Kestrel

 

  
The Life of Animals | Kestrel | The name kestrel, (from French crécerelle, ie crécelle derivative from Ratchet) is given to Several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Other Falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing.  Kestrels require a slight headwind in order to hover, Hence a local name of Windhover for Common Kestrel. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads.

Kestrels do not build nests Their Own, but use nests built by other species. Most species termed Kestrels Appear to form a distinct clade Among the Falcons, as suggested by comparison of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Groombridge et al., 2002) and morphology.  The most basal "true" Kestrels are three species from Africa and its surroundings the which lack a malar stripe, and in one case have, like other Falcons true but unlike other large Kestrels areas of gray in their wings.

Approximately during the Gelasian (Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene, around 2.5-2 mya), the main lineage of true Kestrels emerged; this contains the species characterized by a malar stripe.  More enigmatic is a group of 3 predominantly gray species from Africa and Madagascar.  The American Kestrel is the only New World species termed "kestrel".

Sumatran Elephant

  

The Life of Animals | Sumatran Elephant | In general, Asian elephants are Smaller than African elephants body and have the highest point on the head. In 1985, an island-wide rapid survey suggested That the between 2.800 and 4.800 elephants lived in all eight Provinces of mainland Sumatra in 44 Populations. The population in South Bukit Barisan National Park was estimated at 498 individuals, while the population in Way Kambas National Park was estimated at 180 individuals.

By 2008, the elephants locally Had Become Extinct in 23 of the 43 ranges Identified in Sumatra in 1985, Indicating a very significant decline of the Sumatran elephant population up to That time. By 2008, the elephant was locally Extinct in West Sumatra Province and at risk of being lost from North Sumatra Province too. In Riau Province survived only about 350 elephants across nine separate ranges.
 

65% of Sumatran elephant Deaths are Because of human persecution30% of this human persecution is through poisoning: Because of fear of the animal83% of the Sumatran elephant's former habitat has now been turned into Plantations; this means That the elephant has to learn to adapt to new habitats if it is to live Elephas maximus is listed on CITES Appendix I. Sumatran elephants are protected under Indonesian law. In 2004, the Tesso Nilo National Park has been established in Riau province to protect the Sumatran elephant's habitat.
 

Indian Elephant

  
The Life of Animals | Indian Elephant | In general, Asian elephants are Smaller than African elephants body and have the highest point on the head. Females are usually Smaller than males, and have short or no tusks The largest Indian elephant was 3:43 meters (11.3 ft) high at the shoulder In 1985, two large elephant bulls were the resource persons spotted for the first time in Bardia National Park, and named Raja Gaj and Kanchha.

Smaller Indian elephants have ears, but Relatively broader skulls and larger trunks than African elephants. Toes are large and broad. Unlike African Their cousins, Their abdomen is proportionate with Their body weight but the African elephant has a large abdomen as compared to the skulls. The movement and habitat utilization patterns of an elephant population studied were the resource persons in southern India During 1981-83 within a 1.130 km2 (440 sq mi) study area.

Seasonal habitat preferences were the resource persons related to the availability of water and the palatability of food plants. During the dry months of January to April, the elephants congregated at high densities of up to five individuals per km2 in river valleys where browse plants had a much higher protein content than the coarse tall grasses on hill slopes. During the second wet season from September to December, the tall grasses Became fibrous, They moved into the lower elevation forests of open short grass.

During three years of the survey, Their annual home ranges overlapped to a large extent with only minor shifts in the home ranges the between years. Elephants are classified as mega herbivores and consume up to 150 kg (330 lb) of plant matter per day. In a study area of 1.130 km2 (440 sq mi) in southern India, elephants were the resource persons recorded to feed on 112 different plant species, most commonly of the order Malvales, and the legume, palm, true grass and sedge families. They graze on the tall grasses, but the portion is consumed varies with season. Later grasses are higher than 0.5 m (1.6 ft), They uproot entire clumps, dust Them skilfully and consume the fresh leave tops, but discard the roots.

During the dry season from January to April, browse constitutes a major food resource Nepal's Bardia National Park, elephants consume large amounts of the floodplain grass, particularly During the monsoon season. During a study in a tropical moist mixed deciduous forested area of 160 km2 (62 sq mi) in Assam, elephants were the resource persons observed to feed on about 20 species of grasses, plants and trees.  oss of significant extents of elephant range and Suitable habitat Continues Their free movement is impeded by reservoirs, hydroelectric projects and associated canals, irrigation dams, numerous pockets of cultivation and Plantations, Highways, railway lines, mining and industrial development.

Elephant conservation in northern West Bengal has been set back due to high-levels of human-elephant conflict and elephant mortality owing to railway accidents. That Elephants pass through from one forest patch to another dash against the trains and die. In Bangladesh, forested areas That served as prime elephant habitats have undergone drastic reduction, the which had a severe impact on the wild elephant population. illegal timber extraction plays a significant role in deforestation and habitat degradation. In Myanmar, the demand for elephant ivory for making tourist items is higher than ever before. The military government shows little interest in reducing the ivory trade, while the elephants in the country have the silent Become Victims. Foreign tourists are Responsible for the massive rise in price of ivory tusks the which fuels the illegal killing of elephants.

Asian Elephant

 

  

The Life of Animals | Asian Elephant | In general, Asian elephants are Smaller than African elephants body and have the highest point on the head.  Elephants are crepuscular. At times They scrape the soil for minerals and Will occasionally eat if hungry Their own faeces Elephant herds follow well-defined seasonal migration routes.  Herds of cows range from 8 to 21 animals. Adult males do not attach themselves to a herd of cows Unless it contains a female in estrus. More than one adult may accompany male cows, but in general will of the dominant bulls mate with the cows. Younger bulls Will occasionally engage in mock fighting. Strong fights over access to females are extremely rare. Bull elephants form small groups known as 'bachelor herds', but the bulls may also roam independently at Various times Elephants are Able to distinguish low amplitude sounds.

An adult full grown healthy male Asian elephant has hardly any natural predators, but there have been rare instances of tigers preying on young or weak elephants Will the Bulls fight one another to get access to estrous females. Bulls reach sexual maturity around the age of 12-15. Between the age of 10 to 20 years, bulls undergo an annual phenomenon known as "musth". Secretions containing pheromones occur During this period, from the paired temporal glands located on the head the between the lateral edge of the eye and the base of the ear.

The gestation period is 18-22 months, and the female Gives birth to one calf, or occasionally twins. At birth, the calf weighs about 100 kg (220 lb), and is suckled for up to 2-3 years. Females Produce sex pheromones a principal component thereof, (Z)-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate, has also been found to be a sex pheromone in numerous species of Insects. At most seasons of the year the Asian elephants are timid and much more ready to Flee from a foe than to the make an attack.

Sometimes elephants rogue take up a position near a road making it impassable to travelers. Females with calves are at all times dangerous to approach. When an Asian elephant makes a charge, it curls up its trunk tightly and attacks by trampling its victim with feet or knees, or, if a male, by pinning it to the ground with its tusks. Indications at the first, domestic elephants are secured tightly to Prevent any mishaps. A grander animated object than a wild elephant in full charge can hardly be imagined.  The usual Pictorial representations of the Indian elephant charging with upraised trunk are accordingly quite incorrect
 

African Bush Elephant

 

  

The Life of Animals | African Bush Elephant | The African Elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal, normally Reaching 6 to 7.3 meters (19.7 to 24.0 ft) in length and 3.5 to 4 meters (11.5 to 13.1 ft) in height at the head, and Weighing the between 6.000 to 9.000 kg (13.000 to 20.000 lb). The animal is characterized by its large head; two large ears That cover its shoulders and radiate excess heat a large and muscular trunk; two prominent tusks, the which are well-developed in Both sexes, although more commonly in males; a short neck a large, barrel-like body  four long and heavy legs and a Relatively short tail.

The trunk is the most characteristic feature of the African Bush Elephant. Lions in Chobe National Park in Botswana have been observed for some time taking Both infants (23% of elephant kills) and juveniles. Humans are the elephant's major predator. Elephants have been hunted for meat, skins, bones, and tusks. Increased Elephant trophy hunting in the 19th and 20th Centuries, tourism and Plantations increasingly attracted sport hunters. In 1989, hunting of the African Bush Elephant for ivory trading was forbidden, after the elephant population fell from Several million at the beginning of the 20th century to Fewer than 700,000. The population of African Bush Elephants was halved During the 1980s.

In 2006, an elephant slaughter was documented in Southeastern Chad by aerial surveys. This region has a Decades-old history of poaching of elephants, the which has Caused the elephant population of the region, the which exceeded 300 000 in 1970, to drop to approximately 10.000 today. The African Bush Elephant is Officially protected by Chadian government, but the resources and manpower provided by the government (with some European Union assistance) have proven insufficient to stop the poaching.

Human encroachment into or adjacent to natural areas where Bush Elephants occur has led to recent research into methods of Safely driving groups of elephants away from Humans, including the discovery That playback of the recorded sounds of angry honey bees are remarkably effective at prompting elephants to Flee an area.
 

Hammerhead sharks

 

The Life of Animals | Hammerhead sharks | The nine known species range from 0.9 to 6 m (3.0 to 20 ft) long and weigh from 500 to 1000 pounds. The positioning of the eyes, mounted on the sides of the shark's distinctive hammer head pointing outward like a Trex, give the shark good binocular vision, as well as 360-degree vision in the vertical plane, meaning They can see above and below Them at all times. The shape of the head was Previously thought to help the shark find food, aiding in close-quarters maneuverability and allowing sharp turning movement without losing stability.

From what is known about the Winghead shark, it would Appear That the shape of the hammer-head has to do with an evolved sensory function. Like all sharks, hammerheads have electroreceptory sensory ampullae of Lorenzini Called pores. By distributing the receptors over a Wider area, hammerheads can sweep for prey more effectively.These sharks have been Able to detect an electrical signal of half a billionth of a volt. In the evening, like other sharks, They Become solitary hunters.

Hammerheads are one of the Few Animals That acquire a tan from prolonged exposure to sunlight. Tanning Occurs a hammerhead is in shallow waters or close to the surface for long periods. Reproduction Occurs only once a year for hammerhead sharks and usually Occurs with the male biting the female shark shark violently until She agrees to mate with him The hammerhead sharks exhibit a viviparous mode of reproduction with females giving birth to live young. Like other sharks, fertilization is internal with the male transferring sperm to the female through one of two intromittent organs Called claspers.

When the supply of yolk is exhausted, the depleted yolk sac transforms into a structure analogous to a mammalian placenta (Called a "yolk sac placenta" or "pseudoplacenta"), through the which the mother delivers sustenance until birth. There is usually a litter of 12 to 15 pups; except for the which the Great Hammerhead births litters of 20 to 40 pups. The great and the scalloped hammerhead are listed on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) 2008 Red List as endangered, whereas the smalleye hammerhead is listed as Vulnerable. Shark fins are prized as a delicacy, and overfishing is putting many hammerhead sharks at risk of extinction.

Horn shark

 

  

The Life of Animals | Horn shark | The horn shark inhabits the continental shelf of the eastern Pacific Ocean, occurring off the coasts of California and Baja California from Monterey Bay southward, and in the Gulf of California. Juvenile sharks horn the between 35-48 cm (1:15 to 1:57 ft) long prefer sandy flats with low vertical relief, in water 40-150 m (130-490 ft) deep. The relative abundances of the horn shark and the swellshark (Centroscyllim ventriosum), the which shares the same habitat, are negatively correlated, horn sharks Because favor water over 20 ° C (70 ° F) while swellsharks are more tolerant of cold. At Santa Catalina Island, a 20-year warming trend has resulted in an increase of population in the horn shark and a Decrease in the swellshark population. Horn sharks are less common than swellsharks in the northern Channel Islands, where the water is cooler.

Like other Bullhead sharks, the horn shark has a short, wide head with a blunt snout and prominent supraorbital ridges over the eyes. The horn shark's supraorbital ridges are low and terminate abruptly; the space the between Them on top of the head is Deeply concave. The inflow openings are encircled by a groove, while another groove connects the outflow openings to the mouth. There are 19-26 tooth rows in the upper jaw and 18-29 tooth rows in the lower jaw.

The fin spines of the reef-dwelling sharks are shorter than the horn Those living in algal habitats, as worn Become Their spines down on rocks from the sharks' movements. The first dorsal fin originates over the bases of the large pectoral fins, while the second dorsal fin originates slightly anterior to the free rear tips of the pelvic fins. The horn shark's dermal denticles are small and smooth, numbering some 200/cm2 on the back in adults The dorsal coloration consists of Various shades of gray or brown with many small dark spots, though these may be absent in older sharks; the Underside is Yellowish .

Under normal circumstances, the horn sharks are harmless to Humans and can readily be approached underwater. The horn shark has no commercial value in California, where it is unintentionally captured in traps and trawls and by recreational anglers. The shark's hardiness ensures That Often it can be returned to the water alive. This species benefits from the general restrictions placed on coastal fishing gear by the State of California. At present, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not have sufficient information to assess the overall conservation status of this species; its status in United States waters is Likely Least Concern.

Spiny dogfish

  

The Life of Animals | Spiny dogfish | Spiny dogfish are fished for food in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Chile. The fins and tails are processed into fin needles and are used in less expensive versions of shark fin soup in Chinese cuisine. In England this and other dogfish are sold in fish and chip shops as "rock salmon" or "shoo", in France it is sold as "small salmon" (saumonette) and in Belgium and Germany it is sold as "sea eel" ( zeepaling and Seeaal, respectively).

Once the most abundant shark species in the world, Populations of Squalus acanthias have Declined significantly. They are classified in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable globally and Critically Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic, meaning stocks around Europe have Decreased by at least 95%. In EU waters, a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been in place since 1999, but until 2007 it only applied to ICES Areas IIa and IV.

This drastic increase of led to the creation and implementation of many fisheries management policies Placing restrictions on the fishing of spiny dogfish. However, since the species is a late maturing fish, it takes a while to rebuild the population. In 2010, Greenpeace International has added the spiny dogfish to its seafood red list.

The current proposed quota for 2011 is 35.5m lbs. with a trip limit of 4000 lbs. In 2010, NOAA Announced the Eastern U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish stocks to be Rebuilt in 2011 and concerns about predatory dogfish posing a serious threat to other stocks resulted in an emergency Amendment of the quota with Nearly 15 million pounds being added

Tiger shark

 

The Life of Animals | Tiger shark | The tiger shark is Often found close to the coast, Mainly in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout the world. Along with the great white shark, Pacific sleeper shark, Greenland shark and sixgill sharks, tiger sharks are the largest extant Among sharks. It tends to stay in deep waters reefs That line, but it does move into channels to pursue prey in shallower waters. A number of tiger sharks can be seen at the Gulf of Mexico, North American beaches and parts of South America.

A recent study showed the average tiger shark That would be recorded at 350 meters (1,100 ft), making it uncommon to see tiger sharks in shallow water. However, tiger sharks in Hawaii have been observed in depths as shallow as 10ft and regularly observed in coastal waters at depths of 20 to 40-ft. The tiger shark is known as tababa in Kiribati and Tuvaluan. Tiger sharks have been observed feeding in the tidal passages of the between the lagoon and ocean in Tarawa, Kiribati. Spring tides bring in plankton or animalcule, the which attract small soft-shell crabs, sardines attract the which, the which attract the gray mullet, the which attract the blue-backed Trevally (rereba), the which then attract the tiger shark (tababa). The tiger shark is an apex predator and has a reputation for eating anything.

It commonly preys upon fish (teleosts), crustaceans, mollusks, dugongs, seabirds, marine seasnakes Mammals (eg bottlenose Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins), and sea turtles (eg green and loggerhead turtles). The broad, heavily calcified jaws and mouth Nearly terminal, combined with robust, serrated teeth, enable the tiger shark to take on these large prey. Due to high risk of predatory attacks, Dolphins Often avoid regions inhabited by tiger sharks. The tiger shark also eats other sharks (Such as sandbar sharks) and Will even eat conspecifics Tiger sharks may also attack injured or ailing whales and prey upon Them.

The tiger shark also scavenges on dead whales. Such in-one documented incident, They were the resource persons observed scavenging on a whale carcass alongside great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias. The shark circles its prey and studies it by prodding it with its snout When attacking, the shark Often eats its prey whole. This shark typically reaches maturity at lengths of 2 to 3 m (6.6 to 9.8 ft) It is unknown how long tiger sharks live, but They can live longer than 12 years.

Okapi

  

The Life of Animals | Okapi | The tongue of the okapi is also long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears (inside and out). Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns Called ossicones. Okapis are 1.9 to 2.5 meters (6.2 to 8.2 ft) long and stand 1.5 to 2.0 meters (4.9 to 6.6 ft) high at the shoulder. Okapis are primarily diurnal, although recent photo Captures have challenged this long held assumption.

Okapis are essentially solitary, coming together only to breed, with the exception of mothers and offspring. Okapis forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. They have overlapping home ranges of Several square kilometres and typically occur at densities of about 0.6 animals per square kilometer (about 1.5 animals per square mile). Several Okapis have methods of communicating Their territory, including scent glands on each foot That Produce a tar-like substance, as well as urine marking.

Okapis prefer altitudes of 500 to 1,000 m, but may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests. Because there is a considerable amount of rain in these forests, okapis have an oily, velvety coat of fur That repels the water. The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel / Sudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas.

Although okapis are not classified as endangered, They are Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behavior and lifestyle, the which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Wildlife Conservation Society is also active in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. On June 8, 2006, Scientists reported evidence of surviving That okapis in Congo's Virunga National Park Had been discovered. In September 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Society reported That one of Their camera traps snapped the first pictures ever taken of an okapi in Virunga National Park.

Moth

 

  

The Life of Animals | Moth | Moths, and particularly Their caterpillars, are a major agricultural pest in many parts of the world. In temperate climates, the codling moth Causes extensive damage, ESPECIALLY to fruit farms. In tropical and subtropical climates, the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is Perhaps the most serious pest of crops brassicaceous. Several moths in the family Tineidae are commonly regarded as pests Because Their larvae eat fabric Such as clothes and blankets made from natural proteinaceous fibers Such as wool or silk.

Some moths are farmed. The most notable of these is the Silkworm, the larva of the domesticated moth Bombyx mori. Not all silk is produced by Bombyx mori. There are Several species of Saturniidae That Their are also farmed for silk, Such as the Ailanthus moth (Samia cynthia group of species), the Chinese Oak Silkmoth (Antheraea pernyi), the Assam Silkmoth (Antheraea assamensis), and the Japanese Silk Moth ( Antheraea yamamai).

Despite being notorious for eating clothing, most moth adults do not eat at all. Most like the Luna, Polyphemus, Atlas, Prometheus, Cercropia, and other large moths do not have mouths. When They do eat, moths will of drink nectar. Moths frequently Appear to circle artificial lights, although the reason for this behavior Remains unknown. One hypothesis advanced to explain this behavior Is that moths use a technique of celestial navigation Called the transverse orientation.

The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turning toward the light, Causing airborne moths to come plummeting downwards, and resulting in a spiral flight path That gets closer and closer to the light source Often nocturnal insectivores feed on moths these include some bats, some species of Owls and other species of birds. Eaten by moths are also some species of lizards, cats, dogs, rodents, and some bears. Moth larvae are vulnerable to being parasitized by Ichneumonidae. That there is evidence of ultrasound in the range emitted by bats flying moths Causes to the make evasive maneuvers Because bats eat moths. Tiger moths emit clicks the which also foil bats' echolocation.