RABBIT

RABBIT
Rabbit, name for herbivorous mammals of the family Leporidae, which also includes the hare and the pika. Rabbits and hares have large front teeth, short tails, and large hind legs and feet adapted for running or jumping. In most, the length of the ears is considerably greater than the width. Although usage varies, the term rabbit generally refers to small, running animals, with relatively short ears and legs, which give birth to blind, naked young, while hare refers to larger, hopping forms, with longer ears and legs, whose young are born furred and open-eyed. Rabbits are chiefly nocturnal, although they are sometimes seen in the daytime. They have acute senses of smell and hearing. They feed on a wide variety of vegetation and are responsible in many areas for the stunted nature of the ground cover. When feeding on green herbage, rabbits, like hares, excrete soft pellets which they reingest; the waste products of the redigested food are excreted as dry pellets. Wild rabbits are frequently infected with tularemia, which is dangerous to humans. 

The European Common Rabbit

The European common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is native to S Europe and Africa, but is now found, in its domestic varieties, throughout the world; wild varieties have also been introduced in some places, such as England. All domestic rabbits, including the so-called Belgian hare, belong to this species. Wild common rabbits are up to 16 in. (41 cm) long and usually weigh 2 to 3 lb (0.9–1.4 kg). They have soft, thick fur, usually grayish brown above and white below. The tail is usually carried upright when the animal runs, exposing the white undersurface. Common rabbits live in elaborate systems of adjoining burrows called warrens. The young are suckled in a special burrow, dug by the mother at a distance from the warren and lined with a nest of her own fur. The entrance to this burrow is plugged with earth when she is away. Domestic rabbits, which may be various colors but are commonly white, are bred for food and for their fur, which is much used in making fur trim and felt. They are also frequently used as laboratory animals and are kept as pets. 

New World Rabbits

The New World genus Sylvilagus includes the many species of cottontail rabbit, which resemble the European rabbit in appearance, as well as the marsh rabbit and swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris and S. aquaticus, respectively), of the S United States. These rabbits do not burrow, although in winter they may shelter in a burrow abandoned by another animal. They usually rest, like hares, in hollows which they make in the ground or in vegetation. The Idaho pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis, of the U.S. Great Basin, digs simple burrows. The many North American species called jackrabbit are actually hares, as is the snowshoe rabbit, or varying hare. There are several species of short-eared rabbits in Asia and one, the volcano rabbit, or Mexican pygmy rabbit (Romerolagus diazi), in central Mexico, where it is in danger of extinction. 

Reproduction

The reproductive rate of rabbits is notorious. The common rabbit breeds from February to October; its gestation period is 30 days and there are five to eight young in a litter. In most regions its numbers are kept down by its many predators, such as the fox, the badger, and birds of prey. However, when domestic rabbits escaped in Australia, where they had few natural enemies, they ran rampant and stripped the countryside of vegetation in many regions. They were brought partially under control by the artificial introduction of a viral disease, myxomatosis.

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SIBERIAN TIGER

SIBERIAN TIGER

Siberian tigers are the largest of all tigers, as well as the largest of all the big cats. They can grow up to the length of 6–9 ft (1.8–2.7 meters), but some can be as long as 11 ft (3.3 meters). They usually weigh around 300–600 pounds, but can weigh as much as 700 pounds or more. To keep themselves from becoming cold in the winters, Siberian tigers have thicker fur coats than tigerswhich live in southern Asia. They also have a thick layer of fat which helps keep them warm. Like all other tigers, Siberian tigers have orange fur with black stripes. Siberian tigers have extra fur around their necks and pawswhich helps them keep warm. Siberian tigers have less orange in their coats, and have fewer stripes.

Where they live

Siberian tigers are located in northeast China, the Russian Far East and parts of North Korea. This region is called the "Amur Region", which is named after the Amur river. This region is covered with mountainous areas and coniferous forests. In the summer, the temperature is between mild and hot. In the winter, it may be very cold, especially at higher altitudes.

Behaviour

Like other tigers, the Siberian tiger likes to live on its own. Each Siberian tiger has its own large amount of territory. Male tigers' territories will usually cross those of several females' territories, but will usually not cross the territories of other males. In their territories, Siberian tigers usually have a lair in a cave or another area.

Feeding

Since Siberian tigers live in such cold regions, an adult needs to eat at least 9 kilograms (20 lb) of food every day to survive, but adults can eat as much as 50 kilograms of meat. Siberian tigers feed mainly on wild boar, elk and deer, but they also eat lynx and even bears. If the tiger cannot find larger prey it instead feeds on fish, rodents and rabbits. During normal conditions, around 50 percent of the tiger's diet will be of wild boar.

Hunting

While hunting, a Siberian tiger can run faster than 50 miles per hour, but running at this speed takes a lot of energy, so the Siberian tiger will only run short distances. The Siberian tiger has good night vision and likes to hunt during the night, when it can more easily surprise its prey. It also has excellent hearing and sense of smell which it uses to find and attack prey.

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AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

The bird is native to North America. The bird is longest bird in Northern America and has second largest wingspan than any other bird in North America. It breeds in interior North America and moves to coasts and central South Americaduring winters. The bird was described by German naturalist Johan Friedrich in the year 1789. The bird has a large beak which measures 11.3 to 15.2 cm in males and 10.3 to 14.2 cm in females. Their Wingspan measures 240 to 300 cm. Mean body mass was reported to be 7 kg. The bird make nest in colonies of several hundred birds in pairs. During their migration, they cross mountains and lakes but they avoid open oceans. These birds live more than 16 years. They don’t travel or search to kill their prey. Instead while swimming in lakes they catch their prey.

The American White Pelican occurs mainly in western and southern portions of North America, breeding inland in colonies on remote islands and wintering along warm southern coasts. The species is of particular interest because of its large body size, conspicuous white and black coloration, graceful flight, highly developed cooperative foraging, and the somewhat comic proportions of its large bill and pouch. White Pelicans are most commonly seen at foraging and adjacent loafing sites, where they are tolerant of human observers if not approached too closely. At breeding colonies, by contrast, they are shy and prone to desert or to leave eggs and young exposed to predators if approached.

Early spring migrants often arrive at colony sites before winter ice has left all surrounding waters. Courtship begins almost immediately, starting with aerial flights of often dozens of birds circling prospective breeding sites. Groups of newly paired birds at the same stage of the reproductive cycle then begin to form dense, synchronized nesting clusters or sub-colonies. As more birds arrive, additional sub-colonies form on other nearby portions of the colony, with the different sub-colonies commonly at different stages of the reproductive cycle.

Upon hatching, the altricial young are totally dependent on parents for food, warmth, and protection. By about 3 wks of age, they become more mobile, typically forming large overnight creches for protection and warmth, while the parents stay at the foraging grounds except for trips to the colony to feed their young. Generally only one of the two young survives, the other being harassed or killed by its older nestmate, a form of siblicide.

Favored foraging sites are shallow marshes, rivers, and lake edges, where mainly fish of little commercial value are taken. White pelicans obtain their food by dipping their bills into the water and scooping up prey. They do not plunge-dive from the air like Brown Pelicans. Like some of the Old World species of pelicans, White Pelicans are widely noted for their habit of cooperative foraging. Coordinated flocks of swimming birds encircle fish or drive them into the shallows where they become concentrated and can be more easily caught with synchronized bill dipping.

The continental population of White Pelicans was considered threatened until the early 1960s by combinations of changing water levels, human disturbance, and possibly contaminants. The population has since recovered and continues to increase at >3%/year. These increases have created conflicts with the aquaculture industry in the Southeastern United States in the last decade, especially during spring migration.

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Talking Animal

PARROTS

They are also called psittacines. Parrots are native to tropical and subtropical regions. They are roughly species of Parrots and most of them found in South America and Australasia. I think most of you have seen Parrots taking and repeating the words. This clearly proves that they are also one of the most intelligent and smartest animals in the world. They are fond of eating seeds, nuts, fruit, buds, and other plant material. They are also very much capable of solving complex problems that exist within their social network. The population of the Parrots is decreasing very rapidly because of the hunting, deforestation and habitat loss.

They are also known for their curved bill and strong legs. There are some species who also loved to eat animals and carrion. Let us also tell you about strange looking birds in the world.

Parrots have curved bills (beaks), strong legs and clawed feet. Parrots are believed to be one of the most intelligent bird species. Some species are known for imitating human voices. Most parrotspecies rely on seeds as food.

Parrot, term applied to a large group of gaudy, raucous birds of the family  Parrot also is used in reference to any member of a larger bird group, order , which includes cockatoos as well. Parrots have been kept as cage birds since ancient times, and they have always been popular because they are amusing, intelligent, and often affectionate. Several are astonishingly imitative of many sounds, including human speech.

Among other proficient mimics are the Amazon parrots (Amazona). The 31 species of Amazons are chunky birds, mostly 25 to 40 cm (10 to 16 inches) long, with slightly erectile crown feathers and a rather short, squared tail. Their predominantly green plumage is marked with other bright colours, chiefly on the upper head; the sexes look alike. Amazon parrots live in tropical forests of the West Indies and Mexico to northern South America. They are difficult to breed and may be aggressive as well as squawky. Common in aviaries is the blue-fronted Amazon (A. aestiva) of Brazil; it has a blue forehead, a yellow or blue crown, a yellow face, and red shoulders. The yellow-crowned parrot (A. ochrocephala) of Mexico, Central America, and from Ecuador to Brazil has some yellow on the head and neck, a red wing patch, and a yellow tail tip.

For decades the night parrot, or night parakeet (Geopsittacus occidentalis), of Australia was thought to be extinct, until a dead one was found in 1990. It feeds at night on spinifex grass seeds and dozes under a tussock by day. Its nest is a twig platform in a bush and is entered by way of a tunnel. Equally unusual is the ground parrot, or ground parakeet (Pezoporus wallicus). Rare local populations exist in the wastelands of coastal southern Australia and western Tasmania. It runs in the grass, flushes like a quail, and makes a sudden deceptive pitch, and it was formerly hunted with dogs. It eats seeds and insects; its nest is a leaf-lined depression under a bush.

The pygmy parrots of the subfamily Micropsittinae all belong to the genus Micropsitta. The six species are endemic to New Guinea and nearby islands. These are the smallest members of the family. They live in forests, where they eat insects and fungi.

The subfamily Nestorinae is found only in New Zealand. The kea (Nestor notabilis) occasionally tears into sheep carcasses (rarely, weakened sheep) to get at the fat around the kidneys. The kaka, N. meridionalis, a gentler forest bird, is often kept as a pet. The owl parrot, or kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), also lives only in New Zealand. It is the sole member of the subfamily Strigopinae. Rare and once thought extinct, it survives as a scant population on Stewart Island.

The cockatoo family (Cacatuidae) numbers 21 species from Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. The group includes the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), a smaller bird. All are crested and have heavy beaks for cracking nuts and seeds. The so-called sea parrot is unrelated to the psittaciforms (see puffin).

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Intelligent And Smartest Animal

ELEPHANT

Elephants are the largest mammal which belongs to the family Elephantidae. It is also one of the loudest animals in the world. They are divided into two parts the African elephant and the Asian elephant. They also have the largest brain of all the land animals. I am not saying that if they have a larger brain that doesn’t mean they are most intelligent one but elephants are also one of the intelligent animals in the world. They can very easily things from the surrounding which is very helpful for their survival. They are also known as the humans best friends because of their social and intelligent behaviour.

You will not believe but elephants can mimic many different types of sounds and also they are very efficient in order to use different tools in the forest for finding food. They are also known for showing emotions like joy and sorrow. All elephants have several distinctive features but they are known for their long trunk or proboscis. The proboscis is very helpful for them in breathing, lifting water and grasping objects. The African elephants are known for their larger ears while Asian elephants with smaller ears and convex or level backs. Elephants have unforgetting memory is one of the most common animal stereotypes in the world

Elephant populations

While some populations of African elephant are secure and expanding, primarily in southern Africa, numbers are continuing to fall in other areas, particularly in central Africa and parts of East Africa. With an estimated 415,000 elephants left on the continent, the species is regarded as vulnerable, although certain populations are being poached towards extinction.

Asian elephant numbers have dropped by at least 50% over the last three generations, and they’re still in decline today. With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered.

And it is critical to conserve both African and Asian elephants since they play such a vital role in their ecosystems as well as contributing towards tourism and community incomes in many areas.

So by helping protect elephants, we’re helping conserve their habitat, supporting local communities, and making sure natural resources are available for generations to come.

Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They have characteristic long noses, or trunks; large, floppy ears; and wide, thick legs. ... The Asianelephant and the African elephant live on separate continents and have many unique features.

There are two species of elephants remaining in the world – the African and the Asian. They range in color from light to dark gray, with the most distinct features being their huge ears and tusks. These tusks though have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elephants though. That is because they are made from ivory. Even though it is now illegal to trade or sell ivory it continues to be profitable on the black market.

Elephants are some of the largest creatures in the world. They are also known to be extremely intelligent. The saying that someone has the memory of an elephant means that they can remember just about anything and should be taken as a compliment. For the most part these are gentle animals but they will attack if they feel themselves or their offspring are in danger.

They live together in herds and can live for many decades with the right circumstances. Elephants are known to form very strong emotional bonds. They are excellent with their offspring and they seem to get along in their herds for the most part. They have been seen displaying signs of distress and sorrow when one in their herd is injured or that it has died. The typical size of a herd is about 20 of them.

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Top Most Intelligent And Smartest Animals in The World

DOLPHIN

One of the friendliest animals in the world, Dolphins have the ability to recognize themselves in the mirror which proves that they are one of the smartest animals in the world. Bottlenose dolphins are the type of Dolphins that have the largest brains among all animal kingdoms. They are very much helpful to the humans in solving different mysterious related to the oceans.

They are also very much capable of showing different emotions like happiness, joy, and sorrow. When dolphins are sleeping only one side of the brain sleeps the other keep active to defend them from any threats. They can also learn things very fast if trained properly.

They belong to many different families like Delphinidae, Platanistidae, Iniidae, and Pontoporiidae depending on whether they are oceanic dolphins, Indian river dolphins, new world river dolphins and brackish dolphins. It is also listed under amazing animals in the world.

They are fond of eating fish and squid but many of them also like killer whales and seals. You will also like reading about beautiful fishes in the world. Beluga Whale found only in Arctic region is also one of the intelligent animals in the world,

most 20 FAct of DOLPHIN 

1 .When humans take a breath, they replace only 15% of the air in their lungs with fresh air. When dolphins take a breath, they replace 90% of the air in their lungs with fresh air.

2.Dusky and spinner dolphins can leap 20 feet (6.1 m) or higher in the air. In fact, spinner dolphins get their name from spinning and somersaulting above the waves.

3.Scientists believe that dolphins don’t ever fall into a deep sleep; therefore, they probably don’t dream.

4.Called “re-entrants,” dolphins once lived on land and looked and behaved something like a small wolf but with five hoof-like toes on each foot instead claws. Dolphins also have remnant finger bones in their flippers, a forearm, wrists, and a few remnant leg bones deep inside their bodies.

5.Dolphins can recognize themselves in the mirror, and they love to admire themselves.

6.Killing a dolphin in ancient Greece was considered sacrilegious and was punishable by death. The Greeks called them hieros ichthys, or “sacred fish.

7.In Rome, dolphins were thought to carry souls to the “Islands of the Blest,” and images of dolphins have been found in the hands of Roman mummies, presumably to ensure their safe passage to the afterlife.

8.There are 40 existing species of dolphins. Most species live in shallow waters of tropical and temperate oceans. Five species live in rivers.[2]

9.A two-headed dolphin was found in western Turkey in 2014.

10.Famous philosophers such as Pliny, Herodotus, Aelian, and Aristotle commented on the compassion and friendly and almost moral nature of dolphins.

11.The narwhal dolphin has a large ivory tusk (like a unicorn), which is often poached. The only remaining populations are in the Greenland Sea and Baffin Bay.

12.Dolphins have the longest memory in the animal kingdom.

13.Just one-half of a dolphin’s brain goes to sleep at a time.

14.Dolphins can talk and understand each other over the phone.

15.Some dolphins can understand as many as 60 words, which can make up 2,000 sentences. They also show signs of self-awareness.

16.Just a tablespoon of water in a dolphin’s lung could drown it. A human could drown if two tablespoons of water were inhaled into the lungs.

17.The dolphin brain is even more “folded” than humans’ and was this way millions of years before the first appearance of humans. Scientists often measure intelligence by the number of brain “folds.

18.A baby dolphin is born tail-first to prevent drowning. After the mother breaks the umbilical cord by swiftly swimming away, she must immediately return to her baby and take it to the surface to breathe.

19.A female dolphin will assist in the birth of another’s baby dolphin, and if it is a difficult birth, the “midwife” might help pull out the baby. Other dolphins, including bulls, will swim around the mother during birth to protect her.

20.Air can be expelled from a dolphin’s blowhole at speeds topping 100 mph

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Cute Friendly Animals Who Live With Human Being

 CAT And his facts

Playful and freewheeling. Cats are often known for their bossy attitude. But they are extremely friendly at the same time. They chortle and purr to express their contentment and it is pure elation to be around these carefree four-legged mammals. Not to forget the scratches, but they also love to be around their loved ones.

 This relaxed and playful animal is one of the cutest animals. They prefer to keep themselves clean. Tonkinese is one of the most social cat breeds whereas Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated breeds. Aren’t they fascinating? 

Ten cat facts!

No two cats are the same, but insight into the biology and behaviour of cats can help you to understand your pet better. 

1. Cats have highly developed senses. Cats can detect higher frequencies of sound than dogs or humans. They have an excellent sense of smell, superior to humans and they can see better than us in dark and dim light!
2. Cats are expert hunters. Cats hunt alone - in the wild they’ll spend 6-8 hours a day hunting. They can hear the high pitched frequencies used by small rodents and their whiskers or ‘vibrissae’, are highly sensitive to vibrations, helping them to detect prey.
3. Cats are agile. Cats have powerful, tightly controlled muscles and fast reflexes that allow them to move quickly and gracefully. They are skilled at running, jumping, climbing, and stealthily stalking prey.
4. Cats use a range of methods to communicate. Communication sounds include purrs, ‘meows’, trills, chirrups, growls, yowls, and hisses. They also communicate visually using different body postures as well as visual markers such as scratch marks or the deposition of faeces.
5. Cats are independent. Survival is a solitary affair for cats; they are self-reliant for food, shelter, grooming and territory defence. They can be social but prefer to choose their own companions.
6. Cats are territorial. A cat’s territory is an area that is defended, aggressively if required, against other cats. They use a range of methods to mark their territory, including scratching, spraying urine and depositing faeces. Help keep your cat safe outside.
7. Cats are meat eaters. Meat is an important part of a cat's diet. Eating meat is important for cats; they cannot survive without the nutrients found in animal-derived materials.
8. Cats love cat naps! Domestic cats sleep for 12-18 hours a day! Sleep allows energy resources to be replenished so is vital for a predator that needs to be ready to hunt whenever it detects prey.
9. Cats are playful. Cats are intelligent and need both mental and physical stimulation. Play is important as it improves motor skills, provides brain training and encourages social behaviour. Keep your cats entertained with our range of fun toys.
10. Cats are clean animals. Tiny abrasive hooks, found on the centre of cats’ tongues, helps them to groom themselves efficiently. Grooming keeps a cat’s coat in good condition and also helps to remove fleas and other parasites. Read more about keeping cats in tip top condition.

Quick Facts

• Cats are felines and the ones that have been domesticated are known as house cats.
• They are carnivores that are skilled hunters and are known to hunt over 1,000 species for food.
• They have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.
• Cats are intelligent animals.
• Cats communicate by meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chiring, clicking, and grunting.
• Cats weigh from 5.5 to 16 pounds.
• The hobby of breeding and showing cats is called “Cat Fancy.”
• Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play.
• Cats can have three to five kittens in each litter.
• Cats are known for their cleanliness and grooming themselves by licking their fur.

Additional Facts

• As cats groom themselves by licking themselves clean, they tend to get hair building up in their intestines. These hairballs are also known as trichobezoar, and in order to get rid of the blockage, the cat must vomit the hairball up. Most hair however will simply pass through the cat’s digestive system with no problem.
• A group of more than two cats is called “clowder.”
• A cat’s hearing is said to be better than a dog’s, and they can hear high-frequency sounds up to two octaves higher than humans are able to hear.
• The biggest wild cat alive today is the Siberian Tiger. It can be more than 12 feet (3.6 m) long (about the size of a small car) and weigh up to 700 pounds (317 kg).
• On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping, which means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life.
• A cat almost never meows at another cat. It is thought that they developed this means of communication specifically for humans as they will typically only spit, purr, and hiss at other cats

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