Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrel

This is one of the flying squirrel species. They are smaller as compared to Japanese giant flying squirrels. Majorly, this species lives in sub-alpine forest that is found in Japan. They are 14-20 centimeters and their tail is about 10-14 centimeters. They approximately weigh 150- 220 grams. They are nocturnal; both female and male are of the same size. Their berry is white and their back covered with grey brown hair. It has a tail that is flattened and large eyes. During the day, you can only find them in holes in trees. The nests that these types of squirrels live are called dreys and can easily are seen on trees. These nests are made on tree cavities and tree trunks. Such nests are build using leaves and sticks wrapped with strands of grass. Western squirrel makes two nests. One of these two nests is larger in size and well covered. They use this nest in winter and also taking care of young ones. It leaps from one tree to the other using a membrane known as patagium. The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel eats various types of foods. They include seeds, walnuts, acorns and other types fungi that are found in the forest. It takes a hanging posture when eating. In case it wants to pick food that is spread on the ground, it will only extend its body within its immediate radius without necessarily moving the hind legs. This species was first found in Canada, western North America and in the United States. It is the only species that has evolved differently from other sciuridae. If you compare the morphology of mandible and genetic code, you will realize a great difference between Japanese dwarf flying squirrel and other sciuridae. The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel has a mandible which has a coronoid process which the dwarf tree squirrel lacks. It has also a less elongated mandible compared to marmot. Though they are of the same species, they as well have different genetic codes. Pteromys Volans and pteromys momonga have different karyotypes but same number of chromosomes. This difference came about due to tandem fusion, inversion or deletion of Y chromosomes and autosomes. Pteromys Volans has fifteen percent DNA as compared to pteromys momonga. This is a brief history of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels, how they live and their habitat and what they feed on. They are very unique species in the flying squirrels family.

Greater Glider

The greater glider (Petauroides volans) is a small gliding marsupial found in Australia. It is not closely related to the Petaurus group of gliding marsupials but instead to the lemur-like ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), with which it shares the subfamily Hemibelideinae. The greater glider is nocturnal and is a solitary herbivore feeding almost exclusively on Eucalyptus leaves and buds. Like its relative the lemur-like ringtail, the greater glider is found in two forms: a sooty brown form, or a grey-to-white form. The greater glider is found in eucalypt forest from Mossman, Queensland, to Daylesford, Victoria. Greater gliders have a head and body about 39 to 43 centimetres (15 to 17 in) long, with the females being generally larger than the males. Their body is covered with a shaggy coat of fur that increases their apparent size, and the tail is long and bushy, ranging from 44 to 53 centimetres (17 to 21 in). The head is short, but with a pointed muzzle, and large ears fringed and backed with long fur. Each side of the body bears membranes stretching between the elbow and the ankle, that give the animal the ability to perform controlled glides. This is in contrast to other gliding marsupials (such as the sugar glider) that have gliding membranes stretching from the wrists to the ankles. The feet have strongly recurved claws to grip onto bark or other surfaces. There are five toes on each foot, with the first toe on the hind foot, and the first two toes on the fore foot, being opposable. The fur is soft and up to 60 millimetres (2.4 in) long; the colour is variable within the same populations, ranging from white to brown and charcoal. Body mass varies clinally from about 1,600 grams (3.5 lb) in southern Victoria to about 600 grams (1.3 lb) in north Queensland. Heat management in the greater glider is performed by licking extremities and the ventral body surface, with direct evaporation being the main method of the cooling. Furthermore, the glider can use its gliding membranes to reduce heat loss by increasing the layer of insulation at the skin surface. However, the greater glider is not well equipped to handle high ambient temperatures, as it inefficiently uses water for evaporation via salivation even though arboreal habitats are often limited in water accessibility.

Cape Genet

Also known as Large-Spotted Genet has a shoulder height of 210 mm, but this species is short legged. The elongated body has a length of 460 mm and a mass of 1.6 kg. The thick, black and whitish-grey ringed tail is long at 400 mm. Claws are short, partially retractable and are an aid to climbing. No sexual dimorphism is obvious. Rows of rusty spots enclosed with black rings cover the brown or tan upperparts. The black rings merge into lines on the neck. The belly is whitish. They have white patches around the mouth, nose and below the eyes. The Large-Spotted Genet can be confused with the Small-Spotted Genet, the main difference being the white tipped tail of the latter compared to the black tipped tail of the large spotted species. Another difference is the entirely black spots of the small spotted genet which are without a rusty centre. The bulk of its diet consists of rodents and other small mammals such as insectivores, whereas birds, snakes and amphibians are secondary prey. Invertebrates only make up a small portion of its diet. Will also ingest fruit. Normally breeding takes place during the warmer months. The Large-Spotted Genet gives birth to an average of three young per litter after a gestation period of about 70 days. Indications are that the young remain in nests, made above ground, until they are weaned. This is a solitary species, only occurring in groups during the mating season. Well wooded and watered areas are preferred habitats, particularly forests and closed woodlands. Some dense vegetation for shelter and close proximity to water are essential habitat requirements. The Large-Spotted Genet is distributed in South Africa from the southern and eastern coast, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and extending into neighbouring countries.

Spiny Flower Mantis

An extraordinary-looking family, the tenrecs exist only in Madagascar and have a greater diversity of form than any other family of insectivores. Members of the subfamily Tenrecinae look like a cross between a shrew and a hedgehog, with long, pointed snouts and spines amongst their fur. The lowland streaked tenrec is a medium-sized, slender tenrec, which closely resembles juvenile common tenrecs (Tenrecs ecaudatus). It is blackish-brown with yellowish stripes running the length of the body and a yellowish band running from the crown to the tip of the snout. It has detachable, barbed spines which are most numerous on the crown. The underside is chestnut-brown with soft hairs. Unusually for tenrecs, the lowland streaked tenrec is active both at night and during the day, and is the only species to form groups. It remains with its family, numbering up to 20 individuals in each burrow. They may forage together amongst the leaf litter for earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates, using their long snouts to delve into small spaces. During the winter (May to October), tenrecs can drop their body temperature to nearly that of the surroundings, but still remain active. This conserves energy, but in the coldest weather they must hibernate. Nesting in burrows 1.5 metres long and 15 cm deep near a stream or water body, the lowland streaked tenrec covers the burrow entrance with leaves and often creates a latrine site nearby. Mating takes place between September and December, and young are born after a gestation of 55 – 63 days. The female gives birth to between two and eleven young, averaging six in each litter. Females are reproductively active at a young age, sometimes breeding at just five weeks.

Armadillo Girdled Lizard

Cordylus cataphractus (armadillo lizard or armadillo girdled lizard) is found along the west coast of South Africa, from the Orange River in the north (Little Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province) to the Piketberg Mountains in the south, and as far inland as Matjiesfontein in the western Karoo Basin. Armadillo lizards inhabit karroid veld, a vegetation type that is normally found in the semi-desert Karoo region of South Africa. This habitat is characterized by sparse vegetation dominated by dwarf, perennial shrubs. These lizards inhabit large cracks in rocky outcrops. Armadillo lizards are named for their appearance when in a defensive position. When threatened, they curl up, grip the tail in their jaws, and form a tight, armored ball, resembling an armadillo. Rows of spiny osteodermate scales covering the neck, body, tail, and limbs deter predators from seizing or swallowing these lizards. This position protects the soft underside of the lizard, which is its most vulnerable area. Males grow to be larger than females and have more prominent femoral pores. The average snout-vent length is between 75 and 90 mm, with a maximum snout-vent length of 105 mm. The tail is equal to or slightly shorter than the body length. The body color is a dirty yellowish brown to straw color. Dorsal color is usually consistent, sometimes having an orange to olive tint on the sides. Dark brown infusions on the back are not uncommon. The upper lip is dark brown. The head and tail are flattened, allowing it to squeeze into rock crevices. Armadillo lizards have the ability to drop their own tail (autotomy) when in danger, and can grow it back slowly. But, unlike many other lizards, in Cordylus cataphractus the tail is a necessary part of its unique defensive position. Because of this, the lizard will not part with the tail easily or quickly and tail autotomy is used only as a last resort. The jaws of Cordylus cataphractus are extremely powerful. In a fight, they can sever digits or small limbs. They sometimes roll their bodies as they bite, inflicting severe damage.

Longhorn Cowfish

The longhorn cowfish, Lactoria cornuta, is a variety of boxfish from the family Ostraciidae, recognizable by its long horns that protrude from the front of its head, rather like those of a cow or bull. They are a resident of the Indo-Pacific region and can grow up to 20 inches long. While badly suited to the home aquarium, the cowfish is becoming increasingly popular as a pet. Adults are reef fish, often solitary and territorial, and live around sand or rubble bottom up to a depth of 50 m. They are omnivorous, feeding upon benthic algae, various microorganisms, and foraminiferans that it strains from sediments, sponges, polychaete worms from sand flats, mollusks, small crustaceans, and small fishes, able to feed on benthic invertebrates by blowing jets of water into the sandy substrate. Red Sea and East Africa eastward through Indonesia to Marquesas, northward to southern Japan. Including Tuamotus, southern Korea, north to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island, and off southern Africa in the Atlantic. Tropical and subtropical waters. There is no known sexual dimorphism, so both male and female display a yellow to olive base color, which is decorated with white or bluish spots. Paired courtship just before or after sunset. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. One distinction from other fish is the lack of a gill cover, which is replaced by a small slit or hole. The hexagonal plate-like scales of these fish are fused together into a solid, triangular, box-like carapace, from which the fins and tail protrude. Their unique method of swimming, called ostraciform swimming, causes them to look as if they are hovering. They have no pelvic skeleton, so they lack pelvic fins. They are such slow swimmers cowfish are easily caught by hand, making a grunting noise when captured. This is the most well-known cowfish species in the aquarium trade.

Long-spined Porcupinefish Puffer

Like all species in the family Diodontidae, Long-spined Porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus) can inflate themselves by swallowing water (or air). As in other species in the genus Diodon, this swelling causes the erection of the long movable spines covering the body. The Long-spined Porcupinefish is a robust fish with rounded dorsal and anal fins. Spines on the forehead of the Long-spined Porcupinefish are slightly shorter to much longer than are those immediately behind the pectoral fin base. Long-spined Porcupinefish have a broad dark bar through the eyes and, usually, four dark saddles on the back. The rest of the body is brownish yellow, paler below, with dark brown spots of moderate size (no spots on the fins beyond their bases). These spots are larger than the diameter of the spines. No spines are wholly on the caudal peduncle. Pelagic juveniles are around 6 to 9 cm. Maximum adult standard length (i.e., excluding tail) is around 30 cm, with a maximum total length of around 45 to 50 cm. In North American waters, the similar Spotted Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) is larger (to 91 cm), lacks the dark bars on the back and through the eyes, is covered with small dark spots that are around the same diameter as the spines, has the longest spines posterior to the pectoral fins, and has one or more spines wholly on the caudal peduncle. The Long-spined Porcupinefish has a circumtropical distribution in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans (except that it seems to occur only peripherally on the Pacific Plate). It is found in the Atlantic from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil and in the Pacific from the Gulf of California to Peru (see Leis 2006 for more details on geographic distribution).  Long-spined Porcupinefish are nocturnal and usually solitary. They feed on hard-shelled invertebrates. Larger individuals are found in a variety of benthic habitats from shallow reefs to open, soft bottoms to at least 100 m. In some areas, Long-spined Porcupinefish are harvested and dried in their inflated state for sale to tourists.

Black Swan

The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic conditions. Black swans are large birds with mostly black plumage and red bills. They are monogamous breeders that share incubation duties and cygnet rearing between the sexes. Black swans have been introduced to various countries as an ornamental bird in the 1800s, but have escaped and formed stable populations. A small population of Black swans exists on the River Thames at Marlow, and near the River Itchen, Hampshire. Described scientifically by English naturalist John Latham in 1790, the Black Swan was formerly placed into a monotypic genus, Chenopis. Black swans can be found singly, or in loose companies numbering into the hundreds or even thousands. Black swans are popular birds in zoological gardens and bird collections, and escapees are sometimes seen outside their natural range. Black swans are mostly black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers. A mature black swan measures between 110 and 142 centimetres (43 and 56 in) in length and weighs 3.7–9 kilograms (8.2–19.8 lb). Its wing span is between 1.6 and 2 metres (5.2 and 6.6 ft). The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S"-shape. The black swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, called either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting.

Hyacinth Macaw

Many people are familiar with macaws and parrots as pet store animals. It might be difficult, then, for people to imagine what these large, loud, beautiful birds look like in the wild. The spectacular flash of color of a wild macaw is becoming more and more of a rare sight. The largest species of macaw, the brilliant-blue hyacinth grows to be up to 40 inches (1 m) long. The hyacinth macaw survives today in three known distinct populationin southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay. It is possible that smaller, fragmented populations occur in other areas of its range. Although it is difficult to estimate, some people believe there were more than 100,000 hyacinth macaws before the arrival of Amerindians in South America. In 1990, the wild population was estimated to be 2,500 birds. The world’s captive population is probably much larger, numbering in the thousands. The hyacinth macaw is found primarily in riverside topical rain forest and palm swamps. Its habitat varies throughout its range, however, from seasonally moist forest with a broken canopy, to mature palm forest, to grassy marshes. The hyacinth macaw nests in holes in trees. The clutch size is two or three eggs, although usually only one fledgling survives. The hyacinth macaw eats seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetable matter. Eight species of palm are central to its diet. Its exceptionally powerful bill, the largest of its kind in the world, allows it to eat otherwise inaccessible nuts and seeds. Macaws can eat some poisonous seeds and unripe fruits that no other animal can digest. Scientists believe this is possible because the birds eat chunks of clay from river banks. The clay is thought to help absorb the poisons or make them harmless. Macaws play an important role in seed dispersal. They are messy eaters, carrying and dropping many nuts and seeds.

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast and red iris. It is part of a genus of three unique very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region. The bird may be easily recognized by the unique white tips on its crests and by its deep 'whooping' sounds made while calling. Its name commemorates the British monarch Queen Victoria. The Victoria crowned pigeon is a deep blue-gray color with a small black mask. Its feather crest (the signature feature of crowned pigeons other than their size) is conspicuously white-tipped. On the wing coverts, there is a row of feathers that are a paler blue-gray with maroon tips. These form a distinct wing bar. The chest is a deep purple-maroon color. As in all crowned pigeons, melanism has been observed. The other two crowned pigeons are somewhat superficially similar but only the western crowned pigeon overlaps in range with the Victoria species. The southern crowned pigeon does not. In the western species, the crown is more scraggly and hair-like, the chest is a uniform blue-gray and not maroon and there is a less distinct wing-bar. Both sexes are similar. Like other crowned pigeons, this species makes a loud clapping sound when it takes flight. The mating calls of this species are also similar to the other two species of crowned pigeon, consisting of a deep hoota-hoota-hoota-hoota-hoota sound. When defending their territories, these birds make a resounding whup-up, whup-up, whup-up call. Their contact call is a deep, muffled and rather human-like ummm or hmmm. There are two subspecies of the Victoria crowned pigeon, Goura victoria beccarii is found on the mainland of New Guinea. Goura victoria victoria, the nominate race can be found on the islands of Yapen, Biak and Supiori. The nominate subspecies is markedly smaller, with a wing chord measurement of 31.6–33.2 cm (12.4–13.1 in), with less robust legs and feet and darker overall plumage. The nominate has a sparser crest with black on the wing coverts and right above the tail.

Miniature Southdown Sheep

Olde English Miniature Babydoll Southdown sheep are an ancient breed with sweet, teddy bear faces. Because of their diminutive size, miniature Southdowns make outstanding weeders for use in orchards and vineyards -- they are only 24 inches tall when mature, and so can't easily reach tree branches or trellised grapes. Their small hooves help break the soil surface without compacting it. They move easily up and down hills, and can get into a field or vineyard much earlier than machinery can. And not only do they provide an organic alternative to pesticides and expensive mowing operations, their recycled grass (manure) helps improve soil fertility as well. Miniature Southdowns are usually white; however, there are also black (or brown) ones. They are easy to handle and are not aggressive. They are not wanderers and do not bother fences. Ewes are good mothers and often have twins and occasionally triplets. Care for miniature Southdown's is similar to that of other sheep, including sheering, vaccinating, foot trimming, and worming, however, as an ancient breed they are resistant to foot root and more resistant to parasites than other breeds. Their wool is short stapled and fine with a 19-22 micron count, which puts it in the class of cashmere. The Southdown breed of sheep originated in the South Downs of Sussex county, England.  They are one of the oldest of the Down breeds.  English farms kept these sheep for their dual-purpose--flavorful meat and fine fleece.  Early literature suggests that Southdowns were among the animals brought into the English colonies as early as 1640.  During this time, Britain strictly forbade the importation of sheep and the formation of America's budding woolen textile industry.  In fact, in 1698, the penalty for wool-trading or sheep-trading in the American colonies was having one's right hand cut off!  So spinning or weaving was an act of patriotism.  Wearing clothing crafted of American woolens was done with pride.  Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson raised sheep and both chose American-made woolens to wear to their Presidential inaugurations. 

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris, also known as the Eurasian red squirrel, can be found throughout the forests of Europe and northern Asia. Over the past century S. vulgaris population densities have changed greatly. The species has remained very common in central Europe, but on Great Britain they are now extirpated from much of their range. Sciurus vulgaris lives and nests in deciduous and coniferous forests. These squirrels prefer to live in large, mature trees that can provide them with an abundant supply of food in the form of seeds or acorns. Trees chosen as nesting sites usually have hollowed out cavities or large holes in their trunks which can be used as nests. A high quality nest may be used for several years, and individuals always maintain several nests to which they can escape when being pursued by a predator. This species has more variation in coat color than almost any other mammal in the Palearctic region. The color of these squirrels varies from light-red to black on their heads and backs. All individuals (except those that are completely melanistic), have white or creamy fur on their stomachs. Like many other tree squirrels, S. vulgaris has long tufts of hair on its ears and long furry tail. In most areas where they are common, such as central Europe, the pelage coloration of individuals varies from red to black, with individuals of many differently color morphs co-occurring. However, in some areas, whole populations may have almost identically colored coats. Examples of populations in which all of the squirrels share the same coat color can be found in Great Britain, where only red members of this species live; and in the Sila region of southern Italy, where only black individuals are found. The body hair of these squirrels changes twice annually, while the tail hair changes only once. The winter coat covers more of the soles of the feet, has longer ear tufts, and is thicker than the spring/summer coat.

Desert Rain Frog

The desert rain frog, Breviceps macrops, is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa. Its natural habitat is the narrow strip of sandy shores between the sea and the sand dunes. It is threatened by habitat loss. The desert rain frog is a small, plump species with bulging eyes, a short snout, short limbs, spade-like feet and webbed toes. On the underside it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen. Its colour is yellowish-brown and it often has sand adhering to its skin. The desert rain frog is endemic to a coastal strip of land about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) wide in Namibia and South Africa. This area of sand dunes often has sea fog rolling in which supplies some moisture in an otherwise arid region. There is some xerophytic vegetation in the area and in the spring, the desert blooms. The locations in which this frog is found have at least one hundred foggy days per year. The desert rain frog is nocturnal, spending the day in a burrow which it has dug to a depth of 10 to 20 centimetres (3.9 to 7.9 in) where the sand is moist. It emerges on both foggy and clear nights and wanders about over the surface of the dunes. Its footprints are distinctive and are often found around patches of dung where it is presumed to feed on moths, beetles and insect larvae. It digs its way into the sand in the morning and its presence in a locality can be deduced from the little pile of loose sand dislodged by its burrowing activities. Breeding is by direct development of eggs laid in its burrow and there is no aqueous tadpole stage. The desert rain frog is listed as "Vulnerable" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its total range is smaller than 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) and is fragmented and the number of individual frogs seems to be decreasing. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by opencast diamond mining, road making and increased human settlement.

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is a medium sized owl with no ear-tufts and a heart-shaped face. These pale, nearly worldwide birds are closely associated with man through their traditional use of barn lofts and church steeples as nesting sites. The species name "alba" refers to the colour white. Other names for the Barn Owl have included Monkey-faced Owl, Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Death Owl, Hissing Owl, Hobgoblin or Hobby Owl, Golden Owl, Silver Owl, White Owl, Night Owl, Rat Owl, Scritch Owl, Screech Owl, Straw Owl, Barnyard Owl and Delicate Owl. The facial disc is white with a brown edge, and with a brownish wash between the lower edge of the eyes and the base of the whitish-pink bill. Eyes are brownish-black. The crown and upperparts are yellowish-brown to orange-buff, covered partly by a pale ashy-grey veil marked with scattered white spots surrounded by black. The tail is similar, with a few darker bars and with white dots near the tips of the feathers. Underparts are whitish or pure white with a few small, dark drop-shaped spots (often more on females). Legs are feathered white nearly to the base of the mostly bare toes, which are pale greyish-brown and dirty yellowish underneath. Claws are brownish-black. The Barn Owl calls infrequently, the usual call being a drawn-out rasping screech. The courtship call of male at nest is a shrill repetitive twittering. Adults returning to a nest may give a low, frog-like croak. When surprised in its roosting hollow or nest, it makes hissing and rasping noises and snapping sounds that are often called bill snapping, but possibly made by clicking the tongue. Barn Owls specialise in hunting small ground mammals, and the vast majority of their food consists of small rodents. Voles (field mice) are an important food item, as well as pocket gophers, shrews, mice and rats. Barn Owls breed rapidly in response to mouse plagues. Other prey may include baby rabbits, bats, frogs, lizards, birds and insects. Prey are usually located by quartering up and down likely looking land - particularly open grassland. They also use low perches such as fence posts to seek quarry.

Marbled Polecat

One of the most widely distributed small carnivores in Europe and Asia, the European marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) is a small mustelid with a short muzzle and short, strong limbs with long claws. It is strikingly patterned, with the reddish-brown fur on its back being mottled with irregular lines and patches of yellowish fur. The limbs and underparts of the European marbled polecat are dark brown or blackish, and its head is dark brown with a white band across the forehead. It has a long, hairy tail, which is dark brown with a yellowish band in the middle, and ends in a black tip. The ears of this species are large, rounded and white. During the breeding season the male European marbled polecat undergoes a colour change, with the patches of yellow fur changing to bright orange. Shy and elusive, the European marbled polecat is generally active during the night or at dawn and dusk, with occasional daytime activity having been recorded. Outside of the breeding season it is solitary, using its strong paws and claws to excavate its own burrow in which it spends the day. The European marbled polecat will also use the burrows of other animals, such as large ground squirrels or other rodents . The European marbled polecat is known to travel up to one kilometre each night in search of food, with its prey including rodents, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. It has poor eyesight, and therefore relies mainly on its sense of smell to locate prey. As well as using the typical musteline killing method of biting the base of the prey’s neck to severe the spinal cord, the European marbled polecat also uses alternative methods depending on the prey type. Small prey are killed with a crushing bite to the chest, whereas defensive prey are typically bitten on the throat.

Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur

 The species of dwarf lemur found at the DLC, Cheirogaleus medius, is native to the dry deciduous forests of western and southern Madagascar. These small lemurs can live in primary forests, established secondary forests as well as the gallery forest of the southern spiny desert. Typically solitary foragers, the dwarf lemurs have a diverse diet consisting mostly of fruit and flower nectar. While they are thought to be less carnivorous than mouse lemurs, they too eat insects and small vertebrates. Dwarf lemurs may be responsible for pollinating some species of baobab trees. In addition, they play an important role in the ecology of the tropical forest by aiding in the dispersal of small seeds. As a part of their normal scent marking routine, dwarf lemurs often smear feces onto branches as they walk along well-traveled arboreal pathways through the forest, thereby providing a perfect microclimate for the germination of parasitic plants common in the forest. The fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus medius, can increase its body weight by 75g (about 40%) at a time. It effectively gorges during times of food abundance, to prepare for Madagascar’s dry season when its diet of fruits and flowers is scarce. In the winter months, most dwarf lemurs enter a state of torpor. While mouse lemurs also enter into a winter torpor, only dwarf lemurs experience it for such a long time each year. Neither captive nor wild mouse and dwarf lemurs actually hibernate, but they do experience a slow-down in their metabolic rates and show a marked decrease in activity and appetite which may last for up to six months. During this period of increased torpor, these lemurs live off of fat stored in their tails. Dwarf lemurs forage in solitude at night. During the day they congregate, in packs of up to five to a tree hole, while they sleep. The composition of these sleeping groups changes seasonally, and often animals do choose to sleep alone. Sleeping sites generally consist of hollow trees, whose cavities have been cushioned with leaves. Otherwise, they are spherical nests made of dead leaves concealed in heavy undergrowth. Females generally occupy “home ranges” in central areas of a group’s range, while a single male may overlap his home range with those of several females. Female prosimians, in general, are considered dominant to males.

Amazon Milk Frog

The Mission golden-eyed tree frog or Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) is a large species of arboreal frog native to the Amazon Rainforest in South America. It is sometimes referred to as the blue milk frog. It was first discovered along the Maracanã River in Brazil. This species was previously within the genus Phrynohyas, which was recently synonymized with Trachycephalus. These frogs are fairly large, reaching sizes of 2.5 to 4.0 in (6.4 to 10.2 cm) in length. Adult frogs are light grey in colour with brown or black banding, while juveniles will exhibit stronger contrasts. As they age, their skin develops a slightly bumpy texture. Tree branches in wet and tropical forests of Northern South America. They often inhabit vegetation over top of permanent slow-moving water sources. This will not only ensure their safety in the instance of a fall, It has likely saved the lives of many young mission golden-eyed tree frogs. The male will call high in the treetops luring in a female mate. The female frog then deposits the eggs in his small water hole and leaves the male to tend to them.  After the eggs are hatched the male calls another female and entices her to lay eggs in with the tadpoles. The male frog doesn’t fertilize these eggs, they were placed there only to feed the hungry tadpoles. The "milk" in the common name comes from the milky fluid these frogs excrete when stressed. Mission golden-eyed tree frogs inhabit humid rainforest regions. They often inhabit vegetation which extends over permanent, slow-moving water sources. Like most other species of frogs, Mission golden-eyed tree frogs are insectivorous. They will consume almost any type of small arthropod they can overpower and swallow. Trachycephalus resinifictrix is commonly found in captivity. They are relatively easy to care for, but require a significant amount of space, humidity, and regular cage maintenance to ensure a clean healthy environment.

Blue Poison Dart Frog

The blue poison dart frog or blue poison arrow frog or known by its native name, okopipi, (Dentrobates tinctorius "azureus") is a poison dart frog found in the forests surrounded by the Sipaliwini savannah, which is located in southern Suriname and adjacent far northern Brazil. D. tinctorius "azureus" is also known by its Tirio Indian name, okopipi. Its scientific name comes from its azure (blue) color. While frequently considered a valid species in the past, recent authorities treat it as a variant of D. tinctorius. Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus" is a medium-sized frog that weighs about 8 grams and grows to 3.0-4.5 cm in length. Females are larger and about half a centimeter longer than males, but males have larger toes. The frog has a typical lifespan of five to seven years in the wild. Its bright blue skin, usually darker around its limbs and stomach, serves as a warning to predators. The glands of poisonous alkaloids located in the skin serve as a defense mechanism to potential predators. These poisons paralyze and sometimes kill the predator. The black spots are unique to each frog, enabling individuals to be identified. This species of frog has a distinctive hunch-backed posture. Each foot contains four toes, which each have a flattened tip with a suction cup pad used for gripping. The tips of the toes in females are round, while males have heart-shaped tips. As with almost all frogs, tadpoles differ greatly in appearance from adults. They have a long tail, about 6 mm, with a total length of about 10 mm. They lack legs and have gills instead of lungs. Dendrobates tinctorius is a mainland animal, but stays close to water sources. These frogs spend most of their awake time, during the day, hopping around in short leaps. They are very territorial and aggressive both towards their own species and others. To ward off intruders, they use a series of calls, chases, and wrestling. Although poison dart frogs are known for their skin toxins, used on the tips of arrows or darts of natives, in reality only the species of the Phyllobates genus are used in this manner. In captivity, the frogs lose toxicity as a result of altered diets.

Cotton Top Tamarin

The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) is a small New World monkey weighing less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). One of the smallest primates, the cotton-top tamarin is easily recognized by the long white sagittal crest extending from its forehead to its shoulders. The species is found in tropical forest edges and secondary forests in northwestern Colombia where it is arboreal and diurnal. Its diet includes insects and plant exudates and it is an important seed disperser in the tropical ecosystem. The cotton-top tamarin displays a wide variety of social behaviors. In particular, groups form a clear dominance hierarchy where only dominant pairs breed. The female normally gives birth to twins and uses pheromones to prevent other females in the group from breeding. These tamarins have been extensively studied for their high level of cooperative care, as well as altruistic and spiteful behaviors. Communication between cotton-top tamarins is sophisticated and shows evidence of grammatical structure, a language feature that must be acquired. It is thought that up to 40,000 cotton-top tamarins were caught and exported for use in biomedical research before 1976 when CITES gave them the highest level of protection and all international trade was banned. Now the species is at risk due to large-scale habitat destruction, as the lowland forest in northwestern Colombia where the cotton-top tamarin is found has been reduced to five percent of its previous area. It is currently classified as critically endangered and is one of the rarest primates in the world with only 6,000 individuals left in the wild.

Jacobin Pigeon

The Jacobin is one of many very old domestic pigeon breeds. Undisputed knowledge of its origin simply does not exist. Some accounts place the origin of the breed in India, while others say Cyprus. What can be established is that by the 16th century, Jacobins had arrived in Europe to stay. The Jacobin received its European name because of the hood of feathers enveloping the back and both sides of its head. This hood resembles the cap on garments worn by the Jacobin order of monks. For others, Jacobins bring back memories, not of monks, but rather of women with feathery boas draped about their necks. It is an excellent exhibition breed, attracting attention everywhere it is shown. The Jacobin is bred throughout the world, with the nucleus of breeders located in Germany and England. Queen Victoria prized the Jacobins above all other varieties and made a point of obtaining outstanding specimens from time to time to improve her own birds.  She did not compete in shows, but Jacobin fanciers sent some of their best birds to her lofts and frequently received from her even better individuals, produced under the Queen's loving supervision. Years ago it was regarded as rather small, with the rule being, the smaller, the better. Today's bird is rather of medium size, but thin, and looks considerably larger than it really is, owing to its hood feathering, and its long length of flight feathers and tail. The most remarkable feature of the Jacobin is its extremely ornate feather adornment starting at the base of the neck and forming a chain going beyond the top of the head. Viewed from the side, the feathers grow out in all directions from the neck, forming what is called a rosette. This chain and rosette compose the hood that completely engulfs the top and sides of the head, covering the bird's face from every angle except directly from the front. The more pronounced the hood and chain, the higher the quality of the specimen.