Rainforest Animals - Mekong Giant Catfish

Name:
Mekong Giant Catfish

Scientific Name:
Pangasianodon gigas

Status:
Critically Endangered

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pangasiidae
Genus: Pangasianodon
Species: P. gigas

General Information:
The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish in the world, and is endemic to the Mekong basin of Southeast Asia. A behemoth that can reach near-mythical proportions, this aquatic giant is migratory and requires extensive stretches of river for its seasonal migration. It also needs particular environmental conditions for breeding and spawning. Heavy fishing and other forms of human encroachment have pushed this catfish to the brink of extinction. It is currently classified as "Critically Endangered". In the past century, its population has been diminished by some 95 percent, and some experts believe there are only a few hundred adults left.

Physical Description:
The most marked feature of this fish is its remarkable size. The largest specimen ever caught was 9 feet in length and weight 646 lbs. It was the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. The Mekong giant catfish has low-set eyes, are silvery to dark gray in color on top and white underneath, and are toothless. Juveniles also possess the characteristic catfish whiskers known as barbels. As they grow older the barbels shrink in size.

Diet:
The Mekong giant catfish is an herbivore, and feeds on the plants and algae of the river.

Habitat:
It lives in the lower half of the Mekong River system in Southeast Asia, occurring in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Reproduction:
The Mekong giant catfish grows extremely quickly, and can reach 330 - 440 lbs in only six years time. This large fish, however, has also been noted for its slow reproduction rate, which, coupled with human encroachment pressures, has led to the precarious state of its survival. It migrates to spawn, but the damming of Mekong tributaries has led to the destruction of many of its breeding and spawning grounds. Siltation has also taken a large toll.

Article Source: www.paradiseearth.com

Rainforest Animals - Sloth Bear

Name:
Sloth Bear

Scientific Name:
Melursus ursinus

Status:
Vulnerable

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Melursus
Species: M. ursinus

General Information:
The sloth bear is the only species in the genus Melursus. It is a nocturnal creature of South Asia. Contrary to the implication of its name, the sloth bear is actually quite fast and can outrun a human being. There are a variety of theories as to where it gets its name, including the idea that early explorers spotted the bears lying upside down in trees, similar to the general appearance of sloths. In the 1700s, it was even classified as being a member of the sloth family, and accordingly named as "bear sloth". It wasn't until the 1800s, when the first live sloth bear arrived in Europe from India, that scientists were able to properly categorize it. Although it can be quite ferocious, leopards, tigers, and wolves are known to predate upon it or its young. Habitat destruction and poaching constitute the primary threat to this species' survival.

Physical Description:
The sloth bear is a relatively small but stocky bear, draped in long, shaggy black fur. The particularly long hair around its neck gives off the image that it has a mane. There is a large white or yellow Y-shaped patch on its chest. Adult sloth bears generally weigh about 176 - 308 lbs for males and 121 - 187 lbs for females. It is generally 4 ft 7 in to 6 ft 3 in in length.

Diet:
Sloth bears are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of foods that include plants, insects, and animals. It has been known to scavenge from tiger kills and even eat cultivated crops. When eating insects, they prefer termites, using their long claws to expose the insects' nests. And, because of their dietary fondness of honey, they have also been called honey bears.

Habitat:
Sloth bears inhabit a diverse array of forests, from dry thorn forests in the north of its range to the wet tropical forests in the south. They are also found in grassland areas. Their range includes areas of Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Reproduction:
Based on the limited available information, sloth bears appear to mate year-round. The gestation period is about 7 months, after which time the female gives birth to 1 - 3 cubs, with 2 generally being the case.

Article Source: www.paradiseearth.com