#artiodactyla

Spectacled Porpoise Phocoena dioptrica

It is one of the most poorly studied cetaceans, partly due to its remote range in the Southern Ocean. Researchers have uncovered spectacled porpoise remains within the kitchen middens of the canoe people who lived in Tierra del Fuego between 6000 and 1400 years ago.

Chacoan Peccary Catagonus wagneri

Also called the taguá, it is found in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. It lives in the hot, dry Gran Chaco region, dominated by low-lying succulents and thorny bushes. It uses its tough snout to roll cacti on the ground, rubbing the spines off before eating. It may pull off the spines with its teeth and spit them out.

Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus

It is found in oceans worldwide. These dolphins grow to be about 10 ft in length and can be identified by heavy scarring that appears white. Scars may act as an indicator of male ‘quality’ during aggressive social interactions. They feed almost exclusively on squid.

Happy International Gazelle Day! 😄

International Gazelle Day is observed on July 9, created to draw global attention to the rapid decline of these graceful antelopes. First proposed by conservationists under the Convention on Migratory Species in 2020, the day highlights the severe threats these animals face in the wild.

Why Gazelles Need Protecting:

•Habitat Loss: Human expansion, mining, and overgrazing constantly shrink the open plains and savannas they rely on.

•Poaching & Conflict: Ongoing civil conflicts, particularly in Africa, and illegal hunting severely threaten already vulnerable species.

•Endangered Status: Many species-such as the critically endangered Dama gazelle-have seen wild populations drop to just a few hundred individuals.

Fascinating Gazelle Facts:

•Incredible Speed: They are built for extreme endurance, reaching speeds up to 60 km/h to outrun predators.

•High Leaps: They are famous for "stotting"-bouncing straight up into the air (often over 3 meters) to spot danger or show off their fitness.

•Drought Survival: They are highly adapted to desert and semi-arid climates, often sourcing most of their hydration directly from the plants they eat.

•Ecosystem Role: As a crucial part of the food web, they help shape the vegetation in African savannas and Asian steppes.

(Sources: https://unn.ua, https://ua.news, https://nationalzoo.si.edu, peppermintnarwhal, & https://www.nature.com)