Visiting the Homeland of Endemic Animals
Today, we embark on an adventure and visit some of the coolest endemic species known to us.
Image courtesy: FRANS LANTING, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION
Image courtesy: David Tipling, Getty Images
Bon Voyage Readers!
1] Kangaroos
Sailing all the way from Indian Ocean down to the Pacific Ocean in the east, we reach the southernmost human inhabitated continent of the World, the beautiful and bold land of Australia. Think of Australia and the first thing that comes to your mind is not it's people, neither it's scenic spots but an animal. To be precise, a Kangaroo.
Kangaroos belong to the family Macropodidae and the genus Macropus, in which about 14 species exist. They are found in Australia, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, New Guinea, and the islands east to the Bismarck Archipelago. Several species have been introduced into New Zealand. All members of Macropodidae rely on long, powerful hind legs and feet for hopping and leaping, their predominant forms of locomotion. Their long, thickened tails are used for balancing. They are herbivorous and have a chambered stomach that is functionally similar to those of ruminants.
The reproduction and development in kangaroos is very interesting; In all species, the marsupium (or pouch) is well developed, opens forward, and contains four teats. The young kangaroo, called the "joey" is born at a very immature stage, when it is only about 2 cm long and weighs less than a gram. Immediately after birth, it uses its already clawed and well-developed forelimbs to crawl up the mother’s body and enter the pouch. The joey attaches its mouth to a teat, which then enlarges and holds the young animal in place. After continuous attachment for several weeks, the joey becomes more active and gradually spends more and more time outside the pouch, and finally it leaves completely at 7 to 10 months of age.
Kangaroos fighting among themselves during the mating season or defending themselves from predators is a treat to behold. Males fight for access to females by biting, kicking and boxing and to defend themselves. With their agile arms, they can spar vigorously, use the forepaws to grip an enemy while rocking back on their tails and then swiftly dropping their huge clawed hind feet.
That was a bit about these marsupials and now we move onto the next animal...
2] Emperor Penguin
Sailing further, we end up at the southernmost continent of the World, the majestic land of Antarctica. Very few species can thrive in the extreme cold conditions here, making each of them an endemic species to this region.And one of them is the Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). The generic name Aptenodytes means "diver without wings" in Ancient Greek. Emperor Penguins are carnivores that prey upon fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They are social birds that often hunt together. They can dive to 1,800 feet, making them the deepest diving birds of the World. They can spend up to 20 minutes underwater, and forage over 300 miles from their colony.
The reproduction and development in Penguins is like most other aves, however, a lot depends on the environmental cues as well.
Breeding occurs in late March and early April when males and females return from foraging in the sea.
Breeding is apparently timed to ensure that the long developmental period will produce fully fledged young in midsummer, when their chances of survival are greatest. Consequently, a single egg is laid in late May or early June just before the onset of the Antarctic winter. Egg laying is followed by incubation, done exclusively by the male. Meanwhile, the female embarks on a journey of some 80 to 160 km from the colony to the sea, and she does not return until the incubation period concludes. Incubation lasts 60–68 days through gale-force winds and extremely cold temperatures that routinely dip below –50 °C.With no access to food, the male lives off his fat reserves. He holds the egg on the tops of his feet, draping a layer of skin over the egg to protect it from the harsh conditions. During violent winter storms, members of the colony huddle together for mutual protection from cold.
The chicks hatch in August, and the females return to the colony to relieve the males. Each chick stands on the feet of one of its parents until it is mature enough to live independently.
References
Rafferty, J. P. (2022, September 26). emperor penguin. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/emperor-penguin
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, May 22). kangaroo. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/kangaroo
