#evergreen forests

[uncharismatic-fauna]

More on the Mountain Beaver

Despite its name, the mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) is not actually a beaver, and is actually more closely related to squirrels! They also don't typically live in high mountain environments; instead they prefer deciduous and coniferous forests in the lower levels of the Cascade mountains in western North America.

As a member of the rodent family, A. rufa shares many traits with rats and squirrels. They have a small, but compact body, small ears, large central incisors, and a small nubby tail. They are covered with thick brown fur, with a small white spot at the base of each ear, and have a number of long whiskers around their muzzle. Males and females are nearly identical, averaging 800 g (28.19 oz) in weight and 50 cm (19.65 in) in length.

Mountain beavers spend most of their time alone, and only emerge from their burrows at night. They feed almost exclusively on ferns, and can even consume bracken ferns, which are toxic to other animals. Their diet is also supplemented with pine needles, deciduous leaves, grasses, and mosses. Due to their small size, A. rufa are prey for many species including coyotes, foxes, weasels, racoons, and birds of prey.

Breeding for mountain beavers can start as early as February and extend to May. It is unknown how males and females find each other, or whether they exhibit any courting behaviour, but females typically give birth to two or three young about a month after conception. The pups are hairless, blind, and deaf, but grow quickly and are weaned after 6-8 weeks. At this time they leave the burrow and venture out to establish their own territories. They reach full maturity at about 2 years of age, and it is believed that they can survive for up to 6 years in the wild.

Conservation status: Mountain beavers are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, they are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation; one subpopulation in particular, the Point Arena mountain beaver (A. r. nigra) is considered endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photos

John M. Reagan

Tim Donner

Chris Wemmer

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Tailing After the Coastal Tailed Frog

The coastal tailed frog, or more simply the coastal tailed frog (Ascaphus truei), is a species of frog native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, ranging from the Cascade mountains to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, as well as parts of the Rocky Mountains. They require deep, cold streams-- 20 °C (68 °F) at most-- and are more often found at higher altitudes and within old growth forests.

Tailed frogs are incredibly small, ranging from 2.5 to 5 cm (0.9 to 1.9 in) in length. They are plainly colored, usually brown, red, or black to blend in with their environment. The most unique feature of A. truei, which also gives them their common name, are the 'tails' which are sported by male adults. In fact these tails are an extension of the cloaca, and they play an important part in reproduction.

Unlike most other frogs, coastal tailed frogs are non-vocal. From May to September, males seek out nearby females and insert their 'tail' into her cloaca, fertilizing her eggs internally. Afterwards, the female deposits up to 85 eggs underneath a rock in a local stream. The eggs hatch within 6 weeks, and the larvae remain there for anywhere from 1-4 years depending on the population's region. During this time, tadpoles possess a suction mouth which they use to attach themselves to rocks and consume algae. After metamorphosis, juvenile tailed frogs take another 1-4 years to reach full maturity. Adults can live to be at least 14 years old in the wild.

Coastal tailed frogs generally stay close to a water source, where they find most of their food. Both adults and tadpoles are nocturnal, and reduce their activity levels in winter. A. truei adults feed mainly on small insects and snails. Due to their small size, tailed frogs have a variety of predators including garter snakes, shrews, salamanders, fish, and larger insects.

Conservation status: The IUCN has classified the coastal tailed frog as Least Concern. Their primary threat comes from habitat destruction, although global warming may also be contributing to the reduction of their range.

Photos

Tony Iwane

William Flaxington

Joshua Wallace

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Thoughts on the Thick-Billed Parrot

The thick-billed parrot, or snow parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) is a species of parrot found only in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in Mexico. They reside at high elevations in both evergreen and mixed forests, particularly those dominated by conifers, pine, or fir trees.

Thick billed parrots are social, usually found in small flocks of 12-20 individuals, although they may congregate in groups of up to 1,000. Within each flock, mated pairs stay together for life, and the flock is constructed in a loose hierarchy. They nest in tree cavities, particularly those excavated and abandoned by woodpeckers, and feed primarily on seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries; adults may travel up to 40 km (24 miles) per day to find food.

R. pachyrhyncha mates from July to September. After mating, the female lays about 3 eggs, and remains in the nest with them while the male brings her food. Incubation takes about a month, after which time both parents taken on the responsibility of caring for the young. Chicks take another 2-3 months to fully fledge, at which time they become independent. Young reach full maturity at 7-12 months old, and individuals may live for up to 30 years.

Among parots, R. pachyrhyncha is of average size; adults are 38 cm (15 in) long on average, and weigh between 315–370 g (11.1–13.1 oz). Both sexes are bright green, with a thick black bill and red patches over the eyes, on the shoulder, and above the feet.

Conservation status: The thick-billed parrot is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Historically the species was found in the pine forests of the Colorado desert of the southern United States, but it has not been seen there since the 1930s; its principle threats are habitat loss due to logging and climate change, and capture for the pet trade.

Photos

Quinn Diaz 3

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Sprucing Up with the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider

The spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura montivaga) is an incredibly unique species of tarantula endemic to a handful of peaks in the southern Appalachian mountains in the United States. Within this small range, they are found only within spruce and fir forests at elevations above 1,650 m (5,410 ft). M. montivaga relies on the dense carpets of mosses and liverworts that thrive in this environment; these areas are known as sky-islands due to their height and specialized ecosystems.

One of the most interesting traits of the spruce-fir moss spider is that is the world's smallest species of tarantula. Adults measure only 2.5 to 3.8 millimeters (0.10 to 0.15 inch (in) in length, and are medium to dark brown all over. The hair characteristic of tarantulas is minimal, restricted mainly to the abdomen, and the species carries no other distinctive markings.

M. montivaga spends its entire life among the moss patches on the forest floor or low boulders. There, it spins tube-shaped webs for shelter and sheltering their eggs. Rather than using these webs to catch prey, however, the spruce-fir moss spider actively hunts mites and springtails within its home moss patch. Few known predators of this species have been recorded, but likely candidates include pseudoscorpions, centipedes, and other spiders.

Little is known about the reproductive habits of the spruce-fir moss. Females generally lay 7-9 eggs in a single sack in June, and guard it until the spiderlings emerge throughout September. During this time, if predators threaten the nest or the mother is disturbed, she may pick up and move her eggs to a new patch of moss. After hatching, the young spiders take 3-5 years to mature.

Conservation status: The IUCN has yet to evaluate this species; however, it is considered Endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Its primary threat is habitat loss due to an invasive pest that damages spruce and fir trees.

Photos

Dr. Marshal Hedin

Kefyn Catley

Gary Peeples

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Smooth Newt with the Smooth Moves

Also known as the European newt, northern smooth newt, or common newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), the smooth newt is one of the most common species in Europe and western Asia. It is also the only newt species found in Ireland. There are currently three recognised subspecies distributed throughout this range, and four others have been reclassified as distinct species. The common newt is able to survive in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, wetlands, meadows, parks, and gardens. Their only requirements are sufficient sunlight and water with sufficient vegetation.

Like most newts, the northern smooth newt spends the majority of its time foraging for food on land. Their diet is carnivorous, consisting of insects, worms, snails, slugs, and larvae. When available, L. vulgaris may also eat the eggs of its own species. In turn, many animals prey on the European newt, including waterbirds, snakes, frogs, and larger newts. To avoid these predators the smooth newt is active mainly at night, and will secrete a toxic mucus when threatened. While active, they are largely solitary but from October to March several individuals will hibernate together under logs or leaf litter burrows.

Almost as soon as the common newt emerges from hibernation, they begin migration to their breeding sites-- usually the ponds in which they spawned. Males undergo a dramatic transformation, growing large crests and becoming brightly colored. When a female enters the water, the male swims around her and sniffs her cloaca. He then vibrates his tail to fan his pheromones towards her. Finally, he will swim away and, if the female is interested, she will follow him. He then deposits a packet of sperm, or spermatophore, that the female picks up for fertilization. Rival males may try to lead the female towards their own spermatophores, and clutches of eggs often have multiple fathers.

Females deposit anywhere from 100 to 500 eggs, each of which is carefully wrapped in aquatic vegetation. Larvae hatch after only 20 days, and quickly begin developing. Unlike frogs and toads, newt larvae have external, feathery gills, and develop their front legs first. After about three months, the larvae absorb their gills and leave the water as newtlets or efts. However, when temperatures are particularly low and aquatic prey is abundant, some adults retain their gills and stay aquatic in a phenomenon known as paedomorphism. These adults are fully capable of sexual reproduction, and when moved to areas with a larger population will often metamorphose into terrestrial adults.

Adult smooth newts are rather small, reaching only 9–11 cm (3.5–4.3 in) and 0.3–5.2 g (0.011–0.183 oz). Males are slightly larger than females. The head and back are dark brown or olive, while the underside is much lighter. Both males and females have dark spots on their bellies, and males also sport a bright orange stripe. In the spring, the colors in males become more vivid and the spots grow larger. Males also develop a large yellow crest that runs from the head to the table, and is dotted with dark bands.

Conservation status: The IUCN has designated the European newt as Least Concern, as it is common over most of its range. Threats include habitat destruction and the introduction of invasive fish species.

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Photos

Philip Precey

Derek Middleton

Christoph Moning via iNaturalist

Kristýna Coufalová via iNaturalist

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Going Nuts for the White-Breasted Nuthatch

requested by @crazychooklady

Common throughout woodlands southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small passerine bird known primarily for its ability to climb down trees headfirst. It inhabits deciduous, mixed, and evergreen forests, as well as wooded parks and some urban areas-- anywhere with trees suitable for nesting. S. carolinensis uses pre-existing holes, usually those made by other birds, rather than building their own. They don’t migrate, but rather males guard their own separate territories and mates year round.

The white-breasted nuthatch is a long-term monogamous species; once pairs form, they stay with each other until one member dies, although extra-pair matings with is common for both sexes. The breeding season can occur any time from April to July, depending on the population’s region, and usually lasts about two months. Unpaired males sing to attract potential mates, and paired couples begin preparing their nest hole with fur and plant material. The female lays between 5 and 9 eggs, which she incubates while the male brings her food. After 13-18 days the eggs hatch, and both parents provide their young with food until they fledge about a month later. Fledglings will stay with their parents for another 2-4 weeks before leaving to find territories and mates of their own.

On the whole they are solitary birds, but in the winter, S. carolinensis can sometimes be seen in mixed flocks with titmice and chickadees. This is likely to increase the chances of escaping predators, which include owls and hawks. Woodpeckers, squirrels, and climbing snakes will also go after eggs and nestlings. One unique trick white-breasted nuthatches use to protect their nests from these predators is wiping the entrance to their tree hole with a piece of fur or leaves every time they leave to obscure their scent. Their foraging style is also very singular; crawling up and down trees and even upside down on branches to search for seeds and insects.

Of the three nuthatch species, the white-breasted nuthatch is squarely in the middle in terms of size. They typically measure 13-15cm in length, with a wingspan of 20-27cm and weighing 18-30g. The bill is long, thin, and slightly upturned to help S. carolinensis forage under bark while upside down. Their back is a distinct grey-blue, and the wings and tail are a mix of black, grey, and white. A black crown caps their forehead, and the cheeks and belly are white as the name suggests. There are 9 subspecies across north America, distinguished mainly by color variations and the degree of sexual dimorphism.

Conservation status: Due to its large population, at an estimated 10 million individuals, and signs that this population is growing, the white-breasted nuthatch is rated as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, in areas where increased foresting has removed trees suitable for nesting populations have begun to decline.

Joan Tisdale

Dennis Allard

Tom Gray

Matt MacGillivray

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Creeping up on the Eurasian Treecreeper

requested by @crazychooklady

The eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), as its name implies, is a species of tree creeper found throughout both Europe and Asia, in deciduous and evergreen forests. There are between 9 and 13 subspecies distributed across the continents, each with slight variations on the same morphology: 12 to 15 cm long, with a 19 cm wingspan and a weight of only 10g. The head, back, wings, and tail are typically mottled brown and the underbelly is a fluffy white.

The most distinguishing feature of any eurasian treecreeper is its bill, which is long, thing, and slightly curved. This makes it an excellent tool to search under tree bark for their main food source: insects. In addition, their tail feathers are especially stiff to support them as they climb vertically up tree trunks to forage. C. familiaris has few predators, due to their arboreal lifestyle and the excellent camouflage their colouring provides. Their main threats come from great spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major), least weasals (Mustela nivalis), and stoats (Mustela erminea), all of which will feed on eggs and hatchlings.

Like many passerine birds, the eurasian treecreeper is monogamous. The breeding season occurs between March and June, when food is most abundant. Males sing to attract a mate, and once a pair has formed they build a nest in the crevice of a tree. The pair will lay two clutches over the course of the breeding season, each with 1-6 eggs that the female incubates. These eggs only take about two weeks to hatch, and another two weeks to fledge and become fully independent. During this time, both parents feed their young but males spend more time defending the nest. The young become sexually mature at only a year old, and individuals in the wild typically only live for about two years.

None of the C. familiaris subspecies are migratory. However, some share territories with another treecreeper species, the short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla). The song of eurasian treecreepers that live in these areas differs from those of their relatives; their young learn the songs of both species, and thus sing mixed songs as adults. In addition, although they do not form flocks of their own, many eurasian treecreepers will join mixed species groups as extra protection against predators. 

Conservation status: The eurasian treecreeper is considered least concern by the IUCN, due to their large population and range. Habitat fragmentation and destruction for agricultural purposes are their largest threats, as they significantly increase predation risks.

Photos

Ryan Schaln (via eBird)

Dean Morley (via iNaturalist)

Dina Nesterkova (via iNaturalist)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

A Round with the European Roe Deer

The European roe deer, or western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), is a species of deer found throughout Europe and western Asia. There are a number of subspecies of roe deer, including the Siberian roe deer and the Italian roe deer, although the exact number of subspecies is debated. Regardless of taxonomy, they are by far the most abundant wild ungulate species in Europe, not unlike the white-tailed deer of North America. Also like their American cousins, they are considered a nuisance in many places, as they tend to feed on crops and flowers and can cause traffic accidents by wandering onto the road.

Although can be found anywhere, western roe deer prefer forests and high-grass meadows, in which they browse all day long. Like many deer species, roe deer can consume a wide variety of plants; in some cases the number of species in their diet has topped 1,000. In the summer these deer can be solitary or live in herds, usually several females with their offspring. In winter, all deer join a family group which can reach up to 90 members in a densely populated area.

C. capreolus tend to be on the smaller side compared to other deer species. They’re typically 60-67 cm tall at the shoulder and 22-30kg in weight, although some populations like those in Kazakhastan can be larger, while others like those in Spain and France are smaller. Males begin to grow antlers at one year old, and every year the antlers are shed in late fall. They regrow afterwards with a coat of velvety, which is then shed away for summer mating.

In the summer males enter their rut, and will call, thrash their antlers, and spar with each other in competition for females. The rutting season ends in the fall. However, roe deer are unique in that they have a latent pregnancy period; although the embryo is fertilized in the summer, it doesn’t implant until mid-winter and doesn’t begin developing until the summer after impregnation. The pregnancy period takes another 11-12 months, at which time mothers give birth to one to two fawns. Like other deer species, young fawns have distinctive white spots on their backs to help them hide in grass from predators.

The predators of roe deer vary from region to region. In Europe, predators can include foxes, lynx, and wolves. In Asia roe deer can also fall prey to leopards. Throughout their distribution, roe deer are prime game for hunters, both for meat and trophies.

Conservation Status: The European Roe deer is considered of Least Concern by the IUCN; in fact, despite extensive hunting, the population is growing in many parts of Europe and western Asia.

Photos

Graham Ackerman

Marius Secan