Snowberry Clearwing

Hemaris diffinis

The Snowberry Clearwing is a species that belongs to a group collectively known as "Hummingbird Moths."

You can identify this particular species by it's furry yellow and black banded body that can be anywhere from 1-2 inches in length. They also have wings that appear to be clear, due to a lack of scales (hence the common name).

Snowberry Clearwings live in most of the United States, and in parts of western Canada. As pupae they feed plants like Snowberry and Honeysuckle. As adults they drink nectar, hovering in place like a Hummingbird. They are most commonly seen during the daytime hours.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : North America
Size : Length up to 2in (6cm)
Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Sphingidae -- Genus : Hemaris -- Species : H. diffinis
Image : Lonniehuffman

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Friesian

The Friesian is a breed of horse that originated in the Friesland province of the northern Netherlands. Their ancestors were war horses that could carry men in full suits of armor, but as the centuries went by and the need for heavy armor went away, they lightened in weight and took on uses in agriculture and harness work.

They nearly went extinct a handful of times, as the needs of the people dictated the types of horses needed. This meant that Friesians were crossbred with other breeds, diminishing the pure-blooded genepool. In 1913 an official registry was founded to promote and continue the bloodline, and today all Friesians can trace their ancestry back to a single foundation sire who was born in 1885.

Today, the Friesian is an interesting step between a heavy draft horse and a light riding horse. They are powerful horses, but are remarkably agile and swift on their feet. They are becoming popular in Dressage due to their exceptional movement and easy to train demeanor. Friesians are also incredibly popular in the film industry. Seen a large black horse in a movie recently? It was probably a Friesian!

Friesians stand anywhere from 15 to 17 hands at the shoulder. They should be totally black in color-- only a very small white forehead marking is permitted. Sometimes they are seen in brown, but it is a penalized color in competitions. They have thick, long, wavy manes and tails, and "feathers" at their hooves.

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Status : Domesticated
Location : Originated in the Netherlands
Size : Height up to 17 hands (1.7m)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Equidae -- Genus : Equus-- Species : E. ferus-- Subspecies : E. f. caballus
Image : Daisyree Bakker, Just Chaos

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Marble Trout

Salmo marmoratus

Meet the Marble Trout, a freshwater fish that has distinct coloration pattern and a very limited range.

The name "Marble Trout" comes (obviously) from its scales, which have a marbled pattern to them. Their specific habitat affects the darkness and the exact coloring. Aside from color, the Marble Trout can be identified by their skinny, cylindrical bodies and their 1-2ft size at maturity.

Marble Trout are found only in a handful of rivers and basins in the world. Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are the only nations that they are currently found in. They live only in freshwater, and feed on smaller fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Despite their small range, the Marble Trout are considered to be of Least Concern. Though damming and habitat loss have made them rare (and possibly extinct) in some localized areas, there are enough of them, and they breed fast enough, that they aren't in major imminent danger as a species.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Europe
Size : Length up to 2ft (65cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Salmoniformes
Family : Salmonidae -- Genus : Salmo-- Species : S. marmoratus
Image : Jaz pa Pojdem

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Black-footed Cat

Felis nigripes

Today's animal may look like a normal house cat, but it is actually a wild animal that you want no where near your sofa! Black-footed Cats are some of the smallest wild cats in the world and are close relatives to our domesticated pets.

As adults, Black-footed Cats rarely weigh in at more than 5lbs. They have spotted bodies, and feet that are black on their toes and pads, hence the name.

The species is hard to come by in the wild. They are not only small, they are solitary and nocturnal as well. The Cats hide out in dense grasses during the daytime hours, and are very skittish when other creatures come near.

As with all cats, the Black-footeds are carnivores. They eat mostly rodents and small birds, and will consume up to 1/6 of their body weight every single night.

Black-footed Cats are considered Vulnerable, due to habitat loss and the use of pesticides that make their way up the food chain. They are one of the lesser studied cat species in the wild, but there are about 700 kept in Zoos worldwide. They have been successfully bred in captivity, though not many times.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : Africa
Size : Length up to 17in (43cm), Weight up to 4.5lbs (2kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae -- Genus : Felis-- Species : F. nigripes
Image : Patrick Apfeld

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Pteranodon

Pteranodon longiceps

There have been dozens of different Pterosaurs discovered, and today's animal is one of the best well known. In fact, it is the "type species" for the genus. This means that when you hear the term "Pteranodon," it refers to not just the genus that contains several difficult species, but also to a single specific species -- Pteranodon longiceps.

This large flying Reptile (Pterasaurs are not Dinosaurs) lived between 85 and 75 million years ago, and its fossils have been found in both Europe and North America. It was first discovered in Kansas back in 1876 by Othniel Charles Marsh, and many hundreds of fossils have since been found at and around that Kansas site.

Pteranodon had a massive wingspan-- most fossils show a spread of 20ft or more! Like modern birds, Pteranodon had hollow bones that made them light enough to fly. Interestingly, Pteranodon may have had fur!

Pteranodons were Carnivores, even though their beak mouths were missing teeth. Of course, the lack of teeth doesn't stop modern birds, so why would a 75 million year old Reptile be any different? Pteranodons captured sea creatures that swam near the surface of the water, and may have swallowed them whole.

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Status : Extinct, lived 85-75 million years ago
Location : Europe, North America
Size : Wingspan up to 20ft (6m)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Order : †Pterosauria -- Family : †Pteranodontidae
Genus : †Pteranodon -- Species :  P. longiceps
Image : Heinrich Harder, Andre Engels

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Common Duiker

Sylvicapra grimmia

The Common Duiker is a species of antelope native to Africa. They are sometimes also referred to as Grey Duikers because of their grey-brown coats.

Common Duikers are small, standing less than 2ft tall at the shoulder. They are found in most of southern Africa, preferring grassland habitats.

Socially, these antelope typically live alone, though sometimes they travel in pairs. Males are very territorial, and will attack any other male who comes within his land tract. Breeding

Common Duikers are nocturnal, doing most of their feeding between the dusk and dawn hours, and then resting in tall grasses during the day. They consume different seeds, grasses, leaves, and fruits. Amazingly, they will occasionally eat other animals as well! Insects, frogs, and even small birds and mammals have been eaten by Duikers!

The name "Common Duiker" really does suit them, as they are one of the most successful members of the Bovidae family in Africa. They have a huge range and a large population size.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Africa
Size : Height up to 20in (50cm), Weight up to 55lbs (25kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae -- Genus : Sylvicapra -- Species : S. grimmia
Image : Ton Rulkins

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Chinese Mitten Crab

Eriocheir sinensis

Today we're going to learn about the Chinese Mitten Crab-- a Crustacean named for its large, furry front claws.

You may not think too much about the environmental impacts this crab, whose body is about the size of a fist, but they are actually a very troublesome invasive species! Chinese Mitten Crabs are native to eastern Asia, but they have now spread to Europe and North America as well.

Chinese Mitten Crabs are troublesome because they make large migrations, displacing native species at every step of the journey. They breed in the oceans, grow up in freshwater rives, and hatch in estuaries. Due to their movements they can even be found hundreds of miles from the sea! In all of those different habitats the Crabs compete with native species for food and burrows. They also damage fishing nets, and have caused that industry to lose great amounts of money.

Not everyone is frustrated with the Chinese Mitten Crabs though-- they are a delicacy in parts of China and some can sell for over $100 a kilogram!

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Native to Asia
Size : Carapace up to 4in (10cm) in diameter
Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Malacostraca -- Order : Decapoda
Family : Varunidae -- Genus : Eriocheir -- Species : E. sinensis
Image : NHM

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