Monthly archive April, 2012
Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra)
Did you know? That Alpine Salamanders hibernate during the winter months. As a defense mechanism, they secrete a poison from their the skin by lifting its head and bending backwards. After mating, females can store a “sperm bag” for up to two years in their body. The Alpine Salamanders’ body length is 15 cm. They have a deep black...
African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
Did you know? That African Gray Parrot has the reputation of being the best talker of all species of parrot? They can only imitate speech, but also mimic a human voice. They also imitate sounds with incredible accuracy, from dripping from a faucet until construction equipment. Caregivers should be careful to pronounce any word you do not want...
Kaka (Nestor meridionalis)
Did you know? That the main reason for the decline of kaka is the predation of eggs, chicks and incubating females by introduced mammalian predators, especially stoats? The Kaka is a large parrot, stocky, short tail, about 45 cm long. Males weigh an average of 525 g, females about 475 g. The peak is larger...
African Cetónido (Pachnoda sinuata)
Did you know? That there are 108 species of Pachnoda known to science, found across Africa to southern Europe and the Arabian Peninsula? The species most commonly bred in human care is the P. marginata. Other species kept in zoos are P. epiphiata, P.flaviventris, P. marginata, P. orphanula, P. Pilgrim, P. savignyi, and P. sinuata. The African Cetónido has a square and robust body that is...
Osprey (Gypaetus barbatus)
Did you know? That the vulture is the only bird of prey that smashes rocks to their prey’s bones to feed on the marrow inside? The Osprey has a total length of 94-117 cm and weighing 5-7 kg. The crown is white surrounded by dirty black. A circle around the eyes and face is covered with stiff...
Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa)
A Bubble Coral is a coral with large polyps. It can grow to 1.2 meters and produces a basal calcareous skeleton. Although there are many polyps, there is only one opening in its large mouth. It processes like bubbles with their tentacles extending to the surface to provide more space and light to symbiotic algae, called zooxanthellae, that...
Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
Did you know? That Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman is the least known of the crocodiles of the new world? Even such basic issues as their prey, their habitat preference and reproduction are poorly understood. The research, including ecological interactions with other crocodiles and the effects of subsistence hunting are urgently needed. The Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman has a snout rather long,...
Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)
Did you know? That the Amazon River dolphin is able to move its neck because they are vertebrates, and are not fused like most of the dolphins? This allows them to bend the neck to the side or down, which is very useful when swimming through flooded forests. The Amazon River dolphin is characterized by a...
Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Did you know? That the life expectancy of the Aye-aye is not only threatened by habitat loss, but also by local superstition? Some people believe that the Malagasia Aye-aye brings bad luck and kills anything it finds. The aye-aye is the largest nocturnal prosimian. It has a head-body length about 40-50 cm and a length of about...
Bald Ibis (Geronticus hermit)
Did you know? That the Bald Ibis is eight times higher to survive in zoos those that survive in nature? The thriving population of zoos is the order of 2,000 birds. In the wild, this species is critically endangered with only about 250 surviving copies in Morocco and even fewer in Turkey and Syria. The Bald Ibis...
Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor)
Did you know? That rattlesnakes have heat sensitive pits that used to locate their prey? The Aruba rattlesnake snake is a small snake, with colors of gray or gray-brown. It has dorsal overlapping scales are pale brown and triangular in shape. The head and neck have a couple of lines that can extend far over the body. Adults...
Columbian Squirrel (Spermophilus columbianus)
Did you know? That the Columbian Squirrel eats only 130 days a year? The rest of the year is spent hibernating. The squirrel has to consume about 17% of their body weight each day before bedtime. Otherwise, it could not survive the winter. The Columbian Squirrel is a typical Suslik. It is mostly gray with yellow-orange underparts. It has a...
