Imagine a completely new and original Pokemon. This creature should be an amalgamation of a kangaroo and a dolphin, with the body shape and standing posture of a kangaroo, but the sleek, aquatic appearance and coloration of a dolphin. It has two fins on its sides, which are used for balance and agility. Its tail is powerful and has a flipper at the end, greatly aiding in propulsion when this creature chooses to swim. Along with this, its head has a slight elongation similar to a dolphin's snout, and its eyes are large and expressive. This unique Pokemon is a result of an evolution to adapt to environments both terrestrial and aquatic.
The Koishikawa garden, formally called Koishikawa-kōraku-en (小石川後楽園), is a small garden jewel in Tokyo. Well preserved from the Edo period (1603-1868), it is one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo. The daimyo and son of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa Yorifusa started to build the garden in 1629, and his son Tokugawa Mitsukuni finished it in 1669 with the help of the Chinese scholar Shu Shunsui.
Vulpes macrotis or the Kit Fox is a small fox that can be found in North America and Mexico and can be recognised by it’s big ears and grey and rust coloured fur. Usually the male is slightly bigger than the female. The Kit Fox is actually the smallest type of fox in north America and can be compared to roughly the size of a pet cat. In the winter, the Kit Fox will be a greyish colour across their backs, which turns to a reddish tan during the summer. The Kit Fox also has a big bushy tail with a black tip at the end. The big ears help them to dissipate heat which is helpful in the hot American deserts.
The Kit Foxes are quite adaptable and will make their homes anywhere they feel comfortable. These can very from the traditional underground den to structures created by man, such as drains, pipe networks and in holes underneath buildings.
Mating season for the Kit Fox is between December-March and a typical litter will result in 3-5 cubs. Special dens are created for the cubs to be raised and often the Kit Fox will created multiple dens with multiple rooms. The young will tend to leave the family after around 5months, although some young females have been known to stay longer. The Kit Fox will normally grow to around 2.5kgs and life expectancy is around 7 years.
In terms of diet, the Kit Fox is mainly carnivorous, preying upon squirrels, small birds, rodents and rats. They will also eat vegetation and insects if the presence of meat is scarce and will mainly hunt at night.
The biggest threats to the Kit Fox are the bigger Red Foxes and coyotes. Man has also had an impact on the Kit Fox population in terms of traffic, hunting and poisoning and much of the fox’s traditional habitats have been destroyed. Fields converted into homes for grazing animals, means that much of the Kit Fox’s natural prey has been destroyed. Because of the decline in numbers, the Kit Fox has actually been put on the endangered list in California.
Mount Kangchenjunga in the Himalayas (between Nepal and India) is listed in most geographical surveys as one mountain, although it has five peaks. Its name translates to Five Treasures of Snow. Kangchenjunga was once thought to be the highest mountain in the world. However, the mountain’s height of 28,169 feet, first calculated in 1856, makes it the third tallest. The first climbers to make their way to the top were the British explorers Joe Brown and George Band, who stopped just before the summit as requested by Tashi Namgyai, the Chogyal of Sikkim, who considered it to be a holy, sacred site. Local Lhopo people believed the mountain range hid sacred treasures including salt, gold, turquoise, and precious metals.
During the winter months, the snow turns the hills and valleys of Kashmir into dream destinations. Also known as Paradise on Earth, the Kashmir Valley is surrounded by the Himalayan and Pir Panjal mountain ranges. Check out this valley for the high-altitude oligotrophic lakes, lush meadows, and beautiful gardens.
What Is Stone Fruit? Types, Recipes & Photos | What Exactly Are Stone Fruits? Find Out with Our Visual Guide.|||||| For the most part, you know a stone fruit when you see it — it’s the fruit with a big pit in its center, also known as a drupe. Peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, apricots, and pluots are all summer stone fruits that meet this criteria. The edible flesh and skin grow around the pit, which holds the seed inside. Stone fruits can either be clingstone or freestone, depending on whether or not the fruit clings to the pit.
