Category Animal World

WHAT ARE LEMURS?

Lemurs are nocturnal animals with big, bulging eyes. They live in forests on the islands of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. They have soft, thick fur and bushy tails with which they scare other animals. They even use their tails to signal to other lemurs, and wave their scent around from a gland in their bottoms.

There are over 100 species of lemur, in all shapes and sizes. With an estimated 112 species, lemurs come in all shapes and sizes. The smallest, Madame berthe’s mouse lemur, has an average body weight of 30g, and the largest, the indri, weighs about 6-9.5kg (that’s about the size of a human child!). The number of lemur species changes often due to new discoveries and genetic testing, leading to the scientific classification of new species!

Lemurs have a female-dominant society. Who rules the world? Well, in lemur society the females rule! At the center of lemur society is a female leader who rises to the occasion of directing a social group. This happens quite rarely in mammals, where male dominance generally stands. Lemur females show signs of dominance in the way they mark their territories within the group. As crucial seed dispersers, lemurs are “creators of the forests”. Lemurs help maintain forest diversity, structure, and dynamics through the movement of seeds! Yes, some lemur species play a significant role in their ecosystem by being seed dispersers. But what does this mean?

 Madagascar is the only place lemurs naturally call home. Located 250 miles off the east coast of Africa is the island of Madagascar, the 4th largest island in the world, and the only habitat for wild lemurs in the world.

Madagascar is one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots! While a large proportion of its wildlife found nowhere else, much of Madagascar’s wildlife is also threatened by human actions.

Being a seed disperser means they help seeds and/or pollen move from one area to another. Ruffed lemurs, like the black and white ruffed lemur, is a good example of a lemur that acts as a key seed disperser.  Besides humans, lemurs are one of the only primates that have blue eyes. Primates have a variety of eye shapes and colors, but blue irises are rare in mammals. Other than humans, the only primates with naturally occurring blue eyes are the blue-eyed black lemurs, sometimes called Sclater’s lemurs.  Lemurs self-medicate, and some get high off of millipedes.  Who needs a pharmacy when you live in the forest?! Some lemur species use the forest to self medicate, acting as their own personal pharmacy. Red-fronted brown lemurs eat millipedes to get rid of gastrointestinal parasites, such as worms.
Some lemurs sing a capella. Others communicate with stink! In the rainforests of east Madagascar you will often hear the songs of the indri. Indri are the talented a capella group of the animal kingdom, with both the males and females singing, and often in sync with each other. Ring-tailed lemurs also communicate and mark their territory in a unique way. They have scent glands on their wrists and chest, which are particularly useful during the breeding season. A male will mix secretions from his wrist and chest glands to mark his territory, and lift his tail to prepare for a ‘stink fight’ against a rival. 
 Lemurs are the world’s oldest living primates. A fact that few people know is that lemurs are considered the world’s oldest primates! The story of lemurs begins over 70 million years ago, long before humans. This was a world when lemur-like animals, the planet’s first primates, roamed Africa along with the dinosaurs. Scientists think that around 65 million years ago, lemurs rafted across the Indian Ocean to the island of Madagascar on floating vegetation. Over the next tens of millions of years, the lemurs evolved and diversified on Madagascar to the 112 species that we see today.

Credit : Lemur conservation network

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT ARE OLD WORLD AND NEW WORLD MONKEYS?

Old World monkeys, such as the baboon, live in the warmer parts of Africa and Asia. They tend to be larger than the New World monkeys. Their tails are not prehensile, which means it cannot grip objects. New World monkeys live in Central and South American forests. Many, such as the spider monkey, have prehensile tails that help them climb and hang from branches, keeping their legs and arms free to hold food.

You may have heard plenty about New World Monkeys and Old World Monkeys. Yet it can be confusing to try to figure out what the differences are. Here is some information about them to help clarify the categories. You will also have information about how these two groups of Monkeys are the same.

First, some history about when this all started. It is believed that approximately 40 million years ago there was a significant split among the Monkeys in the world. They New World Monkeys were living in South America and the Old World were living in Africa along with the Apes.

It is believed that the New World Monkeys began the process of migrating to South America. They may have floated there on rafts that they created out of various forms of vegetation. Giving the high level of intelligence of these animals it could have been the result of any number of things that they used to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Of course the level of water and the overall vegetation was very different at that time than it is today. You can’t imagine them trying to do something like that with today’s design but it would have been very possible back then. Odd features such as a stub for a thumb or even no thumbs are also common among Old World Monkey species. You don’t find those variations with the New World species.

Old World Monkeys tend to be larger in overall size. They have fingernails that are flat instead of sharp. They also have nostrils that are narrow and point downward. The checks feature padding in them. They also have buttocks without hair but with padding that they can sit on. They can be found both in the trees and on land. Two common Monkeys that fit this category are the Baboon and the Snow Monkey.

New World Monkeys spend most of their time or even their entire lives in the trees. This is why they need longer nails that are also very sharp. They don’t have the cheek pouches or the padding on the buttocks. They have wider nostrils that are round in shape. Two common species here are the Callimicos and the Marmosets.

Old World Monkeys are only able to see the world in Black and White. However, New World Monkeys see in color just like humans do. It is believed that a genetic mutation over time is what allowed for this significant change to occur. However, all Monkeys seem to have good eyesight regardless of if they are able to see color or not.

It is believed that the amazing care we see the Monkey young receiving is part of the New World Monkey habits. This is an area of great debate though. There are many experts that believe all primates have the desire to be able to care well for their young and to form strong bonds. Others though feel that the intelligence of these animals matured over time as did their parental instincts.

Regardless of whether they belong to the New World or the Old World, all Monkeys are fascinating creatures. They all have tails, fur, and they have large ears. They may be different sizes and they may have different habits when it comes to their social structure. Yet there is no denying that they all have characteristics that will forever bind them. Some of the Monkeys have been able to evolve over time and continue adapt to new environments. Others though tend to have problems due to their natural environment being depleted at a rapid pace.

Credit : Monkey words.com 

Picture Credit : Google 

WHY DO MONKEYS HAVE LONG TAILS? WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR TAILS?

To help them balance and control their movement as they leap from branch to branch. The tails of some South American monkeys are like a fifth limb, with special muscles which help them to tightly grip branches.

A few isolated monkey species do not have tails either, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Old World monkeys are most quickly differentiated from New World monkeys by looking at their tails.

The Old World monkeys have non-prehensile tails that can not grip. The New World monkeys have long slim prehensile tails that they may climb with and that they can carry and manipulate items with.

The most dexterous tail in the monkey kingdom belongs to the spider monkey. These monkeys can hold, carry and even catch items with their tails, and will gesture with them as well.

There is a small bare area of rough skin on the underside of the last vertebra in the tail. This “tactile pad” has many nerve endings like a fingertip, which aids in delicate tasks like peeling a banana.

The prehensile tail is surely a product of the New World monkeys densely forested environment. Most New World monkeys are largely arboreal, spending the majority of their time high in the forest canopy, and some never leave the trees at all. While many Old World monkeys like the baboons, spend most of their time on the ground walking around on all fours like a dog.

Credit : Animal Facts Encyclopedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT KIND OF CREATURES ARE BATS?

Bats, of which there are more than 1300 species, are the second largest group of mammals. Megabats, also known as fruit bats because of what they eat, can have a wingspan of just under two metres. The flying fox is the largest bat. The smaller microbats are mostly carnivorous and eat insects; even small amphibians. Vampire bats are the only microbats that feed on animal blood.

More than 40 species of bats live in the United States. Bats are the only mammals that can fly. Instead of arms or hands, they have wings. The wings have a bone structure similar to the human hand. Between the bones are flaps of skin. Bats are very light weight to make it easier for them to fly. The western pipistrelle bat weighs less than a penny, while the greater mastiff bat weighs about two ounces (57 grams).

Bats have fur on their bodies, sometimes including their head. Their wings, however, do not have fur. Bats can be a range of colors, including red, tan, brown, and gray. A bat’s ears are very important because bats use them to hunt for food. The ears tend to be large and noticeable, many times sticking up on the side of the head. The Allen’s big-eared bat has ears so long that they make up two thirds of its body length.

The smallest bat in the United States is the western pipistrelle bat, which grows to about 2.5 to 3.5 inches (six to nine centimeters) long with an eight-inch (20-centimeter) wingspan. The largest bat in the U.S. is the greater mastiff bat. It can grow as long as seven inches or more with a wingspan of 21 to 23 inches (53 to 58 centimeters).

The majority of bats in the United States are insectivores. They hunt at night and eat flying insects such as mosquitoes, beetles, and moths, many of which are considered pests. Bats provide an important ecological service by eating tons of insects. In a single midsummer night, the 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave in central Texas eat more than 200 tons of insects.

Not all bats eat insects. Some live on a diet of nectar and fruit. Bats that feed on nectar also serve as pollinators to nighttime blooming plants. To attract these flying mammals, flowering plants have evolved a musty or rotten perfume. The smell is created by sulphur-containing compounds, which are uncommon in most floral aromas, but have been found in the flowers of many plant species that specialize in bat pollination.

Vampire bats do exist, but there are none in the United States. The closest vampire bats are found in Mexico.

Insect-eating bats hunt using a type of natural sonar called echolocation. They emit a high-frequency sound (undetectable to people) that bounces off surrounding objects. When a sound hits an object, or better yet, an insect, it bounces back to the bat’s pronounced ears and gives the bat an audible map for the shape, distance, and location of nearby objects. Everything happens so quickly that a bat can make almost instant turns to catch a flying insect. A bat’s echolocation system is so advanced and precise that scientists study bats to make sonar equipment for ships.

A bat’s nose can be very useful characteristic for identifying a bat species. Some are small and simple, others are shaped like a pig’s nose, and some even have noses shaped like leaves.

Credit : The National Wildlife Federation

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT MAKES THE ETRUSCAN SHREW INTERESTING?

Weighing less than 3 g, the Etruscan shrew is the smallest known mammal on earth. A very high metabolism means that a shrew can eat up to two times its body weight.

It is able to get so much food because its excellent reflexes and highly fibrous muscles help it catch even the fastest of insects.

Etruscan shrews are solitary and territorial animals. They live alone, except during mating periods. They protect their territories by making chirping noises and signs of aggressiveness. Etruscan shrews tend to groom themselves constantly when not eating, and are always moving when awake and not hiding. The hiding periods are short and typically last less than half an hour. Clicking sounds are heard when these animals are moving, which cease when they rest. Etruscan shrews are more active during the night when they make long trips; during the day, they stay near the nest or in a hiding place. When hunting, Etruscan shrews mostly rely on their sense of touch rather than vision, and may even run into their food at night. In cold seasons and during shortages of food, these animals lower their body temperatures down and enter a state of temporary hibernation (torpor) to reduce energy consumption.

Etruscan shrews occur from Europe and North Africa up to Malaysia. They are also found in the Maltese islands, situated in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. These small animals favor warm and damp habitats covered with shrubs, which they use to hide from predators. Areas, where open terrain such as grasslands and scrub meet deciduous forests, are usually inhabited. They can be found at sea level but are usually confined to the foothills and lower belts of mountain ranges. Etruscan shrews colonize riparian thickets along the banks of lakes and rivers, as well as human-cultivated areas (abandoned gardens, orchards, vineyards, olive groves, and edges of fields). They are poorly adapted to digging burrows, so arrange their nests in various natural shelters, crevices, and abandoned burrows of other animals. Etruscan shrews frequent rocks, boulders, stone walls, and ruins, darting quickly in and out between them.

Etruscan shrews are omnivores. They feed mostly on various invertebrates, including insects, larvae, and earthworms, as well as the young of amphibians, lizards, and rodents, and can hunt prey of nearly the same body size as themselves.

Etruscan shrews occur from Europe and North Africa up to Malaysia. They are also found in the Maltese islands, situated in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. These small animals favor warm and damp habitats covered with shrubs, which they use to hide from predators. Areas, where open terrain such as grasslands and scrub meet deciduous forests, are usually inhabited. They can be found at sea level but are usually confined to the foothills and lower belts of mountain ranges. Etruscan shrews colonize riparian thickets along the banks of lakes and rivers, as well as human-cultivated areas (abandoned gardens, orchards, vineyards, olive groves, and edges of fields). They are poorly adapted to digging burrows, so arrange their nests in various natural shelters, crevices, and abandoned burrows of other animals. Etruscan shrews frequent rocks, boulders, stone walls, and ruins, darting quickly in and out between them.

Credit : Anamalia 

Picture Credit : Google 

HOW ARE MAMMALS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ANIMALS?

All mammals have fur on their bodies – hair is a form of fur – and they are warm-blooded. This means that they are able to keep their body temperature stable even if there are changes in their environment. Most begin life inside the mother’s body and are born as well-formed babies. Mammal babies feed on their mothers’ milk until they are old enough to eat solid foods.

Animals belong to the kingdom Animalia while mammals belong to the class Mammalia. Development from a blastula, consumption of organic material, breath oxygen, motility, and sexual reproduction are the characteristic features of animals while the fur-covered body, sweat glands, three ear bones, single lower jaw bone, neocortex, uterus, giving birth to live young, and mammary glands are the characteristic features of mammals. Vertebrata, Protochordata, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Annelida, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Coelenterata, and Porifera are the animal phyla while placentals, marsupials, and monotremes are the three types of mammals. Animals are multicellular eukaryotes, which develop from a blastula. They consume organic materials and breath oxygen. Mammals are the most developed groups of animals whose body is covered with fur. They have mammary glands and they give birth to the live young. The main difference between animals and mammals is the characteristics.

Similarities Between Animal and Mammal 

  • Animal and mammal are two types of higher organisms classified under kingdom Animalia.
  • They are multicellular eukaryotes.
  • Both grow from a hollow cell sphere called blastula.
  • Both consume organic materials.
  • They breath oxygen.
  • They are motile and undergo sexual reproduction.

Picture Credit : Google