LAKE TURKANA

AND ITS WILDLIFE

Lake Turkana, set in the northern deserts of Kenya, is the largest
alkaline lake in the world. Its water is soapy to the touch, but it
teems with fish. Birds and crocodiles also abound.
KEY FACTS
LINKS WITH THE NILE
Lake Turkana is isolated from
other East African lakes or
rivers. Only the Omo River
flows in; no rivers flow out.
Despite its isolation, Lake
Turkana contains fish that are
I
typical of the Nile. This link is
seen in the common names
of Turkana fish like the Nile
perch and in other fish with
scientific names that end
in niloticus or nilotica. The
reason for these common
species, geologists believe, is
that the lake was once con-
nected to the White Nile.
Volcanic activity may have
created a barrier between
the two bodies of water.
Nearly 10,000 years ago,
the lake seems to have been
250 feet higher than it is
today and could have over-
flowed down to the Nile. This
would explain why the lake's
fish were stranded. Some
have developed into new
races or even species.
LOSING WATER
As recently as the 1980s, the
water level of Lake Turkana
dropped dramatically. Before
then, an inlet known as
Ferguson's Gulf was a prime
feeding site for tilapia and
other inshore fish. By the end
The same process happened
in miniature on Central Is-
land. As the water level fell, a
flooded crater was isolated
from the rest of the lake. Over
thousands of years, the tilapia
of the decade, it had dried
out and became a pasture.
The severe droughts of the
mid-1980s may have caused
the sharp lowering of the
water level. Due to the low
rainfall in Ethiopia, much less
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
Left: The drop
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
in Lake
Turkana's
water level has
affected the
livelihood of
local fishermen.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
outh (Hiihnel) Is.
Above: Lake Turkana extends
from Kenya's northern border.
stranded in this crater evolved
into a species separate from
the fish in the main lake.
water flowed down the Omo
River-perhaps too little to
make up for the lake's loss of
water through evaporation.
It is also possible that water
has drained away. For a lake
lacking an outlet, the water is
not as salty as it should be.
Some geologists think the
lake has an underground out-
let that siphons away water. A
new fissure may have caused
even more water to disappear
underground.
0160200341 PACKET 34
Lake Turkana has several other African
and European names, including Basso Norok and
Lake Rudolf. Perhaps the most evocative name
is the Jade Sea, which suggests the lake's huge size
and the green color of the algae in its waters.
The lake is home to many species that are
also found in the Nile River.
~ A SEA IN THE DESERT
Lake Turkana lies in Africa's
giant Rift Valley. Extending as
far as the border between
Kenya and Ethiopia, it is the
farthest north of East Africa's
great lakes. It is 165 miles in
length and averages 18 miles
in width, making it the third
largest of the Rift Valley lakes,
after Lakes Tanganyika and
Malawi. Like these lakes, it
has a long and narrow shape,
but it is far shallower, with a
maximum depth of only 240
feet. Three long-dead vol-
canoes rise above the water,
forming North, Central, and
South islands.
Lake Turkana seems to lie in
Front cover:
Crater Lake on
Central Island.
Front cover
insets: Lake
Turkana is
home to the
yellow-billed
stork (left) and
the crocodile
(right).
Right: The
African spoon-
bill feeds on tiny
lake creatures.
an arid plain. Except for the
palms, shrubs, and marsh
plants around the shore, little
vegetation grows in the area.
Few rivers cross the valley-
most dry up in the summer
heat. The only permanent
waterway feeding the lake is
the Omo River, which enters
at the northern end.
No river flows out of the
lake, so dissolved salts carried
down the Omo accumulate
as water evaporates from the
lake's surface. The salts give
the water a high alkaline
content, but it is not too high
for algae, plankton, crusta-
ceans, and fish.
Right: The
giant heron
hunts along
the shores.
Below: Some
skimmers stay
all year in a .
colony on
Central Island.
Left: The tiger
fish is a large
predator in
Lake Turkana's
deeper waters.
Right: The
Nile bichir is a
primitive fish
that inhabits
the shallow
bays.
~ CROCODILES AND BIRDS
The world's largest concen-
tration of crocodiles-about
13,OOO-can be found along
Lake Turkana's northeastern
shore. The alkaline water has
discouraged poaching of the
crocodiles because it causes
growths that make their skins
undesirable. The crocodiles
prey mainly on Nile perch
and tilapia, but they are also
a danger to people.
The abundant fish in the
lake attract many birds.
White and pink-backed
pelicans and long-tailed
cormorants hunt for surface
fish. Yellow-billed storks,
African spoonbills, egrets,
and herons search the
shallows for aquatic prey, and
greater and lesser flamingos
sieve algae and tiny animals
from the water. Ospreys
regularly nest on the lake's
islands, and an African
skimmer colony breeds on
Central Island.
About 37 species of fish live
in Lake Turkana. Six species
are found only in the lake,
including a cyprinid and a
spotted cichlid, both of which
feed on small aquatic animals
and are themselves food for
larger fish.
The abundant tilapia feed
on algae and aquatic vege-
tation near the lake shore.
The female carries fertilized
eggs in her mouth. Even after
they hatch, the fry (young)
continue to swim into her
mouth for safety. In Turkana
tilapia can weigh 12 pounds
-five times more than tilapia
in other African lakes.
A small form of the Nile
perch inhabits deeper waters,
while a much bigger form
lurks in the shallows. These
giant Nile perch, weighing up
to 200 pounds, can easily
catch tilapia unless their
quarry escapes into water too
shallow for them to swim in.
In the warm, shallow bays
at the northern end of the
lake, the snakelike Nile bichir
basks near the surface. The
Nile electric eel, which hides
by day and hunts at night,
can generate an electric field
around its body. This allows it
to detect its prey of small fish
and snails in murky water.
Left: The pink-
backed pelican
is a common
sight at Lake
Turkana. It
does not use
the pouch
under its beak
for storing
food, as many
people believe.
Like all peli-
cans, it uses
the pouch to
scoop fish up
from the water.
THE AFRICAN RIFT VALLEY
& ITS WILDLIFE
Geologic forces have shaped the African Rift Valley over millions
of years, creating a rupture in the land surface that runs almost
the entire length of the eastern side of the continent.
KEY FACTS
HOW THE RIFT VAllEY WAS FORMED
The African Rift Valley is one of
many huge fractures on the
earth's surface, or crust. But
most are beneath the sea, so
their effects are not obvious.
All these fractures result from
movements of the earth's
crust that cause huge sections,
called plates, to push and pull
against one another over time.
These movements create
tension in the rock, pushing
up layers and causing them to
split along weak lines called
faults. Different pressures on
the sides of each fault often
push one side higher than the
other. This activity is called an
earthquake, and it results in a
landscape that has steps, or
escarpments.
The African Rift Valley is
made up of many faults that
have been created over the
last 40 million years. In some
places the rock section be-
tween two major faults has
sunk, making a steep-sided rift
valley.
Movement and tension
in the earth's crust are also
associated with volcanoes.
Where the crust is weak, mol-
ten (hot, liquid) rock spills out
to the surface in the form of
lava or ash.
LANDSCAPES OF THE RIFT VAllEY
Top left: Volcanic hot springs in
Lake Bogoria.
Left: Basalt columns created by
volcanic heat and pressure.
Top right: Longonot Crater,
Kenya.
Right: Flamingos, Lake Nakura.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Above: A mass of rock between
two faults may drop to form a
[ j ~ ~ 6 m ~
Above: Pressures on both sides
of a fault force rock sections to
rise or fall , creating many steps.
0160200261 PACKET 26
The African Rift Valley originates in the
Middle East and runs nearly the full
length of the African continent.
It provides a variety of wildlife habitats,
ranging from desert to open grasslands
to misty mountaintops.
~ CONTINENTAL RIFT
The African Rift Valley runs more
than 4,000 miles, mainly north
to south, forming a curve-
shaped depression. In some
places, the rift's steep-sided
valleys are only 25 feet wide; in
others, gently sloping valleys
spread 250 feet across.
The African Rift Valley actually
begins in Turkey; it runs along
Jordan and the Dead Sea and
Cover inset left: Cheetahs soak up
the sun on volcanic rocks.
Cover inset right: Burchell's zebras
graze on the Serengeti Plain.
into the Red Sea, which contains
much marine life. The rift crosses
Ethiopia, forming the Afar De-
pression and the Ethiopian high-
lands. It continues through the
mountains, volcanoes, plains,
and lakes of Kenya and Tanzania.
Another branch of the Rift
Valley begins about 450 miles to
the west, in Uganda. From there,
a chain of peaks and lakes passes
alongside Zaire, Tanzania, and
Malawi, where lakes Tanganyika
and Malawi lie. At the rift's
southernmost point is the valley
of the Zambezi River.
African plate
Left: The Rift
Valley is a long
split in the
Earth's crust,
linked to the
faults between
the African and
Arabian
continental
plates.
~ HIGHLANDS & VOLCANOES
Some rift mountains, such as
Kenya's Mau Escarpment, form
steep-sided valleys. Others are
chains of peaks or isolated
volcanoes.
African mountains provide
different conditions from the
surrounding lower ground.
They attract animals that can
grip bare stone, such as the
rock hyrax, and cliff-nesting
birds like Verreaux's eagle.
In the cool mountain air,
water vapor continually con-
denses and falls as rain. Humid
forests and bamboo stands
(clusters) cover the lower
slopes, providing a home
for such animals as colobus
monkeys and the Tacazze
sunbird.
Many mammals that live in
the mountains have narrow
ranges. The dry Ethiopian
highlands are the only habi-
tat of the mountain nyala.
~ CHAINS OF LAKES
About 30 major lakes lie within
the African Rift Valley. They
vary greatly in appearance.
Many are long, narrow, and
very deep. (Lake Tanganyika-
5,000 feet deep-is the second
deepest lake in the world.)
Others are shallow, and some
of these dry up entirely during
arid (dry) years. Some lakes are
salty; a few, like Lake Natron,
have natural deposits of soda.
Soda lakes are not habitable for
most creatures. But large flocks
of flamingos can feed in them. '
Left: The rock
hyrax lives in the
mountains.
Right: More than
100 species of
cichlid fish live in
Lake Tangan-
yika.
Below: Vultures
feed on a zebra
carcass on the
Serengeti Plain.
Left: Though widespread within
reserves, lion populations in Africa
have been red4ced by 50 percent
since 1950.
The birds wade in shallow
water, which can be boiling
hot, sifting for algae and small
invertebrates.
Freshwater lakes, such as
Lake Naivasha, support abun-
dant bird life, including herons,
pelicans, storks, kingfishers,
and ducks. Herds of hippo-
potamuses also live there.
The large western lakes of
the African Rift Valley are also
home to hundreds of species
of fish; Lake Tanganyika has
140 species of cichlids.
Some of the richest savannahs
(grasslands) in Africa were
created by the Rift Valley's
volcanic activity. The volcanic
ash of Tanzania's Serengeti
Plain restricts tree growth but
allows grasses to flourish.
The collapsed Ngorongoro
volcano to the east and the
Serengeti are both protected
areas. They provide grazing for
wildebeest, zebras, gazelles,
rhinoceroses, and elephants,
which in turn support preda-
tors, such as lions, cheetahs,
leopards, and wild dogs.
THE BRITISH MOORS
AND THEIR WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
The wet, windy climate of Creat Britain ~ upland moors
discourages many plants and animals. But some hardy species
flourish in these open expanses of seeming wasteland.
ACTION FILE
WHEN TO SEE WILDLI FE
SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER
PLANTS (flowering t imes)
Sundew
Bilberry
Heather
Cotton grass
Mat grass
Sphagnum
Bog asphodel
Cloud berry
BIRDS
Red grouse
Black grouse
Merlin
Peregrine falcon
Short-eared owl
Kestrel
Golden plover
Stonechat
Curlew
Partridge
Hen harrier
Purple moor grass
Rowan
MAMMALS AND AMPHIBIANS
Pony
Red deer
INSECTS Wildcat
Green hairstreak ...--__ . ....... --+---+----i
Rabbit
Mountain hare
Large heath
Marsh fritillary 1---- . l1li---+----+----4
Fox
Common toad
Common frog
Smooth newt
Mountain ringlet
Bog bush cricket
Golden-ringed dragonfly L...-_.L.-_ ....... _--L_---I
MAINTAINING THE MOORS
In early times the bare up-
land moors were covered
with rich woodlands. Some
6,000 years ago, during the
Bronze Age or even earlier,
people began clearing the
forests to graze livestock on
the pastures.
Today on the moors there
are remains of early human
settlements including ancient
field patterns, ringed hill forts
with mossy ditches, and
Roman fortifications such
as Hadrian's Wall.
THREATS TO THE MOORS
The bleak expanses of the
moors were essentially cre-
ated by the early settlers who
cleared the forests. In this
sense they are a man-made
environment, and thus some
people argue that there is no
reason to preserve them.
Mining interests would like
to extract the minerals. Dart-
moor is richin metal ores,
and the North York moors
contain alum and coal.
A major threat comes from
forestry companies, which
plant extensive areas for
lumber. Although these for-
ests are often open to hikers,
the habitat is alien to most
moorland plants and animals.
Mismanaged farming has
resulted in the drainage of
marshlands and the destruc-
tion of many acres of heath-
er. New roads and housing
pose yet another threat.
In addition, large areas
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLI FE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
have been sealed off by the
defense ministry. Water com-
panies have claimed land for
reservoirs.
Despite all these threats,
the moors have retained their
semiwild appeal. Tourism
helps to support the rural
economy. Dartmoor has 7 to
8 million visitors a year, and
there are about 640 miles of
public trails in Northumber-
land National Park.
Above: New plantings of conifers
threaten tracts of open moor.
0160200361 PACKET 36
A long time ago Great Britain's upland moors
were covered with forests. Today their acidic soil
and peat support heather, bracken, and
spongy mosses instead. Marshy bogs attract
amphibians and insects, while birds of prey and
summer migrants nest in hollows on the ground.
~ ANIMALS OF THE MOORS
The moors have a surprisingly
rich wildlife, although the in-
sects tend to be smaller and
duller than those on warm
heaths. Butterflies include the
green hairstreak, large heath,
marsh fritillary, and mountain
ringlet. The bog bush cricket
and golden-ringed dragonfly
frequent marshy areas. Com-
mon frogs spawn in sheltered
pools, where palmate newts
can sometimes also be seen.
On Exmoor and Dartmoor
semiwild ponies are left to
roam but are rounded up and
counted each year. On the
higher moors of Scotland and
the West Country, red deer
stags (adult males) fight for
does (females) in the fall.
Rabbits and mountain hares
burrow in the higher slopes,
where they can guard against
birds of prey and foxes. The
rarest moorland mammal is
the Scottish wildcat, which
hunts rodents and birds.
Left: A female adder waits for a
mouse or frog to cross her path.
Front cover inset: Moors are
home to the short-eared owl.
~ PLANTS OF THE MOORS
Years ago the upland hills
were stripped of trees, and
ever since they have been ex-
posed to cool, damp, windy
weather that leaches nutrients
from the soil. Much moorland
is now covered by peat or
blanket bog, which is made
up of dead plant matter.
The acidic and absorbent
peat supports Erica and Col/una
heathers and Sphagnum moss.
When these plants die, they in
turn form more peat.
Sphagnum moss can survive
on poor soil, so it thrives on
Left: Summer on the moor is
heralded by banks of sweet-
smelling heather.
ever-hungry
rabbit trims
vegetation and
is a vital food
source for
moorland
predators.
Right: The
field vole is
also important
to the moor's
food chain.
the moors. Its ability to hold
water encourages other,
bizarre plants such as the
insect-eating sundew. This
tiny, pinkish, starry-leaved
plant exudes a sticky sweet
11 dew" that attracts, traps,
and digests small insects.
Bilberry, bog asphodel, and
mat grass accompany heather.
In summer, tufty white flowers
appear on the spikes of cotton
grass and purple moor grass
sends up feathery flowers.
Hilltop trees such as rowans
are crippled by the wind. But
in the streams that cascade
through rocky gullies, there
are lush ferns and mosses.
RED GROUSE: THE HUNTER'S BIRD
The red grouse, or Lagopus
/agopus, is a prized game bird
that feeds on young shoots of
heather. If it is disturbed, this
plump bi rd clatters noisily in-
to the ai r, showi ng its rusty-
red plumage.
The fall grouse hunts are
an important local business.
Acres of heather are burned
back each year to promote
regrowth of the red grouse's
staple diet.
Fortunately, the guns have
not deterred the grouse. It
even weathers winter bliz-
zards on the moors. With its
head to the wind, it uses its
feet to tread and melt the
snow beneath it.
~ BIRDS OF THE MOORS
Inclement weather discour-
ages bird life, especially in
winter. Birds of prey feed on
chicks, frogs, and rodents.
The merlin nests on the North
Yorkshire moors. Hen harriers
fly above the hillsides, and
short-eared owls, peregrines,
and kestrels are also seen.
In summer, golden plovers
Below: The red grouse is given
special treatment because it is a
popular game bird.
Right: Semi-
wild Shetland
ponies graze
freely on the
moors. Once a
year they are
rounded up
and counted.
nest on the moors and the
clicking call of the stonechat
may be heard. The curlew,
with its distinctive long and
curving bill, white rump, and
yellowish-brown patterned
plumage, also breeds here.
The black and red grouse and
partridge are game birds that
favor the moors.
Below: Sporting his summer
plumage, a male stonechat finds
food for his young.
THE ENGLISH BEECHWOOD
AND ITS WILDLIFE
The beech, with its straight, smooth trunk and full crown,
was described by the naturalist Gilbert White as the "most lovely
of all forest trees." Beechwoods throughout Great Britain
KEY FACTS
THE SPREAD OF THE BEECH IN GREAT BRITAIN
The beech, a common tree in
Europe, is not native to the
colder northern regions. In
Great Britain, for instance, it
originally occurred only in the
southern half of England.
Beeches have since been
planted outside of this range
and now grow on exposed
sites in the Pennine moun-
tains of England as well as in
Ireland.
Beeches provide shade and
have been used by landscap-
ers as ornamental trees on es-
tates. Many mature English
beechwoods were originally
planted for timber.
Left: Green
woodpeckers
at their nest-
ing hole.
Above: The
beechwood in
autumn.
Right: Adult
lobster moth.
WHEN TO SEE THE SPECIES
Spring _ Summer c=J Autumn _ Winter
Beech
Ash
Leaf litter
Poached egg fungus
Dog's mercury
Bugle
Wild garlic
Wood anemone
Sanicle
Sword-leaved helleborine
Ghost orchid
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Lobster moth
Barred hook-tip
Green silver-lines
Hart's tongue fern
Great tit
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Green woodpecker
Wood pigeon
Badger
Fallow deer
PRINTED IN U.S. A. 0160200301 PACKET 30
Though they were originally confined to
southern England, beech trees have now been planted
throughout the land. Today their woodlands provide
a rich and distinctive habitat for wildlife, with a
characteristically open, shady floor and a thick
leaf litter covering the ground.
~ CHARACTERISTICS
Beech has been planted for
its beauty and for its fine
timber. It grows best on well-
drained soil such as the crests
of hills. In acidic soil, beech
trees grow in forests with
oak. On chalky ground its
woodlands often contain ash
and wych elm trees.
A dense beechwood has a
full canopy of leaves and an
~ PLANT LIFE
The dense beechwood tree
overshadows most flowering
plants. Fungi survive by draw-
ing sustenance from dead
plant tissue instead of sunlight.
Mushrooms and toadstools,
ranging from the poisonous
death cap to the edible horn
of plenty, cover the ground
during the damp fall. The
poached egg fungus grows
~ ANIMAL LIFE
The beech tree supports about
200 invertebrate species, al -
most eight times more than
the ash. Slugs, wood lice,
centipedes, and insect larvae
live in leaf litter.
The invertebrates provide
food for birds such as the
Front cover inset left: The green
silver-lines moth. Front cover
inset right: The nuthatch.
open forest floor, which re-
ceives too little light through
the treetops to support shrubs
or undergrowth.
In fall the tree canopy turns
a rich golden bronze before
the leaves fall. Beech leaves
decay slowly and thickly cover
the ground. From October,
beechmast (reddish brown
seeds) scatter on the ground.
mainly on the branches of
living beech trees.
Where the canopy lets in
more light, flowers carpet the
ground in spring. Dog's mer-
cury grows on chalky soils
with some bugle, wild garlic,
wood anemone, sanicle, and
hairy violet. Rare orchids such
as the ghost orchid sprout in
the beechwood.
chiffchaff, a common summer
visitor. The great tit stays year-
round, rooting in leaf litter in
fall. Fall crops of beechmast
attract flocks of chaffinches,
bramblings, wood pigeons,
and nuthatches. Birds can store
the nuts for the winter.
Larger animals include the
fallow deer and the badger,
which burrows in the soil.
Barred hook-tip moth
Badger sett
Chiffchaff
Lobster moth larva
Centipede
Chaffinch
Great tit
Wood pigeon
Green woodpecker
Fallow deer
Green silver-lines moth
Great black slug
Wood louse
Poached egg fungus
Lobster moth
THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
AND ITS WILDLIFE
The Amazon rainforest is a hothouse world inhabited
by an unparalleled variety of birds, mammals, and insects. It is a
threatened paradise that we have hardly begun to explore.
KEY FACTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
------
Over half the world's plants
and animals live in the
Amazon rainforest: several
hundred species of monkey,
more than 600 bird species,
and over 40,000 species of
flowering plants. The vegeta-
tion supports millions of
insects-20,OOO species can
inhabit an area the size of a
football field.
Rainforest destruction
Today about 10 percent
of the Amazon rainforest has
been destroyed. Land clear-
ance for agriculture and tree-
cutting for timber continues
to destroy millions of square
miles each year.
Destruction of the rainforest
may contribute to global
warming. Trees remove and
:c:.
Pacific
Ocean
store great amounts of car-
bon dioxide, a major "green-
house gas." Not only do
trees stop removing carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere
when they are cut down,
but burnt or decaying trees
release stored carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere.
Once the forest is de-
stroyed, tropical rains wash
the thin topsoil away so that
the rainforest cannot grow
back. Native people are
unable to live off the land
and wildlife cannot survive.
Resources for the future
The rainforest itself is a valu-
able resource for the poor
South American countries in
which it is located. Many
foods and drugs come from
AtlantIC
Ocean
Area of rainforest
The rainforest-with over 1,000 rivers,
including the Amazon-covers over a
~ third of South America.
~ Z ; M C M X C I IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A
Above: Rubber cultivation is no
longer a major threat to the
rainforest.
its plants: cocoa, Brazil nuts,
and curare. But man now
currently knows the uses of .
less than 10 percent of its
plants. Others may be extinct
before man even discovers
their uses. Practical and sen-
sitive collection of forest
species could earn money
while preserving the rainforest.
Through the selective, controlled
exploitation of the rainforest' s natural
resources, it is possible to ensure its
existence for future generations.
0160200321 PACKET 32
The Amazon rainforest covers one third of
South America and stretches across nine
countries. It contains two-thirds of the
world's fresh water, including the Amazon
river and 1,100 tributaries, and is
home to an extremely wide range of wildlife-
now threatened by habitat destruction.
~ LIFE IN THE RIVERS
The rivers of the rainforest
teem with life, from millions of
biting insects to huge alliga-
tors. Many fish have moved
inland from the sea: shark,
sole, rays, and the needlefish
with its long, thin body and
pointed head. Other river
animals have also moved from
ocean habitats, including the
large marine toad and the rare
manatee, a six-foot-Iong mam-
mal known as a "sea cow"
that has been hunted nearly to
extinction. The water opos-
sum-the only living aquatic
Front cover inserts: The toco
toucan and the Amazon river
dolphin are examples of the
diversity of wildlife to be found
in the Amazon rainforest.
marsupial-also lives here.
The plentiful food supply in
the river supports flesh-eating
animals of all kinds. Native
people catch several species of
piranha for food. The caiman
-the Amazonian alligator-
slides into the water in search
of fish or other prey. The cai-
man may itself be prey to the
anaconda, a large snake that
wraps itself around its prey
so that the animal cannot
breathe, then swallows it
whole. Anacondas, like many
animals in the rainforest, can
swim if they need to.
The scarlet ibis and the
spoonbill both visit the river,
as does the hoatzin, a primi-
tive bird that feeds on lily
Right: The
anaconda may
await its prey in
the water.
Below left: The
water opossum
is the world's
only aquatic
marsupial.
~ THE PLANTS
Plants have adapted well to
the rainforest where there is
plenty of water but little light.
A few trees grow above the
main tree canopy, soaring
over 150 feet high into the
light. Their large roots are
shallow, so they blow over
easily if the surrounding forest
is destroyed.
The canopy trees below
form a layer 30 feet deep,
which captures 95 percent of
the light. Liana vines and
other creepers trail from the
treetops where they flower.
Ferns and large, exotic
orchids are epiphytes-plants
that live only on other plants.
In the trees they can receive
the sunlight and water they
need. Bromeliads (members of
the pineapple family) collect
rainwater and insects in cup-
. shaped leaves, from which
they derive sustenance.
Left: Zebra
butterflies roost
on light-seeking
creepers that
hang from the
canopy.
Right: The
hoatzin bird
feeds on lily
leaves and can
barely fly.
~ THE FOREST
From the river, the rainforest
seems to be a dense mass of
vegetation. Away from the
river, the rainforest is quite
accessible, since few plants
grow at ground level. Very
little light reaches the forest
floor, which is covered with a
thin layer of dead leaves.
Millions of ants and termites
rapidly eat any decaying logs,
leaves, or corpses of other
animals. Plate-sized tarantulas
catch fruit- and insect-eating
birds and insects that live here.
Fruit-eaters are common in the
forest-there are even species
of fruit-eating fish.
The paca, a large brown rat,
feeds here, as does the largest
rodent in the world, the capy-
bara. The tapir, with its long,
moveable snout, feeds on
leaves in the forest, while
pumas or jaguars stalk the
night-feeding swamp deer.
Although wildlife abounds
on the forest floor, the tree
canopy houses most of the
rainforest's animals. Here,
many varieties of tree species
provide plentiful food. The call
of howler monkeys carries for
miles throughout the forest.
Capuchin, woolly, and spider
monkeys swing through the
trees. The douroucouli mon-
key also lives here.
Below: The tapir is a shy animal
that reaches for leaves with its
sensitive snout.
THE SONORAN DESERT
AND ITS WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
Few arid lands can match the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, with its
rich array of cacti and other desert plants. After the rains, that
beauty is enhanced by the blooms of desert flowers.
KEY FACTS
HOW BAJADAS ARE FORMED
8ajadas are the slopes around
the bases of desert mountains.
They form when streams of
rainwater rush down the
slopes, picking up loose rocks
and sand. As the streams reach
the lower slopes they slow
I down and deposit their loads-
first the heavier rocks, then the
finer grades. The deposits fan
out to form a bajada.
1. Streams
dislodge rocks
and sand from
high slopes.
2. Debris
accumulates,
spreading out
in fan shapes.
3. Fans merge
to form slope.
3
SONORAN DESERT-ARID LAND OF THE SOUTHWEST
United States
CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA
I"" San
Phoenix
NEW MEXICO
....... . .......
....... r _ __ ..... .. 'ErPaso ..... .... ..
................. ' .......
....... . -._._ ...... . .- . "
.,...... TEXAS
"
"
\ , ....,
\. /'.
M E X leo ..... ....... _/
Pacific Ocean
D Arid Very arid
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET.. PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200231 PACKET 23
As in all arid regions, the combination
of heat and drought in the Sonoran Desert '
creates harsh conditions for wildlife. But
a large number and variety of animals
thrive among the sand and rocks. Some
have odd adaptations that allow them
to cope with their harsh environment.
~ THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT
The Sonoran Desert runs from
the southwest corner of the
United States into northwest
Mexico, fringing the Gulf of
California. It is hot and dry for
most of the year.
Broad, sandy, or rocky plains
are broken by barren moun-
tains. Streams are temporary,
~ VEGETATION
The Sonoran Desert is filled
with shrubs and trees, adapted
to survive hot, arid (dry) con-
ditions. Their roots take as
much moisture as possible
from the soil, and they gen-
erally have small, waxy leaves
that minimize water loss.
Cacti have spines, which are,
in fact, modified leaves. After a
pouring off the mountains
during brief storms and then
drying out. But two major
permanent rivers cross the
desert: the Colorado and its
tributary, the Gila.
Above: The Sonoran Desert is a
land of scrub and scorching sun.
rainstorm, cactus roots
absorb water quickly and
store it within the stems.
Sudden violent rainstorms
also bring out fields of
flowers, such as desert
marigold and blue bonnet.
Front cover inset: Tiniest of all
North American owls, an elf owl
nests in a saguara cactus.
~ SPECIALIZED INVERTEBRATES
Much of the wildlife of the
Sonoran Desert has adapted to
cope with the harsh heat and
periods of drought.
Some desert creatures take
shelter underground from the
fierce heat of the day, emerg-
ing only at night to feed. The
trapdoor spider constructs a
silk-lined burrow, sealed with a
neat, circular entrance cover
made from silk and earth.
Others shelter for longer
periods, resting underground
for months until the seasonal
rains improve food supplies.
After heavy rain, velvet mites
emerge to hunt insects.
The large black cicus beetle
wanders across the desert sur-
face, foraging for prey. The
tarantula hawk wasp paralyzes
tarantulas with its sting and
then lays an egg on its body.
When the larva hatches, it eats
its spider host alive.
Above: The
Gila monster is
patterned for
camouflage.
Left: The kit
fox preys on
small rodents.
Right: The
tarantula
hawk wasp
hunts spiders.
~ REPTILES, BIRDS, & MAMMALS
Above: A giant saguaro cactus
may live for hundreds of years in
the desert.
Although an awesome sight,
the venomous Gila monster is
shy and retiring. The desert
iguana, the collared lizard, and
the zebra-tailed lizard each rise
up and run on their hind legs
when threatened.
Another sprinter is the great-
er roadrunner. Darting across
the ground at up to 15 miles
per hour, it seizes various prey,
including poisonous rattle-
snakes. Where possible, it
nests among the spines of cac-
ti. The Gila woodpecker and
gilded flicker often drill their
nest holes in the giant saguaro
cactus; these holes may be
taken over later by elf owls.
Desert mammals include
predators such as the kit fox
and desert coyote, and plant
eaters such as the desert hare
and antelope squirrel. The
desert pocket mouse hides in
its burrow by day, emerging
at night to forage for seeds.
Another seed eater, the desert
kangaroo rat, leaps about on
its long hind legs.
Below: The roadrunner preys on
venomous snakes.
THE SIBERIAN TAIGA
AND ITS WILDLIFE
Siberia is not a bleak, icy wilderness. Instead, it boosts magnificent
coniferous forests, known as taiga. There are many unique birds
and mammals in this vast region.
KEY FACTS

NATURE RESERVES IN THE SIBERIAN TAIGA
In the Siberian taiga there are
38 nature reserves to protect
the wildlife. Two of the most
famous are the Barguzin and
Baikal State Nature Reserves.
The Baikal Reserve includes
452 square miles of taiga,
which is largely made up of
dark fir and Siberian stone
pine trees. It is home to about
800 species of flowering
plants, 37 mammal species,
and 260 bird species. The
Barguzin Reserve, which is
larger, was established to
protect the fur-bearing sable.
Near these reserves is Lake
Baikal, the world's deepest
Below: The black woodpecker
nests in conifers, feeding on beetle
larvae and horn tails.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Russian word for ca-
percaillie is the same as that
for a deaf person. The birds
get so involved in mating
that they do not hear the
hunters' guns.
Siberian spruce grouse
I seem to be fearless. Instead
;s. USSR \ 0
l '
rfJ
freshwater lake. It features the
world's only freshwater seal
and many unusual fish, mam-
mals, and birds. Unfortunate-
ly, the lake has been polluted
by shoreline industries.
of fleeing from the sound of
hunters' guns, they move to
lower branches to investi-
gate the noise and become
easy targets.
A century ago about six
million game birds were
killed yearly in the USSR.
Above: The taiga covers a huge
area of the Soviet Union, from
the Urals to the Sea of Okhotsk.
Below: Snow lies on the rocky
peaks of the taiga's forested
slopes year-round.
Some forest vole species
give birth to as many as 40
young each year.
The brown bear eats nuts,
berries, herbs, conifer seeds,
fish, ground-nesting birds,
rodents, insects, elk, and
wild boar.
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200351 PACKET 35
The Siberian taiga stretches east of the Ural Mountains
to the Sea of Okhotsk. Its character changes
with the seasons. In summer it is colorful and
inviting, while in winter it is cold and mysterious.
Humans rarely venture into the deeper forests,
where elk and immense brown bears roam
and other wildlife flourishes.
~ CLIMATE &: VEGETATION
The Siberian taiga offers the
widest range of temperatures
in the world. In Verkhoyansk,
winter temperatures can drop
to -90 F, making it the cold-
est location in the Northern
Hemisphere. In contrast, sum-
mer temperatures can rise to
almost 100 F.
The average temperature in
the taiga is 66F, which is
warmer than other parts of
the world at similar latitudes.
Most of the taiga is made
up of Daurian larches. This
tree is ideally suited to the
harsh climate. Its shallow root
Front inset left:
The icy taiga
winters do not
deter the wolf
from hunting.
Its dense fur
and endurance
are key to its
survival.
Front inset
right: One of
the few cold-
blooded taiga
inhabitants is
the viviparous
lizard, which
gives birth to
living young
rather than
laying eggs.
system lets it draw water from
the surface soil. It also thrives
in both sandy and stony soil.
Further east, the forest turns
into grassy steppes at times.
Near the top of the Siberian
mountains, the forest thins
out. I nstead of larches, there
are d w ~ r f Siberian stone pines
and birches.
In the north the taiga sup-
ports conifers as well as small
shrubs such as dwarf birches,
cranberry, and bilberry. The
forest is denser in the warmer
center and south. Humans
rarely enter these areas.
~ BIRDS
The taiga forests are ideal for
many birds. Some live there
year-round, adapting to the
harsh winter. Others visit only
in summer, drawn by the
swarms of insects.
The black-billed and west-
ern capercaillies, along with
the northern hazel grouse
and Siberian spruce grouse,
Many people equate Siberia
with an image of wolf packs
howling across a desolate
snowy land. Even though it is
widely hunted by humans,
the wolf is still relatively com-
mon in the Soviet Union. It
has adapted to most terrains
but favors the open taiga.
The wolf avoids the dense
forests, where its main prey,
the elk, is harder to track.
Left: The Siberian red squirrel
feeds on pine cones, nuts, and
berries in the taiga.
draw hunters to the area. The
hazel grouse in particular is
commercially important.
Taiga birdlife is often heard
before it is seen. A common
sound is the oriental cuckoo's
call. Another is the call of the
black woodpecker, which is
attracted by insects hidden
below the tree bark.
The red fox hunts the many
voles in the taiga. Another
mammal is the Siberian red
squirrel. In winter it sheds its
red fur for a silvery-gray coat
that is prized by fur traders.
A majestic taiga inhabitant
is the thickly furred brown
bear. It roams the forests for
many miles in search of food.
From May to July, its mating
roar is clearly heard.
Right: The bull elk can take on
most predators, but wolves or
brown bears may kill its young.
Left: The
Siberian ruby-
throat is a
species of
thrush. The
female has
only a white
throat patch,
without the
male's vivid
splash of red,
shown here.
The taiga winters are too cold
for most amphibians and rep-
tiles. Among the few amphib-
ians is the Amur frog. Reptiles
include the common adder
and the viviparous lizard.
Both these reptiles give birth
to live young, which is essen-
tial in an area where it is too
cold to hatch eggs.
Insects include the horntail,
which lives in alder and birch
trees, and the pine sawfly,
which feeds on pines and
destroys them.
Left: The brown bear feeds on
almost anything it can find.
THE GOBI DESERT
AND ITS WILDLIFE
The Gobi Desert stretches from southern Mongolia into China. The
terrain is bleak, with barren rocks, low mountains, and drifting
sand. But some hardy wildlife can still be found.
KEY FACTS
THE DESERT SURFACE
The Gobi Desert covers al-
most 580,000 square miles,
extending from southern
Mongolia into China. Much
of the ground is covered with
small pebbles called gobi,
from which the desert gets its
name. There are no grasses to
bind the soil together or large
shrubs to protect against the
wind, so particles of soil are
blown away from the surface,
exposing rocks and pebbles.
The soil particles then pile up
into sand dunes at right an-
gles to the wind.
To adapt to this environ-
ment, many desert plants
have deep tap roots as well as
a network of fine roots that
spread to soak up as much
water as possible. Succulent
species such as Euphorbia
have a waxy coating on their
leaves to prevent moisture
THE DESERT CLIMATE
The Gobi Desert is very dif-
ferent in summer and winter.
In summer, midday tempera-
tures can reach 110 F but
drop sharply after sunset.
loss. The seeds of other desert years, germinating only when
plants can lie dormant for water is present.
There are no clouds, so the
heat escapes rapidly from the
surface at night and raises the
moisture level in the air as it
cools. In winter, the tempera-
Left: In sum-
mer it is ex-
tremely hot
in the Gobi
Desert during
the day, but
the scant
cloud cover
means that
temperatures
drop abruptly
after sunset.
tures usually stay below freez-
ing and may fall as low as
-40 F. Snow may cover the
ground for long periods.
The Gobi Desert lies along
the same latitudes as much of
western Europe, which has a
moist climate. The westerly
winds that sweep across Eu-
rope condense moisture col-
lected over the ocean, which
falls to the ground as rain.
But as these winds pass across
Asia, they lose moisture. By
the time they reach the Gobi
Desert they are almost dry, so
very little rain falls.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A 0160200391 PACKET:19
The Gobi Desert is classified as a cold desert,
but the climate ranges from very high temperatures
in summer to temperatures well below freezing
in winter. Many desert species have adapted their
lifestyles to survive these extremes of heat and cold
as well as the lack of water. Other species migrate
during the worst conditions.
TO THE DESERT
Animals have developed
special adaptations to survive
in the extreme temperatures
and unreliable rainfall of the
Gobi Desert. The long-eared
hedgehog, for example, keeps
cool in summer by means of
the tiny blood vessels that run
across its enlarged ears, close
to the skin's surface. As air
Right: The
jerboa forages
only at night
because it
would die in
the heat of
the day.
Front cover
insets: The
jerboa and the
eagle owl
thrive despite
the climatic
extremes of the
Gobi Desert.
blows on the ears, it cools the
blood and helps stabilize the
hedgehog's body temperature.
For insulation against the
winter cold, some animals de-
velop extra layers of fur, fat, or
feathers. Many small animals
hibernate below ground dur-
ing winter and return to the
surface when the snow thaws.
Left: The
Bactrian camel
is still found
wild in the
Gobi. Because
it has adapted
well to desert
conditions, this
camel is often
domesticated
and used for
transport.
LARGE DESERT ANIMALS
The desert is a traditional hunt-
ing ground for the Mongol
people, and the wild ass, the
horse, and the saiga have been
hunted almost to extinction.
Bactrian camels still live in
the wild, but many have been
domesticated. This camel can
exist for days without water,
relying on fat stored in its two
humps. To replenish its body
fluids, it drinks up to 35 gallons
at a time. The camel has a
thick coat on top to protect it
from the sun, but its coat is
sparse on its underside to let
heat escape. In winter it grows
a long coat for insulation.
SMALL DESERT ANIMALS
Many small rodents, such as
jerboas and gerbils, live in the
Gobi Desert. They spend most
of the day in underground
burrows and emerge in the
cool of night to search for
food. On the surface it is so
hot and dry during the day
that a small animal would
quickly dry out and die. But a
few inches underground, the
temperature is lower and the
air contains more moisture.
The Mongolian jird, like
many other rodents, digs
underground storage cham-
bers. When rainfall is above
average and food is plentiful,
the ji rd gathers seeds in its
cheek pouches and transfers
them to its underground store-
rooms. These supplies help to
sustain the jird during periods
of dry weather.

Hawks, eagles, and other birds
of prey sweep over the desert at
dusk and dawn in search of
small rodents, birds, and rep-
tiles. The large eagle owl hunts
by night, while the common
buzzard is active during the day.
Left: Despite the searing heat, the
buzzard scavenges in the desert
during the day.
In winter some birds migrate
south to warmer climates. The
desert wheatear and several
species of the short-toed lark
and sandgrouse spend the
winter in India's Thar Desert.
The houbara bustard was once
common in the Gobi Desert,
but it has been hunted too
much and is now rare.
Left: The des-
ert wheatear is
a ground-
dwelling bird
that breeds in
the Gobi Des-
ert. In winter it
flies south to
the warmth of
the Thar Des-
ert in India.
Above: The
jird stores the
seeds it finds in
times of plenty
as insurance
against long
periods of dry
weather.
Left: Blood
vessels in the
ears of the
long-eared
hedgehog help
it keep cool.
WILDLIFE IN
SUBURBAN GARDENS
North American and European urban areas often include the green
oases of suburban gardens. These gardens provide a haven
for wildlife driven from the countryside.
KEY FACTS
~ - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
HOUSEGUESTS
Many wild animals make their
homes in or near suburban
houses. Deprived of woods or
caves, bats have found that
modern houses with shingle
roofs and ventilated eaves pro-
vide a perfect substitute. At
dusk on warm nights they may
come into the garden to feed
on insects drawn to the house
and streetlights.
Swallows and house martins
also like the suburban house.
With a potter's skill they mold
their clay nests tightly into the
eaves, leaving just the tiniest
gap through which they can
leave and enter.
Garden sheds full of seeds
and vegetables attract rats and
mice that may create a home
base by burrowing beneath
a shed's shallow foundations.
Larger holes may be the work
of foxes digging a den in
which to raise their young.
Below: A pipistrelle bat leaves its Right: The European robin is
roost soon after dusk to hunt renowned for aggressively
nocturnal insects. defending its territory.
GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE
Gardeners can make their
gardens inviting to wildlife.
A pond filled by rainwater
provides a home for insects
and minnows and a breeding
ground for frogs and smooth
newts. Some water and mud
brought in from a natural
pond will introduce all kinds
of invertebrates, such as
dragonfly larvae. As the in-
sects hatch, birds are drawn
to the water and adult drag-
onflies can be seen hunting
over its surface.
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Above: The common toad is easy
to recognize with its warty skin
and short legs.
Below: Newts feed on worms,
insects, leeches, and even frog
eggs.
0160200381 PACKET 38
The growth of large cities has created
increasing demand for housing in surrounding areas.
As people settle in suburbs, many animals lose
their natural habitat. But suburbs usually contain
gardens that provide food and shelter
for a variety of wildlife.
~ GARDEN HABITATS
Exotic plants are often popular
among gardeners, but they
may offer little to native wild-
life. There are, however, ex-
ceptions. In Great Britain, for
example, leylandii are planted
to provide privacy. These im-
ported conifers offer perches
as well as protective cover for
chaffinches and house spar-
rows. Blackbirds may hide
their nests inside these trees.
Front: Foxes and moles (inset)
can be found in suburbs.
Buddleia, another exotic
plant, is known as the butterfly
bush. Its nectar is irresistible to
small tortoiseshell, peacock,
and red admiral butterflies.
Border flowers like lavender
and roses also attract butter-
flies and bees-as well as trou-
blesome sap-sucking aphids.
But aphids attract colorful
insect eaters such as ladybugs.
Some gardens have vege-
table plots. Their visitors in-
clude various butterflies, snails,
and birds.
~ VISITING MAMMALS
Many of the mammals that
visit gardens are nocturnal and
shy. Some of these creatures
are welcome guests. In Eu-
rope, the hedgehog is often
enticed into a garden with a
saucer of bread and milk so
that it will eat garden pests
such as slugs.
Above: The peacock butterfly is
one of many visitors drawn to
the bright and sweet-smelling
flowers that are found in subur-
ban gardens.
Another nightti:-ne visitor is
the red fox. Although it preys
on worms and small mammals
in the wild, this carnivore, or
meat eater, has become ac-
customed to living off human
handouts. Foxes often devel-
op routines, visiting gardens
at the same time every night.
During the day they may at
times be seen dozing in a
quiet corner or in the sun.
More visible and far less
welcome is the mole. But it is
possible to live at peace with
this velvet-coated insect eater.
Once a mole has dug its tun-
nels, the mounds of soil can
be brushed away or used for
potting.
Mice, voles, and even rats
may live in large gardens.
Generally nocturnal, their
presence may be discovered
only when a domestic cat
captures one.
Still other garden visitors in
North America include cot-
tontail rabbits, white-tailed
deer, and raccoons.
Below: The common shrew often
makes its home in the burrows of
other animals. It prefers damp or
overgrown sites and feeds on
worms and insects.
~ CREATURES OF
QUIET CORNERS
In the farthest, most difficult
to reach parts of the garden,
amphibians such as toads and
reptiles, including a variety of
lizards, may be found. If the
area is damp, a garter or a
grass snake may slither by. A
stream or a pond introduces
a variety of other animals, in-
cluding frogs, salamanders,
and turtles.
Above: A pile
of leaves serves
as a conve-
nient nest for
hedgehogs and
their young.
Left: Blue tits
are a common
garden bird in
Great Britain.
Below: Fruit
and nuts
attract gray
squirrels and
birds.
THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS
AND THEIR WILDLIFE
The South Sea Islands are scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean.
These tropical islands have blue lagoons, lush shores,
and diverse, colorful wildlife.
KEY FACTS
L
FEATURES OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
The three major groups of is-
lands in the Pacific Ocean are
Polynesia, Melanesia, and Mi-
cronesia. Polynesia is the larg-
est group, stretching between
Hawaii and New Zealand. It
contains 1 7 smaller clusters,
including Tonga, Samoa, and
the Society Islands (where
Tahiti is located).
Melanesia includes Papua
New Guinea, Fiji, and the Sol-
omon Islands. Micronesia con-
sists of the Caroline, Gilbert,
and Marshall islands. Many
Polynesian and Melanesian
islands are well populated;
some Micronesian islands
are uninhabited.
Except for New Guinea, the
Pacific islands were formed by a
band of volcanic activity called
the "ring of fire." The Hawaiian
volcanoes are at the center of
the ring. Several Pacific vol-
canoes are still active today.
Left: Some of
the Pacific
islands are so
densely
covered by
vegetation
that it is
difficult for
humans to live
there or to
study the
wildlife.
HOW WILDLIFE IS BROUGHT TO THE ISLANDS
Seabirds bring wildlife from
one area to another. Birds
often transport seeds byeat-
ing them in one area and
eliminating them in their
waste matter elsewhere.
Other seeds and fruit have
hooks, barbs, or spines that
attach to birds' feathers and
feet. Because of its barbed
seeds, the plant species Bidens
has been transported through-
out the Pacific by birds. The
Olearia plant has seeds with
fluffy tops that stay airborne
for long distances. Some seeds,
such as mangroves, float on
water and are carried to new
areas by ocean currents.
Many reptile, insect, and
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S. A.
Above: Much of the dramatic
landscape in the South Seas was
formed by volcanic activity.
New Guinea is connected to
Australia by a continental shelf
under the sea. This shelf was
once dry land so animals and
plants could move between
the two land masses. As a re-
sult the two areas have similar
wildlife today.
Many islands in the western
Pacific are atolls-low islands
formed when a coral reef en-
circles a submerged volcano
and encloses a shallow lagoon.
snail species have been carried
across the Pacific on logs or
branches. Seabirds also trans-
port invertebrate or fish eggs
that get attached to their
feet . Some young spiders
travel great distances on the
long silk threads they pro-
duce. The threads are lifted
up and carried by the wind.
01 60200371 PACKET 37
Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia
make up the South Sea Islands. These islands
were created by volcanic activity many centuries ago,
and a few volcanoes are still active today.
The landscape ranges from low-lying coral reefs
to more mountainous terrain, and it supports
a variety of tropical wi/dlife.
~ WILDLIFE OF THE CORAL REEF
Atolls (low, circular islands
made of coral) and coral reefs
are formed by polyps (marine
animals that secrete a rigid
external skeleton of lime-
stone) . Coral builds up from
these skeletons over many
centuries. Above the water's
surface, coral packs down
firmly and forms rock that is
bound together by grasses,
palms, and a variety of trees
and shrubs.
Living coral is usually found
at the outer edge of a reef.
Many coral polyps form into
columns or treelike colonies
that can reach almost to the
water's surface.
Individual coral polyps are
equipped with tentacles with
which they trap their own
food. In many species, how-
ever, they are connected to
one another and can share
nutrients. Polyps can also
communicate with one
another by releasing chem-
icals into the water. If one
polyp releases a chemical in
response to a disturbance, all
the surrounding polyps may
quickly contract. Although
marine biologists note this
close cooperation between
polyps, they hesitate to con-
sider corals "social" animals
in the sense that bees, ants,
and termites are.
The outer edge of the reef,
the flat reef top, and the is-
land shore all support a rich
marine life, which varies with
the temperature, light, cur-
rents, and oxygen content of
the water. In particular, the
stony skeleton of a coral reef
provides hiding places for a
number of brightly colored
fish such as the clownfish,
squirrelfish, and soldierfish.
Boldly patterned sea cucum-
bers, sponges, sea hares, star-
fish, crabs, and shrimp also
conceal themselves in coral
reefs. The variety of animals
living on a reef almost rivals
that of the tropical rainforest.
Healthy populations of the
six giant clam species exist on
some reefs, but on others
people collect them for food
and they are becoming ex-
tinct. Clams have become
very rare on Guam, an island
in the Marianas group in
Micronesia. In a conservation
project there the clam larvae
are hatched, grown in tanks,
and put back on the reef.
~ B I R D S
The South Sea Islands are rich
in bird life. Inhabitants include
plovers, terns, shearwaters,
and sandpipers. The frigate-
bird from the Marshall Islands
in Micronesia has a la-foot
wingspan. The male bird has
a brilliant red throat pouch,
which he inflates during his
courtship display.
Front inset
left: The
rainbow
lorikeet is
appropriately
named.
Front inset
right: The
coconut crab
climbs coconut
trees to get its
favorite food,
the coconut.
New Caledonia in Mela-
nesia is home to over 70 bird
species. One of these birds is
the colorful rainbow lorikeet,
which is common on other
Pacific islands. In contrast,
Stephen's lory is an endan-
gered species found only on
Henderson Island in the
Pitcairn archipelago.
left: The fruit
bat, or flying
fox, is one of
the few com-
mon mammals
in the South
Sea Islands.
These fruit
eaters are vital
to the lifecycle
of some of the
plants they
feed on be-
cause they
disperse the
plants'seeds.
Few mammals live on the Pa-
cific islands, except in New
Guinea. But there are about
50 species of the flying fox, or
fruit bat, throughout the Pa-
cific. Other mammals include
descendants of the domestic
animals brought by early set-
tlers as well as descendants of
the rats that traveled on set-
tlers'ships.
Because New Guinea was
once connected by land with
Australia, it is home to some
of the same species. The wal-
laby, tree kangaroo, striped
possum, cassowary (a large
flightless bird), and several
left: The flightless cassowary can
be easily identified by its horned
head crest.
Left: The
rainbow lori-
keet is most
common on
New Cale-
donia. This
sociable bird
polfina tes
coconut flow-
ers, whose
pol/en forms
part of its diet.
species of flying fox can all be
found both in Australia and in
New Guinea.
Reptiles in the South Sea
Islands include skinks (a fam-
ily of long-bodied lizards) and
geckos. The most common
land animals are snails and
crustaceans-especially the
coconut crab and the land
hermit crab. The coconut
crab uses its huge, powerful
claws to climb palm trees and
to cut down coconuts. When
the nuts fall to the ground,
the hard shells crack and the
crab tears them apart to get
at the coconut meat inside.
Below: The crocodile skink
belongs to a long-lived family
of lizards.