African Spoonbill

Species: African Spoonbill
Habitat: Wetlands
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: The Oasis

It is fairly obvious at first glance where the name spoonbill comes from when looking at these aquatic birds. In the marshes of Africa, where the spoonbill lives, the unusual beak is put into the water and swung from side to side in order to catch prey.  This bird has a wide variety in its diet, including fish, mollusks, invertabrates, amphibians, and crustaceans. It is not choosy, what it gets in its huge bill, it eats. It well adapted to the shallow pools and swamps with its long, thin legs making it easy for the bird to navigate the muddy ground.

The African spoonbill is widespread and common in its habitat. It can be found all across southern Africa as well as Madagascar. They nest in the trees near the waterline. The clutch of eggs numbers between 3 and 5 and are laid usually in springtime (April and May). The eggs are incubated by both parents. Both parents also care for the young for up to 5 weeks. The young generally leave the nest at that point to hunt in the nearby swamp. They can fly at about 8 to 10 weeks.

Giant Anteater

Species: Giant Anteater
Habitat: Central and South America
Status: Threatened
DAK Locale: The Oasis

The giant anteater is a solitary creature that spends much of its day searching for its favorite meal, ants (what a shock, right?). It is the largest of the 4 anteater species and the only that spends its time on the ground. The other species are all arboreal. It is also the most widespread kind of anteater as its found in Central America through the jungles of the Amazon and throughout most of the South American continent. It can be found in rainforests, grasslands, forests, and the more arid regions.

The animal hunts using its incredible hearing and sense of smell which is 40 times more powerful than man's. The diet is low calorie, but the animals have adapted to this by keeping a body temperature of only 32 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. They will range over a territory of 1/2 to 1 square mile depending on the abundance of food. After a day of foraging, the anteater will sleep in a dirt hollow or burrow dug up by its massive claws, which are also used to dig out ant colonies or defend themselves against jaguars and other predators. At their enclosure in the Oasis, the animals are often found sleeping perhaps even out of view.

The anteater's tongue can extend downward into an ants' nest. The tongue is covered in tiny spines with a sticky substance making it virtually impossible for the ants to escape. The animal, despite this diet, is relatively large weighing up to 90 pounds. In captivity, it can live over 20 years. Mothers will give birth to one young which the mother will carry on her back until its able to walk.