Karner Blue

Karner Blue (male)

I recently learned that the third Friday in May is Endangered Species Day... which would make that today! So let's learn a little about one animal on the United States Endangered Species List-- the Karner Blue. They are very small subspecies of the Melissa Blue Butterfly, sporting wingspans of around 1in. They have different appearances based on their sex-- males are a deep blue with silvery fringing, while females are more brown with orange spots. One fact I found particularly interesting is that the subspecies was actually discovered and named by Novelist and Lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov in 1944.

Karner Blues are Butterflies that  are now found only in a few States. They used to live in a large band that stretched across the northern United States, but their population is now fragmented between parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New York, and New Hampshire.

This pretty little insects were federally listed in 1992, due to habitat destruction and over-collection. Karner Blues are having a rough time because as Caterpillars they are 100% dependent on Blue Lupine flowers. Those plants are where the females lay their eggs, and it is on those plants that the Caterpillars feed. Blue Lupines grow in sandy areas near river valleys, which are popular locations for human settlement and development. When the habitat is changed, the Blue Lupines cannot grow and the Butterflies cannot reproduce.

In order to save the Karner Blue, we have to protect the Blue Lupines. Areas are being protected, and Butterflies are being reintroduced to revitalized areas where they once lived. One local effort is in my home state-- the Karner Blue Habitat Conservation Plan in Wisconsin is the first developed plan of its type in the country, and works with private groups to protect the habitats of these insects.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : United States
Size : Wingspan 1in (3cm)

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Lycaenidae -- Genus : Lycaeides -- Species : L. melissa -- Subspecies : L. m. samuelis

Alewife

Alosa pseudoharengus

The Alewife is a member of the herring family that was originally found off of the Atlantic Coast. Though they are still exist in that range, over the last fifty years they have become an invasive species in the Great Lakes.

In the 1950s, Alewives used the Welland Canal in Ontario to get around Niagara Falls and enter the Great Lakes. Around that same time, Sea Lamprey also invaded, killing off many of the large prey species that would have normally consumed the Alewives. Lack of predation allowed the species to spread, and they are now most abundant in Lake Michigan and in Lake Huron.

Though they are still abundant in the Great Lakes, the population is more in check than it once was. This is due to the introduction of predator species like stocked Trout and Salmon. Unfortunately, the Alewives still vie for food (mostly zooplankton) with other fish, and have negatively affected other populations because of that competition.

Atlantic Alewives are anadromous, a term that means the fish live at sea, but come into freshwater to spawn. Great Lakes Alewives obviously live their entire lives in freshwater, though they spawn in more shallow areas, depositing up to 12,000 eggs! The larvae hatch after only a week, and the fish can live 6 to 7 years.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : North America
Size : Length up to 6in (15cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Clupeiformes
Family : Clupeidae -- Genus : Alosa-- Species : A. pseudoharengus

Sivatherium

Sivatherium

Today there are only two living members of the Giraffe family-- the Giraffe itself, and the mysterious mountain-dwelling Okapi. But there were other Giraffes in the past, even as recently as 8,000 years ago!

Today's animal, Sivatherium, is one of those ancient Giraffes. Members of this genus (meaning "Shiva's Beast") lived in Africa and South Asia between 5 million 8,000 years ago. They had bodies similar to Okapis, but where taller and more heavily built. They also had huge, moose-like horns, along with having the small ossicones that the modern Giraffids have. They had very thick, powerful necks in order to hold up those heavy skulls.

One really cool thing that I learned was that human-drawn pictures of the Sivatherium have been found in the Sahara. This means that the animals were quite recent, but it also may unfortunately suggest that hunting was a major cause of their extinction (like many other megafauna of the time).

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Status : Extinct for 8,000 years
Location : Africa, South Asia
Size : Height up to 7.4ft (2.2m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Giraffidae -- Subfamily : †Sivatheriinae -- Genus : †Sivatherium

Fearful Owl

Nesasio solomonensis

Say hello to the Fearful Owl, a very large owl that sports a dark face and very distinctive white eyebrows. They are very similar in appearance to the Whekau, or Laughing Owl. And if nothing is done about the downward trend they are on, they might just be extinct like the Whekau as well!

The Fearful Owl is a tropical owl found in lowland forests of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. They are very rarely seen, but they do have their own Solomon Islands postage stamp! These Raptors are a top predator in their range, most commonly feeding on the Northern Common Cuscus, along with other Cuscus species. Cuscus hunting is one of the reasons that the Fearful Owls are now Vulnerable-- their main prey is being over-hunting by man, giving them fewer things to eat.

Another reason for their decline is the growth of the logging industry. Fearful Owls need the forests in order to survive, and without them they have no where to go. It is estimated that only 6,000 of these birds remain, and there are currently no major conservation efforts in place to keep them around.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Size : Length up to 15in (38cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Strigiformes
Family : Strigidae -- Genus : Nesasio-- Species : N. solomonensis

Caribbean Monk Seal

Captive Monacus tropicalis

The Caribbean Monk Seal is the only Pinniped to have ever gone extinct due to human involvement. They also have the distinction of being the only Caribbean Seals, and one of the very first animals described by Columbus in the 15th century (his crew killed and ate eight of them).

Caribbean Monk Seals once swam the waters of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. They were large seals, measuring nearly 3m long. Like with many Pinniped species, the males were larger than the females. They fed on fish, octopuses, and crustaceans.

Caribbean Monk Seals were hunted for their oil, and were killed my fishermen who didn't want to compete with the large predators. It didn't help that the seals were very slow on land, not very aggressive, and could be easily hunted. The last officially spotted Monk Seal was seen in 1952 at Seranilla bank between Jamaica and the Yucatan. Interestingly the species wasn't considered endangered by the US Government until 1967, when it was already way, way too late.

Spottings popped up here and there over the decades, but none could be scientifically confirmed. The IUCN listed them as extinct in 1996. In the 2000s, searches to locate any remaining Seals turned up nothing, and they were declared extinct by the US Government in 2008. Sadly, the two other Monk Seal species, found in Hawaii and the Mediterranean, are on the sharp decline towards extinction today.

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IUCN Status : Extinct since the 1950s

Location : Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico
Size : Length up to 8ft (2.5m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Pinnipedia -- Family : Phocidae -- Genus : Monachus -- Species : M. tropicalis

Hong Kong Newt

Paramesotriton hongkongensis

Hong Kong Newts are the only Salamanders found within the territory Hong Kong, though they can also be found in a few other parts of the surrounding area. They can be found in and around slow flowing streams and pools that have sufficient pebble coverage for hiding. Hong Kong Newts do not hibernate  and can be spotted year round.

You can identify these smallish Amphibains by their brown, warty bodies and vibrant orange-spotted undersides. Those bellies are used as a warning to drive predators away. They themselves feed on worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, insects, and small fish.

As with most Amphibians, Hong Kong Newts go through a metamorphosis as they grow. Their tadpole stage has black skin and pink gills, and they have spotted stomachs, but those are yellow instead of orange. The Larvae hatch at around 14mm, and reach their final transitional stage at around 40-44mm. It can take as long as 3 years to reach full sexual maturity.

The major threat facing the Hong Kong Newt is collection for the pet trade. The population is protected in Hong Kong, but is on the decline. Luckily they are able to be bred in captivity, so they aren't in major danger of going extinct just just. They do very well in captive environments, and are said to be quite hardy as adults.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : Hong Kong
Size : Body Length up to 15cm

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Lissamphibia -- Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae -- Genus : Paramesotriton -- Species : P. hongkongensis

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

The Chestnut-breasted Malkoha is a large Cuckoo that lives in the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia  Myanmar, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines. Currently there are six recognized subspecies.

Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

They are very striking looking birds, and are relatively large for a Cuckoo. Males and females have near identical plumage, which is a dark greenish-blue across the head and back, with a chestnut colored underside. They also have red skin patches around their eyes, adding additional color contrast.

Chestnut-breasted Malkohas typically live in pairs, and have a rather unique breeding habit among Cuckoos. While many of their family members will force others birds to raise their young, these Malkohas actually do the incubating, feeding, and raising themselves!

Another interesting fact about Malkohas in general is that these birds don't fly all that much. They typically move about the trees by hopping from branch to branch.

Chestnut-breasted Malkohas have a large range and a stable population.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Southeast Asia

Size : Length up to 19in (49cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Cuculiformes
Family : Cuculidae -- Genus : Phaenicophaeus -- Species : P. curvirostris

Réunion Kestrel

Falco duboisi

A few days ago we learned about an entire genus of Tortoises that went extinct from the Mascarene Islands in early 19th century. Today's animal didn't make it that long-- the Réunion Kestrel was gone before 1700.

It is a similar sad story, with the arrival of man prompting a fast decline... But the exact cause of the extinction is still a bit of a mystery. European colonization was in full swing by the mid 17th century, and the last time one of these birds was recorded as being alive was in 1672. A few may have hung in there for a while longer, but by 1700 they were considered extinct. Persecution probably played a part in their decline, but if there were other factors, they remain unknown.

Everything we know about the Réunion Kestrel comes from fossils and a few notes written by in the 1670s. They probably lived throughout the island, inhabiting open areas. They probably fed on smaller birds, as other Kestrels do, and may have taken domestic chickens (prompting some of that persecution). Unfortunately, little else is known about their behavior and lifestyle, as they were only known to science for a few short years before completely disappearing.

Réunion Kestrels are the only Kestrels to have gone extinct. Interestingly, the nearby island of Mauritius has its own extant Kestrel species, though it is listed as Vulnerable.

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IUCN Status : Extinct
Location : Reunion Island
Size : Length up to 14in (36cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Falconiformes
Family : Falconidae -- Genus : Falco -- Species : F. duboisi

Common Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs (male)

The Common Chaffinch is a bird with a very large distribution. They can be found throughout Europe, large patches of western Asia, and north Africa and the Middle East. They have also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand, and are occasionally found in southeast Asia and even in the United States. There are many different location-based subspecies.

The males of the species are easy to identify-- they have white barred wings, a red chest, and a bright blue cap. Females are less colorful, and sport hints of green. Their name comes from "Chaff Finch," because they are fond of pecking out different grains to eat.

Most of the Common Chaffinches live in resident populations. Only those that live in colder regions will migrate to warmer climates during the winter. Migrating flocks can sometimes become quite large, though most of the time the birds live in very small groups or in pairs.

Breeding time brings about courtships displays from the males. After mating, the males leaves and the female nests in a tree fork. She will lay up to four eggs which take only two weeks to incubate and another two weeks for the chicks to fledge. Interestingly, the young Chaffinches are fed insects rather than seeds, though seeds will be their primary food source as adults.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Europe, parts of Africa and Asia
Size :  Length up to 6in (16cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Fringillidae -- Genus : Fringilla -- Species : F. coelebs

Yariguies Brush-Finch

The Yariguies Brush-Finch is a subspecies discovered only seven years ago. It remained hidden for so long because it lives in Yariguies Mountains, which hadn't seen any sort of biological survey until 2004.

Atlapetes latinuchus yariguierum

The Yariguies Brush-Finch differs from the other finches of it's species by its coloration. Their plumage is black on the back, yellow underneath, and they sport a pretty neat looking red mohawk! Other related finches have different colored backs with white markings on the wings.

It took several years to determine that these Finches were a whole new subspecies. DNA analysis helped to confirm the identification. And interestingly, they made actually become an entire new species! A. latinuchus, their current overall species, may be split up and reclassified.

Yariguies Brush-Finches, though newly discovered, are already protected. A few months after its confirmation, the Colombian government set aside its habitat as a protected area.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Colombia

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Emberizidae -- Genus : Atlapetes-- Species : A. latinuchus -- Subspecies : A. l. yariguierum

Golden Tree Snake

Chrysopelea ornata

The Golden Tree Snake is a member of the Chrysopelea genus, which includes five Southeast Asian dwelling species of "Flying Snake." Yes. Flying Snake.

Golden Tree Snakes (and their cousins) have the ability to flatten their ribs, suck in their guts, propel themselves off trees, and glide through the air while undulating their bodies in S-shaped motions. Their gliding motions are unlike the methods used by other gliding critters, like Flying Squirrels, which use symmetrical skin flaps to keep up in the air. The interesting motions made by the snakes have been the subject of countless studies on aerodynamics.

Like all snakes, Golden Tree Snakes are carnivores. They diurnally feed on other snakes, lizards, geckos, and even bird eggs. They aren't particularly large snakes (which is good, because some studies have shown that the larger snakes don't glide as easy), but they can be incredibly aggressive when handled.  Golden Tree Snakes are venomous, but it is not dangerous to humans.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Southeast Asia

Size : Length up to 40in (101cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Reptilia -- Order : Squamata
Family : Colubridae -- Genus : Chrysopelea -- Species : C. ornata

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatus (male)

The Ring Ouzel is a Thrush that belongs to the very same genus as both the Common Blackbird and the American Robin. They look quite a bit like the Blackbird, and their name "Ouzel" actually comes from an Old English term for that bird. Males can be identified by their black bodies and white chest bands. Their wings also take on a silvery color, due to white feathers at the tips. Females lack the white chest ring, and are duller in appearance.

Ring Ouzels can be found in various parts of Europe. Some populations are migratory, moving to the North to breed, and down south to the Mediterranean in winter. The birds are usually found alone or in pairs, though they will form very loose flocks during migrations.

When breeding season comes, they build small cup-shaped nests in branches or rock piles. Up to four eggs are laid at a time, and they hatch after only two weeks. The young are fledged after another 14 days. This quick breeding cycle allows some birds to raise more than one brood each season.

These birds have an omnivorous diet. During the spring and summer they feed heartily on Earthworms and other invertebrates. However, when fall and winter set in, they eat Juniper berries and other plant materials.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Europe
Size :  Length up to 9.5in (24cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Turdidae -- Genus : Turdus -- Species : T. torquatus

Goeldi's Monkey

Callimico goeldii

The Goeldi's Monkey, also called the Goeldi's Mormoset, is a curious little primate that is the size of a Marmoset, but exhibits characteristics of much larger Monkeys. It was one of the last New World Monkeys to be identified by science, and was named after its discovered, Swiss Naturalist Emilio Goeldi, in 1904.

One of the coolest facts about these guys is that they can horizontally jump 13ft (4m). That is an amazing distance considering that their body less is less than a foot!

Goeldi's Monkeys are social animals that live in family groups led by the monogamous mated pair. Their offspring will stay with the group for some time, helping to raise their younger brothers and sisters. Females will give birth to one infant at a time, and will exclusively care for it during the first 10-20 days of life. After that, the father and siblings will assist in raising the new member of the family.

Goeldi's Monkey

Sexual maturity is reached in about 9 months for females, and 17 for males, though the young Monkeys will often remain with their families past that point. When a partner or territory becomes available, the offspring may then leave the group to form a new one of their own.

Goeldi's Monkeys communicate through various means. They can project loud cries that can be heard hundreds of yards away, as well as quieter chips and noises to do things like greet and warn against danger. They also use body language and several different scent glands.

Unfortunately, Goeldi's Monkeys are becoming threatened throughout their range due to habitat loss. Some now live in protected wild areas, and captive breeding programs can be found in numerous zoos.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable

Location : Amazon Basin, South America

Size : Body Length up to 9in (23cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Callitrichidae -- Genus : Callimico -- Species : C. goeldii

Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

The Ringneck Snake has a very large range that covers most of the United States, bits of Canada, and stretches of Canada. They live in a huge range of habitats, from forests, to grasslands, to riversides. However, despite their spread and general abundance they are rarely seen, due to a secretive nature and a nocturnal lifestyle.

If you do happen to come across one, you would notice their small size (up to 15in) and their name-sake ringed neck. Most of the subspecies have some variation of this band, and it ranges in color from yellow to red. You also may notice their undersides, as they tend to flip upside down, striking a strange, defensive warning pose when threatened. Though their tops are olive green, brown, or grey, their undersides are vibrantly yellow, orange, or red.

Not so unsurprisingly, Ringneck Snakes have been little observed in the wild. Only around 6 instances of mating have ever been recorded. One might think that to be enough to get a general idea, but the snakes appear to have varied social structures. While the mating act may be similar (female attracts male with pheromones, male bites female on neck), the egg laying and hatching varies. Some of the Ringneck Snakes live alone, while others live in colonies of up to 100. In those larger groups, communal nests are more common, while single snakes nest alone. Only one brood is produced each year, with mating taking place either in spring or fall (delayed fertilization is possible), and hatching occurring in August and September.

It is estimated that Ringneck Snakes have a lifespan of up to 20 years, though the oldest in captivity only made it to 6. They feed on Salamanders, Frogs, and invertebrates, using some constriction to secure their prey, and then injecting it with venom to finish it off.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : North America
Size : Body Length up to 15in (38cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Sauropsida -- Order : Squamata
Family : Colubridae -- Genus : Diadophis-- Species : D. punctatus

Miniature Horse

Miniature Horse

The term "Miniature Horse" is often thought of as more of a designation than a breed, though in the last few decades a few organizations have popped up to make Miniature Horses an actual, standardized breed that is separate from other small equines like Falabellas and Ponies.

Miniature Horses were developed from all sorts of different horse and pony breeds, both large and small. Shetlands and Dartmoors are among those ponies that can be found in their history. There is some argument over whether Miniatures are Ponies or small Horses. The definition of a Pony is a horse under 14 hands (56in). As Miniatures are under 34-38in (depending on registry), they fall within this category. However,  if you look at the basic body shape of many Miniatures, the proportions are more horse-like. Different organizations prefer different looks, as there is no universal standard.

Guide Horse

Miniature Horses serve many different purposes. They are companion animals, they can be ridden by children, and they can compete in shows relating to things like jumping and obstacle maneuvering. They can even be trained to pull carts!

Did you know that some Miniature Horses are being used as guide animals? They can be trained to assist visually impaired individuals due to their focus, excellent vision, calm attitudes, and great memory. One additional plus is that they are able to live 25-35 years, much longer than a dog, which makes their training more cost effective. The practice has only been around since 1999, but it has been growing over the years. (My favorite feature is that the horses wear tiny tennis shoes, so that they don't slip while walking on tiled surfaces)

And just for good measure, watch some foals!

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Status : Domesticated
Location : Worldwide
Size : Height up to 38in (97cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Equidae -- Genus : Equus-- Species : E. ferus -- Subspecies : E. f. caballus

Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren is a stout little cinnamon colored bird that lives in the eastern parts of North America. They are year-round dwellers, but are sensitive to the cold. Because of this, their more northern populations tend to shrink after cold winters, though in recent decades the warmer winters have caused the species to spread north.

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Carolina Wrens are unique among Wrens in that only the male is a loud singer. They actually have one of the loudest songs, by size, of any bird, and it is often described as sounding like teakettle-teakettle-teakettle. One captive male Wren was such a prolific singer that he was recorded doing 3,000 songs in a single day!

Pairs will form at just about any time of the year, and they will remain monogamous, often for several years. The male and female will stake out a territory that they will nest and forage for food in. They will build nests just about anywhere, including in trees, in mailboxes, on stumps, and even in old boots! A pair will raise multiple broods in a single year, with the female incubating and the male bringing food.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Eastern North America
Size : Length around 7in (18cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Troglodytidae -- Genus : Thryothorus -- Species : T. ludovicianus

Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red, developed in Rhode Island of all places, is a domesticated breed of chicken. Though once a quite popular variety, Rhode Island Reds have declined in number during the course of the 20th century,. They are now making a comeback with small farmers, and are listed as "Recovering" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

Rhode Island Reds are considered a "daul-purpose" bird. That means that they can be raised for both meat and eggs. As a breed, they are pretty great all around. They provide good meat, they lay amazingly well, and they are quite hardy to boot. One downside, however, is that they can become quite aggressive.

Since 1954, Rhode Island Reds have been listed as the state bird of Rhode Island. Interestingly, they are one of the only state birds not found in Audubons' Birds of America. This is because his masterful volume only covers wild species of bird. And even if it covered domestic fowl, the breed was only first worked on in 1830, which was at the tail end of Audubon's publication.

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Status : Domesticated, listed as Recovering by the ALBC

Location : Developed in the United States

Size : Weight up to 8lbs (3.6kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Galliformes
Family : Phasianidae -- Genus : Gallus -- Species : G. gallus -- Subspecies : G. g. domesticus