Japanese Spider Crab

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Japanese Spider Crabs are the world's largest living arthropod, with a legspan that stretches nearly 13ft (4m). Their actually body, however, reaches only about 15in (37cm) across. These Crabs are found on the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Japanese archipelago. They are found at depths of 150-800m, though 200m is very typical. Females will move to even shallower depths in order to lay their eggs.

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The body of the Japanese Spider Crab is made up of a body with eight legs and two long feeding arms that, in males, exceed the length of the legs. These arms are shorter in females. They are reddish-orange in color, with white spots. The eyes are located at the front of the body, and two horns protrude between them.

Japanese Spider Crabs hang out on the sea floor where they feed off of other crustaceans and material of dead animals that has floated downwards. They reportedly can live up to 100 years, making them a very long-lived species.

Japanese Spider Crabs have not been evaluated by the IUCN, but they are fished for consumption purposes. However, the number caught has gone down in recent years due to protection programs. Fishing continues in Saruga Bay, but overfishing in that area has caused fishermen to look deeper and deeper for these large crustaceans.

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Rufous Hummingbird

Male Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbirds are native to the west coast of North America, where they migrate between their northern breeding grounds and their winter homes down in Mexico. They are quite small, measuring only about 3in (8cm). Males are rufous colored all over, with the exception of a white patch on the throat. Females and juveniles have a greenish tint on their backs. Their diet consists of nectar, sometimes supplemented by insects.

Did you know that Rufous Hummingbirds have the longest migration route of any North American hummingbird? On top of that, if you measure migration in regards to body size, they have one of the longest in the world! Its migration from Alaska to Mexico is over 78,000,000 body lengths. In comparison, the Arctic Tern, whose migration is about three times longer, moves only about 51,000,000 body lengths.

Rufous Hummingbirds also have the distinction of being quite feisty. They are very territorial birds, and will fight for feeding and nesting spots just about anywhere they go, even against much larger Hummingbirds. It helps that they are particularly quick and agile, even for a Hummingbird. They beat their wings 52-62 times per second. During the breeding season, males will perform oval or J-shaped aerial dives in order to impress females.

Rufous Hummingbirds also have excellent memories, and have been know to return to feeder spots year to year, even if the feeder is no longer there.

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Antelope Jackrabbit

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Despite the name, the Antelope Jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) is actually a hare, though rabbits and hare all members of the family Leporidae, which shares the order Lagomorpha with the Pikas. Antelope Jackrabbits are found in Western Mexico and in Southern Arizona. They are nocturnal creatures that feed during dusk and down (making them crepuscular). Antelope Jackrabbits can be found in open grassland areas, both at low and hilly elevations. They have long legs for running and jumping, and long ears, which help to  reduce heat. They also have fur that works well to insulate and reflect.

Antelope Jackrabbits are so named because of their speed (up to 35mph/56kph) and because of an interesting behavior that they exhibit while running from danger. When being chased by a predator, the Jackrabbit will flash a white patch of hair on the rump and run in a zigzag pattern. This is done with hopes to confuse their pursuer. Antelope Jackrabbits have several predators in the wild, including coyotes, hawks, and snakes.

Antelope Jackrabbits are herbivores, and feed off of grasses, leaves, and even cacti. They do not actively drink, and instead get all of their water from their diet. Breeding season is actually year round, and males will "box" for potential mates. Females may give birth to up to four litters a year, and the young are precocial not long after birth. Males do not take care of the young.

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Pangolin

Sunda Pangolin

There are eight species of Pangolin, all found within the genus Manis. Though they sort of resemble anteaters, they are actually the only extant members of their family, and also of their entire order, Pholidota. The Pangolin species are found in tropical habitats of Africa and Asia. Their size varies by species, with those on the smaller end measuring 12in (30cm) while the larger species reach up to 40in (102cm).

Pangolins have a variety of interesting physical features. The most obvious are the scales, which are actually made from keratin, the same substance in out hair and nails. These large plates weigh up to 20% of their total body weight, and serve to defend the Pangolins from attackers, as they are able to roll up in to a ball underneath them. Young Pangolins are born with soft scales, which harden quickly. When threatened, mothers will roll up their young with them.

Pangolins have long claws that are suitable for digging, but aren't the best for walking; they walk with their paws curled over. They also interestingly have no teeth, nor do they have the ability to chew. They probe into termite mounds and anthills with their long, sticky tongues and simply swallow the meals whole.

All Pangolin species have been evaluated by the IUCN, and they range from Least Concern to Endangered. Illegal trade has damaged their numbers, and all populations are in decline

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Dolphin Fish

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The Dolphin Fish, sometimes known as Mahi-Mahi, live in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. They are pelagic, and are oftentimes found underneath floating materials, including boats. In the Atlantic, Sargassum algae helps to protect juveniles of the species. Dolphin Fish are identified by their striking gold, blue, and green coloration, and by their blunt heads and long dorsal fin.

Dolphin Fish (Coryphaena hippurus) grow large, and they grow fast. Adults can reach lengths of 6ft (2m) and weigh up to 30lbs (14kg). However, they have a  relatively short life span, seldom exceeding five years. They reach maturity after 4-5 months, and are prolific spawners. During the breeding season they will spawn multiple times, with females producing up to 60,000 eggs per time.

Dolphin Fish are carnivorous predators, and they use their speed (up to 50knots) to capture and consume prey. They hunt in pairs or in small groups, and consume small fish, juveniles of larger fish species, and invertebrates.

Dolphin Fish populations are stable, and Atlantic caught fish are listed as a best choice by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch.

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Tully Monster

Artist's Interpretation

The Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) was a rather unique animal, both in biology and in location. It is the state fossil of Illinois, and that state is the only place in the world where they have been found. Some scientists believe they might be a distant relative of snails, but this has not been confirmed. Overall, they do not seem to be closely related to any other yet-discovered creature, living or extinct.

Tully Monsters were soft-bodied, marine invertebrates that lived during the Pennsylvanian Period, which is the younger of the two subdivisions of the Carboniferous Period. In short, they lived about 300 million years ago. They had long, segmented bodies that grew up to 14in (35.5cm), and possessed eight small teeth and a horizontal tail and dorsal fin. They were most likely carnivorous, based upon their mouth shape. They also had a bar that transected the body horizontally about half way down. It is thought that these served as sensory organs. Based on their body shape, they were most likely active swimmers.

Fossil

The Tully Monster was first discovered by amateur fossil collector Francis Tully in 1958. Fossilized imprints were found in the Mazon Creek deposits, and he brought them to the Field Museum in Chicago. It was eventually determined that this was a whole new species and was officially named after its nickname, Tullymonstrum, with the genus, gregarium, meaning "common."

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Snowy Egret

Breeding Plumage and Chicks

The Snowy Egret is actually a small, white heron that can be found across the United States, and all the way down to South America. Population in warmer climates remain as permanent residents year round, while others in colder regions are migratory.

Male and female Snowy Egrets look alike, with slender, white-feathered bodies, black beaks, black legs, and yellow feet. During the breeding season they have long plumes on their heads, backs, and necks. They stand about 2ft (61cm) tall and possess wingspans of around 3ft (92cm).

Snowy Egrets feed on crustaceans and fish. They hunt by stirring up the water with one foot, and then plunging down with their bill once prey emerges. Snowy Egrets breed once a year, and 3-5 eggs are laid in large, platform-like nests that are built either on the ground or up in trees. Both parents feed and care for the chicks. Interestingly, there is evidence that the Egret mates can only recognize one another while at the nest. When returning, a bird must do an elaborate ceremony to prove that they are not an intruder.

Egret in Flight

Did you know that at one time Snowy Egret feathers cost twice as much as gold by weight? Plumes were highly valued for the hat-making industry in the late 19th century. Egret feathers at that time sold for as much as $32 an ounce. The demand for these feathers was so high that the Egrets nearly went extinct from over-hunting. They were eventually given protective status and their population recovered. They are now listed by the IUCN as being of Least Concern.

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