An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phorophytes. Epiphytes take part in nutrient cycles and add to both the diversity and biomass of the ecosystem in which they occur, like any other organism. They are an important source of food for many species. Typically, the older parts of a plant will have more epiphytes growing on them. Epiphytes differ from parasites in that they grow on other plants for physical support and do not necessarily affect the host negatively. An organism that grows on another organism that is not a plant may be called an epibiont. Epiphytes are usually found in the temperate zone or in the tropics. Epiphyte species make good houseplants due to their minimal water and soil requirements. Epiphytes provide a rich and diverse habitat for other organisms including animals, fungi, bacteria, and myxomycetes.
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes. The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals, and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separated as distinct families, the Centropodidae and Crotophagidae, respectively. The cuckoo order Cuculiformes is one of three that make up the Otidimorphae, the other two being the turacos and the bustards. The family Cuculidae contains 150 species, which are divided into 33 genera.
Old World monkeys are primates in the family Cercopithecidae. Twenty-four genera and 138 species are recognized, making it the largest primate family. Old World monkey genera include baboons, red colobus and macaques. Common names for other Old World monkeys include the talapoin, guenon, colobus, douc, vervet, gelada, mangabey, langur, mandrill, surili (Presbytis), patas, and proboscis monkey.
Achatinidae is a family of medium to large sized tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks from Africa.
The common trinket snake is a nonvenomous constrictor species of colubrid snake native to south Central Asia.
The Saint Helena rail was a large flightless rail from Saint Helena. It became extinct in the early 16th century.
Campolaemus is a genus of very small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Streptaxidae.
†Chilonopsis exulatus was a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct.
Chilonopsis helena is an extinct species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct.
†Chilonopsis melanoides was a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct.
Chilonopsis nonpareil is an extinct species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct and was last seen in 1870.
Chilonopsis subplicatus was a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct.
Chilonopsis subtruncatus was a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae.
Chilonopsis turtoni was a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae. This species was endemic to Saint Helena. It is now extinct.
Helenoconcha is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Charopidae endemic to the island of Saint Helena, hence the genetic epithet. All species save for H. relicta, are extinct.
Perdicella is a genus of tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinellidae. They are endemic to Hawaii and the majority of the species are extinct.
A woodlouse is any crustacean belonging to the suborder Oniscidea within the order Isopoda. They get their name from often being found in old wood, and from louse, a parasitic insect, although woodlice are neither parasitic nor insects.
Bucliona is a genus of sac spiders first described by Pierre L.G. Benoit in 1977. As of November 2021 it contains only three species: B. dubia, B. jucunda, and B. kirilli. It was synonymized with Clubiona in 1997, but was elevated back to genus in 2021. The type species was originally described under the name "Clubiona dubia".
