recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Horse

The horse or domestic horse is a domesticated one-toed hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant species in the subgenus Equus. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature, Eohippus, into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began domesticating horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC. Horses in the species caballus are domesticated, although some domesticated populations live in the wild as feral horses. These feral populations are not true wild horses, as this term is used to describe horses that have never been domesticated. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior. Horses are adapted to run, allowing them to quickly escape predators, possessing an excellent sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight response. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down, with younger horses tending to sleep significantly more than adults. Female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under a saddle or in a harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years. Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses. Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water, and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.
Eastern Whip-Poor-Will

## Description

The eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus ) is a medium-sized (22–27 cm; 8.7-10.6 ins.) bird within the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae, from North America. The whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen because of its camouflage. It is named onomatopoeically after its song.

## Appearance

Eastern whip-poor-wills are medium-sized birds that belong to the family of nightjars. They occur in North America and they are characterized by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Adults have mottled plumage. Their upperparts are grey, black, and brown in color; the lower parts are grey and black. Males have a white patch below the throat and white tips on the outer tail feathers; in the female, these parts are light brown.

## Distribution

Eastern whip-poor-wills breed across central and southeastern Canada and the eastern United States and migrate to the southeastern United States and to eastern Mexico and Central America for the winter. These birds prefer to live in deciduous or mixed woods with little underbrush.

## Behavior

Eastern whip-poor-wills are generally solitary preferring to spend time on their own; however, during migration, they may form loose flocks. These birds forage at night, catching insects on the wing, and normally sleep during the day on the ground or on low-lying branches. Named after their song, Eastern whip-poor-wills are commonly heard within their range, but less often seen because of their camouflage which provides protection from predation.

## Diet

Eastern whip-poor-wills are carnivorous (insectivorous) birds. They feed on various insects including moths, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, bees, and wasps.

## Reproduction

Eastern whip-poor-wills arrive on their breeding grounds in March. They nest on the ground, in shaded locations among dead leaves, and usually lay 2 eggs at a time. Incubation lasts 19-21 days performed by both parents. The chicks hatch well developed covered in down but with their eyes closed. They are fed and protected by both parents and start to fly at the age of 20 days. Eastern whip-poor-wills usually produce 1 or 2 broods per year and females may lay second clutch while the male is still caring for chicks from the first brood.

## Population

### Population threats

The main threats to the Eastern whip-poor-wills include habitat loss and degradation. They are also vulnerable to predation by feral cats and dogs, poisoning by insecticides, and collisions with traffic as they often sit at the side of roads.

### Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Eastern whip-poor-will is 1,800,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

## References

https://animalia.bio/eastern-whip-poor-will
Eurasian nuthatch

The Eurasian nuthatch or wood nuthatch is a small passerine bird found throughout the Palearctic and in Europe, where its name is the nuthatch. Like other nuthatches, it is a short-tailed bird with a long bill, blue-grey upperparts and a black eye-stripe. It is a vocal bird with a repeated loud dwip call. There are more than 20 subspecies in three main groups; birds in the west of the range have orange-buff underparts and a white throat, those in Russia have whitish underparts, and those in the east have a similar appearance to European birds, but lack the white throat. Its preferred habitat is mature deciduous or mixed woodland with large, old trees, preferably oak. Pairs hold permanent territories, and nest in tree holes, usually old woodpecker nests, but sometimes natural cavities. If the entrance to the hole is too large, the female plasters it with mud to reduce its size, and often coats the inside of the cavity too. The 6–9 red-speckled white eggs are laid on a deep base of pine or other wood chips. The Eurasian nuthatch eats mainly insects, particularly caterpillars and beetles, although in autumn and winter its diet is supplemented with nuts and seeds. The young are fed mainly on insects, with some seeds, food items mainly being found on tree trunks and large branches. The nuthatch can forage when descending trees head first, as well as when climbing. It readily visits bird tables, eating fatty man-made food items as well as seeds. It is an inveterate hoarder, storing food year-round. Its main natural predator is the Eurasian sparrowhawk. Fragmentation of woodland can lead to local losses of breeding birds, but the species' range is still expanding. It has a large population and huge breeding area, and is therefore classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of least concern.
Light-mantled albatross

The light-mantled albatross also known as the grey-mantled albatross or the light-mantled sooty albatross, is a small albatross in the genus Phoebetria, which it shares with the sooty albatross. The light-mantled albatross was first described as Phoebetria palpebrata by Johann Reinhold Forster, in 1785, based on a specimen from south of the Cape of Good Hope.
Hardwicke's Spiny-Tailed Lizard

## Description

Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizard is a herbivorous lizard that lives in South Asia. It is usually yellowish-brown, sandy, or olive in color. It may have black spots and vermiculations and a distinctive black spot on the front of the thigh. It has a dorso-ventrally flattened body with wrinkled skin. Its tail has whorls of spiny scales with large spines on the side. The tail is bluish-grey to sand-colored.

## Distribution

These lizards occur in patches across the Thar desert, Kutch, and surrounding arid zones in India and Pakistan. They inhabit the dry desert tracts and range from Uttar Pradesh in the east to Rajasthan in the West and the Kachchh area of Gujarat. The hot Thar desert is the stronghold of these lizards and they are found extensively in the Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer, and Churu districts in Rajasthan. They are also found in some parts of Madhya Pradesh (Rewa).

## Behavior

Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards are typically found in the firm ground rather than pure sand dunes and prefer elevated patches of land. They often live in colonies, sometimes on the outskirts of villages. Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards excavate a sloping zig-zagging or spiraling tunnel of 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.1 in) diameter and over 2 m (6.6 ft) long for themselves. The tunnel has an entrance that is flush with the ground and ends in a small chamber. They live singly in the burrow, but hatchlings may stay with the mother initially. Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards are diurnal and often bask close to the entrance of their burrow. They are very alert and smoothly slide into their burrow at the first hint of danger. Spiny-tailed lizards hibernate through the winter and emerge in spring. By the time they are ready for hibernation, these lizards put on long strips of fat on each side of the backbone which presumably enables them to survive the long winter months.

## Diet

Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards are largely herbivorous and their teeth are adapted for a plant diet including flowers, fruits, beans, and grass. In locust-breeding areas, spiny-tailed lizards have been known to feed on nymphs and adults of the locust. In summer they usually forage more in the mornings feeding to a greater extent on insects, and in the monsoons, they eat principally herbs and grasses.

## Reproduction

Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards breed in spring after emerging from hibernation. Females lay 10 white, pigeon-sized eggs.

## Population

### Threats

Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizards are on the verge of extinction in western Rajasthan due to rampant poaching by nomads, who value this reptile both for its meat and as a medicine. The fat stored in the tail of these lizards is purported to have medicinal properties and for this reason, they are often illegally collected and sold in various parts of India and Pakistan for folk medicine.

### Number

Presently, the Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizard is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
Eastern Milk Snake

## Description

Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum, commonly known as the eastern milk snake or eastern milksnake, is a subspecies of the milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum ). The nonvenomous, colubrid snake is indigenous to eastern and central North America.

### Animal name origin

Additional common names for L. t. triangulum include the following: adder, blatschich schlange, chain snake, checkered adder, checkered snake, chequered adder, chequered snake, chicken snake, common milk snake, cow-sucker, highland adder, horn snake, house snake, king snake, leopard-spotted snake, milk sucker, pilot, red snake, sachem snake, sand-king, scarlet milk snake, spotted adder, and thunder-and-lightning snake.

## Appearance

The eastern milk snake averages 60 to 91 centimetres (24 to 36 in) in total length, although specimens as long as 132 centimetres (52 in) in total length have been measured. It has smooth and shiny scales. The dorsal color pattern consists of brownish dorsal saddles, which are edged with black. The dorsal saddles are sometimes reddish or reddish brown in southern areas of its range. The pattern on the top and sides of the snake has also been described as three (or possibly five) series of black-bordered brown (reddish brown sometimes) blotches along the length of the snake on a gray or tan ground. The blotches in the dorsal series are large, while the blotches in the two (or possibly four) lateral series are smaller. The belly pattern is black and white checks (often irregular).

## Distribution

The eastern milk snake ranges from Maine to Ontario in the north to Alabama and North Carolina in the south. It was once thought by herpetologists to intergrade with the scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides ) in a portion of its southern range, but this has been disproved.

The eastern milk snake is a species commonly found in rural areas where hibernation and feeding sites, such as buildings and mammal burrows, are abundant, and they also use a variety of open habitats and forest edges.

## Domestication

Like many species of milk snakes, the eastern milk snake is often bred in captivity for the pet trade. It is generally docile and rarely attempts to bite, though it may do so if feeling restrained.
Tule elk

The tule elk is a subspecies of elk found only in California, ranging from the grasslands and marshlands of the Central Valley to the grassy hills on the coast. The subspecies name derives from the tule, a species of sedge native to freshwater marshes on which the Tule elk feeds. When the Europeans first arrived, an estimated 500,000 tule elk roamed these regions, but by 1870 they were thought to be extirpated. However, in 1874–1875 a single breeding pair was discovered in the tule marshes of Buena Vista Lake in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Conservation measures were taken to protect the species in the 1970s. Today, the wild population exceeds 4,000. Tule elk can reliably be found in Carrizo Plain National Monument, Point Reyes National Seashore, portions of the Owens Valley from Lone Pine to Bishop, on Coyote Ridge in Santa Clara Valley, San Jose, California and in the Pacheco state park and areas surrounding San Luis reservoir near Los Banos, California.
Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna

## Description

The eastern long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni ), also known as Barton's long-beaked echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. It is found mainly in the eastern half at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 metres (6,600 and 9,800 ft).

## Appearance

Eastern long-beaked echidnas have long, dense black to dark brown fur and white spines. These spines cover the entire dorsal surface of their body. Eastern long-beaked echidnas do not have teeth. They have a horny plate at the back of their mouth. This plate helps them to grind food. Eastern long-beaked echidnas have five claws on their fore feet and four on their hind feet. These echidnas have no tail but they can roll into a spiny ball for defense.

## Distribution

Eastern long-beaked echidnas occur in New Guinea. They inhabit tropical hill forests to sub-alpine forests, upland grasslands and scrub. The species has been found in locations up to an elevation of around 4,150 m. Eastern long-beaked echidnas live in dense vegetation or in underground burrows.

## Behavior

Eastern long-beaked echidnas are solitary and try to avoid other echidnas. Because of such an elusive lifestyle, it's hard for researches to study their behavior. It is known that eastern long-beaked echidnas are nocturnal creatures. They forage at night tearing open logs with their claws to find the grubs and other invertebrates. These echidnas live in underground dens and cover them with little vegetation.

## Diet

Eastern long-beaked echidnas are insectivores. They mainly eat insects and earthworms.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the mating system and breeding behaviors of Eastern long-beaked echidnas. It is suggested that the reproduction season occurs in April and May. Due to the reports of native people Eastern long-beaked echidnas give birth to 1 baby echidna or a "puggle". Female echidnas lay eggs and in around 10 days eggs hatch. Puggles stay in the female’s pouch for another 6 - 7 weeks until the spines grow in. Young are weaned after around seven months.

## Population

### Population threats

Humans are the main factor in diminishing populations of Eastern long-beaked echidnas. Locals often prey upon them for food. Feral dogs are known to occasionally consume this species. Deforestation is another important factor leading to the decline of Eastern long-beaked echidnas.

### Population number

The total population size of Eastern long-beaked echidnas is likely to be low and may number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

## References

https://animalia.bio/eastern-long-beaked-echidna
Richardson's Ground Squirrel

## Description

Richardson's ground squirrels were named after the Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson. They are dark brown on the upper side and tan underneath. Their tail is shorter and less bushy than in other ground squirrels, and the external ears are so short as to look more like holes in the animal's head. Their behavior is more like that of a prairie dog than a typical ground squirrel. The tail of these squirrels is constantly trembling, so they are sometimes called the "flickertails".

## Distribution

Richardson's ground squirrels are found mainly in the northern states of the United States, such as North Dakota and Montana, and in western Canada, including central and southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. They inhabit short grass prairies and sometimes adapt to suburban environments. It is not unusual to find these squirrels digging tunnels under the sidewalks and patios of urban homes.

## Behavior

Richardson's ground squirrels are social and live communally. They organize their social structure around female kinship. Females will tolerate the presence of closely related females, but they are territorial towards other individuals. These squirrels are territorial around their nest sites. The burrows of Richardson's ground squirrels are grouped closely together in colonies, and individuals give audible alarm calls when possible predators approach. In some cases, ultrasonic alarm calls are given, and are responded to by other members of the colony. Richardson's ground squirrels use two audible alarm calls, a high-pitched whistle and a 'chirp' call. The whistle is given in response to terrestrial predators, while the chirp is given in response to aerial predators such as hawks. These ground squirrels may hibernate as early as July, though the young squirrels do not hibernate until September. The males emerge from hibernation in March, and establish territories before the females emerge a couple of weeks later.

## Diet

Richardson's ground squirrels are omnivores. They feed on seeds, nuts, grains, grasses and insects. In addition, they may consume the corpses of other ground squirrels.

## Reproduction

Richardson's ground squirrels are polygynous which means that males mate with more than one females during the breeding season. Mating begins 3-5 days after hibernation, between mid-March and mid-April. Females produce one litter per year. Litter size averages 6, though the maximum size recorded is 14. The gestation period lasts around 22 days. The young are born in April or May and remain underground in the burrow around 30 days where the mother nurses, grooms and warms them. Both males and females are ready to breed when they are 11 months of age.

## Population

### Threats

There are no major threats to Richardson's ground squirrels at present.

### Number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Richardson's ground squirrel total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Nubian giraffe

The Nubian giraffe is the nominate subspecies of giraffe. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan. It is currently extinct in the wild of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Eritrea. The Nubian giraffe used to be widespread everywhere on Northeast Africa. The subspecies was listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2018 for the first time due to a 95% decline in the past 3 decades.
Eaton's pintail

Eaton's pintail is a dabbling duck of the genus Anas. It is also known as the southern pintail. The species is restricted to the island groups of Kerguelen and Crozet in the southern Indian Ocean. It resembles a small female northern pintail. It was named after the English explorer and naturalist Alfred Edmund Eaton. It is threatened by introduced species, particularly feral cats, which prey on it.
Red-Headed Rock Agama

## Description

The Red-headed rock agama is a species of lizard found in most of sub-Saharan Africa. Agama lizards can be identified by having a white underside, brown back limbs and a tail with a light stripe down the middle. The stripe on the tail typically possesses about six to seven dark patches along its side. Females, adolescents, and subordinate males have an olive-green head, while a dominant male has a blue body and yellow tail.

## Distribution

Red-headed rock agamas can be found native in countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Chad, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Madagascar. These lizards live in deserts, savannas, forests, and mountains. They also occur in urban and suburban areas.

## Behavior

Red-headed rock agamas are diurnal creatures and remain active throughout the day except for the hottest hour when even shady spots can reach 38°C (100°F). Days are spent hunting for food, and basking in the sun. Males are territorial and must fight other males to claim their space. Agamas live in social groups including a lead male, about half a dozen females, and subordinate males. Subordinate males can only gain their own group if they eliminate the existing lead male (the "cock") or establish a colony outside all other cocks' territory. The center of a cock's territory is usually marked by the presence of a physical object, such as a tree or boulder, on which the lizards congregate. In urban areas, fights between males are more common because space is at a higher premium.

## Diet

Red-headed rock agamas are primarily insectivores. The diest includes grasshoppers, ant, beetles, and termites. They also may eat berries, flowers, fruits, seeds, eggs, grasses, reptiles, and small mammals.

## Reproduction

Red-headed rock agamas are polygynous and only the cock is allowed to mate with the females in his territory. These lizards usually reproduce during the wet season, but can also reproduce year-round in areas that receive constant rainfall. After fertilization and when she is ready, the female will dig a hole 5 cm deep with her snout and claws in sandy, wet/damp soil that is covered with grasses or other plants and which receives sunlight during most of the day. Once finished, the female will lay a clutch of 5 to 7 eggs that hatch within a period of 8-10 weeks. Red-headed rock agamas have thermoregulated embryos, so all male eggs will have a temperature of 29°C, while female eggs will be in the range 26–27°C. After hatching, the offspring will measure 3.7-3.8 cm snout-vent, plus their 7.5-cm tail. They are independent at birth. Females reach reproductive maturity at 14-18 months, while males take 2 years.

## Population

### Threats

There are no known threats facing Red-headed rock agamas at present.
Swamp Rabbit

## Description

Swamp rabbits are large cottontail rabbits found in the wetlands of the southern United States. Their head and back are typically dark or rusty brown or black, while the throat, ventral surface, and tail are white, and there is a cinnamon-colored ring around the eye. Male Swamp rabbits are usually slightly larger than females.

## Distribution

Swamp rabbits are found in much of the south-central United States and along the Gulf coast. They are most abundant in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, but also occur in South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia. They prefer to live close to lowland water, often in cypress swamps, marshland, floodplain, and river tributaries.

## Behavior

Swamp rabbits are solitary territorial animals. They spend much of their time in depressions which they dig in tall grass or leaves, providing cover while they wait until the nighttime to forage. Although they feed mainly at night rain showers often cause them to feed during the daytime as well. Swap rabbits have a strong preference for wet areas and are excellent swimmers. They have several adaptations to avoid predators: cryptic coloration, "freezing", and rapid, irregular jumping patterns. They will also get into the water and lay still surrounded by brush or plant debris with only their nose visible.

## Diet

Swamp rabbits are herbivorous (graminivores, folivores)); they eat grasses, sedges, shrubs, tree bark seedlings, and twigs.

## Reproduction

Swamp rabbits are polygynandrous (promiscuous) meaning that both males and females have multiple mates. Breeding season varies widely across the range but usually takes place anywhere between February and August, and can occur year-round in Texas. The gestation period lasts 35 to 40 days and females can have 1 to 3 litters a year with each litter consisting of 4 to 6 young. The nests in which the young are born consist of a slight depression in the earth that is filled with grasses mixed with rabbit hair. The young are altricial; they have well-developed fur but their eyes are closed and they are immobile. Their eyes open by day 3 and they begin walking. The young are usually weaned after about 15 days of age and are ready to leave their nest. They become reproductively mature at 7 months of age and reach adult weight 3 months later.

## Population

### Threats

Swamp rabbits are not endangered at present, however, they suffer greatly from the loss of their native habitat. They are also hunted for fur, meat, and sport, and are the second-most commonly hunted rabbits in the United States.

### Number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Swamp rabbit total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

### Ecological niche

Swamp rabbits play an important role in their ecosystem. Due to their diet habits, they influence plant communities and keep them grow healthy. Swamp rabbits are also an important prey item for local predators, especially during snowy/wintry seasons.
Ortolan Bunting

## Description

The Ortolan bunting is a small seed-eating songbird found in Europe and Western Asia. The bird is widely used in French cuisine and due to this, its French populations dropped dangerously low, leading to laws restricting its use in 1999.

## Distribution

Ortolan buntings are native to most European countries and western Asia. Their range reaches as far north as Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle. These birds are far-distant migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Ortolan buntings inhabit an open landscape with trees, sparse shrubs, and not very dense grassy vegetation. They prefer forest edges and thickets of bushes among the fields. These birds can also be found in gardens and cultivated areas.

## Behavior

Ortolan buntings are generally solitary, however, during the breeding season they may gather in small groups at important feeding spots. They are active during the day spending most of their time foraging. They hop along the ground in search of seeds and walk or run when pursuing beetles and other insects. If disturbed Ortolans usually fly to a low branch or fence. Their common call is a short "tsi" sound and the song of the males resembles that of the Yellowhammer but gentler and more melodic.

## Diet

Ortolan buntings are herbivores (granivores) and carnivores (insectivores). They feed mainly on seeds but during the breeding season will switch their diet to various insects.

## Reproduction

Ortolan buntings breed between mid-April and early June. They nest in separate pairs at a considerable distance from each other. However, sometimes pairs may nest together. Ortolans place their nest on the ground, hiding it in crops of cultivated cereals, perennial grasses, among the sparse grassy vegetation under a small bush or a bunch of grass. The nest is built from dry stems and leaves of cereals, thin roots, occasionally dry leaves. It is lined with roots, horsehair, and sometimes with feathers. The female lays 4-5 eggs and incubates them for about 11-12 days. The chicks hatch blind, helpless, and are fed and brooded by both parents. They remain in the nest for 10-13 days and start to learn flying a few days later.

## Population

### Threats

The main threats to the Ortolan buntings include habitat loss which leads to the lack of suitable foraging and nesting areas, the use of insecticides in agricultural areas where these birds typically forage, and isolation of the remaining populations due to habitat fragmentation. Ortolan buntings are also heavily hunted and trapped during their migration.

### Number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Ortolan bunting is 8,000,000-17,999,999 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 3,330,000-7,070,000 pairs, which equates to 6,660,000-14,100,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Southern lion

Panthera leo melanochaita is a lion subspecies in Southern and East Africa. In this part of Africa, lion populations are regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea, and threatened by loss of habitat and prey base, killing by local people in retaliation for loss of livestock, and in several countries also by trophy hunting. Since the turn of the 21st century, lion populations in intensively managed protected areas in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have increased, but declined in East African range countries. In 2005, a Lion Conservation Strategy was developed for East and Southern Africa. The type specimen for P. l. melanochaita was a black-maned lion from the Cape of Good Hope, known as the Cape lion. Phylogeographic analysis of lion samples from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo indicate their close genetic relation to P. l. melanochaita samples from Namibia and Botswana.
Parasitic jaeger

## Description

The parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus ), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. The word "jaeger" is derived from the German word Jäger, meaning "hunter". The English "skua" comes from the Faroese name skúgvur for the great skua, with the island of Skúvoy known for its colony of that bird. The general Faroese term for skuas is kjógvi. The genus name Stercorarius is Latin and means "of dung"; the food disgorged by other birds when pursued by skuas was once thought to be excrement. The specific parasiticus is from Latin and means "parasitic".

## Appearance

Identification is complicated by similarities to long-tailed jaeger and pomarine jaeger, and the existence of three colour morphs. Small for a skua, the parasitic jaeger measures 41–48 cm (16–19 in) in length, 107–125 cm (42–49 in) in wingspan and weighs 300–650 g (11 oz – 1 lb 7 oz). The tail streamer of the breeding adult accounts for about 7 cm (3 in) of their length. Light-morph adults have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a pointed central tail projection. Dark-morph adults are dark brown, and intermediate-phase birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All morphs have the white wing flash.

Identification of juveniles is even more problematic, and it is difficult to separate parasitic jaegers from long-tailed jaegers. Parasitic jaegers are bulkier, shorter-winged, and less tern-like than long-tailed jaegers. They are usually warmer toned, with browner shades, rather than grey. However, they show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more falcon-like.

The typical call of these birds is a nasal mewing sound, repeated a few times in display. Their alarm call is a shorter sound.

## Diet

This bird will feed on rodents, insects, eggs, chicks and small birds in the breeding season, but the majority of its diet (especially in winter and on migration) is made up of food that it acquires by robbing other birds (primarily gulls and terns) of their catches in an act called kleptoparasitism.

## Reproduction

This species breeds in the north of Eurasia and North America, with significant populations as far south as northern Scotland. It nests on dry tundra, higher fells and islands, laying up to four olive-brown eggs. It is usually silent except for mewing and wailing notes while on the breeding grounds. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or fox approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, it is a frightening and painful experience. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropics and southern oceans.

In the British Isles, they breed in Shetland and Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Sutherland, Caithness, and some islands in Argyll.

## Population

### Population number

In 2018, Stercorarius parasiticus was regionally uplisted to Endangered in Iceland, from Least Concern in 2000, after their numbers declined drastically in the early 2000s.
Rock Monitor

## Description

The Rock monitor is a large heavy-bodied lizard native to Africa. Its head and neck are the same length and are distinct from each other. The bulbous, convex snout gives an angular, box-like appearance. The forked tongue is pink or bluish, and the body scales are usually a mottled gray-brown with yellowish or white markings.

## Distribution

Rock monitors are found in Central Africa, Southern Africa, the African Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa. They live in a variety of dry habitats, including steppes, prairies, and savannahs, but are absent from desert interiors, rainforests, and thick scrub forests.

## Behavior

Rock monitors lead a solitary life and live in tunnels which they dig themselves or in burrows abandoned by other animals. They may also take shelter in tree holes or rock crevices. Rock monitors feed by day on a broad variety of prey and are not averse to occasionally scavenge the corpses of vertebrates, even those as large as vervet monkeys; these are sometimes torn to pieces by "death rolling" prior to consumption.

## Diet

Rock monitors are carnivores and scavengers. They eat primarily invertebrates, especially millipedes, beetles, mollusks, and orthopterans. Tortoises also make up a significant part of their diet and are swallowed whole due to the hard shell.

## Reproduction

Rock monitors breed between October and November and females lay 8-50 eggs in a hole they dig in moist soil or in a hollow tree.

## Population

### Threats

These large lizards suffer from habitat destruction and from hunting for their skin, meat and are frequently used in traditional medicines by local people.

### Number

Presently, the Rock monitor is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.

## Fun Facts

The Rock monitor is the heaviest-bodied lizard in Africa. It is also the second longest African lizard after the Nile monitor.

The scientific name of this lizard is roughly translated as a monitor with a white throat.

The Rock monitor is locally called leguaan or likkewaan.

Rock monitors are quite intelligent lizards. They have demonstrated the ability to count as high as six in an experiment conducted by Dr. John Philips at the San Diego Zoo in 1999. Philips offered varying numbers of snails, and the monitors were able to distinguish numbers whenever one was missing.

It is suggested that the English name, monitor, may have been appeared due to the occasional habit of these lizards to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor", or perhaps from their supposed habit of "warning persons of the approach of venomous animals".
Purple Finch

## Description

The purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus ) is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae.

## Appearance

The Purple finch is a small bird found in North America. Adults of this species have short forked brown tails and brown wings. Adult males are raspberry red on the head, breast, back, and rump; their back is streaked. Adult females have light brown upperparts and white underparts with dark brown streaks throughout; they have a white line on the face above the eye.

## Distribution

Purple fiches occur in Canada and the northeastern United States. Birds from northern Canada migrate to the southern United States; other birds are permanent residents. Purple finches prefer to breed in coniferous and mixed forests. They can also be found in various wooded and semi-open areas, including suburbs and overgrown fields, avoiding more heavily populated urban areas, but sometimes found in rural residential areas.

## Behavior

During the winter time, Purple finches are social and often spend time in flocks that may contain different species. With the start of the breeding season, these birds become territorial. Purple finches forage by day in trees and bushes, and sometimes in ground vegetation. In order to communicate with each other, they make a distinctive “tick” call in flight and their song is a rich musical warble.

## Diet

Purple finches have a herbivorous (granivorous) and carnivorous (insectivorous) diet. They mainly eat seeds, insects, and sometimes berries. They are fond of sunflower seeds, millet, and thistle.

## Reproduction

Purple finches have a monogamous mating system and form pairs. They usually nest on a horizontal branch or in a fork of a tree. The female is responsible for building her nest; it is shaped like an open cup, made up of rootlets, twigs, and weeds, and lined with grass, hair, and moss. The female lays between 3 and 6 eggs and incubates them for about 13 days. The chicks hatch altricial and both parents feed them until they are ready to leave the nest in about 2 weeks after hatching.

## Population

### Population threats

This species is not considered threatened at present.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Purple finch total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

## Fun Facts

The Purple finch is the state bird of New Hampshire.

In 1763, Richard Brookes described the female Purple finch in Mexico with the name of "chiantototl" which is translated as “chia seed bird”.

Purple finches sometimes like to add the sounds of other birds in their songs.
Sunda Leopard Cat

## Description

The Sunda leopard cat is a small wild cat found only in Southeast Asia. It has brown round spots on grey-brown colored fur above and whitish underneath, a line from above each eye towards the back, and longish spots on the back. Its small head is marked with two prominent dark stripes and a short and narrow white muzzle. There are two dark stripes running from the eyes to the ears, and smaller white streaks running from the eyes to the nose. The backs of its moderately long and rounded ears are black with central white spots. Body and limbs are marked with black spots of varying size and color, and along its back are three rows of elongated spots that join into complete stripes in some subspecies. The tail is about half the size of its head-body length and is spotted with a few indistinct rings near the black tip. The background color of the spotted fur varies from light grey to ochre tawny, with a white chest and belly.

## Distribution

Sunda leopard cats live on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali, Tebingtinggi, Palawan, Negros, Cebu and Panay. Their natural habitat is lowland tropical evergreen forest, but these cats have also adapted to human-modified landscapes with suitable vegetation cover; these may include agricultural areas such as rubber, oil palm, and sugarcane plantations.

## Behavior

Sunda leopard cats are nocturnal animals. They spend most of their time on the ground but will readily climb trees and even swim when hunting. They prey using both their hearing and vision. Sunda leopard cats are solitary and very territorial. Males have larger home ranges than females, and each male's range overlaps one or more female ranges.

## Diet

Sunda leopard cats are carnivores. Their diet includes rodents, beetles, lizards, snakes, and frogs. To a lesser extent, they also prey on amphibians, geckos, and small birds.

## Reproduction

There is no information regarding the mating system and reproduction of this species.

## Population

### Population threats

The Sunda leopard cat is threatened by collection for exotic trade and by habitat loss following deforestation.

### Population number

Presently, the Sunda leopard cat is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
Sri Lankan leopard

The Sri Lankan leopard is a leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. It was first described in 1956 by Sri Lankan zoologist Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala. Since 2020, the Sri Lankan leopard has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as the population is estimated at less than 800 mature individuals, and is probably declining.
Slowworm

## Description

The Slowworm is a legless lizard native to Eurasia. The skin of Slowworms is golden-grey in color; it is smooth with scales that do not overlap one another. Females often have a stripe along the spine and dark sides, while males may have blue spots dorsally. Juveniles of both sexes are gold in color with dark brown bellies and sides with a dark stripe along the spine. Although these lizards are often mistaken for snakes, a number of features differentiate them. The most important one is that they have small eyes with eyelids that, like other lizards, blink. Unlike snakes, they may also have visible ears. They shed their skin in patches, whereas most snakes shed their skins whole. Slowworms may also shed their tails (autotomy) as a defense mechanism, by breaking one of their tail vertebrae in half.

## Distribution

Slowworms are found throughout much of Europe and in parts of Central and Western Asia. They live in grassland, shrubland, woodland, heathland, at the forest edge and rural gardens.

## Behavior

Slowworms are semifossorial (burrowing) lizards. They are mostly active during the twilight and occasionally bask in the sun, but are more often found hiding beneath rocks and logs. Slowworms hibernate during the winter, usually from October to early March. They hibernate underground, either alone or sometimes communally with other slowworms.

## Diet

These lizards are carnivorous and feed on slugs and worms.

## Reproduction

Slowworms are polygynandrous (promiscuous) creatures which means that both males and females have multiple partners in a single breeding season. Their mating season takes place in March-May when slowworms emerge from hibernation. They are ovoviviparous and females give birth to 3-20 live young. The gestation period lasts around 3-5 months. In the days leading up to birth, the female can often be seen basking in the sun on a warm road.

## Population

### Population threats

Slowworms are threatened by the loss of habitat. They are also killed on roads and suffer from predation by the domestic cat, against which they have no defense.

### Population number

According to IUCN, the Slowworm is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.

### Ecological niche

Due to their diet habits, Slowworms are important predators of invertebrates in the soil and help remove pest insects. They are also a prey species for local predators such as snakes and birds of prey.
Pesquet's Parrot

## Description

Pesquet's parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus ), also known as the Dracula parrot or as the vulturine parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil), is the only member of its genus. It is endemic to hill and montane rainforest in New Guinea.

## Appearance

The Pesquet's parrot is a large unique-looking parrot that can be found only in New Guinea. it is the only member of its genus. Its plumage is black, with greyish scaling to the chest, and a red belly, upper tail coverts, and wing panels. The adult male has a red spot behind the eye, which is not seen in the adult female. Compared to most other parrots it appears unusually small-headed, in part due to the bare black facial skin and the relatively long, hooked bill. This rather vulture-like profile is the reason behind its alternative common name.

## Distribution

Pesquet's parrots are native to New Guinea where they inhabit the hill and montane rainforest.

## Behavior

Pesquet's parrots are active during the day and are usually seen in pairs or groups of up to 20 individuals. They are quite noisy spending time feeding, flying above the canopy, or resting in the higher branches of trees. These birds are strong flyers and in flight, they alternate between rapid flapping and short glides. Pesquet's parrots do not migrate but in some parts of their range, they can perform some seasonal movements in search of better feeding areas.

## Diet

Pesquet's parrots are herbivores (frugivores) and eat almost exclusively a few species of figs. They may also feed on blossoms, flowers, and nectar.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the breeding habits of Pesquet's parrots in the wild. Typically they lay two eggs in a nest in a large, hollow tree. The female incubates the eggs for about 27-31 days while the male feeds her at this time. Chicks hatch naked, blind, and helpless.

## Population

### Population threats

The main threat to the Pesquet's parrot is hunting for its highly prized feathers, for the cage bird trade, and for food. Habitat loss due to deforestation is another serious threat to this species.

### Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Pesquet's parrot is 20,000-49,999 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.