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African Lion
Panthera leo Range: Most of Africa, particularly south-east Habitat:Grassy plains, savannahs & semi-deserts. Diet: Large to medium sized prey (e.g. ...
African Lion
Panthera leo
Range: Most of Africa, particularly south-east
Habitat:Grassy plains, savannahs & semi-deserts.
Diet: Large to medium sized prey (e.g. giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs and antelope).
Creature Feature: Known as the ‘king of beasts' the male lion can weigh between 330 and 550 pounds, and his queen can weigh between 260 and 400 pounds. As one of the big cat species these animals can grow up to an impressive 10-foot in length. In the wild lions live between 13 and 23 years old and in captivity they can live up to 30 years. Only the male has a mane that serves several purposes. One is to make him look larger and more fearsome to other males and another reason is that it protects the vulnerable neck area when two males fight. The mane grows darker in colour with age.
Lions live in groups called ‘prides' which can range from 3 to 30 individuals. The main role of the male within the pride is protection from outsiders and his powerful roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. The females' role within the pride is to hunt for food and raise the young. Only one in four hunts are successful and so when food is brought back to the pride the lions will gorge themselves. The dominant males will always eat first.
Females give birth to 1to 6 cubs that stay with their mother for about 2 years. Lions can be inactive for up to 21 hours a day.
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Arrow Poison Dart Frogs
Dendrobates family Range: South America Habitat: Rainforest Diet: Spiders, insects, millipedes and worms. Creature Feature: These tiny brightly coloured ...
Arrow Poison Dart Frogs
Dendrobates family
Range: South America
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Spiders, insects, millipedes and worms.
Creature Feature: These tiny brightly coloured frogs usually measure between 2 and 5 centimetres and weigh only a few grams. Normally they are bright yellow, red, orange blue or green with bold stripes and crossbars. As their name suggests they are poisonous with skin glands that produce one of the strongest toxins in the world. Side effects from different frogs vary from local irritation to hallucinations to constriction of blood vessels. Since ancient times local Indians have used the frogs poisons for hunting, combats with enemy tribes and defence from European invaders. It is believed that the frogs do not produce the poison themselves, but pick it up from the ants that they eat in the wild.
These frogs seldom go into pools except to reproduce. They lay their eggs in luke warm pools surrounded by leaves high in the canopy. It is the males who will guard the eggs and once hatched the males will carry the tadpoles on their backs to a lake or a stream where there is a ready supply of food.
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Asian Short Clawed Otter
Aonyx cinerea Status: Near threatened Range: India and South East Asia. Habitat: Rice paddies, marshland and river. Diet: Fish, ...
Asian Short Clawed Otter
Aonyx cinerea
Status: Near threatened
Range: India and South East Asia.
Habitat: Rice paddies, marshland and river.
Diet: Fish, crab and small mammals.
Creature Feature:Asian Short Clawed Otters are the smallest species of otter in the world. They have short, dark brown hair with a lighter coloured patch on their throats. Unlike most other otter species, the Asian Short Clawed Otter's feet are only webbed on the last joint, not all of the way to the end of toe. Because of this lack of webbing these otters have an excellent sense of touch and coordination. This species can be found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps in Southern India, Southern China, South East Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines. They spend more time on land than any other otter species.
Asian Short Clawed Otters are one of the very few otter species that are social. Breeding pairs will stay together for life and both the male and the female will help to raise the young.
With excellent vision both above and below the water, these otters will use their tails as rudders when swimming. They locate their prey by probing below mud and under rocks and then using their forepaws to catch their food. This otter's diet consists of crabs, molluscs, fish and small aquatic mammals. In Asia the fishermen use the otters to drive fish into their nets. The otters then get to take as many fish as they want for themselves.
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Azara's Agouti
Dasyprocta azarae Status: Vulnerable Range: SE Brazil, Argentina & Paraguay Habitat:Rainforest Diet: Fallen Fruit Creature Feature:There are ten species ...
Azara's Agouti
Dasyprocta azarae
Status: Vulnerable
Range: SE Brazil, Argentina & Paraguay
Habitat:Rainforest
Diet: Fallen Fruit
Creature Feature:There are ten species of agouti in the world. The Azara's Agouti is one of the smallest and most distinctive of all agoutis. They have black/ grey fur with orange sections ranging from tawny yellow to bright orange.
This species of agouti can be found in the rain forests of Southeast Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Some local names for these animals include ‘Aguti Amarillento' in Argentina, ‘Cutia' in Brazil and ‘Acuti' in Paraguay.
Agoutis are secretive animals and will hide in burrows when in danger. They can become nocturnal in areas where they are regularly disturbed during the day although most are active in the daytime. The main diet of all agoutis is fallen fruit and they are attracted to the sounds of ripe fruits hitting the ground. When food is abundant they will bury some for time of scarcity. For this reason they have become very important seed dispersers within their South American rainforest habitats.
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Bali Starling
Leucopsar rothschildi Status: Critically endangered Range: Bali, Indonesia Habitat: Monsoon forest & Acacia savanna Diet: fruit, insects, worms, small reptiles ...
Bali Starling
Leucopsar rothschildi
Status: Critically endangered
Range: Bali, Indonesia
Habitat: Monsoon forest & Acacia savanna
Diet: fruit, insects, worms, small reptiles
Creature Feature:Also named the Rothchild's Mynah after the zoologist and author who discovered the species in 1911. The Bali Starling is the national bird of Bali. The Bali Starling is white in colour with black tips on its wings and tail feathers. Its legs are grey and its eyes are brown. The area around the eyes is bare skinned and blue in colour. Both males and females have a long lacy crest of white feathers on the top of their head.
Nests are made in tree holes out of various materials including straw, twigs, grasses, feathers and leaves. 2 to 5 turquoise coloured eggs, each the size of a small chicken's egg, are laid. The eggs are incubated for 12 to 14 days. These birds become very territorial during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season they feed in groups that used to have up to 40 individuals before the species became critically endangered.
The Bali Starling is incredibly rare in the wild due to threats from the caged bird trade, habitat destruction and competition for nest sites from other species. The entire population that exists can only be found within the boundaries of the Bali Barot National Park. The park has armed guards specifically to protect the Bali Starling from poachers. In 1999 only 12 Bali Starlings existed in the wild. The numbers have increased since then due to the release of some captive bred birds but the species is not yet out of danger.
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Black and White Ruffed Lemurs
Varecia variegata subcincta Status: Endangered Range: Eastern Madagascar Habitat: Rainforest canopy Diet: Sweet fruits, leaves, seeds, nectar. Creature Feature:Black ...
Black and White Ruffed Lemurs
Varecia variegata subcincta
Status: Endangered
Range: Eastern Madagascar
Habitat: Rainforest canopy
Diet: Sweet fruits, leaves, seeds, nectar.
Creature Feature:Black and White ruffed lemurs are one of the largest lemur species and are closely related to the Red Ruffed lemur. These two species do not associate with each other in the wild although they can understand each other's calls.
They are so named because of the patterning on their fur. These animals live in the canopy of the rainforest in small family groups and rarely ever come down to the forest floor where there are many lemur predators, most notably the Fossa.
Ruffed lemurs are the only type of lemur where the mothers will leave their young offspring in the nest while they forage for food. These nests are usually lined with the parents' fur.
They are a type of Pre-Monkey so don't use their hands to groom each other, instead they use their lower teeth.
All lemurs are only found in Madagascar, and because of their diet they are good fruit tree dispersers.
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Black Hornbill
Anthracoceros malayanus Status: Near Threatened Range: Sumatra, Borneo, S E Asia Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen forest Diet: Fruit, small mammals, birds ...
Black Hornbill
Anthracoceros malayanus
Status: Near Threatened
Range: Sumatra, Borneo, S E Asia
Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen forest
Diet: Fruit, small mammals, birds and invertebrates.
Creature Feature:The Black Hornbill is one of the less spectacular members of the Hornbill family with a uniform black plumage. This species is a small bird measures approximately 30 inches long. These birds have broad white tips to their wings and tail feathers. The casque (section on top of the bill) is generally larger in males and varies in colour according to the sex of the bird. The males have a yellow casque and the females have a black casque. Another way to tell males from females is that the males have brown eyes and the females have orange eyes. Both sexes have long curly eyelashes.
Typically seen in pairs, this is a very noisy species, especially during the breeding season. Nests are hidden within tree cavities and the female is enclosed inside with the 3 to 5 white eggs by a wall made from droppings and fruit pulp. She will stay inside the nest until the eggs have been incubated. The male regularly visits the nest to feed the female though small holes that have been left in the wall.
20% of the Black Hornbills diet consists of invertebrates and small animals. Although the majority of their diet is made up with fruit, they will also catch and eat bats and raid nests for eggs and young birds. They have a very dextrous bill that they use to manipulate and eat poisonous prey such as scorpions and centipedes without causing any harm to themselves.
Hornbills are becoming increasingly threatened in the wild due to deforestation. They are also eaten in large numbers throughout S E Asia.
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Black Swan
Cygnus atratus Status: Least Concern Range: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand Habitat: Lakes and ponds Diet: Aquatic plants and algae. Creature Feature: ...
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Status: Least Concern
Range: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand
Habitat: Lakes and ponds
Diet: Aquatic plants and algae.
Creature Feature: This species of swan is almost entirely black in colour apart from the white wing tips. They have a bright red eyes and bill that stand out against the rest of the body. The Black Swan can reach up to 142cm in length and weigh approximately 20lbs. The males are normally larger than the females. They have an enormous wingspan of up to 6 feet across and they have the longest neck of all swans that they use to reach food underwater.
These are non-migratory birds, however outside of the breeding season they travel long distances in search of food. They fly at night and rest during the day. Feeding usually occurs at dusk.
Black swans pair for life and both the male and female have active roles in the building of the nest and rearing of the cygnets. Unlike other species of swan, Black Swans are highly sociable and will often build nests within colonies. Nests are often untidy piles of reeds and grasses that are placed on small islands or floated in deeper waters. Up to 10 pale green eggs can be laid that take 35 to 40 days to incubate. The small grey cygnets are able to swim and feed themselves as soon as they have hatched.
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Black Wildebeest
Connochaetes gnouRange: Southern AfricaHabitat: Open plainsDiet: Grasses & shrubsStatus: Least ConcernCreature Feature: The wildebeest, or white tailed gnu, is a ...
Black Wildebeest
Connochaetes gnou
Range: Southern Africa
Habitat: Open plains
Diet: Grasses & shrubs
Status: Least Concern
Creature Feature:
The wildebeest, or white tailed gnu, is a member of the antelope family as they have horns and hooves. With a lifespan of up to 20 years, they can grow up to 4ft & weigh up to 400lbs. They inhabit the seasonal plains and open woodlands of Southern Africa between which they migrate. Massive herds of thousands of individuals leave the grasslands in May and return to them from the woodlands when November's summer rain falls.
Lone bulls, as in the picture above, will guard a territory preferably with shade, water and lush grasses. This will attract groups of migrating females, all who will mate with that male.
According to Bushmen the lazy wildebeest was last in line during the creation and so he received all the other animal's unwanted body parts. You can believe this when you consider their mish-mash appearance.
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Black-Cheeked Lovebird
Agapornis nigrigenis Status: Vulnerable Range: Zambia, parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe. Habitat: Tropical, dry open forest and grassland. Diet: Fruits, ...
Black-Cheeked Lovebird
Agapornis nigrigenis
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Zambia, parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Habitat: Tropical, dry open forest and grassland.
Diet: Fruits, seeds and buds.
Creature Feature:This is one of Africa's most threatened parrots. The initial decline in Black-cheeked lovebird numbers was in the 1920's and 1930's due to heavy trapping for the Pet Trade and the wild population never fully recovered. At present they face threats from habitat loss (to agriculture), the pet trade and long term climate change.
The name lovebird was given to this group of parrots because they form very close bonds between males and female, and will mate for life. They will form very large flocks and are very noisy birds, communicating via loud calls during flight.
They rely heavily on water holes because a lot of their solid diet has little moisture in it. Unfortunately due to global climate change a lot of their watering holes are disappearing, and the lovebirds are disappearing with them.
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Blue Eyed Cockatoo
Cacatua ophthalmica Status: Least Concern Range:Papua New Guinea Habitat: lowland forests Diet: seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, insects and their larvae. Creature ...
Blue Eyed Cockatoo
Cacatua ophthalmica
Status: Least Concern
Range:Papua New Guinea
Habitat: lowland forests
Diet: seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, insects and their larvae.
Creature Feature:Overall there are 17 species of cockatoo all belonging to the parrot family. The Blue Eyed Cockatoo gets its name from the patches of bare blue skin around their eyes. The males have black iris' and the females have red iris'. Mainly white in colour this cockatoo has a yellow crest on top of its head that is only visible when the feathers are raised. There are also yellow feathers hidden under the wings and tail feathers. The beak is black. Adult birds stand at approximately 20 inches tall and weigh 500 to 570 grams.
Cockatoos are very intelligent animals. They can be found in groups of 2 to 20 individuals. At dusk they will fly out above the forest in groups screeching loudly. Flight for these birds consists of fluttering wing beats interspersed with gliding.
The Blue Eyed Cockatoo is one of the friendliest and most playful of the cockatoo family. They are affectionate and are often used as pets. Cockatoos are able to mimic their human owners as their cousins the macaws do.
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Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythrorhyncha Status: Least Concern Range: N & E India, China & SE Asia Habitat: Forests and woodlands Diet: Fruit, ...
Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Status: Least Concern
Range: N & E India, China & SE Asia
Habitat: Forests and woodlands
Diet: Fruit, nectar, eggs, insects, small mammals.
Creature Feature:As its name suggests, the Red-billed Blue Magpie is a brightly coloured member of the crow family. This species is about the same size as the European Magpie but has much longer tail feathers. Its head, neck and chest are black with blue spots on the crown. The shoulders and rump are a dull blue in comparison to the long tail which is bright blue with a broad white tip. The tail feathers can grow up to 17 inches long. The under parts of the body are greyish cream in colour. The bill is bright orange/ red although in some parts of this species' range it can be yellow. The feet, legs and rings around the eyes are the same colour as the bill.
Blue Magpies are often seen in small groups foraging for food in the treetops and on the ground. They will raid bird nests for eggs and chicks.
Relatively shallow nests are built in trees and large shrubs. Usually 3 to 5 eggs are laid which the female incubates alone.
Blue magpies are a part of the crow family which are thought to be some of the most intelligent of all the birds.
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Blue-tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincoides Status: Common Range: Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Habitat: Coastal, semi-desert, forest margins. Diet:insects, snails, flowers, fruits ...
Blue-tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincoides
Status: Common
Range: Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea.
Habitat: Coastal, semi-desert, forest margins.
Diet:insects, snails, flowers, fruits & berrie.
Creature Feature:From the snout to the tip of the tail the Eastern Blue-tongued Skink measures on average 17 inches long. However they can grow to be a large as 22 inches long. As their name suggests they have a long bright blue tongue. They have broad flat bodies with short limbs and tails. The scales are smooth and overlap to keep dirt and grit out. The Eastern Blue-tongued Skink is pale silver-grey to brown in colour with a series of irregular dark brown bands on the top of the body and tail. The bands often have small white, dark edged spots. This Skink has no well defined teeth; however it is capable of giving a powerful bite. The tail can be shed as a defence mechanism and will eventually grow back.
The Eastern Blue-tongued Skink is ‘ovoviviparous' which means the females keep the eggs inside their bodies for the 100 day incubation period and the eggs hatch internally. The females will then expel the young from their bodies giving the illusion of live birth. The average number of young for this species is 6 to 12.
These Skinks are ground dwellers and will spend the majority of the day searching for food or basking in the sun. At night they will seek shelter in logs or under leaf litter. They are very shy and docile animals however when threatened they will puff themselves up, stick out their bright blue tongue and hiss loudly.
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Brazilian Tapir
Tapirus terrestris Status: Vulnerable Range: Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil & Paraguay. Habitat: Forests & wetlands Diet: Grasses, fruits, leaves and bark. ...
Brazilian Tapir
Tapirus terrestris
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil & Paraguay.
Habitat: Forests & wetlands
Diet: Grasses, fruits, leaves and bark.
Creature Feature: Also known as the Lowland or South American Tapir, the Brazilian tapir is nearly always found near water. Good at both swimming and diving these large animals can also move quickly across the land. They are dark brown in colour and have a low erect mane from the crown to the back of the neck. Their snout is long and mobile and can be used as a snorkel when underwater.
The Brazilian Tapir can weigh up to 600 pounds and measure approximately 3 feet at the shoulder. They are mainly nocturnal animals. Tapirs are related to rhinos and horses as they have three toes on each of their hind feet.
A single spotted and striped offspring is born after a gestation of 390- 400 days. The average lifespan of a captive Lowland Tapir is 25 years. Predators of the tapir include the Jaguar and man.
Brazilian Tapirs are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. The Piaroas Indians of South America do not hunt tapirs because they believe this animal to be sacred and that their ancestors are reincarnated into tapirs after death.
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Breton/Ouessant Sheep
Ovis aries Status: Domesticated (Rare breed) Range: Europe Habitat: Grassy plains, scrub land. Diet: Grass, hay & cereal Creature Feature:These miniature ...
Breton/Ouessant Sheep
Ovis aries
Status: Domesticated (Rare breed)
Range: Europe
Habitat: Grassy plains, scrub land.
Diet: Grass, hay & cereal
Creature Feature:These miniature sheep are the smallest breed in Europe. They originated from the Ile d'Ouessant in Brittany, where the locals made use of their very dense wool, and only left the island in the early part of the 20th century. It is thought that they descended from a breed of sheep that was carried aboard ship by Vikings.
They are a very hardy breed and can live upon poor grassland in harsh conditions. They are often kept in small groups rather than large flocks and are independent sheep that often give birth without any assistance.
Also called Breton Miniature Sheep, these animals were saved from extinction by a group of aristocrats that allowed them to graze upon grassland surrounding their chateaux. There are still only about 1000 animals around the world today and they are still popular as "eco" lawnmowers today.
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Capybara
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris Status: Lower risk- least concern Range: Extreme south of South America & North of South America. Habitat: grasslands ...
Capybara
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
Status: Lower risk- least concern
Range: Extreme south of South America & North of South America.
Habitat: grasslands & forests near water
Diet: grasses, aquatic plants.
Creature Feature:Capybaras are the largest species of rodent found alive today. On average they weigh 100 pounds and measure 2 feet tall and 4 feet long. Their scientific name means "Water Pig". Capybara's are semi- aquatic and can stay submerged for up to 5 minutes. They are close relatives of guinea pigs, chinchillas and mara.
Their bodies are specially adapted for swimming including webbed feet and the location of their eyes, ears and nostrils on top of their heads. They have coarse hair that is sparsely spread over their bodies so unfortunately they can sunburn very easily. For this reason they tend to be active at twilight, early morning and sunset. During the day when the sun is at its hottest they will rest in water.
Capybaras live in small groups of 10 to 20 individuals with 1 dominant male. They have a home range of approximately 25 to 50 acres and are very territorial. The main predators of capybara are jaguars, anacondas and caiman. Humans also hunt capybara for their meat and their skin that can be turned into leather.
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Carpathian Lynx
Lynx lynx capathica Status: Least Concern Range: Carpathian Mountain Habitat: Mountainous Diet: Rabits, fowl, small rodents Creature Feature: Although part of the ...
Carpathian Lynx
Lynx lynx capathica
Status: Least Concern
Range: Carpathian Mountain
Habitat: Mountainous
Diet: Rabits, fowl, small rodents
Creature Feature: Although part of the ‘small cat’ family, these animals are powerfully built. The average adult measures between 34 and 42 inches long and has an 8-inch tail and yellow/brown spotted coat. The ears are triangular and topped with tufts of hair. Well developed whiskers can grow to mane-like proportions in the winter, during which time the lynx’s already fury paws grow extra layers between the toes to create a snowshoe effect.
A keen sense of smell allows the lynx to detect prey via scent trails. Their ambush style attack means they rarely run, but will leap from several metres away or out of a tree onto an unsuspecting meal. Bears and wolves will steal the lynx’s food and so they hide scraps under foliage and rocks.
The Carpathian mountain range is a popular ecotourist destination that requires careful management to prevent over-development. Lack of financial resources to enforce existing legislation leads to illegal logging and cultural issues. These must be monitored to give a secure future for the Carpathian lynx.
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Children's Python
Antaresia childreni Status: Vulnerable Range: Northern Australia Habitat: Forest and desert Diet: small mammals, birds and reptiles Creature Feature:This ...
Children's Python
Antaresia childreni
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Northern Australia
Habitat: Forest and desert
Diet: small mammals, birds and reptiles
Creature Feature:This snake was named after the Victorian zoologist called J. G. Children. The children's Python is one of the smallest pythons in the world growing to approximately 1 metre in length. It is light to reddish brown and paler on the underside. Males generally have longer, thicker tails than the females. Juveniles have darker markings on their bodies than the adult pythons. These are non-venomous snakes.
10 to 15 eggs are laid inside a hollow tree or in an underground chamber. The female stays with the eggs, wrapping her body around the clutch to regulate the temperature until they have hatched.
The Children's Python prefers to stay on the ground spending much of its time hidden in caves and rock crevices. They prey on a large selection of small animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals including bats. These snakes are nocturnal, hunting at night.
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Diana Monkey
Cercopithecus diana Status: Endangered Range: Sierra Leone to Ghana Habitat: mature semi-deciduous forest Diet: Fruit, leaves, shoots & flowers ...
Diana Monkey
Cercopithecus diana
Status: Endangered
Range: Sierra Leone to Ghana
Habitat: mature semi-deciduous forest
Diet: Fruit, leaves, shoots & flowers
Creature Feature:The Diana Monkey is named after the Roman Goddess of hunting because the white markings across the monkey's forehead are thought to resemble her bow.
Females tend to weigh approximately 5.4Kg, while the males weigh slightly less at approximately 5Kg.
The Diana Monkey can generally be found in groups consisting of 5 to 50 individuals. Typically these groups are made up of 1 male and numerous females. Daughters will stay with their mothers for life.
Only one baby is born at a time after a gestation of 165 days. The average life span for Diana monkeys in the wild is 34 years.
They communicate to each other using various calls, ranging from a deep booming sound to a high pitched shriek. The white body markings are also used as visual cues to communicate each other's location in the treetops.
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Domestic Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus Status: Lower risk/ least concern Range: Europe, N & S America, Africa, Australia. Habitat: Grasslands near water Diet: ...
Domestic Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Status: Lower risk/ least concern
Range: Europe, N & S America, Africa, Australia.
Habitat: Grasslands near water
Diet: Grasses leaves, buds, tree bark and roots.
Creature Feature:Also known as the European Rabbit or the Old World Rabbit, these herbivores can be found anywhere in the world except in Asia or Antarctica. They measure between 38 and 50 cm in length and weigh 1 to 7 Kg. The fur is generally grey with black and brown tints however individuals with darker or black fur are not uncommon.
Domestic Rabbits are generalised herbivores eating most vegetation they come across. They will also re-ingest their own faeces to obtain extra nutrients from their food.
These rabbits can reproduce year round although most tend to restrict their breeding to the first half of the year. The young are called kittens and 6 to 10 naked and blind babies are born in each litter. The mother will only visit the nest for a few minutes each day to nurse and feed her young. Her milk is extremely rich and helps the kittens to grow very quickly. At 4 weeks old the kittens are weaned and must fend for themselves. The average lifespan for these rabbits is 9 years although mortality rates in the first year can be as high as 90%.
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Domestic Turkey
Status: Domestic Range: N/A Habitat: N/A Diet: Seeds and grains. Creature Feature:Domestic turkeys are bred on farms for profit. ...
Domestic Turkey
Status: Domestic
Range: N/A
Habitat: N/A
Diet: Seeds and grains.
Creature Feature:Domestic turkeys are bred on farms for profit. They are twice the weight of a Wild Turkey (Maleagris gallopavo) and because of this excess weight cannot fly. In the Wild, turkeys live in North American woodlands. They feed on acorns, seeds, insects and wild berries. Most of their time is spent foraging on the ground. They spend their nights roosting in the trees on low branches (as Wild Turkeys can fly). Wild Turkeys are covered in Dark feathers that enable them o blend into the forest background. Domestic Turkeys tend to be white in colour with dark markings on the tail feathers. In both the wild and domestic turkeys the bare skin on the throat and head can change colour from grey to red, white and blue when the turkey is excited or distressed.
Both Wild and Domestic turkeys tend to follow the same courtship rituals. The males will puff up their feathers and fan out their tail feathers just like a peacock does. The males will strut around making grunting noises and gobbling sounds. In the wild, after mating the female will prepare a nest under a bush in the woods and lay up to 18 tan & speckled brown eggs. The incubation period takes approximately 1 month. Baby Turkeys are known as Poults and will stay with their mother for about a year.
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Dumeril's Boa
Acrantophis dumerili Status: Vulnerable Range: Southwest Madagascar Habitat: Forest Diet: small mammals Creature Feature: Dumeril's boa, also known as ...
Dumeril's Boa
Acrantophis dumerili
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Southwest Madagascar
Habitat: Forest
Diet: small mammals
Creature Feature: Dumeril's boa, also known as the Madagascar ground boa, is a striking snake that grows up to 1.8 m in length. Like most members of the Boa snake family, it is a fairly chunky or stout snake with grey and brown bands along the length of the body, with black markings.
It has no venom and inhabits dry forests, often close to villages, where it presumably feeds on rats. Dumeril's boa kills small mammals by constricting the prey in coils of its body. They tend to hunt at night and posses heat sensitive pits around the mouth that help them to detect their prey. Boas give birth to live young.
Threats include the widespread habitat destruction for agriculture or livestock grazing, collection for food and the skins are used for leather. This snake is highly desirable in the pet trade and so international trade in wild specimens in banned under CITES.http://www.arkive.org/
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Dwarf Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig
Sus scrofa domesticus Status: Domestic Range: South East Asia (originated) Diet: Tubers, roots, vegetation, berries, flowers. Creature Feature: The ...
Dwarf Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig
Sus scrofa domesticus
Status: Domestic
Range: South East Asia (originated)
Diet: Tubers, roots, vegetation, berries, flowers.
Creature Feature: The Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig is found in South East Asia. They are round and heavy bodied with short legs, thick skin and a long rounded snout. Vietnamese pot bellied pigs are usually black in colour but can also have brown patches. Their backbone is bent like a saddle causing the abdomen to nearly drag on the ground. Pigs have poor vision but good senses of smell and hearing.
Pigs will eat almost anything they can find and are known to be very fond of roots and tubers. A group of piglets is called a farrow. Pigs give birth to farrows of 2 to 14 piglets after a gestation of 130 days. Pigs can often be found wallowing in mud to protect their skin from insects and sunburn. Wild pigs are often nocturnal, however once domesticated they adjust to a daytime schedule very easily.
Although often thought of as lazy animals, pigs can run and gallop quickly over short distances.
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East African Crowned Crane
Balearicum reguloum Status: Least Concern Range: Eastern Congo, Uganda, Kenya & Central Tanzania. Habitat: Open marshlands, grasslands & swamps. ...
East African Crowned Crane
Balearicum reguloum
Status: Least Concern
Range: Eastern Congo, Uganda, Kenya & Central Tanzania.
Habitat: Open marshlands, grasslands & swamps.
Diet: Plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish & eggs.
Creature Feature: African Crowned Cranes have slate grey coloured bodies with white and brown feathers above and below the wings. They are large long legged birds with long necks. Adults are approximately 40 inches in height. On top of their heads are sets of stiff golden bristles that resemble crowns. The face has dark, white and red markings and patches.
African Crowned Cranes usually live in pairs or family groups although flocks of up to 100 birds have been observed. They are the only member of the crane family that roosts in trees. When searching for food they will stamp their feet as they walk so that and insects on the ground are flushed out and can be caught easily.
Cranes pair for life and courtship consists of dance-like motions that include behaviours such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing and wing flapping. 2 to 3 glossy, dirty- white eggs with small brown spots are laid and incubated for approximately 4 weeks. Both the parents participate in the incubation process. The chicks can run as soon as they hatch.
This species of crane is known as a living fossil as they lived in the Eocene period (54 to 38million years ago!). Some African people believe these birds bring rain.
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Emperor Tamarins
Saguinus imperatorStatus: Least ConcernRange: Bolivia, Brazil and PeruHabitat: Lowland forestDiet: Fruits, gums, saps, insects, nectar, small vertebrates and eggs. Emperor Tamarins ...
Emperor Tamarins
Saguinus imperator
Status: Least Concern
Range: Bolivia, Brazil and Peru
Habitat: Lowland forest
Diet: Fruits, gums, saps, insects, nectar, small vertebrates and eggs.
Emperor Tamarins are found in family groups of 2 to 8 individuals consisting of a dominant female (usually the oldest female), her mate and their offspring. Often females will form groups with more than one male. These Tamarins give birth to twins after a gestation period of 140 to 145 days. When they are born the young are looked after by all members of the group, even the males. These small monkeys have a 17 year life span.
Tamarin groups will call loudly and scent mark to sustain their territory, and will form mixed troops with different species of monkeys. Group members will groom each other daily to strengthen social bonds and will sleep as a group in the same tree.
Emperor Tamarins are named so because of their long white moustaches. They were given this name in jest by a Swiss Zoologist who likened their moustaches to that of Germany’s Emperor Wilhelm II, and the joke stuck!
Threats to the Emperor Tamarin include habitat destruction (they have a relatively small range in the wild) and the pet trade.
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Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinusStatus: EndangeredRange: AsiaHabitat: WetlandDiet: FishCreature Feature: Fishing cats are one of the largest lesser cats with muscular bodies and ...
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
Status: Endangered
Range: Asia
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Fish
Creature Feature:
Fishing cats are one of the largest lesser cats with muscular bodies and stocky legs. They have a short tail and long head and a beautifully grey coat covered in spots and stripes. This camouflage helps them to creep alongside riverbanks and swamps.
Unusually for a cat but as the name suggests, fishing cats prey primarily on fish and so they have adapted to this semi-aquatic lifestyle by evolving webbed paws. Thus these carnivores are proficient swimmers, allowing them to catch even frogs and crustaceans.
Unfortunately, given the chance, these cats will consume livestock and so they have been hunted by farmers. Their waterway habitats are cleared for farming or become polluted. Over-fishing depletes their food source and some countries rely on fishing cat body parts for medicine. It's essential to breed this species in captivity and not allow them to become any more endangered.
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Fossa
Cryptoprocta ferox Status: Endangered Range: Madagascar Habitat: Rainforest Diet: Lemurs, birds, small mammals and reptiles Creature Feature:Madagascar's largest carnivore, ...
Fossa
Cryptoprocta ferox
Status: Endangered
Range: Madagascar
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Lemurs, birds, small mammals and reptiles
Creature Feature:Madagascar's largest carnivore, the Fossa, can be very elusive and is rarely seen in the wild. These sleek furry animals look like a cross between a cat and a dog. However despite its appearance it is actually a member of the civet family making it distantly related to meerkats and mongooses. Fossas have a cat-like head, retractile claws and webbed feet. They are very agile creatures and are extremely good at jumping from tree to tree.
The Fossa is mostly solitary except during the breeding season. Both sexes mark off their territories using scent glands on their chests, necks and backsides. They are nocturnal hunters and over half of their diet is made up of lemurs. When they are not hunting, Fossas spend most of their time dozing in trees.
Females give birth to 2 to 4 young each time which are weaned after 4 months. However they still continue to grow until they are 2 years old. In captivity the Fossa can live to be 20 years old. This species is now part of an international breeding programme to try to increase the likelihood of the survival of the species in the wild.
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Geoffroy's Tufted-ear Marmoset
Callithrix geoffroyi Status: Vulnerable Range: South East Brazil Habitat: Lowland forest Diet: Fruits, gums, saps, insects, nectar. Creature Feature:Geoffroy's ...
Geoffroy's Tufted-ear Marmoset
Callithrix geoffroyi
Status: Vulnerable
Range: South East Brazil
Habitat: Lowland forest
Diet: Fruits, gums, saps, insects, nectar.
Creature Feature:Geoffroy's Marmosets are found in groups of 8 to 10 individuals consisting of a dominant female, her mate and their offspring. These marmosets mate for life and after a gestation period of 4.5 months twins are born.
The home range for a family group can be up to 5 hectares in size. Home ranges can overlap and although these marmosets do not defend their territories, they do mark their presence using scent.
Geoffroy's Marmosets have specially shaped incisors that allow them to carve small holes into the trunks of trees when searching for sap and gum. Each group has a number of favourite trees to which they frequently visit to tap the pre-carved holes for sap. They also eat insects and will follow swarms of Army Ants that flush various small animals up into the trees making them easy prey for the marmosets.
Threats to the Geoffroy's Marmosets include habitat destruction, persecution (due to the fear that they carry yellow fever and malaria) and exportation to zoos and biomedical research centres.
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Goat
Capra hircus Status: Vulnerable Range: USA, Canada, S. America, S. Asia, UK, Australia. Habitat: Open grasslands Diet: grasses & vegetation ...
Goat
Capra hircus
Status: Vulnerable
Range: USA, Canada, S. America, S. Asia, UK, Australia.
Habitat: Open grasslands
Diet: grasses & vegetation
Creature Feature: Males usually weigh between 45 and 55 kilos and females weigh between 25 and 35 kilos. Colouration of the fur varies from black and brown to multicoloured. The males have beards and generally have a strong smell during breeding seasons.
Goats tend to move in groups that can become large herds as the family numbers increase. The home range of each group varies in size from 100 metres to 2 kilometres in width. The males do not defend these ranges and often wander more widely than females. Goats prefer open areas where they can rest and sun themselves. At night or in bad weather they will seek shelter under rocky outcrops.
Goats were originally native to Asia but are now distributed worldwide since being introduced to various islands for their milk. They are sometimes referred to as "the most single destructive herbivore" due to their ability to digest poorer quality plants (including a lot of native plant species to some islands) than most herbivores. For this reason they have gained a reputation of being the "last one standing" in severely over grazed environments.
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Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia Status: Endangered Range: Brazil, South America Habitat: Coastal tropical rain forest Diet: insects and fruit, occasionally small birds ...
Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia
Status: Endangered
Range: Brazil, South America
Habitat: Coastal tropical rain forest
Diet: insects and fruit, occasionally small birds & lizards, toads & frogs, eggs.
Creature Feature: The Golden Lion Tamarin has become a national icon of conservation in South America due to its amazing recovery from approximately 200 individuals in the wild in 1970 to over 1000 individuals in 2003. This tamarin was once considered the most endangered primate in the world. Captive breeding in zoos world-wide has contributed to this increase in numbers and still carries on today. The reason for such low numbers in the wild is due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. However, new tax incentives given to farmers who protect virgin forest on their land are helping to preserve remaining areas of forest.
These curious creatures weigh between 410 and 650g and the males are larger than the females. Golden Lion Tamarins usually give birth to twins, which the father carries on his back.
These are diurnal animals (active during the day) and nest at night in holes in hollow trees that they usually line with fur. Their main predators are eagles and hawks that can spot them easily in the trees from the air.
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Greater Hill Mynah
Gracula religiosa Status: Least Concern Range: South East Asia Habitat: semi-evergreen forests Diet: fruits, nectar, insects, small lizards. Creature ...
Greater Hill Mynah
Gracula religiosa
Status: Least Concern
Range: South East Asia
Habitat: semi-evergreen forests
Diet: fruits, nectar, insects, small lizards.
Creature Feature:The Greater Hill Mynah is a small bird with glossy black feathers that have a metallic blue sheen. It has white patches on its wings and long toes and claws for gripping branches. Behind the each of the eyes is a bright yellow fleshy wattle (fold of skin) that stretches around to the back of the neck. The beak is orange in colour.
This highly social bird gathers during the daytime in groups of 5 to 10 individuals. During these gatherings they call and chatter with a wide repertoire of sounds. Each bird has its own set of calls. Towards sunset the Mynahs become more active and congregate in large noisy flocks. They stay in these flocks for about an hour before retiring to the trees to roost. This species roosts in tree holes or on leafy branches either individually or in pairs or small groups.
Mynah birds pair for life and this species breeds in colonies. Loosely woven nests made of thin twigs, grass and feathers are located in tree holes. 2 to 3 eggs are laid in May or June and are incubated for 13 to 15 days. The eggs are bright blue in colour with chocolate or reddish/ brown blotches. Both the parents take part in the rearing of the chicks.
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Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus Status: Lower risk/ least Range: South America Habitat: rocky areas, savannas, forest edges and swamps. Diet: ...
Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
Status: Lower risk/ least
Range: South America
Habitat: rocky areas, savannas, forest edges and swamps.
Diet: grasses, vegetation, roots and buds.
Creature Feature:In South America the guinea pig is called a ‘Cuy'. There are many different theories as to how the Guinea Pig got its name, one is that the Europeans mistakenly thought it had come from Guinea, another theory is that when sailors arrived home from South America with these animals that squeak like pigs they sold them as pets for 1 guinea.
In the wild guinea pigs can reach weight of up to 700 g and measure 20 to 50 cm in length. Their fur is longer and coarser than that of pet guinea pigs and is generally grey or brown in colour. They are stocky animals with short legs and no external tail.
Guinea pigs mate throughout the year and females will typically give birth to 2 litters each year. Gestation takes 68 days. Normally 1 to 4 pups are born which are fully furred and can digest solid foods within 24 hours of birth.
Guinea Pigs are social animals living in groups of approximately 10 individuals. They are most active at night and produce a variety of different noises from ‘squeaks' when excited and ‘chirps' when stressed. Guinea Pigs have been one of the most important food sources in ancient Peru since before Inca times.
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Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris Status: Least Concern Range: South Africa Habitat: Scrubland, Savanna Diet: seeds, berries, vegetation, small snails, spiders, insects, etc. Creature ...
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Status: Least Concern
Range: South Africa
Habitat: Scrubland, Savanna
Diet: seeds, berries, vegetation, small snails, spiders, insects, etc.
Creature Feature: This flock-forming game bird was originally domesticated by the Romans as a food source. They are dark in colour with a beaded pattern on their feathers consisting of tiny white dots. They have a bony horn-like helmet on top of their naked head.
The males adopt a hump-backed posture during encounters with other males and while courting. Although capable of flight these birds prefer to spend the majority of their time on the ground foraging for food. However at night they will roost in large groups in the trees. In the wild these groups can be up to around 2000 birds in 1 tree. During the day they forage in much smaller groups, walking in a single file line through the bush imitating the leader. These birds are very good runners and can cover up to 20 miles in one day.
The nests are shallow cavities in the ground where 12 to 15 eggs are laid and incubated for 24 to 30 days. Young guineafowl are called ‘keets'.
These are very noisy birds. When alarmed they will make a loud, high-pitched call of "kek-kek-kekkek-kekekekek".
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Hoffman's Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni Status: Data deficient Range: Central to Southern South America Habitat: Rainforest Diet: Leaves, twigs and fruits Creature ...
Hoffman's Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni
Status: Data deficient
Range: Central to Southern South America
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Leaves, twigs and fruits
Creature Feature:There are two main types of sloth: the two toed sloth and the three toed sloth. The Hoffman's Sloth is of the two toed variety. Each of the feet has long curved claws that are used for gripping onto branches when hanging upside down in the treetops. The claws also act as formidable weapons against predators. The sloth's fingers and toes have grown together into one fold of skin and have consequently lost their function. Due to their upside down lifestyle the sloth's back muscles are weak in comparison to other mammals, however they do have very strong shoulder, neck, hip, arm & leg muscles.
Sloth's have two different types of grey/ brown fur, a short layer close to the skin and a longer layer of specially adapted guard hairs. The guard hairs attract algal growth, giving the sloth a green appearance that acts as very good camouflage against the trees. The hair grows ‘back-to-front' from the belly to the back so that rain can run off easily when the sloth is upside down.
Sloth's are very slow moving and will only go to the ground once a week to defecate. It is not known why this behaviour occurs on the ground. Movement through the canopy is restricted to night time, under the cover of darkness. Gestation lasts 11.5 months, after which a single offspring is born.
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Humboldt 's Penguin
Spheniscus humboldti Status: Vulnerable Range: Chile, Columbia, Ecuador & Peru Habitat: Rocky mainland shores Diet: Fish such as Anchovies & ...
Humboldt 's Penguin
Spheniscus humboldti
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Chile, Columbia, Ecuador & Peru
Habitat: Rocky mainland shores
Diet: Fish such as Anchovies & Sardines, and krill
Creature Feature: The Humboldt penguin can be found living in small colonies along the Humboldt Straight off the West coast of South America.
These penguins stand at approximately 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh around 9lbs. The feathers are stiff and overlap to waterproof and insulate the body. They are black/ grey in colour with a white underside to act as camouflage against predators both above and below the water. Adults have a distinctive black horseshoe shaped band across their breast and a white head stripe.
Nests are made from a substance called Guano (penguin poo) in crevices between boulders. Both the parents take turns in caring for the eggs which take 40 days to incubate. Normally two eggs are laid at a time. Chicks are born with a thick coat of grey fluffy feathers. These feathers eventually turn to grey waterproof feathers. Each year all of the penguins go through a moult where they lose their feathers to be replaced with new ones.
In the water penguins can reach speeds of up to 20 mph. They use their feet and tail as a rudder to steer and turn in the water.
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Kafue Flats Lechwe
Kobus leche kafuensis Status: Lower risk- conservation dependent Range:Kafue Flats, South, Central Africa Habitat: Marshes, floodplains, and rivers. Diet: Grasses, ...
Kafue Flats Lechwe
Kobus leche kafuensis
Status: Lower risk- conservation dependent
Range:Kafue Flats, South, Central Africa
Habitat: Marshes, floodplains, and rivers.
Diet: Grasses, water plants.
Creature Feature: These medium sized antelope are adapted to life on the floodplains. Their hooves are long and fairly narrow which makes it easy for them to manoeuvre around boggy marshes. These antelopes are at ease in the water and are very good swimmers. They feel safe when they are grazing shoulder deep in water and when fleeing from predators they will fully submerge themselves with only their nostrils showing above water. Their main predators are lions, leopards, cheetahs, cape hunting dogs, crocodiles and pythons.
In the wild these lechwe can be found in herds of up to 400 individuals. The herd's peak activity time is in the morning and late afternoon.
Male lechwe have long swept back horns and all Kafue Flats Lechwe carry a red/ brown coat of long hair. Rams are highly territorial and ewes will move freely with their offspring between several different territories. Males that fail to establish a territory gather in bachelor herds until they are stronger.
Gestation lasts 7 to 8 months after which a single offspring is born. Ewes hide the newborns in long grass for 2 to 3 weeks until they are big enough to join the rest of the herd.
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Kinkajou
Potos flavus Status: Lower risk least concern Range: South America, Belize, Peru Habitat:Rainforest Diet: Fruit, nectar, buds, eggs, small creatures Creature ...
Kinkajou
Potos flavus
Status: Lower risk least concern
Range: South America, Belize, Peru
Habitat:Rainforest
Diet: Fruit, nectar, buds, eggs, small creatures
Creature Feature:Other names for the Kinkajou include ‘night walker' and the Honey Bear. A relative of the raccoon, the kinkajou is a nocturnal animal that is found in the South American rainforests. It is roughly the size of a house cat.
They have a varied diet of fruits, honey, nectar, eggs and insects. To reach nectar in the tall rainforest plants the Kinkajou has a 6 inch long tongue. They act as important pollinators within the rainforest spreading the seeds and pollen as they move around the trees.
Kinkajous have prehensile tails that they use as a fifth limb when climbing however they cannot use this to hold food.
Their soft, thick fur keeps them warm in the rain and provides camouflage against predators. Enemies of the Kinkajou include Jaguar, Tayra, Jaguarundi, Harpy eagle and man.
Usually one cub is born after a gestation of 4 months although occasionally twins are born. The average lifespan of a Kinkajou in the wild is 23 years.
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Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis Status: Least Concern Range: Sub- Saharan Africa Habitat: grasslands and savanna Diet: leaves, flowers, grass & fruits. Gnaw ...
Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis
Status: Least Concern
Range: Sub- Saharan Africa
Habitat: grasslands and savanna
Diet: leaves, flowers, grass & fruits. Gnaw on bones for Calcium.
Creature Feature: The Leopard Tortoise is a large attractive tortoise that can grow as large as 2 feet in length and weigh up to 80lbs. The shell is high domed with a bold pattern. Young Leopard Tortoises have dark brown or black leopard patterns on their shells while adults have smaller spots. The head, limbs and tail are brown/ yellow. They have club like hind limbs that are heavily scaled with clawed feet. Males are usually larger than the females.
The female digs a 12 inch hole with her hind feet and drops clutches of 5 to 30 white eggs at three week intervals over 20 weeks. The eggs have tough shells that are resistant to damage and rapid dehydration. The eggs hatch 1 year later. The hatchlings may have to wait for several weeks in their burrow for rain to soften the ground enough for them to dig their way out.
The Leopard Tortoise will travel long distances in search of food. They have keen eyesight and a well developed sense of smell and taste. During hot, dry seasons theses tortoises will dig a hole in the ground and sit in it until the outside temperatures cool down.
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Lesser Malayan Mouse Deer
Tragulus javanicus Status: Lower risk- least concern Range: South East Asia Habitat: Sub tropical/ tropical forest Diet: Leaves, buds and ...
Lesser Malayan Mouse Deer
Tragulus javanicus
Status: Lower risk- least concern
Range: South East Asia
Habitat: Sub tropical/ tropical forest
Diet: Leaves, buds and fruits
Creature Feature:The name ‘Mouse deer' refers to the small size of this species. This tiny animal that resembles a deer is a member of the Chevrotain family and is 18 to 22 inches long. They have thin legs that are about same thickness of a pencil. The females are usually smaller than the males.
The Mouse Deer has no antlers or horns but the adult males have elongated tusk- like upper canines. This type of chevrotain is brown with an orange tint and their underside is white. There are white vertical markings on the neck. The head is triangular in shape and the body is round with elevated rear quarters.
Mouse deers are extremely territorial and when agitated will stamp their hooves on the ground up to 7 times a second which produces a small drum roll sound.
The Lesser Malay Mouse Deer is a very shy, usually silent creature that pairs for life. Offspring are born fully developed and can stand within 30 minutes of birth. Gestation lasts 4 and a half months and the average lifespan in the wild is 12 years. These animals are threatened by deforestation and hunting for their skins.
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Madagascan Radiated Tortoise
Geochelone radiata Status: Vulnerable Range: Southern Madagascar Habitat: forests and woodlands Diet: grasses, fruits and succulents Creature Feature: The ...
Madagascan Radiated Tortoise
Geochelone radiata
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Southern Madagascar
Habitat: forests and woodlands
Diet: grasses, fruits and succulents
Creature Feature: The Madagascan Radiated Tortoise is considered to be one of the most beautiful tortoises in the world. The shell of the Madagascan Radiated Tortoise can reach a length of 16 inches. The weight of an adult Radiated Tortoise can be up to 35lbs. The shell has a high dome and is dark with yellow lines that radiate out from the centre of each plate. The legs, feet and head are yellow. The feet are stumpy like an elephants and help to support the weight of the heavy shell. Male and females are very similar in appearance but males tend to have slightly longer tails.
3 to 12 eggs are laid in a pre-excavated hole about 6 to 8 inches deep. The eggs take 5 to 8 months to incubate. Hatchlings are white in colour. The lifespan for this species of tortoise is 40 to 50 years.
The Radiated Tortoise is a herbivore and spends 90% of its time grazing on grasses, and succulents. Threats to these tortoises include habitat destruction and exploitation for food purposes.
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Mara
Dolichotis patagonum Status: Lower risk- near threatened Range: Argentina, South America. Habitat: Grassland Diet: grass and vegetation Creature Feature:This ...
Mara
Dolichotis patagonum
Status: Lower risk- near threatened
Range: Argentina, South America.
Habitat: Grassland
Diet: grass and vegetation
Creature Feature:This long legged rodent has a body similar to that of a hoofed animal. Also known as a Patagonian Cavy the mara can be found in Central and Southern Argentina. Maras prefer arid dry grasslands and brushlands with a great deal of open space.
They are grey/brown with a white belly and have a head and body length of 690 to 750 mm. Mara have large eyes and nose, slightly pointed ears and their hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs.
Maras are monogamous for life. They breed 2 or 3 times a year and after a gestation of 3 months a litter of 1to 3 young are born. The young are placed into communal dens, which can be home to the offspring of up to 15 cavy pairs. Adult pairs take turns to visit the den to nurse their young. Males will drive off other visiting adult pairs when nursing. Females use scent to locate their young and will drive off any other offspring that isn't theirs.
Mara can travel at speeds of 45 km/h for more than 1000 metres. They spend a great deal of the day basking in the sun. Patagonian Cavies will eat almost any vegetation although they do prefer grasses and herbs. Numbers are declining in the wild due to habitat destruction and competition with the introduced European Hare.
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Meerkat
Suricata suricatta Status: Lower risk- least concern Range: South Africa Habitat: Open, rocky plains Diet: Scorpions, beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, ...
Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
Status: Lower risk- least concern
Range: South Africa
Habitat: Open, rocky plains
Diet: Scorpions, beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, small mammals and reptiles, birds, eggs, tubers & roots.
Creature Feature:Meerkats are part of the Mongoose family and stand approximately 30 cm tall. They are built to withstand dry desert conditions. Dark eye patches act as built in sunglasses to help to reflect the bright sunlight away from their eyes. They have non-retractable claws for digging and closable ears to keep sand out. Meerkats have dark skin on their bellies with very sparse hair that absorbs heat from the sun when they ‘sunbathe'. Meerkats live in groups of up to 30 individuals called a ‘mob' or a ‘gang'. Each mob is led by an alpha male and female who do most of the breeding.
Martial Eagles and Jackals are meerkats' main predators and each mob will have several members on look out or sentry duty to warn the rest of the group of danger. When on sentry duty, a meerkat will stand up on his hind legs using his tail as a tripod for balance. When danger is spotted, the sentry meerkat will give out a call to tell the others what sort of danger there is. There are various alarm calls for different predators. Meerkats are highly territorial.
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Nyala
Tragelaphus angasiiStatus: Least concernRange: South Eastern AsiaHabitat: Savannah woodlandDiet: Twigs, leaves, flowers & fruitCreature Feature: A shy antelope species that ...
Nyala
Tragelaphus angasii
Status: Least concern
Range: South Eastern Asia
Habitat: Savannah woodland
Diet: Twigs, leaves, flowers & fruit
Creature Feature:
A shy antelope species that dislikes open space and so is usually seen, when finally spotted, amongst bushes and thicket. At around 3ft tall, it is surprising they hide so easily, but brownish fur and stripes allow the nyala to melt into their background. Exceptionally large ears compensate for poor eye sight.
Mothers will leave their newborn hidden away for the first couple of weeks and return to clean and nurse them. Upon maturity, females will usually stay with the herd where as males are driven off by courting bulls. These adult males display to scare off rivals by lifting their tail and heads and a crest of white fur on their back. If this fails, they use their spiralled horns to win the right to females in season.
Although not very endangered, nyala populations have been effected by the clearing of land for agriculture.
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Ostrich
Struthio camelusStatus: Least concernRange: AfricaHabitat: Savannah/GrasslandDiet: Grass & seedCreature Feature: Ostrich are real record breakers; they are the fastest bird ...
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Status: Least concern
Range: Africa
Habitat: Savannah/Grassland
Diet: Grass & seed
Creature Feature:
Ostrich are real record breakers; they are the fastest bird on land, layer of the biggest egg & largest living bird. Like their emu and kiwi relatives, they are flightless and so rely on long legs to sprint them away from danger. Their powerful leg muscles also deliver a potentially lethal kick if something gets too close. During mating season, males' legs turn blue and their faces a bright pink. The brighter the colour, the more healthy and attractive a female finds them!
Ostriches live in groups of 5-50 individuals who will lie down and hide in the grass to conceal their numbers. They are not the brightest birds, their eyes are bigger than their brains, but they do not bury their head in the sand.
Ostrich will often enhance their diet with locusts but as they have no teeth, they will also swallow small pebbles to help digest bugs and sticky-plant matter.
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Owston's Civet
Chrotogale owstoni Status: Vulnerable Range: N. Vietnam, N. Laos, S. China Habitat: Forests & wooded lowland river basins. Diet: Earthworms, ...
Owston's Civet
Chrotogale owstoni
Status: Vulnerable
Range: N. Vietnam, N. Laos, S. China
Habitat: Forests & wooded lowland river basins.
Diet: Earthworms, small invertebrates and vertebrates.
Creature Feature: The Owston's Civet has a small tawny buff-grey coloured body with black markings on the back and tail. There are normally 4 longitudinal bands on the back and the last two thirds of the tail are entirely black. The legs have black spots on them and the underside of the body is pale in colour. The head is quite small with a long tapering snout containing small teeth.
Dens are made under large tree trunks, in dense bush or inside natural holes within trees, rocks or soil. Each female has 1 to 2 litters a year. After a gestation period of 2 to 3 months, 1 to 3 young are born. Newborn Owston's Civets weigh 75 to 88 grams.
Owston's Civets are nocturnal and start their foraging at dusk. They spend most of their time on the ground using their long snouts to dig into the soil for food. Occasionally they will move up into the trees to look for food. It is thought these civets are largely solitary in the wild. Both males and females scent mark their territory with a foul smelling scent that may also be used in defense against predators. Threats to these animals include deforestation, hunting for the meat trade and use within traditional medicines.
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Peafowl
Pavo cristatus Status: Least Concern Range:India and Sri Lanka Habitat: forest Diet: insects, grains, seeds, fruit, mice and snakes. ...
Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Status: Least Concern
Range:India and Sri Lanka
Habitat: forest
Diet: insects, grains, seeds, fruit, mice and snakes.
Creature Feature:In 1963 the Peacock was declared the national bird of India. The Peafowl is the largest member of the Pheasant and turkey family. The males are very colourful and striking birds. They have blue and green coloured feathers with a long train of feathers that are supported by the real tail feathers underneath. Only the males have a train which they do not develop till they are three years old. The train is shed annually and comprises of 100 to 150 upper tail coverts with an ‘eye' marking on each. The peahens are a little less striking as their feathers are brown in colour and they lack a train. They have green/ blue feathers on the neck and a white underside. Both sexes have a crest of short erect hairs on the top of their heads.
Peafowl are ground feeders but they roost in trees at night-time. Peafowl live in small groups usually consisting of 1 male and 2 to 5 females. The peacocks train is fanned out when displaying to attract a mate. Eggs are laid in a shallow depression dug in the ground. Eggs are brown/ buff in colour and normally 4 to 6 are laid, although sometimes females can lay up to 12 eggs. Incubation takes approximately 28 days.
Predators of Peafowl include tigers and leopards. Loud shrieking cries and honking noises are used to warn other peafowl of danger.
Pied Tamarin
Saguinus bicolor bicolor Status: Critically Endangered Range:Amazon region of Brazil, around the city of Manaus Habitat: Rainforest Diet: Insects, fruit, ...
Pied Tamarin
Saguinus bicolor bicolor
Status: Critically Endangered
Range:Amazon region of Brazil, around the city of Manaus
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Insects, fruit, gum.
Creature Feature: Pied Tamarins are becoming more and more endangered due to habitat destruction as the city of Manaus in Brazil expands. They are very social animals always found in groups. A typical group will usually consist of a dominant pair and their offspring. Youngsters stay with their parents well past maturity until they leave by choice or because they are forced out by other members of the family. Pied Tamarins use a stealthy approach and pounce to hunt and capture large insects on leaves and branches on all levels of the forest. Infants are cared for by all members of the family. In a large group a mother may only carry the youngsters whilst they are suckling. Once the youngsters are old enough to feed themselves they will still receive a lot of food by begging fromolder members of the group.
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Prevost's Squirrel
Callosciurus prevostii Status: Lower risk (least concern) Range: Southern Asia Habitat: forests Diet: seeds, nuts, fruits, eggs and insects. ...
Prevost's Squirrel
Callosciurus prevostii
Status: Lower risk (least concern)
Range: Southern Asia
Habitat: forests
Diet: seeds, nuts, fruits, eggs and insects.
Creature Feature:Also known as the tri-coloured, Ornamental or Beautiful Squirrel. The coat is made up of 3 different colours, the top is black, the underside is red/ brown and there is a white stripe along the side of the body where the 2 colours meet. The body is about 10 inches in length with an added length of 9 inches for the tail. The fore limbs are considerably shorter than the hind legs and there are soft pads on the soles of the feet. The Prevost's Squirrel has small thumbs and sharp eyesight. The chisel shaped incisors continuously grow and are worn down through use. The long tail is used for balance and also acts as a flag when communicating to other members of the same species.
The Prevost's Squirrel is a solitary animal that will only come together to mate. Gestation takes 46 to 48 days and approximately 3 young are born into a nest of twigs and leaves or inside a tree hollow. The lifespan for this species is approximately 10 years in the wild. They spend their lives in the trees and are very good at climbing and jumping.
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Pygmy Marmoset
Callithrix pygmaea Status: Least concern Range: South America Habitat: Rainforest Diet: tree sap, gum, insects and fruit Creature Feature:Weighing ...
Pygmy Marmoset
Callithrix pygmaea
Status: Least concern
Range: South America
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: tree sap, gum, insects and fruit
Creature Feature:Weighing only 4 ounces, the Pygmy Marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world. They can easily fit into the palm of an adult human's hand. New-borns weigh a mere one ounce. Pygmy Marmosets are both curious and playful. They have a tawny coat, sprinkled with grey and almond shaped eyes.
Pygmy Marmosets can be found in social groups of up to 15 individuals, with a dominant female leading the group. There is a dominant pair within the group who are responsible for all breeding. The females are usually bigger than the males.
Pygmy Marmosets can run very fast and jump approximately 5 metres. They have very good eyesight and give out a high pitch chirping sound. The life span in the wild is 11to 20 years and in zoos up to 20 years.
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Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus swainsoni Status: Least Concern Range: Australia Habitat: Forests, mangroves & parks Diet: pollen, nectar, fruit, berries, seeds, insects. Creature ...
Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus swainsoni
Status: Least Concern
Range: Australia
Habitat: Forests, mangroves & parks
Diet: pollen, nectar, fruit, berries, seeds, insects.
Creature Feature:Also known as the Swainson's Lorikeet these birds are common along the East coast of Australia and can often be found around human habitation. As their name suggests they are very colourful birds with a red bill, blue head, red/ orange breast and green wings. They have a red/ orange band on the back of the neck. They have a head and body length of 30 cm with the females being slightly smaller than the males.
Rainbow Lorikeets mate for life and can have up to 3 broods in 1 breeding season. They nest in empty tree hollows, laying 2 white oval shaped eggs at a time. The female incubates the eggs for 25 days. The lifespan of this species in the wild is 20 years.
Rainbow Lorikeets gather in small groups during the day whilst feeding. Whilst feeding they make a loud chattering sound. At night they will roost in groups that can be as many as 50,000 individuals. Predators include raptors and pythons.
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Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens Status: Endangered Range: China, Tibet and Himalayas. Habitat: Mountain forests. Diet: Bamboo, fruit, eggs and shoots Creature Feature:The ...
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
Status: Endangered
Range: China, Tibet and Himalayas.
Habitat: Mountain forests.
Diet: Bamboo, fruit, eggs and shoots
Creature Feature:The Red Panda is a good tree climber and can be found in the mountain forests of the Himalayas. Locally the Red Panda is known as ‘poonya' and in Nepal they are called ‘chitwahs' or ‘wahs'. Red Pandas have a cat-like face and generally resemble a raccoon. They are solitary animals that feed almost exclusively on bamboo. A female Red Panda can eat approximately 200,000 bamboo leaves a day.
Red Pandas are rare in the wild and their numbers are continuing to decline. This animal is already extinct in 4 of the 7 Chinese provinces. In 1999 the IUCN estimated that fewer than 2500 mature individuals survive. Reasons for this decline in numbers include: poaching for fur and pet trades, competition from domestic livestock loss and fragmentation of habitat through deforestation. Predators of the Red Panda include the Snow Leopard and Yellow Necked Marten. Red Pandas produce a variety of noises from giggle type sounds and whistles to squeaks and spitting hisses.
The birth season is June / July and litters of 1-4 cubs are usually born. Young will grow to adult size in 1 year. Red Pandas mark their territory using scent from glands located on the soles of their feet. Red Pandas can live up to 17.5 years in captivity and 8- 10 years in the wild.
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Red-Fronted Macaw
Ara Rubrogenys Status: Endangered Range: Sub-central Bolivia Habitat:Thorny Scrubland Diet: Fruits, Seeds, Crops, Prickly Pears Creature Feature: These parrots ...
Red-Fronted Macaw
Ara Rubrogenys
Status: Endangered
Range: Sub-central Bolivia
Habitat:Thorny Scrubland
Diet: Fruits, Seeds, Crops, Prickly Pears
Creature Feature: These parrots are locally common to parts of Bolivia but are declining overall in numbers due to habitat loss, illegal pet trading and persecution by local farms. Because they are losing their habitat to encroaching agricultural areas they have learnt to utilise different sources of food and will take maize and ground nuts, and because of this they are considered to be a crop pest.
There may be as little as 500 animals left in the wild, and eco-tourism and educational projects have been set up in Bolivia to promote their conservation.
These birds are highly social and will form groups of up to 90 animals.
They are called red fronted Macaws because of the red plumage that covers their face and front. Juveniles get this after a moult when they reach 6 to 12 months old.
They are remarkable fliers and have been known to hover effectively in flight.
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Ring-tailed Lemurs
Lemur catta Status: Vulnerable Range: Southern Madagascar Habitat: Dry forest Diet: Fruit and berries Creature Feature: One very recognisable species of ...
Ring-tailed Lemurs
Lemur catta
Status: Vulnerable
Range: Southern Madagascar
Habitat: Dry forest
Diet: Fruit and berries
Creature Feature: One very recognisable species of lemur from Madagascar is the Ring-tailed lemur. This species has a long tail with 13 black and white rings around it. The body is grey with a white belly and is roughly the same size as a house cat. Ring tail lemurs weigh roughly 3 to 3.5 Kg.
This species of lemur is highly social and can be found in groups of 3 to 25 individuals. As with most lemurs it is the females who are dominant. The females will stay with the group for life and the males will change groups at least once in their lifetime. Ring tail lemurs prefer to walk on the ground or large tree limbs. They hold their tails high in the air as they walk along so they can keep track of each other. Ring-tail lemurs spend up to 40 % of their time on the ground. They are least active at night although they do have very good night vision because they have a reflective layer in the back of their eyes, similar to a cat.
Babies are born either singly or as twins if food is plentiful. Young are born with blue eyes that turn golden when they grow older.
Females mark their territories using scent glands on their wrists. The males have stink fights to establish who will mate with the females. They do this by rubbing their wrists along their tails until they are coated in their scent and then they wave their tails at each other and have wafting battles - the owner of the smelliest tail wins. Ring tail lemurs have different predator calls so that the group knows whether the attack is from the ground or air. This species has been declared vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat destruction.
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Rodrigues Fruit Bat
Pteropus rodricensis Status: Critically endangered Range:Rodrigues Island, Indian Ocean. Habitat: Forests Diet: Nectar and fruit Creature Feature:The Rodrigues fruit bat is ...
Rodrigues Fruit Bat
Pteropus rodricensis
Status: Critically endangered
Range:Rodrigues Island, Indian Ocean.
Habitat: Forests
Diet: Nectar and fruit
Creature Feature:The Rodrigues fruit bat is one of the most endangered species of bat in the world. They can only be found on the island of Rodrigues, Mauritius. In 1976, this species of bat was on the brink of extinction and so 25 wild individuals were taken into captivity. There is now an international species survival plan and this species is making a slow recovery in its natural habitat. At present there is a population of 2500 individuals in the wild. The main threats to this species are cyclones and hurricanes.
This medium sized bat weighs around 13 ounces and has a wingspan of 3 feet. They are black in colour with silver, yellow, orange and red tints in their fur. Rodrigues fruit bats have large eyes with good sight and a keen sense of smell. They do not use echolocation. As their name suggests, Rodrigues fruit bats have a diet that is mainly made up of fruit. They will also eat nectar and foliage.
This bat roosts in large colonies and the males will establish and defend territories. After a gestation of approximately 5 months the females will give birth to a single offspring.
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Roul-roul Partridge
Rollulus rouloul Status: Near Threatened Range: Asia Habitat: tropical rain forests Diet:fruit, seeds, insects and molluscs. Creature Feature: The ...
Roul-roul Partridge
Rollulus rouloul
Status: Near Threatened
Range: Asia
Habitat: tropical rain forests
Diet:fruit, seeds, insects and molluscs.
Creature Feature: The Roul-roul Partridge is also called the Crested Wood Partridge, Green Wood Partridge and Red Crowned Wood Partridge. The males and females are very different in appearance. The males have a dark coloured plumage with a glossy blue sheen. They have a bright red crest of hair on the top of their heads. The females have a green plumage with grey heads. They do not have crests.
Roul-roul partridges live on the forest floor and spend the majority of their day foraging for food in groups as large as 40 individuals. They will often follow wild pigs through the forests, feeding on the pig's leftovers. They will also use their feet to scratch for food under the leaf litter.
Roul-roul Partridges pair for life. The nests are dome shaped and made from twigs and leaves. When the female is inside the nest she is completely hidden from predators. She will lay 5 to 6 cream coloured eggs and incubate them for 18 days. The male will keep watch for predators during this period.
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Royal Python
Python regius Status: Common Range: West & Central Africa Habitat: grasslands and forest clearings Diet: small mammals & birds ...
Royal Python
Python regius
Status: Common
Range: West & Central Africa
Habitat: grasslands and forest clearings
Diet: small mammals & birds
Creature Feature: In America this python is known as the Ball Python because of the defensive posture it takes when threatened. It will coil itself up into a tight ball with its head tucked in the middle. It has a bold pattern of beige patches against a dark brown background. The Royal Python is the smallest of the African Pythons measuring 3 to 5 feet in length. The females are longer than the males.
Eggs are laid in empty mammal burrows. The females will incubate the 4 to 10 leathery eggs for three months. The lifespan for these snakes is 20 to 30 years.
Royal Pythons spend much of their time on the ground and on hot days may be found bathing in shallow water. They are constrictors meaning they squeeze their prey to death and then swallow it whole. They have between 100 and 150 backwards curving teeth that they use to securely hold onto their prey. Adult Royal Pythons are preyed upon or injured by wild pigs, wart hogs and leopards. Young Pythons are preyed upon by birds of prey and hedgehogs.
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Sand Lizard
Lacerta agilis Status: Not Listed, Endangered in UK. Range: Europe to Russia Habitat:Heath land, scrubland and sand dunes Diet: Insects, ...
Sand Lizard
Lacerta agilis
Status: Not Listed, Endangered in UK.
Range: Europe to Russia
Habitat:Heath land, scrubland and sand dunes
Diet: Insects, worms and occasionally fruit and flowers
Creature Feature: Sand Lizards are widespread throughout Europe, and their population spreads across to Russia. They are threatened by extinction in the UK, where they are protected, although they are widespread elsewhere. It is thought that habitat loss is the main cause of their decline.
As their name suggests, Sand Lizards live on sandy, loose soils. They are the only native species of lizard in the UK to lay eggs, and they need sandy soil to lay their eggs in. the warmth of the sun helps to hatch the buried eggs that usually hatch within a couple of months.
These lizards hibernate in winter, from October to March. This sleep is required to trigger their mating behaviour in spring. During mating season (May and June) male Sand Lizards turn bright green in colour in the hopes of attracting a mate.
These lizards are very unusual as they will form colonies and share burrows with one another.
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao Status: Least Concern Range: South America Habitat: Deciduous forests Diet: Seeds, Fruits, Nuts & Berries. Creature Feature:The ...
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
Status: Least Concern
Range: South America
Habitat: Deciduous forests
Diet: Seeds, Fruits, Nuts & Berries.
Creature Feature:The Scarlet Macaw has red and yellow feathers with white patches on the face and blue/ green feathers on the wings. From head to tail the average adult measure 3 feet in length. The lower section of the beak is black and the upper part is white. Their feet are zygodactylous, which means they have two toes that point forwards and two toes that point backwards. This foot formation makes it easy for the birds to manipulate their food.
Scarlet Macaws make their nests high up in the empty cavities of tree trunks. They lay 1 to 2 plain white eggs that take 24 to 25 days to incubate. The young stay with their parents for up to 2 years. The parents will not rear another clutch until the young have left the nest.
Macaws can often be seen flying in large flocks. Individuals can reach up to 35mph in speed when flying. Large gatherings of different Macaw species' can usually be found on the Clay Mountains or ‘macaw licks' where they ingest the clay for is nutritional benefits. One theory as to why this behaviour occurs is that the clay helps them to digest poisonous chemicals that are found in the unripe fruits they eat.
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