Magellanic Penguin

Spheniscus magellanicus

Magellanic Penguins, named for explorer who first spotted them in the 16th century, are medium sized warm weather penguins. They are called warm weather penguins because they live rather far north during the winter, living off the coats of Brazil and northern Argentina.

They are adapted to cold weather, sporting layers of fat and thick feathers. However, Magellanic Penguins are also used to the warm weather as well. When it gets hot they shed feathers around their eyes and bills to keep cool.

Magellanic Penguins live in very large flocks that travel together from the breeding and wintering grounds. It is estimated that there are over 1,000,000 breeding pairs, all of whom maintain monogamous bonds for life.

Though there are literally millions of these birds out there, they are considered to be Near Threatened. This is because populations that live in large colonies are very susceptible to oil pollution. It is estimated that 40,000 die every year from oil off the coast of Argentina.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : South America
Size : Height up to 30in (76cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Sphenisciformes
Family : Spheniscidae -- Genus : Spheniscus -- Species : S. magellanicus

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Abert's Squirrel

Sciurus aberti

Abert’s Squirrels are adorable little dudes that are sometimes referred to as Tassel-Eared Squirrels (guess why). Their are nine recognized subspecies that vary in coloration and location, but most sport grey-brown coats and white underbellies.

 They live in the coniferous forests of western North America, and have a rather interesting relationship with the Ponderosa Pine tree. You see, unlike some plant-animal relationships (I’m looking at you Maned Wolf / Lobeira), the one between the Squirrel and Pine is not a perfect one for all parties involved. The Squirrels use the trees for shelter and food, but the Pines don’t really want them there, despite the fact that the Squirrels help to spread beneficial fungi to the Pines.

Abert's Squirrel

The Ponderosas that live in especially Squirrely areas secret extra chemicals to keep the critters away, and the Squirrels search for less toxic Ponderosa’s to live and feed on. Unfortunately, the Pines with higher chemical secretions have lower vitality and growth rates. It’s definitely a weird relationship!

Abert’s Squirrels are also interesting in that they don’t store food like many other Squirrels do. Rather than stash food, hibernate, and then find it all again in spring, these Squirrels are active year round and have no reason to hide their meals.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : North America
Size : Body Length up to 23in (58cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Rodentia
Family : Sciuridae -- Genus : Sciurus  -- Species : S. aberti

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Pyrenean Ibex

Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica

The Pyrenean Ibex is an extinct subspecies of Spanish Ibex. No one is really sure why they went extinct, though there are a number of different hypotheses floating around, including the inability to compete with livestock and other species, hunting, and disease.

The last Pyrenean Ibex died only a decade ago. Efforts were made before that to try and place individuals in captivity, or to even crossbreed them with other subspecies, but these actions failed. The last male died in 1993, and the last female, a 13 year old named Celia, died in 2000 after being crushed by a tree.

Luckily, tissue samples were collected from Celia before her death, and using those cells scientists worked to clone the Ibex back into existence. Efforts in 2003 failed, and no infants were carried to term. However, in 2009 a young Pyrenean Ibex was born, making it the first animal to become un-extinct. Unfortunately the kid died shortly after birth from a lung defect.

The short-lived success of the Pyrenean Ibex cloning program demonstrates the possibilities that exist for preserving and reviving rare and extinct species. While cloning Woolly Mammoths is still a dream, there are several agencies that are preserving samples from the world's endangered species, including the Frozen Ark Project.

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IUCN Status : Extinct since 2000

Location : France and Spain
Size : Height up to 29in (75cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae -- Genus : Capra -- Species : C. pyrenaica -- Subspecies : C. p. pyrenaica

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Cronopio dentiacutus

Model of C. dentiacutus

I confess, I've never seen any of the Ice Age movies. But I am aware that there is a little Saber-Toothed Squirrel guy that runs around. And now, that Saber-Toothed Squirrel could be real... though it was already extinct for tens of millions of years before the Ice Age... and wasn't really a Squirrel.

For a long time there was a huge gap in the fossil record when it came to the mammals of South America. From 120 to 60 million years ago we jsut didn't really know what was going on. But not anymore! Scientists in Argentina have discovered a small, mouse sized animal that walked with the Dinosaurs and lived between 94 and 60 million years ago.

Cronopio dentiacutus had a long snout and elongated, narrow teeth for snatching insects. It also had very large eyes which suggest a nocturnal lifestyle. And though its been dubbed as a Saber-Toothed Squirrel, it's not a Squirrel at all. C. dentiacutus  belongs to the same group of mammals that eventually evolved into both placental and marsupial mammals!

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Status : Extinct for around 60 million years

Location : Argentina

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Superorder : †Dryolestoidea
Genus : †Cronopio -- Species : †C. dentiacutus

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Mountain Beaver

Aplodontia rufa

We've all heard about the American and European Beavers, the large rodents that use their exceptional engineering skills to dam up and control watery ecosystems. But have you heard about the Mountain Beaver? Yes! This is a real animal! They live in the Pacific Northwest and are incredibly elusive. And they aren't even really Beavers!

Despite what the common name might suggest, Mountain Beavers don't always live in the mountains. They live in the coastal forests of British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and California. They are called Beavers because they chew at bark just like their larger, distant cousins.

Mountain Beavers are considered to be the world's most primitive living rodents. They are the only members of their genus and family, and can be traced back 40 million years. Ready for another weird fact? Mountain Beavers are host to the world's largest flea which measures .3in long!

The Mountain Beaver population is healthy, and the animals are active little herbivores year round. However, they do live in extensive underground burrows and are rarely seen. With their underground lifestyle, elusive habits, and interesting back-story, it's no wonder many people think their a myth right up there with the Jackalope!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Western North America
Size : Body Length up to 20in (50cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Rodentia
Family : Aplodontiidae -- Genus : Aplodontia -- Species : A. rufa

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Indigo Hamlet Fish

Hypoplectrus indigo

Today's animal is a pretty little guy that can be found in the tropical waters of the West Atlantic. Meet the Indigo Hamlet!

There are actually a whole bunch of Hamlet Fish species, all of which belong to the Sea Bass family. I can see the resemblance!

Indigo Hamlets live on Coral Reefs at depths of up to 150ft (45m) and feed on smaller animals like crabs, shrimp, and other fish. They tend to stay near one area of the reef for their entire life and protect it as a home territory.

One really neat fact about eh Indigo Hamlet (and most Hamlets actually) is that they have both male and female genitalia. They perform very intricate and elaborate mating dances, and the fish will take on whichever role is needed! 

Indigo Hamlets can be kept in captivity, but they require larger aquariums due to their territorial nature.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : West Atlantic
Size : Length 5.5in (14cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Serranidae -- Genus : Hypoplectrus -- Species : H. indigo

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Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus

Spotted Towhees are actually large members of the New World Sparrow family, and can be found in the western parts of North America. They have striking red sides, with dark wings and tails that are spotted with white. Males are darker in color than the females

Male Spotted Towhees are very dedicated when it comes to finding a mate. Those who have not yet attracted  females will spend 70-90% of their entire morning singing their little hearts out.  Once they find a mate, only about 5% of their morning time is devoted to song. Due to their scrubland environment, nests are built by the female on the ground using things like pine needles, bark, and grasses. Eggs incubate for only two weeks, and the young are out of the nest when they are only 12 days old!

Spotted Towhees not only nest on the ground, but they feed there as well. They have a very distinctive foraging technique that is referred to as "two-footed scratching." They kick both of their feet back simultaneously to scratch and forage for seeds, insects, and nuts. The sound is actually pretty loud, and the birds are often heard before they are seen.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Western North America
Size : Body Length 8in (21cm), Wingspan 11in (28cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Emberizidae -- Genus : Pipilo -- Species : P. maculatus

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