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Username: Bobita Published on 2024-12-22 18:55:30 ID NUMBER: 127682
Different caterpillar species have evolved to feed on specific host plants1, a fact often reflected in their common names. For example, the Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar feeds exclusively on a milkweed plant5, while the Swallowtail Caterpillar consumes plants from the Apiaceae (carrot) family.
However, few caterpillar species have evolved to be carnivorous or omnivorous. These caterpillars have adaptations that allow them to eat insects or other small animals. Examples of carnivorous caterpillars include the Harvester Caterpillar, which feeds on aphids, a favorite of the ladybug, and the Lacewing Caterpillar, which preys on small insects.
These large hairy spiders are facing threats to their survival, primarily due to habitat destruction. As humans clear forests for various purposes, tarantulas lose their homes and food sources, pushing some species toward extinction.
Additionally, the exotic pet trade poses another danger. The high demand for pet tarantulas leads to their capture from the wild, resulting in declining populations. In response to the declining population, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to protect 11 species already considered threatened and endangered.
These species are the following: Poecilotheria formosa, Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica (endangered), Poecilotheria metallica (critically endangered and highly sought after in the global pet trade), Poecilotheria miranda, Poecilotheria rufilata, Poecilotheria striata, Poecilotheria fasciata, Poecilotheria ornate (near threatened), Poecilotheria pederseni, Poecilotheria smithi (vulnerable), and Poecilotheria subfusca (near threatened).
Conservation efforts also focus on captive breeding programs to meet the demand for pet tarantulas without harming wild populations.
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One interesting fact about ladybugs is that not all are red with black spots. There are about 6,000 species of ladybugs worldwide, spread across various areas.
Generally, the most common ladybug or lady beetle is the one with red and black hues. This is the seven-spotted ladybug, a native species to Europe. Apart from the seven spotted ladybugs and seven spotted lady beetle, you'll also find ladybugs in nearly all bright colors of the rainbow. We have red and black beetles and some ladybugs in pink, orange, brown, yellow, and black hues.
The ladybug’s body can also be an ashy gray or dull brown color. Apart from differences in ladybug hues, their patterns also vary. Spotted ladybugs tend to be the most popular. However, some of these insects have stripes, while others have no pattern at all.
Did you know that there are five species of rhino? There are two African rhino species (white and black rhinos), and the remaining are Asian rhino species (Indian, Sumatran, and Javan).
White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum): White rhinos are the largest rhino species, with two horns, the front one usually longer. They live in southern Africa, mainly South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis): Black rhinos have pointed upper lips and two horns. They are more solitary and aggressive behavior compared to the white rhino. Historically, black rhino populations ranged across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Still, due to poaching and habitat loss, their numbers have drastically declined, and they are now mainly found in eastern and southern Africa.
Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis): The Indian rhinos, or greater one-horned rhinos, are the second-largest rhino species and have a single horn. They live in grasslands and swamps in Nepal and northeastern India.
Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis): The Sumatran rhino is the smallest and most critically endangered rhino species. They have thick, reddish-brown hair and two horns. Their populations scatter across fragmented forests in Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo) and Malaysia.
Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus): The Javan rhino is the world's most critically endangered mammal and has a single horn, typically shorter than the Indian rhino's horn. Javan rhinos are found only on the island of Java in Indonesia (specifically in Ujung Kulon National Park), with a tiny population also existing in Vietnam's Cat Tien National Park.
Three subspecies of modern rhinos have tragically become extinct due to different threats.
Western Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes): It was declared extinct in 2011 by IUCN. The primary reason for its extinction was rampant poaching for its valuable horn. Loss of habitat due to human encroachment and conflict with humans also contributed to its decline.
Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni): The last male of this subspecies died in 2018, leaving only two surviving females, making it functionally extinct. Poaching for their horns decimated their population.
Vietnamese Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) became extinct in 2011. The primary cause of its extinction was also poaching for its rhino horn, driven by the demand for traditional medicine and illegal wildlife trade. This subspecies was restricted to the Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam, making it one of the world's rarest and most critically endangered mammals.
Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have a robust build and broad face, distinguishing them from their Sumatran and Tapanuli counterparts. These adaptations emerged to help them avoid predators and survive on different food sources. Bornean orangutans spend more time on the ground and have heavier bodies than other species.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List has placed all three orangutan species on the endangered species list. Today, the decline in their populations poses a clear danger to countless other species sharing their habitat.
Goliath frog, (Conraua goliath), West African frog inhabiting dense lowland rainforests and a few fast-moving rivers and waterfalls in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Classified in the family Conrauidae, it is best known as the world’s largest frog species. Males and females grow as long as 32 cm (12.6 inches), and the largest adults (which are often females) weigh 3 kg (6.6 pounds) or more. The goliath frog is an endangered species whose population has declined because of hunting and capture as well as its specific habitat and food requirements and narrow tolerance limits, which make it vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation.
The goliath frog’s geographic range extends from southwestern Cameroon south across the northern half of Río Muni (Continental Equatorial Guinea). It inhabits clear, warm rivers whose temperature hovers near 19.4 °C (67 °F) and nearby riverbanks and humid, undisturbed old-growth or secondary-growth forests (see also secondary succession). The species prefers waters that are highly oxygenated but slightly acidic.
Human activities have led to the introduction of many invasive species in the Everglades National Park. Some of the non-native floral species that are found here include the Australian melaleuca tree, Old World climbing fern, Chinese privet, and Brazilian peppertree. The invasive faunal species include the Asiatic clam, lobate lac scale insect, bromeliad beetle, Mayan cichlid, walking catfish, Cuban tree frog, Monk parakeet, Burmese python, Nile monitor, and wild boar. To prevent new invasions and to keep the invasive species in check, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was introduced by the US Government in 2000. In addition to these introduced plant and animal species, the Everglades National Park is also threatened by urban development, water diversion, pollution, and agricultural expansion.
