Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke

Today's animal is one of the oldest breeds of horse in the world. It is also, in my opinion, one of the most stunning. They originated in Turkmenistan, with ancestors dating back over 5,000 years. They share a common bloodline to the Arabians, and have been influential in the creation of several other breeds, including the Trakehner and the Nez Perce.

Though the Akhal-Teke's come in a handful of colors, they are best known in their buckskin and palomino varieties, where their coats have a famous metallic sheen to them. They have very little in the mane and tail department, and posses slim bodies that make them excellent for endurance work.

As mentioned, ancestors of the breed first showed up in Turkmenistan thousands of years ago, and the horses were bred there by tribesman until the country was taken over by Russia in 1881. Members of the Russian government and military took a liking to the striking horses, and they developed a breeding program and produced the first official studbook in 1941. It was from a Russian general that the breed got its modern name-- derived from the Teke Turkmen who lived near the Akhal Oasis.

The horses nearly died out post WWII however, due to the slaughtering of horses for meat. Even today there are only around 3,500 in the world. They remain a national symbol of Turkmenistan today.

Akhal-Teke horses excell in distance running, jumping, and dressage. Several Akhal-Tekes have even medaled in Dressage at the Olympic games. They are very lively horses, but are said to attach themselves to only one owner.

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Status : Domesticated
Location : Turkmenistan
Size : Shoulder height up to 16hands (64in, 1.6m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Equidae -- Genus : Equus -- Species : E. ferus -- Subspecies : E. f. caballus

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Achilles Tang

Acanthurus achilles

The Achilles Tang is a beautiful species of Surgeonfish that cane be found in the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. They are moderately sized, with adults reaching about 10in in length.

You can identify this Tang from other Tangs by their black scales, orange spot near the tail, and bright orange tail with white edging. They live near coral reefs, and tend to move in groups. The Achilles Tangs feed on various types of algae

Achilles Tangs are very difficult to keep in captivity. Though they can be kept as pets, only a very experienced saltwater aquarist should consider this species. They require large tanks (180+ gallons) that have strong water flows, and are difficult to feed. They can also become very aggressive and are susceptible to ich and other diseases.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Pacific Ocean
Size : Length up to 10in (25cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Acanthuridae -- Genus : Acanthurus -- Species : A. achilles

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Steppe Mammoth

Mammuthus trogontherii

The Steppe Mammoth is an interesting creature because it actually predates the Woolly Mammoth that we known so well. These monstrous Proboscideans lived between 600,000 and 370,000 years ago, roaming about the steppes of Europe and Asia.

Steppe Mammoths were one of the largest members of their entire order, living or extinct. At the shoulder they stood around 13ft, which would make them just slightly taller than an average male African Elephant today. Even larger specimens have been found, with some reaching as high as 15ft, and sporting tusks around 10ft long.

Unlike the Woolly Mammoths, whose preserved carcasses have actually been found, and whose skeletons and tusks turn up regularly, the Steppe Mammoth is a more rare find. Most of the fossils found have been teeth, and only a handful of near-complete skeletons have been unearthed. A very rare skull was actually just located in France back in 2008.

Steppe Mammoths most likely followed the Southern Mammoths in terms of evolutionary history, and may have been directly followed by the Woolly Mammoths once the ice age completely set in.

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Status : Extinct for about 370,000 years
Location : Europe and Asia
Size : Height up to 13ft (4m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Proboscidea
Family : Elephantidae -- Genus : Mammuthus -- Species : M. trogontherii

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Coconut Octopus

Amphioctopus marginatus

The Coconut Octopus is a rather unusual Cephalopod, in fact, they are one of only two different Octopus species that has been observed walked in a bipedal nature. Furthermore, depending on how you look at it, they actually use tools!

The tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean is where there creatures call home, dwelling in areas where there is a sandy bottomed floor. They aren't especially large-- their heads are about 3in long, while the tentacles measure an additional 6. They feed on small Crustaceans and Clams.

Coconut Octopuses get their name from the fact that they use coconut shells for protection and shelter. They pick up discarded half shells and carry them around their soft bodies. When threatened, they can cover themselves with the shells, creating a permanent hiding place. There are many scientists who argue that this constitutes tool usage, while there are a handful that dispute the claim.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Pacific Ocean
Size : Arm length around 6in (15cm)

Classification : Phylum : Mollusca -- Class : Cephalopoda -- Order : Octopoda
Family : Octopodidae -- Genus : Amphioctopus -- Species : A. marginatus

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Lissodus

Lissodus

Normally when one thinks of prehistoric sharks, they imagine gigantic sea dwelling monsters like Megalodon-- huge beasts with jaws the size of human beings that could devour anything and everything.

Today's animal breaks that stereotype. Lissodus was an entire genus of Sharks that lived on this planet for over 100 million years, spanning from the Triassic into the late cretaceous. They swam not in the oceans, but in fresh water, and their fossils have been found all over the world. So far there have been ten different species identified.

Other differences between these sharks and their giant counsins? Lissodus was tiny. Especially compared to some of the super sharks. These guys measured only 6in long! They also had very interesting teeth, which they used for a specialized diet. Lissodus had flat teeth that allowed it to crush and eat clams.

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Status : Extinct for 100 million years
Location : Worldwide
Size : Length up to 6in (14cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Chondrichthyes -- Order : † Hybodontiformes
Family : Lonchidiidae -- Genus : Lissodus

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Antilopine Kangaroo

Macropus antilopinus

The Antilopine Kangaroo, also referred to as the Antilopine Wallaroo, is one of the lesser known Kangaroo species. They aren't as popular as the Grey and Red Kangaroos, though they are common and abundant, and decently large in size. (The name confusion stems from the species being very large and slender compared to other Wallaroos, but smaller than the other Kangaroos).

"Antilopine" means "antelope-like," a reference to their long legs and speed. Males and females differ in both size and color, with males being larger and more red, while females are small and grey. They live only in northern Australia, inhabiting the forests and tropical woodlands there. The Kangaroos often live in groups of three or more, and they move about their territory grazing on various grasses and plants.

Typically only one offspring is born per year, and the young kangaroos emerge from the pouch each year during the wet season. Males will try and breed with many females each year, and do not take part in the care of their offspring.

Though they are listed as Least Concern, increased global temperatures could spell disaster for the Antilopine Kangaroos. One prediction is that a 2 degree Celsius increase could reduce their range by 90%!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Australia
Size : Weight up to 70kg

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Infraclass : Marsupialia
Order : Diprotodontia -- Family : Macropodidae -- Genus : Macropus -- Species : M. antilopinus

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Rambouillet

Rambouillet Sheep

Meet the Rambouillet, a large breed of dual-purpose domestic sheep that has quite an interesting history and legacy.

Before the late 18th century, the Merino sheep breed in Spain were under close guard. They were protected by the government and exportation was forbidden... Until 1786 when the government finally granted a special request by the French King, Louis XVI (the kings were cousins). 359 carefully selected sheep were sent to a farm in Rambouillet, near Paris.

Once the sheep made it to France, they were kept under royal control for a few years, but that did not last. They eventually spread elsewhere in Europe and added their genes to other breeds both on that continent and abroad. By the mid-1800s they had made it to America.

The Rambouillet breed is a large one, with rams growing up to 300lbs and ewes measuring around 200lbs. They have a high wool yield, and long wool at that-- greater than 3in. They are also great meat producers, and are incredibly adaptable. Rambouillet are farmed in all kinds of environments and climates, from hot Texas and Mexico to the chillier regions in Canada and the northern U.S.

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Status : Doemsticated
Location : France
Size : Weight up to 300lbs (135kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae -- Genus : Ovis -- Species : O. aries

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