The trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis, is known locally as the nunu. It inhabits waters both shallow and deep (just over 100 m), and can reach lengths of three feet or so. They adopt a few hunting strategies to nab their prey - usually reef fish or shrimp. They might hang motionless in the water, in sync with the wave action, and then lunge forward, inflating their trumpet-like mouth and vacuuming up their meal. Or, they might sneak alongside a school of grazing surgeonfishes to get within striking distance. Another tactic is to hover vertically against the backdrop of branching coral. They can also change their coloration from greyish to yellow, or an orange-brown. The dorsal and anal fins are set back towards the tail, and small movements of these fins can propel it forward and back. Distinguishing features of the trumpet fish include a fan-shaped caudal (tail) fin and a barbel on the chin.
If you've done any snorkeling, you've probably seen this guy. Long and slender, both a bit wary and bold. But just which stick fish is it? A trumpetfish? A cornetfish? Or perhaps a needlefish? Well here's a little bit of background info to help you figure it out. The trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis, is known locally as the nunu. It inhabits waters both shallow and deep (just over 100 m), and can reach lengths of three feet or so. They adopt a few hunting strategies to nab their prey - usually reef fish or shrimp. They might hang motionless in the water, in sync with the wave action, and then lunge forward, inflating their trumpet-like mouth and vacuuming up their meal. Or, they might sneak alongside a school of grazing surgeonfishes to get within striking distance. Another tactic is to hover vertically against the backdrop of branching coral. They can also change their coloration from greyish to yellow, or an orange-brown. The dorsal and anal fins are set back towards the tail, and small movements of these fins can propel it forward and back. Distinguishing features of the trumpet fish include a fan-shaped caudal (tail) fin and a barbel on the chin. The blue-spotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, is related to the trumpet fish, as are sea horses and pipe fish, all of which posses a flared, trumpet-like mouth. While the trumpetfish tends to be solitary, the cornetfish can be found alone or in small schools. Distinguishing features include a whip-like extension at the end of the tail (called a caudal filament), and bluish dots along their pale bule-green bodies. They also grow larger than the trumpetfish, up to four or more feet. The needlefish, or 'aha, can also reach sizes of three feet or so, but they have a long, beak-like mouth with many teeth. Their dorsal fin is set way back on the body. They are a schooling fish that prefer to travel near the ocean's surface, and can "fly" by leaping out of the water at speeds as fast as 38 miles per hour. Needlefish can pose a danger to humans, especially since they are attracted to the light of night fishermen, hurling themselves up and over boats at these tremendous speeds. So there you have it. The skinny on stick fish, and our photo feature: Fistularia commersonii.
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There is no mistaking the "kee-ah" squawk of the rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, or Mr. NoisyPants, as I like to call him. Known for their tendency to be garroulous, it is fitting that a group of parakeets is known as a "chat." A parakeet is not different from a parrot - it is the term given to any small to medium-sized parrot with a long tail. And get a look at that tail: the neon green body eases into a wash of aqua blue at the tail that is simply eye-catching. Add to that a brilliant red bill, black mustache, and a rose-colored collar, and you have one smart looking bird. The female is similar, but the collar is often paler or absent. Like other parrots, Psittacula krameri, is highly social. They tend to forage together, feeding on fruits, nuts, nectar, seeds, and veggies, and there is concern about them becoming agricultural pests. An additional concern is that they will out-compete frigate birds (Iwa), shearwaters, and petrels for nesting and roosting sites. Psittacula krameri will lay two to six eggs in a tree cavity or crevice, and the female will sit on the nest for just over three weeks before the babies hatch. They fledge after two months. An interesting characteristic of parrots is the arrangement of their digits: two going forward and two facing back. This is known as zygodactyly, as is seen in birds such as woodpeckers and some owls, as well as chameleons.
Whenever I see a shama, they are in the lower branches, or rummaging among the leaves strewn on the forest floor, searching for insects and worms. The shama is native to Southeast Asia, and was introduced on Kauai in the 1931. About a decade later it was brought to Oahu, and is now well established. Nests are built in tree cavities, where the shama mama lays three to five pale blue eggs splotched with red. Around two weeks later they hatch, and in another few weeks they fledge to fill our forests walks with song. The butterfly garden at Foster Botanical is a great place to decompress. Try sitting among some of Hawaii's seventeen species of butterflies, as see if you don't agree. That's where I became acquainted with the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae. It's about two and a half to three inches in length, and a beautiful deep orange. The undersides of the wings sport silvery white spots, making it a stunner from top to bottom. One tip for correct identification is the three white dots encircled in black on the forewing. Its name comes from its migration over the Gulf of Mexico. The range is as far north as Northern California and south through Central and parts of South America. At night, this butterfly may roost in loose groups, usually no more than six feet or so off the ground. The caterpillar of Agraulis vanillae has a passion for the passion vine (Passifloraceae), which is the host plant for this species. The caterpillars emerge from small yellow eggs and are black and orange with lots of dark spikes. The bright colors and spikes are a defense mechanism, advertising to would-be predators that they should stay away. The spikes are actually soft, and do not sting. This is true for most butterfly caterpillars, it is some of the moth caterpillars that can inflict a nasty sting. The larval (caterpillar) stage of this butterfly lasts for about two weeks, during which time there are several molts. Entomologists refer to the developmental stage between molts as an instar. This is followed up by the pupal stage, when the caterpillar forms a chrysalis that looks very much like a withered leaf. In about two more weeks the stunning butterfly emerges and pumps hemolymph through its wing veins. Hemolymph is to insects as blood is to mammals and birds - a fluid that contains nutrients such as proteins and sugars. Instead of hemoglobin, insect "blood" contains hemocyanin, which turns bluish-green when oxygenated (that's why bugs don't bleed "red blood" when squashed). Once the wings are fully expanded, the metamorphosis is complete, and the world is graced by one more beautiful pulelehua. active at dusk and dawn, and are herbivorous. Wallabies have a bipedal (bi-two, ped-foot) form of locomotion, and use their tail mostly as balance. They breed throughout the year, the offspring living in the pouch for about 8 months. So the next time you head down the Like-Like, keep an eye out for the possibility of spotting one of these outlandish marsupials.
Today's inspiration comes from Hawaii's remarkable 'o'opu wai, the stream gobies. They are Hawaii's only native freshwater fish, and four of them are endemic - found nowhere else in the world. What makes them so amazing? Well, for starters, they are amphidromous, meaning they spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in the ocean. When the fall rains cause streams to swell, the 'o'opu go with the flow, literally, and swim downstream to spawn. The newly hatched larvae get swept into the ocean, where they become part of the plankton, and they eat, and get eaten by, other plankton. After a few months, the hinana, as they are called, make their way back to the streams, and take on a new challenge: to swim upstream against powerful currents. Some of these guys can climb vertically up waterfalls to reach the higher elevations. Gobies have been found at elevations over 500 meters! They accomplish this daunting task with some help from fused pelvic fins, which form a suction cup. Using their mouth and this special sucker, slowly but surely they make their way up the steep falls. The various 'o'opu are found in different sections of the streams. 'O'opu 'alamo'o is the number one climber, and is found in the mid and upper sections of streams. 'O'opu nopili (pili meaning to cling) are found just below them. This species was a favorite food of Hawaiians and was also used in ceremonies. It was also believed that 'o'opu nopili would help luck to cling.
On Oahu, gobies are getting hard to find. Over 95% of streams have been modified, and the introduction of non-native species such as swordtails, guppies, and catfish make them further vulnerable due to competition for prey and habitat.
Carybdea alata. © Cape Town Tourism. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
You might not see it, but you'll know it when you meet the largest of the box jellies in Hawaiian waters, Carybdea alata (Largest, but not actually very big- about 4" x 2"). On the four tentacles that trail from the corners of the transparent "box" are stinging cells called nematocysts. These little cells can really pack a punch. When triggered, they discharge a venom-filled barb that penetrates the skin, and then, let the burning begin. Vinegar may deactivate any uncharged nematocysts, but won't do much for the pain. In addition to defense, the nematocysts are used to catch prey. During feeding, the tentacles may be draped onto the sand, where they passively capture small fish and crustaceans. When the prey is entangled, the tentacles contract and shorten, and then through muscular and ciliated action, the prey is brought inside the bell and eaten. They may also actively pursue prey. They are capable of directed swimming, and are among the fastest jellies, clocking in at speeds of four knots. These jellies also possess a true eye, including a retina, cornea and lens, which allows them to recognize specific points of light.
Hailing from the family of ferns called the Polypodiaceae, the laua'e fern knows how to move around, as the name suggests: "poly" meaning many, and "pod" referring to feet. This fern has lots of little walkers in the form of rhizomes, the underground, horizontal stems that send out roots and new shoots, allowing the plant to propagate. And if you're not careful, those roots will walk all over you, or your garden, so consider the spread before you bed. Laua'e, or Microsorum scolopendria, is a naturalized fern, first observed in the early 1900's. It is also known as maile-scented fern, and is found throughout the main islands, often used as a border plant in landscaping. Most conspicuous on the plant are the clusters of spore sacs called sori, which are on the underside of the fern frond. On the top surface, the sori cause small bumps, which explains another name for the plant: wart fern. The arrangement of the sori is an important clue to fern identification. The true laua'e fern, Microsorum spectrum, once used in hula adornments, is now rare. The Wainiha Valley on Kaua'i has the largest population of the fern, and is now part of a 7,050-acre preserve. The naturalized laua'e now replaces it in hula adornments. Is your papaya with fruit? And if so, how did she, or it, get that way? That's right, papaya, Carica papaya, are female, male, or hermaphrodite. This may be old news to those of you who grew up here, but as the proud planter of a fruit-laden papaya, this was surprising. A friend's papaya plant was fruiting, but when the fruit failed to develop we had to figure out why. So if your papaya is reproductively challenged, this post is here to help. Female papaya plants have flowers that are formed in the axil of the plant, the upper angle where the leaf attaches to the stem. The flowers are whitish, waxy, and have the female part of flowers, the pistil, but no pollen-laden stamens. The budding flower body is egg-shaped: round at the base end and pointier toward the tip. Insects or the wind must pollinate them. If not, they may produce small fruit that drop off. If they are successfully pollinated, the fruit they produce are rounder, and generally have more seeds. Male plants will produce flowers with many stamens, but no ovary, and therefore will not fruit. It is easy to tell the flower of the male, because they form in bunches at the end of a long flower stalk called a peduncle. The hermaphrodite flower, like the female, forms in the axil, but you'll see both the pistil (female part) and stamen (male part). They can self-pollinate, and voila, you have some good eats. |
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