Biology Reference Libraries
Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) is also known as elaphure or as the milu and is not present in the wild today. In the wild, it was native to the subtropics of China, where it preferred marshland habitats. It is a semiaquatic species that is the sole living member of its genus Elaphurus. This species is closely related to the genus Cervus, and some experts have suggested merging...
The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis), also known as the pygmy hippo, is native to western areas of Africa. Its range includes Liberia, with smaller populations occurring in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. It prefers a habitat in swamps and forests, where a body of water is available to keep its skin moisturized. It is a semi-aquatic creature, and...
Rüppell's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus fumigatus) is native to Africa, with a range that includes Cameroon, Gambia, Kenya, and Senegal, among many other areas. It prefers a habitat within tropical and subtropical arid forests and arid or moist savannahs. It will typically roost in caves or underground structures. It is thought that colonies residing in southern Africa are smaller than those in...
Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) can be found in areas of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and has a fragmented range. It lives in caves, with a preference for limestone caves with a nearby body of water. It will sometimes roost with other species of horseshoe bats within these caves. It is a medium sized bat, with pale lips and dense fur. The fur is typically whitish gray in...
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) can be found in the European Alps. It is locally known as the Steinbock in German, the bouquetin in French, the kozorog in Slovenian, and the stambecco in Italian. Its range was once restricted to Northern Italy in the Gran Paradiso National Park, but now comprises nearly all of the European Alps including France, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, and Switzerland....
The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius), also known as the Arabian camel, is a completely domesticated species that appears on the IUCN Red List with a conservation status of “Domesticated”. It is thought that when wild, its native range was mainly in the Arabian Peninsula. It can now be found in South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The only dromedary camels that display wild...
The greater short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx), also known as the short-nosed Indian fruit bat, is a megabat that is native to southeastern and southern areas of Asia. Its range includes Pakistan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, China, and Cambodia, among other areas. It prefers to reside in tropical habitats, where humans grow fruit as crops, but it will live in mangrove forests and...
The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is native to the central areas of North America, where it is also known as the prong buck, or pronghorn antelope and antelope, although it only resembles true antelopes. The pronghorn is the only remaining species in the Antilocapridae family, which once held five other species. Its range stretches throughout the United States, and starts in Alberta and...
The mouflon (Ovis aries orientalis) is classified as a subspecies group within the Ovis aries group. The other members of this group are known as urials, or the vignei group. It is thought that the mouflon is the ancestor to all domestic sheep. There are currently five recognized subspecies of the mouflon. This species can be found in the Caucasus, northwestern Iran, and northern areas of Iraq....
The argali (Ovis ammon), also known as the mountain sheep, is native to Central Asia. Its range includes Tibet, Altay, and Himalaya. Its range extends from Kazakhstan in the west, east to Shanxi Province in China. It also extends from Altai Mountains in the north, south to the Himalayas. It prefers a habitat in the highlands of these regions, at elevations between 980 and 19,000 feet. Its...
