TRAVEL WORDS

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

This month Becky’s Squares are focusing on odd things – you can interpret this any way you want so I am going to take you all to the zoo this month. San Diego Zoo to be precise and the photos featured will be either odd looking animals, animals with odd names, odd facts or slightly odd photos. I hope you’ll enjoy my selection.

Day 20

The Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) or bushpig is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa. Red river hogs are also called “tufted pigs” due to their long, white whiskers and tufts found on the ears. In male hogs, the elongated snout features two well-developed warts. These warts provide added protection from tusk damage during fights for dominance with other males. As in all wild pigs, the canine teeth extend to tusks.

Red river hogs can even swim underwater to escape from leopards, catching a breath every 15 seconds or so.

If you want to join in either daily, weekly or just on the odd occasion then please visit Becky, the only rule is that the main photo MUST be a square – that is four equal sides! You have been warned 😉

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 19

The gerenuk, whose name means “giraffe-necked” in Somali, is an exceptionally long-necked antelope. Their head is small for their size, but their eyes and ears are large and I particularly like the pretty stripes inside their ears. Only the males have horns, which are stout and heavily ringed. They are found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa.

Because they can balance on two legs, they can use their front legs to reach and pull down branches up to eight feet (2.4 m) above ground.

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 18

The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby, formerly known as the ring-tailed rock-wallaby, is one of the most brightly coloured of all Australian mammals and is readily identified by its colouring and patterning. It moves easily around mountaintops, jumping as far as 13 feet (4 m) from rock to rock.

Wallabies are part of the large group of macropods / Macropodidae, means “big feet” the group includes kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, quokkas, pademelons, potoroos, honey possums, and tree kangaroos. In most species, the hind legs and feet are much larger and more powerful than the forelimbs. Their tail is long, muscular, and thick at the base, helping the kangaroo or wallaby balance and turn during hopping and providing support when it rests.

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 17

Surely a face only a mother could love? California condors are one of the largest flying birds. They are known for their enormous black wings, extraordinary eyesight, and an inquisitive and engaging intelligence. Indigenous tribes in North America have great respect for the condor and see it as a symbol of power. Some call it the thunderbird because they believe the bird brings thunder to the skies with the beating of its huge wings.

Adult California condors have a distinctive pink head and neck that is bare of feathers. That bare head is perfectly designed to keep rotting food from sticking to it as the birds eat. The skin on an adult condor’s head can also express some emotions. It turns a deep red-pink during courtship or when the birds are excited or alarmed.

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 16

Oryx are distinctive antelope with long, straight, slender horns. These horns, carried by both males and females, give oryx the nickname “spear antelope.” Adult male oryx sometimes fight for dominance in the herd. They may clash horns, butt heads, and push and shove, but they do not try to gore the opponent.

The Arabian oryx O. leucoryx is the most specialized oryx for living in true desert extremes. Its light colour reflects the desert heat and sunlight, and it can erect its hair on cold winter mornings to capture warmth to hold in its thick undercoat. Arabian oryx legs also darken in the winter to absorb more of the sun’s heat.

The odd thing about my square photo is that the usually very long horns appear to have been shortened.