Zoology Reference Libraries
The White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula), is a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae, which includes hawks, eagles and Old World vultures. In British usage, it would be called a buzzard rather than a true hawk. It is a rather small Buteo, 42 to 45 cm in length. It lives in the Andes mountains of South America and ranges down to the coast in the O’Higgins region of Chile,...
The Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans), also known as the Snake Hawk (erroneously, since it’s not a hawk), is a medium-sized bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae, the only member of the genus Herpetotheres. This Neotropical species is an expert snake-eater. Its common and scientific names are both in reference to its distinctive voice. The English name comes from...
The Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) is a species of frigate bird. In nests in Australia, along with other locations. There is a single recording from the Western Palearctic, from Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba. The Lesser Frigatebird or Least Frigatebird is said to be the most common and widespread frigate bird in the Australian seas. It’s common in tropical seas breeding on isolated...
The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) was occasionally previously known as Man O’War or man of War, a reflection of its rakish lines, aerial piracy of other birds, and speed. It’s widespread in the tropical Atlantic, breeding colonially in the trees in Florida, the Caribbean and the Cape Verde Islands. In addition, it breeds along the Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico...
The Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is a sizable harrier, a bird of prey from subtropical and temperate western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It’s also known as the Eurasian Marsh-harrier. Formerly, a number of relatives were included in C. aeruginosus, which was known then as “Marsh Harrier”. The related taxa are now usually considered to be separate species: the Eastern...
The Chukar Partridge or Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a Eurasian upland game bird in the pheasant family called Phasianidae. It’s been considered to form a super species complex along with the Rock Partridge, Philby’s Partridge and Przevalski’s Partridge and treated in the past as conspecific especially with the first. This partridge has well marked white and black bars on the flanks and a...
The White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) is a petite stiff-tailed duck. The adult males have a reddish and grey body, a blue bill, and a largely white head with black cap and neck. The adult females have a brown-grey body with a white face and a darker bill, cheek stripe and cap. On average, its length is 17 to 19 inches and the weight is 1.3 to 1.7 lbs. This duck breeds in Spain and...
Allonautilus scrobiculatus, or the crusty nautilus, is a species of nautilus that is native to the waters around New Guinea, more specifically, New Britain and Milne Bay, and the Solomon Islands. A. scrobiculatus can be instantly recognized by its large open umbilicus, which is approximately 20 percent of the diameter of the shell at its widest point. This species, in addition to the closely...
The dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana) is a species of tapeworm that is classified in the Platyhelminthes phylum. It once held three other scientific names including Vampirolepis nana and Taenia nana. It is found throughout the world but occurs most often in temperate regions. As its common name implies, the dwarf tapeworm is small, reaching an average body length of 1.5 inches. The head, or...
The beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata or Taeniarhynchus saginata) is a species of tapeworm that is classified within the Platyhelminthes phylum. It can affect both cattle and humans, and causes the disease taeniasis in humans. It can be found in many areas that have a beef market including Africa, the Philippines, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, although it is not abundant in this area. It does...
