Banded or Golden Orb-weaver Spiders
Scientific name Trichonephilia (previous known as Nephilia) These large orb-weaver spiders are conspicuous towards the end of the rainy season but…
Long-crested Eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis (Genus: Lophaetus = Greek, a crested eagle; species: occipitalis = Latin, of the back of the head) Kondokondo, pfinye (Shona), Aiglehuppard, (French), Aquia-de-penacho (Portuguese) Call: http://www.xeno-canto.org/268792 I have…
Bees: Threats to this key species
Some years ago now there were reports that Chinese farmers were having to pollinate their almond trees by hand with tiny…
Owls & Chameleons: What do they have in common?
Our planet is teeming with life forms, each busily following its life’s plan. They all require a set of physical conditions…
Levaillant’s Cuckoo a.k.a. Striped Cuckoo
Clamator levaillantii (Genus Clamator = Latin: noisy, referring to the loud chattering noises of the genus; species levaillantii = Latin: after Francois Le Vaillant (1753-1824), French…
Biodiversity
More and more questions on the Learner Hunters and Guides examination papers are asking you to think about the subject of…
European Bee-Eater
Merops apiaster (Genus: Merops, Greek = 'bee-eater'; species: apiaster, Latin = 'bee-eater') Bonganyuchi (Shona: bonga = to pick, nyuchi = bee); other Shona terms: Gamanyuchi, Fukarusheshe, Pfukepfuke Call: http://www.xeno-canto.org/280449 These pretty…
Spotted Eagle Owl
Bubo africanus (Genus: Bubo = Latin: an eagle owl, probably onomatopoeic; species: africanus = Latin: from Africa) Zizi (Shona, generic for owls); Grand-duc africain (French); Bufo-malhado (Portuguese) Call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw8tlxj8CMg This…
Dung Beetles
Dung beetles have dark, round bodies, six legs and long flying wings folded under hard, protective covers. Some male dung beetles…
Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala (Genus Ardea: Latin = a heron; species melanocephala: Greek = black head) Shorechena, nyarupani (Shona); Heron melanocephale (French); Garca-de-cabeca-preta (Portuguese) Call: http://www.xeno-canto.org/200791 Aren't the lines…
