Chameleons

There are a recorded 171 species of Chameleons in the world, ranging in size from .5 inches to 27 inches. Chameleons are part of the reptile family and the iguana suborder. Unlike many other animals Chameleons continue to shed pieces of their skin as they outgrow it throughout their entire life span. Contrary to popular beliefs, chameleons change colors depending on many factors such as their emotions, as well as changes in light, temperature, and humidity.

They mostly live in Asia and Africa, in a variety of climates ranging from rainforests to deserts to mountains, spending most of their lives in trees and bushes. This is possible because they have five toes, which act like our thumbs on our hands allowing them to grasp things! There distinctive eyes allow them to see three hundred and sixty degrees at all times, and when they see prey both eyes can focus in the same direction.

Their lifespan is unknown in the wild, and up to ten years in zoos. They reach their breeding age between 1-2 years of age, and their egg incubation lasts between four and twenty four months while live births range from four to six months depending on the species.

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Chameleons are fascinating creatures which in the past has called for many tales to explain their color changing. The chameleon has been involved in many traditional tales from Africa, such as “Anansi and the Chameleon” and “The curse of the Chameleon”. In fact in one of Aesop’s fables the Chameleon was seen as a philosopher who sought to teach men to be moderate in their opinions.

Although in present day most people know some things about these creatures, and they have become relatively east to acquire, with some internet searching they show up for sale for about a hundred dollars depending on the species.

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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

Dogs are man’s best friend

IMG_8042This week my family is welcoming a new dog into the house! She’s an eight month old yellow lab named Macy, and even though I haven’t met her I’m in love with her. You always here the words “Dogs are a man’s best friend”  and they really are. Dogs are the only things in this world that love you more than they love themselves, but how did this relationship develop?

It is believed that humans and wolves made a close relationship after recognizing each other while hunting on the trail of big game. Researchers believe that humans followed wolves, and wolves began to wait for scraps fro humans who were better hunters, and likely the two learned from each other in hunting techniques. As humans and wolves spent more and more time together wolves began to evolve because the population of dog-wolves became isolated from wolves, and began to evolve into present day dogs. The Washington Post published an article that claims this domestication of dogs began up to 40,000 years ago!

Now if you talk to any dog person, myself included, they’ll say that they have a true connection with their dog and that they are more a part of the family than a pet. According to scientific tests, when dogs and humans look into each others eyes they both have a surge of oxytocin- the hormone associated with love and trust. Moreover, a study using MRIs showed that when dogs smelled scents from familiar humans the parts of their brains associated with happiness and love were more active than when they smelled familiar dogs!

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The study also found that dogs not only pick up on our subtle mood changes, they are wired to do so! Hearing happy sounds lights up part of the auditory cortex in both dogs and humans, this commonality speaks to an underlying bond and a uniquely strong communicational system. Personally, all my dogs have always tried to comfort me or my other family members when they are upset, and have always been there.

Dogs are man (and woman)’s best friend, they can sense our emotions, and form unique bonds with unique communicational skills. Which makes the amount of dogs abandoned on the street that much more shocking. I urge anybody considering getting a dog to consider the true time commitment, and if you can’t commit for their life then don’t get one. On that note, until next time!

Sources:

NPR 

Salon

Science.Mic

Sea otters

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Did you know that otters fur is water resistant, so its kept warm and dry? Otters have always been one of my favorites, they’re too adorable not to be! They float in forests of kelp or seaweed in order to not float away as they nap or eat shellfish on their backs. Sea otters are the only breed of otters to give birth in the water, mothers cuddle their young on their stomachs, quickly teaching them to hunt and swim on their own. They are found on the pacific coast of North America and Asia, in their wild they can live for up to twenty three years!

Sea otters wash themselves after their meals, cleaning their coat with their teeth and paws in order to maintain its waterproof qualities. Sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their luxurious fur in the 1700’s and 1800’s, even today they remain endangered. Today otters fall under the protected species, but major threats still exist: Human conflict, oil spills, and habitat degradation.

Direct conflict with humans, such as shootings and entrapment in fishing gear is a major threat to the population. Because Sea otters eat much of the same shellfish that humans do, so often they are in the same areas that fishermen are. Many fishermen like to use gear that will tangle the otters  in order to get rid of the ‘competition’. Fortunately, regulations on fishing gear are becoming more and more strict, and less otters are dying due to human conflict.

Oil spills from offshore drilling and shipping are an incredible threat to the otter population (and various other species). If the oil gets into the otters fur, it becomes matted which prevents it from insulating. If the otters have no insulation they die of hypothermia. The toxicity of the oil can also be harmful and cause liver and kidney failure, as well as harm the eyes and lungs.

Habitat degradation is another major threat to sea otters, land pollution runs off into the oceans and contaminates the habitat for all the animals. Pollution jeopardizes food sources and harms animals in direct ways. In California, pollution causes up to forty percent of otter deaths.