Did you know for example that in Florida people are beginning to report that vultures are starting to grab poodles and small pets from rooftop patios? You also may have heard that a hummingbird’s heart beats 180 times per minute, but did you know these other interesting bird facts.

There are remarkably over 350 different species of parrots on the planet and the smallest is the Pygmy Parrot who is only approximately 8cm long. The oldest reported parrot is said to be once owned by Winston Churchill and is nearly 104 years old.

Think you see a lot of birds throughout the day, it is nothing compared to what is actually on the entire planet. There are as many as one to two billion birds alive at any one time. Ever wonder, with all those birds out there, which one is the most common? It’s the chicken.

The canary bird is something that we often admire in bird cages, but the truth is they are not even the slightest interested in us, which is one of the reasons they are so docile. Many people have loved these little birds, and they have served as pets for hundreds of years. Royal families have even commissioned special cages to be made for their special canary royalty. They live approximately 10 years, which is partially due to the fact that they are one of only a few creatures that can actually regenerate brain cells, unlike humans.

When it comes to the biology of birds there are some even more remarkable facts. Even though we will often use the phrase “light as a feather”, bird’s feathers actually weigh more than their skeletons.

There is endless information about our fellow feathered friends that endlessly fascinating and as our technology continues to advance we are learning new things every day.

Below, we’ll cover dog bed needs specifically revolving around dogs of unusual sizes and dimensions. So whether you have an oversized dog or one who is so small she’s hard to notice, you can get the information you need to find the right bed for her.

Oversized Dogs

Dogs that are very large and have bulky builds require innovative solutions when it comes to determining appropriate sleeping areas. If you’re a bachelor or bachelorette and have a house or apartment all to yourself, you may be comfortable allowing your dog to sleep on your bed with you, or at least on other furniture in your home. Since this furniture is built for people to use, it should definitely support the dog’s weight and provide him a comfortable place to sleep. A common problem that arises, however, is that many people in these situations don’t stay single forever. If you’ve always shared your bed with your large pet dog, and suddenly have a partner sharing your bed with you, it can be rather cruel to the dog to force him to sleep on the floor out of nowhere.

If you plan on changing your own sleeping or furniture use situation during the lifetime of your pet, try providing him with a distinctive sleeping area right off the bat. That way, there are no uncomfortable adjustments for you and your dog to make later on down the road. There are dogs beds specifically designed for larger dogs that should work very well for most pets, though a large pile of really comfortable blankets will often do just as well so long as they’re cleaned often and arranged in a pleasant fashion. Go with an actual pet bed if your dog is the jumpy kind too, as otherwise he’ll tear up that pile of blankets in a matter of minutes!

Undersized Dogs

Dogs that are quite a bit smaller in size that your typical pet dog can pose sleeping problems as well. Though just about any dog bed will do in theory (small dogs should be able to fit into small, medium, and large bed spaces rather easily), in practice that doesn’t hold up quite as well. Larger beds often have higher walls or are placed further off the ground, which can be difficult for a dog with stubby legs to reach. Always go for pet beds that are accessible easily at floor level, and which don’t have any extravagant climbing requirements (this can also be quite helpful for older dogs).

If you’d rather use a less conventional sleeping area, avoid having your dog climb into bed with you, as you don’t want to roll over on her, and avoid having her sleep on couches as well, in case a last minute guest doesn’t notice her sleeping as he or she sits down. Small indoor dog houses with plush flooring are eccentric and fun alternatives to conventional small pet beds, and they won’t take up too much space inside your house like a large dog house would. Plus, it will certainly make for a great conversation piece whenever you have guests over, and your small dog will be able to hide easily if frightened by any of your unexpected guests.

In late 1938, a coelacanth was caught at the Chalumna River on the eastern part of South Africa. The crew that caught it thought it looked unusual they decided to consult a museum in the town of East London, South Africa for assistance with identifying it. It was identified as being the same as that of fossilized remains of a coelacanth.

The rediscovery of the coelacanth fish prompted the change in the scientific name of the fish. The name was created in honor of East London Museum director Marjorie Courtney-Latimer and the South African ichthyologist Dr. J.L.B. Smith. Smith was informed by Courtney-Latimer of this discovery.

The physical build of this fish makes it very unique. The vertebral column on the fish is not completely developed. It also has paired lobed fins that move like human limbs and an additional lobe on its tail. This makes the fish one that works with more functions than that of what a standard type of fish would deal with.

However, it is the inter-cranial joint on the fish that makes it even more unique. This joint is one that separates the ear and brain from the fish’s eyes and nasal organs. This works to allow the fish to lift its head up when swimming or feeding.

The coelacanth is a big fish

The coelacanth can grow to become 6.5 ft (2m) long and almost 200 pounds (90 kg) in weight. It also has some large meristic counts. The first dorsal fin is 8 spines long and the second dorsal fin is 30 rays in size. The pelvic, caudal, pectoral and anal fins can be around 30 rays each. The lifespan of the coelacanth is 60 years.

The coelacanth has since been found in some other variants in other parts of the world. In 1998, a coelacanth was caught in Indonesia. The featured photo is of a coelacanth found in Indonesia – it was photographed by Mark Erdmann who was a doctoral student studying reef life and now works for Conservation International. The coelacanths from these waters have a brown color instead of the standard blue that the coelacanth of other regions have. This is called a Sulawesi Coelacanth, named after the town in Indonesia that the fish was caught in.

The interesting thing about this particular specimen is that locals were familiar with it at the time. It was referred to as the raja laut or the “king of the sea.” It is not clear as to how long these people were familiar with coelacanth.

The Coelacanth Project

In 2003, the Institute of Marine Sciences in Zanzibar worked alongside the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme to work towards protection of this fish. In the same year a coelacanth was found in Songo Mnara in the southern section of the country. Since, more than 30 have been found in the area. Another was found in Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania in 2007.

The existence of coelacanth fossils over the years has been well documented. The fish has been believed to have existed in a number of forms since the days when the dinosaurs existed. Fossils have predominantly been found in areas where fossil formation can be easily handled, such as caves and overhangs located around vertical marine reefs. These include areas located around newly formed islands that were created by volcanoes.

It was also believed before the rediscovery of the coelacanth that they were ancestors of tetrapods (four-legged animals). However, further studies have found that the lungfish may be a closer match to the coelacanth.

The amazing coelacanth

The features of the coelacanth makes it one of the most amazing fish and one of the most unique animals in the world. The coelacanth is impressive in its appearance, very rare and, indeed, worthy to be a protected species.

Story submitted by J. Glasni, interestingfacts.org

Marine mammals do not actually drink. They get all the water they need from the fish that they eat. The fish they eat do drink the sea water – lots of it – which is processed through diffusion and osmosis.

Marine mammals in captivity that for some reason are not eating are fed freshwater from a pipe or bottle.

Crocodiles eat almost anything but prefer meat. Including humans… as can be seen in the photograph. A saltwater croc bit off the hand of a veterinarian at the Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. See the story at National Geographic.

In general there are few human casualties in the croc world – 1 or 2 a year – mostly because people steer away from them. Hippos cause more human deaths than any other animal.

The scales of a crocodile are made of ceratin, the same substance that hooves and fingernails are made of.

Distinct parrot eating habit

Parrots are the only birds that can bring food to its mouth with its foot. Their tongues are made up of small bones that make them flexible enough to manipulate the food. In the wild, parrots eat flowers, fruit, nuts, plants, and insects. They eat less seeds than often thought.

Pet parrots often die of the same causes as humans do: too much fat, too much stress, too little exercise. In fact, parrots have a tendency to become obese. Limit your parrot’s seed intake and, if kept in a cage, allow it to fly around for at least an hour a day, preferably more.

How old will my parrot live?

Pets like cats and dogs will be at your side for 10 years or so but parrots live for 40 or even 100 years. This is a very long relationship to have. Imagine for a moment you are locked up in a house where no-one talks to you for 20 years! Remember, your parrot did not choose you – you chose your parrot. It therefor is important that you arrange your living space to accommodate for the commitment you make when you get a parrot as a pet. We’re talking parrot respect here!

Realize that you and your family are not the only ones in the house – teach your kids to appreciate your pet parrot and how to care for it (the parrot might outlive you!). Be aware of your parrots needs and moods and look out for signs of change in its personality and analyze it with a simple search through the parrot support groups (and here) on the web or talk to your vet.

Parrots of any age are playful – isn’t it amazing how animals are playful at any age? – and always nibbly. Your parrot will be grateful for that extra hamper of munchies (make sure to get the correct type of munchies for your type of parrot). But you can throw in a colorful surprise toy to keep it busy for hours in a day.

Talking parrot

It takes about two months to teach a parrot to talk, or rather, to teach a parrot to imitate human speech – parrots don’t understand what they’re saying. Nobody told Paul Cezanne that. He apparently taught his parrot to say: “Paul Cezanne is a great painter.” Well, the parrot was right!

Biggest parrot

The largest species of parrot is the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus): it grows up to 39 inches (100cm) long and can weigh almost 5 pounds. They are native to South America, but to get them as pets anywhere else you have to screech out some $20,000 or more for a pair. As Judy Leach says, Hyacinth parrots are the most majestic of all parrots. The lifespan of Hyacinth macaws (pictured) is between 30 and 50 years.

The smallest parrot is the buff-faced pygmy parrot (Micropsitta pusio). It is only 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall and weighs as little as 0.4oz (11,5g).

The rarest parrot is the Spix’s macaw, the only member of the parrot genus Cyanopsitta.

Happy parrot

Don’t forget that parrots are animals of the wild. Loud noises and too much light causes them stress and makes them either aggressive or depressed. Try and give your parrot the same amount of light as it would have in nature: if your parrot is unlucky to have to live in a cage, at least cover the cage when it gets dark outside and keep the cage in a quiet place. Give your parrot attention, show your commitment, and you’ll have a happy parrot for as long as you live.

As one of the so-called fat-tailed sheep breeds, the tail in some Barbarins weigh up to 80 pounds (36 kg). Shepherds have been known to fasten a board to the underside of the tail and sometimes to attach wheels to the board to enable the sheep to carry its tail without injury.

The fat in the tail of the Tunis sheep is highly prized as a delicacy and is often used instead of butter.