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Showing posts with label Animal Facts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Facts. Show all posts

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Interesting Facts About Penguins


Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. There are about 20 extant species of Penguin. These birds can not fly but they are excellent swimmers.



1.) Diet of most Penguins include, fish, squid, krill and other sea creatures. They can live up to 20 years.

2.) Penguins spend about half of their lives on land and half in the oceans.

3.) The only species of Penguin that lives near the equator is the Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus).

4.) Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the largest living species reaching an average height of 1.1 meters and an average weight of 35 kg.

5.) Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor), also known as the Fairy Penguin, is the smallest penguin species. It stands about 40 cm and weighs 1 kg.



6.) Penguins can drink salt water because their supraorbital gland filters excess salt from the bloodstream. The salt is excreted in a concentrated fluid from the nasal passages.

7.) A Penguin uses its tail and wings to maintain balance for its upright stance.

8.) Penguins are superbly adapted to aquatic life. Their vestigial wings have become flippers, useless for flight in the air. But when they swim underwater, they look like flying in the air.

9.) Diving penguins reach 6 to 12 km/h, though there are reports of velocities of 27 km/h

10.) Dives of the large Emperor Penguin had been recorded reaching a depth of 565 m (1,870 ft) for up to 22 minutes.



11.)  Most penguins lay two eggs in a clutch. The Emperor and the King Penguins, the two largest species, lay only one.

12.) All penguins share the incubation duties except for the male Emperor Penguin who does it all.

13.) Penguins seem to have no special fear of humans, and have approached groups of explorers without hesitation.

14.) Historically, Royal Penguins were harvested for their oil, between 1870 and 1919 with an average 150,000 penguins being taken each year.

15.) When mothers lose a chick, they sometimes attempt to "steal" another mother's chick.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Interesting Facts About the Amazing Goldfish

Goldfish are amazing pets. They are among the most popular pet fish in the world. They are beautiful and colorful too. Here are some amazing facts abut the interesting Goldfish.

1.) Goldfish lack a stomach and only have an intestinal tract, and thus cannot digest an excess of proteins. So it is important not to over feed them.
2.) Goldfish may change their color by varying the spectrum of light under which they are kept.
3.) Goldfish produce pigment in response to light. If a goldfish is kept in the dark it will appear lighter in the morning, and over a long period of time will lose its color.
4.) Goldfish can grow to a maximum length of 22 inches 58.42 cm and a maximum weight of 9.9 pounds or 4.5 kg.
5.) The longest goldfish measured was 47.4 cm (18.7 in) from snout to tail-fin end in Hapert, The Netherlands. 



6.) The longest Fancy Goldfish measured was an Oranda called Bruce which measured at 37.2 cm (15 in) in 2002.
7.) Goldfish may live more than 20 years, but most household goldfish generally live only six to eight years.
8.) The oldest recorded goldfish lived to 49 years.
9.) The collective noun for a group of goldfish is a "troubling" of goldfish.
10.) Goldfish can survive if ice form on the pond's surface, as long as there is enough oxygen remaining in the water and the pond does not freeze solid. 



11.) Italy passed a law in 2005 which banned the use of goldfish as carnival prizes. Rome has also banned the keeping of goldfish in goldfish bowls, on the premise that it is cruel for a fish to live in such a small space.
12.) Goldfish have a memory-span of at least three months and can distinguish between different shapes, colors and sounds.
13.) Although edible, goldfish are rarely eaten.
14.) In July 2010 a goldfish measuring 16 inches 0r 41 cm and 5 pounds or 2.3 kg was caught in a pond in Poole, England, thought to have been abandoned there after outgrowing a tank.
15.) A goldfish named "Goldie", kept as a pet in a tank in Folkestone, England, was measured as 15 inches or 38 cm and over 2 pounds 0.91 kg, and named as the second largest goldfish in the world.

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Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Most Amusing and Bizarre Facts and Traits of Mammals II



Some mammals are simply amazing.

1.) Tiger


Tigers are the strongest and largest of all cats in the world.
They eat bears, birds, crocodiles, deer, domestic cattle, elephants, fish, frogs, gaurs, leopards, mice, monkeys, moose, pythons, rabbits, turtles, water buffalo, wild boars and wild dogs.

2.) Beaver


Beavers are great cutters and builders. They cut trees with their teeth and build their own huge dams.

3.) Mouse


Mouse is one of the scariest animals in the world. According to a survey, one out of three American women has a fear for mice.
They are fast breeders and their population grow very fast because there can be 16 mice in a litter, which makes a swarm.

4.) Dog


Dogs are intelligent animals. They can understand a few hundred words and phrases.
They are dangerous too. They bite 4,700,000 Americans annually.

5.) Elephant


Elephants are strong animals. Their trunk can hold up to 600 pounds and carry 20,000 pounds.
Female Elephants get males to fight for them and she gives birth to a 140 kg baby after a 22-month pregnancy – the longest gestation period in the animal kingdom.

6.) Gorilla


Gorillas are strong creatures. They can lift 4,600 pounds which is equivalent to two family cars.
In the movie King Kong, he is depicted as a carnivore but in reality, gorillas are strictly herbivorous.

7.) Naked Mole Rat


Naked Mole rat’s teeth are very tough. Its incisor bite can go through a cement wall little by little.
Like ants and termites, one queen Naked Mole Rat, controls hundreds of Naked Mole Rats.

8.) Orangutan


Mother Orangutans are very caring and passionate mothers. They build beds every night for them and their youngster.
They swings over 61 m high in the trees on a limb while baby Orangutan hangs on their mother for dear life.
Orangutans are smart animals. They have found a way to escape the rain by putting a large leaf on top of their heads.

9.) Platypus


Platypuses have beaks of ducks, flippers of Otters and tails of beavers. They can detect the electrical impulses given off by its prey.
Male Platypuses hind limbs are venomous.

10.) Hippopotamus


Male Hippopotamuses are yucky animals. They fling dung or spread their poops everywhere with their tail.
They are mighty biters. They can open their jaw up to 170° and snap a crocodile in half.

See also

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fascinating Facts About the Gorgeous Guinea Pig


Here are some important facts and things to remember if you have a Guinea Pig.

1.) Guinea Pigs, if handled correctly early in their life, become amenable to being picked up and carried, and seldom bite or scratch. It will even sleep in your lap.

2.) These cute furry animals are timid explorers and often hesitate to attempt an escape from their cage even when an opportunity presents itself.

3.) These rodents, however, show considerable curiosity when allowed to walk freely, especially in familiar and safe terrain.

4.) Guinea Pigs are fantastic pets. Ones they become familiar with their owner they will whistle on the owner's approach.

5.) These small mammals will also learn to whistle in response to the rustling of plastic bags or the opening of refrigerator doors, where their food is most commonly stored.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig


Two parti-colored Abyssinian guinea pigs


6.) Guinea Pigs don’t like to be alone. They should be kept in pairs or, preferably groups.

7.) A Guinea Pig should be put in isolation only for reason of medical condition.

8.) A Guinea Pig in solitude is more likely to suffer from stress and depression.

9.) For the abovementioned reason, it is illegal in Sweden to sell a lone guinea pig to a buyer who does not have any other guinea pigs.

10.) It is a common misconception that male guinea pigs cannot be kept in groups; male guinea pigs can make excellent companions, especially when introduced from a young age.

Satin Peruvian Guinea Pig


A lilac, orange and white Satin Peruvian guinea pig (show-length coat)

11.) Generally, aggression would only occur if there was limited space or resources or a higher ratio of males to females.

12.) Guinea Pig compatibility relies more heavily on personality than on gender.

13.) Guinea Pigs are not related to pigs at all. They are actually called Cavies. They eat a lot that’s why they were so named.

14.) Guinea Pigs originated in South America where they were domesticated by the Incas.

15.) The most common breeds of Guinea Pig includes the Himalayan, the Abyssinian and the Peruvian.

See also

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Fast Facts About the Charming Chinchilla



… and things to remember if you have a Chinchilla pet

Chinchillas can live up to 20 years.




1.) Chinchillas can be found in a variety of colors but the only color found in nature is standard gray.

2.) The most common other colors are white, black velvet, beige, ebony, violet, sapphire and hybrids of these.

3.) There are only 2 known species of Chinchilla – the Long-tailed Chinchilla and the Short-tailed Chinchilla.

4.) If you plan to have a Chinchilla, you should remember that they require extensive exercise.

5.) Chinchilla teeth need to be worn down as their teeth grow continuously and can prevent the chinchilla from eating if they become overgrown.



6.) Wooden sticks, pumice stone and chew toys are good options for Chinchillas.

7.) Conifer and citrus woods like cedar or orange should be avoided because of the high content of resins, oils and phenols that are toxic for Chinchillas.

8.) Safe woods for Chinchillas to chew include birch, willow, apple tree and manzanita or kiln-dried pine.

9.) If temperatures get above 25°C or 80°F, Chinchillas could get overheated and may suffer from heat stroke because they lack the ability to sweat.

10.) Chinchillas dissipate heat by routing blood to their large ears, so red ears signal overheating.



11.) Chinchillas are great leapers. They can jump up to five feet above their head..

12.) Chinchilla fur is considered the softest in the world and is thirty times softer than human hair.

13.)  Chinchillas have more than 50 hairs from a single follicle. Humans have a single hair in a follicle.

14.) For every cm² of the Chinchilla’s skin, there are more than 20,000 hairs making it the highest fur density of any land animal.

15.) It takes about 250 chinchillas to make one fur coat. It is the very reason why Chinchillas were exploited causing their numbers to decline rapidly.

The 2 species of Chinchilla...

Long-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)


The Long-tailed Chinchilla is one of two species of rodents called Chinchilla. It is endemic to Chile and can be found in Peru also. It is also known for a variety of common names like Chilean, Coastal, Common Chinchilla, or Lesser Chinchilla.

Short-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla)


The Short-tailed Chinchilla is an endangered rodent species. It can be found in the Andes Mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The rodents were exploited for their luxurious fur, causing their numbers to dwindle greatly. It is also called the Bolivian, Peruvian, and Royal Chinchilla.

    The Glamorous Gerbil + Fast Facts


     Here's a dozen interesting facts about Gerbils...

    1.) Gerbil has been recently introduced to the pet industry.

    2.) There are many colorful varieties of Gerbil available in pet shops.

    3.) Mongolian Jird is the most widely known species of Gerbil.

    4.) Today, there are more 20 different coat colors in the Mongolian Gerbil.



    5.) Mongolian Gerbil has been captive-bred the longest.

    6.) Gerbils diet includes almost any plant items like sunflower seeds, peanuts, fruits, and vegetables, along with insects.

    7.) Gerbils are popular because they are typically non-aggressive and they rarely bite unprovoked or without stress.

    8.) They are small and easy to handle, since they are sociable creatures that enjoy the company of humans and other gerbils.



    9.) Gerbils also have adapted their kidneys to produce a minimum of waste to conserve body fluids which makes them very clean with little odor.

    10.) Gerbils will pound both their hind legs on the ground when they are excited or stressed.

    11.) Gerbil babies are born blind, deaf and hairless.

    12.) Gerbil can survive without water for a few days.

    Notable species of Gerbil...
    Fat-tailed Gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi)


    Fat-tailed Gerbil or Pachyuromys duprasi is a cute-looking rodent which is also known as Duprasi Gerbil. It is the most docile species. Other common names of this rodent include Fat-tailed Jird, Fat-tailed Rat and Beer Mat Gerbil. It has a fluffy and soft fur and it is a very new on the pet market.

    Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)


    The Mongolian Jird or Mongolian Gerbil, which is formally named Meriones unguiculatus, is the most widely known species of Gerbil. It is also the usual or most popular gerbil species to be kept as a pet or experimental animal.
     
    Like the Golden Hamster, it was first brought to the United States in 1954 for use in research. There were 44 pairs caught originally from Mongolia and brought to England. They were described as "squirrel colors with long furry tails." It is also formerly as the Domesticated Gerbil.

    Persian Jird (Meriones persicus)


    The Persian Jird a rodent species that can be found in many Asian countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and other neighboring countries. This rodent is about 6 inches long and has a brush-tipped tail that is slightly longer than the body. They are wild brown with white bellies. It feeds on dry plant material and grains, with small insects as a supplement. Some people keep Persian Jird as a pet. It has a lifespan of up to 7 years. Prospective buyers should remember that it needs a large cage that allow climbing and leaping.

    Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus)


    The Sand Rat, also known as the Fat Sand Rat, is a gerbil that is mostly found in North Africa and the Middle East. It can easily acquire diabetes mellitus when it is fed a normal rodent diet of grains. Therefore it has been used as an animal model for studies on diabetes.

    See also

    Tuesday, August 23, 2011

    The Most Amusing and Bizarre Facts and Traits of Mammals


    Here are some of the most peculiar and unusual facts about some mammal species.

    1.) Musk Ox


    • Who’s got the toughest skulls in the world? Musk Oxen can repeat head bangs up to 20 times at 32 km/h. Ouch!!!
    • The urine of this unusual animal produces a smell so revolting that it can water your eyes.


    2.) Wolf


    • Wolves howling a night scare people but in reality they are more scared of us than we are of them.
    • When people hear a wolf howling, they think the wolf is out to get them. That is why they believed in werewolves, even though there has never been a healthy wild wolf killing a human in North America.
    • Wolves work as a team. They use teamwork strategy to slay prey eight times bigger than they are.
    •  

    3.) Vampire Bat


    • This bloodsucking has to drink more than its own weight in blood everyday just to survive. If a Vampire Bat is a human; it’s like a human drinking a bathtub's worth of blood.
    • When they suck blood, they draw blood out of the toughest skin of animals such as horses and cattle.
    •  

    4.) Pig


    • Pigs are amazing animals. They can paint a picture and recognize different tastes because they have 20,000 taste buds.
    • Although pigs are known in many cultures as a symbol of prosperity, in reality, it is a very greedy. They are voracious eaters but they have been known to be very picky eaters and actually have quite small stomachs.
    •  

    5.) Rabbit


    • Rabbits are known as symbol of luck. Rabbits are also associated to playboys because they can start a new family every month.
    • Physically, they are amusing leapers. They can jump twice as far as the best Olympic jumpers.
    •  

    6.) Tasmanian Devil


    • Among mammals, the Tasmanian Devil is a multiple birth record holder. In a single litter, it can give birth to 30 pups, but only four usually survive.
    • They are very aggressive and a mating Tasmanian Devils is more like fighting for a male and female.
    • These animals are among the most voracious eaters in the animal world. They can eat 40% of their body weight in just half an hour.
    •  

    7.) Polar Bear


    • Polar Bears are amazing weightlifters. They can take down something three times their own weight.
    • To experts, it is still a big mystery how Polar Bears survive the winter without answering to the call of nature.
    • During hibernation, the female Polar Bear loses 30% of her bodyweight.
    • The Polar Bear’s snout is one of the most sensitive. Its can catch the smell of a seal hiding under three feet of thick sea ice.


    8.) Bear


    • Bears are popular animals because Teddy Bears are popular stuffed animals. However, they are campers’ worst nightmare.
    • Brown Bears are the heavyweight champions of the mountains. They can lift as much as 450 kg.
    • Bears are ridiculous animals. They will destroy cars for the smallest amount of food.
    • Bears are among the most dangerous animals in the world. The odds of being killed by a bear are only 2 in 1.8.


    9.) Elephant Seal


    • Male Elephant Seals fight a bloody battle for over 50 females.
    • Female Elephant Seals will put on an extra 270 kg while being pregnant, and starves until the pups are born.
    • Male Elephant Seals are five times bigger than a female.


    10.) Lion


    • Male Lions are lovable and caring fathers despite their ferocious appearance.
    • A male takes care of 20 cubs.
    • For thousands of years, lions were a worthy opponent for even the strongest men.
    • When the male gets lazy, the female does all the hunting.
    • Lions are the only cat that hunts in groups. Among their prey include baboons, Cape buffalo, elephants, gerenuk, hippopotamuses, impala, kudus, ostriches, rhinos, warthogs, wildebeests and zebras.

    See also


    Wednesday, August 10, 2011

    Amazing Facts About Arthropods

    Amazing Facts About Arthropods 

    There are 1.1 million species of arthropods. Let's explore the world of insects and discover and learn some amazing facts.

    1.      Aphids are born pregnant without the benefit of sex. Aphids can give birth 10 days after being born themselves.
    2.      No two human beings have the same fingerprint; likewise, no two spider webs are the same.
    3.      Man can survive for 40 days without food but not without water but an adult bedbug can survive up to one year without feeding.
    4.      Asian hornet's sting has a higher concentration of the pain-causing chemical called Acetylcholine than any other stinging insect and an enzyme in its venom can dissolve human tissue.
    5.      A typical bed usually houses over 6 billion dust mites. That's why the bed is said to be the dirtiest part of the house.

    Monday, August 8, 2011

    12 Animals and Their Bizarre Habits and Traits

    12 Animals and Their Bizarre Habits and Traits

    Here are 12 animals and their unusual habits or traits.

    1. Llama


    Image Source

    Llamas can carry as much as 91 kg or 200 lb for 12 hours a day, but they are not ridden. When weary or overloaded, llama lies down and refuses to move, often spitting at their driver.

    Sunday, August 7, 2011

    Amazingly Bizarre Cat and Dog Facts


    Dogs and Cats are the two most popular pet animals in the world. Dogs are regarded as man’s best friend while cats are the most favorite pet in the whole wide world.

    *Interesting Fact About Dogs



    1.) The world’s most popular dog breed is the Labrador Retriever.

    2.) Dog meat is consumed in some East and Southeast Asian countries such as Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. The practice of eating dogs dates back to antiquity. It is estimated that up to 16 million dogs are killed and consumed in Asia every year.

    3.) Cats and dogs are a factor in more than 86,000 falls each year in the United States alone while it has been estimated that around 2% of dog-related injuries treated in United Kingdom hospitals are domestic accidents.

    4.) Boxers are amazing dogs. During war time they are utilized as courier and are commonly used as service dogs for blind people because of their intelligence and alert expression.

    5.) Dobermans are commonly trained and used as war dog or police dogs because they have proven themselves as great learners with an amazing capacity of retaining training.

    6.) The longest verified record of the longest-lived dog is 24 years. Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog, is widely reported to be the longest-lived dog. This dog died in 1939 at the age of 29.5 years old but the record is unverified

    7.) The oldest living dog is Max, a Terrier from the United States. He was born on August 9, 1983. He will be 28 years old this month.

    8.) The largest known dog was an English Mastiff which weighed 155.6 kilograms and was 250 cm from the snout to the tail.

    9.) Like humans, dogs are also vulnerable to some of the same health conditions such as arthritis, cancer, dental disease, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, epilepsy and hypothyroidism.

    10.) The smallest known adult dog was a Yorkshire Terrier. It stood only 6.3 cm at the shoulder, 9.5 cm in length along the head-and-body, and weighed only 113 grams.

    11.) With a height of 106.7 cm at the shoulder, the world’s tallest breed of dog is a Great Dane.

    12.) Large Dogs can be ridden by children as small horses. Among the best breeds for riding are the St. Bernard, the Newfoundland, the Landseer, and the Great Pyrenees

    13.) Historically, Dogs were the only domesticated animal of the Athabascan population in North America. Dogs were important part their lives.

    14.) Horses were not known in North America prior to the Age of Exploration and Discovery. These animals were brought by the Europeans during the colonization period.  Hence, dogs were widely utilized for transportation in the continent. During the migration of the Apache and Navajo tribes 1,400 years ago, Dogs carried much of the load.

    15.) A puppy is born deaf and blind. It begins to see between 2 to 3 weeks old.

    16.) A frightened dog puts its tail between its legs to cut off the scent from its anal glands.

    17.) An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner's will

    *Interesting Fact About Cats



    18.) Cats are currently the most popular pet in the world and they have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.

    19.) The worldwide population of Cat exceeds 500 million. There are about 100 million cats in Europe, over 60 million in the United States, less than 10 million in Japan and over 3 million in Australia.

    20.) Human medicines like painkiller paracetamol should never be given to cats because it is extremely toxic to them.

    21.) The oldest known cat is Creme Puff. The cat was 38 years of age at the time of its death. She was born on August 3, 1967 and died on August 6, 2005. She was the oldest cat ever recorded, according to the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records.

    22.) The most popular cat name in Australia is Oscar; in the United Kingdom, its Molly; in the US, its Max and in Germany, its. Felix.

    23.) The Guinness World Records holder for the heaviest cat was Himmy, an Australian cat. His recorded weight was 46 pounds, 15.25 ounces and his waist was 33 inches. 

    24.) In the United States, cats inflict about 400,000 bites per year, with 90% of these bites coming from provoked animals; this number represents about one in ten of all animal bites

    25.) In the Filipino language, cat is “pusa”.   The Spanish word for cat is "gato," and the Italian word is "gatto."  In French, cat is "Chat."  In German, your cat is "katze."   Arabic countries call a cat a "kitte" and Japanese prefer "neko".

    26.) Cats are very clean animals. As an example, after mating, the female will wash her vulva thoroughly. If a male attempts to mate with her at this point, the female will attack him.

    27.) A 3 year-old cat is equivalent to a 21 year-old human. An 8 year-old cat is equivalent to a 40 year-old human and a 14 year-old cat is equal to a 70 year-old human.

    28.) The Persian cat named Bluebell of South Africa gave birth to 14 kittens – the largest known litter. They all survive.

    29.) Feral Cats are wild cats that are unfamiliar with humans and roam freely in urban or rural areas. In the United States alone, it is estimated that the feral cat population range from 25 to 60 million.

    30.) About 200 million kitty yawns per hour and a whopping 425 million catnaps occur each day.

    31.) The top two rows of a cat’s whiskers can move independently of the lower two rows. This allows maximum perception of the cat’s immediate surroundings.

    32.) The largest cat breed is the Ragdoll. It could attain a weight of up to 10 kg while the smallest cat breed is the Singapura. It can weigh as light as 2.7 kg.

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