Natural World

Natural World: Reach Out

2010-12-16T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hello! December is officially Natural World's "Reach Out" month. So I'm here to encourage you to reach out to the animals in your community. So please:

Donate a dollar to your local animal shelter
Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue a street animal
Help your neighbors pet-sit
Feed the local strays

Do what you can to help the animals in need. Speak out for them.

Bengal Tigers

2010-12-16T16:18:00.001-08:00

Bengal tigers (panthera tigris tigris) are one of the six non-extinct subspecies of tiger. It is the least endangered subspecies, though it is still critically endangered. The Bengal tiger is most commonly found in southern India, and lives in tropical dry forest (where Asiatic Lions can be found) or tropical rain forests. They are the second largest of the tigers, seconding only to the Amur tiger.
Bengal tigers have two main genetic mutations. One is the wide-band gene, which causes the "Golden Tabby" or "Strawberry" color variation. The other is a gene which causes a white tiger. This can also occur with the Amur tiger, though it is considerably more rare. Despite common misconception, white tiger is a tiger that is white with black stripes, not an all white tiger.
Bengal tigers have 2-4 cubs in a litter, and stay with them for two years. The mother raises the cubs. They get taught how to hunt, how to fight, and how to survive. After those two years, the cubs leave the den, and rarely, if ever see each other again.
Despite their mostly solitary lifestyle, tigers sometimes form large groups known as streaks. The tigers help raise each other's cubs, care for each other when hurt, and though they hunt alone or in pairs, they hunt for the group.
So take a look at the local cat, then look at their majestic big cat cousin, the tiger. What do you see?

FUN FACTS:

Did you know that the scientific name of the Bengal tiger was once Panthera Tigris Bengalensis?I didn't even know that, and I'm a Bengal Tiger! I found this fact when I was searching the web for more infromation, and I found this on wikipedia.org

Bengal tigers are sometimes called Indian Tigers

From Magma to Mineral

2010-11-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hello! Tigrette is actually back! I've been busy with work lately and haven't been able to post!
I know I promised a post about Bengal Tigers, and don't worry, it'll be up soon. But in my spare time I wrote a science fiction story about the rock cycle called From Magma to Mineral. I wanted to share it with you!

From

Magma

Mineral

A sci-fi story explaining the rock cycle

My name is Akane. Brilliant red. I started out beneath the earth’s surface as magma. For years I stayed there; hidden from the eyes of anyone. Then I began to get pushed up. It was cooler here. I began to cool down. I felt my liquid body harden and trap me. I was an ingneous rock.

I kept on getting pushed up until I finally broke the surface of the earth. I stayed there for a while before waves began to bash against me. It hurt. A lot. I was in pieces, I was sediment. It was horrible- being broken up like that. Then something began to seep down between the peices of me. Whatever it was fused me together again. Differently, yes, but together all the same.

I continued on as siltstone. Then the plates shifted. I fell down, down down. I was warped and changed and I was heated to my limit. I liquified. I stayed as magma for a long while. I bubbled up again and crystallized as granite. I got heated again and warped once more, though I didn’t liquify this time. I was metamorphic rock.

Water bashed against me and I broke apart again. oh, HOW I HATED THIS PAIN! But Iwas fused again. I was happy to be whole. Yet it happened again. I was broken. Then I was pushed downward and I melted. Today I am still magma.

I hope you liked the story!

HAPPY "NEW" YEAR!

2010-07-05T19:05:00.001-07:00

Hi! This is a very, very hyper Tigrette here (I think I'm sugar high or something). I know its not new years and I did promise to do a Bengal Tigers post, and being a tiger, whether you say it in Spanish, Japanese or English, I am still a tiger and as one i am true to my word. So don't worry about that, a Bengal Tiger post is on the way. But, this is priority. Natural World has been on the web for one year as of today! So, I'd like to acknowledge a few people! TO MY SUBSCRIBERS (FROM ALL YEAR, EVEN IF THEY'VE UNSUBSCRIBED) THANK YOU: CAMDOOZER! AMELIA HULME! MADDIE RICHARDSON GRAHAM! SAM BUNSON! ONENOTENOUGH! MARCUSERE! VALENE HULME! M&M! ADMIRAL! TO MY REVEIWERS!
THANK YOU:
JAYNE!
KRISMCMILLEN07星美 ! AMELIA HULME!
ADMIRAL!
CAMDOOZER!
子ChristiLavigne11善! ELEVEN!
LOACH!
Y!
VIVIDLY!
JT!
경미! DISHA!
MADDIE!
So thanks again Everyone! My Profile picture may change soon because my appearance has changed sense I started this blog! -Tigrette Starlight Rose PS. Excuse my lame Photoshop skills. Being a tiger, it's hard to use a computer. (even though i have a humanoid appearence, i'm stuck in my tiger form for the next few days, which sucks big time)

Wolves

2010-06-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus), also known as just; the wolf, are dominant predators and the largest of canines. In size, wolves resemble a German Shepard, or a Husky, though they are larger still. There are many subspecies of grey wolf, though the exact number is up for debate. At one point, wolves lived in most of the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, but that territory has become increasingly smaller for various reasons.
Wolves are very tough animals, as the inmabit many biomes. There paws are large, and have a slight webbing between each clawed toe, to enable the predator to move more agilely than the prey they hunt. Wolves also have two layers of their pelt, though the undercoat is shed in the hotter months. The undercoat is an insulator, that is water resistant, and the overcoat keeps dirt and wind from the animals body. Wolves pelts have a wide range of colors; red-browns, browns, whites, greys, blacks, and grey-browns. Usually there is a mix of two or more colors (greys/grey browns with white is relatively common), though a one-color pelt is not uncommon. Single-color furs are usually all white or all black. The fur is lighter on the belly for two-tones or multi-tones.
At birth, wolf pups are darker in color, and have baby-blue eyes, which will eventually change to a color ranging from yellowish gold to orange. Wolves have distinct muzzles, which are long and powerful, which is different from most other canines.
Wolves often live in packs led by an Alpha, though loners are not nonexistent. Lone wolves commonly were driven from there pack by the alpha, usually after some sort of wrongdoing. Packs usually consist of an alpha, there mate, their pups, the hunters, and their pups. Wolves are very territorial, though loners are occasionally accepted in to a pack. Wolves are carnivores, feeding mainly on deer, moose, elk and other large prey.
Wolves do not bark. They snarl, growl and howl for various reasons, though despite popular belief that wolves "howl at the moon", is urban myth. Wolves howls can be heard more clearly at night due to the fact that there is less sound at night. Howling is a means of long distance communication.
Wolves and dogs are close enough in gene code to produce fertile and healthy offspring, and though uncommon, matings between wild wolves and domesticated dogs has occurred. Wolfdogs are less open to genetic diseases than most dogs. The German Shepard species is actually the result of breeding a wolf and a dog, then a wolfdog and a dog, and so on. Coywolves (a cross between a coyote and a wolf), are possible. The smaller Red Wolf, or Timber Wolf (Canis rufus), is the result of the mating of a coyote and a wolf, then a coywolf and a wolf, and so on. By many the Timber Wolf is concidered a subspecies, and scientifically that is currently up for debate.

Wolf Subspecies include:

The Artic Wolf, (canis lupus arctos)
The Tundra Wolf or Eurasian Artic , (canis lupus albus)
The Arabian Wolf, (canis lupus arabs)
The Mexican Wolf, (canis lupus baileyi)
The Russian Wolf, (canis lupus communis)
The Italian Wolf, (canis lupus italicus)
The Egyptian Wolf, (canis lupus lupaster)
The Eurasian Wolf, (canis lupus lupus)
The Eastern Wolf, (canis lupus lycoan)
The Great Plains Wolf, (canis lupus nubilus)
The Northwestern Wolf, (canis lupus occidentalis)
The Indian Wolf, (canis lupus pallipes)
The Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus)
The Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)

This post is dedicated to my "summer sister" Timbra Wolf

A big thanks to:
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/wolf
AND
http://www.caninest.com/types-of-wolf/

NOTE!

2010-05-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

Hi! Tigrette is back and better than ever! Ok, down to business. So far, I have been thinking up post ideas all by my lonesome. Anyway, if any of you awesome reviwers have an idea, use this post comment about it. I am open to all ideas nature!

Island Mountain Gacier

2010-05-11T17:48:00.000-07:00

So much has changed in Iceland sense April 12th. What once seemed clean and green is now dark and dingy. Iceland once raked high on the EPI list, but now, it is not looking so good for the country.
This is an incorrect accusation. The true outcome is that the country is even greener. The stopped airline flights saved more carbon than the volcano could spew.
In short term, results could be disastrous. but that will not last long, a few months at the most. In addition, the gasses will not ill-effect out efforts against global warming, actually, the ash and sulfur dioxide may help cool our Earth.
In reality, the Island Mountain Glacier's eruption is not as large as others, and in the end, this will not hurt us, but help us

Co-written by:
-Tigrette Starlight Rose, Sibra Lynx and Amur LeoPard

Thanks to:
-Jr. Schoolastic
-C-The-Happy
-Tai and Tai again

Orcas

2010-02-25T15:11:00.000-08:00

The Orca, (orcinus orca) are the largest of dolphins. They have been referred to as 'Killer whales' and oddly enough 'blackfish'. As all dolphins are whales but not all whales are dolphins it makes the name 'Killer Whale' justifiale. They have no natural preadators, therefore, they are consiederd apex preadators. They live in large pods and are carniverous. Their diet ranges from salmon-sized fish to an animal the size of a walrus. They prefer colder waters but can be found in warmer waters too. They are identified by their black and white patterning.
A "Type A" orca

There are five types of orca whale known today. They are:

Resident: These orcas are the most common. They are found in the northern Pacific waters and hunt mainly fish and even squid. Their pods can be considered very tight family groups.

Offshore: These orcas can be found nearly anywhere in the oceans. They feed primarally on schooling fish but will stray from this catagory. Their dorsal fins are among the largest in the world of orcas and may or may not eat sharks

Transient: These orcas eat mainly marine mammals and nearly thothing else. They are mainly found in the artic and travel in small pods.

''Type A'': These orcas resemble the steriotypic discription of an orca. They feed mainly on marine mammals; especially young whales of other sorts.

"Type B": These orcas are more grey than black. They have an extrodenarally large white patch around their eyes. They are slightly smaller than "Type A".

"Type C": These orcas are believed to be more closely related to "Type B" than any other type, as they live in the same region. (the Southren ocean) They also have more grey than black. The white is more yellow than most and the patchs around their eyes are slanted forward

Note: Orcas can be albino

Ocelots

2010-02-11T18:57:00.000-08:00

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is found in south and central America. It has been reported that ocelots can be found in southern Texas. They are about the size of a housecat and resemble a cross between a jaguar and a clouded leopard when it comes to pattern. Ocelots are most likely the animal closest to the common ancestor of all the cats of today. From the Biggest tiger to the smallest kitten.
They were once endangered but are no longer. Ocelots very much resemble the type of domestic cat called the Ocicat, but are not related (closely).
Ocelots have multiple subspecies. The list below is from wikipedia.

Leopardus pardalis pardalis, Amazon Rainforest
Leopardus pardalis aequatorialis, northern Andes and Central America
Leopardus pardalis albescens, Mexico, southwestern Texas
Leopardus pardalis melanurus, Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad
Leopara]], Paraguay
Leopardus pardalis nelsoni, Mexico
Leopardus pardalis pseudopardalis, Colombia
Leopardus pardalis puseaus, Ecuador
Leopardus pardalis sonoriensis, Mexico
Leopardus pardalis steinbachi, Bolivia

Thanks wikipedia. You guys are awesome!

PLate Tectonics

2010-01-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Scientific study suggests that the continental movements are caused by the movement of the tectonic plates, parts of the lithospheric crust and above, floating on the asthenosphere; being partially molten has a slow current allowing the tectonic plates to move. There are eight major plates and many smaller ones. Where two plates meet is called a plate boundary, where most earthquakes occur. There are three types of boundaries; transform boundaries, where plates rub against one another, divergent boundaries, where the plates move apart and new crust can be created. Lastly, there are convergent boundaries. At these boundaries the plates move towards one another and can result in one being subducted under the other. The denser oceanic plates usually are the ones subducted. The melting of the subducted plate causes gasses to be released thereby forcing hot magma and gasses up through the cracks in the Earth causing volcanoes and fishers. This is the most likely cause of the Ring of Fire in the Pacific.
The continents have also been formed by the movement of the tectonic plates. There were also supercontinents, containing all of or most of the continents. Probably the most well known supercontinent is Pangaea, but there are others. Rodinia is the oldest known supercontinent, but it broke up in to eight pieces. Later on those eight pieces came back together and formed Pangaea. Pangaea lated broke in to two supercontinents known as Laurasia and Gondwana, which broke up in to the continents we know today

Cheetahs

2010-01-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

The cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is the only species of big cat that isn't in the genus panthera. It is the fastest land animal in existence and can reach speeds of 70 mph. Its large heart and respiratory system are the main reason the cheetah can reach those speeds. The cheetah has a thin aerodynamic body with a large chest and small waist. Unlike all other big cats, cheetahs claws cannot be retracted. This adaptation gives them more traction while running.
Cheetahs are very genetically close and this can cause them trouble when trying to find a mate. Close breeding is thought to be the cause of the spot mutation known as king cheetah. King Cheetahs were once thought to be a subspecies but science has proved that untrue.
There are six cheetah subspecies:

The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), is not confined to Asia. True they can be found in the Asian countries of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Syria but in the African countries of Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Mali, Djibouti, Morocco and Niger. This is the most common cheetah subspecies.
Northwest African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), is found in Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. They may have ventured in to Nigeria but that is uncertain.

The other Cheetah subspecies have no common name. These are listed below

Acinonyx jubatus raineyii is found in eastern Africa in the countries of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
Acinonyx jubatus jubatus is found in southern Africa. They are found in the countries of South Africa, D. R. Congo, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola , Bostwana, Namibia, and Malawi
Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii, is found in found in the Central and Northern African countries of Central African Republic, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Acinonyx jubatus velox, has been sighted and proven to be a subspecies, but not much else is known about this cheetah subspecis.

Please check out the map of Africa at the following link http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/4927/africants7.gif

Panthera Hybrids

2009-12-21T09:08:00.001-08:00

Many people know about Panthera Hybrids but might not know the term panthera hybrid. Panthera hybrids are crossbreeds between the big cats in the genus, panthera. The most common and possibly the most well known is the liger (tigress and male lion) or the tigon (male tiger and lioness) These big cat hybrids are 10-12 feet long and males have a 50% chance of a mane. Panthera hybrids have no scientific names but ligers/tigons have been known to be called (by some) panthera leoXtigris or panthera tigrisXleo and ligers have even been known to be called panthera ligris but none of these names are true scientific names. Many people have tried to breed tigers with jaguars or leopards but have had no or little success.
Ligers and Tigons are not the only panthera hybrids. There are Jaguar, Leopard hybrids too known as jaguleps, lepjags or jagpards, though jagulep is the most common term. Lions have also been successfully bred with jaguars and leopards. A lion, Jaguar hybrid is known as Jaglion or liguar and a lion, leopard hybrid is known as lipard or leopon. There is even a lion, jaguar, leopard mix comming from a female jagulep and a lion resulting in a lijagulep.
All male panthera hybrids cannot reproduce but females have the ability to have cubs.
The many attempts to breed tigers with jaguars or leopards have resulted with stillborn cubs or cubs that only survive a few hours. A tiger,leopard hybrid is known as a dogla or a tigard but all tiger x leopard hybrids have been stillborn. Tiger, jaguar hybrids are known as a jagger or a tiguar with mainly stillborns with one exception. The Altiplano Zoo has been lucky enough to produce a healthy male tiguar named Mickey, who. as of 2009, is two years old

Sturgeons

2009-11-24T20:28:00.000-08:00

Sturgeons are some very peculiar type of fish. Sturgeon is actually the common name for the family

Acipenseridae which includes 26 species of fish. Sturgeons are thought to be one of the oldest boned fish in existance and have a habitat range from sub-tropical waters to sub-artic waters and are commonly found in North America, Europe and Asia (Eurasia). Sturgeons have long bodies and are bottom dwellers ranging from 4 to 18 feet long. Like catfish, sturgeons have barbals (the "whiskers") and have something known as scutes rather than scales. Sturgeons are mainly freshwater but have been known to venture out in to saltyer waters. In North America sturgeons can be found in the great lakes, the Mississippi River and even in some parts of Pennsylvania.

Below are the list of Species, from Wikipedia

Family Acipenseridae
- Subfamily Acipenserinae
  - Genus Acipenser
    - Acipenser baerii
      - Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii baerii
      - Baikal sturgeon, Acipenser baerii baicalensis
    - Shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum
    - Yangtze sturgeon, Acipenser dabryanus
    - Lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens
    - Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
    - Green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris
    - Sakhalin sturgeon, Acipenser mikadoi
    - Japanese sturgeon, Acipenser multiscutatus
    - Adriatic sturgeon, Acipenser naccarii
    - Fringebarbel sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris
    - Acipenser oxyrinchus
      - Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus
      - Gulf sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
    - Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus
    - Sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus
    - Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii
    - Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis
    - Starry sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus
    - European sturgeon, Acipenser sturio (also [wrongly] "Baltic sturgeon")
    - White sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus
  - Genus Huso
    - Beluga sturgeon, Huso huso
    - Kaluga sturgeon, Huso dauricus
- Subfamily Scaphirhynchinae
  - Genus Scaphirhynchus
    - Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus
    - Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
    - Alabama sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi
  - Genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus
    - Dwarf sturgeon, Pseudoscaphirhynchus hermanni
    - Syr Darya sturgeon, Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi
    - Amu Darya sturgeon, Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni

---SCUTES-a derrmal bony plate

2009-10-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

The African Wild dog (lycaon puctus) is a carnivore of the canine family. It is native to Africa and likes scrub biome area. It is a dog with the colors of the calico cat; black, caramel, and creamy white. Their pattern is quite unique and I don't really know how to describe it.

HUNTING AND DIET
The African wild dogs hunt in packs, or small groups with the dominant female usually leading the way. They hunt impala and other mammals. They are not scavengers and are incredible hunters and are quite active in the wild.

SUBSPECIES

Lycaon pictus pictus
Lycaon pictus lupinus
Lycaon pictus manguensis
Lycaon pictus sharicus
Lycaon pictus somalicus

Sadly, I couldn't find out much about the subspecies, but I know there is an Asiatic Wild dog, but that is for another post.

Characteristics
African Wild Dogs have some defining characteristics like their pattern, and their large ears. The ears look a lot like over-large furrier mouse ears with different colors than a mouse's

Bettas

2009-10-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Betta (Betta Splendens) or Siamese fighting fish is one of the most curious tropical fish you can find, for fresh water that is, but it is a more complicated fish to keep. They are very picky and need good care. When feeding a Betta, feed them live brine shrimp, tropical fish flake food, or Betta pellets. It is some of the best things for them. If you don't have filtration, make sure to clean the tank once a week.
DO NOT GET A BETTA IN A VASE
If you get a Betta in a vase, no matter what the instructions say, FEED THE BETTA! CLEAN THE WATER! USE SPRING WATER ONLY! AND PUT THE BETTA FIRST!!! If the plant does not like what is good for the Betta, move it to a different pot! The Betta is more important than the plant. The Betta should have a relatively flat stomach and if it gets too round and has been eating a lot, skip a feeding, so feed three of four times a week.
A male Betta usually has a long, showy tail and bright coloration, where as a female will have short fins and duller colors. And never EVER keep two or more male Betta's in the same tank! They will fight, but a male and female Betta should be completely compatible!
Keep your Betta happy, and keep it healthy. It will keep you happy too.

Tigers

2009-10-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest of big cats. It is one of the four big cats in the genus panthera. Not only are they native to Asia, but to other areas of the world too. They are some of the best predators and is a carnivore. Not including the tail, the tiger will reach six to seven feet long.

Subspecies

The Bengal Tiger

The Bengal tiger (panthera tigris tigris) is the most well known and most common subspecies. It is native to India and Bangladesh. They live in sub-tropical, tropical rainforest area and mangroves. A male will reach a weight somewhere between 450 lbs. and 220 lbs. where as females will reach about 311 lbs. They are a kind of burnt orange with black stripes, thus helping them blend in with the grasses and plants of the area.

The Indo-Chinese Tiger

The Indo-Chinese tiger (panthera tigris corbetti) can be found in Cambodia, Burma, China, Laos, Thiland, and Vietnam. Males can weigh up to 420 lbs. and females weigh up to 308 lbs. They live in forests and even in mountains, and have very few left in the wild. They are slightly darker and smaller than bangals.

The Amur Tiger

The Amur Tiger, or Siberian tiger (panthera tigris altaica) Is lives in the Amur river basin and in will be found in Siberia as well. They are a protected subspecies and is the largest of the subspecies till in existence Males weighing up to 540 lbs. and a six month old Amur can be the size of a fully grown leopard. They have thick have a few less stripes and are just a tiny bit paler then a Bengal, but can be white or ghost. (see color variation)

South China Tiger

The South China tiger (panthera tigris amoyensis) is the most endangered of all subspecies. This subspecies may already be extinct in the wild but there are some in captivity. This tiger subspecies is extraordinarily close genetically. They are one of the smaller tiger subspecies and resemble Bengals in color.

The Malayan Tiger

The Malayan tiger (panthera tigris jaksoni) is only found in the Malay peninsula. It was not found to be a subspcies of its own till 2004. It is the smallest subspecies and there are only about 700 of these tigers in the wild.

Color Variations

Golden Tabby

The golden tabby color variation is tied for rarest color variation with the ghost variation. This tiger is a sort of marmalade color with orange stripes. Golden Tabby’s also have some white mixed in with the marmalade. This is caused by a genetic mutation.

Ghost

This Color variation is also caused by a genetic mutation. These tigers are pure white, but are NOT albino. The pink of their noses and pads of their paws gives it away. The skin would be white if they were albino.

White

This mutation is again, genetic. All of the mutations are not dangerous to the tiger its self. This variation is the most well known. These tigers are white with black stripes, and again are not albino.

Orange

Most tigers are born this way. There is no mutation behind them being orange-that is just how they are supposed to be.

Mythical Color Variations

Maltese tiger

This color variation is a myth. It is said to be gray-blue with black stripes. People have tried to say they have found the “mythical Maltese tiger” but all of these claims have be proved a ruse.

Black Tiger

There have been many reports of the black tiger. These tigers are thought to be all black, but when the sun hits them right, the pattern would show due to the fact that the background is less dense then the stripes. People who have reported this were probably mistaking it for a black leopard, or jaguar.

Diet

A tiger’s diet consists of the meat of herbivores. Deer, wild boar and buffalo m

ake up the majority of their diet. A mother protecting her cubs of a territorial female might kill a leopard of a jaguar in defense of their cubs or of their territory, but like lions, will rarely eat them, but will in a time of starvation. Tigers will also eat fish but that is less common.

Habitat

Tigers live in densely covered areas (usually forests) and usually sleep in small caves when taking a long nap, and a fae (female tiger) will leave her cubs there too, but move them constantly. A tiger will always live by a river of other body of water and will stay close to prey.

Hybrids

The tiger’s only hybrids are the liger and the tigon. A liger is a cross between a tigress and a male lion, where as a tigon is the cross between a lioness and a male tiger. They reach about 12 feet in length and reach about 800 to 1,000 lbs.

lions

2009-09-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

The lion (panthera leo) is one of Africa’s most well known animals. But they not only live in Africa, but in Asia, and once there was even a lion native to the Americas and Europe, though the American and European lions are now extinct. There are eight subspecies currently in existence, and I hope to give a little bit of background on each of them.

Subspecies

The Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic Lion (panthera leo persica) Living in prides in India, are the easiest to tell apart from the other seven subspecies. It is among the biggest of lion subspecies and has a mane that extends all the way down on to the stomach.

The Cape Lion
The cape lion (panthera leo melanochaita) is known by some as an invalid subspecies, as recent DNA testing suggests that it is not it’s own subspecies but it is a southernmost variation of the Transvaal lion.
It is extinct in the wild, though it survives in captivity.

The Transvaal Lion
The Transvaal lion or Southeast lion (panthera leo krugeri) can be found in
the parts of Africa from the edge of the Sahara Desert town to the tip of the continent . These lions are hard to distinguish from the
other subspecies.

The Barbary Lion
The Barbary lion (panthera leo leo) is a subspecies that is also extinct in the
wild, again due to over excessive hunting. They are probably the most rare
of all lion subspecies, it is also one of the largest. With weights of up to
440 lbs. for males. They once ranged from Morocco to Egypt. The last
wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco, 1922.

The Katanga Lion
The Katanga lion (panthera leo bleyenberghi) can be found in some of the
southwestern countries of Africa; including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia,
and Botswana.

The West African Lion
The West African Lion (panthera leo senegalensis) is not as common as the
Katanga lion as it is only found from Senegal to Nigeria.

The Northeast Congo Lion
The Northeast Congo lion (panthera leo azandica) is found near the banks
of The Congo River, (fairly obvious isn’t it?) but not much else is known
about this subspecies.Prehistoric and/or Extinct Subspecies

Extinct Subspecies

The American Lion
The American lion (panthera leo atrox) lived in large numbers from Alaska
to Peru until around 10,000 years ago. Some people thought it was not a
subspecies, but it’s own species, but science has proven it is simply an
ancient subspecies.

European Cave lions
Firstly there were two European Cave lions. The only difference is that
they existed at different times. The Early European Cave lion (panthera leo
fossilis) lived about 500,000 years ago and fossils have been found in only Italy and
Germany. It was a lot bigger than the African and Asiatic lions of today, it
even reached the size of the American lion, which is the largest of all
subspecies ever known. The European Cave Lion (panthera leo spelaea)
existed Europe and Asia till about 10,000 years ago. Few fossils of this
subspecies have ever been found, but is commonly found in cave paintings,
from these it has been found to have large ears, tufted tails, and perhaps even faint tiger-like stripes.

The East Siberian lion
The east Siberian lion (panthera leo vereshchagini) was found in Russia, Canada and the USA. It was slightly larger than the European Cave lion (panthera leo spelaea) and slightly smaller than the American lion (panthera leo atrox).

The Sri Lanka Lion
Nearly nothing is known about the Sri Lanka lion as only two teeth have been found. Due to fossilization on these teeth scientists have estimated that this subspecies went extinct approximately 39,000 years ago. For awhile it wasn’t positive if the Sri Lanka lion was its own subspecies, but due to testing on the teeth it was declared a subspecies in 1939

Important Note
There are other known types of lion, but not they have not been declared a subspecies due to the fact that they are too similar to another subspecies or are too different and are closer to an independent species to be an official subspecies, but I have listed these possible subspecies anyway.
The European lion (panthera leo europaea)
Panthera leo youngi (no common name exists)
Marozi lion (panthera leo maculatus) Diet & Hunting
Lions, though very powerful, do not have a lot of stamina. They can only run in short bursts (short for a big cat that is) and must surround the prey to some extent before going in for the kill, that is most likely the biggest reasons that lions hunt in groups. The cause of the prey’s death is usually strangulation of suffocation.
The diet of the lion consists of mainly red meats, and they prey mainly on zebra, impala and wildebeest. (I know that at least one pride is so large it can hunt elephants) They can kill other predators too (leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs) but rarely eat them.

Habitat
In Africa lions usually live in savannah-type area with scattered trees and a body of water close by. In India on the other hand, lions live in scrub forests, and occasionally found in areas that would probably make a good habitat for a Bengal tiger.

Communication
When resting a lion might rub heads with another, (this gesture seems to be a greeting) and social liking, which is thought to be a symbol of affection.
A lions vocalization includes roaring, mewing, snarling, purring, hissing, coughing, and even a woofing. A lions roar is very specific, usually starting with long roars and ending with shorter ones.

Hybrids & White Lions
The most common and most well known lion-big cat hybrid is Ligers and tigons. The liger, is a cross between a female tiger (a fae) and a male lion, where as a tigon is cross between a male tiger and a lioness. Male ligers and tigons have about a 50% chance they will grow a mane.
There is a hybrid known as a leopon which is a cross between a lion and a leopard, a jaglion which is a cross between a lion and a jaguar, and a lijagulep which is a cross between a female jagulep or lepjag (leopard crossed with a jaguar) and a male lion.

White lions are not an individual subspecies. They are only white due to a recessive gene that has been passed on by both parents. These animals are NOT albino, the pink of their noses and pads of their paws would not have the coloration if they were truly alino. This gene is very similar if not the same to the gene that creates the ghost tiger and is similar to the gene that causes a jaguar of leopard to be black.

Okapi

2009-08-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

The okapi (okapia jonstoni) is the only living relative of the giraffe. Though their hind legs resemble a zebra's it is not closely related to them. An okapi's tongue is long enough to lick it's ears and eyes, and happens to be the only animal that can lick it's own ears. The ears are large and so they can hear predators, like the leopard.
Okapi are mainly solitary and only are found in groups during breeding, with the exceptions of a mother with her young. They live in the 500 to 1,000 feet in altitude in the mountains of the montane rainforests, but sometimes go over 1,000 feet; though rarely.

The okapi are herbivorous and are known by some as the; African unicorn.

Ocean Sunfish

2009-08-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ocean Sunfish (mola mola) are some of the most peculiar and interesting fish in existence. They are the heavyest and largest boned fish alive today. An ocean sun's diet consists mainly of jellyfish and moderately rare. The young ocean sunfish strongly resemble pufferfish, and dont look like the parents what so ever. They live in tropical and temprate waters and are quite strange of a sight, even for those who have seen them before.

Tigers

2009-07-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Tigers (panthera tigris), the largest of big cats, and some of the most endangered animals. Of the nine modern species of tiger three are extinct and all of the remaining six are endangered (the Bengal, the Indo-Chinese, the Sumatran, the Amur, the Siberian and the south china tiger). Why? Because of people. We have the largest "footprint" on our environment. If we hadn't destroyed their habitat and hunted them for their beautiful pelts all nine types would be alive and well.
You may think, people aren't to take the whole of the blame! Well, yes we can. People are very much to blame. We have endangered so many types of animals; the lions, both Asiatic and African, the leopards, the cheetahs, jaguars, and those are just big cats. What can we do? We can recycle, use less paper, conserve water, and use less harmful cleaning products. Maybe then the tigers numbers will start climbing the ladder of success.

Egg- laying Mammals

2009-07-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

Mammals lay eggs? What!?!? Well, not all mammals lay eggs, only two are known, the duck-billed Platypus and the echidna (a-KID-nah). The platypus living in only Australia, and the echidna living in both Australia and New Guinea you may find that these animals are quite hard to find in the wild. Though these animals live in similar areas, their lives are very different. The echidna has spines for self defense, is mainly an insectivore but sometimes eats fruit, lives in forests, and nests in burrows in moderately dry areas, where as the platypus has a "sting" for self defense, lays it's eggs fairly close to riverbanks, eats fish, and looks completely different! It is hard to believe that these animals are in the same family! (not a family with a mother and father and child, but a family in the scientific sense (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, variety) if you know what I mean.) Yet these animals are related! Distantly, but related.

Gibbons and Orangutans

2009-07-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

The gibbon and orangutan are two primates who get along. The gibbon, with it's small thin stature and extremely long arms is the primate built for swinging in trees, where as the orangutan, is very careful about every one of their movements, on land and in the trees. But what about the size difference? Well, the orangutan and the gibbon are quite friendly toward each other. True, they wouldn't go out of the way to say hello to each other, but if they happened to meet up they might lend a helping hand to each other if one was in need when they met up. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, and attempt to keep one as a pet, Don't. These animals are wild, and do not make good pets. it would be abusive to have one as a pet. But if you were to see one, remember how incredible these animals are.

Predator Post

2009-07-09T15:42:00.001-07:00

Many predators are misunderstood. Among the worst; sharks . You may think sharks are vicious killers and the crocodile an animal with no mercy, but, that entire thing is a myth. Look at the whale shark! It's one of the most gentle creatures in the sea, and it only eats tiny animals like krill, and plankton.

Then why the shark attacks? For one, most people who get attacked are surfers who are mistaken for seals. The other time one might be attacked would be if you got in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Most sharks wouldn't care if you were in the water if you were minding your own business, just don't be in with them when they're feeding!
I'm not saying they can't be dangerous, I'm just saying they aren't as bad as so many say.

Coral Reefs

2009-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

Look at the magic of a coral reef. It's jewel bright fish, the waving plants, the wild coral. It seems as if it is safe from any threat.

But in reality it is not. Why? Because people are polluting and killing the coral. And if the coral's gone, the fish, plants, and all other life on the reef is gone. Possibly gone for good.

You can do your bit. While scientists are preserving the reefs, as well as they can, you can be making sure to help the environment. It might just help keep the reefs around for longer.

Africa

2009-07-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm studying Africa. It has such a wide range in culture, biome, and wildlife it is the perfect continent to study. I will be posting up information from time to time. I hope you will enjoy my Africa post.

In Zimbabwe there is a group of animals known as the "big Five", these animals are; the lion, the leopard, the rhino, the elephant, and the buffalo. (not bison, it is a common mistake)

Save a Feeder Fish

2009-07-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Save a Feeder Fish, or S.A.F.F. is a non-profit organization run by, well, me.
Ever seen those little fish in not-so-good condition? Those fish are going to become food for larger fish. But you can do something about it. No, you don't even have to donate. You can take direct action. You can go to a pet store and buy one of those fish. I recommend buying at least five because they can have diseases. Not diseases you can catch, only fish. So make sure to buy some Mericin, a general medication for fish, and a parasite medication for fish. Make sure to read the labels CAREFULLY. DON'T OVERDOSE. And remember to remove the snails (if you have them) from the tank when using parasite medication in your tank.

Save a Feeder Fish, Save a Life

Tigrette's Q. and A.

2009-07-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

07/06/09-Q. What causes the Auroras?
A. The Sun's coronal mass ejections. The Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere protect us from the more violent ejections but at the northern and southern areas of the Earth bits of these ejections get through the magnetosphere and atmosphere creating the auroras or Southern and Northern lights.

07/08/09-Q. What is a whippet dog's top speed
A. A whippet dog can reach speeds up to 25 mph. As one of the closest relatives of the greyhound, and one of it's ancestors is the German greyhound, it is no surprise that the whippet can go so fast!

07/14/09-Q. how do you identify a big cat vs. a small cat?
A. For one, a big cat's pupils dilate like a humans, in to circles. Small cats eyes dilate in slits. And secondly, only big cats can roar.

07/28/09-Q. What animal is most closely related to the saber-tooth tiger?
A. The clouded leopard. Cloudeds have the largest k-9 tooth size to head size ratio.

08/03/o9-Q. Which lion subspecies is larger, the Asiatic or the African?
A. The Asiatic. These Asian lions are slightly bigger and have darker manes that extend all the way on to their stomachs.

08/07/09-Q. How many big cats are there?
A. only five (well there are sub divisions in the main categories) The tiger (covers all big cats that start with the Latin words Panthera Tigris) Lions (Asiatic and African) Leopards (Cloudeds, Amurs, African, snow, etc.) Jaguars, and Cheetahs.

Animal Abuse, Don't let it Happen

2009-07-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

Every twelve seconds in America alone an animal is abused, beaten, or neglected.
What can you do about it? If you're a pet owner, take proper care of them, take them to the vet, or in a fishes case look up the disease and look for the treatment.

***DO YOUR RESEARCH***

In some cities such as Philadelphia, Huston, San Francisco, Miami, Detroit, and Phoenix have a group of workers at their local animal shelters known as "Animal Cops". I know movies have given A.C.O's (animal control officers) a bad name, but, A.C.O.'s have saved the lives of many animals. Many from near the brink of death.
Feed your animals proper diets, take them to their regular vet appointments and spend time with them. Give them the good life they deserve. They did nothing to you. Give them what they need and lots of love, and they'll love you back.

Whale Adpotion

2009-07-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Whales are dying in the southern ocean. Fin whales are ever nearing extinction and Minke whales are nearly endangered. But you can do something about it. You might not be able to stop commercial whaleing, (there are organizations that do that, like Sea Sheapard , and Green Peace.)but you can give a whale the abitity to be tracked and vaccinated from common deseases.
You might think "What on earth can tracking do?" but, by monitering whale behaveior, people can take precautions to try to save the whales.

Want to adopt a different animal? There are other animals you can adopt, like meerkats, dolphins, whale sharks, pandas, leopards, tigers, giraffes, and much much more.