Category Zoology

    During winter flies will hibernate sometimes in large groups, in any available dry and warm space such as an attic.

     The reason there are so few houseflies in winter is that their eggs will hatch only at temperatures between 240 centigrade and 350 centigrade (750 Fahrenheit and 950 Fahrenheit). Meanwhile their numbers steadily diminish owing to insecticides and natural causes. This is a good thing since flies often carry diseases.

      A hermit crab changes its shell when it has grown large enough to need a bigger home. This type of crab has a soft abdomen or “tail”, which is folded up under the body, but it is not protected by a shell of its own as are most other crabs. Instead, the hermit uses empty snail shells as portable shelters, often having to fight with another crab for possession of an attractive home. Sometimes the home seeker pulls out of the original occupier, eats it and then takes over the shell.

    One of the claws of the hermit is larger than the other. The crab uses this to stop up the entrance after withdrawing into the shell. The last two legs on its abdomen have roughened pads which grip the inside of the shell and hold the body in position. The crab has a spiral-shaped abdomen and moves in and out of its shell with a spiral movement.

    One kind of hermit occupies a sponge which conveniently grows at the same pace as the crab. Sometimes sea-anemones enter into partnership with hermit crabs and take up residence on top of the shells. The crab provides the sea-anemone with transport and in return, receives an extra shield against attack.

          The song of the birds at dawn has given pleasure to millions of people and has been celebrated in poetry and prose for many years. The most usual explanation given in the Middle Ages was that the birds sang each day in praise of God and the beauty with which he had clothed the world. More recently, there was the feeling that the birds sang joyously to welcome the rising of the sun, which meant food, warmth and activity.

          However, scientists now think that the dawn chorus is made up of the warning signals of each bird as he re-establishes his territory for courtship, nesting and food getting is the first step in the breeding cycle and the area is defended against competing birds of the same species by a warning song, although seldom by actual fighting. A robin, incidentally, has a particularly strong sense of territory.

          African elephants have larger ears than Indian, or Asiatic, elephants because they live in hotter conditions and are bigger and more aggressive and active. The huge ears of the African elephant, sometimes three and a half feet wide, enable it to hear more acutely. When the animal charges it fans out it ears, augmenting its terrible appearance and striking fear into the heart of ay enemy.

        The ears also present a large surface for losing body-heat. Africa can elephants, which are at a disadvantage in the heat because of their large size, wave their ears to keep cool and to chase away flies. The African elephant is the biggest and noblest of land animals, reaching a height of 11 feet and a weight of nearly six tons.

        The Asiatic elephant is smaller. It inhabits the forests of South-east Asia from India to Ceylon and Borneo. It does not like heat and seeks the deep shade of the forest.

            A chameleon will change color when it senses danger. This remarkable member of family can change color to match its background or, at least to become almost unrecognizable.

            The ranges of color and patterns of the various species differ widely, but most chameleons can become yellow or cream, green or dark brown. They can also adapt spots either dark or light depending on the color of the ground.

            Apart from its response to danger, the chameleon will change color according to the light and temperature. This mechanism is controlled from the nervous system and involves the dispersion or concentration of color pigments in the creature’s skin.

          Group of elephants have been found buried together both in Africa and Asia. The nearness of the animals to each other may be no more than a coincidence. The areas may be no more than sites, since elevated and dried, where elephants have been drowned in   bags or while crossing river.

           However, many people will argue that old elephants, when their end is near, resort to their legendary “graveyards”. The discovery of the remains of a solitary elephant is rare. On the other hand a body in elephant country would usually soon disappear owing to the activities of natural scavengers.

           Most experts will accept that there is much truth in the old saying “An elephants never forgets”. It does have a retentive memory. Also, when an elephant is dying it is not uncommon for members of the herd gather round and try to revive it. When all hope is lost they encircle their relation as if in mourning at a funeral.