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Help save precious species by making these small lifestyle changes that will make a big difference! joelsartore.com/about-joel/com…
Joel Sartore
2,797 posts
Joel Sartore
@joelsartore
National Geographic photographer, speaker, author and conservationist. Founder of the Photo Ark.
- The largest of the 10,000-known species of millipede, the giant African millipede reaches anywhere from 4-12 inches in length! As natural decomposers, they help to keep the forest healthy by consuming and digesting plant matter such as leaves, fruit, and other vegetation.
00:00 - Did you know the snow leopard is one big cat that couldn’t roar even if it wanted to? That’s right. Due to the physiology of their throat, roaring is out of the question. But they can make a wide range of other sounds including a purr, mew, hiss, growl, moan, yowl and a ‘chuff’.
00:00 - Well, this is something I never thought I’d do; be on a soap opera! But the entire cast and crew of @GeneralHospital could not have been nicer, even when I flubbed my lines. Such an honor to partner with #GeneralHospital to give species a lift, thanks to their loyal audience. #GH
- A healthy owl population is a sign of a balanced ecosystem. In order for owls to thrive, populations of the species they prey upon must be abundant and healthy as well - a pattern that continues down the entire food chain. #SuperbOwlDay
00:00 - Even though there are differences in habitat and geography, all tapir calves, no matter the species, begin life looking a lot like brown-and-beige-striped watermelons. Why? This pattern and color combination serves as the perfect camouflage as they explore their forest home.
- Bristles around the mouth of the eastern whip-poor-will help it snag its prey of flying insects. These nighthawks lay their eggs so that hatchlings emerge just before a full moon, allowing parents to spend all night gathering insects for their newborn young.
- This may look like a clump of moss, but upon closer inspection, you’ll find that it's a pied mossy frog! Couple this species’ ability to throw its voice up to 13 feet away with its impressive camouflage and you’ve got an amphibian that’s almost impossible to locate in the wild.
- It’s International Owl Awareness Day! Did you know? 1. Owls can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees! 2. Many owl species have asymmetrical ears that can pinpoint the location of sounds in multiple dimensions. #internationalowlawarenessday
00:00 - This adorable kitten is a four-month-old oncilla. As the smallest wildcat species in South America, oncillas like this one will weigh between four and eight pounds when fully grown and measure just over a foot in length (not including their tail).
00:00 - Meet the small but mighty pygmy marmoset. One of the smallest primates in the world, this species weighs less than five ounces when fully mature. Pygmy marmosets are gumnivores, which means their diet consists of sap and gum from trees.
- One of several subspecies, the Visayan leopard cat is a solitary animal that generally spends its days resting in trees and its evenings roaming throughout its home range in search of prey. Excellent eyesight, hearing, and smell, make this small cat an impressive hunter.
00:00 - Watch as this ball of spines opens to reveal the face of an adorable Brandt’s hedgehog. Hedgehogs are able to completely fold in on themselves and protect their most vulnerable body parts thanks to strong back muscles that function like the strings on a drawstring pouch.
00:00 - Today is World Wildlife Conservation Day, a time to honor and protect all of Earth’s incredible creatures. Though it’s easy to be moved by many of our favorite large species, it’s important to remember that even some of the smallest of species are also on the verge of extinction.
