Long time no post!

Hey folks! Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been away at college, with no time to photograph pics or post new animal facts. But I'm back! And hopefully you'll get some more posts in the future.

The Camel

The Camel is a "ruminant", or an animal that chews its cud. There are two kinds of camels, those that have one hump and those that have two. One-hump camels are called "Arabian camels" and are native to Africa, Saudi Arabia, and southwestern Asia. Camels with two humps--Bactrian camels--are native to central Asia. Both kinds have been domesticated. Arabian camels are adapted to hot climates, and Bactrian to cold.

Camel humps store fat which sustains the animals when food is scarce. They feed on vegetation and can go without water for up to three weeks.

 Camels have a gestation period of about 13 months, and usually bear one calf. Camels can live up to 40 years. They grow to seven feet in hight and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

Camels are often bad-tempered and have been known to spit, kick, and bite.

Source: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/camel-info.htm

This little piggie went to market.

This little piggie stayed home. Photo by me.

Everyone knows the rhyme (and if you don't, I feel sorry for you).

This little piggie went to market
This little piggie stayed home
This little piggie had roast beef
This little piggie had none
This little piggie went we we we all the way home

So.....Pigs!

Swine were one of the first animals to be domesticated, and the Chinese were the first to raise wild pigs for food. The Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto was the first person to introduce pigs to the Americas.

Male pigs are called boars and female pigs are called sows. Sows have litters of piglets twice a year, and the litters have about eight to twelve babies. Piglets are weaned when they are two to four weeks old. They are called "nursery pigs" until they reach 50 pounds, "growing/finishing" pigs from then 'till 240 pounds, and after that they are called "hogs".

Pigs have the reputation of being dirty, but they're actually one of the cleanest farm animals. They can't sweat, so they roll around in mud to cool off.

Pigs come in a multitude of colors, from pink to white to black to black and white. They have small eyes and poor eyesight, but pigs are pretty fast--they can run a seven minute mile. Wild hogs are strong and fierce and live in jungles and forests all around the world.

Source: http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/aitc/lessons/extras/facts/swine.html

Dog Breed of the Month: the Doberman Pinscher

 So sorry I haven't gotten to posting in awhile, it's just that I've been out of the country. 

One of the hotels that we were staying at has Doberman Pinschers: a mom named "Doobie" and her puppies. They're REALLY cute.

Doobie and one of her babies.

So... Doberman Pinschers. Here goes:

Dobermans are keen, energetic, and loyal. They have tremendous strength and stamina. Dobes do not do well chained up in a yard; they like to be with their people and they need human leadership and interaction. Owners of Dobes must be assertive, firm, and consistent. Dobes need to know their place in the pack.

Dobes are easy to train and very adaptable. They are natural watch dogs, and although they have the reputation of being aggressive, this is not the case. Issues arise when their owners treat them roughly; they are not aggressive by nature, and actually can make great therapy dogs.

Dobes are very energetic and need lots of exercise. They must be taken on a long, daily walk or run. They do okay in apartments if they are sufficiently exercised, but Dobes do best with a nice yard. They are very sensitive to the cold, though, so do not leave them outside.

Dobes need little grooming and are average shedders. They live about 13 years, and are subject to some health issues.

Source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doberman.htm

The Sand Cat

During our trip to the zoo, we saw sand cats. And they are A. Dore. Able! They also were constantly moving, so the only in-focus picture I could get was of the back of its head. But here are some better pics.

The sand cat ranges from northern Africa through the Arabian Peninsula and into central and southwest Asia. They live in sandy and stony deserts with little vegetation.

Sand cats eat hares, reptiles, birds, rodents, and pretty much any small animal that resides in the desert. Since there is very little water in the desert, sand cats obtain moisture from their prey. They hunt alone at night, and shelter by day in a burrow or under a rock.

Sand cats have about three kittens after a gestation period of about 66 days. The babies reach maturity by about 14 months of age.


Source: http://www.arkive.org/sand-cat/felis-margarita/#text=Biology

The Scarlet Macaw

The scarlet macaw is a type of parrot; they are very intelligent and quite the talkers. (Polly want a cracker?) Macaws are often kept as pets.

Macaws eat nuts, berries, and fruits. In captivity, they will also eat corn, fresh vegetables, dark leafy greens and cooked root vegetables.

Scarlet macaws are native to Central and South America. They nest in tall deciduous or evergreen forests.

Scarlet macaws mate for life and are very dedicated parents. They care for their young until the chicks reach maturity. During the day, the pairs of macaws are rarely seen apart. At night, they roost in large groups for protection from predators.

Macaws are some of the most beautiful birds found in South and Central America, but its beauty has also led to its decline. poachers, traders, and habitat destruction have caused the macaw population to dwindle. They are endangered, and many governments have taken steps to protect them.


sources: http://www.avesint.com/ScarletM.html
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flora-fauna/bird/scarlet-macaw
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/students/archives/2005/03/macaws.html

animal groups!

We all (mostly) know that there is a pack of dogs, a herd of horses, a flock of sheep, etc.
But DID YOU KNOW:

A group of alligators is called a congregation
A group of butterflies is called a flutter
A group of cats is called a glaring
A group of cockroaches is called an intrusion
A group of crows is called a murder
A group of ferrets is called a business
A group of goldfish is called a troubling
A group of hippos is called a bloat (ha!)
A group of owls is called a parliament
A group of pheasants is called a bouquet
A group of porcupines is called a prickle
A group of storks is called a mustering
A group of tigers is called an ambush
A group of turkeys is called a rafter
A group of wombats is called a wisdom


Note: Some of these animal groups have more than one name.

Source: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/got_questions_groups_list.html

Happy Valentine's Day!

For Valentine's Day this year, we're gonna look at some interesting facts about the hearts of animals. (Yes, I know it's kinda nerdy.)

Did you know:
~Octopuses have three hearts~
~The hearts of pythons beat faster at mealtime~
~The heart of the blue whale is as big as a car~
~The smaller the animal, the larger the heart rate~
~A zebrafish can regenerate its heart~
~A manatee's heart rate slows down by half during a long dive~


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!


sources: http://blog.nwf.org/2008/02/10-animal-heart-facts-for-valentines-day/
http://www.cardio-research.com/quick-facts/animals

Dog Breed of the Month: The Border Collie

The border collie is an intelligent, hard-working dog. They thrive on praise, and are the leading competitors in agility, herding, and obedience. Borders are very energetic and have good stamina.

My dog Dutchess is a border mix. This is a picture of her. Here are some pics of pure bred borders (who are cute, but not even close to being as cute as my Dutchy)

Border collies are good with childeren provided they get enough exercise. They need consistant leadership, daily romps, and a job to keep them occupied. They wouldn't be very good for apartment life. They live about 12-15 years and have an average of 4-8 puppies per litter.


Source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bordercollie.htm

Ring Tailed Lemur

The only place ring-tailed lemurs are found in the wild is Madagascar, specifically the southwestern regions. They live in arid, open areas and forests. Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups of three to twenty five. These lemur groups have territories that range from 15 to 57 acres. Lemur groups can be hostile to each other at the borders of their territories.

Both females and males live together in the groups. Females will generally stay in their birth group, while males will find a different one when they grow up. Like gibbons, female ring-tailed lemurs are the dominant ones in a group, which is unusual with primates.

A unique thing that ring-tailed lemurs do on a regular basis is sunbathing. The forest can get cold at night, so groups of lemurs will sit with their bellies facing the sun to warm up before they forage.

Ring-tailed lemurs mainly eat insects, flowers, and leaves; though they can also eat fruit, herbs, and small animals.

The gestation period for ring-tailed lemurs is four and a half months. Usually, only one baby is born, but when food is plentiful twins can come. Baby ring-tails eat solid food after a week. They are completely weaned at about five or six months.


The photo was taken by me at the Syracuse Zoo. More zoo animals a-coming!
Info source: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/Facts/FactSheets/Lemurs/RingtailedLemur/default.cfm