Babycat Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 13 October 2016Thursday Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus crepitans) The bombardier beetle is famous for its remarkable explosive defence system, in which a volatile liquid is ejected from the anus with an audible popping sound. Indeed, the specific part of the Latin name for this species, crepitans, derives from the Latin for 'crackle', and refers to this noise. This beetle is usually seen in May and June; the details of the life-cycle of this species are not fully understood, but it is thought that the larvae are external parasites on the pupae of other species of beetle, particularly those of the ground beetle Amara convexiuscula and a staphylinid beetle, Ocypus ater. The pulses of volatile liquid that are expelled from this beetle when it is threatened are released from the anus and aimed at potential predators. The liquid is produced explosively when the contents of two glands mix in a chamber known as 'the firing chamber'. One gland contains hydrogen peroxide, the other contains hydroquinone; enzymes are then added. The resulting liquid contains irritant chemicals known as p-benzoquinones, and is released at 100°C; it causes a sensation of burning if it comes into contact with skin. This beetle occurs in central and southern Europe and North Africa, reaching as far north as central Sweden. http://i.imgur.com/1fL5cB1.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/92tXMew.gif http://i.imgur.com/rccEALX.png?1 http://i.imgur.com/9IMLgdI.jpg?1 Crikey! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 11 October 2016Tuesday Kola Nut (Cola nitida) A tropical tree from West African rainforests, Cola nitida is best known for its caffeine-containing seeds, known as kola nuts. Raw seeds are chewed as a stimulant and have a bitter taste. Kola nuts are used in a variety of local ceremonies and also to produce kola nut extract, which is an ingredient in some soft drinks. Cola nitida is native to West Africa (from Guinea to Ghana) and has been introduced throughout the forested areas of West and Central Africa. Commercial crops are grown mainly in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, and also to some extent in India, Brazil, and Jamaica. Cola nitida seeds, known as kola nuts, are used as a foodstuff locally. They contain caffeine, theobromine, tannins, fructose and kolanin (a heart stimulant). They are chewed as a stimulant and are especially favoured as a snack by African Muslims when fasting in the month of Ramadan. Kola nuts are reported to suppress hunger and thirst and have been used in western and central Africa for thousands of years. Kola nut extract was reportedly used as a source of caffeine in pharmacist John Pemberton’s ‘French Wine Coca’, a forerunner of the soft drink Coca-Cola. Frank M. Robinson’s first advert for Coca-Cola in the Atlanta Journal on 29 May 1886 read ‘Coca-Cola ... containing the properties of the wonderful Coca plant and the famous Cola nut.’ Natural kola nut extract has now been replaced by synthetic citrate caffeine in many leading brands of cola drink, although some advertised as ‘natural cola’ include kola nut in their ingredients. Kola nuts are used in many African ceremonies, for example the welcoming ceremony of the Igbo culture of Nigeria. The seeds are passed among visitors to a village and then blessed by the village elder, before a seed is given to each visitor with the words ‘Öjï luo ünö okwuo ebe osi bia’ (When the kola nut reaches home, it will tell where it came from), proof to the visitor’s people of his visit to the other village. Kola nuts are central to many other ceremonies in western and central Africa including marriage, child naming, investiture of tribal chiefs, funerals, and sacrifices to deities. http://i.imgur.com/X3Gfd9a.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/CBdXqVr.jpg?1 Sapling: http://i.imgur.com/zdxkQp8.jpg Mature tree in Africa: http://i.imgur.com/wynFr6Y.jpg Pods containing kola "nuts" (seeds): http://i.imgur.com/Dstbp8r.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/9va0aEe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GgRmBAB.jpg Kola nuts at a market in Mali: http://i.imgur.com/AH8BZyK.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/FeI3sIK.jpg http://i.imgur.com/SvymhgW.jpg http://www.worldagro...Cola_nitida.PDF https://www.igboguid...HT-chapter8.htm Coke bottles? :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 13 October 2016Thursday Bombardier Beetle13 October 2016Thursday Bombardier Beetle :eyeroll: Not again... this entry appeared fine in the preview. It's got an added feature: camouflage. Or an Invisibility Cloak... ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 13 October 2016Thursday Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus crepitans) The bombardier beetle is famous for its remarkable explosive defence system, in which a volatile liquid is ejected from the anus with an audible popping sound. Indeed, the specific part of the Latin name for this species, crepitans, derives from the Latin for 'crackle', and refers to this noise. This beetle is usually seen in May and June; the details of the life-cycle of this species are not fully understood, but it is thought that the larvae are external parasites on the pupae of other species of beetle, particularly those of the ground beetle Amara convexiuscula and a staphylinid beetle, Ocypus ater. The pulses of volatile liquid that are expelled from this beetle when it is threatened are released from the anus and aimed at potential predators. The liquid is produced explosively when the contents of two glands mix in a chamber known as 'the firing chamber'. One gland contains hydrogen peroxide, the other contains hydroquinone; enzymes are then added. The resulting liquid contains irritant chemicals known as p-benzoquinones, and is released at 100°C; it causes a sensation of burning if it comes into contact with skin. This beetle occurs in central and southern Europe and North Africa, reaching as far north as central Sweden. http://i.imgur.com/1fL5cB1.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/92tXMew.gif http://i.imgur.com/rccEALX.png?1 http://i.imgur.com/9IMLgdI.jpg?1 Oh, there are so many jokes that could be made here! :D 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 14 October 2016Friday Rafflesia arnoldii This southeast Asian plant has the largest known individual flower in the world. It is parasitic on members of the genus Tetrastigma (in the grape family, Vitaceae). It has no roots or leaves and most of the time lives unobserved inside the woody stems and roots of its host. Rafflesia arnoldii only becomes visible when its plump buds emerge through the bark of its host and develop into the large, fleshy flowers which are pollinated by carrion-flies. It is known from the southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where it occurs in primary and secondary forest, up to 1,000 m above sea level. Rafflesia arnoldii is a parasitic plant, without roots or leaves. The main body of the plant resides inside the host plant. The only visible parts are the flowers, which burst through the host plant’s bark as compact buds, and later the fruits. The flowers are up to 1 m in diameter, and their flesh is reddish-brown with white spots. Each flower is either male or female and consists of five lobes inserted on a cup-like structure. In the centre of the cup is a column with a disk. The anthers (male parts) or styles (female parts) are situated underneath the disk. The fruits are berries with minute seeds.It is likely that only damaged roots or stems of a new host can be infected by seedlings of Rafflesia. The foetid smell of the flowers attracts carrion-flies (of the genera Lucilia and Sarcophaga). The pollen adheres to the backs of the flies, which do not seem to receive any reward from the plant. The first botanist to find a specimen of a Rafflesia was the French explorer Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765-1842). He was a member of a French scientific expedition to Asia and the Pacific. During the expedition he spent three years on Java, where in 1797 he collected the first Rafflesia. During the return voyage in 1798, his ship was taken by the British, with whom France was at war, and all his papers and notes were confiscated. They did not see the light of day until 1954 when they were rediscovered in the Natural History Museum, London. The British botanist Joseph Arnold (1782-1818) and the statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781-1826, founder of modern Singapore) collected another specimen found by a Malay servant in Sumatra in 1818. Arnold contracted a fever and died soon after the discovery. Lady Raffles, who had also been present when the specimen was collected, finished the colour drawing that Arnold had started of the plant. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is an iconic symbol of the southeast Asian rainforest, and is often used in tourist brochures to symbolise the rich biodiversity of the region’s forests. The flower has also been depicted on Indonesian postage stamps on several occasions, while the flowers of related Rafflesia species are often illustrated on the postage stamps of neighbouring southeast Asian countries. The flower is also used as the symbol of the Flora Malesiana project, which aims to describe all flowering plants from the region between Thailand and Australia. Many sites where Rafflesia grows are now popular with tourists, who provide an income for local people and also an incentive to preserve the species. Unfortunately, as a result of this ecotourism and the resulting human disturbance, the number of flower buds produced per year has decreased significantly at many sites. http://i.imgur.com/jHoJQn3.jpg?1 Buds: http://i.imgur.com/7hjbeHT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xHGTgRa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N1Ercq8.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/Tj7HCgB.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/YNWLfMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q4AfniY.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/5AM28Ma.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oIxMQcp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bHnjaP5.jpg Stamps: http://i.imgur.com/PrlZ0Is.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f4jejrZ.jpg RAFFLESIA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLOOM 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 14 October 2016Friday Rafflesia arnoldii This southeast Asian plant has the largest known individual flower in the world. It is parasitic on members of the genus Tetrastigma (in the grape family, Vitaceae). It has no roots or leaves and most of the time lives unobserved inside the woody stems and roots of its host. Rafflesia arnoldii only becomes visible when its plump buds emerge through the bark of its host and develop into the large, fleshy flowers which are pollinated by carrion-flies. It is known from the southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where it occurs in primary and secondary forest, up to 1,000 m above sea level. Rafflesia arnoldii is a parasitic plant, without roots or leaves. The main body of the plant resides inside the host plant. The only visible parts are the flowers, which burst through the host plant’s bark as compact buds, and later the fruits. The flowers are up to 1 m in diameter, and their flesh is reddish-brown with white spots. Each flower is either male or female and consists of five lobes inserted on a cup-like structure. In the centre of the cup is a column with a disk. The anthers (male parts) or styles (female parts) are situated underneath the disk. The fruits are berries with minute seeds.It is likely that only damaged roots or stems of a new host can be infected by seedlings of Rafflesia. The foetid smell of the flowers attracts carrion-flies (of the genera Lucilia and Sarcophaga). The pollen adheres to the backs of the flies, which do not seem to receive any reward from the plant. The first botanist to find a specimen of a Rafflesia was the French explorer Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765-1842). He was a member of a French scientific expedition to Asia and the Pacific. During the expedition he spent three years on Java, where in 1797 he collected the first Rafflesia. During the return voyage in 1798, his ship was taken by the British, with whom France was at war, and all his papers and notes were confiscated. They did not see the light of day until 1954 when they were rediscovered in the Natural History Museum, London. The British botanist Joseph Arnold (1782-1818) and the statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781-1826, founder of modern Singapore) collected another specimen found by a Malay servant in Sumatra in 1818. Arnold contracted a fever and died soon after the discovery. Lady Raffles, who had also been present when the specimen was collected, finished the colour drawing that Arnold had started of the plant. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is an iconic symbol of the southeast Asian rainforest, and is often used in tourist brochures to symbolise the rich biodiversity of the region’s forests. The flower has also been depicted on Indonesian postage stamps on several occasions, while the flowers of related Rafflesia species are often illustrated on the postage stamps of neighbouring southeast Asian countries. The flower is also used as the symbol of the Flora Malesiana project, which aims to describe all flowering plants from the region between Thailand and Australia. Many sites where Rafflesia grows are now popular with tourists, who provide an income for local people and also an incentive to preserve the species. Unfortunately, as a result of this ecotourism and the resulting human disturbance, the number of flower buds produced per year has decreased significantly at many sites. http://i.imgur.com/jHoJQn3.jpg?1 Buds: http://i.imgur.com/7hjbeHT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xHGTgRa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N1Ercq8.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/Tj7HCgB.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/YNWLfMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q4AfniY.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/5AM28Ma.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oIxMQcp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bHnjaP5.jpg Stamps: http://i.imgur.com/PrlZ0Is.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f4jejrZ.jpg RAFFLESIA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLOOM Whoa - that sure is a big bloom! :o :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 14 October 2016Friday Rafflesia arnoldii This southeast Asian plant has the largest known individual flower in the world. It is parasitic on members of the genus Tetrastigma (in the grape family, Vitaceae). It has no roots or leaves and most of the time lives unobserved inside the woody stems and roots of its host. Rafflesia arnoldii only becomes visible when its plump buds emerge through the bark of its host and develop into the large, fleshy flowers which are pollinated by carrion-flies. It is known from the southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where it occurs in primary and secondary forest, up to 1,000 m above sea level. Rafflesia arnoldii is a parasitic plant, without roots or leaves. The main body of the plant resides inside the host plant. The only visible parts are the flowers, which burst through the host plant’s bark as compact buds, and later the fruits. The flowers are up to 1 m in diameter, and their flesh is reddish-brown with white spots. Each flower is either male or female and consists of five lobes inserted on a cup-like structure. In the centre of the cup is a column with a disk. The anthers (male parts) or styles (female parts) are situated underneath the disk. The fruits are berries with minute seeds.It is likely that only damaged roots or stems of a new host can be infected by seedlings of Rafflesia. The foetid smell of the flowers attracts carrion-flies (of the genera Lucilia and Sarcophaga). The pollen adheres to the backs of the flies, which do not seem to receive any reward from the plant. The first botanist to find a specimen of a Rafflesia was the French explorer Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765-1842). He was a member of a French scientific expedition to Asia and the Pacific. During the expedition he spent three years on Java, where in 1797 he collected the first Rafflesia. During the return voyage in 1798, his ship was taken by the British, with whom France was at war, and all his papers and notes were confiscated. They did not see the light of day until 1954 when they were rediscovered in the Natural History Museum, London. The British botanist Joseph Arnold (1782-1818) and the statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781-1826, founder of modern Singapore) collected another specimen found by a Malay servant in Sumatra in 1818. Arnold contracted a fever and died soon after the discovery. Lady Raffles, who had also been present when the specimen was collected, finished the colour drawing that Arnold had started of the plant. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is an iconic symbol of the southeast Asian rainforest, and is often used in tourist brochures to symbolise the rich biodiversity of the region’s forests. The flower has also been depicted on Indonesian postage stamps on several occasions, while the flowers of related Rafflesia species are often illustrated on the postage stamps of neighbouring southeast Asian countries. The flower is also used as the symbol of the Flora Malesiana project, which aims to describe all flowering plants from the region between Thailand and Australia. Many sites where Rafflesia grows are now popular with tourists, who provide an income for local people and also an incentive to preserve the species. Unfortunately, as a result of this ecotourism and the resulting human disturbance, the number of flower buds produced per year has decreased significantly at many sites. http://i.imgur.com/jHoJQn3.jpg?1 Buds: http://i.imgur.com/7hjbeHT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xHGTgRa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N1Ercq8.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/Tj7HCgB.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/YNWLfMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q4AfniY.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/5AM28Ma.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oIxMQcp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bHnjaP5.jpg Stamps: http://i.imgur.com/PrlZ0Is.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f4jejrZ.jpg RAFFLESIA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLOOM Pretty and weird all at the same time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 14 October 2016Friday Rafflesia arnoldii This southeast Asian plant has the largest known individual flower in the world. It is parasitic on members of the genus Tetrastigma (in the grape family, Vitaceae). It has no roots or leaves and most of the time lives unobserved inside the woody stems and roots of its host. Rafflesia arnoldii only becomes visible when its plump buds emerge through the bark of its host and develop into the large, fleshy flowers which are pollinated by carrion-flies. It is known from the southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where it occurs in primary and secondary forest, up to 1,000 m above sea level. Rafflesia arnoldii is a parasitic plant, without roots or leaves. The main body of the plant resides inside the host plant. The only visible parts are the flowers, which burst through the host plant’s bark as compact buds, and later the fruits. The flowers are up to 1 m in diameter, and their flesh is reddish-brown with white spots. Each flower is either male or female and consists of five lobes inserted on a cup-like structure. In the centre of the cup is a column with a disk. The anthers (male parts) or styles (female parts) are situated underneath the disk. The fruits are berries with minute seeds.It is likely that only damaged roots or stems of a new host can be infected by seedlings of Rafflesia. The foetid smell of the flowers attracts carrion-flies (of the genera Lucilia and Sarcophaga). The pollen adheres to the backs of the flies, which do not seem to receive any reward from the plant. The first botanist to find a specimen of a Rafflesia was the French explorer Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765-1842). He was a member of a French scientific expedition to Asia and the Pacific. During the expedition he spent three years on Java, where in 1797 he collected the first Rafflesia. During the return voyage in 1798, his ship was taken by the British, with whom France was at war, and all his papers and notes were confiscated. They did not see the light of day until 1954 when they were rediscovered in the Natural History Museum, London. The British botanist Joseph Arnold (1782-1818) and the statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781-1826, founder of modern Singapore) collected another specimen found by a Malay servant in Sumatra in 1818. Arnold contracted a fever and died soon after the discovery. Lady Raffles, who had also been present when the specimen was collected, finished the colour drawing that Arnold had started of the plant. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is an iconic symbol of the southeast Asian rainforest, and is often used in tourist brochures to symbolise the rich biodiversity of the region’s forests. The flower has also been depicted on Indonesian postage stamps on several occasions, while the flowers of related Rafflesia species are often illustrated on the postage stamps of neighbouring southeast Asian countries. The flower is also used as the symbol of the Flora Malesiana project, which aims to describe all flowering plants from the region between Thailand and Australia. Many sites where Rafflesia grows are now popular with tourists, who provide an income for local people and also an incentive to preserve the species. Unfortunately, as a result of this ecotourism and the resulting human disturbance, the number of flower buds produced per year has decreased significantly at many sites. http://i.imgur.com/jHoJQn3.jpg?1 Buds: http://i.imgur.com/7hjbeHT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/xHGTgRa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N1Ercq8.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/Tj7HCgB.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/YNWLfMG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q4AfniY.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/5AM28Ma.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oIxMQcp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bHnjaP5.jpg Stamps: http://i.imgur.com/PrlZ0Is.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f4jejrZ.jpg RAFFLESIA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLOOM Whoa - that sure is a big bloom! :o :DPretty and weird all at the same time! http://i.imgur.com/Hcrjr3G.gif 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 15 October 2016Saturday Noisy Friarbird The Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus, is also known as "Leatherhead." It is part of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. This honeyeater inhabits much of New Guinea and eastern and south-eastern Australia; it is found in most climate zones, extending into arid areas along rivers. Its preferred habitat includes open dry forest areas and other woodlands, as well as coastal scrub and heath lands. They can also be seen around wetlands and wet forests. This noisy and conspicuous bird is usually seen in small groups, often high up in trees. This large member of the honeyeater family measures 31-36 cm or 12-14 inches in length. It has a distinctive black, bald head, and mostly brown-grey plumage except for the chest and belly, which is a paler off white. The breeding season in their natural range usually commences in July and goes on until January. They may produce one or two broods during a season. The nest is a large deep cup with an inverted lip or rim and made of bark and grass hanging from a horizontal branch 1-3 metres above the ground and usually well-hidden. The average clutch size consists of two to four (rarely five) eggs, measuring 22 x 33 mm or 1 x 1⅓ inches. The color of the eggs may be buff- to pale-pink splotched with darker pink-brown or purplish colors. This honeyeater feeds on insects, nectar, and native fruits. Their consumption of commercially grown fruit brings the Noisy Friarbirds into conflict with humans who regard them as pests. As its name suggests, it is noisy; one of its calls has been likened to "Four o'clock". At times, the constant cackling and chattering of the Noisy Friarbird can be heard throughout the forests. Their calls identify an individual's feeding territory and announce the presence of food sources. http://i.imgur.com/qyPqIPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/vIHn3wz.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/AfzuXdW.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/ApO3y9x.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Kp3qgnC.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/NllqLrT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/QFMq6wm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qt7TlZy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9zuWntF.png?1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 15 October 2016Saturday Noisy Friarbird The Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus, is also known as "Leatherhead." It is part of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. This honeyeater inhabits much of New Guinea and eastern and south-eastern Australia; it is found in most climate zones, extending into arid areas along rivers. Its preferred habitat includes open dry forest areas and other woodlands, as well as coastal scrub and heath lands. They can also be seen around wetlands and wet forests. This noisy and conspicuous bird is usually seen in small groups, often high up in trees. This large member of the honeyeater family measures 31-36 cm or 12-14 inches in length. It has a distinctive black, bald head, and mostly brown-grey plumage except for the chest and belly, which is a paler off white. The breeding season in their natural range usually commences in July and goes on until January. They may produce one or two broods during a season. The nest is a large deep cup with an inverted lip or rim and made of bark and grass hanging from a horizontal branch 1-3 metres above the ground and usually well-hidden. The average clutch size consists of two to four (rarely five) eggs, measuring 22 x 33 mm or 1 x 1⅓ inches. The color of the eggs may be buff- to pale-pink splotched with darker pink-brown or purplish colors. This honeyeater feeds on insects, nectar, and native fruits. Their consumption of commercially grown fruit brings the Noisy Friarbirds into conflict with humans who regard them as pests. As its name suggests, it is noisy; one of its calls has been likened to "Four o'clock". At times, the constant cackling and chattering of the Noisy Friarbird can be heard throughout the forests. Their calls identify an individual's feeding territory and announce the presence of food sources. http://i.imgur.com/qyPqIPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/vIHn3wz.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/AfzuXdW.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/ApO3y9x.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Kp3qgnC.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/NllqLrT.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/QFMq6wm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qt7TlZy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9zuWntF.png?1 Pretty! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 16 October 2016Sunday Giant Armadillo Armadillos are one of the oldest groups of mammals and have a quirky appearance, possessing a tough shell composed of bony plates in the dermis covered by horny scales. The giant armadillo is the largest living species of this group. Giant armadillos have not been extensively studied in the wild and therefore little is known about their natural ecology and behaviour. Giant armadillos are fairly solitary and nocturnal, spending the day in burrows. They also burrow to escape predators, being unable to completely roll into a protective ball. Giant armadillos use their large front claws to dig for prey and rip open termite mounds. The diet is mainly composed of termites, although ants, worms, spiders, and other invertebrates are also eaten. Little is currently known about this species reproductive biology, and no juveniles have ever been discovered in the field. It is found east of the Andes in South America, from northern Venezuela and the Guianas, to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and inhabits undisturbed forests near water sources, but may also be found in nearby grasslands and bushlands. Hunted throughout its range, a single giant armadillo supplies a great deal of meat, and is the primary source of protein for some indigenous peoples. In addition, live giant armadillos are frequently captured for trade on the black market, and invariably die during transportation or in captivity. Despite this species’ wide range, it is locally rare, and is likely to be significantly impacted by the exploitation that is occurring. This is further exacerbated by habitat loss resulting from deforestation. Current estimates indicate that the giant armadillo may have undergone a worrying population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past three decades. Without intervention, this trend is likely to continue. http://i.imgur.com/SO2P0Fd.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/rkVlps2.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/JzmTMDy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2UKdFuk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/myOqQ2W.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mFstoUK.png http://www.iucnredli...details/18144/0 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 16 October 2016Sunday Giant Armadillo Armadillos are one of the oldest groups of mammals and have a quirky appearance, possessing a tough shell composed of bony plates in the dermis covered by horny scales. The giant armadillo is the largest living species of this group. Giant armadillos have not been extensively studied in the wild and therefore little is known about their natural ecology and behaviour. Giant armadillos are fairly solitary and nocturnal, spending the day in burrows. They also burrow to escape predators, being unable to completely roll into a protective ball. Giant armadillos use their large front claws to dig for prey and rip open termite mounds. The diet is mainly composed of termites, although ants, worms, spiders, and other invertebrates are also eaten. Little is currently known about this species reproductive biology, and no juveniles have ever been discovered in the field. It is found east of the Andes in South America, from northern Venezuela and the Guianas, to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and inhabits undisturbed forests near water sources, but may also be found in nearby grasslands and bushlands. Hunted throughout its range, a single giant armadillo supplies a great deal of meat, and is the primary source of protein for some indigenous peoples. In addition, live giant armadillos are frequently captured for trade on the black market, and invariably die during transportation or in captivity. Despite this species’ wide range, it is locally rare, and is likely to be significantly impacted by the exploitation that is occurring. This is further exacerbated by habitat loss resulting from deforestation. Current estimates indicate that the giant armadillo may have undergone a worrying population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past three decades. Without intervention, this trend is likely to continue. http://i.imgur.com/SO2P0Fd.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/rkVlps2.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/JzmTMDy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2UKdFuk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/myOqQ2W.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mFstoUK.png http://www.iucnredli...details/18144/0 What a big creature! :o Shame they're being hunted... the way they're going, poor things will probably be extinct in about 15 years.... :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 What a big creature! :o Shame they're being hunted... the way they're going, poor things will probably be extinct in about 15 years.... :( I have a sinking feeling this one became dinner: http://youtu.be/IRjXMoUiEO4 :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 What a big creature! :o Shame they're being hunted... the way they're going, poor things will probably be extinct in about 15 years.... :( I have a sinking feeling this one became dinner: http://youtu.be/IRjXMoUiEO4 :| I don't dare look....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 19 October 2016Wednesday Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii) This rare and secretive mammal, found only in Madagascar, has caused taxonomists problems for many years. While the falanouc is a carnivore, and in appearance resembles a mongoose, its conical teeth so strongly resemble those of insectivores it was once classed as one. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the falanouc has a stocky body with a small, delicate head, large ears and elongated snout. Its fur is soft and dense and the longer hairs on the fat, cylindrical tail give it a rather bushy appearance. Two subspecies of the falanouc are recognised; the eastern falanouc (Eupleres goudotii goudotti) has light brown or fawn upperparts with russet spots and tinges around the thighs and pale grey-brown underparts. The western falanouc (Eupleres goudotii major), which may be 25 to 50 percent larger, has grey to rufous brown upperparts, with greyer fur on the head and tail. The shy, secretive falanouc is a nocturnal and crepuscular animal that is mainly solitary, although small groups have also been observed. They defend large territories, marking the area with scents secreted from glands around the anus and neck. Probably Madagascar’s most specialised carnivore, the falanouc feeds almost exclusively on earthworms and other small invertebrates. Its elongated snout and tiny conical teeth are well adapted to foraging in leaf litter for this specialised diet, and its muscular forepaws and long claws enable it to easily dig up their invertebrate prey. After a night feeding, the falanouc spends the daylight hours sleeping under logs or in rock crevices. In July and August, courtship and mating takes place, resulting in females giving birth to a litter of one or two offspring after a three month gestation period. The young are exceptionally well-developed and are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and weighing around 150 grams. At just two days old, the young are able to follow their mother as she searches for food, and at nine weeks the young are weaned. The eastern falanouc inhabits the dense, humid rainforests of eastern Madagascar, while the western falanouc is found in undisturbed areas of dry, deciduous forest found in the west. Falanouc have also been recorded in marshes. The species is widespread in remaining suitable habitat, although rare throughout its range, with a population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Major threats include deforestation and draining of marshlands, excessive hunting, and predation and competition from introduced animals. http://i.imgur.com/zvXo3pe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Kp7ECxL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/20BQ7rz.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/EHIe2nB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pLHiOkM.png RARE CARNIVORE SPOTTED IN MADAGASCAR IUCN: Eastern Falanouc IUCN: Western Falanouc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 19 October 2016Wednesday Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii) This rare and secretive mammal, found only in Madagascar, has caused taxonomists problems for many years. While the falanouc is a carnivore, and in appearance resembles a mongoose, its conical teeth so strongly resemble those of insectivores it was once classed as one. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the falanouc has a stocky body with a small, delicate head, large ears and elongated snout. Its fur is soft and dense and the longer hairs on the fat, cylindrical tail give it a rather bushy appearance. Two subspecies of the falanouc are recognised; the eastern falanouc (Eupleres goudotii goudotti) has light brown or fawn upperparts with russet spots and tinges around the thighs and pale grey-brown underparts. The western falanouc (Eupleres goudotii major), which may be 25 to 50 percent larger, has grey to rufous brown upperparts, with greyer fur on the head and tail. The shy, secretive falanouc is a nocturnal and crepuscular animal that is mainly solitary, although small groups have also been observed. They defend large territories, marking the area with scents secreted from glands around the anus and neck. Probably Madagascar’s most specialised carnivore, the falanouc feeds almost exclusively on earthworms and other small invertebrates. Its elongated snout and tiny conical teeth are well adapted to foraging in leaf litter for this specialised diet, and its muscular forepaws and long claws enable it to easily dig up their invertebrate prey. After a night feeding, the falanouc spends the daylight hours sleeping under logs or in rock crevices. In July and August, courtship and mating takes place, resulting in females giving birth to a litter of one or two offspring after a three month gestation period. The young are exceptionally well-developed and are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and weighing around 150 grams. At just two days old, the young are able to follow their mother as she searches for food, and at nine weeks the young are weaned. The eastern falanouc inhabits the dense, humid rainforests of eastern Madagascar, while the western falanouc is found in undisturbed areas of dry, deciduous forest found in the west. Falanouc have also been recorded in marshes. The species is widespread in remaining suitable habitat, although rare throughout its range, with a population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Major threats include deforestation and draining of marshlands, excessive hunting, and predation and competition from introduced animals. http://i.imgur.com/zvXo3pe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Kp7ECxL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/20BQ7rz.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/EHIe2nB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pLHiOkM.png RARE CARNIVORE SPOTTED IN MADAGASCAR IUCN: Eastern Falanouc IUCN: Western Falanouc What an unusual but fascinating creature! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 (edited) 19 October 2016Wednesday Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii) This rare and secretive mammal, found only in Madagascar, has caused taxonomists problems for many years. While the falanouc is a carnivore, and in appearance resembles a mongoose, its conical teeth so strongly resemble those of insectivores it was once classed as one. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the falanouc has a stocky body with a small, delicate head, large ears and elongated snout. Its fur is soft and dense and the longer hairs on the fat, cylindrical tail give it a rather bushy appearance. Two subspecies of the falanouc are recognised; the eastern falanouc (Eupleres goudotii goudotti) has light brown or fawn upperparts with russet spots and tinges around the thighs and pale grey-brown underparts. The western falanouc (Eupleres goudotii major), which may be 25 to 50 percent larger, has grey to rufous brown upperparts, with greyer fur on the head and tail. The shy, secretive falanouc is a nocturnal and crepuscular animal that is mainly solitary, although small groups have also been observed. They defend large territories, marking the area with scents secreted from glands around the anus and neck. Probably Madagascar’s most specialised carnivore, the falanouc feeds almost exclusively on earthworms and other small invertebrates. Its elongated snout and tiny conical teeth are well adapted to foraging in leaf litter for this specialised diet, and its muscular forepaws and long claws enable it to easily dig up their invertebrate prey. After a night feeding, the falanouc spends the daylight hours sleeping under logs or in rock crevices. In July and August, courtship and mating takes place, resulting in females giving birth to a litter of one or two offspring after a three month gestation period. The young are exceptionally well-developed and are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and weighing around 150 grams. At just two days old, the young are able to follow their mother as she searches for food, and at nine weeks the young are weaned. The eastern falanouc inhabits the dense, humid rainforests of eastern Madagascar, while the western falanouc is found in undisturbed areas of dry, deciduous forest found in the west. Falanouc have also been recorded in marshes. The species is widespread in remaining suitable habitat, although rare throughout its range, with a population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Major threats include deforestation and draining of marshlands, excessive hunting, and predation and competition from introduced animals. http://i.imgur.com/zvXo3pe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Kp7ECxL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/20BQ7rz.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/EHIe2nB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pLHiOkM.png RARE CARNIVORE SPOTTED IN MADAGASCAR IUCN: Eastern Falanouc IUCN: Western Falanouc What an unusual but fascinating creature! :) Definitely unusual with the small, pointy head and large, bushy tail! Edited October 18, 2016 by x1yyz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 20 October 2016Thursday Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) Lophophora williamsii is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. It usually appears as a single head, but may also have numerous ribs, which are covered in clusters of fine hairs. The root is carrot shaped and grows up to 11 cm in length. The flowers are light pink and develop from the middle of the head, growing to a diameter of 2.2 cm. Peyote flowers from March to September. The fruit is a pink berry that contains black seeds which are 1 to 1.5 mm in length. Peyote is native to Mexico and southwestern Texas. It is found primarily in the Chihuahuan Desert and in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí among scrub, especially where there is limestone. Known for its psychoactive properties when ingested, peyote is used worldwide as an entheogen and supplement to various transcendence practices, including meditation, psychonautics, and psychedelic psychotherapy. Peyote has a long history of ritualistic and medicinal use by indigenous Americans. In Texas, peyote buttons have been found in areas that contain archaeological artifacts that are up to six thousand years old. In northern Mexico, remains of peyote have been found that have been dated to about 2500 to 3000 BC. A cave burial area from 810-1070 AD contained peyote samples that still contained active alkaloids. This indicates that peyote was likely being used in Mexico and Texas during the prehistoric era. Peyote buttons are the head of the cactus, cut off from the root. The buttons can be consumed fresh, dried, or decocted in water. The flavor of the cactus is extremely bitter. A dose of between four and thirty buttons may be ingested, depending on the individual and the ritual, but strong psychedelic effects only begin at amounts of 200 to 500mg of mescaline. Mescaline content varies from plant to plant, but 27g of dried plant material seems to correspond to 300mg of mescaline. Dried peyote may also be smoked, and peyote powder is sometimes added to alcoholic beverages. Peyote is illegal in America and much of the world, but in 1995 it was made legal for ritual use by members of the Native American Church. Unfortunately, due to increasing popularity of peyote, it has been over-gathered and is now endangered in the wild. http://i.imgur.com/iFjMWfG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mXxuhEZ.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/rH3Uqla.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JF0OzC1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9qaJWof.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jGYcz4v.jpg Range in Texas: http://i.imgur.com/PBHFLUo.jpg?1 Peyote Box used by Native Americans: http://i.imgur.com/s3Kqph2.jpg PEYOTE BOXES OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 20 October 2016Thursday Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) Lophophora williamsii is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. It usually appears as a single head, but may also have numerous ribs, which are covered in clusters of fine hairs. The root is carrot shaped and grows up to 11 cm in length. The flowers are light pink and develop from the middle of the head, growing to a diameter of 2.2 cm. Peyote flowers from March to September. The fruit is a pink berry that contains black seeds which are 1 to 1.5 mm in length. Peyote is native to Mexico and southwestern Texas. It is found primarily in the Chihuahuan Desert and in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí among scrub, especially where there is limestone. Known for its psychoactive properties when ingested, peyote is used worldwide as an entheogen and supplement to various transcendence practices, including meditation, psychonautics, and psychedelic psychotherapy. Peyote has a long history of ritualistic and medicinal use by indigenous Americans. In Texas, peyote buttons have been found in areas that contain archaeological artifacts that are up to six thousand years old. In northern Mexico, remains of peyote have been found that have been dated to about 2500 to 3000 BC. A cave burial area from 810-1070 AD contained peyote samples that still contained active alkaloids. This indicates that peyote was likely being used in Mexico and Texas during the prehistoric era. Peyote buttons are the head of the cactus, cut off from the root. The buttons can be consumed fresh, dried, or decocted in water. The flavor of the cactus is extremely bitter. A dose of between four and thirty buttons may be ingested, depending on the individual and the ritual, but strong psychedelic effects only begin at amounts of 200 to 500mg of mescaline. Mescaline content varies from plant to plant, but 27g of dried plant material seems to correspond to 300mg of mescaline. Dried peyote may also be smoked, and peyote powder is sometimes added to alcoholic beverages. Peyote is illegal in America and much of the world, but in 1995 it was made legal for ritual use by members of the Native American Church. Unfortunately, due to increasing popularity of peyote, it has been over-gathered and is now endangered in the wild. http://i.imgur.com/iFjMWfG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mXxuhEZ.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/rH3Uqla.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JF0OzC1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9qaJWof.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jGYcz4v.jpg Range in Texas: http://i.imgur.com/PBHFLUo.jpg?1 Peyote Box used by Native Americans: http://i.imgur.com/s3Kqph2.jpg PEYOTE BOXES OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH I've heard of peyote but never seen it before. Interesting looking plant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 20 October 2016Thursday Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) Lophophora williamsii is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. It usually appears as a single head, but may also have numerous ribs, which are covered in clusters of fine hairs. The root is carrot shaped and grows up to 11 cm in length. The flowers are light pink and develop from the middle of the head, growing to a diameter of 2.2 cm. Peyote flowers from March to September. The fruit is a pink berry that contains black seeds which are 1 to 1.5 mm in length. Peyote is native to Mexico and southwestern Texas. It is found primarily in the Chihuahuan Desert and in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí among scrub, especially where there is limestone. Known for its psychoactive properties when ingested, peyote is used worldwide as an entheogen and supplement to various transcendence practices, including meditation, psychonautics, and psychedelic psychotherapy. Peyote has a long history of ritualistic and medicinal use by indigenous Americans. In Texas, peyote buttons have been found in areas that contain archaeological artifacts that are up to six thousand years old. In northern Mexico, remains of peyote have been found that have been dated to about 2500 to 3000 BC. A cave burial area from 810-1070 AD contained peyote samples that still contained active alkaloids. This indicates that peyote was likely being used in Mexico and Texas during the prehistoric era. Peyote buttons are the head of the cactus, cut off from the root. The buttons can be consumed fresh, dried, or decocted in water. The flavor of the cactus is extremely bitter. A dose of between four and thirty buttons may be ingested, depending on the individual and the ritual, but strong psychedelic effects only begin at amounts of 200 to 500mg of mescaline. Mescaline content varies from plant to plant, but 27g of dried plant material seems to correspond to 300mg of mescaline. Dried peyote may also be smoked, and peyote powder is sometimes added to alcoholic beverages. Peyote is illegal in America and much of the world, but in 1995 it was made legal for ritual use by members of the Native American Church. Unfortunately, due to increasing popularity of peyote, it has been over-gathered and is now endangered in the wild. http://i.imgur.com/iFjMWfG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mXxuhEZ.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/rH3Uqla.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JF0OzC1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9qaJWof.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jGYcz4v.jpg Range in Texas: http://i.imgur.com/PBHFLUo.jpg?1 Peyote Box used by Native Americans: http://i.imgur.com/s3Kqph2.jpg PEYOTE BOXES OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH Fascinating plant and pretty flowers. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 21 October 2016Friday Great Curassow The great curassow (Crax rubra) is so named for its conspicuous size of almost a metre tall. This striking species is instantly recognisable by the tousled crest of forward-curling feathers that adorn the length of its crown, and its vivid yellow bill with a bulbous yellow knob at the base that swells and brightens at the height of the breeding season. The plumage is predominantly black, faintly glossed with a deep lustrous blue or purple glow, while the belly and under-tail coverts are a contrasting snowy white. Females vary in colour, ranging from black to chestnut-brown, sometimes with black and white barring on their breast, head, wings, and tail, while the belly and vent are white to a tawny-buff. Females can also be distinguished from males by their conspicuous lack of the distinctive yellow bill-knob. This large forest bird spends much of its time stalking about on the forest floor in search of fallen fruits, berries and seeds, as well as large insects and the occasional small animal. The great curassow is monogamous and travels in pairs or in small groups, with the male curassow leading his family and uttering a high-pitched whining whistle when there are signs of danger. At other times the group communicate by low-pitched grunting sounds. When disturbed, this shy and cautious bird often runs rather than flies away, but will also seek protection up in the trees. The great curassow builds its nest of leaves and twigs in forks and depressions in trees, into which the female lays two eggs between March and May. Once hatched, the chicks develop rapidly and are capable of flight at around 20 days, after which they soon leave the nest. It is distributed from eastern Mexico south through Central America to western Colombia and western Ecuador; it is found in undisturbed humid evergreen forest and mangroves, and also seasonally dry forest in some areas, at low to medium elevations. http://i.imgur.com/cDNr9mh.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Y01uUhT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eqpfntL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jv6zugK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DPt8IlU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/myNmGao.jpg Female: http://i.imgur.com/J5n3jiN.jpg?1 Chick: http://i.imgur.com/czZ9h6a.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ejIO13F.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pevtJJj.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/3JVMwFE.jpg?1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 21 October 2016Friday Great Curassow The great curassow (Crax rubra) is so named for its conspicuous size of almost a metre tall. This striking species is instantly recognisable by the tousled crest of forward-curling feathers that adorn the length of its crown, and its vivid yellow bill with a bulbous yellow knob at the base that swells and brightens at the height of the breeding season. The plumage is predominantly black, faintly glossed with a deep lustrous blue or purple glow, while the belly and under-tail coverts are a contrasting snowy white. Females vary in colour, ranging from black to chestnut-brown, sometimes with black and white barring on their breast, head, wings, and tail, while the belly and vent are white to a tawny-buff. Females can also be distinguished from males by their conspicuous lack of the distinctive yellow bill-knob. This large forest bird spends much of its time stalking about on the forest floor in search of fallen fruits, berries and seeds, as well as large insects and the occasional small animal. The great curassow is monogamous and travels in pairs or in small groups, with the male curassow leading his family and uttering a high-pitched whining whistle when there are signs of danger. At other times the group communicate by low-pitched grunting sounds. When disturbed, this shy and cautious bird often runs rather than flies away, but will also seek protection up in the trees. The great curassow builds its nest of leaves and twigs in forks and depressions in trees, into which the female lays two eggs between March and May. Once hatched, the chicks develop rapidly and are capable of flight at around 20 days, after which they soon leave the nest. It is distributed from eastern Mexico south through Central America to western Colombia and western Ecuador; it is found in undisturbed humid evergreen forest and mangroves, and also seasonally dry forest in some areas, at low to medium elevations. http://i.imgur.com/cDNr9mh.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Y01uUhT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eqpfntL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jv6zugK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DPt8IlU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/myNmGao.jpg Female: http://i.imgur.com/J5n3jiN.jpg?1 Chick: http://i.imgur.com/czZ9h6a.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ejIO13F.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pevtJJj.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/3JVMwFE.jpg?1 Lovely looking birds, love the crest on the male bird, pretty female, and cute chick! :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 21 October 2016Friday Great Curassow The great curassow (Crax rubra) is so named for its conspicuous size of almost a metre tall. This striking species is instantly recognisable by the tousled crest of forward-curling feathers that adorn the length of its crown, and its vivid yellow bill with a bulbous yellow knob at the base that swells and brightens at the height of the breeding season. The plumage is predominantly black, faintly glossed with a deep lustrous blue or purple glow, while the belly and under-tail coverts are a contrasting snowy white. Females vary in colour, ranging from black to chestnut-brown, sometimes with black and white barring on their breast, head, wings, and tail, while the belly and vent are white to a tawny-buff. Females can also be distinguished from males by their conspicuous lack of the distinctive yellow bill-knob. This large forest bird spends much of its time stalking about on the forest floor in search of fallen fruits, berries and seeds, as well as large insects and the occasional small animal. The great curassow is monogamous and travels in pairs or in small groups, with the male curassow leading his family and uttering a high-pitched whining whistle when there are signs of danger. At other times the group communicate by low-pitched grunting sounds. When disturbed, this shy and cautious bird often runs rather than flies away, but will also seek protection up in the trees. The great curassow builds its nest of leaves and twigs in forks and depressions in trees, into which the female lays two eggs between March and May. Once hatched, the chicks develop rapidly and are capable of flight at around 20 days, after which they soon leave the nest. It is distributed from eastern Mexico south through Central America to western Colombia and western Ecuador; it is found in undisturbed humid evergreen forest and mangroves, and also seasonally dry forest in some areas, at low to medium elevations. http://i.imgur.com/cDNr9mh.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Y01uUhT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eqpfntL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jv6zugK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DPt8IlU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/myNmGao.jpg Female: http://i.imgur.com/J5n3jiN.jpg?1 Chick: http://i.imgur.com/czZ9h6a.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ejIO13F.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pevtJJj.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/3JVMwFE.jpg?1 I had heard of curassows but never knew they were so big! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 The great curassow (Crax rubra) is so named for its conspicuous size of almost a metre tall. I had heard of curassows but never knew they were so big! They don't appear that tall in those photos, at least not to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 22 October 2016Saturday Bush Dog The bush dog is a rare, little known and unusual canid. It has a rather squat body and is said to look more like a mustelid (the family of badgers and otters) than a member of the dog family. It is adapted to a semi-aquatic life amongst the forest, and has short legs, a short, bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and ears, and webbed feet. The evolutionary relationships of this unusual canid have yet to be resolved, but research has shown that it is likely to have diverged from the sister-taxon group of maned wolves (Chrysodon) three million years ago. Very little is known of the behaviour of this elusive and rare species, as it has proven very difficult to find and observe in the wild. Much of what is known of this species is the result of study of captive populations and anecdotal reports of observations in the wild. The bush dog tends to be active in the day, and is associated with water, with most observations of wild individuals being close to or in water courses. At night they retire to a den, which may be an abandoned armadillo nest or inside a fallen tree trunk. Bush dogs live in social groups of up to 12 members. They are most often seen hunting in parties of at least two individuals, typically for large rodents including paca and agouti. In more open areas, however, it seems that bush dogs hunt alone and take small rodents, teju lizards, snakes and ground-nesting birds. There are reports that by hunting in packs, bush dogs are able to tackle prey much larger than themselves, including capybara. Bush dogs live in extended family groups. One alpha female produces offspring; the oestrus cycle is suppressed in other females of the group. Gestation takes up to 67 days, after which a litter of one to six pups is produced, though the average litter size is 3 pups. The pups are suckled by their mother for around eight weeks. Non-breeding members of the group guard, carry and clean the pups and males bring food to the female in the den. The young reach sexual maturity at one year of age. Average life-span is thought to be around ten years. The bush dog is rare throughout its range, and is found from Panama and northern South America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina, and west to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZfHzhzE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/P5UtKxN.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/tsQMu7u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KWDVg2H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nP2vbkz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VREmN9y.png http://i.imgur.com/rlyy88O.png THE ELUSIVE BUSH DOG 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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