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Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, Bombon, Napo, Ecuador, 1550-1600 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic so I presume these two belong to the same species.
Adult, foreground, immature, rear.
Photographed on the Kapiti Coast near Wellington.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Agam, Amenagement de l'antichambre des appartements prives du Palais de L'Elysee pur le President Georges Pompidou (1972 - 1974)
Agam's Kinetic interior for the Elysee Palace was commissioned by President Georges Pompidou in 1971. A "pictorial space" on the scale of a room, exploiting walls, ceiling, floor and doors, the Salon follows the principles of artist's "polymorphic painting" in its use of coloured prism-shaped elements to produce abstract compositions that change with the point of view. Installed between 1972 and 1974 under the aegis of the Modbilier National (the state collection of furniture and tapestries), it was dismantled on Valery Giscard d'Esting's accession to the presidency and presented to the Centre Pompidou in 2000. Drawin on a very precise selection of colours and materials, the work offers the vision of a dynamic, geometric space, suggesting a permanent metamorphosis of the visual world.
Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, Bombon, Napo, Ecuador, 1550-1600 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic so I presume these two belong to the same species.
The Polymorphic Plastic Parade (Tipi tour 09), www.plasticparade.org/ came to Austin. The members of the project had a discussion about the project at the MASS Gallery.
This was very interesting. It was a great idean and I enjoyed discovering how the idea came about and how they accomplished it.
Drosera cistiflora is a widespread highly variable and polymorphic species of sundew from the western Cape region of South Africa. there is tremendous variation in flower size and color as well as stem and leaf morphology. For this region, there are current research efforts to identify and reclassify this 'species' into multiple classifications. The late afternoon light provided a spectacular setting for these images.
First daze - Thanks for following! ☢️ 💾 🍄 🐬 ❤️ #ozwyz #lgbt #mirror #glitched #contemporaryart #prismatic #hippie #transartist #transart #coolart #colorfulart #hotart #weird #polymorphic #hipsterart #photoshopartist #edit #abstractartwork #visuals #artoftheweek #ripple #spirit #artpiece #wild #graphics #cyberart #artwatchers #artwork instagr.am/p/CUEvFQGLEnN/
Es una especie muy polimorfa, que se extiende desde el Himalaya hasta Japón, Assam, centro norte de China, Himalaya occidental y oriental, Japón, Corea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. los ejemplares representados aquí fueron recolectados en Yunna en 1998 por Allen Coombes como Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). En iturraran se encuentran en la zona 3.
t is a highly polymorphic species, ranging from the Himalayas to Japan, Assam, North-Central China, Western and Eastern Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalayas. the specimens represented here were collected in Yunna in 1998 by Allen Coombes as Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). In iturraran they are in area 3.
Morphologically highly polymorphic species from Puebla and Oaxaca states in Mexico, where it is found wild at
elevations from 4500 to 7500 feet.
It found traditional use in the making of Agave wine (pulque) and the spirit Bacanora in Mexico.
The size of the whole plant, the characteristic number of leaves as well as shape and spininess all vary a lot. Forms like this, with large numbers of nearly orbicular leaves are popular in cultivation. Some young plants sucker freely but they stop doing so as they mature. They can take ten years to flower, and then the whole rosette dies.
Native here in Michigan, I first learned about these in the 5th grade in elementary school. They grow in ditches and wet areas in the early Spring and brighten many back roads. This was the first time I used my camera [2005]. I still have the same one but have learned how to take better pix. I love the cheery flower and thought I'd still share it with you! Have a sunny day!!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris
"Caltha palustris commonly known as Kingcup or Marsh Marigold (also known as Calthus palustris syn. Trollius paluster Krause) belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup family). It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe including Iceland and Arctic Russia, temperate and Arctic Asia, and North America). It grows in wet, boggy places, such as marshes, fens, ditches and wet woods. It becomes most luxuriant in partial shade, but is rare on peat. In the UK, it is probably one of the most ancient British native plants, surviving the glaciations and flourishing after the last retreat of the ice, in a landscape inundated with glacial meltwaters.
The plant is a herbaceous perennial growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, 3-20 cm across, with a bluntly serrated margin and a thick, waxy texture. Stems are hollow. The flowers are yellow, 2-5 cm diameter, with 4-9 (mostly 5) petaloid sepals and many yellow stamens; they are borne in early spring to late summer. The flowers are visited by a great variety of insects for pollen and for the nectar secreted from small depressions, one on each side of each carpel. Carpels form into green sac-like follicles to 1cm long, each opening to release several seeds. It flowers early April and May and is very valuable to insects at this time as they provide nectar and pollen to them.
Caltha palustris is a highly polymorphic species, showing continuous and independent variation in many features. Forms in the UK may be divided into two subspecies: Caltha palustris subsp. palustris, and Caltha palustris subsp. minor.
It is sometimes considered a weed in clayey garden soils, where every piece of its root will survive and spread. In warm free-draining soils, it simply dies away......."
Fig 1. DNA amplification pattern obtained with random primer OPF18. a) Bulk segregant analysis: the polymorphic fragment of 2600 bp is indicated by an arrow. M = marker, SP = sterile parentIR32364TGMS, FP = fertile parent IR68, FB = fertile bulk, SB = sterile bulk. b) Amplification pattern of 10 homozygous sterile and 8 homozygous fertile individuals along with the parents IR32364TGMS and IR68. The RAPD fragment OPF18-2600 cosegregates with the TGMS trait.
books.google.com.ph/books/irri?id=331tQMnExkEC&pg=PA6...
Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Dat.: March 21. 2017
Lat.: 46.36016 Long.: 13.70263
Code: Bot_1040/2017_DSC00414
Habitat: recently clear cut light mixed wood, slightly inclined mountain slope, south aspect; colluvial, skeletal, calcareous ground with some rock boulders; dry, sunny, open place; elevation 600 m (1.970 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil among stones and rocks.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, west of Trenta 2b cottage, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
The viviparous lizard, or common lizard, (Zootoca vivipara, formerly Lacerta vivipara) is a Eurasian lizard. It lives farther north than any other species of non-marine reptile, and is named for the fact that it is viviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young (although they will sometimes lay eggs normally). Both "Zootoca" and "vivipara" mean "live birth", in (Latinized) Greek and Latin respectively. It was called Lacerta vivipara until the genus Lacerta was split into nine genera in 2007 by Arnold, Arribas & Carranza.
Male and female Zootoca vivipara are equally likely to contract blood parasites. Additionally, larger males have been shown to reproduce more times in a given reproductive season than smaller ones.
The lizard is also unique as it is exclusively carnivorous, eating only flies, spiders, and insects. Studies show that the more carnivorous an individual is (the more insects they eat), the less diverse the population of parasitic helminths that infest the lizards.
Zootoca vivipara lives in very cold climates, yet participates in normal thermoregulation instead of thermoconformity. They have the largest range of all terrestrial lizards which even include subarctic regions. It is able to survive these harsh climates as individuals will freeze in especially cold seasons and thaw two months later. They also live closer to geological phenomena that provide a warmer environment for them.
Description
Zootoca vivipara is a small lizard, with an average length between 50 and 70 mm (2.0–2.8 in) and an average mass of 2 to 5 g (0.071–0.176 oz). They exhibit no particular colour, but can be brown, red, grey, green, or black. The species exhibits some sexual dimorphisms. Female Z. vivipara undergo colour polymorphism more commonly than males. A female lizard's display differs in ventral colouration, ranging from pale yellow to bright orange and a mixed colouration. There have been many hypotheses for the genetic cause of this polymorphic colouration. These hypothesis test for colouration due to thermoregulation, predator avoidance, and social cues, specifically sexual reproduction. Through an experiment conducted by Vercken et al., colour polymorphism in viviparous lizard is caused by social cues, rather than the other hypotheses. More specifically, the ventral colouration that is seen in female lizards is associated with patterns of sexual reproduction and sex allocation.
The underside of the male is typically more colourful and bright, with yellow, orange, green, and blue, and the male typically has spots along its back. On the other hand, females typically have darker stripes down their backs and sides. Additionally, males have been found to have larger heads than their female counterparts, and this trait appears to be sexually selected for. Males with larger heads are more likely to be successful in mating and male-male interactions than smaller-headed Z. vivipara. Larger males also have been shown to reproduce more frequently during one mating season compared to smaller males. Characteristic behaviors of the species includes tongue flicking in the presence of a predator and female-female aggression that seems to be mediated by the colour of their side stripe.
Habitat and distribution
Z. vivipara is terrestrial, so they spend most of their time on the ground, though they do occasionally visit sites of higher elevation. The lizard thermoregulates by basking in the sun for much of the time. In colder weather, they have been known to hibernate to maintain proper body temperatures. They hibernate between October and March.[11] Their typical habitats include heathland, moorland, woodland and grassland.
The viviparous lizard is native to much of northern Eurasia. In Europe, it is mainly found north of the Alps and the Carpathians, including the British Isles but not Iceland, as well as in parts of northern Iberia and the Balkans; In Asia it is mostly found in Russia, excluding northern Siberia, and in northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and Japan.[citation needed] Z. vivipara has the largest distribution of any species of lizard in the world.
Home range
The size of the home range of the lizard ranges from 539 m2 to 1692 m2, with males generally having larger home ranges. The size of an individual lizard's home range is also dependent on population density and the presence of prey.
Ecology
Diet
Unlike many other lizards, Z. vivipara is exclusively carnivorous. Their diet consists of flies, spiders, and various other insects, including hemipterans (such as cicadas), moth larvae, and mealworms. The species is a predator, so it actively hunts down all of its prey. One study found that when controlled for body size, females consumed more food than males. Feeding rates also increased with increased sunshine.
Predation
Birds are common predators of Z. vivipara. Male-biased predation of Z. vivipara by the great grey shrike (L. excubitor) has been studied, finding that adult males, over adult females and juveniles, were preferentially predated on. This bias may be due to increased activity of adult males during the reproductive season.
Predators of this species include birds of prey, crows, snakes, shrikes, hedgehogs, shrews, foxes, and domestic cats.
Diseases and parasites
Z. vivpara can be infested by helminths, a small parasitic worm. The species diversity of parasites is affected by the diet of the individual lizard and the number of parasites on a host is affected by the host's size. Results of a study shows that the more carnivorous an individual is, the less diverse its parasite population. Additionally, larger lizards had a greater number of parasites on them.
Z. vivipara is also infected by blood parasites. In a study investigating the prevalence of blood parasites in Z. vivipara and L. agilis, Z. vivipara was found to be parasitized with an incidence rate of 39.8%, while L. agilis was parasitized with an incidence rate of 22.3%. This same study shows that there was not a significant difference between the parasitization of male and female Z. vivipara.
Reproduction and life history
The viviparous lizard is named as such because it is viviparous. This refers to its ability to give birth to live young, although the lizards are also able to lay eggs. The origin of this characteristic is under debate. Some scientists argue that viviparity evolved from oviparity, or the laying of eggs, only once. Proponents of this theory also argue that if this is the case, it is possible, though rare, for species to transition back to oviparity. Research from Yann Surget-Groba suggests that there have in fact been multiple events of the evolution of viviparity from oviparity across different clades of the viviparous lizard. They also argue that a reversion to oviparity is not as rare as once believed, but has occurred 2 to 3 times in the history of the species.
The range of viviparous populations of Z. vivipara extends from France to Russia. Oviparous populations are only found in northern Spain and the southwest of France. Some research in the Italian alps has suggested that distinct populations of oviparous and viviparous Z. vivipara should be considered separate species. Cornetti et al. (2015) identified that viviparous and oviparous subpopulations in contact with each other in the Italian alps are reproductively isolated. Hybridization between viviparous and oviparous individuals of Z. vivipara leads to embryonic malformations in the laboratory. However, these crosses do produce a "hybridized" generation of offspring, with females retaining embryos for much longer in utero than oviparous females, with embryos surrounded by thin, translucent shells.
Fertilization
Z. vivipara juveniles reach sexual maturity during their second year of their life. A study that explored the presence of male sex cells in reproducing males found that for the two weeks following the end of hibernation, males are infertile, and therefore incapable of reproducing. The same study also found that larger males produce more sperm during the reproductive season and have fewer left over at the end of the reproductive season than their smaller counterparts. This suggests that the larger a male is, the more reproductive events they participate in.
Brood size
Research also suggests that in exclusively oviparous populations of Z. vivipara, altitude influences the number of clutches laid in a reproductive season as well as when reproduction begins. Generally, lizards living at higher altitudes have been found to begin reproduction later and lay fewer clutches (often 1) in a given reproductive season.
Life span
Z. vivipara typically lives for 5 to 6 years.
Mate searching behavior
Head size is a sexually dimorphic trait, with males having larger heads than females. The average head width and length of the males measured were found to be 5.6 and 10.5 mm (0.22 and 0.41 in), respectively. The average head width and length of the females measured were found to be 5.3 and 9.7 mm (0.21 and 0.38 in), respectively. During the first state of courtship in Z. vivipara, called "Capture", the male uses its mouth and jaw to capture the female and initiate copulation.[6] The results of this study demonstrated that males with larger head sizes (both length and width) were more successful in mating than those with smaller heads, suggesting that head size undergoes sexual selection.
Male-male interaction
Head size has also been shown to be a predictor of success in male-male interactions. The head is used as a weapon in male-male interactions, and a larger head is typically more effective, leading to greater success during male-male aggressive encounters. This aggression and interaction is centered around available mates, so males with smaller heads have significantly less access to females for reproduction.
Thermoregulation
This lizard has an exceptionally large range that includes subarctic geography. As a result, thermoregulation is necessary for the thermal homeostasis of the species. Typically, in temperature extremes, a species will adopt the behavioral strategy of thermoconformity, where they do not actively thermoregulate, but adapt to survive in the harsh temperature. This occurs because the cost of thermoregulating in such an extreme environment becomes too high and begins to outweigh the benefits. Despite this, Z. vivipara still employs the strategy of thermoregulation, like basking. Thermoregulation is important in Z. vivipara as it allows for proper locomotive performance, escape behavior, and other key behaviors for survival. The ability of Z. vivipara to thermoregulate in such harsh environments has been attributed to two primary reasons. The first is that Z. vivipara has remarkable behaviors to combat the cold, and there are geological phenomena in their distribution that maintains their habitats at a temperature that the species can survive in. One of the specific behaviors used to combat the extreme cold is a "supercooled" state. Z. vivipara remains in this state through the winter until temperatures dropped below −3 °C (27 °F). After that, individuals completely froze until they were thawed by warmer weather later in the year, often 2 months later. Despite very cold air in the subarctic habitats of these lizards, the soil-heating effects of unfrozen groundwater has been observed regulating the temperature of their soil habitats. They find warm microhabitats that do not drop below the freezing point of their body fluids. These lizards have exceptional hardiness to the cold, which allows them to hibernate in upper soil layers in temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F). This cold hardiness along with the favorable hydrogeological conditions of groundwater-warmed soil habitats allows for the wide distribution of lizards throughout the palearctic.
The colour polymorphism of female Z. vivipara has not been thoroughly studied in past years, regardless of the extensive research done on the species itself. Females exhibit three types of body colouration within a population: yellow, orange, and mixture of the two. These discrete traits are inherited maternally and exist throughout the individual's lifetime. The organism's colour morphs are determined by their genotype as well as their environment.
The frequency of multiple morphs occurring in a population varies with the level of population density and frequency-dependent environments. These factors cause the lizards to vary in terms of their fitness (clutch size, sex ratio, hatching success). In lower density populations, colour polymorphism is more prevalent. This is because viviparous lizards thrive in environments where intraspecific competition is low. Increased competition among individuals results in lower survival rates of lizards. Additionally, female lizards disperse through habitats based on the frequency of colour types that are already present in the population. Their reproductive abilities vary according to this frequency-dependent environment. The number of offspring that they produce correlates with the colour morph: yellow females produce the fewest offspring, while orange females produce more than yellow, but fewer than mixed females, which produce the most offspring. The amount of offspring produced varies in regards to colour frequencies in the population; for example, if yellow females have higher density within the population, the clutch size for orange lizards is usually lower.
Orange females are more sensitive to intraspecific and colour-specific competition. They have smaller clutch sizes when the density of the population is high, or when the number of yellow females in the population is high. This could be due to their need to conserve energy for survival and reproductive events.[9] Their colour morph remains in the population due to the trade-off between the size of offspring and the clutch size. Offspring born in smaller clutches are often larger and thus have a higher survival likelihood. Natural selection will favor individuals with larger size because of their advantage in physical competition with others. Yellow females have larger clutch sizes early in their life, but their hatch success decreases as the female ages. Their reproductive viability decreases, resulting in fewer offspring throughout their lifetime. Yellow morphs remain in the population due to their large clutch size, which causes an increased frequency of those females. Selection favors the yellow morph because of the ability to produce large clutch sizes, which increases the female's fitness. In mixed-coloured females, reproductive success is less sensitive to competition and frequency-dependent environments. Since these lizards show a mixture of yellow and orange colouration, they adopt benefits from both of the morphs. As a result, they can maintain high reproductive success and hatching success with large clutch sizes. Their colour morph remains in the population due to its high fitness, which selection will favor.
All three colours have evolutionary advantages in different ways. While yellow females have higher fitness due to their large clutch sizes, orange females enjoy high fitness due to their large body size and increased competitive advantages. Mixed females exhibit both of these advantages.
This work by Ian Poblete is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Army ants, in the family Formicidae, are speciose and abundant in the tropical forest. There are around 150 species, all of which are characterized by large colonies, almost exclusive carnivory, and polymorphic workers, such as the soldier pictured above.
This specimen was collected as it entered its colony's subterranean bivouc, which is a cluster of ants clinging together. The ants typically pour out of the bivouac at dawn, and form a large raiding colony. They fan out at a distance of up to 50m from the bivouac, and then proceed to advance in a fan-shaped raiding front. Any animals (arthropods mostly) encountered are quickly subdued and brought back to the nest cache.
Horse Meadow Campground, Tulare County. Polymorphic population, this year there was a higher frequency of the yellow form.
Photographed at Washdyke Lagoon, Timaru, South Canterbury.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Morphologically highly polymorphic species from Puebla and Oaxaca states in Mexico, where it is found wild at elevations from 4500 to 7500 feet.
It was used to make Agave wine (pulque) and the spirit Bacanora.
The size of the whole plant, the characteristic number of leaves as well as shape and spininess all vary a lot. Forms like this, with large numbers of nearly orbicular leaves are popular in cultivation. Some young plants sucker freely but they stop doing so as they mature. They can take ten years to flower, and then the whole rosette dies.
Illustrations on the morphological properties of the structure, created from the paper model (scale 1:50)
Design + construction: Werner Maritsas
Client: Onassis Cultural Center
learn pore here: wernermaritsas.wordpress.com/
An interesting bunch of variable oystercatcher showing three colour phases. The left and right birds are the black phase which gave the species is scientific name of unicolor; the centre bird (foreground) is largely pied but with some mottled patterns and the bird at rear is fully pied. I spent a lot of time studying the rear bird because it looked so much like a South Island Pied Oystercatcher but concluded, finally but not with total conviction, that it is a pied variable not a SIPO.
Photographed at Pauatahanui inlet on New Year's day 2012.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, El Chaco, Napo, Ecuador, 1650 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic.
A tiny (2mm) M. fieldi worker found foraging on the trunk of a Eucalyptus accedens tree. Monomorium are a diverse group, both in size and habit, ranging from very small generalist scavengers to large, polymorphic seed harvesters. M. fieldi is widely distributed around Australia and is probably one of the most common species found in and around Perth.
Botas de Clawdeen de mimiwoo: www.mimiwoo.com/
Medias de Frankie de Polymorphic Monsters: polymorphic-monsters.tumblr.com/
Clawdeen´s boots from mimiwoo: www.mimiwoo.com/
Frankie´s tights from Polymorphic Monsters: polymorphic-monsters.tumblr.com/
Mi blog sobre Monster High: monsterhighshubby.blogspot.com.es/
Dat.: March 23. 2017
Lat.: 46.37218 Long.: 13.74138
Code: Bot_1041/2017_DSC00445
Picture file names: Helleborus-niger_raw_90. rumeni
Habitat: dirt road side, partly grassy place; alluvial, calcareous ground; shallow soil layer; open, sunny, dry place; elevation 605 m (1.980 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, Trenta village; near Plajer touristic farm house, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
Species Name: Common Eggfly
Species Latin Name: Hypolimnas bolina
Also Known As: Great Eggfly, Common Eggfly, and in New Zealand it is known as the Blue Moon Butterfly
Native To: New Zealand, Madagascar, Asia, Australia
Photo Taken At: Melbourne Zoo
Wingspan: 7cm-8.5cm (2.8 – 3.3 inches)
Egg Description: Pale, glassy green with vertical ridges with exception to the top
Sub Species:
Hypolimnas bolina Bolina (Located in Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Western Bornea, Sulawesi, Salayar, Kabaena, Galla, Banggai, Sula, Maluku, New Guinea, Australia, and New Caledonia)
Hypolimnas bolina Constans (Located in Tasmania)
Hypolimnas bolina Enganica (Located in Engano Island)
Hypolimnas bolina Gigas (Located in Sangihe)
Hypolimnas bolina Incommoda
Hypolimnas bolina Inconstans (Located in Navigator Islands)
Hypolimnas bolina Jacintha
Hypolimnas bolina Jaluita
Hypolimnas bolina Kezia (Located in Formosa)
Hypolimnas bolina Kraimoku (Located in Lifu)
Hypolimnas bolina Labuana (Located in Labuan)
Hypolimnas bolina Lisianassa (Moluccas)
Hypolimnas bolina Listeri (Christmas Island)
Hypolimnas bolina Montrouzieri (Located in Woodlark, Fergusson, Trobriand islands)
Hypolimnas bolina Naresii
Hypolimnas bolina Nerina (Located in Timor – Kai, Aru, Waigeu, West Irian – Papua, Northen Australia – Eastern Victoria, Bismark Archipelago, Solomon Islands, New Zealand)
Hypolimnas bolina Pallescens
Hypolimnas bolina Philippensis Located in the Philippines)
Hypolimnas bolina Pulchra (Located in Caledonia)
Hypolimnas bolina Rarik (Located in Lifu)
Description:
The males and the females are sexually dimorphic in that the male has only one form of appearance where as the female can come in a variety of different appearances.
As mentioned before the male of the species only has one common appearance and is referred to as being monomorphic. When viewed from above the male will have jet black wings save for the three large white dots on each wings. Their wings will also feature white trimmings on the edges of their wings.
The females of this species can vary in terms of appearance when it comes to the colouration of their wings. These changes are primarily seen on the dorsal/top down portion of their wings where there is a variety of different expressions of the colours white, orange and blue markings. The colouration of their wings are generally darker if the butterflies develop in cooler environments.
It is believed that the female has evolved to express various colourations of other butterfly species as a form of mimicry. As an example the female butterfly further to the west where this species can be found the female will be monomorphic instead of polymorphic. It is believed that this is the case as it will mimic the species of butterfly of the oriental and Australasian butterfly genus Euploea which are poisonous to eat (Species also commonly known as Crow butterflies, Reference link: Euploea - Wikipedia)
Feeding and Breeding Plants:
The butterflies have been noted to breed on the below plants:
Arrowleaf Sida
Also known as: Rhombus-leaved Sida, Paddy's Lucerne, Jelly leaf, Cuban Jute, Queensland-hemp, and Indian Hemp.
Medically known as: Kurumthotti in Ayurvdic medicine.
Latin Name: Sida rhombifolia
Reference link: Sida rhombifolia - Wikipedia
Elatostema cuneatum
Latin Name: Elatostemma cuneatum
Reference Links:
Elatostema cuneatum PFAF Plant Database
Elatostema cuneatum - efloraofindia (google.com)
Common Purslane
Also Known As: Little Hogweed or Pursley
Latin Name: Portulaca oleracea
Reference Link: Portulaca oleracea - Wikipedia
Hawaii Woodnettle
Also known as: Hen's Nette
Latin Name: Laportea interrupta
Alternate latin names: Fleurya interrupta & Urtica interrupta
Reference Links:
Laportea interrupta (lucidcentral.org)
Laportea interrupta - Useful Tropical Plants (theferns.info)
Fleurya interrupta: info from PIER (PIER species info) (hear.org)
Five Stamen Burrbark
Latin Name: Triumfetta pentandra
Reference Links:
Triumfetta pentandra - Useful Tropical Plants (theferns.info)
Species profile—Triumfetta pentandra | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government (des.qld.gov.au)
Chinese Violet
Latin Name: Asystasia
Reference Links:
Asystasia - Wikipedia
Asystasia travancorica | GardensOnline
Asystasia, Chinese violet | Central QLD Coast Landcare Network (cqclandcarenetwork.org.au)
Pastel Flower:
Also known as: Love Flower, Night andAfternoon
Latin name: Pseuderanthemum variabile
Reference Link: Pseuderanthemum variabile - Wikipedia
Sweet Potato:
Latin Name: Ipomoea batatas
Reference Link: Sweet potato - Wikipedia
Lesser Joyweed:
Latin Name: Alternanthera denticulata
Reference Link: Alternanthera denticulata - Wikipedia
Nodeweed:
Latin Weed: Synedrella nodiflora
Reference link: Synedrella - Wikipedia
During the larvae/caterpillar stage they will tend to feed on the following plants:
False Stinger:
Also known as: Native Mulberry, White Mulberry, White Nettle, Amahatyan, and Ghasooso
Latin Name: Pipturus argenteus
Reference Link: Pipturus argenteus - Wikipedia
Common Nettle:
Also known as: Burn Nettle, Stinging Nettle
Latin Name: Urtica dioica
Reference Link: Urtica dioica - Wikipedia
Mallow:
Latin Name: Malva
Reference Link: Malva - Wikipedia
In New Zealand these butterflies it has been noted that these butterflies will feed on the below plants:
Shrub Verbenas:
Also known as: Lantanas
Latin Name: Lantana
Reference Link: Lantana - Wikipedia
Spider Flowers:
Latin Name: Grevillea
Reference Link: Grevillea - Wikipedia
Hebe:
Latin Name: Hebe
Reference Link: Hebe (plant) - Wikipedia
New York Aster:
Latin Name: Symphyotrichum novi-belgii
Reference Link: Symphyotrichum novi-belgii - Wikipedia
Pepino Dulce:
Also known as: Pepino, Pepino Melon, Melon Pear, Tree Melon
Latin Name: Solanum muricatum
Reference Link: Solanum muricatum - Wikipedia
Behaviour:
The males are noted to be quite territorial, they will return to a specific location in order to defend it from other males for up to 54 days. The males will generally prefer territories where it is easier to spot female butterflies of the same species. When protecting their territory the male will generally rest somewhere keeping watch roughly 2 meters (6.6 feet) above ground.
Unlike other species of butterflies the female will generally only lay about one or two legs at any given time. These eggs will usually be laid on the underside of the chosen host plant. The female is known to stay around after laying her eggs to defend her eggs from potential threats such as ants.
The eggs will hatch after three days and the caterpillars will then proceed to eat the leaves of the plant they hatch on. Shortly after the caterpillars will disperse and become quite mobile in search of more food as they mature. It is noted that the caterpillars will generally not pupate on the plant they originally hatched on.
Further Reading (general information):
Wikipedia: Hypolimnas bolina - Wikipedia
Aus E Made: Common Eggfly Butterfly – Ausemade
Brisbane Insects: Common Eggfly Butterfly, Varied Eggfly - Hypolimnas bolina (brisbaneinsects.com)
Lepidoptera: Hypolimnas bolina (butterflyhouse.com.au)
Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre: Common Eggfly (eq.edu.au)
A bird on the Wellington Coast works on opening a small mussel shell.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Bird exhibiting immature plumage and leg colouring.
Photographed on the Kapiti Coast near Wellington.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Es una especie muy polimorfa, que se extiende desde el Himalaya hasta Japón, Assam, centro norte de China, Himalaya occidental y oriental, Japón, Corea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. los ejemplares representados aquí fueron recolectados en Yunna en 1998 por Allen Coombes como Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). En iturraran se encuentran en la zona 3.
t is a highly polymorphic species, ranging from the Himalayas to Japan, Assam, North-Central China, Western and Eastern Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalayas. the specimens represented here were collected in Yunna in 1998 by Allen Coombes as Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). In iturraran they are in area 3.