Crossing the Sahara desert by small steps
Category: Nature and wildlife
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
The snowy mountain in the background creates a strong contrast with the blue throat of the bird
A Boto (Inia g. geoffrensis), Brazil, Amazonia
A Boto (Inia g. geoffrensis), a south american species of fresh water dolphin disappears into the dark waters of the Rio Negro river
Read the paper about the Boto to learn more from this dolphin
The Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius apollo): A Fragile Icon of the High Alps
A fragile symbol of alpine landscapes, the Apollo reminds us of the richness—and vulnerability—of mountain biodiversity.
Emerging each summer on the sun-drenched slopes of the Alps, the Apollo (Parnassius apollo) is one of Europe’s most iconic and protected butterfly species.
Its white wings, dotted with black spots and two distinctive red ocelli (eyespots), serve a vital purpose: startling predators by mimicking the eyes of a larger animal. Highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, the Apollo acts as a “barometer” for climate change. Its larvae depend exclusively on stonecrop plants (Sedum) found in rocky screes. As alpine habitats change, this species is increasingly forced to seek refuge at higher altitudes to survive.
