The aardvark ground-hog, Capepig or Cape Ant-eater (Orycteropus afra) is a south African ant eating mammal. It is a nocturnal burrowing animal, feeding on termites and ants. The teeth are numerous and complex, and are quite unlike those of any other mammal. There are four toes on the fore feet and five on the hind. The mouth is elongated and tubular, the tonguevermiform. A few bristly hairs are scattered over the surface of the body and the ears are large and erect, the tail much elongated. Research Aardvark
The aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is an African carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae. The aardwolf, whose name in Afrikaans means 'earth wolf', resembles a small striped hyena. It is yellowish with vertical black stripes and a bushy, black-tipped tail, and it bears a long, coarse mane of erectile hairs along the length of its back. The aardwolf lives on the open, grassy plains of southern and eastern Africa. The aardwolf feeds largely on termites, particularly on the species Trinervitermes trinervoides. It is nocturnal, lives in a burrow, and is usually solitary but may forage in small packs. The litter generally consists of three or four young. The aardwolf is harmless and shy; when attacked, by dogs for example, it emits a musky-smelling fluid and may fight. Research Aardwolf
The badger (Meles taxus or Meles vulgaris) or brock is an omnivorous mammal of the family Mustelidae, allied both to the bears and to the weasels, of a clumsy make, with short thick legs, and long claws on the fore-feet. found in England and Europe. It is a nocturnalanimal about 90 centimetres in length with a pointed nose and of a blackish-grey colour with white markings over its head. The badger has a very thick tough hide, and long coarse hair, it is indolent and sleepy, feeds by night on vegetables, small quadrupeds, etc. Its flesh may be eaten, and its hair is used for artists' brushes in painting and for quality shaving brushes. The American badger belongs to a separate genus. Research Badger
A bat is a nocturnal, wing-handed, flying mammals, having the forelimb peculiarly modified so as to serve for flight, and constituting the order Cheiroptera (Chiroptera). Bats are sub-divided into two groups; Megachiroptera (the megabats) and Microchiroptera (the microbats).
Bats are structurally not very different from typical mammals except for the extension of their finger bones to carry flight membranes, and their backward bending knees, though their conquest of the air is a marked difference. Echolocation in bats is associated with large ears and in some cases facial skin growths, and the ability to catch flying insects at night. This food source is seasonal, which, combined with their small size, has favoured the evolution of hibernation. Daily torpor, in which the body temperature drops to the ambient temperature is common among temperate bats, and is another energy-saving adaptation necessitated by small bodies engaged in such a high energy activity as flying. Short migrations to roosts of appropriate temperatures occur throughout the year. Mating begins in the autumn, and continues at intervals throughout hibernation. Sperm is stored and ovulation and fertilisation take place in the spring with a typical litter of just one young occurring. The parent shows a strong degree of attachment for her offspring, and when they are captured, will follow them, and even submit to captivity herself rather than forsake her charge.
Bats are common in temperate and warm regions. but are most numerous and largest in the tropics. All European bats are small, and have a mouse-like skin. The body of the largest British species, Vespertilio noctula, is less than that of a mouse, but its wings stretch about 38 cm. During the day it remains in caverns, in the crevices of ruins, hollow trees, and such-like lurking-places, and flits out at evening in search of food, which consists of insects.
Several species of the same genus are common in North America, Many bats are remarkable for having a singular nasal cutaneous appendage, bearing in some cases, a fancied resemblance to a horse-shoe. Two of these horse-shoebats occur in Britain. Bats may be conveniently divided into two sections - the insectivorous or carnivorous, comprising all European and most African and American species; and the fruit-eating, belonging to tropical Asia and Australia, with several African forms. An Australian fruit-eating bat (Pteropus edulis) commonly known as the kalong or flying-fox, is the largest of all the bats; it does much mischief in orchards. At least two species of South American bats are known to suck the blood of other mammals, and thence are called 'vampire-bats' (though this name has also been given to a species not guilty of this habit). The best known is the Desmodus Rufus of Brazil, Chilli, etc. Research Bat
The binturong (Arcticis binturong) is a small mammal found in south-east Asia. It has a shaggy black or greyish black coat, short muzzle, and tufted ears. The length of the head and body is about sixty centimetres. It is nocturnal in habits, sleeping in trees during the day and at night feeding upon fruit, eggs and small animals. Research Binturong
Bittern is a general name for grallatorial birds of the genus Botaurus of the subfamily Botaurinae. They are wading birds related to the heron, but with shorter necks, stouter bodies and variegated brown colouration. They live in marshes and reedy swamps where they are solitary and nocturnal, feeding on frogs, small fish, mice, crayfish and other animals.
There are two British species, the common bittern (Botaurus stellaris), and the little bittern (Boyaurus minutus), a native of the south, and only a summer visitor to Britain. Both, however, are rare due to the reclamation of the marshy grounds that form their favourite haunt. The common bittern is about 71 cm in length, with a wing span of about 110 cm. The bitterns have long and loose feather on the breast and a short tail and a bill about 10 cm long. Bitterns are remarkable for their curious booming or bellowing cry, from which come the provincial names of miredrum and butter-hump, etc. The eggs which are greenish-brown in colour are laid in a batch of four or five in number. The little bittern is not more than 38 cm in length. Research Bittern
Blapsidae are a family of nocturnal black beetles, whose wings are generally obsolete and their elytra soldered together. They are to be found in gloomy damp places and when seized discharge a peculiar smelling liquid in self- defence. Research Blapsidae
The boatbill (Cochlearius cochlearius), is a heron-like bird of the family Ardeidae so named because it has a short, broad bill resembling an overturned boat. It is about 51 centimetres high, with shorter legs than most herons, and is grey and black in colour. Boatbills inhabit mangrove swamps from Mexico to southern Brazil and is believed to feed on small fish and aquatic animal life; however, because it is a nocturnalbird, little is known of its habits. Research Boatbill
Butterfly is the common name of all diurnal lepidopterous insects, corresponding to the original Linnaean genusPapilio. The family of the butterflies or diurnalLepidoptera (so called to distinguish them from nocturnal or crepuscular Lepidoptera, such as moths) is a very extensive one, and naturalists differ much as to the manner of subdividing it.
One of the most remarkable and interesting circumstances connected with these beautiful insects is their series of transformations before reaching a perfect state. The female butterfly lays a great quantity of eggs, which produce larvae, commonly called caterpillars. After a short life these assume a new form, and become chrysalids or pupa. These chrysalids are attached to other bodies in various ways, and are of various forms; they often have brilliant golden or argentine spots. Within its covering the insect develops, to emerge as the active and brilliant butterfly. These insects in their perfect form suck the nectar of plants, but take little food, and are all believed to be short-lived, their work in the perfect state being almost confined to the propagation of the species. Butterflies vary greatly in size and colouring, but most of them are very beautiful.
The largest butterflies are found in tropical countries, where some measure nearly 30 cm across the wings. They may generally be distinguished from moths by having their wings erect when sitting, the moths having theirs horizontal. Some of them have great powers of flight. Among the most remarkable butterflies are those that present an extraordinary likeness to other objects such as leaves, green or withered, flowers, bark, etc, a feature that serves greatly to protect them from enemies. Research Butterfly
Caprimulgidae is the Nightjar or Goatsucker family of Fissirostral birds. They are characterized by a short beak, enormous wide gape; soft and loose plumage giving the birds an owl-like appearance; the habit is usually nocturnal, and the diet chiefly of insects caught on the wing. The wings are long and formed for powerful flight. Research Caprimulgidae
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Aardvark
