| We all know what wolves and coyotes look like, and | | | | survive, they have to breathe through their skin. |
| nearly everyone is familiar with bears, deer and | | | | They are the only mammal found that can do this. |
| turtles; what about some less familiar animals such as | | | | As their lungs continue to develop, they gradually |
| capybara, kiwi, or tapirs? There are so many lesser | | | | start to take over the breathing process until |
| known animals on this planet that we hear little or | | | | eventually, when fully developed, their skin no longer |
| nothing about most times, it is interesting to | | | | plays a role in breathing. They are carnivorous by |
| investigate a few of these creatures and understand | | | | nature, eating insects, small birds, reptiles and small |
| them a little more. | | | | mammals. |
| Mammals | | | | Birds |
| Capybara are first on our list of unusual mammals. | | | | Of the various birds in the world, the kiwi bird is one |
| They are the world's largest rodent, averaging 100 | | | | of the most unique. It is similar to the chicken in that |
| pounds. They are called rodents because they have | | | | it can't fly. Their "wings" are only two inches long and |
| sharp front teeth that never stop growing. They are | | | | for all practical purposes are useless. They are the |
| semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water. | | | | sole survivor of an ancient order of birds including the |
| They live in grasslands and forests alongside water in | | | | now extinct moas. They are semi-nocturnal animals, |
| Central and South America. They are most active | | | | so catching a glimpse of them in the wild rarely |
| during the early morning and late evening and rest | | | | happens. They can only be found in New Zealand and |
| during the heat of the day. | | | | its surrounding islands. The reason they have survived |
| Our next animal is a cute little miniature "bear" called | | | | the ages in New Zealand comes from the fact that |
| the kinkajou. These are a unique animal in that they | | | | there are no snakes or large mammals native to New |
| are the only mammals that help to pollinate plants. | | | | Zealand. A bird the size of a kiwi, without the |
| They have very long tongues that they use to lick | | | | capability to fly would be an especially attractive |
| the nectar inside flowers. While they are licking, they | | | | target to snakes. Also...the island has no bears, |
| get pollen on their fur and noses and this gets | | | | bobcats, tigers, etc., with also makes it easier for the |
| transplanted to other flowers as they feed. They are | | | | kiwi to survive. With the coming of humans to the |
| sometimes called honey bears because they love | | | | island, especially the colonization by England, house |
| honey so much, but they are different from regular | | | | pets such as cats and dogs have become the main |
| bears in that they are very small, most times not | | | | predators of the decreasing kiwi population. Some of |
| weighing more than 8 pounds. They are fun loving | | | | the biggest birds in the world are condors. They can |
| animals that even make good pets. They feed on | | | | have wingspans up to 11 feet; they use their large |
| fruit, honey and eggs in the wild and their closest | | | | wingspan to "float" on air thermals for miles without |
| cousin is the panda bear of Asia. | | | | having to move their wings, which conserves their |
| Another unusual mammal is a tapir. It looks like half | | | | energy as they look for food. They are in the vulture |
| anteater, half pig, yet they are not related to either. | | | | family, feeding on the remains of animals and thus |
| They descend from primitive horses and rhinos. They | | | | they play a very significant role in the animal kingdom. |
| come in various color patterns depending on the | | | | They have highly evolved immune systems to ward |
| region they are from. All baby tapirs, however, are | | | | off infection from the various bacteria left on the |
| born with a pattern of dots and stripes which make | | | | animal carcasses they feed on. They are very clean |
| them look like a watermelon with legs. As they age, | | | | birds, spending much of their time cleaning their |
| these markings fade away to be replaced with their | | | | feathers and heads after eating to further keep |
| adult color patterns. They feed on fruit, berries and | | | | them safe from disease and bacteria. Their heads are |
| leaves, and can live to be 30 years old. | | | | featherless allowing them to stay clean during eating. |
| Our last animal is a Marsupial Mouse. While this may | | | | The last unusual bird is the worlds smallest, weighing |
| seem like just any other mouse, there are some | | | | in at only 1.8 grams, which is less than a US penny. |
| very distinct characteristics about the marsupial | | | | The bee hummingbird's nest is only 3 cm wide. Its |
| mouse that make it stand out. Being a marsupial, its | | | | tiny wings beat 80 times per second. Using all this |
| young are "hatched" from inside their mothers and | | | | energy requires them to eat half their body weight in |
| then they crawl through her fir up to their mother's | | | | food each day as well as drink eight times their body |
| underside where they attach and feed until they are | | | | weight in water. That's like a 150 pound adult human |
| fully developed. When they come out of their | | | | drinking 144 gallons of water each day. They are |
| mother, they are so underdeveloped that in order to | | | | found only in Cuba and the Isle of Pines. |