Sunday 31 December 2006 Black Rhinoceros

The Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is critically endangered. They are threatened by excessive poaching for their horns, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and for dagger handles in Yemen and Oman. Rhinoceroses are classified as part of the order of Perrissodactyla (in which also horses reside), suborder Ceratomorpha, which contains two families of slower-moving, thick-set animals with several functional toes: tapirs and the rhinoceroses. They can weigh up to 1400 kilograms. Black rhinoceroses' horn can grow up to 140 centimeters (!), and usually they have two horns, but occasionaly a third develops. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words rhino (nose) and keros (horn). Adult Black rhinoceroses do not have any natural enemies. The young are occasionaly taken by lions or hyenas. Their aggressive disposition discourages its predators. Because of its nearsightedness, the rhino charges first and investigates later.

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Tuesday 26 December 2006 European polecat

The European Polecat (Mustela putorius), also called a 'fitch', is a mainly nocturnal, solitary creature. Their diet consists mainly on rodents and rabbits. In England, domestic ferrets have abandonned their bosses wich has led to ferret-polecat hybrids... They have also been introduced in New Zealand. Males and females differ a lot. Males can be two times the weight of a female and be a third or more longer. Polecats have a pair of anal glands that emit a strong-smelling secretion, like all mustelids. When they are excited or threatened they release some of the contents of these glands.

Image by Malene Thyssen, licensed under GFDL.

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Friday 22 December 2006 Red-bellied lemur

The Red-bellied Lemur (Lemur rubriventer) lives in the East-Madagascar rainforests, where it feeds on flowers, fruits and leaves and some toxic millipedes, which they drool on first, to neutralize the toxins. They exhibit both diurnal and nocturnal activities, though mainly diurnal. Females lead the groups foraging of about 5 lemurs. Lemurs use their lower incisors as a comb to groom troop members. They use, among other communications, chemicals to communicate. The prominent forehead scent gland of males is used to help mark territories..

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Thursday 14 December 2006 Plains Zebra

The Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) is the most common and geographically widespread form of zebras, although they were once more numerous than they are now because of human activities such as hunting them for their meat and hides, as well as encroachment on much of their former habitat. No two individuals look exactly alike. They form groups with one stallion and one, two or more mares. Plains zebras are the first to move into a well-vegitated area, and afterwards gazelle and wildebeest take over. Plains zebras prefer young and fresh grasses.

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Tuesday 05 December 2006 Sea otter - largest of the otters

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is the heaviest of its kind, weighing up to 45 kg. It has been hunted extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth century for its warm fur. As a positive side effect, due to the hunting, to maximize profits the sea otter's behavior was researched extensively. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is the largest member of the family Mustelidae. It is also the only marine mammal in the order of Carnivora and is the smallest marine mammal. If sea otters rest they are among kelp or in quiet water, laying on their backs. The common resting position is with the head up, with folded paws and chin resting on their chest.

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Sunday 03 December 2006 Cheetah - The African savannas' fastest hunter

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest mammal living on solid ground. The slender, long-legged cats are capable to reach top speeds of up to 120 km/h. Cheetahs are up to 1,5 meters long and weigh up to 65 kg. Remarkable is their relativly small head. Above all Cheetahs inhabit steppe and semi-deserts south of the Sahara nowadays. In former times Cheetahs were spread in entire Africa and parts of Asia, except the rainforests and deserts.

Cheetahs live solitary or in small groups. Such group of cats may for example consist of a female and her young, up to 2 years old. But also males join together to groups sometimes. Cheetahs inhabit home ranges which are sized about 100 square kilometers. The 1 up to 5 young are born after a pregnancy of about 3 months. They are weaned when half a year old but stay with their mother until they are sexually matured at an age of about 2 years. Cheetahs may reach an age of up to 15 years.

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