Like all other body systems, a kitten is born with a fully functional respiratory system once the first breaths are taken. The system consists of the nasal passages, the back of the mouth (nasopharynx), the voice box (larynx), the windpipe (trachea), the lower airway passages, and the lungs. Without the organs and respiratory pathways, life would not be possible.
Continue reading “Take A Breath: A Look Into the Feline Respiratory System”
Taxonomy
The only aquatic member of the weasel family, the playful sea otters live off the kelp coasts of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. Their historic range stretches from Japan, along the coast of Siberia and Aleutian Chain to Alaska, and down to Baja California. Currently, sea otters can be found in Canada, Russia, Japan, California, and Washington. But, the majority of all wild sea otters are found in Alaskan waters. Recent reports of sea otter sightings have also occurred in Mexico.
Scientists Discover Protected Areas Are Too Small For Snow Leopard Survival
Known as the “ghost of the mountain”, snow leopards are secretive, few in number, surviving on the craggy, high-altitude habitats of Central Asia that can be dangerous for humans. For decades, it was difficult to study these endangered felines but now, technology advances have given scientists a solid glimpse, leading to one of the most robust studies conducted thus far.
Continue reading “Conservation News: Snow Leopards and Seals”
A feline’s circulatory system, or cardiovascular system, is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. Its role is to transport oxygen, nutritive substances, immune substances, hormones, and chemicals to the tissues and organs of the body necessary for normal function. It also carries away waste products and carbon dioxide, helps to regulate body temperature, and helps to maintain normal water and electrolyte balance.
The circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels, namely arteries, veins, and capillaries. The blood vessels leave the heart and form a conduit system throughout the body, carrying blood and other organic materials to all organs, tissues, and cells.
Continue reading “Don’t Skip A Beat: A Feline’s Circulatory System”
Taxonomy:
A colorful bird known for its feathers, the Resplendent quetzals were widely known and highly sought after throughout Central America. It is arguably the most beautiful and ornate bird species in the Western Hemisphere because of the greatly elongated, glistening emerald-green tail feathers of breeding males.
New California Law Bans Orca Breeding and Showings
In 2013, the documentary “Blackfish” casted SeaWorld in harsh light for raising captured young orcas in dark, cramped conditions. It also recounted the 2010 death of veteran SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by a killer whale named Tilikum. Since then, stock and attendance fell at the world’s largest marine park: SeaWorld.
Because of the public outcry, SeaWorld San Diego pledged in March to stop breeding its orcas and discontinuing their shows in 2017. Now, it’s the law.
Continue reading “Conservation News: Orcas, Atlantic Monument, Ivory Trade”
Taxonomy:
One of the three Amazonian tamarin species, the cottontop tamarin is a small species of monkey found in the forests of South America, from Costa Rica to northwestern Colombia. Named for its elegant white fur that flows over it’s head and shoulders, this primate spends the majority of its life in the trees.
Giant Pandas No Longer Endangered
On Sunday, it was announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii that the giant panda was upgraded from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ on the Red List of Threatened Species.
This iconic black-and-white bear, native to the Chinese bamboo forests, has been a worldwide symbol of wildlife conservation for half a century. Giant panda populations in the wild has risen steadily by 17% from 2004 to 2014, when a nationwide census found 1,864 adult giant pandas and 196 cubs in the wild. That’s up from the last census of 1,600 animals in 2003.
Continue reading “Conservation News: Giant Pandas, Ocean Warming, and Ethiopian Wolves”
The feline nervous system is made up of three components: the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system. This entire arrangement works harmoniously to enable and control vital processes within a cat’s body and to allow it to function effectively. It allows the felie to react instantaneously to external stimuli.
Central Nervous System
The central nervous system is composed of the brain, the brain stem, and spinal cord. It is protected by the skeletal system (the skull and vertebrae), meninges (special connective tissue membranes), and cerebrospinal fluid. This acts as a shock absorber that helps to prevent concussions when the head suffers a trauma. The blood-brain barrier also keeps certain chemicals and microorganisms from entering the brain. However, it also means that very few medications can cross the barrier, limiting treatment options for some brain diseases.
Continue reading “Getting On A Cat’s Nerves: A Look Into the Feline Nervous System”
Taxonomy:
Easily overshadowed by the African lion, the Asiatic lion once roamed the vast swaths of the Middle East and Asia. Up until the 17th century, it was found as far west as Palestine and throughout Arabia, Persia, and Northern India. However, indiscriminate hunting and killing to protect livestock led to a mass slaughter, leaving as few as ten Asiatic lions remaining by the late 1800s.
Animal Almanac 