Okay, my younger sibs were watching Go Diego Go and Wonderpets yesterday, and I got a few tibbits (sp?). Most were basic review. But there were a few extra interesting tibbits...
-Pandas apparently make an "ee-ee" sound.
-Mice come in both brown and gray, some with mixes, and a brown Dada can have a gray kiddo.
-Penquins (sp?) honk.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Endangered Animal Central: Tigers
Today, two books on tigers read, and data gathered.
Tigers
Tigers are the largest of all cats, and the strongest. However, they are also the most endangered, and are in the biggest trouble of going extinct. In fact, only 4 subspecies remain of tiger, the Bengal Tiger being the most plentiful, and at least 3 subspecies have already gone extinct of the Tiger.
Tigers share some similarities with other cats. They're all-out carnivores, eating only meat. They're predators... one of the most famous! They have territories, which they mark by scratching, peeing, or rubbing themselves on trees and such to leave their scent. These territories are sometimes shared by a female's territories... sometimes even more than one! The cubs are born and raised in dens.
Tigers live in forest areas in certain parts of Russia, Asia, China, and an island off Asia's coast. Their black-striped orange coat helps them blend into the woods, especially during dawn and dusk, when these cats do most of their hunting. Their retractable claws, good eyesight, and great hearing help them hunt their food, which goes from different kinds of deer (the sambar deer being a fave) to even elephants, buffalo, and rhinos! Their primary hunting technique is to stalk their prey, then jump and kill. Techniques differ for each size of animal, especially killing. 1/20 of their hunting tries even work.
But once the tiger's got a meal, he or she eats. The only part not really eaten is the stomach and intestines... the parts with waste and possible partly-digested gunk. Tigers eat a ton... they have to in order to keep their strength up. Despite being the weight of around 4 or 5 men, they have a strength of about 30 men. Scary, isn't it? In fact, they use this bulk not just for killing, but dragging their food away to a safe place to eat.
Which leads us to territories. Tigers are solitary creatures. The only time tigers are together are mating time, and when Momma is raising cubs. Sometimes a tiger that's on good terms with another tiger visits their "friend's" territory. But each Tiger has a home range... only the resident tigers are allowed in the home range. Tigers don't allow their own sex to intrude on the territory, but the opposite sex is allowed. Young Tigers sometimes take over a territory.
Tiger cubs are partial to predators. They stay with Momma for about 2 years before leaving or getting thrown off. Momma does her best to protect, take care of, and teach the cubs. Each litter is around 1-5 cubs. Momma is very protective of her cubs... humans have been killed because they've wandered too close to the den! Only about 1 in every 2 Tigers reach adulthood, though.
Tigers don't always eat all of their meal. They hide the leftovers. Sometimes they get back to it, other times it's been stolen.
Tigers can swim, like the Jaguar. However, Tigers like swimming! They enjoy being in water and even play in the water! If they're hunting in water, they usually have a better chance.
Tigers are the top of the food chain, but they do have dangers. Wild dog packs are one thing. Other Tigers are another. The dangers is bigger when cub-age.
But the biggest threat is none other than us humans. Now, some of it is the usual cat-hunting reasons: fur and taking away forests for our purposes. The disappearing forests mean less prey, which means hungry Tiger... which is bad news. While a Tiger can go days without eating, usually after a hearty meal, when they're hungry, it's BAD NEWS, all capitols! Hungry Tigers have been known to kill humans, and once they've killed one human, they usually go after another. This frightens people, which leads to more killing of Tigers. Tigers have not usually been man's friend since the early days, however... a good deal of ancient civilizations considered them evil! There are some exceptions, but you get the idea. Another reason for hunting tigers is that their parts are considered magical in areas like China, and that they have healing properties. While Tiger-hunting is now illegal in many places, the hunt still goes on... even for things like sport!
This has made the Tiger an endangered animal. But this one's really deeply in trouble! The rare White Bengal Tiger (color caused by rare white gene) is probably extinct, except for some in zoos. In fact, all White Bengal Tigers in zoos can be traced to one ancestor (cool, huh?). Their chances of going extinct are very, very high...! Programs to help the Tigers have been made, however.
Tigers
Tigers are the largest of all cats, and the strongest. However, they are also the most endangered, and are in the biggest trouble of going extinct. In fact, only 4 subspecies remain of tiger, the Bengal Tiger being the most plentiful, and at least 3 subspecies have already gone extinct of the Tiger.
Tigers share some similarities with other cats. They're all-out carnivores, eating only meat. They're predators... one of the most famous! They have territories, which they mark by scratching, peeing, or rubbing themselves on trees and such to leave their scent. These territories are sometimes shared by a female's territories... sometimes even more than one! The cubs are born and raised in dens.
Tigers live in forest areas in certain parts of Russia, Asia, China, and an island off Asia's coast. Their black-striped orange coat helps them blend into the woods, especially during dawn and dusk, when these cats do most of their hunting. Their retractable claws, good eyesight, and great hearing help them hunt their food, which goes from different kinds of deer (the sambar deer being a fave) to even elephants, buffalo, and rhinos! Their primary hunting technique is to stalk their prey, then jump and kill. Techniques differ for each size of animal, especially killing. 1/20 of their hunting tries even work.
But once the tiger's got a meal, he or she eats. The only part not really eaten is the stomach and intestines... the parts with waste and possible partly-digested gunk. Tigers eat a ton... they have to in order to keep their strength up. Despite being the weight of around 4 or 5 men, they have a strength of about 30 men. Scary, isn't it? In fact, they use this bulk not just for killing, but dragging their food away to a safe place to eat.
Which leads us to territories. Tigers are solitary creatures. The only time tigers are together are mating time, and when Momma is raising cubs. Sometimes a tiger that's on good terms with another tiger visits their "friend's" territory. But each Tiger has a home range... only the resident tigers are allowed in the home range. Tigers don't allow their own sex to intrude on the territory, but the opposite sex is allowed. Young Tigers sometimes take over a territory.
Tiger cubs are partial to predators. They stay with Momma for about 2 years before leaving or getting thrown off. Momma does her best to protect, take care of, and teach the cubs. Each litter is around 1-5 cubs. Momma is very protective of her cubs... humans have been killed because they've wandered too close to the den! Only about 1 in every 2 Tigers reach adulthood, though.
Tigers don't always eat all of their meal. They hide the leftovers. Sometimes they get back to it, other times it's been stolen.
Tigers can swim, like the Jaguar. However, Tigers like swimming! They enjoy being in water and even play in the water! If they're hunting in water, they usually have a better chance.
Tigers are the top of the food chain, but they do have dangers. Wild dog packs are one thing. Other Tigers are another. The dangers is bigger when cub-age.
But the biggest threat is none other than us humans. Now, some of it is the usual cat-hunting reasons: fur and taking away forests for our purposes. The disappearing forests mean less prey, which means hungry Tiger... which is bad news. While a Tiger can go days without eating, usually after a hearty meal, when they're hungry, it's BAD NEWS, all capitols! Hungry Tigers have been known to kill humans, and once they've killed one human, they usually go after another. This frightens people, which leads to more killing of Tigers. Tigers have not usually been man's friend since the early days, however... a good deal of ancient civilizations considered them evil! There are some exceptions, but you get the idea. Another reason for hunting tigers is that their parts are considered magical in areas like China, and that they have healing properties. While Tiger-hunting is now illegal in many places, the hunt still goes on... even for things like sport!
This has made the Tiger an endangered animal. But this one's really deeply in trouble! The rare White Bengal Tiger (color caused by rare white gene) is probably extinct, except for some in zoos. In fact, all White Bengal Tigers in zoos can be traced to one ancestor (cool, huh?). Their chances of going extinct are very, very high...! Programs to help the Tigers have been made, however.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Animal Central: Jaguars, Bobcats, Giant Pandas
Today, read three books from good animal series. Got data on Jaguars, Bobcats, and Giant Pandas
Jaguars
These big cats are primarily South-America rain forest residents, though there used to be some even in Texas (saw picture of Mexican Jag'). And these stocky guys also live in deserts and ranches, though the rain-forest version is well know. They're great hunters with their retractable claws, great eyesight, and great hearing. They're the top of their food chain, even hunting peccaries sometimes by jumping from above in a tree into a herd. Yeah, Jags are great climbers too. They hunt during darker periods too, like dawn and dusk.
The Jaguar's spots help hide the Jag. These are similar to the leopards, though Jags have spots inside their spot-rings, and leopards do not. To tell a black leopard from a black Jag, however, remember that Jags live in South America, while leopards are in the Asia/Africa area.
Bobcats
Bobcats live in North America. They're some of the smallest "big" cats in creation, somewhere around the size of a medium-sized doggy. They're named so because of their short, "bobbed" tails. They kick the kids off of their territory, since they're usually ready to survive when Mommy is pregnant again. They mainly eat small prey, and can only eat a couple pounds of meat at a time. If they get a big kill somehow, they store the kill somewhere safe, and continue to come back, eating as much as possible.
Giant Pandas
Speaking of eating, pandas are major eaters. These creatures live in China, and there's a fight going over whether to put these creatures in the bear or raccoon classification. Currently, most people agree on bears.
But these guys spend most of their time eating bamboo. And I mean most... they only sometimes do other stuff, and wake up in the middle of the night for a midnight snack!
They're pretty small. And chubby... but the chubbiness in the face is caused by strong muscles that break and eat bamboo, not fat! And humans can have a hard time finding these chubby dudes... some scientists have to trap them in order to study them!
They have cute babies... one or two in a litter. However, when twins are born, Momma abandons the weakest one to die! Life is cruel sometimes!
Common
Believe it or not, all these creatures share some common facts.
Every one of these creatures live pretty solitary lives. They only get together for mating. All of them have territories they stick in and protect. They all mark them, though in different ways. Jags pee, pandas use tail and special gland to pain, and bobcats use glands in their paws to help scent. One of these creatures also uses nasty piles to mark their territory... the Bobcat. And by "nasty", I mean it has droppings on top! Yuck!!! However, all of them use scratching trees and stuff to mark their territories.
No one shares territories, except for maybe a female's territory overlapping the males. Female Bobcats won't share each others' territories, though. Children eventually leave Momma's territories to find their own.
Bobcat and Jaguar litters are usually 1-4 kittens.
Obviously, both Bobcats and Jags are both cats.
All of these species are in danger... from humans. They've been hunted for their furs. And their land has been destroyed or bulldozed for human use. Jags are feared by humans since they've had to become cattle-hunters. And hunting of the cats' prey has put them in danger too.
Jaguars and Giant Pandas have been announced endangered by humans, and there are efforts in protecting them and their habitats. Bobcats... not so much. In most states, there's not laws protecting this cat.
Of course, these animals sometimes end up in zoos, which can lengthen their lifetime.
Jaguars
These big cats are primarily South-America rain forest residents, though there used to be some even in Texas (saw picture of Mexican Jag'). And these stocky guys also live in deserts and ranches, though the rain-forest version is well know. They're great hunters with their retractable claws, great eyesight, and great hearing. They're the top of their food chain, even hunting peccaries sometimes by jumping from above in a tree into a herd. Yeah, Jags are great climbers too. They hunt during darker periods too, like dawn and dusk.
The Jaguar's spots help hide the Jag. These are similar to the leopards, though Jags have spots inside their spot-rings, and leopards do not. To tell a black leopard from a black Jag, however, remember that Jags live in South America, while leopards are in the Asia/Africa area.
Bobcats
Bobcats live in North America. They're some of the smallest "big" cats in creation, somewhere around the size of a medium-sized doggy. They're named so because of their short, "bobbed" tails. They kick the kids off of their territory, since they're usually ready to survive when Mommy is pregnant again. They mainly eat small prey, and can only eat a couple pounds of meat at a time. If they get a big kill somehow, they store the kill somewhere safe, and continue to come back, eating as much as possible.
Giant Pandas
Speaking of eating, pandas are major eaters. These creatures live in China, and there's a fight going over whether to put these creatures in the bear or raccoon classification. Currently, most people agree on bears.
But these guys spend most of their time eating bamboo. And I mean most... they only sometimes do other stuff, and wake up in the middle of the night for a midnight snack!
They're pretty small. And chubby... but the chubbiness in the face is caused by strong muscles that break and eat bamboo, not fat! And humans can have a hard time finding these chubby dudes... some scientists have to trap them in order to study them!
They have cute babies... one or two in a litter. However, when twins are born, Momma abandons the weakest one to die! Life is cruel sometimes!
Common
Believe it or not, all these creatures share some common facts.
Every one of these creatures live pretty solitary lives. They only get together for mating. All of them have territories they stick in and protect. They all mark them, though in different ways. Jags pee, pandas use tail and special gland to pain, and bobcats use glands in their paws to help scent. One of these creatures also uses nasty piles to mark their territory... the Bobcat. And by "nasty", I mean it has droppings on top! Yuck!!! However, all of them use scratching trees and stuff to mark their territories.
No one shares territories, except for maybe a female's territory overlapping the males. Female Bobcats won't share each others' territories, though. Children eventually leave Momma's territories to find their own.
Bobcat and Jaguar litters are usually 1-4 kittens.
Obviously, both Bobcats and Jags are both cats.
All of these species are in danger... from humans. They've been hunted for their furs. And their land has been destroyed or bulldozed for human use. Jags are feared by humans since they've had to become cattle-hunters. And hunting of the cats' prey has put them in danger too.
Jaguars and Giant Pandas have been announced endangered by humans, and there are efforts in protecting them and their habitats. Bobcats... not so much. In most states, there's not laws protecting this cat.
Of course, these animals sometimes end up in zoos, which can lengthen their lifetime.
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