There are 23 species of crocodiles that live in the Southern reaches of the world. They can be found in swamps and everglades of the south-eastern U.S. in Central and South America, in Africa, Australia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Borneo. Crocodiles have long tapered snouts and alligators have broad snouts. Crocodiles can attack at lightning speed! They can kill animals as big and heavy as they are in most cases. They have been known to take down a water buffalo. They are crafty and smart and hunt according to their prey.
They will eat anything including small fish, turtles, gazelles and lions. They even swallow other crocs in defending their territory. They have even been known to swallow stones. Scientists suggest that they are used to ballast them for diving. Crocodiles don’t have litters of babies they have nests of eggs! These are called “clutches.” Some crocs will dig from 10-30 feet into a creek bank to make a burrow for their nest. Then they create a hidden entrance that is at the water line or just below. A clutch can have as little as 8 eggs or as many as 80!
The eggs take about 85 days or 3 months to incubate. Sometimes the mother will help the babies along by cracking the eggshells in her mouth gently as not to harm the babies. The largest crocodiles on earth are the saltwater crocs. They get their names from Salties because they can live in saltwater. The second largest croc is the Nile crocodile. Did you know that a crocodiles tongue is attached to the roof of their mouths and they can’t move them! The Nile Crocs use the environment to regulate their body temperature. They bask all day in the sun for heat. If they get too hot they release the air from their mouths. Some even live in caves.
The jaws of a croc can exert 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. They break through both bones and flesh! New born crocs are 10 inches long and survive on the remnants from the yolk sacs. The mother will carry them from the nest to the water. They grow 12 inches a year and can live up to 45 years and longer in captivity. In Madagascar the crocodile was almost extinct due to hunting them for their skins. Other threats are from fishermen’s nets and habitat loss.
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Crocodiles, Crocodiles facts, Fun Facts on Crocodiles
The raccoon is native to North and South America and even Southern Canada to the northern reaches of Argentina. They have populations in Europe and Germany where they escaped from fur farms and were set loose and hunted for sport during the war! Raccoon comes from the Algonquin word “Arakun” which means one who scratches with his hands. They walk heel to toe just like bears and humans. They are the most recognized animal in the States. Their distinctive black masks and ringed tails make them easy to indentify. There are 6 species and they are usually around 2-1/2 feet long and weigh 12-16 pounds. The largest raccoon weighed in at 60 pounds.
Raccoons can live for 15 years. Humans hunt raccoons for fur, meat and run over and kill them as pests. They prefer wooded areas close to water but can live close to humans too. They will nest in trees or empty underground dens. They are also known to live in cars, sewers and chimneys! They are highly intelligent and have the dexterity of apes. Their fingers can open shells, trash cans and even doors! They eat fruit, insects, berries, eggs and small rodents. They also enjoy grapes, corn, crabs and crayfish. They somehow see with their hands in a tactile way! Babies are born two months after mating. Females are extremely aggressive and ferocious if their young are threatened.
Raccoons don’t hibernate but they will feed heavily in the fall and store fat so they can stay in their burrows through the worst of winter. Raccoons are generally night animals and you will find them wandering during the day do not go near it! Raccoons carry rabies and distemper and can transfer these diseases to humans. The raccoon’s scientific name is Procyon lotor which means, “washer dog”. It is related to the bear family! Populations of raccoons in urban areas can be 20 times higher than for raccoons in rural areas. Raccoons can purr, whistle, growl, hiss, scream and even whine! Raccoons have actually been kept as pets!
However, beware because as they mature they get more and more destructive and aggressive! Their hands are nimble enough to untie a shoelace, unlatch a cage and deftly retrieve coins like dimes from your shirt pocket or pants! They are also excellent swimmers and climbers. They have a highly developed sense of touch in their nose and forepaws.
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The smallest monkey in the world is the Pygmy Marmoset. In fact, they are so small that their tails are longer then their bodies. A fully grown tail can be seven inches long. Their body is usually only 14-16 inches long and they weigh only 5 ounces. Compared to this little monkey the largest monkey is the male Mandrill. They are the biggest grouping of non-human primates ever recorded was a tribe of Mandrill in Lope National Park, Gabon. There were 1300 in the gang!
Capuchin monkeys are trained to help disabled people. They also assist in numerous tasks like preparing food. These monkeys act as live-in companions and provide independence, companionship, dignity and hope to those they help! These remarkable little creatures only weigh 13lbs but they are extremely smart. Monkeys are so smart they have even made it into space. The first monkey astronaut was Albert, a rhesus monkey. He took a ride on a V2 rocket in 1948! However, the rocket didn’t make it very far. The second monkey Albert 11 made it farther.
In Japan, where the macaque monkey lives the winters are very cold. The Japanese monkey has a shaggy coat to keep them warm and some keep out the cold by sitting in the hot water from different volcanic springs! Male rhesus monkeys hang from tree branches by their amazing prehensile penises! There are two types of monkeys. Arboreal live in trees and Terrestrial live on the ground. Monkey’s diets differ in that they eat fruit, leaves, seeds, nuts, flowers, eggs and even small animals!
There are 264 known monkey species across the world and some are yet undiscovered. Monkeys in Central and South America are called New World Monkeys. Those in Africa and Asia are Old World Monkeys. Tamarin monkeys are tiny but they usually give birth to twins. Monkeys never stop growing. Spider monkeys have appeared in more films than any other breed of monkey. Human and chimpanzee brains are remarkably similar and chimps are 98.4% similar. There are some monkeys that can lie! The male vervet monkey can attract females by uttering their word for “food”. However, it turns out they have nothing to offer.
Many people have monkeys as pets and treat them just like they would a human baby. They diaper them and dress them up and take them out forgetting that they are wild animals!
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Fun Facts on Monkeys, Monkey facts, Monkeys