Praying Mantis ( Mantodea )

Praying Mantis .... or Mantodea!
Have you ever heard of a religious insect? No? Well,  there's always the praying mantis. But the fact is, these seemingly innocent creatures are far from religious ... In fact, they're cold blooded killers! Though it seems impossible, a mantis is a predatory creature. Never underestimate small, delicate looking things. The praying mantis will eat anything small enough to be captured and eaten by it. The mantis' ways of disguise make other creatures vulnerable, as it can blend easily into scenery as a leaf. Though most food is bug based, some larger species have been known to eat small rodents and reptiles.

The mantis' legs have little spikes on them that allow them to catch prey and climb trees more easily.  These are called raptorial legs. The mantis' head is very flexible, and allows 300 degree turns in some species. This can help it see if anything is coming. Mantis' can be found almost anywhere, even around here in NH. Their mating season is typically in Autumn, and the female lays from 10 to 400 eggs. The eggs are born into a small cocoon, and despite the durability of the eggs, they are usually eaten by parasitic wasps. In only a few species does the mother guard her eggs.The mantis' typical lifespan lasts about only a year in the wild, but in captivity, can last up to 14 months.

Kangaroo ( Macropodidae )

Kangaroo ... or Macropodidae!

While kangaroos are known for their pouches that hold their babies, only females have them.  Kangaroo mating season  can be any time of the year. The males will sometimes fight over females by kicking each other with their feet. The female will be pregnant for about one month, and then the baby kangaroo, also called a joey, is born. They are kept in the pouch until they are old enough to leave their mother.

Some people kill kangaroos for their meat, as it is high in protein and low in fat, therefore very good for you. Kangaroos have a large tail for balance and a small head. It's big feet give it advantages in jumping. Kangaroos are frequently part of road accidents.

To this day, kangaroos are still found in Australia, it's main base, but are also found in local zoos. They are one of the few species that is a marsupial, an animal that does not have a placenta. They are mammals and usually have a pouch to carry their babies in. They are also one of the largest marsupials known.

Piranha ( Characidae )

Piranha ... or Characidae!


Piranha are carnivorous fish that live in the Southern American rivers.  They are known for their deadly teeth and appetite for meat. Usually piranhas measure between one foot and two feet in length.

Though piranhas are commonly caught by fishermen down south and sold as food for money, they will bite frequently when handled. They are nuisances to bathers and swimmers if they have inhabited waters. They bite and injure people. It is not too dangerous, but is annoying.

Piranhas will also steal bait from fishing lines, damage other fish that have been caught, and damage fishing equipment ( all the more reason I am never going to hunt piranha ).  Piranhas are attracted by blood, so if you are swimming with an open wound in piranha infested water, beware.

Piranhas will not only eat things smaller then themselves, they will eat things larger than themselves. Once, the Amazon river was blocked by nets and a net of starving piranha were dumped into the blocked part of the river. Then, a cow was thrown in too, and was almost immediately a carcass.