Two Species of Bird Catcher Trees Savagely Kill Birds in the Puerto Rican Forests

Bird which fell victim to a bird catcher tree

The bird catcher trees have deadly fruits which trap birds and don’t let go

(Mirror Daily, United States) – Being a bird can be tough, as they often struggle with many threats out there. Scientists are aware of many predators who love to feast on winged creatures, but it seems they do not only have to guard themselves against moving foes. In the heart of the Puerto Rican, a team of researchers have recently discovered two species of bird catcher trees which capture the animals with their fruit.

The bird catcher trees act like savage killers

The two bird catcher trees both have fruits which can easily trap a bird, and prevent it from escaping. These fruits are covered in some sort of hooks, which attach to a bird’s body if it lands on the tree. Birds might carry these fruits with them, but they often get too entangled on their body, preventing them from escaping, and eventually killing them.

The fruits of these bird catcher trees are true killers. Most of the time, the trees are covered in tiny bones and carcasses of the birds which fell victims to the spikes, displaying a disturbing image meant to bring shivers down your spine.

The trees have been given the most suitable names

Scientists decided to call the bird catcher trees after two iconic female figures related to the Puerto Rican history. The first one is called Pisonia horneae, named after Frances W. Horne, an illustrator who drew many plants from the rich flora of the country. For the second tree, researchers chose the name Pisonia roqueae, after the Puerto Rican amateur ethnobotanist and writer Ana Roqué de Duprey.

Both women dedicated their lives to expanding the knowledge on the plants and flowers in Puerto Rico, so naming the impressive specimens of the country’s flora seemed like the most suitable choice. The two bird catcher trees have been unknown for the scientific community until recently.

Similarly, many academics were unaware of the great efforts of these two women. Now, the discoverers of the trees hope they can properly honor the memory of these two botany enthusiasts. All the details regarding the exciting tree species have been published in the journal Phytokeys.
Image Source: Flickr

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Matthew Slotkin

Matthew Slotkin has graduated from Rice University with a degree in History and English. He worked as an assistant professor before joining The Mirror Daily as a full time writer.