Tom – Page 63

is for – Dingo, Dolphin, and Dipper. We’ll look at Dolphin.

Dolphins are highly intelligent animals and have acute hearing, in or out of water. They are known to be sociable creatures, but like so many others, the males will become aggressive when in competition for a female. (Yes, don’t we know all about that aspect of life).

Having fought to get the female, the male (bull) relinquishes all duties regarding the young calf, which it leaves in the care of the mother (cow).

Dolphins have been responsible on many occasions for saving humans from shark attacks and, the dolphin’s ‘beak’ is a considerable weapon when used as a battering ram.

A group of dolphins is called a ‘school’ or ‘pod’. Dolphin

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Species: There are 40 recognised species of dolphin. Porpoises are mistakenly thought by some people to belong to the dolphin family, but, they are a separate group entirely.

Size: Due to the inclusion of Killer Whales in the Dolphin family, the size differential is extensive. The creatures of the many species referred to as ‘Dolphins’ are on average 5 feet long from nose to tail. Killer Whales (Orca) will grow to around 30 feet long.

Habitat: There are oceanic dolphins and river-based dolphins.

Location: Dolphin species of some description can be found in almost any open sea or oceanic area of the world.

Diet: Fish and Squid are the staple diet, although the Orca (Killer Whale) will take seals, or small whales.

Predators: Dolphins are actively hunted in certain places (Japan and, The Faroe Islands). Numbers are depleted regularly by mankind through pollution, accidents with boats and, bycatch (being caught in nets and drowning).

Info / Strange Facts: The inhabitants of Tahiji in Japan and those of the Faroe Islands consider the dolphin as food. There is a level of karma, in that dolphin meat is high in mercury, which is of course poisonous to humans.

In Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil, dolphins assist the local fishermen by driving the fish towards the shore. The dolphins take the fish which escape the nets.

The idea of a Military Marine Mammal Program (MMMP) has existed for over 50 years. The USA and Russia have conducted a variety of training and active service using Bottlenose Dolphins. Russia is said to have ceased the enterprise, however the US is open about the continued use of the animals.

The official training is said to be to locate persons in the water and to locate mines, however certain other practices are thought to be in existence, although not admitted.

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is for – Cheetah, Coral Snake, and Condor.

We’ll look at Coral Snake.

The Coral Snake is well-known for its bright red, yellow, and black hooped skin. Several other snake species have developed a similar colour scheme to mimic the Coral Snake, which is useful because it portrays the non-venomous creatures as dangerous.

There is a rhyme used to remind people how to tell the difference. The rhyme is based on whether or not the red and yellow bands are touching. In more recent years it’s been discovered the simple verse is no longer accurate because of the impersonators.

An accurate, if slightly dangerous method of telling the difference is the bands on a Coral Snake encircle the body, as opposed to being an upper-body decoration.

In respect of the strength of its venom this creature is regarded as second only to the Black Mamba.

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Species: One of few creatures which have two distinct groups before considering sub-species.

The first group are ‘Old World’ where there are 70 species.

The second group are ‘New World’ in which there are 15 species.

Size: They’re a particularly thin creature, some sub-species being as narrow as a pen or pencil. In length they may range from 15 inches to 36 inches dependent on species.

Habitat: The creatures are nocturnal. Old World species will tend to spend daylight hours underground or under leaf-litter. New World species would normally be found in rocky areas of desert, with a tendency to burrow, like most desert-dwelling creatures.

Location: Old World species: Asia. New World species: The Americas.

Diet: Other small snakes, amphibians, lizards.

Predators: Birds of Prey, Foxes, Raccoons, Skunks, and Mongooses.

Info / Strange Facts: In many species, the Coral Snake has a black, bullet shaped head and, a black tail section, which means at first glance it’s difficult to tell whether you are looking at the head or tail. Like most snakes the tail is pointed, rather than bullet-shaped. Due the colour of the head it makes it difficult to see the eyes.

This snake is known to coil its head within its body and raise the tail when confronted, thus leaving a predator to attack the tail. The Coral Snake is more likely to avoid confrontation by slithering into a hole, or crack, or burrowing out of sight.

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