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Benjamin Franklin would have preferred to have the Wild Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, chosen as the national symbol of the United States. Although the barnyard variety is a rather stupid creature (leading to the insulting tone of the term "turkey"), the original wild form is a wary and magnificent bird. Wild Turkeys usually get around by walking or running, but they can fly strongly, and they typically roost overnight in tall trees. Turkeys were formerly considered to belong to a separate family from other chicken-like birds; there are only two species, ours in North America and the Ocellated Turkey in Central America.

Conservation status

Numbers seriously depleted by beginning of 20th century, but has been reintroduced to most of former range and established in new areas. Still increasing in many regions, and is now adapting to edges of suburban habitat in many eastern states.

Family
Pheasants and Grouse

Habitat

Woods, mountain forests, wooded swamps. Habitats vary in different parts of continent, include oak-hickory forest, pine-oak forest, cypress swamps, arid mesquite grassland, pinyon-juniper woodland, chaparral. Usually found near some kind of oak (acorns are a favorite food). Best habitat includes a mixture of woodland and open clearings.

Feeding Behavior

Forages mostly by walking on ground. Often scratches in leaf litter to expose food items. Sometimes climbs in shrubs or trees to eat berries. May forage most actively in early morning and evening.

Eggs

Usually 10-15, sometimes 4-18, rarely more. White to pale buff, dotted with reddish brown. Sometimes more than one female will lay eggs in one nest. Incubation is by female only, 25-31 days. Young: Downy young leave nest soon after hatching. Female tends young, and broods them at night for several weeks; young feed themselves. Young can make short flights at age of 1-2 weeks, but not full-grown for several months.

Young

Downy young leave nest soon after hatching. Female tends young, and broods them at night for several weeks; young feed themselves. Young can make short flights at age of 1-2 weeks, but not full-grown for several months.

Diet

Omnivorous. Diet varies with season but is mostly plant material, including many acorns, leaves, seeds, grains, berries, buds, grass blades, roots, bulbs. Also eats insects, spiders, snails. Sometimes eats frogs, lizards, snakes, salamanders, crabs.

Nesting

In spring, male gives gobbling call to attract females. In courtship, males puff out feathers, raise and spread tail, swell up face wattles, droop wings; in this exaggerated posture they strut, rattling the wing feathers and making humming sounds. One male will mate with several females. Nest site is on ground, often at base of tree, under shrub, or in tall grass. Nest is shallow depression, sparsely lined with grass, leaves.

All Seasons - Common

All Seasons - Uncommon

Breeding - Common

Breeding - Uncommon

Winter - Common

Winter - Uncommon

Migration - Common

Migration - Uncommon

Gobbling calls similar to those of domestic turkey.

Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others. Learn more about this sound collection.

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Benjamin Franklin would have preferred to have the Wild Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, chosen as the national symbol of the United States. Although the barnyard variety is a rather stupid creature (leading to the insulting tone of the term "turkey"), the original wild form is a wary and magnificent bird.

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Sea Snake Facts: 10 Facts about Sea Snakes

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Ricky is loving his new home. The habitat has been updated since this video was originally made since we didn't know what was best for him.. For example, sand is best to cover the bottom of the tank.

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Rollie, a southern three-banded armadillo, playing

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Rustle the Armadillo loves three things: eating, sleeping and taking baths! Watch our little armored one come clean in this video.

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Armadillos can be pink black brown gray yellow and red. Some people like to eat armadillos and that they say    that they tast like pork. last but least armadillos  have a very hight pickt sond

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The three-banded armadillo is the only species that can roll into a ball for protection.

Credit: belizar | Shutterstock

Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. In fact, its name in Spanish means "little armored one." The armadillo's armor works well against most predators, but not against cars. They are also known as the "Hillbilly Speed Bump" for their tendency to get run over by vehicles.

There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, according to National Geographic.

An armadillo's armor is made up of overlapping plates covering the back, head, legs and tail. The number of armored bands identifies the different species, according to the San Diego Zoo. Only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll itself into a hard armored ball to defend itself against predators. Other armadillo species simply dig a hole quickly and hunker down so that their tender stomach is protected and their armor is the only thing visible.

Armadillos have pointy snouts and long, sticky tongues, similar to anteaters, which are close cousins. Their eyesight is poor, so they hunt with a highly developed sense of smell. They also have wiry hairs along their sides and belly, which they use to feel their way around, like curb feelers on some cars. They also have strong legs and sharp claws for digging.

Most armadillos stick to areas closer to the equator because they like temperate to warm areas due to their lack of fat stores. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, armadillos are very picky about where they live based on what type of soil is found in the area. Usually, armadillos prefer sandy or loam soils that are loose and porous. This makes digging for food and creating burrows easier.

All armadillos live in Central and South America, except for one species. The nine-banded armadillo ranges from Argentina to the southern United States, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) at the University of Michigan. Since the mid-19th century, nine-banded armadillos have expanded northward. They have been seen in Florida and are now common in Missouri. In 2000, the body of a nine-banded armadillo was found in central Illinois, according to ADW.

Armadillos are not social creatures and spend most of their time sleeping. They usually sleep up to 16 hours each day in burrows, according to National Geographic. During the morning and evenings, they forage for food.

Usually, the only time armadillos get together is to mate or to keep warm. During cold times, a group of armadillos may hunker down in a burrow together to share body heat. Sometimes, a seven-banded armadillo will share its burrow with others of the same gender, though.

Armadillos are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants, though 90 percent of an armadillo's diet is made up of insects and larvae, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. With their long, sticky tongue, armadillos catch ants, beetles, termites and other insects after digging them out of the ground. They also eat plants, eggs, small vertebrates and some fruit. From time to time, they will scavenge for dead animals.

The screaming hairy armadillo gets its name from the sound it makes when threatened.

Credit: Robert Eastman Shutterstock

After a gestation period of two to five months, the female will give birth to one to 12 young in a birthing burrow. These burrows can be up to 15 feet (4.5 m) wide, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage.

Baby armadillos are called pups. According to the San Diego Zoo, twin births are common. Nine-banded armadillos have four identical pups of the same gender in every litter, and the seven-banded armadillo has eight to 15 identical pups at one time.

Pups mature quickly. They are weaned by two to four months. By nine to 12 months, the pups are mature and ready to have offspring of their own. Armadillos can live anywhere from four to 30 years. The median life expectancy for three-banded armadillos is around 16 years.

Here is the taxonomy of armadillos, according to ITIS:

Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Bilateria
Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Cingulata
Family: Dasypodidae
Subfamilies: Dasypodinae, Euphractinae and Tolypeutinae
Genera and species: There are nine genera and 21 species, including:

Dasypus novemcinctus - Nine-banded armadillo

Dasypus septemcinctus - Seven-banded armadillo

Calyptophractus retusus - Greater fairy armadillo

Chaetophractus vellerosus - Screaming hairy armadillo

Chlamyphorus truncatus - Pink fairy armadillo

Euphractus sexcinctus - Six-banded armadillo

Cabassous centralis - Northern naked-tailed armadillo

Priodontes maximus - Giant armadillo

Tolypeutes tricinctus - Brazilian three-banded armadillo

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), armadillos are not endangered. Some species are vulnerable, though. For example, the Andean hairy armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 10 years. The giant armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has decreased by at least 30 percent in the past 21 years.

Armadillos have a wide range of colors. They can be pink, red, black, gray or yellow.

Some people eat armadillos and claim it tastes like pork.

The nine-banded armadillo is the official state animal of Texas.

The giant armadillo can have up to 100 teeth, according to the San Diego Zoo.

The screaming hairy armadillo gets it name from the sound it makes when threatened. Don't get the idea that they are cowards, however. They have been known to throw their bodies on top of snakes, killing them by cutting them with the sharp edges of their shells, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Additional resources

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Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. In fact, its name in Spanish means "little armored one." The armadillo's armor works well against most predators, but not against cars. They are also known as the "Hillbilly Speed Bump" for their tendency to get run over by vehicles.

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Hellerder have to move swiftie in the water.

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We love hellbenders. But they're not the cuddliest of species, with their slimy bodies that look like the 2-foot-long lovechild of phlegm and a rock.

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Photo Source: Corel Web Gallery

The word amphibian means two-lives. Amphibians spend their lives in the water and on land.

All amphibians begin their life in water with gills and tails. As they grow, they develop lungs and legs for their life on land.

Photo Source: Corel Web Gallery Photo Source: Corel Web Gallery
Amphibians are cold-blooded, which means that they are the same temperature as the air or water around them.

Fire Salamander
Photo Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain) User - Emilisha

There are more than 4,000 different kinds of amphibians. Members of this animal class are frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians or blindworms.

Take a Break!
On-Line Jigsaw Puzzle: Bullfrog

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Photo Source: Corel Web Gallery The word amphibian means two-lives. Amphibians spend their lives in the water and on land. All amphibians begin their life in water with gills and tails. As they grow, they develop lungs and legs for their life on land.

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Description

The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a large, stout-bodied, fully-aquatic salamander. Its color is usually brown with darker (or lighter) markings on the back, but can range from gray, to yellowish brown to almost black. The belly is lighter and sparsely spotted if at all. It has a large, flattened head with small and widely separated eyes. Fleshy skin folds run down both sides of the body ending at a keeled tail. The toes have a rough pad that allows for traction on slick river rocks. The entire skin surface is photosensitive, especially on the tail. Juveniles will lose their external gills when they reach between 4 and 5 inches long (approximately 18 months of age). Hellbenders are known to live to 30 years in the wild and over 50 years in captivity.

Similar Species

The Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi), is found in south-central Missouri and north-central Arkansas. The species has large, blotchlike markings covering its back and sides compared to smaller and few markings on the eastern hellbender. In portions of its range, eastern hellbenders can co-occur with the common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus maculosus). Unlike adult hellbenders, adult mudpuppies have external gills. Mudpuppies reach a maximum length of 13 inches.

Distribution

Eastern hellbenders occupy the Susquehanna River drainage in southern New York and Pennsylvania, and large portions Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi River drainages from western Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, extreme southern Indiana, most of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, northern Alabama and Georgia, western North Carolina and Virginia. In Virginia, hellbenders are found in the mainstem and tributaries of the New River drainage and in the Clinch, Powell, and Holston River tributaries of the Upper Tennessee River ( view a map).

Habitat

Eastern hellbenders are completely aquatic. They prefer clear, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated streams and rivers. The stream bottom should contain many large flat boulders, logs, and debris. In Virginia, hellbenders have been observed in streams as small as 5 meters and rivers over 100 meters wide.

Because of their preference for clean streams and rivers, hellbenders serve as indicators of stream health. The presence of young and adults is synonymous with good water quality.

Predators and Prey

Prey: Hellbenders feed primarily on crayfish. They have also been known to eat insects, snails, minnows and worms. Although fishermen have reported seeing hellbenders attracted to their creel at the end of their stringer, there is no evidence that hellbenders eat live trout or impact trout populations where they occur.

Predators: Very little is known about the predators of hellbenders. It is suspected that larva and juveniles could be prey to snapping turtles, watersnakes, and large predatory fish. Other than humans, adults probably have few predators.

Reproduction

In Virginia, mating occurs in late summer and early fall. During this time, the male, which is identified by swelling around the vent, excavates a shallow nest under flat rocks, debris, and in crevices. Once the nest is constructed, he actively guides pregnant females into it. The male then simultaneously fertilizes the eggs as she lays them. The spherical eggs, numbering from 150 to 450, are pale to light yellow, 1/4 inch in diameter, and enclosed by two gelatinous capsules. Once in contact with water, the eggs and coverings quickly triple in size. A thin strand of jelly about 1 to 2 inches in length attaches the eggs to one another, resembling a string of beads. These eventually intertwine to become a tangles mass in the nest.

The female departs soon after mating, leaving the male to tend and aggressively defend his nest from predators and competitors alike. To provide oxygen to the eggs, he will sway side to side and ripple his skin folds. Incubation lasts 68-84 days, depending on environmental conditions and population characteristics. Hatchlings are 1.5 inches at birth, and with the exception of external gills, appear like miniature adults.

Threats

Water pollution and impoundments are major factors in the decline of hellbenders. Dams eliminate free-flowing sections of rivers and produce low oxygen conditions on the river bottom. Untreated sewage, sedimentation, and chemical runoff from lawns, fields, and parking lots all contribute to a reduction in their populations. Because respiration is through the skin, any toxic substance in the water can have significant adverse health effects. Removal of streamside vegetation and soil disturbance can cause sedimentation. Sedimentation affects hellbender survival by suffocating eggs, filling in hiding places of the young and killing invertebrates, such as crayfish they feed on.

Anglers using live bait such as crayfish and worms may sometimes catch a hellbender. They will often cut the line or kill the hellbender. Another reason people may kill them is the belief that they are poisonous. Hellbenders are non-poisonous and pose no threat to humans. Anybody catching one should cut the line as close to its mouth as possible or remove the hook with a pair of pliers and release the animal back into the water.

Status

The eastern hellbender is a Federal Species of Concern. In Virginia, it is listed as a species of special concern and as a Tier II species in the Virginia Wildlife Action Plan. Hellbenders cannot be sold, killed, or kept for personal use.

Conservation and Research

Several efforts are underway in Virginia to conserve and manage hellbender populations. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has produced an educational poster and this website in order to better inform the public about the plight of this species. In selected rivers in southwest Virginia, the Department is contracting researchers from Virginia Tech to assess hellbender populations in a variety of landscapes such as forested and agricultural. In this study, captured hellbenders are measured, weighed and implanted with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag, which provides an identifying number unique to each specimen. Individuals that are recaptured are scanned to determine the presence of the PIT tag and reassessed. Techniques are being refined to cultivate hellbenders in captivity at the Department's Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center near Marion, Virginia. Eggs that are abandoned or dislodged from nests are collected from nearby rivers and held in aquaria to determine their potential to hatch. To date, we have been able to hatch 60 hellbenders. Twenty juveniles have been released back to their natal streams. In the future, laboratory cultivation may be an effective tool to augment and reestablish the species back into their former range.

Contacts

To report a sighting of an Eastern Hellbender contact:
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Phone: (804) 367-1000
Email: dgifweb@dgif.virginia.gov

More Information

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The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a large, stout-bodied, fully-aquatic salamander. Its color is usually brown with darker (or lighter) markings on the back, but can range from gray, to yellowish brown to almost black. The belly is lighter and sparsely spotted if at all.

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hummingbird feeder action. Wild and aggressive, the tiny birds are a force onto themselves, I always have a fear that one of the little buggers is going to fly into my eye with it's sharp beak.

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Did you know that red eared sliders are are omnevon they  eat flies small fish  some times lizerds  and cralewdads dead frogs  and ext

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Red-eared sliders come by their common name for two reasons: the red ear patch on both sides of the head, and the fact that wild red-ears, when basking, are known to slide into the water at the slightest hint of danger.

Laurie L. Snidow/Shutterstock

Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The red-eared slider has a long history in the pet trade, and it has been kept for many years by a wide variety of hobbyists, both beginners and veterans. For years they were sold in dime stores, and unfortunately many died due to a lack of knowledge of the children who begged their parents to buy them for them. Luckily, now that reptile enthusiasts are better educated, the red-eared slider has a better chance of survival in captivity, but it is a large turtle and should be kept only by people who are prepared to provide the proper care for it.

Red-eared sliders are strong swimmers and will spend a majority of their time in the water. They bask a lot, too, and during warm, sunny days, wild red-ears love to stack on top of each other while doing so. The slightest movement or sound will send them sliding off their rocks or logs and back into the water-this, coupled with the red ear mark on both sides of their heads, gives them their common name. Pet red-eared sliders can be very personable and will often swim up to you, begging for food.

The native habitat of the red-eared slider is from New Mexico north to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia, then south through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, all the way to northern Mexico. They are often found in slow-moving streams, creeks, lakes, ponds and marshes with a fresh and warm water supply.

Red-Eared Slider Availability

The red-eared slider is one of the most common turtles found for sale in pet stores across the U.S. and overseas. In addition to finding them at local pet stores, you can purchase them at reptile shows or online. It is illegal for hatchlings with a carapace length of less than 4 inches to be sold for anything other than educational purposes.

Pan Xunbin/Shutterstock

The red-eared slider is a large turtle that should be kept only by hobbyists who will be able to provide a large enclosure or pond.

Red-Eared Slider Size

Full grown adults can reach 12 inches in length, with females usually being the largest in size. There are rare instances of adult red-eared sliders growing larger than 12 inches.

Red-Eared Slider Life Span

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years.

Red-Eared Slider Diet

Red-eared sliders are omnivores. In the wild, they feed on aquatic vegetation, small fish and decaying material such as dead fish and frogs, etc. Pet red-eared sliders will feed on just about anything you give them, but I recommend feeding them a commercial turtle food or pellet to benefit proper growth and health. On occasion, you can offer them leafy greens, freeze-dried shrimp or krill, crickets, superworms, rosy red minnows and even pinky mice.

Vin Ma

Various types of red-eared slider morphs are being bred in captivity. These are all albinos of various ages and sizes.

Red-Eared Slider Housing

Hatchling red-eared sliders are very cute, but don't let their small size fool you. Remember, adults can grow to 12 inches. The general rule of thumb for housing red-eared sliders is for every inch of shell length, you should provide 10 gallons of water. For example, a red-eared slider with a 5-inch shell length should be provided an enclosure containing 50 gallons of water to allow for adequate swimming space.
They can be kept in aquariums, turtle tubs, etc.

Primary accessories to properly house a red-eared slider are a water filtration system, a water heater, a basking dock and a basking lamp. Because red-eared sliders are messy feeders and produce a lot of waste, I recommend purchasing a water filter that is rated at least double the amount of water in your turtle's enclosure. This reduces the frequency of water changes that will be necessary (though don't neglect water changes; you should still perform them regularly) and maintains the cleanliness and health of your turtles.

Vin Ma

These are hatchling "snow" red-eared sliders.

Use a submersible water heater to maintain the ideal water temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Turtles can be rough, so use a water heater guard to protect the heater from breaking; they are available in pet stores or online. Be sure to maintain the recommended temperatures, both in the water and the ambient temperatures mentioned below. If the temperatures are too cold, your turtle's metabolism will reduce, which can be a threat to its health. Keep tanks and tubs away from areas with cool breezes or drafts, too, as constant fluctuation of temperatures due to these can cause respiratory infections.

Vin Ma

Pastel red-eared slider hatchlings.

To ensure proper health and growth of red-eared sliders, a basking light that provides UVB and UVA rays, to mimic the sun, is required. Purchase either a commercial turtle basking dock or create your own basking platform onto which your turtle can emerge from the water to soak up the artificial sunlight and dry off. Temperatures in the basking area should remain between 85 and 90 degrees.

Red-Eared Slider Handling and Temperament

Captive-born-and-raised red-eared sliders are more personable compared to wild red-eared sliders, which tend to be more cautious and frightened when approached by humans. At the slightest sound or movement, they will quickly slide into the water for cover. Captive-bred red-eared sliders are the opposite; they will frequently swim up to you and beg for food.

Although every turtle is different, when handled, red-eared sliders could withdraw into their shells or possibly even nip at your fingers if they feel threatened. This is why it's not recommended that you frequently handle your red-eared sliders or remove them from their habitats.

Vin Ma has been working with various species of turtles since 2002, and since 2006 has been working on selective color breeding, focusing on color morphs such as albino and caramel red-eared sliders. Visit his website at www.turtlemorphs.com.

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Red-eared sliders come by their common name for two reasons: the red ear patch on both sides of the head, and the fact that wild red-ears, when basking, are known to slide into the water at the slightest hint of danger. Laurie L.

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You can attract Hummingbird
by tubular flowers. No need
to put coloring in the  water.careful  where you put  the feeder the cats will get it. Put the feeder some where hight . Find ruby -throated hummingbird walkeding in flower pachis
just rememder  thes things are nice to poeple.

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Purchase "The Shot" at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SNUWEXK). See my latest "ode to mothers" video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3NOY9Ytn_o). A hand fed Hummingbird video that is amazing. Taming the Alaskan hummingbird. These hummingbirds were filmed at our lodge in Alaska, no feeder required! Our lodge in Alaska has TONS of these little birds in the summer.

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Frogs

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Hellbender
Turltile

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Blue herons
Vultures
Eagle
Owl
hummingbird
Turkey
American Woodcocks
Dove
Wip-poor-wills
American crow
Northern cardinal
America Robin
Duck
Green heron
American coot
Least sandpiper
American avocet
Black-necked stilt