Scientific name

Fairy Penguin is scientifically known as Eudyptula minor.

Fairy Penguin Description

These creatures can be easily identified, as they are the smallest of creatures in the species of Penguins in an attractive shade. Some of their physical attributes are:

Color

The mammals have a nice blue shade on their upper body or feathers and a contrast is being provided by the shade of white under those feathers comprising the underbelly. They have dark black-gray colored beaks along with pink feet covering black soles. Shades are lighter when they are young.

Weight

Fairy Penguins weigh around 1 kg and look prettily plump.

Height

They have incredibly short height, growing up to around 12 inches tall in their entire lifetime. Their approximate length of the beak is almost 3 to 3.5 cm and their age determines other measurements of their physical appearance.

Picture 1 - Fairy Penguin

Feathers

They have taut and small feathers that have an amazing waterproofing quality made possible by the presence of oil glands in the tail.

Fairy Penguin Behavior

Fairy Penguins have several distinct behavioral traits.

• Since they love swimming, they indulge in it frequently after sunrise. They hunt for their food usually in the evenings by diving into the sea and are great at it.

• These creatures can communicate via certain sounds that are prominent during the breeding season when they call for their mating partners. They show distinct behavior pattern while recognizing their partners.

• Apart from having definite vocal patterns, they also display physical behavior.

• They have a distinct hunting design and are able to dive as deep as 10 to 15 m for hunting food.

• Interestingly they cover their bill while sleeping which may seem to be a clever way of preventing the loss of heat from the body.

• Fairy Penguins like any other species of the same family are extremely social though they tend to be shy as well. They move around and also eat in groups.

• These little creatures a distinct way of waterproofing their bodies by releasing and rubbing the oil on their bodies by the process of preening that they do all through the day.

Picture 2 - Fairy Penguin Photo

Fairy Penguin Sounds

They are highly vocal and they have a way of communicating via sounds of various kinds. An extensive range of sound emitted by the creature helps them mate, seek protection and play. As mating season approaches, they recognize their partners and call for them via different sounds.

Fairy Penguin Diet

These amazing Penguins are carnivorous creatures surviving on tiny sea creatures, fishes and squids like Australian anchovies.

Distribution

They are fairly distributed mainly on the southern fringes of Australia, New Zealand, Chatham Islands and Tasmania.

Habitat

This family of Penguins differs from other species by the way of living in tropical as well as sub Antarctic regions. These creatures make burrows underground which again have a pretty stable temperature around 25 to 30 degree Celsius. These burrows are adjacent to the sea or any other water body. They generally form colonies that are scattered around place where they are dominant.

Picture 3 - Baby Fairy Penguin

Fairy Penguin Predators

Among the predators at sea, killer whales, sharks and furs are common, while they are preyed upon by massive Gulls and Sea Eagles on land. New Zealand Fur Seals are a common danger apart from foxes, snakes, feral cats and lizards.

Fairy Penguin Adaptations

Fairy Penguins have quite a number of adaptive features.

• They, like any other of their species have wings that work like flippers helping them swim. They exhibit mechanisms like a flying bird.
• They can dive like experts though the timing of staying underwater is not long enough.
• Their bodies have glands located at the bill which enables them to discard the salt which may deposit while they are in the sea.
• Their feathers are waterproofing shields and they provide them the warmth and protection from freezing waters of the ocean.
• These fairy Penguins have a great circulatory system that is suitable to maintain the temperature of the body, either by releasing or conserving heat.

Fairy Penguins Mating Season

Breeding season of these Penguins is considered to be the shortest as compared with the other Penguins. It can breed all through the year for a period of 45 to 50 days.

Picture 4 - Fairy Penguin Picture

Fairy Penguin Breeding

They have a distinct pattern and season of breeding, when they meet at the breeding colonies. Maturity age of the male Fairy Penguin is around 3 years and female is 2 years approximately. Eggs are generally laid in the months following September till November and that go through an incubation period of around 40 days, in which the males also participate.

These Penguins are serial monogamous creatures. They are very loyal to their counterparts during the whole season of breeding and as soon as it gets over, they look for other partners. When the little Penguins are born, they are looked after for almost a month and then allowed to roam free and hunt for their own food.

Breeding Range

Families of these creatures can be traced all through New Zealand and southern Australia. They have their breeding range extended across Western Australia comprising the Shoalwater Island group towards the southern coastal region till the eastern sides including South Solitary Islands.

In New Zealand, these creatures can be spotted along the shores of Stewart Islands and Chatham. They breed in the coastal regions that possess no threat from mammalian predators for safe delivery and nurturing of the young ones. They are known to return back to the same locations every year for breeding.

Picture 5 - Fairy Penguin Egg

Fairy Penguin Lifespan

The average lifespan of the creature is 6 to 7 years but they have been recorded to live longer when captivated.

Fairy Penguin Sub Species

White-flippered Penguin may be termed as a sub species of the Fairy Penguin.

Fairy Penguin Conservation status

According to IUCN reports this species of Penguins are listed as ‘least concerned’ ones.

Fairy Penguin As Pets

Requisites for petting them: 

Housing: As Fairy Penguins are sociable, they can coexist with humans at home. They even adapt to the surroundings really fast so housing them won’t be a problem. For this, a water body or a pool having fresh water is essential as they will spend considerable time in it.

Food: They can be fed with small fishes fresh from the stream.

Caring: It is advised to protect them from excess heat, cold and snow, so don’t forget them outside! In case they fall sick, it would be advised to consult a professional.

Picture 6 - Fairy Penguin Image

Fairy Penguin Interesting Facts

• These aquatic creatures were first mentioned and identified by German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster in his journals published in 1781.
• They form colonies during breeding season that are also called rookeries that stretch for several hundreds of km sq.
• The maximum time that these fairy Penguins can stay underneath water by holding their breath is 60 seconds.
• While going back to their burrows at night these wonderful creatures wait and call for each other so that they can travel safely. This parade is a sight to behold.
• Penguins often preserve their energy by sleeping for longer duration.
• Sleeping behavior of fairy Penguins often may remind of the birds.
• For generating extra heat in their body, these creatures are often seen shivering.
• They look lovely when they are found sliding or waddling on the ground.
• They have great audible power and vision under water.
• Tobogganing is the term given to the sliding of the Penguin on its stomach.
• Fairy Penguins are the smallest in the species of Penguins known by different names.
• Tourists visit Sea World in Australia’s Gold Coast which has a colony of Fairy Penguins.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Penguin

http://www.australianfauna.com/fairyPenguin.php

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=652

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Penguins/adaptations.html

http://australianadaptations.wikispaces.com/fairy+Penguins

http://www.Penguins.cl/little-Penguins.htm

http://australian-animals.net/peng.htm

http://blog.nus.edu.sg/lsm1303student2011/2011/04/03/Penguins-in-fairyland/

http://www.junglewalk.com/sound/Penguin-sounds.htm

http://www.mikeandkayla.com/2011/11/Penguins-4-sale.html

Turtle Frog Scientific Name

The scientific name for the turtle frog is Myobatrachus gouldii. It is the only species of the Myobatrachus genus.

Turtle Frog Description

Turtle frog is a peculiar frog which resembles a small turtle without a carapace. These frogs are very small and have an average length of about 2 inches (5cm). Their back is shiny and smooth with fine granules. Their belly is dirty white with brown flecks. They have round body with small head and tiny eyes. Unlike the other frogs, they have short but muscular limbs which helps them to dig the sand. The color of its back varies from light pink to deep brown.

Picture 1 - Turtle Frog

Turtle Frog Distribution

Turtle frogs are native to Western Australia. They are found in the southwest and central zones of west Australia. They range from Geraldton in the north and Fitzgerald River in the south eastern side. They are widely found across the coastal plains of Perth Region.

Turtle Frog Habitat

Turtle frogs are found in semi arid environment. They inhabit the open woodlands, places of leached grey sand and dense scrubs in sand hills. Their habitat is generally associated with termite colonies as they feed on termites. They hide under logs and stay underground most of the time. They emerge to the surface after the rain.

Turtle Frog Reproduction

Mating occurs after a heavy rain when the turtle frogs come up to the surface. The mating call of the turtle frog varies regionally. Once they choose their partner, they retire to their burrow.

Turtle Frog Eggs

A clutch of 15 to 40 eggs are laid. Turtle frog eggs have an average diameter of 6mm and are one of the biggest eggs laid among the Australian frogs.

Turtle Frog Tadpoles

The species of Turtle Frog do not have a tadpole stage; instead it develops fully inside the egg. The hatchlings are small fully developed frogs.

Turtle Frog Call

Their mating call is a deep croak from their burrow.

Picture 2 - Turtle Frog Photo

Turtle Frog Diet

Turtle frogs feed on termites and therefore they are found at the termite colonies.

Turtle Frog Interesting Facts

• They are native to the Western parts of Australia
• They are named Turtle Frog due to the fact that they resemble a small turtle without its carapace.
• They have small muscular limbs which helps them to dig the sand.
• Like a turtle, these turtle frogs dig forward rather than backward like any other frogs.
• Turtle frog does not have a tadpole stage; rather its embryo develops inside the egg.
• The eggs of the turtle frog are the biggest of all the Australian frogs.
• They lay 20 to 40 eggs at a time.
• They feed on termites hence their habitat is also associated with the availability of termite colonies.
• Turtle frogs can eat around 400 termites at a time.
• It burrows its head first into the sand.
• Turtle frogs are a close relative of the Sandhill frogs and have similar habits of digging forward and taking care of their young ones.

Turtle Frog Conservation Status

Turtle frog is not considered an endangered species and its population has remained stable. There is no threat that has been considered to this species as it occurs in an area secluded from human disturbances.

The possibility of any threat of the species would be due to the following:

• Stalinization, where the soluble salts gets accumulated in the soil.
• Changes in the habitat like clearance of the vegetation or growth of invasive species.
• Direct human impact due to urbanization
• Water pollution

Turtle Frog Pictures

Here are some of the pictures of this unique frog.

Picture 3 - Turtle Frog Picture

Picture 4 - Turtle Frog Image

Reference:

http://www.strangeanimals.info/2011/09/turtle-frog.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41171/0

http://frogwatch.museum.wa.gov.au/Southwest/SwanCoastalPlain/435.aspx

http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=52

http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/amphibians/Anura/Myobatrachidae/Myobatrachus-gouldii

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myobatrachus_gouldii

Tasmanian Devil Description

Tasmanian devil looks like a small dog and weighs around 6 to 8 kilograms. The world’s largest carnivorous marsupial has a thick dark fur, with broad head and a short thick tail. Their fur is mostly black with often-white patches at the chest and rump, which gives them the appearance of a baby bear. They are characterized by a muscular body with longer front legs and shorter rear legs, have pungent smell and are ferocious while feeding. Tasmanian devils have strong teeth and can be the most powerful bites through the bones. Their loud screeches made them sound like devils at night to the early settlers and hence were named devil.

Picture 1 - Tasmanian Devil

The males are larger than the female devils. The average length of the adult male would be around 25.7 inches and the length of the tail would be 10.2 inches. The Tasmanian devils store their body fat in their tail. They have large head and have a considerably strong teeth and jaws. It has long whiskers allowing it to detect prey during the dark. Their vision is the strongest during the dawn and dusk time.

Tasmanian Devil History

Fossils found claim that Tasmanian devils were found widely across the mainland Australia. However before the European settlement about 400 years ago, due to the widespread dingo and aridity, the devils became extinct in the area. Bas Strait prevented it from entering Tasmania and hence the devils became an icon of the region.

The Tasmanian devils raided the poultry yards and caused a lot of nuisance due to which the European settlers of the Hobart Town to remove the devils introduced a bounty scheme. Poisoning and trapping the devils headed to extinction of the devils until the law protected them in June 1941, after which their population started growing gradually.

Tasmanian Devil Distribution

Tasmanian devils are found widely across the eastern, central and northern Tasmania, living in the eucalypt forest and the coastal scrubs. They are also found near the human settlement.

Picture 2 - Tasmanian Devil Image

Tasmanian Devil Habitat

Tasmanian devils are mainly found at areas of low to moderate annual rainfall, from the coast to the mountain, distributed throughout the eastern, central and northern Tasmania. They prefer the coastal woodlands and the dry sclerophyll forests. They avoid the high altitudes and have very low population at the button grass plains on the southwestern part of the state.

Tasmanian Devil Behaviors

Tasmanian devils are nocturnal creatures; they hunt during the night and spend the entire day in their den or a hollow. Young devils are active during the dawn and dusk. They are considered to have adapted this behavior to avoid being attacked by the predators.

Young devils have the ability to climb trees than the adult ones. The devils can swim even in the icy cold-water bodies. Tasmanian devils produce a pungent odour when they are threatened, however they do not smell when they are relaxed.

Picture 3 - Tasmanian Devil Picture

They become excited and frantic when attacked by a predator. They become very aggressive when it comes to food and they growl and screech trying to scare the other devil off the carcass. They have an excellent sense of smell and use their long whiskers to detect preys and they eat everything that they can lay their teeth on. They devour the entire carcass and do not leave anything including the fur or the bones.

Tasmanian Devil Diet

Tasmanian devil is a scavenger and they eat the carcasses more often then hunting their own prey. They have powerful jaws, which enable them to devour the entire carcass; the fur, bones and meat without leaving anything to pollute the environment.

They can hunt down smaller prey like rodents, lizards, snakes, lambs, frogs etc. Their food habit depends upon the availability of food in that area. They attack the animals which have slowly down due to illness else cannot match the speed of the rabbit and other fast animals.

The devils have the ability to eat 15% of their body weight each day and given an opportunity they can eat up to 40% of their body weight in half an hour.

Tasmanian Devil Reproduction

Tasmanian devil becomes sexually mature during its second year. They become fertile once in a year. Preys are abundant during spring and early summer. The devils mate in the march and give birth after a pregnancy of about 21 days so that when the young devils are roaming freely, they have maximum amount of food supplies.

The devils mate at sheltered location. The males would compete with each other to get the female and the female mates with the most dominant male. Infidelity is common in both the male and female, hence the male guards the den after mating.

Picture 4 - Tasmanian Devil Photo

Gestation is for about 21 days. After about three weeks of pregnancy, the female gives birth to 20 or 30 young ones. The baby devils are called “joeys”, “pups”, or “imps”. They are born deaf and blind as the raisin sized pups crawl their way up to the fur and then inside their mothers pouch. Since the mother has only four nipples to feed the pups, only a handful of the pups survive.

The mothers carry the pups for almost four months, after which their mother leaves them in the hollow while they go out in search of prey. After about six months, the pups ventures out independently. If they survive the growing period without falling prey to the adult devils or its predators, then they can live up to almost 8 years.

Tasmanian Devil in Captivity

With the hostile image that they have, Tasmanian devils have very little records of captivity breeding. The female devils retain more stress than the male in captivity. The export of the devils is restricted hence they can be seen in captivity only in Australia and in the zoos across the world.

Tasmanian Devil Cancer

During the 1990’s a catastrophic disease known as the Devil Facial Tumour Disease hit the population of the devils. Since 1996, this fatal disease led to the decline of about 20% to 50% of the devil’s population. The signs of the disease were first reported at the northeastern side of the state. The Western coast and the Northwestern side were the only places, which were free from this fatal disease.

This rapidly spreading contagious disease caused large lumps around the mouth and head of the devil, making it difficult for it to eat. Eventually they would die of starvation. The infected devil would subsequently die within a month.

Steps were taken to prevent this fatal disease from spreading across. The wild Tasmanian devils were monitored; they were trapped and checked for the presence of the cancer. The same area was monitored periodically to detect the spreading of the disease. At areas where the disease had not spread, the animal health experts are focusing on captive breeding of the devils and the ones infected were treated.

Picture 5 - Baby Tasmanian Devil

Tasmanian Devil Cartoon

Warner Bros. Looney Tunes had an animated character named Taz, which has been derived from the real life Tasmanian devil. The character was created by Robert McKimson. The character Taz has been portrayed as the short tempered, notorious and dim witted. Like the real life Tasmanian devil, the character has a huge appetite eating anything and everything. His speech consists mostly of growls, grunts and barks. His character revolves around the plot where he is constantly in search of food.

Tasmanian Devil Conservation Status

Tasmanian devil were abundant throughout the mainland Australia, however had become extinct due to aridity and dingo. Available only in the state of Tasmania, the iconic status that the devils hold now, were not the same earlier. They were considered a nuisance and were trapped and poisoned to the verge of extinction. Later they were protected by the law.

Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 of Tasmania incorporated the Tasmanian devils as the endangered species in the May 2008. Due to its increasing vulnerability the Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Committee reviewed the species list and upgraded the Tasmanian devil as the endangered species. In earlier days, the Tasmanian devil’s population was controlled by the availability of food, hunting down by its predators etc however there was a major decline in their population during the 1990’s where a fatal tumour infected almost half the population of the devils. Animal Health Act gazetted the disease as List B notifiable disease.

Picture 6 - Tasmanian Devil Snap

Tasmanian Devil and Its Cultural Reference

The iconic animal of Australia, especially Tasmania, it has been symbolized by national parks, football teams and to promote tourism. Tasmanian National Park and Wildlife Service has the devil as its symbol and also the Tasmanian Australian Football team who played in the Victorian Football League was named after the Devil. It has been once a part of the National Basketball team too. Several cartoons, films, books and documentaries have focused on the Tasmanian devils.

Tasmanian Devil Video

Platypus Description

The Platypus is one amongst the three egg-laying mammals in the world. They are monotreme, which means that they urinate, reproduce and defecate through a single opening. Platypus has a broad and flat body. They have a duck shaped bill that is more elongated, which are moist and soft and has a leathery skin, which are very sensitive. They have tiny teeth at the back portion of the jaws though becomes toothless when grown mature. They have a fine dense fur that is waterproof; it insulates the air and keeps the platypus warm. The color of their fur varies, especially the male platypus. The color of their fur becomes darker as they mature. The male have darker fur, which are almost black than that of the female that has a reddish hue. The fur on their tail is coarser and brittle.

Picture 1 - Platypus

They have small eyes and do not have any external ears. Their eyes and their ears are folded inside the skin so that while diving inside the water, their eyes and their ears are closed by the fold that they become deaf and blind while submerging. Platypus has webbed feet with claws. The webbed front paws broaden inside the water acting like paddles and fold under the foot while walking on the land. Their strong claws help them to dig burrows. Platypus has foot at the sides of their body rather than underneath so they walk like reptiles. Male platypus is larger than the female with an average weight of around 0.7 to 2.4 kilograms. An average length of a full-grown male platypus would be around 20 inches and 17inches of females.

Platypus Distribution

Platypus population occurs only in Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland to the far north Cooktown and Victoria. However fossils found in Argentina proves that platypus was found in South America too about 60 million years ago when the Gondwanaland existed.

Platypus Taxonomy and the Origin of its Name

Platypus is an unlikely animal and when the European settlers first encountered it in 1798, their sketches and specimens were forwarded to the Britain. However scientist were perplexed too and found it unbelievable and thought that somebody might have sewn a duck’s bill on a beaver like animal or a freak imposture sold by the Chinese taxidermist. Finally after years of doubt, in 1802, an English scientist confirmed that the animal was not an attribute of hoax but a reality.

Picture 2 - Platypus Image

The name ‘Platypus’ was derived from a Latinization of Greek word. Later during the 1800s it was officially known as Ornithorhynchus anatinus derived from the Greek word ornithorhynkhos means “bird snout” and anatinus in Latin means, “duck like”.

Platypus Evolution

Platypus shows no signs of evolution. Fossils found have proved that they degenerated over the period of time but there is no solid evidence of their evolution. Fossils of around 110 million old were found indicating that the platypus like animal existed during the Cretaceous period and those fossils were the oldest mammals fossils found in Australia. Fossils of the platypus relatives were found in Argentina that proves that they monotremes were present when the super continent Gondwanaland existed.

Platypus Habitat

Platypus is shy animal and is mainly active before dawn and after dusk. They prefer fresh water lakes, ponds, edges of the river where it would be easier for the to dig their burrows.

Picture 3 - Platypus Picture

Platypus usually digs two types of burrows. The platypus as a living room usually uses one burrow. The female for breeding digs the other burrow, it acts as a nursery for the new born.

Platypus Behaviors

Platypus are semi aquatic, nocturnal animals. They are active before the dawn and after the dusk, but some are also seen during the day particularly when it’s overcast. They are good swimmers and they spent most of the time underwater hunting for food. They eat almost 20% of their body weight everyday, therefore are seen hunting for food almost 12 hours a day. Apart from hunting for food, they are seen drying themselves in front of their burrow. Platypus are endothermic and their body temperature are usually 32 degree Celsius. Their mortality rate in the wild is lower than the captive ones. Wild platypus live for almost 11 years protecting themselves against the predators whereas the captive ones may live up to 17 years.

Platypus Diet

Platypus feeds mostly on carnivorous diet that includes worms, fish eggs, mayflies, tadpoles, shrimps and insects. They feed mostly in the water and it’s amazing how they locate their prey with their eyes and ears closed. Their bill navigates and receives information to locate preys inside water. They eat a large quantity of food, almost 15% to 30% of their body weight each day. The tail of the platypus like the Tasmanian devils store fat at times when the female burrows to breed or at times of low food supply.

Platypus Venom

Both the male and the female platypus have ankle spurs but it sonly the male platypus that produces venom that can be fatal to small animals. On humans the venom has a very agonizing effect and the victim may feel deprived of any strength. The affected area swells and accumulates fluid and the pain last for weeks and months at times. The venom production increases during the breeding season.

Picture 4 - Baby Platypus

Platypus Reproduction

Platypus are unique mammals. They are one amongst the three mammals which lays eggs and feeds their young ones through a large gland that oozes out the milk covered up from a patch of fur since they do not have teat. The females become sexually active within 2 years but may wait for 5 years too. Breeding season occurs between June and October but varies according to the location. Records show that their mating season starts in August in Queensland and October in Tasmania. The female platypus builds a separate burrow as a nursery for the new born. The incubation period last for 10 to 12 days. They have a pair of ovaries but only the left ovary functions. They lay two to three leathery eggs and are rounder than those of the birds. The external incubation period last for another 10 days. The young platypus are born vulnerable. Female platypus does not have teats hence milk is feed through glands covered in fur from where the little ones suck milk. The young ones have teeth but soon lose it as they grow. The mother platypus takes care of her young ones for almost four month till the time they are able to swim on their own.

Platypus Invasive Species

Platypus predators include owls, eagles, hawks, water rats, snakes, goannas, red foxes and crocodiles.

Platypus Facts

Some of the interesting facts about platypus are mentioned below:

Picture 5 - Platypus Photo

• Platypus is one among the three mammals which lays eggs
• They do not have teats and the young ones feed on the milk that oozes from glands under the skin covered with fur.
• The male platypus has a hollow spur that is connected to the venom gland however the female platypus does not have these venomous spur. These venom gland peaks during mating season.
• The venom produced by the male platypus can be fatal to small animals. To humans the venom causes acute pain and last for weeks at times.
• Since platypus is a monotreme family, they have a sense of electro reception. Platypus has the most sensitive electro receptive of any monotremes. They generate electric field by muscular contraction to detect preys. The receptive nerves are spread evenly across their bill.
• It eats around 20% of its body weight everyday.
• They do not hibernate but at times may go in a state of toper and stay inactive for almost 6 days.

Threats on Platypus

• waterways are getting threatened with the construction of dam constructions, erosion, chemical pollution, garbage dumping etc.
• They are vulnerable to getting caught in the fish net.
• Until the early 20^th century, they were hunted for their fur.

Picture 6 - Cute Platypus

Platypus Conservation Status

Platypus are one of the unique animal and are protected by law. They are not under immediate danger after several laws were passed to conserve the animal.