Anacondas: Interesting Facts That Might Inspire You to See Them Live!

Anacondas have always aroused fear and sent chills down our spines through the ages. Just imagine, have you ever thought about anaconda eating people? Lately, their portrayal in Hollywood movies has resulted in people dreading them.

But what actually is the anaconda? Is it an organism to be really feared, or it's just fear factor just a tall tale? Here are some additional facts that may shade some light on what kind of a creature an anaconda actually has become through history and not from the Hollywood point of view:

The Term Anaconda:

Some people believe that the term "anaconda" is derived from the word "henakandeya". In the Sinhalese language, this means ‘a whip snake’ or ‘a thing with an enormous body’. Apart from this, the more accepted version is that the anaconda got its name from the Tamil word "anaikondran" which means ‘an elephant killer’.

Other than these two versions, people from different places have given the anaconda different names. The ancient Spaniards called it ‘Matatoro’ meaning ‘a bull killer’, the people of North America called it by the names of ‘sucuri’ and ‘yukumama’.

Did You Know about John Kricher? According to the expert John Kricher, the anaconda is the only natural predator that can prey on a Jaguar. The anaconda is the largest predator of the mammalian type in the whole of Arizona.

Contrary to the popular myth, anacondas do not prey on human beings. In fact, when an anaconda smells the scent of a human being it moves away from the place. So it’s not them that pose a danger to us, but it is we who are a threat to them.

An anaconda is a constrictor. It kills its prey by wrapping and constricting itself around its prey till the prey dies of asphyxiation or lack of air. The fangs of the anaconda are non-poisonous. They only help the anaconda to get a tight hold of the prey so that wrapping itself around the prey becomes easier.

Once the anaconda bites a prey, it coils around its victim and suffocates the animal. Every time the animal releases its breath, the coils tighten, thereby stopping the prey from breathing. Post that, the lifeless body is swallowed whole by the predator. The best aspect about an anaconda is the fact that it does not waste anything since it swallows the victim whole along with feathers, beak, horns, heels - everything.

So next time you see an Anaconda snake, do not be afraid - it is just a harmless, gentle giant that is trying to live its life. Then of course, if you try to make the animal perceive you will endanger its habitat – you’re surely in for a surprise.

Touching it while in the steps through South America will probably be one of those adventures available only in your mind, however, if you happen to be in such position and thinking of touching comes to your current state of mind – beware!

You’ve been caution and informed about these giant reptiles. As a reminder and closing, have you ever thought about an anaconda snake eating people? It probably will never happen, only in pictures or coming close to it – but there have never been a reported case.

Authors : Michael Gutemberg

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Anaconda Snakes: Facts You May Never Want To Forget!

With its average length of more than 20 feet and weight that passes the mark of 550 pounds, the anacondas are no doubt the biggest snake that one can find in this planet. However there is one snake that gives the giant anaconda some competition in terms of length, and that other snake is the Asiatic Reticulated Python; in the scientific circles known as the "Python Reticulatus".

The longest Reticulated Python was measured to a length of 33 feet. A length of 33 feet may be gigantic, but even this python does not match up with the girth of the anaconda which is far bigger than that of the reticulated python. But make no mistake!

Anaconda snakes may not be the longest reptiles around, but they surely are the biggest in wide on averages that can be found in any given concentrated ratio across the world. The physic of a fully grown anaconda is extensive. The smooth body of this reptile is all muscles and nothing else. The anacondas make the use of their extreme muscular frame and strength to get hold of their prey.

Being a member of the constrictor family of reptiles, the anacondas first get hold of their prey using their sharp but non poisonous fangs. Then they coil themselves around the prey and make its kill by squeezing the entire amount of air out of the prey. The prey either dies of asphyxiation or is crushed to death, which makes their swallowing for the predator really easy.

The anacondas mainly feed on aquatic organisms, but it is also known to make wholesome meals of caimans, capybaras, deer, sheep and even jaguars. Owing to their extra large structure, these anacondas are slow moving creatures, so it mainly relies on its stealth mode and an element of surprise to catch its prey.

Anacondas are known to spend most of their lives in slow moving rivers, flooded forests and swamps. They are shy and solitary creatures that mind their own business unless they are hungry. This is the reason for them not being seen to often. The color of their skin which is of a dark green hue camouflages very well with their surrounding and adds up to their element of surprise in catching preys.

The anacondas are mostly found in the Amazon swamps of South America, and some explorers have even reported of witnessing anacondas of more than 100 feet. How far these reports are true no one knows as none of that size have be captured till date. Some experts use the skin of the anacondas measure the length of the reptiles, but this process is widely regarded as an inaccurate one.

The problem is, the skin or hide of these reptiles can be stretched or expanded with ease. So, numerous records by explorers claiming to have seen really gigantic anacondas should be taken with a pinch of salt. No matter how big or how small the anacondas are, the fact remains that they are very rare and beautiful creatures and are on the verge of extinction. So it’s our duty to protect them and not hunt them just for the sake of our curiosity and amusement, and the best form of protection that we can offer them is to leave them alone.

Authors : Michael Gutemberg

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=345789&ca=Pets

Some Common Mistakes in Training Your Dog

Probably any dog owner can tell you that training your dog isn't always as easy as it seems it should be. Most owners assume that after a few days or sessions of rehearsing commands and actions then the dog should just pick up on basic skills and that should be it. Many owners are surprised to find out that training your dog can take literally months depending on the dog, the owner, and what exactly is being taught. However sometimes there are common mistakes that dog owners make that are causing the process to take much longer and be much more difficult than it needs to be.

For one thing, it's good to remember that training your dog should be a positive experience for you and your dog. It's too easy for owners to get caught up in every little "mistake" that a dog makes and concentrates on punishing these mistakes rather than concentrating on rewarding a dog when she obeys or does something right. It's a very common mistake when training your dog to forget how much dogs crave that attention and approval from the owner and will do just about anything to get it. Concentrating on that, rather than on punishment, is going to be much more effective.

Another common mistake that you may be making when training your dog is thinking that you dog understands a word you're saying! Too many owners fail to realize that dogs have no memory and no grasp of language except to associate a few words with certain actions. If a dog has made a mess and you start yelling at her, she won't be able to connect your yelling with her mess. You need to actually catch a dog in the act of doing something wrong in order to properly correct her as she just cannot connect your words now with something she's done five hours ago or even five minutes ago. Don't make the mistake when training your dog of getting upset if she doesn't understand you or continues to make the same mistake if you're not catching her right then and there. Punishing her after the fact is pointless and ineffective.

And the last mistake you may be making when training your dog is getting excessively angry at her when she doesn't make the progress you think she should be making. Dogs are not spiteful and don't do things purposely to make you mad, so if she's not progressing as you think she should, either your expectations are unreasonable, you are making some other mistakes in training, or it's time to see a professional trainer. There's nothing wrong with asking a professional to help with training your dog and a pro may be able to show you some other mistakes you're making or help to readjust your expectations. Either way, by asking for this help in training your dog you're sure to not only be more successful but to also have a happier and calmer dog as well.

Authors : John Savage

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Bird House Building

Building a bird house is a fun and easy project, something you can do by yourself or with your kids. And a bird house that is well-designed and well-placed can bring many years of enjoyment, for you and the birds!

Before going through the effort of building a bird house, you should consider a few things. What type of bird are you going to attract? Each species has its own needs for the size of the house, and the location where it is placed. You also need to make sure you're building for the types of birds that are in your area. Also, do you have a place on your property to place a bird house that will be enticing to birds? If its not located correctly, you won't get any tenants. Also, as a landlord, can you maintain the house? While not difficult, it is important if you want feathered tenants each year. Lastly, do you have the tools and skills to build one? Instead of building from scratch, you might decide to build from a kit, which will save you a lot of cutting and drilling.

Once you decide you want to build a bird house, you'll need to get a set of bird house plans. A general set of plans will be useful if you want to the same style house for different types of birds, as each species has its own unique requirements for the bird house size. You can find several websites that have these types of plans, along with detailed building instructions. The plans will show you what pieces you will need to cut and the dimensions of those pieces for the particular type of bird you are building for.

Next, you'll need to select your building materials. There are different material options for building a bird house, but for a do-it-yourself (DIY) option, wood is typically the way to go. You'll want wood that is decay resistant, like cedar or exterior plywood. You'll also need to assemble the parts using a good quality exterior wood glue, nails or screws, and possibly caulking. Keep in mind, too, that if you are building from scratch you will need a saw, drill, and a Forstner drill bit that will create the correct hole size for the particular bird house you are building. And no, you won't need a dowel for the perch. Predators will find a perch more useful than the birds will!

If you do decide to finish your bird house with paint or stain, be sure to only finish the outside, never the inside, of the house. The chemicals in finishing products can be harmful to baby birds.

Finally, you will need to decide how to mount and where to place your bird house. Depending on the species of bird, there are different mounting options. Some can be hung from a wire, some should be attached to a tree, and others should be placed on top of a pole. Where you locate the house is important, too. Birds have certain criteria, such as being near water, or in a shaded area or open field, and they won't inhabit a house that does not meet their criteria. A little research will pay off in this area.

The first rule is to know the bird you are building the house for. No bird house is guaranteed to attract feathered tenants, but a well-designed and well-placed house will certainly increase the likelihood of succ

Authors : Jason Hampton
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