South America // Least Concern // Rodentia // image source
Pacas are closely related to the other large South American rodents (capybara, nutria, etc.), and similarly lives near rivers. It is the only mammal to have a specially adapted zygomatic arch that acts as a sonic resonating chamber.
Eastern North America // Least Concern // Caudata // photo source
Fun Fact: Sirens are closely related to salamanders. They have no hind legs, and their tiny forelegs are barely visible behind their gills.
Central Africa // Least Concern // Chiroptera // image source
Fun Fact: Their unusually shaped head allows hammer-headed bats to make loud sounds.
South America // Least Concern // Anseriformes // image source
Fun Fact: All three screamer species have sharp spurs on their wings. They are most closely related to waterfowl.
South Africa // Least Concern // Gymnophiona // photo source
Fun Fact: Although caecilians may look like worms or snakes, they are actually a type of amphibian. The Boulenger’s caecilian is one of over a hundred caecilian species, which can be found all over the world.
South Africa // Least Concern // Passeriformes // image source
Fun Fact: Aside from the long tail display, male cape sugarbirds attract females by beating their wings to make unique sounds.
South Africa // Least Concern // Cuculiformes // image source
Fun Fact: There are three varieties of go-away-birds: grey, white-bellied, and bare-faced.
South America // Least Concern // Apodiformes // image source
Fun Fact: The sword-billed hummingbird is the only bird whose bill is longer than the rest of its body. This allows it to reach the bottoms of long, thin flowers.
Asia // Least Concern // Galliformes // photo source
Fun Fact: Tragopans are a type of pheasant. The name comes from tragos, the Greek word for “goat”, and Pan, an ancient Greek nature god who had goat legs and horns.
South America // Least Concern // Passeriformes // image source
Fun Fact: The Andean cock-of-the-rock is the national bird of Peru.
