An Animal A Day
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Sinosauropteryx
Sinosauropteryx prima ("first Chinese lizard-feather") was the first non-avian dinosaur found with the fossilized impressions of feathers. It lived in China during the Cretaceous period and is related to Compsognathus. It was around 3 feet long, most of which was taken up by its extremely long tail. The remarkably well-preserved fossils show that Sinosauropteryx was covered with a furry down of very simple feathers. These feathers consisted of a simple two-branched structure, similar to the secondarily primitive feahters of the modern kiwi.
Sinosauropteryx prima
Sinosauropteryx is important because it had feather-like structures, yet was not very closely related to true birds. There are many dinosaur families that were more closely related to birds than Sinosauropteryx, including the deinonychosaurs, the oviraptosaurs and therizinosaurs. This indicates that feathers may have been a characteristic of many theropod dinosaurs, not just the obviously bird-like ones, making it quite possible that equally distant animals such as Ornitholestes, Coelurus and even Tyrannosaurus rex may have had feathers.
Conservation status: Fossil
Issue #332 -
Norfolk Terrier
The Norfolk Terrier is a small breed of dog, one of many terrier breeds. Prior to 1960, when it gained recognition as an independent breed, it was a variety of the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from the Norwich by its "drop", or folded ears.
Norfolk Terrier
Appearance
The Norfolk Terrier has a wire-haired coat which, according to the various national kennel club breed standards, can be "all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle."
They are the smallest of the working Terriers. They should feel heavier in weight than they appear to be. They are self confident and carry their heads with presence and importance and the tails should also be held erect.
They are active and compact, free moving, with good substance and bone. Good substance means good spring of rib and bone that matches the body such that the dog can be a very agile ratter, the function for which it was bred. Norfolks are moderately proportioned dogs. A too-heavy dog would not be agile. A too-refined dog would make it a toy breed. Norfolks generally have more reach and drive and a stronger rear angulation, hence cover more ground than their Norwich cousins. Norfolk have good side gait owed to their balanced angulation front and rear, not their perceived slightly longer length of back as is often cited.
The ideal height is 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm) at the withers and weight is about 12 pounds (5 Kg). They are the smallest of the terriers.
Grooming
These breeds have two coats - a harsh, wiry topcoat and a soft warm undercoat. All that is really necessary for grooming a companion dog is a good combing and brushing once a week to remove the loose, dead hairs and prevent matting. The coats should be hand stripped once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Clipping or cutting ruins the coat's colours and texture. You can wash this coat with a dog shampoo any time it is desirable.
Temperament
Norfolk Terriers are described as fearless but should not be aggressive despite being capable of defending themselves if need be. The AKC standard describes the Norfolk as “alert, gregarious, and loyal”. They are dogs that work in packs and must get along with other dogs. They love people and children and can make good companions.
A Norfolk that is shy, or carries its tail between its legs is untypical as is a dog that is hot tempered and aggressive with other dogs; these are not the standard. Norfolk Terrier's typical breed temperament is happy, spirited and self confident.
Health
There are incidences of health issues that responsible breeders consider worthy to do preventative testing. Norfolks have incidences of mitral valve disease, luxating patellas, hip dysplasia and bad bites (where the teeth do not align with the breed standard, ie. overshot or undershot)
Exercise
A good daily walk takes care of the exercise requirements of the Norfolk Terrier. They are good walking companions and reasonable joggers.
History
In the 1880s, British sportsmen developed a working terrier of East Anglia, England. The Norwich Terrier and later the drop-eared variety now know as the Norfolk Terrier, were believed to have been developed by crossing Yorkshire Terriers, Cairn Terriers, and small, short-legged Irish Terrier breeds.
They were first called the Cantab Terrier when they became fashionable for students to keep in their dormitory at Cambridge University in England. Later, they were called the Thrumpington Terrier, after a street in the area where the breed was first developed. Then, just prior to WWI, a Norwich huntsman helped introduce the short-legged terriers to the USA, calling them the Jones Terrier.
In 1932, the Norwich was granted acceptance into the English Kennel Club and the first written standard was created. The American Kennel Club registered the first Norwich Terrier in 1936. In 1964, The Kennel Club reclassified the drop-ear variety as it its own breed, the Norfolk Terrier, and the prick-eared variety retained the name Norwich Terrier. The American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club both recognized the division of the Norwich Terrier breed in 1979. After many generations, these two breeds have developed as two distinct breeds both in physical looks and in temperament. Of note, there is literature that suggests that the Norfolk and Norwich were always two distinct breeds and the original mistake was classifying them as one.
Working style
They are tireless workers in the field. These versatile, agreeable dogs can go to ground and bolt a fox and tackle or dispatch other small vermin, working alone or in a pack. Their courage is so that “honourable scars from wear and tear” should not be counted against them in the show ring.
Country of origin: Great Britain
Issue #333 -
Rocky Mountain goat
The Rocky Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), often called simply mountain goat, is a large hoofed mammal found only in North America. Although it resembles a goat, it is actually more closely related to the antelope family. It resides at high elevations and is a sure-footed climber, often resting on rocky cliffs that predators cannot reach.
Rocky Mountain goat, Oreamnos americanus
Classification
Mountain goats are even-toed ungulates of the order Artiodactyla and its subdivision, the Bovidae family. They belong to the subfamily Caprinae, along with thirty-two other species, and are the only species in the genus Oreamnos. The name Oreamnos is derived from the Greek term "ore," mountain (or, alternatively, "oreas," mountain nymph) and the word "amnos," lamb.
General Appearance and Characteristics
Both male and female mountain goats have beards, short tails, and long black horns, 15-28 cm in length, which contain yearly growth rings. They are protected from the elements by their woolly white double coats. The fine, dense wool of their undercoats is covered by an outer layer of longer, hollow hairs. In warmer seasons, mountain goats molt by rubbing against rocks and trees, with the adult billies (males) shedding their extra wool first and the pregnant nannies (females) shedding last. In the winter, their coats help them to withstand temperatures as low as -50 Fahrenheit (-46 Celsius) and winds of up to 100 mph (161 km/h).
A billy stands about 1 meter (3'3") at the shoulder and weighs about 90 kg (200 lbs.). It has longer horns and a longer beard than the nanny. Adult males typically weigh between 45 and 100 kg, while females are usually 10-30% lighter.
The mountain goat's feet are well-suited for climbing steep, rocky slopes, sometimes with pitches of 60 degrees or more, with inner pads that provide traction and cloven hooves that can spread apart as needed. Dewclaws on the back of their feet also help to keep them from slipping.
Range and Habitat
The mountain goat inhabits the Rocky Mountains and Coast Mountain regions of North America, from northern Washington, Idaho and Montana through British Columbia and Alberta, into the southern Yukon and southwestern Alaska. Its northernmost range is said to be along the northern fringe of the Chugach Mountains in southcentral Alaska. Transplanted populations can also be found in such areas as Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, South Dakota, and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
Mountain goats are the largest mammals found in their high-altitude habitats, which reach elevations of 3,000 metres or more. Although they sometimes descend to coastal areas, they are primarily an alpine and subalpine species. Throughout the year, the animals usually stay above the timberline, but they will migrate seasonally to higher or lower elevations within that range.
Life Cycle and Breeding
In the wild, mountain goats usually live twelve to fifteen years, with their lifespan limited by the wearing down of their teeth. In zoos, however, they can live for sixteen to twenty years.
Kids are born in the spring (late May or early June) after a six month gestation period. Nannies give birth, usually to a single offspring, after moving to an isolated ledge; post-partum, they lick the baby dry and ingest the placenta. Kids weigh a little over 3 kg (about 7 lb) at birth and begin to run and climb (or attempt to do so) within hours. Although they are mostly weaned within one month, kids follow their mothers closely for the first year of life (or until the nanny gives birth again, if this does not occur the next breeding season); nannies protect their young by leading them out of danger, standing over them when faced by predators, and positioning themselves below their kids on steep slopes to stop freefalls.
Mountain goats reach sexual maturity at about thirty months. Nannies in a herd undergo synchronized estrus in late October through early December, at which time males and females participate in a mating ritual. Mature billies will stare at nannies for long periods, dig rutting pits, and fight each other in showy (though occasionally dangerous) scuffles. Young billies sometimes try to participate, but they are ignored by nannies; nannies will also sometimes pursue inattentive billies. Both males and females usually mate with multiple individuals during breeding season, although some billies try to keep other males away from certain nannies. After the breeding season is over, males and females move away from each other, with the adult billies breaking up into small bands of two or three individuals. Nannies form loose-knit nursery groups of up to 50 animals.
Aggressive Behavior
Females can be very competitive and protective of their space and food sources. They will fight with one another for dominance in conflicts that can ultimately include all the females in the herd. In these battles, nannies will circle each other with their heads lowered, showing off their horns. As with fights between billies during breeding season, these conflicts can occasionally lead to injury or even death, but they are largely harmless. To avoid fighting, an animal may show a posture of non-aggression by stretching low to the ground.
In lower regions below the timberline, nannies also use their fighting abilities to protect themselves and their offspring from predators, such as wolves, wolverines, cougars, lynx, and bears. Even though their size protects them from most potential predators in higher altitudes, females still must defend their young from golden eagles, which can be a threat to very young kids. Nannies have even been observed trying to dominate the more passive bighorn sheep that share some of their territory.
Diet
Although they have gained notoriety for their shows of aggression, mountain goats spend most of their time quietly grazing. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, moss, lichen, twigs, and leaves from the low-growing shrubs and conifers of their high-altitude habitat.
In captivity, the mountain goat's diet can also include grain, alfalfa, fruits and vegetables.
Issue #334 -
Crested Wood Partridge
The Crested Wood Partridge, Rollulus rouloul, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is the only member of the genus Rollulus (Bonnaterre, 1791). It is also known as the Crested Partridge, Roul-roul, Red-crowned Wood Partridge or Green Wood Partridge.
Crested Wood Partridge, Rollulus rouloul. Female in front.
This small partridge is a resident breeder in lowland rainforests in south Myanmar, south Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Its nest is a ground scrape lined with leaves, which is concealed under a heap of leaf litter. Five or six white eggs are incubated for 18 days.
Unusually for a galliform species, the young are fed bill-to-bill by both parents instead of pecking from the ground, and, although precocial, they roost in the nest while small.
Crested Wood Partridge is a rotund short-tailed bird, 25 cm in length, with the male marginally larger than the female. Both sexes have a scarlet patch of bare skin around the eye, and red legs without a spur or hind toe.
The male is metallic green above with glossy dark blue underparts and a brownish wing panel. The head is adorned with a tall red crest, a white forehead spot and black frontal bristles.
The female has pea green body plumage apart from the brown wing coverts. She has a slate grey head with the bristles but no spot or crest. The bill is all-dark. Young birds are duller versions of the adult of the same sex. The song is a mournful whistled si-ul.
The Crested Wood Partridge is usually seen singly or in pairs as it forages on the ground for fruit, seeds and invertebrates. When disturbed, it prefers to run, but if necessary it flies a short distance on its rounded wings.
There is some concern about the effect of habitat destruction on this bird, especially with regard to logging; however, it seems to be somewhat more adaptable than other southeast Asian pheasants.
Conservation status: Lower risk (nt)
Issue #335 -
Mojave Rattlesnake
The Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) is a rattlesnake found in the Southwestern United States and Central Mexico. It is perhaps best known for its potent venom, which is particularly dangerous, even among other rattlesnake venoms.
Mojave Rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus
Physical characteristics
Mojave Rattlesnakes grow from two to four feet in length and their color varies from shades of brown to green depending on their surroundings. The green hue found among Mojave Rattlesnakes has led to them being known as Mojave Greens in some areas. Like the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, which it closely resembles, the Mojave Rattlesnake has a dark, diamond pattern down its back, but the Mojave's diamond pattern ends before the tail, giving way to wide, white bands. The Mojave Rattlesnake is a pit viper.
Habitat
Mojave Rattlesnakes inhabit a range that includes California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Nevada, and central Mexico. Primarily a snake of high desert or lower mountain slopes, they are often found near scrub brush such as mesquite and creosote, but may also reside in lowland areas of sparse vegetation, among cacti, Joshua tree forests, or grassy plains.
Behaviour
Mojave rattlers are most active from April to September, and hibernate alone or in small groups during the winter. Nocturnal hunters, they prey mostly on small rodents and lizards. Females bear live young, from two to eleven, in July or August.
Mojave Toxin
Rattlesnake venom typically contains a hemotoxin. While some Mojave Rattlesnakes (Venom B populations) exhibit hemotoxic venom, there are others (Venom A populations) that possess Mojave Toxin, a potent neurotoxin, and still others that demonstrate both hemotoxic and neurotoxic venom. Because Mojave Toxin is a deadly venom component, the bite of a Mojave Rattlesnake is considered one of the most dangerous of snakes found in the United States.
Issue #336 -
Angle Shades
The Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common and familiar European species and is often strongly migratory.
Angle Shades, Phlogophora meticulosa
This species has a wingspan of 45-52 mm and the forewings are very distinctively shaped with a sharply pointed apex. The common name is derived from the characteristic markings on the forewings: The base colour is buffish, brown towards the termen, and is marked with a bold v-shaped pink and green marking. Despite this bright colouring, the angular markings provide excellent camouflage against foliage. The hindwings are whitish with darker venation. Two broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing from May to October in the English Isles. This moth flies at night and is attracted to light and sugar.
The larva is green or brown with reddish spots along the sides and faint dark chevrons along the back. It feeds on a wide variety of plants (see list below). This species overwinters as a larva.
Issue #337 -
Giant Grouper
The Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), also known as the Brindle Bass and as the Queensland Groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland, Australia. It is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception of the Persian Gulf. The species can grow as large as 3 m long, weighing up to 600 kg, and there have been unconfirmed reports of attacks on humans. They are fairly common in shallow waters and feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea turtles.
Giant Grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus
The Giant Grouper has a large mouth and a rounded tail. Juveniles have irregular black and yellow markings, while adults are green-grey to grey-brown with faint mottling. There are numerous small black spots on the fins.
Issue #338 -
Northern Pacific seastar
Asterias amurensis, commonly referred to as the Northern Pacific sea star, is native to the coasts of northern China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Japan. Distribution of this species has increased, into other countries. Based on the distribution of northern Pacific sea star populations in shipping ports and routes, the most likely mechanism of introduction is the transport of free-swimming larvae in ballast water for ships. The ships suck in the ballast water containing sea star larvae, in a port such as one in Japan, and let it out in a port such as one in Tasmania, the larvae come out with the water, and metamophasize into juvenile sea stars.
Northern Pacific sea star, Asterias amurensis
Reproduction
In Australia spawning occurs from July to October at temperatures of 10°-12° C. Fertilised eggs develop into free-swimming larvae that live in the water for around 90 days, before settling and metamorphosizing into juvenile sea stars. In one year the sea star is capable of increasing its diameter by 8 cm; at fully grown, the northern Pacific sea star can reach sizes up to 40 to 50 cm in diameter. Larval survival is constrained by temperature and salinity of the surrounding marine habitat, with the optimal ranges respectively 8° to 16° C, and 3° to 8.75° . Generally, sea stars are sensitive to salinity fluctuations, and is unlikely to be found in places as such. Northern Pacific sea stars live up to five years. In Japan its numbers increase and reach outbreak for two to three years; outbreaks tend to occur in three or ten year cycles.
Habitat
Native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, Russia and Japan, the northern Pacific sea star lives in waters between 7° and 22° C.
It lives in mainly shallow water, but also is found as deep as 200 metres. It is rarely found on reefs or high wave action areas, instead sitting on mud, sand or pebble substrates.
Plagues
In Tasmania, due to the plague of sea stars, hunting days have been organised, where volunteers work together to physically remove as many of the sea stars as possible. Efforts of this kind in 1993 resulted in the collection of more than 30,000 sea stars. During the first attempts to remove the sea star from Tasmania, many of the sea stars that were captured were cutg up and thrown back into the sea. Unfortunately, each part that was thrown back was able to regenerate and grow a new starfish.
Sea star poisons are not specific and in the ocean, could damage many other natural marine communities. Also, the amount of chemicals needed to poison sea stars in estuaries would be very expensive, and very impractical. In Australia, northern Pacific sea stars don't have any pathogens, though in Japan, northern Pacific sea stars are attacked by unicelled animal, called Orchitophrya. Orchitophrya invades sea stars' testes, and kills sperm and castrates the sea star. However scientists later found out that Orchitophrya don't usually invade all 10 of the sea star's testesm and it's unlikely Orchitophrya will have the effect scientists had hoped for.
The NOrthern Pacific sea star has also been found in Port Phillip, Victoria, for some years now. Interestingly, the seastar has migrated inland in the Maribyrnong River, reaching as far inland as Essendon. The Maribyrnong is a salty river (previously known as Saltwater River), but finding the sea star this far inland is quite unique.
Issue #339 -
Laysan Rail
The Laysan Rail, Porzana palmeri, was a tiny inhabitant of the North West Hawaiian atoll of Laysan. This small island was and still is an important seabird colony, and sustained a number of endemic species, including the rail. It became extinct due to habitat loss, feral rats, and the Second World War.
Laysan Rail, Porzana palmeri
Habitat and Description
Laysan is considered one of the most important seabird colonies in the United States. It has thousands of Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross as well as shearwaters and terns. The island also held 5 unique landbirds, including the Laysan Rail. It was a small (15 cm) bird, flightless member of the rail family, an opportunist that would feed on invertebrates and the eggs of seabirds. It was an aggressive feeder that would fight off other species, particularly the Laysan Finch. It was endemic to the Laysan, though some authors have noted that there were records on other Hawaiian islands.
Extinction
The extinction of the Laysan Rail is particularly unfortunate as it could have easily been avoided. The rail was initially threatened when rabbits were introduced to Laysan. With no predators to control their numbers the rabbits soon ate the entire vegetation cover on the island. This turned the island into a barren dust bowl, sending the Laysan Millerbird and the Laysan Honeycreeper (both subspecies endemic to the island) to extinction. The Laysan Finch and Laysan Duck both survived by eating shore flies and scavenging bird eggs and carrion. The rail is believed to have become extinct on Laysan in the 1920s.
The story did not end there, however. The rail had been introduced to Midway Atoll in 1891, and had thrived on the island. Once the rail had become extinct on Laysan moves were made to both re-introduce the rail to its old home and take some to the main islands of Hawaii, along with Laysan Finches, to form a experimental population. This would have safeguarded the species. Rails were collected for this, however the idea was held up by red-tape, some people in the United States Biological Survey were concerned that the Laysan Finch, if it escaped on the main islands, would become a serious pest. The move of some of the birds to safety was therefore held up because of concerns about the finch.
The population on Midway survived until the Second World War, when in 1943 a landing craft accidentally broke free during a battle and rats were introduced on to the island. Within two years the species was extinct. A final irony was that the last man to see a Laysan Rail alive was warden Ed Caum, the man who had refused their export to Honolulu.
The scientific name honours Henry Palmer, who collected in the Hawaiian Islands for Walter Rothschild.
Conservation status: Extinct (1945)
Issue #340 -
Selkirk Rex
The Selkirk Rex is a breed of cat with highly curled hair, including the whiskers (vibrissae). Unlike the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, the hair is of normal length and not partly missing, and there are longhair and shorthair varieties. Also unlike the other Rexes, the Selkirk gene is dominant.
White Short-haired Selkirk Rex
The Selkirk Rex originated in America in 1987, with a cat named Miss DePesto, who was bred to a Persian, producing three Selkirk Rexes and three straight-haired cats. It is a large and solidly built breed, similar to a British Shorthair but with a characteristic curled coat. The coat has a woolly look and feel.
American Shorthairs, Persians, Exotics and British Shorthairs have been used as out crosses to develop this breed. The American Shorthair has now been discontinued as a breeding partner. In Australia Persians, Exotics and British are accepted out crosses until 2015.
Issue #341 -
Sei Whale
The Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is a large baleen whale, and as such is one of the largest animals in the world. Following large-scale hunting of Sei Whales in the Southern Ocean during middle part of the twentieth century when approximately 200,000 individuals were killed, the Sei Whale is now an internationally protected species.
Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis
Taxonomy and naming
This rorqual is in the order Cetacea. Like all the biggest whales it has baleen plates rather than teeth. This places it in the suborder Mysticeti and family Balaenopteridae. The species was first described by Lesson, but a further description was given by Karl Asmund Rudolphi and the species is often referred to as Rudolphi's Whale in older texts. This usage has since died out. Other names for the species include the Pollack Whale and Coalfish Whale.
The word Sei comes from the Norwegian word for coalfish (also called pollack). Sei Whales feed on coalfish, amongst other small fish and squid in Norwegian waters and so the fish and whales were and are often sighted together, giving the whale its name. Two geographically separated subspecies have been identified - the Northern Sei Whale (B.b.borealis) and Southern Sei Whale (B.b.schleglii). Genetic analyses may yet cause these two to be reclassed as separate species.
Physical description
The Sei Whale is large, weighing 600-750 kilograms and measuring 4-5 metres in length at birth. Adults typically measure 12-16 metres with large individuals upto 19.5 metres being recorded. Adults weigh 20-30 tonnes typically and can grow up to 45 tonnes. The Sei Whale looks similar to Bryde's Whale. At sea the most reliable distinguishing feature is the dive sequence. The whale has a relatively slim body, coloured dark grey on the upper side and light grey to white on the belly. The upper side commonly has white scar marks, believed to be caused by sharks. The dorsal fin is a little further up the body than most rorquals but still more than half way down the back. Carwardine (1995) describes the fin as erect. Contradictarily Reeves et al (2002) describe it as "very falcate". The tail is thick and the fluke is small in relation to body size.
Population and distribution
Sei Whales are found worldwide in a band stretching from about 60 degrees south to 60 degrees north. Deep off-shore waters are preferred. Sei Whales differ from other rorquals in that it is not easy to predict where groups will appear from one year to the next. A particular location may one year see an influx of many whales only for them not to return for several years afterwards. Sei Whales migrate annually from cool and subpolar waters in summer to temperate and tropical waters for winter.
The total population of Sei Whales is now believed to be between 50 and 60 thousand of which around 10,000 are in or close to Icelandic waters.
Behaviour
Sei Whales usually move alone or in small groups. Larger groups have been seen at particularly abudant feeding grounds. The whale's dive sequence is more regular than its close relative. Blows occur at intervals of about 40-60 seconds for a few minutes followed a "deep dive" lasting five to fifteen minutes. Between shallow dives the whale stays close to the surface and remains visible in clear, calm waters. The Sei Whale is a fast swimmer, the fastest of all the baleens, and can reach speeds of up to 25 knots over short distances. In 1916, biologist R. C. Andrews likened them to a cheetah .
Whaling
On the advent of large fast whaling ships, Sei Whales, like other rorquals were hunted in earnest, particularly in Antarctic waters. Around 200,000 (the WWF quotes an exact figure of 203,588) were killed during the twentieth century, representing about 80% of the total worldwide population. The species was protected by the International Whaling Commission in 1976, with the morartorium being enforced since 1986. Since then some Sei Whales have been caught and killed by Icelandic and Japanese whalers under the auspices of scientific research. Currently around 50 Sei Whales are killed for this purpose each year by Japanese scientists. The main focus of the research is to examine what Sei Whales eat and whether they are reducing the amount of fish available for fisheries. Environmental campaigners dispute the necessity of the research, saying that it is known that Sei Whale feed on small fish, squid and plankton not hunted by humans.
The species remained listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2000, categorized as "endangered". Japanese scientists believe that the northern subspecies is more stable than this categorization implies, and believe it should be re-classified.
Conservation status: Endangered
Issue #342 -
Black-footed Albatross
The Black-footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, is a large seabird from the North Pacific. It is one of three albatross that range in the northern hemisphere, nesting on isolated tropical islands.
Black-footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
Description
The Black-footed Albatross is a small member of the family (while still large compared to most other seabirds) that has almost all black plumage. 10% of individuals have white feathers at the base of the tail, and all adults have white markings around the base of the beak and below the eye. Its beak and feet are also all dark.
Behaviour and Range
Range
The Black-footed Albatross, along with the Laysan Albatross and the rare Short-tailed Albatross, are the three species of albatross that range in the northern hemisphere, as opposed to the rest of the family which range from the Equator south. They nest colonially on isolated islands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (such as Laysan and Midway), and the Japanese islands of Toroshima Island, Bonin, and Senkaku. Their range at sea varies during the seasons (straying farther from the breeding islands when the chicks are older or they don't have chicks) but they make use of great areas of the North Pacific, feeding from Alaska to California and Japan. They overlap greatly in breeding and feeding range with the other two species of northern albatross, although the other two will range further north into the Bering Sea than the Black-footed will.
Breeding
The Black-footed Albatross, like the rest of its family, forms long term pair-bonds that last for life. After fledging the birds return to the colony after three years, and spend two years building nests, dancing and being with prospective mates, a behaviour that probably evolved to ensure maximum trust between the birds (raising an albatross chick is a massive energetic investment, and a long courting period establishes for both birds that the other is committed).
Nests are simple depressions scraped in the sand, into which one egg is laid. The egg is incubated for just over two months (65 days). Both birds incubate the egg, the male incubating more as the female leaves soon after hatching to recoup reserves used for egg-laying. The average time spent on incubating shifts is 18 days. However, mates can wait up to 38 days to be relieved, and if something happens to the mate the other has been recorded incubating for 49 days without food or water.
The chick is brooded for 20 days by its parents, after which both parents leave the nest and return to feed the chick. The chick is fed regurgitated food by sticking its bill inside that of its parent. Fledging occurs after 140 days.
Feeding
The Black-footed Albatross feeds in pelagic waters, taking fish, mostly the eggs of flying fish, squid and to a lesser extent crustaceans. It has been described as a 'floating pig' by one author for its habit of taking kitchen scraps from ships. It will also consume floating debris, including plastics.
Conservation
The Black-footed Albatross is considered endangered, because it is taken incidentally by long-line fishing. An estimated 4,000 are taken every year, based on the number taken in 1990; other estimates put the number at 8,000. It is also vulnerable to oil and ingestion of floating plastics, which reduces the space in the stomach available for food to be brought to the chick. All of its nesting sites in the U.S. are protected.
Conservation status: Endangered
Issue #343 -
Marine iguana
The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is a species of iguana that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and forage in the sea. It is found only on the Galapagos Islands, but has spread to all the islands in the archipelago, and is sometimes called the "Galapagos marine iguana".
Marine Iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus
On his visit to the islands, Charles Darwin was revolted by the animals' appearance, writing:
"The black Lava rocks on the beach are frequented by large (2-3 ft) most disgusting clumsy Lizards. They are as black as the porous rocks over which they crawl & seek their prey from the Sea. Somebody calls them 'imps of darkness'. They assuredly well become the land they inhabit."
In fact, Amblyrhynchus cristatus is not always black; the young have a lighter coloured dorsal stripe, and some adult specimens are grey. The reason for the sombre tones is that the species must rapidly absorb heat to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the water. They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, and the coating of salt can make their faces appear white. Also, some Española iguanas have blotches of green and red on their scales from the local seaweed.
Adult males are approximately 1.3 m long, females 0.6 m, males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
As an ectothermic animal, the marine iguana can spend only a limited time in the cold sea, where it dives for algae. However, by swimming only in the shallow waters around the island they are able to survive single dives of up to half an hour at depths of more than 15 m. After these dives, they return to their territory to bask in the sun and warm up again. When cold, the iguana is unable to move effectively, making them vulnerable to predation, so they become highly aggressive before heating up (since they are unable to run away they try to bite attackers in this state). During the breeding season, males become highly territorial, but at other times the species is only aggressive when cold. Predators include hawks, crabs, and cats - but are rare.
Researchers theorize that land and marine iguanas evolved from a common ancestor since arriving on the islands from South America, presumably by raft. It is thought that the ancestral species inhabited a part of the volcanic archipelago that is now submerged.
This species is completely protected under the laws of Ecuador, and is listed under CITES Appendix II (nearly threatened with extinction). El Niño effects cause periodic declines in population, with at least 85% mortality, and the marine iguana is threatened by predation by exotic species. The total population size is unknown, but is, according to IUCN, at least 50,000.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
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California dogface butterfly
The California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice, or Colias eurydice Boisduval) has been the state insect of the U.S. state of California since 1972. California was the first state to choose a state insect. Its range is limited to that state.
California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice
Its name comes from a wing pattern resembling a dog's face (some think it looks like a poodle) which is found on the male of the species. Its wings are an iridescent bluish-black, orange and sulfur-yellow in color. The female has a small black dot on each of its yellow forewings. The typical forewing length is between 22 to 31 mm.
Larvae feed on False Indigo (Amorpha californica) and adults feed on flower nectar. They are said to be especially fond of purple flowers.
They are hard to get close to, are hard to catch unless nectaring at flowers, and are hard to get a photograph of with their wings open because they fly very fast. In the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California, adult Dogface butterflies can often be seen nectaring at roadside thistles.
Issue #345 -
Sockeye salmon
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also called Red Salmon or Blueback Salmon, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Pacific Ocean. The same species when it occurs in landlocked bodies of water is called the Kokanee.
Spawning Sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka
Range
Its range is as far as south as the Klamath River in California in the eastern Pacific and northern Hokkaido Island in Japan in the western Pacific, and as far north as Bathurst Inlet in the Canadian Arctic in the east and the Anadyr River in Siberia in the west. Landlocked populations occur in the Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada, and in Alaska, Washington, Montana and Oregon in the United States.
Physical Description
A Sockeye can be as long as 84 cm and weight 6 to 8 pounds. It has an elongate, torpedo shaped body, with adipose fins, and a bluntly pointed snout. The gill rakers located just behind the head are long and closely spaced. Its colouration changes as it switches from freshwater to saltwater. In freshwater, its colour is bright red with a pale green head; females may have green and yellow marks stains. Its colour in saltwater is bluish-green on top, silvery on the bottom, with uniform, shiny skin.
Reproduction
Prior to spawning the sockeye are blue tinged with silver in color during their ocean life. The males develop a hump on their back and their jaw and teeth become hooked when they move from salt to fresh water. Males and females both turn red green heads, and a dark stripe on their sides prior to spawning.
Sockeye salmon spawn only in streams having lakes in their watershed. The young fish, known as fry, spend one to three years in the freshwater before migrating to the ocean, some stay in the lake and do not migrate to the sea. The fish that migrate spend three to four years in the salt water, and thus are four to six years old when they return to spawn in autumn (September-December). Migration back to the home river, is thought to be done using the characteristic smell of the stream, and possibly the sun.
Some young fish spend as long as four years in fresh water lakes before migrating to the sea. In rivers without lakes, many of the young move to the ocean quite soon after hatching. These salmon mature after one to four years in the ocean. Some Sockeye Salmon live and reproduce in lakes and are called "kokanee." They are much smaller than the ones that go to the ocean and are rarely over 350 mm (14 inches) long.
Ecology/Behaviour
Sockeyes, unlike the other species of Pacific Salmon, feed almost exclusively on plankton. They are able to do this as a result of their many gill rakers, which strain the plankton from the water. It is speculated that this diet is the reason for the striking hue of their flesh.
Commerce
This species is netted for commercial canning, especially in Bristol Bay, Alaska, site of the largest harvest of sockeye salmon in the world, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The species has been preferred for canning due to the rich orange-red color of the flesh. More than half of the sockeye salmon caught today is sold frozen. Sockeye also tends to fetch a higher price then all other salmon when sold fresh.
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Bentheuphausia amblyops
Bentheuphausia amblyops is a species of krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans living in the ocean.
Bentheuphausia amblyops
B. amblyops is the only species within its genus, which in turn is the only genus within the family Bentheuphausiidae. All the 85 other species of krill known are classified in the family Euphausiidae.
B. amblyops occurs in the northern Atlantic Ocean in latitudes south of 40° N, and also in the southern seas of the Atlantic, in the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific. It is a bathypelagic krill that lives in deep waters below 1,000 m. It is distinguished from the Euphausiidae by several morphological features, the most apparent being that they are not bioluminescent and that their first pair of pleopods is not modified as copulatory tool organs. Also, their eyes are smaller than those of the Euphausiidae. Adults reach a length of 4 to 5 cm.
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Eoraptor
Eoraptor lunensis was one of the world's earliest dinosaurs. It was a two-legged meat-eater that lived between 230 and 225 million years ago in the northwestern region of Argentina. Its name means "dawn plunderer from the Valley of the Moon", where it was originally discovered. Paleontologists believe the Eoraptor resembles the common ancestor of all dinosaurs. It is known from several well preserved skeletons.
Eoraptor lunensis
Description and behavior
It had a thin body that grew to about 1 meter (3 feet) long, and weighed about 10 kilograms (22 pounds). It ran digitigrade, upright on its hind legs. Its arms were only half the length of its legs, and had five fingers on each hand. Three of those fingers, the longer of the five, ended in large claws and were used to handle prey. Scientists have surmised that the fourth and fifth fingers were too tiny to be of any use in hunting.
Eoraptor probably ate mostly small animals. It was a swift sprinter, and upon catching its prey, it would use claws and teeth to tear the prey apart.
Early dinosaur
The bones of this primitive dinosaur were first discovered in 1991, and by 1993 it had been determined to be one of the earliest of the "terrible lizards" (dinosaurs). Its age was determined by several factors, including its lack of specialized predatory features. Unlike later carnivores, it didn't have a sliding joint in its lower jaw to hold prey with. Also, only some of its teeth were curved and saw-edged. All of the teeth in a modern predator's mouth are shaped so.
Eoraptor belonged to a major group of dinosaurs called saurischians, or lizard-hipped dinosaurs. Their hip structures are similar to that of the modern lizard.
Eoraptor is more ancient than even the Herrerasaurus, and only some prosauropods recently discovered in Madagascar are older.
Conservation status: Fossil
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Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a small breed of dog originally from Tibet. They were used as watchdogs inside Tibetan monasteries for over 2000 years, for which they are uniquely suited with keen intelligence, acute hearing, and instincts for identifying friends from strangers.
A male golden Lhasa Apso
Appearance
They are generally 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm) at the withers and weigh between 15 and 25 lbs (7 and 11 kg). Lhasas should have dark brown eyes with black pigmentation on eye rims and a black nose. They have a straight coat with soft undercoat (depending upon weather conditions) which comes in a variety of different colors. The tail should curl up over the back.
Temperament
Having been bred to be sentinel or watch dogs, Lhasa Apsos tend to be alert and have a keen sense of hearing with a rich, sonorous bark that belies their size. They are bright and outgoing, but some tend toward wariness of strangers. Wariness does not mean unwarranted aggressiveness but having a discerning attitude towards strangers; people approaching the dog simply need to show that they are a friend. However, many Lhasas are quite friendly from the first introduction. If not properly socialized, some may become aggressive or overly shy toward strangers.
History
The original American pair was a gift from the Dalai Lama to C. Suydam Cutting, arriving in the United States in the early 1930s. The American Kennel Club officially accepted the breed in 1935 in the Terrier group, but in 1959 moved the breed to the Non-Sporting group.
Recently, DNA Analysis has identified the Lhasa Apso as one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds.
Miscellaneous
Apparently monks believe that Lhasas are reincarnated lions and as such hold them in high esteem. Golden Lhasas are said to house the souls of the Dalai Lamas.
Alternative names: Lhassa Terrier
Country of origin: Tibet, China
Common nicknames: Lhasa
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Monito del Monte
The Monito del Monte ("little mountain monkey," Dromiciops gliroides or Dromiciops australis) is a semi-arboreal South American marsupial which is thought to be more closely related to the marsupials of Australasia than to those of the Americas. Also known as the Colocolo or Chimaihuén, it is only a little larger than a mouse: about 8 to 13 cm long with a thick-based, moderately prehensile tail about the same length again. Weight varies between 17 and 31 grams. It has a coat of short, dense, silky fur, brown on the upper side with a number of ashy white patches, and paler underneath. The ears are short and rounded, and there are black rings around the eyes.
Monito del Monte, Dromiciops gliroides
Monitos del Monte are found only in the mountains of Chile and Argentina, preferring dense, humid forests, particularly where there are areas of Chilean bamboo. It is reported to be reasonably common within its restricted range. Pairs make nests of leaves and sticks, about 20 cm in diameter and lined with grass or moss, in a variety of places: under rocks, in hollow trees, on branches, or suspended in thick shrubbery.
Monitos del Monte are largely carnivorous. Most of their diet is insects and other small invertebrates, although they may also take some fruit. They are nocturnal, and excellent climbers with both feet and tail, but equally at home on the ground. They have an extraordinary ability to rapidly accumulate a reserve of fat in the tail, being able to double their body weight within a week. This reserve is enough to sustain them through periods of cold weather, during which they hibernate.
Mating takes place in the spring and early summer, and results in a litter of between one and five young, which are carried in the well-developed pouch. Sexual maturity is reached in the second year.
Some native people are scared of the Monito del Monte and have been known to burn down their homes if they see one inside.
The Monito del Monte is the only member of its family (Microbiotheriidae) and the only surviving member of an ancient order, the Microbiotheria, which is known from Oligocene and Miocene times in South America. Although once thought to be a member of the Didelphidae (the order that contains the Virginia opossum), an accumulation of both anatomical and molecular evidence in recent years has led to the conclusion that this tiny South American marsupial is not a member of the Ameridelphia (the magnorder that contains all other American marsupials) at all, but is instead most closely related to the Australidelphia, or Australasian marsupials. The distant ancestors of the Monito del Monte, it is thought, either remained in what is now South America while others entered Antarctica and eventually Australia during the time when all three continents were joned as part of Gondwana, or else were part of the Australian marsupial fauna which reinvaded South America.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Issue #350 -
did you juz type out the whole encyclopedia book ?
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Snares Penguin
The Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus), also known as the Snares Crested Penguin and the Snares Islands Penguin, is a penguin from New Zealand. It breeds on The Snares, a group of islands off the southern coast of the South Island.
Snares Penguin, Eudyptes robustus
This is a medium-sized, yellow-crested penguin growing to approximately 60 cm. It has dark blue-black upperparts and white underparts. It has a bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a drooping, bushy crest. It has bare pink skin at the base of its large red-brown bill.
This penguin nests in small (10 nests) to large (1,200 nests) colonies under forest cover or the open. Main colonies are located on North East Island, other colonies are established on Broughton Island as well as the rocky Western Chain. The Snares penguins' main prey is krill (~60% of diet), supplemented by squid (~20%) and small fish (~20%).
The species is currently rated as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN as its breeding range is restricted to one small island group. The current population is estimated at around 30.000 breeding pairs.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
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Mugger Crocodile
The Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), also called the Iranian, Marsh, or Persian Crocodile (in Persian Gandu), is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Nepal and Iran).
Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris
It is a large crocodile, sometimes exceeding fifteen feet in length. In appearance, it somewhat resembles an alligator as distinct from a crocodile, because of its broader jaws. It is however a true crocodile. The name Mugger comes from its name Magar Macchh in the Hindi language.
As a large carnivorous reptile, when mature it eats fish, other reptiles and large and small mammals. In fact, most vertebrates that approach to drink are potential prey, and may suffer being seized and dragged into the water to be drowned and devoured at leisure. Attacks on humans are known, and children playing in the water are especially vulnerable.
Conservation status: Lower risk (lc)
Issue #352 -
Chinese mantis
The Chinese Mantis (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis) is a species of mantis. Originating from China, they were first introduced to North America around in 1895 as a source of pest control. The Chinese Mantis looks like a long and slender praying mantis, with different shades of brown. The adult has a green lateral line down its wing. It is typically larger than most other mantises, growing up to 6 inches in length.
Chinese mantis, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, eating a bumblebee
Their diet consists of caterpillars, butterflies, wasps, bees, crickets and moths. Like other mantids, they are known to be cannibalistic.
Issue #353 -
Pearl Danio
The Pearl Danio (Danio albolineatus) is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Originating in Sumatra, Burma, and Thailand, this fish is sometimes found in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. It grows to a maximum length of 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) and lives for around 5 years. The fish has a pink body and two light yellow/white stripes. It has an iridescent look. The fish has two pairs of long barbels.
Pearl Danio, Danio albolineatus
In the wild, the Pearl Danio is found in along the surface of small, clear rivers and hill streams. They natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of up to 5 - 19 dGH, and a temperature range of 68 - 77 °F (20 - 25 °C). Their diet consists mostly of exogenous insects and some zooplankton, however, in a community tank, it is omnivorous. It is a peaceful, schooling fish that gets along well with other fish. The Pearl Danio is an egglayer. Golden varieties are often seen in shops, these are in reality semi albino fish.
Conservation status: Unknown
Issue #354 -
Giant African Snail
The Giant African Snail, Achatina fulica, has been widely introduced to Asia, to Pacific and Indian Oceans islands, and to the West Indies. It has also been intercepted widely by quarantine officials and incipient invasions have been eradicated, for instance in the mainland USA. It is a major agricultural and garden pest, and a general nuisance. It is also a vector (as are many snail species) of several human pathogens and parasites. Often its introduction leads to the subsequent introduction of predatory snails and, more recently, flatworms as putative biological control agents that can have devastating effects on native land snail diversity.
Giant African Snail, Achatina fulica
Description
A very large snail, adults usually around 7-8 cm tall, but can reach 20 cm or more. The shell has a rounded conical shape, being about twice as high as it is broad. The shell is generally brown in color with irregular darker streaks running transversely across the whorls.
Habitat
The Giant African Snail is native to East Africa, especially Kenya and Tanzania, but also include most regions of the humid tropics, including many Pacific islands, southern and eastern Asia, and the Caribbean. The Giant African Snail can now be found in agricultural areas, coastland, disturbed areas, natural forest, planted forests, riparian zones, scrub/shrublands, urban areas, and wetlands.
Impact
The Giant African Snail has been widely introduced throughout the tropics and subtropics]]. After introduction, its population increases dramatically, perhaps following a variable lag time, as seen in many other introductions of non-native species. The snails frequently reach such enormous numbers, at least locally, that they become not only agricultural and garden pests but also a major public nuisance, causing road hazards and making it difficult to avoid them while walking. The snail has been considered the most important snail pest in the tropics and subtropics and perhaps the world.
However, some argue that its agricultural impacts may have been exaggerated, the nuisance factor perhaps being more important. By reaching such enormous numbers and invading native ecosystems they also pose a serious conservation problem. Not only may they eat native plants, modifying their habitat, but they probably also out-compete existing native snails.
Disease
The Giant African Snailis also a vector of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae), the roundworm responsible for eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis in humans and the spread of the disease has been correlated with the spread of the snail. However, many other introduced snails in the tropics are also vectors of this parasite and the spread of the disease has not definitively been related to the spread of the Giant African Snail.
The more insidious conservation problem they cause is that they tempt agricultural officials to initiate a number of putative biological control measures. The most well publicised of these measures is the introduction of predatory snails, most notably Euglandina rosea. The first attempts at such biological control were made in Hawaii. Fifteen carnivorous snail species were deliberately introduced. Of these, nine did not become established; the fate of three is unknown but they are certainly not common and do not appear to be causing serious problems. However, three have become established: Euglandina rosea, Gonaxis kibweziensis, Gonaxis quadrilateralis. There is no scientific evidence that the predatory snails are the reason for the observed decline in numbers of the Giant African Snail, however.
Similar ill-conceived attempts at biological control involving Euglandina rosea in particular have been implemented in French Polynesia, American Samoa, Guam, and a number of other places in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In addition to the deliberate introduction of predatory snails, the predatory flatworm Platydemus manokwari has also been introduced, although as yet less widely. It is reported that this flatworm can indeed cause populations of the Giant African Snail to decline, but the evidence is only correlative, not convincingly causative. However, the flatworm has also been implicated in the decline of native species on Guam. It cannot be stressed enough that these introductions of putative biological control agents against the Giant African Snail are extremely dangerous from the perspective of the conservation of native snail species, and in any case, there is no good evidence that they can indeed control Giant African Snail populations.
Population control
Suggested preventative measures must include strict quarantine measures to prevent introduction and further spread. Many methods have been tried to eradicate the Giant African Snail. Generally, none of them have been effective except where implemented at the first sign of infestation. Methods include hand collecting, use of molluscicides, flame-throwers, and the failed attempts at biological control discussed above. In some regions, an effort has been made to promote use of the Giant African Snail as a food resource, collecting the snails for food being seen as a method of controlling them. However, promoting a pest, for whatever seemingly positive reason, seems fundamentally counterproductive as it will likely encourage the further deliberate spread of the snails. It seems axiomatic that a pest species should not be promoted.
Nutrition
The Giant African Snail is a macrophytophagous herbivore.
Reproduction
The Giant African Snail is a cross-fertilizing, egg-laying hermaphrodite. The number of eggs per clutch averages around 200. A snail would lay 5-6 clutches year with a hatching viability of about 90%.
Lifecycle
Adult size is reached in about four months, but growth may continue slowly beyond this up to at least one and a half years.
Issue #355
