CARANCHO Caracara plancus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Sauropsida Order Falconiforme Family Falconidae Genus Caracara Species C.plancus DESCRIPTION A bird of prey, measuring between 55 and 60 cm long. Its crest on the top of its head is blackish in colour, the rest of its body greyish, with a white neck, back and chest with…
ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE Aldabrachelys elephantina Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Sauropsida Order Testudines Family Testudinae Genus Aldabrachelys gigantea Species A.Gigantea The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys elephantina) is named after its habitat, the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. The main population of this giant tortoise resides on this atoll, but another isolated population…
The rhinoceros iguana Cyclura cornuta Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Sauropsida Order Squamata Family Iguanidae Genus Cyclura Species C. cornuta They get their name from the small horn-like protuberances on their heads. Physical features These reptiles can be up to 1.8 metres long and weigh up to 5kg. The skin of this iguana is rough…
KOMODO DRAGON Varanus komodoensis Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Sauropsida Order Squamata Family Varanidae Genus Varanus Species V.komodoensis The first description of a Komodo Dragon was in 1912 and described them as “unusually large Veranus”. The first record of this species was made from a photograph and a skin sample. The Komodo Dragon or Veranus…
ALLIGATOR TURTLE Macrochelys temminckii Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Sauropsida Order Testudines Family Chelydridae Genus Macrochelys Species M.temminckii Distribution: It’s limited to North America (Estados Unidos) and is found in the Mississippi Valley all the way to the North of Kansas. It’s also been discovered in rivers like the Suwannee and other rivers from Florida…
The scarlet macaw Ara macao Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Birds Order Psittaciforme Family Psittacidae Genus Ara Species A. macao Spectacular psittacine that stands out for its striking scarlet plumage that stands out especially in the green forests it inhabits. Physical features Like all other macaws, the face is practically devoid of feathers, the rest…
BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW Ara ararauna Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Birds Order Birds Suborder Psittaciforme Family Psittacidae Genus Ara Species A. ararauna A striking macaw with electric blue plumage on the dorsal part of the body contrasting with the yellow on the ventral part. Physical Features They are about 80 cm long, of which…
The pink cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Birds Order Psittaciforme Family Cacatuidae Genus Cacatua Species C. leadbeateri Also known as the flag cockatoo because of the bright red and yellow colouring of the crest feathers. In Spanish-speaking countries it also known as Spanish flag cockatoo because of the bright red and yellow…
CONDOR OF THE ANDES Vulture Gryphus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Accipitriforme Family Cathartidae Genus Vultur Species V.Gryphus INTRODUCTION Vulture Gryphus The Andean Condor, or Condor as it is called in South America, is a large bird, found among birds of flight in the higher dimensions of our days. This condor is one…
GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Accipitriforme Family Accipitridae Genus Gyps Species G.fulvus Griffon Vultures are particularly remarkable for their exceptional gliding skills: they are truly equipped for flight, although they hardly use their wings. They make heavy use of rising thermal currents which form as the sun heats the…
