The Colossal Squid

Barely anyone knows about the mysterious Colossal Squid. The only evidence is washed up bodies that show us a lot. The colossal squid is not to be confused with the giant squid. The giant squid is longer, but the colossal squid is wider and heavier. The large colossal squid grows to  39 to 46 feet long and reaches a weight of 1,100 pounds. The main body of the squid, called the torso, is about 3 feet wide. Its large head is what makes it stand out against other squids. Its body's colors are almost bright pink-to light red with white specks all around.

The main diet of the colossal squid consists of large fish, such as the Patagonian toothfish and other colossal squids. Colossal squid are found in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, all the way to South America and South Africa. Colossal squid are ambush predators. Ambush predators are animals that surprise animals and use tactics like venomous bites, grabbing prey and biting animals so that they cannot escape. The colossal squid grabs prey and squeezes it until it suffocates and dies. Then, the colossal squid will slowly shove the prey up its beak, and chemicals inside its stomach break up the meat until the pieces are an inch long.

The colossal squid's scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. The colossal squid may be huge, but it has only two known predators. The sperm whale is a predator of the giant squid and colossal squid. Sperm whales with scars are mostly a bull male sperm whale, which are the main predators. Colossal squid arms have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales. Southern Elephant Seals sometimes attack young colossal squids. The colossal squid is super rare. No footage of colossal squid has ever been taken. Only one video of a giant squid has ever been taken. Colossal squid are very mysterious and very cool!  

The Galapagos Tortoise

Meet the world's biggest tortoise and the longest-living animal on earth! The Galapagos tortoise can only be found on the Galapagos Islands, located off South America's northwestern coast, along with the marine iguana and Galapagos sealions. These reptiles can live for a very long time. The oldest Galapagos tortoise ever found was 175 years old! Its scientific name is chelonoidis nigra.

These gigantic tortoises can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh 550 pounds. They live around volcanic rocks and scrub lands, where they eat a wide variety of plants, including the prickly pear cactus. Their shells are shallow in the front, to allow them to stretch their necks high up to reach the cacti. Certain finch species that live on the islands help keep these tortoises clean by eating parasites off of them!

Female Galapagos tortoises lay 2 to 19 eggs two to three times per year. A baby tortoise is born with an egg tooth - a small spike on their nose that falls off after a few months - to break through the egg when it's ready to hatch. It absorbs the remaining yolk sac before feeding.  

There are currently about 15,000 Galapagos tortoises in the wild. It is unclear how these animals reached these remote islands, but it is believed that their ancestors were carried there on ocean currents from the American mainland. They have no natural predators, but are threatened by poachers and habitat destruction. The tortoise is now strictly protected and the Galapagos Islands are now a national park!

Cool Fact: The Galapagos tortoise was named by Spanish explorers in the 16th century - galapagos is the Spanish word for tortoise. 

The Binturong

The binturong can look a little disheveled, probably because it sleeps most of the day. This slow-moving creature has a very unusual smell - buttered popcorn! The binturong's strange body odor helps it mark its territory. Binturongs are also called bearcats - even though they are not related to bears or cats. They are most closely related to fossas and civets. 

Binturongs can be found in the rainforests of India and parts of Asia, where they live in the trees. They are often confused with sloths because of their lazy behavior and shaggy coats. (But sloths actually live in the Amazon rainforest.) Binturongs eat small mammals, birds, fish, earthworms and fruit, especially figs. Binturongs can grow up to 73 inches long and weigh up to 60 pounds. Females are typically heavier than males. Their long, shaggy coats help keep them dry in the rain. Their ankles can turn 180 degrees so their claws can still grip when climbing down a tree head first. Their tails are special too - known as prehensile because they are very strong and help them grip branches.  

Binturongs have no known predators, but are at risk due to habitat destruction, poaching for traditional Asian medicines, and the fur and pet trade. They are also considered to be a delicacy in some areas and are hunted for food. 

Each year, the second Saturday of May is World Binturong Day!

Cool Fact: The binturong's unusual name originates from a native language that died out some time ago, and it's actual meaning is unknown. 

The Rock Hyrax

This cute little creature looks like a rodent but it's actually more closely related to the elephant! Rock hyraxes, also called the cape hyrax, have long, pointed incisors that are comparable to tusks and project over their lower lips. 

These animals can be found in holes in rocky areas across much of Africa, and can live at elevations over 4,000 feet. They live in groups of up to seven related females. The groups huddle together for warmth because they are not able to regulate their body temperatures as well as other mammals. They are good climbers. They like to rest and hide in rock crevices, usually with another hyrax standing watch. Rock hyraxes eat fruit, shrubs and grasses. Their predators include Arabian leopards, Egyptian cobras, rock pythons, African wild dogs and birds of prey. The Verreaux's eagle is a specialist when it comes to hunting hyraxes.

Their hind feet are equipped with a sharp inner claw. Hyraxes also have long hairs along their backs, similar to whiskers, that help them feel in dark spaces. They have rounded ears, black noses and pale fur around their dark eyes. They can grow up to 21 inches long and weigh 4 to 12 pounds. In some areas, rock hyraxes are considered minor pests. 

Cool Fact: Hyraxes have a brown scent gland on their backs used to mark trees and rocks to communicate with other hyraxes!

The Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard may have one of the saddest stories of all wildcats. This cat is critically endangered - there are only an estimated 35 Amur leopards left, and probably even fewer now. This cat is being hunted for its hide, like many other cats including jaguars, other leopards, cheetahs and more. Its habitat is also being threatened by forest fires and construction. 

The Amur leopard can be found in snowy areas along the Amur River in Eastern Russia and Northern China, but they are extremely rare. They have large paws that work like snowshoes to help them walk on the snow. It is very cold here, so they have soft, dense, light-colored fur to keep it warm and help it camouflage in the snow. The camouflage helps them to hunt prey including deer, boars and rabbits. These cats measure 6 to 7 feet long, and males are typically larger than females. Its scientific name is Panthera Pardus Orientalis. 

To help protect this amazing cat, the area where the Amur leopard can be found has been made into a wildlife refuge called Land of the Leopard National Park. The Colchester Zoo in England has a real Amur leopard - cool, huh?   

Cool Fact: The Siberian tiger is sometimes called the Amur tiger because it can be found in the same area. There is also the Amur leopard cat, which is also found in the same area, but is much smaller.  

The Capybara

This cute, pig-like creature is actually the world's biggest rodent. Capybaras are found throughout South America and are good swimmers so they live near water. They are found in the Amazon Rainforest and are hunted by jaguars, anacondas and caimans. They can also sometimes be vulnerable to swarms of piranhas. As a defense from predators, capybaras can stay completely submerged under water for up to five minutes. 

Capybaras have thin, course reddish-brown hair and webbed feet to help them swim and walk on marshy ground. These animals grow to 3 to 4 feet in length and weigh 75 to 145 pounds. Females are bigger and heavier than males. They live in groups of 10 to 30 animals and the groups are led by a single male. This male has a large scent gland on its nose which he uses to mark the group's territory. Even though they spend time in the water, they do not eat fish. Capybaras are herbivores with big appetites. They can eat up to 8 pounds of water grasses and other vegetation every day! They also like fruit and tree bark. Like other rodents, the capybara's teeth never stop growing so they are always sharp and ready to chew! 

There are two species of capybara - the greater capybara and the lesser capybara. Relatives include guinea pigs and chinchillas. 

Cool Fact: Like pigs, capybaras roll in mud to protect themselves from sunburn!

The Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula

The Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula is an eight-legged predator that can be found in the Pacific coastal areas of Mexico and South America. They live in underground burrows in dry, desert-like environments. Like all tarantulas, this species would gladly eat one another. Red-Kneed Tarantulas get their name from the red hair on each segment of their legs. Each spider has a slightly different, unique pattern! 

Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantulas grow to be about the size of an adult human hand (5 to 5.5 inches long), while Goliath Birdeater Tarantulas grow to be the size of a dinner plate. Females are bigger than males, and the females often kill the males after mating. Males live up to about five years, but females can live anywhere from 25 to 50 years! Females lay up to 400 eggs at a time, which hatch after two to eight weeks. 

Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantulas eat invertebrates, amphibians, rodents and small birds. Even if it's prey is bigger than itself, the tarantula can still win by using its poisonous fangs. They hunt at night and drag their prey back to the burrow. Even though they have eight eyes, their vision is not very good. They instead use the tips of their legs to help them navigate their way through the dark. These spiders also rub their legs against their bodies and shoot their hairs at their prey, and act called urticating. These hairs are very irritating, causing prey to cough and have trouble breathing and are especially dangerous if they get into the eye.

Cousins of the Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula include crabs, ticks, mites and "land lobsters" - aka scorpions.   

Cool Fact: Some people will gladly keep Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantulas as pets!

The Andean Condor

The Andean condor is the largest vulture and one of the world's biggest flying birds. It has a maximum wingspan of 10 feet, 10 inches and can weigh up to 33 pounds! Commonly known as the largest bird of prey, the Andean condor lives in the Andes mountains and the Pacific coasts of Western South America. 

The Andean condor is a black bird with white feathers arounds its neck and large white patches on its wings. Its head and neck do not have feathers and are a dull red color. This color can change if the bird is scared or excited. Male condors have a wattle on their necks and a red crown on their heads. Most female birds of prey are larger than males, but male Andean condors are actually larger than the females. 

The Andean condor eats all kinds of carrion, but prefers large carcasses such as deer or cattle. It also hunts small mammals and other birds. Flying at 20 miles per hour, it swoops down, folds its wings, and grabs the prey with its talons. 

The Andean condor has the longest lifespan of any bird, living up to 70 years! Andean condors build their nests very high - up to 16,000 feet - usually on mountain ledges that no predators can reach. They lay one to two eggs at a time. The Andean condor is considered vulnerable and is threatened by habitat loss and poisoning by lead found in carcasses killed by hunters. 

Cool Fact: The Andean condor is a national symbol of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the Andean regions. It is considered a symbol of power and health by many Andean cultures.

The Southern Elephant Seal

Male (left), pup (middle), female (right)

Introducing the southern elephant seal! You can see from the photo, this animal is not what you think a cute "seal" is. But not all elephant seals have this kind of appearance. Their proboscis, or nose, is used for showing off and is an important part of elephant seal life. It feels squishy when you touch it. Females are normal looking seals - the males are what have the beastly expression with their proboscis. 

This marine mammal lives in the cool waters of Antarctica. Male elephant seals - which are four times heavier than females - are the largest of all seals. They can grow 21 to 23 feet long and weigh 7,000 pounds. Females usually grow about 13 to 15 feet long and weigh 2,000 pounds. The biggest male elephant seal ever was about 28 feet long and weighed 2 tons! That is as heavy as a great white shark! 

Elephant seals love to chow on squid and fish such as cod. Artic char are a favorite too. Elephant seals hunt by sneaking up on their prey and, with a strong stroke of their tail, they grab the prey before they even know what happened. They are great swimmers and have a thick layer of fat (called blubber) that keeps them warm and helps them stand the pressure of diving deep underwater. They can dive as deep as 1,970 feet! They can hold their breath for an hour and a half and are surprisingly good at spotting food by using echolocation. Their eyesight is quite weak. 

Male elephant seals make loud bellowing or roaring sounds to show aggression and also to find a mate. Male elephant seals can also inflate their large noses when roaring at their rivals. Elephant seals can be clumsy on land, so they spend a lot of their time in the water. They don't move well on land, especially dry, rocky land, because they are so large. They can move easier on ice and snow. 

Elephant seals were close to extinction in the 1800s due to overhunting, but their numbers have since improved!

Cool Fact: An elephant seal is called an elephant seal because sometimes its proboscis can look like an elephant's trunk!

The Bull Shark

Meet the world's deadliest shark - the bull shark. The bull shark is known for its aggressive behavior and is even known to attack humans because it swims in shallow water where humans swim. However, this doesn't happen very often. Last year, there were only five recorded shark attacks - two by great white sharks and three by bull sharks. Bull sharks are found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. The deepest water bull sharks swim in is less than 65 feet deep. 

The name bull shark comes from the shark's stocky shape, broad, flat snout, and unpredictable behavior. Bull sharks have small eyes because they often live in shallow, muddy water where eyesight is not that useful for hunting prey. However, studies have confirmed that bull sharks can see different colors of mesh netting underwater and tend to stay away from nets of bright colors. They grow to be 6.5 to 10 feet long. 

Bull sharks eat a large variety of animals, from fish and sea turtles, to birds, dolphins and whales. Bull sharks are known for bumping their prey before attacking. They swim rather slowly, but are agile and quick when chasing prey. Bull sharks are known by different names, such as the Zambezi River shark or the Nicaragua shark.

The bull shark belongs to the species of requiem sharks, along with blue sharks, lemon sharks, tiger sharks and reef sharks. Bull sharks living in the Amazon give the Amazon rainforest a bigger number of species of animals than most rainforests. Predators of bull sharks include saltwater and Nile crocodiles, some larger shark species, and humans. Their conservation status is vulnerable. 

Cool Fact: Bull sharks can live in both salt and fresh water and can travel far up rivers. They have even been known to travel up the Mississippi River as far as Illinois - about 700 miles from the ocean!