Tag Archives: Mammal

Coyote

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Coyote

Stealthy wolves…

  • Coyote are also known as American jackals, brush wolves and prairie wolves.
  • Coyote are found in the north and central areas of America.
  • There are 19 subspecies of coyote and they range from to 76–86 cm(30–34) in length.
  • Coyote have grey brown to yellow grey bodies, with white belly and throats, and red brown paws.
  • Coyote can jump lengths of over 4 m (13ft) and they can reach high speeds of 69 km per hour (43 mph).
Coyote, Wolf, Snow, Background, Yellowstone National Park wildlife, USA, National Geographic, Ten Random Facts
Coyote
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • It is usual for coyote to travel and live in groups and hunt in pairs.
  • Coyote generally have litters of one to nineteen pups, although six pups is the average.
  • Coyote make high pitched howls, yips, yelps and bark sounding calls.
  • Coyote eat small mammals, birds, livestock and large insects, as well as vegetation including fruit and vegetables.
  • Coyote do not normally attack humans and do not generally cause serious harm, although more attacks have been occuring recently in California, United States of America.
Bibliography:
Coyote 12 February 2013 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote>

Pygmy Possum

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Pygmy Possum

Cute and cuddly.

  • Pygmy possums are small possums that are the size of mice, that live in forests amongst trees or shrubs.
  • Pygmy possums are from the marsupial family of Burramyidae.
  • There are five species of pygmy possum, all of which are native to Australia, and only the long-tailed pygmy possum is found elsewhere in the world.
  • Pygmy possums bodies are between 5-12 cm (2 – 4.7 inches) in length, and their tail is almost as long as their body.
  • Pygmy possums weigh between 10-50 grams (0.35 – 1.8 ounces).

Pygmy Possum, Eastern, Small, Cute, Climbing, National Geographic Stock, Ten Random Facts

Pygmy Possum
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Pygmy possums are nocturnal, and sleep during the day in a state similar to hibernation.
  • The Pygmy possum diet consists of small invertebrates, fruit, seeds and nectar.
  • Pygmy possums are good climbers and good jumpers, but they don’t glide.
  • Before 1966, certain pygmy possums were thought to be extinct.
  • Pygmy possums are rarely seen or heard, although they do make a whistling sound.
Bibliography:
Pygmy possum 10 January 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_possum>

Leopard Seal

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Leopard Seal

Has spots, but not a leopard.

  • Leopard seals are the second largest seal species in Antarctica, ranging from 2.4 – 3.5 metres (8.4 – 11.7 feet) long and 200 to 600 kilograms (440 to 1,300 pounds) in weight.
  • Leopard seals are most common in the Southern Hemisphere, especially on the coast of Antarctica.
  • Leopard seals have a typical lifespan of 26 years or more.
  • Leopard seals have only a couple of predators – large sharks and killer whales (orcas).
  • Leopard seals have dark grey coloured backs, light grey coloured underside and black spotted, white skin necks.

Leopard Seal, Front, Ice Floe, National Geographic, Ten Random Facts

Leopard Seal
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Female leopard seals are generally larger than males.
  • Leopard seals don’t make many sounds, but sometimes makes grunting and growling noises.
  • Leopard seals don’t normally live in groups, except to mate.
  • A leopard seals diet includes krill, fish, penguins and sometimes other seals.
  • Leopard seals rarely attack people, even though they are considered quite dangerous, and the first recorded fatality was in 2003  in Antarctica.
Bibliography:
Leopard seal 30 January 2013 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_seal>

Cattle

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Cattle

Cattle… or cows.

  • Cattle are members of the subcategory, Bovinae, meaning medium to large hoofed animals.
  • Cattle are usually raised for the meat, milk and as draft animals (pull carts etc) and also produce leather and manure.
  • It is estimated that there is 1.3 billion cattle in the world.
  • In some countries, such as India, cattle are considered sacred.
  • An adult male cattle are called bulls, females who have given birth are called cows, a female who hasn’t given birth is called a heifer,  newborn cattle (male or female) are called calves and draft cattle are called oxen.

Cow, Cattle, White, Brown. Yellow tag, Jonowen Hills 4WD park, Ten Random Facts

  • A newborn calf usually weighs between 25-45 kg (55-99 pounds).
  • All cattle are colour blind to the colours red and green.
  • Cattle have about 22,000 genes which 80% of humans also have.
  • The average amount of sleep per day, for cattle, is four hours.
  • In 2009, India had the most cattle in the world – a population of 281,700,000, and Brazil had the second most –  87,087,000.
Bibliography:
Cattle 2 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle>

Hiccups

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Hic, Hic, Hic – got the hiccups ey?

  • Hiccups are known as ‘Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter’ or ‘singultus’ in medical terms.
  • Hiccups or singultus comes from the Latin word ‘singult’ which means ‘the act of catching ones breath while one is sobbing’.
  • Hiccuping can be caused by quick eating, soft drinks, alcohol, dry breads, some spicy foods and laughing.
  • Hiccups repeat many times a minute.
  • The hiccups can be self-cured easily.

Sound Clip: Hiccup 

Sound courtesy of Mike Koenig /Sound Bible
  • American Charles Osborne had hiccups for 68 years (1922- February 1990) and won a Guinness World Record.
  • Only mammals can have hiccups.
  • Hiccups are also commonly known as hiccoughs.
  • An arc reflex involving the diaphragm and glottis make the ‘hic’ noise.
  • Hiccups are normally only treated for long, continuous durations.
Bibliography:
Hiccup 12 November 2012 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiccup>

Human Brain

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Human Brain

Ten Random Facts’ fourteenth post! Many human brains are behind this fact site – just don’t mix up the small animal brains for the real brains!

  • Your human brain floats in a shockproof liquid to help prevent your brain from injuries.
  • An average adult brain is 1.4-1.5 kilograms which is about 2% of your total body weight.
  • The human brain is divided into four lobes. These lobes are the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe.
  • The human brain is as soft as a bit of gelatin or tofu.
  • The cerebral cortex, the main control centre, is the largest part of your brain.

Human Brain, Pink, Digital, Body, Organ, Graphic, Realistic, White, Background, Halve, FullTen Random Facts, Free Digital Photos

 

Human Brain
Image courtesy of Cooldesign/ Free Digital Photos
  • The left side of your human brain controls the right side of the body, meaning the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.
  • The right side of the human brain is normally symmetrical to the left side of the human brain.
  • The human brain is the central control system of your body.
  • Most people’s language skills is stored on the left side of their brain.
  • The United States launched a brain research program called ‘The Decade of the Brain’ in the 1990’s that lasted for ten years.
Bibliography:
Human Brain17 October 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_brain>
Bryan, J 1995, Your Amazing Brain, Wishing Well Books, Australia

 

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