|
Myrmecophagous Mammals
Myrmecophagy is a feeding behavior in animals, defined by the consumption of termites or ants—particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets are largely, or completely, composed of these insect types. Notable myrmecophages include the giant anteaters and tamanduas, Aardvark, aardvarks, some armadillos, and pangolins, as well as some members of the order Carnivora such as the sloth bear of the Indian subcontinent and the aardwolf of Southern Africa. Myrmecophagy comes from the Ancient Greek words μύρμηξ (''múrmēx''), "ant", and φαγεῖν (''phageîn''), "to eat". the related habit of termite-eating is termitophagy. The two dietary habits often overlap, as these Eusociality, eusocial insects live in large, densely-populated, terrestrial Ant colony, ant colonies or Mound-building termites, termite mounds, requiring specialised adaptations from any species that wishes to access them. Physical traits of myrmecophagous animals include long, sharp, often cu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Termite
Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf litter, and Humus, soil humus. They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied, unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants but highly Apomorphy and synapomorphy, derived cockroaches. About 2,997 extant species are currently described, 2,125 of which are members of the family Termitidae. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the Taxonomic rank#All ranks, epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattodea (the cockroaches). Termites were once classified in a separate Order (biology), order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved from cockroaches, as they are deeply nested within the group, and the sister group to wood-eating cockroaches of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or Arthropod leg, tarsus for gripping a surface as they walk. The pincers of crabs, lobsters and scorpions, more formally known as their chelae, are sometimes called claws. A true claw is made of a hard protein called keratin. Claws are used to catch and hold prey in carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs, but may also be used for such purposes as digging, climbing trees, self-defense and Personal grooming, grooming, in those and other species. Similar appendages that are flat and do not come to a sharp point are called nail (anatomy), nails instead. Claw-like projections that do not form at the end of digits but spring from other parts of the foot are properly named Spur (zoology), spurs. Tetrapods In tetrapods, claws are made of keratin and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Echidna
Echidnas (), sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the Family (biology), family Tachyglossidae , living in Australia and New Guinea. The four Extant taxon, extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order (biology), order Monotremata. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the American anteater, true anteaters or to Hedgehog, hedgehogs. Their young are called puggles. Echidnas evolved between 20 and 50 million years ago, descending from a platypus-like monotreme. This ancestor was aquatic, but echidnas adapted to life on land, where a single individual can move seven tons of soil each year, making them important for the environment. Etymology Echidnas are possibly named after Echidna (mythology), Echidna, a creature from Greek mythology who was half-woman, half-snake, as the anima ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monotreme
Monotremes () are mammals of the order Monotremata. They are the only group of living mammals that lay eggs, rather than bearing live young. The extant monotreme species are the platypus and the four species of echidnas. Monotremes are typified by structural differences in their brains, jaws, digestive tract, reproductive tract, and other body parts, compared to the more common mammalian types. Although they are different from other living mammals in that they lay eggs, female monotremes are like other mammals in that they nurse their young with milk. Monotremes have been considered by some authors to be members of Australosphenida, a clade that contains extinct mammals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of Madagascar, South America, and Australia, but this categorization is disputed and their taxonomy is under debate. All extant species of monotremes are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea, although they were also present during the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene epochs in s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mammal
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three Evolution of mammalian auditory ossicles, middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which their ancestors Genetic divergence, diverged in the Carboniferous Period over 300 million years ago. Around 6,640 Neontology#Extant taxon, extant species of mammals have been described and divided into 27 Order (biology), orders. The study of mammals is called mammalogy. The largest orders of mammals, by number of species, are the rodents, bats, and eulipotyphlans (including hedgehogs, Mole (animal), moles and shrews). The next three are the primates (including humans, monkeys and lemurs), the Artiodactyl, even-toed ungulates (including pigs, camels, and whales), and the Carnivora (including Felidae, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dorylinae
Dorylinae is an ant subfamily, with distributions in both the Old World and New World. Brady ''et al.'' (2014) Synonym (taxonomy), synonymized the previous dorylomorph subfamilies (Aenictinae, Aenictogitoninae, Cerapachyinae, Ecitoninae, and Leptanilloidinae) under Dorylinae, while Borowiec (2016) reviewed and revised the genera, resurrecting many genera which had previously been merged. Dorylinae genera are suggested to have evolved sometime between , subsequently undergoing rapid adaptive radiation events during their early history. Dorylinae ants including Eciton species, exhibit army ant behavior. Non-army Doryline ants like ''Yunodorylus'' provides evolution of the army ant adaptive syndrome, including group foraging, nomadism, and specialized queens. Genera *''Acanthostichus'' Mayr, 1887 *''Aenictogiton'' Emery, 1901 *''Aenictus'' Shuckard, 1840 *''Cerapachys'' Smith, 1857 *''Cheliomyrmex'' Mayr, 1870 *''Chrysapace'' Crawley, 1924 *''Cylindromyrmex'' Mayr, 1870 *''Dorylus' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antthrushes
Formicariidae is a family of smallish suboscine passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America known as antthrushes. They are between in length, and are most closely related to the ovenbirds in the family Furnariidae, and the tapaculos in the family Rhinocryptidae. The family Formicariidae contains 12 species in two genera. These are forest birds that tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. Most are drab in appearance with shades of (rusty) brown, black, and white being their dominant tones. Compared to other birds that specialize in following ants, this family is the most tied to the ground. The long, powerful legs (which lend the birds a distinctive upright posture) and an essentially vestigial tail aid this lifestyle. They lay two or three eggs in a nest in a tree, both sexes incubating. Systematics The antthrushes are similar in appearance to small rails. Their sexes are alike in plumage, and they walk like starlings. The ''thrush'' part of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flicker (bird)
''Colaptes'' is a genus of birds in the woodpecker family Picidae. The 14 extant species are found across the Americas. ''Colaptes'' woodpeckers typically have a brown or green back and wings with black barring, and a beige to yellowish underside, with black spotting or barring. There are usually colorful markings on the head. Many of these birds – particularly the northerly species – are more terrestrial than usual among woodpeckers. Historically, there has been considerable uncertainty in assigning woodpecker species to genera and it is only by comparing DNA sequences that it has become possible to confidently place many of the species. Taxonomy The genus ''Colaptes'' was introduced by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825 with the northern flicker (''Colaptes auratus'') as the type species. The name is from the Ancient Greek κολάπτης (''kolaptēs'') meaning "chiseller". The genus forms part of the woodpecker subfamily Picinae and has a sis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are part of the bird family (biology), family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar and the extreme polar regions. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known that live in treeless areas, such as rocky hillsides and deserts, and the Gila woodpecker specializes in exploiting cacti. Members of this family are chiefly known for their characteristic behaviour. They mostly forage for insect prey on the trunks and branches of trees, and often communicate by drumming with their beaks, producing a reverberatory sound that can be heard at some distance. Some species vary their diet with fruits, birds' eggs, small animals, tree sap, human scraps, and carrion. They usually nest and roost in holes that they excavate in tree trunks, and their abandoned holes are of importance to other cavity-nesting birds. They ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bufo
''Bufo'' is a genus of true toads in the amphibian family Bufonidae. As traditionally defined, it was a wastebasket genus containing a large number of toads from much of the world but following taxonomic reviews most of these have been moved to other genera, leaving only seventeen extant species from Europe, northern Africa and Asia in this genus, including the well-known common toad (''B. bufo''). Some of the genera that contain species formerly placed in ''Bufo'' are '' Anaxyrus'' (many North American species), '' Bufotes'' ( European green toad and relatives), '' Duttaphrynus'' (many Asian species, including the Asian common toad introduced elsewhere), '' Epidalea'' (natterjack toad) and '' Rhinella'' (many Latin American species, including the cane toad introduced elsewhere). Description True toads have in common stocky figures and short legs, which make them relatively poor jumpers. Their dry skin is thick and "warty". Behind their eyes, ''Bufo'' species have wart-lik ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hylidae
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as " tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semiaquatic. Taxonomy and systematics The earliest known fossils that can be assigned to this family are from the Cretaceous of India and the state of Wyoming in the United States. The common name of "tree frog" is a popular name for several species of the family Hylidae. However, the name "treefrog" is not unique to this family, also being used for many species in the family Rhacophoridae. The following genera are recognised in the family Hylidae: * Subfamily Hylinae ** Tribe Cophomantini *** '' Aplastodiscus'' – canebrake treefrogs *** '' Boana'' – gladiator treefrogs *** '' Bokermannohyla'' *** '' Hyloscirtus'' *** '' Myersiohyla'' *** '' Nesorohyla'' *** '' "Hyla" nicefori'' ** Tribe Dendropsophini ***'' Dendropsophus'' *** ''Xenohyla ** Tribe Hy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dendrobatidae
Poison dart frog (also known as dart-poison frog, poison frog or formerly known as poison arrow frog) is the common name of a group of frogs in the Family (biology), family Dendrobatidae which are native to tropical Central America, Central and South America. These species are Diurnality, diurnal and often have brightly colored bodies. This bright coloration is correlated with the toxicity of the species, making them Aposematism, aposematic. Some species of the family Dendrobatidae exhibit extremely bright coloration along with high toxicity — a feature derived from their diet of ants, mites and termites— while species which eat a much larger variety of prey have Crypsis, cryptic coloration with minimal to no amount of observed toxicity. Many species of this family are Threatened species, threatened due to human infrastructure encroaching on their habitats. These amphibians are often called "dart frogs" due to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, aboriginal South America ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
