#881: Zorilla

The Zorilla, a striped polecat, bears both a physical and behavioural resemblance to the skunk. If threatened, he arches his back, raises his tail, and sprays the predator with a foul musk from his anal glands. This both burns the predator's skin and can temporarily blind them. He leads a solitary existence, foraging at night for insects, invertebrates and small vertebrates, which he digs up with his clawed paws.

#874: Zebra Finch

The Zebra Finch is an Australian finch, well represented in the pet industry. In the wild, he inhabits the interior of Australia, gathering in flocks in the outback. He dines mostly on seeds, dehusking them with his sturdy beak, however he will also take fresh food such as plant matter and fruit when it is available. Breeding occurs after heavy rain, regardless of the season, and nests will be constructed in any crevice or crack available: termite mounds, rabbit burrows, buildings, as well as trees and shrubs.

#869: Yucatan Jay

(This is a juvenile, still retaining his yellow bill but having his adult plumage.)

The Yucatan Jay is a Central America corvid, native to the Yucatan Peninsula. He inhabits tropical forest and subtropical dry forests, as well as colonising heavily degraded areas. Fledglings are white feathered. As they mature, they moult into their blue and black adult plumage, but retain their yellow beak, feet and eye rings for up to four years. Breeding is cooperative, with the juveniles helping raise their younger siblings.

#868: Yonahlossee Salamander

The Yonahlossee Salamander is a large species of woodland salamander. He inhabits the southern Appalachian Mountains of North America. Here he favours deciduous woodland, and can be found at relatively high altitudes. During the day he takes cover in damp, shaded areas, becoming most active on humid or rainy nights, when he forages for insects and other invertebrates.  As the weather grows colder, he migrates underground.

#866: Yellow-throated Marten

The Yellow-throated Marten is a large and feisty mustelid, growing up to 720 cm in body length. His natural range is Asia, where he inhabits tropical and sub-tropical forests. He regularly preys on small deer, and even larger species, such as wapiti, wild boars and even panda cubs. Nectar and fruit also feature in his diet, and he is important in seed dispersal.

#862: Yellow Bishop

The Yellow Bishop is a small, stocky weaverbird. He occupies vegetated areas, ranging across many of the African countries. His food consists mainly of seed, grain and the occasional insect. During the breeding season, the male's plumage grows in glossy black, with the yellow rump and shoulders. Outside of that time, he dons more dowdy browns and greys, not dissimilar to the female.

#853: X-ray Tetra

The X-Ray Tetra is named for his translucent skin, which allows his backbone to be clearly visible. He is naturally found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and is somewhat tolerant of brackish water.
He follows an omnivorous diet of plants and animal matter. He is generally peaceable among other species and sociable among his own. This, combined with his unique appearance, makes him popular in the pet industry. However, he is small in size and can fall prey to larger fish and amphibians.

#849: Xantus's Hummingbird

 

John Xantus was a Hungarian Zoologist who was exiled in 1851 and came to live in the United States. Here he went on to give his name to a number of animals, so many that I could probably fill a (relatively small) encyclopedia volume with his X's alone. Among these discoveries were this, the Xantus's Hummingbird. 

The Xantus's Hummingbird is endemic to Baja California, although he sometimes strays up the west coast to Canada during the summer months. Like most hummingbirds, his diet consists predominantly on nectar, supped in flight with his extendable tongue. He is also noted to take insects on the wing, especially when feeding offspring. The nest is cup-shaped and lined with feathers, spiderwebs and animal hair, with the outside including moss for camouflage. In this the female lays two eggs.

#800: Vesper Rat

The Vesper Rats are two species of New World Rat found in Central America. She leads an arboreal lifestyle, foraging through the branches for fruit and seeds. During the day, she sleeps in a nest constructed from twigs and leaves. She breeds throughout the year, constructing the nest with the assistance of her mate and birthing up to three offspring. Infants are born partially furred and blind; they remain attached to the mother's teats for the first two weeks, and are weaned at three weeks.

#739: Tamandua

The Tamandua are two species of Anteater, the Northern and the Southern, adapted to an aboreal lifestyle. Both are characterised by their black "waistcoat" and prehensile tail. His diet consists almost entirely of termites and insects, which he laps up using his long, sticky tongue. The middle claw on each forefoot is modified into a hook, perfect for ripping open insect nests. Tamandua are generally solitary, coming together only to mate. The single baby spends the first few weeks sheltered in a tree hollow, then rides around on the mother's back.

#731: Sugar Glider

The Sugar Glider is a small gliding possum, native to Australia and New Guinea. Omivorous in diet, the Sugar Glider feeds on sap, honeydew and gum in winter, and insects in summer. Pollen is an important part of her diet and she acts as a pollinator for various Banksia species. Her most characteristic feature is her patagium, which extends from her forelimbs to her hindlimbs. When spread, this creates an aerofoil that allows her to glide from tree to tree. She rarely, if ever, touches the ground. Highly social, the males aid in the care of the youngsters. Juvenile Sugar Gliders are unable to thermoregulate until they are 100 days old, and the parents take turns in keeping them warm.

Sugar Gliders have found their way into the exotic pet market. With their endearing features and interesting behaviour they are attractive to those seeking something a bit different. However, they are also nocturnal, have a fairly specialist diet, are social creatures and will pine if kept alone, and they cannot be house-trained. Currently wild-caught animals are being poached and smuggled into the pet trade, which may have an impact on the wild populations in the future.

#718: Springbok

The South African Springbok is a medium-sized antelope, able to reach speeds of up to 88 km/hr. He is named for his ability to "stot" or "pronk": leaping vertically in the air, all four feet off the ground. This is a strategy to demonstrate to predators that he is fine, fit and not worth pursuing, and to show female Springbok that he is definitely worth pursuing. Springbok form herds. Their diet is mixed, with grazing common during the wet season but browsing on trees and shrubs in drier times.

#713: Sparrow

Sparrows, like many other Passerine species, can be divided into Old World (Eurasia) and New World (Americas) Families. The two Families are not particularly closely related, but bear a superficial resemblance to one another. Other birds commonly (and inaccurately) named "Sparrow" include the Hedge Sparrow (aka dunnock, an accentor) and the Java Sparrow (a finch)

The most recognisable of the forty-plus Sparrow species is the House Sparrow. He is the most widely distributed wild bird in the world, occuring in evey continent, except Antarctica. Native to Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia, he has been introduced - both purposely and accidentally - to South America, North America, Southern Africa, Australia and numerous islands, including New Zealand. He is a survivor - able to live in both hot and cold climes, and thrives in the urban environment. A pair were even found nesting underground, in a mine. His diet, traditionally, consists of seed, grain and plant matter, but he has happily adapted to scavenging from human food waste as well.

#709: Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl makes her home in the Arctic tundra of the Northern Hemisphere,  ranging across North America and Eurasia. An opportunistic hunter, she preys mainly on lemmings and small mammals, but will follow traplines to seek larger prey such as racoons or hare. She is active during both day and night. During breeding season, she selects a site with good visibility - perhaps a raised mound - and scratches out a hollow. Here she will lay up to 11 eggs over the course of several days. Despite the age and size disparity between the hatched youngsters, there is little sibling conflict.

#659: Robin

Whilst there are numerous birds across the world known as "robin", the name originates from the Robin Redbreast of Europe. He is a member of the Old World Flycatcher family. He is one of the most recognisable birds in England and the national bird. The male is highly aggressive, and will attack other males and smaller birds who stray into his territory. He favours an insectivorous diet, and will often hop about near gardeners, taking advantage of freshly turned soil.

The American Robin is a member of the thrush family, and as such not closely related. Nor are the Robins of Australia and New Zealand.

the more I look at this wee fellow, the less satisfied I am with my rendition of him. Although, I do like his smile.

#658: Roadrunner

Roadrunners can run at up to 23 mph.
Coyotes can manage up to 43 mph.


Roadrunners are found in south-western states of America down to Mexico. She is the state bird of New Mexico and the largest member of the cuckoo family in America. Although she favours a terrestrial lifestyle, she is capable of flight. Her diet consists mainly of invertebrates and small vertebrates, and she has been known to kill and consume snakes. Unlike many of her cousins, she builds her own nest - a rudimentary platform - and both pairs raise the offspring.

#652: Rhesus Monkey

The Rhesus Monkey is amongst the best known of the macaque species. She is common throughout India, Pakistan and neighbouring countries, including urban areas. Troops can number from 20 to 200 individuals, both male and female. Diet is mostly herbivorous, consisting of fruits, seeds, roots, bark and buds, with the occasional insect eaten. Intelligent and social, Rhesus have been heavily studied and display complex cognitive abilities - including self awareness, making judgements and even self agency.

Documented footage in a train station shows one Rhesus Monkey alledgedly reviving another that had been stunned by electicity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYZnrgDrgOQ

#648: Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird is widespread across North America, with his range extending down into Central America. In winter, populations migrate to the warmer south and flocks can number over a million birds. His diet is omnivorous, consisting of seeds, insects and other invertebrates. During breeding season, the territorial male pairs up with multiple females. Nests are constructed in loose colonies and built entirely by the female; they are constructed above water. The drab-coloured female also incubates the eggs, relying on her camouflage to protect her from predation.

#646: Red Fody

I always feel it's cheating a little bit to use an animal that can be alphabetised based on an adjective, but I missed this fellow for "F" and I need more Rs, so here he is.

The Red Fody is a small weaver bird native to Madagascar. His range encompasses much of the island and he is at home in forest clearings, grasslands and cultivated areas - where he has become a serious pest on rice crops. His diet consists mainly of seeds, nectar and insects. During breeding season he replaces his olive-green plumage with a vibrant orange or red and forms a monogamous partnership. He weaves a somewhat primitive nest  from grass strips, with a side entrance tunnel near the top. His mate then lines it. The pair are able to raise two broods in a season.