Facts and Features of Badger

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genre: Taxidiinae
Scientific Name:Taxidea Taxus
Type: Mammals
Diet: Omnivorous
Size (L): 41cm - 75cm (17 inches - 29 inches)
Weight: 12 kg - 14 kg (25 lbs - 30 lbs)
Maximum speed: 30 kmh (18 mph)
Duration of the life: 4-10 years
Lifestyle: Solitary
State of Conservation: Feared
Color: Brown, Black, White
Skin:Fur
Favorite Food: Worms

Shelter: Woodland and hedges
Litter size : 3
Main Foods: Worms, Roots, Fruit  

Attackers: Humans, eagle, wild cats  

Special features:Flattened body and wide claws

Badgers are living in the forests of Europe and western Asia , searching to find roots and berries , and also worms and insects.Surprisingly Badgers can run up to 30 kms per hour for short periods of time and have been known to successfully combat the larger mammals like wolves , coyotes and bears!There have been normal reports over the years against badgers as being particularly aggressive with dogs and even humans!  

Badger is able to produce a painful bite , and some badgers are also known to lead to a type more commonly known rabies.The Badgers are found in black and white stripes in western Europe.Badgers are believed to be related to weasels and otters and can grow to almost a meter long ! Badger lives in underground burrows , which often contain a way of tunnels. 

 It is believed that by digging their burrows , badgers are able to remove tons of soil surfaces !Badger is the common name for any three subfamilies of Badger ,belonging to the family Mustelidae.This is the same family as ferrets mammal, weasels , otters , and several other types of carnivore which means badger is most closely attached to these animals. 

There are eight species of badger and these species are divided into three subfamilies, badgers of Europe and Asia, Ratel badger or honey badger and American badger. The Asian stink badger was once before classified as a badger but today badger species is thought to be more closely related to the skunk. 

Typical species of badger have short legs and also tend to have a relatively heavy accumulation. The lower jaw is articulated to upper jaw which means it is much difficult to dislocate the jaw badgers . This enables the badger to maintain its control over the prey easily , but limits the movement of badgers jaw opening and closing hinge or sliding from side to side .

Facts and Features of Arctic Walrus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family : Odobenidae

Genre : Odobenus

Scientific Name : Odobenus rosmarus

Common Name : Walrus

Other Names: Atlantic Walrus and Pacific Walrus

Group: Mammals

Number of species : 2

Geographic Location: Arctic Circle

Habitat :Rocky Coasts and ice lands

Color : Grey, Brown

Skin: Hair

Size ( L ) : 2.27 m - 3.6 m ( 7.6 ft - 11.6 ft )

Weight: 405 kg - 1,7020 kg ( 890 pounds - 3750 pounds )

Maximum speed : 38kph ( 24 mph )

Diet : Carnivorus

Food:shellfish, worms , snails,octopus

Predators :whales , polar bears,Humans

Lifestyle : Diurnal

Group: Herd

Duration of the life : 41-50 years

Sexual Maturity Age: 6-10 years

Gestation Period : 15 months

Litter size : 1

Baby Name : Pup

Weaning Age: 2 years

State of Conservation :Threatened

Size of the population estimated : 220000-240000

Major threats : Hunting and loss of habitat

Special feature :Long tusks growing upto 1m long

Funny Facts : Lives in freezing waters of Arctic regions

Classification and Evolution of Walrus

The walrus is a  mammal found in the marine icy cold waters of the Arctic Regions. It is considered as more closely related to Fur Selas, seals , walruses are the second largest marine related mammals that come together to breed after elephant seals and separated among pinnipeds ,due to their long tusks and sensitive whiskers.Currently there are two different species of walrus that minutely vary in appearance with respect to geographic location , which are Atlantic walrus and Pacific walrus.However, it is widely whispered whether or not there is actually a third species thought as the Laptev walrus found in  Laptev Sea ,which thought to be a location of Pacific walrus that specifically inhabit the area.The walrus is taken as an increasingly vulnerable even though the collection of data on these elusive creatures can be difficult so it is difficult to accurately determine the current population status of walrus.

Anatomy and Appearance of Walrus

Walruses consists of large and elongated bodies with head and neck  are quite wider and taper towards the tail,that is summarized with skin.Its skin is covered with a thick layer of scattered hairs usually gray or brown in color. However, while bathing out of the water , walrus skin (which can be up to 4 cm thick) a pink - red color develops.Walruses have two pairs of wings that help them through the water with their hind flippers give power to the bodies, while the front wings are used to guide them in the right direction.On surface, they move unconventionally on all the flippers underneath at 90 degree to further support.The skin on the bottom of the wings is rough and gnarled that protects these huge animals from slipping on ice.Walruses have long tusks which are used both to fight and dig ice when coming out of the water .

Distribution and Habitat of Walrus

Walruses are found throughout the north Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , inhabiting ice floes and rocky coasts , along with spending a lot of time in the cold water. During the winter months , when the ice is so hard , walruses prefer thinner ice areas which can easily break through the surface of the water below.In the summer months when the ice declines ,these are found in remote areas of the rocky coast.Instead of being very suitable  freezing conditions in north, walruses have sometimes been known to move into the south areas of central Canada, throughout the UK and also near to Spanish coast.Although they spend most of their time in and around the Arctic Circle, which are growing under threat of global warming is rapidly running out of ice that these animals have learned to trust .

Behavior and Lifestyle of Walrus

Walruses are highly social animals that live in large herds on the ice floes that can hold up to thousands of individuals and consist primarily of females (cows ) and their calves, along with a number of dominant males (bulls ).When move into water to feed these huge groups break up into small bands numbering only ten individuals so there is less competition for food.Male walruses are almost twice the weight of their female and have longer tusks that can grow up to one meter in length and are mainly used to fight with competitors to the most favored breeding and female residing there.They are known for making a variety of vocal sounds including strong bellows during breeding season that easily and loudly produce , thanks to the two air bags in the neck.

Reproduction and Life Cycles of Walrus

Walruses breed in winter season between the months of January and March.After a gestation period lasts about 15 months , one pup is born on ice having length of upto 1.2 meters long and weight up to 75 kg. Baby Walrus have short , soft hair covering their bodies, wings are pale grey in color and a thick , white mustache with no teeth.They just suck the milk of its mother during its first six months , when they begin to eat solid foods. After first year , walrus pups are almost three times the size they were at birth and begin to become independent , although they tend to stay very close to their mothers until they are two or three years old.Young females tend to stay close to their mother, but males begin to venture out of the pack to join groups of bachelors.Female walruses are capable of begin sex at about 6 or 7 years old , but men are not mature until they are at least 10 years old, but often do not reproduce until they can demonstrate proficiency around 5 years later.

Diet and Prey of Walrus

Walruses are carnivores that hunt and only eat other animals to survive.They have a thick mustache that contains about 450 very sensitive whiskers that help them find food in dark and turbid water at depths of about 100 meters below the surface.Walrus find food mostly on the ocean floor and are known to expel air and water in the sediment to reveal hidden food under the sand .Initially they suck food into the mouth rather than chewing by teeth and even seafood are known to grip between lips and sucking the soft creature from inside the shell, before spitting the shell on the water.Walruses feed on a variety of prey species , including clams , snails , worms, squid, octopus and even some species of slow-moving fish .Some populations of walruses are also known to hunt seals .

Attackers and Threats of Walrus

Because of its large size and aggressive nature,have few predators in their natural surroundings , with the exception of the pods of killer whales and polar bear, as they can easily defend themselves with the tusks. Humans are the most common predators of the walrus, as they are hunted for meat , skin and oil from local populations.They are also affected by water pollution,including oil contamination affecting them, but also through their prey , along with large fishing vessel that the walruses prey and not only  left with less food , but also cause serious noise pollution in waters.

Interesting Facts of Walrus

Walruses are well comfortable to living in some of the coldest regions in the world, with thick skin covering a thick layer of blubber (fat ) that keeps warm.Its tusks were originally designed to help during feeding, but they know it's more to do with social status.Walruses dig their tusks into the ice surfaces to help them transport their enormous bodies out of the water , but also put their tusks into the ice so that they are able to sleep while their bodies remain submerged beneath the waves. Walruses are also known for using their long and powerful tusks as an axe to cut their way through the thick layer of ice.Walruses feed on the darkness of the ocean and is known to regularly move on depths of between 80m and 100m for almost half an hour at a time.However, recent studies gives that , depending on the availability of prey ,they are known to reach around depth of 180 meters below the water surface.

Relationship of Walrus with humans

For thousands of years , local people have thought about walruses as much like humans as they are known to show qualities of intelligence , they are slow to breed and give long and very good care of their young. Walruses also been hunted by people in their home countries for thousands of years as a source of food, but in recent years have also been increasingly hunted for the ivory of their tusks, which is considered to be the second in size and quality only to elephants .The large-scale hunting has decreased populations of walrus, especially in some areas , but also increasing amounts of pollution that is having a great effect on wild populations.

Conservation Status of Walrus 

Nowadays , the walrus is considered as Threatened species, although the data are difficult to collect in these bottom-feeding mammals .Since the 18th century these are declining, with increasing levels of hunting and human activity and , more recently,due to decreasing  amount of ice due to global warming.Although the exact population size is unknown , it is estimated that there are between 220,000 and 240,000 walrus remain in the icy waters of the Arctic Regions.

Facts and Features of Vervet Monkey

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genre : Chlorocebus
Scientific Name: Chlorocebus Pygerythrus
Common name : Vervet Monkey
Other name ( s ) : Vervet
Group: Mammal
Number of species: 6
Location : East Africa
Habitat: riverine acacia forests
Color: Green, Gray , Brown, Black , Silver
Skin Type :Fur
Size ( L ) : 47cm - 67cm ( 17.9in - 25.7in )
Weight: 3.6 kg - 5 kg ( 7 lbs - 10 lbs )
Maximum speed : 46kph (30 mph)
Diet: Omnivore
Prey : leaves, fruits , insects,roots,bulbs
Attackers: Leopard , Serval , Crocodile
Lifestyle:Food search in day and rest at night
Group Behavior : Troop
Life Period : 12 - 24 years
Age of sexual maturity : 2 - 5 years
Gestation period: 163 days
Average Litter Size : 1
Young Name : Infant
Weaning age : 8 - 12 months
Preservation Status : Least Concern
Estimated Population : Sustainable
Major Threat:Loss of habitat
Special feature :white ears and black face

Fact: Often found above 400 meters from the trees!

Classification and Evolution of Vervet Monkey

The vervet monkey is a medium to large size species which is mainly found in region of  East Africa.It is believed to be species of Grivet, which is another tree-dwelling African monkey which has characteristics very similar to the Vervet, along with the Malbrouck which is considered to be subspecies of vervet Monkey. These three animals are very closely attached, but they tend to live in groups in different areas and believed to very often come into contact with each other.In today's time there are six sub-species of vervet monkey species usually classified according to their location,but there are some differences in coloration.

Anatomy and Appearance of Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkey grows to an average height of 48 cm ,with a tail that is usually longer than the body itself and has a black tip.Their skin tends to be gray or olive color ( depending on species ) and is lighter on the bottom.The hands and feet are Vervet Monkey are black , along with it's ears and face that has a white stripe on it and is designed by white cheeks.The vervet has long arms and legs, which are of same length to allow this species to walk on four legs.Males tend to be larger than females and are easily distinguished by their bright blue testicles .

Distribution and Habitat of Vervet Monkey

The Vervet Monkey lives in south of Sahara and is widespread throughout East Africa.Also found in parts of southern and western Africa from Uganda to Ghana, but its location is generally dependent on the subspecies .Vervet Monkey inhabits savanna , forests and jungles , which tend to be near the water , preferring acacia forests that line rivers and lakes.Vervet Monkeys are also found in mountains up to 1,400 feet provided there is an adequate supply of food and water for living.Rarely found in extreme environments such as deserts and rain forests , as these regions do not contain all things needed to live.

Behavior and Lifestyle of  Vervet Monkey

The vervet monkey spends most of  time in the safety of the trees.Despite venturing into the ground in search of food and water,it rarely go beyond 400 meters of trees ,which helps to escape from attackers.They are diurnal animals that spend their days in search of food and then rest at night.The vervet is a very sociable animals that inhabit territories may contain between 10 and 50 people , depending on the location and how wide the food supply is.These troops are composed of adult females and their offspring , males wandering between different troops , both socializing and companion.

Life Cycles of Vervet Monkey 

Generally it is not able to reproduce until they are  five years old, despite their age at sexual maturity is known to vary slightly and may depend on the amount of food they access.After 5 ½ months , females give birth to a baby being cleaned by his mother, and clings to her stomach during the first week or so.Vervet Monkey babies quickly develop strong social bonds with other monkeys and is known to begin to interact and play with them when they are of one month old.They have black hair and pink faces and tend not to develop adult coloration until a few months old.Vervet Monkey babies suck their mother 's milk until they are about four months old and start eating soft vegetables, but they are not completely weaned until they are a year old .

Diet and Prey of Vervet Monkey 

This is an omnivorous animal ,meaning they eat both plant matter and other animals in order to get the nutrition they need to live.The leaves and young shoots are the most diet , along with the bark of trees, flowers and fruits.Vervet Monkeys search for roots,bulbs , seeds and herbs and also known to supplement their diet with insects , eggs , rodents , birds and other animals.Like many other species of monkeys, the Vervet uses it's incredibly skilled hands in order to gather food ,with its long tail help to balance on tree branches.

Attackers and Dangers of Vervet Monkey

The vervet has few attackers ,although it remains in the trees but the largest species of eagle is common fear.On the ground however, there are number of large African attackers ,including felines such as the Leopard ,Serval and Caracal ,also with large reptiles like pythons ,crocodiles near the water.The Vervet Monkey can quickly make a backup safety, and the ability to run at a speed that allows them to try to escape faster.Although vervet generally only make sounds, is known to shout and whistle to alert other members of the troop that they are in danger.

Interesting Facts about Vervet Monkey 

Despite the fact that they tends to reach sexual maturity after several years in the wild, sex tends to occur much earlier at an average age of two years old.They are well adjusted to their surrounding environments , as they can jump and climb well when in the trees and are very fast on the ground as well as being excellent swimmers.Younger women of the troops that are not yet mature ,often show a sweet interest in the offspring of adult females and help with grooming and caring for their young.It is also known that love to keep them , so it's not surprising that social bonds within the troop particularly among relatives , often last for life.

Relationship of  humans with Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkey has get acquainted urban environments and have replaced expanding their historic habitat , but sometimes are seen as pests.Vervet Monkeys are known to attack the fields, along with the theft of food and other items and are rarely caught by humans because of their speed, both on the ground and trees. Although they have been affected by the increase of human settlements , is also the destruction of their natural ranges mainly for agriculture ,which is compressing their populations.They are also appeared in the islands of West Indies  i.e St. Kitts and Barbados.

Preservation Status of Vervet Monkey

Today, as the species are widely available and found in different habitats ,so it has been listed as least concern to become extinct in near future Although they have adapted well to city life , they are often killed by electricity wires and traffic along with used in medicines and as bushmeat.

Facts and Features of Tapir

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class :Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Tapiridae

Genre: Tapirus

Scientific name: Tapirus

Type: Mammal

Diet: Herbivore

Size: 98-150cm (39-59in)

Weight: 152-300kg (330-700 £)

Maximum speed: 49 km / h (30 mph)

Duration of Life: 19-25 years

Lifestyle: Solitary

Preservation status: Endangered

Color: White, Black, Brown, Grey

Skin : Hair

Favorite food: Leaves

Habitat: lowland, wet forests

Average Litter Size: 1

Main Prey: leaves, grass, buds, branches

Attackers: humans, wild cats, Crocodile

Distinct Features: long, flexible snout and hump on the shoulders

The tapir being a large mammal and having pig like appearance, is believed to be closely attached to horses and rhinos.The tapir is found in high temperature Southern Hemisphere areas consisting of wet and large dense wood lands.Today there are four known species, all of which are classified as endangered and they are Baird's Tapir ,found in Central America and northern South America.It can be found out by the info that this species of tapir face has a cream coloured layer.The Malayan Tapir ( also known as the Asian tapir ) is the known as largest species of all and consists of white band across his body. 

In the recent pasts they were found in the tropical forests of South-East Asia, but today due to loss of habitat they are found in a quite small range.The mountain tapir is the smallest of all species and (as the name directs ),it is found in mountainous regions instead of  lowland forests.The mountain tapir inhabits in high forests of Andes mountains throughout Colombia ,Ecuador and some parts of northern Peru.The Brazilian tapir ( also popular as the South American tapir ) is known to be a awesome swimmer and is usually found near water in the Amazon rainforest .

The tapir is a herbivore and passes time for food to eat.It takes leaves,twigs,branches,buds,shoots,berries, fruits and watery plants.The tapir has very few predators due to it's large size,but is known to be eaten by wild cats such as tigers, jaguars and cougars along with large reptiles such as crocodiles and even some odd snake . The man is thought to be the most common danger for tapir as they are hunted for food and also lives as domesticated animals.

Tapirs have a long and flexible nose (similar to an elephant's trunk ,but no way near as large).The tapir uses it prehensile snout to gather leaves and branches of bushes and low trees.Instead of their sturdy build , tapirs are known to be great swimmers and spend most of their time near the water, to cool down.Tapirs are also known to dive into shallow water in order to take lush aquatic plants .

Tapirs mate during the coldest months of April and May.After a gestation period of more than a year ,the female gives birth to one baby.When a baby is first born ,weigh about 10 kg and in comparison to adult tapirs ,the baby tapir has stripy coat.Tapirs women are thought to breed every alternate year and when the babies are around 2-3 years old they leave their mother.

Today, all four species of tapir are considered endangered.The main reasons behind this are deforestation and loss of habitat ,hunting by humans.Tapirs are hunted for food and skin.Tapirs are solitary animals with the exception of the mating season and the tapir mother feeds baby tapir.Due to the shy nature, little interaction occurs between man and wild tapirs (besides hunters).However , tapirs are known to protect themselves with their powerful jaws and rarely it attacks to humans.It causes a major damage by biting others!

Facts and Features of Racoon

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
class Mammalia
Order: Carnivores
Family: Raccoon
Genre: Procyon
Scientific name: Procyon Lotor
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 42-71 inches (16-28in)
Weight: 3.7-9kg (7.7-£ 19.8)
Maximum speed: 25 km / h (15 mph)
Life Period: 12-16 years
Lifestyle: Solitary
Preservation status: Least Concern
Color:White,Brown,Gray,Black
Skin type: Fur
Favorite food: Fish
Habitat: forest areas near water
Average Litter Size: 5
Main Prey: fish, nuts, berries, corn
Attackers: Bobcat, foxes, wolves, mountain lions
Distinctive Features: black mask on the face and agile hands and feet

The raccoon is a medium sized mammal like a bear found only in North America.As a drastic appearance of raccoons in other countries,it can be also found now in Japan and Europe continent.The average size in length of racoon is around 70 cm from the nose tip to the bottom of tail.A well grown raccoon can weight up to 10 kilos and live up to 20 years in environment.However, Raccoons tend to have a life period expectancy which is quite lower.

Formerly racoons were living in the dense wooded areas and large forests but now they are surviving in mountains and moist surfaces.The raccoon also has approached human communities that raccoons are able to find food very easily  but they are considered as pests by many domestic owners.

Raccoons are omnivorous animals that survive on  insects, plants and small animals such as fish and birds rarely.Raccoons are usually nocturnal, but it is not unusual to find during the day.

The most distinctive feature of the raccoon is the black mask is around eyes.The raccoon also has a thick layer of skin that keeps it warm during cold winters and raccoons are extremely sensitive and front paws of raccoons have been noticed turning door knobs and opening jars .

Raccoons are desperate for food and are often found near water. Raccoons were observed washing their food in water before eating !Although the reasons behind these are not well known ,it is believed that the sense of touch of paws is heightened when watered.

About ten different species of raccoon that vary in size ,but differ slightly in appearance ,found throughout the Americas.The sense of touch is the very necessary and its front paws are covered with a spiny coat to protect them when they aren't eating.

Raccoons tend to mate in between late winter to starting of spring ,from January to March.However, further south raccoon species have been known to mate after the mating season often goes to the end of  June.After a incubation period of about two months, the female will give birth to about 5 baby raccoons ,also known as kits or cubs.

Raccoon kits are born blind and deaf , with the two senses that appear in the first month.Cubs aren't born hairless, but have a layer of light-colored skin,with distinctive black mask to be visible from birth.Raccoon kits are usually about 10 cm long at birth and weigh about 75 g.

Foot Data of Racoon

• Raccoons have four feet with five toes on their front hind legs that give greater stability during running and climbing .
• The bottom of the feet of raccoons are bare and flat sole that makes the raccoon waddle rather than walk .
• The front legs are similar if the raccoon hands are like human being , both in appearance and ability to allow raccoons to hold things easily .
• The larger hind legs give more power during running and balance when the front feet in use.
• Raccoons have very nimble fingers on their front paws that allow them to untie knots, turn doorknobs and even open bottles.

Teeth Data of Racoon

1. Raccoons have 40 teeth including four long, sharp canine teeth in the front of the mouth.
2. Raccoons use their hand- like front paws to hold food before they use their teeth to chew and swallow.
3. The sharp canines in the front of mouth followed by premolars increase in size as they move into the mouth of Raccoon .
4. The premolars and molars are used to grind and chew their food until they are able to swallow.
5. Raccoons have an unique habit of washing their food when they are near water ,however ,raccoons do not exceed a tasty treat , if no water is available.

Facts and Appearance of Panther

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family : Felidae

Genre : Panthera

Scientific Name:Panthera pardus ,Panthera ounces

Common Name : Panther

Otro nombre ( s ) :Black Panther ,Black Leopard,Black Jaguar

Group: Mammal

Number of species : 31

Location : Asia , Africa, Latin

Habitat : Forest, wetlands and grasslands

Color : Dark Coffee , Black

Skin Type :Fur 

Size ( L ) : 1.1 m - 1.9 m ( 43in - 75 inches)

Weight: 36 kg - 160 kg ( 79 lbs - 350 lbs)

Maximum speed : 114kph ( 71 mph )

Diet : Carnivorous

Prey : deer , tapir , wild boar

Predators : Human , Lion , Hyena

Lifestyle : Nocturnal

Group behavior : Solitary

Life Period: 12-15 years

Edad of sexual maturity : 3-4 years

Gestation period : 90-105 days

Average Litter Size : 3

Name of Young : Cub

Weaning Age : 3 months

Conservation Status: Threatened

Size of the estimated population : Unknown

Major threatens :Loss of Habitats 

More distinctive trait : bright green eyes

Funny facts: prefer to hunt for the night than in the day it !

Classification of Panther 

The Panther (also known as the Black Panther ) is known as the largest member of the big cat family found in Asia,Africa and Americas.The panther is the general name used to refer to any black color feline of big cat family,especially leopards and jaguars.The panther is an powerful animal that has adapted easily to different habitats around  world and is known to be one of the strongest climbers in felines.Despite the panther is not technically classified as a separate species,which are considered to be endangered by many because of the decreased number of the leopards and jaguars in their environment.

Anatomy and appearance of Panther 

The panther tends to be dark brown to black in color and is identical to the feline species to which it belongs .The only exception to this is the Florida Panther in the southeastern region of the U.S.,which is believed to be a subspecies of  Cougar and is quite rarely dark brown and tends to have speckled appearance.Unlike leopards and jaguars ,the Panther has no spots on its body or tail ,but has a bright layer of dark skin. Panthers have small heads with strong jaws and green eyes  and tend to have hind legs that are larger and slightly longer than the front.As a member of the big cat family ,the panther is not only one of the largest cats in the world, but is also able to roar ,which other felines out of this group are not able to.

Distribution and Habitat of Panther 

Panthers found in three of the world's continents ,with its location in terms of whether or not a black leopard or Black Jaguar.There are 30 different subspecies of leopard found in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and the once natural range of Jaguar extends throughout Central and South America and even in parts of the U.S. ,Panther has become very adaptable animal found in a variety of different habitats.Although most commonly found in tropical forests and deciduous ,the panther also be found inhabiting both swamps and marshes, along with grasslands and hostile areas like deserts and mountains.Along with a number of the world's largest cat ,the panther is becoming rare in the wild ,mainly due to habitat loss of deforestation.

Behavior and lifestyle of Panther

The panther is a intelligent animal ,which is rarely seen by people in nature as they are usually very quiet and cautious animals.It's dark brown fur camouflages enables both in the surrounding forest and almost invisible in the darkness of night.The panther is a solitary animal that consists a nocturnal lifestyle ,spending much of the day hours resting high in the trees.Since both the leopard and jaguar,panthers are amazing climbers and not just resting in trees but are also able to keep eyes on prey without being seen.The panther is very powerful and fearless animal is threatned by many fact as they are  very aggressive.Panther is very territorial especially males whose home ranges coupled with those of a number of females and are threatened by another male.

Reproduction and Life Cycles of Panther

Despite living in different parts of the world ,although there are only two different species of big cats that are considered panthers, leopards and jaguars are actually closely related.Black Leopards and Jaguars often occur in the same litter as spotted cubs with female generally gives birth to 2-4 cubs after a gestation period of about three months.Panther cubs are born blind and open their eyes after they are about two weeks old. They are very vulnerable to attackers especially when left by mother who must hunt for diet.By the moment there are a few months old begin to accompany mother in  search of food and often do not leave it until two years and have an established territory for themselves.

Diet and Prey of Panther

The panther is an carnivores animal and one of the most feared and powerful predators in it's environment. The dark skin of the panther makes it almost impossible to find  which means can move through the forest completely invisible at night for hunting.Although most of  hunting appears to be on the ground, they are also known to hunt from trees.The living surrounding of panther decides the actual diet in spite of medium to large sized herbivores comprise the major part of many big cats.Animals such as deer,wild boar,Warthogs, tapir and Antelope are hunted by Panthers ,along with the smaller species ,such as birds and rabbits in larger prey is scarce.

Attackers and Fears of Panther

The jaguar is the largest feline in the America and Panthers in New World are the dominant predators within their environments.Those found in Africa and Asia are sometimes prey to other large carnivores such as lions and hyenas ,but the most common predator and the greatest threat to the Panthers are people.Not only these animals were hunted by people, but they have also undergone drastic habitat loss particularly due to deforestation , increasing both human settlements and agriculture.Population figures of big cats are declining worldwide and when they are being directed into smaller pockets of natural habitat they are getting rarer than they already available.

Facts and Features of Panther

According to science,although technically only black leopards and jaguars are generally regarded ,the term is also used to describe a series of dark hair cats in their native habitats  including lions, tigers , cougars ,Puma and lynx.Some Panthers are actually able to swim ,but not those who are leopards, and jaguars are known to have attraction towards water.Not only these prefer flooded forests ,but spend a significant amount of time swimming,playing and hunting in the water.

Relationship of humans with Panther

Big Cats of the world have been hunted by people as both trophies and for their skin especially in the last two centuries.This caused huge declines in population numbers of leopards and jaguars with them after have completely disappeared from some areas.Panthers have also been subjected to severe habitat degradation in much of Asia,Africa and America, which means that these elusive predators are now even rarer.They are rarely seen by people who are really just always aware of the presence of a panther by its tracks on the floor and scratch marks on trees.Also Panthers are often referred to as " the ghost of the forest ' .

Today's Status and Life of Panther 

Despite the fact that panther is not a species considered by science ,both leopards and jaguars are increasingly vulnerable along of its natural range and listed as threatned species by IUCN.However,due to the fact that two individuals carrying genes  mate to produce a Black Panther and the chance of this is diminished due to loss of natural habitats  ,many wildlife experts consider these as endangered animals worldwide .

Facts and Features of Hamster

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Genre: Mesocricetus
Scientific Name: Mesocricetus auratus
Type: Mammals
Diet: Omnivorous
Length:6-28cm (2-11in)
Weight: 100-900g (3.5-32 oz)
Maximum speed: 6 km / h (4 mph)
Life Period: 2-3 years
Lifestyle: Solitary
Preservation Status: Least Concern
Color: Tan,Brown,White,Black
Skin Type:Fur
Favorite food: Seeds
Habitat:Dry deserts and sand dunes
Average litter size: 8
Prey also:nuts, berries,fruits
Attackers: owl, hawk, Serpientes
Different Features:food storage bags and the ability to run back towards

Hamsters are thought to originate from the desert lands of East Asia,including hamster species such as the common Syrian hamster and the miniature Russian dwarf hamster.Hamsters spend most of their time digging and foraging for food.Today,hamsters are commonly kept as pets with average domestic hamsters about 2 or 3 years old.Hamsters are thought to be easy  pets to keep for kids because of hamsters quite nature,small size and calm temperament .

Hamsters are solitary animals.Some species of hamster are so solitary that they will fight until death if more than one hamster is in the same territory.Hamsters are nocturnal as hamsters spend the daylight hours in underground burrows to avoid the many predators in the natural environment.The hamster will leave the safety of their underground burrow at night when it is dark and the temperature is cooler in order to get the food.

Hamsters use their large cheek pouches to store food that hamster can get the food to the stash in the underground burrow.Nuts,seeds,vegetables,herbs,fruits and berries are natural diet of the hamsters.

There are over 20 different species of hamster found in nature (and even more in the commercial market for pets).Russian Dwarf hamster are among the smallest species of hamster along with adults rarely grow to more than 10 cm in length.The most common Syrian hamster is the largest species of hamster and few Syrian hamster individuals have been known to grow to about 30 cm in length, although the average size of a Syrian hamster is usually about 20 cm.

Many species of hamsters are very fast in execution,so they are able to escape from attackers.Due to the shape and size of the hind legs of hamster,hamsters are often capable of running backward as fast as it can forward,that allows to easily escape hamsters in their burrows .

Hamsters live in semi -desert regions around the world with the soft soil that gives best material for the hamster to burrow in.The burrow usually consists of many tunnels and chambers including separate areas for the hamster to eat and sleep in.

Foot Facts of Hamster

1. The hamster has two front legs that are more like hands and the hamster uses it to maintain and forage for food.
2. Hind legs are slightly larger than the front legs and are used to balance and support the hamster while sitting.
3. The beautiful  hind legs enable hamster to not only run forward but also backward so the hamster can escape easily into burrows.
4. Hamster hands are well suited to their purpose as they have five fingers on each hand ,while in the feet have only three.
5. Hamsters have soft pads at bottom of paws that help them to run smoothly and long nails on the end of each toe that helps the hamster to grip.

Teeth Facts of Hamster

• As hamsters are rodents ,their teeth are growing all the time so they should grind their teeth down to keep it from becoming too long by gnawing on something hard.
• Hamsters have 16 teeth that grow continuously to give it the advantage while they lose a teeth .
• Unlike many other species animals,the babies are born with a full set of teeth and keep teeth throughout it's life period.
• Hamsters have cheek pouches to store food while out foraging and later empty their pockets so they can eat their stored food.
• A hamster is able to carry own body weight in food in their cheeks and takes then creates secret staches of food to ensure that the hamster is not exhausted.

Facts and Features of Bactrian Camel

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Camelidae

Genus: Camelus

Scientific Name: Camelus bactrianus

Type: Mammal

Diet: herbivore

Size (H): 1.7 m - 2.1 m (5.5 ft - 7 ft)

Weight: 600kg - 816kg (1325-1800 lbs)

Maximum speed: 64 kmh (40 mph)

Life Time: 35 - 50 years

Lifestyle: Herd

Conservation Status: Endangered

Color: Brown, Tan

Skin Type:Fur

Favourite food: Grass

Habitat: Deserts near water

Average Litter Size: 1

Main Diet: Seeds, Grass, thorny bush

Attackers: Human, Tiger, lizards

Special features: thick skin and two humps

The Bactrian camel is best known for being the kind of camel with two humps.There are only two surviving species of camel remaining i.e Middle East single hump camels and Bactrian (double hump ) camel from northern Asia.

There are believed to be more than a million domesticated Bactrian camels around the world not only in Asia but also parts of Africa and the Middle East.Camels have been domesticated for about 2,000 years, both for pulling / carrying heavy loads,but also for the transport of people and goods.

Like the single humped camel ,the Bactrian camel is able to survive on its own reserves of water for long periods of time which means it can move long desert plains and mountain ranges without the need to stop.Today the Bactrian camel is considered an endangered species,with fewer than 1,000 Bactrian camels are thought to live in parts of China and Mongolia.

The Bactrian camel humps work the same way as the Arab camel humps ,Bactrian camels with humps uses for fat storage which can be converted into water and energy when the Bactrian camel finds short of  food and water. Bactrian camels humps gives them their legendary ability to travel long periods without water, even in harsh desert conditions.As the fat in Bactrian camel humps are used ,Bactrian camels humps become floppy and flabby.The Bactrian camel is one of the most adaptable animals in the world which is able to with stand temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius in summer and -30 degrees Celsius in winter.

Bactrian camels have developed special adaptations which allows it to survive in an unstable environment. The Bactrian camel has a thick and saggy coat that protects the Bactrian camel in the winter and the coat fades as the seasons change and the temperature rises to allow Bactrian camel to keep cool in the summer season.

Facts and Features African Civet

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family : Viverridae

Genre : Civettictis

Scientific Name : Civettictis Civetta

Common Name : African Civet

Group: Mammal

Number of species : 1

Location: in sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat : Tropical Forest

Color : Black,white,gray,yellow,Brown ,Tan

Skin Type:Fur

Size ( H ) : 44cm - 71cm ( 17 inches - 28 inches)

Weight: 1.4 kg - 4.5 kg ( 3 pounds - 10 pounds )

Diet : Omnivorous

Prey : Rodents,snakes, Frogs

Attackers: lions,snakes, leopards

Lifestyle : Nocturnal

Group behavior : Solitary

Life Span: 15-20 years

Sexual Maturity Age: 11-12 months

Gestation period : 60-70 days

Average Litter Size : 3

Name of Young : Pup

Weaning Age: 8-10 weeks

Preservation Status : Least Concern

Estimated Population Size: Abundant

Threts:loss of habitat

More distinctive feature: Black Band around eyes

Funny Facts: Secret  4 g of musk every week !

Classification and Evolution of African Civet

The African Civet is the largest species of Civet found in sub-Saharan Africa .The African Civet is the only remaining member in genetic group and is considered the largest civet -like in Africa.Despite its appearance and behavior like Cat ,African civets are not felines at all but are more closely related to other small carnivores like weasels and mongooses.The African civet is best known for musk that it generates to mark their territory (called civetone ) , \which has been used in the manufacture of perfumes for centuries and is black and white striking marks make the African civet one of the most Civet species easy to identify.

Anatomy and Appearance of African Civet

One of the most distinctive features is it's black and white markings on their skin and gray face along with the black band around the eyes , gives it racoon like appearance.The only similarity is enhanced by the fact that the hind legs of the African civet are slightly longer than the front ,so the position is very different from that of a mongoose .The average adult African civet has a length of about 70 cm, with almost same length of the tail above.The legs of the African civet each have five digits with retractable claws  allowing  more easily to move on trees.

Distribution and Habitat of African Civet

The African civet is found in a variety of habitats on the African continent ,with its range extends from coast to coast in sub - Saharan Africa.African Civets are most commonly found in tropical forests and jungles and overgrown areas with dense to provide coverage and African civets for food.African Civets are never found in the arid regions and should always be in an area that has good amount of water supply.Despite this , however , it is not uncommon for African civets are found along rivers that lead in the most arid regions. They are able to swim quite well and spend most of their time hunting and resting in the trees and on the ground .

Behavior & Lifestyle of African Civet

The African Civet is a solitary animal that only comes out at night to hunt and catch food.These nocturnal animals spend most of the day resting in the safety of the trees high above.African Civets tend to be most active just after sunset , but tend to hunt in areas still provide plenty of coverage.Despite being generally very solitary animals ,during the mating season African civet has been known to gather in groups of up to 15 members.They are also very territorial animals ,marking its boundaries with the odor emitted from the perineal glands .

Reproduction and life cycles of African Civet

African civets are seen together during mating season.The female African civet usually gives birth to up to 4 young after a gestation period that lasts a couple of months.The female one stays in a  underground burrow that  have been dug by another animal in order to keep safe the young .Unlike many of his relatives carnivores ,Civet babies are usually born very mobile and with their skin.Babies are nursed by their mothers until they are strong enough to protect themselves.African civets can live up to 20 years ,although many rarely get to this age.

Diet and Prey  of African Civet

Despite the fact that the African civet is a carnivorous mammal it's diet is a collection of both animal and plant matter.Small animals such as rodents ,lizards ,snakes and frogs make up the majority of the diet of the African civet ,along with insects , berries and fallen fruit that is available on ground.Instead of using their legs, African civet mainly used their teeth and mouth to collect food.This method means that the African civet can use their 40 sharp teeth to effectively break it's catch down and the strong jaw of African civet makes difficult for food to get out.

Threats to African Civet

The African civet is really prey to a number of other predators in their natural environment.Large Cats are common predators of African civet  along with lions and leopards as well as reptiles such as large snakes and crocodiles.It's population are also threatened by habitat loss and deforestation, and have been the subject of trophy hunters in the past, across the continent.One of the greatest threats to the African Civet is the want for their musk.

Interesting Facts and Features of African Civet

The musk secreted by glands near the reproductive organs has been collected by humans for hundreds of years of this African Civet.In its most concentrated form ,the scent is said to be very offensive to people ,but much nicer once diluted.It was this smell that became one of the ingredients in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world( and made African Civet most popular).African Civets are known to carry rabies disease ,which is contracted through contact with an animal already infected.The African Civet is also known to use designated areas around it's territory ,where it is able to toilet.

Relationship of African Civet with humans

Each African civet secrets  musk of up to 4 g in each week ,which is generally collected African civets in the wild.However, the capturing and retention of African civets for their musk is not unknown and is said to be an  incredibly cruel business.Today ,few perfumes still contain real musk glands of the African civet as today many of them are artificially produced.Although it is a protected area,not extincted animal ,African Civet population have also been  affected by human hunters,who hunt these small carnivores simply add their skin to the trophy cabinet.

Conservation Status of African Civet

Today, the African civet is threatened by deforestation and therefore drastic loss of much of their natural habitat.The main reason for this extensive deforestation in the area is either to register or to clear land to make way for palm oil plantations.The African civet is listed as Least Concern ,meaning that there is little threat at the time that the African civet extinct in the near future .

Facts and Features of Zebra

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Scientific name: Equus zebra, Equus quagga, Equus grevyi
Common Name: Zebra
Other name (s): Mountain Zebra, Common Zebra, Zebra, Burchell's Zebra, Zebra Grevys
Group: Mammal
Number of species:3
Location: Eastern and Southern Africa
Habitat: open grasslands and plains
Color: Black, white, brown
Skin Type: Hair
Size (L): 2 m - 2.75 m (6.6 feet - 9 feet)
Weight: 220kg - 405kg (485 pounds - 893 pounds)
Survival Period:20-30 years

Classification and evolution of Zebra

Zebra is a large species of equines and habitats in the grassy plains of sub- Saharan Africa.The Zebra are larger and distinctive wild horses with the pattern of black and white stripes ,the exact placement of which is unique for every individual.There are three species of zebra found in Africa ,which are common zebra ( also known as the plains zebra and Burchell 's zebra ) , Grevy 's zebra (also known as the Imperial Zebra ) and the mountain zebra .They are very social animals that can travel long distances in search of fresh grass and water, but are seriously threatened in most of its natural range due to increasing levels of human activity . Today, both the Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra are considered endangered species and even the plains zebra is broader and large ,there have been sharp population declines in some areas.

Anatomy and appearance of Zebra

Zebras are heavy animals that are perfectly designed for speed with long slender legs , narrow hooves help them to reach speeds of 40 mph while running .In the same way as horses they have only one toe on each foot walking on tip and is protected by its hard hooves.Its black and white stripes are unique to each individual and help them to identify each other when in the herd . Zebras have long necks and heads that means they can easily get to the grass on the ground and a mane that extends from the front and along the back to the tail.The pattern of stripes varies between species of Grevy 's and mountain zebras having narrower stripes and white underparts ,while the common zebra has wider stripes covering entire body.The Grevy's zebra is not only the largest of the zebra species , but also easily identifiable for it's large and rounded ears .

Distribution and Habitat of Zebra

Zebras are found inhabiting open grasslands and plains of eastern and southern Africa , where they spend most of their time grazing.The plain zebra is the largest and has the largest natural variety throughout East Africa, where they are roaming the grassy plains .The mountain zebra is grazing in mountain meadows of West Africa , while Grevy 's zebra is limited to arid grasslands and sub ​​-desert steppe throughout Ethiopia , Somalia and northern Kenya. Zebras have been developed to run incredibly fast so be able to escape from attackers and depends on the open plains for their survival.Although the plain zebra has been less affected, all three species are having population decline due to loss of natural habitat caused by increasing levels of human activities.

Behavior and lifestyle of Zebra

Zebras are very social animals  roaming the savanna in herds to protect themselves from predators.The Grevy's zebra occupies herds more flexible than the other species with a stallion (male ) patrolling huge territories of up to 10 square kilometers, with mares ( females ) and their foals grazing freely and sometimes in small groups feeding together.Both the common zebra and the mountain zebra live in their regions of origin in long-term herds are divided into smaller groups of the family, who are led by a dominant stallion and contain between one and six mares with their foals .Their strong and social relationship can become very affectionate with one another, often grooming each other using their teeth.During mating season , males fight fiercely for the right to breed with the females and do so rearing up on its hind legs while kicking and biting each other .

Reproduction of Zebra

The zebra is a slow growing mammal  with women not being able to first breed until they are at least a couple of years old.After a gestation period that can last from 10 months to one year, the female gives birth to a single foal is born with stripes, mane and also has a small patch of hair in middle of tummy.Zebra foals are capable to stand after few minutes of birth ,which is vital to ensure that they are able to run to escape predators.They are able to  eating grass after a week and are weaned when they are 11 months old .Young Zebras stay with their mothers until they are mature in about three years when men leave their natal pack to join a bachelor group of all men ,while females remain with their mother.These bachelor groups start to challenge the dominant stallions to try to take over the harem during mating season .

Diet and Prey of Zebra

Zebra is a herbivore which means they only eat plants -matter in order to get the nutrition.Most zebra diet (in fact, around 90% ) is comprised of a wide variety of different herbs with other plant material , including leaves and buds making up the remainder.They use their sharp teeth to bite into the hard ends before grinding herbs up with flat molars along the cheeks.Due to the fact that the grass has little nutritional value , zebras should spend  70-80 % of day in grazing .Common Zebras are often seen drinking at water holes that are made every day, but due to the fact that the Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra live in the driest regions , often do not drink for several days at a time.In the dry season zebras can travel great distances in search of fresh grass and water wells that have not dried yet,Grevy 's zebra also known to dig in the soil of dry river bed to find groundwater .

Predators of Zebra

Zebra is a large and powerful animal that although being herbivores can easily exceed many of their attackers.Zebras are prey to lions,leopards,hyenas and African wild dogs, along with many other large carnivores like crocodiles when crossing rivers or drinking.While their first instinct is to run, zebras are sometimes known to attack the animal that threatens to kick and bite.However,when it senses danger, zebras notify each other of the threat and escape predators as a tight flock ,often confused or simply intimidate any attacker.The greatest threat to the populations of zebra, though remaining in Africa is the increasing invasion of their natural habitat for people,with the loss of their plains for cattle grazing and to clear land for agriculture.

Facts and Features of Zebra

The zebra stripes are still a mystery to science light even today as they were once thought to blend in natural light and shadow in  environment to confuse predators as once running as a herd it is extremely difficult to stay focused on a single animal .The formation of stripes on its rear end  is  different among the three species of  common zebras with horizontal stripes on their hind legs while other two have upward.These patterns at their rear ends are believed so that different members of the same pack are able to easily identify the individual in  front of  pack while running.As with other male horses ,zebra stallions are known to curl their upper lips until they are believed to increase their sense of smell.This so-called " horse-laugh " is believed to be vital for man to be able to detect when a female is ready to mate .

Relationship  of Zebra with humans

Due to free-moving nature and over large distances ,the increasing human presence throughout the world has done that zebras have been affected by the loss of habitat in their natural range .However,one of the most interesting things about zebras people is that ,since they are so closely related to other equines , including horses and donkeys , zebras have truly able to bring with them to produce a foal hybrid , known as Zonkey ( zebras and donkeys ) or as a Zorse ( zebras and horses) .Although it is not believed that the two species will naturally be able to mate in nature due to geographic differences , a number of individuals and therefore Zonkey and Zorse now exists worldwide .Zebras are believed to have a natural protection to certain parasites which has led people to breed horses and donkeys with zebras to produce an animal that has the character and the size of a horse or donkey,but with the power and capacity recovery of a zebra .But Zonkeys and Zorses are infertile and therefore are unable to reproduce .

Life Today of Zebra

Today, two of the three species  are listed by IUCN as animals that are endangered and therefore endangered in their natural habitats in the future.Grevy 's zebra and the mountain zebra are found in isolated regions and their numbers continue to fall for their natural ranges .The plain zebra is an animal that is listed as being of least concern for extinction in nature and  although they are still widely spread around and the numbers appear to be good ,as the other species are threatened by loss of habitat to  much of its natural range .

Facts and Features Asian Mountain Yak

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genre: Bos
Scientific name: Bos grunniens
Type: Mammal
Diet: herbivore
Size: 2-2.2m (6,5-7.2 ft)
Weight: 300-1,000 kg (661 to 2.200 pounds)
Maximum speed: 40 kmh (25 mph)
Average Life Period: 15-20 years
Lifestyle: Herd
Preservation Status: Threatened
Color: Brown, Black, White
Skin Type: Hairy
Favourite Diet: Grass
Habitat: Alpine meadows and hills open
Average Litter Size: 1
Main Prey: Grass, Grasses, Mosses
Attackers:Human, bears, wolves
Special Features: thick,hairy and big horns

The yak is mainly found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia.The yak tend to gather in herds of yaks around 10-100 , most of them are women.There are only a few male yaks per herd.Although there is a large population of yak , there are only a few wild yak remaining.The yak is still used in many parts of Central Asia to pull heavy farm machinery and transport of heavy loads through the mountain.

The average male yak can grow to about 2 meters high, with female yak is approximately one third the size of the male yak .Yak consists of very long hair to keep warm .

The yak belongs to the cow family as the Asian water buffalo , African buffalo and the American bison .However, the yak is a bit more like the American bison in appearance as both the yak and bison have long hair in order to withstand the coldest climates.

In the warmer months of September yak breeds and after a gestation period of around nine months the female gives birth to a single yak calf. A female yak occasionally gives birth to twins, but is very rare. Some female gives birth to a calf almost every year , but it depends on the individual and the environment in which they habitat.Babies are completely independent at the time they are a year old and fully grown when they are between 7 and 8 years.The average life period of a yak is about 20 years in the wild and a little more when in captivity.

Like other species of cow, the yak is a herbivore and spends much time in grazing on grasses, herbs and wildflowers of the mountains.Similar to other species of the cow ,yak has more than one stomach which is used to get all the nutrients from the plants they eat.

The yak has firm , dense  horns used to break through the snow in order to obtain plants that are buried under it and also use their horns to protect itself.They have much hair covering their bodies that keep them warm and dry.

Facts and Features of Central and South American Vampire Bat

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Scientific Name: Desmodontinae
Common name: Vampire Bat


Classification and evolution of Central and South American Vampire Bat

The vampire bat is a small bat species ,habitats in  tropical regions of Central and South America.There are three sub ​​- species of vampire bat, all of which are in a genus of its own despite their similarities.The common vampire bat , Hairy- Legged vampire Bat and White Vampire Bat - with wings are closely related and have the same eating habits only because they are the only mammals known to feed exclusively on blood.Eventually, vampire bats are perfectly adapted to the consumption of their only source of food ,with a light heat sensor at end of the nose to detect when blood is flowing hot closest to the skin.

Anatomy and appearance of Central and South American Vampire Bat

The vampire bat is  a small animal and his body rarely grows larger than the size of a human thumb .It's wings are long  like bone of fingers that are covered by a thin layer of skin, with a thumb claw peeking out the front and used for better grip when climbing around its host.Vampire bats have dark brown to gray furry bodies with a lighter underside and strong limbs that allow them to easily  crawl on the floor. As with other bats ,vampire bats use echolocation to determine their environment.While flying  they produce high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects in the area, and  this bounced -back sound  allows the bat to find out where the things around (which is so acute that can not be heard by people ) .

Distribution and Habitat of Central and South American Vampire Bat

The vampire bat is found throughout the continent of South America from Mexico to the tip of Argentina . Vampire bats are found in both tropical and subtropical regions and also can habitat on wet and dry climates. Many bats are nocturnal and also vampire bat ,spending daylight hours resting in hollow trees ,caves  mines and even abandoned buildings in colonies that may be more than 1,000.Although other species of bats are known to nest in the same places as the vampires , it is believed that the other species tend to keep distance between them to avoid the conflict .

Lifestyle of Central and South American Vampire Bat 

After sleeping  all day in darkness,vampire bats roams when the moon appears in order to find diet.Despite being solid and strong fliers, the design of their arms and legs means they can also move into the ground with surprising speed.Vampire bats flies around a meter above the ground in search of a warm-blooded animal , and once they  found, they land over it.The vampire bat usually creeps up sleeping victim , before biting and feeding on the  flowing blood .Vampire bats tend to be solitary hunters, but roost together in colonies that typically contain about 100 bats, and consisting of alpha males and their harems of about 6 females and their babies.

Reproduction and Life Cycles of Central and South American Vampire Bat

Vampire Bats mate the whole year and is known to have a very long gestation period compared to other species. After 3 to 4 months, the female vampire bat gives a single baby and she cares until weaned at between 3 and 5 months old (babies born in captivity bats are weaned significantly later, when they are 9 months age). Like other mammals, the young vampire bats feed on their mother 's milk until they are old enough to consume adult diet and an adult weight of around one year.The female vampire bats are very careful like a mother, known caring and adopt orphans from the colony.The life span of Vampire bat can grow up to 12 years in the wild , though captive individuals have been known to almost reach an age of 20 years.

Diet and Prey of Central and South American Vampire Bat

Vampire Bats use echolocation ,sound and smell to find their prey which can be up to 10,000 times the size of this small predator, and that is why vampire bats have evolved to take some precautions when eating. First, they never land on their prey ,but the interior of the earth on the floor and crawl around to it which are able to detect the veins near the skin surface with precision  thanks to its nose with sensor heat .Vampire bats uses its  sharp teeths , then vampire bat bites its host, immediately jump back in case the animal is awake. Contrary to popular belief , vampire bats do not suck blood from their victims  but lap inside using tongue as it flows from the wound. Chemicals in vampire bat saliva  stop blood clotting and numb the area of ​​skin around the bite to prevent the guest feel anything.

Predators and threats of Central and South American Vampire Bat

Despite being a unique and versatile predator itself  ,the vampire is still prey to other animals , it can be hunted  in the air as he goes hunting at night.Large birds such as hawks and eagles are the most common predators of vampire bat and also snakes hunting bats in their dark caverns while they sleep during the day. Human beings are the greatest threats  mainly farmers who are known to poison bats usually feed their livestock.These poisons (known as vampiricides ) are specially designed to spread throughout the colony through social grooming , killing hundreds of them at once .

Interesting Facts and Features of Central and South American Vampire Bat

Vampires feed exclusively on warm-blooded animals ,drink one teaspoon ( 25 ml ) of blood for every 30 minutes.Once having feasted on their host but then bats are so swollen that they can barely fly with their weight almost be doubled. It is said that in just one year  a colony of medium sized vampire bat can drink the blood of 25 cows , but their metabolism is so fast you have to feed every two days to ensure their survival (blood is very nutritious containing high amounts of water ) .About 20 teeth in the mouth of the Bat are redundant due to their liquid diet , in addition to the pair of sharp incisors at the front used for biting.

Relationship with humans of Central and South American Vampire Bat

The vampire bat is one of the few species of bats are considered a pest by humans .Farmers in particular have a very strained relationship with these flying mammals that feed their cows at night .Although the amount of blood drawn by the stick is minimal and does not harm the animal, but  biting  can cause problems to become diseased .Farmers have not only tried to poison entire colonies , but also known to destroy their daytime lairs using dynamite , often eliminating thousands vampire bat, and a number of other species. Tales fiction vampire bats and their feeding habits also increased excessively exaggerated superstition about them.

Conservation Status  of Central and South American Vampire Bat

The  three subspecies have been listed as Least Concern for extinction in the wild in the immediate future due to the fact that are widespread and feed on a variety of warm-blooded animals Deforestation of their natural habitat , along with persistent human efforts to eradicate colonies  in turn however, have led to the decline of the population in some areas. Scientists have also discovered that while the anticoagulant found in bat saliva , is more effective in preventing blood clotting any medication , so it could have significant positive implications for patients of heart attacks.