The word “elephant” comes from the Greek word “elephas” which means “ivory”. A new born human baby weighs an average of 7 pounds while a new born elephant baby can weigh up to 260 pounds! The baby can stand up shortly after being born.
An adult male’s tusks grow about 7 inches a year. Tusks are used to dig for salt, water and roots, to debark trees, to clear a path and occasionally in fights. Additionally, they are used for marking trees to establish an elephant’s territory. The elephant’s trunk is a fusion of its nose and upper lip. It is the elephant’s most important limb. The trunk is sensitive enough to pick up a blade of grass and strong enough to rip the branches off a tree. The trunk is also used for drinking – the elephant can suck up to 14 litres of water at a time and then blow it straight into its mouth! The elephant’s very large ears are used to radiate excess heat away from the body. There is a structured social order in the elephant’s lifestyle. The females spend their entire lives in tight family groups made up of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and daughters. The eldest female normally leads the group. Adult males prefer to live a bachelor lifestyle.
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Fact 1: Jupiter has lived with us for about a month now, and every time Daddy is not around and I let him out to go to the bathroom and try to get him in, he runs away from me. Today, I let him out, while Daddy stepped out to see about getting a paint job for his red Convertible. Jupiter went pee, and then as soon as I came close to him...he ran away to near our rock wall. He climbed over it to the other side. Now, he has done this before, but It took me about a half an hour to get him back in the house this time! I had to lead him in with treats because that always works with him.
Fact 2: Dogs do weird things, but have you ever had a dog, that jumps up to lick your face when you get your face to close to his or hers? Jupiter does. One time, I was playing with him, and I got my face too close and he tried to lick i. I jumped back and slammed my head right into the back of the desk! Fact 3: The thing I like about Jupiter is that when he gets excited...he does puppy run. He is fast, At one point, he charged right past me! The flash... IS BACK! Ashleigh A day or two ago, I was walking the dog (without a leash) and he is just a puppy so he though it was a game a ran in a circle around the house with me running after him. Now we play chase inside... but outside... it's a mess. So, he runs up the porch steps, with me following...and before I get to the steps, I stop. I though I saw something squirm near the rock wall at the side of our house. I look around and see a Garter snake sliver into a nearby hole in the rocks. I when to the porch and took Jupiter into the house. The next day... The next day (Memorial Day) Daddy, who was pulling weeds from the walk way, let me look for the Garter snake. I saw it... I got close to it... I CAUGHT IT! It tried to go into the drain pipe before I caught it, though I grabbed the end of it's tail and pulled it out. As Daddy took pictures, The Garter snake bit me though didn't hurt.
Where Garter Snakes live: Garter snakes have adapted to live in all regions of North America, even as far north as Alaska. Many owls hunt during the night, while others hunt during the day. There are around 200 different owl species. A group of owls is called a parliament. Most owls hunt insects, small mammals and other birds.
Some owl species hunt fish. Owls have powerful talons (claws) which help them catch and kill prey. Owls have large eyes and a flat face. Owls can turn their heads as much as 270 degrees. Owls are farsighted, meaning they can’t see things close to their eyes clearly. Owls are very quiet in flight compared to other birds of prey. The color of owl’s feathers helps them blend into their environment. Barn owls can be recognized by their heart shaped face. Owls can be found in all different types of habitats, and every continent except Antarctica contains species of owls. Ashleigh Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” which is a good name for this animal since it has bony plates that cover its back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd looking creatures. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear the shells. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long, salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long, dark-brown giant armadillo.
Others have black, red, darkish gray, or yellowish coloring. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can roll into a ball, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that protects it from predators. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Most species dig burrows and sleep for 16 hours per day. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruits. Armadillos are great swimmers. They can hold their breath for 6 minutes when they try. The armor of an armadillo is made up of bone.Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. Ashleigh Catfish are a type of fish that belong to the group of ray-finned fish. Catfish mostly live in freshwater rivers or streams found in America. A catfish' length is normally 1-2 feet long, though a channel catfish can get up to 4.5 feet long. The largest catfish ever caught was a Mekong giant catfish, which was nearly 9 feet long and weighed 646 pounds!
A catfish has about 100,000 taste buds! When a new-born catfish reach 4 inches, it is the size of an index finger. Catfish are the fifth most popular fish in America. More than 447 million pounds of catfish were produced in 1995. Most species have tentacles protruding from the area around the mouth, that look like the whiskers of a cat, which is how they got their name. Not all catfish species have these whiskers, however. Catfish are always bottom-feeders, meaning they feed at the bottom of the water they inhabit. Their diet consists of fish, insects and worms, but they also sometimes feed on small mammals and reptiles. Catfish usually suck in or gulp down their prey instead of biting. A Mekong giant catfish could eat a child... for a snack! Some Catfish live in fresh water. A channel catfish's whiskers can sting you if you touch them. Ashleigh Lemurs are capable of using all their senses that includes the sense of smelling, tasting, hearing and all others. They can smell and understand whenever they find a meal or food to eat mostly anywhere. They know whenever there is a prey nearby so that they become alert and get ready to attack it. Lemurs have gray, or red fur, black and white tails, pointy noses, have mostly white faces... except for around the eyes which are black, and pointy ears like elves.
Lemurs are mostly found in Madagascar. They are also found in Comoro Islands. The word Lemur is Latin and means "spirits of the night". All Lemurs have a long nose and they have four legs. They sit or they stand up but they always walk on all fours. They don’t walk upright as other primates have been known to do. They have thin fur due to the warm locations of where they live. They live in families of up to 15 members. Most of them consist of males, females, and offspring. Though, there are some which are only females and their young. The males have been driven out so they live alone or they form male only families. The females are normally the leaders of the Lemur families. A pig’s snout is a good tool for finding food in the ground. Pigs have an good sense of smell. Humans farm pigs for meat like pork, bacon and ham. Sometimes people like to keep pigs as pets.
Wild pigs which are called boars are often hunted in the wild. In some areas of the world, wild boars are the main source of food for tigers. Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11mph, or in other words, they can run a seven-minute mile. And when they’re not either squealing or talking to one another, pigs will eat almost anything – including human bones. That is why I will never be a farmer. That and pigs are just to messy for me, I mean seriously... rolling in mud. When kept in a group they will snuggle close to one another, and sleep nose-to-nose. A mother pig is called a sow. Baby pigs are called ‘piglets’. The pig heart valve is the one that is used the most. Ashleigh The flightless ostrich is the world's largest bird. They roam African savanna, and desert lands. They get most of their water from the plants that they eat. Though they cannot fly, ostriches are strong runners.
They can sprint up to 43 miles an hour and run over distance at 31 miles an hour. They do use their wings to try to run faster. An ostrich's powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride. Their legs can also be used as weapons. Ostrich kicks can kill a human or a meat-eating predator like a lion. Each two-toed foot has a long, sharp claw. If at the approach of trouble, ostriches will lie down low and press their long giraffe like necks to the ground to become less visible. The ostrich has the largest eye of any land animal. Ostriches live in small herds that contain less than a dozen birds. The male sometimes mates with others in the group. Wandering males may also mate with lesser hens. The dominant hen and male take turns incubating the giant eggs, each one of which weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs. Ashleigh These smart members of the dog family once lived in prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's, forests and mountains. These wild dogs will eat mostly anything. They eat rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also sometimes eat insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion.
Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers call them pests. Coyotes have a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more hunting. Coyotes form big and strong family groups. In the spring, females make dens and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their children and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own when fall comes. Coyotes are very good swimmers. Coyotes weigh only about 20 pounds, making them the size of a medium dog. They have long fur that is brownish red, grey or white. Coyotes have a bushy tail like a fox. Ashleigh Komodo Dragons are only found on the islands of Komodo and Rica in Indonesia. These islands are part of the Komodo National Park located about 500km (300 miles) East of Bali. They are not yet endangered, though their numbers are diminishing. Reaching 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth.
They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage, waiting for passing prey. When a victim passes by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and shark-like teeth to eat its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky, but aren't. A komodo dragon has over 50 strains of bacteria stored in its teeth, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Komodo Dragons can run up to 11 miles an hour in short bursts. Komodo dragons don't breath fire. Even though they don't breath fire, they do flick there tong in and out which dose look like fire coming out of its mouth. The name comes from rumors that a dragon-like creature lived on the Indonesian island of Komodo. Ashleigh Coral snakes are not very large. Rare specimens may reach 3 feet in length, but most of them are 18 to 20 inches long. Coral snakes use venom or poison to kill prey. Their poison is the second-strongest poison.
Coral snakes have notable red, yellow/white, and black colored skin. You can only get poisoned by them only if you touch their skin. Like most poisonous snakes, coral snakes have little fangs that stores the venom. Coral snakes are most active at night and usually stay hidden during the day hours. In general, coral snakes are not aggressive. If confronted by humans, they normally flee. Coral snakes live in a variety of habitats, including palmetto and scrub areas, wooded areas, and swamps. Often, they will venture into residential areas. Coral snakes spend most of their time underground in places like holes dug by other animals. They can also be found in hidden places such as underneath rotting leaves or in tree stumps. Coral snakes are omnivores meaning they hunt and eat snakes including other coral snakes. They also feed on insects, lizards, mice, frogs, and small birds. After they paralyze their prey, they swallow them whole. Ashleigh Donkeys come from Africa and the Middle East, where they were tamed more than 5,000 years ago. These slow animals are used today as work animals in poor countries. They carry materials, plow fields and draw up water. Donkeys are related to horses and zebras but they have much longer ears than either one.
They’re also usually smaller than horses. Donkeys carry people as well as materials. If a place seems unsafe, they dig in their heels and they won’t move. China has more donkeys than any other country in most of the world. In the U.S., donkeys are kept as pets or to breed mules. A mule is a cross between a donkey and a horse. Mules are very strong, but bigger than a donkey. A boy donkey is called a jack. A girl donkey is called a jenny. Donkeys make a loud braying noise that goes on for several seconds. Donkeys are sometimes called burros. There are wild donkeys in Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Mississippi. Ashleigh Depending on the habitat they are trying to blend into, their bodies can be tan, green, red, or yellow, and the patterns can be shaped like jagged lines, ovals, diamonds, or circles. Most animals chew their food before they swallow. Not boa constrictors! They swallow their food whole. Boas have no teeth, thus the food is swallowed as it is captured. Boas are found in tropical Central and South America.
Like their anaconda cousins, boas are excellent swimmers. They prefer to stay on dry land, though. They live primarily in hollow logs and abandoned mammal burrows. Smaller than anacondas, boas can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds. Their jaws are lined with small, hooked teeth for grabbing and holding prey while they wrap their muscular bodies around their victim, squeezing it until it suffocates. Boas will eat almost anything they can catch, including birds, monkeys, and wild pigs. Their jaws then stretch wide to swallow large prey whole. Female boas have eggs inside their bodies and give birth to up to 60 live babies. Boas are about 2 feet long when they are born and grow continually throughout their 25-to-30-year lifespan. The largest boa constrictor ever found measured 18 feet! Ashleigh A Barn owl is a medium-sized raptor that is active at night. They have a white heart-shaped face and white chest with small brown spots. Their face collects sounds in the same way as human ears do. These pale feathered owls live mostly all around the world.
The back of a barn owl is tawny, marked with black and white spots. The male and female have similar, but females are larger, darker and more spotted than males. They are non-territorial. Adults live in home ranges which overlap each other and each one covering around 5,000 hectares. In order to live and breed, a barn owl pair needs to eat approximately 5,000 prey items a year. They do not bite or chew their food. They often swallow it whole. They have very long legs, toes and talons to help them to catch prey hidden under long grass. Their large eyes are very sensitive too. They can immediately spot a mouse moving in a very gloomy barn. Their feathers are super soft and help them to hunt silently. But they are not waterproof and can get soaked if it rains. A Barn Owl is has the size of a small cat but weighs only a pound. They usually form monogamous pairs but cases of bigamy, one male pairing with two females occurs occasionally. Barn Owls screech, not hoot. They can fly almost silently. They can hear the slightest sound made by their rodent prey hidden in deep vegetation. It is common for Barn Owl chicks in the nest to feed each other. They eat small mammals, especially rodents. They also eat birds, reptiles and insects. Ashleigh Electric eels are not actually eels. They are actually more similar to a carp or catfish. Electric eels get their name due to the enormous electrical charge they can generate to stun prey and predators. Their bodies have electric organs with about 6,000 little cells called electrocutes that store power like tiny batteries.
Their length is anywhere from 3 to 9 feet, and they have no scales. Their back is a greenish brown, and their belly is an orange yellow. They can electrify you if you touch them. They live in the murky streams and ponds of the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America, feeding mainly on fish, but also amphibians and even birds and small mammals. As air-breathers, they must often come to the surface. They also have poor eyesight. Electric eels can reach about 44 pounds in weight. They have long, snake like bodies and flattened heads. Electric eels have no bones. If they did, it would be hard to wave up and down like they do. Ashleigh Adult female sheep are called ewes. Adult male sheep are called rams. A group of sheep is known as a herd, flock or mob. Young sheep are called lambs.
Sheep have a field of vision of around 300 degrees, allowing them to see behind themselves without having to turn their head. Sheep are herbivores that mostly eat grass. Sheep like to stay close to other sheep in a herd. Farmers take care of sheep, though kill them for the meat. Even though you think they also kill them for the wool, some farmers don't. They easily shave it off with shears without harming it. If I was a farmer, and I had a sheep, I would shave its wool to make a blanket with, if I didn't have one, and let it free. Some people guide sheep to home and give people sheep for wool and meat. If one of the sheep go out of line, a sheep dog will chase it back in the line. Sheep have very good memories. They can remember at least 50 sheep and humans for years without forgetting. The meat of sheep is widely eaten by people across the world. Ashleigh The southern flying squirrel is found throughout the eastern U.S., from Maine south to Florida and west from Minnesota south to Texas. A flying squirrel's wingspread is two feet long. Flying squirrels Fore feet have 4 toes, the Hind feet have 5 toes, with sharp curved claws covered with hair. Flying squirrels can easily forage for food in the night, given their highly developed sense of smell.
They harvest fruits, nuts, fungi, and birds' eggs. Flying squirrel is a type of squirrel best known for its ability to "fly". There are about 50 different species of flying squirrel that can be found all around the world. Best known are North American and South American flying squirrel which inhabit north and south part of America and Canada. Flying squirrels are not endangered. Flying squirrel usually reaches 12 inches in length including the tail, and weighs between 4 and 6.5 ounces. There known as rodents. The giant Asian flying squirrel has been known to make gliding flights as far as 165 feet! There are many species of flying squirrel, differing in size and color. There are normally found in trees, though are hard to see because they are fast and small. Most flying squirrels live for 11 to 13 years. Their large eyes help them skillfully climb trees and avoid predators. Squirrels are born blind. Ashleigh You will find that seals have quite a spread when it comes to their distribution. Seals find the foods that they need in the water around them, which is why you will only find them where there is plenty of water. Some seals live where it is cold. Unlike seals that don't live in the artic, snow seals have fur to keep them warm. Many species of seals have no natural predators. This is due to where they live and what size they grow up to be.
There are 18 known species of seals. The Leopard Seal is the second largest of all seals out there. The Harp Seal is one that has lots of white fur on it. They also can feature areas of light brown and even some black.The Harbor Seal is fairly small when it is compared to the many other species of seals out there. The Gray Seal is one that many people have seen in pictures. It is found along the North Atlantic Ocean on both sides of it. The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from other Elephant Seals in the Southern part of the world. The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest of all seals in the world. If you had to choose only one word to describe the Weddell Seal, it would like to be that they are cute. All of the Mediterranean Monk Seals have a watch patch on them. Ashleigh The Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland. They mainly eat insects, berries and nectar, and are often seen sipping at hummingbird feeders. The black and bright orange Baltimore Orioles makes them the second beautiful backyard bird. They are exactly 7.53 inches long.
Their narrow bills help them catch insects. The oldest banded Baltimore Oriole in the wild lived for 11 years and 7 months, although they can also live up to 14 years in captivity. Baltimore Orioles got their name because of their bright orange and black colors. Sometimes if one eats a bug that is poisonous, the poison can directly kill orioles. The nest of a Baltimore Oriole looks like a stuffed sock that hangs at the very edge of a tree branch high in the air to keep predators away. It can take a female as long as 15 days to make the nest. It's nest is normally made out of animal fur, twine, wool, bark and other stuff. One of the Baltimore Orioles favorite things to eat is caterpillars. This is important because their appetite for caterpillars and other pests can help protect forests. Baltimore Orioles are attracted to the color orange. You would not see them in the winter, though if it is any other season, it is a good chance you will. Ashleigh |
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