Animals 36-40 in our '50 incredible animals' series

Hi,

As you probably noticed, we took a break from this series, mostly due to having just too much to do. But we're back now with the last three posts.

36. The Pinocchio frog

The Pinocchio frog can be found in the Foja Mountains in Indonesia. They mainly eat insects, although little is known about them. They are named because the males have a spike on their noses. They were only discovered in 2008, and this was completely by accident! It remained unnamed scientifically until over ten years later when it was given the name "Litoria pinocchio". There is very little information about them but Wikipedia states that "the male Pinocchio frog inflates its nose when calling, and the nose decreases in size when the frog is calm and quiet," which I think is hilarious and so interesting!

37. Snub-nosed monkey

Especially noticeable due to their curious looks, the snub-nosed monkeys can be found in the forests of central China and northern Vietnam and Myanmar. They are rather large-leaf monkeys with short broad faces, flat noses with forward-facing nostrils and wide-set eyes in their often blueish face. There are several species and the colour of their fur and face depends on them. Most of them live in very high elevated places in forests, where their diet consists of leaves mainly. They are vegetarian and will also eat flowers fruits and seeds. Some species also eat liches and forage the ground for them. Most species are not directly endangered, however, some are very prone to habitat loss.

38. Honduran white bats

They live only in the rainforests of eastern Honduras, northern Nicaragua, eastern Costa Rica and western Panama. They have to live somewhere that has heliconia plants, which are tropical flowers, as they nest in them. They eat raw fruit or parts of fruits. They are very peculiar looking as they are tiny (about 3.7-4.7 cm!) and as the name suggests are white. They have very strange-looking ears and noses too! They fly to get away from predators and can fly up to 20mph!

39. Salp

Salps look a lot like jellyfish, however, they are closer to humans than they are to jellyfish! Salps live pretty much anywhere but are most common in the Southern Ocean. They are filter feeders and will eat pretty much anything that gets caught in their net. They are also a vital food source for many fish.

They form long chains that look quite pretty. Luckily, they exist in abundance and are not endangered.

40. The Cherax pulcher

The name is derived from the Latin 'pulcher', meaning beautiful. This is because it is a very colourful animal. It is hard to track down and like most of the animals in these posts, quite rare. They look like lobsters and are mainly blue, purple and pinkish in colour. They live in warm tropical oceans and are quite 'friendly' to fish, in other words, they don't attack every fish they see. They prefer to live hidden away in rocks and sand. They blend in well with the coral reef.

We hope this post has reminded you of how wonderful, beautiful and unpredictable nature can be!

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/animal/snub-nosed-monkey
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/pinocchio-frog-new-species-new-guinea
https://animalia.bio/honduran-white-bat
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/sea-squirts/what-is-a-salp/
https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/5220/element/8/21259/

Images:

Honduran white bats: This image, owned by Wanja Krah (on flickr.com) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Salp: This image, owned by Ray Ellersick (on flickr.com) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Comments

Ecotourism: what it is, the advantages and the disadvantages

Hi Everyone! Today we wanted to talk about the idea of ecotourism, including the advantages and disadvantages of this concept. If you are looking to reduce your environmental and social impact when travelling, then this is the post for you! Ecotourism is a form of tourism which limits the damage to the environment and local community. It can involve helping in community projects such as planting trees, as well as taking part in local customs and festivals. It helps to keep the local culture alive, while preserving the natural environment. The advantages are abundant. By helping in a project conserving the environment, tourists gain a new understanding and appreciation for the natural world and may be inspired to make changes in their "real" life to live more sustainably. It provides a valuable insight to a country and community, perhaps also inspiring more respect for different people and the lives they lead. The projects also provide sustainable income sources for locals, h...

Air pollution

Hi Everyone, Today we're talking about air pollution. We've all heard about air pollution, normally in connection to cars, coal mines or planes. But what are the consequences of too much air pollution and what can we do about it? One type of air pollution is known as PM2.5. These are particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. This means that we cannot see them without technology such as microscopes. They are produced in a number of different ways including power generation, motor traffic, domestic heating and chemical reactions taking place in the air around us. Although these particles are very small and "invisible", they can cause a lot of damage. Research data now shows links between this form of air pollution and cancers, premature births, diabetes (especially type 2) and heart and lung disease. It is shown to cause 400 000 deaths across Europe every year. Unfortunately this form of air pollution is widespread. A guardian article explains how in Europe alone...

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...

10 Animals on the Edge of Extinction No. 10- The Javan Rhino

The Javan rhino is listed as the 1st animal on WWF’s list of the 10 world’s most endangered animals, and I for my part, had never heard of it! If you hadn’t either, we’re changing that now. A bit about the rhino’s lifestyle The Javan rhinos are now exclusively found on the island of Java in Indonesia, but were once found in vast regions of northeast india and Southeast Asia. They have a dark grey colour which looks almost black when wet, and their (often pink) skin folds look a bit like plated armor. Both males and females have lower incisors which resemble tusks that they use to fight. Males have one relatively short horn of about 25 cm (10 inches). Javan Rhinos live in tropical forests, marshy areas and in the thick bush. They are mainly browsers and eat over 100 plants species they find in the forest, weigh between 900 and 2300 kg (1984-5071 pounds) and are between 3 and 3.2 meters (10- 10.5 feet) long. How endangered are we talking? Javan rhinos are the most ...

Green Pets: meet two new additions to my house plant family

Hi Everyone! This is a bit of a shorter post today but I have two new house plants! I love my new green pets so today I wanted to share them with you! >Neither of them have names yet so any suggestions welcome and appreciated :) Pilea: I love my new Pilea! My mum has one and managed to grow another from it and gave it to me. I also put it in a pot which originally had my Aloe Vera in it, but it grew too big! Anyway, I'm so glad my Pilea could find a home in it! I love the way this plant looks and it makes me very happy to look at! I actually don't know the name of the second one - I will insert it when I have found it! I got this one from my aunt in France who has one and made a cutting for me. I'm not sure if it'll survive but we'll see - it's certainly well-travelled! I'm not giving up hope yet and even if it doesn't make it she said she could cut me a new one! I will update on this ...

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...

Evolution

Hi, So today, I am going to talk about evolution. We have mentioned this before in our Galapagos Ecosystem series but we’ve never gone over exactly what it is. So before Charles Darwin thought of his theory of evolution, the majority of people in Europe thought that all species were unrelated and that humans were not related to animals. This was mostly based on Christianity. Darwin studied hundreds of different species and on the Galápagos Islands , he first started to form his theory of evolution. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, as it was later called, is best explained by the example of the giraffe. Let's assume that giraffes have short necks (as they did many centuries ago). Now a mother has two children. By chance, one has a slightly longer neck. This is a coincidence. As the giraffes feed on the lower leaves of the trees, these slower disappear. There aren't enough leaves for the giraffes. Thus the giraffe wi...

Sustainable food choices challenge

Hi everyone, Welcome back to our second challenge! Today we're talking about sustainable food choices. 1. No meat on Mondays challenge The production of meat, especially beef, is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. By dedicating one day a week to plant-based meals, you can decrease your carbon footprint and help to reduce the strain on natural resources. This challenge encourages a more sustainable and ethical approach to food consumption, gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of meat production. Reducing meat intake is also associated with health benefits, including lower risks of heart disease and certain cancers, making it a win-win for both your personal well-being and the planet. 2. Local / seasonal eating challenge Choosing local and seasonal foods is important in helping to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transporta...

Jane Goodall

Born: 1934 When Jane was a little girl, she loved climbing trees and reading books. She dreamed that she could go to Africa and see the wild animals there. So Jane flew to Tanzania determined to study chimpanzees in their natural habitat. When she first arrived, none of the chimpanzees would let her get near them. They would always run away at first sight. Jane kept coming back until they let her come closer. However, Jane wanted to become friends with the chimpanzees. So she started the "banana club" which meant that she would share bananas with them every time she visited the chimpanzees. She discovered that chimpanzees have rituals, that they use tools, that their language comprises at least twenty sounds and that they are not vegetarians. Once she rescued an injured chimpanzee and nursed it back to health. When she released it back into the wild, the chimpanzee turned around and hugged her as if to say, "thank you and goodby...

Turning waste into valuables

Hi, So this post was requested on Twitter after our September Top Tips about recycling . Today we will be talking about how to turn complete waste into something reasonably valuable. This is basically a form of upcycling but to a more extreme level. 1. Ecobricks So, almost a year ago we did a post about ecobricks , but they are such a good example of turning waste into valuables that we decided to put it here anyway. Ecobricks are a building material made from plastic. The waste plastic is washed and then compacted into a clean plastic bottle (also waste). The bottle becomes very hard and durable. Multiple bottles can then be used as bricks and cemented together. The 'bricks' are strong and do not decompose. For more info, read our post where we go into more detail. 2. Metals Although this may seem like something not worth the time. When you separate the metals in waste (for example an old car), you can get usable metal out ...

Green World

Search This Blog