agatha georgiana is a species of sea snail , a marine gastropod mollusk in the family pyramidellidae , the pyrams and their allies .

the species is one of the two species within the agatha genus , with the exception of the other related species being agatha virgo .

agatha georgiana

agatha was born in 1810 . agatha dobbie . . . she passed away in 1878 .
agatha ( somerset ) leighton is a member of aristocracy in the british isles .
1893 . odostomia georgiana hutton , macleay mem . vol . , plioc . moll . , p . 57 , pl . 7 , fig . 49 .
1885 . odostomia georgiana hutton , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 17 , p . 319 , pl . 18 , fig . 16 .
1915 . odostomia ( oceanida ) georgiana hutton , suter , n . z . g . s . pal . bull . , no . 3 , p . 15 .
o . inornata suter from snares islands must also fall in synonymy to georgiana hutton . the holotype of inornata is a little more attenuate than typical georgiana and it has a weaker plait on the pillar , but the half - dozen paratypes show these features to be inconstant , and they approach very closely indeed to undoubted specimens of georgiana from off otago heads . suter is incorrect in his statement ( key to species , manual , p . 334 ) that there is no spiral sculpture . the type has its surface poorly preserved , but good paratypes show fine but distinct microscopic spirals .
england and wales census , 1911 ,
database , familysearch ( urltoken : 20 january 2015 ) , agatha georgiana knyvett leighton , wonersh , wonersh , surrey , england ; from
1911 england and wales census ,
database and images , findmypast ( urltoken : n . d . ) ; citing pro rg 14 , the national archives of the uk , kew , surrey .
england and wales census , 1871
, database with images , familysearch ( urltoken : 24 july 2015 ) , agatha g somerset in entry for james w lascelles , 1871 .
agatha is 19 degrees from william foster , 13 degrees from alexander hamilton and 10 degrees from victoria of the united kingdom of great britain and ireland on our single family tree . login to find your connection .
finlay ( trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 57 , p . 405 ; 1926 ) has stated that o . bembix suter is a synonym of o . georgiana hutton , and comparison of the types confirms this conclusion . the same writer ( loc . cit . , p . 405 ) stated his belief that possibly o . stygia suter is also a synonym of georgiana , but refrained from uniting them as he had not seen the type of stygia . comparison of the holotypes substantiates finlay ' s suspicion that these two forms are conspecific . the holotype of stygia is not adult .
marwick compared his species with o . stygia suter , which herein is united in synonymy with o . georgiana hutton . it is distinguished from stygia , he states , in having straight sided whorls . the type of stygia , however , also has straight sided whorls , and the error is no doubt to be ascribed to suter ' s poor figure in the atlas .
pittensis is extremely close to the type of stygia , and can be separated from it and from georgiana only by the lack of spiral sculpture ( other than the subsutural border ) , by the presence of very pronounced growth - plications which appear like obsolete axial ribbing , and by its heavier , more swollen embryo . in proportions and build of shell there is no difference .
↑
england and wales birth registration index , 1837 - 2008 ,
database , familysearch ( urltoken : 1 october 2014 ) , agatha somerset , 1850 ; from
england & wales births , 1837 - 2006 ,
database , findmypast ( urltoken : 2012 ) ; citing birth registration , bedminster , somerset , england , citing general register office , southport , england .
↑
england and wales death registration index 1837 - 2007 ,
database , familysearch ( urltoken : 4 september 2014 ) , agatha g kngoett - leighton , 1940 ; from
england & wales deaths , 1837 - 2006 ,
database , findmypast ( urltoken : 2012 ) ; citing death , surrey south western , surrey , england , general register office , southport , england .
england and wales census , 1901 ,
database , familysearch ( urltoken : 28 august 2015 ) , agatha g k leighton , chiddingfold , surrey , england ; from
1901 england , scotland and wales census ,
database and images , findmypast ( urltoken : n . d . ) ; citing witley subdistrict , pro rg 13 , the national archives , kew , surrey .
england and wales census , 1891 ,
database with images , familysearch ( urltoken : 14 october 2015 ) , agatha g k leighton , chiddingfold , surrey , england ; from
1891 england , scotland and wales census ,
database and images , findmypast ( urltoken : n . d . ) ; citing pro rg 12 , surrey county , subdistrict , the national archives of the uk , kew , surrey .
↑
england and wales marriage registration index , 1837 - 2005 ,
database , familysearch ( urltoken : 13 december 2014 ) , agatha g - agians somerset , 1879 ; from “england & wales marriages , 1837 - 2005 , ” database , findmypast ( urltoken : 2012 ) ; citing 1879 , quarter 2 , vol . 2b , p . 111 , eastbourne , sussex , england , general register office , southport , england .
a . alexanderi has not the concave outline to spire , which is not so sharpened posteriorly , and possesses whorls rather more convex and narrowly tabulated at summits , so that the spire is somewhat staged and the sutures much more distinct . a . pittensis is a smaller and stouter species with heavy and less exsert protoconch , stronger and more regular growth - lines , and with spire , shape of whorl and suture similar to those of alexanderi . with the exception of the protoconch , similar characters separate georgiana from this blue cliffs species .
england and wales census , 1881 ,
database with images , familysearch ( urltoken : 18 august 2016 ) , agatha g leighton , brighton , sussex , england ; from
1881 england , scotland and wales census ,
database and images , findmypast ( urltoken : n . d . ) ; citing p . 26 , piece / folio 1077 / 16 , the national archives , kew , surrey ; fhl microfilm 101 , 774 , 517 .
she was the daughter of lt . - gen . edward arthur somerset and agatha miles . [ 1 ] she was born in abbot leigh , somerset , england about 1850 . [ 2 ] she married major charles arthur baldwyn knyvett leighton , son of catherine st . leger and the reverend francis knyvett leighton on the 17th of april 1879 at eastbourne , sussex , england . [ 3 ] she died on the 10th of may 1940 , without issue at surrey south western , surrey , england . [ 4 ]
spencer h . g . , willan r . c . , marshall b . a . & murray t . j . ( 2011 ) . checklist of the recent mollusca recorded from the new zealand exclusive economic zone . , available online at urltoken [ details ]
maxwell , p . a . ( 2009 ) . cenozoic mollusca . pp 232 - 254 in gordon , d . p . ( ed . ) new zealand inventory of biodiversity . volume one . kingdom animalia : radiata , lophotrochozoa , deuterostomia . canterbury university press , christchurch . [ details ]
spencer , h . g . , marshall , b . a . & willan , r . c . ( 2009 ) . checklist of new zealand living mollusca . pp 196 - 219 . in : gordon , d . p . ( ed . ) new zealand inventory of biodiversity . volume one . kingdom animalia : radiata , lophotrochozoa , deuterostomia . canterbury university press , christchurch . [ details ]
to museum of new zealand te papa ( m . 001308 ; odostomia bembix suter , 1908 ; holotype ) ( from synonym odostomia bembix suter , 1908 ) to museum of new zealand te papa ( m . 001776 ; odostomia marginata murdoch & suter , 1906 ; holotype ) ( from synonym odostomia stygia suter , 1913 )
to museum of new ze . . . [ hosted externally ; from synonym ]
the symbols k . a . c . f . m . an . are used to indicate the geographical range of the species . they have been adopted to give an approxomation of the range of each species within new zealand .
powell , a . w . b . 1979 : new zealand mollusca : marine , land and freshwater shells , collins , auckland ( p . 265 )
note : localities are approximate , and represent only some of the known localities for the species .
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spire sharpened , its outline faintly concave ; whorls closely staged ; body - whorl broadly convex , not angled .
spire not sharpened by concave outline ; whorls not staged ; body - whorl sub - angled at periphery .
apex blunter than usual , embryo more convex on summit ; growth - plications obvious ; suture distinctly closely submargined .
* 1908 . odostomia bembix suter , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 40 , p . 362 , pl . 28 , fig . 6 .
1908 . odostomia inornata suter , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 40 , p . 364 , pl . 28 , fig . 8 ; man . n . z . moll . , p . 338 , pl . 16 , fig . 22 ( atlas ) , 1913 .
1913 . odostomia stygia suter , man . n . z . moll . , p . 339 , pl . 16 , fig . 23 ( atlas ) ; o . marginata murdoch and suter , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 38 , p . 296 , pl . 25 , fig . 37 , 1905 ; not of c . b . adams , 1852 .
hutton ' s drawing is of little use ; it shows the spire too attenuate posteriorly , the body - whorl too full over the base , and it does not represent the aperture precisely . his description is meagre , and his statement that the shell lacks spiral sculpture is incorrect ; this error suter rectified ( 1915 ) in re - describing the species at greater length .
suter ' s reference to oceanida must be negatived . the holotype has several naturally repaired fractures , and these apparently suter mistook for varices . further , oceanida lacks spiral ornamentation .
protoconch small , heterostrophic , coiled in a low helicoid spiral ; nucleus small , about two - thirds immersed on an average , but degree of immersion slightly variable .
localities : castlecliff , wanganui ( castlecliffian ) , type ; eskdale , petane ( ( nukumaruan ) ; nukumaru ; junction ruakakapatuna and makara streams , south wairarapa ( pliocene ) ; awanui heads , in 12 fathoms ; dunedin harbour ; poor knights , in 60 fathoms ( juvenile ) ; auckland harbour ; stewart island ; off otago heads , in 50 fathoms .
[ footnote ] * the full synonymy is given in the manual of n . z . mollusca , p . 335 .
1928 . odostomia pittensis marwick , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 58 , p . 484 , fig . 126 .
1929 . odostomia alexanderi marwick , trans . n . z . inst . , vol . 59 , p . 919 , fig . 60 .
the strong similarity to the genotype , a recent species from japan , has already been commented on in the remarks introducing the genus .
spirally furrowed in region of columella ; aperture subovate , drawn down and inwards towards axis of shell ; columella set vertically , arcuate , its fold below insertion , strong and prominent ; basal lip a little expanded ; inner lip callused ; outer lip broken back .
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↑ mosley , charles , editor . burke ' s peerage and baronetage , 106th edition , 2 volumes . crans , switzerland : burke ' s peerage ( genealogical books ) ltd , 1999 . volume 1 , page 224 .
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[ s37 ] bp2003 volume 3 , page 4201 . see link for full details for this source . hereinafter cited as . [ s37 ]
[ s2260 ] marcia diamant ,
re : oldfield family ,
e - mail message to darryl roger lundy , 25 april 2007 and 11 june 2008 . hereinafter cited as
re : oldfield family .
he was captain 4th battalion derbys regiment boer –01 ( medal and three clasps ) war 1900 .
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the african firefinch ( lagonosticta rubricata ) , also called the dark firefinch or blue-billed firefinch due to the color of its bill , is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of africa .

it has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 5,400,000 km ² .

african firefinch

common name / s : red billed firefinch , african firefinch , fire finch , senegal firefinch , firefinch , common firefinch , ruddy .
the preferred habitats for african firefinch are : woodlands and grasslands and riverine areas . the african firefinch is also at home in wetland and bushveld areas .
african firefinch ( lagonosticta rubricata fam . estrildidae ) kruger park birds & birding .
the african firefinch is neither endemic or near endemic to the kruger national park .
in terms of distribution of the african firefinch in the kruger national park you may not see it in all areas . african firefinch : see above distribution map .
african firefinch ( lagonosticta rubricata ) is a species of bird in the estrildidae family .
you will normally see the african firefinch in pairs or flocks and not as single birds .
the african firefinch ( latin name lagonosticta rubricata ) is described in roberts birds of southern africa , 7th edition . this bird has a unique roberts number of 840 and you will find a full description of this bird on page 1063 also a picture of the african firefinch on page 1056 . the african firefinch belongs to the family of birds classified as estrildidae . according to the percy fitzpatrick institute of african ornithology the african firefinch is also known by these other names : brown - backed firefinch , ruddy waxbill , dark firefinch , black - vented crimson firefinch .
african firefinch female ( left ) , and male ( right ) . [ photo callie de wet © ]
the african firefinch is monogamous unless its mate dies . in the event of a partner dying lagonosticta rubricata will seek out a new mate
because of the area that the african firefinch is found in , the bird is considered of ' least concern ' for extinction by the iucn .
nesting : the african firefinch builds its nest in the branches of a tree or a shrub . the female lays 2 - 5 white eggs .
fresh sprouts and egg food should also be a regular part of your firefinch’s diet .
click the button below to add the red - billed firefinch to your wish list .
the male african firefinch has olive - brown mantle , wings ; gray crown , nape , neck ; red rump , upper - tail ; scarlet underparts with some white spots .
the nesting habit of african firefinch is to create the nest in branches of a tree or shrub . the bird lays eggs which are white in colour and number between 2 to 5
identification : the small , gregarious red - billed firefinch ( lagonosticta senegala ) is a beautiful african finch with gorgeous scarlet plummage on the male , and brown underparts on the female .
one of the first indicators to take note of when trying to identify a bird is it relative size . for example how big is the bird compared to a well known familiar bird . the african firefinch is an extremely small bird about half the size of a house sparrow . the height of the african firefinch is about 12 cms and its weight is about 10 gms
status in wild : secure . one of the most widespread and common of the african birds .
the african firefinch ( lagonosticta rubricata ) is also known as the blue billed firefinch due to the colour of its bill and is found across most all parts of africa . they live in pairs of small families and often live with other finches , being quiet and peaceful birds .
the african firefinch is common within its large area of distribution and does well in both human and natural habitats . it is not threatened and is listed as least concern on the iucn red list .
flock of about 15 birds . males with contrasting red and grey - more so than red - billed firefinch
courtship : african firefinches can breed throughout the year when conditions are suitable . seasonal peaks are during or following periods of rain . african firefinches are believed to be monogamous . if one of them dies , the other will seek out a new mate . african firefinches are not solitary birds . you will normally see them in pairs or flocks .
the brown firefinch is found in angola , botswana , dr congo , namibia , tanzania , zambia and zimbabw .
a / a vol 59 no . 11 nov 2005 page 255 - 259 ( background notes on some african waxbills ) .
birds & birding in the kruger national park south africa . in roberts 6 this bird was called blue - billed firefinch
habitat and range : the african firefinch is found in most of the countries south of the saharan desert all the way to south africa . they utilize quite a few different habitats including subtropical / tropical , dry , rivers / stream / creeks , woodlands and grasslands .
the african firefinch ; known also as the blue - billed firefinch or colloquially as the “ruddy , ” is a species of estrildid finch found throughout africa . the species is quite common in aviculture throughout the world , where a small number of colour mutations have been developed . they are active and hardy birds that get along well with other placid finch species , making them popular in mixed finch collections .
diet : african firefinches mostly eat seeds . during breeding they also eat small insects . they feed in pairs or family groups on the ground .
the african firefinch is one of 10 species of firefinches and is also known as the blue - billed firefinch . it is a common bird found throughout africa south of the saharan desert . the male is mostly red that tends to be more brown on the upperparts . the undertail covers and part of the belly is black . the eyes are dark with a pinkish eye ring . female and juvenile african firefinches are mostly brown with some red on the rump and face . only adults have white spots on the sides . the adult bill color is a silver blue .
the male chad firefinch has mainly bright pinkish - red plumage ; upperparts darker ; gray head , nape . females similar but duller , browner .
size / weight : including their tail , the red - billed firefinch is less than 12 cm ( 4 . 72 in ) in total length .
the bar - breasted firefinch has grayish - brown upperparts , crown ; rest head red ; red breast with white speckling or barring ; buffy gray belly .
firefinches belong to the order of passeriformes , family estrildidae , genus lagonosticta ( from the greek “lagonos” meaning flank and “sticta” meaning spotted ) and are restricted to the african continent . there are 12 recognized species of firefinches , but the red - billed firefinch is one of the few entirely red - colored birds available to aviculturists .
firefinches are a family of eleven species in the estrildidae family of exotic finches . the most commonly known in captivity is the red - billed or senegal firefinch .
also known as the senegal firefinch ( lagonosticta senegala ) , this spectacular african import is one of the few entirely red - colored birds available to aviculturists . northern cardinals , one of my favorites , are not legal to keep here in the usa…the red - billed firefinch is the only species i’ve found that comes close to matching it’s brilliant plumage . they are not rare in the wild or captivity , but never lose their appeal – even to lifelong bird keepers , firefinches always seem “special” .
the african firefinch doesn’t have as strong a requirement for leafy green as other finch species , however they should still be provided throughout the year . kale , bok choy , endive and silverbeet are the most nutritious and will be readily eaten . spinach can also be given , but only sparingly as it can contribute to calcium deficiency .
the african firefinch is found in numerous habitats , such as subtropical and tropical forests , drier woodlands and grasslands . it can also be found in gardens and parks . diet consists mainly of seeds , but it will also feed on insects during the breeding season . it forages on the ground in pairs or in small family groups .
african firefinches spend a lot of time on the ground , especially if there are low - growing grasses and shrubs . the aviary substrate should be kept clean and dry .
here is a nice photo taken by alice horst of the red - billed firefinch . that is a pretty cool bird ! this bird is commonly found in africa .
several related species , some of which are equally as gorgeous as the red - billed firefinch , also occur in africa , but none are well - established in captivity .
distribution of african firefinch in southern africa , based on statistical smoothing of the records from first sa bird atlas project ( © animal demography unit , university of cape town ; smoothing by birgit erni and francesca little ) . colours range from dark blue ( most common ) through to yellow ( least common ) . see here for the latest distribution from the sabap2 .
sexing : the gender of a red - billed firefinch is easily determined by the female containing a brown chest , whereas the male ' s chest is bright scarlet in color .
the male jameson ' s firefinch has mainly pink plumage ; black bill ; bluish legs ; sometimes white freckles on flanks . female has darker pink plumage with red loral spot .
mimicked calls of african firefinch incorporated in this song with sweet
too - too
and
tuee - too - too
notes at 9 , 25 and 37 secs and purring series at 19 , 24 , 29 , 39 , 41 and 45 secs at a rate of ~ 13 . 5 notes / sec , which is too slow for v . purpurascens .
african firefinches breed best in spring and autumn , with a hen bird that is at least 12 months of age . these birds demand privacy to breed successfully and will not tolerate nest inspections .
payne , r . ( 2018 ) . african firefinch ( lagonosticta rubricata ) . 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 ) .
the african firefinches tendency to feed at ground level makes them unusually susceptible to worms and other infections and diseases . a strict worming and parasite control regime should be implemented to ensure their long - term health .
african firefinches can be housed successfully as single pairs , a colony , or as part of a mixed collection . they prefer a large planted aviary , but are generally tolerant of smaller aviaries or even a large flight cage .
african firefinches are a placid species and can usually be housed with most other placid finches . they are among the smaller finch species available , so it’s likely any aggression would be directed towards them rather than caused by them .
our image database has been created to bring together photographs taken in the african region of as many bird species as possible . we hope this will provide both a useful tool for researchers and a splendid collection of photographs for anyone to browse .
the male red - billed firefinch has scarlet plumage except for brown wings ; yellow eye - ring ; pink bill . female has uniformly brown upperparts ; buff underparts ; small red patch in front of both eyes ; pink bill .
plumage / molt african firefinches do not have an alternate or breeding plumage . they molt annually and the adults may become flightless for up to 3 weeks between december and march when moulting their fight feathers . during this time they hide in vegetation near water .
live food is an important component of the african firefinches diet and should be provided throughout the year – especially during the breeding season . mealworms , maggots , termites , and small crickets will be consumed readily . commercial soft finch food mixes can also be provided for an added nutrient boost , particularly when breeding .
the main reference source for this data was
roberts - birds of southern africa , 7th edition
. other references were
newmans birds of the kruger park
by keith newman published circa 1980 . names in foreign languages were obtained from the percy fitzpatrick institute of african ornithology , university of cape town website , urltoken
diet : a high quality classic finch seed , should form the basis of their diet , but a steady supply of insects is essential if firefinches are to remain to remain in good color and peak condition . the red - billed firefinch also enjoy millet , dried egg food , mineral grit and fresh greens .
plumage variations in african goshawk - status of short - clawed lark in se botswana - finding southern ethiopia ' s endemic birds - madagascar serpent eagle - a photospot of friedmann ' s lark - cataloguing the lubango bird skin collection in angola - rufous fishing owl camera trapped at midday near tiwai island , sierra leone and much more .
bird distributional limits in the upper zambezi valley ; recent observations of abyssinian endemic bird species in eritrea ; rare birds in morocco ; a waterbird survey in northern mozambique ; satellite imagery for african bird conservation ; a new form of thrush babbler in cameroon ? ; flamingos on the runway ; endemic and special birds in somaliland and much more .
the nest of the bird is a domed structure made from grass which is entered at the side and built in a low bush or even a wall . three to six eggs are laid , and the nest is parasitized by the village indigobird . in captivity , they are said to be the easiest of the firefinch species to breed .
a quality seed mix including canary seed , various millets and panicum forms the basis of the african firefinches diet . seed lacks many essential vitamins and minerals which must be compensated for by introducing other foods . sprouted seed increases the nutritional value of seed and is a cheap way to improve your birds health . freshly grown green seed heads should also be offered frequently .
the black bellied firefinch ( lagonosticta rara ) is found across most of central and eastern africa . the male is a deep mauve - wine red colour turning to a pinkish tone across the breast and flanks and dark brown wings . the female is more of a paler , brown - grey colour with some wine - red colour on the rump and tail .
payne , r . ( 2018 ) . mali firefinch ( lagonosticta virata ) . 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 ) .
the red - billed firefinch ( lagonosticta senegala ) is a small bird found across sub - saharan africa , which is around 10cm in length . the male bird has scarlet red feathers with brown wings , a yellow eye ring and a pink bill . the females are brown with a small red patch at the front of the eye . for some reason , in aviculture , they are nicknamed ruddies .
key to the identity of white - bearded greenbul - type locality etc . of sidamo lark - the avifauna of ghana - birds of fazao - malfakassa np , togo - selected notes on the birds of the gola forest , sierra leone - status of breeding seabirds on eritrean red sea islands - chad firefinch in northern cameroon - seebohm ' s wheatear in west africa - intermediate forms of hairy - breasted barbet in congo and much more .
geography : the red - billed firefinch is typically found in savannahs , over - grown shrubs and lightly wooded areas of africa . fire finches come from mostly arid regions , so damp conditions should be avoided . sand is the preferred ground cover for aviaries . they prefer bright and sunny conditions but should always have access to water and shade . all species of fire finch spend a lot of time on or near the ground and like stones or very low perches that keep them off the cage bottom .
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form landanae commonly treated as a separate species , on basis mainly of reddish vs pink - based dark grey lower mandible ( 2 ) and rather smaller size ( tail appearing shorter ; allow 1 ) , but otherwise it is very close in plumage to race haematocephala ; genetically it is in fact closer to nominate than to other races , but mouth of landanae nestling like that of congica , and songs and calls appear the same ; also , adult males in nw angola ( uíge ) have bill varying from violet above and red below to grey - blue above and pale horn - coloured below ( both with black tip ) , with plumage nearly identical . most other races intergrade with one another , although nominate not known to intergrade with haematocephala . proposed race neglecta ( described from guinea - bissau ) , named on basis of red cheeks of female , considered untenable , treated as a synonym of polionota ; ugandae ( described from fort portal , in uganda ) synonymized with congica . five subspecies recognized .
shelley , 1873 – s senegal , sw mali , guinea - bissau , guinea , sierra leone and n liberia e to nigeria .
sharpe , 1890 – cameroon e to south sudan , ne drcongo ( uele , kivu ) and w uganda , s to gabon and n & ne angola .
neumann , 1907 – e africa from south sudan e of r nile , c eritrea , ethiopia , uganda , and kenyan highlands s to zambia , malawi , highlands of e zimbabwe , coastal tanzania and n & c mozambique ( n of r save ) .
– n & e south africa , swaziland and s mozambique ( s of r save ) .
– nw angola ( cabinda s to gabela and upper r cuanza ) and lower r congo in s congo and sw drcongo .
10–11 cm ; 8·6 - 11·7 g . male nominate race has crown and side of neck grey , nape and upperparts , including upperwing - coverts , brown , rump and uppertail - coverts red , tail . . .
contact call a plaintive whistled
feeeeeee
, and in undirected display at close range . . .
rank vegetation of long grass and bushes , thickets , riverine forest edge , edge of evergreen and . . .
small grass seeds ( diameter 1–2 mm ) ; also small insects , especially termites ( isoptera ) . forages on ground ; pecks with closed bill to . . .
records in jun–jul in coastal ghana ; in nigeria , jul in n and aug–oct in e ; oct–nov in cameroon ; jul–sept in uganda . . .
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zoonomen - zoological nomenclature resource , 2011 . 10 . 16 , website ( version 16 - oct - 11 )
zoonomen - zoological nomenclature resource
maintained by alan p . peterson at urltoken
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
occurs in patches across sub - saharan africa , from senegal to ethiopia south through southern drc and tanzania to southern africa . here it is locally common in zimbabwe ' s eastern highlands and adjacent mozambique , with a separate population from the eastern cape through kwazulu - natal to swaziland and north - eastern south africa , extending into southern mozambique . it generally prefers moist , densely vegetated habitats such as bracken ( pteridium aquilinum ) at the edge of forest and rank grass with tangled undergrowth along watercourses , often near paths or quiet roads ; it also occupies gardens and rural villages .
it mainly eats seeds supplemented with insects , doing most of its foraging on the ground , sifting through soil in search of food . the following food items have been recorded to be eaten in captivity :
the nest is built by the male , consisting of a ball - shaped structure with a side entrance , made of long , dry grass blades and with an inner shell of soft grass inflorescences , sometimes lined with feathers . it is typically concealed in dense grass , bracken - brier undergrowth or in a tuft of grass growing out of a fallen branch or tree stump , about 0 . 5 - 2 . 0 metres above ground .
egg - laying season is from november - june , peaking from january - april .
it lays 2 - 5 eggs , which are incubated by both sexes for about 11 - 12 days .
the chicks are fed both parents and leave the nest after about 14 - 19 days , after which they are fed for 10 more days , after which they soon become fully independent .
hockey par , dean wrj and ryan pg 2005 . roberts - birds of southern africa , viith ed . the trustees of the john voelcker bird book fund , cape town .
singing from 5m up in tree at forest edge . starts slowly but gets going by mid track .
soft , very high - pitched trilling calls ( enhanced ) . pair of birds flitting about in low undergrowth at forest edge .
calls from a male bird perched hidden low in a dense bush at the edge of primary forest .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
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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stan culley , buchert , lars petersson , frédéric pelsy , lindsay hansch , fran trabalon .
ranging throughout much of africa south of the sahara , firefinches have adapted well to people…in many developed areas their chirping is among the most familiar of the day’s sounds . the typical natural habitat is savanna , overgrown scrub and the edges of lightly - wooded areas .
firefinches are quite amiable towards other finches and small softbills , and are excellent candidates for mixed species aviaries . their even temperament allows for colony breeding . pairs also adjust well to indoor cages , but bar - spacing is an important consideration…their diminutive size ( 3 . 5 - 4 inches ) may allow firefinches to wedge their tiny heads between the bars of cages designed for canaries or budgerigars .
despite their small size , firefinches truly come into their own in large outdoor aviaries . there they will remain active from dawn to dusk , foraging for insects , which are among their most favored foods , seeds and sprouting plants . although somewhat shy in close confines , in large cages and aviaries they seem much more at ease and willing to show us a great many interesting behaviors .
firefinches are birds of grassy habitats , and forage mainly on the ground . bamboo and other grasses and shrubs planted in their aviary will make them feel at home and provide foraging opportunities . they adapt well to cool temperatures ( i . e . 65 f for short periods ) if slowly habituated , but need shelter from damp and drafty conditions .
a high quality finch seed mix should form the basis of their diet , but a steady supply of insects is essential if firefinches are to remain to remain in good color and peak condition .
small crickets , mealworms , waxworms , grubs and wild - caught insects should be offered year - round , and are an absolute must for parents with chicks . canned insects should also be considered . in outdoor situations , a variety of live plants can be used to attract local insects into the aviary .
once habituated to their new surroundings , firefinches may nest in either cages or aviaries . a thick , low - growing shrub will usually be chosen outdoors , while a nest box is essential if the pair if kept in a cage . they construct a complex , dome - shaped nest with a side opening and do not tolerate nest inspections ( so leave them be ! ) .
females may produce up to 3 clutches yearly , each containing 3 - 4 eggs . the eggs are incubated for 11 - 12 days and the chicks fledge by day 18 - 21 . they gain independence quickly , but are best left with the parents for 1 month after fledging .
sexual maturity is often reached by the age of 9 months , but breeding is best delayed until the birds are at least 1 year old .
we ended up deciding that if we are going to go through the trouble of keeping birds outdoors , we might as well give them something a bit bigger . a 8 x 6 . 5 wooden frame structure used for plants to climb on and to provide shade made an obvious place to start . even better , it is right next to the dining room window so will be easy to view from indoors . working on some of the grunt work such as wiring , deciding the door , soil , etc . but it should be done in relatively short order .
a question or two though . many people suggest removing most of the soil inside and covering over it with sand since it is more sanitary ( this particular area has been kept quite moist through the years so i think this will definetly be an important step ) . i’ve seen a few sites suggests that it could be disinfected every month or two by pouring dilute bleach thru it and then replacing it perhaps once a year . any other options out there ? there is a small japanese maple growing which will soon be enveloped by the aviary , and it’d be neat to grow some other plants too…maybe a few herps also ; ) . i’d keep bird numbers low .
also , do you think that mice will be an issue ? i can’t see an easy way to keep them completely out ( assuming they will burrow under and up into the enclosure , i’m sure bricks etc . would be only discouragement ) . maybe their is a way to feed that would keep seed spillage to a minimum ?
thanks ! hope i haven’t bitten off more than i can chew here . ~ joseph
thanks for the feedback – a big project , but lots of fun in the future once its up and running .
sand is definitely a good idea ; in large aviaries i’ve just spot - cleaned and replaced when necessary ; disinfecting with bleach would seem difficult , but i’ve not tried . in any event , you’ll need to watch for respiratory distress , which in outdoor aviaries might signal a gapeworm infection , and other parasite problems ; no way around that but benefits outweigh those risks in my opinion .
mice will get in if they try ( they wind up in exhibits built along the lines of concrete bunkers ! ) . if you see evidence of them , try placing multi - catch live traps ( tin kat was a good one , not sure if still made ) in and out of the aviary ; this does away with snap trap concerns ( trap on skunk’s nose , dead endangered rodent ! ) and the need for poisons . peanut butter will lure them away from seeds and into trap .
seems like a worming regime is a must with outdoor birds ? i’ve always shied away from prophylactically medicating things but i suppose this could be an exception . might mites be an issue esp . with the wodden frame ? some websites suggest putting down a layer of sevin dust on the floor under the sand - but again i am not keen on using pesticides unless really necessary . suppose since it is ok around birds it is safe enough .
guess i’ll have to live with the mice then ! our backyard is far from wild ( no coons here - don’t even think we have possums…lots of neighbor cats ) but we do have what appear to be deermice living in the berry bushes . my parents were not very keen on that esp . after they left droppings on the patio table and i told them about hantavirus .
what species would you reccomend ? i plan on putting in a pair of zebras to start…but would eventually like to try something else . gouldians seem like an obvious choice , and some claim they are quite cold hardy also…but i’d love to have something with a good song as well as to look at . might green singers fill the bill ? ( i’m sure canaries would do ok aswell ? )
i’m not sure that a layer under the sand would be worth the effort , likely not entirely effective . you might try contacting a local avian vet of bird club , to get an idea of what to expect .
mice should be controlled in general – all sorts of potential human health problems in addition to hanto ; if other rodents are not a concern , then poison is the most effective route . use a locking dispenser so kids and pets cannot get at it ; secondary poisoning usually only a concern if the predator is feeding exclusively on dead mice ; your stat wildlife agency can advise .
green singers are a fine choice – same genus as canaries , interbreed . my favorite for outdoor aviaries is the eurasian bullfinch ; not easy to find , but worth keeping in mind .
i just got two fire finches from a auction . i would like some help with there diet . if any one can help please email me .
the chinese painted quail ( button quail , blue - breasted quail ) , conturnix chinensis , and the japanese quail , c . japonica – part ii
jganjay : any thoughts one what kind of bird house might work for thes . . .
k . m . d : hi frank , i have 2 peach faced love birds and they have been . . .
prujackson : hi , i have a pair of masked lovebirds who have had there fir . . .
yayalove : hello , i will soon be taking in a family of 3 lovebirds from . . .
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this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . 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 : lagonosticta rubricata . 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 .
a wide variety of artificial nests will be accepted , though they have a preference for a dense shrub just above ground level . they will construct a dome - shaped nest from fine strands of dry grass .
they typically lay 3 - 6 eggs in each clutch , which are incubated by both parents for approximately 13 days . young birds fledge the nest at three weeks of age and are usually independent a month later .
female birds appear much duller than the males , appearing more yellow than red .
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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 .
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lagonosticta rubricata rubricata : south africa , swaziland and mozambique south of save r .
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migration : this species is mostly sedentary but is a local migrant . their movements are related to seasonal rainfall and the filling up of temporary waters . young birds may also undergo extensive dispersal movements that are not linked to rainfall .
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the reference for the information following is
roberts birds of southern africa
, 7th edition * edited by par hockey , wrj dean and pg ryan , published by
the trustees of the john voelcker bird book fund .
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habitat in wild : drier areas of savannah and acacia scrub . has adapted to populated areas .
sexing : monomorphic / dimorphic . sexing can be made at about 7 - 9 weeks of age . feathers on the males starts to turn red .
temperament : good in a mixed colony . very popular , active , attractive and hardy bird . will breed in a colony , mixed collection or as a single pair in a cage .
cost ( victoria ) per pair : - normal colour ( approx . ) $ 50
length : approx . 90 - 100 mm ( or approx 3 . 5 - 4 inches )
colour (
normal
colour ) : refer photo / s above if available .
read notes on
finches - non australian
web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page .
level of knowledge required : beginner / intermediate / advanced / specialist breeders only .
government regulations & by - laws : refer to
government laws
web page .
housing requirements : click on
housing birds
web page for general details on the housing of non australian finches or read on for specific details for this finch .
usually has a peaceful nature and suitable for a mixed species collection in a planted aviary . can be bred as a colony . can be bred as a single pair in a large canary style cage but results may not be as good as in an aviary .
spends a lot of time on the ground . low growing dense shrubs and tall growing grasses including potted bamboo plants are ideal .
as one of the smallest of the foreign finches available in australia , ensure the cage front bar spacing does not allow the bird to get its head through and get stuck . some
budgie
or canary cage fronts may have the bar spaces too wide for these birds . special finch cage fronts can be purchased to ensure a safe , escape proof home for small finches . finch cage fronts have the bars closer together .
diet / feeding : click on
feeding birds
web page for general details on the nutrition of non australian finches or read on for specific details for this finch .
require a good quality finch mix and seeding grasses . live food is beneficial throughout the year and essential at breeding season . small mealworms , small cockroaches and small crickets are ideal . sprouted or sprouted seed if available .
basic seed mix should include canary seed , white french millet , japanese millet , and yellow and red panicum .
in the wild , fire finches predominantly feed on the ground consuming seeds and some insects .
nesting months : may breed year round if conditions are suitable , although spring to autumn is preferable .
nesting receptacles : will build a nest in a shrub or dry brush usually close to the ground . equally it will build a nest in a wide variety of artificial nests .
nest : builds a dome shaped nest from fine grasses , teased short lengths of hessian , coconut fibre , moss and plant material . nest has a side entrance . nest is lined with fine soft grasses , other soft materials like wool and feathers . a soft grass such as november grass is ideal .
nests are often built at about mid height in the aviary ( about 1 metre / 3 . 5 feet above ground ) . these birds seem less fussy in choosing a nest site . they will build a nest in almost any suitable spot .
adequate spare nest receptacles must be available for pairs nesting in artificial nests before the current clutch leave the nest . adequate new nest material must be available for the birds to rebuild the old nest or build a new nest for the next clutch . removal of the old nest will ensure they build a new clean nest for the next clutch .
more details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the
nests
,
finch nests
and
finch nest photos
web pages . click on
up
then
nests
then
finch nests
and
finch nests photos
in the navigation bars .
breeding : egg colour white . clutch / s per year 3 - 4 . eggs per nest 3 - 6 . incubation approx . 12 - 13 days . fledge approx . 18 - 21 days . independent approx . another 14 - 21 days .
it is usually safe to leave the young fledged birds in the same aviary as the parent birds . the young can benefit by being left with their parents for about 4 weeks after leaving the nest , after that they can be placed into another aviary .
although they are short lived for a finch , they make up for this with high numbers of young . they can be paired up and start breeding at an early age and breed well for about 3 years . spare adult birds should not be allowed to be in the same aviary as paired up breeding birds .
hens should be allowed to mature fully before they start to breed . best results are obtained if the hen is about 9 months of age prior to laying . the short delay of about 3 months while the birds fully mature , can be made up by more reliable parenting skills and better productivity in future years .
nest inspection should be kept to a minimum . leg rings can be placed on the young birds as soon as they leave the nest . red billed firefinches can be used to foster other finches .
artificial incubation , hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site . it is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here . refer
specific references
as listed below and
general references
listings .
health issues : refer
avian health issues
web page for information and references .
worming and parasite control and quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site . refer above option -
avian health issues
web page .
avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace . keep updating your knowledge and skills .
general references : refer to references listed on
book references
web page .
a / a vol 38 no . 4 apr 1984 page 82 - 85 ( inc photo )
a / a vol 31 no . 3 mar 1977 page 39 - 42 ( inc photos )
a / a vol 23 no 12 dec 1969 page 169 - 176 ( inc photos ) .
a / a vol 15 no . 4 apr 1961 page 49 - 50 .
the bulletin no 15 , dec 1943 page 6 - 7 ( breeding notes ) .
abk vol 18 issue 11 . oct - nov 2005 page 676 - 681 ( what ' s genetically pure and what ' s not )
abk vol 18 issue 10 . aug - sept 2005 page 601 - 607 .
abk vol 14 issue 7 . feb - mar 2001 page 376 - 379 .
urltoken is one of the world ' s largest and most informative avian or bird web sites . copyright urltoken 2002 - 2008 inc . all rights reserved . disclaimer : this web site has been compiled from material provided from a large number of sources . personal experience and personal contacts have been used . results vary according to factors such as environmental factors , aviary design and the physical and genetic backgrounds of all living birds / animals . every endeavour has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material but no responsibility is accepted by urltoken for the accuracy of the material on this web site . the intent of this web site is to provide a
care sheet
format and provide general material only . readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making any decisions relating to their own interests .
the map of the kruger you see on this page shows the areas ( coloured orange ) where this bird has been identified . the basic information was provided by the avian demographic unit based at uct and i created the maps from that information . . . the green dots show the locations of the various kruger national park rest camps
for in - depth birding information please refer to these authoritative avian references . . .
temperament : firefinches are quite amiable towards other finches and small softbills , and are excellent candidates for mixed species aviaries . their even temperament allows for colony breeding . although somewhat shy in close confines , in large cages and aviaries they seem much more at ease and willing to show us a great many interesting behaviors .
breeding : fire finches are not aggressive birds and can be mixed safely with other species but breeding results are usually better when they are housed in small groups or as single pairs . various species of fire finch can be housed together without aggression , but hybridizing can happen so just one species per enclosure is ideal .
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these birds are so tiny , it just makes me love them more . i bought a male and female and they always stay close to each other in my back yard aviary . i love looking for them , and did i mention they are so cute !


the red-eyed wrasse , cirrhilabrus solorensis , is a species of wrasse native to indonesia and christmas island , though claims have been made of a wider distribution .

it inhabits coral reefs on coastal and outer reef lagoons at depths of 5 to 35 m ( 16 to 115 ft ) .

it can reach a total length of 11 cm ( 4.3 in ) .

it can be found in the aquarium trade .

it occurs in small harems of one male , several females and juveniles .

red - eye wrasse

red - eye wrasse ( cirrhilabrus solorensis ) , also known as the red - headed fairy wrasse .
also known as small - mouthed wrasses , solor fairy wrasse , fairy wrasse , red - eyed fairy wrasse , red - eye wrasse , redheaded fairy wrasse , redhead solor fairy wrasse , clown wrasse , clown fairy wrasse , tricolor fairy wrasse , tri - colored fairy wrasse , rainbow fairy wrasse , painted fairy wrasse , multicolor fairy wrasse .
a red - eye wrasse , cirrhilabrus solorensis , in an aquarium . source : lmbm2012 / flickr . license : cc by attribution - sharealike 3 . 0
i bought a nice sand burying wrasse today , labeled as a red - eye wrasse . . . . . . . . . but the photos i ' m coming up with when searching red - eye wrasse aren ' t the same . any resources on the internet for iding a wrasse ? i have some photos , but i ' ll get to get them onto my server . robbie
a metallic blue fairy wrasse with a bright yellowish to orange snout , bright red on the nape , a broad dark bluish band along the back , a yellowish underside and a dark bar at the pectoral - fin base . the eye is bright red ( hence the common name ) and males usually have a broad dark bluish bar along the edge of the gill cover . the red - eye wrasse is only known in the australian eez from the territory of christmas island in the eastern indian ocean .
also know as small - mouthed wrasses , solor fairy wrasse , fairy wrasse , red - eyed fairy wrasse , red - eye wrasse , redheaded fairy wrasse , redhead solor fairy wrasse , clown wrasse , clown fairy wrasse , tricolor fairy wrasse , tri - colored fairy wrasse , rainbow fairy wrasse , painted fairy wrasse and multicolor fairy wrasse . found singly or in small groups on mixed coral and rubble areas of lagoons and seaward reefs . they feed on hard shell invertebrates and zooplankton . length - 10cm depth - 10 - 25m localized - indonesia most reef fish seen by divers during the day are grazers , that cruise around just above the surface of the coral or snoop into crevices looking for algae , worms and small crustaceans . wrasses have small protruding teeth and graze the bottom taking in a variety of snails , worms , crabs , shrimps and eggs . any hard coats or thick shells are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws and the delicacies inside digested . from juvenile to adult wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes . wrasses are always on the go during the day , but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise . small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevasses . ( edit )
recorded in the australian eez from the territory of christmas island in the indian ocean ( rocha et al . 2010 ) . red - eye wrasse occur in small harems comprising a male and several females , including juveniles . inhabits rubble and coral areas on coastal and outer reef lagoons .
the red - finned fairy wrasse c . rubripinnis is also red on the back and flanks and white on the belly , but the dorsal , anal , and pelvic fins of this species are bright red as the name suggests . the recently described c . naokoae is also similar but has a yellow stripe separating the red and white colors on the flanks , and the dorsal fin is very dark with a distinctive shape . all of these species , with the possible exception of c . naokoae , may sometimes be sold as c . rubriventralis . fortunately , the captive care required is very similar for all of them .
thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
the red - headed or solar wrasse comes from indonesia , ranging from the flores and banda seas to sulawesi , bali , and christmas island . males of this species are highly variable in color . most of those seen in the aquarium trade have a yellow - orange head with a dark outline to the gill covers , a red eye , a bright white belly , a purplish - blue back , and flanks that most often are turquoise but sometimes green or blue . in some parts of its home range , these colors are only evident when a male is displaying to females or other males , but elsewhere this pattern seems to be permanent . females , seldom found in the aquarium trade , have a white belly , a red head and forepart of the body , with the rest of the body being yellow .
in contrast to the previous two species , the red velvet fairy wrasse ( sometimes known as the rosy scales wrasse ) is quite a shy fish , especially when kept with boisterous tankmates , although it is bolder when kept with quieter companions . it tends to swim close to the substrate , slipping stealthily between corals . males are exquisitely colored : when mature , the rear of the body is cream to yellow but the head and forepart of the body are red , with the scales having dark outlines . the fins are bordered in neon blue , the fin rays are purple , and the front of the dorsal fin is yellow or orange .
rocha , l . & suharti , s . 2010 . cirrhilabrus solorensis . in : iucn 2013 . iucn red list of threatened species . version 2013 . 2 . < urltoken > . downloaded on 22 february 2014 .
the various species of cirrhilabrus wrasses are found in the wild from the red sea through the indian ocean and across the pacific to the pitcairn islands , as far north as hawai‘i and the ryukyu islands of southern japan .
dorsal spines ( total ) : 11 ; dorsal soft rays ( total ) : 9 ; anal spines : 3 ; anal soft rays : 9 . highly variable . nuptial color can change from normal in seconds . usually nuptial colors are shown during spawning , but in tomini bay it is almost permanent , possibly because of the similar c . aurantidorsalis that often mixes with this species . the eye is bright red and males usually show a dark shading or band along the end of the gill cover ( ref . 48636 ) .
its a type of pencil wrasse . . . . they are big time jumpers and usually dont do very well . i had one for several months . . . ate everything and just wasted away to nothing
the long - finned or social fairy wrasse is one of the most familiar cirrhilabrus species in the aquarium . it comes from the western indian ocean and the red sea , and grows to around 3 inches . it is one of the less bold cirrhilabrus wrasses , often tending to stay close to the substrate rather than swimming out in open water , unless kept with very peaceful , passive companions . with the latter it can become the dominant fish in the tank .
this color scheme , or variations on it , is also found in some other species . c . joanallenae , from the eastern indian ocean , notably sumatra , is the most similar . the males have a blue tail fin , however , and the large pelvic fins of this species are black rather than red as in c . rubriventralis . c . condei shares the basic red and white color scheme but lacks the elongated first dorsal fin ray and often has black edging to the dorsal fin .
allen , g . r . 2000 . description of a new wrasse ( pisces : labridae : cirrhilabrus ) from northern sumatra , indonesia . aqua j . ichthyol . aquat . biol . 4 ( 2 ) : 45 - 50 .
despite one of its common names , the head is more often green than blue , although to be fair some blue is often seen suffusing the green . the rear two - thirds of the body are orange to red , but the scales are outlined in purple . the belly is white . some individuals have a bright yellow blotch just behind the pectoral fins—the common name of yellow - flanked fairy wrasse derives from this color morph , which was previously considered to be a separate species , c . lyukyuensis .
allen , g . r . , j . drew & p . barber . 2008 . cirrhilabrus beauperryi a new wrasse ( pisces : labridae ) from melanesia . aqua , international journal of ichthyology 14 ( 3 ) : 129 - 140 .
other wrasses that can cause problems are the pseudocheilinus species , such as the sixline wrasse p . hexataenia . though diminutive , these wrasses are very aggressive—i once had a resident sixline wrasse , just 2 inches long , that chased a newly added cirrhilabrus scottorum so fiercely and persistently that the latter was unable to come out to feed and succumbed quite quickly to white spot infection . the oddest thing about this was that the c . scottorum was more than twice the size of its tormentor .
c . aurantidorsalis is only found in sulawesi , indonesia . it grows to around 4 inches and , like c . solorensis , should be kept in a minimum of a 4 - foot tank . this species , or at least some individual specimens , will eat red flatworms convolutriloba retrogemma .
the orange - back fairy wrasse is closely related to c . solorensis but is not such a familiar species in the aquarium . males have a crimson head , the back and upper part of the flanks are orange , the belly is bright blue , and a pinkish - red streak runs along the flanks . as males mature , a darker , crown - like mark appears on the top of the head , and scales along the flanks develop dark outlines . if anything , the colors of this species tend to intensify in the aquarium . this is another bold species that spends its time cruising rapidly around the aquarium , generally high in the water column .
cirrhilabrus species have unusual eyes ; the cornea is split into two distinct parts . it is believed that the center of the cornea acts as a close - up lens that helps the wrasses spot small prey . this feature is also found in some other wrasse species , such as paracheilinus , pseudocheilinus , pseudocheilinops , and pteragogus .
the male yellow - flanked or blue - headed fairy wrasse ( the two names refer to different color morphs ) is a magnificent fish , but this species is often overlooked by fishkeepers . it is one of the largest cirrhilabrus species , growing to 6 inches , and also one of the boldest , spending almost all of its time out in open water , often close to the surface .
mixing cirrhilabrus species with other wrasses also requires some precaution . halichoeres wrasses , particularly large mature males , may become very aggressive toward cirrhilabrus species . if the cirrhilabrus wrasse is one of the bolder , more robust species , it may be able to hold its own , and an uneasy truce may be established in which occasional sparring is the only problem . shyer cirrhilabrus species may not do so well , however .
housing more than one fairy wrasse in an aquarium is tricky , and it is generally best to keep only a single specimen . males can be kept with one or preferably more females in larger tanks ( at least 100 gallons ) , but it is often difficult to obtain female fairy wrasses . in large tanks it is usually possible to keep males of different species together , especially if they do not look similar .
fairy wrasses seem to behave in two main ways in the aquarium . some are very bold and cruise around in open water , often close to the surface of the aquarium . these species include c . solorensis , c . aurantidorsalis , c . scottorum , and c . cyanopleura . others , however , behave very differently , usually staying close to rocks and corals and often swimming quite slowly , as if carefully scanning the area for small prey . c . rubrisquamis , c . laboutei , and c . rubriventralis often behave this way . a fairy wrasse’s tankmates can also have a profound effect on behavior ; most of these wrasses are much bolder when kept with passive companions than when sharing a tank with aggressive planktivores .
males of some species , notably the long - finned fairy wrasse c . rubriventralis , are capable of quite dramatic color changes in response to social stimuli . the presence of females or rival males , for example , often leads to intensification of colors . cirrhilabrus wrasses have a reputation for color loss after long periods in the aquarium , but this does not seem to affect all species . it is possible that the color loss seen in some species may be the result of the lack of such stimuli . cirrhilabrus males are usually kept without other members of their own species and thus do not have their natural social interactions . however , color loss is far from universal among fairy wrasses . it’s just as likely that as a male matures in the aquarium , its colors will gradually intensify . it is also worth noting that these wrasses sometimes look less colorful in dealers’ tanks than when established in the home aquarium .
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gland , switzerland , 5 july 2018 ( iucn ) – australia’s unique reptiles – including lizards and snakes – face severe threats from invasive species and climate change , with 7 % of th . . .
the value of medicinal and aromatic plant trade has increased three - fold in the past 20 years , but traditional harvesting practices are being replaced by less sustainable alternatives . . . .
a recently released iucn technical brief recommends increasing investments in sustainable land management practices , as well as better cooperation between agriculturalists and conservationists to conse . . .
allen , g . r . & erdmann , m . v . 2012 . reef fishes of the east indies . perth : tropical reef research 3 vols , 1260 pp .
allen , g . r . & r . h . kuiter . 1999 . descriptions of two new wrasses of the genus cirrhilabrus ( labridae ) from indonesia . aqua , journal of ichthyology and aquatic biology 3 ( 4 ) : 133 - 140 .
kuiter , r . h . & t . tonozuka . 2001 . pictorial guide to indonesian reef fishes . part 2 . fusiliers - dragonets , caesionidae - callionymidae . zoonetics , australia . pp . 304 - 622 .
justification : the species is primarily known from indoneisa . it is commercialized in the aquarium trade , and occurs in shallow waters in areas where cyanide fishing has been reported . its population is probably declining due to extraction for the aquarium trade , however , there is no data on population trends or status . it is listed as data deficient .
there is no population information available for this species . this species is considered common .
this species occurs over coral and rubble bottoms between depths of three to 20 m .
this species is collected for the aquarium trade . it sells for an average of us $ 60 . 00 in the usa .
there are no species specific conservation measures in place . this species range overlaps several marine protected areas within its distribution .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
latin , cirrus = curl fringe + greek , labros = furious ( ref . 45335 )
marine ; reef - associated ; depth range 5 - 35 m ( ref . 90102 ) . tropical
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 11 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 48636 )
found in coastal to outer reef lagoons on rubble and coral habitats ( ref . 48636 ) .
parenti , p . and j . e . randall , 2000 . an annotated checklist of the species of the labroid fish families labridae and scaridae . ichthyol . bull . j . l . b . smith inst . ichthyol . ( 68 ) : 1 - 97 . ( ref . 35918 )
) : 25 . 3 - 29 , mean 28 ( based on 218 cells ) .
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 5000 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01660 ( 0 . 00720 - 0 . 03825 ) , b = 2 . 95 ( 2 . 75 - 3 . 15 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this ( sub ) family - body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 4 ±0 . 4 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( preliminary k or fecundity . ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low vulnerability ( 20 of 100 ) .
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when the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding .
this species is very shy and docile , so one should be careful when keeping it with more aggressive fish .
this species functions best as a pair ( one male , one female ) , or one male with several females .
this species can be aggressive when kept together with fish that are very similar , or if they are not provided with adequate space .
fish in the genus cirrhilabrus are very colourful and most of them are well suited to aquarium life .
they are for the most part very peaceful , but in some cases can be aggressive to closely related species . add the largest males last , if one wants to keep multiple species together . the tank should be at least 100 gal ( 400 liters ) , but preferably 200 gal ( 800 liters ) or more .
there is a little difference in how bold they are , some will be in the water column shortly after their introduction , whereas others need peace and quiet when first added .
as their normal reaction to being hunted or chased is to swim straight upwards there needs to be a lid on the aquarium and a secure overflow . one should therefore avoid keeping these fish with species that hunt them to avoid injury when they hit the cover .
males can be rough with each other , but one male and several females go well together . it is best to introduce them simultaneously , or alternatively the females first . one needs a lot of space for a larger group .
there is often a large colour variation , depending on their origin and there can be a big difference between male and female . they can also change gender both from male to female and vice versa . males can change and flash their colours during courtship .
fairy wrasses like some parrotfish , sleep between rocks in a cocoon of mucus .
they eat for the most part frozen - and flake foods of appropriate size and if their colour is to be kept , need a varied and high quality diet . since they are very active they need feeding at least twice daily .
when these fish are chosen in the fish store , pay close attention to the mouth area as this can be injured during transport , which can lead to infection . it is also worth checking that they are active when feeding , especially in regard to large individuals .
wrasses are nearly always seen in reef aquaria , since many of the species are both attractive and useful in battling a range of unwanted invertebrates like i . e . flatworms , pyramide snails . these fish live of everything from zooplankton to large crustaceans , sea urchins and the like .
the needs and behaviour of wrasses vary greatly , so it is vital to familiarize oneself with the specific species before buying one .
henry c . schultz . 2003 . the fairy wrasses : cirrhilabrus spp . - reefkeeping magazine - ( english ) phillip hunt . 2010 . cirrhilabrus : the fairy wrasses - tropical fish hobbyist magazine - ( english ) bob fenner . fairy or velvet wrasses , the genus cirrhilabrus , pt . 1 - wet web media - ( english ) bob fenner . fairy or velvet wrasses , the genus cirrhilabrus , pt . 2 - wet web media - ( english ) tony vargas . 2011 . aquarium fish : spawning cirrhilabrus jordani - advanced aquarist - ( english )
scott w . michael . 2009 . wrasses and parrotfishes ( reef fishes series book 5 ) - tfh publications / microcosm ltd . - ( english )
froese , r . and d . pauly . editors . 2014 . fishbase . world wide web electronic publication . urltoken , version ( 08 / 2014 ) .
minimum volume
indicates the size of the tank needed to house this species under optimal conditions .
this is based on a medium size animal , which you want to keep for several years . it might be possible to keep smaller specimens for a limited period in a smaller tank . a larger tank might be needed for fully - grown specimens .
hardiness
indicates how resistant this species is to disease and how well i tolerates bad conditions in general . some species doesn ' t handle transportation very well , but that doesn ' t mean that the species isn ' t hardy under the right conditions .
in this case , a
normal
aquarium is a reef aquarium with mixed corals or a fish only aquarium with an approximately salinity of 1 . 026 ( sg ) and a temperature close to 26°c . species requiring more than a 4000 - liter tank are considered not suitable for home aquarium .
special aquariums may cover tanks with low salinity , sub - tropical temperature , deep sand bed , sea grass etc .
always reef safe : no sources indicate that this species will harm corals or other invertebrates .
often reef safe : only a few aquarists has reported problems keeping this species with corals and other invertebrates .
reef safe with caution : this species may be a threat to some types of invertebrates .
reef safe with luck : most specimens will harm corals and / or other invertebrates , but you might be lucky .
not reef safe : this species is a threat to most corals and / or other invertebrates .
created to help individuals around the world identify tropical fish found during their scuba dive and snorkelling excursions .
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found in coastal to outer reef lagoons on rubble and coral habitats ( ref . 48636 ) .
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fairy wrasses , among the most beautiful marine fishes , are known for their vibrant colors and striking patterns . they also happen to be generally peaceful , with interesting behaviors and bold personalities , which makes them great residents for the fish - only community or reef tank . in order to learn the basics about fairy wrasses ( cirrhilabrus spp . ) , it’s best to start by understanding their natural habitats and behaviors .
cirrhilabrus wrasses are typically encountered in small groups feeding on zooplankton a few feet above the substrate , often over rubble . depending on the species , they can be found from a few feet beneath the surface to depths of over 600 feet . they may swim in groups of their own species or form mixed aggregations with other cirrhilabrus , flasher wrasses paracheilinus , or other planktivores such as pseudanthias . within typical single - species groups , most individuals are females , with a single male in attendance . however , there are exceptions to this and some all - male groups are found in some species .
male cirrhilabrus wrasses are always larger than females and are usually more brightly colored . in many species , the males can intensify their colors or change patterns rapidly when displaying to females or to other males . as no small male cirrhilabrus wrasses have been found , it is believed that all individuals begin life as females , but some , probably the dominant individuals , become males . this is known as protogynous hermaphroditism and is common among wrasses .
another curious feature of cirrhilabrus wrasses is their secretion of mucus cocoons , which they sleep in . these cocoons are believed to prevent nocturnal predators from being able to detect the sleeping wrasses by scent .
as if this genus didn’t have enough stunning fishes to offer , new cirrhilabrus species are still being discovered regularly . in fact , most cirrhilabrus species haven’t been known to science , let alone the aquarium hobby , for long . of the 46 cirrhilabrus species currently listed as valid by fishbase . org , only 9 were described before 1980 . in contrast , 11 new species have been described since 2000 , the most recent being c . naokoae in 2009 .
in fact , new species are sometimes identified on the basis of fishes collected for the marine aquarium trade . c . naokoae is one example of this , where the type specimen was collected off sumatra and was probably destined for the aquarium trade in japan . despite being newly described , this species can be found on sale in the united states , albeit at a fairly high price .
because different species of fairy wrasses can look quite similar to each other but show variation within a species , undescribed species may turn up in fish dealers’ tanks but not be recognized as such . it’s entirely possible that c . naokoae could have been imported regularly before it was formally described but sold as one of the similar species such as c . joanallenae .
cirrhilabrus species are generally straightforward to keep , but they exhibit one particular behavior worth noting : these wrasses jump at the slightest provocation . they jump if they are being chased by other fishes or if they are startled . when new to the aquarium , they may even jump when someone approaches the tank or when the lights are switched on or off .
fortunately , they soon get used to their keepers and learn to associate humans with food rather than see them as a threat . they also get used to the rather sudden dawns and dusks in captivity , but this still leaves them with plenty of other reasons to take to the air . covering the tank is therefore a must , and it is best to do so carefully , as fairy wrasses can escape through surprisingly small gaps .
even after covering the aquarium , however , these fishes can sometimes come to grief through jumping : i once had one crash so hard into a glass tank cover that it didn ' t survive the impact . this is fortunately a rare event , but there isn ' t much that can be done to prevent it . using thin plastic condensation trays to cover the tank rather than heavier glass or acrylic covers is one solution , but such covers need to be changed frequently because they discolor easily under intense lighting .
in the aquarium , cirrhilabrus wrasses seem to have well - defined sleep patterns . when the lights go out at night , they disappear into caves and crevices and do not emerge until after the lights come on again in the morning . they don’t cruise around in the twilight like some other aquarium fishes .
apart from this predilection for jumping , cirrhilabrus wrasses pose relatively few challenges to the hobbyist . they do not seem to be particularly demanding in terms of water quality , and will live in both fish - only tanks and reef aquariums ( they pose no threat to sessile invertebrates ) .
, copepods , and mysis are usually accepted eagerly , and larger individuals also relish krill and chopped shrimp . most
like most planktivores , fairy wrasses are best given several small feedings per day . as well as taking food provided by their keepers , they hunt plankton in open water and small benthic invertebrates on the substrate . these small invertebrates include , for at least some cirrhilabrus species , flatworms such as convolutriloba retrogemma . these can become a nuisance , particularly in reef aquariums , so this is a useful bonus for keepers of fairy wrasses .
cirrhilabrus species vary widely in adult size , from under 3 inches ( c . flavidorsalis , for example ) to close to 6 inches ( c . cyanopleura , among others ) . their aquariums should be sized accordingly and , as most species are active swimmers , it’s best to err on the side of generosity . none of these wrasses are suitable for nano - reef aquariums , as even the smallest species require more swimming space than such tanks afford .
cirrhilabrus spp . often associate well with other fishes in the aquarium , but there are some exceptions . the main issue in practical terms is mixing cirrhilabrus species with other planktivorous fishes . cirrhilabrus wrasses can generally be considered to be somewhere in the middle of the aggressiveness scale . while they will sometimes bully less assertive planktivores , such as flasher wrasses paracheilinus species , they may be beaten up by tougher fishes , such as the more aggressive of the pseudanthias species .
it is also worth being careful when keeping fairy wrasses with the smaller hogfishes bodianus spp . , such as the candy hogfish b . bimaculatus , that are sometimes kept in reef aquariums . these have similar behavior to many fairy wrasses , and each species is likely to see the other as a competitor . given that they are well matched in terms of aggressiveness , long - running squabbles can occur , generally leading to one combatant jumping out of the tank , particularly because hogfishes are just as prone to jumping as cirrhilabrus wrasses .
the risk of conflicts can be minimized by paying careful attention to the order in which the aquarium is stocked ( following the principle of adding less aggressive species before feistier ones ) . larger tanks are also better in this respect than smaller ones . it pays to bear in mind , however , that territorial fights involving cirrhilabrus species are a very common reason for these fishes to jump out of the tank .
one final point to consider in terms of aquarium husbandry is that cirrhilabrus wrasses that originate in deep water are accustomed to less intense illumination than is usually provided for a reef aquarium . although such fishes usually adjust eventually to brightly lit conditions , they may hide at first and ideally should be kept in an aquarium with more subdued lighting .
in the aquarium c . solorensis is a bold species that is usually found swimming in open water , often close to the surface . it generally settles in well when first added to the aquarium unless aggressive species are already present . it grows to about 4 inches and , given that it is a very active swimmer , is best kept in a tank at least 4 feet long . a well - established aquarium favorite , this was one of the first cirrhilabrus species to be scientifically described , back in 1853 . its spectacular colors do not usually fade in the aquarium .
this is one of the smaller cirrhilabrus species , growing to around 3 inches . it should be kept in tanks of 30 gallons or more . it has been reported to eat both flatworms and the pyramidellid snails that parasitize giant clams . it is found only in the indian ocean , around the maldives , the chagos archipelago , and sri lanka .
this is a species that seems to improve in the intensity of its coloration as it matures in the aquarium . it is one of the more aggressive fairy wrasses , and this , combined with its relatively large size and active nature , means it is best kept in quite large tanks—at least 4 feet long and preferably larger . it has a wide geographic range across the eastern indian and west pacific oceans , from the andaman sea to the great barrier reef , and north to the ryukyu islands .
this species should be kept in tanks of at least 30 gallons for a single fish , and it is possible to keep a male with several females in tanks over 4 feet long . males of this species can change their colors very rapidly when displaying to females or other males , and may revert to female coloration ( possibly even changing sex ) if persistently harassed by another male .
the males of this species , in their display colors , have bright white bellies , with a scarlet head , flanks , and back . the dorsal fin has an elongated first ray , and the pelvic fins are very long . the tail fin has blue spots and streaks .
if this article has made you want to rush out and fill your aquarium with fairy wrasses , it might be worth pausing to consider the costs . cirrhilabrus wrasses can be regarded as exquisite gems of the marine aquarium , but like most jewels , they don’t come cheap . some of the more exotic species such as c . laboutei , c . lineatus , and c . jordani fetch fairly high prices , and rarities like c . rhomboidalis can cost even more .
there are several reasons for the high prices . some species are collected in deep water , and others come from areas ( hawai‘i and australia , for example ) where collectors demand higher fees than in more typical fish collecting regions such as indonesia and the philippines .
there are also shipping costs to consider , as it’s a long , long way from sri lanka or the great barrier reef to the united states . this latter point is illustrated by the fact that some species are much less expensive in the united kingdom than in the states : a fish that retails in the uk for the equivalent of $ 50 to $ 60 may fetch $ 100 to $ 200 or even more in the u . s .