Category Archives: Animals

Australasian Snapper

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Australasian Snapper

A snappy Australasian snapper.

  • Australasian snappers are fish native to the ocean near Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan and New Zealand.
  • ‘Australasian snappers’ are also known as ‘silver seabreams’, ‘snappers’, ‘cocknies’, ‘pinkies’, ‘queens’, ‘schnappers’ and ‘ruggers’.
  • The scientific name of an Australasian snapper is Pagrus auratus, from the family Sparidae, the family of sea bream, and despite its common name, it is not technically a snapper.
  • Australasian snappers can be found in waters near the coast, around underwater rocky landscapes, among reefs, and in depths of up to 200 metres (656 feet).
  • The lifespan of Australasian snappers can reach from 40 to 54 years; and young females may develop into males by adulthoood, although this is not common in some areas.

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  • Australasian snappers generally grow between 40 to 130 centimetres (16 to 51 inches) in length, and weigh between 10 to 20 kilograms (22 to 44 pounds).
  • Australasian snappers are among the most commonly eaten fish by humans in countries where they are found nearby, such as Australia.
  • The diet of Australasian snappers generally consists of crabs, shrimp, starfish, other fish, sea urchins and shellfish.
  • Australasian snappers can have scales ranging from red, pink, grey, silver or gold in colour, and mature adults develop an obvious hump on the top of their head.
  • Australasian snappers often cannot be legally caught for human consumption if they are less than 35 centimetres (14 inches) in length; and this is to prevent over-fishing so as not to damage the population of fish.
Bibliography:
Snapper, 2014, PIRSA Fisheries, http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational_fishing/target_species/snapper
Snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), 2014, Australian Museum, http://australianmuseum.net.au/Snapper-Pagrus-auratus-Bloch-Schneider-1801
Silver Seabream, n.d, FishBase, http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/summary/6426
Australasian Snapper, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_snapper

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Stoat

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Stoat

Don’t stoat around… at least not too much!

  • Stoats are small mammals that are close relatives of weasels, and they originate in North America, Asia and Europe.
  • The scientific name of a stoat is Mustela erminea, and it is from the family Mustelidae, the family of weasels.
  • ‘Stoats’ are also known as ‘short-tailed weasels’, ‘Bonaparte weasels’ and ‘ermines’, and they occupy a wide range of habitats.
  • Stoats range from 17 to 35 centimetres (6.7 to 13.8 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 180 to 258 grams (6.3 to 9.1 ounces).
  • The coat of a stoat is typically coloured a combination of brown, black and tan with a white underside, and when the animal moults in autumn, the fur will usually grow back as a lighter colour for camouflaging purposes in winter, and this new fur coat can be completely white except for the tip of its tail, although the resulting colour change depends on the geographical region and climate that the animal lives in.
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Stoat
Image courtesy of Mark Kilner/Flickr
  • Stoats live in territories and occupy multiple dens, that are often the original home of past prey and these can be hollows, nests, burrows or other small sheltered areas.
  • The diet of stoats varies, depending on their location, and it can include rabbits, rodents, lizards, insects, birds and fish; and they are preyed upon by wild cats, foxes and snakes.
  • The fur of stoats has been historically used by humans for winter clothing purposes, and commonly for ornamental reasons, especially by nobility.
  • Stoats were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s for the purpose of reducing rabbit numbers, however, as predicted, they have had a significant, negative environmental impact, and have threatened numerous native species of birds.
  • Female stoats typically give birth to between 5 and 15 young at one time, and they usually have only one litter during their life, which is an average of 4 to 6 years.
Bibliography:
Stoat, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/stoat/
Stoat, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat

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Wolverine

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Wolverine

Any wolverine you come across may be slightly dangerous.

  • Wolverines are mammals found in the northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, and the largest population can be found in America’s Canada.
  • A ‘wolverine’ is also known as a ‘carcajou’, ‘skunk bear’, ‘glutton’ and ‘quickhatch’, while its scientific name is Gulo gulo, and it is from the family Mustelidae, the family of weasels.
  • Wolverines look somewhat like a bear, and they have notably lengthy claws and a strong jaw; and the fur is significantly water repellant which is mostly coloured brown and black.
  • Wolverine habitats range from alpine tundras to forests of the taiga and subarctic; and they usually live alone.
  • Wolverines range from 65 to 107 centimetres (26 to 42 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 9 to 32 kilograms (20 to 71 pounds),  and they are the largest species in the weasel family that live on land.

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Wolverine
Image courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
  • Mammals make up the primary diet of wolverines, and includes rodents, foxes, weasels, moose and deer, and occasionally vegetation, eggs, insects and birds.
  • Female wolverines give birth every two or three years around spring, to an average of two or three kits; and the typical lifespan of the animal ranges from 8 to 15 years, and they have been kept successfully in zoos.
  • Although classified as least concern, wolverine numbers have been declining, and are threatened from illegal hunting in some areas, as well as loss of habitat.
  • Wolverines are notable in both film and literature, particularly as the concept of the Marvel Comic superhero of the same name.
  • When threatened or trying to repel fellow competitors, wolverines may excrete an unpleasant smell; and the males have a very large territory that can be 620 square kilometres (240 square miles) or more in area.
Bibliography:
Wolverine, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/wolverine/
Wolverine, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/wolverine/
Wolverine, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine

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Mussel

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Mussel

Don’t go picking any random mussel off the street, or in this case, the rocks.

  • Mussels are a groups of molluscs that are found in both salt and fresh water environments, and they are roughly symmetrical.
  • The term ‘mussels’ is most commonly applied to the family Mytilidae, a family of saltwater species; and the molluscs are from the class Bivalvia, the class of bivalve molluscs.
  • Mussels can grow to be 4 to 15 centimetres (1.6 to 6 inches) in length, and are typically taller than wider.
  • The shell of a mussel is frequently a dark colour, like brown, blue or black, and it is also three-layered, in two halves, and is connected at a hinge; while the internal creature has a ‘foot’ that is a muscle-like organ, used to drag the mollusc along surfaces.
  • The diet of mussels consists of tiny aquatic animals such as plankton, which can affect the mollusc’s toxicity, and their food is caught using their water filtering system.
Mussel, Blue, Animals, Aquatic, Marine, Californian, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Mussels
Image courtesy of Franco Folini/Flickr
  • Fresh water mussel larvae fasten themselves to fish once born, and using the host’s excreted chemicals they create a shell; and then detach from their host after the shell has been made.
  • Around 17 species of mussel are considered suitable for consumption by humans, and China was the biggest producer of edible species in 2005, roughly totalling 40% of the worldwide production.
  • Mussels are commonly eaten as seafood, and must be cooked while they are living, or only just dead, otherwise toxins can build, and cooking styles include smoking, roasting, steaming, boiling and frying.
  • Mussels typically take 12 to 15 months to grow to a commercially acceptable size, which is approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length.
  • Mussels are a good source of phosphorus, iron and protein, and they are high in selenium, and extremely high in vitamin B12 and manganese.
 Bibliography:
Mussel, 2015, Encylopedia.com, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/mussel.aspx
Mussel, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel

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Elephant Shrew

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Elephant Shrew

What do you get when you cross an elephant with a shrew? An elephant shrew!

  • Elephant shrews are mammals of small size, that can be found in Africa’s southern areas in a variety of habitats.
  • An ‘elephant shrew’ is sometimes called a ‘jumping shrew’, and it is also known by the native name ‘sengi’.
  • Elephant shrews are a family with the scientific name Macroscelididae, that is split into four genera and includes 19 species.
  • Elephant shrews have an unusually long nose, said to be like an elephant’s trunk, and they have a body similar to a shrew, although they are not closely related to either mammals.
  • Elephant shrews range from 10 to 30 centimetres (4-12 inches) in length and weigh between 50 to 680 grams (2 to 24 ounces), depending on the species.
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An Elephant Shrew
Image courtesy of Kim/Flickr
  • Elephant shrews dig burrows or live in other naturally formed holes, typically by themselves or in pairs.
  • The diet of elephant shrews typically consists of spiders, insects, earthworms and centipedes, and they catch their food via a lengthy tongue.
  • Elephant shrews typically live for two to five years and are preyed on by lizards, large birds and snakes.
  • The fur of elephant shrews typically ranges from black, grey, brown, tan or white in colour, and the colours vary in different species.
  • Female elephant shrews, on average, give birth to two young at a time, and can breed multiple times a year.
Bibliography:
Elephant Shrew, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/elephant-shrew/
Elephant Shrew, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_shrew
Elephant Shrew, n.d, African Wildlife Foundation, http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/elephant-shrew


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Pika

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Pika

Meet another cute animal, the pika!

  • Pikas are mammals of small size, that originate from North America, Asia and eastern areas of Europe, and inhabit mostly mountainous regions where the temperatures are cooler.
  • ‘Pikas’ are also known as ‘whistling hares’ and ‘picas’, although the latter term is used to refer to a number of other species of animals.
  • Pikas are a family that have the scientific name Ochotonidae, of which there is one genus, Ochotona, and the family is from the order Lagomorpha, the order to which rabbits and hares belong.
  • The length of pikas range from 15 to 23 centimetres (5.9 to 9.1 inches) and they typically range from 75 to 350 grams (2.6 to 12.3 ounces) in weight.
  • The diet of pikas consists of vegetation including grass, shrubs, bushes, leaves, seeds, berries and moss.
Pika, Animal, Mammal, Rocks, Brown, Camouflage, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, American
A Pika
Image courtesy of Glacier NPS/Flickr
  • Pikas generally live by themselves in burrows or crevices found among rocks and soil, and they come out during the day, or dawn and dusk, to gather food.
  • Pikas typically gather vegetation during warmer months and place it in a pile, known as a ‘haypile’, that they often store in their burrow, and they use the dried vegetation as food during the cooler months.
  • A pika has a fur coat that is typically a combination of brown, tan, grey, white and black colours, and the mammal has no tail.
  • A whistling sound can be made by pikas, used when entering a burrow and for communication purposes; and they are preyed on by weasels, dogs, eagles, and foxes.
  • Female pikas give birth to one to five young, a maximum of twice a year, and they have an average lifespan of 3 to 6 years.
Bibliography:
Pika, 2013 A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/pika/
Pika, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika

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