Creature Feature #438: Lyrebird

The Lyrebird might resemble a pheasant, but he is a member of the songbird family. And quite the songbird he is! Male Lyrebirds are superb mimics, constructing elaborate performances to attract a mate. These include the mimicking of other birds, different mammals and even human noises - like chainsaws - interwoven with his own vocalisations. The male is also characterised by his dramatically long tail feathers, which resemble a lyre, these make up part of his courtship display. After luring and mating with the female, she is left alone to lay a single egg within a large, untidy nest, incubate it for 50 days and raise the chick alone.

Creature Feature #437: Lynx

There are four species of Lynx, a medium-sized feline found in North America and Eurasia. She is characterised by her tufted ears and short tail. The more northern species have a thicker pelt and larger paws - adaptations to the colder climate - and her fur is lighter, allowing her better camouflage on the more open, snow-covered landscape. She is solitary in nature, hunting alone for small mammalian and avian prey. The Canadian species feeds almost exclusively on snowshoe hares, whereas her southern cousin, the Bobcat, follows a more varied diet.

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.

Creature Feature #435: Lovebird

Lovebirds are small parrots native to Africa, with one species found in Madagascar. These charming birds gather in small flocks, foraging on fruit, vegetables, grass and seeds.   Pairs form longterm monogamous bonds within the flock, and will perch together. There are nine species and various colour mutations. The female peach-faced lovebird gathers nesting material by tucking it into her rump feathers to carry it to the nesting cavity, Lovebirds are popular in the aviculture industry and feral populations can be found in several US cities.

Creature Feature #434: Loris

Loris are nocturnal prosimians, found in the tropical rainforests and woodland of Sri Lanka, India and Southeast Asia. There are two Genera: the slow lorises and the slender lorises. Both use a slow and cautious method of locomotion, making their way through the trees and methodically stalking their prey. Generally insects are preferred, but other invertebrates, fruit and leaves may be included. Infant Lorises are left in a nest while the mother forages. To protect her infant from predation, she first licks her inner elbow - which contains a mild toxin - and then bathes the youngster in saliva, thus rendering it unpleasant to eat.

Creature Feature #433: Lorikeet

Lorikeets, and their close cousins the Lories, are arboreal parrots characterised by their brush-tipped tongues. These are specialised for a nectar diet. Various species are scattered throughout the Australasian region and one of the most well-known is the Rainbow Lorikeet. Widespread across the east coast of Australia, the Rainbow Lorikeet is sociable and noisy, gathering in large flocks to roost in the evening. During the day they disperse, foraging in pairs. Common in the aviculture industry, captive birds have escaped and  become a pest in western Australia. Fears that they will establish in New Zealand have led to eradication and trapping programs in some regions.

Creature Feature #432: Loon

Loons are diving birds, with species spread throughout North America and Eurasia. He is an excellent swimmers, with his feet placed further back, towards his tail. This enables him to swim fast and dive deep, but his is clumsy on land. Hence his common name of "loon" (derived from either the Old English Lumme or Scandinavian Lum). His favoured diet is fish, along with the occasional crustacean or amphibian. These are stabbed with his sharp bill, swallowing it headfirst and whole.

This fellow is a black-throated loon, of Eurasia and West Alaska.