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Yellow-billed Spoonbill
The yellow-billed spoonbill (''Platalea flavipes'') is a gregarious Wader, wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is native to Australia, and is a vagrant to New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Taxonomy The renowned ornithologist John Gould first described the yellow-billed spoonbill, naming it ''Platalea flavipes'' although noting its distinctness from other members of the genus. Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Bonaparte erected the genus ''Platibis'' in 1856, and Gould followed this classification in his later work. He noted the species appeared in great numbers across New South Wales in 1839, particularly in the north between the Hunter River (New South Wales), Hunter and lower Namoi Rivers. The year had been wet, in contrast to droughts in previous years. A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the yellow-billed and roseate spoonbills were each other's closest relative, and the two were desc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Gould
John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. He has been considered the father of bird study in Australia and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Gould's work is referenced in Charles Darwin's book, ''On the Origin of Species''. Early life Gould was born in Lyme Regis, the first son of a gardener. Both father and son probably had little education. After working on Dowager Lady Poulett's glass house, his father obtained a position on an estate near Guildford, Surrey, and then in 1818, Gould Snr became foreman in the Royal Gardens of Windsor. Gould then be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Spoonbill
The royal spoonbill (''Platalea regia'') also known as the black-billed spoonbill, occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. (In New Zealand, it is also known by the Māori name .) It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia. The royal spoonbill lives in wetlands and feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects by sweeping its bill from side to side. It always flies with its head extended. Widespread throughout its large range, the royal spoonbill is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Taxonomy The renowned ornithologist John Gould first described the royal spoonbill in 1838, naming it ''Platalea regia'' and noting its similarity to the Eurasian spoonbill (''P. leucorodia''). A 2010 study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills by Chesser and colleagues found that the royal and black-faced spoonbills were each other's closes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endemic Birds Of Australia
This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds. Patterns of endemism Family-level endemism is prominent in Australia. The Australasian biogeographic region has the highest number of endemic families of any zoogeographic region except the Neotropics, and many of these families are endemic to Australia itself — the country therefore stakes a strong claim to be the world's greatest hotspot of bird endemism. Australian endemic and near-endemic families The Australian endemic families are: * Emu (Dromaiidae), a well-known monotypic family; the emu is found in rural areas throughout the continent * Plains-wanderer (Pedionomidae), a monotypic family; plains-wanderer is restricted to arid inland areas in the southeast of Australia * Lyrebirds (Menuridae), two forest-dwelling species of southeast Australia * Scrub-birds (Atrichornithidae), two fore ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Medicago Polymorpha
''Medicago polymorpha'' is a plant species of the genus ''Medicago''. It is native to the Mediterranean basin but is found throughout the world. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium ''Sinorhizobium medicae'', which is capable of nitrogen fixation. Common names include California burclover, toothed bur clover, toothed medick and burr medic. Description This weedy forb is an Annual plant, annual Flowering plant, broadleaf plant. It inhabits agricultural land, roadsides and other disturbed areas. It is found in lawns as well, where its burrs are able to cling to the clothing or fur of any species that pass near it, thus facilitating geographic spread via these seed capsules. It makes a poor lawn in the late summer, when the leaves have yellowed and fruit sets into the 7 mm seed heads that are covered with hooked prickles. Burclover is a good forage for livestock, but the fruit is prickly. All classes of livestock, except horses and mules, can feed its lea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Philypnodon Grandiceps
The flathead gudgeon (''Philypnodon grandiceps'') is a species of fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to eastern Australia. Taxonomy Gerard Krefft described the flathead gudgeon in 1864 as ''Eleotris grandiceps'', recording it from the Upper Hawkesbury River and its tributaries, and freshwater lagoons near Richmond, Eastern Creek, and Bronte. Alternate names include big-headed gudgeon, bull head, bull-headed gudgeon, collundera, and Yarra gudgeon. Description The flathead gudgeon generally grows to about 8 cm (3.2 in) in length, though large individuals up to 11 or 12 cm (4.5 in) have been recorded. It has a large, flattened head and large mouth, which extends back past the eyes, and two short dorsal fins. The upperparts can be various shades of grey, brown, black, or yellowish, with yellowish underparts. The flathead gudgeon can be distinguished from the dwarf flathead gudgeon ('' Philypnodon macrostomus'') by barred lines on its flanks, larger size (the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gambusia Affinis
The western Mosquitofish (''Gambusia affinis'') is a North American freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its genus, generic name, ''Gambusia'', or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish (''Gambusia holbrooki'') is also referred to by these names. Mosquitofish are small in comparison to many other freshwater fish, with females reaching a maximum length of and males a maximum length of . The female can be distinguished from the male by her larger size and a gravid spot at the posterior of her abdomen. The name "Mosquitofish" was given because the fish eats mosquito larvae, and has been used more than any other fishes for the biological control of mosquitoes. Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, Mayfly, mayflies, Caddisfly, caddisflies, mites, and other invertebrates; mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet. Mosquitofish were introduced directly into ecosystems in many part ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Corixidae
Corixidae is a family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera. They are found worldwide in virtually any freshwater habitat and a few species live in saline water. There are about 500 known species worldwide, in 55 genera, including the genus '' Sigara''. Members of the Corixidae are commonly known as water boatmen, a term that is sometimes used in the United Kingdom for ''Notonecta glauca'', an insect of a different family, Notonectidae. ''Corixa punctata'' is the "lesser water boatman". Morphology and ecology Corixidae generally have a long flattened body ranging from long. Many have extremely fine dark brown or black striations marking the wings. They tend to have four long rear legs and two short front ones. The forelegs are covered with hairs and shaped like oars, hence the name "water boatman". Their four hindmost legs have scoop- or oar-shaped tarsi to aid swimming. They also have a triangular head with short, triangular mouthparts. Corixidae dwell in slow rivers and p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Notonectidae
Notonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called backswimmers because they swim "upside down" (inverted). They are all predators and typically range from in length. They are similar in appearance to Corixidae (water boatmen), but can be separated by differences in their dorsal-ventral coloration, front legs, and predatory behavior. Their dorsum is convex, lightly colored without cross striations. Their front tarsi are not scoop-shaped and their hind legs are fringed for swimming. There are about 350 species in two subfamilies: Notonectinae with seven genera, and Anisopinae with four genera. Members in the former subfamily are often larger than those in the latter. Backswimmers swim on their backs, vigorously paddling with their long, hair-fringed hind legs and attack prey as large as tadpoles and small fish. They can inflict a painful "bite" on a human being, actually a stab with their sharp tubular mouthparts (proboscis). They inh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atyidae
Atyidae is a family of shrimp, present in all tropical and most temperate waters of the world. Adults of this family are almost always confined to fresh water. This is the only family in the superfamily Atyoidea. Genera and species The following classification follows De Grave ''et al.'' (2010), with subsequent additions. *'' Antecaridina'' Edmondson, 1954 *'' Archaeatya'' Villalobos, 1959 *''Atya'' Leach, 1816 *'' Atyaephyra'' de Brito Capello, 1867 *'' Atydina'' Cai, 2010 *'' Atyella'' Calman, 1906 *''Atyoida'' Randall, 1840 *''Atyopsis'' Chace, 1983 *'' Australatya'' Chace, 1983 *'' Caridella'' Calman, 1906 *''Caridina'' H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 *'' Caridinides'' Calman, 1926 *'' Caridinopsis'' Bouvier, 1912 *''Delclosia'' Rabadà, 1993 † *'' Dugastella'' Bouvier, 1912 *'' Edoneus'' Holthuis, 1978 *''Elephantis'' Castelin, Marquet & Klotz, 2013 *'' Gallocaris'' Sket & Zakšek, 2009 *''Halocaridina'' Holthuis, 1963 *'' Halocaridinides'' Fujino & Shokita, 1975 *'' Jolivetya'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macrobrachium
''Macrobrachium'' is a genus of freshwater prawns or shrimps characterised by the extreme enlargement of the second pair of pereiopods, at least in the male. Species It contains these species: *'' Macrobrachium acanthochirus'' F. Villalobos, 1967 *'' Macrobrachium acanthurus'' (Wiegmann, 1836) *'' Macrobrachium acherontium'' Holthuis, 1977 *'' Macrobrachium adscitum'' Riek, 1951 *'' Macrobrachium aemulum'' (Nobili, 1906) *'' Macrobrachium agwi'' Klotz, 2008 *''Macrobrachium ahkowi'' Chong & Khoo, 1987 *'' Macrobrachium altifrons'' (Henderson, 1893) *''Macrobrachium amazonicum'' (Heller, 1862) *'' Macrobrachium americanum'' Spence Bate, 1868 *'' Macrobrachium amplimanus'' Cai & Dai, 1999 *''Macrobrachium andamanicum'' (Tiwari, 1952) *''Macrobrachium aracamuni'' Rodríguez, 1982 *''Macrobrachium asperulum'' (von Martens, 1868) *''Macrobrachium assamense'' (Tiwari, 1958) *''Macrobrachium atabapense'' S. Pereira, 1986 *''Macrobrachium atactum'' Riek, 1951 *''Macrobrachium auratu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Common Yabby
The common yabby (''Cherax destructor'') is an Australian freshwater crustacean in the Parastacidae family (biology), family. It is listed as a vulnerable species of crayfish by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), though wild yabby populations remain strong, and have expanded into new habitats created by reservoirs and farm dams. Other names frequently used for ''Cherax destructor'' include the blue yabby or cyan yabby. Its common name of "Freshwater yabby, yabby" is also applied to many other Australian ''Cherax'' species of crustacean (as well as to marine ghost shrimp of the infraorder Thalassinidea). Yabbies occasionally reach up to in length, but are more commonly long. Colour is highly variable and depends on water clarity and habitat; yabbies can range from black, blue-black, or dark brown in clear waters to light brown, green-brown, or beige in turbid waters. Yabbies specifically bred to be a vibrant blue colour are now popular in the aquarium ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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