Jumping the Broom is an African-American custom from the American ‘Deep South’. Do you know: In the times of slavery, the wedding vows of the African-American were not recognized. This custom came into being as a symbol of a newly wed couple entering a new life together of domesticity. A couple was to literally jump […]
Common name : Lesser panda, Red cat-bear Scientific name : Ailurus fulgens Family : Ailuridae Native to : North-Eastern India and South-Western China Interesting fact : It is an omnivore, but its primary diet is bamboo. Conservation status : Vulnerable It is slightly larger than a domestic cat and measures 50-64 cm. They have 28-59
Common name : Venezuelan red howler Scientific name : Alouatta seniculus Family : Atelidae Native to : Central and South American forests Interesting fact : One of the noisiest animals on the planet! Conservation status : Least Concern Red howler monkeys have heavily furred long, silky, reddishgold coats and muscular tails. They do not have
Common name : A. Cama Scientific name : Alcelaphus buselaphus caama Family : Bovidae Native to : Southern and Western Africa Interesting fact : Sometimes called a Harley Davidson, because its horns resemble the handles of the bike! Conservation status : Least Concern The red hartebeest is a large, reddish-fawn coloured antelope with a sloping
Common name : The fox Scientific name : Vulpes vulpes Family : Canidae Native to : Found across the entire Northern hemisphere Interesting fact : It is the largest fox. Conservation status : Least Concern Its coat is generally bright reddish-rusty with yellowish tints, along with diffused patterns of brown-reddish chestnut hair along the spine.
Common name : Bushy bearded titi, Caquetá titi Scientific name : Callicebus caquetensis Family : Pitheciidae Native to : Columbia Interesting fact : It was first described as recently as August, 2010. Conservation status : Critically Endangered It is a species of the titi monkey. They have black hairless faces and they get their name
Common name : Long-tailed bear, Washer bear Scientific name : Procyon lotor Family : Procyonidae Native to : North America, Europe and Japan Interesting fact : They were first mentioned by Christopher Columbus. Conservation status : Least Concern The raccoon is a medium-sized bear-like mammal. It has black fur around the eyes, which contrasts sharply
Common name : Eastern quoll Scientific name : Dasyurus viverrinus Family : Dasyuridae Native to : Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania Interesting fact : The young ones are protected in a pouch created by the fold of skin around the teats. Conservation status : Near Threatened It is a carnivorous marsupial. It is active during
Common name : Short-tailed wallaby, English quokka Scientific name : Setonix brachyurus Family : Macropodiadae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : They were once abundant, but numbers have fallen due to dingo attacks. Conservation status : Vulnerable It is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. Like all other marsupials, it
Common name : Pocket monkey, Little lion, Dwarf monkey Scientific name : Callithrix pygmaea Family : Callitrichidae Native to : South America Interesting fact : Has a diet of tree gum, and is the world’s smallest monkey. Conservation status : Least Concern Its fur colour is a mixture of brownish-gold, grey, and black on its
Common name : River hippo Scientific name : Choeropsis liberiensis Family : Hippopotamidae Native to : West Africa Interesting fact : Secretes a pink oily substance to moisturize its skin. Conservation status : Endangered This small hippopotamus is native to forests and swamps. Pygmy hippos share the same general form as a hippopotamus. Their diet
Common name : Prong buck Scientific name : Antilocapra americana Family : Antilocapridae Native to : North America Interesting fact : They are among the speediest animals, running at 86 km/h. Conservation status : Least Concern Even though pronghorns are often confused to be antelopes yet they do not belong to the antelope family. They
Scientific name : Phalangeriformes Family : Phalangeroidea Native to : Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and introduced to China and New Zealand Interesting fact : Usually confused with the opossum, which is a different animal. Conservation status : Not known Possums have thick, bushy tails, pointed snouts and long, fox-like tapering ears. There are two general
Common name : Quill pig Scientific name : Erethizon Dorsaum Family : Hystricidae, Erethizontidae Native to : America, Southern Asia, Europe and Africa Interesting fact : The quills are now being used as hypodermic needle. Conservation status : Least Concern They have soft hair which can be grey, brown or white in fur colour, but
Scientific name : Mustela putorius Family : Mustelidae Native to : Asia, Europe, Russia and UK Interesting fact : It is usually mistaken for a skunk or ferret. Conservation status : Least Concern They have blackish guard hair and yellow under fur on their bodies, giving ‘black-and-tan’ appearance, pale muzzles, ear tips and eyebrows, with