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Impala

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Impala

I’m impala’d by the many different types of antelopes in the world.

  • Impalas are a species of antelope native to southern areas of Africa, while in some areas they have been introduced.
  • An impala has the scientific name Aepyceros melampus, and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of ruminant cloven-hoofed mammals, and a number of subspecies exist.
  • Typically, the body of impalas grow to be 68 to 99 centimetres (27 to 39 inches) in height and the animal usually weighs between 37 to 76 kilograms (82 to 168 pounds).
  • Impalas live in herds, in habitats of warmer temperatures and a sustainable amount of vegetation, such as savannahs, woodlands and grasslands.
  • Impalas are generally brown and tan in colour, with undersides that are white; and their diet consists primarily of vegetation, including grass, plants, seeds, fruits and flowers.
Imapala, Africa, Animal, Mammals, Ten Random Facts, Male, Antelope
Imapala
Image courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
  • Impala spiral shaped horns, that are unique to the males, can grow to be larger than the animal itself, as lengths can be 45 to 97 centimetres (18 to 38 inches).s
  • Impalas are preyed on by hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles, and have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
  • An impala has the ability to leap up to 3 metres (10 feet) in the air and as far as 10 metres (33 feet), and can run at a speed of up to 48 km per hour (30 miles per hour).
  • Impala females generally give birth to one young at a time, and the mother will attempt to protect the fawn by hiding it for a number of days or weeks.
  • Although these antelopes are classified as Least Concerned, the black-faced impala subspecies are threatened by human hunting and hybridisation with the common species.
Bibliography:
Impala, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/impala/
Impala, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/impala/
Impala, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impala

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Lighthouse of Alexandria

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Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was certainly more than your typical lighthouse.

  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a lighthouse originally located next to the city of Alexandria, on the island of Pharos, in Egypt, Africa.
  • ‘Lighthouse of Alexandria’ is also known as ‘Pharos of Alexandria’, ‘Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria’ and ‘Pharos Lighthouse’, and it is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
  • Around 280 BC, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built, taking over a decade to complete; and the construction period was during the reign of Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II.
  • The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria is believed to have been between 117 to 137 metres (383 to 450 feet), making it one of the tallest built structures in the world for hundreds of years.
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was among the first lighthouses to be built, and is believed to have had one or more mirrors and a place for fire, that was used to signal, position and detect ships up to a 160 kilometres (100 miles) away.
Lighthouse of Alexandria, Drawing, Picture, Depiction, Old, Primary Source, Ten Random Facts
A depiction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Image courtesy of Ashley van Haeften/Flickr
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed by the end of 1323, due to at least three major earthquakes over a period of 400 years.
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria had three primary parts, a rectangular prism erected on the foundation; an octagonal prism built above that; and a cylinder sitting on top.
  • After the Lighthouse of Alexandria disintegrated, the Citadel of Qaitbay was built in its spot in the late 1400s, and it is believed that some of the lighthouse stones were used to create this fort that still sits on the site.
  • Some of the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered underwater in the Port of Alexandria during 1994, by Frenchman Jean-Yves Empereur, an archaeologist, and his team.
  • The top section of the Lighthouse of Alexandria is said to have featured the statue of one of two Greek gods – Zeus, god of the sky, or Poseidon, god of the sea.
Bibliography:
Dunn J, Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2013, Tour Egypt, http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pharoslighthouse.htm
The Great Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2011, The Museum of Unnatural Mystery, http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/pharos.htm
Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria

 

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Thyme

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Thyme, Plant, Herb, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Green, Australia, Food, Culinary

Thyme will spice up your dishes in no time.

  • Thyme is an edible, perennial herb commonly used in cooking and there are approximately 60 varieties of the plant.
  • Thyme comes from the genus Thymus, that is from the family Lamiaceae, the family of mint, and the commonly used species for cooking purposes is Thymus vulgaris, also known as ‘common’, ‘garden’, and ‘German’.
  • In ancient history, thyme was used for purification purposes and was believed to provide courage or be symbolic of bravery.
  • The typical purpose of thyme is to flavour foods, such as meat, soups, bread, cheese, tea beverages and condiments, among others.
  • Thyme can be bought as a packaged dried herb from supermarkets, and it is also available in fresh bunches, and both leaves and stalks can be used.

Thyme, Plant, Herb, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Green, Australia, Food, Culinary

  • The extracted oil of thyme, contains large quantities of thymol, that has antiseptic qualities, that is included in some medical and health products, and the herb can be used to treat bronchitis.
  • For food use, it is preferable to use fresh thyme, which has tiny green leaves approximately 4 mm (0.16 inches) long, while dried versions are generally crushed into even smaller particles that are coloured a combination of grey, green and brown.
  • Dried thyme is very high in vitamin K and high in manganese and iron, while the fresh version contains significant quantities of vitamin C and A, iron and manganese.
  • Thyme plants generally grow from 15 to 40 cm (6 to 16 inches) tall and have white, purple or yellow flowers depending on the species.
  • The flavour of thyme varies, depending on the variety or species, although the most common is said to have a peppery, pine-like flavour, while the lemon species has a more citrus-like flavour.
Bibliography:
Thyme, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=77
Thyme, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme

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Book

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Book

Be well read with enough information to fill many books.

  • A book is a bound collection of sheets or pages, used for record keeping, or conveying information that generally entertains or informs.
  • The pages of books usually contain printed text or illustrations, or they can be blank so that they can be written in by hand, while sometimes the pages will feature a combination of these characteristics.
  • Paper is the most common material used to make book pages, and the text is usually printed on the page.
  • In ancient history, the first books were made of tablets of stone, metal, bark or clay, and this medium was used during the Bronze and Iron Ages.
  • Papyrus, a plant material, was used to create books, or more accurately scrolls, by Ancient Egyptians from around 2400 BC; and parchment, a product made from animal skin was also used in ancient times.

Book, Pile, Assorted, Old, Fiction, Fact, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Read, Reading

  • Before the revolutionary invention of Johannes Gutenburg’s printing press in the mid 1400s, ‘mass production’ of books was performed by wood-printing techniques.
  • ‘E-books’ are those that are available in electronic form, and this is becoming an increasingly popular way of obtaining books, while numerous electronic devices and tablets are engineered to support these electronic versions.
  • Books are available in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses according to their purpose and number of pages, although they are mostly orientated to sizes that the printing and paper allow for.
  • Books are commonly obtained by purchasing them from retail outlets or borrowing them from a library.
  • In 2010, Google announced that there were approximately 130 million individual book titles that had existed in modern history up until that time.
Bibliography:
Book, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book
A Brief History of the Book, 2015, Charles Sturt University, http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/humss/art317/form/briefhist.htm

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Baby’s Breath

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Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath are innocent little flowers, aren’t they?

  • Baby’s breath is a group of perennial and annual plants that produces flowers, and the genus contains approximately 35 species.
  • Areas of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific are the native locations of baby’s breath.
  • Baby’s breath has the scientific name Gypsophila and it is from the family Caryophyllaceae, the family of carnations.
  • ‘Baby’s breath’ is also known as ‘soap root’, ‘chalk plant’ and ‘gyp’, and the plants are generally grown from seed.
  • The scientific name of Baby’s breath – ‘Gypsophila’ – comes from the words ‘gypsos’ and ‘philos’, meaning ‘gypsum’ and ‘loving’ respectively in Greek.

Baby's Breath, Plant, Vegetation, White, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Baby’s breath generally grows to heights of 15 to 90 centimetres (6 to 35.5 inches), depending on the species, and in most cases they grow best in full sun.
  • The five-petalled flowers of baby’s breath can be white, pink, or violet and they bloom during spring and summer months.
  • The baby’s breath plant often grown for decorative purposes has the scientific name Gypsophila paniculata, and it is commonly used as a cut flower to give a delicate look in arrangements and bouquets.
  • Some baby’s breath species have edible roots, and the plants and roots are also grown for and used as a medical ingredient.
  • Although baby’s breath plants are commonly grown for commercial purposes, some areas have designated some species of the plant as an invasive weed.
Bibliography:
Gypsophila, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsophila
How to Grow Gypsophila, 2015, Gardeners HQ, http://www.gardenershq.com/Gypsophilia-baby-breath.php

 

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are majestic and marvellous birds.

  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos are a group of birds that contain four subspecies, native to Papua New Guinea and eastern, northern and some southern areas of Australia.
  • The scientific name of a sulphur-crested cockatoo is Cacatua galerita, and it is from the family Cacatuidae, the family of cockatoos.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos have been introduced into Australia’s Perth in Western Australia, Asia’s Singapore, and New Zealand, along with other Pacific Islands.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos typically grow to heights of 44 to 55 centimetres (17 to 22 inches); they can weigh as much as 950 grams (34 ounces); and they can live up to 80 years, however, their lifespan in the wild is generally between 20 and 40 years.
  • A sulphur-crested cockatoo has white coloured feathers, a vivid yellow crest, and a grey coloured beak; and their feathers are waterproof due to a thin, special powder that they excrete.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow, Bird, Australia, Parrot, Perch, Ten Random Facts, Queensland

  • Seeds, berries, nuts, roots, and other vegetation make up the diet of sulphur-crested cockatoos and they generally live in family groups in forest habitats or where there are plenty of trees.
  • Female sulphur-crested cockatoos have clutches of one to three eggs, which are laid in a tree cavity, and the young are raised by both parents.
  • Some people consider sulphur-crested cockatoos as pests, even in native areas, as large populations can destroy crops, and they can also damage buildings with their sharp parrot beaks, as they like to chew wood.
  • When a group of sulphur-crested cockatoos are scavenging for food on a ground surface, a single bird from the flock is commonly found perching on a high platform watching for predators.
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoos generally make loud screeching noises; they are capable of imitating speech and other sounds; and are occasionally kept as pets.
Bibliography:
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 2015, Australian Museum, http://australianmuseum.net.au/sulphur-crested-cockatoo
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur-crested_cockatoo
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, n.d, Zoos Victoria, http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/animals/sulphur-crested-cockatoo

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