Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family, one of four “big cats” that belong

to the Panthera genus. Tigers are predatory carnivores.

Tigers are easily recognizable by their stripes and their tawny fur color, which may range from yellow to orange (the white tiger is one notable

exception).Most tigers live in forests (for which their

camouflage is ideally suited) and grasslands. Of all the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are

strong swimmers, and tigers may often be found bathing in ponds, lakes and rivers. Tigers hunt

alone, and their diet consists primarily of medium-sized herbivores such as barking deer, sambar, elk, chital, swamp deer, red deer, rusa deer, wild pigs and buffalo, but they will also

take larger prey if the circumstances demand it.There are eight separate subspecies of tiger,

three of which are extinct and one of which is almost certain to become so in the near future.

Their historical range (severely diminished today) ran through Russia, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China and southeast Asia, including the

Indonesian islands.

This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a puma, cougar, and catamount. This

big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps

to Canadian forests.Mountain lions like to prey on deer,

though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and

raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to

pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days.Mountain lions do not like to share their territory and are

constantly on the lookout for invaders.

A fox can be any of 23 medium-sized carnivore species in the family

Canidae, most commonly a member of the genus Vulpes, and in particular

the well-known Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes. Foxes tend to be small by

comparison with other members of their family like wolves, jackals, and

domestic dogs; to have slender, slightly flattened skulls, pointed

muzzles, moderately short legs, large ears, and long, bushy tails.

Unlike many canids, foxes are not pack animals; they are solitary,

opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey by stealth and surprise, and

gather a wide variety of other foods ranging from grasshoppers to fruit

and berries.

The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat

after the tigerNearly all wild lions live in sub-Saharan Africa,

but one small population of Asian lions exists in India's Gir Forest. Asian lions and African lions are

subspecies of the same species.Asian lions once prowled from the Middle East to

India. Now, only 200 to 260 of these magnificent animals survive in the wild. The Gir Forest's dry teak woods were once a royal hunting ground.

Today they are a reserve where the endangered Asian lions are heavily protected. An additional 200

Asian lions live in zoos.Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called

prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related and

female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and may

establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.

Snow leopards cannot roar.Snow leopards prey upon the blue sheep (bharal)

of Tibet and the Himalaya, as well as the mountain ibex found over most of the rest of their range.

Though these powerful predators can kill animals three times their weight, they also eat smaller fare, such as marmots, hares, and game birds.

Snow Leopards prefer steep, rugged terrains with rocky outcrops and ravines. This type of habitat provides good cover and clear view to help them sneak up on their prey. They are found at high

elevations of 3000-4500 meters (9800 ft to 14800 ft.), and even higher in the Himalayas. The snowy peaks act as a camouflage for the animal. Snow

Leopards are considered medium-sized cats, standing about 24 inches at the shoulder and

weighing around 30-55kg. Their exquisite smoky-gray fur patterned with dark-gray to black

rosettes, camouflage them against rocky slopes. Snow Leopards are shy and elusive and inhabit a

definite home rangeThe animal is most active at dawn and dusk. Like most species of cats, Snow Leopards are solitary

animals, though sometimes male and female pairs might be seen together during mating season

The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave

most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 kilometers) an hour in only three seconds. These big cats are quite

nimble at high speed and can make quick and sudden turns in pursuit of prey.

Before unleashing their speed, cheetahs use exceptionally keen eyesight to scan their grassland environment for signs of prey—

especially antelope and hares. This big cat is a daylight hunter that benefits from stealthy

movement and a distinctive spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into high, dry grasses.

When the moment is right a cheetah will sprint after its quarry and attempt to knock it

down. Such chases cost the hunter a tremendous amount of energy and are usually over in less than a minute. If successful, the

cheetah will often drag its kill to a shady hiding place to protect it from opportunistic animals that sometimes steal a kill before the cheetah can eat. Cheetahs need only drink once every

three to four days.

Cobrais a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae.

However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family.

When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck (or hood) in a characteristic threat display.King cobras can reach 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length, making them the longest of all

venomous snakes. When confronted, they can raise up to one-third of their bodies straight off the ground and

still move forward to attack. They will also flare out their iconic hoods and emit a bone-chilling hiss that

sounds almost like a growling dog.Their venom is not the most potent among venomous

snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce (seven

milliliters)—is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will

avoid humans whenever possible, but they are fiercely aggressive when cornered.

King cobras live mainly in the rain forests and plains of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, and their coloring can vary greatly from region to region. They are comfortable in the trees, on land, and in water,

feeding mainly on other snakes, venomous and nonvenomous. They will also eat lizards, eggs, and

small mammals.They are the only snakes in the world that build nests for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until the hatchlings emerge.King cobras rarely attack humans, but one bite contains enough venom to bring down an

elephant.

Rattlesnakes are predators who live in a wide array of habitats, hunting small

animals such as birds and rodents. They kill their prey with a venomous bite, rather than by constricting. All rattlesnakes

possess a set of fangs with which they inject large quantities of hemotoxic venom.

The venom travels through the bloodstream, destroying tissue and causing

swelling, internal bleeding, and intense pain. Some species, such as the Mojave

Rattlesnake, additionally possess a neurotoxic component in their venom that

causes paralysis and other nervous symptoms.

However, rattlesnakes fall prey to hawks, weasels, king snakes, and a variety of other

species. Rattlesnakes are heavily preyed upon as neonates, while they are still weak and mentally immature. Very large numbers

of rattlesnakes are killed by humans. Rattlesnake populations in many areas are severely threatened by habitat destruction,

poaching, and extermination campaigns.

An anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer

only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.Green anacondas can grow to more than 29 feet (8.8 meters), weigh more than 550 pounds (227 kilograms), and measure more than 12 inches (30

centimeters) in diameter. Females are significantly larger than males. Other anaconda species, all from

South America and all smaller than the green anaconda, are the yellow, dark-spotted, and Bolivian

varieties.Anacondas live in swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams, mainly in the tropical rain forests of

the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They are cumbersome on land, but stealthy and sleek in the water. Their eyes and nasal openings are on top of their heads, allowing

them to lay in wait for prey while remaining nearly completely submerged.

They reach their monumental size on a diet of wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, capybara, caimans, and even

jaguars. Anacondas are nonvenomous constrictors, coiling their muscular bodies around captured prey and squeezing until the animal asphyxiates. Jaws attached by stretchy ligaments allow them to swallow their prey

whole, no matter the size, and they can go weeks or months without food after a big meal.

Female anacondas retain their eggs and give birth to two to three dozen live young. Baby snakes are about 2

feet (0.6 meters) long when they are born and are almost immediately able to swim and hunt. Their

lifespan in the wild is about ten years.

Description: Red pandas, which resemble raccoons, are about 42 inches long, including a long, bushy tail. They weigh between seven and 14 pounds. Their red-and-white markings blend in with the red mosses and

white lichens that grow on the trees in which they live. Their soft, dense fur covers their entire body—even the soles of their feet. Red pandas use their long, bushy tails to balance when they're in trees.

They also cover themselves with their tails in winter. Distribution and Habitat: Red pandas live in the cool temperate bamboo forests in Sichuan and Yunnan

Provinces in China, in the Himalayas, and in Myanmar. They share part of their range with giant

pandas. Diet: Red pandas primarily eat bamboo leaves as well as berries, blossoms, bird eggs, and various plants'

small leaves. Their broad teeth and strong jaws allow them to chew bamboo's tough leaves and stalks. They also have a small, bony projection on their wrists that helps them grip bamboo stalks. Giant

pandas also have this thumb-like adaptation.Reproduction: After a gestation of about 134 days, litters of one to four young are born. Young stay in

the nest for about 90 days, remain close to their mother until the next mating season begins, and reach adult size at about 12 months. Adult red

pandas lead solitary lives. Conservation: Red pandas are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of habitat loss. There are fewer than 2,500 adult red

pandas.

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only

extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae.

The koala is found in coastal regions of eastern and southern Australia,

from Adelaide to the southern part of Cape York Peninsula. Populations also

extend for considerable distances inland in regions with enough moisture to support suitable

woodlands. The koalas of South Australia were largely exterminated

during the early part of the 20th century, but the state has since been repopulated with Victorian stock. The

koala is not found in Tasmania or Western Australia.

The giant panda has an insatiable appetite for bamboo. A typical animal

eats half the day—a full 12 out of every 24 hours—and relieves itself dozens of times a day. It takes 28

pounds (12.5 kilograms) of bamboo to satisfy a giant panda's daily dietary

needs, and it hungrily plucks the stalks with elongated wrist bones that

function rather like thumbs. Pandas will sometimes eat birds or rodents as

well.The giant panda lives in a few

mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan province, but also in the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.[8]

Due to farming, deforestation and other development, the panda has

been driven out of the lowland areas where it once lived.

The dingo is legendary as Australia's wild dog, though it also occurs in

Southeast Asia. The Australian animals may be descendents of Asian dingoes that

were introduced to the continent some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

These golden or reddish-colored canids may live alone (especially young males) or in packs of up to ten animals. They roam great distances and communicate with

wolf-like howls.Dingo hunting is opportunistic. Animals

hunt alone or in cooperative packs. They pursue small game such as rabbits,

rodents, birds, and lizards. These dogs will eat fruits and plants as well. They also scavenge from humans, particularly in

their Asian range.Dingoes breed only once a year. Females typically give birth to about five pups, which are not independent until six to

eight months of age. In packs, a dominant breeding female will kill the offspring of

other females.

The average size of the Lilac Breasted Roller is 14.5 inches. The washed green head is large, the neck is short, the greenish yellow legs are rather short and the feet are small. The beak is strong, arched and hooked-tipped. The tail is narrow and

of medium length. The back and scapulars are brown. The shoulder of the wing, outer webs of the flight feathers and the rump are all violet.

The bases of the primaries and their coverts are pale greenish blue and the outer tail feathers are

elongated and blackish. The chin is whitish, shading to rich lilac of the breast. The underparts are greenish blue. The bill is black and the eyes are brown. It has large wings and strong flight.

Grasslands, open woods and regions where palm trees grow singly.

The species ranges more or less continuously throughout eastern and southern Africa from the

Red Sea coasts of Ethiopia and northwest Somalia to the Angola coast and northern South

Africa. Lilac Breasted Rollers inhabit acacia country with well spaced trees, rolling bushy

game lands, riverside areas and cultivated land, but they do not associate with human habitation.

Macaws are beautiful, brilliantly colored members of the parrot family.

Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South

American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast

large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for

tapping into fruits.Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to

latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are

typically very long.Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often

gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the

forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human

speech.Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the

morning they may fly long distances to feed on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. Some species also

eat damp soil, which may help to neutralize chemicals in their fruity diet and ease their

stomachs.Hyacinth, red-fronted, and blue-throated macaws

are seriously endangered. The glaucus macaw and Spix's macaw may already be extinct in the wild.

African Hoopoe has rich chestnut colouration, contrasting with black and white stripes on wings and tail.

Underparts are reddish-brown. Head and back show the same colour. Broad rounded wings are heavily marked black and white. Square tail is black and shows a white

wide band. Head has a conspicuous crest, made with long chestnut feathers, with a bold black tip. This crest may take two forms, according to the moment. It may be as

held straight, or erected in a rounded crown. Dark bill is long, slender and down-curved. Eyes are dark

brown. Legs and feet are brownish. Female is duller than male.

Immature resembles female with shorter crest.African Hoopoe lives in open and brushy areas. We can find it in parks and gardens, thornveld and riverine

woodlands in dry areas. African Hoopoe is distributed in Europe, Tropical Asia

and Madagascar. It lives in Africa (of course) where it is widespread, except in western and central equatorial

lowlands forests. African Hoopoe has an undulating and erratic flight, as a

butterfly. It has strong flight, with irregular wing beats. Hoopoe can soar very high to escape a raptor, but usually,

it flies just above the ground. African Hoopoe feeds on insects and earthworms, but

also frogs and small snakes and lizards. It may eat some seeds and berries, but in very small quantities.

African Hoopoe has some predators such as birds of prey. Species is common and widespread in South Africa.

The African Jacana favours the freshwater wetlands with floating vegetation where it can move easily thanks to the long toes. In this species, the female is larger than the male, and their mating system is reversed. The

adult has rich chestnut to rufous-cinnamon upperparts, but rump and secondaries are darker and primaries are black. The upperwing shows glossy sheen in good lighting. The black hindneck contrasts with the white foreneck. The tail is short.The underparts are darker maroon-chestnut, except the chin,

throat and foreneck which are white, turning golden yellow on the upper breast. On the head, the pale blue bill extends to a large pale blue to grey

blue frontal shield. The rest of the crown is black. The head sides are white. The eyes are dark brown. The long legs and the very long toes are greyish-

blue to olive-brown.The female has similar plumage but she is larger than the male.The immature has blackish washed brown

crown and hindneck. It has a white supercilium and the frontal shield is absent or slightly developed. The upperparts are pale brown. The underparts

are white, and we can see an indistinct yellowish breast band.The African Jacana frequents the freshwater wetlands with floating

vegetation, and especially lily pads and other emergent plants in swamps and marshes.

It shelters in the taller aquatic vegetation which provides it a good cover. It spends most of its life on these large floating leaves.

The African Jacana breeds in wetlands throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but it avoids the forested regions and the arid areas.

The African Jacana usually flies over short distances on rounded wings. The legs hang or are held straight out behind. This bird is a weak flier.

The African Jacana feeds on insects and larvae, worms, snails, molluscs and crustaceans, spiders and some seeds.

It gleans the preys from the surface and can catch flying insects.The African Jacana is usually common to abundant throughout most of the range. The species may be locally threatened by habitat loss, flooding,

drainage of wetlands and overgrazing. Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by aquatic snakes.

The Water lilies are destroyed by the invasive introduced nutria (Myocastor coypus), but the jacana is able to nest on other floating plants such as the

exotic water fern of genus Salvinia. However, this species is evaluated as Least Concern and not threatened at

this moment.

The average length for the Mandarin Duck is between 43-51cm, wings folded 22.1-22.6cm. They have a tail length of 10.2-10.4cm and an average bill length of 27.9mm. In full plumage, the male Mandarin is the most beautiful of all

ducks. The males have an iridescent crown extending to a long crest and chestnut cheeks. The breast is maroon with

black and white vertical stripes; the abdomen and underside are white with gold and black flanks. The back and tail are olive brown, the upper tail coverts are blue/green, and the scapulars are iridescent blue. The outer tertials are orange

and gold on the inner web and form a sail shape and the upper wing surface is mostly olive brown. This sail shape

feature along with the white-eye stripe that extends from the bill and tapers toward the back of the head distinguishes the male from all others. Their bill is red and they have whitish

legs with yellow feet.The Mandarin Duck originated in China but can be found almost anywhere there is a suitable habitat. They are

semi-migratory and semi-colonial. They are scattered throughout Southeast Russia, Northeast China, Japan,

Southern England and Siberia. Mandarins prefer to live in woodlands next to water that

has many trees with holes for nesting. They favor mountain areas with streams, marshland and forests.

The Mandarins diet consists of seeds, acorns, grain, aquatic plants, insects, land snails and fish. The diet is

seasonal, in the fall acorns and grains are favored while in the spring insects, snails, fish and vegetation are preferred. During the summer months dew worms, grasshoppers, small

fish, frogs, mollusks and small snakes are preferred.

As a weapon, the bill is a bit more show than substance. It is a honeycomb of bone that

actually contains a lot of air. While its size may deter predators, it is of little use in combating

them.But the toucan's bill is useful as a feeding tool. The birds use them to reach fruit on

branches that are too small to support their weight, and also to skin their pickings. In

addition to fruit, Toco toucans eat insects and, sometimes, young birds, eggs, or lizards.

Toco toucans live in small flocks of about six birds. Their bright colors actually provide good

camouflage in the dappled light of the rain forest canopy. However, the birds commonly

keep up a racket of vocalization, which suggests that they are not trying to remain

hidden.Toucans nest in tree holes. They usually have

two to four eggs each year, which both parents care for. Young toucans do not have a large bill at birth—it grows as they develop and does not

become full size for several months.The toucan's large, colorful bill may look like it packs a bite, but it is better adapted for

feeding than fighting

Macaws are the largest of all parrots. There are 16 different species of macaws and they range in size from a little over

three feet to one foot. They have beautiful, graceful, tails that are as long or longer than their bodies. They also have long, pointed wings that enable them to fly

swiftly.Macaws have sharp, hooked bills which are perfect for eating nuts, fruits, and

seeds. The beak is strong and is used to break open nut pods. Their feet have a very

strong grip which allow them to grasp easily. Two of their toes point forward and

two point backward. They can use their foot to grasp food and bring it to their mouth.

Macaws are very social and intelligent animals. They can be found in Central and South America in the canopy and emergent layers of the rainforest. They like to nest in

holes in trees. Macaws are on the endangered species list because their

numbers are declining due to rainforest destruction and people capturing them for

pets.

I feel gratified, at this very outset, to Mrs. Neasamni , Environmental

science teacher for having given us the opportunity to work on this project, which gives us a lot of

knowledge about Animals and Birds. It gives us great pleasure to thank you

for your invaluable suggestions, constant encouragement and help to

accomplish this task efficaciously.Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!