FaunaFocus

June-July 2021: American Manatee Throughout the months of June and July, FaunaFocus will feature the American manatee! #manatee #manatees #artprompt #artchallenge #FaunaFocus

American Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Throughout the months of June and July, FaunaFocus will feature the American manatee! The American manatee, also known as the West Indian manatee or sea cow, it the largest surviving member of the order Sirenia and can be found along the coasts throughout the Caribbean. This obligate herbivore has developed vocal communications and has highly sensitive…

Przewalski's horse was considered extinct in the wild until 1996, but due to successful reintroductions, the population currently consists of more than 50 wild mature individuals. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalski’s horse was considered extinct in the wild until 1996, but due to successful reintroductions, the population currently consists of more than 50 wild mature individuals. Przewalski’s horse was previously listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species from the 1960s up to the assessment…

Wolves, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus), and humans prey on Przewalski’s horse. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Wolves, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus), and humans prey on Przewalski’s horse. Wolves, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus), and humans prey on Przewalski’s horse. • Image | © Cloudtail the Snow Leopard, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) • Sources | (Burton, 1968; Denver Zoological Foundation, 1997; King, Boyd, Zimmermann, & Kendall, 2015; Luu, 2002; Nowak, 1999)   Learn More About…

Przewalski’s horse's tan to reddish brown coloration helps it blend into its grassland and desert habitat. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalski’s horse’s tan to reddish brown coloration helps it blend into its grassland and desert habitat. Przewalski’s horse’s tan to reddish brown coloration helps it blend into its grassland and desert habitat. The horse has white on the belly, dark brown on the lower legs and mane, and a white muzzle. • Image | © Cloudtail the Snow Leopard, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) • Sources |…

The Przewalski's horse's upper and lower incisors are used for cutting vegetation, while its many hypsodont cheek teeth are used for grinding. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse #FridayFeets

The Przewalski’s horse’s upper and lower incisors are used for cutting vegetation, while its many hypsodont cheek teeth are used for grinding. Przewalski’s horse’s upper and lower incisors are used for cutting vegetation, while its many hypsodont cheek teeth are used for grinding. • Image | © Cathy, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0) • Sources | (Luu, 2002)   Learn More About Przewalski’s Horse

Although there is currently no use or trade in Przewalski's horses, there is potential for capture of animals for cross-breeding as racehorses. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Although there is currently no use or trade in Przewalski’s horses, there is potential for capture of animals for cross-breeding as racehorses. Przewalski’s horse was previously listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of There is currently no use or trade in Przewalski’s horses. Hunting Przewalski’s horse has…

Lifespan for Przewalski’s horse is 20-25 years. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Lifespan for Przewalski’s horse is 20-25 years. Lifespan for Przewalski’s horse is 20-25 years. • Image | © Cloudtail the Snow Leopard, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) • Sources | (Denver Zoological Foundation, 1997)   Learn More About Przewalski’s Horse

Although, historically, Przewalski's horse has declined drastically because of excessive hunting for meat, hunting has been prohibited since 1930 and is not currently a threat. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Although, historically, Przewalski’s horse has declined drastically because of excessive hunting for meat, hunting has been prohibited since 1930 and is not currently a threat. Historically, Przewalski’s horse has declined drastically because of excessive hunting for meat by people and loss of grazing and watering areas to domestic animals. Hunting Przewalski’s horse has been prohibited since…

After sexual maturity, female Przewalski's horses remain in the herd, but males are driven away to live in bachelor groups before establishing or stealing their own harems. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

After sexual maturity, female Przewalski’s horses remain in the herd, but males are driven away to live in bachelor groups before establishing or stealing their own harems. Przewalski’s horses are sexually mature at about two years of age. Females may remain with the herd but males are driven away after a year. There have been sightings of young solitary stallions, a result of the leader having…

Unlike domestic horses, Przewalski's horse sheds the hairs on its tail and mane in the summer all at once before growing a denser coat in the winter. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Unlike domestic horses, Przewalski’s horse sheds the hairs on its tail and mane in the summer all at once before growing a denser coat in the winter. Przewalski’s horse has a stiff, dark brown mane and grows a dense coat for very cold winters and sheds into a lighter coat for very hot summers. The horse sheds the hairs on its tail and mane all at once, unlike domestic horses that lose only a few…

Przewalski's horse mating and birth occurs in the same season, since females come into heat seven to eight days after giving birth. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalski’s horse mating and birth occurs in the same season, since females come into heat seven to eight days after giving birth. Przewalski’s horse mating and birth occurs in the same season, since females come into heat seven to eight days after giving birth. Mating occurs in April or May and a single foal is born nearly a year later. • Image | © Nicholas Turland, Some Rights Reserved, (CC…

Przewalski's horse foals are able to stand and walk an hour after birth, but don't begin to graze until a few weeks later. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalski’s horse foals are able to stand and walk an hour after birth, but don’t begin to graze until a few weeks later. An hour after birth, Przewalski’s horse foals are able to stand and walk. Foals are usually born at night and by morning are able to travel with the herd. Foals begin grazing within a few weeks but continue to nurse for eight to 13 months. • Image | © Smithsonian’s National…

The taxonomic position of Przewalski's horse is controversial and no consensus exists whether it is a full species, a subspecies, or a subpopulation, but all extant wild horses belong to the subspecies Equus ferus przewalksii. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

The taxonomic position of Przewalski’s horse is controversial and no consensus exists whether it is a full species, a subspecies, or a subpopulation, but all extant wild horses belong to the subspecies Equus ferus przewalksii. Przewalski’s horse was formally described as a novel species in 1881 by Ivan Semyonovich Polyakov, although the taxonomic position of Przewalski’s horse remains…

Like most prey species, Przewalski’s horse can see a wide field except directly behind it, even when its head is down while grazing or drinking. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse #FridayFeets

Like most prey species, Przewalski’s horse can see a wide field except directly behind it, even when its head is down while grazing or drinking. Like most prey species, Przewalski’s horse has large eyes located on the sides of the head and set far back in the skull. As such, the horse is able to see a wide field except directly behind it, even when its head is down while its are grazing or…

Przewalksi's horse can hybridize with domestic horses to produce fertile offspring, even though they are distinct populations. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalksi’s horse can hybridize with domestic horses to produce fertile offspring, even though they are distinct populations. Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) can hybridize with domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus) to produce fertile offspring. Studies of the genetic differences between Przewalski’s and domestic horses have indicated very little genetic distinction between them.…

Przewalski's horse's gestation period is from eleven to twelve months, and it gives birth to one foal during April or May. #FaunaFocus #PrzewalskisHorse #PrzewalskiHorse

Przewalski’s horse’s gestation period is from eleven to twelve months, and it gives birth to one foal during April or May. Przewalski’s horse’s gestation period is from eleven to twelve months, and it gives birth to one foal during April or May. • Image | © Tambako The Jaguar, All Rights Reserved • Sources | (Denver Zoological Foundation, 1997; Luu, 2002)   Learn More About Przewalski’s Horse