from-bugs-to-birds

[from-bugs-to-birds]

I'm not one to rb here to this account but Alveus in an organization close to my heart and they have been hit by the floods in Austin Texas.

All links are above to anyone interested in supporting them. Simply watch stream with ads supports them if you can't directly donate.

Anyone who has been around here for a bit knows my love for Alveus Animal Sanctuary in Austin Texas.

Nearly the entire entrance road to the sanctuary property has been flooded and washed out.

Anyone interested in their cause or donating to help their repairs:

Maya, the founder, is live streaming their efforts to drain it -> here

You can watch the animal ambassador live cams -> here

Direct donate -> here

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Tasmanian Devil

Conservation Status: ENDANGERED

Consider Donating To: Save The Tasmanian Devil Appeal - University of Tasmania , Aussie Ark

When your life begins with a 16% survival rate in a true battle of the fittest, you are bound to build a reputation like these Devils have.

After about 20 days gestation period, a mother Tasmanian Devil will give birth to a litter of 20-30 grain-of-rice sized babies, or Imps. From that moment, the battle has begun.

Tasmanian Devils are marsupials, meaning they will enter this world deaf, blind, infinitesimal, and need to find their way to Mothers pouch where they will continue to grow and nourish. Making it to mothers pouch alive is part 1 of their trials. As female Tasmanian Devils only has 4 teats and these little Imps are not in the habit of sharing.

The 4 Imps who can stand their ground will carry on the Devils reputation, those who can’t will die of dehydration and malnutrition. It wasn't all for nothing though! The mother will often eat those who didn't have what it takes. Nothing went to waste, that's just more nutrition to help feed her strongest survivors.

Adult Tasmanian Devils can open their jaws a massive 70°, with the strongest bite force relative to size of all mammals, powerful enough to crush bone. They are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, their unique and aggressive ways of natural selection is also a major contributor to their population decline.

Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)

A contagious tumours cancer. Since it's first discovery in 1996, population is estimated to have decreased 60% or more in the area. DFTD is being spread through contact in fights or during mating. Young Tasmanian Devils can become infected as early as 1 year old.

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

[from-bugs-to-birds]

From the tiniest of bugs to the fastest of birds and everything in between, FB2B wants to bring facts about unique and/or endangered animals to your dashboard!

Use the information you find here as inspiration to dig deeper and learn more. Research is always moving, always changing so if I get something wrong, let me know!

Found An Injured Animal?

Click here to find a rehabber near you.

Check Conservation Statuses

Visit the IUCN Redlist

Get Involved In Conservation

Post coming soon with a variety of international organizations

Images are mainly Google sourced.

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Galapagos Marine Iguana

CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable

These iguanas are endemic to, you guessed it, the Galapagos islands. They live up to the Galapagos reputation of vast diversity and evolutionary uniqueness from the rest of their counterparts in the world. Not only are the only species of iguana to be partly aquatic, they have also developed into 11 subspecies unique to their region, all of which are Marine Iguanas.

These not so little guys can often be seen basking on the hot rocks. Much like other iguana species, they regulate body heat this way. The difference for Marine Iguanas is these afternoons of basking serve an additional purpose. This is a vital part of their aquatic nature. Warming their bodies like this is how they counter the cold of the ocean waters. Spending up to 30 minutes in the water and diving to 20 meters / 65 feet, these cold blooded reptiles definitely need it!

All that time in the salty Pacific can undeniably dry you out and cause dehydration. Just as they always do here on the Galapagos, the Marine Iguanas have found a solution: Salty Snot Rockets. Special glands they've developed allow them to eject the salt from the ocean.

While these miraculous animals are fully protected under law, this doesn't exempt them from the harms caused by none other than mankind. Human introduction of invasive species are putting these incredibly unique animals at risk. Bringing animals like cats and dogs to the islands have created new predators to the Marine Iguana eggs and juveniles. Beyond that we, the human species, do what we do best... destroy and pollute. Oil spills and micro plastics impose great harm here just as in many other places around the world.

Consider Donating To:

OCEANA

Galapagos Conservation Trust

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

Check an animals conservation status on the IUCN website.

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Scaly-Foot Snail

CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered

Dubbed "The Pangolin of the Sea", these badass looking snails hang out at Ocean ridges that reach 400°c / 750°f.

These snails make their home along hydrothermal vents, an environment rich in minerals. They are covered from shell to foot in protective iron, the only animal known to use iron in its exoskeleton.

Beyond that, they utilize gregite to become magnetic !

They are at great risk, being found in only three spots on earth, all in the Indian Ocean. Their known habitat totals a mere 300km² / 116²miles.

What makes them so unique and fascinating is the same thing that's threatening their species: deep sea mining. The Scaly-Foot Snail is the first animal to become endangered as a result of deep sea mining.

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

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Pangolin

CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered or Critically Endangered

There are 9 species of pangolin spanning across Africa and Asia. Their scales make them unique as the only mammal to have them covering their entire body!

These scales, however, are what make these animals so valuable. Pangolin scales are sought after for use in Traditional Medicine, as well as their meat that is considered a delicacy. Scales sell for thousands of dollars per kg.

It should be no surprise now that they are the most trafficked mammal only second to humans.

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

Please add on any organization to donate to pangolin conservation! I don't currently have enough knowledge on orgs to recommend.

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FB2B Animal Fact

Giant Marine Isopod

The largest known isopods found in the deep waters, as far down as 1600 ft, measuring around 16 inches in length.

Food scarcity makes these scavengers eat what they find, including whale carcasses they will gorge on until they can hardly move. It's been recorded in captivity that they can survive up to 5 years without food.

Conservation Status: Unlisted / Insufficient Data

!! BONUS SPECIES FACT !!

If you have a shellfish food allergy, that goes for isopods as well since they are crustaceans! Be careful not to eat the back yard rollie-pollies!

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

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FB2B Animal Fact

Purple Martin

The bird living rent free. These birds have unique long-standing relationships with humans traced back to North American Indigenous cultures, relying on us to provide their housing. Making the yearly migration from Brazil to North America with stops at the gourd shaped homes provided by human "Landlords".

While considered Least Concerned, their populations are declining. The birds that have come to rely on us are now facing obstacles caused by the same hands: habitat loss, decreased food availability, mercury contamination, and so much more.*

Conservation Status: Least Concerned * Learn to be a Purple Martin Landlord and their migratory patterns.

Donate to Purple Martin Conservation Association

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you. 

[from-bugs-to-birds]

FB2B Animal Fact

Water Boatmen

The loudest animal species relative to its size, topping the charts at 92 db. At only half an inch these little bugs can be about as loud as hair dyer or police siren. Their secret? A musical penis of course! A male creates this mating call by rubbing his penis against his abdomen to play his mating song.

Conservation Status: Least Concerned

Audio clip

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you. 

[from-bugs-to-birds]

FB2B Animal Fact

African Clawed Frog:

Uhoh the store is sold out of pregnancy tests!!!??? Just get some urine and an African Clawed Frog! Sounds crazy but this is how human pregnancy testing worked prior to disposable home tests.

From around 1930s-1960s these frogs were used as live pregnancy tests. Urine would be injected into the frog and if hCG was present, the frog would lay infertile (obviously!) eggs. The importation of African Clawed Frogs is thought to be the reason for rampant spread of chytrid fungus impacting many native amphibians populations. Conservation Status: least concerned.

* Note while they are LC, the impacted populations are in decline

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

[from-bugs-to-birds]

FB2B Animal Fact

Mexican Free-Tailed Bats

The largest bat colony in the world is made up of as many as 20 MILLION bats and reside in Bracken Cave located in Texas. The species is also the highest flying bat and topping speeds just under 100mph!

Bats are a vital part of the ecosystem, feeding on their body weights worth of insects each night!

Conservation Status: least concerned

View the "batnado" at Bracken Cave each night via Live Stream!

Donate to Bat Conservation International

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

[from-bugs-to-birds]

FB2B Animal Fact

North American Opossum:

First, possum vs opossum:

Possum: the Australian bush tailed marsupial. Admittedly, cuter than the NA marsupial imo.

Opossum: The North American marsupial.

Opossum have a reputation for being a mammal that is immune to/cannot carry the rabies virus. This is not entirely true. The chances you encounter an opossum under all the right conditions and get bit and contract the rabies virus are incredibly low.

This is because the opossum has a body temperature lower than what is needed to incubate the virus. This means the opossum is not immune but would need to be in very specific series of event to have an increased body temperature and contract the virus and maintain that raised temperature to become rabid.

Conservation Status: unlisted / least concerned

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.

[from-bugs-to-birds]

FB2B Animal Fact

Slow Loris

The Slow Loris is the only venomous primate! They produce venom in their armpits and will lick the secretions to deliver a venomous bite.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable or Endangered and exploited in the illegal pet trade.

If you find an injured animal, contact a rehabber. Do not try to do it yourself. Click here to find a rehabber near you.