Dome nests (https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/murray/articles,-plans-and-publications/nrm-news-november-2020/birds-and-their-nests) are those combining the following characteristics:
The concealment and enclosure of eggs and the incubating adult present obvious adaptive advantages relative to predation.
Australia and southern Africa have similar climates and substrates, but differ greatly their regimes of predation. The former landmass is relatively poor in predators, whereas the latter landmass is rich in predators.
An intercontinental comparison can be based on those regions with similar mediterranean-type and adjacent climates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate and https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-65520-3_8#:~:text=The%20mediterranean%2Dtype%20climate%20of,the%20western%20half%20of%20Victoria. and https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01811789.1984.10826662).
In this Post, I exclude migratory birds that breed in the Northern Hemisphere, wintering in the Southern Hemisphere.
The following spp. of birds build dome nests in the relevant regions.
AUSTRALIA
Estrildidae:
Stagonopleura all three spp. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagonopleura)
Acanthizidae:
Acanthiza apicalis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72439-Acanthiza-apicalis
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13469-Acanthiza-chrysorrhoa
Acanthiza inornata https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13466-Acanthiza-inornata
Acanthiza iredalei https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13472-Acanthiza-iredalei
Acanthiza lineata https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13467-Acanthiza-lineata
Acanthiza nana https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13470-Acanthiza-nana
Acanthiza pusilla https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13468-Acanthiza-pusilla
Acanthiza reguloides https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13471-Acanthiza-reguloides
Acanthiza robustirostris https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13475-Acanthiza-robustirostris
Acanthiza uropygialis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13464-Acanthiza-uropygialis
Aphelocephala leucopsis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13522-Aphelocephala-leucopsis
Calamanthus campestris https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/979632-Calamanthus-campestris
Calamanthus fuliginosus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13527-Calamanthus-fuliginosus
Calamanthus montanellus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/548191-Calamanthus-montanellus
Gerygone fusca https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13491-Gerygone-fusca
Gerygone olivacea https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13490-Gerygone-olivacea
Hylacola cauta https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72928-Hylacola-cauta
Hylacola pyrrhopygia https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72929-Hylacola-pyrrhopygia
Pyrrholaemus brunneus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13477-Pyrrholaemus-brunneus
Sericornis maculatus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1444429-Sericornis-maculatus
Smicrornis brevirostris https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13540-Smicrornis-brevirostris
Maluridae:
Amytornis textilis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/509110-Amytornis-textilis
Malurus assimilis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/827392-Malurus-assimilis
Malurus cyaneus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12065-Malurus-cyaneus
Malurus elegans https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12063-Malurus-elegans
Malurus leucopterus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12093-Malurus-leucopterus
Malurus pulcherrimus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12072-Malurus-pulcherrimus
Malurus splendens https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12083-Malurus-splendens
Stipiturus malachurus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12133-Stipiturus-malachurus
Stipiturus mallee https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12072-Malurus-pulcherrimus
Cisticolidae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisticolidae):
Cisticola exilis (South Australia only) https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7657-Cisticola-exilis
Acrocephalidae:
Acrocephalus australis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116794-Acrocephalus-australis
SOUTHERN AFRICA
Ploceidae:
Euplectes capensis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13964-Euplectes-capensis
Euplectes orix https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13962-Euplectes-orix
Ploceus capensis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13801-Ploceus-capensis
Ploceus velatus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13804-Ploceus-velatus
Quelea quelea https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14005-Quelea-quelea
Estrildidae:
Amadina erythrocephala https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14095-Amadina-erythrocephala
Coccopygia melanotis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/979663-Coccopygia-melanotis
Estrilda astrild https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13770-Estrilda-astrild
Ortygospiza atricollis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204557-Ortygospiza-atricollis
Spermestes cucullata https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/367700-Spermestes-cucullata
Nectariniidae:
Anthobaphes violacea https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145130-Anthobaphes-violacea
Chalcomitra amethystina https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145142-Chalcomitra-amethystina
Cinnyris afer https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145163-Cinnyris-afer
Cinnyris chalybeus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145157-Cinnyris-chalybeus
Cinnyris fuscus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145189-Cinnyris-fuscus
Nectarinia famosa https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13300-Nectarinia-famosa
Cisticolidae:
Apalis thoracica https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7742-Apalis-thoracica
Cisticola fulvicapilla https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72731-Cisticola-fulvicapilla
Cisticola juncidis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7697-Cisticola-juncidis
Cisticola subruficapilla https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72733-Cisticola-subruficapilla
Cisticola textrix https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7700-Cisticola-textrix
Cisticola tinniens https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7660-Cisticola-tinniens
Eremomela icteropygialis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204508-Eremomela-icteropygialis
Eremomela gregalis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/15460-Eremomela-gregalis
Euryptila subcinnamomea https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7782-Euryptila-subcinnamomea
Malcorus pectoralis https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7703-Malcorus-pectoralis
Phragmacia substriata https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/73280-Phragmacia-substriata
Prinia maculosa https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7730-Prinia-maculosa
Acrocephalidae:
Acrocephalus gracilirostris https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116798-Acrocephalus-gracilirostris
Acrocephalus scirpaceus (check residency) https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204455-Acrocephalus-scirpaceus
Macrosphenidae:
Sylvietta rufescens https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/15254-Sylvietta-rufescens
Paridae:
Melaniparus afer (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144845-Melaniparus-afer)
Remizidae:
Anthoscopus minutus (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13671-Anthoscopus-minutus)
INTRODUCTION
Lichmera indistincta is common in southwestern Australia, including the Perth Metropolitan area (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03014223.1985.10428310 and https://library.sprep.org/content/introductory-ecological-biogeography-australo-pacific-meliphagidae
Meliphagids (Meliphagidae, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyeater) are diverse and abundant in Australasia.
Most forms are somewhat specialised for the consumption of nectar. The most specialised forms have long beaks, suitable for probing flowers and inflorescences.
Some genera of meliphagids are associated with the temperate zone of Australia, whereas others are associated with the tropics.
Genera associated mainly with the temperate zone include
The following genera are ambivalent:
Genera associated mainly with the tropics include
In my neighbourhood in the Perth metropolitan area (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth), the Australian raven (Corvus coronoides, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/8040-Corvus-coronoides and https://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=420) is so common that I interact with it every day.
Recently, I encountered a particularly bold adult individual, presumably male (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/in-adults-of-corvus-coronoides-o5VBIG8MRtaJGtucfTFW6A). I took the opportunity to examine its eyes from close-up (a distance of less than one metre).
I noticed that
My commentary is as follows:
It has been written that the eyes of birds tend to differ from those of primates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate) in being
According to the above view, birds tend to move their heads, not their eyes, in aid of shifting their gaze.
However, my observations of the Australian raven have shown that this species - although it certainly does frequently move its head in shifting its gaze - actually resembles primates to a considerable degree. I refer particularly to
However, in this footage I see subtle, split-second fluctuations in the size of the pupil, which I did not notice in my own scrutiny of the specimen in question. This 'eye-pinning' is not nearly as obvious as in https://www.tiktok.com/@blueplanetpets/video/7057245366206565679?lang=en. However, it may deserve further investigation in genus Corvus.
@mftasp @jggbrown @karenwilsonau @tonyrebelo @jeremygilmore @scottwgavins @michaelcincotta @alan_dandie @thebeachcomber
Please see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odCe9pjXQKQ
https://explorebioedge.com/2015/02/15/the-paradox-of-the-fire-loving-crayfishes/
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/85478-Gymnoschoenus-sphaerocephalus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/782798-Geocharax-tasmanicus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/107512-Ombrastacoides-leptomerus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/99945-Engaeus-fossor
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/99944-Engaeus-disjuncticus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/112966-Spinastacoides-inermis
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/99940-Engaeus-cisternarius
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/112967-Spinastacoides-insignis
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/107507-Ombrastacoides-decemdentatus
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/112965-Spinastacoides-catinipalmus
@jeremygilmore @ludwig_muller @ptexis @tonyrebelo @paradoxornithidae @botswanabugs @lsueza @aguilita @quiltedquetzal @a-tristis @john8 @kevinhintsa @ldacosta @kokhuitan
...continued from https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/67246-some-dinosaurs-flew-as-dinosaurs-not-as-proto-birds-part-1#
Please see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKTDFFGMpWM
https://explorebioedge.com/2015/01/15/__trashed-10/
https://explorebioedge.com/2014/12/30/plumosaurs-flew-as-dinosaurs-not-as-proto-birds/
https://explorebioedge.com/2013/03/30/are-birds-really-avian-dinosaurs/
@ptexis @jeremygilmore @ludwig_muller @christiaan_viljoen @matthewinabinett @simontonge @paradoxornithidae @tonyrebelo @dinofelis @botswanabugs @pelagicgraf @kakariki14 @magicsonic @lefebvremax @marina_gorbunova @beartracker
Please also see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfcGwk9dBlY&t=5s.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
A chimaera is any mythical beast composed of incongruous parts, i.e. like a composite of different animals (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimera).
What is the relevance of the concept of a chimaera in the real world of natural history?
Well, incongruity in the composite appearance of a real animal can, in biological terms, have adaptive value.
For predators, the obvious value of the incongruity in question is in camouflage-colouration. This is because
An example of chimaeric camouflage is Panthera tigris (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41967-Panthera-tigris), in which the pattern of striping is oddly heterogeneous on various parts of the body.
For prey, the obvious adaptive value of the incongruity in question is in bewildering the predator, delaying identification of the prey by the predator, and thus buying time for escape.
Mimicry, in this context, is the false resemblance between a species of prey and some other species, usually better-defended from predation.
This deception can be effective even if there is no precise resemblance between the mimic and any particular species of model, as explained by Philip E Howse (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4543260.Philip_E_Howse). Thus, confusion can be achieved in conjunction with mimicry of dangerous models.
Given the trade-off between precise mimicry on one hand, and a confusing appearance on the other, it is possible for a prey species to gain adaptive benefit by vaguely mimicking several different models within a single body.
An example of chimaeric mimicry is Stauropus fagi (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/451846-Stauropus-fagi).
Let us now examine each of these spp. in turn.
PANTHERA TIGRIS
In the public mind, the camouflage-colouration of Panthera tigris is one of fairly uniform striping (https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/fur-pattern-of-endangered-tiger-dist-asia-but-royalty-free-image/139820422?adppopup=true and https://www.naturepl.com/stock-photo-bengal-tiger-panthera-tigris-tigris-stalking-deer-ranthambore-np-nature-image01234677.html and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/during-patrolling-her-territory-this-pregnant-1474249925).
However, a closer examination shows that the striping is a patchwork of at least four categories, on various parts of the figure, as follows:
The following illustrate the heterogeneity, within each individual, of these patterns:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215448957
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ipilot777/5912555495/
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184031493
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180925182
In summary, what I point out in this Post is that, in its adaptive colouration,
STAUROPUS FAGI
Howse (2010, https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Butterflies.html?id=A0_dRgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y), on page 119, describes the caterpillar of S. fagi as follows:
"The young caterpillar is black and has three pairs of very long jointed legs (the true legs), bearing an unmistakeable resemblance to an ant. When it is larger, the caterpillar is pale brown and is said to resemble a lobster...To my eye, the only possible inference of a lobster is in the long, thin-jointed, stick-like front legs...Hugh Newman, in his book 'British Moths and Their Haunts' describes it thus: 'It is almost a beefsteak red with a ridged back like some prehistoric monster, while the whole of the hind portion is flattened and somewhat resembles the expanded head of an angry cobra. When touched or alarmed it will bend back this tail portion if its body while at the same time rearing up its front parts and waving its abnormally long legs in a threatening manner'...what Newman fails to mention is that the last pair of false legs are modified to give the appearance of a bifid tongue, adding credence to an image of a snake head at one end of the body. What is also striking is that this 'head' is very similar indeed to the last bulbous segment of a scorpion's tail, which contains...a sharply curved barb. At the other end, the rounded head with waving legs is very indicative of a spider. This caterpillar is doubly ambiguous, and perhaps triply so, the whole ensemble of deception suggesting a spider with snake and scorpion features."
In a caption in the same page, Howse (2010) states:
"Caterpillar of ...Stauropus fagi...with elongated forelegs and a bulbous head that resembles the legs and body of a large spider. Viewed upside down, the swollen terminal abdominal segments are seen more clearly to resemble both a snake's head with teeth and forked tongue and the bulbous sting of a scorpion."
The following illustrate the caterpillar of S. fagi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcE2Va1INw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM18oVn-BSg
http://www.pyrgus.de/Stauropus_fagi_en.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank-deschandol/32249491647
https://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/StauroFagi.htm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank-deschandol/32249491647
https://www.alamy.com/lobster-moth-stauropus-fagi-larva-image1835995.html
https://www.alamy.com/lobster-moth-stauropus-fagi-larva-image1835995.html
DISCUSSION
The observation I have made here about P. tigris may be original, despite the familiarity of this felid.
I have previously pointed out an example of chimaeric mimicry in another felid (https://explorebioedge.com/2016/03/10/chimaera-mimicry-in-juvenile-cheetah/ and https://explorebioedge.com/2016/01/30/photo-insight-template/).
In the case of the insect, my account reflects that of Howse (2010). The only original aspect of my coverage here is the chimaeric analogy.