recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Western Long-Beaked Echidna

## Description

The western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii ) is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. Originally described as Tachyglossus bruijnii, this is the type species of Zaglossus.

## Appearance

The Western long-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal that lives in New Guinea. It is larger than the short-beaked species and its snout is longer and turns downward. The spines are almost indistinguishable from the long fur. It is also distinguished from the other long-beaked echidnas by the number of claws on the fore and hind feet: three (rarely four).

## Distribution

Western long-beaked echidnas are found in the Bird's Head Peninsula and Foja Mountains of West Papua and Papua provinces, Indonesia; they are absent from the southern lowlands and north coast. The preferred habitats of these animals are alpine meadows and humid montane forests.

## Behavior

Western long-beaked echidnas are very secretive and are extremely difficult to locate. They are thought to be solitary creatures. During the day they typically rest in their burrows, and at night come out to forage on the forest floor for earthworms. Western long-beaked echidnas move slowly, with their head lowered to the ground. If a stone or a log comes across on their path they prefer to climb over it, rather than pass it by. When feeling threatened long-beaked echidnas will hide or crouch, bending their beak under their body and expose the needles outward.

## Diet

Western long-beaked echidnas are carnivores and feed mainly on earthworms.

## Reproduction

The breeding season of Western long-beaked echidnas starts in July. The female has a temporary abdominal brood patch, in which its single egg is incubated and in which the newborn young remains in safety, feeding, and developing. The altricial (helpless) young hatches after about 10 days and is fed by the female for up to 6 months.

## Population

### Population threats

Western long-beaked echidnas are threatened by human activities including habitat loss and hunting. These animals are also considered a delicacy, and although commercial hunting of the species has been banned by the Indonesian and Papua New Guinean governments, traditional hunting is still permitted.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Western long-beaked echidna total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

## References

https://animalia.bio/western-long-beaked-echidna
Short-tailed shearwater

## Description

The short-tailed shearwater or slender-billed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris ; formerly Puffinus tenuirostris ), also called yolla or moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australian waters, and is one of the few Australian native birds in which the chicks are commercially harvested. It is a migratory species that breeds mainly on small islands in Bass Strait and Tasmania and migrates to the Northern Hemisphere for the boreal summer.

## Behavior

Each austral winter, the shearwaters migrate to the seas off the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka. In the austral spring, they travel down the coast of California before crossing the Pacific back to Australia.

ir parents. In Tasmania, and especially on the muttonbird islands of the Furneaux Group, the chicks are harvested at this time for food and oil. The largest population in the world (2.8 million pairs - about 12% of the species) seems to be located on Babel Island. Adult birds foraging for food on the open ocean mistake plastic debris for food and then feed it to their chicks. This ingested plastic, as well as other factors, likely contribute to contamination of chicks.Thousands of Short-tailed shearwater fledglings are attracted to artificial lights during their maiden flights from nests to the open ocean. Fledglings are vulnerable to injury or death by collisions with human infrastructure and once grounded, to predation or becoming road casualties.

## Migration

Each austral winter, the shearwaters migrate to the seas off the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka. In the austral spring, they travel down the coast of California before crossing the Pacific back to Australia.

In 2020, a long distance vagrant was found in Ireland. This marked the first confirmed sighting of the species in the Western Palearctic. It was taken to a rehabilitation center and subsequently died; it is now deposited at the Natural History Museum of Ireland.

## References

https://animalia.bio/short-tailed-shearwater
Sumatran tiger

The Sumatran tiger is a population of Panthera tigris sondaica on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This population was listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2008, as it was estimated at 441 to 679 individuals, with no subpopulation larger than 50 individuals and a declining trend. The Sumatran tiger is the only surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands, where the Bali and Javan tigers are extinct. Sequences from complete mitochondrial genes of 34 tigers support the hypothesis that Sumatran tigers are diagnostically distinct from mainland subspecies. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the Cat Specialist Group revised felid taxonomy and recognizes the living and extinct tiger populations in Indonesia as P. t. sondaica.
Northern lion

Panthera leo leo is a lion subspecies, which is present in West Africa, northern Central Africa and India. In West and Central Africa it is restricted to fragmented and isolated populations with a declining trajectory. It has been referred to as the 'Northern lion'. Results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in West and Central African range countries are genetically close to populations in India, forming a major clade distinct from lion populations in Southern and East Africa. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group subsumed lion populations according to the major clades into two subspecies, namely P. l. leo and P. l. melanochaita. Within P. l. leo three subclades are clearly distinguishable. One from Asia, which includes the extinct Barbary lions of North Africa, another one from West Africa and a third one from Central Africa, north of the rainforest belt. P. l. leo is regionally extinct in North Africa, southern Europe, and West Asia. Asia's sole lion population lives in and around Gir National Park, India. The West African lion population is geographically isolated and numbers fewer than 250 mature individuals. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Pygmy three-toed sloth

The pygmy three-toed sloth, also known as the monk sloth or dwarf sloth, is a sloth endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small island off the Caribbean coast of Panama. The species was first described by Robert P. Anderson of the University of Kansas and Charles O. Handley Jr., of the Smithsonian Institution in 2001. The pygmy three-toed sloth is significantly smaller than the other three members of its genus, but otherwise resembles the brown-throated three-toed sloth. According to Anderson and Handley Jr., the head-and-body length is between 48 and 53 centimetres, and the body mass ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kg . This sloth, like other sloths, is arboreal and feeds on leaves. It has a body adapted to hang by its limbs; the large curved claws help the sloth to keep a strong grip on tree branches. It lives high in the canopy but descends once a week to defecate on the forest floor. It is symbiotically associated with green algae, that can provide it with a camouflage. Details of mating behavior and reproduction have not been documented. The pygmy three-toed sloth is found exclusively in the red mangroves of Isla Escudos de Veraguas, restricted to an area of 4.3 square kilometres . A 2012 census of pygmy three-toed sloths estimated the total population at 79. The IUCN lists the pygmy three-toed sloth as critically endangered and they are listed on the world's 100 most threatened species.
Panamanian golden frog

The Panamanian golden frog, also known as Cerro Campana stubfoot toad and other names, is a species of toad endemic to Panama. Panamanian golden frogs inhabit the streams along the mountainous slopes of the Cordilleran cloud forests of west-central Panama. While the IUCN lists it as critically endangered, it may in fact have been extinct in the wild since 2007. Individuals have been collected for breeding in captivity in a bid to preserve the species. The alternative common name, Zetek's golden frog, and the epithet zeteki both commemorate the entomologist James Zetek.
Willow Warbler

## Description

The Willow warbler is a small insectivorous songbird. It is greenish brown above and off-white to yellowish below; the wings are plain greenish-brown with no wingbars. Juveniles are yellower below than adults. Willow warblers are very similar to the chiffchaffs, but non-singing birds can be distinguished from that species by their paler pinkish-yellow legs (dark brown to blackish in chiffchaff), longer paler bill, more elegant shape and longer primary projection (wingtip).

## Distribution

Willow warblers breed throughout Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. They are strongly migratory and almost all of the population winters in sub-Saharan Africa. Willow warblers inhabit open woodlands with trees and ground cover for nesting, including most importantly birch, alder, and willow habitats. They also frequent gardens, orchards, hedges, and pastures.

## Behavior

Willow warblers are diurnal and hunt their prey during the day. When not foraging they are usually seen singly sitting on branches singing. Their song is a simple repetitive descending whistle, while the contact call is a disyllabic 'hoo-eet'.

## Diet

Willow warblers are carnivores (insectivores). Their diet consists of various small insects and spiders. In autumn they will also eat fruits and berries.

## Reproduction

Willow warblers are monogamous and form pairs, however, some males may pair up with more than one female. These birds breed from April to July. They build their nests in close contact with the ground, often in low vegetation. The female lays 4-8 eggs and incubates them alone. The chicks hatch naked and blind and for the first 10-11 days are fed by both parents.

## Population

### Population threats

Willow warblers are not threatened at present but they suffer from habitat loss and droughts.

### Population number

According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Willow warbler is 413,000,000-647,000,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 62,200,000-97,100,000 pairs, which equates to 124,000,000-194,000,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
White-Lipped Peccary

## Description

White-lipped peccaries are generally brown or black in color. Their coat is bristly and hairs that run down the spine make a crest, which stands up when the peccary becomes excited. Peccaries have a round body with a long snout. They have white markings that start below the snout and run to the cheek area just below the eyes. Young peccaries are grey, reddish, or dark in color, sometimes with a white throat.

## Distribution

White-lipped peccaries are found in Central and South America. They are native to Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. These animals live in dense, humid, tropical forests, and can also be found in a wide range of other habitats such as dry forests, grasslands, mangroves, Cerrado, and dry xerophytic areas.

## Behavior

White-lipped peccaries are active during the day, more specifically in the mornings and afternoons. They live in herds that number 20-300 individuals, including both males and females, and cases have been reported of herds reaching 2000 peccaries. These animals can spend up to two-thirds of their day traveling and feeding. They also like to wallow in the mud. Often, peccaries can be smelled before seen because they give off a skunk-like odor. When these animals roam in their range land, they can be very loud, clattering their teeth and grunting to one another to communicate and stay within the herd. They communicate with olfactory, acoustic, and physical contact to keep together in the herd. When cornered or feel threatened White-lipped peccaries become aggressive; they give off a loud “bark” and show off their teeth in an attempt to avoid conflict.

## Diet

White-lipped peccaries are omnivores and feed on fruits, nuts, vegetation, and small amounts of animal matter.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the mating system in White-lipped peccaries. These animals can breed throughout the year depending on location. The breeding season is extremely variable due to the fruiting season and consists of two distinct peaks in areas such as Costa Rica, one occurring in February and one in July. Mexico has distinct breeding seasons in April and November. Females give birth to 1-4 piglets after the gestation period that lasts around 156-162 days. Piglets can run within a few hours after birth and are weaned by six months of age. They become reproductively mature between one and two years of age.

## Population

### Threats

The main threats to White-lipped peccaries' survival are deforestation and hunting. Destruction and subdivision of their natural range can have devastating effects on their population. Loss of habitat can lead to exposure for poachers, who can easily kill many peccaries at one time.

### Number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the White-lipped peccary total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Olm

The olm or proteus is an aquatic salamander in the family Proteidae, the only exclusively cave-dwelling chordate species found in Europe. In contrast to most amphibians, it is entirely aquatic; it eats, sleeps, and breeds underwater. Living in caves found in the Dinaric Alps, it is endemic to the waters that flow underground through the extensive limestone bedrock of the karst of Central and Southeastern Europe, specifically southern Slovenia, the basin of the Soča River near Trieste, Italy, southwestern Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Introduced populations are found near Vicenza, Italy, and Kranj, Slovenia. It is also called the "human fish" by locals because of its fleshy skin color, as well as "cave salamander" or "white salamander". In Slovenia, it is also known by the name močeril . It was first mentioned in 1689 by the local naturalist Valvasor in his Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, who reported that, after heavy rains, the olms were washed up from the underground waters and were believed by local people to be a cave dragon's offspring. This cave salamander is most notable for its adaptations to a life of complete darkness in its underground habitat. The olm's eyes are undeveloped, leaving it blind, while its other senses, particularly those of smell and hearing, are acutely developed. It also lacks any pigmentation in its skin. It has three toes on its forelimbs, but only two toes on its hind feet. It also exhibits neoteny, retaining larval characteristics like external gills into adulthood, like some American amphibians, the axolotl and the mudpuppies . The olm is the only species in the genus Proteus and the only European species of the family Proteidae, whose other extant genus is Necturus.
Western lowland gorilla

The western lowland gorilla is one of two subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary and secondary forest and lowland swampland in central Africa in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the nominate subspecies of the western gorilla, and the smallest of the four gorilla subspecies. The western lowland gorilla is the only subspecies kept in zoos with the exception of Amahoro, a female eastern lowland gorilla at Antwerp Zoo, and a few mountain gorillas kept captive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Red-Necked Pademelon

## Description

The red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis ) is a forest-dwelling marsupial living in the eastern coastal region of Australia.

## Appearance

Red-necked pademelons are forest-dwelling marsupials. They are brown-grey in color with a cream underbelly and a red-tinted neck and shoulders. Their tail is short and thick. It is rounded and lightly furred.

## Distribution

Red-necked pademelons live in the eastern coastal region of Australia. They can be found from eastern Queensland to the mid-coast of New South Wales. These pademelons live in thick scrub or grassland areas, rainforests and eucalyptus forests.

## Behavior

Red-necked pademelons are nocturnal solitary creatures. Sometimes they may form small groups. They are very shy and generally hide in the forests by day and emerge into the grasslands to graze in the dusk. They will sleep during most of the day in leaf litter and when it is cold they come out to bask in the sun. To communicate with each other Red-necked pademelons use different clicks and thump their hind feet.

## Diet

Red-necked pademelons are herbivorous (folivore). They graze on grass, roots leaves, and bark.

## Reproduction

Little information is known about the reproductive system in Red-necked pademelons. They are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. Breeding season takes place in the autumn and spring in northern Australia, and in the summer in southern Australia. Females usually give birth to a single baby. Gestation lasts around 30 days. After that, the tiny baby must climb up through its mother's fur into her pouch, where it can be nursed. The baby stays in its mother's pouch for protection and feeding. Leaving the pouch is a slow process, and during that time, females continue to nurse, groom, and protect their babies. Red-necked pademelons reach reproductive maturity at 18 months of age.

## Population

### Population threats

Habitat destruction, particularly through land clearance of native vegetation for agriculture, dairying, and forestry, is currently the largest threat to Red-necked pademelons.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Red-necked pademelon total population size, but this animal is common throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable.

## References

https://animalia.bio/red-necked-pademelon
Oriental Ratsnake

## Description

The Oriental ratsnake is a large snake found in parts of South and Southeast Asia. Their color varies from pale browns in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest areas. These are non-venomous and fast-moving snakes. They eat a variety of prey and are frequently found in urban areas where rodents thrive.

## Distribution

Oriental ratsnakes are found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China (Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan), India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bali), Iran, Laos, West Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan (Sindh area), Thailand, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Nepal. They inhabit forest floors, wetlands, rice paddies, farmland, and suburban areas.

## Behavior

Oriental ratsnakes are solitary creatures. They are diurnal and semi-arboreal. Although these snakes are harmless to humans, they are fast-moving and very excitable. In captivity individuals remain highly territorial and may continue to defend their turf aggressively, attempting to startle or strike at passing objects. When threatened, adults emit a growling sound and inflate their necks. If captured, they will try to bite.

## Diet

Oriental ratsnakes are carnivores. They prey upon small reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.

## Reproduction

Oriental ratsnakes mate in late spring and early summer, though in tropical areas reproduction may take place year-round. During this time males establish boundaries of territory using a ritualized test of strength in which they intertwine their bodies. The behavior is sometimes misread by observers as a 'mating dance' between opposite-sex individuals. Females produce 6-15 eggs per clutch several weeks after mating. The incubation period lasts around 60 days. The young measure 36-41 cm in total length and are completely independent at birth.

## Population

### Threats

Oriental ratsnakes are aggressively hunted by humans in some areas of their range for skins and meat. Due to their defensive behavior, Oriental ratsnakes often resemble the King cobra or Indian cobra; this often backfires in human settlements, though, as the harmless animal is then mistaken for a venomous snake and killed.
Spiny Bush Viper

## Description

The Spiny bush viper is a venomous snake native to Africa. It is known for its extremely keeled dorsal scales that give a unique 'shaggy' idea to its skin, almost bristly appearance. The scales around the head and neck are the longest, decreasing posteriorly. Spiny bush vipers vary in color and can be green, olive green, bluish, or brownish with a yellow or pale olive belly. The males of this species are surprisingly long and slender compared to the females.

## Distribution

Spiny bush vipers are found in Central and East Africa. They occur in northern and eastern DR Congo, southwestern Uganda, western Kenya, and northwestern Tanzania. These snakes inhabit tropical dry forests and rainforests with flowering bushes.

## Behavior

Spiny bush vipers are solitary and nocturnal creatures that typically spend the daytime basking on top of flowering bushy plants. They are also capable of climbing reeds and stalks and hang upsidedown from tree branches. Spiny bush vipers are ambush predators; they usually hunt their prey perching in trees but may sometimes feed on mammals hiding in foliage on the ground.

## Diet

Spiny bush vipers are carnivores. Their diet typically consists of mammals, frogs, lizards, and sometimes birds.

## Reproduction

Spiny bush vipers breed during the rainy season between the late summer and October. After the gestation period of 6 to 7 months, females give birth to up to 12 young at a time. Newborns are about 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length and are dark green in color. They are independent at birth and become reproductively mature between 2 and 3 years of age.

## Population

### Threats

There are no known threats that face Spiny bush vipers at present.

### Number

Presently, the Spiny bush viper is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
Northern royal albatross

The northern royal albatross or toroa, Diomedea sanfordi, is a large seabird in the albatross family. It was split from the closely related southern royal albatross as recently as 1998, though not all scientists support that conclusion and some consider both of them to be subspecies of the royal albatross.
Scottish wildcat

The Scottish wildcat is a European wildcat population in Scotland. It is estimated to comprise between 1,000 and 4,000 individuals, of which about 400 cats are thought to meet the morphological and genetic criteria of a wildcat. The Scottish wildcat was once widely distributed across Great Britain, but the population has declined drastically since the turn of the 20th century due to habitat loss and persecution. It is now limited to northern and eastern Scotland. It is listed as Critically Endangered in the United Kingdom, and is primarily threatened by hybridization with domestic cats . Camera-trapping surveys carried out in the Scottish Highlands between 2010 and 2013 revealed that wildcats live foremost in mixed woodland, whereas feral and domestic cats were photographed mostly in grasslands.
Pretty-Faced Wallaby

## Description

The whiptail wallaby (Notamacropus parryi ), also known as the pretty-faced wallaby, is a species of wallaby found in eastern Australia. It is locally common from Cooktown in Queensland to near Grafton in New South Wales.

## Appearance

Pretty-faced wallabies are distinguished by their paler colouring and white stripe under the faces. Their faces have a chocolate-brown fur covering their muzzle. Pretty-faced wallabies are black and white on their chests and the rest fur is grey to brown. They have long tails which are often equal or exceed the length of their body and head combined.

## Behavior

Pretty-faced wallabies are primarily diurnal creatures. They are active in the morning and late in the afternoon but may also stay active during the night. Pretty-faced wallabies are social animals. They sometimes come together in mobs of up to 50. These wallabies live in a home range of up to 110 hectares. The mob usually gathers in the afternoon during feeding. Some home ranges may overlap with others and the member of the mob take turns resting and guarding. The mobs contain all ages and sexes throughout the year, but very rare all members of a mob stay together at one time. Mobs often split into continually changing subgroups of fewer than 10 animals. Wallaby mobs have a linear hierarchy that is determined by ritualized non-violent “pawing”. They may also pull grass and will cough to show submission.

## Diet

Pretty-faces wallabies are herbivores. In grasslands, they primarily graze on kangaroo grass. They will also eat monocots in nearby creeks.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of Pretty-faced wallabies. It is known that the most dominant males mate with the females. These wallabies give birth to a single young, usually around January. The gestation period lasts around 34-38 days. Joeys stay in their mother’s pouches for the first 9 months. When they leave they will still stay with mothers for up to 18 months. In some other species of wallaby, a mother forcibly removes her young when the time is right, but the Pretty-faced wallaby joey leaves the protective pouch on its own. He will follow his mother continuously and will not hide in vegetation. Females in this species become mature between 18-24 months of age and males become mature at over 2 years of age.

## Population

### Population threats

There appear to be no major threats to Pretty-faced wallabies, although land clearing has probably resulted in the loss of suitable habitat and certainly has been responsible for range contraction at the southern end of their range. This species is also commercially harvested in Queensland.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Pretty-faced wallaby total population size. This animal is common throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable.

## References

https://animalia.bio/pretty-faced-wallaby
Oriental Wolf Snake

## Description

Lycodon capucinus, also known as the Oriental wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake, which is commonly found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Named after their enlarged front teeth, which gives them a muzzled appearance similar to canines, it also makes the snout somewhat more squarish than other snakes.

## Appearance

Oriental wolf snakes are small mildly venomous snakes named after their enlarged front teeth, which give them a muzzled appearance similar to canines. Their color patterns vary from one geographic location to another and the general coloration is adapted for life underground and on the forest floor. Shades of jet black, reddish-brown or dark gray with speckles, blotches, and spots of white or pale yellow scattered over the body are their usual colors. There is also a distinct white coloration around the neck. There are albino-colored ones which are very rare among this snake species. The snout of these snakes is duck-bill-shaped for digging in soft or sandy ground. Like many other colubrids, they possess true fangs near the rear of their mouths and they will use these to inject venom into their prey. However, this species is not harmful to humans.

## Distribution

Oriental wolf snakes are found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. They live in tropical rainforests, plantations, gardens, suburban and urban areas.

## Behavior

Oriental wolf snakes are home both in trees and on the ground. They love burrowing down the earth but are most often found in open ground, on rocks, or in low vegetation. They are solitary and nocturnal creatures; they are most active during the night, but may also be seen during daylight hours. Though Oriental wolf snakes are not dangerous, they are quite nervous creatures and when picked up or handled they will not hesitate to bite. They may also move their tails in a to-and-fro motion much like a rattlesnake when they feel threatened.

## Diet

Oriental wolf snakes are carnivores. They feed mainly on small lizards such as geckos and they are also among the top predators of skinks. They may also devour small frogs, if available.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the reproductive habits of Oriental wolf snakes. Generally, wolf snakes lay between 3 and 11 eggs per clutch. The young hatch fully-developed and are completely independent at birth.

## Population

### Population threats

Although Oriental wolf snakes are common throughout their range they are endangered in numerous parts of mainland Asia and peninsular Southeast Asia. The continuous destruction of primary and secondary forests, conversion of fertile lands to agricultural and residential areas as well as indiscriminate human killings can threaten the survival of this species.

### Population number

According to IUCN, the Oriental wolf snake is common 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.
Southern American Bushmaster

## Description

Southern American bushmasters are venomous pit vipers found in South America. They are the third longest venomous snakes in the world. Their head is broad and distinct from the narrow neck. The snout is broadly rounded. The color pattern consists of a yellowish, reddish or grey-brown ground color, overlaid with a series of dark brown or black dorsal blotches; these blotches form lateral inverted triangles of the same color. The lateral pattern may be precisely or indistinctly defined, normally pale at the center.

## Distribution

Southern American bushmasters occur in South America east of the Andes: Colombia, eastern Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, eastern and southern Venezuela, the island of Trinidad in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Costa Rica Surinam, French Guiana and much of Brazil. These snakes live in rainforests; adjacent fields and cleared areas. In Trinidad, they prefer hilly and mountainous regions.

## Behavior

Southern American bushmasters are very secretive and lead a solitary life. They are crepuscular and prefer to hunt after dark. Like most New World pit vipers, South American bushmasters exhibit defensive tail vibration behavior in response to potential predatory threats. They vibrate their tail vigorously when alarmed, but have no rattle and were therefore called 'mutus' (later 'muta'), which is Latin means dumb or mute. However, when in the undergrowth, their tail actually makes quite a loud rustling noise.

## Diet

Southern American bushmasters are carnivores; they eat mainly small mammals, such as rats and mice.

## Reproduction

Southern American bushmasters breed year-round. Females lay 5-19 eggs, usually in abandoned burrows. They guard their nests during incubation and only can leave briefly to drink. The incubation period lasts around 60-79 days. Hatchlings measure 30 to 50 cm at birth; they are completely independent and can take care of themselves. Young Southern American bushmasters become reproductively mature at 4 years of age.

## Population

### Threats

The main threat to Southern American bushmasters is habitat destruction caused by urbanization and the expansion of agriculture.

### Ecological niche

Since the diet of Southern American bushmasters consists mainly of rats and mice, these snakes play an important role in the ecosystem by helping reduce and control rodent populations.
Tasmanian Pademelon

## Description

The Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii ), also known as the rufous-bellied pademelon or red-bellied pademelon, is the sole species of pademelon found in Tasmania, and was formerly found throughout southeastern Australia. This pademelon has developed heavier and bushier fur than its northern relatives, which inhabit northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The scientific name honours J.J.H. Labillardier, who collected the first specimen on an expedition to what was then Van Diemen's Land in 1792. There are no recognised subspecies.

## Appearance

Tasmanian pademelons are short stocky marsupials. They have soft dark brown to grey brown fur on the back, and reddish brown or lighter brown fur on stomach. Tasmanian pademelons have a short tail and compact body. This is very useful for maneuvering through dense vegetation. The males in this species are larger than females.

## Distribution

Tasmanian pademelons are found in Tasmania and were formerly found throughout south-eastern Australia. These animals inhabit areas of dense vegetation, rainforest, sclerophyll forest, and scrubland. They also prefer wet gullies in dry open eucalyptus forest.

## Behavior

Tasmanian pademelons are solitary and nocturnal. They spend the daylight hours in thick vegetation. After dusk, the animals move onto open areas to feed, but rarely stray more than 100 metres from the forest edge. Tasmanian pademelons travel to a feeding spot each evening at dusk and in the morning they return to their homes. As many as 10 pademelons may come together for feeding but they scatter immediately when they sense danger.

## Diet

Tasmanian pademelons are herbivores. They feed on a wide variety of plants, herbs, green shoots, and grass. They also consume some nectar-bearing flowers.

## Reproduction

Tasmanian pademelons are polygynandrous (promiscuous). It means that both males and females have multiple mates. There is no specific breeding season, though 70% of pademelon births seem to occur around the beginning of winter. The gestation period lasts 30 days after which a single joey is born and makes its way into the pouch immediately. The newborn baby stays in the pouch for about 6 months and is weaned at around 8 months. Tasmanian pademelons become reproductively mature at 14-15 months of age.

## Population

### Population threats

There are no major threats to Tasmanian pademelons; howeve in parts of their range, these animals are considered to be a pest species of agricultural crops. Even so, they are abundant to the point of being culled occasionally (along with other wallabies) to reduce competition for grass with the farmed animals. Hunting of the Tasmanian pademelon is allowed, its pelt having some economic value and its meat being palatable.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Tasmanian pademelon total population size, but this animal is common and abundant throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
White-rumped vulture

The white-rumped vulture is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined. White-rumped vultures die of kidney failure caused by diclofenac poisoning. In the 1980s, the global population was estimated at several million individuals, and it was thought to be "the most abundant large bird of prey in the world". As of 2016, the global population was estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals. It is closely related to the European griffon vulture . At one time it was believed to be closer to the white-backed vulture of Africa and was known as the Oriental white-backed vulture.
White-headed vulture

The white-headed vulture is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. Populations have been declining steeply in recent years due to habitat degradation and poisoning of vultures at carcasses. An extinct relative was also present in the Indonesian island of Flores, indicating that the genus was more widespread in the past.
New Holland Mouse

## Description

The New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae ) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It was first described by George Waterhouse in 1843. It vanished from view for over a century before its rediscovery in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park north of Sydney in 1967. It is found only in south east Australia, within the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania.

## Appearance

New Holland mice are little rodents that have a grey-brown fur with a dusky-brown tail, which is darker on the dorsal side. These mice look very similar to the Common house mouse, which was introduced to the area by European settlers. However, New Holland mice have slightly larger ears and eyes and they lack a distinctive 'mousy' odor.

## Distribution

New Holland mice are found only in south east Australia, within the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. They inhabit woodlands, forests with a heathland understorey and vegetated sand dunes, and open heathlands.

## Behavior

New Holland mice are social animals. They live in burrows that are carved out by colonies of mice in softer sands. These mice are active at night and spend a majority of their time foraging.

## Diet

These omnivorous mice feed mainly on seeds above ground. Although seeds are the most prominent component of New Holland mice diet, they also consume leaves, fungi and small invertebrates.

## Reproduction

Little is known about the mating habits of New Holland mice. Young are born between the months of August and January, and their breeding patterns are based on the amount of food obtained, which depends on rainfall. Births occur in the mother’s nest during the day. Litters normally consist of 1-6 pups. During their first year of reproduction, females will normally produce only one litter a season, but during their second year they can produce up to three or four litters. Females nurse their young for 3-4 weeks. Males in this species reach reproductive maturity at around twenty weeks of age, females will mature at around thirteen weeks of age.

## Population

### Population threats

Main threats to New Holland mice are inappropriate fire regimes, habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change and habitat degradation due to weeds, livestock and non-native herbivores. The most severe and pressing danger comes directly from the threat of predators in the environment. Predation is brought upon by the natural predators in the environment. Such predators include the Red Fox, cats, and dogs. In addition to the increase of predators, an increase in competition for resources in the environment has also been noted a contributor to their decline. The competition is most frequently encountered between other species of rodents in the same habitat.

### Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of New Holland mice is around 8,000 mature individuals. This species’ numbers are decreasing and it is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.
Olive Python

## Description

The olive python (Liasis olivaceus ) is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

## Appearance

The Olive python is Australia's second-largest snake species. Its high number of dorsal scale rows, makes the skin look smoother than that of other pythons. Its color pattern is uniform chocolate brown to olive green, while the belly is usually cream-colored.

## Distribution

Olive pythons are found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. They inhabit rocky areas, gorges, and especially rocky areas near sources of water.

## Behavior

Olive pythons are solitary ground-dwelling snakes. They are active at night and during the day typically shelter in caves and rock crevices, or in hollow logs and burrows under rocks. When hunting Olive pythons prefer to lie in wait next to an animal trail to ambush their prey. They are also strong swimmers and may hunt in waterholes, striking at prey from under the water.

## Diet

Olive pythons are carnivores that feed on birds, mammals (including Rock wallabies and fruit bats), birds (ducks and Spinifex pigeons), and other reptiles. They are also known to prey on monitor lizards and crocodiles.

## Reproduction

Olive pythons start to breed in May and continue until mid-July. When successful, this is followed by a gestation period of 81-85 days, after which the female lays 12-40 eggs in late spring. The average clutch size is around 19 eggs. The hatchlings emerge after an incubation period of around 50 days, each measuring about 35 cm in length.

## Population

### Population threats

There are no major threats to the Olive python at present. However, it is occasionally confused with the venomous King brown snake and is often mistakenly killed.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Olive python total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Volcano Rabbit

## Description

The Volcano rabbit is a small endangered rabbit that lives in the mountains of Mexico. It is the world's second-smallest rabbit, second only to the pygmy rabbit. It has small rounded ears, short legs, and short, thick fur that ranges in color from brown to black.

## Distribution

Volcano rabbits are found only in Mexico. They are specifically native to four volcanoes just south and east of Mexico City, the largest of these volcanic regions is within the Izta-Popo National Park, other areas include the Chichinautzin and Pelado volcanos. Volcano rabbits are usually found at higher altitudes and occur in open pine forests, open pine woodland, and mixed alder pine forest, and grasslands. They are more abundant near tall, dense herbs and thick vegetation.

## Behavior

Volcano rabbits are social animals. They live in groups of 2 to 5 individuals in underground burrows that can be as long as 5 m and as deep as 40 cm. They also create runways among grass tussocks to navigate their habitat. The rabbits not only feed on these tall grasses but also use these plants as cover to hide from predators. Volcano rabbits are crepuscular and are highly active during twilight, dawn, and all times in between. In order to warn other rabbits of danger, they emit very high-pitched sounds instead of thumping their feet on the ground.

## Diet

Volcano rabbits are herbivores (graminivores) and feed primarily on grasses which are abundant during wet seasons. During the dry season, they typically feed on shrubs and small trees, as well as other woody plants. Their diet also includes leaves, foliage, and flowers.

## Reproduction

Volcano rabbits breed throughout the year but the peak usually occurs between March and early July. After a gestation period of 38-42 days, the female gives birth to 2-3 young per litter. Baby rabbits are born blind but covered in fur. They remain in the burrow for about 3 weeks and become reproductively mature at 4 months old.

## Population

### Threats

The main threats to the Volcano rabbit include logging, harvesting of grasses, livestock grazing, habitat destruction, urban expansion, highway construction, and too frequent forest fires. More recent threats include unsound management policies of its habitat in National Parks and outside, mainly by afforestation (planting trees in grasslands where they do not belong). These threats have resulted in a loss of 15-20% of the Volcano rabbit’s habitat during the last three generations. Hunting is another serious threat, despite the fact that it is illegal to hunt Volcano rabbits under Mexican law.

### Number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Volcano rabbit is 7,085 individuals. These include 1,811 individuals in Pelado, 1,816 individuals in Tlaloc, 3,458 individuals in Izta-Popo, and approximately 3,056 individuals for the surrounding areas. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Texas Rat Snake

## Description

The Texas rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri ) is a subspecies of rat snake, a nonvenomous colubrid found in the United States, primarily within the state of Texas, but its range extends into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It intergrades with other subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, so exact range boundaries are impossible to distinguish. The epithet lindheimeri is to honor the German-American naturalist Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer, who collected the first specimen in New Braunfels, Texas.

## Appearance

The Texas rat snake is a medium to large snake, capable of attaining lengths of 4-5 ft. They vary greatly in color and patterning throughout their range, but they are typically yellow or tan, with brown to olive-green, irregular blotching from head to tail. Specimens from the southern area of their range tend to have more yellow, while those from the northern range tend to be darker. One way to distinguish them from other rat snakes is they are the only ones with a solid grey head. Some specimens have red or orange speckling. The belly is typically a solid gray or white in color. The several naturally occurring color variations include albinos, high orange or hypomelanistic, and a few specimens which display leucism, which have become regularly captive-bred and are popular in the pet trade. The Texas rat snake becomes very black with white spots in some specimens caught in Sabine County, Texas, which reflects the northern intergrade of the black rat snake.

## Behavior

Texas rat snakes are relatively timid for such a large snake, but they are extremely variable in temperament. Adults can be mild-tempered – exhibiting mouth gaping and biting when approached. Juveniles less than a year old may either be very docile or bite when disturbed. One of their defensive behaviors involves 'rattling' or rapidly whipping the end of their tails back and forth against anything nearby to create a rattling sound. They also have an awful-smelling musk compared to other snakes. They eat readily in captivity and will eat thawed frozen mice and rats. Wild-caught specimens generally eventually become docile in captivity.

## Diet

The Texas rat snake has a voracious appetite, consuming large numbers of rodents and birds, and sometimes lizards, soft-bodied insects, and frogs, which they subdue with constriction. They are generalists, found in a wide range of habitats from swamps to forests to grasslands, even in urban areas. They are agile climbers, able to reach bird nests with relative ease. They are often found around farmland, and sometimes consume fledgling chickens and eggs, which leads them to be erroneously called the chicken snake.