AMERICAN ALLIGATOR
(Alligator mississippiensis)
Found throughout the Southeast, from the Carolina’s to Texas and north
to Arkansas. Alligators live in wetlands and eat just about anything,
from fish, turtles and snails to small animals. Alligators have a large
slightly rounded body with thick limbs, a broad head and a very
powerful tail, which is used to propel the alligator through the water.
The tail accounts for half of the alligator’s length. |
 |
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
(Ursus americanus)
Found in Alaska, Canada, United States and Northern Mexico. Bears are
omnivorous (except for Polar Bears). and depend mostly on their
excellent sense of smell. A bear’s eye sight and hearing are not
particularly good. Most bears live a solitary life except when looking
for a mate or a female with her young.
|
|
AMERICAN BUFFALO
(Bison bison)
Found in Yellowstone National Park, National Bison Range in the
Flathead Valley of Montana, the Wichita Mountain National Wildlife
Range in Southwest Oklahoma, the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
in Northern Nebraska, Sully’s Hill National Wildlife Refuge in
Northwestern North Dakota and Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge in
Central Iowa. There are also many other privately owned herds
throughout North America. Buffalo are large cloven-hoofed animals with
hollow, curved horns. Their color varies from light to dark brown
depending on where they live. Buffalo have a huge head and a great hump
covered with dark brown woolly hair. Buffalo eat grasses.
|
|
BLACKBUCK ANTELOPE
(Antelope cervicapra, L.)
Found in the open woodlands and semi-desert areas of the Indian
subcontinent and some parts of the southern half of the United States.
Blackbuck are light brown in color with white highlights around the
eyes, on the ears, chin, underparts and rump. As the males mature the
upperpart becomes a rich dark brown color. Grown males have ringed
horns spiraling in a V at least 13 inches above the head. Blackbucks
eat mainly grasses but will browse on pods, flowers and fruits.
|
|
BLACK MANE LION
(Panthera leo)
Found in all parts of Africa south of the Sahara and in the Gir Forest
of India. Black mane lions are very large cats with a well-proportioned
and balanced body and a large hear. Its coat varies from tawny to
brownish-yellow with a black-tipped tail and black patches on its ears.
Male lions have a heavy body-color, brown or black mane. Lions are the
only wild cats that live in a group or pride consisting of one mature
male and any number of females, cubs and immature males. The females do
most of the hunting. Lions are meat eaters who have also been know to
scavenge.
|
 |
CAMEL
(Camelidae)
Found in Northwestern China, Mongolia and the Middle East. There are 2
varieties - Dromedary and Bactrian. Camels are able to withstand
extreme temperatures, hot or cold. Camel’s have the ability to close
their nostrils to keep out blowing sand. Camel’s can go for long
periods without water, which makes them great dessert travelers. To
distinguish a Dromedary from a Bactrian look at the number of humps a
camel has on their back. A Dromedary has one hump and a Bactrian has
two humps.
|
|
LIGER
A liger is a cross between a male lion and a female tiger. It is the
largest of the cat family. It may weigh up to 1,000 pounds and be up to
12 feet when standing on its hind legs.
|
|
CAPUCHIN
(Cebus capucinus)
Found in Honduras, Western Columbia and Ecuador. Capuchin’s have a
slightly prehensile tail. They need a wide variety of foods in their
diet. Capuchin’s are so active and intelligent they have become the
most numerous monkey in captivity and may live over 40 years. Their
active and mischievous nature makes them a first class entertainer.
|
|
COATI/COATIMUNDI
(Nasua narica)
Found in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of southwestern Arizona,
southwestern New Mexico and the Big Bend to Brownsville areas of Texas.
Coati are racoon-like carnivores who are slender and have a longer
snout. A Coatimundi’s fur is reddish brown to black on top and
yellowish to dark brown underneath. The muzzle, chin and throat are
usually white and the feet black. There are black and grey markings on
the face and the tail is banded. They live mainly in canyons of desert
mountain forests, usually near water. They travel in groups of 6 to 24,
are very noisy chattering with each other and carry their tails
straight up. They eat insects, lizards, roots, fruits, nuts and eggs.
|
|
ELK
(Cervus elaphus)
Found worldwide. Elk are the second largest member of the deer family.
The upper part of an Elks body is some shade of brown with the
underpart being paler. Elk have large antlers on their heads. They live
in areas from open grasslands to dense jungle. In some areas Elk will
move into higher country during the Spring and return to the lowlands
in the Fall. Elk are most active in the early morning and late
afternoon. Elk feed largely on grasses and herbs but also browse on
foliage from trees.
|
|
GIRAFFE
(Giraffidae)
Found in the African Plains. Giraffes are the tallest of all land
animals. They are active both day and night, spending 15 to 20 hours a
day feeding. Giraffes usually sleep or nap standing up but occasionally
lay down. Giraffes have a very acute sense of sight, hearing and smell. |
|
GREVY’S ZEBRA
(Equus grevyi)
Found in the semi-desert areas of Eastern Africa, primarily Ethiopia,
Somalia and Kenya.Zebra’s have black stripes o a whitish or tawny coat
all over their body including the mane and ears. The stripes are used
for camouflage to hide from predators. When the zebra movesthe stripes
confuse a pursuing predator. Grevy’s Zebra are different from other
zebra’s becauseof their ears and bellies. Their ears are bulbous and
have fur inside and there is no stripes on their belly. Zebra’s eat
grasses.
|
|
KANGAROO
(Macropodidae or Potoridae)
Found in Australia and New Guinea. Kangaroo’s come in all sizes but
have one thing in common - they all powerful hind legs with long feet.
Kangaroos hop on their hind legs to move fast.To move slow, they
balance on their front paws and tail then swing their hind legs
forward.Female kangaroo carry their babies in a pouch on the front of
their stomachs. Kangaroo eatmostly grasses and shrubs.
|
|
RHINOCEROS
(Diceros bicornis)
Found in Africa and Asia. The word rhinoceros means “horn-nosed” and
rhinos use their horns for several purposes. The horns are used to
shovel the ground for mineral salt; to fight overterritory or a female,
or during courtship; and to defend themselves and their young from
lions,tigers and hyenas. Rhinos have poor eyesight but make up for it
with extremely acute senses ofhearing and smell. They eat only plants.
|
|
SIBERIAN TIGER
(Panthera tigris)
Found in Southeastern Siberia. Siberian Tigers are the largest of all
the big cats. SiberianTigers hunt mostly at night and depends on its
sight and hearing to find prey. They can leap upto 10 meters
horizontally and are capable of climbing trees but usually stay out of
trees. Siberian Tigers can swim quite well and seem to like the water.
|
|
*
REFERENCES
Oklahoma State University
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Australia Government-Biodiversity Group
San Antonio Zoo
|
 |
The Belgian Draft Horse Corp. of America
Sea World/Bush Gardens
Oakland Zoo
Britannica Encyclopedia |
|