Creature Feature #224: Fanaloka

The Fanaloka is a Malagasy civet, making her home in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. She leads a solitary lifestyle, although will occasionally live in pairs. During the day she sleeps in a tree hollow or a den beneath rocks. At night she comes out to feed on small vertebrates, pursuing them up into the trees. She mates prior to the wet season, giving birth to a single youngster three months later. The kit is born fully furred, with open eyes, and is weaned at 10 weeks of age. Not a great deal is known about this creature, once considered to be a Viverid, but now found in her own Family, the Euplerids, along with the Fossa, the ringtailed mongoose and other Malagasy carnivores.

Creature Feature #223: Falcon

Falcon is the name for smaller raptors with tapered wings, which offer them quick manoeuvrability. The most well known and widespread species is the Peregrine Falcon, depicted here. She is the fastest moving creature on earth, capable of reaching speeds of up to 320 km/hr when diving. Her main prey is other birds, often up to the size of a duck or gull. She descends sharply, striking her prey with a clenched foot, the impact stunning or killing it. Smaller prey is then caught in mid-air and carried away, larger prey is consumed on the ground. She will pluck out the feathers before consumption.

Creature Feature #222: Fairywren

There are 13 species of Fairywren in Australia and its surrounding islands. This diminutive passerine is closely related to emu-wrens but not related to the northern hemisphere wrens. During the breeding months, the male puts on a fine coloured plumage - in the case of this Splendid fairywren, a vivid blue and purple - and courts his hen. He will pluck her a pink or purple flower petal and present it to her as part of this display. Although they form lifelong monogamous bonds, both male and female seek out additional partners and the male may aid in raising his illegitimate offspring.

Creature Feature #221: Fairy Shrimp

The tiny Fairy Shrimp are an Order of crustacean. She can be found in ephemereal, or "vernal", pools in habitats as diverse as desert pools and mountain tarns. Fairy Shrimp lack a carapace. She feeds swimming upside-down, filtering organic particles from the water, or will graze upon algae. Her role in the food chain is an important one, and she is preyed upon by many fish and bird species.

Creature Feature #220: Fairy- Bluebird

The Fairy-Bluebird is a social Passerine of Asia. The male is the colourful one, with females being of a duller shade. This colour is provided by specialised naked fether barbs, which renders them a bright blue in sunlight, but renders them almost invisible within the shade of the forest.  His main diet is fruit, specifically figs, and he will eat smaller fruit whole and crush larger fruits into edible chunks. Berries and nectar are also consumed.

More facts to come later - too cold to type right now!

Creature Feature #219: Eyelash Viper

The Eyelash Viper is a venomous pit viper. She comes in an array of colours, from vibrant yellow to brown, green, red and even pink as well as combinations of these colours. Her characteristic feature is her "eyelashes", spiky protrusions that frame her eyes and nostrils. These are thought to break up her outline, providing her with camouflage as she lies in wait for small mammals, frogs, lizards or birds to venture near her. She has been known to wiggle the tip of her tail, luring prey into striking distance. Nocturnal in nature, she inhabits the treetops of tropical forests in Central and South America.

Creature Feature #218: Euphonia

The bright and colourful Euphonia are a Genus of Neotropical Finches. There are 27 species,  this fellow is an Elegant Euphonia. He can be found in the moist and humid montane forests of Central America. Large flocks gather to feed on fruit, such as that of mistletoe, which comprises the majority of his diet. Whilst foraging, they constantly trill to one another. Only the male is so vibrantly coloured, whilst females retain the bright turquoise crown, her colouration is a more cryptic green, allowing for better camouflage as she sits on the nest.