Aye-Aye, rare
species of a primitive type of primate called lemurs, found only on the
island
of Madagascar. Aye-ayes are among the oddest-looking of all
animals; they are sometimes described as having the teeth of a rabbit, the
hair of a boar, the tail of a fox, and the ears of a bat. The cat-sized
aye-aye is about 40 cm (about 16 in) long, not including the long, bushy
tail, which adds another 55 to 60 cm (about 22 to 24 in). The middle
finger of each hand is long and sensitive; it serves as a delicate,
multipurpose tool used in grooming, foraging, and feeding. The sharp front
teeth of aye-ayes grow continuously, and the animals must gnaw frequently
to control their size. The aye-aye is losing its native habitat as forests
are logged and cleared for agricultural purposes. Moreover, these animals
are frequently killed by local villagers, many of whom fear that aye-ayes
bring bad luck. The aye-aye is listed as an endangered species by the
World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Bush dogs, found
only in South and Central America, look more like small bears than
dogs:
they have short legs, a compact body, and small ears. Bush dogs probably
hunt in groups, but they are rare animals and little is known of their
biology in the wild.
Chinchilla, common
name for rodents found in the Andes at altitudes of about 3000 to
5000 m
(about 10,000 to 16,000 ft). The squirrel-like chinchillas are 23 to 28 cm
(9 to 11 in) long, excluding their bushy tails, which are 7 to 15 cm (3 to
6 in) long. With short front legs chinchillas hold the roots and grasses
on which they feed; the long hind legs enable the animals to hop about
with great agility. Chinchillas are covered with dense, soft fur, mottled
gray on the back and whitish on the underside. They were formerly
slaughtered by the thousands for their fur, and by the 1920s, when
protective laws were adopted, they were almost extinct. Chinchilla farms
for fur production were subsequently established in South America and the
United States with some success.
Dugongs, commonly
called sea cows, have long been hunted for their meat, blubber, oil, and
hide. The harmless animal uses its rounded forelimbs for locomotion and
its muscular lips to tear water plants for food.
Eland, either of
two African antelope that are the most massive of all true antelope.
The
common eland of central and southern Africa has a fawn-colored coat; it
develops a broad, deep-fringed dewlap. Its strong horns spiral straight
upward and can grow to about 1.2 m (about 4 ft) long in large males; in
females the horns are shorter and more slender. The derby eland of
southern Africa attains a height of about 1.8 m (about 6 ft) at the
shoulder and has longer horns. Elands are gregarious animals. They can
live for more than 20 years in captivity; life expectancy in the wild is
probably shorter. Hunted for their meat, they are potentially valuable as
domestic animals.
Black Footed Ferret
is a member of the weasel family. It is very quick and agile and is
most
active at night. Ferrets grow up to 2 feet in length (including a 6 inch
tail) and weigh approximately 2 to 3 pounds. Approximately a thousand
black-footed ferrets live in captivity at breeding facilities, while
another 80 exist in the wild following release by the federal government.
Black-footed ferrets have been known to live up to 12 years in captivity.
Prairie dog towns of the plains and plateaus are also home to the
black-footed ferret, who utilize their burrows for shelter and travel.
Prairie dogs make up the main staple of the ferret’s diet although they
occasionally eat mice and other small animals. In the wild, black-footed
ferrets spend 99 percent of their time underground. During the night they
hunt for sleeping prairie dogs in their burrows. Sometimes prairie dogs
attack as a group and drag a ferret underground. After a six-week
gestation period, 1 to 6 young are born in June. The young appear above
ground in July and grow as large as their parents by September.
Guereza also known
as the Colobus Monkey, a member of any of three
groups of long-tailed,
tree-living primates: the black-and-white colobus, the red colobus, and
the olive colobus. Colobus monkeys are found only on the African
continent. They eat a diet rich in leaves, which they digest by means of a
specialized digestive system resembling that of a cow. The black-and-white
colobus is found across equatorial Africa. There are five species, among
which the color varies from all black to a skunk-like black-and-white
pattern. Black-and-white colobus monkeys weigh up to 9 kg (up to 20 lb).
They live in small social groups of about ten animals, composed of one
adult male plus females and their offspring.
Hyrax, this curious
little animal is in a class alone - and its nearest relative is - of all
animals -the elephant ! It lives in holes in rocky outcrops hills
and
mountains and usually in colonies. It is well adapted to life among rocks
especially in the structure of his feet - which enables it to grip almost
vertical surfaces. Hyraxes are vegetarians, are shy and retiring in their
habits but will turn and bite anything which molests them. They are very
noisy, chattering and screaming loudly among themselves.
Impala, a graceful
- agile antelope inhabiting scrubland and sandy plains
near rivers Their
presence is an indication that water is in the vicinity for they are
seldom seen far from it. They are very Beet of foot and amazing leapers.
When a herd panics the animals leap in all directions, one over the other,
this way and that with little forward progression. When they are really
going away they indulge in effortless bounds of twenty to thirty feet.
Only the males are horned. Impala are found in South East and Central
Africa.
Jaguarundi, also
known as eyra, an elusive, rare cat found in low,
thick brush-land from
southern Texas and Arizona to northern Argentina. The jaguarundi also is
called otter cat for its short, otter-like legs, slender body, and unusual
adaptability to water. The jaguarundi grows to a length of about 55 to 77
cm (about 21 to 30 in), with a tail of about 33 to 60 cm (about 13 to 24
in). It weighs about 4.5 to 9 kg (about 10 to 20 lb). The coat is a
reddish-brown or a dull gray. The jaguarundi lives in impenetrable brushy
undergrowth and thorny woodland thickets, which protect it from larger
animals. Unlike many other cats, the jaguarundi is a willing swimmer. It
prefers living near water, where prey is more abundant. Speed and agility
make the jaguarundi a skilled hunter; it hunts in the morning and evening
by running down small mammals and birds on the ground. This behavior
differs from most cats, which hunt at night by sneaking up on their prey.
The jaguarundi is unique because it has 36 pairs of chromosomes instead of
the 38 pairs found in other cats. Two to four young are born about 60 days
after mating. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the jaguarundi as
an endangered species.
The kinkajou, is an
elusive member of the raccoon family native to
South America. Principally
a fruit eater, the kinkajou also has a very long tongue to reach honey and
the nectar hidden within plants. Its prehensile tail, sporting the short,
dense fur that covers the rest of its body, allows it to hang from
branches. Large groups of kinkajous may gather in trees bearing fruit.
The ring-tailed lemur,
Lemur catta, is found only on the island of
Madagascar and the nearby
islands of Comoros. Adults of this species grow to 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17
in) in length and can reach weights of nearly 4 kg (9 lb). Their habitat
ranges from tropical deciduous forest to semi-desert, and they are
comfortable both on the ground and climbing trees.
Meerkats, also
known as suricates, inhabit the savannas and open
areas of southern
Africa. They live in colonies and are active during the day, feeding on a
variety of insects and occasionally small vertebrates, such as lizards. Meerkats are known for their intelligence and their ability to cooperate
with one another. Those who have seen 'Disney's The Lion King' would have guessed
that it is 'Timon'.
The nyala bull is
large, but slender built with a very narrow body.
It has a white chevron
between the eyes with 2-3 white spots on its cheek. The sides of its body
has white stripes and there are 2-3 white spots on its thigh. The Nyala
bull has a long mane of shaggy black hair under the neck continuing along
its underside. Nyala are almost exclusively browsers except when grass is
young and green. They feed on fruits, pods, twigs and leaves. Habitat is
normally dense bush near water. The ewe is much smaller than the bull with
completely different markings. When she gives birth she hides her lamb for
a few days, returning to it to feed it and change its location. When the
lamb can keep up with the herd it is allowed to join it. This behavior is
the same for kudu, sable and some other species of antelope.
Before 1901 okapi
was unknown to science. It inhabits the deep
forests of Central Africa,
and is related to the giraffe. Like it, it is a leaf grazer. Okapis are
timid, inoffensive animals, living either in pairs or alone. Secluded as
they are in the deepest recesses of the forest little is known of their
habits. Their peculiar coloring and markings are admirable camouflage in
their dark homes. Only a few have appeared in zoos. The males have short
stubby horns, the females none, thus differing from the giraffe in which
both sexes are horned; and whereas the giraffe is almost mute the Okapi is
said to have a cow, like call.
Pronghorn, mammal,
related to the antelope, that is considered the
fastest animal in North
America. Both sexes carry erect horns containing a bone core surrounded by
a keratin sheath. Each year after the breeding season, the old sheath is
shed and replace by the new sheath growing underneath. Horns of the male
have two prongs; the female's are short spikes. When alarmed, the animal
can make this hair stand straight out, producing a white flash. Pronghorns
inhabit open plains and semi desert, where they eat grass, forbs,
sagebrush, and cactus. They live alone or in small groups in summer; some
males join groups of females with offspring. There is never more than one
adult male present in these groups. The number of pronghorns left in the
wild was less than 20,000 during the 1920s, but control of hunting and
good wildlife management have brought the population to between 750,000
and 1 million.
The spotted-tailed
quoll or tiger cat is the second largest of the
world's surviving
carnivorous marsupials. Spotted-tailed quolls vary from reddish brown to
dark chocolate brown with white spots on the body and tail. The species is
considerably larger than the eastern quoll, with males measuring up to 130
cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males.
It is physically strong in appearance, with a thick snout and wide gape.
The spotted-tailed quoll is now threatened throughout its mainland range.
Spotted-tailed quolls are most common in cool temperate rainforest, wet
sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub along the north and west coasts of
the state. Spotted-tail quolls are largely solitary and nocturnal,
although the species does sometimes forage and bask during daylight hours.
Spotted-tailed quolls spend a tenth of their time moving with agility
above the forest floor on logs or in trees. The spotted-tailed quoll is a
capable hunter that, kills its prey by biting on or behind the head. Prey
taken by the spotted-tailed quoll include rats, gliding possums, small or
injured wallabies, reptiles and insects. Birds and eggs are also taken
from time to time. Carrion is frequently eaten by spotted-tailed quolls
and even tip scavenging and beachcombing occur. Large spotted-tailed
quolls compete directly with Tasmanian devils for food -one female has
even been seen to chase a Tasmanian devil away from a car case!
Ratel also known as
honey badger, is a sturdy badger like animal
and is found throughout
Africa, but more particularly in the south and west of the continent. Its
immensely strong forelegs and claws enable it to dig, partly to house
itself (for it lives in holes) - and also to tear out the nests of bees A
small bird called the Honey bird leads the Ratel to the bees, while the
animal is devouring the honey the bird eats the larvae of the bees. The
Ratel also feeds on insects and small mammals. Its courage is as sturdy as
its body, and it will stand and fight.
The Serval is found
over a very large part of Africa Its large ears, small head, long legs and
short tail differentiate it from the true cats It lives in bush
country
and is chiefly a nocturnal hunter preying on guinea, fowl, francolins,
hares and rats. Sometimes small antelopes are its victims It stands about
nineteen inches high at the shoulder. Its skin was, at one time, much in favour with native chiefs tormantles, and even today its fur is used for
that purpose by the European furriers.
Tasmanian Devil,
carnivorous and scavenging marsupial now
restricted to Tasmania. The
animal was formerly widely distributed in Australia as well but, because
farmers believed that it killed large numbers of livestock and poultry, it
was exterminated there. The Tasmanian devil is actually a very ine
fficient
killer, and eats mostly carrion. It is 52 to 80 cm (20 to 31 in) in head
and body length, with a tail 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in) long, and weighs 4.1
to 11.8 kg (9 to 26 lb). Its pelt is blackish or brownish, except for
white patches commonly present on the throat or other parts. It stays in
burrows or in dense brush during the day and, at night, preys on rodents,
lizards, wallabies, and other small animals.
The red faced uakari
has a naked face with varies in color from a
human-like pink to a
brilliant red. The shade indicates its mood, and in the male, its breeding
condition. It is the only short-tailed monkey in South America. It
specializes in swampy forests and flooded forests. A canopy specialist, It
is usually found at the tops of large trees and rarely comes to the
ground. It clambers quickly on all fours but does not leap dramatically.
It is able to hang upside down on its powerful hind limbs but unusually
for an arboreal primate, its tail is very short and bushy. It eats mainly
fruit, supplemented by leaves and other vegetation at the treetops, and
occasionally insects and other small animals. Females give birth only once
every 2 years. Their natural predators are birds of prey, but humans are
the most dangerous. They are hunted for their meat and for the pet trade
and are now very rare. They are found in a small area and they do not
breed rapidly. They are also threatened by logging of their forest
habitat.
Vicuna also known
as vicugna, ruminant mammal belonging to
the camel family. The animal is
native to the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia and is a close relative
of the domesticated llama. vicunas are small, slender animals with
orange-red fur. They generally roam in small herds and have never been
successfully domesticated. They are much hunted for their hides and for
their wool, which is valued for weaving. The term vicuna is applied to the
fabrics manufactured from the wool of the animal, and also to textile
fabrics made from the wool of the merino sheep in imitation of natural
vicuna. Such fabrics generally resemble serge in weave but are fuller and
softer and have a distinct nap.
Although relatively small
in size, the wolverine is powerfully built with
strong jaws and
claws. Wolverines feed on a variety of plants, birds, and small, medium,
and even large mammals, such as caribou. While feeding, wolverines will
often dismember a carcass and hide the parts in various locations for
consumption at a later time. In addition to hunting, wolverines also
scavenge the remains of animals killed by other predators such as wolves
and bears.
The Plain xenops is
a small, solitary rain forest bird. It is found from
southern Mexico down
to northern Argentina at altitudes from sea level up to 5,000 feet. xenops
roosts in tree holes and has a fast, sharp-sounding song. There are other
species of xenops. The Plain xenops is about 5 inches (12.5 cm) long.
Unlike other types of xenops, its back is deep brown and un streaked. The
wing and tail feathers are mostly cinnamon-colored. There is a pale stripe
above and behind the eyes. Its underbelly is olive-colored and it has gray
legs. The bill is dark, short, and pointed. They eats insects (especially
ants) and their larvae. It gets its food by hammering open decaying
branches with its bill; it then eats the insects that inhabit the wood.
It's nest is a hole in a decaying tree that is lined with grass and other
plant material. Both parents help to construct the nest. Females lay 2
glossy-white eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid at one time). Both
parents incubate the eggs, which hatch in about 16 days.
Yak, wild or
domesticated Tibetan ox native to the high
plateaus and mountains of
Central Asia, where the climate is cold and dry. The wild yak, considered
to be an endangered species, is a massive animal, blanketed with a thick
coat of long, blackish-brown hair. The males, which are larger than the
females, may be more than 2 m (more than 6.6 ft) high at the shoulder and
weigh up to 1000 kg (up to 2200 lb). The back of the yak is humped at the
shoulders. The horns are long and spread outward and upward, and the tail
is long-haired and bushy. The domestic yak is of various colors, including
red, brown, black, and white, and of smaller size than the wild animal as
a result of crossbreeding with cattle. Yaks are valuable as beasts of
burden. Their milk is rich and yields excellent butter and curd, and the
flesh, eaten roasted or dried, is of high quality. The hair is spun into
rope and woven into cloth, and the hide is used for leather. Instead of
lowing like an ox, the yak utters a low, guttural sound; hence it is
called the grunting cow, or grunting ox.
The zorilla, is a
skunk-like mammal that lives in African savannas.
It is also called the
striped polecat. This mustelid (a type of weasel) has scent glands under
the tail; when it is alarmed, it sprays a strong-smelling liquid. These
nocturnal animals hunt at night and rest in a burrow or a rock crevice
during the day. They are fine swimmers but rarely climb trees. They have a
life span of 5 years in captivity. These mammals are about 13 to 15
inches (33-38 cm) long plus a whitish, bushy tail that is 8 to 12 inches
(20-30 cm) long; they weigh 2 to 3 pounds (1 kg). The snout is long, the
legs are short, and the feet have long, sturdy claws. They are carnivores.
They eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, birds, and eggs. They
hunt for some of their prey in the soil; they root around in the earth
using long claws. They are preyed upon by few animals. Most predators,
like lions, are repulsed by the their foul-smelling spray. Females give
birth in a burrow, bearing two to three young after a five-week pregnancy.