PLANET VENUS

Venus is the second-closest planet to the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Except for the Moon it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6. Because Venus is an inferior planet from Earth, it never appears to venture far from the Sun: its elongation reaches a maximum of 47.8°. Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, for which reason it is often called the Morning Star or the Evening Star. Classified as a terrestrial planet, it is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet," because they are similar in size, gravity, and bulk composition. Venus is covered with an opaque layer of highly reflective clouds of sulfuric acid, preventing its surface from being seen from space in visible light.

Venus is always brighter than the brightest stars

Venus has the densest atmosphere of all the terrestrial planets, consisting mostly of carbon dioxide, as it has no carbon cycle to lock carbon back into rocks and surface features, nor organic life to absorb it in biomass.

Impact craters on the surface of Venus

A younger Venus is believed to have possessed Earth-like oceans, but these totally evaporated as the temperature rose, leaving a dusty dry deserts cape with many slab-like rocks. The water has most likely dissociated, and, because of the lack of a planetary magnetic field, the hydrogen has been swept into interplanetary space by the solar wind. The atmospheric pressure at the planet's surface is 92 times that of the Earth.

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YEAR 5 DOWNLOADS

Tropical Questions Chapter 1 ( Microorganism )*********Chapter 2 ( Survival ) Chapter 3 ( Food Chain & Web)*********Chapter 4 ( Energy) Chapter 5 ( Electricity)*********Chapter 6 ( Light) Chapter 7 ( Heat)*************Chapter 8 ( State of Matter ) Chapter 9 ( Acid & Alkaline)**********Chapter 10 ( Constellation ) Chapter 11 (The Earth )***********Chapter 12 ( Stability) Download All ! Click ! To Download.

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PLANET MERCURY

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Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about the axis for every two orbits. The perihelion of Mercury's orbit processes around the Sun at an excess of 43 arc seconds per century; a phenomenon that was explained in the 20th century by Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Mercury is bright when viewed from Earth, ranging from −2.0 to 5.5 in apparent magnitude, but is not easily seen as its greatest angular separation from the Sun is only 28.3°. Since Mercury is normally lost in the glare of the Sun, unless there is a solar eclipse, Mercury can only be viewed in morning or evening twilight.

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THE SUN

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The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter (including other planets, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and dust) orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass. The mean distance of the Sun from the Earth is approximately 149,598,000 kilometers (92,956,000 mi), and its light travels this distance in 8 minutes and 19 seconds. But it varies throughout the year from a minimum of 147,100,000 kilometers (91,400,000 mi) on 3 January, to a maximum of 152,100,000 kilometers (94,500,000 mi) on 4 July. Energy from the Sun, in the form of sunlight, supports almost all life on Earth via photosynthesis, and drives the Earth's climate and weather. The surface of the Sun consists of hydrogen (about 74% of its mass, or 92% of its volume), helium (about 24% of mass, 7% of volume), and trace quantities of other elements, including iron, nickel, oxygen, silicon, sulfur, magnesium, carbon, neon, calcium, and chromium. The Sun has a spectral class of G2V. G2 means that it has a surface temperature of approximately 5,780 K (5,500 °C) giving it a white color that often, because of atmospheric scattering, appears yellow when seen from the surface of the Earth. This is a subtractive effect, as the preferential scattering of shorter wavelength light removes enough violet and blue light, leaving a range of frequencies that is perceived by the human eye as yellow. It is this scattering of light at the blue end of the spectrum that gives the surrounding sky its color. When the Sun is low in the sky, even more light is scattered so that the Sun appears orange or even red.

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Chapter 1 ( Basic Needs )******Chapter 2 ( Life Processes ) Chapter 3 ( Protection )*******Chapter 4 ( Measurement ) Chapter 5 ( Properties Of Material) Chapter 6 ( The Solar System )********** Chapter 7 ( Technology ) Download All ! Click ! To Download

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EXTINCT ANIMALS

A species becomes extinct when the last existing member of that species dies. Extinction therefore becomes a certainty when there are no surviving individuals that are able to reproduce and create a new generation. A species may become functionally extinct when only a handful of individuals survive, which are unable to reproduce due to poor health, age, sparse distribution over a large range, a lack of individuals of both sexes (in sexually reproducing species), or other reasons. Pinpointing the extinction (or pseudo extinction) of a species requires a clear definition of that species. If it is to be declared extinct, the species in question must be uniquely identifiable from any ancestor or daughter species, or from other closely related species. Extinction of a species (or replacement by a daughter species) plays a key role in the punctuated equilibrium hypothesis of Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge. In ecology, extinction is often used informally to refer to local extinction, in which a species ceases to exist in the chosen area of study, but still exists elsewhere. This phenomenon is also known as extirpation. Local extinctions may be followed by a replacement of the species taken from other locations; wolf reintroduction is an example of this. Species which are not extinct are termed extant. Those that are extant but threatened by extinction are referred to as threatened or endangered species. An important aspect of extinction at the present time are human attempts to preserve critically endangered species, which is reflected by the creation of the conservation status "Extinct in the Wild" (EW). Species listed under this status by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) are not known to have any living specimens in the wild, and are maintained only in zoos or other artificial environments. Some of these species are functionally extinct, as they are no longer part of their natural habitat and it is unlikely the species will ever be restored to the wild. When possible, modern zoological institutions attempt to maintain a viable population for species preservation and possible future reintroduction to the wild through use of carefully planned breeding programs. The extinction of one species' wild population can have knock-on effects, causing further extinctions. These are also called "chains of extinction".

Passenger Pigeon

The earliest settlers in the New World were amazed by the passenger pigeon, a bird with flocks so huge that it would take days for them to travel overhead, blackening the sky as they passed. Any farmer who had the misfortune of hosting passenger pigeons for a meal would quickly find his entire crop decimated within the blink of an eye. Then, virtually overnight, the most abundant bird in North America suddenly disappeared from the planet. The extinction of the passenger pigeon is an example of nature coming into direct conflict with man. Its population numbered an astounding 3 to 5 billion when the first Europeans arrived in America. However, there was not room enough in the New World for both species. Passenger pigeons were soon wiped out due to merciless hunting, deforestation and other factors related to humankind's ever-expanding range. The extinction was only becoming apparent at the start of the 20th century; by 1914, the last known bird was dead.

Quagga The quagga is a mammal closely related to modern horses and zebras. In fact, it looks like a cross between a horse and a zebra, with stripes only on its head and neck that disappear as they approach the brownish hindquarters of the animal. The quagga was native to desert areas of South Africa until it was hunted to extinction in the 1870s. The last captive animals died in Europe in the 1880s. As an extinct species, the quagga has a couple claims to fame. For starters, it was the first animal to have its DNA analyzed, which led to the discovery that the quagga was not a distinct species but a subspecies of the plains zebra. Also, the quagga is the subject of an ambitious breeding effort by the aptly named Quagga Project, the result of which was a foal born in 2005. Based on appearances, the "re-created" quagga closely resembles the ancient quagga, but DNA evidence has yet to determine whether this animal is authentic.

Archaeopteryx

Holding the No.8 spot in our countdown is an ancient creature named Archaeopteryx, whose discovery in the mid-1800s turned the world of paleontology upside down. It looked like some sort of feathered dinosaur, but it also had a number of bird characteristics. Was it a bird, a dinosaur or some other beast entirely? Clues would come in time, but only after decades of contentious debate and close examination. In order to fully understand the natural history of Archaeopteryx, one needs first to take a look at some of its unusual characteristics. Its dinosaur features include a full set of teeth, a flat breastbone, a bone tail and claws on the end of its wing. On the other hand, its feathers and wings also made it quite birdlike. However, details of Archaeopteryx anatomy indicated that it was not ideally built for flight and probably spent as much time running, leaping, climbing and gliding as it did flying.

Saber-Toothed Cat

Of all the cute, cuddly animals found in the fossil record, the saber-toothed cat (also called the saber-toothed tiger) is one of the last you would want to meet in a dark alley. With their daggerlike canine teeth and powerful bodies, this animal was one of the most ferocious predators of the Cenozoic Period. It lived in North America and Europe and went extinct about 10,000 years ago. There have been several thousand saber-toothed cat specimens found at the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, Calif. – so many that it was named the state fossil of California.

So, what were these big beasts like in the wild? Evidence suggests that the saber-toothed cat had a social structure much like modern lions, living together and cooperating in order to bring down prey.

Interestingly, researchers also believe that a certain amount of nurturing went on in a saber-toothed cat pack. Many individual fossils show signs of extensive regeneration and healing after disease and injury, suggesting an environment in which individuals could be cared for by other members of the group. Despite their terrifying appearance, it seems these animals had a soft side.

The Dodo Bird Contrary to popular belief, the dodo was not a stupid or lazy bird. After all, it lived in a predator-free environment where food was plentiful on the ground. Why bother flying when you can simply stroll about at a leisurely pace? But what was by all accounts the sweet life for the dodo came to an abrupt end in the1600s, when European explorers landed on Mauritius, the island in the Indian Ocean where the dodo made its home. After their arrival, it would be only a few short years before the animal was hunted to extinction, primarily because it was a much-needed source of meat for weary sailors. In addition, the pigs, dogs and rats that inevitably accompanied sailing ships made short work of dodo eggs, which were all too accessible from their nests on the ground. The dodo never stood a chance. Mammoth If there is one animal most associated with the Ice Age, it has to be the woolly mammoth, that giant shaggy beast with long ivory tusks curling up from its massive trunk-like nose. The woolly mammoth was one of several species of mammoth, the earliest of which were probably small and amphibious creatures living in North Africa until about three million years ago. Their descendants eventually dispersed throughout Eurasia and the woolly mammoth, one of the smaller mammoth species, migrated to North America across the Bering Land Bridge sometime during late Pleistocene. Alas, this enigmatic creature did not survive long in the New World. The last of the woolly mammoths died out at the end of the last ice age, about ten thousand years ago. Thylacine-Tasmanian Tiger The Thylacine the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. Native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the 20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (because of its striped back), the Tasmanian Wolf, and colloquially the Tassie (or Tazzy) Tiger or simply the Tiger. It was the last extant member of its genus, Thylacinus, although several related species have been found in the fossil record dating back to the early Miocene.

The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island of Tasmania along with several other endemic species, including the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite its official classification as extinct, sightings are still reported. Like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere, from which it obtained two of its common names, the Thylacine was an apex predator. As a marsupial, it was not related to these placental mammals, but because of convergent evolution it displayed the same general form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian Devil or Numbat.

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Endangered Fish

It's hard to say how fish are faring as a whole, as only 10 percent of the nearly 30,000 known fish species have been evaluated for inclusion in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Tellingly, nearly half those surveyed are now considered threatened or endangered. Overfishing is likely the leading cause of fish declines, followed closely by habitat loss and pollution. Some of the most unique fish species in the world are facing imminent extinction, including the ancient coelacanth and the bizarre smalltooth sawfish.

COELACANTH (Latimeria chalumnae)

The coelacanth is referred to as a living fossil because it is the only remaining species of a group of fish species that died out millions of years ago. It is found in the deep coastal waters of eastern Africa, where rocky shores are battered by strong oceanic currents. It is a large fish, growing to a length of about 6 feet, and it moves along the rocky slopes with the help of fleshy pectoral fins. Populations of this species are thought to be critically low.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Major Threat: Accidental capture by fishing operations

Habitat: Volcanic and rocky slopes in deep coastal waters

Location: Eastern Africa

Diet: Cuttlefish, squid, snipe eels, small sharks and other fish

LOST RIVER SUCKER (Deltistes luxatus)

The Lost River sucker is a large fish found in the freshwater ecosystems of California and Oregon. It is a long-lived fish, sometimes reaching an age of 40 years or more. Its primary home is in lakes, but it migrates to rivers and streams to breed. The Lost River sucker is threatened by overfishing and by the damming of rivers and the draining of wetlands.

IUCN Status: Endangered

USFWS Status: Endangered

Major Threats: Overfishing, damming of rivers and draining of wetlands

Habitat: Lakes, rivers and streams

Location: California and Oregon

Diet: Mainly detritus; also midge larvae, amphipods and zooplankton

MEKONG GIANT CATFISH (Pangasianodon gigas) The Mekong giant catfish is a freshwater fish that grows to be very large — about as large as a grizzly bear in some cases. This enormous fish was historically found throughout the Mekong River, which is the 12th longest river in the world. The waterway spans about 2,983 miles (4,800 kilometers) from its headwaters in the Tibetan Plateau throughout much of Southeast Asia. Currently, Mekong giant catfish populations are in rapid decline, primarily due to dams, overfishing and pollution.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Major Threats: Dams, overfishing and pollution

Habitat: Rivers

Location: Lower half of the Mekong River

Diet: Aquatic plants and algae

NASSAU GROUPER (Epinephelus striatus)

The Nassau grouper is a large, predatory coral reef fish that is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. It has a habit of visiting cleaning stations on coral reefs, where wrasse fish pick parasites out of its mouth and gills. It also camouflages itself in order to ambush prey. The Nassau grouper is in serious decline due to fishing and loss of coral reef habitat.

IUCN Status: Endangered

Major Threat: Fishing and habitat loss

Habitat: Coral reefs

Location: Western Atlantic Ocean, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Diet: Mainly other fish and crabs

RUSSIAN STURGEON (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

The Russian sturgeon is a large, bony fish that can reach a length of more than 6 feet. It lives in salt water and travels upriver to spawn, which makes it vulnerable to habitat loss on multiple fronts, including hydroelectric dams that create barriers to spawning grounds, pollution in both its freshwater and saltwater homes, and being heavily fished for its meat and eggs, which are used to make caviar.

IUCN Status: Endangered

Major Threat: Overfishing, pollution and habitat loss

Habitat: Seas and large rivers

Location: Black Sea, Caspian Sea and adjacent river systems

Diet: Mainly mollusks

SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH (Pristis pectinata)

Like sharks, skates and rays, sawfish have skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. The smalltooth sawfish is a long, sleek fish that occurs in shallow coastal and estuarine waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as the Gulf of Mexico. It also has a long, flattened snout lined with rows of teeth that it uses to locate and subdue prey. In addition to facing the threat of hunting, pollution and habitat loss, it is extremely vulnerable to being caught in fishing lines. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

USFWS Status: Endangered

Major Threats: Hunting, pollution, habitat loss and being caught in fishing lines

Habitat: Shallow coastal and estuarine waters

Location: Altantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico

Diet: Mainly fish and some crustaceans

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Endangered Birds

Birds of every shape, size and color are under threat. From the mighty California condor to the tiny purple-backed sunbeam, birds around the world are running out of time. And space — habitat loss is the single largest threat facing birds today. Ironically, bird enthusiasts themselves are also helping to contribute to the decline of many species, which are captured for the caged bird trade. Of the nearly 10,000 described bird species, over 1,200 are listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN. Some are facing seemingly hopeless battles, while others are recovering from decades of decline. The future hangs in the balance for many of our feathered friends.

BLACK-CAPPED VIREO (Vireo atricapilla)

The black-capped vireo is a tiny songbird that lives in the oak woodlands of Texas, Oklahoma and Northern Mexico. It has a brownish body, a black cap, red eyes and white "spectacles" formed by rings around the eyes. Once abundant, this species is now endangered due to agricultural expansion and other human activities. It is also threatened by nest parasites such as the brown-headed cowbird that invade the vireo's nest, knock out the eggs, and replace them with its own.

USFWS Status: Endangered

Major Threats: Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion; nest parasites

Habitat: Oak woodlands

Location: Texas, Oklahoma and Northern Mexico

Diet: Insects, primarily caterpillars and beetles,

BROWN KIWI (Apteryx mantelli)

The brown kiwi is a stocky nocturnal bird that is native to New Zealand. A flightless bird, the brown kiwi feeds by walking slowly through the forest poking its long, slender bill — which is highly sensitive to touch — into the ground in search of worms, insects and larvae. It was once found throughout New Zealand, but is now restricted to fragmented forests and seriously threatened by non-native predators such as pigs, cats and dogs. IUCN Status: Endangered

Major Threat: Non-native predators such as pigs, cats and dogs Habitat: Temperate, tropical and subtropical forest and scrubland Location: New Zealand Diet: Worms, insects and larvae CALIFORNIA CONDOR (Gymnogyps californianus)

California condors are large vultures with bald pink heads and a 10-foot wingspan. They are among the world's largest flying birds, and they are also one of the most critically endangered. After going extinct in the wild due to hunting, habitat loss and environmental poisons, captive breeding programs have allowed for the reintroduction of a small population of California condors into the wild. There are currently populations in California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Hunting, habitat loss and environmental poisons Habitat: Wooded mountains and scrublands Location: California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico Diet: Carrion, especially larger animals like deer, cattle and sheep CROWNED EAGLE (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus)

The crowned eagle is a mighty bird of prey with broad wings, pale gray plumage and a distinct crest on its head. It occurs throughout central South America in both forest and semi-open areas. Like many birds of prey, the crowned eagle is endangered because of habitat loss. As top predators, they are also vulnerable to toxins present in their prey animals, and are subject to harassment by humans who perceive them as a threat to farm animals.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Habitat loss, persecution and toxins present in prey animals Habitat: Open woodland, marshland, savanna and scrub Location: Central South America Diet: Birds, medium-sized mammals and reptiles

YELLOW-EARED PARROT (Ognorhynchus icterotis)

The yellow-eared parrot is critically endangered because of its extremely small range and shrinking habitat due to deforestation. It is bright green with yellow ear patches and a dark, heavy bill. This breathtakingly beautiful bird is also a popular species in the exotic pet trade. It is currently only thought to occur among the wax palms in the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes.

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Endangered Reptiles

Not much is known about the plight of reptiles as a whole, as only 8 percent of all known reptile species have been evaluated for inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Of these, over half — 341 reptiles — are now considered threatened or endangered. Habitat loss appears to be the major issue facing reptiles, judging by those surveyed. Sea turtles in particular are vulnerable to destruction of nesting grounds, as well as having their eggs harvested. Non-native species, such as cats and dogs, also play a significant roll in the decline of many reptile species. AMERICAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus acutus)

Crocodiles are throwbacks to the time of the dinosaurs, having changed very little for hundreds of millions of years. They have long, muscular bodies with powerful jaws and rows of strong teeth. They also have a number of special adaptations as aquatic predators, including eyes and nostrils on the top of their head that allow them to see and breathe while submerged. Once they capture their prey, they drag it underwater for a wrestling match to the death. American crocodiles were once hunted mercilessly for their skins, but now the main threat comes from loss of suitable wetland habitat. IUCN Status: Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Loss of suitable wetland habitat Habitat: Western Mexico to Ecuador and southern Florida to Guatemala Location: Eastern Oklahoma and Block Island, Rhode Island Diet: Mainly fish and other small marine life

BOG TURTLE (Clemmys muhlenbergii)

The bog turtle is a small reptile species that is native to the eastern United States. It has a dark body with bright yellow-orange spots on either side of its head and neck. The carapace (shell) is domed and elongated, and has distinct rings on the shell plates. It has a fragmented range along the eastern seaboard in bogs and other moist habitats with dense vegetation. The main threat to this species comes from the draining of wetland ecosystems. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Draining of wetland ecosystems Habitat: Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens and wet meadows Location: Fragmented range in eastern United States

GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) Weighing between 300 and 350 pounds, the green sea turtle is the largest of the world's sea turtles. They occur globally in tropical and subtropical waters, and females nest on the beaches of at least 80 countries. The green sea turtle is threatened worldwide by overexploitation of eggs and adults. They are also often taken as bycatch in fishing operations and threatened in some parts of their range by a disease that causes tumors. IUCN Status: Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Overexploitation of eggs and adults; incidental capture in fishing gear Habitat: Warm, open tropical and subtropical ocean Location: Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans Diet: Algae and sea grass KOMODO DRAGON (Varanus komodoensis) The Komodo dragon is the world's heaviest lizard, weighing 150 pounds or more. It has gray scaly skin, a pointed snout, powerful limbs and a muscular tail. It lives in the scrub and woodland of a few Indonesian islands. They use their keen sense of smell to locate decaying animal remains from several miles away. They also hunt other lizards as well as large mammals and are sometimes cannibalistic. This species is threatened by hunting, loss of prey species and habitat loss. IUCN Status: Vulnerable USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Habitat loss, loss of prey species and poaching Habitat: Open grassland, tropical savanna, tropical forest and scrub Location: Lesser Sundu archipelago of Indonesia Diet: Mainly carrion; also attacks large live prey

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE (Dermochelys coriacea)

Weighing up to about 1,700 pounds, the leatherback sea turtle is by far the largest sea turtle. It is also the world's deepest diving, most migratory and wide-ranging of all sea turtles. The leatherback differs from other sea turtles in that it has a leathery shell and flippers without claws. It is known to travel great distances, with some tagged individuals spanning entire oceans. The leatherback sea turtle is threatened throughout its range by nest-site disturbance, fishing operations, pollution and egg collection. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Nest-site disturbance, fishing operations, pollution and egg collection Habitat: Warm, open ocean Location: Worldwide tropical oceans Diet: Mainly jellyfish, small crustaceans and fish SIAMESE CROCODILE (Crocodylus siamensis) The Siamese crocodile is a Southeast Asian reptile that lives in slow-moving freshwater habitats such as rivers, swamps and streams. It has a broad snout, powerful tail and grows to a length of about 12 feet. Populations of Siamese crocodile are rapidly decreasing due to hunting and loss of habitat. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Conversion of habitat to agricultural land and poaching Habitat: Swamps and the sheltered parts of rivers, streams and lakes Location: Borneo, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam Diet: Mainly fish; also amphibians, reptiles and possibly small mammals

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Endangered Invertebrates

Invertebrates account for 97 percent of all animal species. Insects, spiders, crustaceans, squid, snails, octopi, jellyfish, sponges, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sea mats are all major invertebrate phylums or classes. Invertebrate species, especially in locations like the Amazon Basin, are going extinct at an alarming rate. Over half of those evaluated are now listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN, with crustaceans accounting for the highest percentage. Habitat loss seems to be the major reason invertebrate species continue to vanish. AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE (Nicrophorus americanus) The American burying beetle is so named because of its habit of burying its food, which consists of just about any dead animal. As a scavenger, it spends much of its time clearing carcasses off the forest floor. For this reason, it is a critical part of the North American ecosystem. Historically, this species could be found in woodland areas from New England to the Rocky Mountains. Today, it is found in only a handful of states due to declining prey species and loss of habitat. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Habitat loss and declining prey species Habitat: Maritime shrub thickets, coastal moraine grasslands and open pasture Location: Eastern Oklahoma and Block Island, Rhode Island Diet: Carrion

CONSERVANCY FAIRY SHRIMP (Branchinecta conservatio)

The conservancy fairy shrimp is a tiny, delicate crustacean with stalked eyes and 11 pairs of legs. It lives in the Central Valley and coastal areas of California, where females drop eggs into temporary pools that appear after heavy rains. When the pools dry up, the eggs may remain part of the ecosystem for months or years until more rains cause them to hatch. Much of the temporary pool ecosystem in California has been converted to agriculture. IUCN Status: Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threat: Agricultural development Habitat: Large, cool-water vernal pools Location: Central Valley and coastal areas of California Diet: Algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and bits of detritus

KAUAI CAVE WOLF SPIDER (Adelocosa anops)

The Kauai cave wolf spider is a troglobite, meaning it lives its entire life in caves. It is a predatory spider, finding its prey using chemical sensors. Like many troglobites, the Kauai cave wolf spider is so well adapted to cave living that it has lost its eyes. It is only found in the lava tubes and cave formations of the island of Kauai in Hawaii, where it is threatened by environmental pollution and habitat disturbance. IUCN Status: Endangered

USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threat: Agricultural development Habitat: Large, cool-water vernal pools Location: Central Valley and coastal areas of California Diet: Algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and bits of detritus LOTUS BLUE BUTTERFLY (Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis)

Description: The lotus blue butterfly is a beautiful insect species with azure wings fringed in white scales along the outer margin. It is known to occur only in the coastal bogs of Northern California. There have been no sightings of this species for more than 20 years, and they may already be extinct. Threats to the lotus blue butterfly are not well understood but are likely to include loss of bog habitat. USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threat: Loss of bog habitat Habitat: Coastal bogs Location: Northern California Diet: Nectar

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Endangered Mammals

Being mammals ourselves, we tend to feel most passionately for the plight of other mammals, such as tigers and pandas. Most endangered mammal species are threatened by habitat loss while a significant percentage continue to be hunted despite dwindling population sizes. According to the IUCN, some 20 percent of all known mammal species are either threatened or endangered. That's nearly 1,100 species. Some, like the baiji, are likely beyond hope. Others, like the giant panda, continue to make strides in the right direction.

ASIAN BUFFALO,/WATER BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis)

The Asian buffalo is a cattle species that occurs in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand, but its range was once much larger. It is a massive animal with heavy, flattened horns that are used to shovel and fling mud onto its back. Its preferred habitat is grasslands with abundant plant life and nearby watering pools for wallowing. The Asian buffalo is threatened by hunting, interbreeding with domestic stocks and loss of habitat, and there may be only a few thousand individuals left in the wild. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Hunting, interbreeding with domestic stocks and habitat loss Habitat: Abundant grasslands near watering pools Location: India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand Diet: Grasses and other vegetation ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus) Asian elephants are somewhat smaller than African elephants, their close relatives. Like all elephants, they live in small family groups and young calves are raised by their mothers as well as other members of the herd. Individuals communicate by vocalizations, foot stomping and postures, in order to stick together and to warn each other of approaching predators. The Asian elephant is rapidly declining due to loss of suitable habitat throughout its range. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Loss of suitable habitat Habitat: Mainly scrub forest Location: Parts of India and Southeast Asia Diet: Grasses, bark, roots, leaves and other vegetation BAIRD'S TAPIR (Tapirus bairdii)

Tapirs are pig like animals with long legs, an extended trunk and relatively streamlined bodies. Baird's tapir — the largest of the tapirs — has short, dark bristly hair with a light-colored chin and throat. It can be found in the forests of Central and South America, feeding on plant parts near freshwater sources. Baird's tapir are endangered throughout their range due to hunting and habitat destruction.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Hunting and habitat destruction Habitat: Dense tropical rain forest Location: Central and South America Diet: Leaves and fallen fruit BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus) The largest animal on the planet, the blue whale can reach a length of more than 100 feet. Despite their size, they are remarkably skilled divers, rapidly plunging several hundred feet below the surface using their back muscles to propel them. When they emerge from the dive, they let out a torrent of water, air and mucus from their blowhole. They are found in most of the world's oceans, and are threatened by noise and other environmental pollution throughout much of their range. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Noise and other environmental pollution Habitat: Open ocean Location: World's oceans Diet: Mainly krill CHEETAH (Acinonyx jubatus)

The cheetah is a golden-yellow cat with black spots and a ringed tail. The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour. It cannot, however, maintain that speed for more than a few seconds. If prey can last longer than 10-20 seconds, it usually escapes. Cheetahs are among the world's most loved animals. There are major international efforts to save them from extinction. It is endangered due to habitat loss, reduction of prey species, inbreeding and high infant mortality.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable Major Threats: Habitat loss, loss of prey species, inbreeding and infant mortality Habitat:Areas with tall grass and shrubs Location: Sub-Saharan African and Northern Iran Diet: Mainly gazelles; also impalas, antelope young and small mammals . CHIMPANZEE (Pan troglodytes) The chimpanzee has a bare face, longer arms than legs and dark hair thinly covering its body. It is one of the few primate species capable of walking upright. They live in large social groups in which the young are cared for by their mothers for about three years. During that time, young chimpanzees learn feeding techniques, including the use of tools. Chimpanzees are threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Hunting and habitat loss Habitat:Tropical rain forest, montain forest,and forest-savanna environments Location: Central Africa Diet: Mainly fruits and young leaves; also other plant parts, insects, small vertebrates, eggs, etc. GIANT PANDA (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) The giant panda has a distinctive white head with black eye patches, ears and shoulders. Unlike other bear species, giant pandas are entirely herbivorous, spending up to 12 hours a day chewing bamboo shoots and roots. Because of poaching and habitat loss, they are extremely rare, occurring in small populations in the bamboo forests of China. Despite being the subject of major international conservation efforts, wild populations of giant pandas may not be enough to save this species.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Habitat loss, poaching and human encroachment Habitat:Mountainous regions where bamboo is present Location:Central China Diet: Bamboo shoots and roots . GORILLA (Gorilla gorilla) The gorilla is the largest of the primates. Adult males are often twice the size of females and have a silvery back when fully mature. They live in highly complex social groups led by a dominant male in the lowland and swamp forests of Central and Equatorial Africa. The gorilla faces many threats in the wild, including slash-and-burn forest clearing, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade and trophy poaching. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Habitat loss and hunting Habitat:Tropical secondary and montane forests Location:Central and Equatorial Africa Diet: Fruits, leaves shoots and some insects. ORANGUTAN (Pongo pygmaeus) The orangutan is a tree-dwelling primate that rarely ventures down to the ground. It has orange-red fur, long arms and handlike feet. Young orangutans cling to their mother as she navigates the forest canopy, feeding on fruit and other plant parts as well as honey, lizards, birds and eggs. Threats to the orangutan include hunting, loss of habitat and being captured for the illegal pet trade. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Hunting, habitat loss and the illegal pet trade Habitat:Various tropical forest habitats Location: Island of Borneo Diet: Fruits and other plant parts; also honey, lizards, birds and eggs TIGER (Panthera tigris)

The tiger is the largest member of the cat family. A symbol of wildlife conservation, it is a majestic animal with an orange coat, black stripes and white markings. It lives in tropical forests, where it is usually solitary and nocturnal. Its range once extended to Eastern Europe, but it now lives in scattered populations in southern and eastern Asia. It is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and loss of prey species.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Poaching, habitat loss and loss of prey species Habitat: Various habitats including rain forest, deciduous forest and coniferous forest Location: Southern and eastern Asia Diet: Mainly large, hooved animals. SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest and hairiest of the world's living rhinoceroses. It is also one of the most critically endangered. As the name suggests, these animals occur in Sumatra and also Borneo, although they once roamed throughout Southeast Asia. Because of poaching and destruction of its rainforest habitat, Sumatran rhinoceros numbers have been in steady decline in recent decades and there may be fewer than 300 hundred individuals left in the wild.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Major Threats:Poaching and habitat destruction Habitat: Lowland secondary rainforest, swamps and moss forests Location: Sumatra and Borneo Diet: Young saplings, leaves and other vegetation.

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