Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Toad Tuesday
| Takin | |
|---|---|
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| Takin at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. | |
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| Distribution of the takin |
The takin (/ˈtɑːkɪn/; Budorcas taxicolor; Tibetan: ར་རྒྱ་, Wylie: ra rgya), also called cattle chamois or gnu goat,[2] is a goat-antelope found in the eastern Himalayas. The four subspecies are: B. t. taxicolor, the Mishmi takin; B. t. bedfordi, the Shaanxi takin or golden takin; B. t. tibetana, the Tibetan or Sichuan takin; and B. t. whitei, the Bhutan takin. Whilst the takin has in the past been placed together with the muskox in the tribe Ovibovini, more recent mitochondrial research shows a closer relationship to Ovis(sheep). Its physical similarity to the muskox is therefore an example of convergent evolution.[3] The takin is the national animal of Bhutan.[4]
Appearance
The takin rivals the Muskox as the largest and stockiest of the subfamily Caprinae, which includes all goats, sheep, and similar species. Short legs are supported on large, two-toed hooves, which have a highly developed spur.[2][5] The body is stocky and the chest is deep. The large head is made more distinctive by the long, arched nose, and stout horns that are ridged at the base and can reach 64 cm (25 in) in length.[2] Both sexes have small horns which run parallel to the skull and then turn upwards in a short point, these are around 30 cm (12 in) long. The long, shaggy coat is light in color, with a dark stripe along the back,[2] and males (bulls) also have dark faces.[5] Four subspecies of takin are currently recognised, and these tend to show a variation in coat color. Their thick wool often turns black in color on their undersides and legs. The overall coloration ranges from dark blackish to reddish-brown suffused with grayish-yellow in the eastern Himalayas to lighter yellow-gray in the Sichuan Province to mostly golden or (rarely) creamy-white with fewer black hairs in the Shaanxi Province. The legend of the 'golden fleece', searched for by Jason and the Argonauts,[6] may have been inspired by the lustrous coat of the golden takin.
...
Habitat
Takin are found from forested valleys to rocky, grass-covered alpine zones, at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,500 m (3,300 and 14,800 ft) above sea level.[2] The Mishmi takin occurs in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, while the Bhutan takin is in western Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.[10] Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh is a stronghold of both Mishmi, Upper Siang (Kopu)[11] and Bhutan takins.[12] An actively breeding herd of Takin in North America can be found at the Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio. They are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
A captive population also exists at Minnesota Zoo in the United States.[13] There is also a group of takin on display at the San Diego Zoo, The Red River Zoo in North Dakota, and the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island.
A captive population also exists at Minnesota Zoo in the United States.[13] There is also a group of takin on display at the San Diego Zoo, The Red River Zoo in North Dakota, and the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island.
Biology
Takin are found in small family groups of around 20 individuals, although older males may lead more solitary existences. In the summer, herds of up to 300 individuals gather high on the mountain slopes.[2] Groups often appear to occur in largest numbers when favorable feeding sites, salt licks, or hot springs are located. Mating takes place in July and August. Adult males compete for dominance by sparring head-to-head with opponents, and both sexes appear to use the scent of their own urine to indicate dominance. A single young is born after a gestation period of around eight months.[2] Takin migrate from the upper pasture to lower, more forested areas in winter and favor sunny spots upon sunrise.[2] When disturbed, individuals give a 'cough' alarm call and the herd retreats into thick bamboo thickets and lies on the ground for camouflage.[6]
Takin feed in the early morning and late afternoon, grazing on a variety of leaves and grasses, as well as bamboo shoots and flowers.[6] They have been observed standing on their hind legs to feed on leaves over 3.1 m (10 ft) high. Salt is also an important part of their diets, and groups may stay at a mineral deposit for several days.[2]
They overlap in range with multiple potential natural predators including the Asiatic black bear and the leopard, and (more seldomly) tigers, gray wolves, snow leopards, and dholes. Anecdotally, both bears and wolves have been reported to prey on takin when they can, which is likely given the opportunistic nature of those predators. However, the only confirmed natural predator of takin is the snow leopard, although mature adults may be exempted from regular predation (due to their size) from that predator. The main predator of takin are humans, who hunt them usually for meat (considered delicious by local people), though secondarily for their pelts. Humans have long since exploited takin's fondness for salt licks, where they are easily cornered and killed. Takin are likely still occasionally killed.
Status
Largely due to overhunting and the destruction of their natural habitat, takin are considered Endangered in China and Vulnerable per the IUCN. Though they are not a common species naturally, their numbers appear to have been reduced considerably.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Molly and Todd on Monday
Molly here,
We have had some cold days and also some warmer days.
When it was really cold B G went out to the grocery store and also picked up our monthly bouquet.
And then Dr. Brenda came and she trimmed our toe-nails.
We were pretty good but I was having a bad time with my right leg. It hurt.
Todd was really good. He usually stays away but this time he was right in to get his treats and was good while his nails were trimmed.
B G says that I am an attention hog.
Big deal. I get what I can.
Then we are done and my nails are all gone.
Dr. Brenda said that Todd was really much better than he used to be. I guess he was. We like each other.
Then it was time for more napping.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Apiarian
"Were I to be the founder of a new sect,
I would call them Apiarians, and, after the example of the bee,
advise them to extract the honey of every sect."
- Thomas Jefferson
"There was never yet an uninteresting life.
Such a thing is an impossibility.
Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama,
a comedy, and a tragedy."
~Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“If you want to make peace with your enemy,
you have to work with your enemy.
Then he becomes your partner.”
~ Nelson Mandela
"The wisdom of the wise and the experience
of the ages is preserved into perpetuity
by a nation's proverbs, fables, folk sayings
and quotations."
~William Feather (1889-1981)
“Peace cannot be kept by force;
it can only be achieved by understanding.”
~ Albert Einstein
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
“You have everything you need for complete
peace and total happiness right now.”
~ Wayne Dyer
“Be the flame, not the moth.”
― Giacomo Casanova
“Anything becomes interesting if you look at it long enough.”
― Gustave Flaubert
"When we reconnect to the wisdom of Life
we can recognize Rest as essential not only
to our own well being but to the wellness of the
environment on which we depend, and of which
we are an inextricable part.
It is in this place of rest, when we release
our habitual ways and recalibrate with the
harmonies of nature that we can create a space
for something new and replenishing to emerge."
~Shelley Ostroff
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Friday, January 26, 2018
Found For Friday
AN OLD WOMAN WALKED UP AND
TIED HER OLD MULE TO THE HITCHING POST.
AS SHE STOOD THERE, BRUSHING
SOME OF THE DUST FROM HER FACE
AND CLOTHES, A YOUNG GUNSLINGER
STEPPED OUT OF THE SALOON WITH
A GUN IN ONE HAND AND A BOTTLE OF
WHISKEY IN THE OTHER. THE YOUNG
GUNSLINGER LOOKED AT THE
OLD WOMAN AND LAUGHED, "HEY OLD WOMAN,
HAVE YOU EVER DANCED?"
THE OLD WOMAN LOOKED UP AT THE GUNSLINGER
AND SAID, "NO,... I NEVER DID DANCE...
NEVER REALLY WANTED TO."
A CROWD HAD GATHERED AS THE GUNSLINGER
GRINNED AND SAID "WELL, YOU OLD BAG,
YOU'RE GONNA DANCE NOW," AND STARTED
SHOOTING AT THE OLD WOMAN'S FEET.
THE OLD WOMAN PROSPECTOR --
NOT WANTING TO GET HER TOE BLOWN OFF -
-STARTED HOPPING AROUND.
EVERYBODY WAS LAUGHING. WHEN HIS
LAST BULLET HAD BEEN FIRED,
THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER,
STILL LAUGHING, HOLSTERED HIS GUN
AND TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK INTO THE SALOON.
THE OLD WOMAN TURNED TO HER PACK MULE, PULLED
OUT A DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUN,
AND COCKED BOTH HAMMERS.
THE LOUD CLICKS CARRIED CLEARLY THROUGH
THE DESERT AIR, AND THE CROWD STOPPED
LAUGHING IMMEDIATELY.
THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER HEARD THE SOUNDS,
TOO, AND HE TURNED AROUND VERY SLOWLY.
THE SILENCE WAS ALMOST DEAFENING.
THE CROWD WATCHED AS THE YOUNG GUNMAN
STARED AT THE OLD WOMAN AND THE
LARGE GAPING HOLES OF THOSE TWIN BARRELS.
THE BARRELS OF THE SHOTGUN NEVER WAVERED
IN THE OLD WOMAN'S HANDS, AS SHE QUIETLY SAID,
IN THE OLD WOMAN'S HANDS, AS SHE QUIETLY SAID,
"SON, HAVE YOU EVER KISSED A MULE'S ASS?"
THE GUNSLINGER SWALLOWED HARD
AND SAID, "NO M'AM...
BUT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO.
THERE ARE FIVE LESSONS HERE FOR ALL OF US:
1 - Never be arrogant.
2 - Don't waste ammunition.
3 - Whiskey makes you think you're smarter than you are.
4 - Always make sure you know who has the power.
5 - Don't mess with old people;
they didn't get old by being stupid.
Where did Noah keep his bees?
In the Ark hives.
What do you call a girl with an hourglass figure?
A waist of time.
I've got a phobia of over-engineered buildings.
It's a complex complex complex.
When does a joke become a Dad joke?
When it's fully groan.
I tried to sue the airline for misplacing my luggage.
I lost my case.
Why did the Mexican take Xanax?
For Hispanic attacks.
Will glass coffins be a success?
Remains to be seen.
My friend Steve drowned, so at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt.
Well, it's what he would have wanted.
Did you hear about the pessimist who hates German sausage?
He always fears the Wurst.
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