Llamas

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Llamas are interesting in more ways than one. The animals have been delegated the nickname: “camels of South America” because they are in the same family,  and have been used as pack animals for centuries. They can carry up to 75 lbs and move up to 20 miles a day (A lot more than any of us). They weigh up to 250 lbs, and measure up to about four feet. The animals are herbivores and recquire little water, so providing for them is easy and cost efficient. Llamas contribute their hide for leather, wool for clothing and other fabric, excrement is dried and used for fuel, and sometimes they are slaughtered for their meat.

The llama was thought to have migrated to South America approximately three million years ago from North America- where they became extinct during the ice age. Legend goes that when Spaniards came to South America they kept asking “Como Se llama?” or what is this called, and that is how the Llama got its name. Llamas were actually imported to the United States for display in the 1800’s although today there are llama farms all over the country.

According to zoos, when a llama has an issue with another llama they will stick out their tongue, and/or spit on the llama. Llamas can actually reach speeds up to 35 mph ( if any of you recall that isn’t quite as fast as greyhounds!) although if they are carrying a lot of weight it will not be that high and the speed can not be maintained for a long time. Female llamas are pregnant for about 35 months, give birth standing up, and very rarely give birth to twins.

Llamas are used as guards in fields from other animals: coyotes, dogs, and foxes. Some llamas are certified therapy animals and visit the elderly! Llamas sometimes make a noise that sounds like starting a car:

 

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/llama/

http://mentalfloss.com/article/61917/7-fast-facts-about-llamas

http://www.theflama.com/10-fascinating-facts-about-llamas-1448529082.html

Wooly Mammoths

In 1978 Wooly Mammoth remains were found in Texas, since then over two dozen others have been found, including a herd that died approximately 65,000 years ago. Today the remains are still displayed in Texas, where they were found.

Wooly Mammoths are believed to be closely related to modern day elephants, their height ranging anywhere from six to thirteen feet and their weight reaching up to over eight tons. They were herbivore herd animals and their main predators were sabre tooth tigers and humans.

The first discovered wooly mammoth dates to before 1799, when the first description of the creatures became known. Since then wooly mammoths have been discovered all over the United States and in Eurasia. The most notable find being from Siberia (more below). Anybody and everybody has discovered wooly mammoth remains, including a twelve year old boy in Russia in 2012.

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Fun facts:

  • Their tusks can reach up to fifteen feet long.
  • They are present in many cave paintings.
  • They were not the only wooly mammals of this time period, there was also a wooly rhino.
  • They weren’t the only mammoth species, nor the biggest.
  • Scientists can discover the age of a mammoth from the rings on its tusks, much like tree ring dating.
  • The last Wooly Mammoth went extinct 4,000 years ago.
  • The last of the wooly mammoths lived in the arctic, many researchers believed that their extinction was caused by the sharp rise in temperature since they were adapted for the cold.
  • It may be possible to clone Wooly Mammoths!

The best specimen for cloning a wooly mammoth was discovered in 2013 in Siberia, Harvard scientists are becoming closer and closer to reconstructing the DNA so it is a possibility that wooly mammoths will be brought back to life using the DNA of this specimen nicknamed Buttercup. While a complete copy of the DNA has not been found, researchers hope to splice it with elephant DNA. Although, the ethics of such actions remains hotly debated today.

 

Sources:

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/41552/20150324/scientists-may-be-inching-closer-and-closer-to-resurrecting-woolly-mammoth.htm

http://www.livescience.com/48769-woolly-mammoth-cloning.html

http://www.livescience.com/48769-woolly-mammoth-cloning.html

http://a-z-animals.com/animals/woolly-mammoth/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160203-mammoth-bones-displayed-in-texas-where-they-were-found/

10 fascinating facts about woolly mammoths