Camouflage in nature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek soma (‘body’) and erion (‘wool’), referring to soft down feathers of these birds. The name eider is derived from the Icelandic name of the common eider, æðarfugl, which stems from Old Norse æðr.

 

The nest of this species is built near the seashore, lined with down, which the female plucks from her own breast. This soft down has been harvested by people for hundreds of years, used as filling in pillows, quilts, and jackets. This harvesting was done with no harm to the birds, as it took place when the ducklings had left the nest.

The specific name is derived from the Latin mollissimus (‘very soft indeed’), like the generic name alluding to its soft down feathers.

In Northumberland, southern Scotland, the eider duck is known as the cuddy duck, named after Saint Cuthbert (c. 634-687), a monk, bishop, and hermit of the early Northumbrian Celtic church. While on the Farne Islands, he instigated special laws to protect the ducks and other seabirds, nesting on these islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Latin pluvia (‘rain’). Formerly, it was believed that when golden plovers would flock, it was a sign of imminent rain. In Icelandic folklore, the arrival of the first golden plover means that spring has come.

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin apricus (‘sunny’), thus loosely translated as ‘basking in the sun’.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek haima (‘blood’) and pous (‘foot’), alluding to the bright red feet of the Eurasian oystercatcher. The old English name of these birds was sea-pie (‘the pied one living at the sea’). They got their present name in 1731 by English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) who studied flora and fauna in the New World. He noticed that the American species H. palliatus ate oysters.

 

The specific name was given in honour of French naturalist Alfred Moquin-Tandon (1804-1863) who was initially professor of zoology in Marseille, later professor of botany and director of the botanical gardens at Toulouse, and from 1853 director of the botanical garden and the scientific academy in Paris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is a diminutive of the genus name Sterna (true terns), in which they were formerly included. The common name is derived from Old Norse therna, presumably brought to the British Isles by Vikings.

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin albus (‘white’) and frons (‘forehead’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) mentions anthos, a small, brightly coloured bird, and Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.) mentions anthus, both maybe referring to the yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava).

In Greek mythology, Anthos, son of Antinous and Hippodamia, was trampled to pieces by his father’s horses. The gods transformed him into a bird, which would imitate the neighing of a horse, but always fled from the sight of horses. Perhaps Aristotle had noticed wagtails taking off because of horses.

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin petra (‘rock’ or ‘stone’) and the suffix osus, thus ‘living among rocks’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Asian species have been retained in Francolinus, whereas the remaining two Asian species have been moved to the genus Ortygornis, together with the African crested francolin (O. sephaena).

The remaining African species have been divided into several genera, Scleroptila (7 species), Campocolinus (3 species), Peliperdix (1 species), and Pternistis (24 species). All members of the latter genus are now referred to as spurfowl.

Finally, genetic research has shown that Nahan’s francolin is not a francolin, but closely related to the stone partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus), and for this reason it has been renamed Nahan’s partridge (Ptilopachus nahani).

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek skleros (‘stiff’) and ptilon (‘feather’).

 

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek psilos (‘naked’) and laimos (‘throat’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek batrakhos (‘frog’) and stoma (‘mouth’).

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin monile (‘necklace’ or ‘collar’), and gerere (‘to carry’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

It breeds in coniferous forests of Alaska and Canada and in montane areas of north-western United States, spending the winter in south-western Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek korthilos, a small, wren-like bird mentioned by Greek grammarian Hesychius of Alexandria (5th or 6th Century A.D.). The specific name may be derived from the verb caleo (‘I am warm’, or ‘glowing’), alluding to the fiery colour on the head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek kalidris, a term used by Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) for some grey-coloured water bird.

 

It spends the winter months along shores of north-western and western Europe, southwards to Portugal, in extreme southern Greenland, and along the North American Atlantic Coast, southwards to South Carolina.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘living at the sea’, derived from mare (‘sea’). In winter, the bird is usually observed along coasts.

 

 

 

 

 

The word thrush is derived from Old English throstle, from Proto-Germanic þrustlō, an ancient name for the song thrush (Turdus philomelos). In Old Saxon, þrustlō became throsla, in German Drossel. The latter name was adopted by the Danes, whereas the Swedes use the name trast for these birds, and the Norwegians trost.

A number of thrush species are dealt with on the page Animals – Birds: Thrushes.

 

The generic name is the classical Latin word for thrush.

 

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek khrysos (‘gold’) and laios (‘thrush’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family name is derived from Sciurus, the Latin name of these animals, in 1758 applied by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) to the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). The word squirrel, which has been in use as early as 1327, is from the Anglo-Norman name esquirel, which is again from the Old French escurel, a corruption of the Latin sciurus, which is derived from Ancient Greek skia (‘shadow’) and oura (‘tail’), thus ‘shadow-tailed’, alluding to the habit of some squirrels to raise their bushy tails over the body, thus creating shade.

Many species of squirrel are presented on the page Animals – Mammals: Squirrels.

 

Marmots live in burrows up to 2 m underground, digging tunnels up to 10 m long. They often sit on their haunches outside their burrow, and their shrill warning whistles can be heard far away. Marmots are almost exclusively vegetarians. They do not make food deposits, but in autumn they have become extremely fat, and hibernate throughout the winter.

Arctic hunters kill many hoary marmots (M. caligata) and Alaskan marmots (M. broweri), eating their delicious meat and using their soft underfur to make parkas.

The generic name is a corruption of the Latin muris montanus (‘mountain mouse’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is Latin, meaning ‘double layer of inner skin’.

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘short-legged’.

 

 

 

 

 

It was named in honour of British biologist Robert Swinhoe (1836-1877) who, in 1860, became the first European consular representative to Taiwan. He discovered many new species, and four mammals and 15 birds are also named after him.

 

 

 

 

 

Another name of these lizards is flying lizards, which is not a very descriptive name, as they are not able to truly fly, but glide from one tree to another by spreading out their ribs, which are connected by a wing-like membrane, called patagia.

The generic name is a Latinized version of Ancient Greek drakon (‘dragon’).

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘flying’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek drys (‘oak tree’) and phyton (‘plant’) – a rather strange double name, alluding to most species living in trees.

 

The upperside is brown or grey with darker spots, an adaptation to help it being camouflaged among the brownish or greyish rocks, where it lives. The underside is cream-coloured or orange-yellow.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘sand-coloured’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These animals vary enormously in size, from Typhlochactas mitchelli, which is only 9 mm long, to Heterometrus swammerdami, which can reach a length of 23 cm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The name brush-footed butterflies refers to a brush-like set of hairs on the forelegs of a number of species. Another common name is four-footed butterflies, as many members are known to stand on only four legs. The forelegs are reduced and often curled up.

 

The genus is named after the Greek philosopher Hipparchia of Maroneia, who lived in Athens around 325-350 B.C. She was married to another philosopher, Crates of Thebes, and the couple lived a life of poverty in the streets of Athens.

 

In Greek mythology, Semele was a daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes. She was abducted by Zeus and gave birth to a son, Dionysus, who later became the wine god.

 

 

 

 

 

In Roman mythology, the goddess Juno was the protector and special counsellor of the state. She was the daughter of Saturn, the wife of Jupiter, and the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, and Juventas. Her Ancient Greek counterpart is Hera.

Previously, many of the species were placed in the genus Precis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name refers to Pomona, Roman goddess of fruit abundance. Like the common name it alludes to the lemon-like colour of this species.

 

 

 

 

 

Turtle beetles, subfamily Cassidinae, are a large group of more than 3,000 leaf beetles, which resemble miniature turtles due to the forward and sideways extensions of their body. They measure between 5 and 12 mm in length, and the larvae are spiny. Both adults and larvae eat leaves, and some species are regarded as agricultural pests.

One genus in the subfamily is Cassida, containing more than 430 species, distributed in the Old World. The generic name is derived from the Latin cassis (‘metal helmet’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These animals are plant-eaters, and some species at times become serious pests, forming huge swarms that consume crops over wide areas. Most species protect themselves from predators by camouflage. If detected, they suddenly jump into the air, many species displaying brilliantly coloured wings to startle the predator. Other species have strong colours as a warning to predators that they are ill-tasting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are carnivorous insects that will wait in ambush in the vegetation for an insect or another small invertebrate to pass by. With lightening speed, the mantis throws its forelegs forward and snatches the unfortunate victim, which is then devoured by the mantis. Sometimes a female will even eat the male, after he has inserted his semen in her.

These insects got their name from their posture, with the forelegs ‘folded’, as if they were in prayer – quite contradictory to the real purpose of this posture. Preying mantis would be a more proper name!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family name is derived from Ancient Greek aeizoon (‘houseleek’), from aei (‘forever’) and zoion (‘a living thing’), alluding to the succulent, long-living leaves of the members, similar to the houseleeks (Sempervivum).

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek lithos (‘stone’) and ops (‘resembling’), referring to the similarity of these plants to small stones. Popular names include living stones and pebble plants.