14 Animals with Really Strange Noses

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We always wonder what was Mother Nature thinking when she decided to make certain animals look weird, and sometimes even creepy, especially their noses. In this article, we list some animals on Earth with really funny and strange noses.
Animals with strange noses
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Did You Know?
To compensate for poor eyesight and hearing ability, some animals like the star-nosed mole, water shrew, and rhinoceros have a sense of smell that is highly developed, which also helps them to hunt for food.
Mother Nature surely knows how to surprise us with her strange creations on Earth, with us humans being one of them! When we talk of strange and weird creatures, the animal kingdom definitely tops the list, and it simply gets weirder by the day. There exist some animals with really weird and strange noses, that we bet you didn't know about at all; speaking of which, aquatic animals are not far behind. These range from being as tiny as a frog, to as large as an elephant. Looking at their noses will leave you wondering as to why they were made that way. These creatures use their noses to hunt for prey, attract the opposite sex, eat, drink (Yes, drinking!), or even to fight for their territories. And you thought breathing was all that a nose is used for! Some of them may be creepy-looking, but are interesting nonetheless. Well, we leave this for you to decide. Without much delay, we bring you a list of some animals with really offbeat and freakish noses.

Animals with Weird Noses

Proboscis Monkey
Proboscis Monkeys

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Star-nosed Moles
This hamster-looking creature surely tops this list. This little animal is a usual sight in eastern Canada and northeastern United States. Its nose is made up of 22 tentacles, forming a star shape, and is also one of the fastest foragers. It almost looks like an animal with no face. It uses its nose to search for worms and insects even at night. You've left us completely dumbstruck and open-mouthed Mother Nature!

Proboscis Monkeys
Now this is someone with a big nose in the monkey family, and we mean it. The nose of a Proboscis monkey nearly reaches up to seven inches, which at times hangs down over its mouth and has to be pushed aside to eat food. It is also used to attract the females for mating. Didn't we say it is used for other purposes too? This species is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

Pinocchio Frogs
The Pinocchio frog is a tree frog found in the mountains of Indonesia. It is named so because of its Pinocchio-like nose. It can inflate and enlarge its nose when it is calling out. The tip of its nose points up when it is vocal, and down when it is silent.

Snub-nosed Monkeys
This beautiful golden monkey is weird in a cute way. It is allergic to rainfall, and sneezes A LOT when it rains, making it easy for hunters to hunt them down during wet days. The upturned nose that faces forward gets filled with water, resulting in a plethora of sneezes. It is also listed as one of the endangered species. We don't know yet if its nose is of much use, other than breathing.

Mandrills
No, this is not any makeup-ed monkey, but one with natural coloration, having a bright-red nose with white- or blue-colored stripes around it. The females are a little dull in color as compared to the males.

Pigs
Although a common sight, pigs use their noses to find food like insects, worms, and rotten food waste. They have a tremendous sense of smell. This is possible due to the large round disk of cartilage at the tip of the snout.

Aardvarks
Translated as the 'Earth pig', this nocturnal animal is a relative of the elephant, and not the pig. It uses its long, pig-like snout to sniff out food, by swinging it side to side to pick up the scent of termites and ants.

Hammerhead Sharks
This unusual shark has a protruded nose that runs horizontally along its mouth. It includes the shark's nostrils, that are set further apart. It does much more than just smelling. This weird nose enables the shark to hold down prey before eating, and helps it sense prey with better accuracy than other shark counterparts. This is because the distance between the nostrils helps it judge the direction of a smell.

Elephants
Ahem! Have you ever tried drinking through your nose? No, right? We simply can't. But this huge mammal that we are talking about here definitely can. When you think of weird noses, how can our loving elephants be ignored. Yes, we are talking about their long, long trunks, that do much more than sniffing. They can breathe, touch, taste, drink, pick up branches and other things, etc. The trunk functions as a nose, lip, and an additional hand too!

Elephant Seals
Elephant seals, with their big noses, can be found everywhere around the oceans. However, only the adult males have big noses, which allows them to make thundering screams. It also helps them store water to prevent loss of body fluids during the mating season, when they leave the beaches in search of food and water. Ever thought water could be stored in a nose? We told you, it just gets weirder!

Elephant Shrews
Another adorable animal, the elephant shrew is neither an elephant nor a shrew, but is related to both. It usually hunts for food on the ground with its long, active, and squirmy nose, which mainly includes beetles and spiders.

Sawfish
Also called the carpenter shark, the sawfish has a long, narrow, and flattened nose extension, that resembles a saw. It is covered with electrosensitive pores, that helps detect movement of prey nearby, and lets it rummage through sandy or muddy water to catch hold of them.

Unicorn Fish
Probably one of the most unique-looking fish on Earth, the unicorn fish has a long and pointed nose like a horn, protruding forward of its eyes. It is used to protect themselves from predators.

Tapirs
The prehensile snout of the tapir is a soft, long, and highly flexible part of its body, that can be bent and moved in all directions in search of food. It can also grab leaves and branches from low-level trees and bushes.
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So, this was our list of the animals with unusual noses. Whether you agree or not, God was in a really creative mood when He made them. Which one do you think was the weirdest? Please feel free to drop in a line or two in the comments section below.

Tips to Take Care of a Black Piranha

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Black piranhas, also called redeye piranhas, are carnivorous sea dwellers mostly found in South America (Amazon and Orinoco basins). Hobbyist and enthusiasts are really keen to tame this species due to its unique temperament and physical characteristics. In case you are one such enthusiast
Black piranha care tips
Fast Fact:
Piranhas grow more aggressive with age. Therefore, precaution should be taken during tank maintenance or while feeding them.
Black piranhas, scientifically termed as Serrasalmus rhombeus, are somewhat shy and solitary fish. However, don't expect them to be shy when preying for food. These piranhas being meat-eaters feed mostly on smaller fish and invertebrates.
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They have a powerful body, really strong jaws, and several sharp teeth. So in case you plan to have one of these in your aquarium, it's probably a good idea to not dunk your hand in the tank.

Below given are some facts and figures about this species, followed by the caring tips. Check them out.

Classification
Common Name:     Black Piranha
Binomial Name:     Serrasalmus Rhombeus
Tank Size:     75-100 Gallons
Ideal Water Temp:     74-84°F
Ideal Water pH:     4.5-7.5
Diet:     Carnivore
Temperament:     Aggressive
Maximum Growth:     Up to 17"


How to Care for a Black Piranha

black piranha

Setting Up a Tank
❖ As these fish grow up to 17 inches in length, a 75- to 100-gallon tank is perfect. Also, being freshwater fish, they require highly oxygenated and clean water. To ensure the water conditions remain suitable, it's ideal to use canister filtration and wet/dry sump-based filtration. One should also ensure ample internal water-flow that would maintain oxygen levels. This can be achieved by using a spray bar or additional power heads.

❖ Weekly water changes are also required in order to get rid of accumulated nitrates (as a result of decayed food). When changing water, replace approximately 25% of the existing water with new water. Doing this would help maintain the best water quality.

❖ Lastly, maintaining proper water temperature is crucial too. Use a heater to maintain the water temperature somewhere between 75 to 80°F. Also, ensure that the water pH levels are in the range of 4.5 to 7.5.

Tank Decoration and Safety
❖ When setting up the tank, safety comes first, especially from fish that could prove detrimental to humans. Try to keep wires of filters and power heads outside the tank, this is because, in case any loose wires hang around in the tank, the piranha might chew on them. This could prove harmful to the fish and to you too.

❖ Secondly, keep the lid of the tank closed at all times, and keep the tank at a considerable height if you have kids. Piranhas do not spare humans, they would bite upon seeing a finger or hand submerged in the water considering it to be food. Also, piranhas have a tendency to leap, so it's always a good idea to keep the lid closed in order to avoid mishaps.

❖ Coming to decoration, as piranhas are freshwater fish, introducing a sandy substrate, some aquatic plants, and some smooth rocks or bog-wood would do the trick. Also, when illuminating the tank, keep in mind that piranhas hate bright lighting; hence, use a low-intensity bulb or tube.

Mating and Tankmates
❖ In case you plan to add one more piranha to the tank, don't do so. Piranhas are solitary fish, they do not enjoy company of other fish, even if they are fellow piranhas. Introducing fish bigger than the piranhas would make the atmosphere more tense, whereas smaller fish would be preyed upon by piranhas.

❖ If you plan to breed them, take the female out after the process of spawning. The male is known to look after the eggs, but the young ones should be transferred to another tank after they hatch.

Diet
❖ What's for food? Not veggies for sure! For food, piranhas like crustaceans, smaller fish, and invertebrates. Juveniles must be fed 2-4 times a day, whereas the older ones can be fed 1-2 times.

❖ Feed fish flesh, insects, bloodworms, tubifex worms, crustaceans (flesh) like prawns, shrimp, barnacles, etc. Occasionally, you could also feed portions of white fish and feeder fish. Do not feed mammal meat (chicken, beef, etc.) to the piranha as such meat contains a lot of fat which could affect the health of the piranha.

❖ You could also consider feeding frozen fish in case you fail to get live fish. Dried worms too are a good alternative to live food.
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As is evident from the points mentioned above, black piranhas are extremely aggressive and solitary sea creatures. They are fairly hardy and ideally not suited to be owned by children or inexperienced handlers. One thing is for sure though, owning a black piranha is like owning a really unique fish like no other on this earth.

Rules to Play the Slapjack Card Game

If you're looking for a simple and easy card game to pass time, Slapjack's perfect. This article provides rules and instructions to play the game. Take a look!
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Slapjack card game rule
Try Snap
Unlike Slapjack, players instead of slapping jacks, look for identical cards played on top of each other. For instance, if a 5 is played on top of another 5 (irrespective of suit or color), the first player to yell 'snap' and slap the last card, wins the pile.
Slapjack is one of the simplest card games that require a player to be alert and respond quickly. The game is mostly taught to kids as one of their very first card games. However, it can very well be enjoyed by teens or adults too, and is a great way to pass time.

A lot of people find Slapjack similar to Egyptian Rat Screw, and they're absolutely right. Both games do share some common rules. Firstly, both require cards to be played blind; and secondly, the winner is the player who acquires all the cards in the deck. So, here is a quick look at the Slapjack game rules.

How to Play Slapjack

Game Objective
➔ To be the player to acquire all 52 cards.

Game Setup
➔ The game can be played by a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 8 players. However, if you wish to include more than 4 players, consider using an additional deck.

➔ Sit in a circle, such that the center can be used as a play area. Then, deal all the cards face down to all players. It's not necessary that the players receive equal number of cards.

➔ Once all cards are dealt, the players should neatly form a pile of their respective cards (face down) in front of them.

Playing a Round at Slapjack
➔ The player on the dealer's left picks the topmost card from his pile and places it face up in the center. When playing a card, the player must necessarily place it away from him/her so that the other players can easily view the card. Also, a player should turn his card very quickly to avoid other players seeing the face of the card before him.

➔ The players keep taking turns in placing a card face up in the center until someone plays a jack. This is where the real fun begins. Once a jack is played, all the (alert) players try to slap the jack. The first to do so claims all the played cards along with the jack. He would then turn the claimed cards face down, place them under his pile of cards and shuffle the whole (now larger) pile.

➔ The slapping rule is bound to create disputes; therefore, it should be noted that the player whose hand is directly on top of the jack (lowest) wins the pile.

➔ In case a player wrongly slaps the pile (when not a jack), he must give a card from his pile face down to the player of the slapped card as a penalty.
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➔ If a player is left with no cards, he gets one last chance to slap at the next played jack. If he succeeds, he gets a new pile to play; if he doesn't he is out of the game.

Winning
➔ The game continues in this manner until one player wins all the cards, and he is declared the winner.

Amazing Facts About Red Crab Migration

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One of the most spectacular phenomena of nature is the migration of Christmas Island red crabs in Australia every year. To know more facts about this unusual occurrence, take a look at this article.
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Red crab migration fact
Did You Know?
Red crabs are the only species of crabs where both, males and females migrate to breed, whereas in other species, only the females make the long march in order to deposit their fertilized eggs into the sea.
Imagine you are driving or walking down the road, and suddenly you see a sea of red crabs crossing it. Weird and amazing, isn't it? Some of you may discard it as a weird dream of getting caught up among a swarm of crabs walking towards you. Well, this isn't any strange dream! This spectacular sight can be seen in actual in Christmas Island in Australia.
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The Christmas Island red crab, also called Gecarcoidea natalis, is a species of land crab native to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. It is located 1,625 miles (2,600 km) northwest of Perth, which is home to many animal and plant species. It is well-known for the mass migration of about 50 - 120 million red crabs each year during October or November. All you will see is the mass of these countless number of crabs seething the roads and cliffs, emerging from the forest and heading to the sea. Here are some more interesting facts about this unusual phenomenon of nature.

Annual Red Crab Migration

Description

These are large crabs, with their carapace measuring up to 4.6 inches wide. The males are usually larger than the females. However, the females have a broader abdomen and smaller claws in comparison. They are bright-red to orange in color. They remain active during the day, but can even die because of dehydration. They usually feed on fresh and dried fallen leaves, fruits, flowers, and seedlings. During the dry weather, they retreat into their shelters to retain moisture and salts in the body.
Why Do Red Crabs Migrate?

At the onset of the wet season during October-November, most of the adult red crabs that inhabit Christmas Island suddenly start their mass migration from the forest to the sea to breed. The rains provide enough moist conditions for them to complete their long and difficult journey of about 5 miles, which usually takes 5 - 7 days.
It All Depends on the Moon

The timing of the migration is linked to the phases of the moon and the lunar schedule. The crabs mate at such a time that the females can produce and develop the eggs in burrows for about 10 - 12 days, before releasing them into the sea when high tide is between the last quarter and the new moon. During this time, the sea level varies least for a longer period of time, making it easier and safer for the females to approach the edges for releasing their eggs. If the migration gets delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions, spawning will be put off until the next lunar month.
Migration and Breeding

Red Crab Migration
Red Crab Migration

Male crabs lead the first wave of migration from the forests. It takes them about 5 - 7 days to reach the sea, but they soon get outnumbered by the females. The males reach the shores and take a dip in the sea to replenish lost moisture and salts. Then they dig burrows for mating to occur after the female crabs arrive. The males leave the shores to begin their journey back to the inland.

The females stay behind in the burrows for about 2 - 3 weeks more to lay their eggs. The eggs are held in a brood pouch between the extended abdomen and thorax of a female crab. A single female crab can lay up to 100,000 eggs. In the mornings and late afternoons, between the last quarter and the new moon, they descend from the burrows to the shore to release their eggs. The eggs are released around the turn of the high tide. After the brood is empty, they begin their return journey to the forest.
Migration of Red Crab Babies

The eggs hatch immediately into larvae in the sea, and remain there for about a month to become tiny crabs. Most of them get washed away due to high currents. Millions of baby crabs emerge from the sea and begin their inland journey, which takes them about 10 days. They disappear under fallen tree branches, rocky outcrops, or other debris on the ground for the first three years of their life.
Human Activities
Migration is a risky time for red crabs. They travel over roads and off-road areas to reach their destination. These roads are often used by humans for commuting. Thus, injury and dehydration, both have become a major threat for them. They frequently get crushed by vehicles passing on the roads, and even cause accidents due to their hard and tough exoskeletons, which often leads to the puncture of tires. To ensure the safety of both, conservation measures have been taken up by officials.

We can say that on this island, crabs have the right of way! 'Crab crossings' and 'crab bridges' have been constructed for them to pass through. At those points where there is huge concentration of red crabs, tunnels have been built under the roads to channelize their movement. In other areas, the roads are temporarily closed with signs and barriers erected indicating the same for their protection. People living there have become more tolerant and respectful during the annual migration. They have also become more cautious while driving, which is helpful in conserving this unusual species, and also minimizing the casualties caused due to accidents.
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This similar phenomenon can be seen in Cuba as well, usually in the Bay of Pigs, where small reddish-orange female crabs migrate to the Caribbean Sea to release their eggs. Now that you know these wonderful facts about red crab migration, and understand what an amazing occurrence it is, wouldn't it be a wonderful and interesting experience to watch these little red creatures swarming the roads in huge numbers?

Best Binoculars for Birdwatching

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Spotting a varied thrush or red-footed falcon is no doubt a delight for any birdwatching enthusiast, and a good pair of binoculars just makes this task easier. Wondering which are the best binoculars for birdwatching? We have it covered for you in this article.
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Fact about binoculars for birdwatching
Fast Fact
Of the 10,000 odd species of birds found in the world, 914 are found in North America.
Of late, birdwatching or birding has become a popular hobby among people of various age groups. While your knowledge on the behavior of birds is a basic requirement when it comes to birdwatching, you also need to arm yourself with a good pair of binoculars if you are to increase your chances of spotting and more importantly, studying birds.
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Best Binoculars for Birding

With so many options available, it's difficult to point out to one particular model and say, "this is the best". While animals can be easily spotted in the wild―relatively that is, spotting birds, which are smaller, quick, and boast of exceptional camouflage skills, is a tough task. This is where a good pair of binoculars comes into the picture. Binoculars for birdwatching, or birding binoculars as they are often referred to as, need to have certain features, like decent magnification, large objective lens, focus, etc.

Magnification
Higher magnification no doubt gives a closer view of the target, but then, it also narrows the field of view, which is not ideal when it comes to birdwatching. It also affects the brightness and makes the device heavy, thus difficult to carry around. It's unlikely that you will want to carry something heavy on your birdwatching outing. Also, unless you are using a tripod or resorting to electronically powered stabilization, you will find it difficult to hold the binoculars with a high magnification steady. Hence, binoculars with magnification of 7× or 8× are popular among birdwatching enthusiasts.

Objective Lens Diameter
The objective lens is the place from where light enters the binoculars. Bigger the lens, more light will enter, and that will make the view brighter, colors vibrant, and details finer. The only drawback of having a bigger objective lens is that it adds to the weight. A pair of binoculars with 50 mm lens can give you a perfect view, but it becomes difficult to carry it when you are in the woods. Thus, the most popular choice for birdwatching are 8× binoculars equipped with 40 mm objective lens.

Focusing
Focusing is an important attribute in birdwatching, especially when the bird is at a distance of 15 feet or less. It helps you to get a sharp, detailed image of bird. The term 'close focus' refers to the shortest distance at which an object can be focused on by a pair of binoculars. The minimum close focal length increases with higher magnification. The binoculars with low close focus are considered the best for birdwatching. As birds keep moving, it is important that you are quick with the focusing aspect. Ideally, the binoculars should have a central focus, which can be turned smoothly by the index finger without having to put in much efforts.

Prism System
The capacity of the binoculars largely depends on its prism design. There are two types of prism systems: the porro system and roof system. Binoculars with the porro prism have a z-shaped optical path, wherein the objective lenses are offset from the eyepieces. The user gets a wider field of view as the two offset prisms are mounted separately. A major drawback of porro prism system is its weak design, which makes the binoculars vulnerable to alignment issues if dropped.

In roof prism binoculars, objective lenses are in line with the eye pieces, while the prisms overlap each other. This gives the binoculars a slim shape, thus making it easier to carry it around. As the two separate prisms are bonded together, this design is considered stronger and durable. However, roof prism binoculars are costlier than their porro prism counterparts, as they have an expensive technology in place.

Eye Relief and Field of View
Besides these aspects, one should also take into consideration eye relief, i.e., the distance between your eye and the eye pieces, and the field of view, i.e., the widest dimension you get to see from a specific distance. Eye relief especially comes into the picture if you wear glasses, with the rule of the thumb being longer the better. While eye relief is measured in millimeter (mm), field of view is measured in feet per thousand yards.

Top Ten Birdwatching Binoculars

Nikon 8×42 Monarch 5 Binoculars

Weight: 20.8 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 330 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 19.5 mm
Close focusing distance: 8.20 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Eagle Optics Shrike 8×42 Binoculars

Weight: 23.2 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 341 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 17.6 mm
Close focusing distance: 13.1 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Zhumell 10×42 Short Barrel Binoculars

Weight: 24 oz
Magnification: 10×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 293 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 15.1 mm
Close focusing distance: 6.5 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Swarovski 8.5×42 EL SwaroVision Binoculars

Weight: 28 oz
Magnification: 8.5×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 399 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 20 mm
Close focusing distance: 4.9 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Vortex Viper HD 8×42 Binoculars

Weight: 23 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 50 mm
Field of view: 347 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 20 mm
Close focusing distance: 5.1 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Nikon EDG 8×42 Binoculars

Weight: 27.6 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 403 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 19.3 mm
Close focusing distance: 9.8 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Leica Ultravid 8×20 BCR Binoculars

Weight: 8.5 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 20 mm
Field of view: 341 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 15 mm
Close focusing distance: 7.2 ft
Prism system: Roof type

ZEISS VICTORY SF 8×42 Binoculars

Weight: 27.5 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 444 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 18 mm
Close focusing distance: 5 ft
Prism system: Roof type

Celestron Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars

Weight: 22.2 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 388 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 17.5 mm
Close focusing distance: 6.5 ft
Prism system: Porro type

Zeiss Victory 8×42 T* HT Binoculars

Weight: 27.7 oz
Magnification: 8×
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Field of view: 408 ft/1000 yards
Eye relief: 16 mm
Close focusing distance: 6.2 ft
Prism system: Roof type
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If you really want to experience the sheer delight of birding, go ahead and buy one of these, and take your hobby to the next level. Depending on which of these brands you opt for, you will have to shell out anywhere in the range of USD 100 - 2000. If you are an amateur birdwatching enthusiast, we would recommend you to start with a budget model. A high-end model will not only set you back by USD 1000, but you will also have a tough time using it to its full potential. Hence, you should give it a good thought instead of giving in to your impulse.

Information about the Guernsey Cow

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From the picturesque islands of the English Channel comes the famous Guernsey cow which is known the world over for its high quality of milk. Read this article to know more about this breed.
Fact about Guernsey cow milk
The Guernsey cow milk is known for its quality, but owing to its high fat content, the popularity of this cow has recently begun to decline.
Guernsey is an isle across the English Channel which was conquered by the British, following the 1066 Norman Conquest. The Guernsey cow gets its name from these islands. Archaeological studies suggest that the islands were known to have housed humans since long, as long as 10,000 BC. Apart from Guernsey, the other two famous breeds of the English Channel islands are Jersey and Alderney. The Mediterranean climate boosts the breeding and also the milk production of these breeds, and thus has significantly contributed to making these breeds the top choices for dairy. In this Buzzle article, we will look at some facts about Guernsey cows.
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History

The history of the Guernsey dairy cow has it that during the rule of Normandy, prior to the British conquest, several monks were sent to the islands of Guernsey, with the objective of educating and civilizing the natives. These monks were sent by the Duke of Normandy, Robert. The first batch of monks brought cattle along Brittany. In due course, some other groups of monks were sent to the islands who came in with a batch of cattle from France.

This is the origin of the Guernsey breed of cows which bear similarities with the Isigny cow (now extinct) and Froment du Léon (critically endangered). Soon, these cows from the island began to be exported to other parts of Britain, and they were the primary source of milk, milk products, and meat. Apart from the British nations, these cows were exported to North and South America, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Japan, South Africa, and New Zealand. Among all the breeds of the Channel islands, Guernsey appealed the most to the breeders and the economy at large. The richness of the milk's quality earned the title, 'Golden Guernsey' for this cow.

Facts

✦ With the growing demand and popularity of these cows, efforts were made to bring quality enhancement in the size and the milk of Guernsey cows. The milk of this breed has a yellowish tinge to it, which is caused by the high amounts of beta-carotene and omega 3 and 6. This has led to the yield of golden-yellow milk.

✦ The Guernsey cows have a prompt reproductive development. They can bear calves even at 22 months of age, unlike other varieties of cows.

✦ The Guernsey Cow has a heat-resistant coat, which makes this breed heat-tolerant, thus reducing the risk of stroke caused by excessive heat.

✦ The average size of a Guernsey cow is between 1100-1200 lbs.

✦ The color is usually a combination of pale brown and white or off-white.

✦ The Guernsey bulls are quite aggressive and notorious unlike the docile and submissive Guernsey cows.

✦ Even with an average to small size, these cows are able to convert more feed into yields of butterfat and proteins. This makes it one of the most efficient cow breeds.

✦ They are also easy to maintain and breed.

✦ When talking about breeding, it is important to mention about Guernsey Global Breeding Programme (GGBP) which was spearheaded in 1992. The objective was to make the cow breed one of the most economic and productive ones.

✦ The aim of GGBP was also to ensure greater longevity, along with productivity, as well as to improve the quality of health of the breed, ensuring minimum use of medical aid.

✦ The milk production of Guernsey cows is not considered among the highest, but the quality of the milk is certainly very good. This makes it a primary dairy cow.

✦ The average quantity of milk produced by a single Guernsey cow in a year is roughly around 6000-7000 liters.

✦ There are speculations that the Guernsey cows are fed a special type of diet which leads to an increased amounts of beta carotene. However, the diet is not special in any respect. The feed is as normal as the feed of any other cow breed.

✦ Most Guernsey cows carry the Beta Casein A2 gene contrary to A1. The milk also has a cancer reducing substance, although information is yet to be confirmed.

Similarities between Guernsey and Jersey Breeds

The Guernsey is believed to be the closest kin of the Jersey. Despite this, there are some differences between the two.

✦ The Jersey cow is more heat-tolerant than the Guernsey, resulting in higher productivity.

✦ The size of the Jersey is smaller than that of the Guernsey.

✦ Apart from the typical brown to fawn colors of both Jersey and Guernsey cows, the former has an additional black shade near the nose, feet, and also around the eyes.

✦ The Guernsey is known for its docile and submissive nature, unlike the Jersey, which though not aggressive, is more curious and excited than its kin.

✦ The Jersey has a darker shade of browns and fawns, compared to that of the Guernsey.

Jersey Cow
Jersey Cow
Guernsey Cow
Guernsey Cow
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In conclusion, it could be said that owing to the current lifestyle, there is a need to curb the high fat content in milk, more so in Guernsey milk. However, it is also said that Guernsey cow milk contains A2 proteins and not A1 which are commonly found in American cow breeds. Research shows that A2 proteins are easily digestible as opposed to A1.

What are the Causes of Phantosmia?

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People who suffer from Phantosmia often smell odors that they describe as metallic, chemical, sewage-like, foul, etc. This article explains what are some of most common causes of this disorder.
Meaning of phantosmia
Did You Know?
Phantosmia is more common in women than men.
Ew... something stinks, did someone leave the Munster out again?! Wonder what perfume that Linda is wearing? Any guesses what senses are we talking about? Yes, we are talking about the sense of smell.
Prom Dresses
Your sense of smell is one of the most important senses that helps determine if a particular food is fit for consumption or not. Foods with strong acrid smell are deemed poisonous, whereas a sweet, fruity smell makes the food even more appealing. It is the combination of taste and smell that make up the flavor of a particular food.

When something has a particular aroma, it releases certain volatile odorant molecules which stimulate certain olfactory receptors present in our nose. This in turn sends an impulse via the sensory neurons to our brain. Our brain identifies the impulse and gives an appropriate response.

What is Phantosmia?

The name "phantosmia" is of Greek origin, it is derived from the words phant meaning phantom, and osmia meaning smell. In this condition, a person experiences hallucinations of smell. The person can detect smells that do not exist around them. In other words, it is the perception of the sense of smell in spite of the absence of any physical odor.

This perceived smell can be pleasant or disgusting. During the initial onset of this disorder, the person experiences these symptoms mostly once a month, and they usually lasts only for a few minutes. With time, the duration of symptoms increases―in some cases it can last all day. The duration between two such episodes gradually keeps decreasing. The phantom smell can easily change from one to another in the course of time.

Usually, phantosmia might begin with only one nostril, but slowly these symptoms also begin in the other nostril.

Common Causes of Phantosmia

The basic cause of this disorder is due to the malfunction of the neurons involved in the olfactory systems.

Parkinson's disease
This is a neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system, characterized by tremors, rigidity of the body, and difficulty in movement. It was initially thought that phantosmia was one of the complications of the disease, but recent studies have shown that the olfactory hallucinations are one of the initial symptoms of this disease in some individuals.

Alzheimer's disease
This is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, speech problems, disorientation, mood swings, and lack of behavioral issues. This disease occurs due to the atrophy of the temporal lobe. As this area is associated with phantosmia, occurrence of these olfactory hallucinations is not uncommon.

Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders that are characterized by episodes of epileptic seizure. It can last for a very brief period to a long one. Usually, partial seizures are preceded by visual, audio, or olfactory hallucinations known as aura. Seizures in the temporal lobe causes the person to usually blackout during the seizure. Many people have reported to have experienced phantosmia before a seizure.

Schizophrenia
This is a mental disorder that is characterized by abnormal behavior and failure to distinguish real from the imaginary. Brain imaging has shown an altered activity in the frontal lobes, hippocampus, and temporal lobes. The altered activity in the temporal lobes may sometimes cause these individuals to have olfactory hallucinations.

Mild depression
Another intriguing facet as to what may cause such hallucinations is its link to mild form of depression. Prescribing a person experiencing this disorder with some antidepressants has been observed to eliminate this disorder completely in many cases.

Migraine
This is a chronic disease affecting the autonomic nervous system. It is characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches. Sometimes, this can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes even smell. Although rare, but phantosmia is seen to occur alongside the episode of severe headache. Treatment of the migraine also seems to alleviate phantosmia.

Neuroblastoma
This is a rare malignant cancer that mostly affects the olfactory nerve. This type of cancer is mostly observed in children younger than two years. Treatment of this cancer via surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy may eradicate the tumor, but cause damage to the olfactory system and may give rise to phantosmia.

Others
Other causes of phantosmia may include injury to temporal lobe, infections of the upper respiratory tract, chronic swelling of mucous membrane of the nose that may or may not be an allergic reaction. Mild versions of this disorder can also be observed in pregnancy, especially in the later stages of gestation. The symptoms of this disorder are almost gone postnatal.
Prom Dresses
In most cases, phantosmia tends to relieve itself on its own (unless there is some underlying physiological disorder). Clinically, it is treated with antidepressants, nasal anesthetics, agents that could block the nose, nasal steroid sprays, or sedatives. In very extreme cases, surgery is required to eliminate this disorder.