Our 50th post! - and animals 1-5 in the '50 incredible animals' series

Hello Everyone,

Today is a special post - to celebrate our 50th post we are starting a new series. This series is about 50 incredible animals. We can't promise that you haven't heard of any of them, but we have tried our best to find some of the most rare and in some cases bizarre animals possible. We can't fit 50 animals into one post so we have split them out over 10 posts. We'll try and publish at least one post every one or two weeks, but you know that we're not very good at keeping to the schedule!

So the first five animals that you will (hopefully) find incredible:

1. Dumbo octopus

They are the deepest living of all octopus species and are able to pounce on their prey and eat it whole. Their diet includes snails and other creatures they 'hoover up from the ocean floor'. They are called Dumbo elephants as a nod to Disney's elephant because they have fins that resemble the elephants infamous big ears! There are about 17 different species of Dumbo Octopus that form a group called 'Umbrella Octopus' because their shape also resembles an umbrella. It is fairly widespread across the world and is fairly small, about 20-30cm in length. They move using their ears with an apparently 'peculiar grace and ease'. Little is known about them so we don't know how many there are or if they are in any way endangered.

2. The gerenuk

Gerenuks are tall antelopes. They have long necks which is why, in Somali, their name means 'giraffe-necked'. Their ability to stand on their hind legs when feeding looks bizarre. They are herbivores, feeding on leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits and buds. They do not need to drink water, as their food already contains moisture!

Gerenuks live in East-Africa. They are well camouflaged against the African plains. They have small heads, but large eyes and ears. The males have antlers.

3. Sunda colugo

The sunda flying lemur, also known as the sunda colugo, is not a lemur and does not fly! It's called a flying lemur because it glides between trees, giving the impression that it is flying. They are mammals. The skin leading from its legs to its body is like a pair of wings.

It is nocturnal and eats leaves, shoots and flowers. This species lives in forests in Southeast Asia.

4. Red-lipped batfish

The Red-lipped batfish lives in water at a depth of 30-60 feet but can live in up to 400ft. They can camouflage with the sand and rocks and use their fins to 'walk' along the sea floor. They are exclusive to the Galapagos Islands (which we did a series of posts about which you can view here). Like several, if not all of the animals in this post, they are still an object of curiosity and little is known about them. The biggest mystery is the reason for their red lips and what they mean. Some scientists say it is to attract a mate, but more needs to be known to really be sure. It is a carnivore and eats small fish and crustaceans. Interestingly, it doesn't have any predators of it's own!

5. The panda ant

Wikipedia states that "Euspinolia militaris is a species of wasp in the family Mutillidae. Though it is a wingless wasp, it has sometimes been referred to by the name panda ant." The species first came to our knowledge in 1938 and it has a painful and powerful sting. They are small creatures at under an inch in length. They are mainly found in Chile but are close relatives to the velvet ant which is found worldwide. Adult panda ants do not form colonies or groups and stay on their own. They primarily eat nectar but females are known to also eat ants and caterpillars.

Hope you enjoyed these five animals. If you think of any more not well known animals, feel free to write them into the comments, send us an email at contact.greenworldblog@gmail.com! The next five animals will come out as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Sources:
https://oceana.org/marine-life/dumbo-octopus/
https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/gerenuk
https://animalia.bio/sunda-flying-lemur
https://factanimal.com/red-lipped-batfish/
https://www.animascorp.com/panda-ant/

Images:
50 Candles, owned by Jlhinton (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Dumbo Octopus, owned by NOAA Ocean Exploration (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
P1010918, owned by Wouter Van Vliet (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) "red" morph ..., owned by Bernant DUPONT (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Untitled, owned by Vlad Karpinsky (on flickr.com), is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Comments

Coral reefs

Hello! We would love to introduce you to the topic of coral reefs and especially coral reef bleaching, as it is a greatly ignored but certainly significant topic. Have fun! 5 coral reef facts 1. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet and is 2300 km long! 2. Less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface is covered in coral reefs. 3. At least 25% of all marine animals live there. 4. Coral reefs are often known as the rainforests of the ocean. 5. In 1 square kilometre of coral reef, up to 35 tons of fish can be 'produced'. The 5 biggest coral reefs in the world 1. Great Barrier Reef (near Australia) 2. Red Sea Coral Reef (near Egypt, Israel and Djibouti) 3. New Caledonia Reef (Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia) 4. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (near Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras) 5. Florida Reef (Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico near Florida) What is coral? Coral is actually made up of small anim...

Photo Essay || Iceland Series (part 1)

Hi Everyone! I recently went on a school trip to Iceland! It was such an incredible experience (and I'm going to sound cheesy now) but it was also incredible to do it with some of my closest friends! I saw so many incredible things and learnt so much, so I couldn't resist sharing a little Iceland mini series of posts, all about Iceland, both my experiences there and what I saw, but also the way it uses geothermal energy, and the animals, natural landforms and plants that are there. Today I'm sharing some photos of my trip. These are all photos I have taken, and are also the highlights so please bear that in mind as you browse these! I hope it is interesting and inspires you to book a trip to Iceland! The blue lagoon <33 landscapes.... Lost little farmhouses a...

The life of ... a koala

Hello everyone, Today we're talking about koalas. Also known as koala bears, koalas are marsupials. So they're actually not bears. Koalas, phascolarctos cinereus , are tree dwelling and probably best known for spending most of the day sleeping. They live for up to 15 years in the wild although captive koalas generally live for longer. Koalas have a stout, gray body and a cream-coloured chest. They have a broad face, small yellow eyes and big fluffy ears. In adaptation to climbing, their feet are strong and clawed. Adult individuals in South Australia weigh 14kg and are 60-84cm big. Their Eastern cousins are considerably smaller. Koalas are found in Eastern and Southern Australia, where they live in eucalyptus trees. They feed on the leaves of these eucalyptus trees, eating up to 1.3kg a day. With a body weight of up to 14kg, this means they eat just under 10% of their body weight every single day. However, the le...

16.08.2020 Animal of the week: Elephant

Hello. On the 12th of August it was International Elephant Day, so we decided that this week's post should be about elephants. Elephants are the largest living land mammals. There are three types of elephant; the African bush elephant; the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. African elephants have larger ears, whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears. Elephants use their trunks to breath, bring food and drink to their mouths and to grasp objects. Elephants' legs are like pillars. They carry the Elephant's massive weight. African bush elephants weigh 6000kg, Asian elephants weigh 4000kg and African forest elephants weigh 2700kg. Basically, they are very heavy.Elephants eat grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots. Elephants can live up to 70 years old in the wild. They communicate by sight, touch and smell. Sadly, these wonderful mammals are in danger. African elephants are listed as vulne...

Deforestation and why it’s a problem

Hi everyone, Welcome back to another post. Today we’ll be talking about deforestation and its impacts on our earth. Deforestation, the widespread clearance of natural forests, has been happening for thousands of years. One example is Western Europe, where, two millennia ago, 80% of the land was cloaked in dense forest cover. However, over time, a significant portion of this green expanse was sacrificed to create room for crops, livestock grazing, and as a source of fuel and building materials. Presently, a mere 34% of Western Europe retains its woodland. Today, the tropics deal with the brunt of deforestation. Activities such as mining, agriculture, road construction, and the establishment of vast cattle ranches drive the mass clearance of tropical rainforests. This results in the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating the global climate crisis. The consequences come in two waves: first, the reduced number of...

Green Pets: how house plants can benefit your health🌱

Hi Everyone! Today I wanted to tell you about the benefits that house plants can have to your health. Enjoy :) 1. Reducing stress levels A study proved that having house plants makes you feel calmer and more natural, which in turn makes you feel less stressed and overwhelmed. I definitely agree that plants are very calming and I'm not surprised that it is scientifically proven! 2. Allergy relief Having house plants can reduce dust and mould, which could be amazing for people with those allergies. Obviously, you would want to avoid plants with a lot of pollen! 3. General Happiness Plants can boost your mental health and make you feel better about yourself. Employees who work in offices with plant life feel better about their jobs, feel less stressed and have less time off for health reasons. Some therapists even use plant therapy to help people with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. 4. Boosting humidity If ...

Green Pets || easy house plants to get you started // best house plants for beginners

Hi Everyone! Today I wanted to talk to you about some easy house plants you could look after to get you started on your green pets journey. These are plants that are easy to look after and that I recommend for an introduction into caring for house plants. If you are a beginner or want to look after some plants, then this is the post for you! 1. Cacti - moon cactus I don't actually have a cactus, but they are the obvious place to start. They need little water and thrive in warm conditions; they are described as "low maintenance". I have done some research and it looks like the moon cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii) is the best one in terms of not being too fussy with needing minimal water and tolerates lower light levels. I would like a cactus at some point, but if you are just starting out wanting to care for some house plants, then this is the one to start with! 2. Aloe Vera One of my first house plants, this is one that is rela...

26.07.2020, Animal Of the Week: Turtle

Hello Everyone, This week I am investigating the turtle. They have long intrigued me and I hope you will learn a lot from this post. Enjoy! Habitat: The turtle is well adapted for aquatic life, with flippers and a streamlined body. Sea turtles only leave the ocean to lay eggs on the beach whereas freshwater turtles live in ponds and lakes, and climb out of the water more regularly. Diet: A turtle's diet varies according to the species. Some species are omnivores, eating a variety of plants and animals. However, others are more selective such as the hawksbill turtle, that eats primarily sponges and leatherbacks who eat mainly jellyfish. Some are also carnivore, like the loggerhead, and others herbivore, such as the green turtle. Dangers: Unfortunately, turtles are under threat. Nearly all species of turtle are classified as Endangered. Unfortunately, they are captured and killed for their eggs, skin, meat, and shells. Although in mo...

The life of ... an emperor penguin

Hello, Today, we're looking at the fascinating lives of emperor penguins. These incredible creatures have adapted to survive in the extreme conditions of Antarctica, and in this post, we'll explore their incredible lives. In late May to early June just before the Antarctic winter sets in, female emperor penguins lay a single egg. They then leave the colony and go on a two month hunt. The male rests the egg on his feet and covers it with warm, feathered skin called the brood pouch. He will eat nothing for these two months. The chick hatches in August and the female returned to take over. She has spent two months feeding and now regurgitates some food for the newly-hatched chick. The male leaves to feed himself as he has been living off his fat reserves for the past two months. The female keeps the chick in her brood pouch until the sea ice close to the breeding site breaks up as the temperatures warm. The chick is now strong eno...

18.10.20 Animal Of The Week: Sloth

Hello, Sorry this didn't come out on Sunday as planned but this week's animal of the week is the sloth because the twentieth of October is Sloth Day. Habitat The sloth resides in Central and South America. It lives in the rainforests there and occasionally drops into the water for a bathe as, believe it or not, they are actually excellent swimmers! Diet Sloths eat leaves, twigs and buds which they find in the rainforest. As they don't have incisors they smack their lips together to make leaves more digestible. Sloths can survive on relatively little food as it takes a while for them to digest it. Sleep and Speed When you think of a sloth, you probably think of this slow, sleepy creature. They actually sleep for about 15 hours a day! Sloths have an extremely low metabolic rate (what basic calories your body needs to survive), which means they move at a slow pace through the trees. On average, sloths travel 40 yards per day ...

Green World

Search This Blog