Frogs are amphibians, animals that spend part of their lives under water and the remainder on land. They have long, powerful jumping legs and a very short backbone. Most Frogs have teeth (in the upper jaws only) but toads do not have any teeth.
Adult Frogs are characterised by long hind legs, a short body, webbed digits, protruding eyes and the absence of a tail. Most Frogs have a semi-aquatic lifestyle, but move easily on land by jumping or climbing. They typically lay their eggs in puddles, ponds or lakes, and their larvae, called tadpoles, have gills and develop in water. Adult Frogs follow a carnivorous diet, mostly of arthropods, annelids and gastropods. Frogs are most noticeable by their call, which can be widely heard during the night or day, mainly in their mating season.
Life cycle: Like all amphibians, Frogs spend their lives near water because they must return to the water to lay their eggs. Frogs eggs are laid in the water. When they hatch into tadpoles, they breathe with gills and swim using a tail. As they mature, they lose their tail, and they develop lungs for breathing air. In harsh climates, Frogs bury themselves in sand and mud and hibernate (sleep very deeply) through the cold winter.
Diet: Frogs eat insects, catching them with their long, sticky tongue. They also eat small fish and worms.
Classification and Evolution: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Chordata, Class Amphibia (amphibians), Order Anura (Frogs and toads). The first true Frogs evolved during the early Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago (during the time of the dinosaurs).
The distribution of Frogs ranges from tropic to subarctic regions, but most species are found in tropical rainforests. Consisting of more than 5,000 species described, they are among the most diverse groups of vertebrates. However, populations of certain Frogs species are significantly declining.
for:http://www.frogs-house.com
2008年9月17日星期三
2008年9月5日星期五
Pit Bull Terrier Myths: Not Really The Dog You've Heard Them To Be
Pit Bulls are undeniably the most controversial canine pet at the current time. They are the first to be pulled into the media limelight, as anything they are accused of makes headlines people eagerly wish to read. Sadly, the Pit Bulls who have actually harmed humans are dogs who have been neglected and not properly trained.
Along with unfit owners, the myths which are perpetuated by the unlearned about Pit Bulls give the dog an undue bad reputation. Some of the more popular myths concerning Pit Bulls are circulated continually on the internet via chain emails, which get passed to millions of people who’ve never spoken with an owner of, nor had the pleasure of having a Pit Bull in their family.
These untruthful rumor mails always talk about a friend of a cousin’s uncle who knew someone who had a neighbor who met a guy that once heard something about a Pit Bull, and it’s never a good thing. Hopefully, this article will set the record straight on the matter, and expose them for what they are, which is an electronic viral email of ignorance.
Myth: Pit Bulls were specially bred from dogs which had a mutation in the jaw that created a locking jaw, and all modern Pit Bulls have these locking jaws. Once they latch on, they cannot release.
Truth: The locking jaw rumor is a myth. Pit Bulls are not physiologically different from any other breeds of dogs. This means that the Pit Bull has no special jaw or teeth which would make the dog have a locking jaw. It’s a bogus statement, which perpetuates the Pit Bull as a menace to any who may be around them.
Myth: Pit Bulls are by nature aggressive to humans, and make excellent guard dogs because of this trait.
Truth: Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive toward other dogs, which is not a trait specific to this breed. As a matter of fact, most all breeds of terriers tend to be this way. Pit Bulls who have been raised by caring owners make very affectionate pets. Remember the dog from the original Little Rascal series? Well he was Petey, and he was a Pit Bull. Petey was praised as being one of the smartest dogs in film, and he worked with a horde of children.
Myth: Pit Bulls are notorious for turning on their owners without warning.
Truth: There is no evidence on record which states that ANY breed of dog has a natural tendency to turn on their owners on a whim. As a matter of fact, any aggression by canines is always preceded by some type of warning from the dog. Indeed, it is usually the owners inability to read the dog’s body language and signals which result in a dog turning on the owner. Any dog, regardless of breed, has the same chance statistically to change temperament on the owner.
As long as there are headlines to be made, and inept and uncaring pet owners, there will always be a target breed to satisfy our human need to have unreasonable fear of the unknown. The German Shepherd as well as the Doberman have both been the “dog to fear” in the past, and now unfortunately for the Pit Bull, it’s his turn to be unduly hated.
Along with unfit owners, the myths which are perpetuated by the unlearned about Pit Bulls give the dog an undue bad reputation. Some of the more popular myths concerning Pit Bulls are circulated continually on the internet via chain emails, which get passed to millions of people who’ve never spoken with an owner of, nor had the pleasure of having a Pit Bull in their family.
These untruthful rumor mails always talk about a friend of a cousin’s uncle who knew someone who had a neighbor who met a guy that once heard something about a Pit Bull, and it’s never a good thing. Hopefully, this article will set the record straight on the matter, and expose them for what they are, which is an electronic viral email of ignorance.
Myth: Pit Bulls were specially bred from dogs which had a mutation in the jaw that created a locking jaw, and all modern Pit Bulls have these locking jaws. Once they latch on, they cannot release.
Truth: The locking jaw rumor is a myth. Pit Bulls are not physiologically different from any other breeds of dogs. This means that the Pit Bull has no special jaw or teeth which would make the dog have a locking jaw. It’s a bogus statement, which perpetuates the Pit Bull as a menace to any who may be around them.
Myth: Pit Bulls are by nature aggressive to humans, and make excellent guard dogs because of this trait.
Truth: Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive toward other dogs, which is not a trait specific to this breed. As a matter of fact, most all breeds of terriers tend to be this way. Pit Bulls who have been raised by caring owners make very affectionate pets. Remember the dog from the original Little Rascal series? Well he was Petey, and he was a Pit Bull. Petey was praised as being one of the smartest dogs in film, and he worked with a horde of children.
Myth: Pit Bulls are notorious for turning on their owners without warning.
Truth: There is no evidence on record which states that ANY breed of dog has a natural tendency to turn on their owners on a whim. As a matter of fact, any aggression by canines is always preceded by some type of warning from the dog. Indeed, it is usually the owners inability to read the dog’s body language and signals which result in a dog turning on the owner. Any dog, regardless of breed, has the same chance statistically to change temperament on the owner.
As long as there are headlines to be made, and inept and uncaring pet owners, there will always be a target breed to satisfy our human need to have unreasonable fear of the unknown. The German Shepherd as well as the Doberman have both been the “dog to fear” in the past, and now unfortunately for the Pit Bull, it’s his turn to be unduly hated.
2008年9月2日星期二
Flea Control: The In's and Out's of Getting Rid of those Pesky Critters
Bleh – fleas! ‘Tis the season – are you prepared? It’s not just at home where you need to be ready either. Different geographical areas have different climate conditions so the flea season varies depending on where you are – keep that in mind whether you are at home or traveling. Something else to be aware of is that fleas, in various stages of their disgusting lives, can survive indoors even during the cold weather. Following are some helpful facts about fleas and information on how you can prevent them from infesting your pets and your home.
Even though there are more than 2,000 known species and subspecies of fleas, only one class of flea called the ‘cat flea’ is to blame for almost all the fleas found on cats and dogs in the United States. What is really daunting is that there is evidence of fleas dating all the way back to the dinosaur era which means they obviously aren’t going away by themselves – all the more reason to do something to protect your pets and family.
Most fleas can survive for an average of two to three months without ‘food’ which is actually the blood they suck from their ‘hosts’. A female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily! You should also know that while adult fleas suck blood from a cat, dog or other mammal, their larvae live and feed on organic debris in the host animal's environment – that’s your home! Be aware that some fleas can jump 150 times their own length – that compares to a human jumping 1,000 feet. So if you happen to see one flea, there may be more than 100 offspring or adults looming nearby in furniture, carpeting or on your pet.
Now let’s talk about how to prevent these gross little parasites from getting into your life and how to get rid of them if they do. As a pet owner, one of your main responsibilities is to keep your pet healthy. Taking them to the vet for their annual check ups is very important. While you’re there, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about a flea prevention method for your furry friends such as Advantage, Advantix or Frontline. Certain products can also help to prevent ticks in addition to fleas.
If you see fleas on your pets or in your home, take action immediately. Not only are fleas a huge annoyance, but they can also transmit diseases and tapeworm. If your home becomes infested, you will probably need to purchase flea bombs – make sure read and adhere to the directions carefully and contact your vet to get further advice and relief for your pet and family.
Even though there are more than 2,000 known species and subspecies of fleas, only one class of flea called the ‘cat flea’ is to blame for almost all the fleas found on cats and dogs in the United States. What is really daunting is that there is evidence of fleas dating all the way back to the dinosaur era which means they obviously aren’t going away by themselves – all the more reason to do something to protect your pets and family.
Most fleas can survive for an average of two to three months without ‘food’ which is actually the blood they suck from their ‘hosts’. A female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily! You should also know that while adult fleas suck blood from a cat, dog or other mammal, their larvae live and feed on organic debris in the host animal's environment – that’s your home! Be aware that some fleas can jump 150 times their own length – that compares to a human jumping 1,000 feet. So if you happen to see one flea, there may be more than 100 offspring or adults looming nearby in furniture, carpeting or on your pet.
Now let’s talk about how to prevent these gross little parasites from getting into your life and how to get rid of them if they do. As a pet owner, one of your main responsibilities is to keep your pet healthy. Taking them to the vet for their annual check ups is very important. While you’re there, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about a flea prevention method for your furry friends such as Advantage, Advantix or Frontline. Certain products can also help to prevent ticks in addition to fleas.
If you see fleas on your pets or in your home, take action immediately. Not only are fleas a huge annoyance, but they can also transmit diseases and tapeworm. If your home becomes infested, you will probably need to purchase flea bombs – make sure read and adhere to the directions carefully and contact your vet to get further advice and relief for your pet and family.
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