United States presidential pets This is a list of pets belonging to United States Presidents and their families, while serving their term(s) in office.[1] History of White House dogs[edit] Richard Nixon was accused of hiding a secret slush fund during his candidacy for vice president under Dwight D. Pets also featured on presidential elections. On the other hand, many believe that President Lyndon B. List of Presidential pets[edit] Notes[edit] Jump up ^ Most sources say "possibly", and don't qualify "Wolfhound" any further; perhaps Morrow's extensive work draws on evidence beyond the source used by the 51 Google-distinguished versions (out "of about 2,640") for ‘Kennedy "wolf mutt, possibly part schnauzer and wolfhound"’, in contrast to ‘No results found for Kennedy "wolf mutt, possibly part schnauzer and wolfhound"’. References[edit] Jump up ^ "Presidential Pet Museum". External links[edit]
Pumapard Pumapard, c.1900 Pumapard, Rothschild Museum, Tring A pumapard is a hybrid of a puma and a leopard. Both male puma with female leopard and male leopard with female puma pairings have produced offspring. In general, these hybrids have exhibited a tendency to dwarfism. Reported puma/leopard hybrids[edit] In the late 1890s/early 1900s, two hybrids were born in Chicago, USA, followed 2 years later by three sets of twin cubs born at a zoo in Hamburg, Germany from a puma father and leopard mother. Hagenbeck's puma/leopard hybrids may have been inspired by a pair of leopard x puma hybrid cubs born in Chicago on 24 April 1896 at Tattersalls indoor arena where Ringling Brothers Circus opened its season. A similar hybrid was reported by Helmut Hemmer. In The Field No 2887, April 25, 1908, Henry Scherren wrote "There was, and probably is now, in the Berlin Garden an Indian leopard and puma male hybrid, purchased of Carl Hagenbeck in 1898. The hybrids were additionally reported by CJ Cornish et al.
Irukandji jellyfish Irukandji jellyfish (/ˌɪrəˈkændʒi/ IRR-ə-KAN-jee) are small and extremely venomous box jellyfish that inhabit marine waters of Australia and which are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. Their size is roughly a cubic centimetre (1 cm3). There are four known species of Irukandji: Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, Alatina alata and the recently discovered Malo maximus.[1][2] The symptoms of Irukandji syndrome were first documented by Hugo Flecker in 1952.[3] They were named after the Irukandji people whose country stretches along the coastal strip north of Cairns, Queensland.[4] The first of these jellyfish, Carukia barnesi, was identified in 1964 by Jack Barnes; in order to prove it was the cause of Irukandji syndrome, he captured the tiny jelly and allowed it to sting him while his son and a lifeguard observed the effects.[5][6] Range[edit] Biology[edit] Sting[edit] Irukandji syndrome[edit] References[edit] External links[edit]
Foster's rule Foster's rule, also known as the island rule or the island effect, is an ecogeographical rule in evolutionary biology stating that members of a species get smaller or bigger depending on the resources available in the environment. For example, it is known that pygmy mammoths evolved from normal mammoths on small islands. Similar evolutionary paths have been observed in elephants, hippopotamuses, boas, sloths (such as Pygmy three-toed sloth), deer (such as Key deer) and humans.[1][2] The rule was first stated by the mammologist J. Bristol Foster in 1964.[3][4] In it, he compared 116 island species to their mainland varieties. He proposed that certain island creatures evolved into larger versions of themselves (insular gigantism) while others became smaller versions of themselves (insular dwarfism). Further, recent literature has applied the Island Rule to plants.[7] References[edit] External links[edit] "Why Do Islands Breed Giants (And Sometimes Dwarfs)?"
Jimmy Carter rabbit incident 1979 incident in which Jimmy Carter was attacked by a swamp rabbit April 20, 1979 White House photo of Carter and rabbit from the Carter Library The Jimmy Carter rabbit incident, sensationalized as a "killer rabbit attack" by the press, involved a swamp rabbit that swam toward then–U.S. President Jimmy Carter's fishing boat on April 20, 1979. The incident caught the imagination of the media after Carter's press secretary, Jody Powell, mentioned the event to a correspondent months later. Background[edit] President Carter was fishing in his hometown of Plains, Georgia on April 20, 1979, alone in a flat-bottomed boat while staff were on land nearby. When Carter returned to his office, his staff did not believe his story, saying rabbits could not swim, or that one would never approach a person threateningly.[2] A White House photographer took a picture of the incident, which was released by a later administration.[3] Media accounts and public perception[edit] See also[edit] References[edit]
Demon Cat Ghost of a cat purported to haunt Washington, D.C Black cat peering over a wall in Washington D.C. The Demon Cat (also referred to as D.C.)[1] is the name given to the ghost of a cat which is purported to haunt the government buildings of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. Its primary haunts are the city's two main landmarks: the White House and the United States Capitol. History[edit] The story of the Demon Cat dates back to the mid‑1800s when cats were brought into the basement tunnels of the United States Capitol Building to kill rats and mice.[2][3] Legend states that the Demon Cat is one of these cats who never left, even after its death.[4] Its home is supposedly the basement crypt of the Capitol Building, which was originally intended as a burial chamber for President George Washington.[5] The last official sighting of the alleged ghost was during the final days or aftermath of World War II in the 1940s.[6] Explanation[edit] In popular culture[edit]
Cher Ami World War I service[edit] On October 3, 1918, Major Charles Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. They were also beginning to receive friendly fire from allied troops who did not know their location. Surrounded by the Germans, many were killed and wounded in the first day and by the second day, just over 190[verification needed] men were still alive. Whittlesey dispatched messages by pigeon.[2] The pigeon carrying the first message, "Many wounded. We are along the road parallel to 276.4. As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw her rising out of the brush and opened fire. Awards[edit] Remembered[edit] To American school children of the 1920s and 1930s, Cher Ami was as well known as any human World War I heroes. Sex and color[edit] Originally registered as a Black Check cock, Cher Ami was a Blue check, and she was discovered after death upon taxidermy procedure to be a hen.
Lonesome George Last known male Pinta Island tortoise Lonesome George (Spanish: Solitario George or Jorge, c. 1910[1][2][3][4] – June 24, 2012) was a male Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis niger abingdonii) and the last known individual of the subspecies.[5][6][7][8] In his last years, he was known as the rarest creature in the world. George serves as an important symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands and throughout the world.[9] Discovery[edit] It was hoped that more Pinta Island tortoises would be found, either on Pinta Island or in one of the world's zoos, similar to the discovery of the Española Island male in San Diego. Mating attempts[edit] Lonesome George walking. Over the decades, all attempts at mating Lonesome George had been unsuccessful. Death[edit] Taxidermied Lonesome George on display at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Biological conservation[edit] See also[edit] References[edit]
Incitatus From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Roman Emperor Caligula's favourite horse Incitātus (Latin pronunciation: [ɪŋkɪˈtaːtʊs] (meaning "swift" or "at full gallop") was the favourite horse of Roman Emperor Caligula (r. 37–41 AD). According to legend, Caligula planned to make the horse a consul, although ancient sources are clear that this did not occur. Legend[edit] Cassius Dio (155–235 AD) indicated that the horse was attended by servants and was fed oats mixed with gold flake[2] and that Caligula made the horse a priest.[3] Historical accuracy[edit] The accuracy of the received history is generally questioned. Scholars suggest that the treatment of Incitatus by Caligula was an elaborate prank intended to ridicule and provoke the Senate, rather than a sign of insanity, or was perhaps a form of satire with the implication that a horse could perform a senator's duties.[4] Barrett noted, "Many stories were spread about Incitatus, originating most likely from Caligula's own humorous quips...
Blue-ringed octopus The blue-ringed octopuses (genus Hapalochlaena) are three (or perhaps four) octopus species that live in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Japan to Australia (mainly around southern New South Wales and South Australia, and northern Western Australia).[1][2] They are recognized as some of the world's most venomous marine animals.[3] Despite their small size and relatively docile nature, they can prove a danger to humans. They can be recognized by their characteristic blue and black rings and yellowish skin. When the octopus is agitated, the brown patches darken dramatically, and iridescent blue rings or clumps of rings appear and pulsate within the maculae. Classification The genus was described by British zoologist Guy Coburn Robson in 1929.[4] There are three confirmed species of Hapalochlaena, and a fourth is still being researched: Behavior Feeding Reproduction Venom Treatment Efforts should be continued even if the victim appears not to be responding.
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hallucination caused by eating certain species of fish Ichthyoallyeinotoxism, or hallucinogenic fish inebriation, comes from eating certain species of fish found in several parts of the tropics, the effects of which are reputed to be similar in some aspects to LSD. Experiences may include vivid auditory and visual hallucinations. This has given rise to the collective common name "dream fish" for ichthyoallyeinotoxic fish. The species most commonly claimed to be capable of producing this kind of toxicity include several species from the genus Kyphosus, including Kyphosus fuscus, K. cinerascens and K. vaigiensis.[1] It is unclear whether the toxins are produced by the fish themselves or by marine algae in their diet, but a dietary origin may be more likely. Sarpa salpa, a species of bream, can induce LSD-like hallucinations if it is eaten.[2] These widely distributed coastal fish[3] are called "the fish that make dreams" in Arabic. See also[edit]
Clever Hans Horse who performed math tricks (born c. 1895) Clever Hans performing in 1904 Spectacle[edit] Wilhelm von Osten and Clever Hans During the early twentieth century, the public was especially interested in animal intelligence owing in large part to Charles Darwin's recent publications. The case of Clever Hans was taken to show an advanced level of number sense in an animal. After von Osten died in 1909, Hans was acquired by several owners. Investigation[edit] The great public interest in Clever Hans led the German board of education to appoint a commission to investigate von Osten's scientific claims. The commission passed off the evaluation to Oskar Pfungst, who tested the basis for these claimed abilities by: Isolating horse and questioner from spectators, so no cues could come from themUsing questioners other than the horse's masterBy means of blinders, varying whether the horse could see the questionerVarying whether the questioner knew the answer to the question in advance. See also[edit]
Clara (rhinoceros) Rhinoceros touring Europe in the mid-18th century Clara (c. 1738 – 14 April 1758) was a female Indian rhinoceros who became famous during 17 years of touring Europe in the mid-18th century. She arrived in Europe in Rotterdam in 1741, becoming the fifth living rhinoceros to be seen in Europe in modern times since Dürer's Rhinoceros in 1515. Map indicating Clara's travels Example of the mass-produced souvenir pictures of Clara sold by Douwe Mout van der Meer; this example from her stay at the Gasthof "Zum Pfau" in Mannheim in November 1747. In 1747, she travelled to Regensburg, Freiberg and Dresden, where she posed for Johann Joachim Kaendler from the Meissen porcelain factory and was visited on 19 April by Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. In 1748, she visited Bern, Zürich, Basel, Schaffhausen, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Nuremberg and Würzburg. At the end of 1749, Clara embarked at Marseilles to travel to Italy. She passed through Bologna in August and Milan in October.