Monday, 16 September 2013

Weasel Facts


Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Mustelidae
Genus:Mustela
Scientific Name:Mustela nivalis
Common Name:Weasel
Other Name(s):Common Weasel, European Weasel, Least Weasel
Group:Mammal
Number Of Species:10
Location:Northern Hemisphere
Habitat:Forest and open woodland
Colour:Dark and Light Brown, Tan, White, Black
Skin Type:Fur
Size (L):22cm - 38cm (8.6in - 15in)
Weight:120g-198g (4.2oz - 7oz)
Top Speed:25kph (15mph)
Diet:Carnivore
Prey:Mice, Lemmings, Voles
Predators:Hawks, Foxes, Snakes
Lifestyle:Diurnal/Nocturnal
Group Behaviour:Solitary
Life Span:1 - 3 years
Age Of Sexual Maturity:1 - 2 years
Gestation Period:5 weeks
Average Litter Size:5
Name Of Young:Kitten
Age Of Weaning:8 weeks
Conservation Status:Least Concern
Estimated Population Size:Stable
Biggest Threat:Lack of prey species
Most Distinctive Feature:Brown back and head with white underside
Fun Fact:The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

All this information is from http://a-z-animals.com/animals/ 

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Hedgehog Fatcs

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Erinaceomorpha
Family:Erinaceidae
Genus:Atelerix
Scientific Name:Atelerix Albiventris
Type:Mammal
Diet:Omnivore
Size:16-35cm (6-14in)
Weight:1-2kg (2.2-4.4lbs)
Top Speed:19km/h (12mph)
Life Span:3-6 years
Lifestyle:Solitary
Conservation Status:Least Concern
Colour:Tan, Brown, Grey
Skin Type:Spikes
Favourite Food:Insects
Habitat:Dense vegetation and woodland
Average Litter Size:5
Main Prey:Insects, Worms, Seeds
Predators:Owl, Dog, Foxes
Special Features:Long snout and can roll into a spiky ball

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Weasel











Asian Elephant

The Asian or Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus) is the only living species of the genus Elephas and is distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m. sumatranus from the island of Sumatra. Asian elephants are the largest living land animals in Asia. Since 1986, E. maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years. The species is pre-eminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. In 2003, the wild population was estimated at between 41,410 and 52,345 individuals. Female captive elephants have lived beyond 60 years when kept in seminatural situations, such as forest camps. In zoos, elephants die at a much younger age and are declining due to a low birth and high death rate. The genus Elephas originated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the Pliocene ranging throughout Africa into southern Asia. The earliest indications of domestication of Asian elephants are engravings on seals of the Indus Valley civilization dated as third millennium BC. They are highly intellegent. On average, the shoulder height of males rarely exceeds 2.7 m (9 ft) and that of the females, 2.4 m (8 ft). Average height of females is 2.24 m (7.3 ft), and average weight 2.72 t (3.00 short tons) rarely exceeding 4.16 t (4.59 short tons). Large bulls weigh up to 5.4 t (6.0 short tons) and are 3.2 m (10 ft) at the shoulder. Length of body and head including trunk is 5.5–6.5 m (18–21 ft) with the tail being 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long.[4] The largest bull elephant ever recorded was shot by the Maharajah of Susang in the Garo Hills of Assam, India in 1924, it weighed 8 tonnes (8.8 short tons), stood 3.35 m (11 ft) tall at the shoulders and was 8.06 m (26.4 ft) long from head to tail. There are reports of larger individuals as tall as 3.7 m (12 ft).










Sunday, 1 September 2013

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses, known for their agility, speed and spirit. The Thoroughbred as it is known today was developed in 17th- and 18th-century England, when native mares were crossbred with imported Oriental stallions of Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman breeding. All modern Thoroughbreds can trace their pedigrees to three stallions originally imported into England in the 17th century and 18th century, and to a larger number of foundation mares of mostly English breeding. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Thoroughbred breed spread throughout the world; they were imported into North America starting in 1730 and into Australia, Europe, Japan and South America during the 19th century. Millions of Thoroughbreds exist today, and more than 118,000 foals are registered each year worldwide.Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, but are also bred for other riding disciplines such as show jumping, combined training, dressage, polo, and fox hunting. They are also commonly crossbred to create new breeds or to improve existing ones, and have been influential in the creation of the Quarter Horse, Standardbred, Anglo-Arabian, and various warmblood breeds.Thoroughbred racehorses perform with maximum exertion, which has resulted in high accident rates and health problems such as bleeding from the lungs. Other health concerns include low fertility, abnormally small hearts and a small hoof to body mass ratio. There are several theories for the reasons behind the prevalence of accidents and health problems in the Thoroughbred breed, and research is on going. The typical Thoroughbred ranges from 15.2 to 17.0 hands (62 to 68 inches, 157 to 173 cm) high, averaging 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm). They are most often bay, seal brown, chestnut, black, or grey. Less common colours, recognized in the United States include roan and palomino. White is very rare, but is a recognized colour separate from grey.The face and lower legs may be marked with white, but white will generally not appear on the body.