frogmother

Ferrets - Taxonomy Ferrets are carnivorous, belonging to Mustelidae family, the oldest living family in the Carnivora. There exist two species of Ferrets: Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) and European Domestic Ferret (Mustela Putorius). Wild Ferrets can be found worldwide, except in Australia and some Oceanic islands. Ferrets - Description The European and the Black-footed Ferrets are two different breeds that are similar only in size. Black-footed Ferrets have broader heads, less pointed faces, and larger ears and eyes than their domestic cousins. Their legs, feet, tops of their heads are black or dark-brown. Domestic Ferrets have large front feet for digging, wide tails that taper off towards the tip, and may vary in the color. . Ferrets' eyes are black or red with round pupils when open, and slits, like cats, when closed in bright light. But the slits are horizontal, not vertical. There are sable, albino, silver, cinnamon, and chocolate Ferrets. Even Angora Ferrets exist with longer hair. Ferrets - Social Structure In the wild, Ferrets are very territorial and live solitary lives. Male Ferrets exclude other males from their territory, and females exclude other females. But males' and females' territories may overlap, however their hunting styles are different. The females tend to go after smaller prey than males. Both males and females hunt rabbits, but females can also go down the burrows of rats and voles. Ferrets - Personality Ferrets are lovable, friendly, playful little animals. If you keep a single Ferret, it will get lonely. Being very curious, they need attention and lots of toys. A sleeping Ferret may seem like a dead Ferret, because its body temperature drops considerably. Waking up Ferrets shiver terribly to bring up the temperature Exhibit Name and Location Tropical Rain Forest Exhibit – Main Aquarium, Level 5 Description of AnimalThese little frogs are easily recognized by their blue color, which is generally darker on the limbs and belly and overlaid with black spots or patches, especially on the head and back.As their name implies, poison dart frogs can release toxins from the skin that are distasteful and potentially lethal to would-be predators. Three very toxic species of poison dart frogs from Colombia and South America are utilized by Indians to poison the tips of blowgun darts.Blue poison dart frogs are active during the day and can be found hiding among boulders and debris near streams; however, they lack toe webbing and are poor swimmers, so they are never found in the water. Aquarist's NoteThis colorful frog was not even discovered until 1968!Several years ago, curator Jack Cover and an Aquarium team traveled to South America to research this frog and were permitted to bring back a few specimens.Those specimens became the foundation for a nationally renowned breeding program.The program's goal is to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining captive population and eliminate the need to collect frogs from the wild. As a result, the National Aquarium in Baltimore supplies blue poison dart frogs to zoos and aquariums across the country.Ultimately, this program could provide frogs for reintroduction should the wild population ever become extinct. DietIn the wild, the frog's diet is the source of its skin toxins. A constant forager, this frog is always searching for ants, termites, tiny beetles, and any other small insect it may find among the leaf litter.Such foods are difficult to provide in captivity.Specimens born at the aquarium are fed fruit flies and baby crickets powdered with a vitamin/mineral supplement. As a result, the frogs are completely non-toxic. Size An adult frog has a body about 2 inches (5 cm) long and weighs about 0.3 ounce (8 g). RangeThese frogs are found in a few isolated “rain forest islands” in the Sipaliwini savanna of southern Suriname.This area was probably covered by rainforest habitat in the distant past—until the last ice age.Then, the rain forest gave way to dry grassland in all but a few areas where surface ground water was sufficient to sustain the original vegetation.The blue poison dart frog is a relic species living in a few isolated patches of relic rainforest habitat. Population StatusThe habitat is remote and difficult to reach, so accurate population monitoring is a challenge.Regardless of numbers, however, this species is highly vulnerable to both human activities and natural factors such as drought due to its extremely small range and isolated populations. PredatorsOther than certain snakes and large spiders, there are few predators that can cope with the noxious poisons of adult frogs.The tadpoles, which are not protected by any poison, often fall prey to snakes and dragonfly larvae. Related LinksStay in touch with the Aquarium's animals! Receive monthly animal news by e-mail.Join Aqua Mail Angels "What's an Angel?" An angel isn't what you may think. The root word for angel comes from the Greek, Angelos, meaning "messenger." Though in modern days, and angel is a messenger, that was not the original role they played. To have a better understanding, we have to look at where the concept came from - Hebrew text. The word used is, Melekh, meaning "king" which is how the original text read in what later became known as the Bible.The three best known angels are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, who are among the seven archangels. The other four are Uriel, Raguel, Seraqael and Haniel. Sometimes, another list is given, but the top three are always included. The three fore-mentioned names originated from Babylon. Yes, the place of ultimate sin. Much of what's commonly believed originated from Babylon, including the ten commandments. Let me ask you a question. If the Biblical God is so omnipotent, then why would he need angels as his serving agents to do what he cannot?Originally, angels were not as fluffy as they are today. They were often described as being warriors, fighting a spiritual war which had been unknown to humans, other than from what we know through text. The idea of angels exist in most religions, in one form or another, especially the main three religions from which the Bible is the main source. These beings seem to have no religious boundary. Why is this? Well, it's best not to think of them as angels, as people like to call them. The fact remains that these beings are spirits. Spirits have no cultural binds, other than the names which we call them by; angels.The names given to individual spirits can even reveal their very nature. An endless number of spirits can be named, if it's understood how the naming process works. Most anmes which we know have originated from Hebrew. This is no coincidence, since the three main religions came from Hebrew text. The names of these spirits where called by the words which occupied their nature, and the suffix "el" was added. For example. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.I'll show you how simple this is. Let's take the word, Melekh. We've already stated that this word Means "king," but if we ad the suffis, el, then we learn the name of the spirit Melekhel. Hebrew is very lose in it's transcription. This spirit can also be spelled as Melekhael or Melekael. Either way, the meaning is the same - King of God.