Wildlife Archives

Rhinoceros

Graeme — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:44:00 -0400

Rhinoceros is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia.

The rhinoceros family is characterized by its large size (one of the largest remaining megafauna), with all of the species able to reach one tonne or more in weight ; an herbivorous diet ; a thick protective skin, 1.5–5 cm thick, formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure ; relatively small brains for mammals this size (400–600 gr) ; and a large horn. They generally eat leafy material, although their ability to ferment food in their hindgut allows them to subsist on more fibrous plant matter, if necessary. Unlike other perissodactyls, the African species of rhinoceros lack teeth at the front of their mouths, relying instead on their powerful premolar and molar teeth to grind up plant food.

Rhinoceros are killed by humans for their horns, which are bought and sold on the black market, and which are used by some cultures for ornamental or (largely pseudo-scientific) medicinal purposes. The horns are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails. Both African species and the Sumatran Rhinoceros have two horns, while the Indian and Javan Rhinoceros have a single horn.

Rhinoceros family sizes

Rhinoceros distribution maps

The IUCN Red List identifies three of the species as "critically endangered".

Sources : Wikipedia and Rhino Resource Center

Gibbon

Graeme — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:14:00 -0400

Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae. The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number : Hylobates, Hoolock, Nomascus, and Symphalangus. The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related to the hoolock gibbons.

Gibbons occur in tropical and subtropical rainforests from northeast India to Indonesia and north to southern China, including the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java.

Also called the lesser apes, gibbons differ from great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and humans) in being smaller, exhibiting low sexual dimorphism, in not making nests, and in certain anatomical details in which they superficially more closely resemble monkeys than great apes do. Gibbons also display pair-bonding, unlike most of the great apes.

Gibbons are masters of their primary mode of locomotion, brachiation, swinging from branch to branch for distances of up to 15 m, at speeds as high as 56 km/h. They can also make leaps of up to 8 m, and walk bipedally with their arms raised for balance. They are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, non-flying mammals.

Depending on species and gender, gibbons' fur coloration varies from dark to light brown shades, and anywhere in between black and white. It is rare to see a completely white gibbon.

Gibbons distribution map :

Source : Wikipedia

Tuatara

Graeme — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:34:00 -0400

The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia.

The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago.

Tuatara are greenish brown, and measure up to 80 cm from head to tail-tip and weigh up to 1.3 kg with a spiny crest along the back, especially pronounced in males.

Tuatara distribution map

Source : Wikipedia

Gecko

Graeme — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:14:00 -0400

Geckos are lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae, found in warm climates throughout the world.

They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm.

Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos.

Gekkonidae is the largest family of lizards, with over 2000 different species worldwide and many others likely yet to be discovered. The name stems from the Indonesian/Javanese word Tokek, inspired by the sound these animals make. All geckos, excluding the Eublepharinae subfamily, have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean.

Close-up of the underside of a gecko's foot

Source : Wikipedia

Big Ben lost its watch needles

Graeme — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:58:00 -0400

A funny video showing Big Ben, London UK, loosing its watch needles

Video sponsored by TPA UK

Orchid

Graeme — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:33:00 -0400

Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the Orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots. It is currently believed to be the second largest family of flowering plants (only the Asteraceae is larger), with between 21 950 and 26 049 currently accepted species, found in 880 genera. The family also includes Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus) and many commonly cultivated plants like some Phalaenopsis or Cattleya.

Orchid distribution map :

Source : Wikipedia

Wildlife Archives has a Twitter account

Graeme — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:50:00 -0500

I just launched a Twitter account for Wildlife Archives

Please follow it !

@WildlifeArchive

Bornean Clouded Leopard

Graeme — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:42:00 -0500

The Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi), or Sundaland Clouded Leopard, is a medium-sized wild cat found on Borneo, Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the Malay Archipelago. The Bornean Clouded Leopard has a stocky build, weighing around 12 to 25 kg. It is the largest felid in Borneo.

image : WWF-Canon / Alain Compost

Distribution map :

Source : Wikipedia

Cape Horn

Graeme — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:45:00 -0500

Cape Horn island (named after the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile.

Cape Horn is widely considered to be the most southerly point of South America, and marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage. For many years it was a major milestone on the clipper route, by which sailing ships carried trade around the world. However, the waters around the cape are particularly hazardous, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs ; these dangers have made it notorious as a sailors' graveyard.

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Source : Wikipedia

Band-e Amir National Park

Graeme — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:01:00 -0400

Afghanistan just created it's first National Park, named Band-e Amir. Band-e Amir (meaning "Dam of the Amir") refers to five lakes high in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Central Afghanistan. They were created by the carbon dioxide rich water oozing out of the faults and fractures to deposit calcium carbonate precipitate in the form of travertine walls that today store the water of these lakes. Band-e Amir is situated at approximately 75 kilometers to the north-west of the ancient city of Bamyan.

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Source : Wikipedia