#leastconcern

SOUTHERN CASSOWARY Casuarius casuarius ©Laura Quick Cassowaries are closely related to the kiwis, both families diverging from a common ancestor approximately 40 million years ago. They have a reputation for being fierce and able to kill with ease, mostly however, they are shy, easily startled seed dispersers. The male builds a nest on the ground, a mattress of herbaceous plant material 5 to 10 centimetres (2–4 in) thick and up to 100 centimetres (39 in) wide. The female shows up, is courted, mates and lays the eggs. Then she leaves, often to be courted by another male. Meanwhile, the male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks alone. A clutch of three or four eggs are laid measuring 138 by 95 millimetres (5.4 in × 3.7 in). They have a granulated surface and are initially bright pea-green in color although they fade with age. The casque on the top of its head is made of keratin, hollow, and helps protect the bird as it runs through foliage. #southerncassowary #doublewattledcassowary #©lauraquick #birds #animals #birdsofinstagram #casuariuscasuarius #australia #indonesia #southeastasia #newguinea #wildlifeloverseverywhere #leastconcern #wildlifephotography #wildlifelover #wildlife_photography #wildlife #paternalcare #nomaternalcare #flightlessbird #casuariiformes #casque #keratin #losangelesphotographer #losangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jwsJNH_Nt/?igshid=bsyblby3n9hl

Enjoying the Sun COYOTE Canis latrans ©Laura Quick Coyotes fence fight with my dogs now nearly every night and I see them wandering the hillsides here nearly every day. Since the fires they seem larger, bolder and certainly less afraid of human. Coyotes evolved in North America 5.3 million years ago. Many of the other species of canids, like jackals, wolves, and wild dogs, spread around the globe via the land bridges connecting America to Europe and Asia. But coyotes never left and evolved as a distinctive species about a million years ago. Physically, they resemble the golden jackal, from which coyotes only separated about 800,000 years ago, so they’re fairly close relatives. There’s only about a 4 percent genetic difference between the two. This one was hanging out in the Sonora Desert where food is plentiful. #coyote #canislatrans #©lauraquick #canidae #wilddogsofinstagram #sonorandesert #sunbathing #naturephotography #arizona #carnivora #mammalia #northamerica #adaptable #leastconcern #neighborhoodpests https://www.instagram.com/p/B9VI9_bnivO/?igshid=1vmt64i50k7n2

AMERICAN BLACK BEAR Ursus americanus ©Laura Quick The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. Despite living in North America, American black bears are not closely related to brown bears and polar bears; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor 5.05 million years ago (mya). American and Asian black bears are considered sister taxa and are more closely related to each other than to the other modern species of bears.According to recent studies, the sun bear is also a relatively recent split from this lineage. #americanblackbear #bear #blackbear #ursusamericanus #©lauraquick #northamerica #widespread #leastconcern #losangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #docentprogram https://www.instagram.com/p/B45nRninvTA/?igshid=1hq8185w9a8yu

RANGER AMERICAN BLACK BEAR Ursus americanus ©Laura Quick The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America, though this guy is about 500 lbs51. It is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. Despite living in North America, American black bears are not closely related to brown bears and polar bears; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor 5 million years ago (mya). American and Asian black bears are considered sister taxa and are more closely related to each other than to the other modern species of bears. According to recent studies, the sun bear is also a relatively recent split from this lineage. #americanblackbear #bear #blackbear #ursusamericanus #©lauraquick #northamerica #widespread #leastconcern #losangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #docentprogram #carnivore #mammalia #animal #ranger https://www.instagram.com/p/B7hBvmrHCRN/?igshid=79qblcfggily

SERVAL CAT Leptailurus serval ©Laura Quick The serval is a lanky wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries except rainforest regions. On the IUCN Red List it is listed as Least Concern. It was first described by von Schreber in 1776. It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus. #serval #cat #leptailurus #leptailurusserval #©lauraquick #africa #kenya #tanzania #leastconcern #smallcats #feline #felidae #animal #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #losangeleszoo #docentprogram #trampolinecat #stalkandpouncehunters https://www.instagram.com/p/B8YELBPHdXx/?igshid=1ehqkndtwf0b4

TOCO TOUCAN Ramphastos toco ©Laura Quick The largest toucan species, the toco toucan is an impressive bird with a huge orange bill with a black tip and base. The body is mostly black with a white throat, and rump, and a red vent. Dark eyes are surrounded by orange and blue skin. Found in savanna and open woodland, avoiding humid forests. Makes a raucous far carrying croaking “wreh” call, and flies with noisy wingbeats. Toco toucans also use their beaks to pluck and peel fruit, their main source of food. In addition, the beak houses a flat tongue of the same length, which helps the toucan catch insects, frogs, and reptiles. Toco toucans also occasionally eat the eggs of other birds. Although they spend a lot of time in trees, they are not very good at flying. Toucans mainly travel among trees by hopping. When they do take flight, they flap their wings vigorously and glide, traveling only short distances. #tocotoucan #ramphastostoco #©lauraquick #piciformes #ramphastidae #centralamerica #southamerica #leastconcern #zygodactyl #fructivore #santabarbarazoo #santabarbara https://www.instagram.com/p/B5cbCc7njSE/?igshid=14aulbdswduv5

HAMMERKOP Scopus umbretta ©Laura Quick The species of African wading bird is renowned for its enormous nests, several of which are built during the breeding season. Unusual for a wading bird, the nest has an internal nesting chamber where the eggs are laid. Both parents incubate the eggs, and raise the chicks. #hamerkop #hammer-head #wadingbird #hamerkop#hammer-head#bird #africa #leastconcern #wadingbird #animal #pelecaniformes #omnivore #enormousnests #nestingchamber #santabarbarazoo #©lauraquick #photography #originalphotography 5 notes https://www.instagram.com/p/B4pnIk5H249/?igshid=13eltdy7893jg