Shrimps and prawns, the most familiar crustaceans, are an important food for humans around the world. They are decapod shaving 10 limbs- There are many thousands of species and most are opportunistic feeders, taking whatever scraps of food they can find, planktons and remains of dead animals.
Lions are among the largest in the cat families. A lion can reach a length of about 3m and weighs up to 250 kg. They mostly hunt in teams.
Bats are flying mammals, having the most acute hearing compared to other land mammals. They use frequencies in the 20-80 khz range, compared with 20 khz for humans.
Octopus is a highly developed mollusc. Its acute eyesight and wonderful ability to disguise itself are its two means of defence. The third and the most famous is to squirt its inky fluid to confuse the enemy's sense of direction.
Kiwis, native of New Zealand islands, are flightless birds and are protected by law, to prevent their numbers from falling. They are nocturnal animals, passing the days in burrows to avoid predators. They have poor eyesight, but a well-developed sense of smell.
Of all fish, the piranha has the most voracious appetite. Even though it is small, just 30-60 cm at the most, a group of piranha fish can strip the flesh of any large prey within a few seconds.
A puffer fish is so called, because, when it is alarmed, it swallows water rapidly and so inflates its body into a balloon shape. Thus, it makes it impossible for the predator to catch hold of it.
The pupa of a mayfly can remain for 2 to 3 years on a water lily, on the surfaces of a swamp, lake or stream. But, when the adult finally emerges, it may live only for an hour, with just enough time to flap its wings and to reproduce, in order to help its species survive.
Insects too have blood, but it may be blue, yellow or green in colour.
Ostrich races are held in Montrouge, near Paris (France), with a human jockey on the saddle, and the birds attaina speed of 60 KMPH.
