Grouse

 

The grouse is a heavily-built bird that is found in the cold, forested areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The grouse is most closely related to other game birds including chickens, peasants and turkeys and, although not commonly farmed commercially, the grouse is hunted by humans in its natural habitat. The grouse inhabits both hot and cold environments, and can be found in a variety of habitats like forests, moorland, shrub-land and close to rural farms.
In order to survive the bitter Northern winters, the grouse has feathered legs and toes which not only help to keep the grouse warm, but they also give the grouse more grip and stability when it is walking around in the snow.
Despite inhabiting areas that often fall within the Arctic Circle, thousands of grouse are hunted as game each year by humans. The grouse population numbers are not drastically effected however as they often lay a large number of eggs so the grouse population is able to increase at a fast rate.
The grouse is an omnivorous animal meaning that it eats both plants and other animals. Despite this though, plant matter makes up the majority of the grouse's diet as the grouse eats grasses, fruits, nuts, berries, shoots, seeds and flowers, along with insects and even rodents.
Due to its stocky build and the fact that the grouse is one of the few animals able to exist within the Arctic Circle, that grouse is preyed upon by a number of native predators. Wildcats including lynx, foxes, wolves and large birds of prey all prey upon the grouse, alongside human hunters.
Female grouse nests in a dip in the ground, following an elaborate mating display by the male grouse. The female grouse can lay up to 12 eggs at a time which hatch after a month of incubation.

Grouse Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	Tetraoninae
Scientific Name:	Tetraoninae
Type:	Bird
Diet:	Omnivore
Size (L):	31cm - 95cm (12in - 37in)
Wing Span:	45cm - 101cm (22in - 40in)
Weight:	0.3kg - 6.5kg (0.6lbs - 14lbs)
Top Speed:	10km/h (6mph)
Life Span:	1 - 10 years
Lifestyle:	Flock
Conservation Status:	Least Concern
Colour:	Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red
Skin Type:	Feathers
Favourite Food:	Insects
Habitat:	Forest, shrubland and grassy plains
Average Clutch Size:	8
Main Prey:	Insects, Nuts, Seeds, Berries
Predators:	Fox, Lynx, Birds Of Prey
Distinctive Features:	Long tail feathers and feathered legs and toes

Cougar

The cougar is native to the Americas, particularly south America and western

North America and is often known by other names such as mountain lion,puma and panther. Cougars can be found mainly in the mountain regions of Canada and Mexico, but as the name cougar is often used to describe an un-spotted leopard, cougars are also found in Asia andAfrica.

The cougar is the fourth biggest feline in the world behind the lion, tiger and jaguar, making the cougar the second largest cat in the Americas. The cougar has longer back than front legs and a long heavy body.

Cougars prey on large mammals such as moose, deer, elk and stray wolves and can often go for long periods of time without food. Cougars are also well known for their amazing ability to jump up to 30ft.

Cougars tend to have between 1 and 4 cubs, generally during the spring and summer time when the adult cougars are hunting well again after the harsh winters. A cougar typically lives until its about 20 years old.

Due to the cougars vast range, the cougar is known in different places by different names. Until the late 1990s there were thought to be 32 different species of cougar inhabiting both North and South America. Recent studies however, have shown that the DNA of the majority of the 32 cougar species was too similar. There are therefore only 5 different species of cougar found on the American continent.

Today the cougar is only found in parts of Florida in North East America and the cougars range on the west coast has been dramatically reduced by human interference. The cougar is most commonly found in the Canadian Rockies and the more mountainous regions of Southern Mexico.

Cougar Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Puma
Scientific Name:	Felis Concolor
Type:	Mammal
Diet:	Carnivore
Size (L):	1.5m - 2.75m (5ft - 9ft)
Weight:	29kg - 90kg (64lbs - 198lbs)
Top Speed:	45km/h (30mph)
Life Span:	10 - 20 years
Lifestyle:	Solitary
Conservation Status:	Least Concern
Colour:	Tan, Black, Brown
Skin Type:	Fur
Favourite Food:	Deer
Habitat:	Forest and mountainous regions
Average Litter Size:	3
Main Prey:	Deer, Elk, Beavers
Predators:	Human, Grizzly Bear
Distinctive Features:	Powerful forearms and paws and muscular jaw

Ragdoll

The Ragdoll cat has emerged in North America as mixed cat breeding has become more popular. The ragdoll cat is usually part
Burmese, Birman, Javanese, Siamese and Persian cat or any of these combinations. The Ragdoll cat is known to be one of the larger species of domestic cat and commonly have a slightly larger tummy than other cats, along with a rounded body and short limbs.
The Ragdoll cat is normally white in colour with the distinctive Siamese cat style brown markings. The ragdoll cat often inherits the long hair and blue eyes from the Persian and Birman cats but this is not always the case.
The Ragdoll cat is most well known for its calm and affectionate temperament, and its generally easy-going nature. The Ragdoll cat is a relaxed and gentle feline that is also well known for its intelligence.
The Ragdoll cat is named so because of the way in which the Ragdoll breed is often found to be easy to handle, even said to turn floppy when picked up. Ragdoll cats are known to be much more chilled-out and friendly compared to other domestic breeds.

Ragdoll Facts

Name:	Ragdoll
Origin:	North America
Average Size:	122cm (48in)
Average Weight:	9kg (35lbs)
Average Life Span:	14 years
Group:	Mediumhair
Colour:	Black, White, Fawn, Brown, Golden, Lilac
Average Litter Size:	4
Temperament:	Affectionate, calm and friendly

Stoat

The stoat is a small sized mammal, closely related to weasels and ferrets. Stoats are also closely related to

otters, badgers and wolverines and stoats share similar characteristics with all of these animals.
Stoats are found inhabiting a variety of habitats including moorland, woodlands, farms, coastal areas and even mountainous regions across the Northern Hemisphere. Stoats are found across Europe, Asia and North America and stoats are even spotted inside the colder Arctic Circle.
Stoats are relatively small in size ranging from 18cm to 32cm in height and weighing an average of 200 grams. The stoat has an average lifespan of between 4 and 5 years, although some stoat individuals can be much older and others can die at a much younger age.
Stoats are solitary animals and are not generally not territorial. The only exceptions for both of these lifestyles are during the breeding season when stoats come together to mate and the female stoats are known to become territorial during this time, probably so that the female stoat is able to protect her young.
The stoat is a carnivorous animal meaning that the diet of the stoat consists only of other animals. Some stoat individuals however, have been known to eat fruit but these cases have all been observed using stoats that are in captivity. Stoats prey on a number of animals including rodents, fish, eggs, insects, small reptiles and amphibians. The stoats favourite meal however is the rabbit despite the fact that the stoat is generally much smaller than a rabbit. It is for this reason that stoats are often introduced to places in order to control rabbit pest problems.
As the stoat is small in size, it is preyed up by a number of larger animals in the wild including foxes, dogs, wild cats and large snakes. The stoat is often able to defend itself against smaller sized predators as the stoat has extremely sharp teeth which can issue a nasty and painful bite.
A female stoat rarely has more than one litter of babies in her short lifetime. Stoats breed in the warmer months of May and June but there is a delayed reaction in the uterus of the female stoat meaning that the embryos don't begin to develop for a number of months. After this time, the baby stoats (known as kits) are born within a month, and the female stoat gives birth to a litter of between 5 and 15 stoat kits.
The stoat kits are nursed by the mother stoat until they are just over a month old and the baby stoats then begin to learn to hunt. The stoat kits are independent when they are much bigger by the time they are 3 months of age.
Despite the fact that the stoat is today considered to be a species that is not threatened with extinction, there are concerns regarding the decline in stoat populations due to habitat loss. The stoat has also been hunted by humans over the years mainly for it's fur but also for it's meat.

Stoat Facts

	Kingdom:	Animalia
	Phylum:	Chordata
	Class:	Mammalia
	Order:	Carnivora
	Family:	Mustelidae
	Genus:	Mustela
	Scientific Name:	Mustela Erminea
	Type:	Mammal
	Diet:	Carnivore
	Size:	25-35cm (10-14in)
	Weight:	200-500g (7-17.6oz)
	Top Speed:	32km/h (20mph)
	Life Span:	4-6 years
	Lifestyle:	Solitary
	Conservation Status:	Least Concern
	Colour:	Tan, Black, Brown, White
	Skin Type:	Fur
	Favourite Food:	Rabbit
	Habitat:	Moorland and woodlands
	Average Litter Size:	8
	Main Prey:	Rabbits, Mice, Insects
	Predators :	Fox, Snake, Wild Cats
	Special Features:	Elongated body and very sharp teeth

Budgerigar

 Budgerigar:

Blue Budgerigar

The budgerigar is a small colourful bird native to Australia. The budgerigar is thought to be a sub-species of parrot, making the budgerigar one of the smallest parrot species in the world.
The budgerigar is often called a parakeet or a budgie and the budgie is one of the most popular birds to keep as pets, both in outside aviaries and in cages in homes. Budgerigars are thought to be popular pets due to their small size and brightly coloured feathers.
The budgerigar is a very sociable bird and budgies can been seen gathering in large flocks in trees and scrub land in the Australian wilderness. Pet budgerigars should always be kept at least with one other budgerigar to prevent them from getting lonely. The wild budgerigar tends to feed on grass seeds and occasional insects.
Budgies are known to be very easy animals to sex. Male budgies and female budgies can be identified by the colour of their nose. The male budgerigar has a blue nose while the female budgie's nose is brown in colour.
Budgerigars are known to be very hardy little creatures and if a budgie becomes ill in the wild, the budgie will try to conceal it as long as possible so as not to appear weak and vulnerable to potential predators. The main predators of the wild budgerigar are snakes and birds of prey such as hawks. Wild budgerigars have also been known to be hunted by local natives mainly for their brightly coloured feathers which are then used in tribal costumes.
The average lifespan of a wild budgerigar is thought to be around 5 years but budgerigars have been known to live much longer in captivity, some get to nearly 20 years old! The average lifespan of a pet budgie is between 8 and 10 years.
Budgerigars are one of the few bird species that do not build nests and female budgerigars will therefore find a hole in a tree in which to lay their eggs. The female budgerigar lays around 5 or 6 eggs, that hatch in around 3 weeks. The budgie chicks are looked after by their mother and reach full adulthood when they are roughly 9 months old.
The budgerigar is a very vocal animal and the song of the budgie is also quite loud. Budgerigars use their voices to communicate with one another as they are very sociable animals

Green Budgerigar

.         

Budgerigar Facts:

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Melopsittacus
Scientific Name:	Melopsittacus Undulatus
Type:	Bird
Diet:	Omnivore
Size (H):	15cm - 20cm (5.9in - 7.8in)
Wing Span:	25cm - 35cm (10in - 14in)
Weight:	30g - 40g (1oz - 1.4oz)
Life Span:	3 - 6 years
Lifestyle:	Flock
Conservation Status:	Least Concern
Colour:	Black, White, Grey, Green, Blue, Yellow
Skin Type:	Feathers
Favourite Food:	Seeds
Habitat:	Open woodland and grassland near water
Average Clutch Size:	6
Main Prey:	Seeds, Fruit, Insects, Berries
Predators:	Human, Snakes, Large Birds
Distinctive Features:	Brightly coloured feathers and warble communication calls

King Crab

King Crab

King Crabs are known for their sheer size but only a couple of species get really big. King crabs are mainly
found in the Southern Hemisphere where the waters are warmer but the Alaskan king crab is the obvious exception to this as the waters there are near freezing. Red king crabs can have a leg span of up to 1.8m, blue king crabs often weigh over 8kg! King crabs hunt small fish and plankton in the oceans and are often found close to coral reefs or rocky areas where there are plenty of places for the king crab to hide.
The king crab is generally believed to come from the ancestors of hermit crabs, as with many species of crab today. King crabs are hunted all year round by fisherman and the king crab is seen to be delicacy in many parts of the world.
There are thought to be around 40 different species of king crab today, nearly all of which are hunted for food by humans due to their large size and the taste of their flesh. The most popular king crab for a human catch, is the red king crab as the red king crab is one of the largest species and one of the most readily available species of king crab in the ocean. 

King Crab Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Crustacea
Order:	Decapoda
Family:	Lithodidae
Genus:	Lopholithodes
Scientific Name:	Lopholithodes Mandtii
Type:	Crustacean
Diet:	Carnivore
Size:	0.6-1.8m (1.9-5.9ft)
Weight:	2-8kg (4.4-18lbs)
Top Speed:	11km/h (7mph)
Life Span:	15-30 years
Lifestyle:	Solitary
Conservation Status:	Threatened
Colour:	Blue, Red, Orange
Skin Type:	Shell
Favourite Food:	Molluscs
Habitat:	Cold coastal waters and continental shelves
Average Litter Size:	7
Main Prey:	Molluscs, Fish, Sea Urchin
Predators:	Human, Larger Fish, Octopus
Special Features:	Large body and legs with thick, armoured shell

Butterfly Fish

The butterfly fish is a generally small sized species of marine fish, found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs. The butterfly fish is well known for it's brightly coloured body and elaborate markings.
There are more than 100 different species of butterfly fish found distributed throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, meaning that the butterfly fish is a salt-water species of (marine) fish.
The average butterfly fish is fairly small and generally grows to around 4 or 5 inches in length. Some species of the butterfly fish however, are known to grow to 8 inches (20 cm) long and some butterfly fish individuals have been known to grow to 30 cm in length.
The butterfly fish can live for up to 10 years in a well kept aquarium but will only reach about 7 years old in the wild. The butterfly fish is a difficult fish to keep as they need very specific water conditions that need regular and close monitoring and so the butterfly fish is only found in specific water conditions in the wild.
The butterfly fish is most closely related to the marine angelfish which is similar in colour but the marine angelfish is often much larger in size than the butterfly fish. Butterfly fish can be distinguished from angelfish by the dark spots on their bodies, dark bands around their eyes and the fact that the mouth of the butterfly fish is more pointed than the mouth of the angelfish.
Butterfly fish are diurnal animals which means that they are feeding during the day and resting in the coral during the night. Most species of butterfly fish feed on the plankton in the water, coral and sea anemones and occasionally snack on small crustaceans . Those butterfly fish fish that primarily feed on the plankton in the water are generally the smaller species of butterfly fish and can be seen in large groups. The larger species of butterfly fish are fairly solitary or stay with their mating partner.
Butterfly fish are preyed upon by a number of large predators including fish such as snappers, eels and sharks. Due to the fact that the butterfly fish is small in size, it is able to tuck itself into crevices in the coral in order to escape danger and prevent itself from being eaten.
Butterfly fish form mating pairs that they remain with for life. Butterfly fish release their eggs into the water which form part of the plankton (it is because of this that many butterfly fish eggs are accidentally eaten by animals that live on plankton). When the eggs hatch, the baby butterfly fish (known as fry) develop armoured plates on their bodies to protect them when they are so vulnerable. As the butterfly fish gets, older these plates disappear. Butterfly fish have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years although some of the larger butterfly fish species are known to get to much older.
Today, the butterfly fish is considered to be an endangered animal mainly as butterfly fish populations have been threatened due to water pollution and habitat loss. The destruction of coral reefs
occurs mainly from boats, and without their coral habitat, the butterfly fish find it difficult to survive as they have less food and are also more exposed to predators.