Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Snakes: The Longest, The Most Venomous, The Smallest
June 1, 2008-June 7, 2008
The reticulated python (Python reticulatus) is the world’s longest snake. It is a non-venomous python species native to Southeast Asian nations such as
The most venomous snake in the world is the inland taipan or the fierce snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus). Its venom is 50 times more toxic than that of the Indian cobra and 650 to 850 times more toxic than that of the western or eastern diamondback. It can kill as many as 250,000 mice or 100 human adults in just about 45 minutes. Though known as the most venomous snake, the inland taipan’s bites may somehow be treated with antivenin.
The thread snake (Leptotyphlops bilineatus) is known as the smallest snake in the world. It is a blind non-toxic snake species found in the Lesser Antilles, particularly in
Friday, June 6, 2008
Kemp's Ridley
June 1, 2008-June 7, 2008
Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is a species of sea turtle categorized by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) as critically endangered. Its name was taken from Richard Kemp, the first to send in a specimen of the species to Samuel Garman of
Being the smallest sea turtle species in the world, Kemp’s ridley grows at a length of only less than a meter and an average weight of 45 kilograms. It has a triangular-shaped head with a somewhat hooked beak used to grab and break up crabs which are its common diet.
Kemp’s ridleys were once commonly found in
Top 3 Kemp’s Ridley Snapshots
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Asian Arowana
May 18, 2008-May 24, 2008
Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) is a freshwater fish with several varieties living in blackwater rivers and slow-moving waters of
Asian arowanas are mouthbrooders. It means that they are capable of caring their offsprings by holding them in their mouth for extended periods of time. Moreover, they are carnivorous fishes. They naturally feed on other fishes with much smaller sizes, crickets and other insects.
The varieties of Asian arowana can be distinguished mainly through color variations and geographical locations. The green-colored variety is commonly found in Indochina and
Mostly because of Chinese cultural influences, the Asian arowana rose to become a highly popular aquatic fish to date. It is thought to bring luck just like what the Chinese dragon does. It is also believed to be capable of preserving its owner from death by dying itself. The Asian arowana then, together with water, indicates equilibrium of positive and negative energies (yin and yang energies) according to Feng Shui beliefs.
In the 2006 IUCN Red List, the Asian arowana is listed as an endangered species. The cause was probably due to its high value as an aquarium fish.
Top 3 Asian Arowana Snapshots
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Whales: The Smallest, The Biggest, The Deadliest
May 4, 2008-May 10, 2008
The dwarf sperm whale, scientifically known as Kogia sima, is the world’s smallest whale. It has a length that exceeds up to 2.7 meters only and a weight that reaches about 250 kilograms. It is occasionally even smaller than bigger dolphins.
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is hailed as the biggest of all whales. It is also deemed to be the most enormous animal to ever have existed on Earth. It reaches up to an extreme length of 33 meters and weighs about 181 metric tons or even heavier than that.
The deadliest whale is believed to be the killer whale or the orca (short for its scientific name, Orcinus orca). It is a versatile and very opportunistic predator, hunting in packs for fishes, seals, sea lions and even large whales and sea birds. Additionally, it usually swallows its prey whole.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Black-capped Lory
May 4, 2008-May 10, 2008
The black-capped lory is VJ Czar World’s first Organism of the Week. Actually, I chose to feature this bird because of the fact that my family has got one as a pet. Ours is a male black-capped lory whom we call by the name “Kawan”. He was transported illegally from somewhere in
Anyway, let’s move on to what I should say.
The black-capped lory is a kind of parrot which is native in the East Indies—from the
Black-capped lories are commonly found in primary forests and forest edges in most lowland areas up to 1,000 meters, but not in monsoon forests or coconut plantations. They are usually in pairs and occasionally in groups of 10 or more. They feed on fruits, pollen, flowers and insects.
Taxonomically, it is known as Lorius lory. It has seven well-known subspecies which vary significantly in color. However, all of these subspecies possess green wings, red heads and body around the wing, a black cap, grey-black cere, yellow underwings, and blue legs and belly. A certain subspecies known as Lorius lory cyanuchen has been classified as endangered, with only 5,000 of them currently existing.
The black-capped lory may be kept as pets. It is certainly noisy yet very entertaining. It can also be taught to mimic sounds and speak short phrases and expressions.
Top 3 Black-capped Lory Snapshots
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Oscar the Naked Cockatoo
Above is a video of an unfortunate ill cockatoo named Oscar. She has a disease called “beak and feather” which is caused by an unusual virus that attacks the immune system. This disease gets Oscar irritated the moment her feathers grow in. Eventually, because she couldn’t take it anymore, she tends to pull her feathers out. As a result, she turns into a naked bird.
Actually, Oscar is not yet fully naked. She still has few feathers left on her neck and head. The reason? Well, she just can’t reach them, that’s all.
Oscar is a girl cockatoo. It was a year before it was determined, through a blood test, that what they thought was male, was truly female, and it was too late to change names. If they can still change her name, I would prefer to baptize her as “Oscara”, “Oscarina” or “Emmy” (for Emmy Awards..haha..nonsense).
She’s been living here in this world for 12 years now. I think that’s long existence already for a bird. Sooner or later, her disease will damage her nails and beak and finally, will take her life. How sad...I guess that’s life.
Anyways, if you wanna visit Oscar personally, just head towards the Humane Society of Broward County. Just make sure to do it as soon as possible. You might catch her dead if you’ll do it on the last minute.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Boy Monkeys Prefer "Boy" Toys
When we were once little kids, we humans tend to choose playthings based on our gender. Normally, boys deal with robots, toy trucks and war toys, whereas, girls prefer playing with Barbie dolls or cuddly stuffed animals. We have this propensity because of several factors such as cues we’ve picked up from our parents, peer group or from various media like the TV.
But did you know that there is a study in the
The concept that children’s preference in toys might be genetically determined has long been pronounced by psychologists as unscientific, sexist or both. But in spite of that, some researchers still don’t give up their notion which is in contrary to that of the psychologists. One of them is Kim Wallen of the
She, together with her team of scientists conducted a study about it. However this time, the participants were not humans but another type of primates known as rhesus monkeys. Rhesus monkey is one of the most famous species of Old World monkeys found in
Wallen’s team decided to offer typical "male" and "female" playthings to the monkeys to see if preferences are associated with sex. Surprisingly, they did. The 11 male monkeys headed straight for the wheeled toys, such as dump trucks. Meanwhile, the 23 females were more curious, and played with both the wheeled toys and plush toys.
"They are not subject to advertising. They are not subject to parental encouragement, they are not subject to peer chastisement," Wallen said, contending that even in monkeys, preferences on a certain thing, other than cues we’ve got from the others, are highly based upon the individual’s sex.
The results of from Wallen’s team support an earlier study at
Source:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/04/07/monkey-play-toy.html
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