Animals (A-Z) 4

Guyana 329g: Armadillo
(issued 3-2-1981)

Animals (A-Z) 4

October 10, 2021

Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Vietnam 1073: Zebra Shark
(issued 8-1-1980)

Preface: After finishing Animals (A-Z) 3 in five days (Oct. 6), realized how many animals were left out in the three compilations— Decided to compose Animals (A-Z) 4 choosing these animals and birds— armadillo, buffalo, chimpanzee, duck, elk, frog, goose, heron, ibex, jack rabbit, kingfisher, leopard, mourning dove, Norfolk terrier, octopus, penguin, quagga, robin, squirrel, toucan, Ursula's sunbird, vaquita, woodpecker, Xolmis dominicanue, Yeticrab, zebra shark. Information source from Wikipedia. This compilation took six days to complete, using "Animals (A-Z) 3" as a template.

A
U.S. 2296: Armadillo
(issued 6-13-1987) Armadillo: (Glyptodon)— meaning "little armored ones" in Spanish, are New World placental mammals in order Cingulata. The Chlamyphoridae & Dasypodidae are the only surviving families in the order, which is part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with anteaters & sloths. Nine extinct genera and 21 extant species of armadillo have been described, some of which are distinguished by number of bands on their armor. All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of different environments. Armadillos have a leathery armor shell and long, sharp claws for digging. They have short legs, but can move quite quickly. Armadillo is about 30 inches long including tail. Giant armadillo grows
up to 59 inches & weighs up to 119 lbs. Armadillo shells have been used to make back of the charango, an Andean lute instrument. Armadillo Willy's is a restaurant serving Texas BBQ. Poem: "Tilting Balloon"".

A Animals: aardvark, albatross, alligator, angelfish, ant, anteater, armadillo

B
U.S. 569: Buffalo
(issued 3-30-1923) Buffalo: large, even-toed ungulates in the genus Bison within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant & six extinct species are recognised. American bison can weigh from around 880 to 2,800 pounds. 6 feet 7 inches in height and 11 ft 6 inches long. Bison was a significant resource for indigenous peoples of North America for food and raw materials. Pioneers and settlers slaughtered an estimated 50 million bison during the 19th century, As of July 2015, 4,900 bison lived in Yellowstone National Park, The "Buffalo Nickel" or "Indian Head" was a U.S. 5¢ coin that was issued (1913-1938). Buffalo Bills is a NFL football team, appearing in a record four consecutive Super Bowls (1990-1993). Professor Michael Johnson at State College of Buffalo invited me to lecture on "Proteins: Nature's Language of Life" (1-29-1987), and took me for a visit to Niagara Falls.

B Animals: bat, bear, beaver, bee, bluejay, buffalo, butterfly

C
French West Africa 62:
Chimpanzee
(issued 5-2-1955) Chimpanzee: (Pan troglodytes)— is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. The chimpanzee is covered in coarse black hair, but has a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of hands, and soles of the feet. It is larger and more robust than the bonobo, weighing 88-154 lb for males & 60-110 lb for females and standing up to 4 ft 11 in. Between 170,000 and 300,000 are in Africa. Human and chimpanzee DNA is very similar. A chimpanzee in the wild live less than 15 years. Captive ones live 31.7 years for males and 38.7 years for females. Little Mama lived to 70 years. The 1972 film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, the third sequel of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, portrays a futuristic revolt of enslaved apes led by only talking chimpanzee, Caesar, against their human masters. Jane Godall researched on chimps since 1960.

C Animals: camel, canary, carp, cat, centipede, chameleon,
chicken, chimpanzee, cicada, coelacanth, cow, coyote, crab

D
U.S. RW79: Duck
(issued 2012) Duck: (Bucephala albeola)— common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are also members of the same family. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and found in both fresh water and sea water. Female mallard ducks make the classic "quack" sound while males make a raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze". Ducks are farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (their down).
3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide. Ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Brother's Daffy Duck. The duck is the nickname of University of Oregon sports teams.

D Animals: deer, dog, dolphin, donkey, dragonfly, duck

E
U.S. 2328: Elk
(issued 6-13-1987) Elk: (Cervus canadensis)— also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America, as well as Central and East Asia. It is often confused with the larger Alces alces, which is called moose in North America. Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Male elk have large antlers which they shed each year. It is currently native to North America and eastern Asia. Elk have thick bodies with slender legs and short tails. They have a shoulder height of 2 ft 6 in-4 ft 11 in with a nose-to-tail length of 5 ft 3 in-8 ft 10 in. Males are larger and weigh 392-1,096 lb while females weigh 377-644 lb. Elk live 20 years or more in captivity but 10 to 13 years in the wild. Rocky Mountain elk is the official state animal for Utah. An image of elk & moose appear on state seal & flag of Michigan.

E Animals: eagle, eel, elephant, elk, emu, ermine, English setter

F
Ireland 982: Frog
(issued 9-1-1995) Frog: (Rana temporaria)— any member of a diverse & largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians of the order Anura. Origins extend back to the Permian, 265 million years ago. Greatest concentration of species diversity is in tropical rainforest. About 7,300 recorded species, accounting for 88% of extant amphibian species. An adult frog has a stout body, protruding eyes, anteriorly-attached tongue, limbs folded underneath, and no tail. Frog legs are valued as food by humans. The rocket frog, can leap over 6.5 feet), a distance that is more than 50 times its body length of 2.25 in. Captive frogs & toads can live for up to 40 years. "The Frog Prince" (1889) is a Grimm's fairy tale about a frog that turns into a handsome prince. Kermit the Frog is a character from Sesame Street. Basho's haiku— "The old pond. Frog jumps in— Plop!"

F Animals: falcon, firefly, flamingo, flounder, fly, fox, frog

G
U.S. 2323: Goat
(issued 6-13-1987) Goat: (Capra hircus)— a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the animal family Bovidae and the subfamily Caprinae, meaning it is closely related to the sheep. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat. One of the oldest domesticated species of animal, occurring in Iran at 10,000 years ago. Goats have been used for milk, meat, fur, and skins across much of the world. Milk from goats is often turned into goat cheese. Life expectancy for goats is 15 to 18 years. More than 924 million goats in the world (2011). The Greek god Pan has the upper body of a man and horns and lower body of a goat. The goat is 8th in the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac; Goat Year People; Sheep Year 4701 or 2003. Goat photos
(12-6-2013) at Rancho San Antonio, Los Altos Hills, CA (1, 2, 3, 4).

G Animals: gazelle, German shepherd, giraffe, goat, goose, gopher,
golden retriever, gorilla, great blue heron, greyhound.

H
Austria C59: Heron
(issued 9-29-1953) Heron: (Ardea cinerea)— long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks. Herons are medium- to large-sized birds with long legs and necks. The goliath heron stands up to 60 inches tall.

H Animals: hamster, hare, hedgehog, hermit crab, heron,
hippopotamus, horse, hummingbird, humpback whale, hyena.

I
Sudan 98: Ibex
(issued 9-1-1951) Ibex: (Capra nubiana)— any of several species of wild goat (genus Capra), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa, and East Africa. The name ibex comes from Latin, borrowed from Iberian or Aquitanian, akin to Old Spanish bezerro "bull", modern Spanish becerro "yearling". Ranging in height from 27 to 43 inches and weighing 200 to 270 pounds, ibex can live 20 years. Two closely related varieties of goats found in the wild are not usually called ibex: the markhor and the feral goat. The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) occurs in the Middle East, in the Red Sea hills of Sudan as well as the highlands in Egypt. Ibex motifs are very common on cylinder seals and pottery, both painted and embossed.

I Animals: ibex, ibis, iguana, impala, Indian elephant, Irish doodle

J
U.S. 2305: Jack Rabbit
(issued 6-13-1987) Jack Rabbit: (Lepus saxatilis)— aka hare are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares are classified in the same family as rabbits. They have similar herbivorous diets, but are generally larger in size than rabbits, have longer ears and live solitarily or in pairs. They do not dig burrows, but nest in slight depressions called forms, often in long grass. Also unlike rabbits, their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth rather than emerging blind and helpless. Having long, powerful hind legs, most are fast runners. Hare species are native to Africa, Eurasia, and North America.
Most rabbits live underground in burrows or warrens, while hares live in simple nests above the ground. Hares have 48 chromosomes, while rabbits have 44. Chinese see a hare in the pattern of dark patches in the moon (Moon rabbit). The constellation Lepus is also taken to represent a hare.
The Tortoise and the Hare is the best-known among Aesop's Fables, the hare loses a race through being too confident in its swiftness. Young Hare is a watercolor (1502) by Albrecht Dürer. "Window of Three Hares" is in the cloister's inner courtyard of Paderborn Cathedral, Germany.

J Animals: jackal, jack rabbit, jaguar, jellyfish

K
New Zealand 925: Kingfisher
(issued 11-2-1988) Kingfisher: (Ceyx azureus)— a family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. Most species are found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, & Oceania. The family contains 114 species & divided into three subfamilies and 19 genera. Kingfishers have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs,
and stubby tails. While kingfishers live near rivers and eat fish, many species live away from water and eat small invertebrates. They nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into the natural or artificial banks in the ground. Smallest species of kingfisher is African dwarf kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei), 3.9 inches long and 0.42 oz in weight. Largest kingfisher in Africa is the giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima),
18 inches long and 15.0 oz in weight. Plumage of most kingfishers
is bright, with green & blue being the most common colors. Sacred kingfisher was venerated by Polynesians, who believed it had control over the seas and waves.

K Animals: kangaroo, killer whale, king cobra, kingfisher,
king penguin, koala, Komodo dragon, krill, kudu

L
U.S. 2304: Lobster
(issued 6-13-1987) Lobster: (Homarus gammarus)— a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homeridae) of large marine crustaceans. Lobsters have long bodies with muscular tails, and live in crevices or burrows on the sea floor. Three of their five pairs of legs have claws, including the first pair, which are usually much larger than the others. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas. Lobsters, like snails and spiders, have blue blood due to the presence of hemocyanin, which contains copper. Lobsters live up to 50 years in the wild. Guinness World Records: largest lobster ever caught was in Nova Scotia, Canada, weighing 44.4 lbs. Lobster is served boiled or steamed in the shell. Diners crack the shell with lobster crackers and fish out meat with lobster picks. It's often eaten with melted butter & lemon juice. "Lobster Quadrille" poem appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll.

L Animals: lemur, leopard, Lhasa Apso, lion, llama, lobster, lynx

M
Bahamas 577:
Mourning Dove
(issued 4-24-1985) Mourning Dove: (Zenaida macroura)— a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove, and colloquially as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also a leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure is due to its prolific breeding; in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods of two young each in a single year. The wings make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, a form of sonation. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 55 mph. It is the national bird of the British Virgin Islands. Mourning doves are light grey and brown and generally muted in color. It is a medium-sized, slender dove 12 inches long, weighing 6.0 oz. The eastern mourning dove (Z. m. carolinensis) is Wisconsin's official symbol of peace. Also Michigan's state bird of peace.

M Animals: macaw, magpie, mallard, mandrill, mayfly, mink,
mole, monkey, moose, moth, mourning dove, mouse, mule

N
Bhutan 1162c:
Norwich Terrier
(issued 7-15-1997)
Norfolk Terrier: (Euproctus asper)— a British breed of dog. Prior to gaining recognition as an independent breed in 1964, it was a variety of the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from the "prick eared" Norwich by its "drop ears" (or folded ears). The Norfolk Terrier has a wire-haired coat, can be all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle. They are the smallest of the working terriers. They are active and compact, free moving, with good substance and bone. The ideal height is 9 to 10 inches at the withers and weight is about 11 to 12 lbs. Norfolks are self-confident & carry themselves with presence and importance, holding their heads and tails erect. Norfolk Terrier lives between 8-14 years, with some growing as old as 17 years. As companions, they love people and children and do make good pets.

N Animals: narwhal, newt, nightingale, Norfolk terrier

O
Tanzania 1407: Octopus
(issued 6-15-1995) Octopus: (Octopus vulgaris)— soft-bodied, eight-limbed molluscs of the order Octopoda. Order consists of some 300 species & is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, & nautiloids. An octopus is bilaterally symmetric with two eyes and a beaked mouth at the center point of eight limbs. The soft body can radically alter its shape, enabling octopuses to squeeze through small gaps. They trail their eight appendages behind them as they swim. The siphon is used both for respiration & for locomotion, by expelling a jet of water. Octopuses have excellent sight, and are among the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Adults weigh 33 lb, with an arm span of up to 14 ft. Largest specimen weighed 156.5 lbs. They live for as much as five years. Octopus escapes predators with an ink cloud ejected from the ink sac. A battle with an octopus is in Victor Hugo's Toilers of the Sea (1866). Drawing of "Colossal octopus" (1810) by Pierre Denys de Montfort.

O Animals: octopus, opossum, orangutan, ostrich, otter, owl

P
Jugoslavia 403: Pelican
(issued 6-30-1954) Pelican: (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)— a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They have a long beak & a large throat pouch used for catching prey & draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing. They have pale plumage, except for brown & Peruvian pelicans. Length 4.3-5.9 ft, wingspan 8.0-9.5 ft, weight 10–20 lb. American white pelican estimated at over 157,000 birds in 2005. Brown & Peruvian pelicans at 650,000 birds. St. Thomas Aquinas describes Christ as "the loving divine pelican, one drop of whose blood can save the world." Queen Elizabeth I wears symbol of the pelican on her chest. Hungary Family Kiszely's coat of arms depicts a "pelican in her piety" both in the crest & shield. It adorns seals of Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and is mascot of the New Orleans Pelicans NBA team.

P Animals: panda, panther, parakeet, parrot, peacock, pelican, penguin, peregrine falcon, pheasant, pig, pigeon, platypus,
polar bear, poodle, porcupine, porpoise, puffin, puma

Q
Tanzania 547: Quagga
(issued 2-20-1990) Quagga: (Equus quagga quagga)— is an extinct subspecies of the plains zebra that was endemic to South Africa until it was hunted to extinction in the late 19th century by European settler-colonists. It was long thought to be a distinct species, but early genetic studies have supported it being a subspecies of plains zebra. The quagga is around 8 ft 5 inches long and
4 ft 5 inches tall at the shoulder. It was distinguished from other zebras by its limited pattern of was brown and without stripes, and appeared more horse-like. There are 23 known stuffed & mounted quagga specimens throughout the world

Q Animals: quagga, quail, quetzal, quokka, Queen Victoria Riflebird

R
Germany 774: Robin
(issued 10-4-1957) Robin: (Erithacus rubecula)— known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that belongs to the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. About 4.9-5.5 inches in length, the male and female are similar in coloration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upper-parts and a whitish belly. It is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia & south to North Africa. The term robin is also applied to some birds in other families with red or orange breasts. These include American robin (Turdus migratorius), a thrush, and Australasian robins of the family Petroicidae. The robin produces a fluting, warbling song during the breeding season. Robin is a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, god of thunder, in Norse mythology.

R Animals: rabbit, raccoon, rat, rattlesnake, red fox, reindeer, rhinoceros, robin, rottweiler, Russell terrier

S
Hungary C111: Squirrel
(issued 3-4-1953) Squirrel: (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus))— members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including groundhogs), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs amongst other rodents. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa. Squirrels typically have slender bodies with very long very bushy tails and large eyes. Squirrels live 5 to 10 years in the wild, and 10-20 years in captivity. American red squirrel aka the pine squirrel, North American red squirrel and chickaree. It is a small, 7.1-8.8 oz, diurnal mammal that defends a year-round exclusive territory. An aggressive squirrel attacked a 4-year old boy at Cuesta Park (Mountain View, CA) taking away a muffin from his hands (9-27-2006).

S Animals: saber-toothed tiger, sable, Saint Bernard, salamander, salmon, sawfish, scorpion, seagull, sea lion, seahorse, seal, shark, sheep, Shih Tzu, shrimp, Siberian tiger, skunk, sloth, snail, snake, snowy owl, sparrow, spider, squid, squirrel, starfish, stingray, sturgeon, swan

T
Brazil 1857: Toucan
(issued 5-21-1983) Toucan: (Ramphastos toco)— members of the Neotropical near passerine bird family Ramphastidae. They are brightly marked and have large, often-colorful bills. Family includes five genera & over forty different species. Toucans range in size from lettered aracari (Pteroglossus inscriptus), at 4.6 oz and 11 inches, to toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), at 1.50 lb and 25 inches. Bodies are short & compact. Tail is rounded & varies in length, from half the length to body length. Neck is short & thick. Wings are small, as they are forest-dwelling birds who only need to travel short distances. The colorful & large bill, which in some large species measures more
than half length of the body, is hallmark of toucans. Constellation Tucana, containing most of the Small Magellanic Cloud, is named after the toucan. A cartoon toucan, Toucan Sam, has long been used as the mascot of Kellogg's Froot Loops breakfast cereal.

T Animals: tapir, Tasmanian Devil, termite, terrier,
tiger, tiger shark, tortoise, toucan, tsetse fly, tuna, turkey

U
Japan 792: Uguisu
(issued 1-10-1964) Uguisu: (Horornis diphone)— Japanese bush warbler, known in Japanese as uguisu, is an Asian passerine bird more often heard than seen. Its distinctive breeding song can be heard throughout much of Japan from the start of spring. It is olive brown above and tending toward dusky colors below. It has pale eyebrows. It has a beak that curves up making it look like it is smiling. The bird is 6.1 inches in length. Uguisu is one of favorite motifs of Japanese poetry which signify the early spring. The beauty of its song led to the English name Japanese Nightingale, but it does not sing at night as the European nightingale does. An uguisu-jo is a female announcer at Japanese baseball games, or with microphone outside retail stores advertising products, because of their beautiful 'warbling' voices. "Hooo- hokekyo, hooo- hokekyo" are songs of Japanese Uguisu.

U Animals: uakari, uguisu, utonagan, Ultramarine Flycatcher
Unicoloured Blackbird, Upland Sandpiper, Ursula's Sunbird

V
Hungary 1837: Vizsla
(issued 7-7-1967) Vizsla: a dog breed from Hungary. Its name means "searcher" or "tracker" in Hungarian. Magyar Vizsla or Smooth-Haired Vizsla are sporting dogs and loyal companions. As a hunter of fowl & upland game, Vizsla has held a prominent position among sporting dogs— that of household companion & family dog. Vizsla is a natural hunter endowed with an excellent nose & outstanding trainability. It was bred to work in fields, forests or bodies of water. Although they are lively, gentle-mannered, affectionate & sensitive, they're also fearless & possess a well-developed protective instinct. Height: 23-27 inches; Weight: 45-66 lbs. Life expectancy: 12-15 years.

V Animals: vampire bat, vaquita, vervet monkey, vizsla, vulture

W
Cuba 695: Woodpecker
(issued 12-1-1961) Woodpecker: (Campephilus principalis baird)— part of the family Picidae, that also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known that live in treeless areas, such as rocky hillsides and deserts, and the Gila woodpecker specialises in exploiting cacti. They mostly forage for insect prey on the trunks and branches of trees, and often communicate by drumming with their beak, producing a reverberatory sound that can be heard at some distance. Largest woodpeckers can be more than 20 inches long. Most common woodpecker lives on average 10-11 years, some may live to 30 years. Humans consider woodpeckers in a favorable light; they are viewed as interesting birds & fascinating to watch as they drum or forage. 23 different woodpeckers are shown at Cornell Ornithology Lab. They hit their heads against trees 20 times a second without headaches.

W Animals: walrus, warthog, wasp, water buffalo, weasel,
Welsh terrier, whale, whooping crane, wildebeest, wolf,
wolverine, wombat, woodpecker, wooly mammoth

X
Paraguay 2141d:
Xolmis Dominicanus
(issued 4-18-1985) Xolmis dominicanus: aka Black-and-white Monjita is a species of passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay (where it can still be found at the Quebrada de los Cuervos), and possibly Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, arable land, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The black-and-white monjita is only species in the genus Heteroxolmis. It is sometimes placed in the genus Xolmis. eBird: Large, slim flycatcher with a fairly long tail. Males are mostly white with black wings and tail. Females have a grayish crown and back; note the white rump and white wingbar. Occurs in marshes and damp natural grasslands, occasionally in coastal dunes. Usually silent. The smaller White Monjita has less black in the wings and tail. BirdLife: Population size: 6000-15000, decreasing & vulnerable.

X Animals: Xantus' becard, xerus, Xolmis dominicanus, xoloitzcuintli

Y
Yeti Crab
(drawn 2-19-2010)
by Helen Claire Little Yeti Crab: (Kiwa hirsuta)— is a crustacean discovered in 2006 in the South Pacific Ocean, south of Easter Island. This decapod, which is approximately 5.9 inches long, is notable for the quantity of silky blond setae (resembling fur) covering its pereiopods (thoracic legs, including claws). Its discoverers dubbed it the "yeti lobster" or "yeti crab". Macpherson et al. named the genus Kiwa after "the god of the shellfish in the Polynesian mythology". Hirsuta is Latin for "hairy". Yeti Crabs live in the deep oceans, in hydrothermal vents, which are deep within the ocean. These vents provide hot water which makes up the environment where the crabs live. They regulate their ecosystem by using their hairy arms to collect toxins released from hydrothermal vents. "Furry 'lobster' found in Pacific" (BBC News, 3-8-2006).

Y Animals: yak, yellowfin tuna, Yeti crab, Yorkshire terrier

Z
Niuafo'ou 274: Zebra Shark
(issued 3-12-2012) Zebra Shark: (Stegostoma fasciatum)— a species of carpet shark and the sole member of the family Stegostomatidae. It is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, frequenting coral reefs and sandy flats to a depth of 203 ft. Adult zebra sharks are distinctive in appearance, with five longitudinal ridges on a cylindrical body, a low caudal fin comprising nearly half the total length, and usually a pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Young zebra sharks under 20-35 inches long have a completely different pattern, consisting of light vertical stripes on a brown background, and lack the ridges. This species attains a length of 8.2 ft. Zebra sharks are nocturnal & spend most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor. At night, they hunt for molluscs, crustaceans, small bony fishes, and possibly sea snakes inside holes & crevices in the reef.

Z Animals: zebra, zebra finch, zebra shark, zebu.