colombian weasel ( mustela felipei ) , also known as the don felipe 's weasel , is a very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of huila and cauca in colombia and nearby northern ecuador ( where only known from a single specimen ) .

both its scientific and alternative common name honours the mammalogist philip " don felipe " hershkovitz .

it appears to be largely restricted to riparian habitats at an altitude of 1,100 to 2,700 m ( 3,600 to 8,900 ft ) .

there is extensive deforestation within its limited distribution within the northern andes of colombia and ecuador , and with less than ten known specimens , it is probably the rarest carnivoran in south america .

it is considered vulnerable by the iucn .

it is the second smallest living carnivore on average , being only slightly larger than the least weasel ( mustela nivalis ) and slightly smaller than the ermine or stoat ( m. erminea ) .

the upperparts and tail are blackish-brown , while the underparts are orange-buff .

colombian weasel

colombian weasel how did the colombian weasel become endangered ? colombia , colombian weasel what habitat / biome does the colombian weasel live in ? works cited urltoken the colombian weasel became endangered because they would chase chickens on farmers territory and the farmers would chase them back and sometimes kill one the colombian weasels habitat is colombia and possibly ecuador they like to have there habitat near water , streams , and lakes . urltoken 3 . urltoken 4 . urltoken 5 . urltoken
has colombian weasel mustela felipei been overlooked in collections ? | hector e . ramírez - chaves - urltoken
* * * as of 1996 , only five specimens of the colombian weasel were known . three of them were originally mis - labeled as the long - tailed weasel , mustela frenata , before the colombian weasel had been identified as a separate species .
the colombian weasel is approximately 22cm ( 9 inches ) long , and one weighed 138g ( 5oz ) .
there is extensive deforestation in the area where the colombian weasel has been found ; however , it is not yet established whether this is having an adverse effect on the weasel .
the colombian weasel is one of the species that live in the tropical andes biodiversity hotspot ( cons . intl . ) .
the colombian weasel ( mustela felepei ) has only recently been discovered and has never been studied in the wild . two british and three colombians are hoping to instigate a detailed study of a colombian weasel population , its habitat and the effects of human activity on them .
distribution and habitat modelling for colombian weasel mustela felipei in the northern andes | josé f . gonzález - maya and santiago burneo - urltoken
until they were identified as a separate species in 1996 , several colombian weasels were mistaken for the long - tailed weasel ( mustela frenata ) .
aka … water weasel , don felipe weasel ( after philip hershkovitz who made numerous contributions to south american fauna in the 1950s ) .
there have been no studies of reproduction in colombian weasels . however , in temperate
in english - language popular culture in particular , the term ' weasel ' is associated with devious characters . a cartoon shown on cartoon network is entitled ' i am weasel ' , whose main character is a weasel . two pokémon are based on the weasel , buizel and floatzel .
the colombian weasel lives in the mountain forests of the andes , from 1500 to 2000m ( 4921 to 6562ft ) over sea level . the climate is subtropical .
because this species is known from so few specimens and has not been observed in the wild , there is very little known about colombian weasel behavior . like other
in a paper entitled “phylogeographic patterns of mitochondrial differentiation in the long - tailed weasel , mustela frenata “ , produced at the 87th annual meeting of the american society of mammalogists , it was stated that “the first mitochondrial sequences of the colombian weasel ( mustela felipei ) , used in outgroup comparisons suggest that the colombian weasel might prove a closer sister taxon to the long - tailed weasel ( mustela frenata ) than the traditional sister taxon , the american mink ( neovison vison ) .
not much information about the diet of the colombian weasel is known . however , weasels in general are carnivores who eat up to 40 % of their body weight each day . their typical diet includes small mammals , birds , and insects . because it is suspected that the colombian weasel may be aquatic , fish might also be a component of their diet .
the females are called ' bitch , doe or jill ' and males ' buck , dog , hub or jack ' . a colombian weasel group is called a ' boogle ' .
due to the lack of information about this rare weasel , it is assumed that , being a carnivore , the animal has a similar diet to its weasel cousins , i . e . small mammals , insects , etc . however it’s also suspected that , because of its webbed feet , the colombian weasel might also include fish in its diet . habitat
the weasel pre - breeding season population is estimated to be 450 , 000 adults .
as it has webbing between its toes , scientists think that this weasel may be aquatic .
patagonian weasel ( lyncodon patagonicus , found in western argentina and central and southern chile ) .
there have been no reports of mating systems in colombian weasels . in the related and well - studied species ,
female colombian weasels nurture their newborn young and take care of them for 2 to 3 months . in other ,
* * * the colombian weasel is probably the rarest carnivore in south america . as of 1989 , virtually nothing was known about its distribution , its status or its ecology . ( schreiber et al . 1989 )
the eating inclinations of the colombian weasel : generally speaking , they eat up to forty percent of the body mass on a daily basis . the typical diet consists of : mammals , insects and birds . it is a hypothesis ( or assumption ) of some researchers / experts that colombian weasels are in fact aquatic , then it goes without saying that fish are part of their foods . the colombian weasel is basically a carnivore , lest you get confused , they have been known to attack chickens , and because of this , farmers attacked them in return .
the weasel ( mustela nivalis ) is the smallest member of the mustelid family and britains smallest carnivore .
they are pale / yellowish brown in colour although they can be darker or redder in different parts of their range . sometimes their tail has a dark brown tip and almost always their muzzle has some white colouration . habitat siberian weasels are found in the tundra , mountains and forested areas throughout east asia . they are solitary and mainly nocturnal but sometimes they hunt during the day . diet siberian weasels are ferocious and efficient predators . they mainly feed up on rodents , lizards , small birds , eggs and insects . breeding siberian weasels breed annually in spring and after a gestation period of 28 - 30 days , 2 - 12 ( average 5 ) young are born in a nest . they are taken care of by the female and when they reach a month old their eyes open . they are weaned at 2 months old and they reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years of age . predators predators of siberian weasels are large owls and birds of prey . subspecies there are four subspecies of siberian weasel : mustela sibirica subhemachalana mustela sibirica moupiensis mustela sibirica canigula mustela sibirica hodgsoni interesting facts siberian weasels are also known as : siberian mountain weasel kolinsky himalayan weasel siberian weasel fur makes the finest water colour or oil paint brushes and is especially sought after by artists . the kolinsky sable - hair brush is produced using the winter fur of the male siberian weasel , not sable . similar animals back - striped weasel colombian weasel least weasel japanese weasel long - tailed weasel malayan weasel mountain weasel patagonian weasel
one colombian weasel weighed 138 g ( 5 oz ) . known specimens have been collected in areas close to water at elevations of 1750 and 2700 m ( 5740 ' and 8900 ' ) , an altitude where cloud forests predominate . one specimen was collected in a region of the upper suaza river valley where the river contains stretches with torrential currents which are interrupted by quiet pools ( schreiber et al . 1989 ) . however , the most recent collection was in rugged terrain but not near water . webbing between the toes and its ( mostly ) riparian distribution suggests that the colombian weasel is aquatic . five specimens of the colombian weasel have been found in the highlands of the cordillera central of western colombia and in the andes of northern ecuador . there is extensive deforestation in the area where it has been found ; however , it is not yet established whether this is having an adverse effect on the weasel .
as of 1996 , only five specimens of the colombian weasel were known . the colombian weasel has been found in western colombia as well as the andes of northern ecuador . colombian weasels are considered to be riparian - to live near the bank of a body of water or a watercourse . several specimens have been collected in areas close to water at elevations of 1750 and 2700 m ( 5740 ' and 8900 ' ) , an altitude dominated by cloud forests . one collection was in the upper suaza river valley , where the river contains stretches with torrential currents which are interrupted by quiet pools . however , one of the most recent specimens was found in an area of rugged terrain that was not near water .
colombian weasels are likely to be important predators of small animals in the riparian habitats they occupy . little is know of mutualisms or parasitisms in this species .
colombian weasels may help humans by controlling rodent and insect pest populations in the areas they occupy . their skins are also used for coats and other clothing products .
cats , owls , foxes and birds of prey will all try to kill weasels , although a weasel will fight hard to defend itself .
since the discovery of the colombian weasel , only five specimens have been obtained from western colombia ( provinces of huila and cauca ) and northern ecuador ( nowak , 2005 ) . the species was thought to be endemic to the cordillera central of colombia , but another specimen was found from andean ecuador ( schreiber
have broader bodies . an order of magnitude difference in size exists between the smallest and largest mustelid species . the smallest species is the least weasel (
* * * inhabitants of areas adjoining sites where the colombian weasel was being studied were asked which mammals they were familiar with . almost all farm - dwelling people questioned had seen weasels , and usually thought of them as pests , since most encounters involved predation upon chickens or domestic guinea pigs ( fawcett et al . 1996 ) .
project update : 25 / 3 / 98 . the team were the first to study the recently discovered colombian weasel in the wild . the project led on to a research project on another species of weasel by a local student and an environment education poster about cloudforest mammals was initiated by the leader and iucn specialist group . it will be distributed in colombia and possibly ecuador to raise awareness and generate feedback from wardens and communities on the rarer species ( d . fawcett in litt . 1998 ) .
african striped weasel ( poecilogale albinucha , found in southern africa ) . larivère and jennings ( 2009 ) noted that , given recent data indicating that the african striped weasel is the sister taxon to the zorilla ( ictonyx striatus ) ( koepfli et al . 2008 ) , it should probably be placed in the genus ictonyx as well .
weasels have light brown fur on their backs and their underparts are creamy / white . the weasel is smaller than the stoat and lacks the small white patches under their chin and throat . in many weasel species , populations living at high latitudes moult to a white coat with black fur at the tip of the tail in winter . weasels have sharp eyesight and excellent hearing .
there has been extensive deforestation in the area where this particular weasel has been found but , to date , it hasn’t been established whether this is causing an adverse effect on it or not .
almost nothing is known of colombian weasel ' s habitat preferences ( schreiber et al . 1989 ) , but its naked foot soles with extensive interdigital webbing and records in areas of riparian habitats suggest that the species is adapted to water - edge environments ( ramírez - chaves & patterson 2014 ) . the few specimens have been obtained from between 1 , 525 and 2 , 700 m , an altitude range where cloud forests predominate .
at the time of the review of the family mustelidae by larivère and jennings ( 2009 ) , the iucn listed seven mustelid species as endangered ( giant otter , marine otter , southern river otter [ lontra provocax ] , sea otter , hairy - nosed otter [ lutra sumatrana ] , european mink , and black - footed ferret ) ; five as vulnerable ( nilgiri marten [ martes gwatkinsii ] , marbled polecat , asian small - clawed otter [ aonyx cinereus ] , smooth - coated otter , and colombian weasel [ mustela felipei ] ) ; and four as near threatened ( hog badger , wolverine , eurasian otter , and mountain weasel [ mustela altaica ] ) . of the remaining species , 35 were listed as least concern and six as data deficient . in fact , so little is known about most mustelid species that reliable status assessments are difficult . the colombian weasel ( mustela felipei ) was described only in 1978 ( izor and de la torre 1978 ) and may be the rarest carnivore in south america ( ramírez - chaves et al . 2012 ) .
colombian weasels communicate with vocalizations , vision , touch , and probably with scent cues . individuals of this species stand on their hind legs to search for others and emit a high - pitched sound to alert relatives in times of danger .
the ermine , least weasel , and long - tailed weasel ( mustela frenata ) completely change their coats between summer and winter , with a dramatic change from brown to white in the northern parts of the range and at high elevations ( in other areas , the summer coat is dark ) . interestingly , ermine and long - tailed weasels retain the black tail tip in the winter , which experiments have suggested may focus the attention of potential predators away from the body as a weasel makes its escape . japanese weasels ( mustela itatsi ) replace their dark brown summer coat with a much paler yellowish one in the winter .
izor , r . , l . de la torre . 1978 . a new species of weasel ( mustela ) form the highlands of colombia , with comments on the evolution and distribution of south american weasels . .
one colombian weasel weighed 138 g ( 5 oz ) . known specimens have been collected in areas close to water at elevations of 1750 and 2700 m ( 5740 ' and 8900 ' ) , an altitude where cloud forests predominate . one specimen was collected in a region of the upper suaza river valley where the river contains stretches with torrential currents which are interrupted by quiet pools ( schreiber et al . 1989 ) . however , the most recent collection was in rugged terrain but not near water .
the weasel may travel up to 2 . 5 kilometres on a hunting expedition . weasels are good climbers and will often raid birds nests , taking the eggs and young . when ratting , its courage is even greater than the stoats .
colombian weasels are recognized as vulnerable with a decreasing population trend by the iucn . very little is known about their life history and population status , but their rarity and the fact that many of the areas they are thought to inhabit have been severely impacted by deforestation suggests that populations are threatened .
. smaller carnivores that are restricted to small habitat fragments may also be at risk to predation by larger carnivores that can more easily move among fragments . hunting has been a problem for some species , while others , particularly tropical mustelids , do not seem to be declining as a result . endangered mustelids include : colombian weasels (
adult specimens have averaged 22 cm ( 8 . 7 in ) in length , not counting the 11 . 5 cm ( 4 . 5 in ) tail , and weighed 120 to 150 g ( 4 . 2 to 5 . 3 oz ) . colombian weasels are the second smallest living carnivore , being only slightly larger than least weasels (
weasels feed on small mammals and in former times were considered vermin since some species took poultry from farms , or rabbits from commercial warrens . certain species of weasel and ferrets , have been reported to perform the mesmerizing weasel ‘war dance’ , after fighting other animals , or acquiring food from competing creatures . in folklore at least , this dance is particularly associated with the stoat . mice and voles make up 60 % – 80 % of their diet , however , they also eat rats , frogs and birds . their prey is killed with a sharp bite to the back of the neck . prey is usually taken on the ground .
main characteristics siberian weasels are a large species of weasel . they have a body length between 30 and 40 . 5 cms ( 12 - 15 . 9 inches ) , a tail length between 18 and 25 . 5 cms ( 7 - 10 inches ) and they weigh approximately 57 g ( 2 oz ) .
morphology : most mustelids are small to medium - sized carnivores with long bodies and short limbs ( some , such as the wolverine and badgers , have a stockier body shape ) . the least weasel , which is not only the smallest weasel but also the world ' s smallest carnivore , may weigh in at as little as 25 g when fully grown . sexual size dimorphism in mustelids can be striking , with males often twice the size of females . the largest mustelid is the sea otter , which can reach 45 kg , and on land , the wolverine , which can reach 18 kg . mustelids have five toes on each foot and often strong claws . their ears can be pointed forward or swiveled to the side , but not folded back .
only six specimens of colombian weasel , from five localities in four provinces or departments , have been obtained : from western colombia ( departments of chocó - valle del cauca , huila and cauca ) and northern ecuador ( province of napo ) . the most northern is from 4°51 ' n , and the most southern from 0°25 ' n . recent re - examination of neotropical mustela specimens in many collections revealed no new m . felipei , re - affirming the conventional view of the rarity of the species ; many published accounts contain records in error or for which the reliability cannot be judged ( rámirez - chaves et al . 2012 ) . it is however possible that the species has been under - recorded because , in this part of the andes , weasels in general are extremely challenging to identify in the field : this species is morphologically very similar to long - tailed weasel m . frenata ( rámirez - chaves et al . 2012 ) . tirira and gonzalez - maya ( 2009 ) traced records from 1 , 525 to 2 , 700 m a . s . l . ; a record from a lower altitude was considered to be an error of identification by rámirez - chaves et al . ( 2012 ) .
weasels vary in length , but generally , male weasels measure around 20 – 22 centimetres long and have a tail length of 6 . 5 centimetres and female weasels measure around 15 – 18 centimetres long and have a tail length of 4 . 5 centimetres . the average weasel weighs about 198 grams ( 7 ounces ) , however , males usually weigh up to 115 grams and females up to 59 grams .
) were recognized . they were found in west colombia and also in parts of north ecuador ( andes ) . the colombian weasel is labelled as riparian , and this means , living near water or a water - course , fact is , many individuals were acquired / sighted near bodies of water at elevations of 1700 to 2700 meters . there are of course exceptions , but truly exceptions at that , one recent discovery was from a place far from water . speaking of the five specimens , they had been found at the high lands of western colombia , and these areas were heavily exploited , deforestation - wise . a specimen in the distant past was found in the upper suaza ( it ' s a river ) where the body of water possesses stretches of currents mixed in with
peaceful
pools ( and when i say mixed , interrupted is what it means here ) .
each weasel has a territory of 4 – 8 hectares ( 1 hectare is equal to 2 football pitches ) . male territories are larger than females and they may overlap with one another . the size of the territory depends on the food supply ; where there is plenty there is no need to hunt for food far and wide . the individual territories are marked with strong - smelling secretions from the anal scent glands .
neither the stoat or weasel is in any real danger of extinction in the uk , they are however threatened by hunting , habitat loss , poisoning and both often get run over on the country lanes . they do tend to live around farms as the hedgerow habitat and plentiful food supply suits them . this often leads them into conflict with farmers , especially problematic are stoats who are very able at snatching chickens , eggs as well as game birds .
colombian weasels are very rare , and very little is known about them . they are found in riparian areas , near rivers and along the banks of other natural water sources . only six localities have been confirmed in colombia and ecuador . the few specimens that have been obtained were collected from altitudes ranging between 1 , 750 and 2 , 700 m where cloud forests predominate . one specimen was collected in the upper suaza river valley ( cueva de los guacharos national park ) . this part of the suaza river contains a mixture of violent currents and quiet pools .
the weasel family is made up of meat - eaters . when searching for food , they can cover a large area . they aren ' t afraid of prey larger than themselves . in general , members of this family live alone . females are always smaller than the males . the males also have a larger territory than the females . while female lives in an area where she can find enough food , the male tries to make his territory large enough to accompany lots of females .
the mustelidae ( from latin mustela , weasel ) are a family of carnivorous mammals , including the otters , badgers , weasels , martens , ferrets , minks and wolverines . mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order carnivora . the internal classification still seems to be rather unsettled , with rival proposals containing between two and eight subfamilies . one study , published in 2008 , questions the long - accepted mustelinae subfamily , and suggests that mustelidae consist of four major clades and three much smaller lineages .
species , fertilized eggs develop for approximately eight days before suspending development for 7 . 5 months . after this time , the embryos resume development , and 6 to 8 young are born 24 days later . all together , the gestation period lasts 200 to 300 days . newborn colombian weasels are blind and hairless . they measure approximately 55 mm in length and weigh up to 2 g each . they quickly develop a soft fur , which is replaced by adult fur after 3 weeks . by week 5 , their teeth have come in . their eyes open by 6 weeks of age , at which point weaning begins .
habitat : mustelids can be found in a great diversity of habitats , including marine ( marine otter [ lontra felina ] and sea otter ) , rivers ( north american river otter [ lontra canadensis ] and spotted - necked otter ) , temperate forest ( european pine marten [ martes martes ] and american marten [ martes americana ] ) , dry open woodlands ( african striped weasel ) , and grasslands ( black - footed ferret [ mustela nigripes ] ) . some mustelids have very broad habitat preferences . for example , ermine and least weasels can be found from grasslands to woodlands and honey badgers from forests to deserts .
justification : colombian weasel is listed as vulnerable under c2a ( i ) , inferring a population size of at least 1 , 350 mature individuals from the current known range and a plausible population density , and assuming a continuing decline in population due to ongoing deforestation ( acknowledging the species may potentially tolerate some level of forest degradation ) . the range is sufficiently extensive to make it highly likely that no one subpopulation holds over 1 , 000 mature individuals . in addition , it is plausible that the species might meet the threshold for vulnerable under d1 ( a total population of 1 , 000 mature individuals or fewer ) if the density is only three - quarters of the arbitrary figure given in the ' population ' section ( and again assuming that the current range is not larger ) . this listing may be slightly evidentiary . indeed , a categorisation of endangered under c2a ( i ) is not out of the question , especially as no subpopulation may hold more than 250 mature individuals ; however , equally , the total population size might also be severely underestimated , especially if the range is larger than currently documented ( implying a larger population than speculated here ) . on balance , it is unlikely that this species ' s the true range has been fully documented so far , especially for a species so difficult to identify by typical mammal survey methods . hence , vulnerable seems to be a more appropriate listing , pending re - assessment when more information becomes available .
colombian weasel occurs in a limited geographic area where deforestation is rampant ( nowak 2005 , etter and van wyngaarden 2000 ) ; a significant proportion of the estimated range of the species has been deforested for agriculture and illicit crops . between 1990 and 2010 , forest cover net loss within the species´s known extent of occurrence ( eoo ) reached 10 % overall , and was 13 % within its suitable habitat ( areas within its eoo ) between 1 , 500 and 2 , 700 m a . s . l . ) ; for the last potential distribution model for the species ( ramírez - chaves and mantilla - meluk 2009 ) a net forest loss of 26 % was estimated for the period of 1990 - 2010 . forest lost estimates before 1990 indicate even a larger net loss ( etter and van wyngaarden 2000 ) . currently , there is only 36 % of forest cover within the eoo , 35 % within the altitudinally suitable eeo , and 25 % within the last modelled distribution . these deforestation trends are likely to continue given the historical drivers still operating in the area . the extent of the species ' s association with forest is , however , unknown , so the relationship of these deforestation statistics to the species ' s population trend is also unclear . for example , the former could overestimate the latter if the species is not particularly tied to forest , or if densities are higher in degraded and edge areas than in pristine forest ; or they could be an underestimate if the species is tied to a particularly rapidly declining microhabitat .
weasels , european mink , and polecats ( mustela , 17 species , various species found across much of north america , europe , and asia ; in africa , the european polecat [ mustela putorius ] is present in morocco and the egyptian weasel [ mustela subpalmata ] is found in egypt ; ermine [ m . erminea ] have been introduced to new zealand and least weasels [ m . nivalis ] have been introduced to new zealand , malta , crete , the azores , and apparently são tomé island ) . the domestic ferret is believed to be descended from the european polecat and is often referred to as m . putorius furo , but steppe polecats ( m . eversamanii ) may also be among the ancestors of the domestic ferret .
mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour . the least weasel is not much larger than a mouse , while the giant otter can measure up to 1 . 7 m ( 5 ft 7 in ) in length and sea otters can exceed 45 kg ( 99 lb ) in weight . the wolverine can crush bones as thick as the femur of a moose to get at the marrow , and has been seen attempting to drive bears away from their kills . the sea otter uses rocks to break open shellfish to eat . the marten is largely arboreal , while the badger digs extensive networks of tunnels , called setts . some mustelids have been domesticated : the ferret and the tayra are kept as pets ( although the tayra requires a dangerous wild animals licence in the uk ) , or as working animals for hunting or vermin control . others have been important in the fur trade —the mink is often raised for its fur .
some other mustelids , such as the sable ( martes zibellina ) and american mink , are still highly valued for their fur commercially and african striped weasel skins are used in traditional ceremonies in africa . although american mink are still trapped in the wild , many millions are also bred on farms in the united states , europe , and , more recently , china . the escape of american mink from fur farms has resulted in the establishment of wild populations in europe and asia , which are believed to have negative consequences for competitors , such as european mink , as well as for native prey , such as water voles in britain . in new zealand , ermine and least weasels were introduced deliberately in the 1880s in an effort to reduce populations of introduced european rabbits . ermine have thrived , not only feeding on rabbits but also devastating local fauna , especially flightless birds . today , ermine are present in virtually all forested areas in new zealand , although least weasels are rare , presumably due to the scarcity of the smaller prey on which they specialize ( voles are absent and feral house mice are the only rodents smaller than 50 g ) .
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izor and de la torre ( 1978 ) suggested that m . africana and m . felipei form a monophyletic group . youngman ( 1982 ) placed m . felipei in subgenus grammogale ; abramov ( 2000 ) placed it in subgenus cabreragale .
one specimen was collected in cueva de los guacharos national park ( ramírez - chaves et al . 2012 ) . purace national park is also close to a collecting site ( schreiber et al . 1989 ) . in ecuador the species has not been recorded in any protected area ( tirira and gonzález - maya 2009 ) . potentially , according to models , the species could be potentially present in 10 protected areas in colombia ( ramírez - chaves and mantilla - meluk 2009 , burneo et al . 2009 ) and 14 in ecuador ( burneo et al . 2009 ) ; but no confirmed records exist from any of these areas ( ramírez - chaves et al . 2012 ) . determining the conservation needs is hampered by the minimal information on the species ' s natural history . it is therefore a high priority to find and study an extant population , particularly its habitat use and threats ( if any ) . at least five field efforts in six localities in colombia ( two adjacent to previous records ) failed to detect the species ( ramírez - chaves and patterson 2014 , j . f . gonzález - maya pers . comm . 2015 ) . moreover , natural habitat at three of the five known localities have been severely fragmented in recent years .
gonzález - maya , j . f . , emmons , l . , helgen , k . & arias - alzate , aaa . 2016 .
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five specimens have been found in the highlands of the cordillera central of western colombia near san agustin , huila province and popayan , cauca province , and in the andes of northern ecuador .
burton & pearson 1987 , cons . intl . , emmons & feer 1997 , fawcett et al . 1996 , infonatura , iucn 1994 , iucn 1996 , iucn 2000 , iucn 2003a , iucn 2004 , izor & de la torre 1978 , nowak 1999 , nowak & paradiso 1983 , schreiber et al . 1989
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specimens had been discovered in places at elevations of 5740 ' and 8900 ' , and in case you do not know it , these are altitudes where typical cloud forests are present .
: these weasels have been killed in the past , because of local superstitious beliefs .
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it’s probably the rarest carnivore in south america and virtually nothing was known about its distribution , its status or its ecology prior to 1989 .
it’s listed on the iucn red list of threatened species as endangered ( en ) and it’s considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild .
these weasels are considered to be riparian , which means that they probably live near the banks of a natural course of water .
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has been observed from western colombia ( provinces of huila and cauca ) to northern ecuador . the species was thought to be endemic to the cordillera central of colombia until another specimen was found in andean ecuador . within this potential distribution there are 34 protected areas ( 20 in colombia and 14 in ecuador ) . there are three confirmed localities for the species in each for colombia and ecuador ; all lie within 1 , 123 to 2 , 700 m elevation .
occurs in colombia from serrania de los paraguas in the limits between the chocó and valle del cauca departments ( 4°51′n , 76°25′w ) through the northern andes of ecuador in mera in the province of pastaza ( 1°27′s , 78°05′w ; schreiber et al . , 1989 ; wozencraft , 2005 ) . according to the international union for conservation of nature and natural resources , there are likely to be serious threats to the protection of this species and they proposed several core regions to protect to ensure its survival . the iucn currently recognizes the species as vulnerable at a b2ab level ( ii , iii , iv , iucn red list of threatened species , 2013 ) .
(
iucn red list of threatened species .
, 2013 ;
mustela
, 2013 ; hollister , 1914 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 )
(
mustela
, 2013 ; alberico , 1994 ; anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; bernal , 2004a ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; hollister , 1914 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; youngman , 1982 )
. the upperparts and tail are blackish - brown , the underparts are orange - buff , and the fur is quite long . little else is known about its physical appearance , though research indicates it has webbed feet to help provide stability in semi - aquatic habitats .
( bernal , 2004b ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; emmons and helgen , 2013 ; hollister , 1914 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 )
range basal metabolic rate 0 . 69 to 0 . 76 cm3 . o2 / g / hr
, there is a monogamous pair bond , the male is attentive to the female - especially during weaning - and watches the young while she hunts for herself . both parents take care of the offspring for two to three months . however , in other species of
, males compete for access to mating with multiple females and do not participate in the care of young .
( eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; hollister , 1914 ; hunter , 2011 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 ;
mustela
, 2013 ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; hollister , 1914 ; hunter , 2011 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
( bernal , 2004a ; emmons and helgen , 2013 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; hunter , 2011 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
( anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; bernal , 2004b ; bernal , 2004a ; hollister , 1914 ; hunter , 2011 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
( hollister , 1914 ; hunter , 2011 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
( anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; bernal , 2004a ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 )
( bernal , 2004a ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 )
cousins . because of their webbed feet and occurrence in riparian habitats , they are assumed to eat fish and other aquatic organisms , in addition to terrestrial small mammals and insects .
( alberico , 1994 ; anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; bernal , 2004b ; bernal , 2004a ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; emmons and helgen , 2013 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
little is known about predation on or anti - predator adaptations in this species . however , their coloration likely helps them blend in with the environment .
( bernal , 2004b ; bernal , 2004a ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; hollister , 1914 ; izor and peterson , 1985 ; izor and de la torre , 1978 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
(
mustela
, 2013 ; alberico , 1994 ; anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; eisenberg and redford , 1999 ; emmons and helgen , 2013 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; hollister , 1914 ; mckelvey , et al . , 2007 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; nowak , 2005 ; rageot and albuja , 1994 ; youngman , 1982 )
( emmons and helgen , 2013 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; hollister , 1914 ; hunter , 2011 ; llano , et al . , 2010 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; schreiber , et al . , 1989 ; youngman , 1982 )
( alberico , 1994 ; anderson and martinez - meyer , 2003 ; emmons and helgen , 2013 ; hijmans , et al . , 2005 ; mesa - gonzalez , 2006 ; youngman , 1982 )
kirsten wesner ( author ) , university of wisconsin - stevens point , christopher yahnke ( editor ) , university of wisconsin - stevens point , tanya dewey ( editor ) , university of michigan - ann arbor , shaina stewart ( editor ) , university of wisconsin - stevens point .
living in the southern part of the new world . in other words , central and south america .
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state ; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth / hatching . in birds , naked and helpless after hatching .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
having markings , coloration , shapes , or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment ; being difficult to see or otherwise detect .
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature . endothermy is a synapomorphy of the mammalia , although it may have arisen in a ( now extinct ) synapsid ancestor ; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities . convergent in birds .
offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody ( usually , but not always , a river or stream ) .
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator , from 23 . 5 degrees north to 23 . 5 degrees south .
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female .
2013 .
iucn red list of threatened species .
( on - line ) . accessed august 10 , 2013 at urltoken .
2013 .
mustela
( on - line ) . accessed august 18 , 2013 at urltoken .
anderson , r . , e . martinez - meyer . 2003 . modelling species’ geo - graphic distributions for preliminary conservation assessments : an implementation with the spiny pocket mice ( heteromys ) of ecuador .
bernal , e . 2004 . plan de desarrollo chivatá - boyacá . alcaldía municipal de chivatá .
emmons , l . , k . helgen . 2013 . iucn red list of threatened species .
hijmans , r . , s . cameron , j . parra , p . jones , a . jarvas . 2005 . very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global landareas .
hollister , n . 1914 . . descriptions of four new mammals from tropical america .
izor , r . , n . peterson . 1985 . notes on south american weasels . .
llano , j . , j . salazar , j . agudelo , a . perez , j . hernandez . 2010 . estado de conocimiento de la fauna silvestre en la juridiccion de corantioquia . corporacion autonoma regional del centro de antioquia .
mckelvey , k . , k . aubry , m . schwartz . 2007 . using anecdotal occurrence data for rare or elusive species : the illusion of reality and a call for evidentiary standards . .
mesa - gonzalez , e . 2006 . libro rojo de los mamíferos de colombia .
nowak , r . 2005 . walker’s carnivores of the world . pp . 300 - 355 in
. baltimore , usa and london , uk . : johns hopkins university press .
schreiber , a . , r . wirth , m . riffel , h . van rompaey . 1989 . weasels , civets , mongooses , and their relatives . an action plan for the conservation of mustelids and viverrids .
youngman , p . 1982 . distribution and systematics of the european mink mustela lutreola linnaeus .
to cite this page : wesner , k . 2014 .
mustela felipei
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
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kari pihlaviita added the finnish common name
andienkärppä
to
mustela felipei izor and de la torre , 1978
.
kari pihlaviita added the finnish common name
kolumbiankärppä
to
mustela felipei izor and de la torre , 1978
.
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the herons are the long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family ardeidae , with 64 recognised species , some of which are referred to as " egrets " or " bitterns " rather than herons .

members of the genera botaurus and ixobrychus are referred to as " bitterns " , and , together with the zigzag heron or zigzag bittern in the monotypic genus zebrilus , form a monophyletic group within the ardeidae .

egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons , and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes .

although egrets have the same build as herons , they tend to be smaller .

herons , by evolutionary adaptation , have long beaks .

the classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty , and no clear consensus exists about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera , ardea and egretta .

similarly , the relationships of the genera in the family are not completely resolved .

however , one species formerly considered to constitute a separate monotypic family , the cochlearidaeor the boat-billed heron , is now regarded as a member of the ardeidae .

although herons resemble birds in some other families , such as the storks , ibises , spoonbills , and cranes , they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted , not outstretched .

they are also one of the bird groups that have powder down .

some members of this group nest colonially in trees , while others , notably the bitterns , use reed beds .

heron

yellow - crowned night - heron the yellow - crowned night - heron has a chunkier body and heavier bill .
in 1880 , the most common heron occupation in the usa was farmer . 34 % of heron ' s were farmers . farmer , laborer and keeping house were the top 3 reported jobs worked by heron . a less common occupation for the heron family was farm laborer .
in 1881 , the most common o ' heron occupation in canada was servant . 100 % of o ' heron ' s were servants .
you will receive an email ( no more than once per day ) summarizing any new mentions of heron on nameberry . would you like to follow heron ?
visit the bent life history for extensive additional information on the great blue heron .
the total of apparently occupied grey heron nests in cheshire and wirral , 1980–2007 .
i quite like heron , and i like that it has meaning for you .
a retrospective deep dive into one of heron ' s early fixed income impact investments .
adult great blue heron ( white - morph ) , captiva is . , fl .
figure 1 . range of the black - crowned night - heron in north america .
adult black - crowned night - heron foraging , lake martin , la , april .
the white - faced heron is one of new zealand ' s commonest large birds .
the heron is dead in an instant , and two other lions rush into the frame .
figure 1 . breeding , nonbreeding , and year - round ranges of the great blue heron .
the great blue heron is one of the most widespread and adaptable wading birds in north america .
to me , heron doesn ' t seem quite as namelike as wren , robin or lark .
between 1948 and 2004 , heron life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957 , and highest in 1996 . the average life expectancy for heron in 1948 was 44 , and 77 in 2004 .
kc tsang did it again . on 30th december 2008 he sighted a malayan night heron . . .
the earliest occurrence of the heron surname in our family history documents is from 1454 , and we currently have 117 , 847 records where heron appears . here are a few more facts to get you started…
heron may feel like a very usable nature name - - the heron is a long - legged wading bird - - but it was also the name of a 1st century greek inventor and of an egyptian saint . highly unusual yet easy to understand and meaningful on several levels , heron is a fantastic choice .
to find your nearest heron foods store , simply enter a place name or postcode in the field below .
the tall , long - legged great blue heron is the most common and largest of north american herons .
last year a heron took nearly half our adult and young goldfish and golden orfe from our fish pond .
what about heather ? it ' s a nature name with some of the same soft sounds as heron .
the great blue heron is a tall , long - legged , long - necked heron with a bluish - gray body , a pale head with a black stripe above the eye , and black streaking on the foreneck .
the name heron is a boy ' s name meaning
hero
. heron and is often added to lists like unique middle names for boys and discussed in our forums with posts like
baby a day
.
similar species : the white - faced heron is paler and two - toned grey , with an obvious white face when adult . it has a more upright stance , and uses a much wider range of habitats than the reef heron , which is never seen away from the coast . in flight , the reef heron is uniformly dark , whereas the white - faced heron ' s dark flight feathers contrast with the paler grey wing coverts and body .
the grey heron is a tall bird with a long neck and legs , and a heavy dagger - like bill .
white - bellied heron – ardea insignis . avis . indianbiodiversity . org . retrieved on 2012 - 08 - 22 .
i’m a big heron fan - i always shop locally and i pop into heron at least 3 times a week . love the products and element of surprise offers ! the staff make it extra special . pride in their store is very evident !
copyright © 2018 heron foods . all rights reserved . all offers are subject to availability . prices include vat where applicable .
as heron continues to optimize our portfolio for mission , some types of impact look great in isolation—but less so in context .
reef heron . adult stalking . port charles , coromandel peninsula , may 2009 . image © neil fitzgerald by neil fitzgerald urltoken
a medium - sized dark grey heron with a long , greyish - yellow bill , and greenish - yellow legs , that is uniformly dark in flight . an all - white form of reef heron also exists but is rare in new zealand .
a grey heron has been seen flying overhead many times over the last few years and occasionally has visited our garden or those of our neighbours , especially in the early morning . several magpies and carrion crows usually
escort
and mob the heron .
an all - white subspecies , the great white heron , is found in coastal areas of southern florida , along with individuals that are intermediate in plumage ( showing a grayish body with a mostly white head and neck ) , known as “würdemann’s heron . ”
we had never seen a heron here before . we put a net over the pond but the heron still came and made holes in the net to get to what was left of our fish . don’t know how we can protect our fish this year .
we recently merged updates to run heron natively using mesos in aws , mesos / aurora in aws , and locally on a laptop .
in an effort to be as transparent as possible , heron has been posting the performance of its financial portfolio dating all the way back to 1992 . and lately , observant readers have been sending us questions about the way in which heron’s portfolio performed during the 2008 financial crisis .
the great blue heron is a large , slim wading bird with a long , curving neck and long legs . most often confused mistaken as a sandhill crane , in flight the great blue heron folds its neck back over its shoulders in an s - shape , while cranes hold their necks outstretched in flight . while hunting , the great blue heron stands nearly motionless , and despite its size can be easily overlooked .
adams , r . 2013 . reef heron . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
one of the interesting and critical recent advances in understanding the systematics of herons is that three groups of herons are more primitive than the rest , the tiger herons , the agami heron , and the boat billed heron , the latter being a sister group of all the remaining herons . the tiger heron subfamily includes five species . members of the group have somewhat bittern - like plumage , but differ from bitterns in a number of skeletal characteristics and in behavior . the distributions of the species are scattered in the tropics of america ( tigrisoma ) , new guinea ( zonerodius ) and africa ( tigrionis ) . the old world forms are of conservation concern . the agami heron is a unique and little known heron from the american tropics . the boat billed heron is a polytypic species , also unique and requiring additional study to understand its population structure for conservation purposes .
what made you want to look up heron ? please tell us where you read or heard it ( including the quote , if possible ) .
white - faced heron . adult in breeding plumage . anderson park , taradale , napier , january 2012 . image © adam clarke by adam clarke
i had never thought of heron as a name before , but my initial reaction is that i quite like it . i think heron stands as a lovely full name without need of a nickname , but hera is a beautiful , all - girl nickname . i like herons - i think the great blue heron is a gorgeous , long and lean , elegant bird , and a decent namesake . heron seems a little gender - neutral , but leans feminine to me . and i love a good nature name , even if i can ' t talk my husband into them !
the nest will be twiggy , usually at the top of a tall tree , such as a mature oak tree . herons nest in colonies , known as heronries , and one tree may contain up to six heron nests . there have been rare observations of heron nests found on the ground .
the tricolored heron is protected by the u . s . migratory bird treaty act and as a state threatened by florida’s endangered and threatened species rule .
juvenile white - bellied heron released . royal society for protection of nature ( rspn ) , thimphu : bhutan ( 2011 - 09 - 17 ) .
on the plus side , i don ' t think heron needs a nickname . it ' s like simon or emma - simple enough to avoid shortening .
another dead juvenile heron stood 1 . 58 m ( 5 . 2 ft ) tall and weighed 8 . 51 kg ( 18 . 8 lb ) .
the ' great white heron ' is generally considered a color - morph of the great blue ( a . h . occidentalis ) , though some authorities suggest it is a distinct species . where the dark and white forms overlap in florida , intermediate birds known as ' wurdemann ' s herons ' can be found ; they have the grayish bodies of a great blue heron , but the white head and neck of the great white heron . ; photographer william l . newton
the black - crowned night - heron ( nycticorax nycticorax ) is the most widespread heron in the world , breeding on every continent except antarctica and australia , where the genus is represented by the nankeen ( or rufous ) night - heron ( nycticorax caledonicus ) . although widespread and common in north america , its coloration and behavior , as well as its nocturnal and crepuscular feeding habits - - especially outside the breeding season - - render it less noticeable than many diurnal herons . this heron is an opportunistic forager that feeds on a wide variety of terrestrial organisms , but its diet consists primarily of fish and other freshwater and marine organisms .
the all - white color morph found in the caribbean and southern florida is often called the great white heron , but it is in fact the same species .
crossland , a . c . 1992 . first record of white phase reef heron ( egretta sacra ) in new zealand . notornis 39 : 233 - 234 .
it ' s a completely androgynous name - i would have no idea whether heron was a boy or girl . that could be a plus or a minus .
heron ' s size depends on the species . they can reach between 34 and 55 inches in length and weigh between 3 . 3 and 6 . 6 pounds .
walters , michael .
the correct scientific name of the white - bellied heron
. bulletin of the british ornithologists ' club 121 ( 4 ) : 234–236 .
the tricolored heron is a midsized member of the genus egretta . this species can reach a length between 24 - 26 inches ( 61 - 66 centimeters ) with a wingspan of approximately 36 inches ( 91 centimeters ) . the tricolored heron is named for its distinct coloration . it has a dark slate - blue colored head and upper body , a purple chest , and white underparts . this species also has a long , slender neck and bill , and is the only dark heron with light underparts .
adams , r . 2013 [ updated 2017 ] . white - faced heron . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
if you are near appropriate habitat , consider building a nest platform to attract herons . you can get plans for great blue heron nest platform on our all about birdhouses site .
we ' re excited that you have an opinion about the name heron . to rate names on nameberry , please register for an account or log in to an existing account .
at the species level , many herons are well characterized . but there remains much uncertainty as to the species limits of many forms . the green herons , the little egret group , intermediate egret , great egrets , pond herons , small bitterns , large bitterns , boat billed heron , great blue heron and grey heron are some of the forms for which species limits remain unsettled . as late as 2005 , a new heron species was recognized as being distinct from another . of course this uncertainty may reflect in part difficulty with applying the species concept to widespread forms with isolated populations . but it more fundamentally reflects a lack of behavioural and molecular information available on these birds . research is essential to properly design conservation actions .
census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your heron ancestors , such as occupation . occupation can tell you about your ancestor ' s social and economic status .
the first of a series of retrospective deep dives into a broad selection of heron ' s early fixed income impact investments , featuring the financing of a wind turbine factory in jonesboro , arkansas .
census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your o ' heron ancestors , such as occupation . occupation can tell you about your ancestor ' s social and economic status .
within the second heron subfamily , the bitterns , botaurus includes four superficially similar species in , north america , south america , australia and eurasia - africa . all species are of conservation concern . eight small bitterns are included in the genus ixobrychus . the most distinctive may be the little known zigzag heron , which is of conservation concern due to the lack of distribution and status information .
edgar , a . t . 1978 . the reef heron ( egretta sacra ) in new zealand . notornis , 25 : 25 - 58 . available from urltoken ( sighted 22 july 2012 ) .
the familiar great blue heron is the largest heron in north america . it is a large bird , with a slate - gray body , chestnut and black accents , and very long legs and neck . in flight , it looks enormous , with a six - foot wingspan . adults sport a shaggy ruff at the base of their necks . a black eyebrow extends back to black plumes emerging from the head . juveniles have a dark crown with no plumes or ruff , and a mottled neck . in flight , a great blue heron typically holds its head in toward its body with its neck bent .
heron is realtime analytics platform developed by twitter . it is the direct successor of apache storm , built to be backwards compatible with storm ' s topology api but with a wide array of architectural improvements .
a recent announcement by blackrock ceo larry fink that corporations need to pay more attention to their effects on society echoes heron chair buzz schmidt’s call for accountability for enterprises’ positive or negative effect on society’s wherewithal .
for naturalists who enjoy the shore and marsh , this heron ' s distinctive call is a quintessential sound of dusk and night . in life histories of north american marsh birds , a . c . bent (
the white - faced heron is new zealand ' s most common heron , despite being a relatively new arrival to this country . it is a tall , elegant , blue - grey bird that can be seen stalking its prey in almost any aquatic habitat , including damp pasture and playing fields . because it occupies space also shared with people it is usually well habituated to their presence , and may allow close approach .
census records can give you a fascinating window into the day - to - day lives of your heron ancestors - like hours worked per week , level of education , veteran status , employers , and more .
the tricolored heron faces many threats to its population , such as the continued development of wetlands . as with other birds that inhabit estuaries , the exposure to pollutants and pesticides are a threat to the tricolored heron population ( rodgers 1997 , spalding et al . 1997 ) . other threats include alterations to the hydrology of foraging areas , reduced prey abundance , and oil spill impacts to critical breeding , foraging and roosting sites .
the white - bellied heron is found in the wetlands of tropical and subtropical forests in the foothills of the eastern himalayas of india and myanmar . it is also spotted in bhutan ' s sub - tropical areas and was once found in nepal . the major threats the heron faces are poaching ( both the bird itself and its eggs ) and habitat destruction ( the cutting of nesting trees and the disappearance of wetlands ) .
common and widespread . see ‘habitat’ below for examples of the kind of place they can be found . one particularly good location for the grey heron is powderham , which has the biggest nesting colony in devon . *
this large heron is plain dark grey above with a long neck . the crown is dark and there are no black stripes on the neck as in the grey heron . in breeding plumage , it has a greyish - white nape plume and elongated grey breast feathers with white centers . the bill is black , greenish near the base and tip and the face is greenish grey . the bill is large and solid , with the
the reef heron is a dark grey wading bird most often seen in coastal areas in the north of the north island . one or two birds may be found patrolling a rocky shoreline or nearby estuary . although similar to the common white - faced heron it is not seen as frequently and has slightly different feeding habits . reef herons occur throughout polynesia , and their prevalence in northern new zealand may reflect their preference for warmer climates .
census records can give you a fascinating window into the day - to - day lives of your o ' heron ancestors - like hours worked per week , level of education , veteran status , employers , and more .
the white - faced heron is a medium - sized heron with primarily blue - grey plumage . as the name suggests it has white on the face and the front of its neck . the back is medium blue - grey with the chest and underside more brown - toned . in breeding plumage , white - faced herons have strap - like grey plumes on the back , and shorter pinkish brown plumes on the breast . the dagger - like bill is dark grey , dull yellow at the base , and the legs are pale yellow . in flight the white - faced heron usually tucks its head back towards its shoulders in the characteristic heron posture , but it will also fly with the neck out - stretched . its open wings show contrast between the pale grey fore - wing and dark grey main flight feathers on both the upper and lower surfaces . immature birds lack the white face .
these example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ' heron . ' views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of merriam - webster or its editors . send us feedback .
mostly fish , but will eat small mammals , amphibians and even smaller birds in the winter when the water the surface of ponds and lakes is frozen over . unfortunately , the heron has been spotted eating the very rare water vole .
. it is mostly dark grey with a white throat and underparts . this heron is mostly solitary and is found on undisturbed riverside or wetland habitats . the global population has declined and the species is threatened by disturbance and habitat degradation .
the shoreline habitat occupied by the reef heron has ongoing threats from encroachment by development , and the birds are vulnerable to disturbance by people and dogs . the conservation status of this species was changed from nationally vulnerable to nationally endangered in 2013 .
frederick , peter c . 1997 . tricolored heron ( egretta tricolor ) , the birds of north america online ( a . poole , ed . ) . ithaca : cornell lab of ornithology ; retrieved from the birds of north america online .
young waterbirds are taken in hard weather by full - grown birds . a water - rail has been recovered in a heron ' s stomach . mice and rats are eaten and judging by the fur in pellets , many water - voles .
honestly my first thought when i sae the word
heron
was not the bird ( of which i am familiar ) but rather the words :
heroine
or the drug
heroin
( not sure of the spelling ) .
herons hunt by quickly straightening their s - shaped neck toward the victim . fish and other prey will be stabbed with sharp bill and swallowed in one piece . heron can die out of suffocation if it tries to swallow some really big prey .
the grey heron is the uk’s most widespread predatory bird . it is solitary , until the breeding season , when they come together in large colonies . some herons are resident , some leave for the winter and some overwinter here from northern europe .
. 2006 ) , and hpon razi wildlife sanctuary and hkakabo razi national park hold small populations . white - bellied heron has been recorded along rivers elsewhere in kachin state , such as the nam sam chaung , although little is known about its status in these areas
this heron is classified as critically endangered because it has an extremely small and rapidly declining population . this decline is projected to increase in the near future as a result of the loss and degradation of lowland forest and wetlands , and through direct exploitation and disturbance .
the dark grey colour provides the bird with excellent camouflage when it is patrolling the shoreline rocks that are its main habitat . the reef heron is wary , and flies away when approached too closely . it will , however , use man - made structures for nesting .
heron foods , the frozen , chilled and grocery business with hundreds of stores across the midlands , north of england and south wales has announced they will be opening a new store in netherfield , mk6 , which is scheduled to open on monday , june 25 , 2018 .
the white - faced heron feeds on a wide variety of prey , including fish , insects and amphibians . food is obtained in a variety of ways , such as walking and disturbing prey , searching among damp crevices or simply standing in the water and watching for movement .
watts , bryan d . 2011 . yellow - crowned night - heron ( nyctanassa violacea ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
kelly , j . p . , h . m . pratt , and p . l . greene . 1993 . the distribution , reproductive success , and habitat characteristics of heron and egret breeding colonies in the san francisco bay area . colonial waterbirds 16 : 18 - 27 .
the new zealand reef heron population is estimated at only 300 - 500 birds , but they are regularly seen at the sites where they occur , and those populations surveyed appear to have been stable over the past 40 years . they are widespread and abundant elsewhere in their range .
a medium - sized blue - grey heron with white face , long dark grey bill , and pale yellow legs . in flight the open wings show a marked contrast between the pale grey fore - wing and dark grey main flight feathers on both the upper and lower surfaces .
at heron foods we’ve made it our business to help our customers buy big name bargains for less , for nearly forty years . our customers constantly tell us how much they love our fantastic range of chilled foods , frozen foods and grocery products at prices none of our competitors can match .
vennesland , ross g . and robert w . butler . 2011 . great blue heron ( ardea herodias ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
2012 ) . two adult birds were recorded in phibsoo wildlife sanctuary , sarpang in february 2014 ( anon . 2014 ) . the annual survey of white - bellied heron in bhutan reported 22 birds in 2014 , an increase from 2013 when 20 birds were recorded ( anon . 2014 ) .
. 2006 ) , and hpon razi wildlife sanctuary . a project studying white - bellied heron began in bhutan in 2003 , and is run in conjunction with the royal society for the protection of nature , the world wildlife fund , the felburn foundation and the international crane foundation . recognising the importance of the riverbed in punakha - wangdue as a primary feeding ground for this species , the royal government of bhutan has declared the area as protected habitat for white - bellied herons . in may 2011 , a white - bellied heron was hatched in captivity for the first time ( tshewang norbu
bourne , w . r . p . , ashmole , n . p . and simmons , k . e . l . ( 2003 ) a new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail for ascension island , central tropical ocean . ardea 91 : 45 - 51 .
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eventually a fish will pay the price of carelessness as the heron ' s kinked neck is straightened with startling speed and the sharp bill stabs its prey - sometimes several times . at breydon , herons also known in norfolk as the marshmen ' s harnser , will wade until the body is afloat .
an unusually short lifespan might indicate that your heron ancestors lived in harsh conditions . a short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family . the ssdi is a searchable database of more than 70 million names . you can find birthdates , death dates , addresses and more .
honestly , i don ' t love heron as a name . part of the reason is that i don ' t think herons are very attractive birds . larks and wrens are cuter , plus larks are know for their songs . but it ' s probably mostly because i ' m a traditionalist .
at the genus level , heron taxonomy is in a state of flux , and has been for decades . wca recognizes 17 genera . several species represent monotypic genera , and so are of conservation special interest , pilherodius , syrigma , agamia , zebrilus , zonerodius , tigriornis , nyctinassa , and cochlearius .
the reef heron is a medium - sized dark grey heron with a long , greyish - yellow , heavy bill and greenish - yellow legs . during the breeding season it develops long plumes , mainly on its back but with some also on its chest . it has no white face but a small streak of white may sometimes be seen on the throat . in flight it tucks its head back into its shoulders so that the length of its neck is hidden , giving it a hunched appearance . it stays fairly low unless travelling a significant distance when it may fly higher . immature birds are brownish .
closely related to ardea are the butorides and ardeola herons . as a whole the butorides herons demonstrate a degree of geographic and individual variation in aspects of plumage unparalleled in extant herons , with many subspecies being recognized . butorides is vagile , with a new population being established in bermuda within the last decade . the species limits within this genus have been a huge problem for decades , particularly as to whether the green heron and striated heron are or are not the same species . this is a genus for which conservation of geographic populations is especially important , irrespective of what the current taxonomic opinions might be .
most extant species are part of a single subfamily of “typical herons , ” the ardeinae . this subfamily includes the herons and egrets ( ardea , egretta ) , the green herons ( butorides ) , the pond herons ( ardeola ) , a few monotypic genera , but also the night herons ( nycticorax , gorsachius ) . within the typical heron subfamily , three groups are recognized as tribes , ardeini , egrettini , and nycticoraxini . the second subfamily , botaurinae , encompasses the bitterns ( ixobrychus , botaurus , zebrilus ) . these birds share a number of morphological and behavioural characteristics that differ from the typical herons . several species are quite distinctive from other herons , and from each other . these are the boat billed heron , the tiger herons , and the agami heron , all of which are allocated to separate subfamilies . it is thought they represent ancient lineages of herons , and so are of special conservation concern .
widespread and familiar ( though often called
crane
) , the largest heron in north america . often seen standing silently along inland rivers or lakeshores , or flying high overhead , with slow wingbeats , its head hunched back onto its shoulders . highly adaptable , it thrives around all kinds of waters from subtropical mangrove swamps to desert rivers to the coastline of southern alaska . with its variable diet it is able to spend the winter farther north than most herons , even in areas where most waters freeze . a form in southern florida ( called
great white heron
) is slightly larger and entirely white .
an unusually short lifespan might indicate that your o ' heron ancestors lived in harsh conditions . a short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family . the ssdi is a searchable database of more than 70 million names . you can find birthdates , death dates , addresses and more .
just like school used to make ! this retro classic is really simply to make with only five ingredients . makes a nice dessert that kids absolutely love . find all of what you need in your local heron foods store . now you just need to decide whether to have it with pink or mint custard ? !
the reef heron is a bird of the rocky shore , where it stalks around rock pools and small rivulets of water that may carry fish . it can also be seen on estuary mudflats feeding at low tide and may occasionally be seen wading in the shallow waves on sandy beaches . it is rarely seen inland .
occupied herons ' nests may be readily told by numerous droppings on the ground beneath them . the pellets are the indigestible portions of heron ' s food . unless blown down by storms the same nest is used each spring . old ones , massive platforms 3ft across , may also provide homes for nesting tree sparrows .
these extremely high weights require verification , since they indicate this species can exceed even the typically larger goliath heron in mass . on the ground it walks slowly , moving its neck slowly while looking from side to side . the goliath species , beyond the average size difference , is distinguished by its chestnut neck while the slightly smaller
largest of the north american herons with long legs , a sinuous neck , and thick , daggerlike bill . head , chest , and wing plumes give a shaggy appearance . in flight , the great blue heron curls its neck into a tight “s” shape ; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail well beyond the tail .
hothem , roger l . , brianne e . brussee and william e . davis jr . 2010 . black - crowned night - heron ( nycticorax nycticorax ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
the great blue heron weathered the impacts of 20th century north americans relatively successfully . although it was hunted heavily for its plumes and some of its wetland habitats were drained or otherwise degraded , many populations have recovered well . nevertheless , breeding colonies remain vulnerable to disturbance and habitat loss , and climate change and increasing predator populations may bring new challenges .
up to nine subspecies have been recognized by past researchers , based on differences in plumage color and morphology . researchers have agreed that florida ' s great white heron ( a . h . occidentalis ) , the subspecies most distinctive in color ( entirely white ) , and the pacific great blue heron ( a . h . fannini ) are distinct subspecies . recent reviews ( see systematics ) have suggested that the remaining great blue herons in north america are composed of either one ( a . h . herodias ) , or two ( a . h . herodias , a . h . wardi ) subspecies . owing to this controversy , this account primarily considers ' blue group ' great blue herons ( a . h . herodias , a . h . wardi , a . h . fannini ) , usually referred to as the herodias ( or blue ) group , and ' white group ' great blue herons - the great white heron ( a . h . occidentalis ) , referred to here as the occidentalis ( white ) group great blue herons .
great blue heron numbers are stable and increased in the u . s . between 1966 and 2014 , according to the north american breeding bird survey . however , notable population declines have occurred in some areas , particularly in the “great white heron” group in southern florida , where elevated mercury levels in local waterways may be a factor . the north american waterbird conservation plan estimates a continental population of 83 , 000 breeding birds , and rates the species an 8 out of 20 on the continental concern score . the great white form of great blue heron is on the 2014 state of the birds watch list , which lists birds that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered without conservation action . great blue herons can be found throughout the year all over north america , though most populations in canada are present only during the breeding season , and most populations in mexico are only present during the winter . because great blue herons depend on wetlands for feeding and on relatively undisturbed sites for breeding , they are vulnerable to habitat loss and to impacts such as traffic , logging , motorboats , and other human intrusions that can disrupt nesting colonies . other threats include chemical pollutants or other causes of reduced water quality . although contaminant levels have declined in many areas , pollutants such as pcbs and ddt and newer types of industrial chemicals continue to affect heron habitats and can contribute to factors such as reduced nest site attendance . back to top
english and french ( héron ) : nickname for a tall , thin person resembling a heron , middle english heiroun , heyron ( old french hairon , of germanic origin ) . english : habitational name from harome in north yorkshire , named with old english harum , dative plural of hær ‘rock’ , ‘stone’ . this surname has evidently become confused with 1 . irish : reduced form of o’heron , an anglicized form of gaelic ó huidhrín ‘descendant of uidhrín’ , a personal name from a diminutive of odhar ‘dun’ , ‘swarthy’ . irish : reduced anglicized form of gaelic ó hearáin ( see haren ) . irish : reduced anglicized form of gaelic mac giolla chiaráin ‘son of the servant of ( saint ) ciarán’ ( see kieran ) .
very pretty ! heron is distinguished yet sweet . i personally like helena , or hava for other h names . ( plus hava has a nice hebrew meaning , and could be used as a hebrew name if not given . ) hera for a nickname is cool in my mind - - a greek godess and androgynous bird name all in one ! fantastic !
the heron ' s breeding season is prolonged . in early february in a mild season , they may be seen soaring over the nesting wood and chasing one another , tilting from side to side and diving head - long . an exciting performance to watch for next to the mute swan the heron is our largest common bird . endless display takes place on old nest platforms and consists of elaborate neck movements with crest and neck plumes erect and accompanied by bill - snapping and a variety of blood - curdling calls . for short periods the normally yellow - coloured bill and legs change dramatically to deep orange , especially when a group assembles on the ' dancing grounds ' running and skipping first in one direction and then another with open wings .
two hesitations about heron : it ' s gender - ambiguous , but i ' d probably be more likely to guess boy than girl , if that matters to you . it could also be an awkward name to wear if your daughter is a leggy , lanky teenager . heron does feel a bit in - your - face in the sense that it ' s a commonly known bird ( linnet and avocet wouldn ' t ring a bell with most non - birders ) but not one that ' s been commonly used as a name ( people recognize wren and lark as bird names , but we ' re not too surprised to see these names on people ) . it does sound name - like at least : fits the ends - with - n trend , almost rhymes with aaron or erin . . . actually i wouldn ' t be surprised if people misheard it as one of these , if that matters to you . i ' m not sure i ' d do it myself ( maybe more likely as a middle name ) , but i love the story heron has for your family ! what a special , meaningful gift to your daughter .
this night - heron ' s diet has magnified its exposure to contaminants , especially ddt , a persistent organochlorine pesticide that appears to have caused reproductive failure in some populations and may have contributed to subsequent local population declines in the 1960s . since then , extensive sampling has shown that while some populations continue to accumulate contaminants , these appear to have had minimal effect on breeding success and population levels .
in parts of their range where food is not available in the winter , great blue herons are migratory , and some may migrate to washington from points farther north . most of washington ' s breeding population remains in the state year round . in parts of eastern washington where the water freezes , great blue heron populations concentrate along major rivers where food is available , or they hunt rodents on land .
the white - faced heron is mostly light blue - grey in colour , with a characteristic white face . in flight , the dark flight feathers of the wing contrast with the paler grey plumage , making this bird easily identifiable when viewed from below . it has a long , slim neck and a pointed grey - black bill . the legs are long and dull yellow in colour . sexes are similar . when breeding , the birds have long feathers ( nuptial plumes ) on the head , neck and back . the white - faced heron has a slow bouncing flight . young white - faced herons are similar in appearance to the non - breeding adults ( no nuptial plumes ) , but are duller , with little or no white on the face . they often have a reddish colour on the underparts .
henny , c . j . , e . f . hill , r . a . grove and j . l . kaiser . 2007 . mercury and drought along the lower carson river , nevada : i . snowy egret and black - crowned night - heron annual exposure to mercury , 1997 - 2006 . archives of environmental contamination and toxicology no . 53 ( 2 ) : 269 - 280 . close
the variable diet of great blue herons allows them to exploit a variety of habitats . this adaptability also enables them to winter farther north than most herons . fish , amphibians , reptiles , invertebrates , small mammals , and even other birds are all potential prey of the great blue heron . in washington , much of their winter hunting is on land , with voles making up a major portion of their winter diet .
c . nycticoracis : it was described as a new species based on the presence of a single male with broken spicule from a heron in new south wales ( johnston and mawson , 1941e ) . the description of this species is very brief and the figures provided in the article do not show sufficient detail of taxonomically important features to differentiate it from other contracaceum spp . therefore the validity of c . nycticoracis is questionable .
adaptable and widespread , the great blue heron is found in a wide variety of habitats . when feeding , it is usually seen in slow - moving or calm salt , fresh , or brackish water . great blue herons inhabit sheltered , shallow bays and inlets , sloughs , marshes , wet meadows , shores of lakes , and rivers . nesting colonies are typically found in mature forests , on islands , or near mudflats , and do best when they are free of human disturbance and have foraging areas close by .
so if you wish to adhere to tradition , you are not wedded to the letter h as the first initial , although you may choose it if you like . first , find out whether your relative had a hebrew or yiddish name , and if so , ascertain its meaning . then you can brainstorm names with similar sound , initial or otherwise , or meaning . you may , of course , still end up with an h - name and that name might still be heron , but you might also uncover other interesting possibilities .
yellow - crowned night - herons nest near or over water in trees such as pine and oak—as high as 60 feet or more off the ground—or on lower vegetation such as mulberry , myrtle , hackberry , and mangrove . on islands with limited vegetation , they may nest on rock ledges . the male chooses the location , and the pair may start several nests before completing one . they nest alone or in colonies of up to several hundred pairs , sometimes with other heron species . some colony sites remain in use for more than 20 years .
foraging great blue herons are not hard to find in appropriate habitat throughout the year . some prominent rookeries can be found on samish island between samish bay and padilla bay ( skagit county ) ; at the dumas bay sanctuary in tacoma ( pierce county ) ; by the ballard locks in seattle , at lake sammamish state park ( both in king county ) ; on vancouver lake ( clark county ) ; and at potholes wra ( grant county ) . when observing great blue heron rookeries , please keep in mind the 1000 - foot disturbance buffer zone .
ardea includes the largest modern heron , ardea goliath , and other ‘giant’ herons , all of which are of conservation concern . the white - bellied heron is among the world’s most rare and endangered . the three large ardea ( cinerea , herodias and cocoi ) appear closely related . the nearly cosmopolitan cattle egret ( previously placed in bubulcus , ardeola , or egretta ) , the great egret and the eastern great white egret ( previously referred to egretta and casmerodius as well as ardea ) , and the intermediate egret ( previously egretta ) , also are ardea . shifting names may cause some confusion among conservationists . there remain a number of interesting research questions and uncertainties within ardea . these include the possible specific distinctiveness of certain populations , including ardea cinerea monicae in mauritania and ardea herodias in southern florida and the caribbean and the north pacific coast of north america . it remains unclear how many species are in the great egret group . although the great egret and eastern great egret are currently recognized , it is unclear what is the correct delineation of species in this nearly cosmopolitan group . conservation action centering on these populations is critical .
heron is a bird that can be easily confused with a stork , due to similarities in appearance . there are 64 different species of herons that differ in size , color and type of habitat . herons can be found on each continent except on antarctica . these birds prefer wetlands , swamps , coastlines and areas near rivers , ponds and lakes . pollution of the water with heavy metals and chemicals and habitat destruction are the main factors that decrease number of herons in the wild . at the moment , world population of herons is stable and they are not on the list of endangered animals .
cheshire is the pond capital of britain , and it is not surprising that it is the heron capital as well . two of the five largest heronries in britain are in cheshire and wirral , and the county holds more than one - in - twenty of britain’s birds . the private wood on the north side of marbury ( budworth ) mere ( sj67n ) holds currently the largest colony of grey herons in britain , 180 apparently occupied nests ( aon ) in 2005 , and that at eaton hall ( sj45e ) – in existence since at least 1874 – is the third largest with 149 nests .
the herons are a fairly ancient group of birds . although bird fossils are rare , herons are exceptionally rare even by avian standards totaling fewer than 40 identified species . herons first emerge in the fossil record some 60 - 38 million years ago . birds attributable to contemporary genera first occur about 7 million years ago . these include nycticorax , ardea , egretta and ardeola . thus by the miocene , a period characterized by extensive aquatic habitats , herons rather closely resembling modern forms had evolved and had radiated into the kinds of herons known today , day and night herons , and large , medium and small herons . fossils are commoner in more recent times . those from the pleistocene are often assignable to extant species , so contemporary heron species have been around a long time . subfossils from islands often represent recently extinct forms , species or subspecies , particularly of nycticorax . most of these went extinct when humans colonized their islands . these fossils are illustrative of the ever - changing face of heron distribution in the world . herons can make significant changes in range within a matter of decades . as a result , conservation depends on an accurate monitoring of herons’ ranges and with special attention to isolated and outlying populations .
the grey heron population of cheshire and wirral , assessed from the bbs transects in 2004 - 05 , was 3 , 050 birds ( with wide confidence limits of zero to 7 , 940 ) . the number of breeding adults is about 1 , 300 so this figure implies more non - breeders than breeders : most grey herons do not nest until two or three years of age , so there are large numbers of immature birds present , and bbs fieldworkers might also have counted some early - fledged juvenile birds . the county figure is 4 . 2 % of the national total of 57 , 220 birds ( newson et al 2008 ) .
black - crowned night - herons are opportunists feeders that eat many kinds of terrestrial , freshwater , and marine animals . their diet includes leeches , earthworms , insects , crayfish , clams , mussels , fish , amphibians , lizards , snakes , turtles , rodents , birds , and eggs . they also eat carrion , plant materials , and garbage from landfills . rather than stabbing their prey , they grasp it in their bills . black - crowned night - herons normally feed between evening and early morning , avoiding competition with other heron species that use the same habitat during the day . they may feed during the day in the breeding season , when they need extra energy for nesting . back to top
equally at home in coastal ( marine ) environments and in fresh water habitats , the great blue heron nests mostly in colonies , commonly large ones of several hundred pairs . such colonies are often located on islands or in wooded swamps , isolated locations that discourage predation by snakes and mammals and disturbance from humans . although the species is primarily a fish eater , wading ( often belly deep ) along the shoreline of oceans , marshes , lakes , and rivers , it also stalks upland areas for rodents and other animals , especially in winter . it has been known to eat most animals that come within striking range . its well - studied , elaborate courtship displays have correlates on the foraging grounds , where this species can be strongly territorial .