Creature 335: Myzopoda

Myzopoda are a genus of bats commonly known as old-world sucker foot bats.

Like the South American sucker foot bats they have tiny suction pads on their wrists and ankles which enables them to latch onto objects, even smooth surfaces. However they are so distantly related from any other bats in that they have been given their own family. They are the most basal genus in their subfamily Noctilionoidea.

Distribution:
The genus only exists in Madagascar, but fossil evidence indicates they once existed in Africa.

Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Myzopodidae
Genus: Myzopoda

Image Links:
http://www.supremelists.com/top-10-weird-looking-creatures
http://bats.mampam.com/madagascar/images/myzopoda/pages/36_jpg.htm

Creature 334: Ixodes holocyclus

A scary tick

Ixodes holocyclus is commonly known as the paralysis tick.

Paralysis ticks will usually not usually cause serious side effects in humans, but on occasion the neurotoxin they produce can cause serious symptoms which are similar to anaphylaxis. It can also cause muscle weakness, which if the tick is not removed will eventually progress to full blown paralysis. In extreame cases the tick can kill its host.

Distribution:
Paralysis ticks can be found along the east coast of Australia between the ocean and the great dividing range.

Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Acari
Family: Ixodidae
Genus: Ixodes
Species: Ixodes holocyclus

Image Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixodes_holocyclus

Creature 333: Coleodactylus

Tiny floating Gecko

Chatogekko amazonicus is known as the Brazilian pygmy Gecko formerly in the genus Coleodactylus.

They only grow to around 24mm in size. This little lizard has strongly hydrophobic skin which enables it to walk on water indefinitely. They can even rest on water without falling in, but a well aimed raindrop can break the water's surface tension and cause the lizard to fall in.

Dustribution:
The Brazilian pygmy gexko is native to the Amazon rainforest.

Classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Chatogekko
Species: Chatogekko amazonicus

Image Links:

http://www.herpetofauna.com.br/LagartosBrasil.htm