As far as I know, rays need special camouflage in order to be able to survive and hide from predators, but this species has no camouflage, so it got a cool name Gamma Ray. Good luck, dear ray!!!

Giant Otters are native to South America (mainly in Iwokrama Forest, live in large rivers and tropical rain forests). These otters are the biggest and the rarest among all otters, they can grow as long as a rather tall man, but their weight is poor (approximately 70 pounds), that is why these animals are so sleek. These rare creatures are commonly called “water dogs”, “river wolves” and they live in very remote and forested regions far from people. I think, it is a real pleasure, to watch them diving and playing with their shiny wet fur glistening in the sunlight. Ears and eyes possess such a form in order to prevent them from water.

Now, the most exciting facts!!! Fur of the otter is waterproof. They possess incredible webbed feet and long tails. Otters are very vocal and noisy animals. There is a light spot on the throat area. Giant otters need not less than ten pounds of food each day and they never save it for the rainy day. Otters are capable hunters and should the opportunity present itself, they will never miss it. Beware! As a rule, Giant Otters live nearly 12 years in the wild, and in the zoo they live up to 20-21 years.

Main threats

• the hunt for their luxurious fur;
• the shrinking of their habitat;
• poisoning because of polluted waterways;
• destruction of the rain forests;
• fishing;
• jaguars and anacondas.

Sometime, we live and even don’t know how many amazing animals are around us. Small and big, funny and dangerous, cute and ugly, they are an integral part of our lives, even if they live in a far-reaching Africa. Capybara! Have you ever seen it? And do you know that it is the largest rodent in the World? I guess, no. Its name can be translated as “Master of the grasses” (it is from Indian language) and from Latin – a “water dog”.

Appearance

Capybaras bodies are very heavy and big, they posses a form of barrel, but heads and legs are rather short. Bodies are covered with fur, it is reddish and sometimes brown. Capybaras can be up to 130 cm long and 50 cm tall. Weight of these animals sometimes goes up to 100 pounds. Capybaras have no tail and back legs of these animals are longer than the front legs, thus, they look a little bit odd an funny.

Behaviour

Capybaras are very social animals, they prefer living in groups (from 10 to 30 species), a male is dominant and he posses a special scent gland, that helps him to identify and find grass on the territory. Communication goes on with a help of sounds, purrs and whistles.

Dangers

Capybaras are haunted by people because of their skin and meat, also they are haunted by predators, such as: anacondas, jaguars and caiman. Actually, capybaras don’t belong to endangered animals. In some places, capybaras hunting is even restricted. In Venezuela capybaras are allowed to be eaten during the Lent time, when it is possible to eat only fish. But some people still adore things and handbags from capybaras leather.

Funny facts

• in order not be sunburn, capybaras can roll in a mud;
• capybaras are real experienced drivers, because they will easily stay underwater for 5 minutes;
• capybaras can both breathe and see while swimming;
• they adore resting at water during the heat of the day;
• capybaras can hide in water (for example, from predators);
• they can bark, thus, alerting others about danger;
• while hiding from predators, capybaras can sleep in water, holding their noses just right at the waterline;

Webbed feet enable the platypus to swim well. Each hind foot of the male has a poison spur that can kill small animals and inflict painful wounds on larger ones. Crushing its food with the horny plates of the bill and mouth, the platypus each day eats about half its own weight in worms, insect larvae, mollusks, crustaceans, and vegetation, all consumed underwater.

The male Platypus has venomous ankle spurs which produce a cocktail of venom!!! This venom is not lethal to humans, but does produce excruciating pain; so intense that the victim may be incapacitated. And one mo fact about platypus, which confirm their leading position in the list of strange animals: platypus reproduction is unique. It is one of only two mammals (the echidna is the other) that lay eggs!