To live, every living creature simply needs to eat, receiving all the necessary organic substances, such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Gastronomic preferences and the need to search for food made animals mobile creatures.
flickr/Photo Martien
In addition to the fact that nutrition is an important component of metabolism, it is also one of the main conditions for the existence of the animal world, a factor that determines the distribution of individual species and entire populations. Therefore, animals are in constant search of food. Some of them are particularly gluttonous, while others are quite abstinent. But be that as it may, without food they will simply die. So which of them is the most gluttonous? And how much can they eat in one day?
Who hunts tarantulas?
A wasp called the “tarantula hawk” was caught in the frame. Despite the significant difference in size, this type of insect preys on tarantulas. By attacking spiders, wasps paralyze them and lay eggs in them. The hatched larva then feeds on the spider for about a month until it grows into an adult insect.
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Saturnia polyphema butterfly caterpillar
The larva of the Saturnia polyphemus butterfly (lat. Antheraea polyphemus) is a bright green caterpillar, which allows it to be invisible in the foliage. She is a resident of North America. One of the most voracious creatures living on the planet.
flickr/photochem_PA
Having been born, it immediately begins to eat foliage in huge quantities and with incredible speed. This activity lasts only 2 days, but during this time the caterpillar manages to eat 86 times its own weight in foliage.
Flamingo
The long legs of flamingos are equipped with special mesh membranes that help them walk on liquid clay without falling through.
Flamingos have a flexible neck, long legs and a swollen beak that is curved at the end.
The edges of the beak are equipped with small horny plates, forming an ideal filtering apparatus. Having lowered its beak into the water, the flamingo wanders through the shallow water on graceful legs, moving its head from side to side, straining small crustaceans from the liquid silt and water, which are its main food.
The pink or red color of the plumage of adult birds is provided by red pigments contained in the shell of crustaceans, and in captivity on a different “diet”, flamingo feathers may lose their color intensity or even become white.
Tiny shrew
The tiny shrew (lat. Sorex minutissimus) is a small mammal from the genus shrew (lat. Sorex). This tiny animal (from 1.5 to 4 g) lives an active life. In order for her body to recover, she has to go to bed 87 times a day and the same number of times she has to go in search of food.
flickr/CIMMYT
Their daily food intake is more than 10 grams, and in cold weather, in order not to freeze, the total is more - about 30 grams. Interestingly, the body temperature of the shrew is more than 40 °C, which is considered one of the highest temperatures among mammals.
Habitat
Hawks settle almost everywhere, but preference in choosing a place of residence is given to well-visited places. It can be like a forest, mountain range or steppe. The main thing is that there is a more or less tall tree where you can build a nest , and it does not matter whether it is a coniferous or deciduous tree.
Some species of hawks build a nest once and use it until it begins to fall apart. Others organize a construction site every year, and they can be inconsistent, that is, one year the branches will be neatly laid out, the bottom of the nest is covered with moss, another year the branches will be draped somehow, and the moss will not even be remembered. Surveying its territory from the highest tree branch, the hawk carefully ensures that winged predators do not fly into the area . At the same time, he is loyal to other animals.
Bactrian camel
The Bactrian camel (lat. Camelus bactrianus) is an exclusively herbivore.
flickr/Luigi Strano
Its diet consists of 33 of the 50 main types of desert vegetation. Throughout the day, the Bactrian camel eats constantly, chewing its food thoroughly. Camels themselves weigh on average from 650 to 800 kg (males up to 1000 kg), and they eat up to 40 kg of vegetation per day.
Wasp defense mechanism
Wasp sting.
Of course, the most basic means of wasp protection is the sting. They inject poison under the skin of their victim, which has a poisonous and paralyzing effect.
A wasp sting for a person can simply result in itching, slight numbness and unpleasant pain. But for those who are prone to allergies, the problems can be more serious, leading to anaphylactic shock.
Elephant
Elephants (lat. Elephantidae) are the largest land mammals that must maintain their weight at all times.
flickr/Markus CH64
And for this they need to eat more than 250-300 kg of plant food per day. However, this is only 1/10-1/20 of the elephant's own weight. Although by human standards this is an impressive amount of food.
Origin of the species and description
The sparrow is a widespread bird from the passerine family of the same name.
It is said that the thievish nature of the sparrow gave this bird its name. This happened at the moment when the feathered stole a bun from the baker, and he shouted after him: “Beat the thief!” This is how the sparrow got its name.
Ornithologists identify about 22 species of these birds, eight of them live nearby; the most commonly found species of sparrows are:
- brownie;
- field;
- black-breasted;
- stone;
- red;
- snowy;
- short-toed;
- Mongolian earthen.
The appearance of a sparrow is familiar to almost everyone from childhood. This is a small bird, but its beak is quite massive. The colors of the sparrow are dominated by gray, light brown and dark brown tones. Each sparrow species has its own distinctive features, some of which we will describe.
Video: Sparrow
The black-breasted sparrow has a chestnut head, neck, wings and back of the head. Light motley spots are observed in the area of the back. The sides and cheeks of the sparrow are painted in light colors. The craw, throat, and half of the breast are painted black. The wings are lined with a horizontal dark stripe. Males look much more elegant and brighter than females.
The snow sparrow (finch) is decorated with long black-and-white wings and a gray tail with lighter feathers along the edge. A black spot stands out noticeably in the throat area of this sparrow.
The stone sparrow is quite large compared to its relatives; the distinctive feature of this bird is a wide light stripe running along the crown, and its beak is light brown. The chest and throat are light-colored with speckles, the crop is decorated with a spot of bright lemon color.
The red sparrow has a rich chestnut color, the back of the head, back and wings of this particular shade. The female is distinguished by a light gray or brownish breast.
The short-fingered sparrow is very small, the color of its feathers is sandy, narrow small stripes of light color can be seen on the throat and end of the tail.
The Mongolian ground sparrow has a nondescript gray coloration, there are lighter spots on it, but they stand out very faintly, so sometimes they are not visible at all.
Subclass New palatines
Neognathae birds have a much longer history that reaches back to the Mesozoic era and this subclass includes 25 orders, such as:
Order Aciformes, or Ankleidae (Storks, herons, ibises, etc.)
The order of birds, storks, or ankles (Ciconiiformes) includes herons, storks, ibises and others, more than 100 species in total. All of these birds are long-legged, sharp-billed carnivores that live in wetlands. Their long, flexible toes are unwebbed, allowing them to stand in thick mud without drowning. Most are solitary hunters, slowly stalking their prey before quickly striking with their powerful beaks; they feed on fish, amphibians and insects.
The earliest known ancestors of today's herons, storks and their relatives date back to the late Eocene era, about 40 million years ago. The closest living relatives are flamingos.
Order Shearwaters (Albatrosses and petrels)
Albatross
Birds in the order Procellariiformes, also known as tubenoses, include more than 125 living species, placed into four extant families:
- Petrels (Procellariidae);
- Albatross (Diomedeidae);
- Storm petrels (Hydrobatidae);
- Diving petrels (Procellariidae).
These birds spend most of their time at sea, flying over and diving into the water to catch fish, plankton and other small aquatic animals. Tubebills are colonial birds that return to land only to breed (breeding sites vary by species, but in general these birds prefer remote islands and rugged coastal cliffs), they are monogamous and form long-term bonds between mating pairs.
The largest species of the order is the wandering albatrosses, whose wingspan reaches 3.25 m. The smallest species, Halocyptena microsoma, has a wingspan of less than 30 cm.
Order Passeriformes (Sparrows, starlings, crows, etc.)
The order Passeriformes are the most diverse group of birds, consisting of more than 5,000 species, including sparrows, finches, thrushes, starlings, crows, swallows, larks and many others. These birds have a unique leg structure that allows them to tightly grasp thin twigs, reeds and fragile grass stems; some species can even cling to vertical surfaces, including mountain slopes and tree trunks.
In addition to their unique leg structure, passerines are distinguished by their complex vocalizations. Although these are not the only birds capable of making sounds using the syrinx, this organ is the most developed in passerines. Each member of the squad has unique sounds, some simple, others long and complex. Some species learn vocalizations from their parents, while others are born with the innate ability to sing.
Order Loons (Loons)
The order of birds (Gaviiformes) includes five living species of loons: the red-throated loon, the black-throated loon, the white-necked loon, the black-billed loon and the white-billed loon. Loons are freshwater waterfowl common in the northern parts of North America and Eurasia. The legs located behind their bodies provide the bird with strength in the water, but make these birds clumsy on land. Gaviiformes have fully webbed feet, elongated bodies, and dagger-shaped beaks well suited for capturing fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates.
These birds go to land to nest and build their nests close to water. Both parents care for the chicks, who sit on the adults' backs for protection until they are ready to live independently.
Order Pigeonidae (Pigeons and turtle doves)
The order Columbiformes includes more than 300 species of pigeons, including rock pigeons, pigeons, turtle doves, ringed doves, crowned pigeons, etc. Pigeons are small to medium-sized birds characterized by short legs, purple coloring, short necks and small heads. Pigeons have short beaks that are hard at the tip but softer at the base.
These birds are common in meadows, fields, deserts, farmlands and cities. They also, to a lesser extent, inhabit temperate and tropical forests, as well as mangrove forests.
Order Anseriformes (Ducks, geese, swans, etc.)
The avian order Anseriformes includes ducks, geese, swans, etc., which tend to be somewhat irritable due to loud calls. There are about 150 living species in this order. Most prefer freshwater habitats such as lakes, streams and ponds, but some live in marine regions, at least during the breeding season.
All Anseriformes are equipped with webbed feet, which allow them to move more easily through the water. However, you may be surprised to learn that most of these birds are exclusively herbivores; only a few species feed on insects, molluscs, plankton, fish and crustaceans. Anseriformes often find themselves on the downside of the food chain, not only because of the people who love their meat, but also because of coyotes, foxes, raccoons and even striped skunks.
Order Woodpeckers (Woodpeckers, toucans, etc.)
The order Piciformes includes woodpeckers, toucans, puffbirds, nonnulas, nuns, brachygalbas, jacamaras, honeyguides, etc., about 400 species in total. These birds love to nest in trees; and the most famous birds of the order Piciformes - woodpeckers - tirelessly gouge holes in tree trunks with their beaks. Some species are antisocial, showing aggression towards other species or even their own birds, while others live well in large groups.
Thanks to the structure of their paws, oti easily climb tree trunks. Many Piciformes also have strong legs and stout tails, as well as thick skulls that protect their brains from the effects of wood gouging. Beak shapes vary widely among members of this order.
Woodpeckers and their related species are found in most parts of the world except the Pacific Islands, Australia, Madagascar and Antarctica.
Order Crane-like (Cranes, coots, rails, etc.)
Japanese crane
The order Gruiformes includes about 200 living species. Members of the order vary widely in size and appearance, but are generally characterized by their short tails, long necks and rounded wings.
With long legs and necks, cranes are the largest members of the order; The Indian crane is more than 1.7 m high and has a wingspan of up to 2.5 m.
The Craniformes also include birds that do not fit into other orders in their characteristics. Currently, the detachment includes 9 living families.
Order Nightjars
In the order Caprimulgiformes, there are about 100 species of birds distributed throughout the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Their patterned feathers are often quite variegated, so they fit well into their preferred habitats (these birds tend to nest either on the ground or in trees).
In the modern classification, the nightjar order includes 5 families:
- Guajaro (Steatornithidae);
- Frogmouths (Podargidae);
- Giant nightjars (Nyctibiidae);
- Owlpoorwills (Aegothelidae);
- True nightjars (Caprimulgidae).
Order Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)
Common cuckoo
The order Cuculiformes includes the only family of cuckoos, which has about 140 species.
Cuckoos are medium-sized, thin-skinned birds that live in forests and savannas and feed primarily on insects and insect larvae. Some species of cuckoo are known to plant their eggs in other people's nests, and when a cuckoo chick hatches, it will sometimes push other chicks out of the nest!
Order Galliformes (Guinea fowl, pheasants, partridges and crucians)
Common pheasant
Several members of the Galliformes are well known to people who enjoy eating poultry, including pheasants, quail, turkeys, guinea fowl and others. In total, this order includes 5 families and about 250 species. Many of the less familiar birds are subject to intense hunting pressure and are now facing extinction. Other members of the order, such as chickens, quails and turkeys, have been fully domesticated and are often raised in huge quantities on farms around the world.
The smallest species of Galliformes is the painted quail, which has a body length of less than 15 cm; The largest species of the order is the North American wild turkey, which can reach a length of more than 1 m and a weight of about 8 kg.
Order Pelicanidae (Pelicans, herons and ibises)
The order Pelicaniformes includes the following families: pelicans, herons, shoebills, hammerheads and ibis. These birds are characterized by their webbed feet and their various anatomical adaptations for catching fish, their main food source; many species are excellent divers and swimmers.
Pelicans, the most famous representatives of the order, have special leather bags at the bottom of their beaks that allow the birds to effectively catch and hold fish. There are eight species of pelicans in total.
Order Penguinaceae (Pigguins)
The order Sphenisciformes includes six genera and about 20 species of penguins. The most diverse are the crested penguins, a genus that includes 6 species.
Penguins are flightless birds with stiff wings and unique coloring (black or gray feathers along the back and white feathers on the belly). They are also characterized by long and narrow beaks. Penguins live in the Antarctic climate, where snow persists throughout the year, and like to glide quickly on their bellies and use their wings or legs for guidance. They are excellent swimmers, and some species can stay underwater for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Order Grebes (Grebes)
Grebes (Podicipediformes) are medium-sized waterbirds that live in freshwater marshes around the world, as well as lakes, ponds and lazy rivers. They are skilled swimmers and excellent divers, but these birds are quite clumsy on land.
There is some controversy regarding the evolution and classification of grebes. Grebes were once related to other waterfowl, but this theory has been shattered by recent molecular research; To date, grebes have been shown to be most closely related to flamingos.
Order Parrots (Parrots and cockatoos)
The avian order Psittaciformes includes parrots, kakariki, rosellas, lorises, cockatoos, cockatiels and others, up to 350 species in total. Parrots are colorful, sociable birds that often form large, noisy flocks in the wild; they are characterized by a large head, curved beak, short neck and narrow, pointed wings. Parrots live in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and are considered the most diverse birds in South America, Australia and Asia.
Parrots are monogamous, forming strong pairs. Most parrots feed almost exclusively on fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers and nectar, but some species may eat arthropods (such as invertebrate larvae) or small animals (such as snails).
Mouse Bird Squad
The avian order Coliiformes includes six living species of mousebirds that deftly climb trees in search of fruits, berries and the occasional insect. These birds are restricted to the open forests, scrub and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. They usually gather in flocks of up to thirty individuals, except during the breeding season.
One interesting fact about mousebirds is that they were much more numerous during the late Cenozoic era than they are today; in fact, some naturalists refer to these virtually unknown birds as "living fossils."
Order Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, bee-eaters, rakshas, etc.)
Coraciiformes are an order of mainly carnivorous birds, which includes kingfishers, bee-eaters, ground cuckoos, rollers, broadmouths, etc. Some members of this order are solitary, while others form large groups. Many species are brightly colored, and all have feet with three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing back. Coraciiformes like to nest in holes in trees or dig tunnels in the mud along river banks.
According to modern classification, the order Coraciiformes is divided into 6 families:
- Kingfishers (Alcedinidae);
- Ground rakshas (Brachypteraciidae);
- Rollers or true rakshas (Coraciidae);
- Shchurkov (Meropidae);
- Momotidae (Momotidae);
- Todievs (Todidae).
Order Charadriiformes
The order Charadriiformes contains about 350 species of birds that live along coastlines. Charadriiformes are skilled fliers; some species undertake the longest and most spectacular migrations in the class of birds.
Charadriiformes eat a wide variety of foods, including marine worms, crustaceans and earthworms, but surprisingly, they almost never eat fish!
Order Fritillary (Hooved and Grouse)
Members of the order Pteroclidiformes are medium-sized birds native to Africa, Madagascar, the Middle East, Central Asia, India and the Iberian Peninsula. There are 16 species of fritillaries, which belong to two genera.
Sandgrouse are characterized by their small heads, short necks, short, feathered legs, and ragged bodies; Their tails and wings are long and sharp, good for taking off quickly to escape predators.
Order Owls (Owls, owls, eagle owls, barn owls, etc.)
The order Strigiformes consists of more than 200 species, medium to large birds equipped with strong talons, good hearing, and keen eyesight. Because they hunt at night, owls have especially large eyes (which help them see in the dark) as well as binocular vision, which helps them see prey better.
They are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on everything from small mammals, reptiles and insects to other birds. Having no teeth, they swallow their prey whole and after about six hours regurgitate the indigestible parts of the eaten prey.
Owls live on every continent except Antarctica. They are found in a wide variety of terrestrial habitats, ranging from dense forests to wide-open grasslands.
Order Falconiformes (Birds of Prey)
Black Vulture
Falconiformes, or birds of prey, include eagles, hawks, kites, secretary birds, ospreys, falcons, vultures and vultures, about 300 species in total. Representatives of the order are formidable predators, with powerful claws, twisted beaks, keen vision and wide wings, well suited for flight and diving. Falconiformes hunt during the day, feeding on fish, small mammals, reptiles, other birds and abandoned carrion.
The largest bird of prey is the Andean condor, whose wingspan approaches 3 m. One of the smallest birds of prey is the steppe kestrel, with a wingspan of less than 75 cm.
Order Swifts (Hummingbirds and Swifts)
The order of swiftlets, or long-winged birds (Apodiformes) is the most numerous in the class of birds after passerines; it contains about 450 species of swifts and hummingbirds. In the Sibley-Ahlquist classification, this order rises to the superorder Apodimorphae, in which hummingbirds are separated into a separate order Trochiliformes.
Birds are characterized by their small size, short legs and tiny feet. Hummingbirds and swifts included in this group also have numerous adaptations for specialized flight.
Hummingbirds are common in different areas of North, Central and South America, and swifts can be found on all continents of the world, with the exception of Antarctica. The earliest known members of the Apodiformes were fast birds that evolved during the early Eocene era in northern Europe about 55 million years ago; Hummingbirds appeared a little later, they separated from the early swifts after the late Eocene.
Order Trogoniformes (Trogon and Quezal)
The order Trogoniformes includes about 40 species of trogons and quesals, tropical forest birds found in the Americas, southern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. These birds are characterized by short beaks, rounded wings and long tails, and many are brightly colored. They feed mainly on insects and fruits, and also build their nests in trees or abandoned insect burrows.
Mysterious as their vaguely alien names, trogans and quesals have proven difficult to classify: in the past, scientists have grouped these birds with all orders, from owls and parrots to tinamoiformes. However, recent molecular evidence indicates that trogons are closely related to the Coraciiformes, with which they may have diverged as early as 50 million years ago. These birds are rarely found in the wild and are considered particularly valuable finds by ornithologists.
Order Turaciformes (Turacos and banana eaters)
Turaciformes (Musophagidae) are an order of birds that were previously classified as cuckoo-like birds. Recent genetic analysis has confirmed that it is a separate order.
Musophagidae are medium-sized birds endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in forests and savannas. They fly poorly, but move quickly through trees. They feed mainly on fruits and to a lesser extent on leaves, buds and flowers, and occasionally eat small insects, snails, and slugs.
These are gregarious birds that do not migrate, but gather in family groups of up to 10 individuals. Many species can produce high-pitched alarm calls that alert other animals to the presence of predators or humans.
What is the best way to feed sparrows, titmice, bullfinches, woodpeckers, and waxwings in a feeder in winter?
If you can afford to buy birdseed, do so periodically at a pet store. There you can easily select food from a mixture of millet, oats, wheat and sunflower seeds. This food can be combined with dried rowan berries, pieces of white bread (or bread crumbs), animal fat and lard.
IMPORTANT: The feeder should be updated as the food is eaten. Do not pour too much food at once, because birds often defecate while eating and this spoils some of the food.
Which animal loves raspberries?
In cartoons and children's fairy tales, we have often seen bears happily devouring raspberry jam. It's true - bears love raspberries. The reason is that for them the berry is an aperitif, which improves appetite, allows them to eat more and sweeten the dish.
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Scavengers
The black vulture is one of the largest birds of prey in the world and the largest in Russia. This is a rare, endangered species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation
Vultures, condors, and vultures have a very characteristic appearance.
A powerful beak allows them to tear pieces of meat from the carcasses of dead animals, and the lack of feathers on the head and neck is a tribute to hygiene, because these birds have to dig through half-decomposed entrails.
In search of prey, they soar high in the sky for hours, but as soon as one of the birds notices the carrion and dives down, its maneuver is immediately noticed by the neighbors, and in a matter of minutes, scavengers from all over the area gather for a feast.
Our forests are home to tens of thousands of birds of different sizes and colors, but all of them can be divided into several groups according to who eats what. And here we discover that there are not so many such groups. There are birds of prey that hunt other, smaller birds. These are eagles, kites, falcons. Or they catch rodents, like owls.
Other birds - and there are a lot of them in our forests - eat beetles, aphids, and caterpillars. These are very useful birds: they destroy harmful insects and thereby save green spaces from death.
The well-known woodpecker, for example, tirelessly pecks the bark of trees with its strong beak, then, thrusting its beak into the hole formed, with its sticky, jagged tongue, takes out the larvae of the bark beetle, woodcutter, golden borer and other insects.
People do not really approve of cuckoos; they consider them frivolous because they do not hatch their eggs, but throw them into other people’s nests.
But cuckoos also bring great benefits by eating hairy caterpillars, gypsy and pine silkworm caterpillars, nun butterflies, and moths. They even eat insects that other birds reject.
The little bird, the kinglet, also feeds on insects and in a day eats as much of them as it weighs, and for this it needs to eat 8-10 million insects.
It also exterminates insects from a large tribe of tits: blue tits, coal tits, and chickadees. They look for them on branches, leaves, and on the ground. Sometimes they even accompany the woodpecker and help it pull out insects from under the bark. But the swift swift finds insects high in the sky.
It would seem, what kind of insects could there be? And yet, over the summer he catches so many of them there that if you put them in one line, it would stretch for a whole kilometer.
A large group of birds that eat grains are called granivores.
They feed on plant foods: grains, berries, peel pine cones, and at the same time destroy the seeds of various weeds. These include goldfinches, hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse, and bullfinches.
There are omnivorous birds that eat everything they come across.
Perhaps the most famous of them is the sparrow, as well as crows.
Crocodile
Crocodiles (lat. Crocodilia) are large predatory reptiles that can easily eat any animal that comes close to the body of water in which they live. The exceptions are elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses, which due to their size have no natural enemies.
flickr/Johan Aucamp
However, crocodiles most often feed on fish, birds, small vertebrates, frogs and carrion. At one time, this reptile can swallow up to 23% of its own weight. Up to 60% of the food consumed by a crocodile turns into fat, which allows it to starve for a long time. It can survive without food from 1 to 1.5 years.
hummingbird bee
Bee hummingbird (lat. Mellisuga helenae) - the name of this bird speaks for itself.
flickr/picturesinmylife_yls
This baby (its weight is about 1.6 g), in order to survive, must eat all the time: per day it consumes about 2 grams of flower nectar, i.e. the amount of food consumed is slightly more than its own weight. Hovering over a flower, she makes 90 wing beats per second.
In which countries do people eat caterpillars?
Considering the nutritional value of larvae and their high protein content, it is not at all surprising that they are eaten not only by animals, but also by people.
In some countries, maggots are a traditional dish and are sold at every turn along with other street food. The most popular caterpillar dishes are in the following countries:
- China;
- India;
- Australia;
- Botswana;
- Taiwan;
- African countries.
Would you like to try caterpillars?
Give me two! No way!
Python
Pythons (lat. Pythonidae) are large non-venomous snakes (from 0.5 to 10 m) that swallow their prey whole and then digest it for weeks.
flickr/diverdewan15
Pythons feed on birds, monkeys, young leopards, reptiles, rodents, small ungulates, and domestic animals. In general, all those animals that he is capable of swallowing. There have been recorded cases of pythons attacking humans (for example, in Malaysia). They can live without food for up to 1.5 years.
Interestingly, only domestic animals can overeat, but this does not happen with wild animals. With the onset of a feeling of satiety, wild animals will never go in search of food; in extreme cases, they will hide it in reserve.
Moloch, or the prickly devil
Moloch, or the prickly devil (lat. Moloch horridus) is a small lizard (up to 22 cm in length) from the agamidae family.
flickr/Henry.Cook
This is an insectivorous reptile that feeds mainly on foraging ants (lat. Iridomyrmex flavipes). Moloch catches ants with the help of a sticky tongue: it is capable of eating approximately 20-60 ants in one minute. In a day he is able to eat several thousand ants, and in one meal - about 1000-1500 foragers.
Insects
They also have enemies among their relatives. Grasshoppers that live along swamps and meadows are prey to large predators such as the Chinese mantis. Garden centipedes also eat grasshoppers that hide in dandelions.
They are prey to many species of wasps and hornets. Large carnivorous beetles, spiders, dragonflies, field crickets and carpenter ants are also of great danger.
