PEAFOWL

The PEAFOWL can refer to the two species of bird in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The African Congo Peafowl is placed in its own genus Afropavo and is not dealt with here. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail, which it displays as part of Courship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peachen, though it is common to hear the female also referred to as a "Peacock". The female peafowl is brown or toned grey and brown.
The two species are :

• Indian Peafowl, pavo cristatus (asiatic)
• Green Peafowl, pavo muticus (asiatic)

The Indian Peafowl is a resident breeder in indian subcontinent. The peacock is designated as the national bird in India.

The Green Peafowl breeds from Burma east to java. The IUCN lists the Green Peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat.

Taxonomy

The indian Peafowl is monotypic, while the Green Peafowl has 3 subspecies, P.muticus spicifer, P.imperator and the nominate P.m.muticus. The two species are largely allopatric but will hybridize in captivity.

While the form of Green Peafowl in Yunnan is not separated taxonomically, it differs in few aspects from other forms, particularly in its forest-dwelling habits, an "odd, monal-like bill", a curiously long hind toe and longer, more slander wings (K.B. Woods in litt. 2000). some have suggested this is a new subspecies.
Some pheasant breeders have suggested that the Green Peafowl may have more subspecies. Peafowl have sometimes been included in a distinct family from Pheasant.

Read More......

BUNGLON

Bronchocela jubata, or more commonly known as the Green Crested Lizard, is an agamid lizard found in Indonesia on the island of Singkep, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, karakelang, Salibabu; Nias island, Singkap island, Borneo (kalimantan) and the Philiphines. Although in the past it was thought the species may be found in India, either on the mainland or in the Nicobars, this is not the case according to herpetologist Indranell Das. It is also be known by the name of "bloodsucjker", although this is a misnomer.

Description
The Green Crested Lizard is 55omm in length, with a long hanging tail making up four fifth of its length. It has a jagged crest on its neck which more closely resemble hairs, as opposed to the crest of its close relative, B.cristatella, which more closely resembles the points on a crown. The crest consists of elongated scales, although it is flabby like skin The head is square in shape, and there is a soft sack under the chin. It has large, lfexible eyelids made of fine speckled scales. The dorsal area is coloured from light green to dark green, and can charge to brown or black if felling threatened. A rusty coloured stain appears under the throat. More sport, often blurring to form a stripe, appear on the shoulder and the front lateral side. Towards the back of the lizard, the colour becomes duller. The underside of the lizard is yellowish to white under the chin, neck, stomach and the back of the legs. The Bottom of the hands and tfeet are a yellowish brown. The tail is coloured green at its base, with bluish stains. Towards the end of the tail, the colour becomes a dull brown with whitist spots on the tip. The scales of the Green Crested Lizard are hard, course and strong. The tail has an angular feel.

Taxonomic Diagnosis
Head-scales above rather large, keeled, almost equal; two or three compressed scales behind the supraciliary edge; tympanum large, half or more than half the diameter of the orbit. Nine or ten upper and eight or nine lower labials; a row of slightly enlarged scales on each side of the chin parallel to the labials. A gular sac, with large keeled scales; no fold in front of the shoulder. Nuchal crest large, its spines falciform and directed backwards, the longest about as long as the diameter of the orbit; some rows of smaller spines at the base. Body strongly compressed, covered with large, keeled scales, 43 - 45 round the middle of the body; the scales of the first row next to the dorsal crest pointing upward, those of the second row pointing straight backwards, the others downwards; dorsal crest less developed than nuchal, diminuating backwards. Ventral scales largest of all, strongly keeled. Tail very long, round, slightly compressed at the base and witha slight ridge there. Limbs long, the hind limb nearly reaches the nostril; digits long, third and fourth fingers equal, fifth toe much shorter than third. Green above, with yellow or red spots or bands. Length of head and body 130 mm; tail 440mm.



Habits
The Green Crested Lizard is generally to be found in low or hidden in dense trees. It can frequently be seen having fallen from the bushes or trees while chasing its prey, altough it will quickly run back into the security of the nearest bust or tree. The lizard preys on butterflies, moths, dragonflies, files and other small insect. To catch its prey, the Green Crested Lizard will generally wait in silence at the top of the tree, or it will rock slowly back and forth as if swaying in th breeze. It can also frequently be found utilising domestic electricity cables to cross from one place to another. The Green Crested Lizard lays its eggs in loose earth, sand or humus. Like most members of the agamidae, the mother lizard excavates the earth to form a hollow for the eggs with her snout. The eggs are white, waxy, and leathery in texture. A study cariied out in the Situgede jungle, near Bogor, noted that the eggs of the Green Crested Lizard were buried in dandy soil beneath a layer of humus, directly beneath bushes in fairly open part of the forest. The two eggs were elongated, approximately 7 x 40mm in length, placed side by side, and covered by a thin layer of soil. in walat mountain, Sukabumi, there were eggs covered by a thin layer of humus in the middle of the jungle path.

Read More......

JALAK BALI

The Bali Starling, Leucopsar rothschildi, also known as Rothschild's Mynah, Bali Myna or Bali Mynah is a medium-sized (up to 25Cm long), stocky myna, almost wholly white a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail. The bird has blue bare skin around the eyes, greyish legs and a yellow bill. Both sexes are similiar.

Distribution
The Bali Starling is distributed and endemic to the island of Bali in Indonesia, where it is the island's only suviving endemic species. This rare bird was discovered in 1910. The Other Bali's endemic, the Bali Tiger, was declared extinct in 1937. In 1991, the Bali Starling was designated the fauna symbol of Bali; its local name is kedis putih.

Endangered
The Bali Starling is criticaly endangered, hovering immediately above extinction in the wild for saveral years now (BirdLife International 2006). The last stronghold of the species is at Bali Barat National Park; about 1,000 individuals are believed to be held in captivity legally. In fact, th Bali Starling's survival. The wild population was at an all-time low of just 6 birds in 2001, after the late-1990s wild population of 3-4 dozen was reduced by poachers for the illegal pet trade.
Its decline toward extinctionhas been by the urbanization of the island and illegal trapping for the caged-bird trade; indeed, the number of captive birds bought on black market is estimated to be twice the number of legally-acquired individuals in the captive breeding program. The Bali Starling is listed in Appendix I of CITES. Trade even in the captive-bred specimens is strictly regulated and the species is not generally available legally to private individuals. However, experienced aviculturalists may become affiliated with the captive-breeding program, allowing them to legally keep this species.

Read More......