The Wildlife Fact Calendar!
Updated: Dec 25, 2024
What endangered species falls in your birthday month? Check out our wildlife calendar below to learn about 12 of the more uncommon creatures that are found on our earth!
January
Jacana- an aquatic bird that has oversized, elongated toes, and toenails that enable it to spread its weight on floating and submerged water plants.
February
Fossa- endemic to Madagascar and resembling a medium-sized feline, the elusive Fossa is the island’s top predator.
March
Margay- a medium-sized jungle cat of Central and South America that is known to hunt birds and monkeys in the trees.
April
Aye-Aye- the largest nocturnal primate found in Madagascar, the aye-aye has rodentlike incisors that perpetually grow, batlike ears to echo locate its prey, an extra thin third finger with a ball and socket for swiveling, a fourth extralong finger for pulling out the food from inside the trees, and a sixth digit for gripping!
May
Mayfly- an aquatic winged insect that evolved over 300 million years ago! It is used as an indicator of the health of the freshwater ecosystems. There are over 3,000 species worldwide.
June
Jabiru- a stork found in Mexico to Argentina and is the tallest flying bird in the world [standing about 4.3’-4.9’ (1.3m-1.5m)].
July
Jellyfish- an oceanic creature that has been in our waters for over 500 million years! It is an invertebrate and has no eyes, brain, or heart and is extremely poisonous! Its main diet consists of small marine plants called phytoplankton, fish eggs, and fish larvae.
August
Alpaca- resembling the llama and found in the high altitudes of the South American Andes, the alpaca, is a version of the wild guanaco and vicuna domesticated over 6000 years ago. There are two types of alpacas, and they are raised for their wool.
September
Sea Slug- this oceanic, poisonous invertebrate is found in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. It helps us know more about the health of the marine ecosystems. It is also studied extensively in neurobiological and artificial intelligence (AI) research.
October
Olm- a salamander known for its unusual appearance and its adaptation to life in total darkness underground. Since it lives underground and has no eyes, it finds food by using its sense of touch, smell, and electro-sensitivity.
November
Nutria- a large, semi-aquatic South American rodent with webbed hind feet. Due to its destructive burrowing and feeding habits, it is considered an invasive species.
December
Dovekie- a black and white bird found in the Northern Hemisphere. It flies straight with whirring wing beats because the wings are short. Considered an efficient swimmer, it mainly thrives on zooplanktons that include microscopic ocean animals such as krill and sea snails.
Photo Credits:
January | Jacana | |
February | Fossa | pixabay |
March | Margay | nhpbs.org/Malene Thyssen |
April | Aye-aye | amnh.org/D. Finnin/Joseph Wolf |
May | Mayfly | |
June | Jabiru | |
July | Jellyfish | pixabay |
August | Alpaca | pixabay |
September | Sea Slug | pixabay |
October | Olm | |
November | Nutria | dnr.maryland.gov/Christian Fisher |
December | Dovekie |
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