Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Macropus giganteus

So now lets move from the largest Marsupial to ever live, to one of the largest living in the present day. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is a commonly encountered Marsupial throughout Eastern Australia. They inhabit all sorts of areas, including grasslands, woodlands, and even sub-tropical forests.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos are distinguishable by their large size and short, greyish-brown fur. They have strong legs that allow them to hop at speeds of up to 35mph (56kph), and their tail provides them with excellent balance. Did you know that these Kangaroos can also cover 25ft (8m) in a single jump? And that they can also swim quite well too?

Adult

These large Marsupials are very social, and live in groups called mobs. Each mob is controlled by a dominant male, and contains younger males, females, and joeys. Males will fight over potential mates by boxing with one another; leaning back on their tails and kicking with their powerful hind legs.

Did you know that female Eastern Grey Kangaroos are nearly constantly pregnant once they hit sexual maturity? They go into heat again almost immediately after giving birth, but they cause the new embryo to stay dormant in its development until the older Joey is ready to leave the pouch.

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IUCN Status :  Least Concern
Location : Eastern Australia
Size : Height up to 6.6ft (2m), Weight up to 150lbs (68kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Infraclass : Marsupialia
Order : Diprotodontia -- Family : Macropodidae -- Genus : Macropus -- Species : M. giganteus

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Diprotodon

So based on the past two animals, we've learned that Marsupials evolved traits that were similar to those found in their placental counterparts. But did you also know that there were Marsupial Megafauna, similar to the gigantic animals found elsewhere in the world at around the same time?

While Mammoths roamed North America and Eurasia, and while giant Ground Sloths wandered about South America, Diprotodon made all of Australia its home. Also called "the Giant Wombat," Diprotodon was the largest Marsupial to have ever lived. These Wombat relatives were the size of a Hippopotamus!

Diprotodon

Diprotodons lived in open woodland and scrubland habitats, where they fed by browsing with help from their two large front teeth.. They also had large claws on their front feet, which suggests that they could also dig for food. Their pouches were most likely rear-opening, like in modern wombats. This kept the young safe from debris while the mother was digging.

Like most Megafauna, we aren't totally sure why the Diprotodon went extinct. It may have been a climate shift, but it may also have been human involvement. The time of their extinction coincides with the expansion of humans onto the continent, and tool marks have been found on some fossils. In all likelihood though, multiple causes led to the downfall of the world's largest marsupial. Wombats and Koalas carry on their legacy.. albeit in a much, much smaller form.

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Status : Extinct for around 45,000 years
Location : Australia
Size : Shoulder height 6.5ft (2m), weight 6,000lbs (2,700kg)
Classification : Phylum : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Infraclass : Marsupialia
Order : Diprotodontia -- Family : †Diprotodontidae -- Genus : †Diprotodon

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Sugar Glider

Petaurus breviceps

Oh the ever so adorable Sugar Glider. Did you know that these popular exotic pets are also members of team Marsupial? Like yesterday's Southern Marsupial Mole, Sugar Gliders are also a great example of convergent evolution. They closely resemble, and behave like, the flying Squirrels found around the world, yet they are actually Marsupial Possums! (Not to be confused with Opossums, but we'll cover those guys later in the week).

Wild Sugar Gliders are found in northern and eastern Australia, as well as in New Guinea. There are seven location-based subspecies.

Sugar Gliders are nocturnal and arboreal, and also never touch the ground! They have skin flaps between their front and back legs that allow them to glide as far as 325ft (100m), they also use their tails to help steer while in the air.

Sugar Gliders are  omnivores that feed on various nectar, gums, and saps, as well as on insects. The are very social, especially for marsupials, and live in groups of about half a dozen adults and their offspring. Huddling together helps to keep them warm when temperatures drop, though the species will also go into torpor if the weather gets especially cold.

Sugar Gliders have become popular exotic pets in recent years, but they are also traded illegally. If you have an interest in owning one of these little Marsupials, please keep in mind that they are expensive, require a large amount of space and a specialized diet, and have numerous other drawbacks. Please do your research carefully!

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IUCN Status :  Least Concern
Location : Australia and New Guinea
Size : Full length up to 13in (30cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Infraclass : Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia -- Family : Petauridae -- Genus : Petaurus-- Species : P. breviceps

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Southern Marsupial Mole

Marsupials are so amazing because they are their own separate group of mammals that evolved independently from the mammals found elsewhere in the world. Yet, at the same time, they are strikingly similar. The Southern Marsupial Mole is a fantastic example of convergent evolution, which is when two species develop the same or similar traits without actually being related.

Notoryctes typhlops

You see, though it looks like a Mole, has shoveling claws like a Mole, and burrows like a Mole, the Southern Marsupial Mole is no more closely related to placental Moles than it is to any other placental mammal.

Found in the sandy deserts of Australia, the Southern Marsupial Mole spends most of its time underground, though they do surface after rainfall. These amazing creatures have a few adaptations to make life in such a habitat workable. They have rear-opening pouches that prevent sand from being swept in while digging, they have ears that are hidden under layers of fur, and their eyes are only vestigial. Because why have eyes when you are underground all the time anyway?

Southern Marsupial Moles use their sense of smell to track out prey. They feed on insects and small reptiles.

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IUCN Status :  Data Deficient
Location : Central Australia
Size : Body length up to 7in (18cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Infraclass : Marsupialia -- Order : Notoryctemorphia
Family : Notoryctidae -- Genus : Notoryctes -- Species : N. typhlops

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Affirmed

I had to write today's post ahead of time since I'll be hanging out at the Kentucky Derby all day, and I wanted to feature one of the world's most prominent animal sporting events with a relevant post. Today we'll be learning all about Affirmed, the very last horse to win a Triple Crown, way back in 1978.

Alydar (front) & Affirmed (back)

Affirmed was born at Harbor View Farm in Florida in February 1975. He had some pretty impressive horses in his pedigree, including 1937 Triple Crown Champion War Admiral, Man O' War, and Gallant Fox.

By May 1977 he was entered in his very first race, which he won by 4 1/2 lengths. It was during his second race that he first met Alydar, the horse that would become his fiercest challenger. Affirmed and Alydar would strike one of horse racing's most epic rivalries.

Alydar and Affirmed faced each other ten times throughout their careers, including the Triple Crown Races. Alydar won three of those ten starts, but placed second in all three Triple Crown races, becoming the first horse to do so. Affirmed's margin of victory in the Derby was 1 1/2 lengths, the Preakness was a neck, and the Belmont was a mere nose! Quite the rivalry indeed!

Affirmed

Though he had a rocky end to his three year old career, including a disqualification and a 5th place finish, he was still named Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old in 1978. He raced as a four-year-old, winning 7 or 9 starts and being once again named Horse of the Year in 1979. At his retirement he totaled out at $2,393,818 in winnings, becoming the first American Thoroughbred to win over $2million.

Affirmed went to stud and produced 808 foals during 18 seasons, averaging a fee of $30,000. Interestingly, it was Alydar who had the last laugh at stud, producing a higher percentage of racing offspring, and hitting fees of $100,000.

Affirmed was euthanized in 2001 after suffering from severe Lamnitis, the same hoof disease that took fellow 1970s Triple Crown winner Secretariat.

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New Design and a New Theme Week!

You may have noticed a slight change in the way AAD looks today. After a whole year of animals, I thought it was about time for a bit of something new.

The old logo, featuring a Capped Heron, had been on the site since practically day one, and went through only minor modifications over time. The animal footprint background has also been on the site since the early days, it too receiving a few changes here and there.

The new logo features the Capped Heron again, because after so long I just can't get rid of that bird. The background is a photo collage of original images taken at the Milwaukee and Lincoln Park zoos.

Aside from a new design, we also have a new theme week coming, beginning on Sunday. So get ready for some Marsupials, and  a celebration of some of the world's strangest and most unique mammals!

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Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

The Great Cormorant is a large seabird that can be found across the world in various subspecies. They are the most widespread of all the Cormorants, and can be found on coastlines in Europe, eastern North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Great Cormorants are excellent fishermen, but unlike the many species that grab their fish near the surface of the water, Cormorants actually dive down for their meals. They plunge into the water to catch fish that live near the bottom, diving down as far as 115ft (35m)!

Great Cormorants roost in colonies that can number up to 20,000 birds, though far smaller numbers are more common. They nest on cliffs, but also sometimes in very tall trees. Nests are sometimes reused year after year.

Due to their fishing skills, Cormorants and fishermen don't always get along, and the species was persecuted to near extinction in the past. Conservation efforts in the 20th century have increased their numbers, and the population is now large and stable.

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IUCN Status :  Least Concern
Location : Found worldwide
Size : Length up to 40in (102cm), Wingspan up to 60in (152cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Phalacrocoracidae -- Genus : Phalacrocorax-- Species : P. carbo

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