Zebra

Zebra
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Genus:
Equus Subgenus: Hippotigris and Dolichohippus Species Equus zebra Equus quagga Equus grevyi
Zebras are African equids best known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual.
They are generally social animals and can be seen in small harems to large herds. In addition to their stripes, zebras have erect, mohawk-like manes.
Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated.There are three species of zebra: the plains zebra, Grévy's
zebra and the mountain zebra. The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grevy's zebra is the sole species of
subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, while the former two are more horse-like. Nevertheless, DNA and molecular data show that
zebras do indeed have monophyletic origins. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids. In certain regions of Kenya, plains
zebras and Grevy's zebras coexist.The unique stripes and behaviors of zebras make these among the animals most familiar to people. They can be
found in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains and coastal hills. However, various
anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Grevy's zebra and the
mountain zebra are endangered. While plains zebras are much more plentiful, one subspecies, the quagga, went extinct in the late nineteenth
century.
Condor
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Cathartidae Genera
Vultur Gymnogyps
Condor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western
Hemisphere. They are:
The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) which inhabits the Andean mountains.
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) currently restricted to western coastal mountains of the United States and Mexico.Condors are part
of the family Cathartidae, whereas the 15 species of Old World vultures are in the family Accipitridae, that also includes falcons, hawks, and eagles.
The New World and Old World vultures evolved from different ancestors. However, they both are carrion-eaters and have distinctive bare
heads.California Condor in high speed flight. Note tip feathers faired to reduce drag.
[edit]Appearance
Both condors are very large broad-winged soaring birds, the Andean Condor being 5 cm shorter (beak to tail) on average than the northern species,
but larger in wingspan. California Condors are the largest flying land birds in North America.
Whale shark
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order:
Orectolobiformes Family: Rhincodontidae (Müller and Henle, 1839) Genus: Rhincodon Smith, 1829 Species: R. typus
Binomial name Rhincodon typus (Smith, 1828)
Range of whale shark
The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark, the largest living fish species. The largest confirmed individual was 12.65
metres (41.50 ft) in length. The heaviest weighed more than 36 tonnes (79,000 lb)[2], but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale
sharks. This distinctively-marked fish is the only member of its genus Rhincodon and its family, Rhincodontidae (called Rhinodontes before 1984),
which belongs to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans, lives in the open sea with
a lifespan of about 70 years.[3] The species originated about 60 million years ago. Although whale sharks have very large mouths, they feed mainly,
though not exclusively, on plankton, microscopic plants and animals, although the BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a
school of small fish.[4]The species was distinguished in April 1828, following the harpooning of a 4.6-metre (15.1 ft) specimen in Table Bay, South
Africa. Andrew Smith, a military doctor associated with British troops stationed in Cape Town described it the following year.[5] He published a more
detailed description in 1849. The name "whale shark" comes from the fish's physiology; as large as a whale, it too is a filter feeder.
[edit]Distribution and habitat

The whale shark inhabits all tropic and warm-temperate seas. Primarily pelagic, seasonal feeding aggregations occur at several coastal sites such as
the southern and eastern parts of South Africa; Gladden Spit in Belize; Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia; Útila in Honduras; Donsol, Pasacao and
Batangas in the Philippines; off Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox in Yucatan Mexico; Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia; Nosy Be in Madagascar Off
Tofo Reef near Inhambane in Mozambique, and the Tanzanian islands of Mafia, Pemba and Zanzibar. Although typically seen offshore, it has been
found closer to land, entering lagoons or coral atolls, and near the mouths of estuaries and rivers. Its range is generally restricted to about ±30°
latitude. It is capable of diving to depths of 700 metres (2,300 ft), and is migratory.[3]
[edit]Anatomy and appearance

As a filter feeder it has a capacious mouth which can be up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide and can contain between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth.[6] It
has five large pairs of gills. Two small eyes are located towards the front of the shark's wide, flat head. The body is mostly grey with a white belly;
three prominent ridges run along each side of the animal and the skin is marked with a "checkerboard" of pale yellow spots and stripes. These spots
are unique to each individual and are useful for counting populations. Its skin can be up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) thick. The shark has a pair each of
dorsal fins and pectoral fins. Juveniles' tails have a larger upper than lower fin while the adult tail becomes semi-lunate (crescent-shaped). Spiracles
are just behind the eyes.

Zebra

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Zebra

Binomial name Rhincodon typus (Smith, 1828)

Range of whale shark

[edit]Distribution and habitat

[edit]Anatomy and appearance

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