User:Amandageorgiagomes/Choose an Article

Article Selection
Please list articles that you're considering for your Wikipedia assignment below. Begin to critique these articles and find relevant sources.

Option 1

 * Hyrax
 * The article does not include information about the types of predators that threaten the hyrax. Which include leopards, lions, pythons and large birds. The article also does not include information about the lifespan of the hyrax which is up to twelve years with an average life span of eight and a half years. Another element missing from the article is how the hyrax is currently being threatened by human beings and how human behaviour is directly impacting these organisms. There is also a lack of information in the article about the breeding habits of this creature, information such as the development process of the hyrax is missing. Hyraxes have a extremely long gestation period for their size so when offspring are born they are fully developed. Information about the eating habits and behaviour of hyraxes would also be useful to include. Due to the fact that hyraxes even when eating have to be on the constant look out for predators and communicate with alarm signals when threatened. Other information that is lacking in the wikipedia article is details about the morphology of the hyrax. Such as the specialized muscles that hyraxes have in their feet that allow it to function almost in a suction cup like fashion when walking. Lastly information about the diet of this species is missing such as the type of plants they eat because they are herbivores which include grasses and bark.
 * Sources
 * https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/hyrax
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hyracoidea/
 * https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/hyrax
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hyracoidea/

Option 2

 * Hispaniolan Solenodon
 * The article has a great base line for information. Although the addition of extra information would be useful. Some information that is lacking in the wikipedia article is the delivery method that the Hispaniolan solenodon utilizes when using their venomous saliva. The Hispaniolan solenodon injects poisonous saliva into predators through a groove found in the incisors. Additional information such as the negative impact the introduction of wild dogs, cats and mongoose had on the species would be useful to include due to the fact these organisms were introduced through European colonization. The article also lacks information on how habitat degradation that has been caused by humans has directly affected the Hispaniolan solenodon. Lastly by including the ranking for the international union for conservation of nature, it will provide information on how close the species is to becoming extinct. Additional information on the reproduction of the Hispaniolan Solenodon such as the the nests females construct to nurse their young and irregular estrus period females poses could be included to better the article.
 * Sources
 * http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/hispaniolan-solenodon/
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Solenodon_paradoxus/
 * http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/hispaniolan-solenodon/
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Solenodon_paradoxus/

Option 3

 * Yellow mongoose
 * Article Evaluation
 * The article is lacking some information in regard to how humans impact the yellow mongoose. The yellow mongoose is a carrier of rabies and thus many individuals in Africa view the species as a dangerous pest that threatens livestock as well as themselves due to the threat of acquiring rabies from the mongoose. Some humans have attempted to remove the species by sealing the burrows that yellow mongooses live in and filling burrows with gas such as carbon monoxide to kill the species. It would also be useful to include the ranking for the international union for conservation of nature to let reader know if the species is threatened and in this case there is not a threat of extinction. Additional information  that would have been useful is details in regard to the morphology of the yellow mongoose. Such as how the species has four digits on its hind feet and on the front feet there are five digits. Lastly the yellow mongoose exhibits behaviours/ uses tactics to help it when hunting, a unique tactic used by this species is it throws bird eggs at a rock or other hard surface in order to eat the egg.
 * Sources
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynictis_penicillata/
 * https://www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-week/yellow-mongoose/
 * https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynictis_penicillata/
 * https://www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-week/yellow-mongoose/

Option 4

 * Article title
 * Article Evaluation
 * Sources
 * Sources
 * Sources

Option 5

 * Article title
 * Article Evaluation
 * Sources
 * Sources
 * Sources