Page 93 - World of Animals - Issue #39

Animal answers

What affects the Which animal produces
position of animal eyes? the richest milk?

Animal anatomy is shaped by evolution, and those that have
evolved with the need to look behind them have eyes on the sides Hooded seal milk is 60 per cent fat, suckle for four days, and the mother
of the head. Those that need to stalk prey have eyes on the front which is extremely rich compared to can dispense around eight litres (17
of the head, generally speaking. The two types of vision are called the three per cent fat in human breast pounds) of milk in each 24-hour period.
monocular and binocular vision and they help the animal survive in milk. This high-fat liquid helps newborn After this short period of feeding, the
its particular environment. seal pups survive the harsh Arctic newborn seals are double their birth

Most predators can afford to face forward at all times as they temperatures, as these mammals give weight and well-equipped to swim in

are at little risk of being attacked. Wolves have eyes that point birth on floating ice. The pups only the freezing north Atlantic waters.
frontwards to help look out for scampering prey, as the two eyes
create overlapping images that show the detail in the environment. Mammal milk compared
Most prey animals need to be extremely aware of what might be Animal parents give their young exactly what
sneaking up behind them, and that’s why their eyes are positioned they need to grow up as fast as possible
on the side of the head. This means the animal can see almost 360
degrees, though the images are not as detailed as those registered
by two eyes simultaneously. Hare eyes can see in every direction,

giving the animal a fighting chance of surviving an attack.

Hooded seal Human milk Tammar wallaby Eastern cottontail rabbit Black rhino milk
milk is 60% fat is 3% fat milk is 14% sugar milk is 15% protein is only 0.2% fat

What will be the next species to go extinct? ABOVE Hooded seal
pups have a shorter
weaning period than any

It’s diffi cult to predict, but there are a few species the fishing industry, causing numbers to decline other mammal

that are in real danger of disappearing in just a by 80 per cent in the last 20 years.
few years’ time. The northern white rhino is a The next animal that is likely to be declared
subspecies, but there are only four le on the extinct is the ivory-billed woodpecker. It may have

extinct is the ivory-billed woodpecker. It may have

died out already, but the scientifi
planet and just one of them is male. They are died out already, but the scientific community
c community
being cared for at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in need to be sure before changing the species’
status. A few seconds of video footage captured
Kenya, and unfortunately the last male, Sudan, is status. A few seconds of video footage captured
in 2005 is the only evidence collected on a fi
probably unable to have offspring due to his very in 2005 is the only evidence collected on a five-

ve-
advanced age. year search period over eight states of the USA.
year search period over eight states of the USA.
Sadly, there are many species that face a very It’s highly unlikely that there is still a surviving
It’s highly unlikely that there is still a surviving
real threat of extinction. The leatherback turtle population of ivory-billed woodpeckers, and it
population of ivory-billed woodpeckers, and it
has been hit hard by poaching, habitat loss and may not be long until they are considered extinct.
may not be long until they are considered extinct.
Numbers left in the wild
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white rhino leopards rhinos Vaquita Saola
4 70 60 60 750 Find out at…
animalanswers.co.uk
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