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The pale field rat, aka Tunney’s rat, is a species of rodent that hails from northern and eastern Australia, as well as some of the surrounding islands. These rats face the threat of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of ranching, in that cattle often times trample their shallow […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The kultarr, aka jerboa-marsupial or marsupial jerboa, is a diminutive insectivorous marsupial that hails from the arid interior of Australia. They face the ongoing threat of predation by feral cats and red foxes. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep degrades and compacts their preferred open desert and woodland habitats. Intense bushfires […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Children’s python, aka banded rock python, small-blotched python, and eastern small-blotched python, hails from northern Australia. These snakes face the threat of death from ingesting the deadly poisonous cane toad. The threat of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of clearing of native woodlands and rocky outcrops for […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Mexican honey wasp is beneficial in that it’s used by humans to control aphids, Asian citrus psyllids, and weevils, as well as to pollinate avocados. Due to their production of sweet, floral honey, their nests are historically harvested and destroyed by indigenous and rural communities in Mexico and Central/South […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Australian pelican is touted as having the longest bill of any living bird. They hail from Australia, but have spread to Australasia as well. Because they often interact with recreational fishing areas they are highly vulnerable to swallowing discarded fishing hooks and becoming entangled in monofilament lines, which can […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European mantis is a species of praying mantis that can be found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and has been introduced to North America as well. Like all species of mantids they get the “Praying” part of their name from the positioning of their forelimbs. These insects are threatened by […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Southern African hedgehog is a medium sized hedgehog that can be found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. They face the threats of hunting and trapping for bushmeat, traditional medicine, and collection for the pet trade. Predation and injury from domestic and feral dogs is […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Sacramento sucker, aka western sucker, is an inferiorly mouthed (lower positioned mouth) fish that hails primarily from lakes, rivers, and streams of California, but can also be found in Oregon and Nevada. They face the threat of water diversions that drastically reduce natural streamflows, while heavy groundwater pumping lowers […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Ōkārito kiwi, aka rowi or Ōkārito brown kiwi, was only recently discovered in 2003. They are part of the brown kiwi species complex. These birds can only be found in the small western portion of New Zealand’s Ōkārito forest, on the south island. They face the threats of habitat […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The whistling kite, aka whistling eagle or whistling hawk, is a mid-sized raptor found throughout Australia, New Caledonia, and much of New Guinea. They face the threat of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of wetland drainage and tree removal for agriculture. Secondary poisoning is another risk factor in […]

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