Facts and Features of Afghanistan Hound

Afghan Hound Facts

Name: Afghan Hound

Origin: Afghanistan

Group: Dog

Avg size (H): 68cm (27 inches)

Avg Weight: 27 kg (60 lbs)

Avg Life : 14 years

Avg Litter Size: 7

Type: Hound

Color: Black, white, brown, gold

Training: Medium Easy

Distinguishing features: long hair and pointed muzzle 

Afghan Hound History 

The Afghan Hound is believed as the oldest of all domestic Dog breeds, with the first Afghan dating records back to 4000 BC. The quick and agile nature of this dog meant that made ​​excellent small game hunters in  Afghanistan, usually hunting deer, goats, Gazelle and Wild Boar along with seeing the larger predators, such as wolves and snow leopards. His gentle nature also made this elegant view-loving shepherd, protecting livestock from predators . This beautiful but simple nature watchdog care was taken to Britain in the 1920s and is the gateway to the U.S. followed in 1926. Afghan Hound Elegance made ​​dogs quickly became highly desirable, both as pets and for show.

Afghan Hound Physical Features

The most characteristic feature of this breed is the long silky hair that covers the body of Afghan Hound, especially in the top of his head. Afghans are most commonly black or gold, although a number of color variations now exist within the breed including brown, gray and white. The elongated head and muzzle of  Afghan dog that are easily identifiable with their high hip bones that were the ancestors of modern times Afghan reputation for speed and agility. The face of  Afghan Hound  is usually a black mask with a black nose and dark almond shaped eyes. The color of the face mask is known to vary even though white is said to be discouraged as it is seen as a sign of bad parenting. Stand quite large dogs averaged 68 cm in height.

Afghan Hound Temperament

The temperament of the typical Afghan dog tends to be aloof and dignified, but happy and intelligent and usually of playfulness. However, the Afghan Hound has a reputation among dog trainers to have a relatively slow obedience intelligence, possibly because little stubborn nature. The Afghan Hound has an inclination towards independence and owners should not be surprised if your dog sometimes choose to ignore commands. Modern Afghanistan Hound is said to have many trends Cat-like, loving lounging around the house and is usually much slower than their ancestors in the Middle East. The Afghan Hound  is rarely used for hunting in Europe and the United States today, where  are one of the most popular domestic dog.

Breeding nature of Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound  was first bred in the ancient deserts of Egypt and Afghanistan, where they were initially used as hunters. The Afghan Hound  was a top choice of dog as they were able to run faster than most other animals, while being brave hunters and were able to think independently, often able to maintain larger prey escape until the hunter arrived. The first domestic breeding of modern time Afghan Hound was by the  official English station, near Kabul, which later led the Afghan to the UK in 1925. A year later, the Afghan Hound was taken to the United States, where her beauty and elegance make it one of the most prestigious  of domestic dog.The average litter size is about 7 puppies, which are blind at birth.

Afghan Hound  Interesting Features

When the Afghan Hound breed was first brought to the United States, is naturally independent nature led to obtaining a reputation for being unreliable. Today, however, many of these traits are not as prominent in the race as in the past. The high hip bones of this dog are believed to be one of the main reasons why the Afghan  Hound once had a reputation for speed, making them faster in the race than most other breeds of domestic dogs today. The long bow at the top of his head, along with the small ring near the end of his tail, are two of the most distinctive features of the Afghan Hound . They originate in the mountains of Afghanistan and its unique looks provides these vital benefits for dogs with cold winters and hot summers. Although cute, the skin takes over daily care and maintenance to ensure that the layer stays healthy.

Facts and Features of Affenpinscher

Affenpinscher Features

Name: Affenpinscher

Native place: Germany

Group: Dog

Avg size (H): 25cm (10 inches)

Avg weight: 3.6 kg (8 lbs)

Avg life: 12 years

Avg Litter Size: 3

Type: Terrier

Color: Black, Gray

Temperament: Alert and curious

Learning: Medium

Distinguishing facts: Black wiry body hair and dark eyes

Affenpinscher History and Domestication

An  Affenpinscher is  one of the oldest dog breeds, appeared  in Germany during the 17th century. Although the Affenpinscher was bigger then the dog  today we know , it is believed that the ancestors of these dogs were around long before, is represented in paintings and in the 15th century. The Affenpinscher was bred and kept as a form of pest control in kitchens and stables first, since these  Terriers were effective to keep rat numbers less. In the late 1800s, the breed was fully established in southern Germany and was a favorite dog of the rich and famous. The Affenpinscher was imported in U.S. after the Second World War, where today there are more Affenpinschers in comparison to rest of world.

Affenpinscher Physical qualities

Affenpinschers have a distinctive look that is often associated with terriers. Affenpinscher's small body is covered with coarse, wiry fur that tends to be black or gray in color, and is actually quite long for a small dog. The Affenpinscher has domed head with a short muzzle, small ears and dark eyes and its trademark "monkey like " the expression is exaggerated by the lower lip that is outstanding. Its tail is relatively short. Historically, Affenpinscher tail have been docked, and the ancestors of the breed today are in a variety of colors: red, fawn and beige and would have been larger in size.

Affenpinscher Behavioral characteristics

Behind  its differentiative Terrier-like looks, the Affenpinscher is different from other Terriers, as they are actually part of the pinscher-schnauzer subgroup, . These features make the Affenpinscher is not only small, active and loyal, but also often get along with other dogs and pets. Some of the most distinctive features of the Affenpinscher that they are active, adventurous, curious and stubborn, but they are also fun-loving and playful. The breed is safe, happy and affectionate with the family, but his loyalty to them also makes them very protective of them. Affenpinschers can be somewhat territorial when it comes to their toys and food, so they are not recommended for families with very young children. This dog is generally quiet, but can get quite hectic if it feels threatened, showing no fear of any aggressor.

Affenpinscher Breeding

The Affenpinscher breed we know today was first bred of Germany in the 17th century as a home ratter. These dogs have been at least 30 cm in height (some believe they are getting bigger) making them significantly larger than the dog today. Inter-breeding with other domestic breeds during the early 1900s led to smaller and flatter with Affenpinscher face was imported to America several decades later. Despite being a number of this breed in the U.S., the Affenpinscher has never become a popular choice of dog in Britain, with their ​​being less than 30 breeders in the country today. On average, only about Affenpinschers produce puppies per litter, who are blind at birth first.

Affenpinscher Facts and Features

The Affenpinscher was named first in the 17th century as Germany Zwergaffenpinscher which literally converted means little monkey-dog due to its curiosity  expression like monkey. However, when the numbers were less  during war, the dog was bred with other small breeds such as the Brussels Griffon, which leads to the desired race today. Interestingly, the Affenpinscher had used years before the creation of the Brussels Griffon, that brought back the Affenpinscher, led to a shorter muzzle and chin more prominent. As with almost all domestic dog breeds, there are a number of health problems associated with the Affenpinscher. The most common problems are caused by so curious and active nature, often leads to a number of cuts and bumps, along with broken bones.

Facts and Features of Antarctic Adelie Penguin

Adelie Penguin Information

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genre: Pygoscelis
Scientific name: Pygoscelis
Common name: Adelie Penguin
Group: Poultry
Number of species: 1
Location: Coast of Antarctica
Habitat: Land and the Antarctic
Color: Black with white chest
Skin Type: Feathers
Size (H): 40cm - 75cm (16 inches - 30 inches)
Wingspan: 35cm - 70cm (14 inches - 27.5in)
Weight: 3 kg - 6 kg (7 lbs - 13 lbs)
Maximum speed: 72kph (45 mph)
Diet: Carnivore
Prey: krill, fish, squid
Predators: Leopard Seal, Skua Gull, orca
Lifestyle: Daytime
Group Behavior: Colony
Life Span: 10 - 20 years
Age of sexual maturity: 2 - 3 years
Incubation period: 2 months
Average Clutch Size: 2
Young Name: Chicks
Age Of Fledgling: 90 days
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Estimated Population Size: 5,000,000
Major Threat: rapid melting of ice
Most distinctive feature: small white circle around each eye
Fact: Come up to 2 kg of food per day!

Adelie Penguin Classification and Evolution

The Adelie Penguin is the smallest species and the widest distribution of penguins in the Southern Ocean and is one of only two species of penguins in the Antarctic continent (the other is much larger Emperor Penguin). The Adelie Penguin was named in 1840 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville who named the penguin by his wife, Adelia. Adelie penguins have adapted well to life in Antarctica as migratory birds winter in the northern ice field, before backing south to coast of Antarctica for the summer months.

Adelie Penguin Anatomy and appearance

The Adelie Penguin is most easy to identify penguin having backside  blue-black and the chest and belly pure white. The head and beak of the Adelie Penguin are black in colour and each eye having white ring around it. The feet is pink of  Adelie Penguin are hard and bumpy with nails, which not only help the Adelie Penguin in climbing the rocky cliffs to reach their nesting sites, but also help push along when slide (rowing) along the ice. Adelie penguins also use their webbed feet with their little flippers to propel  along to swim in the cold waters.

Adelie Penguin Distribution and Habitat

The Adelie Penguin is found in south part of  the world, as it is located along the coast of Antarctica and the islands near it. During the winter months, the Adelie penguins migrate north inhabited by large ice and have better access to food. During the summer months, the Adelie penguins returning south where they go to the beaches on the coast in search of ice-free land on the rocky slopes where they can build their nests. More than half a million Adelie penguins have formed one of the largest colonies of animals from around the world on Ross Island, the  island was  formed by the activities of the four monstrous volcanoes in the Ross Sea.

Adelie Penguin  lifestyle 

Like all species of penguins, the Adelie Penguin is a very sociable animals, gathering in large groups called colonies, which often number thousands Penguin. Although Adelie penguins are not known for being terribly territorial, it is not uncommon for adults to become aggressive over nesting sites, and have even been known to steal rocks from the nests of their neighbors. Adélie penguins are also known to hunt in groups, as it is believed to reduce the risk of being devoured by hungry predators. Adelie penguins are constantly interacting with each other, body language and eye-specific movements are thought to be the most common forms of communication.

Adelie penguin breeding and life cycles

Adelie penguins goes back to their breeding grounds in the Antarctic summer months of November and December. Their soft feet are well designed for walking on the ground making the journey to their nesting site easier penguin fasting during this time. Adelie penguin pairs mate for life in large colonies, with females two eggs for a couple of days apart in a nest built with rocks. Both male and female take turns incubating the eggs, while the other is going to feed, for up to 10 days at a time. Adelie penguin chicks have an egg tooth is a bump on the top of their beaks, which helps them to break the egg. Once hatched, the parents still take turns caring for their young while the other is going to collect food. After about a month, the chicks congregate in groups called crèches and are able to fend for themselves at sea when they are between 2 and 3 months old.

Adelie Penguin Diet and Prey

Adelie Penguins are strong swimmers and able, obtaining all their food from the sea. These penguins feed mainly on krill, which is found throughout the Southern Ocean, as well as shellfish, squid and small fish. The record of fossil eggshell accumulated in the Adelie penguin colonies in the last 38,000 years reveals a sudden change in a fish-based diet of krill that started two hundred years ago. This is believed to be due to the decrease of Antarctic fur seal in the late 1700s and whales in the twentieth century. Reducing competition from these predators has led to there being an abundance of krill, which Adelie penguins are now able to operate as an easy source of food.

Adelie Penguin Predators and threats

Adult Adelie Penguins have no land predators inflexible because living conditions. However, in the water, the greatest threat to the Adelie Penguin is the Leopard Seal, which is one of the southern-most seal species and a dominant predator in the Southern Ocean. These penguins have learned to avoid these predators swimming in large groups and not walking on a tightrope. The orca is the other main predator of the Adelie Penguin, although they normally hunt larger species of penguins further north. Skuas are known to feed on Adelie penguin eggs if left unattended, along with chickens who have strayed from a group.

Adelie Penguin Interesting Facts and Features

Adelie penguins inhabit one of the coldest environments on Earth and therefore have a thick layer of fat under the skin that helps to keep warm. Their feathers help insulate them and provide a waterproof coating for extra protection. The Adelie Penguin Hunter is a very efficient and is able to eat up to 2 kg of food per day, with a breeding colony designed to consume about 9,000 tons of food for 24 hours. The Adelie penguins fins make fantastic swimming and can dive to depths of 175 meters in search of food. Adelie penguins do not have teeth themselves, but have barbed teeth as his tongue and the roof of the mouth. These spikes are not chewing, but to help the penguin to swallow slippery prey.

Adelie Penguin Relationship with humans

A visit to the Adelie penguin colonies has been a long time in the program for tourists to Antarctica, to marvel at the large number of them nest on the beaches and hunting in the surrounding waters. This has meant that Adelie penguins are one of the best known of all penguin species today. Early explorers but penguins also hunted both for their meat and their eggs to survive in conditions so intransigent.

Adelie Penguin Conservation Status and Life Today

Despite being confined to the coast to live in Antarctica, Adelie penguins are one of the most common and widespread in the southern hemisphere. With over 2.5 million breeding pairs are found throughout southern Antarctica, Adelie penguin has adapted well to their polar habitat. Scientists have also been known to use nesting patterns Adelie Penguin as indicators of climate change, realizing that they are able to nest on the beaches that were previously covered with ice. The Adelie Penguin is listed as Least Concern.

Facts and Features of Abyssinian

Abyssinian evidence

Name: Abyssinian

Origin: Egypt

Group: Cat

Avg length (L): 60cm (2ft)

Avg Weight: 4.5kg (10lbs)

Avg life time: 15 years

Avg litter Size: 6

Type: Shorthair

Colour: Fawn, Red, Blue, Grey

feature: intelligent and curious

Training: Easy

Different features: Silky fur and almond shaped eyes

History and Domestication of Abyssinian

The Abyssinian is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of domestic cat in the world, when the first of the Abyssinian cat domestication occurred in ancient Egyptian times. It is thought that the Abyssinian cats were purchased and on the banks of the River Nile sold by traders, where the African Wild Cats (the ancestor of all domestic cats) lived in their native habitats. Abyssinian cats are most easily identified by their "checked" their fur coat gives a mottled appearance.

Abyssinian Appearance

The Abyssinian has a more wild looking appearance compared to many breeds of domestic cat in modern times. The Abyssinian has large ears (which means that there is a fantastic ear) on top of its broad head, and large almond shaped eyes of the Abyssinian are still characteristic of this breed today. The Abyssinian is a medium sized cat with a long and muscular yet slender body and a relatively short tail. Although today, can be found in a variety of different colors of the Abyssinian blue to purple to red, the dense, silky coat of the Abyssinian was originally silver or fawn.

Abyssinian behavior 

The Abyssinian is known to be highly intelligent and playful and is considered one of the  active breeds of domestic cat as the Abyssinian looks to find it almost impossible to sit constant. Abyssinian cats are known to be very loyal and obedient nature making them easy to train to be in the house. The Abyssinian is so wild in temperament and in appearance and enjoys a lot of attention, as well as to keep active, which also tends to make these cats have naturally good hunters .

Abyssinian Breeding System

Today, most types of contemporary domestic cat thought to have descended from, or close descendants of the Abyssinian cats taken from North Africa to England during the 19th century. The Abyssinian is thought to one of the first species of Wild Cat  have been domesticated by people and is therefore one of the first wild animals to be treated as a pet. The Abyssinian is one of the most popular domestic Cat breeds in the United States and was to be first exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1871 and the first official listing of the Abyssinian cat breed was in 1882.

Abyssinian  evidence  and features

In ancient Egypt, Abyssinian Cat was seen as a sign of the ancient Egyptian Gods and therefore thought to be a sacred animal to the legend deeming that the Abyssinian was "Child of the Gods" and was therefore worshiped at the banks of the River Nile. This meant that the Egyptians believed that the Abyssinian cats are  special animals and looked after the cats very well, the Abyssinian cats are often depicted as sacred beings in ancient Egyptian art and legend.