These pets are ready to ring in the New Year, how about you?
Happy New Year's, everyone!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Top Blog Posts Of 2012
The end of December just isn't complete without a year-end roundup, right? Today we've put together a list of our most popular blog posts from 2012. Did yours make the list?
- The Barreleye Spook Fish
- Black Cats - Unlucky Or Misjudged?
- The "Psychedelic" Mandarin Fish
- Duck-Billed Platypus - A Venomous Creature
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Cold Weather Animals
With the official arrival of winter last week, we thought it was a good time to talk about some animals that live (and thrive) in extreme cold weather conditions. So we searched through our archives and found some of our best posts for you; enjoy!
- Predators In The Snow (photo gallery)
- The Snowshoe Hare
- Arctic Foxes Survive Everyday Blizzards
- Lynx, The "Snowshoe" Cat
- The (Polar) Bear Necessities
Friday, December 21, 2012
Why Did Santa Choose Reindeer?
You know Dasher and Dance and Donner and Blitzen and all the rest of Santa's reindeer. But how much do you really know about these Christmas icons? The Jungle Store did a little digging and found out some pretty interesting tidbits.
So why did Santa choose reindeer as his method of transportation? Perhaps he was following tradition; Reindeer have been herded for centuries and used for transportation (though there's no word on how exactly Santa gets his to fly, other than Christmas magic).
Reindeer also have several features that make them well-equipped to work in the cold North Pole weather. They have specialized nasal bones that increase the surface of their nostrils, which helps them warm up the air they inhale before it reaches their lungs. And their hooves adapt to the winter weather, with hoof pads shrinking and tightening, allowing them to cut and dig through ice and snow to help them travel and find food.
Did you know that Santa's reindeer are all girls? They have to be, because male reindeer lose their antlers in the winter.
So why did Santa choose reindeer as his method of transportation? Perhaps he was following tradition; Reindeer have been herded for centuries and used for transportation (though there's no word on how exactly Santa gets his to fly, other than Christmas magic).
Reindeer also have several features that make them well-equipped to work in the cold North Pole weather. They have specialized nasal bones that increase the surface of their nostrils, which helps them warm up the air they inhale before it reaches their lungs. And their hooves adapt to the winter weather, with hoof pads shrinking and tightening, allowing them to cut and dig through ice and snow to help them travel and find food.
Did you know that Santa's reindeer are all girls? They have to be, because male reindeer lose their antlers in the winter.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
10 Pictures Of Cats In Christmas Trees
Why is it that cats are as attracted to Christmas trees as they are to catnip and your warm laptop? Does it awaken some primitive instinct, harkening back to the days of feral cats who climbed in the forests? Are they claiming it as their territory? Or is it just another example of cats getting in/climbing on/playing with something they shouldn't? Perhaps we'll never know the answer, but that doesn't make these pictures of cats in Christmas trees less entertaining.
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| Mmm, tasty fake plastic branches. |
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| This looks like a comfy place to sleep. |
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| Do you really think you should be chewing on that? |
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| Really? Before it's even out of the box? |
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Picture Of The Week - Motherly Protection
This incredible image shows a lioness attacking a crocodile as she tries to cross a stream in Africa. But what's even more incredible is why the lioness is attacking: It wasn't just to save herself, it was to protect her lion cubs from the deadly predator.
This photo is just one in a sequence that show the incredible events unfolding. The photographer told the Daily Mail: 'I watched a lioness carefully move out into the channel and then there was a huge splash in the water,' she said.
This photo is just one in a sequence that show the incredible events unfolding. The photographer told the Daily Mail: 'I watched a lioness carefully move out into the channel and then there was a huge splash in the water,' she said.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Spider Christmas Tree Tradition
Spiders are widely accepted as traditional Halloween decorations, taking their place with bats and black cats. But did you know in some parts of the world, such as Germany and Ukraine, spiders are a traditional part of Christmas?
There are several different versions of the legend of the spiders and the Christmas tree, but here is one of the most common: On Christmas eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for Christmas day, the day on which the little Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling.
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child's visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.
When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little Christ child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were God's creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.
With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little Christ child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold. According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hung tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Christmas tree.
There are several different versions of the legend of the spiders and the Christmas tree, but here is one of the most common: On Christmas eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for Christmas day, the day on which the little Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling.
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child's visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.
When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little Christ child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were God's creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.
With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little Christ child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold. According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hung tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Christmas tree.
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Jungle Store's Christmas Stocking Stuffers
And if you need some stockings to stuff...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Picture Of The Week - Hey, That's My Nose!
This week's picture isn't quite as astounding or head-scratching as some of our others, but we had to post it for several reasons. 1) It's adorable. 2) It's just puts us in the Christmas spirit. Although, we do feel for that poor snowman ;-)
How many of you have seen a sight like this in your backyards?
Monday, December 3, 2012
Christmas Gift Guide: Ideas For New Moms
Whether you are a new mom yourself or just have one on your Christmas list, The Jungle Store has tons of great Christmas and baby gifts for you, from blankets and booties to toys and teething rings! Take a look at some of our favorite picks for this holiday season.
Santa Baby & My 1st Christmas onesies
Be sure to visit our website to see our entire selection of baby gifts and toys!