TidbitsMOV Issue #1248 Australian Animals

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read™

TIDBITS® STUDIES

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

by Kathy Wolfe

More than 80% of Australia’s animals are found nowhere else in the world. Travel with Tidbits to learn more about creatures from down under.

• Of the estimated 330 species of marsupials in the world, about two-thirds live in Australia. This order of mammals has a pouch on the female’s abdomen to carry the young. The females give birth just a month after conception. The endangered marsupial Tasmanian Devil is only found in Australia’s Tasmanian wilderness and national parks. Looney Tunes’ Tasmanian Devil gives us the impression that they are wild and vicious creatures ready to tear apart anything in their path. They’re not really dangerous, only attacking when trapped or defending themselves, but their chilling growls, high-pitched screeches, and terrifying screams give the impression of a devil. It’s their appearance that gives them their name, with their red ears and extremely wide jaws lined with sharp teeth. A female Devil can nurse four little ones at a time.

• The largest marsupial on Earth is the red kangaroo, reaching heights of over 6 feet (1.83 m), although the largest on record stood 6.9 feet (2.1 m) tall and weighed 201 lbs. ( 91 kg). The red kangaroo hops along at 35 mph (56 km/hr.) The term “red” only applies to the males, who have short, redbrown fur. The females’ coloring is blue

grey with a brown tinge and pale grey on their lower bodies.

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AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

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• Kangaroos hang out together in groups of about 10, known as “mobs.” The mobs are mostly females and their young, with only a male or two. They’re always on the look-out for danger, and if spotted, they stamp their feet to warn the others. Oddly enough, red kangaroos are good swimmers, and escape to water when threatened, defending themselves by holding a predator underwater with their front paws.

• A baby kangaroo, known as a joey, climbs into its mother’s pouch immediately after birth, and doesn’t stick its head out for 150 days. After 190 days, the joey comes out for short periods, but will remain in the pouch for the most part for about 235 days. Grey kangaroos are smaller than their red counterparts, with males weighing about 145 lbs. (66 kg), and are also tamer.

• Kangaroos and wallabies are often mistaken for each other, unless they can be seen side by side. The two come from the same scientific family, but kangaroos are much larger, with the wallaby almost an exact miniature. A typical wallaby weighs about 45 lbs. (20 kg), and stands just 3.2 feet (1 m) tall. Kangaroos have much more length between their ankles and knees, while wallaby legs are more compact. A wallaby’s coloring is much different, too, with splashes of different colors on their coat. A kangaroo might live to age 25, while the lifespan of the wallaby is just 14 years.

• The koala bear isn’t a bear at all, but another species of marsupial that spends its first 7 months in its mother’s pouch. The cuddly little koalas measure about 2.5 feet (75 cm) long and weigh 30 lbs. (14 kg). They feed only on eucalyptus trees, spending four hours a day eating. Because the leaves of the eucalyptus are low on nutrition and difficult to digest, the koala spends the remaining 18 hours of the day sleeping. Charles S from Parkersburg WV Found Tammy In Issue 1245

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AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

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• The word “koala” is from an Aboriginal term meaning “no drink,” because the koala gets all its moisture from the eucalyptus leaves, and rarely drinks water.

• The wombat looks like a little bear with chubby cheeks. They’re pudgy and waddle when they walk, but don’t be deceived –they can run up to 25 mph (40 km/hr). This marsupial is about 40 inches (1.02 m) tall, and can reach 77 lbs. (35 kg). Their endearing appearance leads a person to think they’re cuddly and affectionate, but if threatened, wombats will attack humans with their sharp claws and large teeth, and have been responsible for human deaths.

• The smallest marsupial is just 0.12 to 0.16 inches (3-4 mm) long. The mouse-like planigale weighs about as much as a teaspoon of sugar

• Australia is home to the world’s most dangerous bird, the southern cassowary. This flightless bird reaches a height of 5 feet, 6 inches (1.67 m) and can weigh nearly 160 lbs. (72.5 kg). Its danger is the five-inch (12.8 cm) claw on each foot, which is used to kick out at fast speeds, as well as having the ability to jump five feet (1.5 m) off the ground and a running speed of 30 mph (48 km/hr). Although there have been scores of injuries to humans, there have been just two known fatalities, one in 1926 and one in 2019. However, the cassowary just likes to be left alone, and won’t attack unless it feels threatened.

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

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• Australia’s rainforests are the environment of the lyrebird, a unique bird that picks up sounds from its surroundings and mimics them. It has the ability to copy the sound of a chainsaw, camera shutters, car alarms, music, ring tones, crying babies, and even human speech. The lyrebird also vocalizes the call of other birds. Australia is so fond of lyrebirds, the bird’s image is included on the country’s 10-cent coin and the 100dollar note.

• Beware! Australia has more species of venomous snakes than any other continent. Twenty-one of the world’s 25 deadliest snakes can be found there, including the tiger snake, brown snake, taipan, the copperhead, and the death adder. About 12 species have venom strong enough to kill a human.

• The unusual platypus is only found in the waters off the coast of Australia. Its appearance is baffling. Measuring 20 inches (51 cm) from head to toe, it has the broad flat bill of a duck, the flat tail of a beaver, and webbed feet like an otter. Platypuses are excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater 140 seconds, and thick, dense silvery brown fur keeps this mammal warm under water. Its method of defense is a spur on the hind feet, which produces a toxic venom fatal to other animals and severely painful to humans.

• In 1798, British Naval Officer and explorer, Captain John Hunter was on an expedition to the Australia and Tasmania region when he and his crew first saw a platypus. They found it so unusual, they made a sketch and brought it back to England. Scientists there claimed it was a hoax and refused to believe the bizarre story, even after a live specimen was brought to them. They argued that it had been created by a taxidermist who had sewn a duck’s beak and feet onto another animal.

Dr. Bob Says…

Eton Mess: A Delightful British Treat for Mother's Day

As Mother's Day approaches, it's time to treat the special mother figures in our lives with something unique, fun and utterly delicious. Why not surprise Mom with a taste of British charm by serving up a delightful dessert known as Eton Mess? Eton Mess originated from the prestigious boarding school, Eton College, in Windsor, England.

Don't let the name fool you; this is one mess Mom will absolutely adore!

Eton Mess is not only delicious, its playful combination of textures and flavors make this a joy to eat. With simple, affordable ingredients like fresh strawberries, meringue and cream, you can create a dessert fit for a queen without breaking the bank.

ETON MESS

The amount of meringue can vary depending on personal preference and the size of the servings. If you don't want to make meringue, use 8 to 16 storebought cookies, depending on size.

Yield: 6 servings

Total Time: 10 minutes

1 pound of fresh strawberries

1/2 medium lemon, juice and zest

2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, divided

1 recipe baked meringue slab (below)

2 cups of cold heavy cream

Begin by making a meringue slab, if using. Slice the fresh strawberries into a bowl.

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Save a few for garnish. Zest half of a lemon; reserve zest for later use. Squeeze the lemon until you have 1 tablespoon of juice. Add the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to the strawberries, giving them a gentle toss to combine.

Now, let's add some crunch! Take the meringue slab (or cookies) and coarsely crush them with your fingers or a knife.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment (or mixing bowl with a hand mixer), pour in 2 cups of cold heavy cream and the remaining tablespoon of granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Once your cream is whipped to perfection, gently fold in the crushed meringues and about two-thirds of the prepared strawberries using a spatula. This will create a luscious, creamy mixture with delightful pockets of crunch and bursts of fruity flavor.

To serve, evenly divide the Eton Mess mixture between 6 coupes, short glasses or small bowls. Top each serving with the remaining strawberries and a sprinkle of lemon zest for extra zing.

BAKED MERINGUE SLAB

Yield: approximately 6 cups

Prep Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

3 large egg whites, at room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Preheat your oven to 225 F (110 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper In a clean mixing bowl, with stand mixer or hand mixer, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the sugar while

continuing to beat the egg whites. Once all the sugar has been added, increase the speed to high and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. Fold in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt until well incorporated Transfer the meringue mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; spread it about 1/2-inch thick. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 1 hour, or until the meringue is dry to the touch. Once baked, turn off the oven and leave the meringue slab inside to cool completely. This slow cooling helps prevent cracking. Once completely cooled, remove the slab from the baking sheet and break it into bite-size pieces.

Eton Mess is the perfect way to show Mom just how much she means to you. After all, every mom appreciates a little messiness in her life, especially when it's this delicious!

***

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, partyplanning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc Sweet, crunchy, creamy, tart every spoonful of Eton Mess is pure bliss!

PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com

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BEAUTIFUL BODY: LUNGS

Take a deep breath and soak up these facts on the human body’s lungs, the most important organs in the respiratory system.

• The lungs are responsible for extracting oxygen from the air we breathe and transferring it to the bloodstream, where it is sent to the cells. The lungs also remove carbon dioxide as a waste gas through exhaling. When we inhale, air travels down the throat, through the larynx, and into the trachea. The trachea has two air passages, or bronchial tubes, with one leading to the left lung and one to the right.

• Lungs are composed of a spongy material that stretches easily, but can still keep its shape without damage. They’re covered with a protective lining known as the pleural tissue.

• Lungs are not mirror images of each other, nor are they even the same size. The right lung is slightly larger than the left, with three lobes, while the left lung has just two lobes. The heart is where the middle lobe of the left lung would be, with a “cardiac notch” for the heart to fit in. Each lobe expands like a balloon when inhaling, deflating when the body exhales. Together, the lungs weight about 2.9 lbs. (1.3 kg). They’re located within the rib cage for protection, and are connected to the spinal cord at the back and the chest bone at the front.

• Your body’s respiration rate is defined as the number of breaths your lungs take per minute. Normal range is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute, about 20,000 or so breaths a day. The average 50-year-old has taken around 400 million breaths. The average person breathes in about 13 pints of air per minute, yet the body uses just 5% of the oxygen that’s inhaled. The rest is exhaled and the cycle starts again. (Continued page #7)

Pet'sAllergies Blossom in Spring

DEAR PAW'S CORNER:

My 7-year-old cat, "Sunbeam," has a tough time in the spring when the pollen starts to fly. He sneezes frequently, his eyes water and he scratches hot spots on his skin. I've tried many things to reduce the allergens in the home: I vacuum every other day, run an air purifier near where he sleeps and I brush his coat daily. TITLE: None of that seems to help. What else can I try?- Harry in Pittsburgh

DEAR HARRY: You're doing your best to reduce airborne allergens, and that's great. However, because it doesn't seem to be helping, it's time to enlist the help of your cat's veterinarian.

The vet can suggest some other ways to reduce allergens in the home, and will consider that Sunbeam is reacting to more than one issue not just pollen, but indoor dust or even the food he's eating. They will also check for any secondary issues that may be contributing to Sunbeam's discomfort, like an ear infection or yeast infection.

Short-term treatment with a prescription medication, like a steroid or an antihistamine, may be necessary during the worst part of the season. These will help reduce the intense itching and eye irritation, and should help clear up hot spots on his skin.

At home, try adding fish oil and probiotics to your cat's food these supplements can help with itchy, flaky skin conditions. (I give my cat a teaspoon of plain yogurt daily to balance his gut bacteria.) An occasional bath, twice a month or so, using a pet shampoo that contains oatmeal will soothe his skin and wash away any lingering allergens on his coat. Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

LUNGS (continued):

• Healthy lungs are pinkish-gray, while damaged lungs are darker gray, frequently with black spots. Smoke from cigarettes destroys lung tissue because of the high amounts of tar which are left in the lungs. About 80% of deaths by lung cancer can be attributed to smoking, with smokers up to 30 times more likely to get it than a nonsmoker.

• When a baby is still in the womb, the lungs are filled with fluid. About ten seconds after birth, a baby takes it first breath, with the lungs transforming in a matter of seconds, breathing in oxygen for the first time.

• As the cells use oxygen, they produce carbon dioxide, which transfers to the blood. The bloodstream carries it back to the lungs, which remove the CO2 when exhaling. Hypercapnia occurs when a person has too much carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. It can cause dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, as well as an irregular heartbeat, fainting, panic attacks, and seizures. Contributors to this condition include sleep apnea, obesity, and shallow breathing.

• Taking deep breaths is very beneficial to the body, helping the body to relax, to ease stress and anxiety or pain, improve focus, lower blood pressure, and reduce muscle tension.

• Bronchitis occurs when the lungs’ large and medium-size airways become inflamed, usually as the result of an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses, one that makes its way to the airways. The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia is which part of the respiratory system is affected. While bronchitis affects the tubes that carry air to the lungs, pneumonia affects the air sacs, where oxygen passes into the blood, with those sacs filling with fluid.