Fauna

02/11/2022

Discover some of the most interesting ostrich facts, including their adaptations to the savanna, unique digestive system, IUCN status, and more.

02/11/2022

Interesting facts about ostriches

Fact 1. There is only one species of ostrich in the world - African, although it is divided into several subspecies. Now these birds, the largest on Earth, are found only in Africa, but in the past they were widespread in the Middle East. But emus, the second largest birds in the world that are found in Australia, belong to the cassowaries. Previously, they were also referred to the ostrich family, but in the 80s of the XX century the classification was revised.

Fact 2. An adult ostrich can weigh more than 150 kg and reach a height of 250-270 cm, which is taller than any person. When running, they are able to reach speeds of up to 70 km / h, moving in jumps up to 4 meters long. This, however, is still modest compared to the cheetah, which, when sprinting, makes jumps twice as long and accelerates to 110-130 km / h.

Fact 3. Ostriches are extremely strong, and they are dangerous for all predators without exception, so in the wild they do not become their victims so often. In case of danger, these birds prefer to run away, but when necessary, they stop to fight back. With one blow of a muscular leg, armed with a powerful claw, they can kill a lion or a man.

Fact 4. These birds can go without water for a long time, getting the moisture they need along with plant foods, which form the basis of the diet of ostriches. However, they love water, and on occasion they not only drink it with pleasure, but also bathe.

Fact 5. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches never hide their heads in the sand. Noticing the danger, they sit down on the ground and spread out on it, trying to merge with the terrain and become invisible. If it becomes clear that the disguise has not worked, the bird immediately jumps up and runs away. Well, or attacks - that's how lucky. But getting in the way of an angry ostrich is definitely not worth it, it is life-threatening.

Fact 6. Ostriches were so actively exterminated for the sake of their feathers that they had every chance to disappear forever from the face of the planet. They were saved only by the fact that they began to be bred on farms, and now there are such farms in more than 50 countries of the world, including Russia. Both the feathers of these birds and their meat, tasty and quite healthy, are highly valued.

Fact 7. Probably, thousands of years ago, ostriches were also found in Asia, and primitive people successfully hunted them. So, in Denisova Cave, in the Altai Territory, archaeologists discovered primitive jewelry made from ostrich egg shells, made about 40-50 thousand years ago.

Fact 8. An ostrich that has just hatched from an egg weighs more than 1 kg. A day later, he is able to follow his parents and keep up, and at the age of one month, the chicks can already run almost as fast as adults, reaching speeds of up to 50 km / h. Ostriches live about the same as we humans, on average, 70-75 years.

Fact 9. Their chicks are so tightly attached to each other that they can no longer leave their relatives. Problems arise when two or more groups of chicks mix, after which it is no longer possible to separate them. In such cases, the parent ostriches fight each other. The outcome of such a fight is usually fatal, and as a reward, the winning parents receive all the chicks at once, both their own and not their own. In this case, they will take care of all of them equally.

Fact 10. An ostrich egg weighs more than 1 kg, and its shell is half a centimeter thick. To eat them, people usually have to cut the shell with a hacksaw. Vultures often steal these eggs, but they are not able to break the shell with their beak, so they lift them to a great height and throw them down. Often the eggs withstand such a fall, so the vultures have to repeat this procedure several times.

02/11/2022

Interesting facts about mice

Fact 1. In total, there are about 500 species of mice in the world, of which 13 are found in Russia. These small rodents willingly settle next to people, and after us they spread throughout the world. Now they are found in huge numbers on all continents except Antarctica. Most mice are considered pests, as in some regions they cause significant damage to the agricultural industry.

Fact 2. Baby mice are so called because they are the smallest of all, adults reach only 5-7 cm in length. Moreover, these are generally one of the smallest mammals on the planet; in this parameter, only two species of shrews and one species of bats bypass them. These are the smallest of the rodents in Europe, and in Russia, by the way, they are also widespread.

Fact 3. The southern slender-tailed rat, despite the name, also belongs to mice. This is the largest representative of this family, adult animals grow up to 35-45 cm in length and weigh up to 1-2 kg. These creatures are found only in the Philippines, mainly in Luzon, the main island of the archipelago.

Fact 4. Common house mice are one of the most common mammals in the world. They are found everywhere except Antarctica, the Far North and the highlands, and, despite the name, they do not necessarily live near people. It’s just that on occasion they willingly adapt to us, which is why these small rodents were called that.

Fact 5. Mice living in the wild often migrate short distances in autumn, within 3-5 kilometers. They know that soon there will be little food, and therefore they strive to move from forests and fields closer to human habitation and industrial buildings, where it is warm and where it will be easier to find food. Therefore, before the onset of winter cold, real mouse invasions sometimes occur.

Fact 6. Thanks to mice, mankind has managed to significantly advance medicine. Like rats, they have been used as laboratory animals for centuries. In July 2013, a monument to the laboratory mouse was unveiled in the Novosibirsk Academgorodok to honor the contribution of these animals to science.

Fact 7. Common vole mice lead a solitary lifestyle, if they have such an opportunity, and on average each animal has about 1000 m² of territory, which it considers “its own”. But in conditions of high population density, they form either families of a male with a harem of females, or entire colonies like rats.

Fact 8. The daily routine of mice is very peculiar, as they get tired quickly, but they also cannot sleep for a long time. Therefore, they have 20-25 cycles of sleep and wakefulness per day, which last from several tens of minutes to several hours.

Fact 9. In the south of the Atlantic Ocean there is a small uninhabited island of Gough, where house mice were accidentally brought in the 19th century. In the absence of natural enemies, the rodents bred monstrously, today their population on Gough is estimated at 700,000 individuals. They cause great harm to the albatrosses nesting here, eating their eggs and chicks, so that in 2019 the UK, which owns the island, even allocated a large amount of money to the Gough rodent control project.

Fact 10. House mice in nature eat mainly seeds and shoots of wild and cultivated plants. But, having settled side by side with people, they abruptly cease to be fastidious, and begin to eat everything that their bodies can absorb, from meat and chocolate to glue and other non-food products.

31/10/2022

Interesting facts about cranes

Fact 1. Due to the special structure of their legs, cranes never sit on branches, as they are not able to grasp them simply enough to hold on. More precisely, almost all of their species - crowned cranes live in Africa, which can sit on trees, fences and the like. They are not afraid of people, and often settle near human habitation.

Fact 2. Cranes are the tallest flying birds in the world. More precisely, their Australian variety, in which the growth of adults reaches 170 cm (when they are standing on the ground). Their wingspan sometimes exceeds 180 cm, and their weight reaches 5-6 kg.

Fact 3. In total, there are 10 species of cranes in the world, and one of the rarest of them is black. These birds are listed in the Red Book, and they are so rare that ornithologists first managed to find their nest only in 1974. Currently, their population is estimated at 9-10 thousand individuals. These birds are found mainly in Russia.

Fact 4. After the breeding season, cranes begin to molt, and this time of the year is the most dangerous for them. According to ornithologists, at the time of molting, 65-70% of these birds lose their ability to fly, as they sometimes lose too many primary feathers at the same time. Because of this, they often fall prey to terrestrial predators.

Fact 5. Now cranes of various species are found almost all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica and South America. Zoologists believe that they originated as a species in North America and have since spread across the planet. By the way, it is strange that they did not master South America - the climate there is similar to African in places, and in Africa these birds feel great.

Fact 6. These birds are real centenarians. Observation of cranes of different species made it possible to establish that in nature they live on average for about 20 years, and this is already a lot. But in captivity, with proper care, they sometimes even live up to 80 years!

Fact 7. Cranes are monogamous birds, like many other birds, and they find a mate once and for all. But no one is perfect, and in some ways these birds are similar to us humans. Like us, their couples sometimes break up, after which the cranes can find new partners for themselves. Or they may not find it - everything is individual here.

Fact 8. Cranes always build their nests near water, both on the ground and on trees or rocks. They are interesting for their size - the diameter of the nest usually exceeds one meter, and sometimes reaches up to two meters. All because of the solid size of the birds themselves, who need to somehow fit there, because the female usually lays only two eggs.

Fact 9. The rarest cranes in the world are white, they are Siberian Cranes. They are found only in the north of Russia, mainly in Yakutia, and their number is only about 3000 individuals. And the isolated West Siberian population of the Siberian Crane may now have completely disappeared - a few years ago there were only 20 birds in the wild.

Fact 10. Proximity to water has a direct effect on the physique of cranes. The closer they live to water bodies, the longer their beak, neck and legs, and their toes are wider apart - this helps them to confidently walk on swampy ground and catch prey. In their more “land” species, living far from water, everything, respectively, is the other way around

31/10/2022

Interesting German Shepherd Facts

Fact 1. Now German Shepherds are popular as pets, and many people get them not for work, but simply because of the desire to acquire an intelligent and loyal four-legged friend. However, this breed was bred for a very specific purpose - the breeders set themselves the goal of getting a service-search and shepherd dog. They succeeded, and this breed has been used in this capacity for a long time.

Fact 2. In today's world, German Shepherds are also used as working dogs more than any other breeds. High intelligence, excellent learning abilities, a low level of natural aggression and physical strength make them excellent guards and law enforcement assistants. In addition, they relatively easily tolerate a change of owner, which is especially important for service dogs.

Fact 3. German Shepherds were widely used in the fields of both the First World War and the Second World War. They were used mainly as nurse dogs, and after some training they quickly learned to bring medicine to doctors. They also pulled the wounded from the battlefield more than once.

Fact 4. Everyone knows what German Shepherds look like, and this black and brown color is considered the reference for this breed. However, they also come in white! True, there is no consensus among dog handlers on this issue. In many countries, white is considered the norm, but in North America it is not recognized.

Fact 5. German Shepherds are short-haired and long-haired, but the latter are less popular, and they were officially recognized as a separate breed only in 2010. Their coat is 2-4 times longer than that of short-haired counterparts, and long-haired puppies can be born from short-haired parents.

Fact 6. After the end of the Second World War, the name "German Shepherd" for some people began to be associated with the role that Germany played in these sad events. They even tried to rename the breed to the Alsatian Shepherd, but the new name did not take root.

Fact 7. Some inexperienced dog breeders often confuse the German Shepherd with the East European, bred in the USSR in the 30s of the XX century. Their similarity is not accidental - the East European breed was bred precisely on the basis of the German Shepherd. In size and appearance, these two breeds are very similar to each other.

Fact 8. Much of the popularity of the German Shepherd is due to its versatility. These dogs get along well with children, successfully perform the work of guides, regularly serve in the police and security structures, if necessary, graze livestock and do everything in general. The abilities of a particular individual largely depend on what it is taught.

Fact 9. Work on breeding the breed began at the end of the 19th century in Germany, and in 1899 its standard was first drawn up. But since then, the role of dogs in herding herds has declined, and breeders have begun to look for new uses for them.

Fact 10. Known and loved by many, German Shepherds have become the heroes of films and television series many times. “Commissioner Rex”, “The Return of Mukhtar”, a series of films about the detective dog Pel, “Smoke” and many others, the list can be continued for a very long time.

29/10/2022

Interesting facts about turtles

Fact 1. The first turtles appeared on Earth about 220 million years ago, but since then a fair amount of them have died out, so that today there are about 330 species of these animals. True, scientists still cannot understand exactly how evolution created turtles, and from which ancestor they come. Most likely, their ancestors were enotosaurs, similar to small lizards. Their ribs were so wide that they formed something like a solid shield on their backs.

Fact 2. Some turtles can be poisonous! True, in order to suffer from their poison, one would have to eat them, since they do not have any poisonous glands, and their bite is not dangerous. But they sometimes feed on mushrooms, plants and small marine life that are poisonous to humans, so that their own meat is saturated with this poison, and, accordingly, also becomes poisonous.

Fact 3. The largest turtle in the world is a leatherback. The largest measured individual had a mass of 916 kg, a body length of 2.6 meters, and a front flipper span of 2.5 meters. This species belongs to sea turtles, and all their land relatives are somewhat more modest in size. Of the inhabitants of the land, the largest are elephant turtles, growing up to 1.8 meters and gaining weight over 400 kg, taking into account the shell.

Fact 4. Among all vertebrates, it is turtles that hold the absolute record for longevity. So, an individual named Harriet, who belonged to Charles Darwin, lived for at least 175 years. There is information about other turtles that lived from 150 to 250 years.

Fact 5. In fact, not all turtles have bone shells. In some, like the aforementioned leathery, the shell consists of small bone plates covered with rough skin, and, unlike other species of these reptiles, it is not connected with the skeleton at all. But in general, there are many dozens of species of soft-bodied turtles in the world.

Fact 6. The largest turtle that ever existed on our planet was Archelon. Fossils of these animals discovered by paleontologists show that they could weigh more than 2.2 tons and grow up to 4.6 meters, or even more.

Fact 7. Many species of turtles are on the verge of extinction, and hunting for them is prohibited. It is also forbidden to collect eggs laid by them on the shore - this causes catastrophic damage to the population. However, in many countries, poachers from among the local residents still continue to do this.

Fact 8. The number of many species of sea turtles suffered greatly during the sailing fleet. 300-500 years ago, sailors actively hunted them, but did not kill them, but took them with them as live canned food, taking advantage of the fact that these reptiles can do without food for months. Due to such active hunting, the number of many of their species has decreased over the centuries by tens and hundreds of times.

Fact 9. Turtles of some species increase their weight by 1000-2000 times from the moment they hatch from the egg until they grow up. If for us, people, such a ratio would be relevant, we would weigh 6-8 tons. However, the palm in the nomination “the difference in the size of cubs and adults” is still held by kangaroos.

Fact 10. The expression “travel like a turtle” did not arise by chance; on land, these animals are really slow. Their most leisurely species is the giant tortoise, which moves along the ground at an average speed of 0.4 km/h. And the fastest of them is leopard, it moves at a speed of up to 1 km / h.

27/10/2022

Whether you have an interest in reptiles or you’re wondering about getting a pet lizard, there are many fun facts about lizards that will blow your mind!

27/10/2022

Most are familiar with flocks of migratory birds soaring through the skies in autumn and spring. But what do we know about them apart from the fact they migrate? We've dug up some astonishing facts for you.

27/10/2022

Interesting facts about migratory birds

Fact 1. Migratory birds are able not only to overcome great distances, but also to rise to a considerable height. The observation of goose flocks over the Himalayas has been documented, at an altitude that not all aircraft can do. Wild geese seem to be the highest flying birds of all, and they thrive even in a rarefied atmosphere, despite the fact that oxygen is already scarce at such an altitude.

Fact 2. The propensity of many species of birds to a nomadic lifestyle depends on the conditions of their habitat. If there is enough food, there is no need to fly away for the winter, so birds of the same species can be both migratory and settled. Often the same flocks can spend one year without leaving their place, and the next fly away somewhere warm, if it suddenly turns out that they do not have enough food.

Fact 3. The question is often asked - why do migratory birds come back, and do not stay where it is warm and there is a lot of food? It's simple: where millions of birds fly from cold regions, food supplies are depleted in a few months, because they simply eat it all. But there are enough of them to hold out for some time, and in the meantime, winter is already over, and the birds are returning back.

Fact 4. With such long journeys, migratory birds try to save energy. Therefore, they usually line up in a V-shaped wedge - this reduces air resistance. But still, they all gain fat before the flight, while sometimes getting fatter by 50-100%. All these reserves will go to fly to a new place, and by the end of their journey, many individuals fly already very exhausted.

Fact 5. Of all migratory birds, Arctic terns make the longest journeys. Ringed individuals help track their movement, and one of these observations shocked ornithologists - as it turned out, one of the terns covered more than 21,900 km during the flight to warm climes! But the bird had to go the same way back, so that, having simply flown down for wintering, it covered a distance equal to the length of the earth's equator.

Fact 6. All birds, going to winter, behave differently. Some make stops to look for food and rest for a while, while others simply descend and catch insects on the fly. Some prefer to fly at night, others during the day, and still others fly for days and weeks without landing at all. Although the same swifts, for example, spend almost their entire lives in the air under normal conditions.

Fact 7. Scientists have long established that migratory birds are guided by the magnetic field of our planet, the stars and the Sun, so as not to go astray. But the fact that they, returning back from wintering, always find their nesting sites, while overcoming the path of many thousands of kilometers, is a mystery. The memory of many birds is not good enough to memorize countless details of the relief, but somehow they still do it.

Fact 8. Many birds are prone to migration, although some of them swim rather than fly - penguins, for example. At the same time, flying birds often cover a distance of 15-20 thousand kilometers in both directions, and during their life they manage to fly a distance comparable to the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

Fact 9. One of the mysteries that ornithologists have not yet been able to solve is the speed of migration of migratory birds. All of them spend more time flying from cold lands to warm lands than returning back. Obviously, they deliberately maintain different speeds in these cases, but why they do this is a mystery.

Fact 10. The vast majority of migratory birds travel as part of a flock. Some species migrate alone, but there are few of them. At the same time, in case of flocking birds, if some individuals are exhausted, the rest will support them, and, if necessary, they will stop and wait until their relatives recover. They don't leave theirs.

27/10/2022

Interesting facts about lizards

Fact 1. The largest lizard in the world is the Komodo dragon, reaching a length of over 3 meters and a weight of over 130 kg. These powerful and aggressive creatures arose about 4 million years ago and have not changed much since then. Now they are found only in Indonesia, but previously existed in Australia. In Indonesia, a separate Komodo National Park was even created to protect this species.

Fact 2. The smallest lizards in the world are round-toed geckos, of which in nature there are two species that live in the New World. Adults typically measure between 1.5 and 2 centimeters and weigh less than 0.2 grams, ten times less than a bee hummingbird, the smallest bird on Earth.

Fact 3. Unique legless lizards are found in the USA and Mexico, of which there are also only two species. Outwardly, they are indistinguishable from snakes, unless, of course, you are an expert. They are not dangerous at all, and besides, they spend most of their lives underground.

Fact 4. Many species of iguanas and monitor lizards can be conditionally called poisonous, but their poison is designed for the prey they feed on, and it is rather weak. But really dangerous are only two types of lizards, gila-toothed, which received such a name for a reason. In addition, there is no antidote for their bites, and their venom can easily kill.

Fact 5. Lizards living in temperate zones, like other reptiles, usually hibernate and wait for the arrival of heat. And some of their species living in hot and arid regions do the same, waiting out the drought. Although the aforementioned gila teeth get out of the situation differently - they eat less than once a month. This is enough for them to live a normal life.

Fact 6. A well-known lizard that can run on water is a helmeted basilisk, and it moves a little faster on the water surface than on land (12 km / h versus 11 km / h). The officially recorded record for the distance that the basilisk ran through the water is just over 500 meters. At the same time, these reptiles are not afraid to take a dip, as they are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for 20-30 minutes.

Fact 7. The so-called flying dragons are found in Southeast Asia. These are lizards that have mastered the air environment - they cannot fly like birds, but they perfectly plan from tree to tree, like flying squirrels. They spend their whole lives on trees, and even lay their eggs in cracks in the bark.

Fact 8. The frilled lizard living in Australia and New Guinea is interesting for its appearance and behavior. In the event of a meeting with the enemy, she stands on her hind legs and opens her huge collar, while pretending to run at her opponent, trying to scare him. If such a psychological attack does not bring the desired result, the reptile flees, and it usually flies away on its hind legs, and not on all four.

Fact 9. Almost all existing species of lizards eat everything that turns up, but mostly they prefer animal food. Many willingly include eggs in their diet. There are few vegetarians among them, but they are. For example, green iguanas, growing up to 1.5 meters in length, feed exclusively on plant foods.

Fact 10. Even living Komodo monitor lizards can easily defeat a person if you meet them in the wild. But in the past, real monsters roamed the earth! The largest lizards, megalanias, reached a length of 9 meters (which is comparable to the height of a 3-story building) and weighed up to 2 tons. And this is comparable to the size of the combed crocodile, the largest land predator on Earth, and at the same time the largest reptile.

25/10/2022

Interesting facts about flying squirrels

Fact 1. Despite their name, flying squirrels cannot fly in the truest sense of the word. These rodents only know how to plan, gradually losing altitude during the flight. Their different types, depending on weather conditions and other factors, are able to make short gliding flights over a distance of 20-30 to 100-120 meters. In order to fly between trees without descending to the ground, this is more than enough.

Fact 2. Of the 36 existing species of flying squirrels, only one lives in Russia. Two more are found in North America, and all the rest are found in the warm regions of Asia. In Russian forests, flying squirrels are found almost everywhere - in the European part of the country, and in Siberia, and in the Far East.

Fact 3. Without exception, all types of flying squirrels lead a twilight or nocturnal lifestyle, so it is almost impossible to see these animals during the day. In addition, they are very careful - flying squirrels almost do not descend to the ground, fearing predators, and immediately after the flight, clinging to the bark of a tree, they immediately run across to its opposite side in order to avoid a possible attack. Some nocturnal birds of prey, such as owls, will readily attack them on occasion, so these precautions cannot be called superfluous.

Fact 4. Despite the fact that they only plan, flying squirrels are masterfully able to control their short flight. They use their tail as a rudder, landing unmistakably where they need to. Moreover, they can even turn 180° in flight.

Fact 5. In Asia, flying squirrels are found even in the mountains, and at considerable heights. In the Himalayas, they live at an altitude of up to 4000 meters above sea level, despite the fact that it is simply cold there, and the air is already quite rarefied, which reduces the flight efficiency. Under normal conditions, at sea level, flying squirrels lose 1-3 meters of height by 10 meters horizontally, depending on the direction of the wind, but it is much more difficult for them to fly high in the mountains.

Fact 6. Despite the fact that these animals seem quite fragile, like ordinary squirrels, they have very muscular legs. They need them to work as "shock absorbers". The landing of a flying squirrel on a tree is comparable to a collision, and the impact energy needs to be extinguished somehow. Therefore, nature has endowed flying squirrels with strong enough paws to cope with this task.

Fact 7. The basis of the diet of flying squirrels are nuts. One animal collects up to 12,000-15,000 pieces per year, but not all of them are eaten. Like normal squirrels, flying squirrels make more than one store of supplies, and sometimes forget their location.

Fact 8. Despite the fact that flying squirrels lead a solitary lifestyle, they do not protect their lands from relatives as zealously as some other animals. When they meet, they never come into conflict. Moreover, cases have been recorded when adults allowed their brethren deprived of shelter to live in their nest.

Fact 9. Usually, flying squirrels of most species build nests for themselves, using twigs, grass, leaves, and everything else as building materials. But if they find a ready-made suitable shelter, for example, an unoccupied hollow, then they will gladly occupy it so as not to build their own dwelling.

Fact 10. Before predators, flying squirrels are absolutely helpless. They cannot oppose anything to the animals that hunt them, so the only thing that can save them is caution. But even this does not always help, therefore, in nature, flying squirrels usually live for about 4-5 years, and in captivity up to 12-15 years.

25/10/2022

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25/10/2022