Just in time for October, I give you one of the most obscure creatures that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.
The Halloween Crab.
Family: Gecarcinidae - Land Crabs
Order: Decapoda (Brachyura) - Crabs
Class: Crustacea
Phylum: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia
Red List status: Not Listed
Other common names for this species are: moon crab, harlequin land crab, Mexican land crab, and mouth-less land crab. I've also heard it be called Halloween moon crab and jack-o-lantern crab.
Habitat Range:
This species of crab is mostly found in near coastal areas from the Gulf of California in Mexico as far south as Columbia. It primarily lives in mangrove and lowland forests with it most often being found along riverbanks.
Physical Description:
The Halloween crab has what appears to be a completely black carapace, although upon closer examination it is actually a really dark brown. It also has a bright reddish-orange body and limbs, AND PURPLE CLAWS! Two bright yellow to white triangular shaped 'eyes' decorate the front of the upper carapace, while there are two white spots on the rear of the carapace.
Behavior
This crab is active during the day time and can be seen most commonly during heavy rains. During the wet season, the crabs migrate in large numbers to the coast to have their offspring.
Diet: Adult crabs eat leaves and seeds, hoarding them from the surface and removing them to stash them in their burrows. In doing this they play a key role in the constructing of their forest habitat which makes them ecosystem engineers (meaning that they are basically responsible for the building of ecosystems. More on that here.) Young crabs forage along the coastline for small particles.
The removal of large amounts of leaf litter from top soils influences the amount of carbon that is being stored and has an effect on nutrient cycling, reducing the amount of carbon and mineral content of the topsoil and enriching the layers of soil below. The species also prefers to eat certain kinds of plants. This kind of thing helps keep the forests where these crabs dwell more diverse and also reduces tree density. Burrows that are established near the ocean can provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes once the crabs are done with them, and the species is the main food source for raccoons in areas where the two species share the same habitat.
Conservation Status;
There is no data on this species, but it is obvious that it is beneficial to the forests that it dwells in. These animals can be purchased as pets but I think I should let out a warning: There has yet to be a successful breeding of this species in captivity, so all of the animals that are on the market are from the WILD. That means that these crabs are being captured in their natural habitat and sold, so if any readers out there happen to come across one of these for sale...I just figured that you ought to know.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
The Chinese Giant Salamander
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest species of salamander and amphibian in the world.
Physical Description
The Chinese giant salamander has a large head, small eyes, and dark and wrinkly skin. It is one of only two extant species in the genus Andrias. Extant is a word that is commonly used in biology to refer to taxa (the singular term being "taxon") such as species, genera, and families that are still in existence as opposed to extinct. For example, the Chinese giant salamander is an animal that is extant because the species still exists, whereas the dodo bird is a species that is extinct because it's species is not around anymore. The only other species is the somewhat smaller but still very similar Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus). The animal has very poor eye sight so it depends on special sensory nodes that run the length of its body in a line from its head to its tail. These nodes help the salamander sense even the slightest vibrations around their bodies.
Chinese giant salamanders are the largest known species amphibian species with the record being 180 cm (5.9 feet) although the average is about 115 cm (3.77 feet) and they can way probably up to about 80 lbs. Females can lay up to 400-500 eggs in an underwater breeding cavity which is closely guarded by the male until the eggs hatch after about 50-60 days.
(Chinese giant Salamander)
(Japanese Giant Salamander)
The giant salamander is known to vocalize, making barking, whining, hissing, or crying sounds. Some of these sounds bear a striking resemblance to a young child crying. Because of this the name for this creature in the Chinese language translates into "infant fish" (娃娃鱼 / 鲵).
Habitat
The Chinese giant salamander is listed as Critically Endangered in the Chinese Red Book of Amphibians and Reptiles and is also listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. Current population estimates are not available, but it is known that the Chinese giant salamanders were once much more common and widespread than they are now, and that the species' population has experienced catastrophic declines within the last 30 years.
Main Threats:
Physical Description
The Chinese giant salamander has a large head, small eyes, and dark and wrinkly skin. It is one of only two extant species in the genus Andrias. Extant is a word that is commonly used in biology to refer to taxa (the singular term being "taxon") such as species, genera, and families that are still in existence as opposed to extinct. For example, the Chinese giant salamander is an animal that is extant because the species still exists, whereas the dodo bird is a species that is extinct because it's species is not around anymore. The only other species is the somewhat smaller but still very similar Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus). The animal has very poor eye sight so it depends on special sensory nodes that run the length of its body in a line from its head to its tail. These nodes help the salamander sense even the slightest vibrations around their bodies.
Chinese giant salamanders are the largest known species amphibian species with the record being 180 cm (5.9 feet) although the average is about 115 cm (3.77 feet) and they can way probably up to about 80 lbs. Females can lay up to 400-500 eggs in an underwater breeding cavity which is closely guarded by the male until the eggs hatch after about 50-60 days.
(Chinese giant Salamander)
(Japanese Giant Salamander)
The giant salamander is known to vocalize, making barking, whining, hissing, or crying sounds. Some of these sounds bear a striking resemblance to a young child crying. Because of this the name for this creature in the Chinese language translates into "infant fish" (娃娃鱼 / 鲵).
Habitat
The Chinese giant salamander's habitat range spans the area from Qinghai east to Jiansu and south to Sichuan, Guangxi and Guangdong; most notably in the Yangtze, Pearl, and Yellow rivers. There have also been finds in Taiwan which may be due to possible introduction. It's an entirely aquatic creature that lives only in rocky hills streams and lakes with clear water and is usually found in forested regions. It has also been found at altitudes of 100 to 1,500 m (330 to 4,920 feet) with most records being between 300 and 800 m (980 to 2,620 feet). It was once widespread throughout central, south-western, and southern China but now the populations are, unfortunately, highly fragmented.
Diet
The Chinese giant salamander's diet mostly consists of insects, frogs, crabs, shrimp, and fish.
Conservation Status
The Chinese giant salamander is listed as Critically Endangered in the Chinese Red Book of Amphibians and Reptiles and is also listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. Current population estimates are not available, but it is known that the Chinese giant salamanders were once much more common and widespread than they are now, and that the species' population has experienced catastrophic declines within the last 30 years.
Main Threats:
- Over exploitation for the food trade as well as for use in traditional medicines.
- The destruction, degradation, and fragmentation of habitats due to the construction of dams altering the stream flow, contamination of streams by polluting land uses and the siltation of these streams following deforestation.
- Increased use of pesticides may also present a serious threat to this species.
What's Being Done?
14 reserves have been established since the 1980's in an effort to help the species, but even that does not seem to be enough to stop the declines in population. As a result, many salamanders are actually now being commercially farmed because of the fact that they are becoming much harder to find in the wild. There have also been some construction of staircases where dams had been built previously to help the salamanders travel too and from different places. Without focused conservation efforts, this species will more than likely go extinct.
How Can I Help?
Links to important organizations doing their best to try and help this critically endangered species can be found in the How Can I Help?
section of this blog.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
The Axolotl
The Axolotl is a species of salamander that is closely related to the tiger salamander. It is also known as the Mexican salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) or Mexican walking fish, although instead of a fish it is actually an amphibian.
Physical Description:
Sexually mature males (at about 18-24 months) range in length from 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) with sizes closer to 9 in inches (23 cm) being the most common and any individual over 12 inches (30 cm) is pretty rare. axolotls possess features that are usually typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a caudal fin extending from behind the head to the vent.
They have wide heads and they have no eyelids. They possess underdeveloped looking limbs that have long, thin digits. Males can be distinguished by their swollen cloacae (that's their boy parts for anyone that doesn't know) lined with papillae while the females are distinguished by their wide bodies that are full of eggs. Three pairs of gill stalks called rami originate behind their heads and help move oxygenated water. The external gill rami are lined with filaments to increase surface area for gas exchange. There are four gill slits lined with what's called gill rakers that are hidden underneath the external gills.
Axolotls have barely visible vestigial teeth which would have developed if they were a normal salamander that had gone through normal salamander metamorphosis. That's the thing about Axolotls, they don't go through the same process that other salamanders do, because instead of going through development and setting foot on land,Axolotls remain in the water once they reach adulthood. Their primary method of feeding is through suction, which is done by their rakers interlocking to close the gill slits. External gills are used for breathing, although buccal pumping (gulping up air from the surface) may also be something they use to gather much needed oxygen.
Axolotls come in very few colors. The two normal colors are "wildtype" (various shades of brown with spots) and melanoid (black). The two mutant colors are leucistic (pale pink with black eyes), and albino (golden, tan, or pale pink with pink eyes).
Fast Tracking to Adulthood
Axolotls exhibit something called neoteny, meaning that they reach adulthood without going through the typical metamorphosis that all other salamanders normally go through. Many species in the same genus are either entirely neotenic, or have neotenic properties. It is something that has been observed in all salamander families and seems to be a survival mechanism that only occurs in aquatic environments in the mountains and hills where this little food and a lack of iodine. Unlike some neotenic salamanders, metamorphosis can be induced in Axolotls through an injection of iodine or by shots of thyroxine hormone. An adult can look like a species of terrestrial plateau tiger salamander, but it has several differences which include longer toes which supports its status as a separate species.
Basically, if there is a generous amount of iodine in their environment, the salamander larvae can ingest it either directly or indirectly through cannibalism, and then they quickly go through metamorphosis and become mature adults with higher dietary requirements, but because Axolotls don't live in these types of environments, they don't which allows them to live and thrive on less.
If you want to find out more about Axolotls and how they were used as a model organisms before anyone learned about their neotony you can look right here.
Habitat
Axolotls are only native to two lakes in Central Mexico: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco. Lake Chaico no longer exists as it was artificially drained to avoid periodic flooding and Lake Xochimilco is a remnant of its former self, only existing as a series of canals. The water temperature in Lake Xochimilco rarely rises above 20 degrees Celsius (which is 68 degrees Fahrenheit), though it may fall even lower in the winter months.
Axolotls are members of the Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander) complex, along with all other Mexican species of Ambystoma. Their habitat is like that of most neotenic species, a high altitude body of water surrounded by a risky terrestrial environment. These conditions are thought to favor neoteny, but there is a population of tiger salamanders that also inhabit the Axolotls' habitat.
Physical Description:
Sexually mature males (at about 18-24 months) range in length from 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) with sizes closer to 9 in inches (23 cm) being the most common and any individual over 12 inches (30 cm) is pretty rare. axolotls possess features that are usually typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a caudal fin extending from behind the head to the vent.
They have wide heads and they have no eyelids. They possess underdeveloped looking limbs that have long, thin digits. Males can be distinguished by their swollen cloacae (that's their boy parts for anyone that doesn't know) lined with papillae while the females are distinguished by their wide bodies that are full of eggs. Three pairs of gill stalks called rami originate behind their heads and help move oxygenated water. The external gill rami are lined with filaments to increase surface area for gas exchange. There are four gill slits lined with what's called gill rakers that are hidden underneath the external gills.
Axolotls have barely visible vestigial teeth which would have developed if they were a normal salamander that had gone through normal salamander metamorphosis. That's the thing about Axolotls, they don't go through the same process that other salamanders do, because instead of going through development and setting foot on land,Axolotls remain in the water once they reach adulthood. Their primary method of feeding is through suction, which is done by their rakers interlocking to close the gill slits. External gills are used for breathing, although buccal pumping (gulping up air from the surface) may also be something they use to gather much needed oxygen.
Axolotls come in very few colors. The two normal colors are "wildtype" (various shades of brown with spots) and melanoid (black). The two mutant colors are leucistic (pale pink with black eyes), and albino (golden, tan, or pale pink with pink eyes).
Fast Tracking to Adulthood
Axolotls exhibit something called neoteny, meaning that they reach adulthood without going through the typical metamorphosis that all other salamanders normally go through. Many species in the same genus are either entirely neotenic, or have neotenic properties. It is something that has been observed in all salamander families and seems to be a survival mechanism that only occurs in aquatic environments in the mountains and hills where this little food and a lack of iodine. Unlike some neotenic salamanders, metamorphosis can be induced in Axolotls through an injection of iodine or by shots of thyroxine hormone. An adult can look like a species of terrestrial plateau tiger salamander, but it has several differences which include longer toes which supports its status as a separate species.Basically, if there is a generous amount of iodine in their environment, the salamander larvae can ingest it either directly or indirectly through cannibalism, and then they quickly go through metamorphosis and become mature adults with higher dietary requirements, but because Axolotls don't live in these types of environments, they don't which allows them to live and thrive on less.
If you want to find out more about Axolotls and how they were used as a model organisms before anyone learned about their neotony you can look right here.
Habitat
Axolotls are only native to two lakes in Central Mexico: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco. Lake Chaico no longer exists as it was artificially drained to avoid periodic flooding and Lake Xochimilco is a remnant of its former self, only existing as a series of canals. The water temperature in Lake Xochimilco rarely rises above 20 degrees Celsius (which is 68 degrees Fahrenheit), though it may fall even lower in the winter months.
Axolotls are members of the Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander) complex, along with all other Mexican species of Ambystoma. Their habitat is like that of most neotenic species, a high altitude body of water surrounded by a risky terrestrial environment. These conditions are thought to favor neoteny, but there is a population of tiger salamanders that also inhabit the Axolotls' habitat.
Diet
Axolotls are carnivorous, consuming small creatures such as worms, insects, and small fish in the wild. They locate their food by smell, and will "snap" at any potential meal, sucking the food into their stomachs by vacuum forces.
Conservation Status:
The Axolotl is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN's red list of endangered species. Current population numbers are unknown, but it is known that the numbers have declined significantly according to surveys that have been done since 2002.
Main Threats:
The species is suffering due lake drainage and the growing population of Mexico City. They are also under threat from harvesting for consumption by local people as well as pollution, and degradation of the canal system of Lake Xochimilco. Introduced predatory fish into their environment is also a grave threat to the species.
What's Being done?
Conservation action focusing on conserving the species is focused on raising the profile of Lake Xochimilco through conservation education and a nature tourism initiative, along with work on habitat restoration. An action plan for conserving the species is currently underway. This species is protected under the category Pr (Special Protection) by the government of Mexico and is in the process of being amended to a higher category. The Axolotl is currently at Appendix II on CITES, restricting international trade to protect the species from over-harvesting in the wild, where it has been listed since 1975. However the species is currently undergoing the process of "Review of Species included in CITES Appendices."
Sunday, June 15, 2014
The Irawaddy Dolphin
I am sure pretty much everyone out there has heard of Flipper, and I am sure that there are several of us out there that may have even caught a dolphin show or two at one of Sea World's many parks (yes, I know about Blackfish. No, I will not discuss it). THOSE dolphins are a species known as Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, but did you know that there are other species of dolphin as well? Orcas, for instance, or Killer Whales, are not actually whales at all but they are actually a very large species in the dolphin family.
But I'm not here to talk about any of those. I am here to talk about ANOTHER species of dolphin.....
The Irrawaddy Dolphin.
The Irrawaddy dolphin (or Orcaella brevirostris) is a species of dolphin that is primarily found in estuaries and mangrove areas of South East Asia with freshwater populations occurring in river systems.
Physical Characteristics
The Irrawaddy dolphin can be identified by its bulging forehead, short beak, 12-19 teeth on each side of its jaw, with a broadly triangular pectoral fin, and a small dorsal fin on the rear end of the back. Its identifying colors range from a slaty blue to a slaty grey with the underbelly usually being much paler.
When it's diving, this breathes in 70-150 second intervals. The head usually appears first, and then the back, but the tail is rarely ever seen. It's body size is 180 - 275 cm (about 71 in. - about 108 in.)
Population Distribution:
This species has small populations that are spread out over a large area. Freshwater populations occur in the river Mahakam in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), the Ayeyarwady (formerly Irrawaddy) of Myanmar (formerly Burma), and the Mekong Delta of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Populations have also been reported in isolated brackish (both saltwater and freshwater) bodies of water such as Chilka Lake in India and and Songkhla Lake in Thailand.
Conservation Status:
Severe declines in population numbers have been occurring in parts of Thailand, and in the Mahakam freshwater sub-populations. The latter was classified by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered in 2000 because only a few tens of dolphins were found in an approximately 300 km segment of river (that's about 186 miles give or take).
The population of Irrawaddy dolphins residing in the Philippines in the Malampaya Sound (Palawan) seem to be geographically isolated from other populations and a survey that was done in 2001 put their population numbers at about 77 individuals which gave them the listing of "critically endangered" because that was how many individuals that were found in a 133km(2) area (Google Conversion puts that at about 82.6 miles).
Main Threats:
The Irrawaddy dolphins are not an overly exploited animal, but they are being threatened with extinction due to fishing (being accidentally caught in fishermen's nets), habitat degradation thanks to the building of dams, deforestation, and mining (but mostly fishing).
The small population living in the Makaham and possibly that of the Ayeyarwady River (formerly Myanmar, now Burma) are also captured live for display purposes.
What's Being Done?
The World Wildife Fund is working hard to help protect these unique dolphins by working with the Cambodian goverment's department of fisheries to help implement the Cambodian Mekong Dolphin Conservation Strategy. WWF also implemented the Malampaya Sound Research and Conservation Project in 2001 to help sustainably manage the fisheries in Malampaya Sound to help manage and protect the dolphin population in that area. In 2004 they helped support a ban on the trading of Irawaddy dolphins for oceanaria by the Convention on International Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora (a.k.a CITES).
How Can I Help?
You can help protect these rare dolphins by supporting efforts to improve fishing gear by only buying seafood that is MSC certified. This can help reduce the incidence of marine by catch (animals getting caught in nets that were not intended to be caught), which kills whales, dolphins, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals. You can also help by spreading the word! Use the hashtag #ObscureNature to help spread the word so that other people can come and read this blog post. Also, you can find helpful links to other projects concerning the Irawaddy dolphin by heading over to the How Can I Help? section of this blog.
But I'm not here to talk about any of those. I am here to talk about ANOTHER species of dolphin.....
The Irrawaddy Dolphin.
- Social Structure: There are usually no more than ten individuals to a group, and solitary individuals are rarely seen.
- Diet: This animal likes to munch on fish and crustaceans.
Physical Characteristics
The Irrawaddy dolphin can be identified by its bulging forehead, short beak, 12-19 teeth on each side of its jaw, with a broadly triangular pectoral fin, and a small dorsal fin on the rear end of the back. Its identifying colors range from a slaty blue to a slaty grey with the underbelly usually being much paler.
When it's diving, this breathes in 70-150 second intervals. The head usually appears first, and then the back, but the tail is rarely ever seen. It's body size is 180 - 275 cm (about 71 in. - about 108 in.)
Population Distribution:
Conservation Status:
Severe declines in population numbers have been occurring in parts of Thailand, and in the Mahakam freshwater sub-populations. The latter was classified by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered in 2000 because only a few tens of dolphins were found in an approximately 300 km segment of river (that's about 186 miles give or take).
The population of Irrawaddy dolphins residing in the Philippines in the Malampaya Sound (Palawan) seem to be geographically isolated from other populations and a survey that was done in 2001 put their population numbers at about 77 individuals which gave them the listing of "critically endangered" because that was how many individuals that were found in a 133km(2) area (Google Conversion puts that at about 82.6 miles).
Main Threats:
The Irrawaddy dolphins are not an overly exploited animal, but they are being threatened with extinction due to fishing (being accidentally caught in fishermen's nets), habitat degradation thanks to the building of dams, deforestation, and mining (but mostly fishing).
The small population living in the Makaham and possibly that of the Ayeyarwady River (formerly Myanmar, now Burma) are also captured live for display purposes.
What's Being Done?
The World Wildife Fund is working hard to help protect these unique dolphins by working with the Cambodian goverment's department of fisheries to help implement the Cambodian Mekong Dolphin Conservation Strategy. WWF also implemented the Malampaya Sound Research and Conservation Project in 2001 to help sustainably manage the fisheries in Malampaya Sound to help manage and protect the dolphin population in that area. In 2004 they helped support a ban on the trading of Irawaddy dolphins for oceanaria by the Convention on International Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora (a.k.a CITES).
How Can I Help?
You can help protect these rare dolphins by supporting efforts to improve fishing gear by only buying seafood that is MSC certified. This can help reduce the incidence of marine by catch (animals getting caught in nets that were not intended to be caught), which kills whales, dolphins, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals. You can also help by spreading the word! Use the hashtag #ObscureNature to help spread the word so that other people can come and read this blog post. Also, you can find helpful links to other projects concerning the Irawaddy dolphin by heading over to the How Can I Help? section of this blog.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
The Mimic Octopus
The Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is an amazing creature that was discovered really only a few years ago (1998 to be exact). It gets its name due to it's awesome ability to pretty much LITERALLY shape shift and impersonate a variety of different creatures other than itself as a form of camouflage. Believe it or not, I actually first learned about this animal on a kids show known as Octonauts (for more information here OR if you want to know about the books that the television series is based on, click here. Trust me, it's awesome and you and your potential children will love i.t)
Habitat Range
This creature is found almost exclusively found in the waters of Indonesia and Malaysia.
(Photo Source: http://www.divernet.com)
Characteristics
The mimic octopus uses a jet of water through its funnel to help it to glide over the sand while searching for its prey (namely crab, small fish, and worms). Like its fellow octopuses, the mimic octopus's body is made of muscle, without spine or armor. It is not obviously poisonous which makes it ideal prey for much larger, deep water carnivores like barracuda or small sharks.
Oscar Winning Performance?
If there were ever an Oscar for Best Actor in an Underwater Shape Shifting Performance, this animal would win. Period.
Remember those big bad predators I mentioned earlier? Well, sometimes they are a little hard to get away from, and that is where the mimic octopus's awesome impersonation skills come in handy as it cannot squirt ink like other octopuses can. I have a distinct feeling that just having text here is not going to do this animal any sort of justice so here is some video that I managed to find of the mimic octopus in action. The video depicts the octopus's amazing shape shifting abilities along with some of the animals that it shifts into. Prepare to be amazed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os6HD-sCRn8 (There is also some narration with the video as well)
And just because I want to show everyone how awesome Octonauts really is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuDA8KSQDI8. This from the original version that airs over in England, but the show also airs on Disney Jr. here in the United States.
Want to learn more?
As mentioned before, it seems that mimics are growing quite popular, which may actually prove detrimental to their numbers in the wild so I felt like it was important to try and find a link that would help educate those that were even remotely curious about what the risks were exactly when it came to the exotic pet trade:
Facts about the Exotic Pet Trade (You can thank Animal Planet for the article)
Habitat Range
This creature is found almost exclusively found in the waters of Indonesia and Malaysia.
(Photo Source: http://www.divernet.com)
Characteristics
The mimic octopus uses a jet of water through its funnel to help it to glide over the sand while searching for its prey (namely crab, small fish, and worms). Like its fellow octopuses, the mimic octopus's body is made of muscle, without spine or armor. It is not obviously poisonous which makes it ideal prey for much larger, deep water carnivores like barracuda or small sharks.
Oscar Winning Performance?
If there were ever an Oscar for Best Actor in an Underwater Shape Shifting Performance, this animal would win. Period.
Remember those big bad predators I mentioned earlier? Well, sometimes they are a little hard to get away from, and that is where the mimic octopus's awesome impersonation skills come in handy as it cannot squirt ink like other octopuses can. I have a distinct feeling that just having text here is not going to do this animal any sort of justice so here is some video that I managed to find of the mimic octopus in action. The video depicts the octopus's amazing shape shifting abilities along with some of the animals that it shifts into. Prepare to be amazed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os6HD-sCRn8 (There is also some narration with the video as well)
And just because I want to show everyone how awesome Octonauts really is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuDA8KSQDI8. This from the original version that airs over in England, but the show also airs on Disney Jr. here in the United States.
(Photo Source: http://www.palscience.com)
Conservation Status:
The mimic octopus is not currently listed as endangered, but some biologists do worry that because of the attention this creature has been getting thanks to forms of media such as the Internet it may eventually become just that. There is apparently a pretty steep bounty placed on the mimic octopus by private collectors and some worry that this could cause a decrease in the creature's numbers.
Recently, there was an article on The Cephalopod Page by Dr. Roy Caldwell that describes the problem:
"There is no question that the mimic octopus and its relatives such as wunderpus are remarkable animals ... However, as the animals become better known, they are also becoming more desirable for public aquarists, scientists and hobbyists alike. The pressures to acquire and attempt to keep and display them are rapidly increasing. It is not uncommon to see requests for such animals and often the amount of money offered for them is staggering - $100 and up. At this point, I think we should all take a deep breath and think seriously about the biology of this species, what such bounties are likely to mean for its survival, and what motivates us to want a mimic for our very own."
The mimic octopus is not currently listed as endangered, but some biologists do worry that because of the attention this creature has been getting thanks to forms of media such as the Internet it may eventually become just that. There is apparently a pretty steep bounty placed on the mimic octopus by private collectors and some worry that this could cause a decrease in the creature's numbers.
Recently, there was an article on The Cephalopod Page by Dr. Roy Caldwell that describes the problem:
"There is no question that the mimic octopus and its relatives such as wunderpus are remarkable animals ... However, as the animals become better known, they are also becoming more desirable for public aquarists, scientists and hobbyists alike. The pressures to acquire and attempt to keep and display them are rapidly increasing. It is not uncommon to see requests for such animals and often the amount of money offered for them is staggering - $100 and up. At this point, I think we should all take a deep breath and think seriously about the biology of this species, what such bounties are likely to mean for its survival, and what motivates us to want a mimic for our very own."
The link to the full article can be found here.
Want to learn more?
As mentioned before, it seems that mimics are growing quite popular, which may actually prove detrimental to their numbers in the wild so I felt like it was important to try and find a link that would help educate those that were even remotely curious about what the risks were exactly when it came to the exotic pet trade:
Facts about the Exotic Pet Trade (You can thank Animal Planet for the article)
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The Humble Bumble Bee
I am sure that all of us at some point have heard various statements such as, "kill or be killed", "eat or be eaten", and "survival of the fittest". That is the life cycle of the food chain that most of nature lives in where something is always getting eaten by something stronger and in turn that something is always getting eaten by something even stronger. EVERYTHING IS EATING EACH OTHER UP. Everything is always eating everything else, one thing taking another thing's life so it can live, or at least live long enough for it to be eaten by something else. The metaphor here is this: even the strongest die and become fodder for the weakest and lowest on the food chain. This is often referred to as the "Grand Design".
BUT WAIT....
What if I told you that there was a creature out there that went in the complete opposite direction? A creature whose relationship with its world was one of benefit and enhancement? One that went in a direction that was just a little bit different than the others who follow the "eating everything up" "Grand Design"? One that actually does NO HARM? I'm talking about....the bumble bee.
A kid could tell you that bumble bees go from flower to flower drinking nectar, collecting and carrying pollen from each flower in turn but most people in general would probably not be able to tell you anything beyond that. In other terms, everyone knows of bumble bees but not many people know all that much about them. Yes, the bumble bee flies from flower to flower searching for their food, pollen and nectar. Pollen is like...the gold dust of nature. It is basically the genetic material of the plant and it represents one of the most basic, primal urges in nature: the urge to reproduce and when unleashed and allowed to spread throughout (with help from the bees of course) it allows for the development of many of the things that other life forms also depend on for food (and that includes us humans).
Their pollen is a substance made up of plant material that when a chemical analysis is done on it, it shows a wide variety of things that come from different vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, and thanks to the complexity of nature, many other things that science is not capable of identifying. This biodiversity is represented by the bumble bees traveling to and from hundreds, maybe even thousands of flowers, all of them different. Everywhere there are flowers you will find bumble bees. From Arizona to Mozambique bumble bees are traveling from flower to flower collecting pollen and nectar. If plants couldn't pollinate and reproduce there would be nothing growing, and if there was nothing growing, it would be detrimental to life on Earth as we know it.
Small but Significant
So basically, this one little insect is one of the main reasons, if not THE reason, for the possibility of human development on Earth. The bumble bees' diet is flower based, collecting pollen and nectar from the flowers. Much our diet is also flower based in the fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables that we eat that come from the plants that the bumble bees pollinate. What I am trying to say is this: without bumble bees, we probably wouldn't even be here and, unfortunately, if people don't stop and take the time to recognize how significant this is it could be a huge blow to the health of planet.
Why We Should Care
In the late 1990's biologists studying bees noticed that bumble bee populations were actually experiencing startling declines in the abundance and distribution of several species. Five of these species: the rusty patched bumble bee, the western bumble bee, the yellow banded bumble bee, and the American bumble bee were once common in several areas and were important crop pollinators in their respective historical ranges. The Franklin's bumble bee was only found in a small area in southern Oregon and northern California and is, unfortunately, now believed to be extinct.
1.) The Franklin's Bumblebee:
3.) The Rusty-patched Bumblebee:
4.) The Western Bumblebee:
The threats that wild populations face are many, including but not limited to: pesticide usage, loss of habitat, introduction of non-native species, the spread of diseases and pests through commercial bumble bee rearing, low genetic diversity, and everyone's favorite: climate change. See, the thing is that although bees may not depend on one flower in particular, there are several species of flower that depend on the bees to achieve pollination. Case in point: in Britain and the Netherlands where they have seen the extinction of multiple populations there has been a decline in the abundance of insect-pollinated plants. Imagine what would happen if ALL of the bees suddenly disappeared? Doesn't sound too good now does it?
How We Can Help
-Participate in Bumble Bee Watch! Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborate effort to track and help conserve North America's bumble bees, allowing people to:
For information on what you can do to help bumble bees please feel free to visit the How Can I help? section of this blog.
BUT WAIT....
What if I told you that there was a creature out there that went in the complete opposite direction? A creature whose relationship with its world was one of benefit and enhancement? One that went in a direction that was just a little bit different than the others who follow the "eating everything up" "Grand Design"? One that actually does NO HARM? I'm talking about....the bumble bee.
A kid could tell you that bumble bees go from flower to flower drinking nectar, collecting and carrying pollen from each flower in turn but most people in general would probably not be able to tell you anything beyond that. In other terms, everyone knows of bumble bees but not many people know all that much about them. Yes, the bumble bee flies from flower to flower searching for their food, pollen and nectar. Pollen is like...the gold dust of nature. It is basically the genetic material of the plant and it represents one of the most basic, primal urges in nature: the urge to reproduce and when unleashed and allowed to spread throughout (with help from the bees of course) it allows for the development of many of the things that other life forms also depend on for food (and that includes us humans).
Their pollen is a substance made up of plant material that when a chemical analysis is done on it, it shows a wide variety of things that come from different vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, and thanks to the complexity of nature, many other things that science is not capable of identifying. This biodiversity is represented by the bumble bees traveling to and from hundreds, maybe even thousands of flowers, all of them different. Everywhere there are flowers you will find bumble bees. From Arizona to Mozambique bumble bees are traveling from flower to flower collecting pollen and nectar. If plants couldn't pollinate and reproduce there would be nothing growing, and if there was nothing growing, it would be detrimental to life on Earth as we know it.
Small but Significant
So basically, this one little insect is one of the main reasons, if not THE reason, for the possibility of human development on Earth. The bumble bees' diet is flower based, collecting pollen and nectar from the flowers. Much our diet is also flower based in the fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables that we eat that come from the plants that the bumble bees pollinate. What I am trying to say is this: without bumble bees, we probably wouldn't even be here and, unfortunately, if people don't stop and take the time to recognize how significant this is it could be a huge blow to the health of planet.
Why We Should Care
In the late 1990's biologists studying bees noticed that bumble bee populations were actually experiencing startling declines in the abundance and distribution of several species. Five of these species: the rusty patched bumble bee, the western bumble bee, the yellow banded bumble bee, and the American bumble bee were once common in several areas and were important crop pollinators in their respective historical ranges. The Franklin's bumble bee was only found in a small area in southern Oregon and northern California and is, unfortunately, now believed to be extinct.
1.) The Franklin's Bumblebee:
2.) The Yellow-banded Bumblebee:
5.) The American Bumblebee:
The threats that wild populations face are many, including but not limited to: pesticide usage, loss of habitat, introduction of non-native species, the spread of diseases and pests through commercial bumble bee rearing, low genetic diversity, and everyone's favorite: climate change. See, the thing is that although bees may not depend on one flower in particular, there are several species of flower that depend on the bees to achieve pollination. Case in point: in Britain and the Netherlands where they have seen the extinction of multiple populations there has been a decline in the abundance of insect-pollinated plants. Imagine what would happen if ALL of the bees suddenly disappeared? Doesn't sound too good now does it?
How We Can Help
-Participate in Bumble Bee Watch! Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborate effort to track and help conserve North America's bumble bees, allowing people to:
- Upload photos of bumble bees in order to start a virtual bumble bee collection.
- Identify the bees in your photos and have them validated by experts.
- Help researchers determine the status and conservation needs of bumble bees.
- Help locate rare or endangered populations of bumble bees.
- Learn more about bumble bees, their ecology, and connect with other citizen scientists.
-Create habitat! The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Protection has created a partnership with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to create a list of plants that help attract bumble bees
For information on what you can do to help bumble bees please feel free to visit the How Can I help? section of this blog.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
The Klipspringer
The Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) is a small species of antelope that lives in Africa. Its name literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans, a language that is primarily spoken in South Africa and Namibia, and to a lesser extent, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Physical Characteristics
The Klipspringer reaches a height at about 22 inches (58 cm) at the shoulder, making it smaller than most other antelopes. They stand on the tips of their hooves and can fit all four of their hooves on piece of cliff the size of a Canadian dollar coin (known as a Loonie), roughly 33 mm in diameter. The horns of a male Klipsringer can reach about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches). In eastern African populations the females also have horns.
Habitat Distribution
Klipsringers are found from the Cape of Good Hope where they are often found in mountain fynbos (natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa. For more information, look here) through the rest of South Africa where it is often found in Koppies in woodland savanna, north to East Africa, and into the highly mountainous areas of Ethiopia.
Reproduction and Behavior
This little animal could very well be likened to the mountain goat in the way that it manages to move across the rocky terrain that it calls home. It is crepuscular, being active mainly in the morning and in the late afternoon, taking shelter at other times among the rocks and overhanging cliffs. Groups have exclusive home ranges which they defend against others. Territories are in larger areas with low rainfall and groups consist of mainly mated pairs instead of herds. The adult female tends to initiate most of the group movements but the male seems to be the one most responsible for defense. Generally one member of the pair will stand as lookout, helping to protect the others from danger. When they are alarmed they let out a shrill whistle and the others then disappear higher into the rocks. Both genders scent mark the territory with secretions from the preorbital gland and by defecation.
Reproduction is non-seasonal in south-central Africa but occurs but in Ethiopia it occurs in August-September. The weight of the offspring when born is about 2.2 lbs. They remain hidden for 2-3 months and weaning occurs at about 4-5 months. Young males separate from the family when they are about 1 year old, but females may remain longer. Gestation is about 214 days.
Diet
Klipspringers are herbivores, eating plants that come from rocky terrain, and mountainous habitats. They never need to drink because they get plenty of water from the succulent plants that they eat
Threats
Their primary predators are leopards, caracals, eagles, baboons, hyenas, and humans. As far as their conservation status, the IUCN, as of 2008, lists the Klipspringer as of least concern as their population has been estimated at least 40,000 25% of which are residing in protected areas.
For more information on the IUCN listing, click here. For more information on the IUCN itself, click here..
(Photo Source: http;//www.en.wikepdia.org)
Physical Characteristics
The Klipspringer reaches a height at about 22 inches (58 cm) at the shoulder, making it smaller than most other antelopes. They stand on the tips of their hooves and can fit all four of their hooves on piece of cliff the size of a Canadian dollar coin (known as a Loonie), roughly 33 mm in diameter. The horns of a male Klipsringer can reach about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches). In eastern African populations the females also have horns.
Habitat Distribution
Klipsringers are found from the Cape of Good Hope where they are often found in mountain fynbos (natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa. For more information, look here) through the rest of South Africa where it is often found in Koppies in woodland savanna, north to East Africa, and into the highly mountainous areas of Ethiopia.
Reproduction and Behavior
This little animal could very well be likened to the mountain goat in the way that it manages to move across the rocky terrain that it calls home. It is crepuscular, being active mainly in the morning and in the late afternoon, taking shelter at other times among the rocks and overhanging cliffs. Groups have exclusive home ranges which they defend against others. Territories are in larger areas with low rainfall and groups consist of mainly mated pairs instead of herds. The adult female tends to initiate most of the group movements but the male seems to be the one most responsible for defense. Generally one member of the pair will stand as lookout, helping to protect the others from danger. When they are alarmed they let out a shrill whistle and the others then disappear higher into the rocks. Both genders scent mark the territory with secretions from the preorbital gland and by defecation.
Reproduction is non-seasonal in south-central Africa but occurs but in Ethiopia it occurs in August-September. The weight of the offspring when born is about 2.2 lbs. They remain hidden for 2-3 months and weaning occurs at about 4-5 months. Young males separate from the family when they are about 1 year old, but females may remain longer. Gestation is about 214 days.
Diet
Klipspringers are herbivores, eating plants that come from rocky terrain, and mountainous habitats. They never need to drink because they get plenty of water from the succulent plants that they eat
Threats
Their primary predators are leopards, caracals, eagles, baboons, hyenas, and humans. As far as their conservation status, the IUCN, as of 2008, lists the Klipspringer as of least concern as their population has been estimated at least 40,000 25% of which are residing in protected areas.
For more information on the IUCN listing, click here. For more information on the IUCN itself, click here..
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Emerald Cockroach Wasp
Before anyone says anything, I am perfectly aware that Mother's Day has already come and gone, but why should we just set aside one day to pay tribute to the one individual that pretty much gives up everything to make sure that her offspring grow up to have the best life that they possibly can? That is why when I came across this extreme mother in particular I just had to share....
The Emerald Cockroach Wasp.....
(Photo Source: ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com)
*Cue the horror movie music*
The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa), also known as the emerald cockroach wasp (and there's a reason for that which we'll get to in a minute) is a solitary species of wasp that is part of the family Ampulicidae.
Habitat Distribution
The wasp is native to the tropical regions of South Africa and the Pacific Islands. A. compressa was also purposely introduced to Hawaii by F.X Williams in 1941 as a method of biocontrol. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful thanks to the territorial tendencies of the wasp as well as the small scale in which they hunt.
Killer Nursery
Since the 40's it has been well known that the females of the species sting cockroaches twice delivering venom with these SPECIFIC species being the intended targets: Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta australasiae or Nauphoeta rhombifolia, effectively paralyzing its prey IN 2003 scientists discovered through the use of radioactive labeling proved that the wasp actually targets specific areas of the roach. The first sting is delivered to the thoracic ganglion (a specific cluster of nerve cells that control movement) in order to mildly paralyze the front legs of the intended victim. Once this is done, the victim is unable to escape which allows the wasp to deliver the second sting directly into the roach's brain in a precise spot that controls the roach's escape reflex. As a result of this the roach will then groom itself extensively before becoming extremely sluggish, failing to show normal escape responses. The wasp will then chew off half of the roach's antennae which scientists believe may allow them to either replenish fluids (hey, it takes a lot of energy building a nursery for your babies, right?) or maybe to control the venom as too little of it could allow the roach to recover and escape, yet too much would cause the roach to die. As it is too small to actually carry the roach anywhere the wasp will then lead the roach by the remaining part of its antennae to a burrow (kind of like walking a dog on a leash except...not) where it will then lay an egg about 2 mm long on the roach's abdomen. Mama wasp will then make her exit, barricading the burrow more so to keep predators out then to keep the roach in. The roach will then rest in the burrow until the egg hatches (about three days later) in which then the new larvae will live and feed for about 4-5 days off of a literally living nursery before it chews its way inside the roach's abdomen where it will, over a period of about 8 days slowly consume the roach's inner organs in a precise order in which the roach will actually STAY ALIVE, at least until it hits the pupae stage and forms a cocoon inside the roach's body. Eventually, the fully grown wasp emerges and is ready to begin its adult life.
Lifespan and Mating
An adult emerald cockroach wasp can live for several months. Actual mating usually only takes about 1 minute (Sound familiar to some of the ladies out there?) and only one mating is necessary for a female to be able to successfully take down dozens of roaches.
Extras
There are many species out there that use the method of paralyzing prey in order to use them as live food for their young, the emerald jewel wasp (and the other parisitoid wasps that are part of the same family. About 170 species in fact) in that it only targets the roach's escape responses. Research by scientists has actually shown that while survival instincts of the roach are drastically reduced (such as swimming or avoiding pain) for at least 72 hours, motor abilities like fight or flipping over are unimpaired.
********************
Now that I have caused everyone to run and hide under the blankets, for those of you that are brave enough to come out and possibly learn more about these particular insects can do so right here:
http://www.wired.com/2014/02/absurd-creature-of-the-week-jewel-wasp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_cockroach_wasp
Also, Google helped me out a lot in searching for the information that I managed to find on these guys so if you feel like looking up these insects yourself Google them!
The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa), also known as the emerald cockroach wasp (and there's a reason for that which we'll get to in a minute) is a solitary species of wasp that is part of the family Ampulicidae.
Habitat Distribution
The wasp is native to the tropical regions of South Africa and the Pacific Islands. A. compressa was also purposely introduced to Hawaii by F.X Williams in 1941 as a method of biocontrol. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful thanks to the territorial tendencies of the wasp as well as the small scale in which they hunt.
Killer Nursery
Since the 40's it has been well known that the females of the species sting cockroaches twice delivering venom with these SPECIFIC species being the intended targets: Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta australasiae or Nauphoeta rhombifolia, effectively paralyzing its prey IN 2003 scientists discovered through the use of radioactive labeling proved that the wasp actually targets specific areas of the roach. The first sting is delivered to the thoracic ganglion (a specific cluster of nerve cells that control movement) in order to mildly paralyze the front legs of the intended victim. Once this is done, the victim is unable to escape which allows the wasp to deliver the second sting directly into the roach's brain in a precise spot that controls the roach's escape reflex. As a result of this the roach will then groom itself extensively before becoming extremely sluggish, failing to show normal escape responses. The wasp will then chew off half of the roach's antennae which scientists believe may allow them to either replenish fluids (hey, it takes a lot of energy building a nursery for your babies, right?) or maybe to control the venom as too little of it could allow the roach to recover and escape, yet too much would cause the roach to die. As it is too small to actually carry the roach anywhere the wasp will then lead the roach by the remaining part of its antennae to a burrow (kind of like walking a dog on a leash except...not) where it will then lay an egg about 2 mm long on the roach's abdomen. Mama wasp will then make her exit, barricading the burrow more so to keep predators out then to keep the roach in. The roach will then rest in the burrow until the egg hatches (about three days later) in which then the new larvae will live and feed for about 4-5 days off of a literally living nursery before it chews its way inside the roach's abdomen where it will, over a period of about 8 days slowly consume the roach's inner organs in a precise order in which the roach will actually STAY ALIVE, at least until it hits the pupae stage and forms a cocoon inside the roach's body. Eventually, the fully grown wasp emerges and is ready to begin its adult life.
Lifespan and Mating
An adult emerald cockroach wasp can live for several months. Actual mating usually only takes about 1 minute (Sound familiar to some of the ladies out there?) and only one mating is necessary for a female to be able to successfully take down dozens of roaches.
Extras
There are many species out there that use the method of paralyzing prey in order to use them as live food for their young, the emerald jewel wasp (and the other parisitoid wasps that are part of the same family. About 170 species in fact) in that it only targets the roach's escape responses. Research by scientists has actually shown that while survival instincts of the roach are drastically reduced (such as swimming or avoiding pain) for at least 72 hours, motor abilities like fight or flipping over are unimpaired.
********************
Now that I have caused everyone to run and hide under the blankets, for those of you that are brave enough to come out and possibly learn more about these particular insects can do so right here:
http://www.wired.com/2014/02/absurd-creature-of-the-week-jewel-wasp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_cockroach_wasp
Also, Google helped me out a lot in searching for the information that I managed to find on these guys so if you feel like looking up these insects yourself Google them!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Elusive Pangolin
I think that one of the strangest creatures that I have ever heard of is the Pangolin. Now, I am sure that there are those out there that might be reading this are probably asking themselves the same question I asked myself when I first heard the name: What in the WORLD is a Pangolin?
Here are the facts:
It turns out there are eight different species of Pangolin in existence with four of them ranging across Asia while the other four are found n Africa south of Sahara Desert. All pangolins belong to the genus Manis which is in the family Manidae which is the only family within the order Pholidota. Their closest living relatives are the Xenarthrans – anteaters, armadillos, and sloths.
The Asian pangolins include:
The Indian (or thick-tailed) pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
The Chinese (or Formosan) pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
The Malayan (or Sunda) pangolin (Manis javanica)
The Palawan (or Philippine) pangolin (Manis culionensis)
The African pangolins include:
Cape (or Temminck’s) ground pangolin (Manis temminckii)
Tree (or African white-bellied) pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis)
Long-tailed (or black-bellied) pangolin (Uromanis tetradactyla
Giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
Physical Characteristics:
The four species of Asian pangolins can be differ from their African counterparts by the presence of bristles which can be found emerging from between their scales.
Wait...scales?
Yep, you read that right. Pangolin species vary in size from about 3.5 lbs. (1.6 kg) to a maximum of about 73 lbs. (33 kg.). Colors can vary from light to yellowish brown through olive to dark brown. They have these protective scales that overlap and cover their entire bodies that are made out of keratin. Don't know what keratin is? Take a look at your hair and fingernails. Keratin is the protein that human hair and fingernails are made out of. These overlapping scales kind of look like the leaves on an artichoke.
These scales grow throughout the animals life (much like our hair and fingernails). Pangolins dig burrows in search of ants and termites to eat, so the edges of the scales are continually worn down by them doing so. The underside of the pangolin has no scales and is covered with very sparse fur
Here are the facts:
It turns out there are eight different species of Pangolin in existence with four of them ranging across Asia while the other four are found n Africa south of Sahara Desert. All pangolins belong to the genus Manis which is in the family Manidae which is the only family within the order Pholidota. Their closest living relatives are the Xenarthrans – anteaters, armadillos, and sloths.
The Asian pangolins include:
The Indian (or thick-tailed) pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
The Chinese (or Formosan) pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
The Malayan (or Sunda) pangolin (Manis javanica)
The Palawan (or Philippine) pangolin (Manis culionensis)
The African pangolins include:
Cape (or Temminck’s) ground pangolin (Manis temminckii)
Tree (or African white-bellied) pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis)
Long-tailed (or black-bellied) pangolin (Uromanis tetradactyla
Giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
Physical Characteristics:
Wait...scales?
These scales grow throughout the animals life (much like our hair and fingernails). Pangolins dig burrows in search of ants and termites to eat, so the edges of the scales are continually worn down by them doing so. The underside of the pangolin has no scales and is covered with very sparse fur
Pangolins have conical heads with jaws that lack teeth, BUT they have this absolutely amazing tongue that is extremely long. This very sticky, muscular tongue is what the pangolin uses to lap up termites and ants out deep cavities. Pangolins can't really see all that well so they use their amazing sense of smell in order to help them locate where their food is at (in this case, termite and ant nests). Their tongue is actually attached near its pelvis and last pair of ribs, and when it's fully extended out it's actually longer than the animal's head and body. When the tongue is not in use, it retracts into a "sheath' in the animal's chest cavity. Their stomachs are muscular and have keratinous spines projecting into its interior. Usually containing small stones, a pangolin's stomach mashes and grinds its food.
See that amazing tongue in action:
Pangolins also have really stout limbs which are really well adapted for digging. They have five toes on each paw (just like you and I have five toes on each of our feet), and their forefeet have three long, curved, claws that they use to demolish the nests of termites and ants as well as to dig nesting and sleeping burrows. Pangolins shuffle around on all four limbs, balancing on the outer edges of their forefeet and tucking their foreclaws underneath as they walk. They can actually run pretty fast and will often raise themselves up on their hind limbs to sniff the air. Pangolins are also pretty capable swimmers, and while some pangolins such as the African ground pangolin are strictly terrestrial, others, such as the African tree pangolin, are extremely good climbers, using their claws and semi-prehensile tails to help them grip bark and scale trees.
Watch the Pangolin move on the ground:
Pangolin Habitat Distribution:
Pangolins can be found dwelling in tropical flooded forests, thick brush, cleared, cultivated areas, and savannah grassland. They are generally most often found where there are large populations of termites and ants.
Behavior:
Pangolins are secretive, solitary creatures that are also nocturnal which makes it more difficult for scientists to study them in the wild allowing for many of their behaviors and habits to remain secrets. Some pangolins, like the Chinese pangolin, like to sleep in underground burrows during the day while others, like the African tree pangolin and Malayan pangolin, have been known to sleep in trees. They emerge in the evening to hunt for insects. They use their strong front paws and claws to dig burrows while using their tails and rear legs to help them balance. When they are tunneling underground they excavate the sides and roofs of passages by pushing up and from side to side with their tough, scaled bodies. Some burrows have been found with chambers large enough for a human to not only crawl inside but also be able to stand up in. They use their front and hind feet to kick dirt out of the entrance.
Chinese pangolins that live in temperate areas hibernate in strategically placed burrows that are next to termite and ant nests so they can have a lasting food source. Indian pangolins that have been found in Sri Lanka reportedly live in the rainforest canopy where they are close to numerous amounts of fruits and flowers that attract ants as opposed down on the ground where there are more predators and the food supply may be much more limited. Their scales provide a good defense against predators, which they use teo their advantage by rolling up into a ball. They can also defend themselves by hissing and puffing as well as lashing out with their tails.
Because they depend on their strong sense of smell so much, Pangolins also mark their territory with their urine as well as scattering feces and secretions from a special gland. Experts think that these markings may help denote dominance or sexual status, and it may even help individuals recognize each other which sounds a bit like a personal calling card.
Reproduction and Offspring:
Males and females are sexually dimorphic (which means that there is something different about the genders that helps to tell them apart). Males are usually 10 - 50% heavier than females while Indian pangolins are usually 90% heavier. They reach sexual maturity at about 2 years and they usually only give birth to one offspring.
(Mother with baby on her back)
Their pregnancy range is about 65-70 days for the Indian pangolin to 139 days for the Cape and Tree pangolins. When born offspring may only weigh in at about 12 ounces. Their scales are soft and pink but begin to harden by the second day. Mothers nurture their mother in nesting burrows, wrapping around them to protect them while they are sleeping or when they are being threatened. Babies nurse for 3-4 months but are capable of eating ants and termites at about 1 month. This is about the time they begin to adventure outside of the borrow, traveling on their mother's back while she forages for food (as pictured above).
Diet:
Pangolins primarily dine on termites and ants, but they have also been known to supplement with various other invertebrates as well including bee larvae flies, worms, earthworms, and crickets. They play a vital role in the environment: pest control. It is said that a single pangolin can eat more than 70 million insects annually. Unfortunately, this specialized diet makes them difficult to maintain in captivity as they will often reject unfamiliar insect species or become ill when fed foreign food. They use their awesome claws to break into nests and then use their long, sticky tongue to lap up their food. They also have this amazing feature that allows them to close their nostrils and ears by using special muscles which prevents them from being stung by attacking insects.
Lifespan:
No one really knows how long pangolins can live in the wild, but pangolins have reported to live to be as old as 20 in captivity.
Conservation Status;
Unfortunately, like so many other species of animals and plants that we share our planet with, many of the pangolin species are being threatened with extinction mostly thanks to loss of habitat as well as poaching. Pangolin scales are highly prized, often being used in bogus Asian medicines and fashion accessories. There is a large amount of demand for pretty much all parts pangolin, with the biggest buyers coming out of China. The large scale trade in Asian pangolins have caused population numbers to plummet to near extinction across S.E Asia. Very little is known about this illegal trade except for the fact that it is happening at an alarming scale and that, along with inadequate government regulations and awareness are making the trade hard to combat as well as insufficient political will and financial resources. There is a lack of data on trade routes showing where the pangolins are coming from and where exactly they are ending up. The immediate halting of this cruel, and illegal trade is crucial to the survival of this species.
According to the IUCN:
- Indian or thick-tailed pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) – Near Threatened
- Chinese or Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) – Endangered
- Malayan or Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) – Endangered
- Palawan or Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) – Near Threatened
- Cape or Temminck’s ground pangolin (Manis temminckii)
- Tree or African white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) – Near Threatened
- Giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) – Near Threatened
- Long-tailed or black-bellied pangolin (Uromanis tetradactyla)
Want to figure out more on how you can help save pangolins? Visit the How Can I Help? section where you can find important links that will allow you to gather more information.
Welcome!
As the header suggests, this blog is going to be about the obscure. The kinds of things that are seen in nature that you may not hear about, or if you do, you may not hear about it as often as you would some other things. I have always been told that people like to save the things that they love and I have always felt like it was my job to educate people, to help them understand. Because how can they learn to love something enough to want to save it if they don't understand it to begin with? Moreover, how can they even begin to understand when they might not even know that it exists? That's where this blog is supposed to come in.
So please feel free to join me and maybe, JUST MAYBE, we'll all learn a little something along the way....
So please feel free to join me and maybe, JUST MAYBE, we'll all learn a little something along the way....
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