Species in News Flashcards
Yellow-Legged Hornet
TheAsian hornet, also known as theyellow-legged hornetorAsian predatory wasp, is a species ofhornetindigenoustoSoutheast Asia.
Scientific Name: Vespa velutina
It is a predatory insect that commonly feeds on other social bees and wasps, including honey bees.
This species has become invasive in several parts of the world, where it poses a threat to local ecosystems and bee populations.
It is distinct from the infamous Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), often referred to as the “murder hornet,” which is a different and larger species found in parts of Asia, including Japan. While both species are predators of bees, the Yellow-Legged Hornet has become a particular concern in parts of Europe due to its invasive nature and impact on local ecosystems.
Features:
It is relatively large, with adults typically measuring between 2 to 3 centimetres (0.8 to 1.2 inches) in length.
It has a dark brown or black body with a distinctive bright yellow or orange band on its fourth abdominal segment.
As its name suggests, it has yellow legs, which is a key identifying feature.
It is a very aggressive species and its sting is very painful.
They are carnivorous and primarily feed on other insects, especially bees and wasps. They are known to be skilled hunters of honeybees.
White-Bellied Sea Eagle
It is a largediurnalbird of prey.
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
Distribution:
They are found throughout Southeast Asia.
They range north to south from southern China to Australia and Tasmania, and west to east from India to New Guinea.
Their range includes the islands of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Habitat:
They live primarily in terrestrial habitats near the ocean, especially coasts, islands, and estuaries, but they also live in forested areas with access to smaller bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Most white-bellied sea eagles live at elevations around 900 m, with the highest elevation recorded at 1,700 m.
Features:
They average 75 to 84 cm long, have a 1.78 to 2.2 meter wingspan, and weigh 2.2 to 3.0 kg, as adults.
The head, neck, belly, thighs and distal tail-feathers are white, while the back, wing coverts, primary wing, and proximal tail-feathers can be dark gray to black.
All white-bellied sea eagles have dark-brown to black eyes.
The relatively short legs and feet of these eagles are scaled and featherless, and can be light-gray to cream in colour with large black talons.
The tail is short and wedge shaped. The bill is blue-grey with a darker tip and is large and hooked.
They exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly larger than males.
Diet: White-bellied Sea Eagles are primarily piscivorous, meaning they primarily feed on fish. They may also prey on water birds, small mammals, and carrion (dead animals).
Conservation Status:
IUCN: Least Concern
Kashmir stag
It is also called Hangul which is a subspecies of Central Asian red deerendemic to Kashmirand surrounding areas.
It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northernHimachal Pradesh.
In Kashmir, it is found primarily inthe Dachigam National Parkwhere it receives protection.
A small population has also been witnessedinOvera-Aru Wildlife Sanctuaryin south Kashmir.
Conservation status
IUCN: Critically Endangered
CITES : Appendix I
Palm cockatoo
It is also known as thegoliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of thecockatoofamily.
It has a very large black beak and prominent red cheek patches.
Distribution:
It is native to New Guinea, Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula.
They occur in rainforests, such as gallery forests, forest edges, eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, monsoon woodlands, dense savannas and partly cleared areas.
They choose big trees for roosting and nesting.
Threats
It is under threat by habitat loss through logging and seasonal fires, which each year destroy their nest trees in significant numbers.
Conservation status
IUCN: Least Concern
