The Animal World http://www.theanimalworld.org Where animal lovers unite Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Animals Found In One Particular Place In The World http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/06/06/animals-found-in-one-particular-place-in-the-world/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/06/06/animals-found-in-one-particular-place-in-the-world/#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=17 Some species of animals are found in many different parts of the world. For instance, wolves are found across Asia, North America and Europe. Fox, wild dogs, leopards and deer are some other animals with a wide distribution. There are some animals that are limited to a single place on the planet.

The island nation of Madagascar is home to some species that are found no place else on earth. The most well-known of these animals are the many species of lemurs that inhabit the island. These interesting creatures come in a wide-range of sizes and colorations. However, this isn’t the only species unique to Madagascar. The fossa is not a well-known animal, but it is a stealthy hunter of the lemur. The fossa is like a cat, but it is also similar to a mongoose.

Australia has many unique animals. The koala is a much beloved animal. The kangaroo and the wallaby are two other animals found only in Australia. The Tasmanian devil is limited to Australia’s Tasmania region.

China is the only home of the panda. These endangered animals are now limited to just a few isolated pockets of bamboo forest in the Chinese mountains.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/06/06/animals-found-in-one-particular-place-in-the-world/feed/ 0 Asian Zodiac Animals In Different Countries http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/04/14/asian-zodiac-animals-in-different-countries/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/04/14/asian-zodiac-animals-in-different-countries/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=16 This is the Year of the Snake. Characteristics of the Snake are charm, good perception and alertness. Snake people make excellent archeologists, lawyers, and philosophers. In many countries, the snake is celebrated for these traits. In many non-Asian countries whose religion includes the Old Testament, the snake is given very bad press and is said to have sneakily misled Eve into disobeying God. Unfortunately in some Western cultures, pigs, horses, monkeys, snakes and dogs find themselves used as insult terms rather than venerated signs of the Zodiac.

The Dragon which was the Zodiac animal for 2012 is a symbol of power and leadership. People who want their children to be world leaders or CEO’s of major corporations will have to plan the birth for 2024. The Horse, coming up in 2014 is free-spirited, frugal and independent. Those who want their kids to have these characteristics should start their family in February, 2014.

The Asian Zodiac has few variations in animal symbols and meanings. However in Northern Thailand the Elephant replaces the Pig and in Japan the Boar does the same. In Viet Nam, the Cat takes over from the Rabbit and the Water Buffalo from the Ox.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2013/04/14/asian-zodiac-animals-in-different-countries/feed/ 0 The Slow Loris: The World’s Only Poisonous Primate http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/09/29/the-slow-loris-the-worlds-only-poisonous-primate/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/09/29/the-slow-loris-the-worlds-only-poisonous-primate/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=15 Cable TV is my best friend on most rainy Sunday afternoons (except during football season). I love flipping through the channels and filling my head with knowledge, usually from documentaries, informational shows and the like.

One rainy Sunday last week, I came across an episode of “Weird Creatures” a show on Discovery Channel which examines some of the most unusual animals on the planet. Man, I was plugged to the TV. I have always been fascinated by nature, even if it happens to odd or repulsive. This particular episode featured the only poisonous primate in the world – the slow loris.

The slow loris is found across southern Asia and western Indonesia, including certain areas of Bangladesh, Burma, China, Thailand, Malaysia and isolated islands in the Indian Ocean. They generally live high in the trees of tropical rainforests, preferring warm, lowland areas.

The slow loris, which stores its venom in an elbow patch, will suck the venom from the patch and deliver a toxic bite. They are omnivores, and will eat insects, eggs, fruits, tree sap, small birds and reptiles and other vegetation.

Due to their nocturnal lifestyle and restricted access to their habitats, experts aren’t sure how many slow lorises are living in the wild. However, they are often captured in the wild by illegal traders, who will remove their teeth with wire cutters to prevent being bitten. In addition to being prized pets, slow lorises are valued for their fur and use in traditional medicine.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/09/29/the-slow-loris-the-worlds-only-poisonous-primate/feed/ 0 Lynx: One Of The Most Endangered Species Of Animals http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/31/lynx-one-of-the-most-endangered-species-of-animals/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/31/lynx-one-of-the-most-endangered-species-of-animals/#comments Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=10 There are four subspecies of lynx, and all of them are in danger. While only one subspecies has made it onto the critically endangered list, and one other sits on a list as threatened, they are all disappearing from their native habitats. The Canadian Lynx once inhabited 16 U.S. states, it can now only be found in three. The entire lynx population in the U.S. is thought to be numbered somewhere around 1,000 animals. This is a mere fraction of what once was a thriving population living on our soil.

The Iberian lynx is in even worse condition. This subspecies of lynx, native to Spain, is sure to disappear unless we take immediate and drastic action to save them. There is though to only be about 250 Iberian lynx left anywhere in the world. Due to deforestation around the globe, all of the subspecies of lynx are left in danger of extinction. These specialized hunters only prey on a select few types of animals, and with their habitat and prey being quickly erased in the name of human progress the lynx remains ever in danger. Even the bobcat once a common animal, even considered a nuisance at one time, is starting to become hard to find.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/31/lynx-one-of-the-most-endangered-species-of-animals/feed/ 0 List Of Endangered Animals From All Around The World http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/28/list-of-endangered-animals-from-all-around-the-world/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/28/list-of-endangered-animals-from-all-around-the-world/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=9 For various reasons; whether it is from destruction of a natural habit, excessive hunting, or various other reasons; there are thousands of animals around the world that are considered to be endangered. Here you will find a list of some of those animals and the area they are found within.

Africa

African Wild Dog
Black Rhinoceros
Cheetah
Chimpanzee
Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur
Leopard
Mountain Zebra

Antarctica

Blue Whale
Finback Whale
Humpback Whale
Sperm Whale

Asia

Asian Elephant
Asian Leopard
Asiatic Lion
Brown Bear
Giant Panda
Sand Cat
Tiger
Wild Yak

Australia

Banded Hair Wallaby
Bulmer’s Fruit Bat
Shark Bay Mouse
Tasmanian Forester Kangaroo
Tasmanian Tiger

Central America

Cougar
Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey
Jaguar
Little Spotted Cat
Mantled Howler Monkey
Red-backed Squirrel Monkey
West Indian Manatee

Europe

Brown Bear
Goitered Gazelle
Steller Sea-lion
Striped Hyena

Middle East

Lar Valley Viper
Mugger Crocodile
Dorcas Gazelle
Indus River Dolphin
Persian Fallow Deer
Snow Leopard
Striped Hyena

North America

American Bison
Bighorn Sheep
Gray Wolf
Pygmy Rabbit
Steller Sea-lion
West Indian Manatee

Oceania

Blue Whale
Bowhead Whale
Gray Whale
Mediterranean Monk Seal

South America

Andean Cat
Giant Armadillo
Giant Otter
Maned Wolf
Marine Otter
Ocelot
Southern River Otter
Thin-spined Porcupine
West Indian Manatee
Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/28/list-of-endangered-animals-from-all-around-the-world/feed/ 0 Animal Breeds Used For Wool, Fiber And Cashmere http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/27/animal-breeds-used-for-wool-fiber-and-cashmere/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/27/animal-breeds-used-for-wool-fiber-and-cashmere/#comments Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=8 Garments have been made from animal fibers for centuries and animal fibers are still popular today. One benefit of animal fiber is that it traps heat but still allows air to circulate. Another is that it is naturally water resistant and dries faster than cotton or synthetic fibers.

Each wool-bearing animal produces a fiber with unique properties. The first wool-bearing animal to come to mind is most likely sheep, but that is just the beginning of the story. Each breed of sheep produces a different type of wool. The wool from Merino sheep is prized for its softness, but soft wools are generally less durable than soft wools. Wool from Leicester sheep, on the other hand, tends to be too coarse to wear next to the skin but tough enough to be made into rugs.

Cashmere, which comes from cashmere goats, is a fiber prized for its softness but it is often blended with other animal fibers to give it durability. Another goat fiber, mohair, comes from the undercoat of an angora goat, but should not be confused with the angora fiber, which comes from a rabbit. Other popular animal fibers include alpaca, buffalo, and even ox, all of which are known for being especially soft, lightweight, and warm.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/27/animal-breeds-used-for-wool-fiber-and-cashmere/feed/ 0 Animals Used As National Symbols In Various Countries http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/23/animals-used-as-national-symbols-in-various-countries/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/23/animals-used-as-national-symbols-in-various-countries/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=7 The countries of the world are represented by a variety of animals. The following is a list of some of the more unique selections.

Creatures of Fantasy

Some countries have picked their national symbols from folklore and legends. Scotland claims the mythical unicorn as its animal. The powerful dragon symbolizes the countries of China and Vietnam. The phoenix, an emblem of rebirth, is the national animal for Greece.

Extinct Animals

Several nations have selected extinct animals as their national symbols. Libya and Morocco both picked the Barbary lion. This creature went extinct in the wild a century ago. It is possible that some lions in zoos are descendants from these animals.

The dodo represents the island of Mauritius. The dodo was a flightless bird that left little historical record. Even to this day, no one knows for sure what it looked like. All the dodos on the island were dead by 1681.

The Less Exotic Choices

While many countries have chosen exotic animals native to their lands, others have opted for more common animals. These animals, however, are surely just as important to them as any cheetah or panda is to another country. These common animals include the Manx cat for the Isle of Man and the European rabbit for Monaco.

These national animals are an important part of their country’s culture and history in their own way.

]]> http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/23/animals-used-as-national-symbols-in-various-countries/feed/ 0 What Animals Sound Like In Different Languages http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/21/what-animals-sound-like-in-different-languages/ http://www.theanimalworld.org/2012/05/21/what-animals-sound-like-in-different-languages/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 www.theanimalworld.org http://www.theanimalworld.org/?p=6 When American children are small, they are taught that birds chirp and chickens cluck. Dutch children, however learn that birds go “tjiep” and chickens say “tok tok.” French children know that birds actually “piep,” and chickens say “kot-kot.”

Clearly, animal sounds are not universal. Every language in the world has its own onomatopoeia for describing animal sounds, and the words are widely varied in some cases.

For instance, in the United States, large dogs woof or ruff, but French dogs ouah, Dutch dogs vov-vov and German dogs wau-wau. In Italy, they bau bau, in Japan they say “wan wan,” and in Russia they bark out “gav gav.”

American ducks may quack, but in the Arabic world they couak. Ducks gua in China, kva in Croatia, baak in India, kvakk in Norway and kwa in Poland.

Cows moo in the US, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Poland, Norway, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and the Ukraine, but they boo in Hungary and Denmark.

A rooster crows by saying “cockle doodle doo” in the US and England, but announces the morning with a “kukeleku” in Denmark. In France, they call out “cocorico,” in Italy they say “kickeriki,” and in China they simply say “wo wo wo.”

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