Hobbies And Interests
Birds
Birds are vertebrate animals that are warm-blooded, have bodies covered with feathers, and have forelimbs in the form of wings. Birds are grouped in the biological class Aves, which consists of more than 9,500 species. Pigeons are among the many birds that thrive in temperate climates.
Pigeon is the common name for members of family Columbidae. Primarily cosmopolitan land birds, pigeons are plump, have heavy plumage and short necks. The names pigeon and dove are practically synonymous, however, doves represent the smaller variety within the pigeon family. Pigeons mainly consume seeds and fruits. They are classified in the family Columbidae, order Columbiformes.
Mammals
Mammals consist of more than 4,000 vertebrate species within the class Mammalia. All mammals are warm-blooded, have four limbs, body hair and milk glands existent in females. Subclasses of mammals include those that have pouches or Marsupialia; those that lay eggs or Monotremata; and placental mammals or Placentalia. Coyotes are one of the numerous placental mammals living in temperate environments. Coyote or Canis latrans is a species within the family Canidae, and is indigenous to the western region of North America. Also called prairie, brush or swift wolf, coyotes inhabit deserts, open woodlands, prairies and brush country. Chiefly nocturnal, these mammals have the appearance of a mid-sized dog, and eat small animals, plant matter and even garbage. Coyotes are classified in the family Canidae, order Carnivora.
Fish
Fish are aquatic vertebrates that inhabit all types of bodies of water throughout the earth. Fish are cold-blooded animals that have fins and gills, with the majority also possessing smooth scales. With more than 30,000 species, fish are divided among three classes: cartilaginous fish or Chondrichthyes; jawless fish or Agnatha; and the bony fish or Osteichthyes. Tilapia are among many bony fish inhabiting waters of temperate climates. Tilapia is the common name for many species of freshwater fish who are members of the class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Cichlidae. They are primarily indigenous to the Middle East and Africa, but have been introduced to other regions worldwide. Many are cultivated on fish farms due to their major commercial presence as food items.
Reptiles
Reptiles are dry-skinned, cold-blooded vertebrates that are members of the order Reptilia. Even though the most abundant variety of reptiles inhabit the tropics, many species are found throughout temperate regions of the Earth. Reptiles usually have scales and grow between 2 inches and 30 feet in length. Rattlesnakes are one of numerous reptiles that thrive in temperate environments. Rattlesnake is the common name for many species of poisonous snakes in the family Crotalidae or "pit viper family." Rattlesnakes have a triangular head and are distinguished by a rattle-like structure at the end of their tail. Growing up to 8 feet in length, rattlesnakes feed off of various small animals including birds and rodents. Rattlesnakes are categorized in the order Squamata, class Reptilia.
Amphibians
Amphibians are cold-blooded animals that represent the class Amphibia and have features similar to reptiles and fish. Spending their life both on land and in water, amphibians consist of more than 3,500 species, divided among the orders Gymnophiona (caecilians), Anura (toads and frogs) and Urodela (newts and salamanders). Salamanders encompass more than 200 species, and are found in abundance in the moist, temperate regions of North America. Most salamanders grow less than 6 inches in length, with the exception of Megalobatrachus japonicus at more than 5 feet long. All salamanders avoid direct sunlight, and eat small animals including worms, insects and snails.