Within the framework of this section, we consider the most interesting, unusual, strange and little-known animals from around the world and provide brief interesting information about them.
Andean rock cockerel
The Andean Rock Cockerel (or Peruvian Rock Cockerel) is one of the unofficial symbols of Peru. A notable feature of these birds is an arched crest, stretching from the back of the head to the beak and almost completely covering it. In females, this comb is smaller.
Andean rock bettas have a compact body with strong legs. Among them, two subspecies are distinguished:
- Rupicola peruviana aequatorialis – orange males, orange-brown females;
- Rupicola peruviana sanguiolenta – males are bright scarlet, females are dark red or chestnut.
Males reach a size of 35–38 cm. The wings and tail of males are painted black, some of the longest feathers are light gray.
These birds live in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. They inhabit wooded gorge slopes and other rocky forests.
Andean rock bettas feed on fruits, insects and small vertebrates.
During mating, up to 50 males gather in the clearing for a group mating ceremony. The male, sitting on a branch or ledge of a rock, tries to attract the attention of females with his comb and loud calls.
White leaf-bearing
The white leaf bat is a species of bat native to Central and South America.
White leaf stalks lack a tail. Males are slightly larger than females, but their weight does not exceed 7 grams. The general coloration of the body is pure white, except for the rump and underbelly, which are light grey. Nose and ears bright yellow.
These unusual bats are common in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama. They live in humid evergreen forests, usually solitary or in small groups of up to 6 individuals.
During the day, the white leaf-bearer rests under the leaves of heliconias at a height of about 2 meters above the ground. At night it goes in search of food. It feeds on fruits, in particular ficus species.
Red Varie
Red Vari is one of the largest lemurs of Madagascar. The body of these animals is covered with thick red hair, the tail, paw tips and head are black. Body length is about 50 cm, tail – up to 60 cm, weight – 3-4 kg. Females are slightly larger than males.
These lemurs live in the tropical rainforests of the Masuala National Park in the northeast of Madagascar. They are not found anywhere else. Their habitat area is about 4000 km². The red vari has a conservation status – endangered.
Lemurs live in trees at a height of 10-20 meters above the ground. Lemurs live in groups of up to 15 individuals, rarely – about 30, their lifestyle is diurnal.
The basis of the nutrition of red vari is fruits, but leaves and young shoots are also included in the diet. They live 15–20 years, in captivity – up to 25 years, rarely about 30.
Horned viper
The horned viper (or desert horned viper, or phi) is a venomous snake that stands out with its "horns". The "horns" of these vipers are undoubtedly a spectacular attribute of their appearance – one sharp vertical scale sticks out above the eyes.
The horned viper was already distinguished by the ancient Egyptians in their hieroglyphs, from which the Greek φ (phi) was subsequently derived. The choice of a snake for this character is explained by the sound similarity.
The horned viper loves deserts, dry savannahs, foothills. During the day, she buries herself in the sand or hides in rodent burrows, and after dark she goes hunting. It feeds on small rodents and birds; young vipers feed on insects and lizards.
This snake mainly inhabits the Sahara desert, but is also found throughout North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Sea feathers
Sea feathers are coral polyps that live at great depths, and only a few are common in coastal waters. There are about 200 species of them, which in turn are combined into 14 families.
Sea feathers are sometimes sold for aquariums. However, they are usually difficult to care for as they need a very deep substrate and have special food requirements.
We also recommend:
◆Kitoglav, giraffe beetle, Malayan woolly wing, parrot fish: the most unusual animals