the ferruginous pygmy owl ( glaucidium brasilianum ) is a small owl that breeds in south-central arizona in the united states , south through mexico and central america , to south america into bolivia , paraguay and argentina .

in central america and south america , it is the most widely distributed pygmy owl and is probably one of the most numerous owl species in those areas .

it is found in a wide range of semi-open wooded habitats in these areas

ferruginous pygmy owl

glaucidium brasilianum ( j . f . gmelin , 1788 ) – ferruginous pygmy - owl , tecolote bajeño , ferruginous pygmy owl
proudfoot , g . , r . johnson . 2000 . ferruginous pygmy - owl .
figure 1 . distribution of the ferruginous pygmy - owl in north and middle america .
3 . cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl . 9 / 24 / 99 website : urltoken
a new species of ferruginous pygmy - owl from argentina : glaucidium brasilianum stranecki n . ssp
) , elevational preferences , and habitat . due to its wide geographic range , the ferruginous pygmy - owl overlaps with many other species of pygmy - owl .
ferruginous pygmy - owl feeds mainly on grasshoppers and also eats scorpions , cicadas , reptiles , and birds .
the ferruginous pygmy owl is a very small owl with no ear - tufts . grey , brown and red morphs are known to exist , as well as intermediates .
there is little information to be found on the lifespan of ferruginous pygmy - owls .
photo of pygmy owl in saguaro courtesy of the arizona game and fish department .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls ( glaucidium brasilianum cactorum ) are one of three subspecies of the ferruginous pygmy - owl . they have longer tails than most owls , are reddish - brown with a cream colored belly and have a crown that is lightly streaked . cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls have yellow eyes and no ear tufts .
2003 .
urltoken
( on - line ) . ferruginous pygmy - owl biology . accessed 03 / 19 / 03 at urltoken .
ferruginous pygmy - owls and bighorn sheep are two of the roving species that could be affected .
ferruginous pygmy - owls are monogamous , and usually form pairs in their first fall after hatching .
rainforest conservation fund . 2003 .
ferruginous pygmy - owl
( on - line ) . accessed 04 / 07 / 03 at urltoken .
) , elevational preferences , and habitat . fortunately the distribution of peruvian pygmy - owl has little or no overlap with other species of pygmy - owl . in the andes , peruvian
breeding interval ferruginous pygmy - owls breed once a year . eggs are layed in april or may .
2003 .
sonoran desert conservation plan
( on - line ) . cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl . accessed 03 / 19 / 03 at urltoken .
the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl in pima county : at one time , the pygmy owl was described as
of common occurrence ,
not uncommon ,
and
fairly numerous
in southern arizona . 1 today , the owl numbers are very low and , until recently , very little was known about the owl . some of the pygmy owls ' habitat is found in the fastest growing areas of tucson .
to fool its prey , ferruginous pygmy - owl evolved so - called false eyes : patches of dark feathers on the back of its head that look like eyes .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls mainly eat small birds , lizards , insects , small mammals , frogs and earthworms .
the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl is also much more rufous in color than the mountain pygmy although this is not necessarily obvious in the field ( without a mountain pygmy to compare to ) . the most obvious visual difference between the mountain and ridgway ' s pygmy - owls are the white markings on their heads . the mountain pygmy - owl has white spots and the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl has white streaking . last and most noticeable of the visual differences is the tail barring . the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl has light brown ( to orangey brown ) tail bars where the mountain pygmy has white tail bars .
center for biological diversity .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl ( glaucidium brasilianum cactorum )
( on - line ) . accessed 04 / 07 / 03 at urltoken .
ferruginous pygmy owls are non - migratory and are found in the southwestern united states , central america , and south america .
proudfoot , g . , s . beasom . 1997 . food habits of nesting ferruginous pygmy - owls in southern texas .
proudfoot , g . a . 1996 . natural history of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl . master ' s thesis , texas a & m ; univ . , kingsville . close
status : the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl was listed as federally endangered in 1997 . the species was listed because current and historical evidence suggests a significant population decline has occured in arizona , and that the the owl has been nearly extirpated .
other small owls in the same habitat and range of the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl include elf owl and the screech - owls . these other small owls that could be possibly confused are all strictly nocturnal . the elf owl is much smaller in size and lacks the clear chest and crown streaks of the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl . the screech - owls all have ear tufts and also lack the pygmy - owl ' s clear chest streaks .
ferruginous pygmy - owls were heard very frequently in both thick forests and shrubby woodlands , often calling from within the thickest foliage .
just when i was enjoying the sudden freedom from ferruginous pygmy owls ( hereinafter the owl ) , those professional pests at the center for biological diversity and defenders of wildlife ( hereinafter the pests ) are asking for the owl to be relisted as endangered .
us forest service department of agriculture . 1999 .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl ( glaucidium brasilianum cactorum )
( on - line ) . accessed 03 / 19 / 03 at urltoken .
young : the young are similar in plumage to the adults . just like the ferruginous pygmy - owl the young do not develop their white markings until they mature . as a juvenile owl the white spots on the crown are not developed . the northern pygmy juvenile is still distinguishable from the ferruginous pygmy , in the small range where they could possibly overlap , by his white tail bands ( the ferrug . having reddish - brown bands ) .
the ferruginous pygmy - owl is a diurnal and crepuscular owl feeding mostly on insects , such as grasshoppers , crickets , caterpillars , other large insects and scorpions . in addition , their diet consists of birds , small mammals , amphibians , and reptiles ( often lizards ) . like the northern pygmy - owl , the ferruginous pygmy - owl is a bold and ferocious daytime predator , sometimes attacking prey larger than itself , such as american robins or young domestic fowl . there are even records of attacks on captive guan , the owl grabbing on firmly to the guan and tearing at it , eventually wearing it out and killing it .
1 . u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1997 .
determination of endangered status for the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl in arizona .
federal register . volume 62 ( 46 ) .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls live in the desert habitat of southern arizona in the southwestern united states , and northwestern mexico . they live at
u . s . fish and wildlife service ( 1997 ) endangered and threatened wildlife and plants : determination of endangered status for the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona . us fed . regist . 62 : 10730–10747
in recent decades , the subspecies known as cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl declined substantially in arizona and was listed as endangered between 1997 and 2006 . in 2012 , environmentalists filed suit calling for it to be listed again .
. these juveniles are best distinguished from ferruginous by voice , habitat , and elevation .
a federal judge removed the pygmy owl ' s critical habitat status in september 2001 . she stated that the u . s . fish and wildlife
) are very small owls , with a large rounded head , a pair of prominent black marks ( false
eye spots
) on the nape , and a relatively long tail . ferruginous pygmy - owl is the largest species of
the ferruginous pygmy - owl is endangered in arizona and facing loss of habitat in both texas and arizona . although it is endangered in north america ( arizona ) , it is still quite frequent over much of its mexican range . the owl is generally sedentary although its range expands after the fledging of the young .
there is no known migratory movements of this owl . the northern pygmy is believed to be largely sedentary . except for winter downslope movements and juvenile dispersals there are no further records of movements for this owl . further studies are needed .
an opportunistic predator , the ferruginous pygmy - owl has a diet as diverse as its distribution , including insects , reptiles , amphibians , birds , and small mammals . foraging rates peak during twilight hours , around sunrise and sunset . because of its small size , long tail , and atypical diurnal and crepuscular behavior , the ferruginous pygmy - owl may easily be mistaken for a passerine . when agitated , it perches with its tail cocked upward or jerks its tail up and down and from side to side .
reproduction : the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl nests in cavities in trees or cacti such as the organ pipe or saguaro . the pygmy owl begins nesting activity late winter to early spring . 3 three to five eggs are laid in late aprilmay . 2 the eggs are incubated for about twenty - eight days . the young are fed by both parents . the young fledge twenty - seven to thirty days after hatching . 2
abbate , d . , a . ditty , s . richardson and r . olding . 1996 . cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl survey and nest monitoring in the tucson basin area , arizona - 1996 . phoenix , az : arizona game and fish dep . close
in 2013 , readers of birdwatching voted ferruginous pygmy - owl one of the birds they want to see most . so , as the great texas birding classic winds down , we thought you’d enjoy this list of 10 things you might not know about the diminutive bird :
ferruginous pygmy - owl is the spud webb of birds . webb , all five feet seven inches and 133 pounds of him , played 12 seasons in the nba , in which the average player is a foot taller and 90 pounds heavier . the pygmy - owl is no bigger than a bluebird and weighs about 2 . 5 ounces , yet it has been known to prey on the larger and significantly heavier gambel’s quail and hispid cotton rat .
the oldest recorded northern pygmy - owl was a male , and at least 3 years , 11 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in oregon .
pygmy - owl calls elicit a strong mobbing response from many passerines , including many warblers and vireos . imitation of this vocalization often attracts more small passerines than pishing does .
diet : the owl is an opportunistic predator feeding on what is available . the prey ranges from insects to mourning doves which outweigh the owl by two and a half times .
the 18th annual great texas birding classic wraps up tomorrow , may 15 . one species that participants may locate is ferruginous pygmy - owl , a small bird of semi - open wooded areas . it can be found at the king ranch and a few other ranches in south texas .
ferruginous pygmy - owls nest in natural cavities of trees , stumps , or cactuses ( depending on what is available ) . the cavities that they nest in are often the made by woodpeckers (
yes , the owl could have a bright future if the pests would get behind this push to domesticate it . i can almost taste the deep fried owl now . what a treat !
cartron , jean - luc e . ; richardson , w . scott ; proudfoot , glenn a . 2000 . chapter 1 : the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl : taxonomy , distribution , and natural history . in : cartron , jean - luc e . ; finch , deborah m . , tech . eds . ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona . gen . tech . rep . rmrs - gtr - 43 . ogden , ut : u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , rocky mountain research station . p . 5 - 15
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl are threatened by habitat loss , particularly the loss of at least 85 % of arizona’s riparian areas due to development , livestock grazing , water withdrawal and other factors . climate change may worsen other threats , particularly the spread of invasive species and an increase in fires .
the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl is a small bird , averaging 6 . 5 inches in length and weighing 2 . 5 ounces . overall , the owl is reddish - brown with a cream - colored belly striped with the rufous coloring . the crown is lightly streaked and the eyes are yellow . black and white spots on the nape suggest eye spots . 1 the owl has a relatively long tail and no ear tufts . this owl is diurnal . its call , consisting of a monotonal ' put - put - put ' note , 2 can be heard during dusk and dawn .
habitat : current information allows only a broad general description of where the owl has historically and currently occurred in arizona . the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl occurs in a variety of habitats , including river bottom woodlands , mesquite bosques , desert scrub , and plains and desert grasslands . 1 typical throughout these habitats are fairly dense woody thickets with trees and cacti large enough to provide nesting cavities . 3
defenders of wildlife is funding critical research on population trends of cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls on both sides the u . s . - mexico border . unfortunately , this science continues to confirm that the status of the western population of pygmy - owls is in dire straits . in fact , research done in 2006 by university of arizona research specialist aaron flesch showed that the pygmy - owl population in sonora , mexico – immediately south of the arizona border – has suffered a 26 percent decline since 2000 .
the center first petitioned to protect the owl in 1992 , and following three successful lawsuits secured an endangered listing in 1997 . we won the owl 732 , 000 acres of critical habitat in 1999 . but developers fought back in 2001 , with the tacit support of the bush administration , and their lawsuit seeking to remove the pygmy owl ' s endangered status overturned the bird ' s listing in 2006 . the argument was that pygmy owls exist in mexico and thus can be allowed to go extinct in the united states ( though the service ' s own biologists opposed the owl ' s delisting ) .
elevations below 4 , 000 feet ( 1 , 200 m ) . the owl prefers desertscrub thickets , trees and large cacti for nesting and roosting . in the sonoran desert the owl often lives where ironwood , mesquite , acacia , saguaro and organ pipe cacti can be found . the vegetation provides good cover for its favorite prey of birds , lizards , insects , small rodents , frogs and earthworms . cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls are fierce hunters and can kill a dove twice their size . the vegetation also shields it from larger birds of prey . the pygmy - owl is diurnal and hunts during the day .
in arizona the ferrug occurs in saguaro desert , mesquite , and cottonwood - mesquite habitats . in texas it is now mostly confined to remaining patches of mesquite , ebony , and cane along the lower rio grande ( may also be found in live oak forests of kenedy and willacy counties ) . in general , the ferruginous pygmy is a lowland bird found in more arid habitats than the northern pygmy - owl .
ferruginous pygmy - owls live in a variety of habitats throughout the americas . they are found in cold temperate lowlands , subtropical , and tropical areas . they can be found in habitats ranging from deserts to rainforests .
both pygmy - owls have two black patches ( outlined in white ) on their nape that vaguely resemble a pair of extra eyes . the ridgway ' s pygmy - owl has a greenish yellow bill and bright lemon yellow iris ( eyes ) . this owl lacks ear tufts . length is 6 3 / 4
( slightly smaller than a white - crowned sparrow ) and the sexes are alike .
richardson , w . scott ; cartron , jean - luc e . ; krueper , david j . ; turner , lauren ; skinner , thomas h . 2000 . chapter 3 : the status of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona : population surveys and habitat assessment . in : cartron , jean - luc e . ; finch , deborah m . , tech . eds . ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona . gen . tech . rep . rmrs - gtr - 43 . ogden , ut : u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , rocky mountain research station . p . 27 - 46
proudfoot , g . a . and s . l . beasom . 1996 . responsiveness of cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls to broadcasted conspecific calls . wildl . soc . bull . no . 24 : 294 - 297 . close
we ' ll continue to advocate for the species throughout the steps toward new protection , and we ' re still funding pygmy owl research in mexico as we work with pima county on the sonoran desert conservation plan .
today the big bird - friendly ranches of south texas are the best places to find ferruginous pygmy - owl in the united states . since floods along the rio grande in july 2010 , the species has been absent from its traditional haunts near the mexico border , including bentsen - rio grande valley state park and santa ana national wildlife refuge .
presently , the appearance of the owl on a person’s property signals a rapid depreciation in the value of that property as it then becomes owl habitat and must be dedicated to the owl . the answer is obvious . the owl must be domesticated and raised like chickens . there is no shortage of chickens . and if a chicken crosses the road to get to your property , you are at liberty to introduce it to the wonders of the fricassee .
the ferruginous pygmy - owl ' s call is a long series of repeated hollow whistles which can be easily imitated by humans . howell and webb ( 1995 ) claim that calls may sometimes end with a series of
high , yelping twitters
while stiles & skutch ( 1989 ) suggest a
sharp bark or whinny
terminates some calls .
, but northern pygmy - owls are spotted rather than streaked , have whiter tails , and different vocalizations .
in late in the winter or early spring cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls begin nesting in the cavities of trees or cacti like the saguaro and organ pipe . these holes have often been made by woodpeckers . owlets leave their nest 28 days after hatching .
in : cartron , jean - luc e . ; finch , deborah m . , tech . eds . ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona . gen . tech . rep . rmrs - gtr - 43 . ogden , ut : u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , rocky mountain research station . p . 5 - 15
in : cartron , jean - luc e . ; finch , deborah m . , tech . eds . ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in arizona . gen . tech . rep . rmrs - gtr - 43 . ogden , ut : u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , rocky mountain research station . p . 27 - 46
proudfoot , g . a . and a . a . radomski . 1997 . absence of hematozoa from ferruginous pygmy - owls ( glaucidium brasilianum ) in southern texas . j . helminthol . soc . wash . no . 64 : 154 - 156 . close
the keys to the distinction between the three us pygmy - owls is color , call , habitat , white markings , and tail barring . the ridgway ' s pygmy has a much lower elevation habitat , living in the saguaro ( cactus ) and riparian desert habitats of southern arizona and mesquite ( dry ) habitats in the rio grand areas of southern texas . the mountain pygmy - owl is generally associated with montane forest habitats . same hold true south of the us .
) are very small owls , with a large rounded head , a pair of prominent black marks ( false
eye spots
) on the nape , and a relatively long tail . peruvian pygmy - owl is a relatively larges species of
habits : the ferruginous pygmy owl is a partly diurnal bird , and may be seen in bright daylight on exposed perches , and may also sing by day . principal activity is at dusk or around dawn , and they are sometimes vocally active on clear , calm nights . roosts during the daytime within the shelter of foliage in trees or bushes , but always seems alert . when excited , this owl will cock its tail and flick it from side to side . flight is undulating with rapid wingbeats and gliding .
jehl , d . march , 17 2003 . rare arizona owl ( all 7 inches of it ) is in habitat furor .
ferruginous pygmy - owls can be heard calling more frequently around sunrise and sunset . sounds that they make include whistled hoot and took noises , and high yelping twitters . male calls are lower in tone than females . males give territorial - advertisement calls and females vocalize through chitters .
forests , which are characterized by low canopy heights and relatively low diversity of flora ( borges et al . 2004 ) . ferruginous pygmy - owls occur in undisturbed habitat as well as in or around human settlements , from small villages to large cities ( proudfoot and johnson 2000 ) .
subspecies : there are 2 races of ferruginous pygmy - owl here in the us . one to four other owls may be considered additional races in central america but further research needs to be done for these classifications to be agreed upon . g . b . cactorumis is found from s arizona south along the west coast of mexico . g . b . ridgwayi is found from southern texas e and s mexico to panama .
the owl uses a perch - and - pounce hunting method , and it raids nest cavities of golden - fronted woodpecker and other birds .
range : historically , this subspecies appears to be geographically isolated into eastern and western populations . the western population ranged from lowland , central arizona to the states of colima and michoacan , mexico . the eastern population ranged from southern texas into the states of tampulipas and nuevo leon , mexico . 1 currently , the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl range is similar to the historic range , but the number of owls is much smaller . 1
in response to predators such as hawks , owls , snakes , and raccoons , ferruginous pygmy - owls either go into a vertical position and move their tail back and forth , or maintain an errect position with feathers close to their body . nestlings sometimes spread out their wings and puff themselves up .
a study conducted on the king ranch in texas recorded the owl preying on northern cardinal , blue grosbeak , eastern meadowlark , and other songbirds .
the tiny , fierce pygmy owl has become synonymous with wild sonoran desert : endangered species act protections for the owl initiated a new era of urban planning in southern arizona . within the bird ' s critical habitat areas , the u . s . fish and wildlife service limited development to just 20 percent of most properties , driving the large - scale sonoran desert conservation plan that became a model for endangered species urban planning nationwide .
one of the most important invasive species in the sonoran desert is buffel grass , which was widely planted as a forage grass . in sharp contrast to the patchy distribution of native vegetation , buffel grass forms a continuous cover , allowing fires to travel across large areas , killing saguaros and other native plant species that are not well adapted to fires . the extended droughts being wrought by climate change are increasing this fire risk and further threatening the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl .
these conflicts are unnecessary . just allow the owl to be freely taken and create a market for this new , exotic , and formerly endangered food source .
ferruginous pygmy - owls are presumed monogamous , forming pairs during the fall of their first year after hatching , and nesting the following spring . incubation and nestling development each last about 28 days . females incubate 2–7 eggs , and both adults provide food for nestlings . adults attend to fledglings until dispersal , 7–8 weeks after fledging .
the list of possible prey in the northern pygmy - owl ' s diet is quite large . this may include all of the small mammals , small to medium sized birds , reptiles , larger insects , and amphibians within their range . the owl ' s preference seems to be mice , birds , and large insects with studies indicating that about 90 % of their diet is comprised of small mammals and birds . this little owl is a bold and ferocious daytime predator . it will kill birds such as gambel ' s or california quail that are more than twice its weight . to see a northern pygmy come tumbling out of a tree with its talons firmly locked into an american robin , that is half again its size , is an impressive sight and reminder of how fearless it is .
when the owl is domesticated and raised for profit , we will be chock - a - block in owls around here . they will start appearing on menus throughout the sonoran region as a low fat , high protein , exceptionally tender alternative to chicken . chick - fil - a , the colonel , and all the fast food outlets will be substituting owl meat for chicken . the sub - species will have been saved . owl farmers will prosper by selling their eggs and even feathers .
consider the economic impact when it designated 731 , 000 acres critical habitat for the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl in 1999 . the u . s . fish and wildlife service is expected to redesignate their critical habitat by april 2003 , and it is hoped their habitat will double as a result . it is presently on the u . s . endangered species list . they are also in the cites , appendix ii which allows the owls to be traded commercially only if it doesn ' t harm their survival .
unlike screech - owls and northern saw - whet owls , northern pygmy - owls are not known to take up residence in human - made nest boxes .
are generally rufous (
ferruginous
) in color , especially east of the andes , but the plumage also may be a duller brown or gray - brown . this species shares the common
are opportunistic predators with diverse diets . they feed mostly on insects , but also on birds , reptiles , amphibians , and small mammals . they are diurnal and feed mostly during sunrise and sunset . in order to kill birds and some lizards the ferruginous pygmy - owl bites just behind their prey ' s head , while other lizards are swallowed whole . insects are usually decapitated and only the soft body parts of them are eaten . mammals are eaten piece by piece . specific examples of what these owls feed on inlude grasshoppers and crickets (
are very small and reach a size of only about 6 inches tall . they have round heads with black eyespots on the back , no ear tufts , and yellowish eyes . adults often have white eyebrows , and white streaks on their heads . the body of the owl is reddish - brown in color with white streaks . the long tail is also reddish - brown . their wings often have white streaks as well . the underparts are white . males and females look very similiar to one another , but the females are slightly larger and more reddish in coloration . juveniles look like adults , but their heads are often grayer and their eye spots lighter . ferruginous pygmy - owls are similar to northern pygmy - owls ,
northern pygmy - owls raise a pair of tufts on the sides of their head when threatened by a predator , such as a hawk or a cat . they also have a pair of spots on the back of the neck that look a little like eyes . scientists think these markings may help fool attackers or mobbers into thinking the owl is watching them .
common and widespread in the american tropics , this little owl enters our area only in southern texas and arizona , where it is now uncommon to rare . it is often active by day , and may feed on small birds at times ; songbirds in its range all recognize its whistled call , and will gather around to mob and harass the owl when they discover it .
s sometimes are active by day , although they primarily are crepuscular . they prey on large insects and small vertebrates , including small birds that may be almost as large as the owl .
when they find extra food , northern pygmy - owls often cache their prey in tree cavities , or by hanging the prey on thorns , as shrikes are famous for doing .
young : although the white streaking on the forehead and head is not developed on the juvenile ferruginous , the rust tail bars are , making identification possible . the young also have a high - pitched rattle begging call .
in the sonoran desert scrub , the owl can be found in associations of ironwood , palo verde , mesquite , acacia , bursage , and columnar cactus such as saguaro and organ pipe . 3
* small owl with dark brown and spotted upperparts and greyish white streaked underparts * small head with whitish eyebrows and yellow eyes . dark breast and pretty long tail * size : about 16 cm
. the upperparts often are rufous (
ferruginous
) but also may be duller grayish brown ; the underparts are white , marked with broad streaks that are the same color as the upperparts . the crown also has fine white streaks .
these owls are most active near dawn and dusk . they are either solitary or in pairs for mating purposes . in order to move within trees , they walk and hop from branch to branch . they also rapidly beat their wings in order to make short , direct flights . ferruginous pygmy - owls perch in trees similarly to other owls , with their tails straight downward . allopreening is done between paired adults , fledglings , and nestlings .
like most owls the key to identification seems to be their primary call . the ridgway ' s pygmy has much shorter spaced calls often referred to as a
popping
primary call where the mountain pygmy ' s
toots
are given in pairs ( toot - toot toot - toot ) and spaced much further apart . see the audio recordings tabs in each species to hear their sounds .
a natural recording of seven episodes of calls while surrounded by several species of small birds . i spotted a blue - and - yellow tanager , masked gnatcatcher , an unidentified small woodpecker , and two or three other small morning birds calling while the pygmy - owl remained at 6 to 7 meters high in a small tree . located 10 meters from a river flowing east from the nearby large dammed lake south of salta .
northern pygmy - owls are widespread in the mountains of western north america , and they’re active during the day , which gives you a good chance of finding them . but they’re also small and unobtrusive as they sit and wait for prey to approach them , so you’ll need to be observant . the two best ways to find them involve your ears : you may hear them giving high , evenly spaced tooting calls . or you may hear a commotion of chickadees and other small birds scolding and calling as they mob an owl they’ve discovered . try to find the agitated birds and you may find the owl that they’re trying to drive away .
) by its larger size , longer tail with a greater number of transverse pale buffy bars ( 5 - 7 bars on the upper surface of the tail , or 3 - 5 bars on the under surface of the tail , as opposed to 2 - 4 whitish bars on the tails of species in the least pygmy - owl group ) , and by the presence of narrow pale streaks ( not small pale spots ) on the crown .
holt , d . w . , berkley , r . , deppe , c . , enríquez rocha , p . , petersen , j . l . , rangel salazar , j . l . , segars , k . p . , wood , k . l . , christie , d . a . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . ferruginous pygmy - owl ( glaucidium brasilianum ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
for a tiny bird , the cactus ferruginous pygmy - owl has a very long name . it is small enough to hold in your hand . it averages 6 . 5 inches ( 17 cm ) in length and weighs only 2 . 5 ounces ( 62 g ) . females usually weigh a few tenths of an ounce more than the males . the feathers on their back are creamy - brown , and the underside is cream - colored with reddish - brown stripes . the top of their heads are slightly streaked and on the back of the head they have two black eye spots outlined in white . their eyes are yellow and round . their tails are longer than most owls , and they have no tufts on their ears .
small birds such as hummingbirds , wrens , warblers , jays , and blackbirds often mob northern pygmy - owls—in fact , you may be able to find these owls by following a noisy commotion of songbirds focused on one spot .
sometimes snap their mandibles together to make a “beak clap” sound . the behavior is likely a sign of distress , as this bill snapping usually is reported during situations such as when the owl is handling or during nest inspection ( proudfoot and johnson 2000 ) .
cactus ferruginous pygmy - owls don ' t migrate . in late in the winter or early spring they begin nesting in the cavities of trees or cacti like the saguaro and organ pipe . these holes have often been made by woodpeckers . they lay 3 to 5 white eggs in late april , which hatch about 28 days later . the young owls are fed by both parents . they fledge , or leave the nest about 27 to 30 days after hatching . they stay close to their parents until they are ready to be on their own .
the northern pygmy - owl may be tiny , but it’s a ferocious hunter with a taste for songbirds . these owls are mostly dark brown and white , with long tails , smoothly rounded heads , and piercing yellow eyes . they hunt during the day by sitting quietly and surprising their prey . as a defensive measure , songbirds often gather to mob sitting owls until they fly away . mobbing songbirds can help you find these unobtrusive owls , as can listening for their call , a high - pitched series of toots .
proudfoot , g . a . , j . l . mays , s . l . beasom and r . bingham . 1998 .
effectiveness of broadcast surveys in determining habitat use of ferruginous pygmy - owls ( glaucidium brasilianum ) in southern texas .
in biology and conservation of owls of the northern hemisphere . , edited by j . r . duncan , d . h . johnson and t . h . nicholls , 338 . st . paul , mn : u . s . for . serv . gen . tech . rep . nc - 190 . n . central res . station . close
it had been so listed between 1997 and 2006 . it was delisted because the u . s . fish & wildlife service determined that there is an abundance of the owl just over the hill south of here in mexico and they are only scarce here because this is the uppermost limit of their range .
johnson rr , haight lt , simson jm ( 1979 ) owl populations and species status in the southwestern united states . in : schaeffer p , ehlers sm ( eds ) , owls of the west : their ecology and conservation . national audubon society western education center , tiburon , california , pp . 40–59
most owls have asymmetrically placed ears as well as flattened facial discs around the eyes . both of these features are adaptations that give them better hearing . interestingly , northern pygmy - owls lack these features , and this may be an outcome of their diurnal habits and greater reliance on vision .
subspecies : there are four races of northern pygmy - owl in north america . g . c . swarthi is restricted to vancouver island . g . c . grinnelli stretches along the west coast of north america from s . e . alaska all the way to s . california . g . c . californicum is the most widespread race in north america . it ranges from the northern interior of british columbia and east to alberta then south into nevada and s . california . g . c . pinicola is found from idaho and montana south to california and nevada . this race is sometimes combined with g . c . californicum .
this small owl ' future is in grave danger from the loss of its habitat . it used to be very common and could be found in arizona from the new river north of phoenix to the mexican border . now they can only be found between tucson and the mexican border , and less than 50 remain in the state . most of the owls live in the ironwood forests northwest of tucson and marana . they live in the fastest growing areas of tucson . people are moving into the desert , changing the environment to suit their needs , and destroying the forest ' s fragile ecosystem . logging , woodcutting and livestock overgrazing are other threats the pygmy owls face .
since 1996 , authorities in arizona have found anywhere from 12 - 41 adult pygmy owls a year , and in 2006 , surveyors spotted only 28 owls . the population in northern mexico is also imperiled , with a documented 4 . 4 percent decline per year for the past seven years , or a 26 percent decline overall since 2000 .
hunting & food : feeds on insects , small birds and other small vertebrates such as mice . birds up to the size of a dove have been recorded as prey . this owl has powerful talons and is able to catch prey larger then itself . hunting is normally from a perch , but birds and insects may be caught among foliage with sudden dashing flights .
a biologist for one of the pests asserts it is difficult to determine the number of owls here because they keep flying around and won’t hold still for an owl census . this despite the fact that owls are easily contained because they are not high - flying birds and unlike many of their human brothers , can be intimidated by the appearance of a border fence .
surely there would be no need to relist the owl if it were domesticated . that would save the fish & wildlife people a ton of money since they would not have to deal with the then - plentiful birds . the pests could turn their attentions to wildlife that is actually in short supply and which the world cannot live without , like the gray wolf .
habitat : tropical and subtropical , mostly humid , primary or secondary forest with clearings , forest edges , riverine forest , pastureland with groups of trees and bushy areas , parks and large gardens with mature trees and thick bushes . this owl is normally found below below 1500m elevation . prefers evergreen or semi - deciduous forest with undergrowth in the lowlands , and is common in the subtropical and tropical rainforest of eastern brazil , eastern paraguay and northeast argentina where they mostly inhabit secondary forest with dense undergrowth .
this got me to thinking . why is there an alarming dearth of the owl around here ? there is no alarming shortage of sheep , goats , cattle , or even chickens . chickens ! yes , that’s the answer . these animals are not endangered for the simple reason that they are domesticated . unlike wild animals , they have to stay where they are put . they are raised so that we have plenty of them . they are owned by people who have an incentive to have them thrive .
in march 2007 , the center filed a new petition to list the owl — in southern arizona , throughout the sonoran desert , or throughout its range . we filed a notice of intent to sue in may 2008 , and were rewarded a week later when the agency said protection might be warranted and began a status review . in early 2009 , the ninth circuit court of appeals issued an appeal upholding the bird ' s delisting , but in 2011 , we reached a landmark agreement with the fish and wildlife service compelling the agency to re - propose it for protection that same year , if warranted . when no progress was made according to the agreement ' s timeline , we sued in 2012 .
like other pygmy - owls , the ferrug are cavity nesters . they nest in a natural cavity in a tree , stump or snag , in old woodpecker holes , tree forks or depressions , occasionally in a sand bank or termite mound . the breeding season for this species may begin as soon as early april and last as late as mid - june . clutch size is usually 3 or 4 eggs but 2 to 5 are not uncommon . incubation and brooding is done by the female and the eggs hatch at approximately 28 days . the male brings food to the female during incubation and brooding . both adults will bring food to the young at 3 weeks after the young hatch . intense brood competition over prey may result in fatalities of the young . fledging occurs at about 28 days after eggs hatch . adults will care for the young for an additional 3 weeks following fledging .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
del hoyo , j . , collar , n . j . , christie , d . a . , elliott , a . and fishpool , l . d . c . 2014 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 1 : non - passerines . lynx edicions birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
glaucidium brasilianum and g . tucumanum ( del hoyo and collar 2014 ) were previously lumped as g . brasilianum following sibley and monroe ( 1990 , 1993 ) .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing , the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
now considered endangered or threatened in limited range in united states . still widespread in tropics , although undoubtedly has declined in some areas .
mesquite thickets , desert riverine woods , saguaros . in united states , currently most numerous in low stands of live oak and mesquite in southern texas . was formerly common in mesquite forest along rivers and in desert dominated by saguaro cactus . in tropics , found in wide range of lowland habitats , mostly in semi - open country .
apparently hunts most actively near dawn and dusk . hunts by watching from raised perch , then darting out in very rapid flight to capture prey in talons . notably bold and aggressive for its small size .
3 - 4 , sometimes 5 . white . apparently incubation is mostly or entirely by female , about 28 days ; male brings food to female during incubation . young : both parents take part in providing food for young ; male may do most of hunting at first . age of young at first flight about 27 - 30 days .
both parents take part in providing food for young ; male may do most of hunting at first . age of young at first flight about 27 - 30 days .
includes insects , birds , rodents , lizards . diet is not well known , and probably varies by region . among known foods are large insects ( including crickets , caterpillars , and beetles ) , scorpions , small birds , rodents and other small mammals , and lizards .
breeding behavior is not well known . male defends nesting territory with song of monotonous repeated whistles , mostly at dusk and dawn , also at night , sometimes by day . nest site is in cavity in tree or in giant cactus , usually old woodpecker hole , but sometimes natural hollow in tree . typically low , 10 - 30 ' above ground .
audio © lang elliott , bob mcguire , kevin colver , martyn stewart and others .
officials confirm the bird - rich santa ana national wildlife refuge is the ' probable ' starting point for construction .
tell congress to oppose a harmful rider that threatens sage - grouse and other wildlife .
tell congress and the department of the interior to uphold the country ' s most important bird protection law .
is one of the most widespread birds of the lowlands of the neotropics ; the distribution of the species extends from the southern united states south to central argentina . this species occurs in a wide variety of habitats . it does not occur in closed - canopy forest , although it is found at forest edge , but otherwise is found in almost any wooded habitat including arid scrub , dry forest , evergreen forests , coffee plantations , and towns . most
plumage pattern , with two large black marks (
false eyes
) on the back of the neck , and white underparts with coarse streaks . it can be difficult to distinguish from other species of
has short white streaks on the crown , however , but most of other species have spotted crowns . the song , a long series of short whistles , is a familiar sound ;
often respond aggressively to imitations of this song , approaching the source in a rapid , direct flight .
) , version 1 . 0 . in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa .
there are no sound files at this time . please check back with us .
third and final cut of the individual as xc389254 . it is part of a longer cut that was edited due to noise at background by wind .
another cut of the individual as xc389254 . and it is part of a longer cut that was edited due to noise at background by wind .
probably same individual as xc389192 , but the recording was done at 300 meters from this recording . also on forest edge of dry forest . recording distance was 20 meters . cut was amplified ( 4 db ) .
between dry forest and semideciduous forest , with erika cristina valadão and márcia pâmela carvalho .
female calls from about 0 : 01 - 0 : 11 s and male in calling in background throughout recording , both birds about 30 - 40ft away .
singing bird responding to whistled imitation , then a second bird starts calling and the two carry on calling / singing together . natural intervals . habitat is tropical deciduous forest in a somewhat disturbed cattle ranching area .
song in response to whistled imitation from a bird ( same as in xc368467 ) perched about 2 - 4m up in prosopis - dominated woodland .
song from a bird attracted by whistled imitation . about 2 - 4m up in prosopis - dominated woodland .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
van rossem , 1937 – s usa ( s arizona ) and w mexico ( s to n nayarit ) .
a . r . phillips , 1966 – w mexico from s nayarit to s oaxaca .
– s usa ( s texas ) through e & s mexico to panama .
phelps , sr & phelps , jr . , 1951 – margarita i ( n venezuela ) .
( daudin , 1800 ) – n & e venezuela , trinidad and the guianas .
chapman , 1929 – amazonian colombia , s venezuela and brazil s to s peru and n bolivia .
) ; wingspan c . 38 cm . long , narrow tail and distinctive whistled “popping” call . very . . .
advertising call a prolonged series of 10–60 whistled notes , c . 3 per second , sounding like . . .
tropical lowlands and foothills in primary and secondary forest , coastal and thorn scrub , bushes . . .
mostly insects ; also reptiles , birds , mammals and amphibians ; diet varies among seasons and habitat types . examples of prey items include . . .
lays generally c . mar–jun , during dry to early wet season ; eggs found in s mexico ( oaxaca ) in apr–may ; breeding late jan and . . .


cerberilla affinis is a species of sea slug , an aeolid nudibranch , a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family aeolidiidae .

it was described as a variety by bergh , 1888 but elevated to species status by burn , 1966 .

cerberilla affinis

what type of species is cerberilla affinis ? below , you will find the taxonomic groups the cerberilla affinis species belongs to .
which photographers have photos of cerberilla affinis species ? below , you will find the list of underwater photographers and their photos of the marine species cerberilla affinis .
here as promised are pages on cerberilla affinis and cerberilla annulata , two of the fascinating sand - dwelling aeolids .
cerberilla annulata & c . affinis from : bill rudman , november 26 , 1999
how to identify cerberilla affinis marine species ? below , you will find the list of main identification criteria and physical characteristics of marine species cerberilla affinis . for each identification criteria , the corresponding physical characteristics of marine species cerberilla affinis are marked in green .
where is cerberilla affinis found in the world ? below , you will find the list and a world map of the geographic distribution where the marine species cerberilla affinis can be found .
citation :
black - ringed cerberilla nudibranchs , cerberilla affinis ~ marinebio . org .
marinebio conservation society . web . accessed monday , july 9 , 2018 . < urltoken > . last update : 1 / 14 / 2010 2 : 22 : 00 pm ~ contributor ( s ) : marinebio
hi bill , looking at this 2003 photo of a slug which we had been unable to identify , it struck me now that it could be a species of cerberilla . what do you think ?
cerberilla affinis was originally described from indonesia . it is also known from lord howe island , the eastern australian mainland and new caledonia and is probably widespread in at least the west pacific . two species from the indian ocean , c . africana eliot , 1903b ( east africa ) and c . moebii ( bergh , 1888b - mauritius ) are very similar in colour and may prove to be synonymous . unfortunately most species have been described from single specimens , and so the colour variability of species is not well understood .
research cerberilla affinis » barcode of life ~ bioone ~ biodiversity heritage library ~ cites ~ cornell macaulay library [ audio / video ] ~ encyclopedia of life ( eol ) ~ esa online journals ~ fishbase ~ florida museum of natural history ichthyology department ~ gbif ~ google scholar ~ itis ~ iucn redlist ( threatened status ) ~ marine species identification portal ~ ncbi ( pubmed , genbank , etc . ) ~ ocean biogeographic information system ~ plos ~ siris ~ tree of life web project ~ unep - wcmc species database ~ worms
species of cerberilla live in sandy substrates where they burrow beneath the surface and so are seldom seen . they have a very broad foot and the cerata are often very long and extremely numerous , arranged in transverse rows across the body .
thanks nils , i am pretty sure this is a juvenile of cerberilla annulata . if you look at the phoptos on the forum you will see the body proportions change quite considerably as the animal grows in size . best wishes bill rudman
dear binyamin , this is indeed a cerberilla , and most probably cerberilla annulata . i don ' t think its been recorded from your part of the world , but i have found it in zanzibar , east africa . i should have a photo of it which i will post when i get a chance . your animal is most probably a juvenile . when they are smaller , the head tentacles are proportionally much larger than when they are adults . best wishes , bill rudman
hi bill , i finally came across another cerberilla here in the marshall islands . i am assuming these are the same as the cerberilla sp . 3 i sent a while back , although there are a couple of differences . it does not exhibit the black tips of the cephalic tentacles seen in the earlier specimens from enewetak and guam . the new specimen also has much more distinct yellow bands above the black ones on the cerata , providing a bit more evidence that it may be c . annulata . this specimen was found in kwajalein ' s harbor , crawling on sand at a depth of about 1 meter . it measured about 20mm , a bit over half the length of the cerberilla sp . 3 sent earlier . scott
thanks scott , thanks for the beautiful photos . it certainly looks like c . annulata and suggests that your earlier animal , which i called cerberilla sp . 3 may have been a variant with very faded yellow markings . the black - tipped rhinophores and oral tentacles in cerberilla sp . 3 are apparently variable because in clay carlson ' s message the guam animal seems to lack black - tipped rhinophores . you are probably right in suggesting they are all colour forms of c . annulata but as i said earlier , it is easier to amalgamate them when we are sure , than separate them if we find they are indeed different .
dear bill , here is a small pale cerberilla which we think may be the same as the darker ones in our other message . it was found during november - december 2003 with the dark species on a sandy bottom in 2 - 5m depths at lizard island ( qld , australia ) . body length 7 - 10mm . regards nils
as promised in an earlier message [ # 13224 ] here is a record of cerberilla annulata from zanzibar , tanzania . i found it half dead in a pool in muddy sand at lowtide . in the lower photos the long grey oral tentacles are folded down the side of the foot on each side . the specimen is propped up on a pair of forceps so i could photograph it properly , so don ' t be ashamed if your photo has a blemish , our aim is to get a record of the shape and colour , a perfect photo is a bonus , but not essential .
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lord howe is , off new south wales , australia , december 1988 . 70mm long alive . photos : bill rudman .
bergh , l . s . r . ( 1888 ) . beiträge zur kenntniss der aeolidiaden . ix . verhandlungen der koniglich - kaiserlich zoologisch - botanischen gesellschaft in wien ( abhandlungen ) , 38 : 673 - 706 , pls . 16 - 20 .
carmona l . , pola m . , gosliner t . m . & cervera j . l . 2013 . a tale that morphology fails to tell : a molecular phylogeny of aeolidiidae ( aeolidida , nudibranchia , gastropoda ) . plos one 8 ( 5 ) : e63000 . doi : 10 . 1371 / journal . pone . 0063000 , available online at urltoken [ details ]
to biological information system for marine life ( bismal ) to encyclopedia of life to genbank ( 1 nucleotides ; 0 proteins ) to sea slug forum ( via archive . org )
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is a large aeolid that is found on sand where it is nocturnally active . it feeds on cerianthid anemones which build tubes in soft sediment . this species was described by bergh in 1888 .
it type localities include near manila in the philippines and edam , indonesia . specimens have also been recorded from australia , okinawa , and as far east as midway atoll .
© the slug site , michael d . miller 1999 . all rights reserved .
the oral tentacles and rhinophores are banded with yellow , grey - brown , white and navy - blue . the cerata with black and yellow rings are often very long and extremely numerous , arranged in transverse rows across the body . it has a black
mask
around the rhinophores . the color of the body and foot is white with the foot marginated in yellow
the dorsum is low and flattened in profile and the foot is exeptionally broad . the anterior foot corners are prominent , being enlarged into long sharply pointed tentacles
the oral tentales are exeptionally large , tapering and the tip is pointed . the rhinophores which araised from a common base , are short slender and smooth .
the cerata are circular , slender and smooth , and they taper rapidly to a pointed tip ( fusiform ) . they are arranged in rows with the longest nearest to the midline . they are differently colored according to their position on the body ; basically they are whitish with black and yellow rings near the center .
it keeps all its cerata pointed backwards when it is crawling normally or burrowing , but when it disturbed the longest cerata are extended .
generally found on intertidal sand flats where it can rapidly burrow to escape potentiel predators and search for food . it is nocturnally active
10 specimens from 10 to 25 - 30 mm observed on this day . . .
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is a nocturnally active sand - dwelling sea - slug . it is characterized by a black
mask
around the rhinophores , and by whitish cerata with a thin black ring near the bases , followed by a white or yellow band , then a broad dark greyish subapical band and yellowish apices . the oral tentacles are very long with alternating broad brown and whitish bands , and have a blueish tinge . the rhinophores are short , also with alternating brown and whitish bands and a blueish tinge . the foot is wide and has angular extensions anteriorly .
occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution . it is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by rls divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per rls transect , where present .
please use this form only for a single type of error . if you see multiple errors on the page for this species , please report these in separate forms by clicking on this button again after submitting this form
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this is a cream species decorated with dark brown and peach bands . the tips of the rhinophores and cephalic tentacles are banded in violet and blue .
first recorded in hawaii from midway atoll by terry gosliner and pf in june , 1993 .
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sorry , the in - page video player requires internet explorer . you can download the video using the
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links provided below .
global distribution : native indonesia - s . japan - gbreef - cooks - hawai‘i cook islands status : native ; marine , near - shore , reef - flat moat key features : a seaslug to 5cm . creamy white with conspicuous cerata ( = lobes ) each with a fine black ring and often terminally brown . the front tentacles ( = cephalic tentacles are long with purple bands and a brown base , while the hind tentacles ( = rhinophores ) are short and brown .
cook islands islands : rr = rarotonga , mg = mangaia , at = ‘ātiu , mk = ma‘uke , mt = miti‘āro , ak = aitutaki , pl = palmerston , pn = penrhyn , mn = manuae , tk = takūtea , tn = tongareva ( ts = tongaleva spoken , tw = tongareva written , they say
el
but write
r
) , mh = manihiki , rk = rakahanga , pk = pukapuka , ns = nassau , sw = suwarrow . after a polynesian name : ^ = orthography query . countries and other : fij = fiji , wt = wallis & futuna , sam = samoa , ton = tonga , niu = niue , ck = cook islands , ckm = cook islands māori , fp = french polynesia , aus = australs , soc = societies , tah = tahiti , tua = tuamotus , mqs = marquesas , mng = mangareva , pit = pitcain group , eas = easter island , haw = hawai‘i , nz = new zealand , nzm = new zealand māori
vouchers : rarotonga : muri moat , near shore , 21 / 1 / 99 , tamsyn dearlove & d . drumm ;
mccormack , gerald ( 2007 ) cook islands biodiversity database , version 2007 . 2 . cook islands natural heritage trust , rarotonga . online at http : / / cookislands . bishopmuseum . org .
copyright © 2007 ( july ) the cook islands natural heritage trust , all rights reserved . copyright & use policy
in indo - pacific nudibranchs . at closer look it is actually a very light colored
. what makes the id for sure are the cerata with black and yellow sub - apical bands , the black mask and the blue oral tentacles .
this species is rather large , reaching 90 mm and has a very wide indo - pacific distribution . it is active nocturnally feeding on tube anemones .
ruben is a retired dentist and faculty . diving since 1980 with over 5000 dives . shoots nikon d200 in seacam housing with sea and sea strobes .
webmasters notes : ruben actually recorded the above image with new equipment , that is a nikon d800e camera ! folks this is the new kid on the block camera wise . now let ' s see if perhaps santa will drop one in my sock next christmas !
© the slug site , michael d . miller 2014 . all rights reserved .
upper : adult , 62mm long . lower : juvenile , 32mm long . showing change in body proportions between juveniles and adults . koumac beach ( = baie de ouanap ) , near koumac , new caledonia , 20°34 ' s , 164°16 ' e , mixed soft and hard substrate , grassbeds , algae , october 1993 . photos : bill rudman .
this sand dwelling aeolid has a wide tropical indo - west pacific distribution with published records from new guinea ( quoy & gaimard ) and tahiti ( bergh ) . i have found it in zanzibar , tanzania and new caledonia . it is characterised by the relatively long cerata , white body and cerata , and yellow ( upper ) and black ( lower ) band near the ceratal tip .
reference : • quoy , j . r . & gaimard , j . p . ( 1832 ) . voyages de découvertes de l ` astrolabe pendant les annees 1826 - 1829 sous le commandement de m . j . dumont d ` urville . zoologie , 2 : 1 - 686 .
locality : mazzizini , zanzibar , tanzania , 9 july 1971 . 45mm long alive . am c145653 . photos : bill rudman
locality : eilat , divers ' village , israel , red sea . depth : 6 m , length : ca . 2 cm . october 2003 . sandy flat with occasional corals . photographer : binyamin and shulamit koretz
i must say that the length of the oral tentacles shown in your photos are amazing . considering the reduced size of the rhinophores , it suggests that using the oral tentacles for touch , is more important in locating prey than using the chemosensory abilities of the rhinophores . best wishes , bill rudman
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, select family and click on ' identification by pictures ' to display all available pictures in sealifebase for the family .
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cfm script by , 30 . 11 . 04 , , php script by , 05 / 11 / 2010 , last modified by kbanasihan , 06 / 28 / 2010
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for all at last returns to the sea — to oceanus , the ocean river , like the everflowing stream of time , the beginning and the end .
- rachel carson
( of fenrisia bergh , 1888 ) bergh , l . s . r . ( 1888 - 1889 ) . nudibranchien vom meere der insel mauritius . in : reisen im archipel der philippinen von dr . c . semper , vol . 2 : malakologische untersuchungen . part 3 , pp . 755 - 872 , pl . 77 - 84 . [ pp . 755 - 814 , pl . 77 - 81 , august 2 , 1888 ; pp . 815 - 872 , pl . 82 - 84 , march 27 , 1889 , according to winckworth , 1946 ] . , available online at urltoken page ( s ) : 788 - 789 [ details ]
gofas , s . ; le renard , j . ; bouchet , p . ( 2001 ) . mollusca . in : costello , m . j . et al . ( eds ) , european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . patrimoines naturels . 50 : 180 - 213 . ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
bieler , r . & r . e . petit , 2012 . molluscan taxa in the publications of the museum godeffroy of hamburg , with a discussion of the godeffroy sales catalogs ( 1864–1884 ) , the journal des museum godeffroy ( 1873–1910 ) , and a history of the museum . zootaxa , 3511 : 1 - 80 [ 9 october ] . urltoken available online at urltoken page ( s ) : 59 , 66 [ details ]
( of fenrisia bergh , 1888 ) pruvot - fol a . 1935 . de quelques suppressions de genres jugés inutiles , parmi les mollusques opisthobranches ( note de systématique n° xiv ) . bulletin du museum national d ' histoire naturelle , ( 1 ) 7 ( 4 ) : 254 - 257 . , available online at urltoken page ( s ) : 255 [ details ]
depth range based on 5 specimens in 2 taxa . water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample . environmental ranges depth range ( m ) : 3 - 529 temperature range ( °c ) : 5 . 344 - 5 . 344 nitrate ( umol / l ) : 39 . 989 - 39 . 989 salinity ( pps ) : 34 . 142 - 34 . 142 oxygen ( ml / l ) : 0 . 713 - 0 . 713 phosphate ( umol / l ) : 3 . 116 - 3 . 116 silicate ( umol / l ) : 78 . 844 - 78 . 844 graphical representation depth range ( m ) : 3 - 529 note : this information has not been validated . check this * note * . your feedback is most welcome .
gofas , s . ; le renard , j . ; bouchet , p . ( 2001 ) . mollusca , in : costello , m . j . et al . ( ed . ) ( 2001 ) . european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . collection patrimoines naturels , 50 : pp . 180 - 213
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