Most Invasive The Nile Perch is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Most of the fish is silver with somewhat of a blue tinge and big black eyes that have little bright yellow outer rings. These fish can live anywhere where there is freshwater but they like warm tropical waters the most (3). They belong to a family of fish named the Centropomidae (1). The Nile Perch will also eat any living thing in the water to stay alive (3). The Nile Perch is a giant fish that can reach lengths up to 6 feet and can weigh over 500 pounds. This huge fish eats a lot of food and as it gets bigger the food it eats get bigger with it. The female Nile Perch is found to be larger than the males but they are both huge (3). This species becomes sexually mature at approximately 3 years old. It can also live up to 13 years after that which means lots of babies. Female Nile Perch can produce an amount of 16 million eggs everytime it spawns. After these eggs are fertilized they are left alone to fend for themselves (1) The fish mostly breed between March and June, this is the peak of breeding. Eggs only take 20 hours to hatch after being left alone (3). Common Name: Nile Perch Scientific Name: Lates Niloticus Where on Earth is it a problem: The Nile Perch has been introduced to a Lake in Africa named Lake Victoria where many fish species have become extinct. A large number of the species were endemic and can not be found anywhere else in the world.(1) British authorities wanted to create a fishery that would produce money so they added these huge fish. The fish have since then completely wiped out fish species and most of the older Nile Perch eat the younger ones. Also, because of high oil content in the fish they go bad quickly so that have to be smoked. This is causing deforestation in the area.(2) Where did it come from?: The Nile Perch originates from the Afrotropic ecozone. This includes Africa below the Sahara desert, southern and eastern parts of Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, Southern Iran, southwestern Pakistan, and Islands of the western Indian Ocean. It is also found in the Congo River, the Nile River, the Senegal River, the Volta River, Lake Chad, and Lake Maryut.
Most Endangered The Goliath Birdeater Tarantula is the 2nd largest spider in the world and the largest species of tarantula. The Leg span of this arachnid can reach up to 12 inches (5). It has one-inch-long fangs that can inject poison that will cause sweating, nausea, and severe pain. It can also release urticating hairs that are almost invisible to the naked eye and can cause irritation to areas around the mouth and eyes. From up to 15 feet away you can hear the spider creating a hissing noise by the rubbing of its leg hairs.The Tarantulas can eat frogs, insects, lizards, small snakes, bats, and Rodents. It has also been seen catching and eating young birds, which is how it received its name (6). Tarantulas do not have muscles to use for movement. Instead they use a system of hydraulics found within their body. There is pressurized fluid that moves the joints (4). When a Male tries to mate with a female it will try to lead her out of her burrow and use his hooks to keep her fangs away while mating. After the male has finished mating it must quickly run away or the female will kill him. Around 50% of males are killed or hurt when trying to mate (5). Common Name: Goliath Birdeater Tarantula Scientific Name: Theraphosa Leblondi Where does it live?: This spider lives in tropical areas on the Earth including rain forests of Brazil, South America, Chile, Mexico, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela (4). They prefer to live in swampy areas found within the forests they live in. The Goliath will burrow deep holes near trees or live in holes that they have found. A male spider will only travel from their burrow to find a mate and females will only leave it for a little time to eat (7).
Favorite Keystone Gopher Tortoises are important parts of their habitats. Their burrows are used by more than 250 different animals like indigo snakes, mice, foxes, lizards, frogs, and multiple other species. The Gopher Tortoise will dig a burrow and live in it like a home. This home will protect them from the hot and cold temperatures. The tortoise rarely has to drink water and when it does it will catch water in its burrow with its flipper. They will feed on small plants or dead animals. This needed species is becoming endangered because of loss of habitat though to humans (10). Their burrows can be up to 8 feet deep and 15 feet long. The shape of the burrow is the same oval shape of the tortoise (8). Hatchlings will spend their first winter in the mother's burrow until it can dig it's own. The clutch size of the Gopher Tortoise is from a range of 3 to 15 eggs. Their mating season is April to June (9). They will reach sexual maturity between 12 and 15 and you can tell the difference between a male and a female because males have a concave plastron and female's are flat (10). Common Name: Gopher Tortoise Scientific Name: Gopherus Polyphemus Where does it live?: These reptiles like dry land that has soil that is well-drained so they can dig burrows in the ground. Habitats in which they live provide the tortoise with food, sunny nesting areas, egg incubation, and basking. Areas that have these preferences include the Volusia County in Florida where pine flatwoods, xeric oak, sand pine, scrub oak, agricultural land, coastal dune, and scrub (8). They also reside in southern Alabama, South Carolina, Lousiana, Mississippi, and Georgia. Humans are causing the range of the Gopher Tortoise to diminish in size though (9).
Coolest Predator Adaptation Golden Eagles reach lengths of 3 feet, they can weigh up to 15 pounds, and have a wingspan of 7 feet. Golden Eagles are larger than bald eagle in height and wingspan but they are same in weight. They can live up to 20 years old. The Golden Eagle will also most likely stay in its nest the whole year but may move if little food in winter. They have amazing hunting abilities that make it so they don't have to migrate (11). This large bird could also eat cranes, domestic livestock, or ungulates but prefers small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, hares, or prairie dogs. It is the emblem for Germany, Austria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Albania.The Bird can even dive towards its prey at speeds of 200 miles per hour. While the bird is in the sky it will do aerial stunts for fun(12 Common Name: Golden Eagle Scientific Name: Aquila Chrysaetos Where does it live?: Golden Eagles can be found in North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The bird is usually found in remote areas like mountains, canyonlands, rimrock terrain, and cliffs and bluffs.. They like to live in open or semiopen areas with developed areas and vastly forested areas. The Golden eagle likes to nest in grasslands, chapparals, shrublands, and forests (12).
Coolest Prey Adaptation These fish have 13 spines along their backs that when pressure is exerted on them the fin will release poison that is one of the deadliest in the world. If a human accidently steps on one of these they can be killed. But it doesn't just have poison, it even camouflages by staying half buried in rock crevices or near stones (14). The can grow up to a length of 40cm and will live for about 5 to 10 years. The Stonefish female will release millions of eggs into the water but few live to maturity. Many fish eat the eggs after they are released. Sharks and Rays are the stonefish's predators and the stonefish are often found in tiger sharks or white sharks. In order to protect itself against these predators they have developed the venemous spines on its back (15). The stonefish will eat mainly fishes and few crustacea. They will do this by waiting for the prey to swim by it and the stoenfish will then strike at the small fish with incredible speed (16). Common Name: Stonefish Scientific Name: Synanceia Verrucosa Where does it live?: The Stonefish range is above the tropic of capricorn in areas like Indo-Pacific region, Northern Australia, the Red Sea and the eastern side of Africa. It will disguise itself like a cockalacus stone next to a coral reef or lie dormant in the mud (13).