Home/Posts Tagged ‘endangered species’
Posts Tagged ‘endangered species’
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 14th, 2012,
Species: Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting fact: The greater adjutant is named after an adjutant (military officer) because of its stately manner and habit of standing motionless for long periods of time. With its naked pink head, very thick yellow bill and low-hanging neck pouch, the greater adjutant is a rather eye-catching stork. Colonies of greater adjutants can be seen gathering in India and Cambodia at the start of the dry season in October. Large nests are constructed on tall trees, and eggs are laid between November and January. These hatch after about a month of incubation….
Tags: ARKive.org, endangered birds, endangered species, Greater adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 28th, 2012,
Species: Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting fact: The southern bluefin tuna is one of the largest bony fish in the world, growing up to 4.3 metres long! The southern bluefin tuna is an incredibly streamlined and powerful fish capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km per hour through the water. Swimming together in shoals, the southern bluefin tuna migrates vast distances from the spawning grounds in the Indian Ocean to the feeding grounds in colder, southern waters. During the spawning period, a mature female will produce several million eggs. Southern bluefin tuna are opportunistic…
Tags: ARKive.org, Conservation, critically endangered species, endangered species, fish, oceans, Southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 24th, 2012,
Species: Goliath frog (Conraua goliath) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The goliath frog is the largest frog in the world, weighing in at over 3 kilograms. The goliath frog can be found in flowing rainforest rivers in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Goliath frogs lack vocal sacs, and so their courtship displays do not involve the characteristic calls of most other frogs and toads. Females lay several hundred eggs onto vegetation on the river bottom, and once hatched, the tadpoles feed on the plant Dicraea warmingii. Complete metamorphosis takes around 85-95 days, and once mature the adults feed on insects, crustaceans…
Tags: ARKive.org, Conraua goliath, Conservation, endangered frog, endangered species, Goliath frog
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 16th, 2012,
Species: Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) Status:Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting fact: The gharial is one of the largest crocodilians and has the narrowest snout! Named after the bulbous nasal appendage of the male (which resembles an Indian pot called a ‘ghara’), the gharial is a unique species of crocodilian found in India and Nepal. A true piscivore, the extremely narrow snout of the gharial is superbly adapted to whip through the water quickly to snatch fish with its small, razor-sharp teeth. The gharial has relatively weak legs, and when fully grown is unable to raise its body off the ground. This may…
Tags: ARKive.org, conservation nature, endangered species, Gavialis gangeticus, Gharial
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Science & Technology, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 30th, 2012,
Tigernation.org, an innovative new website which gives everyone a chance to follow the dramas of wild tigers in their Indian forest homes and at the same time help protect India’s wild tigers, launched this week. The site gives a graphic, never before illustrated insight into India’s threatened tiger population. Take a look at the infographic and video below to understand fully what Tiger Nation is trying to achieve and how important their cause is. This is an exciting website with everyone encouraged to have fun, learn and get involved in protecting the tigers. Subscribers to the site can follow the lives…
Tags: endangered species, endangered tigers india, infographic tigers, Tigernation.org, tigers
Conservation, Nature, Science & Technology, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 26th, 2012,
Species: California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The California condor urinates on its own legs to keep cool! The California condor is a member of the New World vulture family, and has an impressive wingspan of just less than three metres. Native to North America, the California condor soars over large distances on its immense wings, using its vision to spot carrion on which to feed. Its large size means it dominates other scavengers at a carcass, except the golden eagle which, while smaller, has an impressive set of talons. The California condor mates for life,…
Tags: ARKive.org, California Condor, Conservation, endangered birds, endangered species, Gymnogyps californianus
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 10th, 2012,
Species: African wild ass (Equus africanus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The African wild ass is the ancestor of the domestic donkey! An extremely hardy species, the African wild ass exists in scattered populations in northern Africa. In its desert habitat, it can sustain water loss of up to 30% of its body weight, though it usually remains within 30 kilometres of a water source. While the African wild ass may seek out shade in the hottest part of the day, in early morning and late evening it is more active, and seeks out grasses and herbs on which to…
Tags: african wild ass, animals, ARKive, donkeys, endangered species, Equus africanus
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Feb 4th, 2012,
Species: Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The giant otter is also known as the ‘river wolf’. The giant otter is one of South America’s top carnivores, and is the largest of the otter species. The giant otter generally lives in family groups of three to ten individuals, composed of a monogamous, breeding pair and their offspring born during previous years. These groups rest, play, travel, fish and sleep together. When cubs are born, they are cared for in a den by both the adult pair, and the older siblings. At two to three weeks of age,…
Tags: ARKive.org, Conservation, endangered species, Giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis, weird
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jan 28th, 2012,
Species: American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The American burying beetle buries a whole carcass to feed its young! The largest carrion beetle in North America, the American burying beetle is an attractive species with bright orange markings. These beetles are named for their specialised mechanism of parental care that involves providing the growing larvae with carrion upon which to feed. At night, beetle pairs will locate a suitable carcass and then cooperate to bury it in the soil, thus protecting their find from competition with other species. Once the carcass is beneath the soil,…
Tags: American Burying Beetle, critically endangered, endangered insect, endangered species, Nicrophorus americanus
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jan 22nd, 2012,
Species: Adelaide pygmy bluetongue skink (Tiliqua adelaidensis) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The Adelaide pygmy bluetongue skink shelters in burrows created by spiders! Surprisingly, the tongue of this skink is not blue as the name suggests, but is instead a rose pink colour. The mottled mixture of browns on the rest of its body enables this species to blend in perfectly with its surroundings in its native Australian habitat. During the heat of the day, the Adelaide pygmy bluetongue skink shelters in holes that, rather than being excavated by the skink itself, are quarried by wolf spiders and trapdoor spiders….
Tags: Adelaide pygmy bluetongue skink, ARKive.org, Conservation, endangered animals, endangered species, Tiliqua adelaidensis
Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jan 15th, 2012,
Species: (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The hyacinth macaw is the world’s largest species of parrot! At up to a meter in length and with striking cobalt blue feathers, the hyacinth macaw is certainly a stunning parrot. This species lives in the forests and grasslands of South America, mainly in Brazil, where it feeds mainly on the nuts of native palms. While its powerful bill might make short work of most of these, the acuri nut is so hard that the parrots cannot feed on it until it has passed through the digestive system of cattle. The hyacinth…
Tags: anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, ARKive.org, endangered birds, endangered parrot, endangered species, hyacinth macaw, parrot
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jan 8th, 2012,
Species: Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The large proboscis-like nose of the saiga antelope is thought to help with body temperature control. The strange looking saiga antelope has an extremely distinctive appearance, with an enlarged nose that hangs down over the mouth. This impressive nose is thought to warm and moisten inhaled air during the winter, and act as a filter against dust during the dry summer. Saiga antelope feed by grazing on various plants, and are usually active during the day. They are nomadic, and undertake long seasonal migrations of up to 1,000 kilometers….
Tags: ARKive.org, endangered species, nature conservation, saiga antelope, Saiga tatarica
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Dec 26th, 2011,
Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The axolotl has the ability to re-grow whole limbs! While the bizarre axolotl may look like it comes from another planet, it is actually a type of salamander. This fascinating amphibian exhibits a trait known as neoteny, where, instead of transforming from the juvenile form to an adult as in other species of amphibian, it retains some of its juvenile features. The most obvious of these is the branch-like gills projecting from the neck on each side of the head. These allow the axolotl to remain permanently in water. However, if conditions become unfavourable, the axolotl…
Tags: ARKive.org, axolotl, Conservation, endangered species, Nature, salamander
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Dec 17th, 2011,
Species: Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting fact: The Ethiopian wolf is the only species of wolf in Africa. Similar to a coyote in appearance, the Ethiopian wolf is a long-legged species with a long, pointed muzzle. It lives in the mountains of Ethiopia where it forms close-knit territorial packs numbering between 3 and 13 adults. Individual pack members tend to forage alone, hunting for small mammals such as the big-headed mole rat. They skilfully stalk their prey before pouncing or digging them out of their burrows. All the adults gather to patrol and mark the territory at dawn…
Tags: ARKive.org, Canis simensis, Conservation, endangered species, Ethiopian Wolf
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Dec 10th, 2011,
Another endangered fellow deserves some attention today. Check out the below video of a Giant Weta, a cricket-like insect with a wingspan of nearly 18 inches. The animal is almost exclusively found in New Zealand. Although New Zealand is a perfect habitat for this insect, rats introduced by Europeans in the region hunt the Giant Weta to a point it’s now facing extinction. The Giant Weta in the video weights almost as much as three mice. Incredible!
Tags: endangered species, Giant Weta, largest insect in the world
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, ,
Species: Mountain chicken (Leptodactylus fallax) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The oddly-named mountain chicken is so called because its meat is said to taste like chicken! The curious mountain chicken is one of the largest frogs in the world, with adult females growing up to a remarkable 21 centimetres in length. A sit-and-wait predator with a voracious appetite, this gluttonous frog consumes almost anything that can be swallowed whole. It is well camouflaged against its habitat and remains still for long periods of time, before ambushing its prey, usually at night. Its diet is highly varied, but it…
Tags: animal conservation, ARKive, critically endangered, endangered species, Leptodactylus fallax, Mountain chicken
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Dec 3rd, 2011,
Species: Trumpet-mouthed hunter snail (Gulella salpinx) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The trumpet-mouthed hunter snail does not lay eggs but ‘gives birth’ to miniature juvenile snails! The rather flamboyant common name of the species refers to the flaring, trumpet-like opening of its distinctive shell. As a recently discovered species, relatively little is known about the trumpet-mouthed hunter snail’s biology. It is endemic to a single limestone outcrop of the Marble Delta in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The ‘hunter’ part of this species’ common name refers to its carnivorous habits, a behaviour that is common to the whole…
Tags: ARKive, ARKive.org, Conservation, endangered species, snails, Trumpet-mouthed hunter snail
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Nov 26th, 2011,
Species: Japanese crane (Grus japonensis) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The Japanese crane is considered sacred and seen as a symbol of fidelity, good luck, love and long life in the Orient. A tall, graceful bird, the Japanese crane is known for its mesmerising synchronised courtship dance. Adults usually pair for life and use these displays in order to reinforce bonds. The pair usually produces two eggs, and the chicks are able to leave the nest only a few days after hatching to follow their parents on foraging trips. Only one chick is likely to be reared successfully by each pair….
Tags: ARKive.org, endangered animals, endangered species, grus japonensis, Japanese crane
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Nov 15th, 2011,
Species: Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The numbat can eat around 20,000 termites a day. That’s 10% of its body weight! This small, carnivorous marsupial is an expert termite hunter. It spends its day in search of its favourite prey, walking with its nose to the ground, sniffing and turning over small pieces of wood in search of shallow underground termite galleries. It then collects the termites with its long, sticky tongue, which can grow to over 10 centimetres in length. At night, numbats shelter in hollow logs that are too narrow for its predators, such as foxes,…
Tags: animal conservation, ARKive, Conservation, endangered species, Myrmecobius fasciatus, Numbat
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Nov 5th, 2011,
Species: Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: Rhino horn is not made of bone, but keratin, the same substance that forms nails and hair. The prehistoric-looking Javan rhinoceros is one of the world’s rarest large mammals. This amazing species has a single horn and an armour-plated appearance caused by the deep folds of hairless skin. Little is known of this exceptionally rare mammal. It is mainly a browser of leaves, twigs, fruits and shoots and often breaks saplings down to access food. The rate of reproduction in this species is relatively slow; females give birth to…
Tags: ARKive, endangered species, Javan rhinoceros, rhinoceros concervation
