A New Fairy Shrimp for BC: Eubranchipus intricatus

Male Smoothlip Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus intricatus), photo by Ian Gardiner

E-Fauna BC freshwater mollusc editor Ian Gardiner has done it again.  Earlier this month, he discovered a new crayfish species for BC, and now he has discovered another new species for BC--the Smoothlip Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus intricatus).  Ian photographed and collected this tiny crustacean from two temporary sloughs near Jaffray BC in the Kootenays.  His find is a first for BC and specimens have been sent to the Royal BC Museum for their collection.

Ian indicates that this species of fairy shrimp is found in temporary pools of low salinity and its range in North America is limited to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Montana, Minnesota, Wyoming and Massachusetts.

View Ian's fabulous photo set for this species here.
Read more about Ian Gardiner here. 

Four New Rare Bird Articles Now Available on E-Fauna BC

Thanks to expert birders Rick Toochin, Don Cecile and Jamie Fenneman, four more rare bird articles are now available on E-Fauna BC. These cover Black-headed Gull, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Loggerhead Shrike, and Whooper Swan,  To view the articles along with a comprehensive distribution map, visit the atlas pages.  To view the full articles (PDF) with photos visit our Notes and Articles section on the home page.

These rare bird articles are comprehensive and are extremely informative about each rare bird species found in BC. They review the distribution of the species globally, in North America and in British Columbia. The full article provides a detailed species description to aid in identification in the field and a complete list of observations for BC. 

These new articles brings the total rare bird articles on E-Fauna BC to sixty, with more articles now in preparation. 

Mapping Update 2015

The interactive GIS mapping available on E-Flora and E-Fauna BC has been updated with new, easy-to-use software. Visit our full-size GIS maps to view new features, easy-access legends, and additional map tools.  We have added special zoom features to regions of interest, and map coordinates are now readily visible.  We will continue to add features to the maps, including additional biogeographic layers.

As an additional bonus, we have now added the ability to view map data (the data behind the distribution dots) from both the full-size maps and from the small maps on the atlas pages.

Click here to view a sample atlas page (Common Garter Snake).  Click on the full-size map link below the map to view the new mapping.

New Crayfish Species Documented in British Columbia: Northern Crayfish (Orconectes virilis)

 

Northern Crayfish (Orconectes virilis), photo  by Ian Gardiner

The Northern Crayfish (Orconectes virilis) has been documented in British Columbia for the first time.  E-Fauna BC freshwater mollusc editor and photographer Ian Gardiner has both photographed and collected this species in the East Kootenays.  Until Ian's work, BC had only one reported crayfish species, the Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which occurs further to the west in BC.   

In describing his find, Ian says:  "Informal reports of crayfish in the Kootenays, east of the known range of the Signal Crayfish, have occurred in the popular outdoors press and on internet sites but without reference to any particular species. In 2014 and 2015, this author both collected and photographed specimens of the Northern Crayfish in the east Kootenays. It was documented at the following sites: 1) a pond 3.2 km SW of Grasmere, BC 2) Loon Lake, 1.8 km NW of Grasmere, BC."

"There appears to be no reference in the formal literature to the occurrence of Northern Crayfish in British Columbia. The E-Fauna BC photographic documentation and specimens collected by the author, from the East Kootenays just north of the US border, would seem to be the first confirmation of this species in British Columbia."


View our atlas page for the Northern Crayfish.
View Ian's photos of the Northern Crayfish.

More Rare Bird Articles Now Available on E-Fauna BC

Several new rare bird articles have now been posted on E-Fauna BC in our Notes and Articles section.  These include articles for Smew, Gray Wagtail, Hooded Warbler, White-tailed Kite, White Wagtail, and White-winged Dove.  Thanks to authors Rick Toochin, Jamie Fenneman, Don Cecile and Gary Davidson for providing such detailed species accounts.  All articles are accompanied by voucher photos and include details on all occurrences in British Columbia. 

These articles are an excellent way to learn about vagrant and accidental species in BC, and include informative discussion on species movements and migration.  Full global range summaries are provided.