Thursday 29 March 2012

Red-eyed tree frogs



Red-eyed tree frogs are not reptiles.They are amphibians.
Feeding
Red-eyed tree frogs feed on flies, crickets and moths, using their long tongue to snatch them out of the air.
Breeding
Red-eyed tree frogs breed from the end of May to the end of November, in the wet season. Once they have mated, the female frog lays a large clutch of eggs on a leaf. The tadpoles change into frogs in about 80 days.
Looks
Red-eyed tree frogs have bright red eyes and webbed orange-yellow feet. They are lime green with yellow and blue patterned sides. Luckily they do not carry poison, unlike the poison dart frog. They like to keep moist and stay near the water in case an enemy approaches.
Habitat
These frogs live in rainforests and the tropics. They also live in ponds in gardens and forests.
Nocturnalism
Red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal.
Lifespan
These frogs live up to 5 years.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Tigers



Tigers belong in the same family as your pussycat. 
Feeding
Tigers eat mostly wild boar and deer, though sometimes they hunt bigger animals, like elephant calves! Tigers stalk their prey by creeping quietly forward so the animal doesn’t hear them, then pouncing.
Breeding
Female tigers have cubs when they are about four or three. Their den is a cave or clump of bushes. Baby tigers follow their mothers for up to 3 years, then depart to look for their own place to live.  
Looks
Tigers are the biggest feline in the cat family. They are red-orange with black stripes and a white ruff around their face. There are also white tigers in the world; pure white with dark stripes. ‘Golden tabby tigers’ can be seen, but they are very rare. ‘Golden tabby tigers’ or ‘Strawberry tigers’ are golden with white underbelly and legs. Because of tiger hunters, tigers are extremely endangered.
Habitat
Bengal tigers are found in India. They like grasslands and swamps, as well as rainforest. Tigers’ stripes blend in with the grass. Strangely, Tigers love to swim. 
Lifespan
Tigers can live up to 26 years in captivity, though they don’t survive for very long in the wild. 

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Barn Owls



Barn owls have a large wingspan. Their disc-shaped faces help them to locate prey.
Feeding
Barn owls eat small rodents, like rats and mice. They hunt using their amazing hearing and eyesight, flying close to the ground then diving when they spot prey. 
Breeding
These owls breed mostly in April. Barn owls can nest in caves and attics. The mother owl lays about seven eggs, and the father takes prey to the mother while she sits on the eggs and looks after her chicks. 
Looks
Barn owls have heart-shaped faces. They are gold-brown and white, with long legs and a short tail. They have black and white speckles on their shoulders and wings, with a hooked beak. They scream instead of hoots, and they have large black eyes.
Habitat
Barn owls live in South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, India and also Australia. They like forests, fields and farms.
Nocturnalism
Barn owls are nocturnal.
Lifespan
Barn owls can live up to 5 or 27 years.

Here's an awesome video of the majestic Barn Owl!

Arctic Foxes



Feeding
Arctic foxes eat small rodents. They also eat birds, and sometimes a few fish. When prey is hard to find in winter, they will eat the scraps that polar bears leave after they hunt.
Breeding
Arctic foxes have a litter of about 14 pups in spring. The father helps to raise them as well as the mother fox. The cubs are a brown-grey colour when they are first young, but when they age the brown fur drops away to be replaced with white.
Looks
Arctic foxes are usually white to blend in with their surroundings. They live in a snow-covered part of the world, so they need fur on their pads to grip the slippery ground. They can live in FREEZING temperatures! They nest in burrows that they dig in the ground. Their coats change to match the seasons: in winter their fur is snow-white, but in summer they are brownish-grey so they can hide among the rocks and grass.
Habitat
Arctic foxes live in the arctic, as their name suggests. The days are cold and snowy, so it is quite hard to find food. Luckily they have a thick coat and incredible hearing.
Nocturnalism
Arctic foxes are mostly up in the evening and early morning, but they are often seen out of their burrows in daytime.
Lifespan
These foxes can live up to 15 years, but sometimes they only live 3 years! :(

River Otters


Otters are mammals. They are mainly active at night, but they like to sun themselves in the daytime.
Feeding
River otters’ main food is fish, which they hunt using their underwater swimming skills. They eat by lying on their backs on top of the water and holding the food in place with their front paws. River otters eat crabs as well, plus other seafood.
Breeding
River otters have their babies in the springtime. Newborn otters are blind. They stay in their den until they are a month old. They learn to swim a bit earlier. Baby river otters are ready to live by themselves when they are about one year old.
Habitat
River otters live along rivers, streams, or lakes. They can swim very well, using their webbed feet to paddle and their tails to steer. This species of otter can stay under the water for about four minutes, but they breathe air. They spend most of their lives in water, but they also journey on land to find a mate.
Looks
Otters belong to a family that includes badgers and skunks. They have short, smooth fur which is almost always wet! Otters have large black noses, long whiskers and a thick, furry tail.
link
Lifespan
Wild River otters live 10 years, but they may reach 16 years in captivity.