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Lesser Waterboatman
CONSERVATION STATUS: least concerned
You've heard of air guitar and finger drumming but about a musical penis? Well, that is the Lesser Waterboatman’s specialty.
The term Lesser Waterboatman refers to a variety of boatmen found in freshwater streams and ponds throughout Europe. They get their name from their oar like legs they use to travel along the ground.
So about that penis, huh? It's not just any old penis and not just any old song they play. Strumming their penis along the abdomen is how this instrument is played. Their songs can be as loud as 105dB - the equivalent to a passing train or police siren. They are record holders. At just 2mm long,they are the loudest animal relative to body size.
Like other insects, the boatmen breathe air. They have developed an ingenious technique to breathe while staying below the surface. Using tiny hairs only micrometers long, they trap an air bubble around themselves.
It's believed this air bubble also acts as an echo chamber to amplify their songs and attract females to them.
Here is an audio clip of a Waterboatman's song.
Galapagos Marine Iguanas
Conservation status: vulnerable to endangered
Considering donating to: Friends of the Charles Darwin Foundation , International Iguana Fountain
The Galapagos marine iguana These iguanas are endemic to, you guessed it, the Galapagos Islands. They live up to the Galapagos’ reputation of vast diversity and evolutionary uniqueness from the rest of their counterparts around the world.
Not only are they the only species of Iguana to be partly aquatic, but they have also developed into 11 subspecies unique to their region. The species as a whole is currently classified as vulnerable with all 11 subspecies considered vulnerable or endangered.
These not-so-little guys can often be seen basking on the hot rocks. Much like other iguana species, they regulate body heat this way. The difference for marine iguanas is these afternoon baskings serve an additional purpose. This is a vital part of their aquatic nature; warming their bodies like this is how they counter the cold of the ocean waters.
Spending up to 30 minutes in the water and diving to 20 meters, these cold-blooded reptiles definitely need it!
All that time in the salty Pacific can undeniably dry you out and cause dehydration. And just as they always do here on the Galapagos, the marine iguanas have found a solution: Salty Snot Rockets.
Special glands they've developed allow them to eject the salt from the ocean. Threats to their populations include climate change, specifically El Niño events. While these miraculous animals are fully protected under law, this doesn't exempt them from the harms caused by none other than mankind. Human introduction of invasive species is putting these incredibly unique animals at risk. Bringing animals like cats and dogs to the islands has created new predators to Marine Iguana eggs and juveniles.
Beyond that, we, the human species, do what we do best... destroy and pollute. Oil spills, microplastics, habitat loss, and the like, impose great harm here just as in many other places around the world.
Scaly Foot Snail
IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered
Dubbed “The Pangolin of the Sea”, this badass looking snail hangs out at Ocean ridges that reach 400°c / 750°f. These snails make their home along hydrothermal vents, an environment rich in minerals.
They are covered from shell to foot in protective iron, the only animal known to use iron in its exoskeleton. Beyond that, they utilize gregite to become magnetic. They are at great risk, being found in only 3 locations all in the Indian Ocean. Their known habitat totals a mere 300km* / 116miles.
What makes them so unique and fascinating is the same thing that's threatening their species: deep sea mining. The Scaly-Foot Snail is the first animal to become endangered as a result of deep sea mining.
Conservation Efforts:
There are currently no specialized conservation efforts outside of research and push for stricter regulations and protection in regards to deep sea mining.
Tasmanian Devil
Conservatfon Status: ENDANGERED
Consider donating to: Aussie Ark, Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal - University of Tasmania
When your life begins with a 16% survival rate in a true battle of the fittest, you are bound to build a reputation like these Devils have.
After about 20 days gestation period, a mother Tasmanian Devil will give birth to a litter of 20-30 grain-of-rice sized babies, or Imps. From that moment, the battle has begun.
Tasmanian Devils are marsupials, meaning they will enter this world deaf, blind, infinitesimal, and find their way to Mothers pouch where they will continue to grow and nourish. Making it to mothers pouch alive is part 1 of their trials. A female Tasmanian Devil only has 4 teats and these little Imps are not in the habit of sharing.
The 4 Imps who can stand their ground will carry on the Devils reputation, those who can’t will die of dehydration and malnutrition. It wasn't all for nothing though! The mother will often eat those who didn't have what it takes. Nothing went to waste, that's just more nutrition to help feed her strongest survivors.
Adult Tasmanian Devils can open their jaws a massive 70°, with the strongest bite force relative to size of all mammals, powerful enough to crush bone. They are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, their unique and aggressive ways of natural selection is also a major contributor to their population decline.
Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)
Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) was discovered in the 90s and is a contagious tumours cancer being spread through contact in fights or during mating. Consider donating to the organizations linked above to help protect Tasmanian Devils.
Egyptian Vulture
Conservation Status: ENDANGERED
Consider donating to: Vulture Conservation Fund,The Peregrine Fund , World Bird Sanctuary
Vultures are some of the most magnificent and vital creatures on our planet. Of the 23 species of vulture one in particular stands out, the Egyptian vulture, the only documented vulture species known to use tools.
Egyptian vultures are known for their indigenous methods to crack an egg by repeatedly dropping rocks or tossing it in the air until they get to that delicious gooey center.
They've also been seen gathering wool and rolling it up with sticks to make their nests with!
When these crafty birds aren't chucking rocks and rolling wool, they are out doing what vultures do best. They clock in as janitors. Vultures have extremely corrosive stomach acid that can digest and “kill” things like anthrax and rabies, helping to control the spread of toxins and diseases.
Unfortunately one of the things they can't clean up is Diclofenac, a drug given to livestock. Diclofenac was responsible for 90% decline in Indian vultures before being banned in some countries. The gap in the ecosystem left feral dogs and others to then feed on diseased carcasses and rapidly spread things like rabies.
Vultures as a whole are struggling. More than half of vulture species range from threatened to critically endangered. Consider donating to their conservation efforts to maintain ecological balance these beautiful birds bring to the planet.
Providing fun, unique, sometimes devastating animal facts to your dashboard.
When it comes to conservation education, we don't know what we don't know. I am no expert but I like to think I know a little about a lot.
Maintaining curiosity is how we continue to learn!
⚘ How Can I Help?
Here are a handful of actionable ways you can contribute to conservation. Things as small as switching to a reusable water bottle are wins for our environment!
If you find suspicious posts about animal sales, you can report it here
⚘ How Can I Support?
~ Work in progress ~ post coming soon with select international charities and organizations
⚘ How Organizations Are Picked For Certain Posts
Established namesake: WWF, Xerces, ect
Charity Ratings: CharityNavigator, CharityWatch
Verify nonprofit status: example being IRS database of 501(c)3 registration
Some organizations are not nonprofit but still do important work such as the IUCN
⚘ Found Injured Wildlife?
Contact a local rehabber, do not try to care and release the animal yourself. Here are a few wildlife rehab directories.
USA , Canada , Australia , UK
The world is a very large place, please feel free to send me additional rehab directories for your country!