wAlking in the lAnd of the silverbACks

RY
LE
N!
EL
EW
WI
EJ
BE
ING
AZ
AM

TM

THE MAKING OF A 10
QUEEN
BEST
BUMS
Plus
PANGOLINS
wArblers
SCORPIONS

BEE
oCtoPus

unCover the seCrets of life in the hive

And whAt it meAns to rule A Colony

AnimAls you didn’t

know Could sing turtle
wAtCh
The best places on Earth

meet the reAl

to watch these incredible
reptiles hatch

grumPy CAt THE

FISHER
Conserving the eight-legged AnimAl nAtionAl
KINGIssue 49 PRINTeD IN THe uK £4.99

AfriCAn wild dog wonders Armour iCons Digital edition

How can we save the The most beautiful Species that use their Animals that
painted dog? spiders on Earth bodies as a defence represent a nation GreatDigitalMags.com
 Welcome
This is the very irst
insect cover for World
of Animals, so we hope
you like it! They may be
small, but honeybees
are far from insigniicant.
These incredibly hard
workers not only produce
honey – they pollinate a third of our food,
too. Without them our fridges would be
very bare. In this issue we explore what life is
really like for a bee in the hive (page 18) and
why they deserve our respect.
This issue is also packed full of fun features
that highlight why we love animals so much.
They’re not only incredibly talented (meet
the animals you didn’t know could sing on
page 76), but their bodies have the strangest
uses, from the hermit crab’s hideaway shell
(page 26), to the turtle that breathes through
its bottom (page 82)!
Turn the page to ind out how bad
a scorpion’s sting is, learn all about the
octopus family, and discover what is being
done to save the African wild dog!
Enjoy the issue!

Zara Gaspar
Editor

Editor’s picks
Turtle-y awesome!
As someone who loves to
dive, sea turtles are one of
my favourite species. They’re
incredible to watch underwater
and I urge anyone who
hasn’t already to go diving or
snorkelling to experience it.
See our guide on page 62.

Eight-legged wonders
At World of Animals we
like to celebrate all animals,
and although we know there
are still lots of people who
hate spiders, we wanted to
showcase just how beautiful
they can be. We hope we can
convince you on page 32.

Meet the team…

Lauren Debono-Elliot Charlie Ginger Victoria Williams Want to read the

Designer Production Editor Staff Writer magazine online? Find out why the ladybird is a
From breathing and sleeping to From reflecting UV light to I’ve become very fond of the Download the Future
showing who’s boss, we have producing venom more powerful scowling Pallas’ cat. Find out why Folio app on the
Latvian icon on page 60
© Thinkstock; Alamy

seen the crazy ways animals use than cyanide, step into the world this reclusive feline is so grumpy Apple store.
their behinds on page 82! of scorpions on page 46. on page 38. Visit www.animalanswers.co.uk for
Exclusive competitions Hilarious GIFs
Upload your photos and win prizes!
Follow us at… @WorldAnimalsMag worldofanimalsmag 3
Welcome to Issue 49
06 Amazing animals 54 Conserving
wild dogs 26
12 Fisher king What is being done to
Discover the kingishers of the save this incredible canine?
world and why they were given
their name
60 National animals
Learn all about how animals
18 The making become a country’s icon
of a queen bee
Find out how the queen seizes 62 Explore the
power and whether or not she Earth: turtles
really rules the hive Journey around the world to
ind the best places to spot this
25 Lost forever charismatic sea creature
What led to the extinction
of the beautiful Formosan
clouded leopard? 70 Nature diaries:
Rwanda
Daniel Allen comes face to
26 Armoured animals face with the real gorillas in
Learn all about the species with the mist
protective armour for bodies

32 Eight-legged 76 Animal musicians

Meet ive animals you didn’t
wonders know could sing
Take a look at the most
colourful spiders on Earth 81 You wouldn’t
38 Meet the real believe …
How male seahorses give birth
grumpy cat
Find out what makes the
Pallas’ cat look so cross 82 Best bums
Ten of the most useful
bottoms in the animal kingdom
44 Meet the octopuses
Find out all about the most
intelligent invertebrates on 84 Wildlife of the
the planet heathlands
Meet the inhabitants that live
among the yellow gorse and 62
46 All about the purple heather
scorpion
Are their stingers as
scary as you think? 84
THE IUCN RED LIST
Throughout World of Animals you will see
symbols like the ones listed below. These
are from the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species, the most comprehensive inventory
of the global conservation status of animal
species in the world. Here’s what they mean:

EXTINCT
EXTINCT IN THE WILD
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
ENDANGERED
VULNERABLE
NEAR THREATENED
LEAST CONCERN

46

4
 The making 90 Keeping in touch

of a queen bee
94 Readers’ Q&A

18

DISCOVER THE COMPLEX SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF BEES

76 32
96 Bizarre:
doodlebug
The sensitive scarab that
spends most of its life
underground

38
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54 5
The amazing world of animals

6
The amazing world of animals

© Jocelyne Feizo/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

This young cedar waxwing appears to have eyes
bigger than its stomach as it welcomes a whole
mouthful of juicy berries

This chick fell out of its nest, but fortunately one of its parents returned
to feed it a generous serving of honeysuckle berries. Cedar waxwings
are social birds that live across Canada and the US, usually in areas with
fruiting trees as their diet mainly consists of insects and berries. They
can also be seen in parts of Central America and the Caribbean.

7
 The amazing world of animals
© Laura Lyn Gregory/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

Walking on thin ice? Despite weighing up to 725

kilograms (1,600 pounds), this isn’t a problem for
the polar bear thanks to its huge paws

Like the rest of its body, a polar bear’s paws are well suited to its lifestyle.
Reaching up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) in diameter, they spread the
weight of the world’s largest land carnivore so it doesn’t break the ice.
Partial webbing helps with swimming, while claws and rough pads stop
them from slipping.

8
The amazing world of animals

Weighing as much as a small coin, the harvest

© Val Saxby/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

mouse is dainty enough to rest comfortably
among the petals of a tulip

Harvest mice can sit quite comfortably in flowers because they only
weigh about five grams (0.17 ounces). Their tiny size means they can
climb grasses and plant stalks in search of insects, seeds and berries. If
their sharp hearing picks up on potential danger, they drop to the ground
to find cover until it’s safe to emerge.

9
 The amazing world of animals
© Peter Brannon/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

The stakes are high in this seaside tug-of-war

contest between a shorebird and a rather
unfortunate worm

This struggling hunter on the coast of Florida is a short-billed dowitcher.

Its bill is longer than average for a shorebird but not as long as that of the
long-billed dowitcher. They plunge their bills into sand and mud to ind
invertebrates, but they don’t oten ind such a large worm. Aptly, their
genus name, Limnodromus, is derived from Greek for ‘marsh racer’.

10
The amazing world of animals

11
 THE
FISHER
KING Don’t be fooled by the name – kingishers
don’t just eat ish, and not all of them live
by water. We examine some of the family’s
most exotic and interesting members
Words Darran Jones

Kingishers are one of the most colourful bird possessing long, dagger-like bills and being very
families of the world and come in a startling array eficient hunters.
of shapes and sizes. They are members of the Kingishers can often remain motionless for
Coraciiformes group that includes rollers, bee- ages, waiting for the perfect moment to strike
eaters, motmots and todies, all of which are famed their prey. While many like to hunt from a perch,
for their exotic-looking plumage. There are 114 some can also hover if needed. Despite their
different types of kingishers, and they are found name, few kingishers feed exclusively on ish,
throughout the world across all continents with having adapted to take a variety of prey. They
the exception of Antarctica. range in size from ten centimetres (3.9 inches) to
Kingishers are further divided into three distinct 45 centimetres (18 inches) and often feature in
types: river kingishers, water kingishers and human culture, with Greek mythology suggesting
tree kingishers. All three families share exclusive they were formed from a pairing between Alcyone
traits, including typically making their nests in and Ceyx. Join us as we take a deeper look at
burrows, possessing exceptionally keen eyesight, some of the family’s most interesting members.
© Paul Sawer/FLPA

12
 The fisher king

A kingfisher that’s as
beautiful as it is widespread
You’ll never forget your first glimpse of the common kingfisher.
It might be the size of a small sparrow, but this widespread bird
is brilliantly coloured, with equally incredible fishing skills that
match its stunning plumage.
Instantly recognisable thanks to its dagger-like beak and
metallic-looking feathers (which is actually a clever trick of the
light) it can be found throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia
and has seven distinct subspecies. Like many kingfishers it likes
to make its nest in riverbanks, which are prone to flooding, and it
feeds on a variety of fish and invertebrates.

13
The isher king

A large kingfisher
Australia and
New Zealand with a startling call
This resident of Australia and raucous when multiple family
New Zealand is one of the members join in (which typically
world’s largest kingishers, with happens at dusk and dawn). It’s
female birds weighing as much believed to be quite eerie when
as 480 grams (16.9 ounces). heard out in the Australian bush.
Unlike other kingishers, First described and illustrated
kookaburras tend to shy away by French naturalist Pierre
from rivers and streams, typically Sonnerat in 1776, it’s gone on to
favouring woodlands, farmland become one of Australia’s most
and urban areas. It gets its name famous animals, inspiring the
for its famous chuckling call, children’s song Kookaburra Sits
which can be incredibly loud and In The Old Gum Tree.

“Unlike other kingishers,

kookaburras tend to shy away
from rivers and streams”

A beautiful
predator with a
voracious appetite
While it mainly feeds its young on
invertebrates, this medium-sized tree
kingisher is an amazing opportunist and will
feed on a variety of prey. Rodents, insects,
crustaceans, ish, frogs and snakes all make
up its diet; it will even predate small birds if
given the chance.
Hunted for its brilliant feathers during the
1800s (which were used to decorate hats), it
remains extremely widespread throughout
south Asia and can be found as far as the
Philippines. It has six subspecies and is
known by a variety of local names.
The white-throated kingisher is an
extremely noisy bird during breeding season
and can be easily identiied by its chuckling
call. It’s another kingisher that’s quite happy
away from water and has a constantly
expanding range.

Philippines

White-throated
kingfishers have
diverse appetites,
feeding on all
manner of creatures

14
 The fisher king
Oten found alone
or in pairs, this little
bird is known to also
eat praying mantis,
grasshoppers and
even small crabs

Sub-Saharan Africa

This tiny, delightful

bird has a love of
insects and spiders
This incredibly tiny kingisher measures
around 12 centimetres long (4.7 inches) and
is the smallest member of the kingisher
family. However, despite its diminutive size it
has a voracious appetite and will eat a wide
range of prey, including cockroaches, worms,
crickets, dragonlies and spiders, as well as
small lizards, geckos and frogs.
It makes its nest in sandy tunnels or
termite mounds and can be found in a large
number of different habitats, from gardens
and streams to savannas and open rivers. It’s
often mistaken with the similar-looking but
slightly bigger malachite kingisher, which
shares its African range.

Breeding season for giant kingishers

is from August to January. Females lay
three to ive eggs by a riverbank

Africa

Giant by name, giant by nature

© Eyal Bartov; Ingo Oeland /Alamy; Bill Coster; NaturePL/Lou Coetzer

This fantastic-looking bird is the largest favour rainforests, while the maxima
kingisher in the world, growing up to prefers open land. Both subspecies
46 centimetres (18 inches) in length can be found throughout a range
(the laughing kookaburra is typically of habitats, including savannahs,
heavier, though). Easily recognisable mangroves and mountain streams.
thanks to its shaggy crest, chestnut An extremely eficient hunter, the
breast and spotted back, it’s a regular giant kingisher feeds on a variety of
sight throughout most of Africa. different ish and will also predate other
There are two subspecies of the aquatic delicacies, including crabs
bird: M.m. maxima and M.m. gigantea. and amphibians. It hunts its prey by
Interestingly, the gigantea tends to regularly diving from the same perch.

15
The isher king

A threatened
kingfisher confined
to one small part
of the world
Although it’s not the rarest kingisher in the world,
things are not looking good for this handsome bird.
Being an endemic species, it’s conined to the island
of Sulawesi in Indonesia and its home is constantly
under threat from humans. Research suggests that
it is now a Near Threatened species as it is losing
suitable habitat due to forest destruction.
Like other wood kingishers, the scaly-breasted
kingisher eats many different invertebrates. While
it has three subspecies (all found on different parts
of the island), one, the plain-backed kingisher, is
generally considered to now be a separate species.
The scaley-breasted kingfisher
of Sulawesi subsists on a diet
of insects (including grass
hoppers) and small lizards

Sulawesi Island

This sizeable kingfisher has a very

distinctive beak
Found throughout India and Originally identiied by Swedish
Indonesia, this large kingisher is naturalist Carl Linnaeus, the stork-
instantly identiiable thanks to bill is known to have 13 subspecies,
its huge, stork-like bill. It’s at typically identiied by different
home in a variety of different plumage types. Despite its size, the
habitats, from forests to rivers, stork-billed kingisher is an excellent,
and it has an equally eclectic agile hunter, able to stay still for long
approach to its food, feeding periods of time when hunting. Like
on everything from ish to many kingishers, it burrows into
crabs, rodents and even rotting trees, termite mounds and
young birds. riverbanks when breeding.

“Research suggests that the

scaly-breasted kingisher is now
a Near Threatened species”
16
 A stunning More family members

bird with
an insanely
Australia and
Papua New Guinea long tail
All paradise kingishers have
Oriental dwarf kingfisher
extremely elegant, streaming
Small but vividly coloured
tail feathers, and the buff- This relatively common kingfisher is also known as
breasted is no exception. the three-toed kingfisher and is found in a variety of
The tail of an adult male is an countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore,
impressive sight, trailing some Vietnam and Malaysia.
13 centimetres (5.1 inches)
behind it, and in some cases it
can get even longer.
Despite its colourful plumage,
the impenetrable forests this
bird likes to inhabit means it
can be quite hard to spot. As
a result many people listen out
for its distinctive call, which
can be particularly loud during Brown-winged kingfisher
mating season. A threatened mangrove inhabitant
A keen traveller, migration This kingfisher is found across the north and eastern
coasts of the Bay of Bengal. It’s losing its mangrove
can take its toll, and many are
habitat to humans and is classed as Near Threatened.
thought to perish as they ly
between Australia and Papua
New Guinea.

A kingisher with
the stomach for
life on the go
This distinctive-looking bird is part Green kingfisher
of the water kingisher group and is Gives a rattling call
the only member of the family to be This medium-sized kingfisher has a range from southern
Texas to Argentina and loves to inhabit swamps and
commonly found in North America
mangroves. Five subspecies are known to exist.
and Canada.
One notable aspect of the belted
kingisher is that it displays sexual
dimorphism. The female bird is
actually more colourful than the male,
although they both feature the same
white collar and slate-blue head.
They are also keen travellers, and
can stray quite far from land during
their migration; the species has been
Striped kingfisher
found on a variety of Paciic islands,

© Thinkstock; Francesco Veronesi; Dick Daniels; Alamy; Dave Watts; Ch’ien Lee/Minden
A highly territorial bird
including Hawaii and the Azores. This colourful kingfisher has a large territory and will
While it makes a burrow like many aggressively chase off far larger birds. It prefers to feed
other members of the family, it’s on grasshoppers but occasionally takes small reptiles.
typically sloped upwards, which is
thought to prevent water entering
the nest. Youngsters have acidic
stomachs to help them digest a
variety of bones and shells, but this
changes as they age and they cough
up pellets like other kingishers.

“Youngsters have acidic Yellow-billed kingfisher

stomachs to help them digest Has a distinctive beak
This medium-sized tree kingfisher is found throughout
lowland Papua New Guinea. It prefers a diet of
a variety of bones and shells” earthworms, insects and lizards. It makes its nest in
arboreal termite nests.

17
 The making of a
queen bee
She populates the colony and is waited on by dutiful
attendants, but does the queen bee really hold the
power? Find out what life in the hive is really all about…
Words Victoria Williams

It’s easy to pass off bees as nothing more than picnic-

ruining nuisances, but their eficient pollination is
invaluable. They’re also the only insects to produce food
eaten by humans, so we owe them a lot. As well as being
extremely useful, bees have an intriguingly complex home
life. From the queen at the top to the workers clearing out
the hive at the bottom, honeybees are truly incredible.
Every western honeybee in a hive or nest shares a
mother: the queen. In winter, a colony may consist of
5,000 bees, but in the height of summer this swells to
around 35,000 of the highly social insects. A few hundred
of this summer population are male drones, but the vast
majority are female. These daughters are worker bees, the
hard-working, sterile caste that keeps the entire colony
safe and fed.

18
The making of a queen bee

WIN
AMAZING BEE JEWELLERY!
We are giving aWay bee-themed
jeWellery from dotoly to five lucky
Winners. to find out hoW to enter
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WWW.ANIMALANSWERS.CO.UK

© Getty/Sumiko Scott

19
The making of a queen bee
After hatching as adults,
worker bees rotate roles in Western honeybee
the hive as they age. Their Apis mellifera
Class Insecta
very irst job is to clean the
honeycomb cell they have
just chewed their way out
of. They then spend several
days feeding and looking territory Every continent
except Antarctica
after the larvae. Following Diet Flower pollen and nectar
nanny duty, there’s a shift Lifespan Queen – up to 5
producing beeswax, building years, Summer-born worker
– 5-6 weeks, Winter-born
the comb and removing dead worker – 6-7 months,
bees from the hive before Drone – 5 weeks
they reach the edge of the Adult weight 0.1-0.3g
(0.004-0.01oz)
hive and take up position as Conservation status
a guard. Finally, after about
three weeks, a worker bee
starts to leave the hive to DATA DEFICIENT
collect nectar, pollen and
water. As well as collecting food for themselves and the
rest of the colony, foragers must feed the queen as she’s
unable to leave the nest.
To provide for their huge family bees can travel several
miles in a foraging trip, lying between lowers to collect
food and inadvertently pollinating as they go. Pollen is
mixed with honey and saliva and then fermented to make ABOVE
high-energy beebread, and nectar is used to produce The queen’s only job is to lay
tiny eggs in the cells of the nest
honey. For such a small animal, worker bees are equipped
with an impressive set of navigational tools. They use the
Sun to navigate to and from the hive, and some of their
eyes can see polarised light so they can ind their way
even on the cloudiest day. It’s also thought that they can
sense the magnetic ield of the Earth to some degree and
use it to stay on course. Bees can also see ultraviolet light,
which is relected by lowers, so to them petals appear like
airport landing lights.
RIGHT
When a foraging worker inds a good food source, Worker bees form a chain
she passes the information to bees back at the nest to repair honeycomb

“Following nanny duty, there’s a shift

Adult bees like this drone
chew their way through producing beeswax, building the comb
the cap of their brood cell
and removing the dead from the hive”

Who lives in a colony?

Workerbee
Workers are all female, and they’re
the real busy bees. They live for a
few months at most, but in their
short lives they construct the
honeycomb, tidy the nest, forage
for food, care for the larvae and
defend the hive.

Drone
Drones are male bees produced
Queen
The queen’s job is to lay eggs –
from unfertilised eggs, and there she’s twice the size of the workers
are a few hundred of them in a but has a smaller brain. She can
hive. They can’t sting or collect live for up to ive years if she does
pollen; their purpose is simply to her job well but will be replaced if
mate with queens from other hives. she doesn’t produce enough eggs.

20
The workings of a worker bee
Five eyes through the medium of interpretive dance. This carefully
Two compound eyes allow the
bee to process information
choreographed routine tells other workers how far they’ll
and navigate, while three need to ly; a round dance indicates food a short distance
These little ladies have all the equipment for an industrious life single-lens eyes can see from the colony, while a waggle dance is more complex
ultraviolet light, helping with and relates to sources further aield. In the waggle dance,
Defensive sting pollen searching.
the bee moves in a igure of eight and waggles her
Barbs on the worker’s stinger abdomen – the length and direction of her movements
mean it stays in the victim, so sensitive antennae
the bee is usually killed as it tell the other workers how far away the food is and its
Almost 200 scent
tries to free itself. direction relative to the nest and the Sun.
receptors are packed onto
the antennae. They’re While workers rush around with an endless to-do list, the
involved in orientation queen remains in the hive being fed by workers and laying
when the bee flies, and thousands of eggs a day. She’s cared for and protected
the right antenna is used
more than any other individual, but she is essentially a
in communication.
living bee factory. Different castes require different sizes
of cell to develop in, so worker bees can inluence the
structure of the colony by making cells of certain sizes
© Thinkstock; Ingo Arndt; MD Kern / Palo Alto JR Museum; NaturePL

into which the queen will lay either fertilised or unfertilised

eggs. Workers even control how many eggs she lays by
specialised stomach altering the amount they feed her: the assumption that the
There’s a crop – or
honey stomach – in the
queen runs the hive is far from the truth.
worker’s abdomen. The queen emits a pheromone (chemical signal) that
Here it can store up to a lets the colony know she is still alive and well. When
third of its body weight they can no longer smell the queen, or when her egg
in honey.
production starts to slow down, the workers know that
it’s time to select a new one. Young larvae have a queen
Versatile legs sticky feet Unfolding mouthparts
cell built around them and are fed exclusively on royal jelly
The front pair of legs is used for Bees’ feet have tiny claws and The tongue-like proboscis secreted from a gland found in the workers’ heads, which
cleaning the antennae. The middle sticky pads that keep them steady can lap at food or be used for initiates the development of a new, fertile queen.
pair gather pollen in the pollen on smooth surfaces. As well as cleaning, but it can also act as A new queen can also take over the throne if the hive
baskets found on the back legs. gripping, they can also taste! a straw for sucking up nectar.
gets too crowded. The bees choose a new nest site

21
The making of a queen bee

Inside the honeycomb

This waxy network of cells acts as nursery and kitchen cupboard
“The last woman
standing wins the
title of queen bee”
Queen cells measure up to 2.5cm
(1in) in length and hang vertically.
They’re found in diferent places
in the hive depending on whether
the workers are planning to
swarm or replace the queen.

Each caste takes a

diferent length of time
to pupate and emerge
in adult form. Queens
emerge 16 days ater
their egg is laid, but Ten days ater the
workers take 21 days egg is laid, worker
and drones take 24. bees cap the cell with
wax and the larva
spins a cocoon. Over
the next few days it
transforms into a fully
developed bee.

The queen lays either a

fertilised or unfertilised egg in
each cell depending on its size.
A honeybee egg is about 1.5mm
(0.05in) long, and in spring the
queen can lay 2,000 a day.

Cells not used for brooding are

used as a larder to store pollen
and to produce and store honey.
Capped honey cells are chewed
open when the food is needed.

The egg hatches into a larva

and is fed beebread and
honey up to 1,300 times a day
by brood nurse worker bees
until it reaches its full size.

“In a small colony, the irst contender for the throne

to emerge simply destroys all the others”
democratically, with scouts dancing to campaign for the is killed, then the victor faces the next contender
locations they’ve found. Worker bees create multiple to emerge in a winner-stays-on contest. The last
queen cells from wax and the departing queen lays woman standing wins the title of queen, with the
fertilised eggs in each of them. Nurse bees feed the larvae bodies of the unfortunate losers thrown out of
royal jelly – allowing these larvae to grow larger and faster the hive.
than workers – and the cells are sealed. The capping of However a new queen comes to take over
the cells is the cue for the old queen to take some of the throne, once she is established she takes
the colony and move out. The potential queens begin to several lights and mates with multiple male
emerge about a week later, and the brutal race for the drones, so that a few days later she can
throne can go one of two ways. assume her duty and begin laying fertilised
In a small colony, the irst contender to emerge simply eggs. As new queens are emerging, drones
destroys the others and assumes the role. However, when (the largest honeybees) leave their hives and
there are more workers around they will stop any would- head for drone congregation areas. Hundreds
be queens from killing the others, instead waiting until the of males wait until a new queen passes by, then
next female emerges. These two bees then duel until one compete to mate with her; there’s no ighting

22
BELOW To prevent the
hive from exceeding the
optimum temperature
of 35°C (95°F), bees fan
Help the honeybee
We need honeybees, and sometimes they
the air with their wings need a helping hand from us

Quench their thirst

Flying between thousands of lowers a day is thirsty
work. A basin of water lets bees have a drink – add
pebbles, marbles or corks for them to land and crawl
on so they don’t drown.

Plant for pollinators

Bees need to collect lots of pollen, and gardeners can
help by planting lowering plants. Whether you have a
whole lowerbed or a window box, look for plants and
seeds labelled as pollinator-friendly.

revive struggling bees

On a hot day, busy bees may exhaust themselves. If you
ind a bee on the ground, mix two tablespoons of white
sugar with a tablespoon of water on a shallow dish or
spoon to give it a boost.

involved, it’s just a case of who can get close to her irst.
The female will mate with up to 20 males to increase the
genetic diversity of her offspring and allow her colony to Leave the lawn alone
survive. As drones are the product of unfertilised eggs If you have a garden with a lawn, cut your grass less
they have no father. They do, however, have a mother closely or less oten to let pollinators shelter. If you can,
choose a patch to leave alone – weeds and all – as this
© Thinkstock; MD Kern / Palo Alto JR Museum; Eric Baccega; NaturePL

and a set of grandparents (their queen’s parents).

will really beneit bees.
Although mating with a queen means a drone
passes on his genes, it also results in his death. The
force of the process rips his sexual organs from
his abdomen, resulting in a rather unpleasant end.
However, as only a few males get the opportunity to
mate with each queen, this is not the fate shared by
most drones.
When winter approaches and there’s less food
available, drones are forcibly evicted from the hive
because they do nothing to help the colony. They
are taken to the entrance of the hive and kicked Ditch the chemicals
Chemicals can harm bees, so use organic gardening
out, left to starve or die from hypothermia. Workers methods as much as possible. If you must spray plants,
do it in the evening when most bees are back in the
LEFT Once capped with beeswax, honey will not spoil hive, and avoid getting it into water sources.

23
The making of a queen bee

“Making honey is a laborious process – a

450-gram jar of honey represents 55,000
miles of bee light – but it’s essential food”
may appear cruel in this treatment of their brothers, but light – but it’s essential if the bees are going to make it
the colony as a whole always comes irst. Along with through the harsh winter months.
ants, bees are one of the only other species considered The queen bee is crucial to the survival and growth of
by scientists to be truly social, totally devoted to their a colony, but it’s the workers that really call the shots and
colony and willing to give their lives instantly to protect ensure that everything runs smoothly. With all of that hard
their home. This high level of social cohesion is known as work it’s not entirely surprising that most worker bees
ABOVE Despite measuring just one
eusociality, and it is represented by cooperative brood emerging in spring and summer will go on to die from cubic millimetre, a honeybee’s brain
care, overlapping generations and a division of labour into exhaustion, only living for around six weeks. contains around 1 million neurons
reproductive and non-reprodutive groups. In their short lives worker bees keep their colony alive
BELOW A worker bee’s stinger is
While drones just exist to mate, the same can’t be said and thriving, enabling their mother to fulil her one, vital designed in such a way that once it
for worker bees. Aside from their everyday duties, it’s up task: producing new members of the colony. enters the skin, it doesn’t retract
to them to keep the hive at a constant temperature so that
eggs and larvae can develop. If it begins to get too hot,
worker bees bring water to the hive and then fan the air
with their wings, producing a cooling effect. Queen
If temperatures drop, ‘heater bees’ can crawl into empty Queens have smooth
cells and warm those around them by vibrating their light stingers, so they
can sting multiple
muscles, keeping the young bees cosy. During winter, times to destroy rival
the bees form a cluster around the queen and use their females.
body and muscle heat to keep warm, rotating so bees on
the outside don’t freeze. The bees can’t leave the hive to
forage, but this constant movement consumes a lot of
energy. They rely on honey as a sugary winter food store Worker
and spend lots of time building up their reserves while it’s Barbs on a worker’s
stinger mean it
still warm in the summer months. remains in the victim
When worker bees return to the hive with nectar they and is ripped from
mix it with an enzyme they produce. The mixture is then the bee.
© Thinkstock; Getty/Jef Meul/NiS/Minden Pictures

placed in the honeycomb cells. The honey is left to thicken,

with bees fanning their wings rapidly to reduce the water
content. Once it’s reached a suitable concentration bees
cap the cells with more wax, and the honey can then be Drone
stored indeinitely until it’s needed. As their sole job
is to mate with
These industrious insects usually make more than they
queens, male bees
actually need, so humans can safely take some without have no stinger.
threatening the bees’ chances of survival. Making this
crucial food source is a laborious process – a 450-gram
(one-pound) jar of honey represents 55,000 miles of bee

24
L OST FORE V ER

Formosan
clouded leopard
After more than a decade of searching,
scientists had to give up hope of seeing
this island hunter again
Hunter’s teeth
Clouded leopards have the
longest canine teeth of all
felines relative to their skull
and body size.

Taiwan

Champion
Shorter tail climber
Mainland clouded Short, sturdy legs
leopards have tails as long and large feet made
Little big cat as their bodies, but the them well suited to
Like smaller cats, the Formosan subspecies’ tail jumping and climbing
Formosan clouded leopard was half this length. through trees.
couldn’t roar, but its posture
was like that of a big cat’s.

Despite belonging to the smallest big cat species,

the Formosan clouded leopard was once the
of its habitat and a drop in numbers of its prey.
The cat was hunted for its pelt and, despite a
Last seen…
Date: 1983
largest true carnivore in Taiwan. Clouded leopards ban on commercial hunting introduced in 1973,
Location: Taiwan
have a combination of traits from big cats (like its available prey was depleted by humans.
their grooming habits) and smaller cats (like Urbanisation and the clearance of forests for 70 indigenous hunters were interviewed in
purring). Contrary to their name, they are not development made catching prey even harder 1986, with the last record of a Formosan
closely related to leopards. First described in 1862, and reduced the area of suitable habitat. clouded leopard found to be from 1983. A
this subspecies (Neofelis nebulosa brachyura) was Although the Formosan clouded leopard is skin was discovered in 1989, but ater this
found only on the island of Taiwan (once briely now largely accepted as extinct, with the only there were no more sightings. The team of
known as the Republic of Formosa in 1895), where remaining specimen on the island stuffed in zoologists began their search in 2001, setting
its short legs and big canines meant it was a a museum, there have been suggestions that up 1,500 infrared camera traps designed to
successful hunter in the dense forests. clouded leopards from mainland Asia could be collect hair samples from passing animals.
After many years with only a few reported introduced to Taiwan. Some scientists believe Sadly, no signs of the cat were found.
sightings, a 13-year search for the animal began that the Formosan subspecies was not actually a
“This leopard was
© freevectormaps.com; Alan Batley

in 2001. American and Taiwanese zoologists set distinct subspecies at all, so transporting animals
up cameras and baited hair traps, but a complete from other countries could restore the population.
lack of evidence of the leopard’s existence led the However, this has been disputed due to the fact once the largest
team to conclude in 2013 that the subspecies was that the island animals had such distinctive short
probably extinct. tails. Even so, it’s possible that mainland cats true carnivore in
It’s thought that the Formosan clouded leopard could ill the vacancy left by the disappearance of
was driven to extinction by poaching, destruction the native animals that once prowled the island. all of Taiwan”
25
 ARMOURED
ANIMALS
The animal kingdom is illed with danger, and
it’s not always possible to ight or lee. These
creatures have evolved armour to protect
them against the hazards of the natural world
Words Matt Ayres

Few animals are more famous for their tough The shell of a tortoise may also reveal
body armour than the tortoise. The top of secrets about how old it is. Like the cross
a tortoise’s shell is known as the carapace, section of a tree, the carapace contains
while the underside is called the plastron. concentric rings, which multiply as the
The carapace and plastron are connected tortoise ages. However, these rings are not
by a third component, the bridge. The shell always a reliable indication of age – some
cannot be removed – the carapace is fused tortoises develop multiple rings in a single
to the vertebrae and ribcage, making it a season, while others’ rings are no longer
permanent part of the tortoise’s body. visible due to everyday wear.
A tortoise can feel when its shell is being Tortoise shells have historically inspired
touched – the carapace contains sensitive humans in their military defences – Roman
nerve endings, and pet tortoises have often soldiers famously used the tortuga (Latin for
been observed enjoying the sensation of tortoise) formation to protect themselves in
being stroked or tickled on the surface of battle, combining their shields to create an
their shells. impenetrable shell.

26
 Armoured animals

“A tortoise can feel when

its shell is being touched
due to nerve endings”

© Shutterstock/Maxim Petrichuk

27
Armoured animals

Three-banded
armadillos roll into
armoured balls
The word ‘armadillo’ means ‘little armoured
one’ in Spanish, so it’s no surprise that these
sturdy mammals are renowned for their
defensive strategies.
Armadillos are covered in plates known
as scutes, which help to protect them from
predators. These are made of bone with
a covering of keratin – the same material
from which human hair and ingernails
are comprised. Scutes cover most of the
armadillo’s body, including the back, head,
legs and tail.
Contrary to popular belief, few armadillos
are capable of rolling into an armoured ball.
This iconic behaviour is restricted to the
three-banded armadillo – other species,
such as the giant armadillo and pink fairy
armadillo, are incapable of impersonating
footballs and must instead rely on their quick
burrowing skills to escape from predators.

How an armadillo
rolls into a ball
Three-banded armadillos use this ingenious
defence strategy to deter predators
1. The armadillo begins by curling its
head towards its feet.
2. Once in the right position, the armadillo
tucks its head and legs into its shell.
3. With its sot body hidden inside an
armoured ball, predators struggle to
penetrate the armadillo’s bony armour.

Horned lizards are also

Horned lizards call upon
able to inflate their bodies
to twice their normal size
an arsenal of desert
to ward off predators
defence strategies
Horned lizards are scales to prevent water loss
sometimes referred to as in the arid habitats they reside
horned toads, but these North in (only the horns on its head
American reptiles aren’t are ‘true’ horns with a boney
related to the amphibians core). Their spiny bodies also
at your local pond. This help to ward off predators,
scientifically inaccurate name although that’s not the horned
was likely influenced by the lizard’s only defence: it can
squat, toad-like body of this also squirt foul-tasting blood
desert reptile. from its eyes up to a range
These lizards are covered in of nearly one metre (three
small, horn-like protrusions, feet) to confuse and alarm
which are actually modified opportunistic predators.

“This lizard can squirt foul-

tasting blood from its
eyes up to nearly a metre”

28
 Armoured animals

Hermit crabs
borrow protective
shells from other
sea creatures
Most species of crab have hard, calciied
abdomens that serve them as a lifelong
line of defence against predatory creatures.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for the hermit
crab. These crustaceans have soft abdomens,
making them easy prey for predators unless they
can ind a suitable hiding place.
Luckily, the crafty hermit crab has found a
solution to its squishy body problem: using the
shells of other marine animals as armour. By
inding a suitably sized shell from a gastropod
or similar animal to carry around on its back,
the hermit crab gains a mobile home to hide
its body in whenever hungry carnivores come
looking for lunch.
Competition for shells is often ierce among
hermit crabs. During times when gastropod
populations are low, hermit crabs are known to
ight to the death in order to secure the perfect
shell. Shells with sea anemones attached are
particularly prized due to the extra protection
they offer.
Despite battling each other
for aquatic real estate,
hermit crabs oten work
together to ind food

© NaturePL/Mark Payne-Gill/Rolf Nussbaumer;

“The hermit crab has

found a solution to its
Dreamstime; Martin Harvey/Alamy

squishy body problem:

using the shells of other
marine animals as armour”
29
Armoured animals

Hedgehogs use their spines as

protection from all kinds of dangers
As a defence mechanism, a hedgehog’s down from, a hedgehog will roll into a
spines are invaluable – they can be raised ball and drop to the ground below, using
by contracting the muscles surrounding its own quill-covered body as a shock
them, giving predators a clear signal that absorber.
they shouldn’t attack unless they fancy a Wild hedgehogs have been known to
face full of pointy quills. survive falls of up to six metres (19.7 feet)
The spines also help to cushion using this method, although we strongly
hedgehogs from falls. If it inds itself stuck advise against testing this defence strategy
in a position that’s impossible to climb on the unwilling hedgehogs in your garden!

How hedgehog spines work

Air pockets
Each of a hedgehog’s 7,000
spines contains a complex
network of air pockets, making
them both lightweight and strong

Flexible skin
By flexing the skin
beneath its quills upon
impact, a hedgehog
avoids its spines from
being damaged or lost

Ball-shaped follicles
The ball-shaped follicle at
the base of every hedgehog
quill keeps the spine-like Muscle contraction
hairs firmly in place By contracting the two large
muscles that run down the
sides of its body, a hedgehog
can raise its spines as a defence
method against predators

30
 Tough exterior

Rhinos have thick

skin that acts as
natural armour
In the searing heat of Africa, the
last thing you’d want to be wearing Pangolins are the only mammals
is a thick coat of armour. Yet that’s covered in scales. Although
armadillo-like in appearance,
exactly what the rhinoceros does – these two animals are not closely
its 1.5- to ive-centimetre-thick (0.6 related. Alongside their armour,
to two inches) skin acts as armour pangolins emit a skunk-like spray
for its entire body, protecting the to scare of predators.
colossal mammals against prickly
grasses and thorns within its
preferred habitat.
Despite being thick, a rhino’s
skin is sensitive to insect bites
and sunburn. The clever creatures
protect against these natural threats
by wallowing in mud, coating their
skin as an extra line of defence
Cassowaries are the world’s only
against the elements. armoured birds. They use the
Another of the rhino’s defence bony protrusions on their heads as
mechanisms can be found on its crash helmets, battering through
the underbrush of Australia.
head – the famous horn that sits
atop its snout is made of keratin,
the same substance used to form
human hair and ingernails.

Puferish aren’t fast swimmers,

so rather than trying to escape
when a predator comes along,
these ish quickly ingest a large
amount of water to inlate their
bodies into spiny, inedible balls.

Parrilla; Sam Fraser-Smith Bernard Dupont; Ernst Dirksen/Minden Pictures/FLPA; blickwinkel / Alamy
© Maria Diekmann of Rare and Endangered Species Trust The United States; Nick Hobgood; George
Cane toads excrete toxins from
their skin that act as a natural
armour and deterrent, although
not all animals are aware of
their deadly poison. Many native
Australian mammals die ater
eating this invasive amphibian.
Crocodiles are covered in armour
that’s both tough and sensitive
Crocodiles and alligators aren’t just concentrated around the face and jaws. By
ferocious predators – they’re also well- resting in the water, a crocodile or alligator
protected. These large reptiles have a can detect the tiniest vibrations and
double-layered exoskeleton consisting of movements, alerting them to the presence
horny scales and bony scutes, making their of potential prey.
bodies some of the best-protected in the Some of the crocodile’s prehistoric Armoured bush crickets are
animal kingdom. relatives had even thicker armour. covered in a thick exoskeleton,
But while their bodies may be armoured, Dinosaurs like the ankylosaurus had with spines on their thoraxes to
deter predators. Males also use
a crocodile’s thick skin doesn’t make it any skin that resembled today’s bulletproof
stridulation to scare of intruders,
less sensitive. Tiny touch sensors cover fabrics, making them some of the hardiest rubbing their body parts together
every crocodilian and are particularly creatures to have ever walked the planet. to produce an alarming noise.

31
 EIGHT-LEGGED
WONDERS
They might give some people the creeps,
but there’s no denying that spiders are a
diverse and fascinating bunch
Words Victoria Williams

There’s more to
jumping spiders
than meets the eye
Male peacock jumping spiders are
known for their brightly coloured
fans and leg-waggling dances,
but these tiny spiders also have
amazing vision. Unlike the basic
eyes of most arachnids, jumping
spiders’ two central eyes have four-
© BIOSPHOTO/Alamy

layered retinas. These complex

eyes allow them to see detail and
judge distance, enabling them to
pounce on prey from far away.

32
Eight-legged wonders

33
 Eight-legged wonders

Giving flower
power a new
meaning
Thomisus onustus, a species
of crab spider, has a sneaky
© NaturePL/Andres M. Dominguez

way of hunting. They don’t

make webs but sit very still on
lowers that match their body
colour, pouncing on insects
that visit the plant and biting
them. When there aren’t many
insects around their young can
feed on pollen and nectar.

34
Eight-legged wonders

So rare their
location is
kept a secret
It’s not hard to see how
the ladybird spider got its
name. These bright males
and their large, black
female counterparts live
across central and southern
© NaturePL/Stephen Dalton

Europe, but in the UK they

are limited to a tiny patch
of habitat in Dorset. Unlike
other spiders, the female
tolerates the male spending
time in her presence.

35
 Eight-legged wonders

The spiky spiders of

the sunshine state
© Piotr Naskrecki/Minden Pictures/FLPA

For Gasteracantha cancriformis spiders,

found from California and Florida in the
US to the Solomon Islands, it’s the female
who appears heavily armoured. These spiky
projections are thought to protect them
from lizards and birds and vary greatly
across the spider’s geographic range.
Females spin large webs, while the smaller
males hang near them on a single thread.

36
 Eight-legged wonders

The males are dull,

but the females
are big and bright
With a body up to two centimetres
(0.8 inches) long and covered in
bright stripes, the female wasp
spider is unmistakable. Milder
winters mean the spider has spread
from central Europe up to the UK.
© David Chapman /Alamy

This species is a member of the orb-

weaver family, and females create a
distinctive ziz-zag down the middle
of their webs.

37
 MEET THE REAL
GRUMPY CAT
Noisy, reclusive, antisocial and with a face that almost
always looks cross, the Pallas’ cat (or manul) is a strong
contender for grumpiest felid
Words Victoria Williams

Often overshadowed by the striking at heights of over 4,600 metres (15,091

snow leopard, Pallas’ cats also inhabit the feet), it’s well-adapted for the cold, with
mountains of Asia, as well as grasslands thick, silvery fur and a stocky build. It
and shrublands. Most members of the prefers habitat with lots of hiding places
species live in Mongolia and China, but as it’s not a great runner.
their range also reaches into Iran, Russia Known for its characteristically
and the Himalayas. Yet despite this, there expressive face, the Pallas’ cat has
aren’t many sightings of these elusive cats plenty of reasons to be as grumpy as it
because they live at high altitudes and looks: as well as living alone in the cold,
they spend their time in dens when they it’s mistaken for being fat and its own
don’t need to be out on the surface. scientiic name is an insult.
This cat, named after a German Add to this an extremely high mortality
naturalist, hasn’t changed much since it rate and the fact that it’s classed as Near
became one of the irst modern cats to Threatened, and it’s the perfect recipe for
evolve around 12 million years ago. Living a real grumpy cat.

38
Meet the real grumpy cat

PALLAS’ CAT/MANUL
Otocolobus manul
Class Mammalia

Territory Across Asia

Diet Pika, rodents, insects
and birds
Lifespan 27 months
Adult weight 2.5-5kg (5.5-11lb)
Conservation status

NEAR THREATENED

© Edo Schmidt/Alamy; MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock

While the online phenomenon that was Grumpy Cat

stole the hearts of millions, here at World of Animals
we think the title belongs to the Pallas’ cat.

39
Meet the real grumpy cat
Like big cats,
and unlike other
small wild cats,
Pallas’ cats have
round pupils

Its name literally means ‘ugly-eared’ DID YOU

Those ‘ugly’ ears keep them alive and well-fed
The Pallas’ cat originally had the Latin name Felis peek over the top of their hiding place without
KNOW?
manul, but it was later changed to Octobulus being spotted. Pallas’ cats are slow, with their Female Pallas’ cats are only
manul. This new name means ‘ugly-eared’, stocky legs not built for speed, so hiding and fertile for 24-48 hours a year –
referring to the cat’s small, wide-set ears. But pouncing are the most eficient tactics for inding a narrow window for a solitary
whatever anyone thinks about their appearance, food. This sneaky ability also helps them to hide species! If she does manage
they are perfectly suited to the Pallas’ cat’s life on from predators like foxes and eagles. to mate, a female’s kittens
the grasslands and rocky steppes. Living in areas of central Asia where the will be ready to leave
These cats hunt by creeping up on their prey temperature can drop to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 home after just four
and hiding before they pounce; lattened faces Fahrenheit), small ears also reduce the amount of months.
and small ears low on their heads mean they can heat that the cats lose from their bodies.

40
 Meet the real grumpy cat

Thick fur keeps

the manul warm in
temperatures well
below freezing

Not fat, just fluffy

These cats aren’t as big as they look
Pallas’ cats have attracted some attention because
of how fat and fluffy they look. In truth, they’re about
the same size and weight as a house cat – the
appearance of any extra size is entirely down to their
fur. To cope with the extreme cold, the Pallas’ cat’s
coat is the thickest and longest of any cat. It changes
from stripy red-brown in summer to a more uniform
grey in winter and becomes even thicker.
The fur on its sides and tummy is twice as long as
the fur on its back, possibly to protect it from the icy
ground when it’s lying low. Despite its warm coat, the
Pallas’ cat doesn’t like snow, preferring arid habitats
with very little precipitation.
Unfortunately, this luxuriant coat is very appealing
to the fur trade; around 50,000 animals were killed
for their pelts annually at the start of the 20th century.
Hunting was banned in some countries in the 1980s
because the cats keep rodent numbers under control.

The peculiar
Pallas’ cat
they don’t make
good neighbours
Fittingly, these grumpy-
looking cats don’t enjoy
company (apart from in the
short breeding season).

© Thinkstock; Getty/Christopher Wright/CMGW Photography; Shutterstock/Vladislav T. Jirousek

They’re solitary animals
and have large territories
for their size, using scent
marks to claim their patch.

their eyes break the

rules of nature
Research has found that land
animals closer to ground are
more likely to have vertical
pupils, but the Pallas’ cat
bucks the trend by being a
small cat with round pupils.
No one is quite sure why!

the hills are alive with

the sound of manuls
These cats have a repertoire
of sounds that includes
purring, snarling, meowing
and growling. They can also
produce yelps and barks like a
small dog when they’re excited
or scared.

41
 Meet the real grumpy cat

Pallas’ cats in peril

These odd animals don’t have the easiest lives
One very real reason for this cat to be grumpy is the
number of threats to the species. Not only do Pallas’ cats
have to put up with harsh conditions and bitter winters,
but they’re now facing further challenges. Over half of
the kittens born in the wild don’t make it as far as leaving
their mother, and many adults die in the winter months.
The cats are prey for eagles, foxes and domestic dogs,
and their habitat is shrinking as land is developed.
Hunting and poaching still threaten the Mongolian
population. There remains a strong demand for their
fur, and some of their body parts are believed to have
medicinal properties in some cultures.
One of the biggest pressures on the species is the
government-approved poisoning of pika. These rabbit
relatives are being controlled in Russia and China, but
as they form the majority of the manul’s diet there
are potential threats from both the reduced numbers
available to prey on and the poison itself.
Pallas’ cats are dificult to care for in captivity as they
have limited immune systems, so conservation efforts
are concentrating on protecting them in the wild.

Conservationists are trying to

prevent Pallas’ cat numbers
from going downhill

“One of the biggest

pressures on the species
is the poisoning of pika”

Wild cats of the world

These cat cousins are small but mighty
© Edo Schmidt Alamy; Thinkstock

Bobcat Andean mountain cat Eurasian lynx Serval Sand cat

North America’s answer This mountain-dweller Also used to cold weather, Unlike the Pallas’ cat, the The only true desert cat,
to the manul has a similar shares the Pallas’ cat’s body the tufty-eared lynx serval has huge ears. In the sand cat is found from
coat, but it’s twice the size. size and thick fur. Hardly has webbed paws for fact, relative to their body, North Africa to Asia. It
The elusive bobcat has ever seen in the wild, this negotiating snow. It’s one of these African wild cats keeps itself cool with large
much larger ears but a species is now listed as Europe’s largest predators have the largest ears of ears and by hunting at night
characteristically short tail. Endangered by the IUCN. and spreads into Asia. any cat in the world. and living in a burrow.

42
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 Meet the family
Octopuses
Hugely variable in their size, shape, colour and
defensive tactics, there are around 300 species in the
order Octopoda swimming through the world’s oceans
Greater blue-ringed
octopus
The deadliest member
Although it’s small, this
Greater blue-rinGed octopus is not one to be
octopus messed with. Its bright blue
Hapalochlaena lunulata
class Cephalopoda
iridescent rings lash when it
feels threatened, caused by muscles
relaxing and exposing the colour. This
warning pattern tells potential predators to
keep their distance, and they’d be best to
territory Tropical and
subtropical waters of the heed the warning – these ten-centimetre-
Indo-Paciic long (four inch) creatures are venomous
diet Crustaceans, bivalves
enough to kill a human.
and small ish
lifespan 2 years Blue-ringed octopuses have two
adult weight 80g (2.8oz) different types of venom gland that
conservation status
create a deadly concoction. One venom
immobilises prey so they’re easier to eat,
and the other is a paralysing neurotoxin
NOT EVALUATED This species is certainly not
used for defence. This second toxin, called
called ‘greater’ because of
tetrodotoxin, is found in other dangerous its size, but because its blue
sea creatures like puffer ish, and in humans it causes muscle spasms, rings are larger than those
excessive salivation, paralysis, respiratory problems and even death. found on its close relatives.

The North Atlantic

nortH atlantic/ octopus is also called
spoonarM octopus the ‘spoonarm’ due to
Bathypolypus arcticus the curls at the ends
class Cephalopoda of its tentacles.

Glowing sucker
territory Just above the
seabed in the North Atlantic
octopus
diet Bivalves, crustaceans
and brittle stars
The lashiest octopus
lifespan Up to 6 years
Living as deep as 4,000 metres (12,100 feet) in the
adult weight 14g (1.6oz) Atlantic Ocean, this octopus has webs joining most
conservation status of the length of its arms, creating an umbrella shape.
When startled, it can inlate its web and bring its arms
together, creating something like a balloon. This
© Thinkstock; NaturePL/David Shale/Nature Production; Alamy/Nick Everett

NOT EVALUATED octopus species has

GloWinG sucKer ins and a gelatinous,
octopus translucent body.
North Atlantic octopus Stauroteuthis syrtensis
class Cephalopoda
It also produces
bioluminescence,
The dedicated mother emitting a blue-green
Living near the seabed at depths of 200-600 metres (660-1,970 feet) light from some of its
and temperatures between two and six degrees Celsius (35.6-42.8 suckers. Some produce
degrees Fahrenheit), the North Atlantic octopus cannot cope with territory Deep water in the a constant, faint light,
North Atlantic
tropical waters. Higher temperatures reduce the animal’s lifespan, with diet Small crustaceans while others pulse
just ten degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) usually proving lethal. lifespan Unknown brightly, creating a As well as its
adult weight Unkown webbed arms and
Females of this species brood their small clutch of eggs for over 400 twinkling effect. It’s bioluminescence,
conservation status
days, which is longer than the lives of most octopuses. During this time thought that they do the glowing sucker
the mother stops eating and breaks down her body to provide energy for this to lure prey and octopus also has fins
her young. She gradually wastes away, living just long enough to see her scare off potential on either side of its
DATA DEFICIENT body to help it swim.
offspring leave the den to make their way in the ocean. predators.

44
 Octopuses

Wonderpus
octopus
The popular one
The wonderpus gets its Latin name,
Wunderpus photogenicus, from the
amount of interest in photographing it. 1. Biggest 3. Longest
Its striking patterns and branched head (probably) brooding
Wonderpus octopus make it a favourite among divers and Giant Pacific Graneledone
Wunderpus photogenicus photographers, but the white stripes and octopus boreopacifica
class Cephalopoda spots aren’t just there to look impressive. Large individuals A female of this
Using its appearance to keep it safe, average 50kg species was
the wonderpus sits on the seabed (110Ib). A 9m seen to brood
with six arms hidden in a hole and two (30ft) long her eggs for
territory Shallow Indo- opposing arms undulating to mimic a record-breaker 53 months, the
Malayan waters
diet Fish, shrimp and shellish venomous banded sea snake. It’s also weighed in at longest animal
lifespan Up to a year been seen spreading its tentacles to 272.2kg (600Ib). pregnancy.
adult weight Unknown look like the toxic lionish. The octopus
conservation status
emerges at dawn and dusk to hunt,
Like a human fingerprint, 2. Smallest 4. Oldest
probing its long arms into burrows and
the pattern of bars and Octopus wolfi fossil
spots is different on each using them to lush out prey under the
NOT EVALUATED The smallest Pohlsepia
wonderpus octopus. sand into the web between its tentacles.
known octopus mazonensis
grows to less A fossil of this
than 2.5cm (1in) species, found
Winged argonaut The egg case of the female winged
Argonaut is secreted from two of
and just under
1g (0.04oz). It’s
in Illinois, US,
was dated back
The clingy relative the tentacles before she lays eggs. also known as 296mn years,
Female Argonauts create a coiled egg case around The egg case it is so thin that the the star-sucker so it lived in the
species is sometimes called the
themselves, similar in appearance to the shells of extinct brown paper nautilus.
pygmy octopus. Carboniferous era.
ammonites. These shell-like structures keep the eggs safe
and close to the female, and a trapped bubble of air aids with
buoyancy. Wing-like protrusions improve their movement.
Unlike most octopuses, Argonauts spend
WinGed arGonaut
Argonauta hians Not an
their time close to the surface of the
water. They often cling to things,
class Cephalopoda
octopus
including each other; a female Squids belong to the Mollusc phylum and
will attach to an object have eight arms like octopuses, but beyond
and passing Argonauts territory Tropical and that they’re quite different animals. While
subtropical waters around
will then cling on to the the world
octopuses keep to themselves in dens, squids
shell of the animal in diet Molluscs prefer the open seas and can live in large
front, creating loating lifespan Unknown groups. When hunting, octopuses make use of
adult weight Unknown
chains. They have conservation status
the suckers on their arms, but squids have an
been observed clinging additional pair of tentacles for grabbing.
to jellyish, steering them The largest octopus on record was a giant
to use them as shields and LEAST CONCERN Pacific octopus that tipped the scales at a
platforms to hunt from. whopping 272.2 kilograms (600 pounds), but
it’s estimated that the colossal squid could
reach a weight of around 750 kilograms
(1,650 pounds)!

daY octopus/biG
blue octopus
Octopus cyanea
Day octopus
class Cephalopoda The crafty daytime hunter
As its name suggests, this species differs from
most other octopuses by hunting during the
day. Being active when it’s light means that the
territory Shallow water and day octopus can’t rely on the dark to conceal
reefs of the Indo-Paciic, it, so it has become a master of disguise. It not
eastern Africa and the
only changes colour as it moves over different
Red Sea
diet Bivalves, ish, crabs surfaces, but it can also change the pattern
and shrimp and texture of its skin to hide from predators
lifespan 12-15 months
and prey. It’s even been observed to create a
adult weight 6kg (13.2lb)
conservation status ‘passing clouds’ effect when it’s lying in wait;
it produces moving shadows on its body to
Chromatophores (cells containing
make itself even less noticeable. When it’s colour pigment) expand to create
NOT EVALUATED inished sneaking around on coral reefs, the bumps on the skin, allowing the
day octopus returns to its hidden den. octopus to match its background.

45
All about scorpions

46
 The scorpion

All About
Scorpions
Powerful, resilient and highly intelligent,
the scorpion is more than just a deadly
assassin; it’s a fascinating example of
evolution and primitive skills
Words Tanita Matthews

© Chien Lee/Minden Pictures/FLPA

47
All about scorpions

An evolutionary tail
Scorpions have adapted to survive and thrive in the bleakest of environments
Fossils dating back more than 430 million To compliment this tough look, a instances death. However, a scorpion’s
years highlight the successful survival of scorpion’s body is made up of a chitin venom is used in moderation as it takes
the scorpion species that irst evolved exoskeleton (similar to that of a shrimp). a lot of energy to produce, and bigger
from giant aquatic specimens. The earliest It is vital for their survival due to its species, such as the giant desert hairy
fossils were found on rocks that had been exceptional resistance to water loss, which scorpion, have little need for their venom,
deposited in water. Paleontologists believe is highly important for a species living in instead tearing their prey apart.
that, like crabs, scorpions evolved from arid conditions. Although all scorpions are venomous,
crawling on the sealoor to scuttling on Scorpions are nocturnal, solitary not all species produce a fatal poison.
dry land. A combination of killer instincts, creatures and prefer to seek shelter until Only approximately two per cent of the
a fascinating anatomy, and the ability to night-time, when they will venture out to species in the world are considered to have
persevere whatever the conditions have feed. Small and medium-sized species of enough toxins to kill a human, such as the
made this arachnid a thriving, if not slightly scorpion will target insects such as snails, terrifyingly named deathstalker, and the
misunderstood species. centipedes and beetles. Bigger scorpions Arizona bark scorpion.
With eight legs, two pincers (chelae) and will eat lizards, tarantulas and, in some Scorpions can survive for up to 12
a long, thin, venomous tail, the scorpion cases, they will even tackle snakes. months without food but will typically BELOW A
is a distinctive-looking character. With When attacking, smaller scorpions such hunt every two to three weeks. As long as female scorpion
approximately 2,000 species worldwide, as the stripe-tailed scorpion will use their they have access to water they are able can have up to
100 babies at a
this arachnid is notorious for the deadly chelae to grab their prey before whipping to survive for long periods of time. Many time. The size
sting in its tail, which is used in hunting, their poisonous tail stinger over their species spend up to 97 per cent of their of the brood
self-defence and occasionally for mating. head and plunging their venom into their time in their burrow, preferring to camp depends on the
species and other
In some species the venom can be unfortunate victim. The poison attacks the out under a rock until dinner wanders environmental
100,000-times stronger than cyanide. nerve cells, causing paralysis and in some straight to their door. factors

“Bigger species, such as the giant desert

hairy scorpion, have little need for their
venom, instead tearing their prey apart”

48
 The scorpion

ABOVE A
scorpion’s venom is
made up of as many
as 70 cross-linked
amino acids, but
while considered
dangerous, it
is also used in
research for cancer
treatments

© Mark Moffett/Minden Pictures/FLPA; ZSSD/Minden Pictures/FLPA; Michael Durham/Minden Pictures/FLPA

In the limelight
Unlike their arachnid relatives, scorpions glow under UV light
All scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, might be a form of identiication for
such as an electric black light or even the scorpions, or to confuse prey,
the Moon. The blue-green glow that but science is yet to ind a deinitive
radiates from their bodies comes from answer. Others speculate that it serves
a substance found in the hyaline layer – no function at all but is rather just a
the thin but tough coating in a part of random factor of evolution.
the exoskeleton known as the cuticle. However, in 2011, biologist Douglas
Beta carboline is the main component Gafin from the University of Oklahoma
that enables their luorescence. announced that after investigating the
Scorpions, like many animals, shed phenomenon he had concluded that the
their skin, and it has been noticed that creatures can ‘sense’ light using their
once a scorpion has shed its skin it is tails. First, Gafin’s team of scientists
unable to glow under UV light until a blindfolded scorpions. They then tested
new layer of cuticle hardens. them with a variety of colourful lights
Scientists are unable to determine and found the scorpions’ shells work as
what purpose the luorescent coating a ‘whole body’ sensor, relaying light to
serves. Some theorise that it protects the nervous system so the scorpion can
them from the sunlight, or that it allegedly ‘see’ using any part of its body.

49
All about scorpions

Inside a scorpion metasoma

Unlike insects, the
metasoma refers
only to the tail
The emperor scorpion owes much of its section of a scorpion,
which is made up of
survival to the ingenious evolution of its ive segments.

anatomy, which consists of three segments:

Gut
the prosoma, mesosoma and the metasoma Scorpions do not
chew their food; they
dissolve the tissues
EmpEror scorpion of their prey with
Pandinus imperator digestive juices and
class Arachnida Exoskeleton
aspirate the nutrients
Their exoskeleton, which is made of
in semi-liquid form.
chitin like a shrimp, is impermeable
to water but able to expand across
all joints for protection and seals
in the internal organs. Beneath it
Territory West Africa,
including Nigeria, Togo, Sierra is a layer that provides its glowing
Leone, Ghana and the Congo luorescent light.
region
Diet Insects, spiders, lizards,
small mammals and other
scorpions
Lifespan 5-8 years
Legs
Adult weight Up to 28g (1oz)
conservation status Scorpions have eight clawed legs
that allow them to climb almost any
surface. Moveable bristles (setae)
allow them to walk on sand without
NOT EVALUATED losing traction or sinking thanks to the
hairs forming a larger surface area.

Scorpion samba
Before being able to mate, male
emperor scorpions must impress females
with a complex courtship dance called the
‘promenade-a-deux’

Food for thought

Prior to entering the mouth, food is semi-digested
by digestive juices that derive from the scorpion’s
gut. For a scorpion, the solid state of prey is too
diicult to digest, so it will ill it with digestive
juices formed by enzymes. Before the food enters
the scorpion’s mouth it is broken down by setae
in the preoral cavity. These enzymes dissolve
all the tissues until they become a semi-liquid
that can then be sucked up. Overall this process Grasping her pedipalps (pincers) with his
can take up to an hour, with the hard parts that own, the male manoeuvres a female into
require too much energy to soten discarded. the ideal spot for mating, while shaking – a chelae
Indigestible materials like exoskeletons are motion called ‘juddering’ – and putting his Their chelae are not legs; they
simply thrown to the side, the efort required to mouthparts against hers. He then deposits are more like appendages used
to grab and have the sensitivity
make them into a malleable meal outweighing a spermatophore (sperm packet), which she
of antennae and in some
the beneits. The rest of the food makes its way picks up with her genital pore. species the strength of a pair
through the body before it is expelled as faeces. of pliers.

inFAncY JUVEniLE mATUriTY

Fertilisation 0 months A free ride 0 months Leaving the nest 10-20 days independence 10-20 days molt 6 months-7 years maturity 6 months-7 years
A female scorpion will retain Between ten and 12 babies Around ten to 20 days ater birth, The baby scorpion has now Depending on the species, However, some species molt
her fertilised eggs inside her (scorplings) are born three to the baby scorpions have their irst developed its exoskeleton and is a scorpion will molt as many as nine times over
body until they develop into 18 months ater fertilisation molt, signifying that they are ready able to live without the protection approximately six times several years before they
live embryos. and climb onto her body. to leave their mother. of its mother. before it reaches adulthood. eventually reach maturity.

50
 The scorpion
Venom glands
The telson contains a pair of glandular sacs
that produce and store the venom. The
scorpion’s venom is produced on demand
when the scorpion requires it for killing prey.

The mesosoma
The middle section of a pectines
scorpion’s anatomy, the Two sensitive organs
mesosoma consists of six known as pectines
segments and forms the are beneath the
irst part of the abdomen. body of the scorpion,
It contains the reproductive, allowing them to
and respiratory organs, analyse the ground Hair
plus other vital organs. beneath them. Hairs on the scorpion's
legs act as sensors,
vibrating from even the
slightest movement of a
potential meal. Alternating
Scorpion stings
motion waves tell the Not all scorpions are deadly, but
scorpion which direction their venom will cause varying
their food is travelling in. degrees of discomfort

Highly venomous
If stung by a highly
venomous species like the
fat-tailed scorpion, a fever,
altered heart rate and trouble
breathing are all potentially
fatal signs.

Mildly venomous
If the venom is mildly toxic,
having come from a scorpion
such as the yellow-tailed
scorpion, symptoms can
include increased blood
pressure and severe pain at
the site of the bite.

Weak venom
Symptoms of a sting from a
scorpion with weak venom,
such as the stripe-tailed
Eyes scorpion, can include local
Although scorpions have pain, swelling and redness at
poor vision, they have the site of the sting, a slight
two sets of eyes at the
fever and nausea.
prosoma top of the prosoma and
Also known as the usually two to ive pairs
cephalothorax, it is of eyes along the front
found at the front corners of the prosoma.
of the scorpion and
contains the fused
head and thorax. chelicerae
Scorpions have two small,
claw-like appendages
that protrude from their
mouths called chelicerae.
These are used for chewing
Closest family
Meet the scorpion’s arachnid relatives
on their prey. Feeding is a
methodical process that
can take hours to complete.

spider Tick mite

Spiders are the Similar to the spider This arachnid prefers
largest order in the but not much bigger to inhabit the soil as a
arachnid class and than a poppy seed, a decomposer. They are
also have eight legs tick generally feeds of the most successful
like the scorpion does. the blood of another of the invertebrate
Although they are human or animal. groups, feasting on a
relatives, spiders oten Ticks look like tiny, range of plants and
© Thinkstock; Sol90

mating 14-24 months Love’s sweet perfume The mating ritual end up as dinner for pale spiders, but animals – some even
The age at which scorpions reach When mating season approaches a Lasting up to 36 hours, this can be an hungry scorpions, as unlike the scorpion feed on mould. Some
sexual maturity can difer with female scorpion will give of a scent aggressive process. The male will deposit unlike their cousin, they prefer to inhabit are predatory, but
each species of scorpion, ranging that a male will be able to detect with a pool of semen and then attempt to lure spiders are seldom places where the air none of the oribatid
between 14 months to four years. his pectines. the female onto it. venomous. is moist. mites are parasitic.

51
All about scorpions

Where in the world?

Scorpions roam across almost every type of environment on the globe
Scorpions can be found across the planet in hot spots for scorpion species. But having such the scorpion’s sting and will attack them with
every continent except for Antarctica, where a wide range doesn’t mean that they don’t face ease given the chance. And while tarantulas
the cold weather prevents them from settling. a daily battle to ind food and evade predators. can be dinner, larger and stronger species of
Even so, they can survive being literally Although they prefer to remain hidden, this spiders can quickly turn the tables. Even the
frozen, but cope just as well in scorching heat, is not a foolproof way of staying alive, as even skies aren’t safe, with birds including owls
meaning they are particularly well-equipped the most stationary of species must sometimes poised to swoop down for a scorpion meal.
for survival. venture out at night for food. Cannibalism Unsurprisingly, humans are also a huge
Parts of Africa, Asia (particularly China), between scorpions is not uncommon, but a threat to the scorpion, encroaching on their
South and North America, Russia and far greater threat lurks out on the open plains: territory and swiftly killing any scorpions that
Madagascar are just some of the world’s best mongoose and meerkats. Both are resistant to happen to venture into homes or camp sites.

Environmental factors
From lunch to lightening, it’s not easy being a scorpion
Becoming dinner pet trade
While scorpions might be used to Scorpions have become desirable
scaring humans, in China they are exotic pets. Enthusiasts will pay a
considered food. Seasoned then great deal of money in order to keep a
placed on a skewer, they are oten scorpion in captivity for the rest of its
found on market stalls. natural life.

Human development Weather

Agricultural conversion, deforestation Severe weather such as hurricanes
and urban sprawls are a risk to and tornados can have a devastating
scorpion habitat, which is being efect on scorpion habitats. The
constantly destroyed. Pesticides and damage they can create oten leaves
other chemicals are also a concern. scorpions vulnerable and exposed.

52
 The scorpion

“Although scorpions prefer to remain Nearest

hidden, this is not a foolproof way neighbours
What wondrous creatures show
of staying alive, as even the most up on the scorpion’s doorstep?

stationary of species must sometimes

venture out at night for food”

Tarantula
Distant cousins from the same family,
tarantulas and scorpions will oten
encounter one another, predominantly
due to the fact that they both prefer
to venture out at night when the
temperature is cooler.

Gecko
The gecko is a nosy neighbour,
scoping out burrows to see what food
it might ind inside. Unfortunately
for these little reptiles, they oten
unwittingly stumble into the burrow of
a hungry scorpion.

Assassin bug
Assassin bugs get their name from
their habit of biting humans on the
face near the lips. Young scorpions
oten fall prey to these merciless
insects as they are unable to properly
defend themselves.

© Thinkstock; NaturePL/Daniel Heuclin

cricket
Crickets are oten found in many of
the arid places in which a scorpion
will reside. They make up a large
proportion of the scorpion’s diet as
they are easy to catch and subdue.

53
 SAVING AFRICA’S
PAINTED DOGS
African wild dogs are
under threat of extinction
and it’s down to humans.
So what can be done to
safeguard the future of
these incredible canines?
We speak to Yorkshire
Wildlife Park to see how
they are working to reverse
this human-caused crisis
Words Laura Mears

Lions, cheetahs and hyenas are the iconic predators of

the African wilderness, but they aren’t the only carnivores
that roam the landscape. Packs of dogs track through
the wilderness, working as a team to take on animals
more than ive times their own size. They run slowly for
tens of miles to ind the right target, then accelerate up
to 56 kilometres (35 miles) per hour to begin the chase,
although they can reach a top speed of over 72 kilometres
(45 miles) per hour. They can maintain this pace for up to
4.82 kilometres (three miles), working together to exhaust
and outmanoeuvre their prey.
These are no ordinary dogs. African wild dogs, or
painted dogs as they are sometimes known, are only
distantly related to our pets and to the European wolves
they descended from. They are hypercarnivores, adapted
to eat a diet of more than 70 per cent meat, and when it
comes to hunting, there is nothing like them.
They live in packs with an alpha male and female. These
two dogs lead all the other adults and are parents to all
of the pups. While the group has young they stay in one
place, but once the puppies are old enough, the entire
pack becomes nomadic, wandering the plains in search
of food. And they travel far; a single pack needs around
1,500 square kilometres (579 square miles) of space.
These formidable animals once roamed across all of
sub-Saharan Africa, but now they are disappearing. There
are thought to be fewer than 7,000 individuals left and
just 1,400 of those are breeding adults. One of the 40

54
 Painted dogs

See the African wild dog

In their natural habitat
Kwando Reserve, Botswana
WWW.KWANDO.CO.BW
This private reserve is renowned for its African wild dogs.
Lebala Camp and Lagoon Camp in the Kwando Linyanti
Concession have tents set up at the heart of African wild
dog country, with guides and trackers on hand to help you
find dogs, elephants and other iconic African wildlife.

In the UK
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
WWW.YORKSHIREWILDLIFEPARK.COM
Alpha male, Nafari, lives at Yorkshire Wildlife Park with
Nandi, Thabo, and Thabo’s seven puppies. The pups were
born in November 2016, and their home has been designed
to mimic the savannahs and grasslands of Africa, with
space to dig their own dens and caves to hide in.

© WILDLIFE GmbH/Alamy

55
Conserving the African wild dog
remaining groups has just take charge of the family, but this doesn’t always happen
Seven puppies
AfricAn wild dog two adult dogs. Worryingly, instantly. The dogs in a pack tend to be related, and often were born at
Lycaon pictus this has happened in the group will break apart until new, unrelated families Yorkshire Wildlife
class Mammalia Park in 2016
the past ten years. Until can form. It takes ive years for puppies to grow into fully
recently, there were mature alphas, and one-off events can cause the complete
500,000 left in Africa. collapse of a local population.
We spoke to Simon As African wild dog territory becomes increasingly
Territory Africa
Marsh, animal collection fragmented, their future is looking more and more
diet Antelopes, impalas,
wildebeests and zebras manager at Yorkshire precarious, but Simon and the team at Yorkshire Wildlife
lifespan 10-12 years Wildlife Park (YWP) about Park are working to ensure that they have a safety net.
Adult weight 17.9-35.8kg
what’s being done to secure “I started my career nearly 20 years ago and have
(39.5-79Ib)
conservation Status their future. worked in several zoos in the UK and have also worked
“In the last few decades, in African countries supporting vital conservation work.
as with many species, they Although zoos have their critics, and in some cases it is
ENDANGERED have been pushed to the well founded when the welfare of the animals is poor,
edge of extinction. They are modern zoos and aquariums are focused and driven by
now only found in southern and eastern Africa and have the need to conserve species, habitats and biodiversity.”
been classiied as Extinct in western Africa,” he told us. In 2016, the pack of three adult wild dogs at YWP
African wild dogs should thrive in a variety of welcomed its irst puppies. At the time, Simon described it
environments, from deserts to plains and thick bush. But as the best Christmas present the park could have wished
they have to compete with hyenas for food, and they’re for. Seven new dogs were born here in the UK as part of
sometimes eaten by lions, so population numbers remain a captive breeding programme that aims to secure their
low even in areas that have good habitat and lots of prey. long-term survival. The YWP is working hard to ensure
On top of these natural pressures, the dogs have been their new home is as similar to the wild as possible.
facing human-made challenges that are pushing them “As animal collection manager at YWP it is my
towards extinction: road trafic accidents, run-ins with responsibility to make sure the animals in our care are kept
snares and conlicts with people all take a severe toll. to a very high standard, and we focus on conservation-
The dogs are suffering from the ‘edge effect’. They need dependant species. Without the highest standards of
large territories, but humans have been encroaching on welfare, where animals in our care are kept in large,
their space, so even in the biggest protected areas they naturalistic reserves and can behave in a natural way, the
are bordered on all sides by us. This means that they must animals will not thrive.”
cope with the challenges of the wild and the challenges of “To make sure we are securing a future for painted
humanity simultaneously. If the alpha dogs die this can be dogs we need an insurance population kept in zoos that is
catastrophic for the pack. Two more adults can step up to physically and mentally healthy,” Simon explained. “We can

“One of the most important things we can do to protect

the painted dog is to encourage the local people to
have a vested interest in their wildlife”
African wild dogs
hunt together in
large packs of 20
or more

56
 Painted dogs

Threats to
survival
African wild dogs need wide, open spaces if they
are to survive and flourish
Human conlict
African wild dogs have an
astonishing success rate when
it comes to kills. Big cats return
from most of their hunts empty-
handed, but these packs take
down their target eight out of
every ten times. Unfortunately,
they can’t tell the difference
between wild antelope and
domestic livestock. If they stray
on to farmland they can be killed
by people defending their animals.

disease
Disease can spread at alarming
speed in tight-knit dog packs, and
with different packs living so far
apart, the death of one group can
cause a local extinction overnight.
This happened in the Serengeti
when rabies ravaged wild dog
populations. Canine distemper
and anthrax can also infect packs,
and all of the diseases can be
transferred between pet dogs and
their wild counterparts.

Habitat fragmentation
The biggest threat to survival for
nomadic animals like these is
being penned in; a pack of African
wild dogs needs hundreds of

© Thinkstock; Yorkshire Wildlife Park

square miles of space to roam
in search of food and to avoid
coming into conflict with lions,
hyenas, cars and farmers. In
many places where land has been
carved up the dogs can struggle
to find their place on the boundary
between civilisation and the wild.

achieve this by working with organisations based in the

wild dogs’ natural range and use research and observation
to help us keep the dogs as naturally as possible.”
Simon describes YWP’s approach to conservation as
holistic. To save the African wild dog, we desperately need
more information about their lives and their biology. But
they are extremely hard to study in the wild; not only do
they move around a lot, they hunt at great speed and are
becoming increasingly rare. To save them, conservationists
need to work out how best to monitor them in the wild,
how to protect them from disease, how to reduce conlict
with local people, and what to do about the fragmentation
of their landscape.
Not only are YWP keeping and breeding African wild
dogs here in the UK, they are also conducting research
and working with communities in Africa. “The observations
and research carried out in a zoo environment inform
conservation work in the wild. For example, testing
tracking technology and anti-snare collars,” Simon
explained. The park is also able to perform experiments
that cannot be done in the wild, such as testing hormone
levels and monitoring pack dynamics. But this is only half
of the story. The big ight for the future of painted dogs is
happening on the ground in Africa.
“We train staff in the painted dogs’ natural range to care
for sick or injured animals and improve husbandry care
for the animals in their care,” Simon told us. “Through the
generosity of our visitors and through general donations
RIGHT The conservation work carried out in the
wild dog’s African range is funded by the Yorkshire
Wildlife Park Foundation

57
 we fund domestic dog vaccination The African Wildlife Fund, with help from the
programmes in Zimbabwe, which US and the Netherlands, is employing scouts
protect painted dogs from deadly to track the dogs, not only providing more
disease. It’s also a great opportunity information about their movements but also
to engage with local people.” creating employment for local people. And several
Large-scale conservation measures organisations are helping to make bomas: large
are also underway to help preserve fences that protect livestock from predators.
critical predators in Africa, including “One of the most important things we can do to
wild dogs and cheetahs. These protect the painted dog is to encourage the local
two species need the most space people to have a vested interest in their wildlife
of any animal on the continent, and and not only care about it and want to save it but
Range Wide Conservation Program also have an income to support their families,”
for Cheetahs and Wild Dogs has been Simon explained. “This gives them the opportunity
established to safeguard their homes. to send their children to school and have a more
Governments, non-governmental prosperous future. By funding conservation
organisations and local people are working programmes we can achieve this and protect the
together to develop action plans to help protect habitats and the species that rely on them.”
these animals in 85 per cent of wild dog range African wild dog packs can bounce back.
and more than 90 per cent of cheetah range. They produce huge litters of up to 20 puppies
Their focus is securing and protecting existing and range over long distances, allowing new
populations, helping the dogs to live alongside subpopulations to spring up quickly; between
people, and prioritising conservation in future 2000 and 2006, a Kenyan population increased
ABOVE development plans. There’s also a real focus on tenfold. Thanks to organisations like YWP, their
Unlike other dogs, painted dogs
only have four toes on each foot engaging local communities in conservation. future is looking much brighter.

Team hunters Ears

African wild dogs live together, hunt together, and raise their puppies as a pack Large ears have two major
benefits: they help with
pack communication and
they radiate heat, keeping
Painted the dogs cool during long-
African wild dogs are distance hunting runs.
sometimes known as ‘painted
dogs’ or ‘painted wolves’
because of the distinctive
splotchy patterning on their fur.

Alpha
The pack is kept in line by an
alpha male and an alpha female.
The pair are mother and father
to all of the pups in the group.

Pack member
All of the dogs in the pack work
together to take down prey and
raise the pups. They rarely fight,
even at mealtimes.

Jaw
© Getty/Catherina Unger; Thinkstock

African wild dogs tire their

prey out before taking it down,
but they still need powerful Prey
jaws. A whole pack can If puppies are at the scene when
quickly take care of a carcass. prey is killed, they get first go at
the carcass. If they’re back at the
den, the pack regurgitate food
for them when they get home.

58
NATIONAL
ICONS
Rooted in a nation’s folklore or history, or more
recently discovered, a national animal can be any
species that has come to be linked with a country’s
identity and culture. While some are common
sights in their country, others are no longer around
or never existed in the first place.

This unusual
dog was
associated
with the
afterlife
Xoloitzcuintli Mexico
The name of Mexico’s national
dog is a bit of a mouthful, and
the creature itself is just as
puzzling. Sturdy and bald, the
Mexican hairless dog has been
around for over 3,000 years.
Aztecs believed they had healing
powers and that they served as
guides to the underworld.

This marine national Legend explains the peculiar

appearance of the takin
animal needs protecting Takin Bhutan
Legend says that this bizarre hoofed mammal was created in the 16th
Dugong Papua New Guinea century when a Buddhist monk attached a goat’s head to a cow’s skeleton.
Papua New Guinea has one protected by the government, The takin is actually more closely related to sheep, and it migrates between
of the few aquatic national as a long history of hunting Himalayan mountains and lower valleys, browsing on leaves as it goes.
animals. The dugong, a slow- and more recent incidents
moving herbivore, represents with boats have made them
strength on the islands. It is vulnerable to extinction.

This frog serenaded its way

into the people’s heart Coquí Puerto Rico
The coquí is so well loved across be heard throughout the night.
the island of Puerto Rico that Unlike most frogs, species of
it has become the unoicial this genus lack webbed toes and
national animal. Named ater the pass their tadpole stage while
sound of their song, coquís can still in the egg.

Jamaica’s national bird

is found nowhere else
Red-billed streamertail Jamaica
Endemic to the island, the males of this hummingbird
species have tail feathers longer than their bodies. Early
inhabitants of Jamaica called the streamertail the ‘God
bird’ and believed they were souls reincarnated. Now they
are oten nicknamed ‘doctor birds’ as their plumage looks
like an old-fashioned doctor’s coat tails.

60
 National icons

Mythical
national animals
Not all national animals roam the
countryside – some never existed

Scotland’s mythical symbol

A symbol of purity, pride and strength,
the unicorn represents Scotland’s
This is one national values. It’s always depicted chained, a
sign of power as unicorns are meant
dragon that does exist to be near-impossible to catch.

Komodo dragon Indonesia

The world’s largest lizard is found only on the Indonesian
islands. Growing up to three metres (ten feet) long, this
giant monitor is a stealthy hunter with deadly bacteria in its
mouth. Komodo dragons attract tourists to Indonesia, who
wish to see them, albeit from a safe distance.

North Korea is represented by a

symbol of progress
This national animal is a winged horse
of astounding speed. Chosen in the
post-war era, the chollima stands for
The elusive economic growth and innovation.

The bird that dazzled girrafid that’s

ancient civilisations hidden in the
Resplendent quetzal Guatemala forests of the
Guatemala’s national bird feathers, which were highly DR Congo
might not be the strongest valued by Aztecs and Mayans
Okapi
lier, but it makes up for it with and even used as currency.
Democratic Republic of Congo Kingdom of the thunder dragon
its brilliant plumage. Once Today, Guatemala’s currency is
While it may look like a zebra, this is Bhutan’s national symbol is the
considered sacred, the male called the quetzal, and the bird druk (thunder dragon). It features on
the closest living relative of the girafe.
quetzal has iridescent tail features on the country’s lag. the national lag, holding jewels to
The mysterious okapi is found only in represent wealth, and in the national
the tropical forests of Congo, where anthem, Druk tsendhen.
it uses its long black tongue to eat
leaves and buds. This national animal
is listed as Endangered, threatened by
deforestation and poaching.

Rising from the ashes

Greece’s national bird is the phoenix.
It featured on Greece’s irst modern
currency in the 19th century, a symbol
The dodo is of the state’s rebirth as it struggled
against its Ottoman oppressors.
extinct but
© Thinkstock; Ryhor Bruyeu/Alamy/blickwinkel/Rolf Nussbaumer

not forgotten
Dodo Mauritius
The island of Mauritius was the
The national animal only known home of the extinct
dodo. Now a symbol of human’s
protecting a country’s crops impact on animals, the dodo is
Two-spot ladybird Latvia also one of the nation’s claims The turul has a mixed history
Latvia has a very practical national insect in the form of the two- to fame and appears on money, In folklore, this large hawk perched on
spot ladybird. This insect is valuable because it feeds on aphids, stamps and the coat of arms. the tree of life, connecting Earth and
removing the pests from crops and garden plants. In Latvian the The birds lived undisturbed for the netherworld. In modern history,
the turul has been used as a political
ladybird is known as ‘marite’, ater the earth goddess, Māra. thousands of years until Dutch symbol of the far-right in Hungary.
settlers landed on Mauritius.

61
 Explore the Earth

TURTLE
WATCH
There are few animals more majestic than sea turtles,
and these ocean wanderers can be spotted on beaches
all over the world
Words Laura Mears

62
 Turtle watch
Travel expert
Brad Nahill is president and co-founder of SEE Turtles, a non-profit that specialises in sea turtle conservation tours and education
Sea turtles are fun and beautiful, nesting is predictable, they explain the process and make sure they aren’t being disturbed.
aren’t dangerous, and if precautions are taken, you can watch Visiting turtle nesting beaches can be immensely helpful for
their nesting without disturbing them. the animals and local communities. Fees for observing the
When a sea turtle is nesting it goes into a trance where it turtles can go towards their conservation, and communities
blocks everything out. That is when researchers and travellers whose economies depend on the turtles being alive are more
can approach and watch the eggs drop into the nest. We likely to protect them instead of eating their eggs or meat or
suggest doing this with a local researcher or guide who can using their shells.
Leatherback Green
There are thousands of leatherbacks Green turtles aren’t actually
in the Atlantic, but Paciic leatherbacks green, but they are found
are the most endangered turtles in across the world, from Asia
the sea. There are thought to be fewer to South America and Africa.
than 2,300 females let.

Kemp’s ridley Hawksbill

Like latback turtles, These pointy-beaked
these turtles also have turtles are found
a very restricted range. in tropical reefs
They are only found in the world over,
shallow waters in the where they feed on
Gulf of Mexico. sponges, helping to
keep the coral clean
and healthy.
Olive ridley
This small species of sea turtle
likes shallow water. They number
in the hundreds of thousands,
making them the most common
sea turtle in the world.
Loggerhead
These turtles are Flatback
1 Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica commonly seen in the Unlike most other turtle species,
2 Iztuzu Beach, Turkey Mediterranean, where they these turtles have a very
make their nests along the restricted range. They are only
3 Tofo Beach, Mozambique coast from Greece to Israel. found of the coast of Australia.
4 Port Barton, Philippines

Travel guide
Best time of year to see turtles
Turtles can be spotted all year round, but to
see eggs hatching, the best time to go is in
late summer.

Best way to see turtles

Turtles visit beaches across the globe from
Europe to Australia, so hop on a train, boat
or plane.

Best weather to see turtles in

Turtles will often come out of the sea to
bask on sunny days. They are not fans of
choppy waters.

Best items to pack

Wear non-relective clothes and put a red
ilter over your torch so that you don’t
disturb the turtles at night.
© freevectormaps.com; Thinkstock

What’s amazing about

turtle tourism
By paying to go on turtle-watching trips
you’re helping to fund their conservation, as
well as helping to provide locals with jobs.

63
 See a green sea turtle
These turtles are found across can take up to 70 days, so the precious eggs
the world, but some of their most are sometimes collected by conservationists
important nesting areas are in Africa, and taken to a safe place to incubate. These
Southeast Asia and the South Paciic. hatcheries sometimes take on volunteers to
They can also be seen in the US and help look after the eggs and release the newly
South America. And, if you’re very hatched turtles safely back onto the beach.
lucky, you can sometimes spot them For the best chance of seeing a green sea
around the south of England. turtle head to Tortuguero on Costa Rica’s
When nesting, the females come Caribbean coast between June and October.
out of the sea and up on to the beach, This national park is named after the turtles
where they walk beyond the line of the that inhabit it. With miles of protected coastline,
highest tide to ind sand that will stay it’s visited by green, hawksbill, loggerhead and
dry as their eggs get ready to hatch. This leatherback turtles from February to October.

Top turtle
watching tips
Get a guide
A local expert can take you to the right spot,
explain what’s going on, and make sure that
the turtles are safe.

Go red
Turtles don’t want to be disturbed, so turn the
flash off on your camera and use a red filter on
your torch to minimise the light.

Stay quiet
Move slowly and keep a constant lookout for
turtles around you. Talk at a whisper, and give
the turtles plenty of space.

Be patient
Sea turtles are endangered, so you might not
always get to see one. The priority is always
their safety and wellbeing, so be prepared to
stand back to accommodate them.

Don’t help
If you see turtles on their way to the sea, don’t
try to help them. Watch from a distance as they
make their way to the water.

64
 Turtle watch

Swim with hawksbills

The hawksbill turtle is easily recognised by its bird-like beak,
and if you’re diving in coral you might just be lucky enough
to see one. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters
across the world, including the Caribbean Sea, around
Australia, near the Galápagos and in Malaysia and Indonesia.
They like clear, shallow water, making them ideal swimming
partners for lucky divers, and many dive centres get involved
in tracking turtle sightings to help with conservation research.
They’re easy to spot thanks to their beautifully patterned
shells. Made from overlapping scales known as scutes, in
shades of orange, brown and amber, the hawksbill shell is
both a blessing and a curse. While it makes these animals
stunning to look at, it also makes for ‘tortoiseshell’ souvenirs,
a practice that has contributed to the decline of these
amazing animals.
Find them nesting in Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park
in September and October, or head to the Seychelles for a
chance to spot them in the water.

© Dreamstime; Thinkstock; Jami Tarris/Minden Pictures/FLPA

65
 Explore the Earth

Discover the
strangest sea turtle
Leatherback turtles are the largest and weirdest
species of sea turtle. Turtles were around when
the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and many species
survived the mass extinction event, but leatherbacks
are the only members of their family still around today.
They are found across the world, from the chilly
waters of Norway to the jellyish-rich beaches of
California and the tropical sands of India. They’re
easy to recognise because they’re the only sea
turtles without a solid, bony shell. Instead they have
oily, leathery armour made from much more lexible
connective tissue.
They have long lippers and can dive deeper than
any other turtle species at around 1,280 metres (4,200
feet). They spend most of their time out at sea, but if
you want to meet these strange animals you can see
them nesting in the Caribbean from March to July.

Protect loggerheads
from plastic waste
If you’re heading to the United States or the
Mediterranean, the loggerhead turtle is the one you’re
most likely to encounter. Go to Florida between May
and September or Kefalonia in Greece between May
and August for the best chance to see them nesting.
If you do go looking for them, make sure to do it
responsibly. These shy animals rely on their beaches to
mate and to lay their eggs, and they can be startled by
noise and movement, distracted by lights and confused
by plastic and other waste. These turtles eat jellyish,
and to them a plastic bag looks like a tasty treat. If they
eat one they can’t digest it, and if they eat several they
can ill up on rubbish and even starve to death. You can
help them out by clearing any rubbish that you see.

66
 Turtle watch

BELOW The flatback

turtle’s Latin name, Natator
depressus, translates roughly
Top ive
as ‘lowered swimmer’
ecotourism tips

Pick up plastic
There is now more plastic in the sea than plankton. Sea
turtles can mistake rubbish for food, filling up on waste
that can potentially kill them.

Avoid turtleshell
Hawksbill turtles are harvested for their beautiful
shells, which are used to create jewellery and trinkets.
Avoid souvenirs that are brown, orange and amber in
colour with irregular shapes and markings.

Eat local
Supporting the local economy by eating sustainable
food is a great way to contribute to sea turtle
conservation. Try hook- and line-caught seafood.

Stay back © Thinkstock; frans lemmens/Alamy; D. Parer & E. Parer-Cook/Minden Pictures/FLPA

Visiting turtles is a good way to increase awareness and
money spent on turtle conservation, but remember to
respect the animals and keep your distance.

See Australia’s unique turtle

Unlike most other sea turtle species, latback The largest population is found on Crab Island,
turtles have decided to make their home in one where nesting season begins in September
speciic part of the globe. If you want to see one each year, but watch out for predators if you’re
you’ll have to venture all the way to Australia. visiting. Australia is home to the fearsome
This species has a distinctive smooth shell, which saltwater crocodile, which can reach over ive
provides a handy perch for tired seabirds when the metres (16.4 feet) in length. With their enormous
turtles come to the surface of the water. They eat jaws and skewer-like teeth, even an armoured Volunteer
soft foods like sea cucumbers, prawns, molluscs shell doesn’t provide enough protection. Luckily, There are many tours and trips aimed at turtle
and jellyish, and they are most often found in the conservationists are on hand to support local conservation where you can work with researchers.
shallows near the coast. turtle populations. Look for trips that help fund more conservation work.

67
 Explore the Earth

Find America’s rarest sea turtle

To catch a sight of a Kemp’s ridley turtle watching out for. Between May and
you’ll need to travel to the east coast July, hundreds of females appear on the
of North America; they aren’t found beaches to lay their eggs all at once in an
anywhere else. They are the smallest of event called arribada (‘arrival’ in Spanish).
the sea turtle species, and they have a If you’re lucky, you might be able to ind
strange habit that makes them well worth them at Rancho Nuevo in Mexico.

See hundreds of
heart-shaped turtles
Olive ridley turtles are close relatives of the Kemp’s ridley,
but unlike their cousins, they have spread across the
oceans. One of the best places to ind them is La Flor
beach in Nicaragua. Like their cousins, they descend upon
beaches in their thousands to lay their eggs in coordinated
nesting events. For a chance to see this astonishing
spectacle visit between July and November. You might
also see leatherback, hawksbill and green sea turtles while
you’re there.

68
 Turtle watch

Top Tips for

seeing sea
turtles
Look under water
Hawksbill sea turtles love coral
reefs, so if you’re diving keep

See turtles in the UK an eye out for these majestic

swimmers in their natural habitat.

© The Deep; Thinkstock; Alamy/adrian hepworth; Michael Patrick O’Neill

The Deep aquarium in Hull caught on ishermen’s
Find a hatchling release
has recently added two long lines, which damaged
Eggs are often moved to a safe
loggerhead sea turtles to their lower jaws. Even after
place by conservationists so that
its 2.4-million-litre Endless rehabilitation they couldn’t
they can hatch in peace. They are
Ocean exhibit. Named be released into the wild
released at night and sometimes
Sensa and Mabouche, the as they can’t catch their
the public are invited to watch.
pair were rescued from the own food, so have a new
Mediterranean after being forever home in Hull.
By the beach
Sea turtles are cold-blooded and
occasionally come out onto the
beach to warm up in the Sun. If
you’re lucky, you might see them
sunbathing on the sand.

Who to travel with

Budget Family Luxury
Frontier Thompson Rainbow Tours
FRONTIER.AC.UK THOMSON.CO.UK RAINBOWTOURS.CO.UK
Greece Turtle Conservation Turtle Island Cruise Costa Rica Highlights
From £599 excluding lights. From £213.50 per adult including lights. Starting at £2,640 including lights.

69
 Nature diaries
Peak primates
This year marks the iftieth anniversary of the
founding of Dian Fossey's Gorilla Fund. Daniel Allen
heads to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern
Rwanda to see how the late American's beloved
high-altitude apes are faring
Words Daniel Allen

When a personal butler wakes you with the food chain. With Rwanda's gorilla
a steaming cafetière of arabica, you population hovering around the 550 mark,
know your day is probably going to be it's an experience to be cherished.
a good one. When your balcony offers "For most people, witnessing mountain
a spectacular dawn view of Rwanda's gorillas in the wild is a moving, humbling
Volcanoes National Park, you know the experience," says Philip Mason, Sabyinyo's
day is going to be great. Throw in a long- Kenyan manager. "You are there because
awaited encounter with mountain gorillas these massively powerful animals let you
and things start to get really special. be there. One look at a gorilla's hands, or
Way below my 2000-metre-high into its eyes, and you realise that you're
vantage point, ethereal strands of mist looking at a species that is on the cusp of
cloak valleys and cap verdant saddles being human."
of jungle. Encircling my stone cottage, The mountain gorilla may be one of our
part of the luxurious Sabyinyo Silverback closest relatives, but we are also its biggest
Lodge, the symmetrical cones of mighty threat. Thanks to habitat loss, disease and
volcanoes reach upwards into a cobalt poaching, less than 900 of these great
sky. As the Sun crests the nearest volcanic apes now exist in their natural upland
lank, the entire antediluvian landscape is habitat in central Africa, making them the
bathed in soft, golden light. Here in the world's most endangered primates. More
Virunga Mountains, the so-called Land of “One look at a than half live in the Virunga Mountains, at
a Thousand Hills has taken on a dramatic, the intersection of Rwanda, Uganda and
supersized new character. gorilla's hands and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Today I will fulil a long-standing After a hasty breakfast, Jacob, my
ambition to see mountain gorillas in the you realise they amiable and ever loquacious driver, ferries
wild. Not behind bars or wire but on their me the short distance to the headquarters
terms, in a habitat where they dominate are almost human” of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi. The

70
Nature diaries: Peak primates

71
 air is pleasantly laden with the fragrance and gorilla conservationist, more commonly
of burning eucalyptus wood, as we pass known to those who encountered her
groups of schoolchildren and men pushing as ‘the gorilla lady’, Fossey undertook a
bicycles laden down with huge bunches of pioneering study of gorilla populations in
bananas. Groups of colourfully clad women Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park in the
exchange cheerful banter as they till ields 1970s and early 1980s.
of fertile ochre soil. Before her tragic murder in December
Entering the kingdom of the gorilla isn't 1985, the American's groundbreaking work
cheap. Thanks to a recent and controversial changed people's perceptions of gorillas,
hike in the cost of Rwanda's gorilla which had previously been regarded as
watching permits, a one-hour window with man-eating monsters.
the world's largest and strongest primate "I think it is safe to say that Fossey
now costs an eye-watering $1,500 (£1,150). single-handedly saved mountain gorillas
What effect this price hike will have on from extinction," says 27-year-old Bernice
tourist numbers remains to be seen. In Iwacu, one of Volcanoes National Park's
recent times, more than 20,000 people expert gorilla guides. "By living alongside
have come to Rwanda each year to see a group of these apes, she demonstrated
gorillas. Eight habituated groups are that these smart and gentle animals
currently open to visitors (a maximum weren't actually savage killers after all. She
number of eight tourists per group is showed that gorillas are a lot like humans,
allowed), while nine groups have also with individual characters, emotions and
been habituated for research. Each group complex social hierarchies."
is monitored daily, all year round, by “Each group of After another drive, past the snow-
researchers and trackers from the Karisoke capped, 4,500-metre peak of Karisimbi,
Research Centre, founded by Dian Fossey gorillas is monitored a heavily rutted track brings Jacob and I
50 years ago this year. to the village of Musumba. From here our
The name Dian Fossey will forever be all year round by collection of tourists, guides and porters
linked to the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. will hike into the park. Our goal: a 28-strong
An American primatologist, anthropologist researchers” group of mountain gorillas called Pablo.

ABOVE Female mountain gorillas can start to produce

young from the age of ten

72
 Nature diaries: Peak primates

Tips for visiting

Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the safest
countries in Africa. Your main
concern is having the right kit

1. Make sure you bring a camera and a

pair of binoculars to give you the best
view of the wildlife.

2. It’s possible to visit all year round,

but the best times are the dry seasons:
June to September and late December
to February.

3. Although Rwanda has a tropical

climate, it can get cold and wet in the
mountains, so be sure to pack a warm
layer and a waterproof.

4. Wear comfortable boots – gorilla

treks can last for several hours over
tricky terrain.

5. Plastic bags are banned in Rwanda,

so take other means of carrying and
wrapping your belongings.

ABOVE All While gorillas can climb trees, they

mountain gorilla are usually found on the ground in
troops are led by
one alpha male, communities of up to 30 or more
who is in charge individuals. These troops, which operate
of all of the according to strict social structures, are
group’s activities
led by one dominant, older adult male,
responsible for protecting the rest of the
group. With a swath of silver fur adorning
their back and hips, these giant, majestic
animals are known as silverbacks.
"Gorilla groups also include several other
young males, females and their offspring,"
explains Bernice as we begin to hike
upward through ields of potatoes and
plantains. "But it's typically the silverback
leader who organises activities like eating
and nesting in leaves each night."
Soon we arrive at the edge of the park,
delineated by a low stone wall and fringed
with bushes of bitter apples. One keeps
aggressive buffalo out of the surrounding

73
 Nature diaries: Peak Primates
crops, the other deters the park's mock aggression. Mothers carry wide-eyed projects such as roads, schools and clinics,
population of forest elephants. babies on their backs or in the crooks of and a growing number of jobs linked to
Led by our effervescent guide, who thick black arms, moving slowly through gorilla-based tourism, the incentive to
regularly contacts the group of trackers the undergrowth with their precious cargo. protect the apes is now stronger than ever.
shadowing Pablo by radio, we plunge We crouch quietly in the low vegetation, "I'm cautiously optimistic about the
onwards and upwards into ever thicker content to observe the gorillas of Pablo go future of the mountain gorilla," says
bamboo forest. Solitary giant ig trees, about their daily life, as Bernice and the David Hewitt, communications manager
their branches draped in beards of shaggy trackers reassure the habituated apes with at London-based charity The Gorilla
lichen, rear skywards through the dense a selection of guttural grunts. A hulking Organisation. "They are the only one of
canopy as we ourselves are briely tracked silverback evaluates us briely, rests his the great apes whose numbers have been
by a cohort of chattering golden monkeys, head on massive hands in a distinctly going up over the past few years."
intrigued by our presence. The going philosophical pose, and goes to sleep. I could sit and watch the gorillas of Pablo
becomes increasingly tough as the trail There's never a moment when we feel in all day long, but all too soon Bernice calls
turns into a challenging mix of viscous danger – the group instantly accepts our time on our primate-primate interaction.
mud, tree roots and waist-high nettles. presence as we move within metres of their We slink away reluctantly, memory cards
The radio suddenly bursts into life – a extended family circle. replete with photos, each awe-inspired
rapid-ire mixture of Kinyarwanda (the Rwanda's approach to gorilla by the day's unique experience among
oficial language of Rwanda) and English. conservation, with a heavy focus on this group of tolerant, enchanting, highly
Bernice silently motions us to drop our community engagement, appears to be intelligent animals. 50 years after Dian
bags and move quietly through a thick working. According to the latest census, Fossey began her tireless quest to save
screen of bamboo. the country's gorilla population has the mountain gorillas of Rwanda from
Strength and gentleness make an increased by more than 20 per cent over extinction and change the world's view of
arresting combination, and in this forest the last decade. With a percentage of these caring beings, the last 60 minutes
clearing it is all around; 28 mountain gorillas the gorilla permit fee going towards local have been truly priceless.
are resting and playing after an early meal
of succulent bamboo shoots.
Some of the apes groom each “A hulking silverback evaluates us briely,
other, tenderly combing fur with their
dexterous digits. Some lie against trees, rests his head on massive hands, and
contemplating the mid-morning sky, while
others strut around, beating their chests in goes to sleep. We never feel in danger”
Great apes
They may look intimidating,
but gorillas are mostly
focused on food and family

Big appetites
Mountain gorillas eat up to 34
kilograms (75 pounds) a day
– mostly vegetation and fruit,
but they can sometimes feed
on small invertebrates.
Tall as a man
A male gorilla can reach 1.9
metres (6.2 feet) when stood
up on his hind legs and weigh
up to 220 kilograms
(485 pounds).
Peaceful primates
Despite their size and
formidable strength, mountain
The name ‘gorilla’ is derived from the
ancient Greek word gorillai, the name gorillas are shy creatures and
given to wild or hairy beings will only become aggressive
if they or members of their
group are threatened.
No nose is the same
Just like every human has a
unique ingerprint, the nose
print of a mountain gorilla is
unique to that individual.
Quick learners
Newborn gorillas weigh about
1.8 kilograms (four pounds) and
can’t do much for themselves,
© Daniel Allen

but they are able to stand after

just a few months.

74
 ANIMALS
5
YOU NEVER
KNEW
COULD SING
We hear beautiful birdsong on a daily
basis, but birds aren’t the only animals
to have musical talents. The following
creative creatures might just surprise you
Words Amy Grisdale

76
Animal musicians

HOUSE MOUSE
Mus musculus
Class Mammalia

Territory Forest, grassland

and human structures
Diet Fruit, seeds and grain
Lifespan 12-18 months
Adult weight 12-30g (0.4-1oz)
Conservation status
© Thinkstock

LEAST CONCERN

77
5 animals you never knew could sing

Male mice croon for females

Energy is a vital resource in the animal The sounds of singing mice are
kingdom, and mice have igured out almost indistinguishable from twittering
that chirping out a tune is much easier birds aside from one aspect – we can
than chasing tail. If the male gets a sniff hear birdsong. Mice vocalisations are
of female urine he begins to belt out a ultrasonic, meaning they are above our
loud and complex tune, not dissimilar hearing threshold, and recordings can
to a trilling bird. Finding a fresh urine only be made audible by being slowed
patch provokes the mouse to sing down. These high-pitched sounds are
in its highest pitch and increase the familiar to mice from birth and are used
duration of the song. When a female in social interactions from mother-pup
approaches the melody becomes more retrieval to expressions of pain.
simple but goes on for longer. Their use in mate attraction is
This is called social context, where a recent discovery, however, and
the song changes depending on other researchers are still looking into how
mice, and researchers think that males the animals adjust their behaviour
do the bare minimum once they have depending on neighbouring mice. One
a female’s attention. The tuneful song thing that we already know is that mice
is known as an ‘honest signal’ that have limited vocal ability, as the brain
conveys information about the male’s structure doesn’t lend itself well to
health and status as a potential mate. vocal learning.

Complicated compilations Rodent range Helping humans

Females show strong preference Mice are extremely territorial, It’s possible that studying the
for the most complex calls and and it might be the case brain areas involved in musical
are highly likely to respond and that singing at top volume production might help us learn
follow through with mating in prevents males stepping on more about communication
response to mellifluous music. one another’s tails. disorders like autism.

78
 Animal musicians

HumPBACK WHALe
Megaptera novaeangliae
Whale song is still a complete mystery
Class Mammalia
Decades of research have failed to uncover the secrets happens upon another male, he ceases his transmission

© Thinkstock; Alamy/Darren Jew/redbrickstock.com

of the majestic humpback’s singing, and the information immediately. If he encounters a female with a calf, he
that scientists collect doesn’t necessarily apply to every increases the duration and complexity of his call. This
humpback. Like humans, whales show evidence of culture suggests that the male is looking out for a fertile female.
Territory Global
and behave differently at various stages of life. However, researchers in Iceland have recorded juvenile
Diet Krill and small ish
Lifespan Up to 95 years Singing is exclusively a male whale activity and usually males crafting songs throughout the winter. Adult whales
Adult weight 30,000kg it can only be heard during mating season, which occurs migrate from the poles to the equator each year to
(65,000lb)
between October and February. During this period participate in breeding, before returning back to cold
Conservation status
the whales drift through tropical water and don’t eat, water to feed. As young humpbacks are unable to mate
focusing solely on mating. Males emit their low-pitched it really isn’t worth swimming all the way to the equator,
LEAST CONCERN calls – which travel hundreds of miles – possibly to entice so instead they spend their time practising love ballads
a female, but nobody knows for sure. If a singing male ready for when they hit maturity.

Chanting frogs are accidental movie stars

Everybody knows that frogs say “ribbit, The pacific tree frog choruses nightly
ribbit". Right? Wrong. The species that for up to five months, advertising itself
has inadvertently fooled the world can to mates by the edge of fresh water. The
be heard in the background of countless more frequently a frog chirps the more
Hollywood films. It is native to the west likely it is to attract a female, and the
coast of North America, though it has amphibians even extend vocal pouches
been heard croaking way out of its natural from the lower jaw to amplify the sound.
range in films such as The Hunger Games, This results in a single frog sounding like
Labyrinth and The Lion King. a miniature croaking choir.

79
 Some fish can
sing without
vocal chords
Many ish species have a gas-illed swim
bladder to help control their buoyancy
when swimming at depth. Toadish
manipulate the muscles around this sac to
produce booming tones that entice female
ish to their patch of the seabed.
These ish build rudimentary nests using
rocks, which serve as the male’s base.
From here, a toadish can drone on for two
hours at a time in the hope that a female
will approach and deposit hundreds of her ToADFIsH
Porichthys notatus
eggs into his nest. Class Actinopterygii
Small males can’t keep up with the
musical stylings of their rivals and so
adopt a different strategy for fathering
offspring. Known as ‘sneaker males’, these Territory Eastern Paciic coast
animals creep from nest to nest during Diet Fish and crustaceans
the performance of the dominant ish to Lifespan Up to 25 years
Adult weight 2kg (4lb)
fertilise an egg or two. While it seems very Conservation status
unfair that some of these ish are doomed
to be mute, it’s worth noting that these
sneaker males have reproductive organs LEAST CONCERN
approximately 15-times larger than the big,
singing toadish.

Nature’s rap artists spit verse at lightning speed

Bats are true masters of sound chirps, and it’s important that the
with their incredible echolocation singing starts immediately because
abilities, but this species possesses within just a few seconds the pair
an even more impressive skill. won’t be able to hear one another.
As with many singing species, Amazingly, males can distinguish
males produce melodious sonic between female echolocation
sequences to lure in a harem sounds and another male’s song
of females. A male pipes up in 0.2 seconds. The two tones are
whenever another bat giving out an identical in parts and even bat
echolocation call passes by, hoping experts have dificulty telling them
to slow down any loved-up ladies. It apart. It’s great for the bats, though,
takes less than a second for a male who are able to sing only to those
to respond to a passing female’s they feel truly deserve to hear it.

BRAZILIAN
FRee-TAILeD BAT
Tadarida brasiliensis
Class Mammalia
© Thinkstock; Michael Durham/Minden Pictures/FLPA

Territory North and South

America
Diet Insects
Lifespan 8 years
Adult weight 7-12g
(0.2-0.4oz)
Conservation status

LEAST CONCERN

80
You wouldn’t believe
How male
seahorses give birth
In case they weren’t strange enough, with their bendy upright bodies, curled tails
and poor swimming ability, male seahorses are the ultimate dedicated dads
Members of the ish family species, and scientists are still a bit
Syngnathidae – which includes bafled about how it evolved in the
pipeish, sea dragons and all 54 irst place. Males take their paternal 01 Courtship
known species of seahorse – have responsibility very seriously right A male and female
an unconventional parenting style. up until the young are born, turning perform a courtship
In an unusual role-reversal, it’s the their abdominal pouches into dance by circling each
males of these species that carry carefully controlled environments in other, sometimes for
the developing young in their which their offspring can develop hours. Once they have
bodies. This reproductive behaviour before they’re sent out into the formed a pair they will
is not found in any other vertebrate world alone. dance together several
times a day.

White’s seahorse
Hippocampus whitei
05 Birth
Male seahorses go through
Class Actinopterygii
contractions similar to
women in labour, and up
to 1,500 tiny seahorses
(depending on the species)
territory Shallow inshore
waters of Australia and the
are released into the
Solomon Islands ocean, where they must
Diet Small crustaceans immediately fend for
Lifespan Around 4 years
adult weight Unknown
themselves.
Conservation status

DATA DEFICIENT

04 Brooding
The male broods the developing
young for a few weeks, regulating
the temperature, salinity and
oxygen levels of the pouch.

03 Fertilisation
Eggs are fertilised by the male’s sperm
and hatch while still inside the pouch. The
female, meanwhile, is already preparing the
next set of eggs.
02 Egg
transfer
The female deposits
her eggs into the male’s
© Thinkstock; Alex Mustard; NaturePL; Alamy

abdominal pouch using

This male a tube-like structure
golden seahorse called an ovipositor.
is expelling the
young he has
incubated – they
will float all
the way to the
surface to start
an independent
life in the seas

81
Bottoms up
These animals never complain about being the butt of
jokes – they put their bizarre back ends to good use

Giraffe
When it comes to nap time, giraffes
make use of what they’ve got
Giraffes have pretty normal back ends,
but they’ve come up with a novel way of
using them. By twisting its neck, a giraffe
can use its own bum as a pillow.

Bontebok
The white flash on the
bontebok’s bum keeps
others in line
Several species of herd
animal have markings on
their rumps. The bontebok’s
lash and its white legs help
other herd members to
follow the animal in front. Fitzroy river turtle
Unconventional breathing means this
Australian reptile can stay underwater for
several weeks
This turtle pumps water in and out of its back
end, obtaining about 70 per cent of the oxygen it
needs using a special sac in its posterior opening.

82
 Bottoms up

Practical posteriors
Mandrill
Male mandrills show who’s
boss with their behinds
Males of this Old World
monkey species have vibrant
rainbow-coloured buttocks.
These impressive colours
can signify dominance and
make them more visible and
attractive to females. Skipper caterpillar
This caterpillar has an inbuilt catapult
The skipper caterpillar builds up blood
pressure in its rear end in order to ling
its faeces over 40 times its body length,
preventing predators from using the
smell to locate it.

Sea cucumber
This simple sea creature shows it really has
got guts – lots of them
When under attack, the sea cucumber
can eject its internal organs (some
of which are toxic) out of its anus,
regenerating them in a few weeks.

Zebra
A zebra’s stripy hindquarters keeps pests at bay
It has recently been discovered that zebra stripes
disorientate lies. Combined with a tail perfect for
swishing, this pattern helps to stop zebras being
bugged by insects.
Dragonfly nymph
Before reaching adulthood, this insect larva
relies on its bottom for underwater life
Nymphs live underwater, forcing jets of
water out of their anuses to swim. They
also use the opening as gills, taking in
water for their hydraulic jaws.

© The Art Agency/Sandra Doyle; Thinkstock; Judy Gallagher

Wombat
Wombats use their reinforced Chinese yellow swallowtail
bums as shields This Asian butterfly has a bum with a view
If a wombat is attacked, the stocky These colourful butterlies have
marsupial dives into its burrow and photoreceptors on the very end of their
blocks the hole with its rump. Its behind bodies. Pairs use these light receptive
is full of cartilage, so a predator’s teeth patches like very simple eyes to align
won’t do much damage. their reproductive organs for mating.

83
 The wildlife of
heathland
It may look perfectly natural, but the long
history of this diverse ecosystem is interlinked
with human activity
Words Victoria Williams

Open land with poor soil and the Heathland was originally created
occasional boggy patch doesn’t by forest clearance and it relies
sound like a promising habitat, heavily on grazing by domestic
but lowland heathland is home animals such as cattle and wild
to a huge number of plant and animals like deer for its survival.
animal species. People enjoying Thousands of insects inhabit the
paths around an area of heath can human-made heath, and it’s the
unknowingly pass hundreds of only habitat to hold all six of the
creatures in the dense shrubs. UK’s native reptile species.

84
The wildlife of heathland

© Tim Hunt

85
The wildlife of heathland

Life in the shrubs

Heathlands are open landscapes created by animal grazing. They
usually have acidic, dry, nutrient-poor soil, ponds and boggy
patches and are home to lammable shrubs like heather. This
particular combination of tough conditions means that heathland
is inhabited by a unique collection of plants and animals.

Red-backed shrike
Also called the butcher bird,
this small carnivore catches
prey and then impales it on
thorns for storage. It has a
grey head and black mask,
and males have a reddish
body. They are effectively
extinct in the UK as breeding
birds, but they pass through Kestrel
on their migratory route in
spring and autumn.

Adder

Minotaur beetle
Sand
Males of this dung beetle species use their
lizard
prongs to fight for females and defend their nest.
Nests consist of deep tunnels dug into the ground
where eggs are laid. Minotaur beetles feed on the
dung of herbivores like rabbits, horses and deer.

86
 The wildlife of heathland

Heathland plants Many species grow on the heathland – these are the ones you’re most likely to find
Shrubs Bracken Trees
Most heathland areas are dominated by dwarf Bracken is the most common fern in the UK and Scattered trees grow on the heath, including birch
shrubs. Species of heather like bell heather and was once grown on the cleared areas of heath to and pine. In small numbers they provide perching
cross-leaved heath give the heathland its name and provide animal bedding, fuel and rooing material. and nesting sites for birds, but without management
purple carpet. Gorses grow bright yellow lowers, Now it is carefully managed on heathland as it could they can take over and prevent light from reaching
and their seedpods pop loudly in summer. quickly out-compete the other plants if let alone. the shrubs. A delicate balance must be maintained.

Dartford warbler
Dartford warblers do not
migrate in winter, relying
on dense gorse to get them
Silver-studded blue through cold conditions. Downy
This butterly gets its name These small birds sing their emerald
from the metallic patches on scratchy calls from the tops
the underside of its wings. of the bushes, and their dark
Males have blue wings, while feathers allow them to blend
the females are a dull brown. in when they ly through the
Black ants look ater the larvae heath in search of insects.
in their nests – rewarded with
the sugary secretions from their
bodies – until they emerge and
begin eating heather.

Common
green
grasshopper

Stone curlew
This rare bird visits the UK’s
© The Art Agency/Peter Scott

heathland between March and

October, with females laying
eggs in scrapes in the ground.
Round, yellow eyes allow them
to forage at night, and the name
comes from the similarity
between their wailing call and
the song of the curlew (to which
it’s not closely related).

Natterjack toad
Weasel This native amphibian is very rare, restricted to a few
locations, including sandy heaths. Smaller than the
common toad, it uses its short legs to run rather than
hop. Natterjack toads are poor swimmers, preferring
shallow water where they are less likely to drown.

87
The wildlife of heathland

A delicate ecosystem
This habitat is home to thousands of species, but it needs a helping hand
The heathland is a plagioclimax of dragonly. It also provides a breeding bird eggs by walkers. It’s estimated that
community, which means human ground for native and visiting ground- up to 15 per cent of heathland is lost
activity has prevented the development nesting birds and supports reptiles, every decade.
of the ecosystem. Without amphibians and a few mammals. Organisations and authorities are
management, more trees would grow, Home to so many species, some of working to preserve this unique
and areas of heath would eventually which live nowhere else, the heathland environment. Grazing animals are used
become woodland. is incredibly important for biodiversity. to remove young trees, volunteers clear
The particular conditions of Unfortunately, it’s now facing a number invasive species like rhododendrons,
heathland make it a suitable home to of threats. These include destruction for and visitors are encouraged to remain
around 5,000 species of invertebrates, development, out-of-control invasive on paths and keep their dogs on leads
including over half of the UK’s species plants, and the trampling of plants and when birds are nesting.

LEFT Deer like

this young sika eat
tree shoots as they
browse, preventing
them from shading
the heathland shrubs

Reptiles of the heath Home to all six of the UK’s native species, the heath is a vital habitat for reptiles

Common lizard Sand lizard Adder

This is the UK’s most widespread reptile, notable Unlike their common cousins, sand lizards are Considering they have the most highly
for two unusual features: it’s the only reptile rare. Because of habitat loss they’re now limited developed mechanism of any snake for venom
native to Ireland and, unlike other reptiles, it to a few sandy heaths and dunes. They vary in injection, it’s a good job these snakes are
produces live young in an egg sac. They can colour, but males are distinguished in breeding reluctant to attack. Males can sometimes be
be found anywhere with suitable basking spots, season by their bright green sides. As well as seen wrestling for females, who don’t lay eggs,
including heaths, forest glades and gardens. invertebrates, they also eat fruit and lowers. instead producing young the size of worms.

88
 The wildlife of heathland

“It’s estimated that up to

15 per cent of heathland is
lost every decade”
History of the heath
About 14,000 years ago, Britain From around 3500 BCE, humans Since medieval times people have The development of technology meant More recently, the biological
started to warm up following the Ice cleared areas of forest for agriculture. been allowed to conduct traditional that, by the 18th century, infertile land importance of the heath was
Age, and the sheets of ice covering Nutrients in the soil were used up, activities on certain private land. could be reclaimed. Along with the recognised, and people also began to
the ground retreated. Vegetation also and animals grazing on the remaining Commoners’ rights permit the extraction of minerals, this triggered use it for recreational activities. This
began to grow. Ater a few thousand plants stopped trees from growing collection of irewood and bracken a decline of heathland. Following the revival of human’s relationship with
years trees began to dominate, and and allowed shrubs to become the and the grazing of animals. This has World Wars, new forests were planted heathland has led to a determined
heather survived in patches. dominant species. all helped to control plant growth. to create a reserve of timber. efort to preserve what remains.

Smooth snake Slow worm Grass snake

The rare smooth snake is only found in heaths Grey, brown or golden, these legless lizards are This is the largest of the three snakes, growing
© Thinkstock; Tim Hunt

in southern England. Their scales are lat, unlike often mistaken for snakes. While they move up to a metre (39.4 inches) long. They’re
the other species’, which have ridges. They look more like snakes than other lizards, they can usually an olive-green with a yellow collar and
similar to the adder but have a more slender still blink and drop their tales when in danger. black patches. Grass snakes prefer a damper
body and round pupils instead of slits. They are They largely feed on slugs and snails and inhabit environment and can be found swimming in
hard to spot due to their shy nature. areas with thick ground cover. ponds in search of ish, frogs and newts.

89
 Contact us at…

Keeping in touch @WorldAnimalsMag

worldofanimalsmag

Superpower dogs update

We asked World of Animals Before Halo can start saving lives for real, she has to pass a series of tests to prove her ability as a superpower dog. Her
readers what their favourite handler Cat takes us through the requirements
beast is:
It’s hot, hot, hot in Miami at this time of year, and Cat and they have them next year, that’s where we’ll go.” But it’s not
“My favourite beast is a Halo are working hard towards their irst oicial test together just Cat and Halo that have to be there; of course the entire
as an urban search and rescue team. Superpower Dogs crew will go with her to watch and ilm
shark! Much maligned “The irst test is called the FSA, which is the Fundamental every moment.
but hopefully the tide Skill Assessment test,” Cat tells us. “It can be given in-house “I know that there might be a test in New York,” Cat says.
and it consists of all the training elements, which include “That’s probably one of the favourite places that Daniel
is turning! Fascinating agility, direction and control, the down-stay and obedience, [Ferguson, the ilm’s writer/director] has expressed to me.
creatures.” and then along with all of that we have to complete a search So hopefully all of this will happen next year!” We can’t wait
@Tori_Jess for two victims.” And it’s the search that Halo is excelling at. to see what happens, but until then Halo will keep working
“I’ve been working that a lot and she knows that really hard towards doggy exam number one.
well,” Cat explains. “It’s just the other stuf that’s just a bit
“My six year old has frustrating! She just wants to go full speed and run around Superpower Dogs is an
been learning about and have fun! But I’m asking Halo to be more structured
when it comes to the other elements for the test – there
upcoming 3D live-action Imax
ilm unlike anything you’ve
animals this week, so needs to be much more control.” Despite Halo’s lust for fun, ever seen. “Dogs are the most
I’ve just asked her for she is still doing very well. So ater the irst in-house test, extraordinary creatures,” says
what’s next? George Duield, one of the
her favourite - lion, “That test is good for six months,” Cat elaborates. “So within ilm’s producers. “The super
cos he’s the king of the six months I plan to take the full certiication test, which dogs are the working dogs
the beasts!” is just a big search on a rubble pile.” It sounds like a big deal,
but Cat and Halo are pretty conident. “It’s a lot less nerve-
– search and rescue dogs,
service dogs, avalanche dogs...
@JanTweetTweets wracking because it’s what the dogs want to do!” We’re making a movie about the Olympic heroes of the
The certiication exam will mark the end of Halo’s training, dog world.” The movie and its accompanying exhibition
but her journey as a superpower dog will just be beginning. – in collaboration with the California Science Centre
“My favourite is a “They have [the tests] throughout the United States,” Cat – will reveal how dogs think and work. For more
explains. “They try to do six a year: two on the east coast, two information visit www.animalanswers.co.uk.
koala, but if it needs on the west coast and two central, so depending on where
to be tougher I’d say
a tiger. ”
@SuzeLavender

“My favourite beast

is the capybara...they
are basically scaled
up guinea pigs!
So cute! ”
@Toffeepiglet

© Danny Wilcox Frazier and Superpower Dogs

Win some
bee jewellery!
We are giving away bee-themed jewellery
from DOTOLY to ive lucky winners. To ind
out how to enter the competition visit
www.animalanswers.co.uk

90
 Animal antics
Wildlife journeys this month
WOA Editor Zara’s parents had a shocking encounter with Important news we’ve followed
a leopard on their trip to the Kruger National Park in June this month. Email your stories to
[email protected]
We set off on our routine afternoon drive at four o’clock.
After an hour of driving and seeing some spectacular Sixth mass extinction
sights of elephants, rhinos and water monitors we Scientists believe we are
decided to head back to camp. About 17 kilometres undergoing a sixth mass
from camp we came upon a leopard in a tree. Excited extinction (dinosaurs
beyond belief, out came the cameras and we started disappeared in the ith). The
clicking away. She proceeded to come down and sniff study revealed that a third of
the car in front of us. Thinking nothing of it we carried on 27,600 species analysed have
photographing. What came next was a complete surprise! rapidly declining populations
She started snifing our tyre, and all of a sudden we due to human behaviour.
heard a swishing sound. Had she bitten it? Without
hesitation we started the car, drove alongside another car,
and the driver conirmed that the tyre had been bitten
and had started delating. We headed back to camp as
cautiously as we could – we only just made it!
When we arrived back our tyre was lat. The kind staff
at the garage who were about to close quickly changed
our tyre and plugged the bitten one so we could have a
spare, cackling all along as they found it hard to believe.
We told the story to anyone who would listen. Phew,
Tell us
that was a close call. We have been visiting the Kruger
about one of your
since we were children, and then with our children. We’ve
wildlife holidays by
never had such a close encounter in the wild! Return of the lynx
emailing your story and
photos to animals@ The Eurasian lynx could
animalanswers be returning to British
woodlands very soon
Reader photos .co.uk
following an application from
The Lynx Trust to release
Thanks to all of our readers who sent us their favourite butterfly photos and illustrations!
six of them into Kielder
Forest in Northumberland. If
Natural England approve the
application, the lynx would be
returning to Britain 1,300 years
ater going extinct on the island.

Is the reef dead?

UNESCO has decided not to add
the Great Barrier Reef to its list
of Endangered sites despite
publishing a paper highlighting
WINNING! how threatened it is following
Py HHayOleyTCOooper recent bleaching events.
Scientists fear it’s been let of to
B
avoid an impact on tourism.

We love hearing from readers,

whether it’s receiving letters,
© Thinkstock

emails, photos, drawings or even

feedback. Get in touch and you
could be a lucky winner, too!

91
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answers
Send your animal questions to us at:
[email protected]

When animals
migrate to warmer
climates in winter,
why don’t they just
stay there?
Lots of animals make the The migrant animals have
long trip from the north to to compete for food with
somewhere warm when the permanent residents of
winter arrives. Some species, their wintering ground, but
like the monarch butterly, when spring arrives in the
make journeys even longer north there’s an abundance of
than their lives, taking resources. Warmer climates
multiple generations to reach tend to have more parasites
their destination. Migrating and diseases, so migratory
means that they don’t have to animals have a better chance
face freezing temperatures, of survival if they go back up
but something persuades north. Returning also means
them to leave again and make longer days and more time to
the perilous passage back to feed, as daylight further away
their breeding grounds when from the equator varies much
the cold months are over. more with the seasons.
Butterflies sometimes need to rest as
they migrate, like these monarchs

Do animals get sunburned?

Some animals are protected from the damaging burned while they’re eating. It was once believed
rays of the Sun by feathers or scales, but those that hippos sweat blood, but it’s been discovered
with pale hair or exposed skin are at risk of that this red secretion contains pigments that
sunburn just like we are. Whales and dolphins prevent UV rays reaching the skin. It also repels
are safe underwater most of the time, but their insects and acts as an antiseptic.
smooth skin can burn when they come to the There are also behavioural ways to avoid burnt
surface. Sperm whales are more susceptible than skin. Wallowing in mud protects pigs and rhinos
blue and fin whales because they spend more and keeps their skin moisturised. Elephants
time breathing and socialising at the surface. cover themselves with sand or dirt, teaching their
Some animals have developed a defence calves how to do the same. If a mother’s young
against UV rays. It’s thought that the exposed is sleeping in the open, she will stand over it to
part of a giraffe’s tongue is black to stop it getting create shade.

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94
 Animal answers

Do horses and cows Horse jaw

have canine teeth?
When you think of canine teeth, it’s usually the
sharp teeth of carnivorous animals, but they’re
not just found in meat-eaters. In fact, almost all
mammals (except pikas, rabbits and rodents)
have them, and the largest canine teeth on land
belong to the hippo. A hippo’s monstrous teeth
can reach half a metre (19.7 inches) in length
and are only ever used for territorial fighting
– they aren’t much use for eating grass. Other
herbivores, like gelada baboons and musk deer,
have fierce canines, but in some species they’re
not so intimidating. Wolf
Some horses don’t grow any canine teeth, Canine
but others can have as many as four. In horses
they’re called tusks or tushes and are much Cow jaw
more common in males. These teeth used to be Upper jaw
used for fighting and are no use when the horse
is eating because the upper and lower canines
don’t meet.
Cows have one canine on each side but they’re
flat on the top, so they look just like their other
teeth. There are no front top teeth in a cow’s
mouth – instead they have a rough pad over their
gum called a dental pad. The bottom teeth and Canine teeth are not
present in young
dental pad allow cows to grab large mouthfuls horses but can Front teeth
of hay or grass but do mean that they can’t eat develop as they age Molars Lower jaw
short grass.

Why are an
elephant’s
mammary glands
between its front
legs instead of
between its back
legs like other
mammals?
Most other quadrupedal mammals
(mammals that walk on four legs) have
their milk-producing glands between their
hind legs. Only a few mammal species have
their glands on their ribcages: elephants,

©Thinkstock; Alamy
apes (including humans), monkeys,
manatees, hyraxes and bears. Hyraxes and
manatees are the closest living relatives
of the elephant, so it may be that their pig-
sized ancestor also had her glands here.
Bears and apes feed their offspring while
sat upright, but elephants remain on all
fours as lying down would make them
vulnerable. No one’s completely sure why
elephants feed their calves between their
front legs, but it’s thought it might be to do
with the slope of the mother’s underside;
the calf’s short neck would make it hard to
reach milk between the hind legs, but the
chest is more easily reached.
Q. How
Nursing at the front of their mother’s body
also allows the pair to maintain contact
do animals
with their trunks, creating a stronger bond
between them.
look after
their teeth?
Find out at…
animalanswers.co.uk
 Bizarre!
The sensitive scarab
that spends most of
its life underground
Cockchafer, May bug, doodlebug, spang
beetle or billy witch – whatever you call
it, this short-lived beetle is hard to miss

They wait
years for a
brief summer
romance
Cockchafers lay eggs in summer,
which then hatch into grubs. The
larvae remain underground for around
three years, eating roots and tubers.
Once the beetles emerge in spring,
they live for up to eight weeks –
enough time for females to lay 80
eggs. Because of this cycle, adults
tend to appear every few years.

Huge numbers They’re not as

can cause chaos menacing as they
As well as the usual cycle of three or look. Honest
four years, a longer cycle means that
approximately every 30 years, tens of There’s a sharp point at the end of this beetle’s
thousands of beetles emerge in ‘mass abdomen, but it’s not a sting. They’re harmless –
lights’ and relieve trees of their leaves. the hind segment (called the pygidium) is just thin
16th century naturalist Thomas Muffet in this species, and females use it to push their
recorded that there were once so many eggs deeper into the soil. Common cockchafers
beetles in the Severn Valley that their lay their eggs in ields, and the larvae’s voracious
bodies blocked water mills along the river. appetite makes them a nuisance to farmers. Common CoCkChafer
Melolontha melolontha
Class Insecta
They’re renowned Elaborate antennae
for their noisiness help them
meet in the dark
Cockchafers are the largest of the scarabs
found in the UK. Their size means they
Territory Widespread
throughout Europe
Diet Flowers and leaves
Lifespan Adults live for up
produce a loud buzzing noise as they These beetles have a very distinctive set of orange, to 8 weeks once they’ve
travel, usually coupled with a bang as feathery antennae. Males have seven extensions emerged from the soil
adult weight Unknown
© NaturePL/Eric Baccega

they ly into something. In World War II, (lamellae) to their antennae, while females have Conservation Status
the German V-1 missile was nicknamed six. These sensitive structures detect pheromones
‘doodlebug’ by the English and ‘maikäfer’ (chemicals secreted by other members of the
(May bug) in Germany because of its species) in the air and allow beetles to ind mates NOT EVALUATED
characteristic buzz. even when they can’t see them.

96
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