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Organism of the Week - Bearded Vulture

The bearded vulture or scientifically, the Gypaetus barbatus, is in the Animalia Kingdom, Chordata Phylum, Aves Class, Accipitriformes Order, and Accipitridae Family.

The bearded vulture is described as the Alps’ largest bird known for their steady diet of bones. Their heads have feathers that are reddish yellow or white with black patches on their eyes that extend below their narrow bill in the form of tufted whiskers, which gives an appearance of a beard. Their necks are rusty orange and they have a long wedge-shaped tail that is black. They come in various shades, from pure white to orange-red. Their appearance depends on the soil they rub in their feathers. The soil is stained with iron oxide, giving them their orange feathers. The bearded vulture grows up to 1.15 meters (3.77 feet) in height, a wingspan of 2.7 meters (8.86 feet), and a weight of 5 to 7 kilograms (5000 to 7000 grams). The bearded vulture’s diet consists of 70% to 90% of bone. To eat the large bones, they throw them from a tall height and are then are able to eat the shattered pieces. This also allows them access to the bone marrow and to eat the smaller bones whole.

The bearded vulture is found from southern Europe, Middle East, northeastern China, and north, east, and south Africa. Their habitat is in mountain ranges above the tree line from alpine meadows to sparsely vegetated, rocky slopes. They live in heights above 1,000 meters and their territory size is about 200 to 400 kilometers squared.

The bearded vulture is monogamous, meaning that they only have one mate at a time. They breed once a year between November and December and eggs are laid between December and February. The female usually lays two eggs, but the smaller second egg is a form of biological insurance and is killed by the oldest sibling in the first week after hatching. Chicks develop feathers to fly after 100 to 130 days and are dependent on their parents for up to a year. The average lifespan is 21 years but in captivity, they can live up to 45 years.

Fun Fact: The bearded vulture’s stomach acid has a pH of about 1 so the bones can be digested under 24 hours.

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/profiles/birds/bearded_vulture/

http://mentalfloss.com/article/58253/11-facts-about-bone-eating-bearded-vulture

https://www.4vultures.org/vultures/bearded-vulture/

http://www.arkive.org/lammergeier/gypaetus-barbatus/

#bearded vulture #biology

Organism of the Week - Spotted Handfish

The spotted handfish or scientifically, the Brachionichthys hirsutus, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Actinopterygii class, Lophiiformes order, Brachionichthyidae family, and Brachionichthys genus.

The spotted handfish is described as a type of anglerfish recognized by their hand-like fins allowing them to walk on the ocean’s floor. Their hand-like fins include their pectoral and ventral fins. To swim, they use their anal and tail fins, however, it only occurs rarely. They are pinkish above and white below with each handfish covered in unique patterns of dark, brown, or blackish spots. On their ‘pear-shaped’ body, they are covered with small, tooth-like scales which are called denticles. Their body length is about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) in length. Spotted handfish are carnivores with a diet consisting of shrimps, amphipods, worms, and small fish. To lure their prey, they use esca which is a fleshy structure on their front dorsal fin that is modified into long filament and they quickly suck in their prey.

The spotted handfish is found in south-eastern Australia in the lower Derwent River from where the tide meets the stream in Tasmania. They are a benthic species meaning their habitat is at the bottom of the water. They are found in coastal waters on coarse to fine sand and silt at depths of 2 to 40 meters.

The spotted handfish breeding season occurs from September to October. Reproduction begins by a male performing courtship rituals to attract females. The female then lays around 80 to 250 eggs on sea squirts, seaweed, or sponges. The female guards the eggs for about 7 to 8 weeks until the handfish hatch and settle on the sea floor as fully developed juveniles, measuring about 6 to 7 millimeters. At 2 to 3 years old, they become sexually mature.

Fun Fact: The spotted handfish is one of the world’s most endangered marine fish, listed as ‘critically endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.

http://www.arkive.org/spotted-handfish/brachionichthys-hirsutus/

https://australianmuseum.net.au/spotted-handfish-brachionichthys-hirsutus-lacepede-1804

http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/spotted_handfish_facts/1935/

#spottedhandfish #biology

Organism of the Week - Tasmanian Clingfish

The Tasmanian clingfish, or Aspasmogaster tasmaniensis, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Actinopterygii class, Perciformes order, Gobiesocidae family, and Aspasmogaster genus.

The Tasmanian clingfish is described as a small fish recognized by their multiple banded color pattern. They are pink, brown, or green with brown, orange, or green bands. They have short, depressed heads with compressed caudal peduncle and a tail seemingly continuing from their body. On their tail, they have a small dorsal fin to help them swim. These clingfish grow up to 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) in length. Their pelvic fins are joined by a double sucking disc under their surface. This disc helps the fish both eat and cling onto the ocean’s surface in order for them not to be pulled by the current. To eat, they swing their head in an arc and capture their prey. Their diet consists of plant matter and small invertebrates.

The Tasnianiam clingfish is found in the marine waters of throughout Austrailia in eastern Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and south-western Western Australia. Their habitat consists of shallow coastal rocky reef bottoms, subtidal and intertidal areas, tidal pools, under jetties, at depths of up to 10 meters.

The Tasmanian clingfish species reproduction is currently being unknown, however, it has been researched in other species of clingfish. The Gobiesox strumosus, a member of the Gobiesocidae family, reproduces by oviparity, meaning that eggs are hatched after mating. After the fish mate, thousands of eggs are laid shortly after and the male watches over the egg masses. The eggs then hatch and the larvae are planktonic.

Fun Fact: They are often seen by divers under wharves, a structure built on the shore of or projecting into an area of water to which a ship may be secured to load, rest, or unload.

https://australianmuseum.net.au/tasmanian-clingfish-aspasmogaster-tasmaniensis-gunther-1861

http://www.ozanimals.com/Fish/Tasmanian-Clingfish/Aspasmogaster/tasmaniensis.html

http://astronomy-to-zoology.tumblr.com/post/54920513148/tasmanian-clingfish-aspasmogaster-tasmaniensis

http://biostor.org/reference/126781/page/2

#tasmanianclingfish #biology #:)

Organism of the Week - Flamingo Tongue Snail

The flamingo tongue snail or scientifically, the Cyphoma gibbosum, is in the Animalia kingdom, Mollusca phylum, Gastropoda class, Neotaenioglossa order, Ovulidae family, and Cyphoma genus.

The flamingo tongue snail is described as a marine gastropod recognized by their colorful bright pink with orange spots ringed with black on their mantle tissue. This mantle tissue is often mistaken for their shells, which are pale while under it. The mantle is wrapped around the entire shell and has the function of gills, absorbing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. They have a head with two sensory organs with eyes at their ends and they also have tentacles.Their shell is elongated with a transverse ridge running along the dorsum with a length of 25-35 millimeters (0.98 to 1.38 inches). Their mantle deposits toxic, gorgonian chemicals from coral, causing them to be rejected by predators, known as aposematism. Though they do have some predators such as the Hogfish, pufferfish, and the Caribbean Spiny lobster. The flamingo tongue snail’s diet consists of mainly coral reefs and coral polyps which they eat by attaching themselves onto the coral and eating from their feet. As they crawl along the coral, they use a sharp tongue called the radula that scrapes away the coral tissue and leaves behind the coral’s skeleton

The flamingo tongue snail is found in the shallow waters throughout the Caribbean and the western Atlantic Ocean, also ranging from North Carolina to Brazil. They live on sea fans, coral reefs, whip corals, and sea whips. They are mostly found on the Caribbean coral reefs. They are most commonly found at depths of 2 to 14 meters, at a maximum of 29 meters.

Flamingo tongue snails leave mucus trails to serve as attracting pheromones. They reproduce through internal fertilization and the process can last up to 4 hours. After four days the female lays sticky eggs onto her chosen coral, known as oviposition. The eggs are enclosed in dome-shaped capsules and each can contain up to 300 embryos. After 10 to 12 days, the larvae emerge and feed on plankton found on the coral. The young are usually hidden attached under the corals. They develop into juveniles that are less than 5 millimeters in length and slowly grow full size. The flamingo tongue snail lives for about 2 years.

Fun Fact: A major threat of flamingo tongue snails is the over-collection of their beautiful mantle by scuba divers and snorkelers.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-flamingo-tongue-snail.html

http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Cyphomagibbosum1.html

#flamingo tongue snail #biology #:)

Organism of the Week - Red Panda

The red panda or scientifically, the Allures fulgent, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Carnivora order, Ailuridae family, Ailurus genus. Red pandas are the only living member in the Ailuridae family after debate of either being put in the Procyonidae (raccoon) family based on their characteristics or Ursidae (bear) family based on their DNA.

The red panda is described with an appearance between a cat, panda, and raccoon. They have round shaped heads with short snouts and pointed ears. They have reddish-brown long fur on their body with darker stripes running down. Their face is covered in distinct white marks on their ears, cheeks, muzzle, and above their eyes. They have a very long, fluffy tail with alternating light and dark rings used for balance. Red pandas grow to a length of 24 to 47 inches (60 to 120 centimeters) and a weight of 7 to 14 pounds (3 to 6.2 kilograms). They are solitary and territorial animals, spending most of their time in the trees using their long tail to balance. They communicate with short whistles, squeaks, twitters, and huff-quacks. They run up to 24 miles per hour (28 millimeters per hour) to escape from predators such as leopards and jackals. Red pandas have semi-retractable sharp claws with five widely separated toes used for climbing trees. They also have a modified wrist bone that is used for grasping their food. Red pandas are omnivores with a diet consisting mainly of bamboo, but they will also eat fruits, nuts, eggs, flowers, and seeds. Red pandas are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss with a population of less than 3,000.

The red panda is found throughout Asia in Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, and China. They live in high altitudes between 1,800 meters and 4,000 meters in temperate forests in the Himalayas and high mountains. They are nocturnal so they sleep in trees during the day, coming down during the dark to forage for food.

Red pandas breed from January to March in the Northern Hemisphere and from June to August in the Southern Hemisphere. The female builds a nest in a tree hole for the cubs to live for about three months. The female’s gestation period lasts for about four months and they give birth to a litter of one to four babies. The cubs weigh 3.9 to 4.6 ounces (110 to 130 grams) and are born blind at birth. They are weaned at 5 months and start eating bamboo until they are around a year old. The cubs stay with their mother for about a year, until they are full size. They reach sexual maturity at 18 months and live from 8 to 12 years.

Fun Fact: Red pandas are the only carnivores with the adaption of their tongues having a cone-like structure for collecting liquid. They use the adaption to test the odors of scent glands produced by other red pandas by bringing the liquid close to a gland inside their mouth.

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/red-panda/

http://www.bearlife.org/red-panda.html

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/red-panda

#red panda #biology #(:

Organism of the Week - Banded Archerfish

The banded archerfish or scientifically, the Toxotes jaculatrix, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Actinopterygii class, Perciformes order, and Toxotidae family.

The banded archerfish is described as a brackish water fish known for their ability to shoot a jet of water with their mouths. These fish are silver with five to seven semi-triangular dark bands on their sides. They have a lateral, compressed body and a flattened head with a pointed snout. Their big eyes have binocular vision, used to accurately hit their target of their water jet. Their dorsal fin is yellowish-green and is located towards their posterior end, shorter than their anal fin. Their anal fin is silver and their caudal fin is a dirty green, getting shorter from where it starts, In the wild, they grow up to 18.8 inches (29.97 centimeters) in length and in captivity, they grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters). Their ability to spit a jet of water is used to capture prey. To do this, hey raise their tongue against the roof of their mouth and close their opercula, causing pressure on the water on the tube formed by their tongue to shoot. This jet of water can hit prey 2 to 3 meters away and can hit them within 50 milliseconds of hitting the water, The banded archerfish is omnivorous, with a diet consisting of plant matter, small fishes, crustaceans, and insects. They use their ability to shoot water to capture the insects above the water and they also use their ability to jump out of the water to capture them. They also may hunt together and all shoot together at a target, with every fish for themselves.

Banded archerfish are found in the waters of most of tropical Asia, Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia. Their habitat lies in coastal brackish (water with more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater) and mangroves estuaries. They are found mostly in shallow, dirty water. They occasionally move into freshwater and saltwater from the brackish water.

The banded archerfish reproduces by broadcast spawning which means that the fish release their eggs and sperm into the water and fertilization occurs externally in eggs. They swim from the brackish water to saltwater coral reefs and rocks to reproduce. After the broadcast spawning occurs, the eggs hatch in about a few hours. The female lays approximately 20,000 to 150,000 floating eggs at a time that are about 0.4 millimeters (0.016 inches) in diameter. In captivity, it is difficult to breed the fish. They become mature at 1 or 2 years old and their lifespan in the wild is up to ten years old.

Fun Fact: The name ‘archerfish’ comes from the mythological archer, Sagittarius from the fish’s ability to shoot down their prey with water.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/perches/ArcherFish.php#Breeding%20/%20Reproduction

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/banded_archerfish

http://carnivoraforum.com/topic/9747017/1/

#biology #bandedarcherfish #archerfish #fish #:)

Organism of the Week - Bearded Emperor Tamarin

The bearded emperor tamarin or scientifically, the Saguinus imperator subgrisescens, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Primates order, Callitrichidae family, and Saguinus genus.

The bearded emperor tamarin is described as a monkey subspecies of the emperor tamarin, distinguished by their drooping white mustache. Their fur is gray and dotted with yellow or brown spots. They have black hands and feet with a long brown tail up to 15 inches (38.1 centimeters) in length. On each limb, they have claws used to climbing trees. They grow up to 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) and weight 1 pound (.45 kilograms). Bearded emperor tamarins are very social and they live in social groups of two to fifteen others, led by the eldest female of the group and followed the other males. When they sense danger, they shriek to warn the others members to defend their territory. Their decline of population is caused by predators such as wild cats, dogs, snakes, and birds and also humans destroying habitats. Bearded emperor tamarins are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals. Their plant diet consists of fruit, nectar, and tree sap. Their animal diet consists of insects, bird eggs, and small reptiles.

The bearded emperor tamarin is found in tropical rain forests in Central and South American from southwest Amazon Basin in Brazil, eastern Peru. and northern Bolivia. They are most active during the day, leaping on trees with their social groups and they sleep in the trees during the night.

The bearded emperor tamarin breeds April to July in which the female emits pheromone chemicals, alerting the males. In each group, the two oldest males and two oldest females breed and reproduce. The female’s gestation period lasts between 140 to 145 days, giving birth to two or three young. The whole tamarin group takes care of the young and the males usually carry and groom the babies. The baby tamarin walks at 2 to 5 weeks and eats solid food at 4 to 7 weeks. They become independent at 10 to 18 weeks but they still stay within their group. They are weaned at 15 to 25 weeks and reach sexual maturity at 2 years old.

Fun Fact: The emperor tamarin is said to resemble the facial hair of the last emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II.

http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bearded-emperor-tamarin-facts-animals-of-south-america.html

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/emperor-tamarin/

#bearded emperor tamarin #biology #:)

#asfacellfie #asfascienceselfie

Organism of the Week - Norway Lemming

The Norway lemming or scientifically, the Lemmus lemmus, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Rodentia order, and Cricetidae family.

Norway lemmings are described as small rodents with very thick fur. Their heavy coats are black and brown with streaks of goldish yellow while their underbelly is lighter. Norway lemmings are about 13 to 15 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) in length and a weight of 28 to 113 grams (1 to 4 ounces). They are active both during the day and night. They are very independent so are aggressive around other lemmings, boxing and wrestling when one comes close. They have very good senses so they use scents to mark their territory. Norway lemmings spend most of their time foraging, with a diet consisting of grass, shrubs, moss, lichen, and bark.

Norway lemmings are found in the tundras and alpine regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Western Russia. They also live in grasslands, shrubs, and wetlands. During spring, autumn, and summer, they find shelters in bogs, marshes, or other moist terrestrial habitats. During the winter, they live in insulated spaces under the snow, which both their fur and burrow keep them warm.

Norway lemmings breed many times throughout the year and can produce a litter every 2 to 4 four weeks. The female experiences post-partum estrous meaning that she can be carrying a litter while caring for her young from her last one. Lemmings are generally independent but will come together to breed. A female gestation period lasts for 16 to 23 days and will give birth to 5 to 13 young. The birth weight of the baby is 3.3 grams and will be weaned at 14 to 16 days. Females reach sexual maturity at 3 weeks, while males reach sexual maturity at one month. Norway lemmings can live up to 3 years, but the average lifespan is 2 years.

Fun Fact: Norway lemmings will have big population explosions every three or four years causing them to migrate. During migration, they might swim across large bodies of water, which causes them to drown out of lack of energy.

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lemmus_lemmus/#lifespan_longevity

http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Rodentia/Muridae/Lemmus/Lemmus-lemmus.html

#norway lemming #biology #:)

Organism of the Week - Aardvark

The aardvark or scientifically, the Orycteropus afer, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Tubilidentata order, Orycteropodidae family, and Orycteropus genus.

Aardvarks are described as large pig-like animals that are best at digging for food and shelter. They have bristly brown to gray hair on pinkish skin that is impervious to insect bites, also protecting them from predators. They reach a length of 55 to 87 inches (140 to 220 centimeters), a tail length of 17 to 28 inches (44 to 71 centimeters), and a weight of 88 to 220 pounds (40 to 100 kilograms). They have an arched back with a shoulder height of 24 to 26 inches (600 to 650 millimeters). They have an elongated head and flexible snout with a long tongue that can extend for 300 millimeters. They have short legs with strong claws used for burrowing. They use their forefeet to dig and use their back legs and tail to push away the dirt. They use their long tongue to stick it into mounds and eat they prey which consists of insects, preferably termites and ants.

The aardvark lives throughout southern Africa and south of the Sahara in grasslands rainforests, savanna, and woodlands. It is very hot and dry where they live so they dig tunnels and sleep in them during the day. There are nocturnal and leave their burrow at night to search for food.

During breeding season, a male will find and fight for a female and mate. They separate after they mate because they are solitary animals. The female will have a gestation period of about seven to nine months until they give birth to one baby, sometimes two or twins. The young are born hairless and small. The mother cares for her young for six months until they are taught how to survive. The baby stays in the burrow for about two weeks and starts going with its mother on trips to search for food. They will reach full adult size at 12 months and sexual maturity at two years old. Aardvarks live up to 18 years in the wild and 23 years in captivity.

Fun Fact: Aardvark means ‘earthpig’ in Afrikaans and ‘antbear.’

http://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/

http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=532

http://www.bioexpedition.com/aardvark/

#aardvark #biology #:)#organism of the week

Organism of the Week - Maned Wolf

The maned wolf, or Chrysocyon brachyurus, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Carnivora order, and Canidae family.

The maned wolf is described as neither a wolf or fox, but as the largest canid in South America. Their body is covered with reddish-brown hair, black fur on their muzzle and mane and legs, and white fur inside their ears and the tip of their tail. When they feel threatened or angry, their black mane starts upright. The maned wolf is very large with a shoulder height of 29 to 31 inches centimeters (74 to 78 centimeters), head to body length of 1.2 to 1.3 meters (3.9 to 4.3 feet), and a weight of 20 to 25 kilograms (44 to 55 pounds). Their long legs help them see over the tall grass in their habitat. They are mostly solitary animals while they hunt, travel, and rest but they are together only during breeding season. Maned wolfs are omnivorous with a diet of small mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, and fruit.

The maned wolf is found in central South America, from Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia, and southeastern Peru. They live in open habitats of grasslands and scrub forests. They are nocturnal so they rest under forest cover during the day and hunt during the night.

Maned wolves live in monogamous pairs, meaning they have one partner for life. Breeding season starts in April and the gestation period lasts for about 65 days. Between June and September, the mother gives birth to 2 to 5 pups. The newborns are born with they eyes closed they weigh 340 to 430 grams. By day nine, their eyes and ears open. They eat regurgitated food by week four, their fur changes from black to reddish-brown by week ten, and they are weaned by 15 weeks. They reach sexual maturity and have adult proportions when they are a year old. Maned wolves can live up to 15 years.

Fun Fact: The maned wolf is also known as a ‘skunk wolf’ because of their distinctive odor.

http://www.arkive.org/maned-wolf/chrysocyon-brachyurus/

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/profiles/mammals/wolf_maned/

https://animalcorner.co.uk/animals/maned-wolf/

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chrysocyon_brachyurus/#conservation_status

#biology #maned wolf #;)

Organism of the Week - Hispaniolan Solenodon

The Hispaniolan solenodon, or Solenodon paradoxus, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Eulipotyphla order, and Solenodontidae family.

The Hispaniolan solenodon is described as rare and unique mammals, known for their ability to produce toxic saliva. They have a body length up approximately 11 to 15 inches (280 to 390 millimeters), long tails at a length of 7 to 10 inches (175 to 255 millimeters), and a weight of about 2 pounds (1 kilogram). Their body is covered with black or reddish-brown fur, while their nose, ears, and tails are hairless. They have very small eyes with very underdeveloped vision, though they have highly developed sensesof smell, touch, and hearing. They have flexible snouts that are used to explore through cracks and massive claws to dig for their prey. Their prey consists of invertebrates, such as beetles, crickets, earthwarms, or termites, and amphibians, reptiles, or small birds. To capture their prey, they jump at the victum and pin it down with thier strong forelimbs. Then, they pick up the prey with its lower jaw and bite it, injecting toxic saliva from their lower incisors which makes the prey immobile.

Hispaniolan solenodons are found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, on the island of Hispanola in a variety of different forests. They are found burrowing or hiding in hollow logs, caves, or burrows during the day because they are nocturnal.

The Hispaniolan solenodon breeds twice a year. The females have an irregular estrus period, although males don’t and can mate at any time. Before mating, the female makes a burrow for her to give birth and nurse her babies. The gestation period is about 50 days until the female fives birth to one to three young in her burrow. The newborns weigh 40 to 55 grams and are 15.2 to 16.3 centimeters in length. They also are born with their eyes close and minimal hair. If three young are born, only two will survive because the female only has two teats near her rump. The baby solenodons are nursed for about 13 weeks, when they start eating solid food. The Hispaniolan solenodon can live up to 11 years.

Fun Fact: Hispaniolan solenodons run on their toes and go in a zig-zagged course, so when they are alarmed they sometimes trip over their own toes.

http://www.arkive.org/hispaniolan-solenodon/solenodon-paradoxus/

http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=5

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Solenodon_paradoxus/

#hispaniolansolenodon #biology

Organism of the Week - Longhorn Cowfish

The longhorn cowfish, Lactoria cornuta, or horned boxfish is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Actinopterygii class, Tetraodontiformes order, Ostraciidae family, and Lactoria genus.

The longhorn cowfish is described as a type of boxfish known for their odd appearance and long horns on their head. They are yellow or tan, covered in white spots. They are 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length and weigh from 1 to 2 pounds (.5 to 1 kilograms). They have mouths on the underside of their head and very projecting lips. Longhorn cowfish horns are used to make it difficult for their predators to swallow them and they also break off and regrow within a few months. They have poisonous flesh and release a deadly toxin called ostracitoxin when they are stressed by sudden movements, bright lights, or loud sounds. Though they have many characteristics to make them unattractive, they still have predators such as albacore and bigeye tuna. They have 9 soft rays on their fins and tail and use them to swim, appearing to hover which is called ostraciiform swimming. The longhorn cowfish’s diet consists of benthic algae, microorganisms, and foraminiferans.

Longhorn cowfish are found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea to Australia and southern Japan. They live in coral reefs in lagoons on reef flats and protected seaward reefs. They may also live in coastal muddy or sandy habitats in still bays, harbors, and estuaries. The depth ranges from 1 to 45 meters and sometimes up to 100 meters.

Longhorn cowfish are oviparous, meaning that the females lay eggs. The eggs and larvae are externally fertilized and they are pelagic, so they are part of the open ocean. These fish live up to 20 years.

Fun Fact: Longhorn cowfish have no gills so it is replaced by a small slit or hole.

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=1463

https://animalcorner.co.uk/animals/longhorn-cowfish/

http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/fish/Tetraodontiformes/Ostraciidae/Lactoria-cornuta

#biology #longhorn cowfish

Organism of the Week - Sarcastic Fringehead

The sarcastic fringehead, or Neoclinus blanchardi, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Actinopterygii class, Perciformes order, and Chaenopsidae family.

Sarcastic fringeheads are described as small, but temperamental fish with very large mouths. They are most commonly 7.6 to 29 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) in length but they can reach 30.5 centimeters (12 inches). They can be brown or gray with a red tinge and green or pale marks. They have large heads with an extremely large jaw that extends past their eyes. In their giant mouth, they have many sharp teeth. They use their mouths and teeth to scare away and intimadate possible danger. When two fringeheads encounter each other, they open their mouths and bump into each other. If one of the fish does not leave, they will attack each other with their teeth. The sarcastic fringehead diet is unknown, but biologists believe that they eat smaller fish and crustaceans like the fish they are related to such as the flagblennies and tubeblennies.

Sarcastic fringeheads are found in the waters of the Pacific coast of North America. They live in burrows such as logs, shells, cracks in rocks, or even trash thrown into the ocean. These fish are extremely territorial and will attack anything near. They rest with their heads out of their shelter, allowing them to be aware of any possible intruders near. If they are threatened, they use their large mouths, showing their sharp teeth to intimidate the animal. If intimidation doesn’t work, they will attack.

Breeding occurs between January and August. Fringeheads are oviparous, meaning that the females lay eggs that hatch. The female lays about 3,000 eggs under rocks or in clam burrows, protected by the male. The eggs are about 0.9 to 1.5 millimeters (0.035 to 0.06 inches) in diameter and they stick together and to the nest by filaments in the egg. When the egg hatches, the larvae are about 3 millimeters long (.12 inches). Sarcastic fringeheads live up to six years.

Fun Fact: The name ‘sarcastic’ is used from the Greek definition meaning “to tear flesh.”

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Neoclinus_blanchardi/

http://www.factzoo.com/fish/sarcastic-fringehead-big-mouth-aggressive.html

http://io9.gizmodo.com/5911216/meet-the-sarcastic-fringehead-an-oddly-named-fish-who-looks-like-the-predator

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/sarcastic_fringehead

#biology #sarcastic fringehead #litner

yay 4 mendel & peas

#asfacellfie #asfascienceselfie

Organism of the Week - Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey

The golden snub-nosed monkey, or the Rhinopithecus roxellana, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Primates order, and Cercopithecidae family.

Golden snub monkeys are described as being highly social old world monkies with very distinguishable golden fur. Males have a bright golden color on the sides of their head, forehead, neck, and underparts. Females also have a bright golden color but their heads and upper parts have a brownish-black color. Both males and females have blackish-grey shoulders, upper arms, crown, back, and tail. They have a flattened nose with wide nostrils facing forward and two small flats of skin. They have these types of noses and long, thick fur because of the cold climate in the mountains. These monkeys have a body length of 57 to 76 centimeters (22.44 to 29.92 inches) and a tail length of 51 to 72 centimeters (20.08 to 28.35 inches). Males weigh 15 to 39 kilograms (33.07 to 85.98 pounds) and females weigh 6.5 to 10 kilograms (14.33 to 22.05 pounds). Golden snub-nosed monkeys form groups of 20 to 30 in the winter and can come together in groups up to 200 in the summer. There is usually one male with a group of females in the small groups. Golden snub-nosed monkeys’ diet mainly consists of lichen which is a combination of fungi and algae. The other food they eat depends on the season. In the winter they eat bark off of trees, in the spring they eat seeds, buds, and leaves, in the summer they eat leaves in insects, and in the fall they eat fruits. They are very loud, vocal animals that make whines, bawls, shrills, grunts, moans, sighs, and chucks to communicate. They can make sounds and communicate without any signal of them making any noise. They also communicate with body posture and facial expressions. These monkeys are hunted for their fur, causing them to be endangered with less than 2,000 left in the wild. They are listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.

The golden snub-nosed monkey is found in central China in places such as Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, and Shaanxi. They live in temperate areas of mountains, broadleaf forests, and coniferous forests, spending most of their time in the trees where they sleep and eat.

Breeding takes place from August to November and is a three-month period depending on the region of where they live. They usually give birth every one or two years depending on the food supply. The females become pregnant and their gestation period lasts for about seven months. They give birth between April and August to one offspring. Infants are born gray and turn golden when they are three months old. The mother provides the most care for the baby but the other females of the group help as well. The infant isn’t weaned until they are about a year old but they eat solid food at five months old. Females reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years of age and males reach sexual maturity at 7 years of age.

Fun Fact: Golden snub-nosed monkeys can withstand the coldest average temperatures of any non-human primate in the world.

http://www.arkive.org/golden-snub-nosed-monkey/rhinopithecus-roxellana/

http://ipfactly.com/golden-snub-nosed-monkey/

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rhinopithecus_roxellana/#behavior

#golden snub-nosed monkey #biology

Organism of the Week - Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil, scientifically known as the Sarcophilus harrisii, is in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, Dasyuromorphia order, and Dasyuridae family.

The Tasmanian devil is a small marsupial with a length of 20 to 31 inches (51 to 79 centimeters) and a weight of 9 to 26 pounds (4 to 12 kilograms). They have ratlike features and very sharp teeth. When they feel threatened, they will growl, lunge, bare their teeth, spin in circles, and scream that’s described as very “devil-like”. Tasmanian devils are strictly carnivorous, feeding on whatever animal is available. They will even eat dead carcasses, known as carrion. They are nocturnal and go hunting at night, using their great sense of smell and sight to avoid predators and find prey. They will eat every bit of their prey, including the bones, hair, organs, and muscle. The devil’s fur is completely black except for the white line seen on their chest or rump. Tasmanian devils are going extinct due to Devil Facial Tumour Disease, causing their population to decrease. This disease causes lumps to form around their mouth and head, making it hard for them to eat. They are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Tasmanian devils are on found on the island of Tasmania in Australia. They live anywhere in Tasmania, but they prefer coastal scrublands and forests. They make dens in hollow logs, old wombat burrows, or naturally formed caves and only sleep there during the day.

Tasmanian devils breed from March to May. The males will fight for the females and whichever male wins will get to mate with the female. The females have a gestation period of about 21 days and the babies are born in April. They give birth to up to 50 young, known as imps. Imps are pink, hairless, and the size of a grain of rice. When the babies are born, they will immediately go to their mother’s pouch, where there are four teats. All 50 imps compete for one teat and the four who win will survive. The rest of the imps die due to malnourishment. The surviving imps are carried in the pouch for about four months until they are weaned and they then stay in a den. They leave their mother when they are fully grown by eight to nine months and become sexually mature at two years old. Tasmanian devils live for five to eight years.

Fun Fact: Tasmanian devils store their fat in their tail, so their body draws on that when food gets scarce.

http://www.livescience.com/27440-tasmanian-devils.html

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/tasmanian-devil/#tasmanian-devil-standing-log.jpg

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/About-Tasmanian-devils/611F4851DA7D24A6CA2578E1002032AF

http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/tasmanian-devil/

#biology #tasmaniandevil

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