ANIMAL KINDOM

American Bulldo

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:42:00 +0000

American Bulldog

The very muscular, sturdy and powerful, yet compact frame of the American Bulldog remains higher on the leg, more agile and swifter than its English counterpart. Some individuals are reportedly able to leap six or more feet into the air. Males are characteristically stockier and heavier boned than in the more refined females. The head is large with strong jaws. The American Bulldog is loyal, reliable, brave and determined. Not a hostile dog. Alert and self-confident, this breed genuinely loves children. It is known for its acts of heroism towards its master.Agile and light on his feet. The chest is wide and moderately deep giving the sense of athletic ability and power. The neck is muscular tapering from the shoulders to the head and may have a slight dewlap. The American Bulldog will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised.The head is square, large and broad with muscular cheeks relatively in proportion to the size and overall structure of the dog. There is a defined furrow between the rounded eyes, with a distinct, sharply defined , deep stop. The strong muzzle is broad and square. The preferred bite is reverse scissors, but a moderate underbite, scissors or even bite is acceptable.Life Expectancy Up to 16 years.

Irish Terrier Dog

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier is a medium-sized, somewhat longer than tall dog. The long head is flat between the ears and is in good proportion to the rest of the body. It has a slight stop that is not very noticeable unless you view the dog from the side. The nose is black. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The small eyes are dark brown, with bushy eyebrows. This is a very healthy breed and is not prone to any major hereditary disorders.The ears are V-shaped, fold forward towards the outside corners of the eyes, with darker, shorter hairs than the rest of the body. The ears of an Irish Terrier sometimes require "training." The ears get glued to the top of their heads so that they form the correct shape as the cartilage fills in. It is believed that the Irish Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds.Not all dogs require this, and it's definitely not necessary if you're not going to show the dog. A special non-toxic leather glue called tear-mender is used. The front legs are straight, long and muscular. The tail is docked taking off about 1/4th the natural length. Note: docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. The thick, rough looking, wiry coat lays close to the body and comes in solid bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten. The coat has a softer undercoat. The dog has long whiskers and a bearded muzzle. Sometimes with a small patch of white on the chest. Puppies are sometimes born black, but later change colors. Life Expectancy About 12-15 years.

Bearded Collie Dog

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:31:00 +0000


Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is a medium-sized, strong working dog. The body is long and lean. The head is large, broad and flat with a moderate stop. The muzzle is relatively short, strong and full. The black nose is large and square. The medium-sized ears hang close to the head and are covered with long hair. The teeth are large and meet in a scissors bite. The eyes are wide set and are in tone with the coat color. The tail is carried low unless the dog is excited. They have a shaggy, waterproof, double-coat, which hangs over the entire body including the chin (hence the name "Beardie").The Bearded Collie originated in Britain and is one of the country's oldest breeds Beardie pups are born black, blue, brown or fawn, with or without white markings and often lighten, first fading to a light gray or cream as the dog matures. The coat color changes several times before it reaches the adult color. The final coat color is somewhere between the puppy coat and the color the coat is when the dog is about a year old.The Bearded Collie is not recommended for apartment life. The Bearded Collie is not recommended for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard.They are fairly active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Beardies can sleep outdoors and make excellent farm dogs. They are also good in windy, rugged or wet areas since the dogs will go out in all weather conditions. It does not like to be confined and should have a place to run off of its lead. The Beardie prefers to be outdoors.Life Expectancy About 14-15 years.

Bulldog (English Bulldog) (British Bulldog)

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:26:00 +0000


English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is a wide, medium sized, compact dog, with short legs. The body and head are massive with extra skin on both the skull and forehead falling in folds. The cheeks extend to the sides of the eyes. The muzzle is wide, short and pug with a broad, deep stop. The black nose is broad with large nostrils. The dark eyes are deep set. The rose ears are small, thin and set high on the head. The jaws are massive, very broad, and square with hanging upper lips. The teeth should have an under bite. The tail is either straight or screwed and carried low. The short, flat coat is straight, smooth and glossy. Coat colors include red brindle, and other shades of brindle, solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow, piebald, pale yellow or washed-out red or white or a combination of these colors.An average of 8 years. Some live longer while others live shorter lives.The smooth, fine, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. Wipe the face with a damp cloth every day to clean inside the wrinkles. This breed is an average shedder.

Pomeranians Dog

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:19:00 +0000

My Dog Pictures

This is Zorro and his little sister, Madison. They are Pomeranians, approximately two years old. They are active, fun-loving toy dogs who think they are every bit as big as a Labrador. They are members of the spitz family and were favored by Queen Victoria. They are named for the region in East Germany/Poland that is most associated with their early breeding. This picture was taken at the beach in Waldport, Oregon.

The muskrat is a common denizen

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:44:00 +0000

Muskrat

The muskrat is a common denizen of wetlands, swamps, and ponds, where it dens by tunneling into muddy banks. This large rodent has a body a foot (30 centimeters) long and a flat tail that nearly doubles its length. Muskrats are well adapted for the water and begin swimming at only ten days old. Perhaps best known for their communication skills, muskrats exchange information with one another and warn off predators with their distinctive odor, or musk.

Manatees cruise slowly in shallow

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:50:00 +0000

Manatee

Manatees cruise slowly in shallow, warm coastal waters and rivers—like Florida’s gin-clear Crystal River, pictured here. The massive mammals (up to 1,300 pounds or 600 kilograms) are born underwater and never leave the water as long as they live—though they surface to breathe every few minutes. Also known as sea cows, they are insatiable grazers, browsing on a variety of aquatic grasses, weeds, and algae.

Several different manatee species live along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, Africa’s west coast, and the Amazon River.

Polar Bear Mother With Cub

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:41:00 +0000

Polar Bear

Dutiful mothers, female polar bears usually give birth to twin cubs, which stay with her for more than two years until they can hunt and survive on their own

Oil coats northern rockhopper penguins

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:15:00 +0000

Oiled Masses

Oil coats northern rockhopper penguins in the wake of this month's oil spill at Nightingale Island.

The penguins breed in colonies, which can be situated at sea level, on cliff tops, and sometimes inland, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Rockhoppers feed on krill and other crustaceans as well as squid, octopus, and fish.

A North Island brown kiwi

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:05:00 +0000

Brown kiwi

Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.

At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world.[2] There are five recognised species, all of which are endangered; all species have been adversely affected by historic deforestation but currently large areas of their forest habitat are well protected in reserves and national parks. At present, the greatest threat to their survival is predation by invasive mammalian predators.

The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand – indeed, the association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used, all over the world, as the colloquial demonym for New Zealanders.

A ruby-eyed green pit viper

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:01:00 +0000

Spot the Snake

A ruby-eyed green pit viper blends in with the vibrant jungle vegetation of Vietnam in a May 2000 picture.

Life in the trees is one reason the pit viper is so efficient at digesting its meals: A full gut would be a hindrance to movement aloft.

But the new species "do occur on the ground and often forage on the ground," study co-author Malhotra added. "And they often occur near streams, so one assumes that they do eat some high proportion of frogs.

"We also know that other related species eat small mammals, and these closely related animals are likely to be quite similar ecologically."

Out to Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:45:00 +0000

Frog and Ruby Green Pit Viper

A large frog proved to be more than a mouthful for a ruby-eyed green pit viper.
In general, the new species' eating preferences have been hard to uncover, scientists say.

"It's very difficult to get information on what these things eat,” study co-author Malhotra said. “Snakes are so good at digesting things, that what's left in their feces—if you can even collect any—is only a few very hard-to-digest bits, like hair from mammals or scales and claws from reptiles.

"Frogs are so easy to digest that there is literally nothing left."

Blue Banded Sea Perch Underwater

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:11:00 +0000

Blue Banded Sea Perch

Blue Banded Sea Perch pictures underwater photos underwater animals and pictures of underwater organism - high resolution underwater photos.This fishes and nature beauties under the ocean.

Electric Jellyfish of Underwater

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:06:00 +0000

Electric Jellyfish

Electric Jellyfish pictures underwater photos underwater animals and pictures of underwater organism - high resolution underwater photos.This fishes and nature beauties under the ocean.

Red and Black Anemonefish Underwater

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:59:00 +0000

Red and Black Anemonefish

Red and Black Anemonefish pictures underwater photos.It is a high resolution underwater photos.This fishes and nature beauties under the ocean - ocean photos underwater

Tropical Harmony Pictures Underwater

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:51:00 +0000

Ocean photos underwater

Tropical Harmony pictures underwater photos.It is a high resolution underwater photos.There are a various types and colour of fish.This colorful fishes and nature beauties under the ocean.

Fishing Pelican & Snapping Pelican

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:50:00 +0000

Pelicans fish in beak


Pelicans with mouth open

This one came back to the surface with at least three fish in his mouth. The pelican was waving his beak to swallow the fish.

The pelicans flew out to the boat and landed on it to meet us in hopes of food. I got a little too close to this one so he snapped at me, and my only defense was to push the camera button.

The Black Skimmer

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:42:00 +0000


Black Skimmer

Like cutting silk, this black skimmer looks for something for lunch.

Macaws are beautiful birds

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:32:00 +0000


Macaws are beautiful, brilliantly colored members of the parrot family

Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits.

Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human speech.

There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate.

The Peacock

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:23:00 +0000


One of the most ostentatiously adorned creatures on Earth, the peacock uses its brilliant plumage to entice females

Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:17:00 +0000


Wings beating about 53 times per second, a ruby-throated hummingbird hovers above flowers drinking nectr.

The male ruby-throated hummingbird does indeed have a striking red throat, though the female of the species does not. You would have to look quickly to see either, however, as these speedy little birds can beat their wings 53 times a second and fly in an acrobatic style matched by few other birds. They hover often, and also fly upside down and backwards. These hummingbirds have extremely short legs, so they cannot walk or even hop with any efficiency.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds live in woodland areas, but also frequent gardens where flowering plants are plentiful. They hover to feed on flowers, nectar, and sap. During this floral feeding process, the birds pollinate many plants.

This hummingbird breeds in eastern North America and is the only hummingbird species to do so. Males establish a territory and court females who enter it with flying and diving behaviors, and by showing off their red throat plumage. Females provide all care for young hummingbirds. They lay one to three eggs, incubate them for about two weeks, and, after hatching, feed their young for about three weeks.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds winter in Mexico and Central America. To get there from their North American breeding grounds some birds embark on a marathon, nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. They may double their weight in preparation for this grueling journey.

Baltimore Oriole

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:00:00 +0000


The distinctly colored Baltimore oriole builds a hanging nest for its four or so eggs.

The Baltimore oriole is Maryland's official state bird. This popular animal has also been the namesake of the state's professional baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, since the late 19th century. Male orioles have brilliant orange-golden underparts and shoulder patches, with black wings and a black head. Females are not as brightly colored. Though they are partially orange, they also have and brownish-olive plumage.

Each spring a female oriole constructs a hanging nest at the end of a tree branch. From this perch, she will guard her eggs (typically four) for about two weeks. When the young birds hatch, both parents will feed and watch over them for an additional two weeks.

Birds of Paradisaeidae

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:53:00 +0000

Divas of the avian world, elaborately feathered birds of paradise, like this ribbon-tailed species, practice elaborate courtship rituals.

There are more than three dozen species in the family Paradisaeidae, more commonly known as the birds of paradise. Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green.

Males put their bright colors and unusual ornaments to good use when they display for females. Their elaborate dances, poses, and other rituals accentuate their appearance and put on a phenomenal show for both female birds and any humans lucky enough to be in the vicinity.

Birds of paradise are found in New Guinea and surrounding islands. Birds of paradise are so attractive that their appearance once made them the target of skin hunters, who decimated some species.

These birds also lend their name to a colorful flower. South Africa's bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a member of the banana family. It sports a beautiful flower believed to resemble the avian bird of paradise in flight.

The Multicolored Nudibranch

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:54:00 +0000


Multicolored Nudibranch

There are more than 3,000 known nudibranch species, and scientists estimate there are another 3,000 yet to be discovered. So-called Spanish dancers, like this one off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, boast some distinctions over other nudibranchs.

Nudibranchs are blind to their own beauty, their tiny eyes discerning little more than light and dark. Instead the animals smell, taste, and feel their world using head-mounted sensory appendages called rhinophores and oral tentacles.

Generally oblong in shape, nudibranchs can be thick or flattened, long or short, ornately colored or drab to match their surroundings.

Nudibranchs are carnivores that slowly ply their range, grazing on algae, sponges, anemones, and corals. Many, like this red-white-and-blue aggressor devouring a sea hare near Bali, Indonesia, will assimilate the toxins and nematocysts (stinging cells) of their victims and use them for their own defense.

Anemone and Hermit Crab

noreply@blogger.com (sukhy) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:36:00 +0000

The Anemone & Hermit Crab

Some anemones piggyback on the shells of hermit crabs. The maneuver is mutually beneficial: The anemones get a mobile, competition-free surface on which to perch and pick up scraps, and the crabs get an effective camouflage and protection provided by the sea anemone’s toxic tentacles.