The Zebra

Zebras live in areas of Africa. They are social animals and live in herds. The plains zebras especially live in tight family groups.

Zebras are herbivores and eat mainly grass, but bark, leaves, and twigs make up their diet too.

Zebras can fall prey to lions, hyenas, and other African predators. Some Zebra species are endangered and protected, however, so humans aren't as much of a threat to them.

Zebra foals are born after a gestation period of a little more than a year. Usually, only one baby is born, but sometimes twins are, too. Foals can stand about 10 minutes after being born. They are weaned at 11 months

Every zebra has a unique stripe pattern. Just like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two zebras have the same stripes.




sources: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-do-zebras-eat.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/mammals/zebra/
http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/zebra-information.html

The Elephant

Elephants are the largest land mammals, living in areas of Africa and Asia.

Elephants eat vegetation like grass, roots, bamboo, leaves, and bark. Adults can eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.

1 calf is born after a gestation period of 22 months. Twins are rare. Elephant family bonds are strong, and a group of females lives in a group called a herd.

The herd is led my the oldest female, who is called a matriarch. Herds can have 8-100 elephants at once. Calves are protected by the whole herd, and male calves leave the family at 12-15 years of age.

Elephants have a good memory. it is this memory that allows matriarchs to guide the herd to water holes and feeding grounds.

Elephants have no bones in their trunks, just muscle that lets them pick up things with great dexterity.



sources: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/elephant-herds.htm
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/elephant.php

The Hippopotamus

My sister went to Zambia this summer on a missions trip. Below is a fabulous picture of a hippopotamus that one of the teammates, Emily, took.

There are two types of hippos, both found in Africa. The Large Hippo is very aggressive, and numerous fights break out among hippos. The large hippo is found in East Africa, and the much smaller Pygmy Hippo lives in the west.

Hippos are herbivores, and they emerge from the water to graze for long hours on grass.

A single baby hippo is born after a gestation period of 8 months. Female hippos baby-sit each others young, as well as caring for their own.



sources: http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/enghippo.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=2&bestemming_id=1
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/artiodactyla/hippopotamus.htm

The Dolphin

Dolphins are mammals that live underwater. There are at least 41 diffrent species of dolphins, including the bottlenose dolphin, the atlantic white, and the spinner dolphin.

Baby dolphins, called calves, are born tail-first. They are one of the only mammals to do this regularly. Dolphins have one baby at a time, and occasionally twins. the gestation period is about 11 months. When a dolphin is having a baby, another dolphin will help, acting as a midwife. Babies are born underwater, and the mother pushes the baby up when it is born, to help it get it's first breath.

Dolphins eat fish, squids, and crustaceans like shrimp. They eat 5% of their body weight daily, and they swallow food whole, without bothering to chew.

Dolphins breath through a blowhole on top of their heads. This hole extends to their lungs. The area around the blowhole is the only place on a dolphin's body that there is hair, even though a dolphin is a mammal. The rest of the body is covered in blubber, which keeps a dolphin warm.





sources: http://www.dolphins-world.com/
http://www.acpathope.org/student%20sites%202009/Dolphin%20LRF/Unnamed%20Site%2012/reproduction.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002260F/DolphinsFood.htm

Rabbit babies

So, for a long time our family kept pet rabbits. We had fourteen at one time and grew to learn a lot about them.

Mitchell, a white lop, was a gift to my sister. She had him for a number of years, and then we decided to breed him. So our friends gave us a female named Sherwood, and the two of them had kits.
So for about a week, all was well. Then Sherwood had more babies. Now, the gestation period for a rabbit is about a month, and Sherwood would not have had time to become pregnant again and have her new litter in the short period of time she did.

That is how we learned one very interesting aspect of rabbits: they can become pregnant while pregnant! What I mean is, rabbits can carry two litters at once inside of them.
And that, readers, is how our family had fourteen rabbits at once.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many rabbits in the world? Well that's why.

Of course, where we live there are wild rabbits, too

If you ever find a nest of wild baby bunnies, leave it alone! mother rabbits only nurse their young a few times a day, and they don't stay with the nest either. They are nearby, but in order to not attract predators to their nest, mother rabbits only come to the nest for short periods of time.
If you happen to find a nest of bunnies, don't disturb it. Watch for a few days. If the kits cry, or are skinny and sickly, then the mother is either dead or not taking care of them. If that is the case, then you can help the kits. But only then! Chances are, the mother is nearby. And you don't want to take kits from their mom.

Rabbits have 4-12 babies, and are weaned at 4-6 weeks of age.

Bird Week at FFPandC day seven!!

Well, it's the last day of Bird Week at FFPandC. Time to wrap up all we learned with our feathered friends.

Day one was the cormorant.
Lives: near water
Nests: in trees, cliffs, or on the ground
Number of eggs: 2-4
Eats: fish
Fast fact: they have no natural waterproofing

Day two was the lovebird
Lives: as pets throughout the US
Nests: in people's houses
Number of eggs: 4-6
Eats: fruit, pastas, corn, birdseed
Fast fact: lovebirds are very territorial except with their mates

Day three was the tern
Lives: very migratory, so home base changes
Nests: in trees or on the ground
Number of eggs: no reported. :'(
Eats: fish and insects
Fast fact: they can go over 14,000 miles in one migratory journey

Day four was the Osprey
Lives: in watery areas
Nests: in trees, cliffs, or man-made structures
Number of eggs: 2-4
Eats: fish
Fast fact: osprey nests can get to be huge

Day five was the seagull
Lives: near water
Nests: on the ground, on a tree, on a cliff, or on a house
Number of eggs: 2-3
Eats: sea life such as fish and crabs
Fast fact: can be nasty in behavior

And day six was the great blue heron
Lives: near water
Nests: in trees or shrubs
Number of eggs: 2-7
Eats: fish, mice, and other small animals
Fast fact: an all-white version can be found, but they are actually the same species.


And that about wraps up bird week.

Bird Week at FFPandC day six: the great blue heron

Bird week day six! The blue heron.


Found along the ocean shore, and in and around ponds and rivers, the great blue heron is the largest among North American herons. it has a wingspan of around six feet!

Fish and mice make up most of their diet, along with insects and other small animals. Great blues are known to be awesome fishers. They stand in the water, and wait until prey comes near, then they snap out with their beaks. Though herons have choked to death from eating a fish too big.

Herons nest in trees or shrubs, and have two to seven eggs at a time. Both parents incubate these eggs, and protect them. Chicks can be on their own at two months of age.

An all-white version of the great blue can be found, and it is called the great white heron. But they are actually the same species.



source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/great-blue-heron/

Bird Week at FFPandC day five: the seagull

Bird week day five! The seagull.


Seagulls live near water, and often near humans, too. Gulls' main diet is fish and other sea life like crabs, mollusks, and clams. But they will eat just about anything, from berries to carrion to "people food".

They generally nest in flocks, and have only one mate that they stay with year after year. They build nests out of shallow scrapes on the ground lines with vegetation. Some species of seagulls nest around human dwellings. Cliffs and trees can also sport a gull nest.

Two are three eggs are layed, and incubated for three to five weeks by both parents, who take turns sitting on them. Chicks fledge at three to seven weeks.

Gulls can be generally nasty in behavior, sometimes stealing eggs (which they eat) or chicks (Which they adopt. Or eat.) from each other. They can be pests to humans, too; stealing food, and generally making a nuisance of themselves.

But seagulls are beautiful birds, and no seashore would be complete without one.


source: http://www.suite101.com/content/all-about-seagullsgulls-and-kittiwakes-a124159

Bird Week at FFPandC day four: the osprey

Bird week day four! The osprey


Ospreys live throughout the world, in watery spots like marshes, rivers, and seas. Their diet is pretty much exclusively fish, which they dive for from up to 120 feet. but when fish is not available, ospreys will eat lizards or small mammals.

Osprey nests are made of sticks and put on all sorts of things, like trees, cliffs, and man-made structures; so long as it's near water. These nests are re-used year after year, and sticks are added to them. Nests can get to be huge: more than seven feet across and five feet deep.

A clutch of 2-4 eggs are layed at one time, and incubated over a period of 35-40 days. Chicks mature at 3 years of age.



source: http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=96

Bird Week at FFPandC day three: the Tern

Bird week day three! And today: the tern



Miedium-sized birds, the tern is a very migratory species. There are different types of terns, from the Least Tern to the Caspian Tern to the Elegant Tern, to name a few. They all migrate, but the Arctic Tern makes the longest journeys ever recorded for a bird, from the Arctic to the far south, up to of 14,000 miles!

Terns eat mostly fish, diving into the water and coming up with a meal. But some terns peck insects off the water instead. Though they have webbed feet, terns rarely swim; they prefer to fly.

Terns nest in closely packed colonies (the White Tern is an exception). Their nests consist of different things, depending on their habitat. Tern nests can consist of unlined scrapes on the ground, or flimsy piles of sticks in trees.



source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tern

Bird Week at FFPandC day two: the lovebird

Happy Valentine's Day! Since it's Bird Week at FFPandC, and Valentine's day, today's feature birdy is (drum roll please) the lovebird! However, I don't have a photograph of a lovebird, so I drew one on my laptop (using the Paint program on a PC). To view a real photo of a lovebird, click here

Lovebirds originated in Africa. They are usually kept as pets, however there are numerous feral (or wild) populations throughout the US.

A healthy diet for a lovebird would be pelleted or seed food, supplemented with fruit, veggies, pastas, and lentils. Lovebirds also love corn.

Lovebirds have a clutch of 4-6 eggs at a time. Chicks hatch 21-26 days after the eggs are layed.

Lovebirds are rather territorial. They do not like other animals except their own species. As such, pet lovebirds should be kept apart from other pets, except that of their own kind. They are very affectionate toward their chosen mate, however, thus giving them their name: the lovebird.




Sources: http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/lbfaq.htm#Breed
http://www.avianweb.com/lovebirdinfo.htm

Bird Week at FFPandC day one: the cormorant

This week, we'll feature birds. Gulls, pelicans, etc. And today: the cormorant.



Cormorants are fisheaters. As such, they are found pretty much wherever there is sea and shore.

Cormorants nest in trees, on the ground, or in rocky areas like cliffs. Their eggs are a chalky blue color, and they typically have 2-4 at a time. Usually, only one brood is born per year.

One very interesting aspect of the cormorant is that it does not have natural waterproofing for it's wings. The bird pictured here is drying it's wings after being in water by spreading them out.



http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/cormorants.html
http://www.thewonderofbirds.com/cormorant/

The American Alligator

There are two types of Alligators, the Chinese Alligator, and the American Alligator. The latter will be discussed here.

American Alligators are found in the southeast of the US. They live in watery climates like ponds, rivers, and marshes.

Alligators eat all sorts of animals, like birds, fish, turtles, and mammals, but to name a few. Hatchlings eat invertebrates, then slowly progress into the adult diet.

Alligators have 20-60 eggs, which are put in a nest made of grass and twigs. As the vegetation in the nest decays, it gives off heat which incubates the eggs. Though not all eggs hatch, due to predators and weather. Alligators live about 30-40 years in the wild, and longer in captivity.

You may have heard alligator and crocodile used interchangeably. But they are not the same. Alligators have a broad, wide snout, while a croc's is narrower. Also, crocodiles' teeth are still visible while their mouths are closed, but a gator's is not visible.

Did you know: Alligators do not have vocal chords. They can hiss, growl, and bellow; but they do not acctually have vocal chords.



sources: http://www.essortment.com/alligator-information-27452.html
http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/wildlife/alligators.html

The Manatee

Manatees are large aquatic mammals that are endangered. They are gentle herbivores, and consume 10-15% of their body weight daily.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Blue Springs State Park in Florida, where there is a hot spring. manatees love warm water, so they flock there during winter. Florida has an extremely large manatee population.

Manatees have a calf every 2-5 years or so. The gestation period (The time a baby is in the mom's belly) is about a year. Baby manatees nurse for 1-2 years.



sources: http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

Traveling

My family and I will be traveling for a few days, so till thursday-ish there will be no new posts. (sorry)
But after that, I will continue to post stuff. Stay tuned!

Pages!!!

Be sure to check out the two new stand-alone pages at the top of my home page.
Dutchess the Dog is about my border collie mix, and About Me is, well, about me.
Enjoy!

The Armadillo

Armadillos are mammals that live mainly in Latin America, though the nine-banded armadillo (pictured here) does live in the US. Armadillos typically have litters of 1-8.

As their name implies, armadillos have "armor": little bony plates that cover most of their body. These are used for protection. they are one of the only mammals to wear such shells.

The three-banded armadillo is the only one who can encase itself in it's shell like a hedgehog when threatened.

Armadillos live in warm climates like rain forests and grasslands. They live in burrows that they dig, and armadillos sleep for a good long time each day (up to 16 hours).

Armadillos eat insects, small vertebrates, small plants, and occasionally a carrion meal. Since they have poor eyesight, they use their keen sense of smell to hunt, their large claws to dig, and their sticky tongues to extract prey.



sources: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/armadillo/
Dickman, Christopher R. (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals.

Book Review: Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul by various authors

The book, Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul, is full of animal stories so dear, it could make your heart melt.
From when the dog rescued a family from fire, to when a cat brought a family together, to when a horse helped an insecure child regain confidence, to when a bird gave an old man a new purpose in life; these true stories touch the heart of anyone who reads them.
featuring stories from James Harriot, Dave Barry, Roger Caras, and many more, this book reminds us that pets are a special part of any family, and a part that can't be filled any other way.

Dog Breed of the Month--The Boston Terrier

The "American Gentlemen of Dogs", the Boston Terrier is a sweet dog with a gentle nature. They are friendly with everybody; kids, grown-ups, cats, other dogs, and even strangers.

A recognized breed of the AKC and classified as a "toy dog"; these pooches love attention, and are easy to train. They only need a moderate amount of exercise, and just a little bit of grooming, so they are perfect small-house dogs.

The Boston Terrier was developed in Boston Massachusetts following the Civil War as a fighting dog. It has since become an all-American dog.

The Boston pictured here is named Lilly.

Sweet, hansom, and totally lovable, the Boston Terrier is a sure hit!



sources: http://www.bostonterrierinfo.com/
http://www.akc.org/breeds/boston_terrier/index.cfm