Chinchilla Facts (C. chinchilla and C. lanigera)

The chinchilla is a South American rodent that has been hunted to near-extinction for its luxurious, velvety fur. However, one species of chinchilla was bred in captivity starting at the end of the 19th century. Today, domesticated chinchillas are kept as playful, intelligent pets. Fast Facts: Chinchilla Scientific Name: Chinchilla chinchilla and C. lanigeraCommon Name: ChinchillaBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 10-19 inchesWeight: 13-50 ouncesLifespan: 10 years (wild); 20 years (domestic)Diet: HerbivoreHabitat: Andes of ChilePopulation: 5,000Conservation Status: Endangered Species The two species of chinchilla are the short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla, formerly called C. brevicaudata) and the long-tailed chinchilla (C. lanigera). The short-tailed chinchilla has a shorter tail, thicker neck, and shorter ears than the long-tailed chinchilla. The domesticated chinchilla is believed to have descended from the long-tailed chinchilla. Description The defining characteristic of a chinchilla is its soft, dense fur. Each hair follicle has between 60 and 80 hairs growing from it. Chinchillas have large dark eyes, rounded ears, long whiskers, and furry 3 to 6-inch tails. Their back legs are more than twice as long as their front legs, making them agile jumpers. While chinchillas appear bulky, most of their size comes from their fur. Wild chinchillas have mottled yellowish gray fur, while domestic animals may be black, white, beige, charcoal, and other colors. The short-tailed chinchilla ranges from 11 to 19 inches in length and weighs between 38 and 50 ounces. The long-tailed chinchilla may reach a length up to 10 inches. Wild long-tailed chinchilla males weigh slightly more than a pound, while females weigh slightly less. Domestic long-tail chinchillas are heavier, with males weighing up to 21 ounces and females weighing up to 28 ounces. Habitat and Distribution At one time, chinchillas lived in the Andes mountains and along the coasts of Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. Today, the only wild colonies are found in Chile. Wild chinchillas inhabit cold, dry climates, primarily at elevations between 9,800 and 16,400 feet. They live in rocky crevices or burrows in the ground. Distribution of two chinchilla species in 1986. Amerique_du_Sud.svg: Cephas / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license Diet Wild chinchillas eat seeds, grasses, and fruit. Although they are considered to be herbivores, they may consume small insects. Domestic chinchillas are usually fed grass and kibble specially formulated for their dietary needs. Chinchillas eat much like squirrels. They hold food in their fore paws, while sitting upright on their hind limbs. domestic chinchilla holding food with arms. olgagorovenko  / Getty Images Behavior Chinchillas live in social groups called herds that consist of 14 to 100 individuals. They are largely nocturnal, so they can avoid hot daytime temperatures. They take dust baths to keep their fur dry and clean. When threatened, a chinchilla may bite, shed fur, or eject a spray of urine. Chinchillas communicate using a wide variety of sounds, which include grunts, barks, squeals, and chirps. Reproduction and Offspring Chinchillas can mate at any time of the year. Gestation is unusually long for a rodent and lasts 111 days. The female may give birth to a litter of up 6 kits, but usually one or two offspring are born. The kits are fully furred and can open their eyes when they are born. Kits are weaned between 6 and 8 weeks of age and sexually mature at 8 months of age. Wild chinchillas may live 10 years, but domestic chinchillas can live over 20 years. Chinchillas are born with fur and open eyes. Icealien / Getty Images Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the conservation status of both chinchilla species as endangered. As of 2015, researchers estimated 5,350 mature long-tailed chinchillas remained in the wild, but their population was decreasing. As of 2014, two small populations of short-tailed chinchillas remained in the Antofagasta and Atacama regions of northern Chile. However, those populations were also decreasing in size. Threats Hunting and commercial harvesting of chinchillas has been banned since a 1910 treaty between Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. However, once the ban began to be enforced, prices of pelts skyrocketed and poaching brought the chinchilla to the brink of extinction. While poaching continues to be a significant threat to wild chinchillas, they are safer than before because captive chinchillas are bred for fur. Other threats include illegal capture for the pet trade; habitat loss and degradation from mining, firewood collection, fires, and grazing; extreme weather from El Nià ±o; and predation by foxes and owls. Chinchillas and Humans Chinchillas are valued for their fur and as pets. They are also bred for scientific research of the audio system and as model organisms for Chagas disease, pneumonia, and several bacterial diseases. Sources Jimà ©nez, Jaime E. The extirpation and current status of wild chinchillas Chinchilla lanigera and C. brevicaudata. Biological Conservation. 77 (1): 1–6, 1996. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(95)00116-6Patton, James L.; Pardià ±as, Ulyses F. J.; DElà ­a, Guillermo. Rodents. Mammals of South America. 2. University of Chicago Press. pp. 765–768, 2015. ISBN 9780226169576.Roach, N. R. Kennerley. Chinchilla chinchilla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T4651A22191157. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4651A22191157.enRoach, N. R. Kennerley. Chinchilla lanigera (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T4652A117975205. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4652A22190974.enSaunders, Richard. Veterinary Care Of Chinchillas.  In Practice (0263841X)  31.6 (2009): 282–291.  Academic Search Complete.

The Retirement Pension Plan ( Cpp ) Benefits Essay

Turning 60? When is the best age to start Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits? As you approach age of 60, it’s time to take benefit of your life long hard work in terms of pension benefits. First, you need to decide at what age you would like to begin your CPP pension benefits. As this decision will impact your total pension benefits for the rest of your life, caution is advised. This article will help you to understand when the best age is to being your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits. Let’s assume that Joey, Chandler and Ross will each turn 60 on 9th Sep 2016. Let’s also assume that according to each of their respective CPP Statements of Contribution, they will each receive $1,000 per month if they start their retirement benefit at the age of 65. The difference though is that Joey, Chandler and Ross wish to start their pension benefits different ages: Joey at age 60, Chandler at age 65, and Ross at age 70. We will analyze how much will they receive as a CPP benefit each year. We know that as per Canada Pension Plan if you begin CPP before age 65, your pension benefit will be reduced by 0.6% per month; and if you begin receiving benefits after age 65, your pension benefit will increase by 0.7% per month. This means that Joey will have reduction of 36% (60 months Ãâ€" 0.6%) of CPP benefit per month and Ross will receive 42% (60 months Ãâ€" 0.7%) more of CPP benefit per month. Chandler will receive the same amount as per his CPP Statement of Contribution (due toShow MoreRelatedA Recipient Of And Oas Pension Before You Are Eligible For The Gis Benefits1566 Words   |  7 Pagesbe a recipient of and OAS pension before you are eligible for the GIS benefits. If you are delaying your OAS pension, you will not be eligible for the GIS benefit even though you meet the other requirements. If you are already a recipient of the OAS pension, but not the GIC benefit, you can apply online using the My Service Canada Account service, or by mail. 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The internet free essay sample

While some consider it as a blessing others regard it as a curse, because the internet like everything else In the world has a good and a bad side to It. The one of the main reasons that many people blame is that there is no sense ot censorship in the world of the internet Without censorship many things spin out of control. People start using the internet as a method of spying rather than a manner of communication they abuse this blessing by placing Information or data that Is unacceptable such as hacking, others may use it for fraud or theft. When these actions are committed they are considered as a form of crime, and like all other crimes they are intolerable by society. A student no longer needs to spend long hours in libraries searching for a desired piece of information. A web search engine can provide the needed material Just at a click of a button and no matter which remote corner of the world you are In, the Internet will keep you side by side of the latest developments in your area of interest. We will write a custom essay sample on The internet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As with every new technology there are those who speak high of the Internet and there are those who portray It in an unfavorable source of knowledge. And as with ther new technologies there is nothing wrong with the Internet itself. It is we who are to decide whether the internet is a curse or a blessing. The question as per whether the internet is a blessing or a curse for this millennial generation Is attracting a global attention. As a topic of global interest, one just have to take a position but with an unbiased sense of judgment. The advent of internet has brought unprecedented breakthrough In every sphere of human endeavour and perhaps also some negative impact. Internet simply put, Is d cloud based medium that enable dissemination of nformation internationally among millions of users through a network connecting computers and other compatible gadgets. The information could be accessed in a written form through electronic mall, recorded videos, Instant messaging, video chat, pictorially etc. From every sense of fairness, Internet has turned the universe to one global village and has done more good than evil. Can we say that internet is both a blessing and a curse? We should be able to take a position at the end of this discourse. Benefits of the Internet (Advantages) The benefits ot the internet have to do with the blessings and advantages associated with its usage. They are discussed below: Knowledge Pool: I nere Is naraly any toplc tnat nas no aeTlnltlon onllne. scnolars gladly research into any area of interest and make their findings available for the benefits of all seekers of knowledge on the internet. Fastest medium of information dissemination: It is the fastest medium of information dissemination especially if it is bulky. I remember waiting for the news vendor (print media) several hours to catch a glimpse of the latest news several years ago. But now, Just go online, and you are current and abreast with latest news even before the news paper seller. An instructional media for Teachers: Students can learn and be taught at the comfort of their homes online (e-learning). They can attend classes even when they are thousands of Miles away from the school or learning centres. This is achieved via the aid of a projector connected to the internet. With other supportive accessories and gadgets, they can even have student-teacher interaction,a two way channel that consummate the learning process. Source of Income: It is a veritable source of ncome for millions of persons around the globe. Internet Service Provision in itself is a business whether at the multinational or local level. Today we have several online publishers and freelancers getting their livelihood through this medium. Medium for Data Storage: Data and information that need easy and quick retrieval can be better stored online. Though this may have some side effects but it is better. We live in a world prone to all forms of disasters such as fire occurrence, flood and theft Just to mention a few. Documents stored online are safe in case of such occurrences. Business Transactions: Today we hear of e-commerce. This is made possible through the internet. Buying and selling with ease online is becoming the best practice and it has proved to be safer and more convenient. Entertainment Media: It has assumed the widest spectrum for the entertainment media. Easy access to audio and video streaming with variety of choices especially with a very strong network. In most cases you pay data connection fee only while the movies are free. Although they have their own remote benefits. Medium of Advertisement: Online advertisement is one of astest growing advertising media. There is hardly any site one visit without seeing one form of advert or the other. The fastest means of letting the World know what your business is and any other important information is to advertise it online. The Dark Side of the Internet (Disadvantages) The internet has some disadvantages. They are as follows: 1 . Malicious Spy: Some unscrupulous individuals take advantage of internet lapses to spy and access the privacy of some well meaning users . They have various means of achieving this nefarious act, most especially through Computer or electronic viruses. Through this medium some persons has lost valuables too numerous to quantify. To forestall this act, a reliable anti- virus or anti-spyware should be installed on Computer systems and similar gadgets that are online. 2. Moral Decadence: The advent of internet has brought about a number of vices as a result 0T all manner 0T InTormatlon tnat are allowed on onllne. For example tnere Is unrestricted access to pornographic videos. This no doubt can corrupt Teenagers and even adults who lack discipline. Apart from pornography there are other movies that are not healthy for Children and Teenagers. Distraction: It can cause distraction if not properly harnessed with discipline even among adults. Too much time is spent by youngsters on irrelevant browsing at the expense of other meaningful engagements such as studying their books. 4. Terrorism: Coordinated terrorist attacks are made possible in most cases via the internet. It easier for them to use this medium than any other means of communic ation for the sake of secrecy. 5. Fraud: Internet is one of the greatest avenue through which fraud has been committed. This most often is possible through deceit and false identity. As a result the unsuspecting public are prone to be victims. It is one of the biggest media for trading as indicated in the benefits of online transaction. We have seen situation of impersonation and declaration of false identity and sometime one wonder why they sail through even with all these numerous warnings and awareness creation about this type of activities. This is a Food for Thought. In my own opinion I think the reason why many fall prey is because of greed. An attempt to get rich overnight as a result they cant exercise enough patience for proper investigation.