Species identification thread (real animals)

[Owen Leo]

Hey guys am doing my final college science project and i chose to specilise with research on monkeys and baboons. So far I've learned that there are so many rare species of monkeys that I never knew existed, like the Eulemur flavifrons, Propithecus candidus and the Varecia rubra. I am already half-way with the research but am facing some challenges especially with identification of some  species. Today i came across a monkey with big nose on the internet that I've never seen before and I've not been able to gather much information about it so far. I really need to include it in my project,since it may earn me bonus marks. Has someone come across a similar species? Any information about it shall be very much useful to my studies and future career. Please assist me.

[stemturtle]

Proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus, by K&M

Hi Owen Leo. The proboscis monkey is described on Wikipedia.

[Owen Leo]

oh thanks let me check it out

[AcroSauroTaurus]

Can anyone identify what species of duck this is? I'm thinking its a natural hybrid, but i'm not sure. It is about twice the size of a Mallard.

[stargatedalek]

Can anyone identify what species of duck this is? I'm thinking its a natural hybrid, but i'm not sure. It is about twice the size of a Mallard.

Looks like a mallard/peking hybrid.

[Newt]

I know we've got some beetle experts on here, so here are two elaterids and a tenebrionid, all from northwest Georgia, USA. Any thoughts?

[bmathison1972]

From top to bottom:

Limonius griseus
Melanotus sp., prob M. americanus (if <10 mm)
Meracantha contracta

I am a click beetle specialist (top two) and am writing a monograph of the click beetles of the Southeast, that will include TN and GA

[Newt]

Thanks, Blaine! I'd love to get a copy of your monograph when it's available.

[AcroSauroTaurus]

I was fishing this morning and caught this young one inch fish, I have never seen this species before. Anyone know what it is? I know its in the Sunfish/Bluegill family, but beyond that, I don't know.

[sbell]

I was fishing this morning and caught this young one inch fish, I have never seen this species before. Anyone know what it is? I know its in the Sunfish/Bluegill family, but beyond that, I don't know.

Assuming it is form your listed home state, and the orange spots, it's probably an orangespotted sunfish, Lepomis humilis!

[AcroSauroTaurus]

I was fishing this morning and caught this young one inch fish, I have never seen this species before. Anyone know what it is? I know its in the Sunfish/Bluegill family, but beyond that, I don't know.

Assuming it is form your listed home state, and the orange spots, it's probably an orangespotted sunfish, Lepomis humilis!

Yes, I was in my home state. And thanks for the identification, I've never heard of that species. Its a really beautiful looking fish!

[bmathison1972]

Thanks, Blaine! I'd love to get a copy of your monograph when it's available.

you should post your images to the BugGuide website (http://bugguide.net/welcome). If you post these three beetles do it at the species level and make a note I identified them (I curate beetle images on that site)

[Newt]

Will do, Blaine!


Acro - good catch! The o-spot is even prettier as an adult. Like many sunfish, it's poorly known to the public because it's too small to be desirable to anglers. All sunnies make great aquarium fish - feisty but hardy.

[AcroSauroTaurus]

Will do, Blaine!


Acro - good catch! The o-spot is even prettier as an adult. Like many sunfish, it's poorly known to the public because it's too small to be desirable to anglers. All sunnies make great aquarium fish - feisty but hardy.

I searched images of it, and apparently it only gets like a few inches long when full grown, so the one I caught was supposedly almost full grown and only about 1 1/2in. And unlike most anglers, I think all fish are desirable!

[Arctinus]

I came across these recently, but I can't seem do identify them. Does anyone know which species they belong to? Sorry for the bad-quality photos.


This one was found in the middle of a paved road that leads through a mixed forest.







These were all found in Slovenia, southern central Europe:

[bmathison1972]

Hi @Arctinus

I haven't looked at European insects in a while, but:

1. The caterpillar at the top is the family Limacodidae, maybe genus Lithacodes

2. The beetle is a cetoniine. Tropinota squalida is hairy like that (is that mud on the body, or are those actual maculae?)

3. The third looks like a nyphalid caterpillar of sorts.

Others on the forum from Europe @sirenia @Isidro @animaltoyforum may give you specifics

[Arctinus]

Hi @Arctinus

I haven't looked at European insects in a while, but:

1. The caterpillar at the top is the family Limacodidae, maybe genus Lithacodes

2. The beetle is a cetoniine. Tropinota squalida is hairy like that (is that mud on the body, or are those actual maculae?)

3. The third looks like a nyphalid caterpillar of sorts.

Others on the forum from Europe @sirenia @Isidro @animaltoyforum may give you specifics

Thanks, Blaine! 

1. It seems the first one could indeed belong to the genus Lithacodes, though, sadly, I can't find much about their distribution (other than that they seem to be present in eastern USA) and I certainly can't find anything at all in Slovenian.

2. From what I remember, it wasn't mud. And it was barely moving, so perhaps it was at the end of its lifespan. 

3. Forgot to mention the last two photos are of two different caterpillars (so there are actually four different species in my post).

I'll still wait for other forum members, in case they know more about these little critters. 

[Isidro]

Yes it's mud (or more probably hardened pollen). Not possible to tell down to species level with this photo.
3. caterpillar of Acronicta rumicis. A noctuid moth, not a nymphalid.
4. caterpillar of an arctiid moth, most likely Phragmatobia fuliginosa.

[Arctinus]

I think it might've been hardened pollen. *inserts the contemplative emoji*

Thank you, @Isidro !