Posts Tagged ‘critter week’
Critter Week - Una de Gato and Syrphid Flies
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● October 30, 2008
- In: Uncategorized
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Vine of Uncaria tomentosa and some small Syrphid flies, in the Pululagua Crater, Pichincha Province. Cat’s claw is a common roadside vine in this area, but this was the first time I had ever seen it in bloom; the flowers are shocking pink. Here we see them being pollinated by some tiny hoverflies.
More about Una de Gato can be found in the inaugural post of this blog.
Critter Week - Equisetum spp and Sunbittern
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● October 29, 2008
- In: Uncategorized
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Horsetails growing in a lagoon in Yarina, Orellana Province, and juvenile Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias). Horsetails are one of the remnants of the Carboniferous period and are closely related to ferns. They are silicaceous and prefer wet sandy soils; in most environments they are considered to be invasive weeds. Equally, in the foreground are Water Hyacinths (Eichornia spp), another weed species.
The Sunbittern is the only member of its genus, and is very similar in size and behaviour to herons. It spends its life hunting small fish and frogs, and the ones in this lagoon also try to avoid being eaten by caiman (see earlier in critter week for a picture of this predator.) The bird shown in the photo is a juvenile, and has not yet developed the striking buff and ochre plumage of an adult Sunbittern.
