Video of the Day: Muppet Chickens Sing "Baby Face"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBSWmIr9u-w&feature=view_all&list=PLE52E1B76206986F7&index=28

Statler: Now why would they have the chickens sing "Baby Face"?
Waldorf: The alligators were sick.
Statler: That makes sense!

Breed of the Day: Bombay

    The Bombay is a sleek and muscular cat with great big copper-colored eyes and a shiny, midnight black coat that gleams like black patent leather. The combination is spectacular and resembles the mini-panther that the late Nikki Horner had in mind when she began developing the breed in 1953. The Bombay is a man-made breed developed from crossing black American Shorthairs and sable Burmese. These purring bundles of love want to be with you all of the time and as close as possible, reveling in your company.
    Nikki Horner had in mind a cat that resembled the black leopards of India and named the breed she developed after the city in India. She wanted a cat the sleek, short tight coat of the Burmese in the darkest black from the American Shorthair with eyes like newly minted pennies. Her early efforts were unsuccessful but undeterred as she kept trying to create her vision and the combinations she used in the beginning of 1965
led to success. Horner had been breeding cats since she was 16 in the 1970s, when her creation was finally accepted for championship competition, she stopped breeding. Other breeders had fallen in love with the stunning breed with its fabulous personality and worked to keep the breed going.
    Major influences in the breed's progression and popularity were Herb and Suzanne Zwecker. They also developed new lines with new combinations of the Burmese with the American Shorthair. Shawnee and Road to Fame are found behind many of today's Bombay for championship competition in June 1979.
    The Bombay combines the easy-going nature of the American Shorthair with the inquisitive, loving personality of the social Burmese. They love to be in your company and will greet you joyously at the door, and they will greet visitors with the same loving enthusiasm. Expect your Bombay to be as close to you as possible whether it is perched on your shoulders as you walk around, rubbing around your ankles, purring, while you make supper, cuddled into your lap while you watch television or read a book, or snuggling up against you under the covers in bed like a hot water bottle. The Bombay loves the entire family and is particularly good with children since it is always ready to play. It also gets on well with other family pets if give the proper introductions. Their craving for company means that they are unhappy if left alone for long periods, so consider getting another cat if you will be gone most of the day.

Video of the Day: What Parrots do when Their Owners are Away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOK9rdLJwAw&list=PL68DF031B41CA55CE

On the internet, no one knows that you're a parrot.

Breed of the Day: American Bulldog

Country of Origin: United States
Group: Working; unrecognized by the AKC
Purpose: Wild/feral hog hunter, livestock guardian, watchdog
Average Life-Span: 11 to 12 years
Acceptable Colors: Solid white or white with patches of black, brown or red
Grooming: Brush weekly, being sure to wipe down the wrinkles with a wet wash cloth
Height/Weight: Dogs, 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder, 75 to 125 pounds; Bitches, 20 to 25 inches at the shoulder, 60 to 100 pounds.

    All-around working dog is an apt description of the American Bulldog. Originally brought to the American South by English working-class immigrants, this breed helped farmers and ranchers with many everyday tasks such as driving cattle and catching wild or feral hogs and guarding the property. Today's American Bulldog is still used as an all-purpose working partner, guard dog and family companion. They are loyal and confident, with a large head, thick, muscular neck, wide nose, powerful jaws and a solid but agile build. Due to an emphasis on ability rather than looks, the height, weight and even appearance can vary among individual American Bulldogs. The American Bulldog's short, stiff coat is most commonly white with brown, black or red blotches. This brave, determined breed benefits from plenty of socialization and training from an early age. Although its strong protective instincts may cause it to be reserved with strangers and possibly aggressive towards other dogs, the devoted American Bulldog demands to be with its family and adores children.

Video of the Day: Fire-Breathing Cockatiel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hsILeDgSTM&list=PLFEFFA47419AB3F33

Cockatiel breathes fire

Species of the Day: Chacoan Horned Frog

Scientific Name: Ceratophrys cranwelli
Family: Leptodactylidae
Adult Size: 3 to 5 inches in length
Range: Native to the Gran Chaco region of Argentina
Habitat: Inhabits a wide variety of environments, from dry savannas to seasonal wetlands

    The Chacoan horned frog, also called the Cranwell's horned frog, is a terrestrial frog endemic to the dry Gran Chaco region of Argentina. Like most members of the horned frog family they are often referred to as "Pac-Man" frogs because of their resemblance to the video game character and their voracious appetites. Also, like most horned frogs, they are beautifully colored, and come in different color patterns and varieties through selective breeding. Chacoan horned frogs are ambush predators and so spend most of their time lying in wait for prey to come to them. This being said, they require very little space and will thrive in a 10 gallon aquarium with moist ground coconut husks lining the bottom about two to three inches deep. Chacoan frogs hardly ever present feeding problems in captivity and can be fed a variety of prey items such as crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, feeder fish and occasionally pinky mice. Keep in mind that these frogs will pretty much eat whatever they can overpower, which includes other frogs, so they should be kept separately. Prey items should be gut loaded to make them more nutritious as well as dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements for proper bone growth.

Video of the Day: Duck Attacks Rooster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR5_BHa-P7s&list=PL630708F8BB833EA9

A plucky duck has a rooster by the tail until the rooster finally turns and puts it in its place!

Species of the Day: Costa Rican Red Tarantula

Scientific Name: Brachypelma angustum
Range: Forests of southern Mexico and Central America
Type: Terrestrial
Diet: Appropriately sized insects
Adult Size: 3 1/2 to 4 inches
Growth Rate: Moderate
Preferred Temperature: 75 to 80 degrees F
Preferred Humidity: 75 to 80%
Temperament: Semi-docile and nervous
Housing: Spiderlings can live in a clear plastic deli container with holes, adults can live in a 5 to 10 gallon tank; floor space is more important than height. Substrate can be 2 to 3 inches of peat moss or potting soil. Logs, driftwood and cork bark make good hiding places.

    Although they do not have red bodies, Costa Rican Red Tarantulas are appealing, medium-sized tarantulas. They get their name from the thick, red hairs on their legs and abdomen. Costa Rican Red Tarantulas actually have a black to dark brown overall body color. They resemble the Mexican Red-Rump Tarantula although the Red-Rumps are larger. These spiders are not as docile as most others in the Brachypelma family of tarantulas, but they are just as rewarding, and like them are prolific hair kickers. They are also a little smaller than most Brachypelma tarantulas, but are still heavy bodied. Costa Rican Red Tarantulas can be pretty hard to find but surprisingly are not usually expensive. If you're a beginner, but looking to move on to a slightly more difficult-tempered tarantula, the Costa Rican Red Tarantula is a good bet!

Video of the Day: Top Gear: Porsche Challenge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jPaYnaKVDk&list=PL53DA2690B89DF1E1

The Top Gear hosts James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are all given the challenge of finding a second-hand vintage Porsche using only 1,500 British Pounds.

Species of the Day: Black Mamba

Scientific Name: Dendroaspis polylepis
Family: Elapidae
Adult Size: Averages about 8 feet in length, sometimes growing up to 14 feet in length.
Range: Ranges southward from central and eastern Africa in Somalia and Ethiopia to South Africa
Habitat: Prefers dry woodlands, shrubby savannas and coastal bushlands over more arid, desert-type habitats. Although persistently arboreal when active, they seek refuge in burrows, tree cavities or termite nests.

    The Black Mamba is a long, slender snake; in fact, the longest and one of the most deadly in Africa. It is also the fastest snake in the world, able to travel at speeds of 10 to 12 miles an hour. It's name is actually derived from the black lining in the mouth rather than the color of the body, which varies from a dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal grey. Appropriate for a snake of it's reputation, the head is described as being shaped like a coffin. When provoked, the Black Mamba with raise the forward third of its body off the ground and flattening their  necks into a narrow but discernible hood, gaping their mouths and hissing loudly just like their cobra cousins.
    That being said, these snakes should only be kept in zoo conditions or by hardened enthusiasts that are well educated and practiced in the keeping and handling of such venomous snakes. These snakes require tremendous amounts of room to be happy, with adults living comfortably in a 125 gallon aquarium at the minimum. Black Mambas are extremely intelligent snakes and so are great escape artists and you will need a very secure enclosure for them. A trap-box with a locking door in the enclosure is a must for any venomous snake as it will provide a way to keep the snake in a safe and secure place and allow the keeper to safely clean and work around the enclosure. The trap-box will be most readily accepted in a quiet area of the enclosure and always in the same place. This short profile is not to be used as a venue to describe safe handling of this species, if there are any. These snakes are fast and agile, making clamp-sticks and snake hooks risky to use and trap-boxes the safest option. Sturdy, well anchored branches for climbing should be used for climbing, keeping the enclosure simple to facilitate safe handling. Cypress, fir, aspen chips are excellent choices for substrates. A large water bowl should be provided for the snake to soak and drink from. Keeping the snake well hydrated and the humidity in the enclosure fairly high will help assure complete, healthy sheds. Unlike most snakes, Black Mambas have a very high metabolism and will require feedings about twice a week of appropriately sized rodents. Black Mambas are also active year around and go through no brumation period.

Video of the Day: Bearded Dragon Feast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd1xmJGUpV4&list=PLC6E2D733AAA12D12

A juvenile bearded dragon participates in one of his favorite past times. Eating.

Species of the Day: Desert Tortoise

Scientific Name: Gopherus agassizii
Family: Testudinidae
Adult Size: 10 to 14 inches long, 8 to 10 pounds
Range: Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southern California, southern Navada and Arizona with some isolated populations in Mexico.
Habitat: Inhabits areas occupied by creosote bushes, yucca trees and grasslands associated with alluvial plains. The Sonoran populations can be found on the slopes of rocky washes.

    The Desert Tortoise is native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Their shells are high-domed and are a greenish-tan to dark brown in color. Males are generally larger than females. In years past it was a relatively common practice to pick up a desert tortoise when they were found because of their docile nature. Due to education and conservation, this has slowed down considerably. Even so, it is still suspected that there are more Desert Tortoises in captivity than there are in the wild. They are now protected throughout their ranges and are listed at threatened. It is a federal offense to take them over state lines or take them from the wild. They are also not allowed to be sold or traded, but can be adopted through various rescue groups. The Desert Tortoise always does best when housed in a large, secure enclosure outdoors. Despite being very adaptable, they do not tolerate the cold and damp. If given free range of a well-planted backyard or enclosure, the require minimal care. Desert Tortoises should be maintained almost exclusively on grasses and weeds. It is important to mix in variety so the diet can be supplemented with dark leafy greens and vegetables, and fruit only on occasion. Desert Tortoises are strictly herbivores; they should not be given any animal protein in any shape or form. Even though this is a desert dwelling animal, water should still be available at all times.

Video of the Day: Dramatic Prairie Dog: James Bond Edition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uaw2CdjU3c&list=PL1E76AC184F7135B2

The classic "Dramatic Prairie Dog" video with a James Bond motif!

Breed of the Day: Blanc de Hotot

    The Blanc de Hotot is a large, white rabbit with thin, black eye-rings around each eye. The breed was developed in Hotot en Auge in Normandy near the port of LeHavre in northern France. The Blanc de Hotot (White of Hotot) was developed by Eugenie Bernhard, chatelaine du Calvados. She kept a large rabbitry of Flemish Giants and Great Papillion Francais (Checkered Giants) and is the second woman ever to be credited with developing a new breed of rabbit.
    Bernhard's breeding goal was a rabbit for meat and fur, with a white coat and black eyes. Sometime around 1902, she crossed the Papillion with White Vienna and Flemish Giants, but progress toward her goal was slow. She saved only the lightly marked animals that were the product of 500 crosses, and by 1912, was eventually able to produce the Hotot that we see today. Bernhard continued to be troubled by the thin, black eye-rings. The breed was shown for the first time in 1920 at Exposition Internationale d'Aviculture in Paris as the Geant (Giant) Blanc de Hotot. The French rabbit governing body recognized them as a breed on October 13, 1922. The first french standard does not mention the eye-rings, but instead specifies black eyelashes and lower eyelids that were more or less colored grey. The Blanc de Hotot was brought to America in 1921, but they soon died out. Switzerland imported them in 1927, and it was the Swiss that appreciated the eye markings. During World War II the Blanc de Hotot nearly vanished in France, Holland and Germany.
    In 1978, Bob Whitman of Texas imported 8 Blanc de Hotots. The breed was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association's standards on March 5, 1979. Because of the very small gene pool and a body type that greatly needed improvement, breeders began crossing Blanc de Hotots with Blue-eyed White Beverens, White New Zealands and White Satins. It was not until 2004 that additional Blanc de Hotots were imported into this country from Germany, Holland and England.
    The breed is known for its lustrous fur, an abundance of guard hairs that gives the fur a frosty white sheen, and the striking eye-rings, which should not be over an eighth of an inch wide. Rigid selection is necessary to assure proper markings. The Blanc de Hotot is a large rabbit with bucks weighing 8 to 10 pounds and mature does 9 to 11 pounds. They are an active and hardy breed and are easily raised in all wire hutches. They make fairly good mothers, have good-sized litters and the young grow quickly. Despite a recent increase in importation into the United States, the breed is globally endangered.

Video of the Day: Yet Another Scare Compilation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Boqlp8vnPmQ&list=PL8C69D109332B910F

A bunch a people getting their kicks to the music of Frank Sinatra

Species of the Day: Bibron's Gecko

Scientific Name: Pachydactylus bibroni
Family: Gekkonidae
Adult Size: 6 to 8 inches long
Range: Southern Africa
Habitat: Arid environments containing rocky outcroppings

    The Bibron's Gecko is a moderate-sized, thick-toed gecko with a stockier build than most other geckos. Males are generally larger than females. It has a brown base color with a beaded dorsal pattern with horizontal black stripes and white dots. The belly is white or a very light brown. Hatchling geckos will have more solid patterns, becoming paler and more broken with age, with females sometimes lacking the white dots. The Bibron's Gecko is both terrestrial and arboreal. It is territorial, with males being especially aggressive towards one another, so they should be kept separately. These geckos are very fast runners, so care should be taken when handling to prevent escapes.
    This hardy wall crawler is simple to keep if a few basic criteria are met. Being nocturnal, Bibron's Geckos spend the majority of the day out of sight in a favorite hiding place. These can be in rocky crevices or between slabs of tree bark. Then they will come out at night under cover of darkness to hunt. Coarse sand or gravel works well as a substrate, with various rocks and pieces of driftwood covering the floor for climbing. A water bowl is not necessary as long as the terrarium is misted every day to allow the gecko to drink up the water droplets off the rocks and walls of the enclosure. Bibron's geckos are insectivorous, with crickets and meal worms providing the bulk of the diet, but supplementing with various other insects is always a wise course of action. Day time temperatures can reach the low 90s F, but preferred nighttime hunting temperatures should be in the 80s or even the 70s.

Video of the Day: Dancing African Gray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrQb3ehujQ&list=PLEAC2C052194C7E0F

Boy, this parrot really likes the Eurythmics!

Breed of the Day: Birman

    The legendary Birman takes your breath away with its stunning pointed, semi-longhaired coat and bewitching deep sapphire eyes. The silky coat is light in color and ideally misted with a golden hue. They have white gloves on all four feet and white laces up the backs of their hind legs contrasting with the main point color. These gentle cats have a stocky build and a powerful musculature, which is kept in fine condition through their love of play.
    The Birman has a lovely legend about being raised by the Kittah priests in their temple in Burma. The story tells of a golden-eyed, white cat that stood guard over his dying holy master and was transformed into a cat with a dark brown head and dark brown legs and tail, but his coat became a creamy color with a golden glow from his master's golden goddess. As his master died and his soul passed on to the cat, the cat's paws and hocks, where he sat on his master's chest, stayed pure white as a sign of his master's purity. As the cat gazed up at the golden goddess, his gold eyes turned into a beautiful sapphire blue, the same as his master's goddess. There are many versions of the legend, and this is just a very short one. As for fact, the Birman was first recognized and shown in France in the 1920s. England then recognized the breed in 1966. The Birman was first imported into the United States in the 1960s and was recognized and shown in 1967. The Birman is now recognized and loved world-wide. The breed has consistently remained in the top 10 most popular cat breeds for many years.
    The Birman is a great family cat. It dwells peacefully within a single cat home or a home with multiple cats. With a constant response from his owner when the cat meows, the Birman can become quite a talker. If you prefer just the quietness of his purr, lack of response will easily discourage the cat from vocalizing. With lots of love, good food, regular grooming and proper health care, the Birman makes an all around perfect pet.

Video of the Day: Caique Loves Pens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RI2dViYmXU&list=PLCC9996E9E9AA18E5

Some Caiques tend to covet and collect certain things, like this White-Bellied Caique who has a fondness for ball-point pens.

Species of the Day: Azuero Conure

Scientific Name: Pyrrhura eisenmanni
Adult Size: Just over 8 1/2 inches long; 54 to 70 grams
Adult Coloration: Both adults mostly green; black/brown forehead and crown to nape; frontal band to lores and around the eyes thin and red; buff/white ear coverts; faint blue nuchal collar; darker brown upper breast scalloped with white; dark green/blue lower breast scalloped with buff/white and yellow; green wing bends; black bill; bare, gray/brown eye ring; eyes are brown/yellow.
Call: Calls made in flight are short; some single loud notes from birds contacting the flock; while perched, harsh guttural notes; soft notes while preening

   Like its cousin the Painted Conure, this is an active, shy and nervous parrot; new birds are easily stressed and quite susceptible to disease. However, once acclimated, they lose all their shyness and can become friendly, playful and sweet-natured pets. Azuero Conures are particularly smart, and can learn simple tricks with the greatest of ease.

Captive Status: Almost unknown in captivity.
Average Life-Span: About 12 to 15 years
Housing: Large cage or aviary no less than 6 1/2 feet long
Diet: Fruits such as apples, pear, papaya, bananas, oranges, pomegranates, and kiwis; vegetables such as carrot, celery, green beans and peas in the pod, and fresh corn; leafy greens such as Swiss chard, kale, dandelion greens, sowthistle, Romaine lettuce and chickweed; seed mixes such as spray millet, millet, canary seed and smaller amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower and small amounts of hemp; supplement with soaked or sprouted sunflower seeds, cooked beans and pulses, boiled maize, limited cubed hard cheeses and complete pellets.
Enrichment: Enjoys chewing. Provide untreated flowering tree branches such as fir, pine, willow and elder branches, wooden or vegetable-tanned leather toys, foraging/puzzle toys, ladders, swings, a variety of perches and ropes. Also provide small water bowls and overhead misters for bathing.

World Population: Less than 2,000 left in the wild
Threat Summary: Habitat destruction.
Range: Southwest Azuero Peninsula and Central Panama
Habitat: Found up to 5,445 feet in elevation in humid, hilly forested areas, forest margins and sometimes nearby partly cleared areas
Wild Diet: Feeds on fruits, flowers, seeds algae and invertebrates.
Ecology: Flocks usually stay in one area, may move depending on the availability of food. Usually seen in pairs or small groups, sometimes seen in flocks of up to 20 individuals. Stays up in the forest canopy where it is camouflaged amongst the foliage. Noisy and visible in flight.