|
Elaphe Druzei
''Elaphe druzei'', commonly known as Levant rat snake, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in northern Israel, Lebanon, and western Syria.. www.reptile-database.org. Taxonomy The species ''Elaphe druzei'' was formally described in a 2023 article published in Scientific Reports by Meiri et al., following an integrative taxonomic study of Levantine rat snakes. The study combined morphological data with extensive molecular analyses—including mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and complete mitogenomes—to clarify the taxonomy of the ''Elaphe quatuorlineata'' group. The findings revealed that the population inhabiting Mt. Hermon and adjacent areas represents a deeply divergent lineage distinct from the other recognized species in the group: '' E. quatuorlineata'', '' E. sauromates'' and '' E. urartica.'' Based on both genetic and morphological distinctiveness, the authors described it as a new species, ''Elaphe druzei'' sp. nov. Molecul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology (biology), morphology, behaviour, or ecological niche. In addition, palaeontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. The most recent rigorous estimate for the total number of species of eukaryotes is between 8 and 8.7 million. About 14% of these had been described by 2011. All species (except viruses) are given a binomial nomenclature, two-part name, a "binomen". The first part of a binomen is the name of a genus to which the species belongs. The second part is called the specific name (zoology), specific name or the specific ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Million Years Ago
Million years ago, abbreviated as Mya, Myr (megayear) or Ma (megaannum), is a unit of time equal to (i.e. years), or approximately 31.6 teraseconds. Usage Myr is in common use in fields such as Earth science and cosmology. Myr is also used with Mya or Ma. Together they make a reference system, one to a quantity, the other to a particular point in a year numbering system that is ''time before the present''. Myr is deprecated in geology, but in astronomy ''Myr'' is standard. Where "myr" ''is'' seen in geology, it is usually "Myr" (a unit of mega-years). In astronomy, it is usually "Myr" (Million years). Debate In geology, a debate remains open concerning the use of ''Myr'' (duration) plus ''Mya'' (million years ago) versus using only the term ''Ma''. In either case, the term '' Ma'' is used in geology literature conforming to ISO 31-1 (now ISO 80000-3) and NIST 811 recommended practices. Traditional style geology literature is written: The "ago" is implied, so that any s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endangered Species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, invasive species, and climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List lists the global conservation status of many species, and various other agencies assess the status of species within particular areas. Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species which, for example, forbid hunting, restrict land development, or create protected areas. Some endangered species are the target of extensive conservation efforts such as captive breeding and habitat restoration. Human activity is a significant cause in causing some species to become endangered. Conservation status The conservation status of a species indicates the likelihood that it will become extinct. Multiple factors are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Habitat Degradation
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease in biodiversity and species numbers. Habitat destruction is in fact the leading cause of biodiversity loss and species extinction worldwide. Humans contribute to habitat destruction through the use of natural resources, agriculture, industrial production and urbanization (urban sprawl). Other activities include mining, logging and trawling. Environmental factors can contribute to habitat destruction more indirectly. Geological processes, climate change, introduction of invasive species, ecosystem nutrient depletion, water and noise pollution are some examples. Loss of habitat can be preceded by an initial habitat fragmentation. Fragmentation and loss of habitat have become one of the most important topics of research in ecology as t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Palaearctic
The Western Palaearctic or Western Palearctic is part of the Palaearctic realm, one of the eight biogeographic realms dividing the Earth's surface. Because of its size, the Palaearctic is often divided for convenience into two, with Europe, North Africa, northern and central parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and part of temperate Asia, roughly to the Ural Mountains forming the western zone, and the rest of temperate Asia becoming the Eastern Palaearctic. Its exact boundaries differ depending on the authority in question, but the '' Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' (''BWP'') definition is widely used, and is followed by the most popular Western Palearctic checklist, that of the Association of European Rarities Committees (AERC). The Western Palearctic realm includes mostly boreal and temperate climate ecoregions. The Palaearctic region has been recognised as a natural zoogeographic region since Sclater propo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nonvenomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a stinger, in a process called ''envenomation''. Venom is often distinguished from ''poison'', which is a toxin that is passively delivered by being ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, and ''toxungen'', which is actively transferred to the external surface of another animal via a physical delivery mechanism. Venom has evolved in terrestrial and marine environments and in a wide variety of animals: both predators and prey, and both vertebrates and invertebrates. Venoms kill through the action of at least four major classes of toxin, namely necrotoxins and cytotoxins, which kill cells; neurotoxins, which affect nervous systems; myotoxins, which damage muscles; and haemotoxins, which disrupt blood clotting. Venomous animals cause te ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hula Valley
The Hula Valley () is a valley and fertile agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water that used to be Lake Hula before it was drained. It is a major stopover for birds migrating along the Great Rift Valley between Africa, Europe, and Asia. Lake Hula and the marshland surrounding it were a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying malaria and thus were drained in the 1950s. A small section of the valley was later reflooded in an attempt to revive a nearly extinct ecosystem. An estimated 500 million migrating birds now pass through the Hula Valley every year. Etymology Different names referred to Lake Hula in the past. In the 1st century, the Roman Jewish historian Josephus termed it ''Semechonitis'' (), John Lightfoot writing it as ''Samochonitis''. In the Babylonian Talmud, it is called the Lake of Sivekhi (). Both names are identified with the placename ''Šamḫuna'' found in the Amarna letters written in the Akkadian language BCE. The Waters of Mer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Southern Levant
The Southern Levant is a geographical region that corresponds approximately to present-day Israel, Palestine, and Jordan; some definitions also include southern Lebanon, southern Syria and the Sinai Peninsula. As a strictly geographical description, it is sometimes used by archaeologists and historians to avoid the religious and political connotations of other names for this area. Like much of Southwestern Asia, the Southern Levant is an arid region consisting mostly of desert and dry steppe, with a thin strip of wetter, temperate climate along the Mediterranean coast. Geographically it is dominated by the Jordan Valley, a section of the Great Rift Valley bisecting the region from north to south, and containing the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea—the lowest point on the Earth's land surface. The Southern Levant has a long history and is one of the world's most intensively investigated areas by archaeologists. It is considered likely to be the first place ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steinhardt Museum Of Natural History
The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History (), Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies at Tel Aviv University, is a natural history museum in Israel, including both education and a research center. It is the largest and most active center in Israel of documentation and science, focusing on biodiversity research and its varied applications including nature conservation, environmental protection, and agriculture.(October 20, 2016)The 8,000-sq.m. building will be the largest center in Israel for biodiversity research, education and conservation Globes.Boissoneault, Lorraine (July 12, 2017)The Middle East Is a Treasure Trove of Natural Wonders. Now It Has a Museum to Show Them Off. Smithsonian (magazine) Jacobson, Michael (March 24, 2017)The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Tel Aviv Ynet. The museum is set for the discovery, collections development and care, and scientific categorization of millions of specimens, documenting the flora and fauna in Israel and the Middle E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Majdal Shams
Majdal Shams (; ) is a predominantly Druze town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, located in the southern foothills of Mount Hermon. It is known as the informal "capital" of the region. Majdal Shams played a significant role in the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927 that was led by Druze leader Sultan Al-Atrash, who is commemorated by several monuments in the city. Beginning in the 1930s, Majdal Shams became involved in political developments in nearby Mandatory Palestine, and supported the Arab Palestinians during the 1948 Palestine war. Since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Majdal Shams along with the broader Golan Heights have been under Israeli occupation, and effectively annexed in 1981, in a move only recognized by the United States. The US recognition was lobbied by Israeli officials. Majdal Shams is the largest of the four remaining Syrian Druze communities in the Israeli-occupied territories of Golan Heights, the other three being Ein Qiniyye, Mas'ade, and B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elaphe
''Elaphe'' is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. ''Elaphe'' is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. ''Elaphe'' species are medium to large constrictors by nature. Based on the mitochondrial DNA analysis results, many species of ''Elaphe'' have been moved to the genera '' Bogertophis'', '' Coelognathus'', '' Gonyosoma'', ''Orthriophis'', ''Pantherophis'', '' Rhinechis'', '' Senticolis'', '' Zamenis'', and others. Nevertheless, the generic name ''Elaphe'' is still widely used. Physical characteristics Like most of the rat snakes, ''Elaphe'' spp. generally have slender but sturdy bodies, square heads, and extremely flat bellies. Their sizes range from large medium to very large, Wright, A.H.; Wright, A.A. (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). ("Rat Snakes", p. 209; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58See the 2014 version of the ICS geologic time scale million years ago (Ma). It is the second and most recent epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic, Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch. Prior to the 2009 revision of the geologic time scale, which placed the four most recent major glaciations entirely within the Pleistocene, the Pliocene also included the Gelasian Stage, which lasted from 2.59 to 1.81 Ma, and is now included in the Pleistocene. As with other older geologic periods, the Stratum, geological strata that define the start and end are well-identified but the exact dates of the start a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
