Fun and quick facts:

Scientific name: Tremarctos ornatus

ICUN rating: Vulnerable

Family: Mammal, ursidae

-Thank you for reading, Phoenix

The skin colour of aardvarks can be pale yellowish-grey to pinkish, but, because of burrowing in the soil, their skin is usually stained, making it darker grey or reddish-brown. They live in Africa, in places like grasslands and savanna. They may travel 2-5 km each night when foraging for food. Aardvarks use grunts as a form of communication and they may bleat when threatened. Because of their solitary behaviour these animals only meet when mating. Being classified as Least Concern, this species is that not threatened. But, in some parts the animal suffers from human activities like logging and farming systems, which leads to the destruction of its habitat. It is like someone wrecking and building something on top of your house.

Aardvarks use grunts as a form of communication and they may bleat when threatened. Because of their solitary behaviour these animals only meet when mating. Being classified as Least Concern, this species is that not threatened. But, in some parts the animal suffers from human activities like logging and farming systems, which leads to the destruction of its habitat. Aardvarks are hunted for their meat, skin, claws and teeth. The teeth serve as materials for bracelets and charms. This decreases the population of aardvarks and there are may illegal poaching companys that kill aardvarks. They play an important part in their local ecosystem since their burrows can be shelters for hyenas, warthogs, squirrels, hedgehogs, mongooses, bats, birds, reptiles, and many other animals. Aardvarks have sticky and long tongues of up to 30 cm, which is used to collect termites. When looking for food, this animal may eat up to 50,000 termites a night. Aardvarks are an brilliant diggers. A single aardvark will dig faster than many people with shovels, even on solid ground. Aardvarks have an amazing sense of hearing. The long ears of the animal are able to move on their own, folding back and closing as the aardvark digs the ground.

Sloths are animals that live in the treetops of Central and South American rainforests. They forage for food like leaves, buds, and twigs. Sloths are mammals that sleep 15 – 20 hours and only move as far as about 40 yards each day. But they have brilliant swimming skills, because of their long arms.

There are six species of sloths, one being critically endangered and another vulnerable. There are two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths today, all about the size of a dog! Ancient giant sloths, called Megatherium, were the size of modern elephants! It’s population is estimated to be 1,500 and they can weigh from 9-17 lbs (4.08233-7.71107 kg). Distant cousins of the sloth include anteaters and armadillos. The two types of sloths that people know mostly escaped extinction when they began to live in the trees when they first came. These two sloth species, the two-toed and three-toed sloths, evolved into tree dwellers fully independent of each other. The two types of sloths evolved into six species, four with three toes and two with two toes.

Platypuses are the only mammals that lay eggs! They are mammals because they give milk to their babies. For some reason they live partly in water and partly in land like an amphibian! Are platypuses amphibians or mammals! Yes, mammals, because they give milk after the eggs hatch. Did you know if you touch a platypus, it releases a deadly venom that is very very painful? It is very tempting to touch the soft fur of them, but no, it is the opposite of relaxing. They release venom glands (spurs) on their hind legs that hurt your skin very very much!

Facts:

• Shining an ultraviolet light on a platypus makes the animal’s fur fluoresce with a greenish-blue tint
• Platypuses don’t have a stomach
• The mouth of a platypus stores food in cheek pouches
• Skin flaps cover the Platypus’ eyes and ears underwater which means it is temporarily blind when swimming. Instead, the Platypus uses its bill to feel its way and find food under water
• Platypus are killed to get the venom of them to slow down blood glucose. We need to stop this poaching NOW!