• Interesting Facts about Amphibians (3)
• Interesting Facts about Birds (22)
• Interesting Facts about Fishes (9)
• Interesting Facts about Mammals (48)
• Interesting Facts about Reptiles (16)

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Leafy Sea Dragon

DESCRIPTION: Particularly well camouflaged withelaborate, ornate skin filaments that hang from the head, body and tail makingthis animal virtually indistinguishable from the floating sea weed in which itlives. Usually green to yellow in color. The body is covered in protectivejointed plates instead of scales and long, sharp spines line its dorsal edge. FUN FACTS: The male sea dragon incubates thefertilized eggs in a specialized spongy textured brood patch on the ventralsurface of his tail. This area is composed of small cup-like indentations whicheach hold a single egg layed there by the female. It is during the transfer ofthe eggs from the female to the male that they are fertilized. Theapproximately 250 eggs remain attached until they hatch 4 to 6 weeks later. Seadragons are completely independent upon hatching. The young feed on the remainingyolk sac and then graduate to consuming zooplankton. Seadragons do not have any predators. Their combination of excellent camouflage,tough jointed plates and sharp dorsal spines offer adequate protection.Researchers have even observed sea dragons curling up to present predators withthe row of menacing spines.

Leopard

The Leopard can be distinguished from Africa'sother large spotted cats (cheetah) through its 'rosette" spots. Theleopard lacks tier marks indicating that it is primarily a nocturnalhunter.Usually solitary, the leopard protects its kills from other predatorslike lion and hyena by taking the kill high up into a tree.This allows theanimal to feed at ease, as other predators notably hyenas, can't climb at all.Lions on the other hand may try as long as the branches can support the almost180kg weight of a lioness.

Lion

Social groups are known as prides. The pride usually consists of a dominantmale/males, some adult females and juveniles of various ages. More thanone dominant male is referred to as a coalition. The purpose of the lions"mane", is to intimidate the competition; it also serves as acushion, which absorbs blows and attacks, when males fight over territory. MALE: At maturity, exhibit blond to black manes SIZE:Male - 1.7-2.5 m, and 1.2 m at the shoulder,Female 1.4-1.7 m and 1.06 m at the shoulder WEIGHT: Male -  150-250 kg, Female 120-180 kg FUN FACTS: Lions are the only truly social catspecies, and usually every female in a pride of 5-37 individuals is closely related. An adult lion's roar can be heard up tofive miles away and warns off intruders or reunites scattered pride members. While lions are inactive up to 21 hoursa day, in the darkest, coolest hours of early morning the "queens ofbeasts" hunt as a team to catch a communal meal. Pride lionesses frequently enterbreeding season together and later give birth at the same time which allowsthem to share nursing and other maternal duties. Althoughonly one out of four hunting events is successful, dominant males always eatfirst, lionesses next, and cubs scramble for scraps and leftovers.

Lizards

DESCRIPTION: Long reptile; most have legs (thoughthere are legless lizards); tail length and shape varies SIZE: Ranges from the 40 mm. Brookesia minima tothe 3 m long WEIGHT: Varies between species FUN FACTS: Their legs are not positioned like amammals, they stick out on each side and push the body along, undulating orwriggling. Of course the legless lizards move entirely by undulating movements,just as a snake does. Some lizards have a tail with weakenedvertebrae so it can break free and escape if caught by the tail. The tail canregenerate, though usually not to the same length and look of the originaltail. Geckoes are small lizards withflattened bodies and pads on their toes, enabling them to run on vertical andeven overhanging surfaces. The flying lizards of SoutheastAsia have extended ribs that support a membrane of skin. Byspreading the membranous skin out, the lizard is able to glide from one tree toanother. Chameleons are known for their abilityto change color. Communication is an important reason behind these colorchanges. Chameleons cannot display limitless colors and do not change colors ina camouflage response to their surroundings. Instead, their skin changes inresponse to temperature, light, and mood. TheGila monster and its close relative, the Mexican beaded lizard, are the onlytwo venomous lizards in the world. The venom glands are located in the lowerjaw. The venom is secreted through grooved teeth. Currently, there is notanti-venom for the Gila monster bite.

Llama

DESCRIPTION:         The llama is a tall horse-shaped animalwith a woolly coat of varying shades SIZE: Approximately 150-180 cm WEIGHT: 135-202.5 kg FUN FACTS: Fossil footprints found in California indicate that llamas, relatives of camels,originated in North America. It is believedthat the animals that moved north and crossed the Bering land bridge evolvedinto camels, while the ones that migrated to the south became the"lama" family. Llamas make a variety of sounds. Themost common sound is a humming noise. A female will hum to her cria(offspring). Males orgle, which sounds like a gurgle, during breeding. If acouple of males decide to have a fight, they will start screaming at eachother. If a llama perceives danger, it sends an alarm call, which warns therest of the herd. In the wild, a male will find a highvantage point to watch over his herd of females and if he spots danger, willstart alarm calling. Moments later every male in the vicinity will be alarmcalling. Theidea that llamas spit is true. Llamas usually spit to settle an argument overfood or to decide which is the dominant llama. A female will also spit at amale to tell him to get lost. They do not normally spit at humans unless theyare provoked. Their body language will warn other llamas; flattened ears are asignal to back off and are usually sufficient. The next threat may be aspitting sound, but using only air.

Lookdown

DESCRIPTION: Bright silver body is noticeablylaterally compressed. Forehead is extremely blunt. Single dorsal and anal finexhibit elongated, trailing fore parts. Caudal peduncle is truncated andnarrow. Deeply centrally cleft (lunate) caudal fin. SIZE: 15.2-25.4 cm avg; 48.3 cm max WEIGHT: 2.1 kg max DIET: Small crabs, shrimp, fishes, and worms

List of Animals English Globe