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Tuesday 26 March 2013
The Unstriped Ground Squirrel - Africa's Little Survivor
The unstriped Ground Squirrel (Xerus rutilus) is a member of the rodent family. Families and communities all live together in burrows and colonies in and around parts of Africa, like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritea. They live in the dry Savanna, subtropical areas and shrub land. This ground squirrel is pretty much a vegetarian they love to eat roots, seeds, fruit, pods, grains, insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates. These squirrels will eat basically anything hanging in a tree or anything crawling around that is small enough to fit in their little mouths.
The unstriped squirrel’s status is labeled as "little concern" because it is in abundance in the African areas; it is not on the verge of extinction.
The unstriped ground squirrel weighs about .6kg which is approximately 1.3 pounds. When measured length wise they can measure 10-12 inches long. These small animals are sometimes kept as pets, but most farmers see these animals as pest to their crops.
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The Coypu (Myocastor coypus), a large rodent herbivore, was originally found in South America although it has been introduced to various other regions such as Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. It was introduced predominantly for its fur. Although they were initially believed to be a valuable species, they have become largely invasive through their destructive burrowing. The animal is typically found near rivers in burrows surrounding the water and eats primarily river plants.
The coypu looks similar to a beaver or a gigantic rat and has often been mistaken for muskrats although the muskrat is significantly smaller. The animal weighs between 5 to 9 kilograms or 11 to 20 pounds with a body between 40 to 60 centimeters or 16 to 24 inches. Their tails measure approximately 30 to 45 centimeters or 12 to 18 inches in length. The coypu has dark brown outer fur which is quite coarse and softer fur underneath. The animal is quite unique due to its white muzzle as well as its peculiar hind feet, which are distinctly webbed. In addition, female coypu have nipples which are located high on their body so that they are able to feed the young while floating.
The coypu has become extinct in many of their natural, native habitats due to hunting. Because of this, farms were established during the 19th and 20th centuries. The initial farms were established in Argentina and were later introduced in Asia, North America, and Europe. However, these fur farms have not been successful and most of the animals have been released back into the wild creating problems in the surrounding habitats due to the coypu’s excessive eating of plants, burrowing, chewing of tires and paneling on homes, as well as the destruction of irrigation systems. They are not currently considered to an endangered species. Predators of the coypu exist both on land as well as in the water. Their primary predators include alligators, red wolves, and well as wild cats.
Although they are not currently considered an overall endangered species, they do undergo periods of population reduction particularly during harsh winters. The animal is not very resilient in the cold and often undergoes frostbite in their tails which can cause infection and, potentially, death. Because of this, there are areas in which the animal has become extinct including parts of Scandinavia. However, during mild winters, the animals survive quite well particularly in areas of the northwestern United States.
Friday 22 March 2013
Mountain Weasel - Nocturnal Athlete
The Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica) is a species of weasel that prefers to live at high altitudes, usually over 11,500 feet (3,505 meters). This species is sometimes referred to as the Pale Weasel or Altai Weasel, as well. Mountain Weasels have two coats; they molt their winter coats, revealing their summer coats, when the weather becomes warm each spring. The summer coat may be gray or gray-brown and sometimes consist of some pale yellow, as well. The winter coat is made of up a darker yellow colored fur, as well as some brown.
Male and female Mountain weasels differ slightly in size. The males are typically 12 to 17 inches (30.4 to 43 centimeters) long, from the nose to the tip of the tail. They weigh between eight and 12 ounces (.2 and .3 kilograms). The females range from 12 to 15 inches (30.4 to 38 centimeters) in length and weigh from four to eight ounces (.1 to .2 kilograms). Females feature smaller heads and shorter tails than males.
Mountain Weasels may be found in parts of East Asia, including the Himalayas, Mongolia, Korea, and northern China. They also sometimes appear in parts of Russia. They are most commonly found, however, in Ladakh, India. They reside in tree trunks, rocky caves or crevices, and the abandoned burrows of other animals. Sometimes, mountain weasels even take over the burrows of their prey. This prey may include small rodents, such as voles, and lizards. In turn, the weasels are occasionally preyed upon by large birds, wolves, or foxes.
Mountain Weasels live where there is an abundance of green vegetation at high altitudes. Their habitat is in danger of terrible depletion, making the future unclear for this species. Mountain Weasels are considered "near threatened" due to a significant decline in numbers in recent years.
The Mountain Weasel may be considered a natural athlete due to its extreme agility and versatility. Both males and females are capable of incredible feats of climbing, swimming, and running. They are natural contortionists and are among the most nimble animals in the world. Mountain Weasels typically sleep during the day, aside from a rare daytime hunt, but they can be observed capering and performing gymnastics nightly. They are solitary creatures except for when mating, though, so one mustn't expect a group show.
Mountain Weasels are beautiful, remarkably agile creatures whose high-altitude habitat must be protected in order to ensure that they are allowed to continue to romp and hunt on the Asian mountain slopes where they reside.
Thursday 21 March 2013
The Brown Lemur - Get Ready for a Tall Tail
The Brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) is a medium-sized primate. They are found on the island of Madagascar, located off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. They have also been found to live on Mayotte, an island to the north of Madagascar. These lemurs range in length from 84 to 101 centimeters (33 to 40 inches), and weigh in at a mere two to four kilograms (four to ten pounds). Interestingly, the lemur's tail is usually as long as or longer than their body!
Brown lemurs are typically herbivores, eating fruits, flowers, and leaves, but they will, on occasion, eat centipedes, millipedes, and other insects. They will also consume bark, sap, and clay. Their habitat of forests, both rain forests and dry forests, ensures that they have an ample supply of food, with plenty of plant and animal life around to nibble on.
They are excellent jumpers, moving from tree to tree with ease and use their tail for balance when needed. They spend less than 2% of their time on the ground. When on the ground, they usually run around on all 4 legs.
Brown lemurs typically live in groups of 5 to 12 individuals. There doesn't appear to be any hierarchy among these groups and one group may claim up to 20 hectacres of territory. The gestation period for a Brown lemur is 120 days and the female usually gives birth to only one offspring, though twins have been reported. They can live to be 25 to 30 years old, and may live to be even older than that in captivity.
In terms of conservation status, Brown lemurs are considered to be "vulnerable". This is largely due to loss of habitat, as forests are destroyed by humans. As the human population of Madagascar grows, more forests are being destroyed for agricultural purposes, both the planting of crops and the grazing of animals. Lemurs are found in a variety of protected areas, parks, and in zoos, which should help to preserve their population. Their natural predators are eagles, hawks, or domestic cats who may eat a new born.
Wednesday 20 March 2013
Hector's Beaked Whale - Vacuum of the Sea
The Hector's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hectori) is less well known than many of its cetacean cousins, and is a relatively unique specimen within the world of whales and dolphins. While the presence of the beak may draw more comparisons to the latter, genetically and functionally speaking it belongs among the ranks of the former. The Hector's beaked whale is incredibly rare, and thus comparatively little is known about it. However, it stands as one of the ocean's most fascinating creatures.
Physical Characteristics
The smallest of the beaked whales, these oceanic mammals generally come in at around 4.2 meters (13.8 ft), and weigh about 1 tonne, or 2,204 lbs, in size closer to a Bottlenose dolphin than most whale species. Its most prominent physical characteristic is the beak which it shares with othchive Striped hyena - master scavenger");
The unstriped Ground Squirrel (Xerus rutilus) is a member of the rodent family. Families and communities all live together in burrows and colonies in and around parts of Africa, like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritea. They live in the dry Savanna, subtropical areas and shrub land. This ground squirrel is pretty much a vegetarian they love to eat roots, seeds, fruit, pods, grains, insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates. These squirrels will eat basically anything hanging in a tree or anything crawling around that is small enough to fit in their little mouths.
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