#613: Puffin

 

The Puffin are a Family of pelagic sea birds, consisting of three species. He dives for his prey - small fish and zooplankton - using his short wings to navigate underwater. Rather than swallowing and reguigitating fish for his offspring, he carries it crosswise in his specially-adapted beak. In this manner he can carry over a dozen small fish. He forms a long term monogamous bond with his mate, and their nest is constructed in a colony on the coast.

Although this Atlantic Puffin is not currently considered under threat, his life cycle is largely tied with the herring. Increasingly, less and less Puffin chicks are fleding and colonies are shrinking. Their food supply is declining, with rising ocean temperatures and over-fishing having a noticeable impact. Since 2005, the largest breeding colony in the Westman Islands, has been a total failure.

Learn more about this alarming trend here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140827-seabird-puffin-tern-iceland-ocean-climate-change-science-winged-warning/

#612: Porcupinefish

The Porcupinefish are morphologically similar to the Pufferfish Family, but not closely related. Wehn threatened, he inhales great mouthfuls of water or air, bloating up to almost twice his vertical height, and raises his spines. These make an uncomfortable mouthful for any predator, and added to that is this fish's neurotoxin, which is many times more potent than cyanide. His lack of a pelvic fin makes him reliant on his pectoral fins for locomotion and he is not a strong swimmer. When inflated, the added buoyancy requires him to swim upside-down. He favours a diet of crustaceans and other invertebrates, which are cracked open with his teeth, fused together into a sort-of bill.

The genuine Pufferfish was dealt with in F, for Fugu.

Creature Feature #611. Puffbird

The Puffbird are a Family of small-to-medium-size Passerine birds found in South America. Like their sleek and colourful cousins, the Jacamar, they are sit-and-wait predators.Many species are secretive and shy, vocalising only at dawn and dusk. he nest is a burrow in dirt, rotting wood or a termite mound, in which 2-3 eggs are laid. Chicks hatch naked and blind, but within a few days of age will crawl to the entrance to meet their parents.

This fellow is a Collared Puffbird.

The Nunbird Genus also fall within this Family. They are the gregarious and garrulous members of the Family.

#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.

#609: Ptarmigan

The Ptarmigan are three species of Grouse who make their home in tundra or cold upland areas. He is a hardy vegetarian, with chicks feeding on insects. This Willow Ptamigan feeds predominantly on willows: leaves, buds and catkins. In the winter months, most species (excluding the Red Grouse, a subspecies of the Willow) moult out their browner plumage in favour of white, allowing them to camouflage against their snowy environment. The male Willow Ptarmigan's wattles, usually indistinct above his eyes, turn a vivid red in the breeding season, a stark contrast to his bright head. Males gather together in breeding areas, setting up and defending their territories in preparation for the arrival of the females. Here he courts his potential mate, and forms a (more-or-less) monogamous relationship.

#608: Proboscis Monkey

The Proboscis Monkey lives on the island of Borneo, characterised by the large, fleshy protrudence that is the nose. This is significantly larger in males, and can exceed 10 cm in length. Like many mammals, the females are extremely social, whilst the males lead a more solitary lifestyle. His diet is largely vegetarian, favouring fruit and leaves, with flowers, seeds and insects occasionally taken. Due to habitat loss and hunting, he is classified as Endangered.

#607: Przewalski's Horse

The last of the truly wild horses, Przewalski's Horse became extinct in the wild in 1969. Every living horse is descended from 9 of  the 13 animals in captivity in 1945.  With careful selective, captive breeding, combining and crossing bloodlines from stock scattered in zoos across the world, this captive population was increased, and the population now numbers over 1,500. From the 1990s onwards, small herds have been released into the wild. Herds consist mostly of females and their foals, led by a dominant male. Once the juveniles reach maturity, they leave their natal herd. Lone and old stallions sometimes form bachelor herds.