Bower birds or bowerbirds

There are eighteen species of bowerbirds, or bowerbirds; they all live in New Guinea or Australia. They got their name from their habit of skillfully building huts on the ground under the cover of the forest. The male builds the hut: in this way he attracts the female. Nevertheless, the eggs are not laid in a hut, but in a small nest located at a distance from the hut; In the same nest, bowerbirds feed their chicks. Each type of gazebo builds huts in its own way. The large gray bowerbird simply weaves a canopy of grass, while the striped gardener erects a whole canopy of branches and grass, sometimes a meter high.

Birds of Paradise

The closest relatives of bowerbirds also live only in New Guinea and Australia. The female birds of paradise are small in size and very modestly colored, but the males shine with bright plumage. They sit on tree branches and dance or sway to attract passing females.

The wonderful bird of paradise, or loforina, lives in the mountains of New Guinea. The feathers on her body are black and matte. On the chest there is a triangle - a shirtfront made of feathers (with a blue-green tint), on the back of the head - a bunch of very long bronzed-black feathers. Showing off in front of his girlfriend, the male raises the feathers on his head with a tuft, and raises the feathers of his “shirtfront” so that they form a kind of fork around his head. To please his girlfriend, her “groom” is suspended on a branch so that the bright colors of his back shimmer in the sun. At the same time, the feathers on the back of his head form a kind of semicircular cape. When the girlfriend is “conquered”, he begins to “dance”.

Pink Cockatoo

A large parrot, the size of a crow. These birds live in flocks in the eucalyptus forest. They form pairs for life. Nests are made in hollows. The pink cockatoo is the only one among parrots that covers its nest with leaves to make it soft. There are 5 eggs in the clutch. Climbing trees, the cockatoo uses its sharp, hooked beak as a third leg: it grabs branches. It can hold onto a branch with one foot and shove food into its beak with the other. It feeds on seeds and plant roots and pulls them out of the ground with its beak. In captivity it can live and bear offspring.

African lovebirds

Small parrots with short, rounded tails. The male and female mate for life, which is why these parrots were called lovebirds. However, outside the nesting period, lovebirds live in flocks. They feed on seeds, fruits and nuts. They nest in tree hollows. Lovebirds are smart, inquisitive, easily tamed and always recognize and greet their owner.

Jaco

The biggest talker of all parrots. He can remember more than 100 words. Grays fly excellently and climb trees deftly. A strong and tenacious beak serves as a kind of 3 paw when moving along branches, and also helps to protect itself from enemies. The main food of these parrots is bananas, nuts, and fruits.

Chameleon

A chameleon is a lizard that lives in trees and clings to branches. By throwing out a long sticky tongue, the chameleon catches the insects on which it feeds. Chameleons are usually green or brown in color. However, the animal can change color to adapt to its natural environment. This disguise allows you to avoid being seen by the enemy! The color also depends on the mood of the animal. Angry, the chameleon turns dark. And when he’s scared, he turns pale.

Snakes

All snakes are predatory. With their mouths open wide, they can swallow whole, without chewing, animals, often larger than themselves. Some snakes are poisonous. They bite their prey, injecting it with venom. They sometimes warn larger animals by hissing or twitching a rattle on their tail. The bright color of the coral adder warns of danger. Some snakes, such as boas and pythons, kill their prey by coiling around them to strangle them. The anaconda is a boa constrictor that lives near water. She can swim very fast. Cobras are poisonous. Warning of an attack, the cobra takes a stance and intimidatingly inflates the hood on its neck.

Land turtles

There are many types of land turtles. They are herbivores and feed on leaves, fruits and grasses. They have no teeth, but strong jaws form something like a beak. Gigantic turtles often reach 80 cm in height and 180 cm in length. And they weigh more than 200 kg. Sensing danger, the turtle hides, pulling its head and paws under its shell.

Amphibian is...

Frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are amphibians, or amphibians. The amphibian lays eggs in the water, from which tadpoles emerge. They grow in water, and when mature they come to land. Amphibians cannot live in salt water. Therefore, they are not found in the sea. Frogs and toads have powerful legs that are adapted for jumping and swimming. The webbed feet serve as oars for them when swimming. The eyes of many amphibians protrude above their heads. Amphibians can distinguish odors well even under water. Frogs and toads catch spiders with their long tongues. Amphibians, like reptiles, are cold-blooded. But their skin is soft, moist and without scales.

Why do they croak?

Amphibians are cold-blooded animals, so in winter they hide and hibernate. They wake up in the spring when the weather gets warmer. In the spring, male frogs and toads inflate their crops and croak loudly to attract females. The tadpoles emerging from the eggs breathe like fish and then grow lungs. Gradually, their paws develop and their tail disappears. At 4 months, frogs leave the water and begin to hunt small animals on land.

Tree frog

Brightly colored tree frogs live in trees. They cling to branches thanks to adhesive pads on their fingers.

Newts and salamanders

Newts are amphibians that retain their tails throughout their lives. Salamanders are the same newts, only they live on land.

Chiroptera

Chiroptera is a very large order, including about 1000 species. This includes bats and the more primitive fruit bats. Chiropterans are distributed throughout the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. In different species, the body length ranges from 3 to 42 cm. All these animals are active at dusk or at night, and spend the day in the crowns of trees or in shelters - in the attics of houses, in hollows, caves, where they often form huge colonies. Animals living in temperate latitudes hibernate during the winter or fly to warmer areas.

Chiropterans are well adapted for active, long flight. Small species of bats are superior to most birds in maneuverability. In addition, bats can climb vertical surfaces. Chiropterans do not have night vision.

Different species eat different foods. The menu of chiropterans includes insects, tree fruits, fish-like animals, small mammals and the blood of mammals. Chiropteran vampires smoothly and silently descend onto the body of a sleeping victim, and then dig into it. But the victim does not wake up from the bite. And all due to the fact that vampires’ saliva contains painkillers.