Can You See Me Now?

Although tigers are easy to see in most zoo settings, their distinctive stripes and
coloration provide the camouflage needed for a large predator in the wild. The pattern of
stripes on a tigers face is as distinctive as human fingerprints no two tigers have
exactly the same stripe pattern.
Crunch Time!
Tigers have canine teeth four inches long longer canines than any other predator.
Using their big canine teeth and their powerful jaws, tigers can kill prey with one quick
bite. Their carnassial teeth (teeth used to shear meat) are adapted for gripping and
tearing flesh.
Night Vision!
Tigers have highly developed binocular vision, which helps them gauge the distance to
prey animals they are chasing. The tapetum lucidum, a mirror like layer in the back of
the eye, reflects light back through the eye to help produce a brighter image in low light.
They see as well as humans in the daytime but at night their sight is five times more
acute which allows them to hunt effectively in low light.
My, What Big Claws You Have!
Like most cats, tigers have retractable claws. They usually keep their claws tucked in
the fur on their paws. This keeps the claws from wearing down too quickly and also
allows them to move silently across hard surfaces when sneaking up on prey. The claws
are extended when grabbing prey or scratching an itch
What Is For Lunch?
Tigers can eat up 100 pounds at one time. Hardly ever are they gifted this much food,
but being able to hold this much food helps when Winters can last for a several months
at a time, making any source of energy all most impossible to find. And on a even
smaller note of catch.

The gray wolf (Canis lupus[a]) also known as the timber wolf,[3]
[4]
or western wolf,[b] is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas
of North America, Eurasia, and northern, eastern and western Africa. It is
the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging 4345 kg
(9599 lb), and females 3638.5 kg (7985 lb).[6] Like the red wolf, it is
distinguished from other Canis species by its larger size and less pointed
features, particularly on the ears and muzzle. [7] Its winter fur is long and
bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure
white, red, or brown to black also occur.[4] As of 2005,[8] 37 subspecies of C.
lupus are recognised by MSW3. The nominate subspecies is the Eurasian
wolf (Canis lupus lupus),[9] also known as the common wolf.[10]

Siberia is an extremely large geographic region, covering 8 million

square miles. Temperatures are extreme, plummeting far below
freezing in winter. Also, in the northernmost latitudes of Siberia,
which border the Arctic Circle, the sun only shines half the year.
The other half of the year is borne out in perpetual night. But,
covering such a big area, there are many different types of
landscapes found in Siberia, including forests, tundra, rivers and
lakes. Lake Baikal is one of the most species-diverse areas within
Siberia. The Siberian taiga, or forest, is one of the largest eco-
regions in the world and is home to many species, including wolves.
Wolves are well adapted to life within Siberia because of their thick fur
coats, keen hunting abilities and willingness to work together in packs when
times are tough.

Common name: Llama

Scientific name: Llama glama
Family: Llamas are members of the Camel family.

Background and History

Llamas (lama glama) are one of four types of camelids including: alpaca,
guanaco and vicuna.

Llamas date back 40 million years to the central plains of North America, but
they became extinct here during the Ice Age. Llamas migrated to South
America and became prominent in the Andean Mountains.

Domestication of the llama dates back approximately 3,000 to 5,000 years,

which makes them one of the oldest domesticated animals in the world. The
Inca indians used llamas as pack animals, as a source of clothing, food and
fuel.

It wasnt until the late 1800s and early 1900s that llamas were imported
into North America. Today there are an estimated 350,000 llamas in the
United states and Canada.

General Description

Llamas are graceful creatures with large eyes and a gentle character. They
are easy to handle when well socialized to humans and their environment.
Social by nature, llamas interact in herds and when removed from their herd
will bond with other livestock such as sheep.
Surviving in this harsh alpaca habitat meant an animal had to be hardy..

They are stoic and they hardly ever get ill.

The alpacas padded feet are environmentally friendly. This adaptation was
probably needed so they didn't destroy the scarce vegetable matter. Same
is probably true for why they don't pull the grass out by its roots.

If alpacas didn't have their dense fleece, they probably would not have
survived the harsh winters on the altiplano. Alpacas can go days without
water and food.

Since there were times when food wasn't available, alpacas adapted to
going without for awhile. With food scarcity, an alpacas fleece will grow
less. An alpaca will borrow nutrients from other parts of its body to continue
life. Keeping alpacas at their optimal weight means your fleece will be
denser and grow better.

Alpacas actually need less feed than most other animals. It only takes 1.5
to 2% of an alpacas body weight of feed to sustain a healthy alpaca. The
alpacas three-compartment stomach converts grass and hay to energy with
extreme efficiency so they eat less. The harsh conditions they live in on the
altiplano makes this survival adaptation a necessity.

Alpacas don't drink a lot of water. This is another adaptation of the

unforgiving altiplano.

An alpaca is really a very fast animal. Probably developed to survive

escape of the Puma.

Hippopotamus teeth are made of ivory, similar to the tusks of elephants.

However, hippo ivory is even more highly prized because it does not turn
yellow with age. It is commonly believed that George Washington's false
teeth were made of wood; however, they were actually carved from hippo
ivory. Hippos are very aggressive and can be dangerous. V

A panda's legs have become an important part of their

survival, as the years have gone by their legs have
strengthened over time because pandas have to climb
trees in order to get food. A giant panda can consume
anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds of bamboo in a single day.
A panda's average weight is about 250 pounds for males
and up to 220 pounds for females, due to all of this
bamboo consumption. The panda's legs must be able to
carry this weight over long distances and up high trees for
an average of 10 to 16 hours every day, to allow the panda
bear to maintain the proper nutrition levels necessary for
survival.

ANIMAL SPECIES: Platypus

The Platypus is a unique Australian species. Along with echidnas, Platypuses are
grouped in a separate order of mammals known as monotremes, which are
distinguished from all other mammals because they lay eggs. When first discovered, the
unusual look of a Platypus caused considerable confusion and doubt amongst
European naturalists and scientists, many of whom believed that the animal was a fake.

Andrew Howells Australian Museum

Standard Common Name
Platypus

Alternative Name/s
Duck-billed Platypus
Identification
Platypus is well adapted for semi-aquatic lifestyle. Its streamline body and a broad, flat
tail are covered with dense waterproof fur, which provides excellent thermal insulation.
The Platypus propels itself through the water by using its front, short, webbed limbs, and
the partially-webbed hind feet act as rudders. Behind its distinctive bill are the grooves
that house the ear openings and the eyes which close when the animal dives. The
Platypus uses its tail for storage of fat reserves and the strong claws on its feet for
burrowing and moving on land. In addition, males possess a horny spur on their ankles,
which is connected to a venom gland in the upper leg, making the Platypus one of the
few venomous mammals.

The skeleton of the Platypus is heavy and has several similarities to that of fossil and
modern reptiles. These include pectoral girdles made of five bones, splayed legs and
rudimentary ribs on the neck vertebrae.

Distinguishing features of a Platypus are: streamlined body with a bill and broad flat tail;
short limbs with webbed feet; dense dark brown to reddish brown fur with light
brown/silver underfur.

Size range
Southern populations are larger than northern ones, but also individuals from west-
flowing rivers in New South Wales are larger than those found in the states east-flowing
streams. Similarly, King Island specimens are smaller than those found in Tasmania and
Victoria. Males are larger than females and can be over 60 cm long (tip of the bill to tip
of the tail). Typically, males are 400-630 mm long, and females are 370-550 mm long.
The weight is 800-3000 g for males and 600-1700 g for females.

Similar Species
None

Distribution
Platypus is endemic to Australia and is dependent on rivers, streams and bodies of
freshwater. It is present in eastern Queensland and New South Wales, eastern, central
and southwestern Victoria and throughout Tasmania. The western limits of the range are
poorly known. The species was once found in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Lofty
Ranges of South Australia. Nowadays it is extinct from that state, except for the
introduced population on the western end of Kangaroo Island. There is no evidence that
the animal occurred naturally in Western Australia, despite several unsuccessful
attempts to introduce it there. Within its current distribution, the occurrence of the
Platypus is reasonably continuous in some, but discontinuous in other catchments.

- See more at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Platypus/#sthash.bFkD7Cjw.dpuf