Langur Monkey

The langurs, genus Presbytis, also called leaf eating or leaf monkeys, are a group of 14 species of long tailed, tree dwelling monkeys of southern Asia. Their habitats range from sea level, dry-zone forests, through tropical rain forests, to snow covered trees at attitudes of 4000 m (13 000 ft). Langurs are 43 to 79 cm (17 to 31 in) long, have a tail 49.5 to 109 cm (19.5 to 43 in) ling, and weight from 3 to 21 kg (6.5 to 46 lb).

The fur is rather long and often forms a crest or cap on the head and prominent ridge above the eyes. Coloration is generally brownish grayish, or blackish, with lighter underparts. Langurs subsist largely on a diet of leaves. They live in troops of 3 to 120 individuals. Four other species in the same family, Cercopithecidae, are also called langurs; the douc langur, Pygathrix nemaeus, of Indochina; the snub nosed langurs. Rhinopitecus roxellanae of western China and R. avunculus of North Vietnam; and the Mentawi Island langur, Simias concolor, from islands off the west coast of Sumatra – Indonesia.

The hanuman langur is considered in India symbol of self sacrifice. Folktales tell how this langur got its black face and hands by being scorched in a fire while helping his master.

Marlin Fish

Marlins, family Istiophoridae, are large oceanic fishes characterized by an elongation of the upper jaw (premaxillae and nasal bones) into a long, rounded, pointed bill, or spear. The complete function of the bill is not clear, but apparently it is used to stun the marlin's prey of fish and squid as the marlin slashes through their schools. Marlins can swim at speed up to 65 km/hr (40 mph).

Four species are frequently recognized. The black marlin, Makaira Indica, of the Indian and Pacific oceans, is the largest, reaching 708 kg (1,560 lb). The blue marlin, M. nigricans, is found worlwide in warm waters. The striped marlin, Tetrapturus audax, inhabits the Pacific. The white marlin, T. albidus, of the Atlantic, is the smallest.



The blue marlin, found in warm and tropical seas throughout the world, is a favorite sport fish among deep-sea anglers.

Hippopotamus (Kuda Nil)

Hippopotamus are two species of herbivorous, chiefly aquatic mammals in the family Hippotamidae, order Artiodactyla. The name hippopotamus means “river horse,” in Indonesia usually called as “Kuda Nil.”


With the exception of the elephant, Hippopotamus amphibius is the largest living land animal and may weigh more than measure 1.5 m (5 ft) tall at the shoulder. The hippopotamus has short legs. Its eyes and nostris protrude high on head, which allows it to stay submerged in water for long periods. Mucous glands in the skin secrete a pink-pigmented liquid, and people once thought the hippo sweated blood.

H. amphibius lives the Upper Nile to South Africa. The calf is born nurses underwater. The pigmy hippo, Choeropsis liberiensis, grow to about 1.2 m (4 ft) long and weight about 230 kg (500 lb). Its habitat includes the wet forest and swamps of Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone.

An adult hippopotamus can weight more than four tons. It skin alone, including a thick lining of fat, weights 450 kg (1000 lb). The hippo is the largest land animal, next to the elephant.

Egret

An egret is any of the slender, long bodied usually white birds of the heron family, Ardeidae, that grow long, decorative plumes (the aigrette) in breeding season. The great egret, Casmerodium albus, of the world’s temperate and tropical zones and the New World snowy egret, Egretta thula, were once most almost eliminated in America by plume hunters supplying the millinery trade, but they have survived under strict protection. The stockier cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis, of Eurasia and Africa, has extended its range in recent decades to South America, Australia and North America.

Egret, a species of heron, were nearly destroyed during the 19th century by hunters, for their plumes were highly prized as hat feathers. The snowy egret has plumes on its head and back. The great egret has long, silky tail feathers. Both species live in colonies near fresh water marshes.