If you’re looking for a more unusual common pet, then you’ll want to look for more “exotic” breeds of dogs, cats, birds or fish.

The Pharaoh Hound is a great example of an exotic breed of dog that is domesticated and a fabulous pet and part of the family.

Pharaoh Hound Puppies

Pharaoh Hound

History and origin: The Pharaoh Hound is an ancient breed of hound, going back to the Phoenician empire. They took these hounds with them when they set up residence at Malta and Gozo. They are medium sized and generally used for hunting by Egyptian nobility, they hunted everything from rabbits to gazelles.

Description: The Pharaoh Hound can weigh anywhere from 45-60 pounds and will stand about 21-25 inches in length. They have a beautiful coat, either red or tan that requires very little maintenance. Their eyes are amber and they are known to be very athletic and are able to move extremely gracefully.

About the breed: Documents show that the Pharaoh Hound is the oldest domesticated hound in recorded history. They were very important in Ancient Egypt and played a prominent role in the lives of kings and nobles. Their elegance, intelligence, and power made them very popular among different hounds. They are very affectionate, but cautious, they do not appreciate chaos of any kind around them. They have a high prey drive and you have to watch them around smaller animals because they will attack them. Therefore, they are terrible watch dogs. Pharaoh Hounds are site hounds and need to have constant exercise to remain happy and content. They tend to take a long time to train and you should never rush or force them to do anything. You need to have a high level of patience because if you push them they will become passive-resistant and panic. Pharaoh Hounds have a difficult time learning to “Sit” and “Come.” They tend to be very timid and to avoid this they need to socialize from a young age.

Feeding: The Pharaoh Hounds needs 1-1 ½ cans of branded meats (13.3oz) and it is important to give them biscuits or 3 cupfuls of dry food for an all around diet.

Ideal Home: As long as the Pharaoh Hound is getting enough exercise, they can handle living in an apartment. They thrive in a peaceful environment, and will not do very well with any sort of chaos around them. They are prone to snapping if roughhousing is going on around them.

Owners need to give Pharaoh’s Hound their own area in the home and need to be respectful of their space. Potential dog owners want to avoid the Pharaoh Hound if they are loud and overbearing or have other small pets around the house.Content written by Calvin Witherspoon of ohmydogsupplies.com, check out our complete assortment of car seat covers for dogs online.

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I hope you enjoyed this Dog Breed post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. For more great information on Pharaoh Hounds, you can check out this really helpful book:

Technorati Tags: pharoah hound, hound, exotic dog, dog breed, exotic dog breed, hound dog, pharoah hound dog

Adopting a Pharaoh Hound: An Exotic Dog is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Scientific Classification:

European Eels are a snake-like fish that’s usually between 1-1.5 meters in length.

They partake in a 3-year long migration, originally spawning in the Saragasso sea then heading towards Europe.

By the time they enter estuaries in Europe, they are considered to be “glass eels”, I suppose because they are see-thru mostly.

When they enter those freshwater estuaries and river systems, they undergo a pigment change, where their underbellies turn yellow, making it more difficult for predators to notice them when swimming underneath them.

They are also covered in a slimy coating, which is believed to protect them from changes of salt-content in the water.

Conservation Status:
The European eel is Critically Endangered! If you capture one in the water, please don’t remove it. Release it as quickly as possible.

Their numbers have declined by at least 90%, possibly up to 98%, since the 1970s.

Why?
It is not for certain, but all of these factors contribute somewhat to their demise: overfishing (an important food source), parasites, man-made river barriers, changes in the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift and North Atlantic oscillation.

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I hope you found this Fish post informational on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. For more information regarding the European Eel spawning and migration, check out this book:

Spawning Migration of the European Eel: Reproduction Index, a Useful Tool for Conservation Management

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European Eel Numbers Plummeted by 90% is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

It’s a living, breathing animal, and it is precious! In fact, it is often called precious coral when it is red or pink in coloration.

The coral that is of red or pink “skeleton” is often used in jewelry making and sculpted art. It is soft and opaque making it ideal to use as beads or cabochon-type settings.

In fact, the coral is the word used to describe the color of the coral too…

It is mostly made up of calcium carbonate, similar to the material pearls are made of and is considered a precious gemstone.

Originally, this species was found in the Mediterranean Sea and is found on non-sedimentary, rocky seabottoms and prefers dark environments.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Alcyonaria
Order: Gorgonacea
Family: Coralliidae
Genus: Corallium

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I hope you enjoyed this Invertebrate post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Please be sure to Subscribe to this Blog.

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Coral is an Animal! is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Basically, the Caledonian Forest is like the “Rainforest” of Scotland. It used to cover 1.5 million hectares of the Scottish Highlands, and now, only about 1% of that remains in 35 isolated areas.

This is devastating, not only to Scotland and it’s amazing wildlife, but to the world in general. We depend upon trees to survive…

The species like beaver, tarpan, wild boar and the lynx are that inhabited these forests are gone.

Photo left: Tarpan (wild horse), extinct since 1919 – This is the only known photo of a live tarpan in existence from the late 1800s.

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This forest is a unique ecosystem in the British Isles and is home to some of the rarest wildlife:
1. There are 13 bird species that breed here that are found nowhere else in the British Isles.

2. 8 more bird species breed here that are considered rare in the British Isles.

3. There are 8 mammals still present in the remaining Caledonian Forest.

4. 8 mammals are considered extinct here, including:

• European Beaver
• Wild Boar
• Gray Wolf
• Elk
• Aurochs
• Eurasian Lynx
• Brown Bear
• Tarpan (wild horse)

Photo right: Aurochs, extinct since 1627

What an awful shame!

What do we do now?

Well, programs have been instituted to attempt to reforest the Great Caledonian. You can volunteer in replanting, or support these endeavors. Check out the site, TreesForLife.org.uk, to find out more information on the Caledonian Forest and how you can help with reforestation.

Some of the Scottish landowners have been planning to build game reserves on their estates to release some of the species that are now considered extinct in the area, as listed above.

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I hope you find this post on the Environment and European Animals interesting on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S.

Technorati Tags: Caledonian Forest, Scottish Highlands, extinct animals, reforestation, environment, British Isles, Scotland, Caledonian

The Endangered Caledonian Forest in Scotland is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

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Great video…such funny, little animals!

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia???????? ????? ????????
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
Species: P. lotor

Conservation Status:
The raccoon is considered a species of least concern.

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I hope you enjoyed this North American Animal post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Check out this adorable Raccoon poster:

Barbara Von Hoffmann Raccoon Framed Art Poster Print – 20″ X 16″ “You are looking at a great poster, that comes with a fully pre-assembled frame, for easy set-up. Black frame is made of high quality painted wood, and comes with clear protective lens covering. This poster, which measures approx. 16″” x 20″”, fits right int”

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Watch Out For Animal Thieves In The Night… is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Watch & Be Amazed:

I had chills going up my spine while I watched this amazing video…

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I hope you enjoyed this European Animal post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. If you enjoyed this video, check out this Horse Rescue Video Collection:

Animal Rescue V03- Best Horse Rescues

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Amazing Rescue of Over 100 Stranded Horses is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Just don’t fall into the trap of buying a bunny for your toddler or child at Easter time, when you are all “caught up in the moment”, just to have them lose interest and you having to take over the duties of care for your new furry friend.

Or worse, be in need of an outlet to get rid of the rabbit after you realize you don’t have time for one…

However, if you do have time and are willing, rabbits make wonderful, loving pets! They seem to get cuter to you by the day!

There are so many types of domesticated rabbit, including French lop-eared rabbits, dwarf rabbits, giant rabbits, and the list goes on and on…

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genera:
Pentalagus
Bunolagus
Nesolagus
Romerolagus
Brachylagus
Sylvilagus
Oryctolagus
Poelagus

Conservation Status:
Almost 1/2 of the
world’s rabbit species are in danger of extinction, often being the most vulnerable amongst the mammals.

Photo left: European rabbit

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards ;D

P.S. If you do decide to adopt a Bunny, this is your Essential Guide For Rabbit Owners: How To Train, Care And Build Trust With Your Pet Rabbit In 30 Days Or Less:

How to Train & Care for your Rabbit

Technorati Tags: rabbit, bunny, Easter bunny, bunnies, hares, lop eared rabbit, dwarf rabbit, giant rabbit, domesticated animal, pets, exotic pets, mammal, herbivore

Don’t Get Caught in the Easter Bunny Trap! is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

At Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, they have been running a breeding program for this dangerously endangered bird in this area…

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: F. peregrinus

Conservation Status:
On a whole, the Peregrine Falcon is a species of least concern…However, in this area, their numbers have been slowly growing from an endangered state.

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Birds – The Peregrine Falcon by Michael Russell

The peregrine falcon is the best known falcon and most widespread in the world. However if you travel to North Dakota, you won’t see many and you will not find any at all in Antarctica.

This falcon was on the endangered species list back in 1970 because of a problem with egg shell thinning that was caused mainly by use of the pesticide DDT during the 1950s and 60s. It took biologists 20 years to figure out that the pesticide used to protect plants from insects was the problem affecting these birds and other animals. Small animals ate the plants contaminated with the pesticide, and when the peregrine falcon hunted those animals, the infected flesh poisoned them. The chemical even changed the behavior of peregrine falcons in that it made them stop caring for their young.

The federal government banned the use of DDT in the United States; however, the recovery process took a while because the chemical residue remained in the environment. Other countries which are home to peregrine falcons still use DDT, and that, along with trapping and shooting by poachers, still cause the bird’s population to decrease. Today the endangered list still includes the peregrine falcon, and they are gradually increasing in population.

The peregrine falcon is not a very large bird; it is about the size of a crow. It is identifiable by its dark blue to slate colored back and its white throat. It also has a black teardrop right under its eye, and small black sideburns.

Peregrine falcons hunt at dawn and dusk; they will prey on ducks, pigeons, other birds and small mammals. They search for their prey from the air, and when they spot something to eat, they attack, making a sharp loud territorial call. They will swoop down at an incredible speed, up to 200 miles per hour, which makes this the fastest creature on earth. When they target their prey falcons use their talons to strike a severe blow to the creature to eat on the spot or to carry away to their eyrie.

Peregrine falcons are normally cliff dwellers which build their nests far out of reach of people. However, you can find some in cities on top of high buildings. Researchers who study these birds help them with city nesting; they supply certain buildings with leaves and other materials which the falcons can use.

The peregrine falcon can be found all over the world. Just look out for a bird the size of a crow with dark sideburns, yellow legs and pointed wings when in flight. Hunting permitted with a camera only.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Birds
Article Directory: Article Dashboard

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. For more information on saving the Peregrine Falcon, check out this wonderful book ($5.99):

Saving the Peregrine FalconCarolrhoda’s acclaimed Nature Watch series explores the life cycle of animals and plants through splendid full-color photographs and clear text. Includes glossary, index, and diagrams. Supports the national science education standards Unifying Concepts and Processes: Systems, Order, and Organization; Unifying Concepts and Processes: Form and Function; Life Science; and Science in Personal and Social Perspectives as outlined by the National Academics of Science and endorsed by the National Science Teachers Association.

Technorati Tags: bird, birds, falcon, peregrine falcon, Canadian animals, carnivore, North American animal, endangered species, South American animals, African animals, Asian animals, Australian animals, European animals

Peregrine Falcons – Making A Comeback is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

So, I was so inspired to bring you an article on them…

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Superfamily: Cucujoidea
Family: Coccinellidae
Subfamilies:
1. Chilocorinae
2. Coccidulinae
3. Coccinellinae
4. Epilachninae
5. Scymininae
6. Sticholotidinae

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Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Come to My Garden
By Lesley Dietschy

Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a gardener’s best friend. The ladybug’s bright coloring brings welcomed cheer to the garden, as well as helping with pest control. Since medieval times, ladybugs have been valued by farmers all over the world. Many believe that the ladybug was divinely sent to free crops of insect pests. In fact, that is how the ladybug got its name. People dedicated the bug to the Virgin Mary and therefore called it “The Bug of our Lady”, which was eventually shortened to the present name “ladybug”.

Adult ladybugs are usually oval or domed shaped and have red wings, yellow wings or shades and variations of these colors. The number of black spots can range from no spots to 15 spots and they are typically about one quarter inch in size or smaller.

The length of the life cycle of a ladybug varies depending upon temperature, humidity, and food supply. Usually the life cycle from egg to adult is about three to four weeks, and up to six weeks during the cooler spring months. During the spring the adult female ladybug can lay up to three hundred eggs in an aphid colony. The eggs normally hatch in two to five days. The newly hatched larvae feed on aphids for up to three weeks and then enter the pupae stage. About one week later, the adult ladybug emerges. There can be as many as six generations of ladybugs hatched in a year.

The ladybug enjoys popularity around the world. These pretty insects have long been considered a symbol of good luck and fortune because of their ability to eat an enormous amount of aphids. One ladybug can eat as many as 50 to 60 aphids per day. Aphids (also called plant lice) are herbivores and are one of the worst groups of pests on plants. They feed in colonies and damage plants by sucking the juice out of the leaves, stems, or roots. While aphids feed, they damage plant tissue creating a loss of plant fluids and the photosynthetic tissue needed to produce energy for plant growth. Some plants will show no adverse response to aphids, while others react with twisted, curled or swollen leaves or stems. Aphids also transmit many plant diseases from one plant to another.

Apart from aphids, ladybugs eat a variety of other insects and larvae including white flies, mealy bugs, spider mites, and other types of soft-bodied insects. They also require a source of pollen for food and for that reason are attracted to certain types of plants. Their preferred plants have umbrella shaped flowers such as dill, fennel, angelica, tansy, caraway, cilantro, yarrow, and wild carrot. Other plants that attract ladybugs include cosmos (especially the white ones), dandelions, coreopsis, and scented geraniums.

If your garden does not have adequate space to plant ladybug attracting plants, you can purchase ladybugs from numerous websites on the internet and most nurseries. Before releasing them into your garden, here are a few tips to help ensure that the ladybugs stay where you want them:

1. Release ladybugs near infested plants after sun down or before sun up. They navigate by the sun and are most likely to stay put in the evenings and early mornings.

2. Water the area where you are going to release the ladybugs. They will appreciate the drink and the moisture on the leaves will help the ladybugs to “stick” on the plants. If released in a dry garden, the ladybugs will most likely fly off in search of a drink instead of sticking around to eat.

3. In the warmer months, chill the ladybugs in the refrigerator before releasing them. This will not harm the ladybugs and they tend to crawl more in colder temperatures rather than fly away.

Another way to attract ladybugs to your garden is to place several ladybug habitation boxes around your garden. Fill the boxes with organic material such as peat or compost to encourage ladybugs to roost and lay eggs inside the box. In addition, the habitation box also provides protection for the ladybugs in the winter months.

To further promote ladybug populations, consider cutting back on spraying insecticides in your garden. Ladybugs are sensitive to most synthetic insecticides and if the majority of their food source is gone, they will not lay their eggs and therefore will not continue to populate.

Here are some interesting ladybug facts:

- There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide and 400 which live in North America.

- A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.

- A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.

- A gallon jar will hold from 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs.

- Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won’t eat them.

- The spots on a ladybug fade as the ladybug gets older.

- Ladybugs won’t fly if the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

- The ladybug is the official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee.

As you can see, the ladybug is one of the most effective and economically important insects to have in your garden. In some cultures, seeing ladybugs in gardens indicates a bountiful harvest, an indication of good weather or a good luck omen. Create an alluring environment for ladybugs and they are sure to provide charm and pest control in your garden for years to come.

Lesley Dietschy is a writer, jewelry designer, and the founder of a network of popular websites including http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com and http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com Both of these websites feature valuable information and resources to assist you in decorating your home and garden.

For beautiful beaded bracelets, please visit:
http://www.BeadedBraceletBoutique.com

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?Ladybugs,-Ladybugs,-Come-to-My-Garden&id=28530

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. This shirt is so cute! I want one!!! Give this to the ladybug lover in your life:

Cute Ladybug Jr. Raglan Very cute and simple ladybug design. Excellent for any lady bug lover! This design is offered on a variety of items including stickers, journals, shirts and more!

Technorati Tags: ladybugs, garden, pest control, aphid control, insect, invertebrate, ladybird, lady beetle, animal tips

Kisses, Hugs & Ladybugs is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

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Oh, what joy to look out into your yard on a cold winter’s day and see hungry little birds enjoying the bounty you have provided. Not only have you given them a valuable food source but you have the benefit of watching them forage through the menu of the day while listening to their songs, chirping and chatter of their delightful, private birdie conversations.

How to get started:
Well, remember that once you start to feed, it is imperative to continue feeding on a consistent basis as the birds will come to rely on you for sustenance.

The more variety of food available, the greater range of birds that will be attracted to your yard. Of course a variety of seeds are available at your supermarket.

In addition, some foods that are desirable are sunflower seeds, corn (on the cob or cracked), peanuts (crushed peanut shells are preferable, as the shells are beneficial to the digestive system – a good way to use up the holiday leftover nuts, suet (made of essential animal fats which are lacking in the winter months), squash and pumpkin seeds (when preparing your squash and pumpkin be sure to save the seeds for the birds). It is a good idea to put out apples, raisins, bananas and a little left over pie crust is a treat too.

Try discarding your holiday holly by sticking the branches into your evergreen trees , giving the birds those lovely red berries to eat, which provides a very nutritious addition to their diet. You could make very attractive holly bouquets to display in your empty planters and the birds would be attracted to a location closer to your viewing area.

WATER is a must – keep water available at all times.

Cardinals and blue jays, mourning doves and woodpeckers enjoy feeding on the ground or from a tray and their favourites to eat include the corn, peanuts, raisins, bananas, pumpkin and squash seeds, suet mixtures. Some birds, including chickadees are partial to sugar water as well as other seed combinations.

If you are using feeders, be certain to wash, bleach and thoroughly rinse regularly to assure that the birds do not contract or spread any illnesses or diseases. If you are hanging suet, make sure that the bag is crocheted or made of mesh.. Wire bags could damage the birds’ legs or eyes.

A little effort can make the cold of winter tolerable for the amazingly beautiful and interesting birds of our climate and you know your efforts will be well rewarded with a wide variety of avian wildlife.

About the Author:
Ingrid Turner is the author of Grandma’s Kitchen – Home Cooking For Everyone and Kimberly’s mother!

An animal lover for life, Ingrid passed on her passion to her daughter, Kimberly (that’s me) for all animals, big and small!

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Interested in knowing which birds you are attracting and providing for when you feed them? Check out this super book to help you identify them:

The Bird Watcher’s Bible

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Enjoying The Pleasure Of Bird Feeding In Winter is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover