An animal a day...

Male Sage Grouse come together in groups called leks during the mating season. The alpha male will perform at the centre of the lek, and less dominant males will radiate out from the middle. Males display by fanning their tail feathers and inflating yellow air sacs on their breast to make a loud noise that can be heard almost 2 miles away. Females will observe, and mate with the most attractive male. 

The theme for this week's posts are animals with weird and wonderful courtship displays! Birds may be the reigning champions of colorful displays, but there are a few others that might surprise you...

The Swift Fox was almost wiped out in the 1930's when predator control programs were targeting coyote and grey wolf. They were extirpated from Canada, and have only recently been reintroduced. The populations in the United States are now stable, but the Keystone Pipeline would cut right through their mid-western habitats, bringing the foxes into contact with human disturbance, electrical lines, and potential oil spills. 

Piping Plover are classed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, and is listed as Endangered by the US and local governments. They declined in the 19th and early 20th century when they were exploited for their feathers. They then experienced a second population decline after WWII due to habitat loss from developments, and increased human activity at their nesting sites, which are still threats today. The Keystone Pipeline would only compound these issues, and add the threat of oil spills and power lines. 

Pallid Sturgeon have been listed as Endangered since 1990. Damming and channelization of their native rivers has reduced flow rates and sediment loads which has continued to have an impact on their populations. In addition, dams stop sturgeon from migrating up stream to spawn. The Keystone Pipeline would cross the rivers where these rare fish are found, and would have further negative impacts on this already fragile species. 

Whooping Cranes were declared endangered in 1967, and at one point there were thought to be only 15 individuals in the wild. Current population estimates put their numbers at around 380 individuals. Their migration path is very similar to the proposed Keystone Pipeline meaning that it could have a profound effect on their already depleted numbers. Whooping cranes would experience crucial nesting habitat loss, as well as contact with oil spills, construction, and power lines. 

The animals posted this week would all be affected by the proposed Keystone Pipeline development, which would carry oil 1,200miles from Canada to the Gulf Coast and pass through many important ecosystems. The bill to force authorization of the pipeline fell 1 vote short of passing in the US senate last week, but will not go away. These animals, among others, would suffer habitat loss, construction disturbance, potential oil spills, and encounter electrical lines that could have severe impacts on their wild populations. 

Koalas feed almost exclusively on the leaves of the eucalyptus plant, which have low metabolic value. Koalas have adapted to this, and have an extremely long cecum (a portion of the gut) which contains bacteria that help break down the cellulose in the plants. However, even with this adaptation, koalas get precious little energy from their food and must sleep for around 20 hours a day. 

The species is classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. This is because there are thought to be less than 10,000 mature individuals left in the wild, with their numbers continuing to decrease. The decline is due to direct human effects, like boat collisions, as well as loss of wetland habitats for developments. In addition, loss of reliable warm water refuges and natural catastrophic events (hurricanes etc.) are also having an impact on the manatees.

The Giant African Land Snail is an extremely problematic invasive species. They have reached China, India, Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, Hawaii, and even the mainland USA. As an invasive species they can effect agriculture and crops, as well as human health. They can carry a parasitic nematode worm that can cause severe meningitis in humans. They can be consumed as a food item, but encouraging this behaviour in invaded areas is controversial, as it could lead to further introductions. 

These tortoises are classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, as they have disappeared from 40% of their native range, and are experiencing ongoing population decline. In fact, it is estimated that they will be extinct within the next 50 years if current trends continue. Threats to the population are mainly habitat loss due to human expansion, and exploitation for the pet trade and for food by local people. 

Sloths are very slow moving, as per their reputation, but this is due to the low metabolic value of the tree leaves that make up their diet, rather than just being lazy. They have poor eyesight and are mostly nocturnal, so they find their food through smell and touch. They also have amazing fur, which grows the opposite way from most mammals (from belly to head) to allow water to slide off while they hang upside down by their large claws. There is usually some algae growing in their fur too, which improves their camouflage.

They are a very social species, and engage in a lot of cooperative behaviour, including sharing food with roost-mates that fail to feed on a given night, as well a grooming one another. Females will also feed the young of other females, regardless of whether the parent has died or not. 

Ravens are commonly depicted as evil or signs of bad luck, which seems to stem from their black plumage and diet of carrion. However, these birds are highly intelligent and have shown their talents for problem solving and communication in many scientific experiments and observations. They are playful species, and have been observed making “toys” for themselves out of sticks and other objects, as well as sliding down snowy roofs and hills, apparently for no other reason than fun. They have also been observed taunting and playing with other species, like wolves and otters. 

Black widows are usually shy animals and will normally not bite unless provoked. Their venom is very toxic, and is apparently 15 times more potent than rattlesnake venom. The bite is rarely fatal in healthy individuals, unless they are quite young or old. However, their bite is very painful and can cause internal problems, so it is best to avoid these spiders if possible.

Black Rats have spread from southern Asia across the globe, and in many places have become a very problematic invasive species. They can breed year round, meaning that their populations multiply quickly, and as opportunistic, generalist foragers, they can decimate bird populations by gorging on their eggs, or sometimes even their young chicks. The impacts can be especially bad on islands, and they have had effects on native species in New Zealand, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Galapagos, and Florida Keys to name a few. Some countries have even implemented eradication programs to save their native species.

Like most owls, they are active and hunt at night. Their facial disks help funnel sound towards their ears, and they have such exceptional hearing that they can hear rodents moving under up to two feet of snow. They will then swoop in and crash through the snow to catch their prey.