MCM Curiosities

Pelvicachromis kribensis, "Muyaka variant", family Cichilidae, order Cichliformes, Cameroon.

This variant was only found in a few isolated streams, and has not been seen there for some time. It's possible that this variant is now extinct in the wild. (The species, as a whole, seems to be fine.)

Orchid Bees (tribe Euglossini, family Apidae)

Manu Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Peru

One of my favorite insect encounters at Manu was with orchid bees! The volunteer coordinator, who is also an entomologist, showed me their method for attracting and surveying them.

They pin squares of cardboard to a tree, and dab on scents (which are usually essential oils or extracts). The male bees show up and "gather the scents" which helps them to attract females (so its win-win for the bees and the entomologists).

Here we see 4 species of orchid bee:

Euglossa analis (shiny blue/purple)

Euglossa sp. (smaller shiny green)

Knob-fronted Cuckoo-Orchid Bee, Exaerete frontalis (large black-winged shiny green)

Eulaema sp. (Black front, yellow/black/red abdomen)

Toadhead Agamas (Phrynocephalus sp.), males tusslin', family Agamidae, found in found in Iran, North Afghanistan, Eastern Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Black-backed Jackals (Lupulella mesomelas), get into a squabble, family Canidae, Tanzania

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WOLVES AND RAVENS

Ravens and wolves form social attachments with each other and take huge advantage of each other.

Both animals eat meat. When wolves killed a prey, ravens eat from the left over cadaver and scavenge it. Also, ravens lead wolves to preys or cadavers. The ravens fly and the wolves follow. Ravens also alert wolves to dangers.

They also play with each other. For example the ravens dive at the wolves and then speed away or peck their tails to try to get the wolves to chase them, or wolf cubs chasing after teasing ravens.

Dr. L. David Mech wrote in ‘The Wolf: The Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species’: “It appears that the wolf and the raven have reached an adjustment in their relationships such that each creature is rewarded in some way by the presence of the other and that each is fully aware of the other’s capabilities.”

Also very interesting: Bernd Heinrich wrote in ‘Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds’: “Ravens can be attracted to wolf howls. The wolves’ howls before they go on a hunt, and it is a signal that the birds learn to heed. Conversely, wolves may respond to certain raven vocalizations or behavior that indicate prey. The raven-wolf association may be close to a symbiosis that benefits the wolves and ravens alike. At a kill site, the birds are more suspicious and alert than wolves. The birds serve the wolves as extra eyes and ears.”

Some videos:  - Raven Dances with Wolf Pup - Ravens taking a bath in the snow after stealing food from wolves - Crow teasing a wolf

The tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh has been found for the first time since Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922. In what has been dubbed a "remarkable discovery", the tomb of Thutmose II, the last missing royal tomb of the 18th dynasty, was found in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis in Egypt. The tomb was uncovered by a joint British-Egyptian mission, about 1.5 miles west of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor's western mountain region. Objects recovered from the mission included fragments of alabaster jars (used to store perfumes, oils, and ointments) inscribed with the name Pharaoh Thutmose II, as well as inscriptions bearing the name of his wife Queen Hatshepsut - who became one of Egypt's few female pharaohs who ruled in her own right.

Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi), family Corvidae, order Passeriformes, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA

Formerly known as the “Grey-breasted Jay”

Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii), family Cracidae, order Galliformes, Colombia

Central Formosa Toad or Bankor Toad (Bufo bankorensis), family Bufonidae, endemic to Taiwan

Oilbirds or Guácharos (Steatornis caripensis), family Steatornithidae, order Steatornithiformes, Pacto, Ecuador

These birds used to be included in the order Caprimulgiformes, along with the nightjars, but were separated into their own order in 2010. (They are closely related to the nightjars.)

These nocturnal birds usually nest in colonies in caves.

Oilbirds feed on the fruits of oil palms and laurels.

They are able to navigate at night using echo-location.