Rhinos

Rhinos are hoofed animals with a two horns, one near its ears which is smaller than the horn on its nose. The word rhino means “nose horn”. There are only five species of rhinos living, the black rhino, white rhino, Indian rhino, Sumatran rhino and the Javan rhino. All five species of rhino can grow to weigh over 1 ton (1000kg). The white rhino can weigh over 3500kg. The white rhino is the second largest land animal after the elephant. Rhino horns are made of keratin the same thing your fingernails and hair are made of. All rhinos are herbivores (plant eaters) and often hunted for their horns. There are 2400 black rhinos on earth, 7500 white rhinos, 400 Sumatran rhinos, fewer than 100 Javan rhinos and more than 2000 Indian rhinos.

Ligers

A liger is formed when a male lion breeds with a female tiger. A liger’s main habitat is in a zoo or a sanctuary. Ligers like to swim like a tiger. They are the biggest cat species. The biggest liger that ever lived was 10 feet long and weighs half a ton which is 900 pounds heavy. A liger could run 50mph. Did you know that if a lion mates with a liger it turns into a li-liger and if a tiger mates with a liger it turns into a ti-liger.

Tigers

Tigers are mammals. They are the biggest species in the cat family. Tigers reach a length of 3.3 metres and can weigh up to 300kg. Some species include the Siberian, the Indochinese, the Sumatran, the Bengal, the South China and the Malaysian. Many species of tigers are either extinct or endangered. When cubs are 2 years of age they go and hunt by themselves. A group of tigers is known as an ‘ambush’ or ‘streak’.  A tiger is a good swimmer, it can swim 6 kilometres. Tigers usually hunt independently at night. Tigers can reach speeds of 65 kilometres per hour (40mph). Tigers can easily jump over 5 metres. There are more tigers kept as pets than there is in the wild.

All About Diplodocus

Diplodocus is a lizard-hipped herbivore. It is very hard to pronounce its name. This is how to pronounce it: dip-LOD-oh-kus. It is a kind of herbivore so it eats plants especially ferns. It is a heavy dinosaur. It weighs thirty tonnes. It’s also a very big dinosaur. It’s height at hips is five metres high. From head to tail it is forty-five metres long. It’s fossils are found in: Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. It’s habitat is in a tropical rainforest. It’s translation is “Double Beam.”

Snakes

Snakes are reptiles. They live all over the world except in Antarctica. The could weigh up to 223 kilograms. Their length is 4cm-9m long. Snakes have a scaled body that helps it to slither along sand or along the trees. They also have two fangs and some teeth located in the mouth. Some snakes have heat pits to cool them down. They have two big, round eyes. Snakes are different sizes and shapes. They don’t have any legs for walking, they just slither. They eat rats, birds, cattle, bats, rainforest animals, humans, crocodilians and many more. Snakes are omnivores. That means they eat plants and meat. Animals that prey on snakes are humans, eagles and mongooses. Do you know snakes also live in the ocean?

Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons are reptiles. They live in Indonesia. They weigh about 70 kilograms. Komodo dragons are 2-3meters. They have a tongue for smelling, finding food and tasting. Komodo dragons have razor sharp teeth for breaking down their prey. They stand on all four legs. They hold a special venom to poison their prey. They eat rats, other small lizards, mice, vegetables, herbs and meat. Komodo dragons are omnivores. That means that they eat vegetables, herbs and meat. They are extraordinary hunters! So Watch Out! Did you know that komodo dragons lived when the early dinosaurs were alive.

Dingoes

Dingoes are mammals. They live mostly on the top of Queensland and the Northern Territory. Dingoes eat rats, mice, insects, bugs and especially meat. Aborigines raised the dingo’s pups as pets. The pups kept their owners warm, helped with hunting and guarded the camp. Dingoes are carnivores. That means that the dingoes only eat meat. Dingoes only live in Australia. They don’t live in Tasmania. They are in a group called dogs. Sometimes dingoes will hunt in packs and sometimes dingoes hunt by them self. All kinds of dogs belong to the dog family. Wild dogs live in forests, on plains, in swamps and in deserts. Dingoes are extraordinary hunters.