Most Invasive Asian Carp Asian Carp can be up to three feet long and weigh 100 lbs. Asian carp are known for being easily frightened by boats and therefore often jump 8 to 10 feet in the air to escape them (3) . The Asian carp have been native to China and Vietnam for over 1,000 years. In the 1970's they were brought to the U.S. by catfish farmers in order to eat the algae in their ponds. Some escaped to the wild in the 1980's. Due to their large size and quick ability to reproduce, Asian Carp are becoming a huge problem in the Great Lakes region. Asian Carps eat an incredible amount of food and although they are not direct predators they feed on phytoplankton. If the Asian Carp are not controlled they may eventually knock out the entire bottom of the food chain and utterly disrupt the existing ecosystem of the Great Lakes (4). Beginning in 2002 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the E.P.A. have been attempting to control the population of Asian carp. In 2002 the E.P.A put up an electric fish barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal so that the Asian carp could not migrate to the Great Lakes. In 2010 DNA evidence confirmed that Silver Carp were present in Lake Michigan. The Asian Carp have been popular food in Asia for years but it has been difficult to persuade people in the U.S, to eat the carp. This is because they associate it with the common carp which is not related and tastes much worse. If the market for the Asian Carp were to expand it may become easier to control them. (5). Common Name: Asian/Silver Carp Scientific Name: Hypophthalmic molitrix Where on Earth is it a problem: The Asian carp has overwhelmed the Mississippi and Illinois River systems since is escaped from captivity in the southern US in the 1980s. In some areas, Asian carps are estimated to occupy 95% of the biomass (4). Where did it come from?: The Asian carp is native to Vietnam and parts of China. (4). Most Endangered Tapir Although tapirs look somewhat like a mix between an anteater and a pig they are actually a part of the same family as horses and rhinos. Tapirs can weigh up to 800 lbs, but they are extremely fast, agile, and are excellent swimmers. Baby tapirs have light horizontal stripes which they lose at adult hood. Tapirs in captivity can sometimes have tantrums. One tapir actually severed the arm of a zoo keeper. Tapirs enjoy spending as much time as possible under water. They have been known to walk along the bottoms of rivers, completely submerged, allowing fish to eat parasites off of them. Their typical diet includes fruits, berries, and leaves. They have been known to eat up to 40 kilograms a day (1). Adult tapirs are large enough that they have few natural predators, and the thick skin on the backs of their necks helps to protect them from threats such as jaguars, crocodiles, anacondas, and tigers. . They are also capable of running to find shelter fairly quickly. However, the new world species are now considered endangered because their habitat is being cut down and the native people hunt them for hide and occasionally for meat. To compound this problem natives have begun to hunt the tapir out of sport (1). Right now there are an estimated 3,000 tapirs left in the wild an about 200 left in captivity (11). The IUCN Red Book has now listed the taper as an endangered species. Tapirs are one easily affected by habitat change because of their large size and therefore their numbers are continually dropping (2). Common Name: Tapir Scientific Name: Tapirus indicus Where does it live?: Tapirs generally live in forests and grasslands of Central and South America. However, the Wooly Tapir lives in the Andes Mountains (1). Favorite Keystone Prairie Dogs Prairie Dogs weigh 1 1/2 to 3 lbs. The head and body are 11 to 13 inches long, with a tail length of 3 to 4 inches. Their average life span is 3 to 4 years in the wild and 8 in captivity. In order to communicate prairie dogs use high pitched barking noise. They possess a very sophisticated natural language. They have different sounds to communicate that a different predator is near. Prairie dogs can run up to 35 miles per hour for a short period. Prairie Dogs live in complex tunnels with multiple openings. These burrows have raised entrances with allows them to watch for predators. These burrows contain separate rooms used for sleeping and storing food. They are very social animals and live in family units called coteries (6). Many animals and plants depend on the prairie dog and their colonies for survival. Their burrows act as homes to other creatures, including burrowing owls, badgers, rabbits, black-footed ferrets, snakes, salamanders, and insects. Their burrowing loosens up the soil making it easier for plants to grow. Their feeding practices enable a more nutritious, diverse and nitrogen-rich mixture of grasses to grow. This new vegetation attracts wildlife which comes to graze. Prairie dogs serve as a source of food for animals such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles and badgers (7). Common Name: Black tailed prairie dog Scientific Name: Cynomys ludovicianus Where does it live?: Prairie dogs live the grasslands of North America. The black tailed prairie dog generally lives in U.S. west of the Mississippi. Prairie dogs live in a complex structure of underground tunnels known as colonies which help protect them from predators (6). Coolest Predator Adaptation Electric Ray Atlantic Torpedo Ray or Electric ray can grow to be up to 6 ft long and weigh 200 lbs. The Atlantic Ray can consumer crustaceans, mollusks, worms, eels, flounder, and small sharks. They can deliver as many as 60 pups at a time. The dorsal surface of the Atlantic torpedo is dark gray to dark brown, sometimes appearing black. White spots and darker dots may be present on the dorsal surface of this ray (8). Electric Rays are cartilaginous fish that are able to produce electricity that can reach up to 220 volts. The Atlantic Ray is the most electro-sensitive animal. This is because it has electric organs not only in its tail but on both sides of its head as well. The Electric Ray can position its tail upward in order to deter predators or downward in order to capture its prey. It has 500 to 1,000 striated muscle plaques which through muscle contraction allow it to produce an electric shock. The muscles appear as kidney shaped patches visible on both sides of its head. This ray has few natural predators due to its formidable electric capabilities and large size. Predators such as sharks and other large carnivorous fishes seldom confront electric rays. They are bottom dwelling and mostly live shallower water but have been known to live as far as 60 fathoms below. They prefer warmer water and often lie partially buried in the ocean bottom. Beach goers do not have to be frightened of the Atlantic Ray as they are not known to usually attack humans. A shock from an electric ray is extremely powerful and can cause one to lose consciousness under water (9). Common Name: Atlantic Torpedo Ray Scientific Name: Torpediniformes Where does it live?: The Atlantic torpedo occurs on both side of the North Atlantic Ocean. In the northwest Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic, it ranges from northern Scotland to tropical West Africa, including the Mediterranean (8). Coolest Prey Adaptation Horned Lizard The horned lizard is often called the “horny toad” but they are not frogs or toads. This name comes from the lizards round body and blunt snout. The back of their head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns, meaning that these horns have a bony core. They are usually desert gray with markings of tan, brown, red or yellow. Horned lizards are usually a color very close to that of the soil. In the fall Horned Lizards hibernate by burying themselves in the sand. Then in the spring they reemerge. They spend the first few hours of their day basking and the rest of it gathering food. They feed on slow moving insects such as spiders, ant, and sow bugs. The horned lizard uses many different defense mechanisms the most common of which includes camouflage. If they are spotted they will run in short bursts then stop suddenly n order to confuse the predators. The most interesting of these mechanisms is the uses of its horns. When attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes. The blood surprises the attacker and has a bitter taste to mammals but not birds. If the predator still attempts to pick up the lizard it lies straight on its back and drives it horns into the ground so it will be harder for the predator to grab it (10). Common Name: Horned lizard Scientific Name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos Where does it live?: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. They live in hot, dry, sandy environments usually in the desert (10).
Most Endangered Tapir Although tapirs look somewhat like a mix between an anteater and a pig they are actually a part of the same family as horses and rhinos. Tapirs can weigh up to 800 lbs, but they are extremely fast, agile, and are excellent swimmers. Baby tapirs have light horizontal stripes which they lose at adult hood. Tapirs in captivity can sometimes have tantrums. One tapir actually severed the arm of a zoo keeper. Tapirs enjoy spending as much time as possible under water. They have been known to walk along the bottoms of rivers, completely submerged, allowing fish to eat parasites off of them. Their typical diet includes fruits, berries, and leaves. They have been known to eat up to 40 kilograms a day (1). Adult tapirs are large enough that they have few natural predators, and the thick skin on the backs of their necks helps to protect them from threats such as jaguars, crocodiles, anacondas, and tigers. . They are also capable of running to find shelter fairly quickly. However, the new world species are now considered endangered because their habitat is being cut down and the native people hunt them for hide and occasionally for meat. To compound this problem natives have begun to hunt the tapir out of sport (1). Right now there are an estimated 3,000 tapirs left in the wild an about 200 left in captivity (11). The IUCN Red Book has now listed the taper as an endangered species. Tapirs are one easily affected by habitat change because of their large size and therefore their numbers are continually dropping (2). Common Name: Tapir Scientific Name: Tapirus indicus Where does it live?: Tapirs generally live in forests and grasslands of Central and South America. However, the Wooly Tapir lives in the Andes Mountains (1). Favorite Keystone Prairie Dogs Prairie Dogs weigh 1 1/2 to 3 lbs. The head and body are 11 to 13 inches long, with a tail length of 3 to 4 inches. Their average life span is 3 to 4 years in the wild and 8 in captivity. In order to communicate prairie dogs use high pitched barking noise. They possess a very sophisticated natural language. They have different sounds to communicate that a different predator is near. Prairie dogs can run up to 35 miles per hour for a short period. Prairie Dogs live in complex tunnels with multiple openings. These burrows have raised entrances with allows them to watch for predators. These burrows contain separate rooms used for sleeping and storing food. They are very social animals and live in family units called coteries (6). Many animals and plants depend on the prairie dog and their colonies for survival. Their burrows act as homes to other creatures, including burrowing owls, badgers, rabbits, black-footed ferrets, snakes, salamanders, and insects. Their burrowing loosens up the soil making it easier for plants to grow. Their feeding practices enable a more nutritious, diverse and nitrogen-rich mixture of grasses to grow. This new vegetation attracts wildlife which comes to graze. Prairie dogs serve as a source of food for animals such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles and badgers (7). Common Name: Black tailed prairie dog Scientific Name: Cynomys ludovicianus Where does it live?: Prairie dogs live the grasslands of North America. The black tailed prairie dog generally lives in U.S. west of the Mississippi. Prairie dogs live in a complex structure of underground tunnels known as colonies which help protect them from predators (6). Coolest Predator Adaptation Electric Ray Atlantic Torpedo Ray or Electric ray can grow to be up to 6 ft long and weigh 200 lbs. The Atlantic Ray can consumer crustaceans, mollusks, worms, eels, flounder, and small sharks. They can deliver as many as 60 pups at a time. The dorsal surface of the Atlantic torpedo is dark gray to dark brown, sometimes appearing black. White spots and darker dots may be present on the dorsal surface of this ray (8). Electric Rays are cartilaginous fish that are able to produce electricity that can reach up to 220 volts. The Atlantic Ray is the most electro-sensitive animal. This is because it has electric organs not only in its tail but on both sides of its head as well. The Electric Ray can position its tail upward in order to deter predators or downward in order to capture its prey. It has 500 to 1,000 striated muscle plaques which through muscle contraction allow it to produce an electric shock. The muscles appear as kidney shaped patches visible on both sides of its head. This ray has few natural predators due to its formidable electric capabilities and large size. Predators such as sharks and other large carnivorous fishes seldom confront electric rays. They are bottom dwelling and mostly live shallower water but have been known to live as far as 60 fathoms below. They prefer warmer water and often lie partially buried in the ocean bottom. Beach goers do not have to be frightened of the Atlantic Ray as they are not known to usually attack humans. A shock from an electric ray is extremely powerful and can cause one to lose consciousness under water (9). Common Name: Atlantic Torpedo Ray Scientific Name: Torpediniformes Where does it live?: The Atlantic torpedo occurs on both side of the North Atlantic Ocean. In the northwest Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic, it ranges from northern Scotland to tropical West Africa, including the Mediterranean (8). Coolest Prey Adaptation Horned Lizard The horned lizard is often called the “horny toad” but they are not frogs or toads. This name comes from the lizards round body and blunt snout. The back of their head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns, meaning that these horns have a bony core. They are usually desert gray with markings of tan, brown, red or yellow. Horned lizards are usually a color very close to that of the soil. In the fall Horned Lizards hibernate by burying themselves in the sand. Then in the spring they reemerge. They spend the first few hours of their day basking and the rest of it gathering food. They feed on slow moving insects such as spiders, ant, and sow bugs. The horned lizard uses many different defense mechanisms the most common of which includes camouflage. If they are spotted they will run in short bursts then stop suddenly n order to confuse the predators. The most interesting of these mechanisms is the uses of its horns. When attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes. The blood surprises the attacker and has a bitter taste to mammals but not birds. If the predator still attempts to pick up the lizard it lies straight on its back and drives it horns into the ground so it will be harder for the predator to grab it (10). Common Name: Horned lizard Scientific Name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos Where does it live?: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. They live in hot, dry, sandy environments usually in the desert (10).
Favorite Keystone Prairie Dogs Prairie Dogs weigh 1 1/2 to 3 lbs. The head and body are 11 to 13 inches long, with a tail length of 3 to 4 inches. Their average life span is 3 to 4 years in the wild and 8 in captivity. In order to communicate prairie dogs use high pitched barking noise. They possess a very sophisticated natural language. They have different sounds to communicate that a different predator is near. Prairie dogs can run up to 35 miles per hour for a short period. Prairie Dogs live in complex tunnels with multiple openings. These burrows have raised entrances with allows them to watch for predators. These burrows contain separate rooms used for sleeping and storing food. They are very social animals and live in family units called coteries (6). Many animals and plants depend on the prairie dog and their colonies for survival. Their burrows act as homes to other creatures, including burrowing owls, badgers, rabbits, black-footed ferrets, snakes, salamanders, and insects. Their burrowing loosens up the soil making it easier for plants to grow. Their feeding practices enable a more nutritious, diverse and nitrogen-rich mixture of grasses to grow. This new vegetation attracts wildlife which comes to graze. Prairie dogs serve as a source of food for animals such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles and badgers (7). Common Name: Black tailed prairie dog Scientific Name: Cynomys ludovicianus Where does it live?: Prairie dogs live the grasslands of North America. The black tailed prairie dog generally lives in U.S. west of the Mississippi. Prairie dogs live in a complex structure of underground tunnels known as colonies which help protect them from predators (6). Coolest Predator Adaptation Electric Ray Atlantic Torpedo Ray or Electric ray can grow to be up to 6 ft long and weigh 200 lbs. The Atlantic Ray can consumer crustaceans, mollusks, worms, eels, flounder, and small sharks. They can deliver as many as 60 pups at a time. The dorsal surface of the Atlantic torpedo is dark gray to dark brown, sometimes appearing black. White spots and darker dots may be present on the dorsal surface of this ray (8). Electric Rays are cartilaginous fish that are able to produce electricity that can reach up to 220 volts. The Atlantic Ray is the most electro-sensitive animal. This is because it has electric organs not only in its tail but on both sides of its head as well. The Electric Ray can position its tail upward in order to deter predators or downward in order to capture its prey. It has 500 to 1,000 striated muscle plaques which through muscle contraction allow it to produce an electric shock. The muscles appear as kidney shaped patches visible on both sides of its head. This ray has few natural predators due to its formidable electric capabilities and large size. Predators such as sharks and other large carnivorous fishes seldom confront electric rays. They are bottom dwelling and mostly live shallower water but have been known to live as far as 60 fathoms below. They prefer warmer water and often lie partially buried in the ocean bottom. Beach goers do not have to be frightened of the Atlantic Ray as they are not known to usually attack humans. A shock from an electric ray is extremely powerful and can cause one to lose consciousness under water (9). Common Name: Atlantic Torpedo Ray Scientific Name: Torpediniformes Where does it live?: The Atlantic torpedo occurs on both side of the North Atlantic Ocean. In the northwest Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic, it ranges from northern Scotland to tropical West Africa, including the Mediterranean (8). Coolest Prey Adaptation Horned Lizard The horned lizard is often called the “horny toad” but they are not frogs or toads. This name comes from the lizards round body and blunt snout. The back of their head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns, meaning that these horns have a bony core. They are usually desert gray with markings of tan, brown, red or yellow. Horned lizards are usually a color very close to that of the soil. In the fall Horned Lizards hibernate by burying themselves in the sand. Then in the spring they reemerge. They spend the first few hours of their day basking and the rest of it gathering food. They feed on slow moving insects such as spiders, ant, and sow bugs. The horned lizard uses many different defense mechanisms the most common of which includes camouflage. If they are spotted they will run in short bursts then stop suddenly n order to confuse the predators. The most interesting of these mechanisms is the uses of its horns. When attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes. The blood surprises the attacker and has a bitter taste to mammals but not birds. If the predator still attempts to pick up the lizard it lies straight on its back and drives it horns into the ground so it will be harder for the predator to grab it (10). Common Name: Horned lizard Scientific Name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos Where does it live?: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. They live in hot, dry, sandy environments usually in the desert (10).
Coolest Predator Adaptation Electric Ray Atlantic Torpedo Ray or Electric ray can grow to be up to 6 ft long and weigh 200 lbs. The Atlantic Ray can consumer crustaceans, mollusks, worms, eels, flounder, and small sharks. They can deliver as many as 60 pups at a time. The dorsal surface of the Atlantic torpedo is dark gray to dark brown, sometimes appearing black. White spots and darker dots may be present on the dorsal surface of this ray (8). Electric Rays are cartilaginous fish that are able to produce electricity that can reach up to 220 volts. The Atlantic Ray is the most electro-sensitive animal. This is because it has electric organs not only in its tail but on both sides of its head as well. The Electric Ray can position its tail upward in order to deter predators or downward in order to capture its prey. It has 500 to 1,000 striated muscle plaques which through muscle contraction allow it to produce an electric shock. The muscles appear as kidney shaped patches visible on both sides of its head. This ray has few natural predators due to its formidable electric capabilities and large size. Predators such as sharks and other large carnivorous fishes seldom confront electric rays. They are bottom dwelling and mostly live shallower water but have been known to live as far as 60 fathoms below. They prefer warmer water and often lie partially buried in the ocean bottom. Beach goers do not have to be frightened of the Atlantic Ray as they are not known to usually attack humans. A shock from an electric ray is extremely powerful and can cause one to lose consciousness under water (9). Common Name: Atlantic Torpedo Ray Scientific Name: Torpediniformes Where does it live?: The Atlantic torpedo occurs on both side of the North Atlantic Ocean. In the northwest Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic, it ranges from northern Scotland to tropical West Africa, including the Mediterranean (8). Coolest Prey Adaptation Horned Lizard The horned lizard is often called the “horny toad” but they are not frogs or toads. This name comes from the lizards round body and blunt snout. The back of their head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns, meaning that these horns have a bony core. They are usually desert gray with markings of tan, brown, red or yellow. Horned lizards are usually a color very close to that of the soil. In the fall Horned Lizards hibernate by burying themselves in the sand. Then in the spring they reemerge. They spend the first few hours of their day basking and the rest of it gathering food. They feed on slow moving insects such as spiders, ant, and sow bugs. The horned lizard uses many different defense mechanisms the most common of which includes camouflage. If they are spotted they will run in short bursts then stop suddenly n order to confuse the predators. The most interesting of these mechanisms is the uses of its horns. When attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes. The blood surprises the attacker and has a bitter taste to mammals but not birds. If the predator still attempts to pick up the lizard it lies straight on its back and drives it horns into the ground so it will be harder for the predator to grab it (10). Common Name: Horned lizard Scientific Name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos Where does it live?: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. They live in hot, dry, sandy environments usually in the desert (10).
Coolest Prey Adaptation Horned Lizard The horned lizard is often called the “horny toad” but they are not frogs or toads. This name comes from the lizards round body and blunt snout. The back of their head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns, meaning that these horns have a bony core. They are usually desert gray with markings of tan, brown, red or yellow. Horned lizards are usually a color very close to that of the soil. In the fall Horned Lizards hibernate by burying themselves in the sand. Then in the spring they reemerge. They spend the first few hours of their day basking and the rest of it gathering food. They feed on slow moving insects such as spiders, ant, and sow bugs. The horned lizard uses many different defense mechanisms the most common of which includes camouflage. If they are spotted they will run in short bursts then stop suddenly n order to confuse the predators. The most interesting of these mechanisms is the uses of its horns. When attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes. The blood surprises the attacker and has a bitter taste to mammals but not birds. If the predator still attempts to pick up the lizard it lies straight on its back and drives it horns into the ground so it will be harder for the predator to grab it (10). Common Name: Horned lizard Scientific Name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos Where does it live?: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. They live in hot, dry, sandy environments usually in the desert (10).