'Black Panther'

I know I said I'd write on the same day as I wrote about the tiger but my computer decided to stop working that same day and I didn't use it for a week. (The rest is history)

So it was Black Cat day back in August, a bit before I wrote the Tiger post. If you're a fan of the Spider-Man comics(I'm a big one), you have probably heard of Felicia Hardy. She is a thief who wore a black and white suit and was called the 'Black Cat'. There is also 'Black Panther', who you might know from the Fantastic Four and some Avengers comics. And don't forget DC's Catwoman with her black suit with cat ears and a tail.
Black cats were also very popular in Egypt(they loved cats in general). Their goddess Bast was often depicted either as a black cat or a woman with the head of a black cat.
Then there's also the most famous story of all: 'If a black cat crosses your path, bad luck is coming.' Funny actually because black cats were seen as bad luck charms but they were also good luck charms. Along with ravens, they were associated with witches.

...whoaaaa, okay, that's a bit of writing there. Let's get on to the cats okay?

So the main purpose of this post is to show what a black panther really is. Many people will tell you that it's a separate type of cat that is either pure black or black with spots or anything along those lines. (Of course some, like me probably, would tell you it's just another comic character.)

When really, there's no such animal.

A Black Panther as an animal by itself doesn't exist, and if it does it hasn't been discovered.

However, those animals are all called 'black panthers':

(Photo source: Animals of Montana)

(Photo source: WWF)

(Photo source: Tigerace)

Mainly because they're, well, black.

Those are actually a black jaguar and a black leopard.

A 'Black Panther' is basically any wild cat that has dark fur which looks black. These are usually melanistic - which is the opposite of albinism - and basically there is a lot of development of the black pigment in the animal's skin, so it looks black. This doesn't only happen in cats, it can happen in other animals too.

(Photo source: Felids @ Wordpress)

This wasn't a very long post, but there wasn't much to say. I tried to explain this in the simplest way possible so I'll leave it at that. Bye guys! (:

The World's Largest Cat

Today, I'll write up two posts. I wanted to make this post a couple of weeks ago because it was Tiger day, but I never got around to it, with GISHWHES and other things happening. It was also Black Cat day last week so I'll write something about a wild black kitty later on. (:

(Photo source: National Zoo)

The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, or Panthera tigris altaica in Latin is the world's largest cat. They can reach up to 3.5 metres in height. (That's only half a metre shorter than an elephant.)

They're from the order of Carnivora and the family Felidae.

Basically they're big, furry cats and are orange/white with dark stripes.

(Photo source: Life..!!)

There are only around 500 Amur tigers in the wild, and they are found mainly around Russia and China. They hunt and feed on smaller animals and elk.

Siberian tigers usually live alone. A female Siberian tiger can have around 3 or 6 cubs, all of which she raises by herself(or with very little help from the male.) Cubs will grow until they are around 17 - 19 months old and around that time they will be finally able to hunt.

Meet Zolushka the Amur tiger! 

(Not my video)

Jellyfish: Which ones sting, and what happens to the washed up ones?

Hello all!

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. The weather was amazing - we reached 32 degrees here in Ireland - and we also had a visitor for a week so I've been away (:

While our guest was here, we all went to the beach a few times. Now, as you all know, going to the beach means being near-- or even in water.
You should always be cautious at this time because at times the ocean can be more dangerous than the forest.

I decided to write this post in which I'll help you identify various jellyfish you might find in the sea(or ocean), and tell you which ones sting and which ones do not. Next time you go to the beach see if you can spot any of these.

I will list six different types of jellyfish.

Interesting fact: Jellyfish can only survive in salt water.

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1. Aurelia Aurita

(Photo source: BBC)

You've probably seen this one washed up on the beach.

It doesn't sting and you can even pick it up.

It's sometimes also called the moon jellyfish or just a 'common jellyfish'.

2. Box Jellyfish

(Photo source: Dangerous Animals)

You are lucky if you have never encountered those sea wasps. (Luckily I am also lucky.)

They sting, and it apparently hurts like hell. Sometimes if these sting you nothing will happen - you'll just feel pain, but other times you may end up with heart failure or even death.

If you see one in the water, immediately alarm a lifeguard.(But most importantly, don't panic.)

You will really only find those in Australia.

3. Sea Nettle

 

 

(Photo source: aqua.org)

 

 

Also called a Brown Jellyfish.

They are like bees or wasps - they are not very venomous, but some people may be allergic to their sting.

 

 They are found in the Pacific ocean mainly.

 

4. Compass Jellyfish

 

(Photo sorurce: Geograph)

They sting and it is apparently very painful, though I haven't heard of many severe cases of stings. They're quite common in Ireland.

5. Mauve Stinger

(Photo source: Telegraph)

These jellyfish are very small - they would fit on the palm of your hand. Don't go picking them up though, they sting and I heard it hurts very much.

6. Portuguese Man of War

(Photo source: Telegraph)

Ok, to people in Ireland and even the UK: Be careful if you see one of those in the water. They are not native to these places but there have been a lot of them washed up on beaches over the past few years.

Their sting is extremely painful and it can kill you, so if you get stung I suggest you seek medical help as soon as possible.

--

When we were on the beach, I was asked a really interesting question:

What happens to washed up jellyfish?

Jellyfish are mostly made up of water. When jellyfish get washed up on the shore, the water evaporates and they practically melt, leaving only some parts behind.

Another fact: Most jellyfish will live a year or so.

--

Thanks for reading!

Lucky Rabbit Feet

Has anyone ever played Jazz Jackrabbit? It was one of my favourite games when I was younger.

Honestly though, I doubt you'd ever see a green jackrabbit in real life :]

So, hares. There are so many subspecies and because of that I won't go into much detail today. Here's what I can share with yas though.

The hare's scientific name is Lepus. They come from the order Lagomorpha and the family Leporidae.

Don't be fooled: a rabbit and a hare are not the same thing.

What are the differences?

A hare is larger than a rabbit and has longer ears. Hares are faster than rabbits as their hind legs are stronger and they have bigger feet. There is a myth that rubbing a hare's foot will bring you good luck.

A rabbit's children are called kits and are born hairless while the hare gives birth to leverets - which are born with fur and are precocial. The majority of rabbits live in a burrow underground, while hares have nests outside.

So... hares.

(Image source: Ephotozine)

Most hares will have brown fur, black markings on their ears and a white underbelly. Depending on the type of hare, they can be white or even grey. The most common one, though, is said brown jackrabbit.

(Image source: Co.Exist)

Hares are pretty much vegetarians. They will eat plants, grass, berries and other greenery.

Brown hares can mate at as young as 6 months of age. The does will have anywhere between two to seven leverets.

Hares can live as long as 11 - 13 years.

(Image source: Personaltao.com - Couldn't link as site displays an error)

I cain't find a video with hare sounds unfortunately, but I guess the reason for that is because you won't hear them that often! They don't make any special noises.

Canid or Felid?

Sorry for not posting for a while, personal reasons.

So I've finally gotten to that fox I've been talking about. I like foxes -- They're quite amazing, actually. It's a shame some people hunt them for pleasure.

(Photo source: Bing fotos)

Okay, so, red foxes. Their Latin name is Vulpes Vulpes.

They are from the order Carnivora and the family Canidae.

Some people think that foxes come from the family Felidae, but that is not true - a fox is not a felid. A lot of people consider foxes to come from some sort of a wild cat, but they are mistaken.

Red foxes are, well, red. Their muzzle, cheek and the tip of their tail are white. Their legs and sometimes ears are anywhere from a dark grey-brown to black. Sometimes foxes can have additional markings on their face, these being any shade from light brown to black.

But that ain't the only coloration of the red fox - it is the most common and known one, but there are also variations. A fox can be practically anything from white through grey and brown to black.

(Photo source: Wikipedia)

Red foxes are found mainly in the Northern hemisphere - That includes Canada, North America, Europe and Asia. You are likely to see them in most cities in said hemisphere. They are common in Ireland and have also been introduced to Australia.

Foxes will hunt on smaller animals, these being rats, frogs, hares, fish and birds. However, they will also eat berries or vegetables.

Believe it or not - the fox is more likely to eat an already dead sheep rather than kill one. Of course, foxes will eat other animals, as all omni and carnivores would, but it is more likely for your dog to run into someone's field and hunt a lamb.

Foxes can be, but are not necessarily monogamous - there are cases of polyamory and incest in foxes.

They breed in spring or winter depending on the pair, and the vixen gives birth to anywhere from 2 to 12 kits.

Foxes will live to about 1 - 3 years in the wild.

(Painting source: Joni Johnson-Godsy Wildlife Art)

You can listen to the red fox here!

(Not my video)

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.

(One of the many versions of the famous nursery rhyme)

Does anyone recognize this? It's an old nursery rhyme about magpies.

Don't worry guys, I'll write about things other than birds sometime. Let's just talk about the Common Eurasian Magpie for now.

(Photo source: Feathered Photography)

The Latin name for this type of magpie is Pica Pica(Hehe.... pikachu).

It comes from the order Passeriformes and the family Corvidae.

They aren't very big, but they aren't small either; magpies are roughly the size of a big plush toy.

 Their name comes from 'Magot Pie', first used in Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Some also believe that the name magpie comes from the word 'pied', because of their patches of colour.

Eurasian magpies are black and white with a gorgeous patch of blue on their wings. You are very likely to notice that they have a few green feathers on their tails. Their beaks and feet are dark grey.

Eurasian magpies are found mainly around Europe, excluding Iceland and the very north of Scandinavia.

They are quite common in Great Britain, Belgium and Poland.

The Eurasian magpie is considered to be a bird of prey. This is debatable to some. They feed on insects and occasionally may be seen with smaller, younger birds or stolen eggs. They are very likely to eat wild bird food if you leave it out. They will feed on almost anything that is smaller than them and is edible to other animals.

Magpies, like storks from my last post, are monogamous - that means that they are mates for life. Until one dies, that is. They nest on trees.

Magpies will have around 5 - 7 eggs.

 (Photo source: Mark Carmody Photography)

If you have sheep, goats, horses or cattle - You may spot a magpie or two enjoying themselves on the backs of your animals.

You can listen to the Eurasian magpie here!

(Not my video)

Alright y'all, that's it for now! I'll see yas later.

The Baby is Coming

Have your parents ever told you that the stork brings the baby?

Funny, actually. No one really knows where that myth came from - but it was believed that because storks are migratory birds and nest on top of chimneys, they could bring babies along with them and sometimes even send the baby down the chimney.

But we all know how babies are made, and I don't think I need to discuss that. When a man loves a woman...

Aaanyway.

I wanted to start off with lemurs, since they are my favourite animals and all, but I figured I should do a post on something a little more local. (To where I used to live, anyway. You don't get white storks in Ireland, really.) But it's all good since the white stork is another one of my favourite animals anyway.

(Image source: Lincoln Park Zoo)

These birds come from the order Ciconiiformes and the family Ciconiidae. Another name for the White Stork is Ciconia Ciconia.

White Storks are quite big - They can be as tall as 1.25m(about 40 - 50 inches) and their wingspan can be about 1.5 - 2m long(Around 60 - 80 inches). They weigh about five kilograms - but that can vary.

As the name implies, white storks are white - however they have patches of black at the ends and sides of their wings, and their beaks and extremely long feet can be anywhere from a reddish orange to a bright red.

European White Storks live in Europe(obviously), but they are also seen in Africa, Asia and nearby areas.

They are very common to Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

It may not look like it, but the European White Stork is actually a bird of prey. It feeds on smaller birds and animals, including rodents and frogs.

When storks come together, they are mates for life. They nest on rooftops, chimneys and trees. The storks' nests are quite big, ranging from around 2m to 2.5m across. (That would be around 80 - 100 inches)

(Image source: TrekNature)

Here's a nice fact - If you have a closer look at a stork's wings, you'll be able to see little patches of blue and green along with the black on their wings.

You can listen to the White Stork here!

(Not my video)

~

So that is it for now, expect more birds of prey later on! And maybe a fox or something. I'll stick to forest and local animals for now, then move onto the more exotic ones.

Ciao!