Chris Alfaro

"A giant example from 350 million years ago, Dinichthys terrelli, being examined by Raymond Rye, of the Smithsonian’s Department of Paleontology, grew to 30 feet in length and may have preyed on smaller fishes that perhaps fed on trilobites.”

National Geographic Magazine, August 1985, “Fossils: Annals of Life Written in Rock”

Not inspired by anything in particular, this post is a friendly reminder to the internet’s paleontology enthusiasts that TV docs are a great introduction to dinosaur science, but they shouldn’t be the last word in your quest for learnings.

Pied Falconet - Microhierax melanoleucos

Members of the genus Microhierax (Falconiformes - Falconidae) are the smallest of falcons. This species, Microhierax melanoleucos, grows up to 20 cm and has a maximum wingspan of 37 cm.

Some individuals of the Pied Falconet have a thin white line across the base of the cere, over the eyes and down to the breast giving the appearance of a white face with large black eye patches.

The Pied Falconet is found in the forests of Bangladesh, China, India, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam.

References: [1] - [2]