Wildlife Deep Dives

Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the world. They are 40 feet long and have white spots. These markings are unique to each Whale Shark and can be used to identify individuals. 

Black-rumped Flameback Woodpeckers are also known as Lesser Golden-backed Woodpeckers. They are members of the Picidae family and can be found throughout the Indian subcontinent. They can be found in various subtropical or tropical forest habitats and gardens.

These are a type of canid that can be found in Asia. They’re an interesting species that look like a fox but are around the size of a German shepherd – yet genetically, they’re close to African Wild Dogs.

Have you heard of the Eurasian Wryneck? These birds are part of the woodpecker family, although they stand out from woodpeckers because they don’t share behavior. They’re known as Jynx torquilla and they stand about 6 inches tall and have a wingspan of about 10 inches.

Bees are integral animals to our environment. They’re in charge of pollinating 80% of flowering plants and 75% of fruit, nuts, and veggies in the US. The order they’re part of is called Hymenoptera – and they’re joined within that order by ants, wasps, and sawflies.

West Indian Woodpeckers can be found only in Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas. They stand 10 inches tall and are the largest woodpeckers within the Bahamas. Their habitats are mainly tropical forests, including mangrove forests and degraded forests.

When you think of cheetahs, what’s the first thing you think of? Cats? Speed? Genetic diversity? Cheetahs are felines, but there’s been some debate on whether they should be classified as “big cats”!

Crimson-crested Woodpeckers may remind you of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but they’re a different species. Although they both have red on their heads and markings of black and white on their bodies, they differ slightly.

Gilded Flickers can be found in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern US. They are members of the Picidae family and are one of the larger members of that group. Originally thought to be the same species as Northern Flickers, the two were considered separate species in the 1970s.