tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62195079605374337212024-02-18T20:07:04.454-08:00Pet ArkWhat pets would you take on your Ark if you had to pick the best of the best? We answer what the top animals are in terms of most cute, most powerful, most dangerous and more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-43708893708525287972024-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-31T06:00:00.121-08:00How Pet Supplements Can Support Your Furry Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvjTKRFacuHDAQmnU5R4umdxGHs2VRIgvjeNqLPkhcITzRLz00jwKtg1gAz05c9oSqzgkwF4yQ8jdDQ-C_PzgLRplaBW_DpuFKzFsE74_-8vouL2RqJiHUSEisoDWMWLyQ73PQMyGNnmxznIuHmMwJ7TmK_RrwLFaGMVDgULpTirVpgstOvjL74w6IFY/s1920/dog-pet-supplements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dog licking face - pet supplements" border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvjTKRFacuHDAQmnU5R4umdxGHs2VRIgvjeNqLPkhcITzRLz00jwKtg1gAz05c9oSqzgkwF4yQ8jdDQ-C_PzgLRplaBW_DpuFKzFsE74_-8vouL2RqJiHUSEisoDWMWLyQ73PQMyGNnmxznIuHmMwJ7TmK_RrwLFaGMVDgULpTirVpgstOvjL74w6IFY/s16000/dog-pet-supplements.jpg" title="dog licking face - pet supplements" /></a></div><br /><p>Are you curious about how to give your beloved pet the best chance to thrive and grow? Much like humans, pets can benefit from supplements tailored to support their growth and overall well-being. Whether you have a playful pup or a <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/12/should-you-should-you-not-let-cat-outside.html">curious kitty</a>, understanding the ins and outs of pet supplements and their role in nurturing your furry companion's growth journey is key. </p><p>Here, we'll delve into the world of pet supplements, exploring their benefits, types, and how they can contribute to your pet's vitality and longevity.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Are Pet Supplements?</h2><p>Pet supplements are akin to the vitamins and minerals humans take to maintain optimal health. They come in various forms such as powders, chews or liquids, and are formulated with specific nutrients that may be lacking in your pet's diet or require supplementation for enhanced well-being.</p><p>Supplements can contain a variety of ingredients, including:</p><p><b>Vitamins</b>: Essential for various bodily functions, including metabolism, immunity and overall health. According to one <a href="https://pethealthcareonline.com/review/petfinn/">supplement review</a>, vitamin supplements "offer a comprehensive blend of essential vitamins and minerals tailored specifically for your pet's nutritional needs. Packed with vital nutrients, they promote overall well-being and vitality. When minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are added, multivitamins ensure your pet maintains optimal health and vitality throughout their life."</p><p><b>Minerals</b>: Important for bone health, muscle function and other physiological processes.</p><p><b>Omega-3 Fatty Acids</b>: Known for their anti-inflammatory properties and benefits for skin, coat and joint health.</p><p><b>Probiotics</b>: Beneficial bacteria that support digestive health and immune function.</p><p><b>Antioxidants</b>: Help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">How Supplements Can Support Your Pet's Growth</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5tS64Bm7oIfe37JhkHg9P9wQtO9ZvoCUuBNx6plV7XULA7ICR8AbWwZDDXHjoDg5DF9pDZdswkfUCh_BK4kqf4RHk99jZq8k_I8lN_ifHh7AuJjqwLr6fZIu1OhLkV7Q3rzI3NVye_yFpXWMIrDueirRNvPimo14bHnrUjRDo86_No8w_u-EJYbzaXo/s1920/sleeping-cat-pet-supplements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cat sleeping - pet supplements" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5tS64Bm7oIfe37JhkHg9P9wQtO9ZvoCUuBNx6plV7XULA7ICR8AbWwZDDXHjoDg5DF9pDZdswkfUCh_BK4kqf4RHk99jZq8k_I8lN_ifHh7AuJjqwLr6fZIu1OhLkV7Q3rzI3NVye_yFpXWMIrDueirRNvPimo14bHnrUjRDo86_No8w_u-EJYbzaXo/s16000/sleeping-cat-pet-supplements.jpg" title="cat sleeping - pet supplements" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">1. Nourishing Bone and Joint Health</h4><p>During their formative years, pets, and especially <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/how-to-make-sure-puppy-comes-from-responsible-breeder.html">puppies</a>, undergo rapid bone growth, requiring ample support for optimal development. Supplements enriched with calcium and phosphorus can play a vital role in fortifying bone density, especially crucial for large breed dogs prone to joint issues later in life. Additionally, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can help support joint health and mobility, particularly in senior pets or those with arthritis.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">2. Strengthening Immunity</h4><p>A robust immune system is paramount for warding off illnesses. Supplements containing essential vitamins (such as vitamin C and vitamin E) and antioxidants bolster your pet's immune response, empowering them to combat infections and diseases effectively. Additionally, immune-boosting herbs like echinacea and astragalus may be included in certain supplements to further enhance immune function.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">3. Fostering Healthy Skin and Coat</h4><p>A glossy coat and supple skin are telltale signs of a pet in prime condition. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundantly found in certain supplements (such as fish oil or flaxseed oil), work wonders in moisturizing your pet's skin and promoting the growth of luxuriant fur, ensuring they look and feel their best. Moreover, supplements containing biotin, zinc and other nutrients support skin health and can alleviate issues like dryness, itching and excessive shedding.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">4. Supporting Digestive Health</h4><p>Just like humans, pets can experience digestive disturbances that impact their overall well-being. Probiotic supplements contain beneficial bacteria that aid in maintaining a healthy gut flora, facilitating smooth digestion and minimizing discomfort for your furry friend. Additionally, digestive enzymes may be included in some supplements to help break down food and improve nutrient absorption, particularly in pets with sensitive stomachs or digestive disorders.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Selecting the Perfect Supplements for Your Pet</h2><p>Now that you're acquainted with the benefits of supplements for your pet's growth, it's crucial to make informed choices when selecting the right ones. Here's how.</p><p><b>Consult Your Veterinarian</b>: Your veterinarian is as a trusted ally in your pet's health journey. Seek their guidance to determine the most suitable supplements based on factors like age, breed, size and any existing health concerns. They can also provide personalized recommendations and dosage guidelines tailored to your pet's specific needs.</p><p><b>Prioritize Quality</b>: Opt for supplements crafted by reputable manufacturers using premium-grade ingredients. While budget-friendly options may seem tempting, compromising on quality doesn't save money in the long run. Look for supplements that undergo rigorous testing for safety, purity and potency and avoid products containing artificial additives, fillers or unnecessary ingredients.</p><p><b>Consider Your Pet's Preferences</b>: Some pets may be picky eaters or have dietary restrictions, making it challenging to administer certain supplements. Choose supplements with palatable flavors or formulations that can be easily mixed with food or water to ensure the supplements are being consumed. This will minimize stress for both you and your pet.</p><p><b>Monitor Your Pet's Response</b>: After introducing a new supplement, monitor your pet closely for any changes in behavior, appetite or overall well-being. Keep track of any improvements or adverse reactions and communicate regularly with your veterinarian to make necessary adjustments to your pet's supplement regimen as needed.</p><p><b>Adhere to Dosage Recommendations</b>: Overzealous supplementation can do more harm than good. Always adhere to the recommended dosage guidelines provided on the supplement packaging to safeguard your pet's health. Resist the temptation to exceed the recommended dose in hopes of achieving faster results, as this can lead to nutrient imbalances, toxicity or other health complications.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Conclusion</h2><p>In essence, supplements serve as allies in nurturing your pet's growth and overall health. Whether it's fortifying bone strength, bolstering immunity, enhancing skin and coat condition, or promoting digestive wellness, the right supplements can make a world of difference in your furry companion's life. </p><div>Written by: contributor</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image: </b><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/adult-chocolate-labrador-retriever-v3-zcCWMjgM">James Barker</a><b>; Image 1: </b><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/sleeping-leopard-kitten-LcAZcVWsCIo">Paul Hanaoka</a></span></div>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-4997027131138166842022-06-29T06:00:00.013-07:002022-06-29T06:42:07.804-07:00Can Rabbits Have Mango (and Other Fresh Fruit and Veggie Questions)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c3a8PqG2gCSGFPr6D0Zwkk-2Jb1K-F9GJ3vQWqVgeqk65cbB2Q7hj8_ARpwhHLI0AxoZsazj7M-1QdpHxGtR0AhkbyM8pdxkO3aQdPe_WPug9b07uwC2aQUfs0cmcrIZYKR_aw5_ibXHFGgjv_b4e0mz6Yf3-ho9RfaAaBwYejizYCG-gY77S3td/s1400/brown%20and%20white%20rabbit%20-%20can%20rabbits%20have%20mango.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="brown and white rabbit - can rabbits have mango" border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c3a8PqG2gCSGFPr6D0Zwkk-2Jb1K-F9GJ3vQWqVgeqk65cbB2Q7hj8_ARpwhHLI0AxoZsazj7M-1QdpHxGtR0AhkbyM8pdxkO3aQdPe_WPug9b07uwC2aQUfs0cmcrIZYKR_aw5_ibXHFGgjv_b4e0mz6Yf3-ho9RfaAaBwYejizYCG-gY77S3td/s16000/brown%20and%20white%20rabbit%20-%20can%20rabbits%20have%20mango.jpg" title="brown and white rabbit - can rabbits have mango" /></a></div><br /><p>Some bunnies seem to want every treat in the house, every veggie you’re preparing and every fruit that gets within smelling range. So it’s important for their humans to learn what rabbits can safely eat because while they’re great at telling us what they want to eat, they are not good at knowing what they should eat. And even if they knew what they should eat, they wouldn’t care.</p><p>This post will explain what fresh fruits and veggies are good for bunnies and what fruits and veggies they should stay away from. Note that this information applies only to rabbits 12 weeks of age and older. Baby bunnies have very sensitive digestive systems and fruits and veggies are not good for them until they reach 12 weeks old. Avoid feeding fruits and vegetables until that time.</p><p>Let’s start with a common food question.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Can Rabbits Eat Mango?</h2><p>Yes, they can eat mango—as a treat, it’s very good for them. Mangoes are <a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1102670/nutrients">high in vitamin C</a> and also provide Vitamin A, B6, E and K. Mangoes are also high in minerals such as folate, copper, potassium, niacin and calcium. In addition, mangoes are a source of fibre, which is good for your rabbit’s digestive system.</p><p>That said, mango should be a special snack only. Mangoes are high in sugar and acid. If rabbits eat too much of it, they could get stomach problems and diarrhea, so only give mango in small amounts every few days to be safe. <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/5-strange-animals-humans-tried-turn-into-pets.html">Pet owners</a> should avoid giving rabbits dried mango or mango juice—both are too high in sugar to be good for your bunny.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Parts of a Mango Can Rabbits Eat?</h2><p>Some rabbits enjoy mango skins, which makes mangoes an easy snack because you don’t even have to peel them. If your rabbit doesn’t like the taste of them, they’ll just leave the skin and eat the fruit. The skins are safe and contain even more fibre than the fruit. Just wash the mango thoroughly with soap and water before you feed it to wash off any residual pesticides. </p><p>The pit isn’t good for rabbits to eat, so don’t let your bunny chew on it. Although the stem is ok, they’re not likely to eat it. Mango leaves are considered safe, although you probably won’t find them on supermarket mangoes. </p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Fruits Can Rabbits Have?</h2><p>Rabbits can eat lots of different fruits besides mangoes, including apples, apricots, bananas, berries and cherries, clementines, currents, grapes, kiwi, melons (including watermelon), nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums and star fruit.</p><p>Because fruit has such a high sugar content, give it as a treat a couple of times a week. Feed 1-2 tablespoons once or twice per week, depending on the weight of your rabbit. You can feed one fruit at a time, or make a little mixed fruit salad to liven up the routine. </p><p>When introducing a new fruit, go slowly. Start with a teaspoon of the new fruit, wait 24 hours to see how your rabbit’s body will react to it, and if no health issues crop up, increase the amount from there. Don’t introduce a bunch of new fruits (or any foods!) in a row. Always give your rabbit’s digestive system at least a few days to adjust before you add anything new.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Parts of a Fruit Can Rabbits Eat?</h2><p>Fruits and skins are both good for rabbits, with the exception of skins that humans can’t eat, like pineapple skins. Avoid giving your rabbit pits, seeds and stems. Don’t give your rabbits fruit juice, either—it’s too high in sugar.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Fruits Aren’t Good for Rabbits?</h2><p>Avoid rhubarb. It’s very high in oxalic acid, which is a compound that’s toxic to rabbits. It can prevent the body from absorbing minerals like calcium, as well as increase their risk of kidney stones and kidney disease over time.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Why Should I Limit Fruit in My Rabbit’s Diet?</h2><p>Fruits are high in sugar, which isn’t good for bunnies in large quantities. <a href="https://rabbit.org/digestibility-in-the-rabbit-diet/#:~:text=This%20is%20because%20sugars%20and,consequent%20illness%20to%20the%20rabbit">The House Rabbit Society (HRS) explains</a> that rabbits easily digest fructose, so they’re likely to gain too much weight if they eat a lot of it. Obese rabbits are more prone to cardiovascular disease and arthritis.</p><p>HRS states that “sugars and starches that the small intestine can’t digest will wind up in the cecum. If they arrive in large quantities in the cecum, they encourage the overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria with consequent illness to the rabbit.” While <a href="https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/are-sugars-and-starches-dangerous-for-rabbits">some vets dispute this idea</a>, it’s generally agreed that high amounts of sugar do not make for a nutritionally balanced diet. </p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Vegetables Should Rabbits Eat?</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpOgM9GqjV0HRVsTq_mktZnrauXePKbzlrAd7x2dgSaOD15VVTr4XwcMCHT6hOMvidz9S87EqV1xFZO_bNzDCTKEfgnS2ffY0oZIRhO2oN9sqUYXOtNbGWENN2xzgLrlTW2w0AarfHCpBnPZsgTXkb8MgsTZyu7PlyLlb4R49PWYodq7NHGAjehks/s1400/rabbit%20eating%20lettuce%20-%20can%20rabbits%20have%20mango.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rabbit eating lettuce - can rabbits have mango" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpOgM9GqjV0HRVsTq_mktZnrauXePKbzlrAd7x2dgSaOD15VVTr4XwcMCHT6hOMvidz9S87EqV1xFZO_bNzDCTKEfgnS2ffY0oZIRhO2oN9sqUYXOtNbGWENN2xzgLrlTW2w0AarfHCpBnPZsgTXkb8MgsTZyu7PlyLlb4R49PWYodq7NHGAjehks/s16000/rabbit%20eating%20lettuce%20-%20can%20rabbits%20have%20mango.jpg" title="rabbit eating lettuce - can rabbits have mango" /></a></div><br /><p>Leafy greens should be a staple of your rabbit’s diet and are the second most important source of nutrition for your rabbit, after hay. Leafy greens your rabbit should eat every day include: arugula, Boston lettuce, butter lettuce, chicory, dandelion greens, kale, red lettuce, spring greens and watercress.</p><p>Some leafy greens are higher in oxalic acid, so <a href="https://www.northwoodanimal.com/rabbit-feeding/">vets often recommend</a> that these greens be fed sparingly or rotated in and out of the rabbit’s diet. These include beet greens, mustard greens, radish tops, spinach and Swiss chard.</p><p>Rabbits should eat a variety of raw, fresh non-leafy veggies every day, too. These can include bell or sweet peppers, bok choy, <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2022/05/can-guinea-pigs-eat-broccoli-stems.html">broccoli</a>, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, endive, fennel, rapini, sprouts, tomatoes, watercress, wheatgrass and zucchini. Mix up what you give your rabbit to ensure they’re getting a range of nutrients.</p><p>Fresh (not dried) herbs like basil, borage, cilantro, dill, mint and parsley are also very healthy and rabbits go wild for them.</p><p>You can feed pumpkin and squash, as well, but they’re higher in sugar and therefore better as an occasional treat. Only feed your rabbit squashes that humans can eat—don’t feed them gourds.</p><p>Go easy with vegetables in the brassica family (that means broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, rapini and turnips) if your rabbit seems sensitive to them. These veggies have a high sulfur content that can give rabbits gas (like they do in humans).</p><p>Feed your bunny 1 cup of fresh veggies per 2 pounds of body weight every day, with at least ¾ of that amount coming from leafy greens. As with fruit, introduce any new vegetable slowly so as not to upset your bunny’s digestive system.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Parts of a Vegetable Can Rabbits Eat?</h2><p>A good rule of thumb is to give your bunnies the parts of the veggie that you would eat. The exception here is the tops of carrots and radishes—they’re very good for rabbits. </p><p>Depending on the vegetable, the stalks might be too hard for them to digest. Cabbage, for instance, has a tough stalk, so give your rabbit the leaves instead. Roots, stems and seeds generally shouldn’t be fed.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Veggies Should Rabbits Not Eat?</h2><p>Rabbits should stay away from avocados, beans, chives, corn, garlic, iceberg lettuce, leeks, legumes, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes and yams. Here’s why.</p><p>Avocados, garlic, chives, leeks and onions all contain compounds that are highly toxic to rabbits. Beans, peas and legumes are high in carbohydrates, in addition to containing levels of phosphorus and calcium that are too high for a rabbit’s GI system. </p><p>Mushrooms and iceberg lettuce can contain toxins that can harm a rabbit if a rabbit eats enough of them. And finally, potatoes and yams are too high in calories and starch. In addition, potatoes contain a compound called solanine that can be toxic if enough is ingested.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Conclusion—What Should Rabbits Eat?</h2><p>Most of your rabbit’s diet should consist of good quality grass or timothy hay. If you feed unlimited hay and fresh water, plenty of leafy greens, some non-leafy vegetables and a little fruit for a snack, you’re giving your bunny a diet they can thrive on. </p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/T-V0104wuU0">Sandy Millar</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/rabbit-healthy-eating-healthy-food-2383784/">Nancy Mure</a></span></p><p>Written by: Anne Elliot </p>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-60883121162097661072022-05-11T06:00:00.004-07:002022-05-11T06:00:00.162-07:00Can Guinea Pigs Eat Broccoli Stems (and Other Questions About Guinea Pig Diet)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD2-iBheT4EB6Z6-EAQWs1kecgyWigMKnqqKewklR8zrfFxzsDa4tibptiKfzQHIUel9Z4DUH6wg_rcQ6jWXxyVMYqyyyJBdpNQ9urfNes9u3Su5W21z_edapxBQqBNVo3zFVQrwvXrshofnCKJ_-NG4lc2VWEDDQVwV6YRtdkoYj_Rc-WbWuxmUX/s1400/guinea%20pig%20outside%20with%20kale%20stem%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20eat%20broccoli%20stems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guinea pig outside with kale stem - can guinea pigs eat broccoli stems" border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD2-iBheT4EB6Z6-EAQWs1kecgyWigMKnqqKewklR8zrfFxzsDa4tibptiKfzQHIUel9Z4DUH6wg_rcQ6jWXxyVMYqyyyJBdpNQ9urfNes9u3Su5W21z_edapxBQqBNVo3zFVQrwvXrshofnCKJ_-NG4lc2VWEDDQVwV6YRtdkoYj_Rc-WbWuxmUX/s16000/guinea%20pig%20outside%20with%20kale%20stem%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20eat%20broccoli%20stems.jpg" title="guinea pig outside with kale stem - can guinea pigs eat broccoli stems" /></a></div><br /><p>In short, <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2022/04/can-guinea-pigs-see-dark.html">guinea pigs</a> can and do eat broccoli stems. Broccoli is very good for their digestion because it’s high in fiber and very good for their teeth because it’s a crunchy veggie that helps keep teeth worn down to a healthy size. It’s also low in sugar, which makes it a better choice than many other snacks.</p><p>The best thing about broccoli, though, is its high vitamin C content (more on vitamin C below). Broccoli actually has more vitamin C than an orange—<a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/747447/nutrients">91.3 mg per 100 grams</a>! You don’t need to cook it—in fact, it’s better for your cavy if you don’t—and you don’t need to prepare it in any special way. Florets, stems, leaves—guinea pigs typically love it all.</p><p>If you’re introducing broccoli to your guinea pigs for the first time, give only a small amount and monitor them for any changes in their digestion. You’ll especially want to be on the lookout for bloating or signs that they’re uncomfortable. </p><p>Too much broccoli can cause gas, which can be extremely painful for guinea pigs. Bloating can become a very serious condition, so keep a close eye when introducing this (or any new food). </p><p>Start with a chunk that will fit in a teaspoon and if that seems to go down ok, you can slowly increase it to about a tablespoon. If you’re concerned about feeding too much, give broccoli 2-3 times a week as a special snack.</p><p>Have more questions about feeding your guinea pig? Well, follow me, because we might have the answers here.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Do Guinea Pigs Eat?</h2><p>Veterinarians <a href="https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/guinea-pigs-feeding">Laurie Hess and Rick Axelson explain</a> that there are two essential things guinea pigs need in their diets. “The most critical aspect of the diet of guinea pigs,” they say, “is their requirement for vitamin C.” The second essential is “unlimited amounts of hay.”</p><p>Hay is the biggest part of a guinea pig’s diet. Vets usually recommend a grassy hay like timothy or orchard grass. Grassy hay gives guinea pigs the fibre they need, as well as protein, vitamins and minerals. It’s low in calories, which helps cavies keep a healthy weight. And the constant nibbling helps keep teeth in good shape.</p><p>Like people, cavies don’t make their own vitamin C, so they need to get it from other food sources. Hay doesn’t provide enough vitamin C, however, so guinea pig owners usually feed vitamin C-fortified commercial pellets and fresh veggies. </p><p>Even though it’s common to feed commercial pellets to guinea pigs, guinea pigs don’t really need pellets. A good commercial food will offer a balance of nutrients, including vitamin C, but it’s not difficult to create a balanced diet for a guinea pig without them.</p><p>Many fruits and veggies are high in vitamin C, broccoli included. They also have a ton of other nutrients that cavies need. The following are just some of the veggies that are good for cavies to eat on a daily basis:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Leafy greens such as kale, rocket, chard and Romaine lettuce</li><li>Bell peppers</li><li>Snow peas</li><li>Cabbage</li><li>Endive</li><li>Squashes </li><li>Tomatoes</li><li>Asparagus</li><li>Fresh herbs like cilantro, dill, parsley and basil</li><li>Broccoli and cauliflower</li><li>Carrots</li></ul><p></p><p>Guinea pigs can eat any part of these veggies, including edible stems, greens and tops. Cavies also love fruit, but fruit should be a special treat (more on treats below).</p><p>To ensure guinea pigs get the right amount of vitamin C in a form they can absorb, owners will usually also feed liquid vitamin C or vitamin C tablets. That’s because vitamin C has a short shelf life, so the amount contained in enriched pellets can quickly decrease. </p><p>Plus, it’s often too tricky to try to figure out exactly how much a guinea pig has absorbed from the veggies they’ve eaten that day, especially if someone has more than one pig.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Foods Are Bad for Guinea Pigs?</h2><p>Hess and Axelson suggest avoiding oats, seeds and nuts, as well as dry cereals because “they are too high in carbohydrates and fat.” Dried beans and peas aren’t good for cavies, either.</p><p>Onions, leeks and chives are also bad for guinea pigs, as well as mushrooms, avocados, potatoes and many garden flowers.</p><p>Legume hays like alfalfa should be avoided unless a vet recommends it. Alfalfa is very high in calcium and protein, so it’s generally too rich for guinea pigs to eat. Vets might suggest a legume hay for pregnant guinea pigs, pups or guinea pigs who are ill and need the extra calories and nutrients. For others, however, the extra calcium and protein could lead to digestive upset, kidney or bladder stones.</p><p>Guinea pigs should eat pellets that are timothy-based rather than alfalfa-based, too. Alfalfa-based pellets tend to be higher in calories, as well as calcium, and can raise the risk of bladder stones. </p><p>Processed foods, sugary snacks, dairy and chocolate also go on the “do not feed” list.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">How Much Should You Feed Your Guinea Pig?</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZtYeEnvLLiJYgO_KJJgFXoyY0J2Nw7OJ8TsNq4w5Ch-RWQG5Jia05uUvTeq5JrXbRdoR52LN9iA1jnWcdW5tlZMvleYWTJm1TCjGrJLcAn6kTKCatPZKgYifw8GV6KoE7L0j3OYHI5TcKQ8Onnn17_FZlQHvc3ar4uypjQIFvVASz2aq1ykS_TuK/s1400/guinea%20pigs%20eating%20carrots%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20eat%20broccoli%20stems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guinea pigs eating carrots - can guinea pigs eat broccoli stems" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZtYeEnvLLiJYgO_KJJgFXoyY0J2Nw7OJ8TsNq4w5Ch-RWQG5Jia05uUvTeq5JrXbRdoR52LN9iA1jnWcdW5tlZMvleYWTJm1TCjGrJLcAn6kTKCatPZKgYifw8GV6KoE7L0j3OYHI5TcKQ8Onnn17_FZlQHvc3ar4uypjQIFvVASz2aq1ykS_TuK/s16000/guinea%20pigs%20eating%20carrots%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20eat%20broccoli%20stems.jpg" title="guinea pigs eating carrots - can guinea pigs eat broccoli stems" /></a></div><br /><p>For as excited as they get to see food, guinea pigs aren’t prone to overeating. You should leave hay out 24/7 so they can pick when they want to. </p><p>While you’ll see many different estimates of how much hay your guinea pig should be eating, the truth is they really can’t have too much, so keep the hay rack full. Remember that hay should make up the bulk of your guinea pig’s diet, so don’t overdo it on pellets and treats and your guinea pig should eat all the hay they need.</p><p>The label on your commercial pellets will tell you how much you should be giving your guinea pig every day, but it’s common for them to get about 1/8 of a cup per day.</p><p>For vitamin C intake, 10-50mg/day is a common range. Pregnant, sick or older guinea pigs typically need more than healthy, active ones. Veterinarian <a href="https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?id=3843941&pid=11131&print=1">Heidi Hoefer recommends</a> 5-10 mg per day as a baseline and 25-50 mg per day when an animal is stressed, sick or pregnant.</p><p>1/2 to 1 cup of veggies daily is plenty for a guinea pig. The majority of those veggies should be leafy greens, with brightly-coloured veggies second in importance. Veggies that are high in sugar, like carrots or sweet potato should be fed less often. Other veggies that are high in oxalates, like spinach and parsley, should be fed sparingly to reduce the risk of bladder stones.</p><p>Give fruit in small amounts a few times a week. A few tablespoons of a fruit (the equivalent of an orange wedge or a few blueberries, for example) is lots.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Are Some Signs of Nutritional Deficiency?</h2><p>If your guinea pig gets unlimited hay, pellets and a big variety of veggies, they’re probably not going to be malnourished. That said, signs that your feeding program isn’t giving your cavies the right nutrition include coarse fur, weight loss, digestive upset, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite and loss of energy. </p><p>Any of these could also be signs that something else is going on, however. Talk to your vet if your cavy experiences these symptoms.</p><p>Hess and Axelson describe the signs of vitamin C deficiency. They say a “guinea pig that has a rough hair coat, is off food, has diarrhea, is reluctant to walk, perhaps appears to be painful, has swollen feet or joints, or has hemorrhages and ulcers on its gums or skin, is likely to be deficient in vitamin C.” They recommend taking your pig to the veterinarian if you notice any of those signs.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">What Are Some Good Treats for Guinea Pigs?</h2><p>Like many <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/9-of-cutest-mammals-in-world.html">mammals</a>, piggies tend to have strong preferences, so they will tell you what counts as a treat to them. Many guinea pigs love herbs like basil, cilantro and mint. Dandelion greens are a popular treat, as are nasturtiums. Carrots are some cavies’ absolute favourites.</p><p>Fruit is a good bet, although like many treats, too much isn’t good for them. The sugar in fruit can cause diarrhea, but in moderation, fruits that are high in vitamin C (like citrus fruits) are an especially good choice. </p><p>Store-bought snacks often aren’t good for cavies because they’re too high in fat and sugar and contain low-quality, artificial ingredients. They also tend to be expensive, so save your money and prepare a tiny salad of fresh herbs instead.</p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/guinea-pig-the-animal-hamster-hair-2513177/">Ajale</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MUcxe_wDurE">Bonnie Kittle</a></span></div>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-57943528532868223312022-04-19T06:00:00.012-07:002022-04-19T06:00:00.172-07:00Can Guinea Pigs See in the Dark? Answers to Your Questions About Guinea Pig Sight <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1zMfLIgi-SztTTm8y6XBzPTZut07QO9YFEyY2Fr2JuTd-MO8PDjot0ASZSDZ4kbQ41Z1MJV1EbWTqIsbYQzaoCT7vezjies8qxlGQpoM_9Ut3wrwtb2Bh3A2b_qou4opaJInnEhAM4Q9fWEPIUtO-jH-RjR6G1wuIlpzlSQpagef5vOxmcaRbfXk/s1400/guinea%20pig%20under%20chair%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20see%20in%20the%20dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guinea pig under chair - can guinea pigs see in the dark" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1zMfLIgi-SztTTm8y6XBzPTZut07QO9YFEyY2Fr2JuTd-MO8PDjot0ASZSDZ4kbQ41Z1MJV1EbWTqIsbYQzaoCT7vezjies8qxlGQpoM_9Ut3wrwtb2Bh3A2b_qou4opaJInnEhAM4Q9fWEPIUtO-jH-RjR6G1wuIlpzlSQpagef5vOxmcaRbfXk/s16000/guinea%20pig%20under%20chair%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20see%20in%20the%20dark.jpg" title="guinea pig under chair - can guinea pigs see in the dark" /></a></div><br /><p>Guinea pigs are <a href="https://discoveryeye.org/32-facts-about-animal-eyes/">born with their eyes open</a>, but how do they see the world? </p><p>For all the time humans have spent with them, there are still a lot of questions when it comes to guinea pigs and we don’t always have answers about how their adorable bodies work. Researchers have generally been so busy performing experiments <i>on </i>them that they haven’t gained a lot of information <i>about </i>them.</p><p>Here’s what we do know, though—in a nutshell, they probably don’t see any better in the dark than we do.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">How Well Do Guinea Pigs See in General?</h2><p>Guinea pigs seem to see ok, but they see differently than humans do. Since their eyes are set more to the sides of their heads, they have good peripheral vision. They can see an incredible 340 degrees around, which gives them a much larger field of vision than we have.</p><p>That said, their eye position gives them poor depth perception. For depth perception to work, an animal needs binocular vision; that is, they need to see the world through both eyes at a time. </p><p>Since guinea pigs see most of the world out of each eye, independently, it’s probably harder for them to judge how far away things are or how far apart things are from each other. In addition, <a href="https://vetexplainspets.com/can-guinea-pigs-see-in-the-dark/#:~:text=Guinea%20pigs%20can%20not%20see%20very%20well%20in%20the%20dark,stay%20away%20from%20their%20predators.">they can only see 3-5 feet</a>, so long-range vision isn’t really their forte.</p><p>That might surprise you if you’ve ever hung out with guinea pigs and noticed their unerring instincts for knowing exactly when humans enter the room with favourite treats. Or noticed that your guinea pigs seem to find their way around their cage just fine at night.</p><p>But that’s because guinea pigs have adapted to use other senses that are a little better than their vision.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">How Do Guinea Pigs Navigate the Dark?</h2><p>Despite not seeing very well in the dark, guinea pigs really do manage to get around. They can find their way in the dark thanks to a few special traits that are more effective than their vision.</p><p>For example, what the guinea pig lacks in vision, they more than make up for in spatial memory. While it’s usually rats and mice who are made to run mazes in labs, guinea pigs have also demonstrated that they’re handy with spatial learning tasks.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2859863/">One study found</a> that domestic guinea pigs actually outperform their cousins, the wild cavy, when tested on their spatial learning abilities.</p><p>Guinea pigs also have something scientists call “vibrissae” on their muzzles. We know them better as whiskers. These are actually specialized hairs that have high numbers of nerve cells surrounding the hair follicle. </p><p>Guinea pigs use their whiskers to feel their way around, in much the same way we use our hands. Much like our sense of touch, whiskers help a guinea pig determine the size, shape and texture of things around them, which helps them forage and locate objects.</p><p>Whiskers are so sensitive that they can feel vibrations in the air, which tells cavies if something is moving nearby, like a <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/05/10-of-most-dangerous-animals-in-asia.html">predator</a> (or a sassy friend who’s about to ambush them).</p><p>In addition to this extra sense of touch, guinea pigs have incredible senses of smell and hearing. This won’t come as a surprise to guinea pig owners, who have to work awfully hard to hide the rustling sound of a treat bag or the smell of a freshly cut carrot.</p><p>These finely honed senses don’t just help cavies find food, although that’s probably most of what your piggie is using them for. They help guinea pigs know when threats are coming close and help them identify friends and foes among their social groups. </p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Are Guinea Pigs Nocturnal?</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXYX7DaP1MXh-AI2aNRIobmjKp-kN_DIC-PbzZZKyoqLgRj-nmwN_NaTwyKDj7q7u_Wfkww2gtwDdTtNkB5nge9P7lG3n-2Pxy8rgjAtPWdMQA0DDwaRukeQXK-MSvsjF6lFUAhEcLulvoAGJqv3ZejAUIAcZl-dn6jVL45DLPP_QO_Ads83u9S-R/s1400/guinea%20pig%20at%20food%20bowl%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20see%20in%20the%20dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guinea pig at food bowl - can guinea pigs see in the dark" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXYX7DaP1MXh-AI2aNRIobmjKp-kN_DIC-PbzZZKyoqLgRj-nmwN_NaTwyKDj7q7u_Wfkww2gtwDdTtNkB5nge9P7lG3n-2Pxy8rgjAtPWdMQA0DDwaRukeQXK-MSvsjF6lFUAhEcLulvoAGJqv3ZejAUIAcZl-dn6jVL45DLPP_QO_Ads83u9S-R/s16000/guinea%20pig%20at%20food%20bowl%20-%20can%20guinea%20pigs%20see%20in%20the%20dark.jpg" title="guinea pig at food bowl - can guinea pigs see in the dark" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Guinea pigs aren’t nocturnal—exactly what they are is a question under debate, though. <a href="https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/special-considerations-for-guinea-pigs#:~:text=Unlike%20hamsters%20and%20rats%2C%20guinea,them%20without%20disturbing%20their%20rest.">The Merck Veterinary Manual says</a> guinea pigs are diurnal, meaning they’re active during the day.</p><p>Other people say they’re crepuscular, which is what we call animals who are active at dawn and twilight. In <a href="https://sites.oxy.edu/clint/physio/article/spectralsensitivityphotopigmentsandcolorvisionintheguineapig.pdf">a 1994 study</a> on guinea pig vision, however, researchers Gerald H. Jacobs and Jess F. Deegan II explain that guinea pigs were crepuscular in the wild, but they’re not in the lab. </p><p>In the lab, they say, guinea pigs “may display essentially continuous activity” whether it’s constantly light or constantly dark. </p><p>That tracks with a lot of guinea pig owners’ experiences. Plenty of owners are woken every night by the sound of piggies playing, munching and exploring when it seems like by anyone’s reasonable standards, they should be asleep. </p><p><a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/guinea-pig">According to the Smithsonian</a>, guinea pigs spend 4% of their days sleeping, and sleep only for about 6 minutes at a time. Hence, all the micro-naps your piggie takes during the day. But if it seems to you like your cavies are up <i>all. the. time.</i>, you’re right. They are.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Do Guinea Pigs Need a Light at Night?</h2><p>As you can tell, even though your piggie might be active at night, and even though their vision isn’t great at night, they don’t need a light to help them. In fact, it’s better to let them spend the night without one. </p><p>Cavies are prey animals, and they feel safest when they’re huddled away. One of the reasons they love their tunnels and their blanket forts so much is that it’s dark in there, so keep the lights off at night so your guinea pig can feel safer and less stressed.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Do Guinea Pigs See Colours?</h2><p>They do see colours. Jacobs and Deegan’s research proved that guinea pigs are dichromats—that is, they see two colours (blues and greens to be exact). To give you a comparison, humans are trichromats, which means we see three colours (blues and greens and also reds). If we were to look at the world through a guinea pig’s eyes, it would look like someone had put a blue filter all over everything.</p><p>Monochromats see in black and white, along with all the greys in between. Most <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/9-of-cutest-mammals-in-world.html">mammals</a>, in fact, have dichromatic vision, including cats and dogs. Many primates, including humans, have additional cones in our eyes that give us trichomatic vision. But humans don’t have the most advanced vision in the animal world. </p><p>Most birds and fish, as well as lizards, have cones that give them tetrachromatic vision. That means they can see blues, greens, reds and ultraviolet. And the mantis shrimp has <a href="https://www.livescience.com/42797-mantis-shrimp-sees-color.html">12 different colour receptors</a> in their eyes, so the world of colours that we see is not nearly all the colours of the rainbow.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Conclusion</h2><p>We hope that answers some of your questions about these neat little creatures and the incredible ways they’ve adapted to move around in the dark, keep themselves safe from predators and sense when cilantro is about.</p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/-MLCLFc01Uo">Bonnie Kittle</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-guinea-pig-9504690/">Jean Alves</a></span></div>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-63213803425787135872022-02-23T06:00:00.002-08:002022-02-23T06:08:00.217-08:00Best Eco-Friendly Pet Toys Review & Buying Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlE1-a7DVRqVvK8Oeg_svLQQf3eTqB9lQT-2GqXpikfPcbE_NKmJ7s37dZYdTX8oiW1iQw8rWXylIL-5bgeT7Yxf0dgdWFZl8i5tlqO2dHmuJSC2ONXbUXck6JAYX-v-CR4Dj9O2CY8DZF7AWUpKDSjnIrIGXxOnI4nGSriUUlOXgFZzFOlbHsH2h=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="border collie with stuffed toy in mouth - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlE1-a7DVRqVvK8Oeg_svLQQf3eTqB9lQT-2GqXpikfPcbE_NKmJ7s37dZYdTX8oiW1iQw8rWXylIL-5bgeT7Yxf0dgdWFZl8i5tlqO2dHmuJSC2ONXbUXck6JAYX-v-CR4Dj9O2CY8DZF7AWUpKDSjnIrIGXxOnI4nGSriUUlOXgFZzFOlbHsH2h=s16000" title="border collie with stuffed toy in mouth - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" /></a></div><br /><p>There’s a whole, wide world of eco-friendly pet toys, but it’s not as simple as it should be to locate toys that are both high quality and low environmental impact. To help guide you, we bring you these reviews of sustainable pet toys. </p><p>We’ll give you some info about a toy in different categories, sum up what other people have been saying about it so you don’t have to sift through tons of reviews, and share whatever details we can find on how environmentally friendly these toys and their makers actually are.</p><p>We’ll start with cats at the top and then move on to dogs, so feel free to skip the first half if you don’t have feline friends to buy for.</p><p>Let’s get started.</p><p><i>Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.</i></p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Catnip Toys for Cats</h2><p>You can’t go wrong with a classic catnip toy, and SPOT Ethical Pet’s <a href="https://capitaloneshopping.com/p/spot-ethical-pets-fish-with-catn/8DJ588ZQ8V">Fish with Catnip</a> is a solid choice. These bright, cheerful felt toys come in a few different varieties, so if you don’t like the fish, you can choose a mouse or a bug instead. </p><p>These fish largely have great reviews. People especially loved how cute and soft they are. Many people reported that this became their cat’s favourite toy. More than a few reviewers had quality control issues, with some saying their cats had taken the toy apart in a matter of hours. Best to check the toy over before giving it to your cat.</p><p><a href="https://www.ethicalpet.com/company/sustainability/">Ethical Products explains</a> that their New Jersey facility runs on 100% solar power. The company belongs to the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition, and sometimes uses recycled and natural materials for their toys. Their website says that they plan to develop “new eco-friendly materials” to use in products in the future.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Wand Toys for Cats</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulXth95aotNBrcEB0yIAUoGdRpINVZN2ZeIWy8riC1D6ysPEjmYqHUgCPZWH76KceVPiYAJFphxLOXufj8cHMNRab2jTTBJAZTNV9xkN1VZkk9LVxudFR6ETq00P7e79blxVDnapN9QQkVZUHSxM-xs3Tg4YsOE-o6IgzzekwOf_aDyGXT7yOQOpG=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="orange and white cat playing with want toy - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulXth95aotNBrcEB0yIAUoGdRpINVZN2ZeIWy8riC1D6ysPEjmYqHUgCPZWH76KceVPiYAJFphxLOXufj8cHMNRab2jTTBJAZTNV9xkN1VZkk9LVxudFR6ETq00P7e79blxVDnapN9QQkVZUHSxM-xs3Tg4YsOE-o6IgzzekwOf_aDyGXT7yOQOpG=s16000" title="orange and white cat playing with want toy - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" /></a></div><br /><p>Honest Pet Products’ <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hdcxsx">Eco Kitty Catcher</a> is a great alternative to plastic wand toys. This isn’t a flashy product with bells and shiny bits, but the toy at the end of the string is a cute, 6-inch felt worm that’s anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, which is fantastic.</p><p>This toy hasn’t had tons of reviews, but other people who used it really like it. Aside from the ethical features, they appreciated the toy’s durability and quality. People say their <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/12/should-you-should-you-not-let-cat-outside.html">cats</a> love it. Some say the cats love it a bit too much, and they have to keep it locked away in between play sessions so their cats don’t devour the toy.</p><p>The pole is made of bamboo, and the string is hemp twine. The toy itself is wool dyed with vegetable dyes, making the entire toy biodegradable. The company was featured in O-Magazine’s “Eco Edition” <a href="https://honestpetproducts.com/our-founder/">and states</a> that it’s committed to using natural materials.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Chase Toys for Cats</h2><p>For chasing, Comfy Pet Supplies offers <a href="https://amzn.to/34Xu373">Wool Felt Ball Toys</a> in a variety of colours. They come in a 6-pack, which is perfect if you have multiple cats or cats who like to chase their toys into unreachable corners under the stove.</p><p>These are well-reviewed toys. People generally thought they were well-made and had no issues with the balls unravelling. They loved that they were quiet, durable and easily washable. Some reviewers received different products when they bought them from Amazon—products that had foam cores. Others had issues with felt shedding, and still others thought they were too big.</p><p>The balls are made from 100% New Zealand wool, hand-felted by women artisans in Nepal. The dyes are non-toxic and azo free. On the down side, I couldn’t find out very much about the company, so we have to take them at their word, which isn’t ideal.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Toy Mice for Cats</h2><p>For cats who love toy mice, Catit offers a <a href="https://amzn.to/3p9TWr7">Seagrass Mouse</a> made from all-natural materials. It has a woven surface that’s extremely inviting for cat claws, and feathers as a tail for extra enticement.</p><p>Most people who reviewed this toy seem to like it. Their cats enjoyed the texture of it, while the reviewers enjoyed knowing that if their cat ingested a bit of the seagrass, it wouldn’t harm them. Some people found that the grass unravelled as their cat played with the toy, and thought a stronger glue was needed. Most reviewers found their cats could pull the feathers out easily.</p><p>The seagrass twine is a nice change from polyester and synthetic materials. Catit, as a company, doesn’t feature a lot of information on their website, but seems to have an interest in sustainability—they offer a range of “green” products, from all natural toys to insect protein-based cat food.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Feather Toys for Cats</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQDeWBksRA8s93DJul2CWhULgzsryLqY2zRwrIcAXyYpinw46dgVYlsYJDrNaAfo04zwMhGYqxIifh8-3IMq5rcfgdXIDOYjua7EUr4qpVg2WFPZ5i38NPop-o6Jcmrj2kgkDUMWfzMnQ5Opws7k08W8ttbRcyScxmFiPDxKYLVgp0YJmA-F0hk-03=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tortoise shell cat hunting toy - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQDeWBksRA8s93DJul2CWhULgzsryLqY2zRwrIcAXyYpinw46dgVYlsYJDrNaAfo04zwMhGYqxIifh8-3IMq5rcfgdXIDOYjua7EUr4qpVg2WFPZ5i38NPop-o6Jcmrj2kgkDUMWfzMnQ5Opws7k08W8ttbRcyScxmFiPDxKYLVgp0YJmA-F0hk-03=s16000" title="tortoise shell cat hunting toy - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" /></a></div><br /><p>It’s hard for cats to resist a feather toy, and <a href="https://amzn.to/3s8SVl8">Freddy’s Feather</a>, from the company From the Field is a good one. It’s a wand that features a twirling mechanism so the feather mimics birds in flight when you tug on it.</p><p>Others who bought this toy loved the way the toy moved and the level of interest it got from their cats. They also loved that the feathers are dye-free and that the construction was cat-safe. More than a few folks warned, however, that the string on this toy is prone to breakage.</p><p>This toy is 95% biodegradable and made almost entirely of natural materials, such as a hemp string, a wood handle and a cork and feather toy. <a href="https://www.fromthefieldpet.com/about-us/">From the Field itself says</a> it’s dedicated to renewable materials (so hopefully soon it will consider making this wand 100% biodegradable).</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Chew Toys for Dogs</h2><p>By now, everyone knows the <a href="https://amzn.to/3BID2oC">KONG Classic Dog Toy</a>. What we don’t often hear about is that there are a couple of environmental benefits to this iconic product. There’s a range of sizes and types, so you’re likely to find an option that suits your dog.</p><p>These toys are very highly rated. The durability sets them apart, although the design is generally beloved, too. Reviewers say this toy helps solve chewing and behaviour issues as well as boredom. There are some reviewers who felt the toy didn’t perform as they expected, but by and large, it’s a crowd favourite. </p><p>The classic KONG is made from natural rubber. They’re also incredibly durable chew toys, and having to buy fewer of them minimizes waste and resource use. That said, KONG has no stated interest in sustainability, and many of its products wouldn’t make this list.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Rope Toys for Dogs</h2><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3HdEfFF">Rubber Ball on Rope</a> from Beco is a simple toy that’s big on environmental credentials. The toy is just what the name suggests—a rubber ball tied onto a rope, with a few knots for chewing. It comes in small and large sizes, in a few bright colours.</p><p>People who have reviewed this item give it high praise. They say their dogs love it, and that it’s like having 2 toys in one. Reviewers say it’s long-lasting, sturdy even with aggressive chewers and easy to clean. Bad reviews of this toy are thin on the ground. Users did warn that the ball doesn’t float, which they found out to their dismay.</p><p>Material-wise, the toy is made of natural rubber and recycled cotton. The company, Beco, is deeply invested in caring for the environment, from decarbonizing their operations to choosing ethical supply chain partners to investing in animal welfare and environmental projects.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Balls for Dogs</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7igPtkA--C-_RW997pYKIEGbQX7kp3XF1hHYeN8V33qJethXyaUgyau8CROtfEJK2FINkDv3qR1a5IF7zzt69t7ghsRmXu0KBX7F4mpsPslVNIsiui9z67K8sHLM34TY7Lge7nnO_OuBRYTc2xqpas1lQUIcy6cJk-57LSNbdKBjtWwjxHToy1x8B=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="puppy with ball at beach - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7igPtkA--C-_RW997pYKIEGbQX7kp3XF1hHYeN8V33qJethXyaUgyau8CROtfEJK2FINkDv3qR1a5IF7zzt69t7ghsRmXu0KBX7F4mpsPslVNIsiui9z67K8sHLM34TY7Lge7nnO_OuBRYTc2xqpas1lQUIcy6cJk-57LSNbdKBjtWwjxHToy1x8B=s16000" title="puppy with ball at beach - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" /></a></div><br /><p>West Paw Design’s <a href="https://amzn.to/351kLXF">Zogoflex Jive Ball</a> takes the conventional tennis ball up a level, both in durability and sustainability. It comes in a few sizes and colours, has a neat design that makes its bounce less predictable and also floats in water.</p><p>This ball gets rave reviews from most buyers. Most reviewers had high praise for how tough this ball was and how well it stands up to abuse. Some, however, thought the ball wasn’t worth the price. Others felt it was too hard and worried about damaging their furniture or their dogs’ mouths. A few others had dogs who chewed through it.</p><p>These toys are non-toxic, and used balls <a href="https://www.westpaw.com/pages/join-the-loop">can be sent back to West Paw</a>, who will recycle them into new products. West Paw Design is a founding member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition and a Certified B Corporation. Their site suggests their supply chain is chosen for their ethical practices, too.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Plush Toys for Dogs</h2><p>Plush toys never seem to last long, and if you’re worried about the environmental impact of constantly buying new ones, check out P.L.A.Y.’s <a href="https://amzn.to/35eI8Nc">Farm Fresh Plush Collection</a>. This is a collection of adorable vegetables with squeakers inside, and feature 100% post-consumer plastic fill and azo-free dye.</p><p>Reviews of these toys are more mixed than some of the other options. Some dogs were able to shred them in short order, while other dogs kept them in good repair for a while. Reviewers all noted that their dogs loved them and had an excellent time, even while tearing them up.</p><p>P.L.A.Y. is a company that walks the walk where green credentials are concerned. They’re a certified B Corporation, as well as a Green America-certified business. From 100% renewable energy at their headquarters to FSC certified paper packaging, P.L.A.Y. goes beyond just selecting greener materials.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Squeaky Toys for Dogs</h2><p>You wouldn’t think squeaky toys would be particularly eco-friendly, but Beco has a range of squeaky toys made from recycled plastic, like their <a href="https://amzn.to/3t1nGrb">George the Giraffe Dog Toy</a>. It comes in a few sizes and has a neat design that makes it easy for dogs to carry around.</p><p>Other people who bought this toy report that it’s durable and long-lasting. They liked that the fabric was tough, but still soft enough for their dogs to snuggle with. Some people were disappointed with the product, however, or wished it had held up better.</p><p>The shell and stuffing of this toy are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content, as are many of Beco’s products. As we mentioned above, this is a company that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to creating sustainable toys.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Guide to Choosing Sustainable Pet Toys</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-_DvAF6Wuea0qtqvEwu-DUDNQBPFV15NjkNSAG-xYQZ7Z2QShDjQwRO1m5QJy2U9QmutancdlG50fWvGHjxkGb1awb4VBvepZYBXjdDyxw7zpNStxVWOYKXN40Is7iT_OxbXlsOuKTzfNlaUx_t0LKQ6O1FGciI_qAdJ0GZCCgFeMyOW_gyX45IMq=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cat in pile of stuffed animals - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-_DvAF6Wuea0qtqvEwu-DUDNQBPFV15NjkNSAG-xYQZ7Z2QShDjQwRO1m5QJy2U9QmutancdlG50fWvGHjxkGb1awb4VBvepZYBXjdDyxw7zpNStxVWOYKXN40Is7iT_OxbXlsOuKTzfNlaUx_t0LKQ6O1FGciI_qAdJ0GZCCgFeMyOW_gyX45IMq=s16000" title="cat in pile of stuffed animals - best eco-friendly pet toys review and buying guide" /></a></div><br /><p>Be careful of greenwashing. Just because a company tells you something is sustainable doesn’t mean it is. Pet toy manufacturers aren’t obligated to tell consumers what’s in their products, so a product can be advertised as “green” when it’s patently not. </p><p>That lack of accountability on the part of manufacturers can really muddy the waters for people trying to figure out whether a product is eco-friendly or not. You can simplify that process by finding out two things: what the toy is made of and how it was made. </p><p>Look for toys that are made of natural and renewable materials. Plastics and synthetics are going to be harder on the environment, especially considering you usually can’t recycle pet toys at the end of their lifespans. </p><p>Durability should factor in here, as well. Buying one toy that lasts for a dog’s lifetime is going to result in less waste and fewer associated emissions than if you end up buying a new chew toy every week.</p><p>You can look for third-party certification that materials were sustainably harvested. It’s also well within your rights to ask a company to be transparent about their materials, so don’t be afraid to call or message them and ask what’s in a toy. If they can’t tell you, move on.</p><p>Research the company that makes the product, too. Try to determine what their manufacturing processes are like. If they have renewable energy, energy efficiency or waste reduction measures in place, they’ll usually put that information on their website—green credentials are valuable for their business.</p><p>And finally, it’s good to remember that we can always make toys ourselves. The internet is full of ideas for interesting, safe and easy-to-make toys that we can create with things that are lying around our homes already. </p><p>Repurposed materials that have no transportation emissions associated with them are a very green option, and our <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/5-strange-animals-humans-tried-turn-into-pets.html">pets</a> do not care if our final product is perfect. They just want us to throw it already.</p><p>Written by Anne Elliot</p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/oD8uurkrH4c">Jesper Brouwers</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/GM9Q2QgbNDY">Dorothe Wouters</a>; <b>Image 2</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/iP4tv2ZL8DQ">Dan Dennis</a>;<b> Image 3</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/oH9AuO20kbk">Andrew Pons</a>; <b>Image 4</b>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/EOFCq03-PYs">Nikola Bačanek</a></span></div>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-14523055143875383242021-12-22T07:00:00.002-08:002022-02-19T08:54:56.761-08:00Should You or Should You Not Let Your Cat Outside?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObNsb25Ovflq2mG8gOq-mTYcAm9SQL5YIMTpUsdEdg5Jkrl7ovUBBrXNOElFiFQ-0H5Q1-7z5YuINsCVe2sEuB1861m1nxcCjGnE5sAt7tKKSFjC85YbStkZK6DzNapaUbtWKvOs4LxyM3Y1mRXLHysH4BaGD54Xz2QJsSKuVSGO1N_IRwqn8UYAU=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="calico cat outside - should you or should you not let your cat outside" border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObNsb25Ovflq2mG8gOq-mTYcAm9SQL5YIMTpUsdEdg5Jkrl7ovUBBrXNOElFiFQ-0H5Q1-7z5YuINsCVe2sEuB1861m1nxcCjGnE5sAt7tKKSFjC85YbStkZK6DzNapaUbtWKvOs4LxyM3Y1mRXLHysH4BaGD54Xz2QJsSKuVSGO1N_IRwqn8UYAU=s16000" title="calico cat outside - should you or should you not let your cat outside" /></a></div><br /><p>This question can quickly get you into a heated debate. There are advocates on both sides of the issue, and each side can feel pretty strongly about their position. </p><p>If you’re on the fence and considering whether to let your cat out, there are some pros and cons to be aware of. In the end, your cat is an individual, so only you can decide if letting your cat outdoors is the best decision for you and your feline friend. This post will try to objectively give you some of the factors to weigh.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Letting Your Cat Outside</h2><p>Cat owners who let their cats outside suggest that this is the more natural way for them to live. And in fact, until very recently, keeping cats outside, or as indoor-outdoor cats, was the norm in North America (it still is in the U.K. and other parts of the world).</p><p>In 1947, however, Edward Lowe accidentally invented kitty litter. He was hoping to sell granulated clay as nesting material for poultry, but clay proved better for cats than chickens. Having a product that kept cat litter odours down made keeping cats inside more attractive. That invention, however, did nothing to change cats’ evolutionary behaviours.</p><p>Proponents of letting cats outside often explain that they want to give their cats a life that includes what a cat has evolved to need, including not just food and shelter, but exploration, hunting and plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.</p><p>There are both mental and physical health aspects to these arguments. <a href="https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/indoor-vs-outdoor-cats">Veterinarian Douglas Payne tells Daily Paws</a> that indoor cats who are less active are more prone to “diabetes, obesity, arthritis and heart disease.” Cats who are let outside to exercise tend to experience less boredom and express fewer boredom-related negative behaviours, too. </p><p>Payne says that outdoor cats face “a completely different set of problems,” suggesting that both inside and inside-outside living situations will come with risks to navigate.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Keeping Your Cat Indoors</h2><p>The number one reason folks advocate for keeping cats indoors is safety. The Central California SPCA, for example, offers <a href="https://www.ccspca.com/blog-spca/education/letting-cats-outside/">3 main reasons to keep cats inside</a>, all focused on the dangers your cat will face in the outside world. </p><p>The first is the danger that your cat will fight with <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/9-of-cutest-mammals-in-world.html">other animals</a> or other cats. The second is that they could come in contact with diseases and pests. They note that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 300 cases of “human contact with rabid cats” are reported every year. The third is that your cat will be more prone to accidents like vehicle collisions when they’re outside. </p><p>A second larger reason some people recommend keeping cats inside is for the health of local ecosystems. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380">A much-discussed 2013 study</a> published in <i>Nature Communications</i> estimates that “free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.3–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals annually” in the U.S. </p><p>That said, the study authors immediately note that “[u]n-owned cats, as opposed to owned pets, cause the majority of this mortality.” Assessing how murderous your own cat is could be a key factor in your decision whether to let them out regularly or to keep those killer instincts home.</p><p><a href="https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-indoor-outdoor-cats-ask-a-vet">Dr. Erich Barchas tells Catster</a> that letting your cat outside is akin to smoking. Yes, he says, people sometimes smoke and live long and happy lives, but more often, it results in shorter lifespans and medical issues. </p><p>He argues that any reason a cat owner might have for letting cats outside (boredom, exercise, etc.) can be addressed by making adjustments to the cat’s indoor environment.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Tips for Letting Your Cat Out Safely</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisuaJva5vxazOYqF8WwqR5giuZfF3qX2uerdEwq6-iqK5FGIAOQ8MqO86aCzl9IQqOHEjY79ZG8ma-7-_89faaoQREnXW-oko5fuNdHC3AsQAaJ8-ce5QhuRrqzO7SGpBVgGeUKc7xXbgoXMWay_Wj3QbwqAQKc_L_a0w8JWsZ-tf37VgpaY05vlie=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black cat on sidewalk walking towards camera - should you or should you not let your cat outside" border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisuaJva5vxazOYqF8WwqR5giuZfF3qX2uerdEwq6-iqK5FGIAOQ8MqO86aCzl9IQqOHEjY79ZG8ma-7-_89faaoQREnXW-oko5fuNdHC3AsQAaJ8-ce5QhuRrqzO7SGpBVgGeUKc7xXbgoXMWay_Wj3QbwqAQKc_L_a0w8JWsZ-tf37VgpaY05vlie=s16000" title="black cat on sidewalk walking towards camera - should you or should you not let your cat outside" /></a></div><br /><p>First things first, check your local bylaws. Many cities and towns have rules that specify that cats must be kept inside. If you live in one of those areas, good news—the decision about whether to let your cat outside or not has been made for you.</p><p>It goes without saying that your cat should be microchipped, spayed or neutered and up to date on their vaccinations before you consider letting them outside. Not only is that <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/how-to-make-sure-puppy-comes-from-responsible-breeder.html">responsible</a>, but these basics will help reduce the risks associated with letting your cat outside, including the prospect of losing your cat.</p><p><a href="https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/cat-care-advice/introducing-your-cat-outside#:~:text=How%20long%20you%20leave%20it,you%20first%20take%20them%20home.">The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offers some suggestions</a> for letting your cat out for the first time. For kittens, they suggest waiting until the kitten is 4 months old (and fixed and vaccinated). Adult cats, they say, should stay indoors for 4-6 weeks after you bring them home so they can adjust to their new home first.</p><p>Battersea suggests making your outdoor space exciting for your cat so they’ll stick close to home. They also highly recommend training your cat to come when called so you can get your cat back when you need them.</p><p>Supervise your cat when you first let them outside. Battersea recommends that you keep training your cat to come back when called. Allow your pet to come to you, get a treat, and go exploring again, so they don’t automatically think that coming in when you call means the end of outdoor play time.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Tips for Keeping Cats Indoors</h2><p>For those leaning towards keeping their pets inside, think about enriching your home so your cat has a more stimulating environment to explore.</p><p>Cat perches by a window, or cardboard box castles to hide in, might make your home more interesting. Try interactive and puzzle feeders. They make your cat work for their meals, which both simulates hunting and helps slow eating down. </p><p>Also get invested in playtime with your cats. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. In fact, cats do not care how much toys cost, and are equally happy with a piece of string or a crumpled-up grocery receipt that you’ve tossed down the hallway as they are with a cutting-edge, research-backed, cat-ergonomic toy.</p><p>The point is to interact with them, and to give them an opportunity to chase, wrestle, pounce and engage in all the cat behaviours they need to express. You will need to mix all of this up, possibly daily, to keep your cat interested. Then again, if you own a cat, you probably expected that.</p><p>Written by Anne Elliot</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: </span><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-white-and-brown-feline-736530/" style="font-size: small;">Monique Laats</a><span style="font-size: small;">; </span><b style="font-size: small;">Image 1</b><span style="font-size: small;">: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-cat-walking-on-road-1510543/">David Bartus</a></span></p><div><br /></div>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-76705341173536835672021-10-28T07:00:00.001-07:002021-10-28T07:00:00.162-07:00How to Make Sure Your Puppy Comes from a Responsible Breeder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kqnq8uo5gum_RDM05ze6M_RsTieUcGDD9QMXP_Z6H_qvDCSAIL1m2ZW8dAFCUw_AoPScILBf-P8PZJLc2xwKLTWDQ-f3gcHbRMm8XF2_NqzRtiE8S7nPGzcfXL8HkiC4zZnwRFRcfho/s1400/husky+puppies+in+crate+-+how+to+make+sure+your+puppy+comes+from+a+responsible+breeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="husky puppies in crate - how to make sure your puppy comes from a responsible breeder" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kqnq8uo5gum_RDM05ze6M_RsTieUcGDD9QMXP_Z6H_qvDCSAIL1m2ZW8dAFCUw_AoPScILBf-P8PZJLc2xwKLTWDQ-f3gcHbRMm8XF2_NqzRtiE8S7nPGzcfXL8HkiC4zZnwRFRcfho/s16000/husky+puppies+in+crate+-+how+to+make+sure+your+puppy+comes+from+a+responsible+breeder.jpg" title="husky puppies in crate - how to make sure your puppy comes from a responsible breeder" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s
probably never been more difficult to find a puppy. One of the stranger side
effects of COVID-19 has been <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/adoptions-dogs-coronavirus/">a
huge uptick in the numbers of people wanting pets</a>. That’s meant more
animals being adopted from shelters, and long wait lists for breeders, who are
facing more demand than ever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead of
waiting for the breeder of their choice to have a litter ready, more and more
people are searching for other places that have puppies ready to go. Not all these
places have the puppy’s best interests at heart. Here’s how to tell the
difference between a good breeder and one who’s only in it for the money.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Puppy Mills and
Backyard Breeders vs. Professional Breeders</span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are a
few different kinds of breeding businesses that you might run across when you’re
searching for a puppy. Puppy mills are large commercial operations that make a
profit by breeding and selling puppies. It’s a big industry with a deservedly bad
reputation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dogs that
come from puppy mills typically don’t receive vet care and can be kept in
appalling conditions to keep costs down. Females are bred over and over to
maximize the number of puppies they produce. When mothers get past breeding age,
or when puppies are too sick to sell, these dogs are usually dumped or killed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Backyard
breeders and professional breeders are small operations who are also in the
business of making money by breeding and selling puppies. Unlike professional
breeders, however, backyard breeders might not be committed to, or even know
about, the proper care of breeding parents and puppies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The profit
margins for breeding dogs ethically is actually very low. Responsible professional
breeders soak up a lot of costs related to proper veterinary care: they breed
fewer times per year to preserve the mother’s health, screen for genetic
defects and don’t breed or sell dogs with defects. Those costs are reflected in
the high price of a well-bred dog.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Breeders
can earn a lot more money by cutting ethical corners, and the places backyard
breeders seem to cut corners most are on screening for genetic problems and vet
care.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How to Recognize Puppy
Mills and Irresponsible Breeders</span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Be aware
that puppy mills often sell to pet stores, so if you purchase a puppy from a
store, you might unwittingly be supporting that industry. If a store can’t guarantee
the puppies have come from a licensed, professional breeder, it’s safe to
assume the store hasn’t sourced them ethically.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you’re
buying a puppy directly from a breeder, however, here are some things to watch
out for.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Facilities</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Outdoor kennels
that aren’t properly insulated or ventilated are a good indication of a puppy
mill, as are cramped living conditions. A low person-to-dog ratio is another
sign. When you visit the breeder, be on the lookout for dogs who are injured,
sick or underweight.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Advertising</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">More subtle
red flags are related to how the breeder advertises. If there’s usually a “puppies
for sale” sign at the end of their driveway, if they always have ads online or
if they advertise in the classifieds, that’s a sign they frequently (if not
always) have puppies available, which means they’re probably not a responsible
breeder and could be a puppy mill.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reputable
breeders don’t advertise, as a rule—they rely on word of mouth, and have their
own websites.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Dogs</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The dogs
themselves are more likely to be mixed breeds. If they’re advertised as being a
single breed, the puppies and/or the parents might not look exactly like the
breed should, according to breed standards. The puppies might be too young to
be separated from their mothers (i.e. under 8 weeks). You might not be able to
meet the parents at all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you do
meet the puppy’s parents, watch how they interact with the breeder. If the
puppies or parents are indifferent to the breeder’s presence, seem timid,
frightened or withdrawn, that’s a red flag. Also watch out for dogs who are
lethargic—this is a sign of untreated health issues.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Interactions with You</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally, if
the breeder doesn’t ask questions about you, that’s a huge warning sign. A
responsible breeder will care where their dogs go, and will likely ask for
references and for your regular veterinarian’s contact info. With a responsible
breeder, you might feel like you’re interviewing to be allowed to bring a dog
home, which is a good thing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A backyard
breeder or puppy mill is less likely to care—they’ll ask you when you’re
picking the puppy up and how you’re paying, but not much more than that. They
might offer to bring the puppy to you so you can’t visit their site.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10 Questions to Ask a
Breeder</span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3jqUBfOvEsGpzl3J2IJi0MvHK5js8W4Rl1Goe8FMHYMUZqpRj0f2o4IPH641lFKyd2LF2V_vVjDP3YlRk_wsEQflnKDwMiLu1W4YUvhpA6T5DNOdHrjnfYKbZHTTL0j2ZXWTDBUGhLg/s1400/three+brindle+puppies+in+a+basket+-+how+to+make+sure+your+puppy+comes+from+a+responsible+breeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="three brindle puppies in a basket - how to make sure your puppy comes from a responsible breeder" border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3jqUBfOvEsGpzl3J2IJi0MvHK5js8W4Rl1Goe8FMHYMUZqpRj0f2o4IPH641lFKyd2LF2V_vVjDP3YlRk_wsEQflnKDwMiLu1W4YUvhpA6T5DNOdHrjnfYKbZHTTL0j2ZXWTDBUGhLg/s16000/three+brindle+puppies+in+a+basket+-+how+to+make+sure+your+puppy+comes+from+a+responsible+breeder.jpg" title="three brindle puppies in a basket - how to make sure your puppy comes from a responsible breeder" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Any
responsible breeder should be able to answer these questions and give you
access to further information about themselves. If they can’t, or if they don’t
have good answers, you’re probably not dealing with a reputable breeder.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1. Why did
you choose to breed this kind of dog?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2. What’s
the breed standard?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3. How old
is the mom and how many litters has she produced?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4. What
kinds of genetic screening were done on the parents?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5. How have
the puppies been socialized?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">6. Have the
puppies been to the veterinarian’s yet?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">7. Can I
talk to your veterinarian?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8. Do you
offer a health guarantee?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">9. If an
issue arises, will you take the puppy back?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10. Do you
have references I can contact?</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What to Do If You Happen
on a Puppy Mill</span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s common
to feel like you should purchase the puppy anyway because then you can rescue
them from a bad situation. The problem is that regardless of your <i>intent</i>,
once you give the breeder money, you’re funding their business model.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead,
photograph whatever you can, document the time and date of your visit, and make
a report to your local police and animal control office (or humane society). Follow
up on your report and tell as many people as you can about your experience. The
more puppy mills are exposed and exposed for what they are, the fewer people
will be willing to buy puppies from them. And the sooner the industry can be
made unprofitable, the sooner it will stop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Written by Anne Elliot</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/puppies-in-a-crate-7516509/">Kateryna Babaieva</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photo-of-three-brindle-puppies-inside-brown-woven-basket-1938123/">Helena Lopes</a></span></span></p>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-76284006412330337102021-08-23T07:00:00.013-07:002021-08-23T07:00:00.226-07:005 Strange Animals Humans Have Tried to Turn into Pets<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="bison - 5 strange animals humans have tried to turn into pets" border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1400" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4NaQ_h91l3VIfkadv1oLEiqfBe1fO722yIM6PSH8oNVyForAy4HyJS1UyB1yr0BuLlVtOY9b3HLUO7M1jSY08_R8HdarVD-YPm9zwvPbfamRgmCKqXKM6597xjx_dLXJrXejw0_5cVt-8fNvHtmPOSvKzQvqSofP0gNTBT34D_8qyMt5M3L9lZ9Q3=w640-h560" title="bison - 5 strange animals humans have tried to turn into pets" width="640" /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Humans love
trying to turn animals into pets. We’re all familiar with kids who make frogs into
pets and people who rescue baby raccoons and then try to keep them (at least,
that’s the kind of crowd I run with). Needless to say, these adventures usually
do not end successfully.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Frogs and
raccoons are not, however, the weirdest animals humans have tried (and failed)
to domesticate. Not by a long shot. In no particular order, here are some of
the strangest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Quick note:
humanity’s zany attempts to domesticate these animals led, as you might expect,
to a good deal of animal suffering. This list isn’t meant to minimize that
suffering. It might, though, work as a reminder that animals aren’t playthings
and that if you got an animal from the wild, that’s where that animal is going
to thrive. No matter how much you love them.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Bison<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Every so often, someone will make a bison into a house pet. Like <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/11/142249280/the-story-of-a-guy-and-his-pet-buffalo">Jim Sautner of Spruce Grove, Alberta</a>, whose 1,800 pound bison apparently travels around with him, much like a family dog. Except for the modifications he’s had to make to his car.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">While it’s an arrangement that seems to work for him, <a href="https://www.bisoncentre.com/resources/resource-library/advanced-bison-information-producers/raising-orphans/how-do-i-raise-pet-bison/"><span lang="EN-US">Gerald Hauer of the Bison Centre says</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> bison “tend to make poor pets.” He explains the two-fold issue that bison usually don’t trust people and quickly fall back on “their ‘flight or fight’ response in order to save their skin.” He also notes that they aren’t solitary creatures, and will go to great lengths to find a herd if one isn’t provided.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">We’ll </span></i>note that they are extremely large, <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/07/7-of-strongest-animals-by-raw-strength.html">strong creatures</a> and therefore do not even have to be trying to hurt you to hurt you. Pet bison owners Ronnie and Sherron Bridges admitted to <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/02/13/this-pet-bison-watches-action-flicks-and-eats-at-the-table/">Todd Venezia of the New York Post</a> that their pet “has almost accidentally killed them because of his sheer bulk.” Enormous size plus flightiness plus wild instincts does not equal a happy house pet.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Squirrels<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">In the medieval and early modern periods, squirrels were very common pets. The wealthy would keep them in collars and chains and give them special hutches to live in. The trend followed the British over the ocean to what would become America, where squirrels remained popular into the very early 20<sup>th</sup> century.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Popular, however, is not the same as tame. People tended to get their squirrels directly from the wild instead of breeding them for specific traits, since squirrels from the forest cost an owner nothing to acquire. Then, as now, squirrels are terribly messy animals, in addition to being a bit hit and miss in the friendship department, so they gradually fell out of favour.</span></p></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Scottish Wild Cat<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ_FNUpLawy6Lb2hjyVWnAZ9dNF5K-0KVH5A5qMJOPGDxFgbcmapIvTWvLRR_ntZnw6hvJIFwAUuL0H-Xq3tHvLzQS4-CDu1S3MBwBgQ5kYmpcmV_Xsvpj5rMdLC4NV2m63jSDTL5GbJ12lqsNW8ZD8LXyxR6DaNzN0u9Ggy6vgAf-7tZnlN0CE7tR=s1400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scottish wild cat - 5 strange animals humans have tried to turn into pets" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ_FNUpLawy6Lb2hjyVWnAZ9dNF5K-0KVH5A5qMJOPGDxFgbcmapIvTWvLRR_ntZnw6hvJIFwAUuL0H-Xq3tHvLzQS4-CDu1S3MBwBgQ5kYmpcmV_Xsvpj5rMdLC4NV2m63jSDTL5GbJ12lqsNW8ZD8LXyxR6DaNzN0u9Ggy6vgAf-7tZnlN0CE7tR=w640-h426" title="scottish wild cat - 5 strange animals humans have tried to turn into pets" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">This adorable cat is perilously close to extinction—only about 100 are left in the wild, although they were once common all over Britain. While they look much like our own domestic feline friends, they’re infamous for being untameable. Although many have tried.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/dogs/scottish-wildcats-six-things-you-should-know-about-the-highland-tiger-and-how-its-fighting-for-survival-in-21st-century-britain-221270"><span lang="EN-US">Joe Gibbs recounts</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> several stories of folks being attacked viciously by the cats, saying “the wildcat keepers at the RZSS’s Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore have endless tales of wildcats who’ve bitten, scratched and spat at the hands that feed them, even when reared from kittens.”</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Moose<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Internet
lore is rife with stories of moose being trained (and even used) as cavalry
animals, especially in Sweden, in the 18<sup>th</sup> century. Veterinarian and
moose specialist </span><a href="https://books.google.ca/books?id=ZEYun5XFzxAC&pg=PA238&lpg=PA238&dq=karl+xi+of+sweden,+moose&source=bl&ots=04hcvkxjJC&sig=ACfU3U3NCCGNjwy61YHRyoosodQbWAW33g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEuMyr_7HyAhVbZc0KHRRrA3Y4ChDoAXoECCUQAw#v=onepage&q=karl%20xi%20of%20sweden%2C%20moose&f=false"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bengt Röken busts that myth</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, explaining that there “is no
documentation to be found in the historic literature about moose used by the
ancient military.” He does note, however, that there are several 19th-century
accounts of moose calves being raised and trained to pull a sled or go under
saddle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In fact, there’s
</span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/canadian-stereotype-domesticated-moose-1.5369308"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">a famous Canadian story</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> of a New Brunswick man who found an
abandoned moose calf one winter and brought it home and raised it. John Connell
trained the moose to ride and pull a carriage, apparently with great success.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Even more
bizarre is </span><a href="https://www.adn.com/wildlife/article/moose-and-men-brief-history-domesticated-moose-alaska/2016/01/03/"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jack Carr</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, who raised two calves and brought
them from Alaska to Washington state so he could take them on the vaudeville
circuit. So why didn’t this practice of domesticating moose catch on? Theories
range. Moose are huge, difficult to train, sometimes aggressive (especially in
the fall), don’t fare well in captivity and succumb readily to disease. Any one
of those reasons would do, really.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Zebras<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another bad
idea was for European colonists in Africa to try to domesticate zebras in the
19<sup>th</sup> and early 20<sup>th</sup> centuries. Horses were difficult to
transport from Europe and had no immune resistance to the diseases they
encountered in Africa. Colonists assumed, as they assumed about everything on
the African continent, that they would be able to “civilize” them (a word
that’s code for “make them bend to the will of Europeans and become financially
profitable somehow”).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The zebras had
other ideas. Zebras are aggressive and have no qualms about attacking humans.
They panic when frightened. And they lack endurance (and perhaps, the
willingness to try). So while some colonists made serious attempts to
domesticate them as a species, it never really caught on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There were
a few notable (and limited) successes. Zoologist Lord Walter Rothschild
(1868-1937), for example, imported several zebras to England, where he trained
them to pull a carriage. In 1898, he famously </span><a href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/walter-rothschild-2nd-baron-rothschild"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">drove the carriage to Buckingham
Palace</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> to prove
that they could be tamed. He wouldn’t, however, ride them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are
many more species that humans have tried to domesticate, and many more species
that have said a polite (or not so polite) “no, thank-you” to our attempts to make
them into pets. Some things are best admired from afar, and these animals are
among them. Especially the wild cat, which is a shame because it is <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/08/9-of-cutest-mammals-in-world.html">extremely cute</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By Anne Elliot</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Feature image</b>: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/large-bison-46188/">Pixabay</a>; <b>Image 1</b>: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scottish_Wildcat_-_British_Wildlife_Centre_(17079588810).jpg">Airwolfhound</a></span></p>Anne Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428514850837248894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-67305346542473094102021-08-17T03:01:00.000-07:002021-08-17T03:01:22.965-07:009 of the Cutest Mammals in the World<p> </p>
<div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Fennec Fox</span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"
><a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd3WTbph9CPoM2L5yPQxU8LKvB23FcuPcFwg8ED4c0Ku1cITfuHJffzodMN5q-i07OSyPGanNwtIMViT_005HzhuxH2F4enVJaGlBc32GQ8Vsjck7syt7QOBAsJ2iXFYjpkmz11CpnRum/s2000/fennec+fox_2.jpg"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1500"
data-original-width="2000"
height="480"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd3WTbph9CPoM2L5yPQxU8LKvB23FcuPcFwg8ED4c0Ku1cITfuHJffzodMN5q-i07OSyPGanNwtIMViT_005HzhuxH2F4enVJaGlBc32GQ8Vsjck7syt7QOBAsJ2iXFYjpkmz11CpnRum/w640-h480/fennec+fox_2.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</span>
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>Fennex Fox</b>
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 400;">(Vulpes zerda</span
><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span> <span
style="font-weight: 400;"
>is a species of mammals in the family <i>Canidae</i>. They are native
to Ethiopia and the Palearctic. They are solitary, nocturnal
omnivores. Individuals are known to live for 175 months and can grow
to 374.23 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have
parental care (female provides care, paternal care, and cooperative
breeding). They rely on running to move around.</span
>
</p></span
>
</h2>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"
><i>Vulpes zerda</i> perceives its environment primarily through
highly developed senses of hearing and smell. The enormous ears are
able to filter sound through many centimeters of sand, and can detect
subtle differences between whines and whimpers in the calls of other
fennecs. Night vision is enhanced by a reflective retina called a
<i>tapetum</i>. This adaptation creates the illusion of glowing eyes
and is characteristic of nocturnal animals.</span
></span
>
</p>
</h2>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span
></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"
>Fennecs are highly specialized to desert life and found almost
exclusively in arid, sandy regions. The presence of desert grasses
and/or light scrub vegetation is important, as fennecs use these
plants to bolster, shelter, and line their dens. Fennecs are so well
adapted to their Saharan climate that they need not drink. In times of
need, however, nearby vegetation is a handy source of water and may be
eaten.</span
></span
>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span
></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Sea Otter</span>
</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"
><a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir14XJhGHEwO0BsPkx4uP4vwtw8d3WbwYh_1b1h310aF0zCGaMrbchTNOD9PtFAK-Etq9djBDRkWWKbIpXkRmEeXB9ObvQSR50CothZNp_8y2Dg4XnZ-EzWZFmOcqv0GYnvA-PpbCQezPl/s2048/sea+otter.jpg"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1366"
data-original-width="2048"
height="426"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir14XJhGHEwO0BsPkx4uP4vwtw8d3WbwYh_1b1h310aF0zCGaMrbchTNOD9PtFAK-Etq9djBDRkWWKbIpXkRmEeXB9ObvQSR50CothZNp_8y2Dg4XnZ-EzWZFmOcqv0GYnvA-PpbCQezPl/w640-h426/sea+otter.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sea Otter</b> (</span
><span style="font-size: medium;"
><i>Enhydra lutris</i>) is a species of mammals in the family
<i>Mustelidae.</i> They are associated with freshwater habitat. They
are native to Pacific Ocean and The Nearctic. They are solitary,
diurnal omnivores. Individuals are known to live for 360 months and
can grow to 1435.71 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They
have parental care (female provides care). They rely on running to
move around.</span
>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"
>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
</h2>
<p style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
>Sea otters communicate through body contact and vocalizations,
although they are not overly vocal. Researchers have recognized nine
vocalizations. Pups use squeals to communicate with their mothers.
Other calls include coos, whines, distress screams, growls, snarls,
and whistles. Scent is important in recognition and surveying
physiological states. Each sea otter has its own distinct scent that
conveys identity, age, and sex.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"
>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft
sediment ocean bottom. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp
(<i>Macrocystis pyrifera</i>), and spend most of their active time
foraging below the canopy. They eat, rest, and groom themselves at
the water surface. While sea otters are capable of diving to depths
of at least 45 meters, they prefer coastal waters up to 30 meters
deep. The shallower the water, the less time is spent diving to
reach food.</span
>
</p>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>
<h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Rock Hyrax</span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span
><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ8bVq-HlbXokTqTHEYuDK9qsWNQ6Sx4phAHuo20hpyHFErBIWx5rmPOSvFLCmo0YQQVhzODebQaGeErA5o-hRYyzmse4Ys5APcaxctbEiq0Y7s3qwBpSOn86rEYdXF9DEY8Wc4q9AhDz/s2048/rock+hyrax.jpg"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1360"
data-original-width="2048"
height="426"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ8bVq-HlbXokTqTHEYuDK9qsWNQ6Sx4phAHuo20hpyHFErBIWx5rmPOSvFLCmo0YQQVhzODebQaGeErA5o-hRYyzmse4Ys5APcaxctbEiq0Y7s3qwBpSOn86rEYdXF9DEY8Wc4q9AhDz/w640-h426/rock+hyrax.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</div>
<p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rock Hyrax</b></span
><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;"> (</span
><span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"
><i>Procavia capensis</i>) is a species of mammals in the family
<i>hyraxes</i>. They are native to Ethiopia. They are diurnal
herbivores. Individuals are known to live for 168 months and can
grow to 467.37 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They
have parental care (female provides care). They rely on arboreal
(locomotion) to move around.</span
></span
>
</p></span
>
</div>
</h2>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<div></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"
>All of the senses of rock hyraxes are well-developed, although their
near-vision is thought to be relatively poor. Hyraxes have a variety of
vocal calls. Territorial calls are distinct and genus-specific. In rock
hyraxes, territorial calls are loud and repetitious and increase in volume
and duration towards the end of the sequence before ending in a series of
guttural noises. Adults also emit twittering or whinnying calls and
striking alarm calls, which are made when a potential predator is
identified. When threatened, they may growl or grind their molars. Infants
make only five of the twenty-one sounds used by adults; three of these are
vocal, including mewing calls given when they are lost or begging, and two
are non-vocal. Between 2 to 15 months of age, young develop all vocal
sounds except five; four of which are exclusive to adult females and one
is characteristic of adult males.</span
></span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<div></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"
><i>Procavia capensis</i> is commonly found in arid land habitat
including deserts, savannas and scrub forests. It lives in rocky areas
with moderate vegetative cover and many rock crevices and cavities, the
latter of which are used as shelter. Although it does not burrow, it
does inhabit abandoned burrows, including those of aardvarks and
meerkats. Even when traveling between suitable habitats, rock hyraxes do
not normally stray from areas with some form of cover or refuge.</span
></span
>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span
></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2><div></div></h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Ring-Tailed Lemur</span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrwuOPhbCHNNfCI1QHfovoHuVvrBHO1QG28ZpbJaIpkUpJFmtkvH0DNANvoC34fNoZj3JXcN_oH-OUViecWo-RgwPFzd-kjxPU7gLK0uLBnrLg8Qpz7KKbDD1cXoWOJxuGbxOho695Yn3/s2048/lemur.jpg"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><span style="color: black;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1777"
data-original-width="2048"
height="556"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrwuOPhbCHNNfCI1QHfovoHuVvrBHO1QG28ZpbJaIpkUpJFmtkvH0DNANvoC34fNoZj3JXcN_oH-OUViecWo-RgwPFzd-kjxPU7gLK0uLBnrLg8Qpz7KKbDD1cXoWOJxuGbxOho695Yn3/w640-h556/lemur.jpg"
width="640" /></span
></a>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>Ring-Tailed Lemur</b
><span style="font-weight: 400;">
(<i>Lemur catta</i>) is a species of primates in the family true
lemurs. They are native to Ethiopia. They are diurnal omnivores.
Individuals are known to live for 360 months and can grow to 1035 mm.
They have . Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have
parental care (female provides care).</span
>
</p></span
>
</div>
</h2>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>As in other diurnal primates, communication is complex. Visual
communication signals, such as body postures and facial expressions are
used, in addition to vocal communication. Ring-tailed lemurs are known to
use scent-marking, and even to engage in "stink battles" with one another,
where secretions from scent glands are rubbed onto the tail, then wafted
at opposing animals. Tactile communication is important between mothers
and their young, as well as between mates. This includes grooming, play,
and mating.</span
></span
><span style="font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
>Lemurs spend most of their time in the trees, but this species also spends
considerable time on the ground. Ring-tailed lemurs prefer gallery forests
and Euphorbia bush habitat, but they also live in many other types of
forests in Madagascar.</span
>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
>In the Berenty Reserve in southern Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs inhabit 3
different types of forest. These include the Ankoba forest, which consists
of Pithosolobium trees and a few tamarinds, figs, and Melia; the Malaza
forest, which consists of Tamarindus indicus, tall figs, celtis, and
creteva. (The sub-canopy of this forest type consists of Rhinorhea and
Celtis, with great numbers of peppers and sometimes capers.); and finally
the Berenty Reserve, which is a spiny forest. Lemur catta does not spend as
much time here, but can occasionally be seen. The spiny forest contains
trees called Alaudia and Euphorbia, which look like cacti. Kalanchoe, Aloe,
and Xerisicyos are also found in the area.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"
>
<br />
</h3>
<div>
<span
><h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Red Panda</span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcpHVosZxxq7IuftkNFmwOyv_pzJyrAEBYu3BOYb49ueWbszBs6dul1G1L3qHjId4k86isrOOuyMu5creun1-YASBlT4YJXxAeDxz6LoE-Q_juaJrlAgRGpY5EZGmkSFb4PrZ_rhocYR4/s2048/red+panda.jpg"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1365"
data-original-width="2048"
height="426"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcpHVosZxxq7IuftkNFmwOyv_pzJyrAEBYu3BOYb49ueWbszBs6dul1G1L3qHjId4k86isrOOuyMu5creun1-YASBlT4YJXxAeDxz6LoE-Q_juaJrlAgRGpY5EZGmkSFb4PrZ_rhocYR4/w640-h426/red+panda.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><span><b>Red Panda</b></span
><span> (</span><span><i>Ailurus fulgens</i></span
><span
>) is a species of mammals in the family Red Pandas. They are native
to Asia. They are solitary, nocturnal herbivores. Individuals are
known to live for 168 months and can grow to 582.3200000000001 mm.
Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care
(female provides care). They rely on arboreal (locomotion) to move
around.</span
></span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Red pandas exhibit several visual displays during intraspecific
interactions, including arching the tail and back, the slow raising
and lowering of the head while emitting a low intensity puffing,
turning the head while jaw-clapping, shaking the head from side to
side, a bipedal posture with forelegs extended above the head, and
staring.</span
></span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Red pandas live in temperate climates in deciduous and coniferous
forests. There is usually an understory of bamboo and hollow trees.
The average temperature is 10 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the average
annual rainfall is 350 centimeters. (Glatston 1994, Roberts and
Gittleman 1984)</span
></span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<br />
</h3>
</div>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Meerkat</span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2ZGA8lxEqF2BCwa1FP5o4oNWUpbp4z4wZYBLfEiuDs2SGNJuxyHkDDdwBfnHT_23JFZGs02cdscAcY_8YpjnXZ0CV_S8x8CCHhehFKA4KtYjvOX_fE3HuIu3pDl1i6NmOTBZ2nBlhpwG/s800/meerkat.jpg"
imageanchor="1"
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><img
border="0"
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height="564"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2ZGA8lxEqF2BCwa1FP5o4oNWUpbp4z4wZYBLfEiuDs2SGNJuxyHkDDdwBfnHT_23JFZGs02cdscAcY_8YpjnXZ0CV_S8x8CCHhehFKA4KtYjvOX_fE3HuIu3pDl1i6NmOTBZ2nBlhpwG/w640-h564/meerkat.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</div>
</h2>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meerkat</b> (</span
><span style="font-size: medium;"
><i>Suricata suricatta</i>) is a species of mammals in the family
mongooses. They are native to Ethiopia. They are diurnal carnivores.
Individuals are known to live for 150 months and can grow to 285.71
mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care
(paternal care, cooperative breeding, and female provides care). They
rely on running to move around.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Meerkats inhabit the most open and arid country of any mongoose
species. They are found in areas of savannah and open plains and
their distribution depends on soil type, with firm to hard soils
being common living grounds (Estes, 1991; van Staaden, 1994).</span
></span
>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div
></span>
</div>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Sugar Glider</span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cgmHdeHfNPG59Gaf7pPYZ_MvXORxjl-m_hQKMv0Wt0lblOVqcUfkufQAEFF882K18KDdnRlduXi-ZRVOT73d8gcWTkvfnkoDQNqnq7xDCx2EIKK5V5Om1XEKRkAreQQHcoY5p3bR45FK/s720/sugar+glider.jpg"
imageanchor="1"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><span style="color: black;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="550"
data-original-width="720"
height="488"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cgmHdeHfNPG59Gaf7pPYZ_MvXORxjl-m_hQKMv0Wt0lblOVqcUfkufQAEFF882K18KDdnRlduXi-ZRVOT73d8gcWTkvfnkoDQNqnq7xDCx2EIKK5V5Om1XEKRkAreQQHcoY5p3bR45FK/w640-h488/sugar+glider.jpg"
width="640" /></span
></a>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sugar Glider</b> (</span
><span style="font-size: medium;"
><i>Petaurus breviceps</i>) is a species of mammals in the family gliders.
They are native to Australia. They are nocturnal omnivores. Individuals
are known to live for 168 months and can grow to 156.51 mm. Reproduction
is viviparous and dioecious.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Sugar gliders can live in forests of all types, given that there is an
adequate food supply. They build their nests in the branches of
eucalyptus trees inside their territory. Since they have also been found
to live in Southern Australia, they must be able to deal with the cold
effectively. (Grizmek, 1990, Nowak, 1997)</span
></span
>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
><br /></span
></span>
</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Pika</span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84BZLldUHIfnupu7w-DjAIPhz5kdTfNSf4d1jlwG5EUsk0mtC7b4KMKaDYqufR6q2HffH-f1XdutMC2XIaT_a8-iAorwP-kqYypkzZo40_HxXKdXANiifjCJwVD81FkFI4ICJwdlEIGW8/s560/pika.jpg"
imageanchor="1"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><span style="color: black;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="560"
data-original-width="560"
height="640"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84BZLldUHIfnupu7w-DjAIPhz5kdTfNSf4d1jlwG5EUsk0mtC7b4KMKaDYqufR6q2HffH-f1XdutMC2XIaT_a8-iAorwP-kqYypkzZo40_HxXKdXANiifjCJwVD81FkFI4ICJwdlEIGW8/w640-h640/pika.jpg"
width="640" /></span
></a>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
><b>Pika</b> is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and
North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur,
and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit,
but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and
nearby mountains is found at heights of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft),
among the highest of any mammal.</span
>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"
>Pikas prefer rocky slopes and graze on a range of plants, mostly
grasses, flowers, and young stems. In the autumn, they pull hay, soft
twigs, and other stores of food into their burrows to eat during the
long, cold winter. The pika is also known as the "whistling hare" for
its high-pitched alarm call when diving into its burrow.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Most pika species vocalize both for predator alarms and territory
defense</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>. They produce a high-pitched 'eek' or 'kie' that is ventriloquial in
character. They have also been demonstrated to eavesdrop on the alarm
calls of heterospecifics, such as marmots and ground squirrels</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>. Ochotonids can also communicate danger by drumming on the ground
with their hind feet</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>. Meadow-dwelling, burrowing species produce multiple types of
vocalizations, many of which are used in socializing with
conspecifics</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>. Low chattering and mewing noises have also been reported</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>. Both ecotypes also use scent-marking</span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>.</span
></span
>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
><br /></span
></span>
</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-large;">Ermine</span>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZKJzjAHzND5cTMPx-eHaZ6VniuCTHMT6VgyblNuHztNOQ7DL7bmouortRBfjGYLP15R1HwezJJgu3Rk4-QBZZUZLEzOqsrr_5C0tvChZKK_tAeN6_E5F55AyZpE5UMb8LieUYeoQgMQa/s2048/ermine.jpg"
imageanchor="1"
style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1638"
data-original-width="2048"
height="512"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZKJzjAHzND5cTMPx-eHaZ6VniuCTHMT6VgyblNuHztNOQ7DL7bmouortRBfjGYLP15R1HwezJJgu3Rk4-QBZZUZLEzOqsrr_5C0tvChZKK_tAeN6_E5F55AyZpE5UMb8LieUYeoQgMQa/w640-h512/ermine.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
</div>
</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ermine</b> (</span
><span style="font-size: medium;"
><i>Mustela erminea</i>) is a species of mammals in the family
Mustelidae. They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are
native to Hungary, Canada, Poland, The Nearctic, Macedonia,
Montenegro, Denmark, Latvia, Georgia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Russia, The
Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Germany, the Palearctic, United
States, Bulgaria, Nepal, United Kingdom, Serbia, Belarus, Czech
Republic, Japan, North Korea, Switzerland, Norway, Isle Of Man,
Sweden, Spain, Kyrgyzstan, Guernsey, Ukraine, Slovenia, France,
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Albania, Ireland, Croatia, Belgium, Jersey,
Finland, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Romania, and Austria. They are
solitary, crepuscular carnivores. Individuals are known to live for
85.23 months and can grow to 215.65 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and
dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care). They rely
on arboreal (locomotion) to move around.</span
>
</p>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Ermine have keen senses of smell, vision, hearing, and touch that
help them to locate prey. Most mustelids are fairly quiet animals,
but some vocalizations may be used in intra-specific communication.
Chemical cues are probably the main means of communicating
reproductive readiness to potential mates.</span
></span
>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3
style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
></span
></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span
><span
style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"
>Ermine prefer riparian woodlands, marshes, shrubby fencerows, and open
areas adjacent to forests or shrub borders. Although ermine are
primarily terrestrial, they climb trees and swim well. Tree roots,
hollow logs, stone walls, and rodent burrows are used as dens. Dens are
usually around 300 mm below ground. Ermine line their nests with dry
vegetation, and fur and feathers from prey. Side cavities of burrows are
used as food caches and latrines.</span
></span
>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<span
><div>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span>
</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"
><span
><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"
>Sources: <a href="https://eol.org/" target="_blank">EOL</a
>; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank"
>Wikipedia</a
></span
></span
></span
>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"
><span
><span style="background-color: white;"
><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank"
><br /></a></span
></span>
<div>
Image 1:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/7011974" target="_blank"
>Wildfeuer cc-by-sa-3.0</a
>; Image 2:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/7768089" target="_blank"
>mikebaird cc-by-3.0</a
>; Image 3:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3817843" target="_blank"
>David Govoni cc-by-nc-sa-4.0</a
>; Image 4:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3838083" target="_blank"
>Jenny Donald cc-by-nc-4.0</a
>; Image 5:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/7770433" target="_blank"
>Mathias Appel cc-publicdomain</a
>; Image 6:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3762668" target="_blank"
>Carmelo López Abad cc-by-nc-4.0</a
>; Image 7:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/12461161" target="_blank"
>Phil Myers cc-by-nc-sa-3.0</a
>; Image 8:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/6667131" target="_blank"
>Lynette Elliott cc-by-nc-sa</a
>; Image 9:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3759355" target="_blank"
>Joanne Siderius cc-by-nc-4.0</a
>
</div>
<div><br /></div
></span>
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style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"
>
<br style="font-size: 18.72px;" />
</h3></div
></span>
</div>
Juliet Nermalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700230130749236205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-52111155457839796742021-07-11T05:33:00.001-07:002021-07-11T05:33:45.538-07:007 of the Strongest Animals by Raw Strength<p> </p><div><h2><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;">African Bush Elephant</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPk5usR8dP_QQ5LMyLvetc8QOyZyC_tIsTCoNzR9LLld4m2I3GLxnDd9Yw9AO83NPJLrPQKGvtaHAq4FtUQPRfE-hqdQgwNEFYNQJPW77eollsx7IUIv04jRLgJQWIF66bt-NqKofhoHKO/s2048/542.5621432563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPk5usR8dP_QQ5LMyLvetc8QOyZyC_tIsTCoNzR9LLld4m2I3GLxnDd9Yw9AO83NPJLrPQKGvtaHAq4FtUQPRfE-hqdQgwNEFYNQJPW77eollsx7IUIv04jRLgJQWIF66bt-NqKofhoHKO/w640-h480/542.5621432563.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><p style="clear: both;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span>African bush elephant<span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><i style="font-weight: 400;">Loxodonta africana</i><span style="font-weight: 400;">), also known as the African savanna elephant, is the heaviest land animal, and the second tallest in the Animal Kingdom.</span></p><p style="clear: both;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">They are a sexually dimorphic species; males appear larger than females. The height of a bull at his shoulder is about twelve feet (about 3.75 m), when the female’s height is nine feet (about 3 m). They have enormous ears, each measuring about four feet (120-125 cm) across. They have a unique nose that is simply a long, boneless trunk extending from the upper lip. The trunk usually measures about five feet long (about 150 cm) and weighs around 300 pounds (about 135 kg). The trunk itself is so strong and capable of lifting 600 pounds (250- 275 kg).</span></p></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span></h2><h2><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum longevity: 65 years (captivity)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Observations: Under optimal conditions, males attain sexually maturity at about 10 years of age and females at 11 years of age. Some animals, however, may not reach sexual maturity until they are 20 years old, and males generally do not reproduce until they are over 20 years of age. Elephants are long-lived mammals, but probably not as long-lived as often cited. Females remain fertile for about 55-60 years and elephants have been estimated to live up to 70 years in the wild (Ronald Nowak 1999). More conservative estimates suggest elephants live up to 65 years in the wild (Wiese and Willis 2004). In captivity, there are anecdotal reports of animals living over 80 years. Record longevity, however, belongs to one wild born female that was still living at 53-54 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005). Despite having as much as six sets of molars in a lifetime, elephants suffer from teeth erosion as a type of mechanical senescence.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></p></h2><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Gorilla</span></h2><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWu9v2ERcbn1RjLrNNinafHgPztuBLzCDrivz3PgYq5SUe0tO8IC92y4jyptWHKgOlOQ-FiT1pEgJ0DJjwKdLWiw_gm09H82YkMdq0M2Fd25XhrvrGbuBEwFVzNrGTgd0dTO0tULFG18e/s1521/542.2114549580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1521" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWu9v2ERcbn1RjLrNNinafHgPztuBLzCDrivz3PgYq5SUe0tO8IC92y4jyptWHKgOlOQ-FiT1pEgJ0DJjwKdLWiw_gm09H82YkMdq0M2Fd25XhrvrGbuBEwFVzNrGTgd0dTO0tULFG18e/w640-h540/542.2114549580.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"><b>Gorillas</b> are the largest living primates. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122;">The genus <b><i>Gorilla</i></b> is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. </span></span><span style="color: #202122;">The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after chimpanzees and bonobos.</span><span style="color: #202122;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Gorillas are the largest non-human primates, reaching heights between 1.25-1.8 metres, weights between 100–270 kg, and arm spans up to 2.6 metres, depending on species and sex. They tend to live in troops, with the leader being called a silverback. The Eastern gorilla is distinguished from the Western by darker fur colour and some other minor morphological differences. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div></h2><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202122;">Gorillas tend to live 35–40 years in the wild </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122;">with some captive gorillas living almost 50 years</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202122;">.</span></span></span><br /></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Habitat</span></h3><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forests in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.</span></p><p></p></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2><p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p></h2><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Tiger</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu20I4wt7Ozhw-UQ0kFOapPx2lsjAPk-QmJzxcTOoRIOkP4dyXDfMQ7851wfFdefBz8c99thfS9V7WsoCWBOOVJuFC_Zuf0x6Rrgt6M2iUes0WfQEKZMkqwzRBzh_YUKbqlHnYgL1HhT9/s2048/542.19616643259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu20I4wt7Ozhw-UQ0kFOapPx2lsjAPk-QmJzxcTOoRIOkP4dyXDfMQ7851wfFdefBz8c99thfS9V7WsoCWBOOVJuFC_Zuf0x6Rrgt6M2iUes0WfQEKZMkqwzRBzh_YUKbqlHnYgL1HhT9/w640-h420/542.19616643259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The </span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">tiger</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"> (<i>Panthera tigris</i>) is the largest and strongest living cat species and a member of the genus <i>Panthera</i>. It is most recognizable for its dark vertical stripes on orange-brown fur with a lighter underside. It is an apex predator, primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and wild boar. It is territorial and generally a solitary but social predator, requiring large contiguous areas of habitat, which support its requirements for prey and rearing of its offspring. Tiger cubs stay with their mother for about two years, before they become independent and leave their mother's home range to establish their own.</span></p></span></div></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span></h2><h2><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><p style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Tigers usually live 8 to 10 years in the wild, although they can reach ages into their 20's. In captivity, tigers have been known to live up to 26 years old, although a typical captive lifespan is 16 to 18 years. It is estimated that most adult tigers die as a result of human persecution and hunting, although their large prey can occasionally wound them fatally. Young tigers face numerous dangers when they disperse from their mother's home range, including being attacked and eaten by male tigers. Some researchers estimate a 50% survival rate for young tigers.</p></span></div></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span></h3><h2><div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tigers live in a wide variety of habitats, suggested by their distribution across a wide range of ecological conditions. They are known to occur in tropical lowland evergreen forest, monsoonal forest, dry thorn forest, scrub oak and birch woodlands, tall grass jungles, and mangrove swamps. Tigers are able to cope with a broad range of climatic variation, from warm moist areas, to areas of extreme snowfall where temperatures may be as low as –40 degrees Celsius. Tigers have been found at elevations of 3,960 meters. In general, tigers require only some vegetative cover, a source of water, and sufficient prey.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></p></h2><h2><div></div></h2><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">Grizzly Bear</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7bhUx-OHQSdtllsG863fMnzrMFGMwGFgfIkehTBNmqCDWkv4JY2m0iEuyfGSnNKoF3MaEi6CTTka1niew1GEV3TBB54iuii1JFAFHwFFpbTJxhqPNmFnCAtur89BKrfZhnh-dLeKoFYw/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_1888995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7bhUx-OHQSdtllsG863fMnzrMFGMwGFgfIkehTBNmqCDWkv4JY2m0iEuyfGSnNKoF3MaEi6CTTka1niew1GEV3TBB54iuii1JFAFHwFFpbTJxhqPNmFnCAtur89BKrfZhnh-dLeKoFYw/w640-h428/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_1888995.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><p style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">The </span><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">grizzly bear</b><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Ursus arctos horribilis</i><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America.</span></p><p style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Grizzlies are considered more aggressive compared to black bears when defending themselves and their offspring. Unlike the smaller black bears, adult grizzlies do not climb trees well, and respond to danger by standing their ground and warding off their attackers. Mothers defending cubs are the most prone to attacking, and are responsible for 70% of humans killed by grizzlies.</span></p></span></div></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The average lifespan for a male is estimated at 22 years, with that of a female being slightly longer at 26. Females live longer than males due to their less dangerous life; they do not engage in seasonal breeding fights as males do. The oldest wild inland grizzly was 34 years old in Alaska; the oldest coastal bear was 39, but most grizzlies die in their first few years of life from predation or hunting. Captive grizzlies have lived as long as 44 years.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><br /></h3><div><span><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Eagle</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxwto2yZmS4GvzlxRyrVROP4BXH0ApPEDRMb_azd8ikMUUhDhKEnADvseuHoCxovx_jbzSh-ECUb6hXIJnaMafAV0_LTMx1InOH43PKjRnNck4XrwNxa4YWXTtjuK_6346Ir_RCvznCKt/s800/542.3528206672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="800" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxwto2yZmS4GvzlxRyrVROP4BXH0ApPEDRMb_azd8ikMUUhDhKEnADvseuHoCxovx_jbzSh-ECUb6hXIJnaMafAV0_LTMx1InOH43PKjRnNck4XrwNxa4YWXTtjuK_6346Ir_RCvznCKt/w640-h448/542.3528206672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><b>Eagle</b> is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 60 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just 14 species can be found—2 in North America, 9 in Central and South America, and 3 in Australia.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Eagles are not a natural group but denote essentially any bird of prey large enough to hunt sizeable (about 50 cm long or more overall) vertebrate prey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with heavy heads and beaks. Even the smallest eagles, such as the booted eagle (<i>Aquila pennata</i>), which is comparable in size to a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) or red-tailed hawk (<i>B. jamaicensis</i>), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight – despite the reduced size of aerodynamic feathers. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some vultures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large hooked beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, strong, muscular legs, and powerful talons. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Due to the size and power of many eagle species, they are ranked at the top of the food chain as apex predators in the avian world.</span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><br /></h3></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Ox</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2DGmzqfiUaQR1D8mB6JQj3Rdy5-CAwzBdwUboCRKCO7X6T4ZOXQe6iIsMIlAB67RKxbpLo1iPxMDnxK4Wmgi0XydLDyB2ejbutqvarbRTPO09fRHYLSJfDYG3uuVRc5BPqGgm9vdpZbu/s1920/beef-3522962_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2DGmzqfiUaQR1D8mB6JQj3Rdy5-CAwzBdwUboCRKCO7X6T4ZOXQe6iIsMIlAB67RKxbpLo1iPxMDnxK4Wmgi0XydLDyB2ejbutqvarbRTPO09fRHYLSJfDYG3uuVRc5BPqGgm9vdpZbu/w640-h426/beef-3522962_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></h2><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">An <b>ox</b> (plural oxen), also known as a bullock (in BrE, AusE& IndE), is the largest and strongest breed of cattle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Oxen are used for plowing, for transport (pulling carts, hauling wagons, and even riding), for threshing grain by trampling, and for powering machines that grind grain or supply irrigation among other purposes. Oxen may be also used to skid logs in forests, particularly in low-impact, select-cut logging.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Oxen can pull heavier loads, and pull for a longer period of time than horses depending on weather conditions. On the other hand, they are also slower than horses, which has both advantages and disadvantages; their pulling style is steadier, but they cannot cover as much ground in a given period of time. For agricultural purposes, oxen are more suitable for heavy tasks such as breaking sod or plowing in wet, heavy, or clay-filled soil. When hauling freight, oxen can move very heavy loads in a slow and steady fashion. </span></span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><br /></h3></div></div></span></div><h2 style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Anaconda</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyt8LSACv_QPJxIH3sSJ78DUfV8H8_o0Edz8u7SmKYHYPqG_C-KVm8pqvxIT1-KhomKIaTtVM5fLDmjf0LcRv64bqKUCOVcX475oxp3ZFlwEuf8hb8_33ND0H2o16JCJRW5PpPIpi8Zlr0/s2048/509.14702239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyt8LSACv_QPJxIH3sSJ78DUfV8H8_o0Edz8u7SmKYHYPqG_C-KVm8pqvxIT1-KhomKIaTtVM5fLDmjf0LcRv64bqKUCOVcX475oxp3ZFlwEuf8hb8_33ND0H2o16JCJRW5PpPIpi8Zlr0/w640-h428/509.14702239.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Anacondas</b> or water boas are a group of large snakes of the genus <i>Eunectes</i>. They are found in tropical South America. Four species are currently recognized.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although the name applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species, in particular, the common or green anaconda (<i>Eunectes murinus</i>), which is the largest snake in the world by weight, and the second-longest.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The green anaconda is the world's heaviest and one of the world's longest snakes, reaching a length of up to 5.21 m (17.1 ft) long.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Green anacondas are opportunistic apex predators, feeding on any prey that they can kill and swallow. Their diet includes various aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Green anacondas rely on stealth and ambush techniques as they hunt. Their body pattern provides effective camouflage, allowing a submerged anaconda to be virtually invisible from a short distance away. They attack at any time of day, restraining their prey using their needle-sharp, curved teeth for a secure grip while killing it by constriction. The more the prey struggles, the tighter the coiling will become, until the victim becomes unconscious. Death occurs through respiratory arrest and circulatory failure. Since feeding usually takes place near the water, prey are as likely to die from drowning as from constriction. The snake then slowly releases its coils and ingests its victim headfirst. This technique allows it to reduce obstruction of the limbs as it swallows its meal whole.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div><div><span><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: arial;">Sources: <a href="https://eol.org/" target="_blank">EOL</a>; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="color: #202122;">image1: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6805437" target="_blank">James Anderson (cc-by-nc-sa)</a>; image2: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6728248" target="_blank">Mario Pineda (cc-by-nc-sa)</a>; image3: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6767790" target="_blank">Bernard DUPONT (cc-by-sa-2.0)</a>; image4: <a href="https://eol.org/media/2872390" target="_blank">Jenny Stevens (cc-by-nc-4.0)</a>; image5: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6699683" target="_blank">Leo (cc-by-nc-sa)</a>; image6: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/tama66-1032521/" target="_blank">Peter H from Pixabay</a>; image7: JanRehschuh (cc-by-sa-3.0)</span></span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><br /></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><div></div></div></h3></div></span></div>Juliet Nermalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700230130749236205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-34413542766314436572021-05-24T06:52:00.001-07:002021-05-25T06:13:46.578-07:0010 Longest Animals in the Ocean<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;">1. Lion's Mane Jellyfish</span>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tentacle length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 36.6 m. (120 ft.)</span></strong></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">Cyanea capillata </i><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">(Lion's Mane Jellyfish) is a species of cnidarians in the family
Cyaneidae. They are native to <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/05/10-of-most-dangerous-animals-in-latin.html">Atlantic Ocean</a> and Pacific Ocean. They
are carnivores. Individuals can grow to 49.57 cm. They have sexual
reproduction</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 400;">.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lion's mane jellyfish uses its stinging tentacles to capture,
pull in, and eat prey such as fish, sea creatures, and smaller
jellyfish.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Lion's Mane Jellyfish is found in the cooler regions of the
Atlantic, Pacific, North Sea, and Baltic Sea. They are especially common
along the East coast of Britain. They are found in the pelagic zone as
medusae and then benthic zone as polyps. (Grzimek 1972, Nichols
1979)<span> </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Morphology</span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jellyfish are composed of 94% water and are radially symmetrical. It
is dibloblastic, which means that it has two tissue layers. This
member of the giant jellyfish has a hemispherical bell with scalloped
edges. The bell is divided into eight obvious lobes by eight
indentations with second order indentations. Some lobes contain sense
organs including odor pits, balance organs, and simple light
receptors. Its bell normally ranges in diameter from 30 to 80 cm, with
some individuals growing up to a maximum of 180 cm. The oral arms are
purple with reddish or yellow tentacles, hence the common name "Lion's
Mane". The bell may be pink to reddish-gold or brownish-violet. The
jellyfish has no fringing tentacles around the edge of its bell, but
it has eight groups of 150 tentacles each on the underside of its
umbrella. These tentacles contain very effective nematocysts, as does
the upper surface of the jellyfish. (Banister and Campbell 1985,
Grzimek 1972, Nichols 1979, Stachowitsch 1992)</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">2. Blue Whale</span>
</h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 33 m. (108.27 ft.)</span></strong></span></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnVQtmhMbhAB9GOq_KLwrRWbmXUICVVwqAIT8qBvKjYCvcADmIqIjoQ_Pmnat6zXG_zf7i7iMWfSw87g9nPz8mbwR5-c6dYx5q4WfP_dYE7atTfVolGt7E1ucFaHRqC6pWSBuy4bE-2l_/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_2283318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnVQtmhMbhAB9GOq_KLwrRWbmXUICVVwqAIT8qBvKjYCvcADmIqIjoQ_Pmnat6zXG_zf7i7iMWfSw87g9nPz8mbwR5-c6dYx5q4WfP_dYE7atTfVolGt7E1ucFaHRqC6pWSBuy4bE-2l_/w640-h398/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_2283318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Balaenoptera musculus</i> (Blue Whale) is a species of mammals in the family rorquals. They are listed as endangered by COSEWIC and in cites appendix i. They are native to Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. They are solitary carnivores. Individuals are known to live for 1320 months and can grow to 30480 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care).</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Maximum longevity: 110 years (wild) Observations: The blue whale is the largest animal on earth. Its gestation period is short when considering its size. One possible explanation is that longer gestation periods would mean that the young would be born in the season spent in cold waters (Ronald Nowak 1999). It is estimated that these animals live over 100 years.</span>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blue whales have the lowest voices of any whale, vocalizing as low as 14 Hz at volumes up to 200 decibels. Sounds at this frequency and intensity can travel for thousands of miles in the deep ocean. These sounds may be used to communicate with other whales. Low frequency pulses may be used to navigate by creating a sonic image of distant oceanic features.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Little is known about intraspecific communication in these whales. Vision and smell are limited, but hearing is sensitive.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">3. Sperm Whale</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 24 m. (78.74 ft.)</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kw25WsXdMbf6swvNxDVDzUG0XvSGYyH8OIpgjI29i5FzhWC-wGM6T1eOQNdiUhSRB9OFA3PsgDdOYFxGKICF95qSrGSuhIiYQgGGey2Ac9-I4tZovB4u9YvppCs7rC-CoGRcXKsvYGj1/s2048/509.27395823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kw25WsXdMbf6swvNxDVDzUG0XvSGYyH8OIpgjI29i5FzhWC-wGM6T1eOQNdiUhSRB9OFA3PsgDdOYFxGKICF95qSrGSuhIiYQgGGey2Ac9-I4tZovB4u9YvppCs7rC-CoGRcXKsvYGj1/w640-h360/509.27395823.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div></h2><h2><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">The sperm whale (<i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>) or cachalot is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are native to Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. They are omnivores. Individuals are known to live for 924 months and can grow to 12175.38 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sperm whales swim through deep waters to depths of 2 miles, apparently limited in depth only by the time it takes to swim down and back to the surface. Their distributions are depend upon season and sexual/social status, however they are most likely to be found in waters inhabited by squid- at least 1,000 m deep and with cold-water upswellings. Because they are so well-adapted for deep water swimming, they are in real danger of stranding when they move inshore.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></p></h2><h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">4. Whale Shark</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;">18.8 m. (61.68 ft.)</span></p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFtACRO5vs8jLNurUtwvwVSA8E3cVn1DnA_YfdA11e36-zKMkqzPEB31v9b8d1w9eHV6ZHGG7Dx8n7uUqqjbMcyacWgh8ntIMBu0E-XmsLC8hnyHlVDljBEKQOGEOfujwdyV8FiDhNq89/s2048/542.6182406772.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFtACRO5vs8jLNurUtwvwVSA8E3cVn1DnA_YfdA11e36-zKMkqzPEB31v9b8d1w9eHV6ZHGG7Dx8n7uUqqjbMcyacWgh8ntIMBu0E-XmsLC8hnyHlVDljBEKQOGEOfujwdyV8FiDhNq89/w640-h416/542.6182406772.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Rhincodon typus </i>(Whale Shark) is a species of modern sharks in the family whale sharks. They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are native to Asia, Ethiopia, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Australia. They are solitary, diurnal carnivores. Individuals can grow to 2000 cm. Reproduction is dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care).</span>
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<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 54 years (wild) Observations: Not much is known about the life history of these animals, the world's largest fish. One study estimated annual survival at 0.825. Age at maturity probably occurs at 13 to 25 years. Maximum longevity is unknown with estimates ranging from 54 years to over 100 years (Bradshaw et al. 2007).</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This species prefers surface waters between 21° and 30°C. These giant zooplanktivores are usually found in coastal zones with high food productivity. Data collected from archival tags demonstrated that this species has the ability to dive to depths exceeding 1700 meters and can also tolerate temperatures as low as 7.8°C.</span></span></span>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">5. Basking Shark</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;">12.27 m. (40.24 ft.)</span></p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCvwO_NTchP8fYYhvUqnEV94xqauw8d6EAyteu-ed5l7W_k14T__x2a9JFZreMdfUvSkDeRLxK9f-hpMO8nG9H84GrwIAYYoVG77wLxegmvWyBAMbg5j7zv4iLOVOHP9SWzejVRiL4zf0/s2048/509.29699037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCvwO_NTchP8fYYhvUqnEV94xqauw8d6EAyteu-ed5l7W_k14T__x2a9JFZreMdfUvSkDeRLxK9f-hpMO8nG9H84GrwIAYYoVG77wLxegmvWyBAMbg5j7zv4iLOVOHP9SWzejVRiL4zf0/w640-h360/509.29699037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Cetorhinus maximus</i> (Basking Shark) is a species of modern sharks in the family of basking sharks. They are native to Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. They are carnivores. Individuals can grow to 1520 cm. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, iteroparous, and dioecious. They are fast moving animals.</span>
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<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 32 years (wild)</span></span>
</p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span></h3></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">These sharks are found at the surface of coastal waters during the summer to feed on seasonally abundant copepods which bloom in frontal areas during spring and summer, but it is thought they migrate further offshore or to deeper waters during winter.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This fish was once used for its liver oil and was thus virtually endangered for some time. It is still used in lesser amounts for fish meals and animal feed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">6. Giant Squid</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;">12 m. (39.37 ft)</span></p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkpE9Pt0etJR5KzBSuFdnyw7AqmQ9O2DOc-Ozc-5US5wG7oHmpKhbL0bGWpzHPMpgB0enedRtVSSbWWQVi0hhgm9kQoz5oxI7abRItmWEhOQdkauD7mdIbZp6i2_KvRBcVM0HHGFRld4-/s777/643.22532484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkpE9Pt0etJR5KzBSuFdnyw7AqmQ9O2DOc-Ozc-5US5wG7oHmpKhbL0bGWpzHPMpgB0enedRtVSSbWWQVi0hhgm9kQoz5oxI7abRItmWEhOQdkauD7mdIbZp6i2_KvRBcVM0HHGFRld4-/w494-h640/643.22532484.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><i>Architeuthis dux</i> (Giant Squid) is a species of cephalopods in the family Architeuthidae. They are native to Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. Individuals can grow to 1084 mm.</span></p>
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<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Geographic Range</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Giant squids are distributed in all the oceans of the world, usually in association with continental and island slopes. Concentrations of species found range from the North Atlantic Ocean, especially Newfoundland, Norway, northern British Isles and the oceanic islands of the Azores and Madeira; the South Atlantic in southern African waters; the North Pacific around Japan, and the southwestern Pacific around New Zealand and Australia; circumglobal in the Southern Ocean. Specimens are rare from tropical and high polar latitudes. (Forch 1998)</span>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No one really knows where giant squid live because no one has seen one alive in its natural habitat. Only recent research has indicated where this habitat might be. It is in the deep sea, perhaps between 200 and 1000 meters in-depth, and it is possibly in association with the bottom of the sea rather than in mid-water. On the other hand, specimens that have been captured in nets sometimes come from mid-water.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Work done by Dr. Ole Brix, of the University of Bergen, indicated the blood of squids does not carry oxygen very well at higher temperatures. A squid will actually suffocate in warm water. Warm water will cause a giant squid to rise to the surface and not be able to get back down. So the giant squid are probably more likely to be found in cooler water. (Forch 1998) (Banister and Campbell 1985)</span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">7. Giant Pacific Octopus</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 9.8</span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;"> m. (32.15 ft)</span></p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G2mW43asJJQQ4K-VUYnOXFpPAMG15XO29ZRtQjMI2A_uQuH2GxpwfNIUPPbOPn0g4rgE_4fIXG2QkCvljB2c2R04-jC9Ed6NE-K_RRYvBi8pY-_bD9TUKDsLg122b4L7ze9dGFUj8aDa/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_3175011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G2mW43asJJQQ4K-VUYnOXFpPAMG15XO29ZRtQjMI2A_uQuH2GxpwfNIUPPbOPn0g4rgE_4fIXG2QkCvljB2c2R04-jC9Ed6NE-K_RRYvBi8pY-_bD9TUKDsLg122b4L7ze9dGFUj8aDa/w640-h480/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_3175011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">The Giant Pacific octopus (</span><i style="color: #202122; font-size: large;">Enteroctopus dofleini), </i><span style="color: #202122; font-size: large;">also known as the North Pacific giant octopus, is a species of cephalopods in the family Enteroctopodidae. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Its spatial distribution includes the coastal North Pacific, along California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, Russia, Japan, and Korean Peninsula. It can be found from the intertidal zone down to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and is best adapted to cold, oxygen-rich water. It is the largest octopus species, based on a scientific record of a 71-kg (156-lb) individual weighed live.</span></span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Giant Pacific octopuses are generally found in tidal pools and up to depths of 110 m, although they can also reside in deeper waters of up to 1,500 m. They often live in dens or lairs, under boulders, and in rock crevices. Ideal habitat for this species includes a soft substrate of mud, sand or gravel that includes large boulders for creating dens. Giant Pacific octopuses are found in greater densities near dense kelp fields. Members of this species are ectothermic, and their metabolism is dependent upon water temperature. Optimal water temperatures for giant Pacific octopuses range between 7 and 9.5 degrees Celsius.</span></span>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">8. Oarfish</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 8</span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;"> m. (26.25 ft)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-fVbWXy6RUiM-44jPvdumeFh-ektwJkybPHOSJhzPnJnj1yY2niRj_vkK09O2qePsz8JCWUa-y78O5Wzr6mNckGjJ7E3FZJfv8wfnvdj7-haMJdJfiS8x3ythSZlNOZykCoB3TsV4tNy/s640/509.31414603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-fVbWXy6RUiM-44jPvdumeFh-ektwJkybPHOSJhzPnJnj1yY2niRj_vkK09O2qePsz8JCWUa-y78O5Wzr6mNckGjJ7E3FZJfv8wfnvdj7-haMJdJfiS8x3ythSZlNOZykCoB3TsV4tNy/w640-h480/509.31414603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p></h2><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Regalecus glesne</i> (Giant Oarfish) is a species of bony fishes in the family oarfishes. They are solitary carnivores. Individuals can grow to 1100 cm. They have sexual reproduction. Reproduction is iteroparous and oviparous.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Distribution</span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The giant oarfish is found worldwide in the upper layers of the open ocean (the pelagic zone). It is believed to be oceanodromous, following its primary food source. It has been found as far north as 72°N and as far south as 52°S, but is most common in the tropics to middle latitudes. It is thought to inhabit the sunlit epipelagic to dimly lit mesopelagic zones, ranging as deeply as 1,000 m (3,300 ft) below the surface.</span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Little is known about oarfish behavior. It has been observed swimming by means of its dorsal fin, and also swimming in a vertical position. In 2010, scientists filmed a giant oarfish in the Gulf of Mexico swimming in the mesopelagic layer, the first footage of a reliably identified <i>R. glesne</i> in its natural setting. The footage was caught during a survey, using an ROV in the vicinity of Thunder Horse PDQ, and shows the fish swimming in a columnar orientation, tail downward.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It feeds on krill and other small crustaceans, as well as small fish and squid. It is known to spawn from July to December. The eggs are 2.5 mm (0.1 in) large, and float near the surface until hatching. Its larvae are also observed near the surface during this season. As an adult, it is believed to be solitary.</span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">9. Great White Shark</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 7</span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;"> m. (22.96 ft)</span></p></h2>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Carcharodon carcharias</i> (Great White Shark) is a species of modern sharks in the family white sharks. They are listed as endangered by COSEWIC and in cites appendix ii. They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are native to Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/05/10-of-most-dangerous-animals-in-asia.html">Pacific Ocean</a>. They are solitary, nocturnal carnivores. Individuals can grow to 720 cm. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, iteroparous, and dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care).</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 50 years (wild) Observations: Some estimates suggest these animals may live up to 50 years (Cailliet et al. 2001).</span>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sharks have several highly developed senses. Their primary sense is the ability to smell. They can detect a drop of blood in 100 liters of water. They also have the ability to detect electrical charges as small as 0.005 microvolts. Prey can be detected by the electrical field generated by a beating heart or gill action. Fish in hiding can also be detected this way. At feeding aggregations, such as at whale carcasses, this generally solitary species often establishes temporary social hierarchies which are based largely on size. Among similar-sized individuals, the social hierarchy is maintained through a subtle form of body language. Recent research has demonstrated that great whites are socially complex, featuring such behaviors as parallel swimming, jaw gaping, pectoral fin depression, and even splash-fights. Great white sharks are also unusual among sharks in that they sometime rais their heads out of the water, apparently to observe activity above the surface.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">10. Giant Manta Ray</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Length:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 7</span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 400;"> m. (22.96 ft)</span></p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fu8qet4Y4MkNV1CDprXFlWEvhQL4q-X_DanP5BA_QRUnVQVg0Gub-CFa5L6hKeX7uXoU5blV8zmdhSB2_6lG2JTzrGU06hduH_TLRm-ZHydHAeHjhU9skyEZHffCEklBJ1IN3Kx0mEbv/s2048/Oceanic_Manta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fu8qet4Y4MkNV1CDprXFlWEvhQL4q-X_DanP5BA_QRUnVQVg0Gub-CFa5L6hKeX7uXoU5blV8zmdhSB2_6lG2JTzrGU06hduH_TLRm-ZHydHAeHjhU9skyEZHffCEklBJ1IN3Kx0mEbv/w640-h480/Oceanic_Manta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><i>Mobula birostris</i> (Giant Manta Ray) is a species of Myliobatiformes in the family eagle rays. They are native to Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean. They are solitary carnivores. Reproduction is dioecious.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">The average life span of <i>Manta birostris</i> is 18-20 years. The Atlantic manta ray was once thought to be aggressive and harmful to humans as sailors created myths about them. The common myth was that mantas could capsize ones boat by leaping out of the water and crashing down upon it. Another common misconception is that mantas drown swimmers by wrapping around them. They are called "devil" ray because of the cephalic fins at the front of their heads, which resemble the horns of a devil. Also fishing boats reported that Atlantic manta rays would circle about their boats for long periods of time. These mantas were probably just displaying their corralling behavior during feeding.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">In the past, two other species of manta, known as the "lesser" devil rays, <i>Manta birostris</i> (Pacific manta ray) and<i> Manta alfredi</i> (Prince Alfred's manta ray) were considered separate from <i>Manta birostris</i>. They have since been recognized as the same species, all now called <i>M. birostris</i>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">The name of manta is derived from the Spanish word, meaning blanket.</span></p>
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<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span></span></h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Manta birostris</i>, unlike most other rays, are found near the surface of the ocean and to depths of 120 meters. Atlantic manta rays stay closer to shore in the warmer waters where food sources are more abundant, but occasionally can be found further from shore.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Sources: <a href="https://eol.org/" target="_blank">EOL</a>; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="color: #202122;">image1: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6694848" target="_blank">Derek Keats (cc-by)</a>; image2: <a href="https://eol.org/media/3741899" target="_blank">Diego Bravo (cc-by-nc-4.0)</a>; image3: <a href="https://eol.org/media/8063385" target="_blank">Gabriel Barathieu (cc-by-sa-3.0)</a>; image4: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6853618" target="_blank">Brian Gratwicke (cc-by)</a>; image5: <a href="https://eol.org/media/7355836" target="_blank">Green Fire Productions (cc-by-3.0)</a>; image6: <a href="https://eol.org/media/12281591" target="_blank">Don Hurlbert/Smithsonian Institution (cc-by-nc-sa-3.0)</a>; iamge 7: <a href="https://eol.org/media/4072609" target="_blank">divemaster (cc-by-nc-4.0)</a>; image8: <a href="https://eol.org/media/7669484" target="_blank">Katia Cao (cc-by-3.0)</a>; image 9: <a href="https://eol.org/media/4216578" target="_blank">John Sear (cc-by-nc-4.0)</a>; image10: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_oceanic_manta_ray#/media/File:Oceanic_Manta.jpg" target="_blank">Steve Laycock (CC BY-SA 4.0)</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
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Juliet Nermalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700230130749236205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-55947463138656707022021-05-20T04:32:00.002-07:002021-05-20T04:32:40.893-07:0010 of the Most Dangerous Animals in Latin America<h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xxx-large;">10. Anaconda</span></h2><div>
<h2>
<p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkpYbTwx3932UI1L-auRzVnemCOGGtPxrz-7jA3V4o_Kk8eiAQiYUiq_mNxgypCxabG1LBJfNoWzrd0KyX01x5xnhyoqzdvjkI2pLGHvd9v-LA-Bq0SufVNATdpZ35caSVnLy5FVgN84m/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_5608041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkpYbTwx3932UI1L-auRzVnemCOGGtPxrz-7jA3V4o_Kk8eiAQiYUiq_mNxgypCxabG1LBJfNoWzrd0KyX01x5xnhyoqzdvjkI2pLGHvd9v-LA-Bq0SufVNATdpZ35caSVnLy5FVgN84m/w640-h480/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_5608041.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"><i>Eunectes</i> (Anaconda) is a genus of boas found in
tropical South America. </span><span style="color: #202122;">They are carnivores. They have sexual reproduction. Reproduction is
dioecious. </span><span style="color: #202122;">They are a semiaquatic group of snakes and include one of the
largest snakes in the world, E. murinus, the green anaconda. The
name Eunectes is derived from the Greek word Eυνήκτης, which means
"good swimmer". Four species are currently recognized.</span></span>
</p></span>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Relationship with humans</span>
</h3>
<h2 style="clear: both;"><span></span></h2>
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While encounters between people and anacondas may be dangerous, they
do not regularly hunt humans. Nevertheless, threat from anacondas is a
familiar trope in comics, movies and adventure stories set in the
Amazon jungle. Anacondas have also figured prominently in South
American folklore, where they are sometimes depicted as shapeshifting
mythical creatures called encantados. Local communities and some
European explorers have given accounts of giant anacondas, legendary
snakes of much greater proportion than any confirmed specimen.</span></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">9. Bull Shark</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<h2>
<p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDLBHgzE156hQ-0fyUWHzmGooZEsfQiDy3i3fbzmvKziyFWyFGzbIKWzGtl1nqN94lxV6sJ_yXXPeOh_OwE3X3KXIwH1AeH-zBpKSowdic0P9HQamHF0uwZDjT07cZjxgTKH4UcqrVlug/s2048/509.1723717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDLBHgzE156hQ-0fyUWHzmGooZEsfQiDy3i3fbzmvKziyFWyFGzbIKWzGtl1nqN94lxV6sJ_yXXPeOh_OwE3X3KXIwH1AeH-zBpKSowdic0P9HQamHF0uwZDjT07cZjxgTKH4UcqrVlug/w640-h474/509.1723717.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Carcharhinus leucas</i> (Bull Shark) is a species of modern
sharks in the family requiem sharks. They are associated with
freshwater habitat. They are native to Atlantic Ocean, Pacific
Ocean, Australia, and Indian Ocean. They are carnivores. Individuals
can grow to 400 cm. Reproduction is dioecious.</span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bull Shark is considered by many people to be the most
dangerous shark alive. Its close proximity to populated shoreline
areas and its aggressive behavior makes it extremely dangerous to
humans. Despite the notoriety of other sharks such as the Great
White and the Tiger Shark, the fact that they live in deeper ocean
waters makes them less dangerous. (Australian Museum 1999)</span></span>
</p>
</div>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Maximum longevity: 32 years (wild)</span>
</p>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Bull Shark is one of the most commonly caught sharks in the world.
It is frequently used as food in coastal areas and its skin is used to
make leather. (Smith 1999)</span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
</h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">8. Africanized Bee</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEu7dY8ZczaM59270N0_Jgo662F6nRNJ2ksrCM59C-VG3iTVelf0GGriHj6cV_XhEWUd1VouMtIZGOdjFYCVewFQqEBkUejjVsdt25qOcMqZBhOKvGGx5RBItkUMYDOJBaAPLQFhYTY-D/s2048/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEu7dY8ZczaM59270N0_Jgo662F6nRNJ2ksrCM59C-VG3iTVelf0GGriHj6cV_XhEWUd1VouMtIZGOdjFYCVewFQqEBkUejjVsdt25qOcMqZBhOKvGGx5RBItkUMYDOJBaAPLQFhYTY-D/w640-h432/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">The </span><span style="color: #202122; text-align: justify;">Africanized bee</span><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">, also known as the Africanized honey bee and known colloquially as
the "killer bee", is a hybrid of the western honey bee (</span><i style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Apis mellifera</i><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">), produced originally by crossbreeding of the East African lowland
honey bee (A. m. scutellata) with various European honey bee
subspecies such as the Italian honey bee (</span><i style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">A. m. ligustica</i><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">) and the Iberian honey bee (</span><i style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">A. m. iberiensis</i><span style="color: #202122; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">).</span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The East African lowland honey bee was first introduced to Brazil
in 1956 in an effort to increase honey production, but 26 swarms
escaped quarantine in 1957. Since then, the hybrid has spread
throughout South America and arrived in North America in 1985. Hives
were found in south Texas in the United States in 1990.</span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Africanized honey bees are typically much more defensive than other
varieties of honey bees, and react to disturbances faster than
European honey bees. They can chase a person a quarter of a mile
(400 m); they have killed some 1,000 humans, with victims receiving
10 times more stings than from European honey bees. They have also
killed horses and other animals.</span></span>
</p>
</div>
</h2>
<h2><div></div></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">7. Jararaca Pit Viper</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS9aHFJ09TjXEiUM2CcGynO-VUEXUgJwB44THCiopLVLhiQfLJMx_ugBQUJLDaQfFksRrRSOwhj3CkgvXSgKV1RRDbh6Eg67A2B9HAyOFigw1igU0g96zP5RYhw2-1r8wy0eq9nBxCHWK/s2048/Jararaca.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS9aHFJ09TjXEiUM2CcGynO-VUEXUgJwB44THCiopLVLhiQfLJMx_ugBQUJLDaQfFksRrRSOwhj3CkgvXSgKV1RRDbh6Eg67A2B9HAyOFigw1igU0g96zP5RYhw2-1r8wy0eq9nBxCHWK/w640-h480/Jararaca.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<div><br /></div>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202122; font-size: large;"><i><b>Bothrops jararaca</b></i> — known as the <i>jararaca</i> or <i>yarara</i> — is a species of a highly venomous pit viper endemic to South America in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The specific name, jararaca, is derived from the Tupi words yarará and ca, which mean "large snake". Within its geographic range, it is often abundant and is an important cause of snakebite. No subspecies are currently recognized.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">The drugs known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used for the treatment of hypertension and some types of congestive heart failure, were developed from a peptide found in the venom of this species.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;">
</p>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This snake usually hunts at night, and during the day takes shelter in
foliage; In habitats at higher altitudes, and those with colder months
there is a significant reduction in activities, with greater activity
observed during the warmer months. They are ambush predators and
equipped with good camouflage, juveniles use caudal luring to attract
prey, making movements with the tip of the tail whose coloring is white,
the tip of the juvenile's tail is very similar to an insect larva, and
is used to attract and capture prey.</span></span></span>
</p>
<div>
<span>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">6. American Crocodile</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nFYPB2R5b2LtHNLU8gRTo1O968aCE5NYTNRaEE_EDWFWPm86nWt5o1P_mp3j5GcM6fyNNVFMIyIvcy_kNyWu8SZuywm8-lOkuAkyDhmgWLRAu8Ejy7b1I9O3YJ1m_LXfHVYxrFaqfBU6/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_1101083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nFYPB2R5b2LtHNLU8gRTo1O968aCE5NYTNRaEE_EDWFWPm86nWt5o1P_mp3j5GcM6fyNNVFMIyIvcy_kNyWu8SZuywm8-lOkuAkyDhmgWLRAu8Ejy7b1I9O3YJ1m_LXfHVYxrFaqfBU6/w640-h426/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_1101083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Crocodylus acutus</i> (American Crocodile) is a species of
crocodilians in the family crocodiles. They are listed in cites appendix
ii. They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are native to The
Neotropics and The Nearctic. They are solitary, nocturnal carnivores.
They have parental care (female provides care).</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 32.9 years (captivity)</span></span>
</p>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">American crocodiles communicate through vocalizations. Roaring acts to
defend territory and attract mates. Territorial communication is also
displayed through slapping the water with the head and tail. Infrasonic
sound is also used which creates ripples on the water's surface. This
infrasonic rumbling is used during the mating season to court potential
mates. Young American crocodiles communicate to the mother when hatching
time approaches. Newly hatched young emit distress calls eliciting
protective measures from the mother. The position of the body is also
used to indicate dominance or submission. Dominant males swim along the
surface of the water, exposing their entire body, while females and
submissive males only expose their head or snout while swimming.
Tail-thrashing is also used in aggressive behaviors and interactions as
a visual cue. Finally, chemosensory cues are used in communication, but
have been poorly documented.</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">American crocodiles have been known on the rare occasion to attack and
kill or injure humans and domestic animals. They have no direct
economic importance for humans, however, similar species such as
Alligator mississippiensis attract tourists to areas such as the Florida
Everglades. In some areas, they may be hunted for food or leather.</span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">5. Vampire Bat</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCCKHU8_WoL2oaC1rLj_hzGFeM_COhnYZ_F8ptAB6l8dF1syW4dpheo6M8xUM-zyPT6pC8xJZWNEwyCiEchOGwvaYdGMfLMwj2gcxD5zKKhhmJDx6jtQctDckv95MaLWgHA5xX9w-RyAh/s1141/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_475527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1141" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCCKHU8_WoL2oaC1rLj_hzGFeM_COhnYZ_F8ptAB6l8dF1syW4dpheo6M8xUM-zyPT6pC8xJZWNEwyCiEchOGwvaYdGMfLMwj2gcxD5zKKhhmJDx6jtQctDckv95MaLWgHA5xX9w-RyAh/w640-h466/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_475527.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><i>Desmodus rotundus</i> (Common Vampire Bat) is a species of bats in
the family New World leaf-nosed bats. They are native to The
Neotropics and The Nearctic. They are nocturnal carnivores.
Individuals are known to live for 234 months and can grow to 78 mm.
Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They rely on flight to move
around.</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Researchers have isolated an anticoagulant called draculin in the
saliva of vampire bats. The anticoagulant is a glycoprotein that stops
wounds from clotting so that the bat can gain a full meal from its
prey.</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;">Vampire bats have been the source of many myths and superstitions
throughout the world. The Europeans have traditionally associated bats
with the devil. In European pictures, the devil often has bat wings.
The Persians and the Chinese, on the other hand, have chosen to depict
the bat in a different light. The bat is a symbol of longevity and
happiness in traditional stories and legends.</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 29.2 years (captivity) Observations: They stop
growing at about 5 months. One captive specimen lived for 29.2 years
(Richard Weigl 2005).</span>
</p>
</div></span>
</div>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p>
<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Vocalizations are most common between mother and offspring. Small contact
cries have been heard from the offspring at 6-12kHz. These usually occur
during food sharing. Contact calls are also given when the offspring is
trying to find its mother. Chemical cues and touch are also likely to play
an important role in communication.</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Vampire bats use echolocation and vision to navigate and find prey. They
may also use olfaction and auditory cues to identify prey.</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p>
<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span>
</p>
<p>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A bite from Desmodus rotundus can cause infections and transmit diseases
carried by the bat. Infections can spread rapidly and cause death. The
vampire bat transmits rabies to both humans and domestic livestock. Losses
to the cattle industry in Latin America amount to many millions of dollars
every year.</span>
</p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">4. Assassin Bugs</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18mboMRjVr4FaGm-VTApFTM5rNywSlubLuCoMKRlZgBnG3hHDEjTOCAQ1X0sBOixQbm4kQN4ahzIooyvDl0KTikZKjm6EgnEU3aV0a5JMX1HzkfdL6JQg4tD1-ZuP-TLsqvZvdPmY7rjO/s2000/542.7915818846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18mboMRjVr4FaGm-VTApFTM5rNywSlubLuCoMKRlZgBnG3hHDEjTOCAQ1X0sBOixQbm4kQN4ahzIooyvDl0KTikZKjm6EgnEU3aV0a5JMX1HzkfdL6JQg4tD1-ZuP-TLsqvZvdPmY7rjO/w640-h480/542.7915818846.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The <b>Reduviidae</b> are a large cosmopolitan family of the order
Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae
almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators: most other predatory
Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of nonpredatory Reduviidae are some
blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae. Though spectacular
exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily
recognizable; they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and
formidable curved proboscis (sometimes called a rostrum). Large specimens
should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend
themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.</span>
</p>
<div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Adult insects range from about 4.0 to 40 mm, depending on the species.
They most commonly have an elongated head with a distinct narrowed 'neck',
long legs, and prominent, segmented, tubular mouthparts, most commonly
called the proboscis, but some authors use the term "rostrum". Most
species are bright in colour with hues of brown, black, red, or
orange.</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The most distinctive feature of the family is that the tip of the
proboscis fits into a ridged groove in the prosternum, where it can be
used to produce sound by stridulation. Sound is made by rasping the
proboscis against ridges in this groove stridulitrum (stridulatory organ).
These sounds are often used to discourage predators. When harassed, many
species can deliver a painful stab with the proboscis, injecting venom or
digestive juices. The effects can be intensely painful and the injection
from some species may be medically significant.</span>
</p>
<p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">3. Poison Dart Frog</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJHn0fzINTkE5pJ0QegDjWvPgxbSRsYWtpEBJJUCnMdM934btHU6e-qA3W45ASnCxLl1j_od8gOvRzPXk9yi2PtgzUxkpbex7smfj5ukQGgOJKFqURqCEBCnnu0W9TjVvvpfHIswK-w2n/s2048/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_4644020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJHn0fzINTkE5pJ0QegDjWvPgxbSRsYWtpEBJJUCnMdM934btHU6e-qA3W45ASnCxLl1j_od8gOvRzPXk9yi2PtgzUxkpbex7smfj5ukQGgOJKFqURqCEBCnnu0W9TjVvvpfHIswK-w2n/w640-h480/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_4644020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Poison dart frog</b> (also known as dart-poison frog, poison frog or
formerly known as poison arrow frog) is the common name of a group of
frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to tropical Central
and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly
colored bodies. This bright coloration is correlated with the toxicity
of the species, making them aposematic. Some species of the family
Dendrobatidae exhibit extremely bright coloration along with high
toxicity, while others have cryptic coloration with minimal to no amount
of observed toxicity. The species that have great toxicity derive this
from their diet of ants, mites and termites. Other species however, that
exhibit cryptic coloration and low to no amounts of toxicity, eat a much
larger variety of prey. Many species of this family are threatened due
to human infrastructure encroaching on their habitats.</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">These amphibians are often called "dart frogs" due to the Native
Americans' use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of
blowdarts. However, of over 170 species, only four have been documented
as being used for this purpose (curare plants are more commonly used),
all of which come from the genus Phyllobates, which is characterized by
the relatively large size and high levels of toxicity of its
members.</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Poison dart frogs are endemic to humid, tropical environments of
Central and South America. These frogs are generally found in tropical
rainforests, including in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru, Panama, Guyana,
Nicaragua, and Hawaii (introduced).</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Natural habitats include subtropical and tropical, moist, lowland
forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or
tropical, moist, montanes and rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent
freshwater marshes, lakes and swamps. Other species can be found in
seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, arable land, pastureland,
rural gardens, plantations, moist savanna and heavily degraded former
forest. Premontane forests and rocky areas have also been known to hold
frogs. Dendrobatids tend to live on or close to the ground, but also in
trees as much as 10 m (33 ft) from the ground.</span>
</p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">2. Mosquito</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdFeVlzjq6zBYX-moVbnSpUTpmbQ-IW5E8BXR2acQfL5Z1UP9yJ0Dx9LwTPJcJYHDMWTT57XPdZA4JPMMoIS-khyphenhyphenePfj5DkfnrHF2HvoRuHBaOWgtBiAXJywV21FzcmJza_J9XnpytSWu/s2000/542.7469978464.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdFeVlzjq6zBYX-moVbnSpUTpmbQ-IW5E8BXR2acQfL5Z1UP9yJ0Dx9LwTPJcJYHDMWTT57XPdZA4JPMMoIS-khyphenhyphenePfj5DkfnrHF2HvoRuHBaOWgtBiAXJywV21FzcmJza_J9XnpytSWu/w640-h480/542.7469978464.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Culicidae</i> (Mosquitos) is a family of flies. They visit
flowers of Green adder's-mouth orchid, eryngo, western white
clematis, and Bog Star.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The mosquito life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult
stages. Eggs are laid on the water surface; they hatch into motile
larvae that feed on aquatic algae and organic material. The adult
females of most species have tube-like mouthparts (called a proboscis)
that can pierce the skin of a host and feed on blood, which contains
protein and iron needed to produce eggs. Thousands of mosquito species
feed on the blood of various hosts — vertebrates, including mammals,
birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish; along with some
invertebrates, primarily other arthropods. This loss of blood is
seldom of any importance to the host.</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The mosquito's saliva is transferred to the host during the bite, and
can cause an itchy rash. In addition, many species can ingest
pathogens while biting, and transmit them to future hosts. In this
way, mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases such as malaria,
yellow fever, Chikungunya, West Nile, dengue fever, filariasis, Zika
and other arboviruses. By transmitting diseases, mosquitoes cause the
deaths of more people than any other animal taxon: over 700,000 each
year. It has been claimed that almost half of the people who have ever
lived have died of mosquito-vectored disease, but this claim is
disputed, with more conservative estimates placing the death toll
closer to 5% of all humans.</span>
</p>
</div>
<span><p></p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">1. Fer De Lance Snake</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzgK5kkpQWGj9pf9ZY149feaVqxNcHkbTYH6e7ifXXxYcd-tyHcvwDrL8jA2sRfjhj7KDO7_0ElCg0LXCyV0iLk35Y8N-qKiKJR-vmnktyM8FT76_pAEDsGQqMiMiCQUHFAb9GrupPCxj/s2048/542.3496098245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzgK5kkpQWGj9pf9ZY149feaVqxNcHkbTYH6e7ifXXxYcd-tyHcvwDrL8jA2sRfjhj7KDO7_0ElCg0LXCyV0iLk35Y8N-qKiKJR-vmnktyM8FT76_pAEDsGQqMiMiCQUHFAb9GrupPCxj/w640-h448/542.3496098245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><i>Bothrops asper (</i>Fer De Lance) is a species of snakes in the
family vipers. They are native to The Neotropics. They are solitary,
nocturnal carnivores. They have sexual reproduction. Reproduction is
dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care).</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 20.4 years (captivity)</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">This species likes moist environments and occurs in most life zones
located at low or middle elevations (up to 600 meters (2,000 ft)),
excluding those with strong seasonal dry periods. They are, however,
sometimes found at much higher elevations. This is true in the
premontane forest in Costa Rica, the cloud forest of Guatemala and
Mexico, or the lower montane wet forest in the Caribbean Region of
Colombia and Ecuador. It chiefly inhabits tropical rainforest and
evergreen forest, but it also occurs in drier areas of tropical
deciduous forest, thorn forest, and pine savannah near lakes,
rivers, and streams. The home range of B. asper averages between
3.71 ha and 5.95 ha, which is comparatively small in relation to
other pitvipers.</span>
</p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span></span>
</h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>B. asper</i> is nocturnal and solitary. It is less active in
colder and drier periods. This species is often found near rivers
and streams, basking in the sun during the day and lying still while
well camouflaged in leaf litter or under forest cover waiting to
ambush prey such as rats and mice that come within range during the
night. When cornered or threatened, this species can be very
defensive and may exhibit an S-coiled defense display. Juveniles are
often semiarboreal, and even adults are sometimes encountered in
bushes and low trees. Juveniles are also known to exhibit caudal
luring, a use of their differently colored tail tips to lure prey.
Although both males and females display this behavior, only males
have bright coloured tail tips.</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Compared to the common lancehead, <i>B. atrox</i>, these snakes
have been described as excitable and unpredictable when disturbed.
They can, and often will, move very quickly, usually opting to flee
from danger, but are capable of suddenly reversing direction to
vigorously defend themselves. Adult specimens, when cornered and
fully alert, are dangerous. In a review of bites from this species
suffered by field biologists, Hardy (1994) referred to it as the
"ultimate pit viper".</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span>
</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Sources: <a href="https://eol.org/" target="_blank">EOL</a>; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia<br /></a></span></span><span style="color: #202122;">image1:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3528406" target="_blank">edgarallenhoopoe</a>
(cc-by-nc-4.0); image2:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/7370729" target="_blank">Albert Kok</a>
(cc-by-sa-3.0); image3:
<a href="http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5196086" target="_blank">Jeffrey W. Lotz</a>
(CC BY 3.0 US); image4:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/7133155" target="_blank">MichelBioDelgado</a>
(cc-by-sa-3.0); image5:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3421526" target="_blank">esanchezleenheer</a>
(cc-by-nc-sa-4.0); image6:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/3731872" target="_blank">JoaquÃn Ugarte</a>
(cc-by-nc-4.0); image7:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/6662729" target="_blank">Katja Schulz</a>
(cc-by); image8:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/2984282" target="_blank">pws14</a>
(cc-by-nc-4.0); image9:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/6649705" target="_blank">Katja Schulz</a>
(cc-by); image10:
<a href="https://eol.org/media/6708000" target="_blank">Hans Zwitzer</a>
(cc-by-nc-sa)</span></span>
</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</h3>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;">
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
</p>
</h3>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"></h3></div></span>
</div>
</div>
Juliet Nermalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700230130749236205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219507960537433721.post-64285896320625406082021-05-14T07:30:00.004-07:002021-05-25T06:16:04.810-07:0010 of the Most Dangerous Animals in Asia<div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">10. Asian Giant Hornet</span>
</h2>
<h2>
<p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ckJL_8VcdVCry6oo3MpgAe3jjAbwWrnJUKXyfZ0uV5yAWXLQ9koK795GICk0s3KgjyZJ-T_ik2tNid8c74xEMTEQMWhraGuWFh5FtZb6nXUQNk3bc3DezUCkjEV2-uza1mRULYOz5Ao/s1024/509.11812823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ckJL_8VcdVCry6oo3MpgAe3jjAbwWrnJUKXyfZ0uV5yAWXLQ9koK795GICk0s3KgjyZJ-T_ik2tNid8c74xEMTEQMWhraGuWFh5FtZb6nXUQNk3bc3DezUCkjEV2-uza1mRULYOz5Ao/w640-h426/509.11812823.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i style="color: black; text-align: left;">Vespa mandarinia </i><span style="color: black; text-align: left;">(Asian Giant Hornet) is a species of Hymenoptera in the family
Vespidae. Flowers are visited by Asian giant hornet. They are
diurnal.</span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Asian giant hornet is a relentless hunter that preys on other
large insects, such as bees, other hornet species, and mantises. Asian
giant hornets often and very effectively attack honey bee (genus Apis)
hives. A single V. mandarinia scout, sometimes two or three, will
cautiously approach the nest, giving off pheromones which will lead
other hornets to the hive's location. Asian giant hornets, which are
five times the size and 20 times the weight of a honey bee, can
devastate a honey bee colony in a very short time: a single hornet can
kill as many as 40 honey bees per minute thanks to its large
mandibles. Once a hive is emptied of all defending bees, the hornets
feed on the honey and carry the larvae back to feed to their own
larvae. Adult Asian giant hornets cannot digest solid protein, so they
do not eat their prey, but chew them into a paste and feed them to
their larvae. Like many other vespid wasp species, adults themselves
consume a clear liquid, Vespa amino acid mixture, which is produced by
their own larvae.</span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The European honeybee (Apis mellifora), which has been imported for
honey farming in Asia, has no natural defenses against giant Asian
hornets and their hives are especially vulnerable to attack. However,
Apis species native to Asia (for example Apis cerana japonica) have
evolved strategies for defeating Vespa mandarinia attacks: if they
detect a attacker in time the bee colony can form a “bee ball”,
surrounding the hornet to very effectively suffocate it.</span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Humans can get a powerful and intensely painful sting from V.
mandarina. The venom it injects is powerful, and about 40 deaths per
year are reported as a result of stings that cause kidney and liver
failure if not treated fast enough. Although it usually does not
attack unless threatened or disturbed, the giant hornet can attack
quickly and fiercely, flying up to 40 km (25 miles)/hour.</span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">In Japan, Asian giant hornets are sometimes eaten raw or fried.
Recently, several companies in Asia and Europe have begun to
manufacture dietary supplements and energy drinks which contain
synthetic versions of Vespa mandarinia larval amino acid secretion.
The manufacturers of these products make claims that consuming the
larval hornet secretions (marketed as "hornet juice") will enhance
human endurance. (</span><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1025_021025_GiantHornets.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Handwerk 2002</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; Sugahara and Sakamoto 2009; Ono et al. 1995;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Asian_giant_hornet&oldid=459537093" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Wikipedia 2011(a)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_giant_hornet&oldid=460537208" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Wikipedia 2011(b))<span></span></a></span></p></span>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">9. Sloth Bear</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<h2>
<p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<i style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7PyB1_PaIjAA3sUinFlUuge9gfrK4ac_o1cNOnm-Y35YA-XEkVSCA8kC60sqZZcHKPr_3tNEhRobGq84ZQVHqaSAH1Kal_WFtD6euSSZD_BrlXLWFusl18qEUZAzhWKbe1W9JGEnfgIq/s2048/sloth+bear.jpg" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7PyB1_PaIjAA3sUinFlUuge9gfrK4ac_o1cNOnm-Y35YA-XEkVSCA8kC60sqZZcHKPr_3tNEhRobGq84ZQVHqaSAH1Kal_WFtD6euSSZD_BrlXLWFusl18qEUZAzhWKbe1W9JGEnfgIq/w640-h428/sloth+bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></i>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Melursus ursinus</i> (Sloth Bear) is a species of mammals in the
family bears. They are listed in cites appendix i. They are native
to Asia. They are solitary, nocturnal omnivores. Individuals are
known to live for 480 months and can grow to 1595.23 mm.
Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care
(female provides care). They rely on running to move around.</span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #202122;">Melursus ursinus</i><span style="color: #202122;"> </span><span style="color: #202122;">(Sloth Bear) is a species of mammals in the family bears. They are
listed in cites appendix i. They are native to Asia. They are
solitary, nocturnal omnivores. Individuals are known to live for 480
months and can grow to 1595.23 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and
dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care). They rely
on running to move around.</span></span>
</p>
</div>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Maximum longevity: 33.3 years (captivity) Observations: It has been
reported that these animals can live up to 40 years in captivity (Ronald
Nowak 1999), which has not been verified. Record longevity in captivity
belongs to one wild born female that was 33.3 years of age when she died
(Richard Weigl 2005).</span>
</p>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;"></span>
</h2>
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></div>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Sloth bears will enter crop fields such as maize. They also have a
reputation for being unpredictable and aggressive (although this may be
an unfair description) toward humans. They are quite possibly the most
dangerous wild animal in Central India. When they are in human
territory, or vice versa, numerous human casualties occur. One study
found that between April 1989 and March 1994, there were 735 victims of
sloth bear assaults and 48 were fatal (Rajpurohit and Krausman,
2000).</span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">8. Asian Tiger
Mosquito</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<h2>
<p>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDnLQzVwkM7QKLu1L8FE7qe99gR-zD7Q39OcuD1VabD5xMatrbQDC517lxtlWfqeOpcIZ11ZE2jJhpaqMdI6-kYcxlnt94rl3kaCQpaCPN6QhGKGWYupz37wvyFThy2hxq7LVAvxtdqZ-/s1602/mosquito.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1602" height="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDnLQzVwkM7QKLu1L8FE7qe99gR-zD7Q39OcuD1VabD5xMatrbQDC517lxtlWfqeOpcIZ11ZE2jJhpaqMdI6-kYcxlnt94rl3kaCQpaCPN6QhGKGWYupz37wvyFThy2hxq7LVAvxtdqZ-/w640-h633/mosquito.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>Aedes albopictus </i>(Asian Tiger Mosquito) is a species of
flies in the family Mosquitos. They are associated with freshwater
habitat. They are native to the Palearctic, Asia, and Japan. Flowers
are visited by Asian Tiger Mosquito. They are solitary, diurnal
herbivores. They rely on flight to move around.</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities
because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in
wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to
at dusk and dawn. The insect is called a tiger mosquito for its
striped appearance, which resembles that of the tiger. <i>Aedes albopictus</i> is an epidemiologically important vector for the transmission
of many viral pathogens, including the yellow fever virus, dengue
fever, and Chikungunya fever, as well as several filarial nematodes
such as Dirofilaria immitis. <i>Aedes albopictus</i> is
capable of hosting the Zika virus and is considered a potential vector
for Zika transmission among humans.</span>
</p>
</div>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<div></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">There is very little communication that occurs between individuals of
this species. Almost all communication is involved with mating. Antennae
contain auditory receptors that allow the males to hear the whine of
females which helps to locate them. Once in the same vicinity, males
engage in lekking behavior, forming clusters in mid-air which invite
females to mate. The males then secrete a substance that helps to
officially begin the mating process. Individuals pair off, mate, and
don't interact again.</span>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Besides the auditory receptors, all mosquitoes in the species have
compound eyes to help locate just about anything they need (mates, food,
areas to lay eggs).</span>
</p>
</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
<h2>
<div></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Asian tiger mosquitoes provide no benefits to humans.</span>
</p>
<div></div>
</h2>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">7. Leopard</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4N4VtTBxcfN8EIy9dk0H-RfX5vS5rlrwNHpHakRKvYIVmDnOQu0oZ33bRYhNHh39akSwIcx9s9O0VvtC5J52Vywui5yt6xo1dkGYVJe_zp9GlUBuYUYQ4SQWMd3_qqf05aTQq8lmgGlF/s2048/leopard+-+Lance+H+Martin.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4N4VtTBxcfN8EIy9dk0H-RfX5vS5rlrwNHpHakRKvYIVmDnOQu0oZ33bRYhNHh39akSwIcx9s9O0VvtC5J52Vywui5yt6xo1dkGYVJe_zp9GlUBuYUYQ4SQWMd3_qqf05aTQq8lmgGlF/w640-h426/leopard+-+Lance+H+Martin.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
</div>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Panthera pardus</i> (Leopard) is a species of mammals in the family
cats. They are listed in cites appendix i. They are native to the
Palearctic, Ethiopia, and Asia. They are solitary, nocturnal carnivores.
Individuals are known to live for 276 months and can grow to 1377.71 mm.
Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care (female
provides care). They rely on running to move around.</span>
</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span>
</p>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 27.3 years (captivity) Observations: One specimen
lived 27.3 years at Madrid Zoo. A hybrid between a leopard and a lion
lived for 24 years (Richard Weigl 2005).</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></p>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behaviour</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Although leopards are silent most of the time, they may give a hoarse,
rasping cough at repeated intervals to advertise their presence to
conspecifics. Males use this unique call to announce territorial
boundaries. If another leopard is in the vicinity, it may answer with a
similar vocalization and continue vocalizing as it exits the area. Males
also grunt at each other and females call to potential mates when in
estrous. Some leopards may purr while feeding.</span></span>
</span></p>
<div>
<span><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span>
</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Leopards can be seen in National Parks throughout Asia and Africa.
They help control baboon populations and disperse seeds that stick to
their fur. Chiefs and warriors from tribal cultures throughout the
leopard's geographic range wear their fur as a symbol of honor and
courage. Tribal medicine men and women suggest leopard skins as a
remedy for bad omens. Leopards are often captured for the pet trade
and are targeted by trophy hunters as well.</span></span>
</p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">6. Tiger</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4NWhQ8jVBowHNIaI1jusbdCouYeOjI7eQukbJS9jzZx7INLXmNdMMIWYA-_RUmqGaPswBtU4JHUQPpHB6NGnwygankR4aLd9nAf5wi48kfFf7RDAKJdTrFftdv9VAyqsyLfr4g5lAeLu/s2048/tiger.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4NWhQ8jVBowHNIaI1jusbdCouYeOjI7eQukbJS9jzZx7INLXmNdMMIWYA-_RUmqGaPswBtU4JHUQPpHB6NGnwygankR4aLd9nAf5wi48kfFf7RDAKJdTrFftdv9VAyqsyLfr4g5lAeLu/w640-h426/tiger.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Panthera tigris</i> (Tiger) is a species of mammals in the family cats. They are listed in cites appendix i. They are native to the Palearctic and Asia. They are solitary, nocturnal carnivores. Individuals are known to live for 315.6 months and can grow to 1824.79 mm. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. They have parental care (female provides care). They rely on running to move around.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 26.3 years (captivity) Observations: One tiger lived 26.3 years at Adelaide Zoo. A hybrid between a tiger and a lion lived 24.2 years (Richard Weigl 2005).</span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span></h3></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Communication among tigers is maintained by scent markings, visual signals, and vocalization. Scent markings are deposited in the form of an odorous musky liquid that is mixed with urine and sprayed on objects like grass, trees, or rocks. A facial expression called “flehmen” is often associated with scent detection. During flehmen, the tongue hangs over the incisors, the nose is wrinkled, and the upper canines are bared. Flehmen is commonly seen in males that have just sniffed urine, scent marks, an estrous tigress, or a cub of their own species.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Visual signals made by tigers include spots that have been sprayed, scrapes made by raking the ground, and claw marks left on trees or other objects. Schaller (1967) described a “defense threat” facial expression observed when a tiger is attacking. This involved pulling the corners of the open mouth back, exposing the canines, fattening the ears, and enlarging the pupils of the eyes. The spots on the back of their ears and their pattern of stripes may also be used in intraspecific communication.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Tigers can also communicate vocally with roars, growls, snarls, grunts, moans, mews, and hisses. Each sound has its own purpose, and appears to reflect the tiger's intent or mood. For example, a tiger’s roar is usually a signal of dominance; it tells other individuals how big it is and its location. A moan communicates submission. The ability of tigers to roar comes from having a flexible hyoid apparatus and vocal fold with a thick fibro- elastic pad that allows sound to travel long distances.</span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span></h3></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Normally tigers avoid human contact, very rarely tigers may become “man eaters”. A man-eating tigress was rumored to have killed over 430 people, including 234 over the course of four years. It is thought that man-eating tigers are those that cannot effectively prey on large ungulated because they have become crippled, are old, or no longer have suitable native habitat and prey available. Because human populations are rapidly increasing, competition over natural resources is increasing pressure on tigers and their habitat and increasing the likelihood of negative human-tiger interactions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">5. Asian Elephant</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcGfK_2qsJFJ67v2greFnylIU28j31b_XE2eRqpGHmxB0rCV_g3JDmITVk99z0MgBcqKbzugwy5EFyueXv723gXrxwbImaOrIvchlkHA6Nqsl-31P8ugZxnLCzjhL5NtqLPjgOslFLPC-/s1600/elephant.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcGfK_2qsJFJ67v2greFnylIU28j31b_XE2eRqpGHmxB0rCV_g3JDmITVk99z0MgBcqKbzugwy5EFyueXv723gXrxwbImaOrIvchlkHA6Nqsl-31P8ugZxnLCzjhL5NtqLPjgOslFLPC-/w640-h480/elephant.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Asian elephant (<i>Elephas maximus</i>), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species of the genus Elephas and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the north, Sumatra in the south, and to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognised—E. m. maximus from Sri Lanka, E. m. indicus from mainland Asia and E. m. sumatranus from the island of Sumatra.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal in Asia. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the population has declined by at least 50 percent over the last three elephant generations, which is about 60–75 years. It is primarily threatened by loss of habitat, habitat degradation, fragmentation and poaching. In 2019, the wild population was estimated at 48,323-51,680 individuals. Female captive elephants have lived beyond 60 years when kept in semi-natural surroundings, such as forest camps. In zoos, Asian elephants die at a much younger age; captive populations are declining due to a low birth and high death rate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The genus Elephas originated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the Pliocene and spread throughout Africa before expanding into the southern half of Asia. The earliest indications of captive use of Asian elephants are engravings on seals of the Indus Valley Civilisation dated to the 3rd millennium BC.</span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 65.5 years (captivity) Observations: Elephants are long-lived mammals but suffer from teeth erosion as a type of mechanical senescence despite having as much as six sets of molars in a lifetime. Although both sexes may become sexually mature at about 9 years of age, males do not normally reproduce until they are about 15 years old. Full size is attained at about 17 years of age (Ronald Nowak 1999). There is much speculation and anecdotes about the longevity of elephants with reports of animals living more than 80 years. In particular, it has been reported that a male elephant called "Lin Wang" died at the age of 86 in Taipei Zoo (Wiese and Willis 2004). This record is unconfirmed, however, because the animal was estimated to be 26 when it was obtained, which is impossible to verify. Other reports of animals living over 70 years are plausible but have not yet been verified. Therefore, the oldest elephant on record was probably a wild born female that was about 65-66 years when she died in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005).</span></p></div></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behavior</span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Elephants use their tusks for a variety of purposes: to dig for water, remove bark from trees, maneuver fallen trees and branches, mark trees, rest their trunk on, fight with, and, in domestic animals, for various kinds of work. Elephants are left or right tusked, just as humans are left or right handed. Their trunks, which are formed by the combination of the elongated nose and upper lip, are also very useful. At the tip is a single, finger-like extension that is very sensitive and can be used for precise manipulation of objects. Trunks are used in eating, drinking, smelling and breathing, touching, vocalizing, washing, dusting (throwing dirt onto the back, possibly as a way of deterring insects), and fighting. The senses of touch and hearing are acute, but eyesight is somewhat poor. Young elephants follow their mothers or older sisters by holding on to their tails. When in danger, elephants run with their tails held up, which may signal the danger to the other members of the herd.</span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Benefits</span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span>
</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Elephants enjoy cultivated foods such as bananas and sugar cane, and so can become crop pests in some areas. Wild elephants are can be aggressive to humans and dangerous.</span>
</p>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">4. Indian Cobra</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygfTQXZIQhCcg425fXlWtQlPyi97Tw6LiPv_IM4eSxf8pPScMMg-_E5J_pRjR62-Mc8bIzr2yjeja1hYNeH1UF8ypZpq1Jt7_SfjFuqXtxSU1la3sRHlLBuC-33uqss-HJlQ65Ka9u0JP/s960/indian+cobra.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="960" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygfTQXZIQhCcg425fXlWtQlPyi97Tw6LiPv_IM4eSxf8pPScMMg-_E5J_pRjR62-Mc8bIzr2yjeja1hYNeH1UF8ypZpq1Jt7_SfjFuqXtxSU1la3sRHlLBuC-33uqss-HJlQ65Ka9u0JP/w640-h456/indian+cobra.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Indian cobra (<i>Naja naja</i>), also known as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, or binocellate cobra, is a species of the genus Naja found, in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, and a member of the "big four" species that inflict the most snakebites on humans in India. It is distinct from the king cobra which belongs to the monotypic genus Ophiophagus. The Indian cobra is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers. It is now protected in India under the <i>Indian Wildlife Protection Act</i> (1972).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Indian cobra is a moderately sized, heavy bodied species. This cobra species can easily be identified by its relatively large and quite impressive hood, which it expands when threatened.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Many specimens exhibit a hood mark. This hood mark is located at the rear of the Indian cobra's hood. When the hood mark is present, are two circular ocelli patterns connected by a curved line, evoking the image of spectacles.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This species has a head which is elliptical, depressed, and very slightly distinct from the neck. The snout is short and rounded with large nostrils. The eyes are medium in size and the pupils are round. The majority of adult specimens range from 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length. Some specimens, particularly those from Sri Lanka, may grow to lengths of 2.1 to 2.2 metres (6.9 to 7.2 ft), but this is relatively uncommon.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Venom</span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Indian cobra's venom mainly contains a powerful post-synaptic neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. The venom acts on the synaptic gaps of the nerves, thereby paralyzing muscles, and in severe bites leading to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The venom components include enzymes such as hyaluronidase that cause lysis and increase the spread of the venom. Envenomation symptoms may manifest between fifteen minutes and two hours following the bite.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">3. Saltwater Crocodile</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWepWvaKQv6GfxuqY9K1FS-yFjdPnm325OCecQvM63LHO9CLafKBiSf_OwXjfCUhCh3-36-vhuwlGWEBXsLJgbFwjo9oFfun1F8vkFm3ianH7TwPmyahQnGPhQrQuVEFJFrHfUelHt_3EI/s1468/Female_croc.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1468" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWepWvaKQv6GfxuqY9K1FS-yFjdPnm325OCecQvM63LHO9CLafKBiSf_OwXjfCUhCh3-36-vhuwlGWEBXsLJgbFwjo9oFfun1F8vkFm3ianH7TwPmyahQnGPhQrQuVEFJFrHfUelHt_3EI/w640-h402/Female_croc.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>The <b><i>saltwater crocodile</i></b> (Crocodylus porosus) is a
crocodilian native to saltwater habitats and brackish wetlands from
India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaic region to
northern Australia and Micronesia. It has been listed as Least
Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1996. It was hunted for its skin
throughout its range up to the 1970s, and is threatened by illegal
killing and habitat loss. It is regarded as dangerous for people who
share the same environment.<o:p></o:p></span>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and
crocodilian known to science. Males grow to a length of up
to 6 m (20 ft), rarely exceeding 6.3 m (21 ft) or a weight of
1,000–1,300 kg (2,200–2,900 lb). Females are much smaller and rarely
surpass 3 m (10 ft). It is also known as the estuarine crocodile,
Indo-Pacific crocodile, marine crocodile, sea crocodile or
informally as saltie. <o:p></o:p></span>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The saltwater crocodile is a large and opportunistic
hypercarnivorous apex predator. It ambushes most of its prey and
then drowns or swallows it whole. It is capable of prevailing over
almost any animal that enters its territory, including other apex
predators such as sharks, varieties of freshwater and <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/05/10-longest-animals-in-ocean.html">saltwater fish</a>
including pelagic species, invertebrates such as crustaceans,
various reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans.</span>
</p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">2. Russell's Viper</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYR4rKPC3LXPgE1MOMLtw785eB09cvcvz_DFqi9qhS9STVpKAeSze-7-kmRkO1SZSdc-uXqV_JeRotjzs_b-JLuSXCas7KJ72akzwkxMbIwUuAVhDdUPxtdw5P3G0q6oVBxMH4Os5OYbN/s1600/snake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYR4rKPC3LXPgE1MOMLtw785eB09cvcvz_DFqi9qhS9STVpKAeSze-7-kmRkO1SZSdc-uXqV_JeRotjzs_b-JLuSXCas7KJ72akzwkxMbIwUuAVhDdUPxtdw5P3G0q6oVBxMH4Os5OYbN/w640-h480/snake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Russell's viper (<i>Daboia russelii</i>) is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae, the family which includes the venomous Old World vipers. The species is found in Asia throughout the Indian subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan. The species is named after Patrick Russell (1726–1805), a Scottish herpetologist who first described many of India's snakes, and the name of the genus is from the Hindi word meaning "that lies hid", or "the lurker". In Odia and Bengali this snake is called chandra-boda and chandroborha respectively since it carries lenticular or more precisely lunar marks all over its body. In Marathi this snake is called ghonas. Apart from being a member of the big four snakes in India, Daboia is also one of the genera responsible for causing the most snakebite incidents and deaths among all venomous snakes on account of many factors, such as their wide distribution, generally aggressive demeanor, and frequent occurrence in highly populated areas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Daboia russelii</i> is commonly known as Russell's viper and the chain viper, among other names.</span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lifespan, longevity, and ageing</span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Maximum longevity: 15 years (captivity)</span></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Behaviour</span></h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>D. russelii</i> is terrestrial and active primarily as a nocturnal forager. However, during cool weather, it alters its behavior and becomes more active during the day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Adults are reported to be slow and sluggish unless pushed beyond a certain limit, after which they can become very aggressive. Juveniles, though, are generally more nervous.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When threatened, they form a series of S-loops, raise the first third of the body, and produce a hiss that is supposedly louder than that of any other snake. When striking from this position, they can exert so much force that even a large individual can lift most of its body off the ground in the process. These snakes are strong and may react violently to being picked up. The bite may be a snap, or they may hang on for many seconds.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although this genus does not have the heat-sensitive pit organs common to the Crotalinae, it is one of a number of viperines that are apparently able to react to thermal cues, further supporting the notion that they, too, possess a heat-sensitive organ. The identity of this sensor is not certain, but the nerve endings in the supranasal sac of these snakes resemble those found in other heat-sensitive organs.</span></p></div><span>
<p></p>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">1. Box Jellyfish</span>
</h2></span>
</h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y_uvNxXKCEqV5EzpzhRpFCxKCdzdguibSid0WX5lBASTW4ilEHdD-I6qwJ7bgP1E-lRo8M043B0QJO3KMK57HH5v_lcI_eCxLxPKERt5j3TmIk8Ka8btIcG3pd_F7VXLVSLsWpKT-dve/s2048/jellyfish.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y_uvNxXKCEqV5EzpzhRpFCxKCdzdguibSid0WX5lBASTW4ilEHdD-I6qwJ7bgP1E-lRo8M043B0QJO3KMK57HH5v_lcI_eCxLxPKERt5j3TmIk8Ka8btIcG3pd_F7VXLVSLsWpKT-dve/w640-h480/jellyfish.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
</div>
<p>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"><i>Cubozoa</i> (Box Jellyfish) is a group of cnidarians.
There are 47 species of box jellyfish, in 18 genera and 8
families. This group has been around since the cambrian stage
4 age. They are carnivores. Reproduction is dioecious.</span>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;">The cubozoans are similar to the Scyphozoa ("true jellyfish")
but the bell is square in cross section, with a velum-like
structure called the velarium. The velarium restricts the size
of the opening through which water is expelled when the bell
contracts, thus increasing thrust and making them stronger
swimmers than the Scyphozoa. There are four clusters of
tentacles, one at each corner of the bell. The rhopalia of the
Cubozoa differ from those of the Scyphozoa in possessing very
complex eyes with lenses, corneas and retinas. The lens is
capable of producing very sharp images, as good as human eyes
but the focal length is longer than the distance between the
lens and the retina making box jellyfish strangely
far-sighted. Development is also different in the cubozoans.
Each scyphistoma forms a single medusa via complete
metamorphosis. Cubozoa includes the highly toxic box
jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri,found in tropical regions and
often in swarms which can drift into bays, disrupting human
activities.</span>
</span></p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Behavior</span>
</span></h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>The box jellyfish actively hunts its prey (small fish),
rather than drifting as do true jellyfish. They are capable of
achieving speeds of up to 1.5 to 2 metres per second or about
4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).</span>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>The venom of cubozoans is distinct from that of scyphozoans,
and is used to catch prey (small fish and invertebrates,
including prawns and bait fish) and for defence from
predators, which include the butterfish, batfish, rabbitfish,
crabs (blue swimmer crab) and various species of turtle
including the hawksbill sea turtle and flatback sea turtle. It
seems that sea turtles are unaffected by the stings because
they seem to relish box jellyfish.</span>
</span></p>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">First Aid for Stings</span>
</span></h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Once a tentacle of the box jellyfish adheres to skin, it
pumps nematocysts with venom into the skin, causing the sting
and agonizing pain. Flushing with vinegar is used to
deactivate undischarged nematocysts to prevent the release of
additional venom. A 2014 study reported that vinegar also
increased the amount of venom released from already-discharged
nematocysts; however, this study has been criticized on
methodological grounds.</span>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Removal of additional tentacles is usually done with a towel
or gloved hand, to prevent secondary stinging. Tentacles can
still sting if separated from the bell, or after the creature
is dead. Removal of tentacles may cause unfired nematocysts to
come into contact with the skin and fire, resulting in a
greater degree of envenomation.</span>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although commonly recommended in folklore and even some
papers on sting treatment, there is no scientific evidence
that urine, ammonia, meat tenderizer, sodium bicarbonate,
boric acid, lemon juice, <a href="https://www.pet-ark.com/2021/05/10-of-most-dangerous-animals-in-latin.html">fresh water</a>, steroid cream, alcohol,
cold packs, papaya, or hydrogen peroxide will disable further
stinging, and these substances may even hasten the release of
venom. Heat packs have been proven for moderate pain relief.
The use of pressure immobilization bandages, methylated
spirits, or vodka is generally not recommended for use on
jelly stings. In severe Chironex fleckeri stings cardiac
arrest can occur quickly.</span>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div><div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Sources:
<a href="https://eol.org/" target="_blank">EOL</a>;
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia<br /></a></span></span><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image1: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6961195" target="">Joe Carey at English Wikipedia (cc-by-3.0)</a>; </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image2: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/7089503" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Aadishbahulikar18 (cc-by-sa-3.0)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image3: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/6714908" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Sean McCann (cc-by-nc-sa)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image4: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/3763066" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Lance H Martin (cc-by-nc-4.0)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image5: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/6767799" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Brian Gratwicke (cc-by)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image6: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/6650171" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Bernard DUPONT (cc-by-sa-2.0)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image7: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/8845485" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">2014 Vivek Sharma (cc-by-nc)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image8: </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/richardfisher/3046718122/sizes/z/in/photostream/" style="background-color: white;">Richard.Fisher (CC BY 2.0)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">; image9: <a href="https://eol.org/media/6731901" target="_blank">Satish Nikam (cc-by-nc-sa)</a>; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">image10: </span><a href="https://eol.org/media/7524846" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Peter Southwood (cc-by-sa-3.0)</a></span></div>
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Juliet Nermalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700230130749236205noreply@blogger.com