World of Animals 39

DISCOVER THE MOST AMAZING PIGS IN THE WORLD

From the makers of

FOX50 CUNNING CANINE FACTS SAVING THE OVER 100ILLUSTRATIONS ORANGUTAN & PHOTOS HOW YOU CAN HELP RESCUE ASIA’S GREAT APES MEET NATURE’S ADORABLE ACROBAT

PLUS SNAKES CAMELS SAWFISH HARVEST OSTRICHES MOUSE LAND OF THE SNOW LEOPARD SAHARA WILDLIFE CUTE BUT DEADLY CATCH OF THE DAY TAPIRS Surviving extreme Why is the slow loris Take a look at The guardians desert conditions so dangerous? how animals hunt of the rainforest ISSUE 39 Storm clouds are ! emergency gathering for the APPEAL ploughshare tortoise… PHOTO TIM FLACH

Please help Durrell raise £1,000 to secure our irreplaceable ploughshare tortoise breeding facility and prevent an escalating poaching crisis from tearing this species to shreds.

Illegal poaching so threatens the ploughshare tortoise that within the next two years, there could be none left in the wild. Sadly yes, it is that stark.

We can’t allow a species this iconic, beautiful and important to simply disappear. 2016 could prove a catastrophic tipping point - if we don’t do something about it. HELP THEM WEATHER THE STORM www.durrell.org/saveploughshare © Thinkstock; Alamy Meet the species on page 52. page on species the Meet issue. this tapirs baby with love in fallen I’ve asnorkle, like nose and coat spotted adorable an With Meet the team… Lauren Debono-Elliot Designer Follow at… us eye open at night for spiders! for night at open eye an keep still I’d But blood. on feast bat of species three only knowing Halloween at easy rest all We can Laurie Newman Assistant Designer @WorldAnimalsMag why on page 30. page on why out Find suspicion. under held be certainly would loris slow cute adorably the kill, could looks If Tim Hunt Tim Picture Editor worldofanimalsmag donate at www. at donate 10% of our proﬁ our of 10% ts animalanswers.co.uk Learn more and and more Learn help ﬁght poaching Editor Zara Gaspar which can survive without water! without survive can which fox, kit the and cool, it keep help that ears incredible has which fox, fennec the feature fox facts 50 our but fox, red the with familiar are people Most fox. the is nature cunning 12. page on mice formidable these about all out Find survivor. tenacious a and gymnast animble builder, a skilled also is it but adorable, is mammal tiny This help protect them. protect help to bit your to do inspired are and creatures Earth’s about all learning enjoy you We hope 66). (page orangutan the as such animals of future the safeguarding of importance the to highlight want we also but wildlife, planet’s our of skills amazing the celebrating facts fun Editor’s picks Editor’s Welcome Visit creature is page19 on Find out what this strange Find what out this strange World of Animals its for famed animal skilled Another Exclusive competitions Exclusive competitions Upload your photos and win prizes! win and photos your Upload

www.animalanswers.co.uk Europe’s smallest rodent? about know you do else aﬁ of middle what but eld, the in corn of ears from found climbing or hanging be often can mouse harvest the cover, our from see can you As is always packed full of of full packed always is page 44. page on kicks your Get with. mess to want don’t you that bird one is This kick. lethal its and run can it fast how to lays, it eggs huge the from me, fascinated that animal an always was ostrich the Africa, South in up Growing All abouttheostrich 86. page on border Finnish the on bears photographing and with living time his about all Read bears. grizzly to close that got had Turner George photographer wildlife that believe Icouldn’t inbox, my in When these bear photos landed Living withbears Hilarious GIFs

for 3 Welcome to Issue 39 06 Amazing animals 52 Guardians of the forest 86 12 Harvest mouse Learn all about the tapir Meet nature’s most adorable acrobat 58 Pigs of the world Hogs and swine from around 20 50 fox facts the globe Everything you ever wanted to know about this family of cunning canines 64 Lost forever: Irish elk Why the world’s largest deer 28 Endangered Saint disappeared Lucia racer snake What is being done to save one of Earth’s rarest snakes? 66 Saving orangutans What is being done to protect Asia’s red apes? 30 Cute but deadly What makes the slow loris so dangerous? 72 Explore the Earth: Nepal 36 Catch of the day Journey to the land of the Breath-taking shots of how snow leopard animals hunt their prey 80 Sawﬁ sh in numbers Get to know an elasmobranch 58 42 Spooky animal with a long, jagged snout myths busted We reveal the truth about bats and black cats 82 Wildlife of the Sahara 44 All about the ostrich Meet some of the hardiest Meet the fastest bird on land desert inhabitants 86 Behinds the lens THE IUCN RED LIST We speak to wildlife Throughout World of Animals you will see symbols like photographer, George Turner the ones listed below. These are from the IUCN Red about his experience living List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of animal with bears species in the world. Here’s what they mean:

EXTINCT EXTINCT IN THE WILD 82 CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDANGERED VULNERABLE NEAR THREATENED LEAST CONCERN

4 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

88 Keeping in touch

92 Readers’ Q&A

HARVESTMEET NATURE’S MOST ADORABLE MOUSE ACROBAT

72 96 Quiz Test your animal knowledge

20 Enjoyed the issue? Buy a gift subscription this Christmas and save 50% 44 Page 90 5 The amazing world of animals

6 The amazing world of animals

These two fox cubs look like they’re having fun as one of them playfully grabs the other by the tail

Fox cubs leave their den and the protection of their mother at four weeks old and are weaned at six weeks. But once they are older they can venture out further and they love to play ﬁght. © Getty/Alex Witt

7 The amazing world of animals

An impala seems to enjoy being groomed by two red-billed oxpeckers perched on its face

Red-billed oxpeckers feed on parasites such as ticks, fleas and blood-sucking flies, which live on animals like this impala. This handy arrangement is called mutualism and benefits both parties. ©Heini Wehrle/Minden Pictures/FLPA

8 The amazing world of animals

A ladybird that has been caught in the rain moves under a nearby mushroom for shelter

Ladybirds seek shelter when it rains because they cannot ﬂy in the rain. There are over 5,000 species of ladybird and while they are known for eating aphids, some species feed on plants and fungi. © mikroman6/Getty

9 The amazing world of animals

10 The amazing world of animals

A family of grey wolves huddle together in the snow, licking each other affectionately

Grey wolves live in packs of about six to eight family members, usually led by a dominant alpha male and female. They hunt and travel together and form close ties within the pack. © Jim Cumming/Getty

11 HARVEST MOUSE ADORABLE

ACROBATSOften described as the monkeys of the rodent world, harvest mice are amazing little gymnasts with the most acrobatic of moves Words David Crookes

I’m a survivor How long can harvest mice survive in the wild? It appears that the life of a harvest mouse is one of haste. They leave the nest a er a fortnight and they are able to breed around the age of six weeks. Females become pregnant time and time again, too, with as many as eight litters in a year. But all of this is necessary; not only are predators such as weasels, owls and foxes ready to pounce on them, but harvesting, adverse weather and the use of pesticides pose a serious danger. Few harvest mice survive their ﬁ rst winter and studies have shown that 70 per cent perish a er six weeks. They are helped to some degree by excellent hearing and a great sense of balance but their poor vision lets them down. Very few will survive to 18 months.

12 Adorable acrobats

13 Adorable acrobats Hanging by a tail Their prehensile tails are like a ﬁ fth limb

As well as having the tiniest bodies out of The harvest mouse is one of a small all of Europe’s rodents, harvest mice are number of mammals to have a fully distinguishable by their long, naked tails. prehensile tail. This allows it to anchor on These are of vital importance since they to branches as its feeds and forages, while allow the mouse to perform a multitude of also allowing it to hold on to stalks and tasks. Not only do they provide balance, grass as it nimbly makes its way thorough they are also strong enough to support the woodlands, reedbeds and hedgerows. If body’s entire weight when the rodent is it wants to put the brakes on as it heads literally hanging around. downwards, it uses its tail to grip tightly. “It is one of a small number of mammals to have a prehensile tail”

Their sensitive feet can pick up on HARVEST MOUSE vibrations caused by Micromys minutus other animals, which Class Mammalia helps the mouse detect predators.

Territory Europe and much of Asia Diet Seeds, insects, fruit When the mouse Lifespan 1.5 years climbs up a stem, Adult weight 6g (0.21oz) its tail becomes The tail is covered with 120 Conservation status a balance. On the to 150 rings and the end 2cm way down, it can be (0.79in) is constantly gripped used as a brake. around grass stems. LEAST CONCERN

Its bicoloured prehensile tail is 5-6cm (1.97-2.36in) long, which is roughly the same length as its tiny body.

The forefeet are highly dexterous and are mainly used for eating. The grippable hind feet and tail let it leap and swing between vegetation.

Harvest mice are covered in so , thick fur and they weigh roughly the same as a small coin.

14 ABOVE The harvest mouse’s diet consists of seeds, berries, grasses and ﬂ owers – as well as the occasional insect Tiny climbers Harvest mice are one of nature’s most active climbers

Harvest mice have very small, broad feet, making them perfect for climbing up and down tall, dense vegetation. They learn the basics of climbing within days of being born, picking up hand grasping in the fi rst week and feet grasping by day nine. The mice will be walking on all fours between six and 11 days after birth and they will have also fi gured how to use their tail for climbing by this time. Once they’ve worked out how to correct the orientation of their body (by the twelfth day), they’ll act like little monkeys as they nip around their habitat. To aid them in climbing, each fi ve-toed foot has two large opposable outer toes. As it moves, the rodent is able to use its hind feet and tail for gripping, while the front feet lend support. If it needs to collect food, it can free those forefeet and still manage to get around. It can also climb a vertical stem with great ease. The legs are fl exible enough to allow for pivoting and, since the mice have a light skeleton, they can climb the most delicate of objects. No wonder some believe them to be nature’s cutest gymnasts.

15 Adorable acrobats Nest building They can quickly build some incredibly complex nests

Harvest mice are talented weavers that use cricket ball. Since it is up to 10 centimetres (3.94 reed and rush stalks. While they are not as well living grasses to create intricate, spherical nests inches) wide and secured within vegetation, it made, much smaller (generally the size of a golf that are poised up to one metre (3.28 feet) or is difﬁcult for predators to spot – perfect for ball) and loosely woven, they are perfect for so above the ground. breeding. When the leaves die off, the nest is sleeping and for storing food. They are typically Pregnant females typically start building their abandoned, since its camouﬂaging properties found at the bottom of plant stems or even nests from around May, ten days before they are have been lost. under rocks, and they tend to be closer to the due to give birth. It’s a fascinating process that Breeding nests are not the only temporary ground than breeding nests. Finding abandoned takes around three days and results in a hollow, homes for the harvest mice, though. They also harvest mice nests is a good indication of how secure structure that’s only slightly larger than a create nests for winter in between the grass, plentiful they are in a particular area.

1. The mouse grabs hold of a grass stem with its tail and hind feet before shredding the grass leaves through its incisors – all while still attached to the stalk.

3. Hanging between stems, it then works from the inside, lining the nest by pulling other leaves through the outer wall until a hollow structure is formed.

2. By weaving the free ends of numerous stripped and weakened leaves (which are 4. When complete, the female down to a single, vertically ﬁnds its way inside and closes split vein), the mouse is able the hole. She creates one nest to form the basic structure for each litter. The time taken to of the nest. build the nest varies between three sunny to seven wet days.

16 Mama mice Motherhood for harvest mice is short but sweet Harvest mice tend to breed between May and October, them frequent visits to let them suckle and to keep giving birth to up to eight young in each litter, following the nest clean by eating her oﬀ spring’s excrement. a pregnancy that lasts between 17 and 19 days. She’ll begin to reduce the amount of milk by the The babies weigh up to a gram (0.035 ounces) and tenth day and she’ll supplement their diet with they are born in quick succession, with the mother regurgitated seeds. using the nest she has built by herself to provide A er two weeks, the mother stops suckling warmth, comfort and safety for her young during their and her mammary glands become inactive. The formative days. babies grow ready to make their own way into the At this stage the baby mice are blind, naked and in world and, a er a few practice runs, ﬂ y away from need of nurturing, so the mama mouse will nourish the crowded nest. The mother will have likely fallen them with her milk and keep them warm. She pays pregnant again and will begin to build again.

BELOW If the mama mouse is wary of predators she may carry her young in her mouth to a new nest

“The babies weigh up to a gram and they are born in quick succession”

17 Adorable acrobats

BELOW The harvest mouse’s habitat includes ﬁ elds with long grasses or crops such as wheat, reed beds and hedgerows

Mice and men hard. It can be like looking for a needle in a haystack as released without fi rst checking the habitat is correct and Derek Crawley is a council member for their nest is made from the grass blades and it blends in that there is not a population already there. Only once The Mammal Society and is an expert in with the vegetation. we know the true distribution and status should we harvest mice. He tells us about his work consider captive-bred releases – if the circumstances in the fi eld What measures do you take to help ensure their are right and the IUCN guidelines are followed. Why is it important to monitor harvest mice? survival? We currently don’t know their true distribution and, Harvest mice use the stalks of grasses and reeds What can our readers to do help? because of this, whether or not they are under threat. It so they are mainly found in unmanaged grassland, Using tennis balls was an idea designed to help with is only by carrying out surveys that we can judge their conservation headlands and reed beds. They are also monitoring, but we found that juveniles of other status. found in hedgerows. Allowing grasses, hedges and reed small mammals also used them, so the results are beds to mature and form dense vegetation will provide inconclusive for harvest mice presence. You can learn How elusive are they? ideal nesting opportunities for harvest mice. how to fi nd harvest mice by joining your local mammal Not many people get to see a harvest mouse in the group and helping monitor these and other elusive wild. I have caught some in live capture traps while What role does captive breeding play? mammals. monitoring small mammal populations, but I have not Harvest mice are easy to keep but they breed easily in seen them free living. We carry out surveys by looking captivity so people o en release them into the wild. But You can fi nd local groups at www.mammal.org.uk/ for their nests in tall grasses and even that is considered this goes against IUCN advice. Animals should not be volunteering/local-groups. © Alamy; FLPA; Getty; The Art Agency/Peter Scott; Thinkstock

18 Bizarre! Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

SPANISH SHAWL The neon hermaphrodite sea Flabellina iodinea Class Gastropoda slug that can smell underwater The Spanish shawl slug is a nudibranch (from the Latin and Greek meaning Territory West coast of North America, Canada, Mexico, ‘naked gills’) – a nod to this unusual creature’s shell-less form Gulf of California, Galápagos Islands Diet Hydroids Lifespan Unknown Adult weight Unknown Conservation Status

NOT EVALUATED

They are hermaphrodites Individuals have both male and female organs, making the Spanish shawl a They look like hermaphrodite. Plants have a similar system; as they can’t move, they need to flamenco dancers be able to self-fertilise, but this is a rare Unlike most other sea slugs, the Spanish occurrence for the Spanish shawl. Instead, shawl is able to swim. By flexing and they are able to mate with any individual contracting its body it can move through they come across, which is really useful the water column with ease. As its body because they are so small that they don’t bends, the frills look similar to a flamenco cross paths with each other very often. dancer’s dress.

They use their red Its digestive noses to smell system is on the Bright colours underwater outside of its body help them The protruding red structures coming The bright orange tentacle-like body parts to survive from the head are not eye stalks like are called cerata. They help the slug respire The orange appendages are not only you see in other gastropods, but rather by extracting oxygen from the water, while functional, they are a warning sign to chemosensory organs called rhinophores. also forming part of the digestive system. On predators. A myriad of bright colours They are used to pick up the scent of top of that, they store the stinging cells of lets other animals know that the slug dissolved chemical molecules, helping the the anemones the slug feasts on, which can is probably going to be poisonous, so creature to smell prey or ﬁnd a mate. then be used for defence. it’s not worth trying to eat it. © Alamy

19 50 CUNNING CANINE FACTS You may recognise the red fox, but what about the kit or swiftFOX fox? Find out all about these cat-like carnivores with these bite-sized facts Words Naomi Harding

20 50 fox facts

1. Dominance 2. The red fox is is established the largest of early on the true foxes The largest red fox ever found in Britain When a litter is born, the hierarchy is settled was caught in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, very quickly. The dominant pups demand more and was 1.4 metres (four feet seven attention from the mother, and in turn, are fed inches) in length. On average they more and end up larger than their siblings. are 45-90 centimetres (18-35 Sometimes pups will make power plays and inches) in length. challenge each other’s dominance, resulting in the losing party being rejected from the group. The other kits eat those that die from their injuries or lack of food.

3. Foxes could be 6. They have the oldest canine magnetic powers in the world Like a hidden superpower, foxes are tuned The oldest known Vulpes fossil we have in to the Earth’s magnetic ﬁ eld. Many other to date is from Vulpes riﬀ autae. It is now animals use a magnetic sense to orientate extinct, but as the fossil is around seven them during migration, but the fox is the only million years old, it is highly likely to be known animal to use it for hunting. the earliest Canidae. 4. Males are called dog foxes, and females are called vixens People are generally aware that a female fox is called a vixen, but many are usually surprised to discover a male is called a dog fox. They can also be called a tod or a reynard. 5. Foxes symbolise cunning and trickery Across many cultures around the world the cunning, wily fox is considered the ultimate symbol of untrustworthiness. The pale fox in Dogon folklore (from 7. They created the 8. They avoid running as Mali, Africa) is said to be the trickster northern lights they’re not sprinters of the desert, representing all that is According to a Finnish folk tale, the northern lights are created Running is not one of their strongest skills, nor are they sinister and chaotic. when an arctic fox runs fast through the snow touching the particularly gi ed at sprinting. If they need to escape a

mountains with its tail, so that it sweeps sparks into the sky. predator, they will run, but generally foxes avoid it. © Thinkstock; Shutterstock

21 50 fox facts

9. Most wild foxes do not 12. Silver see their third birthday foxes are A fox’s life expectancy is around ten years, but in the wild they rarely black or make it past three years of age due to hunting and environmental grey pressures such as disease. The silver fox is a melanistic form of the red fox which means they 10. In Celtic are the same species, but their fur mythology, the is a different colour, They range in colour from black through to fox symbolised grey, with all shades of silver in passion between. In the wild, silver foxes The foxes beautiful red, fi ery do not breed with each other, fur was thought to represent but they have sadly been popular passion and play. These positive in the fur trade and are bred in connotations meant if you saw captivity for their silver fur. a fox, either in real life or in your dreams, it was time to put more passion towards achieving your LEFT 13. They are Like cats, foxes 14. They can have up life goals, while remembering the are skilled at importance of lightening up and essentially climbing trees to 24 siblings having fun. and mark their Arctic foxes, on average, have around fi ve to cat-like territory with their urine ten young but when times are good and food is dogs plentiful, it’s not unusual for a female to give birth 11. Two thirds of Foxes are part of the to much larger litters. They have been known to all foxes in UK Canidae family, along with reproduce up to 25 kits, which is more than any animals like the domestic other wild mammal on the planet. cities die each dog, wolf, jackal and dingo. year because Although foxes come from the canine family and are o f t r a f fi c related to dogs, they have As the population grows, so many cat-like features. does the amount of cars on the Just like cats, they have road, and the number of roads vertical pupils, which helps to drive on. A rapid increase in them see well in dark road networks means foxes conditions. Foxes also have to take more risks when stalk and pounce on their travelling between habitats and prey, they walk on tiptoes unfortunately cars hit a large and some have retractable number every year. claws like cats. 15. They’ve got whiskers on their ankles Foxes have whiskers, like cats and dogs do, but a fox’s whiskers are longer than a dog’s and more closely resemble those of cats. They also have whiskers around their ankles, which act as feelers. This extra sense helps the fox navigate through burrows in the dark.

RIGHT Foxes use both their eyesight and whiskers to navigate at night

22 50 fox facts

16. Foxes change fur with the seasons 17. They have super To help them blend into their environment, many species’ hearing like a bat Foxes can’t quite use echolocation but they do have fur colour changes with amazing hearing. A red fox can reportedly hear a the season. Arctic foxes are watch ticking 37 metres (40 yards) away. white in the winter and grey in the summer, for example. It helps the fox camouﬂ age 18. Foxes skulk to stay hidden and lowers When a group of foxes get together, the collective the risk of predation. noun is a skulk, leash or earth. Skulk probably comes from the idea that foxes are vermin and is used to describe other similar animals.

BELOW White fur helps the Arctic fox stay hidden in the white snow

19. They team up with brown bears Tibetan sand foxes sometimes work with bears to catch prey, particularly when hunting pikas. The bears dig out their dens, while the foxes make a grab for the pikas as they run from the bears.

20. Although they are 21. Blandford’s foxes love 22. Blind baby foxes rely seedless grapes on their mothers to see carnivores, they will Most foxes are opportunistic hunters, eating whatever they Female foxes are able to reproduce once a year and can eat jam sandwiches can get their paws on and scavenging for food if necessary, give birth to a litter as large as 11 pups, also known as kits. Foxes will eat almost anything, despite being but the Blanford’s fox is the most frugivorous of the fox It gets very busy in a fox den as the young are born blind considered primarily as carnivores. From small species. It may seem fancy for a fox but they actually and are constantly clambering over one another. At this mammals and insects, to birds and jam sandwiches, prefer to eat a diet of seedless grapes which they steal stage of life, they are heavily dependent on their mother to

they are the ultimate opportunistic eater. from vineyards, ripe melons, and chives. keep them safe. © Thinkstock

23 50 fox facts “Just as your dog loves tennis balls, foxes seem to have developed a fascination with golf balls”

25. Mange and 28. The fennec canine distemper fox wears are big fox-killers snowshoes The most prolifi c disease in the UK that In the midday heat of the desert, sand foxes are susceptible to is mange. It can feel like lava and the fennec fox spreads through the population with has found a way to overcome this. relative ease causing the fur to fall out Paws lined with thick fur allow the and the skin to be covered with mites. little fox to walk across the sand In other parts of the world, foxes are without fear of burning its feet. threatened by canine distemper, a The fur also keeps them warm when virus that causes gastrointestinal the temperatures in the desert failure and respiratory problems. It is suddenly drop at night. fatal in almost all cases and spreads between all dog species. 29. Foxes are 26. Fox hunting is friendly and illegal in the UK, curious, and they love golf balls sort of Foxes are curious and love to play, Fox hunting was banned in Scotland in which can be a sign of intelligence. 2002, and England and Wales followed When they are young, they wrestle suit in 2004 (although this wasn’t each other to the ground and chase enforced until 2005). Traditionally a each other’s tails playfully. Just as pack of foxes were used to hunt and your dog loves tennis balls, foxes kill a fox, whereas the 2005 law states seem to have developed a fascination no more than two dogs can be used to with golf balls and red foxes around fl ush a fox from its den. The fox must the world have been caught sneaking then be shot by the hunter and not onto golf courses at night and making killed by the dogs. off with a ball or two. 27. There’s no 30. We don’t such thing as an know if the swift urban fox We hear about urban foxes all the fox and kit fox are time; however they aren’t a separate different species species. It is just the name given to a Some consider the swi fox and the kit 23. The fox actually comes from the fox that visits urban areas from time fox as two subspecies but there isn’t same family as your pet dog to time and most of these animals enough evidence to conclusively say Foxes belong to the Canidae family, a carnivorous group that includes wolves, jackals, also spend time in rural settings. It is this. Some scientists refer to them dingoes, and domestic dogs. The canine family is divided into two groups: those probably more accurate to call them as the same species, whereas others related to wolves (Canini) and those related to foxes (Vulpini). Your pet dog is a direct suburban foxes, but it’s not as catchy. prefer to consider them separately. descendent of the grey wolf, but is still a close relative of the fox. 24. Foxes use public toilets 31. Pale foxes Some foxes such as kit foxes, swi foxes and Arctic foxes defecate in latrines. For foxes this is a hole dug in the went under ground for other local foxes to do their business in. the radar It really is a mark of how intelligent these animals are when you think about it. Humans started for quite using toilets to keep the street clean and to some time reduce the spread of disease, and animals It wasn’t until 2012 that pale like foxes use communal latrines for the foxes were properly assessed same purpose. Not all foxes do this and by the International Union for the species that are susceptible to predation Conservation of Nature. Because avoid visiting latrines. It can make them of their elusive and nocturnal more vulnerable, as predators on the nature they are diffi cult to track lookout will know where to fi nd them as down, follow and study. They they can see where they have been from also have sandy coats to match their faeces and can follow the scent of their habitat, making them very their urine to track them down. diffi cult to spot in the wild.

24 50 fox facts

34. They have many names 32. Kit foxes A number of fox species have nicknames. An Arctic fox can also be known as a white fox, polar don’t drink water fox, or snow fox. The Bengal fox Like many desert animals, the kit fox is able to survive can also be called the Indian fox, without drinking water and acquires what it needs and the Cape fox goes by the from prey alone. They are mostly carnivorous but if name of the cama fox and the food is scarce, kit foxes have been known to nibble on silver-backed fox. the local produce, eating tomatoes and cactus fruits.

BELOW 35. Kits eat like Kit foxes hunt for small birds rodents in the At one month old, kit fox pups day and at night time are ready to start eating and are weaned from their mother’s milk. At this stage they aren’t quite ready for solid food, so the mother will pre-chew and regurgitate food for her young. They won’t be able to search for their own food until they are around seven months old. 36. Many foxes are not true foxes There are 37 species with the name fox, and all of these animals look and behave like foxes, such as the bat-eared fox and Darwin’s fox. However, there are only 12 creature belonging to the group Vulpes such as the red fox. These are considered the true foxes. 37. Arctic foxes love the snow, so long as it’s not too cold These snowy foxes are 33. They have perfectly adapted to their cold environment but they are not fancy homes completely immune to the cold. Foxes live in underground dens When the temperature drops but they are far more fancy than below -70 degrees Celsius (-97 a hole just dug in the ground, Fahrenheit), it can be quite some are centuries old and uncomfortable for them and they used by many generations. begin to shiver. The dens of some species can cover 2,589 square kilometres (1,000 square miles), have up to 38. Foxes 150 entrances with numerous weigh 30 per tunnels, back entrances and escape routes built in. cent less than they should Relative to dogs of other species, foxes weigh 30 per cent less per unit area of bone than you would expect. Their bones are extremely lightweight, making foxes weigh less overall than other dogs of the same size. © Thinkstock; NaturePL; Alamy

25 50 fox facts

40. A fox was 39. Corsac foxes discoverd by are one of the Charles Darwin The Darwin’s fox was brought back from San Pedro Island in Chile by slowest runners naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. Foxes don’t make great runners, and the corsac fox is This species of fox is now Critically possibly the worst of the bunch. Unfortunately, they are Endangered. an easy catch for hunters and dogs can catch up with one without even really trying. This makes corsac foxes a ﬁrm favourite amongst fur traders and in the late 19th 41. The fennec century around 10,000 were killed annually for their pelt. fox is the smallest species Weighing just 0.67-1.6 kilograms (1.5-3.5 pounds), the fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world. Being so small makes them vulnerable to predators, and this could be one of the reasons why they are also the only fox species to live in packs. 42. 16 per cent of the cape fox population is lost annually Due to collisions on roads with vehicles, or through being hunted and persecuted as vermin, 2,500 individuals are killed every year throughout Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. 43. The idea that foxes kill for fun is a myth This myth probably stems from when foxes break into hen houses. A fox’s natural instinct is to kill all the easily caught prey, and bury it for later. This is because of their scavenger nature. They will return for the remaining corpses if given the option, but usually an angry owner will have discovered the bloodshed before the fox has opportunity to return.

44. Cape foxes will 45. When a fox dies, always let you know another one occupies what they’re thinking the vacant territory One of the more expressive species of fox, Cape foxes are usually quiet, but whine and chirp to communicate in three to four days There are more foxes than land to live on and foxes with each other, and growl and hiss when they can spend a long time on the move trying to ﬁnd a feel aggressive, sometimes even spitting. When home patch. When a fox dies, there will always be something makes them jump, they let out a loud bark a new one ready to take its place, which is why fox and when they are excited they raise their tail high in culls will always be unsuccessful. If foxes are being the air. Studies have shown that he higher their tail is a nuisance, it’s much more eﬀective to try and deter in the air, the more excited they are. them from the area rather than cull them. “Cape foxes are usually quiet, but whine and chirp to communicate with each other ”

26 50 fox facts

46. The red fox is the most successful 47. They carnivore in the world The bushy-tail red fox is the most common fox mate for life worldwide and the largest geographical range Some species, such as the grey fox and of any carnivore. This is partly because it has the Bengal fox, form pair bonds that can last most fl exible diet of the foxes, allowing it to adapt a lifetime. Most species will naturally form to more habitats. Wherever the red fox fi nds itself, these types of relationships but for some, it it will always fi nd food. This is also why it has done will depend on their environment. In times particularly well in urban environments, thanks to of disease or food scarcity they will lead its scavenging ability. a more polygynous lifestyle, meaning one male will mate with multiple females.

49. The swift fox 48. Danger to foxes was nearly declared comes from the sky extinct in the 1930s Rueppell’s foxes live in inhospitable There were very few individuals le in North habitat in the north of Africa and have very America when conservation measures were few predators for this reason; however put in place. Predator control programs were they can’t completely let their guard hugely successful and a number of foxes were down as aerial predators such as steppe reintroduced to the areas they were once found. eagles and eagle owls are always ready to They are now considered to be of least concern to swoop down and carry a fox away. the IUCN and populations are stable.

BELOW Eagle owls tend to hunt for rabbits, 50. The fennec fox’s but are also a risk to foxes. ears do much more than sound out prey The 15.24 centimetre (six inch) long ears are amazing for listening to prey, they tilt their heads form side to side while triangulating sound so that they can pinpoint the exact location of insects, rodents, reptiles, and other tasty treats which are o en hiding under the sand. These oversized ears are for more than just listening. The ears also serve as a way to dissipate heat and keep cool in

the desert heat. © Thinkstock; NaturePL; Alamy; FLPA

27 Endangered Saint Lucia racer snake Thought to be the world’s rarest snake, the SNAKE Erythrolamprus ornatus Saint Lucia racer was initially declared extinct Class Reptilia in 1936. Thankfully, there have been sightings of the reptile since but it is still very much

Territory Saint Lucia, an endangered animal. Non-venomous and Caribbean Sea Diet Skinks, anoles, frogs very docile, its jaw is unconnected allowing Lifespan 10-15 years Adult weight 67g it to swallow comparatively large food. (2.36oz) Conservation Status It is believed that there are only 18 left in existence, all on one small 12-hectare (30-

ENDANGERED acre) inlet in its natural habitat of Saint Lucia, a volcanic island in the Caribbean.

The causes of extinction Predators The introduction of mongooses by humans has had terrible consequences. Brought in from India in the late 1800s, the infamous snake killers preyed on the helpless St Lucia racers. Non-native rats also see the snake as a tasty meal and the small inlet is now the only place the predators can’t get to. Humans The snakes may be harmless to humans but being snakes, they have a bad reputation. This means that they can be beaten to death by people who are afraid and can also be accidently run over by cars who don’t see the tiny St Lucia racer on the road. The decreasing Weather habitat Tropical storms can prove fatal to the St Lucia racer as Thanks to the human rain and winds ravage the island, but it’s not the storm induced inﬂ ux of itself that kills them. Huge swells of water carry rats mongooses and rats, the and mongooses to the island, cut-off from the rest of St population of the snakes Lucia, and they will then hunt down the snakes. has retreated to Maria Major, a small island oﬀ the south coast of the island. Saint Lucia What you can do... DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST Based in Jersey, with 50 projects across 18 countries, the trust is dedicated to conservation with a particular focus on islands. They are currently monitoring the St Lucia racer very strictly.

To ﬁ nd out how you can help Durrell visit www.durrell.org/wildlife/species- index/saint-lucia-racer

28 Saint Lucia racer snake

ABOVE A e r it was thought extinct for decades, one racer was found on Maria Major Island in 1973 proving its existence Snake conservation Matt is head of Durrell’s Herpetology Department and has been involved with breeding programmes in Jersey, Saint Lucia, Anguilla, Montserrat, Mauritius and Madagascar. It doesn’t do harm to anyone except its food. Even if you caught it, it wouldn’t try to bite. It’s a very friendly, docile snake. Its main characteristic that sets it apart from many snakes is that it’s a reptile and an amphibian feeder. It doesn’t go for the usual suspects that snakes eat like mice or rats as they would be too big for it. 18 is our very best guess at how many are still in existence from the data we have. It could be as little as 10 or as many as 30. It now primarily lives on a small island just off St Lucia as rats and mongooses can’t reach there. However, it is believed that they can swim over when water levels swell a er a tropical storm and can also stowaway on boats. If a rat or a mongoose does get onto that island, the remaining 18 will be gone in an instant. We want to breed the St Lucia racer and if we think we can boost numbers, we will take a number off that island, maybe eight or 10, and put them into enclosures on mainland St Lucia and breed them over a period of fi ve years and boost numbers that way. Nobody has ever worked with this species so to get our experience and confi dence up with this type of snake we looked into the Anguillian racer that is ecologically very similar. “Even if you caught it, it wouldn’t try to bite. It’s a very friendly, docile snake” © Toby Ross/Durrell/G Guida/Matt Goetz; freevectormaps.com

29 Slow loris: cute but deadly

BORNEAN SLOW LORIS Nycticebus menagensis Class Mammalia

Territory Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines Diet Sap, nectar, fruit and small insects Lifespan 20 years Adult weight 1.1-1.6kg (2.4- 3.5lb) Conservation status

VULNERABLE

30 SLOW LORIS: CUTE BUTDEADLY One of Southeast Asia’s most tranquil creatures holds a deadly secret, and this primate will unleash its wrath on anything that gets too close Words Amy Grisdale

31 Slow loris: cute but deadly What makes the slow loris so deadly? Who would have thought that the ﬂuffy-faced animal that might lose a race to a snail could kill? So named for its lack of speed and comical mammal of their size. They typically travel slice the ﬂesh of the victim open to allow appearance, this little-known primate at 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) per hour, and the poison to enter the bloodstream, often forages through forests under the cloak can remain motionless for hours on end. resulting in death. This isn’t performed on BELOW This cute of darkness. It feasts on fruits and gums Despite all of this, the bizarre slow loris prey, only animals that get too close to the creature gets its sprinkled with insects and curls up in a ball is one of the only venomous species of loris. It uses the venom strictly for defence name from the to sleep during the day. They are so slow, mammal on the planet. It secretes deadly and it isn’t known if the animal bites to Dutch word for ‘clown’, probably in fact, that their metabolic rate is only 40 toxins from its elbow, which it then licks to scare an attacker away or to incapacitate because of its per cent of what would be expected for a transfer them to its bite. The sharp incisors the threat. comical face

Slow lorises start out life weighing no more than a ﬁstful of paperclips, but can live until the age of 20 and have more than 15 offspring of their own in that time.

Hiding in plain sight It has been suggested that lorises have evolved to mimic cobras to further repel attacks. Their faces do have a startling similarity, and lorises even show snake-like movement. The two animals have lived side by side for millions of years, so slow lorises may have adapted to look like their reptile neighbours. Slow loris in numbers 29 PER CENT KM Percentage80 of the 179 40 60 8 CENTIMETRES species5 of slow loris, four million of their movement The number of The distance Javan slow loris’s of which are classed as years since they occurs while sleeping sites one that a slow loris habitat that has been of annual rainfall this Vulnerable and one as diverged from suspended from tree slow loris may can travel in lost, largely due to species experiences in Critically Endangered other primates branches have at once one night deforestation the wild

32 Slow loris

1. Venom Toxic elbow The elbow of the The mystery toxin with slow loris is a convenient place to no known antidote hide its oily poison. This is technically venom rather than poison as the animal delivers it to the blood through a bite. Poison, on the other hand does damage when eaten or inhaled. The venom is activated when it mixes with saliva, but its properties are yet to be fully understood. Venom samples have been found to contain proteins very similar to those responsible for cat allergies. The toxin itself contains over 200 different compounds and has no anti-venom, though is really only dangerous to humans when paired with extreme anaphylactic shock.

Don’t tickle a slow loris Videos of slow lorises being tickled have been circulating the internet for a while now, but this is not an interaction the animals enjoy. The slow loris feels crippling fear and will raise its arms to try and access its elbow venom. Most unfortunately, these animals are proving to be very popular as pets. Their wild populations are dwindling because the demand for them is so high, and each wild-captured animal has its teeth removed without anaesthetic before being sold. This is just one more species that the exotic pet trade is exploiting. 2. Eyesight Seeing beyond the dark Oversized eyes take in as much light as possible when there is little available. White stripes between the eyes act as reﬂ ectors to allow maximum light to hit the loris’s retinas. The eyes have excellent depth perception, meaning a bite rarely misses its target. Light-magnifying crystals are found at the rear of the eye to force more light to ﬁ nd its way to the optic nerve. Unlike many mammal species, slow lorises are born with their eyes open as it is an extremely important sense.

During the day the pupils are as Sphincters control the Full dilation makes seeing in narrow as pinpricks to minimise iris, and relax to allow the the dark a breeze, as these light entering the eyes. pupil to increase in size. animals are active at night.

33 Slow loris: cute but deadly 3. Teeth Razor-sharp, multi-purpose spikes Not only do the teeth help chew through sticky gum and pulpy fruit, but they are a vital part of the animal’s best defence mechanism. Inside the mouth is a structure called the tooth comb, which is a cluster of teeth that extend around ﬁ ve millimetres (0.2 inches) from the jaw. This dental comb helps pick up the venom from the animal’s elbow ready for an encounter with a predator. It can also be used to transfer toxins to a defenceless baby slow loris, and for simple grooming. The incisors on the upper and lower jaw are spiky and angled outwards. They have sharply pointed tips, so they can pierce fruit and ﬂ esh with relatively little force.

BELOW Slow lorises groom themselves with venom as a chemical defence – it gives their fur a nasty taste that puts oﬀ predators

Other cute but deadly creatures

Poison dart frog Honey badger Blue-ringed octopus Even a single drop of the deadly toxin produced Able to crunch through tortoise shells, the Though it would ﬁ t in the palm of your hand, by the poison dart frog can kill in seconds. honey badger is one of the deadliest mammals this pint-sized octopus has claimed the lives Their bright colours warn animals around them on the planet. It feasts on honey and dangerous of humans. The bite seems to be painless, but to stay away as their skin is covered with fatal animals like venomous snakes and may even within ten minutes the entire body becomes venom, which is probably crafted from toxic scare young lions away from their kills. It also numb. Surviving the ﬁ rst 24 hours is key, and plant proteins the frog eats. lets out an awful odour to warn predators off. deaths 24 hours after a bite are rare.

34 Slow loris 4. Grip Hands like miniature vices Life in the treetops means that you have to be able to hold on. Slow lorises have exceptional grip which means they can stay glued to trees even when upside down. The ﬁngers and toes are equally powerful and each hand and foot features an opposable thumb, allowing a full range of motion. The second digit is greatly reduced, possibly to help the animal harvest nectar and honey. Even the specialised blood vessels of this animal allow it to maintain its grip, by giving extra oxygen to the muscles that are straining to battle gravity. This adaptation also handily avoids cramps if the animal needs to move at top speed. When on the hunt, slow lorises use their grip to immobilise prey. They are known to feed on small mammals and birds, and a lightning-quick grab with the knuckles of steel prevents their prey from escaping. Hold on tight The slow loris shares its pincer-like grip with other primates like lorises and pottos

Sunda slow loris Red slender loris

ABOVE The nocturnal slow loris lives in the trees and its powerful grip helps it to climb through the branches during the dark of night Calabar potto Bosman’s potto

Giant anteater Leopard seal Pufferfish With poor vision and no teeth you’d think the Though goofy-looking, the four-metre (13-foot) Famous for their poison if prepared incorrectly, giant anteater would be harmless, but these leopard seal is a deadly predator that has been pufferfish are equally as dangerous when alive. insectivores have been known to maul humans known to drown humans, seemingly on purpose. These cute little creatures contains tetrodotoxin, to death with their massive claws. They probably Antarctica’s most dangerous animal has sharp which makes them taste awful to other fish and stand up on their hind legs to do this, reaching teeth that it uses to kill other seals and penguins, is lethal to humans. One pufferfish contains

their full two-metre (seven-foot) height. though it often kills just for sport. enough toxin to kill 30 fully-grown men. ©Alamy; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock

35 CATCHING PREY Whether they chase, ambush or hunt their prey in groups, capturing a photograph of an animal when it ﬁnally grabs its dinner can be breath-taking Words Zara Gaspar

Great grey owls sound out their prey The world’s largest owl hunts both during the day and at night, using its acute hearing to sound out its prey, and then utilising its sharp talons to grab hold of it. Great grey owls feed on small rodents such as voles, and can hear their prey even if it is buried 0.6 metres (two feet) under the snow.

37 Catching prey

Dunlins probe for food with their beaks This coastal bird wades across shorelines, flooded fields and saltmarshes searching for its food during the day and night. It uses its curved bill to probe for dinner which can include insects, snails and worms. They generally feed in large flocks.

38 Catching prey

Yacare caimans swallow their animals whole The yacare caiman may have a powerful jaw, but it swallows its prey whole. It’s nicknamed the ‘piranha caiman’ because of its preference for piranha ﬁsh, but it also eats aquatic invertebrates, birds and even capybara.

Hamerkops wade in water to find a meal These wading birds mainly eat frogs, or tadpoles if they are young, but they also prey on small fish and insects. They generally find their food by wading through shallow water and using their feet to stir up the mud so that their prey comes out of hiding, but they can also hunt from the air. © NaturePL/ Andrew Parkinson/ Bence Mate

39 Catching prey

Otters use their whiskers to hunt The Eurasian or common otter’s diet mainly consists of ﬁsh. However, they will also eat small amphibians, birds, crustaceans, and even small mammals. They catch their prey on land and in the water, and use their whiskers as sensors to feel out when their food is nearby, grabbing it with their retractable claws.

40 Catching prey

Great whites breach to grab their dinner Great white sharks are the only sharks that leap out of the water to seize their prey. When they are young they feed on big ﬁ sh and rays, but once fully grown their preferred choice is marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and small whales. Breaching allows them to catch faster prey off guard. © NaturePL/ Chris & Monique Fallows/ Sven Zacek

41 ANIMAL MYTHS

Myths about animals have popped up since the beginning of civilisation with tales that make us fear certain species that actually pose no threat Black cats are an Toads give omen of bad luck you warts 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt cats Just because they have bumpy were highly revered and to kill one was a skin themselves doesn’t mean capital crime. But by the Middle Ages cats, a toad can give you warts. The especially black ones, were associated with origin of this myth is unknown, the idea of witchcraft. Hysteria surrounding but we now know that warts black magic fuelled all sorts of strange are caused by a group of rumours, and in certain areas people viruses called the human believed witches could turn into black cats papillomavirus (HPV). Warts at night. In reality, of course, cats can be are then spread from human all-black because of the pigment melanin – to human by touch, and the it’s actually just a mutation. viruses can even live a short time on inanimate objects. The body usually gets to work on the wart quickly and destroys it before the virus can do any real damage. Bats suck your blood Over 70 per cent of the globe’s population of bats feed exclusively on insects, and in fact only three out of 1,250 species feast on blood. There are three species of vampire bat native to Central and South America, and they drink the blood of birds and mammals. Each species has its favourite target to prevent competing with the other vampire bat but even these don’t ‘suck’ blood. The ﬂ ying mammals make an incision with the sharp teeth, and lap at the ﬂ ow of blood from cattle and chickens but very rarely bite humans.

42 Wolves howl at the full moon Researchers have found zero links between wild wolf behaviour and the Earth’s lunar True or false? phases, and yet this myth has been around for centuries. Cockroaches are dirty Howling helps the pack keep in False. If a cockroach isn’t resting, it’s contact when they can’t see one probably cleaning itself. They don’t another, and as they are active spread germs or disease themselves, at night they spend a lot of time but hairs on their legs pick up nasty out of each other’s sight. The things that can then spread. reason wolves throw their heads back and howl facing the sky is Termites destroy houses because the acoustics are better True. These colonising insects feast that way. It helps the sound carry on wood, which is an abundant over a longer distance to reach construction material in North America as many wolf ears as possible. where termites can be found. You’d be safer in a gingerbread house.

Crows congregate to attack False. While crows do come together to roost at night, the only place you will see a choreographed attack is in an Leeches go Alfred Hitchcock thriller. for the jugular Owl heads rotate 360 Rather than waiting to drop down on to a False. Owls can rotate the head 180 juicy vein in the neck, you are much more degrees in each direction which gives likely to ﬁ nd a leech on your ankle. They are the impression that their head is mostly found in shallow freshwater, where spinning all the way around (no need to they attach to passing mammals. Unlike call an exorcist). ticks, however, leeches are not known to spread disease and they seal wounds neatly Spiders crawl deep under your when left to fall off. The National Health skin to lay their eggs Service in the UK uses around 15,000 False, thank goodness. Spiders can lay leeches each year for medical procedures eggs inside the ear or nose though, and as they suck blood painlessly and have botﬂ ies can lay eggs under human skin anaesthetic in their saliva. but try not to think about that if you don’t want nightmares.

Worms can be cut in half and grow back The smooth section in the middle of a worm is called the saddle, and many school children are told in the playground that the worm can be cut You’re never more in half and when it regrows a new saddle will form. Of course, chopping a worm in half does about than six feet from a rat In truth, only three per cent of UK residences have rats on the the same level of damage as slicing up a human property and they are found in only ﬁ ve per cent of sewers. but the worm is able to regenerate some of its The buildings that are most affected by rodent invasion are body. As long as the saddle and the 10 segments agricultural premises. Recent data suggests that in the UK at are left intact, the rest of the body can grow back. least, humans outnumber rats six to one. © Thinkstock; Alamy

43 All about the common ostrich

44 All About the Common ostrich The largest bird on Earth is the fastest thing on two legs, can deliver a fatal kick, has eyes larger than its brain, and holds the record for the largest eggs laid. But how does this legendary bird live life day to day? Words Naomi Harding

45 All about the common ostrich Dating and mating With communal nests and complex mating rituals, ostriches have a very unique style of breeding

Ostriches usually live in groups of around The males – also known as cocks or Communal nests are around three ten individuals, but sometimes fl ocks can roosters – fl ap their wings in alternating metres (ten feet) wide and can contain include up to 100 birds. There is a loose wing beats, showing off their plumage until up to 60 eggs, although when it comes hierarchy; a dominant male and female a female shows interest. Once paired, they to incubation, the dominant female will head the group, which is made up of retire to a mating area, where they graze sometimes remove the eggs of weaker several other, less important, females. together in synchrony. After eating, the females to ensure only the fi ttest genes Young, lone males also come and go, male pokes at the ground with its beak are passed on to the next generation. joining the group during mating season and fl aps its wings once more to clear Although there are numerous eggs, each and moving between fl ocks. the area of dirt and create a nest. The female ostrich is able to recognise her own. The female at the top of the hierarchy is female starts to run in circles around the During the day, the dominant female the only one the dominant male will mate male, whose head winds in a spiral motion, will sit on and incubate all remaining eggs with. As for the other males in the herd, before the female drops to the ground and in the nest. Its light coloured feathers act they will have to catch a lower ranking copulation begins. as camoufl age to help it stay safe. When female’s attention through a dancing ritual. When it comes to laying eggs, there is night falls, the dominant male’s shift It’s easy to see when an ostrich is ready one communal nest for the herd, called a begins. With its black feathers, the male is BELOW to mate. Their beak, neck and legs turn dump nest. The dominant female places able to incubate the fl ock’s eggs without The common bright red in colour and the females’ hers in the centre, where they will be being spotted by predators. This is vital as, ostrich’s neck changes colour feathers change entirely, becoming silvery safest, and the other females have to place despite their large size, they are vulnerable when it is ready in the sunlight. theirs around the edge. to attack from behind when sitting. to mate

“The female starts to run in circles around the male, whose head winds in a spiral motion, before the female drops to the ground and copulation begins”

46 Surviving the savannah Ostriches are notoriously tough, but how do vulnerable chicks stay safe from wandering predators?

Ostrich chicks can be as large as chickens, but chicks that stray too far these big babies need constant round-the-clock from the adults make for an care. Both males and females make excellent easy meal. parents and share the responsibility of caring for Usually predators will have their young. to be particularly hungry The chicks are particularly vulnerable to to risk going for an ostrich, predation from hyenas, big cats, and African but its certainly not an easy hunting dogs. With danger at every turn, it’s task. When under attack, the important for the birds to remain vigilant and male ostriches will try to get the stay hidden. The young ostriches are born with attention of the predator to lure it fawn-coloured feathers to help them blend in away, while the female runs for cover with the sandy surroundings, and when they feel with the chicks. threatened they will often stop moving and stay Chicks only need such intense care low to the ground. for a short while. By the age of six months, Few animals are willing to take on a fully grown they are almost fully grown. In theory, they will ostrich, which is sensible considering they have be able to defend themselves by this stage, but strong legs, sharp claws and a fatal kick. But the staying close to the ﬂock is still much safer.

LEFT Predators will take a chance at raiding a nest if it’s le unattended

47 All about the common ostrich Inside the common ostrich Mouth Ostriches are without a doubt one the Ostriches do not world’s weirdest creatures. The largest have sweat glands. To cool down in their living bird has wings but can’t ﬂy and its hot climate they sharp claws can disembowel with one kick pant to regulate their body temperature, just like dogs. COMMON OSTRICH Struthio camelus Class Aves

Eye The eyes can be ﬁve Territory Africa centimetres (two inches) Diet Roots, shoots, leaves, in diameter and are bigger insects, and lizards Lifespan 40-45 years than the bird’s brain. Adult weight Up to 156kg Ostriches hold the record (344lb) for the largest eyes of any Conservation Status land animal.

LEAST CONCERN

Gizzard Any food the ostrich eats enters the gizzard, where it is ground down and partially digested by pebbles that the ostrich has eaten. They don’t have any teeth to break down food, so eating stones is an important part of their diet.

Legs Running at top speeds The fastest animals on two legs, their How does the ostrich measure up against the average speed of other runners? strong legs can carry them at speeds of 70 kilometres per hour (43 miles per hour). Not only are they fast, they have incredible stamina, too. Runner 13kph (8mph) Claws The toes are armed Cyclist with claws which, 40kph (25mph) when paired with their strong legs, make for a formidable Greyhound weapon. They are 69kph (43mph) able to disembowel with one kick. Ostrich 69kph (43mph)

Horse 72kph (45mph)

INFANCY JUVENILE

Inside the egg Hatching Staying safe Feeding Growing up Light feathers Ostrich eggs are the Aer 40 days, the young birds are ready to Male and female ostriches take it in Young ostriches cannot eat the Baby ostriches grow The chicks have a fawn largest in the world but emerge from the egg within the communal turns to watch over their oﬀspring. They same food as their parents. Instead at a pace of around 18 coloured plumage to also the smallest relative nest. Some eggs hatch earlier than others need constant care and the parents the adults feed their young on other centimetres (seven help them blend into to the bird’s body size. depending on when they were laid. keep an eye on them 24 hours a day. unhatched eggs. inches) a month. their environment.

48 All about the common ostrich

Feathers The feathers are very loose and soft. Unlike most other birds, the feathers do not hook together and are not waterproof. “When running at high speeds they hold their wings out and use them like rudders to balance”

Intestines When stretched out, their intestines measure 14 metres (46 feet) long. This is to increase the surface area and maximise Why do ostriches have nutrient absorption. wings if they can’t fly? It seems pointless for a bird that can’t fly to have wings, but Feet the ostrich has found other uses for these appendages. When running at high speeds they hold their wings out and use them The ostrich is the only bird on like rudders for balance when changing direction suddenly. Even Earth with only two toes on if ostriches had perfectly developed wings, they would still be each foot. Other birds have unable to fly as they lack a keel on their sternum. This is what three or four toes to help with anchors the wing muscles in other birds. perching and taking flight. As the ostrich doesn’t do either of those things, two toes are perfect for walking and Closest family Closely related to the common ostrich are… running. Other running animals have a similar arrangement, including horses, antelopes, and camels.

Somali ostrich Emu Kiwi This ostrich was The Australian emu These quirky-looking previously thought looks extremely animals are native to to be a subspecies of similar to its African New Zealand and are the common ostrich, cousin. Emus are the smallest of the but research has considerably smaller flightless birds. They MATURITY determined that it is than ostriches, at lay the largest eggs genetically distinct around 25 per cent the relative to body size of Reaching adulthood Mating and laying eggs Long lived enough to be classed height, and have three any bird on the planet. Ostriches reach adult height within They become sexually mature In the wild, they live for around 40 years. as a separate species. toes rather than two. They can generally the first year of their life. They have between two to four years old. This is much longer in captivity (up to It can be identified by They belong to the measure around 15 lost their juvenile plumage and They have the opportunity to mate 70 years) as they are protected against its blue neck, rather same order, but not per cent of the bird’s start to look like adult ostriches. between March and September. disease and predation. than a red one. the same family. body weight.

49 FOR CONSERVATION, NOT PROFIT