Pathfinder Wiki - User contributions [en]

AY Honors/Cats - Advanced/Answer Key

2005-11-14T14:46:10Z

220.107.194.6: +ja

[[Image:Scottish_Fold.jpg|thumb|200px|The Scottish Fold]]
The '''Scottish Fold''' is a [[cat breeds|breed]] of [[cat]] with a natural mutation to its ears. The ear [[cartilage]] contains a fold so the ears bend forward and down towards the front of their head.

The original Scottish Fold was a long-haired white-haired barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in [[Perthshire]], [[Scotland]] in [[1961]]. Susie's ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one of the siblings was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier. Ross registered the breed with the [[Governing Council of the Cat Fancy]] in [[Great Britain]] and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist [[Pat Turner]]. The breeding program produced 76 kittens in the first three years - 42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene. If one parent provides the gene for straight ears, and one parent provides the gene for folded ears, the kittens will be Folds.

The breed was not accepted for showing in Great Britain and [[Europe]] as it was felt that they would be extremely prone to ear problems such as infection, mites and deafness, but the folds were exported to America and the breed continued to be established there using crosses with [[British Shorthair]] and the [[American Shorthair]].

Scottish Folds can be either long or short-haired, and they may have any coat colour combination except for Siamese-style points. Pointed Folds have been bred but they are not eligible for showing. The original cats only had one fold in their ears, but due to selective breeding they have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that lies the ear totally flat against the head.

[[Image:Pearl_Laying_on_Couch.jpg|thumb|300px|A longhaired Scottish Fold laying on his back.]]
Scottish Folds are a very relaxed, sweet, and loving breed. They enjoy to follow you around the house, and don't like being left alone for longer than a few hours. They are not very vocal, and have quiet voices. Scottish Folds are known for laying on their backs. Some say they resemble an [[Otter]] when they lay or sit on their haunches.

[[Image:Scottish_fold.jpg|thumb|300px|A young "single fold" Scottish Fold.]]
There is one medical problem that has been found to be related to Scottish Fold breeding. If both parents have folded ears, their kittens will be extremely prone to developing a painful degenerative joint disease that fuses the tail, ankles and knees. The disease is not fatal, but as it is easily avoidable, reputable breeders will only breed fold to non-fold.

== External links ==
*[http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/scottish-fold-faq.html Cat Fanciers Scottish Fold FAQ]

[[Category:Cat breeds]]
[[he:סקוטיש פולד]]
[[ja:スコティッシュフォールド]]
[[zh:苏格兰折耳猫]]

AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key

2005-11-06T07:11:47Z

220.107.194.6: +ja

{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Roborovski Hamster}}
{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Mammal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Rodent]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = [[Cricetidae]]}}
{{Taxobox_subfamilia_entry | taxon = [[Cricetinae]]}}
{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = ''[[Phodopus]]''}}
{{Taxobox_species_entry | taxon = '''''P. roborovski'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_binomial_parens | color = pink | binomial_name = Phodopus roborovski | author = | date = }}
{{Taxobox_end}}
'''Roborovskis''' ('''''Phodopus roborovski''''') are the smallest of the [[hamster]]s commonly kept as [[pet]]s; they are also the fastest. On average, they live the longest of any pet hamsters, living about three to three and one-half years of age.

They are easily startled and are generally quite shy but curious. They're social and usually sleep together in one place. They aren't good pets for families with children. They are the worlds fastest hamsters. They're obviously also not a good fit for someone who wants a hamster that they can cuddle. Roborovski's are certainly not cuddlers. They are generally the size of a thumb and can easily squeeze through the bar of the cage, so careful consideration of cage choice is important. Because of their size and speed, Roborovski's are best for people who prefer to observe rather than to play with their pet.

[[ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター]]
[[pl:Chomik Roborowskiego]]
[[Category:Hamsters]]

AY Honors/Species Account/Isurus oxyrinchus

2005-11-01T13:31:44Z

220.107.194.6: +ja

{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Mako Shark}}<br/>{{StatusNearConcern}}
{{Taxobox image | image = [[Image:Isurus oxyrinchus.jpg|250px]] | caption = }}
{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox phylum entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Chondrichthyes]]}}
{{Taxobox subclassis entry | taxon = [[Elasmobranchii]]}}
{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = [[Lamniformes]]}}
{{Taxobox familia entry | taxon = [[Lamnidae]]}}
{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = ''[[Isurus]]''}}
{{Taxobox species entry | taxon = '''''I. oxyrinchus'''''}}
{{Taxobox end placement}}
{{Taxobox section binomial | color = pink | binomial_name = Isurus oxyrinchus | author = [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Rafinesque]] | date = 1810}}
{{Taxobox end}}

The '''Shortfin Mako Shark''' (''Isurus oxyrinchus'' "sharp nose"), commonly just called '''Mako Shark''' despite not being the only species of mako, is a large [[shark]] of the [[Lamnidae]] family with a full-grown size of 2.75–3.75m (9-12 feet). It usually weighs around 250–700kg (575–1600 pounds) and has a bluish top and a white underside. Although the sexes grow at about the same rate, females are thought to have a longer [[life span]]. Females grow larger and weigh more than the males. Shortfin Makos are renowned for their speed and their ability to leap out of the water. The sharks have an average speed of 22 miles (35.2 kilometers) per hour, with a burst speed of up to 60 miles (96 kilometers) per hour. The name 'Mako' comes from the [[Maori]].

This high leaping, boat attacking fish is sought as [[Game (food)|game]] worldwide. Some of the largest makos in the world can be found in [[New England]] waters. While the closely related [[Longfin Mako Shark]], ''Isurus paucus'', is found farther offshore in the [[Gulf Stream]]. Shortfin Makos were popularized in the movie ''[[Deep Blue Sea]]''.

The Longfin Mako Shark is a yolk-sac oviviparous shark, meaning it gives birth to live young who feed off of a sac full of yolk in the womb. The gestation period for a Mako Shark is 15-18 months. Mako embryo in the female's body literally consume each other to get nutrients. This is called intrauterine cannibalism.

The "mako" name was also applied to a [[1961]] [[Chevrolet Corvette]] show car, the "Mako Shark", whose streamlining, pointed snout, and other detailing was partly inspired by the look of that very fast fish. A widespread story has it that GM Design head [[Bill Mitchell]] had an actual mako shark mounted on the wall in his office, and ordered his team to paint the car to match the distinctive blue-gray upper surface gently blending into white underside of the fish. After numerous attempts to match the fish's color scheme failed, the team hit upon the idea of kidnapping the fish one night, painting it to match their best efforts on the car, and returning it to the office. Mitchell never realized the difference and pronounced himself pleased with the team's duplication on the car of nature's handiwork. [http://www.iol.ie/~donohoer/0Chevrolet_Corvette-Mako_Shark.htm], [http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/prototypes/mako1.html]

==Related articles==
* [[List_of_sharks|List of shark articles in Wikipedia]]

===External link===
* [http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=36 MarineBio: Shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus]
"Lamniformes." Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia E-Book. (requires license to view)

[[category:Sharks]]

[[de:Kurzflossen-Mako]]
[[es:Mako]]
[[ja:アオザメ]]
[[nl:Mako Shark]]
[[zh:鼠鲨科]]