#873: Zebra Duiker

The Zebra Duiker is a small antelope. His natural habitat are the closed-canopy rainforests of West Africa, centered around Liberia. He is shy and reclusive, rarely seen except on camera traps. He is greatly affected by logging, and is Vulnerable to extinction. Although his diet consists predominantly of fruits, seeds and sometimes leaves, he has been observed eating rodents and frogs.

#857: Yak

The Yak is a long-haired bovid. There are two species, found in the Himalayas, across the Tibetan Plateau and into Russia and Mongolia. One of these species, Bos grunniens, has been domesticated for thousands of years, both for his meat, milk and fibre. He is also used as a beast of burden, but requires grazing pastures for extended journeys. Wild Yaks live in herds of up to thirty individuals. He is perfectly adapted for a high altitude lifestyle, and will not thrive at low altitudes.

#830: Whale Shark

Like the largest mammal, the largest fish also dines upon the smallest of creatures - plankton*. Whale Sharks can grow over 12m in length, weighing in at around 20 tons, and may grow significantly larger.He is a slow-moving shark, swimming through the water with his huge mouth open. Water is filtered through his 300 rows of tiny teeth and over his sieve-like filter pads. Crustaceans and other plankton is then swallowed, with excess water expelled through his gills. Whale Sharks are docile fish, and Vulnerable to extinction due to their long life and slow maturation.

* Not that plankton is exactly one creature. It is considered an ecological niche and can be divided into four trophic groups: Zoo- (crustaceans, larvae and any small lifeform ranging in size from microscopic to jellyfish); phyto- (lifeforms that require photosynthesis); myco- (fungi etc) and bacterio- (bacteria and archea).

I suspect the Whale Sharks diet consists predominantly of zooplankton.

#779: Umbrellabird

Behold, the first of several "Umbrella" pre-faced species!

The Umbrellabird are three species of cotinga, inhabiting the rainforests of  Soiuth America. This fellow is the long-wattled species. This wattle can be inflated and amplifies his booming call. Females have greatly reduced wattles. His diet is omnivorous, and he dines on lizards, insects and fruit, with a preference for palm nuts.

#775: Uakari

New Year, New U!
First U, in fact.

The Uakari are four species of New World Monkeys, of which the most well known is the Bald Uakari. He is, as you may have noticed, characterised by his completely bald head. The skin lacks pigment, and the redness is caused by the multiple capillaries running under the facial tissue. The redder the skin, the healthier the animal and the more attractive he is to potential mates. The species is susceptible to malaria, and ailing individuals are noticeably paler. His diet is almost exclusively vegetarian, with seeds making up the majority, although the occasional invertebrate is eaten. Troops are large - up to 100 individuals - with males leaving their natal group.

#738: Takin

The Takin is a goat-antelope found in the Himalayas. It is thought that the fleece of one of the subspecies, the Golden Takin, inspired the story of Jason and the Argonauts. He makes his home in the forested valleys, ranging up into the alpine slopes. Older males lead a solitary existence, whilst younger males and females gather in herds of around 20 individuals. In summer, gatherings may number up to 300. His large snout is an adaptation to the colder climes, as the big sinus cavities help to warm the air before he inhales it. His skin secretes an oily substance which coats his fur, acting as a natural raincoat.

#732: Sun Bear

The Sun Bear inhabits the forests of Southeast Asia. He is the smallest of the Bear species, weighing up to 80 kg. His preferred diet consists of insects and honey, which he uses his long tongue to extract. His large canines and strong bite allow him to rip into the trunks of trees in pursuit of insect prey. Diurnal in nature, he seeks cavities beneath branches or under tree trunks in which to spend the night. Deforestation is a major threat to his survival, but he is also hunted and farmed for his bile. His gall bladder is a component in traditional Chinese medicine. Bile farming is cruel, with the bears being forced to live in close confines, tubes draining his gall bladder of its bile, unable to move or behave in anyway naturally.

If you wish to know more about bear bile farming (and it is a very disturbing procedure) please visit:
Monga Bay: Asian Bear Farming (warning: graphic images)

#714: Sperm Whale

The Sperm Whale is the largest toothed predator in the world; mature males can average 16 m in length. His diet consists mainly of squid. The name is derived from the liquid wax contained in his head, named spermaceti (because of its resemblance to semen). Its purpose to the whale remains unknown; whilst there are many theories, the most plausible is that it aids in communication with the whale's sonar, allowing him to better pinpoint the location of prey. For early whalers, however, this wax became quite a prize. Each whale contained up to 500 gallons which could be processed into oil and wax. Sperm oil (pleasant name!) remains liquid even at freezing winter temperatures, and the wax was made into candles.

#705: Small-clawed Otter

The Small-clawed Otter is the smallest Otter species in the world. She can be found in the mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of southern Asia. As the name suggests, her claws are very short, not protruding past her fleshy fingertips. This allows her greater manual dexterity when handling prey such as molluscs, crabs and other aquatic animals. Like her larger relatives, Small-clawed Otters live in family groups, with a breeding pair and their offspring.

#697: Shoebill

The Shoebill is a large and distinctive bird, characterised by his massive, shoe-shaped bill. Omce considered to be a Stork, he is now thought to be related to Pelicans and his closest relative is the Hammerkop. He stands motionless for lengthy periods of time, scanning the water for fish. Patient and generally slow-moving, he strikes quickly when prey is sighted. Given his large bill and wide gape, he is capable of taking quite considerably sized prey - including small mammals, lizards and waterbirds. He is found in parts of eastern, inland Africa, favouring water with low-oxygenated waters, in which the fish must surface to breathe.

#645: Red-bellied Lemur

One of the lesser-known Lemur species, the Red-bellied Lemur inhabits the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. Troops consist of monogamous pairs and up to ten individuals. His main diet is fruit, supplemented by leaves, flowers and nectar. He is an important agent in seed dispersal. Like all lemur species, he is threatened by hunting and deforestation, but his large range means he is still only classified as "vulnerable", unlike his more specialist relatives.

(This picture is really old, I do intend to upgrade it)

#629: Quokka

The Quokka is an adorable marsupial, among the first seen by Europeans. She is about the same size as a domestic cat and related to the kangaroos. She comes out at night to feed on vegetation. Her range is mostly limited to offshore islands in southern Australia, mainland populations having been decimated by introduced predators such as foxes, cats and dingo. Deforestation is another threat. On the islands,such as Rottnest, she has no fear of humans and is fairly common, however it is illegal to handle her in any way.

Her apparently smiling face and overall adorable-ness, led to an influx of Quokka selfies and photobombs here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/quokka-happiest-animal-in-world_n_2426133.html

#628: Quietschbükers

The Quietschbükers is found only in the one lake - Lake Breiter Luzin in Germany. It suffered a population decline in the 1970s, when the lake became degraded and eutrophic, rich in nutrients and thus plant life, that consumed much of the oxygen. However, with water quality restoration, the numbers of this dwarf whitefish have improved. She lives for six years, spending much of her time in the deeper reaches of the lake, where she feeds on insect larvae. In spring/summer, she moves into the shallows to spawn. Although there are no current threats to her population, due to its confined nature and the risks of introduced predators, she is classified as Vulnerable to extinction.

#599: Polar Bear

The Polar Bear is specially adapted for her Arctic home. Her diet is almost entirely carnivorous, with seals featuring high on the menu, although she will also take animals as large as a musk ox or as small as eggs and rodents. She is largely solitary and nomadic, not holding a territory but seeking food where she can find it. Although a large bear, she is classified as a marine mammal because of her reliance on the sea for her survival and spends many months roaming on the frozen ice shelves, occasionally diving into the ocean in pursuit of prey. When the ice begins to melt she is forced back onto solid land. Polar Bears are Vulnerable due to climate change, with the melting of the polar ice forcing them off the ice before they have developed sufficient fat reserves for the leaner months (which for them is summer) and increasing the distances of which they have to swim. It is also forcing them into closer contact with humans, as they scavenge for sustenance.

Creature Feature #586: Picathartes

Never heard of a Picathartes? Well, don't worry, neither had I until I listened to "A Corner of White" by Jaclyn Moriarty, where she mentioned them in passing. I looked it up (to see if it was real) and voila, found this weird looking bird that I just had to add to my list.

The Picathartes, also known as the bald crow or rockfowl, is neither crow, nor fowl, but a Family in the Order of the Passerines, consisting of two species. This is the white-necked, please colour him accordingly. Both species are found in western Africa, but with limited range and Vulnerable to extinction. His diet generally consists of invertebrates, occasionally frogs and reptiles, with crabs being plucked from shallow water.  Breeding occurs during the wet season, and pairs are thought to be monogamous, sometimes nesting together in small colonies. Nests are made from clay and mud, attached to a cave roof or overhang.

Creature Feature #534: Olm

Olm are a species of cave-dwelling salamander. Due to the nature of his home - deep below the earth with no light source - the Olm is not only blind, but his eyes are undeveloped. He leads an entirely aquatic lifestyle, never leaving the water, and exhibits neotony (as also seen in the axolotl and the mudpuppy) retaining his gills into adulthood. His sense of smell and hearing are excellent, and help him locate  prey - in the form of crustaceans, molluscs and insects. Gregarious in nature, Olm will gather together beneath rocks. Sexually active males, however, become territorial.

Olm are found in European cave systems and are Vulnerable to extinction.

Creature Feature #511: Niphargus

Niphargus are eyeless amphipods, distributed across the freshwater streams of western Europe. The smallest species measures mere millimetres, with the largest reaching up to 3.5 cms. Many species are detritivores or scavengers,  with others feeding on algae. They can be found in ground water or caves, in regions that were not covered, historically, be the Pleistocene  ice sheets. Many of the species are classified as "vulnerable" as their habitats are small, easily fragmented or polluted.

Creature Feature #486: Musk Deer

Musk Deer are more primitive than true Cervids. Instead of antlers, the males bear elongated canine teeth. These are used in fights with other males over females and territories. To attract these females, the males produce musk from a special gland. Alas, this also attracts the attentions of hunters; it can fetch over $40,000 per kg on the black market and is allegedly an aphrodisiac. Each gland only provides a few 10s of grams and although the gland can be extracted without killing the deer, this rarely happens. The female gives birth to a single tiny fawn, who spends his first few months motionless and hiding.

This is a Siberian Musk Deer. Vulnerable due to the aforementioned hunting for the male's musk glands.

Creature Feature #454: Marakely

The Marakely is a primitive cichlid fish, and is considered a living fossil. He can be found in the crater lakes  and rivers of Madagascar. Here he forages on insects, crustaceans and smaller fish. During the wet season, pairs form and the two will dig a shallow scrape in the substrate. Here she will lay up to 1000 eggs. The male swims guard, whilst the female fans the eggs to keep them clean until they hatch - about 48 hours later. The adults then protect their fry from predation.

Creature Feature #436: Lungfish

Lungfish are freshwater fish which retain some primitive characteristics: such as the ability to breathe air and their lobed fins. They are found in Africa, South America and Australia. Of the six extant species, this Queensland Lungfish is the most primitive. His species has changed very little in over 100 million years. He is capable of surviving out of water for several days, but must be kept moist - other species can survive periods of total water depletion. He is long-lived species, with males reaching sexual maturity at 17 years, females at 22 years.