Amazing Animals

Let’s Play an Exciting Combo Animal Names Quiz

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:34:42 PST

Can you name the animals whose names are made of two combined animal names?

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Let’s freshen our knowledge about animals. Below are specific descriptions and clues for each animal whose name is a combination of two animal names. Let’s play and hope you get them all right.

1. Identification: A popular arachnid plus an intelligent long-tailed primate
Clue: This animal prefer the warm tropical forests of South and Central America. Adults of this animal can reach two feet tall and can sports fur color can be black, tan, golden, brown, or red fur color. Its diet includes leaves, flowers as well as insects.

2. Identification: Slow moving shelled reptile plus an offering bird
Clue: Its Latin name is Streptopelia turtur. A European and North African bird which is much smaller than its domesticated cousin. Adult of this one measures 28 cm long. It is slim-bodied, reddish brown body plumage, blue-gray head, and a grayish tail with a white tip.

3. Identification: Thanksgiving bird and a scavenging raptor
Clue: A bird-of-prey found mostly in America. A large bird that measures 64–81 cm on length, 0.85–2.26 kg in weight and with a wingspan of 170–183 cm . It has dark brown to black plumage, a bald reddish head, and an ivory-colored beak.

4. Description: Wild canine and an arachnid
Clue: A common household pest that range from 1cm to 4 cm in length. A hairy animal but has excellent eyesight. Females have the distinctive trait of carrying their egg sacs stuck at the back of their abdomen.

5. Description: Australian marsupial and an urban rodent
Clue: a small rodent endemic to North America inhabiting arif areas particularly sandy or soft soils. This animal is characterized by its relatively large head, short front legs and large hind legs. Adults can reach 23-41 cm long (including the very long tail). It feeds mostly on seeds.

6. Description: Colony dwelling insect and the king of the jungle
Clue: The larvae stages of this insect is known for making funnel-shaped to trap ants.
The adult sports two pairs of long, tapered wings and a long, slender abdomen. In North America, the animal’s larva is often called “doodlebug” because of the peculiar winding, trails it leaves in the sand while searching for a perfect site to build its trap.

7. Description: A mythological fire breather and a household pest
Clue: This animal is characterized by an elongated body, two sets of strong transparent wings and large multifaceted eyes. It has a life span The life span from about 6 months to over 7 years, adult lives for only a few weeks. It is also one fastest insects in the world, with some species attaining a maximum speed of 10–15 meters per second.

8. Identification: Male bovine plus an amphibian
Clue: The largest frog in North America that average about 9–15 cm in body length.
It is typically green to greenish-brown in color. Male eardrum is larger than its eyes.
Tadpoles can live up to two years before turning into frogs.

9. Description: A large African mammal plus tough insect
Clue: It is one of the largest in their family that can reach 60 millimeters in length. Male owns 2 horns used in digging and fighting rivals during mating season. This animal is found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia and South America. It feeds on dead wood, fruits, leaves and grasses.

10. Description: Urban rodent and legless reptile
Clue: Adults can reach 91-152 cm long. They come in variety of colors including black, gray, yellow, red, and brown. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including forests, swamps, rocky hills, barns and abandoned buildings. Adults feed on mice, squirrels, birds, as well as bird eggs.

Here are the answers to each questions. did you get it all right?

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The Most Ferocious and Oddest-looking Animals Ever

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:35:00 PST

Not Even in Your Dreams: Animals You Wish You’ll Never Encounter.

Lions and tigers are ferocious and dangerous animals when you encounter them in the wild. Sharks and snakes are scary too but not as creepy on the list of animals below. Check this out!

1.) Andrewsarchus mongoliensis

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Andrewsarchus mongoliensis was a ferocious-looking mammal that lived during the Eocene epoch about 45 million years ago. This creature had a long snout with large, sharp teeth and flat cheek teeth that may have been used to crush bones. An enormous skull of an Andrewsarchus measuring83 cm in length and 56 cm in width is on display at the American Museum of natural History. It was discovered in 1923 in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

This animal is estimated to be 3.4 meter long from the snout to the back of the pelvis with a height of 1.8 meters and possibly the largest land-dwelling carnivorous mammal known. An Andrewsarchus is estimated to have weighed 1,000 kg.

2.) Megistotherium osteothlastes

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Megistotherium osteothlastes was a ferocious and enormous hyaenodontid creodont that lived some 23 million years ago in Africa. This creature is the largest known terrestrial carnivorous mammal with a height of up to 2,0 meter at the shoulder, up to 5,5 meter in length and weighed about 1.5 tons. These bone crushing animals might have hunted mastodons for food.

3.) Arsinoitherium giganteum

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Arsinoitherium giganteum was a rhinoceros-like herbibore that lives in Ethiopia, Africa from 36 to 30 million years ago. It was 1.8 meters tall at the shoulder and 3 meters in length. It had a pair of enormous knife-like horns with cores of solid bone that projected from above the nose.

4.) Giant Wombat or Diprotodon

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Giant Wombat or Diprotodon was an unusual-looking animal and was the largest known marsupial that ever lived. This already extinct marsupial existed from 1.6 million years ago until about 40,000 years ago. Fossils of this gigantic mammal have been found in various areas of Australia. Giant Wombat grew up to 3 meters or 10 feet in length from nose to tail and stands at 2 meters or 6 to 7 ft tall at the shoulder and weighed up to 2,786 kg. It is also known as Rhinoceros Wombat.

5.) Elasmotherium sibiricum

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Elasmotherium sibiricum or the Thin Plate Beas is an odd-looking extinct genus of giant rhinoceros that lived in Asia from 3.6 million years ago to 126,000 years ago. It weighed up to 7 tonnes, stands at 2.7 meters and 6 meters in length with a single two-meter-long horn in the forehead.

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10 Charming Animals Whose Names Begin with The Letter R

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:53:10 PST

They may not be as popular as Rabbit, Rat, Robin, Rhinoceros, Rooster or Rottweiler….but these charming animals deserve their spot on our list of animals whose names begin with the letter R.

Raccoon

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Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are medium-sized mammals endemic to North and South America. These nocturnal are found in different habitats such as prairies, forests, marshes, and urban areas. Raccoons are easily identified by the black markings around their eyes resembling a mask. They have clawed feet with long fingers and toes. The dense furs varies from gray to brown. They have pointed snouts and bushy, black-ringed tails. Adults measure about 60 to 95 cm long and weigh around 1.8 to 10.4 kg. Raccoons are omnivores; they feed on fish, frogs, mice, birds, other small mammals, plants, fruits, nuts and even human garbage. In the wild, raccoons can live from 2 to 3 years.

Redpoll

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Redpolls are small passerine birds found mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. There are three known species of redpolls namely: Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea), Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret), and the Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni). They are generally brown or gray-brown in color and with the distinguishable red markings on their foreheads. The bill is small and yellow. Adults average 11.5-14.5 cm long with 20-25 cm wingspan and weigh between 12-16 g. Redpolls are generally seed-eaters but at times feed on small insects.

Red Brocket

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The Red Brocket (Mazama americana), is a species of brocket deer widespread in the dense forests of Central and South America. These small diurnal animals inhabit swamps, rivers and marshes. When fully-grown, Red Brocket deer measure 70-130 cm long, 69-71 cm tall, and weigh 16-25 kg. Generally, they have reddish brown coats, arched back, and slender body. Males sport anthers that can measure 10-13 cm 4-in length. They feed mostly on leaves, grasses, buds and fruits. Red Brocket deer are excellent swimmers.

Redhead

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The Redhead (Aythya americana) is a medium-sized diving duck found across North America, Australia and New Zealand. These migratory birds are found in variety of habitat including ponds, freshwater lakes, coastal waters, marshlands and bays. Adults grow to about 37 cm long with an 84 cm wingspan and weigh up to 0.95-1.4 kg. Redhead adult males sport reddish-chestnut head, black breast, and gray back. It has red neck, yellow eyes and blue bill. The adult females have white breast, brown head and back. These birds find food by diving or dabbling. They feed on leaves, tubers, muskgrass, wild celery, duckweeks, bulrush seeds, water lily seeds and wild rice.

Red Uakari

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The Red Uakari (Cacajao calvus), is relatively a small monkey found in the jungles of South America in particular Brazil, Columbia and Peru. It is roughly 58 cm tall and weighs around 4 kg. The fur color varies from white to golden to red depending on the subspecies. All Red Uakaris are characterized by their shaggy coats, bald heads, pink two red faces, wide eyes and short tails. These agile primates feed mainly on fruits, flowers, seeds as well as small animals. Their population is in a decline due to rampant hunting and habitat loss.Currently, the IUCN lists the Red Uakari as “vulnerable”.

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The Cute Otter: They Dedicate All Their Spare Time to Play

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:02:32 PST

Otters are exuberant animals with boundless energy and they dedicate all their spare time to play. In their case, play is not only a practice activity aimed at teaching the young the hunting and fighting skills they will need when older; it is also an end in itself.

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The Playful Hunter

Otters, adapted to for fish in the water, are always found near water – courses that offer a steady supply of food. They usually dig large under-ground burrows consisting of a main chamber, a ventilation shaft leading to the surface and an exit tunnel that opens into the water at a depth of a about one metre. Only rarely will they use the abandoned burrows of wild rabbits or other small animals, the young are born in the burrows: initially they are helpless and blind and remain under-ground for some four months until they are weaned.

Learning to Swim

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Although the young instinctively know how to swim they are very reluctant to actually plunge into the water, and it appears that their psychological adaptation to the aquatic life is not as highly developed as their physical adaptations.By fair means or foul, therefore, their mothers have to persuade them, to enter the water, often enticing them with mouthfuls of fish. The more timid will attempt to climb on their mothers’ backs, but as soon as they gain confidence in the water they reveal their exceptional swimming skills.

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An otter swims by holding its front legs flat against its body and propelling itself along by moving its tail and hind legs. These animals love to twist and turn in the water, swimming for a while on their backs and then on their sides without any apparent motive. It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that they be have in this way for sheer pleasure.

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Otters are exuberant animals with boundless energy and they dedicate all their spare time to play. In their case, play is not only a practice activity aimed at teaching the young the hunting and fighting skills they will need when older; it is also an end in itself. Even mature animals play amongst themselves.

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The World’s Most Colorful Aquatic Animals

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:17:46 PST

Here’s a list of the world’s most colorful and most beautiful marine animals in the world.

The world is beautiful because it is colorful. You might not consider it beautiful if the world is black and white.

Most Colorful Aquarium Fish

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The Mandarinfish or Mandarin Dragonet is probably the most colorful aquarium fish in the world. It is scientifically named Synchiropus splendidus.

Colorful Sea Snail

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The world’s most colorful sea snail is the Purple-ring Topsnail scientifically known as Calliostoma annulatum. This medium sized se with operculum and gills is also commonly known as Blue-ring Topsnail, Jeweled Topsnail and many others.

Most Colorful Jellyfish

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One of the most beautiful and colorful Jellyfish is the Mediterranean Jelly or Cotylorhiza tuberculata. This species that can attain a diameter of 35 cm is also commonly known as Fried Egg Jellyfish.

Most Colorful Christmas Tree Worms

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Christmas Tree Worms are brightly-colored and beautiful creatures that are scientifically known as Spirobranchus giganteus. These tiny organisms are tube-building polychaete worms that inhabit sea beds.

Most Colorful Fish

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Coris Gaimard, a Wrasse, is a very colorful fish and it occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade also like the Mandarinfish.

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The Secretarybird – One of Africa’s Killer Birds

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Don’t be fooled by its deceiving look, the Secretarybird is a skilled snake-hunter and is listed as one of Africa’s feared killer birds.

Secretarybird

The Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, land-dwelling bird found throughout Africa. This feared raptor inhabits savannah and open grassland. Also called “serpent eagle”, it is only bird of prey that prefer walking than flying – taking to flight only when pursued.

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The Secretarybird can easily be identified by its prominent long legs, a broad black ‘crown-like’ feathers on the back of its neck, and a pair of long innermost tail feathers. Typically, it sports a grey to light-gray body plumage with spot of white in its belly and an all-out black flight feathers. Broad pink toes laced the powerful, heavily-scaled legs Adults are distinguishable with their featherless red face, curved beaks, and brown eyes.

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When fully grown, this killer bird averages 140 cm in length and weighs around 2.3 – 4.1 kg. It has a wingspan of about 2 m. Having the the longest legs amongst raptors, the Secretarybird has an odd way to pick its meal or drink – bending its legs in a squatting position.

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Secretarybirds pair for life.They do their courting and mating activities on the ground. Nests are built high up on Acacia trees, where females lay two oval, light green eggs that are incubated for 42 – 46 days. In captivity, Secretarybirds can live up to 20 years.

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The Secretarybird hunts for prey on pairs. Its diet includes snakes, rats, amphibians, small animals and large insects. In hunting bigger prey, it strikes or grab the prey using its hooked beak and tosses it into the air several times until it get stunned. Then pounding the prey to the ground until death and consume it.

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Amazing Animals: 11 Creatures That Use Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:34:21 PST

A list of animals that uses different gadgets in their quality activities.

Some animal species are capable of using gadgets and tools for activities like eating, hunting and many others. Here are 10 notable animals that use different objects.

1.) Green-Winged Macaw

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The attractive and beautiful Green-winged Macaw is prized for its flamboyant plumage. It is considered one of the intelligent bird species. They can manipulate objects such as especially built bike as shown on the above picture.

2.) Chimpanzee

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Chimpanzee is one of the most intelligent animals in the world. It uses 19 different tools, such as sticks to catch fish; it uses rock hammers and sometimes uses human tools too.

3.) Orangutan

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Orangutans are intelligent animals like Chimpanzees. They can create different tool like a leaf to get out of the rain. They use leaf as a straw to drink rain water and use a stick to get honey from bees.

4.) Elephant

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The elephant’s trunk is utilized in so many ways. Elephants use their trunks to knock down trees, to carry logs, to wipe its eyes or picking up a coin.

5.) Dolphin

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One of the most intelligent animals is the Dolphin. Even in captivity, they are very easy to train and can learn variety of tricks. In their natural habitat, Dolphins use sponges to escape Stone Fish, one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean.

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Seven Life Lessons My Cats Taught Me

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:44:22 PST

I have two cats which I consider not only companion pets but more of advisers. They have taught me things that formal education deprived me. These cats are more like angels than domesticated felines. I believe God uses them as instruments to guide my way to live a joyful life. Read on to learn the seven life lessons my cats have taught me.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

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Watching my cats playing on the lawn helps me realize that these felines never worry. Unlike us, that waste much of our time worrying about the present, past, and the future. Hearing about approaching weather disturbances like typhoons, hurricanes earthquakes, and the likes, get us easily bothered and spend a lot of time pondering what to prepare if such calamity arrives. In so doing, we deprive ourselves of precious time that should have been spent productively for today.

My two cats live for the day. ‘Kuskos’ spend much of his time at the lawn watching for possible prey to get trapped in his self-made trap, yet he never worries nor gets anxious if he can catch another victim the next day. He’s just contented of what the day offers him. My cat taught me to live for today and not be anxious about tomorrow, because God is always in control of everything.

Eat What is Served at the Table

I take my hat off for ‘Kiskis’ – when the day brings in unsavory situations, he just keep his cool and takes it all in stride. Fate at one time had been cruel to this cat. As an adventurous kitten, he was run over by a speeding car and suffered dislocated hind limbs. But in spite of having an abnormal movements, he never questioned God. He still remains the playful, sociable cat and the endearing Big Brother to his younger sibling ‘Kuskos’.

What lesson did I learned from my cat’s behavior? God has a Divine plan for each one of us–good or bad, they all fit to solve life’s puzzle. We have two options to choose from, be content and take things as they come, or have a life centered on complaining, ranting, in anger or full of woes.

Show that You Care

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I am just too lucky to have two thoughtful and loving cats. There was a poont in my life that I’ve almost lost a left leg because of diabetes. For almost three months, I was bedridden after an operation, but my two cats constantly visited me each morning. They always MEOW to catch my attention and always gave me some licking on the face. Isn’t it such a good gesture from them to remind me that they care? They have open my eyes on what genuine relationship is – where Love, Trust and Care are integral ingredients to foster one.

Show Generosity Without Expecting Anything in Return

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Another life’s lesson that I’ve learned from my cats is the divine virtue of sharing unselfishly and going out of your way to lend a helping hand to those in needs without expecting anything in return. My cat ‘Kuskos’, being the more aggressive between the two, always share with his brother ‘Kiskis’ whatever catch he had made for the night. Be it a big rat or just a small bird – and my you, he never gives his brother leftover. He always share unselfishly whatever he has and never expects anything in return.

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Underwater Life: A World Full of Amazing Sea Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:42:28 PST

A giant squid that measured 65 feet (20m) with its tentacles extended once washed ashore in New Zealand. Cuttlefish closely resemble squid but have a much thicker internal skeleton made of a porous chalky material called cuttlebone. Cuttlebone is often placed in household bird cages, giving the bird a source of calcium and a place to sharpen its beak.

Cephalopods

Cephalopods are a class of large, active animals with big heads and soft, fleshy bodies. They have long tentacles with suckers. They include the octopus, squid and nautilus. Only the nautilus lives in shells like most other molluscs. They have horny jaws and a tubular siphon that they use for both breathing and jet propulsion. They also have excellent sight. These animals can change colour very quickly to match their emotions. This is done through cells that cause the blue, red, orange, yellow, violet or black granules in skin-pigment cells to spread rapidly and become more detectable. Some have light-producing organs that when stimulated will produce a bright glow by a chemical process. In some areas octopuses and squid are important food sources.

Octopuses

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Octopuses live in holes, caves and even in empty tins and jars on the bottom of the sea, emerging to feed on small fish and crustaceans, which they kill by ejecting a poison through their beaks. They move slowly, pulling themselves along by the suckers on their eight tentacles. If threatened, octopuses can discharge a cloud of ink from a special sac that acts like a smoke screen, giving them time to escape their enemies by a form of locomotion like jet propulsion. The entrance to the mantle cavity is shut off and the muscle of the mantle contracted quickly, causing a jet of water to shoot from the open siphon and propel the animal rapidly backward.

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This same siphon also draws water over the gills, thus giving the octopus its oxygen supply. An octopus leaves its shelter in search of food. Its main diet is mollusks. The giant octopus (Paroctopus defleini) lives in the North Pacific Ocean and is as much as 10 feet (3 m) across. It is not known to attack people, but it has a poisonous beak that should be avoided.

Squid and Cuttlefish

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Squid have 10 tentacles, all with suction cups; eight are short, while two are long and slender and are used to seize prey. Squid can swim surprisingly fast, propelling their bodies by shooting jets of water through their siphons. Small lateral fins are used for moving more slowly through the water and helping keep the body stable. Squid eyes are almost as complex as those of humans. Cuttlefish, a relative of the squid, can adjust the amount of gas and water in an internal skeleton so that they can move freely to higher or lower levels in the sea. When laying eggs the female squid grabs the string of eggs as they leave the siphon and attaches them to the ocean bottom or to floating weeds. The eggs hatch into free-swimming larvas. The largest of all invertebrates is the giant squid, a favourite food of sperm whales and probably the source of many sea monster stories.

Nautiluses

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Nautiluses are the only existing cephalopods that live in true shells. Although fossil remains show many different species, some with conical shells 15 feet (4.6m) long, only three survive today. They have coiled shells similar to those of a snail, containing many chambers, but only the largest and most recently formed is inhabited. The others are filled with gas, which gives the shell buoyancy and keeps the animal afloat. Nautiluses have many small, smooth tentacles, specialized for various Functions. Because they live in the depths by day and come up to within 100 feet (30m) of the surface only at night, they are rarely seen alive, though their shells are often washes ashore.

Echinodermata

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Starfish (Asteroidea) have five or more arms and a body with the mouth on the underside and the anus on the upper side. Their tube feet can be extended and used as suckers or withdraw. Contracting muscles can also block off the connections between different parts of the system of water tubes in their bodies. Starfish are carnivorous, some feeding on prey like mollusks by turning their stomachs inside out, engulfing the shellfish and pouring digestive juices on it. Respiration takes place through the tube feet and through apparatuses that protrude from gaps in the skeleton and function as gills. There are male and female starfish, but these cannot be distinguished by sight. Starfish also can regenerate an entire new animal from only one part of the body.

Brittle Stars and Basket Stars

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The most abundant of all echinoderms are the brittle stars, or serpent stars (Ophiuroidea). One species found in England covers seabeds it lives on with as many as 100 million animals in a third of a square mile (0.85 km2). They have small, disk-shaped bodies with five arms and move the way snakes do. Basket stars (Gorgonocephalidae) are unusual brittle stars, although they more closely resemble feather stars. They have multibranched, often tightly coiled arms. The name gorgonocephalid is derived from the basket star’s resemblance to the Gorgon, a monster in Greek mythology that had writhing snakes for hair.

Feather Stars

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10 Elite Animals Whose Names Begin with The Letter Q

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:58:07 PST

Meet and learn more from these elite animals whose names begin with the letter Q.

From a popular bird hunted for its meat to a cat-like Australian marsupial down to a flambouyant angelfish – eet know and learn more more about these elite group o animals whose names begin with the letter Q.

Quail

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Quails are several species of medium-sized birds in the dove or pheasant family. Some of these species include: Japanese Quail, New Zealand Quail, California Quails, Chinese Painted Quail, Stubble Quail, Rain Quail, Jungle Bush Quail, and Scaled Quail. Most species inhabit deserts, forests, woodlands and shrubs. Though capable of flying, most quails don’t fly and instead run. They make their nests in the ground that may hold seven to fourteen eggs.

Plumage vary from brown, gray and white. All species of quails feed on insects, small animals and seeds except the Snow Mountain Quails that feeds on leaves and flowers as well as small animals, insects and seeds. These plump birds are often hunted for their meat and eggs.

Quahog

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The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), or quahog is an edible marine bivalve mollusk widespread throughout north America. Quahogs are mostly found often found in estuaries buried just below the sand. These hard-shell clams grow from 1 to 4 inches wide. Shell color varies from white to grey, with dark rings. Quahog Clams have tender meats with a distinctive sweet flavor and salty accent.

Quetzal

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The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is a beautiful bird known for its colorful plumage on its head and body. Listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List, these solitary birds are mostly found in Central American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. They inhabit high altitude cloud-forests. They are known poor fliers.

Adults average from36–40 cm long with about 65 cm tail feathers and weighs about 210 g . Resplendent Quetzals have green bodies with red plumage breasts. Males carry yellow beaks while females have black beaks. Males sport black head, neck and chests; females are more brown in coloring. The Resplendent Quetzal is a specialized fruit-eaters specially avocado fruits, but will occasionally feed on ants, frogs, and wasps.

Quokka

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The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus), is a small marsupial measuring between 40 – 90 cm long and weighs 2.5 to 5 kg. looking like a wallaby or a kangaroo, it has a short but broad head characterized by a dark strike on the forehead. It has a stocky body, naked nose, rounded ears, and a 25 to 30 cm tail. Its body has long thick coarse fur usually brown or gray in color.

Quokkas are widespread on islands off the coast of Western Australia, in particular Rottnest Island off Perth. They prefer living in shrub lands, dense vegetation and moist conditions. A nocturnal animal, they are very active at night searching for food. Its diet include: grasses, leaves, shrubs and succulent plants. Quokkas can survive for long periods without drinking water.

Quoll

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Quolls are any of the six different species of medium-sized carnivorous marsupials found across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Tasmania. They inhabit grassy habitats and woodland. Generally the size of cats, adults can reach 130 cm in length with a hairy tail about 20 – 35 cm long. and 4 kg in weight. Most species have brown with white spots fur. Quolls have powerful claws used in climbing, digging, running, and holding food. An omnivorous and nocturnal animal, it hunts at night searching for birds, mice, frogs, lizards, insects, small reptiles, small mammals, lizards, plant seeds and fruits.

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The Worlds Most Colorful Land-dwelling Animals

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:58:15 PST

How many colorful mammals can you name? How many reptiles and amphibians can you enumerate? Would you like to own a colorful cat, or a dog? How about a colorful frog or monkey? How about a turtle, a lizard or a snail?

Here’s a collection of the most beautiful and most colorful reptiles, amphibians and mammals in the world. You will surely be captivated and mesmerized by their wonderful coloration.

Most Colorful Cat

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One of the most beautiful and most colorful cats is the Calico Cat. This domestic cat is characterized by parti-colored coat with brown and black patches.

Most Colorful Frog

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The Blue-legged Mantella or Mantella expectata is just one of the many colorful species of frog. This uniquely-colored frog is native to Madagascar but is one of the many threatened species due to loss of habitat.

Most Beautiful Caterpillar

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There are scores of colorful caterpillars in the world one of them is the Spurge Hawk-moth or Hyles euphorbiae. This beautifully colored creature can be found in Europe.

Most Colorful Lizard

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The Rainbow Agama or Agama agama is one of the most beautifully colored lizards in the world. Its other common names include Common Agama and Red-headed Rock Agama.

Most Colorful Crab

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Several crab species are very colorful and one of them is the Red Rock Crab known scientifically as Grapsus grapsus. Other common names for this brightly colored crab are Abuete Negro and Sally Lightfoot.

Most Colorful Land Snail

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The Carnivores: The Most Exciting and Graceful Animals on The Face of The Earth – Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:48:50 PST

Carnivores have become well established in all the continents except Australia, which became separated from the other continents before the first true carnivores evolved. In relatively recent times, many species introduced to Australia by man have escaped into the wild, and have formed thriving populations. These include the dingo, or Australian wild god, a descendant of the domestic dog.

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Seals and sea- lions are abundant in cold polar waters, but they also occur on most of the world’s coasts. Although primarily marine animals, some live in fresh water- there are flourishing populations of seals in Lake Baikal and the landlocked Caspian Sea.

Land- dwelling carnivores are to be found in a huge variety of habitats, from subarctic tundra to tropical forest and the most arid deserts. In some cases individual species are able to exist in a wide range of different conditions; these animals are often very widespread geographically, while more specialised species occupy more restricted areas. The leopard, for example, can live in a wide range of habitats and is found in Africa and throughout Asia to China, whereas the more highly adapted snow leopard is found only in a restricted of mountainous country in central Asia.

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Many of an animal’s characteristics are determined by where it lives. In arctic regions and the tundra, where the weather can be incredibly cold, carnivores have thick, dense coats, small eyes and short tails to cut heat loss to a minimum. The coloration is often different in winter and summer: the stoat, for example, becomes white in the winter to blend in with the snow.

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Forest-dwelling carnivores, on the other hand, often have long tails which are used to balance the animal as it moves among the trees. In a few rare cases the tail is capable of gripping, and can be used to hold on to the branches. The coats of these skilled climbers are often spotted or striped to break up the outline of the animal and help it blend into its background. They also have retractile claws on their paws.
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The World’s Most Colorful Winged Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:58:24 PST

Here’s a list of the most beautiful and most colorful winged creatures.

Flying creatures are the most amazing animals in the world. They are the reasons why we wanted to fly. Unfortunately not all creatures have the capability and opportunity to fly.

Most Colorful Leafhopper

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We often view insects as pests but some species are too beautiful and colorful to be considered as one like the Candy-striped Leafhopper. This brightly-colored insect of North and Central America is also known as Red-banded Leafhopper, Red and Blue Leafhopper and Scarlet-and-green Leafhopper.

Most Colorful Gamebird

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Undoubtedly, the most colorful gamebird and one of the most colorful winged creatures is the Golden Pheasant or Chrysolophus pictus. It is also commonly known as Chinese Pheasant.

Most Colorful Cockroach

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Don’t be surprised to find out that there is also a colorful species of a cockroach. The Bush Cockroach, scientifically named (Ellipsidion austral, is a colorful roach species.

Most Colorful Small Bird

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One of the most brilliantly colored small birds in the world is the Regal Sunbird. Its scientific name is Nectarinia regia and can be found in the African countries of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and others.

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Cats Amazing Sleep Behaviors

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:47 PST

A list of interesting and amazing facts about cat’s sleep behaviors.

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It is a general fact that cats sleep a lot. On average, a cat spends about 13-18 hours a day sleeping! These felines do this to conserve energy. There are several factors that contributes to this cat behavior including age, personality, environment and diet. Most cats, specially domestic cats, do their sleeping act at night. Why? Because they are “crepuscular,” animals, meaning these felines are most active at dawn and dusk. They sleep much to gather energy for a successful hunt.

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Like humans, cats also experience both Non-REM (NREM) or deep sleep and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when dreams happen. During NREM sleep, a cat’s body grows and do body regeneration. While the cat’s eyes move behind the eyelids, whiskers move around and limb’s jerk during REM sleep.

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During these sleep behavior cats are always on the alert. Just a strange noise will wake a sleeping cat in a matter of seconds, even when it is dozing. Cats left alone at home tends to sleep all day long out of boredom. Cats do short nap leaving their eyes half closed. Depriving them of short naps will make them irritable and confused.

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A cat which sleep less than the normal sleeping hours may be ill. It may be suffering from a thyroid problem wherein the body produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroid). This hormonal abnormality leads to higher metabolism rate, and the cat sleep less. Another amazing facts.

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The Gorgeous Golden Retriever – The Right Dog for You

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:25:34 PST

Some interesting facts about the dog breed – Golden Retriever.

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The Golden Retriever originated in Scotland in 1800s. Lord Tweedmouth developed the first litter by crossing a male yellow-colored Retriever with the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel dog. It was first called the Golden Flat-Coat but later on given the name Golden Retriever. Originally, the breed was used as gundogs in retrieving shot waterfowls during shooting parties. The first golden Retriever Club was founded in 1913. In 1925, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Aside from a good family companion, Golden Retriever serves as a bird dog, a therapy dog, a drug-snipping dog, and a service dog for the blind.

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The Golden Retriever is an active, medium-sized dog. As its name implies, the water-resistant coat comes in cream to dark gold in color. The inner coat is dense while the outer coat is sleek and water-resistant. This sturdy dog has broad head, straight muzzle, black or brownish nose, and medium to large brown eyes. Males average between 56-61cm while bitches around 51-56cm. Males weigh between 27-36kg and bitches between 25-32kg.

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Golden Retrievers are known to be intelligent, well-mannered loyal, gentle and confident dogs. They are highly trainable and can learn tricks easily. Their playful and friendly nature, get them along well with people, other dogs and cats. Inter-actions with people who show leadership makes a golden Retriever happy. At times, it tends to make behavioral issues like being destructive, and/or over-excited if not given regular exercises. Though not a good watchdog, it barks loudly to signal a stranger’s approach.

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25 Most Captivating and Gorgeous Green Colored Animals in The World

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:47:13 PST

Although green is one of the commonest colors in the world, it is so difficult to find animals in pure green color.

Green is the color of aliens as depicted on books and movies. It is also, of course, the color of Incredible Hulk. Green is a color used to describe plants or the ocean. Green can also describe someone who is inexperienced, jealous, or sick. A person who looks ill is describes as “green around the gills”. In the US, green is a colloquial for money.

1.) Harlequin Ghost Pipefish

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One of the most peculiar-looking marine creatures is the Solenostomus paradoxus commonly known as Harlequin Ghost Pipefish.

2.) Pygmy Leatherjacket

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One of the unique-looking green fishes is the Pygmy Leatherjacket or Brachalluteres jacksonianus. This amazingly cool-looking fish anchors itself at night by biting onto a plant.

3.) Darica Piranha

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Darica Piranha is a species of freshwater fish native to South America. This ferocious animal occasionally makes its way to aquarium trade.

4.) Cicindela sexguttata

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This metallic and brightly colored insect is called Cicindela sexguttata. This creature feeds of ants. It is commonly known as Six Spotted Tiger Beetle. It is also known as Six Spotted Green Beetle.

5.) Cucumber Green Spider

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The Cucumber Green Spider or Araniella cucurbitina is a gorgeous green colored species of a spider and can be found mostly on forest clearings.

6.) Roheline amblik

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10 Amazing Mammals Considered as Living Fossils

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:31:39 PST

From a rabbit-like deer to a giraffe-like mammal, this is a list of 10 amazing mammals, scientists considered as ‘living fossils.

“Living fossils” are plants or animals that were once known to have been extinct for millions of years. But then, survived the test of time and are now found to be alive. Read on to know 10 amazing mammals, scientists consider as ‘living fossil’.

Aardvark

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Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer), also called “antbears,” is endemic throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Genetically speaking, this burrowing animal resembling a pig is a living fossil, since it is the only extant representative of the order Tubulidentata. It’s nearest relative is the elephant shrew. Aside from the pig-like body and long snout, the aardvark manifests other weird features–a kangaroo tail, a long sticky tongue and rabbit-like ears.

A solitary and nocturnal animal, it inhabits grasslands, savannahs and woodlands. It feeds mostly on ants and termites. Sporting a thin Yellowish/Grey/ Brown coat, adult ones measure between 109 to 135 cm in body length , around 50 to 82 kg in weight and about and 53 to 66 cm tail. Aardvark can live up to 23 years in captivity.

Amami Rabbit

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The only species in its genus,the Amami Rabbit(Pentalagus furnessi), also called as the Ryukyu Rabbit, is found only in Amami Ōshima and Toku-no-Shima, two small islands of Japan. This primitive dark-furred rabbit, called a living fossil, because its physical characteristics resemble those of prehistoric rabbits living during the Miocene age.

The Amami Rabbit has a bulky body, small eyes and ears, short limbs, a long snout and large, curved claws. This forest-dweller has dense and wooly fur that is dark-brown in color, mark with reddish-brown underbelly. It measures between 430-510 mm long and around 2 kg in weight. The Amami Rabbit’s diet includes berries, bamboo shoots, acorn, leaves and stem of sweet potatoes. As a result of rampant hunting, this ancient rabbit is Classified as Endangered on the 2010 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Chevrotain

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Chevrotain, also called mouse deer, is any of 10 extant species of small, hoofed mammals found in Africa and SE Asia. These living fossils of primitive ruminant mammals are classified under the family Tragulidae (order Artiodactyla). All species lack horns but have strong upper canine teeth. They sport reddish-brown coat mark with white spots. Depending on the species, chevrotains measure between 20 -50 cm at the shoulder, and weigh between 0.7-16 kg.

They have rabbit-like body, arched back and very slender legs. They are solitary and nocturnal mammals that feed on leaves, twigs and fruits of plants. However, the African water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus), occasionally feed on insects, crabs, and fish.

Elephant shrew

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Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews, are small mouse-like mammals indigenous to Africa, comprising the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. These living fossils are not related with the true shrew and recent studies suggests that they are more related to golden moles, aadvarks, hydraxes and elephants. These primitive mammals have elephant-like long noses and the trunk, large canine teeth, long legs and short mouse-like tails.

Elephant shrews measure between 10-30 cm and weigh from 50-500 g, depending on the species. Colors vary from brown to gray to a combination of the two. Elephant shrews diet includes: insects, earthworm, spiders, centipedes, and millipedes. Some species also consume leaves, fruits and seeds.

Koala

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The World’s Amazing and Bizarre Insects and Arachnids

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:31:14 PST

Here’s a long list of the most amusing and awesome insects and arachnids in the world.

Insects are the most numerous species of animals in the world. Here’s a long list of the most amusing and awesome insects and arachnids in the world.
1.) Locust

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Would you believe that there can be up to 5 billion in a swarm of locust? That is about 75% of the world’s population. In addition, they jump 20 times their own body length. It is comparable for a human clearing a basketball court which is almost 29 meters long.

2.) Monarch Butterfly

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Monarch Butterflies are among the most amazing insects in the world. About 20,000 butterflies can be on a leaf, 220 million can be in a swarm and they can migrate 150,000,000,000 body lengths.

3.) Termite

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Termites are expected to defend their colony from ants. Termites are among the most destructive critters in the world. On the average, Termites destroy on average 50 homes in a year in the US alone.

If Termites were like humans, a single human sized termite can make a building bigger than the Empire State Building relative to its size, with only dirt, dung and saliva. Termites are truly amazing; the mounds they live in can be even taller than a giraffe and the queen can give lay 30,000 eggs a day.

4.) Aphid

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This is weird but this is true – the young Aphids are pregnant before they are born. If all Aphids survive, there would be one octillion Aphids enough to cover the entire United States 4.3 meters thick deep in Aphids.

5.) Tiger Beetle

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Basset Hound: The Famous Hush Puppies

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:23:14 PST

Interesting facts about the dog breed Basset hound – the famous Hush Puppies.

Dear dog lover,
I’ve heard in the dog community news that you are planning to acquire a dog that suits your need. I believe I am the type of dog you are looking for. Here is my personal profile for you to look into. As a teaser, do you know that my cousin Jason was featured in an advertising. His photo was chosen as the logo for Hush Puppies brand shoes. And BTW, my ancestors are from France, and the name Basset is French for “low”. From the hound family, we are bred to hunt rabbits using our excellent sense of smell

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The Basset Hound is a relatively heavy dog with short legs. Males average 30-38cm at the withers and about 23-29kg, while bitches measure 28-36cm and about 20-27kg.

Bassets usually comes in tri-color – (black, tan, and white), some are Red & whites, others are lemon & whites, and the rare ‘blue’ bassets.

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Basset hounds sport smooth, short-haired coats(though a carry rough-haired coats). They have large head, long, droopy ears, sad-looking brown eyes, long muzzles, large teeth and loose skin. They have powerful necks, deep chest, big claws, and long tail with white tips.

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Basset hounds are affectionate, loyal and loves socializing in the company of others. They are sweet, gentle, clownish, peaceful, and reliably good-natured. However, they are not that easy to train – at times they are stubborn, lazy and slow to obey. Yet, they respond to consistent obedience training plus the food rewards.

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The World’s Greatest Hunger-resistant and Most Voracious-eating Animals

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:09:47 PST

Here’s a list of amazing animals that can eat too much and animals that can last for a very long time without eating or drinking.

A human will survive in two weeks without food but not without water. A human can live up to 40 days without food as long as he drinks water.

Here’s a list of the greatest dieters in the animal kingdom.

1.) Tick

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Ticks are amazing animals. These very tough and hunger-resistant creatures can survive up to eighteen years without eating. That’s incredibly awesome!!!

2.) Snake

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Snakes are scary and tough animals. Snakes have been known to survive without eating for one year,

3.) Salmon

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Another very tough and hunger-resistant animal is the Salmon. During the Salmon’s journey going upstream to its spawning grounds, it has no choice but to go 9 months without eating.

4.) Grizzly Bear

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Grizzly Bears or simply Grizzlies are hunger-resistant animals. During hibernation, they can survive 7 months without eating.

5.) Honeypot Ant

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Honeypot Ants are very tough tiny creatures. They are known to survive without eating for a period of 6 months. They are also commonly known as Repletes.

6.) Southern Right Whale

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Weird And Wonderful Underwater Creatures Of The Sea

noreply@blogger.com (papaleng) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:36:10 PST

Weird And Wonderful Underwater Creatures Of The Sea

Sea Cucumbers

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The internal skeleton of sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) has been diminished to the point that it consists only of minute bits of crystalline matter in the skin. Most species lie on their sides on the ocean bottom, thus developing a definite upper and lower surface to the body. Some that have tentacles can burrow as well as travel by contracting their muscles. Species with tube feet can walk slowly by means of the tube feet’s tiny suckers.

The tentacles are modified tube feet that surround the animal’s mouth. They are used to trap small particles of food and thrust them into the mouth. Certain species eject a white fluid that rapidly congeals into a sticky mass and serves to entangle a would-be predator. Others can cast away their internal organs, perhaps to temporarily satisfy a predator while the sea cucumber makes its escape. The organs are regrown later. Some sea cucumbers are favoured, particularly by the Chinese, for making soup.

Sea Urchins

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Although lacking arms, sea urchins (Echinoidea) have five double rows of tube feet and long spines that move on ball-and-socket joints. Their bodies can be spherical, heart-shaped or flattened, with a crystalline, chalky skeleton of flattened plates fitted together like a mosaic and lying just under the skin. The tube feet and spines allow the urchin to creep over rocky surfaces or through the sand. Spines of some species contain poison glands.

The needle-like and brittle spines are a hazard for swimmers and skin divers. They pierce the skin and break off, discharging a mild venom that can be painful. Sea urchins may be plant-or meat-eaters but will scavenge for almost anything where food is hard to find. In some, the mouth, which is on the underside of the body, has teeth that project to scrape algae and other food off rocks and even dig hiding places in rock or coral. In some countries parts of the sea urchin are considered a real delicacy.

Comb Jellies

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Comb jellies (Ctenophora) are important elements of plankton. They resemble delicate, transparent jellyfish, and most of them drift freely in the water. The name comb jelly comes from eight rows of tiny, comblike structures on their bodies that are actually rows of cilia matted together. These combs beat in the water to propel the animals forward. Some species have two long tentacles that can be withdrawn into the body. Comb jellies feed on other plankton that they catch with special sticky cells either in their tentacles or on the body surface itself in species without tentacles. Many comb jellies are luminescent, and some emit brilliant flashes of colour at night.

Swimming with undulating movements, the graceful comb jelly Venus’s girdle (Cestum veneris) looks like a transparent belt.The comb jelly Eurhamphaea vexilligera, displays the eight rows of combs that give its name.

Seemingly floating in space, a comb jelly moves through the water and displays its luminescence.

Moss Animals

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