But at the mouth of the mighty Amazon River in Brazil an extensive reef system was recently discovered 120km off shore. The Amazon River is just massive and runs so full of sediment the water is brown and diving in it is described as pretty pointless due to near zero visibility, like swimming in a stew. However, it is here where the mighty river flows out to sea that the discovery has been made. "We found a reef where the textbooks said there shouldn't be one" says study co-author Fabiano Thompson of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Whilst our own Great Barrier Reef is dying according to many experts as it 'blooms', it seems that this new reef teems with life. Amongst the new species discovered in Brazil are 61 sponges, new corals, sea fans and more yet to be named specimens.

Spiders can fly – many species disperse from where they hatch or escape flooding by a process called ballooning - the spider releases a string of silk and as it catches in the breeze they let go and are carried by the wind.

Spiders have been found 2.8km up in the sky and often ‘mysteriously' land on ships well out at sea. Interestingly spiders are also one of the first colonisers of new land created by volcanic actions. They literally drop in on the cooled lava.

However, back in Tasmania as pictured the spiders have been escaping from the recent floods. Quite an amazing spectacle to observe – but not fun for anyone arachnaphobic.

Zygodactylous arrangement. Like a split foot, enabling a very firm grip around a branch.

Webbed to aid swimming - pictured duckling and swan feet

Foot with talons. Punch with one foot and grip hard with the other.

Microscopic hair like structures and sticky pads help some frogs grip and climb even up glass. The structures both grip and expel moisture at the same time.

Two hairy toes covered with thick nails to keep warm on chilly South American mountainsides.

Dogs have sweat glands between their footpads and leave wet prints when hot or excited.

Largest and heaviest feet of any living creature. Having 4 nails on the front foot and 3 on the rear, weighing in at around 3 tons they still basically walk on tiptoe. They also step silently as the sound of the footstep is contained in the centre of the pad and absorbed by soft tissue.

A kind of foot on some gastropods. Gastropod means stomach foot.

JUST $120 inc postage Australia wide (usually $165 ex post).

Phone 08 9243 3044 to order or view at our online shop

The temple is a major tourist attraction 3 hours north of Bangkok. Despite years of allegations regarding animal cruelty, sensitivity surrounding raiding a religious shrine (Buddhist) has probably caused delays in the long overdue move by the government.

Over the years numerous other endangered wildlife species have been removed from the temple by federal wildlife officers including 2 Asiatic golden jackals, 2 Malayan porcupines, 2 black bears and 38 rare hornbills and others birds.

The tragic latest news is that nearby police have also discovered a slaughterhouse where the tigers have been carved up for skin and the exotic meat restaurant trade. Sick beyond belief really.

My own very limited experience with tigers is that after about 12 weeks of age they are not tame in any way unless drugged or malnourished and beyond a few weeks of age are totally unsuited to the tourism "photo opportunity" trade.

Feral cats are the same species as domestic cats but live and reproduce in the wild surviving by hunting and scavenging. They are probably our most famous feral species, and we have a few: dogs, rabbits, camels, bees, foxes, goats, carp and toads to name a few. Feral cats are responsible for the extinction of many ground dwelling birds and small to medium sized mammals. They are also the major cause of decline in many hundreds of other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

All cats including both domestic pets and ferals are opportunistic predators and kill pretty much whenever they can. Cats can weigh in at 4kg for an average adult and 300gms of fresh food are required daily. Cats do not need to drink water. They may be active anytime during day or night but are mostly crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).

Studies show that a feral cat kills between 5-30 animals per day, every day. Great vision including night vision and excellent hearing (they can hear bats) and sense of smell, assist this super predator. All their senses are far superior to humans.

Lifespan is 12 to 15 years, with a record of 38 years. Cats sleep between 12 and 16 hours per day! Cats can breed from around 1 year of age and may produce two litters of up to 4 kittens per year.

If you own a cat please act responsibly:

Responsible cats ownership means a cat should never be allowed to roam outdoors, or only in cat enclosures. All cats should be de-sexed, licensed, micro chipped and wear a collar. I used to keep them and work with them in the UK. I like cats but I think (personal opinion) that an outright ban on ownership should be gradually introduced into Australia at the same time allowing people to keep native mammals so the small mammal industry, companion pet keepers, breeders, vets, food and accessories suppliers all remain employed.

What do you think?