Barb

True Wild Life | Barb | Barb are a small sized group of fish that are naturally found in the freshwater rivers and lakes across the southern hemisphere. There are over 2,000 known species of barb in the world inhabiting the frehswater regions of Asia, Africa and South America. The barb fish is often referred to as a freshwater shark, due to the fact that barb are one of the few species of freshwater fish to have rows of teeth in their mouths. Despite their small size, barbs are known to be ferocious hunters and are dominant predators in the world of small fish in their natural environment. Barb do only prey upon the fish that are smaller than them, but also on medium sized fish that can sometimes be double the size of the barb.

Due to their small size and bright colours barb are commonly kept in household aquariums worldwide. The most common barb kept in aquariums are the cherry barb (pink/red in colour) and the tiger barb (silver body with thick, black stripes and red fin on it's belly) . Barb are known to be relatively hardy fish and can easily adapt to changes in the water including changes in pH levels and temperate. It is known that barbs can successfully inhabit unheated tanks, and although this has proved to be successful in many cases, it is not recommended as barb are naturally found in warmer tropical waters.

Due to their aggressive and dominant nature, it is not ideal to keep barbs in artificial tanks with smaller species of tropical fish. At the same time, barb will also hunt medium sized fish if there is a lack of food, and so are best kept on their own (just barbs) or with much larger species of fish. Barbs are known to lay numerous eggs in order for a few to hatch successfully. The baby barb are called fry and generally hatch within a few days of being laid. Like their hardy barb parents, the barb fry are able to adapt well to changes in their surroundings.

Barbs are opportunists and will therefore eat almost anything that they can find. Although barbs prefer a predominantly meat based diet that includes smaller fish, insects and bloodworm, barb are also known to eat aquatic plants particularly those that are softer and therefore easier to ingest. The exact diet of the barb however, depends on the species and the region in which it inhabits.

Bandicoot

True Wild Life | Bandicoot | The bandicoot is a small-sized marsupial found across Australia. There are eleven known species of bandicoot found in the Australian wilderness, and despite it's rat-like appearance, the bandicoot is thought to be more closely related to a rabbit. The bandicoot is natively found on the Australian mainland and it\'s surrounding islands. Due to their small size, bandicoots can be an easy target for hungry predators and are therefore found in more overgrown habitats including forests, swamps and thickets where there are plenty of places to hide.

Bandicoots are very similar in appearance to the rat as they have long, pointed heads and snouts and a short and compact body with a long, thin tail. Despite this though, bandicoots are about the size of a rabbit and use their powerful hind legs to hop around in the same way. The average sized bandicoot is about 50cm including it's tail although male bandicoots are often double the size of the females. The bandicoot is a nocturnal animal meaning that it spends the daytime hours sheltering in bushland and along creek beds, coming out under the cover of night in order to hunt for food. Bandicoots are also very solitary animals, generally only coming together to mate.

The bandicoot is an omnivorous animal meaning that it's diet is made up of both plant and animal matter. The bandicoot primarily hunts for and feeds on insects which it finds scuttling around in the leaves or just below the surface of the ground. Bandicoots also nibble on fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, eggs and even small rodents when they are in search of food. Due to it's relatively small size, the bandicoot has a number of natural predators in it's environment including large birds, foxes, snakes and wildcats. Dingoes and pythons are the most common predators of the bandicoot across Australia.

The bandicoot is a marsupial meaning that the female bandicoot has a nursing pouch on her belly in which to nurse her developing young. Bandicoots have one of the shortest gestation periods of all mammals, with the young being born just 12 days after conception. Female bandicoots usually give birth to a litter of 3 - 6 young who continue to develop in their mother's pouch until they are strong enough to venture into the outside world. Sadly today, seven out of the eleven known bandicoot species are considered to be either critically endangered or extinct. The decline in bandicoot numbers has been a direct result of both habitat loss and the introduction of small carnivores such as cats, with the European settlers.

Badger

True Wild Life | Badger | Badgers are found living in the forests of Europe and western Asia, scavenging for roots and berries as well as worms and insects. Amazingly badgers can run up to 30km an hour for short periods of time and have been known to successfully fight off bigger mammals such as wolves, coyotes and bears. There have been occasional reports over the years of badgers being particularly aggressive towards dogs and even humans. The badger is capable of producing a painful bite, and some badgers are also known to carry a type of rabies.The most commonly known badgers are the white and black striped badgers in western Europe.

Badgers are thought to be related to otters and weasels and can often grow to nearly a meter in length. The badger lives in underground burrows which often contains a maze of tunnels. It is thought that when digging its den, the badger is capable of removing tonnes of soil. Badger is the common name for any animal of the badger three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae. This is the same mammal family as the ferrets, the weasels, the otters, and several other types of carnivore meaning that the badger is most closely related to these animals.

There are eight different species of badger, and these badger species are split into three badger subfamilies, the badgers of Europe and Asia, the Ratel badger or honey badger, and the American badger. The Asian stink badger was once classified as a badger but today this badger species is thought to be more closely related to the skunk than the badger.

Typical badger species have short legs and badgers also tend to have a relatively heavy build. The badgers lower jaw is articulated to the badgers upper jaw meaning that it is almost impossible to dislocate the badgers jaw. This enables the badger to maintain its hold on the badgers prey with great ease, but limits the badgers jaw movement to hinging opening and shutting or sliding from side to side.

Banded Palm Civet

True Wild Life | Banded Palm Civet | The banded palm civet is a rare species of civet found in the tropical forests across south-east Asia. Banded palm civets were named for their tan and black striped coats which give the banded palm civet more camouflage in the surrounding jungle. The banded palm civet is found inhabiting the tropical jungles and rainforests throughout much of south-east Asia including Burma and Thailand, and throughout most of Malaysia and Indonesia. Unfortunately, banded palm civets have been drastically affected by increasing deforestation (and therefore habitat loss) in their native regions.

The banded palm civet is widely spread and fairly commonly found throughout much of south-east Asia and despite their cat-like appearance and behaviours, banded palm civets are not felines at all but are in fact more closely related to other small carnivores including weasels and mongooses. The fur of the banded palm civet is one of the most distinctively marked of all civet species. The banded palm civet is solitary animal that only comes out under the cover of night to hunt and catch food. These nocturnal animals are primarily ground-dwelling and highly territorial. Despite being predominately ground-dwelling though the banded palm civet is known to climb up into the trees either in search of food or to hide from approaching predators.

The banded palm civet is a carnivorous animal, and like other species of civet, it survives on a meat-based diet, supplemented by the odd plant or fruit. Small animals such as rodents, lizards, snakes and frogs make up the majority of the banded palm civet's diet, along with insects and other small creatures scuttling through the under-growth. Banded palm civets are also known to eat the fruits and flowers of palms, mangos and coffee in their natural habitats.

Despite being a secretive yet relatively ferocious predatory animal, the banded palm civet is actually preyed upon by a number of predators within their natural environment. Large predatory cats are the most common predators of the banded palm civet including tigers and leopards along with reptiles such as large snakes and crocodiles. The female banded palm civet usually gives birth to up to 4 young after a gestation period that lasts for a couple of months. The babies are weaned by their mother until they are strong enough to fend for themselves. Banded palm civets can live for up to 20 years, although most rarely get to be this old.

Today, the banded palm civet is under threat from deforestation and therefore drastic loss of much of its natural habitat. The main reason for such extensive deforestation in the area is either for logging or to clear the land to make way for palm oil plantations.

Asian Palm Civet

True Wild Life | Asian Palm Civet | The Asian palm civet is a smaller species of civet found throughout the jungles of Asia, and easily recognisable by its dark, coarse hair and large eyes. The Asian palm civet is also known as the common palm civet and the Toddy Cat is areas where the Asian palm civet is natively found. The Asian palm civet is found inhabiting the tropical jungles and rainforests throughout much of Asia. The main populations of the Asian palm civet however are found in southern India, Sri Lanka, South-east Asia and southern China. Unfortunately, Asian palm civets have been drastically affected by increasing deforestation (and therefore habitat loss) in their native regions.

The Asian palm civet is widely spread and fairly commonly found throughout much of Asia and despite their cat-like appearance and behaviours, Asian palm civets are not felines at all but are in fact more closely related to other small carnivores including weasels and mongooses. Unlike other civet species the tail of the Asian palm civet does not have rings, but the face of this species is banded like that of a raccoon. The Asian palm civet is solitary animal that only comes out under the cover of night to hunt and catch food. These nocturnal animals are primarily ground-dwelling and highly terrestrial as they mark their ranges by dragging their anal glands along the ground. Despite being predominately ground-dwelling though the Asian palm civet is known to climb up into the trees either in search of food or to hide from approaching predators.

The Asian palm civet is a carnivorous animal, and like other species of civet, it survives on a meat-based diet, supplemented by the odd plant or fruit. Small animals such as rodents, lizards, snakes and frogs make up the majority of the Asian palm civet's diet, along with insects and other small creatures scuttling through the under-growth. Asian palm civets are also known to eat the fruits and flowers of palms, mangos and coffee in their natural habitats. Despite being a secretive yet relatively ferocious predatory animal, the Asian palm civet is actually preyed upon by a number of predators within their natural environment. Large predatory cats are the most common predators of the Asian palm civet including tigers and leopards along with reptiles such as large snakes and crocodiles.

The female Asian palm civet usually gives birth to up to 4 young after a gestation period that lasts for a couple of months. The babies are weaned by their mother until they are strong enough to fend for themselves. Asian palm civets can live for up to 20 years, although most rarely get to be this old. Today, the Asian palm civet is under threat from deforestation and therefore drastic loss of much of its natural habitat. The main reason for such extensive deforestation in the area is either for logging or to clear the land to make way for palm oil plantations.

Baboon

True Wild Life | Baboon | Baboons are medium sized primates found in Africa, and are best known for their bright behinds! The two most common species of baboon in east Africa are the olive baboon and the yellow baboon. The baboon is generally found in more forested areas but is also commonly known to wander the African plains. Baboons grow from 0.5 to 1.2m depending on the species, but weigh only around 30kg. The olive baboon tends to grow to a slightly larger size than the yellow baboon. Baboons are also mainly ground dwelling monkeys meaning that they have a more varied habitat than most other primates.

Baboons generally get to about 30 years old but can get to older ages if domesticated. Baboons are the most friendly known monkey towards humans in the east of Africa, but have made a name for themselves as agricultural pests. Baboons live together in troops with only one dominant male baboon for every troop. The other up to 50 remaining baboons are females and baby baboons, that are either female or males that are not old enough to survive without the baboon troops help.

The baboon is a terrestrial and ground dwelling animal and baboons are found in open savannah, open woodland and hills across Africa. The baboon's diet is omnivorous, but mostly vegetarian yet baboons eat insects and the baboon occasionally preys on fish, shellfish, hares, birds, monkeys and small antelopes. Baboons are forager animals and baboons are active at irregular times throughout both the day and night. Baboons can raid human dwellings and in South Africa baboons have been also known to prey on human livestock like sheep and goats.

The baboon's main predators are human beings and the leopard, although the baboon is not easy prey for a leopard and large male baboons will often confront the leopard by flashing their eyelids and showing their teeth by yawning. Baboons have also been seen making gestures, and chasing after the intruder/predator.

Aye Aye

True Wild Life | Aye Aye | The aye aye is a subspecies of lemur found on the south eastern African island of Madagascar. The aye aye are the biggest nocturnal primates in the world with some aye aye weighing more than 3kg! The aye aye is also one of the few solitary species of primate and therefore hunts alone for grubs and insects.

The aye aye has rodent-like teeth and a long, thin middle finger that fills the same ecological niche as a woodpecker. The aye aye taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws holes in the wood and inserts its long middle finger into the hole to pull the grubs out. The aye aye is considered to be a near threatened species, possibly even endangered with very few aye aye left in the wild . The second subspecies of aye aye is thought to have become extinct at some point in the past 1,000 years.

The aye aye inhabits the forested and jungle areas of the east side of Madagascar, but the aye aye is also commonly found in bamboo thickets and are occasionally found hunting on the ground.

The adult aye aye has black or dark brown fur covered by white guard hairs on the neck of the aye aye. The aye aye's tail is bushy and shaped similar to the tail of a squirrel. The aye aye is also thought to have a rodent like face that is similar in shape to the face of a raccoon. The aye aye also has big, bright, beady, luminous eyes that help the aye aye to see better in the dark. The aye aye has very large teeth that grow continuously throughout the aye aye's lifespan.

The aye aye's rodent like features contrasted with the aye aye's monkey like body are probably the reason why scientists originally classed the aye aye as a rodent and then re-classed the aye aye as a primate after further studies.

Aye Aye Foot Facts

• The aye aye has large feet in comparison to their body which the aye aye uses to hang itself from tree branches whilst foraging for food.

• The aye aye medium length fingers that have claws on the ends of them that help the aye aye to grip onto branches when its hanging on the trees.

• The aye aye has an extra long and specially adapted middle finger on each hand which has a nail on the end, which the aye aye uses to remove grubs from rotting wood.

• The movement of the aye ayes long middle finger is independent from the other fingers and means that the aye aye is even able to use this finger to drink liquids by moving it quickly between the liquid and the mouth of the aye aye.

• The aye aye moves by walking on all four feet and is able to walk and climb well and is extremely adept at leaping between branches in the trees.

Aye Aye Teeth Facts

• The aye aye uses its sharp front teeth to tear into wood before using the special middle finger to dig the grubs out from beneath.

• The aye aye has sharp incisor teeth at the front of its mouth that grow continuously so that they never wear down.

• The sharp front teeth of the aye aye must be ground down all the time to prevent them from getting too big and the aye aye does this by gnawing on nearly everything it finds.

• The aye aye uses the long middle finger to tap all the way along a tree branch until it hears what it is looking for and then uses the chisel-like teeth to bite a hole in the wood.

• The aye aye is thought to have 25 teeth including the sharp front incisors and the sets of molars that the aye aye uses to chew the food before it eats it.