scarlet dragons

 Often mistaken for the leopard, the  jaguar is a beautifully spotted cat with a more massive and powerful build and noticeably larger head. The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. Adults can grow up to three feet in height and four feet in body length. The tail can reach up to 30 inches. Adult females can weigh up to 200 lb and males can weigh up to 250 lb. Their fur is tan in color with black rings and dots, and jaguars with completely black coats are not uncommon.

The jaguar is mainly a forest dweller and seems to prefer lowland rain forest for its habitat. It can also thrive in dry woodland and grassland, and it is rarely found in areas above 8000 feet. The jaguar prefers to hunt on the ground and eats deer and small mammals such as peccaries and otters. Also, jaguars are excellent swimmers and can thrive eating fish and other marine reptiles and amphibians. Mating can occur year-round, and the female gives birth to one to four cubs after a gestation period of 95 to 105 days. The young depend on their mother for about two years.

Jaguar populations once spanned from the southern United States down to the tip of South America, but today populations center on the north and central parts of South America. Estimating jaguar numbers is difficult, due to the inaccessibility of much of the species' range. Populations have declined mainly due to hunting for its beautiful coat in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, habitat loss due to the clearing of forest is the main threat, and some poaching still occurs. Jaguars also kill domestic animals and are killed by farmers who consider them a nuisance. The jaguar is now fully protected throughout most of its range, and hunting is prohibited in several countries. The species also occurs in several protected areas of its range.

The rainbow parrotfish is a large fish found in the western Atlantic ocean, from Florida, Bermuda and the Bahamas to Argentina. Males grow up to 3.94 feet long. As their name suggests, rainbow parrotfish are attractively colored with deep green bodies, orange fins, and streaks of green extending outward toward the back and tail. Males are more brightly colored than females but only when fully grown. Because of their unusual mouthparts, they are called parrotfish. The teeth are fused, forming a tough parrot-like beak. The beak is used to scrape algae and other organic matter from the surface of coral.

Rainbow parrotfish can be found on coral reefs as deep as 25 meters, and at night they hide in crevices. They are very social and have been observed in schools of around 40 individuals. The schools graze over the reef much like a herd of cattle over a grassy field. Large amount of calcareous materials are consumed by the schools, and in just one year, one parrotfish can convert a ton of coral into sand. One adult male (called the "supermale") often leads these schools. Parrotfish are able to change sex. That is females if needed may become males in order to reproduce. The supermales are typically sex-reversed females and are strongly territorial, habitually driving other males from their areas. Juveniles have been observed in mangroves adjacent to the reef. These mangroves act as important nursery areas and also provide food-rich, predator free safe-havens for the growing young.

This creature is considered vulnerable due to loss of its mangrove nursery habitat. Since the young parrotfish depend on the nurseries, removal of the mangroves has resulted in decline. Other threats include pollution, over-fishing, and coastal development. To preserve the species, a number of reef have been established as reserves (where fishing and other human pressures are prevented).

Little is known about these nocturnal cats, although they are thought to have only one kitten.

Subspecies
P.a.celidogaster, P.a.aurata

Life span
African golden cats can live for 15 years in captivity.

Statistics
Body length: 61-100cm, Tail length: 16-46cm, Shoulder height: 38-55cm, Weight: male: 11-14kg. The only recorded weight of a female was 6.2kg.

Physical description
There is considerable variation of the coloration and patterning of the African golden cats coat. It ranges from chestnut brown to silver-grey or totally black. Some individuals have spots all over the body whereas others have spots just on their white belly. They are strongly built with a small head and small ears. The tail is tapered at the tip.

Distribution
These cats range from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya in Africa.

Habitat
African golden cats live in moist forest and dense scrubland. 

Diet
An analysis of their scats (faeces) indicate that they mostly feed on rodents, but also take small antelopes, primates (probably injured) and birds.

Behaviour
African golden cats are nocturnal and solitary. They are mainly terrestrial but climb well and spend most of their time in trees. Prey is taken by stalking and rushing.

Reproduction
They are thought to have only one kitten, but little else about their reproductive biology is known.