recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Gar

**Gars** (or **garpike**) are members of the **Lepisosteiformes** (or **Semionotiformes**), an ancient order of ray-finned fish; fossils from this order are known from the late Cretaceous onwards. The family **Lepisosteidae** includes seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America and the Caribbean islands. Gars have elongated bodies that are heavily armored with ganoid scales, and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long, sharp teeth. All of the gars are relatively large fish, but the alligator gar (*Atractosteus spatula*) is the largest, as specimens have been reported to be 3 m (9.8 ft) in length; however, they typically grow to 2 m (6.6 ft) and weigh over 45.3 kg (100 lb). Unusually, their vascularised swim bladders can function as lungs, and most gars surface periodically to take a gulp of air. Gar flesh is edible and the hard skin and scales of gars are used by humans.

## Distribution

Fossil gars are found in Europe, India, South America, and North America, indicating that in times past, these fish had a wider distribution than they do today. Gars are considered to be a remnant of a group of bony fish that flourished in the Mesozoic, and are most closely related to the bowfin. The many species of gar include the alligator gar, which can exceed eight feet in length.

## Anatomy and Morphology

Gar bodies are elongated, heavily armored with ganoid scales, and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long, sharp teeth. Their tails are heterocercal, and the dorsal fins are close to the tail. As their vascularised swim bladders can function as lungs, most gars surface periodically to take a gulp of air, doing so more frequently in stagnant or warm water when the concentration of oxygen in the water is low. They also appear to surface in fast-moving rapids. As a result, they are extremely hardy and able to tolerate conditions that would kill most other fish.

All the gars are relatively large fish, but the alligator gar *Atractosteus spatula* is the largest. The largest alligator gar ever caught and officially recorded was 8 ft 5 1⁄4 in (2.572 m) long, weighed 327 lb (148 kg), and was 47 in (120 cm) around the girth. Even the smaller species, such as *Lepisosteus oculatus*, are large, commonly reaching lengths of over 60 cm (2.0 ft), and sometimes much more.

## Ecology

Gars tend to be slow-moving fish except when striking at their prey. They prefer the shallow and weedy areas of rivers, lakes, and bayous, often congregating in small groups. They are voracious predators, catching their prey with their needle-like teeth, obtained with a sideways strike of the head. They feed extensively on smaller fish and invertebrates such as crabs. Gars are found across all of North America (for example *Lepisosteus osseus*). Although gars are primarily found in freshwater habitats, several species enter brackish waters and a few, most notably *Atractosteus tristoechus*, are sometimes found in the sea. Some gars travel from lakes and rivers through sewers to get to ponds.
Little Penguin

The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin in the world, with the average adult little penguin rarely reaching half a meter in height. The little penguin has a number of other common names including the fairy penguin, the little blue penguin and simply just the blue penguin.

## Description

The little penguin is one of the few species of penguin to be found north of the Antarctic Ocean, as this small species is found inhabiting the rocky coastlines of New Zealand, Tasmania and parts of southern Australia. There have also been reports of the little penguin being found in Chile and in parts of South Africa.

The little penguin is named both for is small size (with the average weight being just over 1kg) and for it's blue coloured feathers. The short feathers of the little penguin are of a blue/grey colour with a large white patch on their underside, which makes these birds very distinctive amongst all penguin species.

The little penguin is one of the only species that is under threat from land-based mammalian predators and so have evolved to making their tiny appearance more intimidating. Little penguinspend the whole year together as a colony so that they are able to employ the safety in numbers strategy when there are hungry predators about.

## Diet and Predators

The little penguin is a carnivorous animal, that like all other penguin species, survives on a dietthat is only comprised of marine animals. Krill and small crustaceans make up the bulk of the little penguin's diet along with larger organisms including squid and various species of fish.

Little penguins are more under threat from land-based animals such as dogs, cats and foxes that have been introduced into their native habitats. However, larger marine animals will also prey on these water-based birds, with fur seals, leopards eals, sharks, humans and killer whales being the main predators of the little penguin.

## Reproduction

On average, the little penguin breeds once a year, forming pairs that usually remain faithful to one another. The female little penguin lays two eggs into a self-dug burrow which are incubated by both parents for just over a month, when only one of the eggs will usually hatch. The little penguin chicks are fed and kept warm by their parents and remain with them until the chicks are around three months old.

Today, the little penguin populations have been declining with the increasingly threat from non-native carnivores. Little penguins however, are often found on islands that have been declared National Parks where tourists are able to see the little penguin colony in it's natural habitat and are not allowed to take photos.
Barnacle

Barnacle, also called cirripede, any of more than 1,000 predominantly marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia highly modified for sedentary life. There are about 850 free-living species (all marine) and about 260 species that are internal parasites of crabs and other crustaceans. A brief treatment of cirripedes follows.

As adults, typical barnacles are covered with calcareous plates and are cemented, head down, to rocks, pilings, ships’ hulls, driftwood, or seaweed, or to the bodies of larger sea creatures, from clams to whales. They trap tiny particles of food by means of cirri—feathery retractile organs formed by metamorphosis of certain of their swimming legs.

Adult cirripedes commonly are simultaneous hermaphrodites (that is, individuals having both male and female reproductive organs). Hermaphroditic forms sometimes have a minute, virtually formless complemental male attached to them; in the few species with separate sexes, a similar male is attached to a much larger, fully formed female. Cross-fertilization is usual, but self-fertilization does occur. The eggs mature within the mantle cavity, and the larvae emerge as free-swimming forms called nauplii, as in many other crustacean species. In typical barnacles six naupliar stages precede formation of a cypris—a nonfeeding larval stage (*see* video). The cypris has a bivalved shell of chitin (a hard protein substance), cement glands on the antennules (first antennae), and a series of thoracic legs used for swimming. The cypris eventually cements itself to a hard substrate (or invades a host) and undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis.

Typical barnacles (order Thoracica, about 800 species) have six pairs of cirri and more or less complete shells. Pedunculate (stalked) forms include the common goose barnacle (genus *Lepas*), found worldwide on driftwood. Acorn barnacles, also called rock barnacles, are sessile (not stalked); their symmetrical shells tend to be barrellike or broadly conical. This group includes *Balanus,* responsible for much of the fouling of ships and harbour structures. Wart barnacles, such as *Verruca,* have asymmetrical shells.

Burrowing barnacles (order Acrothoracica, about 30 species) are small, unisexual forms that lack shells and have fewer than six pairs of cirri. They burrow into hard limy material, such as clam shells and coral. *Trypetesa* is found only inside snail shells occupied by hermit crabs.

Parasitic cirripedes of the order Rhizocephala (about 230 species), such as *Sacculina,* lack appendages, shell, and gut and resemble fungi. Females parasitize decapod crustaceans (crabs and allies) by sending rootlike absorptive processes through the host’s body; this intrusion inhibits the host’s reproductive development (parasitic castration). Parasites of the order Ascothoracica, the most primitive of cirripedes, are cyprislike as adults. An example is *Laura,* found imbedded in cnidarians and echinoderms.
Cats

Cats are a type of pet they live in house and streets they eat mice and they drink milk they have babies called kittens they from in a cartoon of the milky and shake show milky is a orange cat and the Mickey Mouse clubhouse called figroe it’s minnies cat and the one of the milkshake show animated animals and animal anime
Great Dane

The **Great Dane**, also known as the **German Mastiff** or **Deutsche Dogge**, is a breed of domestic dog from Germany. The Great Dane descends from hunting dogs known from the Middle Ages and is one of the largest breeds in the world.

## Physical Appearance

The Great Dane's massive head is narrow and flat on top. The eyebrows are prominent. The ears drop forward or are cropped to stand erect. The neck is long and strong. The Great Dane's body is long, muscular and the front legs are straight. The tail is medium in length; it is thick at the base and tapers down to below the hocks. Great Danes are light to average shedders. The coat is short and sleek and comes in a variety of colors including brindle or fawn, blue, black or harlequin, which has black patches over a white background. The breed has poor longevity; Great Danes live only 8-10 years.

## Personality

Great Danes are considered gentle giants. They are moderately playful, affectionate and good with children. They will guard their home. Great Danes generally get along with other animals, particularly if raised with them, but some individuals in the breed can be aggressive with dogs they do not know. Great Danes are considered easy to train, but some Great Dane fanciers say that individuals can be stubborn learners.

## History

The Great Dane, also known as the Apollo of dogs, is a giant breed. The Dane is German in origin, not Danish. The breed is thought to have been around for more than 400 years. Great Danes descend from mastiff-like dogs that were bred by German nobility to protect country estates and hunt wild boar. In the 18th century, Great Danes were prestigious guardians of estates and carriages. They were also popular with the upper class for sport, as few other dogs could bring down a wild boar.

The Great Danes that were more like those we know today were developed in the 1800s. In 1880, the Germans banned the name "Great Dane" and called the breed "Deutsche Dogge," which means German mastiff; however, the breed continues to be called Great Dane in English speaking countries. These dogs are primarily family pets and, despite their size, have become popular among city dwellers who keep them to help guard against robbers.
Madagascar Harrier-Hawk

The **Madagascar harrier-hawk** (*Polyboroides radiatus*) is a very large species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar.

## Description

The Madagascar harrier-hawk is a largish raptor with long and broad wings which when folded almost reach to the tip of the tail.It has a black tail with a single broad grey band bisecting the black half way along its length, Adult birds are grey above with blackish flight feathers. The underparts are white with dense dark barring on the breast, belly and underwing coverts while the upper breast and throat are the same color as the upperparts and form a grey hood, broken by the yellow face. The bill is yellow with a black tip and the legs are yellow.

## Distribution

The Madagascar harrier-hawk is quite widespread and common, albeit in small numbers, in most regions of Madagascar but it is scarce on the deforested central plateau. It can be found from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) altitude.

## Habitat

The Madagascar harrier-hawk occurs in in a variety of habitats but seems to favour undisturbed lowland rainforest. It has also been recorded from montane rainforest, spiny desert scrub, degraded forests and other wooded habitats, including plantations of exotic trees.

## Habits

The nest of the Madagascar harrier-hawk is a large, bulky structure which is constructed using sticks and situated approximately 18–30 m (59–98 ft) above the ground within the canopy of a tree. Nesting has been observed the months of September, October, and November. The eggs are brooded by both sexes and hatch asynchronously, with the older sibling often killing its younger brood mates. Fledging takes about seven weeks. On at least one occasion a nest was found within a colony of Sakalava weavers.

The Madagascar harrier-hawk has a varied diet and has been recorded eating small birds, rodents, reptiles, insects, small lemurs. Like the African harrier-hawk they possess the unusual morphological adaptation of having an intertarsal joint that allows their legs to flex backwards and forwards. This means that they can use their feet to probe and remove prey from hidden sites such as holes in tree trunks, weaver nests and rock crevices where they can extract nestling birds from such normally inaccessible places.
Long-Eared Jerboa

The Long-eared jerboa, which inhabits China and Mongolia, is a rodent with features similar to those of a mouse and some further very interesting features. Some scientists are of the opinion that it could be distantly related to the gerbil. Its tail is twice its body length, giving it good balance when it runs and jumps. It has long back legs with large feet and moves much like a kangaroo. The soles of their feet are covered in stiff hairs which help when traveling over the desert. The front legs are relatively rather small, and they are not useable for getting around. Species from this family are usually characterized by their amazing adaptations for jumping, thought to be an evolution as a strategy to deal with predators. The life span of Long-eared jerboas is unknown, however, their average longevity is 2 to 3 years.

## Distribution

Long-eared jerboas inhabit the Palearctic region, from the southern tip of Mongolia in the Takla-Makan Desert, Aerijin Mountain, Mengxin, and Qing-Zang Plateau areas of north western China. They live in desert habitats, preferring sandy river basins and low shrub cover.

## Habits and Lifestyle

Because these animals live in parts of China and Mongolia that are so remote, it is hard for scientists to study them, and therefore there is very little known about this tiny animal. All information about their social behavior is taken from data about related species. Other jerboas are primarily nocturnal and solitary, spending the day in the underground burrows which they have dug, often creating four different types: a temporary, day, summer burrow for cover when hunting in the daytime, a second temporary burrow for hunting at night, as well as two permanent burrows: a summer one and a winter one. Permanent summer burrows are used throughout summer and this is where the young are raised. Jerboas hibernate in the winter in the permanent winter burrow. Long-eared jerboas hop like kangaroos, jumping over the sand.

## Mating Habits

The mating system for these animals is not known. However, that of a closely related species suggests that it could be polygynous. For closely related jerboa species breeding usually happens soon after emerging from winter hibernation. Females breed twice during summer and raise 2 to 6 young. The gestation period is from 25 to 35 days. Not much is known about parental care, but like most mammals, long-eared jerboas nurse and look after their offspring at least until weaning takes place.
Clown Fish

**Clownfish** or **anemonefish** are fishes from the subfamily **Amphiprioninae** in the family Pomacentridae. Thirty species are recognized: one in the genus *Premnas*, while the remaining are in the genus *Amphiprion*. In the wild, they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones. Depending on species, anemonefish are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish color, and many show white bars or patches. The largest can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while the smallest barely achieve 10 centimetres (3.9 in).

Bright orange with three distinctive white bars, clown anemonefish are among the most recognizable of all reef-dwellers. They reach about 4.3 inches (11 centimeters) in length, and are named for the multicolored sea anemone in which they make their homes.

## Distribution and Habitat

Anemonefish are native to warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. While most species have restricted distributions, others are widespread. Anemonefish live at the bottom of shallow seas in sheltered reefs or in shallow lagoons. There are no anemonefish in the Atlantic.

## Diet

Anemonefish are omnivorous and can feed on undigested food from their host anemones, and the fecal matter from the anemonefish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. Anemonefish primarily feed on small zooplankton from the water column, such as copepods and tunicate larvae, with a small portion of their diet coming from algae, with the exception of *Amphiprion perideraion*, which primarily feeds on algae. They may also consume the tentacles of their host anemone.

## Gender and Mating

Clownfish perform an elaborate dance with an anemone before taking up residence, gently touching its tentacles with different parts of their bodies until they are acclimated to their host. A layer of mucus on the clownfish's skin makes it immune to the fish-eating anemone's lethal sting. In exchange for safety from predators and food scraps, the clownfish drives off intruders and preens its host, removing parasites.

There are 28 known species of anemonefish, most of which live in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the western Pacific. They are not found in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or Atlantic Ocean. Surprisingly, all clownfish are born male. They have the ability to switch their sex, but will do so only to become the dominant female of a group. The change is irreversible.

## Gallery

Animals-united-disneyscreencaps.com-4469.jpgAnimals United Clown Fish.png
Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial

This technique lets the user summon a tree around their opponent to bind them. This technique is relatively powerful and holds opponents much more gracefully, with less of a strain on the user, because the user sinks them into the ground. Afterwards, the user can enclose the opponent so that their body is crushed.
Emerald Toucanet

The emerald toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) is a bird in the Ramphastidae family.

## Description

Like other toucans, the emerald toucanet is brightly marked and has a large bill. The adult is 30–35 cm (12–14 in) long and weight can range from 118–230 g (4.2–8.1 oz). The sexes are alike in appearance, although the female generally is smaller and slightly shorter-billed. It is, as other members of the genus Aulacorhynchus, mainly green. The vent and tail-tip are rufous. The bill is black with yellow to the upper mandible (amount depends on the exact subspecies) and, in all except the nominate (prasinus) and wagleri groups (see Taxonomy), a white band at the base of the bill. The members of the caeruleogularis group have a rufous patch near the base of the upper mandible, while some members of the albivitta group have a rufous patch near the base of the lower mandible. The throat is white in the nominate and the wagleri group, blue in the caeruleogularis and cognatus group, pale grey-blue in the lautus group, blue or black in the atrogularis group, and white or grey-blue in the albivitta group. The eye-ring ranges from blue to red, in some subspecies very dark, almost appearing blackish from a distance. The legs are dull greyish and the iris is dark. Juveniles are duller, including the throat, and, depending on subspecies, the black areas of the bill are replaced with dusky or the bill is entirely yellowish.

## Distribution and Habitat

The emerald toucanet is a generally common in humid forest and woodland, mainly at higher elevations. It occurs in mountainous regions from Mexico, through Central America to northern Venezuela and along the Andes as far south as central Bolivia.

## Behavior

Small flocks, usually consisting of 5–10 birds, move through the forest in "follow-my-leader" style with a direct and rapid flight.

### Breeding

The 3–4 white eggs are laid in an unlined hole in a tree, usually an old woodpecker nest, but sometimes a natural cavity. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 14–15 days, and the chicks remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and have short bills and specialised pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest. They are fed by both parents and fledge after about 6 weeks. They are fed for several weeks after leaving the nest.

### Feeding

This species is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, but will also take insects, lizards, small birds, and their eggs.

### Voice

The calls of the emerald toucanet are a loud dry rrip rrip rrip rrip rrip and a graval graval graval. It has been suggested that the two different calls are given by the two sexes. There are also croaking alarm and aggression calls.
Kookaburra

**Kookaburras** are terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus ***Dacelo*** native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between 28–42 cm (11–17 in) in length. The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri *guuguubarra*, onomatopoeic of its call. The single member of the genus *Clytoceyx* is commonly referred to as the shovel-billed kookaburra. The kookaburra's loud call sounds like echoing human laughter. They are found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savanna, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Even though they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water.

## Classification and Species

Four species of kookaburra can be found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands.Kookaburras are sexually dimorphic. This is noticeable in the blue-winged and the rufous-bellied, where males have blue tails and females have reddish-brown tails.

* Rufous-bellied kookaburra (*Dacelo gaudichaud*). (lowland New Guinea, Saibai island and Australia)
* Spangled kookaburra (*Dacelo tyro*). (Aru Islands, southern New Guinea and Australia)
* Blue-winged kookaburra (*Dacelo leachii*). (northern Australia, southern New Guinea)
* Laughing kookaburra (*Dacelo novaeguineae*). (native to eastern Australia, introduced to southwest) Unusually for close relatives, the laughing and blue-winged species are direct competitors in the area where their ranges now overlap. This suggests that these two species evolved in isolation (

## Behavior

Kookaburras are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating mice, snakes, insects, small reptiles, and the young of other birds; they have also been known to take goldfish from garden ponds. In zoos they are usually fed food for birds of prey.

The most social birds will accept handouts and will take meat from barbecues. It is generally not advised to feed kookaburras ground beef or pet food as these do not include enough calcium and roughage. They are territorial, except for the rufous-bellied, which often live with their young from the previous season. They often sing as a chorus to mark their territory.

## In Culture

Olly the Kookaburra was one of the three mascots chosen for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The other mascots were Millie the Echidna and Syd the Platypus.

The distinctive sound of the laughing kookaburra's call is used in filmmaking and television productions, as well as certain Disney theme park attractions, regardless of African, Asian and South American jungle settings. Kookaburras have also appeared in video games (*Lineage II*, *Battletoads*, and *World of Warcraft*) and at least in one short story (Barry Wood's *Nowhere to Go*).

In William Arden's 1969 book, *The Mystery of the Laughing Shadow*, (one of 'The Three Investigators' series for young readers), the laughing kookaburra is integral to the plot. The children's television series *Splatalot!* includes an Australian character called "Kookaburra" (or "Kook"), whose costume includes decorative wings that recall the bird's plumage, and who is noted for his distinctive high-pitched laugh.
Four-Toed Hedgehog

The Four-toed Hedgehog (*Atelerix albiventris*) lives in the forests and deserts of Africa. It has a long, pointed snout, round eyes and oval ears. This species of hedgehog gets its name from its back feet. They have just 4 toes each, while its front feet have five toes each (talk about a fascinating anatomy).

The four-toed hedgehog's eyesight is adequate, but they primarily depend on their strong sense of smell and exceptional hearing. Four-toed hedgehogs vocalize by hissing, growling and chirping. These sounds get louder when the animal gets agitated. Their Life span, in captivity, is from 8 to 10 years. Their life span is just 2 to 3 years in the wild, where they are preyed upon by lions and birds. Four-toed hedgehogs eat frogs, snails, eggs, carrion and birds. They also eat peanuts, seeds, roots and even fungi.

The male four-toed hedgehog will court a female by snorting and growling while it moves in circles. After mating, the female will gestate for thirty to forty days. The litter sizes range between 2 and 10 newborns. The newborns are born with their eyes closed. They remain closed for eight to 18 days. When threatened a hedgehog will form itself into a ball, hiding its most sensitive body parts, its head, feet and belly. Also, These hedgehogs are very tolerant to snake venom.
Gila Woodpecker

Ranging in length from 8 to 10 inches and with an average wingspan of 16 inches, the Gila woodpecker can be found in deserts, brushy woodlands and urban parks from the American southwest to west-central Mexico. It feeds primarily on insects, cactus fruit and berries. Although they do not use them immediately, waiting first for the sap to harden, Gila woodpeckers excavate cavities in cacti and trees as nesting sites. Females typically lay two broods a year of 3 to 5 eggs, which incubate for 14 days. Once abandoned, the cavities are occupied by reptiles, rodents and small birds like kestrels, elf owls, flycatchers and wrens.

In the desert, the woodpeckers perform the important ecological function of removing unhealthy flesh from the saguaro cactus. Some insects on which it feeds carry diseases, harmless to the bird, which damage the cactus and leave discolorations. The marks signal “Here be larvae” to the bird, and as it excavates the insects, it also cuts away the diseased tissue. As the sap hardens, the cactus is healed, and the excavation becomes a convenient nesting site.

Populations may be in slight decline because of human development of the Sonoran Desert and competition for nest sites with European starlings. A decrease in the Gila woodpecker population would damage the entire ecosystem, since its nest sites are widely utilized by other species, and it may be an important pollinator of the saguaro cactus.
Manatee

Manatees are big mammals they live in oceans they eat plants they called sea cows they come above from air they use their strong tails to move and stair their flippers they have enemies called people they pulled their oceans they from in a cartoon called meet the animals 41 do you think manatees have grey skin.
Hercules Beetle

The **Hercules beetle** (*Dynastes hercules*, Dynastinae) is a rhinoceros beetle native to the rainforests of Central America, South America, Lesser Antilles, and the Andes. They are large beetles, with some males reaching 17.5 cm including the horn, and a slightly iridescent colouration to their elytra, which also vary in colour from beetle to beetle, and even depending on the humidity. *Dynastes hercules* is highly sexually dimorphic, with only males exhibiting the characteristic horn. Several subspecies have been named, though there is still some uncertainty as to the validity of the named taxa. Reports suggest the Hercules beetle is able to carry up to 850 times its body mass but actual measurements on a much smaller (and relatively stronger: see square-cube law) species of rhinoceros beetle shows a carrying capacity only up to 100 times their body mass, at which point they can barely move.

## Life Cycle

The larval stage of the Hercules beetle will last one to two years, with the larva growing up to 4.5 inches (11 cm) in length and weighing more than 100 grams. Much of the life of the larva is spent tunneling through rotting wood. After the larval period, transformation into a pupa, and moulting, the beetle then emerges as an adult.

## Diet

The larval stage of the Hercules beetle will feed on rotting wood during this two year stage. The adult Hercules beetle feeds on fresh and rotting fruit. They have been observed feeding on peaches, pear, apple, and grapes within captivity.
Elephant Beetle

The **elephant beetle** (*Megasoma elephas*) is a member of the family Scarabaeidae and the subfamily Dynastinae. They are Neotropical rhinoceros beetles.

## Appearance

Elephant beetles are black in color and covered with a coat of fine microscopic hairs. The hairs grow particularly thick on the beetle's elytra. The hairs give the beetle's body a yellowish color. Males have two horns protruding from the head and another from the prothorax. Females have no horns. The horns are used for defense, and in competition among males for food and mates.

**Size**

In size, elephant beetles range between 7 and 12 cm (2.75–4.75 in); males are sometimes even bigger. Males are around 2 to 3 times bigger than the females.

## Location

Elephant beetles are located in southern Mexico, Central America, and in South American rainforests.

## Breeding

Elephant beetle larvae develop in large decaying logs and take up to three years to develop into adult beetles, depending upon the subspecies. The female elephant beetle lays her eggs inside the decaying log or in the ground. Some weeks after that (usually 3) the eggs hatch into C-shaped larvae, white grubs with brown heads and six legs. The larval stage lasts around 29 months, during which time the grubs consume organic matter. The third and last stage, the pupal stage, lasts around 5 weeks at a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. The life span of an adult elephant beetle is around one to three months.

## Food

For their diet, elephant beetles eat the sap of particular trees and ripened fallen fruits. In captivity, they also eat exotic fruits such as pineapples, longan, lychee fruit, and bark from certain trees like the poinciana.

## Behavior and Habitat

Elephant beetles live in rainforests and are mainly active during the night. They are able to maintain a high internal body heat when foraging despite reduced ambient temperature. Elephant beetle population has been depleted by the destruction of the rain-forests, which has reduced their grounds for mating. In some countries such as Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and others in Central America the male's head is used as a charm necklace, decorated with gold. This has affected the population severely.
Hooded Skunk

The **hooded skunk** (***Mephitis macroura***) is a species of mammal in the family Mephitidae. *Mephītis* in Latin means "foul odor", μακρός (*makrós*) in Greek translates to "long" and οὐρά (*ourá*) translates to "tail".

## Morphology

It can be distinguished from the similar striped skunk (*M. mephitis*) by its longer tail and longer, much softer coat of fur, and larger tympanic bullae. A ruff of white fur around its neck gives the animal its common name. Three color phases are known and in all three, a thin white medial stripe is present between the eyes: black-backed with two lateral white stripes, white-backed with one dorsal white stripe, or entirely black with a few white hairs in the tail.

## Ecology

The hooded skunk ranges from the Southwestern United States to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northwest Costa Rica. It is more abundant in Mexico. These skunks are found to be more than 50% smaller in size in southern Mexico than in the Southwestern United States. It is found in grasslands, deserts, and in the foothills of mountains, avoiding high elevations. It tends to live near a water source, such as a river. The females tend to be 15% smaller in size than the males and their breeding season is between February and March. The litter size ranges from three to eight.

## Diet

The diet of the hooded skunk consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear (*Opuntia* spp.), but it will readily consume insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs as well. No cases of rabies are reported, but they host a range of parasites, including nematodes, roundworms, and fleas.

## Behavior

Hooded skunks are solitary, but they might interact at a feeding ground without showing any signs of aggression. They shelter in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and are active at night. Like *M. mephitis*, for self-defense, they spray volatile components from their anal glands.

## Characteristics

Hooded skunks are currently not endangered. They are very abundant in Mexico and can live in human suburban areas mostly on pastures and cultivated fields. Their fur has low economic value. However, their fat and scent glands can be used in local folk medicine. In some parts of their range, their flesh is considered a delicacy. Other common names for the hooded skunk include: *mofeta rayada* (Spanish), *moufette à capuchon* (French), *pay* (Maya), southern skunk, white-sided skunk, and *zorillo*.
Golden Bamboo Lemur

The **golden bamboo lemur** is a medium-sized bamboo lemur endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It was discovered in 1986 by Patricia Wright, in what is now Ranomafana National Park. The park was opened in 1991 to protect this endangered lemur, as well as several other lemur species and other flora and fauna.

It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss. The population is declining, with only about 1,000 individuals remaining. As its name indicates, this lemur feeds almost exclusively on grasses, especially the giant bamboo or *volohosy* (*Cathariostachys madagascariensis*). The growing shoots of this bamboo contain 0.015% (1 part in 6667) of cyanide. Each adult lemur eats about 500 g (18 oz) of bamboo per day, which contain about 12 times the lethal dose of cyanide for most other animals of this size.

The golden bamboo lemur is crepuscular. It is 28–45 cm long plus a tail of 24–40 cm, and weighs on average 1.6 kg. Females give birth to one infant per year and breed every year and the gestation period is about 138 days.

## Gallery

Lesser-Golden Bamboo Lemur FamilyWild Kratts
Madagascar Fish-Eagle

This species is part of the genus Haliaeetus is thought to be one of the oldest living, avian genera, with some fossil evidence suggesting it was present in the Oligocene, 33.9 million to 23 million years. The closest relative of the Madagascar Fish-eagle is the African fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, and together they form a pair lineage distinct from other members of the genus. This pair diverged soon after the separation of the genus from the rest of the Accipitridae family. Research has shown that reproductive output in this species is low as typically, one or two eggs are laid and only one offspring is raised, as the strongest chick tends to kill the weakest (siblicide). This species mainly feeds on fish, therefore putting it into direct competition with the Malagasy fishermen. This has led to the persecution of this species through the taking of nests, shooting of adults but also the accidental entanglement in fishing-nests. Deforestation, soil erosion and the development of wetland areas for rice-paddies is causing the on-going loss of nesting and foraging habitat. There is an ongoing conservation programme with the aim to increase the known breeding population to at least 250 pairs. Activities include the enforcement of existing traditional laws at the local community level and also the release of captive-reared birds rescued from siblicide. Their range has now become part of a protected area.

## Description

The Madagascan fish eagle is a medium-sized sea eagle, 60–66 cm (23.5–26 in) long and with a wingspan of 165–180 cm (65–71 in). The body and wings are dark brown, with a pale brown head and a white tail; the bill is blackish with a paler base, and the legs are pale grey. Males weigh 2.2–2.6 kg (4.9–5.7 lb), while the slightly larger females weigh 2.8–3.5 kg (6.2–7.7 lb).

Its closest relative is the African fish eagle, *Haliaeetus vocifer*. Together, they form a distinct species pair lineage of sea-eagles, which separated soon after the divergence of the genus; they retain the ancestral dark beak, talon, and eye, but unlike other *Haliaeetus* species, they always have at least partially white tails, even while juvenile. As in other sea-eagle species pairs, one species (the Madagascan fish eagle in this case) has a tan head, while the other has a white one.

## Distribution

The species found along the west coast of Madagascar. The range of this eagle is within the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. The principal locus of population according to the United Nations Environmental Programme is in the Analova region; 20 to 25 breeding pairs were there as of the 1980s. A more recent survey by Garbutt and Hogan report a smaller concentration of at least three breeding pairs in the Anjajavy Forest along the Indian Ocean, where several streams discharge north of Anjajavy Village.

## Habitat and Ecology

This species favours dry, deciduous forest alongside aquatic habitat. It nests in mangroves and prefers areas with large trees from which it can scan for prey in the water. This species feeds mainly on fish. Breeding season runs from May to October.
Hirola

Perhaps the world’s rarest and most endangered antelope, the hirola is the sole survivor of a formerly diverse group, and is often referred to as a living fossil.

They are the sole member of their genus, Beatragus, they come from the larger family of Bovidae; which include sheep, buffalo, cows and antelopes. The hirola belongs to the subfamily Alcelaphinae (which includes hartebeests, wildebeests, and topi). This subfamily is thought to have diverged from the other bovid subfamilies during the early Miocene around 7 million years ago, probably as a result of the separation of the African and Eurasian continents.

The name hirola derives from the Somali pastoral community, which has given refuge to this species and consider it to have spiritual significance which is linked to cattle keeping. They consider its presence a good sign and they fear that if it goes they will lose all their cattle as well.

Hirola have dark glands under their eyes used to mark their territories, giving them the name the four eyed antelope. Once common throughout East Africa, the hirola has suffered a devastating decline in the last 30 years, with numbers plummeting from around 14,000 in the 1970s to an estimated 600 today. The surviving hirola are threatened by drought, poaching and habitat loss. Intensive conservation efforts are needed if this rare and beautiful antelope is to survive.

## Distribution

Hirola are restricted to an area of approximately 7,600 km² along the border of Kenya and Somalia. In Kenya the species is found in the Ijara, Garissa, Tana River and Lamu districts. There is a small translocated population in Tsavo East National Park, outside the species’ natural range. Several sources have recorded precise measurements from both captive and wild hirola. The following are maximum and minimum values taken from all sources: height at the shoulder: 99–125 cm, body weight: 73–118 kg, head and body length: 120–200 cm, horn length: 44–72 cm, horn spread (greatest outside width): 15–32 cm, tail length: 30–45 cm, ear length: 19 cm. It is not stated whether horn length was measured direct from base to tip or along the curve of the horn. There is no data on how long hirola live in the wild but hirola in captivity have been known to live for 15 years.

## Habitat and Ecology

The hirola are found in short-grassed, seasonally arid plains between dry acacia bush and coastal forest. They are selective grazers, with their diet consisting mainly of short grasses.

## Threats

The reasons for the historic decline of the hirola are not known but is likely a combination of factors including disease (particularly rinderpest), poaching, severe drought, predation, competition for food and water from domestic livestock and habitat loss caused by bush encroachment as a result of the extirpation of elephants in the hirola's natural range. The Hirola prefers areas that are used by livestock which puts them at increased risk from diseases like tuberculosis. Due to lack of protection they are also still very vulnerable to poaching. Hirola are also threatened by predation and competition with other wild herbivores, particularly topi and Coke's hartebeest.
Perceive the Unseen

Level: 2

Duration: 5 rounds

Saving Throw: None

Normal: Your ally gains a sixth sense about where nearby enemies are.

When you speak this utterance, the target gains a greater sense of where his enemies are, granting him the use of the Blind-Fight feat. The target’s perceptions automatically focus on the general area of unseen enemies; this doesn’t guarantee that the target finds them, but makes it much more likely.

Reverse: The reverse of this utterance confounds your foes, preventing them from precisely locating an ally’s position. With the reverse of perceive the unseen, you make the target of the utterance more difficult to track in battle.

Your target’s enemies find themselves instinctively glancing away from him, even when they know they need to be focusing their attention there. This effectively gives the target concealment.
Leopard Tortoise

The leopard tortoise is a large species of tortoise found throughout the African savannas. The leopard tortoise is the forth largest species of tortoise in the world, and is also the most widely distributed tortoise species in Southern Africa. The leopard tortoise has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan to the Cape. As a grazing species of tortoise, the leopard tortoise is most commonly found in semi-arid areas including shrubland and grasslands.

The leopard tortoise is one of the world's largest tortoise species as they can grow to 70 cm in length and weigh about as much as a small person. As with other tortoise species, the leopardtortoise has a large shell which protects it's softer body. The limbs of the leopard tortoise are able to retract back into the leopard tortoise's shell so that no body part is left vulnerable. The leopard tortoise is a generally solitary animal that spends the majority of it's time grazing on plants, which it can do effectively using it's sharp beak-like mouth. As with other tortoisespecies, the leopard tortoise is a long-lived animal species, often reaching 100 years old or even more.

The leopard tortoise is a herbivorous animal meaning that it only eats plants and plant material in order to sustain itself. The leopard tortoise primarily grazes on grasses, leaves, berries and flowers along with fruits such as the prickly pear.

Due to it's fairly large size, the leopard tortoise has few natural predators within it's African habitats as many simply cannot penetrate the leopard tortoise's high-domed shell. Humansare the primary predators of the leopard tortoise along with the occasional wild cats and dogs. Leopard tortoises are not able to reproduce until they are at least 10 years old (known as reaching sexual maturity). As with other tortoise and even reptile species, the female leopardtortoise lays her clutch of up to 18 eggs into a burrow in the ground, which is quickly covered to protect her young from hungry passers-by.

Although there are thriving populations of leopard tortoises in more remote areas, when they are close to humans, the leopard tortoise populations are generally suffering, something which is primarily due to over-hunting by humans.
Great Hornbill

The **great hornbill** (*Buceros bicornis*) also known as the **great Indian hornbill** or **great pied hornbill**, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. It is predominantly frugivorous, but is an opportunist and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

## Description

Great hornbills are fairly large, ranging from 95 to 120 cm in length and featuring a wingspan of 151 to 178 cm. On average, they weigh 3 kg. They are vividly colored and easily recognizable. The body, head, and wings are primarily black; the abdomen and neck are white. The tail is white and is crossed by a subterminal black band. A preen gland near the tail secretes tinted oil, which is spread across the feathers by the bird during grooming. This may give the bill, neck, casque, and tail and wing feathers coloration varying from yellow to red. The most recognizable feature of hornbills is the casque, which is a hollow structure located on top of the bill. It may be used by males to fight with other males and attract females. Like many other hornbills, these birds have prominent eyelashes. Males and females are similar except that the irises of males are red while those of females are white, and males have slightly larger bills and casques.

## Geographic Range

Buceros bicornis is found in mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. They are breeding residents in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, they and several other hornbill species live in the Western Ghats mountain range and forests in both the northeastern and southern regions.

## Habitat

Great hornbills are arboreal and live mainly in wet, tall, evergreen forests. Old-growth trees that extend beyond the height of the canopy are preferred for nesting. The height of the tree and the presence of a natural cavity large enough to hold a female and her eggs are more important than the type of tree. The same nesting site is used year after year if possible. They are known to inhabit elevations of 600 to 2000 m.