While there are over a million animal-species in existence today, the fact is that hundreds have gone into extinction. We will only know them through creative creations, but would never be able to see them. In spite of their extinction one is always interested in learning about them. No wonder books and movies are made on dinosaurs, or then some extinct species become characters of comic books.
Here are some extinct animal facts, followed by an exhaustive list of animals that have gone into extinction over the eras of earth’s evolution…
The Tyrannosaurus Rex went extinct 65 million years ago. It was one of the largest animals. It measured up to 43.3 feet in length and 16.6 feet in height. It weighed approximately 7 tons.
The Quagga
The Quagga, which was half-zebra-half-horse animal species went into extinction in the year 1883. This is was one of the most famous animals of Africa. This animal had the zebra stripes only on the front part of the body, which would fade and become wider in the middle of the body, and the hindquarter was brown (no stripes). It was the cruel animal activities that led this animal to extinction. It was on 12th August 12, 1883, that the last of the Quaggas died at the Artis Magistra Zoo (Amsterdam).
The Tasmanian Tiger
The Tasmanian Tiger went into extinct in the year 1936. This animal is regarded to be the largest carnivorous marsupial in modern day and age. It was a native wildlife animal of Australia and New Guinea. Man and his evil ways led this animal to extinction.
Steller's Sea Cow
Steller's Sea Cow was also known as the defenseless beast. It went into extinction in 1768. This creature’s natural habitat was on the Asiatic coast of the Bering Sea. It got its name because it was discovered by a naturalist, Georg Stellar, in 1741. He was traveling with Vitus Bering, a renowned explorer. The animal was large weighing up to three tons. Though it looked almost like a seal, it had two forelimbs that were stout, as well as tail that was whale-like.
Irish Deer
Irish Deer is the largest deer to have ever existed. It went into extinction approximately 7,700 years ago. It was a native animal of Eurasia, grazing the land stretching from Ireland to east of Lake Baikal. It was large sized, with extra large antlers measuring up to 3.65 meters (12 feet from tip-to-tip). The antlers weighed about 90 pounds.
The Caspian Tiger
The Caspian Tiger was the third largest tiger species. The last of this tiger was seen in 1970, after which it has been declared amongst the extinct animal species. This tiger was found on the lands of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Caucasus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Aurochs
Aurochs was a large-sized cattle-species. It is recorded to have gone into extinction in 1627. It is said that this cattle evolved from India, migrating to the Middle-East, reaching Europe.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The World's Ugliest Animals
The World's Ugliest Animals
I resisted creating this one for a while because I was thinking it was a bit shallow and that all of God's creatures are beautiful, aren't they? Not really. Anyway, animals don't mind being called ugly, what matters to them is food, sleep and mating, in that order. And when it comes to mating strength and skills usually count for more than beauty.
Ugliest Bird - Marabou Stork
Rodents are not favored for their good looks but this is an extreme case.
And now for a few that are not necessarily from ugly species but are only some of the ugliest representatives from within their species.
And now for a few that are not necessarily from ugly species but are only some of the ugliest representatives from within their species.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Top 10 Pygmy Animals
Top 10 Pygmy Animals
Why is it that Pygmy creatures are more attractive than full-sized animals? Do they retain some of the tiny new-born charm into adulthood? By nature of being a pygmy they all have that special small but powerful, little-big-guy demeanor. They are all fascinating. Of course, it can be advantageous in the wild to be tiny. Big fat animals must eat a lot to maintain their bodies but the little guy can survive on some smaller dishes. Here is a top 10 list of some of them (more than 10 now).
Within the species of owls there is no shortage of pygmys. There are around 34 species/subspecies although this is not completely agreed upon. About half of those are spread about the Americas. There is also an elf owl.
The pygmy seahorse is found in the western central Pacific coastal areas, in the south of Japan, Indonesia and northern Australia. It is only about 2.5cm or 1 inch tall. This is a species where the male takes care of the offspring. The male has a pouch and the female comes to deposit her eggs there. Then, the eggs stay in the male’s pouch until hatched.
Believed to be extinct for about the last 100 years, the pygmy tarsier was found by accident by scientists in Indonesia in 2000. They don't like baths and don't feed them after midnight. See also Pygmy Tarsier Rediscovered in Indonesia and Tarsiers
Miniature, Dwarf or Pygmy? This site about Guide Horses for the Blind has some interesting facts about them.
The pygmy hog is a wild pig from India that is about 10 inches tall and weighs a little more than 10 lbs. None of the hogs pictured above is a pygmy hog, they were just the ones who showed up on the day of the photo shoot.
Ok, the bee hummingbird isn’t officially labeled a pygmy but it is the world’s smallest bird.
More Hummingbirds
Sloths
This little hopping long-eared pygmy jerboa is from Bluchistan, Pakistan and may be the world's smallest rodent.
Pygmy Owl
Pygmy Seahorse
Pygmy Tarsier
Pygmy Elephant
Pygmy Marmoset
Pygmy Tapir
Pygmy Goat
Pygmy Horse
Pygmy Hog
Pygmy Possum
Pygmy Hippo
Pygmy Mouse Lemur
Pygmy Chameleon
Bee Hummingbird
More Hummingbirds
African Pygmy Hedgehog
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth
Pygmy Jerboa
Unlikely Animal Friends
Unlikely Animal Friends
This is a look at some unlikely interspecies relationships. How do they meet? Not through the internet. Sometimes zoos and rescue centers need an extra mother for an orphaned young animal. Sometimes well-fed zoo animals are looking for some more playtime pals. And sometimes in the wild, strange things happen.
I wouldn't call these two friends, I am sure the horse would rather be somewhere else but circus trainers worldwide manage to pull this one off for certain short lengths of time.
Who knew that tigers and pigs could be such friends?
This is one of a very nice video about two different species animals.
I wouldn't call these two friends, I am sure the horse would rather be somewhere else but circus trainers worldwide manage to pull this one off for certain short lengths of time.
Who knew that tigers and pigs could be such friends?
This is one of a very nice video about two different species animals.
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