How It Works. World of Animals - Issue 49 2017

BE EJ EW EL LE RY

WI N! AM AZ ING

wAlking in the lAnd of the silverbACks TM

THE MAKING OF A

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QUEEN BEE

BEST BUMS Plus PANGOLINS wArblers SCORPIONS 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

meet the reAl grumPy CAt Conserving the AfriCAn wild dog

eight-legged wonders

AnimAl Armour

nAtionAl iCons

How can we save the painted dog?

The most beautiful spiders on Earth

Species that use their bodies as a defence

Animals that represent a nation

The best places on Earth to watch these incredible reptiles hatch

THE FISHER KING Issue 49

PRINTeD IN THe uK

£4.99

Digital edition 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.

© Thinkstock; Alamy

Meet the team…

Lauren Debono-Elliot

Charlie Ginger

Victoria Williams

Designer

Production Editor

Staff Writer

From breathing and sleeping to showing who’s boss, we have seen the crazy ways animals use their behinds on page 82!

From reflecting UV light to producing venom more powerful than cyanide, step into the world of scorpions on page 46.

I’ve become very fond of the scowling Pallas’ cat. Find out why this reclusive feline is so grumpy on page 38.

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@WorldAnimalsMag

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Find out why the ladybird is a Latvian icon on page 60 Visit www.animalanswers.co.uk for Exclusive competitions Hilarious GIFs Upload your photos and win prizes!

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Welcome to Issue 49 06 Amazing animals 12 Fisher king Discover the kingishers of the world and why they were given their name

18 The making of a queen bee Find out how the queen seizes power and whether or not she really rules the hive

54 Conserving wild dogs 60 National animals Learn all about how animals become a country’s icon

62 Explore the Earth: turtles Journey around the world to ind the best places to spot this charismatic sea creature

25 Lost forever What led to the extinction of the beautiful Formosan clouded leopard?

70 Nature diaries: Rwanda Daniel Allen comes face to face with the real gorillas in the mist

26 Armoured animals Learn all about the species with protective armour for bodies

32 Eight-legged wonders Take a look at the most colourful spiders on Earth

38 Meet the real grumpy cat Find out what makes the Pallas’ cat look so cross

76 Animal musicians Meet ive animals you didn’t know could sing

81 You wouldn’t believe … How male seahorses give birth

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 the planet

84 Wildlife of the heathlands Meet the inhabitants that live among the yellow gorse and purple heather

46 All about the scorpion Are their stingers as scary as you think?

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

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4

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What is being done to save this incredible canine?

84

62

The making of a queen bee

90 Keeping in touch

94 Readers’ Q&A

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DISCOVER THE COMPLEX SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF BEES 76

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

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Page 92

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The amazing world of animals

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© Jocelyne Feizo/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

The amazing world of animals

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.

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© Laura Lyn Gregory/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

The amazing world of animals

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.

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The amazing world of animals

© Val Saxby/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

Weighing as much as a small coin, the harvest 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.

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© Peter Brannon/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

The amazing world of animals

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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’.

The amazing world of animals

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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

© Paul Sawer/FLPA

Kingishers are one of the most colourful bird families of the world and come in a startling array of shapes and sizes. They are members of the Coraciiformes group that includes rollers, beeeaters, motmots and todies, all of which are famed for their exotic-looking plumage. There are 114 different types of kingishers, and they are found throughout the world across all continents with the exception of Antarctica. Kingishers are further divided into three distinct types: river kingishers, water kingishers and tree kingishers. All three families share exclusive traits, including typically making their nests in burrows, possessing exceptionally keen eyesight,

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possessing long, dagger-like bills and being very eficient hunters. Kingishers can often remain motionless for ages, waiting for the perfect moment to strike their prey. While many like to hunt from a perch, some can also hover if needed. Despite their name, few kingishers feed exclusively on ish, having adapted to take a variety of prey. They range in size from ten centimetres (3.9 inches) to 45 centimetres (18 inches) and often feature in human culture, with Greek mythology suggesting they were formed from a pairing between Alcyone and Ceyx. Join us as we take a deeper look at some of the family’s most interesting members.

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.

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The isher king

A large kingfisher with a startling call

Australia and New Zealand

This resident of Australia and New Zealand is one of the world’s largest kingishers, with female birds weighing as much as 480 grams (16.9 ounces). Unlike other kingishers, kookaburras tend to shy away from rivers and streams, typically favouring woodlands, farmland and urban areas. It gets its name for its famous chuckling call, which can be incredibly loud and

raucous when multiple family members join in (which typically happens at dusk and dawn). It’s believed to be quite eerie when heard out in the Australian bush. First described and illustrated by French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat in 1776, it’s gone on to become one of Australia’s most famous animals, inspiring the children’s song Kookaburra Sits 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

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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

Giant by name, giant by nature This fantastic-looking bird is the largest kingisher in the world, growing up to 46 centimetres (18 inches) in length (the laughing kookaburra is typically heavier, though). Easily recognisable thanks to its shaggy crest, chestnut breast and spotted back, it’s a regular sight throughout most of Africa. There are two subspecies of the bird: M.m. maxima and M.m. gigantea. Interestingly, the gigantea tends to

favour rainforests, while the maxima prefers open land. Both subspecies can be found throughout a range of habitats, including savannahs, mangroves and mountain streams. An extremely eficient hunter, the giant kingisher feeds on a variety of different ish and will also predate other aquatic delicacies, including crabs and amphibians. It hunts its prey by regularly diving from the same perch.

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

Africa

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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 Indonesia, this large kingisher is instantly identiiable thanks to its huge, stork-like bill. It’s at home in a variety of different habitats, from forests to rivers, and it has an equally eclectic approach to its food, feeding on everything from ish to crabs, rodents and even young birds.

Originally identiied by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, the storkbill is known to have 13 subspecies, typically identiied by different plumage types. Despite its size, the stork-billed kingisher is an excellent, agile hunter, able to stay still for long periods of time when hunting. Like many kingishers, it burrows into rotting trees, termite mounds and riverbanks when breeding.

“Research suggests that the scaly-breasted kingisher is now a Near Threatened species” 16

Australia and Papua New Guinea

A stunning bird with an insanely long tail

More family members

All paradise kingishers have extremely elegant, streaming tail feathers, and the buffbreasted is no exception. The tail of an adult male is an impressive sight, trailing some 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 mating season. A keen traveller, migration can take its toll, and many are thought to perish as they ly between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Oriental dwarf kingfisher Small but vividly coloured This relatively common kingfisher is also known as the three-toed kingfisher and is found in a variety of countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Brown-winged kingfisher A threatened mangrove inhabitant This kingfisher is found across the north and eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal. It’s losing its mangrove habitat to humans and is classed as Near Threatened.

A kingisher with the stomach for life on the go

“Youngsters have acidic stomachs to help them digest a variety of bones and shells”

Green kingfisher Gives a rattling call This medium-sized kingfisher has a range from southern Texas to Argentina and loves to inhabit swamps and mangroves. Five subspecies are known to exist.

Striped kingfisher A highly territorial bird This colourful kingfisher has a large territory and will aggressively chase off far larger birds. It prefers to feed on grasshoppers but occasionally takes small reptiles.

Yellow-billed kingfisher Has a distinctive beak This medium-sized tree kingfisher is found throughout lowland Papua New Guinea. It prefers a diet of earthworms, insects and lizards. It makes its nest in arboreal termite nests.

© Thinkstock; Francesco Veronesi; Dick Daniels; Alamy; Dave Watts; Ch’ien Lee/Minden

This distinctive-looking bird is part of the water kingisher group and is the only member of the family to be commonly found in North America 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 found on a variety of Paciic islands, including Hawaii and the Azores. While it makes a burrow like many other members of the family, it’s 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.

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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 picnicruining 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.

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The making of a queen bee

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© Getty/Sumiko Scott

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The making of a queen bee After hatching as adults, Western honeybee worker bees rotate roles in Apis mellifera the hive as they age. Their Class Insecta very irst job is to clean the honeycomb cell they have just chewed their way out of. They then spend several territory Every continent days feeding and looking except Antarctica after the larvae. Following Diet Flower pollen and nectar Lifespan Queen – up to 5 nanny duty, there’s a shift years, Summer-born worker producing beeswax, building – 5-6 weeks, Winter-born the comb and removing dead worker – 6-7 months, Drone – 5 weeks bees from the hive before Adult weight 0.1-0.3g they reach the edge of the (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 high-energy beebread, and nectar is used to produce 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. When a foraging worker inds a good food source, she passes the information to bees back at the nest

Adult bees like this drone chew their way through the cap of their brood cell

Who lives in a colony?

ABOVE The queen’s only job is to lay tiny eggs in the cells of the nest

RIGHT Worker bees form a chain to repair honeycomb

“Following nanny duty, there’s a shift producing beeswax, building the comb and removing the dead from the hive”

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

Queen

Drones are male bees produced from unfertilised eggs, and there are a few hundred of them in a hive. They can’t sting or collect pollen; their purpose is simply to mate with queens from other hives.

The queen’s job is to lay eggs – she’s twice the size of the workers but has a smaller brain. She can live for up to ive years if she does her job well but will be replaced if she doesn’t produce enough eggs.

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These little ladies have all the equipment for an industrious life Defensive sting Barbs on the worker’s stinger mean it stays in the victim, so the bee is usually killed as it tries to free itself.

sensitive antennae Almost 200 scent receptors are packed onto the antennae. They’re involved in orientation when the bee flies, and the right antenna is used in communication.

specialised stomach There’s a crop – or honey stomach – in the worker’s abdomen. Here it can store up to a third of its body weight in honey.

Versatile legs The front pair of legs is used for cleaning the antennae. The middle pair gather pollen in the pollen baskets found on the back legs.

sticky feet Bees’ feet have tiny claws and sticky pads that keep them steady on smooth surfaces. As well as gripping, they can also taste!

Unfolding mouthparts The tongue-like proboscis can lap at food or be used for cleaning, but it can also act as a straw for sucking up nectar.

through the medium of interpretive dance. This carefully choreographed routine tells other workers how far they’ll need to ly; a round dance indicates food a short distance from the colony, while a waggle dance is more complex and relates to sources further aield. In the waggle dance, the bee moves in a igure of eight and waggles her abdomen – the length and direction of her movements tell the other workers how far away the food is and its direction relative to the nest and the Sun. While workers rush around with an endless to-do list, the queen remains in the hive being fed by workers and laying thousands of eggs a day. She’s cared for and protected more than any other individual, but she is essentially a 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 into which the queen will lay either fertilised or unfertilised eggs. Workers even control how many eggs she lays by altering the amount they feed her: the assumption that the queen runs the hive is far from the truth. The queen emits a pheromone (chemical signal) that lets the colony know she is still alive and well. When they can no longer smell the queen, or when her egg production starts to slow down, the workers know that it’s time to select a new one. Young larvae have a queen cell built around them and are fed exclusively on royal jelly secreted from a gland found in the workers’ heads, which initiates the development of a new, fertile queen. A new queen can also take over the throne if the hive gets too crowded. The bees choose a new nest site

© Thinkstock; Ingo Arndt; MD Kern / Palo Alto JR Museum; NaturePL

The workings of a worker bee

Five eyes Two compound eyes allow the bee to process information and navigate, while three single-lens eyes can see ultraviolet light, helping with pollen searching.

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The making of a queen bee

Inside the honeycomb

“The last woman standing wins the title of queen bee”

This waxy network of cells acts as nursery and kitchen cupboard

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 workers take 21 days and drones take 24.

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 locations they’ve found. Worker bees create multiple queen cells from wax and the departing queen lays fertilised eggs in each of them. Nurse bees feed the larvae royal jelly – allowing these larvae to grow larger and faster than workers – and the cells are sealed. The capping of the cells is the cue for the old queen to take some of the colony and move out. The potential queens begin to emerge about a week later, and the brutal race for the throne can go one of two ways. In a small colony, the irst contender to emerge simply destroys the others and assumes the role. However, when there are more workers around they will stop any wouldbe queens from killing the others, instead waiting until the next female emerges. These two bees then duel until one

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is killed, then the victor faces the next contender to emerge in a winner-stays-on contest. The last woman standing wins the title of queen, with the bodies of the unfortunate losers thrown out of the hive. However a new queen comes to take over the throne, once she is established she takes several lights and mates with multiple male drones, so that a few days later she can assume her duty and begin laying fertilised eggs. As new queens are emerging, drones (the largest honeybees) leave their hives and head for drone congregation areas. Hundreds of males wait until a new queen passes by, then compete to mate with her; there’s no ighting

Ten days ater the egg is laid, worker bees cap the cell with wax and the larva spins a cocoon. Over the next few days it transforms into a fully developed bee.

Help the honeybee

BELOW To prevent the hive from exceeding the optimum temperature of 35°C (95°F), bees fan the air with their wings

We need honeybees, and sometimes they 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.

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 survive. As drones are the product of unfertilised eggs they have no father. They do, however, have a mother and a set of grandparents (their queen’s parents). 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 out, left to starve or die from hypothermia. Workers LEFT Once capped with beeswax, honey will not spoil

Leave the lawn alone If you have a garden with a lawn, cut your grass less closely or less oten to let pollinators shelter. If you can, choose a patch to leave alone – weeds and all – as this will really beneit bees.

Ditch the chemicals Chemicals can harm bees, so use organic gardening methods as much as possible. If you must spray plants, do it in the evening when most bees are back in the hive, and avoid getting it into water sources.

© Thinkstock; MD Kern / Palo Alto JR Museum; Eric Baccega; NaturePL

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.

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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”

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light – but it’s essential if the bees are going to make it through the harsh winter months. The queen bee is crucial to the survival and growth of a colony, but it’s the workers that really call the shots and ensure that everything runs smoothly. With all of that hard work it’s not entirely surprising that most worker bees emerging in spring and summer will go on to die from exhaustion, only living for around six weeks. In their short lives worker bees keep their colony alive and thriving, enabling their mother to fulil her one, vital task: producing new members of the colony.

ABOVE Despite measuring just one cubic millimetre, a honeybee’s brain contains around 1 million neurons BELOW A worker bee’s stinger is designed in such a way that once it enters the skin, it doesn’t retract

Queen Queens have smooth stingers, so they can sting multiple times to destroy rival females.

Worker Barbs on a worker’s stinger mean it remains in the victim and is ripped from the bee.

Drone As their sole job is to mate with queens, male bees have no stinger.

© Thinkstock; Getty/Jef Meul/NiS/Minden Pictures

may appear cruel in this treatment of their brothers, but the colony as a whole always comes irst. Along with ants, bees are one of the only other species considered by scientists to be truly social, totally devoted to their colony and willing to give their lives instantly to protect their home. This high level of social cohesion is known as eusociality, and it is represented by cooperative brood care, overlapping generations and a division of labour into reproductive and non-reprodutive groups. While drones just exist to mate, the same can’t be said for worker bees. Aside from their everyday duties, it’s up 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. If temperatures drop, ‘heater bees’ can crawl into empty cells and warm those around them by vibrating their light muscles, keeping the young bees cosy. During winter, the bees form a cluster around the queen and use their 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 and spend lots of time building up their reserves while it’s still warm in the summer months. When worker bees return to the hive with nectar they mix it with an enzyme they produce. The mixture is then 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 stored indeinitely until it’s needed. These industrious insects usually make more than they actually need, so humans can safely take some without 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

L Formosan clouded leopard OST FORE V ER

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

Despite belonging to the smallest big cat species, the Formosan clouded leopard was once the largest true carnivore in Taiwan. Clouded leopards have a combination of traits from big cats (like their grooming habits) and smaller cats (like purring). Contrary to their name, they are not closely related to leopards. First described in 1862, this subspecies (Neofelis nebulosa brachyura) was found only on the island of Taiwan (once briely known as the Republic of Formosa in 1895), where its short legs and big canines meant it was a successful hunter in the dense forests. After many years with only a few reported sightings, a 13-year search for the animal began in 2001. American and Taiwanese zoologists set up cameras and baited hair traps, but a complete lack of evidence of the leopard’s existence led the team to conclude in 2013 that the subspecies was probably extinct. It’s thought that the Formosan clouded leopard was driven to extinction by poaching, destruction

of its habitat and a drop in numbers of its prey. The cat was hunted for its pelt and, despite a ban on commercial hunting introduced in 1973, its available prey was depleted by humans. Urbanisation and the clearance of forests for development made catching prey even harder and reduced the area of suitable habitat. Although the Formosan clouded leopard is now largely accepted as extinct, with the only remaining specimen on the island stuffed in a museum, there have been suggestions that clouded leopards from mainland Asia could be introduced to Taiwan. Some scientists believe that the Formosan subspecies was not actually a distinct subspecies at all, so transporting animals from other countries could restore the population. However, this has been disputed due to the fact that the island animals had such distinctive short tails. Even so, it’s possible that mainland cats could ill the vacancy left by the disappearance of the native animals that once prowled the island.

Champion climber Short, sturdy legs and large feet made them well suited to jumping and climbing through trees.

Last seen… Date: 1983 Location: Taiwan 70 indigenous hunters were interviewed in 1986, with the last record of a Formosan clouded leopard found to be from 1983. A skin was discovered in 1989, but ater this there were no more sightings. The team of zoologists began their search in 2001, setting up 1,500 infrared camera traps designed to collect hair samples from passing animals. Sadly, no signs of the cat were found.

“This leopard was once the largest true carnivore in all of Taiwan”

© freevectormaps.com; Alan Batley

Little big cat Like smaller cats, the Formosan clouded leopard couldn’t roar, but its posture was like that of a big cat’s.

Shorter tail Mainland clouded leopards have tails as long as their bodies, but the Formosan subspecies’ tail was half this length.

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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 body armour than the tortoise. The top of a tortoise’s shell is known as the carapace, while the underside is called the plastron. The carapace and plastron are connected by a third component, the bridge. The shell cannot be removed – the carapace is fused to the vertebrae and ribcage, making it a permanent part of the tortoise’s body. A tortoise can feel when its shell is being touched – the carapace contains sensitive nerve endings, and pet tortoises have often been observed enjoying the sensation of being stroked or tickled on the surface of their shells.

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The shell of a tortoise may also reveal secrets about how old it is. Like the cross section of a tree, the carapace contains concentric rings, which multiply as the tortoise ages. However, these rings are not always a reliable indication of age – some tortoises develop multiple rings in a single season, while others’ rings are no longer visible due to everyday wear. Tortoise shells have historically inspired humans in their military defences – Roman soldiers famously used the tortuga (Latin for tortoise) formation to protect themselves in battle, combining their shields to create an impenetrable shell.

Armoured animals

© Shutterstock/Maxim Petrichuk

“A tortoise can feel when its shell is being touched due to nerve endings”

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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 able to inflate their bodies to twice their normal size to ward off predators

Horned lizards call upon an arsenal of desert defence strategies Horned lizards are sometimes referred to as horned toads, but these North American reptiles aren’t related to the amphibians at your local pond. This scientifically inaccurate name was likely influenced by the squat, toad-like body of this desert reptile. These lizards are covered in small, horn-like protrusions, which are actually modified

scales to prevent water loss in the arid habitats they reside in (only the horns on its head are ‘true’ horns with a boney core). Their spiny bodies also help to ward off predators, although that’s not the horned lizard’s only defence: it can also squirt foul-tasting blood from its eyes up to a range of nearly one metre (three feet) to confuse and alarm opportunistic predators.

“This lizard can squirt foultasting 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.

“The hermit crab has found a solution to its squishy body problem: using the shells of other marine animals as armour”

© NaturePL/Mark Payne-Gill/Rolf Nussbaumer; Dreamstime; Martin Harvey/Alamy

Despite battling each other for aquatic real estate, hermit crabs oten work together to ind food

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Armoured animals

Hedgehogs use their spines as protection from all kinds of dangers As a defence mechanism, a hedgehog’s spines are invaluable – they can be raised by contracting the muscles surrounding them, giving predators a clear signal that they shouldn’t attack unless they fancy a face full of pointy quills. The spines also help to cushion hedgehogs from falls. If it inds itself stuck in a position that’s impossible to climb

down from, a hedgehog will roll into a ball and drop to the ground below, using its own quill-covered body as a shock absorber. Wild hedgehogs have been known to survive falls of up to six metres (19.7 feet) using this method, although we strongly advise against testing this defence strategy 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 hairs firmly in place

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Muscle contraction 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

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 is a thick coat of armour. Yet that’s exactly what the rhinoceros does – its 1.5- to ive-centimetre-thick (0.6 to two inches) skin acts as armour for its entire body, protecting the 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 against the elements. Another of the rhino’s defence mechanisms can be found on its head – the famous horn that sits atop its snout is made of keratin, the same substance used to form human hair and ingernails.

Pangolins are the only mammals covered in scales. Although armadillo-like in appearance, these two animals are not closely related. Alongside their armour, pangolins emit a skunk-like spray to scare of predators.

Cassowaries are the world’s only armoured birds. They use the bony protrusions on their heads as crash helmets, battering through the underbrush of Australia.

Crocodiles are covered in armour that’s both tough and sensitive Crocodiles and alligators aren’t just ferocious predators – they’re also wellprotected. These large reptiles have a double-layered exoskeleton consisting of horny scales and bony scutes, making their bodies some of the best-protected in the animal kingdom. But while their bodies may be armoured, a crocodile’s thick skin doesn’t make it any less sensitive. Tiny touch sensors cover every crocodilian and are particularly

concentrated around the face and jaws. By resting in the water, a crocodile or alligator can detect the tiniest vibrations and movements, alerting them to the presence of potential prey. Some of the crocodile’s prehistoric relatives had even thicker armour. Dinosaurs like the ankylosaurus had skin that resembled today’s bulletproof fabrics, making them some of the hardiest creatures to have ever walked the planet.

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.

Armoured bush crickets are covered in a thick exoskeleton, with spines on their thoraxes to deter predators. Males also use stridulation to scare of intruders, rubbing their body parts together to produce an alarming noise.

© Maria Diekmann of Rare and Endangered Species Trust The United States; Nick Hobgood; George Parrilla; Sam Fraser-Smith Bernard Dupont; Ernst Dirksen/Minden Pictures/FLPA; blickwinkel / Alamy

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.

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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

© BIOSPHOTO/Alamy

There’s more to jumping spiders than meets the eye

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

Eight-legged wonders

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Eight-legged wonders

© NaturePL/Andres M. Dominguez

Giving flower power a new meaning

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Thomisus onustus, a species of crab spider, has a sneaky 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.

Eight-legged wonders

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 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.

© NaturePL/Stephen Dalton

So rare their location is kept a secret

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© Piotr Naskrecki/Minden Pictures/FLPA

Eight-legged wonders

The spiky spiders of the sunshine state

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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.

Eight-legged wonders

© David Chapman /Alamy

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. This species is a member of the orbweaver family, and females create a distinctive ziz-zag down the middle of their webs.

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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 snow leopard, Pallas’ cats also inhabit the mountains of Asia, as well as grasslands and shrublands. Most members of the species live in Mongolia and China, but their range also reaches into Iran, Russia and the Himalayas. Yet despite this, there aren’t many sightings of these elusive cats because they live at high altitudes and they spend their time in dens when they don’t need to be out on the surface. This cat, named after a German naturalist, hasn’t changed much since it became one of the irst modern cats to evolve around 12 million years ago. Living

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at heights of over 4,600 metres (15,091 feet), it’s well-adapted for the cold, with thick, silvery fur and a stocky build. It prefers habitat with lots of hiding places as it’s not a great runner. Known for its characteristically expressive face, the Pallas’ cat has plenty of reasons to be as grumpy as it looks: as well as living alone in the cold, it’s mistaken for being fat and its own scientiic name is an insult. Add to this an extremely high mortality rate and the fact that it’s classed as Near Threatened, and it’s the perfect recipe for a real grumpy cat.

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

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.

© Edo Schmidt/Alamy; MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock

NEAR THREATENED

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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’ Those ‘ugly’ ears keep them alive and well-fed The Pallas’ cat originally had the Latin name Felis manul, but it was later changed to Octobulus manul. This new name means ‘ugly-eared’, referring to the cat’s small, wide-set ears. But whatever anyone thinks about their appearance, they are perfectly suited to the Pallas’ cat’s life on the grasslands and rocky steppes. These cats hunt by creeping up on their prey and hiding before they pounce; lattened faces and small ears low on their heads mean they can

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peek over the top of their hiding place without being spotted. Pallas’ cats are slow, with their stocky legs not built for speed, so hiding and pouncing are the most eficient tactics for inding food. This sneaky ability also helps them to hide from predators like foxes and eagles. Living in areas of central Asia where the temperature can drop to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit), small ears also reduce the amount of heat that the cats lose from their bodies.

DID YOU KNOW? Female Pallas’ cats are only fertile for 24-48 hours a year – a narrow window for a solitary species! If she does manage to mate, a female’s kittens will be ready to leave home after just four months.

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.

they don’t make good neighbours Fittingly, these grumpylooking cats don’t enjoy company (apart from in the short breeding season). 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.

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

The peculiar Pallas’ cat

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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

© Edo Schmidt Alamy; Thinkstock

These cat cousins are small but mighty

Bobcat

Andean mountain cat

Eurasian lynx

Serval

Sand cat

North America’s answer to the manul has a similar coat, but it’s twice the size. The elusive bobcat has much larger ears but a characteristically short tail.

This mountain-dweller shares the Pallas’ cat’s body size and thick fur. Hardly ever seen in the wild, this species is now listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

Also used to cold weather, the tufty-eared lynx has webbed paws for negotiating snow. It’s one of Europe’s largest predators and spreads into Asia.

Unlike the Pallas’ cat, the serval has huge ears. In fact, relative to their body, these African wild cats have the largest ears of any cat in the world.

The only true desert cat, the sand cat is found from North Africa to Asia. It keeps itself cool with large ears and by hunting at night and living in a burrow.

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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 octopus is not one to be messed with. Its bright blue Hapalochlaena lunulata iridescent rings lash when it class Cephalopoda 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 heed the warning – these ten-centimetresubtropical waters of the Indo-Paciic long (four inch) creatures are venomous diet Crustaceans, bivalves enough to kill a human. and small ish Blue-ringed octopuses have two lifespan 2 years 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 used for defence. This second toxin, called tetrodotoxin, is found in other dangerous sea creatures like puffer ish, and in humans it causes muscle spasms, excessive salivation, paralysis, respiratory problems and even death. Greater blue-rinGed octopus

nortH atlantic/ spoonarM octopus Bathypolypus arcticus class Cephalopoda

The North Atlantic octopus is also called the ‘spoonarm’ due to the curls at the ends of its tentacles.

© Thinkstock; NaturePL/David Shale/Nature Production; Alamy/Nick Everett

territory Just above the seabed in the North Atlantic diet Bivalves, crustaceans and brittle stars lifespan Up to 6 years adult weight 14g (1.6oz) conservation status

NOT EVALUATED

North Atlantic octopus The dedicated mother Living near the seabed at depths of 200-600 metres (660-1,970 feet) and temperatures between two and six degrees Celsius (35.6-42.8 degrees Fahrenheit), the North Atlantic octopus cannot cope with tropical waters. Higher temperatures reduce the animal’s lifespan, with just ten degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) usually proving lethal. Females of this species brood their small clutch of eggs for over 400 days, which is longer than the lives of most octopuses. During this time the mother stops eating and breaks down her body to provide energy for her young. She gradually wastes away, living just long enough to see her offspring leave the den to make their way in the ocean.

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This species is certainly not called ‘greater’ because of its size, but because its blue rings are larger than those found on its close relatives.

Glowing sucker octopus The lashiest octopus Living as deep as 4,000 metres (12,100 feet) in the Atlantic Ocean, this octopus has webs joining most 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 octopus species has ins and a gelatinous, GloWinG sucKer translucent body. octopus Stauroteuthis syrtensis It also produces class Cephalopoda bioluminescence, emitting a blue-green light from some of its suckers. Some produce territory Deep water in the a constant, faint light, North Atlantic while others pulse diet Small crustaceans brightly, creating a lifespan Unknown adult weight Unkown twinkling effect. It’s conservation status thought that they do this to lure prey and scare off potential DATA DEFICIENT predators.

As well as its webbed arms and bioluminescence, the glowing sucker octopus also has fins on either side of its body to help it swim.

Octopuses

Wonderpus octopus The popular one

Wonderpus octopus Wunderpus photogenicus class Cephalopoda

territory Shallow IndoMalayan waters diet Fish, shrimp and shellish lifespan Up to a year adult weight Unknown conservation status

Like a human fingerprint, the pattern of bars and spots is different on each wonderpus octopus.

NOT EVALUATED

Winged argonaut The clingy relative Female Argonauts create a coiled egg case around themselves, similar in appearance to the shells of extinct 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 their time close to the surface of the water. They often cling to things, including each other; a female will attach to an object and passing Argonauts will then cling on to the shell of the animal in front, creating loating chains. They have been observed clinging to jellyish, steering them to use them as shields and platforms to hunt from.

daY octopus/biG blue octopus Octopus cyanea

The wonderpus gets its Latin name, Wunderpus photogenicus, from the amount of interest in photographing it. Its striking patterns and branched head make it a favourite among divers and photographers, but the white stripes and spots aren’t just there to look impressive. Using its appearance to keep it safe, the wonderpus sits on the seabed with six arms hidden in a hole and two opposing arms undulating to mimic a venomous banded sea snake. It’s also been seen spreading its tentacles to look like the toxic lionish. The octopus emerges at dawn and dusk to hunt, probing its long arms into burrows and using them to lush out prey under the sand into the web between its tentacles.

The egg case of the female winged Argonaut is secreted from two of the tentacles before she lays eggs. The egg case it is so thin that the species is sometimes called the brown paper nautilus.

WinGed arGonaut Argonauta hians class Cephalopoda

territory Tropical and subtropical waters around the world diet Molluscs lifespan Unknown adult weight Unknown conservation status

LEAST CONCERN

1. Biggest (probably) Giant Pacific octopus

3. Longest brooding Graneledone boreopacifica

Large individuals average 50kg (110Ib). A 9m (30ft) long record-breaker weighed in at 272.2kg (600Ib).

A female of this species was seen to brood her eggs for 53 months, the longest animal pregnancy.

2. Smallest Octopus wolfi

4. Oldest fossil Pohlsepia mazonensis

The smallest known octopus grows to less than 2.5cm (1in) and just under 1g (0.04oz). It’s also known as the star-sucker pygmy octopus.

Not an octopus Squids belong to the Mollusc phylum and have eight arms like octopuses, but beyond that they’re quite different animals. While octopuses keep to themselves in dens, squids prefer the open seas and can live in large groups. When hunting, octopuses make use of the suckers on their arms, but squids have an additional pair of tentacles for grabbing. The largest octopus on record was a giant Pacific octopus that tipped the scales at a 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

class Cephalopoda

The crafty daytime hunter

territory Shallow water and reefs of the Indo-Paciic, eastern Africa and the Red Sea diet Bivalves, ish, crabs and shrimp lifespan 12-15 months adult weight 6kg (13.2lb) conservation status

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 day octopus can’t rely on the dark to conceal it, so it has become a master of disguise. It not only changes colour as it moves over different surfaces, but it can also change the pattern and texture of its skin to hide from predators and prey. It’s even been observed to create a ‘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 inished sneaking around on coral reefs, the bumps on the skin, allowing the octopus to match its background. day octopus returns to its hidden den.

NOT EVALUATED

A fossil of this species, found in Illinois, US, was dated back 296mn years, so it lived in the Carboniferous era.

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All about scorpions

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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

© Chien Lee/Minden Pictures/FLPA

Words Tanita Matthews

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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 years highlight the successful survival of the scorpion species that irst evolved from giant aquatic specimens. The earliest fossils were found on rocks that had been deposited in water. Paleontologists believe that, like crabs, scorpions evolved from crawling on the sealoor to scuttling on dry land. A combination of killer instincts, a fascinating anatomy, and the ability to persevere whatever the conditions have made this arachnid a thriving, if not slightly misunderstood species. With eight legs, two pincers (chelae) and a long, thin, venomous tail, the scorpion is a distinctive-looking character. With approximately 2,000 species worldwide, this arachnid is notorious for the deadly sting in its tail, which is used in hunting, self-defence and occasionally for mating. In some species the venom can be 100,000-times stronger than cyanide.

To compliment this tough look, a scorpion’s body is made up of a chitin exoskeleton (similar to that of a shrimp). It is vital for their survival due to its exceptional resistance to water loss, which is highly important for a species living in arid conditions. Scorpions are nocturnal, solitary creatures and prefer to seek shelter until night-time, when they will venture out to feed. Small and medium-sized species of scorpion will target insects such as snails, centipedes and beetles. Bigger scorpions will eat lizards, tarantulas and, in some cases, they will even tackle snakes. When attacking, smaller scorpions such as the stripe-tailed scorpion will use their chelae to grab their prey before whipping their poisonous tail stinger over their head and plunging their venom into their unfortunate victim. The poison attacks the nerve cells, causing paralysis and in some

“Bigger species, such as the giant desert hairy scorpion, have little need for their venom, instead tearing their prey apart”

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instances death. However, a scorpion’s venom is used in moderation as it takes a lot of energy to produce, and bigger species, such as the giant desert hairy scorpion, have little need for their venom, instead tearing their prey apart. Although all scorpions are venomous, not all species produce a fatal poison. Only approximately two per cent of the species in the world are considered to have enough toxins to kill a human, such as the terrifyingly named deathstalker, and the Arizona bark scorpion. Scorpions can survive for up to 12 months without food but will typically hunt every two to three weeks. As long as they have access to water they are able to survive for long periods of time. Many species spend up to 97 per cent of their time in their burrow, preferring to camp out under a rock until dinner wanders straight to their door.

BELOW A female scorpion can have up to 100 babies at a time. The size of the brood depends on the species and other environmental factors

The scorpion

In the limelight Unlike their arachnid relatives, scorpions glow under UV light All scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, such as an electric black light or even the Moon. The blue-green glow that radiates from their bodies comes from a substance found in the hyaline layer – the thin but tough coating in a part of the exoskeleton known as the cuticle. Beta carboline is the main component that enables their luorescence. Scorpions, like many animals, shed their skin, and it has been noticed that once a scorpion has shed its skin it is unable to glow under UV light until a new layer of cuticle hardens. Scientists are unable to determine what purpose the luorescent coating serves. Some theorise that it protects them from the sunlight, or that it

might be a form of identiication for the scorpions, or to confuse prey, but science is yet to ind a deinitive answer. Others speculate that it serves no function at all but is rather just a random factor of evolution. However, in 2011, biologist Douglas Gafin from the University of Oklahoma announced that after investigating the phenomenon he had concluded that the creatures can ‘sense’ light using their tails. First, Gafin’s team of scientists blindfolded scorpions. They then tested them with a variety of colourful lights and found the scorpions’ shells work as a ‘whole body’ sensor, relaying light to the nervous system so the scorpion can allegedly ‘see’ using any part of its body.

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

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

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All about scorpions

Inside a scorpion The emperor scorpion owes much of its survival to the ingenious evolution of its anatomy, which consists of three segments: the prosoma, mesosoma and the metasoma EmpEror scorpion Pandinus imperator class Arachnida

Territory West Africa, including Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ghana and the Congo region Diet Insects, spiders, lizards, small mammals and other scorpions Lifespan 5-8 years Adult weight Up to 28g (1oz) conservation status

NOT EVALUATED

Exoskeleton Their exoskeleton, which is made of 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 is a layer that provides its glowing luorescent light.

metasoma Unlike insects, the metasoma refers only to the tail section of a scorpion, which is made up of ive segments.

Gut Scorpions do not chew their food; they dissolve the tissues of their prey with digestive juices and aspirate the nutrients in semi-liquid form.

Legs Scorpions have eight clawed legs that allow them to climb almost any surface. Moveable bristles (setae) allow them to walk on sand without 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 can take up to an hour, with the hard parts that require too much energy to soten discarded. Indigestible materials like exoskeletons are simply thrown to the side, the efort required to make them into a malleable meal outweighing the beneits. The rest of the food makes its way through the body before it is expelled as faeces.

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chelae Their chelae are not legs; they are more like appendages used to grab and have the sensitivity of antennae and in some species the strength of a pair of pliers.

JUVEniLE

inFAncY Fertilisation 0 months A female scorpion will retain her fertilised eggs inside her body until they develop into live embryos.

Grasping her pedipalps (pincers) with his own, the male manoeuvres a female into the ideal spot for mating, while shaking – a motion called ‘juddering’ – and putting his mouthparts against hers. He then deposits a spermatophore (sperm packet), which she picks up with her genital pore.

A free ride 0 months Between ten and 12 babies (scorplings) are born three to 18 months ater fertilisation and climb onto her body.

Leaving the nest 10-20 days Around ten to 20 days ater birth, the baby scorpions have their irst molt, signifying that they are ready to leave their mother.

mATUriTY independence 10-20 days The baby scorpion has now developed its exoskeleton and is able to live without the protection of its mother.

molt 6 months-7 years Depending on the species, a scorpion will molt approximately six times before it reaches adulthood.

maturity 6 months-7 years However, some species molt as many as nine times over several years before they eventually reach maturity.

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 scorpion’s anatomy, the mesosoma consists of six segments and forms the irst part of the abdomen. It contains the reproductive, and respiratory organs, plus other vital organs.

pectines Two sensitive organs known as pectines are beneath the body of the scorpion, allowing them to analyse the ground beneath them.

Hair Hairs on the scorpion's legs act as sensors, vibrating from even the slightest movement of a potential meal. Alternating motion waves tell the scorpion which direction their food is travelling in.

Scorpion stings Not all scorpions are deadly, but their venom will cause varying 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

Eyes Although scorpions have poor vision, they have two sets of eyes at the top of the prosoma and usually two to ive pairs of eyes along the front corners of the prosoma.

chelicerae Scorpions have two small, claw-like appendages that protrude from their mouths called chelicerae. These are used for chewing on their prey. Feeding is a methodical process that can take hours to complete.

mating 14-24 months The age at which scorpions reach sexual maturity can difer with each species of scorpion, ranging between 14 months to four years.

Love’s sweet perfume When mating season approaches a female scorpion will give of a scent that a male will be able to detect with his pectines.

Closest family Meet the scorpion’s arachnid relatives

The mating ritual Lasting up to 36 hours, this can be an aggressive process. The male will deposit a pool of semen and then attempt to lure the female onto it.

spider Spiders are the largest order in the arachnid class and also have eight legs like the scorpion does. Although they are relatives, spiders oten end up as dinner for hungry scorpions, as unlike their cousin, spiders are seldom venomous.

Tick Similar to the spider but not much bigger than a poppy seed, a tick generally feeds of the blood of another human or animal. Ticks look like tiny, pale spiders, but unlike the scorpion they prefer to inhabit places where the air is moist.

mite This arachnid prefers to inhabit the soil as a decomposer. They are the most successful of the invertebrate groups, feasting on a range of plants and animals – some even feed on mould. Some are predatory, but none of the oribatid mites are parasitic.

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© Thinkstock; Sol90

prosoma Also known as the cephalothorax, it is found at the front of the scorpion and contains the fused head and thorax.

Symptoms of a sting from a scorpion with weak venom, such as the stripe-tailed scorpion, can include local pain, swelling and redness at the site of the sting, a slight fever and nausea.

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 every continent except for Antarctica, where the cold weather prevents them from settling. Even so, they can survive being literally frozen, but cope just as well in scorching heat, meaning they are particularly well-equipped for survival. Parts of Africa, Asia (particularly China), South and North America, Russia and Madagascar are just some of the world’s best

hot spots for scorpion species. But having such a wide range doesn’t mean that they don’t face a daily battle to ind food and evade predators. Although they prefer to remain hidden, this is not a foolproof way of staying alive, as even the most stationary of species must sometimes venture out at night for food. Cannibalism between scorpions is not uncommon, but a far greater threat lurks out on the open plains: mongoose and meerkats. Both are resistant to

Environmental factors From lunch to lightening, it’s not easy being a scorpion

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Becoming dinner While scorpions might be used to scaring humans, in China they are considered food. Seasoned then placed on a skewer, they are oten found on market stalls.

pet trade Scorpions have become desirable exotic pets. Enthusiasts will pay a great deal of money in order to keep a scorpion in captivity for the rest of its natural life.

Human development Agricultural conversion, deforestation and urban sprawls are a risk to scorpion habitat, which is being constantly destroyed. Pesticides and other chemicals are also a concern.

Weather Severe weather such as hurricanes and tornados can have a devastating efect on scorpion habitats. The damage they can create oten leaves scorpions vulnerable and exposed.

the scorpion’s sting and will attack them with ease given the chance. And while tarantulas can be dinner, larger and stronger species of spiders can quickly turn the tables. Even the skies aren’t safe, with birds including owls poised to swoop down for a scorpion meal. Unsurprisingly, humans are also a huge threat to the scorpion, encroaching on their territory and swiftly killing any scorpions that happen to venture into homes or camp sites.

The scorpion Nearest neighbours What wondrous creatures show up on the scorpion’s doorstep?

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

“Although scorpions prefer to remain hidden, this is not a foolproof way of staying alive, as even the most stationary of species must sometimes venture out at night for food”

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.

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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

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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

© WILDLIFE GmbH/Alamy

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.

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Conserving the African wild dog remaining groups has just two adult dogs. Worryingly, Lycaon pictus this has happened in class Mammalia the past ten years. Until recently, there were 500,000 left in Africa. We spoke to Simon Territory Africa Marsh, animal collection diet Antelopes, impalas, manager at Yorkshire wildebeests and zebras lifespan 10-12 years Wildlife Park (YWP) about Adult weight 17.9-35.8kg what’s being done to secure (39.5-79Ib) their future. conservation Status “In the last few decades, as with many species, they have been pushed to the ENDANGERED edge of extinction. They are now only found in southern and eastern Africa and have been classiied as Extinct in western Africa,” he told us. African wild dogs should thrive in a variety of environments, from deserts to plains and thick bush. But they have to compete with hyenas for food, and they’re sometimes eaten by lions, so population numbers remain low even in areas that have good habitat and lots of prey. On top of these natural pressures, the dogs have been facing human-made challenges that are pushing them towards extinction: road trafic accidents, run-ins with snares and conlicts with people all take a severe toll. The dogs are suffering from the ‘edge effect’. They need large territories, but humans have been encroaching on their space, so even in the biggest protected areas they are bordered on all sides by us. This means that they must cope with the challenges of the wild and the challenges of humanity simultaneously. If the alpha dogs die this can be catastrophic for the pack. Two more adults can step up to AfricAn wild dog

take charge of the family, but this doesn’t always happen instantly. The dogs in a pack tend to be related, and often the group will break apart until new, unrelated families can form. It takes ive years for puppies to grow into fully mature alphas, and one-off events can cause the complete collapse of a local population. As African wild dog territory becomes increasingly fragmented, their future is looking more and more precarious, but Simon and the team at Yorkshire Wildlife Park are working to ensure that they have a safety net. “I started my career nearly 20 years ago and have worked in several zoos in the UK and have also worked in African countries supporting vital conservation work. Although zoos have their critics, and in some cases it is well founded when the welfare of the animals is poor, modern zoos and aquariums are focused and driven by the need to conserve species, habitats and biodiversity.” In 2016, the pack of three adult wild dogs at YWP welcomed its irst puppies. At the time, Simon described it as the best Christmas present the park could have wished for. Seven new dogs were born here in the UK as part of a captive breeding programme that aims to secure their long-term survival. The YWP is working hard to ensure their new home is as similar to the wild as possible. “As animal collection manager at YWP it is my responsibility to make sure the animals in our care are kept to a very high standard, and we focus on conservationdependant species. Without the highest standards of welfare, where animals in our care are kept in large, naturalistic reserves and can behave in a natural way, the animals will not thrive.” “To make sure we are securing a future for painted dogs we need an insurance population kept in zoos that is 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

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Seven puppies were born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in 2016

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 emptyhanded, 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.

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 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.

© Thinkstock; Yorkshire Wildlife Park

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.

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

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we fund domestic dog vaccination programmes in Zimbabwe, which protect painted dogs from deadly disease. It’s also a great opportunity to engage with local people.” Large-scale conservation measures are also underway to help preserve critical predators in Africa, including wild dogs and cheetahs. These two species need the most space of any animal on the continent, and Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetahs and Wild Dogs has been established to safeguard their homes. Governments, non-governmental organisations and local people are working together to develop action plans to help protect these animals in 85 per cent of wild dog range and more than 90 per cent of cheetah range. Their focus is securing and protecting existing populations, helping the dogs to live alongside people, and prioritising conservation in future development plans. There’s also a real focus on engaging local communities in conservation.

ABOVE Unlike other dogs, painted dogs only have four toes on each foot

Team hunters African wild dogs live together, hunt together, and raise their puppies as a pack

Painted African wild dogs are sometimes known as ‘painted dogs’ or ‘painted wolves’ because of the distinctive splotchy patterning on their fur.

The African Wildlife Fund, with help from the US and the Netherlands, is employing scouts to track the dogs, not only providing more information about their movements but also creating employment for local people. And several organisations are helping to make bomas: large fences that protect livestock from predators. “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 and not only care about it and want to save it but also have an income to support their families,” Simon explained. “This gives them the opportunity to send their children to school and have a more prosperous future. By funding conservation programmes we can achieve this and protect the habitats and the species that rely on them.” African wild dog packs can bounce back. They produce huge litters of up to 20 puppies and range over long distances, allowing new subpopulations to spring up quickly; between 2000 and 2006, a Kenyan population increased tenfold. Thanks to organisations like YWP, their future is looking much brighter.

Ears Large ears have two major benefits: they help with pack communication and they radiate heat, keeping the dogs cool during longdistance hunting runs.

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.

© Getty/Catherina Unger; Thinkstock

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.

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Jaw African wild dogs tire their prey out before taking it down, but they still need powerful jaws. A whole pack can quickly take care of a carcass.

Prey If puppies are at the scene when 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.

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 animal needs protecting Dugong Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea has one of the few aquatic national animals. The dugong, a slowmoving herbivore, represents strength on the islands. It is

protected by the government, as a long history of hunting and more recent incidents with boats have made them vulnerable to extinction.

Legend explains the peculiar appearance of the takin Takin Bhutan Legend says that this bizarre hoofed mammal was created in the 16th century when a Buddhist monk attached a goat’s head to a cow’s skeleton. The takin is actually more closely related to sheep, and it migrates between Himalayan mountains and lower valleys, browsing on leaves as it goes.

This frog serenaded its way into the people’s heart Coquí Puerto Rico The coquí is so well loved across the island of Puerto Rico that it has become the unoicial national animal. Named ater the sound of their song, coquís can

be heard throughout the night. Unlike most frogs, species of this genus lack webbed toes and pass their tadpole stage while 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.

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

This is one national dragon that does exist

Scotland’s mythical symbol A symbol of purity, pride and strength, the unicorn represents Scotland’s values. It’s always depicted chained, a sign of power as unicorns are meant 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.

Resplendent quetzal Guatemala Guatemala’s national bird might not be the strongest lier, but it makes up for it with its brilliant plumage. Once considered sacred, the male quetzal has iridescent tail

feathers, which were highly valued by Aztecs and Mayans and even used as currency. Today, Guatemala’s currency is called the quetzal, and the bird features on the country’s lag.

Okapi Democratic Republic of Congo While it may look like a zebra, this is the closest living relative of the girafe. The mysterious okapi is found only in the tropical forests of Congo, where it uses its long black tongue to eat leaves and buds. This national animal is listed as Endangered, threatened by deforestation and poaching.

The dodo is extinct but not forgotten

Kingdom of the thunder dragon Bhutan’s national symbol is the druk (thunder dragon). It features on the national lag, holding jewels to represent wealth, and in the national anthem, Druk tsendhen.

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 of the state’s rebirth as it struggled against its Ottoman oppressors.

Dodo Mauritius

The national animal protecting a country’s crops Two-spot ladybird Latvia Latvia has a very practical national insect in the form of the twospot ladybird. This insect is valuable because it feeds on aphids, removing the pests from crops and garden plants. In Latvian the ladybird is known as ‘marite’, ater the earth goddess, Māra.

The island of Mauritius was the only known home of the extinct dodo. Now a symbol of human’s impact on animals, the dodo is also one of the nation’s claims to fame and appears on money, stamps and the coat of arms. The birds lived undisturbed for thousands of years until Dutch settlers landed on Mauritius.

The turul has a mixed history In folklore, this large hawk perched on the tree of life, connecting Earth and the netherworld. In modern history, the turul has been used as a political symbol of the far-right in Hungary.

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© Thinkstock; Ryhor Bruyeu/Alamy/blickwinkel/Rolf Nussbaumer

The bird that dazzled ancient civilisations

The elusive girrafid that’s hidden in the forests of the DR Congo

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 economic growth and innovation.

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

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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 aren’t dangerous, and if precautions are taken, you can watch their nesting without disturbing them. When a sea turtle is nesting it goes into a trance where it blocks everything out. That is when researchers and travellers can approach and watch the eggs drop into the nest. We suggest doing this with a local researcher or guide who can

explain the process and make sure they aren’t being disturbed. Visiting turtle nesting beaches can be immensely helpful for the animals and local communities. Fees for observing the turtles can go towards their conservation, and communities whose economies depend on the turtles being alive are more likely to protect them instead of eating their eggs or meat or using their shells.

Leatherback There are thousands of leatherbacks in the Atlantic, but Paciic leatherbacks are the most endangered turtles in the sea. There are thought to be fewer than 2,300 females let.

Green Green turtles aren’t actually green, but they are found across the world, from Asia to South America and Africa.

Kemp’s ridley Like latback turtles, these turtles also have a very restricted range. They are only found in shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hawksbill These pointy-beaked turtles are found in tropical reefs the world over, where they feed on 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.

1 Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica 2 Iztuzu Beach, Turkey 3 Tofo Beach, Mozambique 4 Port Barton, Philippines

Loggerhead These turtles are commonly seen in the Mediterranean, where they make their nests along the coast from Greece to Israel.

Flatback Unlike most other turtle species, these turtles have a very restricted range. They are only found of the coast of Australia.

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 © freevectormaps.com; Thinkstock

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

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.

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See a green sea turtle These turtles are found across the world, but some of their most important nesting areas are in Africa, Southeast Asia and the South Paciic. They can also be seen in the US and South America. And, if you’re very lucky, you can sometimes spot them around the south of England. When nesting, the females come out of the sea and up on to the beach, where they walk beyond the line of the highest tide to ind sand that will stay dry as their eggs get ready to hatch. This

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.

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can take up to 70 days, so the precious eggs are sometimes collected by conservationists and taken to a safe place to incubate. These hatcheries sometimes take on volunteers to help look after the eggs and release the newly hatched turtles safely back onto the beach. For the best chance of seeing a green sea turtle head to Tortuguero on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast between June and October. This national park is named after the turtles that inhabit it. With miles of protected coastline, it’s visited by green, hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback turtles from February to October.

Turtle watch

Swim with hawksbills

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

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.

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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.

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Turtle watch BELOW The flatback turtle’s Latin name, Natator depressus, translates roughly as ‘lowered swimmer’

Top ive 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

Stay back

See Australia’s unique turtle Unlike most other sea turtle species, latback turtles have decided to make their home in one speciic part of the globe. If you want to see one you’ll have to venture all the way to Australia. This species has a distinctive smooth shell, which provides a handy perch for tired seabirds when the turtles come to the surface of the water. They eat soft foods like sea cucumbers, prawns, molluscs and jellyish, and they are most often found in the shallows near the coast.

The largest population is found on Crab Island, where nesting season begins in September each year, but watch out for predators if you’re visiting. Australia is home to the fearsome saltwater crocodile, which can reach over ive metres (16.4 feet) in length. With their enormous jaws and skewer-like teeth, even an armoured shell doesn’t provide enough protection. Luckily, conservationists are on hand to support local turtle populations.

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.

Volunteer There are many tours and trips aimed at turtle conservation where you can work with researchers. Look for trips that help fund more conservation work.

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

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

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Explore the Earth

Find America’s rarest sea turtle To catch a sight of a Kemp’s ridley turtle you’ll need to travel to the east coast of North America; they aren’t found anywhere else. They are the smallest of the sea turtle species, and they have a strange habit that makes them well worth

watching out for. Between May and July, hundreds of females appear on the beaches to lay their eggs all at once in an event called arribada (‘arrival’ in Spanish). If you’re lucky, you might be able to ind 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.

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Turtle watch

Top Tips for seeing sea turtles Look under water

See turtles in the UK The Deep aquarium in Hull has recently added two loggerhead sea turtles to its 2.4-million-litre Endless Ocean exhibit. Named Sensa and Mabouche, the pair were rescued from the Mediterranean after being

caught on ishermen’s long lines, which damaged their lower jaws. Even after rehabilitation they couldn’t be released into the wild as they can’t catch their own food, so have a new forever home in Hull.

Find a hatchling release Eggs are often moved to a safe place by conservationists so that they can hatch in peace. They are released at night and sometimes the public are invited to watch.

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.

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

Hawksbill sea turtles love coral reefs, so if you’re diving keep an eye out for these majestic swimmers in their natural habitat.

Who to travel with Budget Frontier

Family Thompson

Luxury Rainbow Tours

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Greece Turtle Conservation From £599 excluding lights.

Turtle Island Cruise From £213.50 per adult including lights.

Costa Rica Highlights Starting at £2,640 including lights.

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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 a steaming cafetière of arabica, you know your day is probably going to be a good one. When your balcony offers a spectacular dawn view of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, you know the day is going to be great. Throw in a longawaited encounter with mountain gorillas and things start to get really special. Way below my 2000-metre-high vantage point, ethereal strands of mist cloak valleys and cap verdant saddles of jungle. Encircling my stone cottage, part of the luxurious Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, the symmetrical cones of mighty volcanoes reach upwards into a cobalt sky. As the Sun crests the nearest volcanic lank, the entire antediluvian landscape is bathed in soft, golden light. Here in the Virunga Mountains, the so-called Land of a Thousand Hills has taken on a dramatic, supersized new character. Today I will fulil a long-standing ambition to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Not behind bars or wire but on their terms, in a habitat where they dominate

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“One look at a gorilla's hands and you realise they are almost human”

the food chain. With Rwanda's gorilla population hovering around the 550 mark, it's an experience to be cherished. "For most people, witnessing mountain gorillas in the wild is a moving, humbling experience," says Philip Mason, Sabyinyo's Kenyan manager. "You are there because these massively powerful animals let you be there. One look at a gorilla's hands, or into its eyes, and you realise that you're looking at a species that is on the cusp of being human." The mountain gorilla may be one of our closest relatives, but we are also its biggest threat. Thanks to habitat loss, disease and poaching, less than 900 of these great apes now exist in their natural upland habitat in central Africa, making them the world's most endangered primates. More than half live in the Virunga Mountains, at the intersection of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After a hasty breakfast, Jacob, my amiable and ever loquacious driver, ferries me the short distance to the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi. The

Nature diaries: Peak primates

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air is pleasantly laden with the fragrance of burning eucalyptus wood, as we pass groups of schoolchildren and men pushing bicycles laden down with huge bunches of bananas. Groups of colourfully clad women exchange cheerful banter as they till ields of fertile ochre soil. Entering the kingdom of the gorilla isn't cheap. Thanks to a recent and controversial hike in the cost of Rwanda's gorilla watching permits, a one-hour window with the world's largest and strongest primate now costs an eye-watering $1,500 (£1,150). What effect this price hike will have on tourist numbers remains to be seen. In recent times, more than 20,000 people have come to Rwanda each year to see gorillas. Eight habituated groups are currently open to visitors (a maximum number of eight tourists per group is allowed), while nine groups have also been habituated for research. Each group is monitored daily, all year round, by researchers and trackers from the Karisoke Research Centre, founded by Dian Fossey 50 years ago this year. The name Dian Fossey will forever be linked to the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. An American primatologist, anthropologist

ABOVE Female mountain gorillas can start to produce young from the age of ten

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“Each group of gorillas is monitored all year round by researchers”

and gorilla conservationist, more commonly known to those who encountered her as ‘the gorilla lady’, Fossey undertook a pioneering study of gorilla populations in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park in the 1970s and early 1980s. Before her tragic murder in December 1985, the American's groundbreaking work changed people's perceptions of gorillas, which had previously been regarded as man-eating monsters. "I think it is safe to say that Fossey single-handedly saved mountain gorillas from extinction," says 27-year-old Bernice Iwacu, one of Volcanoes National Park's expert gorilla guides. "By living alongside a group of these apes, she demonstrated that these smart and gentle animals weren't actually savage killers after all. She showed that gorillas are a lot like humans, with individual characters, emotions and complex social hierarchies." After another drive, past the snowcapped, 4,500-metre peak of Karisimbi, a heavily rutted track brings Jacob and I to the village of Musumba. From here our collection of tourists, guides and porters will hike into the park. Our goal: a 28-strong group of mountain gorillas called Pablo.

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 mountain gorilla troops are led by one alpha male, who is in charge of all of the group’s activities

While gorillas can climb trees, they are usually found on the ground in communities of up to 30 or more individuals. These troops, which operate according to strict social structures, are 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

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Nature diaries: Peak Primates crops, the other deters the park's population of forest elephants. Led by our effervescent guide, who regularly contacts the group of trackers shadowing Pablo by radio, we plunge onwards and upwards into ever thicker bamboo forest. Solitary giant ig trees, their branches draped in beards of shaggy lichen, rear skywards through the dense canopy as we ourselves are briely tracked by a cohort of chattering golden monkeys, intrigued by our presence. The going becomes increasingly tough as the trail turns into a challenging mix of viscous mud, tree roots and waist-high nettles. The radio suddenly bursts into life – a rapid-ire mixture of Kinyarwanda (the oficial language of Rwanda) and English. Bernice silently motions us to drop our bags and move quietly through a thick screen of bamboo. Strength and gentleness make an arresting combination, and in this forest clearing it is all around; 28 mountain gorillas are resting and playing after an early meal of succulent bamboo shoots. Some of the apes groom each other, tenderly combing fur with their dexterous digits. Some lie against trees, contemplating the mid-morning sky, while others strut around, beating their chests in

mock aggression. Mothers carry wide-eyed babies on their backs or in the crooks of thick black arms, moving slowly through the undergrowth with their precious cargo. We crouch quietly in the low vegetation, content to observe the gorillas of Pablo go about their daily life, as Bernice and the trackers reassure the habituated apes with a selection of guttural grunts. A hulking silverback evaluates us briely, rests his head on massive hands in a distinctly philosophical pose, and goes to sleep. There's never a moment when we feel in danger – the group instantly accepts our presence as we move within metres of their extended family circle. Rwanda's approach to gorilla conservation, with a heavy focus on community engagement, appears to be working. According to the latest census, the country's gorilla population has increased by more than 20 per cent over the last decade. With a percentage of the gorilla permit fee going towards local

projects such as roads, schools and clinics, and a growing number of jobs linked to gorilla-based tourism, the incentive to protect the apes is now stronger than ever. "I'm cautiously optimistic about the future of the mountain gorilla," says David Hewitt, communications manager at London-based charity The Gorilla Organisation. "They are the only one of the great apes whose numbers have been going up over the past few years." I could sit and watch the gorillas of Pablo all day long, but all too soon Bernice calls time on our primate-primate interaction. We slink away reluctantly, memory cards replete with photos, each awe-inspired by the day's unique experience among this group of tolerant, enchanting, highly intelligent animals. 50 years after Dian Fossey began her tireless quest to save the mountain gorillas of Rwanda from extinction and change the world's view of these caring beings, the last 60 minutes have been truly priceless.

“A hulking silverback evaluates us briely, rests his head on massive hands, and 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).

The name ‘gorilla’ is derived from the ancient Greek word gorillai, the name given to wild or hairy beings

Peaceful primates Despite their size and formidable strength, mountain gorillas are shy creatures and will only become aggressive if they or members of their group are threatened.

© Daniel Allen

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.

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Quick learners Newborn gorillas weigh about 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) and can’t do much for themselves, but they are able to stand after just a few months.

5 ANIMALS 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

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Animal musicians

HOUSE MOUSE Mus musculus Class Mammalia

LEAST CONCERN

© Thinkstock

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

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5 animals you never knew could sing

Male mice croon for females Energy is a vital resource in the animal kingdom, and mice have igured out that chirping out a tune is much easier than chasing tail. If the male gets a sniff of female urine he begins to belt out a loud and complex tune, not dissimilar to a trilling bird. Finding a fresh urine patch provokes the mouse to sing in its highest pitch and increase the duration of the song. When a female approaches the melody becomes more simple but goes on for longer. This is called social context, where the song changes depending on other mice, and researchers think that males do the bare minimum once they have a female’s attention. The tuneful song is known as an ‘honest signal’ that conveys information about the male’s health and status as a potential mate.

Complicated compilations Females show strong preference for the most complex calls and are highly likely to respond and follow through with mating in response to mellifluous music.

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The sounds of singing mice are almost indistinguishable from twittering birds aside from one aspect – we can hear birdsong. Mice vocalisations are ultrasonic, meaning they are above our hearing threshold, and recordings can only be made audible by being slowed down. These high-pitched sounds are familiar to mice from birth and are used in social interactions from mother-pup retrieval to expressions of pain. Their use in mate attraction is a recent discovery, however, and researchers are still looking into how the animals adjust their behaviour depending on neighbouring mice. One thing that we already know is that mice have limited vocal ability, as the brain structure doesn’t lend itself well to vocal learning.

Rodent range Mice are extremely territorial, and it might be the case that singing at top volume prevents males stepping on one another’s tails.

Helping humans It’s possible that studying the brain areas involved in musical production might help us learn more about communication disorders like autism.

Animal musicians

Megaptera novaeangliae Class Mammalia

Territory Global Diet Krill and small ish Lifespan Up to 95 years Adult weight 30,000kg (65,000lb) Conservation status

LEAST CONCERN

Whale song is still a complete mystery Decades of research have failed to uncover the secrets of the majestic humpback’s singing, and the information that scientists collect doesn’t necessarily apply to every humpback. Like humans, whales show evidence of culture and behave differently at various stages of life. Singing is exclusively a male whale activity and usually it can only be heard during mating season, which occurs between October and February. During this period the whales drift through tropical water and don’t eat, focusing solely on mating. Males emit their low-pitched calls – which travel hundreds of miles – possibly to entice a female, but nobody knows for sure. If a singing male

happens upon another male, he ceases his transmission immediately. If he encounters a female with a calf, he increases the duration and complexity of his call. This suggests that the male is looking out for a fertile female. However, researchers in Iceland have recorded juvenile males crafting songs throughout the winter. Adult whales migrate from the poles to the equator each year to participate in breeding, before returning back to cold water to feed. As young humpbacks are unable to mate it really isn’t worth swimming all the way to the equator, so instead they spend their time practising love ballads ready for when they hit maturity.

© Thinkstock; Alamy/Darren Jew/redbrickstock.com

HumPBACK WHALe

Chanting frogs are accidental movie stars Everybody knows that frogs say “ribbit, ribbit". Right? Wrong. The species that has inadvertently fooled the world can be heard in the background of countless Hollywood films. It is native to the west coast of North America, though it has been heard croaking way out of its natural range in films such as The Hunger Games, Labyrinth and The Lion King.

The pacific tree frog choruses nightly for up to five months, advertising itself to mates by the edge of fresh water. The more frequently a frog chirps the more likely it is to attract a female, and the amphibians even extend vocal pouches from the lower jaw to amplify the sound. This results in a single frog sounding like a miniature croaking choir.

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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 eggs into his nest. 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 animals creep from nest to nest during the performance of the dominant ish to fertilise an egg or two. While it seems very unfair that some of these ish are doomed to be mute, it’s worth noting that these sneaker males have reproductive organs approximately 15-times larger than the big, singing toadish.

ToADFIsH Porichthys notatus Class Actinopterygii

Territory Eastern Paciic coast Diet Fish and crustaceans Lifespan Up to 25 years Adult weight 2kg (4lb) Conservation status

LEAST CONCERN

Nature’s rap artists spit verse at lightning speed Bats are true masters of sound with their incredible echolocation abilities, but this species possesses an even more impressive skill. As with many singing species, males produce melodious sonic sequences to lure in a harem of females. A male pipes up whenever another bat giving out an echolocation call passes by, hoping to slow down any loved-up ladies. It takes less than a second for a male to respond to a passing female’s

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

Class Mammalia

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

LEAST CONCERN

chirps, and it’s important that the singing starts immediately because within just a few seconds the pair won’t be able to hear one another. Amazingly, males can distinguish between female echolocation sounds and another male’s song in 0.2 seconds. The two tones are identical in parts and even bat experts have dificulty telling them apart. It’s great for the bats, though, who are able to sing only to those they feel truly deserve to hear it.

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 Syngnathidae – which includes pipeish, sea dragons and all 54 known species of seahorse – have an unconventional parenting style. In an unusual role-reversal, it’s the males of these species that carry the developing young in their bodies. This reproductive behaviour is not found in any other vertebrate

White’s seahorse Hippocampus whitei Class Actinopterygii

territory Shallow inshore waters of Australia and the Solomon Islands Diet Small crustaceans Lifespan Around 4 years adult weight Unknown Conservation status

species, and scientists are still a bit bafled about how it evolved in the irst place. Males take their paternal responsibility very seriously right up until the young are born, turning their abdominal pouches into carefully controlled environments in which their offspring can develop before they’re sent out into the world alone.

01 Courtship A male and female perform a courtship dance by circling each other, sometimes for hours. Once they have formed a pair they will dance together several times a day.

05 Birth Male seahorses go through contractions similar to women in labour, and up to 1,500 tiny seahorses (depending on the species) are released into the ocean, where they must immediately fend for themselves.

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

This male golden seahorse is expelling the young he has incubated – they will float all the way to the surface to start an independent life in the seas

02 Egg transfer The female deposits her eggs into the male’s abdominal pouch using a tube-like structure called an ovipositor.

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© Thinkstock; Alex Mustard; NaturePL; Alamy

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.

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.

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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

Wombat Wombats use their reinforced bums as shields If a wombat is attacked, the stocky marsupial dives into its burrow and blocks the hole with its rump. Its behind is full of cartilage, so a predator’s teeth won’t do much damage.

Chinese yellow swallowtail This Asian butterfly has a bum with a view These colourful butterlies have photoreceptors on the very end of their bodies. Pairs use these light receptive patches like very simple eyes to align their reproductive organs for mating.

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

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.

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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 occasional boggy patch doesn’t sound like a promising habitat, but lowland heathland is home to a huge number of plant and animal species. People enjoying paths around an area of heath can unknowingly pass hundreds of creatures in the dense shrubs.

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Heathland was originally created by forest clearance and it relies heavily on grazing by domestic animals such as cattle and wild animals like deer for its survival. Thousands of insects inhabit the human-made heath, and it’s the only habitat to hold all six of the UK’s native reptile species.

© Tim Hunt

The wildlife of heathland

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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 on their migratory route in spring and autumn.

Kestrel

Adder

Minotaur beetle Males of this dung beetle species use their 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.

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Sand lizard

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 shrubs. Species of heather like bell heather and cross-leaved heath give the heathland its name and purple carpet. Gorses grow bright yellow lowers, and their seedpods pop loudly in summer.

Bracken is the most common fern in the UK and was once grown on the cleared areas of heath to provide animal bedding, fuel and rooing material. Now it is carefully managed on heathland as it could quickly out-compete the other plants if let alone.

Scattered trees grow on the heath, including birch and pine. In small numbers they provide perching and nesting sites for birds, but without management they can take over and prevent light from reaching the shrubs. A delicate balance must be maintained.

Silver-studded blue This butterly gets its name from the metallic patches on the underside of its wings. Males have blue wings, while the females are a dull brown. Black ants look ater the larvae in their nests – rewarded with the sugary secretions from their bodies – until they emerge and begin eating heather.

Dartford warbler Dartford warblers do not migrate in winter, relying on dense gorse to get them through cold conditions. These small birds sing their scratchy calls from the tops of the bushes, and their dark feathers allow them to blend in when they ly through the heath in search of insects.

Downy emerald

Common green grasshopper

© The Art Agency/Peter Scott

Stone curlew This rare bird visits the UK’s 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).

Weasel

Natterjack toad 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.

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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 community, which means human activity has prevented the development of the ecosystem. Without management, more trees would grow, and areas of heath would eventually become woodland. The particular conditions of heathland make it a suitable home to around 5,000 species of invertebrates, including over half of the UK’s species

of dragonly. It also provides a breeding ground for native and visiting groundnesting birds and supports reptiles, amphibians and a few mammals. Home to so many species, some of which live nowhere else, the heathland is incredibly important for biodiversity. Unfortunately, it’s now facing a number of threats. These include destruction for development, out-of-control invasive plants, and the trampling of plants and

bird eggs by walkers. It’s estimated that up to 15 per cent of heathland is lost every decade. Organisations and authorities are working to preserve this unique environment. Grazing animals are used to remove young trees, volunteers clear invasive species like rhododendrons, and visitors are encouraged to remain on paths and keep their dogs on leads 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 for two unusual features: it’s the only reptile native to Ireland and, unlike other reptiles, it produces live young in an egg sac. They can be found anywhere with suitable basking spots, including heaths, forest glades and gardens.

Unlike their common cousins, sand lizards are rare. Because of habitat loss they’re now limited to a few sandy heaths and dunes. They vary in colour, but males are distinguished in breeding season by their bright green sides. As well as invertebrates, they also eat fruit and lowers.

Considering they have the most highly developed mechanism of any snake for venom injection, it’s a good job these snakes are reluctant to attack. Males can sometimes be seen wrestling for females, who don’t lay eggs, instead producing young the size of worms.

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The wildlife of heathland

“It’s estimated that up to 15 per cent of heathland is lost every decade” History of the heath From around 3500 BCE, humans cleared areas of forest for agriculture. Nutrients in the soil were used up, and animals grazing on the remaining plants stopped trees from growing and allowed shrubs to become the dominant species.

Since medieval times people have been allowed to conduct traditional activities on certain private land. Commoners’ rights permit the collection of irewood and bracken and the grazing of animals. This has all helped to control plant growth.

The development of technology meant that, by the 18th century, infertile land could be reclaimed. Along with the extraction of minerals, this triggered a decline of heathland. Following the World Wars, new forests were planted to create a reserve of timber.

More recently, the biological importance of the heath was recognised, and people also began to use it for recreational activities. This revival of human’s relationship with heathland has led to a determined efort to preserve what remains.

Smooth snake

Slow worm

Grass snake

The rare smooth snake is only found in heaths in southern England. Their scales are lat, unlike the other species’, which have ridges. They look similar to the adder but have a more slender body and round pupils instead of slits. They are hard to spot due to their shy nature.

Grey, brown or golden, these legless lizards are often mistaken for snakes. While they move more like snakes than other lizards, they can still blink and drop their tales when in danger. They largely feed on slugs and snails and inhabit areas with thick ground cover.

This is the largest of the three snakes, growing up to a metre (39.4 inches) long. They’re usually an olive-green with a yellow collar and black patches. Grass snakes prefer a damper environment and can be found swimming in ponds in search of ish, frogs and newts.

© Thinkstock; Tim Hunt

About 14,000 years ago, Britain started to warm up following the Ice Age, and the sheets of ice covering the ground retreated. Vegetation also began to grow. Ater a few thousand years trees began to dominate, and heather survived in patches.

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Keeping in touch We asked World of Animals readers what their favourite beast is:

“My favourite beast is a shark! Much maligned but hopefully the tide is turning! Fascinating creatures.” @Tori_Jess

“My six year old has been learning about animals this week, so I’ve just asked her for her favourite - lion, cos he’s the king of the beasts!” @JanTweetTweets

“My favourite is a koala, but if it needs to be tougher I’d say a tiger. ”

Contact us at… @WorldAnimalsMag worldofanimalsmag

Superpower dogs update 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 handler Cat takes us through the requirements It’s hot, hot, hot in Miami at this time of year, and Cat and Halo are working hard towards their irst oicial test together as an urban search and rescue team. “The irst test is called the FSA, which is the Fundamental Skill Assessment test,” Cat tells us. “It can be given in-house and it consists of all the training elements, which include agility, direction and control, the down-stay and obedience, and then along with all of that we have to complete a search for two victims.” And it’s the search that Halo is excelling at. “I’ve been working that a lot and she knows that really well,” Cat explains. “It’s just the other stuf that’s just a bit frustrating! She just wants to go full speed and run around and have fun! But I’m asking Halo to be more structured when it comes to the other elements for the test – there needs to be much more control.” Despite Halo’s lust for fun, she is still doing very well. So ater the irst in-house test, what’s next? “That test is good for six months,” Cat elaborates. “So within the six months I plan to take the full certiication test, which 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 nervewracking because it’s what the dogs want to do!” The certiication exam will mark the end of Halo’s training, but her journey as a superpower dog will just be beginning. “They have [the tests] throughout the United States,” Cat explains. “They try to do six a year: two on the east coast, two on the west coast and two central, so depending on where

they have them next year, that’s where we’ll go.” But it’s not just Cat and Halo that have to be there; of course the entire Superpower Dogs crew will go with her to watch and ilm every moment. “I know that there might be a test in New York,” Cat says. “That’s probably one of the favourite places that Daniel [Ferguson, the ilm’s writer/director] has expressed to me. So hopefully all of this will happen next year!” We can’t wait to see what happens, but until then Halo will keep working hard towards doggy exam number one. Superpower Dogs is an upcoming 3D live-action Imax ilm unlike anything you’ve ever seen. “Dogs are the most extraordinary creatures,” says George Duield, one of the ilm’s producers. “The super dogs are the working dogs – search and rescue dogs, service dogs, avalanche dogs... We’re making a movie about the Olympic heroes of the dog world.” The movie and its accompanying exhibition – in collaboration with the California Science Centre – will reveal how dogs think and work. For more information visit www.animalanswers.co.uk.

@SuzeLavender

“My favourite beast is the capybara...they are basically scaled up guinea pigs! So cute! ”

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

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© Danny Wilcox Frazier and Superpower Dogs

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Animal antics this month

Wildlife journeys WOA Editor Zara’s parents had a shocking encounter with a leopard on their trip to the Kruger National Park in June We set off on our routine afternoon drive at four o’clock. After an hour of driving and seeing some spectacular sights of elephants, rhinos and water monitors we decided to head back to camp. About 17 kilometres from camp we came upon a leopard in a tree. Excited beyond belief, out came the cameras and we started clicking away. She proceeded to come down and sniff the car in front of us. Thinking nothing of it we carried on photographing. What came next was a complete surprise! She started snifing our tyre, and all of a sudden we 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, that was a close call. We have been visiting the Kruger since we were children, and then with our children. We’ve never had such a close encounter in the wild!

Reader photos Thanks to all of our readers who sent us their favourite butterfly photos and illustrations!

Important news we’ve followed this month. Email your stories to [email protected]

Sixth mass extinction Scientists believe we are undergoing a sixth mass extinction (dinosaurs disappeared in the ith). The study revealed that a third of 27,600 species analysed have rapidly declining populations due to human behaviour.

Tell us about one of your wildlife holidays by emailing your story and photos to animals@ animalanswers .co.uk

Return of the lynx The Eurasian lynx could be returning to British woodlands very soon following an application from The Lynx Trust to release 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?

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We love hearing from readers, whether it’s receiving letters, emails, photos, drawings or even feedback. Get in touch and you could be a lucky winner, too!

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

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Animal answers

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Send your animal questions to us at:

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When animals migrate to warmer climates in winter, why don’t they just stay there? Lots of animals make the long trip from the north to somewhere warm when winter arrives. Some species, like the monarch butterly, make journeys even longer than their lives, taking multiple generations to reach their destination. Migrating means that they don’t have to face freezing temperatures, but something persuades them to leave again and make the perilous passage back to their breeding grounds when the cold months are over.

The migrant animals have to compete for food with the permanent residents of their wintering ground, but when spring arrives in the north there’s an abundance of resources. Warmer climates tend to have more parasites and diseases, so migratory animals have a better chance of survival if they go back up north. Returning also means longer days and more time to feed, as daylight further away from the equator varies much 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 rays of the Sun by feathers or scales, but those with pale hair or exposed skin are at risk of sunburn just like we are. Whales and dolphins are safe underwater most of the time, but their smooth skin can burn when they come to the surface. Sperm whales are more susceptible than blue and fin whales because they spend more time breathing and socialising at the surface. Some animals have developed a defence against UV rays. It’s thought that the exposed part of a giraffe’s tongue is black to stop it getting

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burned while they’re eating. It was once believed that hippos sweat blood, but it’s been discovered that this red secretion contains pigments that prevent UV rays reaching the skin. It also repels insects and acts as an antiseptic. There are also behavioural ways to avoid burnt skin. Wallowing in mud protects pigs and rhinos and keeps their skin moisturised. Elephants cover themselves with sand or dirt, teaching their calves how to do the same. If a mother’s young is sleeping in the open, she will stand over it to create shade.

@WorldAnimalsMag

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Animal answers Do horses and cows 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. Some horses don’t grow any canine teeth, but others can have as many as four. In horses they’re called tusks or tushes and are much more common in males. These teeth used to be 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 dental pad allow cows to grab large mouthfuls of hay or grass but do mean that they can’t eat short grass.

Horse jaw

Wolf Canine

Cow jaw Upper jaw

Canine teeth are not present in young horses but can develop as they age

Front teeth Molars

Lower jaw

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, 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 pigsized 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. Nursing at the front of their mother’s body also allows the pair to maintain contact with their trunks, creating a stronger bond between them.

©Thinkstock; Alamy

Why are an elephant’s mammary glands between its front legs instead of between its back legs like other mammals?

Q. How do animals 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 can cause chaos As well as the usual cycle of three or four years, a longer cycle means that approximately every 30 years, tens of thousands of beetles emerge in ‘mass lights’ and relieve trees of their leaves. 16th century naturalist Thomas Muffet recorded that there were once so many beetles in the Severn Valley that their bodies blocked water mills along the river.

They’re not as menacing as they look. Honest There’s a sharp point at the end of this beetle’s abdomen, but it’s not a sting. They’re harmless – the hind segment (called the pygidium) is just thin in this species, and females use it to push their eggs deeper into the soil. Common cockchafers lay their eggs in ields, and the larvae’s voracious appetite makes them a nuisance to farmers.

Common CoCkChafer Melolontha melolontha

Cockchafers are the largest of the scarabs found in the UK. Their size means they produce a loud buzzing noise as they travel, usually coupled with a bang as they ly into something. In World War II, the German V-1 missile was nicknamed ‘doodlebug’ by the English and ‘maikäfer’ (May bug) in Germany because of its characteristic buzz.

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These beetles have a very distinctive set of orange, feathery antennae. Males have seven extensions (lamellae) to their antennae, while females have six. These sensitive structures detect pheromones (chemicals secreted by other members of the species) in the air and allow beetles to ind mates even when they can’t see them.

Class Insecta

Territory Widespread throughout Europe Diet Flowers and leaves Lifespan Adults live for up to 8 weeks once they’ve emerged from the soil adult weight Unknown Conservation Status

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© NaturePL/Eric Baccega

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NEXT ISSUE Explore even more amazing animals in World of Animals Issue 50

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