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

The Canada Goose

The Canada goose can be found is every US state and Canadian province at one time of year or another. These geese are adaptable to climates, and many fly south for the winter. Canada geese like to make parks and golf courses, and other developments their permanent home, which means they can be a nuisance at times.

These communal birds remain in flocks all year except when nesting. Canada geese build their nests with grasses and line them with down. A clutch of goose eggs can be numbered anywhere from 2 to 12, though the typical number is 5 to 7. Geese are fiercely protective of their young (which you've probably discovered if you wandered near a nest and had a hissing parent chase you to the county).

Canada geese eat a wide assortment of vegetation including grass, roots, and young sprouts. They will also eat corn, grain, and aquatic vegetation.

A few days ago, I saw a flock of Canada geese flying in their typical "V" formation over the hills near my home. The headwind was so strong, however, that it seemed as if the poor birds were frozen in midair, wings flapping furiously!


I took the photo at the Syracuse Zoo. More zoo animals a-coming!
Sources: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/canada-goose/
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/birds/canada-goose.htm

The Bighorn Sheep

The Bighorn Sheep can be found in the Rocky Mountains, parts of Nevada, Texas, California and Mexico. In warm months bighorns can be found in the valleys, in cold months they graze on the mountain sides.

Female bighorns and their young live in groups of five to fifteen. Males live in groups of two to five. In the winter, groups of ewes (females) may band together to form a herd of 100.

Bighorns are herbivores, which means they eat plants exclusively. In the warm months they will chomp on grasses, clover, and sedges. During winter, they eat woody plants like willow and sage. Bighorns that live in the desert eat brushy plants like holly and cactus. Bighorns are cud chewers, so when they're not eating they'll lie down and chew.

In the fall, male bighorns will have head-butting contests to constitute dominance. The males run at each other in speeds up to twenty miles an hour, and slam their heads together. The contests can last up to twenty hours.

Females have their babies on hard-to-reach cliffs. They have one lamb, and the baby can climb and walk the first day. The lamb will stay in the place it was born for about a week then it will start to travel out with its mom. Lambs are weaned when they are about five months old. Male bighorn lambs leave their mother and join a male group when they are between 2 and 4 years old. Females stay in their mother's group their whole life.


I took the picture at the Syracuse Zoo (thus the fence). More zoo animals are a-coming!
Source: http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/bighornsheep.htm

The Red Fox

Red foxes live around the world in varying habitats such as forests, mountains, deserts, and grasslands. They are also found among humans, and can be very pesky critters around farms.

Foxes eat an assortment of small animals such as rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, and frogs, as well as fruits and vegetables. When living around humans, foxes help themselves to garbage and pet food.

Female foxes are called "vixens"; they have litters of two to twelve pups. The pups' coat is actually brown or gray when they are born, and a red coat comes in by then end of the first month. Both parents care for the pups for the first summer, then their offspring go out on their own. The average life span of a red fox in the wild is 2 to 4 years.


I took the picture at the Syracuse Zoo. More zoo animals are a-coming!
Source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/red-fox/

Color changes

Last time I change the blog's template, I promise. I just wasn't digging the brown. It didn't match the seagull.

The Ladybug

Ladybugs are small insects. You have probably seen them around your house. They come inside buildings during the winter to hibernate. Ladybugs stay in groups, so where you see one more are sure to follow.

Ladybugs eat soft-bodied insects called aphids, and they will also eat scale insects and plant mites. Ladybugs are not poisonous to humans, though they are harmful to some animals. Ladybugs emit a chemical that smells and tastes bad so that predators won't eat them.

There are many different kinds of ladybugs, and each kind has different spots. They vary in number, color, and shape. There are over 300 types of ladybugs in North America.

The life cycle of a ladybug is egg, larva, pupa, adult. The first three stages can last from 7-12 days each depending on weather and food supplies. The adult stage lasts between 3-9 months.

And yes, male ladybugs do exist.


Source: http://www.ladybuglady.com/LadybugsFAQ.htm

Tintin Movie

Recently I had the chance to watch the movie Tintin. I highly recommend it, especially if you've read the comics.

(I literally laughed out loud when Bianca showed up)
(and that's something you'll get only if you've read or watched Tintin.)
(So go watch it!)


Anyway. Tintin has a dog named Snowy who is a white Wire Fox Terrier. Snowy is smart, funny, brave, and a brilliant partner-in-dectectiveness with Tintin. All these characteristics are consistent with his breed. (Though maybe not that last one. Snowy is an exceptional dog and other Fox Terriers would probably not be as good a detective as he is.)

Fox Terriers are very loyal, cheerful, enthusiastic, and love children. Fox Terriers were bred to be hunting dogs, however, so they'll track down and possibly kill small animals such as rabbits and birds. They are terriers, so they're on the smallish side; they need a firm, consistent owner to keep them from developing small dog syndrome.

Fox Terriers need a daily walk or jog, or a nice free run in an safe, enclosed area. Fox Terriers can live to be 15 or more, but they are prone to diseases like epilepsy.

Fox Terriers are active indoors so they'll do okay in an apartment. For a pet Fox Terrier, grooming is simple: brush with a firm bristle brush, bathe when necessary, and to keep the coat looking it's best, it should be stripped several times a year. There is a very complex grooming routine for show dogs.

So there's some info on Snowy's breed: the Wire Fox Terrier.

Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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

Christmas is almost here!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!


I know it has little to do with animals, but here's one of my favorite carols of all time.

Away in a manger
no crib for a bed
the little Lord Jesus
lay down His sweet head.

The cattle are lowing
the Baby awakes
but little Lord Jesus
no crying He makes.

I love Thee Lord Jesus
look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle
'till morning is nigh.

Dog Breed of the Month: The Whippet

Pictures can be found here. Whippets are affectionate, lively, and sweet. They are calm, quiet, and devoted. They are also sensitive, so they should not be roughly treated. They are good with children as long as there is no roughhousing. As always, to avoid small dog syndrome, whippets need a firm and consistent pack leader.

They are good with other dogs, but will chase (and kill) cats and other small animals if given the chance. Household cats that they know and are accustomed to will, however, be left alone.

Whippets are very fast and agile. They need regular opportunities to run on open ground (in a safe area) and need a daily walk. As said before, they love to chase small animals so a fenced yard and a leash is essential.

They are prone to stomach and skin problems, but have a life expectancy of about 12-15 years. They have a short, smooth coat so they are easy to groom. They are average shedders, and their coats are virtually free of "doggie smell".

Whippets are sensitive to the cold, so dog sweaters are advised. They are calm indoors so they will do okay in an apartment as long as they get a lot of exercise.




info source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/whippet.htm

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the day to give thanks for everything.
Thanks for food,
family,
friends,
possessions,
everything!

Plus, you get to eat mounds of food.

:D

And the mascot of Thanksgiving is, of course, the turkey.


Pictures of turkeys can be found here.

Turkeys are native of the forests in North America. The domestic turkeys are decedents of the wild ones. Domestics are the kind we eat on Thanksgiving.

Females lay about 18 eggs at a time, and they hatch after a 1 month incubation period. Turkeys eat seeds, berries, acorns, and small insects.



Happy Thanksgiving, and try not to "gobble" your food too fast!


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_turkey
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/turkey.htm

Dog Breed of the Month: Mastiff

Pictures can be found here. These big, powerful, (slobbery) dogs are gentle giants. They are guard dogs, though they rarely bark. They need to be socialized well, and also need a calm and confidant owner.

Mastiffs are one of the heaviest breeds of dogs; their weight can exceed 200 pounds. They live about 10-12 years. Mastiffs are prone to bloating, and their owners must watch out for hip displysia among other ailments.

These dogs like to be lazy, but they do need a daily walk at least. They will do okay in apartments since they are pretty inactive indoors. Their short, smooth coat is easy to groom, and Mastiffs are average shedders.

Overall, Mastiffs are sweet, intelligent dogs that are very affectionate.


info source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/mastiff.htm