And now we're open! For my first animal, lets see one of my favorite ones.
Arctic Wolf
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The Latin species name for the Arctic Wolf is Canis lupus Arctos
The arctic wolf is also sometime called the snow wolf or white wolf,
The Arctic Wolf Is able to handle arctic weather, because of their insulated fur. They can survive in sub-zero temperatures for years, in absolute darkness for five months per year, and without food for weeks. Arctic Wolves typically live in packs of 2 to 20.
Arctic wolves hunt caribou and muskoxen, as well as arctic hares, seals, ptarmigan, lemmings, and small animals such as waterfowl.
The mother (usually the alpha female) on average, gives birth to 2 or 3 pups. Until the pups are old enough to hunt, other wolves in the pack take care of the pups until the rest of the pack returns with food.
Last edited by EirianHikari; 10-12-2013 at 08:39 PM..
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms—like starfish and sea urchins. There are some 1,250 known species, and many of these animals are indeed shaped like soft-bodied cucumbers. All sea cucumbers are ocean dwellers, though some inhabit the shallows and others live in the deep ocean. They live on or near the ocean floor—sometimes partially buried beneath it.
Sea cucumbers feed on tiny particles like algae, minute aquatic animals, or waste materials, which they gather in with 8 to 30 tube feet that look like tentacles surrounding their mouths. The animals break down these particles into even smaller pieces, which become fodder for bacteria, and thus recycle them back into the ocean ecosystem. Earthworms perform a similar function in terrestrial ecosystems.
Sea cucumbers, particularly eggs and young larvae, are prey for fish and other marine animals. They are also enjoyed by humans, especially in Asia, and some species are farmed as delicacies.
When threatened, some sea cucumbers discharge sticky threads to ensnare their enemies. Others can mutilate their own bodies as a defense mechanism. They violently contract their muscles and jettison some of their internal organs out of their anus. The missing body parts are quickly regenerated.
Sea cucumbers can breed sexually or asexually. Sexual reproduction is more typical, but the process is not very intimate. The animals release both eggs and sperm into the water and fertilization occurs when they meet. There must be many individuals in a sea cucumber population for this reproductive method to be successful. Indeed, many parts of the deep ocean host large herds of these ancient animals, grazing on the microscopic bounty of marine waters.
