Pygmy Marmoset

 Pygmy Marmoset

Introducing the world's ugliest primate .... the marmoset!  These small monkeys have thick, grizzly fur and a flat nose, and are described in their home land as " little lion". These rain forest creatures are among the world's smallest primates, so one would think that looking for food would be a problem. But the truth is, this tiny monkey lives off of tree gum and tree sap alone! It's front teeth are specially designed for making incisions in wood.

Unlike most monkeys, the marmoset uses its tail as a counterweight to balance itself on the branches it uses as pathways, as it is a creature that lives mostly in trees. No branches will break under this critter, as it is only 4.9 ounces!  The marmoset is native to many rain forests in Brazil, Columbia, and Ecuador.  

The pygmy marmoset can use vocal, body, and chemical signals to alert its family and other pygmy marmosets to danger. This is handy, as most marmosets usually live in groups of 2-6. A life span of a pygmy marmoset is usually 11-12 years in the wild, but in captivity can last up to 20 years old.

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.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae)

The unique tail ... of a humpback whale!

Humpback whales are a species of baleen whale.  They are recognized by their odd form of head, which  is knobby.  Adults alone weigh 79000 pounds, while babies weigh about 2 short tons. Mating season occurs all year, with females having a gestation period of about  a year.  To let a female know about mating, a male whale will wail and sing continuously for a few hours. When whales are born, they are only as long as their mother's head, about 20 feet.

Humpback life expectancy is about 45-100 years. Once, in Inuit Alaska, a bowhead whale was found alive and thought to be 211 years old.  They live individually or in small groups containing maybe three  whales. Both male and female whales vocalize, but only the male can produce the rich song that makes the humpback famous.

Flea ( Siphoneptera )

Flea .... or Siphoneptera!

Fleas are pesky insects with no wings, and are usually dark in color so as to blend into things.  They usually reside in dark woods, or on animal fur.  They have long legs that help them get onto animals, and tube like mouths for sucking blood. A flea can jump 200 times its body length, and despite it's size, can do a lot of damage to a human or animal.

The flea goes through four transformation stages, starting when the female lays her eggs. Adult fleas must feed on blood before they lay eggs. The four stages, starting from baby, are: egg, larva, pups, and imago. The eggs are usually laid in batches of 20, and are hatched in 2 weeks tops.

The flea has been thought to have been descended from the fly, because of similarities in looks. But in any case, whether fleas came from flies or not, they are dangerous bugs, both for animals, and for humans. ( Note: always check your pet if he/she has been outside. They could have ticks or fleas. Fleas will usually go into places near the tail and under the collar.)

Tetradontidae

Tetradontidae

Tetradontidae, otherwise known as puffer fish, have a very different way of defending themselves.  They are very slow creatures, therefore very easy prey. However, what sharks and other predators might not see coming is a whole ton of pointy spikes. If the predator does manage to eat the fish, he will be killed from poison let off by the fish.

Reproduction takes place on the surface of the water. Eggs are laid, looking like translucent spheres. These strange fish have been around for over 138 million years.  Puffer-fish are dangerous to humans if their poison stickles are not severed correctly. They are found in South America, Asia, and Africa.