Alone orCiín SERVING THE QUEEN
DURING THE MATING RITUAL THE MALE BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY ALTERNATELY DISPLAYS HIS WEBBED FEET AND POINTS HIS HEAD AND BILL TO THE SKY WHILE KEEPING HIS TAIL AND WINGS RAISED.
Paper wasps are social insects and several productive females found a colony together. However, the strongest queen eats the eggs of the others, thus all the brood are hers. Workers hatch from the fertilised eggs but a pheromone prevents the development of reproductive glands, thus ensuring they are unable to reproduce and become rivals to the queen. The unfertilised eggs develop through asexual reproduction into fertile males whose task is only to mate.
PAPER WASPS MAKE THEIR NEST OF OPEN CELLS FASTENED BY A STALK IN ATTICS OR SHELTERED CLIFFS. THE NESTS ARE MADE OF A PAPERY MATERIAL CONSISTING OF SALIVA AND CHEWED PLANT FIBRE, HENCE THE WASP’S NAME.
SOCIAL LIFE WORK AND PRIVATE LIFE
To make catching fish as effective as possible, bl ue-footed boobies launch th eir attacks from the air in flock s. If one bird notices a school of fish, it calls to the others, which stoop, i.e. dive at high speed, in un ison from heights of up to 11 0 metres, hitting the water at ar ound 95 km per hour and each grabbing a fish with its bill. Ho wever, pairs do not seek compa ny when breeding and nesti ng. The male attracts the female with a ritual display and they re ar two chicks together.
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IN THE DEAFENING, NOSY BREEDING COLONIES ON THE SHORELINES OF ISLANDS, ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS PASSIONATELY DEFEND THEIR OWN NESTING AREAS.
Ãnmgroups? DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?
The common squir rel monkey lives in large grou ps of up to 300 animals. Outsi de the mating season males and females live in separate gr oups, where each animal know s its place in the hierarchy. Durin g the breeding season, the se xes come together and by an d large it is the female who ch ooses her mate. Usually the females choose males near the top of the hierarchy.
SOCIAL LIFE PROVIDES SOME DEGREE OF SECURITY AGAINST PREDATORS BECAUSE THERE IS A BETTER CHANCE OF SPOTTING AN ATTACKER QUICKLY WITH MORE EYES WATCHING. FURTHERMORE, THE INDIVIDUALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ESCAPE AS MEMBERS OF A GROUP THAN THEY WOULD BE BY THEMSELVES.
WOLVES OF THE SEA
cause the wolves of the sea be Killer whales are called live als mm ma e ds. These marin of their hunting metho ale wh ler kil a n ow als. On its in pods of 5 to 50 anim y such as fish, but togeth pre all sm ch cat ly can on ls, sea ing creatures, includ er they can kill larger sea ack att en Wh s. d even whale penguins, dolphins an ndrou sur by f cal g un yo te a ing a whale, they separa teeth. the kill with their sharp for in ing go e for be it ing
YOUNG KILLER WHALES LEARN THE ART OF CATCHING PREY IN A GROUP.
MANY ANIMALS ARE GREGARIOU S, BUT THE STRENG TH OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF A S OCIAL GROUP CA N VARY. THERE AR E BIRDS THAT H U NT IN FLOCKS BUT DO NOT SHARE TH EI R PRIVATE LIFE W ITH OTHERS. AM ONG EUSOCIAL INSEC TS, WHICH ARE RULED BY A QUEE N, HOWEVER, TH E WORKERS EVEN GIVE UP THEIR CHANCE OF REPR ODUCTION FOR TH E SAKE OF THE CO LONY.
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Alone orCiín SPOTTED HYENAS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS LAUGHING HYENAS BECAUSE OF THE SOUNDS THEY COMMUNICATE WITH WHEN ATTACKING. THE LAUGHS CONTINUE AS THEY COMPETE TO FEAST ON THE KILL SINCE EACH HYENA IS ABLE TO EAT ABOUT 15 KILOS OF MEAT.
THE LION SINKS ITS 9 TO 10 CM LONG CANINE TEETH INTO THE THROAT OR NAPE OF THE NECK OF ITS VICTIM.
SURROUNDING MANOEUVRE Lions live in a pride of 3 to 18 individuals consisting of related females and their cubs and the dominant male. Hunting is done by the females. The manoeuvre takes place after dark when potential victims, such as zebras, wildebeests and antelopes, cannot see well. The lionesses crawl ever closer to the herd through the grass, while one of them creeps up on the far side. When the herd is surrounded, the lone lioness frightens the herd towards her pridemates lying in wait. Then the other lions break cover to fell the selected victim through their combined strength. WHEN WALKING, THE LION’S SICKLE-SHAPED CLAWS REST IN A SHEATH AS THE LAST BONE OF THE TOE BEARING THE CLAW IS HELD UP BY TWO TENDONS.
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WHEN THE LION ATTACKS, THE LOWER TENDON IS FLEXED MAKING THE LETHAL WEAPONS SPRING FORWARD, ENABLING THE PREDATOR TO FORCE ITS PREY TO THE GROUND.
EASIER TOGETHER DOMIOLVES THE E THE PACK OF W IS A N PR M HI CO IT E W E SUBAND FEMAL E AR AL S M ER T TH NAN E O IR AND TH IS PA D O G FO IN N MAT WHE VE TO THEM. T PAIR HA ORDINATE E DOMINAN CK CANNOT TH LY N O , SHORT THE PA ORE SUCH TIMES SUSTAIN M CUBS. AT H FOOD TO UG O EN E PRODUC G. OFFSPRIN
ínmgroups? TIGHT CORNER
FROM TIME TO TIME OMNIVOROUS CHIMPANZEES KILL MONKEYS. THIS REQUIRES COORDINATED COOPERATION.
The spotted hy en wildebeests an a has the strongest jaws of any mammal d gazelles whe , so it is bad ne n these pack headed by a ws for zebras hunters set off dominant fem , ale, which lead in search of fo ing herd to cr od. The clan is s the attack. Th eate confusio eir tactics are n and then to and persistent to run into a target a sick, predators can grazweak or youn chase prey at pulling it to th g animal. Thes 60 km per ho e ground. e fast ur, biting at it and eventual ly
PELICAN TEAM Whereas great white pelicans do not form permanent communities, unrelated birds do team up to obtain food. They fly in a group over the sea near the coastline and, when a school of fish is spotted, they land on the water forming a large semi-circle. They drive the fish into shallow water by beating their wings and then use their throat pouches as nets to scoop up their prey. In deeper water they first swim in V formation and then entirely surround the shoal, thus catching the fish.
CERTAIN LAND M AMMALS LIVE TOGETHER WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES, AND HUNT AS A PACK TO MAKE CATCHIN G PREY MORE EFFICIENT. EXAM PLES OF THIS AR E LIONS AND CANI NES, I.E. WOLVES AND JACKALS, W HICH USE COMBI NED STRENGTH TO BR ING DOWN LARG E UNGULATES, BU T ARE ONLY ABLE TO KILL SMALL MAM MALS OR BIRDS WHEN THEY ARE ALONE. EVEN THO UGH THEY HAVE TO S HARE THE PREY, EA CH INDIVIDUAL OBT AINS MORE FOO D IN THIS WAY THAN IT WOULD DO BY HUNTING ALONE .
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Egy Ae lodnüel voarC giíy n WARM WELCOME
In the rainforests of South America, frogs are on the menu of the Colombian lesser black tarantula (Xenesthis immanis). However, one species, the dotted humming frog (Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata), dares to go into the spider’s lair because the tarantula does not think of the frog as food. The spider guards the frog jealously, attacking intruders with its barbed hairs which cause irritation. The reason for this is that the frog eats ants and other arthropods which feed on the tarantula’s eggs.
THE RELATIONSHIP BENEFITING BOTH THE TARANTULA AND THE FROG IS AN EXAMPLE OF MUTUALISM, WHICH OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
STAYING ALERT
annas, like Ungulates on the African sav y of ostrichpan com the ate zebras, appreci vision and start es. The birds have excellent t danger. This spo y the running silently when or, such as dat pre a of ce sen indicates the pre the othon a lion or hyena, nearby. Zebras, n sense kee a and er hand, have good hearing richost en wh es tim are re of smell, and the r dee al chit es benefit from this. In Asia the aniy pre h bot y, and the grey langur monke er in search of mals of the tiger, move togeth of the proxals sign g nin war food and give h other. eac imity of their joint enemy to
AS THE SENSORY ORGANS OF THE ZEBRA AND THE OSTRICH HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS, BEING TOGETHER IMPROVES THE SAFETY OF BOTH SPECIES.
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PRO
nmt gá ro rsuapksk?al? íy
G N I T TEC S E V I L
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TROOPS OF RED-TAILED MONKEY AND SYKES MONKEY WILLINGLY MOVE TOGETHER THROUGH THE TREES. A DANGER SIGNAL FROM AN ALERT ANIMAL WHILE EATING FRUIT CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF THEM ALL.
FOLLOW ME
IN RETURN FOR THE HOUSING AND FOOD, THE CLOWNFISH ENSURES A CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF FRESH WATER FOR THE SEA ANEMONE BY ITS MOVEMENT AND SHOOS AWAY BUTTERFLYFISH, WHICH FEED ON THE ANEMONE’S TENTACLES.
FANCY DRESS Some marine crabs put on a disguise and try to frighten their enemies with their fancy dress. The decorator crab (Cyclocoeloma tuberculata) cuts pieces of sponge, sea anemone or algae with its claws and hooks these onto its back. The so-called pompom crab (Lybia tessellata) carries a piece of sea anemone in each of its claws and waves these venomous pom-poms to frighten would-be attackers. Dromia personata is called the sponge crab precisely because it cuts a piece of sponge with its claws and holds it above itself with its hindmost legs as camouflage. THE SPONGE CRAB’S CAMOUFLAGE
The sea anemon e belongs to the phylum Cnidaria and its te ntacles are armed with stinging cells kn own as cnidocytes containing paralyzin g venom. Most cr eatures avoid it yet the clo wnfish find shelte r and make their home among the tentac les. The sea anemone do es not sting this fish species as its body is covered in sticky mucus. When the clownfis h does venture fro m its home and a pred ator appears, it im mediately darts back to th e protection of th e venomous tentacles. Should the bold attacker follow, the sea anemone paraly zes it and shares the pr ey with the clown fish.
FREQUENTLY DIFF ERENT SPECIES OF HERBIVORES GR AZE IN HERDS O R GATHER FRUIT IN THE TR EES IN GROUPS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER. IF A PR ED ATOR APPEARS, THIS USUALLY SPELLS DANGER FOR THEM ALL AN D, WHEN A POTENT IAL ATTACKER IS SPO TTED, AN ALARM S IG NAL IS GIVEN TO WAR N INDIVIDUALS O F TH E OTHER SPECIES AS WELL. THESE ARE COOPERATIVE AL LIANCES BUT SYM BIOSIS CAN ALSO DEVELO P FROM SUCH CL OSE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPECIES TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES.
Alka Mlm asa tz ekro s do á f s Cí EXTREME RECORD
TWO SPECIES OF WATER BEARS HAVE BEEN SENT INTO SPACE AND RETURNED TO EARTH UNHARMED.
Water bears are found in the oceans and freshwater, and in lichens and mosses, and are real experts in the art of survival. They are resilient to fluctuations in temperature ranging from −270 to 100 °C, which makes them unique among animals. They do this by going into a state of cryptobiosis, which means that in inhospitable conditions 99% of the water content of their bodies is lost, their legs are retracted and a waxy extrusion covers their barrel-like bodies while all life processes are completely suspended. In this form they can live for 100 years and, when conditions improve, they come back to life.
THE GREAT CORMORANT FEEDS ON FISH AND IS FOUND ON THE LAKES, RIVERS AND COASTLINES OF EVERY CONTINENT.
THE POMPEII WORM, WHICH ONLY LIVES AT HYDROTHERMAL VENTS, SECRETES LARGE AMOUNTS OF MUCUS ON THEIR BACKS, WHERE HEAT-RESISTANT BACTERIA SETTLE AND PROTECT THEIR HOST CREATING AN INSULATING LAYER.
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s a m da ep staetrio fonkon ím INDESTRUCTIBLE…
THE WOOD FROG CAN BEAR TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS –17 °C.
LIFE IS SWEET
As the wood frog in Nort h America is winter in a b unable to dig urrow. Before , it does not it hibernates litter and, w spend the , it nestles d hen the cold own under th begins to bit though its h e leaf e, it does no eart stops. It t come to an can remain en months an y harm in this remar d comes bac kable state fo k to life in sp It can perform r sevring this trick, wh ich amazes sc as if nothing had happen more and m ore glucose ientists as w ed. from its liver ell, by produ is carried to when winte cing the cells wh r ap er p e ro tals that wo it binds with aches, which uld damage the cells from water. This prevents ice crysforming in fr eezing temp eratures.
find the right ...cockroaches e not only in liv conditions to in human habi nature but also s, re vo ni om e ar tations. As they ssy eaters, confu t no e ar ey th iwood, dead an suming rotten , ps ra sc n he kitc mal carcasses, e shelf. Besides th on od fo d an secret of their this, the other r ribution is thei worldwide dist t. ap ad to ty ili ab inexhaustible
T EN CAR E S R ELL XC DAGA EY A E H THE F MA ES, T S. F T O CH YO PE USE ILIT KROA TIC CA BE PTAB COC EXO S A AD SING PT A E S HI EN K T OF
WIDE E C N A R E L O T E G N RA
HOT SPOTS
In the cold an d dark at the bottom of th there are pla e ocean, ces where h ot water issu sures and ch es from fisimneys form . These are h mal vents an ydrotherd the temper ature of the columns of towering water can b e up to 300 that are high °C. Animals ly tolerant o f heat can liv such condit e even in ions. Pompei i worms, wh worms, live ich are ringed in groups at tached by th the side of th eir tu e chimneys. Scientists hav be to that these cr e eatures can bear water w found perature of ith a tem60 °C with n o adverse eff as the body ect whereprotein of m ost animals down at 40 breaks to 42 °C resu lting in their death.
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SOME ANIMALS ARE ABLE TO STA Y ALIVE IN EXTREM E CIRCUMSTANC ES. THERE ARE SPECI ES THAT CAN BR AVE THE PERISHING COLD OR BLISTE R ING TEMPERATURES OF 50 °C. THEIR SUCCESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO HAVING A WIDE RANGE OF TOLER ANCE, THAT IS TO SAY THEY CAN SURVI VE WHEN SUBJECTE D TO BOTH HIGH AND LOW LEVELS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, SUCH AS HEAT AND TH E QUANTITY AND Q UALITY OF WATER .
SzB üo lert nett Cotí DURING THE THREE-MONTH SUMMER, EMPEROR PENGUINS FISH IN THE SEA, AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS OF THE BREEDING SEASON THEY REMAIN IN ANTARCTICA, MIGRATING BETWEEN THE SEA AND THEIR BREEDING GROUND.
IN AUTUMN THE PENGUINS GATHER ON THE EDGE OF ANTARCTICA AND CROWDS OF BIRDS TAKE WEEKS TO MARCH UP TO 150 KM TO REACH THEIR NESTING GROUND SURROUNDED BY CLIFFS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTINENT.
Y C I THE FEMALES GO TO SEA TO FISH.
THE FEMALES FIGHT FOR THEIR PARTNERS, FLAPPING THEIR WINGS AND PUSHING THEIR CHESTS AGAINST EACH OTHER. WHEN THEY HAVE PAIRED UP, A COURTSHIP DANCE AND MATING FOLLOWS.
THREE MONTHS LATER THE FEMALE LAYS AN EGG, WHICH MUST BE PASSED TO THE MALE SKILFULLY AND QUICKLY, MAKING SURE IT DOES NOT ROLL ON THE ICE AND FREEZE.
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tím w vá ando erok THE PARENTS TAKE TURNS TO BRING FOOD TO THEIR YOUNG, GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE SEA AND THE BREEDING GROUND MANY TIMES.
C
E L D A R
THE FEMALES RETURN.
IN MID-SPRING THE PARENTS LEAVE THEIR CHICKS. THE YOUNG BIRDS GATHER IN A CRÈCHE AND BY THE SUMMER THEIR GREY FEATHERS TURN INTO WATERPROOF BLACK AND WHITE PLUMAGE, ALLOWING THEM TO GO TO SEA AND HUNT FISH ON THEIR OWN.
THE FEMALE RETURNS WHEN THE CHICK HATCHES BRINGING FISH AND CRUSTACEANS FOR THE NEWBORN BIRD. THE MALE BROODS THE EGG FOR TWO MONTHS UNTIL IT HATCHES AT THE END OF THE WINTER.
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ÁS lowm e,eé C t díd THE COMMON POORWILL GOES INTO TORPOR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 10 °C.
SLEEPING BIRD As birds are warm -blooded and have the ability to fly, many migrate to a warmer climate in winter. The common poorwill, a nig htjar which lives in the dry areas and open wood lands of Canada, No rth America and Mexico, is an unus ual bird. The majo rity are migratory but some comm on poorwills living in the northernmost parts will rest in torpor, a hiberna tion-like state, for weeks or even months under rock s and stones.
B M U L S THE COMMON VIPER RESTS IN A CAVITY BENEATH A TREE ROOT FROM OCTOBER UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL.
S R E R E
IN AUTUMN THE COMMON NEWT FINDS A HOLLOW BENEATH STONES OR A LOG WHERE IT HIBERNATES UNTIL LATE MARCH OR EARLY FEBRUARY.
IN OCTOBER THE EUROPEAN POND TURTLE BURROWS INTO THE MUD AND STAYS THERE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. THE RED-BACK SAND LIZARD LOOKS FOR A PLACE TO SPEND THE WINTER AS SOON AS THE COLD WEATHER ARRIVES, EVEN IF THIS IS IN THE FIRST HALF OF OCTOBER. IT TAKES SHELTER UNDER ROOTS, FALLEN BRANCHES OR STONES UNTIL THE END OF MARCH.
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dídm ersea ám losm OVERWINTERING SITES
In winter the tempe rature of the wate r in lakes and river but even in the co s drops ldest periods the water at the botto not freeze. As food m does is short at this tim e of the year, herb fish, such as the gr ivorous ass carp, bighead carp and common find a place to rest. carp, They gather togeth er in groups at de er points or in depr epessions in the river bed where there is tle current and ov literwinter there. Th ere is a scramble fo es in the middle be r placcause predatory fis h like pike and zand do not rest but se er arch for overwinter ing sites where th is a greater chance ere of snatching a vic tim on the outside .
THE SEVEN-SPOT LADYBIRD OVERWINTERS OUTDOORS UNDER LEAVES OR IN CREVICES IN WOOD BUT ALSO SEEKS REFUGE IN HIDDEN CORNERS IN HOUSES, ATTICS, CELLARS AND GARDEN SHEDS.
IN AUTUMN THE EDIBLE SNAIL SEALS THE OPENING TO ITS SHELL BY SECRETING A CALCAREOUS LID CALLED THE OPERCULUM. THIS GIVES THE SNAIL RESTING IN THE GRASS ALL-ROUND PROTECTION.
MUD BED
frog ian, the common Being an amphib of the st re e th and spends breeds in water howevwinter quarters, year on land. Its to be s pond. This need er, are a shallow if part is, th e re deep. Lik at least half a met of the d en e th by orates of the pond evap entiret does not dry ou autumn, the pond til un g fro tion for the ly, offering protec m co o to t no nds are spring. As such po late in s re et om kil l ve mon, frogs will tra of one. vember in search No ly ar r/e be to Oc spring. til un ud r in the m There they shelte
OVERWINTERING FISH
THE COMMON FROG CAN ALSO SPEND THE COLD MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN A FROSTFREE CAVITY AND WILL WAKE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING IN MARCH.
AS THE BODY TE MPERATURE OF COLD-BLOODED AN IMALS DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE ENVIRONMENT, COLD WINTER W EATHER DOES NO T FAVOUR THEM. FO R THIS REASON AMPHIBIANS AN D REPTILES, ARTHROPODS AN D MOLLUSCS FIND A SAFE, FROST-FREE PLACE WHERE TH EY REST WITH THEI R LIFE FUNCTIO NS SLOWING DOWN, IN OTHER WORDS THEY HIBERNATE .
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