PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY
B.Sc. SEMESTER-I (NEP-2020)
Emu Bird: Biogeography and Diagnostic Features
1. Native Range: Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) are native to Australia, where
they are widespread across the mainland, except in heavily populated or dense
forest regions.
2. Habitat: They prefer open landscapes like grasslands, savannas, and sparser
forests, where they can find abundant food sources.
3. Migration and Movement: While emus don’t migrate, they are nomadic and
travel extensively in search of food and water, especially during droughts.
4. Physical Size: Emus are large, flightless birds and the second largest by height
after ostriches, standing up to 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) tall and weighing between 18-
60 kg (40-132 lbs).
5. Feathers and Appearance: They have shaggy, grey-brown feathers that help
regulate body temperature. These feathers are double-shafted, providing
insulation and protection against the Australian sun.
6. Long Legs: Emus have long, powerful legs adapted for running, enabling them
to reach speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph). Their legs also have three toes, which
is unusual among flightless birds and provides balance.
7. Diet: They are omnivores, feeding on a variety of plants, seeds, fruits, and
insects, which makes them highly adaptable to different habitats within
Australia.
8. Reproduction: Emus have a unique breeding behavior, where males incubate
the eggs and care for the young. Females lay large green eggs in a ground nest,
which males incubate for about 8 weeks without leaving for food.
9. Vocalization: They communicate through deep booming, drumming, and
grunting sounds, produced by an inflatable throat sac. These sounds can carry
over long distances.
10.Conservation Status: Emus are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with
stable populations due to their adaptability and protection in Australia.
Ostrich Bird: Biogeography and Diagnostic Features
1. Native Range: Ostriches (Struthio camelus) are native to Africa,
primarily found in sub-Saharan regions and across open
savannas, deserts, and semi-arid areas.
2. Habitat: They thrive in dry, open landscapes with sparse
vegetation, which helps them spot predators from a distance.
3. Largest Living Bird: Ostriches are the largest and heaviest
living bird species, reaching up to 2.7 meters (9 feet) in height
and weighing 63-145 kg (140-320 lbs).
4. Flightlessness: Ostriches are flightless due to their large size
and small wings, but they possess powerful legs adapted for
running.
5. Long, Strong Legs: Their legs allow them to run at speeds up to
70 km/h (43 mph) to escape predators, making them the fastest-
running bird on land.
6. Diet: They are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant
material, seeds, insects, and small animals, which supports
survival in diverse, nutrient-scarce environments.
7. Unique Toes: Ostriches have two toes on each foot, unlike most
birds that have three or four. This adaptation helps in
maintaining balance and speed while running.
8. Conservation Status: Ostriches are classified as Least Concern
by the IUCN; however, they are farmed worldwide for their
feathers, meat, and leather.
PANGUINS
Classification of Penguins
1. Kingdom: Animalia
2. Phylum: Chordata
3. Class: Aves
4. Order: Sphenisciformes
5. Family: Spheniscidae
o Genus: Aptenodytes
Penguin: Biogeography and Diagnostic Features
1. Distribution: Penguins are primarily found in the Southern
Hemisphere, with most species residing in Antarctica and sub-
Antarctic regions. Other species inhabit South America, Africa,
New Zealand, and Australia.
2. Habitat: Penguins live in diverse habitats, from icy Antarctic
coastlines to temperate and even tropical shores. They are
typically found near cold ocean currents that provide rich food
sources.
3. Aquatic Adaptation: Penguins are well-adapted to life in water,
where they spend most of their time. Their wings have evolved
into flippers for efficient swimming, allowing them to "fly"
underwater.
4. Flightlessness: Penguins are flightless birds with a streamlined
body shape, aiding in fast and agile underwater movement.
Their flight muscles are replaced with strong muscles that
support diving and swimming.
5. Feathers and Insulation: Penguins have dense, waterproof
feathers and a thick layer of blubber beneath the skin, which
provides insulation in cold environments.
6. Diet: They primarily feed on fish, squid, and krill, diving deep
underwater to hunt. Their sharp beaks and spiny tongues help
them grasp slippery prey.
7. Unique Coloration: Penguins display counter-shading with a
black back and white belly, which provides camouflage from
predators both above and below in the water.
8. Conservation Status: Some penguin species are classified as
Vulnerable or Endangered due to threats like climate change,
habitat loss, and overfishing. Conservation efforts focus on
habitat protection and sustainable fisheries management.
Whale: Biogeography and Diagnostic Features
1. Global Distribution: Whales are found in oceans worldwide, from polar
to tropical waters. Some species migrate long distances between feeding
and breeding grounds.
2. Habitat: Different species inhabit various marine environments, with
baleen whales often in open ocean areas and toothed whales found in both
deep and coastal waters.
3. Aquatic Adaptation: Whales are fully aquatic mammals with
streamlined bodies, horizontal tails (flukes) for propulsion, and reduced
limb structures, adapted for efficient swimming.
4. Breathing: As mammals, whales have lungs and must surface to breathe
through blowholes on the top of their heads, adapted for quick and
efficient gas exchange.
5. Size: Whales include the largest animals on Earth, with the Blue Whale
(Balaenoptera musculus) reaching lengths up to 30 meters (98 feet) and
weighing up to 200 tons.
6. Feeding Mechanisms: Whales have distinct feeding methods. Baleen
whales filter-feed on plankton and small fish using baleen plates, while
toothed whales hunt larger prey using teeth and echolocation.
7. Social Behavior and Communication: Whales are known for complex
social structures and vocalizations, especially in species like the
humpback whale, which uses songs for communication and possibly
mating displays.
8. Conservation Status: Many whale species are endangered due to threats
like hunting, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Conservation
efforts include international protections and marine sanctuaries.
