AMERICAN BLACK DUCK HYBRID

Discussion of this topic can be confusing. So, I shall start with a short review of the ubiquitous male Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos), familiar to all bird enthusiasts. It has a bright iridescent green head, white neck, brown chest, yellow bill, and pale-gray body. The female of this species is much less colorful-with mostly brown and white feathers. Both sexes of this species can endure humans (i.e., they like to be fed).

The much less commonly occurring American Black Duck Hybrid (Anas rubripes) (Fig. 1) is immediately distinctive because of the coloration of the males as well as their relatively long necks. I could not get a good view of a hen (female), but, as Figure 2 shows, they have some brown and/or white coloration in the head/neck area. The hens (females) are VERY wary of humans!

MALLARD X AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (hybrid) 

Anas platyrhynchos X rubicipes

Recently (in early July), I saw several black to blackish ducks hiding in tall weeds along the shoreline of a narrow lake (canal) in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, southern California. These black to blackish ducks, furthermore, got my attention because although they resemble the shape of a regular (common) mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), they clearly were not the norm, especially in that they were dark colored and shunned humans. The common mallards are always begging humans for food and come right up to you.

Nearby there were regular-looking mallards. At the time, I was perplexed as to what I was seeing. After consulting some literature, I discovered that these black to partially black ducks are closely related to regular mallards (green/white/brown) and represent a hybrid form of the regular mallards.

Figure 1. Male hybrid-mallard X Black Duck, Anas platyrhynchos X rubicipes.

Figure 2. Two females of hybrid Mallard X Black Ducks in the background, with a male hybrid in the foreground.

DRAGON BLOOD TREE

This very distinctive tree is native to Socrotra Island, Yemen (Fig. 1) in the Arabian Sea areal, off the northeast corner of Africa. This island is 82 miles long and 31 miles wide. The highest mountain there is 4931 feet. The human population of this island is about 60,000.

Figure 1. Socotra Island, off the northeast corner of Somalia, Africa and southeast of Yemen. 

Socotra Island has a large number of endemic species (e.g., 37 percent of its flowers). Also, 90 percent of its reptiles are endemic, and, furthermore, 95 percent of its terrestrial mollusks are endemic. Its mammals are not endemic.

One of the more interesting endemic plants is the “Dragon Blood Tree” (Dracaena clinnabari). These tree have a very distinctive shape and are very slow growing. The average age of trees is about 300 years. Their sap is red and resembles blood. This tree is a threatened species on the island. Although this tree is native to Socrotra, it has also been introduced (spread via humans) to the Canary Islands, Florida, California, Central America, Hawaii, and northern Australia. This tree is very slow growing; it will live for 10-15 years before bearing flowers.

Figure 2. A dragon-blood tree.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (three of them)

Order Asparagales

Family Asparagceae

Genus Dracaena

Type species D. cinnabari

THREE CALIFORNIA MARINE FISH

 THE WHITE SEA BASS 

This marine fish, which is also referred to as the “White weakfish,” lives in rocky habitats along the margin of the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to both sides of Baja California in the Gulf of California (except for the tip of this peninsula). This fish is the only California member of the croaker family. 

The White Sea bass is up 5 feet long and weighs up to 93 pounds. Its coloration is bluish gray above, with a darker back and tail.

Figure 1. Atractoscion nobilis, a side view of the white sea bass fish (via picryl, an online-source of information).

This ocean fish prefers inshore waters, including brackish marine environments. It is a bottom dweller that can live above soft mud or rocks. This species typically travels in schools over deep rocky bottoms (0-122 m depth). It can also be associated with mangroves, seagrass areas, and around reefs. It reproduces inshore. This fish eats mollusks, anchovies, squids, sardines, pelagic crabs, etc.

  Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Actinopterygii

Order Acanthuriformer

Family Sciaenidae [= “croaker fish”]

Genus Atractoscion 

Type species A. nobilis

This fish species has three pairs (a total of six) otoliths (“ear stones”) that consist of calcium carbonate and are located directly behind the brain. Otoliths have daily growth rings that can be used to determine a fish’s exact age. That is because the “stones” grow continuously throughout life of the fish. These “stones” play a crucial role in maintaining balance and spatial orientation. They also have shapes that are distinctive for each fish species.

Figure 2. Same-view orientation of two White Sea-Bass otoliths, illustrating variation in morphology.

[note: on 3/30/2020, I published a blog post entitled “Fossil Bony Fish Earbones” about fish otoliths]. You might want to look it over it].

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THE GIANT SEA BASS

These fish are native to shallow/temperate to tropical waters along the Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico. They prefer They can also occur in Japan. The giant sea bass can be up 7.5 feet long and weight up to 435 pounds. They have an elongate, very bulky body, and a large head. They can live up to 75 years or so. They are now endangered because of overfishing by humans.

                      

Figure 3. Giant Sea Bass (image taken at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Southern California).

The coloration of these fish is extremely variable and depends upon the surrounding colors: this fish can be bright green, dark green, brown, orange, yellow, or reddish. This fish is truly a master of camouflage! 

These fish live in shallow, rocky, inshore waters (to depths of 40 m), near or near kelp “forests.” These fish are able to make "boom sounds" that disable their prey. Furthermore, Giant Sea Bass fish are apex predators (i.e., “ambush carnivores),” and they will eat crabs, mollusks, and many types of other fish (e.g., croakers, anchovies). They are the apex predators in kelp forests. Despite their large size, they can swim very fast.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Actinopterygii

Order Acropmatiformes

Family Stereolepididae

Genus Stereolepis

Type species: S. gigas

Giant Sea Bass fish are thought have lived in kelp forests in the northeastern Pacific Ocean as early as Miocene time (15 million or so years ago (Wikipedia, 2026).

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THE GIANT KELP FISH

These fish are found along the Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico. They can be up 24 inches long. They have a stream-lined elongate body and a sharp-pointed head. Their coloration is extremely variable and depends upon the surrounding colors: this fish can be bright brown, green, dark green, or even orange, thus, via camouflage, these fish mimic kelp plants.

Figure 4. An adult kelp fish (image taken at the Aquarium of the Pacific in southern California).

These fish live in shallow, rocky inshore waters (to depths of 40 m), near kelp forests. They are an "ambush carnivore," and they eat small crustaceans, mollusks, and other fish. 

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum chordate

Class Actinopterygii

Order Blenniiformes

 Family Clinidae

Genus Heterostichus (there are about 175 species!)

Type species: H. rostratus

Giant-kelpfish are thought to have appeared during Miocene time, 23 to 5 million years ago (based on fossils from California). They might have appeared earlier, because kelps were in the northeastern Pacific Ocean by at least 32 million years ago, in early Oligocene time (Wikipedia, 2026).

THREE UNCOMMON BIRDS

SANDHILL CRANE

This bird used to be referred to as the “Grus Stork.” Today, there are six known subspecies of this bird. It lives today in North America (including Cuba) and also in northeast Siberia.

It is a herbivore. It has one of the longest fossil record of any extant bird: 10 million years [= late Miocene time] in Nebraska.

The male weights up to 11 pounds and has a wingspan up to nearly 7 feet.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Aves

O Gruiformes

Genus Anigone

Type Species A. canadensis Linnaeus, 1758

Figure 1. Sandhill Crane bird.

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RED (SCARLET) IBIS BIRD

This is the only wading bird with scarlet-red coloration. This bird is sometimes called the “red ibis.” A heavy diet of red crustaceans imparts the red coloration of this bird. Juveniles are black.

Adults are up about 27 inches or so long and 1.4 pounds. This bird is characterized by its long, curved bill. This bird lives in coastal regions in tropical South America and part of the Caribbean region. It is most common in Venezuela and Columbia.

These birds roost in large colonies in leaf canopies of mangrove swamps.

Figure 2. Red-Faced Iris Bird.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Aves

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Threskiomithidae

Genus Eudocimus

Type Species Eudocimus ruber [the species name incorporates the Latin adjective ruber, “red.”

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WHITE PEACOCK

This rare peacock (estimated to be only 1 in every 30,000 individuals) is an all-white variant of the “Indian Blue Peaflow,” is not an example of albinism; rather, it is a genetic mutation called leucism, which prevents color from being deposited into their feathers. Nevertheless, these birds retain their normal blue eyes. These birds are extremely rare! They represent the national bird of India.

Both males (peacocks) and females (peahens) are pure white. They are born completely yellow, and then as they grow and mature, they turn white (both females and males).

As you can imagine, their lack of camouflage makes them highly vulnerable to predators.

The first all-white ones (they had blue eyes) were found in the wild (in India). They are no longer found in the wild. 

They belong to the peafowl group. Males are called peacocks, and the females and chicks are call peachicks. Three species are known: two in Asia (in India) and one in Africa (Congo Basin). 

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Cordata

Class Aves

Order Galliformes

Family Phasianindae

Genus Pavo?

[Tribe Pavonini] 

Reference Wikipedia

Note: If you want to see some beautiful and unforgettable images of white peacocks, just go online and type in “white peacocks.”

Figure 3. White peacock.

REFERENCES

Wikipedia, 2026.

"THE STRAWBERRY TREE"

This tree, whose scientific name is Abutus unedo, is also called the “madrone tree” or “Greek strawberry tree.” It is an evergreen tree about 40 feet tall (rarely taller). It is native to the Mediterranean area/western Europe, especially Italy, as well as the the Middle East region. This tree also grows well in northwestern west Africa, and has also been introduced to England, Ireland, and elsewhere. There are 11 different species of this tree. 

This tree is well known for its fruit (the arbutus berry, which resembles the strawberry---but the two are not related). Initially, the strawberry- tree fruit is yellow in color, but in December in southern California, the fruit begins to change to its typical red color. 

The fruit of this unusual tree matures in autumn (especially December). Its fruit is edible and is used for making jam because the fruit has a high sugar content. The wood is quite hard and used for making pipes for smoking. 

                                                                       Figure 1. A strawberry tree.

                                                                   Figure 2. Strawberry-tree fruit.

                                                                 Figure 3. A single fruit from a

                       strawberry tree. The scale is in centimeters.

Classification

Kingdome Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Ericales

Family Ericaceae

Genus Arbutus

Type species A. unedo Linnaeus, 1753.

Note: This is the national tree of Italy because the white flowers, red berries, and green leaves of this tree correspond to the national colors of Italy.

Fossil forms described as Arbutites [a fossil genus that shares morphological characters with modern Arbutus] have been found in Eocene and Miocene deposits in Europe. For example, Andrews (1970) reported a Miocene Arbutites leaf from Priesen, Bohemia. Molecular data indicate that the Old World Abutus unedo and New World Arbutis menziesii lineages diverged between 21 and 39 million years ago (= late Oligocene to early Miocene). Furthermore, Miocene fossilized leaves of Abutus menziesii have been discovered in early Miocene deposits (12 to 26 years ago) in Nevada, Oregon, and California (Wikipedia, 2025). 

     

References

Andrews, H. N. A., Jr. 1970. Index of generic names of fossil plants, 1820-1965. Geological Survey Bulletin 1300, 364 pp.

Wikipedia, 2025.

World’s Tiniest Known Insect

The world’s tiniest insects are male fairy wasps (also known as chalcid wasps). Four males, lined up-end-to-end, would be about the width of a period in this post. The females are considerably larger (Wikipedia, 2026).

Fairy wasps are therefore dimorphic (two main kinds): the males are blind, have no wings (Fig. 1) (therefore cannot fly), and are much smaller than the females (Fig. 2), which have compound eyes and wings. They females literally “swim” through the air. This is because they are so small that the air is comparatively dense. Thus, they do not fly, in the sense that you think. The viscous effects of air on a wing increase at smaller sizes. Thus, an insect 1 mm or smaller moves through the air as a bumblebee would move through mineral oil! In sum, the air is not thin for fairy wasps, rather it is a very thick, syrupy fluid. Furthermore, female fairy wasps need fringed wings and specialized wing motions in order to navigate highly viscous environments.

The antennae of male fairy wasps are thread-like, whereas those of females are tipped by club-like segments. The adult life span for fairy wasps is only a few days. They are parasitoids of the eggs of other insects, thus, they lay their eggs in other insects and then eat the host egg!

Fairy wasps have been around since mid-Cretaceous time (Albian), about 105 million years ago), and their fossilized remains are found in amber deposits. 

Today, there are 1,400 known species of these chalcid wasps, and they can be found living today in temperate, subtropical, and tropical areas throughout the world. 

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Clade (1 of them)

Class Insecta

Order Hymenoptera

Family Mymaridae

Genus Dicopomorpha [note: some scientists use Mymar, as the type genus]. 

Type Species D. echmepterysis

Figure 1. Male-fairy wasp: Dicopomorpha echmepterysis, [or Mymar of some researchers]. 

Figure 2. Female-fairy wasp: Dicopomorpha echmepeterysis, [or = in genus Mymar of some researchers]. 

References

Wikipedia, 2026

Sklar, J. 2024. Just a Li’l Bit. The world’s tiniest insect fights off crop pests and inspires more efficient computers. Sierra Magazine, Spring 2024, pp. 65-67.

TWO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HERON BIRDS 

I am delighted to report that the Great Blue Heron Green and the Green Heron have been seen recently in southern California.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Aves

Order Ciconiiformes

Family Ardeidae

Genus Ardea herodias (North America's largest heron)

This order of wading birds includes the herons, storks, ibises, and flamingos. These are moderate to large birds with slim bodies, long necks and legs, and large broad wings. Male  and female look alike in most species. Herons hunt is water of varying depth, and they either stand motionless or are wading (Macmillan, 1984, p. 208). 

                                   Figure 1. Green Blue Heron, southern California.

Recently, a family friend who lives near Lake Castaic, just north of Santa Clarita, took a wonderful/beautiful image of the Great Blue Heron, whose scientific name is Ardea herodias. It has a wingspan of 6 feet, and its body is up to 4 feet in length. This magnificent bird has a blue-gray appearance, a long bill, long neck, and flies with its head and neck folded back. This bird catches small fish, frogs, snakes, and other birds by means of slow stalking and then spearing them with is long bill. 

This heron can float like a goose and take off from the surface of water. It nests in colonies, usually in tall trees. This bird is found throughout the United States, and it is also found in central southern Canada. Apparently, this bird is the same as the “Great White Heron,” found in Florida, the West Indies, and Mexico (North American Wildlife, 1982, p. 84). 

                Figure 2. Green Heron, southern California. 

About two years ago, I took the image of the Green, Heron Butorides sriatis which was wading along the shoreline of a man-made lake in Santa Clarita. This individual was about slightly bigger than the size of a large pigeon. This is the only occurrence of this bird that I have seen locally.

References

Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia. 1984. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 600 pp.

Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife.1982.  Pleasantville, New York. 615 pp.