Animal Of The Day!

[LegendChu]

Is it a deer? Is it a mouse? Its a Mouse-deer up next.

CHEVROTAIN

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Tragulina
Family: Tragulidae

Chevrotains, also known as "mouse-deer", are small ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only members of the infraorder Tragulina. The ten extant species are in three genera, but several species also are known only from fossils.

Chevrotain is a French word that means "little goat". The Telugu name for the Indian spotted Chevrotain is jarini pandi, which literally means "a deer & a pig". In Kannada it is called barka, in Malayalam it is called khooran & the Konkani name for it is barinka. The Tamil term is sarukum?? or "leaf-pile deer". The Sinhalese name meeminna roughly translates to "mouse-like deer". This was used in the scientific name of the Sri Lankan spotted Chevrotain, M. meminna.

Depending on exact species, the Asian species weigh between 0.7 to 8.0 kg (1.5 to 17.6 lbs) & include the smallest ungulates in the world. The African Chevrotain is considerably larger at 7 to 16 kg (15 to 35 lbs).

All species in the family lack antlers & horns, but have elongated canine teeth. These are especially prominent in males, where they project out on either side of the lower jaw & are used in fights. Their legs are short & thin, which leave them lacking in agility, but also helps to maintain a smaller profile to aid in running through the dense foliage of their environments. Other pig-like features include the presence of four toes on each foot, the absence of facial scent glands & premolars with sharp crowns.

Though most species feed exclusively on plant material, the water Chevrotain occasionally takes insects & crabs, or scavenges meat & fish. Like other ruminants, they lack upper incisors.

They are solitary or live in pairs. They give birth to only a single young. Parental care is relatively limited.

Some of the species show a remarkable affinity with water, often remaining submerged for prolonged periods to evade predators or other unwelcome intrusion. This has also lent support to the idea that whales evolved from water-loving creatures that looked like small deer.

There are 10 extant species of Chevrotain, split in 3 Genera:-

Genus Hyemoschus - Water Chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus)
Genus Moschiola - Indian spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola indica), Sri Lankan spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna), Yellow-striped Chevrotain (Moschiola kathygre)
Genus Tragulus - Java mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus), Lesser mouse-deer or kanchil (Tragulus kanchil), Greater mouse-deer (Tragulus napu), Philippine mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans), Vietnam mouse-deer (Tragulus versicolor), Williamson's mouse-deer (Tragulus williamsoni)

The extant species are found in forests in South & Southeast Asia, with a single species in the rainforests of Central & West Africa.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Spyro]

This little deer baby-mouse is adorable! And they sometime eat meat? That's so weird o_O

 

[LegendChu]

Here's a bizarre creature!

OLM

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Lissamphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Proteidae
Genus: Proteus
Species: P. anguinus

The Olm or Proteus (Proteus anguinus) is an aquatic salamander in the family Proteidae, the only exclusively cave-dwelling chordate species found in Europe.

The word Olm is a German loanword that was incorporated into English in the late 19th century. The origin of the German original, Olm or Grottenolm 'Cave Olm', is unclear. It may be a variant of the word Molch which means 'salamander'.

The Olm's body is snakelike, 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) long, with some specimens reaching up to 40 centimetres (16 in). The trunk is cylindrical, uniformly thick & segmented with regularly spaced furrows at the myomere borders. The tail is relatively short, laterally flattened & surrounded by a thin fin. Its eyes are undeveloped, leaving it blind, while its other senses, particularly those of smell & hearing, are acutely developed. The limbs are small & thin, with a reduced number of digits compared to other amphibians, the front legs have three digits instead of the normal four & the rear have two digits instead of five. It also lacks any pigmentation in its skin. However, the Olm's skin retains the ability to produce melanin.

The Olm's embryonic development takes 140 days. The female lays up to 70 eggs, each about 12 mms (0.5 in) in diameter & places them between rocks, where they remain under her protection. The tadpoles are 2 cms (0.8 in) long when they hatch & live on yolk stored in the cells of the digestive tract for a month. The larvae gain adult appearance after nearly four months, with the duration of development strongly correlating with water temperature.

Its most notable for its adaptations to a life of complete darkness in its underground habitat. In contrast to most amphibians, it is entirely aquatic, it eats, sleeps & breeds underwater.

Olms from different cave systems differ substantially in body measurements, color & some microscopic characters. Proteus anguinus is considered a single species. The black Olm (Proteus anguinus) is the only other recognized subspecies of the olm.

It is endemic to the underground waters near Črnomelj, Slovenia, an area smaller than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi). It was first found in 1986 by members of the Slovenian Karst Research Institute, who were exploring the water from Dobličica karst spring in the White Carniola region.

The Olm is extremely vulnerable to changes in its environment, on account of its adaptation to the specific conditions in caves. The Olm was first protected in Slovenia in 1922 along with all cave fauna, but the protection was not effective & a substantial black market came into existence. In 1982 it was placed on a list of rare & endangered species. This list also had the effect of prohibiting trade of the species. In Croatia, the Olm is protected by the legislation designed to protect amphibians – collecting is possible only for research purposes by permission of the National Administration for Nature and Environment Protection. On the IUCN Red List, the Olm is listed as vulnerable because of its fragmented and limited distribution and ever-decreasing population.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Coffee]

Did someone say mudkip?

 

[User19sq]

Did someone say mudkip?

That's an axolotl. This other thing is too funky. Needs its own Pokemon, though.

 

[LegendChu]

Here's another Cat species.

KODKOD

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Species: L. guigna

The Kodkod, also called güiña, is the smallest cat in the Americas.

The Kodkod has a small head, large feet & a thick tail. An adult weighs 2 to 2.5 kgs (4.4 to 5.5 lb), with a typical length of 37 to 51 cms (15 to 20 in), tail length of 20 to 25 cms (7.9 to 9.8 in) & a shoulder height of about 25 cms (9.8 in).

The coat has a base color ranging from brownish-yellow to grey-brown. The body is decorated with dark spots, with a pale underside & a ringed tail. The ears are black with a white spot, while the dark spots on the shoulders & neck almost merge to form a series of dotted streaks. Melanistic Kodkods with spotted black coats are quite common.

Kodkods are equally active during the day as during the night, although they only venture into open terrain under the cover of darkness. During the day, they rest in dense vegetation in ravines, along streams with heavy cover. They are excellent climbers & easily able to climb trees more than a meter in diameter.

Male Kodkods maintain exclusive territories 1.1 to 2.5 square kms (0.42 to 0.97 sq mi) in size, while females occupy smaller ranges of just 0.5 to 0.7 square kms (0.19 to 0.27 sq mi).

The gestation period of a Kodkod lasts about 72–78 days. The average litter size is one to three kittens. They may live to be about 11 years old.

Kodkods are strongly associated with mixed temperate rainforests of the southern Andean & coastal ranges, particularly the Valdivian & Araucaria forests of Chile, which is characterized by the presence of bamboo in the understory. They prefer evergreen temperate rainforest habitats to deciduous temperate moist forests, sclerophyllous scrub & coniferous forests. They are tolerant of altered habitats, being found in secondary forest & shrub as well as primary forest & on the fringes of settled & cultivated areas. In Argentina, they have been recorded from moist montane forest, which has Valdivian characteristics, including a multi-layered structure with bamboo & numerous lianas and epiphytes.

The Kodkod was formerly considered a member of the genus Oncifelis, which consisted of three small feline species native to South America. All of these species have been moved into the genus Leopardus. Along with the Kodkod, the former members of Oncifelis were the colocolo & Geoffroy's cat.

There are two known subspecies of this cat:-
Leopardus guigna guigna, found in Southern Chile & Argentina
Leopardus guigna tigrillo, found in Central Chile

Since 2002, the Kodko has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List as the total effective population may comprise less than 10,000 mature individuals & is threatened due to persecution & loss of habitat & prey base. The major threat to the Kodkod is logging of its temperate moist forest habitat & the spread of pine forest plantations & agriculture, particularly in central Chile.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Spyro]

I got so excited with this cute kitty then I saw it might be endangered :'( Poor kitty

 

[Radiating]

Not the Kodkod! (That's a pretty funny name though.)

 

[Cool_Porygon]

All species of big cats are endangered, and most of the small cats too :(

 

[LegendChu]

And yet another Cat species. Why, because I love Cats {<3}.

ONCILLA

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Species: L. tigrinus

The Oncilla, also known as the Northern Tiger Cat & Tigrillo, is a small spotted cat ranging from Central America up to Central Brazil.

The Oncilla resembles the Margay & the Ocelot, but is smaller, with a slender build & narrower muzzle. It grows to a height of about 38 to 59 cms (15 to 23 in), plus a 20 to 42 cms (7.9 to 16.5 in) tail. While this is somewhat longer than the average domestic cat, the Oncilla is generally lighter, weighing 1.5 to 3 kgs (3.3 to 6.6 lb).

Their fur is thick & soft, ranging from light brown to dark ochre, with numerous dark rosettes across the back & flanks. The underside is pale with dark spots & the tail is ringed. The backs of the ears are black with bold ocelli. The rosettes are black or brown, open in the center & irregularly shaped. The legs have medium-sized spots tapering to smaller spots near the paws. This coloration helps the Oncilla blend in with the mottled sunlight of the tropical forest understory. The Oncilla's jaw is shortened, with fewer teeth, but with well-developed carnassials & canines.

The Oncilla is a primarily terrestrial animal, but is also an adept climber. It eats small mammals, lizards, birds, eggs, invertebrates, & the tree frog. Occasionally, it also eats grass. They are generally nocturnal, but in areas such as Caatinga, where their main food source consists of diurnal lizards, they are more likely to be active during the day. Young Oncillas have been observed to purr, while adults are known to make short, gurgling calls when close to one another.

Oncillas produce 1 to 3 kittens (usually only one), after a gestation of 74 to 76 days. The kittens' eyes open after eight to seventeen days, an unusually long period for a cat of this size. The kittens do not begin to take solid food until they are 38 to 56 days old (much older than in the domestic cat). They have a life span of about 11 years in the wild, but there are records of these cats reaching an age of 17 years.

The Oncilla is distributed from Costa Rica & Panama up to the Amazon basin & Central Brazil. It shows a strong preference for cloud forest & inhabits elevations as high as 4500m in Colombia, in the Andean highlands in Ecuador & Peru, & in the subtropical forest highlands in Brazil. It has also been recorded in cerrado & scrubland environments. There are records in northern Panama, but the remainder of the country appears to be a gap in its range.

There are four traditionally recognized subspecies of the Oncilla:-
Leopardus tigrinus tigrinus, found in eastern Venezuela, Guyana, northeastern Brazil.
Leopardus tigrinus guttulus, found in Atlantic forest central & southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina (later recognised as a separate species).
Leopardus tigrinus Oncilla, found in Central America.
Leopardus tigrinus pardinoides, found in western Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Oncilla as vulnerable. The chief threats they face are deforestation & poaching. Oncillas are killed for their pelts, which are highly prized & often sold or made into clothing. Another factor contributing to Oncilla mortality is human expansion, settling what was once open terrain for wild cats. There is a breeding facility in Brazil for several small native felines, where their natural conditions & native food encourage reproduction similar to that in the wild. There are a few Oncillas in captivity in North America & a few in zoos in Europe & South America. But in captivity, the Oncilla tends to have high infant mortality rate. Reports in 1972 & 1982 in South America showed that the Oncilla is one of the four most heavily hunted of all the small cats.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Sunshine Moonlight]

Its adorable. Want to adopt one.

 

[LegendChu]

A spiny critter is next on the list.

ECHIDNA

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Suborder: Tachyglossa
Family: Tachyglossidae

Echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, belong to the family Tachyglossidae in the monotreme order of egg-laying mammals. The four extant species, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of the order Monotremata & are the only living mammals that lay eggs.

The Echidnas are named after Echidna, a creature from Greek mythology who was half-woman, half-snake, as the animal was perceived to have qualities of both mammals & reptiles.

Echidnas are medium-sized, solitary mammals covered with coarse hair & spines. Superficially, they resemble the anteaters of South America & other spiny mammals such as hedgehogs & porcupines. They are usually black or brown in colour. They have elongated & slender snouts that function as both mouth & nose. Like the platypus, they are equipped with electrosensors, but while the platypus has 40,000 electroreceptors on its bill, the long-billed Echidna has only 2,000 electroreceptors, & the short-billed Echidna, which lives in a drier environment, has no more than 400 located at the tip of its snout. They have very short, strong limbs with large claws, & are powerful diggers. Echidnas have tiny mouths & toothless jaws. The Echidnas' ears are slits on the sides of their heads that are usually unseen due to the fact that they are blanketed by their spines. The external ear is created by a large cartilaginous funnel, deep in the muscle. Male Echidnas have non-venomous spurs on the hind feet.

The short-beaked Echidna's diet consists largely of ants & termites, while the Zaglossus (long-beaked) species typically eat worms & insect larvae. The tongues of long-beaked Echidnas have sharp, tiny spines that help them capture their prey. They have no teeth, & break down their food by grinding it between the bottoms of their mouths & their tongues. The Echidna feeds by tearing open soft logs, anthills & the like, & using its long, sticky tongue, which protrudes from its snout, to collect prey.

Echidnas do not tolerate extreme temperatures. They use caves & rock crevices to shelter from harsh weather conditions. Echidnas are found in forests & woodlands, hiding under vegetation, roots or piles of debris. Echidnas are capable swimmers. When swimming, they expose their snout & some of their spines. They are known to journey to water in order to groom & bathe themselves.

When fully grown a female can weigh up to 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lbs) & a male can weigh up to 6 kilograms (13.2 lbs).

The female lays a single soft-shelled, leathery egg & deposits it directly into her pouch. While hatching, the baby Echidna opens the leather shell with a reptile-like egg tooth. Hatching takes place after 10 days of gestation. The young Echidna remains in the pouch for 45 to 55 days, at which time it starts to develop spines. The average lifespan of an Echidna in the wild is estimated around 16 years. The longest recorded lifespan for a captive Echidna is 50 years, with anecdotal accounts of wild individuals reaching 45 years.

Echidnas are classified into three genera. Of these, one genus, Megalibgwilia, is known only from fossils.

Zaglossus - Western long-beaked Echidna (Z. bruijni) of the highland forests, Sir David's long-beaked Echidna (Z. attenboroughi) described in 1961 & preferring a still higher habitat, Eastern long-beaked Echidna (Z. bartoni) of which four distinct subspecies have been identified.
Tachyglossus - The short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), found in southern, southeast & northeast New Guinea, & also in almost all Australian environments, from the snow-clad Australian Alps to the deep deserts of the Outback.

Echidnas are very timid animals. When they feel endangered they attempt to bury themselves or if exposed they will curl into a ball, both methods using their spines to shield them. Although they have a way to protect themselves, the Echidnas still face many dangers. Some predators include wild cats, foxes, domestic dogs & goannas. Snakes pose as a large threat to the Echidna species because they slither into their burrows & prey on the young spineless puggles. Some precautions that can be taken include keeping the environment clean by picking up litter & causing less pollution, planting vegetation for Echidnas to use as shelter, supervising pets, reporting hurt Echidnas or just leaving them undisturbed. Merely grabbing them may cause stress & picking them up improperly may even result in injury.

Fun Facts - The Echidna appears on the reverse of the Australian five-cent coin. Knuckles the Echidna, is a red Echidna featured in the video game series Sonic the Hedgehog, in which he is depicted as being the last of his kind.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Coffee]

Unlike sonic I dont chuckle

 

[LegendChu]

Here's another deer species.

SANGAI

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Rucervus
Species: R. eldii
Subspecies: R. e. eldii

The Sangai is an endemic, rare & endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur, India. It is also state animal of Manipur. Its common English name is Manipur brow-antlered deer & the scientific name, Rucervus eldii eldii McClelland.

It is believed that the name Sangai (sa "animal" & ngai "in awaiting") was coined from its peculiar posture & behaviour while running. By nature, the deer, particularly the males, even when running for its life stops occasionally & looks back as if he is waiting for someone & hence the name.

It is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, measuring 100?110 cm. in length with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam. The two tines form a continuous curve at right angles to the closely set pedicels. This signifies its name, brow-antlered deer. The height & weight of a fully grown stag may be approximately 115?125 cm at shoulder & 95 to 110 kg (210 to 230 lb) respectively. The height & weight of the female are shorter & less as compared to the male counterpart. The length of the body from the base to the ear up to the tail is about 145 to 155 cm in both genders. The tail is short.

Sangai feed on a variety of water living plants, grasses, herbaceous plants & shoots. It exhibits a bimodial activity pattern. Sangai starts grazing usually early morning approximately 4:30 am & generally continue up to 8:00 am. On cloudy morning the period may extend to 10:00 am. In the evening it starts at 3:00 pm & continue up to 6:00 pm. After feeding it takes rest. During day time it rests under thick & tall reeds & grasses. At night some of them even rest on the hillocks.

After a 220- to 240-day-long gestation period, normally a single calf is born. The young are spotted at birth, but these spots fade as the animal grows. The Sangai has a maximum lifespan in the wild of around 10 years.

The Sangai faces a two-pronged danger to its life. Firstly, its habitat is steadily degenerating by reason of continuous inundation & flooding by high water caused as the result of artificial reservoir of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Loktak. Secondly, poachers are out there to trap & slay the deer at the slightest opportunity. The Sangai was believed to be almost extinct by 1950. However, in 1953 six heads of the Sangai were found hovering at its natural habitat. Since then, the State Government has taken serious & positive measures for the protection of this rare & endangered species. A census conducted in 2000 in the park showed that there were just 162 Sangais left.

Identified as one of the rarest animal species in the entire world, the Sangai is the apple of the eye for the people. Talk of Manipur & one of the first things to introduce the state is the Sangai, other than polo, its classical dance, sports & films.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Sunshine Moonlight]

Sounds like a chinese name xD

 

[LegendChu]

Time for the next species!

KINKAJOU

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Potos
Species: P. flavus

The Kinkajou is a rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to Olingos, Coatis, Raccoons, Ringtails & Cacomistles. It is the only member of the genus Potos & is also known as the "honey bear" (a name that it shares with the sun bear).

Kinkajous may be mistaken for ferrets or monkeys, but are not closely related to either. Olingos are similar to the Kinkajou in morphology & habits, however, genetic studies have shown that Kinkajous were an early offshoot of the ancestral procyonid line & are not closely related to any of the other extant procyonids, to which they are a sister group. The similarities between the Kinkajou & Olingos are thus an example of parallel evolution. The Kinkajou is distinguished from olingos by its prehensile tail, its foreshortened muzzle, its extrudable tongue. The only other carnivore with a prehensile tail is the Binturong.

An adult Kinkajou weighs 1.4–4.6 kg (3–10 lb). The adult body length is 40–60 cm (16–24 in). in addition to body length, the length of the prehensile tail is 40–60 cm (16–24 in). The Kinkajou's woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold (or brownish-gray) overlapping a gray undercoat. It has large eyes & small ears. It also has short legs with five toes on each foot & sharp claws.

Although the Kinkajou is classified in the order Carnivora & has sharp teeth, its omnivorous diet consists mainly of fruit. Kinkajous particularly enjoy figs. Studies have shown that 90% of their diet consists of (primarily ripe) fruit. Leaves, flowers & various herbs make up much of the other 10% of their diet. They sometimes eat insects, particularly ants. It has been suggested, without direct evidence, that they may occasionally eat bird eggs & small vertebrates. The Kinkajou's slender five-inch extrudable tongue helps the animal to obtain fruit & to lick nectar from flowers, so that it sometimes acts as a pollinator. Although captive specimens will avidly eat honey (hence the name "honey bear"), honey has not yet been observed in the diet of wild Kinkajous.

A nocturnal animal, the Kinkajou's peak activity is usually between about 7:00 PM & midnight, & again an hour before dawn. During daylight hours, Kinkajous sleep in tree hollows or in shaded tangles of leaves, avoiding direct sunlight. Kinkajous spent most of their life in trees, to which they are particularly well adapted. Like raccoons, Kinkajous' remarkable manipulatory abilities rival those of primates. The Kinkajou has a short-haired, fully prehensile tail (like some New World monkeys), which it uses as a "fifth hand" in climbing. It does not use its tail for grasping food. It can rotate its ankles & feet 180°, making it easy for the animal to run backward over tree limbs & climb down trees headfirst.

Kinkajous give birth to one or occasionally two babies after a gestation period of 112 to 118 days. They live an average of about 23 years in captivity, with a maximum recorded life span of 41 years.

Kinkajous are sometimes kept as exotic pets. They are playful, generally quiet & docile. However, they can occasionally be aggressive. Kinkajous dislike sudden movements, noise, & being awake during the day. An agitated Kinkajou may emit a scream & attack, usually clawing its victim & sometimes biting deeply.

There are seven subspecies of the Kinkajou:-
Potos flavus flavus
Potos flavus chapadensis
Potos flavus chiriquensis
Potos flavus megalotus
Potos flavus meridensis
Potos flavus modestus
Potos flavus nocturnus

Kinkajou is not an endangered species, though it is seldom seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits. However, they are hunted for the pet trade, for their fur (to make wallets & horse saddles) & for their meat. The species has been included in Appendix III of CITES by Honduras, which means that exports from Honduras require an export permit & exports from other countries require a certificate of origin or re-export.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Cool_Porygon]

Cute, but will probably eat your face.

 

[LegendChu]

Cute, but will probably eat your face.

Here's something that will definitely eat your face.

SIDEWINDER

​

Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: C. cerastes

The Sidewinder is a venomous pit viper species belonging to the genus Crotalus (rattlesnakes) & is found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States & northwestern Mexico.

The other common names for this species are, horned rattlesnake, Sidewinder rattlesnake, Mojave Desert Sidewinder (for C. c. cerastes), Sidewinder rattler.

The common name Sidewinder alludes to its unusual form of locomotion. As its body progresses over loose sand, it forms a letter J-shaped impression, with the tip of the hook pointing in the direction of travel. Sidewinder rattlesnakes can use sidewinding to ascend sandy slopes by increasing the portion of the body in contact with the sand to match the reduced yielding force of the inclined sand, allowing them to ascend up to the maximum possible sand slope without slip. Here's a short video of that:-

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The Sidewinder measures between 43 to 76 cm (17 to 30 in) in length. Most adults are 50 to 80 cm (19.5 to 31.5 in) in length. The females are larger than the males, which is unusual for this group of snakes. Usually, 21 rows of keeled dorsal scales occur midbody. Males have 141 or fewer ventral scales, while females have 144 or fewer. It is sometimes referred to as the horned rattlesnake because of the raised supraocular scales above its eyes. In the nominate subspecies, the belly is white & the proximal lobe of the rattle is brown in adults.

The species is nocturnal during hot months & diurnal during the cooler months of its activity period, which is roughly from November to March (probably longer in the southern part of its range).

These snakes are venomous, but possess a weaker venom than many other rattlesnakes. This, together with the smaller size of their venom glands, makes them less dangerous than their larger relatives. Still, any rattlesnake bite can be fatal & should be taken seriously

Females produce up to 18 young, with an average of about 10 per litter. Like most other viperids, the young are born enveloped in thin embryonic membranes, from which they emerge shortly after being expelled from the mother. The young stay with their mother in a burrow for seven to 10 days, shed for the first time, then leave their natal burrow. During this time, the mother is thought to guard & protect them from predators.

Sidewinders have an extraordinarily accelerated lifecycle, with natural life expectancies of females of about five years. Males may live quite a bit longer (maximum known natural lifespan of 13 years). Sidewinders can live more than 20 years when well fed in captivity (even females).

It has three known subspecies - Mojave Desert Sidewinder (C. c. cerastes), Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (C. c. cercobombus) & Colorado Desert Sidewinder (C. c. laterorepens).

In the southwestern United States, this species is found in the desert region of eastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, & western Arizona. In northwestern Mexico, it is found in western Sonora & eastern Baja California.

This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because they are unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend was stable when assessed in 2007.

Pika Pika :chu:

 

[Sunshine Moonlight]

The way it moves is weird but funny.

 

[LegendChu]

Presenting, a majestic cat species.

CARACAL

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Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Caracal
Species: C. caracal

The Caracal is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia & India.

The species was first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Felis Caracal in the journal Die Säugetiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen in 1776. In 1843, British zoologist John Edward Gray placed the animal in the genus Caracal. The name "Caracal" is composed of two Turkish words - kara, meaning black & kulak, meaning ear. Alternative names for the Caracal include gazelle cat, red cat, rooikat, & red or Persian lynx. The "lynx" of the Greeks & Romans was most probably the Caracal & the name "lynx" is sometimes still applied to it, but the present-day lynx proper is a separate species.

The Caracal is a slender, moderately sized cat characterised by a robust build, a short face, long canine teeth, tufted ears & long legs. It reaches nearly 40 to 50 cms (16 to 20 in) at the shoulder. The head-and-body length is typically 78 cms (31 in) for males & 73 cms (29 in) for females. While males weigh 12 to 18 kgs (26 to 40 lbs), females weigh 8 to 13 kgs (18 to 29 lb). The tan, bushy tail measures 26 to 34 cms (10 to 13 in). The prominent facial features include the 4.5 cms (1.8 in) long black tufts on the ears, two black stripes from the forehead to the nose, the black outline of the mouth, & the white patches surrounding the eyes & the mouth. The coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, though black Caracals are also known. The underbelly & the insides of the legs are lighter, often with small reddish markings.

The Caracal is often confused with the lynx, as both cats have tufted ears. However, a notable point of difference between the two is that the lynx is spotted & blotched, while the Caracal shows no such markings on the coat. The African golden cat has a similar build as the Caracal's, but is darker & lacks the ear tufts. The sympatric serval can be told apart from the Caracal by the former's lack of ear tufts, white spots behind the ears, spotted coat, longer legs, longer tail & smaller footprints.

The Caracal is typically nocturnal (active at night), though some activity may be observed during the day as well. However, the cat is so secretive & difficult to observe that its activity at daytime might easily go unnoticed.

A solitary cat, the Caracal mainly occurs alone or in pairs. The only group seen is of mothers with their offspring. Gestation lasts nearly two to three months, following which a litter consisting of one to six kittens is born. Births generally peak from October to February. Births take place in dense vegetation or deserted burrows of aardvark & porcupines. Kittens are born with their eyes & ears shut & the claws non-retractable (unable to be drawn inside). The coat resembles that of adults, but the abdomen is spotted

The conspicuous ear tufts & the facial markings often serve as a method of visual communication. Caracals have been observed interacting with each other by moving the head from side to side so that the tufts flicker rapidly. Like other cats, the Caracal meows, growls, hisses, spits & purrs.

A carnivore, the Caracal typically preys upon small mammals, birds & rodents. Studies in South Africa have reported that it preys on the Cape grysbok, the common duiker, sheep, goats, bush vlei rats, rock hyraxes, hare & birds. A study in western India showed that rodents comprise a significant portion of the diet. Grasses & grapes are taken occasionally to clear their immune system & stomach of any parasites. Larger antelopes such as young kudu, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck & springbok may also be targeted.

Its speed & agility make it an efficient hunter, able to take down prey two to three times its size. The powerful hind legs allow it to leap more than 3 metres (10 ft) in the air to catch birds on the wing. It can even twist & change its direction mid-air. It is an adroit climber. It stalks its prey until it is within 5 metres (16 ft), following which it can launch into a sprint. While large prey such as antelopes are killed by a throat bite, smaller prey are suffocated by a bite on the back of the neck.

The Caracal inhabits forests, savannas, marshy lowlands, semi-deserts & scrub forests. Dry areas with low rainfall & availability of cover are preferred. In montane habitats such as the Ethiopian Highlands, they occur at altitudes as high as 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above the sea level. The Caracal is widespread across the African continent, the Middle East & the Indian subcontinent. Although the Sahara Desert & the equatorial forests do not figure in its distribution, the Caracal occurs in the Saharan ranges of Atlas, Hoggar & Tassili to the northwest & the Aïr to the west. The range has diminished considerably in northern & western Africa.

It has 8 recognized subspecies:-

North African Caracal (C. c. algira) - Found in northern Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia)
Common Caracal (C. c. Caracal) - Found in central & southern Africa (South Africa)
Namibian Caracal (C. c. damarensis) - Found in Namibia
Transvaal Caracal (C. c. limpopoensis) - Found in Botswana & northern South Africa
Gabon Caracal (C. c. lucani) - Found in northern Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon & Republic of the Congo
Nubian Caracal (C. c. nubica) - Found in central Africa (Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Sudan & Sudan)
West African Caracal (C. c. poecilotis) – Found in western & central Africa (Senegal, Nigeria, Niger & western Sudan)
Asiatic Caracal (C. c. schmitzi) - Found in Asia (Afghanistan, western India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, southwestern Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Syria, southern Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, southwestern Uzbekistan

The Caracal is categorised as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources (IUCN); African populations are listed under CITES Appendix II while Asian populations come under CITES Appendix I. In central, west, north & northeast Africa & Asia, the major threat to the survival of the Caracal is habitat loss due to agricultural expansion & desertification.

Fun Facts - The Caracal appears to have been religiously significant in the ancient Egyptian culture as it occurs in paintings & as bronze figurines & sculptures where they were believed to guard the tombs of pharaohs. Until as recently as the 20th century, the Caracal was used in hunts by Indian rulers to hunt small game. Caracals would be exposed to a flock of pigeons & people would bet on which Caracal would kill the largest number of pigeons. This probably gave rise to the expression "to put the cat among the pigeons".

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