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Hello, and thank you for visiting My Animal Webpage. I am very fond of all animals, and this page if for all other people who are too. First of all, if your interested, I have my very own Animal Newsletter. It comes out via e-mail twice a week, and its absolutely free! E-mail me to join at [email protected] Thanks! The following information is on animals in alphabetical order)Enjoy! ~~~Animals~~~ The apes, otherwise known as primates, are my favorite animals, so of course I was glad to see them requested. There are different kinds of apes, but first, let's talk about apes in general. Apes are highly intelligent animals. They are the smartest animals next to humans. In many ways, they are alot like us. They have similar body structures and body parts. They have very clever minds. You wouldn't believe how creative they are. From their surroundings, apes can make tools of all sorts for everyday living. Each species of apes has its their own lifestyles, so we'll talk about each kind separately. Monkeys The term "monkey" is given to these animals because it means "day-active, long tailed primates". Monkeys are found mostly throughout the tropics of Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. Here, they live mostly in the trees of forests. Monkeys have color vision, and some form of vocalism. Some species of monkeys have a real long tail that acts as an arm, which is very useful for grasping and climbing. Monkeys ordinarily reproduce twins. Female monkeys usually give birth to their young after 5 to 7 months. Just like people, monkeys are born with their eyes open. These babies are not mature enough to take care of themselves until they are 3 or 4 years old, depanding on the species. Monkeys in captivity live to the age of approximately 45 years. In the wild, their life span is most likely much shorter. Chimpanzees Chimpanzees are a very well-known ape. They have extraordinary trainability, and have been used in movies, and circuses. Chimpanzees, nick-named chimps, are the most intelligent of all the apes. Some chimps have appeared to understand human languages. Chimps usually are found in jungles. They can grow taller than 5 feet high, and weigh more than 175 lbs. They usually travel in family groups, and most of the time they stay on the ground. Ourangutans Ourangutans are rather large apes that live in the lowland jungles found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. They can reach up tp 5 feet and weigh as much as 200 lbs. The color of an ourangutans hair is a reddish-brown. They have facial features resembling an elderly man. In all of the world, they are the biggest tree-dwelling animals. At night, they sleep in the trees. In the day time, they normally come down on the ground to eat. The average arm span of an ourangutan may extend to 8 feet. Their arms are strong and muscular. Gorillas Gorillas are my favorite of the apes. They are the largest, but gentlest of all the primates. They are found in rainforests in West Africa. Gorillas can reach 5 1/2 feet tall. They can weigh an unbelievable amount of 600 ounds. Their arm span can reach 9 feet. Despite their factual gentle behavior, gorillas have been portrayed in movies as mean and viocious creatures. This is not true. Although they are large, and extremely strong animals, they are rather peaceful and pleasant animals. Its a shame that they are overly endangered, close to extiction. Gibbons Gibbons are the smallest and most agile of all the apes. They are can get as tall as one meter (3 feet). They have rather long arms which help them swing on branches and climb trees. Gibbons are fascinating animals are amazing to learn about. BEARS Bears are very large, powerful animals, and can be dangerous. They are largely built, and walk on the flat soles of their feet. Most bears are fast runners, swimmers, and climbers. Bears are "carnivores" meaning "meat eaters". They eat mostly fish. Large bears may occasionally eat deer or seals. This may be upsetting to some, but that's survival of the fittest, in nature. Small bears may go after frogs, mice, and grub. Besides meat, bears are very fond of berries, nuts, plant roots, and as you all probably know, bears love honey. Like dogs, bears have excellent hearing and smelling, but have poor eyesight. Bears most often live alone, except when female bears are caring for cubs. During the winter they hibernate, but first they eat a lot of food and find a cave to live in. Most of the winter, they sleep, but it is not true that they never wake up until spring. Even the slightest sound can wake up a bear. On days that aren't so cold, the bear may leave the cave for a short time. At the end of the winter, the female bears gives birth to her cubs inside the cave. Bears usually have twins, but there can be as many as four cubs born at once. Brown Bears There are many kinds of bears. Brown bears, including the Kodiac bear and Alaskan, live in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are among the biggest carnivores in the world. Brown bears can reach as tall as nine feet, and weigh over 1,500 pounds! Although they are called "brown" bears, they can be brown, yellowish, tan, or black. Grizzly Bears Grizzly bears are about the most common type of bear. Although not as large as the brown bear, they can reach eight feet tall, and weigh as much as 800 pounds. Full grown grizzlies do not climb trees because they are too heavy. Grizzly bears were once extremely common in the United States, but are rare today because of hunters. Presently, there are nearly 1,000 grizzlies left in the world. Yellowstone National Park has around 200 grizzly bears. Polar Bear Polar bears live in the icy, cold North Pole. They have an extremely heavy white coat that keeps the warm in the cold temperatures. They have fur on the soles of their feet to prevent slipping on ice. Polar bears mainly eat seals, reindeer, seabirds, and fish, but in the summer, they enjoy berries. Polar bears can swim very well and often travel on floating ice floes. Although polar bears seem cute and adorable, they are extremelydangerous. Spectacled Bears Spectacled bears live in South America. They are small bears, reaching maybe two and half feet high. They have black and brown hair, and white circles around their eyes. Bears in this group are the Malayan sun bear of East Asia, and the Sloth bear of India. Black Bears Black bears are small bears mostly found in national parks. They also inhabit forests in Asia. They seem quite tame, and usually are. They can have either black or brown fur. Black bears often run up to parked cars on the roads and wait for a snack. Although any bear may seem friendly and cute, you should never attempt to feed or pet it. A bear can become dangerous as fast as you can say "bear". Cats (In general) For thousands of years, cats, wild and domestic, have interested people. Much research has been doen on cats. Today, we know alot about these animals, but there is still alot we don't know. Cats have extremely sharp teeth. If you were ever bitten by a cat (i know i have), you would know this. Their teeth are used mainly as a weapon for tearing up food, and for protection. They have 30 permanete teeth. The canine teeth are the four large, curved, pointed fangs. If you open a cat's mouth, you will notice very tiny teeth at the front of its mouth. These are called inscisors. They use them mostly for grooming. On the sides of a cat's mouth, there a few molars and premolars. Mammals usually have many molars used to grind food. Cats have only a few of these and use them only for cutting. Have you ever just watched a cat go about a normal day? They walk very gracefully. They have muscular and flexible bodies. When they are at rest, their whole body curves into an arc. It would be impossible for people to be able to do that. They can also make unexpected moves. In the wild, that helps a cat catch its prey. It can quietly sneak up on an animal. Then, any moment it can spring as fast as a speeding bullet! Cats have rather large heads compared to the rest of their bodies. Because of their short jaws, a cat's head may appear slightly flat. Their ears are big and flaring, and can be rounded or pointed. Cats have really sharp hearing. They can hear alot of sounds that people cannot. A cat's eyes and ears work together. When they hear a sound, they turn their whole head, not just their eyes. You probably have hear dthat cats can see real good in the pitch dark. Nope. In fact, cats cannot see too well at all in total darkness. They can however, see better than most other animals in dim light, but they see best in normal light. The cat's eye size and position help it permit as much light as possible into their field of vision. You may have noticed that the pupils of a cat's eyes change in size depending on the brightness of light. They are alert to all movements, but it is unsure whether or not they can see in color vision or not. Domestic Cats Next to dogs, cats are the most common house pet. Researchers have guessed that about 30 million cats are owned as pets in the United States. They have guessed that there are millions of homeless cats wandering streets and alleys all aroudn the country. There is no way to get an exact estimate of this. Adult domestic cats range from 8-10 inches high. The length from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail is about 18-20 inches. The tale itself is 10-25 inches long. Adult females are abotu 6-10 pounds, and adult males range from 10-15 pounds; it depends onits skeletal size. Well, since we talked about the anatomy and features of cats in general in the last issue, so we'll talk about each wild cat separately. The most common wild cats are the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Puma, Cheetah, and Jaguar. ~Leopards~ Leopards weigh about 100-150 lbs. Their length can grow up to 4 feet long, not counting the tail length. They have a pale yellowish-brown color, with dark brown spots, which form pretty rosettes on their fur. They are great at jumping and springing. Leopards can jump about 10 feet up into the air, and about 22 feet in length. ~Tiger~ Full grown tigers can weigh as much as 500-600 lbs. Not counting the length of its tail, a tiger can grow to as long as 9 or 10 feet. You may have heard that lions are the biggest of the cat group. This was thought not long ago until research proved that tigers are the biggest of the feline group. Tigers have a reddish-brown to white fur coat with black, brown, or gray stripes. They are terrific swimmers. The seven sub species of tigers are the Bali, Bengal, Caspian, Chinese, Javan, Siberian, and Sumatran. ~Lion~ A lion's weight may range from 400-500 lbs. Excluding the tail, they can be as long as 9-10 feet. "King of the jungle" or "King of beasts" is what you probably have heard lions called. This is true, for they are the only social cat. They live in prides. Their fur color can be golden yellow, brown, or sometimes gray. The female lions do just about all the hunting. If you have ever been to a zoo and saw lions, you would have noticed how short-tempered they are. I know I have seen cubs trying to play with their fathers, but the lazy males get irritated quickly. Its up to the mother to find the food and raise the cubs. Usually, before the cubs or females can eat, the dominate male eats first. When he is done, the rest may eat what is left. ~Puma~ Pumas, also called names such as cougars, mountain lions, panthers, etc. They are abotu 4 1/2 feet long, not counting the length of the tail. Their fur coats are sandy colored, or tawny, and have white stomachs. They are very good at climbing. They are found in North and South America. ~Cheetahs~ Cheetahs weigh about 100 lbs. Excluding the tail, they are 50 inches long. Cheetahs have a tawny, yellow coat, covered with black spots all over their fur, and black markings on their faces. Cheetahs, are hunting animals, yet have the shortest claws of all the wild cats. They are the fastest land animals on the earth. They can achieve speeds as fast as 70-75 miles an hour. They, like almost all the wild cats, are severly endangered from humans taking over their wild habitat, scarce food due to this, and poaching. ~Jaguars~ I find the Jaguars to be very amazing animals. They weigh from 100-300 lbs, and can grow 6 feet long, not counting the tail length. They have yellowish brown fur and dark brown spots on it. They are great at swimming. Although quite different, sometimes jaguars get confused with panthers. They are very different cats! Cockatoo Cockatoo, common name for 17 species of birds in a family of the same order as the parrot family, found in Australia, the East Indies, and the Philippines. All cockatoos have erectile feathered crests and powerful hooked beaks. Most species are white, but some are gray, pink, or black, with bright markings. Body size of most species lies between 30 and 52 cm, with the largest of the group, the black cockatoo, reaching 67 cm. Cockatoos feed on vegetation, sometimes damaging crops, and are usually gregarious. Courtship involves preening and mutual feeding. They nest in a natural hollow in trees or rocks, where the female lays two to four eggs; both parents care for the young. Intelligent, generally docile, and sometimes capable of mimicking human speech, cockatoos have been popular cage birds. Cotinga A group of birds found mainly in the dense forests of the Amazon basin. there are about 90 species and many of the males have ornate plumage as well as crests and wattles. The cock of the rock is the most ornate, together with the Umbrella bird. Cotingas are well known for their constant calling- the bell birds are especially notable in this respect. Many Cotingas are fruit-eaters, but some also eat insects. Males often have elaborate courtship displays. Order:Passeriformes Family:Cotingidae ~Dogs~ Dogs are the most popular family pet. There are many breeds of dogs. Dogs are well-known to be loving, obediant, intelligent, loyal, and playful. They can be used for house pets, working, sporting, and showing. They can be trained for all kinds of jobs, such as herding, guarding, and guiding. Dogs have very good hearing and smelling. They have sharp teeth, strong and powerful jaws, and speed for protection. If you have a dog, you know that it takes alot of responsibility. Dogs need to be well- nourished. Your dog's diet should consist of plenty of water, meat, and dog biscuits. Dogs need exercise regularly. They should be walked and let outside. They also need to be groomed and bathed. You can grrom your dog by brushing it with a wire-pin brush and a metal dog comb. Use brushes and combs that fit your dogs hair and skin. Brushing is good for the dog's skin. It removes dust, dirt, and tangles. Most dogs love to be groomed because they think you are petting it. Brushing your dog will usually keep it calm and relaxed. You also need to bathe your dog, but not too often, because bathing takes the natural oils out of its skin. You can use dog shampoo or baby shampoo, either is good for its coat. Use warm water, not hot, and make sure you rinse the shampoo out well. Shampoo that does not get rinsed off will itch. When dogs are wet, they will shake, so keep a towel close by. Also, keep your dog warm until it is dry. Your dog should be trained to obey its master(s). Teach it simple commands such as heel, sit, stay, down, come, and the do's and don't's. Praise your dog for every success no matter how small. Never become irritable or lose your temper. Have patience with your dog. Once obedient, your dog will becoem an important and lovable part of your family. Elephants Elephants are the largest land animals on the Earth. The tallest elephants are 11 feet tall, and in some rare cases, they can reach up tp 12 feet. They weigh about 4 tons. That's 8,000 pounds! We're talking heavy! Elephants have thick, tough skin for protection. Normally, elephants are are very gentle and peaceful. That's why they are often seen at zoos. But, when threatened by animals such as lions, they can become aggressive, especially if their young are in danger. Elephants are active during the day, and at night. They sleep during the hottest hours of the day. Elephants live together in groups called herds. Elephants stick together, and help eachother. They give eachother baths, although sometimes these baths are with dirt. Elephants, as you know, have long trunks, that act like noses and upper lips. There are two nostrils on the end of the trunk. They also have tusks for protection. These tusks grow for as long as the elephant lives. The Elephants' Tusks The tusks are actually upper incisors, not canines. They are the only incisors the elephant has. The tusks are used for digging, ripping of bark, foraging, resting a heavy trunk, and as weapons. Tusks are fundamentally no different than ordinary teeth. one of the elephant's tusks is often used more than the other (ex. The parallel in humans is right handed and left handed people). Both genders of the African elephant have tusks, but only the male Asian elephants have tusks that protrude beyond the lips. The tusks present at birth are only milk teeth which fall out after around one year of age (approximately 5 cm long). The permanent tusks begin to protrude beyond the lips of an elephant at around 2-3 years of age, and will continue to grow throughout its life. Were and elephant's tusks able to grow long enough they would be in the shape of a spiral (similar to the extinct woolly mammoth), because the tusk typically follows a sinusoidal curved growth pattern. The growth rate of tusks is at approximately 15-18 centimetres per year. About one quarter of the tusk is hidden within the socket. Thus, the typical question of why people can not just cut off the elephant's tusks to ward off poachers is answered. There is still a large amount of ivory that is attached inside the head and attached to the skull, which has to be carved out of the head to be removed. (I feel that anyone who does this is disgusting! The poor elephants!) The actual base of the tusk is hollow and contains the pulp cavity. This usually extends quite far, and in males may reach beyond the lip line. The tusk grows from its base as fresh dentine is slowly deposited over the surface of the pulp cavity. Interestingly, for females this cavity begins to fill in with age. The pulp is composed of a highly vascular tissue (blood vessels and nerves), which is amongst unspecialized connective tissue. Although both African elephant genders have tusks, there are large differences in size and weight. Typically, the male tusk has a larger circumference in relation to its length, is stouter, and is much heavier. Interestingly, some elephants are born without tusks. This hereditary condition causes huge differences in the musculature and shape of the neck and the head. Also, the carriage of the head is different and the bones at the back of the skull are less developed. Interestingly again, not all male Asian elephant elephants have tusks; approximately 40-50 percent of male Asian elephants are tuskless. These particular males are known as makhnas in India. Some likely reasons for the greater proportion of tuskless Asian elephants compared the African elephants may be due to strong selection in the past by humans killing the tusked male elephants and an gene in Asian elephants which is not as recessive. When fully developed the Asian elephant's tusks does compare to the weight and size of the African elephant's tusks. The tusks of a male African elephant may exceed 200 kg for the pair although such weights are rare today because most of them have been murdered. The heaviest tusks recorded were 209 kg for the pair taken from an old bull shot in 1897 (This picture is located at the British Museum of Natural History). The working tusks that an elephant favours tends to be more worn down over the years. The tusks server a variety of functions for an elephant; this is for digging up soil at salt licks, ripping off bark from trees, for resting a heavy trunk, and as weapons. Ferrets Ferrets are mammals belonging to the weasel family. They have a long, slim body with short legs. The two kinds of ferrets are the domestic ferret, and the black footed ferret. When frightened, both types discharge a strong smelling secretion from a scent gland under the tail. Domestic ferrets are kept as pets or used for hunting rabbits or rats. Owners usually have the scent glands removed. Generally, males are 40 to 65 cm long, including the tail. The color of the domestic ferret varies, with the dark hair tips, and a black mask, tail, and feet. Some ferrets have completely brown, almost black, coats. The black-footed ferret has a dull, yellow coat with brown fur on the head and down the middle of the back. It has a black mask, and black fur on the feet, the legs, and the end of the tail. Males average 50 to 65 cm in length, including the tail and weighs around 0.96 to 1.79 kg. Females are slightly different from the males. Black footed ferrets are founding the prairies of north America. However, do the reduced number of prairie dogs, its main food source, the black-footed ferret has become an endangered species. GERBIL Gerbils are mouselike creatures with long hind legs and a long tail. They often move in great bounds like tiny kangaroos, and one species, the Indian gerbil, can make leaps of up to 16 ft. Gerbils are also called sand rats as they live in the desert or semi-desert parts of Africa and Asia. Most species spend the heat f the day in underground burrows, only coming out at night, although there are some gerbils which are active during the day. They eat leaves, seeds, flowers, and roots and store food in their burrows for use during the dry season. They can live for many days without drinking. A few gerbils are carnivorous, eating locusts or birds' eggs. The habits of gerbils in the wild are not well known, but many are now kept in laboratories as experimental animals and they are also popular as pets. Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Hawks Popular names for bird of prey often confuse hawks with falcons. The European kestrel, for example, is a falcon, but the American kestrel is popularly known as the Sparrow Hawk. The European Sparrow Hawk, with broader wings, is a typical hawk with a broader tail than the falcons. Most hawks hunt by pouncing on their prey, often flying in a series of short dashes followed by a long glide. Their prey include small birds and mammals. Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Hippopotamuses Hippopotamus, common name for certain artiodactylous (even-toed, hoofed) mammals found only in Africa. Hippopotamuses (also called river horses) are heavy-bodied, short-legged, short-tailed animals, resembling pigs more than horses. They have large heads with small eyes and small ears; their nostrils, surrounded by sparse, bristly hairs, are equipped with special flaps that close down when the animal goes underwater. The eyes and ears are located on the top of the head. The mouth is huge and contains long, pointed incisor and canine teeth. The common adult hippopotamus also has tusklike canine teeth in the lower jaw; they grow up to 70 cm (up to 28 in) long, weigh almost 3 kg (6 lb), and are valued as ivory. The skin contains a layer of fat that is about 5 cm (2 in) thick and is used to make leather whips known as sjamboks. The feet are four-toed. The meat made from the hide. **Special Note From MizGorilla: Being a vegetarian, I find this of the hippopotamus is edible, and soup is disgusting!** The common brown or gray hippopotamus, once widely distributed south of the Sahara and along the Nile to its mouth, and now found south of latitude 17� north, is one of the largest four-footed animals. The range of the hippopotamus has shrunk due to human intervention. The hippopotamus reaches a length of 2.9 to 5 m (9.5 to 16 ft) and weighs 1000 to 4500 kg (2200 to 9900 lb). Because of its short legs it stands no higher than 1.5 to 1.65 m (5 to 5.4 ft) at the shoulder. The hippopotamus is semiaquatic, spending most of the day with only its eyes, ears, and nostrils above the surface of a river, and it is capable of remaining underwater for as long as 25 minutes. During the day it feeds on aquatic vegetation and often swims more than 30 km (more than 19 mi) in search of food, emerging at night to feed on land plants. It eats sugarcane and corn and sometimes enters plantations, where it does more damage by trampling the plants than it does by feeding. Hippopotamuses have occasionally been seen in mountain rivers at heights of more than 1500 m (5000 ft) above sea level and at temperatures near freezing. Common hippopotamuses travel in herds of about 10 to 15 animals, but groups of 150 individuals have been observed. The cow bears one young at a time and fights ferociously if the calf is attacked. Old bulls, like old elephants, sometimes attack other hippopotamuses or humans. The species is widely hunted, traditionally by harpooning or by digging pitfalls. The pygmy hippopotamus is 1.5 to 1.75 m (4.9 to 5.7 ft) long, 0.75 to 1 m (2.5 to 3.3 ft) high at the shoulder, and weighs 160 to 270 kg (350 to 600 lb). It is found only in western Africa, especially in Liberia. It is black on top, with a greenish sheen; below, it is yellowish-green. It is less aquatic than the common hippopotamus and is found in cool forests and in marshlands. Pygmy hippopotamuses almost always travel in pairs or groups of three immediate family members, rarely forming a herd. Remains of many fossil hippopotamuses have been found in European and Indian deposits of the Pliocene Epoch and Quaternary Period; fossils in England seem to be of the same species as the present-day common hippopotamus. Horses The general shape, or structure of a horse is known as Conformation. Horses have very good balance enabling them to run, stand, carry heavy loads, etc., without falling. Horses weight around 1,000 lbs. That's half a ton! At the shoulder, they are about 5 1/2 feet high. From nose to tail, they are around 9 feet long. Horses have big, muscular necks, large chests, very powerful hindquaters, and straight backs. They have slender legs, but they are very strong. The head of a horse takes up two-fifths of its body! In order to hear a wide variety of sounds, the horse is able to move its ears. They have very good eye sight, even at night. Their eyes are rather big compared to other animals. Their eyes see things separately. Objects may be seen with one of their eyes, and then again with the other eye. Still objects seem to jump, this is why horses are so easily frightened. To prevent the horse from becoming scared, people sometimes put special blindfolds on them so that they can see only in one direction. Horses also have big, flaring nostrils. They breathe differently from other animals. Female horses, fully grown, have 36 teeth, while fully grown males have 40. KOALAS Koala's, common name for "arboreal marsupial animal" that in appearance resembles the toy teddy bear, and somewhat resembles a sloth. The Koala reaches a length of 60 to 85 cm and has a maximum life span of 20 years. It has a large round head with large fluffy ears and a stout body covered with thick ashy gray fur. The animal has a vestigial tail. It's legs are short it's feet are opposable to the other three. Each toe bears a strong claw. The female bears one young at a time. The young koala is than kept in the marsupials pouch for about 6 months after which time the female carries it upon her back until it is half grown. Koala's are found only in eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia. They feed on the leaves and flowers. The animal is lethargic and often remains in the same tree for several days. The males are more active than the females and feed during the day. Koalas sleep curled up high in the tree. It does not relax. Mallard Duck Species: Anas Platyrhychos Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae The mallard duck is the most widespread of all ducks. It breeds in most of Europe, Asia, and North America. Throughout their range, the mallards move south in the fall to Southern Asia, North Africa and, in North America, to Florida and Mexico. Mallards are often found on dry land, but are attracted to any water, from woodland ponds to large lakes. They are shy birds that feed mainly on leaves, seeds, fruits, and tiny water animals. They either dabble in the mud or up-end themselves in deeper water to feed from the mud at the bottom. The male is brightly colored from September to June, the most striking feature being the dark, glossy green head and neck. Mating is preceded by a courtship ritual and the eggs are incubated in a down-filled nest either on the ground or in a tree. Monarch Butterflies The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a brilliantly patterned black and orange butterfly, is one of the most fascinating insects in the world. This familiar butterfly has a life cycle involving four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult butterfly. Eggs are oval shaped and translucent green in colour. Larva are horizontally striped with black, white and yellow. Pupae are a brilliant green colour, with a gold band near their silk point of attachment to a leaf or branch. The adult monarch is orange with black stripes radiating from the point of attachment of the wings to the thorax. The black edges of the wings are dotted with white spots. Males are distinguishable from females by the presence of black coloured scent glands on each of their hind wings. Monarchs breed in the northern United States and southern Canada. Western populations of adults, which emerge late in the season, migrate to California, and eastern populations migrate to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico to overwinter. Monarch butterflies are totally dependent on milkweed during their larval stage. The most widespread and abundant species of milkweed in Ontario, Quebec and northern U.S. is the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). After eating the egg from which they hatch, the tiny caterpillar begins eating milkweed leaves. The larva are eating machines, growing rapidly. In the two weeks following hatching, the caterpillar sheds its skin four times to accomodate its growth. After two weeks, at five centimetres in length and 3,000 times its birth weight, the caterpillar is ready for its transformation into the chrysalis or pupal stage. The caterpillar spins a silk button in a sheltered spot such as the underside of a leaf. Attaching itself firmly to the silk, it hangs head down in a characteristic J-shape, and begins transformation into the pupa. The pupa does not eat. Inside the casing, the adult butterfly develops from the reserves built up by the caterpillar. The monarch emerges from the pupa in approximately five days. After pumping fluid into its wings, and waiting for them to harden, it is ready to fly. The adult butterfly has no mandibles (grasping mouth parts), feeding instead with its long tongue. Adults feed on nectar, sap, juices and dew, and prior to migration build up large reserves of fat. Monarchs have evolved a special means by which to avoid predation: the sap of the milkweed they eat contains a chemical which is unpalatable for most birds, and birds attempting to eat a Monarch soon spit the butterfly out. A monarch's bright colors may well be an advertisment to predators of its bad taste, since a butterfly caught and spit out may be fatally injured. In addition, viceroy butterflies, which are unrelated to monarchs but look almost exactly like them, are not bad tasting to birds, but may have evolved to mimic monarchs and thereby avoid the same kind of predation. The mystery of monarch migration was solved by the use of lightweight wing tags, which directed people who found tagged monarchs to send them to Dr. Fred Urquhart at the University of Toronto. Records of tagged butterflies were then tracked and their migratory route determined. After several years of searching, the first winter location of monarch butterflies was discovered in 1975 in the Sierra Madre mountains west of Mexico City. Monarchs are believed to orient themselves during migration using the position of the sun and the magnetic field of the earth. Throughout the summer months, female monarchs seek out milkweed plants in meadows, roadside cuts, and abandoned farmers' fields of the northern United States and southern Canada. Females lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants, and each female lays about 400 clear green oval eggs. The monarch egg is no bigger than the head of a pin, and is attached to the underside of a milkweed leaf. Within a few days, the egg hatches and a yellow, black and white striped caterpillar emerges, beginning its life cycle. Like many insects, parents provide no care for their offspring. Monarchs which breed early in the summer live only a few weeks. Adults die shortly after mating and laying eggs. Several generations of short lived monarchs are produced in early to mid summer. However, in late August, shorter days and colder temperatures cause the emerging monarchs to postpone reproductive maturity. This last generation of the summer will live for eight or nine months and travel thousands of kilometres to Mexico, a place they have never been before. Before migrating, monarchs congregate in huge numbers at departure points such as Presqu'ile Provincial Park, on a peninsula sticking out into Lake Ontario. In spring, the eight or nine month old monarchs reach maturity, and begin migrating in a north-eastern direction to the southern U.S. They mate all along the migratory route. Unlike their marathon journey south the previous fall, they do not complete the trip, passing this responsibility on to their offspring. PANDA BEARS The Panda Bear is a probably the most famous endangered animal. The Panda lives in six small areas located in China . In China they call the Panda "Xiongmao", which means Giant Cat Bear. The Panda was believed to have magical powers that could ward off natural disasters and evil spirits. Writings about the Pandas can be traced back 3,000 years. They were even kept as pets by Chinese Emperors. The Panda was first introduced to the Western world in 1869 by a French missionary. He sent a pelt to a Museum in Paris. Panda Bears eat over fifteen different kinds of Bamboo. Because of a inefficient intestinal system the Panda must feed for 12 to 16 hours a day, they can consume 22 to 40 pounds of Bamboo each day. When they eat fresh Bamboo shoots they eat about 84 pounds every day. The giant panda bear only exists today in six small areas located in inland China. The habitat, suitable for the bamboo on which it survives, is a cold, damp coniferous forest. The elevation ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 feet high. In most of the areas in which they still roam wild, they must compete with farmers who farm the river valleys and the lower slopes of the mountains. It is estimated that there are somewhere around 700 and 1,000 giant pandas still alive in the wild. Because they rely on bamboo as their main food they will remain in danger unless their habbitat is expanded. The differing varieties of bamboo go through periodic die-offs as part of their renewal cycle. Without the ability to move into new areas that have not been affected many Pandas will starve to death. When die-offs occur the bears that do try to find a new place to feed often run into farmers and poachers. The Panda is a large mammel which is about the same size as a Black Bear. Adult Pandas grow to be about 5-6 feet high. They will whey up to 276 pounds and males wheighing 10% to 20% more than females. With few other enimies other than people the lifespan of a wild Panda is about 25 years or more. Giant pandas bears have a massive head, heavy body, short tail, rounded ears and plantigrade feet (i.e., both heel and toe make contact with the ground when walking in a manner similar to humans). A sedentary bear who usually stays in a selected feeding area eating large amounts of bamboo, giant pandas generally move in a slow, determined manner. When startled, they will move at a slow trot to escape danger. Giant pandas, with their short claws, are capable of climbing trees very easily. The head of a Panda is very large and has developed special molars for chewing plants. It has powerful muscles which extend from the top of it's head to the jaws giving it the ability to crush very tough stalks. There esophagus has a though lining to protect the Panda from bamboo splinters. The stomach is protected too, with a thick muscular lining. The basic fur color of the giant panda is white with black eye patches, ears, legs, feet, chest, and shoulders. Within its natural environment ( the deep forest and, at upper elevations, snow and rock) , its mottled coloring provides camouflage. There is also speculation that its striking colour pattern may be a clear message to other pandas to stay away. The fur of the giant panda is thick and coarse. It consists of a coarse outer layer and a very dense, wooly-like underfur. To the touch, the fur feels oily. This oily protective coating helps protects pandas from the cool and damp climate in which the bear lives. These hides can be sold for $100,000 dollars. (I find that sickening that someone would buy a panda hide.) In general, a home range will vary from 1.5 to 2.5 square mile). The range of an individual giant panda is shared with other bears. Female Pandas have been found to stay in very small areas, only 75 to 100 acres in size. Males have larger home ranges which overlap the home ranges of several females. Female giant panda bears do not normally mature until they are 5 to 7 years of age. Mating begins in late-March and continues on into May. Similar to other bear species, the female stays in heat for only a short time, normally two to seven days. Unlike any other bear, males will often roar to announce their presence to receptive females. Females may mate with several males during the breeding season. When cubs are born they are blind and very small. They weigh from 3 to 4 1/2 ounces whcih is about the size of a chipmunk. They start out with fine white fur and will get the correct colored fur within a month of birth. Giant panda cubs are eating bamboo by the time they are 5 to 6 months old and are fully weaned by the time they are 9 months of age. At one year of age, the cubs normally weigh about 75 pounds of bamboo. Giant pandas are one of the four bear species who do not hibernate. The reasons for this are twofold. First, the natural food source of these bears is not sufficiently high in calories and protein to allow them to put on sufficient fat resources to last a lengthy period of hibernation. Second, they live in a habitat zone where food is available on a year round basis. The Panda is such a majestic creature. It is sad to think that there may not be Pandas around to much longer. Even sadder is the fact that we are the cause. Until people relize that Pandas are such great creatures and that they deserve home, the Pandas will be in danger of exticntion. Sharks Shark, any of some 340 species of fishes that, together with the skates, rays, and chimaeras, are sharply distinguished from the vast number of teleost (bony) fish species by their cartilaginous skeletons. Sharks are versatile and keen-sensed fishes, many species of which are able to hunt and eat nearly all the larger marine animals in both shallow and deep seas. These two features account for their long evolutionary history; many of the shark species living today are quite similar to abundant species that swam in seas of the Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago. Sharks also reveal great diversity in behavior and size. The whale shark is the largest shark and also the largest fish in the sea, measuring up to 15 m (49 ft) in length; the cookie-cutter shark measures less than 50 cm (19 in) in length. Sharks are chiefly marine fishes found in all seas and are especially abundant in tropical and subtropical waters. Many species migrate up rivers, however, and one, the bull shark, reaches Lake Nicaragua in Central America. Sharks are best known as aggressive carnivores that even attack members of their own species, but two of the largest sharks-the basking shark and the whale shark-are docile feeders on plankton, which they strain from the water with sievelike gill rakers. Physical Characteristics Most sharks are gray in color and have leathery skin covered with small, sharp, pointed placoid scales, which, unlike those of bony fish, do not enlarge during the animal's growth. Usually five gill slits lie behind the head. The tail is asymmetrical, with the vertebral column extended into the upper lobe. Many species have general rows of sharp teeth embedded in fibrous membranes instead of in the jawbones; the teeth, which are frequently lost in the flesh of prey, are quickly replaced by other teeth that shift into position. The fins and tails of sharks are rigid instead of erectile, like those of the bony fish. Contrary to a popular image, the dorsal fins rarely protrude above water when the fish are close to the surface. Sharks do not have swim bladders and, when motionless, sink to the bottom. They have strong digestive enzymes and a specialized epithelial fold that spirals the length of the small intestine, enabling the fishes to absorb a great diversity of foods. Sharks, to a large extent, are scavengers, eating injured fishes, carrion, garbage, and other waste from ships as well as animals such as seals, turtles, birds, whales, crabs, and a wide range of fishes. Males can be identified by claspers, which are extensions of the pelvic fins that serve as copulatory organs. Reproduction Unlike bony fishes, which usually spawn great masses of tiny, immature young, most sharks produce large, well-developed offspring numbering, at the most, 100 to a litter. The tiger shark, for example, bears only two young at a time. Fertilization takes place internally, the male inserting one of its claspers into the female. Most sharks are ovoviviparous, hatching the eggs within the female and bearing live young. Some sharks are oviparous, however, laying their eggs externally; the eggs are often encased in leathery shells with tendrils that anchor them to rocks or weeds. Others are viviparous, the young developing in utero, analogous to development in mammals; the yolk sac becomes a yolk placenta in the folds of the uterine wall and conducts nutrients to the embryo. Embryonic development takes more than six months, and in the Atlantic spiny dogfish it takes close to two years. At birth, young sharks of some larger species are more than 1 m (more than 3 ft) long and are swift, capable swimmers that feed on the same prey as adults. The young are frequently born in protected inshore areas away from the males. Sharks commonly fast for long periods during the breeding season and live on the vast reserves of lipids stored in their livers; cannibalizing of the young and of one another is thereby avoided. Senses and Feeding Sharks have an acute sense of smell; they are able to detect minute substances, such as blood in water, and trace them to their source. Seeing, although less acute, allows the shark to catch dim movements of shadow and light in dark waters as it approaches its prey. Sharks are particularly sensitive to sounds of low frequency and have fine directional hearing. Organs along their lateral lines and on the snout enable sharks to pick up weak electrical stimuli from the muscle contractions of bony fish. This combination of keen senses accounts for the evolutionary success of sharks. When hunting in schools, sharks can incite one another into a feeding frenzy. They circle their prey and make sudden crisscrosses, frequently striking victims from below (but not turning on their backs, as is popularly believed). Considering the number of scuba divers, swimmers, and water-skiers who now venture into shark-infested waters, however, relatively few shark attacks on humans occur; of those that do, about one-third result in fatalities. Among the sharks most dangerous to humans are the great white shark, the hammerhead shark, the tiger shark, and the blue shark. Ecology Sharks play an important ecological role in oceans, similar to that of large predators on land. Besides ridding waters of wastes, sharks prey on weaker or maimed members of populations, thereby helping a species to maintain its genetic strength. Because modern fishing methods have helped to deplete many food-fish species, however, the industry now views sharks as competitors, to the extent that shrimp trawlers frequently employ electrical shields by their trawls to keep sharks from destroying the catch. On the other hand, with the increasing scarcity and rising price of many food fishes, especially for United States consumers, shark meat is itself now selling at prices comparable to those for traditional table fishes. The meat (as well as shark fins for soup) has long been eaten, especially in East Asian countries, but it is now increasingly being featured in United States markets and is often compared to swordfish. Also, RACIN GM wrote about the Whale Shark specifically Whale Shark, common name for the largest known fish, native to tropical seas around the world. The whale shark may attain a length of more than 15 m and weigh more than 18 metric tons. Deep blue above and white below, it is darker in color than most sharks, but its body is marked with white spots and vertical lines; on its head and back are several broad, longitudinal ridges. The animal has a wide, flattened snout with the mouth at the front, not below, and its jaws hold numerous small teeth. The gill openings are exceptionally large. The whale shark feeds on small fishes and plankton strained out of the seawater by its long gill rakers; it is harmless to humans. Young whale sharks hatch from fertilized eggs inside the body of the female and are then born alive to the outside. Scientific classification: The whale shark makes up the family Rhincodontidae of the order Lamniformes. It is classified as Rhincodon typus. Tigers Tiger, largest member of the cat family. It lives in Asia and belongs to the same genus as the lion, leopard, and jaguar. Two major subspecies are the Siberian tiger and the Bengal tiger. The modern tiger is thought to have originated in northern Asia during the Pleistocene epoch and spread southward thereafter, crossing the Himalayas only about 10,000 years ago. The very rare Siberian tiger measures 1.4 to 2.8 m (4.6 to 9.2 ft) long, not including the tail, which is 69 to 95 cm (27 to 37 in) in length, and weighs 180 to 306 kg (400 to 675 lb). It has thick yellow fur with dark stripes. The Bengal tiger, which is about 3 m (about 10 ft) long, including the tail, and usually weighs 180 to 258 kg (400 to 569 lb), is found on the mainland of southeastern Asia and in central and southern India. Its coat lies flatter than that of the Siberian tiger, the tawny color is richer, and the stripes are darker. The tiger on the island of Sumatra is even smaller and darker. The tiger is a solitary animal, males and females coming together only at mating time, to share a kill, or to drink and rest at watering holes in areas with limited water. The litter numbers one to six cubs, which stay with the mother into their second year. Their diet is varied, ranging from deer and cattle to frogs and fish; carrion is also eaten. The Bengal tiger inhabits grassy or swampy areas and forests, where it is well camouflaged by its coloration. Those living on islands have almost disappeared. Tigers have been hunted to near extinction by poachers in many Asian countries. Tiger body parts are sought for use in traditional Chinese medicine and exotic recipes. All subspecies of the tiger have been declared endangered. The tiger's coat is often a bright golden color. It has black stripes on the head, body, limbs, and tail. Stripes like these are sometimes found on the domestic cat, or house cat, which is a distant relative of the tiger. On the domestic cat the stripes are called tabby marks. Asia is the home of the tiger. Tigers are not native to any other continent. They range from Iran to the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Siberia and from this northeastern limit southward to Malaysia and the Indian peninsula. A smaller variety is found on Sumatra, Java, and Bali. The scientific name of the tiger is Panthera tigris. Tigers differ from one another only in size and in the character and markings of the coat. In all of them the basic color of the coat ranges from a light tinge of yellow on the belly to a deep yellow or orange on the back. The head, body, and limbs are striped with black; the tail has black rings. This coloring blends well with dried grass or a thicket of reeds and makes the tiger almost invisible when stalking its prey. Tigers differ from lions chiefly in the coloring of their coats and in not having manes. Their skeletons are almost identical. Zoologists distinguish the tiger skull by the higher setting of the nasal bones. The two species are alike in hunting habits, though tigers rarely hunt in pairs as lions often do. Tigers and lions can interbreed. Vizsla Vizsla, breed of sporting dog, known in Hungary centuries ago. It was bred to hunt on the extensive, open Hungarian plains, where endurance, speed, and caution-so as not to alarm game birds on the uncovered terrain-were required. Sometimes called the Hungarian Pointer, it is a multipurpose hunting dog, used both to point and to retrieve upland and water birds, as well as small game such as rabbits. After World War II the breed was introduced into various other countries, including the U.S., where it was given official status in 1960. The Vizsla is medium-sized but powerfully built, with a short, smooth, rusty-gold coat. The ears are long, thin, and silky, hanging close to the cheeks; the tail is docked. Males stand 56 to 61 cm high, females 53 to 58 cm. (More info on other animals will frequently be added!) I hope you found what you were looking for. Thanks for visiting for site. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Here is a poem for y'all to read. It's my favorite poem, and I want to share it with everyone. The Beasts are Very Wise by Rudyard Kipling The beasts are very wise, Their mouths are clean of lies, They talk one to the other, Bullock to bullock's brother, Resting after their labors, Each in stall with his neighbors, But man with goad and whip, Breaks up their fellowship, Shouts in their silky ears, Filling their soul with fears. When he has plowed the land, He says: "They understand." But the beasts in stall together, Freed from the yoke and tether, Say as the torn flanks smoke: "Nay, 'twas the whip that spoke." I find this poem to be very touching, and to me, it seems very true. I think the author is trying to express that man is taking over beasts' (animals) habitat more and more. I wish all peopel would inderstand that animals were here first! As Jane Goodall once said, "Humans are the most powerful creatures on the Earth. Now, they must learn to be the most responsible." | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thank you for visiting my Animal Webpage. I hope you enjoyed my work, and I hope you found what you were looking for. Please come back soon! | Thanks! E-mail me at [email protected] with any Comments or Questions, or post them here: http://expage.com/page/commentsquestionpage Thanks again! Want to join my FREE Animal Newsletter? Includes animal info, pictures, trivia, amazing facts, and much more! E-mail me at [email protected] to join today! Thanks!
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