Tag Archives: Asia

Ribwort Plantain

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Ribwort Plantain

Ribwort plantains have a barren look.

  • Ribwort plantain is a plant native to Asia, Europe and North Africa, and depending on the location and growing conditions, it will grow as a perennial, biennial or annual.
  • ‘Ribwort plantains’ are also known as ‘narrowleaf plantains’, ‘English plantains’, ‘buckhorn plaintains’, ‘lamb’s tongues’, ‘rib grass’ and ‘ribleaves’.
  • The scientific name of a ribwort plantain is Plantago lanceolata, and it is from the family Plantaginaceae, the family of plantains.
  • Ribwort plantain leaves grown in a rosette formation, and the underside of the long green leaves always feature five obvious veins.
  • Ribwort plantains typically grow to be approximately 50 centimetres (20 inches) in height, and they have tall flower spikes, with heads that are surrounded by numerous tiny white petals.

Ribwort Plantain, Vegetation, Weed, Australia, Clump, Grass,, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts

  • The bitter leaves of ribwort plantains are edible and can be eaten cooked or raw, while the seeds can be cooked whole or ground like flour.
  • Ribwort plantains are easily grown from seed in low quality soil, with a preference for full sunlight, and as a result, the plants are increasingly used in pastures for livestock fodder.
  • Ribwort plantain plants have been used medicinally for a variety of purposes, including the slowing or stopping of bleeding, and treating  inflammation, and they can be used to hasten skin healing.
  • Countries such as Australia, has seen ribwort plantains introduced, and this has resulted in them being an invasive weed in some areas.
  • Ribwort plantain plants are useful for textile purposes, as they can be made into dye; the fibres from the leaves can be used; and the seeds can be treated to stiffen fabric.
Bibliography:
Environmental Weed Profiles, 2011, Trees For Life, https://www.treesforlife.org.au/sites/default/files/Ribwort%20Plantain_Weed%20Profile.pdf
Plantago lanceolata – L., 2012, Plants For A Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago+lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au:8080/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Plantago_lanceolata.htm

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Crab-eating Macaque

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Crab-eating Macaque

Crab-eating macaques are not so fascinated by crabs.

  • Crab-eating macaques are medium-sized monkeys originating in jungle and forest areas, generally with nearby water access, in Asia’s south-east.
  • ‘Crab-eating macaques’ are also known as ‘long-tailed macaques’, ‘java monkeys’ and ‘cynomolgus monkeys’.
  • Crab-eating macaques have the scientific name Macaca fascicularis, being from the family Cercopithecidae, the family of Old World monkeys, and the species includes ten subspecies.
  • The typical size of a crab-eating macaque is 38 to 55 centimetres (15 to 22 inches) in height and they generally weigh between 3 to 9 kilograms (6.6 to 20 pounds).
  • Crab-eating macaques most often live in troops with four to twenty others of their own species, and the group commonly contains more females than males, although there is generally a dominant male, which is decided by combat.
Crab-eating Macaque, Animal, Primate, Mammal, Singapore, Asian, White, Stare
A Crab-eating Macaque
Image courtesy of Brian Jeffery Beggerly/Flickr
  • Typically, crab-eating macaques have a lengthy tail of 40 to 65 centimetres (16 to 26 inches), and fur coloured a combination of grey, yellow, white and brown.
  • The diet of crab-eating macaques consists mostly of fruit, nuts and seeds, and they also consume other vegetation, as well as animals, such as birds and their eggs, fish, lizards, frogs, crabs and other crustaceans.
  • Female crab-eating macaques give birth to one baby at a time, although young ones can be subject to infanticide or kidnapping, and they have an average lifespan of 15 to 30 years.
  • Crab-eating macaques may use water to wash food, or use stones to open tough, enclosed items, and they have been studied for medical reasons, as these monkeys are effected by disease in similar ways to humans.
  • Crab-eating macaques have been introduced into some parts of Asia, and in some areas they are thought of as pests, while in other areas, they are considered sacred.
Bibliography:
Crab-eating Macaques, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/crab-eating-macaque/
Crab-eating Macaques, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab-eating_macaque

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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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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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Basil

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Basil

Add a tinge of flavour with some basil.

  • Basil is a species of leafy herb that is used primarily in cooking, and it is mostly grown as an annual.
  • ‘Basil’ is also known as ‘Saint Joseph’s Wort’ and ‘sweet basil’, and sometimes ‘Thai basil’, however this name usually refers to a variety of the herb.
  • Basil has the scientific name Ocimum basilicum and is from the family of mint, and there are numerous varieties of the herb, including a licorice flavoured one.
  • Basil plants typically have green fragrant leaves, although purple varieties are available, and they usually grow to be 30 to 130 centimetres (12 to 51 inches) in height.
  • Basil is said to have originated in Asia and Africa, where, in some countries, it has been grown as a crop in ancient civilisations, especially in India.

Basil, Vegetation, Herb, Plant, Ten Random Facts, Green, Fresh, Growing.

  • Basil leaves are generally used to flavour foods, either dried or fresh, although the latter contains much more flavour, and oil can also be extracted from the plants.
  • Fresh basil should only be cooked for short time periods, as longer cooking will cause the flavour to dissipate.
  • Basil has been used in traditional medicine, especially in India, and studies into the herb have also determined that it has significant antiviral and other beneficial medicinal properties.
  • The term ‘basil,’ has it origins in the word ‘basileus’, and when translated from Greek means ‘king’.
  • Basil is extremely high in vitamin K, and is good source of manganese, and vitamin A.
Bibliography:
Basil, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil
Basil, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85

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