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The Heath Fritillary is restricted to a few specialised habitats where it flies close to the ground with characteristic flits and glides. Sadly it is now one of our rarest butterflies but has been saved from the brink of extinction by the concerted action of conservationists.
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This is a migratory species over most of its range. The European population breeds mainly in northern Europe, but in winter the birds can be found in north Africa and southern parts of Europe. Although the species is present all year in Ireland, Great Britain and the adjacent European coasts, there is still migratory movement.
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Spotted Bush Snakes are mostly found in trees in bush and forest areas, where they hunt lizards and treefrogs. They are excellent climbers and swimmers, have very good eyesight, and are highly alert snakes. They are not territorial, and will roam great distances in search for food.
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During the mating season the male will put on a colourful courtship display, flying in a bobbing motion to best expose his bright underparts and long flashy tail. Once settled onto a branch he will call the females closer with his bill wide open, exposing the bright inside of his mouth, while quivering his wings and sweeping his long tail back and forth.
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Mysterious and frequently unseen, European Nightjar is the only member of this cryptic family to breed in Britain and Ireland. Arriving from late April, but most typically in May, the first sign of their return is the eerie churring song given by the male from a perch within its territory.
costarica103
Phasmatodea can be found all over the world except for the Antarctic and Patagonia. They are most numerous in the tropics and subtropics. The greatest diversity is found in Southeast Asia and South America, followed by Australia, Central America, and the southern United States.
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The Marsh Fritillary was once widespread in Britain and Ireland but has declined severely over the twentieth century. The Marsh Fritillary populations are highly volatile and the species requires extensive habitats or habitat networks for its long term survival. It is now confined to the western side of Britain and Ireland.
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Most English colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillary are found in open areas within deciduous woodland, such as woodland clearings. These colonies are generally small, consisting of a few dozen adults at most, and this butterfly is also relatively-sedentary with only a limited capacity for colonising new areas.
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Our smallest carnivore, the Weasel looks like a mini version of the Stoat. Weasels are very active hunters, feeding on small mammals, such as voles and mice, as well as small birds. They are found in a variety of habitats, including woodland, grassland, hedgerows, heathland and moorland.
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Badgers live in social groups, typically made up of four to seven individuals. Unusually, the species gives birth to its young in winter, with one to five cubs normally born in February. The youngsters will stay underground for around two months and then first emerge in spring.
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The pronotum of the male Minotaur Beetle has forward-projecting horns on either side, slightly variable in length, tending to be proportionately longer in larger specimens. There is a smaller horn in the centre. The female lacks the horns but has a sharp tubercle at each anterior angle of the pronotum.
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The underside of the Green Hairstreak provides the illusion of being green, an effect produced by the diffraction of light on a lattice-like structure found within the wing scales, which provides excellent camouflage as the butterfly rests on a favourite perch, such as a Hawthorn branch.
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The adult White Stork`s main sound is noisy bill-clattering, which has been likened to distant machine gun fire. The bird makes these sounds by rapidly opening and closing its beak so that a knocking sound is made each time its beak closes. The clattering is amplified by its throat pouch, which acts as a resonator.
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There is an elaborate courtship ritual between Wood whites, initiated by the male. They begin by wagging their head from one side to another, extending their proboscis towards the female. The female, with her antennae pulled back, won`t move if already mated but will immediately move her abdomen towards the male if not.
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Golden Jackals live in mated pairs and are strictly monogamous. In most jackal families, there are one or two adult members called `helpers`. Helpers are jackals who stay with the parents for a year after reaching sexual maturity, without breeding, to help take care of the next litter.
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The Broad-bodied Chaser flight period is from April to September but they are mostly seen in May and June. Their flight is very fast as they dart and dive above the water. They are very territorial and will fight with rival males and any other dragonflies they happen to encounter.
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White-fronted Bee-eaters nest in colonies averaging 200 individuals, digging roosting and nesting holes in cliffs or banks of earth. A population of bee-eaters may range across many square kilometres of savannah, but will come to the same colony to roost, socialise, and to breed.
CostaRica95
Sloth moths have evolved to inhabit sloth fur exclusively. Adult female moths leave the fur of the sloth to lay eggs in the sloth droppings when the sloth descends, once a week, to the forest floor to defecate. The larvae of Cryptoses choloepi live in the dung and newly emerged moths later fly from the dung pile into the forest canopy to find a host sloth.
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This bird breeds in open country in warmer climates. As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps, and hornets. They catch insects in flight, in sorties from an open perch. Before eating a bee, the European Bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.
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The green wood hoopoe is an insect-eating species. It feeds mainly on the ground, termite mounds, or on tree trunks, and forms flocks outside the breeding season. Its specialised claws enable it to cling easily to the underside of branches while closely inspecting the bark for insects.
SriLanka90
Found in the forested habitats of tropical Asia, the Crested Serpent Eagle is a bird of prey of medium size. As its names suggests, the species feeds on snakes, though it is known to feed on other species as well. The specific name `cheela` is derived from the Hindi name for kites.
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The feathers of the African darter do not contain any oil and are therefore not waterproof. Because of this, the bird is less positively buoyant and its diving capabilities are enhanced. After diving for fish, the feathers can become waterlogged. In order to be able to fly and maintain heat insulation, it needs to dry its feathers. Thus the African darter is often seen sitting along the waterside spreading its wings and drying its feathers in the sun.
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The grizzled giant squirrel is highly territorial and is very vocal upon encountering an intruder. It is usually found alone or occasionally in pairs. When frightened it will either flee, leaping up to six metres between trees, or will flatten itself against a branch, remaining motionless.
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The Sri Lankan Leopard is the top predator in Sri Lanka. Like most cats, it is pragmatic in its choice of diet which can include small mammals, birds, reptiles as well as larger animals. Axis or spotted deer make up the majority of its diet in the dry zone. The animal also preys on Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar and monkeys.
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The Cane Toad, also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to South and mainland Middle America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean, as well as Northern Australia.
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The Common Basilisk has many natural predators - large reptiles, birds, and some mammals. To avoid predators, it can conceal itself under leaves on the forest floor and can remain motionless for a long time. When it must flee, though, its skill of running on water can help it avoid many predators.
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The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the White Caiman or Common Caiman, is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types, and can tolerate salt water, as well as fresh.
