Giant dodder vs Long-tailed Sylph
Cuscuta reflexa compared with Aglaiocercus kingii
Taxonomic Classification
| Rank | Giant dodder | Long-tailed Sylph |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae (Plants) | Animalia (Animals) |
| Phylum | Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) | Chordata (Chordates) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Dicots) | Aves (Birds) |
| Order | Solanales (Solanales) | Apodiformes (Apodiformes) |
| Family | Convolvulaceae | Trochilidae |
| Genus | Cuscuta | Aglaiocercus |
| Species | Cuscuta reflexa | Aglaiocercus kingii |
Conservation Status
Giant dodder
LC — Least ConcernLong-tailed Sylph
LC — Least ConcernPhysical Characteristics
| Attribute | Giant dodder | Long-tailed Sylph |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | — | — |
| Average Lifespan | — | — |
| Average Length | — | — |
| Average Weight | — | — |
Habitat & Geographic Range
Giant dodder
Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm.
Distributed across Bhutan, Mauritius, and United States.
Long-tailed Sylph
Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.
Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.
Giant dodder
No description available.
Long-tailed Sylph
One of the most strikingly ornamented hummingbirds, male long-tailed sylphs have iridescent green plumage and dramatically elongated, ribbon-like outer tail feathers reaching up to 22 cm — over three times the body length. Found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Venezuela, they inhabit humid montane forest between 1,400–2,800 meters elevation. Males perform elaborate display flights to attract females. Their extravagant tails are a classic example of sexual selection via female preference.
Related Comparisons
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