Unusual Pets – The Antlion

The Antlion is a member of the family Myrmeleontoidea. Interestingly, the term Antlion only applies to the larval form of this insect (see picture one.) Although the adult version has different names in different countries, there is no English name for them. Some people call them Antlion Lacewings, but most just refer to them by the larval name of Antlion. To prevent confusion, quite a few people in North America refer to the larval form as “Doodlebugs” because they leave a doodle like trail in the sand when they move from place to place. The Antlion is spread throughout the world and can usually be found in arid sandy areas that have ant colonies nearby.

The adult Antlions look a bit like Damselflies and Dragonflies, but they have different antennae than these more well known insects. Antlions have “clubbed” antennae (look like golf clubs) which are about as long as the head and thorax combined.

Antlion adults are poor fliers and only venture out near dusk when they flutter about looking for a mate. Those found in true desert areas are quite active and will bite if they land on you.

Although the adult Antlion is fairly attractive, the larval stage is quite ferocious looking. It has a robust fusiform body (spindle like body form that tapers at each end), a thorax with three sets of legs and a plump abdomen. The neck, or pro-thorax is quite slender and the head is large and appears to resemble a slightly flattened square. The head has large sickle-like jaws with several sharp hollow projections. The jaws are formed by the mandibles (lower jawbones), and the maxillae (located below the mandibles they manipulate food during chewing.) Each pincer, made up of a mandible and maxilla, encloses a canal which allows the larva to inject venom into its prey.

Another unusual feature of Antlion larva is that it lacks an anus. All of its waste generated during the larval stage is stored and then released as meconium (earliest stool) by the adult while it is still in the cocoon.

The larva makes a globular cocoon of sand stuck together by a fine silk which is spun from a slender spinneret on the back end of the body. The cocoon, which is buried in the ground, can be anywhere from just under the surface to several centimetres down in the sand. It remains there for about a month going from the larval stage to the pupal stage which is very quiescent (inactive) and then to the sexually mature adult stage, which digs its way up to the surface, leaving the pupal integument behind. Once it reaches the surface, it rests for about 20 minutes while its wings open and then it flies off looking for a mate. The cycle from egg to adult Antlion can take up to two to three years, depending on the availability of the food supply in the area where the insect is located. Another interesting feature of this insect is that the adult stage is very much larger than the larval stage.

The Antlion probably got its name from the fact that its primary prey is ants. The suffix “lion” means eater, so Antlion literally means “ant eater.”

The larva digs a pit in the sand and lurks in a hole in the bottom of the pit which is constructed with sides that are on the verge of collapse. When another insect, usually an ant, steps over the side of the pit, they slide down to the larva which grabs the ant and sucks the fluid out of it then the larva flicks the carcass out of the pit. As the larva grows larger, it builds larger pits and catches larger prey.

If you would like to have Antlions as pets, you will have to keep them in a terrarium with three to four inches of sand in the bottom. You can buy Antlions at some pet shops that specialize in exotic pets. Make sure that the top of your terrarium has a mesh fine enough to prevent the ant food supply from escaping.

An Antlion pet is not one you would handle, they are the type of pet you just spend time watching.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Polydactyl Cat

Polydactyl cats are also called mitten cats, mitten foot, thumb cats, boxers, boxing cats, six-finger cats, Boston Thumb cats, Hemingway cats and Hemingways. The latter two names originated from the fact that author Ernest Hemingway loved these cats and had several. After his death, his former Key West, Florida home became a museum and home for his cats, which now number about 50, half of which are Polydactyl cats.

Actually, referring to the Polydactyl cats as a breed is really a misnomer, because a Polydactyl cat is one with a congenital abnormality. These cats have extra toes. This abnormality affects many animals, including humans, and is referred to as Polydactylism or Hyperdactylism.

A Canadian cat named “Tiger” is the current Guinness World Record holder with a total of 27 toes. However, “Mooch” owned by a couple in Maine, USA, has 28 toes. They have submitted documentation to this affect in the hope of having him declared the new official record holder.

Originally referred to as the American Polydactyl cat, because of the numerous ones on the American east coast, the word American has been dropped as it has been determined that cats with extra toes show up, from time to time, in many countries. They are very common in the Cardigan area of Wales and are called “Cardi-Cats.”

Normal cats have five toes on each front foot and four toes on each hind foot. A Polydactyl cat can have up to seven toes on each foot. One peculiar thing about this genetic mutation is that these cats usually have the same number of toes on each foot. (I said usually, but as you can see from Tiger's description above, it isn't always the same number on each foot.)

Some cats affected with this abnormality have difficulty learning to walk as kittens, however, others have no difficulty and some even show superior dexterity such as opening latches and catching thrown objects. These feats (no pun intended) are not usually found in “normal” cats.

Polydactylism most commonly occurs in the front feet of affected cats. The second most common occurrence involves all four feet and the least common occurrence involves the hind feet only.

At one time, in Europe, Polydactyl cats were considered to be “witches familiars” and were quickly killed. However, they were extremely popular with sailors, because their extraordinary climbing and hunting abilities kept the rat population in ships under control. In fact, many sailors felt that Polydactyl cats were good luck, so a large number of ships carried them. This probably is the reason that cities with ports ended up with more of these cats than land bound cities. It also explains why the United States east coast has so many cats with the Polydactyl abnormality. Many port cities exist there, particularly ones which catered to the sailing ship fleets.

If you get a Polydactyl cat, be sure to keep a watch on its toe nails. Since some of the toes stick out at odd angles, the nails do not get worn down by normal scratching. Therefore, these nails will need to be trimmed to prevent them from growing into the cat's flesh and causing an infection.

Until next time,

Teia

PS from Dad. I'd never heard of Polydactyl cats until recently. However, after reading about them, I have to say that the old adage, “Truth is often stranger than fiction,” holds true.

Dog Breeds: Bichon Frise

The name, in French, means curly white lap dog. Other names for this hypoallergenic dog are Bichon a poil frise and Bichon Tenerife.

The Bichon Frise is a descendent of the Barbet or Water Spaniel and was originally called a Barbichon. This name was later shortened to Bichon. There are four categories of Bichon: the Bichon Tenerife, the Bichon Havanese, the Bichon Malteise and the Bichon Bolognaise. All originated in the Mediterranean area.

These happy, lively little dogs, which are friendly and outgoing, love being the centre of attention and becoming a member of their human family.

The dark, alert eyes are full of expression. The nose is black, soft and shiny. The white, soft, corkscrew hair, over a silky undercoat, needs daily grooming to remain in tip-top condition. A small amount of the coat around the ears, snout, paws and parts of the body (not more than 10 percent of the body in total area) may have a buff, apricot or cream hue.

Height is 9 to 12 inches (23-30 cm) and weight 7 to 20 pounds (3-10 Kg). Puppy's noses are pink, but gradually turn black as they grow older. They also have cream or pink markings under their white coat, but these markings should be dark by the time the dog reaches 18 months of age. The legs and head are in proportion to the size of the body. The tail and ears are not docked or cropped. These dogs are of medium to high intelligence.

Because they require a lot of brushing, clipping and bathing, dead hair and dander is constantly being removed. As a result, these dogs make good pets for people who usually have allergic reactions to other dogs. It must be remembered, however, that individual dogs may have more or less allergens than the breed average.

The Bichon Frise is sensitive, gentle mannered, affectionate and playful. It usually gets along well with children and other pets.

The average lifespan of the Bichon is 12 to 13 years, although individual dogs may live for a longer or shorter period. These dogs are prone to cancer, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) and liver shunts.

My Mom and Dad had a Bichon Frise named “Brandy” when they lived in Regina. She was a sweet little puppy, happy and active. However, as she got a little older, she began to limp and often walked on three legs, refusing to put any weight on her left hind leg. A trip to the veterinarian revealed that she had hip dysplasia. As a courtesy to the breeder, Mom phoned her and let her know that one of the parents was passing a hip dysplasia problem on to some, or all, of the pups. The breeder said, “You bought her, so it's your problem now,” and slammed down the phone. Obviously this breeder was not a good one and was only in it to make money, not to ensure that her stock was of good quality.

“Brandy” was operated on and had the ball removed from the top of her left rear femur. It changed her whole personality. Even after she was completely healed and had undergone rehabilitation so she could use her leg again, she became quiet, sad, slow moving and sullen. When she was about 8 ½ years old, she showed signs of chewing problems, so Mom and Dad took her to the Veterinarian. She examined “Brandy” and advised that she had cancer of the mouth and jaw. When Mom asked how long she had, the veterinarian replied, “she will let you know.” Several months later, she stopped eating. A few days after that, she came up to Mom and laid her head in Mom's lap and whined and closed her eyes. It was time! Mom and Dad took her to the veterinarian where she was put to sleep.

Friends of the family have a Bichon, “Charlie,” who is very outgoing and friendly and much loved by his “Mom and Dad.” So, if you would like to have a friendly white dog that loves attention, you may want to consider a Bichon Frise as your next dog. Just remember, they need a lot of maintenance to keep them looking good.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Australian Mist

The citizens of Australia have always wanted an Australian breed of cat. As far back as the 1890's, attempts to create such a breed were started, but none were successful.

In the mid 1970's Dr. Truda Staede of Nintu Cattery in Australia submitted an idea to the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (NSW) Cat Control (this body was later replaced by the Cat Fanciers' Association of NSW, which is a member of the Coordinating Cat Council of Australia) to develop a breed of cat that would be truly unique to Australia.

She submitted an Experimental Plan outlining her idea to use Burmese cats, Abyssinian cats and the common domestic cat or “moggy.” The Burmese was chosen for its relaxed nature, general size and shape, the colours brown, blue, lilac and chocolate and their pattern, particularly their ghost spotted pattern. The Abyssinian was chosen for its intelligence, colour pattern and to obtain the ticking (agouti) gene to develop the tabby pattern. By crossing them with domestic tabby cats, she ensured the tabby pattern and also their strength and rigour.

The breeding plan was very successful and in 1978, the new cats turned out to be what was planned. They were named the “Spotted Mist” cat. However, occasionally cats were born with a marbled pattern. It was determined that this pattern occurred when two cats with the masked classic gene were bred to each other. It was decided that both the spotted and the marbled patterns should be included in the breed, but the name “Marbled Spotted Mist” was too awkward a name, so the name was changed to “Australian Mist.”

The Australian Mist is a medium-sized, short-haired cat with a round head and large expressive eyes in shades of green. Its coat is either spotted or marbled. The base or ground colour is cream (any other base colour, including white, means that the cat is not a purebred Australian Mist). The delicate pattern colour is one of seven colours: blue, lilac, brown, chocolate, caramel, gold or peach. Random ticking in the solid colour areas gives it an appearance of being covered by a misted veil, hence the name. The nose, chin and whisker pads are broad, giving the face a generous open look, with delicate tabby markings. Legs and tails frequently contain rings of the pattern colour.

These cats are hearty eaters, so care must be taken that they don't overeat and become obese. Their short, dense hair is easy to care for and only requires a weekly brushing, They will shed their hair, and during this time, more frequent brushing is required.

The Australian Mist is a very healthy cat and it is very unusual for one to have a health problem. Their life expectancy is 15 to 19 years. Breeders of this species of cat keep meticulous records and every single cat's lineage can be traced back to the original base group. As a result, prospective breeders are thoroughly screened to ensure that they will keep the breed pure and that all documentation is factual and complete.

As kittens, Australian Mist cats are very lively, and even as adults they enjoy playing. They can be trained to fetch and walk on a leash. Nothing much perturbs them as they are very laid back in temperament. They love people and will plunk themselves down on any empty lap, whether they are invited or not. They prefer company, so make excellent pets for invalids and house bound seniors. They make perfect pets for children of any age, even very little ones, as they enjoy being handled and are not inclined to scratch.

The Australian Mist is very easy to show as they enjoy all the attention. Because of their mild manner and fantastic appearance, they frequently win the coveted “All Breeds Supreme in show awards.”

At the current time Australian Mist cats are being bred in Australia and Great Britain. There are some neutered/spayed Australian Mist cats in the United States and several breeders there are attempting to sign agreements so they can breed these fabulous cats.

So, if you want a loving, beautiful cat that can be taught tricks, you may want to consider the Australian Mist as your next feline companion. One word of caution though, they are very pricey and you will have to undergo a rigorous interrogation by the breeder to ascertain if you would be a suitable owner. You should also know that if you are purchasing a companion cat, that it will be spayed or neutered prior to being sold to you. This prevents any unauthorized breeding from taking place. As noted above, very strict rules apply to this particular breed of cat.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: Alaskan Malamute

One of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, this breed originated in the Eskimo settlement of Malamute. Affectionate, friendly, loyal and a devoted companion this breed likes people. The broad head and obliquely set eyes add to its dignified appearance. According to the American Kennel Club, the Alaskan Malamute has a well furred tail carried over the back like a “waving plume.” Apparently in stormy conditions it will curl this tail around its eyes, protecting them from damage caused by blowing snow.

Puppy litters for this breed range from 4 to 10 puppies. Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, although a British study involving 14 dogs found the median lifespan to be 10.7 years. The discrepancy may be due to the size of the study, or the fact that it took place in Britain which is a warmer climate than Alaska where the breed originated from.

To survive Alaskan temperatures and pull a heavy sled at a steady speed this breed needs to be powerful and heavily boned. An Alaskan Malamute's weight is 85 to 125 pounds (38-56 Kg) and its height 23 to 28 inches (58-71 cm).

The Alaskan Malamute is a good family dog because it is great around children and it is very protective of them. As a result, it is not a good idea to discipline children around the dog.

Unfortunately, it has a tendency to show aggression toward other dogs. Its size and strength require that it be handled firmly and carefully.

Its thick double coat ranges from light grey to black or from gold through shades of red to liver, always with white on its face, chest, under body, legs, feet and underside of tail. The only solid colour permissible for this breed is white.

Apparently the Alaskan Malamute is difficult to train, so training sessions should be kept short and fun for the dog, or it will lose interest.

They make good house dogs as they are nimble around furniture and small objects, but they require plenty of time outdoors getting large amounts of exercise. If kept as an outdoor dog, they must have plenty of shade in the summer and should be provided with a paddling pool of cold water so they can lay in it to cool off. They love snow.

The Alaskan Malamute has a tendency to run off, so they should either be on a leash or within a fenced in area. They are a fairly quiet dog as they do not bark very much, although they do “talk” using a “woo woo” sound and they also have a tendency to howl like a wolf on occasion.

Known health problems include cancer, hip dysplasia, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.

My Dad's mom had an Alaskan Malamute whose father was a beautiful gold colour. "Rocky" took after his mother and ended up black with some white on him. He looked like a black bear and was nearly as big weighing between 150 and 180 pounds. He liked other dogs and even cats, but he was a great watch dog. He loved children and adored my Grandma. Whenever anyone came to the door, he would stand between the open door and Grandma. If Grandma invited them in, he would lay beside her chair. Once when dad was visiting, he came in the door quickly and "Rocky" came to meet him. Grandma yelled, "It's OK, it's Bert, and "Rocky" skidded to a stop and laid his head on Dad's foot and whined quietly, almost like he was apologizing to dad. Unfortunately he got cancer and had to be put down.

If you are looking for a loyal dog with plenty of stamina that enjoys activity and exercise of all kinds, then the Alaskan Malamute is the dog for you.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Aegean Cat

This breed of cat originated in the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea and it is the only native Greek cat. It is quite prolific in Greece, but very few seem to have been removed from that country. There are several references to a fledgeling Greek Cat Fancy Association attempting to commence proper breeding techniques on these semi-feral cats, but extensive research fails to actually find such an association. Perhaps photographer Hans Sylvester's famous photographs of the cats of the Greek Islands prompted such a group to form, but if it did, it appears to be non functioning at present. At any rate, there is a large colony of these cats spread though the islands, and for want of a better name, they have been called the Aegean Cat. This breed of cat is noted for keeping the rodent population under control as they are excellent predators. Most of them live outdoors and obtain their food from handouts given by visiting tourists and cat loving locals. These cats love fish and line up on the shore when the fishing fleet returns each evening. The local fishermen have taken to tossing them fish that are not merchantable.

They are very social cats and get along well with humans. If taken into a home, they adapt well, even to apartment living. They are intelligent, active, lively and communicative, not being afraid to vocalize to get attention.

Their coat is semi-long-haired in winter, but sheds to a lighter coat during summer months. Their coat is either bi-colour or tri-colour with true white always being one of the colours and covering 1/3 to 2/3 of the body. Other colours can be blue, red, black or cream, with or without stripes.

The Aegean Cat is medium sized with a sturdy muscular build. The body is relatively long with strong, round, medium-size feet. The tail is moderately long and straight. Hair covered ears have a wide base and rounded tips and sit widely spaced on a medium-size head that is wide from side to side. Their eyes are Oriental in shape and are always a shade of green.

The Greek Cat Welfare Society (http://www.greekcatwelfare.moonfruit.com) formed in 1992, is attempting to care for these cats with various programs including spaying, neutering and feeding programs. It is not known if any of these cats are available for adoption.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: The German Shepherd

Originating in Germany in the 1800's, this dog was originally used for herding sheep, but now it is used for police and security work, as guide dogs, sniffer dogs, tracking dogs, guard dogs and companion dogs. It is the world's most numerous dog breed. Litters are usually large in number. Also called the Deutscher Schaferhund and by its original name Alsation.

This dog is 23 to 25 inches at the shoulders (57.5-62.5 cm), weighs 75 to 95 pounds (34 – 43 Kg) and has a life expectancy of 12 to 13 years.

Indiscriminate breeding has created many problems, both physically and behaviourally. Arthritis of the joints, eye disease, gastrointestinal disease, hip dysplasia and other problems are quite common.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police experienced so many problems with their German Shepherd police dogs that they discontinued using German Shepherds and switched to the smaller more agile Belgian Shepherds. Because of the extensive training given to their dogs, they could not afford to have them develop serious medical or behavioural problems requiring euthanasia after only a few years of duty.

German Shepherds come in black and tan, black and grey, solid black, yellow, cream and white. Dogs of the last three colours are not allowed to enter dog shows.

A German Shepherd's coat is short, straight and firm with a thick undercoat. When standing, a Shepherd's hocks are angled rather than perpendicular and the front legs are straight. Thighs are strong and muscular and the chest is deep. Erect high-set ears give the impression of alertness. Arched, round well-formed feet have large pads. The large black nose is extended to a flat tip.

Well-bred specimens of the breed are attentive, alert, resilient, steady of nerve, loyal, calm, obedient, responsive, self-assured, courageous and tractable. Lesser animals are nervous, fearful, timid or aggressive. So, as you can see, the quality of individual dogs varies considerably.

Mom and Dad had a German Shepherd – Keeshond cross that developed hip dysplasia, paranoia, arthritis and aggression. He had to be euthanized when he was 8 ½ years old. His brother, who had no behavioural or medical problems of any kind, is still alive at 15 ¾ years of age. So, even dogs from the same litter vary greatly in health and behaviour. This makes choosing a German Shepherd a difficult decision as you can never be certain of just what you will get.

However, if you get a good one, you will have a fabulous dog that will show you loyalty and devotion for many years.

Until next time,

Teia