MAMMAL MONDAY # 68

MAMMAL MONDAY # 68

It’s off to Africa for us today to meet a member of the canine family! We’re heading into the desert so grab your mud sunscreen SPF 35 and your sunglasses and let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE BLACK BACKED JACKAL!

   Range/Habitat: East-Southern Africa/ desert, scrub

   Diet: Omnivore: plants, reptiles, eggs

   Length/Weight: 18-35”/ 13-26 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

•          Black backed jackals are red brown in color with a black saddle of fur on their backs.
•          They are territorial.
•          Black backed jackals mate for life.
•          Black backed jackals have bushy tails.
•          They live in small family groups.

These jackals are gorgeous with their colors. The canine family is so diverse, which one is your favorite?

 

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 57

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #57

We’re back to our regular schedule after celebrating black and white birds and small fluffy tailed rodents! We’re off to the deserts of South Africa today to meet one cute reptile! Grab your sunscreen and khakis and let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE WEB FOOTED GECKO!

   Range/Habitat: Western Southern Africa/ desert

   Diet: Carnivore: insects

   Length: 4 ¾-5 ½”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Web Footed Geckos are pink with dark markings.
• They have webbed feet that helps them run across the sand.
• Web Footed Geckos have large eyes.
• They dig long tunnels in the sand for shelter.
• They drink water that condenses on their skin overnight.
• Web footed geckos have wide range of vocalizations.

We really think these awesome little reptiles are cute! They have some amazing adaptations for living in a harsh desert environment.

 

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 55

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #55

Are you ready to meet a cute little reptile today? We’re staying on the continent of Africa but heading to the deserts of Northern Africa. So grab your sunglasses and sunscreen and let’s head out on an adventure!

MEET THE ELEGANT SAND GECKO!

   Range/Habitat: Northern-Eastern Africa/ desert

   Diet: Insectivore: ants, beetles, moths

   Length: 3 ½-4 ¼”

  Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

• Elegant sand geckos have long limbs and long tails.
• They are sand colored to help them camouflage in with the desert.
• Elegant sand geckos live in holes in the sand.
• They are excellent diggers.
• Elegant sand geckos have large eyes.
• They are most active at dusk

Elegant sand geckos are so cute with their big eyes. They are all the better to spot bugs with my dear! Hahahaha!

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 55

MAMMAL MONDAY #55

It’s that special day of the week when we meet a mammal and today’s adventure takes us to a small area in the West of Africa. Get ready to do some monkying around! Let’s do this!

MEET THE GUINEA BABOON!

   Range/Habitat: West Africa/ grasslands

   Diet: Omnivore: roots, grubs, eggs

   Length/Weight: 27”/ 39 lb

   Conservation Status: near threatened

 

Fun Facts:

• Guinea baboons are the smallest of all baboons.
• Male guinea baboons have large manes of fur.
• They live in troops of around 40 individuals.
• Guinea baboons forage for food on the ground, but sleep in the trees at night.
• They are also called the savanna baboon.
• Guinea baboons are highly vocal.

We love baboons and the Guinea baboons are so handsome with their large manes. These highly social and vocal primates are so fun to observe!

    

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 54

MAMMAL MONDAY #54

We’re back from vacation and it’s time to head off to the deserts of North Africa to meet a special little member of the feline family! Let’s grab the mud SPF 30 sunscreen & our favorite hats and head out on a new adventure across the sands!

MEET THE SAND CAT!

   Range/Habitat: Northern Africa-Western Asia/ desert

   Diet: Carnivore: gerbils, rodents

   Length/Weight: 18-22 ½”/ 3 ½-7 ¾ lb

   Conservation Status: near threatened

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Sand cats are solitary and nocturnal.
• They have yellow-sandy fur with stripes.
• Sand cats are the smallest cat species in Arabia.
• They live in burrows or dens during harsh conditions.
• Sand cats have fur on the pads of their feet to protect them.
• Sand cats get their water from the good they eat.

Sand cats are super cute. They have great adaptations for living in the harsh desert habitat! We just love how animals have such different adaptations to survive all over the world.

  

 

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 51

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #51

It’s time to meet our Super Surprise Thursday animal and to do so we must go to North Africa! We’re on the lookout for a small member of the canine family. Are you ready for today’s adventure?

 

MEET THE RUPPELL’S FOX!

   Range/Habitat: North Africa- West Asia/ scrub-desert

   Diet: Omnivore: reptiles, insects, grasses

   Length/Weight: 16-20”/ 2 ¼-6 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

• Ruppell’s Foxes are also called the Sand Fox.
• They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
• Ruppell’s Foxes change their dens every few days.
• They scent mark their territories.
• Ruppell’s foxes have large ears and white tipped tails.
• They are one of the smallest members of the fox family.

Ruppell’s foxes are so cute with their large ears and slender bodies. We see red fox near our house and they are so fast. Do you love foxes?

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 51

MAMMAL MONDAY #51

We’re going to West Africa today to meet a member of the cattle family who lives in marshes! That’s right everyone, these guys can swim! So let’s grab our wellies and head out into the marshland to meet…

MEET THE SITATUNGA!

   Range/Habitat: West-Central Africa/ wetlands-swamps

   Diet: Herbivore: aquatic plants

   Length/Weight: 4-5 ½ ft/ 110-280 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Sitatungas are also called the Marshbuck.
• They have hooves that are made for walking on muddy ground.
• Sitatungas are excellent swimmers.
• Male Sitatungas have long pointed horns.
• They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
• Female Sitatungas live in small herds.

Sitatungas are really handsome! It is so cool that spend so much of their time in marshes. They have such neat feet that are built for living in a squishy habitat! Would you ever want to live in a marsh?

 

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 50

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #50

We’re going to Africa today to meet a large and ferocious reptile! These big guys inhabit watery spots and are definitely not an animal to mess with! Let’s load up on the E & E safari truck and head out!

 

MEET THE NILE CROCODILE!

    Range/Habitat: Africa/ rivers, lakes, wetlands

    Diet: Carnivore: fish, antelope, zebra

    Length: 11-16 ft/500-1,000 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Nile Crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in Africa.
• They are dark olive in coloration.
• Nile crocodiles have long jaws. Their teeth are exposed when their mouth is closed.
• The males are very territorial.
• Nile crocodiles are ambush predators.
• They cannot chew their prey and must swallow chunks whole.
• Nile crocodile females lay their eggs in a nest. They use the same nest throughout their lifetime.

Nile crocodiles are very fierce! Their ancestors have been on the planet for millions of years. Despite their bad dispositions we really like these predators and give them loads of respect!

 

REALLY SCARY REPTILIAN TUESDAY!

HALLOWEEN WEEK!

REALLY SCARY REPTILIAN TUESDAY!

We’re staying in the grasslands of Africa on this Really Scary Reptilian Tuesday to meet one of the most deadly snakes in the world. We’ll be looking for this reptile from the safari truck so everyone stays safe! Are you ready?

 

MEET THE BLACK MAMBA!

   Range/Habitat: East-South Africa/ forests-grasslands

   Diet: Carnivore: birds, small mammals

   Length: 8 ¼-11 ft

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Black Mambas are very fast, they can reach speeds of 12 ½ mph.
• Black mambas are extremely venomous.
• They are a brown/gray color. They get their name from the color of the inside of their mouths.
• Black mambas are very territorial.
• They are diurnal (active during the day).
• Black mambas can be fatal to humans.

Black mambas are very dangerous and should be watched from a distance for sure! These fast snakes are definitely best left alone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 48

FEATHERY FRIDAY #48

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to Africa to meet an inhabitant of the marshes! These colorful birds love wading through the mud to find a tasty meal. So let’s put on our waders and go meet…

MEET THE GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE!

   Range/Habitat: Africa-Southeast Asia-Australia/ wetlands, marshes

   Diet: Omnivore: invertebrates, seeds, grasses

   Length/Weight: 9-11”/ 3 ¼-7 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Greater Painted-Snipes have white eye patches and colorful tan-cream feathers.
• They use their long beaks to find prey in the mud.
• Greater Painted-Snipes have long legs for wading.
• They are not graceful or good fliers.
• Greater Painted-Snipes are shy and are often hard to spot.
• Male Greater Painted-Snipes incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

These fun little birds are built to live in their marshy habitats. How cool is it that the dads do all the work raising the chicks? Way to go dads!