Hoary Marmot

The Hoary Marmot can be found in the mountainous areas of the North American northwest, living in alpine meadows just above the tree line. It is the largest of all the North American ground squirrels.

Marmota caligata

These Marmots get their name from their coloration; "hoary" is a word that means gray or white with age. Hoary Marmots have thick, silvery gray fur on their heads and upper backs, and more brownish coloration on their lower backs.

Hoary Marmots typically live in colonies that are comprised of a dominant male, many females, and a handful of subordinate males. Only the dominant males breed, and mating takes place not long after the Marmots wake up from their winter hibernation.

Hoary Marmots are known for two other behaviors, the first being their whistling. They have a wide variety of screams and whistles that they use to communicate with, and warn for predators (like eagles and coyotes). Hoary Marmots are also known for their wrestling, which often takes place between young Marmots during the summer months.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Northwest North America

Size : Length 20in (51cm), Weight 20lbs (9kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Rodentia
Family : Sciuridae -- Genus : Marmota -- Species : M. caligata

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Birdology: Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur

By Sy Montgomery
Hardcover : 272 Pages
April 6, 2010

Birdology is a book about a woman and her experiences with, and passion for, birds. Each chapter outlines a different species or family (you can probably guess which by the descriptive sub-title) and juxtaposes the author's personal anecdotes with facts and findings about those specific birds. This book was informative, funny, and exciting, and made me wish I had a flock of hens of my very own, and the time and money to embark on my own personal quest for the Cassowary.

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Cape Dwarf Chameleon

Bradypodion pumilum

Cape Dwarf Chameleons are actually one of the largest of the Dwarf Chameleon species, topping out at a whopping 3in (8cm) body length! They, and many other members of their genus, have a very small range, specifically the area directly around Cape Town, South Africa.

Like many other Chameleons, the Cape Dwarf has an exceptionally long tongue; it is over twice their body length! When they locate prey (they are pure insectivores) they shoot out their tongues and snatch them up.

Cape Dwarf Chameleons are ovoviviparous, and at birth the young are seldom over 2cm long! Females give produce between 5 and 15 tiny offspring at a time. They are born brown, and will develop greener colors as they age. Sexual maturity can be reached after a year, and both males and females grow to roughly the same size.

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IUCN Status :  Not Listed
Location : South Africa

Size : Full length (including tail) 6in (15cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Reptilia -- Order : Squamata
Family : Chamaeleonidae -- Genus : Bradypodion -- Species : B. pumilum

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Saluki

Saluki

The Saluki is one of the oldest of all dog breeds, as images of dogs extremely similar in appearance have been dated to as far back as 5,000 years ago. Mummified Salukis have also been found in tombs, mummified with the likes of Pharoahs. The breed spread far and wide, making its way into China and being brought back to Europe by Romans and later Crusaders. They made their way to America in the late 1800s. Salukis were recognized by the AKC in 1929.

Back then, and now, Salukis were used as hunting dogs. They belong to a specific hunting type known as the sight hounds. These dogs use their eyes to pinpoint prey, and then make use of their exceptional speed to run it down. Many modern Salukis still actively hunt, especially in their home region. In other areas, like in the United States, a canine sport called "Lure Coursing" has been developed to simulate the sight hounds' traditional role.

Running Saluki

Salukis are independent, spirited dogs, sometimes referred to as "cat-like." They can be trained, but it will require patience and practice. They have short coats, with longer hair on the ears and tails, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

If you are interested in owning one of this historic, iconic dogs, a fence is basically a requirement. Due to their long-bred history of hunting, they will instinctively chase after just about anything, so letting them off-leash in a non-enclosed area is a very bad idea.

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Location : Originally bred in the Middle East

Size : Height 23-28in (58-71cm), Weight 40-60lbs (18-27kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora -- Family : Canidae
Genus : Canis -- Species: C. lupus -- Subspecies : C. l. familiaris

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Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise

Female (top) and Male (bottom)

Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise is a small Passerine bird found on only two islands in Indonesia, Waigeo and Batanta. They typically inhabit forested hill areas, though they have also been found in forests of both lower and higher elevations.

Birds-of-Paradise are known for their amazing plumage, typically found only in males. Wilson's is no exception to this. They exhibit a dazzling range of colors, with red backs, yellow mantles, green breasts, and turquoise crowns. Males also have small black curving tail feathers. Females and juvenile males are duller in color, with lighter blue crowns and brownish shades elsewhere.

Adult males use their spectacular plumage to attract mates. They enter well lit clearings, where the sun can reflect off their colorful feathers, and perform intricate song and dance rituals to impress potential partners.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : Indonesia

Size : Length up to 8in (21cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Cicinnurus -- Species : C. respublica

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Screaming Budgett's Frog

I recently picked up an amazing book, appropriately titled Astonishing Animals, by Tim Flannery and Peter Schouten. In it, they describe and illustrate little known, and often endangered species. That is how I stumbled upon today's animal, the absolutely awesome Screaming Budgett's Frog. (It it also a reference for some of this information)

Screaming Budgett's Frog in Captivity

To paraphrase Flannery, the Screaming Budgett's Frog looks like a  turd. This actually is how the frog camouflages itself in its waterside habitats. When their camouflage fails, they puff up their bodies, arch their backs, and scream (hence the name).

So they look like turds, they scream like dying cats, and they also bite! And eat each other! Picking up a Screaming Budgett's frog can result in blood being drawn, as they have two teeth-like projections in their mouths. And as for the cannibalism? After the tadpoles hatch, their primary food source is one another. They can actually swallow other tadpoles whole!

Screaming Budgett's Frogs are quite common in the northern parts of their range, but are becoming rare in the south due to habitat loss.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay
Size : Length up to 6in (15cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Amphibia -- Order : Anura
Family : Leptodactylidae -- Genus : Lepidobatrachus-- Species : L. laevis

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Indian Muntjac

Male Muntiacus muntjak

The Indian or Common Muntjac is a small species of deer found in South and Southeast Asia.They are also known as "Barking Deer" due to the dog-like barking sound that they create when they are startled. When they feel especially threatened they may repeat this call over and over for as long as an hour.

Male Indian Muntjacs have both antlers and tusks, which they use while competing over females and territory. Outside of the breeding season they are solitary animals. Rutting can take place at pretty much any time of year, and females give birth to one offspring at a time.

Indian Muntjacs are rather interesting due to their diet. Despite being deer, they are omnivores. They feed on grasses, fruits, and seeds, but they also eat small mammals! The Minutjacs use their feet to stomp prey to death, and are able to tear at meat with their tusks.

Indian Muntjacs are hunted in many parts of their range, and they are used for meat, skins, and medicines. Muntjacs actually serve a positive purpose for humans in that their barking can warn against the presence of major predators.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : South and Southeast Asia
Size : Weighs 15-30lbs (6.8-13.6kg), Shoulder height approx. 20in (50cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Cervidae -- Genus: Muntiacus -- Species : M. muntjak

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