tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70322380854301093952024-03-13T00:22:58.531-07:00All About AnimalsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-44984001104527656082009-09-06T02:47:00.000-07:002009-09-06T03:15:52.652-07:00American Bullfrog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqhcvwS9AT4Ib_7PSKoepoHBAsMksi_Z4VYZfWxls9_TM5vyQrWLWDihBR9nEGRZxnvwc5qW-mkAotocn4KmmNoSdS2KwREW-PnU3aAA7yMRNEo_10ZjFowwX_RkEQ0HSTLDeMb3nMXw/s1600-h/0.5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqhcvwS9AT4Ib_7PSKoepoHBAsMksi_Z4VYZfWxls9_TM5vyQrWLWDihBR9nEGRZxnvwc5qW-mkAotocn4KmmNoSdS2KwREW-PnU3aAA7yMRNEo_10ZjFowwX_RkEQ0HSTLDeMb3nMXw/s400/0.5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378296069619161346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>The <b>American Bullfrog</b> (<i>Rana catesbeiana</i><sup id="cite_ref-ITIS_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrog#cite_note-ITIS-2"><span></span></a></sup>) is an aquatic frog<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog" title="Frog"></a>, a member of the family Ranidae, or "true frogs", native to much of North America<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America"></a>. This is a frog of larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, lakes, where it is usually found along the water's edge <sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrog#cite_note-3"><span></span></a></sup>. On rainy nights, bullfrogs along with many other amphibians, go overland and may be seen in numbers on country roads.</p> <p>American bullfrogs live longer in warm weather. They have been widely introduced across North America (see range map). The original, naturally determined range did not include far western regions where it is found today. <sup id="cite_ref-Casper.2C_G._S_2005_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrog#cite_note-Casper.2C_G._S_2005-4"><span></span><span></span></a></sup></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-21294307775173525232009-09-06T02:40:00.001-07:002009-09-06T02:46:01.142-07:00Western tiger swallowtail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yugh_a6RsdHezmnRxSLLPjT4lpALM-MEshvQymVYA19aVbw7Y_k0SWd1b4SP64RQb4uaz-0qWRciSl5gJMdwF8gYiE3FE8yFAgxKaOvzZVFa-gkpWwtiQ4Sh-Oav_zbefaacyVjLBd0/s1600-h/0.3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yugh_a6RsdHezmnRxSLLPjT4lpALM-MEshvQymVYA19aVbw7Y_k0SWd1b4SP64RQb4uaz-0qWRciSl5gJMdwF8gYiE3FE8yFAgxKaOvzZVFa-gkpWwtiQ4Sh-Oav_zbefaacyVjLBd0/s400/0.3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378288369795807026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGoWOSrlOItg-m5pWV4NaWNM0S3y647a9P9qYrNYd2Ut0-cqQpzdxliNQQEN3HjKFoRZ8iLJ7ag5bC0giTjzaMvzFMjACZkuRmWSxMjh3_bCVWNBdJP5Yya_yKU4U_md3WSHgAROfkWQ/s1600-h/0.4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGoWOSrlOItg-m5pWV4NaWNM0S3y647a9P9qYrNYd2Ut0-cqQpzdxliNQQEN3HjKFoRZ8iLJ7ag5bC0giTjzaMvzFMjACZkuRmWSxMjh3_bCVWNBdJP5Yya_yKU4U_md3WSHgAROfkWQ/s400/0.4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378288363305836578" border="0" /></a><br />The <b>Western tiger swallowtail</b> (<i><b>Papilio rutulus</b></i>) is a common swallowtail butterfly<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallowtail_butterfly" title="Swallowtail butterfly"></a> of western North America, frequently seen in urban parks and gardens as well as in rural woodlands and riperian<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riparian" title="Riparian" class="mw-redirect"></a> areas. It is a large, brightly colored and active butterfly<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly" title="Butterfly"></a>, rarely seen at rest; its wingspan is 7 to 10 cm, and its wings are yellow with black stripes, and in addition it has blue and orange spots near its tail. It has the "tails" on the hind wings that are often found in swallowtails.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-24127669909058462202009-09-06T02:22:00.001-07:002009-09-06T02:29:29.962-07:00Polar bear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcVACXzFdENnI13CmY1KZzYIly9GH8s6_AqmwiJ0W8Rp26ZgQZZyV5YuZc2A9BA8hGX74gMDJnPoSVHI3R4gyuEofKMB45aaIE3DoxNgHuoFTiHZdOtWGXSu3K48jQWld8QQPAtyi8JM/s1600-h/0.1"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcVACXzFdENnI13CmY1KZzYIly9GH8s6_AqmwiJ0W8Rp26ZgQZZyV5YuZc2A9BA8hGX74gMDJnPoSVHI3R4gyuEofKMB45aaIE3DoxNgHuoFTiHZdOtWGXSu3K48jQWld8QQPAtyi8JM/s400/0.1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378284146560137266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJBNOCRz8NCvtrwQouf8c8eT209KfzdpPEHByYWhoJ5iqbRZcihpBunFzEwuSuhiHv0vyFnd1w64Mu-yL-oEP2FS8XR55zwL64KIr-XQ55T9EdZr44bd3LBFDz7oFx7wIIewUo-JqaXA/s1600-h/0.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJBNOCRz8NCvtrwQouf8c8eT209KfzdpPEHByYWhoJ5iqbRZcihpBunFzEwuSuhiHv0vyFnd1w64Mu-yL-oEP2FS8XR55zwL64KIr-XQ55T9EdZr44bd3LBFDz7oFx7wIIewUo-JqaXA/s400/0.2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378284137917172770" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>polar bear</b> (<i>Ursus maritimus</i>) is a bear<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear" title="Bear"></a> native largely within the Arctic circle<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_circle" title="Arctic circle" class="mw-redirect"></a> encompassing the Arctic Ocean<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Ocean" title="Arctic Ocean"></a>, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest carnivore species found on land. It is also the largest bear, together with the omnivore Kodiak bear<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak_bear" title="Kodiak bear" class="mw-redirect"></a> which is approximately the same size. An adult male weighs around 400–680 kg (880–1,500 lb),<sup id="cite_ref-Animal_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#cite_note-Animal-2"><span></span></a></sup> while an adult female is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear" title="Brown bear" class="mw-redirect"></a>, it has evolved to occupy a narrow ecological niche<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_niche" title="Ecological niche"></a>, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#cite_note-3"><span></span></a></sup> Although most polar bears are born on land, it spends most of its time at sea, hence its name meaning "maritime<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime" title="Maritime"></a> bear", and can hunt consistently only from sea ice<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_ice" title="Sea ice"></a>, spending much of the year on the frozen sea.</p> <p>The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulnerable_species" title="Vulnerable species"></a>, with 5 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations in decline.<sup id="cite_ref-PBSG14_5-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#cite_note-PBSG14-5"><span></span></a></sup> For decades, unrestricted hunting raised international concern for the future of the species; populations have rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. For thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of Arctic indigenous peoples, and the hunting of polar bears remains important in their cultures.</p> <p>The IUCN<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN" title="IUCN" class="mw-redirect"></a> now lists global warming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming" title="Global warming"></a> as the most significant threat to the polar bear, primarily because the melting of its sea ice habitat reduces its ability to find sufficient food. The IUCN states, "If climatic trends continue polar bears may become extirpated from most of their range<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28biology%29" title="Range (biology)"></a> within 100 years."On May 14<span class="mw-formatted-date" title="2008-05-14"><span class="mw-formatted-date" title="05-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_14" title="May 14"></a></span>, 2008<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008"></a></span>, the United States Department of the Interior<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior" title="United States Department of the Interior"></a> listed the polar bear as a threatened species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threatened_species" title="Threatened species"></a> under the Endangered Species Act<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act" title="Endangered Species Act"></a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-3351267161660902282009-08-13T23:09:00.000-07:002009-08-13T23:12:52.254-07:00Zebu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF26GXIcbu1RAoHU4zP35Al5iW5Ock0YLcAa0aXYMcKest3B9LiihmNe32qlm0ZWpDmWI-NfPeNrMCvjGl3LnY-jI6osS5_hq7hdbXRFvw__12hRvarvGqjvIAu012U2fzPj5agZTkO0k/s1600-h/48.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF26GXIcbu1RAoHU4zP35Al5iW5Ock0YLcAa0aXYMcKest3B9LiihmNe32qlm0ZWpDmWI-NfPeNrMCvjGl3LnY-jI6osS5_hq7hdbXRFvw__12hRvarvGqjvIAu012U2fzPj5agZTkO0k/s400/48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369698484209812242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5s8UcubvW7E_PQuecHSN9qrGJoAph99ccjoQDrN9bBhrpASyL62otr8M8whu2sCNJjCVylCsRgw2UNNfMAwqb75FNdArdfHwz-xQ6H83IYnuXK_CWmOZhcKSRxf79bBuSwO7DuxyG3A/s1600-h/49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5s8UcubvW7E_PQuecHSN9qrGJoAph99ccjoQDrN9bBhrpASyL62otr8M8whu2sCNJjCVylCsRgw2UNNfMAwqb75FNdArdfHwz-xQ6H83IYnuXK_CWmOZhcKSRxf79bBuSwO7DuxyG3A/s400/49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369698478370352418" border="0" /></a><br /><b>Zebu</b>, <i><b>Bos primigenius indicus</b></i> or <i><b>Bos indicus</b></i>, sometimes known as <b>humped cattle</b> or <b>indicus cattle</b>, are a type of domestic cattle<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle" title="Cattle"></a> originating in South Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia" title="South Asia"></a>. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap. They are highly adapted to high temperatures, and are farmed throughout the tropical<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropic" title="Tropic"></a> countries, both as pure zebu and as hybirds<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid" title="Hybrid"></a> with taurine cattle, the other main type of domestic cattle. Zebu are used as draught oxen<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxen" title="Oxen" class="mw-redirect"></a>, as dairy cattle<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle" title="Dairy cattle"></a> and as beef cattle<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef_cattle" title="Beef cattle"></a>, as well as for byproducts such as hides<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hide" title="Hide"></a> and dung<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feces" title="Feces"></a> for fuel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel" title="Fuel"></a> and manure<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manure" title="Manure"></a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-69477436987315901312009-08-13T22:31:00.000-07:002009-08-13T22:42:41.425-07:00Zebras<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nZXEHYe6Ncc1rpGO1XUpGyLKF8AgXh_dhwqShRn4QNjBf3krMvW-H4O4C2z18an_wWnRhETT3G1FvXWOOzT3-pEr9Fi-AaPwqwwHXqS2CGwz88LpY9prAmCaYfqh7EVHRbBaV-a8cu4/s1600-h/45.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nZXEHYe6Ncc1rpGO1XUpGyLKF8AgXh_dhwqShRn4QNjBf3krMvW-H4O4C2z18an_wWnRhETT3G1FvXWOOzT3-pEr9Fi-AaPwqwwHXqS2CGwz88LpY9prAmCaYfqh7EVHRbBaV-a8cu4/s400/45.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369690626280995618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TXx896t229vGa4dusL13BDApaztQWv9eEOw_WBOV9NvCIjpqllGK8cD3MF8yp3t-JcC22wB0_Cj9mVqUOihaOLwbQctY555wfwl6NJoIj_44VSFHYOrD3_FbLeW3COeHhgyNprJxdJ0/s1600-h/46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TXx896t229vGa4dusL13BDApaztQWv9eEOw_WBOV9NvCIjpqllGK8cD3MF8yp3t-JcC22wB0_Cj9mVqUOihaOLwbQctY555wfwl6NJoIj_44VSFHYOrD3_FbLeW3COeHhgyNprJxdJ0/s400/46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369690622084007074" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Zebras</b> are African equids<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equids" title="Equids" class="mw-redirect"></a> best known for their distinctive white and black stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals and can be seen in small harems to large herds. In addition to their stripes, zebras have erect, mohawk<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohawk_hairstyle" title="Mohawk hairstyle"></a>-like manes. Unlike their closest relatives, horses<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse" title="Horse"></a> and asses<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey" title="Donkey"></a>, zebras have never been truly domesticated<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated" title="Domesticated" class="mw-redirect"></a>.</p> <p>There are three species of zebra: the Plains Zebra, Grevy's Zebra and the Mountain Zebra<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Zebra" title="Mountain Zebra"></a></b>. The Plains zebra and the Mountain Zebra belong to the subgenus <i>Hippotigris</i>, but Grevy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus <i>Dolichohippus</i>. The latter resembles an ass<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asinus" title="Asinus"></a> while the former two are more horse-like. Nevertheless, DNA and molecular data show that zebras do indeed have monophyletic<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophyletic" title="Monophyletic" class="mw-redirect"></a> origins. All three belong to the genus <i>Equus</i> along with other living equids. In certain regions of Kenya, Plains zebras and Grevy's zebras coexist.</p> <p>The unique stripes and behaviors of zebras make these among the animals most familiar to people. They can be found in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna" title="Savanna"></a>, woodlands<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodland" title="Woodland"></a>, thorny scrublands<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrubland" title="Scrubland"></a>, mountains<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain" title="Mountain"></a> and coastal hills<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill" title="Hill"></a>. However, various anthropogenic factors have severely impacted zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Grevy's zebra and the Mountain zebra are endangered. While Plains zebras are much more plentiful, one subspecies, the quagga, went extinct in the late nineteenth century.</p> <p>The name "zebra" comes from the Old Portuguese<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Portuguese" title="Old Portuguese" class="mw-redirect"></a> word <i>zevra</i> which means "wild ass<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_ass" title="Wild ass"></a>". The pronunciation is /'zebra/<span title="Pronunciation in IPA" class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"></a></span> ZEB-ra<span title="English pronunciation respelling"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i></i></a></span> internationally, or /'zi:bra/<span title="Pronunciation in IPA" class="IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English"></a></span> ZEE-bra<span title="English pronunciation respelling"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i></i></a></span> in North America.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-46277553679884416062009-08-13T11:10:00.000-07:002009-08-13T11:13:46.096-07:00yak<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1jJOgIcbqwe2N7U9a1-YRB8o81w03gUFuJ1VgGyvFIQr8tzmgCcU1M68lNDJ6jdhM3nHvovPUuaSRq3u9SHpP5gACM1q_KjJWv17gGPP6soBVygCXdpqV52yzfUkw98MYrxbHT4Vbew/s1600-h/43.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1jJOgIcbqwe2N7U9a1-YRB8o81w03gUFuJ1VgGyvFIQr8tzmgCcU1M68lNDJ6jdhM3nHvovPUuaSRq3u9SHpP5gACM1q_KjJWv17gGPP6soBVygCXdpqV52yzfUkw98MYrxbHT4Vbew/s400/43.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369513145383074882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcNJCHrK8u4M3wDCZKoV8wa9qmsfcM4UB3HtVM2_HjxdUn6ioLrfkugCWuaQ6YE4kiGM5gPcuetGsiD5jrxwboq6X3ys9m2wtKdo0rhBwhgFO0zGyWc4VLE_DIfprA45K9jkx8gIwR5g/s1600-h/44.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcNJCHrK8u4M3wDCZKoV8wa9qmsfcM4UB3HtVM2_HjxdUn6ioLrfkugCWuaQ6YE4kiGM5gPcuetGsiD5jrxwboq6X3ys9m2wtKdo0rhBwhgFO0zGyWc4VLE_DIfprA45K9jkx8gIwR5g/s400/44.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369513135832966642" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>yak</b> (<i>Bos grunniens</i>) (Tubetan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_script" title="Tibetan script"></a>: <span style=";font-family:Jomolhari,'Tibetan Machine Uni;font-size:larger;" >གཡག་</span>; Wylie<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylie_transliteration" title="Wylie transliteration"></a>: <i>g.yak</i>) is a long-haired bovine<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine" title="Bovine" class="mw-redirect"></a> found throughout the Himalayan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalaya" title="Himalaya" class="mw-redirect"></a> region of south Central Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia"></a>, the Tibetan Plateau<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Plateau" title="Tibetan Plateau"></a> and as far north as Mongolia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia" title="Mongolia"></a>. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population. In Tibetan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_language" title="Tibetan language" class="mw-redirect"></a>, the word <i>gyag</i> refers only to the male of the species; a female is a <i>dri</i> or <i>nak</i>. In most languages which borrowed the word, including English, <i>yak</i> is usually used for both sexes.</p> <p>Yaks belong to the genus <i>Bos</i>, and are, therefore, closely related to cattle, with whom they commonly interbreed, as well as the Southeast Asian banteng, gaur<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaur" title="Gaur"></a> or Indian Bison, and the now extremely rare Kouprey<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouprey" title="Kouprey"></a>.</p> <p>Yaks are herd animals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_animal" title="Herd animal" class="mw-redirect"></a>. Wild male yaks stand about 2 to 2.2 metres (6.6 to 7.2 ft) tall at the shoulder and average 1,000 kg (2,200 lb); the females weigh about one third of this. domesticated yaks are much smaller, males weighing 350 to 580 kg (770 to 1,300 lb) and females 225 to 255 kg (500 to 560 lb).<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak#cite_note-2"><span></span></a></sup> Both types have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold. Wild yaks can be brown or black. Domesticated ones can also be white. Both males and females have horns.</p> <p>Domestic yaks mate in about September; the females may first conceive at about 3–4 years of age, calving April to June about every other or every third year, apparently depending upon food supply. This gestation period is approximately 9 months. In the absence of more data, wild animals are assumed to mirror this reproductive behavior. Calves will be weaned at one year and become independent shortly thereafter. Yaks may live to somewhat more than 20 years.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-23011729214038190572009-08-13T11:00:00.000-07:002009-08-13T11:10:13.987-07:00worm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVAcTl5TGGQRt0iWDMHGGV9V3wJRY1RtNqOSPuXPF9ta7pMrm6TwtIym2o_61REoT1cm6ZH8-VK3a5KlbzlqK3nC_cTdVMhp5A5Nbgtzq8FPEUp9U3d6kmR1vVerNUu_OBvApSKIJMnM/s1600-h/41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVAcTl5TGGQRt0iWDMHGGV9V3wJRY1RtNqOSPuXPF9ta7pMrm6TwtIym2o_61REoT1cm6ZH8-VK3a5KlbzlqK3nC_cTdVMhp5A5Nbgtzq8FPEUp9U3d6kmR1vVerNUu_OBvApSKIJMnM/s400/41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369511838597117634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EQ2XwOe0bjnZ1gmtWj5SOxsOxTXX299mRJ5-pL6chfEKaTZy5GhCZwZsjNn5MFFYdxijxHai6wL53Mn_K_DdrasbTBaGzx8J5ihoqk2HtAExAUBwqcmJDMlAOF89tYvLrfD4kXlEg8Y/s1600-h/42.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EQ2XwOe0bjnZ1gmtWj5SOxsOxTXX299mRJ5-pL6chfEKaTZy5GhCZwZsjNn5MFFYdxijxHai6wL53Mn_K_DdrasbTBaGzx8J5ihoqk2HtAExAUBwqcmJDMlAOF89tYvLrfD4kXlEg8Y/s400/42.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369511836263105362" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The term <b>worm</b> is used to describe many different distantly-related animals which have a long cylindrical body and no legs.</p> <p>Most animals called "worms" are invertebrates<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invertebrates" title="Invertebrates" class="mw-redirect"></a>, but the term is also used for the amphbian caecilians<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caecilian" title="Caecilian"></a> and the slow worm Anguis<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguis" title="Anguis"></a></i>, a legless burrowing lizard<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard" title="Lizard"></a>. Invertebrate animals commonly called "worms" include annelids<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annelids" title="Annelids" class="mw-redirect"></a> (earthworms), nematodes (roundworms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundworm" title="Roundworm" class="mw-redirect"></a>), flatworms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatworm" title="Flatworm"></a>, marine polychaete<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychaete" title="Polychaete"></a> worms (bristle worms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristle_worm" title="Bristle worm" class="mw-redirect"></a>), marine nemertean<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemertean" title="Nemertean" class="mw-redirect"></a> worm ("bootlace worms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootlace_worm" title="Bootlace worm" class="mw-redirect"></a>"), and insect larvae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva" title="Larva"></a> such as caterpillars<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar" title="Caterpillar"></a>, grubs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grub" title="Grub"></a>, and maggots<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggot" title="Maggot"></a>.</p> <p>Worms vary in size from microscopic to over a metre in length for marine polychaete worms (bristle worms)<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm#cite_note-0"><span></span></a></sup>, 6.7 m (22 ft) for the African giant earthworm, Microchaetus rappi<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm#cite_note-1"><span></span></a></sup>, and 55 m (180 ft) for the marine nemertean worm (bootlace worm), Lineus longissimus<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm#cite_note-2"><span></span></a></sup>.</p> <p>Historical English-speaking cultures have used the (now depreciated) terms worm, wurm<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurm" title="Wurm"></a>, or wyrm<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyrm" title="Wyrm"></a> to describe carnivorous reptiles<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes" title="Snakes" class="mw-redirect"></a> ("serpents"), and the related mythical beasts dragons<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_dragon" title="European dragon"></a>.</p> <p>Various types of worm occupy a wide variety of parasitic<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite" title="Parasite" class="mw-redirect"></a> niches, living inside the bodies of other animals. Free-living worm species may live on land, in marine or freshwater environments, or burrow.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-38479432625624088652009-08-13T10:54:00.000-07:002009-08-13T11:00:39.202-07:00grey wolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_uqZRof50q9N8pguYcUO7_xxeexwyIT9dEe-jBySIEEghOoltTutA0bLDlKC58Hf3ME7K1N8rH5eG_Y7WQckUTQYjRE22QVwVVbXwme1cOm8jY1Mr1g-7UdkRKfj5gtWewBOnlhbtsM/s1600-h/39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_uqZRof50q9N8pguYcUO7_xxeexwyIT9dEe-jBySIEEghOoltTutA0bLDlKC58Hf3ME7K1N8rH5eG_Y7WQckUTQYjRE22QVwVVbXwme1cOm8jY1Mr1g-7UdkRKfj5gtWewBOnlhbtsM/s400/39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369509761026309490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-97-MbE_etTR232oM_yxb77EDXE2lPpuwVk3SGvFVY5R33bFHakxrbh_Ml63eR_HrAvJMtJORYhlwGK6iYiSkcpfy4QTHuYyskjyD6Zvk0T2u6kej_p-KLhy43Blo337W9-2_RVBAIg/s1600-h/40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-97-MbE_etTR232oM_yxb77EDXE2lPpuwVk3SGvFVY5R33bFHakxrbh_Ml63eR_HrAvJMtJORYhlwGK6iYiSkcpfy4QTHuYyskjyD6Zvk0T2u6kej_p-KLhy43Blo337W9-2_RVBAIg/s400/40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369509752238702226" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>grey wolf</b> or <b>gray wolf</b> (<i>Canis lupus</i>), also known as simply <b>wolf</b>, is the largest wild member of the Canidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canidae" title="Canidae"></a> family. It is an ice age<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age" title="Ice age"></a> survivor originating during the Late Pleistocene around 300,000 years ago.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wolf#cite_note-2"><span></span></a></sup> DNA sequencing<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_sequencing" title="DNA sequencing"></a> and genetic drift studies reaffirm that the gray wolf shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog" title="Dog"></a> (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>). Although certain aspects of this conclusion have been questioned, including recently<sup id="cite_ref-origins_3-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wolf#cite_note-origins-3"><span></span></a></sup>, the main body of evidence confirms it. A number of other gray wolf subspecies have been identified, though the actual number of subspecies is still open to discussion. Gray wolves are typically apex predators<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex_predator" title="Apex predator"></a> in the ecosystems<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem" title="Ecosystem"></a> they occupy. Though not as adaptable as more generalist canid species<sup id="cite_ref-origins_3-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wolf#cite_note-origins-3"><span></span></a></sup>, wolves have thrived in temperate forests<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest" title="Forest"></a>, deserts, mountains, trndra, taiga, grasslands<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassland" title="Grassland"></a>, and even urban areas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_area" title="Urban area"></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-urban_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wolf#cite_note-urban-4"><span></span></a></sup></p> <p>Though once abundant over much of Eurasia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasia" title="Eurasia"></a> and North America<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America"></a>, the gray wolf inhabits a very small portion of its former range because of widespread destruction of its territory, human encroachment of its habitat, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad extirpation<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_extinction" title="Local extinction"></a>. Even so, the gray wolf is regarded as being of least concern for extinction according to the International Union for Conservation fo Nature<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature" title="International Union for Conservation of Nature"></a>, when the entire gray wolf population is considered as a whole. Today, wolves are protected in some areas, hunted for sport in others, or may be subject to extermination as perceived threats to livestock and pets.</p> <p>In areas where human cultures and wolves are sympatric<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympatry" title="Sympatry" class="mw-redirect"></a>, wolves frequently feature in the folklore and mythology of those cultures, both positively and negatively.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-50378400247871186562009-08-13T10:42:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:52:34.390-07:00Wildfowl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsbVdWVxUUKRpGhFuBRoUuiQmcXIw8yyPWeAEqdt_vwD-G1KZkgTp5meXHyOrbxavTeoSmAwHhR-JMW7zFysr5dLvVjfLN-BbOe-QdUYU-IvFTPdhOXldU9J59pes2UMKQw9gWtDvJ8/s1600-h/37.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsbVdWVxUUKRpGhFuBRoUuiQmcXIw8yyPWeAEqdt_vwD-G1KZkgTp5meXHyOrbxavTeoSmAwHhR-JMW7zFysr5dLvVjfLN-BbOe-QdUYU-IvFTPdhOXldU9J59pes2UMKQw9gWtDvJ8/s400/37.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369507026965179714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rjRFPTOAI6-dw-cudbLUfLZhgBCNh91tdZZd4lPjrumYZDcWLLl6LgFvgN8T7hUmB-JEP68l0EMf4IPk-SL76ywDpdYRxFc4weq78dlUui34YfF5JOG6cbcw-zi-9wOT9eefWSQvkfE/s1600-h/38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rjRFPTOAI6-dw-cudbLUfLZhgBCNh91tdZZd4lPjrumYZDcWLLl6LgFvgN8T7hUmB-JEP68l0EMf4IPk-SL76ywDpdYRxFc4weq78dlUui34YfF5JOG6cbcw-zi-9wOT9eefWSQvkfE/s400/38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369507020775223122" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust</b> is a wildfowl<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfowl" title="Wildfowl" class="mw-redirect"></a> and wetland conservation charity<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_organization" title="Charitable organization"></a> in the United Kingdom<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom"></a>. Its patron is Queen Elizabeth II<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom"></a>.</p> <p>It was founded in 1947 by the ornithologist<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithology" title="Ornithology"></a> and artist<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist" title="Artist"></a> Sir Peter Scott<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Scott" title="Peter Scott"></a>, initially as the Severn Wildfowl Trust. It has over 130,000 members and nine reserves with visitor centres, together covering over 20 km² which support over 150,000 birds and receive over one million visitors per year. The sites include seven SSSIs (site of Special Scientific Interest<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site_of_Special_Scientific_Interest" title="Site of Special Scientific Interest"></a>), five SPAs (Special Protection Areas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Protection_Area" title="Special Protection Area"></a>) and five Ramsar sites<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_site" title="Ramsar site" class="mw-redirect"></a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-68965178501291260402009-08-13T10:39:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:41:52.175-07:00Whales<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkIIg4zfVwe42Mn3yBNCfpkmip_DXUuFxQ9akycIn_JSVIqtqDMJrwgc9mVbM1uecwbS6mIpTl2kaMl7LdDdHStvwTQnMJHmrzSq9xk7VfSgW1tuVw781EH5Jk30-v6sKtlVqdmkWapQ/s1600-h/35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkIIg4zfVwe42Mn3yBNCfpkmip_DXUuFxQ9akycIn_JSVIqtqDMJrwgc9mVbM1uecwbS6mIpTl2kaMl7LdDdHStvwTQnMJHmrzSq9xk7VfSgW1tuVw781EH5Jk30-v6sKtlVqdmkWapQ/s400/35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369504915598265122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzCi-s3kiyYZ3x89v_AZY29w6ibVrlpndqqz8_HGFCnPYY_qh0IKkx0xfxl9UYqw_oBkG6aymM6OH_Eosb8H-xta-WjVa4IDKFt9nFfx25WOM-V0yJge_0HWVTu2Vu80qhzLTHruTLu4/s1600-h/36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzCi-s3kiyYZ3x89v_AZY29w6ibVrlpndqqz8_HGFCnPYY_qh0IKkx0xfxl9UYqw_oBkG6aymM6OH_Eosb8H-xta-WjVa4IDKFt9nFfx25WOM-V0yJge_0HWVTu2Vu80qhzLTHruTLu4/s400/36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369504906921181954" border="0" /></a><br /><b>Whales</b> are marine mammals of order Cetacea<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacea" title="Cetacea"></a>. Whales are neither dolphins, Delphinidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_dolphin" title="Oceanic dolphin"></a> nor porpoises Platanistoidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_dolphin" title="River dolphin"></a>. They include the blue whale<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whale" title="Blue whale" class="mw-redirect"></a>, the largest living animal<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_organism" title="Largest organism" class="mw-redirect"></a>. Orcas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca" title="Orca" class="mw-redirect"></a>, colloquially referred to as "killer whales", and pilot whales<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_whale" title="Pilot whale"></a> have <i>whale</i> in their name but are actually dolphins. For centuries whales have been hunted for meat and as a source of raw materials. By the middle of the 20th century, industrial whaling had left many species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species"></a> seriously endangered<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species"></a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-2564064049748920112009-08-13T10:28:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:38:48.362-07:00Weasels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHhyphenhyphenX0WmxOtZ_q_kzvMMHu75MRs53GwkBBrQRqT6Jssxw0wWE0UE9IPWTaNo31a7nxNffEQdytS-T58PC250HoODfQWh2C-KRtRL2XUA6f75unwfJI7qpfuyHlR7x8WycerI0Ak9hPLU/s1600-h/34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHhyphenhyphenX0WmxOtZ_q_kzvMMHu75MRs53GwkBBrQRqT6Jssxw0wWE0UE9IPWTaNo31a7nxNffEQdytS-T58PC250HoODfQWh2C-KRtRL2XUA6f75unwfJI7qpfuyHlR7x8WycerI0Ak9hPLU/s400/34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369503451825329794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop3uZIPOLOAVy8oOjlSAncjGeQ4xrWA-8mUdnQdyL1UE3ZNaH90jLsksGf4xJImYy2jFBEYPT9lBo4qX3W4J1tTQ3UslY83YpC8ACCO4r_Mkg4Cmixf_A68SUn3zJXFn_-jQqgx9F_8w/s1600-h/33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop3uZIPOLOAVy8oOjlSAncjGeQ4xrWA-8mUdnQdyL1UE3ZNaH90jLsksGf4xJImYy2jFBEYPT9lBo4qX3W4J1tTQ3UslY83YpC8ACCO4r_Mkg4Cmixf_A68SUn3zJXFn_-jQqgx9F_8w/s400/33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369503435683882818" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Weasels</b> are mammals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal" title="Mammal"></a> in the genus <i><b>Mustela</b></i> of the Mustelidae family<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_%28biology%29" title="Family (biology)"></a>.</p> <p>Originally, the name "weasel" was applied to one species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species"></a> of the genus, the European<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"></a> form of the Least Weasel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_Weasel" title="Least Weasel"></a> (<i>Mustela nivalis</i>). Early literary references to weasels, for example their common appearances in fables, refer to this species rather than to the genus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> as a whole, reflecting what is still the common usage in the United Kingdom<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom"></a>. In technical discourse, however, as in American usage, the term "weasel" can refer to any member of the genus, or to the genus as a whole. Of the 16 extant species currently classified in the genus <i>Mustela</i>, ten have "weasel" in their common name. Among those that do not are the stoat<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermine" title="Ermine" class="mw-redirect"></a> or ermine, the two species of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mink" title="Mink">mink</a>, and the polecats<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polecat" title="Polecat"></a> or ferrets<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret" title="Ferret"></a>.</p> <p>Weasels vary in length from twelve to forty-five centimeters long (six to seventeen inches), and usually have a dark brown upper coat, white belly and in many species, populations living at high latitudes moult<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moult" title="Moult"></a> to a white coat in winter. They have long slender bodies, which enable them to follow their prey into burrows. Their tails are typically almost as long as the rest of their bodies. As is typical of small carnivores, weasels have a reputation for cleverness and guile. They also have tails that can be anywhere from 22-33 cm long and they use these to defend the food they get and to claim territory from other weasels. The average weasel weighs about 198 grams (7 ounces).</p> <p>Weasels feed on small mammals, and in former times were considered vermin<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermin" title="Vermin"></a> since some species took poultry<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poultry" title="Poultry"></a> from farms, or rabbits<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit" title="Rabbit"></a> from commercial warrens. Certain species of weasel and ferrets<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret" title="Ferret"></a> have been reported to perform the mesmerizing weasel war dance<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_war_dance" title="Weasel war dance"></a>, after fighting other creatures, or acquiring food from competing creatures. In folklore at least, this dance is particularly associated with the stoat<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat" title="Stoat"></a>.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Collective nouns </span>for a group of weasels include boogle, gang, pack, and confusion.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel#cite_note-0"><span></span></a></sup></p> <p>Weasels occur all across the world except for Antarctica, Australia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia"></a>, and neighbouring islands<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Line" title="Wallace Line"></a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-79202223410818360672009-08-13T10:18:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:27:47.478-07:00Water Buffalo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7wD5LVC9Mv04m8gW9Xu8olBe3jVgWxgltZBi2ESKzPF61WzWsQfL1JIAgEDVCLdnumlsMjlWXwEjwDHsoYGwSyHA2SZVoq6FECFlMdMLHeXxkyuxAse7ZXjv3tyRVShPwqk1s5vruXA/s1600-h/31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7wD5LVC9Mv04m8gW9Xu8olBe3jVgWxgltZBi2ESKzPF61WzWsQfL1JIAgEDVCLdnumlsMjlWXwEjwDHsoYGwSyHA2SZVoq6FECFlMdMLHeXxkyuxAse7ZXjv3tyRVShPwqk1s5vruXA/s400/31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369501331086325874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVui-tNePctL0qNqJSEHR47enZ8cILJAUQV4h1KOU1TiTzNPXLHByu9OxJf68JfnfHfFUnyzj7GKO6bIr9erZ3bS3NXY95LykDjUityWjwuVEJ-1wLa01hh1uwntzGl1XLxzjnjcoQTM/s1600-h/32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVui-tNePctL0qNqJSEHR47enZ8cILJAUQV4h1KOU1TiTzNPXLHByu9OxJf68JfnfHfFUnyzj7GKO6bIr9erZ3bS3NXY95LykDjUityWjwuVEJ-1wLa01hh1uwntzGl1XLxzjnjcoQTM/s400/32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369501326025492322" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>Water Buffalo</b> or <b>domestic Asian water buffalo</b> (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>) is a large bovine<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine" title="Bovine" class="mw-redirect"></a> animal, frequently used as livestock<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock" title="Livestock"></a> in Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"></a>, and also widely in South America<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America" title="South America"></a>, southern Europe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"></a>, north Africa<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa"></a> and elsewhere. In 2000, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Agriculture_Organization" title="Food and Agriculture Organization"></a> estimated that there were approximately 158 million water buffalo in the world and that 97% of them (approximately 153 million animals) were in Asia.<sup id="cite_ref-aphca.org_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Buffalo#cite_note-aphca.org-0"><span></span></a></sup> There are established feral populations in northern Australia but the dwindling true wild populations are thought to survive in India, Nepal<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal" title="Nepal"></a>, Bhutan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan" title="Bhutan"></a> and Thailand<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand"></a>. All the domestic varieties and breeds descend from one common ancestor, the Wild Water Buffalo<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Water_Buffalo" title="Wild Water Buffalo"></a>, which is now an endangered species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species"></a>.</p> <p>Buffalo are used as draft<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_animal" title="Working animal"></a>, meat and dairy<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy" title="Dairy"></a> animals. Their dung is used as a fertilize<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer" title="Fertilizer"></a> and as a fuel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel" title="Fuel"></a> when dried. In Chonbure<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonburi_Province" title="Chonburi Province"></a>, Thailand<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand"></a>, and in South Malabar Region in Kerala<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala" title="Kerala"></a>, India<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India"></a>, there are annual water buffalo races. A few have also found use as pack animals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pack_animal" title="Pack animal"></a> carrying loads even for special forces.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">American bison </span>are known as buffalo in parts of North America<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America"></a>, but not normally in other usages; bison are more closely related to cattle, gaur, banteng, and yaks<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak" title="Yak"></a> than to Asian buffalo. The water buffalo genus includes water buffalo, tamaraw and anoas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoa" title="Anoa"></a>—all Asian species. The ancestry of the Afican buffalo<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_buffalo" title="African buffalo" class="mw-redirect"></a> is unclear, but it is not believed to be closely related to the water buffalo.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-21923935910264514442009-08-13T10:10:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:18:34.979-07:00Turtles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLN9ZIF0FUe0jlCSjpGXDzy5wPXJsErSYHd9AlnY9oBJpIShawBO9nmg_GQg3nLUidwR7DyAQPEguv67TC8lkHon8jhl_nYT1kvut5sjUbyRRSZpIbAXSlqtBjJl6nKVsg7FdlOhf5jnU/s1600-h/29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLN9ZIF0FUe0jlCSjpGXDzy5wPXJsErSYHd9AlnY9oBJpIShawBO9nmg_GQg3nLUidwR7DyAQPEguv67TC8lkHon8jhl_nYT1kvut5sjUbyRRSZpIbAXSlqtBjJl6nKVsg7FdlOhf5jnU/s400/29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369498703888422530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW40IwjKsX-ms2YXkOekHbTvojK0OjkkY6F0l8dr6d6mPBlTScrkc3WrjQxyGZc4MlOYRkPwunII-alVpKtoHUvQ-xXms0WurdCUhrkmuUHzyYs7xWGZfQvLBalz5_k7z-pGBl2XEm0Hc/s1600-h/30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW40IwjKsX-ms2YXkOekHbTvojK0OjkkY6F0l8dr6d6mPBlTScrkc3WrjQxyGZc4MlOYRkPwunII-alVpKtoHUvQ-xXms0WurdCUhrkmuUHzyYs7xWGZfQvLBalz5_k7z-pGBl2XEm0Hc/s400/30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369498696437886194" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Turtles</b> are reptiles<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile" title="Reptile"></a> of the order<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_%28biology%29" title="Order (biology)"></a> <b>Testudines</b> (the crown group<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_group" title="Crown group"></a> of the superorder<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superorder" title="Superorder" class="mw-redirect"></a> <b>Chelonia</b>), characterised by a special bony<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone" title="Bone"></a> or cartilaginous shell<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shell" title="Animal shell" class="mw-redirect"></a> developed from their ribs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rib" title="Rib"></a> that acts as a shield<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield" title="Shield"></a>. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_taxon" title="Form taxon"></a> that is not monophyletic<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophyletic" title="Monophyletic" class="mw-redirect"></a>—see also sea turtle, terrapin, tortoise<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoise" title="Tortoise"></a>, and the discussion below<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle#Turtle.2C_tortoise.2C_or_terrapin.3F"></a>.</p> <p>The order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction" title="Extinction"></a> species. The earliest known turtles date from 215 million<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million" title="Million"></a> years ago,<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle#cite_note-0"><span></span><span></span></a></sup> making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard" title="Lizard"></a> and snakes<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake" title="Snake"></a>. About 300 species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species"></a> are alive today, and some are highly endangered<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species"></a>.</p> <p>Like other reptiles, turtles are ectotherms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectotherm" title="Ectotherm"></a>—varying their internal temperature according to the ambient environment, commonly called cold-bleeded<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold-blooded" title="Cold-blooded"></a>. Like other amniotes<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniote" title="Amniote"></a> (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. The largest turtles are aquatic.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-42159523342446468402009-08-13T10:04:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:10:34.330-07:00toad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-PYFKok6_ESYDW3gcc_CQXmnAnAPMAPxqcGH3NuMmfyWX1t8R4o0y4c03sZqorKDQonR0vZ7__z1tpyrLz9uaQxP03yRZ7WWmUHks9nsX7hIOw1AVLt-e5L4aUez8wuIRKaTIbS_1hY/s1600-h/27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-PYFKok6_ESYDW3gcc_CQXmnAnAPMAPxqcGH3NuMmfyWX1t8R4o0y4c03sZqorKDQonR0vZ7__z1tpyrLz9uaQxP03yRZ7WWmUHks9nsX7hIOw1AVLt-e5L4aUez8wuIRKaTIbS_1hY/s400/27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369496674979207346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0B2w_HXyouDET39tS8cetvR69CCezLhyphenhypheneHc8gdj15CaWe7YoyMgkmSYGFrmLKDgDDSzBFvnN8yiRiEBc9QbBvZSzTb5Qu4O59CZCdyU3hEbdMP1qD5usxLLqPBzYQdcZJm81wWk7iu4/s1600-h/28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0B2w_HXyouDET39tS8cetvR69CCezLhyphenhypheneHc8gdj15CaWe7YoyMgkmSYGFrmLKDgDDSzBFvnN8yiRiEBc9QbBvZSzTb5Qu4O59CZCdyU3hEbdMP1qD5usxLLqPBzYQdcZJm81wWk7iu4/s400/28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369496665946410706" border="0" /></a><br /><p>A <b>toad</b> can refer to a number of species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species"></a> of amphibians<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibian" title="Amphibian"></a> in the order Anura<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anura" title="Anura" class="mw-redirect"></a>. A distinction is often made between frogs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog" title="Frog"></a> and toads by their appearance, prompted by the convergent adaptation<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_evolution" title="Convergent evolution"></a> among so-called "toads" to dry habitats. Many "toads" have leathery skin for better water retention, and brown coloration for camouflage. They also tend to burrow<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrow" title="Burrow"></a>. However, these adaptations are not reliable indicators of its ancestry. Because taxonomy reflects only evolutionary relationships, any distinction between frogs and toads is irrelevant to their classification.</p> <p>For instance, many members of the frog families Bombinatoridae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombinatoridae" title="Bombinatoridae"></a>, Discoglossidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoglossidae" title="Discoglossidae"></a>, Pelobatidae, Rhinophyrynidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinophrynidae" title="Rhinophrynidae" class="mw-redirect"></a>, Scaphiopodidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaphiopodidae" title="Scaphiopodidae" class="mw-redirect"></a>, and some species from the Microhylidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microhylidae" title="Microhylidae"></a> family are commonly called "toads". However, the only family exclusively given the common name "toad" is Bufonidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bufonidae" title="Bufonidae" class="mw-redirect"></a>, or the "true toads<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_toad" title="True toad"></a>". Some "true frogs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_frog" title="True frog"></a>" of the genus <i>Rana</i> have also adapted to burrowing habitats, while a bufonid species in the genus Atelopus<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atelopus" title="Atelopus"></a></i> are conversely known by the common name "harlequin frogs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin_frog" title="Harlequin frog"></a>". Similarly to frogs, toads also display metamorphosis from tadpole to sexually mature adult.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-24190325487852244512009-08-13T09:51:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:03:05.014-07:00tiger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKgEDd_P4wGRvPhH4Qe4Lp4ypB-K2zQn6N__5XCseT-s3YROr3yT0EOzCJ9_fEYZcXxW9OO_YdRpS8FbieSw48rOdgHLOccl-IRiGz2wypoHU1CLc0B2n3W48aMJI88ph_pvSrNSgqqo/s1600-h/26.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKgEDd_P4wGRvPhH4Qe4Lp4ypB-K2zQn6N__5XCseT-s3YROr3yT0EOzCJ9_fEYZcXxW9OO_YdRpS8FbieSw48rOdgHLOccl-IRiGz2wypoHU1CLc0B2n3W48aMJI88ph_pvSrNSgqqo/s400/26.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369494798805279426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EZoN5AziWTmmglJBFUE3f-PwPuk-WxBajSMsyw2iJ3WJmpji5S3qYvheQo7mV9SmDk6vYH37hd3fFXIF4Rv5ef6ivDRT4VMPHg3HfwTrfTgsc0J4Eatd7_BvPT6QWScMQH-NDI-jm58/s1600-h/26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EZoN5AziWTmmglJBFUE3f-PwPuk-WxBajSMsyw2iJ3WJmpji5S3qYvheQo7mV9SmDk6vYH37hd3fFXIF4Rv5ef6ivDRT4VMPHg3HfwTrfTgsc0J4Eatd7_BvPT6QWScMQH-NDI-jm58/s400/26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369494793881272610" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>tiger</b> (<i>Panthera tigris</i>) is a member of the Felidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidae" title="Felidae"></a> family; the largest of the four "big cats<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_cat" title="Big cat"></a>" in the genus Panthera<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera" title="Panthera"></a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-britannica_3-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger#cite_note-britannica-3"><span></span></a></sup> Native to much of eastern and southern Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"></a>, the tiger is an apex predator<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex_predator" title="Apex predator"></a> and an obligate carnivore<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivore#Obligate_carnivores" title="Carnivore"></a>. Reaching up to 4 metres (13 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_5-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger#cite_note-bbc-5"><span></span></a></sup> Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The most numerous tiger subspecies<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies" title="Subspecies"></a> is the Bengal tiger<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_tiger" title="Bengal tiger"></a> while the largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_tiger" title="Siberian tiger"></a>.</p> <p>Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga" title="Taiga"></a>, to open grasslands<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassland" title="Grassland"></a>, to tropical mangrove<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove" title="Mangrove"></a> swamps. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction" title="Extinction"></a> and the remaining six are classified as endangered<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species"></a>, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_destruction" title="Habitat destruction"></a> and fragmentation, and hunting<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting" title="Hunting"></a>. Their historical range, which once reached from Mesopotamia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia" title="Mesopotamia"></a> and the Caucasus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus"></a> through most of South<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia" title="South Asia"></a> and East Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia" title="East Asia"></a>, has been radically reduced. While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inbreeding_depression" title="Inbreeding depression"></a> continue to be threats.</p> <p>Nonetheless, tigers are among the most recognizable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_megafauna" title="Charismatic megafauna"></a>. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology" title="Mythology"></a> and folklore<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore" title="Folklore"></a>, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag" title="Flag"></a> and coats of arms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms" title="Coat of arms"></a>, as mascots<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascot" title="Mascot"></a> for sporting teams, and as the national animal<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_emblem" title="National emblem"></a> of several Asian nations.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-91613168537426017782009-08-13T09:47:00.000-07:002009-08-13T09:51:24.223-07:00Swans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4s9XmlMk8rD6JBnv_JyrNzPXrXNLCa77rKc_F5fdXma6KnbAjRhOJKD5l22KPNFKjI1vfNS5q2owN-wb7G1u95wa03I0EObpXTzvPrBunrfNgMSDOg3IJ5PB2_j8HTmHqfWF1bkd1wg/s1600-h/24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4s9XmlMk8rD6JBnv_JyrNzPXrXNLCa77rKc_F5fdXma6KnbAjRhOJKD5l22KPNFKjI1vfNS5q2owN-wb7G1u95wa03I0EObpXTzvPrBunrfNgMSDOg3IJ5PB2_j8HTmHqfWF1bkd1wg/s400/24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369491863515875362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfrUTwVfIW5zhzI8Plq00Ce3SQKdgK5DVT2YS_loZrScif3XCHRT3sGqCWvsWtFN7Y8eFD_LVdvTGfOVW0Ls9NyWuIRBwCTWMVMDPNQ9U2-VYgn8meGFcZ98n6kWEeoR_ghIsOjyiTak/s1600-h/25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfrUTwVfIW5zhzI8Plq00Ce3SQKdgK5DVT2YS_loZrScif3XCHRT3sGqCWvsWtFN7Y8eFD_LVdvTGfOVW0Ls9NyWuIRBwCTWMVMDPNQ9U2-VYgn8meGFcZ98n6kWEeoR_ghIsOjyiTak/s400/25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369491849374622002" border="0" /></a><br /><b>Swans</b>, genus <i><b>Cygnus</b></i>, are birds of the family Anatidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatidae" title="Anatidae"></a>, which also includes geese<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose" title="Goose"></a> and ducks<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck" title="Duck"></a>. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamiy<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subfamily" title="Subfamily" class="mw-redirect"></a> Anserinae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anserinae" title="Anserinae"></a> where they form the tribe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_%28biology%29" title="Tribe (biology)"></a> <b>Cygnini</b>. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, <b>Cygninae</b>. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus <i>Cygnus</i>; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coscoroba_Swan" title="Coscoroba Swan"></a>, although this species is no longer considered related<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladistics" title="Cladistics"></a> to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/clutch" class="extiw" title="wikt:clutch"></a> ranges from three to eight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-41391562981334813872009-08-13T09:44:00.000-07:002009-08-13T09:47:27.074-07:00swallows<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWfhyphenhyphenmu0QWwHl0L6W_Za1qhEA0n2awAy0B50q6jmaFqUgNtkjecFyoO0ounhIPm6-0XWq2L7y2v9zfs3j24cQXdstDWvT5NASyfao8YFWA-Ip7Icfytr_XAg9Mu1SXHKe3ynkAB16J2A/s1600-h/22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWfhyphenhyphenmu0QWwHl0L6W_Za1qhEA0n2awAy0B50q6jmaFqUgNtkjecFyoO0ounhIPm6-0XWq2L7y2v9zfs3j24cQXdstDWvT5NASyfao8YFWA-Ip7Icfytr_XAg9Mu1SXHKe3ynkAB16J2A/s400/22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369490937768179634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbnkQaVzf5ZFVvAmcWALh4c5VnoZ5DYy2PB1l7h8ZiN8RspXSy4Gp7LxIBQE4BZLr52_5MvkJaiZc5GOJckBfMwmUc88G4Yw0NkvbYtjET5swcN1RECpEMVfXer9KMlIO9v5KS6Atrig/s1600-h/23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbnkQaVzf5ZFVvAmcWALh4c5VnoZ5DYy2PB1l7h8ZiN8RspXSy4Gp7LxIBQE4BZLr52_5MvkJaiZc5GOJckBfMwmUc88G4Yw0NkvbYtjET5swcN1RECpEMVfXer9KMlIO9v5KS6Atrig/s400/23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369490926738532370" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <b>swallows</b> and <b>martins</b> are a group of passerine birds<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" title="Bird"></a> in the family <b>Hirundinidae</b> which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. <i>Swallow</i> is used colloquially in Europe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"></a> as a synonym for the Barn Swallow<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Swallow" title="Barn Swallow"></a>.</p> <p>This family comprises two subfamilies: <b>Pseudochelidoninae</b> (the river martins<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_martin" title="River martin"></a> of the genus <i>Pseudochelidon</i>) and <b>Hirundininae</b> (all other swallows and martins). Within the Hirundiniae, the name "martin" tends to be used for the squarer-tailed species, and the name "swallow" for the more fork-tailed species; however, there is no scientific distinction between these two groups.<sup id="cite_ref-Turner_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow#cite_note-Turner-0"><span></span></a></sup> The family contains around 83 species in 19 genera<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a>.</p> <p>The swallows have a cosmopolitan distribution<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmopolitan_distribution" title="Cosmopolitan distribution"></a> across the world and breed on all the continents except Antarctica<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica" title="Antarctica"></a>. It is believed that this family originated in Africa<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa"></a> as hole-nesters; Africa still has the greatest diversity of species.<sup id="cite_ref-Turner_0-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow#cite_note-Turner-0"><span></span></a></sup> They also occur on a number of oceanic islands. A number of species are long-distance migrants<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_migration" title="Bird migration"></a>. A few species of swallow and martin are threatened with extinction<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction" title="Extinction"></a> by human activities, although other species have benefited from human changes to the environment and live around humans.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-74919823979394673062009-08-13T09:34:00.000-07:002009-08-13T09:42:50.513-07:00squirrel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbdSK0psZNgaw7_zi0nR4dETklqYHrZHQz_xpLtIitF8DYQ0b_CXT-_47UaGZToP0uA5E73mMeEkEOdyzWiLGFTjOsz6yRj-7121zhKuCYw4XjFiksofsuJIGkdAl_R_qFPz9w5ruTGs/s1600-h/20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbdSK0psZNgaw7_zi0nR4dETklqYHrZHQz_xpLtIitF8DYQ0b_CXT-_47UaGZToP0uA5E73mMeEkEOdyzWiLGFTjOsz6yRj-7121zhKuCYw4XjFiksofsuJIGkdAl_R_qFPz9w5ruTGs/s400/20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369489635196651874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIoFMW1lj0d6dVHczW8L_Wy5V8fvZHGm6XI0SXW3eb_YGdv0NV5lTTRNjmo502l8p2ZbbctZHyDY7IOHA2tBt5vVa8sZecGRLRxpvR4kEMyC7qPW7jJqTs2jcCNTqlvjPWeynfLCXxE4/s1600-h/21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIoFMW1lj0d6dVHczW8L_Wy5V8fvZHGm6XI0SXW3eb_YGdv0NV5lTTRNjmo502l8p2ZbbctZHyDY7IOHA2tBt5vVa8sZecGRLRxpvR4kEMyC7qPW7jJqTs2jcCNTqlvjPWeynfLCXxE4/s400/21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369489627112596610" border="0" /></a><br /><p>A <b>squirrel</b> is one of many small or medium-sized rodents<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent" title="Rodent"></a> in the family Sciuridae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciuridae" title="Sciuridae"></a>. In the English<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language" title="English language"></a>-speaking world, squirrel commonly refers to members of this family's genera<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> Sciurus<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciurus" title="Sciurus"></a></i> and Tamiasciurus<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamiasciurus" title="Tamiasciurus" class="mw-redirect"></a></i>, which are tree squirrels<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_squirrels" title="Tree squirrels" class="mw-redirect"></a> with large bushy tails, indigenous toAsia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"></a>, the Americas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas" title="Americas"></a> and Europe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"></a>. Similar genera<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> are found in Africa<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa"></a>. The Sciuridae family also include flying squirrels<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_squirrel" title="Flying squirrel"> </a>, as well as ground squirrels<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_squirrel" title="Ground squirrel"></a> such as the chipmunks, prairie dogs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_dog" title="Prairie dog"></a>, and woodchucks<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodchuck" title="Woodchuck" class="mw-redirect"></a>. Members of the family Anomaluridae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomaluridae" title="Anomaluridae" class="mw-redirect"></a> are sometimes misleadingly referred to as (scaly-tailed flying squirrels" although they are not closely related to the true squirrels.</p> <p>In USA and Canada common squirrels include the Fox Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Squirrel" title="Fox Squirrel"></a> (<i>S. niger</i>); the Western Gray Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Gray_Squirrel" title="Western Gray Squirrel"></a> (<i>S. griseus</i>); the Douglas Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Squirrel" title="Douglas Squirrel"></a> (<i>Tamiasciurus douglasii</i>); the American Red Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Red_Squirrel" title="American Red Squirrel"></a> <i>T. hudsonicus</i>; and the Eastern Grey Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Grey_Squirrel" title="Eastern Grey Squirrel" class="mw-redirect"></a> (<i>S. carolinensis</i>), of which the "Black Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_squirrel" title="Black squirrel"></a>" is a variant. In Europe the Red Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Squirrel" title="Red Squirrel"></a> or Eurasian red squirrel (<i>Sciurus vulgaris</i>) is the most common native species, although the Eastern Grey Squirrel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Grey_Squirrel" title="Eastern Grey Squirrel" class="mw-redirect"></a> (<i>S. carolinensis</i>) has been introduced in some countries and has displaced the red in many areas including most of Britain.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-14337262447103871232009-08-13T08:30:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:46:58.592-07:00Spiders<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtg9ICL-fR3RYI9PIISjvun5d9jmo1F1EtrfvHNlAAI9gzUd3XJyHa8fMFfjE5JjWG_XjhWjfN0imyEc8qZCYbeZtZXCF2FsGuN1u77XYUIvsFVsUhGnl-_944eEyd3cmFbHbUvG6YNE/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtg9ICL-fR3RYI9PIISjvun5d9jmo1F1EtrfvHNlAAI9gzUd3XJyHa8fMFfjE5JjWG_XjhWjfN0imyEc8qZCYbeZtZXCF2FsGuN1u77XYUIvsFVsUhGnl-_944eEyd3cmFbHbUvG6YNE/s400/18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369475331079389410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeo7If-I8GdMTEEZckCaNfysU5Xtct-E6m97iAvJxbGYeYaP4mIWmLt1xMzZeo_n9vk9MsjATDcjHQBTpVAPyqSbA511iXnkIL3RTj_npTYredjoU1zt4LUCTCO7CYh9iSw_H8M4jXZY/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeo7If-I8GdMTEEZckCaNfysU5Xtct-E6m97iAvJxbGYeYaP4mIWmLt1xMzZeo_n9vk9MsjATDcjHQBTpVAPyqSbA511iXnkIL3RTj_npTYredjoU1zt4LUCTCO7CYh9iSw_H8M4jXZY/s400/19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369475314050587714" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Spiders</b> (order <b>Araneae</b>) are air-breathing chelicerate arthropods<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropod" title="Arthropod"></a> that have eight legs, and chelicerae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelicera" title="Chelicera" class="mw-redirect"></a> modified into fangs that inject venom<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom" title="Venom"></a>. Spiders are found world-wide on every continent except for Antarctica<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica" title="Antarctica"></a>, and have become established in nearly every ecological niche<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_niche" title="Ecological niche"></a> with the exception of air and sea colonization. As of 2008, approximately 40,000 spider species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_%28biology%29" title="Species (biology)" class="mw-redirect"></a>, and 109 families<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_%28biology%29" title="Family (biology)"></a> have been recorded by taxonomists<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy" title="Taxonomy"></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-WSC_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider#cite_note-WSC-0"><span></span></a></sup> However, there has been confusion within the scientific community<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_community" title="Scientific community"></a> as to how all these genera should be classified, as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900.</p><p>Anatomically, spiders differ from other arthropods in that the usual body segments<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segment" title="Segment"></a> are fused into two tagmata<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagma_%28biology%29" title="Tagma (biology)"></a>, the cephalothorax<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalothorax" title="Cephalothorax"></a> and abdomen<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdomen" title="Abdomen"></a>, and joined by a small, cylindrical pedicel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedicel" title="Pedicel" class="mw-redirect"></a>. In all except the most primitive group, the Mesothelae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelae" title="Mesothelae"></a>, spiders have the most centralized nervous systems of all arthropods, as all their ganglia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganglia" title="Ganglia" class="mw-redirect"></a> are fused into one mass in the cephalothorax. Unlike most arthropods, spiders have no extensor<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensor" title="Extensor" class="mw-redirect"></a> muscles in their limbs and instead extend them by hydraulic<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic" title="Hydraulic" class="mw-redirect"></a> pressure.</p> <p>Their abdomens bear appendages that have been modified into spinnerets<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinneret_%28spider%29" title="Spinneret (spider)"></a> that extrude silk<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_silk" title="Spider silk"></a> from up to six types of silk gland within their abdomens. Spider's webs<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_web" title="Spider web"></a> vary widely in size, shape and the amount of sticky thread used. It now appears that the spiral orb web may be one of the earliest forms, and spiders that produce tangled cobwebs are more abundant and diverse than orb-web spiders<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb-web_spider" title="Orb-web spider" class="mw-redirect"></a>. Spider-like arachnids<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnid" title="Arachnid"></a> with silk-producing spigots<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spigot" title="Spigot" class="mw-redirect"></a> appear in the Devonian period<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_%28geology%29" title="Period (geology)" class="mw-redirect"></a> about 386<span class="plainlinksneverexpand plainlinks" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://toolserver.org/%7Everisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=386" class="external text" title="http://toolserver.org/~verisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=386" rel="nofollow"></a> million years ago</span>, but these animals apparently lacked spinnerets. True spiders have been found in Carboniferous<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous" title="Carboniferous"></a> rocks from 318 to 299<span class="plainlinksneverexpand plainlinks" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://toolserver.org/%7Everisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=318%E2%80%93299" class="external text" title="http://toolserver.org/~verisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=318–299" rel="nofollow"></a> million years ago</span>, and are very similar to the most primitive surviving order<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_%28biology%29" title="Order (biology)"></a>, the Mesothelae. The main groups of modern spiders, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araneomorphae" title="Araneomorphae"></a>, first appear in the Triassic period, before 200<span class="plainlinksneverexpand plainlinks" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://toolserver.org/%7Everisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=200" class="external text" title="http://toolserver.org/~verisimilus/Timeline/Timeline.php?Ma=200" rel="nofollow"></a> million years ago</span>.</p> <p>A vegetarian species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagheera_kiplingi" title="Bagheera kiplingi"></a> was described in 2008,<sup id="cite_ref-Sciencenewveggiespider_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider#cite_note-Sciencenewveggiespider-2"><span></span></a></sup> but all other known species are predators<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator" title="Predator" class="mw-redirect"></a>, mostly preying on insects and on other spiders, although a few large species also take birds and lizards. Spiders use a wide range of strategies to capture prey: trapping it in sticky webs, lassoing<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasso" title="Lasso"></a> it with sticky bolas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas" title="Bolas"></a>, mimicking the prey to avoid detection, or running it down. Most detect prey mainly by sensing vibrations, but the active hunters have acute vision, and hunters of the genus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> Portia<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portia_%28spider%29" title="Portia (spider)" class="mw-redirect"></a></i> show signs of intelligence in their choice of tactics and ability to develop new ones. Spiders' guts are too narrow to take solids, and they liquidize their food by flooding it with digestive enzymes<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme" title="Enzyme"></a> and grinding it with the bases of their pedipalps<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedipalp" title="Pedipalp"></a>, as they do not have true jaws.</p> <p>Male spiders identify themselves by a variety of complex courtship<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtship" title="Courtship"></a> rituals to avoid being eaten by the females. Males of most species survive a few matings, limited mainly by their short life spans. Females weave silk egg-cases, each of which may contain hundreds of eggs. Females of many species care for their young, for example by carrying them around or by sharing food with them. A minority of species are social, building communal webs that may house anywhere from a few to 50,000 individuals. Social behavior ranges from precarious toleration, as in the aggressive widow spiders<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus" title="Latrodectus"></a>, to co-operative hunting and food-sharing. Although most spiders live for at most two years, tarantulas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula" title="Tarantula"></a> and other mygalomorph<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mygalomorphae" title="Mygalomorphae"></a> spiders can live up to 25 years in captivity.</p> <p>While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans, scientists are now researching the use of spider venom in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide" title="Pesticide"></a>. Spider silk provides a combination of lightness, strength and elasticity<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasticity" title="Elasticity"></a> that is superior to that of synthetic materials, and spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal" title="Mammal"></a> and plants to see if these can be used as silk factories. As a result of their wide range of behaviors, spiders have become common symbols in art and mythology<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology" title="Mythology"></a> symbolizing various combinations of patience, cruelty and creative powers.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-36272132846273932642009-08-13T08:24:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:29:56.439-07:00sparrows<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjPNppVFbIPeo2VbCLucc0B3ZK53j_l_a4VDBJxIu-1zmjTvwLIDBPlM_k_pPkHe0CUhyphenhyphenNpf9ACLwrE5UV2PMZ-6SEhDPBZ0NmYNwWm8rp3H1wLJ4F6NMov9a_rP1SEmHNsDy5kjc_rE/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjPNppVFbIPeo2VbCLucc0B3ZK53j_l_a4VDBJxIu-1zmjTvwLIDBPlM_k_pPkHe0CUhyphenhyphenNpf9ACLwrE5UV2PMZ-6SEhDPBZ0NmYNwWm8rp3H1wLJ4F6NMov9a_rP1SEmHNsDy5kjc_rE/s400/17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369470395959444674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKBJuoG2XQ3F7ejwQiBSlBrjmnyEvj2aIHic0vOk_iP86dEYFs0Uks-BKIL6rACG51sfji6S4wnJs3ZlMe4H8WXrtgeS-O0CS0E7VlWedPuB_P1vpKwcm2-x9mMxZRYv8luUg5aWXgUI/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKBJuoG2XQ3F7ejwQiBSlBrjmnyEvj2aIHic0vOk_iP86dEYFs0Uks-BKIL6rACG51sfji6S4wnJs3ZlMe4H8WXrtgeS-O0CS0E7VlWedPuB_P1vpKwcm2-x9mMxZRYv8luUg5aWXgUI/s400/16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369470390040027890" border="0" /></a><br />True sparrows, the Old World<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World" title="Old World"></a> <b>sparrows</b> in the family <b>Passeridae</b>, are small passerine birds<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" title="Bird"></a>. As eight or more species nest in or near buildings, and the House Sparrow<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Sparrow" title="House Sparrow"></a> and Eurasian Tree Sparrow<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Tree_Sparrow" title="Eurasian Tree Sparrow" class="mw-redirect"></a> in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, sparrows may be the most familiar of all wild birds.<sup id="cite_ref-Firefly_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparrow#cite_note-Firefly-0"><span></span><span></span></a></sup>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-39772622350921323392009-08-13T08:16:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:24:01.461-07:00snipe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIJEtqV-6G-sqBXIOK5rZgt5rcdEyGLt72hjZ5wcOFoqMyVuln0ovffERng8pJAN8v1JfIYTuqhzTCGft6AZEyrZJ0F9EBf6p-9nBQcNUu_mX84zoI_8qpqrUsXPf7vq022BpZyF-gOo/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIJEtqV-6G-sqBXIOK5rZgt5rcdEyGLt72hjZ5wcOFoqMyVuln0ovffERng8pJAN8v1JfIYTuqhzTCGft6AZEyrZJ0F9EBf6p-9nBQcNUu_mX84zoI_8qpqrUsXPf7vq022BpZyF-gOo/s400/14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369469336998793154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kdUV8-9yOBsGYO-zc6KPmxsUr0a66iEjGKuSDyWLqarYE1KHt9S8lO2vDj56CA8leCPyx0Zp5LeFV71R9sStoOoVmXoJ83mj1q21QckCMHRugozB2kY0NTNUS5NpuXIJ8ZtrU2XqBzU/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kdUV8-9yOBsGYO-zc6KPmxsUr0a66iEjGKuSDyWLqarYE1KHt9S8lO2vDj56CA8leCPyx0Zp5LeFV71R9sStoOoVmXoJ83mj1q21QckCMHRugozB2kY0NTNUS5NpuXIJ8ZtrU2XqBzU/s400/15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369469327903513714" border="0" /></a><br />A <b>snipe</b> is any of nearly 20 wading<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wader" title="Wader"></a> bird species in three genera<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> in the family Scolopacidae<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopacidae" title="Scolopacidae"></a>. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill and cryptic plumage<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumage" title="Plumage"></a>. The Gallinago<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallinago" title="Gallinago"></a></i> snipes have a nearly worldwide distribution, the Lymnocryptes<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Snipe" title="Jack Snipe"></a></i> Jack Snipe is restricted to Asia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"></a> and Europe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"></a> and the Coenocorypha<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenocorypha" title="Coenocorypha"></a></i> snipes are found only in New Zealand<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand"></a>. The three species of painted snipe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_snipe" title="Painted snipe"></a> are not closely related to the typical snipes, and are placed in their own family, the Rostratulidae.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-26059610975998488372009-08-13T08:08:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:15:47.495-07:00Snakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rDL-s3JrT6iNs7AbaeYr6cc6z9AO7h_02MjfYyVEgrVY9ehDdv9yU264FLXGU808p-Is4IVJogYkwun7I8Sjo6hu9nQEKincfOy4iwQpf9_30LTYLTkbrbivBD7AonfDAGNfMgyVn3E/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rDL-s3JrT6iNs7AbaeYr6cc6z9AO7h_02MjfYyVEgrVY9ehDdv9yU264FLXGU808p-Is4IVJogYkwun7I8Sjo6hu9nQEKincfOy4iwQpf9_30LTYLTkbrbivBD7AonfDAGNfMgyVn3E/s400/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369467271628753058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDZu9kG0aZ8PEUS0mCVGgP50RQEBBpP_6c-MZMrN0BYLks9yFJ36y1rF2a8nCWUI2CdS5scAxU8wSjFYuypoMgEPo-JKHgRbFEah8HdhCw4n7Zg5yS9tyNMBMzBeU3s8N_ZD_pzgh-gc/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDZu9kG0aZ8PEUS0mCVGgP50RQEBBpP_6c-MZMrN0BYLks9yFJ36y1rF2a8nCWUI2CdS5scAxU8wSjFYuypoMgEPo-JKHgRbFEah8HdhCw4n7Zg5yS9tyNMBMzBeU3s8N_ZD_pzgh-gc/s400/13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369467261578631026" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Snakes</b> are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile" title="Reptile"></a> of the suborder <b>Serpentes</b> that can be distinguished from legless lizards<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legless_lizard" title="Legless lizard"></a> by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamates" title="Squamates" class="mw-redirect"></a>, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28zoology%29" title="Scale (zoology)"></a>. Like lizards, from which they evolved, they have loosely articulated skulls<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skulls" title="Skulls" class="mw-redirect"></a> and most can swallow prey much larger than their own head. In order to accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung" title="Lung"></a>. Some species retain a pelvic girdle<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvic_girdle" title="Pelvic girdle" class="mw-redirect"></a> with a pair of vestigial<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestigial" title="Vestigial" class="mw-redirect"></a> claws on either side of the cloaca<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca" title="Cloaca"></a>.</p> <p>Living snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica. Fifteen families<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_%28biology%29" title="Family (biology)"></a> are currently recognized comprising 456 genera<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus"></a> and over 2,900 species<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species"></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-NRDB-Cs_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake#cite_note-NRDB-Cs-1"><span></span></a></sup> They range in size from the tiny, 10 cm long thread snake<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotyphlops_carlae" title="Leptotyphlops carlae"></a> to pythons and anacondas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda" title="Anaconda"></a> of up to 7.6 m (25 ft) in length. The recently discovered fossil Titanoboa<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanoboa" title="Titanoboa"></a> was 13 m or 43 ft long. Snakes are thought to have evolved from either burrowing or aquatic lizards during the Cretaceous<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous" title="Cretaceous"></a> period (<i>c</i> 150 Ma<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega-annum" title="Mega-annum" class="mw-redirect"></a>). The diversity of modern snakes appeared during the Paleocene<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene" title="Paleocene"></a> period (<i>c</i> 66 to 56 Ma).</p> <p>Most species are non-venomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom potent enough to cause painful injury or death<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death" title="Death"></a> to humans.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-73149595406448864762009-08-13T07:59:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:08:09.298-07:00sheep<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryvVps62NJ0Bh78yxDPA4jvvNGDEzs_YXA-gY0y9k55GUwcE1RpC3bTJTj2xeMUNDMY0HbrpsGr2TOnW-KZOc4cLFhT3blW_47vQS4L42ikZGRkIhUQsJOAChy_Gr-AWmIBy3XalzyoE/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryvVps62NJ0Bh78yxDPA4jvvNGDEzs_YXA-gY0y9k55GUwcE1RpC3bTJTj2xeMUNDMY0HbrpsGr2TOnW-KZOc4cLFhT3blW_47vQS4L42ikZGRkIhUQsJOAChy_Gr-AWmIBy3XalzyoE/s400/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369464985279739714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18Pz3XEW3B-sRRpgNy8-DOOFbPKzOTHygZpeoGkcqPE4lQ1fGhUa1sr6dO0voKIEHR_dZDHumxL6i2kh4UA2jt_ysHLqBXt-M0wzVOUmiiCo3vFwGZvTIhYfxLrwgHm6q9RPZuFAji4w/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18Pz3XEW3B-sRRpgNy8-DOOFbPKzOTHygZpeoGkcqPE4lQ1fGhUa1sr6dO0voKIEHR_dZDHumxL6i2kh4UA2jt_ysHLqBXt-M0wzVOUmiiCo3vFwGZvTIhYfxLrwgHm6q9RPZuFAji4w/s400/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369464975425505922" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Domestic sheep</b> (<i><b>Ovis aries</b></i>) are quadrupedal<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruped" title="Quadruped" class="mw-redirect"></a>, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock" title="Livestock"></a>. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Even-toed_ungulate" title="Even-toed ungulate"></a>. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species, in everyday usage it almost always refers to <i>Ovis aries</i>. Numbering a little over 1 billion, domestic sheep are the most numerous species in their genus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovis" title="Ovis"></a>.</p> <p>Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouflon" title="Mouflon"></a> of Europe and Asia. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture" title="Agriculture"></a> purposes, sheep are raised for fleece<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool" title="Wool"></a>, meat (lamb or mutton) and milk<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_milk" title="Sheep milk"></a>. A sheep's wool<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool" title="Wool"></a> is the most widely used of any animal, and is usually harvested by shearing<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_shearing" title="Sheep shearing"></a>. Ovine<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ovine" class="extiw" title="wikt:Ovine"></a> meat is called lamb<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_and_mutton" title="Lamb and mutton"></a> when from younger animals and mutton<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_and_mutton" title="Lamb and mutton"></a> when from older ones. Sheep continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheepskin_%28material%29" title="Sheepskin (material)" class="mw-redirect"></a>, as dairy<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy" title="Dairy"></a> animals, or as model organisms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_organism" title="Model organism"></a> for science.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sheep husbandary </span>is practised throughout the majority of the inhabited world, and has been fundamental to many civilizations. In the modern era, Australia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia"></a>, New Zealand<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand"></a>, the southern and central South American<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America" title="South America"></a> nations, and the British Isles<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles" title="British Isles"></a> are most closely associated with sheep production. Sheep-raising has a large lexicon of unique terms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_sheep_husbandry" title="Glossary of sheep husbandry"></a> which vary considerably by region and dialect<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialect" title="Dialect"></a>. Use of the word <i>sheep</i> began in Middle English<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English" title="Middle English"></a> as a derivation of the Old English<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English" title="Old English"></a> word <i>scēap</i>; it is both the singular and plural name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a flock, herd<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd" title="Herd"></a> or mob. Adult female sheep are referred to as ewes, intact males as rams or tups, castrated<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castration" title="Castration"></a> males as wethers, and younger sheep as lambs. Many other specific terms for the various life stages of sheep exist, generally related to lambing, shearing, and age. Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and find representation in much modern language and symbology<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbology" title="Symbology"></a>. As livestock, sheep are most-often associated with pastoral, Arcadian<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia_%28utopia%29" title="Arcadia (utopia)"></a> imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology" title="Mythology"></a>—such as the Golden Fleece<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Fleece" title="Golden Fleece"></a>—and major religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and modern religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sacrifice" title="Animal sacrifice"></a>. In contemporary English language<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language" title="English language"></a> usage, people who are timid, easily led, or stupid are often compared to sheep.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-11863273858479848972009-08-13T06:54:00.000-07:002009-08-13T07:59:15.877-07:00Sharks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6q1lvRDmPoYlgc3PwTZ2KvQIGccs16Luoobiuu7GHahs3DriVIx_KcLkw3eqOq5zod3jU5LqmqZNpNn9RdCFBQb7hv8wfLEpppbo_2T2Od9TEoWTscyQtACXIK2xB5FAwWUtsy4JPVc/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6q1lvRDmPoYlgc3PwTZ2KvQIGccs16Luoobiuu7GHahs3DriVIx_KcLkw3eqOq5zod3jU5LqmqZNpNn9RdCFBQb7hv8wfLEpppbo_2T2Od9TEoWTscyQtACXIK2xB5FAwWUtsy4JPVc/s400/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369462659115298098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrXwMJElXaM5vxEU5IjA2ok7yMdpkW32M3vMJpFbVbpL4r4bFJs9s06YMFklTy2h-Cpu75e65_YJFQ_DEszFGl9kFuhJWr-aolkISBVC_BwfxymuqBbvyEoyy3w0ygVSsbZwAcAf5quM/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrXwMJElXaM5vxEU5IjA2ok7yMdpkW32M3vMJpFbVbpL4r4bFJs9s06YMFklTy2h-Cpu75e65_YJFQ_DEszFGl9kFuhJWr-aolkISBVC_BwfxymuqBbvyEoyy3w0ygVSsbZwAcAf5quM/s400/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369462647527986498" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b>Sharks</b> (superorder <b>Selachimorpha</b>) are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. They respire with the use of five to seven gill slits. Sharks have a covering of dermal denticles that protect their skin from damage and parasites<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite" title="Parasite" class="mw-redirect"></a> and improve fluid dynamics<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_dynamics" title="Fluid dynamics"></a> so the shark can move faster. They have several sets of replaceable teeth.<sup id="cite_ref-Budker_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark#cite_note-Budker-0"><span></span></a></sup> Sharks range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_lanternshark" title="Dwarf lanternshark"></a>, <i>Etmopterus perryi</i>, a deep sea species of only 17 centimetres (7 in) in length, to the whale shark<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark" title="Whale shark"></a>, <i>Rhincodon typus</i>, the largest fish, which grows to a length of approximately 12 metres (39 ft) and which feeds only on plankton, squid<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid" title="Squid"></a>, and small fish<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish" title="Fish"></a> through filter feeding<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_feeding" title="Filter feeding" class="mw-redirect"></a>.</p> <p>The bull shark<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_shark" title="Bull shark"></a>, <i>Carcharhinus leucas</i>, is the best known of several species that swim in both seawater<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater" title="Seawater"></a> and freshwater<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshwater" title="Freshwater"></a>, as well as in deltas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta" title="River delta"></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark#cite_note-1"><span></span></a></sup></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032238085430109395.post-74090554880207761132009-08-13T06:50:00.000-07:002009-08-13T06:53:32.028-07:00Pinnipeds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ne2QGcxlhTHQIOgx3ec2OXsH42sm4o97Ii75CDSTWMeY88e1MB9txGUcumROK4g0Ve3DRgqxn5paHtk39CiITURqa7aCLRNB0C285hzvpcxX6t64EuR2AMPgQDk9798gY5zvez4ttsg/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ne2QGcxlhTHQIOgx3ec2OXsH42sm4o97Ii75CDSTWMeY88e1MB9txGUcumROK4g0Ve3DRgqxn5paHtk39CiITURqa7aCLRNB0C285hzvpcxX6t64EuR2AMPgQDk9798gY5zvez4ttsg/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369445976558344338" border="0" /></a><br /><b>Pinnipeds</b> (from Latin<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" title="Latin"></a> <i>pinna</i>, wing or fin, and <i>ped-</i>, foot) or <b>fin-footed mammals</b> are a widely distributed and diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal" title="Mammal"></a> comprising the families Odobenidae (the walrus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walrus" title="Walrus"></a>), Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lion" title="Sea lion"></a> and fur seals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fur_seal" title="Fur seal"></a>), and Phocidae (earless seals<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earless_seal" title="Earless seal"></a>). Formerly classified as a separate biological suborder<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suborder" title="Suborder" class="mw-redirect"></a>, <i>Pinnipedia</i> is now sometimes considered a superfamily<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfamily_%28biology%29" title="Superfamily (biology)" class="mw-redirect"></a> within Caniformia<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caniformia" title="Caniformia"></a>, a suborder in the Carnivora<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivora" title="Carnivora"></a> order.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0