Tag Archives: Mammal

Pied Tamarin

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Pied Tamarin

Pied tamarins… cute or ugly?

  • Pied tamarins, also known as ‘pied bare-faced tamarins’ and ‘Brazilian bare-faced tamarins’, are primates of small size, native to the Brazilian rainforests of South America.
  • The scientific name of a pied tamarin is Saguinus bicolor, and it is from the family Callitrichidae, a family of New World monkeys that consists of tamarins and marmosets.
  • The height of pied tamarins ranges from 18 to 30 centimetres (7 to 12 inches), not including their long tail, and they generally weigh between 220 to 900 grams (0.5 to 2 pounds).
  • Fruit, nectar, frogs, eggs, lizards, spiders, insects and flowers make up the primary diet of pied tamarins.
  • Pied tamarins live in troops of three to fifteen and are protective of their territory, and they rest in trees at night, and forage for food in the daytime.
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Pied Tamarin
Image courtesy of Josh More/Flickr
  • The fur of the upper body of a pied tamarin is generally white in colour, although its face is black and has no fur, while the lower body is generally a combination of black, red, tan and brown fur.
  • Pied tamarins have been listed as an endangered species, threatened primarily by habitat loss, and as such, they only occupy a small area in Brazil.
  • Each year, the dominant female in a troop of pied tamarins usually gives birth to twins, rather than a single baby, both of which are cared for by members in the group, including other females, males and more mature siblings.
  • Pied tamarins generally have a lifespan of eight to fifteen years, and their predators include hawks, feral cats and snakes.
  • Noises such as whistles and chirps are used by pied tamarins to communicate between each other, as well as to scare off threats.
Bibliography:
Pied Tamarin, 2001, Lincoln Park Zoo, http://www.lpzoo.org/animals/factsheet/pied-tamarin
Pied Tamarin, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/pied-tamarin/
Pied Tamarin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_tamarin

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Dusky Dolphin

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Dusky Dolphin

Dusky dolphins are the experts in acrobatics.

  • Dusky dolphins are a species of dolphin native to fairly low temperature waters in coastal areas, in the Southern Hemisphere, and they live in large groups or pods, that revert to small groups at various times in the day.
  • The scientific name of a dusky dolphin is Lagenorhynchus obscurus and it is from the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins.
  • The diet of dusky dolphins consists primarily of aquatic animals, that mainly includes fish and squid, and they are preyed upon by orcas and sharks.
  • A dusky dolphin’s length ranges from 1.6 to 2.1 metres (5.2 to 6.9 feet), while the weight varies from 70 to 120 kilograms (154 to 264 pounds).
  • It is common for dusky dolphins to swim according to cold water currents, and they are said to be able travel up to 780 kilometres (485 miles) in a single journey.

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Dusky Dolphin
Image courtesy of NOAA Photo Library/Flickr

  • Dusky dolphins have a smooth skin that ranges from grey, black and blue in colour, while the underbelly is white.
  • The sounds produced by dusky dolphins are generally clicks and whistles that have a frequency varying from 40 to 110 kilohertz.
  • For reproduction purposes, female dusky dolphins generally prefer speedier and more agile males over any other characteristic, and mature females will usually produce one calf every two to three years, and care for their young in groups that contain mothers and their babies.
  • Dusky dolphins are prided for their particular skill in aerial acrobatics, that include graceful flips, slaps, leaps and spins.
  • As a popular animal viewed by tourists, dusky dolphin sightings have increased significantly over the decades, although actual numbers of the animal in the wild are undetermined due to a lack of data, and the species is protected in many areas.
Bibliography:
Dusky Dolphin, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/dusky-dolphin/
Dusky Dolphin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusky_dolphin

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Saola

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Saola

I’m not surprised if you’ve never heard of saolas – they are just a little rare after all.

  • Saolas are an antelope species native to regions of Laos and Vietnam in Southeast Asia.
  • ‘Saolas’ are also known as ‘Vu Quang oxes’, ‘Vu Quang bovids’, ‘Asian unicorns’ and ‘Asian biocorns’.
  • The scientific name of a saola is Pseudoryx nghetinhensis and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of bovids, or ruminant animals with cloven hooves.
  • Typically saolas grow to be 80 to 90 centimetres (31.5 to 35.4) in height excluding the head, and 80 to 100 kilograms (176 to 220 pounds) in weight.
  • The short fur of saolas is generally coloured a combination of brown, red and black shades, and they have horns reaching 35 to 50 centimetres (14 to 20 inches) in length.
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Saola
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Saolas usually live in damp mountainous areas that contain dense forests and woodlands, near valleys and rivers and other water sources.
  • Saolas, despite often living a solitary life, may group in herds of two to three, with some native observers noticing groups of up to seven.
  • The diet of saolas consists of vegetation including leaves, stems and grasses, and it may also consist of seeds, berries and fruit.
  • Saolas are listed as critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss, with extant numbers estimated to be 250 or less.
  • Saolas first became known to the modern world in 1992, in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve through a group survey, when the group came across a new horn type on a hunter’s wall; and as a result, many observations were later taken from captive species or native reports.
Bibliography:
Saola, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/saola/
Saola, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saola

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Howler Monkey

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Howler Monkey

Howler monkeys may give you headache.

  • Howler monkeys are a subfamily and genus of medium to large primates with around 15 species, and one of the largest sized monkeys in the group of New World monkeys.
  • The scientific name of a howler monkey is Alouatta, while Alouattinae is the subfamily name, and it is from the family Atelidae, a family of New World monkeys.
  • Howler monkeys typically live in trees in rainforests and jungles of their native Central and South America.
  • The height of howler monkeys ranges from 56 to 92 centimetres (22 to 36 inches) and they weigh roughly 3 to 9 kilograms (6.6 to 20 pounds).
  • The colour of howler monkey fur can be brown, black or tan in colour, and the animal has a long tail, that can be the length or longer than their body, that they use like an extra limb for grasping, and hanging in trees.
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Howler Monkey
Image courtesy of Peter Schoen/Flickr
  • Howler monkeys have a diet that consists primarily of leaves, fruit, flowers and nuts, however some of their food can become dangerous to them when consumed in large quantities.
  • Howler monkeys have notably loud voices generally used for howls or growls, which can be projected to distances up to 4.8 kilometres (3 miles), hence their common name.
  • Howler monkeys are nest builders, and they have a sense of smell that is quite considerable, reaching a range of around 2 kilometres (1.25 miles).
  • The lifespan of howler monkeys is an average of 15 to 20 years, and the mammal is preyed on by snakes, birds and jaguars.
  • Howler monkeys are threatened by habitat loss and poaching, and have been captured as exotic pets, while some species are listed as vulnerable or endangered.
Bibliography:
Howler Monkey, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/howler-monkey/
Howler Monkey, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/howler-monkey/
Howler Monkey, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey

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Afghan Hound

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Afghan Hound

Afghan hounds are quite the lovable type.

  • An Afghan hound is a breed of large domestic dog, that is commonly kept and bred as a pet, and it uses its sense of sight and fast moving ability when hunting, and therefore is listed as a ‘sighthound’.
  • ‘Afghan hounds’ are also known as ‘Tazis’, ‘Sage Balochis’, ‘Ogar Afgans’, ‘Eastern greyhounds’, ‘Kabul hounds’, ‘Baluchi hounds’, and ‘Persian greyhounds’, as well as ‘Tāžī Spay’ and ‘Sag-e Tāzī’ in native languages.
  • The long, thick hair with a silk-like appearance is a notable feature of Afghan hounds, along with their distinctly curled tails and particularly lengthy muzzles.
  • The fur of Afghan hounds ranges from brown, grey, black, gold and white in colour, and it requires much grooming to keep a neat appearance.
  • Afghan hounds originate from the cold mountainous regions of Afghanistan, in Asia, and were probably domesticated in the area around 4000 BC.

 

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Afghan Hound
Image courtesy of Bryan Ungard/Flickr
  • Afghan hounds generally grow to be 61 to 74 centimetres (24 to 29 inches) in height and 20 to 27 kilograms (44 to 59.5 pounds) in weight.
  • Usually, Afghan hounds have a gentle and pleasant nature, although they have been used throughout history to hunt boar, deer, gazelle and goats, and guarding livestock from snow leopards, wolves and other animals.
  • Afghan hounds were first imported into the United Kingdom in the 1880s, while afterwards in the United States of America in the 1920s, and they quickly became a popular breed and commonly exhibited at shows.
  • Although originally quite an independent breed, Afghan hounds have had this tendency dulled through breeding attempts to create appealing varieties.
  • Female Afghan hounds generally have around seven pups at a time, and they typically live twelve to fourteen years.
Bibliography:
Afghan Hound, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/afghan-hound/
Afghan Hound, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Hound

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Dhole

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Dhole

Dholes are quite a bit more wild and free compared to the domesticated dog.

  • Dholes are a medium sized mammal native to a variety of habitats in the wilderness of Asia, in the southern and eastern parts of the continent.
  • Dholes have the scientific name Cuon alpinus, and are from the family Canidae, the family of dogs, and they have an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years.
  • ‘Dholes’ are also known as ‘Indian wild dogs’, ‘red wolves’, ‘red dogs’, ‘whistling dogs’, ‘mountain wolves’, and ‘Asiatic wild dogs’.
  • The length of dholes range from 75 to 110 centimetres (29.5 to 43 inches) and weigh around 12 to 20 kilograms (26 to 44 pounds).
  • The fur coat of dholes can be grey, red or brown in colour, according to their environment, with white, tan, gold or black highlights.
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Dhole
Image courtesy of Neil McIntosh/Flickr
  • Dholes generally live in small groups of around five to twelve, but up to forty members, and they will usually hunt in groups from early morning.
  • The diet of dholes consists of mammals including goats, deer, boar, buffalo, and rabbits; and they will usually rip open their prey.
  • Dholes are listed as an endangered species, due to a combination of diminished numbers of prey and habitat loss, as well as other factors.
  • Sounds made by dholes vary from growls, yaps, screams, chatters, whines and most notably, whistles.
  • Five to twelve pups are born to a female dhole at one time, with both parents and others in the pack looking after the pups; and they start hunting with adults when they are around six months old.
Bibliography:
Dhole, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/dhole/
Dhole, 2015, San Diego Zoo Animals, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/dhole
Dhole, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Dhole

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