#640: Rainbowfish

The Rainbowfish are a Family of small, colourful freshwater fish, found in Australia, New Guinea and its surrounding islands. They are also popular within the aquarium trade. He favours an omnivorous diet, feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae, algae and insects that float on the water. Spawning occurs year-round, but is particularly concentrated during the start of the wet season. Eggs adhere to floating vegetation and hatch after 18 days.

The unrelated Madagascar Rainbowfish will be featured under his local name of "Zono".

#639: Rainbow Cuckoo Wasp

The Cuckoo Wasps are a colourful Family of wasp, noted for their parasitic behaviours. Their irridescent patterning is achieved by their microscopely structured surface, which interferes with the visibile light to give them a rainbow patterning. There are four sub-families, of which the Chrysidinae are the largest and best known. The female lays her eggs in the nest of a host species. The hatching larvae then devour the host's eggs or larvae, as well as their food source. These wasps cannot sting, with their ovipositor being designed for the placement of the eggs. When threatened, she will curl up into a tight ball, protecting her limbs and vulnerable regions with her sturdy exoskeleton.

#638: Rail

The Rail Family includes an array of semi-terrestrial birds including crakes, coots and moorhen, spread throughout the world. Although generally associated with wetlands, various species have been found to colonise every environment except the very dry and the very cold. Many species are flightless, with the others favouring a terrestrial existence. Island species, in particular, have lost the ability to fly, and with it have been exterminated by introduced predators.

This fellow is a Madagascan Rail, of the Rallus, or "typical rail" Genus. He uses his long bill to forage for invertebrates in his swampy home. His main threat comes from habitat loss, as lowland wetlands are cleared for the formation of rice fields. He is classified as Vulnerable.

#637: Gentoo Penguin

We interrupt the alphabet to give you another penguin! Because who doesn't love penguins?

The Gentoo Penguin is the third largest living Penguin species. He breeds on sub-Antarctic islands such as the Falklands, South Georgia and Kerguluen, favourite ice-free areas. Awkward on land, he spends much of his time in the water pursuing prey in the form of fish, squid and krill. Dives can last for 7 minutes, and reach depths of 200 meters. Adults form long-term partnerships, working together to construct a nest of stones, moss, grass and sticks, into which are laid two eggs.

#636: Radiated Tortoise

The critically endangered Radiated Tortoise is native to Madagascar. He makes his home in the dry forests of the south and southwest. Here his population is in severe decline. Hunting and habitat loss have taken their toll, aqs is illegal poaching for the pet trade. His diet is vegetarian, with Opuntia cacti being a particular favourite. He can live well over 100 years, with the oldest recorded Radiated Tortoise living 188 years.

#635: Raccoon

The Raccoon is a carnivore of the Procyonide family, found in North America, with two related species occuring in South America. She is characterised by her facial mask and dextrous front paws, which are adept at manipulating objects. Although generally a solitary creature, she will share her territory with other females and gather together occasionally to feed or rest. Males also form loose social groups, especially around breeding season, to help defend their territory from intruders. Originally found in deciduous woodland, Raccoons are very adaptable and have colonised urban areas - including attics. Their diet is equally adaptable and she is known to raid rubbish bins and even slip through cat doors, as well as feeding on invertebrates, plant matter and small vertebrates.

#634: Asian Elephant

Please excuse the current deviation from the alphabet as we know it.

 I have been working back to fill in a few gaps as part of another project - a project that could see my art in selected independent book stores, i-sites and zoo shops across New Zealand. NZ Art Cards are a company that works extensively with New Zealand artists and designers, and I have recently been invited to join their team. It is a huge honour and a very exciting step for me - I hope that we can make it work!

You can few my cards, and a selection of others, in the Kiwi Eco Kids Range. Look out for them in a store near you soon!

The Asian Elephant is smaller than her African cousin and characterised by the distinctive twin domes on her head. She also has more toes and only one "finger" on her trunk. Her range covers mainland Asia, Sri Lanka and Sumatra where she can be found in a variety of habitat types from rainforest to open grassland. A generalist vegetarian, she grazes and browses, consuming up to 150 kg of plant matter per day. Females live in small groups with their calves, whilst the males follow a solitary, bachelor lifestyle. Asian Elephants have been captured and trained by humans for centuries, used as siege weapons, beasts of burden and hunting platforms. More recently, in circuses and tourism. The process of training an elephant is often unpleasant and violent, with the animal being beaten, or otherwise tormented, into submission and obedience.