The most recent song: presenting "My Hearing's Alright," to the tune of "Feelin' Alright" by Joe Cocker. Pretty sure that this is the only song ever to work the primitive bat Onychonycteris in! Below is the link
to the song:
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Seems I've got to have the best hearing
Cuz under a few feet of snow I hear lemmings
My hearing's just as good as a dolphin
Random clicks and whistles or so it seems
To them its sounds as loud as a scream
But they're using echolocation to help them see
My hearing's alright, (uh oh)
My hearing's quite good myself (uh oh) (x2)
There's no use in, tryin' to go and hide
Above your heads I'm way up high
Using echolocation while I'm above to help myself while flyin'
Suddenly under an attack, bugs just don't know why
Eating mosquitoes and their allies
Other bats drink blood I can't deny
My hearing's alright, (uh oh)
My hearing's quite good myself (uh oh) (x2)
52.5 million years from today
A bat named Onychonycteris lived, that's hard to say
Researchers say that this bat could fly but not echolocate
So these bats probably flew during the day
'Til something came along to take their place
The birds had come at last: to the night they chased
My hearing's alright, (uh oh)
My hearing's quite good myself (uh oh) (x2)
Are you diggin' the songs? Well, then check out our playlist below!
Song number nine in our "Animal Parodies" playlist! Here, I present "Wolf, Jackal, Fox, and the Dingo," to the tune of "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" by Wham! Below is the link to the song:
Hesperocyon at the start
Looked like a little fox, quite hard to tell apart
While other lineages begin to wane
The Canidae's numbers just continue to gain
Good hearing and smell, too,
And a strong bite
That's not to mention their great sense of sight
Big old brain up in their head
Some go solo but others live in packs instead
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
The true foxes don't include the culpeo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
On the coast and on the mountains high
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Some move in packs while others like it solo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Gray, black, red, golden, and white
You put the gray wolf out of the way
Still got foxes and coyotes in the USA
Down the land bridge they all came South America would never be the same
They've got the bush dog and the dhole
And Darwin's fox, who's black as charcoal
Then the maned wolf, who despite
It's name eats a lot of fruits and veggies during the night
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
The true foxes don't include the culpeo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
On the coast and on the mountains high
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Some move in packs while others like it solo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Gray, black, red, golden, and white
Yeah, yeah, yeah, doggy
Canidae x2
Close in wild dog, prey's in sight
We're eating impala for sure tonight
More pack members means more mouths to be fed
But the benefits of teamwork, not enough can be said
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
The true foxes don't include the culpeo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
On the coast and on the mountains high
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Some move in packs while others like it solo
Wolf, jackal, fox, and the dingo
Gray, black, red, golden, and white
Are you diggin' the songs? Well, then check out our playlist below!
What comes after seven? Well, if you subscribe to a linear view of time, then generally eight! So here is my eighth song! And let me tell you, she is an absolute DOOZY! Say hello to "Hey There Mass Extinction," to the tune of "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's! Below is the link to the song:
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Hey there mass extinction, what's it like to have no pity
I'm a thousand miles away
But still the light it is so pretty, yes it's true
But it'll boil the flesh off me and you, I swear its true
Hey there mass extinction don't you worry about the distance
The sonic boom will be here shortly, burst your eardrums, you can't listen
Close your eyes
If you open them again, they'll probably fry
You'll surely die
Hey there mass extinction
I know times are getting hard
The sun is covered by a lot of dust
And seems so very far
Away, not good
I can't survive on simply wood
But no one could
Hey there mass extinction
I think hunger's here to stay
Death is coming soon for me and you
It'll take our breath away
And down we'll fall Mosasaurs, pterosaurs, dinosaurs, all
We just can't stall
A thousand miles seems pretty far
But the entire planet it will mar
Earthquakes will cause the entire Earth to sway
Evolution this event will suppress
And yet something must survive because
We know
That you are hearing my angel's voice today
Mass extinction I can promise you
The outlook now is bleak its true
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame
Hey there mass extinction
You've destroyed my family tree
Temporarily weakened the genetic pool
And now the dinos are history, sad but true
You know its all because of you Mammalian radiation will ensue
Hey mass extinction here's to you
This one's for you
Number shichi (in Japanese) song in our song list thingy! This one is "Raccoon Dance," to the tune of "Moondance" by Van Morrison! Below is the link to the song:
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Well, it's a marvelous night for raccoon dance
With a little black mask on their eyes
A fantabulous night to take a chance
And then carry it off with my prize
The owls above are all calling
As they have since so long ago
Across the road I go crawling
There's a good dumpster here I know
But even though I look quite cute, and a lot like a little kid's plush
If you try and hug me your face I will bite and crush
Chorus:
Every single night the raccoon dance helps keep the streets bereft of
All of the trash you filthy humans leave behind we dispose of
Well, my very image seems to cause some fright
'Till over the horizon the sun has come
Although my bark is worse than my bite
But you still don't mess with me just for fun
But on the raccoon you best not be hating
Because I eat everything from plants to bone
I'm an omnivore just like a bear, dear
And I'm found in the north temperate zone
And every time you touch me, you must tremble inside
And I know how much you want to run but still you can't hide
Chorus
Repeat 1st Verse
Chorus
One more raccoon dance with you in the moonlight
On a magic night
La, la, la, la in the moonlight
On a magic night
Can't I just have one more dance with you my love
Are you diggin' the songs? Well, then check out our playlist below!
The sixth song in our song series is entitled "Drop It Like It's Hot (A Song About Spiky Animals)," to the tune of the song "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg! Below is the link to the song:
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Spikkkkky
Spikkkkky
[Chorus]
When you pick up an echidna
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When the hedgehog tries to get at ya
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Pufferfish won't give you latitude
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When it comes to these guys it don't have to do with brawn
They got spikes all on their body and they got it going on
Uh! All these nice dudes, have a common theme
If they are pursued, probably make you scream
The little hedgehog, spied by a little stoat
But attacking this little mammal I simply can't promote
The echidna, though it still lays eggs
Is still a mammal, don't be misled
Although it seems like, a reptile instead
Milk is still how it's babies get fed
Put one on your seat, I know that's gonna bring the heat
Feel like steel stabbed into you like Chinchilla with deceit
But don't try to pick it up with your fingers, they will split
Probably hurts a bit
Do your best to contain the pain and don't throw a fit
You should think about it, take a second
Matter fact, you should take four, see
And maybe you should turn around and go now, flee
[Chorus]
When you pick up an echidna
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When the hedgehog tries to get at ya
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Pufferfish won't give you latitude
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When it comes to these guys it don't have to do with brawn
They got spikes all on their body and they got it going on
It's not a scratch like you get from a cat
It's like being bit by a vampire bat
When you're out on the beach and out goes the tide
Keep an eye out for the sea urchin, because if the two of you collide
Ain't no other way to say the way I feel, dismay
I got poked so very much that you probably thought today
That I'm a pincushion, I think we can agree
That with my luck next thing I grab will be a killer bee
I can't take it, just break it, and when I make it
To a safe place I will probably be invaded
I have to find a place where no poky things reside
Cause the way I'm going I'll be lucky to get out of this alive
Take me back in time it'll be just a little
I'm tired of always being the monkey in the middle
But no matter where I go, I'm followed by the spiny animizzles Aetosaurs have found me and I break like peanut brittle
[Chorus]
When you pick up an echidna
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When the hedgehog tries to get at ya
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Pufferfish won't give you latitude
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When it comes to these guys it don't have to do with brawn
They got spikes all on their body and they got it going on
The thorny devil, really goes to show
That wherever you walk, you better watch your toes
The little guy's tough, one not to cross
Big thorny devil, yeah he's so sharp
On the TV screen and in the magazines
You see a creature which looks like something from a crazy dream
You got a time machine so you wanna pop back?
To the Burgess Shale, let's go check out that
Wacky critter that looks like a worm that moves
With a bunch of little legs, and will likely confuse
Anyone who takes a look at this dude
No matter what you think it don't look easy to chew
This little guy looks through and through
Like the last thing you want to find inside of your stew
Now before we leave make sure it's not inside your shoe
Or in your other clothes, you don't want to suppose!
[Chorus]
When you pick up an echidna
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When the hedgehog tries to get at ya
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Park it like it's hot
Pufferfish won't give you latitude
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
Drop it like it's hot
When it comes to these guys it don't have to do with brawn
They got spikes all on their body and they got it going on
Spikkkkkkkkkky
Spikkkkkkkkkky
Are you diggin' the songs? Well, then check out our playlist below!
Number three! Here we have another good one, entitled "Bongo," and sung to the tune of Gloria Estefan's "Conga!"
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
Like the giraffe and the okapi
All have two hooves on their feet
All three have a prehensile tongue
Which is really pretty neat
Unlike the giraffe, the bongo lives
The jungle and not in the heat
To learn more a-bout the Bongo
Just relax and take a seat
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
More mountain bongos live in zoos than
Live in the wild and far away
Estimates from 2007
Say 75 to 140
Better get ourselves together
And hold on to what we've got
If we don't help then decrease in the
Population will never stop
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
With bright orange fur its really gonzo
It's tongue can move a lot and is really longo
To learn about the bongo just relax and take a seat
Come on everybody lets learn about the bongo
Photo Credit: zooborns.typepad.com
Are you diggin' the songs? Well, then check out our playlist below!
On Saturday, January 26th, my father and I drove down to Colorado Springs to see a few of my friends perform in the Colorado All State Jazz Band. Before the concert, we met up with my grandma and grandpa, and went up to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for an hour or so. We saw a few cool things, all of which I will share with you in the next post, but this post I wanted to devote to the "Critically Endangered" sub-species of the leopard, the elusive and mysterious Amur leopard. Fewer than thirty of these amazing creatures are thought to be alive in the wilds of southeastern Russia and northeastern China, in the Primorye region. Poachers have taken an immense toll on the numbers of this cat, as its pelt is highly prized. Like that of the snow leopard, another fairly large cat that also lives in a very cold, harsh environment, the Amur leopard has a very soft and, for lack of a better term, floofy, coat.
Since the number of people who see an Amur leopard in the wild per year could almost certainly be counted on one hand, you are very unlikely to see this animal lose its lunch. For that, you would have to go to a zoo. Now, don't get me wrong, we didn't go to the zoo just to see animals throw up, but it was definitely an interesting addition to our day! I do hope that the poor animal is feeling better, though. If you want to see the video of the animal barfing, click on the link below. It's not actually as gross as it sounds, trust me! Also, please enjoy some pictures of the beautiful cat PRIOR to its cookie tossing.
If you haven't seen the "True Facts" video series, then you are missing out. Assuming, of course, that you have a good but slightly inappropriate and sarcastic sense of humor, and are not young enough that your parents will become angry with me if they find out where you found out about them. That is why I am not providing a link to them here. Anyways, I find them absolutely hysterical, and was quite eager to try my own hand at one! One of my favorite animals is the cheetah (which is pretty obvious for people who are regular readers of my blog), a sentiment which is shared by people all across the world. There are many interesting things about the cheetah, and many questions that people have about this fantastic and acrobaticfeline. So I thought that, for the first True Facts-esque video, I could make it about the cheetah! It didn't hurt that I had a bunch of pictures of it, as well as a video! However, I did use a few photos from some friends of mine, so I am going to give photo credit to Grace Albers and Shira Wood-Isenberg! I would also like to give Joseph M. Roessler credit for the fantastic music that I used in the video! It was both composed and performed by him! HERE is a link to the song (called Dream Waltz), HERE is a link to some more of his music, and HERE is a link to his SoundCloud! Enjoy! And, of course, we have to have a link to the video!
And here we have some of the pictures featured in the video! Enjoy!
This is the birthday post of Govind Kudva! Happy birthday, Govind! If you like what you are reading, please feel free to follow us here or via Facebook! And remember, if
you have a birthday coming up, just email me the date at
cuyvaldar123946@gmail.com with the date and your favorite animal, and I
will do my best to get a post in!
Today, in honor of the birthday of Kevyn Llewellyn, we are going to be looking at a few photos of a baby bison born about this time last year at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. Although frequently incorrectly referred to as buffalo, they are simply different animals, despite the outward similarities between the two groups. If you see something that looks like it could be either a buffalo or a bison, there is a very, very good bet that you are looking at a bison. Unless something very strange has happened, and in that case, you will be excused for looking foolish when it comes to your knowledge of the bovids.
Anyways, the bison, despite their once immense numbers (numbering in the tens of millions), were hunted almost to extinction in the 1800s, but have made a stunning comeback, with about 20,000 living in protected areas such as National Parks, and a further 500,000 living on tribal lands and ranches. Nevertheless, their range is vastly reduced from what it once was. Many people have come to the aid of the bison over the years, including Theodore Roosevelt and a man named William Hornaday, who together co-founded the American Bison Society at the Bronx Zoo in New York in 1905 in order to help protect these wild creatures. Today, they are labeled as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN due to these conservation efforts.
Today, the bison is the largestNorth Americanmammal, but it wasn't always this way. In fact, it wasn't always even the largest member of the genus Bison in North America! Ancient ancestors of the North American bison have been traced by paleontologists to southern Asia to about 400,000 years ago, during the Pliocene Epoch. Once the bison managed to make it across the land bridge into North America, it diversified and evolved. One species, Bison latifrons, had a horn-span of a whopping nine feet! Another species, Bison occidentalis (of which I have a scapula!) is thought to be the direct descendant of the modern bison, and evolved sometime during the late Pleistocene Epoch.
While talking bison with Dr. Robert Bakker and Matt Mossbrucker at the Morrison Natural History Museum, I learned that if you are looking at postcranial elements of a fossil bison (that is fossilized bones from behind the head), they are almost impossible to differentiate from each other. Not only that, but they are extraordinarily difficult to differentiate from cows, too! As a matter of fact, the species barrier is quite tentative between the bison and domestic cattle, resulting in the domestication of some bison, as well as hybrids, such as beefalo and cattalo.
Photo credit for all of the photos used in this post goes to the website for ZooBorns. If you like what you are reading, please feel free to follow us here or via Facebook! And remember, if
you have a birthday coming up, just email me the date at
cuyvaldar123946@gmail.com with the date and your favorite animal, and I
will do my best to get a post in!
As I talked about IN A PREVIOUS POST, the trip that my family and I took to Yosemite was simply fantastic. Yosemite was just magical! However, in the last post, you might have noticed that, with the exception of the odd, Snoopy-looking rock, I neglected to talk about any animals that we saw in Yosemite. And, if you know anything about my family and this blog, then you know that we saw some animals! So here are some of those animals that we saw! First off, a mule deer that I believe we saw on our hike up to Sentinel Dome.
Next, we have a scarlet kingsnake that my father and I saw when we walked over to the base of El Capitan.
We also saw this lizard at the base of El Capitan. It looks to me like it might be a skink, but I really have no idea. If you know what it is, make sure to shoot me an email!
We also saw a large Yosemite toad! It was just kind of chilling in the middle of a pond, but then something startled it, and it lept into the water!
We also, of course, saw some bears, which were really super exciting! Here are some pictures of some of the bears that we saw!
While in San Francisco, my family and I decided to check out the nearby Marine Mammal Center, and boy are we glad we did! It was a really, really cool place, and we got to learn all about the local marine mammals, as well as what is being done to conserve and preserve them! In the picture below, you can see my sister standing next to a life-size statue of an elephant seal!
We also got to see all of the enclosures where the various seals and sea lions are kept while they are being rehabilitated.
We also got to watch (and, in the case of my sister, be a part of!) a really cool and interesting demonstration about how the people who work at the Marine Mammal Center are able to capture wounded and injured seals and sea lions, and bring them in to the center for care!
Photo credit for all of the photos in this post goes to Julie Neher.
In 2006, my family and I visited what would soon become my most favorite aquarium I have ever been to: the Georgia Aquarium! It was fantastic, and they had a ton of really cool animals that I had never seen before! So join us for this Aquarium Spotlight on the Georgia Aquarium, with a bunch of pictures that my mother took while we were there! Let's start off with the penguins. The Georgia Aquarium has a colony of adorable African penguins there, sure to be a favorite on your trip!
Another animal that is sure to be a favorite is the whale shark. The largest shark and, for that matter, largestfish, still alive today, the whale shark behaves more like a whale than a shark, being a filter-feeder, consuming copious quantities of krill. (Like that alliteration back there?)
Now, the photo below I originally thought was a whale shark, but it looks like its tail might move up and down like that of a whale, dolphin, or porpoise as opposed to side-to-side like that of a whale shark, so I'm not really sure what the heck that is!
The four whale sharks are all in an enormous tank with a ton of other animals, such as large schools of fish, stingrays, and guitarfish, amongst others. Something that seems to be pretty standard in aquariums these days is the circular walkway thing (pictured below), but, in my opinion, that never gets old!
A stingray
A guitarfish (left) and a stingray (right)
Another fast-favorite will undoubtedly be the beluga, one of my favorite animals of all time!
Another really cool animal was the giant Japanese spider crab! Inhabiting the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean near Japan between 150 and 1000 feet below the surface of the ocean, the giant Japanese spider crab has evolved to be able to cope with the extreme cold and lack of light experienced so far down in the ocean.
