Archive for the ‘animal’ Category

Brazilian Wandering Spider, the Most Poisonous Spider in the World

May 9th, 2011 by admin | 2 Comments | Filed in animal, science

The Brazilian Wandering Spider is the most poisonous spider in the world. This highly aggressive spider can be found in tropical South and Central America. They are so called “wandering spiders” because they wander the forest floor at night in search of food, rather than reside in a lair or in a web.

Brazilian wandering spider - world's most poisonous spider

Brazilian wandering spider – world’s most poisonous spider. Image via

This spider specie is also called armed spiders or banana spiders. Their venom contains a potent neurotoxin known as PhTx3. This neurotoxin causes loss of muscle control and breathing problems which can result to paralysis and eventually asphyxiation to any victim. This deadly venom makes the Brazilian wandering spider the deadliest spider in the world and appeared in the Guinness Book of World Record in 2010 as such.

Brazilian Wandering Spider close-up

Brazilian Wandering Spider close-up. Image via

Brazilian wandering spider sitting in a tree bark

Brazilian wandering spider sitting in a tree bark. Image via

In 2007, doctors found out that this specie’s venom has another effects to male victims. Aside from the painful effect of the venom, males also experience hours-long erection. They later found out that the venom contains a chemical that inhibits the penis boost.

Amphicoelias Fragillimus, the Biggest Dinosaur that Ever Lived on Earth

May 3rd, 2011 by admin | 4 Comments | Filed in animal, discovery

Discovered in 1877, Amphicoelias Fragillimus is the biggest dinosaur that ever lived and roam the earth. Based on surviving descriptions of a single fossil bone, this gigantic pre-historic creature is believed to be between 40 and 60 meters, and has a weight of up to 122 metric tons. It is also the longest of all the dinosaurs ever discovered.

Amphicoelias Fragillimus - drawing from year 1892

Amphicoelias Fragillimus – drawing from year 1892. Image via

Amphicoelias Fragillimus was discovered by Oramel Lucas, a fossil collector, in 1877. He discovered a partial vertebra – the neural arch and spine – in Garden Park, north of Cañon City, Colorado. The vertebra was in poor condition. Hence the name fragillimus, a Latin word meaning “very fragile”, which refers to the delicateness of the bone produced by very thin laminae (vertebral walls). The specimen was very huge. It measured 1.5 meters in width and 2.7 meters in height.

Comparing Amphicoelias Fragillimus (red) from other dinosaurs and human

Comparing Amphicoelias Fragillimus (red) from other dinosaurs and human. Image via

That single vertebra were lost at some point after being studied and described. As a result, the only evidence of A. Fragillimus’ amazing size is only in drawings and field notes.

Sperm Whale, the Loudest Animal in the World

April 22nd, 2011 by admin | 8 Comments | Filed in animal, world record

Sperm whales do not only have the largest brain of any animals, these giants are also the loudest animals in the world. Using a structure called monkey lips inside it’s massive head, it can create clicks that can reach more that 230 decibles.

Sperm whale in the deep blue sea

Sperm whale in the deep blue sea. Image via

Sperm whales can grow to 67 feet long and weigh up to 57,000 kilograms. Aside from the world record sound that they can produce, they are also the largest toothed whale, has the biggest brain of up to 8 kilograms and the deepest diving of all mammals. In search of squid and fish, they can dive as deep as 3 kilometers.

Whole body of a sperm whale

Whole body of a sperm whale. Image via

Inside a sperm whales’ disproportion head is structure called monkey lips. Through it, it blows air that creates the loudest sound produce by any living animal today – more than 230 decibels. Scientists predict that they use this sound to stun it’s main prey, the deep-sea squids.

Einstein, the Smallest Horse in the World

April 17th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in animal, world record

Born on April 2, 2010, Einstein is now considered the smallest horse in the world. He is just 14 inches tall and weighed around 6 pounds. This half pinto stallion was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire in the Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm which is own by Judy Smith.

Einstein enjoying attention from a boy

Einstein enjoying attention from a boy. Image via

When he was born, his owner feared the he would not live for long because of his size. But now the fear subsided as Einstein appears healthy and enjoys running around in the fields.

Einstein compared to a full grown stallion

Einstein compared to a full grown stallion. Image via

Einstein doesn’t suffer any form of dwarfism. He is just really born small. His size is more apparently small when put beside a full grown stallion.

Chihuahua, the Smallest Dog Breed in the World

April 9th, 2011 by admin | Comments Off | Filed in animal, world record

See also the biggest dog breed

Though there are one or two smaller dogs around from other breeds, the Chihuahua is generally considered as the smallest dog breed in the world. The average adult weigh around 1.5 and 3 kilograms and 6 to 10 inches in height. They come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors and coat lengths. Despite their size, Chihuahuas are highly intelligent. They are graceful, alert and swift-moving little dogs with a bold and lively expressions.

A tan Chihuahua puppy

A tan Chihuahua puppy. Image via

Because of it size, Chihuahua breeders often use terms like Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard to describe puppies. They are also commonly referred to as either Apple heads – because of its short noses and rounded heads similar to that of an apple, or Deer heads – because of its longer noses and more elongated heads.

Chihuahua in a teacup

Chihuahua in a teacup. Image via

It’s miniature size makes Chihuahuas ideal pets for people who live in apartments or houses that don’t have so much space for a large dog. It is also the favorite pets of celebrities, who are often seen carrying them around and sometimes in their expensive purses.

Paris Hilton with her equally famous chihuahuas

Paris Hilton with her equally famous chihuahuas. Image via

Amazing Parrot Did 20 Tricks In Two Minutes

March 17th, 2011 by admin | 8 Comments | Filed in animal

This is one proof that parrots are one of the most intelligent animals in the world. This one featured in the video, assisted by it’s master, did 20 tricks in two minutes.

Parrot did 20 tricks in 2 minutes

Parrot did 20 tricks in 2 minutes.

Watch the video below:

Giant Huntsman Spider, the Biggest Spider in the World

March 17th, 2011 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in animal, world record

In terms of leg span, the Giant Huntsman spider is considered to be the biggest spider in the world. Like all huntsman spiders, it’s legs are long compared to the body, and twist forward in a crab-like fashion. A full grown adult can have a leg span of 12 inches and a body length of 2 inches.

Giant Hunstman spider (Heteropoda maxima)

The Giant Hunstman spider (Heteropoda maxima). Image via

This long-legged giant was discovered in a large cave in northern Laos in 2001. It is thought to be a cave dweller because of its pale color, long legs and special hairs on the second foot of the male. The coloration is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. The legs have wide dark bands before the first bend.

Giant huntsman spider - World's biggest spider

Giant huntsman spider carrying it’s eggs. Image via

Apart from its size, the Giant Huntsman spider can be distinguished from other species of Huntsman spiders by genital characteristics. The males’ cymbium is much longer than usual – at least three times longer than the tegulum. The female is distinguished by a characteristically shaped epigyneal field with two anterior directed bands, and the course of their internal ducts.

Emperor Scorpion, Biggest Scorpion Species in the World

February 21st, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in animal

With an average length of 8 inches (20 cm), the Emperor scorpion is the biggest scorpion species in the world. This native to Africa can live from 5–8 years when held in captivity, but is likely shorter in the wild.

Black Emperor scorpion with youngs on it's back

Black Emperor scorpion with youngs on it’s back. Image via

Like all scorpions, Emperors carry their young on their back. In the wild, they feed primarily on termites. In captivity they readily feed on crickets, cockroaches, and mealworms. They are also known to eat small mice and lizards.

Emperor Scorpions are near black in color, but when exposed to ultra-violet light they glow a bluish-green. This makes them easy to see in the night using mineral lights – a technique often used by collectors.

Handling an Emperor Scorpion

Emperor scorpion in the palm. Image via

This scorpion’s size, relatively low toxicity, and life span make it the most popular scorpion as pet. Due to it, they are now threatened with extinction.

Whale Shark, Biggest Fish in the World

February 19th, 2011 by admin | 2 Comments | Filed in animal, world record

Averaging in length to more than 7.6 m (25 feet), whale shark is the biggest fish in the world. They feed on macro-algae, plankton, krill, red crab larvae, and small nektonic life such as small squid or vertebrates. Like sharks, its skeleton is composed entirely of cartilage, and its skin, up to 4 inches thick, is scaleless, tough and leathery. People called it a whale shark because of its enormous size.

Whale shark with small fishes hitching a ride

Whale shark with small fishes hitching a ride. Image via

Whale sharks are filter feeder. Using it’s 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) mouth, they feed by sucking in a mouthful of water then closes its mouth and expels the water through its gills – trapping the tiny planktons in the dermal denticles which line its gill plates and pharynx. This fine sieve-like apparatus can trap anything above 2 to 3 millimetres (0.079 to 0.12 in) in diameter.

Whale shark with mouth open

Whale shark with it’s massive mouth open. Image via

Despite it’s ferocious look and size, Whale sharks are gentle giants. Apart from unintentional blows with it’s large tail fin, they does not pose significant danger to humans and even sometimes allow swimmers, divers and snorkelers, to hitch a ride.

Whale shark comapared to average human

Adult Whale shark comapared to average human. Image via

The largest Whale shark specimen was caught near Baba Island, in Karachi, Pakistan on November 11, 1947. It was 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) long, weighed more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), and had a girth of 7 metres (23.0 ft). Though there are stories of even larger ones, there are no scientific evidence that support it.

Kush, the Oldest English Mastiff in Australia, Probably in the World

February 12th, 2011 by admin | Comments Off | Filed in animal

This beach lover dog named Kush in the oldest English Mastiff in Australia, and possible even in the world. She is 15-years-old. If that doesn’t sound old enough for you, then consider this, in human years that is equivalent to 105 years.

Fifteen-year-old Kush - an English Mastiff

Australia’s oldest English Mastiff named Kush. Image via

With her age, Kush has far outlived the life expectancy of her breed which is 10 year.

Her secret according to her owner Phil Newman is a diet free of processed foods. Instead of dog food from the pet store, he feed her raw meat, bones, vegetables and herbs and he would not feed her everyday. Just like dogs in the wild that would gorge on a kill and go for a couple of days without food, says Phil.

And what’s amazing is she had never once been to the vet in her 15 years of life.

Old-English-Mastiff-Kush

Kush with her owner, Phil Newman. Image via