Species of the Week: Osprey

Species of the Week:
Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)

1. It can be found in most temperate and tropical areas apart from Antarctica.
2. It is a large raptor bird, with up to 180cm of wingspan and reaching up to 58-60 cm in length,
3. Ospreys feed almost exclusively on fish but may supplement their diet with small mammals, small reptiles and small birds.
4. They can detect underwater movement from 10-40 m above water. When prey is detected they hover above water and then plunge in after it.
5. Ospreys much like most raptors are largely territorial. They may share their territory with their young but usually a couple holds a territory.
6. Ospreys mate for life. The couple takes turn roosting the eggs while the other one hunts and forages.
7. Breeding is dependent on location and varies according to latitude.
8. Ospreys erect their nests on high vantage points often near freshwater bodies. The female gives birth to two to four eggs which are incubated for about 5 weeks.
9. Ospreys usually live from 8-10 years but some individuals have recorded reaching 20 years old.
10. Ospreys are classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. 

Species of the week: Amazon river dolphin

Species of the Week:
Amazon River Dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis)

1. As the name implies the Amazon River Dolphin is found in freshwater systems in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia. Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. It's found in the river systems of the Orinico in the Amazon and the  Araguaia/Tocantins rivers.
2. They are either colored light grey or pink which makes then unusual for cetaceans 
3. It's the largest freshwater cetacean and can grow from 1.53-2.5 m and they weigh from 80-95kg. Females tend to be larger than males.
4. They feed on fish and crusteceans and small turtles.
5. They are specialised in hunting in murky waters and have really flexible necks and spinal cords in order to hunt and forage in underwater tree trunks.
6. Their neck has an unfused neck vertebrate which allows them to turn their head 90 degrees and hence makes them highly flexible.
7. Calves are born between July and September and usually one calf is born at a time.
8. Gestation period lasts from 9 to 12 months.
9. These dolphins are mostly blind, relying heavily on the sonar abilities to hunt for prey. More than usual dolphins do.
10. Although originally considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, due to the lack of data they are now not classified. However many believe that they are in extreme danger due to habitat loss.

Species of the week:Meerkat

Species of the Week:
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

1. They are found in the Kalahari Desert, in the Namib Desert, southwest Angola and in South Africa.
2. A Meerkat social group consists of about 20 members and it is called a clan, gang or mob.
3. Meerkats hunt and forage during the daytime and sleep during the night.
4. They are mostly insectivores but will attack and eat lizards,fungi, small mammals, eggs, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes, spiders and some plants.
5. They are immune to a variety of venoms including the scorpion venom of the Kalahari desert.
6. When Meerkats forage there is always one member of the clan that has sentry duty and looks out for predators. When one is spotted, the meerkat sounds the alarm and all the other clan members go into hiding.
7. Meerkats can reproduce throughout the year but prefer warmer seasons to give birth too. Usually only the matriarch gets to breed however in larger groups for subordinate meerkats may secretly breed. These females are often chased away from the group and form their own clan.
8. One to five pups are born with the most common number being three pups.
9. Meerkats have been found to demonstrate altruistic behaviour and will often look after young that are not their own.
10.  Meerkats are considered "Least Concern " under the IUCN Red List.

Species of the week: Hen Harrier

Species of the week:
Hen Harrier(Circus cyaneus)

1. They can be found in the Northern Hemisphere, in Northern Europe and Northern U.S.A and Canada.
2. Hen harriers have  sexual dimorphism in their appearance. Males are pale grey//white while females are brown.
3. They are about 40-52 cm long and has a wingspan of 97-122cm.
4. They feed on small mammals and small birds and live in open areas.
5. Hen harriers are migratory birds, migrating South for the winter. If they opt to stay at certain countries due to mild climate, they generally just migrate to lower altitudes.
6.  It lays from four to eight eggs and the eggs are incubated from 30-32 days.
7. The chicks become fledgelings at around 35-36 days old but do not fully mature until they are 2 years old if female or 3 years if male.
8. They are the only hawk-like bird to practise polygyny.
9. The males maintain a large territory in which they can be responsible for up to five females.
10. They are considered "Least Concern"by the IUCN red list but in specific areas such in the U.K they are regarded as under threat due to human conflicts as gamekeepers shoot them since they influence Red Grouse populations.

Species of the week: Emperor penguin

Species of the week:
Emperor penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri)

1. It is a species of penguins endemic for Antarctica.
2. It is the tallest and heaviest species of penguins with their height reaching 122cm and  22 and 45 kg in weight.
3. They feed primarily on fish and crustaceans.
4. They can remain submerged for 18 minutes at a time and can go down to 535 meters in depth.
5. They are the only species to breed in winter forming large ice colonies with other members of their species.
6. The female lays an egg and the male incubates it while the mother is out foraging.
7. Once the chick is born the parents then take turns foraging and caring for their chick.
8. They can live for about 20 years in the wild and up to 50 in captivity.
9. They coordinate their foraging with others of their species as they are highly sociable species.
10. They are listed as "Nearly Threatened"by the IUCN due to the habitat loss and loss of food availability. 

Species of the week: Przewalski's horse

Species of the week:
Przewalski's horse(Equus ferus przewalski)

1. It is considered the only true wild horse to exist today.
2. They stand about 122-146cm tall and weight about 200-350kg.
3. They generally have a brown colour with variations of those shades.
4. They can be found in Mongolia, although a small herd of them was introduced in the Chernobyl Exclusion zone.
5. Their average lifespan is about 20 years.
6. They form small social groups consisting of a stallion and two to three mares with their foals.
7. Breeding season is towards the end of May till July and pregnancy lasts 11-12 months.
8. The foals stay with their herd until they disperse to mate(in case of males) or an independent and choose to disperse to avoid inbreeding (in case of females)
9. The foals are able to walk and run, an hour after they have been born.
10. They are listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN.

Species of the week: Thorny dragon

Species of the week:
Thorny dragon(Moloch horridus)

1. The thorny dragon can only be found in the continent of Australia.
2. It can be found in  arid scrub-land and desert environments.
3. It can grow to be up to 20 cm in length.
4. Their camouflage is in shades of brown and tan to camouflage in the desert but it also varies from season to season becoming paler as it becomes warmer and darker as it becomes colder.
5. The thorny devils are covered entirely in mostly uncalcified conical spines.
6. The lizards also have a spiny false head designed to trick predators.
7. The way it's body is designed allowed for water to be collected in all parts of it's body which is then conveyed to its mouth.
8. They mostly feed on ants they catch in the desert.
9. It can live up to 20 years.
10. It's mating season is spring summer(September-December for Australians) and the female lays 3-10 eggs in a nesting burrow 30 cm underground.The eggs hatch after about 3-4 months.

Species of the week:Canada Goose

Species of the week:
Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)

1. It is native in arctic and temperate regions of North America abut can be found in other temperate regions as it has been introduced.
2. It is distinguishable by the black head and neck with white patches on the face and brown body.
3. They are about 70-110cm in length and have a 125-185 cm wingspan.
4. They are migratory birds, migrating from Canada to the U.S.A.
5. Their migratory pattern is that of a V shaped.
6. They are primarily herbivores, eating grass and grain. They will however eat small insects and fish.
7. Canada Geese are monogamous and find their pair during the second year of their lives.
8. They lay about 2-9 eggs, with an average of five.
9. Incubation is 24-28 days and the chicks are able to walk and swim and find food as soon as they hatch.
10. Canada Goose are protected in Canada but are considered "Least Concern"by the IUCN.

Species of the week: Giant Panda

Species of the week:
Giant Panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

1. It is a bear that is easily recognized by the black patches over the eyes, around the body and the ears.
2. Although  considered carnivores, the panda's diet consists mostly of bamboo with meat acting as a supplement.
3. They are about 1.2 to 1.8 m long and stand at 60 to 90 cm tall.
4. They can weight about 100-115 kg.
5. They can up live up to 20 years in the wild and 30 in captivity.
6. Pandas will eat about 9 to 14 kg of bamboo a day.
7. Panda mating season is between March and May and the female is in estrus, once a year for two or three days.
8. They give birth to one young every two years give or take and gestation lasts about 95 to 160 days.
9. Pandas do not have permanent dens but instead spend time changing locations throughout their territory.
10. Great Pandas are listed as "Endangered"by the IUCN and are conservation icons,

Species of the Week: Chinese Water Deer

Species of the Week:
Chinese Water Deer(Hydropotes inermis)

1. The adults weigh about 10-18kg and reach up to 55cm in height.
2. Instead of antlers these deer have small protruding tasks emerging from their mouth, earning them the nickname "vampire deer".
3. They are usually found near water bodies and their preferred habitat is reed beds, river shores, woodlands and fields.
4. They tend to be solitary animals, unless they are found in extreme high intensities in which case they may form pairs.
5. They usually feed on herbs and other nutritious plants.
6. Their tusks can grow up to 8cm with an average of about 5.5-6 cm.
7. They can live up to 10-12 years.
8. Their mating session is during November to December where the annual rut takes place.
9. Their gestation period lasts about 180 to 210 days and they produce from 1-7 young with the norm being two or three.
10. They are listed as "Vulnerable"in the IUCN but are abundant in some areas of the world.

Species of the week:Polar Bear

Species of week:
Polar Bear(Ursus maritimus)

1. They are considered one of the largest bear species present on Earth, with the male weighing from 350-700kg and 2.4-3m in length.
2. They can be found around the Arctic Circle and the adjacent land masses of Norway, Denmanrk, United States of America, Russia and Canada.
3. The males are larger than the females, with the females being about half the size of males.
4. Polar bears have a thick hide and fur to keep warm and their blubber is about 10cm thick.
5. Polar bears are obligate carnivores which means they only sustain themselves with meat. They hunt most animals but their preferred prey is seals.
6. They will also scavange and hunt narwals and beluga whales.
7. They usually stalk holes in the ice, waiting for their prey to appear to take a breath and they attack then.
8. Despite popular belief a polar bear's skin is black and their hair are transparent. The reason we see their hair as white has to do with the way the light reflects on the hair.
9. Mating season takes place between April and May. Fertilized eggs remain suspended until August or September and cubs are usually born from November all the way to December.
10. Polar bears are listed as "Vulnerable"in the IUCN red list. Their main threat is loss of habitat due to global warming.

Species of the Week: Wolverine

Species of the Week:
Wolverine(Gulo gulo)

1. It can only be found in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. Wolverines live in boreal forests, tundras and subarctic areas.
3. They stand 30-45cm tall and weight from 9-27kg.
4. Their fur  dark and oily which makes it incredibly hydrophobic. This repels water and gives the wolverine resistance from frost.
5. They are both a predator and a scavenger. Their main prey is small mammals but have been seen killing adult deer and mouse when weakened.
6. The males will form lifetime relationships with around 2-3 females in their territory or in adjacent territories.
7. Although their mating season is in the summer, the wolverine embryo is not planted until early winter. This is to time the offspring birth to early spring.
8. Gestation period lasts around 30-50  days and two or three young are born every litter.
9. They live from 5 to 13 years of age.
10. Although listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN there are concerns over how populations will cope with global warming.

Species of the week: Long-legged Buzzard

Species of the week:
Long-legged Buzzard(Buteo rufinus)

1. It can grow from 43-58 cm in length and have a wingspan of 100-155cm.
2. It has three colour types: white, rufous and black. 
3. They can be found in semi-arid areas as well as semi-deserts and steppee.
4. It's a bird of prey and forages food by hovering and soaring and scanning for prey by a vantage point.
5. They prefer to hunt in open spaces where they can use their eyesight to spot prey.
6. It feeds on small mammals, insects and reptiles.
7. They often reconstruct nests used by other birds to give birth to their eggs.
8. They lay three to five eggs, once a year.
9. The eggs are incubated for 30-35 days and the hatchlings remain at the nest for 43-45 days.
10. They are listed as "Least Concern"by the IUCN but some populations have been declining lately.

Species of the Week: Plateau pika

Species of the week:
Plateau Pika(Ochotona curzoniae)

1. It weights around 120-150g when fully grown.
2. Their main habitat is about 3200km-5300m above sea level. In this kind of altitude oxygen concentrations are less than we are used to.
3. They are found in the Tibetan Plateau and in high altitude steppes, deserts and meadows in India, Nepal and Pakistan.
4. They are considered a keystone species due their recycling of nutrients in the ecosystem. As their habitat is often in need of nutrients, the presence of pikas means that more and more nutrients are recycled.
5. Pikas have a monogamous and  polygamous groups.
6. These groups usually contain 3 males to 4 females.
7. Females usually breed every three weeks after the last litter is born.
8. They give birth to 2-5 litters each consisting of 2-7 offsprings.
9. Breeding season last from April to August.
10. Groups form reproductive alliances, helping each other raise their young, deter predators and make sure that genetic diversity is maintained.

Species of the Week: Goosander

Species of the Week:
Goosander(Mergus merganser)

1. It is found in Europe, North America and central and northern Asia.
2. It's wingspan is 78-98cm long and weigh about 0.8-2.1 kg.
3. Males during breeding season have a greenish hue on their head while females and juvenile males have a brownish hue.
4. These ducks have sawbills. Sawbills are bills that have serrated edges to help them hold their prey and grab their prey easily.
5. They are diving birds, which means that they dive into the water to acquire their food. 
6. Goosander lay about 6-17  white to yellowish eggs that usually incubate in tree cavities.
7. When they are disturbed they will disgorge their food before running away.
8. Goosander have been known to stumble and fall frequently when they are on land.
9. They can be found in both salt-water and fresh-water areas
10. Although not threatened, some conservation work has been undertaken to make sure they aren't victims of shooting or poisoning.

Species of the Week: Sockeye Salmon

Species of the Week:
Sockeye Salmon(Oncorhynchus nerka)

1. Is a type of salmon that is usually red, can grow up to 84cm and  weighs from 2 to 7 kg.
2. It can be found in the Pacific and like other salmon are anadromous. This that the young are born in freshwater, make their way to the sea where they grow to a certain age and make their way upstream where they give birth in freshwater.
3. Their bodies become red and their faces turn green when they begin returning to their spawning grown.
4. They mostly feed on zooplankton.
5. To avoid predation these salmon change their position in the water column, timing and length of feeding and school formation.
6. Salmon are considered semelparous which means that they will die once they breed once.
7. When mating, competition between these salmon occurs, with males establishing an dominant male who gets to mate with the female.
8. However it is not always so as some males will sneakily mate with the females when the dominant male isn't present.
9. Females choose the nest site, prepare the nest and defend it until they die.
10. Salmon are considered very important for many forest habitats in neighboring the Pacific as the salmon provide nutrients for the plants after they die as well as food for scavengers.

Species of the week: Siberian tiger

Species of the week:
Siberian Tiger also known as Amur tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica)

1. It's a tiger subspecies usually found in small mountain ranges in the Russian Far East.
2. It is the largest tiger and in fact the largest cat species and it stands 112 to 120 cm tall and weigh from  118 kg (females) to 177 kg (males) with the heaviest recorded to be 222 kg.
3. A key habitat for the tigers are the Korean pine broadleaf forests and can be usually found in a mixture of decideous-coniferous and boreal forests.
4. They mostly feed on deer but will feed on smaller species such as salmon,rabbits hares and pikas.
5. They have been known to hunt bear as well when the ungulate population declines. Bears constitute about 5-8% of the Siberian tiger's diet.
6. Siberian tigers are also known for suppressing wolf numbers to the point of wolf numbers being very low or even extinct.
7. Mating occurs throughout the year and gestation period lasts 90-105 days.
8. Although litter size is 1-6 cubs usually 2-4 cubs are born.
9. Female cubs stay with their mother and will either share the territory or get some next to their mother, while males will disperse to find mates.
10. Siberian tigers are listed as "Endangered"on the IUCN Red List.

Species of the week: Cooper's hawk

Species of the week:
Cooper's hawk(Accipiter cooperii)

1. Cooper's hawk is a bird of prey native to North America.  It can be found from Northern Mexico all the way to Southern Canada..
2. Males are smaller than females as is often the case with birds of prey.
3. Males weight  about 220 to 410 g while females weigh from 300 to 700 g.
4. Males have a length of 35 to 46 cm while females length  is 42 to 50 cm.
5. Wingspan usually ranges from 62 to 94 cm.
6. They can be found in all kinds of habitats, usually in deciduous forests and open woodlands but also nest in cities.
7. Most of their diet comes from small to medium size birds such as Robins, thrashes, jays, doves and pigeons etc and they usually complement their diet with small mammals and lizards.
8. They hunt using an ambush technique usually dropping from cover or flying quickly through vegetation.
9. They live up to 12 years in the wild but the longest recorded has been 20 years.
10. It is considered as "Least Concern"in the IUCN Red List.

Species of the week: Cougar

First of all let me wish you guys a Happy New Year. Hope 2014 brings you luck and joy. Updates will be sporadic until February when my exams will end but expect the occasional article(I hope).
In addition to that species of the week will now include subspecies to add variety.


Species of the week:
Cougar(Puma concolor)

1. It is a cat native only to the Americas.
2. Although it is placed in the small cat family(Felinae) it's size and characteristics are similar to the big cats(Pantherinae).
3. They stand about 60-90 cm tall and and can reach up to 2.5m from head to tail.
4. Male cougars weigh about 50-100 kg while females weigh 29-64 kg.
5. Cougar diet compromises of anything that has meat from small rodents to large ungulates with a preferance to ungulates. This highly depends on the region and food availability.
6. They mate all year around with females coming in estrus for about 8 days every 23 days.
7. Gestation period last about 90-92 days and a litter is birthed about every one or two years of their reproductive lives.
8. Litter size can range from 1-6 cubs with the norm being 2-3 cubs.
9. Life expectancy is about 13 years in the wild and around 20 in captivity.
10. Cougars overall are listed as "Least Concern" in the IUCN Red List. However several subspecies can be considered to be under threat of extinction. 

Species of the week: Reindeer

Species of the week:
Reindeer(Rangifer tarandus)

1. Reindeer are also known as caribou in North America.They can be found in Arctic and Subarctic regions.
2. Both sexes grow antlers which is unusual for deer species.
3. Males are usually larger than females, with males growing to 180-215cm in height and weighing up to 320kg. Females grow up from 160-205 cm and weight 80-120kg.
4. Reindeer feed mostly on lichen but have been known to feed on grass and short tree leaves.
5. Reindeer mating occurs from late September until early November. 
6. Males fight with each other for dominion over females, with the dominant male forming a harem of females.
7. Calves are born early May to June. One calf is usual for reindeer.
8. Some reindeer have been known to undergo extreme migration for the winter. Reindeer in North America migrate up to 5 000km south in search for food.
9. Reindeer have been domesticated by humans, especially the Native American tribes.
10. Reindeer are considered to be of "Least Concern" by the IUCN list,