Black drongo

The black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is a small Asian passerine bird of the
drongo family Dicruridae. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Black drongo
Asia from southwest Iran through India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern
China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. It is an all black bird with a
distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. It feeds on insects, and is
common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching
conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines.

The species is known for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as
crows, never hesitating to dive-bomb any bird of prey that invades its territory. This
behaviour earns it the informal name of king crow. Smaller birds often nest in the well-
guarded vicinity of a nesting black drongo. Previously grouped along with the African
fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), the Asian forms are now treated as a separate
species with several distinct populations.

The black drongo is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN) on the IUCN Red List, due to its large range and relative 0:12
commonness. It has been introduced to some Pacific islands, where it has thrived and
become abundant to the point of threatening and causing the extinction of native and Conservation status
endemic bird species there.

Taxonomy and systematics Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
The black drongo was once considered a subspecies of the
fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis),[9][10] a close Kingdom: Animalia
relative that diverged relatively recently.[9][10][11][12] The Phylum: Chordata
two are now considered distinct species,[11][12] with the
fork-tailed drongo restricted to Africa and separated from Class: Aves
the Asian range of the black drongo.[11][12] Order: Passeriformes
Typical silhouette
Seven subspecies have been named[12] but the largely Family: Dicruridae
contiguous populations show clinal variation and Genus: Dicrurus
intergrade with each other. Individuals from northern India (ssp. albirictus) are larger
than those from the Sri Lankan population minor while those from the peninsular Species: D. macrocercus
India (nominate subspecies) are intermediate in size.[13] Race cathoecus is found in Binomial name
Thailand, Hong Kong and China.[14] This race has a much smaller rictal spot and the
wings are dark with a greenish gloss.[12] In southern Siam a race thai is resident, but Dicrurus macrocercus

overlaps with wintering cathoecus. Race javanus is found on the islands of Java and (Vieillot, 1817)
Bali. Race harterti found in Formosa has the tail length less than the wing.[12]
Subspecies

Description D. m. macrocercus (Vieillot, 1817)[2]

D. m. albirictus (Hodgson, 1836)[3]

This bird is glossy black with a wide fork to the tail. Adults usually have a small white D. m. minor Blyth, 1850[4]

spot at the base of the gape. The iris is dark brown (not crimson as in the similar ashy D. m. cathoecus R. Swinhoe,
drongo). The sexes cannot be told apart in the field. Juveniles are brownish and may 1871[5]

have some white barring or speckling towards the belly and vent, and can be mistaken D. m. thai Kloss, 1921[6]

for the white-bellied drongo. First-year birds have white tips to the feathers of the belly, D. m. javanus Kloss, 1921[6]

while second-years have these white-tipped feathers restricted to the vent.[15]

D. m. harterti Baker, 1918[7]
Bulbul
The bulbuls are a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, and
includes the greenbul, brownbul, leaflove, and bristlebill. The family is distributed Bulbul
across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asia to Indonesia, and north as
far as Japan. A few insular species occur on the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean.
There are over 150 species in 32 genera. While different species are found in a wide
range of habitats, the African species are predominantly found in rainforest, whereas
Asian bulbuls are predominantly found in more open areas.

Taxonomy
Brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes
The family Pycnonotidae was introduced by the English zoologist George Robert Gray amaurotis)
in 1840 as a subfamily Pycnonotinae of the thrush family Turdidae.[1][2]
Scientific classification
The Persian or Arabic word bulbul (‫ )بلبل‬is sometimes used to refer to the "nightingale" Kingdom: Animalia
as well as the bulbul, but the English word bulbul refers to the birds discussed in this
article. [3] Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
A few species that were previously considered to be members of the Pycnonotidae have
been moved to other families. Several Malagasy species that were formerly placed in Order: Passeriformes
the genus Phyllastrephus are now placed in the family Bernieridae.[4][5] In addition, Parvorder: Sylviida
the genus Nicator containing three African species is now placed in a separate family
Nicatoridae.[6][7] Family: Pycnonotidae

Gray, GR, 1840

A study by Ulf Johansson and colleagues using three nuclear markers published in
2007 found that the genus Andropadus was non-monophyletic. In the subsequent Genera
revision, species were moved to three resurrected genera: Arizelocichla, Stelgidillas
and Eurillas. Only the sombre greenbul (Andropadus importunus), was retained in See text
Andropadus.[8][9] A study by Subir Shakya and Frederick Shelden published in 2017
found that species in the large genus  Pycnonotus formed several deeply divergent Synonyms
clades. The genus was split and six genera were resurrected to accommodate these
clades.[10][8] Brachypodidae Swainson, 1831
The family forms two main clades. One clade contains species that are only found to Trichophoridae Swainson, 1831
Africa, many of these have greenbul in the common name. The second clade contains
Ixosidae Bonaparte, 1838
mostly Asian species but includes a few species that are found in Africa.[10]
Hypsipetidae Bonaparte, 1854
    Crinigeridae Bonaparte, 1854
      Pycnonotidae – bulbuls (160 species)
  (1831)
 
    Phyllastrephidae Milne-Edwards
  Sylviidae – sylviid babblers (34 species)
  & Grandidier, 1879
   
Tyladidae Oberholser, 1917
  Paradoxornithidae – parrotbills and myzornis (37 species)
Spizixidae Oberholser, 1919
 
    Zosteropidae – white-eyes (146 species)
 
 
    Timaliidae – tree babblers (56 species)
 
 
    Pellorneidae – ground babblers (65 species)
 
Deer

Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae.
The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk Deer[1]

(wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the Temporal range:
reindeer (caribou), white-tailed deer, the roe deer, and the moose. Male deer of all
species (except the water deer) as well as female reindeer, grow and shed new
antlers each year. In this they differ from permanently horned antelope, which are
part of a different family (Bovidae) within the same order of even-toed ungulates
(Artiodactyla).

The musk deer (Moschidae) of Asia and chevrotains (Tragulidae) of tropical African
and Asian forests are separate families that are also in the ruminant clade
Ruminantia; they are not especially closely related to Cervidae.

Deer appear in art from Paleolithic cave paintings onwards, and they have played a
role in mythology, religion, and literature throughout history, as well as in heraldry,
such as red deer that appear in the coat of arms of Åland.[2] Their economic
importance includes the use of their meat as venison, their skins as soft, strong Images of a few members of the family
buckskin, and their antlers as handles for knives. Deer hunting has been a popular Cervidae (counterclockwise from top left):
activity since the Middle Ages and remains a resource for many families today.
the elk, the white-tailed deer, the grey
brocket, the barasingha, the pudú, the
sika deer, red deer, and the reindeer
Etymology and terminology Scientific classification
The word deer was originally broad in meaning, becoming more specific with time. Kingdom: Animalia
Old English dēor and Middle English der meant a wild animal of any kind. Cognates Phylum: Chordata
of Old English dēor in other dead Germanic languages have the general sense of
animal, such as Old High German tior, Old Norse djur or dȳr, Gothic dius, Old Class: Mammalia
Saxon dier, and Old Frisian diar.[3] This general sense gave way to the modern Order: Artiodactyla
English sense by the end of the Middle English period, around 1500. All modern
Germanic languages save English and Scots retain the more general sense: for Infraorder: Pecora
example, German Tier and Norwegian dyr mean animal.[4] Family: Cervidae

For many types of deer in modern English usage, the male is a buck and the female a Goldfuss, 1820
doe, but the terms vary with dialect, and according to the size of the species. The Type genus
male red deer is a stag, while for other large species the male is a bull, the female a
cow, as in cattle. In older usage, the male of any species is a hart, especially if over Cervus

five years old, and the female is a hind, especially if three or more years old.[5] The Linnaeus, 1758
young of small species is a fawn and of large species a calf; a very small young may
Subfamilies
be a kid. A castrated male is a havier.[6] A group of any species is a herd. The
adjective of relation is cervine; like the family name Cervidae, this is from Latin:
cervus, meaning stag or deer. Capreolinae
Cervinae
Distribution Hydropotinae

Deer live in a variety of biomes, ranging from tundra to the tropical rainforest. While
often associated with forests, many deer are ecotone species that live in transitional
areas between forests and thickets (for cover) and prairie and savanna (open space).
The majority of large deer species inhabit temperate mixed deciduous forest,
mountain mixed coniferous forest, tropical seasonal/dry forest, and savanna
habitats around the world. Clearing open areas within forests to some extent may
actually benefit deer populations by exposing the understory and allowing the types Combined native range of all species of
Four-horned antelope
The four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), or chousingha, is a small
antelope found in India and Nepal. Its four horns distinguish it from most other bovids, Four-horned antelope
which have two horns (with a few exceptions, such as the Jacob sheep). The sole
member of the genus Tetracerus, the species was first described by French zoologist
Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1816. Three subspecies are recognised. The four-
horned antelope stands nearly 55–64 centimetres (22–25  in) at the shoulder and
weighs nearly 17–22 kilograms (37–49 lb). Slender with thin legs and a short tail, the
four-horned antelope has a yellowish brown to reddish coat. One pair of horns is
located between the ears, and the other on the forehead. The posterior horns are always
longer than the anterior horns, which might be mere fur-covered studs. While the
posterior horns measure 8–12 centimetres (3.1–4.7  in), the anterior ones are 2–5 Conservation status
centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) long.

The four-horned antelope is diurnal (active mainly during the day). Though solitary by
nature, four-horned antelopes may form loose groups of three to five –with one or
more adults, sometimes accompanied by juveniles. This elusive antelope feeds on Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
grasses, herbs, shrubs, foliage, flowers and fruits. It needs to drink water frequently; as
Scientific classification
such it stays in places near water sources. The breeding behaviour of the four-horned
antelope has not been well studied. The age at which they reach sexual maturity and the Kingdom: Animalia
season when mating occurs have not been understood well. Gestation lasts about eight Phylum: Chordata
months, following which one or two calves are born. They are kept concealed for the
first few weeks of their birth. The young remain with the mother for about a year. Class: Mammalia

Four-horned antelopes tend to inhabit areas with significant grass cover or heavy Order: Artiodactyla
undergrowth, and avoid human settlements. Earlier common throughout deciduous Family: Bovidae
forests in India, the antelope now occurs in widely disjunct, small populations. Most of
the populations are in India, and lower numbers can be found in adjoining Nepal. The Subfamily: Bovinae
four-horned antelope is threatened by the loss of its natural habitat due to agricultural Tribe: Boselaphini
expansion. Moreover, the unusual four-horned skull and the horns have been a popular
target for trophy hunters. The four-horned antelope is classified as Vulnerable by the Genus: Tetracerus
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Leach, 1825

Species: T. quadricornis
Binomial name
Etymology Tetracerus quadricornis

(Blainville, 1816)
The scientific name of the four-horned antelope is Tetracerus quadricornis. The
generic name Tetracerus is the combination of two Greek words: tetra meaning Subspecies
"four"[3]: 351  and keras meaning "horn".[3]: 422  The specific name quadricornis is
derived from two Latin words: quattuor meaning "four"[3]: 351  and cornu "horn".[3]: 421  T. q. iodes (Hodgson, 1847)

The four-horned antelope is known by several vernacular names: chausingha, T. q. quadricornis (Blainville, 1816)
chowsingha, chousingha (Hindi for "four horns"), doda, ghutri (mainly in central T. q. subquadricornutus (Elliot,
India) (Hindi); kondu kuri (Kannada); chauka (Nepalese); nari komboo marn 1839)
(Tamil).[2]

Taxonomy and phylogeny

The four-horned antelope is the sole member of the genus Tetracerus, and is placed
under the family Bovidae. The species was first described by French zoologist Henri
Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1816.[4] The four-horned antelope has only one other
relative in the tribe Boselaphini, the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus).[2] The
Boselaphini have horns with a keel on the front and lack rings as found in other
antelope groups.[5]
Heron
The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family
Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or Herons

bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are Temporal range: Ealy Oligocene–
referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the Holocene
monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. Egrets do
not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently
because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons,
by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.

The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and no
clear consensus exists about the correct placement of many species into either of the
two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. Similarly, the relationships of the genera in the
family are not completely resolved. However, one species formerly considered to
constitute a separate monotypic family, the Cochlearidae or the boat-billed heron, is
now regarded as a member of the Ardeidae.

Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises,
spoonbills, and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not
outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some
members of this group nest colonially in trees, while others, notably the bitterns, use
Scientific classification
reed beds. A group of them is called a "siege."[2]
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Description Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
The herons are medium- to large-sized birds with
long legs and necks. They exhibit very little sexual Suborder: Ardei
dimorphism in size. The smallest species is usually
Family: Ardeidae

considered the dwarf bittern, which measures 25–

30 cm (10–12 in) in length, although all the species Leach, 1820
in the genus Ixobrychus are small and many Type genus
broadly overlap in size. The largest species of heron
is the goliath heron, which stands up to 152  cm Ardea

The neck of this yellow bittern is

fully retracted. (60  in) tall. The necks are able to kink in an S- Genera
shape, due to the modified shape of the cervical
vertebrae, of which they have 20–21. The neck can
About 21 extant, see text
retract and extend and is retracted during flight, unlike most other long-necked birds.
The neck is longer in the day herons than the night herons and bitterns. The legs are
long and strong and in almost every species are unfeathered from the lower part of the
tibia (the exception is the zigzag heron). In flight, the legs and feet are held backwards.
The feet of herons have long, thin toes, with three forward pointing ones and one
pointing backwards.[3]

The bill is generally long and harpoon-like. It can vary from extremely fine, as in the
agami heron, to thick as in the grey heron. The most atypical bill is owned by the boat- Global distribution of herons
billed heron, which has a broad, thick bill. The bill and other bare parts of the body are
usually yellow, black, or brown in colour, although this can vary during the breeding Synonyms
season. The wings are broad and long, exhibiting 10 or 11 primary feathers (the boat-
billed heron has only nine), 15–20 secondaries, and 12 rectrices (10 in the bitterns). Cochlearidae
The feathers of the herons are soft and the plumage is usually blue, black, brown, grey,
or white, and can often be strikingly complex. Amongst the day herons, little sexual
dimorphism in plumage is seen (except in the pond-herons); differences between the sexes are the rule for the night herons
and smaller bitterns. Many species also have different colour morphs.[3] In the Pacific reef heron, both dark and light colour
Leopard
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant species in the genus
Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae.[4] It occurs in a wide range in sub- Leopard

Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, and on Temporal range:
the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the
IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and
fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. The leopard is
considered locally extinct in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Jordan, Morocco,
Togo, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Kuwait, Syria,
Libya, Tunisia and most likely in North Korea, Gambia, Laos, Lesotho, Tajikistan,
Vietnam and Israel.[3]
Contemporary records suggest that the leopard occurs in only
25% of its historical global range.[5][6]

Compared to other wild cats, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with
a large skull. Its fur is marked with rosettes. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar
(Panthera onca), but has a smaller, lighter physique, and its rosettes are generally
smaller, more densely packed and without central spots. Both leopards and jaguars that Male African leopard in Maasai Mara
are melanistic are known as black panthers. The leopard is distinguished by its well-
National Reserve, Kenya
camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behaviour, broad diet, strength, and its ability
to adapt to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe, including arid and Conservation status
montane areas. It can run at speeds of up to 58 km/h (36 mph).[7] The earliest known
leopard fossils excavated in Europe are estimated 600,000 years old, dating to the late
Early Pleistocene.[2] Leopard fossils were also found in Japan[8] and Sumatra.[9]
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[3]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[3]
Etymology Scientific classification
The English name 'leopard' comes from Old French: leupart or Middle French: liepart, Kingdom: Animalia
that derives from Latin: leopardus and Ancient Greek: λέοπάρδος (leopardos).
Phylum: Chordata
Leopardos could be a compound of λέων (leōn), meaning lion, and πάρδος (pardos),
meaning spotted.[10][11][12] The word λέοπάρδος originally referred to a cheetah Class: Mammalia
(Acinonyx jubatus).[13] Order: Carnivora
'Panther' is another common name, derived from Latin: panther and Ancient Greek: Suborder: Feliformia
πάνθηρ (pánthēr);[10] The generic name Panthera originates in Latin: panthera, which
Family: Felidae
refers to a hunting net for catching wild beasts that were used by the Romans in
combats.[14] Pardus is the masculine singular form.[15] Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Characteristics Species: P. pardus[1]

The leopard's fur is generally soft and thick, notably softer on the belly than on the Binomial name
back.[16] Its skin colour varies between individuals from pale yellowish to dark golden Panthera pardus[1]

with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its belly is whitish and its ringed tail is shorter
(Linnaeus, 1758)
than its body. Its pupils are round.[17] Leopards living in arid regions are pale cream,
yellowish to ochraceous and rufous in colour; those living in forests and mountains are Subspecies
much darker and deep golden. Spots fade toward the white underbelly and the insides
and lower parts of the legs.[18] Rosettes are circular in East African leopard See text
populations, and tend to be squarish in Southern African and larger in Asian leopard
populations. The fur tends to be grayish in colder climates, and dark golden in rain
forest habitats.[7] The pattern of the rosettes is unique in each individual.[19][20] This
pattern is thought to be an adaptation to dense vegetation with patchy shadows, where
it serves as camouflage.[21]
Striped hyena
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a species of hyena native to North and East
Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It is Striped hyena

the only extant species in the genus Hyaena. It is listed by the IUCN as near- Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene
threatened, as the global population is estimated to be under 10,000 mature – Recent
individuals which continues to experience deliberate and incidental persecution along
with a decrease in its prey base such that it may come close to meeting a continuing
decline of 10% over the next three generations.[1] It is also the national animal of
Lebanon.[4]

It is the smallest of the true hyenas and retains many primitive viverrid characteristics
lost in larger species,[5] having a smaller and less specialised skull.[6][7] Though
primarily a scavenger, large specimens have been known to kill their own prey,[8] and
attacks on humans have occurred in rare instances.[9] The striped hyena is a
monogamous animal, with both males and females assisting one another in raising
their cubs.[10] A nocturnal animal, the striped hyena typically only emerges in complete
darkness, and is quick to return to its lair before sunrise.[11] Although it has a habit of
Conservation status
feigning death when attacked, it has been known to stand its ground against larger
predators in disputes over food.[12]

The striped hyena features prominently in Middle Eastern and Asian folklore. In some
areas, its body parts are considered magical, and are used as charms or talismans.[13] It Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where it is referred to as tzebua or zevoa, though it
is absent in some Bible translations into English.[14] Ancient Greeks knew it as γλάνος Scientific classification
(glános) and ύαινα (húaina) and were familiar with it from the Aegean coast of Asia Kingdom: Animalia
Minor.[15]
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia

Evolution Order: Carnivora

Suborder: Feliformia
The species may have evolved from H. namaquensis of Pliocene Africa. Striped hyena
fossils are common in Africa, with records going back as far as the Middle Pleistocene Family: Hyaenidae
and even to the Villafranchian. As fossil striped hyenas are absent from the Subfamily: Hyaeninae
Mediterranean region, it is likely that the species is a relatively late invader to Eurasia,
having likely spread outside Africa only after the extirpation of spotted hyenas from Genus: Hyaena

Asia at the end of the last glacial period. The striped hyena occurred for some time in Brisson, 1762
Europe during the Pleistocene, having been particularly widespread in France and Species: H. hyaena
Germany. It also occurred in Montmaurin, Hollabrunn in Austria, the Furninha Cave in
Portugal and the Genista Caves in Gibraltar. The European form was similar in Binomial name
appearance to modern populations, but was larger, being comparable in size to the
Hyaena hyaena

brown hyena.[5]
(Linnaeus, 1758) [2]

Description

Build

The striped hyena has a fairly massive, but short torso set on long legs. The hind legs
are significantly shorter than the forelimbs, thus causing the back to slope downwards.
The legs are relatively thin and weak, with the forelegs being bent at the carpal region.
The neck is thick, long and largely immobile, while the head is heavy and massive with
a shortened facial region. The eyes are small, while the sharply pointed ears are very
large, broad and set high on the head. Like all hyenas, the striped hyena has bulky pads   Striped hyena range