Technically classified as an insect, the cicada is from a order of insects called hemiptera. The name cicada literally means “tree cricket”. They are so named because of their habit of perching and emitting a loud incessant chirping. A cicada has very large eyes which are set a great distance apart on their head. They
The Praying Mantis is one of the most loved of the insect world to humans and one of the most feared to other insects. It is extremely beneficial to gardens and humans because of its penchant for eating the things that bug us. They will eat mites, aphids and most other insects that are within
Giant Madagascar Chameleons (Oustalets Chameleon) are very large. The majority of its size is in length, and reports up to 70 cm are almost common. The prehensile tail can grow up to 1.5 times the body’s length, and the tongue can be as long as both combined. The casque that found on top of the
Ranging in area from Kenya to Tanzania, the Pancake Tortoise inhabits rocky hills and arid dry areas such as the savannah. The Pancake tortoise is a very small flat tortoise that has a flexible and somewhat thin shell. It is usually about 7 or 8 inches long, while the legs feature scales that point down
Gharials which may also be called the Indian Gharial, is one of two types of long living crocodile like reptiles. This one is the second longest of all the crocodile and crocodile like reptiles, and can easily approach 9 feet in length. One of his most unique and attention getting features is the very long
The most common type of cobra is the Indian cobra or what is called the spectacled cobra, which is very common to the India, and has long been associated with the snake charmers. Cobras of all varieties are widespread. The cobra is recognised by its most visible feature, which is the hood. The hood is
Cottonmouth Water Moccasin is a viper, and one of the most deadly that roam North America. Extremely dangerous to people and pets, they are aggressive and venomous. The adult water moccasin can be anywhere from 20 inches to as much as 7 feet long. When they swim a great deal of their body rests above
Desert Tortoises are land dwellers of the turtle family, which are reptilian in nature. The Desert Tortoises have brown shells 8-15 inches long with flattened front feet that are well suited for burrowing beneath the earth. The Desert tortoise will live in sandy and wooded areas in the south east and southwestern United States, primarily
Most notable among their characteristics is the yellow, red, and black banding. Several species that are non-venomous have similar coloration, the only difference being the order of the colors. This has spawned many useful rhymes, such as “Red to yellow kills a fellow, red to black, venom lack.” This only applies to species found in
In the wild, large adults tend to weigh around 70 kg (154 lbs). Captive specimens often weigh more. The largest verified wild specimen was 3.13 metres (10 feet 3 inches) long and weighed 166 kg (365 lbs), including undigested food. Komodo dragons have a tail that is as long as the body, as well as
The Mountain Lion, also know as the Puma or Cougar, is a stalk-and-ambush predator that hunts a wide variety of prey. Its primary food is ungulates such as deer, particularly in the northern part of its range, but it hunts species as small as insects and rodents. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush for stalking,
Native to Sumatra and Malaya, the Argus Pheasant enjoys wild regions about 4000 feet above sea level where it eats fruit, grain, and various bugs. Currently they are not listed on the endangered species, but are considered vulnerable since their numbers are currently declining. The Argus pheasant has two subspecies, one the Malaysian and the
Vicuna Are wiuld animals who have evolved and been trained over time to become pack animals. They are longish haired with soft woolen coat, of deep cinnamon or red brown. On the chest, at the base of the neck, is a peculiar, ‘mane’ of silky white hairs which may be 8-12 inches in length. The
There are two types of Anoa, both live in dense forested areas and are in essence miniature water buffalo. They look very similar to a deer and weigh about 300 pounds. Both types are also found on the Island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. They live singly, rather than in herds except during the breeding season
In the United States the Bison is commonly called the Buffalo, however this is not the case. Buffalo are extinct, and although the bison belongs to the same family, they are not the same animal. The Bison is one of the largest land animals in the United States. They are wandering grazing animals that usually
