Fun fact: Colugos are also known as "flying lemurs," although they don't actually fly and aren't closely related to lemurs! 😊

Meet the Cacomistle 🐾

The Cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti) is a small, cat-like animal with excellent climbing skills. It's a great hunter, feeding on rodents, and was once commonly kept as a pet. Although less popular now, they make gentle and affectionate companions in North America, but their unique voice can take some getting used to.

Interesting Facts 🤔

* The Cacomistle belongs to the raccoon family and grows up to 30-45 cm in length, with a 30-50 cm tail, weighing up to 1.3 kg.
* They're opportunistic eaters, enjoying insects, small and large rodents, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and fruits like persimmons and mistletoe.
* Cacomistles inhabit southern and southwestern US regions, up to 2900 m above sea level, as well as Mexico and Central America. 🌟

Meet the Eastern Quoll! 🐨

This carnivorous marsupial is about the size of a small cat, with a body length of 45 cm, tail up to 30 cm, and weighing up to 1.5 kg.

Its Latin name, Dasyurus viverrinus, translates to "animal resembling a ferret with a bushy tail". Despite its name, the Eastern Quoll is not related to European ferrets. 🙅‍♀️

These nocturnal and solitary animals are skilled tree climbers, but usually hunt on the ground, feeding on pest insects. 🐜

Interestingly, after Australia's colonization, Eastern Quolls began to hunt domestic birds, rabbits, rats, and mice, leading farmers to eradicate them for damaging poultry farms. Today, they can only be found in Tasmania. 🌳

Deceptive Orchids and Thynnidae Wasps 🐝💐

Meet the Thynnidae wasps, a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae parasitize beetle larvae, especially scarabs. Female wasps search for beetle larvae, while males feed on nectar and act as secondary pollinators.

In this video, you'll see how orchids trick male Thynnidae wasps into thinking they're females! The male wasp pounces on the flower, covering himself in pollen, and then flies to another deceptive orchid, repeating the process.

This wasp "Casanova" unknowingly transfers pollen between orchids. What a clever trick! Interestingly, the resemblance between the flower and the wasp is minimal to humans, but wasps see in a different spectrum, making it all the more convincing! 🌟

🦌 Oryx (Oryx gazella) - a symbol of endurance and humility in East and South Africa.

This incredible creature is featured on Namibia's coat of arms. For centuries, indigenous people used oryx hides for clothing and their long, sharp horns as spear tips. 🌟

Reaching up to 1.5 meters in length, their horns are truly impressive! The oryx itself can grow up to 1.2 meters tall at the shoulder. Its distinctive black and white face mask is a striking feature. 🦌

Oryx inhabit arid regions, including deserts and semi-deserts, but can also be found in savannas. Their range spans from Ethiopia and Somalia to Namibia and South Africa. 🌍

These amazing animals feed on grasses, but can also dig up roots and enjoy wild fruits. Although they occasionally drink water, they can survive without it, getting moisture from their food. 💧

🦨 Meet the African Striped Weasel (Ictonyx striatus), the stinkiest animal after the skunk! 🤢 In this video, a pair of weasels hunt a snake.

When threatened, the weasel raises its fur, lifts its tail, and releases a smelly musky secretion from its anal glands. Like skunks, they can aim and "shoot" this secretion over long distances. 🎯

Their smell is not as pungent as the American striped skunk's, but it's still unpleasant and long-lasting. When cornered, the weasel can play dead. 💀

These carnivores mainly eat rodents, hares, large insects, and sometimes bird eggs, snakes, and other animals. In times of hunger, they'll even eat carrion. They're nocturnal, so they do most of their hunting at night. 🌃

Meet the Red Howler Monkey! 🐒

Found in the lush forests of Colombia, Ecuador, and central Bolivia, these slow-moving primates spend their days lounging in the trees, covering a distance of about 400m. 🌳

Active during the day, sleepy at night 🌃
They rest in the trees at night, and their social groups are led by an older male. But don't think it's a peaceful kingdom - other males often challenge the leader for dominance! 💪

Size matters 🤔
Males reach 50-70cm in length and weigh 6.5-8kg, while females are 45-55cm long and weigh 4.5-6.4kg.

What's on the menu? 🍔🌮
Red howler monkeys munch on peanuts, leaves, seeds, fruits, and flowers. Yum! 🍴

Fun fact: Red howler monkeys are known for their loud, thunderous calls, which can be heard up to 3 miles away! 🗣️

Meet the Grison! 🐺

The Grison (Galictis vittata) is a carnivorous mammal that inhabits the Americas, from eastern Mexico to Bolivia, Argentina, and Santa Catarina in Brazil.

Physical Characteristics:

* Body length: 45-55 cm (18-22 in)
* Tail length: 13-19 cm (5-7 in)
* Weight: 1.5-3.8 kg (3.3-8.4 lbs)
* Sleek body with short legs
* Smoky-gray back, black face, neck, and belly
* White stripe on the forehead extends to the shoulders

Defense Mechanism:

When threatened, the Grison emits a warning sound, jumps sideways, raises its tail, and releases a pungent secretion from its anal glands.

Diet and Hunting:

The Grison feeds on small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, amphibians, and fruits. It hunts alone, in pairs, or in groups, and eats its prey in a designated area.

Interesting Fact:

Grison are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 seconds! 🏊‍♀️ They are primarily ground-dwelling, but can also climb trees and bushes.

🐒 Red-faced Spider Monkey

The Red-faced Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus) is a primate living in tropical forests in northern South America. Unfortunately, they suffer from hunting and habitat destruction, making them vulnerable, according to the IUCN.

👀 Physical Characteristics

These monkeys have long black fur and a red or pink face, with a few short white hairs. Babies are born with dark faces that turn red as they mature. Their body length is approximately 55 cm, and they weigh around 9 kg. Their tail is prehensile, and their fingers and limbs are long, agile, and strong.

🍔 Diet

Red-faced Spider Monkeys are omnivores, feeding on termites, larvae, soft leaves, flowers, berries, and fruits.

📆 Lifespan

In captivity, they can live up to 33 years.

Interesting fact: Spider monkeys are known for their advanced problem-solving skills and have been observed using tools in the wild! 🤔

Meet the Crab-Eating Fox! 🦊

The Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) is a medium-sized, omnivorous mammal that inhabits the savannas and grasslands of South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to Uruguay and northern Argentina.

Physical Characteristics:

* Greyish-brown coat with reddish tints on legs, ears, and face
* Black stripe along the spine, sometimes covering the entire back
* Black tips on tail and ears
* Body length: 60-70 cm, tail length: 30 cm, height: 50 cm
* Weight: 5-8 kg

Hunting Habits:

* Nocturnal hunter, usually solitary or in pairs
* Feeds on small rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, fish, turtle eggs, insects, and crustaceans (hence the name "Crab-Eating Fox")
* Also enjoys fruits, vegetables, and berries: figs, bananas, mangoes

Interesting Fact: The Crab-Eating Fox is known for its adaptability and opportunistic diet, making it a successful species in its habitat. 🌟

🐦 Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) - a bird living in South America from Colombia to northern Argentina.

It's a semi-aquatic bird, but often grazes on land and rarely swims. Its bill resembles that of a chicken. The legs have barely visible webs between the long toes.

🔪 Two sharp spurs on the wing bend help them fight for territory. Adults reach 85 cm in length and weigh 2-3 kg. Their black-and-white plumage features a 10 cm crest on the forehead.

🗣️ Known for their extremely loud screams, they're called "screamers" in English. They can be tamed and used as guard animals, alerting with a loud call when someone approaches.

Meet the Crested Auklet! 🐦

The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a small seabird that inhabits the northern Pacific Ocean. 🌟

Diet & Habitat
These birds feed on krill and small marine animals, diving into deep waters. They breed in large colonies of up to 1 million individuals. 🌟

Unique Features
Both males and females have colorful feathers, a crest on their forehead, a citrus-like scent, and a loud trumpet call. These traits evolved due to sexual selection. 🌿

Size
They can grow up to 18-27 cm in length, 35-50 cm in wingspan, and weigh 200-330 grams. 📏

Citrus Scent
During breeding season, they emit a social scent, similar to mandarins, which can be detected by humans from 1 km away! 🍊

🐦 Meet the Anhinga, also known as the "snake bird" due to its long, slender neck that resembles a snake when swimming, with the rest of its body hidden underwater. 🌟

This large bird measures 85 cm in length, with a wingspan of 115 cm and weighs up to 1.35 kg. 📏

The name "Anhinga" comes from the Brazilian Tupi language, meaning "devil bird" or "snake-like bird". 🔥

But how does it swim fully submerged? Unlike ducks, the Anhinga can't make its feathers waterproof using oil from its preen gland, so its feathers can get completely wet, making it barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and hunt underwater prey like fish and amphibians! 🐟

After several dives, the Anhinga needs to dry its wings for a long time, similar to the cormorant. Interestingly, Anhingas don't have external nostrils and breathe only through their epiglottis! 👀

Meet the Marmoset's Diet 🐒
The diet of marmosets (Callithrix) consists mainly of tree sap and juice, but they also enjoy fruits, flowers, nectar, and insects. This little marmoset is completely puzzled by a grasshopper, thinking it's a "walking leaf" challenging reality! 🐜

Long Lifespan, High Maintenance 🕰️
Marmosets live up to 15-18 years. Unlike ordinary hamsters, they require more than just a cage, toys, and food. These social butterflies need constant interaction and quality care. You can't just leave them alone - they crave attention! 🐒

Think Twice Before Adopting 🤔
Toys and treats won't compensate for lack of attention. If neglected, marmosets get bored, then unhappy. So, think carefully before deciding to bring one home! 🏠