An Animal A Day

last SG · 2005-03-09T00:11:15+00:00

Deepwater Arrowtooth Eel The Deepwater Arrowtooth Eel (Histiobranchus bathybius) is a cutthroat eel of the genus Histiobranchus, found around the world at d...

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Japanese Sea Lion

The Japanese Sea Lion (Zalophus japonicus or Zalophus californianus japonicus) is thought to have gone extinct in the 1950s. Little is known about them. They were found in marine and coastal areas in the Sea of Japan. They bred in flat, open and sandy beaches and sometimes in rocky areas.

Japanese Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus japonicus

There are various causes for the Japanese Sea Lion's extinction. It was captured for the circus trade, its skin was used for oil, its internal organs were valuable in the making of oriental medicine, and its whiskers were used as pipe cleaners. Many were killed by fishermen, and it is said that during World War II Japanese soldiers used them for target practice.

Many taxonomists do not consider the Japanese Sea Lion a separate species but rather a subspecies of the California Sea Lion.

Conservation status: Extinct (1950s)

Issue #404

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Nebelung

The Nebelung cat is a long-haired cat breed, bred to resemble the Russian Blue with a long coat.

Nebelung

The breed was created in the early 1980s by Cora Cobb, with the two foundation cats being Elsa, a black domestic shorthaired cat, and an unnamed blue domestic shorthair. The first mating of these two cats produced five black or blue shorthaired kittens as well as Siegfried (born 1984) who was blue with medium long hair. The second mating produced five black or blue shorthaired kittens, as well as a black longhair female and Brunhilde (born 1985), a blue longhaired female. Cobb decided to mate Siegfried and Brunhilde, and their first litter was born in 1986. The offspring of Siegfried and Brunhilde were eventually out-crossed to natural Russian Blues in order to replicate the Russian Blue type. Although the Nebelung is sometimes called a longhaired Russian Blue, it is actually a separate breed, as the Russian Blue does not produce longhaired offspring. The Nebelung will produce both longhair and shorthair offspring in the same litter.

The breed was officially recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1987 under the 'new breeds' category. They are not recognized as a breed in the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), or most other associations, as they mimic the natural, long established Russian Blue except for coat length.

Nebelung is a German word meaning 'creature of the mist'. These cats are judged in TICA on the same standard as a Russian Blue with the exception of their coat, which is mid-length with a dense plumy tail. They have green eyes, and their fur must be 'blue' tipped with silver.

Issue #405

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Pygmy Right Whale

The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order Cetacea. The whale, which lives in the Southern Hemisphere, was first described by Gray in 1846, and is the sole member of the genus Caperea and the family Neobalaenidae. Despite its name, the Pygmy Right Whale has more in common with the Gray Whale and rorquals than the Bowhead and Right Whales.

Pygmy Right Whale, Caperea marginata

Physical description

The Pygmy Right Whale is rarely encountered and consequently little studied. However it is known that the Pygmy Right is by far smallest of the baleens. The birth weight and size of the animal are unknown. The estimated length of an adult is between 4 and 6.5 m. The estimated weight of an adult is between 3,000 and 3,500 kg. Gestation and lactation periods and longevity are all unknown. Part of the reason for the paucity of data may be the relative inactivity of the whale, making study difficult. The blow is small and indistinct and the whale is usually a slow undulating swimmer, but capable of bursts of acceleration.

The colouring and shape of the Pygmy Right Whale, a dark grey top side and lighter grey underside, commonly with a pair of chevron-shaped lighter patches behind the eyes, is similar to that of the Dwarf and Antarctic Minke Whales and at sea may easily be confused with these two species if the jaw and flippers are not. The arched jawline is not as pronounced as other Right Whales and may not be sufficient to distinguish a Pygmy Right from a Minke. The long, narrow cream-coloured baleen plates with a distinctive white gumline are the most effective discriminators. Unlike true Right Whales, Pygmy Rights do not have callosities. The dorsal fin is falcate (crescent-shaped) and located about three-quarters of the way along the back of the animal. Unlike the Minke Whale, occasionally the dorsal will not be seen on the whale surfacing, and the tail fin has not been observed clear of the water.

Analysis of the stomach contents of dead Pymgy Rights indicates that it feeds on copepods and euphausiids. It is not known if the animal feeds close to shore or at sea. Similarly the social and mating structures are unknown. The whale is typically seen alone or in a pair, with occasional sightings of groups up to 10 strong and one report of 80 animals grouped closely in oceanic waters.

Population and distribution

The Pygmy Right Whale is perhaps the least studied of all cetaceans on account of its sparse population (as of 1998 fewer than 20 encounters in the open sea have been recorded worldwide - the whale prefers sheltered shallow bays). The species lives in the Southern Hemisphere and is believed to be circumpolar, living in a band from about 30°S to 50°S in areas with surface water temperature between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius. One individual was found washed up as far south as Tierra del Fuego (55°S) in southern Argentina. Individuals have been found on the coast of Namibia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. One group may be a year-round resident off Tasmania. The total population is unknown.

Whaling and whale-watching

On account of its relatively small size and sparse distribution the Pygmy Right Whale was not the target of a whalers. It is likely that a few Pygmy Rights were taken opportunistically by whalers hunting Minke Whales. Also a few Pygmy Rights are known to have been caught in fishing nets. However these factors are not believed to have had a significant on population.

Most data about Pygmy Right Whales comes from individuals washed up on coastlines; they are rarely encountered at sea and so they are not the primary subject of any whale watching cruises.

Conservation status: Unknown

Issue #406

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Little Hermit

The Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus) is a hummingbird that is a resident breeder from Mexico to Panama, and from eastern Peru through Colombia to Venezuela and Trinidad.

Little Hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus

This hermit species is sometimes split, with all populations except those in Trinidad, the east of Venezuela, the Guianas and northeast corner of Brazil as the Stripe-throated Hermit, Phaethornis striigularis (Gould, 1854).

This small bird inhabits shady undergrowth in moist forest. It resembles the Green Hermit, but is much smaller. It is 8.4 cm long and weighs 3 g. The bill is long and decurved, with a black upper mandible and black-tipped yellow lower mandible.

The Little Hermit is mainly bronze-green above with a pale rufous rump. It has a dark mask through the eye, with buff stripes above and below this. The underparts are rich rufous. The central feathers of the tapered tail are long and white-tipped, and are used in display at the communal leks. Sexes are similar.

Stripe-throated Hermit is duller beneath, and the throat is spotted dusky in P. s. striigularis or pale in P. s. ignobilis.

The Little Hermit lays two eggs in a conical nest suspended under a large leaf, usually over water. Incubation is 16 days, and fledging another 21 days.

The food of this species is nectar, taken from a wide variety of flowers, and some small insects. The call of this hummingbird is a light sqeak, and the Little Hermit display song is a eee-wee-tiddly-weet. Stripe-throated transcribes as chup-sit-sik although there are many local dialects of both these hummingbirds songs.

Issue #407

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Red-tailed Boa

The Red-tailed Boa, Boa constrictor, is a species of boa, the second largest member of the family Boidae after the anaconda. This snake normally reaches a size of around 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3.0 m), with females being slightly larger on average than the males. The largest recorded specimen was over 18 feet (5.5 m) long, but there is some controversy over this 18 foot specimen, which was collected on the island of Trinidad. The specimen was not preserved for science and the skin was lost and it is now believed that it was a case of misidentification; the specimen in question most likely being an anaconda.

Red-tailed Boa, Boa constrictor

Common specimens have an interesting pattern of brown and black with a reddish tail (see picture). They do well in captivity, become quite docile, and are a common sight in zoos. Boas can easily live to be 20 to 30 years old, with rare accounts of over 40 years, making them a long-term commitment as a pet. Animal husbandry may be the most significant factor in captive lifespan.

Female Boas have "live birth", rather than laying eggs. Fertilization by the male is internal. During copulation, females can cling to the male via a small set of "spurs" that are generally hidden below scales on either side of the vent and are actually remnants of the hind legs. Due to the lengthy mating period, it is often difficult to determine the start date of fertilization. As result, gestation period of Boas is not well understood. After a gestation period of roughly 4-6 months, the female gives birth to 20-40 live young (ovoviviparous reproduction).

The species has been divided into a number of sub-species that occur from Mexico to Argentina, as well as on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and St. Lucia. The sub-species vary somewhat in average size, color, and demeanor. Selective breeding has resulted in a wide range of colorations, including specimens which are completely white (albino), or white with orange-colored markings.

The common name "boa constrictor" can also be used to refer to any of the four species in the genus Boa, as all are constrictors that is, they do not use venom to kill, but rather coil around the prey animal. Contrary to popular belief, the snake does not slowly crush its prey, death comes quickly usually via asphyxia or heart failure.

The subspecies B. c. imperator (typically from Colombia) are popular in pet stores today, as are B. c. constrictor (Guyana, Peru, Surinam). Both have been called "common" boas in the pet trade, although B. c. imperator is more common in pet stores today. The term "red-tailed" (and which subspecies is the "true" red-tailed boa) is debated somewhat in the breeding community, as it tends to be used by pet-shops as a marketing term when referring to any boa, and has little scientific meaning.

Issue #408

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Glasswing butterfly

Greta oto is a brush-footed butterfly, and is a member of the clearwing clade; its wings are transparent. Its most common English name is glasswing, and its Spanish name is espejitos, which means "little mirrors." Indeed, the tissue between the veins of its wings looks like glass. It is one of the more abundant clearwing species in its home range, which extends throughout Central America into Mexico. The opaque borders of its wings are dark brown sometimes tinted with red or orange, and its body is dark in color. Its wingspan is between 5.5 and 6 cm.

Glasswing butterfly, Greta oto

Adults inhabit the rainforest understory and feed on the nectar of a variety of tropical flowers. G. oto prefers to lay its eggs on plants of the tropical nightshade genus Cestrum. The silvery-gray caterpillars feed on these toxic plants and store the alkaloids in their tissues, making them distasteful to predators such as birds. They retain their toxicity in adulthood. The same alkaloids that make them poisonous also are converted into pheromones by the males, which use them to attract females.

G. oto adults also exhibit a number of interesting behaviors, such as long migrations and lekking among males.

Issue #409

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Green swordtail

The Green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a species of freshwater fish in family Poecilidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. It is also called Red swordtail. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the southern platyfish or "platy" (X. maculatus) and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central America stretching from Veracruz, Mexico, to northwestern Honduras.

Green swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii

The male green swordtail grows to a maximum overall length of 14 cm (5.5 in) and the female to 16 cm (6.3 in). The name "swordtail" derives form the elongated lower lobe of the male's caudal fin (tailfin). Sexual dimorphism is moderate, with the female being larger than the male but lacking the "sword". The wild form is olive green in color, with a red or brown lateral stripe and speckles on the dorsal and, sometimes, caudal fins. The male's "sword" is yellow, edged in black below. Captive breeding has produced many color varieties, including black, red, and many patterns thereof, for the aquarium hobby.

The green swordtail prefers swift-flowing, heavily-vegetated rivers and streams, but is also found in warm springs and canals. Omnivorous, its diet includes both plants and small crustaceans, insects, and annelid worms.

X. hellerii has become a nuisance pest as an introduced species in a number of countries. It has caused ecological damage because of its ability to rapidly reproduce in high numbers. Feral populations have established themselves in southern Africa, including Natal and eastern Transvaal in South Africa and Lake Otjikoto in Namibia.

One of the most popular tropical aquarium fish, the green swordtail has been bred into various hybrid forms for the aquarium hobby due to its hardiness and suitability for community tanks.

The green swordtail, as the most common of the swordtail species (and in recognition of the fact that many captive-bred color varieties are not green), is typically known simply as the swordtail in the aquarium hobby. It is often designated X. helleri (with one i), but authorities consider this an orthographic error and the spelling with two is is the valid specific epithet.

Conservation status: Secure

Issue #410

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Norway lobster

The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (also called Dublin Bay prawn or langoustine), is a slim orange-pink lobster found in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The tail is muscular, and is frequently eaten, often under the name "scampi".

Norway lobsters, Nephrops norvegicus, on a market stall

Norway lobsters are solitary predators, feeding mostly on molluscs and other crustaceans.

In December 1995, the commensal Symbion pandora was discovered attached to the mouthparts of a Norway lobster, and was found to be the first member of a new phylum, the Cycliophora.

Issue #411

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Huayangosaurus

Huayangosaurus, Huayangosaurus taibaii, was a stegosaur from Late Jurassic China. Like many other stegosaurs, it had plates all down its back, and spikes on its tail. It had two large spikes right above its hips, which may have been for detering any attack from above, considering it was a fairly short in height compared to other stegosaurs. It was a primitive stegosaur, from 165 mya, 20 million years before its famous relative, Stegosaurus appeared in North America.

Huayangosaurus, Huayangosaurus taibaii

Conservation status: Fossil

Issue #412

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Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog (also called Berner Sennenhund or Bouvier Bernois) is a versatile cattle-herding or farm dog originating in the canton of Berne in Switzerland.

Female and male Bernese Mountain Dogs

Appearance

A tri-colored dog of medium size, the Berner (as they are often called) stands 23 to 27.5 inches (58-70 cm) at the withers; breed standards for this breed normally specify no weight, but the usual range is 70 to 110 pounds (32-50 kg). The breed is instantly recognised by its distinctive tricolor pattern: body, neck, legs, cranium and ears black; cheeks, stockings and eyespots rich tan, toes, chest, muzzle, tail tip and blaze between the eyes white. The pattern is rigid and varies only slightly in the amount of white. A perfectly-marked individual gives the impression of a white Swiss cross on the chest, when viewed from the front in sitting position. The eyes are an expressive dark brown.

Grooming

The Bernese coat is slightly rough in outline, but not at all harsh in texture. The undercoat is fairly dense; the coat is quite dirt and weather resistant. A good brushing every week or two is sufficient to keep it in fine shape, except when the undercoat is being shed; then daily combing is in order for the duration of the shed.

Temperament

Berners are outdoor dogs at heart, though well-behaved in the house; they need activity and exercise, but do not have a great deal of endurance. They can move with amazing bursts of speed for their size when motivated.

The Berner temperament is a strong point of the breed. Affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable and intelligent, Bernese Mountain Dogs make wonderful family pets. They are very trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in training; Berners need time to think things through. The breed is stable in temperament, and is patient and loving.

Health

The breeds genetic base is somewhat narrow, so hereditary diseases and inbreeding depression are major issues. Several kinds of cancer (malignant histiocytosis, mastocytoma, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma) commonly affect Berners; hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteoarthritis, plus autoimmune and kidney problems are other major health issues for the breed. Many litters contain stillborn young, a major indicator of inbreeding depression.

Although slow to mature, the Berner is not particularly long-lived. The Swiss say, three years a young dog, three years a good dog, and three years an old dog. Today even nine years may be slightly optimistic; certainly a ten-year-old Berner is a very old one. In fact, surveys around the world show that the average lifespan is seven years, primarily as a result of the prevalent occurrence of cancers.

History

The breed originated in Swiss farm villages where it was used as a cowherd, a draught dog to haul carts containing milk cans and farm goods, and a flock guardian. It nearly disappeared in the late 1800s but was rescued around the turn of the century by a determined Swiss cynologist, Herr Franz Schertenleib.

Alternative names: Berner Sennenhund, Bouvier Bernois, Dürrbächler
Country of origin: Switzerland
Common nicknames: Berner

Issue #413

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Patas Monkey

The Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over West Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus. Patas monkeys avoid woodlands and live in treeless savanna and semi-deserts. The Patas Monkey grows to 85 cm in length, excluding the tail, which measures 75 cm. Reaching speeds of 50 km/h, it is the fastest runner among the primates.

Patas Monkey, Erythrocebus patas

This monkey lives in packs of about twelve individuals. An older female has the command of the group, and just one pubescent male is allowed to live with the pack. The monkeys feed on insects, seeds and tubers.

There are two subspecies: the western Erythrocebus patas patas (Common Patas) and the eastern Erythrocebus patas pyrrhonotus (Nisnas). The Nisnas has a white nose, while the nose of the Common Patas Monkey is black.

Conservation status: Lower risk (lc)

Issue #414

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Magnificent Frigatebird

The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) was sometimes previously known as Man O'War, reflecting its rakish lines, speed, and aerial piracy of other birds.

Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens

It is widespread in the tropical Atlantic, breeding colonially in trees in Florida, the Caribbean and Cape Verde Islands.

It has occurred as a vagrant on the Isle of Man in 1998 and in Denmark and Spain. A male was found exhausted at Whitchurch, Shropshire, many miles from the sea, in November 2005. This individual was taken to Chester Zoo but died a few days later.

The Magnificent Frigatebird is 100 cm (39 inches) long with a 215 cm (85 inch) wingspan. Males are all black with a scarlet throat pouch which is inflated like a balloon in the breeding season. Females are black, but have a white breast and lower neck sides and a brown band on the wings. Immature birds have a white head and underparts.

This species is very similar to the other Frigatebirds and is similarly sized to all but the Lesser Frigatebird. However, it lacks a white axillary spur, and juveniles show a distinctive diamond-shaped belly patch.

The Magnificent Frigatebird is silent in flight, but makes various rattling sounds at its nest.

This species feeds mainly on fish, and also attacks other seabirds to force them to disgorge their meal. Frigatebirds never land on water, and always take their food items in flight.

Issue #415

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California Kingsnake

The California King Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) is a subspecies of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). It is a non-venomous king snake native to Western North America, particularly Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and California. The snake has dark black or brown and creamy or white markings, but they are very variable in color and pattern. The most common morph has creamy white crossbands on a dark background, but some specimens of this general type appear to be generally light-coloured with darker patches. A second morph, particularly common around San Diego, has longitudinal stripes instead of lateral bands; the form of these is also quite variable.

California King Snake, Lampropeltis getula californiae

California King Snakes grow to a length of up to 5 feet (1.5 metres) and weigh as much as 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

The diet of the California King Snake is similar to that of other King snakes. Prey items include lizards, birds, and other snakes. However, during time of shedding the snake will refuse to eat because of greatly reduced vision due to build-ups of oil underneath the eye coverings.

Issue #416

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Giant Leopard Moth

The Giant Leopard Moth (Ecpantheria scribonia) is a moth of the family Arctiidae. It is distributed throughout the Southeastern United States from New England to Mexico. This species was once known as Hypercompe scribonia (some authors still prefer to place the species in Hypercompe).

Giant Leopard Moth, Ecpantheria scribonia

This species has a wingspan of 3 inches. The wings of the moth are bright white with irregular black markings, some solid and some hollow. The abdomen is dark blue with orange markings, the male has a narrow yellow line on the sides. Its legs have black and white bands.

The caterpillar is one of the Woolly Bear kind with a thick coat of black bristles (setae) and red bands between its segments (can be seen when caterpillar is rolled into a ball).

The caterpillar eats a variety of broad-leaf plants such as broadleaf plantains, dandelions and violets.

Issue #417

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Red Lionfish

The Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish from the Indian and western Pacific oceans. The Red Lionfish is also found off the east coast of the United States, and is likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid 1990s, and by the summer of 2000 is found along the Atlantic coast of the United States from Florida to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans

Lionfish have distinctive red, maroon and white stripes; fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth; fan-like pectoral fins; and long separated dorsal spines. Adults can grow as large as 17 inches, while juveniles may be as small as an inch or less. All of the spines on a lionfish are venomous, creating a danger primarily to divers and fishers if stung. Although there have been no known fatalities caused by lionfish stings, they are reportedly extremely painful.

Issue #418

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Brown huntsman spider

The Brown huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria, is found world-wide in tropical areas. It is also an able traveller, having shown up in places from Florida to Japan (except north Honshû and Hokkaidô). They are fairly large, some having a leg span of approximately five inches. Although they are rather fearsome in appearance, they are very easily alarmed by the approach of humans and will very rapidly flee.

Brown huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria

These spiders are known to hunt by waiting quietly on a vertical surface (or even a ceiling) and then rushing forward when their prey gets within close range. However, they do make a simple kind of tangle web under suitable circumstances. It is almost impossible to see, but the silk fibers are both strong and also sticky. This web seems to serve to slow the prey down enough to make capture more likely.

The female carries her egg case with her, and will protect it from predators.

Issue #419

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Broad-billed Parrot

The Broad-billed Parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus) was a parrot found on the island of Mauritius that became extinct. It was a large, heavy-set parrot, with strong males similar in size to the Palm Cockatoo. Females were considerably smaller. The species is known from early drawings and subfossil bones. It had a long tail and a reduced flight apparatus and was probably flightless. The bill was very large but weak and probably designed to crush the pulp of large fruits so that they could be swallowed, pit and all. The color was a bluish gray overall, and there was a small frontal crest. The discovery of the structure of the bill (which was previously thought to be adapted to cracking nuts) has led to the hypothesis that this bird, not the dodo, was one of the main animals responsible for propagation of the Tambalacoque or "dodo tree".

Broad-billed Parrot, Lophopsittacus mauritianus

It became extinct partly due to hunting, but more importantly due to predation by introduced pigs, monkeys and rats which fed on the eggs and young of this species, which was in all likelihood ground-nesting (a rare occurrence among parrots, the Kakapo, the Night Parrot and the Ground Parrot being essentially the only species doing so) due to its inability to fly.

A smaller, but very similar species was described from very few bones as the Mauritius Grey Parrot (Lophopsittacus bensoni) and some early travelers' records of "small grey parrots", but it is far from clear whether this was not simply the female of L. mauritianus.

The affinities of Lophopsittacus are undetermined; despite its appearance and distribution suggesting it was related to the African Grey and Vasa Parrots, it is more likely that its real relationships lie with the Psittaculini radiation of South(east) Asia notably, the Eclectus Parrot, the large-billed Tanygnathus parrots, and, interestingly, possibly most closely with the rather smallish and nimble Psittacula parakeets given that most Mascarene bird species, such as the dodo, derive from Southeast Asian progenitors and that details of their morphology suggest a close relationship. As Psittacula species actually spread to the Mascarenes, this is not to be understood as if they are very closely related the most likely scenario is that the "mysterious" Mascarene parrots (Lophopsittacus, Necropsittacus and Mascarinus) are derived from one or several early colonization by the progenitors of today's Psittacula, Lophopsittacus being most strongly differentiated and Necropsittacus having being still rather similar to Psittacula.

Conservation status: Extinct (1680)

Issue #420

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Chantilly/Tiffany

The Chantilly/Tiffany is a moderate-sized semi-foreign cat with a semi-longhaired, full coat and plumed tail. Its long ear tufts are one of the most striking features.

It is accepted in a variety of colors, including blue, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, and fawn, in both solid and tabby patterns, though chocolate is the most well known.

The breed is friendly, loyal, and affectionate, though occasionally reserved with strangers. It is neither placid nor overly active -- "moderate" is a word which crops up when discussing the Chantilly/Tiffany personality as well as its conformation.

The breed was originally registered during the 1970s in ACA as Foreign Longhair, though the name was changed to Tiffany. ACA dropped the breed due to lack of registrations. It was found later to be naturally occurring in Canada and the breed was resurrected, but by then a different breed called "Tiffanie" was being shown in Britain. The name "Chantilly" was adopted instead. It is still a rare breed.

Issue #421

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West Indian Manatee

The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a manatee, and the largest member of the aquatic mammal order Sirenia (which also includes the Dugong and Steller's Sea Cow). Based on genetic and morphological studies, the West Indian Manatee is divided into two sub-species, the Florida Manatee and the Antillean Manatee (or Caribbean Manatee).

West Indian Manatee, Trichechus manatus

Physical description

Like other manatees, the West Indian Manatee has adapted fully to an aquatic life style, having no hind limbs. Pelage cover is sparsely distributed across the body, which many play a role in reducing the build-up of algae on the skin. The average West Indian Manatee is approximately 3 meters long, and weighs between 400 and 600 kg, with females generally larger than males. The largest individuals can weigh up to 1,500 kg.

Habitat and geographic range

As its name implies, the West Indian Manatee lives in the West Indies, generally in shallow coastal areas. However, it is known to withstand large changes in water salinity, and so have also been found in shallow rivers and estuaries. It is limited to the tropics and sub-tropics due to an extremely low metabolic rate and lack of a thick layer of insulating body fat. During summer, these large mammals have even been found as far north as Rhode Island.

Behavior and food

The West Indian Manatee is surprisingly agile in water, and individuals have been seen doing rolls, somersaults, and even swimming upside-down. Manatees are not territorial and do not have complex predator avoidance behavior, as they have evolved in areas without natural predators.

The West Indian Mantee is an opportunistic feeder, with large adults feasting on nearly 100 kg of sea grasses and plant leaves daily. Because manatees feed on abrasive plants, their molars are often worn down and are continually replaced throughout life. They are also known to eat invertebrates and fish.

Reproduction

Although female West Indian Manatees are mostly solitary creatures, they form mating herds while in estrus. Most females breed successfully between ages of seven and nine, however, females are capable of reproduction as early as four years of age. Gestation period lasts from twelve to fourteen months. Normally, one calf is born, although on rare occasions two have been recorded. The young are born with molars and premolars, allowing them to consume sea grass within the first three weeks of birth.

Manatee relationship with humans

The West Indian Manatee has been hunted for hundreds of years for meat and hide, and continues to be hunted to this day in Central and South America. Illegal poaching, as well as collisions with speeding motorboats, are a constant source of manatee fatalities.

Due to their low reproductive rates, a decline in manatee population may be hard to overcome. They enjoy protection from the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the U.S. Marine Mammal Act of 1972.

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Issue #422

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Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii, is a large cockatoo native to Australia. Usually found in eucalypt woodlands, or along water courses, these seed-eating cockatoos are commonly seen in large flocks in the north of the country. Populations of the south-east region of Australia are threatened by clearing of native habitat.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii

They are one of the rarest and most expensive cage birds, usually costing over $20,000 USD.

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo was the official mascot (named Karak) of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, held in Melbourne, Australia.

Conservation status: Lower risk (lc)

Issue #423

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