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Join us as we explore the wilderness and share the beautiful scenery of nature! For all questions: @magellanvs
Amazing sight - a lacewing lays eggs on long stalks to keep them safe from ants!
The common lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea, is small, only up to 10 mm in body length and up to 30 mm in wingspan. This is a very beneficial insect: its larvae, once hatched, immediately start eating aphids and can consume 200-300 aphids during their development.
They also feed on various plant mites, scale insects, and moth eggs!
The adult lacewing, however, feeds on nectar, honeydew, and other sweets it can find.
Fun Fact: Lacewing larvae are often called "aphid lions" because of their fierce appetite for aphids! 🦗🍃
Mayflies: A Fleeting Life
Mayflies (Ephemeroptera, from Greek 'ephemeros' meaning lasting only a day, and 'pteron' meaning wing) are an ancient order of winged insects.
Throughout their short lives, mayflies do not feed—they lack jaws and a digestive system. Their sole purpose is to mate and lay eggs in water.
Mayfly emergences can be massive, with swarms of insects filling the air as they seek mates. Their flight is a rhythmic pattern of rapid wing beats followed by gliding descents, aided by their large wings and long tail filaments.
After mating, males die, and females lay eggs directly into the water, either from the surface or by descending underwater along plants, before they too perish.
Fun Fact: Mayflies have one of the shortest adult lifespans of any insect, with some species living only a few hours!
Desert Partridge (Ammoperdix griseogularis) with chicks. Look at their amazing camouflage—if they stay still, they're nearly invisible!
This bird is a typical resident of arid, rocky slopes in the foothills of Central and South Asia. Its diet mainly consists of seeds and other plant-based food.
Fun fact: Desert Partridges are known for their unique ability to survive in harsh, dry environments. They can go without water for extended periods, obtaining moisture from the plants they eat. Their excellent camouflage helps them blend into their rocky surroundings, protecting them from predators.
Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) – an ancient animal that has existed for 30 million years. Its ancestors inhabited Europe, North America, and China, but now tapirs are primarily found in Central and South America.
The Malayan tapir is the only Asian species. In Thailand, it's called "p’somm-sett," meaning "mixture." It has three-toed hind legs and four-toed front legs, along with horse-like calluses.
You can easily recognize it by its large grayish-white saddle-like mark on its back and sides, which helps it blend into the shadows. Baby tapirs have a striped and spotted pattern that fades away by 4-7 months of age.
Size: Body length 1.9-2.5 m, height 0.8-1 m, weight 245-330 kg, with some individuals reaching up to 500 kg.
Fun fact: Like domestic pigs, tapirs quickly adapt to captivity and understand humans. 🦓💫
Sanaa Bush Cricket (Sanaa intermedia)
The Sanaa bush cricket inhabits the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, including Indochina, Vietnam, and possibly Indonesia. 🌿
Females have a wingspan of up to 135 mm, while males are significantly smaller. Like most true bush crickets, this species is likely polyphagous, feeding on various plants.
Interestingly, when threatened, Sanaa bush crickets don't flee. Instead, they open their front wings, rise up, and display their brightly colored hind wings while swaying menacingly. Although they can't harm their predators, this display can startle small birds and send them fleeing. 🐦
Despite their wide presence in collections and photos, little is known about this fascinating species.
Jack Snipe Dance Disturbs Earthworms
The Jack Snipe's dance is a fascinating sight! Its nerve endings at the tip of its beak can detect even the slightest movements underground. Once an earthworm senses danger, it's doomed.
The Jack Snipe is a small bird, measuring 17-19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 30-36 cm, and weighing between 40-70 grams. It's smaller than the Common Snipe and has distinctive yellow stripes on its back, reminiscent of a chipmunk.
During the summer, Jack Snipes nest in wetlands from Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia. In winter, they migrate to Europe, tropical Africa, India, and the Middle East.
These birds hide in dense vegetation and, if threatened on the ground, remain motionless. In autumn, a Jack Snipe might suddenly take flight right under your feet! Its flight is swift and bat-like, before it lands again.
Jack Snipes feed on small invertebrates and seeds found on the ground.
Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) - One of the largest and thickest vipers, reaching up to 1.8 meters in length. Its body girth can be up to 47 cm.
The head is very large and wide, triangular in shape, and is separated from the body by a narrow neck. It is known for its calm demeanor, rarely reacting to external stimuli, which is why attacks on humans are rare. However, its bite poses a serious danger.
Its coloration mimics old fallen leaves and other decaying plant parts, allowing it to blend almost seamlessly with its surroundings. This camouflage aids in its hunting, as we can observe in this video, watching the demise of a guinea fowl.
Fun Fact: The Gaboon viper has the longest fangs of any venomous snake, reaching up to 5 cm in length! 🐍💥
Fun Fact: Wood ducks are one of the few duck species that regularly nest in tree cavities, and they are known for their unique, colorful plumage and crest. 🦆🌳
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Javan Mouse-Deer (Kanchil) - Tragulus javanicus
The world's smallest even-toed ungulate! 🦌
- Body length: 45-55 cm
- Shoulder height: 20-25 cm
- Weight: 1.5-2.5 kg
No horns, but males have enlarged upper canines that protrude like tusks. 🦷
Habitat:
Southeast Asia, including Israel. Ranges from southern China to the Malay Peninsula and islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. Prefers forests with dense undergrowth, often near water bodies.
Behavior:
Extremely shy creatures, leading solitary lives. 🌙 Nocturnal, they sleep in rock crevices or hollow tree trunks during the day and forage at night, creating tunnel-like paths in the thickets.
Fun Fact:
In Southeast Asian folklore, these tiny deer are considered cunning, much like the red fox in Central Europe and China. In Indonesian tales, the kanchil often plays a role similar to Br'er Rabbit in Uncle Remus stories. 📖
Giant Stick Insect (Phasma gigas) 🌿
The giant stick insect, Phasma gigas, is native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia.
The order name "Phasmatodea" comes from the Latin "phasma," meaning "phantom" or "apparition." Most species camouflage themselves as sticks and leaves.
All known stick insects are herbivorous. Some species can eat leaves from a wide variety of plants, while others are quite picky.
In captivity, many species can be fed plants from the rose family (Rosaceae), such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and oak. Some species also enjoy lilac, St. John's wort, and eucalyptus.
Houseplants like tradescantia, Chinese rose, ivy, and violets can also be used as food.
Did you know? Stick insects are among the longest insects in the world, with some species reaching up to 33 cm (13 in) in length! 🐛
This is the Tree Kangaroo, Dendrolagus. Like a typical kangaroo, it has a long tail and a pouch for carrying young, but it's small in size and jumps from branch to branch instead of hopping on the ground.
Its curved claws help it grip trees firmly, and its powerful tail balances its body during agile leaps.
On the ground, this animal moves slowly and clumsily: its tail is very heavy, and its hind legs are too short. It rarely descends, but when necessary, it can easily jump from a height of ten meters.
In the trees, it has almost no predators, and there's plenty of plant food!
Fun Fact: Tree kangaroos are excellent climbers and can leap up to 18 meters (60 feet) between trees!
Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) – not a true marten, despite its former name due to similar body shape. Once found in both Tasmania and Australia, wild quolls now only remain in Tasmania and Bruny Island, where they were introduced.
These small creatures, about the size of a cat (males 32-45 cm, females 28-40 cm), lead solitary nocturnal lives, hunting on the ground but capable of climbing trees.
Their diet mainly consists of insects, particularly beetle larvae, but they also hunt small animals, birds, lizards, and snakes.
Fun Fact: Eastern Quolls are marsupials, meaning they carry their young in a pouch! 🦘🐾
Madagascar Comet (Moon Moth) Argema mittrei – a beautiful nighttime moth from the family of Atlas moths. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan of 140-160 mm. It is also known as the Madagascar Saturniid.
The Moon Moth is even featured on the 5000 Malagasy ariary banknote from 1995.
A bittersweet fact: Both male and female moths have reduced mouthparts and do not feed. They live off the nutrients stored during their caterpillar stage, which means these beautiful creatures only live for 4-5 days.
In this short lifespan, they must find a mate and reproduce.
Desert Buzzard Hunting the White-tailed Antelope Squirrel. Notice that leisurely stroll among the cacti...
The Desert Buzzard (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a bird of prey from the family Accipitridae, found from the southwestern USA to Chile and central Argentina. This bird is known for its unique "cooperative hunting" practice, where family groups hunt together, unlike most other predators that hunt alone.
The White-tailed (Antelope) Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) is a ground squirrel native to the deserts of the western USA. Interestingly, these tiny creatures don't need to drink water as they get all the necessary moisture from their food. They primarily feed on seeds from desert plants.
I know you've been waiting to see a baby king cobra hatch from its egg... What do you mean you weren't waiting?! I don't know anything about it, just enjoy the view!
The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the largest of all venomous snakes, with an average size of 3-4 meters. It grows throughout its life, which can be over 30 years.
The king cobra's habitat is the tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia (India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Philippines).
More often than not, when trying to scare off a human, the snake makes "dry" bites, not injecting any venom. This is likely because the venom is primarily needed by the cobra for hunting, and any accidental or unnecessary loss of it is undesirable.
Did you know? King cobras are the only snakes that build nests for their eggs. The female king cobra guards her nest and her hatchlings for about 2 months after they hatch.
Shrews (Sorex) have a fascinating behavior: as they grow, the young follow their mother, biting onto the base of her tail and each other, forming a train-like procession!
Some shrew species are venomous, while others use echolocation. Overall, they are one of the most successful mammal families, with around 100 billion individuals worldwide.
Don't confuse shrews with mice: they are not rodents but insectivores. Shrews have an extremely high metabolic rate, requiring daily food intake that exceeds their body weight by 1.5-2 times or more.
Thus, shrews feed almost continuously, with very short sleep breaks. A shrew left without food can die quickly: smaller species in just 7-9 hours (the lesser shrew in just 5.5 hours).
Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
The Eastern Fence Lizard is found in the eastern and central regions of the USA, inhabiting rocky deserts and forested slopes.
Did you know why it's called a "fence" lizard? Well, science isn't quite sure yet! These little lizards grow to be only 10-19 cm long.
Males are typically brown, but in summer, their bellies turn vibrant and iridescent, like a peacock's tail feather (all to attract the ladies).
During mating season, males show off their colorful bellies, displaying stunning blue-green stripes and spots on their sides.
When they meet, they stand tall on their stretched-out legs, slowly sidling up to each other until the weaker one flees, dazzled by the opponent's glowing belly! 🦎💫
Don't underestimate eagles—they can even handle predators like foxes!
An adult fox weighs between 6 to 10 kg.
Fun fact: Eagles have incredible eyesight, up to 8 times sharper than humans, allowing them to spot prey from great distances.
Barn Owls (Tyto alba) Celebrate New Chicks!
These birds inhabit all continents except Antarctica. In Europe, they can be found in various regions, including some parts of the Baltic coast.
The male selects the nesting site and actively attracts the female with harsh, shrill calls. No nest is built, but the site should be enclosed and dark, such as a tree hollow, burrow, or attic. Often, they use nests of other birds.
Chicks are covered in white down and are entirely dependent on their parents for food. After 35-45 days, they start leaving the nest, and by 50-55 days, they begin to learn to fly. They become fully independent at around 3 months.
Fun Fact: Barn owls have excellent night vision and can see in the dark about as well as most humans can during the day! 🦉🌙
Fun Fact: The Jack Snipe's scientific name, Lymnocryptes minimus, means "smallest marsh-hider," referring to its secretive nature and small size.
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Brazilian Jewel Tarantula (Typhochlaena seladonia) - A Unique Arboreal Spider
This fascinating tree-dwelling spider builds its home under tree bark, hiding under a "trapdoor" and pouncing on prey when they approach.
As you can see, these spiders are quite small: males are 3-4 cm, and females are 4-6 cm, including their legs.
Contrary to their name, these tarantulas do not eat birds but rather insects, and are named as such due to their relation to larger bird-eating spiders.
Known as the Brazilian Jewel Tarantula, their stunning coloration makes them truly unique. Their hues can include black, blue, yellow, red, pink, and more.
With their iridescent, two-toned legs, some consider them the most beautiful spiders in the world. 🌈🕷️
Fun Fact: The vibrant colors of the Brazilian Jewel Tarantula serve as a warning to potential predators, signaling that they are toxic and should not be eaten. 🚨
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) Protecting Its Nest
Did you spot these 4 eggs right away? That's the point—they're speckled to blend in with the surroundings, looking just like little pebbles!
Now, the mother plover will pretend to be injured, luring you away with a convincing act: "Catch me, I'm so weak!" 🏃♀️
After leading you far enough, she'll chuckle at your expense, hide in the grass, and sneak back to her precious nest. 🌾
Fun Fact: Golden Plovers are known for their incredible long-distance migrations, traveling thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds! 🌍
Wood Ducks (Carolina Ducks) Aix sponsa are close relatives of the stunning Mandarin ducks and have a slightly less vibrant plumage.
Mandarin ducks live in Asia, while Wood ducks are found in the USA, ensuring no one feels left out! For decorative purposes, Wood ducks are kept in many European parks, from where they sometimes escape into the wild. They feed on both plant and animal matter. They nest in tree cavities of deciduous trees.
Additionally, these ducks also nest in Canada and (to a lesser extent) in Cuba. Wood ducks inhabit small freshwater bodies - forest lakes, swamps, slow-moving rivers, backwaters, ponds, and beaver-built dams. They typically settle on shady banks densely covered with oak, willow, and poplar plantings.
For nesting, Wood ducks choose relatively old trees with cavities where the entrance diameter is at least 9 cm, and the depth is at least 20 cm. In captivity, nest boxes serve as substitutes for tree cavities.
Australian Magpies: The Silent Loud Terror!
Did you know that during Australian spring (our autumn), cyclists and scooter riders always wear helmets? 🚴♂️🛴
These magpies are not related to European crows (Corvidae family). In Australia, they used to name creatures based on familiar ones... 🐦
Fun fact: Australian Magpies are known for their intelligence and complex social structures, with some even recognizing individual humans! 🧠👥
African black cormorants (Egretta ardesiaca) have a unique hunting technique—they use their wings to create a false sense of security in fish.
They slowly walk through shallow water, then spread their wings around their bodies, creating an umbrella-like shade that blocks light, reduces glare, and lures fish into a trap.
Small fish, seeking shelter from predators, are drawn to the shadow created by the wings—and they swim straight into danger. Since the shade gives the bird a better view, it can easily snatch the fish from the water with its long beak.
Fun fact: This clever hunting strategy is called "wing-shading," and it's a rare behavior observed in only a few bird species! 🐦🌊
California Quail (Callipepla californica)
The California Quail is native to the western coast of North America. It has also been introduced to Hawaii, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina.
This sedentary bird lives in groups of 10 to 40 individuals, preferring to forage on the ground but roosting in trees at night.
California Quails primarily feed on seeds of grasses. Adults also consume small invertebrates in small quantities.
These birds are very popular as ornamental pets, as they coexist well with other bird species in aviaries. However, it's not recommended to keep them with other galliform birds.
Fun Fact: The California Quail is the state bird of California! 🐦🌞
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is known for its primary diet of other snakes, making it a valuable ally to locals.
Indeed, it's better to deal with one large snake than a dozen small ones. In this video, its prey is a rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus).
Fun fact: The scientific name Ophiophagus hannah translates to "snake-eater"!
Did you know? King cobras are the longest venomous snakes in the world, with some reaching up to 18 feet in length! 🐍💥
Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) – a singing bird, symbol of Australia, inhabiting the east of the country and Tasmania. It can mimic the calls of other birds, mammals, and various sounds, including train signals and chainsaw noise.
The lyrebird can reproduce sounds of car engines, alarms, gunshots, dog barks, baby cries, and even music.
Males of this species have a particularly beautiful tail with sixteen feathers, two of which are curved like a lyre, with thin white feathers in between. Females, however, have a short brown tail.
Fun Fact: The lyrebird's mimicry is so precise that it can even replicate the sound of a camera shutter! 📸🐦
Egyptian Plover (Crocodile Bird) Pluvianus aegyptius doesn't clean the crocodile's teeth, but catches carrion flies that swarm over meat remnants. It probably doesn't mind the meat itself either!
Crocodiles don't need dental cleanings; their teeth grow and replace each other throughout their lives. They lie with their mouths open to cool down.
The idea of tooth cleaning comes from ancient Greeks, quite the storytellers!
Interestingly, we couldn't find a better quality video, even on YouTube 🤷♂️
Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) - the only bird in the world with a beak longer than its body! 🌟
Patience, please! The video starts with other hummingbirds for comparison.
This unique beak is a perfect tool for feeding. Sword-billed hummingbirds can reach nectar from long, funnel-shaped flowers that their relatives can't access.
Their tongue is incredibly long too - all the better to reach their food! This way, they occupy their own niche, don't compete with other hummingbirds, and help pollinate a specific group of plants.
Nectar isn't their only food. Despite their specialized beak, they can also catch insects.
These hummingbirds live in the Andes, between 1,700 and 3,500 meters above sea level, in the humid highland forests of South America. 🌳🐦