Opossum

It’s 12:45 amмаси и столове in Dallas, Texas right now…

I just took our kitchen garbage out to the trash can and noticed one of our neighborhood stray dogs laying in the middle of the street.

As I focused in and started approaching, I noticed that it was sitting next to another animal, also in the middle of the street…I thought it could have been a run over cat or something like that…

…As I came upon the dog, I took a look at what kind of animal was laying there and lo and behold, it was the opossum I’ve been noticing walking through the neighborhood some nights, playing dead – completely still, eyes open and all.

The dog, who’s usually quite skiddish when you come near him, wanted to hold his ground even though I was very close and clapping him away to go home.  He even growled at me.

I’m sure he was deciding whether he wanted to eat his catch or play with it for a while before eating it, but he finally took off down the way to his house – I don’t know what’s up with his owners.

Anyway, now I’m outside in my pajamas waiting on our street corner for this opossum to “wake” back up and get off the road to disappear into the night again.

I’m telling you, I had to wait

Playing Opossum in Dallas: Saving Our Wildlife is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Ladder-Backed (above) & Nuttall's (below) Woodpeckers

Out of all the exotic animals I’ve ever seen, for the first time in my life, I saw a woodpecker in person.

I’ve seen photos, heard them pecking, videos and know a bit about them, but have never seen one before.

I’m from Canada, so I’m sure there are more varieties there, but here in Dallas, there was a tiny, black with white speckled woodpecker with a touch of red on it’s head.

I’ve done my research online and found out that it’s a Ladder-Backed Woodpecker!

I knew it was a woodpecker from it’s tuft of hair on the back of it’s head, it’s pointy beak and how he was pecking the bark on the tree outside our window.

He didn’t just haul off and peck the tree to death…He hopped up the branches, pecked a few times, hopped some more and so on…

He was such a cute, little bird and I knew right away what I was looking at. They’re so quick in flight and flit around on the tree.

So neat! So exciting to me!

Woodpeckers are known to eat insects and their larva, as well as caterpillars, cockroaches, beetles, ants and sometimes berries and fruit from cacti.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: P. scalaris

Conservation Status: This species of woodpecker is not threatened.

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

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Grab this book for information on all North American Woodpeckers:

Woodpeckers Of North America Book: Woodpeckers Of North America

Technorati Tags: birds, woodpecker, woodpeckers, Texas birds, Dallas birds, Texas woodpecker, animals, bird watching, Ladder-backed woodpecker

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker Sighting in Dallas is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Well, as we all know, TCU’s (Texas Christian University’s) mascot is the horny toad. Actually, it’s also called a horned lizard.

They are ridiculously adorable and are great, placid pets, that are even great with children.

The problem with the Texas horned lizard, native to Texas, is that their food supply is waning. Even as a lizard owner, it’s gotten tougher and tougher to find natural sources for their food.

What Do Horned Lizards Eat?
A typical horned lizard should eat between 20-100 harvester ants per day. This is necessary because harvester ants provide this horned lizard with the formic acid it needs to survive.

You’re thinking, “Well, just find some harvester ants outside and be done with it!”

Problem: Harvester ants have been displaced by the fire ant in Texas, especially Dallas. So, you need to be educated and knowledgeable when looking for harvester ant nests.

Also, you certainly don’t want to capture fire ants for 2 reasons:
1. Their bite can be very painful to a human and they can swarm you quickly.
2. Horny toads will eat a few, but can also be poisoned or get sick from the fire ants’ venom.

For more information on harvester ants, which may help you find a local, natural source for your lizard, check out Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_harvester_ant

If you’re not that “outdoorsy”, then feel free to order them online. You can often find them for about $0.02/ant when ordering 500 or more.

I’ve only rarely seen them available in local stores freeze dried, but they are more expensive for the amount of ants you get. Most local pet stores do not provide ants as a food source for these babies.

Of course, feeding your horned lizard live ants is best and more “natural” for them. Plus, it’s fun to see them in action catching them.

So, before you adopt a horned lizard, be sure you know where to get it’s food. Have fun!

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Phrynosoma
Species: P. cornutum

Conservation Status:
This species of lizard is not endangered! Yay world!!!

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

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. For more information on the red ants these horned creatures need and desire, check out this really helpful book:

The native red ants of Texas, favored prey of the endangered Texas horned lizard, are but one of many New World ants known as harvesters. The two genera Pogonom The native red ants of Texas, favored prey of the endangered Texas horned lizard, are but one of many New World ants known as harvesters. The two genera Pogonomyrmex and Ephebomyrmex range from southern Canada to southern Argentina and the western half of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (Haiti).PHarvester ants are generally noted for their habit of building large gravel mounds in the center of huge clearings, for harvesting the grain of favorite grasses, and for their fiery stings. Some early naturalists believed that harvesters planted their favored grasses around their mounds — a claim that, though mistaken, could be imagined to be true of these well-organized, highly social insects. Two hundred years of study are summarized in this volume, which covers all aspects of the lives of the harvester ants.PThe book begins with the mythology and folklore surrounding the harvester ants of the Southwest and Mexico: the Aztecs believed that the red harvester brought corn to humankind, and Native Americans of the southwestern deserts invoked special rituals to placate the ants when their mounds were disturbed. Following sections describe the ants’ evolution, distribution, nest structure, habits, foods, predators and cohabitors, defenses, chemistry and communication, and sex life. The final chapter considers the ants’ interaction with humans, including its perception as a pest and the history of pesticide use.PAppendixes give the scientific and common names of each harvester ant species, explain how to identify harvesters without technical devices, and provide a complete key to all sixty species. The key is supplemented by illustrations and distribution maps for every species. Anextensive bibliography and a detailed index are included.PThis beautifully illustrated book will serve as both a general guide to harvester ants for the lay audience and a quick, accurate, and inclusive reference for scientists.

Technorati Tags: horny toad, horned lizard, Texas horned lizard, horned frogs, lizards, reptiles, herpetology, harvester ants, fire ants, reptile care

Keeping a Horny Toad as a Pet in Dallas is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Well, the day before we went whale shark swimming in Exmouth, Australia, I took a tour where we snorkeled off of the coast of Exmouth’s pure, white sand beaches.

I was a little nervous about the sharks and asked the “local girl” that came with us if it was pretty safe. She said that the only sharks you’d see would be white-tipped reef sharks and they don’t bug you unless you provoke them, but that we probably wouldn’t even see any of them where we were.

So, I got up the courage to get out there, since I had to be ready for whale shark swimming in the open ocean the next morning, and waded out into the water. I put my face under the water with my mask on, and what’s the first thing I see? A whitetip reef shark!

Wow – I think I grew a jet propeller out of my body and was back into the shore within seconds, it seemed! LOL

However, after having a good pep talk with myself, I got back out there and enjoyed the rest of the day, not to see another shark again! LOL…

We did get to see giant clams, numerous fish, corals and even some dolphins swimming afar.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Triaenodon
Species: T. obesus

Wow – more stories tomorrow!

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

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Want to visit Exmouth? Stay at the Best Western Sea Breeze Resort:

Best Western Sea Breeze Resort 38450-Best Western Sea Breeze Resort-116 North C Street Harold E. Holt Naval Base-Exmouth-6707-Western Australia-AUS-

Technorati Tags: white tipped reef shark, sharks, fish, white tip, reef shark, Australian animals, snorkeling Australia, snorkeling, Exmouth, Exmouth Australia, Australia

My First Shark Sighting – Whitetip Reef Sharks is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Exotic Animal News-Flash:

If you’re looking for some great Shark shows to watch this week, then check out the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week starting August 2nd!

So, in honor of this, ExoticAnimalLover.com will also be hosting a Shark Week!

Power-packed shows giving you more information on the oceans’ largest predator – a dinosaur of sorts!

These misunderstood animals of the deep will be concentrated on all week on the Discovery Channel and on Exotic Animal Lover!

I’ll tell you all about my experiences with Sharks too…

Guess what…Sharks are actually FISH!

Go ahead – Take a Shark Break!

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Selachimorpha

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I hope you enjoy this Shark Week post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Can’t get enough of Shark Week? Get your own 20th Anniversary Edition of Shark Week complete with 4 DVDs:

Shark Week-20th Anniversary DVD 4 Discs Format DVD UPC Code 014381401622 Brand IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Technorati Tags: fish, sharks, shark, shark week, Discovery Channel, marine animals, ocean animals

Shark Week Starts Today on Exotic Animal Lover is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

That’s what I said!

I’ve been noticing a lot of bats this season in Dallas and to me, that’s a blessing…

That’s right!

I am so shocked every time I point out a bat to someone in the evening or night time and they nearly panic and run…

Bats aren’t the rabid, blood sucking, scary animals horror movies would have you believe they are.

In fact, they would love to stay away from you and have nothing to do with you! LOL…

They’re your best friends if you’re tired of all the darn mosquitoes biting you at night or during activities in the evening or on the weekends!

Why? Because bats love to eat them! Bats aren’t looking to fly down and latch themselves on your neck. They’re not stupid animals…

They are mammals, first of all, and have a highly developed sonar system. It is very, very unlikely that a bat would ever run into you unexpectedly.

They don’t have great eyesight, but they know that you’re there. What’s amazing is we usually don’t know they’re there and we’re supposed to be so much more intelligent and well adapted…LOL

Okay…other than owls, birds sleep at night. So, when you see a “bird” at night and it’s flying somewhat sporatically, it’s a bat!

Just knowing this one fact will open your eyes to bats…

Look at the night sky on a balmy night – surely you’ll see one and you’ll be amazed and happy to know that your insect exterminators are happily hard at work.

They’re amazing and I’m so happy to have seen so many of them this year. They really keep the insect problem at bay when they’re around – they love all flying insects including moths!

So, when you see your “first” bat in the night time sky, point it out to someone and tell them about bats…they’re an important part of our ecosystems and a much needed insect eater! Enjoy them!

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

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Make sure to get your Exotic Animal Lover Updates Here!

Technorati Tags: bats, bats in Dallas, Dallas animals, flying bats, Texas bats, Texas wildlife, Dallas wildlife, North American animals, mammals

There Are Bats in Dallas is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

A Cassowary is a flightless Australian bird, and is native to the tropical forests of New Guinea.

It’s funny because Australia has another flightless bird, the emu, making it and the cassowary the 2nd and 3rd largest flightless birds in the world, behind Africa’s ostrich.

Females are larger than males and are more vividly colored, and may reach up to 2 meters tall! That’s a big bird!

Known to be a timid bird, it can inflict serious injury to human adults, and fatal injury to dogs and children. They have 3 toes and extremely sharp talons/claws.

Check out this great, but short, video showing a wild Cassowary on an island of the Great Barrier Reef:

They are omnivorous, but mostly eat fruits, shoots, grass seeds, as well as fungi. However, it will also make a quick meal of invertebrates and small vertebrates alike.

2 of the species produce a very low pitch frequency that is just on the cusp of the lower end of human hearing, which is thought to assist with communication in dense forest habitat, and is likened to a “boom”.

Conservation Status:
The Southern Cassowary is Endangered in Queensland, Australia due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as being hit by cars and attacked by dogs. Hunting, natural disease and destroying/removing animals that have attacked humans all contribute as well.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Struthioniformes
Family: Casuariidae
Genus: Casuarius
Species: There are 4 species – C. casuarius, C. unappendiculatus, C. bennetti, C. lydekki

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I hope you enjoyed this Bird post on Exotic Animal Lover during Great Barrier Reef Month! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Please be sure to Vote for Me to win the Dream Job of Caretaker of Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia:

Vote 5-Stars for Kimberly!

Technorati Tags: Great Barrier Reef, cassowary, cassowary bird, birds, Australian birds, Australian animals, flightless bird

Cassowary of the Great Barrier Reef is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

The very first shark I ever saw in the ocean was a Whitetip Reef Shark!

Not only that, it was the very first time I had ever snorkeled either…I went under the water for the first dip and there was a shark! It was probably about 5 feet long!

Sure…It brought me right back up to the surface and ready to head back to shore, but our guide told me they’re harmless, unless you really mess around with them and bother them, which I was not even about to attempt.

This wasn’t on the Great Barrier Reef, but on the Ningaloo Reef on the other side of Australia.

I’m sure you’ve heard of shark feedings and tours that take you out to experience this. Well, I’ve found a video showing you a shark feed on the Great Barrier Reef.

You’ll know the whitetip reef sharks because they have a white tip on their tail and caudal fin:

Wasn’t that beautiful and amazing! Did you check out the huge Cod? Wow!

I’d love to see this in person…The animals are just fantastic!

These reef sharks feed on fish, octopi and crustaceans, but more so at night as they are nocturnal. Also, as their diet indicates, they prefer to dwell on the bottom of the reef, where they sleep during the day.

Conservation Status:
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a Near Threatened species of shark and are prevalent all over the world. In fact, I think it was a whitetip reef shark we dissected in lab in University for Pre-Med.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Triaenodon
Species: T. obesus

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I hope you enjoy this Shark post on Exotic Animal Lover during Great Barrier Reef Month! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Please be sure to Vote for Me to win the Dream Job of Caretaker of Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia:

Vote 5-Stars for Kimberly!

Technorati Tags: whitetip reef shark, reef shark, white tip reef shark, shark, sharks, fish, Australian animals, Great Barrier Reef

Whitetip Reef Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Scientific Classification:

* There are also 7 subspecies of kinkajou.

The Kinkajou is also known as the Honey Bear and is an arboreal animal native to Central and South America.

They are not monkeys or ferrets…In fact, they are related to the raccoon, coati and ringtail to name a few.

Kinkajous only weight between 4-7 lbs and have a long, curled tail, which is prehensile. This means that it can use it as a “limb” or 5th hand of sorts and can hang on to branches, etc with it.

Although they have a grey undercoat, their outer coat is that of a golden brown or brownish grey and live to be about 23 years old.

Again, this is another animal classified as a carnivore, except it’s diet is more omnivorous than anything else. They enjoy many fruits, nectar and sometimes whole flowers, honey (thus, why they call them the Honey Bear), some vegetables, and are known to also eat birds eggs and insects, not to mention the occasional bird too.

Their family units consist of a small group that stays together at night and grooms one another. Sometimes foraging in small groups, but more often than not solitary for this activity, kinkajous will also associate with olingos, although not a closely related species.

Kinkajous “speak” to eachother most often with loud shreeks or shrills sounding like a woman screaming.

They are nocturnal, meaning they sleep all day and are out foraging, etc during the night. They avoid direct sunlight as much as possible and are known to have poor vision and not be able to differentiate between colors.

Conservation Status:
The Kinkajou is an Endangered Species of animal!

Why?
It has been over-hunted, especially for it’s fur, and has lost it’s habitat to boot!

* For more information on how to save kinkajous, check out the Kinkajou Association.

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I hope you found this Endangered Animal interesting on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Get your kids involved in learning the importance of the world’s most precious resource…our animals! They are who will save them in the future! Check out this cute book:

Peeper The Kinkajou $7.50

Technorati Tags: kinkajou, mammal, South American animal, Central American animal, endangered animal, endangered species

What in the World is a Kinkajou? is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

However, it’s neither a bear nor a cat! LOL…It just resembles both of those animals. To me, it looks like a large raccoon species.

It, too, is an arboreal species that is nocturnal – instead of sleeping in a nest of sorts, it simply sleeps on branches of rainforests in Asia, India & Indonesia.

Although it is classified as a carnivore, it is omnivorous! It eats mostly fruit, but has been known to dabble in eating eggs, small animals like rodents and birds, shoots and leaves.

Binturong are known for their happy chuckling sounds and high-pitched wails when annoyed. It also communicates using it’s tail and scent gland.

It has a prehensile tail, meaning it works as a 5th limb or hand. Bearcats are the size of a small dog and has a coat that is thick, coarse and black.

Conservation Status:
The Binturong is considered to be a Vulnerable species in endangerment.

Why?
It’s drastic drop in numbers is mainly due to deforestation in their habitat, and poaching for it’s fur and medicinal uses.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily: Paradoxurinae
Genus: Arctictis
Species: A. binturong
Subspecies: There are 6 subspecies of binturong.

Why is This Animal So Important?
It’s the only animal known to be able to eat the seed coating of the Strangler Fig, which is a crucial tree in the rainforest. This means the binturong is very important for seed dispersal.

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

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. The Bearcat is a quite popular mascot. In fact, the University of Cincinnati boasts this animal as their mighty mascot! Get a U. of Cincinnati ringtone for your phone:

University of Cincinnati Bearcats Ringtone $5.99

Technorati Tags: binturong, mammal, carnivore, Indian animal, Asian animal, bearcat, Asian bearcat, Palawan bearcat

You Say Bearcat – I Say Binturong is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover