Bactrian Camel

The bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a species of camel. It like other species of its genus, is an even toed ungulate. It is rated as ''Critically endangered'' by the IUCN.

Physical Features
A bactrican camel measures 8 to 11 feet( 2.42 to 3.5 meters) in length, excluding the tail. The tail can be as long as 22 inches (55cm). The height of this camel can range from 6.5 feet to 7.5 feet( 1.96 to 2.3 meters). The bactrian camel weighs more than 600 kilograms. They have legs and a long neck like many animals from its genus. The bactrian camel has two humps on its back. This is why it is also called the two humped camel. The bactrian camel has large eyes and round ears which are small. The have two toes on each leg.

Diet
The bactrian camel is mainly a herbivore. They feed on plant material. A very thirst camel can drink 135 liters of water in 13 minutes.

Distribution and Habitat
The bactrian camel is found in Asia. They are located in the northwestern parts of China and Mongolia. They are also found in remote regions of the Gobi Desert. The bactrian camel may be found in steppes, deserts and rocky scrublands.

Behavior
The bactrian camel is quite social. It lives in herds which are called caravans. These camels are non-territorial. They are diurnal. this means they are active only during the days.

Conservation Status
The bactrian camel is endangered in wild, with a population of about 1000 individuals. Otherwise, these camels have a population of 2 million which has been domesticated.

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European Marmot

The European marmot (Marmota marmota) is a species of marmot found only in Europe. It is also known as the alpine marmot.


Physical Features
The European marmot has a stocky body.  They weigh about 3 to 4 kilograms.  These animals measure about 20 inches (52 cm) excluding their tail.  Their tail measures about 8 inches (20 cm).  The European marmot generally has short and muscular legs.  Their fur is golden-brown in color.  This species of marmot has a short tail.  The European marmot is the largest squirrel species.


Taxonomy
The European marmot belongs to the squirrel family of Sciuridae.  They belong to the order of Rodentia.


Behavior
European marmots are diurnal. They rest at night but are active in the day.  European marmots hibernate for approximately 7 months a year.  They produce a shrill whistle when they are alarmed.  They even growl and screech when they are angry.


Distribution and Habitat
The European marmot is found in the alpine regions of Switzerland, France and Italy.  They have been re-introduced to the Carpathian Mountains which is located on the border of Slovakia and Poland.  They are also found in parts of Germany.  They live in alpine meadows and in rocky slopes with an elevation of about 1,970 feet (600 meters).  They build burrows which are very complex, digging with their forepaws, while their hind legs also help in digging.  Their forepaws will scrape away the soil and the hind legs will keep the soil aside.  Each burrow will have only one family which has a dominant breeding pair.  The same burrow may be used by the next generation.  While digging the tunnel, the European marmot will sometimes use its teeth to remove some small stones.


Diet

A European marmot in summer.

European marmots are omnivores.  They will eat plants such as herbs and shrubs.  Spiders and other insects are also eaten by these marmots. European marmots will prefer to eat tender and young plants of any species.  They hold their food in their forepaws while eating.  Before hibernating in winter, they eat a lot a food which provides them with fat.


Conservation Status
European marmots are not threatened at the moment.  They are abundant in their current range. Their population had declined in the 20th century, but now they have successfully been re-introduced to the respective range.


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Przewalski's Horse

The przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is a species of horse found in Asia.  It is considered as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN.  It is also known as the Dungarian horse and has recently been introduced to the wild.

Physical Features

The przewalski's horse closely resembles a domesticated horse.  Its fur is a dull grayish brown in color.  The przewalski's horse stands about 4.3 feet tall (52 inches) and measures 2.1 meters in length (6.11 feet).  Its fur has some pangaré  features.They have a dark brown color around the mane on the neck and a pale brown color on the flanks and a yellowish white color on the belly and around the muzzle.  They have shorter legs than feral horses and have faint stripes on their body.  These horses can weigh more than 310 kilograms.

Diet

The przewalski's horse is mainly herbivorous, eating grass.  Some of these horses rest in salt licks to obtain enough minerals.  Przewalski's horses need a lot of nutrients everyday as they travel more than six miles per day with their group.

Behavior

A female horse with its offspring.

The behavior of a przewalski's horse resembles the behavior of a domesticated horse.  They live in groups which consists of a stallion, who leads the group and mares with their offsprings.  The przewalski's horse is diurnal; they are active only during the day.  At night, they all sleep together for about four hours.

Distribution and Habitat

The przewalski's horse is foound in the steppes of Mongolia and China, Asia.  They were once extinct in the wild but were re-introduced.

Conservation Status

The przewalski's horse was extinct in the wild but were introduced to Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhin Tal Nature Reserve and Khomiin Tal, which contains their natural habitat.  These national parks are in Mongolia.  In 2005, the population of these horses were 1500 which include individuals in wild and in captivity but the population has increased since then.  They are rated as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN.  

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Queen Alexandra's Birdwing

The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) is a butterfly found in Papua New Guinea.  It is the largest species of butterfly and was discovered by Lord Walter Rothschild and he named it after Queen Alexandra.  It is currently rated as 'Endangered' by the IUCN.


Physical Features
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world.  Females are bigger than males.  They have rounder and broader wings than males.  The wingspan of females can measure about 1 foot (12 inches).  Females mostly have brown wings with white markings.  Their body is a type of cream-color.  They have a small part in their thorax which is covered with red fur.  These butterflies can have a body length of 6cm to 8 cm which is quite big for a butterfly.  They can weigh about 15 grams.  Males have a wingspan that mostly measures 17 cm (7   inches).  There is a type of Queen Alexandra's Butterfly which has golden spots on its wings.  This type is considered as the most spectacular type of this species.

Diet
The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, as a caterpillar, feeds on a toxic pipevine plant called Aristolochia schlecteri.  When the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, as butterflies and caterpillars, eat this pipevine, they themselves become poisonous to digest. This is protects them from predators who intend to eat them. A newly emerged larvae will eat its own eggshell before feeding on foliage.  An adult will feed on nectar from flowers.  


Distribution and Habitat
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is located only in a small part of Papua New Guinean rainforests.  It is found in Popondetta in the Oro Province.  It is restriceted to 100 kilometers of rainforest.


Life Cycle

A Queen Alexandra Birdwing as a caterpillar 

This species of butterfly lays about 27 eggs during its entire life span.  It takes about six weeks for the egg to hatch and develop into a pupa.  The butterfly's pupal stage lasts for a month or more.  An adult butterfly will emerge from the pupa in the morning, when the humidity level is high.  This prevents their wings from drying up.  A Queen Alexandra's Birdwing may live for three months as an adult. 


Conservation Status
The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is rated as 'Endangered'  by the IUCN.  It is hunted as it is considered to be a great prize by many hunters.  It is found only in 100 kilometers of rainforests.


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Greater Bilby

The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is an nocturnal omnivorous mammals found in Australia.  They are rated as 'Vulnerable' by IUCN.  Their range and population are decreasing every year.


Physical Features
Greater bilbies are about 29 to 55 cm (11 inches to 22 inches) in length.  Males weigh about 1.5 kilograms to 2.7 kilograms.  Females weigh 700 grams to 1 kilogram.  There are specimens of males that weigh about 4 kilograms.  Bilbies look like bandicoots.  There are few differences between bilbies and bandicoots.  Bilbies have a longer tail, bigger ears and silkier fur.  Bilbies have an excellent sense of hearing due to their big ears and even have sharp hearing.  Their skin is bluish grey with white or tan patches.  They have strong forelimbs and thick claws which helps them in digging burrows.  Bilbies have one of the shortest gestation period of any mammal.  Their gestation period is 12 to 14 days.


Habitat

Burrows made by a Greater Bilby

Greater bilbies were once widespread in arid and semi arid regions.  Now they are restricted to arid wastelands.  They dig spiral burrows which keeps them cool in the deserts.  This prevents predators from eating them.  Bilbies prefer this habitat as spinifex and shrubs grow there, making it easy to get food.


Diet 

Bilbies are omnivores.  They will eat insects, bulbs, larvae, seeds, fruits and fungi.  They do not need much water as they obtain moisture from the food.  They catch insects using their long tongues as insects will be found in small burrows.


Conservation Status
Greater bilbies are becoming endangered.  They are becoming vulnerable to the domestic cats introduced to their habitat.  People even kill them for their fur.  The country has started reintroducing some population to different regions but it still remains vulnerable.


Distribution 
Greater bilbies are only found in Australia.  They are found in parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory.  A small part of Queensland is inhabited by these animals.


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Jaguarundi

The Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) is a species of cat found in North and South America.  Because of the different color phases, people used to think that there were two different species: the grey one being called jaguarundi and the red one being called eyra.


Physical Features 
The jaguarundi is a medium sized cat.  In terms of physical appearance, it is the least cat-like of all felines and cats.  It has a long body, short legs and a long tail which makes it look like a otter or sometimes a marten.  As they look like an otter, they are sometimes called 'otter cats'.  They do not have any spots on their body and their color is same throughout or sometimes it may have some faint markings on the underside and face.  It has a total length of 54 to 74 cm out of which the tail is 32 to 52 cm long.  It weighs about 4.2 kilograms to 10.3 kilograms.  Jaguarundis can be brownish grey (grey phase) and foxy red to chestnut (red phase).


Behavior and Diet 
Jaguarundis are mainly diurnal, being active during mornings.  They normally hang around on trees but prefer hunting on ground.  They will almost eat any animal they catch like rodents, small reptiles and even ground feeding birds.  Jaguarundis may even eat larger pray like rabbits and some primates like marmosets, which is unusual for a wild cat. Like all cats, their diet consists of a small amount of vegetation of arthropods like scorpions.  Jaguarundis are rather cordial than other wild cats.  They can tolerate close presence of other animals.  They are usually found alone as they lead a solitary life.  Jaguarundis are shy and very cautious of man made traps.     



Distribution and Habitat

Range of  jaguarundis

Jaguarundis are found in North and South America.  In North America, they are found from southern Texas to coastal Mexico.  Their range runs through Central America and then into South America, where they are found east to the Andes.  Their range goes on till northern Argentina in the south of South America.  Jaguarundis prefer to live in lowland brush areas which has water nearby.  There are some sightings of them on elevations of 3200 meters high (10500 feet).


Conservation Status
Jaguarundis are not under any threat as of now.  They are rated as 'Least Concern' by IUCN.  They have a very wide range and therefore are not under threat.


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Saiga

The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) or simply saiga, is a species of antelope found only in  Asia.  It is rated as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN.  It was found in many other places during the Ice Age.


Physical Features

A baby siaga

The weight of a saiga ranges from 39 kg to 65 kg.  They stand about 0.7 to 0.9 meters at the shoulder.  Males are normally bigger than females.  Males have horns while females do not have any.  Their horns are used for medicinal purposes.  Saigas have an unusual nose.  The nose is flexible and long.  Their nose warms up the air they inhale during winter and clears out the dust they inhale during summer.


Behavior and Diet
Saigas eat several species of plants, including some poisonous plants which other herbivores do not eat.  They live in large herds that can cover quite a long distance.  Saigas can swim across rivers and avoids rugged and steep terrain.  Their mating season starts at November,  where males (stags) will fight against each other for the females.  The winner will get to lead a group of 7 to 50 group of females.  In springtime, females give birth to young ones.   

Distribution and Habitat
The siaga is classified as critically endangered.  The population has reduced by 95% in the past 15 years.  They are currently found in three particular areas in Kazakhstan, two isolated places in Mongolia and in Kalmykia, Russia.  During the Ice Age, they were found in Alaska, North America, through the British Isles and Central Asia.  They live in semi-desert steppes.   



Conservation
In 1920, saigas were almost extinct.  But, by 1950, they were recovered and there were more than 2 million in USSR itself.  Today, only 50,000 are present globally in the wild and therefore, they are rated as critically endangered.  They are hunted as their horns have medicinal properties.  Since rhino hunting was banned, hunters started hunting saigas as their horns are equivalent to those of a rhino.  Currently, Moscow zoo is the only zoo that have these antelopes.


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Binturong

The biturong (Arctictis binturong) also known as the Bearcat, Asian bearcat or the Palawan bearcat is a species from the family Viverridae which includes civets and genets.  The real meaning of the original word has been lost as a particular local language is extinct.  This species is classified as vulnerable as numbers have reduced due to destruction of habitat.


Physical Features 
As the binturong is an omnivore, people refer to it as a small bear but it is actually the size of a large cat.  It can grow 24 to 38 inches (60 to 96 cm) and can weigh about 14 kilograms.  Some  specimens are 24 kilograms or more.  They have coarse, black fur and has light silver fur on its face which makes it look larger to other animals.  It is a nocturnal and sleeps on branches during the day.  The tail is prehensile, bushy and is almost the length of the animal itself .  It can act like  a fifth hand for the animal.  Binturongs have small, round ears and eyes.


Diet
The binturong is an omnivore.  It feeds on leaves, fruits and seeds while it even feeds on insects, eggs, rodents or even birds.  This habit resembles a bear and therefore, it has earned its name 'bearcat' as it is like a large cat.


Behavior
The binturong jumps from branch to branch in search of food using its tail as support and its claws for grip.  They can use their tail to communicate as there are scent glands near the tail which sends a signal to other animals.  Many people say that the scent that they emit smells like warm buttered popcorn.  Binturongs make chuckling noises when happy while they make a high pitched wail when annoyed.  Sometimes, when they are conered by an animal or a hunter, they can be vicious.




 Distribution and Habitat

A baby binturong with its mother

Binturongs live on canopies of rainforests.  They are found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Bhutan, India, Burma, Indonesia, The Philippines,  Thailand, Nepal, China and Vietnam.




Life Cycle 
Binturongs have a gestation period of 91 days.  Females mature at the age of 30 months while males mature after 27 months.  They have a lifespan of 20 years in captivity.  There was a specimen that lived for 26 years


Conservation
Binturongs are on demand as their fur is used for medical purposes.  It is hunted by locals for their meat.  They are even threatened as alien species are introduced to their habitat.


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Sierra Madre Forest Monitor

The Sierra Madre forest monitor (Varanus bitatawa) is a species of monitor lizard found in Sierra Madre of Philippines.  It belongs to the genus Varanus.  It is also called the golden spotted monitor.  


Physical Features

The head of the Sierra Madre forest monitor

Despite growing more than 2 meters (6.6 feet), this lizard weighs only 10 kilograms.  These forest monitors are very brightly colored with stripes of yellow dots and flecks.  Their legs are blackish-blue in color.  The tail is alternately colored with green and black.


Behavior and Diet 
The Sierra Madre forest monitor belongs to the same family as the Komodo dragon.  Surprisingly, the Sierra Madre forest monitor, is a frugivorous unlike other monitors.  They spend a lot f time on trees, overlooking the forest floor.  It camouflages on trees so that it is not spotted by any predator.  Their diet consists of Pandanus fruit, figs, Pili nut fruits and the occasional a snail.  Scientists do not think they have venom as they are not carnivores and therefore it will be no use producing venom.


Discovery and Distribution
The Sierra Madre forest monitor has a limited range in an island called Luzon island.  Even though this monitor is 2 meters long, it was discovered only in 2010.  It was discovered by scientist Brown along with other scientists.  Brown says that it was not discovered all these years as the forests in Northern part of the Luzon island was not explored much.  Many people say it was already known to local hunters.


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Marsh Crocodile

The marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) is a species of crocodile found in Asia.  It is also known as the 'Mugger' which means 'water monster'.  They are rated as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN.


Physical Features
The length of old, mature male marsh crocodiles range from 10 feet to a maximum of 16 feet.  The biggest marsh crocodile was 16.8 feet.  They weigh about 450 kilograms.  A marsh crocodile more than about 13 feet long is exceedingly rare.  They have 19 upper teeth on each side of their mouth.  An average female is 8 feet long while an average male is about 10.3 feet.  On their dorsal shield, they have 4 longitudinal series of scutes and sometimes they may even have 6 of these series of scutes.  The scales on the limbs have a ridge down the center (keeled).  Marsh crocodile can run up to 8 kph on land if they have to catch prey.  In water they are much faster, swimming in short bursts of 10 to 12 kph.  Otherwise, they cruise at a speed of 1.6 kph to 3.2kph.


Distribution and Habitat

Marsh crocs at CrocBank

The marsh crocodile is found in India, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and even in the southern tip of Iraq.  It is the only crocodillian found in Pakistan and Iran.  They are highly populated in India.  Marsh crocodiles are freshwater crocodiles and therefore are found in marshes, lakes, rivers and freshwater streams.  They are commonly spotted in man made reservoirs.  Although they live in freshwater, they have some tolerance in saltwater.  It is adapted to terrestrial life.  It is more closely related to the Cuban crocodile.  Many marsh crocodile are found in captivity.  In captivity, they are found in places like CrocBank (Chennai) and Amaravathi Sagar Crocodile Farm (Coimbatore District).


Diet
Marsh crocodiles feed on fish, small reptiles and mammals, such as turtles and monkeys respectfully.  Large males are known to eat deers such as Sambars that weigh about 225 kg.  They may even eat a 450 kg domestic water buffalo.  There are not many reports of them eating humans.  These crocodiles come on land to hunt at night.      

Maned Wolf

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is in South America.  It is locally known as "guará guazú" which means 'large fox.'  It is rated as Near Threatened by the IUCN.


Physical Features
Being the largest South American canid ( family of foxes, wolves, etc.), an adult stands 67 to 107 cm at shoulder height and weighs 20 to 245 kilograms.  The maned wolf referred to as 'The Red Fox on Stilts' as the color of its fur resembles to that of a red fox, though the maned wolf is larger.  They have very long and black legs.  Their fur may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides.  As the name suggests, they have a black mane.  They have a white mark beneath their throat which is called 'bib'.  The maned wolf is also called the Skunk Wolf as its has a distinctive odor.


Distribution and Habitat

The maned wolf is found in the southern and central parts of Brazil.  They are even found in Paraguay, northern Argentina, Bolivia, eastern and northern parts of Andes and in south-eastern Peru.  They are very rare in Uruguay.  Maned wolves live in semi-open and open habitats such as grasslands, scattered bushes and trees.


Diet
The maned wolf is specialized in capturing medium and small sized prey mainly rodents, birds and other small mammals.  It is said that over 50% of their diet is vegetable matter such as tuber, sugarcane, etc.  In zoos, they are currently fed meat and dog chow as well as different fruits and vegetables.  Unlike other canids, such as gray wolves and African hunting dogs, the maned wolf does not hunt in packs.


Taxonomy
The maned wolf is not a fox, wolf, coyote,  jackal or a dog but it is a canid which makes it a very interesting animal.  It closest living relative is the bush dog.  They do not have any other closely related canid.  In 2009, the extinct Falkland Islands Wolf was the closest relative of the maned wolf in historical time, over 6 million years ago.


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Axolotl

The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of amphibian.  It is also known as the water monster or the Mexican walking fish.  It is critically endangered  due to urbanization and polluted waters in Mexico.  Axolotl is even eaten by many locals.


Physical Features

A leucistic axolotl 

A mature male axolotl can measure 15 to 45 cm long but many specimens can be 24 cm which is quite common.  As they are salamanders, they share many features with them like having external gills and a caudal fin that starts at the head and ends at the vent.  Males differ from females as the have a swollen cloaca.  Females look different from males they have wide bodies that are filled with eggs.  Axolotls have underdeveloped limbs that have thin and long digits.  They have a very wide head that contains lidless eyes.  There are three pairs of gill stalks present behind their head.  Below these gills, there are four pairs of gill slits.  They are often mistaken for mudpuppies, tiger salamanders and waterdogs.


Diet
Being a carnivorous, axolotls eat small prey such as worms, small fish and different insects.  They detect their food with the help of smell and will 'snap', any potential food.  It will suck its pray to its stomach with vacuum force.


Distribution and Habitat
Axolotls live in a high altitude body of water that is surrounded by terrestrial surface which can by risky.  They are found in Mexico which is in North America.  Axolotl are only native to  Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco which is present in central Mexico.


Conservation Status
The axolotl is rated as critically endangered by the IUCN.  The Mexican tiger salamanders breeds and lives in the same place as axolotls, which is a threat for them.  They no more exist in Lake Chaclo as the lake itself was artificially drained to avoid periodic floods.  Now, Lake Xochimilco is a diminished glimpse of its former self and has mainly canals present in it.  Axolotls were in the diet of many locals, but now, fewer locals eat them.


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Western Hognose Snake

The Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a species of snake found in North America.  It is a colubrid and therefore is not very venomous. 


Physical Features

The nose of a Western Hognose Snake.

The Western Hognose Snake measures 45cm to 90cm.  Their body color is normally brown but can appear to be yellowish due to the blotches on its back.  They have an inky black, yellow or white checker pattern on their belly.  While shedding their skin, they act more aggressive as they cannot see while shedding.  Their snout is pointed and turned upwards.  They have a stocky body and their scales are heavily keeled.  Their necks are quite thick.  Western Hognose snakes are rear fanged and their venom does not pose any threat to humans.  The Eastern Hognose snake has a less upturned snout and more squarer blotches and therefore are different from Western Hognose snakes.


Distribution and Habitat
The Western Hognose snake is found in North America.  They are found in the central states of America.  They are even found in the southern part of Canada and northern part of Mexico.  Western Hognose snakes can be found in human surroundings, drained short-grass prarie, rocky semi-deserts and deserts, wood edges and fields and chaparrals.


Diet
Western Hognose snakes are mainly carnivores.  They eat different amphibians like toads and frogs.  They even eat reptile eggs, lizards, snakes and birds.


Life Cycle
Western Hognose snakes are oviparous and can lay 4 to 23 eggs between the months of June and August.  The hatchlings reach maturity after two years.  The eggs take 60 days to hatch.


Conservation Status
The Western Hognose snake is rated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  This means that they are not endangered and are high in numbers.  However, the are considered as endangered in the state of Iowa and are threatened in the states of South Dakota and Illinois.


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Leafy Sea Dragon

The leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques) is a species of marine fish from the same family of sea horses.  They are good at camouflaging.  The are rated as ''Near Threatened'' by the IUCN.  It is also known as the Glauerts sea dragon.

Physical Features

The leafy sea dragon is not large, but it is larger compared to other sea horses, growing about 20 to 25 cm.  They get their name from the mythological creature, the dragon.  The leafy sea dragon has leaf like protrusions all over the body.  These protrusions are used to camouflage.

Leafy sea dragon camouflaging

Leafy sea dragons move with the help of a dorsal fin, which is close to the tail end and the pectoral fin which is located on the ridge of the neck.  The leaf like protrusions help to camouflage even while moving and therefore, they look like a piece of floating sea weed.  Leafy sea dragons can even color blend but it depends on diet, age, location and stress level.

Diet

Leafy sea dragons mainly feed on plankton and different types of crustaceans with a long, pipe like snout.  Their diet even consists of shrimps and small fish.  They do not have any teeth which is very rare among all animals which eat small fish or shrimps.  This creature catches its prey with the help of camouflaging.

Threats

Leafy sea dragons have many threats.  These threats are humans or natural predators and even different natural calamities.  As leafy sea dragons are very slow swimmers, it is difficult for them to escape from predators.  They sometimes caught by fishermen.  Unlike sea horses, sea dragons cannot curl their tail around grasses and therefore are washed to sore by storms.  They are even affected by increasing pollution in water.

Distribution and Habitat

The leafy sea dragon is found only in the waters of Kangaroo Islands, Australia on the Southern shoreline of the Jurien Bay.  They were once thought to have a very limited range but scientists have found out that they may travel several hundred meters from their original habitat and then will return to the same spot.  Leafy sea dragons are commonly spotted by scuba divers in Adelaide.  They are found around clumps of sand, hiding behind rocks and sea weeds at a depth of 50 meters.

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Yeti Crab

The yeti crab (Kiwa hirsuta) is a species of crab discovered in 2005.  It is a crustacean that was found in the South Pacific Ocean.  This decapod is also called the yeti lobster.


Physical Features
Yeti crabs have very small eyes that have very less pigment.  This crustacean is about 15 cm long (5.9 inches).  The yeti crab is unique for the quantity of silky, blond setae (which is like fur) on its thoracic legs.  They are believed to be blind.  The pincers of yeti crabs have hair which contain filamentous bacteria.  They use these bacteria to detoxify the poisonous minerals in the water.  These crabs eat bacteria, even though they are thought to be carnivores.  Yeti crabs are referred to as furry lobsters but are more closely related to hermit crabs.


Identification
In 2005,  Robert Vrijenhoek of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Monterey, California organized a group along with Michel Segonzac of Ifremer.  Together, this group found the yeti crab, using submarine DVS Alvin.  The discovery of the yeti crab was announced on the 7th March of 2006.  It was found along the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge which is 1500 kilometers (900 miles) south of the Eater Island, which is near the islands of Polynesia, near New Zealand.  It was found at a depth of 7200 feet, living on  hydrothermal vents.


Etymology
The genus name, Kiwa, is named after the goddess of shellfish on Polynesian mythology.  Whereas, in Maori, the mythology of New Zealand, Kiwa means the male guardian of the sea.  In Latin Hirusta means hairy.


Source of pic 1  

Stump Tailed Skink

The stump tailed skink ( Trachydosaurus rugosus) is a species of skink found in Australia.  It is even found on the Rottenest island.  It is locally common and not threatened.


Physical Features

Tongue of a stump tailed skink

The stumped tailed skink can vary in size.  Some are 41 cm and some can be almost 50 cm.  They are very heavily built and have a triangular shaped head unlike many lizards and skinks.  They have very minute ear openings and very short legs which make them different from most of the other species of lizards and skinks.  Some types of stump tailed skinks have a short and blunt tail which resembles the head.  Most of their predators and prey get confused due to the resemblance of the head and tail.  Their large scales are rough and knobby.  Like the blue tongue skink, the stump tailed skink also has a blue tongue.  Their body color can vary from dark brown to black.


Diet
The stump tailed skink is mainly omnivorous.  The regularly eat vegetables and plants but eat snails, insects and carrion also.


Distribution and Habitat
The stump tailed skink's main habitat is dry woodland and semi-arid areas.  They are mainly found in Southern Australia from New South Wales to the coast of the state Western Australia.  They are aslo found in the Rottenest island off coast of Western Australia.


Breeding
Females reproduce 1 to 2 young each year with a gestation period of 5 months


Common names
The other names for the stump tailed skink are-
Boggi which is a local name, sleepy lizard, pine cone lizard, bob tailed lizard and shingleback lizard.


Conservation Status
The stump tailed skink is currently not threatened and is not listed as a threatened species in IUCN.


Source of pic 1 and pic 2

Crocodile Skink

The crocodile skink (Tribolonotus gracilis) is a species of skink found in Papua New Guinea, near Australia.  Their head resembles a head of a crocodile and therefore is named the crocodile skink.They are rated as 'vulnerable' by IUCN.


Physical Features
The crocodile skink measures about 8 inches (20 cm).  They weigh about 500 grams.  Their heads are triangular in shape and has a casque at the rear.  The scales on their tail awkwardly point backward.  They have big and spiny scales along their back like crocodiles have.  These skinks have a body color of brown on the back and have a yellowish brown color in the underside.There is always and orange ring type outline around their eyes.  There is a yellow pigment present on the anterior edge of their eyes.


Diet
Crocodile skinks are omnivorous.  They eat both plants and insects.  They will prefer eating insects on plants but sometimes eat plants when insects are scarce.

Life Cycle
Female crocodile skinks lay on egg and occasionally two eggs.  The eggs hatch after 65 to 75 days.Several clutches of eggs are laid during the correct season.  Males protects the eggs while females go out in search of food for themselves.


Distribution and Habitat
The crocodile skink lives in coconut plantations and forests which are close to water or some wetland.  they are only found in New Guinea.


Source of pic 1 

Kokako

The kokako (Callaeas cinerea) is a species of forest bird found in few islands in New Zealand and near it.  It is endangered due to introduction of alien species and habitat loss.  It is one of the three species of the wattlebird family, the others being the extinct huia and the endangered tieke.


Physical Features
The kokako is like a pigeon, measuring 39 cm (15 inches) and has a wingspan of 48 cm (19 inches).  They weigh 227 grams and have longer legs than pigeons.  Compared to pigeons, they have longer tails but shorter wings.  They have blue wattle folds beneath their beaks with make them different and recognizable.  Their feathers are steel gray and they have a jet black face mask.  Immature kokakos do not have light face masks and lack the wattles.  The South Island kokako has orange wattles with only a patch of blue.


Diet                                                                               

Kokako feeding on berries

The kokako feeds on leaves, berries, mosses, ferns, cones and they even eat insects in necessary.  They always pluck their food with the help of only one claw.


Behavior
The kokakos are poor flyers.  They prefer to leap from one branch to the other with their powerful and long legs.  Koakos making terrific calls.  Their calls can be heard from meters away.  Mating pairs normally sing a duet song for one hour in the morning.  They can maximum fly for 100 meters continuously and then they glide.  They are normally compared to a flying squirrel


Life Cycle
Kokakos make nests of twigs and mosses where they lay their eggs.They lay up to 3 eggs.  The eggs have an incubation period of 20 days and the young fledge after 30 days.


Distribution and Habitat
The kokakos are found in the North Island and Great Barrier island of New Zealand.  They are considered to be extinct in the South Island.  They prefer to live in lowland and mountain forests in New Zealand.  Kokakos are endemic to New Zealand.


Conservation Status
The kokakos are endangered in many parts of its range.  It is considered to be extinct in the South Island.  It recently has been introduced to 3 islands in New Zealand.  Their are estimated fewer than 400 pairs remaining in the world.  They are mainly endangered due to habitat loss as people cut them down for timber.


Source of pict 1 and pict 2