The Palos Verdes blue butterfly is a subspecies of silvery blue butterfly. It is one of the rarest butterflies native to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, California. The IUCN listed it as endangered in 1980 because of habitat destruction, climate change, and non-native plant invasion.
Miami Blue is a rare butterfly native to Florida, particularly the Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges in the Florida Keys. It is one of the most endangered butterflies in the United States.
The island marble butterfly is next on our list of rare butterflies. It is native to the San Juan Islands, Washington State. The species' preferred habitats are open grasslands, native prairie, fields, pastures, gravel pits, lagoon margins, marine beaches, and dunes.
Schaus’ swallowtail is among the rarest butterflies in the United States and South Florida. The critically endangered species started going extinct in 1924 because of habitat loss, insecticide use, over-collection, and housing development. A few hundred existed in 1972 until a local mosquito control district sprayed insecticides, Dibrom and Baytex.
Ruddy Daggeerwing is a rare butterfly native to Florida, Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and South America. Its upper wings are bright orange with black outlines, while the underside is brown and black.
You might think that buffalos and bison are the same animals, but they are distinct species. The American bison, also sometimes called the American buffalo, inhabits the grasslands of North and South America, while the buffalo live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
The African buffalo is one of the largest land mammals2, weighing up to 2,866 pounds or 1,300 kilograms. Moreover, the common buffalo stands 1.7 meters tall and measures 3.4 meters long. Its features help it survive the rigors of its environment.
Despite their intimidating appearance, buffalos are generally gentle and pleasant. They use their strength to protect their herds rather than to intimidate others1.
The gestation period of buffalo mothers lasts nearly 11 months, with the mating season aligned with the onset of the rainy season, which provides abundant resources, such as lush vegetation and water.
Despite their size, buffaloes are skilled swimmers. They can swim gracefully and efficiently in the water, floating through their fat-filled bodies, which act like natural life jackets.
Wild buffalos can live for two decades, influenced by various factors such as food availability, diseases, predation pressures, and longevity. On the other hand, captive buffalos in zoos, national parks, or farms live for 25 years due to regular feeding and protection from threats.
While it may seem leisurely, wallowing in mud helps buffalo survive in their habitats. Since the massive buffalo generate a lot of heat, mud baths help regulate their body temperature, similar to personal air conditioning systems. The mud also protects their skin against the harsh sun.
Next on our buffalo facts list: Besides their strength and social behaviors, African buffaloes communicate herd decisions by voting. Female buffalos vote in fair, democratic elections to decide where the herd goes next.
Like elephants, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) can remember past events, particularly negative ones. However, if the elephant doesn't forget, the buffalo never forgives.
Despite its role in balancing the ecosystem, the buffalo faces various threats. One example is the Asian water buffalo, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified as 'Endangered.' Hunters have killed them for their horns and meat, while human settlements and agriculture have destroyed their natural habitat.
The African savannah is home to the impressive Cape Buffalo, easily distinguishable from other subspecies due to its dark brown to almost black coat. These herbivores live in sub-Saharan Africa's grasslands, swamps, forests, and national parks.
The African Dwarf Buffalo, also called the Forest Buffalo, lives in the rainforests of Central and West Africa1. This species stands at a shoulder height of about 3.6 feet and has a weight range of 551 to 705 pounds, smaller than its counterparts.
