Wildlife

When you're not at the top of the food chain and can't rely on your brains or muscles to avoid being eaten, you come up with other tricks. The animal kingdom employs all sorts of defensive mechanisms, and one of the most remarkable is mimicry. The lichen bush cricket, Markia hystrix, is a master of effective camouflage. Lichen growth on trees is the perfect hiding spot for this insect, which blends seamlessly with its surroundings. This cricket lives in South America among lichen growths and feeds on them too—beyond that, not much is known about it. At least we managed to spot and film it. 🤷‍♂️

Whiptail Scorpion (Amblypygi) - An Ancient Inhabitant of Our Planet Did you know that whiptail scorpions have been around for over 358 million years? Their fossilized remains are a testament to their ancient lineage. These creatures are heat and moisture-loving, thriving in tropical climates across Africa, Australia, India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Haiti, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many other countries. Unlike other arachnids, whiptail scorpions are relatively small, ranging from 5 mm to 4.5-5 cm in size. However, their long, spindly legs can grow up to 25 cm or more, often exceeding the length of their bodies by five times! Some individuals even have a leg span of 40-60 cm. Despite their intimidating appearance, whiptail scorpions are harmless to humans. They lack venom glands and silk-spinning organs, posing a threat only to small insects, which they consume as food. 🕷️🌿

Mountain (Southern) Viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) - a rodent from the chinchilla family, inhabiting Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Visacchas live in mountainous areas with sparse vegetation at altitudes of 2400-5000 m. They resemble rabbits with long, squirrel-like tails. The body length of mountain viscachas reaches 40 cm, and their tail up to 32 cm, with weight ranging from 1.5 to 3 kg. Visacchas are diurnal, most active near dawn and dusk. They feed on grass, mosses, and lichens, not requiring water as they obtain it from plants. People hunt viscachas for their fur and meat, leading to a decline in their population. In the wild, mountain viscachas live only 3 years, but in captivity with proper care, they can live up to 19 years. Fun Fact: Viscachas have a unique adaptation to their high-altitude habitat. Their kidneys are highly efficient at conserving water, allowing them to survive in arid conditions. 🌵🐾

Fun Fact: Kakapos are known for their strong, pleasant smell, which is often described as a mix of flowers, honey, and beeswax. This unique scent is one of the many fascinating traits of these rare and endangered birds.

Kakapo (Owl Parrot) Strigops habroptila - the only living flightless parrot and the heaviest parrot species, endemic to New Zealand, leading a nocturnal lifestyle. The body length of the kakapo is about 60 cm, and the weight in adulthood is from 2 to 4 kg. The facial feathers form a facial disc, like that of an owl, and may perform a locational function. The voice is a hoarse caw, transitioning into shrill unpleasant sounds. One of the unusual characteristics of the kakapo is a strong but pleasant smell, similar to the smell of flowers and honey or beeswax. Although kakapos cannot fly, they are excellent climbers and can climb to the top of a tall tree. Then they can descend with a "parachute," that is, jump with their wings open. In this way, they can glide 20-50 meters at a 45° angle. Mainly herbivorous, feeding on local plants (ferns), seeds, berries, pollen, and nectar.