P is for Proboscis Monkey. I love that the scientific term for this animal is “Nasalis larvatus” Given their Jimmy Durante nasal features, it is no wonder one of them might opt for a nose job. Native to Borneo these monkey’s use their large noses as an echo chamber when calling to entice the women and ward off foes.
O is for Orangutan. This Tang drinking “man of the forest” is native to Borneo and Sumatra. According to the World Wildlife Fund their population has been cut in half over the past century.
As a kid I always pronounced it Oran-ga-TANG. Which got me thinking whatever happened to the drink Tang? Still out there in the world but I guess they don’t have the budget to advertise it much anymore. Or maybe because there aren’t any manned flights to space anymore that the astronauts don’t needf the drink.
N is for Numbat. Now of course hearing the name of this animal for today’s Animal Alphabet, I was hoping for some flying rodent but no, instead we have an Australian Marsupial. Numbats are solitary animals, active during the day which subsist on termites, eating up to 10% of their small body weight daily. In order to get a hold of so many termites they have sharp claws and a long tongue.
Which reminds me Oprah doing an interview with the band KISS. When asked how long his tongue is, Gene Simmon’s responded “Long enough to make you my very closest friend.”
M is for Military Macaw. Today’s Animal Alphabet gets it’s name from the colorful green feathers which resemble a military uniform. Native to Central and South America, the bird is endangered in the wild but can thrive as a pet due assuming they are given a bunch of social interaction.
L is for Loris. The Loris is an endangered animal from India and Southeast Asia. This cute thing is the only venomous primate known. Unfortunately because of their cuteness people all want them as pets which has further endangered their population. You may have seen videos of what looks like people tickling the underarms of the Loris and the Loris reacting as if they like it. Actually it is a defensive move as the venom is created by licking the inside of their elbow and then biting their oppressor. When taken as pets, typically the first thing done is remove their teeth to prevent biting with the toxins. More shown here.
K is for Kakapo. When I got my assignment for this entry into Animal Alphabets, I was confused. Those Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mixes are endangered species? Obviously I never heard of a Kakapo. This flightless, nocturnal bird is also called a “Owl Parrot“. Sadly this New Zealand native’s population as of 2016 is down to 154 known adults.
H is for Hawksbill Turtle. This entry into the Animal Alphabets Cartoon series, gets its name from their narrow pointed beak that resembles a hawk. Native of the tropics, the Hawksbill keeps the coral reef lively by removing and eating the sponges that grow on them. Their shells are used in collectible items and along with overfishing are the reason they are endangered. (source)
G is for Gorilla. The highly endangered gorillas of Africa are today’s Animal Alphabet entry. Gorillas live in groups which are led by an older male Silverback, which gets its name from the gray hair that grows on their back as a male ages. I too can attest to this phenomenon but it didn’t even make me the leader in my own household. So naturally a little hair dye can make those silverbacks look young again.
C is for Cassowary. This illusive cousin to the Ostrich can be found in Australia. I only found it in the Steve Irwin zoo.