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Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus) is a highly intelligent and social primate found across southern Africa, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Its total wild population has not been reliably counted, but it remains widespread and is classified as Least Concern.

It survives in deserts, mountains and woodlands by living in protective troops, eating almost anything available and sleeping on cliffs or in trees to avoid predators.

Dhole (Cuon alpinus). Found widely across parts of Asia from India to China to Indonesia, this social canid typically lives in groups of up to 12 individuals. Sometimes it even socializes with other groups of dholes to form “super packs” of more than 30 members! Teamwork enables these hunters to take down prey ten times their size. And unlike many other species of canid, dholes allow their pups to feed first on kills. Their diet includes pigs, deer, and buffalo.

Photo: mihail1981, iStock

Emerald Tree Skink (Lamprolepis smaragdina), family Scincidae, found in SE Asia

This particular color and pattern variety is found in Indonesia.

Emperor Fairywren (Malurus cyanocephalus), male, family Maluridae, order Passeriformes, Papua New Guinea

Oaxacan Arboreal Alligator Lizard (Abronia oaxacae), family Anguidae, endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico

Large Eruptive Prominence Imaged by STEREO