Trivia question for May-09-2011

Carter picked another obscure mammal for his trivia.  Lets see how you do with this one.  These are one of the least studied endangered species.  No one knows for sure how many are in the wild and there are only a reported 110 in captivity.

These guys are similar in appearance to a deer, weighing 150–300 kg (330–660 lb).  It is most closely allied to the larger Asiatic buffaloes, showing the same reversal of the direction of the hair on the back. The horns are peculiar for their upright direction and comparative straightness, although they have the same triangular section as in other buffaloes. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes, and there may be white markings on the legs and back; and the absence or presence of these white markings may be indicative of distinct races. The horns of the cows are very small.

So here are Carter’s questions:  Tell us what this animal is and where it can be found in the wild.  Also tell us what is odd about their digestive system (how many chambers do they have)?

Good luck 😉

Answer:

Carter did good with his Trivia again, he had two folks guess the species but no one knew the answers to all his question.  The animal we featured is the Lowland Anoa.  Anoa, or Dwarf Buffalo, are two species native to Indonesia: the Mountain Anoa and the Lowland Anoa. Both live in undisturbed rainforest, and are essentially miniature water buffalo.

As for their digestive system, these guys actually have four separate chambers.  Vegetation is turned to cud in the first two chambers and then re-swallowed for a final digestion by the other two chambers.  Both species of anoa have been classified as endangered since the 1960s and the population continues to decrease. It is believed unlikely that there are more than 5000 animals of each species remaining. Reasons for the decline of the anoa include hunting for hide, horns and meat by the local peoples and loss of habitat due to the advancement of settlement. Currently, hunting is the more serious factor in most areas.  Here is more on these feisty mini wild buffalo:  Lowland Anoa

Thanks for playing along 😉