Month: July 2023

Panduan Lengkap Cara Bermain Omaha Poker

July 6, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Omaha adalah salah satu permainan poker paling dinamis, dimana pemain tidak pernah bosan di meja. Situasi di setiap sisi berubah secara drastis di setiap jalan, menuntut keterlibatan konstan dalam gameplay dan mengubah taktik.

Aturan Omaha mirip dengan aturan Texas Hold’em: ronde pertaruhan yang sama, setumpuk kartu yang sama, dan kombinasi yang sebanding. Jika Anda sudah memiliki pengalaman bermain Texas Hold’em yang familiar, mempelajari Omaha akan jauh lebih mudah. Namun, strategi bermain yang optimal berbeda secara signifikan karena setiap pemain menerima empat kartu, menghasilkan peluang yang meningkat secara nyata untuk membentuk kombinasi.

Aspek Omaha ini berkontribusi pada dinamika dan agresivitasnya yang khas, didorong oleh kemungkinan yang lebih tinggi untuk mendapatkan tangan kacang dan ukuran pot.

Apa persamaan dan perbedaan antara Omaha dan Texas Hold’em?

Aturan poker Omaha dan putarannya serupa dengan Texas Hold’em:

Tirai dipasang.
Kegagalan tiga kartu komunitas ditangani, diikuti dengan ronde pertaruhan pertama.
Kartu giliran terungkap, diikuti dengan putaran kedua pertaruhan.
Setelah kartu komunitas terakhir, sungai, dibuka, dan taruhan terjadi, pertarungan mengungkapkan kartu lawan.

Tujuan permainan ini adalah untuk membentuk kombinasi lima kartu standar, mirip dengan kombinasi Texas Hold’em. Namun, tidak seperti Texas Hold’em tujuh kartu, permainan ini menggunakan sembilan kartu. Di Omaha, setiap pemain dibagikan empat kartu hole bersama dengan lima kartu komunitas. Kerumitan Omaha terletak pada kenyataan bahwa setiap pemain harus menggunakan hanya dua kartu hole mereka saja bersama dengan tiga kartu komunitas untuk membentuk kombinasi terbaik.

Jumlah kartu di Omaha

Perbedaan utama antara Omaha dan Hold’em terletak pada jumlah kartu hole yang diterima setiap pemain di awal permainan. Di Texas Hold’em, setiap pemain menerima dua kartu, sedangkan di Omaha, mereka menerima empat kartu.

Banyak pemain tertarik dengan Omaha karena lebih mudah membentuk kombinasi peringkat tinggi. Tanpa matematika yang rumit, jelas bahwa memiliki empat kartu, bukan dua, meningkatkan kemungkinan mencapai straight dan kombinasi yang lebih tinggi. Namun, perlu dipertimbangkan bahwa lawan Anda memiliki prospek yang sama.

Fitur ini mengisi Omaha dengan aksi mendebarkan, menghadirkan gameplay yang lebih intens dan bersemangat. Peserta sering terlibat dalam permainan pasca-gagal dan jarang mempertimbangkan untuk melipat. Ini karena pemain seperti itu tidak menyadari kekuatan relatif dari kartu mereka.

Misalnya, tangan dengan dua ace dianggap sebagai pre-flop yang kuat di Hold’em, sedangkan di Omaha, dua kartu hole lainnya lebih penting. Perlu dicatat bahwa hand AA jauh lebih kuat di Hold’em daripada hand AAxx di Omaha. Akibatnya, pemain yang tidak berpengalaman memainkan tangan seperti itu secara berlebihan di Omaha, menciptakan aksi semarak yang Anda sebutkan.

Perhatikan bahwa di Omaha, Anda harus selalu menggunakan kartu dua lubang. Di Omaha dan Hold’em, tangan apa pun terdiri dari kombinasi 5 kartu. Itu adalah kombinasi dari kartu hole dan kartu komunitas. Namun, di Hold’em dan Omaha, penggunaan kartu privat untuk membentuk kombinasi 5 kartu berbeda.

Di Hold’em, untuk membuat kombinasi terbaik, Anda dapat menggunakan keduanya, salah satu kartu hole, atau tidak sama sekali. Sebaliknya di Omaha kita diwajibkan untuk menggunakan tepat 2 dari 4 kartu hole, tidak lebih dan tidak kurang. Jadi, sementara di Hold’em, Anda dapat membuat, misalnya, flush hanya dengan menggunakan satu dari kartu dua lubang, di Omaha, Anda harus selalu menggunakan dua dari empat kartu lubang dalam kombinasi dengan tiga kartu komunitas. Di sisi lain, jika ada empat hati di papan, lawan Anda masih harus memiliki dua hati untuk melakukan flush (tidak hanya satu).

Berhati-hatilah saat memainkan tangan Anda yang kuat tetapi tidak gila; seringkali tindakan terbaik adalah berhenti bertarung jika kemungkinannya tidak menguntungkan Anda.

Mampu menghitung probabilitas kombinasi yang berbeda di Omaha lebih penting daripada di Hold’em. Di sana, Anda terutama menghitung kemungkinan lawan Anda “mengalahkan” Anda daripada peluang Anda sendiri untuk mendapatkan kartu yang diperlukan. Misalnya, jika Anda memiliki top flush dengan ace high, dan tidak ada pasangan di papan, tetapi lawan Anda tetap bermain, kemungkinan besar mereka menunggu kartu untuk menyelesaikan full house. Jika Anda belajar menghitung peluang, Anda akan memiliki keuntungan yang signifikan dibandingkan pemain lain di meja.

Perhatikan bahwa di Omaha, Anda harus selalu menggunakan dua kartu saku. Baik di Omaha maupun Hold’em, tangan apa pun merupakan kombinasi dari 5 kartu. Itu adalah kombinasi kartu saku dan komunitas. Namun, di Hold’em dan Omaha, penggunaan kartu privat untuk membentuk kombinasi 5 kartu berbeda.

Di Hold’em, untuk mengumpulkan kombinasi terbaik, Anda dapat menggunakan keduanya, salah satu kartu saku, atau tidak sama sekali. Sebaliknya di Omaha, kita diwajibkan untuk menggunakan tepat 2 dari 4 kartu saku, tidak lebih dan tidak kurang. Jadi, sementara di Hold’em, Anda dapat membuat, misalnya, flush hanya menggunakan satu dari dua kartu saku, di Omaha, Anda harus selalu menggunakan dua dari empat kartu saku dalam kombinasi dengan tiga kartu komunitas. Sebaliknya, jika ada empat hati di papan, lawan Anda masih harus memiliki dua hati untuk membuat flush (tidak hanya satu).

Berhati-hatilah saat memainkan kombinasi yang kuat tetapi tidak gila; seringkali tindakan terbaik adalah menghentikan perjuangan jika kemungkinannya tidak menguntungkan Anda.

Perbandingan Omaha dan Hold’em – Struktur Taruhan

Di Hold’em dan Omaha, Anda dapat bermain dengan struktur taruhan apa pun: tanpa batas, batas pot, dan batas tetap. Namun, ada struktur taruhan yang biasa dimainkan di kedua varian. No-limit Hold’em dan pot-limit Omaha adalah yang paling sering dimainkan.

Banyak pemain lebih memilih permainan tanpa batas semata-mata untuk kesenangan. Di masa lalu, taruhan dengan batas tetap lebih lazim di poker. Tetapi kesadaran bahwa Anda dapat melakukan all-in kapan saja menarik ribuan pemain ke sisi Hold’em, yang biasanya dimainkan tanpa batas taruhan.

Struktur taruhan tetap menjadi salah satu alasan mengapa Hold’em masih lebih populer daripada Omaha; sebagian besar pemain menikmati format Hold’em tanpa batas. Dimungkinkan untuk menemukan tabel online untuk bermain pot-limit Omaha, tetapi langka.

Mana yang lebih sulit: Omaha atau Texas Hold’em?

Pemain masih berdebat tentang aspek apa yang paling menantang dari kedua variasi game tersebut. Di satu sisi, di Omaha, Anda memiliki empat kartu, tetapi di sisi lain, pemain Hold’em memiliki pilihan ukuran taruhan yang lebih luas. Dapat dikatakan bahwa pot-limit Omaha jauh lebih menantang daripada Hold’em tanpa batas, dan ketika bermain PLO, menarik kesimpulan yang pasti bahkan lebih sulit.

Mempertimbangkan bahwa sebagian besar pemain tidak sepenuhnya memanfaatkan berbagai kemungkinan ukuran taruhan, Omaha jauh lebih menantang bagi pemain baru. Kita dapat memahami bagaimana dua kartu berinteraksi dengan flop di Hold’em, tetapi jika menyangkut empat kartu, semuanya menjadi lebih kompleks.

Untuk pemain baru, terkadang sulit untuk menentukan kombinasi terakhir mereka. Anda mungkin melewatkan kombinasi atau keliru mengira Anda memilikinya dengan memilih kartu yang salah. Masalah dalam membentuk kombinasi menjadi salah satu alasan mengapa Hold’em tetap menjadi permainan poker nomor satu di dunia. Mempelajari aturan Hold’em dan peringkat tangan tidaklah sulit, tetapi jauh lebih menantang di Omaha. Beberapa pemain menikmati kerumitan tambahan, sementara yang lain berjuang dengannya.

Perbandingan Omaha dan Hold’em – Standar Permainan

Standar permainan di Hold’em tanpa batas telah tumbuh secara eksponensial selama 10 tahun terakhir. Dimungkinkan untuk menang di batas tertinggi, tetapi membutuhkan banyak tekad dan disiplin. Mengalahkan batas tinggi di pot-limit Omaha juga bukanlah tugas yang mudah, tetapi masih lebih mudah dibandingkan dengan Hold’em tanpa batas. Dengan kata lain, rata-rata pemain Omaha jauh lebih buruk daripada rata-rata pemain Hold’em. Artinya kurva belajar di Omaha tidak terlalu curam jika ingin menang besar.

Dalam kebanyakan kasus, ini mudah karena Hold’em jauh lebih populer daripada Omaha. Ada lebih banyak materi pembelajaran yang tersedia untuk Hold’em, yang berarti persaingan semakin ketat: Anda memerlukan lebih banyak keterampilan dan kemampuan untuk tetap unggul.

Jika kita hanya ingin mendapatkan uang dari poker, lebih baik memilih Omaha. Kelemahannya adalah biasanya ada lebih sedikit tabel yang tersedia untuk bermain Omaha. Jika, misalnya, kita pergi ke kasino, kita mungkin tidak menemukan satu meja pun untuk bermain Omaha, tetapi akan selalu ada kesempatan untuk bermain Hold’em.

Lebih baik mengetahui cara memainkan berbagai jenis poker, meskipun mengkhususkan diri pada salah satunya.

Pentingnya Postflop Play dan Gaya Bermain

Ada karakteristik lain dari Omaha – sulit untuk menentukan favorit di preflop. Katakanlah Anda memiliki tangan yang kuat, tetapi bahkan dalam posisi seperti itu, kemungkinan untuk unggul melawan satu lawan hanya 65%. Permainan mendapatkan momentum setelah gagal. Taruhan bertambah, dan ukuran pot pada belokan dan sungai akan secara signifikan melebihi ukuran taruhan sebelumnya. Karenanya, Omaha lebih merupakan permainan post-flop.

Mengenai strategi permainan, disarankan untuk menerapkan gaya bermain yang ketat di Omaha, karena tangan premium adalah protagonis utama dalam disiplin ini. Tangan tengah yang kokoh tidak menjamin kesuksesan. Lebih baik berhati-hati pada preflop dan post-flop jika Anda tidak ingin membayar banyak uang untuk kesalahan.

Bluff di Omaha

Seni menggertak di Omaha adalah subjek yang membingungkan banyak orang. Ini secara luas dianggap sebagai salah satu disiplin yang paling menantang untuk digertak. Alasannya adalah tangan yang lemah atau biasa-biasa saja tidak dilipat sesering mereka memiliki potensi lebih tinggi untuk berkembang menjadi tangan yang kuat. Di sisi lain, penggemar Texas Hold’em lebih cenderung membuang kartu yang tidak berhubungan dengan kegagalan. Akibatnya, para pemain ini lebih rentan untuk digertak.
Variasi Omaha

Omaha memiliki beberapa variasi yang berbeda dalam kondisi awal dan tujuan permainannya.

Perbedaan dalam variasi Omaha terutama didorong oleh struktur taruhan. Bentuk Omaha yang paling populer adalah “Pot-Limit Omaha,” di mana setiap pemain dapat bertaruh hingga ukuran pot di setiap ronde pertaruhan. Ada juga “No-Limit Omaha,” yang mirip dengan mitra Texas Hold’em-nya, memungkinkan setiap pemain untuk mempertaruhkan seluruh tumpukan chip mereka kapan saja di tangan. Terakhir, ada “Limit Omaha”, di mana batas taruhan yang telah ditentukan ditetapkan untuk setiap putaran permainan. Di Pot-Limit dan No-Limit Omaha, tidak ada batasan jumlah kenaikan yang dapat dilakukan pemain di setiap ronde pertaruhan. Di Limit Omaha, maksimal empat kenaikan dapat dilakukan di setiap putaran taruhan.

Batas Pot Omaha (PLO)

PLO adalah singkatan dari “Pot-Limit Omaha.” Pot-Limit Omaha adalah variasi paling populer dari Omaha. Jika variasi hold’em yang paling populer adalah “No Limit”, maka variasi Omaha yang paling populer adalah “Pot Limit”. Alasannya adalah karena di Omaha, ekuitas pre-flop hand lebih dekat satu sama lain. Oleh karena itu, masuk akal untuk mengurangi varians dengan melihat lebih banyak flop dan, akibatnya, membatasi kenaikan pre-flop. Di hold’em, spread pra-gagal antar tangan bisa selebar 80% -20%. Di Omaha, bahkan dengan tangan yang sangat kuat, Anda jarang memiliki ekuitas lebih dari 65%.

Perbedaan utama antara disiplin ini dari varian tanpa batas adalah batasan ukuran taruhan. Ukuran taruhan maksimum tidak dapat melebihi ukuran pot saat ini. Maka nama.

Ukuran taruhan maksimum dalam PLO dihitung menggunakan rumus:

Taruhan Maks = Taruhan pada putaran saat ini + Ukuran pot + Panggilan Anda, di mana:

Taruhan pada putaran saat ini – jumlah dari semua taruhan yang dibuat pemain selama putaran pertaruhan saat ini.
Ukuran pot – jumlah chip di tengah meja yang terbentuk dari ronde pertaruhan sebelumnya.

Panggilan Anda – jumlah chip yang diperlukan untuk memanggil taruhan lawan Anda.

Mari kita pecahkan dengan sebuah contoh. Di pre-flop, pot $400 telah terkumpul. Jika gagal, seorang pemain bertaruh $100, dan pemain berikutnya bertaruh $200. Kami memasukkan nilai ke dalam rumus:

Taruhan pada putaran saat ini – $300
Ukuran Pot – $400
Panggilan Anda – $200
Taruhan maksimum = $300 + $400 + $200 = $900

Ukuran kenaikan maksimum yang dapat Anda hasilkan adalah $900.
Omaha Halo

Permainan populer lainnya adalah poker ‘Hi-Lo’ atau, terkadang disebut, Omaha 8. Kemungkinan menang di sini ditentukan oleh adanya dua jenis kombinasi – yang terkuat dan terlemah. Setiap pemain membentuk dua kombinasi berbeda: 5 kartu “tinggi” dan 5 kartu “rendah”. Pot dibagi antara dua pemenang.

Tujuan dari permainan ini adalah untuk membuat kombinasi kemenangan Anda sendiri dan kartu komunitas di atas meja. Pemenang mengambil pot uang tunai. Ini adalah aturan utama Omaha Hi-Lo.

Fitur aturan Omaha Hi-Lo:

Pemain dibagikan 4 kartu saku.
Untuk membentuk tangan, Anda harus menggunakan 2 kartu Anda sendiri dan 3 kartu komunitas di atas meja.

Kemungkinan membagi pot antara tangan terkuat (tinggi) dan terlemah (rendah).

Aturan kombinasi di Omaha Hi-Lo:

Kombinasi tersebut harus mencakup kartu dari As hingga Delapan. Itu sebabnya permainan ini sering disebut Omaha 8.
Tangan tidak boleh berisi pasangan.
Kombinasi rendah tertinggi adalah As, Dua, Tiga, Empat, Lima.

Jenis taruhan di Omaha Hi-Lo:

Batas Tetap – kenaikan terbatas dan tidak boleh lebih dari satu atau dua tirai besar, tergantung pada level taruhan.
Pot-Limit – taruhan maksimum yang mungkin sama dengan ukuran pot.
Tanpa Batas – Anda dapat meningkatkan dengan jumlah berapa pun. Ukuran taruhan hanya dibatasi oleh jumlah chip yang Anda miliki.

Jenis Omaha berdasarkan struktur taruhan:

Omaha Pot-Limit – Format paling populer. Taruhan maksimum dibatasi oleh ukuran pot saat ini. Misalnya, jika pot di flop adalah $10 dan tidak ada yang menunjukkan agresi sebelum Anda, Anda dapat bertaruh hingga ukuran pot – $10.

Batas Tetap Omaha – Ukuran taruhan terbatas. Misalnya, bermain dengan batas $10/$20. Taruhan minimum adalah $10, dan maksimum – $20. Tirai dalam game ini adalah $5/$10. Di belokan dan sungai, Anda dapat membuat taruhan maksimal. Dalam contoh kita, itu akan menjadi $20, dan kenaikan – dari $40. Batas Tetap Omaha menyiratkan jumlah maksimum kenaikan kembali (cap). Batas yang paling umum adalah tiga kenaikan gaji, tetapi beberapa kamar memiliki batas empat kenaikan gaji.

No-Limit Omaha – Dalam format ini, seorang pemain dapat meletakkan semua chip mereka di tengah meja di salah satu ronde pertaruhan. Tidak seperti hold’em, format ini tidak begitu populer.

Parrot Facts: Habits, Habitat & Species

July 6, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Parrots are members of the order Psittaciformes, which includes more than 350 bird species, including parakeets, macaws, cockatiels and cockatoos, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Though there are many types of parrots, all parrot species have a few traits in common. For example, to be classified as a parrot, the bird must have a curved beak, and its feet must be zygodactyl, which means there are four toes on each foot with two toes that point forward and two that point backward.

Size

Because the parrot order includes so many different species, parrot sizes vary widely. Parrots can range in size from about 3.5 to 40 inches (8.7 to 100 centimeters) and weigh 2.25 to 56 ounces (64 g to 1.6 kg), on average. The world’s heaviest type of parrot is the kakapo, which can weigh up to 9 lbs. (4 kg). The smallest parrot is the buff-faced pygmy parrot, which is only about 3 inches (8 cm) tall and weighs just 0.4 ounces (10 g).

Habitat

Most wild parrots live in the warm areas of the Southern Hemisphere, though they can be found in many other regions of the world, such as northern Mexico. Australia, South America and Central America have the greatest diversity of parrot species.

Not all parrots like warm weather, though. Some parrots like to live in snowy climates. A few cold-weather parrots are maroon-fronted parrots, thick-billed parrots and keas.

With their colorful plumage and ability to mimic human speech, parrots are very popular pets. Some parrot pets have escaped their owners and bred in unusual areas. For example, a popular bird in the pet trade, the monk parakeet, a native of subtropical South America, now resides in the United States after some of them escaped and reproduced in the wild.

Habits

Most parrots are social birds that live in groups called flocks. African grey parrots live in flocks with as many as 20 to 30 birds.

Many species are monogamous and spend their lives with only one mate. The mates work together to raise their young. Parrots throughout the flock communicate with one another by squawking and moving their tail feathers.

Some parrots, like the kakapo, are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and search for food at night.

Diet

Parrots are omnivores, which means that they can eat both meat and vegetation. Most parrots eat a diet that contains nuts, flowers, fruit, buds, seeds and insects. Seeds are their favorite food. They have strong jaws that allow them to snap open nutshells to get to the seed that’s inside.

Keas use their longer beaks to dig insects out of the ground for a meal, and kakapos chew on vegetation and drink the juices.

Offspring

Parrots are like most other birds and lay eggs in a nest. Some species, though, lay their eggs in tree holes,ground tunnels, rock cavities and termite mounds. Parrots typically lay two to eight eggs at one time. A parrot’s egg needs 18 to 30 days of incubation before it can hatch, so the parents take turns sitting on the eggs.

A parrot chick is born with only a thin layer of thin, wispy feathers called down. Parrot chicks are blind for the first two weeks of their lives. At three weeks, they start to grow their adult feathers. The chick will not be fully matured for one to four years, depending on its species.

Classification/taxonomy

According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomy of parrots is:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genera and species: More than 60 genera and more than 350 species. Species that are popular as pets include Ara macao (scarlet macaw), Aratinga holochlora (green parakeet), Myiopsitta monachus (monk parakeet), Poicephalus senegalus (Senegal parrot), Nymphicus hollandicus (cockatiel) and Cacatua alba (white cockatoo).

Conservation status

Many species of parrots are endangered. The kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is a critically endangered parrot, according to the Kakapo Recovery Organization. There are fewer than 150 left. The there are only 50 orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogaster), found in Australia, making it one of the most endangered parrots in the world.

The yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) is another endangered parrot, though there are more of them than kakapos or orange-bellied parrots. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are 7,000 yellow-headed Amazons left in the wild.

Other facts

Parrots are very good mimics and can copy sounds that they hear in their environment; they can even copy human words and laughter. The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is one of the best at this and one named Alex (1965-2007) was reported to be the world’s smartest parrot.

The kakapo is one of the world’s longest-living birds; they can live more than 90 years.

Cockatoos have a group of feathers on top of their heads that they can move. When on full display, these feathers resemble a mohawk. The cockatoo can also retract the feathers so they lay flat against their heads.

Are Dragons Real? – Lesson for Kids

July 6, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

While European dragons were usually depicted as monsters or enemies, on the other side of the world, ancient Asian cultures came up with their own ideas about dragons. Instead of big lizards, they appeared much thinner and longer and could be very small, very big, or anywhere in between. Eastern Asian dragons were usually symbols, meaning they represented something, such as wisdom, power, or nature, that was capable of helping people in numerous ways. For example, one Chinese dragon lived at the bottom of a deep spring and controlled the rain, and a type of Chinese tea today is named Dragon Well Tea.

Asian Dragons

In Vietnam, people believed that a dragon guarded the countryside and created a series of islands off the coast of Ha Long, which means ”descending dragon.” The capital city of Seoul, Korea lies between one mountain that looks like a tiger and one that looks like a dragon; the dragon mountain is considered lucky. In Borneo, an island in southeast Asia, legend holds that a dragon guards a huge jewel on top of Mount Kinabalu.

While there are no creatures on Earth that can fly and breathe fire, there are huge lizards that are known as dragons. Perhaps the most famous is the Komodo dragon, which can be ten feet long and weigh over 300 pounds. These huge lizards live on the islands of Indonesia and are the biggest carnivores, or meat eaters, around. They eat pretty much everything they find, including cows, pigs, and deer. They’ve even killed humans!

There are about 5,000 Komodo dragons left in the wild. Millions of years ago, when the planet was warmer and better for reptiles, more of these giant dragons lived throughout South Asia and Australia, and they grew even larger than the ones today. However, a changing planet, along with people moving in, has made the Komodo dragon among the last real dragons left in the world.

Research Characteristics of Dragons.

The lesson discussed mythical dragons and the characteristics that those dragons had in common, which are breathing fire and flying. Let’s think about and explore how these characteristics may be found in a dragon by looking at examples in present-day animals and insects.
Fire-breathing ability

If you think about dragons which have been portrayed in movies and cartoons, this is one of the common features they share. Is it possible for an animal to produce fire? Let’s consider a different characteristic that some creatures have – the ability to produce light. Research this phenomenon called bioluminescence, and discuss how this property occurs. Also, research what elements are needed for fire to occur. Then think about whether a process can occur in a creature to produce fire.

Answers:

A number of different organisms produce light, with one of the most familiar examples being the firefly. Bioluminescence generally produces light as a reaction, where the oxidation of a chemical called luciferin occurs with the assistance of an enzyme called luciferase and high energy molecule called ATP.

Three elements are required for fire to occur, which is known as the fire pyramid. There must be a fuel source, oxygen must be present, and a source of ignition must exist.

If a dragon were to produce fire, we would have to think about what could be used as a fuel source. Certain bacteria can break down partially digested food and produce methane. This occurs in higher levels in some animals, like cows. Perhaps a dragon could have a gland containing a large number of bacteria that produce methane for a fuel source. A chemical reaction, possibly similar to bioluminescence, may then be used as a source of ignition for the fuel.

Ability to fly

Dragons are often also portrayed with wings. Birds are an excellent example of achieving the ability to fly. Research how birds use wings to fly and think about whether this would work for a larger creature, such as a dragon.

Answer:

Birds are able to fly by pushing air down and behind with their wings. Do you think that a larger creature, like a dragon, would be able to use wings to fly like birds?

The 10 Absolute Strongest Animals on Earth: Pure Force

July 5, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Key Points:

The strongest land animal in the world is the elephant. The typical Asian elephant has 100,000 muscles and tendons arranged along the length of the trunk, enabling it to lift almost 800 pounds.
The gorilla, the strongest as well as largest primate on the planet, is at least six times stronger than the average human. Its bite can also generate approximately 1,300 pounds of pressure per square inch.
While it may appear docile from a distance, the hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous beasts in the world, having a bite that exerts around 1,800 pounds of force per square inch.

In the constant war between predator and prey, size and strength can be decisive factors to help an animal survive the cruel whims of nature. However, there are several ways to measure strength, including lifting strength, bite strength, kick strength, and overall power.

How do we define a strong animal? For the purpose of this article, we will be defining strength in absolute terms, not in strength relative to body size (which would make insects some of the most powerful animals on the planet). Note that this article also lists animals in their general groups. A group may be defined as an entire order or just an individual species. Let’s have a look at some strong animals!

Exerts Most Absolute Force: Whales

Whales can claim the title of the strongest creature on the planet simply due to their enormous size. Although unable to lift, grip, or kick, they do need an enormous amount of force to power their massive bodies through the water.

This movement is facilitated by two large muscle groups near their tail: the epaxial muscles for the upstroke and the hypaxial muscles for the downstroke. The blue whale can generate a maximum force of around 60 kilonewtons (a single kilonewton is enough force to accelerate a 1,000-kilogram (2,200-pound) object at a rate of one meter per second).

Read more about the powerful, yet graceful blue whale here.

Most Powerful Land Animal: Elephants

Elephants are extremely powerful creatures, with size and strength varying among species. The African bush elephant holds the distinction of being the largest land animal on the planet. It has a maximum shoulder height of 12 feet and weighs up to 12,000 pounds. The closely related Asian elephant can weigh around 11,000 pounds.

The trunk is the elephant’s main tactile instrument. It is composed of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels with minimal amounts of fat and bone. The typical Asian elephant has 100,000 muscles and tendons arranged along the length of the trunk. This enables it to lift almost 800 pounds with relative ease — or about the size of a large tree.

The elephant’s trunk has many potential uses, including feeding, touching, cleaning, arranging objects, and communicating with others. It also has the ability to hold approximately two gallons of water at a time.

The elephant’s body is also specially adapted for strength. Whereas most mammals have small bone cavities, elephants have very dense bones that allow them to perform all kinds of impressive acts like standing on their hind legs. This allows some species to carry up to 14,000 pounds!

Strongest Primate: Gorillas

By any metric, the gorilla is one of the strongest animals on the planet. With such muscular and elongated arms, it is at least six times stronger than the average human. Its bite can also generate approximately 1,300 pounds of pressure per square inch. As the largest primate, a typical male gorilla can weigh anywhere between 200 and 500 pounds. Although largely herbivorous and not very aggressive, its intimidating display can scare off even the most dangerous animals.

Find out more about the intelligent and mighty gorilla.

Most Powerful Biter: Crocodiles

The crocodile has perhaps the strongest biting force on the planet. With its powerful jaws, the creature can instantly kill almost any prey by exerting up to 5,000 pounds of pressure per square inch (depending on the species). For comparison’s sake, a human can only bite with around 100 pounds per square inch. The key to the crocodile’s remarkable strength is its enormous jaw muscles. However, this ability does have one weakness: their mouths exhibit very little opening strength. It’s possible to keep the jaws clamped down with a rubber band.

Read more about the sneaky, strong crocodile.

Massively Strong: Bears

The bear is a familiar but intimidating presence throughout many of the world’s parks and ecosystems. They are swathed in huge muscles and powerful claws that enable them to dig and hunt with incredible expertise. Among all bear species, both the grizzly bear and polar bear take the crown as the strongest. Weighing more than around 800 pounds — the maximum recorded size is twice that figure — an individual male grizzly is equivalent to around five humans in strength … and even more when enraged. The key to the grizzly bear’s strength is the large mass of muscles attached directly to its backbone. This gives the bear a rounded, humped appearance. Polar bears are also massively strong, potentially weighing up to 1,600 pounds. They can also chomp down at around 1,200 pounds of pressure per square inch.

Forceful Hunter: Tigers

The tiger is one of the largest carnivores in the world, eclipsed only by the polar and grizzly bears. The most intimidating species, the Siberian tiger, can potentially weigh up to 800 pounds. As solitary hunters, tigers can swim, leap, and take down prey with amazing force. And unlike many other carnivores, it can easily stand and attack from its hind legs.

Tigers have night vision that is six times better than that of humans, which helps them hunt successfully in the dark. A tiger will mainly hunt pigs and deer but is capable of taking prey larger than itself

These remarkable abilities are enabled by the tiger’s incredibly dense muscular structure. It is estimated that their bite can exert around 1,000 pounds of force per square inch.

Learn more about the beautiful, yet dangerous tiger.

Surprisingly Strong Herbivore: Hippopotamuses

At first glance, the hippopotamus may seem like a placid, lumbering, veggie-munching softy, but when disturbed, it is one of the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom. To understand just how dangerous they are, it is necessary to fully appreciate the hippo’s sheer size. The average hippo can weigh anywhere between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds, and scientists have recorded some individuals with twice that weight. With the ability to open its mouth at a 180-degree angle, the hippopotamus has a bite that exerts around 1,800 pounds of force per square inch. It is a creature that can tussle with even the fiercest predators.

Learn more about the hippopotamus here.

Intense Defensive Strength: Rhinoceros

The rhinoceros is another fearsome herbivore with a penchant for rather violent displays of self-defense. Although under threat by humans, the white rhino is the world’s largest rhino species at around 13 feet long and weighing 5,000 pounds — sometimes much more. They can also make a harrowing charge of 30 to 40 mph. Although not particularly aggressive, these strong creatures will defend their territory from threats, and they have been known to rock or tip over entire vehicles. Their intimidating horn is composed of keratin — the same substance as hair, fingernails, and feathers.

Find out more interesting rhinoceros facts here!

Fiercely Strong Feline: Jaguars

The jaguar is a powerful cat native to an enormous range throughout Central and South America. Weighing up to 350 pounds at its maximum, the jaguar is not the largest cat, but with a powerful bite force of approximately 1,500 pounds per square inch, it only needs one quick strike to subdue its prey. The jaguar can open its mouth wide and pierce the skull or armored shell with its enormous teeth. It also has the strength to drag a huge carcass about equal to its own body size up into the trees. Jaguars will feed on almost anything, including deer, capybaras, boars, primates, and ungulates.

Read more about the hunting skills of the jaguar.

Unexpectedly Powerful Beast: Bovines

Bovines are defined as a group of ungulates that includes bison, buffalo, yaks, and cattle. Due to their immense strength, bovines were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago for the purpose of towing carts, plows, and other materials. As one of the largest bovines, the African buffalo is an immense beast that can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. When they feel threatened, buffaloes have been known to tip over large vehicles or charge at animals or people. With their powerful muscles, intimidating horns, and defensive posture, more people die of bovine attacks every year than almost any other animal.

Read more about the mighty buffalo here.

Most Powerful Bird: Harpy Eagle

If you were wondering who the king of the air is, look no further than the harpy eagle. Experts have found that this fierce bird of prey is the strongest, pound for pound, in the world. The force of grip of its talons is incredible, able to crush the bones of its prey, which are typically monkeys, sloths, and opossums. The harpy eagle typically weighs in at 13 pounds, has a wingspan of 5.7 feet, and can fly up to 50mph. They’re found in rainforests in South America, but spotting one in the wild is rare.

27 Prehistoric Animals That Are Still Alive Today

July 5, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Awe-inducing creatures like mastodons, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats and even dire wolves (yep, they were a real thing — not just a “Game of Thrones” fantasy) have sadly gone extinct since the last ice age ended about 11,700 years ago. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck in seeing prehistoric animals today. There are still plenty of wildlife species that predate recorded history, and they even exist as they did when roaming with our loincloth-clad ancestors.

Some of these animals can only be found in zoos and protected nature preserves because their populations are starting to fall, or they are already endangered. Others can still be found in the wild — and maybe even in your own backyard.

Wherever you see them, these ancient animals are sure to inspire wonder.

Gharial

All crocodiles, caimans and alligators are ancient species, and they look the part. But one species of crocodilian — the gharial, sometimes called a gavial — beats them all in the prehistoric-looking beauty contest. Gharials have long, narrow, sword-like mouths full of buzzy teeth. Males develop a huge bulbous nose at the end of their snout, making them look rather comical.

Gharials in some form or another have been around for tens of millions of years, but the modern gharial is the last remaining species of this lineage. Alas, it too is heading towards extinction, with fewer than 200 individual reproducing gharials left in the wilds of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The IUCN has listed it as a “critically endangered” species.

Fortunately, the Kukrail breeding center at Kukrail Forest Reserve in Lucknow, India has been playing a massive role in gharial conservation efforts, by breeding the creatures and sending them out to zoos all over the world. The center is also open to the public, so you can get up close and personal with these spectacular beasts. Small populations are also present at Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park in Nepal.

Komodo Dragon

You can find Komodo dragons in Indonesia today, but that might not be where these iconic lizards came from originally. Scientists recently unearthed a series of Komodo dragon fossils in eastern Australia dating back as far as four million years ago.

These gigantic lizards can weigh as much (or more) than a human — and, in fact, they have been known to attack humans. Which is not ideal, since these giant reptiles are somewhat venomous.

However, if you’re still feeling brave, you can see Komodo dragons by booking with one of several outfitters leading excursions to Komodo National Park. The small Indonesian islands that make up this park are stunning, and offer many amenities for curious tourists.

Shoebill Stork

No one’s quite sure how the shoebill stork is related to other birds since different collections of data point to different living relatives, but one thing scientists agree on is that this is a very, very old bird. And it looks the part: Grayish and big-beaked, it looks like it walked right off the set of “The Flintstones.”

Shoebill storks are classified as “vulnerable to extinction” due to habitat destruction and poaching. But you can still see them in a protected area of the Mabamba Bay Wetland in Uganda, where several outfitters offer bird-spotting tours. As you paddle through the shallow lakes and ponds reminiscent of prehistoric swamps, you just might forget your place in time.

It may not be easy to get there, but this is an unusual animal you have to see before you die.

Bactrian Camel

You already know about the one-humped camels used as transport in the Middle East before automobiles existed. But did you know that they evolved from the two-humped Bactrian camel, which still roams the wilds of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia?

Bactrian camels — which sort of look like a cross between Chewbacca and a llama — evolved to withstand temperatures below 0°F and above 100°F some two million years ago. Its two humps are used to store fat, which the camel breaks down into energy and water to sustain it during long, dry, food-free periods (if only we could lose fat that easily too).

Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild, with fewer than 1,000 left, according to the IUCN. However, domesticated Bactrian camels are an important part of Mongolian culture, and numerous tour operators offer camel-riding expeditions. In addition, visitors can check out the annual Thousand Camels Festival, held in early March in Umnugovi, Mongolia.

Echidna

Echidnas are an amazing and bizarre creature that look like a cross between a badger, a porcupine and an anteater. They’re a monotreme, a type of primitive mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live babies, just like their famous relative, the platypus.

These animals can also be hard to find in the wild, since they’re small, mostly nocturnal, and live a spaced-out and solitary life. Several species of echidna are also highly endangered — a sad fact, considering that these animals have been roaming the earth for an estimated 17 or so million years.

If you want to see a live echidna up close, your best bet is to visit one of the many zoos throughout New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia that house them. They can be found at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Hobart, Tasmania, the Australia Zoo in Queensland, and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

Musk Oxen

Musk oxen can be quite a sight (and smell) to behold, especially during the fall rutting season. During this time, bull musk oxen fight for control of harems by sprinting towards each other and bashing their heads with such force that it can shake the ground from a long distance away.

It’s a wonder how these animals still survive, but it’s estimated they’ve been around for 187,000 to 129,000 years. In the 1800s they were extirpated from Alaska, but after they were successfully reintroduced in the 1930s, the populations grew. Currently there are several thousand musk oxen in Alaska, though their populations have been declining in recent years.

It can still take some time to find these animals in the wild, but one of the best places to see them is in Nome, Alaska, where they regularly wander near the small tundra town. Nome is also the famous end point of the Iditarod dogsled race, which you can watch in early-to-mid March.

Make sure to also check out Nome vendors selling qiviut, the delicately soft underwool harvested from captive or even wild muskoxen. This wool is some of the finest and warmest in the world (what would you expect from an arctic animal?), and is even rarer than cashmere.

Vicuña

Speaking of luxury wool, another prehistoric animal known for its fiber is the vicuña, the ancestor of the modern-day alpaca. The two animals look very similar indeed, though vicuñas have a distinctive color pattern, with white undersides and a brown saddle across most of their body.

Although vicuñas were treasured by the Incas and protected, they were nearly driven to extinction by hunting after the Inca empire fell. Happily, thanks to the work of many dedicated conservationists, there are hundreds of thousands of vicuñas in the wild today.

You can see them throughout rural roads in south-central Peru, but one of the best places is in Huascarán National Park, north of Lima. There are all sorts of other treasures to see hidden away here, in the world’s highest tropical mountain range, including spectacled bears, Andean condors and the amazing Queen of the Andes flower.

Chambered Nautilus

The chambered nautilus normally lives in the deep ocean around Australia and Indonesia, but if you happen to be in the area of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, you can see the ancient creatures up-close.

These alien-looking corkscrew-shaped animals are among the oldest in the world. Fossils of this animal have been found from 500 million years ago, and they still look exactly the same as today’s descendants.

They’re difficult to breed in captivity, and due to declining populations in the wild (are you sensing a trend yet?), the Monterey Bay Aquarium is at the forefront of research efforts. In fact, in Spring 2018, researchers successfully bred some of the first baby nautiluses in captivity.

Babirusa

Babirusas are just like your everyday slightly irritable pig — except for the fact that males have gigantic tusks that grow upwards right through their snouts and curve back towards their heads. In fact, if unchecked for long enough, the tusks can pierce their foreheads. The lower tusks of babirusas grow upwards as well, making the animal look somewhat like a pig version of an orc.

Babirusa are old enough to appear on Indonesian cave paintings some 35,000 years ago. Today, there are several tour operators offering babirusa-watching safaris in the Nantu Forest and Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Indonesia.

Tapir

Like babirusas, tapirs also resemble pigs except for one key feature: a short, elephant-like proboscis that they use for roping food into their mouths. Tapirs also use their long snouts as snorkels while walking around underwater, one of their favorite pastimes.

While tapirs look rather porcine, they’re actually more closely related to horses and rhinoceroses. In fact, tapirs have a long, proud history in the fossil record, having first evolved in the Miocene epoch, as late as 23 million years ago. They’ve evolved into numerous species since then, although today there are only five remaining tapir species left across Asia, Central and South America.

One of the best places to see wild tapirs in the Americas is at Corcovado National Park in breathtaking Costa Rica. They can also be found throughout the Amazon rainforest — keep your eyes peeled!

White Rhinoceros

Want to know some incredible rhino facts?

The ancient species of white rhinos is actually composed of two subspecies: the northern white rhinoceros and the southern white rhinoceros. Unfortunately, the northern white rhino population is down to just two individuals, both of them female — meaning that the population will almost certainly go completely extinct within our lifetimes. The beautiful creatures are mother and daughter, living together in a reserve in Kenya, which you can visit on a special tour with Unforgettable Travel.

The southern white rhino is more of a conservation success story, however. The IUCN currently lists this subspecies as “Near Threatened,” with over 17,000 individuals worldwide.

Still, all rhino species are under constant threat from poachers, who harvest the horns for traditional Asian medicinal uses. This has led some conservationists to take drastic measures, such as surrounding especially important animals with armed guards, or even removing and destroying the rhino’s horns to remove the incentive for poachers to kill.

One of the best places you can see the Southern White Rhino today is in Kruger National Park in South Africa, home to hundreds of the majestic creatures (the most in any one place in Africa). Kruger National Park is one of the most popular destinations for safaris, and you’ll be guaranteed to see tons of other iconic African wildlife species as well.

Wobbegong Shark

If you’re not looking carefully while on a tropical Pacific reef dive, you might miss seeing a wobbegong shark. In fact, these creatures are specifically trying to hide from you, using their flattened bodies, frilly edges and camouflage patterns to blend in with algae-covered rock. But once they start swimming and you see their smooth white bellies, the gig is up. There’s no mistaking a swimming wobbegong.

These sharks — which have been around since the Miocene epoch, some 11 million years ago — are still found in a couple different species, and most are too small to harm people. A few wobbegong shark attacks have been reported, but there have been no fatalities, and it’s likely that the injured parties just accidently stepped on them or got too close while diving.

You might get lucky and spot these animals while on a reef dive (just don’t get too close). If not, you can check them out at the Sydney Aquarium in Australia, where you can go on a guided shark swim even if you have no previous diving experience.

Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe crabs are one of the oldest species on earth, having been around in more or less the same form since the Ordovician period, some 445 million years ago. Back in those days, the continents still hadn’t formed yet — there was one single supercontinent called Gondwanaland, and horseshoe crabs could be found in abundance around its shores even then.

Today, you can find millions of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay each May as the clunky, helmet-shaped creatures return to the beaches to breed. It’s the single largest concentration of horseshoe crabs in the world.

While you’re there, keep an eye out for rarely-seen shorebirds like the Red Knot and Ruddy Turnstone, which make a deliberate bee-line here during their annual northward migration to feast on the abundance of horseshoe crab eggs.

Polar Bear

Everyone’s familiar with the iconic polar bear these days. But when you step back and think about it, they really do look like something that could have wandered in off a glacier during the last ice age.

Actually, polar bears are a lot older than that. In 2010, scientists used a fossilized polar bear jawbone found in arctic Norway to discover that the animal lived around 120,000 years ago. These animals have been lumbering around in the white North since at least that time.

Churchill, Manitoba in Canada is one of the hotspots for tourists seeking a glimpse of these rare creatures, whose populations are currently declining. The town specializes in polar bear tourism, and outfitters even have special raised and reinforced tundra buggies that allow you to get right up next to the polar bears while still remaining safe (they are known predators of people, after all).

Tuatara

Sure, the tuatara might look like your everyday iguana-esque lizard, but don’t let the superficial appearance deceive you. This ancient reptile is believed to have existed at the same time as the dinosaurs, some 225 million years ago.

Today, the tuatara’s body contains clues of this ancient history. Indeed, they actually have a primitive third eye on the top of their head, although it’s hard to see and sometimes grown over with scales in adults. Scientists believe this is an archaic sort of light sensor, which the reptiles use to set their daily and seasonal biological functions. In addition, tuataras can still hear sounds, even though they have no outside ears, like modern-day reptiles. This is similar to how fish hear sounds underwater.

Tuataras can be found in New Zealand. You can’t really see them very easily in the wild, unfortunately, since they mostly live on predator-free islands nowadays. Still, you can view them up-close in many New Zealand zoos, such as the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier or Zealandia in Wellington.

Cassowary

Cassowaries are about the closest-looking thing we have to a “Jurassic Park” velociraptor. These tall, colorful, bipedal birds have a huge slab-like ornament on the top of their head and a sharp, dagger-like claw on their feet. In fact, these birds have been known to attack and even (very rarely) kill people.

Ratites (large, flightless birds) like cassowaries and emus have been around for around 60 million years. These days, you can find cassowaries in northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

If you’re lucky, quiet and careful, you can spot them while walking through forest trails in the Cape Tribulation, Daintree and Mission Beach areas in Australia, where several guided outfits offer birdwatching tours. Remember to keep your distance, and not to feed them!

Chinese Giant Salamander

“Jurassic Park” may be a fantastical story, but there actually are animals from that time period that still roam the earth today. The Chinese Giant Salamander, which is an estimated 170 million years old, is one of them. It’s also the largest amphibian in the world; it can grow even larger than some people, up to 110 pounds and six feet in length.

These giant salamanders used to be found widespread in chilly Chinese mountain streams, but there are hardly any left in the wild at all now due to poaching for food and traditional medicine.

But if we’ve piqued your interest, you can still see one amazing example of this animal in the Prague Zoo. Karlo, one of the world’s largest living Chinese giant salamanders (weighing in at a whopping 77 pounds), is currently quite healthy and will hopefully be around for decades to come.

Chamois

No, we’re not talking about the cloth. The animal chamois (pronounced sham-wah) first showed up on the map in western Europe during the last ice age, and they’ve been there ever since. In fact, they’ve even been found in cave paintings and carvings made by humans from this chilly time. The chamois looks like a goat with the face of an antelope. It has dark fur, and a lighter face with a dark streak across it.

Happily, the chamois is a conservation success story, unlike so many of their ancient comrades. Chamois are widespread throughout the Alps and the Pyrenees, where you can often see them along hiking trails.

One of the best trails to see wild chamois is along the Haute Route from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. This two-week hike has also been rated as one of the top trails in the world, as it meanders through mountain meadows and breathtaking high-altitude lakes.

Whale Shark

The name “whale shark” is a bit of a misnomer. This animal is not a whale at all; in fact, it’s the largest shark — the largest fish, even — in the world. What’s more, it’s been swimming around in the ocean for at least 28 million years.

These gigantic sharks can actually be found all around the equator, but seeing them isn’t as simple as that ubiquity suggests. First, you have to rent a boat. And since these animals are endangered, finding them even while out on the water is a tall order.

A better option is to visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. It’s home to some of the world’s only captive whale sharks, and you can even swim with them for a fee. (Don’t worry; whale sharks are filter feeders and not dangerous to humans at all.)

Lake Sturgeon

Speaking of old fish, another amazing aquatic animal to check out is the lake sturgeon. This ancient fish actually swam around with the dinosaurs, having shown up on the map some 150 million years ago, and it still swims around the United States today.

It’s also a bizarre animal in its own right. Lake sturgeon have no scales — only rubbery skin and a few rows of bony scutes — and can grow up to be over 7 feet long and weigh 300 pounds (imagine seeing that swim by while you’re dipping your toes in a lake this summer!).

As with whale sharks, lake sturgeon populations are dwindling, but you can see them reliably by visiting Shedd Aquarium along Chicago’s Lake Michigan coastline. The aquarium even has an interactive sturgeon touch pool, where you can feel the creature’s bony scutes for yourself.

Okapi

The fossil record is a bit spotty for the okapi, so information is spare, but one thing scientists can all agree on is that these animals are very old, perhaps even the oldest mammals left on Earth. They’re also very weird-looking, resembling a cross between a deer, a zebra and a giraffe — and in fact, they’re the only living relative of the latter.

Okapi evolved to live relatively solitary lives in the jungle, where a long neck might get caught in the dense trees. In fact, they’re so secretive that Western scientists didn’t even know they existed until 1900.

Up until relatively recently, it was possible to see okapi in the wild at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Democratic Republic of Congo. But due to a spate of deadly attacks, that’s not exactly recommended at the moment. Instead, you can see them in a wide range of zoos around the world that the Okapi Wildlife Reserve has partnered with.

Saiga Antelope

Another odd-looking animal is the saiga antelope. This creature looks more like a pronghorn antelope than a pig, and indeed it is more closely related to the pronghorn.

Saiga antelope were widespread across the northern hemisphere throughout the Pleistocene, but time has not been kind to them, unfortunately. After the Pleistocene ended they died off in North America, and they can only be found in a few scattered pockets around central Asia today.

There are even recent concerns about massive mysterious die-offs. Today, these animals are critically endangered with around 50,000 animals left, according to the IUCN. Few zoos have these animals and it’s even harder to see them in the wild, although the Askania Nova biosphere reserve in the Ukraine does have a small herd you can see.

Alligator Gar

The freshwater alligator gar is another fish that you definitely do not want to find yourself staring at while swimming in the southern U.S. Even though they pose no threat to humans (so far…) these fish are as formidable as their namesake, alligators, with flat snouts full of razor-sharp teeth and a body size that can range up to 300 pounds.

This interesting animal also swam with the dinosaurs, and is believed to be 100 million years old. Today, one of the best spots to see alligator gar (aside from serene southern waterways) is at the Tennessee Aquarium. It’s even home to an all-white alligator gar, which you can see here.

Caribou

Caribou look like they walked straight out of the ice age — and indeed, they did. These unique animals evolved as long as two million years ago. Caribou were already present by the time humans arrived to cross the Bering land bridge and were surely a big part of their diets, just as they are today for Native Alaskans.

One of the really unique things about caribou is that they’re the only species of deer in which females also grow antlers. They’re usually not as big as the male’s ornate head wear, but females do keep them throughout the winter to guard pits in the snow that they’ve dug to get to their food. Then, in the springtime, they fall off.

Caribou can be found in remote areas throughout Alaska and Canada. One of the best ways to see them, however, is by taking a park-operated bus trip through Denali National Park. This massive park is home to a resident herd of caribou that are often spotted from the road. Keep an eye out for Dall sheep and brown bears as well, since these two species have also been here since the the last ice age.

Siberian Musk Deer

Imagine crawling through the thick brush of a remote primeval forest in northeastern Asia and coming face-to-face with a tiny deer…with 4-inch-long fangs.

Siberian musk deer are a real thing, and commonly called “vampire deer” due to their scary dentition, but in reality, these animals are strict herbivores. The tusks are only used for fighting, since the wee beasties lack the antlers of most of their distant cousins.

Siberian musk deer aren’t endangered yet, but they’re getting there. They’re often poached for their odiferous musk glands, which can fetch a high price on the black market. It’d be a shame to see them go extinct, especially considering they’ve been around for some three and a half million years. It’s hard to find them in the wild since they’re so rare and secretive in their forests, but you can see two male musk deer at Ranua Wildlife Park in the Finnish Lapland.

Sandhill Crane

These tall, beautiful birds have long legs that stick far out behind them when they fly, making their silhouette resemble a pointy-tailed dragon when aloft. And while they’re common and not often seen as ancient birds, they actually are: The oldest fossil sandhill crane is at least two-and-a-half million years old.

Each spring, sandhill cranes migrate en masse to their arctic breeding grounds, and Kearney, Nebraska, is one of their biggest stopover points. Over half a million birds will gather here at one time and fatten up in the cornfields for the long journey ahead. Then, according to some unknown and mysterious signal, the birds will seemingly all depart at once. It’s one of the greatest shows in the entire wildlife world.

Walrus

With their long whiskers and bulbous couch-potato shapes, walruses can sometimes resemble human family members. They’re also perfect snorkelers of the sea floor, vacuuming up clams, crabs and anything else that happens to be located near their mouths (which are also strangely human-like).

Walruses, which date back about 600,000 years, spend a lot of their time hanging out on ice floes, but from May to August they can be found on shore in huge concentrations called haulouts. It’s here that their big tusks come into play, as the males fight for control of the females.

It’s definitely not a place you want to walk up to very closely, but you can watch these big groups from afar. There are a few reliable haulouts located in Alaska, although you’ll need to book an air taxi or a boat to go visit them.

These Are the Best Pets for Kids at Each Age

July 5, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

As many adults know, caring for a pet is a rewarding and satisfying experience. And, adopting a pet that a child can also help take care of can be an enriching experience for your kid.

“It teaches empathy and responsibility. Being responsible for another animal … understanding that other things are relying on you to stay healthy and survive,” says Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM and owner of the Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York. She adds, “Many of these animals are very smart and will give that unconditional love back to you.”

Make Sure Your Kids are on Board With the Type of Pet and Work Involved

As with any pet, when you are looking for the best pets for kids, you want to have a very clear idea of the pet care requirements.

“You have to be educated,” says Dr. Hess. Particularly with exotic pets, you need to know what you are getting into and what to expect from them. Dr. Hess explains, “Often people get frustrated and very disappointed in these animals because [the experience] isn’t what they expected.”

When it comes to choosing the best pets for the kids in your family, it is important that everyone is on the same page. Everyone in the family needs to be willing to actively help with the care of the pet.

Dr. Elizabeth Mackey, veterinarian and owner of Mackey Exotic Animal Clinic in Watkinsville, Georgia, explains that it is important that your children are on board with the pet you decide to get. They need to be just as invested in the well-being and happiness of the pet as you are.

And most importantly, you need to be comfortable with whichever pet you decide to get. So if you are deathly afraid of snakes, they probably are not the best pets for your kids, even if the kids have their heart set on one.

What to Consider When Choosing Pets for Kids

So, how should you go about finding a good match? Both Dr. Mackey and Dr. Hess recommend booking a consultation appointment with a veterinarian who is experienced in the care of the species you are considering.

Consider bringing a list of animals you’re interested in so you can discuss each one and determine what the best pet for your family would be. Some factors to take into consideration include:

Life span of the pet. Kids can get very attached to their pets, so you will need to consider your child’s emotional attachment when choosing pets for kids. However, by a choosing a pet with a longer life span, you will also need to keep in mind that once your child leaves for college or work, you may have to become the sole provider for your family pet.
Space needs. Do you have adequate room (e.g., living space, yard space, etc.) for your chosen pet? You will also need to consider how a pet will grow and if you can accommodate them at their largest adult size.
Care requirements and needs. Talk with your veterinarian about the care requirements for each pet you are considering. Can your family share pet care tasks in a manageable way? Are you financially prepared to take good care of the pet?
Health care costs. All pets require veterinary care. You will need to make sure there is a veterinarian in your area that can help with your chosen pet. If you choose an exotic pet, you can start by looking at the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. You will also need to make sure that you are financially ready to take on a pet’s health care costs.
What does your child want when it comes to interactions with their pet? “Some of them want [a pet] that they can play with. And, most children want that hands-on interaction,” says Dr. Mackey. “There are some children who would rather have the cool, unique [pet] and not so much the hands-on.”
Is your potential new pet nocturnal or diurnal? This could influence where you want to your pet’s enclosure to reside.
Consider your child’s personality. Is your child calm enough to handle a more fragile creature? You have to consider the pet’s needs and your child’s ability to respect those needs.
What are you going to do if your child loses interest in the pet? It is never acceptable to let an animal suffer because a child cannot or will not take care of it anymore. Are you going to be able to take on all responsibility for the pet’s care (including their emotional needs) or will you find the pet a new, loving home?

You’ll also want to meet your pet in person so you can get a feel for each other. Dr. Mackey cautions that while some pet store employees are highly knowledgeable, others are not, so your veterinarian is the best resource when it comes to determining care requirements for your pet.

After you bring your pet home, you’ll want to book an appointment with your veterinarian immediately so they can assess your pet and then provide you with recommendations on how to best care for them.

Best Pets for Kids Ages 4-7

Parakeet

Parakeets (also called budgies) can be a good option when it comes to pets for kids. “They’re fairly low-maintenance, not super messy and don’t take up a lot of space,” says Dr. Hess. She explains that by the age of 7, children start to understand how to be gentle with pets and can actively engage in their bird’s care.

Parakeets are known to be very affectionate, and they respond well to regular, gentle handling. With training, a parakeet can learn dozens or more words, so your child can actively engage with them in a fun and unique way.

A parakeet is a great pet for kids who are able to respect the small bird’s size. They will not do well with children who handle them roughly or act unpredictably and startle them frequently.

However, if you are willing to work with your child to help them learn how to positively interact with their pet parakeet, Dr. Hess says that these birds can help teach children how to be calm and patient.

When it comes to the everyday care of a parakeet, the parents should take care of the daily cage cleanings, but children can help out with other tasks like washing and filling up the food and water dish and feeding vegetables as a treat.

It is important to remember that parakeets can live into their teens, so this pet would be a long-term commitment.

Crested Gecko

If you are comfortable with lizards in your home, then a fun and unique pet to consider is the crested gecko.

“Little kids love the gecko because he just sits there in your hand,” says Dr. Mackey. “They’re a cool, cool lizard. They’re the softest animal you will ever touch. Feet stick to the glass on the container. But, they’re nocturnal. You can see them during the daytime, but the evening/early morning is the best time to see them.”

While these little guys can be handled and have some quirky characteristics, you will need to work with your child to be gentle with them. A young crested gecko will need time to adapt to their living situations before you can start conditioning them to be handled, which can take three to four weeks.

Once you do start handling them, you must teach your child to be very gentle, because crested geckos will “drop” (lose) their tails if startled or made to feel threatened.

The care of the crested gecko can be split up between family members. Children can help with mixing a crested gecko’s powdered food with water and how to measure it out. Dr. Mackey says that a child can also help with setting up their terrarium.

Keep in mind that you will need to teach your children to wash their hands after handling their gecko because reptiles tend to carry Salmonella bacteria more frequently than some other species of pets.

Best Pets for Kids Ages 8-11

Rats

They may not be your immediate thought when it comes to pets, but rats can be great pets for kids. “Rats are phenomenal animals,” says Dr. Hess. “Rats are generally very loving and bonded to their owners. They’re gentle. They’re a little tougher.” Dr. Hess explains that once kids have a longer attention span, rats can be an ideal pet.

A pet rat can help an older child to “understand that there’s some kind of schedule to their day,” says Dr. Hess. They can add structure and responsibilities that can help children grow to be more thoughtful. For instance, they might have a morning task to feed the rat before going to school.

Pet rats are also affectionate pets that, when socialized, love interactions with their humans. They can show excitement when they sense (sight, smell and sound) their human’s presence, and some will even cuddle. But they also like to have a cage mate, so you should be prepared to have more than one.

When it comes to caring for pet rats, there are many activities that kids can get involved with. Besides helping feed their pet rats pellets and small veggies, kids can replenish water, clean the water bottle and spot-clean the cage.

Kids can help with the mental and physical enrichment of pet rats by setting up mazes for them to explore. They can also create foraging toys and places to hide using toilet paper tubes, which the rats can also chew on.

Rats are very intelligent and can be trained, so your child can actively bond with their pet rat and try to teach them a whole host of tricks.

Dr. Mackey does caution that rats tend to eat everything you give them and can easily become overweight, so you will have to work with your child to ensure you find the right balance between food and exercise.

However, rats tend to only live for about three years, so you will have to be prepared to have a tough conversation with your child if you choose to have a pet rat while they are still very young.

Canaries and Finches

Canaries and finches are ideal pets for kids because they don’t have to be handled a lot. However, they usually prefer the company of others, so you will need to be prepared to have multiple birds. These birds are flock animals and tend to do better when they’re in a group, says Dr. Mackey.

Canaries “can be a little skittish. But if they’re kept happy, they’ll sing, and it’s beautiful,” says Dr. Hess. “Many people appreciate small birds for their beauty.” She explains, “Finches are fun to watch. They’re very active.” But finches will not sing, like the canary, so if you are looking for a quiet bird, finches may be a good option.

Canaries and finches can be great options for kids who would like to observe more than interact with their pets. While, with patience, canaries can be taught to perch on a finger, most finches prefer not to be handled, so your child will have limited opportunities to physically interact with their finches.

Canaries are not the hardiest of pets, either; they “have to be kept safe and away from other pets. They’re fragile,” says Dr. Hess.

Kids can help out with cage cleaning and providing fresh food and water for the bird. Your child can also be responsible for removing the bird cage cover in the mornings, changing the paper at the bottom of the cage and vacuuming around the cage.

Canaries and finches have a long life span—10-15 years in captivity—so you and your child will need to be prepared to provide care for them well into their teen years.

Guinea Pigs

Everyone has heard about guinea pigs as pets, and some even consider them to be good class pets. Guinea pigs are popular pets for kids because of their size and manageable care requirements. “They’re pretty calm. They’re adorable,” says Dr. Hess. “They’re not high maintenance. They’re fairly hardy.”

Guinea pigs generally enjoy being around humans and will actively engage and interact with you. They are willing to sit calmly in a child’s lap and will even vocalize their excitement when their favorite human is around.

There are also a wide variety of guinea pig breeds to choose from, so your family can find one that fits what you are all looking for in a pet.

If your child can handle additional responsibility, you can consider getting a long-haired guinea pig; they can help with brushing the guinea pig and making sure the hair doesn’t get matted, says Dr. Hess. Children can also actively participate in keeping the cage tidy and providing the guinea pig with fresh hay, salad and pellets.

“Guinea pigs are really social animals. They do better when there’s more than one,” says Dr. Mackey. But if you get another guinea pig, that’s twice the cage space and twice the expense.

Guinea pigs tend to live 5-7 years, so they are an option if you are looking for a moderate commitment in terms of life span.

Best Pets for Kids Ages 12-15

Rabbits

Rabbits can be great pets for kids, but you have to be prepared to be very involved in your rabbit’s care.

“They’ve very, very loving,” says Dr. Hess. “They live a long time. They can be very bonded to their owners. They can be gentle.”

Both Dr. Mackey and Dr. Hess point out that rabbits can startle easily and can be very fragile; they can bite and jump and injure themselves, so they should only be handled by a child with a calm demeanor.

Despite their reputation as low-maintenance starter pets, rabbits are actually better suited for older children that understand how to be responsible with the care of their pet. They are very social creatures that crave attention from their owners and will require a significant time and care commitment.

If your family is ready to take on the care of a rabbit, then you will find that they make great companions. They are curious and playful and will provide your child with a loving pet that enjoys their company.

Since these pets are best for older children, your child can be actively involved in their care. They can ensure the litter box is cleaned, provide the rabbit with fresh hay, replace paper-based bedding and clean their cages. They can also help you pick out vegetables for your rabbit.

Rabbits also need to spend time out of their cages, so you can use this as an opportunity to bond with your child as you both watch the rabbit explore his surroundings safely.

Keep in mind that rabbits could potentially be attacked or harmed by other animals and will probably need to be kept in their own separate space.

Domestic rabbits tend to live 8-12 years, so they will be long-term commitments for your family.

Cats and Dogs

Cats and dogs, while common, are major commitments when it comes to time, money and responsibility.

When children are taught how to properly interact with cats and dogs, they can play a very active role in the care of these pets. “They understand responsibilities and consequences. They have to participate in the care. That’s part of the deal,” says Dr. Hess. “Picking up dog poop isn’t so much fun. It’s something that you have to do.”

Children can take responsibility for a variety of care tasks for a pet dog or cat. Younger kids can give fresh food and water and wash towels and bedding, and tweens and teens can take dogs out on walks, change the cat litter, and even help out with teeth brushing.

Dogs and cats can live to be well over 10 years old (some for 20 years or even more), so they are long-term commitments.

Bearded Dragons

If you have older children who are looking for a more unique pet, consider a bearded dragon. According to Dr. Mackey, bearded dragons are the “world’s greatest lizards… because they’re fairly hardy [and] because they don’t bite often. I won’t say that they won’t, but they don’t, typically.”

Bearded dragons are reptiles that enjoy being handled and held, so if your child is looking for a reptile that they can actively engage with, they are a great option.

In terms of responsibilities, your older child can take an active role in the care of their bearded dragon, from feeding and cleaning to socialization and enrichment.

One thing to keep in mind is that the housing requirements for a bearded dragon’s well-being are a bit more intricate. They require special UV lighting and temperature controls, and sometimes live feedings.

But luckily, your older child can help with changing the bulbs before they burn out, measuring the temperature of the cage (which needs to be kept at specific levels) and feeding insects to your bearded dragon.

Be aware that bearded dragons tend to be more expensive to care for than other pets, due in part to the insect diet and special lighting, says Dr. Mackey.

Bearded dragons tend to live 5-8 years but can live to be up to 10 years old when provided with optimal care.

Corn Snakes

Both vets praised corn snakes as being easy to handle and a good option for a family prepared to care for a pet snake. “Corn snakes can be very gentle,” says Dr. Hess.

The corn snake can grow to be 2.5-5 feet, so you will need to adjust their terrarium size as they grow. They are great starter reptiles for older children because they do not mind being handled. They do require rodents as food, but they should be freshly deceased or frozen, because live mice can injure your pet snake.

They’re also relatively low-maintenance pets when it comes to daily chores. However, because they have special care requirements, they are best suited for older children.

With all reptiles, you’ll want to check the humidity and temperature of the cage and keep the space clean—all activities your older child can assist with. Your child can also take an active role in the layout of the cage and the accessories it contains.

Corn snakes have a life span of 5-10 years, so they are also long-term commitments.

Greek Tortoises

Dr. Hess prefers Greek tortoises to other types of turtles, tortoises and terrapins because they’re small and eat vegetables.

Greek tortoises will grow to be about 5-8 inches, and they should be kept in a large naturalistic enclosure made of plywood (this helps them to learn their boundaries, whereas glass and plastic will have them constantly trying to escape).

When it comes to the care of your tortoise, you will want to work with your veterinarian to meet their individual needs and discuss their nutritional requirements.

Your kids can help out with checking the temperature, humidity, light and heat inside the enclosure. Kids can also cut vegetables, administer vitamins and replenish water dishes.

“Some of the reptiles are great for kids on the spectrum because they’re slow-moving and they’re quiet and they’re not overstimulating. And, there are plenty of detail-oriented children who can participate in care by keeping track of daily feedings,” says Dr. Hess.

Greek tortoises do not particularly care for being held, so they are a great pet for kids that like to watch and observe their pets go about their business. However, this does not mean they will not interact with you. They are known to be very responsive and interactive. They will approach their caretakers for food and will be friendly and interactive.

Are Komodo Dragons Poisonous or Dangerous?

July 4, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Komodo dragons are undoubtedly one of the world’s largest and most dangerous lizards. With their huge, muscular bodies and highly venomous bites, komodo dragons can take down prey many times larger than them, such as deer, pigs, water buffalo, and even humans. Komodo dragons are extremely dangerous and venomous, and the best thing to do is stay away from them.

They are not the best idea to keep pets as they are fierce hunters and difficult to tame. They can be very dangerous to keep around children or even adult humans, especially animals. Their name suits them well, as Komodo dragons are true carnivores that attack all sorts of animals in the wild, even humans. While the Komodo is not known to feed on humans, attacks have been reported.

Komodo Dragon Bite

The Komodo dragon seems terrifying because of its 60 sharp, serrated teeth. However, the komodo dragon’s bite is relatively weak compared to other animals. Like other lizard species, Komodo dragons can generate a bite force of only 500 to 600 PSI or 39 Newtons, which is weak compared to an Australian saltwater crocodile of the same size that can generate a bite force of 252 Newtons. Technically, the Komodo dragon’s bite should not be enough to create colossal damage or impact on animals or humans. So what makes a Komodo dragon’s bite lethal? Komodo dragons possess a potent venom delivered through their razor-sharp teeth. This venom can kill humans within a few hours.

Are Komodo Dragons Dangerous to Humans?

You might think that lizards are all harmless and non-venomous, but not the Komodo. The Komodo is the largest lizard on the planet and is extremely dangerous. Komodo dragons are known to hunt and take down even massive mammals, but more importantly, they can also take down and kill humans. These giant lizards have a ferocious bite that injects venom into their victim, sending them into a state of shock as the venom speeds up blood loss, decreases blood pressure, causes massive bleeding, and prevents wound clotting. These events weaken and incapacitate victims, including humans, hindering them from fighting back.

Komodo dragons have a natural predator mouth with shark-like teeth and strong venom. Studies say that a Komodo’s venom can kill an adult human within hours. Apart from that, the Komodo dragon’s bite itself can leave deep wounds that can cause excruciating pain.

Because of the recorded fatalities, the Komodo dragon has been a fearsome reptile in Indonesia, inducing terror in its natives. Yet, experts claim that Komodo attacks are still rare. For decades, scientists believed in the myth that Komodo dragons were not venomous and instead killed with their saliva filled with bacteria. However, in 2009, Bryan Fry and his colleagues proved that Komodo dragons possess venom glands loaded with toxins and therefore use the venom to kill their victims. The Komodo dragon’s venom glands are located between their teeth and are designed to “exaggerate the blood loss and shock-inducing mechanical damage caused by the bite.”

Komodo Dragon Human Attacks

Although rare, Komodo attacks on humans have been reported. Unlike most lizard species, Komodo dragons are aggressive and may track even when unprovoked. Some Komodo dragon attacks have left villagers with deep bite wounds and some others dead. Both in captivity and the wild, the Komodo National Park has gathered 24 reported attacks from 1974 to 2012. Unfortunately, five of these attacks were fatal.

The fatal attacks include the death of an 8-year-old boy on Komodo Island in 2007 after being attacked by the giant lizard. The boy succumbed to his injuries and massive bleeding. In 2009, on the other hand, a 31-year-old man gathering sugar apples on Komodo Island fell from a tree. He fell on two Komodo dragons, which ravaged him. The victim was reported to have bites on his hands, legs, neck, and all over his body. The man died shortly after the attack. Some other reports of Komodo attacks have left individuals gravely injured.

Are Komodo Dragons Poisonous?

Contrary to popular belief, Komodo dragons are incredibly venomous. Their venom is highly poisonous and enough to kill animals in a few hours, even humans. Scientists have believed that Komodo dragons have killed their victims through bacterial infection for decades. These lizards were said to have extremely dirty saliva that could poison the blood within a few hours with the help of their teeth. However, the Komodo’s venom glands are discovered to be oozing with toxins, not bacteria, that are capable of speeding up the bleeding of wounds and preventing it from clotting. This is why most of Komodo’s victims die of blood loss.

Komodo dragons uniquely deliver their venom. They tear the flesh and forcefully pull them back using their strong neck muscles, weakening the victim and sending it into a state of shock. These giant lizards may have been living only in a specific region, but they have the potential to be one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Equipped with 60 shark-like teeth and snake-like venom, the Komodo dragon is an apex predator in the wild and a dangerous threat to humans.

What Do Komodo Dragons Eat?

Komodo dragons are carnivores who will eat anything that crosses their path, including humans. They prefer to hunt live prey, but as they have huge appetites if they find any dead animals they will consume them, too. Large adult Komodo dragons typically eat large mammals introduced to the habitat by humans, including pigs, goats, deer, dogs, horses, and water buffalo. Animals that are indigenous to their habitat, such as small rodents, deer, wild boar, and monkeys, are also on the menu. Smaller or younger Komodo dragons target prey closer to their own size and eat insects, smaller lizards, rodents, birds, and snakes.

A Komodo dragon will eat another Komodo dragon, with the bigger of the species hunting the smaller like any other prey. The threat from other Komodos begins immediately after they are born. The juvenile pups begin hunting their own following hatching. Due to larger Komodos preferring mammals on the ground, the smaller ones are more inclined to use their climbing abilities and scale trees to hunt for food and evade any attacks from their bigger counterparts. Young Komodo dragons will also roll in the fecal matter of larger dragons in order to cover their scent and try to avoid detection.

The species remarkably has a stomach that is able to expand when needed, so it’s possible for them to consume up to 80% of their body weight. If a large Komodo dragon weighs 330 pounds, it is capable of eating 264 pounds of meat in one meal! Find out more about Komodos’ diets here.A Komodo dragon will eat another Komodo dragon, with the bigger of the species hunting the smaller like any other prey. The threat from other Komodos begins immediately after they are born. The juvenile pups begin hunting their own following hatching. Due to larger Komodos preferring mammals on the ground, the smaller ones are more inclined to use their climbing abilities and scale trees to hunt for food and evade any attacks from their bigger counterparts. Young Komodo dragons will also roll in the fecal matter of larger dragons in order to cover their scent and try to avoid detection.

Komodo Dragon vs Crocodile

Historically, saltwater crocodiles were competitive predators with the Komodo dragon when they shared the same hunting grounds of coastal areas and mangrove swamps within the Komodo State Park. Crocodiles no longer exist in the area and would not normally face off with this reptile in the wild but if they did, what would happen in a fight between a Komodo dragon and a crocodile?

Both are about equal when considering their physical defenses. However, as crocodiles can reach up to 20 feet long and weigh in at 2,000 pounds, they have the size advantage over Komodo dragons, who grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 300 pounds. Crocs are also faster, achieving speeds of 22 mph on land and 15 mph in water, while Komodos’ top speed is 11 mph.

When it comes to senses, Komodo dragons have the advantage as their very keen sense of smell allows them to detect prey from miles away.

While both have dangerous sets of teeth that they put to deadly use, crocodiles win out when it comes to the bite factor, as they have one of the most powerful bites on Earth measured at a force of 3,700PSI, compared to Komodos’ weaker bite power of roughly 100-300PSI.

Overall, crocodiles are bigger, stronger, and faster than Komodo dragons. A crocodile would win a fight against a Komodo dragon. You can read more about what would happen in a battle between the two here.

Become a Professional Poker Player – The Best Way For You

Menjadi Pemain Poker Profesional – Cara Terbaik Untuk Anda

July 3, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

Dari jauh, menjalani kehidupan pemain poker profesional mungkin terlihat seperti mimpi bagi banyak orang.

Anda menghabiskan waktu berhari-hari melakukan apa yang Anda sukai, tidak ada bos yang menunggu Anda, Anda mengatur jam kerja Anda, dan hampir tidak ada ruang untuk perbaikan.

Jadi, tidak aneh jika banyak orang yang bertanya-tanya bagaimana cara menjadi pemain poker profesional. Sepertinya mimpi menjadi kenyataan, tetapi jangan terburu-buru keluar dari pekerjaan Anda dulu!

Saya tidak akan menyangkalnya. Saya bermain poker secara profesional selama sepuluh tahun terakhir, dan tentu saja ada keuntungannya. Namun, ada beberapa kerugian dalam hidup ini juga, dan pastikan untuk memahami semua bagiannya sebelum membuat keputusan akhir.

Jika Anda tidak terlalu peduli tentang itu, lewati bagian ini dan langsung ke bagian 12 langkah di mana saya membahas apa yang perlu Anda lakukan untuk menjadi PRO poker. Namun, menurut saya informasi tambahan tidak dapat merugikan Anda, bukan?

Di Mana Anda Mulai Bermain Secara Profesional?

Seperti setiap profesi, bermain poker, saat Anda melakukannya sebagai satu-satunya sumber penghasilan Anda, tidak sama dengan saat Anda bermain untuk bersenang-senang. Jadi tentu saja, Anda perlu mendekatinya secara berbeda juga.

Jika Anda ingin mengubah karier Anda dan menjadi pengacara alih-alih dokter, Anda akan pergi ke sekolah hukum. Jika Anda ingin menjadi montir mobil, Anda akan menemukan sekolah untuk itu. Saya kira Anda melihat ke mana saya akan pergi dengan ini.

Untungnya, hari-hari ini Anda juga memiliki banyak sumber daya di mana Anda dapat belajar poker, dan jika Anda ingin menganggapnya serius, saya sangat menyarankan untuk bergabung dengan salah satu situs pelatihan poker online terbaik .

Karena satu hal yang pasti, jika ingin sukses jangka panjang, Anda harus lebih baik dari lawan Anda.

Anda juga harus memahami bahwa menjadi pemain poker profesional adalah hal yang agak menyendiri, dan ini adalah sesuatu yang harus Anda biasakan sejak awal.

Jadi, sebagai permulaan, Anda harus menjawab beberapa pertanyaan yang sangat mendasar:

Mengapa Anda ingin menjadi seorang profesional poker?
Apa yang membuatmu berpikir kamu bisa melakukannya?
Apa harapan jangka panjang Anda dari karir ini?

Semua pertanyaan ini sangat penting untuk dijawab bahkan sebelum mendaftar ke situs poker online dan dapat membantu Anda memutuskan apakah ini adalah sesuatu yang benar-benar ingin Anda lakukan atau jika itu hanya mimpi pipa yang terdengar menyenangkan.

Mengapa Anda Ingin Menjadi Poker Pro?

Apakah Anda mempertimbangkan ini karena Anda muak dan lelah dengan karier Anda saat ini atau karena Anda memiliki hasrat untuk bermain game? Bisakah Anda melihat diri Anda menghabiskan berjam-jam bermain poker dan menikmati setiap menitnya?

Jika itu hanya perubahan karier yang Anda perjuangkan atau Anda ingin menghasilkan lebih banyak uang, Anda mungkin harus melihat beberapa opsi lain terlebih dahulu. Tanpa semangat dan dedikasi yang nyata, Anda tidak akan berhasil, polos dan sederhana.

Ini terutama berlaku di lingkungan poker yang sangat kompetitif dan tangguh saat ini, di mana Anda harus bekerja setiap hari untuk mengungguli pesaing Anda.

Ini tidak akan menjadi perjalanan yang mudah, jadi lebih baik ketahui apa yang diharapkan dari awal.

Apakah Anda Siap untuk Itu?

Bermain poker sebagai sampingan adalah satu hal, dan bermain poker untuk mencari nafkah sama sekali berbeda.

Keberadaan Anda akan sepenuhnya bergantung pada hasil Anda di meja. Oleh karena itu, Anda harus dapat secara konsisten mengalahkan permainan yang Anda mainkan sebelum mempertimbangkan kehidupan pemain poker profesional.

Bukan rahasia lagi bahwa orang sangat bias ketika berbicara tentang hasil poker mereka, tetapi yang paling penting adalah jujur dan terbuka dengan diri sendiri.

Jika Anda hampir tidak menang atau telah mencapai titik impas selama bertahun-tahun, itu tidak akan berubah hanya karena Anda memutuskan untuk menjadi pemain profesional.

Tidak ada pemikiran positif yang akan membantu Anda tiba-tiba menjadi master permainan, jadi mulailah bermain sebagai pekerjaan sampingan dan jangan terlalu menekan diri sendiri.

Apa Harapan Jangka Panjang Anda?

Akhirnya, Anda setidaknya harus jelas tentang apa yang Anda harapkan dari karir poker profesional Anda.

Tujuan jangka panjang Anda, meski agak sulit untuk ditentukan sejak awal, juga akan berperan besar dalam memilih apa yang akan Anda mainkan dan kemungkinan Anda bahagia dengan jalur karier yang baru Anda temukan.

Mengapa Anda ingin Mempelajari Cara Menjadi Pemain Poker Profesional?

Orang masuk ke poker karena berbagai alasan, dan sebelum Anda mengambil risiko, Anda harus berpikir panjang dan keras tentang apa yang Anda cari.

Apakah Anda dalam untuk uang?

Jika Anda ingin membuat kehidupan yang layak, ini harus lebih dari dapat dicapai dengan usaha dari pihak Anda.

Kecuali Anda menyukai permainan dan menikmati waktu Anda, menghabiskan enam jam atau lebih bermain poker setiap hari akan terasa seperti pekerjaan lama lainnya – dengan tekanan tambahan dari ayunan, ketukan buruk, dan kekecewaan yang datang bersamaan dengan panggilan akrab.

Tentu saja, jika Anda siap mendedikasikan banyak waktu untuk bermain dan belajar, dan bahkan menikmatinya, bermain poker bisa menjadi jalan yang bagus untuk menghasilkan uang.

Bagaimana dengan kebebasan untuk pemain poker profesional?

Banyak orang jatuh cinta bermain poker untuk mencari nafkah karena kebebasan yang tampaknya ditawarkan oleh gaya hidup ini. Memang benar, kebebasan yang sebenarnya Anda dapatkan tidak persis seperti yang dibayangkan orang.

Anda harus berusaha keras dan kemauan keras untuk membangun struktur untuk jam bermain dan belajar dan, yang terpenting, tetap dengan itu. Bukan hal yang mudah jika Anda tidak memiliki motivasi yang cukup atau tidak tahu mengapa Anda ingin bermain sejak awal.

Apakah Anda ingin berkeliling dunia?

Terakhir, jika Anda bermimpi berkeliling dunia dan bermain turnamen besar di seluruh dunia, ada beberapa hal yang perlu Anda ketahui:

Anda akan membutuhkan bankroll besar untuk mendukung gaya hidup ini
Turnamen besar datang dengan beberapa variasi besar
Biaya tambahan (perjalanan, akomodasi) membuat sulit untuk menjadi sangat menguntungkan

Jika Anda baru saja beralih ke bermain poker secara profesional, ini bukanlah sesuatu yang mungkin Anda lakukan di awal. Nah, kecuali Anda memiliki bankroll yang besar dan keterampilan yang hebat, Anda mungkin tidak akan membaca artikel ini.

Namun, Anda tidak boleh menyerah begitu saja. Ada banyak cara untuk mengikuti turnamen dan menikmati perjalanan keliling dunia.

Anda dapat memainkan satelit kecil dan memenangkan tiket Anda atau menjual saham Anda untuk turnamen tertentu kepada pemain lain dan hanya menyimpan sebagian dari tindakan Anda.

Semua alasan yang disebutkan sebelumnya menarik dan dapat dicapai pada saat yang sama, tetapi pastikan untuk melihat gambaran lengkapnya.

Bagaimana Penampilan Kehidupan Pemain Poker Profesional

Dari sudut pandang Anda saat ini, tampaknya menang dalam poker tidak terlalu sulit. Anda mungkin telah sukses di turnamen lokal, atau Anda memiliki sesi permainan uang yang solid dan memenangkan beberapa permainan poker besar.

Tapi, jika Anda ingin membawa hal-hal ke tingkat berikutnya dan menjadi pemain poker profesional, ini tidak akan cukup.

Hati-hati mengelola bankroll

Pertama, mari kita bicara tentang uang. Anda harus mencari tahu berapa pengeluaran bulanan Anda dan berapa banyak yang Anda perlukan untuk bermain poker untuk menutupinya.

Pada saat yang sama, Anda ingin dapat menghasilkan uang tambahan di atas ini sehingga Anda dapat terus mengembangkan bankroll Anda dan meningkatkan taruhannya, yang harus selalu menjadi bagian dari rencana jangka panjang Anda.

Kami akan berbicara tentang ekspektasi realistis tentang apa yang Anda dapatkan dari bermain poker penuh waktu di bagian selanjutnya.

Setelah beberapa saat, lihat angkanya dan lihat di mana Anda berdiri. Seandainya Anda hanya bermain poker selama beberapa waktu terakhir, apakah Anda dapat menutupi pengeluaran Anda? Apakah Anda bahkan menang?

Jika hasil Anda tidak memuaskan, ini bukanlah akhir dari dunia, dan jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda tidak perlu menyerah.

Ada banyak sumber daya pelatihan dan perangkat lunak poker yang dapat membantu Anda menjadi lebih baik.

Tetapi sampai Anda mengalahkan game apa pun yang Anda rencanakan untuk dimainkan, baik online atau langsung, Anda tidak boleh mempertimbangkan untuk meninggalkan pekerjaan Anda saat ini dan bermain poker penuh waktu.

Poker PRO selalu menggiling dan belajar

Ada banyak profesi di mana Anda bisa sukses bahkan jika Anda tidak terlalu menikmatinya. Saya tidak berpikir poker adalah salah satunya.

Jika Anda tidak menikmati permainan di semua segmennya, Anda mungkin tidak akan berhasil dalam jangka panjang.
Dan mencintai poker itu tidak mudah.

Kita semua telah mengalami banyak ketukan buruk selama bertahun-tahun, tetapi ketika Anda bermain untuk mencari nafkah, Anda harus menerima bahwa itu akan terjadi lebih dari yang Anda inginkan dan melihatnya sebagai bagian dari permainan – yang tidak mudah bagi kebanyakan orang.

Selain itu, jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda harus memahami bahwa Anda akan menghabiskan banyak waktu kami di meja, dan maksud saya BANYAK!

Jelas, ini hanya berlaku jika Anda ingin sukses, tetapi ini tidak perlu dikatakan lagi.

Pemain yang serius mengasah permainan dengan sangat keras, dan mereka menghabiskan berjam-jam di meja untuk memoles keterampilan mereka dan mempelajari strategi baru.

Karena itu, jika Anda ingin mencobanya, bersiaplah untuk waktu yang lama. Jika Anda siap, mari kita bahas berapa banyak yang dapat Anda harapkan untuk diperoleh dalam berbagai format.

Gaji Pemain Poker Profesional: Berapa Banyak yang Dapat Anda Harapkan?

Meskipun gelang, gelar, dan piala berkilau sangat keren, sebagian besar bukan ini yang membuat uang di atas meja.

Meskipun sangat sulit untuk memberikan angka pastinya karena bergantung pada keahlian Anda, persaingan, dan banyak faktor lainnya, saya akan mencoba memberikan beberapa angka dalam artikel ini untuk membantu Anda memahami gaji seperti apa yang dapat Anda capai.

Untuk membuatnya lebih realistis, saya akan membandingkan game dengan taruhan rendah, tetapi Anda juga dapat dengan mudah menghitungnya untuk game yang lebih tinggi.

Turnamen Daring

Banyak orang bermimpi bermain turnamen online besar karena kemungkinan mencapai skor besar yang dapat mengubah hidup mereka dalam hitungan detik.

Namun, jika Anda bertanya-tanya bagaimana menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda harus keluar dari kerangka berpikir ini dan memikirkan jangka panjang.

Memenangkan pemain MTT online bisa mendapatkan mulai dari 10% hingga 60% + ROI. Ini berarti bahwa untuk setiap $1 yang mereka keluarkan untuk pembelian, mereka akan mendapatkan $0,10 – $0,60+ selain itu.

Perlu Anda ingat, bahwa turnamen dengan buy-in yang lebih tinggi memiliki persaingan yang lebih ketat, yang sama dengan ROI yang lebih rendah. Dengan demikian, Anda tidak akan mendapatkan laba atas investasi yang sama di MTT pembelian $100+ seperti di MTT yang lebih rendah.

Jadi, jika Anda bermain turnamen dengan pembelian rata-rata $20 dengan ROI 35%, yang cukup solid, Anda akan menghasilkan sekitar $7 per turnamen.

Anggaplah Anda bermain sekitar 300 MTT per bulan.

Game Uang Tunai Online

Pertama-tama, jika Anda ingin bermain secara profesional dan mencari nafkah dari permainan uang, Anda harus bermain setidaknya di NL50 – dan ini hanya jika Anda tidak memiliki banyak pengeluaran.

Kemungkinan besar, Anda harus bisa mengalahkan NL100 untuk menghasilkan uang yang layak.

Saat ini, pemain online rata-rata cukup bagus, jadi meskipun Anda sendiri adalah pemain yang solid, Anda tidak dapat berharap untuk menghancurkannya.

Tingkat kemenangan realistis di NL50 hari ini hanya sekitar 5bb/100 (tanpa rakeback). Jadi, untuk setiap 100 tangan yang Anda mainkan, Anda akan menghasilkan sekitar $2,50.

Satu-satunya cara untuk menghasilkan lebih banyak adalah dengan bermain lebih banyak lagi (tetapi begitulah kebebasan yang sangat Anda inginkan) atau menerapkan diri Anda untuk mempelajari permainan dan meningkatkan taruhannya. Saya sangat merekomendasikan opsi kedua.

Game Uang Tunai Langsung

Permainan uang tunai langsung masih jauh lebih lembut daripada apa pun yang Anda temukan online, jadi ini adalah pilihan yang bagus, asalkan ada cukup aksi di dekatnya.

Jika permainan yang Anda rencanakan untuk dimainkan terjadi beberapa kali dalam seminggu dan cenderung putus, Anda tidak akan dapat mengandalkannya sebagai satu-satunya sumber penghasilan Anda.

Anda harus berada di suatu tempat di mana Anda bisa bermain setiap hari, dan ada banyak aksi sepanjang waktu.

Dalam hal penghasilan, pemain terbaik dalam permainan langsung dengan taruhan rendah (NL200 dan NL500) dapat menghasilkan sekitar 10bb per jam.

Tingkat kemenangan yang lebih realistis mungkin 7bb/100, jadi Anda melihat sekitar $35 per jam di NL500.

Jika Anda naik taruhan, Anda bisa menghasilkan lebih banyak lagi, jadi ada baiknya memoles keterampilan Anda dan menjadi lebih baik dan lebih baik.

Turnamen Langsung

Kecuali jika Anda tinggal di Las Vegas atau Atlantic City, di mana Anda selalu mengadakan turnamen hebat di lingkungan Anda, gaya hidup ini tidak memungkinkan ketika Anda hanya mencoba menjadi pemain poker profesional.

Beberapa pemain terbaik, seperti Berry Greenstein, telah secara terbuka mengakui bahwa terlepas dari hasil luar biasa mereka, mereka mungkin kalah seumur hidup di turnamen besar ini saja.

Biaya yang terkait dengan perjalanan terlalu besar untuk membuat ini menguntungkan. Bahkan jika Anda memiliki ROI 100% (yang bagus), jika Anda bepergian untuk bermain turnamen $500, Anda akan menghabiskan banyak uang hanya untuk sampai ke lokasi dan menghabiskan beberapa hari di sana.

Etika Bermain Langsung

Adalah satu hal untuk mengetahui aturan dan satu hal lagi untuk menjadi pemain yang adil. Jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda tidak boleh memperlambat lawan Anda atau mencoba menembak sudut, tetapi ini tidak perlu dikatakan lagi.

Itu hanya sebagian kecil, Anda juga harus menghindari taruhan string atau melakukan apa pun yang dapat menyinggung pemain lain atau bahkan berpotensi merusak permainan. Menjadi profesional berarti bertindak seperti itu, jadi biasakanlah jika Anda ingin menempuh jalan ini.

Pro & Kontra Menjadi Pemain Poker Profesional

Kehidupan seorang pemain poker profesional bukan untuk semua orang, dan meskipun kelihatannya luar biasa di luar, itu tidak semudah kelihatannya.

Untuk menyelesaikan bagian ini, saya ingin membedakan pro dan kontra dari karir ini sehingga Anda dapat melihat gambaran lengkapnya.

Kelebihan:

Anda dapat melakukan apa yang Anda sukai untuk mencari nafkah
Anda tidak memiliki siapa pun yang memerintah dan memberi perintah
Anda memiliki lebih banyak kebebasan dengan waktu dan jadwal Anda
Ada potensi penghasilan yang hampir tidak terbatas
Kesuksesan Anda adalah milik Anda sendiri, dan Anda dapat menuai semua imbalan
Anda dapat sering bepergian dan melihat dunia sambil bermain poker
Anda dapat membangun ciri-ciri kepribadian yang akan membantu Anda di kemudian hari

Kontra:

Anda harus memiliki modal yang cukup untuk memulai perjalanan ini
Varians bisa brutal dan melelahkan secara emosional
Akan ada lebih banyak pekerjaan daripada yang Anda pikirkan
Sulit untuk secara konsisten menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam untuk bermain dan belajar
Bisa menjadi melelahkan setelah beberapa saat, terutama jika Anda tidak melihat hasilnya
Poker adalah profesi yang mungkin tidak diterima dengan baik oleh teman dan keluarga Anda

Jadi sekarang Anda tahu semuanya. Apakah Anda masih siap untuk menjadi pemain poker profesional?

Bagaimana menjadi pemain poker profesional – 12 langkah mudah

Jika Anda membaca sampai titik ini, Anda mungkin memperhatikan bahwa saya agak kasar tentang siapa pun yang terjun ke bermain poker secara profesional tanpa memikirkannya.

Saya melakukan ini dengan sengaja karena saya tidak ingin Anda berpikir bahwa mencari nafkah dengan cara ini mudah. Pepatah lama berlaku di sini:

Namun, jika Anda memutuskan untuk menempuh jalan ini, saya sangat senang untuk Anda!

Saya tahu betapa indahnya kehidupan yang dapat dihasilkannya, dan saya akan membagikan beberapa langkah sederhana tentang cara menjadi pemain poker profesional dengan cara yang paling efisien.

1. Teliti dan pilih game Anda

Sangat penting untuk menemukan permainan yang paling sesuai dengan kebutuhan Anda.

Pada awal karir saya, saya bermain turnamen, dan meskipun saya menghasilkan banyak uang pada saat itu, saya tidak menikmati permainan atau bersenang-senang.

Saya harus bermain di malam hari dan tidur sepanjang hari karena zona waktu saya. Jadi, saya selalu lelah.

Hal ini menyebabkan kehidupan sosial yang buruk dan banyak efek negatif, jadi wajar saja, saya tidak terlalu menikmati permainan.

Setelah berbicara dengan pemain lain, saya memutuskan untuk beralih ke permainan uang dan tidak pernah melihat ke belakang. Itu memberi saya kebebasan tertinggi yang saya inginkan.

Saya dapat menjadwalkan sesi saya pada waktu yang lebih nyaman dan kembali ke kehidupan yang lebih “normal”. Ini tidak berarti Anda memiliki kebutuhan yang sama, tetapi pastikan untuk mengidentifikasinya sebelum memilih gim Anda. Karena ketika Anda memilih satu, Anda sebaiknya tetap menggunakannya.

PS – jangan biarkan kemungkinan pendapatan menjadi faktor penentu dari apa yang akan Anda mainkan. Pilih sesuatu yang benar-benar Anda sukai, dan jadilah ahli dalam format itu

2. Pelajari semua aturannya

Yang ini cukup jelas, tetapi apa pun format atau permainan yang Anda pilih, pastikan untuk mengetahui seluk beluk aturan poker.

Tidak hanya memahami posisi dan peringkat tangan tetapi juga memahami alur permainan karena dinamika bisa sangat berbeda dalam berbagai format.

3. Memahami matematika

Matematika adalah bagian penting dari setiap permainan poker. Inilah sebabnya mengapa Anda harus mengetahui peluang Anda untuk mendapatkan tangan yang menang dan peluang pot yang Anda pahami jika Anda mendapatkan harga yang tepat untuk panggilan tersebut.

Dengan cara ini, Anda dapat membuat keputusan cerdas dan tidak hanya menebak-nebak. Jika Anda ingin mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang topik ini, baca saja artikel saya tentang peluang poker, dan Anda akan mengetahui sebagian besar matematika poker.

Selain itu, Anda harus belajar menghitung kombo dari kemungkinan tangan dan memahami frekuensi, yang akan membantu Anda membawa permainan Anda ke level berikutnya.

Jika Anda ingin menemukan jalan pintas untuk mempelajari topik lanjutan ini, Anda dapat melihat di dalam kursus 1%. Penjelasannya sangat jelas, banyak contoh, dan tips praktis, sehingga dapat membantu Anda menghemat banyak waktu dalam perjalanan.

4. Kuasai permainan Anda

Jika Anda ingin mencapai kesuksesan jangka panjang dalam poker dan belajar bagaimana menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda harus mencapai keterampilan kelas dunia dalam permainan yang Anda pilih untuk dimainkan.

Tidak cukup hanya mengetahui rentang pembukaan atau memahami kapan harus bertaruh-c, bertaruh nilai, atau menggertak.

Untuk mendapatkan hasil yang solid, Anda perlu menghabiskan banyak waktu untuk menguasai strategi GTO dan mempelajari cara menyesuaikannya dengan lawan yang berbeda. Jadi mulailah melakukannya segera setelah Anda mempelajari dasar-dasarnya.

5. Jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, banyak berlatih, tetapi mulailah dengan taruhan yang lebih rendah

Sebelum sepenuhnya mengabdikan diri untuk bermain poker secara profesional, Anda harus memiliki pengalaman.

Dan meskipun Anda tidak akan menjadi pemain top dengan memainkan taruhan rendah, di sinilah Anda harus memulai.

Pertama, Anda akan merasa lebih nyaman karena Anda tidak akan mempertaruhkan banyak uang. Anda dapat berkonsentrasi untuk meningkatkan keterampilan Anda dan mempelajari gerakan baru tanpa merusak uang Anda, yang merupakan ide bagus.
Selain itu, Anda dapat melihat dinamika permainan dan bersiap untuk kesibukan yang serius dengan mengetahui apa yang diharapkan.

Saat Anda merasa nyaman dengan permainan Anda, Anda dapat dengan mudah meningkatkan taruhannya untuk mendapatkan lebih banyak pengalaman dan terus melakukannya hingga Anda mencapai level tertinggi.

6. Luangkan waktu Anda untuk mengambil keputusan

Tidak mungkin Anda dapat mempertimbangkan sebagian besar informasi yang tersedia jika Anda terburu-buru mengambil keputusan.

Ketika pemain mulai bermain dengan “autopilot” tanpa memikirkan setiap situasi, mereka hanya meninggalkan uang di atas meja dan merusak peluang mereka untuk menang.

Karena itu, jika Anda memutuskan untuk menganggap serius permainan ini dan bermain seperti yang dilakukan pemain poker profesional, luangkan waktu Anda dan evaluasi semua informasi yang Anda miliki.

Meskipun Anda tidak dapat melihat kartu lawan, Anda dapat mempertimbangkan posisi poker, tindakan sebelumnya, bacaan, dan jangkauan tangan lawan Anda, yang membawa kita ke langkah selanjutnya.

7. Belajar memikirkan rentang

Sebuah konsep yang sangat penting untuk dikuasai jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional.

Alih-alih, Anda perlu mempelajari cara memecah permainan lawan berdasarkan posisi dan tindakannya di setiap jalan untuk mengidentifikasi semua kemungkinan kepemilikan dalam jangkauannya.

Dengan cara ini, Anda akan membuat keputusan yang lebih baik dan memiliki lebih banyak peluang untuk berhasil.

Laboratorium membaca tangan menunjukkan kepada saya proses langkah demi langkah tentang cara melakukannya dengan tepat. Ini sangat membantu saya untuk memahami apa yang penting ketika memikirkan rentang, bagaimana mengetahui apa yang mungkin dimiliki oleh pemain yang berbeda, dan yang paling penting, bagaimana memanfaatkan informasi ini.

Saya sangat merekomendasikan mempelajari ini dari awal, tidak harus mempelajari kembali semuanya nanti.

8. Terus tingkatkan dan manfaatkan perangkat lunak

Jika Anda masih ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, Anda perlu memahami bahwa hanya mengalahkan permainan yang Anda mainkan saat ini mungkin tidak akan menjadi keadaan yang konstan.

Justru sebaliknya. Tidaklah cukup untuk mencapai titik itu sekali dan kemudian bersantai.

Poker berubah setiap saat, pemain menjadi lebih baik, pemain baru bergabung dengan permainan, dan tiba-tiba, Anda bisa berubah dari pemenang yang solid menjadi pemain yang impas atau kalah.

Anda pasti ingin mengikuti tren terkini dan tetap tajam. Untuk melakukan ini, taruhan terbaik Anda adalah melihat berbagai program pelatihan untuk meningkatkan kemajuan Anda.

Beberapa dari program ini juga memiliki komunitas yang sangat aktif dan bersemangat di mana Anda dapat mengajukan pertanyaan tentang tangan tertentu dan situasi umum untuk mendapatkan beberapa tip dan saran yang solid.

Semua hal ini akan membantu perkembangan Anda sebagai pemain poker profesional dan mungkin menghemat banyak uang, Anda mungkin harus kehilangan belajar dan memikirkan semuanya sendiri.

Selain itu, pastikan untuk memanfaatkan alat yang tersedia dan mencoba menjadi versi diri Anda yang lebih baik setiap hari.

9. Belajar mengendalikan kondisi mental Anda

Ini adalah bagian yang jauh lebih besar daripada yang dipikirkan kebanyakan pemain. Untuk mendapatkan hasil terbaik, Anda harus mengembangkan kebiasaan yang akan membantu Anda sepanjang jalan.

Tidaklah cukup membiarkan emosi Anda di depan pintu saat bermain atau mempelajari cara mencegah kemiringan. Jelas, itu penting, tapi itu hanya sebagian kecil.

Selain itu, penting untuk menghilangkan semua gangguan dan berkonsentrasi pada permainan yang Anda mainkan, agar tidak ketinggalan informasi apa pun tentang lawan Anda.

Saya dapat membicarakan hal ini selama berjam-jam dan tetap tidak dapat mengatakan semua yang perlu Anda ketahui.

Namun, jalan paling membantu yang pernah saya lihat dalam hal ini adalah kelas master A-Game. Itu membantu saya menghilangkan banyak hambatan mental saya dan benar-benar memahami bagaimana memainkan permainan ini secara profesional di semua bidang kehidupan.

10. Ketahui kapan harus berhenti – jangan mengejar kerugian

Meskipun bagian ini dapat dimasukkan ke dalam bagian permainan mental, sangat penting sehingga saya memutuskan untuk memisahkannya dari yang lain.

Jika Anda kehilangan pot besar melawan pemain rekreasi atau reguler yang baru saja tersedot di sungai, jangan mencoba mengambil kembali uang itu dari mereka. Berpegang pada strategi asli Anda adalah cara untuk pergi ke sini.

Ingat, poker adalah permainan jangka panjang, dan tidak masalah apakah Anda akan mendapatkan chip dari satu pemain atau lainnya.

Hal yang sama dapat dikatakan tentang bermain terlalu lama pada hari yang kalah, mencoba untuk mencapai titik impas. Ini bukanlah pola pikir yang ingin Anda miliki sebagai pemain poker profesional.

Jika Anda lebih baik dari lawan Anda, pada akhirnya Anda akan menang, dan itulah yang paling penting.

11. Konsisten dengan permainan Anda

Jika Anda memilih untuk memainkan satu format dan menghabiskan banyak waktu untuk menguasai permainan ini, tidak ada gunanya untuk mulai memainkan sesuatu yang lain.

Misalnya, jika Anda mulai bermain MTT, luangkan banyak waktu untuk mempelajari rentang kedalaman tumpukan yang berbeda, menguasai strategi ICM, dan permainan gelembung, tidak ada gunanya mulai memainkan permainan uang entah dari mana.

Berpegang pada satu permainan akan memungkinkan Anda mengembangkan keterampilan dan mendapatkan pengalaman jauh lebih cepat daripada memainkan format yang berbeda.

Selain itu, Anda akan dapat berkonsentrasi pada bidang tertentu yang diperlukan untuk format tersebut dan kemungkinan memiliki peluang lebih besar untuk tetap berada di depan pesaing Anda.

12. Kelola uang Anda dengan hati-hati

Last but not least – kelola bankroll poker Anda dengan hati-hati. Menjadi pemain poker profesional bukanlah tentang pertaruhan besar atau tembakan gila yang Anda lihat di TV.

Anda mungkin mendengar pemain poker berbicara tentang manajemen bankroll sebagai salah satu faktor terpenting dalam permainan.

Mungkin Anda tidak berpikir itu adalah masalah besar, tetapi jika Anda ingin menjadi pemain poker profesional, mempelajari cara mengelola dana Anda dan menggunakannya untuk menghasilkan keuntungan terbesar adalah kunci kesuksesan Anda.

Ada banyak pemain yang sangat terampil yang tidak berhasil hanya karena mereka tidak mampu menangani ayunan karena manajemen bankroll yang buruk.

Jadi, jika Anda ingin mencoba menghasilkan gaji pemain poker profesional dan bersaing di level tertinggi, kembangkan keterampilan ini dan jangan keluar jalur dengan uang.

Ringkasan: Menjadi Pemain Poker Profesional

Kehidupan pemain poker profesional bukan untuk semua orang, dan meskipun itu bisa memberi Anda banyak kegembiraan, Anda harus mempertimbangkan karier ini dengan sangat hati-hati sebelum terjun.

Pada artikel ini, kami telah menyentuh banyak poin tentang apa artinya menjadi pemain poker profesional dan bermain untuk mencari nafkah.

Oleh karena itu, sekarang Anda dapat membuat keputusan cerdas tentang apakah ini sesuatu yang ingin Anda lakukan.

Selama Anda jujur pada diri sendiri, realistis dengan harapan Anda, mau bekerja keras, dan memiliki hasrat untuk permainan, Anda akan baik-baik saja. Pastikan tidak ada komponen yang hilang, karena semuanya sama pentingnya dengan caranya sendiri!

Ringkasan:

Pertama, Anda perlu memahami mengapa Anda ingin menjadi pemain profesional dan apa yang ingin Anda capai
Kemudian, cari tahu game apa yang paling cocok untuk Anda dan pertahankan format itu
Pelajari aturannya dan pahami matematika dasar
Banyak berlatih di dalam dan di luar meja
Luangkan waktu Anda saat membuat keputusan
Belajarlah untuk berpikir dalam rentang, bukan tangan individu
Terus tingkatkan dan gunakan semua alat dan perangkat lunak yang tersedia
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Megalodon: The Truth About The Kargest Shark That Ever Lived

July 3, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

As one of the largest predators to have ever lived, megalodon captures people’s imagination – and for good reason. But was this apex predator simply a beefed-up great white shark, and is it still lurking in the dark depths of the ocean?

Emma Bernard, who curates the Museum’s fossil fish collection (including fossil sharks), helps separate fact from fiction.

How Big is a Megalodon?

The earliest megalodon fossils (Otodus megalodon, previously known as Carcharodon or Carcharocles megalodon) date to 20 million years ago. For the next 13 million years the enormous shark dominated the oceans until becoming extinct just 3.6 million years ago.

O. megalodon was not only the biggest shark in the world, but one of the largest fish ever to exist.

This giant shark is well-known for starring in the 2018 megalodon movie, The Meg. But in reality, these animals were a little shorter than the 23-metre-long fictional monster it depicted.

Estimates suggest megalodon actually grew to between 15 and 18 metres in length, three times longer than the largest recorded great white shark. It may have been comparable in length to today’s biggest whale sharks, the largest of which has measured in at 18.8 metres.

Without a complete megalodon skeleton to measure, these figures are based on tooth size. Megalodon teeth can reach 18 centimetres long. In fact, the word megalodon simply means ‘large tooth’. These teeth can tell us a lot, such as what these massive animals ate.

What Did Megalodon Eat?

Emma explains, ‘With its large serrated teeth megalodon would have eaten meat – most likely whales and large fish, and probably other sharks. If you are that big you need to eat a lot of food, so large prey is required.’

This would have included animals as small as dolphins and as large as humpback whales.

We have other evidence of megalodon’s feeding habits in the form of fossilised whale bones. Some of these have been found with the cut marks of megalodon teeth etched in the surface. Others even include the tips of teeth broken off in the bone during a feeding frenzy that occurred millions of years ago.

Megalodon Jaws

In order to tackle prey as large as whales, megalodon had to be able to open its mouth wide. It is estimated that its jaw would span 2.7 by 3.4 metres wide, easily big enough to swallow two adult people side-by-side.

These jaws were lined with 276 teeth, and studies reconstructing the shark’s bite force suggest that it may have been one of the most powerful predators ever to have existed.

Humans have been measured with a bite force of around 1,317 Newtons (N), while great white sharks have been predicted to be able to bite down with a force of 18,216N. Researchers have estimated that megalodon had a bite of between 108,514 and 182,201N.

What did megalodon look like?

Most reconstructions show megalodon looking like an enormous great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. This is now believed to be incorrect.

O. megalodon likely had a much shorter nose, or rostrum, when compared with the great white, with a flatter, almost squashed jaw. Like the blue shark, it also had extra-long pectoral fins to support its weight and size.

‘A lot of reconstructions have megalodon looking like a bigger version of the great white shark because for a long time people thought they were related,’ explains Emma. ‘We now know that this is not the case, and megalodon is actually from a different lineage of shark of which megalodon was the last member.’

The oldest definitive ancestor of megalodon is a 55-million-year-old shark known as Otodus obliquus, which grew to around 10 metres in length. But the evolutionary history of this shark is thought to stretch back to Cretalamna appendiculata, dating to 105 million years old – making the lineage of megalodon over 100 million years old.

‘As we’ve found more and more fossils, we’ve realised that the ancestor to the great white shark lived alongside megalodon. Some scientists think they might even have been in competition with each other,’ says Emma.

Where did the megalodon live?

O. megalodon was adapted to warm tropical and subtropical locations around the globe. The species was so widely spread that megalodon teeth have been found on every continent except Antarctica.

‘We can find lots of their teeth off the east coast of North America, along the coasts and at the bottom of saltwater creeks and rivers of North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida,’ explains Emma. This is likely due in part to the age of the rocks, but also because they can easily be found on the sea floor allowing collectors to go diving for them.

‘They are also quite common off the coast of Morocco and parts of Australia. They can even be found in the UK near Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex,’ says Emma, although they are extremely rare in the UK and tend to be of poor quality.

Are megalodon teeth rare?

Almost all fossil remains of megalodon are teeth.

Sharks continually produce teeth throughout their entire lives. Depending on what they eat, sharks lose a set of teeth every one to two weeks, getting through up to 40,000 teeth in their lifetime. This means that shark teeth are continuously raining down onto the ocean floor, increasing the chance that they will get fossilised.

Teeth are also the hardest part of a shark’s skeleton. While our bones are coated in the mineral calcium phosphate, shark skeletons are made entirely from softer cartilage like our nose and ears.

So while the more robust teeth become fossilised relatively easily, only in very special circumstances will soft tissue be preserved.

Fossilised megalodon vertebrae about the size of a dinner plate have also been found.

‘There is also a megalodon fossil found in Peru that apparently has the braincase and all the teeth, with a small string of vertebrae,’ says Emma, ‘although I have yet to see high-quality images of this specimen.’

This extraordinary fossil may help create a better picture of what these gigantic predators looked like.

Why did megalodon go extinct?

We know that megalodon had become extinct by the end of the Pliocene (2.6 million years ago), when the planet entered a phase of global cooling. Precisely when the last megalodon died is not known, but new evidence suggests that it was at least 3.6 million years ago.

Scientists think that up to a third of all large marine animals, including 43% of turtles and 35% of sea birds, became extinct as temperatures cooled and the number of organisms at the base of the food chain plummeted, resulting in a knock-on effect to the predators at the top.

The cooling of the planet may have contributed to the extinction of the megalodon in a number of ways.

As the adult sharks were dependent on tropical waters, the drop in ocean temperatures likely resulted in a significant loss of habitat. It may also have resulted in the megalodon’s prey either going extinct or adapting to the cooler waters and moving to where the sharks could not follow.

Megalodon is also thought to have given birth to its young close to the shore. These shallow coastal waters would have provided a nursery for the pups, protecting them from predators that were lurking in the open water, like the larger toothed whales. As ice formed at the poles and the sea level dropped, these pupping grounds would have been destroyed.

A study from 2022 suggests that competition with great white sharks for food may also have contributed to megalodon’s downfall. Studies of fossilised megalodon and great white teeth show that their diets overlapped.

Is the megalodon still alive?

‘No. It’s definitely not alive in the deep oceans, despite what the Discovery Channel has said in the past,’ notes Emma.

‘If an animal as big as megalodon still lived in the oceans we would know about it.’

The sharks would leave telltale bite marks on other large marine animals, and their huge teeth would continue littering the ocean floors in their tens of thousands. Not to mention that as a warm-water species, megalodon would not be able to survive in the cold waters of the deep, where it would have a better chance of going unnoticed.

Discover more about megalodon and shark evolution with Emma Bernard in the video below.

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Top 10 Facts About Rhinos

July 3, 2023 / admin / 0 Comments

1. Ada 5 spesies badak di dunia

Ini termasuk dua spesies badak Afrika – badak hitam dan putih. Tiga sisanya adalah spesies badak Asia, yang mencakup badak bercula satu yang lebih besar, Sumatera dan Jawa. 

Badak Sumatera, Jawa dan Hitam terdaftar sebagai ‘sangat terancam punah’ oleh IUCN – diperkirakan hanya ada 66 badak Jawa dan antara 34-47 badak Sumatera tersisa, yang membuat mereka benar-benar terancam punah di alam liar.

Badak putih diklasifikasikan sebagai ‘hampir terancam’ dengan 15.942 individu, sedangkan badak bercula satu yang lebih besar saat ini rentan dengan 4.014 individu di alam liar.

2. Badak bisa mencapai berat lebih dari 3 ton

Badak sumatera adalah yang terkecil dari semua badak, tetapi beratnya masih bisa mencapai 600kg (hampir 95 batu). Di sisi lain, badak putih adalah spesies badak terbesar dengan berat mencapai 3.500 kg. Itu lebih dari 550 batu, atau lebih dari 3 ton, yang sangat mengesankan mengingat mereka terutama memakan rumput dan dedaunan.

3. Badak hitam dan putih sebenarnya berwarna abu-abu

Nama badak hitam dan putih menyesatkan – karena keduanya sebenarnya berwarna abu-abu. Badak putih konon mendapatkan namanya dari kata Afrikaans untuk lebar (‘wyd’), mengacu pada lebarnya, bibir persegi (sebaliknya, badak hitam memiliki bibir atas yang runcing). Penjelajah Inggris awal mengira kata ini sebagai ‘putih’ dan akibatnya menamai spesies ini badak ‘putih’, dan badak ‘hitam’ lainnya untuk membedakannya.

4. Mereka disebut banteng dan sapi

Badak jantan disebut ‘banteng’ dan betina disebut ‘sapi’. Anak-anak mereka adalah ‘betis’.

Betina cenderung lebih ramah daripada jantan yang lebih menyendiri dan teritorial. Bersama-sama, sekelompok badak disebut ‘tabrakan’.

5. TERBUAT DARI APA CANDUL BADAK? BARANG YANG SAMA SEPERTI KUKU KITA

Cula badak terdiri dari keratin – protein yang sama yang membentuk dasar rambut dan kuku kita.

Badak jawa dan badak bercula satu yang lebih besar hanya memiliki satu cula, sedangkan semua spesies badak lainnya memiliki dua cula. Cula mereka tumbuh terus menerus selama hidup mereka – cula badak putih dapat tumbuh 7cm setiap tahun – dan rekor panjangnya adalah 150cm!

6. Badak memiliki penglihatan yang buruk

Penglihatan badak tidak bagus – mereka tidak dapat melihat orang yang tidak bergerak pada jarak 30m – mereka terutama mengandalkan indera penciuman yang kuat.

7. Badak jawa hanya ditemukan di satu tempat kecil

Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon – Situs Warisan Dunia – adalah rumah bagi badak Jawa liar terakhir yang tersisa di Bumi.

Tapi ini adalah tempat yang berbahaya untuk hidup. Gunung berapi aktif hanya berjarak 50 km. Dan tsunami setinggi 10m – yang diproyeksikan akan terjadi dalam 100 tahun ke depan – dapat mengancam 80% wilayah badak di Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon.

Itu sebabnya membangun tempat yang aman bagi populasi badak Jawa lain di Indonesia menjadi prioritas.

8. Mereka berkomunikasi melalui klakson, bersin… dan kotoran

Badak membuat serangkaian suara lucu saat mereka berkomunikasi.

Selama konfrontasi, mereka menggeram dan membuat ‘panggilan terompet’. Badak hitam mendengus saat marah, membuat panggilan seperti bersin sebagai alarm, berteriak jika ketakutan, dan ‘mmwonk’ saat santai. 

Badak juga berkomunikasi melalui kotoran dan urin mereka. Saat badak buang air di tempat yang sama dengan badak lainnya – area yang dikenal sebagai jamban – mereka dapat mencium bau kotoran dan urin individu lain, dan mengetahui siapa yang ada di area tersebut.

9. Mereka menyukai lumpur

Badak sering terlihat berguling-guling di lumpur, memberi diri mereka ‘mantel lumpur’ pelindung agar tetap dingin, menghentikan gigitan serangga, dan menyingkirkan parasit apa pun.

Badak Asia juga perenang yang hebat, menyeberangi sungai dengan mudah. Tapi kerabat Afrika mereka adalah perenang yang sangat buruk dan bisa tenggelam di air yang dalam – jadi mereka tetap berkubang di lumpur untuk pendinginan.

10. Badak terancam

Lebih dari 7.100 badak Afrika telah dibunuh oleh perburuan dalam 10 tahun terakhir – itu sekitar 2 setiap hari. Geng perburuan menjadi semakin canggih. Dalam beberapa kasus, menggunakan helikopter untuk melacak badak, dan setelah hewan ditembak dengan senjata atau anak panah penenang, cula mereka dilepas menggunakan gergaji mesin, dan segera diterbangkan. Seluruh operasi dapat memakan waktu paling sedikit 10 menit, dan jika badak tersebut belum mati, seringkali ia akan mati kehabisan darah.

Cula badak digunakan dalam pengobata tradisional Asia untuk ‘menyembuhkan’ berbagai penyakit, mulai dari kanker hingga mabuk. Dan tanduk dipandang sebagai simbol status, khususnya di Vietnam.

Hilangnya habitat dan fragmentasi merupakan ancaman yang meningkat terhadap badak, karena populasi manusia dan infrastruktur tumbuh, merambah habitat badak.

Pekerjaan WWF

Kami bekerja melalui TRAFFIC – aliansi strategis WWF dan IUCN – untuk menangani semua aspek kejahatan satwa liar, mulai dari perburuan, perdagangan dan pembelian, hingga bekerja dengan pemerintah untuk mendapatkan penegakan hukum yang lebih baik.

Kami bekerja melawan perdagangan satwa liar ilegal, dengan penjaga lapangan, penyelidik kriminal, dan otoritas bea cukai. Teknologi luar biasa, seperti microchip GPS yang dimasukkan ke dalam cula badak, dapat membantu kita mengidentifikasi cula dan membuat kasus penuntutan.

Dan untuk memastikan mereka dapat tumbuh subur di masa depan, kami melindungi badak dan memastikan habitat mereka terpelihara dengan lebih baik, dan memindahkan badak ke daerah baru agar populasinya dapat tumbuh.

Tapi ini tidak akan mungkin terjadi tanpa dukungan Anda. Bersama-sama, kita akan terus berjuang untuk dunia kita.