Hamsters

Hamsters are small, nocturnal rodents, meaning they are more inclined to be active by night rather than in the daytime. Because of their nocturnal habits, Hamsters are less likely to be handled during the daytime and if they are, they are more prone to give you a nip as they may be grumpy.

Hamsters are popular pets, the most common and largest one being the Syrian Hamster, also known as the 'Golden Hamster'. The Syrian Hamster is naturally solitary and must be kept singular and not in pairs or groups as they will fight.

Unlike Guinea Pigs, the Hamster is an unsociable animal and different species have to be kept single as pets, putting one hamster with another hamster would cause fights in which one or both could be harmed.

However, the Russian Hamster and the Dwarf Hamster (who grow to be about 8 centimetres), like the company of their own kind, however, it is still a good idea to keep males and females seperate.

The only time hamsters can be put together is for mating and still you have to be at hand to interact if any combat develops.

The best way to avoid confrontations at mating time is to make sure you put the female into the male territory. Breeding hamsters can produce a litter every few weeks.

Here are the general statistics of a Golden Hamster:

• Adult weight: Male 85 - 140 grams, Female 95 - 120 grams

• Life span: Average 2 years, maximum expected 3 years (some reach 5 years)

• Water consumption: Variable, they can tolerate long periods without water, however, you should always have fresh water available by sipper bottle or supply of fresh fruit/vegetables

• Food consumption: 10 - 15 grams per day (adult), depends upon level of activity.

• Body temperature: 36.2 - 37.5C (rectal)

• Behaviour: Docile unless surprised or awakened.

• Nocturnal.

• Hibernate when temperature drops below 5ºC, however, animal may be roused by gentle stimulation and application of warmth.

• Curious by nature.

Because hamsters are desert animals, they like to conserve water and so it is quite normal for them to eat their own droppings so they can save as much water as possible.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs are hystricomorph rodents (related to chinchillas and porcupines) that originated from the Andes Mountains region of South America. Their scientific name is 'Cavia Porcellus' and so they are called 'Cavies' for short.

Guinea Pigs are not Pigs at all, despite their name. Guinea Pigs are part of the Rodent family which also includes rats, mice, hamsters, squirrels and beavers. Guinea Pigs originated from South America where they still live in the wild today. In the wild Guinea Pigs tend to make their habitats in rocky areas, grasslands and forests.

The family 'Caviidae' is first distinguished geologically during the Miocene period and today consists of three genera and over 20 species confined to the South American continent. All species of this family have been used as food by humans, though only 'Cavia' is known to have been domesticated.

Guinea pigs are very popular pets because of their availability, docile temperaments, tendency not to bite or scratch when handled and relatively clean habits. There are lots of different breeds of Guinea Pig and they come in lots of colours and fur textures. Some are short-haired, some are long-haired and some are fuzzy, just to describe a few.

Guinea Pigs are especially popular pets with children because they are beautiful little animals with calm, tame temperaments that are unmatched with similar small animals such as hamsters and mice that tend to generally be more wild and nippy. A Guinea Pig will sit on your lap for hours giving you lots of fun and love. Unfortunately, Guinea Pigs do not live too long. Their average lifespan can be from 3 - 8 years, so they are not really life-long pets.

Guinea Pigs very rarely struggle when you pick them up, however, you have to handle them very carefully. The best way to pick them up is to place your hand under their hindquarters and the other hand supporting their chest and abdomen. Then just gentle place the piggy onto your chest and it will settle calmly, usually nibbling your ear or snuggle under your chin.

Guinea Pigs as Pets

Guinea Pigs make wonderful, ideal, lovable pets that are easy to keep and give you a lot of joy in return. Guinea Pigs need lots of love and attention, they need to be handled very gently so not to injure them and they need clean housing and plenty of healthy food. Although they are generally easy to keep and generally healthy animals, they do need the usual check-ups with the vet and some home grooming too.

One of the first issues to cross when deciding to have a Guinea Pig as a pet, is choosing one (or two). You will then need to decide whether you are keeping them indoors or outdoors as obviously different housing will be required for each location. It is always best to do a bit of homework on your desired pet before making the decision to have one and Guinea Pigs are no exception.

Any pet which is furry is going to have an effect on someone who has allergies or asthma, so these issues have to be taken into consideration. Also, have you got adequate room for your pet (and its hutch). If you have a neighbourhood with many cats, keeping a Guinea Pig outside would not be a good idea as cats can be very intimidating to small furry animals.

Choosing A Guinea Pig

When the time comes that you have definitely decided to have a Guinea Pig as a pet, the next step is going to a good pet shop or experienced Guinea Pig breeder and choosing your Guinea Pig/s.

There are lots of different breeds and colours to choose from, but if you are not particularly interested in a specific breed or colour, then short-haired Guinea Pigs are your best buy. Because they are short-haired, they take less grooming and are easier to manage. They are just as beatuiful as some of the longer haired guinea pigs aswell.

Guinea Pigs can get lonely on their own and if you have not got the time to give it constant love and attention, then it is a good idea to buy two Guinea Pigs. Always make sure you have two of the same sex (either two boys or two girls). Unless you want to end up with lots of puppies (baby Guinea Pigs), then this is very important. It is also common for two males to fight, so unless you are used to keeping Guinea Pigs, it is highly recommended that two females are perfect for the first time Guinea Pig buyers. Buying two baby Guinea Pigs together will not only give you double joy, but it will allow the Guinea Pigs to bond early and grow-up together and they will never be lonely.

Guinea pigs are ideally bought when they are at least 6 weeks old, either from a new litter from a breeder who will definitely know their age and sex, or from a pet store. But be very careful with the pet store as the age of the Guinea Pig can be deceiving and if they have not been monitored properly, you could end up buying an already pregnant Guinea Pig. Animal shelters or rescues are also good places to get your Guinea Pig from. There are usually many there who are in need of a good home and make terrific pets just as much as getting a baby one would.

Here is a check list to make sure you choose a healthy Guinea Pig:

• The puppies (baby guinea pigs) that you choose should be plump and well fed.

• Guinea Pigs should have bright eyes and clear ears and nose and should have shiny, silky fur all over including under the bottom.

• Guinea Pigs should be firm and when awake, very alert. Make sure they are running about fine on all four legs.

• Listen to their breathing and make sure it is quiet and not laboured, restrained or wheezy.

• Check their bodies for lumps or swellings.

• Make sure their poops/droppings are like little oval pellets and not runny which can be a sign of diarrhoea.

When selecting a Guinea Pig from a breeder, all the Guinea Pigs in the cage should first be inspected because if one Guinea Pig appears ill, the others may also be at risk of being ill so it is best to look elsewhere. The cages themselves should be clean and not overcrowded and the Guinea Pigs should have access to food and water. Any droppings in the cage should be firm and not runny.

Do not forget one more thing!. Before rushing out to buy your Guinea Pigs, you will need a home for them to bring them back to. It is a good idea to get everything ready for your Guinea Pigs prior to bringing them home.

Cats

Cats belong to the family called 'Felidea'. Interestingly enough, the cat family split from the other mammals at least 40,000,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest mammalian families.

All cats share certain characteristics that are unique to the cat family.

Adult cats average about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimetres) tall at the shoulder. Most cats weigh from 6 to 15 pounds (2.7 to 7 kilograms). Some cats weigh more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms).

Cats are natural hunting animals and have strong predatory instincts. Cats are built as a perfect hunting animal, they have powerful jaws, long sharp teeth and claws that retract back into their paws when not in use. Cats have acute hearing (more sensitive than a dogs or humans) and excellent eyesight that is adapted for dim vision, which enables them to hunt mainly after dusk and before dawn.

Most of a cats muscles are long, thin and flexible. They enable a cat to move with great ease and speed. Cats can run about 30 miles (48 kilometres) per hour. Unlike many animals, a cat walks by moving the front and rear legs on one side of its body at the same time and then the legs on the other side. As a result, a cat seems to glide.

You can tell a cats mood just by looking into its eyes. A frightened or excited cat will have large pupils, whereas an angry cat will have narrowed pupils. Both humans and cats have identical regions in the brain responsible for emotion.

Cats Diet

Cats are pure carnivores (meat-eaters) and require a lot of meat and a lot of protein in their diet, usually around 30%. Cats tend not to eat fruit and vegetables as they do not have an adequate digestive system to cope with that kind of food, although they occassionally chew grass to help with digestion. A good well-balanced diet is essential for your cats health. There is a wide range of cat foods available:

Canned Food:
Canned cat foods are the most popular and contain all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Most canned food comes in a variety of flavours, including, chicken, rabbit lamb, turkey, liver, salmon, tuna, cod and game. Canned foods are available in both gravy and jelly varieties.

Foil pouches and alu-trays:
Single serve packaging such as 100 gram foil pouches and alu-trays have become popular with cat owners due to their convenience and cost. Most cats will only eat 100 grams of food in one serving resulting in a lot of wastage when using the 400 gram canned food. Foil pouches come in many delicious flavours including duck, turkey, lamb, liver, chicken and rabbit. Gravy and jelly varieties are also available in foil pouches.

Dried Food:
Dried cat food is becoming increasingly popular. It contains all the vitamin and minerals necessary for a complete balanced diet. Water should always be available when feeding your cat dry food. Dry food can always be mixed with food in gravy for extra nutrients.

Treats:
Treats can provide an extra supplement to your cats diet and provide exercise for cats teeth and gums.

Fresh Food:
Fresh food can provide an extra source of nutrition. Cooked meat such as beef, lamb, turkey or chicken should be cooled before serving.

Dry food helps to clean the teeth and if nutritionally complete can be the bulk of the cats diet and it is easily stored. Although it must be refrigerated once opened, most cats enjoy the variety. Cats prefer their food at room temperature. Never feed your cat food that comes directly from the refrigerator. It is a good idea to take food out of the fridge around half an hour before serving to enable it to climatize to room temperature. Many cats cannot digest milk and develop diarrhoea when given cows milk. This can be particularly serious for kittens who become quickly dehydrated when suffering from diarrhoea. Cat milk is available in small plastic bottles. Always provide clean fresh water for your cat.

How much to feed your cat

Do not fill their plate. If you cannot feel your cats ribs, it is probably overweight and daily rations should be reduced. If you think you are feeding your cat adequate amounts of food, but it looks thin or loses weight, have it examined by a veterinarian. Loving owners often indulge their pets into obesity. Overweight pets have shorter life spans and are more prone to heart and respiratory problems and arthritic pain. Help your cat stay healthy by keeping it at its proper weight.

A kittens diet will be different from that of an adult and elderly cat. Generally a kitten should be fed little and often, whereas, an adult cat will need larger meals less frequently.

Cats will kill and eat small mammals, birds, fish, frogs, lizards and snakes. On farms, cats help reduce the vermin population (rats, mice, and other small, destructive animals). Cats use their acute sight and hearing to catch prey. Cats swallow large bites of meat without chewing it. Cats are primarily nocturnal (most active at night) because of their very good night vision.

Dogs

A dog is a mammal in the order Carnivora. Dogs were domesticated from wolves as recently as 15,000 years ago. New evidence suggests that dogs were first domesticated in East Asia, possibly China.

Over time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of variation.

Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals and this similarity in their overall behavioural pattern accounts for their trainability, playfulnes and ability to fit into human households and social situations.

This similarity has earned dogs a unique position in the realm of interspecies relationships.

The loyalty and devotion that dogs demonstrate as part of their natural instincts as pack animals closely mimics the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full-fledged family members.

The common name for the domestic dog is 'Canis familiaris', a species of the dog family 'Canidae'. The dog is generally considered the 'first' domesticated animal.

Dogs can differ in appearance, function, temperament and size. Some small dogs can weigh as little as 1.5 pounds, whereas some larger dogs can weigh as much as 200 pounds.

Depending on the country, there are about 138 officially recognised dog breeds.

Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society and are often trained as working dogs. For dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills.

It is estimated that for more than 12,000 years the dog has lived with humans as a hunting companion, protector and friend. A dog is one of the most popular pets in the world and has been referred to as 'mans best friend'. Whether you are poor or rich, a dog will be faithful and loyal to you and love you to bits.

A pet dog will fit easily into family life and environment, they of course need caring for as any other pet - feeding, grooming, bathing and when ill, will need a visit to the vets. Dogs thrive on affection and will happily wag its tail when showered with love and attention. Dogs will also sit and sulk if they get told off for doing something wrong.

A well-mannered dog must be trained properly and with patience and perciverence. You must never mistreat a dog at any time as not only is it very wrong to mistreat any animal, but some will bite in their own defense.

Larger dogs need considerably more exercise over a larger area than medium sized or small dogs. You can take them out into the countryside or to your local park or recreation ground. Here, they can run about and play games and get the exercise they need to keep them fit and healthy.

Dogs can be taught how to do things. Throw a small branch, stick or frizzbee and you can teach your dog to go fetch and bring the item back to you. Dogs have nearly 220 million smell-sensitive cells over an area about the size of a pocket handkerchief (compared to 5 million over an area the size of a postage stamp for humans). Some breeds have been selectively bred for excellence in detecting scents.

What information a dog actually detects when he is scenting is not perfectly understood. Although once a matter of debate, it now seems to be well established that dogs can distinguish two different types of scents when trailing an air scent from some person or thing that has recently passed by, as well as a ground scent that remains detectable for a much longer period.

Five Tips for a Fun and Animal-Friendly Vacation

1. Enjoy Animal-Friendly Attractions: Marine parks, zoos, and other animal exhibits aren’t fun for captive animals. Avoid these deadly destination spots like you’d avoid poison ivy. Instead, visit a sanctuary for rescued farmed animals, go to an animal-free circus like Cirque du Soleil, book an eco-tour, or simply take a trip to the beach or botanical gardens.

2. Bring Your Appetite Along: A vacation is a great opportunity to savor new vegetarian cuisine. See VegCooking.com for information about vegetarian-friendly restaurants around the U.S. If you’re traveling abroad and are concerned about a language barrier, pack a Vegan Passport, a passport-size booklet explaining in 56 languages that you want a cruelty-free vegetarian meal.

3. Go Road-Tripping With Rover: Your dog likely gets left behind when you go to work or school. Spend some quality time together on the road. Just don’t fly Fido in an airplane cargo hold—it’s too dangerous. Click here for tips on what to bring on a road-trip and how to keep your best buddy safe and comfy. Check out more tips on traveling with Rover on DivineCaroline.

4. Be a Hero Everywhere You Go: Stray and abused animals don’t get to take a break from suffering, so please don’t take a vacation from helping them. Before you depart on your journey, visit WorldAnimalNet.org for a list of law enforcement agencies, veterinarians, and animal protection organizations near your destination. Pack a small rescue kit, including a pop-top can of cat food, dog treats, and a leash. Take stray animals to a reputable shelter or have them checked out by a local veterinarian and bring them home with you, if possible.

5. Save Animals While Saving Money: For the best rates on hotels, cruises, and tour packages, join the free PETA Member Advantage Program™. All purchases made through the program result in a donation to PETA.

Bon voyage!

Crustacean Life Cycle

Crustaceans develop from eggs to adults by going through a series of larval stages or instars. These stages are interspersed by full molts whereby they shed their exoskeleton and emerge a slightly larger and more complicated version of their previous form. Early larvae are plankton-dwelling creatures called nauplii that gradually develop various appendages. With each molt, the nauplii gains body segments and/or appendages gradually becoming more like its parent as it develops. Nauplii larvae do not feed, but utilize their internal yolk reserves from the egg for energy. Nauplii are the most abundant form of multicelluar life form on the planet.

Crustacean Anatomy

Crustaceans have compound eyes which are usually on the end of stalks. They have 2 pairs of antennae and a cuticle which is strengthened by calcium carbonate. A crustaceans head and thorax is most often covered by a carapace (shell) which extends forward to form a projection called a rostrum (a beaklike extension). Some crustaceans have additional mouthparts called maxillipeds. Unlike the internal skeletons of vertebrates, a crustaceans carapace or exoskeleton does not grow as the animal develops. Crustaceans have to molt periodically. During the molting process, every part of the body covering is shed including the covering of the eyes and fine hairs. Molting can be an exhausting ordeal and for some, things can go wrong. Some can become stuck in their old skin and the only option of escaping is to lose a claw or other appendage which unfortunately does not grow back.
A crustaceans thoracic appendages are called thoracopods and these are two branched and developed to perform various functions. These functions include feeding, moving, sensing the environment and for respiration by basal gills. The first pair of legs may be enlarged to form chelipads and are equipped with strong claws used for picking things up and defence.

Crustaceans (including: Decapods (crabs), Eucaridans (krill) and Malacostracans (woodlice and relatives)

The word crustacean means 'with a crust'. This group of arthropods is an extremely diverse group who range greatly in size from minute copepods which are only just visible to the naked eye to large lobsters and crabs such as the Giant Spider crab who has a leg span of up to 4 metres (13 feet). A vast majority of crustaceans live in the sea while others can survive in fresh water environments and on land. The most successful crustaceans live in the sea. One of the reasons they are more successful is that the sea contains essential minerals, such as calcium carbonate, which are needed for shell building. One crustacean that has adapted to life on land is the Woodlice. However, they do still live in damp places and can be found in rotting damp wood, under stones and in damp areas of houses.

Chelicerates (Arachnids - including spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions harvestmen, ticks and mites)

Arachnids have a head which is fused to their thorax forming a cephalothorax. The cephalothorax has sensory organs, mouthparts, limbs and stomach. The remaining body segments are fused to form an abdomen. The abdomen contains the heart, lungs, gut, reproductive organs and anus. This means that the body of an arachnid is only divided into 2 sections whereas insects have 3 body sections.
Arachnids use their sensory hairs, sensory organs and simple eyes to detect and analyse their surroundings. Arachnids are cold-blooded animals that get warmth from their environment.
Arachnids are diverse in size ranging from a few millimetres to 20 centimetres in length. They have a strong exoskeleton made of calcium and carbohydrates which protects them from predators. Arachnids do not possess teeth and most cannot digest solid foods, this is why they suck fluids from their preys body.
A scorpion has a tail that extends from their abdomen bearing a painful stinger on the end. At the front are 2 pincer-like chelicerae which are used to consume prey and a pair of limb-like pedipalps. They have 4 pairs of walking legs. Psuedoscorpions are not really scorpions although they have a similar appearance.
Pseudoscorpions do not have the extended tail with the stinging end, instead they produce venom from their pincer-like pedipalps. Pseudoscorpions also produce silk from silk glands which are located on the jaws or chelicerae. The silk is used to construct cocoons in which they molt and live during the winter. They usually range from 2 to 8 millimetres in length. The largest known species is Garypus titanius of Ascension Island at up to 12 millimetres.
Ticks are parasites that feed upon the blood of mammals such as humans, dogs, cows and sheep. Ticks are tiny arachnids, about the size of a grain of rice. They climb onto their host, gripping tightly with their legs and feed by sinking their mouthparts into the hosts skin and gorges itself on blood. Once the ticks body is full, it swells like a tiny balloon and falls off its host.
Most spiders are predatory arachnids that inject venom to catch their prey. Some spiders spin webs in order to catch their prey, others like the Brazilian Wandering spider walks the jungle floors in search of prey instead of residing in a lair or maintaining a web.

Millipedes

Millipedes are mostly herbivores or scavengers and have an elongated cylindrical or flattened body. The first 3 segments of a millipedes trunk contain no legs at all. The remaining segments are fused into pairs known as diplosegments and each diplosegment has 2 pairs of legs attached to it. Despite the millipedes common name, they never have a thousand legs.

Myriapods (including centipedes and millipedes)

Centipedes and millipedes have similar structured bodies whereby their form consists of a head and a body trunk made of similar shaped segments. These terrestrial creatures have biting mandibles, a single pair of antennae and they live in moist habitats as they do not have a waterproof cuticle. Centipedes are fast moving carnivores with an elongated, slightly flattened segmented body.
Each trunk segment consists of a pair of single legs. The first pair of legs on a centipedes trunk are modified as poisonous claws which they use to subdue their prey.

Africa's Elephants: Can They Survive?

Originally published in the November 1980 issue of National Geographic)
Wildlife consultants Oria and Iain Douglas-Hamilton tally the continent's embattled giants, documenting the havoc wreaked by ivory hunters and human population pressure.

By Oria Douglas-Hamilton

Photograph by Oria and Iain Douglas-Hamilton

In the immense silence of dawn, before the sun rose and burned the skies, I watched through the opening of our tent the morning beauty of an untouched place, and dreamed how lucky we were to be here in one of the strongholds of the elephant in Africa.

Then, across the hills of Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, a gunshot echoed and broke all dreams. A terrible stillness followed; then two, three, four shots blasted out and set my heart pounding. I could see an elephant limping away from a line of tents. People were running.

I fell into some clothes and ran down the green slope. The elephant was limping badly, his right side stained red. I joined some half-dressed game scouts. One, draped in a towel, held an empty gun. He was going back to his tent to get more cartridges.

The elephant kept walking away, and we, 15 of us, followed. He had such a sad look on his face—no anger or violence. His head was bobbing from side to side to keep watch on us, his trunk testing the ground ahead. The scout returned, fired, and missed; fired again and hit in the shoulder, and the blood ran through the crackly skin.

My husband, Iain, took the gun from the scout. He did not want to shoot the elephant, he hated shooting elephants, but there was no choice. Iain aimed and fired.

The Body Works

Body Works
How does your body work through the day? Each body part has its own special and important job. Get an inside peek at the amazing human body on page 18 of our March 2009 issue.

The Nature's Spirals

Nature's Spirals
Take a look at the swirling shape of a galaxy or the powerful curl of a ram's horn. Learn why nature is full of dizzying spirals on page 8 of our March 2009 issue.

The Madagascar

Madagascar
Follow a scientist to an island unlike any other place. From leaping lemurs to jumping rats, meet some amazing animals found nowhere else on Earth. Travel to Madagascar on page 2 of our March 2009 issue.

Animal Features

Explore hundreds of animal photographs. Take a look at wildlife at its best and download free desktop wallpapers.

Create your own nature films and mash-ups online using archive footage, sounds, and musical scores.

Animal Features

Watch a selection of some of our favorite underwater photos submitted to My Shot by National Geographic readers.

Animal Features

Lions and tigers and leopards, oh my. Learn about the felines known for their speed, sound, and predatory nature.

Animal Features

Veterinarians in Miami have successfully fitted a badly injured crocodile with metal plates and 41 screws on its skull. The croc had been hit by a car.