Category Archives: Animals

Snapshot: Short-horned longhorn beetle

I can across this while randomly picking at the bark of a dead koa tree. It’s a native cerambycid beetle (Parandra puncticeps). I thought it was interesting even though it’s part of the longhorn beetle radiation, it has short antennae. … Continue reading

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MAPA1: A most stubborn individual

One lone bird flies back to its home range on the other side of a volcano. Seems straightforward enough. Animals making their way back home after an arduous journey are typically feel-good stories that are sometimes made into movies. Homeward … Continue reading

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Who let the dogs out? Wolves, Coyotes and the Post-Hemphilian Canis radiation

So this post may just be an excuse for me to post more photos from my trip to the Living Desert Zoo and Garden. While wolves and coyotes may look similar enough for the lay person like myself to confuse … Continue reading

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Kahurangi: Missing a friend but happy for the success

I was sadden when I heard of the passing of Kahurangi, the only kokako in captivity. While she may be gone her species, and family really, have been making a steady comeback from the brink of extinction.

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Snapshot: Bennett’s Wallabies

I was thoroughly impressed with the Australia exhibit at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, CA. It had an automated double-door system and staff to let you know the rules and keep eye on things. Once inside, … Continue reading

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More Banza Katydids

One of our volunteers, Alex, came across this female Banza katydid today. I don’t have the eye for it, last time I saw one was years back when I last posted about our native katydids. I had forgotten how large … Continue reading

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The time wanderers

Right off the bat I’d just like to say the world is a better place with rhinos in it. Rhinos for me are also interesting because they are vestiges of a bygone era; when I look at one, I can’t … Continue reading

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Overlooked and Underappreciated: O`ahu `Amakihi

For folks like me who dream of the fantastic extinct creatures of our recent past, I think we tend to overlook the creatures that are still alive today. I know I sometimes do. For all the marveling we do at … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Philodoria moth

I was working up at the site recently when I came upon one of our neat micromoths. This species (possibly Philodoria splendida) uses `Ohi`a Lehua as a host plant. The larva mine the leaves before emerging as these pretty little … Continue reading

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The Monk Seal babies of Waikiki

I had the privilege of seeing the monk seal pups in Waikiki the past few years. Seeing the young seals being raised by their mom adjacent to some of the most highly used shorelines in Hawai`i shows the challenges and … Continue reading

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