#876: Zebra Loach

The Zebra Loach is endangered in the wild, but readily available in the pet trade. He is a freshwater loach, native to the Western Ghats of India. A bottom-feeder, he hunts for invertebrates in the substrate, and has a particular fondness of snails, which make him popular with aquarists. If kept singly or in pairs, he can become reclusive and stressed; it is recommended to keep at least five. As with many popular pet species, poaching is a problem and Zebra Loach do not readily breed in the captivity. Commercial aquarists breed them with the use of hormones.

#870: Zacatuche

Zacatuche, the volcano rabbit, is a tiny bunny, found only in the mountains of Mexico, more specifically, four volcanoes south of Mexico City. She lives in small groups of 2-5 rabbits, digging burrows and creating runways through the low tussock grass. She lives at high altitude, and is greatly affected by human disturbance. This disturbance has also fragmented the population, pushing her close to the brink of extinction.

#864: Yellow-headed Day Gecko

The charming Yellow-headed Day Gecko lives in Madagascar, where his range is limited to the North-western area around Antsatsaka. His habitat is bamboo forest, where he favours the yellow bamboo canes, which offer him camouflage. He grows to about 10 cm in length.  His preferred diet is insects and other invertebrates, but he also enjoys pollen.

#861: Yellow-eyed Penguin

The Yellow-eyed Penguin is native to New Zealand and nearby islands. He follows a piscivorous diet, foraging off the coast and on the ocean floor. The largest mainland populations are on the Otago Peninsula - where he is a tourist attraction - and in the Catlins. He is under threat from habitat degradation and predation, as well as disease.  After breeding season, when the chicks have gone to sea (survival rates are as low as 20%), the adults begin their annual moult. Penguins moult all of their feathers at once, shedding the old for a new, sleek plumage. During this time they cannot enter the water, and are extremely vulnerable to predation or starvation.

#856: Yag Baligi

This ray-finned fish, belonging to the carp Family, is found only in one habitat within Turkey: Lake Egridir and its tributaries. He was thought to have become extinct, due to the introduction of the zander fish. However in 1993 a small population was discovered. He is now classified as Endangered.

#852: Xerosecta

There are a number of  Xerosecta, a Genus of terrestrial hairy snails found in various locations about Europe. Many of the species, like this Xerosecta giustii, are on the brink of extinction with many classified as Endangered, some even Critical. Xerosecta are simultaneous hermaphrodites, being able to reproduce both as a male and a female. The so-called "love dart" is a calcareous or chitinous appendage, which develops after the snail's first mating. The courtship dance can last for many hours, with both partners circling one another, making contact with one another, and drawing closer. Eventually they will simultaneously fire their darts, locking together, after which mating can begin.

#839: Wolpertinger

Found in the Barvarian forests of Germany, the Wolpertinger has relatives in Austria and Sweden, and is closely related to the American Jackalope. Elusive and solitary, the best way to catch a glimpse of a Wolpertinger is to be a beautiful young woman (or in the company of one). The Wolpertinger is irresistably drawn towards beauty and, if the woman visits his territory during the full moon, he may be drawn out of hiding.

814: Walpole Burrowing Crayfish

The Walpole Burrowing Crayfish is one of five burrowing crayfish species in the engaewa Genus, all of which are found in the southern corner of Western Australia. Walpole Burrowing Crayfish occurs in a very limited range, and as such is classified as Endangered. This tiny crayfish grow up to 50mm in length. He inhabits peat moss, swamps, and other areas with a heightened water table, but does not live under water.

#797: Verreaux's Sifaka

Verreaux's Sifaka is probably one of the more well known Sifaka species. She is found in the lower western and southern regions of Madagascar, generally inhabiting dry or spiny forest. Like all Sifaka, she is vegetarian, and her diet consists mostly of leaves. Troops range in size from 2-12 individuals. Whilst these are often family groups, some also consist of one dominant male and, effectively, his harem of females. Females, however, are dominant over males. The Verreaux's Sifaka is probably most well known for her form of locomotion. Generally she will leap between trees, but when the gap is too wide, she must come to ground. Unable to walk on all fours, she instead "dances", making bipedal hops with her arms slightly raised.

#772: Tuna

Tuna is one of the most popular table fish, with cans of this handsome fellow being a staple in most pantries. What most people don't realise is that Tuna are massive: the Atlantic can reach lengths of over 4m, and the Bluefin averages 2m. This makes him one of the largest carnivorous fishes in the world. He is an active and agile predator - the Yellowfin can reach speeds up to 75 km/hr. Tuna grow fast and breed young, but Bluefins may live up to 50 years.

Tuna are seriously overfished. The Southern Bluefin is Critically Endangered, and almost every other species is catagorised from "Near Threatened" to "Endangered". Some fisheries have experimented with farming and ranching tuna, with limited success. Without careful management, these majestic ocean predators could disappear from our oceans.

#757: Tiger

The Tiger is the largest of the Felid Family, with the Siberian subspecies reaching 3.38 m  in length. It is he who is truly the King of the Jungle, and he once roamed the forests as far north as Siberia and as far south as Bali. Now his range is more restricted and fragmented due to hunting and deforestation. He is solitary, but his range often overlaps that of several females, and will sometimes even share his kills with them (and they with him). His favoured food is medium-sized ungulates, especially deer. An ambush predator, he lies in wait and uses his size and strength to disable the prey, before dispatching it with a bite to the throat.

#740: Tamarin

The Tamarin monkeys are tiny New World monkeys, occupying different patches of Amazon rainforest. This fellow is one of the Lion Tamarins, the Golden. The other Genus lack the manes that give this genus their name. The Golden Lion is endangered due to deforestation.

#708: Snow Leopard

The Snow Leopard is a large feline who makes her home in the  alpine and sub-alpine regions of Central and South Asia. Like most cats, she is solitary in nature. An ambush predator, she stalks along rocky ledges seeking prey, such as markhor, tahr and smaller mammals, on the lower slopes. Whilst related to lions and the other Panthera cats, Snow Leopards are unable to roar. Instead she hisses, chuffs, mews and wails. She has specialised adaptations to the alpine environment, including a thick coat, small ears, wide paws, with furred pads. Her tail is thickened and stores fat. She also has large nasal cavities, allowing better inhalation of the thin mountain air.

#699: Siamang

The Siamang is the largest species of Gibbon. He can be found in Malaysia, Thailand and Sumatra. Both males and females possess an inflatable throat pouch. This can be inflated to the size of the ape's head, amplifying his vocalisations and allowing him to communicate with his neighbours. Siamang live in family groups - an adult pair and their offspring. Males play a large role in raising the offspring. His diet is entirely vegetarian. Siamang are under threat from the pet industry, with mothers being killed so that their infants can be poached, but the main threat comes from deforestation.

#688: Sea Otter

The Sea Otter is one of the smallest marine mammals, but the heaviest member of the Mustelid Family. Unlike most marine mammals, she does not rely on blubber to retain warmth, instead possessing a very thick, insulatory pelt. Her fur is the thickest in the Animal Kingdom and, as such, put her in high demand from the early fur trappers. She was pushed to the brink of extinction, and is only now recovering, thanks to the ceasation of this industry. Sea Otter lead a largely aquatic existence, diving for crustaceans and molluscs as well as fish. She uses stones to dislodge prey and break over shells, and will even store a favoured rock in the loose piece of skin under her armpit. Whilst she feeds independently, Sea Otter gather together in rafts to rest and keep themselves together.

Here's the lineart, if you wish to colour her in yourself:

#676: Poison Dart Frog

The Golden Poison Dart Frog is one of the most deadly animals in the world. Their alkaloid toxin is derived from their diet - consisting of insects, wiht the culprit potentially being a Melyridae beetle  - and becomes concentrated in the frog's skin. Contact with one of these bright little fellows will cause nerve failure that forces the muscles to remain in a contracted state, which can lead to heart failure. The only animals capable of eating a Golden Poison Dart Frog is the golden-bellied snakelet - and even they are not completely immune. In captivity, their diet will lead to them eventually becoming harmless but the toxins can remain for years in wild caught specimens.

 It is calculated that the toxins from one frog can kill up to 20 people.

Definition: An animal is considered Venomous if it delivers the toxin to the victim via active means, such as fangs or spines. Creatures are considered Poisonous if the toxin is delivered via consumption or other less deliberate means.

#653: Rhinoceros

The Rhinoceros are five species of odd-toed ungulate, of which three species are found in Asia and two - including this white rhinoceros - inhabit Africa. All are characterised by the horns, which are formed of keratin and grow constantly throughout the Rhinoceros's life. These horns are prized on the black market, where they are crushed into a powder and used in traditional medicine. Poaching has eliminated two of the Asian species from much of their range, and reduced populations to critically low levels. The African species suffer a similar plight with only the southern white rhinoceros surviving in sufficient numbers.

It is unknown how the white rhino got its name, for she certainly is not white - although her colouration is slighter lighter than that of the black rhino. It has been considered a variation of wijd, a Dutch word meaning "wide" and referring to her lips, which are wide and allow her to efficiently graze, but this has not been linguistically proven. The black rhino as narrower, prehensile lips, which he uses to browse leaves and twig from trees. 

#647: Red Panda

The Red Panda is not related to the Giant Panda. He is actually more closely related to the Racoons. The reason the two were once considered related is because they both bear a pseudo-thumb, used for better grasping bamboo.

More information to come tomorrow.

#621: Quarry Worm Salamander

The Quarry Worm Salamander is one of 29 species in the Oedipina Genus. They are lungless, elongated amphibians who use their skin and the inside of the mouth to breathe. The Quarry Worm Salamander is found in a restricted range in montane and semi-montane rainforests of Costa Rica. He makes his home in moss mats on the banks of streams and is semi-aquatic. Sometimes he can be found in road cuts and quarries as well. He is under threat from habitat destruction and classified as Endangered.

#610: Pudu

The Pudu are the smallest deer in the world, with the northern species measuring only 32-35 cms at the shoulder. He is found in the temperate rainforests of South America, using the thickets and bamboo to protect him from predators. Solitary in nature, he will come in contact with the female only to mate, and leave soon after. Leaves, buds, fruit and other plant matter are his favoured food, although his small stature means he must stand upright on his hind legs to scent for food. He will also climb on low branches.

I am quite disatisfied with this picture, so may draw another - possibly featuring a mother and calf since baby pudu are one of the most adorable things imaginable.