Tag Archives: Animal

Egg (Food)

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Egg (Food)

Eggs are a staple part of cooking.

  • Eggs used for human consumption are most frequently from domesticated fowl, and they are used as a staple item in cookery and for the reproduction of the birds; while the most common animal to produce commercial eggs are chickens, primarily of the genus Gallus, with the scientific name Gallus gallus domesticus.
  • The ‘white’, ‘yolk’ and ‘shell’ are the primary components of an egg; and whites have a water portion of approximately 87%, while yolks have a 50% portion.
  • Eggs are generally an oval shape, and those produced from chickens typically range from 43 to 71 grams (1.5 to 2.5 ounces) in weight.
  • Although chicken eggs are the most common variety eaten, the produce of ostriches, turkeys, ducks, geese and quails are used in various cuisines.
  • Eggs are commonly used in main dishes, often for savoury flavour, or as a binder, especially in baked goods, and they can also be scrambled, boiled, fried, poached or pickled.

Egg, Oval, Poultry, Chicken, Variety, Brown, White, Cream, Food, Culinary, Ten Random Facts

  • Each egg sold commercially is usually graded for size and colour, inspected for cracking in the shell and other defects, and sometimes cleaned to remove residue that can cause bacteria and viruses that can be hazardous to humans; and they are best stored in the refrigerator to prevent growth of bacteria.
  • Eggs can trigger allergic reactions in humans, such as swelling, rashes, hives, breathing problems and dizziness; and around 1% to 2% of the United States’ population is affected by the allergy.
  • Eggs are very high in choline, protein, riboflavin, selenium, and vitamin B12; high in phosphorus, folate, vitamins A and D, and iron; and they also contain many other vitamins and minerals.
  • The colour of egg shells is different according to the breed or species of bird, but they typically range from brown to white, and different countries and areas have different preferences regarding the colour of the shells.
  • An egg can symbolise ‘the start’, ‘fertility’ and ‘new life’, while the latter is the reason for the poultry item being used as an Easter symbol.
Bibliography:
Egg (Food), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_%28food%29
Egg, pasture-raised, 2015, World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=92

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Australasian Snapper

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Australasian Snapper

A snappy Australasian snapper.

  • Australasian snappers are fish native to the ocean near Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan and New Zealand.
  • ‘Australasian snappers’ are also known as ‘silver seabreams’, ‘snappers’, ‘cocknies’, ‘pinkies’, ‘queens’, ‘schnappers’ and ‘ruggers’.
  • The scientific name of an Australasian snapper is Pagrus auratus, from the family Sparidae, the family of sea bream, and despite its common name, it is not technically a snapper.
  • Australasian snappers can be found in waters near the coast, around underwater rocky landscapes, among reefs, and in depths of up to 200 metres (656 feet).
  • The lifespan of Australasian snappers can reach from 40 to 54 years; and young females may develop into males by adulthoood, although this is not common in some areas.

Australasian Snapper, Animal, Fish, Cut, Dead, Food, Two, Pink, Ten Random Facts, New Year, Seafood, Culinary, Australia

  • Australasian snappers generally grow between 40 to 130 centimetres (16 to 51 inches) in length, and weigh between 10 to 20 kilograms (22 to 44 pounds).
  • Australasian snappers are among the most commonly eaten fish by humans in countries where they are found nearby, such as Australia.
  • The diet of Australasian snappers generally consists of crabs, shrimp, starfish, other fish, sea urchins and shellfish.
  • Australasian snappers can have scales ranging from red, pink, grey, silver or gold in colour, and mature adults develop an obvious hump on the top of their head.
  • Australasian snappers often cannot be legally caught for human consumption if they are less than 35 centimetres (14 inches) in length; and this is to prevent over-fishing so as not to damage the population of fish.
Bibliography:
Snapper, 2014, PIRSA Fisheries, http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational_fishing/target_species/snapper
Snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), 2014, Australian Museum, http://australianmuseum.net.au/Snapper-Pagrus-auratus-Bloch-Schneider-1801
Silver Seabream, n.d, FishBase, http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/summary/6426
Australasian Snapper, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_snapper

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Stoat

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Stoat

Don’t stoat around… at least not too much!

  • Stoats are small mammals that are close relatives of weasels, and they originate in North America, Asia and Europe.
  • The scientific name of a stoat is Mustela erminea, and it is from the family Mustelidae, the family of weasels.
  • ‘Stoats’ are also known as ‘short-tailed weasels’, ‘Bonaparte weasels’ and ‘ermines’, and they occupy a wide range of habitats.
  • Stoats range from 17 to 35 centimetres (6.7 to 13.8 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 180 to 258 grams (6.3 to 9.1 ounces).
  • The coat of a stoat is typically coloured a combination of brown, black and tan with a white underside, and when the animal moults in autumn, the fur will usually grow back as a lighter colour for camouflaging purposes in winter, and this new fur coat can be completely white except for the tip of its tail, although the resulting colour change depends on the geographical region and climate that the animal lives in.
Stoat, Mammal, Animal, Weasel, Brown,. Ten Random Facts, Grass, Flickr
Stoat
Image courtesy of Mark Kilner/Flickr
  • Stoats live in territories and occupy multiple dens, that are often the original home of past prey and these can be hollows, nests, burrows or other small sheltered areas.
  • The diet of stoats varies, depending on their location, and it can include rabbits, rodents, lizards, insects, birds and fish; and they are preyed upon by wild cats, foxes and snakes.
  • The fur of stoats has been historically used by humans for winter clothing purposes, and commonly for ornamental reasons, especially by nobility.
  • Stoats were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s for the purpose of reducing rabbit numbers, however, as predicted, they have had a significant, negative environmental impact, and have threatened numerous native species of birds.
  • Female stoats typically give birth to between 5 and 15 young at one time, and they usually have only one litter during their life, which is an average of 4 to 6 years.
Bibliography:
Stoat, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/stoat/
Stoat, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat

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Oyster

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Oyster

Collect the pearls and eat the oyster.

  • Oysters are aquatic animals that are typically found in saltwater habitats around the world, and they can be found attached to rocks, water structures and other objects.
  • The term ‘oyster’ generally refers to a loosely grouped collection of clams, that are from the class Bivalvia, the class of bivalve molluscs, however, Ostreidae, is the family of true ones, of which the edible creatures belong to.
  • The hard shell of an oyster is typically a variety of colours, that can include tan, white, brown, black and yellow, and they range from 3 to 36 centimetres (1.2 to 14 inches) in length.
  • Some oyster species can produce pearls, however pearls are generally cultivated or obtained from the distant relatives in the Pinctada genus, that belong to Pteriidae family, the family of feather oysters.
  • Oysters have a diet that primarily consists of plankton or other microscopic objects in the water, that is collected by filtering water through the mollusc’s gills; and the animal is preyed upon by birds, fish, starfish, turtles and crabs; and have a lifespan of one to three years.

Oyster, Ten Random Facts, Seafood, Animal, Aquatic, Shell, Edible, Cuisine

  • Oysters can produce millions of eggs at one time, which can quickly hatch into larvae, and they permanently establish themselves on a surface after a few weeks.
  • Oysters have been part of the human diet since ancient times and are commonly eaten today, often as part of a seafood dish; and they are usually obtained by boating, diving or wading, and gloved hands or rakes are used to pry the molluscs from their permanent surfaces.
  • The colour of oyster blood is transparent, and large quantities of water can be filtered by a single animal, with an average of 189 litres (50 gallons) a day.
  • Oysters are extremely high in vitamin B12, copper and zinc, and they are high in iron, selenium, and vitamin D, and contain many other vitamins and minerals.
  • Oysters need to be fresh when eaten, and the animal cannot be dead before cooking, as they will be toxic; and while the mollusc can be consumed raw, they are commonly cooked, fried, smoked, roasted, steamed, or boiled.

 

Bibliography:
Oyster, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/oyster/
Oyster, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/invertebrates/oyster/
Oyster, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster


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Wolverine

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Wolverine

Any wolverine you come across may be slightly dangerous.

  • Wolverines are mammals found in the northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, and the largest population can be found in America’s Canada.
  • A ‘wolverine’ is also known as a ‘carcajou’, ‘skunk bear’, ‘glutton’ and ‘quickhatch’, while its scientific name is Gulo gulo, and it is from the family Mustelidae, the family of weasels.
  • Wolverines look somewhat like a bear, and they have notably lengthy claws and a strong jaw; and the fur is significantly water repellant which is mostly coloured brown and black.
  • Wolverine habitats range from alpine tundras to forests of the taiga and subarctic; and they usually live alone.
  • Wolverines range from 65 to 107 centimetres (26 to 42 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 9 to 32 kilograms (20 to 71 pounds),  and they are the largest species in the weasel family that live on land.

Wolverine, Mammal, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Brown, Black, Flickr,

Wolverine
Image courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
  • Mammals make up the primary diet of wolverines, and includes rodents, foxes, weasels, moose and deer, and occasionally vegetation, eggs, insects and birds.
  • Female wolverines give birth every two or three years around spring, to an average of two or three kits; and the typical lifespan of the animal ranges from 8 to 15 years, and they have been kept successfully in zoos.
  • Although classified as least concern, wolverine numbers have been declining, and are threatened from illegal hunting in some areas, as well as loss of habitat.
  • Wolverines are notable in both film and literature, particularly as the concept of the Marvel Comic superhero of the same name.
  • When threatened or trying to repel fellow competitors, wolverines may excrete an unpleasant smell; and the males have a very large territory that can be 620 square kilometres (240 square miles) or more in area.
Bibliography:
Wolverine, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/wolverine/
Wolverine, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/wolverine/
Wolverine, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine

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Mussel

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Mussel

Don’t go picking any random mussel off the street, or in this case, the rocks.

  • Mussels are a groups of molluscs that are found in both salt and fresh water environments, and they are roughly symmetrical.
  • The term ‘mussels’ is most commonly applied to the family Mytilidae, a family of saltwater species; and the molluscs are from the class Bivalvia, the class of bivalve molluscs.
  • Mussels can grow to be 4 to 15 centimetres (1.6 to 6 inches) in length, and are typically taller than wider.
  • The shell of a mussel is frequently a dark colour, like brown, blue or black, and it is also three-layered, in two halves, and is connected at a hinge; while the internal creature has a ‘foot’ that is a muscle-like organ, used to drag the mollusc along surfaces.
  • The diet of mussels consists of tiny aquatic animals such as plankton, which can affect the mollusc’s toxicity, and their food is caught using their water filtering system.
Mussel, Blue, Animals, Aquatic, Marine, Californian, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Mussels
Image courtesy of Franco Folini/Flickr
  • Fresh water mussel larvae fasten themselves to fish once born, and using the host’s excreted chemicals they create a shell; and then detach from their host after the shell has been made.
  • Around 17 species of mussel are considered suitable for consumption by humans, and China was the biggest producer of edible species in 2005, roughly totalling 40% of the worldwide production.
  • Mussels are commonly eaten as seafood, and must be cooked while they are living, or only just dead, otherwise toxins can build, and cooking styles include smoking, roasting, steaming, boiling and frying.
  • Mussels typically take 12 to 15 months to grow to a commercially acceptable size, which is approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length.
  • Mussels are a good source of phosphorus, iron and protein, and they are high in selenium, and extremely high in vitamin B12 and manganese.
 Bibliography:
Mussel, 2015, Encylopedia.com, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/mussel.aspx
Mussel, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel

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