Your_Lion Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 02 December 2014Tuesday Galah An attractive and unmistakable species of cockatoo, the galah (Cacatua roseicapilla) is a familiar sight across much of Australia. The galah can easily be distinguished from other cockatoo species by its distinctive pink and grey plumage. A highly sociable species, the galah is frequently seen in large flocks that may number up to 1,000 individuals. Huge flocks come together to roost, often performing noisy acrobatics before settling down for the night, and outside of the breeding season large groups may gather to feed. These groups often mix with other cockatoo species . The galah typically feeds on the ground, where it gathers a range of seeds, from cereals to grasses. It also takes a range of other foods, including berries, buds, flowers and insect larvae. Although this species may potentially help to control certain weeds, it can also do considerable damage to crops. In hot weather, flocks of galahs may spend much of the day sheltering among trees and shrubs. This small cockatoo is well adapted to the hot, arid conditions of inland Australia, being able to tolerate high temperatures and considerable periods of dehydration. The galah produces concentrated urine to minimise water loss, and is also able to rehydrate by drinking salty water. Galahs mate for life, and the male displays to the female by strutting towards her, bobbing and waving his head and raising his crest while giving soft calls and clicking his bill. The male may also perform acrobatics in the air. In the north of its range, the galah typically breeds between February and June or July, but in other areas it usually breeds from July to December, or even to February. The female galah lays between two and six white eggs in a hollow in a tree, usually a eucalypt. The galah has a habit of stripping bark away from around the entrance to the nest, and is the only species of cockatoo known to line its nest with leaves. This species may also sometimes nest on cliff ledges. Many pairs of galahs often nest close together. http://i.imgur.com/CJJndl5.jpg http://i.imgur.com/dWppAEp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FCChMMk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sw7uM9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7UsvqMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LwW5Qje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KWSo5fg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/i3X8u3E.jpgNice. I Don't recall seeing a pink bird before 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 3, 2014 Author Share Posted December 3, 2014 03 December 2014Wednesday Solenodon This ancient and distinctive mammal, found only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and capable of secreting toxic saliva, faces very real and immediate threats to its survival. One of only two solenodons in existence, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) resembles a large, stocky shrew, and has a distinctive, elongated snout that extends well beyond the jaw. The Hispaniolan solenodon is nocturnal, secretive and rare, and so, unsurprisingly, is rarely seen and has not been widely studied. It is capable of climbing near-vertical surfaces but spends most of its time searching for food on the ground. It uses its flexible snout to explore cracks and crevices, and its massive claws to dig under rocks, bark and soil, for invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, insect larvae, earthworms and termites. The solenodon is also an opportunistic scavenger and may prey on amphibians, reptiles and small birds if or when the opportunity arises. Indeed, local people believe it to eat snakes and chickens, and such remains have been found in solenodon faeces, although this may be the result of scavenging dead animals. It lunges at its chosen prey, pinning it down with its strong forelimbs, and then scoops up the prey with its lower jaw. A bite from the solenodon injects the victim with toxic saliva from its lower incisors and renders the prey immobile. Potential animal predators of the Hispaniolan solenondon include boas and birds of prey (namely owls). Solenodons have a long life span, possibly around 11 years, and a low reproductive rate. The female gives birth to one or two young in a burrow, which can be an extensive system of tunnels in which they forage and nest. During the first two months of life the young remain close to their mother and may accompany her on foraging excursions, hanging on to her elongated teats by their mouth. http://i.imgur.com/h4zLtOl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Q890Lrb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KKy85vn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6y0aIIx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GaCYx6F.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xzKpIVn.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/RO6Ivy7.png 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 02 December 2014Tuesday Galah An attractive and unmistakable species of cockatoo, the galah (Cacatua roseicapilla) is a familiar sight across much of Australia. The galah can easily be distinguished from other cockatoo species by its distinctive pink and grey plumage. A highly sociable species, the galah is frequently seen in large flocks that may number up to 1,000 individuals. Huge flocks come together to roost, often performing noisy acrobatics before settling down for the night, and outside of the breeding season large groups may gather to feed. These groups often mix with other cockatoo species . The galah typically feeds on the ground, where it gathers a range of seeds, from cereals to grasses. It also takes a range of other foods, including berries, buds, flowers and insect larvae. Although this species may potentially help to control certain weeds, it can also do considerable damage to crops. In hot weather, flocks of galahs may spend much of the day sheltering among trees and shrubs. This small cockatoo is well adapted to the hot, arid conditions of inland Australia, being able to tolerate high temperatures and considerable periods of dehydration. The galah produces concentrated urine to minimise water loss, and is also able to rehydrate by drinking salty water. Galahs mate for life, and the male displays to the female by strutting towards her, bobbing and waving his head and raising his crest while giving soft calls and clicking his bill. The male may also perform acrobatics in the air. In the north of its range, the galah typically breeds between February and June or July, but in other areas it usually breeds from July to December, or even to February. The female galah lays between two and six white eggs in a hollow in a tree, usually a eucalypt. The galah has a habit of stripping bark away from around the entrance to the nest, and is the only species of cockatoo known to line its nest with leaves. This species may also sometimes nest on cliff ledges. Many pairs of galahs often nest close together. http://i.imgur.com/CJJndl5.jpg http://i.imgur.com/dWppAEp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FCChMMk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sw7uM9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7UsvqMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LwW5Qje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KWSo5fg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/i3X8u3E.jpg What a beautiful bird! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 03 December 2014Wednesday Solenodon This ancient and distinctive mammal, found only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and capable of secreting toxic saliva, faces very real and immediate threats to its survival. One of only two solenodons in existence, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) resembles a large, stocky shrew, and has a distinctive, elongated snout that extends well beyond the jaw. The Hispaniolan solenodon is nocturnal, secretive and rare, and so, unsurprisingly, is rarely seen and has not been widely studied. It is capable of climbing near-vertical surfaces but spends most of its time searching for food on the ground. It uses its flexible snout to explore cracks and crevices, and its massive claws to dig under rocks, bark and soil, for invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, insect larvae, earthworms and termites. The solenodon is also an opportunistic scavenger and may prey on amphibians, reptiles and small birds if or when the opportunity arises. Indeed, local people believe it to eat snakes and chickens, and such remains have been found in solenodon faeces, although this may be the result of scavenging dead animals. It lunges at its chosen prey, pinning it down with its strong forelimbs, and then scoops up the prey with its lower jaw. A bite from the solenodon injects the victim with toxic saliva from its lower incisors and renders the prey immobile. Potential animal predators of the Hispaniolan solenondon include boas and birds of prey (namely owls). Solenodons have a long life span, possibly around 11 years, and a low reproductive rate. The female gives birth to one or two young in a burrow, which can be an extensive system of tunnels in which they forage and nest. During the first two months of life the young remain close to their mother and may accompany her on foraging excursions, hanging on to her elongated teats by their mouth. http://i.imgur.com/h4zLtOl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Q890Lrb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KKy85vn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6y0aIIx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GaCYx6F.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xzKpIVn.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/RO6Ivy7.png It seems this particular species is becoming rare... :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 04 December 2014Thursday Chinese Giant Salamander The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world, and is fully aquatic, with many adaptations for this lifestyle. It grows up to 1.8 metres in length, though most individuals found today are considerably smaller. The skin is dark brown, black or greenish in colour and irregularly blotched. It is also rough, wrinkled and porous which facilitates respiration through the skin as this large amphibian lacks gills. The Chinese giant salamander is generally active at night, when it relies on smell and touch to locate its prey. This huge amphibian lives in muddy, dark rock crevices along riverbanks and feeds on fish, smaller salamanders, worms, insects, crayfish and snails, catching them with a rapid sideways snap of the mouth. Mating behaviour has been described for the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and is probably similar for the Chinese giant salamander. Reproduction appears to take place from late August to September, when hundreds of individuals congregate at nest sites. Males occupy breeding cavities which are aggressively guarded against intruders. Males compete viciously, with many dying from injuries. Females enter the cavities, lay between 400 and 500 eggs that are held together like a string of beads and then leave immediately. The male fertilises the eggs, and protects them from predators such as fish, until they hatch 12 to 15 weeks later in the early spring. The larvae are only three centimetres long and resemble adults in shape. As larvae they do have gills, and though they lose them quite early in life, they never fully lose all larval characteristics. Both the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders are long lived, with one specimen in captivity living for 52 years. Occurring in the mountain streams of China, the Chinese giant salamander is found at elevations below 1,500 metres in the tributaries of the Pearl, Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. http://i.imgur.com/S4TZp9I.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QkkJuqP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ap4paKl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9Kiy7f.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4Xiqoeg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HkoyLx.jpg Skull (reproduction): http://i.imgur.com/bEGQe7s.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/g9YBvuf.gif 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 04 December 2014Thursday Chinese Giant Salamander The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world, and is fully aquatic, with many adaptations for this lifestyle. It grows up to 1.8 metres in length, though most individuals found today are considerably smaller. The skin is dark brown, black or greenish in colour and irregularly blotched. It is also rough, wrinkled and porous which facilitates respiration through the skin as this large amphibian lacks gills. The Chinese giant salamander is generally active at night, when it relies on smell and touch to locate its prey. This huge amphibian lives in muddy, dark rock crevices along riverbanks and feeds on fish, smaller salamanders, worms, insects, crayfish and snails, catching them with a rapid sideways snap of the mouth. Mating behaviour has been described for the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and is probably similar for the Chinese giant salamander. Reproduction appears to take place from late August to September, when hundreds of individuals congregate at nest sites. Males occupy breeding cavities which are aggressively guarded against intruders. Males compete viciously, with many dying from injuries. Females enter the cavities, lay between 400 and 500 eggs that are held together like a string of beads and then leave immediately. The male fertilises the eggs, and protects them from predators such as fish, until they hatch 12 to 15 weeks later in the early spring. The larvae are only three centimetres long and resemble adults in shape. As larvae they do have gills, and though they lose them quite early in life, they never fully lose all larval characteristics. Both the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders are long lived, with one specimen in captivity living for 52 years. Occurring in the mountain streams of China, the Chinese giant salamander is found at elevations below 1,500 metres in the tributaries of the Pearl, Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. http://i.imgur.com/S4TZp9I.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QkkJuqP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ap4paKl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9Kiy7f.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4Xiqoeg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HkoyLx.jpg Skull (reproduction): http://i.imgur.com/bEGQe7s.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/g9YBvuf.gif That's quite fascinating. :) The 52 year age span! :o And that tiny baby! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 03 December 2014Wednesday Solenodon This ancient and distinctive mammal, found only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and capable of secreting toxic saliva, faces very real and immediate threats to its survival. One of only two solenodons in existence, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) resembles a large, stocky shrew, and has a distinctive, elongated snout that extends well beyond the jaw. The Hispaniolan solenodon is nocturnal, secretive and rare, and so, unsurprisingly, is rarely seen and has not been widely studied. It is capable of climbing near-vertical surfaces but spends most of its time searching for food on the ground. It uses its flexible snout to explore cracks and crevices, and its massive claws to dig under rocks, bark and soil, for invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, insect larvae, earthworms and termites. The solenodon is also an opportunistic scavenger and may prey on amphibians, reptiles and small birds if or when the opportunity arises. Indeed, local people believe it to eat snakes and chickens, and such remains have been found in solenodon faeces, although this may be the result of scavenging dead animals. It lunges at its chosen prey, pinning it down with its strong forelimbs, and then scoops up the prey with its lower jaw. A bite from the solenodon injects the victim with toxic saliva from its lower incisors and renders the prey immobile. Potential animal predators of the Hispaniolan solenondon include boas and birds of prey (namely owls). Solenodons have a long life span, possibly around 11 years, and a low reproductive rate. The female gives birth to one or two young in a burrow, which can be an extensive system of tunnels in which they forage and nest. During the first two months of life the young remain close to their mother and may accompany her on foraging excursions, hanging on to her elongated teats by their mouth. http://i.imgur.com/h4zLtOl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Q890Lrb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KKy85vn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6y0aIIx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GaCYx6F.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xzKpIVn.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/RO6Ivy7.pngGreat long noses and tiny little eyes...this lil' fella needs a cartoon character 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 04 December 2014Thursday Chinese Giant Salamander The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world, and is fully aquatic, with many adaptations for this lifestyle. It grows up to 1.8 metres in length, though most individuals found today are considerably smaller. The skin is dark brown, black or greenish in colour and irregularly blotched. It is also rough, wrinkled and porous which facilitates respiration through the skin as this large amphibian lacks gills. The Chinese giant salamander is generally active at night, when it relies on smell and touch to locate its prey. This huge amphibian lives in muddy, dark rock crevices along riverbanks and feeds on fish, smaller salamanders, worms, insects, crayfish and snails, catching them with a rapid sideways snap of the mouth. Mating behaviour has been described for the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and is probably similar for the Chinese giant salamander. Reproduction appears to take place from late August to September, when hundreds of individuals congregate at nest sites. Males occupy breeding cavities which are aggressively guarded against intruders. Males compete viciously, with many dying from injuries. Females enter the cavities, lay between 400 and 500 eggs that are held together like a string of beads and then leave immediately. The male fertilises the eggs, and protects them from predators such as fish, until they hatch 12 to 15 weeks later in the early spring. The larvae are only three centimetres long and resemble adults in shape. As larvae they do have gills, and though they lose them quite early in life, they never fully lose all larval characteristics. Both the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders are long lived, with one specimen in captivity living for 52 years. Occurring in the mountain streams of China, the Chinese giant salamander is found at elevations below 1,500 metres in the tributaries of the Pearl, Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. http://i.imgur.com/S4TZp9I.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QkkJuqP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ap4paKl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9Kiy7f.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4Xiqoeg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HkoyLx.jpg Skull (reproduction): http://i.imgur.com/bEGQe7s.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/g9YBvuf.gifWow! It's hard to get an idea of the scale, until you see one with a person :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 5, 2014 Author Share Posted December 5, 2014 05 December 2014 FLORA FRIDAY Silverswords (Argyroxiphium sp.) Argyroxiphium is a small genus of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common name of silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. These perennials are endemic to Hawaii, occurring only on the islands of Maui and Hawaii in an extremely localized distribution. They are primarily found above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation in alpine deserts or bogs, indicating an adaptation to low-nutrient soils. The Kaʻū or Mauna Loa Silversword (A. kauense) is the most adaptable: it can be found in rocky lava flows, bogs, and open forest. They consist of rosette-forming epigeal shrubs or dwarf shrubs. They may consist of a single large rosette (Mauna Kea and Haleakalā silverswords), a short-branched rosette (Mauna Loa Silversword), or spreading with runners (ʻEke Silversword, greenswords). The flower heads consist of a ring of pistillate ray florets around 30 to 600 disk florets. The corolla varies in color from purplish to wine red or yellow, while the anthers are dark. A rosette will grow from 5–20 years before flowering, after which it dies. For those with a single rosette, this means the death of the plant (in contrast, those reproducing by runners rarely flower and may be very long-lived). Because they require cross-pollination by insects, many plants must flower at the same time in relatively close proximity or they will fail to set seed. A significant population must exist for enough to flower each year for pollination to occur. Silverswords and greenswords are highly sensitive to disturbance. Their shallow root systems are easily crushed in the boggy soil or loose volcanic cinders they grow in. The succulent leaves are eaten by goats in the dry summits, and pigs frequently disturb the fragile bog vegetation. All species are highly restricted in range, and even those that are protected are vulnerable to catastrophic events. The East Maui Greensword (A. virescens) is apparently extinct, but in 1989 plants were discovered that appear to be hybrids between it and the Haleakalā Silversword. The Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silverswords both have small populations, but are being cultivated and outplanted in protected areas. The largest population of Mauna Loa Silverswords is in Kahuku, which was recently acquired by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. http://i.imgur.com/7DMxWMs.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JjB7OYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xboVZr8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BmCbUWv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lAfPrn5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LBwbujT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KkhI8kC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UBJdrue.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bLAwtWf.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 05 December 2014 FLORA FRIDAY Silverswords (Argyroxiphium sp.) Argyroxiphium is a small genus of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common name of silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. These perennials are endemic to Hawaii, occurring only on the islands of Maui and Hawaii in an extremely localized distribution. They are primarily found above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation in alpine deserts or bogs, indicating an adaptation to low-nutrient soils. The Kaʻū or Mauna Loa Silversword (A. kauense) is the most adaptable: it can be found in rocky lava flows, bogs, and open forest. They consist of rosette-forming epigeal shrubs or dwarf shrubs. They may consist of a single large rosette (Mauna Kea and Haleakalā silverswords), a short-branched rosette (Mauna Loa Silversword), or spreading with runners (ʻEke Silversword, greenswords). The flower heads consist of a ring of pistillate ray florets around 30 to 600 disk florets. The corolla varies in color from purplish to wine red or yellow, while the anthers are dark. A rosette will grow from 5–20 years before flowering, after which it dies. For those with a single rosette, this means the death of the plant (in contrast, those reproducing by runners rarely flower and may be very long-lived). Because they require cross-pollination by insects, many plants must flower at the same time in relatively close proximity or they will fail to set seed. A significant population must exist for enough to flower each year for pollination to occur. Silverswords and greenswords are highly sensitive to disturbance. Their shallow root systems are easily crushed in the boggy soil or loose volcanic cinders they grow in. The succulent leaves are eaten by goats in the dry summits, and pigs frequently disturb the fragile bog vegetation. All species are highly restricted in range, and even those that are protected are vulnerable to catastrophic events. The East Maui Greensword (A. virescens) is apparently extinct, but in 1989 plants were discovered that appear to be hybrids between it and the Haleakalā Silversword. The Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silverswords both have small populations, but are being cultivated and outplanted in protected areas. The largest population of Mauna Loa Silverswords is in Kahuku, which was recently acquired by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. http://i.imgur.com/7DMxWMs.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JjB7OYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xboVZr8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BmCbUWv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lAfPrn5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LBwbujT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KkhI8kC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UBJdrue.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bLAwtWf.jpgCool! Some of those really do look like they could be alien worlds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 05 December 2014 FLORA FRIDAY Silverswords (Argyroxiphium sp.) Argyroxiphium is a small genus of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common name of silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. These perennials are endemic to Hawaii, occurring only on the islands of Maui and Hawaii in an extremely localized distribution. They are primarily found above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation in alpine deserts or bogs, indicating an adaptation to low-nutrient soils. The Kaʻū or Mauna Loa Silversword (A. kauense) is the most adaptable: it can be found in rocky lava flows, bogs, and open forest. They consist of rosette-forming epigeal shrubs or dwarf shrubs. They may consist of a single large rosette (Mauna Kea and Haleakalā silverswords), a short-branched rosette (Mauna Loa Silversword), or spreading with runners (ʻEke Silversword, greenswords). The flower heads consist of a ring of pistillate ray florets around 30 to 600 disk florets. The corolla varies in color from purplish to wine red or yellow, while the anthers are dark. A rosette will grow from 5–20 years before flowering, after which it dies. For those with a single rosette, this means the death of the plant (in contrast, those reproducing by runners rarely flower and may be very long-lived). Because they require cross-pollination by insects, many plants must flower at the same time in relatively close proximity or they will fail to set seed. A significant population must exist for enough to flower each year for pollination to occur. Silverswords and greenswords are highly sensitive to disturbance. Their shallow root systems are easily crushed in the boggy soil or loose volcanic cinders they grow in. The succulent leaves are eaten by goats in the dry summits, and pigs frequently disturb the fragile bog vegetation. All species are highly restricted in range, and even those that are protected are vulnerable to catastrophic events. The East Maui Greensword (A. virescens) is apparently extinct, but in 1989 plants were discovered that appear to be hybrids between it and the Haleakalā Silversword. The Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silverswords both have small populations, but are being cultivated and outplanted in protected areas. The largest population of Mauna Loa Silverswords is in Kahuku, which was recently acquired by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. http://i.imgur.com/7DMxWMs.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JjB7OYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xboVZr8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BmCbUWv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lAfPrn5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LBwbujT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KkhI8kC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UBJdrue.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bLAwtWf.jpg I've seen the silverswords on Mauna Kea. At least some of them are behind a fence to keep them protected. Too bad they weren't in bloom then because they're so pretty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 06 December 2014 Paleontology Saturday Deinotherium Deinotherium was one of the largest land animals of the Late Miocene-Middle Pliocene. Although the name Deinotherium translates to mean 'Terrible beast’, this definition somewhat belies the true nature of Deinotherium as a prehistoric elephant. Compared to today’s living elephants however, Deinotherium is the type genus of the more distantly related group called the deinotheres. Deinotherium remains one of the largest elephants in the fossil record, rivalling even the big mammoths. What makes Deinotherium stand out from amongst other elephants are the two downward pointing short tusks that are recurved in an arc that sees the tips pointing towards the front feet when the head is carried horizontally level. Not only is this a different direction from the forward pointing tusks of other elephants, but the tusks themselves actually emerged from the lower jaw as opposed to the upper of other elephants. The reason and function of this arrangement has baffled palaeontologists since the discovery of this animal, in fact early reconstructions often had the jaw placed upside down so that the tusks looked like they were pointing in the ‘right’ direction. The type species of Deinotherium, D. giganteum, was first discovered in Europe, but later discoveries have revealed an African origin. From here Deinotherium radiated out towards Europe and Asia where it became one of the most successful mammals until the end of the Pliocene. By the start of the Pleistocene the Deinotherium populations of Europe and Asia seem to have disappeared, quite probably as a result of the changing habitats which were brought about by a global change towards a colder climate. The last populations of Deinotherium held out in Africa where they survived until around one million years ago (middle Ionian of the Pleistocene). http://i.imgur.com/mZZJTCT.jpg http://i.imgur.com/L8POEjO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9NgH7OT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hAuAJb8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vCac7l.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jOUsTGF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ysNIcTe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/chNbNoa.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 06 December 2014 Paleontology Saturday Deinotherium Deinotherium was one of the largest land animals of the Late Miocene-Middle Pliocene. Although the name Deinotherium translates to mean 'Terrible beast’, this definition somewhat belies the true nature of Deinotherium as a prehistoric elephant. Compared to today’s living elephants however, Deinotherium is the type genus of the more distantly related group called the deinotheres. Deinotherium remains one of the largest elephants in the fossil record, rivalling even the big mammoths. What makes Deinotherium stand out from amongst other elephants are the two downward pointing short tusks that are recurved in an arc that sees the tips pointing towards the front feet when the head is carried horizontally level. Not only is this a different direction from the forward pointing tusks of other elephants, but the tusks themselves actually emerged from the lower jaw as opposed to the upper of other elephants. The reason and function of this arrangement has baffled palaeontologists since the discovery of this animal, in fact early reconstructions often had the jaw placed upside down so that the tusks looked like they were pointing in the ‘right’ direction. The type species of Deinotherium, D. giganteum, was first discovered in Europe, but later discoveries have revealed an African origin. From here Deinotherium radiated out towards Europe and Asia where it became one of the most successful mammals until the end of the Pliocene. By the start of the Pleistocene the Deinotherium populations of Europe and Asia seem to have disappeared, quite probably as a result of the changing habitats which were brought about by a global change towards a colder climate. The last populations of Deinotherium held out in Africa where they survived until around one million years ago (middle Ionian of the Pleistocene). http://i.imgur.com/mZZJTCT.jpg http://i.imgur.com/L8POEjO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9NgH7OT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hAuAJb8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vCac7l.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jOUsTGF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ysNIcTe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/chNbNoa.jpg What an odd animal! (Not that that's a bad thing; I'm a fan of the weird animals!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 06 December 2014 Paleontology Saturday Deinotherium Deinotherium was one of the largest land animals of the Late Miocene-Middle Pliocene. Although the name Deinotherium translates to mean 'Terrible beast’, this definition somewhat belies the true nature of Deinotherium as a prehistoric elephant. Compared to today’s living elephants however, Deinotherium is the type genus of the more distantly related group called the deinotheres. Deinotherium remains one of the largest elephants in the fossil record, rivalling even the big mammoths. What makes Deinotherium stand out from amongst other elephants are the two downward pointing short tusks that are recurved in an arc that sees the tips pointing towards the front feet when the head is carried horizontally level. Not only is this a different direction from the forward pointing tusks of other elephants, but the tusks themselves actually emerged from the lower jaw as opposed to the upper of other elephants. The reason and function of this arrangement has baffled palaeontologists since the discovery of this animal, in fact early reconstructions often had the jaw placed upside down so that the tusks looked like they were pointing in the ‘right’ direction. The type species of Deinotherium, D. giganteum, was first discovered in Europe, but later discoveries have revealed an African origin. From here Deinotherium radiated out towards Europe and Asia where it became one of the most successful mammals until the end of the Pliocene. By the start of the Pleistocene the Deinotherium populations of Europe and Asia seem to have disappeared, quite probably as a result of the changing habitats which were brought about by a global change towards a colder climate. The last populations of Deinotherium held out in Africa where they survived until around one million years ago (middle Ionian of the Pleistocene). http://i.imgur.com/mZZJTCT.jpg http://i.imgur.com/L8POEjO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9NgH7OT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hAuAJb8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vCac7l.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jOUsTGF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ysNIcTe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/chNbNoa.jpgThose tusks are different, and give them a unique look...almost like an ivory beard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 07 December 2014Sunday Long-wattled Umbrellabird The long-wattled umbrellabird gains its name from the rather bizarre and striking features of the male of the species. The male bird has a large crest, composed of hair-like feathers extending over the bill, and a long, black feathered wattle hanging from the middle of the chest. The wattle reaches a length of up to 45 centimetres and can be inflated during courtship, when it resembles a large, open pine cone. During flight, it is retracted and held against the chest. The female and juvenile resemble the male but are smaller, and both the crest and wattle are greatly reduced. While much of the long-wattled umbrellabird’s breeding biology is still unclear, its courtship behaviour is known to be complex and elaborate. Throughout the year, male birds can be found gathered at established sites, termed “leks”, where they make exuberant displays to the female birds. Puzzlingly, in at least one part of its range, male long-wattled umbrellabird displaying activity peaks during the dry season (August to December), around six months before the period of greatest female nesting activity. It is not yet clear why this disparity occurs, but possibly it is because the male relies on large quantities of fruit, which may be more abundant during the dry season, to sustain its energetic display. In contrast, when nesting, the female may be more dependent on the abundance of insects in the rainy season to give the energy and nutrients required to produce eggs and brood chicks. The consumption of large quantities of fruit means that the long-wattled umbrellabird plays an important ecological role within its habitat as a seed dispersal agent. Along with fruit, this opportunistic species will also take large insects, amphibians and reptiles. The long-wattled umbrellabird is found in a relatively narrow belt along the western slopes of the Andes, from the San Juan River in Colombia down to southern Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZZLpvlY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pWWLxLT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tD8JVOH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ksQOoUq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XcmqZb1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MuFrDgw.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/IF8PP7X.gif 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 05 December 2014 FLORA FRIDAY Silverswords (Argyroxiphium sp.) Argyroxiphium is a small genus of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common name of silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. These perennials are endemic to Hawaii, occurring only on the islands of Maui and Hawaii in an extremely localized distribution. They are primarily found above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation in alpine deserts or bogs, indicating an adaptation to low-nutrient soils. The Kaʻū or Mauna Loa Silversword (A. kauense) is the most adaptable: it can be found in rocky lava flows, bogs, and open forest. They consist of rosette-forming epigeal shrubs or dwarf shrubs. They may consist of a single large rosette (Mauna Kea and Haleakalā silverswords), a short-branched rosette (Mauna Loa Silversword), or spreading with runners (ʻEke Silversword, greenswords). The flower heads consist of a ring of pistillate ray florets around 30 to 600 disk florets. The corolla varies in color from purplish to wine red or yellow, while the anthers are dark. A rosette will grow from 5–20 years before flowering, after which it dies. For those with a single rosette, this means the death of the plant (in contrast, those reproducing by runners rarely flower and may be very long-lived). Because they require cross-pollination by insects, many plants must flower at the same time in relatively close proximity or they will fail to set seed. A significant population must exist for enough to flower each year for pollination to occur. Silverswords and greenswords are highly sensitive to disturbance. Their shallow root systems are easily crushed in the boggy soil or loose volcanic cinders they grow in. The succulent leaves are eaten by goats in the dry summits, and pigs frequently disturb the fragile bog vegetation. All species are highly restricted in range, and even those that are protected are vulnerable to catastrophic events. The East Maui Greensword (A. virescens) is apparently extinct, but in 1989 plants were discovered that appear to be hybrids between it and the Haleakalā Silversword. The Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silverswords both have small populations, but are being cultivated and outplanted in protected areas. The largest population of Mauna Loa Silverswords is in Kahuku, which was recently acquired by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. http://i.imgur.com/7DMxWMs.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JjB7OYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xboVZr8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BmCbUWv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lAfPrn5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LBwbujT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KkhI8kC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UBJdrue.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bLAwtWf.jpg That's stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 07 December 2014Sunday Long-wattled Umbrellabird The long-wattled umbrellabird gains its name from the rather bizarre and striking features of the male of the species. The male bird has a large crest, composed of hair-like feathers extending over the bill, and a long, black feathered wattle hanging from the middle of the chest. The wattle reaches a length of up to 45 centimetres and can be inflated during courtship, when it resembles a large, open pine cone. During flight, it is retracted and held against the chest. The female and juvenile resemble the male but are smaller, and both the crest and wattle are greatly reduced. While much of the long-wattled umbrellabird’s breeding biology is still unclear, its courtship behaviour is known to be complex and elaborate. Throughout the year, male birds can be found gathered at established sites, termed “leks”, where they make exuberant displays to the female birds. Puzzlingly, in at least one part of its range, male long-wattled umbrellabird displaying activity peaks during the dry season (August to December), around six months before the period of greatest female nesting activity. It is not yet clear why this disparity occurs, but possibly it is because the male relies on large quantities of fruit, which may be more abundant during the dry season, to sustain its energetic display. In contrast, when nesting, the female may be more dependent on the abundance of insects in the rainy season to give the energy and nutrients required to produce eggs and brood chicks. The consumption of large quantities of fruit means that the long-wattled umbrellabird plays an important ecological role within its habitat as a seed dispersal agent. Along with fruit, this opportunistic species will also take large insects, amphibians and reptiles. The long-wattled umbrellabird is found in a relatively narrow belt along the western slopes of the Andes, from the San Juan River in Colombia down to southern Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZZLpvlY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pWWLxLT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tD8JVOH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ksQOoUq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XcmqZb1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MuFrDgw.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/IF8PP7X.gif Amazing looking bird! Mind you, I like its "hair"..! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 07 December 2014Sunday Long-wattled Umbrellabird The long-wattled umbrellabird gains its name from the rather bizarre and striking features of the male of the species. The male bird has a large crest, composed of hair-like feathers extending over the bill, and a long, black feathered wattle hanging from the middle of the chest. The wattle reaches a length of up to 45 centimetres and can be inflated during courtship, when it resembles a large, open pine cone. During flight, it is retracted and held against the chest. The female and juvenile resemble the male but are smaller, and both the crest and wattle are greatly reduced. While much of the long-wattled umbrellabird’s breeding biology is still unclear, its courtship behaviour is known to be complex and elaborate. Throughout the year, male birds can be found gathered at established sites, termed “leks”, where they make exuberant displays to the female birds. Puzzlingly, in at least one part of its range, male long-wattled umbrellabird displaying activity peaks during the dry season (August to December), around six months before the period of greatest female nesting activity. It is not yet clear why this disparity occurs, but possibly it is because the male relies on large quantities of fruit, which may be more abundant during the dry season, to sustain its energetic display. In contrast, when nesting, the female may be more dependent on the abundance of insects in the rainy season to give the energy and nutrients required to produce eggs and brood chicks. The consumption of large quantities of fruit means that the long-wattled umbrellabird plays an important ecological role within its habitat as a seed dispersal agent. Along with fruit, this opportunistic species will also take large insects, amphibians and reptiles. The long-wattled umbrellabird is found in a relatively narrow belt along the western slopes of the Andes, from the San Juan River in Colombia down to southern Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZZLpvlY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pWWLxLT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tD8JVOH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ksQOoUq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XcmqZb1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MuFrDgw.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/IF8PP7X.gifNow that is one weird looking bird.Looks like the kind of funny outfits people wear on catwalks and fashion shoots 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share Posted December 9, 2014 09 December 2014Tuesday Green Anaconda While the anaconda may not hold the title of the worlds’ longest snake—coming second to the reticulated python—its huge girth means that it is undoubtedly the largest. During the 19th and 20th century, many accounts of giant specimens of anaconda were reported. While almost certainly exaggerations, it is possible that in remote, deep rainforest rivers, under optimum conditions of prey availability, the green anaconda may grow to record proportion. Although capable of moving over land, the bulky body of the adult green anaconda is best suited for life in the water, where it gracefully and stealthily seeks out prey. A variety of prey is taken according to the size of the anaconda, with smaller individuals taking fish and other small vertebrates, while larger specimens prey upon deer, capybara, and even full-grown caimans. In addition, in rare cases this species has also been known to attack humans . Prey is taken by surprise, with a swift strike from the jaws, after which coils of the muscular body are quickly thrown around the animal, often dragging it underwater. Lacking venom, the green anaconda relies on constriction to kill its prey, asphyxiating the animal before swallowing it whole. Studies of the green anaconda in seasonally-flooded habitats show that it mates during the dry season, from around mid-February to late May. The female typically gives birth to litters of 20 to 40 live young, though a record of 82 has been reported. The young measure around 60 centimetres in length, and take roughly six years to reach sexual maturity. From birth to adulthood, the green anaconda undergoes a dramatic 500-fold increase in mass, a greater increase than any other snake species. While the average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, individuals have been known to live for over 25 years. The green anaconda is found in northern South America, occurring in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, eastern Paraguay, northern Bolivia, north-east Peru, Guyana and French Guiana. It can also be found on the island of Trinidad off the north-east coast of Venezuela. http://i.imgur.com/pc1AMGf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/55TAvR0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sHrvoSW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CfwonCV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cMXbNnP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rttYb4s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0XwETP7.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 06 December 2014 Paleontology Saturday Deinotherium Deinotherium was one of the largest land animals of the Late Miocene-Middle Pliocene. Although the name Deinotherium translates to mean 'Terrible beast’, this definition somewhat belies the true nature of Deinotherium as a prehistoric elephant. Compared to today’s living elephants however, Deinotherium is the type genus of the more distantly related group called the deinotheres. Deinotherium remains one of the largest elephants in the fossil record, rivalling even the big mammoths. What makes Deinotherium stand out from amongst other elephants are the two downward pointing short tusks that are recurved in an arc that sees the tips pointing towards the front feet when the head is carried horizontally level. Not only is this a different direction from the forward pointing tusks of other elephants, but the tusks themselves actually emerged from the lower jaw as opposed to the upper of other elephants. The reason and function of this arrangement has baffled palaeontologists since the discovery of this animal, in fact early reconstructions often had the jaw placed upside down so that the tusks looked like they were pointing in the ‘right’ direction. The type species of Deinotherium, D. giganteum, was first discovered in Europe, but later discoveries have revealed an African origin. From here Deinotherium radiated out towards Europe and Asia where it became one of the most successful mammals until the end of the Pliocene. By the start of the Pleistocene the Deinotherium populations of Europe and Asia seem to have disappeared, quite probably as a result of the changing habitats which were brought about by a global change towards a colder climate. The last populations of Deinotherium held out in Africa where they survived until around one million years ago (middle Ionian of the Pleistocene). http://i.imgur.com/mZZJTCT.jpg http://i.imgur.com/L8POEjO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9NgH7OT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hAuAJb8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vCac7l.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jOUsTGF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ysNIcTe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/chNbNoa.jpg That's rather different - the tusks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 09 December 2014Tuesday Green Anaconda While the anaconda may not hold the title of the worlds’ longest snake—coming second to the reticulated python—its huge girth means that it is undoubtedly the largest. During the 19th and 20th century, many accounts of giant specimens of anaconda were reported. While almost certainly exaggerations, it is possible that in remote, deep rainforest rivers, under optimum conditions of prey availability, the green anaconda may grow to record proportion. Although capable of moving over land, the bulky body of the adult green anaconda is best suited for life in the water, where it gracefully and stealthily seeks out prey. A variety of prey is taken according to the size of the anaconda, with smaller individuals taking fish and other small vertebrates, while larger specimens prey upon deer, capybara, and even full-grown caimans. In addition, in rare cases this species has also been known to attack humans . Prey is taken by surprise, with a swift strike from the jaws, after which coils of the muscular body are quickly thrown around the animal, often dragging it underwater. Lacking venom, the green anaconda relies on constriction to kill its prey, asphyxiating the animal before swallowing it whole. Studies of the green anaconda in seasonally-flooded habitats show that it mates during the dry season, from around mid-February to late May. The female typically gives birth to litters of 20 to 40 live young, though a record of 82 has been reported. The young measure around 60 centimetres in length, and take roughly six years to reach sexual maturity. From birth to adulthood, the green anaconda undergoes a dramatic 500-fold increase in mass, a greater increase than any other snake species. While the average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, individuals have been known to live for over 25 years. The green anaconda is found in northern South America, occurring in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, eastern Paraguay, northern Bolivia, north-east Peru, Guyana and French Guiana. It can also be found on the island of Trinidad off the north-east coast of Venezuela. http://i.imgur.com/pc1AMGf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/55TAvR0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sHrvoSW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CfwonCV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cMXbNnP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rttYb4s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0XwETP7.jpg It said "live birth" - does that mean actual babies as opposed to eggs? (As I always thought snakes popped out eggs and the babies came out of those). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 09 December 2014Tuesday Green Anaconda While the anaconda may not hold the title of the worlds’ longest snake—coming second to the reticulated python—its huge girth means that it is undoubtedly the largest. During the 19th and 20th century, many accounts of giant specimens of anaconda were reported. While almost certainly exaggerations, it is possible that in remote, deep rainforest rivers, under optimum conditions of prey availability, the green anaconda may grow to record proportion. Although capable of moving over land, the bulky body of the adult green anaconda is best suited for life in the water, where it gracefully and stealthily seeks out prey. A variety of prey is taken according to the size of the anaconda, with smaller individuals taking fish and other small vertebrates, while larger specimens prey upon deer, capybara, and even full-grown caimans. In addition, in rare cases this species has also been known to attack humans . Prey is taken by surprise, with a swift strike from the jaws, after which coils of the muscular body are quickly thrown around the animal, often dragging it underwater. Lacking venom, the green anaconda relies on constriction to kill its prey, asphyxiating the animal before swallowing it whole. Studies of the green anaconda in seasonally-flooded habitats show that it mates during the dry season, from around mid-February to late May. The female typically gives birth to litters of 20 to 40 live young, though a record of 82 has been reported. The young measure around 60 centimetres in length, and take roughly six years to reach sexual maturity. From birth to adulthood, the green anaconda undergoes a dramatic 500-fold increase in mass, a greater increase than any other snake species. While the average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, individuals have been known to live for over 25 years. The green anaconda is found in northern South America, occurring in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, eastern Paraguay, northern Bolivia, north-east Peru, Guyana and French Guiana. It can also be found on the island of Trinidad off the north-east coast of Venezuela. http://i.imgur.com/pc1AMGf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/55TAvR0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sHrvoSW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CfwonCV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cMXbNnP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rttYb4s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0XwETP7.jpgHoly Sh1t!!! :o Look at the size of that thing!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 It said "live birth" - does that mean actual babies as opposed to eggs? (As I always thought snakes popped out eggs and the babies came out of those). Yes, that's it exactly. Some reptiles lay eggs, but others give birth to live babies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 It said "live birth" - does that mean actual babies as opposed to eggs? (As I always thought snakes popped out eggs and the babies came out of those). Yes, that's it exactly. Some reptiles lay eggs, but others give birth to live babies. Oh I see. Thank you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Are we getting no more of these? Sadness. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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