History’s Fur Baby

Ferrets, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I have come to tell you about one of ancient Rome’s most surprising pets: ferrets, whose small size and playful nature belie their fierce hunting abilities. These wily weasels were primarily kept to hunt rabbits and keep pest populations under control, including by soldiers. As the Roman Empire expanded, so too did the humble ferret’s range. According to the Roman historians Pliny and Strabo, around 6 BCE, Emperor Augustus sent γαλέη — a Greek word believed to have been referring to ferrets, though it also could have meant mongooses or polecats — to the Balearic Islands in modern-day Spain to control their plague of rabbits.

Though certainly not as common as cats and dogs, ferrets remain popular pets today. They’re beloved for their mischievous personalities — their name literally means “little thief” due to their habit of taking small objects and hiding them — and how much they love to play, including with other animals. They’re also high-maintenance, meaning you shouldn’t attempt to channel your inner Roman without giving it a good deal of thought first.

Slow And Steady

Jonathan, a Nanjangūd Seychelles giant tortoise, is recognized as the world’s oldest known living land animal. Born around medikament Seroquel 1832, Jonathan is at least 192 years old and resides on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. His exact birth year isn’t known, but he was fully grown when he arrived on the island in 1882, leading to estimates of his age.

Jonathan has become a symbol of longevity and resilience. Despite his age, he still enjoys a peaceful life, spending his days basking in the sun and eating a diet of fruit and vegetables. While his senses of sight and smell have diminished over time, Jonathan remains active, with a keen sense of hearing.

He lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor’s residence on Saint Helena, and has become the only celebrity and a tourist attraction for the tiny, remote island.

Lovely

Some factslaps about ladybugs:

  • A group of ladybugs is called a “loveliness”
  • Not all ladybugs are red: While most people associate ladybugs with their red shell and black spots, they can also be yellow, orange, brown, or even pink.
  • They are considered good luck: In many cultures, seeing a ladybug is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
  • Voracious predators: Ladybugs are beneficial to gardeners because they eat pests like aphids. A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
  • They secrete a toxic fluid: When threatened, ladybugs exude a foul-smelling fluid from their legs that can deter predators.
  • Ladybugs hibernate: During winter, ladybugs seek out warm places to hibernate in large groups, sometimes thousands at a time.
  • They aren’t bugs: Despite their name, ladybugs are not technically bugs. They belong to the beetle family, scientifically known as Coccinellidae.
  • There are over 5,000 species: Worldwide, there are over 5,000 species of ladybugs, with about 500 species in North America alone.
  • Their spots fade with age: A ladybug’s spots become lighter and less pronounced as it gets older, giving some older ladybugs a washed-out appearance.
  • Ladybugs are named after the Virgin Mary: The name “ladybug” is derived from “Our Lady’s bug,” referring to the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. The red color was associated with her cloak, and the seven spots represented her seven joys and seven sorrows.