Finished Text – 11-15
Geoffrey’s Tufted-Eared Marmoset
Callithrix Geoffroyi
Length: The average length from head to tail was 20 centimetres, with a tail length of 29 centimetres. There was little difference between males and females.
Height: At the shoulder the average height for the Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset was 9 centimetres.
Weight: The Female Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset could weigh on average 190 grams while the heaver male could weigh between 230 grams and 350g.
Diet: An Omnivorous species the Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset’s diet consisted of fruit, gum and insects.
Lifespan: The life span of the Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset was recorded to be between 10 years and 15 years.
Distribution: The Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset was found in the south east area Brazil.
Habitat: The Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset’s habitat consisted of Secondary lowland, evergreen, and semi-deciduous forests.
Cause of Extinction: Destruction of the Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset’s habitat due to human encroachment and hunting for the use of a domestic pet were the main causes of extinction of the Geoffrey’s tufted-eared marmoset.
Link to where I found this information ( not to be included in the book )
http://www.twycrosszoo.org/white-fronted-marmoset.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/305.shtml
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3572/0
Humboldt Penguin
Spheniscus Humboldti
Length: The length of the Humboldt penguin was measured between 56 centimetres and 70 centimetres with little difference between the mail and the female.
Weight: The Humboldt penguin could weigh between 3.6 kilograms and 5.9 kilograms with little difference between the males and the females of the species.
Diet: A carnivorous species the Humboldt penguin’s diet consisted of a variety of fish including Sardines, Anchovies, Herring and Smelt.
Lifespan: The Humboldt penguin could live between 15 years to 20 years of age. On the rare occasion the Humboldt penguin could live to 30 years of age.
Distribution: The Humboldt penguin could be found in Western South America on the coasts of Peru and Chile.
Habitat: The Humboldt penguin lived on Rocky Shores and it near by oceans.
Cause of Extinction: Over fishing by humans and acidification of the oceans affected the food supply for the Humboldt penguin causing a decline in the population. Also Humans took the guano from the nests of the Humboldt penguin, making breeding difficult.
Links to where I found this information ( not to be included in the book)
http://www.twycrosszoo.org/humboldt-penguin.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Penguin
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Humboldt_Penguin
Meerkat
Suricata Suricatta
Length: The body length of a Meerkat was 25 centimetres to 35 centimetres with little difference between males and females. The Meerkat’s tail length was between 17 centimetres and 25 centimetres.
Height: At the shoulder the average height for a Meerkat was 8 centimetres.
Weight: The male Meerkat weighed on average 731 grams with the female average weight being 720 grams.
Diet: The Meerkat had a varied diet consisting of Lizards, Snakes, Scorpions, Spiders, Plants, Eggs, small Mammals, Millipedes and Centipedes. On rare occasion Meerkat’s were known to eat small birds.
Lifespan: The Meerkat was recorded to have lived from 10 years to 15 years of age.
Distribution: The Meerkat could be found across South Africa, Southern Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.
Habitat: The Meerkat’s habitat consisted of dry open tropical grassland, semi-desert and desert areas.
Cause of Extinction: Habitat destruction due to expansion of Human population and regularly being hit by cars contributed the extinction of the Meerkat. The Meerkat also became a popular pet which caused an increase in Meerkats being taken from the wild.
Links to where I found this information ( not to be included in the book )
http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/our-animals/meerkat
http://www.twycrosszoo.org/meerkat.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat
Patagonian Sea Lion
Otaria Flavescens
Length: An Adult male could grow over 2.73 meters in length while the female could be between 1.8 meters and 2 meters in length.
Weight: The male Patagonian sea lion could weigh up to 350 kilograms with the lighter female weighing up to 150 kilograms.
Diet: The Diet of the Patagonian sea lion consisted of Anchovies and Hake, they were also known to eat squid, octopi and on occasion penguins.
Lifespan: The Patagonian sea lion was recorded to have lived up to 25 years.
Distribution: The species could be found along the coasts and offshore islands of southern South America, from Peru to Chile on the Pacific side and from Argentina to Uruguay on the Atlantic side. They could also be found on the Falkland Islands.
Habitat: The Patagonian could be found on rocky shores and in coastal oceans.
Cause of Extinction: Habitat loss and pollution of the seas caused decline in their population, they were also hunted commercially.
Links to where I found this information ( not to be included in the book)
http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/our-animals/patagonian-sea-lion
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals/individuals/PatagonianSeaLion.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/South_American_Sea_Lion
Red Ruffed Lemur
Varecia Rubra
Length: With little difference between the male and the female the body length of the Red ruffed lemur was recorded as 53 centimetres on average, with an average tail length of 60 centimetres.
Height: The average height of the Red ruffed lemur at the shoulder was recorded as 50cm.
Weight: The Red ruffed lemur would grow to a weight of between 3.3 kilograms and 3.6 kilograms.
Diet: The Ruffed lemur was an Herbivore with a diet that consisted of fruits, seeds, and nectar.
Lifespan: The Red ruffed lemur could live up to 30 years of age.
Distribution: The Red ruffed lemur were found solely on the island of Madagascar
Habitat: The species could be found in tropical rainforests.
Cause of Extinction: Habitat loss was a contributor to the extinction of the species as this caused a loss of homes and food source. The Red ruffed lemur was also hunted for food and for the pet trade.
Links to where I found this information ( not to be included in the book )
http://www.twycrosszoo.org/red-ruffed-lemur.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_ruffed_lemur
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Red_Ruffed_Lemur
L.Greer photography 