Marine and Land Mammals Overview

Dolphins

• Found in warm, moderate ocean and sea waters globally, with coastal species living near beaches and offshore species preferring deep waters.
• Travel in pods for food access and predator avoidance.
• Require clean water and abundant food sources.

Horses

• Domesticated horses can inhabit various environments, while wild horses thrive in plains, prairies, and steppes.
• Need spacious terrains for defense and shelter from elements like trees or cliffs.
• As herbivores, they mainly eat grass and necessitate fresh water availability.

Cheetahs

• Known as the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
• Endangered due to habitat loss, decreased prey availability, and threats from humans, hunters, and poachers.

African Savanna

• Covers almost half of Africa, situated between rainforests and deserts.
• Characterized by warm, open landscapes with diverse grasses supporting numerous large herbivores (e.g., giraffes, zebras, elephants) and carnivores (e.g., lions, hyenas, leopards).
• Endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting, emphasizing the need for protection.

Lions

• Various lion species face extinction risks due to habitat destruction from human expansion and declining prey.
• Conservationists are actively working to increase lion populations despite hunting and disease threats.

Blue Whales

• Endangered primarily due to historical whaling, which drastically reduced their numbers until illegal in 1966.
• Currently threatened by boat collisions, anthropogenic noise, pollution, climate change, and fishing impacts.

Great White Sharks

• Endangered due to human fear, pollution, illegal fishing, and bycatch.
• Increased protections, such as bans on shark fin soup, are contributing to population recovery efforts.

Snakes

• Distributed widely, particularly in warm tropical climates, inhabiting various ecosystems including forests, deserts, and aquatic environments.
• Regulate body temperature by moving within their habitat, such as seeking shade or sun as needed.

Horse Life Cycle

• Begins with a foal, transitioning to a yearling at one year, then to a colt (male) or filly (female) at two, reaching adulthood by four.
• Average lifespan is around 25 years.

Lion Life Cycle

• Lion cubs experience rapid growth, learning essential survival skills like walking and hunting before reaching sexual maturity under six years.

Tiger Life Cycle

• Starts as blind cubs needing maternal care, progressively learning to hunt and eventually becoming independent around 17 months to two years.

Crocodile Life Cycle

• Consists of three stages: pre-birth (nesting), youth, and adulthood, illustrating the full life cycle from egg to adult.

Monkey Life Cycle

• Begins in the womb during gestation, followed by stages of babyhood and adulthood, with a lifespan varying from 10 to 50 years depending on species.

Hens

• Hatch covered in down and are referred to as pullets until they can lay eggs.
• Can live 2 to 25 years or more, depending on environmental conditions.

Cheetah Cubs

• Born in litters of three to five, with a mantle for camouflage.
• Learn hunting skills through play, preparing them for independence.