Tag Archives: America

Quetzal

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Quetzal

Be striking like a male quetzal.

  • Quetzals are tropical birds native to Central American woody and rainforest habitats.
  • The scientific name of quetzals is Pharomachrus, which covers five species, and they are from the family Trogonidae, the family of trogons, although there is one more species, and it has the scientific name Euptilotis, and belongs to the same family.
  • Quetzals have a diet that generally consists of fruit, such as berries, and animals of small size, like lizards, frogs and insects.
  • Male quetzals have brightly coloured luminous feathers, that are mostly green and red, with an orange to yellow crest, while females generally have duller colours with the addition of brown or grey.
  • Quetzals grow to be around 32 to 40.5 centimetres (12.6 to 16 inches) in height, and they generally weigh between 200 to 225 grams (7 to 8 ounces).
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Quetzal
Image courtesy of vil.sandi/Flickr
  • Quetzals have trouble walking on their unstable feet, that are designed for perching in the heights of trees, as they have two toes facing backwards, and the other two forwards.
  • The tail of quetzals consists of two feathers that can be between 65 cm (25.6 inches) and one metre (three feet) in length, although the females do not have such long tails.
  • The sounds made by quetzals range from whines, chirps and whistles; they mostly live alone; and they are most active during the twilight hours.
  • Quetzals lay eggs in holes that they carve in tree trunks, laying one to three at a time, and the eggs and chicks are looked after by both parents.
  • The population of quetzals is said to be threatened by illegal deforestation and exotic pet trades, with an estimated 50,000 left in the wild.
Bibliography:
Quetzal, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/quetzal/
Quetzal, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/birds/quetzal/
Quetzal, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzal

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Amazon Basin

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Amazon Basin

Take in the beauty of the Amazon Basin.

  • The tropical Amazon Basin includes the Amazon River and surrounding areas, in South America, and it drains large volumes of water into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Approximately two fifths of South America is covered by the Amazon Basin, which equals an area of around 6.9 million square kilometres (2.67 million square miles).
  • The Amazon Basin is the largest of its type on earth, and includes the world’s greatest rainforest, the Amazon rainforest, which covers a majority of the basin.
  • The Amazon Basin contains numerous rivers and tributaries, numbering into the thousands, and the collective flow of water from these sources, into the ocean, is approximately a sixth of the world’s total.
  • The Amazon Basin is said to be the home to over 1500 species of birds, 14,000 mammal species, 2,200 species of fish, 1000 amphibian species, many reptiles, and thousands of insect species.
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Part of the Amazon Basin
Image courtesy of Olga Stavrakis/Flickr
  • The Amazon Basin area houses millions of people, including significant populations of indigenous Americans, with the majority settled around the rivers.
  • Typically, the Amazon Basin has a wet and hot atmosphere; floods are common; and while cold temperatures are not, they do suddenly occur and can be damaging to the flora and fauna.
  • Parts of the Amazon Basin have been cleared for agricultural or mining purposes, notably for soybeans, cattle and gold; and the deforestation has caused extinction of many species.
  • Portuguese and Spanish are the most spoken languages of the Amazon Basin area, while hundreds of indigenous and nearly lost languages are evident.
  • The peak, Yerupajá, in Peru’s Waywash mountain range, is the Amazon Basin’s tallest watershed point, reaching 6,635 metres (21,768 feet) in height.
Bibliography:
Amazon Basin, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_basin
Amazon Basin – Brazil, 2015, World Wildlife Fund, http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0168
Amazon Basin Facts, n.d, Meet Our Animals, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/amazonia/facts/basinfacts.cfm

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Hercules Beetle

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Hercules Beetle

Hercules beetles have undeniable strength.

  • Hercules beetles are rainforest and jungle insects that are found in South and Central America.
  • The scientific name of a Hercules beetle is Dynastes hercules, and it is from the family Scarabaeidae, the family of scarabs.
  • Hercules beetles can grow to be 4 to 18 centimetres (1.6 to 7 inches) in length, placing them among the top three largest beetles.
  • Male Hercules beetles always have horns, or large pincers, which females lack, although the latter generally have a larger body.
  • The outer shell of a Hercules beetle is generally a combination of brown or black, and yellow or green, and it can change colour, depending on the humidity.
Hercules Beetle, Animals, Insect, Beetle, Large, Ten Random Facts, Side, BlackHercules Beetle
Image courtesy of Mr Bluff/Flickr
  • The diet of a Hercules beetle typically consists of decomposing fruit, wood, leaves or other vegetation, and sometimes little insects.
  • Hercules beetles are among the strongest animals in relation to body weight, with the ability to carry their own weight multiplied by 80.
  • Hercules beetles hatch from eggs laid by the females, and the larvae spend a year or two burrowing through wood, which they eat, until the young become adults through a pupa, then moulting stage.
  • Male Hercules beetles sometimes battle each other with their pincers, and the pincers can be longer than the main part of their body.
  • Hercules beetles can live up to twelve months as an adult, making a total lifespan of close to three years.
Bibliography:
Hercules Beetle, 2008, University of Kentucky Etymology, http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/beetles/hercules/hercules.htm
Hercules Beetle, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/hercules-beetle/
Hercules Beetle, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_beetle

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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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Ponytail Palm

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Ponytail Palm

Ponytail palms fit all the criteria. They are unique, decorative and intriguing.

  • Ponytail palms are evergreen plants that are native to specific eastern areas of America’s Mexico.
  • The ponytail palm belongs to the family Asparagaceae, a family of flowering plants, and it is one of at least nine species in the Beaucarnea genus, and it has the scientific name Beaucarnea recurvata,
  • A ‘ponytail palm’ is also known as an ‘elephant’s foot, a ‘ponytail plant’ and a ‘ponytail palm tree’, and despite its common name, it is not technically a species of palm.
  • Ponytail palms have an enlarged trunk base and long, drooping, green leaves that can be 1 metre (40 inches) long.
  • Ponytail palms became known to Europeans in 1870, when they were discovered by the French, and the plants later became available in various parts of the world.

Ponytail Palm, Flower, Yellow, Backyard, Plant, Vegetation, Australia,

Image courtesy of Val Laird
  • Ponytail palms are perennials that can grow to be 1.8 to 9 metres (6 to 30 feet) in height, and they prefer a sunny position in well-drained soil, and they can tolerate drought conditions.
  • Ponytails palms are commonly used in recreational areas or home gardens for ornamental purposes.
  • The British Royal Horticultural Society has given the ponytail palm the Award of Garden Merit.
  • Water is gathered internally in the base of the ponytail palm trunk; and the plant exterior should not be sitting in water for long periods, as rotting can occur.
  • Ponytail palms usually do not bloom until they are ten years old, and when the plant is mature enough it will flower during summer, with clusters of white to cream flowers.
Bibliography:
Beaucarnea recurvata, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaucarnea_recurvata
How to care for a Ponytail Palm, 2015, Plantcare Today, http://plantcaretoday.com/how-to-care-for-a-ponytail-palm.html
Ponytail Plant, 2014, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/trees-and-palms/ponytail-plant
Rhoades H, Care Instructions For Ponytail Palm – Tips For Growing Ponytail Palms, 2014, Gardening Know How, http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm

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Everglades National Park

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Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a sight to see and a place to protect.

  • Everglades National Park is tropical national park located in the United State’s Florida, and it contains significant flora and fauna, as well as numerous archaeological sites.
  • The area of Everglades National Park spreads over approximately 1.5 million acres (607,000 hectares).
  • Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared in 1979, and it has been listed as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’, as well as an ‘International Biosphere Reserve’.
  • The primary rock base of Everglades National Park is limestone, which collects and gathers rainwater, and is important due to the park’s lack of underground water sources.
  • Everglades National Park became a national park on 6 December, 1947, for the uncommon reason of preserving the ecosystem, that includes marine, slough, pine forest, mangrove and coastal habitats.
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Part of Everglades National Park
Image courtesy of Miguel Vieira/Flickr
  • Everglades National Park supports numerous species including at least 40 mammal species, reptile species numbering up to 50, 400 bird species, and up to 300 species of fish; and many of the species are endangered; while notable species include the American crocodile, Florida panther and West Indian manatee.
  • During Native American history, Everglades National Park was used by two tribes as a border, and the first Europeans to set foot in the area were Spanish, in the 1500s.
  • Everglades National Park was significantly damaged by the building of canals in above ground water bodies, primarily around the 1900s; and in 1989, the US President George Bush committed the government to reversing the damage.
  • December marks the beginning of the peak tourist season at Everglades National Park, and hiking, canoeing and camping are common activities; and the park sees over a million tourists every year.
  • During its history, Everglades National Park has been endangered due to damaging hurricanes and nearby urban expansion, and it has also been negatively affected by droughts, fires, decreasing water quantities, rising sea levels, mercury poisoning and introduced species.
Bibliography:
Everglades National Park, 2015, National Park Foundation, http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/everglades-national-park
 Everglades National Park, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/76
Everglades National Park, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_National_Park

 

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