Sean Turvey
Science. Animal. Most known animal phyla appeared in the fossil record as marine species during the Cambrian explosion, about 542 million years ago. Animals are divided into various sub-groups, some of which are: vertebrates (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish); mollusks (clams, oysters, octopuses, squid, snails); arthropods (millipedes, centipedes, insects, spiders, scorpions, crabs, lobsters, shrimp); annelids (earthworms, leeches); sponges; and jellyfish. Etymology The word "animal" comes from the Latin word animalis, meaning "having breath".[1] In everyday colloquial usage the word incorrectly excludes humans—that is, "animal" is often used to refer only to non-human members of the kingdom Animalia.
Sometimes, only closer relatives of humans such as mammals and other vertebrates are meant in colloquial use.[2] The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the kingdom Animalia, encompassing creatures as diverse as sponges, jellyfish, insects, and humans.[3] Characteristics. Bird. Modern birds are characterised by feathers, a beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a lightweight but strong skeleton.
Extant birds have wings; the most recent species without wings was the moa, which is generally considered to have become extinct in the 16th century. Wings are evolved forelimbs, and most bird species can fly. Flightless birds include ratites, penguins, and diverse endemic island species. Some species of birds, particularly penguins and members of the Anatidae family, are adapted to swim. Birds also have digestive and respiratory systems that are uniquely adapted for flight.
Some birds, especially corvids and parrots, are among the most intelligent animal species; several bird species make and use tools, and many social species culturally transmit knowledge across generations. Many species are economically important, mostly as game or poultry. Evolution and classification Definition Early evolution of birds.
Corvidae. They are considered the most intelligent of the birds, and among the most intelligent of all animals[4][5] having demonstrated self-awareness in mirror tests (European Magpies) and tool making ability (crows, rooks[6])—skills until recently regarded as solely the province of humans and a few other higher mammals. Their total brain-to-body mass ratio is equal to that of great apes and cetaceans, and only slightly lower than in humans.[7] They are medium to large in size, with strong feet and bills, rictal bristles and a single moult each year (most passerines moult twice). Corvids are found worldwide except for the tip of South America and the polar ice caps.[3] The majority of the species is found in tropical South and Central America, southern Asia and Eurasia, with fewer than 10 species each in Africa and Australasia.
The genus Corvus has re-entered Australia in relatively recent geological prehistory, with five species and one subspecies there. European Magpie. The Eurasian Magpie, European Magpie, or Common Magpie (Pica pica) is a resident breeding bird throughout Europe, much of Asia and northwest Africa. It is one of several birds in the crow family named as magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies.
In Europe, "Magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie; it is the only magpie in Europe outside the Iberian Peninsula. The Eurasian Magpie is one of the most intelligent birds, and it is believed to be one of the most intelligent of all animals.[2] The expansion of its nidopallium is approximately the same in its relative size as is found in chimpanzees, orangutans and humans.[3] Taxonomy and systematics[edit] There are numerous subspecies. The northwest African race differs in having a patch of blue bare skin around the eye, no white patch on the rump and an unglossed tail.
A larger palaeosubspecies of the European Magpie was described as Pica pica major. Etymology[edit] Description[edit] Blue Jay. The bird's name derives from its noisy, garrulous nature.[2] It is sometimes called a "jaybird".[3] Description[edit] Its plumage is lavender-blue to mid-blue in the crest, back, wings, and tail, and its face is white. The underside is off-white and the neck is collared with black which extends to the sides of the head. The wing primaries and tail are strongly barred with black, sky-blue and white. The bill, legs, and eyes are all black. Males and females are nearly identical, but the male is a little larger.[5][9] Distribution and habitat[edit] The northernmost subspecies C. c. bromia is migratory, subject to necessity. The Blue Jay occupies a variety of habitats within its large range, from the pine woods of Florida to the spruce-fir forests of northern Ontario.
Subspecies[edit] Cyanocitta cristata bromia – northern Blue Jay Canada and northern USA. Cyanocitta cristata cristata – coastal Blue Jay Coastal USA from North Carolina to Texas, except southern Florida. Southern Florida. Diet[edit] Crow. Crows (/kroʊ/) are members of a widely distributed genus of birds, Corvus, in the family Corvidae.
Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws (Eurasian and Daurian) to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents except South America, and several islands. In Europe, the word "crow" is used to refer to the Carrion Crow or the Hooded Crow, while in North America it is used for the American Crow or the Northwestern Crow. The crow genus makes up a third of the species in the Corvidae family. Crows appear to have evolved in Asia from the corvid stock, which had evolved in Australia. The collective name for a group of crows is a flock or a murder.[1] Recent research has found some crow species capable of not only tool use but also tool construction[2] and meta-tool use.
Description[edit] Evolutionary history and systematics[edit] Species[edit] Behavior[edit] …but they employ numerous tools to solve multi-step problems. « Raven. Common Raven Species are: Extinct: Nest of Common Raven in tree See also[edit] External links[edit] Pet. A cat and dog, the two most popular pets A pet (or companion animal) is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or protection, as opposed to working animals, sport animals, livestock, and laboratory animals, which are kept primarily for performance, agricultural value, or research. The most popular pets are noted for their attractive appearances and their loyal or playful personalities. Pets commonly provide their owners (or guardians) physical and emotional benefits. Walking a dog can supply both the human and pet with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction. Pets can give companionship to elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people.
Some scholars and animal rights organizations have raised concern over pet-keeping with regards to the autonomy of nonhuman animals. Legalities[edit] Pet popularity[edit] A Maltese puppy Choice of a pet[edit] United States[edit] According to the 2007-2008 Pet Owners survey:[21] Canada[edit] United Kingdom[edit] Fish[edit] Whippet. The Whippet (also English Whippet or Snap dog) is a breed of medium-sized dog. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from greyhounds. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller greyhound. Shown in the Hound group, Whippets have relatively few health problems other than arrhythmia.
Whippets also participate in dog sports such as lure coursing, agility, and flyball. Whippets were originally greyhounds that were deemed unsuitable for hunting because of their size. They were returned to their peasant breeders after being maimed so that they could not be used to hunt and break the Forest law. History[edit] Whippets were bred to hunt by sight, coursing game in open areas at high speeds. The original Whippets were thought to be English Greyhounds that were too small for stag hunting in the forests of England.
Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton by Batoni, featuring a dog that appears to be an early form of Whippet. In 1964, Ch. Racing[edit] Basenji. The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that was bred from stock originating in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world place the breed in the Hound Group; more specifically, it may be classified as belonging to the sighthound type. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale places the breed in Group 5, Spitz and Primitive types, and the United Kennel Club (US) places the breed in the Sighthound & Pariah Group. The Basenji produces an unusual yodel-like sound commonly called a "barroo", due to its unusually shaped larynx.[1] This trait also gives the Basenji the nickname "Barkless Dog".[2] Basenjis share many unique traits with Pariah dog types.
Characteristics[edit] Appearance[edit] A red Basenji Basenjis are small, elegant-looking, short-haired dogs with erect ears, a tightly curled tail and a graceful neck. Temperament[edit] A basenji standing on its hind legs to look over a wall The Basenji is alert, energetic, curious and reserved with strangers.