the rufous-tailed hummingbird ( amazilia tzacatl ) is a medium-sized hummingbird that breeds from east-central mexico , through central america and colombia , east to western venezuela and south through western ecuador to near the border with peru .

the larger escudo hummingbird from isla escudo de veraguas in panama is commonly considered a subspecies of the rufous-tailed hummingbird .

this is a common to abundant bird of open country , river banks , woodland , scrub , forest edge , coffee plantations and gardens up to 1,850 m ( 6,070 ft ) .

rufous - tailed hummingbird

rufous - tailed hummingbird <EOT> is identical to the rufous - tailed hummingbird , except for its larger size . since the

colorful rufous - tailed - hummingbird - i love the colors of this one . | humming birds | pinterest | hummingbird , colorful birds and bird

the specific plants that rufous - tailed hummingbirds obtain nectar from would not be able to survive without the birds to pollinate them . some examples of plants pollinated by rufous - tailed hummingbirds include :

jackson , j . , w . bock , m . hutchins , d . olendorf . 2002 . rufous - tailed hummingbird . pp . 465 in

rufous - tailed hummingbirds ( along with many other hummingbird species ) have such high metabolic rates that they often go into torpor during the night to conserve energy .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds may nest in loose colonies . they have been observed stealing nest materials from their neighbors .

the hummingbirds do differ from race to race . the handleyi race is larger and heavier than the average rufous - tailed hummingbird . it is also a slightly darker bronze - green . the fuscicaudata race is smaller than an average rufous - tailed hummingbird . the jucunda race has a longer bill in relation to its size with narrow margins in the outer rectrices .

only occurs on the caribbean island " escudo de veraguas " in panama , confusion with the mainland rufous - tailed is unlikely .

the rufous - tailed hummingbird ( amazilia tzacatl ) - also known as rieffer ' s hummingbird - is a common central and south american hummingbird that can be found in the open country , along river banks and the forest edge , in woodland and scrub , as well as plantations and gardens up to 1850 m ( 6000 ft ) .

id 90 % . the hummingbird was perched facing away from me in dark , dense vegetation , so i never got a good look at it . the size of the bird , its bill , and back colors ( in poor light ) looked like either a snowy - bellied hummingbird or rufous - tailed hummingbird . song had none of the nasal quality of snowy - bellied , and is ( to me ) identical to the rufous - tailed in xc47068 . recording was normalized to - 6 db .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds may form very loose nesting colonies . they are generally more sedentary in humid regions and are diurnal or crepuscular , depending on the region .

although there is little research on the lifespans of hummingbirds , researchers estimate an average hummingbird lives 3 to 5 years . the longest recorded living female was a broad - tailed hummingbird , found in colorado at age 12 . in captivity , they can survive about 10 years .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds feed on nectar and arthropods . hummingbirds extract nectar from plants with their hollow , extensile tongues that are forked at the tip . they feed on a wide variety of plants including

immature rufous - tailed hummingbirds are darker and grayish towards the belly . the feather - edgings on the face and crown often have a bronzy edge . the upper mandible of younger individuals is often black .

males and female the rufous - tailed hummingbirds differ slightly in physical appearance . the males are larger , weighing 5 . 5 g . male rufous - tailed hummingbirds also have longer bodies . the maximum length of a male rufous - tailed hummingbird is about 11 cm . they have a straight bill , which is medium sized , fleshy red with a dark tip , and an upper mandible that is blackish . the upper parts of the male ' s body , the flanks and belly , are golden green to bronze - green . the throat is a glittering golden green and sometimes has a turquoise gleam in certain light . the belly is ashy gray to grayish - brown . the tail has traces of bronze - green and copper .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds are polygynous . hummingbirds only have contact with the opposite sex for a few moments during fertilization . males are very territorial and often claim an area of flowers as their own during mating season .

females usually lay two eggs per clutch . incubation lasts 15 to 16 days . young leave the nest when they are between 18 and 22 days old . young rufous - tailed hummingbirds are fed by the female for 58 days .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds live primarily in central - east , possibly northeast mexico to central panama . the northernmost populations most likely migrate to the pacific and caribbean coast of mexico for the winter months ( guerrero and yucatan ) . the migratory patterns of rufous - tailed hummingbirds in other parts of central america are unknown . however , seasonal movements occur from colombia through ecuador . also , several individuals of this species have been recorded in southern texas in the summer and autumn .

other synonyms catalan : colibrí amazília tzacatl czech : kolibrík rezavoocasý , kolibřík rezavoocasý danish : brunhalet amazilie german : braunschwanzamazilie , braunschwanz - amazilie english : dusky - tailed hummingbird , reiffer ' s hummingbird , rieffer ' s hummingbird , rufous tailed hummingbird , rufous - tailed hummingbird , rufous - tailed or escudo hummingbird spanish : amazila rabirrufa , amazilia colirrufa , amazilia de cara rufa , amazilia rabirrufa , amazilia rubirrufa , amazilia tzacatl , colibrí cola canela , colibrí cola rojiza , colibrí colirufa spanish ( colombia ) : amazilia colirrufa , amazilia colirufo spanish ( costa rica ) : amazila rabirrufa , amazilia rabirrufa spanish ( spain ) : amazilia tzacatl spanish ( honduras ) : amazilia rubirrufa , colibrí colirufa spanish ( mexico ) : colibrí cola canela , colibrí cola rojiza spanish ( nicaragua ) : amazilia rabirrufa spanish ( panama ) : amazilia colirrufa spanish ( peru ) : colibri de cola rufa spanish ( venezuela ) : amazilia colirufa , diamante colirrufo finnish : ruostepyrstökolibri french : ariane à ventre gris , ariane à ventre gris ou a . de handley , ariane de rieffer , colibri à ventre gris hungarian : rozsdásfarkú amazília italian : amazilia codarossiccia , colibrì codarossiccia japanese : haibaraemerarudohachidori japanese : ハイバラエメラルドハチドリ latin : amazilia [ tzacatl or handleyi ] , amazilia fuscicaudata , amazilia tzacati , amazilia tzacatl , amazilia tzacatl tzacatl , amazilis fuscicaudata , amazilis tzacatl , trochilus tzacatl lithuanian : rusvauodegė amazilija dutch : roodstaartamazilia , roodstaartkolibrie norwegian : rusthalekolibri polish : szmaragdzik brazowosterny , szmaragdzik brązowosterny russian : гобакская амазилия , коричневохвоетая амазилия , рыжехвостый колибри - амазилия slovak : kolibrík hrdzavochvostý swedish : roststjärtad kolibri , roststjärtad smaragd , roststjärtsmaragd chinese : 棕尾蜂鸟 chinese ( traditional ) : 棕尾蜂鳥

rufous - tailed hummingbirds are common or very common in most of their range . the birds have been able to adapt to man - made habitats and are therefore found around agricultural , suburban and urban areas . they are listed as appendix ii by cites .

formerly considered a separate species , the larger escudo hummingbird from isla escudo de veraguas in panama is now mostly treated as its subspecies .

nesting is fairly specialized for rufous - tailed hummingbirds . their favorite sites to build nests are on horizontal branches in smaller trees and shrubs . the nests are usually 2 to 5 meters off the ground . sometimes the nests are built in the fork of a branch .

is a medium - sized hummingbird . it has a distinctly rufous - colored tail , from which its named is derived , and a bright pink bill . like other hummingbirds , it feeds on nectar and small insects . it can be highly territorial over feeding areas . the

is perhaps the most common species of hummingbird at forest edge and in gardens and cultivated areas from southern mexico south to northwestern south america .

the hummingbird society . date unknown . " frequently asked questions " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

the male ' s throat is green , in the female ' s is edged whitish . the crown , back and flanks are green tinged golden . the abdomen is pale greyish . the vent and rump are rufous . the slightly forked tail is also rufous but with a dusky tip .

female rufous - tailed hummingbirds are smaller than the males and have slightly different coloration . females have a mass of around 5 . 2 g and their body length is usually about 8 cm . there is a grayish sub - terminal bar on the throat feathers and they have a white belly .

weller , a . a . & boesman , p . ( 2018 ) . rufous - tailed hummingbird ( amazilia tzacatl ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .

annenberg / cpb . 2001 . " hummingbird " ( on - line ) . fun facts about hummingbirds . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

there has been co - evolution between hummingbirds and the flowers they feed upon . hummingbird flowers have very distinct characteristics that serve to attract hummingbirds . they also have other characteristics to insure that pollination occurs . many flowers are specially adapted to allow pollen to be deposited on hummingbirds in such a way that the pollen will reach another flower . this is a critical step in the process of plant reproduction . hummingbird beaks are also specially adapted to feed from hummingbird flowers .

gates , l . , t . gates . 2003 . " hummingbird behavior " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

hummingbirds are important to humans because of their role in pollination . rufous - tailed hummingbirds often pollinate important crops such as banana and coffee . also , since these birds eat insects , they can play a very active role in pest control . they are also important in ecotourism and are popular amoung birdwatchers .

this medium - sized hummingbird averages 10 - 12 cm ( or 4 - 4 , 8 inches ) in length and weighs about 5 . 2 g ( or 0 , 2 oz ) .

sometimes done in a sputtering series . the notes sung include one or more shrill notes that rise and accelerate . the male hummingbird ' s song is whistled in a deliberate rhythm . for example :

other synonyms catalan : colibrí amazília tzacatl czech : kolibřík rezavoocasý danish : brunhalet amazilie german : braunschwanzamazilie english : rufous - tailed hummingbird , rufous - tailed hummingbird ( rufous - tailed ) spanish : amazila rabirrufa , amazilia colirrufa , amazilia de cara rufa , amazilia rabirrufa , amazilia rubirrufa , amazilia tzacatl , colibrí cola canela ( grupo tzacatl ) , colibrí cola rojiza , colibri colirrufo , colibrí colirufa spanish ( colombia ) : amazilia colirrufa spanish ( costa rica ) : amazila rabirrufa , amazilia rabirrufa spanish ( spain ) : amazilia tzacatl [ tzacatl group ] spanish ( honduras ) : amazilia rubirrufa , colibrí colirufa spanish ( mexico ) : colibrí cola canela ( grupo tzacatl ) , colibrí cola rojiza , colibri colirrufo spanish ( nicaragua ) : amazilia rabirrufa spanish ( panama ) : amazilia colirrufa ( grupo tzacatl ) spanish ( peru ) : colibri de cola rufa spanish ( venezuela ) : amazilia colirufa finnish : ruostepyrstökolibri french : ariane à ventre gris , ariane à ventre gris ( nominal ) , ariane à ventre gris [ tzacatl ] hungarian : rozsdásfarkú amazília italian : amazilia codarossiccia , colibrì codarossiccia japanese : haibaraemerarudohachidori , haibaraemerarudohachidori ( tzacatl guru - pu ) japanese : ハイバラエメラルドハチドリ , ハイバラエメラルドハチドリ ( tzacatl グループ ) latin : amazilia tzacatl , amazilia tzacatl [ tzacatl group ] , amazilia tzacatl tzacatl , trochilus tzacatl lithuanian : rusvauodegė amazilija dutch : roodstaartamazilia , roodstaartamazilia ( tzacatl groep ) , roodstaartkolibrie norwegian : rusthalekolibri , rusthalekolibri ( tzacatl gr . ) polish : szmaragdzik brazowosterny , szmaragdzik brązowosterny russian : гобакская амазилия , коричневохвоетая амазилия , рыжехвостый колибри - амазилия slovak : kolibrík hrdzavochvostý swedish : roststjärtad kolibri , roststjärtad smaragd [ tzacatl group ] chinese : 棕尾蜂鸟 chinese ( traditional ) : 棕尾蜂鳥

the rufous - tailed hummingbirds primarily feed on nectar taken from a variety of brightly colored , scented small flowers of trees , herbs , shrubs and epiphytes , favoring heliconias and bananas . they use their long , extendible , straw - like tongues to retrieve the nectar while hovering with their tails cocked upward as they are licking at the nectar up to 13 times per second . sometimes they may be seen hanging on the flower while feeding .

hummingbirds have one of the highest basal metabolic rates of any birds due to their very small size , their type of flight , and the amount energy needed to sustain their flight . the average hummingbird metabolic rate is 1600kcal / kg / day .

rufous - tailed hummingbirds are found primarily on the edges of humid evergreen forest , banana or coffee plantations , human habitations , and clearings . these birds are not usually found inside the dense forest but often in second growth and semi - open areas . these thicket - rich regions are found in south america and are in gallery forest and montane zones . the elevation at which these birds occur vares from region to region . their altitudinal distribution is correlated with the flowering periods of food plants . in costa rica and panama through the subtropical belt , rufous - tailed hummingbirds are found in lower montane zones , from sea - level up to 1200 m . in colombia and the islands of panama their habitat consists of primary forest as well as bushy coastal habitats , even beaches . in the andes , the hummingbirds can be found up to 2500 m , occasionally even higher . some races in southwest colombia range from the lowlands into the subtropical zone with wet , open forest up to 2500 m .

the main cause of mortality for hummingbirds is predation of eggs and chicks in the nest . predation on adult hummingbirds is uncommon . this is due to the agility hummingbirds possess in flight . some known predators of hummingbird eggs , chicks and adults include : domestic cats (

has a generally green body ; the green of the throat and breast of the male is more glittering . it also has a bright pink red bill ( with a black tip ) and a bright rufous tail . it is one of several similar in appearance to several other species of

as is the case with other hummingbird species , the chicks are brooded only the first week or two , and left alone even on cooler nights after about 12 days - probably due to the small nest size . the chicks leave the nest when they are about 20 - 26 days old .

incubation lasts 15 to 16 days and is only done by the female . young leave the nest when they are between 18 and 22 days old . once hummingbirds fledge , they wait for their parents in a distinct spot that is usually not far from the nest . they do not follow their parents around as they forage , but rather wait to recieve food . once the female fills her crop with nectar , small insects and spiders she returns to feed her young . the young rufous - tailed hummingbirds are fed this way for 58 days . males do not provide any parental care .

they may also visit local hummingbird feeders for some sugar water , or drink out of bird baths or water fountains where they will either hover and sip water as it runs over the edge ; or they will perch on the edge and drink - like all the other birds ; however , they only remain still for a short moment .

pacha quindi ( quechua for “land of hummingbirds” ) is one of the most spectacular places i have ever visited and when i say it has changed my life i´m not exaggerating . pacha quindi is set deep in a beautiful cloud forest and holds the record in number of hummingbird species recorded . it is also a home to many other fascinating birds . . .

pacha quindi reserve is a treat to any nature enthusiast . for the truly rugged hiker here is over 20km of well maintained cloud forest trails with beautiful vistas . just as special is the easily reachable hummingbird garden what doesn ' t just have feeders , but is stocked with flowering trees and shrubs which attract birds which normally don ' t use feeders . there is . . .

hummingbirds have a unique form of flight that is somewhat insect like . the speed of a hummingbird ' s flight depends on the size of the bird . the average number of wing flaps is around 53 per second in normal flight . they are able to fly in all directions including forward , side to side , and even backwards . they are able to accomplish this through their highly modified and muscular bodies . also they are able to control the angle between their body axis and the axis of wing rotation . they also have a very unique ability to hover .

html public " - / / w3c / / dtd xhtml 1 . 0 strict / / en " " urltoken "

thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .

sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .

justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend is not known , but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is very large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .

the subspecies handleyi was formerly treated as specifically distinct and threatened . it is endemic to isla escudo de veraguas in the caribbean , off the coast of bocas del toro , panama ( s . olson per g . graves in litt . 1996 ) . it was glimpsed occasionally in march 1958 , and five specimens were collected during five days in march 1962 ( s . olson per g . graves in litt . 1996 ) .

partners in flight estimate the total population to number 0 . 5 - 4 . 99 million individuals ( a . panjabi in litt . 2008 ) . the subspecies handleyi was formerly treated as specifically distinct and threatened , however more recent surveys have found the species to be abundant , albeit within an extremely small range ( s . olson per g . graves in litt . 1996 ) .

the subspecies handleyi has been observed feeding on the flowers of low bushes in coastal areas ( wetmore 1968 ) .

the small size of isla escudo de veraguas makes the subspecies handleyi inherently susceptible to extinction . there are many potential threats , including hurricanes , fire , establishment of non - native species and development for tourism .

to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .

) , version 1 . 0 . in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa .

( del hoyo , et al . , 1999 ; jackson , et al . , 2002 )

the average wingspan for all hummingbirds is somewhere between 2 and 2 . 4 cm . the males often have larger wingspans than females .

( del hoyo , et al . , 1999 ; ridgway , 1892 ; stiles and skutch , 1989 )

range wingspan 2 to 2 . 4 cm 0 . 79 to 0 . 94 in

breeding occurs at different times of the year throughout their range . in the northern parts of central america , nesting can occur from december through september . in mexico , breeding season is from march through august . in costa rica , breeding is guided by the dry season and peaks in january through may . along the pacific slope , breeding occurs from may through november . along the caribbean slope breeding occurs in october through january . breeding in south america and panama occurs in january through april .

materials used for nest construction include plant down , yellowish - brown to grayish - brown fibers , cobwebs and pieces of dead leaves . the exterior of their nest is decorated heavily with bits of lichen and sometimes moss . these materials are usually formed into a compact cup nest . if a nest is destroyed or lost , construction of a new nest may start within a week .

( del hoyo , et al . , 1999 ; stiles and skutch , 1989 )

these birds can be highly aggressive and territorial at rich clumps of flowers . intruders such as larger hummingbirds , butterflies , and euglossine bees are sometimes attacked with a diving flight .

( jackson , et al . , 2002 ; stiles and skutch , 1989 )

we do not have information on home range for this species at this time .

, followed by a pause . males sing most during the early morning from dawn to sunrise . they sing on scattered perches near flowers or in small loosly assembled groups near flowers .

the male hummingbirds use song to claim their territories . if another male attempts to enter , usually a loud chatter will be sung by the territory owner . intruders such as larger hummingbirds , butterflies , and euglossine bees are sometimes attacked with a diving flight .

. they also feed on a number cultivated tree species , especially banana and coffee trees . they feed on small insects and spiders by taking them from leaves and branches , a method called gleaning . they are very territorial when feeding , and intruders are attacked with diving flights .

due to their high metabolic rates , hummingbirds require a large amount of food in order to survive . they may need to eat several times their body weight in nectar in one day .

( del hoyo , et al . , 1999 ; grant and grant , 1968 )

holly borchardt ( author ) , university of michigan - ann arbor , phil myers ( editor ) , museum of zoology , university of michigan - ann arbor .

living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .

living in the southern part of the new world . in other words , central and south america .

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state ; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth / hatching . in birds , naked and helpless after hatching .

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .

found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude , in areas with a mediterranean climate . vegetation is dominated by stands of dense , spiny shrubs with tough ( hard or waxy ) evergreen leaves . may be maintained by periodic fire . in south america it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo .

used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies . more specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits ( a continuous , modular society ) - as in clonal organisms .

humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals . ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals .

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature . endothermy is a synapomorphy of the mammalia , although it may have arisen in a ( now extinct ) synapsid ancestor ; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities . convergent in birds .

offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .

this terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains , either without vegetation or covered by low , tundra - like vegetation .

the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female ; development of offspring occurs outside the mother ' s body .

rainforests , both temperate and tropical , are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground . epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant . precipitation is typically not limiting , but may be somewhat seasonal .

that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .

the region of the earth that surrounds the equator , from 23 . 5 degrees north to 23 . 5 degrees south .

living in cities and large towns , landscapes dominated by human structures and activity .

hummingbirds . net . date unknown . " about hummingbirds " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

birds - n - gardens . com . 2002 . " all about hummingbirds " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

baker , c . 2003 . " costa rica , birds " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

, vol . 8 - 11 , 2nd edition . farmington hills , mi : gale group .

ritchison , g . 2003 . " avian energy balance & thermoregulation " ( on - line ) . accessed april 05 , 2004 at urltoken .

del hoyo , j . , a . elliott , j . sargatal . 1999 .

to cite this page : borchardt , h . 2004 . " amazilia tzacatl " ( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken

disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .

this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .

closely related to a . castaneiventris , but not , as claimed , to a . yucatanensis and a . rutila . race handleyi has been treated as a distinct species on basis of being “considerably larger and heavier” and “slightly darker bronze - green above” ( hbw ) , but considered disqualified by zone of morphometric intergradation with nominate in bocas del toro archipelago ; genetic evidence also unfavourable to species status # r , and material in usnm shows no colour difference in plumage ; however , difference in size exceptional ( effect size for wing length 11 . 1 , score 4 ) , while narrow zone of intergradation scores 2 , so species status almost achieved . validity of race fuscicaudata has been questioned , but supported by morphometric characters . form a . bangsi is a hybrid of present species and a . rutila . five subspecies recognized .

– e mexico ( s veracruz , n oaxaca ) s to wc panama ( w darién ) .

( fraser , 1840 ) – n & w colombia ( cauca and magdalena valleys ) and w venezuela ( w lara , w táchira ) .

( heine , 1863 ) – lowlands and w slope in w colombia ( chocó ) and w ecuador ( s to w loja ) .

weller & schuchmann , 1999 – andes of sw colombia ( upper r guiza , in nariño ) .

( unsexed ) 7 g . male has bill straight , medium - sized , fleshy red with dark tip , . . .

song quite variable , typically a phrase of 2–4 thin high - pitched notes that is repeated , e . g . “tsee . . .

edges of humid evergreen forest , clearings , plantations of bananas or coffee , human habitations ; . . .

nectar and arthropods . found in all strata from near the ground to the more open sides of tree crowns ; frequently gathers in some numbers . . .

almost year - round . in n middle america , nesting records dec–sept ; in mexico , mainly mar–aug , correlated with moulting period . . .

in humid regions generally more sedentary than in arid areas ; more or less all year round . . .

not globally threatened ( least concern ) . cites ii . common to very common in most of range , e . g . canal zone of panama . less abundant in regions with tropical dry forest , dense . . .

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as currently constituted , this genus is not monophyletic # r ; more thorough sampling of taxa required before a clearer picture can be presented . in hbw , species currently placed herein were spread out over six genera , with additional recognition of agyrtria , polyerata and saucerottia , and relocation of some species in leucippus and hylocharis .

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this map displays aggregated data from ibc and my birding ( anonymously ) ; markers do not indicate precise localities .

calls given while perched in secondary woodland , near a dense patch of psychotria flowers .

multiple amazilia tzacatl at feeders , chasing other hummingbirds including at least one heliodoxa jacula and a male discosura conversii .

recording clipped from a longer dawn song session and edited using audacity . longer unedited . wav file available upon request .

humid secondary shrubbery in transition to dry valley . reference : lxxixa 591 - 600 ( amatza1 ) . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) .

sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .

its range stretches from east - central mexico , through central america and colombia , east to western venezuela and south through western ecuador to near the border with peru .

the bill is almost straight , colored red with a black tip . the upper bill may appear all black .

many native and cultivated plants on whose flowers these birds feed heavily rely on them for pollination . the mostly tubular - shaped flowers actually exclude most bees and butterflies from feeding on them and , subsequently , from pollinating the plants .

they also take some small spiders and insects - important sources of protein particularly needed during the breeding season to ensure the proper development of their young . insects are often caught in flight ( hawking ) ; snatched off leaves or branches , or are taken from spider webs . a nesting female can capture up to 2 , 000 insects a day .

males establish feeding territories , where they aggressively chase away other males as well as large insects - such as bumblebees and hawk moths - that want to feed in their territory . they use aerial flights and intimidating displays to defend their territories .

the female is responsible for building the cup - shaped nest out of plant fibers woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in a protected location , typically about 1 - 6 m high in a tree , shrub or bush . she lines the nest with soft plant fibers and feather down , and strengthens the structure with spider webbing . the nest is typically found on a low , thin horizontal branch .

the average clutch consists of two white eggs , which she incubates alone for about 15 to 19 days , while the male defends his territory and the flowers he feeds on . the young are born blind , immobile and without any down .

the female alone protects and feeds the chicks with regurgitated food ( mostly partially - digested insects since nectar is an insufficient source of protein for the growing chicks ) . the female pushes the food down the chicks ' throats with her long bill directly into their stomachs .

its call sounds like a low chut . the male ' s is a whistled tse we ts’ we or tse tse wip tseek tse .

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throughout history , crows , ravens and other black birds were feared as symbols of evil or death . …

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recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : amazilia tzacatl . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .

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myavibase allows you to create and manage your own lifelists , and produce useful reports to help you plan your next birding excursion .

there are more than 12 , 000 regional checklists in avibase , offered in 9 different taxonomies , including synonyms more than 175 languages . each checklist can be viewed with photos shared by the birding community , and also printed as pdf checklists for field use .

there are a few ways by which you can help the development of this page , such as joining the flickr group for photos or providing translations of the site in addition languages .

you must be logged in to view your sighting details . to register to myavibase click here .

avibase has been visited 263 , 296 , 641 times since 24 june 2003 . © denis lepage | privacy policy

howard and moore 4th edition ( incl . corrigenda vol . 1 - 2 ) :

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is slightly forked ( not square - tipped ) , and the upper surface of the central rectrices is mostly green is mostly green . the undertail coverts are the same color as the belly . also , the color of the belly in the southern ( yucatan ) subspecies of

) is cinnamon buff ; this subspecies occurs in the yucatan peninsula and and in guatemala and belize .

, which is known from only a few sites in the magdalena valley in colombia . the

adult male : upperparts ( including the wing coverts ) green , except for chestnut - brown lores , uppertail coverts , and rectrices . remiges black with a slight purple sheen . throat , upper breast and sides green ; on some individuals , feathers of the throat and foreneck have narrow dull white edges , producing a scalloped effect . lower breast gray , belly and tibia white , undertail coverts chestnut - brown .

adult female : similar to male , but lower breast paler gray . throat and foreneck have a scalloped appearance ( more pronounced than in males ) , due to narrow dull white feather edges .

juvenile : " lower breast and sides washed somewhat with cinnamon ; " also the feathers of the lower back and rump are narrowly tipped with chestnut - brown .

the preformative molt is complete , as is the definitive prebasic molt . molt occurs year - round in costa rica , but peaks from april - november .

juvenile and hatching year ( hy ) / second year ( sy ) females have a black maxilla ; feathers of the upperparts are tipped with cinnamon ; the throat feathers are edged whitish creating a scaled appearance ; and the belly and vent are washed with buff - yellow . after hatching year ( ahy ) females are similar except that the upperparts lack the cinnamon feather tips .

hy / sy males has a black maxilla , which gradual turns red on the basal 75 % .

bill : distal half of the maxilla , tomia , and tip of mandible dull black . rest of bill red , brighter at base .

total length : 9 cm ( ridgely and greenfield 2001 ) , 9 . 1 cm ( hilty and

wing length , males : mean 58 . 8 mm ( range 56 . 3 - 60 . 9 mm , n = 10 )

wing length , females : mean 55 . 8 mm ( range 53 . 8 - 60 . 1 mm , n = 10 )

tail length , males : mean 33 . 2 mm ( range 31 . 1 - 34 . 8 mm , n = 10 )

tail length , females : mean 32 . 5 mm ( range 31 . 0 - 34 . 6 mm , n = 10 )

culmen ( from base ) , males : mean 22 . 7 mm ( range 21 . 1 - 24 . 9 mm , n = 10 )

culmen ( from base ) , females : mean 23 . 6 mm ( range 23 . - 24 . 8 mm , n = 10 )

wing length , males : mean 68 . 1 mm ( range 67 . 5 - 68 . 7 mm , n = 4 )

tail length , males : mean 40 . 6 mm ( range 40 . 0 - 41 . 5 mm , n = 4 )

culmen ( from base ) , males : mean 24 . 5 mm ( range 24 . 4 - 27 . 6 mm , n = 4 )

culmen ( from base ) , females : 25 . 8 mm ( n = 1 )

summary of the extent of the breeding , wintering , migration and year - round range of this species in the western hemisphere , including canada , u . s . a . and mexico :

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costa rica jade tours is a local tour company in beautiful manuel . . .

costa rica jade tours is a local tour company in beautiful manuel antonio . we offer the best activities and tours to help make all your vacation dreams come true . contact us so we can help you discover the most exciting adventures and exotic treasures from this spectacular land . you may never want to leave !

jason came to pick us up for our birding tour and it was pouring . he said this meant the birds will be seeking shelter and not be out for us to see . we decided to drive to rain maker with him anyways in hopes that the rain would stop . it just kept on raining though . so he said we would . . .

this bbc wildlife magazine and national geographic published destination offers a 2 hour guided tour by the owners . $ 40 per person . tour start times : 8am , 10am , 1pm , 3pm . reservation required . free coffee .

my photography group spent a day at the nature pavilion , photographing dozens of tropical bird and animal species . this is a special place ! the owner does a marvelous job of attracting wildlife to the viewing areas . if you visit costa rica , and are at all interested in viewing and / or photographing dozens of different birds , including hummingbirds , you must include the . . .

greetings from paradise ! thanks for taking the time to write up this review and rank the nature pavilion as a top destination not to be missed ! it was a pleasure meeting you and the entire group as we photographed the beautiful birds from the covered viewing areas . thanks again for your support ! dave & dave

see all 386 reviews of dave & dave ' s costa rica nature . . .

, banana , and coffee flowers ( greenberg et al . 1997 ) . since nectar is low in protein , they also feed on small insects ( remsen et al . 1986 ) . this species is also a common visitor to human - made feeders filled with a sugar - water mixture .

) , in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa . retrieved from neotropical birds online :

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the cracidae are a neotropical family of 50 species of galliform birds , many of which are threatened . through a literature review , we evaluated current knowledge of cracid food habits and established general dietary patterns . diet has been relatively well documented for 17 species , anecdotal information is available for 19 species , and no information is available for 14 species . fruit is the . . . [ show full abstract ]

aunque las especies exóticas pueden tener efectos negativos sobre los organismos nativos , en algunos casos pueden proveer recursos abundantes . el uso de estos recursos puede tener importantes implicaciones para los patrones de uso de hábitat , movimientos y dinámica poblacional de los animales nativos . en este trabajo describimos la dieta de una población de penelope perspicax , una especie . . . [ show full abstract ]

abundance and endemism in the cauca guan ( penelope perspicax ) : ecology or his - tory ? - in general , species with restricted distributions tolerate a narrow range of conditions and tend to have low densities . the cauca guan ( penelope perspicax ) is a cracid endemic from colombia . between octo - ber 2002 and september 2003 we conducted monthly surveys in the santuario de fauna y flora otún quimbaya . . . [ show full abstract ]

field estimates of incubation periods of brood parasitic cowbirds ( molothrus spp . ) indicate that they are unusually short given the sizes of their eggs . as a consequence , cowbirds usually hatch before host young , even though cowbird eggs are frequently larger . field - estimated incubation periods , however , have an inherent uncertainty because of intermittent attendance by incubating birds , and . . . [ show full abstract ]

in general , species with restricted distributions tolerate a narrow range of conditions and tend to have low densities . the cauca guan ( penelope perspicax ) is a cracid endemic from colombia . between october 2002 and september 2003 we conducted monthly surveys in the santuario de fauna y flora otún quimbaya ( sffoq ) . here we present the habitat use by the cauca guan , its density in the central . . . [ show full abstract ]


marrus orthocanna is a species of pelagic siphonophore , a colonial animal composed of a complex arrangement of zooids , some of which are polyps and some medusae .

it lives in the arctic and other cold , deep waters , swimming independently in mid-ocean .

marrus orthocanna

marrus orthocanna <EOT> maciej mańko marked " file : marrus orthocanna . jpg " as trusted on the " marrus orthocanna " page .

maciej mańko marked " file : marrus orthocanna crop . jpg " as trusted on the " marrus orthocanna " page .

katja schulz selected " marrus orthocanna " to show in overview on " marrus orthocanna ( kramp , 1942 ) " .

marrus orthocanna - kramp , 1942 arctic ocean diversity . retrieved 2011 - 10 - 01 .

" by your side " by marrus orthocanna is world class music medicine in alternative rock . marrus orthocanna is a rock band hailing from bogotá , colombia experimenting with a large spectrum of sounds from 90 ' s alternative and grunge , to psychedelic and progressive rock . marrus orthocanna have just recently put out it ' s first self title ep and are currently working on a full length album packed with aggressive guitar solos and smooth vocal melodies . marrus orthocanna - facebook urltoken buy music ! marrus orthocanna - bandcamp urltoken

maggie whitson set " file : marrus orthocanna . jpg " as an exemplar on " siphonophorae " .

from left ; caulophryne jordani fanfin seadevil , marrus orthocanna and grimpoteuthis , or " dumbo octopus . "

marrus orthocanna , a deep sea siphonophore . the combined digestive and circulatory system is red ; all other parts are transparent .

nathan wilson marked " biology " as untrusted on the " marrus orthocanna ( kramp , 1942 ) " page . reasons to untrust : incorrect / misleading

marrus orthocanna , a deep sea siphonophore . the combined digestive and circulatory system is red ; all other parts are transparent . | pinterest | deep sea , circ…

andersen , o . g . n . , 1981 . redescription of marrus orthocanna ( kramp , 1942 ) ( cnidaria , siphonophora ) . steenstrupia 7 : 293 - 307

a physonect siphonophore , marrus orthocanna , photographed during the national oceanic and atmospheric administration’s artic “hidden ocean” expedition in support of the census of marine life . photograph courtesy kevin raskoff .

marrus orthocanna is one of several deep sea siphonophores that have the same common name , pelagic siphonophore . deep sea ocean explorers in manned submersibles have viewed this species at depths as deep as 2000 meters ( 6600 feet ) .

pelagic siphinophores such as m . orthocanna are often called " superorganisms " . | courtesy of noaa national marine fisheries

m . orthocanna ’s pneumatophore is red ; nectophores transparent with bright red canals ; rest of body structures are transparent with some red / orange coloration in in different hues on different parts of the body .

in spite of having a fragile gelatinous body , m . orthocanna has adapted to its harsh environment’s cold , extreme pressure and lack of food . this voracious predator capitalizes on its agile swimming ability and curtain of tentacles spreading widely to capture prey .

the most famous siphonophore is the portuguese man - o - war , which has ruined many innocent dips in the ocean . the balloon - like sail and the tentacles are familiar to us , and makes the man - o - war look familiar , like a jellyfish . that’s not the form all siphonophores take . marrus orthocanna swims too deep to get a common name and looks , with its string of blossom - like bells on a single stem , like a piece of seaweed . apolemia uvaria looks like someone dropped a feather boa in the ocean . and then there’s this :

dunn , c . w . ; pugh , p . r . ; haddock , s . h . d . ( 2005 ) . marrus claudanielis , a new species of deep - sea physonect siphonophore ( siphonophora , physonectae ) . < em > bulletin of marine science . < / em > 76 ( 3 ) : 699 - 714 .

like other siphonophores m . orthocanna is a colony of specialized individuals known as zooids that have different functions such as locomotion , capturing prey , waste removal , and reproduction . no matter what the function , all the zooids attached to the stem of a siphonophore are descended from one fertilized egg so all are genetically identical .

m . orthocanna moves forward intermittently . it pauses to put out its “fishing” curtain of tentacles in front of the body stem of the siphonophore to ensnare passing prey . each polyp has a single tentacle that is 30 to 50 cm ( 11 . 8 to 20 in ) long . on contact stinging cells ( nematocysts ) shoot “harpoons” of toxin into the victim that paralyze and even kill it . the meal is then transferred to the canals that carry it to the entire colony .

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cairns , stephen d . , dale r . calder , anita brinckmann - voss , clovis b . castro , daphne g . fautin , . . .

full author list : cairns , stephen d . , dale r . calder , anita brinckmann - voss , clovis b . castro , daphne g . fautin , philip r . pugh , claudia e . mills , walter c . jaap , mary n . arai , stephen h . d . haddock , and dennis m . opresko

disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .

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an agalma okeni taken out of the water so that it is possible to see all the gelatinous parts .

while one species of siphonophore lives at the surface of the ocean ( the familiar portuguese man o ' war , physalia physalis ) , and members of another group ( the rhodaliids ) tethered themselves to the bottom with their tentacles , the vast majority of siphonophores are active swimmers and live in the water column of the open ocean . a few hardy species are sometimes found near the shore , but these are the exception .

this work is licensed under a creative commons attribution - noncommercial - sharealike 3 . 0 unported license .

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site design : russ hopcroft . all pictures on this website can be used for educational purposes with reference to this site , except for the posted presentations

arctic ocean , northwest pacific ocean , bering sea , sea of okhotsk , north atlantic ocean , and mediterranean sea .

1 . 8 - 2 m ( 6 - 7 ft ) in length early in development two growth zones form on the young stem where the stem will elongate and new zooids form . nectaphores form at the zone near the pneumatophore . the second growth zone is just below the oldest nectaphore . the zooids of the siphosome that carry out functions other than locomotion are formed here . as the stem elongates , new growth in both zones is carried downward .

all siphonophores are predatory carnivores . this species is believed to feed on copepods , and other small crustaceans such as decapods , krill , and mysids . small fish may also be eaten .

like most siphonophores , the pelagic siphonophore is an active swimmer . when its bell - shaped nectphoes contract , water is expelled causing the colony to move . the contractions of the medusa are coordinated which enables the animal to swim forwards , sideward , or backwards .

pelagic siphonophores have not been evaluated for conservation status . deep sea dwellers , populations could be impacted by increasing pressures to mine the deep sea and to harvest marine life for seafood by deep sea trawling . siphonophores could be caught as bycatch .

during world war ii , submarine operators found that they could hide the submarine from the enemy’s sonar under large groups of siphonophores . the sonar waves were scattered by the soft bodies if the siphonophores .

, a siphonophore found at depths of 200 to 800 metres ( 660 to 2 , 600 ft ) in cold , arctic waters . ah , yes . . . a siphonophore . get your dictionary of alien words out .

siphonophores are colonial relatives of jellyfish and sea anemones . each member of the colony is called a zooid , and all are clones of the founding protozooid .

this protozooid becomes an elongated polyp , like a really long , thin sea anemone . it reaches up to 10 cm ( 4 in ) long , and has a mouth at the bottom and a gas - filled pneumatophore at the top . just like many other siphonophores , such as the

, the pneumatophore ensures the colony doesn ' t sink to the sea floor . it ' s just that the man o ' war has a really huge pneumatophore while most other siphonophores have much smaller ones .

siphonophore . . . pneumatophore . . . ensure . . . sea floor . . . there ' s a poem in there , somewhere .

all along the length of the protozooid are the nectophores , looking like jars or lamps . they have an orange lining which is a food canal that the entire colony shares . it also means

actually the nectophores are pretty much jellyfish on a stick . they contract so that the colony can slowly swim through the ocean . with the much diminished current of the deep , the colony can even coordinate everything so they have enviable control over what direction they go in . enviable by jellyfish standards , anyway .

by the siphosome ; the whole colony may reach some 2 metres ( 6 . 5 feet ) long and almost all of it is taken up by the siphosome . why ? because that ' s how they eat ! the siphosome is comprised of lots more polyps , like tiny sea anemones . some have a single tentacle up to 50 cm ( 20 in ) long for catching food , while others do the digestion and share the proceeds with the rest of the colony via those orange channels .

has been seen slowly swimming along before pausing to unveil its giant curtain of stinging death , probably catching all sorts of crustaceans . so if you hip cats are looking for a trendy , all - in - one light fixture that will send the oldies and squares reeling and deal with your shrimp infestation , you know what you need .

almost looks like jewelry to me . weird jewelry , but still . . .

confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .

to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .

disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .

this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .

coffee boy ( feat . ha eun ) - i ' ll be on your side ( 내가 니편이 되어줄게 )

many people know organisms only by the common names , or " vernacular " names . unlike scientific names , common names are almost always different for speakers of different languages . they may also vary regionally within a language . this tab shows all the common names provided to eol for this organism from a variety of providers , including eol curators . currently we can only set one preferred common name per language on a given eol page , but all the names should be searchable .

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siphonophora . the godthaab expedition 1928 . - medd . grønl . 80 ( 8 ) : 3 - 24 .

cairns , stephen d . , dale r . calder , anita brinckmann - voss , clovis b . castro , daphne g . fautin , . . . , 2002 : common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the united states and canada : cnidaria and ctenophora , second edition , 2002 . american fisheries society special publication 28 . xi + 115 .

kirkpatrick , p . a . ; pugh , p . r . ( 1984 ) . siphonophores and velellids : keys and notes for the identification of the species . < i > synopses of the british fauna ( new series ) < / i > , 29 . e . j . brill / w . backhuys : london , uk . isbn 90 - 04 - 07470 - 8 . vi , 154 pp .

pugh , p . r . 1974a . the vertical distribution of the siphonophores collected during the sond cruise , 1965 . j . mar . biol . assoc . u . k . 54 ( 1 ) : 25 - 90 .

pugh , p . r . 1999 . a review of the genus bargmannia totton , 1954 ( siphonophorae , physonecta , pyrostephidae ) . - bulletin of the natural history museum zoology series 65 : 51 - 72 .

stepanjants , s . d . 1967 . siphonophores of the seas of the ussr and the northern part of the pacific ocean . opred . faune sssr 96 . ‘nauka’ , leningrad . ( in russian ) .

totton , a . k . ( 1954 ) . siphonophora of the indian ocean together with systematic and biological notes on related specimens from other oceans . < em > discovery rep . < / em > 27 : 1 - 162 .

totton , a . k . 1965 . a synopsis of the siphonophora . london , british museum ( natural history ) . pp . 230 .

totton , a . k . , and fraser , j . h . 1955g . siphonophora . sub - order physonectae . family agalmidae . cons . int . explor . mer zooplankton sheet 61 .

zelickman , e . a . , 1972 . distribution and ecology of the pelagic hydromedusae , siphonophores and ctenophores of the barents sea , based on perennial plankton collections . mar . biol . , berl . 17 3 : 256 - 264 .

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cytochrome c oxidase is the component of the respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water . subunits 1 - 3 form the functional core of the enzyme complex . co i is the catalytic subunit of the enzyme . electrons originating in cytochrome c are transferred via the copper a center of subunit 2 and heme a of subunit 1 to the bimetallic center formed by heme a3 and copper b .

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< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > names and taxonomy < / a > section indicates the name ( s ) of the gene ( s ) that code for the protein sequence ( s ) described in the entry . four distinct tokens exist : ‘name’ , ‘synonyms’ , ‘ordered locus names’ and ‘orf names’ . < p > < a href = ' / help / gene _ name ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

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< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > names and taxonomy < / a > section indicates if the gene coding for the protein originates from the hydrogenosome , the mitochondrion , the nucleomorph , different plastids or a plasmid . the absence of this section means that the gene is located in one of the main chromosomal element ( s ) . < p > < a href = ' / help / encoded _ on ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > names and taxonomy < / a > section provides information on the name ( s ) of the organism that is the source of the protein sequence . < p > < a href = ' / help / organism - name ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > names and taxonomy < / a > section shows the unique identifier assigned by the ncbi to the source organism of the protein . this is known as the ‘taxonomic identifier’ or ‘taxid’ . < p > < a href = ' / help / taxonomic _ identifier ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > names and taxonomy < / a > section contains the taxonomic hierarchical classification lineage of the source organism . it lists the nodes as they appear top - down in the taxonomic tree , with the more general grouping listed first . < p > < a href = ' / help / taxonomic _ lineage ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section provides information on the location and the topology of the mature protein in the cell . < p > < a href = ' / help / subcellular _ location _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > ' subcellular location ' < / a > section describes the extent of a membrane - spanning region of the protein . it denotes the presence of both alpha - helical transmembrane regions and the membrane spanning regions of beta - barrel transmembrane proteins . < p > < a href = ' / help / transmem ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section provides information on sequence similarities with other proteins and the domain ( s ) present in a protein . < p > < a href = ' / help / family _ and _ domains _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > family and domains < / a > section describes the position and type of a domain , which is defined as a specific combination of secondary structures organized into a characteristic three - dimensional structure or fold . < p > < a href = ' / help / domain ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > information which has been generated by the uniprotkb automatic annotation system , without manual validation . < / p > < p > < a href = " / manual / evidences # eco : 0000259 " > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘family and domains’ section provides information about the sequence similarity with other proteins . < p > < a href = ' / help / sequence _ similarities ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section displays by default the canonical protein sequence and upon request all isoforms described in the entry . it also includes information pertinent to the sequence ( s ) , including < a href = " urltoken " > length < / a > and < a href = " urltoken " > molecular weight < / a > . < p > < a href = ' / help / sequences _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the < a href = " urltoken " > sequence < / a > section indicates if the < a href = " urltoken " > canonical sequence < / a > displayed by default in the entry is complete or not . < p > < a href = ' / help / sequence _ status ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > the checksum is a form of redundancy check that is calculated from the sequence . it is useful for tracking sequence updates . < / p > < p > it should be noted that while , in theory , two different sequences could have the same checksum value , the likelihood that this would happen is extremely low . < / p > < p > however uniprotkb may contain entries with identical sequences in case of multiple genes ( paralogs ) . < / p > < p > the checksum is computed as the sequence 64 - bit cyclic redundancy check value ( crc64 ) using the generator polynomial : x < sup > 64 < / sup > + x < sup > 4 < / sup > + x < sup > 3 < / sup > + x + 1 . the algorithm is described in the iso 3309 standard . < / p > < p class = " publication " > press w . h . , flannery b . p . , teukolsky s . a . and vetterling w . t . < br / > < strong > cyclic redundancy and other checksums < / strong > < br / > < a href = " urltoken " > numerical recipes in c 2nd ed . , pp896 - 902 , cambridge university press ( 1993 ) < / a > ) < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘sequence’ section is used for sequence fragments to indicate that the residue at the extremity of the sequence is not the actual terminal residue in the complete protein sequence . < p > < a href = ' / help / non _ ter ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section provides links to proteins that are similar to the protein sequence ( s ) described in this entry at different levels of sequence identity thresholds ( 100 % , 90 % and 50 % ) based on their membership in uniprot reference clusters ( < a href = " urltoken " > uniref < / a > ) . < p > < a href = ' / help / similar _ proteins _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section is used to point to information related to entries and found in data collections other than uniprotkb . < p > < a href = ' / help / cross _ references _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this section provides general information on the entry . < p > < a href = ' / help / entry _ information _ section ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘entry information’ section provides a mnemonic identifier for a uniprotkb entry , but it is not a stable identifier . each reviewed entry is assigned a unique entry name upon integration into uniprotkb / swiss - prot . < p > < a href = ' / help / entry _ name ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘entry information’ section provides one or more accession number ( s ) . these are stable identifiers and should be used to cite uniprotkb entries . upon integration into uniprotkb , each entry is assigned a unique accession number , which is called ‘primary ( citable ) accession number’ . < p > < a href = ' / help / accession _ numbers ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘entry information’ section shows the date of integration of the entry into uniprotkb , the date of the last sequence update and the date of the last annotation modification ( ‘last modified’ ) . the version number for both the entry and the < a href = " urltoken " > canonical sequence < / a > are also displayed . < p > < a href = ' / help / entry _ history ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this subsection of the ‘entry information’ section indicates whether the entry has been manually annotated and reviewed by uniprotkb curators or not , in other words , if the entry belongs to the swiss - prot section of uniprotkb ( < strong > reviewed < / strong > ) or to the computer - annotated trembl section ( < strong > unreviewed < / strong > ) . < p > < a href = ' / help / entry _ status ' target = ' _ top ' > more . . . < / a > < / p >

< p > this will take you to the blast page where you can edit options < / p > < p > < a href = " / help / sequence - searches " > more . . < / a > < / p >

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a video by the census of marine life about why we need to monitor biodiversity in the oceans and how it can be done using existing technologies on a global scale .

started in the year 2000 , census of marine life ( coml ) is an international science research program uniting thousands of researchers worldwide with the goal of assessing and explaining the diversity , distribution and abundance of marine life - past , present and future - by 2010 .

the census includes the identification of 5 , 300 potentially new species . the deepwater jellyfish ( crossota norvegica ) was photographed during a census of marine life expedition to the deep canada basin in 2005 . photograph courtesy kevin raskoff / noaa / handout / reuters / corbis

world ocean census : a global survey of marine life p ublished by firefly books , october 15 , 2009 , is the only officially sanctioned book to bring the census and its discoveries to the general reader .

life on earth sprang from the ocean and to a remarkable extent it still depends on this water body that covers 71 percent of our planet’s surface . yet , very little of the ocean has been scientifically investigated . that is rapidly changing with the first - ever census of marine life ( coml ) , a worldwide 10 - year undertaking involving thousands of scientists from more than 80 nations .

written by a team of coml’s scientists and educators , darlene trew crist , gail scowcroft , james m . harding , jr . , it offers an unprecedented journey to the ocean depths , enabling readers to go behind - the - scenes of the study’s extraordinary findings and adventures .

pages 26 - 27 from the book . this spectacular blue - eyed hermit crab ( paragiopagurus diogenes ) is an example of census discoveries that raise more questions than answers . the shiny gold on the claws of this crab , captured in the french frigate shoals off the northwestern hawaiian islands , is a phenomenon not seen before . scientists believe it serves as a form of communication . attached to its shell , the crab also has its very own species of anemone ( the fuzzy brown area underneath ) , which is not known to attach to any other species of hermit crab . photograph courtesy susan middleton

sylvia earle , phd , ambassador for the world’s ocean and national geographic society explorer - in - residence wrote in her forward to the book that “the importance of the census is made urgent because at the same time that more is being learned about the diversity of life in the sea than during all preceding history , more is being lost… . ”

“some will treasure the world ocean census as a valuable reference , others as a place to find white - knuckle adventures . the images alone will cause many to re - evaluate their concepts of what astonishing forms are embraced within the bounds of what constitutes an eye , a heart , a body of living tissue . the underlying similarities shared by all living things – humans very much included – shine through , while maintaining wonder at the infinite capacity for diversity : from the broad divisions of life to the individual speckles and shapes that distinguish each sardine , salp and starfish from every other of its kind . above all , the breakthroughs in knowledge gained , and awareness of the magnitude of what remains to be discovered , inspire hope that the greatest era of ocean exploration – and ocean care - will now begin . ”

page 24 : this fabulously marked polychaete , or marine tube worm , loima sp . , inhabits the waters off lizard island , queensland , australia . photograph courtesy gary cranitch , queensland museum

page 25 : the spines on this crab larvae ( spiny decapod megalops ) , although beautiful , serve as protection and camouflage . photograph courtesy cheryl clarke hopcroft

these questions are of vital importance as scientists seek to understand the impact global warming and other factors—past and present—have had on the world’s oceans , and what that portends for the future .

to assess and explain the diversity , distribution , and abundance of marine life to record how many of each species the ocean contains , where they live now , and where else they could live if / when habitats disappear to describe the life found in deep , previously unexplored areas that new technology is opening to scientists for the first time .

pages 46 - 47 : an amazing array of exquisitely beautiful animals , such as this jeweled squid ( histioteuthis bonelli ) , has been found in the previously little - explored dark zone of the world’s ocean . photograph courtesy david shale

the census of marine life , which will release its scientific report in 2010 , is a project of extraordinary range and scope , as benefits its subject . census researchers have journeyed to remote and dangerous places ; charted the past using means as diverse as scientific reports , whaler’s logs , and seafood menus ; and explored previously unexplored ecosystems . in the antarctic , for example , climate change and melting ice shelves gave coml researchers access to pristine portions of the ocean floor that had been sealed off for at least 5 , 000 years .

photo on left , page 110 : an antarctic fur seal mother and pup represent current and future generations of potential animal observers . with the help of these research assistants , scientists may be able to prevent the loss of their polar habitat to global climate change . photograph courtesy dan costa

photo on right : page 111 : “sealteam 1” poses with its latest recruit in its mission to collect data about the undersampled antarctic ocean . “seal tagging and getting on an ice floe below the antarctic circle in the dead of winter down here – that is about as wild as it gets ! ” says mark harris . photograph courtesy dan costa

there is no part of the ocean that is not overfished . at the present rate , commercial fisheries could collapse by 2048 .

photo on left , page 148 : this goggle - eyed worm belongs to the phylum polychaeta , a group of segmented worms named for their many bristles ( poly = many , chaete = bristle ) . many species in this family undergo a spectacular transformation as they become sexually mature : both sexes develop huge eyes , while most of the bodysegments and bristles become paddleshaped . photograph courtesy national history museum of la county

photo on right : this striking shrimp was collected from french frigate shoals in the northwest hawaiian islands . photograph courtesy gustav paulay

in the book , readers will learn how the mystery of new life forms are revealed , how coml research was planned and executed , how animals are tagged and tracked , and about the cutting - edge technologies that enabled this mammoth endeavor . hundreds of breathtaking , full - color photographs plunge one deep into the ocean to see some of the millions of species—from the smallest microbes to the largest whales—that dwell beneath the waves .

page 190 photo top left : asbestopluma , a never - before - known species of carnivorous sponge about 1 centimeter ( 0 . 4 inch ) in diameter , engulfs organisms and then digests the imprisoned prey . this is one of four such species , three of them believed new to science , found in the southern ocean abyss . photograph courtesy dorte janussen , senckenberg , frg

bottom left : the larsen b ice shelf as it appeared in january 2002 . bottom right : the area after the ice shelf collapsed in march 2002 . images courtesy of the national snow and ice data center

page 191 top : a presumed new species of epimeria , a 25 - millimeter - long ( almost an inch ) amphipod crustacean , was collected near elephant island during an expedition to the weddell sea in 2006–07 .

page 191 bottom : this potentially new giant antarctic amphipod crustacean – of the genus eusirus – was one of the stars among the species collected during the trip to the weddell sea in 2006–07 . nearly 10 centimeters ( 4 inches ) long , it was sampled by using baited traps off the antarctic peninsula .

the global ocean is truly earth’s final frontier , its myriad secrets only now being revealed . world ocean census , and the study it brings to the public eye , are of inestimable importance to earth’s future and , perhaps , man’s very survival .

page 206 above : this is just a small portion of the huge school of cownose rays ( rhinoptera steindachneri ) that circled a dive site in the galapagos islands .

page 207 : underwater encounters with endangered hawaiian monk seals ( monachus schauinslandi ) are few and far between – the population is estimated at only slightly more than 1 , 000 individuals . even scarcer is the mediterranean monk seal , with a population of less than 500 . the caribbean or west indian monk seal ( monachus tropicalis ) , the only seal ever known to be native to the caribbean sea and gulf of mexico , was last seen in 1952 . in 2008 , after five years of trying to find evidence of caribbean monk seals , the u . s . government declared the species officially extinct . photographs pages 206 and 207 © urltoken

the information in this article is from world ocean census : a global survey of marine life and from firefly books .

title : world ocean census : a global survey of marine life author : by darlene trew crist , gail scowcroft , james m . harding , jr . ; foreword by sylvia earle specs : 256 pages , 9 " x 11 " , color photographs throughout , glossary , further reading , index ; $ 40 . 00 plastic - laminated hardcover with jacket isbn : 1 - 55407 - 434 - 7 / 978 - 1 - 55407 - 434 - 1 pub date : october 15 , 2009 publisher : firefly books urltoken

there is a related article on the horizon solutions site . census of marine life explorers find hundreds of identical species thrive in both arctic and antarctic with more images .

a video by the census of marine life about why we need to monitor biodiversity in the oceans and how it can be done using existing technologies on a global scale . for more information visit urltoken .

is a colony composed of a number of specialised zooids linked together by a long stem .

at the front is the pneumatophore , an orange - coloured , gas - filled float . behind this is the nectosome , a region where there are a number of translucent nectophores with red , unlooped radial canals . these are bell - shaped medusae specialised for locomotion . when they contract , water is expelled which causes the colony to move . their contractions are coordinated which enables the animal to swim forwards , sidewards or backwards . the remaining region is the siphosome . most of the zooids here are

, specialised for collecting food . they do this for the whole colony , spreading their single long tentacles in the water to snare

. other zooids in this region undertake digestion and assimilation of food items . reproductive medusae are found among the polyps in the siphosome and also various other specialised zooids . the various forms are all arranged in a repeating pattern .

it is found at depths ranging between 200 and 800 m ( 660 and 2 , 620 ft ) . the greatest depth at which it has been observed is about 2 , 000 m ( 6 , 600 ft ) .

at these depths the temperature is about 4 °c ( 39 °f ) , hardly any light penetrates from the surface and human observation is limited to what can be seen from submersible craft .

can be several metres long and the tentacles can extend fifty centimetres on either side . it moves forward intermittently before pausing to put out its " fishing lines " , ready to ensnare passing creatures . it is a

this colonial animal arises from a single fertilised egg . the protozooid that develops from this subsequently

to form the other members of the colony which are thus genetically identical . the protozooid first thins and elongates , the middle section becoming the stem of the colony . the pneumatophore forms at the opposite end to the mouth . next a growth zone on the thin stem forms and budding occurs with the formation of the nectophores . as the stem continues lengthening , further zooids develop above these . another growth zone sees the development of the siphosome and the continuing elongation of the stem carries these zooids down with it .

the division of labour between the zooids is an evolutionary advance in the constant struggle for existence in the deep sea . such organisms as

blur the boundaries between the individual polyp and the whole colonial organism ; each cannot exist without the other .

kramp p . l . ( 1942 ) . " siphonophora . the godthaab expedition 1928 " . medd . grønl . 80 ( 8 ) : 3 - 24 .

siphonophores are groups of creatures that live , connected , as one animal . and they’re incredibly confusing — they all have the same dna . they can’t separate . they work together to achieve one goal . so why are we supposed to think of them as “colonies , ” rather than a single entity ?

what is that ? even the people looking at it can’t figure it out . all they’re willing to say is it’s the size of “twenty wiffle balls , ” and it’s probably a siphonophore . which means it isn’t an “it , ” it’s a “them . ”

to go back to the familiar man - o - war , the sail is a creature called the pneumatophore . the stinging tentacles are made up of dactylzooids . the gastrozooid is in charge of breaking down the food that the dactylozooids catch . and the gonozooid is the part that reproduces .

so how do these separate creatures yoked together in one body actually reproduce ? man - o - war reproductive sections ( gonozooids ) have two sexes , male and female . when the man - o - war gather in large groups , they release their genetic hopefuls , eggs and sperm , into the ocean . the eggs and sperm meet and form their own little gonozooid .

where do the pneumatophores , the dactylzooids , and the gastrozooids come from ? they slowly bud off from the fertilized organism . each one shares the genetic information of the original fertilized egg , but they form their own creatures through this asexual budding . throughout the life of the siphonophore , these creatures will stick together , feeding each other , protecting each other , and navigating for each other , until it comes time for the gonozooids to breed again .

if that sounds dubious to you , you’re not alone . many people wonder what differentiates a siphonophore from any other creature . descriptions of siphonophores do sound like they could be applied to any single animal , including humans . your brain navigates , your arms and legs protect and hunt , your stomach digests food , and your sexual parts reproduce — but that doesn’t mean those parts are colonies .

and yet , biologists all agree that siphonophores are colonies , and not single animals . so what’s the difference ?

many people compare siphonophores to ant or bee colonies . bees perform rigidly separate functions . a worker cannot perform the functions of a queen . separate an ant or a bee from its colony and it will almost certainly die soon . divide the colony itself and the entire thing collapses . but that doesn’t mean that each insect is not a separate animal from every other member of its colony . then again , an ant isn’t joined to the rest of its colony by tissue , and it doesn’t bud from its queen’s abdomen .

the best way to understand siphonophores is thinking about conjoined twins . they carry the same dna , and they move as one body . only one twin was created by the original fusion of sperm and egg . and sometimes they are unable to survive if separated . but they do live separate existences . siphonophores can make independent motions . they grow and repair themselves independently . they are multiple organisms joined as one . the difference is , they have made the conjunction a necessary part of their regular life - cycle .

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when , more than 70 years ago , william beebe became the first scientist to descend into the abyss , he described a world of twinkling lights , silvery eels , throbbing jellyfish , living strings as “lovely as the finest lace” and lanky monsters with needlelike teeth .

“it was stranger than any imagination could have conceived , ” he wrote in “half mile down” ( harcourt brace , 1934 ) . “i would focus on some one creature and just as its outlines began to be distinct on my retina , some brilliant , animated comet or constellation would rush across the small arc of my submarine heaven and every sense would be distracted , and my eyes would involuntarily shift to this new wonder . ”

beebe sketched some of the creatures , because no camera of the day was able to withstand the rigors of the deep and record the nuances of this cornucopia of astonishments .

colleagues reacted coolly . some accused beebe of exaggeration . one reviewer suggested that his heavy breathing had fogged the window of the submarine vessel , distorting the undersea views .

today , the revolution in lights , cameras , electronics and digital photography is revealing a world that is even stranger than the one that beebe struggled to describe .

the images arrayed here come from “the deep : the extraordinary creatures of the abyss” ( university of chicago press , 2007 ) , by claire nouvian , a french journalist and film director . in its preface , ms . nouvian writes of an epiphany that began her undersea journey .

“it was as though a veil had been lifted , ” she says , “revealing unexpected points of view , vaster and more promising . ”

the photographs she has selected celebrate that sense of the unexpected . bizarre species from as far down as four and half miles are shown in remarkable detail , their tentacles lashing , eyes bulging , lights flashing . the eerie translucence of many of the gelatinous creatures seems to defy common sense . they seem to be living water .

on page after page , it is as if aliens had descended from another world to amaze and delight . a small octopus looks like a child’s squeeze toy . a seadevil looks like something out of a bad dream . a ping - pong tree sponge rivals artwork that might be seen in an upscale gallery .

interspersed among 220 color photographs are essays by some of the world’s top experts on deep - sea life that reflect on what lies beneath . for example , laurence madin of woods hole oceanographic institution notes the violence that air and gravity do to creatures without internal or external skeletons when they are pulled up to the deck of a ship , obliterating their varieties of form and function .

“this unattractive jello - like mass , ” he writes , “is the unfair land version of amazing and delicate creatures that can display their true beauty only in their natural watery environment . ” the photographs in the book right that wrong , and not just for jellyfish .

one shows a dense colony of brittle stars , their arms intertwined and overlapping , their masses in the distance merging with the blackness of the seabed , alive , inhabiting a place once thought to be a lifeless desert .

craig m . young of the oregon institute of marine biology writes in the book that the diversity of life in the abyss “may exceed that of the amazon rain forest and the great barrier reef combined . ”

beebe , who ran the tropical research department at the new york zoological society , surely had intimations of what lay beyond the oceanic door he had opened . “the deep” brings much of that dark landscape to light , even while noting that a vast majority of the planet’s largest habitat remains unexamined , awaiting a new generation of explorers .

with the headline : mysteries to behold in the dark down deep : seadevils and species unknown .

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