Hedgehog

Hedgehog: Erinaceinae

There are some 15 species of hedgehog in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs have also been introduced into nontraditional ranges such as New Zealand.

Hedgehogs have a coat of stiff, sharp spines. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators. They usually sleep in this position during the day and awaken to search for food at night.

Credit to: Papa Lima Whiskey

Fun Fact: Hedgehogs emit a pig-like grunt while hunting for food, hence their name.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: National Geographic

Lesser Bushbaby

Lesser Bushbaby: Galago senegalensis

Found in southern Africa, the bushbaby’s diet consists of insects and the gum of trees. They will also lick dew and rain water from cracks and crevices.

Bushbaby fingernails are rounded like our own, with the exception of the second toe which is modified as a toilet claw. This pointed claw is used to groom the head and neck fur and to clean the ears. The fingers and toes have flat disks of thickened skin which aid in grasping tree limbs and slippery surfaces.

Credit to: OpenCage

Fun Fact: Many African tribes are superstitious about this little primate. Its laughing, chattering sounds are attributed to a mysterious giant snake with a feathered head arrayed in rainbow colors which, according to the legend, kills evil intruders by pecking a neat hole in their head.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Kruger Park

Capybara

Capybara: Hydrochaeris

hydrochaeris

Standing at two feet tall, the capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Some extinct cousins of the capybara were twice as long and probably weighed eight times as much as their modern-day relatives. They are found in Central and South America along rivers and standing water. The capybara’s scientific name, Hydrochaeris, means water hog. This rodent can stay underwater for up to five minutes in order to escape predators.

Capybaras live eight to ten years in the wild, and twelve years in zoos.

Credit to: Eric Kilby

Fun Fact: Capybaras are so trainable that in Surinam a blind man once used a capybara as a guide animal.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: San Diego Zoo

Coati

Coati: Nasua Nasua

There are four different species of coati, two of which, the Ring-tailed Coati and the Mountain Coati, are found in South America, and the remaining two coati species, the White-nosed Coati and the Cozumel Island Coati, are both found in Mexico.

Female coatis live in groups of between 10 and 30 individuals, known as a band. The male coati is a solitary animal and only comes together with the females to mate. The coati is a diurnal and omnivorous animal, meaning that they eats both plants and animals. The coati eats a variety of different fruits, nuts and seeds, along with insects, birds eggs, rodents and small reptiles such as lizards and snakes.

Credit to: William Warby

Fun Fact: The word “coatimundi” is usually attributed to males who live alone-“mundi” means “solitary”. The word “coati” usually refers to a group of females.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: A-Z Animals

Brazilian Tapir

Brazilian Tapir: Tapirus terrestris

The Brazilian tapir is predominantly found in Brazil but its range covers much of South America’s tropical forests. These animals are typically solitary and although they are not exclusively nocturnal, they tend to keep to the shelter of the forest during the day and come out to feed at night. Tapirs are herbivores and mainly eat fruit, leaves, and other plant material.

Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN’s red list, Brazilian tapir’s populations are declining throughout much of its range.

Major threats include over hunting, competition with livestock, and habitat loss through deforestation.

Tapirus terrestris can be found predominantly in Brazil, but its range covers much of South America’s tropical forests.

Fun Fact: Tapirs are excellent swimmers and often take to water to avoid predators. They can stay submerged for several minutes using their nose as snorkel.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Animal Diversity Web

Short-Beaked Echidna

Echidna: Tachyglossus aculeatus

These spine-covered animals are monotremes, mammals who lay eggs. Echidna are found throughout Australia, including Tasmania, as well as Papua New Guinea. Their diet consists of a large variety of invertebrates, including ants, beetles, spiders, worms, insect eggs and termites, which are lapped up with the long, mobile tongue.

Echidna are adapted for very rapid digging, having short limbs and powerful claws, with the hind claws elongated and curved backwards. All short-beaked echidnas possess spurs on their hind feet, however, unlike the platypus, these spurs lack venom.

Credit to: J.K. Melville

Fun Fact: Echidnas both in the wild and in captivity have been known to live up to 50 years.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: ARKive

Fossa

Fossa: Cryptoprocta ferox

Until recently scientists thought the fossa, with its feline features, was a primitive kind of cat. It’s actually one of the largest members of the mongoose family. They are found in the forests of Madagascar. There, it is the largest carnivore of the island and feeds on lemurs, wild pigs, mice, and other animals.

The elusive fossa is a solitary animal and spends its time both in the trees and on the ground. It is active at night and also during the day.

Credit to: Ran Kirlian

Fun Fact: In recent years fossils of the now extinct Giant Fossa has been uncovered in the jungles of Madagascar, with the biggest Giant Fossa fossil measured nearly 20 feet in length and was thought to have weighed around 38 pounds.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: National Geographic

Okapi

Okapi: Okapia johnstoni

Okapis are hard to find in the wild. Located in the Ituri forest in central Africa, scientists were not aware of their existence until 1900. It is believed there are currently 25,000 okapi in the wild.

While okapis look like they should be related to a zebra, they are actually the only living relative of the giraffe. Like a giraffe, they have very large, upright ears which catch even the slightest sound. Okapi also have long prehensile tongues that strip the buds and young leaves from the understory brush of its rainforest home.

Like a giraffe, the okapi has very large, upright ears, which catch even slight sounds, helping the animal avoid trouble. The okapi also has a long, dark, prehensile tongue, just like a giraffe’s, to help it strip the buds and young leaves from the understory brush of its rain forest home. – See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi#sthash.kJKmLhnG.dpuf

Credit to: Charles Miller

Fun Fact: The okapi’s dark tongue is long enough to clean its eyes and ears.

The okapi’s dark tongue is long enough to clean its eyes and ears – See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi#sthash.kJKmLhnG.dpuf

The okapi’s dark tongue is long enough to clean its eyes and ears – See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi#sthash.kJKmLhnG.dpuf

The okapi’s dark tongue is long enough to clean its eyes and ears – See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi#sthash.kJKmLhnG.dpuf

The okapi’s dark tongue is long enough to clean its eyes and ears – See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi#sthash.kJKmLhnG.dpuf

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: San Diego Zoo

Tree Kangaroo

Tree Kangaroo: Dendrolagus

With 14 different species, tree kangaroos range from least concern to critically endangered on the IUNC red list. The major threats to wild tree kangaroo populations include hunting and habitat loss. The Wondiwoi tree kangaroo is critically endangered (possibly extinct) with as few as 50 individuals remaining. Similarly, the critically endangered dingiso has suffered a population decline in excess of 80% over the last 30 years.

Tree Kangaroos live in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. They eat mostly leaves and fruit.

Credit to: Matthias Liffers

Fun Fact: Nimble climbers, some tree kangaroos are capable of leaping up to 30 feet from tree to tree and can jump up to 60 feet without getting hurt.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: WWF

Giant River Otter

Giant River Otter: Pteronura brasiliensis

The “Libo de Rio” is the largest non-marine otter in the world and is found only in the river systems of South America. They can grow to be about 6 feet long from head to tail, weighing between 60 and 70 pounds. A giant river otter’s fur is so dense that water never reaches it’s skin, even when swimming. Giant otters are more vocal than the North American river otters. They have very distinctive sounds and complex communication. Researchers have been able to identify and describe individual meanings of at least 9 vocalizations.

Credit to: Geoff Gallice

Fun Fact: Giant otters will eat piranhas, caiman and anacondas in the wild as part of their diet.

For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Philadelphia Zoo