For the Love of Zoology

Hey there, my name is Lane. This is my blog for my thoughts, writings, pictures, and love of zoology. My personal blog URL is rambletea. Link below.

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Caught on camera close up - one of the world’s most beautiful and elusive big cats. High up in the Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan, this snow leopard pads nonchalantly up to the camera, before snarling at it and moving off. The amazing pictures were captured as part of a three year project on carnivore ecology including the snow leopard, also known as the ‘grey ghost’ or ‘ghost cat’ because of their shyness.

Picture: Norwegian University of Life Sciences/Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan/National (via Pictures of the day: 11 February 2014 - Telegraph)

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Little Pygmy Possum

Cercartetus lepidus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Burramyidae Genus: Cercartetus Species: C. lepidus

The smallest possum species, with a thumb-sized body, this is the only pygmy possum with gray fur on the underside; the upperparts are fawn or brown. It has a short, blunt face and large, erect ears. The prehensile tail can support the animal's entire weight, and expands at its base to store excess food as fat. Nocturnal and usually solitary, this marsupial feeds in low bushes and shrubs, or on the ground, on a variety of small animals from insects to lizards.

Location: Southeast Australia, Tasmania Length: 2 - 2 3/4 in (5 - 6.5 cm) Tail: 2 1/2 - 3 in (6 - 7.5 cm) Weight: 3/16 - 11/32 oz (5 - 9 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Greater Glider

Petauroides volans

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Pseudocheiridae Genus: Hemibelideinae Species: P. volans

Groups of scratch marks on tree trunks betray regular landing sites of the greater glider, the largest gliding marsupial. Like other tree-dwelling marsupials, it has sharp claws to grip bark, and 2 toes on the front foot oppose the other 3, giving a pincerlike grip. This nocturnal forager feeds in eucalyptus woodland (not rainforest), preferring the tender young leaves of just a few eucalyptus species. It forms female-male pairs, for most of the year. The single offspring stays in the pouch for 5 months, then remains in the den or rides on the mother's back for another 1-2 months. By 10 months, young males are driven away by the father.

Location: Eastern Australia Length: 14 - 19 in (35 - 48 cm) Tail: 18 - 23 1/2 in (45 - 60 cm) Weight: 2 - 3 1/2 lb (0.9 - 1.5 kg) Social Unit: Pair Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Striped Possum

Dactylopsila trivirgata

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Petauridae Genus: Dactylopsila Species:  D. trivirgata

Skunklike black and white stripes and a bushy, black, white-tipped tail are the distinguishing features of the striped possum. Like the skunk, it can emit a foul penetrating odor from glads in the genital region. At night, it forages alone through tree branches, probing for wood-boring grubs, ants, and termites with the extra-long claw on its front fourth toe. It also eats fruits, birds, and small mammals.

Location: Northeast Australia, New Guinea Length: 9 1/2 - 11 in (24 - 28 cm) Tail: 12 - 15 1/2 in (31 - 39 cm) Weight: 9 - 19 oz (250 - 525 g) Social Unit: Variable Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Brushy-Tailed Ringtail

Hemibelideus lemuroides

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprodontia Family: Pseudocheiridae Genus: Hemibelideus Species: H. lemuroides

Lemurlike in the face and body proportions, the long, charcoal-colored tail of the brushy-tailed ringtail has a hairless tip. Strongly prehensile, the tail is used to grip boughs and to steer as this nocturnal possum makes "free-fall" leaps of some 9ft (3m) through the rainforest canopy. The main diet is leaves, with also some flowers and fruits. Social life is flexible, with male-female pairs, mother-young duos, or larger groups. This single offspring leaves the pouch after 6-7 weeks.

Location: Northeast Australia Length: 12 - 15 1/2 in (31 - 40 cm) Tail: 12 1/2 - 14 1/2 in (32 - 37 cm) Weight: 29 - 36 oz (800 - 1,000 g) Social Unit: Variable Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Queensland ringtail

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Pseudocheiridae Genus: Pseudocheirus Species:  P. peregrinus

The Queensland ringtail's reddish or gray-brown fur extends to the base of the tapering, strongly prehensile tail, becomes darker along the first half of the tail, then changes to white. Found in many habitats, including parks and gardens, the main food of this group-dwelling mammal is leaves, especially eucalyptus and acacia. In the north of its range, it nests in a tree-hole; in the south, in a squirrel-like drey.

Location: Eastern Australia, Tasmania Length: 12 - 14 (30 - 35 cm) Tail: 12 - 14 in (30 - 35 cm) Weight: 25 - 39 oz (700, 1,100 g) Social Unit: Group Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Squirrel Glider

Petaurus norfolcensis

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Petauridae Genus: Petaurus Species:  P. norfolcensis

The squirrel glider's furry gliding membrane extends from each fifth front toe to the long back foot. The long, bushy, soft-furred, squirrel-like tail acts as a rudder when parachuting as far as 165ft (50m) to other trees or to escape enemies. This possum lives in small groups of one adult male, 1-3 females, and their offspring of the season. It feeds on insects and similar small tree creatures, as well as sap, gum, pollen, and seeds. The 1-2 young remain in the pouch for up to 3 months and are weaned by 4 months.

Location: Australia Length: 7 - 9 in (18 - 23 cm) Tail: 9 - 12 in (22 - 30 cm) Weight: 7 - 11 oz (200 - 300 g) Social Unit: Group Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Leadbeater's Possum

Gymnobelideus leadbeateri

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Peturidae Genus: Gymnobelideus Species:  G. leadbeateri

Notable for its rediscovery in 1961, after 52 years of presumed extinction, Leadbeater's possum has a gray back with a dark central stripe from head to tail and off-white underside. Speedy and elusive in trees, it feeds at night on small invertebrates and tree juices such as gum, sap, and nectar. Colonies of up to 8 consists of a senior breeding pair and their offspring, mainly males. Females defend the group's territory.

Location: South Eastern Australia Length: 6 - 7 in (15 - 17 cm) Tail: 6 - 8 in (14.5 - 20 cm) Weight: 3 5/8 - 6 oz (100 - 175 g) Social Unit: Group Conservation Status: Endangered

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Gray Cuscus

Phalanger orientalis

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Phalangeridae Genus: Phalanger Species:  P. orientalis

Also known as the northern common cuscus, the coloring of this species across its range of many islands, from almost white to black. There is generally, however, a stripe along the back, and part of the tail is always hairless and white. Resembling a combination of sloth and monkey, it has deliberate but agile climbing habits as it forages for leaves, fruits, and other plant material. Docile by nature, it is a common household pet.

Location: New Guinea, Solomon Islands Length: 15 - 19 in (38 - 48 cm) Tail: 11 - 17 in (28 - 43 cm) Weight: 3 1/4 - 7 3/4 lb (1.5 - 3.5 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Silver-gray Brushtail Possum

Trichosurus vulpecula

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Phalangeridae Genus: Trichosurus Species:  T. vulpecula

Familiar in many habitats, including parks and gardens, the silver-gray brushtail possum has mainly silver-gray body fur, which is short and tinged red in the north of its range, and longer and darker gray in the south. It bounds and climbs with ease as it forages for eucalyptus, acacia, and other leaves, as well as flowers, fruits, and, occasionally, birds' eggs and chicks. This vocal possum, with its range of hisses, chitters, grunts, and growls,, is solitary except in the brief mating season. It lives in a crevice or hollow in a tree, log, rock, or roof. The usually single remains in the pouch for 5 months.

Location: Australia and Tasmania Length: 14 - 23 in (35 - 58 cm) Tail: 10 - 16 in (25 - 40 cm) Weight: 3 1/4 - 10 lb (1.5 - 4.5 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat

Lasiorhinus latifrons

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Vombatidae Genus: Lasiorhinus Species:  L. latifrons

Even stockier and shorter-limbed than the common wombat, this species has longer ears, long, silky fur mottled brown and gray, and gray-white hairs on the snout. It is colonial, groups of 5-10 occupying a burrow system (warren) covering several hundred square yards. This wombat grazes at night on grass and other low vegetation. Senior mails repel strangers of their kind unless are receptive females at breeding time.

Location: Southern Australia Length: 30 - 37 in (77 - 95 cm) Tail: 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 in (3 - 6 cm) Weight: 42 - 71 lb (19 - 32 kg) Social Unit: Group Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Common Wombat

Vombatus ursinus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Vombatidae Genus: Vombatus Species:  V. ursinus

The common wombat has a hairless nose and remarkably bearlike form. A prolific burrower, its tunnel system generally has only one entrance but many underground branches, with a total length of up to 650ft (200m). Preferred sites are slopes above creeks and valleys, where the wombat grazes, mainly at night, on grasses, sedges, roots, and tubers. In winter it may graze or sunbathe by day. Although wombats are generally solitary, and adult males tend to chase intruders from their home areas, they also seem to visit each other's burrows on occasion. After the offspring has left its mother's pouch, it stays at first in a nest chamber lined with dry grass and leaves, inside the burrow. The common wombat is not dangerous to humans, but its holes may trip horses, harbor dingoes, undermine bands, and damage rabbit-proof fences.

Location: Eastern Australia, Tasmania Length: 28 - 47 in (70 - 120 cm) Tail: 3/4 - 1 1/ in (2 -3 cm) Weight: 55 - 88 lb (25 - 40 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Koala

Phascolarctos cinereus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Phascolarctidae Genus: Phascolarctos Species: P. cinereus

The koala lives nearly all its life in eucalyptus trees. It feds for about 4 hours at night, eating some 1 lb (500 g) of leaves, and dozes for the remaining time, wedged securely in a branch fork. Occasionally, it descends to change trees or promote digestion by eating soil, bark, and gravel. Individuals bellow to each other during the breeding season and dominant males mate with more females than do junior males. Copulation is brief and often accompanied by bites and scratches. After a gestation of 35 days the single offspring crawls into the pouch, where it is suckled for 6 months. It then clings to the mother's back. Among its early solid food is the mother's droppings, which carry helpful food- digesting and disease-fighting microbes. Despite a placid appearance, the koala readily bites and scratches.

Location: Eastern Australia Length: 26 - 32 in (65 - 82 cm) Tail: 3/8 - 34 in (1 - 2 cm) Weight: 8 3/4 - 33 lb (4 - 15 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower Risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Marsupial Mole

Notoryctes typhlops

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Notoryctemorphia Family: Notoryctidae Genus: Notoryctes Species:  N. typhlops

The marsupial mole tunnels down to 8 ft (2.5 m) in sandy deserts, loose-soiled grassland, and scrubby bush. It "swims" through light sand, which collapses behind leaving no permanent tunnel. Food includes fungi and tubers as well as animal prey, which is eaten whenever encountered. The silky, off-white to cinnamon fur is rubbed shiny by burrowing, and may be stained deep red by iron minerals in the soil. The female's pouch, in which she carries 1- 2 young, does not fill with soil because it opens rearward.

Location: Southern Australia Length: 4 3/4 - 7 in (12 - 18 cm) Tail: 3/4 - 1 in (2 - 2.5 cm) Weight: 1 7/16 - 2 1/2 oz (40 - 70 g) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Endangered

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Bilby

Macrotis lagotis

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Peramelemorphia Family: Thylacomyidae Genus: Macrotis Species: M. lagotis

Also known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot, this omnivorous species is recognized by its huge ears, long back feet, and tricolored tail: blue-gray at the base (as on the body), then black, with the last half white and feathery. It digs powerfully and shelter by day in a burrow 10 ft (3 m) long and some 7 ft (2 m) deep. Pairs associate for the breeding season and the 2 offspring, born after 13 - days' gestation, leave the pouch after 80 days.

Location: Western and Central Australia Length: 12 - 22 in (30 - 55 cm) Tail: 8 - 11 1/2 in (20 - 29 cm) Weight: 2 1/4 - 5 1/2 lb (1 -2.5 kg) Social Unit: Pair Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Reproduction: Marsupial

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New Guinean Spiny Bandicoot

Echymipera kalubu

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Peramelemorphia Family: Peramelidae Genus: Echymipera Species:  E. kalubu

Bandicoots are mostly insectivorous, rat- to rabbit-sized marsupials. The New Guinean spiny bandicoot has a long, mobile snout, an outer coat of stiff, stout hairs in shades of brown, copper, yellow, and black, buff underparts, and a hairless tail. It forages alone at night for prey, and also eats fruits, berries, and other plant matter. It aggressively repels others of its kind, and shelters by day in a hollow log, leaf pie, or self-dug burrow.

Location: New Guinea and surrounding islands Length: 8 - 20 in (20 - 50 cm) Tail: 2- 5 in (5 - 12.5 cm) Weight: 1 - 3 1/4 lb (0.5 - 1.5 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Lower Risk

Reproduction: Marsupial

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Eastern Barred Bandicoot

Perameles gunnii

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Peramelemorphia Family: Peramelidae Genus: Perameles Species:  P. gunnii

A few hundred of these bandicoots survive in mainland Australia, in Victoria, but the majority are not found in Tasmania. This omnivorous opportunist forages alone at night and shelters by day in a simple next of grasses, leaves, and twigs. The eastern barred bandicoot has rabbitlike ears, 3- 4 whitish back strips, and a white tail. Its life cycle is rapid: 12-day gestation, weaning by 60 days, and sexual maturity at 3 months.

Location: Southeastern Australia, Tasmania Length: 10 1/2 - 14 in (27 - 35 cm) Tail: 2 3/4 - 4 1/4 in ( 7 - 11 cm) Weight: 1 - 3 1/4 lb (0.5 - 1.5 kg) Social Unit: Individual Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Reproduction: Marsupial