Order Auriculariales

Kingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota > Class:  Agaricomycetes > Order: Auriculariales These are the jelly fungi.  The banner is the jelly ear fungus. We have come across some splendid specimens on our walks. Family Auriculariaceae Auricularia auricula-judae, jelly ear Exidia nigricans, warlock’s butter Exidia nucleata, crystal brain The crystal brain was identified by the small white mineral … Continue reading "Order Auriculariales"

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Order Russulales

Kingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota > Class:  Agaricomycetes > Order: Russulales Russulas are fairly common.  Here, as with everything else, there are some changes  but according to the Catalogue of Life (CoL) who use Kew’s Species Funorum database (2017), there are around 3000 species in this order in 13 families with a few not yet assigned a family.   … Continue reading "Order Russulales"

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Superfamily Papilionoidea

Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Arthropoda > Class: Insecta > Order: Lepidoptera > Superfamily: Papilionoidea Skippers(Hesperiidae) Gossamer-winged(Lycaenidae) Brush-footed(Nymphalidae) Swallowtails(Papilionidae) Whites & Sulphurs(Pieridae) Metalmarks(Riodinidae) Papilionoidea are the true butterflies.  The skippers used to be in their own superfamily but are now usually included here. Many of the families have been further subdivided into subfamilies.  Click the button … Continue reading "Superfamily Papilionoidea"

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Kingdom Animalia

Animals are multicellular, heterotrophic organisms (must eat organic material) that develop from embryos and show a wide range of body forms, behaviours, and ecological roles. The animal kingdom includes everything from simple sponges to complex vertebrates such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. Historically, animals were often divided into “vertebrates” and “invertebrates”, but modern … Continue reading "Kingdom Animalia"

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Class Aves – Birds

Birds (Class Aves) are feathered, warm-blooded vertebrates that evolved from small theropod dinosaurs during the age of the dinosaurs. Modern birds are therefore the only living dinosaurs, with more than 11,000 species found across every continent and ocean. They occupy an extraordinary range of ecological roles — from ocean-wandering albatrosses and forest canopy specialists to desert runners … Continue reading "Class Aves – Birds"

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Order Artiodactyla – Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans

Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Artiodactyla Artiodactyla is an order that includes the even‑toed hoofed mammals as well as whales and dolphins. Most terrestrial members walk on two main toes and are plant‑eaters with specialised digestive systems, while the cetaceans are fully aquatic and adapted for life in water. Modern … Continue reading "Order Artiodactyla – Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans"

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