mammals

MAMMAL MONDAY # 70

We’re going to New Zealand today to meet a native marine mammal. We love pinnipeds and these guys are no exception! Grab your passport and your bags and let’s goooooo…

MEET THE NEW ZEALAND SEA LION!

   Range/Habitat: New Zealand-surrounding islands/ coasts, oceans

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, squid

   Length/Weight: 5 ¾-11 ft/ 200-1,000 lbs

   Conservation Status: vulnerable

Fun Facts:

•          New Zealand Sea Lions are also known as the Hooker’s Sea Lion.
•          They are the rarest sea lion on earth.
•          New Zealand sea lions have blunt noses.
•          Male New Zealand sea lions are dark and the females are light gray.
•          They are pretty agile on land.
•          New Zealand sea lions have external ears.

These regal looking sea lions are protected in their homeland and there are conservation efforts being made to make sure they will be around for a very long time!

MAMMAL MONDAY # 69

We’re going to South America to meet a rodent today! Grab your night vision goggles, backpacks and let’s head out on today’s adventure to meet our mammal buddy!

MEET THE PACA!

   Range/Habitat: South Mexico-East South America/rainforest, grasslands,

   mangroves

   Diet: Herbivore: flowers, fruits, buds

   Length/Weight: 23 ½-32”/13-26 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

•          Pacas have short bodies and legs.
•          They are solitary.
•          Pacas are excellent swimmers.
•          Pacas have 4 spotty stripes down their sides.
•          They live in burrows or hollow trees.
•          Pacas are nocturnal.

Pacas are cute little mammals. There are so many different species of larger rodents in South America. Do you have a favorite?

WE ARE FANIMALY!©

We are so excited to introduce our new comic series- We Are Fanimaly!

Once a month (or more often if we can) we’ll post a comic showing two animals who are related! Some are quite shocking and some you probably already knew! We just want to increase your knowledge of the amazing animal kingdom and we want you to remember that we are ALL FANIMALY!

First up the only living relative of the tallest animal on earth- the Giraffe!

• I live in Africa in the forests.
• My prehensile tongue is 13-15 inches long.
• I have stripes on my back end and legs.
• I am very shy.
• I do not have horns, they are called ossicones.
• My ossicones are part of my skull.

MAMMAL MONDAY # 65

We’re going exploring in the woods just down the road today to meet today’s animal. They can be quiet shy and elusive, but are found all over the world! We bet loads of you have even met this mammal! Are you ready for today’s adventure?

MEET THE RED FOX!

   Range/Habitat: North America-Europe-North Africa-Asia/ forests,

grasslands, mountains, suburbs

   Diet: Omnivore: rodents, vegetation, birds

   Length/Weight: 18-33”/ 6.5-24 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Red foxes are intelligent.
• They are solitary.
• Red foxes have thick tails to keep them warm in winter and to help them communicate with other foxes.
• Red fox babies are gray or brown when they are born.
• They often mark their territory.
• Both red fox parents help rear the kits.

We love when we find a red fox in our neighborhood! They are fast and smart! They often get a bad rap, which confuzzles this elephant and horse!