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How do hot spots form?

Hot spots are regions of anomalous volcanism, or volcanism which occurs away from a plate boundary. At plate boundaries, magma seeps up from the mantle relatively easily, which is the reason for the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire, the ring of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific plate. However, hot spots result from a different process, and result in chains of volcanoes far from a plate boundary.\nOne notable example of hot-spot volcanoes is the Hawaiian island chain. Each of these islands is actually a volcano that formed above a hot spot in the Pacific plate. The chain results from the Pacif..

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How do bony fish reproduce?

Bony fish are a diverse group of animals, which does not include sharks and jawless fish. Their most frequent method of reproduction is spawning, where unfertilized gametes are released in proximity of a fish of the opposite sex to meet by chance. In such species, the likelihood of any particular egg or sperm released reaching adulthood is low, so the number of gametes produced is often quite high. The ocean sunfish, for instance, lays up to 28 million eggs at a time. Species that mate and bear live young, such as guppies, often have as few as 25 young at a time.\nFish have many strategies bet..

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Are fisher cats dangerous?

Fishers are native to North America, residing from coast-to-coast in forest and semi-forest habitats ranging from Quebec and parts of Canada through Virginia. Fishers have no natural enemies other than humans, who hunt them for their fur and run over them with their cars.\n\nFishers eat a large array of birds and small- to medium-sized mammals. They hold the distinction as the only mammal in North America that both kills and consumes porcupines, a feat that has given rise to their reputation as a somewhat savage animal.

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What are some tips for rescuing a Chihuahua?

If there are other dogs already living in the home, they should be introduced on neutral ground first, such as a quiet park. This reduces the chances of any territorial issues arising and makes a successful meeting more likely. Both dogs should be on leashes, and walking them near each other without letting them interact can help them relax.\nDogs do well with set routines, so Chihuahua owners should try to stick to them. They should feed the dog at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time each night. Taking regular trips outside to encourage the dog to relieve itself is a good i..

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What are some funny dinosaur names?

Drinker was a tiny dinosaur named after paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, who discovered the species in the swamps of northern Africa.\nGasosaurus did not receive its name for the reason some might assume. The dinosaur itself is not believed to be any more or less gassy than any other dinosaur. The predator was named by a Chinese gas company's employees, who accidentally discovered the dinosaur's remains.\nIrritator received its name when a disgruntled paleontologist was forced to chip away plaster from the beast's skull that an amateur had placed there. Irritator, which is a ..

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Do snakes have bones?

Snakes have up to 400 vertebrae with just as many ribs, which protect their sensitive organs and give them their incredible flexibility to navigate the roughest and tightest terrain to hunt for prey. Since snakes sometimes eat large rodents, eggs and other snakes, their skeletons are designed to expand generously to accommodate these large items, allowing them to go days or weeks without eating again.

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Why are ants not afraid of humans?

Ants fight and defend their colony in huge numbers. While attacking a predator, ants release chemical signals from their excretory system to alert more worker ants in their colony that an attack has occurred. Ants often fight to the death or until the predator has weakened and can be carried back to their nest for food.

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Which part of the world can you find clown fish in?

The clownfish is a small brightly colored fish, found in the warm shallow waters of lagoons and the protection provided by sheltered coral reefs. These distinctly colored fish, especially the orange and white striped variety, made an appearance in popular culture in the children's film, "Finding Nemo."\nClownfish survive through a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. The mucus on the skin of the clownfish prevents the sting from the sea anemones tentacles. Sea anemones eat other fish that get caught in the tentacles and the clownfish eats and cleans up the remains. The sea anemone al..

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What are some fascinating facts about ducks for children?

All ducks have a waxy coating on their feathers that makes the feathers waterproof. Ducklings are covered with down when they are born and can get up and leave the nest just hours after they hatch.\nDucks are omnivorous, which means that they eat meat and plants; a duck's diet includes fish, fruits, insects, grass and many other items. Duck bills are specially shaped to help them eat out of the mud -- their bills help separate the water and the mud from food.\nMost male ducks are silent, and very few ducks actually quack. Most duck calls are squeaks and grunts. Humans domesticated ducks f..

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What is a good setup for a crested gecko?

A crested gecko needs to have sufficient room to exercise and explore. Hatchling crested geckos are comfortable in cages the size of a 10-gallon aquarium, while adults require cages that are about 20 gallons in size or larger. While aquariums make suitable cages, commercially produced reptile cages are also acceptable. Because crested geckos are arboreal lizards, their cages should be rather tall. A 20-gallon aquarium can be turned on its end to provide a taller cage; in such a situation, the lid becomes a door.\nCrested geckos require numerous hiding places to feel secure. As they are nocturn..

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