Understanding Sexual Dimorphism

Understanding Sexual Dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the difference in morphology between male and female members of the same species. Sexual dimorphism includes differences in size, coloration, or body structure between the sexes. For example, the male northern cardinal has a bright red plumage while the female has a duller plumage. Male lions  have a mane, female lions do not. Examples of Sexual Dimorphism Male elk (Cervus canadensis) grow antlers, while female elk do not have antlers.Male elephant seals (Mirounga sp.) develop an elongated snout and fleshy nose that they inflate as a sign of aggression when competing with other males during the mating season.Male birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae) are noted for their elaborate plumage and complex mating dances. Females are far less ornate. In most cases, when size differences exist between the male and female of a species, it is the male that is the larger of the two sexes. But in a few species, such as birds of prey and owls, the female is the larger of the sexes and such a size difference is referred to as reverse sexual dimorphism. One rather extreme case of reverse sexual dimorphism exists in a species of deepwater anglerfish called the triplewart seadevils (Cryptopsaras couesii). The female triplewart seadevil grows much larger than the male and develops the characteristic illicium that serves as a lure to prey. The male, about one-tenth the size of the female, attaches itself to the female as a parasite. Resources and Further Reading Folkens P. 2002. National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. New York: Alfred A. Knopff.

German Names for Pets - Haustiernamen

German Names for Pets - Haustiernamen If you want a cool German name for your dog, cat or other pet, this list can help you find the right one. While people in German-speaking countries sometimes name their pets with English names, this list includes only German or Germanic pet names. Inspirations for German Pet Names Literary Germanic names include  Kafka, Goethe, Freud (or Siggi/Sigmund) and Nietzsche. Famous Germanic music figures include  Amadeus,  Mozart or Beethoven.  The names of German pop singers like Falco (who was Austrian), Udo Lindenberg, or Nena are also popular for pets. The names of figures out of German literature include  Siegfried (m.) or Kriemhild (f.) from the Nibelungenlied, or  Goethes Faust versus Mephistopholes. On the lighter side, you could go with Idefix, the dog in the popular European Asterix cartoon series, the rotund Obelix character or the hero Asterix himself. Germanic names or words with a certain meaning include  Adalhard (noble and strong), Baldur (bold), Blitz (lightning, fast), Gerfried (spear/peace), Gerhard (strong spear), Hugo (smart), Heidi (based on feminine names containing heid or heide; Adelheid noble one), Traude/Traute (dear, trusted) or Reinhard (decisive/strong). Although few Germans today would be caught dead with such names, theyre still great pet names. Other categories for pet names include movie characters (Strolch, Tramp in The Lady and the Tramp), colors (Barbarossa [red], Lakritz[e] [licorice, black], Silber, Schneeflocke [snowflake]), drinks (Whisky, Wodka) and other characteristics of your pet. German Cat Names Just as with dogs, there are some typical, clichà ©d names for cats. The German equivalent of kitty is Mieze or Miezekatze (pussycat). Muschi is a very common cat name, but since it carries all the same meanings as pussy in English, you need to be careful about throwing it into a German conversation. But theres nothing wrong with the word as a name for your cat. One top-10 list of cat names in German ranked the following feline appellations: Felix, Minka, Moritz, Charly, Tiger (tee-gher), Max, Susi, Lisa, Blacky, and Muschi, in that order. Some lists also include names for couples or pairs (Prchen), such as Max und Moritz (from the Wilhelm Busch stories), Bonnie und Clyde or Antonius und Kleopatra.   Alphabetical List of German Pet Names Names ending in -chen, -lein, or -li are diminutives (little, y-ending in English). Although most are just names (e.g., Beethoven, Elfriede, etc.), in some cases the English meaning for a German name is indicated: Adler (eagle).   Names for females are marked (f.). Other names are masculine or work with both genders. Names marked * are usually for cats. A AbboAchimAdalheid/Adelheid (f.)AdiAdler (eagle)AframAgatha/Agathe (f.)Aico/AikoAladinAloisAmadeus (Mozart)AmbrosAnka (f.)Annelies (f.)Antje (f.)ArndtArnoAsterixAttilaAxel B BachBeethoven, BrahmsBaldoBaldurBalkoBr/Brchen (bear)Brbel (f., pron. BEAR-bel)Brli (little bear)Beate (f., pron. bay-AH-tuh)Bello (barker)Bengel (rascal, lad)BennoBerndBernhardBertolt (Brecht)Biene (bee, pron. BEE-nuh)Bismarck, Otto vonBlaubart (bluebeard)Blitz (lightning)Blà ¼mchen (f., little flower)Bà ¶hnchen (beanie)Boris (Becker)BrandyBrechtBritta (f.)Brummer (roarer)Brunhild(e) (from Wagnerian opera and the Germanic Nibelungenlied legend) C Carl/KarlCarlchenCsar (Caesar, Kaiser)Charlotta/Charlotte (f.)Cissy (Sissi) (f.) D Dagmar (f.)DierkDina (f.)DinoDirk(A-)Dur (A major, music)Dux/Duxi E Edel (noble)EgonEigerEikeEisbrEitelElfriede/Elfi/Elfie (f.)ElmarEmilEngel (angel)Engelchen/Engelein (little angel) F FabianFabio/FabiusFalco/FalkoFalk (hawk)Falka (f.)Fanta (f.)Fatima (f.)Fantom (ghost, phantom)Faust/FaustoFee (f., fairy, pron. FAY)Felicitas/Felizitas (f.)Felidae* (loyal, true)Felix (Mendelssohn)Fels (rock)Ferdi, FerdinandFidelio (Beethoven opera)Fix (und Foxi, cartoon characters)Flach (flat)Flegel (brat)Flocke/Flocki (fluffy)Floh (flea)Flà ¶hchen (little flea)FlorianFokusFoxi (f.)FrancisFranzFreda (f.)Freja (f.)Freud (Sigmund)Frida (f.)Fritz (Freddy)Fuzzi (sl., weirdo) G Gabi (f.)Gauner (rascal, rogue)Genie (genius, pron. ZHUH-nee)Gertrud(e)der Gestiefelte Kater*Puss in BootsGoethe, Johann WolfgangGolo (Mann)Gà ¶tzGreif (griffin)Gà ¼nther (Grass, German author) H HagenHaiko/HeikoHalka (f.)Halla (f.)Handke, PeterHannesHannoHansHnsel (und Gretel)Haro/HarroHassoHeinrich (Henry)Hein(o)HeintjeHektorHelge (Schneider, m.)HeraHexe/Hexi (f., witch)HeydaHilgerHolgerHoraz I Idefix (from Asterix comic)IgnazIgorIlka (f.)Ilsa (f.)IngoIxi J Jan (m.)Janka (f.)JankoJohann(es), Hansi (Johnny)Joshka (Fischer, German politician)Julika (f.) K Kaffee (coffee)Kafka, FranzKai (pron. KYE)Kaiser (emperor)Kaiser WilhelmKarl/CarlKarla (f.)Karl der Große (Charlemagne)Kà ¶nig (king)Kà ¶nigin (f., queen)Krà ¶te (toad, minx)Krà ¼mel (little one, crumb)Krà ¼melchenKuschiKuschel (cuddles) L Landjunker (squire)Lausbub (rascal)LasterLaika (f., first dog in space - Russian name)LenaLeni (Riefenstahl, f., film director)Liebling (darling, sweetheart)Lola (rennt, f.)Lotti/Lotty (f.)LukasLulu (f.)Là ¼mmelLump(i) (rogue, blackguard)Lutz M Maja/Maya (f.)ManfredMargit (f.)Marlene (Dietrich, f.)Max (und Moritz)MeikoMiau* (meow)Miesmies*Mieze*Mina/Minna (f.)MischaMonika (f.)Moppel (tubby)MoritzMotte (moth)Murr*Muschi*Muzius* N Nana (granny, f.)Nena (f.)Nietzsche, FriedrichNina (f.)Nixe (mermaid, sprite)Norbert O Obelix (from Asterix comic)Odin (Wodan)OdoOrkan (hurricane)OskarOssi (und Wessi)OtfriedOttmarOtto (von Bismarck)Ottokar P PalaPanzer (tank)Papst (pope)PaulchenPestalozzi, Johann Heinrich (Swiss educator)Piefke  Ã‚  Piefke is Austrian or Bavarian slang for a Prussian or northern German, similar to the term gringo used by Mexicans.Platon (Plato)Poldi (male nickname)Prinz (prince)Purzel(baum) (somersault, tumble) Q QuaxQueck R ReikoRolfRomy (Schneider, f.)Rudi/Rà ¼diRà ¼diger S Schatzi (sweetie, treasure)SchnuffiSchuftiSchupo (cop)SebastianSemmelSiegfried (from Wagnerian opera and the Germanic Nibelungenlied legend)SiggiSigmund (Freud)Sigrid (f.)Sigrun (f.) (Wagner opera)Sissi (f.)Steffi (Graf, f.)Sternchen (little star)Susi (und Strolch)  Ã‚  German names for Disneys Lady and the Tramp T Tanja (f.)Traude/Traute (f.)TraugottTristan (und Isolde)Trudi (f.) U Udo (Lindenberg)UfaUli/UlliUlrichUlrike (f.)Ursula (Andress, f.)Uschi (f.)Uwe V ViktorViktoria (f.)Volker W WaldiWaldtraude/Waldtraut (f.)WhiskyWilhelm/WilliWolf (pron. VOLF)Wolfgang (Amadeus Mozart)Wotan (Odin)Wurzel Z Zack (pow, zap)Zimper-PimpelZoschZuckerl (sweetie)Zuckerpuppe (sweetie pie)