Wild Animal World: May 2015

Animal Corner – The Black Buck Antelope

Blackbuck_(Antilope_cervicapra)_in_Hyderabad,_crop If you happened to be on the Arabian peninsula you might mistake a Black Buck Antelope for a Gazelle. That’s because these two species look similar in appearance and share the same natural habitat. Unfortunately, Black Buck Antelopes have been listed as a Near Threatened species since 2003.

One very distinctive feature of the Black Buck Antelope is their long, spiraled horns. Only males have these horns, which range from 18 to 27 inches long. Males also are larger, weighing up to 99 pounds and being up to 33 inches at the shoulder. The females range up to 86 pounds and are more slender than their male counterparts.

Black Buck Antelopes are grazers that prefer the plains and open woodlands. They eat grasses and sometimes forage for other things like low hanging flora on trees and bushes. They are very fast and can outrun any threats. Currently the loss of land is one of the largest problems facing this species. If you’d like to see theses striking animals you can always drop in for a visit.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Animal Corner – Père David’s deer

Credit DiverDave

Père David’s deer is named after a French missionary who was working in China and sent back several samples of the previously unknown deer in 1866. This species of deer is currently extinct in the wild but was indigenous to the subtropical areas of Asia.

Père David’s deer can grow up to 3.9 feet at the shoulder and stretch out to about 7 feet long. They can weigh up to 441 depending on gender, with the mail weighing more than the females. They have unique branched antlers which have tines what point back and times which point directly up. In China there is folklore and history surrounding this special deer, which was once owned by the emperor himself!

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Animal Corner – The Spotted Hyena

Spotted hyena in the wild

The spotted hyena is an unusual animal which has intrigued humans throughout recorded history. Also known as a laughing hyena due to a laughing-like sound it makes, the hyena is indigenous to Africa. It plays a large part in many African cultures, such as in folklore, superstitions and medicine traditions.

The spotted hyena is a social animal which prefers to live in clans of up to 80. The males can weight up to 121 and the females can weigh up to 141. In certain areas the species tends to be heavier, which experts feel is due to food abundance and the types of food available. This species is spotted but there are related species which have different fur markings.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Iguana

The Iguana belongs to an herbivorous genus of lizards native to tropical habitats throughout Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. There are several types of Iguana, such as the Green Iguana, the Lesser Antillean Iguana and the Cayman Iguana. All are herbivores and they range from green to brown, depending on species. The Green Iguana is the most common and is often kept as a pet due to their calm nature.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Bearded Dragon Lizard

Bearded Dragon Lizards are one of the 7 species belonging to the Pogonagenus family of lizards. They are native to Australia, and they can be found in its rocky and arid regions. Bearded Dragon Lizards are omnivorous, consuming both insects and plants. Their average lifespan is 10-20 years.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Tegu Lizard

The Tupinambis, more commonly referred to as the Tegu Lizard, is native to South America. There are many types of Tegu Lizards, such as Blue, Black & White, Gold, Red and Albino Blue. Their omnivorous diet includes both plants and animals, including eggs. They hibernate about 5 months a year, and they can grow to five and a half feet in length. Average lifespan is 10-15 years.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Black Buck Antelope

The Black Buck Antelope is native to India but is now considered endangered due to sharply decreasing numbers. They have distinctive colorations with dark brown, black and white patterns. The males sport long spiral horns while the females have none. They live in herds of 15 to 20 and eat mostly grasses and fruit when it is available. Average life span is 12 years but in captivity they can live longer.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

Texas Longhorn

The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle often used in beef and dairy industries. They are recognized by their distinctive horns, which can be up to 7 feet long and have an upward curve at the tip. A large species, they can weigh up to 2,200 pounds! Texas Longhorns are known for having diverse colorations and for being a very hardy breed. They are also considered easy to care for and have a gentle disposition.

Source : animalsafari[dot]com

8 May 2015