Millet's Shrew

The Millet's Shrew is slightly smaller than the Common Shrew. They have reddish brown flanks, pale underparts and its tail is about 2/3 the length of the head and body. Occupies scrub and well-vegetated grass habitats, preferring drier and warmer sites than those frequented by the Common Shrew.



Size: body 6-8cm; tail 3.5-4.5cm

Young: up to four litters of 3-7

Diet: ground-dwelling invertebrates; seeds

Status: common

Spanish Ibex

The Spanish Ibex is the mountain goats of most spanish mountain ranges. Their horns curve back,flared out and are not prominently ribbed. The coat has colour contrasts, but this and the horns vary between populations!! They occupy the high mountain zone usually above the tree-line.

The picture on the right is two males fighting during the rut.

Size: body 1.2-1.5m; tail 12-15cm

Young: single litter of 1-2; April-May

Diet: montane grasses, herbs, dwarf shrubs and lichens

Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED; rare

European Bison

Reintroduced from captive stock following its extinction in the wild in the early 20th century. The European Bison resembles a hump-backed domestic cow. Its dark brown fur which turns into a mane, especially in the bulls. These animals are mainly nocturnal and the bulls are solitary and the cows travel in herds, only coming together during the rut in August. They are fond of extensive deciduous forests, with open glades for grazing; also in mountain pastures and marshland. In Europe there are very few places where they are found, but they are found mainly Eastern Europe.

Size: body 2.5-2.7m; tail 60-90cm

Young: single calf; May-June

Diet: trees, shrubs, grasses and herbs; also acorns, beechmast and bark in winter

Status: ENDANGERED; rare

Get close to this big guy!!!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVlwnXLlKlU

Golden Jackal

Very similar in shape to a dog, the Golden Jackal is medium in size between the Wolf and the Red Fox. Its sandy grey coat, often tinged red, provides it a very good camouflage in its arid habitats. Largely nocturnal, jackals spend the day hiding in thick vegetation or in a burrow. They do howl communally, but have a clearer and less mellow tone than wolves. They roam over semi-arid, open grassland, cultivated areas and marshes. They are found in Europe but mainly in Greece and further NE of Greece.

Size: body 65-100cm; tail 20-30cm

Young: single litter of 4-6; May-June

Diet: rodents, birds, fruit, insects and carrion, including scraps from human refuse

Status: locally common

This video shows a golden jackal take on vultures bigger than him!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG-WUOqDe1Y

Mehely's Horseshoe-bat

These bats are quite large and a pale species. Their flying technique is a slow gliding flight. When they are in their cave roost their wings do not cover their body completely envelop its body. They are a poorly known species, distributed in a number of discrete populations. They are found mainly in limestone areas, especially with access to water and large caves for roosting. In Europe they are found in Portugal, S.Spain, S.France and some in Greece.

Size: body 5.5-6.5cm; tail 2.5-3cm

Wingspan: 33-34cm

Young: single young; June-August

Diet: moths and other insects

Ecoholocation: 105kHz

Status: VULNERABLE, rare and declining.

Barbary Ape

The Barbary Ape is the only wild primate in Europe! This monkey is one of the few tail-less monkey species. It has brown shaggy fur, deep brow and of course opposable thumbs. The current population on the Rock of Gibraltar is probably an introduced group. Their habitat is on dry rocky, scrubby hillsides on the Rock of Gibraltar.

Size: body 60-70cm; shoulder height 45cm

Young: single young; born in summer

Diet: omnivorous: feeds on fruit, leaves, bark, insects, reptiles and small mammals

Status: VULNERABLE; six troops numbering some 150 animals (in Europe)

Watch this video and see how a Barbary Ape gets on eating a lollipop!!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0by-6sdCtTU

Humpback Whale

The Humpback Whale is one of the easier whales to identify. It is recognised for its dive sequence- the steepness of the dive is such that the tail flukes are raised out of the water, revealing its white undersides. When they come up to the surface for air, they can blow the water out of them 3m in the air!!! Their habitat is usually shallow waters; breed in the Tropics and move to the Artic waters during Summer.

Size: 11-18m

Young: single young; any female breeds only every two or three years.

Diet: small schooling fish and large invertebrates

Status: VULNERABLE; scarce to rare inshore

Voice of a Humpback Whale:

http://www.dosits.org/gallery/marinemm/2.htm

Raccoon

In europe they are mainly found in Germany due to being introduced by N.America in 1934. The combination of a black face mask and bushy tail, ringed with black and white strips are unique. Largely nocturnal, Raccoons spend the day in a den in a tree-hole or rock crevice. They do swim and climb well and exploit a range of food!! Their habiat is mostly woodland close to water.

Size: body 50-70cm; tail 20-25cm

Young: single litter of 2-5; March-May

Diet: rodents, fish, shellfish, insects, fruit and cereals; scavenges from bins

Status: scarce but increasing in Germany; in N.America locally common

Look at this video to hear and see a baby Raccoon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hgj0e1xoqY&feature=related

Western Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are mostly recognised for their spines(which are about 3cm long). These spines are actually just very hard hair!!! They have entered most cities around the world mainly in peoples gardens. The three hedgehog species barely overlap in distribution, with the Western Hedehog occupying western and nortern Europe. The underside of these hedgehogs varies in places; in the North are dark brown, pale cream in the South. They are quite noisy foragers and are largely nocturnal. This hedgehog does hibernate in nests of dry grass and leaves. Its habitat is usually in lowland grassland and open woods; found a lot in gardens where they perform valuable role in pest control.

Size: body 20-30cm; tail 1-4cm

Young: one or two litters of up to six; June-September

Diet: earthworms, slugs, beetles and other invertebrates; birds' eggs and nestlings; carrion, some plant material and fungi.

Status: common

Walrus

Walrus are the largest of the European pinnipeds(carnivorous aquatic mammal). The main feature are their tusks, on males these can grow up to 7cm long. The tusks allow them to haul themselves onto the ice so they can eat, in social displays, to kill seals and to defend against polar bears. These animals are found in huge herds; the pups are born dark grey, before they moult into their brown coat. Found on northern coastlines, near packs of ice on which they breed on.

Size: males 2.8-3.6m; females 2.5-3m

Young: single litter of 1-2; April-June: females only breed every two or three years!!

Diet: molluscs, seals, crustaceans and fish

Status: locally common; but are still recovering from near-extincion in the 1950s

http://www.dosits.org/gallery/marinemm/26.htm

Elk

The elk, or moose as it is known in N.America. They are really large, long-legged and almost tailess deer, that has a dark grey-brown coat! A very distinct facial part is the end of their muzzle which looks like its inflated. This inflated muzzle is overlaping their mouth. The horns on a male elk generally have flattered, spreading antlers. Their habitat is mostly in northern forests and feed in open ground.

Size: body 2-2.8m; tail 5-10cm

Young: single litter of 1-3; May-June

Diet: browses on trees, shrubs and bark; also in wetland and lake vegetation usually during the summer.

Status: locally common

Hazel Dormouse

A small and orange-brown rodent, the hazel dormouse is nocturnal and hibernates from October to April in a tightly curled position to conserve warmth. They are very sensitive to the cold. The nest is made up of woven grass, moss and bark strips in the shape of a sphere. These nests are positioned in dense undergrowth or in tree forks or nesting boxes. Their paws have unique pads that they use to give them extra grip on trees!!! Occasionally have a white tip at the end of their long tail. Their habitat is usually deciduous woodland.

Size: body 6-9cm tail 5.5-8cm

Young: one or two litters of 4-7, June-August

Diet: flowers, insects and fruit that is seasonally available in its habitat.

Status: near-threatened; scarce and declining due to habitat destruction!!

Norway Lemming

These rodents display "boom and bust" population dynamics, typical of many Artic species. When densities are high nd food resources scarce, mass emigrations take place. Thy are active by night and day. The variable black, brown and yellowish pattern and almost tailess body is unmistakable.

Size: body 10-15cm tail 1-2cm

Young: two to six litters of up to 12; April-October

Diet: grazes and browses grasses, sedges, dwarf shrubs and mosses.

Status: common, but fluctuates in density!!!

Risso's Dolphin

A bulky species with a rather bulbous forehead. These dolphins are usually a pale grey colour (right), although this colour fades with age. The skin is fequently marked with extensive pale scars!! Its dorsal fin is relatively long and slender. Very social animals and can create a herd of a hundred or more!!!! Like many dolphins they do ride the waves of boats.

Size: 3.3-3.8m

Young: single calf, born April-September

Diet: squid, octopus, cuttlefish and small fish

Status: scarce, though very locally common.

Iberian Lynx

A little smaller and more densely spotted than the lynx, the Iberian lynx is one of the most rarest european mammals. They are found in about 12 isolated populations, which are all small!! Their habitat is in open mediterranean woodland and scrub rocky places, sand dunes and they avoid cultivated areas. Found within Europe in S.Spain!!

Size: body 80-110cm, tail 10-15cm

Young: single litter of 2-3, May-June

Diet: rabbits, hares, young deer and ground-dwelling birds

Status: ENDANGERED; rare and declining as a result of habitat loss.

Leathery Turtle

They are the only cool-water sea turtle. They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans this makes them the most widely spread reptile in the world!!!! They maintain their body temperature by swimming actively and then conserving heat generated by the muscles with a thick layer of fat. Their backs are covered in leathery skin!!

Size: shell 2.9m long

Young: usually breeds only in Tropics

Diet: jellyfish and sea squirts

Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED and are rare

Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard is infact not a leopard but is classified all by itself. It does have a similar skull and teeth to those of big cats such as lions and tigers. However they are unable to roar loudly like its cousins and its looks are more like smaller cats. They are excellent tree climbers their paws are very flexible and their tails act as a great counterbalance!!! They mainly hunt on the ground on wild pigs, deer and cattle.

Population: unknown but no more than a few thousand.

Distribution: SE.Asia

Habitat: Dense mountain forest

Size: head/body: 75-110cm tail: 90-150cm

Weight: 16-30kg

Diet: deer, cattle, goats, wild pigs, monkeys, reptiles and birds which are stalked or ambushed during the night and day.

Breeding: usually 2-4 young born March-August. they can live up to 17 years in captivity.

THESE ARE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pine Marten

They have a lean and thread like body shape, long legs and a long bushy tail. It is well adapted to hunting in trees. They are nocturnal and make dens in holes and crevices in rocks and trees. The pale patch at the front can be a cream to pale orange. They are found all over most of Europe!!


Size: body 40-55cm tail 18-25cm

Young: have a single litter of 3-5, April-May

Diet: Rodents(mainly squirrels), frgs, birds and eggs fruit, berries, honey and fungi

Status: locally common

Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcons are found across the top of the world in N.America, N.Europe and N.Russia.They are adapted to their enviroment with their white feathers which keep them warm and hidden!
They migrate during the winter to more temperate zones. They hunt on lemmings(which are like small black and orange guinea pigs), grouse(pheasant) and other small animals!!!

Length: 61cm
Wing span: 1.3m
Eggs: 2-6

THESE BIRDS ARE BECOMING RARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!