10 Remarkable Animals Beginning with A -part 1

1) Anaconda:
An anaconda also known as Water Boa is found in Northern Africa and in South America. It lives in shallow waters and swampy waters. They are nocturnal animal hinting its prey at night such as deer, pigs, caiman, fish, and larger prey. They often simply wait near the water on a tree limb and come raining down to catch animals as they come for necessary water. Anacondas kill by constricting the prey until it can no longer breathe and swallow the prey whole, head first.

2) Armadillo:
This small placental mammals with leathery armor shell are prolific diggers; dogging through the interior of savannahs and forests of Central and South America. There are about 20 existing species of armadillo, which are identified by the number of bands on their armor. Armadillo can grow up to 75 cm. including tail; however the Giant Armadillo grows up to 1.5 m while the small species Pinky Fairy armadillo can reach 12-15 cm in length. Its diet include: ants, termites, worms and insects. Armadillos have poor vision and can’t withstand prolonged frosts and must nestle into the ground to avoid the cold. Armadillos can move quickly even though it has short legs and are good swimmer; able to last 6 minutes underwater.

3) Ant:
Around 12,000 species of ants are currently classified under the family Formicidae. Ants are social insects that can be easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a distinctive node-like structure that forms a slender waist. Ants are found on all continents except Antarctica. These insects build colonies that differ in sizes from over a dozen individuals to a more complex colonies that house over millions occupants. Most species are omnivorous, and are able to locate food resources that include both plant and animal matter. Ants are intelligent insects and has the ability to find their way through fairly complex mazes. Ants defend themselves by biting or by stinging.

4)Alligator:
An Alligator is a species of crocodilian that falls under the family Alligatoridae. Alligators are found only in two countries: the United States and China. There are more than a million alligators that inhibit two U.S. states; Florida and Louisiana. The Chinese alligator is extremely threatened with only a few dozen inhibiting the Yangtze River valley. Alligators and crocodiles differ in some features like: Alligators have wide, flat and rounded snouts, while crocodiles own longer, sharper snouts; and unlike crocodiles, alligators lower teeth are hidden when their mouths are closed. They grow to about 10 to 15 ft. in length and can weigh up to 450 kg. The average life span of alligators in the wild is about 35 to 50 years. Alligators' main prey are smaller animals that they can kill and eat with a single bite and if they are hungry they’ll eat anything including humans.

5) Agama:
5) Agama: An agama is a long-tailed lizard inhabiting forests and bushes across Africa. Some agamas can be 5 inches long while others can be a foot long in length and can come in different colors. These lizards are active during the day looking for prey and at times eating seeds, berries, grass and even snatching eggs of other small lizards. Adult dominant males have a red face with shiny orange and blue coloring. Males are known to have five or more females on their territory for breeding. During courtship, male agamas wear stunning breeding colors. The male bobs his head which can turn bright blue, orange or yellow to impress the female. March to May is the usual breeding season.