Difference between revisions of "Physical World/Mammals - 3"
(Added images) |
(Added images) |
||
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 238: | Line 238: | ||
''Boselaphus tragocamelus'' | ''Boselaphus tragocamelus'' | ||
+ | |||
Largest Asian antelope | Largest Asian antelope | ||
Line 291: | Line 292: | ||
They are around 1.5 m tall and can jump 10 times their own body height | They are around 1.5 m tall and can jump 10 times their own body height | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Giraffe.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Giraffe''' | |'''Giraffe''' | ||
''Giraffa camelopardalis'' | ''Giraffa camelopardalis'' | ||
+ | |||
Tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant | Tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant | ||
− | |||
Heart of a giraffe has to generate around double the normal blood pressure for a large mammal in order to maintain blood flow to the brain against gravity. Giraffe has seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, the same as a human | Heart of a giraffe has to generate around double the normal blood pressure for a large mammal in order to maintain blood flow to the brain against gravity. Giraffe has seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, the same as a human | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Okapi.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Okapi''' | |'''Okapi''' | ||
''Okapia johnstoni'' | ''Okapia johnstoni'' | ||
+ | |||
The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae | The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae | ||
− | |||
Named in recognition of the British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, who first acquired an okapi specimen for science | Named in recognition of the British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, who first acquired an okapi specimen for science | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Alpaca.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Alpaca''' | |'''Alpaca''' | ||
''Vicugna pacos'' | ''Vicugna pacos'' | ||
+ | |||
A domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance | A domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance | ||
− | |||
Alpaca fleece is a lustrous and silky natural fibre | Alpaca fleece is a lustrous and silky natural fibre | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Vicuna.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Vicuna''' | |'''Vicuna''' | ||
''Vicugna vicugna'' | ''Vicugna vicugna'' | ||
+ | |||
Believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas | Believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas | ||
− | |||
Vicunas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive | Vicunas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive | ||
− | |||
Vicuna is smaller than the guanaco | Vicuna is smaller than the guanaco | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Guanaco.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Guanaco''' | |'''Guanaco''' | ||
''Lama guanicoe'' | ''Lama guanicoe'' | ||
+ | |||
Native to the arid, mountainous regions of South America | Native to the arid, mountainous regions of South America | ||
− | |||
The guanaco's soft wool is valued second only to that of the vicuna | The guanaco's soft wool is valued second only to that of the vicuna | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Blue whale.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Blue whale''' | |'''Blue whale''' | ||
''Balaenoptera musculus'' | ''Balaenoptera musculus'' | ||
+ | |||
At 30 metres in length and 180 tonnes in weight, it is the largest extant animal and is the heaviest known to have existed | At 30 metres in length and 180 tonnes in weight, it is the largest extant animal and is the heaviest known to have existed | ||
− | |||
Herman Melville called the blue whale "sulphur-bottom" in ''Moby-Dick'' | Herman Melville called the blue whale "sulphur-bottom" in ''Moby-Dick'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Bowhead whale.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Bowhead whale''' | |'''Bowhead whale''' | ||
''Balaena mysticetus'' | ''Balaena mysticetus'' | ||
+ | |||
Also known as the Greenland right whale or Arctic whale | Also known as the Greenland right whale or Arctic whale | ||
− | |||
Does not have a dorsal fin. Named after its arching lower jaw. Its baleen is the longest of any whale at 3 metres | Does not have a dorsal fin. Named after its arching lower jaw. Its baleen is the longest of any whale at 3 metres | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Narwhal.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Narwhal''' | |'''Narwhal''' | ||
''Monodon monoceros'' | ''Monodon monoceros'' | ||
+ | |||
Toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. Narwhal tusks were believed to be the horns from the legendary unicorn | Toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. Narwhal tusks were believed to be the horns from the legendary unicorn | ||
− | |||
It lives year-round in the Arctic waters | It lives year-round in the Arctic waters | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Beluga whale.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Beluga whale''' | |'''Beluga whale''' | ||
''Delphinapterus leucas'' | ''Delphinapterus leucas'' | ||
+ | |||
Also known as white whale, or sea canary due to its high-pitched twitter | Also known as white whale, or sea canary due to its high-pitched twitter | ||
− | |||
Lives in the Arctic. It is entirely white as an adult | Lives in the Arctic. It is entirely white as an adult | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Sperm whale.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Sperm whale''' | |'''Sperm whale''' | ||
''Physeter macrocephalus'' | ''Physeter macrocephalus'' | ||
+ | |||
Also known as cachelot | Also known as cachelot | ||
− | |||
The largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It has the largest brain of any animal | The largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It has the largest brain of any animal | ||
Line 406: | Line 406: | ||
The head of the whale contains a liquid wax called spermaceti, from which the whale derives its name | The head of the whale contains a liquid wax called spermaceti, from which the whale derives its name | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Killer whale.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Killer whale''' | |'''Killer whale''' | ||
''Orcinus orca'' | ''Orcinus orca'' | ||
+ | |||
Also known as orca, blackfish, or grampus | Also known as orca, blackfish, or grampus | ||
− | |||
A toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member | A toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Vaquita.jpg|none|thumb]] |
− | |''' | + | |'''Vaquita''' |
''Phocoena sinus'' | ''Phocoena sinus'' | ||
+ | |||
A rare species of porpoise endemic to the Gulf of California. Smallest cetacean | A rare species of porpoise endemic to the Gulf of California. Smallest cetacean | ||
− | |||
Porpoises are small toothed whales that are closely related to oceanic dolphins | Porpoises are small toothed whales that are closely related to oceanic dolphins | ||
Line 430: | Line 430: | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Elephant seal.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Elephant seal''' | |'''Elephant seal''' | ||
genus ''Mirounga'' | genus ''Mirounga'' | ||
+ | |||
Two species – northern and southern | Two species – northern and southern | ||
− | |||
Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male, which resembles an elephant's trunk. Southern elephant seal bulls typically reach a length of 4.9 metres and a weight of 3,000 kg | Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male, which resembles an elephant's trunk. Southern elephant seal bulls typically reach a length of 4.9 metres and a weight of 3,000 kg | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Dugong.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Dugong''' | |'''Dugong''' | ||
''Dugong dugon'' | ''Dugong dugon'' | ||
+ | |||
Dugong, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia | Dugong, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia | ||
− | |||
It has a fusiform body (tapered at both the head and the tail). Dugong is distinguished from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail, but also possesses a unique skull and teeth | It has a fusiform body (tapered at both the head and the tail). Dugong is distinguished from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail, but also possesses a unique skull and teeth | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | |[[File:Manatee.jpg|none|thumb]] |
|'''Manatee''' | |'''Manatee''' | ||
genus ''Trichecus'' | genus ''Trichecus'' | ||
+ | |||
Also known as sea cows | Also known as sea cows | ||
− | |||
Three species – Amazonian, West Indian, and West African | Three species – Amazonian, West Indian, and West African | ||
− | |||
Manatees have a paddle-shaped tail | Manatees have a paddle-shaped tail | ||
|} | |} |
Latest revision as of 15:36, 5 July 2021
Caracal
The most distinctive feature of the caracal is the long black tufts on the back of the ears | |
Bobcat
It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name | |
Ocelot
Distributed extensively within South America Similar in appearance to a domestic cat. Its fur resembles that of a clouded leopard or jaguar | |
Margay
Similar to the larger ocelot in appearance, although the head is a little shorter, the eyes larger, and the tail and legs longer | |
Serval
A medium-sized African wild cat native to sub-Saharan Africa Servals have the longest legs of any cat, relative to their body size | |
Aardwolf
Second animal in the dictionary, after aardvark | |
Fossa
The largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar
| |
Meerkat
Meerkats forage in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food and "Compare The Market” | |
Tapir
Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeastern Asia | |
Przewalski's Horse
The horse is named after the Russian colonel Nikolai Przhevalsky (the name is of Polish origin and "Przewalski" is the Polish spelling), who first described the horse in 1881 | |
Onager
Onagers have never been domesticated. They are among the fastest mammals There is a Roman siege engine called an onager | |
Peccary
Also known as skunk pig Native to the Americas | |
Chevrotain
Also known as mouse-deer Chevrotain is French for "little goat" Java mouse-deer is world’s smallest hoofed mammal | |
Pudu
Inhabits temperate rainforests in South America The world's smallest deer | |
Muntjac
Muntjacs are the oldest known deer. The present-day species are native to South Asia A large feral population of muntjacs exists in England | |
Père David's deer
First made known to Western science in the 19th century, by Father Armand David, a French missionary working in China. The current world population, now found in zoos around the world, stems from a herd at Woburn Abbey nurtured by the 11th Duke of Bedford | |
Pronghorn
Fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere | |
Gaur
Largest extant bovine, native to South Asia and Southeast Asia | |
Muskox
| |
Chamois
Chamois leather is traditionally made from the hide of the chamois | |
Nilgai
Found throughout most of India Mature male appears ox-like and is also known as the blue bull | |
Bongo
Bongos are characterised by a striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes and long slightly spiraled horns | |
Grey rhebok
The Afrikaans/Dutch spelling of the species, reebok, lends its name to the sportswear manufacturing company | |
Wildebeest
Blue wildebeest are known for their long distance migrations | |
Klipspringer
Klipspringer means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans They are around 1.5 m tall and can jump 10 times their own body height | |
Giraffe
Heart of a giraffe has to generate around double the normal blood pressure for a large mammal in order to maintain blood flow to the brain against gravity. Giraffe has seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, the same as a human | |
Okapi
Named in recognition of the British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, who first acquired an okapi specimen for science | |
Alpaca
Alpaca fleece is a lustrous and silky natural fibre | |
Vicuna
Vicunas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive Vicuna is smaller than the guanaco | |
Guanaco
The guanaco's soft wool is valued second only to that of the vicuna | |
Blue whale
Herman Melville called the blue whale "sulphur-bottom" in Moby-Dick | |
Bowhead whale
Does not have a dorsal fin. Named after its arching lower jaw. Its baleen is the longest of any whale at 3 metres | |
Narwhal
It lives year-round in the Arctic waters | |
Beluga whale
Lives in the Arctic. It is entirely white as an adult | |
Sperm whale
The largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It has the largest brain of any animal The head of the whale contains a liquid wax called spermaceti, from which the whale derives its name | |
Killer whale
A toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member | |
Vaquita
Porpoises are small toothed whales that are closely related to oceanic dolphins
| |
Elephant seal
Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male, which resembles an elephant's trunk. Southern elephant seal bulls typically reach a length of 4.9 metres and a weight of 3,000 kg | |
Dugong
It has a fusiform body (tapered at both the head and the tail). Dugong is distinguished from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail, but also possesses a unique skull and teeth | |
Manatee
Three species – Amazonian, West Indian, and West African Manatees have a paddle-shaped tail |