Tag: Tempe

Not-a-duck Atlas: Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona. 

Etymology notes: The bird’s common name refers to tufts of feathers or “nuptial crests” that appear on adults during breeding season, and not present on the bird shown here. The specific name auritus is Latin for eared, referring to the position of the crests. The genus name Phalacrocorax is derived from the Greek words φαλακρος meaning bald and κοραξ meaning crow or raven, and seems unnecessarily rude rather than descriptive. 

Not-a-duck Atlas: Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona. 

Etymology notes: The bird’s common name refers to tufts of feathers or “nuptial crests” that appear on adults during breeding season, and not present on the bird shown here. The specific name auritus is Latin for eared, referring to the position of the crests. The genus name Phalacrocorax is derived from the Greek words φαλακρος meaning bald and κοραξ meaning crow or raven, and seems unnecessarily rude rather than descriptive. 

Found this gal on the front porch this evening. Some days it seems like everything in Arizona wants to prick, poke, parch, or poison you.

Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus 

♀), in Tempe, Arizona. This spider’s body was about ½ inch long (1.25 cm), making her almost 2 inches long from toe to ghastly toe. 

Found this gal on the front porch this evening. Some days it seems like everything in Arizona wants to prick, poke, parch, or poison you.

Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus 

♀), in Tempe, Arizona. This spider’s body was about ½ inch long (1.25 cm), making her almost 2 inches long from toe to ghastly toe.