently recognized as a dog breed.
American Staghound
Appearance
This is a working dog with long legs, strong muscles and a deep chest. They have excellent eyesight and above average scent ability to aid in tracking game. They have three recognized coat types, the shag, slick and broken. They are known to be comparable to the greyhound in speed, but have greater endurance.
They range in height from 24 to 30 inches (61-77 cm) and weigh between 45 and 90 lbs (20-41 kg). The females are slightly smaller in size than the males.
They are known to experience torsion bloat if exercised shortly after eating, but carry no other genetic health problems. Typical life span is 12-14 years.
Temperament
Staghounds are very calm and affectionate, making wonderful companion dogs in addition to their tracking abilities. Even with their great size, they are not often trained as watchdogs. They have a high prey drive and may consider any other animal to be quarry.
They require a great deal of area to run and exercise in, so are not suitable for apartment living. Daily exercise is necessary to maintain their health and burn off their excess energy.
History
The current American Staghound is a result of unknown breeding between Scottish Deerhound, greyhound and several other breeds. The staghound appeared with its current characteristics in the 1700s. They were originally bred to hunt predators such as the wolf and coyote. General George Custer used a staghound in 1846 as part of his hunting pack.
Alternative names: Staghound
Country of origin: United States
Issue #381 -
Javan Rhinoceros
The Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is one of the rarest and most endangered large mammals anywhere in the world. According to 2002 estimates, only about 60 remain alive, in Indonesia and Vietnam. Even these tiny populations are still being poached and the outlook for the species is grim.
Javan Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus
The Javan Rhinoceros occupied lowland rainforests through much of South-east Asia. It is grey in color, hairless, and adults typically weigh up to 1.4 tonnes. Like the closely related larger Indian Rhinoceros, it has only one horn, and in common with the almost equally endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros it is exclusively a browser on leaves rather than a grazer on grasses. Favoured feeding strategies include knocking down saplings to reach the leaves and shoots, and gathering fruit.
There are two subspecies:
* Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) (Vietnam only 2 - 7 animals left)
* Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus) (Java 50 - 60 animals left)
Conservation status: Critical
Issue #382 -
Anhinga
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, or American Darter, is a water bird of the warmer parts of North America and South America.
Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga
It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of 85 cm, a wingspan of 117 cm, and a weight of 1,350 g. It is a dark-plumaged fish-eater with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.
The Anhinga is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to Indian (Anhinga melanogaster), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.
The Anhinga's feathers are not waterproofed by oils like those of ducks, and can get waterlogged, causing the bird to become barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for fish under the water. It can stay down for significant periods.
When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers. It will perch for long periods with its wings spread to allow the drying process, as do cormorants. If it attempts to fly while its wings are wet, it has great difficulty getting off the water and takes off by flapping vigorously while 'running' on the water. Anhinga will often search for food in small groups.
Issue #383 -
California Kingsnake
The California King Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) is a subspecies of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). It is a non-venomous king snake native to Western North America, particularly Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and California. The snake has dark black or brown and creamy or white markings, but they are very variable in color and pattern. The most common morph has creamy white crossbands on a dark background, but some specimens of this general type appear to be generally light-coloured with darker patches. A second morph, particularly common around San Diego, has longitudinal stripes instead of lateral bands; the form of these is also quite variable.
California King Snake, Lampropeltis getula californiae
California King Snakes grow to a length of up to 5 feet (1.5 metres) and weigh as much as 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).
The diet of the California King Snake is similar to that of other King snakes. Prey items include lizards, birds, and other snakes. However, during time of shedding the snake will refuse to eat because of greatly reduced vision due to build-ups of oil underneath the eye coverings.
Issue #384 -
Julia butterfly
The Julia butterfly or Julia Heliconian (Dryas julia), is a species of butterfly (an insect). The sole representative of its genus, the Julia is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. Its wingspan ranges from 82 to 92 mm, and it is colored orange (brighter in male specimens) with black markings.
Julia butterfly, Dryas julia
It feeds on the nectar of flowers including lantana and shepherd's needle, and its caterpillars form hosts in passion vines including Passiflora lutea in Texas. The Julia is a fast flier and frequents clearings, paths, and margins of forests and woodlands. Over 15 subspecies have been described.
Issue #385 -
Suckermouth Catfish
The Suckermouth Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) is a tropical fish known as a Plecostomus belonging to the Armored Catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the armor-like longitudinal rows of scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked).
Suckermouth Catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus
Hypostomus plecostomus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the Common Pleco by aquarists. In the Philippines, in the aquarium trade, it is called the Janitor Fish. The Suckermouth Catfish is named for its sucker-like mouth, which allows it to adhere to a surface, as well as to hold and rasp at food. These fish are sold when they are young and small but they can grow to be a maximum size of over a foot to around 50 cm or so.
In the aquarium, this dark colored bottom-feeding nocturnal catfish is often purchased for its ability to clean algae from fish tanks. Being nocturnal, they usually avoid light and like to hide in dark places, coming out to feed at night. However, in aquaria, they can easily learn to be active in the daytime. They are hardy fish and can tolerate a range of conditions. In their natural habitat, this species feeds on algae, aquatic weeds and other plant matter and small crustaceans.
This species' native range is tropical Central America and South America; it naturally occurs on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and both slopes of Panama, southward to Uruguay. Suckermouth catfishes occur in the wild in fresh running waters and brackish waters of river mouths.
Due to the adult size of these catfish, most successful breedings have occurred in ponds with steep clay or mud banks. They dig tunnels close to the water level and the males guard the eggs until they hatch.
In some places in the Southern US (Florida and Texas), this species has been introduced from its native range, probably dumped by aquarists into the local waters. They have been also been introduced to several Asian countries as well. Suckermouth catfish are often cultured in ponds in Singapore and Hong Kong, where it is very popular for the aquarium trade.
Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a food fish, although they are at least occasionally consumed over their native range. However, they are of great value in the aquarium trade in the United States.
Issue #386 -
Arizona bark scorpion
The Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides exilicauda, previously known as Centruroides sculpturatus), is a small (7 cm) light brown scorpion common to the southwest United States. It is venomous, and its sting has been known to lethal, particularly for small children. An antivenom was developed for this species, and produced in quantities sufficient to treat individuals within the state of Arizona. Production of this antivenom has since ceased, and a Mexican antivenin is being tested in its place. Fatalities are rare, with two recorded in the state of Arizona since 1968.
Arizona bark scorpion, Centruroides exilicauda
The bark scorpion is unusual in that it is the only species in the southwest that regularly climbs walls, trees, and other objects with a sufficiently rough surface. It is not capable of climbing glass or smooth plastic, so it may be safely contained in glass vessels without lids. It is one of two species within the United States that is dangerous; the other, far less dangerous, species is Centruroides vittatus.
Arizona bark scorpions are not true desert species; they prefer riparian areas, with sufficient moisture and humidity to support insects and other prey species. However, the popularity of irrigated lawns in residential areas has led to an explosion in the number of these animals in some areas. Relatively high humidity seems important in the life cycle of the species in that the female will not give live birth if it is too dry.
Care and feeding is similar to that of other scorpions. The Arizona bark scorpion does prefer to hide, and will cling to all but the smoothest of surfaces. It is more active at night, and a diet of crickets and other insects suits them well. Due to the venomous nature of the species, handling is contraindicated. They are not aggressive, and prefer to run or hide when confronted. The sting is very painful, and may cause pain and loss of use of an affected limb. In extreme cases, allergic reactions may cause death. Injury to young children or the elderly may require medical intervention.
Individual scorpions may live to 5-6 years, and possibly more.
Issue #387 -
Xerces Blue
The Xerces Blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche xerces) is an extinct species of butterfly. The species lived in coastal sand dunes of the Sunset District of San Francisco. The Xerces butterfly is believed to be the first American butterfly species to become extinct as a result of loss of habitat caused by urban development. The last Xerces Blue was seen in either 1941 (Garth, J.S. and J.W. Tilden, California Butterflies, UC Press 1986) or 1943 (Powell, J.A. and C.L. Hogue, California Insects, UC Press, 1979) on lands that may now be part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Xerces Blue butterfly, Glaucopsyche xerces
The species was first described and documented in 1852. It was characterized by blue wings with white spots. The butterfly's food plants belonged to the genera Lotus and Lupinus. Xerces probably associated with ants in its larval stages as part of a symbiotic relationship. One of the theories regarding the extinction of the species is that with human settlement in the Bay area, new species of ant were introduced which slowly replaced the existing ant species within the butterfly's habitat.
Efforts are on to resurrect the Xerces Blue. The Palos Verdes Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis) which is considered a Los Angeles cousin of the Xerces, is being reared in labs. A new Xerces-like subspecies of the Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) has been discovered as well.
An endangered invertebrate conservation group known as the Xerces Society is named after the Xerces Blue species.
Xerces is also a group of XML software packages named after this butterfly.
Conservation status: Extinct (1941)
Issue #388
