#alpestris

[snototter]

An Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) in Italy

by Vittorio Ricci

[fullfrontalbirds]

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

© Aseem Kothiala

[ramavoite]

Galactica Myosotis Alpestris!

[jellhound]

futuristic newt boy! he got the floaty fingers

[leaf-thief]

Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris)

Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria

edit: she's a lady

[mothmiso]

Smolikas (2) (3) (4) (5) by Panegyrics of Granovetter

[triruntu]

#539, a horned lark.

Requests for birds are open, updates happen on Thursdays. [project tag] | [kofi] Find me on: [twitter]

[heavenly-garden]

Puya Alpestris aka The Sapphire Tower.

One of the most unique plants in the world.

[birdblues]

Horned Lark

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Horned Lark

Photo: Doug Greenberg

"On open fields in winter, flocks of Horned Larks walk and run on the ground, examining the soil and stubble in search of seeds. If disturbed, the flock makes away in swift, twisting flight, making soft lisping callnotes. This species, the only native lark in North America, begins nesting very early in spring in those same barren fields, and the tinkling songs of the males come from high overhead as they perform their flight-song display. The 'horns' of the Horned Lark are little tufts of feathers, visible only at close range."

- Audubon Field Guide

[scuotivento]

newt

[aquariuminfobureau]

Meet Europe's own firebelly

The alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris, is a pretty, colorful European newt, bearing a vibrant red underside. This trait indicates its true phylogenetic relationships, close to Asian fire bellied newts, such as the genus Cynops. I. alpestris is taxonomically subdivided, and may be interpreted as representing a species complex. They reach lengths of up to 12 cm, or under 5 inches, and the females, are around a centimeter, or 1/2 of an inch, longer than the males. These newts are native to continental Europe, but never reached Great Britain or Ireland after the last glacial maximum. Feral populations have now been established in locations outside of their natural range, including Great Britain and Australasia. Within mainland Europe, it is not always obvious, which I. alpestris populations, are indigenous.

I. alpestris prefers vegetated freshwaters, with a pH of 7.5 to 9, amid woodland or forest settings. It can be maintained in a fully aquatic setup, with no access to a land area, although they do have a terrestrial phase, which some wild populations skip. An advantage to keeping them permanently in an aquarium, is greater ease of feeding. Should a terrestrial phase be encouraged, the vivarium should be of a woodland type, with leaf litter, wood, live plants, and a soil substrate. Their natural prey are insects, and other small arthropods. In the aquarium, they will eat defrosted and dried foods of a suitable composition. Neither the air or land temperture should ever exceed 28 degrees centigrade, for any period of time. A much lower temperture, in the range of 14 to 21 degrees, is optimal for their care. These temperate newts will hibernate, at tempertures below 7 degrees.

[calochortus]

Male alpine newt - Ichthyosaura alpestris by Pieter-Jan Alles Via Flickr: Viskot, Linter

[whywolfprincess]

The Bergmolch - Ichthyosaura alpestris I posted earlier.

Such a lovely lady, look at her cute face.

[alligatorjesie]

Ya'll wanna see what these guys look like as babies?

Sapphire Tower plant. Puya Alpestris

[leaf-thief]

Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris)

Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria