Facts about Seals

The fin footed creatures are also part of a super family of the carnivora order. Research has revealed that seals or pinnipeds are descendants of a bear-like ancestor that roamed the earth 23 million years ago! Seals have slender and sleek bodies that are shaped like barrels. They spend most of their lives within the aquatic habitat they inhabit. They have short and wide flippers. The smallest seal on record is the Galapagos seal that weighs nearly 30 kg, while the largest on record is the southern bull elephant seal that weighs more than 2,000 kg!

The seals with ears are also referred to as 'walking seals' and include the fur seals and the gorgeous sea lions. The walking seals can move on all fours on land and are social animals that put their rear flippers to optimized use, while covering terrestrial habitats. The larger fore-flippers enable maneuverability expertise in water, but it is their dog-like snouts that make them distinctly different from their cousins the true seals. While sea lions are generally larger than fur seals, recent genetic evidence highlights the close relationship between the two.

The 'true seals' are the ones without ears. They are also referred to as phocids. They are the most diverse pinnipeds that are distinctly different because of their streamlined snouts. They live most of their lives in the water and their well-developed rear flippers make them swimming experts. These aquatically adapted phocids flaunt undulating body movements while swimming. Their physiological adaptations through evolution gear them for deep and long distance migration. They look very clumsy on land, wobbling from side to side, wriggling their front flippers and stomach muscles.

The exclusive seal family species is that of the walrus, the only surviving member of the odobenidae family of seals. The walrus is distinguished with its tusks and bulk that can sometimes exceed 2000 kg! They display features that are a perfect blend of those displayed by the walking seals and true seals. They not only have the ability to turn their rear flippers forward, but also display whole body movements while swimming. Walruses do not have external ears and feed on clams and benthic invertebrates. They feed well on molluscs and adopt a unique squirt and suck method while feeding.

Seals have short limbs that have evolved into flippers in time. Their fingers and toes are 'woven' or bound together by skin, with claws on the front flippers or back flippers. The cause for the small size in their flippers springs from the fact that the density of water is more than that of air. The pinnipeds are weightless when in water and this enables them to remain still within and perform all the feats that they do, to entertain large numbers of onlookers. They conserve oxygen longer underwater and are able to resist more pain and fatigue than other mammals.

They have a thick layer of blubber under their skin which serves a dual purpose. It keeps the mammal warm in winter and provides buoyancy. Newborns have no blubber. They also trap the warmth and energy of the sun beneath their fur, in the underfur on the skin. They do shed their fur, which is also referred to as molting. They can see above and in the water; however, when diving, a membrane covers and protects its eyes. The nostrils of the seal also close when the mammal is diving and is underwater. The sex organs like the testicles in males and the mammary glands in females are located under the skin. They have whiskers that help them to navigate. They are able to relate to direction and sound underwater, with the help of the sensors in their skull. These sensors absorb the sounds underwater and transmit the same to the brain. They feed on other marine creatures. The bulls breed several dozen females in a single season and have exclusive harems!

Kangaroo Facts

The kangaroo is a marsupial (mammal having belly pouch), relegated as a symbol of Australia. So, you can guess the habitat distribution of this wonderful animal. A member of the Australian animals list, kangaroo facts are very interesting to study. While some known it as the one that carries offspring in belly pouch, others remember it as the animal that hops and moves forward instead of running. Scroll down to find realities about kangaroo, which will leave you wondering about this amazing creature.

Interesting Facts about Kangaroos

The origin of the word 'kangaroo' is still doubtful. While a male kangaroo is called a buck, jack or boomer, the female is known as doe, jill or flyer. The young one is referred to as a joey. In simple words to describe animal facts, a kangaroo is identified a four-legged animal, resembling a deer in head appearance (without horns), which can stand upright on its two hind legs and jump like a frog does.

In total, there are about 50 types of kangaroos, including the small versions. Of all the kangaroo species, the red kangaroo is the largest. In fact, it is the biggest marsupial in the world. Collectively, they are grouped under the taxonomic family Macropodidae, sharing family with wallaroos, wallabies and tree kangaroos. The word 'mob' is used to signify a group of kangaroos.

The larger species leaps to about 6 feet high, and covers a larger distance in one jump. It is the big feet (a character for all members of the Macropodidae family) and stronger hind legs that make this mammal a perfectionist in hopping. The small head and strong muscular tail used for balancing the body are other adaptive features of kangaroos.

Kangaroos are true herbivores. They prefer grazing grasses for deriving their nutrition, while some species feed on young shoots of plants. The tree kangaroos, on the other hand, have wider food alternatives, with their diet encompassing small birds and eggs of other animals in the wild.

The specialized teeth enable kangaroos to feed on grasses close to the ground. Similar to pandas, the kangaroo's digestive system is adapted for low nutritious and high fibrous foods. They regurgitate food and churn again. These kangaroos facts about digestion are similar to other rudimentary animals. Bacterial strains present in the stomach aid in reducing methane gas production.

The abdominal pouch (marsupium) serves as a carrier for the young joey, until it completes its postnatal growth and development. On the underside, it has four teats. Despite being the largest marsupial, one of the astounding red kangaroo facts is the small joey size at birth, which is compatible to a lima bean in size.

The joey lacks ears and eyes, and looks like a pinkish colored, hairless worm. And to add your fascination, only a single joey is born at a time, or in a year. Immediately after birth, the young one climbs to its mother's pouch. It continues to suckle for 12 months or so, and remain in its mother's pouch for 9 months. Many a time, kangaroos carry an embryo, which does not develop till the previous joey stops suckling its mother.

Like the emus bird, it is impossible for kangaroo to move backward. Despite kangaroo habitat distribution in Australia, its forward moving behavior inspires the Australians to use it as a national symbol. Some more fun facts about kangaroo are listed below.

• The number of kangaroos is increasing day-by-day in its native habitats. It is found that the population of kangaroo in Australia is higher than humans.
• During movement, the two legs of kangaroo are dependent upon each other, or one leg cannot move independently. Hence, these animal species hop instead of walking normally.
• The fast hopping of a kangaroo is an adaptation. It can move to a speed of approximately 56 km per hour, with each leap covering 25 feet at a stretch.
• Kangaroos are gifted with good eyesight for spotting moving things. They can swivel their ears for collecting sound waves from all directions.
• Even though kangaroos need water, these Australian marsupials rarely drink it. In fact, the green vegetation serves as a source for deriving water required for survival.
• A red kangaroo at mature stage can live without water for several months. The nocturnal behavior also aids in conserving water from getting lost through sweating.
• Kangaroos have a socializing nature, and prefer to live in groups. A mob size can be just 2 kangaroos, or as large as 100 kangaroos.
• While defending, the forelimbs without thumbs are used for boxing, while the stronger hind legs give strong kicks. The male often fight amongst themselves to get attention from females.

So, weren't the above kangaroo facts fascinating? On an average, kangaroos live for 6 years or more in the wild, but there are also reports suggesting the lifespan of this marsupial animal to be as long as 23 years. In a study report related to global warming solutions and reducing agricultural emissions, some scientists strongly opine the need for farming kangaroos instead of cattle for meat.

Bearded Dragon Facts

The term 'bearded dragon' is most often used for Central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), which isn't surprising considering that this species is by far the most popular of the lot. In a broad sense, all the species belonging to genus Pogona, including the Lawson's dragon (Pogona henrylawsoni), western bearded dragon (Pogona minor), and eastern bearded dragon (Pogona barbata), are known as 'bearded dragons' - a name which can be attributed to the presence of beard-like scales along their throat and neck.

Facts about the Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are found throughout Australia. They have a wedge-shaped head, which appears larger than the rest of their body. Males can be identified by the presence of two hemipenal bulges on the stomach near the base of their tail. The pointed ridges can be seen along their flat bodies. Of the 8 identified species, 6 are highly recommended as pets because of their docile nature.

• Bearded dragons belong to genus Pogona in the Agamidae family of lizards.
• On an average, they measure somewhere around 13 to 24 inches and weigh 10 to 20 oz.
• In the wild, they are found in arid deserts and woodlands.
• They are cold-blooded animals, i.e. their body temperature changes with that of their surroundings.
• They have a limited ability to change their colors. Softer colors reflect most of the sunlight, which helps them regulate their body temperature.
• Whenever, they feel threatened or want to establish their territory, they flex muscles in the throat region and flare the scales along the throat, neck and head.
• These lizards can run on their hind legs to get away from their predator. Although, this is slower than running on all four legs, it helps them to regulate their body temperature, by lifting their body off the hot ground and increasing the distance covered.
• When interacting between themselves, these lizards resort to sign language, like head bobbing to show dominance and hand-waving for submission.
• In captivity, they have a life expectancy of 7-10 years.
• Because of the international ban on animal trading, bearded dragons that are sold in the USA and Great Britain are captive bred locally.

Habitat in Captivity

It is easy to provide a proper habitat for these creatures. An aquarium, with a lid, laid with the newspaper as the substrate (or any other digestible substrate) will do. You can also use Astroturf or carpet as the substrate. Avoid using gravel, wood shavings, pine shavings and potting soil laced with the fertilizers or insecticides as these can harm your pet. For an adult bearded dragon, a 60 gallon aquarium, and for hatchlings, a 20 gallon aquarium will suffice.

Wire cages are not advisable as they cannot trap the heat and at the same time, it increases the chances of injury to foot and mouth. Bearded dragons, being cold-blooded animals, prefer steady temperature, which can be provided by installing a heat source and/or a light source. If you are going to keep the dragon's aquarium indoor, then install a ultra-violet light source, along with the visible light source. It is necessary to maintain the temperature in the range of 78-88 F as this will promote proper digestion and overall pet health.

Bearded Dragon Care Guide

Care and maintenance includes cleaning its cage, insect bowl, water dish with a sanitizing solution, once a week. Once in a week, your bearded dragon will need a bath. This will not just keep it clean, but will also keep it well hydrated. If you have more than one dragons in the same enclosure, then, make sure that the biggest one is not keeping the rest away from the food and the heat source. Remove your small-sized pet, to some other enclosure.

Providing a balanced diet, is also a way of providing proper care. These creatures are omnivorous, and eat insects and vegetation. Insects like crickets and meal worms, can be included in their diet. Inclusion of food items, such as red leaf lettuce, carrots, collard greens, peas, squash, corn, will also be of some help. The bearded dragon may need supplementation in the form of calcium and vitamin D3. Although, they derive water from the food they eat, provide a dish of drinking water.

Most of the bearded dragons that are sold at the pet shops are bred in captivity. When buying one, you should look out for an active specimen; as lack of movement and mucus in eyes are telltale signs of health problems in these species.

Random Funny Facts

The world is full of weird, yet amusing things and facts which are unbelievably true. Here are some interesting and funny facts that will give you a good laugh.

Fun Random Facts About Life

• You burn more calories while sleeping than you do while watching television.
• The pupil of the eye expands 45% if it finds something pleasing to look at!
• The average person falls asleep in just seven minutes!
• Words form only 7% of our communication with others, including one's spouse. Tone of voice accounts for 38% and body language is responsible for 55% of the messages spouses receive from each other!
• Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories per hour!
• The human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet (9 m).
• Alexander, the Great made his soldiers remain clean-shaven, so the enemy couldn't grab them by the beards and stab them with their swords!
• The average person makes 1,140 phone calls a year!
• The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb!
• If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction!
• The people in Bali have either of these four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman, and Ketut!

... About Women

• It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if your name is Mary.
• Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better than men!
• More than half of the female population would prefer to receive a trip as a gift, rather than jewelry or lingerie!
• Due to kids, TV, the Internet, jobs, hobbies, home and family responsibilities, an average married couple spends just four minutes a day alone, together!
• When four or more women get together, they talk about men!
• The two highest IQ's ever recorded, both, belong to women!
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men!

... About Men

• Men love to be the first to read the newspaper in the morning. Not being the first is upsetting to their psyche!
• Most men hate to shop. Maybe that's why the men's department is usually on the first floor of a department store!
• Men forget everything; but women remember everything!
• When four or more men get together, they talk about sports!
• Men laugh louder, longer and more frequently than women!

... About Animals

• The elephant is the one and only animal having 4 knees.
• A dolphin sleeps keeping one eye open!
• A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
• Male bats have the highest rate of homosexuality among mammals!
• A goldfish has a memory span of merely three months!
• Magnetic ants are called so, because they always build their nests pointing north and south!
• A group of ravens is called a murder!
• There are more chickens than people in the world!
• Cockroaches can live for more than one week without its head. Then they die due to starvation!
• Interestingly human birth control pills are found to work for gorillas as well!
• The eyes of the chameleon can move independently and hence, it can see in two different directions at the same time.
• When a giraffe's baby is born, it falls from a height of six feet, without being hurt!

Dolphin Facts for Kids

Dolphins have always been a mysterious marine animal that leave us awestruck owing to their beauty and intelligence. Among kids, who generally love animals, there is a deep sense of curiosity and desire to know more about this fascinating animal.

Dolphin Facts for Children
For kids and students, often Dolphin facts are required for completing their school assignments. So, kids in case you're searching for some interesting Dolphin facts for projects then you've come at the correct place.

Fun Facts Related to Dolphins
Dolphins are believed to be one of the oldest mammals and they evolved some 60 millions years ago! If you check out a list of aquatic mammals, they are one of the most developed aquatic mammals. No other marine animal can match the IQ as that of Dolphins who're amazing at communication and understanding their friend's responses. And did you know that there are nearly 32 - 40 types of Dolphins, each fabulous in its own way. The body design and color of these animals is always a beauty to watch. Their skin is particularly amazing. If you ever got an opportunity to touch a Dolphin (whoa!), you must have found that the skin for majority of these animals is very smooth and almost slippery. The killer whale, that we're generally afraid of is, a type of Dolphin. And don't you want to know where do these animals live? Well, their major habitats all across the globe are in continental shelves and shallow seawater. They have the ability to eat nearly 22 kilos of fish per day. Can u imagine? Well, that is, for sure, owing to their huge size. Their average size is nearly 8 feet, that is 2.5 meters and the weight equals between 200 - 300 Kg. However, among the diverse species, the sizes may vary significantly. Kids, do you know which is the smallest Dolphin in the world? No? Well, I'll tell you, the smallest Dolphin in the world is the Maui's Dolphin, that is just 1.2 meters in length and weighs around 40 Kg. And what about the longest and heaviest? The longest Dolphin in the world is the Male Orcas that grows as long as 25 feet (nearly 8 m) and weights 19000 pounds (8618 Kg)!. Well, these are certainly some very interesting facts about Dolphins. Fascinating, isn't it?

Bottlenose Dolphins
If you single out species of Dolphins among top 3, then you can't forget bottlenose Dolphins. These are one of the most intelligent, charismatic and beautiful creature and they grace many of the world's best aquariums. They have the unique ability to swim at a speed of nearly 30 Km/hr and they can make 1,000 clicking noises per second!

It is these sounds that travel underneath water, encounter object and then bounce back to the Dolphins telling them the presence of dangers or food. They also use this method to communicate to each other. Bottlenose Dolphins were once hunted abundantly for meat, oil and skin. However, nowadays, their numbers have decreased drastically and they face serious threats for extinction. We all should come together to save them.

These are certainly advanced creatures and mankind must make efforts to preserve them.

Koala Facts

When I look at this thick furred fluffy animal, all I can think of is to hold the animal in my hands. The cute little koalas make me smile to no end. However, it is just recently that I found out that these are not bears. Shocked though I was, I looked up for some other koala facts and today I will present these facts to you. Some of these are fun facts and some are just, well, koala bear facts. Let me list them down for you.

Interesting Koala Facts

Let us find out the various facts about the koala which are quite interesting.

• Koalas are not bears, they belong to the marsupial family. Marsupials are those who carry their young ones in pouches like the kangaroos.
• Scientifically, the koala is known as Phascolarctos Cinereus and is one of the various Australian animals.
• The fur of a koala is soft and like wool.
• Koala is gray in color with white patches on stomach, chest and chins.
• Koala are native to Australia with the largest population in the eastern and southern Australia and are not found in western Australia.
• Koalas are nocturnal animals. Nocturnal animals mean they sleep during the day and are awake in the nights. However, in the case of koalas, they sleep for some time in the night and they move around during the day too. They sleep for almost 18 hours during the day.
• Another koala fact, is that they eat food that is not only toxic but is also low in nutrition and very fibrous. Experts believe that eating such food is the reason why koalas sleep a lot.
• One of the Australian koala facts is that those koalas who live in south Australia have thicker fur and are larger than those living in the northern part of Australia.
• Koalas living in the northern part of Australia are brown in color and are shorter than the ones staying in south Australia.
• Koalas love the eucalyptus tress where they stay throughout their life.
• Koalas sleep in the fork of the eucalyptus tree.
• Koalas have two opposable thumbs and three fingers. The opposable thumbs assist the koalas in climbing the trees easily and catching their foods in their paws.
• Do you know what do koala bears eat? Koalas love the eucalyptus trees and they eat the leaves and bark of this tree. The eucalyptus leaves are poisonous for other animals.
• The koalas have a fiber digesting organ in their body. This organ is called a caecum and is 200 centimeters in length. It contains bacteria which help the koala digest the eucalyptus leaves.
• A full-grown koala eats about one kilogram of leaves in a night.
• They do not drink water unless they are ill. If they find the leaves of the tree to be dry, only then they make an exception and drink some water.
• Koalas were hunted for their fun till the 1920s after which the Government was forced to protect them. Unfortunately many koalas were killed by then, and the animal would have become extinct. Fortunately, they are breeding now and are protected from being hunted. However, their habitat is still being destroyed making koalas endangered species.
• People are trying to make a law which will entitle them to keep koala bears as pets.

Koala Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts of the koala bears for you.

• Koalas have a very large nose which has developed a high sense of smell in this animal.
• Koalas when born, are two centimeters long.
• The maximum height of a koala is 34 inches and the maximum weight of a male koala is about 14 kilograms. The female koala weighs around 1 kilograms only.
• Koalas live for about 15 years.
• The males have a scent gland on its chest. This gland gives out a dark sticky substance which the males rub on the trees, thus marking the tree as theirs.
• Whenever koalas communicate with each other, they use many kinds of noises. They roar and sometimes their noises sound as snores!!
• There is a lot of similarity between the fingerprints of a koala and of human beings.

Baby Koala Facts

Now for some koala facts for kids.

• The baby koala is called joey.
• Only one joey a year is born to one mother koala.
• The joey is about 2 centimeters long, when it is born and is blind. It also does not have any fur on it.
• The baby drinks only milk from its mother till it becomes 7 months old.
• Till the baby becomes 7 months old, it stays in the mother's pouch.
• When the baby grows and stops drinking milk, it cannot eat the eucalyptus leaves as these leaves are difficult to digest. In order to be able to digest these leaves, they need the bacteria in their caecum. They get this bacteria from their mother's droppings. This makes the baby get the necessary bacteria needed to process its food.
• After coming out of the mother's pouch, the baby rids on the mother's back for some weeks.
• When the koalas become 4 years old, they are considered as being grown up.

I hope you find these koala facts interesting and informative. Unfortunately, these animals are killed by dogs or they die in accidents as they are losing their koala bear habitat. It is necessary to make stricter laws and protect these lovely furry animals from becoming extinct.

Iguana Facts

Iguanas are herbivorous lizards from the reptile family, predominantly found in the forests of Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands and southern Brazil. These diurnal lizards are 5 - 7 feet long and weigh about 11 - 18 pounds. The habitat includes thick canopies near lakes and mangrove swamps where food availability is sufficient. They are excellent swimmers and usually feed on fruits, flowers and leaves and at times on insects. Iguanas are arboreal lizards and the only time they come on the ground is during mating season. They follow an activity cycle which involves more resting and less foraging and feeding activity. These lizards are well-known for their impressive defense mechanism. Due to their greenish-gray leathery scales, they are often referred as green iguana.

Green Iguana
Green iguanas are also called bamboo chickens. An adult is approximately 7 feet long and weighs about 18 pounds. It has sharp claws that help to climb trees and its back has spines running from the head to the tail tip. This reptile also has a dewlap beneath the chin. The teeth structure is sharp and serrated to chew food properly. Juveniles are brightly colored and it is difficult to determine their gender until they attain their sexual maturity. This becomes evident with the appearance of a rusty red color on their scaly skin. An iguana usually takes about 18 months to mature completely.

An adult male is larger than its female counterpart and is more aggressive in nature. The stronger males dominate the weaker ones and demarcate their territories indicating their superiority. This is also a reason why these lizards are considered social animals.

Mating season starts from November and continues till March, depending on the region. During this time the femoral pore secretion is more in males than in females. Usually this secretion is a sign to attract the opposite sex or demarcate territories. Before mating the females choose males that are more aggressive and start building their nests on sandy grounds after a gestation period of two months. The babies hatch approximately two months before the onset of rains.

Green iguanas live as long as 20 years with proper care and attention. In zoos, they are fed with salads containing lettuce, carrots and potatoes. They have been listed endangered species on CITES Appendix II due to the continuing depletion of rain forests and wildlife.

Desert Iguana
Desert iguanas are mostly found in the arid regions of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, south eastern California and Mexico. Unlike their green counterparts, they are reddish-brown in color and have a round body structure with a long tail. They usually seek shelter in creeks of rocks and creosote bushes whose flowers happen to be a source of food for them. They hibernate until March and their breeding season starts in late April-May. The eggs hatch in late August. Desert iguanas get a pinkish tinge on their bellies during the mating season. They are believed to sustain a temperature as high as 115 C.

Marine Iguana
Marine iguanas unlike the above ones are different. They are found in the Galapagos islands of South America. These lizards are usually black in color and are equipped with special salt glands to shed off the extra salt content from the food they eat. They thrive on marine foods like algae and sea weeds. These lizards find a mention in the discoveries made by Charles Darwin, who was the first to observe that iguanas are cold blooded marine reptiles. Therefore they cannot stay in water for long, and so after collecting food, they bask in the shores to sustain normal body temperature. These reptiles are also listed under CITES Appendix II and are strictly protected under the laws of Ecuador. Marine iguanas are often referred to as Galapagos Marine Iguanas.

Fun Facts
Green iguanas make good pets. Due to their fascinating colors and quick reflexes, children are most likely to get attracted to them. But before raising them as pets, there are a few tips mentioned below, concerning reptile care.

• Iguanas must be housed in cages which are at least 6 feet high and 12 feet wide and deep. The cages must be equipped with ultra violet light facility and a temperature of 70 - 80 C that helps them in digesting food.
• These lizards are herbivores and hence should be fed with vegetarian diet only. They also draw water out of the food they eat, and hence can be fed with green beans, melons and strawberries. No animal protein supplements must be given.
• Like all animals, iguanas also show signs of aggression during mating season. During this period, they should be left along with their female partners until the mating season gets over.
• Stuffed toys are also put inside the cages to play. They are social animals after all and like to nibble and chew whatever comes their way.
• Small children should not be allowed near them as this reptile has sharp teeth and claws which might be used for self defense.

These lizards are some of the most exotic pets. Their eggs are sold as delicacies in some parts of America. Even during crocodile hunting expeditions, iguanas are often used as baits to catch crocodiles.