Scavengers Reference Libraries
The Spearfish remora, Remora brachyptera, is a remora of the family Echeneidae, found circumglobally in tropical and subtropical seas. Its length is up to (50 cm). The spearfish remora is an elongate round-bodied fish, with a large oval suction disc on top of the head. This disc is actually a highly modified first dorsal fin with a raised flattened edge that acts as a seal, and a series of...
The Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus, is one of two surviving members of the family Gavialidae. The Gharial (also known as gavial) is found in small numbers in India and other small populations in the Kaladan and Ayeyarwady River basins in Myanmar. Most gharials are adapted to calmer areas in deep fast moving rivers. They rarely leave the water and do so only to bask in the sun or nest on sandbanks...
The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a member of the canidae family (which includes dogs, wolves, and foxes) and is indigenous to East Asia. It is not a true dog, and is the only species in its genus Nyctereutes. It is named for its superficial resemblance to the non-canidae raccoon. The animal carries historical and cultural significance in Japan. Raccoon dogs are native to Japan,...
The African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus, also known as the African Hunting Dog Cape Hunting Dog, or Painted Hunting Dog, is a mammal of the Canidae family. It is related to the domestic dog. It is the only species in the canid family to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs. They are, as their name indicates, found only in Africa. They are found especially in scrub savanna and other lightly wooded...
The dog is a type of canid, a mammal in the order Carnivora. The term includes both wild (feral) and domestic variants, but commonly excludes other canids such as wolves. Over time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of variation. Intelligence Among dog lovers, dogs are generally valued for their intelligence. Both anecdotal evidence and scientific...
The coyote is a member of the Canidae (dog) family and a close relative of the domestic dog. Coyotes are native to North America and are only found from Canada south to Costa Rica. European explorers first encountered these canines during their travels in the American Southwest. They may occasionally assemble in small packs, but naturally hunt alone. Coyotes live an average of about 6 to 10...
The spotted hyena, or laughing hyena, (Crocuta crocuta) is the largest and best-known member of the hyena family. The spotted hyena ranges in size from 3.1 to 5 ft (95 to 150 cm) long along the head-and-body and stands from 2.5 to 3 ft (75 to 90 cm) at the shoulder. The normal weight range for the male is 100 to 132 lb (45 to 60 kg). The females normally weigh from 121 to 165 lb (55 to 75...
The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), also referred to simply as 'the devil', is a carnivorous marsupial now found only in the Australian island state of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Devil is the only remaining member of the genus Sarcophilus. It is the size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular. The Tasmanian Devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world. It is distinct with its...
The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial found in North America. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, it is a successful opportunist and is found throughout North America from coast to coast (introduced to California in 1910). It ranges from Central America and Mexico to southern Canada, and seems to be still expanding its range northward. It is often seen near...
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, residing in both wet and arid habitats. Like most storks, the Marabou is gregarious and a colonial breeder. In the African dry season (when food is more readily available as the pools shrink) it builds a tree nest in which two or three eggs are laid. It...
