Animal World - All about RAIL / RALLIDAE around the world

The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, although the family is found in every terrestrial habitat except dry deserts, polar regions and alpine areas above the snow line. Members of the Rallidae are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are numerous island species. The most common habitats are marshland or dense forest. Rails are especially fond of dense vegetation.

 

Animal World - All about RACCOON around the world

The raccoon also known as the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon and colloquially as coon, is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in) and a body weight of 3.5 to 9 kg (8 to 20 lb). The raccoon is usually nocturnal and is omnivorous, with a diet consisting of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant foods, and 27% vertebrates. It has a grayish coat, of which almost 90% is dense underfur, which insulates against cold weather. Two of its most distinctive features are its extremely dexterous front paws and its facial mask, which are themes in the mythology of several Native American tribes. Raccoons are noted for their intelligence, with studies showing that they are able to remember the solution to tasks up to three years later.

The original habitats of the raccoon are deciduous and mixed forests of North America, but due to their adaptability they have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal marshes, and urban areas, where many homeowners consider them to be pests. As a result of escapes and deliberate introductions in the mid-20th century, raccoons are now also distributed across the European mainland, the Caucasus region and Japan.

Though previously thought to be solitary, there is now evidence that raccoons engage in gender-specific social behavior. Related females often share a common area, while unrelated males live together in groups of up to four animals to maintain their positions against foreign males during the mating season, and other potential invaders. Home range sizes vary anywhere from 3 hectares for females in cities to 50 km2 for males in prairies (7 acres to 20 sq mi). After a gestation period of about 65 days, two to five young, known as "kits", are born in spring. The kits are subsequently raised by their mother until dispersion in late fall. Although captive raccoons have been known to live over 20 years, their average life expectancy in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1 years. In many areas hunting and vehicular injury are the two most common causes of death.

 

Animal News - Beyonce, Mini Dog from California

Mini-sized dog was born in California, USA, on March 8, 2012 last. Beyonce dog named Casey was born from the womb, a dog rescued by animal rescue organizations Grace Foundation of the streets of San Bernardino, California. Beyonce was born with a body weight of no more than 28.3 grams. So small, when Beyonce was born to put on the spoon feeding. Currently super mini dogs were registered with the Guinness World Records as the world's smallest dog candidate. (Photo: REUTERS) viva

 

Animal News - Extraordinary Dog Contest

Dog agility contest titled 'Pro Plan Purina Incredible Dog Challenge' was held in California, USA, 8-9 June 2012. The dogs of various races competing in various competitions such as surf classes, hurdles, diving and a host of other agility. (Photo: REUTERS / Gus Ruelas / Purina / Handout) viva

 

Animal News - Poisonous Spiders collectors from Russia

Over the last two years, a boy named Yegor Konkin (23) has collected about 50 poisonous spiders of various species. Deadly insect collection is currently stored in a box in his parents' apartment, located in the city Minusinsk, about 425 km south of the city of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia. (Photo: REUTERS / Ilya Naymushin) viva

Animal News - Scientists finding new species

The scientists who have traced the tropical rain forest in order to find endangered species of animals unique to collect their favorite in a catalog. (Photo: Piotr Naskrecki) viva

Animal World - All about PLATYPUS around the world

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.

The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus having a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and a recognisable and iconic symbol of Australia; it has appeared as a mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin. The platypus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales.

Until the early 20th century, it was hunted for its fur, but it is now protected throughout its range. Although captive breeding programmes have had only limited success and the platypus is vulnerable to the effects of pollution, it is not under any immediate threat.

 

   

Animal World - All about PELICAN around the world

Pelicans are large water birds in the family Pelecanidae. They are characterised by a long beak and large throat pouch, used in catching, and draining water from, their prey. The eight living pelican species have a sometimes patchy global distribution, ranging latitudinally from the tropics to the temperate zone, though they are absent from much of interior and southern South America as well as from polar regions and the open ocean. Fossil evidence of pelicans dates back at least 30 million years, from the remains of a beak very similar to modern species recovered from Oligocene strata in France.

Pelicans frequent inland and coastal waters where they feed principally on fish. Gregarious birds, they breed colonially and often hunt cooperatively. They have a long history of cultural significance in mythology, and in Christian and heraldic iconography.