Friday 05 September 2008
Bushy-tailed Woodrat
A
Bushy-tailed Woodrat (
Neotoma cinerea) can be found in North America, ranging from arctic Canada down to northern Arizona and New Mexico, and as far east as the western portions of Nebraska and the Dakotas. The Woodrats can be recognized by their big ears and its bushy tail. Its back is pale gray with a mix of brown, with white underneath.
They are also called packrats and are known to be capable of building stick homes within caves and crevices. If you are wondering where the word "packrat" comes from, a Bushy-tailed Woodrat's house holds items brought in from the outside, such as glass, pine cones, cardboards, plastic odds and ends, wire...you name it.
The territory of the woodrats is small, and a long time back, it was thought by experts that they would not go away farther than 60m from their nests. However, recent studies assert that the female can go as far as 500m. Basically, a typical woodrat is solitary, nocturnal and strongly protective of its own territories. Most facets of its behavior is thought to be a by-product of predation, and they have a lot to escape from.
Weasels, black bears, bobcats, hawks and so many others, of course...that includes man.
Their diet consists of a variety of ingredients. In dry locations, they can survive on succulents, but in woody habitats, they consume a lot of woody vegetation. A Bushy-tailed Woodrat gets all of the water it needs from the foods it consumes. As prey, they are the main food source for Spotted Owls, an endangered species.
Interesting fact: These woodrats get enticed by shiny things, they often get them from camps or other establishments. So, if you are camping in one of their territories, watch out!
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Monday 01 September 2008
Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo
The
Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo (
Bubalus bubalis) is an endangered species. True wild populations still live in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Thailand, while their domesticated counterparts are very widespread. They are large animals, standing 1.5 to 1.9 meters in height at the shoulder. Wild male water buffaloes can become 3 meters in length and weigh up to 1200 kilos, while their domesticated counterparts can weigh 250 to 550 kilograms. They can become 25 years of age in the wild.
The Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo is a social animal, with groups of 10 to 20 individuals, but also groups of 100 individuals have been observed.
Their diet mainly consists of grasses, herbs, aquatic plants, leaves and agricultural crops, The only predator in the wild is the
tiger, but their main threats are habitat destruction and genetic pollution (breeding with their domesticated counterparts).
Interesting fact: Wild bulls are known to invade a domesticated herd, kill the domesticated bull (which is a lot smaller), and breed with the receptive females. The resulting offspring are less docile and too large to fit a farmer's equipment. Occasionally, the wild bull not only kills the domesticated bull, but also take over and drive off the owners, keeping the herd for themselves.
Picture by
yathin, licensed under
Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 license.
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Wednesday 27 August 2008
Spectacled bear
The
Spectacled bear (
Tremarctos ornatus) lives in South America from Venezuela to Peru and is relatively small in comparison to other bears. It has a distinctive marking across its face. They do not hibernate and are most active during the night and in the twilight. They are the second most threatened species of bear in the world, after the
giant panda. Their diet includes cacti, tree shrubs, berries, honey, sugarcane, and even tree bark. The Spectacled Bear is the largest carnivore of South America and is believed to descent from the prehistoric
Bulldog Bear.
Photo made by Lars Haefner, licensed under GFDL
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Tuesday 19 August 2008
Common pipistrelle
The Common Pipistrelle (
Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is a species of small
bat found over most of Europe, North Africa and southwestern Asia, and especially the British Isles. It is 1.75-2.5inches (33-48mm) long and has a wingspan of up to 8-10 inches (19-25cm), the forearms being 1-1.5 inches (28-35mm long). It generally has dark to chestnut brown fur, with it ventral fur being paler. The ears are short and triangular with a rounded tip, and the wing membranes tend to be opaque. The average weight of the Pipistrelle is 4-8g. It is most commonly found in woods are farmland, but also inhabits towns, often in lofts and buildings and can be seen in the evening sky when the sun just starts to set or has set.
The Common Pipistrelle’s species name is Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and it belongs to the genus Pipistrellus. Within the genus Pipistrellus there are 33 other known living species, making it a very heavily populated genus. Pipistrellus belongs to the family Vespertilionidae (known as evening bats or Vesper Bats). Vespertilionidae is the largest family of bats, and one of the best known. Almost all are universally insect eaters with only a few exceptions that take a liking to fish. The family Vespertilionidae belongs to the suborder Microchiroptera (known as the Microbats) in which all non fruit bat species are a member. Microchiroptera belongs to the order Chiroptera which contains all living and extinct bat species known to date.
Their summer roosts tend to be in the cracks and crevices of old buildings, behind paneling, even in shutters and eaves. The most common building for them to roost is an old barn or abandoned structure since it is quieter and offers peace. During the winter they are most commonly found in trees and buildings, rarely dwelling underground in caves. They emerge around 20 minutes after sunset, earlier on warmer nights and have been know to fly in daylight, although their senses are not as acute for daylight travel and they are vulnerable to predators. Their flight is erratic but agile, generally 15-30 feet (5-10m) off the ground. Males occupy the same territories all year round and fiercely defend them during the mating season, when the species smells strongly of musk and emits unique social mating calls to entice the female bats.
When foraging over water the Common Pipistrelle prefers areas of smooth water with trees on both banks, areas known to be abundant with the flying insects that make up their diet. Individuals will follow the same light routes every night, though the foraging becomes intermittent throughout the night and is very dependent on temperature (greater than 8 degrees Celsius), and their reproductive state. Their prey is consumed during flight and the Pipistrelle has been known to forage up to 5km from its roost in search of insects.
Interesting Facts about the Common Pipistrelle:
- There are en estimated 2 million Common Pipistrelle throughout the British Isles
- The population has declined over recent years, mainly due to farming chemicals in the intensification of agriculture.
- Cats also pose a severe threat to urban populations of Common Pipistrelle.
- The Pipistrelle emits a frequency of between 45-76 kHz, maintaining a medium of 47 kHz with each call lasting maybe 5.6ms.
Picture of the common pipistrelle by Barracuda1983, licensed under
GFDL
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Tuesday 12 August 2008
Bush hyrax
The Bush Hyrax (
Heterohyrax brucei), otherwise known as the Yellow-spotted (Bush or Rock) Hyrax is a small mammal that is around 12-15 inches long (30-38 centimeters) and can weigh between 5 and 9 pounds (2.2-4 Kilograms) and has a distinctive coat of fur that is mottled with browns, yellows, and grays. It has short limbs, a black nose, short but alert ears, and large eyes. Their fur is made up of a short haired layer which protects them, and slightly longer coats which add to their colored looks. Their tail is nothing more than a small stump which is barely visible, and for a good size comparison think of an overweight bunny. The Bush Hyrax and its many subspecies are found throughout Africa, from Egypt to South Africa, and they prefer rocky terrains and mountainous areas, preferring elevations starting at sea level all the way to 13,000 feet (4,000 meters).
The Bush Hyrax’s species name is Heterohyrax brucei, and it belongs to the Genus Heterohyrax. It is the only species in this genus – however the species itself has 25 known sub-species that have been identified. The Heterohyrax belongs to the family Procaviidae, which has two other genere other than Heterohyrax – Procavia (the Cape Hyrax) and Dendrohyrax (The Tree Hyrax). The family Procaviidae belongs to the order Hyracoidea, in which there are no other families of living mammals. This order belongs to the superorder Afrotheria, which in turn belongs to the Infraclass Eutheria (placental mammals).
The Bush Hyrax, like all other Hyraxes have a very primitive self temperature regulation system that seems almost reptilian. They must bask in the sun to gain heat and then huddle together at night to retain heat. It is thought that the Hyrax has evolved very little from its origins. The Bush Hyrax lives mostly in arid areas, and can survive on very little water. The breeding season is uniformly in tune with the rainy season, and gestation (pregnancy) lasts up to eight months. The young mature quickly, and between one to five months of age they are weaned from their mothers.
They eat many types of vegetation and usually prefer bitter yams, which in the past have been used by humans to create poisoned arrowheads. When thicker meatier vegetation is scarce they will turn to grasses and other lesser vegetation to feed on. Because of their highly efficient kidneys they can subsist on very little water. Due to their smaller size, they are themselves the target of many predators, such as rock pythons, leopards, birds, and even some mongoose have been so brave. However they are vicious when threatened and will counter-attack savagely, biting anything and everything on the predator to save itself from being a meal.
The Bush Hyrax behavior is to have small family groups that huddle at night, and the groups are maintained by one dominant male, whose job includes territorial defense and maintenance. Often times, if the area is large enough, the male will have several small groups of females that he will control, in different but close areas. The remaining males who survive to leave and create their own groups usually live alone until this happens. Many may live solitarily their whole lives.
Interesting Facts about the Bush Hyrax:
- The Bush Hyrax has been found in over 21 countries – and even one subspecies lives in Israel.
- In times of famine the Bush Hyrax has been a food source for humans.
- Currently the Bush Hyrax species is listed as a least-concern status by the IUCN
- Within hours after being born, a baby Bush Hyrax can already move and follow its mother.
Picture of the bush hyrax by
Buecherfresser, licensed under GFDL
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Friday 08 August 2008
Addax
The Addax (
Addax nasomaculatus) is a severely endangered species, and is listed as critically endangered with just 500 in the wild, and 800 in captivity, some of which are bred for trophy hunts. The Addax stands about a meter tall at the shoulder (three feet) and weighs about 60-100 kilograms (132-220 lbs), and has two twisted horns that can grow to 120 centimeters in length (47 inches). The Addax is usually white and sports a brownish fur on its chest, neck and head are brown - however in winter the coat changes color to brown. The tip of the nose is white and the nostrils are red. Finally they have a beard, or goatee, that is brownish in appearance, but varies from individual to individual. Their legs are strong and study, and their hoofed feet also sport a strong dewclaw that helps with walking through deep sands and soft ground.
The Addax belongs to the genus Addax - no surprises there - and the genus belongs to the subfamily Hippotraginae which contain the Oryx (for example the
gemsbok) and the Antelope (for example an
impala). The Hippotraginae subfamily belongs to the Bovidae family that contains bison and cows, along with many others. Finally Bovidae is in the order
Artiodactyla, which all even toed ungulates belong to, like pigs and camels. However with recent advancements in molecular studies, cetaceans may also be related to the even toed ungulates, having evolved to go back to the sea.
The Addax lives in mostly arid desert terrain that supports many of their natural food sources such leaves from low trees, grasses, and whole bushes when available. Usually during the day the Addax will dig a shallow hole and lay in it until night. As a nocturnal species their eyesight is very well adapted, as is their hearing and smell. They will usually live in herds from two to twenty two or more. However, due to their population’s decline, they do not have the numbers to support the herds that once may have numbered in the hundreds. Their feeding habits have them wander far and wide to graze, and they will usually cover an extensive area each night in search of food, as they get all their water from their food.
The social structure of most herds was and still is based on age in the larger ones. The dominant oldest male will usually be found as the leader, and its experience in finding more places to graze and also better terrain are beneficial to the herds. They are usually found with both males and females in a given herd, and both have the same horn makeup - giving females an equal advantage in self defense. Currently efforts are under way to rehabilitate the populations of the Addox in Zoo based programs, with the hope of having the same success as the European Bison, which at one time was down to twelve individuals. With the Addax still numbering over a thousand it is hoped that there is enough genetic diversity to save the species and bring it back to its natural habitats to restore ecological order.
Interesting Addax Facts:
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