BIOSYSTEMATICS:

ANIMAL
CLASSIFICATION
By: Rafael Angelo Hernandez | STEM 201
Common name:
Snow Fox
Scientific name:
Vulpes lagopus
Family name:
Canidae
Description:
Arctic foxes came from the fox-like tribe of Vulpini and
the genus of Vulpes (colloquially called true foxes) that
are known for their smaller size (5–11 kg), bushier tail,
and flatter skull within the Canidae family. Their
beautiful coats act as camouflage that allows them to
blend in snow and ice, helping them hunt rodents, birds,
and fishes. Their feet also have thick furs that reduce
the sound of their footsteps, making it harder for their
prey to hear them approaching. Because the
environment where Arctic foxes live has extreme cold
climates, they have dense, multi-layered fur that
provides one of the best protection against cold out of
all mammals. They also utilize their tail as a cover to
keep themselves warm. Additionally, due to their low
surface area to volume ratio, Artic foxes conserve more
heat in their body.
Common name:
Water Deer
Scientific name:
Hydropotes inermis
Family name:
Cervidae
Description:
Water deers came from the subfamily of Capreolinae
(The New World Deer) that maintain their distal lateral
metacarpals. They have their genus because they have
unique anatomical peculiarities compared to other
species in the family of Cervidae. The scientific name of
water deer was derived from húdōr and inermis, which
means “water” and “unarmed or defenseless.” “Water”
because they are mainly found in marshy habitats and
“unarmed” because of their lack of antlers. However,
instead of antlers, they have large upper canine teeth
that, in effect, are long, slightly curved tusks that
protrude like fangs out of their mouths. These fangs
helped them get the colloquial name of “Vampire Deer”
in English speaking areas. Additionally, this species has
a unique pair of inguinal glands, small preorbital glands,
and interdigital glands on the hind legs.
Common name:
Nihon momonga
Scientific name:
Pteromys momonga
Family name:
Sciuridae
Description:
Nihon momonga came from the tribe of Pteromyini
that can glide from one tree to another with the aid
of a patagium, a furred parachute-like skin
membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle. They
are small similar to most species in the Sciuridae
family, with a body length of just 4–20 cm long and
a tail length of 10–14 cm. Nihon momongas have
large eyes and flattened tails. They are endemic to
the islands of Honshu and Kyushu of Japan and are
mainly arboreal, rarely descending to the ground.
Additionally, they are nocturnal as they hide in holes
in trees, often in groups during the day, and at night,
they come out to feed on buds, leaves, bark, and
seeds.
Common name:
Axolotl
Scientific name:
Ambystoma mexicanum
Family name:
Ambystomatidae
Description:
Axolotls came from the genus of Ambystoma or the
Advanced Salamanders endemic to North America that
has wide, protruding eyes, prominent costal grooves,
and thick arms. They are often mistaken for fish with
legs, but actually, they are amphibians. But, unlike other
amphibians, they do not undergo metamorphosis;
therefore, adult axolotls remain aquatic and gilled. They
are highly sought as pets because of their grotesque
appearance, similar to a combined fully-formed
salamander and tadpole. However, their most defining
feature is their gills that, unlike ordinary fishes, are
located on the protruding crown-like appendages that
branch out from their head. Axolotls are also sought by
scientific researchers, especially in the medical field,
because of the regenerative properties of their limbs,
gills, eyes, and brains.
Common name:
Gerenuk
Scientific name:
Litocranius walleri
Family name:
Bovidae
Description:
Gerenuk came from the tribe of Antilopini, which
consists of medium-sized gazelles and dwarf
antelope species that have smooth and glossy tan
and white coats, having the ability to reach top
speeds of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and jump/turn
sharply. In the Somali language, “Gerenuk” means
“Giraffe Necked,” probably because of their long
neck that differentiates them from other species in
the Antilopinae subfamily. They also have small
heads compared to their body size; however, their
eyes and ears are quite large. Additionally, like many
gazelles, they have preorbital glands in front of the
eyes that emit a tar-like, scent-bearing substance
they deposit on twigs and bushes to mark their
territory.
 Photo
References:
https://newgreenwallpaper.blogspot.com/2020/07/18-arctic-winter-
wallpaper.html
https://www.pinterest.pt/pin/313211349056699888/
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/500744052292937145/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fenwalker/6215119708/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AbsoluteUnits/comments/aqyc6v/japanese_m
omonga_squirrel/
https://www.pinterest.ph/jasnaandonovska/_-ezo-momonga-_/
https://www.bwallpaperhd.com/axolotl.html
https://wall.alphacoders.com/by_sub_category.php?
id=229826&name=Axolotl+Wallpapers
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/male-gerenuk-litocranius-walleri-
panoramic-images.html
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/gerenuc-litocranius-walleri-africa-oriental-
grcil-gacela-de-cuello-excepcionalmente-largo--373517362821726005/
 Content
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_fox#Adaptations References:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/arctic-fox
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/arctic-fox
https://animalia.bio/water-deer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_deer
https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-
and-maps/chinese-water-deer-hydropotinae
http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hydropotinae.html
https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-facts
https://animalia.bio/japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel
https://parody.fandom.com/wiki/Japanese_Dwarf_Flying_Squirrel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dwarf_flying_squirrel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl#Habitat_and_ecology
http://www.axolotl.org/
https://www.aquariumsource.com/axolotl/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerenuk
https://animalcorner.org/animals/gerenuk/
https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/gerenuk