Monday 21 December 2009 The Fox Squirrel - The Largest Tree Squirrel of North America

The Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) is the largest squirrel among all the tree squirrel species found in North America. It is also known as the Raccoon Squirrel, Stump-eared Squirrel, Monkey Faced Squirrel, and Red Squirrel. Although there is a difference in their size and coloration, people mistake this squirrel for the Eastern Grey Squirrel in areas where both the species coexist.

The fox squirrels are found almost everywhere in Eastern America, excluding Colorado, Texas, west of Dakotas, New England, and the southern parts of Canada. They have also been introduced to Southern and Northern California. They have a very versatile choice in terms of their selection for habitat. They are seen in forest patches spreading to 400,000 sq. m. They are also often found near urban developments where there are plenty of trees. They habitat best in areas where oak, walnut, pine, and hickory trees are found in abundance, since they produce food-like nuts which are stored for the winter.

The total length of an Eastern Fox Squirrel measures 17.71 to 27.55 inches (45 - 70 cm) with its tail measuring 7.87 to 13 inches (20-33 cm). Its weight also varies with its size. It can weigh anywhere from 1.1 lbs to 2.2 lbs (500 - 1000 grams). The animals in the eastern parts are bigger. There are three variations in its color according to the geographic conditions in which it is found to exist. In the southern parts, it is found with only black color coat while in eastern regions, it is dark brown or black with stripes on its face and its tail and in rest of the areas, it is found with a brownish yellow or a grayish brown coat. The fox squirrels have very sharp claws, flexors of forearms, and very well-developed extensors which help them in climbing. They have exceptionally good vision and their smelling and hearing senses are also well-developed. For communication with other squirrels, they make markings along with a specific scent.

Tree seeds are the first choice of Eastern fox squirrels when it comes to food. They also feed on fruits, buds, insects, food grains, small snakes, lizards, and birds eggs. Fox squirrels are considered as diurnal and non-territorial animals. Unlike other squirrels, although most of their time is spent on the ground, they are still swift climbers. They construct their house called 'dreys' according to the season.

These fox squirrels have two breeding seasons, in June and in December. The young ones have no fur at birth and are blind and helpless. After three months of their birth, they become independent and in one year, they reach their sexual maturity. In wild, they live only for seven months on an average while in captivity they are known to live up to 18 years.

Predators of eastern fox squirrels include humans, bob cats, hawks, snakes, and owls. Their agility is helpful to them to escape from their predators. They emit specific alarm calls to alert other squirrels when they are threatened. The increasing over-hunting and deforestation practices have put many species of this squirrel in danger. You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Sunday 20 December 2009 Long-tailed Field Mouse - Common Rodent

The long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus Sylvaticus), also called the wood mouse belongs to the Muridae, a family of rodents and is commonly found in almost all parts of the world. They are similar to the yellow-necked mouse but with the difference that they do not have the typical yellow fur band around the neck. Also the wood mouse is smaller in size and has smaller ears. A typical feature of the wood mouse is that it can shed off its tail, if caught by it and this never grows back.

Although the name wood mouse is associated with the field mouse, yet actually it prefers the hedgerows and inhabits grasslands, forests and cultivated fields. The long-tailed field mouse is a common species and is found throughout Western Europe with the exception of Finland and northern Scandinavia. As it is a widespread species it is also found in Asia, northwestern Africa, Himalayas, British Isles and in nearby islands. They can cohabitate with the humans if adequate shelter is not available. Otherwise they live in burrows and tunnels built below the ground, either by themselves or by other animals.

The behavioral patterns of the field mice depict that they are terrestrial and nocturnal, becoming more active during the night. Basically seed eaters, they also store them, if found in abundance. When the seeds are least available they also eat small invertebrates like insects and snails and also eat fruits, berries and roots.

Physically, the long-tailed field mouse is a small rodent with an average body mass of 23.4 g or 0.82 oz. It has a head and body length of 60-150 mm and the length of the tail is between 70 to 145 mm. Although, the field mouse is moderately haired, its fur is soft and has a grayish brown or pale sand body color. It has large eyes and ears allowing vigilance and good vision at night. These rodents have a highly developed sense of smell and so do not dig for seeds randomly.

Months from February to October are the breeding months of the field mouse. Females usually produce four litters in the breeding months and each litter has four to seven young mice. The gestation period is between 21-26 days. The body mass of these rodents at birth is a meager 2.5g and are weaned away after three weeks and they reach sexual maturity at about two months.

If we look at the economic importance of these rodents, there is usually a mixed response. The negative aspect lies in the fact that they are considered as pests as these rodents inflict serious damage to vegetable and cultivated farmlands. They dig up seeds before germination and completely destroy crop grasses. However, sometimes they are also considered as carriers of tree seeds and transport and bury these seeds. But this aspect is yet to be studied in detail. On the disease front, the African variant of the wood mouse is known to transmit the Hantavirus to the humans which is a life threatening virus.

Picture of the long-tailed field mouse by Pethan October 9, 2005 The Netherlands, licensed under Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Wednesday 16 December 2009 Harbor Porpoise

The Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena, is one of the smallest and the most elusive and shy creature among all oceanic cetaceans (the vaquita is the smallest. Unlike other porpoises or dolphin species, the harbor porpoise does not like bow rides or approach boats. When the sea water is calm, one can easily detect these species as they make deafening puffing sound when they surface for breathing. As this species has an inshore habitat, it is among those cetaceans which can be studied well, and is hunted frequently for the same reason.

The harbor porpoise is small in size but plump and sturdy from the middle section and tapers towards its slender tail. It is hunted mainly because of its snout which is rounded and blunted without a specific beak. Its small mouth tilts a little upwards and has spade-shaped 22-28 small but sharp teeth on its upper jaw and 22-26 teeth in the lower jaw. Its maximum length is 1.9 m (6 feet) and maximum weight is approximately 90 kg (200 pounds). Most of the harbor porpoises are small and are only 1.5 m (5 feet) long. It is very rare for harbor porpoises to reach a 200-pound weight. An average harbor porpoise does not weigh more than 130 pounds. The females surpass males in size and are a little larger than the males.

The color of the back portion of a harbor porpoise is dark brown or gray. It has patches of light gray on both its sides and a white belly. The color of the flippers is also dark and there is a dark color strip extending from the eye to the flipper. Flippers of the harbor porpoise are small and oval-shaped with rounded tips. Its dorsal fin has a broad, triangular, and low base and is positioned a little behind the central part of the body. Sometimes, there are continuous small nodules on the outer edges of its dorsal fin. It has curved small flukes with a prominent medium touch.

The harbor porpoise becomes mature at the age of 3-4 years. Gestation period is believed to be 11 months and the female gives birth to the calves with an interval of two years. At birth, the weight of the calves is about 6.4-10 kg (14-22 pounds) and their length is 70-90 cm (27-35 inches). The mother nurses the calves for eight months.

The non-spiny fishes such as cod, herring, squid, sardines, Pollock, and whiting are on the main menu of the porpoise. Although harbor porpoise is considered the smallest species in the porpoise family, it needs a good quantity of food everyday. It has been noticed to consume food as much as the tenth part of the weight of its body.

Generally seen in pairs or smaller groups of 6-10 animals, harbor porpoises have also been sited in groups of 50-100 while they were found to be actively feeding. This species has a tendency to often strand, probably because of its proximity to the shore areas. Some of these live stranded harbor porpoises are at times taken to several aquariums, but only a few have managed to survive while in captivity.

Picture by Fjord&Bælt, licensed under GFDL You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Monday 14 December 2009 Black Spider Monkeys - The Nomadic Tribe

The black spider monkey (Ateles paniscus), is found in the Amazon Rainforests on the topmost branches of trees. It has a long tail which acts as a fifth limb making it the most agile and acrobatic monkey of its family.

The head and body length of the black spider monkey is about 14-26 inches (35-66 cm) and it has a longer tail as compared to its body - 25-36 inches (60-80 cm). The weight of the monkey at birth is about 0.45 kg (1 lbs) and a mature monkey is approximately 7.8 kg (17.35 lbs).

The black spider monkey reaches its sexual age when it is five years of age and the female becomes mature at the age of four. There is no particular breeding season for this species and the female gives birth to its younger ones after 232-235 days of conception. They give birth to only one baby at a time and that too, after an interval of two to three years. These monkeys like to roam about in groups and are very active during the day time. They thrive on fruits, nuts, and leaves for their survival. Their lifespan is quite long as compared to other species. They can live up to 20 years and in captivity, they may survive for more than thirty years.

The black spider monkeys have slender and long limbs and their tails are even longer. Whenever, wherever possible, this monkey runs on all fours, even on the topmost branches of trees. If there is a distance between two trees, then they cover this distance by swinging or leaping from one tree to another. It is on very rare occasions that the spider monkey puts its feet on the ground. At that time, it mostly walks on its two hind legs with its tail straightened and stiffened upwards.

The monkey leads a nomadic life and roams about in groups. The number of monkeys in a group varies and it depends on the accessibility of food. For every square km of a forest, there are generally eighteen black spider monkeys but the number can reach up to 100 if the food is available in good quantities.

Every morning, the monkey group disperses in two or four smaller groups in search of food. Since it is quite large in size, there is no threat to its life from eagles or other such dangerous species and so, it does not require the protection of any large group. While feeding, the female monkeys keep in touch with other monkeys by loud calls. Along with fruit and nuts, these monkeys also feed on insects, bird's eggs, spiders, flower buds, and seeds.

However, an unfortunate part of the story is that the spider monkey is gradually becoming extinct because of constant hunting. Since it is a noisy and large animal, it becomes an easy target for arrows and darts. Moreover, its reproduction rate is very low and it matures slowly because of which, in some of the regions, it has been completely wiped out. The destruction of rainforests is also one of the reasons for its extinction.

Picture of the black spider monkey by Ana_Cotta, licensed under theCreative Commons Attribution 2.0 License . You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Wednesday 09 December 2009 Hooded skunk - black and white

The Hooded Skunk (Mephitis Macroura) is quite similar to the striped skunk in terms of its appearance. The only difference is its softer and longer fur and a specific longer hair ruff on its upper neck. Generally, two kinds of color patterns are found in the hooded skunk. In one pattern, it has the white-backed phase along with chiefly white upperparts. There are two short, narrow white strips on every side just behind the shoulder and the underpants are mottled in white or are black. The other pattern is a black phase with black underpants and two lateral, narrow strips in white. The underside of the tail is frequently white; occasionally, the tail may be completely black but the base of the hair is always white in any case. In the first color pattern (white-backed phase), there is a broad band in white running from between its eyes and covering most of the upper and back portions of its tail; the white strip in this case never diverges as seen in the striped skinks.

Unlike hog-nosed skunk, the hooded skunk has finer fur, smaller size, longer tail, and small snout. Although its fur is very soft as compared to other skunks, it does not have much of a market value. The total length of an adult male is about 70 cm. It has a long tail measuring about 38 cm, and hind foot about 7 cm. The length of a mature hooded skunk female is about 65 cm, tail 37 cm, and the hind foot about 6 cm. A mature male usually weighs about 800 to 900 g, while a female weighs about 400 to 700 g.

The hooded skunk mainly belongs to Mexico and also occurs in some regions of Texas such as the Big Bend region, neighboring parts of Central Trans-Pecos. It is also found in Pecos, Brewster, JeffDavis, Presidio, Reeves and Ward counties.

The hooded skunk prefers intermediate elevations, mainly above the desert region and below the high mountains. It is found in closed-basin scrubs, desert scrubs, desert grasslands, riparian areas, and plains-mesa grasslands. It often makes rocky bulges of canyons and vegetation along the river banks its habitats.

The hooded skunk uses entangled vegetation on the streamside, rocky edges, and stream courses as its cover for protection. Since hooded skunks are a rare species in Texas, not much is known about its natural history. The breeding season of hooded skunks usually lasts from February to March. The female gives birth to two litters every year and there are three individuals in each litter. Its main food includes insects, but it also thrives on rodents and shrews and certain plant material such as pear fruit.

The hooded skunk is normally found to be nocturnal in its behavior. It is less aggressive than other members of its species while it is tapping or seeing humans. In order to protect itself, it takes shelter in burrows or in thick vegetations. You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Sunday 06 December 2009 Marbled Polecats - The Introverts

The small mammal, theMarbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna), belongs to the monotypic genus Vormela and is a member of Mustelinae subfamily. The word 'Vormela'’ comes from the German word 'Würmlein' depicting the size of the marbled polecat. The word 'Peregusna' has come from 'pereguznya', the Ukrainian word for 'polecat'. Marbled polecats can be found in the grasslands and dry areas of western China to the southern-eastern regions of Europe. When threatened, the anal sacs under its tail emit a secretion with a very strong smell.

The length of the polecat is generally between 29 and 35 cm. It has short limbs, short muzzle, very large ears, and long but strong claws. The polecat has a short structure as compared to its long, hairy tail. The face has black and white marks on it. There are black stripes across its eyes and white markings on its face. The other species of this family dorsally is yellow in color and there are brown and reddish spots all over its body. The color of the tail is dark brown and in the middle of the tai,l there is a yellowish band. The weight of the female polecat is generally 295g to 600g and the male polecat weighs about 320g to 715g.

The marbled polecat is generally found in China, Russia, and south-east Europe. The other regions where polecat is found include Romania, Lebanon, Syria, Bulgaria, Jordan, Palestine, Armenia, Israel, Iran, Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, China, Mongolia, northern-western Pakistan, Altai Steppes in Siberia, and Kazakhstan. Marble polecats are also seen in Sinai Peninsula in 1998.

Marbled polecats are very active during the morning and the evening times. Since their eyesight is weak, their movement depends a lot on their powerful sense of smell. Their vocalization is quite limited and usually consists of shrill grunts, submissive long shrieks, and alarm cries. By nature, they prefer being alone and move in a radius of about 0.5 - 0.6 km from their homes. They generally do not stay at one place for more than once and are quite aggressive when encountering with other polecats.

When they sense any kind of danger, marbled polecats lift their legs, while at the same time, arch their back and curl their tail on their back with their long tail hair standing erect. They also given short, shrill hisses, cover their teeth, and lift their head. When threatened, marbled polecats sometimes release an extremely foul smell from their inflated anal glands located under the tail.

When digging or excavating dens, marbled polecats use their forelegs to dig the earth and anchor themselves using their hind legs and chin. They make use of their teeth to weed off obstacles like roots and grass while digging.

Marbled polecats generally feed on ground squirrels, Armenian hamsters, mole rats, voles, Libyan jirds, frogs, lizards, hares, fish, birds, pigeons, chickens, house mice, and insects such as crickets, beetles, snails, and so on. They have also been found to stealing cheese and smoked meat in houses.

Picture of the marbled polecat, Courtesy of Photographer: Laszlo Szabo-Szeley ©AVESTOURS You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Wednesday 02 December 2009 Argali - the largest wild sheep

Among all wild sheep, the Argali (Ovis Ammon) is the largest sheep. The males are hunted for their highly impressive and priced horns by hunters. Currently, their subspecies have been recognized and all of them vary both in their appearance and range. Generally, the argali has a light brown colored coat. The legs are white and there is a white patch on its rump. Although both the male and the female have long horns, males have larger and more impressive horns. The length of their horns can be as much as 13% of their body mass. Their corkscrew horns turn towards the front and have formidable weight. A mature argali male can have its corkscrew horns weighing up to 44.09 to 48.5 lbs (20 to 22 kg). Males also have a white patch of hair around their neck and quite a distinct crest along their back, which also complements their striking appearance.

This species is generally found throughout Central Asia, while their subspecies are restricted to different regions such as to the west of Uzbekistan is found the Ovis Ammon severtzovi and the Altai Argali is found to the east of Mongolia. The many habitats of Argali are the mountainous regions at elevations up to 1.300 - 1,600 meters above sea level. These regions are dry alpine habitats.

Argalis are considered to be highly gregarious animals. They roost in large single-sex groups and there can be more than 100 individuals in one group. When the mating season starts, there is a fierce competition among males to get the most receptive female. These competitions are often aggressive and the sound of their clashing horns reverberates in the mountains. Their gestation period is about five months and the female gives birth to one or two lambs. When the activity of giving birth is going on, the females stay away from their herd. The young ones remain veiled in the tall grass while the mother feeds them.

The Argalis are herbivorous animals and feed on herbs, sedges, and grass. During summer, the grass is dried and Argalis are seen migrating to higher elevations in search of food.

There is a serious threat to Argalis throughout their range and some of their subspecies are facing the worst situation and are on the verge of extinction. Since more and more land is being cultivated, their habitats are increasingly at a loss and perhaps, domestication of sheep has also caused a serious threat to their existence. The high cost of their horns attracts hunters throughout their range affecting their population number significantly.

Sustainable organization of the hunting of argalis can make it possible to conserve some of the species of this animal and that is the only hope to save them from extinction. Although controversial, this method can raise the value of argalis among the local people, protect its habitat, and if a careful monitoring of the revenue obtained is ploughed back, then this can do a great deal in conserving this species. The two species that are at the highest risk of extinction are the Ovis Ammon nigrimontana and the Ovis Ammon hodgsonii. You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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