Mountain Gorilla

Gorilla beringei beringei

There are two distinct Gorilla species in the world, and each one has two subspecies of its own. The Mountain Gorilla is one of the Eastern Gorilla subspecies, and is found only in a handful of Central African Countries. As indicated by the name, these Primates live at higher elevations-- they inhabit mountainous cloud forests that have altitude of up to 14,000ft.

Mountain Gorillas are the second largest of the Gorillas (behind only the Eastern Lowland). They have longer hair to help with the colder climate, and shorter arms than many of their lowland cousins. Despite their huge size and sometimes ferocious look, these primates are primarily herbivores, and feed on over 100 different plant species.

Like all Gorillas, they live in very structured social groups. These troops, which can have as many as 40 individuals, are led by a dominant male called a "Silverback" (named for the grey hairs that grow on their backs with age). The Silverback decides where the group eats and rests, and protects them from intruders and predators.

Mountain Gorillas are sadly listed as Critically Endangered. Habitat loss, disease, local unrest in human populations, and poaching have reduced their numbers down to only about 800 individuals. Conservation efforts are being made to save this subspecies, and it appears that the decline has stopped and possibly reversed. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done to keep their habitats safe, and to educate the peoples living near the Gorillas.

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IUCN Status : Critically Endangered
Location : Central Africa
Size : Males - Weight up to 430lb (195kg), Height up to 5ft (1.5m); Females - Weight up to 22lbs (100kg), Height up to 4.5ft (1.3m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Hominidae -- Genus : Gorilla -- Species : G. beringei -- Subspecies : G. b. beringei

Image : Tknoxb

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Archer's Lark

Heteromirafra archeri

The Archer's Lark is a very rare bird found only in a very small range within the country of Somalia. It is estimated that there are less than 250 adults left, but they are so elusive that no one really knows for sure, and no accurate population studies have been done.

The last time it was even officially sighted was back in 1955, and no sound recordings have been made either. They are difficult to locate because they stick to covered spaces, rarely fly, and hide well in grasses.

Unfortunately, there are no real conservation measure for the Archer's Lark, because no one has been able to effectively locate and study them. Habitat loss is the cause for their decline, and they very well may go extinct, if they haven't done so already.

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IUCN Status : Critically Endangered
Location : Somalia
Size : Length up to 14cm

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Alaudidae -- Genus : Heteromirafra -- Species : H. archeri

Image : Bird Life

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Lesser Diving Beetle

Acilius sulcatus

In its Western European range, Acilius sulcatus is reffered to as the Lesser Diving Beetle. These Water Beetles grow to around 20mm in length, and range in color from yellow, to brown, to black.

You will find these little Beetles, unsurprisingly  in bodies of water. They have the ability to fly, so they are not confined to a single source, and they prefer locations that are low in predatory fish. Because why live where you're going to get eaten?

If there are predators around, the Lesser Diving Beetles have a defensive mechanism. They are able to secrete a toxin that drugs their attacker and puts them to sleep! They are also very fast, and are one of the quickest of all the Water Beetles.

Lesser Diving Beetles have one brood each year, either in the spring or in the autumn. Adults in cold climates are able to survive the winter by hanging out in bodies of water that do not freeze.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Europe
Size : Length up to 20mm

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Coleoptera
Family : Dytiscidae -- Genus : Acilius -- Species : A. sulcatus

Image : Commons

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Duke of Burgundy

Hamearis lucina

The Duke of Burgundy is a small Butterfly that has a checkered orange-brown pattern on its wings. They belong to a subfamily known as the "Metalmarks," due to the metallic sheen found on their wings. Interestingly though, the Duke of Burgundy is the only member of that group to be found in Europe.

These Butterflies have a range that spreads from Spain to the Balkans, and they are also found in Great Britain. They live in both grasslands and in forested areas.

Though they look very much alike, you can distinguish between the males and females of this species by their behavior. Males are incredibly territorial, and will lash out at other males that enter their small range. Females are more relaxed, and do not stick to a set home area. They will often wander, which is how colonies are able to pop up far from existing ones.

As Caterpillars, these insects feed on Oxslip, Cowslip, and Primrose-- plants that their eggs are laid on. They remain in that phase for only a few weeks before beginning their final transformation, and will actually remain in the pupa for as long as 9 months!

Adult Duke of Burgundy Butterflies do have the mouth-parts needed to feed, unlike some other Butterfly species. They consume various types of nectar.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Europe
Size : Wingspan up to 1.2in (30mm)

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Riodinidae -- Genus : Hamearis-- Species : H. lucina

Image : Mnolf

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Europasaurus

Europasaurus holgeri

Europasaurus is a recently discovered (2006) Dinosaur that also happens to be an example of insular dwarfism. You see, this creature is a sauropod, related to such giants as the Brachiosaurus. However, Europasaurus was quite small for a member of its family-- it grew to only about 10ft in length.

The reasoning for the small size is most likely isolation. The Europasaurus was found in the Saxony Basin, and most likely evolved in a region that had very limited resources. Because feeding and sustaining massive Sauropods was no feasible in the area of the world, these Dinosaurs grew smaller in size.

Europasaurus is also different because it had a very slow growth rate. Where other Sauropods reached titanic sizes very quickly, the Europasaurus grew at a much, much slower speed. It is possible that very old individuals reached sizes of more than 10ft, but they still would've been dwarfed by their Brachiosaur family members.

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Status : Extinct for 150 million years
Location : Europe
Size : Body length up to 10ft (3m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Reptilia -- Order : Saurischia
Family : †Brachiosauridae -- Genus : †Europasaurus -- Species : † E. holgeri

Image : Gerhard Boeggemann

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Atlantic Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

The Atlantic Spadefish looks a lot like the Angelfish you see in aquariums... only they can grow up to 3ft long! They are found only within the Atlantic Ocean, off the eastern coast of North America and in the Caribbean. They live in shallow waters, and school in groups of up to 500 members.

Atlantic Spadefish have large, compressed, disc-like bodies that are covered in silvery scales and black vertical lines. They have trailing lobes on their dorsal and anal fins, which give that that Angelfish look.

These fish feed on all sorts of underwater invertebrates, including crustaceans and mollusks. They themselves are popular game fish for humans, as they have good meat and can be challenging to catch. Right now they are not under any major conservation threats, and fishing levels are sustainable.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Atlantic Ocean
Size : Length up to 3ft (.9m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Ephippidae -- Genus : Chaetodipterus -- Species : C. faber

Image : Citron

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Tody Motmot

Hylomanes momotula

The Tody Motmot is a small, colorful bird found in Central America. They have a very large range that spans across several different countries, and are quite common throughout it.

Tody Motmots live tropical and subtropical lowland forests, where it can be identified by its round green body, red crest, large beak, and dark black eye stripe. They feed on fruits and small animals like lizards and insects.

This particular species of Motmot is unique in its family because it does not posses the strange, long, tennis-racket shaped tail feathers that the other Motmots have. They are also the smallest members of the group.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Central America

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Coraciiformes
Family : Momotidae -- Genus : Hylomanes-- Species : H. momotula

Image : dominic sherony

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