the cuban crow ( corvus nasicus ) is one of four species of crow that occur on a few key islands in the caribbean .

it is closely related to the white-necked crow ( c. leucognaphalis ) and jamaican crow ( c. jamaicensis ) , with which it shares similar features .

the fourth caribbean crow , the palm crow ( c. palmarum ) , is a later arrival in evolutionary terms and shows characteristics more akin to north american species such as the fish crow ( c. ossifragus ) , which it is probably closely related to .

a stocky , medium-sized ( 40 – 42 centimetres or 16 – 17 inches in length ) forest crow , this sociable bird can be found quite commonly over most of the large island of cuba and on the nearby isla de la juventud in woodland and areas that have been cleared for agriculture .

it is frequently found around farms and villages where it seems to have adapted quite well to living in relatively close contact with man .

the bill of this species is long and deep with a gentle curve towards the tip giving a large headed profile .

the nasal bristles sweep forward then upward and frequently reveal the nostrils which are hidden in almost all other members of the genus corvus .

there is a patch of dark grey bare skin behind the browinsh-red eye and at the base of the lower mandible .

the black plumage has a bluish-purple gloss in good light .

the bill , legs and feet are black .

food consists of fruit and insects though it does appear to take human food readily and will scavenge for scraps where the opportunity arises .

large noisy flocks can be seen feeding in trees and it will also readily feed on the ground especially where grain and other seeds have been spilt or left unprotected on the surface of a field .

the voice is quite remarkable and is rather un-crow like , with strange liquid bubbling notes and high ringing sounds produced in various combinations .

it also produces a thin screeched " aaaaauh " that rises in inflection .

the nest is built in tall trees , though little further information about breeding is recorded as yet .

cuban crow

cuban crow - corvus nasicus the cuban crow is found in cuba and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
the thumbnail photo of the crow links to a video clip of a cuban crow that objected to me being too close to the tree where he and his mate were nesting .
palm crow - corvus palmarum the palm crow is found in cuba , the dominican republic , and haiti . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
the cuban crow is common on middle caicos and has become a kind of mascot for our trips there . beside the familiar crow call , they have a turkey - like gobble . we always feel we ' re being welcomed back to the island when we hear it .
most frequently located by its liquid bubbling and gurgling calls , which somewhat resemble a parrot’s vocalizations , the cuban crow is present locally over much of the main island of cuba , as well as the isle of youth , and three islands in the southern bahamas . it is by the far more widespread and abundant of cuba’s two corvids , although the two species are difficult to distinguish , except vocally , and frequently flock together in the few areas where the palm crow ( corvus palmarum ) also occurs . the cuban crow is a large , all - black crow with rather longer wings and deeper wingbeats than the palm crow , but other differences ( such as the relative length of the nasal bristles ) are much more difficult to appreciate . it inhabits semi - open and wooded areas , included agricultural regions , and feeds both on the ground and arboreally , on invertebrates and fruits . the cuban crow builds a rough stick nest , often in a palm tree , and usually high above the ground ; a typical clutch is 3–4 eggs , and the nesting season lasts from march to july at least .
cuban vireo - vireo gundlachii the cuban vireo is only found in cuba . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban martin - progne cryptoleuca the cuban martin is only found in cuba . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban solitaire - myadestes elisabeth the cuban solitaire is only found in cuba . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
the heads of the cuban delegation do not expect him to return , reports say .
siverio was not in the cuban team list published by the us organisers on wednesday .
cuban gnatcatcher - polioptila lembeyei the cuban gnatcatcher is only found in cuba . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban sparrow - torreornis inexpectata the cuban sparrow is found in three locations in cuba . source : birdlife international intended audience : general reading level : high school teacher section : no
cuban pewee - contopus caribaeus the cuban pewee is found in the bahamas and cuba . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban sparrow - torreornis inexpectata the cuban sparrow is also know as the zapata sparrow . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban bullfinch - melopyrrha nigra the cuban bullfinch is found in the cayman islands and cuba . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cuban sparrow - torreornis inexpectata the cuban sparrow has short , round wings and is a weak flier . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
he was contacted by a man from florida who recognised the design as being similar to cuban refugee boats .
cuban grassquit - tiaris canorus the cuban grassquit is found in the bahamas , cuba , and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
40–42 cm ; 330–510 g . a moderate - sized crow with upturned nasal bristles that do not cover nostrils ; relatively long bill . plumage is deep black with slight blue - . . .
guillen ' s poem refers to cuban independence hero jose marti , the inspirational figure in castro ' s own political life .
for cuban poet nicolas guillen , there was a direct link between two of the biggest figures in his nation ' s history .
but there have been further celebrations in the us city of miami where many anti - castro cuban exiles and their families have settled .
marzluff , j . ( 2018 ) . cuban crow ( corvus nasicus ) . 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 ) .
while the fate of those on board may never be known , the discovery has helped to bring the story of the cuban refugees to people thousands of miles away .
fidel castro was a towering presence in cuba for more than 50 years . dr stephen wilkinson , editor of the international journal of cuban studies , assesses his legacy .
the 24 - year - old pitcher misael siverio is said to have disappeared from the hotel where the cuban national team had been staying in the us state of iowa .
cuban authorities say the ladies in white are in the pay of the united states and form part of washington ' s
decades - old effort to undermine cuba ' s socialist revolution
.
castro ' s revolution remains very much unfinished business . his long years in power perhaps stem in part from the fact that unlike many revolutions , the cuban one did not lead to a bloodbath .
he is sure the boat washed up in ireland is what is known as a cuban
chug
- named after the sound of the crude motors as they make the slow journey across the sea .
there are some two million people of cuban descent now living in the united states . how far cuba is a country that is therefore for the good of all cubans is very much a moot point .
this battle was part of a chain of events that led to talks between south africa , angola and cuba on the cuban withdrawal from angola , the independence of namibia and the dismantling of apartheid in south african .
he managed to remove direct us influence on cuban internal politics and inspired leaders such as bolivian president evo morales and the late hugo chavez in venezuela , who picked up the torch of opposing and resisting us hegemony in the region .
this scientific advance , generosity and solidarity with the poor and disadvantaged is attributed to castro ' s vision - sometimes to the annoyance of cuban citizens who can often be heard complaining that the help given abroad represents a spending on resources that could be better invested at home .
this compilation of images represents an archive of photos taken by cultural anthropologist , kamari maxine clarke as well as contributions of oyotunji practitioners from a range of archives taken over a forty year period . from the formation of the oyotunji orisa - voodoo movement to its contemporary manifestations , the imagery of the periods represented here ranges from 1960 - 1970 ; 1971 - 1980 ; 1981 - 1990 ; 1991 - 2000 ; to 2001 - 2008 . all of these periods represent the formation of its making , marking a period in which it emerged out of united states jim crow segregation , black power protests , civil rights possibilities , and various cultural heritage movements that resonate today with its transnational linkages with west african orisa practices , cuban and us santeria / lukumi , brazilian condomble , and the trinidadian orisha traditions . visit site . . .
within two years of taking power , he declared the revolution to be marxist - leninist in nature and allied cuba firmly to the soviet union - a move that led to the missile crisis in 1962 , bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war before the soviet union abandoned its plan to put missiles on cuban soil .
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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 . , fishpool , l . d . c . , boesman , p . and kirwan , g . m . 2016 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 2 : passerines . lynx edicions and birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
justification : although this species may have a restricted range , it is not believed to 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 ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size has not been quantified , but it is not believed to 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 .
this species is resident on cuba and the isle of pines , and in the turks and caicos islands ( to uk ) on north caicos and grand caicos ( bond 1979 ) .
the global population size has not been quantified , but this species is described as ' fairly common ' ( stotz et al . 1996 ) . trend justification : the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats .
the species inhabits forest and wooded areas , but appears to be remarkably tolerant of habitat degradation ( madge and burn 1993 ) , occurring frequently in semi - cleared forest and sparsely - wooded cultivation , as well as villages and settlements with numerous trees ( bond 1979 , madge and burn 1993 ) . birds tend to gather in flocks , separating into pairs in the breeding season ( raffaele et al . 1998 ) . it is omnivorous , eating a variety of fruits , seeds , crops , reptiles , frogs and other items ( raffaele et al . 1998 ) . the nest is built high among palm fronds , and breeding takes place primarily in april and may ( raffaele et al . 1998 ) .
( amended version of 2016 assessment ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2017 : e . t22706010a118781571 .
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) , in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa . retrieved from neotropical birds online :
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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josep del hoyo , greg baker , eduardo tejeda lima , adolfo aragüés , pascal vagner , desmond allen .
petemorris , ken havard , dubi shapiro , david lingard , yvonne stevens , dusan m . brinkhuizen , holger teichmann .
forms a clade with c . jamaicensis and c . leucognaphalus # r . monotypic .
cuba , i of pines , and turks and caicos is ( mainly providenciales , north caicos , middle caicos ) .
forests and woodlands , including villages and towns with substantial tree cover . uses edges and . . .
omnivorous . feeds in trees and on ground on invertebrates , fruits and berries . formal dietary studies lacking . often observed in small , . . .
season mar–jul . nest a coarse stick platform lined with dry grasses , feathers and other soft materials , placed in palm , among tree . . .
not globally threatened . common to locally abundant . often persecuted by man , and may have been reduced in numbers as extensive forests have been cleared . use of partially . . .
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although this species may have a restricted range , it is not believed to 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 ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size has not been quantified , but it is not believed to 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 .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : corvus nasicus . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
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myavibase allows you to create and manage your own lifelists , and produce useful reports to help you plan your next birding excursion .
there are more than 12 , 000 regional checklists in avibase , offered in 9 different taxonomies , including synonyms more than 175 languages . each checklist can be viewed with photos shared by the birding community , and also printed as pdf checklists for field use .
there are a few ways by which you can help the development of this page , such as joining the flickr group for photos or providing translations of the site in addition languages .
howard and moore 4th edition ( incl . corrigenda vol . 1 - 2 ) :
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perching birds have three unwebbed toes in the front and one strong , flexible toe in the back called the hallux , that lets them perch on tree branches . most species of perching birds have 12 tail feathers . perching birds are found in all parts of the world and they come in a wide variety of colors , patterns , shapes , and sizes . most chicks in this order are completely featherless and helpless when they hatch and must be fed by their parents .
the passeri are the songbirds . they are different from other birds because of the complex set of four muscles in their voice box or syrinx . these muscles allow songbirds to make complex songs and calls . the birds in this suborder can also learn songs . they learn their songs by listening to other birds in their species . the tyranni suborder is made up of over 1 , 000 species of tropical birds . most are found in south america . the birds in this suborder also have songs , but they don ' t learn them . they are born knowing their songs .
least concern near threatened vulnerable endangered critically endangered extinct in the wild extinct status and range is taken from icun redlist . if no status is listed , there is not enough data to establish status .
great crested flycatcher - myiarchus crinitus the great crested flycatcher is found in southern canada and the eastern half of the u . s . south to mexico , central america , the caribbean and northern south america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
great crested flycatcher - myiarchus crinitus the great crested flycatcher is a neotropical migrant . it breeds in canada and the u . s . and winters in central america , south america , and the caribbean . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
la sagra ' s flycatcher - myiarchus sagrae la sagra ' s flycatcher is found in the bahamas , the cayman islands , cuba , and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
gray kingbird - tyrannus dominicensis the gray kingbird breeds in southern alabama and mississippi , florida , the bahamas , cuba , and jamica and winters in northern south america . it lives year - round in parts of the caribbean and in central america . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
gray kingbird - tyrannus dominicensis the gray kingbird perches in trees and snaps up flying insects . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
loggerhead kingbird - tyrannus caudifasciatus the loggerhead kingbird is found in the bahamas , the cayman islands , cuba , the dominican republic , haiti , jamaica , puerto rico , and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
giant kingbird - tyrannus cubensis the giant kingbird is only found in cuba . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
white - eyed vireo - vireo griseus the white - eyed vireo is found from nebraska east to massachusetts and south to central america and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
white - eyed vireo - vireo griseus the white - eyed vireo is usually found in brushy habitats near a water source . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
thick - billed vireo - vireo crassirostris the thick - billed vireo is found in the bahamas , the cayman islands , cuba , haiti , and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
yellow - throated vireo - vireo flavifrons the yellow - throated vireo breeds in the eastern half of the u . s . and winters in mexico , central america , south america , and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
black - whiskered vireo - vireo altiloquus the black - whiskered vireo breeds in the florida and the caribbean and winters in south america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
tree swallow - tachycineta bicolor in north america , the tree swallow breeds from alaska east to newfoundland and south to california , colorado , nebraska , and maryland . it winters from southern california , the gulf coast , and the carolinas to central america and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
tree swallow - tachycineta bicolor in north america , the tree swallow breeds from alaska east to newfoundland and south to california , colorado , nebraska , and maryland . it winters from southern california , the gulf coast , and the carolinas to central america and the caribbean . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
cave swallow - petrochelidon fulva the cave swallow is found in texas , new mexico , florida , the caribbean , and mexico . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
zapata wren - ferminia cerverai the zapata wren is only found in the zapata swamp in cuba . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
blue - gray gnatcatcher - polioptila caerulea the blue - gray gnatcatcher breeds across much of the u . s . with the exception of areas of the great plains , the rocky mountain region and the pacific northwest . it is a permanent resident in the southern part of its range , and it winters in mexico , central america , and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
gray - cheeked thrush - catharus minimus the gray - cheeked thrush breeds in the arctic tundra of canada , alaska , and russia . it winters in the caribbean and central and south america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
gray - cheeked thrush - catharus minimus an omnivore , the gray - cheeked thrush eats mostly insects like beetles , weevils , ants , wasps and caterpillars . it may eat spiders , crayfish , sow bugs and earthworms . in addition , the gray - cheeked thrush eats grapes , wild cherries , blackberries , raspberries and other fruit . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
swainson ' s thrush - catharus ustulatus swainson ' s thrush breeds in canada and the northern u . s . it winters in mexico , central america , and south america . it winters in the caribbean and central and south america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
swainson ' s thrush - catharus ustulatus swainson ' s thrush breeds in coniferous forests and winters in tropical forests . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
american robin - turdus migratorius the american robin is found in all of the united states and canada , except for hawaii and the northern most parts of alaska and canada . it is also found in parts of mexico and central america . the american robin is migratory and populations move south in the winter , although some populations stay in place . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
american robin - turdus migratorius the american robin lives in open woodlands , fields , gardens , and yards . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
american robin - turdus migratorius the male robin uses its voice to protect its territory and to attract a mate . it is often one of the first birds heard in the spring . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
red - legged thrush - turdus plumbeus the red - legged thrush is found in the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
gray catbird - dumetella carolinensis the gray catbird breeds across southern canada and most of the u . s . , except for parts of the west . it winters along the gulf coast , in florida , and in mexico , central america , northern south america , and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
gray catbird - dumetella carolinensis the gray catbird can make more than 100 different types of sounds . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
northern mockingbird - mimus polyglottos the northern mockingbird is found in most of the continental united states south to mexico . it is also found in the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
northern mockingbird - mimus polyglottos the mockingbird was given its name because of its ability to mimic the calls of dozens of other bird species . in fact , the mockingbird ' s latin name , mimus polyglottos , means many - tongued mimic . the mockingbird has even been known to mimic the sounds of dogs and sirens . the mockingbird is especially vocal on moonlit spring nights . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
bahama mockingbird - mimus gundlachii the bahama mockingbird is found in the bahamas , the cayman islands , cuba , jamaica , and the turks and caicos islands . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cedar waxwing - bombycilla cedrorum the cedar waxwing ' s face has a narrow black mask outlined in white . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
cedar waxwing - bombycilla cedrorum the cedar waxwing is only found in north america . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
cedar waxwing - bombycilla cedrorum cedar waxwings eat some insects , but are primarily fruit - eaters . source : seattle audubon intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
ovenbird - seiurus aurocapilla the ovenbird breeds in canada and the eastern united states . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
ovenbird - seiurus aurocapilla the ovenbird walks on the forest floor hunting insects , spiders , snails , and worms . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
worm - eating warbler - helmitheros vermivorus the worm - eating warbler breeds in the eastern united states and winters in the caribbean , mexico , and central america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
prairie warbler - dendroica discolor the prairie warbler is found in the eastern united states . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
louisiana waterthrush - seiurus motacilla the louisiana waterthrush breeds in the eastern united states and winters in mexico , the caribbean , and central and south america . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
louisiana waterthrush - seiurus motacilla the louisiana waterthrush is found near forest streams . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
northern waterthrush - seiurus noveboracensis the northern waterthrush breeds in canada and the northern united states . it winters in southern florida , mexico , the caribbean , central america , and south america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
blue - winged warbler - vermivora pinus the blue - winged warbler breeds in the eastern united states and winters in central america and the caribbean . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
blue - winged warbler - vermivora pinus the blue - winged warbler breeds at forest and field edges . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
black - and - white warbler - mniotilta varia the black - and - white warbler breeds in canada and the eastern united states . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
swainson ' s warbler - limnothlypis swainsonii swainson ' s warbler breeds in the southeastern united states . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
red - legged honeycreeper - cyanerpes cyaneus the red - legged honeycreeper is found in mexico , central america , south america , and the caribbean . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
yellow - faced grassquit - tiaris olivaceus the yellow - faced grassquit is found in mexico , central america , south america , and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
western spindalis - spindalis zena
the western spindalis is found in southern florida and the caribbean . source : internet bird collection intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : no
chipping sparrow - spizella passerina the chipping sparrow is found in most of the united states , canada , and mexico . it is also found in the caribbean and central america . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
chipping sparrow - spizella passerina the chipping sparrow is found in a variety of habitats including open woodlands , marshes , deserts , fields , gardens , and farmland . source : animal diversity web intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
savannah sparrow - passerculus sandwichensis the savannah sparrow is found across much of canada , the u . s . , mexico and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
grasshopper sparrow - ammodramus savannarum the grasshopper sparrow is found across most of the u . s . it is also found in southern canada , mexico , central america , and the caribbean . source : cornell lab of ornithology intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
grasshopper sparrow - ammodramus savannarum the grasshopper sparrow gets its names from its buzzy grasshopper - like call . source : arkive intended audience : general reading level : middle school teacher section : yes
the eastern meadowlark male can sing many versions of its song . in new york , a male was observed to sing over 100 different song patterns !
the eastern meadowlark inhabits wide open spaces like farm fields , grassland and wet fields .
the eastern meadowlark builds its nest on the ground and sings on perches such as treetops , fence posts , and power lines .
the red - shouldered blackbird was once thought to be a subspecies of the red - winged blackbird .
the red - shouldered blackbird is found in scattered locations in central and western cuba .
is found in the bahamas , cuba , and the turks and caicos islands .
our family ' s dream for the future has found a home : middle caicos in the turks and caicos islands . it ' s part ecotourism , part reality show adventure , and part time travel .
with an area of 48 square miles and a population of less than 300 , middle caicos is a place where we can create our own vacation world around us . we explore the beaches , cliffs , hills and caves . we swim the reefs with sharks , cudas , lobsters , and innumerable reef fish . we watch the birds and lizards . and we can come close to knowing every person on the island .
our site was created to share some of what we find so enjoyable about middle caicos , to introduce you to our friends there , and to help future island visitors know what to expect . browse the menu at the left to read about our trips and see our photos .
this naturally landscaped scene is one of the well - kept secrets of middle caicos . i didn ' t find it until our sixth trip to the island . i ' m looking forward to finding new surprises on our next trip .
you ' ll find more photos like this throughout our website . click on the thumbnail photo to view a larger image . depending on the technological advances of my electronic toys , many of the photos also include the date and time or even the latitude and longitude of the photo ' s location . when the latitude and longitude are shown , click the link to see the location overlayed on a satellite photo of middle caicos .
looking for a brochure to share with your friends or family ? here are two that you can download and print .
this handy guide has a map on one side that identifies some of the major attractions on middle caicos . on the other side is brief island history , a directory of guides , merchants and other services and a greeting from the district commissioner . print the
i created a one page flyer to introduce the caribbean tourism organization to middle caicos . when your friends ask where you ' re going , this might be the quickest way to share your excitement .
no one website can show you everything there is to know about a place like middle caicos . so we founded the middle caicos webring to help you visit other sites dedicated to the island . you ' ll find many of the vacation villas , local guides and other informational sites on the ring . visit other middle caicos webring sites using the following links . [ previous | next ] [ skip previous | skip next ] [ random site | list sites ]
we belong to the turks and caicos national trust . you can join and help preserve treasures like middle caicos .
on a sandy beach on the west coast of ireland lies the remains of a strange looking boat .
it is made from a metal frame partly covered in yellow tarpaulin , with expanded foam and water bottles used for buoyancy .
a closer inspection beneath the overturned hull , now covered in barnacles , reveals a car engine connected to a broken propeller .
the boat caught the interest of gordon fallis , who saw it as he was walking his dogs along the beach .
i didn ' t really know what it was to be honest , so i took a few photographs of it and when i got home i posted it on a facebook page called lost at sea which tracks marine debris and cargo spills and things that get washed up on beaches ,
he said .
he advised me to have a look at the bottles again to see where they came from so i came back down and looked at the labels and indeed they were from cuba , exactly the same brand that he had predicted , so it seems that it is actually a boat that the refugees have used to try and get to america from cuba ,
he said .
since 1995 , under a policy known as
wet foot , dry foot
, if cubans are picked up at sea they are returned home or taken to a third country , but if they make it to american soil they get the opportunity to stay and become legal residents .
between november 2015 and october 2016 the us coast guard apprehended 5 , 263 cubans at sea .
it is thought that hundreds of thousands of cubans attempted the journey before the policy was ended last month just before president obama left office .
american photographer bill klipp has seen many similar boats that have been abandoned on small remote islands around the florida keys .
they ' re surely not moving very fast and i think it just comes from that notion that they ' re just barely making it , they ' re chugging as best as they can to get across the ocean ,
he said .
key west , where i live , is only 90 miles for havana so it ' s a relatively short distance to landfall although the florida straits can be a pretty treacherous body of water to cross .
while it is possible that the occupants of this vessel were picked up at sea and the boat was left to drift , bill klipp believes it is more likely that the weather and ocean currents took it off course .
the uscg painted on this vessel in florida means the occupants were found by the us coastguard . the vessel in ireland was too badly damaged to tell if there was ever a similar marking
if that boat could tell its story it would tell a story of real despair and desperation , that ' s for sure ,
he said .
obviously the occupants didn ' t make it and that ' s kind of a sad story there but that ' s unfortunately a story that ' s happened too much over the last couple of decades .
it is the first time such a vessel has been recorded being washed up in europe according to curtis ebbesmeyer , a retired oceanographer based in seattle who tracks ocean debris .
he said it could take months or years for it to make the journey of more than 4 , 000 miles across the atlantic .
the drift rate depends on how much the vessel is sticking out of the water and the rate could be a matter of six months or it could be a matter of years depending on whether the vessel drifted around some of the garbage patches in the atlantic or made a straight journey across ,
he said .
mr ebbesmeyer said the vessels
symbolise what price people are willing to pay to gain their freedom in the united states
.
i would reflect on questions . did the people make it ? are they in the united states ? did they die ? did they perish a terrible death out in the middle of the atlantic ?
they ' re really worth moments of reflection as you walk by ,
he said .
standing on cliffoney beach as the waves of the north atlantic break beneath a grey sky , gordon fallis said he is glad he discovered more about the boat .
it ' s just great to be able to contact people who are able to identify it for me otherwise i would have just walked on past it thinking
that ' s a strange boat on the beach
and that would have been the last i would have heard of it ,
he said .
theresa may moves to shore up her position after a day of high profile resignations over her brexit strategy .
cuba ' s most prominent dissident group has called off its traditional protest for the first time in 13 years following the death of the country ' s revolutionary leader fidel castro .
the group , founded by wives of jailed dissidents , has long defied a protest ban in cuba with a weekly march .
castro died on friday at the age of 90 . flags are flying at half mast as the country observes nine days of mourning .
from monday , people will be able to pay their respects at memorials and rallies before castro ' s ashes are taken to santiago de cuba where he launched his bid for power .
and a mass public ceremony is planned at havana ' s revolutionary square on tuesday .
the cause of death has not yet been revealed but castro had been in poor health since he nearly died of an intestinal illness in 2006 .
the mood in the capital remains subdued , the bbc ' s barbara plett - usher in havana says , with people still absorbing the news .
supporters say he returned cuba to the people , and praise him for some of his social programs , such as public health and education .
but critics call him a dictator , who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent , accused of numerous alleged human rights abuses .
the regular sunday march of the ladies in white is a rare expression of dissent largely tolerated by the government .
but police have clamped down in recent months , our correspondent in havana adds .
the women march in silence through the streets of havana following mass at a roman catholic church , asking for the release of political prisoners and for human rights to be respected .
we ' re not going to march today [ sunday ] so that the government does not take it as a provocation and so that they can pay their tributes ,
the group ' s leader , berta soler , said .
we respect the mourning of others and will not celebrate the death of any human being .
throughout the cold war , fidel castro was a thorn in washington ' s side .
an accomplished tactician on the battlefield , he and his small army of guerrillas overthrew the military leader fulgencio batista in 1959 to widespread popular support .
despite the constant threat of a us invasion as well as the long - standing economic embargo on the island , castro managed to maintain a communist revolution in a nation just 90 miles ( 145km ) off the coast of florida .
despised by his critics as much as he was revered by his followers , he maintained his rule through 10 us presidents and survived scores of attempts on his life by the cia .
he established a one - party state , with hundreds of supporters of the batista government executed . political opponents have been imprisoned , the independent media suppressed . thousands of cubans have fled into exile .
many world leaders have paid tribute to castro . russian president vladimir putin described him as a
reliable and sincere friend
of russia , while chinese president xi jinping said his people had
lost a good and true comrade
.
the soviet union ' s last leader , mikhail gorbachev , said :
fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest american blockade , when there was colossal pressure on him .
however , us president - elect donald trump said castro had been a
brutal dictator
.
canadian prime minister justin trudeau came under fire on social media and from political opponents for describing castro as a
remarkable leader
, who despite being a
controversial figure
made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of cubans .
un secretary general ban ki - moon acknowledged advances in education , literary and health under castro , but said he hoped cuba would
continue to advance on a path of reform , greater prosperity and human rights
.
pope francis , who met castro , an atheist , when he visited cuba in 2015 , called his death
sad news
.
in venezuela , cuba ' s main regional ally , president nicolas maduro said
revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy
.
the foreign secretary quits , telling theresa may
needless self - doubt
is leading to
semi - brexit
.
in a poem from 1977 , he wrote :
lo que marti prometio , fidel lo cumplio
(
what marti promised , fidel delivered
) .
marti promised a cuba free of us interference and , famously , a republic that would be as he put it :
for all cubans and the good of all cubans .
castro ' s legacy will be judged against how successful or not he was in fulfilling that dream .
that cuba , a nation of only 11 million today ( and fewer than six million when castro came to power ) should produce two of the most notable statesmen in latin american history is an extraordinary feat in itself .
if his seizing of power in a popular revolution at the age of 33 was a startlingly precocious act , his maintenance of his position through five decades , 10 american presidencies ( and 638 assassination attempts ) is proof of his staying power and determination .
but like a small moon in the orbit of a much larger planet , the sheer force of economic and political gravity has prevented cuba from escaping the indirect influence of the us , especially the state of florida where castro ' s enemies hold sway .
there were political prisoners , with arbitrary detentions continuing to this day , but castro was able to export many of his opponents to the us where they built a weighty presence and an almost impenetrable bulwark against a change in washington ' s embargo .
undoubtedly , life for most cubans on the island ( and that means the vast majority poor when castro came to power ) improved dramatically under his leadership .
despite what his enemies say , cuba under castro built one of the most impressive public health systems and achieved educational results that are the envy of the developing world .
the statistics prove that cuba , with a fraction of the per capita income , has infant mortality and longevity rates that rival those of western europe .
thousands of medical practitioners graduate in cuba every year and cuba sends them to more than 60 countries across the globe to provide aid and assistance .
cuba has a world class biotech industry that is saving millions of lives through dispensing vaccines and drugs to needy countries at a fraction of the cost that large multinationals would charge .
for some , castro is regarded as a failure because he was unable to develop cuba ' s economy to an extent commensurate with its expenditure on health and social welfare .
though fidel castro cannot be wholly to blame for the strains on cuba ' s economy , the structural and infrastructural deficiencies that his brother raul is now addressing were undoubtedly his responsibility .
possibly , beside his fanatical supporters in cuba , fidel castro will be most fondly remembered in africa and latin america where his influence and example were for some inspirational .
this is particularly true in southern africa where cuba ' s intervention in angola in 1975 repelled a south african invasion and ensured that the mpla , rather than its rival unita , took control of the capital luanda .
more than a decade later , castro personally masterminded the strategy during the last major confrontation with the south african army at cuito cuanavale in 1988 .
nelson mandela himself attributed his release from jail and the ultimate defeat of apartheid to the events at cuito cuanavale .
as chilean poet pablo neruda commented , castro broke the mould of latin american politicians who promised much and delivered little .
ultimately , if castro failed to fulfil marti ' s promise completely it was not through want of trying .
whether one agrees or not with his politics , it has to be accepted that through all his long years in power , castro stayed true to his convictions to the end .


the whiskered auklet ( aethia pygmaea ) is a small seabird of the auk family .

it has a more restricted range than other members of its genus , aethia , living only around the aleutian islands and on some islands off siberia ( like commander islands ) , and breeding on these islands .

it is one of the smallest alcids , only the closely related least auklet being smaller .

its name is derived from the long white feathers on its face that are part of its breeding plumage .

the whiskered auklet is a poorly studied species and much research needs to be undertaken on the species .

it was originally described as two different species , from specimens collected at different ends of its range , however research has shown that it is a single species with clinal variation along its range .

it is not thought to undertake migration , but instead attends its breeding islands year round .

whiskered auklets lay a single egg in a rocky crevice , in loose colonies with other whiskered auklets and also other colonial seabirds .

both parents take part in incubation and chick rearing .

the whiskers have been shown to help them sense their way to and out of their nests at night .

whiskered auklets feed in the inshore zone , usually within 16 km of land , where tidal currents concentrate their prey into dense swarms .

they feed predominantly on copepods during the summer months , mostly on the species neocalanus plumchrus ; and switching to euphausiid krill in the fall and winter .

whiskered auklet

we had a whiskered auklet bounce into our boat and get stunned . that gave us a great opportunity to study it up close . little tanaga strait in the aleutian islands , alaska . 1 june 2016
poorly known to most birders , the whiskered auklet is a small seabird confined to remote areas of the aleutian islands , alaska ( as well as the commander and kurile islands off eastern asia ) . relatively scarce and secretive , it is active around its nesting colonies mostly at night . unlike most auks , it seldom ventures more than a few miles away from shore . one odd distinction shared with its relative , crested auklet : the plumage has a noticeable odor like citrus .
nettleship , d . n . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . whiskered auklet ( aethia pygmaea ) . 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 ) .
whiskered auklets flock together while feeding and both parents carry plankton back in their throat pouches to their young . nests are located in rocky crevices on ledges that are very difficult for predators such as gulls , falcons , foxes , and rats to reach .
html public
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urltoken
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 .
justification : this species has a very 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 very 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 .
the global population is estimated to number > c . 100 , 000 individuals ( del hoyo
. 1996 ) , while the population in russia has been estimated at < c . 100 breeding pairs and < c . 50 individuals on migration ( brazil 2009 ) .
the population is suspected to be in decline owing to predation by invasive species and ongoing habitat destruction .
this species is found offshore and along sea coasts in summer and is mostly pelagic in winter . its diet includes a high variety of planktonic crustaceans , and infrequently small fish and squid . it forages mainly offshore in deep water , and sometimes in near - shore regions almost always in large flocks throughout the year . birds arrive at colonies from march to june depending on the site . it is highly monogamous with high site and mate fidelity throughout its breeding life . colonies can be as large as 100 , 000 pairs and form on remote islands and coasts in a variety of different rocky habitats . densities are determined largely by the availability of suitable rock crevices and cavities for nesting ( del hoyo et al . 1996 ) .
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total population probably very low compared to most auks . attracted to lights at night , may be killed by crashing into lighted fishing boats . accidental introduction of rats to nesting islands may be biggest threat .
ocean , tide - rips , rocky coasts . usually at sea within a few miles of islands , in relatively shallow water . favors rough water where currents converge , or where tidal currents race across shallows or through narrow passes between islands . nests on islands among rocks or cliffs .
forages while swimming underwater . depth of dives unknown , but usually feeds in fairly shallow water .
one . dull white . incubation is by both sexes , roughly 35 - 36 days . young : both parents feed young , visiting nests at night , bringing food back in throat pouch . age of young bird at departure from nest not well known , may be about 40 days . fledgling departs by flying away from nest site at night .
both parents feed young , visiting nests at night , bringing food back in throat pouch . age of young bird at departure from nest not well known , may be about 40 days . fledgling departs by flying away from nest site at night .
small crustaceans . diet not well known , primarily small crustaceans including copepods , euphausiid shrimp , amphipods ; also marine worms , mollusks . may concentrate on copepods in summer , euphausiids in winter .
breeds in colonies , not as densely packed as in related small auks . active at colonies mostly at night , especially when not nesting in association with other species . courtship behavior not well known , includes pairs calling in duet . nest sites in small openings in talus slopes , boulder piles , or crevices in cliffs , sometimes in areas of soil mixed with rock . no nest built , egg laid on bare rock or soil .
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tell congress and the department of the interior to uphold the country ' s most important bird protection law .
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this is a large and highly varied group of birds that do not have many outward similarities . most are water birds that feed on invertebrates or small aquatic creatures . the order is well represented in washington , with seven families :
alcids are diving seabirds of the northern hemisphere . most are more comfortable in and under the water than in the air . while some members of the family fly long distances in post - breeding dispersal or migration , others fly only with effort . underwater , they use their wings as flippers to swim after fish , krill , and other aquatic prey . the majority nest in colonies on islands , and many are active in these colonies only at night , spending the day foraging on open water far from their nesting sites . many nest in burrows , and most species lay only one egg each year , although some lay two . both sexes incubate and care for the young . most alcids are predominantly black - and - white , with different breeding and non - breeding plumages .
one record , from penn cove ( whidbey island , island county ) in may 1999 .
analysis of mtdna suggests that present species and a . cristatella form a clade , with a . psittacula a close relative of the two . birds from kuril is were separated as race camtschatica on basis of different body size , but recent studies confirm existence only of simple clinal variation , size increasing from e to w . monotypic .
ne sea of okhotsk ( penzhin gulf , yamskiye is , iony i ) and commander is s to at least c kuril is , and throughout aleutians e to four mountains is and krenitzen is . winters mostly near breeding locations , but s as far as japan , and casual in n bering sea ( e . g . st lawrence i ) .
17–18 cm ; c . 116 g ( 99–136 g ) ; wingspan c . 37 cm . unique head pattern , with long recurved crest on forehead drooping forward over small white - tipped scarlet bill . . .
offshore and along sea coasts . breeds on bare to partially covered talus slopes and beach boulder . . .
diet throughout year marine zooplankton , with 42 different prey taxa identified during a breeding - season study at three islands in the . . .
breeding phenology poorly known . spring arrival apr to early may ; laying probably late may and early jun , sometimes advanced ; hatching and . . .
distribution and movements outside breeding season poorly known . returns to colonies apr to early . . .
not globally threatened ( least concern ) . total population small , second - rarest alcid in alaska . numbers poorly known , but coarse estimates in 1990s indicated minimum of 100 , . . .
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this map displays aggregated data from ibc and my birding ( anonymously ) ; markers do not indicate precise localities .
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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a big group of birds calling while swimming at the sea and then flying .
hal and kirsten snyder , jacob . wijpkema , christophe gouraud , r . d . wallace , niels poul dreyer , kirk zufelt , william price .
this species has a very 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 very 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 .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : aethia pygmaea . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
cincinnati zoo & botanical garden 3400 vine st . cincinnati , ohio 45220 ( 513 ) 281 - 4700


scydosella is a genus of beetles that consists of only one species scydosella musawasensis .

the species is regarded as the smallest free-living insect , as well as the smallest beetle .

they are among featherwing beetle , named because of their feather-like spiny wings .

it was first discovered in nicaragua , and described in 1999 by wesley eugene hall of the university of nebraska state museum .

the initial discovery consisted of very few specimens , and exact measurements were not conclusive .

because of their tiny size , they were difficult to observe under microscope after preservation .

the generally accepted size was 0.300 mm in length .

on 8 february 2015 , alexey polilov of the lomonosov moscow state university collected 85 specimens in chicaque national park , colombia .

they were discovered on a layer of fungus on which they feed .

from these specimens exact measurements could be made , and was found that the smallest individual is only 0.325 mm long .

the largest individual is 0.352 mm long , and the average length of all the specimens is 0.338 mm .

the body is elongated and oval in shape , yellowish-brown in colour , and its antennae are split into 10 segments .

scydosella

this tiny insect , scientifically known as scydosella musawasensis , is the only species in the featherwing beetle genus scydosella .
according to a new study published online this week in the journal zookeys , the smallest examined representative of scydosella musawasensis has a length of 0 . 325 mm .
habitus and diagnostic characters of scydosella musawasensis , sem : a dorsal view b lateral view c ventral view d antenna c mouthparts f pygidial tooth g mesosternal process .
“the record of scydosella musawasensis in colombia considerably broadens the known range of this genus and species , known previously only from one site in nicaragua , ” dr polilov wrote .
“this record also broadens the known range of fungi colonized by scydosella musawasensis , which was known previously only from rigidoporus lineatus . i have collected it on steccherinum sp . ”
the smallest known beetle scydosella musawasensis hall is recorded for the second time . precise measurements of its body size are given , and it is shown that the smallest examined representative of this species has a length of 325 µm .
this trend towards fusion into fewer , separate parts affects many organ systems . microinsects like scydosella lack the crops and gizzards present in larger insects , and may also lose the muscles that typically line the esophagus and intestines . the circulatory system in microinsects is basically reduced to nothing more than a simple heart and a short aorta , with scydosella losing those organs entirely . those microinsects with wings suffer from weakly developed veins , which poses a huge problem for flight performance .
the world ' s smallest beetle and tiniest non - parasitoid insect , called scydosella musawasensis , is morphologically characterised by its elongated oval body , yellowish - brown colouration and antennae split into 10 segments . it is also the only representative of this featherwing beetle genus .
the record of scydosella musawasensis in colombia considerably broadens the known range of this genus and species , known previously only from one site in nicaragua ( hall 1999 ) , where the type series was collected : musawas , waspuc river , nicaragua , 14 october 1955 . this record also broadens the known range of fungi colonized by scydosella musawasensis , which was known previously only from rigidoporus lineatus ( meripilaceae , given as polyporus zonalis in the original description ) ( hall 1999 ) ; i have collected it on steccherinum sp . ( meruliaceae ) .
polilov aa ( 2015 ) how small is the smallest ? new record and remeasuring of scydosella musawasensis hall , 1999 ( coleoptera , ptiliidae ) , the smallest known free - living insect . zookeys 526 : 61–64 . doi : 10 . 3897 / zookeys . 526 . 6531
more information : alexey polilov . how small is the smallest ? new record and remeasuring of scydosella musawasensis hall , 1999 ( coleoptera , ptiliidae ) , the smallest known free - living insect , zookeys ( 2015 ) . doi : 10 . 3897 / zookeys . 526 . 6531
polilov aa . 2015 . how small is the smallest ? new record and remeasuring of scydosella musawasensis hall , 1999 ( coleoptera , ptiliidae ) , the smallest known free - living insect . zookeys 526 : 61 - 64 ; doi : 10 . 3897 / zookeys . 526 . 6531
“measuring of ten specimens of scydosella musawasensis has shown that the smallest of them has a length of 0 . 325 mm , the largest has a length of 0 . 352 mm , and the average length is 0 . 338 mm . the body width is 0 . 098 to 0 . 104 mm , ” dr polilov wrote in the zookeys paper .
now that we’ve covered why insects have to be small , the next reasonable question is what keeps them from shrinking even smaller than scydosella ? the problem is that multicellular organisms must make a lot of sacrifices to fit all those structures and organs into such a tiny body . miniaturization in metazoans is actually polilov’s main research interest , and he discussed the unique effects of shrinking on structure and physiology in a paper published earlier this year .
entomologists have declared scydosella musawasensis to be the world’s smallest free - living insect . s . musawasensis , a featherwing beetle , can be as small as 0 . 325 millimeters ( as tiny as certain unicellular organisms ) . alexey polilov of lomonosov moscow state university collected 85 of the beetles from colombia , and his measurements of the tiny specimens confirm their ranking as the world’s tiniest free - living insects . in order to even measure such a tiny organism , polilov had to use a scanning electron microscope with specialized software .
adults of scydosella musawasensis hall , 1999 were collected in chicaque national park , colombia , 10 km west of bogotá , on 8 february 2015 ( coordinates 4 . 619 , - 74 . 312 ) , 2200 m above sea level , on the fungus steccherinum sp . ( meruliaceae ) , 85 specimens . the material was fixed in faa ( formaldehyde—alcohol—acetic acid ) and preserved in 70 % ethanol . it was subsequently examined under a jeol jsm - 6380 scanning electron microscope ( sem ) after drying of the specimens at the critical point ( hitachi hcp - 2 ) and sputter coating with gold ( giko jsm - 6380 ) . the measurements were made using the program meazure ( c thing software ) from digital micrographs obtained under sem .
the smallest known beetle – and the smallest non - parasitoid insect – has a body length of 0 . 325 mm , according to entomologist dr alexey polilov of lomonosov university .
it’s morphologically characterised by its elongated oval body , yellowish - brown coloration and antennae split into ten segments .
“not able to precisely measure its size because of the preserved nicaraguan specimens being embedded in preparations for microscopy studies , i used new individuals , collected in chicaque national park , colombia in early 2015 , ” dr polilov explained .
the measurements were made using specialized software from digital micrographs obtained under a scanning electron microscope .
“thus , the smallest beetle and smallest known non - parasitoid insect has a body length of 0 . 325 mm . ”
the size of the smallest known parasitoid insect , male dicopomorpha echmepterygis ( a parasitic wasp in the family mymaridae ) , is 0 . 139 mm .
juvenile australopithecus climbed trees , 3 . 32 - million - year - old foot fossil shows
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the long - lasting search and debate around the size and identity of the world ' s smallest free - living insect seems to have now been ended with the precise measurement and second record of the featherwing beetle species .
described back in 1999 based on only several specimens found in nicaragua , as many as 85 individuals of the minute beetle species have recently been retrieved from colombia and thoroughly examined . the smallest of them measured the astounding 0 . 325 mm . the finding made by dr . alexey polilov , lomonosov moscow state university moscow , is available in the open access journal zookeys .
not able to precisely measure its size because of the preserved specimens being embedded in preparations for microscopy studies , dr . polilov used new individuals , collected in chicaque national park , colombia in early 2015 . to conclude the length of the smallest one as 325 µm ( 0 . 325 mm ) the scientist used a specialised software and digital micrographs .
, which also proved that the range of its distribution is actually much wider . thereafter , so are the localities of the fungi that the insect feeds on .
a team of japanese scientists found and described a new species of scarab beetle from cambodia . the beetle was named termitotrox venus , after venus - the roman goddess of beauty and love . the study was published in the open - access . . .
minuscule snails defy current knowledge and scientific terminology about terrestrial
microsnails
. while examining soil samples collected from the base of limestone rocks in guangxi province , southern china , scientists barna . . .
recent research from a team led by dr jonathan cox shows how certain beetles use their antennae to locate potential mates . this is the first time scientists have studied molecule capture by the antennae of beetles .
in 1832 charles darwin disembarked from hms beagle in bahia blanca , argentina where he travelled by land to buenos aires . in bahia blanca , darwin collected several fossils of large mammals along with many other living organisms , . . .
a newly - discovered species of tree - killing bark beetle , dendroctonus mesoamericanus armendáriz - toledano and sullivan , has been described in a paper published online in the annals of the entomological society of america by . . .
dr david livingstone ' s only known beetle specimens have been discovered at the museum - 150 years after he brought them back from africa .
the co - evolution of plant—pathogen interactions has been revealed in unprecedented detail in a study of one of the world ' s deadliest crop killers . this is the rice blast pathogen , which destroys enough food to feed more . . .
using genome editing to inactivate a protein called pcsk9 effectively reduces cholesterol levels in rhesus macaques , a species of monkey , according to researchers from the perelman school of medicine at the university of . . .
fish that ' farm ' their own patches of seaweed alter their ' cropping ' practices under high co2 conditions , researchers at the university of adelaide in australia have found .
mucus is able to protect us from infection thanks to ancient genes that have been conserved throughout 350 million years of evolution—dating back to our days as a jellyfish .
by proving a theory that was first proposed almost 40 years ago , researchers have confirmed a new way that cells conserve energy .
our bodies consist of many different kinds of cells , each with their own role . the japanese scientist shinya yamanaka had made earlier the discovery , earning the nobel prize in 2012 , that cells from adult skin can be converted . . .
fairyfly wasps rank smaller than the featherwing beetle me thinks at 0 . 15 mm . check wikipedia entry for fairyfly .
the article specified
free living
, so perhaps that is to rule out the parasitic fairyflies .
yeh ewh that could bee . wonder what free - living means in this case . either way . . . . what a teeny tiny eentsy insect . . . . smaller than a paramecium ; holy cow .
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has shown that the smallest of them has a length of 325 µm , the largest has a length of 352 µm , and the average length is 338 µm ( fig .
) . the body width ( maximum width of both elytra at rest ) is 98 to 104 µm ( м = 99 µm , n = 10 ) . thus , the smallest beetle and the smallest known free - living insect has a body length of 325 µm .
) , yellowish - brown , surface generally glabrous , punctation sparse . antennae 10 - segmented ( fig .
) . pronotum widest at middle . procoxal pockets absent , prothoracic glands absent . mesosternal process evenly narrowing anteriad , with obtuse apex , not extending onto metasternum ( fig .
) . mesosternal lines ending near process ; metasternal lines complete . elytral venter with stridulatory file . femoral line ending in 2 setae . pygidial tooth acute ( fig .
this study has been supported by the russian science foundation ( project no . 14 - 14 - 00208 ) .
dybas hs . ( 1990 ) chapter 36 . insecta : coleopteraptiliidae in : dindal dl . ( ed . )
a new genus and species of fairyfly , tinkerbella nana ( hymenoptera , mymaridae ) , with comments on its sister genus kikiki , and discussion on small size limits in arthropods .
a new species of dicopomorpha ( hymenoptera : mymaridae ) with diminutive , apterous males .
morphological and taxonomical novelties in the world’s smallest beetles , and the first old world records of nanosellini .
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why are insects in general so small ? evolution favors small insects for two reasons . the first is their unique respiratory systems ; insects use tubes called trachea that must extend throughout their bodies to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide . the larger the insect , the more space these trachea have to take up to satisfy their increased oxygen demand .
the second constraint on giant insects comes from their chitinous exoskeletons . while this tough outer shell grants insects protection and structure , it also keeps them from growing too large . molting and growing an entirely new coat is an incredibly exhaustive process . as the insect grows larger , it also needs a thicker exoskeleton that would eventually become too heavy to support .
the principle of organs scaling down as the body shrinks is called “allometry . ” microinsects achieve their tiny size through allometry as well as simplifying or entirely eliminating structures . for example , their chitinous exoskeleton constrains their morphology at both ends of the size spectrum . in exchange for smaller size , microinsects give up the thicker protection enjoyed by larger insects . the exoskeleton also becomes less complex and articulate , and the fusion of elements and segments makes the insect less flexible than its larger relatives .
perhaps the most dramatic consequences of miniaturization occur in the nervous system . when forced to fit into such a tiny volume , neurons are reduced in both size and number and must pack together more tightly . the result ? greater noise and interference with the transmission of signals between cells . this also creates an exceptionally dense demand for energy , while leaving less room in each nerve cell for mitochondria , the intracellular structures that provide that energy . microinsects try to get around these handicaps by expanding and contorting their nerves to fit every nook and cranny , but this comes at the expense of other organ systems .
of course , the reproductive system gets top priority . while everything else dwindles , gonads must remain disproportionately large to maintain their function . in particular , females devote a significant portion of their body size to producing a large enough egg for viable offspring . some species of microinsects even produce sperm that are longer than the male’s entire body .
based on these observations , the miniaturization of insects is likely limited by the space required for the most crucial structures in the nervous and reproductive systems . while smaller size certainly gives these insects great advantages in conserving energy and avoiding predators , it also comes with a host of complications . like many things in life , it looks like moderation is key .
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