Sally Lightfoot Crab

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Mar 082010
 

Today’s photo fact is about the Sally Lightfoot Crab which famously trots around the coasts of the Galapagos Islands, and are also ever present along the Pacific coast of Central and Southern America. Sally Lightfoots are very common, and you can get fairly close before they scuttle in to a crevice in the rocks. These creepy chappies run around on the tips of their toes, scuttling along the volcanic rocks of the Galapagos, providing a stunning contrast to the black background. Their main diet is algae, but they will also eat plants and scavenge on dead animals, including other Sally Lightfoot crabs! For more arthropods and facts, visit our Arthropods [read on...]

Tower Of Giraffe

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Mar 052010
 

Today’s photo fact is about the Giraffe which is endemic to Africa. There are quite a few different subspecies and possibly species with obviously distinct patterns, but the exact number of these is hotly debated. While many probably know of a Pride of Lions and a Herd of Elephants, there are some more obscure collective nouns describing groups of animals. A Tower of Giraffe is one, others include: Murder of Crows, Blaze of Dragons, Shiver of Sharks, Kaleidoscope of Butterflies, Gang of Weasels and a Crash of Rhinos… Remember those to impress your mates! For more ungulates and facts, visit our Ungulates gallery on Flickr.

African Wild Dog

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Mar 032010
 

Today’s photo fact is about the African Wild Dog which, as its name suggests, only occurs in Africa. It is an endangered species, with under 6000 left. Wild dogs can’t kill animals in the same way as the big cats. Their front legs aren’t as strong and their claws are blunt as they don’t retract like on a cat. Therefore they can’t grab an animal to deliver a killer bite in the neck. Instead dogs tend to chase their victim to exhaustion when they can kill them more easily. With smaller prey they will grab it and vigorously shake it side to side, usually breaking the animal’s neck or back. [read on...]

Caiman

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Mar 022010
 

Today’s photo fact is about the Caiman, a member of the Alligator family, common throughout Central and South America. These guys are almost certainly young Yacare Caiman, and are widespread throughout the wetlands of Southern Brazil and Nothern Argentina, with over 10 million estimated to exist there. They will grow up on a diet of fish, with a preference for Piranha and possibly a Capybara or two (The largest rodent in the world) when they are older. For more reptiles and facts, visit our Reptiles gallery on Flickr.

Skua

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Feb 282010
 

Today’s photo fact is about the Skua, a large seabird. These guys are generally kleptoparasites, i.e. they steal food from other animals. Here, a couple a checking out some Penguin leftovers in the Antarctic. These guys travel great distances and have even been sighted at the South Pole! For more birds and facts, visit our Birds gallery on Flickr.

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