Tag Archives: Mammal

Tasmanian Devil

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Tasmanian Devil

Australia is full of iconic animals such as Tasmanian devils.

  • Tasmanian devils are small nocturnal animals that are marsupials native to Australia, and they are now found solely in Tasmania.
  • The scientific name of a Tasmanian devil is Sarcophilus harrisii, and it is from the family Dasyuridae, a family of mostly Australian marsupials.
  • As the largest extant marsupials that eat meat since the extinction of thylacines, the length of Tasmanian devils ranges from 57 to 65 centimetres (22 to 26 inches) and they weigh 6 to 8 kilograms (13 to 18 pounds).
  • Despite its relatively small size, the clamping of a Tasmanian devil’s jaw produces forces of up to 533 newtons, which is useful for bone crushing and is enough to snap wire made from thick metal, and the jaw is able to open at 75 to 80 degree angle.
  • Tasmanian devils have tails that are particularly thick, mainly due to storing fat, and an animal in good health will have a fatter tail; and the tail is useful for balance and also contains a scent gland.
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Tasmanian Devil
Image courtesy of Travis/Flickr
  • The fur of Tasmanian devils ranges from a dark grey, brown to a black colour, and they generally have a white strip across the underside of there neck.
  • A Tasmanian devil’s diet consists of a variety of animals including rodents, birds, rabbits, wombats, some livestock, insects and already dead animals, and they generally live alone and have an average lifespan of five to eight years.
  • It is believed that Tasmanian devils became extinct on mainland Australia thousands of years ago, and the current population in Tasmania is listed as endangered and is decreasing, due to hunting, habitat loss and disease.
  • It is a common myth that Tasmanian devils attack people on a regular basis, however, in reality they are generally quite fearful and passive, although biting may occur as a last resort.
  • Numerous young are produced by a female Tasmanian devil at a single time, however, only two to four infants survive and live in their mother’s pouch for approximately four months.
Bibliography:
Tasmanian Devil, 2010, Australian Reptile Park, http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=154
Tasmanian Devil, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/tasmanian-devil/
Tasmanian Devil, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_devil

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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.
Pangolin, Animal, Mammal, Scaly Anteater, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Brown, ScurryPangolin
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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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).
Reindeer, Mammal, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Snow, Deer
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.
Opossum, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Mammal, Marsupial, America, Grey
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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Bongo

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Bongo

You may get arrested if you hit these bongos.

  • Bongos are an antelope native to the forest habitats of tropical areas in Central and West Africa, and they have an average lifespan of 10 to 19 years.
  • The scientific name of a bongo is Tragelaphus eurycerus, and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of bovids, or ruminant mammals with cloven hooves.
  • As the largest forest antelope, the height of a bongo can reach 1.1 to 1.3 metres (3.6 to 4.3 feet) excluding the head, and it can weigh between 150 to 405 kilograms (331 to 893 pounds).
  • The fur of a bongo is mostly coloured a chestnut or red/orange brown colour, with black on its tail, legs and face, and it is patterned with approximately a dozen white or cream coloured stripes across its back.
  • Bongos have horns that have a curved, twisted shape that range from 75 to 100 centimetres (30 to 39 inches) in length, and they are found on both genders.
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A Bongo
Image courtesy of William Andrus/Flickr
  • The diet of bongos consists primarily of leaves and other vegetation including bark; fruit; and grass, and they also need to consume salt.
  • Poachers kill bongos for meat, horns and skin, which has led to a decrease in the animal’s population, and habitat loss has also contributed to the decline, and as such they are listed as near threatened.
  • Female bongos generally live in herds, while the males typically live alone, and the females usually produce a single calf per litter, which is born hidden in undergrowth, where it is kept protectively for a week or so, after which they join the herd.
  • Some native African communities fear touching bongos, let alone eating them, thinking contact would cause health problems, such as spasms, in humans.
  • Bongos are mostly nocturnal, and they shine their horns by cooling themselves down in mud and then scraping away the mud by rubbing their horns against trees.
Bibliography:
Bongo, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/bongo/
Bongo, n.d, African Wildlife Foundation, https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/bongo
Bongo (antelope), 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongo_(antelope)

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