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 ...Bali Starling
Leucopsar rothschildiStatus: 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.
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 ...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.
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 ...Black Hornbill
Anthracoceros malayanusStatus: 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.
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 ...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.
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 ...Black-Cheeked Lovebird
Agapornis nigrigenisStatus: 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.
Black-necked Aracari
Pteroglossus aracari Status: Least Concern Range: South America Habitat: Rainforest Diet: Fruit and insects Creature Feature: Found in the rainforests and orchards of South ...Black-necked Aracari
Pteroglossus aracari
Status: Least Concern
Range: South America
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Fruit and insects
Creature Feature: Found in the rainforests and orchards of South America the Black-necked Aracari is part of the same family as the toucans, although categorised in a separate genus along with 12 other species of Aracari. They have a large bill in comparison to their body size which is ivory coloured on the top part and black on the lower part. Their heads are black with brown ear coverts. The upper parts of the body are dark green with a red rump. The under parts are yellow with a black throat and a red band across the lower chest.
Nests are built in holes or hollows high in the trees. The nesting sites will often contain more than one hole as the nesting pair will relocate to another hole if disturbed. Usually 2 to 4 eggs are laid and take 16 to 17 days to incubate.
Outside of the breeding season Aracaris have been seen sleeping in small groups. They feed primarily on fruit and will supplement their diets with insects. They have jagged teeth that provide assistance when eating tropical fruits. These birds tend to hop around more than they fly.
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 ...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.
Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythrorhyncha Status: Least Concern Range: N & E India, China & SE Asia Habitat: Forests and woodlands Diet: Fruit, nectar, eggs, insects, small ...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.
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 ...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.
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 ...Brazilian Tapir
Tapirus terrestrisStatus: 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.
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 ...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.
Burmese Python
Python molurus bivittatus Status: Lower risk- near threatened Range: India to Lower China Habitat: grassland to "open jungle" Diet: small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs ...Burmese Python
Python molurus bivittatusStatus: Lower risk- near threatened
Range: India to Lower China
Habitat: grassland to "open jungle"
Diet: small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs & fish.
Creature Feature: These enormous snakes can grow to approximately 20 feet in length- the maximum recorded was 25 feet. The largest pythons are always female. They can be found near water and are semi-aquatic, with the ability to stay submerged for up to 30 minutes. One Burmese Python only needs to eat its equivalent in weight in a year- therefore it can go without food for long periods of time.
The Burmese Python is a nocturnal hunter and kills its prey by constriction (suffocation). Heat sensors along the upper lip and a keen sense of smell help the snake to find its food. Hinged jaws allow the python to swallow prey 4 to 5 times the size of its head, whole. Burmese Pythons have 6 rows (2 top, 4 bottom) of backwards curving teeth, to seize and retain prey.
Snakes are cold blooded so they must spend the majority of time basking in the sun for heat. Burmese Pythons are good climbers and have a prehensile tail. They have 400 sets of ribs and no eyelids- instead a thin membrane to protect the eyes.
