ABC Book of Animals

Kalista Routh

AARDWOLF A is for Aadwolf. The

Aadwolf is related to hyenas, but he preys on termites. He has dark vertical stripes, a black robber mask, bushy tail and is only about the size of a jackal. You can find the Aadwolf in its native lands, which is the Eastern and Southern areas of Africa.

BASKING SHARK B is for Basking Shark. The basking shark filter feeds and is the second-largest shark. Although he has hundreds of teeth, they are not of much use, but he has a huge mouth he uses to collect food floating in water.

CARIBOU C is for Caribou.

Caribou are also known as reindeer and as summer approaches they migrate north. They have large hooves, and they are useful in the harsh lands of the north. They are the only deer that both genders can have antlers.

DART FROGD is for Dart Frog. Dart frogs wear some of the most beautiful colors in the world. Depending on where they live determines their color. Their colors are important to them, seeing as they ward off predators.

ELEPHANTE is for Elephant. Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. They are a bit larger than their Asian cousins, and they can be identified by their ears that kind of look like Africa.

FENNEC FOX F is for Fennec Fox. The Fennec Fox is the smallest out of all the foxes on Earth, but have very large ears that don't appear to fit them. They live in the Sahara and certain areas in North Africa. Since they're nocturnal animals, they don't have to deal with the searing heat.

GULPER EEL G is for Gulper Eel.

The Gulper Eel has an enormous mouth that is loosely hinged. It allows the eel to swallow animals much larger than itself. His stomach can stretch to fit his meals, and he is much different in appearance compared to other eel species.

HAMMERHEAD SHARK

H is for Hammerhead shark. Hammerhead sharks are carnivores that use their odd shaped heads to help find prey. Their wide-set eyes improve their visual range, and they can scan the ocean for more food.

IBEXI is for Ibex. Ibex are mountain animals that are generally found living at elevations up to 3,200 meters. The females will stay in bushy areas below the rolling slopes during the day, and the males will be on the cliffs. At night, they both come down into the forests to feed.

JAGUAR J is for Jaguar. Jaguars are found in very few remote areas. Out of the South American big cats, they are the largest. Like tigers, jaguars don't avoid water, and they're actually good swimmers. Rivers provide them a source for prey.

KOMODO DRAGONK is for Komodo Dragon. In its range, the komodo dragon is the head predator. They will eat almost anything. It has lived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for a long time, but we just knew about their existence about 100 years ago.

LIONFISHL is for Lionfish. The Lionfish is very poisonous and delivers its poison through its eighteen dorsal fins that are like needles. These fins are purely for defense. To capture prey, it relies on its fast reflexes and camouflage.

MARY RIVER TORTOISE

M is for Mary River Turtle. The Mary River Tortoise was described as a new species and genus in the year of 1994. The Mary River Tortoise is a fast swimmer with large hind feet..

*note: this mary river turtle is just growing algae on its head.

NURSE SHARKN is for Nurse Shark. Nurse sharks are bottom-dwellers and they move at a slow pace. They are considered harmless to humans. Nurse sharks make a sucking sound when they hunt for their prey.

OCELOTO is for Ocelot. Ocelots are about twice the size of the average house cat with a gorgeous, spotted coat. These animals are nocturnal and, like the jaguar, are good swimmers and don't avoid water. They are targets for hunters because of their gorgeous fur and are rare in some areas.

PANGOLIN P is for Pangolin. There are

three types of pangolins: there's the most vast, the ground pangolin, the giant pangolin, and the tree pangolin. They have long tails, small heads, and are toothless. They have good hearing, but no external ears. They have poor sight, but a well developed sense of smell. Their protective scales make up 20 percent of their bodyweight.

QUOLL Q is for Quoll. Quolls live in trees for the most part, although, they have the ability to live in trees. When escaping predators, they are agile and can climb a tree to escape them. Quolls resemble a possum or coati, and they are found in Australia and New Guinea.

RED PANDA R is for Red Panda. The

red panda is a solitary creature and is related to the larger, better-known, giant panda. Red pandas spend most of their lives in trees and sleep overhead. Red pandas enjoy bamboo, but eat many other foods. They have a wrist bone that's extended and functions like a thumb; it is a great aid in gripping.

STINGRAY S is for Stingray. Stingray's are generally found in the shallow waters of temperate seas. They are usually inactive, buried in the sand, moving with the sway of the tide. They are camouflaged to match the sea's floor so they won't be seen by predators. If they need a defense, their tail has a poisonous barb.

TASMANIAN DEVIL T is for Tasmanian Devil. Tasmanian devils are notorious for being crazy, and they will fly into rage when threatened, defending a meal, or brawling for a mate. These animals have a brown or black coat and a stocky appearance which makes them look like a baby bear. The Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.

UPUPAU is for Upupa. The Upupa is notable for the feathers on its head that look like a crown. You can find the Upupa in many areas, including: Asia, Europe, Sub-Saharan and North Africa and Madgascar. Although, most of those in Europe and north Asia will migrate in the winter to the tropics.

VAQUITA V is for Vaquita. The

Vaquita porpoise is rare and is one out of six species of porpoise. It is critically endangered, and it was only noticed in 1958 from a few skulls; not until 1985 was a live one found. They are the smallest out of all cetaceans, and the females are larger than the males!

WALLABY W is for Wallaby. Wallabies are part of the kangaroo family and can be found in Australia or on the islands nearby. They are marsupials and their young, like kangaroos, are called joeys. They can bound at high speeds due to their strong hind legs and jump great lengths.

YAK Y is for Yak. There are

two species of yak: wild and domestic. Domestic yaks are smaller than the wild yaks, but probably originated from the wild yak. The status of yak is vulnerable due to their loss of habitat and how they're being hunted.

ZEBRAZ is for Zebra. No two zebras on earth have the same coat. Although, they're distinctive, they're like fingerprints, they're all different. Their coats help them confuse predators, and they are social animals. They spend their time together in herds grazing on grass and sometimes grooming one another.

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