Snowy Owl

  
The Life of Animals | Snowy Owl | This yellow-eyed, black billed white bird is easily recognizable. Also, these birds can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 3 kilograms (3.5 to 6.6 lb). It is one of the largest species of owl in North America and is on average the heaviest owl species. The adult male is virtually pure white, but Females and young birds have some dark scalloping; the young are Heavily barred, and dark spotting may even predominate. Its thick plumage, Feathered Heavily taloned feet, and coloration render the Snowy Owl well-adapted for life north of the Arctic Circle.  Snowy Owl calls are varied, but the alarm call is a barking, almost quacking crick-crick; the female also has a softer mewling pyee pyee-or-Prek Prek.

This powerful bird relies primarily on lemmings and other small rodents for food during the breeding season, but at times of low prey density, or Ptarmigan during the nesting period, They may switch to favoring juvenile Ptarmigan.  Some of the larger mammal prey includes Hares, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, prairie dogs, rats, moles, and entrapped furbearers. Birds preyed upon include Ptarmigan, grouse other ducks, geese, shorebirds, Pheasants, grouse, Coots, grebes, Gulls, songbirds, raptors and other events, Including other owl species. Snowy Owls are also known to eat fish and carrion.

Snowy Owls, like many other birds, swallow small prey Their whole. Biologists frequently examine these pellets to determine the quantity and types of prey the birds have eaten. When large prey are eaten in small pieces, pellets will not be produced. During the nesting season, the Owls regularly defend against arctic foxes Their nests, corvids and swift flying jaegers as well as dogs, gray wolves and avian predators. Both sexes attack approaching predators, dive-bombing them and Engaging in distraction displays to draw the predator away from a nest.  Some species nesting near snowy owl nests, Such as the snow goose, seem to benefit from the protection of snowy owls That drive competing predators out of the area.

Kestrel

 

  
The Life of Animals | Kestrel | The name kestrel, (from French crécerelle, ie crécelle derivative from Ratchet) is given to Several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Other Falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing.  Kestrels require a slight headwind in order to hover, Hence a local name of Windhover for Common Kestrel. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads.

Kestrels do not build nests Their Own, but use nests built by other species. Most species termed Kestrels Appear to form a distinct clade Among the Falcons, as suggested by comparison of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Groombridge et al., 2002) and morphology.  The most basal "true" Kestrels are three species from Africa and its surroundings the which lack a malar stripe, and in one case have, like other Falcons true but unlike other large Kestrels areas of gray in their wings.

Approximately during the Gelasian (Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene, around 2.5-2 mya), the main lineage of true Kestrels emerged; this contains the species characterized by a malar stripe.  More enigmatic is a group of 3 predominantly gray species from Africa and Madagascar.  The American Kestrel is the only New World species termed "kestrel".

Hornet

 

The Life of Animals | Hornet | If a hornet is killed near a nest the which it may release pheromones can cause the other Hornets to attack.  Generally Yellowjackets are smaller than the Hornets and are bright yellow and black, whereas Often the Hornets may be black and white wasp and bee-see characteristics. Another major difference is the Hornets and Yellowjackets Between each of Their food choices and aggression towards Humans. In autumn, Yellowjackets may be attracted to human foods and food wastes, Increasing Between Potentially aggressive contact Yellowjackets and Humans

Stings Hornets have used to kill prey and defend nests. Hornet Stings are more painful to Humans than typical hornet wasp venom contains Stings Because a large amount (5%) of acetylcholine.See Schmidt Sting Pain Index. Individual Hornets can sting multiple times; unlike typical bees, Hornets and Wasps do not die after stinging Because Their Stingers are not barbed and are not pulled out of Their bodies. The toxicity of hornet Stings According to hornet species varies; some deliver just a typical insect sting, while others are known Among the most Venomous insects hornet Single Stings in Themselves are not fatal, except Sometimes to allergic Victims.  The Stings of the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica) are the most Venomous known. People who are allergic to wasp venom are also allergic to hornet Stings.

Some other large Wasps are Sometimes Referred to as the Hornets, most bald-faced Notably the hornet (Dolichovespula maculataand) found in North America. The name "hornet" is used for this and related species, primarily Because of Their habit of making aerial nests (similar to the true Hornets) rather than subterranean nests.

Carpenter bee

  

The Life of Animals | Carpenter bee | In Several species, Females live alongside the daughters or sisters Their Own, creating a sort of social group. They use wood bits to form partitions Between the cells in the nest. A few species bore holes in wood Dwellings.  In the United States, there are two eastern species, Xylocopa virginica, and Xylocopa micans, and three other species are primarily western in That distribution, varipuncta Xylocopa, Xylocopa Xylocopa californica and tabaniformis orpifex.

Males of some species have a white or yellow face, where the Females do not; males also have much larger eyes Often than the Females, the which relates to Their mating behavior. Male bees are Often seen hovering near nests, and will approach nearby animals.  Female carpenter bees are capable of stinging, but They are docile and rarely sting unless caught in the hand or otherwise directly Provoked. The exact nature of the relationship is not fully Understood, though in other bees That carry mites, the mites are beneficial, feeding either on fungi in the nest, or on other, harmful mites Carpenter bees are solitary bees Traditionally Considered, though some species have simple social nests in the which mothers and daughters may cohabit.

Carpenter bees the make nests by tunneling into wood, vibrating Their bodies as They rasp Their mandibles against the wood, each nest having a single entrance the which may have many adjacent tunnels. Carpenter bees do not eat wood. The provision Masses of some species are Among the most complex in shape of any group of bees; whereas most bees fill Their Brood cells with a soupy mass, and others form simple spheroidal pollen Masses, Xylocopa form elongate and carefully sculpted Masses That Several projections have the which keep the bulk of the mass from coming into contact with the cell walls, resembling an irregular caltrop Sometimes.

Species in the which the males have large eyes are characterized by a mating system where the males either search for Females by patrolling, or by hovering and waiting for passing Females, whom Pursue They then. The pheromone advertises the presence of the male to Females.

Wasp

 

  

The Life of Animals | Wasp | Male Yellowjacket Wasps, for example, have 13 divisions per antenna, while Females have 12.  The Difference Between Wasps sterile female workers and queens also varies Generally Between species, but the queen is noticeably larger than both males and other Females. Unlike bees, Wasps Generally lack plumose hairs. The type of nest produced by Wasps can depend on the species and location. Many social Wasps That Produce nests are constructed predominantly from paper pulp.

The Various species of Wasps fall into one of two main categories: social and solitary Wasps Wasps. Adult solitary Wasps live and operate alone, and most do not construct nests (below); all adult solitary Wasps are fertile. By contrast, social Wasps exist in Colonies numbering up to Several thousand individuals and build nests in some cases but not all of the colony can reproduce. In some species, just the wasp queen and male Wasps can mate, whilst the majority of the colony is made up of sterile female workers. Like all insects, Wasps have a hard exoskeleton covering Their three main body parts.

Social Wasps also use other types of nesting material mixed in with That Become the nest and it is common to find nests located near to the plastic pool or trampoline covers Incorporating distinct bands of color That Reflect the inclusion of these materials have simply been That chewed up and mixed with wood fibers to give a unique look to the nest. Again each species of social wasp Appears to Favour its own specific range of nesting sites. By contrast solitary Wasps are parasitic or predatory and Generally only the latter build nests at all. Unlike honey bees, Wasps have no wax producing glands. Wood fibers are gathered locally from Weathered wood, softened by chewing and mixing with saliva.

Not all social castes That Wasps have are physically different in size and structure.  All female Wasps are Potentially capable of Becoming a colony's queen and this process is determined by the which Often female successfully lays eggs first and begins construction of the nest. Evidence Suggests That Females Compete amongst each other by eating the eggs of other rival Females.  Polistine nests are considerably smaller than many other social wasp nests, housing only around 250 Typically Wasps, compared to the Several thousand common with Yellowjackets, and have the smallest stenogastrines Colonies of all, rarely with more than a dozen Wasps in a mature colony.

Bumble bee

The Life of Animals | Bumble bees | Bumble bees are found in higher latitudes Typically and / or high altitudes, though exceptions exist (there are a few Lowland tropical species) A few species (Bombus polaris and B. alpinus) range into very cold climates where other bees Might not be found B . Bumble bees Their body temperature can regulate, via solar radiation, internal Mechanisms of "shivering" and radiative cooling from the abdomen (called heterothermy). Other bees have similar physiology, but the Mechanisms have been best studied in Bumble bees.

The eggs hatch develop into female That workers, and in time the queen populates the colony, with workers feeding the young and performing other duties similar to honey bee workers.  According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the term Bumble bee was first recorded as having been used in the English language in the 1530 work by John Palsgrave Lesclarcissement, "I bomme, as a bombyll bee dothe."  The latter term was used in A Midsummer Night's Dream (circa 1600) by William Shakespeare, "The honie-bags steale from the humble Bees."

"Said the Bumble Bee." In the post-World War II era, however, be humble-bee fell into near-total disuse. The orchestral interlude "Flight of the Bumblebee" was composed (circa 1900) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to Represent the turning of Prince Guidon to visit his father, Tsar Saltan, in the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, although the music is Considered to Reflect more accurately the flight of a Bluebottle than a bumblebee.The music inspired Walt Disney to feature a Bumble bee in his 1940 animated musical Fantasia and have it sound as if it were flying in all parts of the theater.  The archaic English colloquialism dumbledor (also used for cockchafers) is the source of the name Albus Dumbledore, a fictional character from the Harry Potter series (1997-2007).  

Spiderman Agamas

  

The Life of Animals | Spiderman Agamas | The Mwanza Flat-headed religion or Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Religion (Religion mwanzae) is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae, found in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya. The male's head, neck and shoulders are bright red or violet, while the dark blue body. The female is mostly brown and is difficult, to distinguish from other female agamas. This species is Often confused with the Red-headed Rock Religion (Christian religion).

Religion species are Widely spread throughout areas of Africa. Agamas are most Often found in semi-dessert or scrubland environments. House Spiderman agamas in groups of 1.3 and during breeding season should introduce a second male to see if a roll of dominance helps with the captive breeding of this species.

 

Provide a shallow water bowl clean at all times. Agamas enclosure each morning mist of morning dew allowing simulating the agamas to lap up water off the glass enclosure and cage furnishings. Spiderman agamas reach an average length of 6-9 inches with Females usually being smaller.

Narwhal

  

The Life of Animals | Narwhal | Narwhal (monodon monoceros) is the name of one of the most whales are not known to man. The name "narwhal" is derived from the Old Norse language which means "corpse whale". Narwhal is a toothed whale-consuming and includes carnivorous marine animals such as fish, shrimp, or squid The mysterious spiral narwhal horn was functioning as a giant sensor to help determine the quality of water and to "smell" other narwhal. towel narwhal whales that could reach 2.4 meters in length it has long been a puzzle the naturalist and hunter. Martin Nweeia, a researcher at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

According Nweeia, the horn seems to have a hydrodynamic sensing capabilities. Narwhal (monodon monoceros) is a type of whale, including very rare.  Nweeia team discovered that the narwhal horn similar to the membrane with a surface that is very sensitive.

Each whale narwhal (monodon monoceros) also use sound to communicate with each other like dolphins or other whales. Scientists have long known that marine mammals use sound signals to communicate with each other in the water. Recent research even suggests that the whales have dialects.

However, not much research to learn the identity of sounds like a narwhal whales. The researchers believe the narwhal whales use sound to identify each other and differ from one individual to individual. It is the scientists concluded after studying the sounds of three tails narwhal in Admiralty Bay on Baffin Island, Canada. They use electronic recorders attached to the body of the giant mammals. What do narwhal whales like bottle nose dolphins that also whistling noises to communicate. So with different voices, each one can distinguish the individual in the group or other groups.

Sockeye salmon

  

The Life of Animals | Sockeye salmon | Sockeye salmon ranges as far south as the Columbia River in the eastern Pacific (though individuals have been spotted as far south as the 10 Mile River on the Mendocino Coast of California) and northern Hokkaidō Island in Japan in the western Pacific, and as far north as Bathurst Inlet in the Canadian Arctic in the east and the Anadyr River in Siberia in the west. Nantahala Lake is the only spot in North Carolina where Kokanee salmon are found. Sockeye spawn mostly in streams having lakes in their watershed. The young fish, known as fry, spend up to three years in the freshwater lake before migrating to the ocean.

Some fish spend as long as four years in fresh water lakes before migrating. In rivers without lakes, many of the young move to the ocean soon after Hatching. The return Abundance (population) of Fraser River sockeye in 2009 was estimated at a very low 1,370,000, 13% of the pre-season forecast of 10,488,000. The Reasons for this (former) decline REMAIN speculative. The evidence indicated this reduced productivity Occurred after the juvenile fish began Their migration to the ocean.

Astonishingly, the number of sockeye returning to British Columbia was around 30 million in 2010, the largest sockeye run in 97 years, in bizarre contrast to the low Unexpectedly run in 2009. The Abundance of sockeye stocks in 2010 are estimated to be over 260% higher than the predicted 11.4 million salmon.  Sockeye is an exception to 2010's forecast Oregonian Resurgence of fish stocks. The sockeye population peaked at over 200.000 in 2008 and were forecast to decline to just over 100 000 in 2010. As an early indication of the Unexpectedly high sockeye run in 2010, on July 2, 2010, the United States Army Corps of Engineers reported over 300 000 That sockeye had passed over Bonneville Dam on the Columbia river. Lower temperatures in 2008 in North Pacific waters Brought fatter plankton which, along with the Greater outflows of Columbia River water, feeding the resurgent Populations

Proposed Legislative Efforts Such as the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act are Attempting to protect the Headwaters of the sockeye salmon by Preventing industrial development in roadless areas. U.S. sockeye salmon Populations are currently listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act by the National Marine Fisheries Service as an endangered species in the Snake River (Idaho, Oregon and Washington area) and as a Threatened species in Lake Ozette, Washington. Other sockeye Populations in the upper Columbia River and in Puget Sound (Washington) are not listed under the Act.

Ring Tailed cat

 

  
The Life of Animals | Ring Tailed cat | The Ringtail is buff to dark brown in color with white underparts and a flashy black and white striped tail That has 14-16 white and black stripes the which is longer than the rest of its body. The claws are short, straight, and semi-retractable. The eyes are large and purple, each surrounded by a patch of light fur. Ringtails have occasionally been hunted for Their pelts, but the fur is not valuable expecellay. The Ringtail is found in California, Colorado, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Nevada, Texas, Utah and throughout northern and central Mexico.

The Ringtail is the state mammal of Arizona. It is also found in the Great Basin Desert. The Great Basin Desert covers most of Nevada and over half of Utah, as well as parts of California, Idaho, and Oregon. The Ringtail Prefers to live in rocky habitats associated with water.  Ringtails mate in the spring.

Miners and settlers once kept pet ringtails to keep Their cabins free of vermin; Hence, the common name of "miner's cat" (though in fact the Ringtail is no more than it is civet cat). At least one biologist in Oregon has joked That the Ringtail is one of two species-the domestic cat and the Ringtail-that's Thus "Humans domesticated" due of that pattern of behavior.

Jumping spiders

 

  

The Life of Animals | Jumping spiders | Jumping spiders live in a variety of habitats. Euophrys omnisuperstes is a species reported to have been collected at the highest elevation, on the slopes of Mount Everest Jumping spiders have very good vision centered in their anterior median eyes (AME).  Some species (for example, Cosmophasis umbratica) are highly dimorphic in the UV spectrum, suggesting a role in sexual signaling (Lim & Li, 2005). Color discrimination has been demonstrated in Behavioral Experiments.

The principal, anterior median, eyes have high resolution (11 min. Visual angle), but the field of vision is narrow, from 2 to 5 degrees. However, the retina at the back of the tube-shaped anterior median eye to inspect objects can move off the direct axis of vision. Jumping spiders are Generally diurnal, active hunters. This enables the spiders to jump without having large muscular legs like a Grasshopper. Most jumping spiders can jump several times the length of Their body. Like many other spiders That Practically continuous leave a silk trail, jumping spiders impregnate the silk line with pheromones play a role in That social and reproductive communication, and possibly in navigation.

Certain species of jumping spiders ave been shown by experiment to be capable of learning, recognizing and remembering colors, and of adapting accordingly behviour Their hunting. Their umping spiders use vision in complex visual courtship displays. Often males are quite different in appearance from Females, and may have plumose hairs, colored or Iridescent hairs, front leg fringes, structures on other legs, and other, Often bizarre, modifications.

The male will then his front legs extend towards the female to touch her. Remains if the receptive female, the male will climb on the female's back and inseminate her with his palps. A 2008 study of the species in Current Biology Phintella vittatain female spiders Suggests That React to the male reflecting ultraviolet B light before mating, a finding That challenges the assumption held Previously That animals did not register ultraviolet B light. In recent years it has been Discovered That many jumping spiders may have auditory signals as well, with amplified sounds produced by the males sounding like buzzes or drum rolls

Redback spider

 

  
The Life of Animals | Redback spider | The female Redback has a round body about the size of a large pea (1 centimetre long), with long, slender legs. The body is a deep black color (occasionally brownish), Often containing an obvious orange to red longitudinal stripe on the upper abdomen. Juvenile spiders have additional white markings on the abdomen. In the process of mating, the much smaller male somersaults to place his abdomen over the female's mouthparts. In about 2 out of 3 cases, the female consumes the male while fully Continues mating. WHO males are not eaten die of Their injuries soon after mating.

The eating process allows for a longer period of copulation and fertilization of more eggs Thus Spake.  WHO Females have eaten a male are more Likely to reject subsequent males Although this prohibits the possibility of future mating for the males, this is not a serious disadvantage Because the spiders are sufficiently sparse That only 20% of males ever find a Their potential mate during lifetime. Males will bite through the exoskeleton and deliver sperm to the organs without performing the somersault seen in adult males mating with Females. The Females then moult within a few days and deliver a normal clutch of eggs.

A female spider may lay eggs every 25 to 30 days. A single female normally lays Between 40 and 300 eggs in each sac but can lay up to 5000 eggs. Young Redback spiders leave the maternal web by being Carried on the wind. The spider extends its abdomen high in the air and Produces a droplet of silk. The liquid silk is drawn out into a long Gossamer thread that, when long enough, carries the spider away. The Redback spider is commonly found in close proximity to human residences.