Overweight Weenie Dog

When you hear the word Weenie Dog, what do you think of? A nice cute little dachshund?  A possible snack? How about a mammoth beast that you can't even pick it up.







Well, lets not be mean to the little guy large dog. His name is Obie. Obie weighs 77 pounds, more than twice the maximum weight of an average Dachshund (32 pounds).







For comparison, here are some Weenie dogs that are not as hefty as poor little Obie.

 







 Of course, big is a relative term. Obie looks tiny when compared to some other pets.




  

Giant Fish

Seventy five percent of the Earths surface is covered by water. The average depth of the ocean is about 4,267 meters (14,000 feet). Taking all that in to consideration, it shouldn't be a shock to anyone that there are some monstrous fish lurking in the water. Like, the infamous GOLD FISH!


I'm kidding. There is nothing monstrous about the shrimpy goldfish. But here are a couple monstrous fish!


 (In this Aug. 18, 2012 photo provided by Jody Bright, Molly Palmer stands with her husband Shawn Palmer near her catch_ a 12-foot marlin that took more than four hours to get on her team’s boat, weighing it at more than a half-ton _ a would-be world record, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Courtesy Jody Bright)


(A monster white sturgeon weighing an estimated 1,100 pounds and measuring 12 feet, 4 inches was caught and released on the Fraser River, a British Columbia waterway famous for its big sturgeon...just not this big.)


(Catches of white sturgeon averaging 30 to 100 pounds are typical on the Fraser, even an occasional 250-pounder, but nothing as massive as this sturgeon, believed to be the biggest freshwater fish ever caught on rod and reel in North America...and possibly the oldest.)


I don't know why I've been frequenting fish lately. Maybe I should stop by a Red Lobster. 

Dog Sleeping With a Toy

I've decided to momentarily return to this blogs roots and post a picture of a funny pet.

So, without further adieu I present you all this weeks Funny Pet!!




This is a dog. Let's call him Jake for the time being. Apparently he is sleeping with a stuffed animal. Cute. Right? However, the cynic within me can't help but think the owners simply stuffed the toy into the legs of the dog in order to create a cute picture. But maybe the dog truly enjoyed sleeping with the toy. Maybe?

Termites- Living Bombs

When the insects can no longer forage, nature weaponizes them

What are your plans for retirement? Do you plan on touring the country in an RV with the grandkids, or perhaps finally catch up with all that paragliding you never did when you were younger? Perhaps you should just be glad that you'll age more gracefully than the Neocapriterme taracua — as the termite enters its old age, it becomes a toxic, living bomb, ready to explode at a moment's notice.

The discovery came when researchers Jan Å obotník of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Thomas Bourguignon of the Free University of Brussels were examining termites in French Guiana. They noted that select termites had pale blue spots on their abdomens. When disturbed and unable to fight using their jaws, the insects commit suicide and burst, releasing a mix of chemicals that can poison and kill their attackers.

It's believed those blue spots are actually crystals that help give the termites' toxic stew its potency. Only older termites have the crystals — essentially, when the insect gets too old to forage for food, it turns into a living defensive weapon for the insect colony. Pretty cool, but if given the option, we think we'll stick to our RV tour when we grow old, thanks.

[Image credit: Soldier subterranean termites via Shutterstock]

This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca

Funny Cartoon Animal- In Real Life!- Pascal from Tangled

Today we examine Pascal from the hit Disney film 'Tangled'.



In the film, Pascal is Rapunzel's pet chameleon. Pascal is a caring creature. He is always near Rapunzel. He attempts to assist Rapunzel whenever she needs it. As such, he does various actions. Sometimes he does something funny to make Rapunzel laugh. Sometimes he tries to fight a villain. Thus, Pascal has a comedic side and a tough side. The following pictures will demonstrate these two opposing sides.






NOW. Time for some info about Chameleons, IN REAL LIFE!!!!

Chameleon, a tree-dwelling lizard having the ability to change color and to move each eye independently. The color change is involuntary, contrary to common belief, and is brought about by light, temperature, and nervous stimulation such as anger or fear. It is not related to the color of the substance on which the chameleon happens to be.

Under ordinary conditions, the rough skin of the chameleon is a dull brownish-green. Under stresses of fear or anger, the color changes to a vivid green; it turns brown or yellowish-gray in response to hunger, low temperatures, and strong sunlight. The males of some species may display a brilliant red dewlap (a loose fold of skin under the throat) during courtship or in combat.

About 90 species of chameleon are known. They are native to Africa, Spain, Madagascar, India, and Sri Lanka.

"http://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/chameleon-info.htm"

White-bellied Green Pigeon

When most people think of pigeons, they think of flying rats. Dirty nasty creatures. However, pigeons are very majestic creatures. Case in point, the White-bellied Green Pigeon.

See, not all pigeons are dirty, nasty, yucky vermin with wings.

But, some are :p

Six Legged Calf

This is a six legged calf. How do we know that cows aren't supposed to have 6 legs, and that the cows we see with 4 legs are actually the abnormal ones!!





And why don't we eat cow legs? Yum, fried cow legs.

Baby Platypus!

Who doesn't love cute little babies! I love babies, as long as they are properly seasoned...

And let the comments resembling "aww, how cute, where can I buy some" Commence!!

I also have a frighting baby platypus image, if anyone cares to see it let me know!

One of a Kind, Lonesome George.

The world has just recently lost a very special someone. Lonesome George. 

(He was kind of cute. In a weird turtuly way)

Lonesome George has died, leaving the world one species poorer.

The only remaining Pinta Island tortoise and celebrated conservation icon passed away Sunday, June 24th 2012.  

Estimated to be more than 100 years old, the creature's cause of death remains unclear and a necropsy is planned. ( I think he was assassinated by another turtle, jealous of Georges popularity) 

Lonesome George's longtime caretaker, Fausto Llerena, found the tortoise's remains stretched out in the "direction of his watering hole" on Santa Cruz Island, the statement said.

Lonesome George was discovered on Pinta Island in 1972 at a time when tortoises of his type were already believed to be extinct. Since then, the animal had been part of the park service's tortoise program.

Repeated efforts to breed Lonesome George failed. 

"Later two females from the Espanola tortoise population (the species most closely related to Pinta tortoises genetically) were with George until the end," the park service said.

(He was a player that just couldn't find the right gal)e was a player, that just couldn't find the right gal. Maybe he was gay... not that there's anything wrong with that)

In honor of Lonesome George, the park service said it was convening an international workshop in July on management strategies for restoring tortoise populations over the next decade.

The Galapagos Islands, situated about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) off Ecuador's coast, is considered a haven for tortoises. (Well, it wasn't good enough for George. Hopefully, he will fair better in turtle Heaven than he did in the turtle haven)

Goodbye George. We will miss you. Next time, I will try to not post about a dead animal. It's getting a little depressing here.

Ceratophrys- Pacman Frog

I'd like to thank annoymouse for recommending the Pacman Frog. annoymouse's blog can be found here, http://cashformyguitar.blogspot.com/ .

This is the Ceratophry, also known as the Pacman Frog.  Check out survival frog too!

I like them because they are chubby and come in many different colors.  Check out Wikipedia for a quick and interesting read on the Pacman Frog!!  ----  > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratophrys

Mouse on Mouse

Is this a picture of a mouse or a couple of mice?

The Sun Bear

Although It would be very difficult to acquire and make one of these fuzzy creatures a pet, I still think they are funny.

Clearly, they have long tongues.

And they can stand upright!!

Which is kind of creepy.

But, just like us, they get fits of laziness.

The Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.
The Sun Bear stands approximately 4 ft (1.2 m) in length, making it the smallest member in the bear family. It is often called the dog bear because of its small stature. It has a 2 in (5 cm) tail and on average weighs less than 145 lb (65 kg). Males tend to be slightly larger than females.


Unlike other bears, the Sun Bear's fur is short and sleek. This adaptation is probably due to the lowland climates it inhabits. Dark black or brown-black fur covers its body, except on the chest where there is a pale orange-yellow marking in the shape of a horseshoe. Similar colored fur can be found around the muzzle and the eyes. This distinct marking gives the sun bear its name.

When Pigs Can Fly

With the proper tools, anything is possible.

Funny Cartoon Animal- In Real Life!- Yogi Bear

This is my fourth entry in a series where I examine funny cartoon animals and their real live counterparts. Today, I will be examining Yogi Bear and contrasting him to real bears.

Yogi Bear is a fictional bear. He appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. In January 1961, he was given his own show, The Yogi Bear Show.

Yogi's personality and mannerisms were based on a popular celebrity of the time. Art Carney's Ed Norton character onThe Honeymooners was said to be Yogi's inspiration. The plot of most of Yogi's cartoons centered on his antics in the fictional Jellystone Park, a takeoff on the famous Yellowstone National Park. Yogi, accompanied by his constant companion Boo-Boo Bear, would often try to steal picnic baskets from campers in the park, much to the displeasure of Park Ranger Smith.

Besides often speaking in rhyme, Yogi Bear had a number of catchphrases, including his pet name for picnic baskets ("pic-a-nic baskets") and his favorite self-promotion ("I'm smarter than the average bear!"), although he often overestimates his own cleverness.

REAL LIFE BEARS!

Bears. You don't want to mess with them.

Bears are mammals.They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are found in the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Common characteristics of modern bears include a large body with stocky legs, a long snout, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and a short tail. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous and thegiant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous, with largely varied diets including both plants and animals.

Bears can be cute, as shown below.

  Vs. 

But, don't mess with them. They can mess you up. Some species, such as the polar bear, American black bear, sloth bear and the brown bear, are dangerous to humans, especially in areas where they have become used to people. All bears are physically powerful and are likely capable of fatally attacking a person, but they, for the most part, are shy, are easily frightened and will avoid humans. Injuries caused by bears are rare, but are often widely reported. The danger that bears pose is often vastly exaggerated, in part by the human imagination. However, when a mother feels her cubs are threatened, she will behave ferociously. It is recommended to give all bears a wide berth because they are behaviorally unpredictable.

Sources= wikipedia.

Doing Work

Animals are not just objects meant to amuse people. Animals have a long history of being put to work by people. Horses for transportation. Dogs for hunting. However, over the years it seems to me that people have increasingly neglected the usefulness of animals and have simply viewed them as toys. Lets put animals back to work!

People and Their Pets

People. They can do some pretty amazing things. We have put a man on the moon. We have transplanted hearts. We have figured out a way to put cheese inside the crust of pizza. Despite all our glories, some of us are nuts. Like the lady below.

Wut?

I've seen many strange pictures, but this one really has me puzzled. Why would anyone take a picture of this?  

Are those supposed to be shoes? They would not work very well. Or, is the dog standing on them in some sort of triumphant pose?

The Pine Marten

First of all, what is a Marten? It's a weasel-like animal that resembles the domesticated ferret, with a longer tail. These fuzzy creatures are certainly adorable-- I was introduced to them while watching a segment of Planet Earth in my Intro to Geography class. The narrator explained that the Pine Marten, only found in taiga climates (for those less seasoned geographers, these are cold forest climates that have cool springs and summers), was hunting for some spring food while it climbed a nearby tree. I expected a screenshot of the Marten cracking open a pinecone and eating some seeds. Instead, it entered a hole in a tree and came out with a dead, limp squirrel. A carnivore? I was very surprised. Although the Marten can survive on plants, it is a hunter, and so prefers to hunt squirrels and small rodents.

The Pine Marten prefers to live in very old forests, because dead trees make great homes for them, and the forest provides plenty of food for the Martens to hunt. They are expert tree climbers, and their sharp teeth make them great hunters. The martens don't hibernate, they are active all year long, and they prefer to live by themselves. They are extremely territorial wild animals. The species is hunted and coveted for its very soft fur, but it is only endangered in some areas. In more rural areas, the Marten thrives in deciduous forests within the taiga climate. This website encourages viewers to donate to the Endangered Resources Fund in Wisconsin to help save the Pine Martens and other endangered species threatened by humans: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/pinemarten.htm

Logging is also a danger to the Martens since they thrive only in old forests. They need this habitat to continue to thrive as a species. I tried to find a video of the cute Marten taking advantage of an innocent squirrel, but I couldn't find any hunting videos-- the cute pictures above will have to suffice, although they might leave you with a different visual impression than the one that I initially had.

Needless to say, this ferret-like animal definitely deserves the title of unique because of its adaptations to cold climates and its hunting abilities. Not many species can be found in the taiga climate, especially species that roam year-round.

The Bilby

This animal comes in 3 delicious chocolate flavors: milk, dark, and white. Sounds like Valentine’s Day- I know I want one! The chocolate bilby is the equivalent of an American Easter chocolate bunny, because the bilby is the symbol of Easter in Australia in an attempt to de-Americanize the holiday (What did the Easter Bilby bring you this year?).

The real bilby that’s not made from cacao and dairy products is a marsupial the size of a rabbit with abnormally large ears, giving the animal an acute sense of hearing to make up for what it lacks in sight. Its eyes are very bad, although it is a nocturnal animal. It inhabits arid areas of Australia, most commonly desert regions. The bilby has very strong claws and is able to burrow into the ground very quickly, which serves as a sort of defense mechanism against its main predators, which include mostly birds of prey, especially owls. The bilby also uses its claws for food, and it gets most of its water from food since water is scarce is desert climates. The bilby is mousy in appearance, with long ears, a long snout, and their personalities are commonly solitary and territorial. Unfortunately, the bilby is nearing extinction, though it used to inhabit more than 70 percent of the Australian continent. Other animals have taken over the bilby habitats, and their populations have declined also due to hunting for food and for pelts. Droughts have a heavier effect due to competition with other animals, and fire patterns have changed which have altered their habitats significantly. The bilby is a protected animal in Australia, and is most famous for its association with Easter. In case you’d like to order some chocolate bilbies for this upcoming Easter, here’s a link that allows you to do so:
http://www.easterbilby.com.au/save_bilby/chocolate.asp

save the bilbies for a delectable price of only $5.95!