Asia Reference Libraries
The Daurian Hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) is a solitary small hedgehog. It is listed in Red book of Russian Federation as a protected species with an unclear status. It is generally considered to be endangered species. The IUCN lists it as "least concern". It populates the Transbaikal region of Russia (this region is sometimes called Dauria, hence the name) and Northern Mongolia. It lives...
The Water Monitor, Varanus salvator, is perhaps the most prevalent of monitor lizards in Asia. They range from Sri Lanka, India, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and various islands of Malaysia. They live mostly in tropical forested areas. These lizards grow up to 9 feet long. Their body is muscular with a long powerful tail. They are excellent swimmers, using a raised fin located on their...
The Amur Hedgehog is a hedgehog similar to Western European Hedgehog in outlook and lifestyle. It is more lightly colored. An average animal weighs from 21.16 to 35.27 oz (600 to 1000 g). It is native to Amur Krai and Primorye in Russia, Manchuria in China and the Korean peninsula. PHOTO CREDIT: Amur hedgehog in Lazov natural park, Russia
Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. There are just two species each in its own genus, which makes up the entire family Cynocephalidae and order Dermoptera. Though they are the most capable of all mammal gliders, they cannot actually fly. They are also known as cobegos or flying lemurs. Colugos are fairly large for a tree-dwelling mammal. They are about 13.78 to...
The Northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri) is a species of treeshrew found in Southeast Asia.
The Indian Porcupine or Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) is a member of the Old World porcupines. It is quite an adaptable rodent, found throughout southern Asia and the Middle East. It is tolerant of several different habitats. It lives in the mountains, tropical and subtropical grasslands, scrublands, and forests. This is a large rodent, growing more that three feet long and weighs...
The Water Buffalo is a very large ungulate (hoofed) and a member of the bovine subfamily. The Arni or Wild Buffalo survives in the wild in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam and Thailand. The domestic Buffalo are very widespread in Asia, South America, North Africa and Europe. They are feral in northern Australia. Wild-living populations also exist in much of South-east Asia...
The Corn Bunting, Miliaria calandra, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. It breeds across southern and central Europe, north Africa and Asia across to Mongolia. It is mainly resident, but some birds from colder regions of central Europe and Asia migrate southwards in winter. The Corn Bunting is a bird of open country with trees, such as farmland and weedy wasteland. Sexes...
The Ortolan, or Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana, is a bird of the bunting family Emberizidae. This bird is native to most European countries and western Asia and migrates in autumn to tropical Africa. It returns to its summer habitat in late April to early May. It can be found as far north as Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle. The Ortolan is 6.3 inches in length and weighs about...
The Green Imperial Pigeon, Ducula aenea, is a widespread resident breeding bird in tropical southern Asia from India east to Indonesia. There are a number of sub-species of this bird including the Chestnut-naped Imperial Pigeon. The Imperial Pigeon is a forest bird. Green Imperial Pigeon is a large plump pigeon, 17.7 inches in length. Its back, wings and tail are metallic green. The head...
