The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Sunday, August 22, 2021

FASCINATING HUMMINGBIRD FACTS

Many hummingbirds will soon be heading south! Learn some fun facts about hummingbirds—how much these tiny birds weigh, whether they can really see red, and what types you’ll see where you live. Did you know that hummers do not flap their wings? Enjoy these fascinating hummingbird facts.

WHAT IS A HUMMINGBIRD’S SIZE?

These diminutive birds weigh only about 4 grams—or .141 ounce! That’s tiny! For comparison, a U.S. penny weighs 2.5 grams. The egg of a hummingbird weighs just 0.4 gram to 2.4 grams. A newly hatched bird is just 0.62 gram. However, when it’s time to migrate, hummers pack on the grams for the long trip—sometimes doubling their weight.

They are among the smallest birds, too, with most species measuring 3 to 5 inches long. The smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, is only 2 inches long—and weighs less than 2 grams.

To read more on this story, click here: FASCINATING HUMMINGBIRD FACTS


WARNING! FLAT FACED CATS HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES

Think carefully when choosing a cat breed for the family. There is mounting evidence to show that flat faced cats have serious health issues says International Cat Care.

In recent months the issue of health problems in flat faced or brachycephalic dogs has been highlighted to the public by RSPCA’s campaign ‘Love is Blind‘.

Flat faced cats like Persians or Exotic Shorthairs can have all the same health issues as dogs – breathing and dental problems, skin fold infections and problems giving birth to name a few.  These issues can lead to lifelong suffering as a direct result of being ‘designed’ to have a very flat face.

To read more on this story, click here: WARNING! FLAT FACED CATS HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES



Lion kisses the hand of his dog companion, gets 58M views

This lion purposefully kisses the paw of her dog friend, showcasing a tremendous connection that defies the law of nature.

Lions and dogs are totally different in so many ways, such as lifestyle, diet, and instincts. Many would totally agree that they can never live alongside each other.

However, the case is different between Miki, the lion, and Camila, the dog. Being raised together since they’re babies, these two created a magical bond that defies science.

To read more on this story, click here: Lion kisses the hand of his dog companion, gets 58M views


Mandrill

Mandrill – Mandrillus sphinx

Introduction

Many people mistake the Mandrill for the Baboon but they are different. Yet they do look similar to each other. They are members of the Old World Monkeys. In fact, they were once classified as Baboons. Yet further studies determined that there were enough differences to put them into their on class. They are the largest species of Monkey in the world.

Description

The olive coloring is found on the Mandrill. As males become older and more dominant the coloring gets darker. The males will always be darker than the females. It is believed that many females choose their mates based on the shade of coloring. The males can be up to 77 pounds when they are fully mature. The females are about half of that weight.

To read more on this story, click here: Mandrill


Peacock Mantis Shrimp

The Peacock mantis shrimp is a brightly colored crustacean that lives on Indo-Pacific coral reefs and associated sand flats. Its common name reflects the brilliant greens and blues that adorn the male’s exoskeleton (shell).

Females are also brightly colored but are mostly red. Peacock mantis shrimp are powerful hunters, feeding on hard-shelled invertebrates of all kinds and even some fishes. They are well known for the extremely fast punching motion that they do with their front appendages to kill and break apart their prey. This punch is one of the fastest movements in the animal kingdom and is strong enough to break through an aquarium’s glass wall. Peacock mantis shrimp use this behavior to break open snails and other mollusks and to completely dismember crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans.

To read more on this story, click here: Peacock Mantis Shrimp


Meganeura : The largest insect ever existed was a giant dragonfly

What Was the Biggest Insect That Ever Lived? The largest known insect of all time was a predator resembling a dragonfly but was only distantly related to them. Its name is Meganeura

Meganeura

Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Carboniferous period (approximately 300 million years ago), which resembled and are related to the present-day dragonflies. Its wingspans from 65 cm (25.6 in) to more than 70 cm (28 in), M.Monyi is one of the largest known species of flying insects. Meganeura was predatory and their diet consisted mainly of other insects.

Fossils were discovered in the French Stephanian Coal Measures of Commentry in 1880. In 1885, French paleontologist Charles Brongniart described and named the fossil “Meganeura” (large-nerved), which refers to the network of veins on the insect’s wings. Another fine fossil specimen was found in 1979 at Bolsover in Derbyshire. The holotype is housed in the National Museum of Natural History, in Paris.

To read more on this story, click here: Meganeura : The largest insect ever existed was a giant dragonfly



Scelidosaurus : First complete dinosaur skeleton ever found is ready for its closeup at last

The first complete dinosaur skeleton ever identified has finally been studied in detail and found its place in the dinosaur family tree, completing a project that began more than 150 years ago.

The first complete dinosaur skeleton ever identified has finally been studied in detail and found its place in the dinosaur family tree, completing a project that began more than a century and a half ago.

The skeleton of this dinosaur, called Scelidosaurus, was collected more than 160 years ago on west Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. The rocks in which it was fossilised are around 193 million years old, close to the dawn of the Age of Dinosaurs.

To read more on this story, click here: Scelidosaurus : First complete dinosaur skeleton ever found is ready for its closeup at last



Dachshund Dog Breed Facts & Information

Clever, lively, courageous, entertaining: that’s the Dachshund. The Dachshund’s name comes from the German words for badger (dachs) and dog (hund), but you might know the Dachshund more informally as a doxie, wiener dog, hot dog, sausage dog, or badger dog.

Dachshunds were originally bred in 15th century Germany to hunt badgers. This dog breed’s long back and short legs made them ideal hunting dogs for scenting, chasing, and flushing out small animals and burrow-dwelling creatures.

To read more on this story, click here: Dachshund Dog Breed Facts & Information