Tag Archives: Facts

Gibbon

By | |
Leave a comment
Gibbon

Gibbons may be small, but they still are apes.

  • Gibbons are a group of around 17 species of primate, that live in family groups in trees, in tropical forests of southeast Asia.
  • The scientific name of the gibbon family is Hylobatidae, and they are from the superfamily Hominoidea, which is the group of apes.
  • ‘Gibbons’ are also known as the ‘smaller apes’ or ‘lesser apes’, in comparison to the more well known ‘great apes’, and as an ape, they do not possess a tail.
  • Gibbons grow to be around 44 to 90 centimetres (17 to 35 inches) in height and they generally weigh between 4 to 13 kilograms (9 to 29 pounds), depending on the species.
  • The diet of gibbons is predominately fruit, especially figs, but it also consists of insects, leaves, flowers and sometimes bird eggs.
Gibbon, Animal, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Monkey, Mammal, Captive
Gibbon
Image courtesy of Leszek Leszczynski/Flickr
  • Typically, gibbons will have one partner for life, and the females usually give birth to one baby every two to three years, with the young taking roughly six to seven years to become independent; and they can have a lifespan of 25 years or more.
  • The colour of gibbon hair is determined by the species and gender, and it can range from brown, grey, black, cream, and white – which is often evident around the face and sometimes on the feet and hands.
  • Gibbons have a ball-and-socket like joint at their wrists, as well as long arms, that allow for swinging between trees at speeds of 56 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour), making them one of the fastest tree-dwelling mammals in the world.
  • When walking on two feet, either on the ground or on branches, gibbons use their arms to assist in balance; and they communicate with each other via calls and ‘songs’ with their loud voices.
  • Primarily due to habitat destruction, all gibbon species in 2015, bar one, were considered critically endangered or endangered, which led the primate to come into the spotlight as the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s 2015 animal, to further encourage its conservation.
Bibliography:
Gibbon, 2016, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/gibbon/
Gibbon, 2016, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/gibbon/
Gibbon, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbon

Amazon:         

Rosary Vine

By | |
Leave a comment
Rosary Vine

Rosary vines really spiff up the outdoors with their appealing leaves and flowers.

  • A rosary vine is a species of perennial flowering plant, native to southern areas of Africa, including Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa.
  • ‘Rosary vines’ are also known as ‘sweetheart vines’, ‘chain of hearts’, ‘string of hearts’, ‘heart vines’, ‘hearts-on-a-string’, and ‘collar of hearts’.
  • The scientific name of a rosary vine is Ceropegia woodii and it is from the family Apocynaceae, the family of dogbanes; and it has received the Award of Garden Merit from England’s Royal Horticultural Society.
  • The leaves of rosary vines are heart-shaped, and are typically dark green with distinct light coloured markings on the top, and they may be purple or green underneath.
  • The length of rosary vines can reach two to four metres (6.5 to 13 feet), and leaves are usually situated in pairs, spaced along the long purple stems.
Rosary Vine, Ten Random Facts, Vegetation, Plant, Flower, Chain of Hearts,
Rosary Vine
Image courtesy of Maja Dumat/Flickr
  • The white to pink and violet coloured, tube-shaped flower of the rosary vine has a globular base, while the tips of the flower are connected, and along with the hairs found in the flower, this helps to detain insects to ensure effective pollination.
  • The rosary vine’s first documented discovery dates to 1881 in Natal, South Africa, found by English botanist John Medley Wood, who sent a specimen to the United Kingdom in 1894 for classification.
  • Rosary vines are best suited to partly shady areas; and they mainly bloom in summer and autumn, though depending on the climate, they may flower at other times of the year.
  • The rosary vine grows from a tuber that can multiply, and the tubers may form on the stems of the plant, and these can be cut off and used to establish new vines.
  • Rosary vines are commonly grown for ornamental purposes, particularly in hanging baskets, and they can be grown as an indoor houseplant, though they will need exposure to light to remain healthy.
Bibliography:
Ceropegia woodii, n.d, Plants Rescue, http://www.plantsrescue.com/ceropegia-woodii/
Ceropegia woodii, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceropegia_woodii
Ceropegia woodii: String of Hearts, 2010, The Wisconsin Master Gardener Program, http://wimastergardener.org/?q=Ceropegia_woodii
Rosary Vine, String of Hearts, 2016, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53707/#b

Amazon:  

Button

By | |
Leave a comment
Button

Is everyone buttoned up?

  • Buttons are small inventions typically used on textile items to fasten two pieces of fabric to each other, though they may purely be used for decorative purposes.
  • Buttons are most frequently used on clothing, although they are often used on bags, cushion covers and other fabric items.
  • The oldest known button relic was found in modern day Pakistan, in Asia, and is believed to have belonged to the ancient Asian civilisation of the Indus Valley, dating back to almost 3000 BC.
  • Buttons were used for the purpose of decoration, or fastening fabric that was used for clothing, in Ancient China, Ancient Rome, and also Ancient Greece.
  • Buttons come in all shapes and sizes, traditionally circular, but also square, triangular, and other shapes, and they usually have two or four holes in the top, or a shank that is moulded or attached to the base.

Button, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Assorted, Collection, Fashion

  • Seashells, bones, horn, metal and wood were used to craft buttons in ancient times, however in modern times, they are generally made from plastic, though shell, wood and metal are sometimes used.
  • The first predominant modern use of buttons originates in Europe around the 13th century, possibly in France or Germany, and they quickly became popular, as did the newly invented buttonhole.
  • Buttons are typically secured to an object with thread, either through the holes on the top or in the shank hidden underneath the invention, although some are riveted.
  • A measurement system, known as ‘lignes’, is often used to determine the size of buttons, where 40 lignes are equivalent to one inch (2.54 centimetres).
  • Buttons are available in a wide variety of patterns and colours, and traditionally, some artists have used them as a platform for their art, generally decorating the top face.
Bibliography:
A Brief History of Buttons – Sewing Button Origins, 2010, Sewing Mantra, http://www.sewingmantra.com/index.php/sewing/sewing-button-history/
Button, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button
The History of the Button, 2007, h2g2, http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A23623616
Stewart J, The Simple, Humble, Surprisingly Sexy Button, 2012, Slate, http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html

Amazon:       

Ilulissat Icefjord

By | |
Leave a comment
Ilulissat Icefjord

Ilulissat Icefjord makes even white a stunning site.

  • Ilulissat Icefjord is a glacier-carved channel of water found in the coastal area of west Greenland, near the town of Ilulissat.
  • ‘Ilulissat Icefjord’ is also known as ‘Ilulissat Isfjord’ in Danish and ‘Illulissat Kangia’ in native Greenlandic.
  • Ilulissat Icefjord is typically littered with icebergs as a result of ice breaking from the Jakobshavn glacier, or ‘Sermeq Kujalleq’ as it is called in Greenlandic, that feeds into the fjord, and large icebergs typically bank up at the mouth of the fjord as the water there is not deep enough for the icebergs to pass through.
  • In 2004, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention designated Ilulissat Icefjord as a World Heritage Site, and fjord has an area of approximately 40,240 hectares (99,435 acres).
  • The glacier of Ilulissat Icefjord, the Jakobshavn glacier, disperses 10% of all the ice released from Greenland’s glaciers, which equates to 46 cubic kilometres (11 cubic miles) per year, a figure greater than any other glacier in the world apart from those in Antarctica, and as of 2015, it moves approximately 40 metres (131 feet) a day, making it the fastest on earth, and it is gathering speed each year.
Ilulissat Icefjord, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Place, Greenland, Glacier, Sunset, Beautiful, Stunning
Part of the Ilulissat Icefjord
Image courtesy of Greenland Travel/Flickr
  • Due to the unique nature of Ilulissat Icefjord and its significant ice formations, the area is a site of extensive research that has been undertaken for centuries, and as a result is said to facilitate insight into climate change.
  • Ilulissat Icefjord begins at the Jakobshavn glacier, that forms from the Greenlandic ice sheet which covers most of the country, and exits into Disko Bay.
  • As a protected area, and for safety reasons, Ilulissat Icefjord has restrictions on various transport methods in the area, and visitors to the area may make use of scenic helicopter flights; dog sledding; or hiking on foot; and while there is generally an opportunity to sail around the mouth of the fjord, boating is restricted in the fjord.
  • Icebergs that travel from Ilulissat Icefjord, move into Disko Bay and out into Baffin Bay, and eventually into the North Atlantic Ocean.
  • Among the best times of year to visit Ilulissat Icefjord is during the summer when the sun never sleeps, causing the sky to silhouette in bright oranges behind the ice.
Bibliography:
Destubatuib Avannaavisit the Ilulissat Icefjord, n.d, Ilulissat Kangia, http://kangia.gl/Besoeg%20isfjorden.aspx?sc_lang=en
Ilulissat Icefjord, 2016, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1149
Ilulissat Icefjord, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilulissat_Icefjord
Woodall S, Ilulissat Icefjord, n.d, Greenland, http://www.greenland.com/en/things-to-do/nature-experiences/ilulissat-icefjord/

Amazon:       

Buddha’s Hand

By | |
Leave a comment
Buddha’s Hand

Are you’re eating someone’s hand when you’re eating Buddha’s hand?

  • Buddha’s hands are a variety of citrus fruit notable for growing numerous finger-like ‘tentacles’.
  • ‘Buddha’s hands’ are also known as ‘fingered citrons’, ‘fragrant citrons’, ‘five fingered mandarins’, and ‘goblin fingers’.
  • The Buddha’s hand fruit grows on trees with the scientific name Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, a variety of citron, and it comes from the family Rutaceae, the family of citrus.
  • When ripe, the finger-like appendages of Buddha’s hands generally spread outward to take the appearance of an open hand.
  • The colour of ripe Buddha’s hands range from bright yellow to orange-gold shades, while unripe fruit is usually coloured green.
Buddha's Hand, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Yellow, Fingered Citron, Trivia, Fruit, Culinary
Buddha’s Hand
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Buddha’s hands grow on a plant thought to be native to parts of India and possibly China, both in Asia.
  • Buddha’s hands contain next to no juice and have little pulp, with many specimens containing no seeds either, and this results in a fruit which is virtually all pith and rind.
  • A pleasant aroma is released from Buddha’s hands, and as such, the fruit can be used as a perfume or to freshen air in buildings.
  • Buddha’s hands reach a length of 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches), and the rind and the pith of the fruit do not usually have the bitterness typical with other citrus fruits.
  • Buddha’s hands are often candied and made into jams, while pieces of the fruit can be added to both savoury and sweet dishes, and the zest can be used to flavour alcoholic beverages, baked goods, marinades, and other food dishes.
Bibliography:
Buddha’s Hand, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha%27s_hand
Citron ‘Buddhas Hand’ – Citrus Medica var. Sarcodactylis, 2016, van Veen Organics, http://vanveenorganics.com/product/citron-buddhas-hand/
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e864
Osborne T, Buddha Hand Citron: Growing this Amazing Tree, 2013, Tasty Landscape, http://tastylandscape.com/2013/07/05/buddha-hand-citron-growing-this-amazing-looking-tree/

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

By | |
Leave a comment
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

Maybe one day someone will see an oriental fire-bellied toad combust.

  • Oriental fire-bellied toads are a species of frog native to Korea, southern parts of Japan, northeastern areas of China and south-eastern sections of Russia.
  • The scientific name of an oriental fire-bellied toad is Bombina orientalis and it is from the family Bombinatoridae, the family of fire-bellied toads.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads grow to be 3.5 to 8 centimetres (1.4 to 3 inches) in length and weigh 28 to 56 grams (1 to 2 ounces).
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads have a green to brownish-grey coloured back with wart like bumps, sometimes accompanied by black spots, that helps them to blend into their surroundings, and are a vivid red to yellow colour on the underside, spotted with black.
  • The bright colour of the underside of an oriental fire-bellied toad signifies that it is poisonous and will release toxic secretions, and to scare off predators it can arch its back and display its colourful belly.
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, Green, Amphibian, Frog, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Small, Overside
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad
Image courtesy of Ryan Somma/Flickr
  • Somewhat still streams and small water pools, in a variety of forest habitats, are the haven of oriental fire-bellied toads.
  • Female oriental fire-bellied toads generally lay between 40 to 250 eggs at a time, deposited in and around aquatic vegetation.
  • The diet of oriental fire-bellied toads consists of worms, molluscs, algae, insects, fungi, and spiders, and they can have a lifespan up to 20 years in the wild.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads are commonly kept as pets, as they are fairly easy to care for, although caution needs to be taken when handling the toads, to avoid being irritated by their poison.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toad pupils can be of a triangular shape, and its tongue cannot extend, unlike many other frog species.
Bibliography:
Szcodronski T, Bombina orientalis, 2006, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bombina_orientalis/
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, 2016, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/amphibians/oriental-fire-bellied-toad
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_fire-bellied_toad
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Fact Sheet, n.d, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/reptilesamphibians/facts/factsheets/orientalfirebelliedtoad.cfm

Amazon:       

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...