Green iguanas' natural habitat extends from central Mexico to southern tip of South America. They are usually found near ponds and rivers basking in the sun on the branches of the overhanging trees. The high tree position provides protection since they can drop into the water below at the first sign of a predator. They can remain under water for some time usually emerging at another location when the danger has passed. A large tree can be home to as many as a dozen adult iguanas with the younger iguanas staying closer to the ground.
TIGERS
Siberian tigers are the largest of the big cats. Like other big cats, the tiger's body is built for the pursuit and capture of large prey. Their back legs are longer than their front legs making jumping and running much easier. Their natural habitat varies to include the tropical rain forests, snow covered forests, and swamps of Asia and India. Tigers live to be about 15 years old in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
GIRAFFES
Giraffes are usually found in Africa south of the Sahara desert in open woodlands and in wooded grasslands. The adult male giraffe can reach heights of 15 to 17 feet from hoof to horn tip. Each giraffe has its own unique pattern of coat markings, like human fingerprints. The patterns remain constant from birth to death, although the color may change. Giraffes live up to 25 years in the wild and 28 years in captivity.
ZEBRAS
Zebras can generally be found in the mountain grasslands and savannas of Africa although some live in the sub desert regions in eastern Africa. Like horses, they are herbivores who forage primarily on grasses, bark, and leaves. The repeating stripes of the zebras help to protect the herd by making it difficult for a predator to tell where one zebra ends and another begins when they are standing in a large group. A wild zebra lives about 10 - 25 years while a captive zebra can live to be 35.
HIPPOPOTAMUSES
Hippopotamuses are primarily found in Central and Southern Africa lounging in rivers and lakes by day and in grasslands by night. Since hippos have a thin, sensitive upper layer of skin, they lose moisture about 3 to 5 times faster than humans in the same conditions. Because of this, they wait out the scorching hot days in the water. At night when things have cooled down, then the hippos emerge to graze. In both the wild and in captivity, hippos live to be about 45 years old.
OTTERS
Otters live in both the water and on land in Asia, Africa, North, and South America. They are the only truly amphibious members of the weasel family (which also includes skunks, ferrets, and badgers). They largely forage for food in the water, but are equally at home on land, except fro the Sea otter of California who rarely comes ashore. Otter's diets are varied, but most species eat frogs, crayfish, crabs, and fish. Otters live to be about 12 years old in the wild while captive otters can live to be 21.
ELEPHANTS
The Asian elephant is found primarily on the Indian subcontinent while the African elephant is found south of the Sahara in Africa. The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant, has a rounded back, and much smaller ears. The larger ears of the African elephant help to keep the elephants cooler by allowing the animals to lose more heat from the vast surfaces of the ears. Elephants in the wild live up to 60 years and captive elephants can live to be 80 years old.
WOLVES
The Gray Wolf lives in the forests, tundra, deserts, plains, and mountains of North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Wolves will take in a wide range of food depending on what is available. In wilderness areas, typical prey are moose, deer, and caribou, which weigh up to 10 times as much as a wolf and are hunted in packs. Smaller mammals such as beavers and hares may be important prey in the summer months. Wolves will on occasion eat carrion and plants when food is scarce. Wild wolves live to be somewhere in the range of 8 - 16 years old and captive wolves can live to be 20.
SUN BEARS
The Sun Bear of Southeast Asia is the smallest animal in the bear family. It is also the one with the shortest and sleekest coat in order to adapt well to its warmer climate. The Sun Bear is primarily a forest dweller, resting and feeding in the trees. Relatively low weight, strong claws, and bare soles help to make this bear a skilled climber. It is most active at night, frequently resting and sunbathing during the day. It is omnivorous, eating fruits, termites, leaves, and small mammals. The average life span of the Sun Bear is not known.
BOX TURTLES
The Box turtle is one of a group of turtles that can withdraw completely into their shells and tightly close them to hide. Its bottom shell is hinged so it can be tightly folded against the upper shell to seal the body inside. A Box turtle is able to pull its head and neck into its shell because its neck has very flexible joints. Other turtles, legs, tails, and sometimes parts of the head remain uncovered because they cannot seal their shell tight like a Box turtle.
