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A species of sandy areas. Occurs roughly south of a line from North Carolina to southeast Colorado, and from the Atlantic coast to the east base of the Rocky Mountains and central Mountains of New Mexico. South well into northeastern Mexico (BugGuide). Rather similar to the more northerly Mottled Sand Grasshopper, differing mostly (only?) in the height of the crest on the pronotum -- and range
Scotch Thistle are considered an invasive species/noxious weed across the country. Nasty for all foragers except goats.
But, as with so many weeds, they are beautiful... :)
太陽下的雙環,真是艷麗動人.翅背面閃耀的金屬光澤尤其迷人,主可惜不易拍得.攝於武陵.
In this world, this is the only swallotail which has double crescent stripes on its hindwings.
An uncommon species to Taiwan.
Driving in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, we were excited to glimpse a heard of Bighorn Sheep. At least that's what we thought they were at first glance. After finding a place to safely pull off the road, I grabbed the camera and walked back to where we had seen the group. Seeing them more clearly, it was quickly evident that they weren't the Desert Bighorns that I initially thought.
Turns out, they were Barbary Sheep or Aoudad as they are sometimes called in their native Northern Africa. First introduced in Texas in 1957 and in New Mexico in 1950. In both states, they significantly outnumber native the struggling populations of Desert Bighorns. While the Barbary Sheep are beautiful animals, their story in the U.S. is too similar to other invasive species having a negative impact on the environment into which they are introduced.
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This species was found in Aceh, and described in the Edinburgh Journal of Botany, March 2017 74(1) p.1-10 by D. Metusala. It is closely related to Paphiopedilum javanicum but differs in its longer, oblong-elliptic petals. In fact, it was originally thought to be a red form of Paphiopedilum tonsum that has been for sale for some time. It has also been suggested that it might be a natural hybrid between Paphiopedilum javanicum and Paphiopedilum tonsum. This view is rejected by Metusala as he says it is a much larger flower than either of these species, and has much longer petals. (From Orchids Western Australia Web Site)
The species of butterfly in the shot is called African blue-banded swallowtail (Papilio nireus), also known as the green-banded swallowtail and narrow-banded blue swallowtail, and it gave me fits trying to identify as this underside has golden bands, but on the dorsal side it's black with the blueish green band which of course is the source of the name.
I have a photo of another one of those from an earlier visit here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52696729128/
Also, a 105 megapixel panorama shot here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53367920577/
as published months ago by CR's major newspaper in about 2 color pages (!)
During several expeditions to southern Talamanca we collected some plants we thought were unknown orchid species (Durika, Pando, Tinuk, Valle del Silencio, etc). With 3 or 4 years with some discussions and work, more and more new species are being published, mostly made possible with the support of Diego Bogarin.
I am very possitive about future expeditions. I will probably get 1, 2 or 3 weeks into Talamanca Caribe, trips which I am sure will be very important in terms of discoveries =)
Species from eastern North America
A common tree of moist bottomlands and hollows. Produces the largest fruit native to North America.
Common name: Pawpaw
Photographed along the Lost Valley Trail, Buffalo National River, Newton County, Arkansas
Very small plant with relatively very large flowers. Widespread throughout Central America and into Northern South America and Brazil
Extinction Rebellion art by Jane Mutiny in Shoreditch, tying in neatly with events in central London and elsewhere. I like the way Jane has left outlines for her subjects, highlighting the fact they are disappearing from our planet. By extension the person passing by faces the same fate...At least that seems to be the message Extinction Rebellion are trying to convey.
A Hylaeus species Bee (Female), I keep seeing these landing on the stonework of Wilford Bridge and after a while I managed to get a few shots of one. I've no idea of the exact species, looking at the BWARS site the Hylaeus species all look pretty similar, so if anyone can give an exact ID then I would be grateful.
Info from Wiki
Hylaeus is a large (>500 species) and diverse cosmopolitan genus within the bee family Colletidae.
The genus of bees consists of generally small, black and yellow/white wasp-like species. The resemblance to wasps is enhanced by the absence of a scopa, which is atypical among bees.
Hylaeus carry pollen in the crop, rather than externally, and regurgitate it into the cell where it will be used as larval food. Like most colletids, the liquid provisions are sealed inside a membranous cellophane-like cell lining.
Nests are typically in dead twigs or plant stems, or other similarly small natural cavities, rather than constructing or excavating their own nests as in many other bees.
This was a partial stack of 3 images, these guys do not stay put for very long and have a habit of moving during a stack.
Another widespread stunning species from West Central and East Tropical Africa and Southern Ethiopia.
The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European eagle-owl and in Europe, it is occasionally abbreviated to just eagle-owl. It is one of the largest species of owl, and females can grow to a total length of 75 cm (30 in), with a wingspan of 188 cm (6 ft 2 in), males being slightly smaller. This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish coloring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred. The underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker color. The facial disc is poorly developed and the orange eyes are distinctive.
Besides being one of the largest living species of owl, it is also one of the most widely distributed. The Eurasian eagle-owl is found in many habitats but is mostly a bird of mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes and other relatively remote places. It is a mostly nocturnal predator, hunting for a range of different prey species, predominantly small mammals but also birds of varying sizes, reptiles, amphibians, fish, large insects and other assorted invertebrates. It typically breeds on cliff ledges, in gullies, among rocks or in other concealed locations. The nest is a scrape in which averages of two eggs are laid at intervals. These hatch at different times. The female incubates the eggs and broods the young, and the male provides food for her and when they hatch, for the nestlings as well. Continuing parental care for the young is provided by both adults for about five months.
Eagle-owls are distributed somewhat sparsely but can potentially inhabit a wide range of habitats, with a partiality for irregular topography. They have been found in habitats as diverse as northern coniferous forests to the edge of vast deserts. Essentially, Eurasian eagle-owls have been found living in almost every climatic and environmental condition on the Eurasian continent, excluding the greatest extremities, i.e. they are absent from humid rainforest in Southeast Asia, as well as the high Arctic tundra, both of which they are more or less replaced by other variety of Bubo owls. They are often found in the largest numbers in areas where cliffs and ravines are surrounded by a scattering of trees and bushes. Grassland areas such as alpine meadows or desert-like steppe can also host them so long as they have the cover and protection of rocky areas. The preference of eagle-owls for places with irregular topography has been reported in most known studies. The obvious benefit of such nesting locations is that both nests and daytime roosts located in rocky areas and/or steep slopes would be less accessible to predators, including man. Also, they may be attracted to the vicinity of riparian or wetlands areas, due to the fact that the soft soil of wet areas is conducive to burrowing by the small, terrestrial mammals normally preferred in the diet, such as voles and rabbits.[59] Due to their preference for rocky areas, the species is often found in mountainous areas and can be found up to elevations of 2,100 m (6,900 ft) in the Alps and 4,500 m (14,800 ft) in the Himalayas and 4,700 m (15,400 ft) in the adjacent Tibetan Plateau.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_eagle-owl
This species has a spicy scent as the name suggests. It is found from Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
An ant's-eye view of a beautiful, small species tulip in my yard. The flower is only an inch or so high. These are small hardy tulips, not the monstrous ones we're used to seeing.
Tiny striped weevil shot with XT3 and 80mm macro plus Raynox DCR-150 and flash. Handheld focus stack of 7 images.
The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is a species in the family Testudinidae. Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can be also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.
Growing to a carapace length of up to 16 in (41 cm) and weighing up to 35 lb (16 kg), the radiated tortoise is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful tortoises.
This tortoise has the basic "tortoise" body shape, which consists of the high-domed carapace, a blunt head, and elephantine feet. The legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a variably sized black patch on top of the head.
The carapace of the radiated tortoise is brilliantly marked with yellow lines radiating from the center of each dark plate of the shell, hence its name.
There is slight sexual dimorphism. Compared to females, male radiated tortoises usually have longer tails and the notches beneath their tails are more noticeable.
As the radiated tortoises are herbivores, grazing constitutes 80-90% of their diets, while they also eat fruits and succulent plants. A favorite food in the wild is the Opuntia.
The species is very long-lived. The oldest radiated tortoise ever recorded with certainty was Tu'i Malila, which died at an estimated age of 188. A tortoise named Adwaita is widely believed to have been even older at its death in 2006.
Males first mate upon attaining lengths of about 12 in (31 cm); females may need to be a few inches longer. Females lay from three to 12 eggs in a previously excavated hole 6-8 in (15–20 cm) deep, and then depart. Incubation is quite long in this species, lasting usually between 5 and 8 months. Juveniles are between 1.2 and 1.6 inches (3.2 and 4 cm) upon hatching. Unlike the yellow coloration of the adults, the juveniles are a white to an off-white shade. Juveniles attain the high-domed carapace soon after hatching.
These tortoises are critically endangered due to habitat loss, being poached for food, and being over exploited in the pet trade. It is listed on CITES Appendix I, commercial trade in wild-caught specimens is illegal (permitted only in exceptional licensed circumstances). However, due to the poor economic conditions of Madagascar, many of the laws are largely ignored.
A black and white shot just to try and 'mask' the species, im sure most of you will know it :-) Colour version tomorrow.
Far too many similar looking species to decide which one this is...
Bergh Apton nature reserve, Norfolk - 11th September 2023.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast of Africa
Palmarium Reserve
The Malagasy giant chameleon or Oustalets's chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti ) is a very large species of chameleon which is endemic to Madagascar. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in primary forest. With a maximum total length (including tail) of 68.5 cm (27 in), F. oustaleti is considered the largest species of chameleon, but that claim is occasionally contested by the Parsons chameleon Calumma parsonii as the Parsons tends to be more heavily built but slightly shorter in length. Their diet includes invertebrates such as large insects. Prey is acquired with a long, muscular tongue.