Fun Facts

Our dogs that are known as (Canis lupis familiaris) are basically a form of domesticated wolves that have not only have become a basic companion for humans throughout the generations and by some cultures viewed as gods, but are sometimes used as a working dog for people, especially in the colder elements.

Used as a guide and trail leader for sleds for rescue, for the sight impaired, drug enforcement agency’s, bomb squads and even for some sporting events this animal has a history of being mans best friend!

This animal was instrumental in the advancement across the Bering Straight acting as sled dogs and without them many of early human settlements would have never happened as the weather would not have made it possible for them to reach their new destinations and create the new settlements by walking alone.

Currently there are over 400 million dogs worldwide that are used not only as companions but also as hunters, herding protectors, guard and police duty and also for the assistance of the handicapped.

The dog has been domesticated over 15,000 years and has evolved into an animal that is grouped into a small part of landraces whose morphology and behavior has been shaped solely by environmental factors and its functional roles. With the genetic advances and understandings, soon new breeds of dogs were bred and raised for specific traits and ultimately there are hundreds of new breeds that showed morphological and behavior variations that exceeded any other land mammal.

For example look at the size of the Chihuahua which stands a few inches high compared to the Irish Wolfhound, that stands a few feet in stature. The colors in their coats can vary from white to black, brown to gold with multiple variations in patterns, and also their coats range in length from short to long, and coarse to very soft.

The intelligence level in many of these breeds is exceptionally high with a perception and ability to learn and comprehend that is normally uncommon in the animal world. Dogs are capable of learning in several ways such as by observations as well as simple reinforcement techniques (classical or operant conditioning).

A dogs early stage is when they are going through their most cognitive developments called object permanence and this usually starts occurring at approximately 8 weeks of age. Puppies that interact with other older and experienced dogs have been proven to learn many times faster than other dogs by following the traits and tasks of the more mature dog. In one study Dachshund puppies that saw an older dog receive treats by pulling on a red ribbon on a cart were 15 times faster learning the same task than a dog just left to solve the task on its own.

Many other studies have been done that show dogs have an intelligence that many times is untapped by its owners. With the right training many breeds achieve things that are truly amazing. The evolution of the canine is an interesting topic for one to study more. However, there are more amazing animals like this, so check our animal fun facts.

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The question of the most poisonous animal in the world is not always easy to answer, as there are different classifications. For example what animal kills the most people per year, or what animal has a higher toxic level in their poison compared to others. In most cases a poisonous animal uses the toxins in their bodies for defense and are normally passive, compared to a venomous animal that are active killers and deliver their toxins by biting, stinging or stabbing. Depending on where you are going for your next trip have an idea what you could be facing as it could save your life! Here are three of the most dangerous creatures known to man!

1. THE BOX JELLYFISH

Number one goes to this killer creature called the Box Jellyfish as it’s been recognized as “The Worlds Most Venomous Animal” with a record of 5,567 reported deaths since 1954. With a venom that is classed as the most deadly in the world, its toxins attack the nervous system the heart and even the cells of its victims. The venom is so strong and so painful that many of its human victims succumb to its sting by going into shock, heart failure or drowning before they have a chance to reach shore and even if you survive, be prepared for a few weeks of intense pain.
If stung, your only chance of survival is immediate medical attention, but vinegar if applied quickly for 30 seconds, because of its acetic acid, can somewhat help neutralize the killers venomous nematocysts before it get into the bloodstream. Found in the waters around Australia and Asia, some swimmers find wearing woman’s pantyhose while swimming can reduce to risk of exposure to your legs. Although it may look funny, it very well may save your life!

2. KING COBRA

The world’s longest venomous snake, hands down is the King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah). Indigenous to high dense forest this snake ranges throughout South and South East Asia and can grow 18.5 ft (5.6 m) in length. A snake that can kill a human with a single bite, this King of snakes has also been recorded of killing a full grown Asian elephant within three hours of a lethal bite on the trunk of this huge animal. Known as the Snake Eater because it actually preys on other snakes, this snake can inject 5 times the venom, which can result in 5 times the mortality rate compared to the Black Mamba, even though the Mamba’s venom is actually more potent.

3. MARBELED CONE SNAIL

Looking at this pretty snail one would never know that it is one the most deadly creatures on this planet. If you took one drop of this little creature’s venom it could easily kill 20 human beings. Fortunately it is not aggressive and the 30 deaths attributed to its contact have been passive in the sense that swimmers themselves picked up this killer. Once contact was made intense pain can be followed by muscular problems as well as swelling, vision changes and even breathing failure. Notably found in warm Eastern Waters always be careful what kind of snail you pick up.

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