http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/index.php For animal lovers en jelmer.van.der.ploeg@gmail.com Copyright 2008 Pivot Pivot - 1.40.0 beta 2: 'Dreadwind' Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:06 +0200 60 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=570 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=570#comm The Madras Treeshrew (Anathana ellioti), also known as the Indian Treeshrew, is a small mammal that lives in the hilly forests of southern India. It is related to the other treeshrews; however it is in a different Family, and is monotypic (only one kind). The Madras Treeshrew is omnivorous, and has the same kind of unspecified molars as the other Treeshrews in the order Scandentia. They resemble most other treeshrews, however have larger ears, and also are speckled brown, yellow or black over their fur. The main body of fur usually has a reddish tinge and the ventral area is white most of the time - although all these colorations will vary from individual to individual. They are usually 16-18 centimeters in length (6-7 inches) and the tail is usually that same length making the total length about 32-36 (13-17 inches long). On average they will weigh about 160 grams (5 and a half ounces) although larger specimens have been recorded.

The habitat of the Madras Treeshrew is that of a partially moist to very moist forest habitat, with deciduous trees and shrubs making up the forest floor. However, they can also be found in the southern India slopes, and ravines, along with cultivated fields or pastures. They have proven to adapt to surrounding if the conditions are right and feast on the abundance of insect life in their chosen areas. They eat caterpillars, ants, butterflies, moths, and anything else that will satisfy - they also eat berries and seeds, and have been known to eat the fruit of the Lantana Camara, a very thorny but common shrub.

Although the Madras Treeshrew has the word tree in its name, it is in fact uncommon to see one climb a tree, and when they do climb a tree it is usually a means of escape, or of play with younger Treeshrews, and maybe the rare exception of a safe place to self-groom - and to do this they will climb the tree, and then slide down it stretched out. They will repeat this at every angle until they feel sufficiently groomed. The majority of time is spent hidden on the forest floors, travelling specially made ‘roads’ under the brush, and inspecting their territories or looking for some insects or seeds to eat.

Madras Treeshrews also like to build night shelters between soft ground and stones, which can be very complex or very simple. They rarely house more than one, as the treeshrew in general is a solitary species, with the Madras Treeshrew being one that is paired only during certain times of the year if at all. The behavior in regards to mating is not well known, however due to studies of their biology it is assumed that they can produce up to five young at a time. If they are at all similar to other treeshrews they may only spend a short time with their young, and their young will mature rapidly, leaving the nest in three to five months.

A few facts about the Madras Treeshrews

• The Madras Treeshrew can be seen as similar to the squirrel, however a difference is that the treeshrew will walk with its tail in an upward curve and a curl that continues that - unlike the squirrel who’s tail does start going up, but curls the opposite direction.


• The name Anathana ellioti in which Anathana is the genus comes from the Tamil words Moongil Anathaan, which has the meaning of ‘Bamboo Squirrel’ while ellioti, the species name, comes from the man who first documented the species - Sir Walter Elliot.


• The Madras Treeshrew mostly forages in the morning, rather than the evening, as an advantage over other foragers who start later in the day.

Picture of the Madras tree shrew was photographed by S. Karthikeyan in Yercaud, India, licensed under GFDL ]]> 570@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:36:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=569 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=569#comm The Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina) is a species of Pika that is found in the mountains of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The Alpine Pike in general usually weighs in at 5 ounces, and is 7 inches long. It is known for living in cold climates, and only in the mountainous areas of the three countries listed; it has small short legs, round ears, no tail that is visible, and has very sharp curved claws used for foraging and digging. The Alpine Pika feeds mostly on plant stems, and during the summer months when the weather is favorable it will gather food to store during the winter time. Because of the its unique patterned fur, it can spend its time warming on rocks with little threat of a predator spotting it. This behavior is seen most the time, so that additional warmth can be gained as the months grow colder.

Pikas have exceptionally good hearing, and very acute eyesight, and when gathering or sunning, they will emit a warning if a predator is seen. This warning is in the form of a high pitched whistle, which travels far, and is detected by other pika’s excellent hearing. They live mostly in very rocky mountainsides, and use the existing layout to build shelters, but many times if there is no alternative they will dig a burrow to use. Like rabbits, the pika has an unusual and what could be seen as unsavory habit. After eating a meal a pika will excrete a green pellet-like fecal dropping - and then consume it again for the additional nutrition, resulting in a final harder pellet that is disposed of.

The Alpine Pika belongs to the subgenus of Pika and the genus of Ochotona, which is in the family Ochotonidae, and the order of Lagomorpha. Lagomorpha contains within it three known families, with Ochotonidae being the Pikas, Leporidae being rabbits and hares, and one other extinct family of large pikas - which had only one modern survivor that was hunted to extinction in the 1700s. The Alpine Pika usually has a litter of young between 25 to 30 days after pregnancy with five or less young at a time. They are very sensitive to temperature change, and can tolerate cold better than heat - and may be a prime indicator of global warming as few will survive longer than an hour in temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius).

The behavior involving the foraging and gathering of grasses is interesting, in that the Alpine Pika seems to plan exactly what it needs and how to build a sufficiently warm burrow. When they gather fresh material, they leave it outside to dry out - and when sufficiently dry will move it in to their burrow to create the bedding and food supply for winter, building up a significant supply as pikas are not a hibernating species. They continue to do this until there is no more left, or the temperatures prohibit it in a sudden extreme cold snap. When a Pika leaves its material out to dry, occasionally another will be opportunistic and take advantage of the situation - stealing the dried or drying grass for itself. Then ensuring fight may attract a predator.

Some interesting facts about Alpine Pikas:

• Some Alpine Pikas will share their burrows with snow finches (actually a species of sparrow), who will help build it during the summer and fall.


• In general the pika is sometimes known as the whistling hare, because of its high pitched whistle it uses during warnings about predators and invaders.

Drawing of the alpine pica taken from the German book 'Brehms Tierleben', Small Edition 1927 ]]> 569@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:31:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=567 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=567#comm The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a species of pangolin found in, well, India. The Indian Pangolin is also found in Sri Lanka and is an insectivore primarily. The Indian Pangolin is one of the few that will climb trees, however it is not strictly arboreal (tree dwelling) and will dig burrows. Like all pangolins it has large armored scales and will quickly curl into a ball when it feels threatened, with its tail covering its head for protection. The Indian pangolin grows to a weight of 17-19 lbs (8-9 kilograms) and their head and body length reaches 2.0–2.2 ft (60–65 centimeters) with their armored tails adding 1.5–1.8 ft (45–55 centimeters) to the overall length. Their skin is a brownish color, while the scales can be brownish to yellowish in appearance, but are mostly kept with their surrounding to better help them go un-noticed.

The Indian Pangolin belongs to the genus Manis, which has seven other species of pangolins, however the pangolins themselves are monotypes, meaning that their family Manidae has no other living genus but Manis, and their order Pholidota has no other living family except Manidae. Additional features of pangolins include their tongues, which can extend to over 9 inches (20-23 centimeters) and has muscles that extend back to its pelvic area in order to anchor the massive tongue. They also have a prehensile tail that they can use when climbing trees or balancing. The pangolin also posses five sharp claws on each limb, and use them for digging up their main foods which are majorly termites and ants.

The Indian Pangolin prefers hilly areas to planes, as long as they are tropical, and will sleep inside hollowed trees or dig a 20 foot deep burrow (6 meters) when the dirt is soft enough. However if the dirt is not as soft as that, they will dig 6 foot deep burrows out of necessity. Once inside their burrow, they will cover the doorway in loose dirt to hide it from predators and other invaders. The Indian Pangolin lives a mostly solitary life, having little contact with others until the breeding season starts, which is about the only time you will find two in the same burrow. If disturbed they can emit and acidic foul smelling liquid from glands - similar to how a skunk would, and can cause further irritation to any unlucky predator.

Gestation (pregnancy) times for the Indian Pangolin are roughly 65-75 days, with the average litter size being two or just one, and can occur at any season and time throughout the year. Other information, such as full maturity or rearing habits for the Indian Pangolin are as of yet unknown until further observation can be made. Currently the Indian Pangolin is listed as near-threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and are dependant on further conservation. However human beings are one of the largest threats to the Indian Pangolin, as encroachment on habitat takes a dire toll on populations - which is not helped by poaching for food and scales which are though by many (incorrectly) to be a pleasure inducing substance. Other threats do include natural predators; however without the pressure from human beings it is likely that it would not endanger the species in the same way.

Here are some interesting facts about Indian Pangolins:

• Over 1/3 to 1/4 of the Indian Pangolin’s weight is from its scales.


• The Indian Pangolin’s scales are made out of the same material as the human fingernail - Keratin.


• Indian Pangolins have a highly developed problem-solving brain, and are capable of using it in the wild, and to escape back to the wild when in captivity.


• Conservationists teamed with Authorities continue to save Pangolins from illegal exportation to countries such as China where populations believe the Pangolin to be a delicacy and also parts to hold medicinal values.


• Indian Pangolins, like other pangolins, cannot walk on their front claws, and so curl them back and walk on their knuckles.


• Indian Pangolins lack teeth, as do other pangolins, and have a two chambered stomach that crushes their food for them.

]]> 567@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:14:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=566 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=566#comm The Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes typhlops) is a mole-like marsupial that evolved to its environment in Australia, and amazingly it is much like the Eutheria (placental mammal) mole. It is a very rare creature, seldom seen, and there are only two known species, however there could possibly be more. Exact data and numbering, along with information on whether or not it is endangered is unfortunately not available at this time, due to the difficulty in tracking them. They have evolved to forego the use of their eyes, and they only have small lenses in the skin where their eyes would have gone. Furthermore they have only two small holes where their ears are, and may have limited hearing.

Normally when caught or found, they weigh between 40-70 grams and have a length of around 5-6 inches. Additional to that length is their one inch bald tail. Their forepaws are highly specialized for digging and for burrowing, as they are shaped somewhat like shovels. The fur of the marsupial mole is very soft and silk like, while being of a golden color and helps when moving through sand, while their claws are very sharp, and their pouch is facing the opposite direction that it would normally face - so that dirt does not gather in it. They eat larva primarily and burrow constantly - without ever leaving the ground. They also do not leave any traces of having burrowed through, as the tunnel is buried behind them as they move by their back paws.

Controversial

The marsupial mole was a controversial subject for a while, originally thought to be eutheria (placental mammals, lacking pouches) due to an early specimen that had degraded and decomposed badly on a trip from Australia to England. It was later found that they are indeed a marsupial, and not the missing link between marsupials and eutherias, however it has now come to light that they are not related to the largest group of marsupials, and have since been given their own order, Notoryctemorphia. In this order there is only one family, Notoryctidae, and one genus, Notoryctes. There are thought to be, at this time, two species of marsupial moles. One from the north called the Northern Marsupial Mole, and one from the south called the Southern Marsupial Mole. They are closely related and no real distinguishing marks exist when compared to each other, and they may not be wholly different species at all.

Behavior and mating habits are universally unknown due to their short life in captivity, but it is assumed that they are solitary during most of the year and use their highly developed sense of smell to find a mate. Although the ear seems under developed, it could be seen as having a highly adapted middle ear that could allow for underground communication, as the marsupial mole does make a high pitched noise when removed from the ground or disturbed. It is thought the sound can travel under ground for a decent distance.

Some interesting facts about marsupial moles:

• The marsupial mole spends most of its time 1-10 centimeters below the surface on average.


• When burrowing, the marsupial mole burrows straight down at random times, going as far as three meters for no apparent reason.


• The marsupial mole has a highly unusual body temperature management, and it can change in the extreme, from 15-30°C (59-86 Fahrenheit), but does not seem to affect its metabolism.


• When at rest the metabolism of the marsupial mole is very low, however when it burrows it can increase up to sixty times, providing a large burst of energy and activity.

Picture of the marsupial mole by Bartus.malec, licensed under GFDL ]]> 566@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=329 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=329#comm The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus) is named after its unique golden-hued fur at the rump's area. Just like its relatives, the snout of Golden-rumped Elephant Shrews are flexible and pointed. A Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew's coat is rough but glossy. A thick skin exists under the rump, and is three times as thick as the skin on the back's middle, and this forms as a kind of shield for the Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew. Experts and researchers say that this is a shield against the biting of another shrew when they fight.

They are found in coastal areas, and they would most probably be found in moist forest areas and in semi-deciduous forests. Actually, these shrews are among the biggest of the elephant shrew world. They are endemic to Kenya, but a scattering could be found in areas of Mombasa and the Somali border territories.

They are basically monogamous, couples reside in ranges and they are territorial when it comes to these homes. Diurnal in nature, they could sleep during the night at a nest on the forest ground. The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew's diet consists of worms, insects, millipedes and even spiders. They of course forage on the forest/jungle floor via their flexible noses. When they are not busy eating, they could be very busy running for their lives though. A Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew has its share of predators, such as eagles, cobras and the black mambas.

Interesting fact: If you would be lucky to see one in actual movement, you might be impressed. These shrews can go to speeds reaching 25 kilometers/hr if chased by a predator. ]]> 329@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=353 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=353#comm An Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) can range from 1.3 to 1.65 meters in length, with a tail length of 15 centimeter, and its weight ranges from 30 to 145kgs. The Aoudads' outer coverings are red or sandy brown. Bother sexes have a heavy covering of hair at the throat's area, but for the male, this covers its front feet and chest. The Aoudad has very thick, triangular-based horns. Their horns have rings, and as the Aoudad gets older, worn down, which gives a smooth facade. They live in the rocky mountains of North Africa.

The Aoudad has a gestation period of 160 days, and the average number in a litter is just one. Although it has been recorded that in rare occasions, they could go to three. The longevity of an Aoudad is 20 years, give or take a year or two. Breeding can occur at any time within the year, but the peak goes from September to November.

Principally, this is a desert dweller, and they are most busy at the cooler hours of the dusk/dawn, and they seek refuge during the day's heat. Talking of sure-footed animals, this animal is surely one, they can jump 2 meters without difficulties. They usually get water from the foods they get, but if water is within reach, they also drink. Their diet consists of lichens, acacia and grass. The leopard is their natural predator.

In North Africa, their numbers are dwindling, but they have been introduced to southern US and parts of Spain. Their numbers in this part of the world has been increasing so much, that they have begun infringing on the territories of the indigenous desert bighorn sheep.

Oh...this you should know, the word is pronounced as "Ow-dad", and this is the name used by the North African tribe of Berbers.

Interesting fact: The newborns are capable of traversing rocky hills just (almost immediately) after being born.

Picture of the Aoudad by Andrzej Barabasz (Chepry), licensed under GFDL ]]> 353@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:39:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=564 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=564#comm Weight: 5 to 14 kg (11 to 31 lbs)
Body length: 89 to 130 cm (35 to 51 in)

The Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as North American River Otter, is a common sight in the waterways of North America, where it can be found in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Canada, the Atlantic states, and the Gulf of Mexico. They are active by day and have a streamlined, bulky physique, possessing short legs, a long tail and webbed digits. Northern River Otters have rounded, small heads and large whiskers. Their ears and nostrils are valved to keep out any water when submerged. Their pelage is shiny and brown in color, but usually, their throat is silver-gray in appearance. Not surprisingly, Northern River Otters are strong swimmers and can also move fast on land and are fond of sliding down along riverbanks all the way to the water.

In the wild, they can become ten to fifteen years of age, and under captivity, 20 years is possible.

It is very flexible animal, a Northern River Otter is capable of surviving in many kinds of habitats, such as freshwater, coastal marine, inland wetlands and even marshes. They can bear with differing ranges of temperature and altitudes, but they should be able to have access to two crucial things. First is a consistent supply of food, second is the proximity of water. Their diet consists of wide variety of things found in the water, including fish, crabs, amphibians, turtles, crayfish and other invertebrates. They can supplement their diet with birds and eggs and aquatic plants.

Akin to its cousin otters, this particular otter resides in a den, and this "home" is made in hollows, like under logs. It is recorded that they kill beavers to "conquer" their residences. These otters are playful, they slide, swim, chase, wrestle and leap. It makes them favorites to look at in zoos. They are not particularly friendly to humans if brought up in captivity, especially when they reach sexual maturity and begin acting aggressive and defensive.

While not listed as nationally endangered, they are endangered in states. Over 30,000 otter pelts are sold each year in the United States and Canada according to Wikipedia. They are also hunted by bobcats, coyotes, alligators, birds of prey and other large predators.

Interesting fact: When swimming in circles, it creating a whirlpool. This in turn forces the fish up to the surface. ]]> 564@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:53:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=563 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=563#comm Body length: 25 to 35 cm (9.84 to 13.78 in)
Weight: 640 gram (22.6 oz)

The range of the Narrow-striped Mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) is small and confined in the western and southwestern parts of Madagascar. They are diurnal creatures, spending a lot of time at the open savannas or in the trees, all dependent on the kind of season (dry or wet). In the summer (the wet season) they can be found sleeping in tree holes, while in the winter (the dry season) they are found in their burrows.

The fur of the Narrow-striped Mongoose is tawny in coloration, and the underside is noticeably light. It usually has about ten black stripes traversing the sides and the back. Their feet have no fur, but the Narrow-striped Mongoose has partially-webbed digits. It has a bushy, squirrel-like tail with dark rings.

Their diet mainly consists of insects and other small creatures, but they are known to eat eggs, rodents, birds and snakes, even a small lemur like the Gray Mouse Lemur! On the other hand, they are known to peacefully co-exist with another type of lemur, the Sportive lemurs.

They spend a lot of their time inside their burrows or in the trees and they are competent swimmers. They are social creatures, and groups ordinarily are made up of close to a dozen members, and we are not only speaking of family groups here, they also have maternal groupings and coalitions, this gives a whole new meaning to the term "political animal".

They are monogamous and a female individual is pregnant for about 3 months, after which she produces a single young.

They are an endangered species, this is because of fragmentation of their habitat, habitat loss (incl. logging), but also tavy, which is the name for the Madagascan slash-and-burn agriculture. The fossa is among their predators.

Interesting fact: Egg shells are not a problem for this "thinking" mongoose, it can crack them by taking the egg with all 4 paws while laying on its side, and then throw (or push) the egg against a hard object.

Picture of the narrow-striped mongoose is taken by Grigory Morozov in Tsimanampetsootsa National Park, October 2007, licensed under CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 ]]> 563@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ default Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:50:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=529 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=529#comm This is a funny video about a monkey pulling the tail of a dog. The dog doesn't know what hit him!

Click here to view the video ]]> 529@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:31:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=526 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=526#comm Absolutely amazing story and movieclip about a lion that was rescued. Seems the king of the jungle has a softer side after all! Click here to view the movie where the lion hugs his rescuer ]]> 526@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=132 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=132#comm This movie is from the Guinness Book of World Records. It shows the fattest cat in the world... I must admit it is unbelievably fat, but this cat can walk around fine and seems to be happy. ]]> 132@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:40:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=32 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=32#comm This video shows a very well camouflaged octopus, you'll be amazed! Did you spot it? ]]> 32@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:14:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=65 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=65#comm See the manakin dancing the moonwalk to impress his girl, nicely done video originally by Nature. Click here for the video ]]> 65@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:04:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=98 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=98#comm In an aquarium at the Seattle Aquarium they wonder why the sharks dissappear into thin air ?!... Until one of the zookeepers places a camera to capture this shocking footage. Watch the video here. ]]> 98@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:34:00 +0200 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=85 http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=85#comm  This 21 second video on Google Video proofs that blondes do actually exist in the animal kingdom. Watch the movie on the blonde antelope ]]> 85@http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/ cool Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:53:00 +0200