Junco

Facts About Bottlenose Dolphins

 A few facts about bottlenose dolphins may help increase your enjoyment of these magnificent and endearing creatures found in the waters off Key Largo.

What is the scientific classification for dolphins? 
The scientific order of marine mammals known as Cetacea (see-tay-she-uh) includes dolphins, porpoises, and whales. Dolphins belong to the scientific family known as Delphinidae (del-fin-uh-dee). The bottlenose dolphin belongs to the genus Tursiops (ter-see-ops). It's unclear how many species of Tursiops there are (maybe just one), but any bottlenose around Key Largo is a Tursiops truncatus (trunk-kah-tuhs).

Is a dolphin also a porpoise? 
No. Porpoises are quite distinct from dolphins. Like all whales, dolphins, and porpoises, they're both cetaceans. But whereas scientists group dolphins into the family Delphinidae , porpoises belong to the family Phocoenidae (fo-seen-ee-dee). Porpoises are smaller and "squattier" than dolphins, and have no rostrum. Plus, porpoises have spade-shaped teeth, while the teeth of dolphins are cone shaped.

Where is the bottlenose dolphin found? 
Except for the polar regions, the bottlenose dolphin is found in most coastal waters around the world. Also, it can and does live far out to sea.

How big are bottlenose dolphins? 
Adults average around nine feet, and weigh around 500 pounds. A newborn dolphin calf might measure around four feet, and weigh around 30 pounds.

How long do bottlenose dolphins live? 
The average life span for bottlenose dolphins is about 25 years, although some may live to be 50, maybe even longer. One dolphin, Nellie, at Marineland near St. Augustine (Florida) is 57.

How fast can bottlenose dolphins swim? 
They can cruise at around seven miles per hour, and can burst up to 17 miles per hour or more over a short distance. When traveling fast dolphins tend to jump out of the water. Air offers less resistance than water, so by periodically jumping into the air dolphins can go faster.

What is echolocation, and how do dolphins use it?
Echolocation is the use of returning sound waves to detect things in the environment. By emitting a variety of sounds, and then listening for their echos, dolphins can know "what's out there," whether it be a school of fish or a large shark. Apparently, dolphins use echolocation to augment their visual senses, not to substitute for them entirely.

Do dolphins have social groupings? 
Dolphins are normally social animals, and form four types of groups:

1. Mother and calf
2. Young pre-adult dolphins form groups for play and exploring
3. Groups of females with their calves
4. Adult males form long-lasting groups of two or three

A dolphin grouping is called a "pod." A pod of bottlenose dolphins may consist of anywhere from two to hundreds of individuals, although pods of two to two dozen are more common. Dolphins living close to shore generally form smaller pods than those that live far offshore. Deep-water offshore dolphins may form larger pods as a way to deal with increased danger from predators.

What do dolphins eat? 
Bottlenose dolphins eat a wide variety of fish, plus eels, shrimp and other crustaceans. Their exact diet depends on what's available to them. Adult bottlenose dolphins normally eat 20 to 25 pounds of food daily, sometimes up to 40, maybe even 50.

When and how do dolphins sleep?
Dolphins sleep with half their brain at a time. Half their brain sleeps, while the other half stays awake. (I've observed that many college students can do this too, especially in class.) Dolphins alternate which side of their brains sleeps at any given time. Since dolphins must breathe consciously, this type of sleep allows them to partially sleep while still swimming and breathing.

How do dolphins catch their food? 
They use a variety of methods:

• In one method, called "kerplunking," the dolphin slaps a fish out of water with one of its tail flukes to stun it, making it easier to catch.

• In another kerplunking technique the dolphin slaps its tail flukes on the water to scare hiding fish into moving.

• In western Australia bottlenose dolphins display a form of tool use. The dolphins--mostly the females--hold sponges in their mouth to protect their noses while they root around in the sand looking for prey. This behavior is passed by a mother to her offspring. While the young females take to it quite readily, the young males mostly ignore the lessons. One speculation is that sponging is time consuming, and young males would rather socialize than forage with sponges, since socializing increases their chances of breeding.

• Dolphins often cooperate with one another--even to the point of acting as a team, especially when feeding. In the South Carolina's tidal waters, for instance, they have been observed beaching fish by running together as a group to create a head-on wave which washes the fish up on banks exposed by low tides. This technique is called "strand fishing."

Another fascinating dolphin-feeding method is called "mud-ring feeding." Researchers from the Dolphin Ecology Project--a non-profit research and education organization--have documented the occurrence of this behavior in Florida Bay. This feeding method is essentially a fish round-up, usually involving several dolphins. One swims in a circle in shallow water, using its tail to stir up a cloud of mud and silt which corrals a school of fish. Encircled by the large opaque cloud, the fish tend to remain in the cloud, refusing to penetrate it, and swimming in a tight group. Eventually, they panic and begin jumping--often into the mouths of hungry dolphins with their heads above water to catch what comes their way.

Black Drongo

Drongo or King Crow

The Drongo is a native name of the a bird previously known as the Edolius forficatusof Madagascar, the name Drongo now having been not only adopted into various European languages, but also used generally for numerous allied species which and inhabit Africa, Asia, the Eastern Archipelago, and Australia. The Drongos, known as King Crows to Anglo-Indians, were previously placed as a subfamily among the Laniiidae(SHRIKE), but now rank as an entirely separate Family, Dicruridae. GR Gray placed in this group the genus Irena (seeBluebird), "most unfortunately," as Jerdon stated in his Birds of India ii page 104, and herein all who had any knowledge of the subject even in Gray's day agreed. The position of the genus Irena may have been uncertain at that time, but amongPasseriformes, it was considered that one less suitable than this could hardly be found.

The colour of the Drongo when adult is almost invariably black.  They have only 10 feathers in their tail, the outer rectrices being in several forms much prolonged and often more or less involuted, while in some cases the outermost pair are enlarged at the end in a racquet-like form. Many are crested, and all have the base of the bill beset by more or fewer strong bristles. The Drongos seem to be completely insectivorous, and are usually remarkable for the courage with which they will attack and drive off larger birds, such as Kites orCrows.
Considerable difficulty is found in discriminating the specific and generic forms of this Family, but two species, the Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) and the Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii)inhabit the South of Africa, while a grand total of over 20 species exist, many inhabiting various parts of India, among which the Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus is the King-Crow proper, ranging from Afghanistan to China.  Australia is graced, with the charmingly named Spangled Drongo, (Dicrurus bracteatus or Chibia bracteata), but many are found in Malaysia and the islands of the Malay Archipelago.  In Australia the word drongo is a slang term for someone who is foolish.

Green Heron

Cool Facts of Green Heron 

·                                 The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers.

·                                 The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron.

·                                 As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far, but occasionally some travel greater distances, with individuals turning up as far as England and France.

Blue whale

Angel Fish

It is essential for fresh water aquarium hobbyists to know about the basics of Angelfish care. Angelfish are very popular and can be a great addition to your tank. Moreover they are good for breeding as well.
Angelfish are known for their distinctive triangle shape and this is what that has made this fish so popular among fish lovers. Therefore, for the fresh water hobbyists, who have a very limited choice, angelfish are a must have. Angelfish are available various vibrant colors which is a delight for the eyes.
Diet
If you want to keep angelfish in freshwater tank then giving them flakes will not do your purpose. You must feed them small fry fish as well as mosquito larvae. Again, there are some experts who opine that you should give them live food which will make their food well-balanced.
Again, other experts disagree with this view and suggest that optimum quality flakes is enough.
But, if you are interested in giving your angelfish some variety, you can go for flakes with once in a while diet of live food.

Tank
For your freshwater angelfish you will need a big tank. Unlike some other fresh water fish, angelfish require a much bigger space. An ideal angelfish tank should be a 25 gallons one for two angelfish.
Angelfish can grow up to 6 inches. Moreover, they also like swimming up and down, back and forth. So you will need a deep tank as well. It should be at least 25 inches deep.
For a freshwater tank, aqua plants are very important. The plants help in increasing the beauty of the tank. But apart from that they perform certain other crucial jobs as well. Like, they provide oxygen to the water and also help in cleaning the tank.
Other Fish
There are some fresh water hobbyists who want to keep other fish in the same aquarium with their Angelfish. You can also do it if you want but before selecting you must know which fish do get along with angelfish and which ones do not. This is because angelfish can be quite aggressive and they sometimes have the tendency to eat smaller fish.
Diseases
Like all other fish species angelfish are also prone to diseases. These diseases are the same which affect other species of freshwater fish. The most common disease affecting freshwater angelfish is Ich. It is caused by parasites in the aquarium. If your fish gets it you will see tiny spots in the bodies of your Angelfish. Ich can be cured with proper care.
Angelfish are not only great to have because they are splendid to look at but because it is not very difficult to provide them proper care as well. You just need to know a few important facts about how to care for them and you will have healthy freshwater angelfish.
Some Common and general Tips for Proper Angelfish Care
* If you are treating your angelfish for some disease, do raise the tank temperature as well.
* It is always a good option to keep angelfish alone in a tank so that they do not get diseases from other fish.
* Do not give stress to your angelfish just after their spawning.
* Angelfish can live up to 10 or 12 years. All depends upon your care.
* Angelfish like peaceful and calm atmosphere.
* For breeding successfully you should always separate the fry from the parents because the parents can sometimes eat their own babies.

Giraff

Giraffes - Giraffa camelopardalis

 There are nine recognized subspecies of giraffe: Nigerian, Kordofan, Nubian, reticulated, Rothschild ), Masai, Thornicroft), Angolan and South African or Cape)


Description and Characteristics:
The Giraffe is the tallest of all mammals, on average they are 6ft tall at birth. They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns; each giraffe has it's own unique pattern. Giraffes have small "horns" or knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs are used to protect the head in fights.

Feeding/drinking Habits:
Their long necks help giraffes eat leaves from tall trees, typically acacia trees. The tongue of a giraffe can be as long as 45 cm.

If they need to, giraffes can go for several days without water. Instead of drinking, giraffes rely on remaining hydrated from the moisture content in the leaves they feed on.

Habitat:
Giraffes live in the savannahs of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall acacia trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains. Large populations of giraffe are found in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia.

Size & Lifespan
Males weigh between 2,400 and 4,000 pounds and are up to 18 feet tall. Female giraffes are smaller and lighter than males, and weight between 1,600 and 2,600 pounds and grow to be about 16 feet tall. A giraffe calf can be up to 6 ft tall at birth

Giraffes live for about 25 years in the wild

Reproduction:
The gestation period for giraffes is between 14-15 months. Generally there 16-month period between calving since this is such a long gestation period. Breeding can occur at any time of the year, with the conception peak generally happening the rainy season

Predators and Threats:
There is not direct threat to adult Giraffes from predators as they are too large. However, their calves are vulnerable and cannot defend themselves from usually lion and the spotted hyena.

Giraffes are hunted for their meat, coat and tails. The tail is prized for good luck bracelets, fly whisks and string for sewing beads. The coat is used for shield coverings. Habitat destruction and fragmentation are threats to giraffe populations.

Zebra

             The zebra is best known for the black and white striping pattern unique to each of the 3 species of zebra . Within a species, the pattern of the stripes is unique to each individual zebra, like with a human's fingerprint. There is some evidence that zebras recognize herdmates by their patterns. The plains zebra grows to around 1.5m high and about 2 m long. The Grevy can be much taller, some up to 15 hh. The average zebra weighs around 300kg, which is a similar weight to a horse.

There are 3 species of zebra, all three zebra species are found in Africa. Themountain zebra is sadly an endangered species and there are only a few left in the wild. The Hartman subspecies has a distinct dewlap on the throat. The striping pattern of a mountain zebra is similar to that of a plains zebra, but it has a unique gridiron pattern on the top of the rump. You would think that the zebra's stripes would make the zebra vulnerable to predators as it would be difficult to hide itself. If the zebra has to run away, the zebra's stripes actually help it to blend in with the rest of the fleeing herd, visually confusing predators who are trying to zero in on one specific animal.

                 One extinct subspecies of the Plains zebra, which was once found in great numbers in South Africa's Cape Province was the quagga. The quagga was distinguished from other zebras by having the usual zebra stripes on the front part of the body only. The stripes on the quagga gradually fade so its rear was only chestnut. The only quagga to have ever been photographed alive was a mare at the Zoological Society of London's Zoo in Regent's Park in 1870. She was 28 at the time and died a year or two later. Only after she died did zoologists realize she was the very last of her kind. The zebra is a common target for large carnivorous animals that are found in the zebra's habitat. The predators of the zebra include the lion, hyena and the crocodile along with other large mammals such as cheetahs and leopards that tend to hunt the smaller and more vulnerable members of the zebra herd. The zebra's defenses include its very powerful kick, which can break the jaw of a lion. It also has an explosive takeoff and can sprint at good speed for a short distance.

Zebras live together on the African plains in large herds often with or close to other herbivorous mammals such as antelope and wildebeest. Along with the wildebeest , the zebra takes part in the annual great migration following the rains across Africa. Herbivores do this in order to get the best grazing as the grass is at its best after the rain has passed over it. The female zebra usually gives birth to just one zebra foal after a 12 month gestation period. Female zebras have been known to give birth to zebra twins but it is a fairly fair occurrence. Zebra foals are able to stand and run about just hours after birth and remain close the mother zebra until they are big enough to look out for themselves.

It has been known for zebras to occasionally mate with donkeys and horses resulting in a zonkey foal. This is thought to happen extremely rarely in the wild and the zonkey is infertile meaning that it cannot produce offspring of its own. There has also been a documented case of a Grevy zebra mating with a Grant zebra in the wild, producing an interspecies zebra hybrid. The conformation is intermediate between the two. It has Grevy pinstripes arranged in a Grantlike pattern. Like other interspecies hybrids it is sterile.