Elephantidae

The Elephantidae are a taxonomic family, collectively elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a trunk and tusks. Most genera and species in the family are extinct. Only two genera, Loxodonta (African elephants) and Elephas (Asiatic elephants), are living.The family was first described by John Edward Gray in 1821, and later assigned to taxonomic ranks within the order Proboscidea. Elephantidae have also been revised by various authors to include or exclude other extinct proboscidean genera.The family diverged from a common ancestor of the Mammutidae, which includes species termed as mastodons. The author of Mammutidae also published Gomphotheriidae, more closely related to Elephantidae, which also includes species previously described as Mastodon. 

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African bush elephant

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African forest elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African elephant, but recent evidence has seen the forest elephant classified as a distinct species. Some authorities still consider the currently available evidence as insufficient for splitting African elephants into two species.[3]African bush elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals, being up to 3.96 m (13.0 ft) tall at the shoulders (a male shot in 1974);[4][5] on average, males are 3.3 metres (10.8 ft) tall at the shoulders and 5.5 tonnes (12,130 lb) in weight, while females are much smaller at 2.8 metres (9.2 ft) tall and 3.7 tonnes (8,160 lb) in weight.

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Alano Español

Alano Español, sometimes called the Spanish Bulldog in English, is a large breed of dog of the molosser dog type, originating in Spain. The breed is best known for its former use during Spanish bullfights.The Alano Español is a very large dog of the Molosser type, with a large, strong head. Males should be no smaller than 58 centimetres (23 in) at the withers, and should weigh 34–40 kilograms (75–88 lb) with females somewhat smaller.The coat is short and thick but never velvety, and is most often a brindle of any color; leonardo (fawn);black and brindle; sable wolf. White chest flashes are acceptable but prevalence of white is not. The face may or may not have a black mask.The muzzle is short with the lower jaw slightly concave, and has a very large, broad, black nose. The ears are set high and may be drop or cut short. The skin is very thick, with neck folds and some wrinkles on the face.

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Akita Dog

The Akita  is a large spitz breed of dog originating from the mountainous northern regions of Japan. There are two separate varieties of Akita: a Japanese strain, known as the "Akita Inu" or "Japanese Akita"  and an American strain, known as the "Akita" or "American Akita". The Japanese strain comes in a small choice of colors, with all other colors considered atypical of the breed, while the American strain comes in all dog colors. The Akita has a short double coat, similar to that of many other northern spitz breeds such as the Siberian Husky, but long coated dogs can be found in many litters due to a recessive gene.The Akita is a strong, independent and dominant breed, commonly aloof with strangers but affectionate with family members.

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Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD or Cattle Dog), is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia for driving cattle over long distances across rough terrain. In the 19th century, New South Wales cattle farmer Thomas Hall crossed the dogs used by drovers in his parents' home county, Northumberland, with dingoes he had tamed. The resulting dogs were known as Halls Heelers. After Hall's death in 1870, the dogs became available beyond the Hall family and their associates, and were subsequently developed into two modern breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Robert Kaleski was influential in the Cattle Dog's early development, and wrote the first standard for the breed.

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Icelandic sheepdog

The Icelandic sheepdog is a breed of dog of spitz type originating from the dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings. It is of similar type to the Norwegian Buhund and to the ancestor of the modern Shetland sheepdog and Welsh corgi. They are still commonly used to herd sheep in the Icelandic countryside.Icelandic sheepdogs are tough and energetic. Hardy and agile, they are extremely useful for herding and driving livestock or finding lost sheep. However, the dogs are not known for hunting. Icelandic sheepdogs are very alert and will always give visitors an enthusiastic welcome, without being aggressive. Friendly and cheerful, the Icelandic sheepdog is inquisitive, playful and unafraid. They generally get along well with children, as well as other pets.

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Valida Acropora Coral

The Valida Acropora Corals are green with bright purple tips. The coloration of the tips intensify when the growth of the coral is at its greatest. These are very beautiful species that will add a variety of color to your reef aquarium.There are many different species of Acropora corals with many different growth forms. The most common growth form imported into the country is bushy in appearance with short, compact branches. The branches of this coral will remain relatively short, and will form secondary branches as it grows. Occasionally, other growth forms like table top, bottle brush, staghorn and others will be imported, but are in high demand. If you are interested in these other growth forms, please watch for them in our Diver's Den Section. Size: Small: 1 1/2" to 2 1/4"; Medium: 2 1/4" to 4 1/4"; Large: 4 1/4" to 6 1/4"

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Humilis Acropora Coral

The Humilis Acropora Coral is a beautiful species that has eye catching appearance. It is a relatively common color for any hard coral, but will add both variety and beauty to your reef aquarium.The ideal conditions for the Acropora coral is an established reef aquarium with bright lighting provided by preferably intense metal halides. They can also thrive under multiple T-5 or compact fluorescents if placed high in the aquarium. Under the right conditions, the growth rate of the Acropora coral is much more rapid than most of the other corals found in an established reef aquarium. Size Small: 1 1/2" to 2 1/4"; Medium: 2 1/4" to 4 1/4"; Large: 4 1/4" to 6 1/4"

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Zoantharia

Zoanthids  are an order of cnidarians commonly found in coral reefs, the deep sea and many other marine environments around the world. These animals come in a variety of different colonizing formations and in numerous colors. They can be found as individual polyps, attached by a fleshy stolon or a mat that can be created from small pieces of sediment, sand and rock. The term "zoanthid" refers to all animals within this order Zoantharia, and should not be confused with "Zoanthus", which is one genus within Zoantharia.The name of the order is controversial. Non-specialists often use the term Zoanthidea whereas most taxonomists use Zoantharia. The term Zoantharia in turn is used temporarily instead of Hexacorallia. However, major taxonomic papers published since 1899 by specialists (O. Carlgren and F. Pax have described more species than all other authors combined) use Zoantharia, and most recent specialists on the order continue to use the term Zoantharia.

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Chili Coral

The Chili Coral is unsurpassed in popularity among soft coral aficionados thanks to its exotic, other-worldly beauty. Fiery red coloration reminiscent of sun-dried chili peppers packs a visual punch while its elegant arboreal features impart fluid, organic architecture characteristic of soft corals. The visually-stunning Chili Coral boasts equally colorful alternate common names including Strawberry Coral, Chili Cactus Coral, Red Chili Coral, Chili Sponge, Red Finger Soft Coral and Devil's Hand. The Chili Coral is a non-photosynthetic soft coral. While hardy and relatively easy to care for, the Chili Coral has very specific needs that require proper attention for it to thrive. An established reef aquarium aquascaped with ample live rock overhangs and ledges provides an ideal environment.

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Carnation Tree Coral / Dendronephthya

Dendronephthya is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. There are over 250 described species in this genus.
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Red Sea Fan Gorgonacea

Gorgonacea is an order of sessile colonial cnidarian found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Gorgonians are also known as sea whips or sea fans and are similar to the sea pen, a soft coral. Gorgonians are closely related to, but technically not coral, themselves. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect, flattened, branching, and reminiscent of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy, or even encrusting. A colony can be several feet high and across but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Photosynthetic gorgonians can be successfully kept in captive reef aquariums. The name "Gorgonacea" is no longer considered valid and Alcyonacea is now the accepted name for the order.

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Tub Gurnard

The tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (also C. lucernus, Trigla lucerna, T. corax) is a species of bottom-dwelling coastal fish with a spiny armored head and fingerlike pectoral fins used for crawling along the sea bottom. The tub gurnard is a reddish fish with blue pectoral fins.It is a coastal species, prevalent in the Mediterranean Sea (especially the western Mediterranean and the northern Aegean) and the Atlantic Ocean from Norway to Cape Blanc. It is also present, though less common, in the Black Sea, the southern Baltic and the eastern Mediterranean.It has a long mating season, from May to August in Europe, ranging to year round in Africa.

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Western Atlantic finless eel

The Western Atlantic finless eel (Apterichtus kendalli) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).It was described by Charles Henry Gilbert in 1891.
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Arctic char

Arctic char or Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a cold-water fish in the Salmonidae family, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters. It breeds in fresh water, and populations can be either landlocked or anadromous, migrating to the sea. No other freshwater fish is found as far north. For instance, it is the only species of fish in Lake Hazen, on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. It is one of the rarest fish species in Britain, found only in deep, cold, glacial lakes, mostly in Scotland, and is at risk from acidification. It is also found in deep mountain lakes in England, Ireland and Wales such as the Lake District. In other parts of its range, such as Scandinavia, it is much more common, and is fished extensively. It is also common in the Alps, (particularly in Trentino and in the mountain part of Lombardy), where it can be found in lakes up to an altitude of 2,600 m (8,500 ft) above sea level, and in Iceland. In Siberia, it is known as golets and it has been introduced in lakes where it sometimes threatens less hardy endemic species, such as the small-mouth char and the long-finned char in Elgygytgyn Lake.

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Gypsy Horse

The Gypsy Horse (USA, UK, AU), also known as the Gypsy Cob (UK, NZ), Coloured Cob (UK, Ireland, parts of Continental Europe), Gypsy Vanner (US, CAN), Irish Cob, and Tinker Horse (parts of Continental Europe), is a horse breed originally developed by Romanichal peoples native to the British Isles. As recently as 1996, the Gypsy horse had no stud book or breed registry. However, it is now considered a breedwith multiple worldwide breed associations dedicated to it.  It is a small draught breed, popularly recognized for its abundant leg feathering and common black and white, or "piebald", coat colour, though it can be of any other colour as well. Breeders in the U.K. compliment a good example of the breed, which has powerful muscling, correct leg conformation of a pulling horse, and flashy action, with the term "proper cob".Around 1850, the Romanichal of Great Britain began to use a distinct type of horse to pull the vardoes, chimneyed living waggons, in which they had just begun to live and travel. The distinct colour and look of the modern breed were refined by the Romanichal in the period following World War II. American breeders began to import Gypsy horses and created its first registry in 1996 .
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Russian Don Horse

The Russian Don is a breed of horse developed in and named after the steppes region of Russia where the Don River flows. Utilized originally as cavalry horses for the Cossacks, they are currently used for under-saddle work and driving.The Don usually stands 15.1 to 15.3 hands (61 to 63 inches, 155 to 160 cm), and may be bay, black, gray or chestnut. They have a clean head with a straight or dished profile, well set onto a well-formed neck, high withers, and a wide, deep chest. Their shoulders can be straight, limiting the length of their stride, but are often well-formed. The back is long and straight, flowing into a croup that is long and sloping. The legs are long, well-muscled, and clean with broad joints, strong tendons, and tough hooves.

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Morgan Horse

The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States.Tracing back to the foundation sire Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, Morgans served many roles in 19th-century American history, being used as coach horses and for harness racing, as general riding animals, and as cavalry horses during the American Civil War on both sides of the conflict. Morgans have influenced other major American breeds, including the American Quarter Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse and the Standardbred. During the 19th and 20th centuries, they were exported to other countries, including England, where they influenced the breeding of the Hackney horse. In 1907, the US Department of Agriculture established the US Morgan Horse Farm in Middlebury, Vermont for the purpose of perpetuating and improving the Morgan breed; the farm was later transferred to the University of Vermont. The first breed registry was established in 1909, and since then many organizations in the US, Europe and Oceania have developed. There are estimated to be over 175,000 Morgan horses in existence worldwide as of 2005.

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