Originally the carp comes from Asia. Even the Romans valued the carp as a food fish and introduced it to the occupied territories. In the Middle Ages (13th-15th centuries) it was spread throughout Europe as a fasting meal by monks. A pond culture developed in which the carp were bred in shallow waters as we still find them today in Lusatia. The carp is now widespread in many breeding forms worldwide.
continue reading
There are two possible explanations regarding the origin of its most commonly used English name corn snake. 1. The main habitat of the Corn snake are grainfields and granaries. There they prey on abundant rodents. 2. Another explanation is provided by the colourful Indian Corn. Its bulbous nose resembles the pattern of the corn snake‘s belly.
continue reading
The crocodile tail and the large hump scale on the top have lead to the naming of this only 40 cm big lizards. When sunbathing the often fall asleep very deeply which is why the Chinese call them "Lizards with the great sleepiness".
continue reading
Although not yet classified as endangered the crocodile newt is threatened by various factors which is why it is considered a "bad omen" in Myanmar and is therefore killed or used as fish bait. Water pollution, the loss of habitats through the developement and expansion of agriculture, the collection for traditional Chinese medicine and the animal trade also pay their tribute.
continue reading
The Hermann‘s tortoise is one of three tortoise species which are native to the European part of the Mediterranean region. Meanwhile the destruction of their natural habitats and their popularity as pet threaten the wild population heavily. That‘s why protection is important for their long-term survival.
continue reading
A bee hive consists of a queen bee, drones and up to 80,000 working bees. The latter have different duties depending on their age. Over the course of their lives they are cleaning bees, nurses and construction bees inside the hive and after their 20th day of life they become flying bees that collect pollen and draw flower nectar. There are no supervisors that ensure diligence and punctuality. The coexistance is regulated by a pheromone(aromatic substance) of the queen.
continue reading
The Horsfield's tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii) also known as Central Asian or Russion tortoise only has four toes on the front feet. Characteristic for Horsefield's tortoises is the creation of caves. The flat body structure shows clear adaptation to the digging lifestye.
continue reading
The name koi originally comes from the Japanese and means „colourful carp“. Already 2,500 years ago Chinese were breeding single-coloured carps as food fish in the irrigation ponds of rice fields. In Japan they are bred since the 19th century as ornamental carps. Today about 100 varieties of colours are registered. Animals meet the esthablished breeding standards are very valuable. In Japan the Koi enjoys cult status and symolizes luck and success.
continue reading
Like all toads the oriental fire-bellied toad uses the orange-red colouring of its belly to warn predators. In danger it releases a milky venom out of hundreds of glands. One milligram of it injected into a mouse kills it within 15 minutes. But for humans the poison is highly interesting. It can potentially prevent the spread of human blood cancer cells. The poison also has a deadly effect on bacteria and could therefore be an alternative to antibiotics.
continue reading
Due to a mass import from breeding farm in the USA a turtle boom started in Europe. Rashly bought their husbandry becomes a problem. Eventhough there are laws that prohibit the trade of many turtles and especially red-eared sliders are disposed every year by releasing them into public waters or zoos by private owners. Under the current climatic conditions these turtles usually do not reproduce but they find enough food and can hibernate easily so that the same animals can often be observed for years in their respective territories. Abandoned turtles live predatory and therefore endanger the original plant and animal species in the area. For example they like to eat frogspawn.
continue reading
The snapping turtle knows how to defend itself. With one bite it can crack bones, its claws are used to defends itself as well as with a stinking secretion. Being a lurking hunter sit waits for its prey while being buried in the mud to then snap it blazingly fast.
continue reading
The yellow-bellied slider is a water turtle and belongs just like the red-eared slider to the family of marsh turtles. Most baby turtles that are offered in pet stores are yellow-bellied sliders. It often happens that the owners not have been knowing for years what species they are really caring for. The name "yellow-bellied slider" alludes to the yellow horizontal stripes on the face of the animals. However, since almost all young North American sliders have yellow stipes somewhere on their bodies local pet shops often do not know what they are selling and many turtles are wrongly identified. The whole thing gets even more complicated when it comes to a mixing of different species.
continue reading
The box turtle owes its slightly technical-sounding name to a simple mechanism which enables it to clap its plastron shut by a hinge at the front and the end. This locking mechanism is very effective against natural enemies but not against humans. Due to intensive „harvesting“ for the food and medicine industry it is critically endangered.
continue reading
|
1 |
|
