Category Archives: Animals

Uakari

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Uakari

I would say uakaris are quite a cheeky bunch, wouldn’t you?

  • Uakaris are four species of monkey of small size, native to South America’s tropical rainforests in the Amazon River Basin.
  • The scientific name of a uakari is Cacajao, and it is from the family Pitheciidae, a family of New World Monkeys.
  • Uakaris range from 36 to 57 centimetres (14 to 22.5 inches) in length and weigh between 2 to 3.5 kilograms (4.4 to 7.7 pounds).
  • Depending on the species, uakaris have hair that can be coloured brown, red, white or black, while their mostly hairless face can be black or a vivid red colour.
  • The diet of uakaris consists primarily of fruit, as well as insects, nuts and leaves, and the monkeys are preyed upon by hawks and other large birds, and snakes.
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Uakari
Image courtesy of Paul Schlarman/Flickr
  • Uakaris live high up in tall trees, and spend much time jumping from tree to tree in leaps that can reach distances of up to 20 metres (66 feet).
  • The face colour of a uakari reflects the primate’s health, with a paler colour indicating a less healthy specimen, while species kept in captivity are notably more pale than their wild counterparts.
  • As a result of hunting and habitat loss, there has been a decrease in the population of uakaris, and as such, they are listed as vulnerable.
  • The tail of a uakari is notably smaller in comparison to other New World monkeys, reaching lengths of 15 to 18 centimetres (6 to 7 inches), and it is used primarily for balance.
  • Female uakaris give birth to a single baby every second year, and they generally have a lifespan between 16 to 22 years, and live in small troops of 10 to 30 animals, although they can number up to 100.
Bibliography:
Red Uakari, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/red-uakari/
Uakari, 2014, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uakari
Uakari, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/uakari/

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Pangolin

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Pangolin

Pangolins are overshadowed by anteaters, hence why they are known so little.

  • Pangolins are a family of scaled mammals, native to parts of Asia or Africa, depending on the genus, in tropical areas.
  • ‘Pangolins’ are also known as ‘scaly anteaters’ and ‘trenggilings’, and in 2014 they were said to be the most trafficked animal in the world.
  • The scientific family name of pangolins is Manidae, from the Pholidota order, and they belong to three genera – Manis, Phataginus and Smutsia, and include eight species.
  • Pangolins range in size, depending on the species, and they generally grow to lengths between 30 to 140 centimetres (1 to 4.6 feet) and weigh between 1.6 to 33 kilograms (3.5 to 73 pounds).
  • The armoured scales of pangolin are made of keratin and range in colours from yellow, olive and light and dark browns.
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Image courtesy of Dabid Brossard/Flickr
  • Termites and ants make up the primary diet of pangolins, although other insects and their larvae are also consumed.
  • Pangolins have a significantly long tongue that is up to 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) in width and 40 centimetres (16 inches) in length, to reach the far corners of insect mounds.
  • Pangolins are threatened by poaching or hunting for their meat and scales, and habitat loss, all of which have led to populations becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, and while the animal is kept in captivity, often in rehabilitation centres, they commonly die from dietary and stress related issues.
  • Hiding and sleeping in burrows or trees during daylight, pangolins are mostly nocturnal animals and they usually live alone.
  • The term ‘pangolin’ comes from the Malay term ‘peng-guling,’, which literally means ‘roller’, referring to the animal’s common defence tactic of curling up in a ball.
Bibliography:
Pangolin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin
Pangolin, 2015, World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin
Pangolin, n.d, African Wildlife Fund, http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/pangolin
What is a Pangolin?, 2015, Save Pangolins, http://savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin/

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California Condor

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California Condor

California condors are birds of the past that have been rebirthed into the present.

  • California condors are a vulture species native to North America’s forest, cliff, savannah and shrub habitats.
  • The scientific name of a California condor is Gymnogyps californianus and it is from the family Cathartidae, the family of New World vultures.
  • The wingspan of a California condor reaches 2.7 to 3 metres (9 to 10 feet) in width, the largest wingspan of any North American bird, and the bird can grow to a length of 1.1 to 1.4 metres (3.5 to 4.5 feet) and generally weighs between 8 to 14 kilograms (18 to 31 pounds), making it also the largest flying bird in North America.
  • The feathers of a California condor are mostly coloured black, with some underwing feathers coloured white, while the neck and head is bare and a pink to red colour.
  • California condors are scavengers in nature, feeding on dead animals like rabbits, livestock, deer, whales and fish, among others.
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California Condor
Image courtesy of George Kathy Klinich/Flickr
  • Due to having little or no sense of smell, California condors depend on their eyesight, or their observation of eagles and other vultures, to lead them to food.
  • Habitat destruction, poisoning from dead animals containing lead bullets, poaching and electrical lines all contributed to the wild extinction of California condors in 1987, although the remaining few birds were captured for captive breeding programs; and the bird has since been reintroduced into the wild from 1992 after an extensive conservation program.
  • Female California condors produce a single blue-white egg every couple of years which is laid in a hole in a tree, or on a cliff or cave floor, however if the first egg is lost, the bird may produce another, and the egg and chick is looked after by both parents.
  • There were only 425 extant California condors in total, in the wild and captivity in late 2014, and the species is listed as critically endangered, although numbers have been increasing due to further conservation efforts and a continuing breeding program.
  • To clean themselves, California condors choose to wash in water, or scrape away dirt by rubbing their head and neck against trees or other objects, and they finish cleaning with extensive feather preening.
Bibliography:
California Condor, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/birds/california-condor/
California Condor, 2015, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/california-condor
California Condor, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_condor

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Prosciutto

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Prosciutto

Only prosecute someone who gives you nasty prosciutto.

  • Prosciutto is a ham that has gone through a dry-curing process, and it is commonly sliced in very thin pieces and generally not cooked before eating.
  • The term ‘prosciutto’ is derived from the Latin words ‘pro’ meaning ‘before’ and ‘exsuctus’ meaning ‘dried up’ or ‘without juice’, which comes from the word ‘exsugere’ meaning ‘to suck out moisture’.
  • Traditionally prosciutto is made of the hind leg or the thigh of pigs or wild boar, although this style of meat can be produced from other animals.
  • The process of making prosciutto generally involves pressing, salting and cleansing the raw meat from blood and other impurities for approximately two months, and then the meat goes through a drying and curing process that typically takes between 12 and 24 months.
  • Prosciutto is popularly eaten with melon, figs and other fruit; bread or bread sticks; wrapped around vegetables like asparagus; or as an addition to other dishes including pasta and pizza.

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  • Prosciutto is historically an Italian product, and it has been produced in Italy’s city of Parma, from as early as 100 BC.
  • ‘Proscuitto crudo’ is the name for the raw version of the meat, and while the ham is commonly eaten uncooked, if added to other dishes it should only be cooked for short periods of time at low heat, to avoid destroying the flavour and texture.
  • Prosciutto is generally a combination of colours that may include white, pink, peach, orange and red in colour.
  • The sodium content of prosciutto is very high, while the meat is also high in fat and a good source of protein.
  • Sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate are occasionally used in the making of prosciutto, which often enhances the pink and red colours of the ham, however the use of these chemicals is not common in traditionally cured hams, and are absent from those that are produced in protected areas of origin in Italy.
Bibliography:
Ipatenco S, Is Prosciutto Healthy?, 2015, LiveStrong.com, http://www.livestrong.com/article/374315-is-prosciutto-healthy/
Prosciutto, 2015, Life In Italy, http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/prosciutto.asp
Prosciutto, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosciutto

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Reindeer

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Reindeer

Reindeer are the animal star of Christmas, despite its depictions being a misnomer.

  • Reindeer are a type of deer native to the northern mountainous, arctic and forest habitats of North America, Russia, and Europe, and the animals are also known as ‘caribous’, mainly in North America, although this term may be used only for wild herds in those areas.
  • The scientific name of a reindeer is Rangifer tarandus, and it is from the family Cervidae, the family of deer.
  • The antlers found on reindeer that shed every November in males and May in females are quite noteworthy, reaching lengths of up to 130 centimetres (51 inches) in males and 51 centimetres (20 inches) in females.
  • Reindeer are ruminants and have a diet that consists primarily of mosses and lichen, but also leaves, fungi and grasses, and they have an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years.
  • The length of a reindeer generally ranges between 1.6 to 2.1 metres (5.3 to 6.9 feet) and the mammal usually weighs between 60 to 240 kilograms (132 to 529 pounds) and up to as much as 320 kilograms (705 pounds).
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Reindeer
Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey/Flickr
  • Reindeer have two layers of fur coloured brown, tan, white or grey depending on the subspecies; an inner layer that is quite woolly and thick, and an outer layer, which is quite long and hairy, although these hair fibres are hollow, enabling them to swim more easily in water.
  • Depending on the subspecies, some reindeer travel more than any other land animal in the world, moving up to 5000 kilometres (3100 miles) each year for the purpose of migration, while they have a speed that can reach 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour).
  • Predators often have difficulty catching reindeer due to their high speeds, dangerous antlers and tendency to live in large herds, although despite this, bears, wolves and humans still prey on the deer.
  • During warmer months, the hooves of reindeer are generally spongy to assist with walking across marshes, although in winter they become hard, to assist walking across formed ice.
  • Despite some subspecies of reindeer being scarce, the mammal is a popularly hunted for its prized antlers and meat, while some are domesticated and kept in herds.
Bibliography:
Reindeer, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/reindeer/
Reindeer, 2015, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/reindeer
Reindeer, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reindeer

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Opossum

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Opossum

Don’t confuse an American opossum with an Australian possum – they’re quite different!

  • Opossums are a family of over 100 species of marsupials that are native to a variety of habitats in North and South America, and they typically live not far from a water source and often dwell in trees.
  • The scientific and family name of an opossum is Didelphidae, from the order Didelphimorphia, and the animal is distributed among four sub-families, and is sometimes known as a ‘possum’, though it is not closely related and should not be confused with possums that live in Australia and surrounding areas.
  • Generally opossums grow to be 61 to 91 centimetres (24 to 36 inches) in length, which includes their long tail, and weigh 0.5 to 6 kilograms (1.1 to 13 pounds).
  • Opossums have fur that ranges from black, grey and brown in colour, and they usually have a white face and a pink snout.
  • The diet of opossums can consist of insects, fruit, nuts, frogs, birds, mice, grasses and snakes, as well as garbage waste.
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Opossum
Image courtesy of Dawn Huczek/Flickr
  • Female opossums can produce 5 to 15 young at one time, although often some won’t survive, and they crawl to and grow in the pouch of the mother when newborn, and at around three months, they can ride on their mother’s back.
  • Opossums have the ability to shut down into an unconscious state and play dead as a technique to evade predators, and this state of being can last as long as four hours or as little as 40 minutes.
  • Opossums can generally resist the toxins of pit viper snakes such as cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, however, they typically have a short lifespan of approximately two years, and up to four.
  • Urban locations are increasingly seeing more opossums, as greater populations move into the area due to habitat removal, while some species are listed as near threatened, vulnerable or critically endangered.
  • Some communities in America eat opossum meat, and historically it was a popular food, while others hunt the animal for its fur.
Bibliography:
Opossums, 2015, Living With Wildlife, http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/opossums.html
Opossum, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/opossum/
Opossum, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/opossum/
Opossum, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum

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