Category: Animals

This category is dedicated to animal related topics

Protecting Hellbenders On Private Lands

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Ben Prater, our Southeast Program Director, explains how partnering with private landowners is helping to protect the third largest salamander in the world – the Eastern Hellbender.

Learn more: https://defenders.org/wildlife/hellbender


Footage by: @Running Wild Media

Video Transcript:

Today we are here in the home of one of the most amazing creatures that I have the privilege of working on and that’s the Eastern Hellbender.

It’s the third largest salamander in the world and the epicenter of its global population is right here in Western North Carolina.


In fact, they have persisted in these watersheds for over 65 million years, and … Continue

Shark Fact Sheet: Great White Shark

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The Great White Shark(Carcharodon carcharias) also known as the White Shark, Great White, or White Pointer is a large cartilaginous fish that is classified in the Animalian class Chondrichthyes, order Lamniformes, and family Lamnidae.

GenusCarcharodon
SpeciesC. carcharias
Binomial NameCarcharodon carcharias
Length3.1-6.4m(11-21 feet)
Weight522–3,401 kg(1,150.8-7,497.9 lbs.)
DietCarnivore
IUCN StatusVulnerable

Range and Habitat

Great White Sharks can be found in oceans across the world with the exception of arctic regions.

Physical Characteristics

Great White Sharks have a white underside and a gray dorsal area. Sometimes the dorsal area maybe a brown or blue shade. Great … Continue

Shark Fact Sheet: Blacktip Reef Shark

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The Blacktip Reef Shark(Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a cartilaginous fish classified in the order Carcharhiniformes, and the family Carcharhinidae. 

GenusCarcharhinus
SpeciesC. melanopterus
Binomial NameCarcharhinus melanopterus
Length1.6-2.9 m(5’3”-9’6.2”)
DietCarnivore
IUCN StatusVulnerable

Physical Characteristics

A Blacktip Reef Shark has black tips on all of its fins. Its body is a grayish-brown above and white below. This species has a rounded snout and oval shaped eyes. 

Range and Habitat 

The Blacktip Reef Shark inhabits tropical waters of the Indian Ocean through to the central Pacific. This species can also be seen in the Mediterranean. 

Reproduction

Blacktip Reef Sharks … Continue

Shark Fact Sheet: Whale Shark

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The Whale Shark(Rhincodon typus) is the largest species of fish on earth. The Whale Shark is classified in the order Orectolobiformes and the family Rhincodontidae.

GenusRhincodon
SpeciesR. typus
Binomial NameRhincodon typus
LengthAbout 18 meters(59.1 feet)
WeightAbout 19,000 kg(41,887.8 lbs.)
DietCarnivore
IUCN StatusEndangered 

Range and Habitat 

The Whale Shark inhabits tropical and temperate waters across the world. 

Physical Characteristics 

Whale Sharks have a wide blunt head; their whole top side a is covered with spots. They also have a filter feeding mouth. 

Reproduction

Whale Sharks are ovoviviparous and give birth to live young. Ovoviviparous … Continue

Shark Fact Sheet: Epaulette Shark

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The Epaulette Shark(Hemiscyllium ocellatum), also known as the Walking Shark,  is quite a unique fish; it can “walk” for short distance on its paddle-shaped pectoral and pelvic fins. However they are capable of swimming. The Epaulette Shark is classified in the order Orectolobiformes and the family Hemiscylliidae.

GenusHemiscyllium
SpeciesH. ocellatum
Binomial NameHemiscyllium ocellatum
Length70 cm to 1.1 m(2’3.6″-3’7.3″)
Weight2.7-2.9 kg(6-6.4 lbs.)
DietCarnivore
IUCN StatusLeast concern

Range and Habitat

Epaulette Sharks inhabit shallow reefs of Australia and New Guinea.

Identification

The Epaulette Shark has a white-margined black spot behind each pectoral fin, which resemble … Continue