Farewell Furry Friends!

Hello all!

As you know, our blog has been active for most of September, and we've posted about a different animal every day. Now we're going to 'retire', so we won't be on every day anymore. Of course, when we have time, we'll post occasionally about new animals. We won't totally abandon this awesome blog!

Thanks for taking a look at all of the amazing animal posts!

See you soon!
<3,

Buttons the horse and Maya the cat

P.S. Come and check on us sometimes! You never know, we might surprise you new fantastic animal info!

Giant Pandas

Isn't that so sweet?

(Image from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html)

Hi, it's Maya. Today I will be talking about Giant Pandas. Giant Pandas live in bamboo forests in the rainy mountains of southwestern China. They're one of the worlds rarest mammals. Only about 1,000 Giant Pandas remain in the wild. Isn't that sad? They eat almost nothing other than bamboo shoots and leaves. Sometimes they eat other vegetation, fish, or small animals, but 99 percent of their diet is bamboo shoots and leaves. Giant Pandas eat fast and eat alot, they spend about 12 hours of their day eating. They digest only around a fifth of what they eat. They have to eat up to 15 percent of their body weight to stay healthy. Pandas have to eat at least two different species of bamboo or they will starve. They're very shy and they don't normally go where humans are. Giant Pandas can live up to being 30 years old in captivity. Pandas weigh from 75 to 136 kilograms. The Chinese name for panda means "large bear-cat." Well that's all, bye!

The Dragonfly

A beautiful dragonfly perches for a split second

Image from http://www.slrphotographyguide.com

Dragonflies are extremely fast and agile insects. They zoom through the skies, and over lakes gracefully. It has large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of very strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are very similar to Damselflies, but you can tell the difference by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. They have six legs, like any other insect, but can't walk that well. All their skills and strength are applied to their flying.
Females lay the eggs in or near water. They are often floating or on underwater plants. The eggs then hatch into nymphs. Most of a dragonfly's life is spent in the nymph form, beneath the water's surface. The larvae stage can last as long as 5 years. Using extendable jaws, they catch other invertebrates, like mosquito larvae, or sometimes even vertebrates such as tadpoles and fish. They breathe through gills.
Hope you liked learning about the magnificent dragonfly!

Hedgehogs

~What a cute hedgehog~

(Image from: http://www.jerseyhedgehogs.org.je/hedgehog4.jpg)

Hello, it's Maya. Today I will be doing hedgehogs. When hedgehogs curl up into little balls, they do it for protection. Curling up into a ball protects the parts of them that don't have prickly spines. Hedgehogs have prickly spines all over their bodies, except for on their face, bellies, and legs. Hedgehogs depend on their spines for defence, when they sleep and when they face enemies. When their predators approach, they roll up into small prickly balls. Most predators are unsuccessful at prying open the curled up balls, and just leave to look for easier prey. When hedgehogs are born, their spines are soft and short. Soon after birth their spines become thicker, harder, and longer. Hedgehogs eat insects, small mice, snails, lizards, frogs, eggs, carrion, and even snakes! Hedgehogs mainly stay on ground, but they actually can swim and climb trees quite well. When they want they get out of a tree, quickly, they just jump. Because of their prickly spines, when they land they bounce and remain unhurt. Isn't that cool? The average heartbeat for a hedgehog is 190 beats a minute, but when they are hibernating it is only 20 beats a minute! Hedgehogs are often kept as pets, they will eat any household and garden pests. The normal lifespan of a hedgehog is about 7 years. I hope you liked this!
                                         
                                 ~Maya~

The Tokay Gecko

A Tokay Gecko 'grins' at the camera

Image from: http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com

The Tokay Gecko is the second largest species of gecko, growing up to 30-40cm in length. It is nocturnal, which means it is most active at night. They have a bluish gray body, with spots ranging from yellow  to red. The males are solitary and aggressive. Tokay geckos are considered the 'pit bull' of the geckos species, because of their fierceness. The often bite and won't let go for a few minutes. The even rarely hold on for up to an hour or so. Many people like them as pets, although they aren't really the ideal animal to cuddle and play with. It's probably because they look nice that people keep them. It id the best ornamental animal for experienced reptile owners.
The mating call of the Tokay Gecko is a loud croak, which kind of sounds like "tokeh" or "geck geck".
Their typical life span is 7-10 years.
 In the Philippines it is respected and valued as it eats dangerous pests such as scorpions and centipedes.
Hop you enjoyed learning about the Tokay Gecko!

Koalas

Koala mother and joey

                           Image from: http://www.americapeals.com/

Hi, it's Maya. Today I am going to talk about koalas. Koalas are marsupials, related to kangaroos. Newborn koalas are called joeys. Koalas have thick woolly fur that protects them from hot and cold weather, it also acts as a raincoat. People used to hunt koalas for their fur, now strict law prohibits that. They're protected, but their habitat isn't, it's disappearing as land is being developed. Sadly, more than four-fifths of original koala habitat has been destroyed, many people are doing what they can to protect the remaining habitat. Koalas spend maximum 18 hours a day napping and sleeping. They generally smell like cough drops because of their diet of eucalyptus leaves. There are many eucalyptus trees, koalas will only eat from a few of these. Koalas like many different areas of eucalyptus leaves. Koalas from the southern areas of Australia are bigger and have thicker fur than their northern relatives. Female koalas are smaller than male koalas. The koala has large, sharp claws to assist with climbing tree trunks. Weight varies from about 14 kg (31 lb) for a large southern male, to about 5 kg (11 lb) for a small northern female. Koalas live in trees, occasionally coming down to the ground to seek shade or another tree. They sometimes jump from one tree to another. Koalas have grayish fur and furry white chests, inner arms, and ears. They have big furry ears and leathery noses. The word koala may come from an Aboriginal word meaning drink. Koalas don't actually drink when necessary, the get most of the moisture they need from leaves. Hope you enjoyed this, bye!
Maya the Cat,

Ring-Tailed Lemurs

Sleeping Lemurs, so cute :)

                                 Image from: http://tangledwing.wordpress.com/

Hi, Maya here. Today I will be doing Ring-Tailed Lemurs. Ring-Tailed Lemurs are very social animals, they spend most of their time in groups of 15-20 lemurs. They spend many hours just sitting down and soaking up the sun. Groups of lemurs are also known as  "Troops". When female lemurs and male lemurs get into arguments, the female lemurs always wins. Ring-Tailed Lemurs spend more time on the ground, rather than in trees, than any other species of lemur. Lemurs are primates and are related to monkeys and apes.  Lemurs are endangered, mainly because of habitat destruction. One of the lemur's main predators is the catlike fossa, the largest carnivore in Madagascar. Lemurs live only in the wild on the African Island of Madagascar and a few neighboring islands. Lemurs use their comblike front teeth to groom themselves and other lemurs. Ring-Tailed Lemurs' hind legs are longer than their front legs, so when they walk on all four of their legs, they're back is tilted downwards. That's all I have to say, Goodbye!


Maya the Cat,

The Gray Wolf

~ The Gray Wolf hunting ~

Image from http://www.treehugger.com

The gray wolf is one of the world's stealthy and formidable hunters. Although gray wolves appear fierce and aggressive, they are actually quite social, friendly creatures. Unless we threaten them or their young (perhaps straying to close to the den), they are likely to ignore humans. The problem is, they can't help but notice us. We are destroying some of their natural habitat, and the wolves themselves - the gray wolves were once quite common in North America, but were killed off in the 1930's. A lot of wolves are killed by farmers to protect the livestock, because wolves like to feed on sheep and cattle. We are also cutting down their forest homes in Canada, New Mexico, and a small bit of the USA. Of course, a lot of the wolves' habitat are in protected wildlife parks, but are rare in the wild nowadays. There are now about 200,000 gray wolves. That is minuscule compared to the once 2 million wolves living in the wild! The wildlife parks are a big help, though. Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to see and hear the gray wolves in their native habitat, thanks to the reintroduction of wolves in 1995.
Wolves live in packs of about 4-7 members in the wild. They hunt, travel, and sleep together. The wolf is one of the best examples of an animal who knows about teamwork! They are phenomenal hunters. They eat a wide selection of animals and plants; they're not picky! They will eat berries, caribou, moose, horses, elk, deer, beavers, rabbits, and other small mammals or birds. Wolves are also scavengers, eating already dead animals that have died because of starvation or disease.
The wolf has a very interesting and strong bond with the raven - it is an every day miracle of nature. They work together to survive, their destinies forever linked. Here is how it works:
The raven is a bird, and can scout and search exceptionally well. The wolf relies on the raven on finding the food (whether it be dead or alive). For example, the raven might spot a herd of caribou. Then, it would alert the wolves. The wolves would hunt down a caribou and kill it. They would bite through the tough skin and feed. The raven would join. The wolf relies on the raven on finding the food (whether it be dead or alive), and the raven needs the wolf to kill the food and open up the animal's skin. Isn't it fascinating? I hope you enjoyed it.

The Hummingbird

A beautiful hummingbird sips nectar from these red flowers.

Image taken from http://www.hedweb.com/animimag/hummingbirds.htm


Hummingbirds are among the smallest of birds. By rapidly flapping their wings, they can hover in mid air to feed from a flower. Hummingbirds drink the sweet liquid inside flowers called nectar. They prefer the flowers with the sweeter, more sugary nectar. Also, they find it easy to eat in long, tube-like flowers, as they have a long pointy beak. Hummingbirds don't spend their whole day flying - oh, no, that would take up to much energy. They spend a lot of their time just perched on a branch relaxing. While in flight, hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any animal apart from insects. Their heart rate can reach up to 1,260 beats per minute. Isn't that incredible? Hummingbirds can slow down their metabolism at night, so they can rest, or whenever they need a break. Sometimes they do it when food isn't available so as not to waste energy.
Many hummingbirds have bright feathers and exotic colours.
Hummingbirds are very dainty and beautiful little creatures.

River Otters

Isn't this such a cute picture of a River Otter?

(Image from: http://www.squidoo.com/riverotters)


 Today i will be doing River Otters, aren't they so cute? River Otters are aquatic animals. They generally live along rivers, but they also live near lakes and streams. They prefer water bordered by woods and wetlands, such as marshes. Otters grab their prey in their mouths. They eat small fish that they catch in the water, holding their food with their forepaws while floating on their backs. When they catch really big fish, they bring them to shore and eat them there. They can stay underwater for up to four minutes, isn't that amazing? When they're underwater they close their ears and nostrils to keep water out. River Otters belong to the weasel, skunk, otter, and badger family.  They are usually active at night, while during the day they sun-bathe on rocks.  The main threat to River Otters, are water pollution and habitat destruction. They live in burrows along riverbanks, and they usually use abandoned dens made by beavers and other animals. Hope you enjoyed this, thanks for reading! Written by Maya the Cat.

The Mountain Goat



This is a picture of two mountain goats - an adult and a kid.

Image taken from http://www.howstuffworks.com

The Mountain Goat is also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat. It is a large hoofed mammal that only lives in North America. Despite it's name, it is not a member of the Capra, the genus of true goats. They are in the same genus as antelopes, gazelles, and cattle. It resides in high elevations and is a sure-footed climber, often resting on rocky cliffs that predators can't reach. Both male and female mountain goats have beards, short tails, and long black horns. They are protected from the cold wind and snow by their woolly white double coats. The fine, dense wool of their undercoats is covered by an outer layer of longer, hollow hairs. In spring, mountain goats moult by rubbing against rocks and trees, with the adult billies (males) shedding their extra wool first and the pregnant nannies (females) shedding last. The mountain goat's feet are well-suited for climbing steep, rocky slopes, sometimes with pitches of 60 degrees or more, with inner pads that provide traction and cloven hooves that can be spread apart as needed. In the wild, mountain goats usually live twelve to fifteen years, with their lifespan limited by the wearing down of their teeth. In zoos, however,they can live for sixteen to twenty years. Kids are born in the spring (late May or early June) after a six month gestation period. Nannies usually give birth to  only one kid. Mountain goats are herbivores and spend most of their time grazing. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, moss, lichen, twigs and leaves from the low-growing shrubs and conifers of their high-altitude habitat. The mountain goat is very well adapted to mountain life. Mountain goats are awesome animals!

Tasmanian Devils

This is a picture a a Tasmanian Devil.

(Image from: http://www.welt.de/english-news/article3783748/Tasmanian-devil-listed-as-endangered-species.html)

So cute right? Many people don't think that Tasmanian Devils are real, well they ARE. Tasmanian Devils live in Tasmania, a large island just south of Australia. Tasmania is the only place where they're found in the wild. They are the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world. They  strictly survive on small prey and already dead animals, called carrion. Marsupials are animals that have pouches on their bellies for  carrying their babies. Full-grown Tasmanian Devils are about the size of a small dog. Males are generally a bit bigger than females. They have coarse brown or black fur and a pudgy appearance that makes them look like bear cubs. But don't let their cuteness fool you, they have sharp teeth a strong jaws that help them deliver one of the strongest bites among any mammal around the world. Tasmanian Devils are nocturnal, spending their days in burrows, hollow logs, and caves. They use their excellent sense of sight and smell to avoid predators and locate prey and carrion. They're voracious eaters and will consume anything, including hair, organs, and bones. Their Latin scientific name is Sarcophilus harrisii. That means Harris's meat lover. Harris is the name of the scientist who discovered the Tasmanian devil. When threatened or excited, the ears of the Tasmanian Devil will turn bright red. An angry Tasmanian Devil will often point its tail straight up in the air. One of the Tasmanian Devils favourite foods are Wombats. I didn't even know that Tasmanian Devils were real! Bye from me, Maya the Cat :)

Fennec Foxes

~Fennec Fox~

(Image from: http://otterdance.livejournal.com/262155.html)

The Fennec Fox is the worlds smallest fox, weighing about one kilogram. For an animal so small and light, they have enormous ears. They're ears are fifteen centimetres long, while they're only 20-40 centimetres long! Fennec Foxes prefer eating plants, but they also eat rodents, eggs, reptiles and insects.  Fennec Foxes are also called "desert foxes" because they live in the desert zones of North Africa and the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas. Like most desert animals, they can go long periods of time without any water. They have long, thick, soft, coats with a woolly undercoat that insulates them during cold nights and hot days. They are nocturnal so that they can avoid the hot desert heat during the day. They are cream-coloured with black-tipped tails. They're cuddly appearance makes them favourite pets of trade, and locals also hunt them for their soft, silky fur. Fennec Foxes are mammals. Wasn't that awesome? I could totally hug a Fennec Fox right now, even though I'm a cat...

The Grizzly Bear

Image taken from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/printable/grizzly-bear.html

The Grizzly Bear, also known as the silver tip bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America. This subspecies is thought to descend from Ussuri brown bears which crossed to Alaska from Eastern Russia 100,000 years ago, though they did not move south until 13,000 years ago.
Grizzlies are normally solitary active animals, but in coastal areas the grizzly congregates alongside streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds during the salmon spawn. Every other year, females produce one to four young (commonly two). A sow is protective of her offspring and will attack if she thinks she or her cubs are threatened.
Grizzly bears are North America's second largest land carnivore, next to the polar bear. The grizzly's coloring ranges widely depending on geographic areas, from white to almost black, and all shades in between. The grizzly also has a large hump over the shoulders, which is a muscle mass used to power the forelimbs in digging. This muscle is commonly used to dig for their various vegetative food sources. The hind legs are more powerful, however. The muscles in the lower legs provide enough strength for the bear to stand up and even walk short distances on its hind legs, giving it a better view of its surroundings. The head is large and round with a concave, disk-shaped, facial profile. In spite of their massive size, these bears can run at speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph). However, they are slower running downhill than uphill because of the large hump of muscle over the shoulders. They have very thick fur to keep them warm in brutal, windy, and snowy winters.
Although grizzlies are of the order Carnivora and have the digestive system of carnivores, they are actually omnivores, since their diet consists of both plants and animals. They have been known to prey on large mammals, when available, such as moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou and even black bears. Grizzly bears feed on fish such as salmon, trout, and bass, and those with access to a more protein-enriched diet in coastal areas potentially grow larger than interior individuals. Grizzly bears also readily scavenge food, on carrion left behind by other animals.

The Blacktip Reef Shark

Image taken from http://blogs.bootsnall.com/stevieblunder/page/4

The Blacktip Reef Shark is easily identified by the prominent black tips on its fins (especially on the first dorsal fin and the caudal fin). Among the most abundant sharks inhabiting the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, this species prefers shallow, inshore waters and its exposed first dorsal fin is a common sight in the region. Most blacktip reef sharks are found over reef ledges and sandy flats, though they have also been known to enter brackish and freshwater environments. This species typically attains a length of 1.6 m (5.2 ft). Blacktip reef sharks have extremely small home ranges and exhibit strong site fidelity, remaining within same local area for up to several years at a time. They are active predators of small bony fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and have also been known to feed on sea snakes and seabirds. Timid and skittish, the blacktip reef shark is difficult to approach and seldom poses a danger to humans unless roused by food. Although the species as a whole remains widespread and relatively common, overfishing of this slow-reproducing shark has led to its decline at a number of locales. A robustly built species with a streamlined "typical shark" form, the blacktip reef shark has a short, wide, rounded snout and moderately large, oval eyes. This shark is a pale grayish brown above and white below, with an obvious white band on the sides extending forward from above the anal fin. All the fins have black tips highlighted by lighter-colored borders, which are especially striking on the first dorsal fin and lower caudal fin lobe.

Arctic Foxes

This is a super cute picture of an Arctic Fox:

(Image from: http://www.epubbud.com/read.php?g=HNEYLNTF)

Maya here, this is about Arctic Foxes, enjoy!
The Arctic Foxes scientific name is Alopex lagopus or Vulpes lagopus. They are also known as White Foxes, Polar Foxes, and Snow Foxes. They are small foxes native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and are common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word "Alopex" means fox and "Vulpes" is the Latin version. "Lagopus" is derived from Ancient Greek "Lago", meaning "hare"+"foot", and refers to the hair on its feet. The Arctic Fox will generally eat any meat it can find, including lemmings, arctic hares, eggs, and carrion. Lemmings are the most common prey. A family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. During April and May the Arctic Fox also preys on Ringed Seal pups when the young animals are confined to a snow den and are relatively helpless. Fish beneath the ice are also part of its diet. If there is an to much food hunted, the Arctic Fox will bury the leftovers.

Besides the nominate, there are four subspecies of the Arctic Fox:
Bering Islands Arctic Fox, Alopex lagopus beringensis
Iceland Arctic Fox, Alopex lagopus fuliginosus
Pribilof Islands Arctic Fox, Alopex lagopus pribilofensis
Greenland Arctic Fox, Alopex Lagopus foragorapusis
Pretty cool right? Hope you found this interesting and educational! :D
Maya out.

The Snow Leopard

Image taken from http://circleoflife.wikispaces.com/Snow+Leopards

The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. Their secretive nature means that their exact numbers are unknown, although it has been estimated that between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards exist in the wild. They are stealthy, patient and extremely agile, which makes them formidable hunters. Snow leopards have long thick fur, the base colour of which varies from smoky grey to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their body with small spots of the same color on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tail. Unusually among cats, their eyes are pale green or grey in colour. Their bodies are stocky, they have a long, flexible furry tail, a thick, dense coat, their ears are small and rounded, and they have wide padded paws. All these characteristics are ideal for living in a cold mountainous environment. Snow leopards cannot roar, surprisingly. But their vocalizations include hisses, chuffing, mews, growls, and wailing. I think we can all agree that snow leopards are very magnificent and mysterious animals.

Maya

Red Eyed Tree Frogs

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

(Image from: http://www.reptilebuzz.com/caresheets/frogs/red-eye-tree-frog.php)

Hi! Maya here, today I am gonna tell you about Red Eyed Tree Frogs. The Scientific name for the Red Eyed Tree Frog is Agalychnis callidryas. Agalychnis callidryas comes from the Greek words that means "beautiful tree nymph." They have bold red eyes with vertically narrowed noses, a vibrant green body with yellow and blue striped sides, and orange toes. Red Eyed Tree Frogs are not poisonous and rely on camouflage to protect themselves. During the day, they remain motionless, cover their blue sides with their back legs, tuck their bright feet under their belly, and shut their red eyes to camoflouge with the leaves and grass around them. Red Eyed Tree Frogs are actually nocturnal. Tree frogs, like all frogs, are amphibians. Tree frogs have suction disks on their fingers and toes that help them stick to leaves. Cool right? Red Eyed Tree Frogs walk and climb rather than hopping. They do this because they're adapted to living in trees rather than on ground. They are carnivores and mainly eat insects. Hope you enjoyed this!

Arabian Horses

image taken from http://www.hawksflightfarm.com/

                                   The Arabian Horse

The Arabian horse is one of the oldest breeds of horse, dating back to 4,500 years. It is also said to be the most beautiful - I mean, just look at it! We horses sure know a lot about looks! The Arabian breed originated in the Arabian Peninsula. It has a distinctive 'dished' or concave face, and a high tail carriage. Elegant, loyal, and intelligent, these horses have a graceful movement and have extremely good stamina. The Arabian developed in a desert climate and was prized by the nomadic Bedouin people, often being brought inside the family tent for shelter and protection. This close relationship with humans has created a horse breed that is good-natured, quick to learn, and willing to please. But the Arabian also developed the high spirit and alertness needed in a horse used for raiding and war. This combination of willingness and sensitivity requires modern Arabian horse owners to handle their horses with competence and respect. The Arabian is a versatile breed. Arabians dominate the discipline of endurance riding, and compete today in many other fields of equestrian activity. They are one of the top ten most popular horse breeds in the world. Don't you just lov'em?

Hey, Neigh!

A big "neigh!" to all of you! I'm...
Well, you guessed it-
Buttons the horse!

Welcome

Hi everybody! We're Buttons the horse and Maya the cat. In this blog we'll post about a different animal every day.