Animals – Page 3 – Mws R Writings

Extraordinary!

https://hubpages.com/animals/25-Most-Amazing-and-Unique-Animals-On-Earth

Walking Leaf (or Leaf Insect)

Also from the family Phyliidae, the walking leaf, or leaf insect, is native to South Asia and Australia. Its amazing natural camouflage makes it virtually invisible in wooded areas, which not only protects them from predators but also lets their prey come to them.

Similarly to mantises and stick bugs, the leaf insect has a tendency to sway back and forth to mimic a real leaf blowing in the wind. Some sources state that these insects may have been in existence 47 million years ago.

Poisonous Plants

Autumn Crocus

There are two Crocus plants: one that blooms in the spring (Crocus species) and the other in the autumn Colchicum autumnale). The spring plants are more common and are part of the Iridaceae family. These ingestions can cause general gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea. These should not be mistaken for Autumn Crocus, part of the Liliaceae family, which contain colchicine. The Autumn Crocus is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and respiratory failure. If you’re not sure what plant it is, bring your pet to their veterinarian immediately for care. Signs may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days.

Azalea

In the same family as rhododendrons, azaleas can have serious effects on pets. Eating even a few leaves can result in vomiting, diarrhea and excessive drooling; without immediate veterinary attention, the pet could fall into a coma and possibly die.

Cyclamen

The roots of this seasonal flowering plant are especially dangerous to pets. If ingested, cyclamen can cause severe vomiting and even death.

Kalanchoe

This popular flowering succulent plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea and heart arrhythmias if ingested by pets.

Lilies

There are dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it’s important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus – this results in minor drooling. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies, and these include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) can result in severe kidney failure. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently we can treat the poisoning.

For more information on lilies, please visit our No Lilies for Kitties campaign.

Oleander

Oleander is an outdoor shrub, popular for its evergreen qualities and delicate flowers. However, the leaves and flowers are extremely toxic if ingested and can cause severe vomiting, slow the heart rate and possibly even cause death.

Dieffenbachia

Popular in many homes and offices, dieffenbachia can cause intense oral irritation, drooling, nausea, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if ingested.

Daffodils

These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting). Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary drooling. Daffodil ingestions can result in more severe symptoms so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care.

Lily of the Valley

The Convallaria majalis plant contains cardiac glycosides which will cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. Pets with any known exposure to this plant should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.

Sago Palm

Very popular in warmer climates, this household and outdoor plant can be very harmful to pets. If ingested, the leaves and seeds can cause vomiting, bloody stools, damage to the stomach lining, severe liver failure and, in some cases, death.

Tulips and Hyacinths

Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), so make sure your dog isn’t digging up the bulbs in the garden. When the plant parts or bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can result in tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus. Typical signs include profuse drooling, vomiting, or even diarrhea, depending on the amount consumed. There’s no specific antidote, but with supportive care from the veterinarian, animals do quite well. With large ingestions of the bulb, more severe symptoms such as an increase in heart rate and changes in respiration can be seen, and should be treated by a veterinarian. These more severe signs are seen in cattle or our overzealous, chowhound Labradors.

This is only a partial list of poisonous plants. For a more complete list of plants poisonous to cats and dogs, visit our Poison List.

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.

DID YOU KNOW?/Animals we are losing and will be gone forever!/Information Share

These Animals Are About to Disappear From the Planet Forever

Earth is currently experiencing the worst wave of species die-offs — a mass extinction of plants and animals — since the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Scientists say that nearly all of the thousands of currently threatened species — mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, plants and invertebrates — are at risk because of human activities, including habitat loss, introduction of non-natives, and the effects of climate change.

Pere David’s Deer

Elaphurus davidianus
Status: Extinct in the Wild
Population: about 600
This semi-aquatic deer of China vanished around 1939 when the last wild one was shot and killed. The Pere David’s Deer has been recovered from the edge of extinction after being reintroduced into captivity in China, according to the IUCN red list. There are now four wild populations being established by escapees from a Nature Reserve during severe flooding in 1998, according to IUCN.

Scimitar-horned Oryx
Oryx dammah
Status: Extinct in the Wild
The myth of the one-horned unicorn may have originated from this antelope, which was once widespread across northern Africa and was domesticated in ancient Egypt. Overhunting and habitat loss, including competition with domestic livestock, are the main reasons for the extinction of the wild population, according to the IUCN Red list.

Guam kingfisher
Todiramphus cinnamominus
Population: about 146
Status: Extinct in the Wild
The Guam kingfisher is a species of kingfisher from the U.S. territory. The wild population was killed off by the non-native brown tree snake. It exists only in captivity. The male pictured here is at the Bronx Zoo.Alagoas Curassow
Mitu mitu
Population: about 130
Status: Extinct in the Wild
Clearance of the lowland forests of Brazil for sugarcane, as well as poaching, have brought this glossy-black, pheasant-like bird to the edge of extinction. While the bird exists in captive breeding programs, much of its wild habitat has been destroyed.

Guam Rail
Hypotaenidia owstoni
Population: about 150
Status: Extinct in the Wild
The last individual in the wild of this flightless but fast-running bird died in 1987, killed by the brown tree snake. Captive breeding programs in Guam and the U.S. may restore the population. Pictured is a Guam Rail at the Cincinnati Zoo.
South China Tiger
Panthera tigris amoyensis
Status: Critically Endangered (possibly Extinct in the Wild)
Population: 30-80
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the South China tiger population was about 4,000 in the early 1950s. In the next few decades, thousands were killed, hunted as a pest. Though the Chinese government banned hunting in 1979, by 1996 the population was estimated to be just 30-80 of these tigers. Today the big cat is considered to be “functionally extinct,” as it has not been seen in the wild for more than 25 years.
Amur Leopard
Panthera pardus orientalis
Status: Critically Endangered
Population: More than 84
A rare subspecies of leopard of the Russian Far East, the Amur leopard can run at speeds of up to 37 mph. It is frequently killed by poachers for its beautiful, spotted fur, according to WWF.
Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
Status: Critically Endangered
Population: 5,000 – 5,400
Killed in large numbers by European hunters and settlers, today rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism in places like Namibia. World Wildlife Fund says this species has made a strong comeback from the brink of extinction, but poaching and black-market trafficking of rhino horn continues to threaten recovery. Pictured is a black rhinoceros in Kruger national park, South Africa.

Orangutan

Pongo pygmaeus

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: About 104,700

Sumatran Orangutan

Pongo abelii

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: 14,613

Highly intelligent, Orangutans share 96.4% of genes with humans. Female Orangutans are hunted most, and if caught with offspring, the young are often kept as pets.

Sumatran Orangutans live in the trees of tropical rainforests, and rarely travel on the ground.Cross River Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla diehli
Status: Critically Endangered
Population: 200 to 300 individuals
Cross River gorillas live in a region populated by many humans in Cameroon and Nigeria. As humans clear forests for timber, agriculture and livestock, the gorillas continue to lose habitat. They are also poached by hunters.