HomesickAlien Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 30 July 2014Wednesday Aardvark Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." A glimpse of the aardvark's body and long snout brings the pig to mind. On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals. Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites. While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests. Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings. http://i.imgur.com/u1h7uZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KLOS3hW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xn33CzK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLoEoeV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pdfPFav.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Sfccqxz.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 30 July 2014Wednesday Aardvark Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." A glimpse of the aardvark's body and long snout brings the pig to mind. On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals. Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites. While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests. Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings. http://i.imgur.com/u1h7uZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KLOS3hW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xn33CzK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLoEoeV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pdfPFav.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Sfccqxz.jpg Cool! Aardvarks always remind me of my childhood (in a way) because an Aardvark puppet used to present children's television 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) 30 July 2014Wednesday Aardvark Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." A glimpse of the aardvark's body and long snout brings the pig to mind. On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals. Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites. While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests. Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings. http://i.imgur.com/u1h7uZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KLOS3hW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xn33CzK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLoEoeV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pdfPFav.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Sfccqxz.jpg Cool! Aardvarks always remind me of my childhood (in a way) because an Aardvark puppet used to present children's television Was it Otis the Aardvark? I have no idea. I just googled "uk television aardvark". Edited July 31, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 30 July 2014Wednesday Aardvark Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." A glimpse of the aardvark's body and long snout brings the pig to mind. On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals. Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites. While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests. Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings. http://i.imgur.com/u1h7uZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KLOS3hW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xn33CzK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLoEoeV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pdfPFav.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Sfccqxz.jpg Cool! Aardvarks always remind me of my childhood (in a way) because an Aardvark puppet used to present children's television Was it Otis the Aardvark? I have no idea. I just googled "uk television aardvark". Yeah! That's the one :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 31 July 2014Thursday Spectacled Bear The diminutive spectacled bear makes its home in the dense Andean jungles of South America, and it has the distinction of being the continent’s only bear. Spectacled bears, also called Andean bears, are among the smallest members of the family Ursidae. Males, which are significantly larger than females, grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and weigh up to 340 pounds (154 kilograms). Females rarely weigh more than 180 pounds (82 kilograms). Intensely shy bears, they prefer the lush, isolated cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes, climbing as high as 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). They will descend to search for food though, and have been seen in widely differing habitats, from rain forests, to steppe lands, to coastal deserts. Spectacled bears are generally nocturnal and are primarily vegetarian, harvesting fruit, berries, cacti, and honey. Highly agile climbers, they have been known to sit in a tree for days on a platform made of broken branches, waiting for fruit to ripen. They have extremely strong jaws and wide, flat molars to chew tough vegetation such as tree bark and orchid bulbs. Occasionally they will supplement their diet with meat, taking small rodents, birds, insects, and even small cows, making them the largest carnivores in South America. Population data are sketchy, but some estimates suggest fewer than 3,000 spectacled bears may remain in the wild today. Their numbers suffer primarily from destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. Poachers also hunt them for their meat and body parts, and farmers kill them as agricultural pests. They are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. http://i.imgur.com/wAC91Ty.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Tf1ADTG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0VfuINU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FkcFlNu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8MRcFkM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eODjbKY.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 31 July 2014Thursday Spectacled Bear The diminutive spectacled bear makes its home in the dense Andean jungles of South America, and it has the distinction of being the continent’s only bear. Spectacled bears, also called Andean bears, are among the smallest members of the family Ursidae. Males, which are significantly larger than females, grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and weigh up to 340 pounds (154 kilograms). Females rarely weigh more than 180 pounds (82 kilograms). Intensely shy bears, they prefer the lush, isolated cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes, climbing as high as 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). They will descend to search for food though, and have been seen in widely differing habitats, from rain forests, to steppe lands, to coastal deserts. Spectacled bears are generally nocturnal and are primarily vegetarian, harvesting fruit, berries, cacti, and honey. Highly agile climbers, they have been known to sit in a tree for days on a platform made of broken branches, waiting for fruit to ripen. They have extremely strong jaws and wide, flat molars to chew tough vegetation such as tree bark and orchid bulbs. Occasionally they will supplement their diet with meat, taking small rodents, birds, insects, and even small cows, making them the largest carnivores in South America. Population data are sketchy, but some estimates suggest fewer than 3,000 spectacled bears may remain in the wild today. Their numbers suffer primarily from destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. Poachers also hunt them for their meat and body parts, and farmers kill them as agricultural pests. They are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. http://i.imgur.com/wAC91Ty.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Tf1ADTG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0VfuINU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FkcFlNu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8MRcFkM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eODjbKY.jpgGreat facial patterning :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 01 August 2014Friday Opossum There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States. http://i.imgur.com/ZDjE7BE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TyH4Oa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sISFDnv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ml01JWH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3qJHcI6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2wBjUxY.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 30 July 2014Wednesday Aardvark Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." A glimpse of the aardvark's body and long snout brings the pig to mind. On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals. Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites. While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests. Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings. http://i.imgur.com/u1h7uZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KLOS3hW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xn33CzK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLoEoeV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pdfPFav.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Sfccqxz.jpg That's cool! Also the only other aardvark I remember seeing is the animation with the ant and this aardvark, and the aardvark's trunk gets him into a whole heap of trouble. Either that, or I'm getting this the wrong way round and I don't know the difference between an aardvark and an anteater. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 01 August 2014Friday Opossum There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States. http://i.imgur.com/ZDjE7BE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TyH4Oa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sISFDnv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ml01JWH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3qJHcI6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2wBjUxY.jpg Cute. The one carrying all the babies is almost too cute! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 01 August 2014Friday Opossum There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States. http://i.imgur.com/ZDjE7BE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TyH4Oa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sISFDnv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ml01JWH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3qJHcI6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2wBjUxY.jpg That's a cool set of pics! All those babies! So they really do hang upside down (see one of the Ice Age movies) :P And those teeth! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 02 August 2014 Paleontology Saturday Diatryma Diatryma is a genus of large flightless birds that lived from the late Paleocene epoch to the middle Eocene epoch, between about 56 million and 45 million years ago. Fossils of these birds have been found in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. Diatryma was about 6½ feet (2 meters) tall, and had a huge beak with a hooked top, and powerful legs. It is not certain what type of feathers it had, but it is thought that it may have had hair-like feathers similar to modern ostriches. After the extinction of the dinosaurs, large ground-dwelling carnivorous birds, such as Diatryma, filled the role left vacant by the flesh-eating theropod dinosaurs. The gigantic head, short powerful neck, and functionless forelimbs of Diatryma are all reminiscent of a small Tyrannosaurus rex, which suggests that it had a similar lifestyle and diet. Most paleontologists agree that Diatryma was a fierce carnivore preying on the contemporary mammals, especially young, sick and old individuals. It probably hunted in packs or was an ambush hunter; it may not have been particularly agile, since the areas in which it lived were covered with dense forests. http://i.imgur.com/DIG89Sz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OQjolVi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FsuZEDB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUjuRic.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Yz3wV0w.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SR7e2jL.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 02 August 2014 Paleontology Saturday Diatryma Diatryma is a genus of large flightless birds that lived from the late Paleocene epoch to the middle Eocene epoch, between about 56 million and 45 million years ago. Fossils of these birds have been found in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. Diatryma was about 6½ feet (2 meters) tall, and had a huge beak with a hooked top, and powerful legs. It is not certain what type of feathers it had, but it is thought that it may have had hair-like feathers similar to modern ostriches. After the extinction of the dinosaurs, large ground-dwelling carnivorous birds, such as Diatryma, filled the role left vacant by the flesh-eating theropod dinosaurs. The gigantic head, short powerful neck, and functionless forelimbs of Diatryma are all reminiscent of a small Tyrannosaurus rex, which suggests that it had a similar lifestyle and diet. Most paleontologists agree that Diatryma was a fierce carnivore preying on the contemporary mammals, especially young, sick and old individuals. It probably hunted in packs or was an ambush hunter; it may not have been particularly agile, since the areas in which it lived were covered with dense forests. http://i.imgur.com/DIG89Sz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OQjolVi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FsuZEDB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUjuRic.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Yz3wV0w.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SR7e2jL.jpg Wow! That's a big bird...and not like the one from Sesame Street 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 01 August 2014Friday Opossum There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States. http://i.imgur.com/ZDjE7BE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TyH4Oa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sISFDnv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ml01JWH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3qJHcI6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2wBjUxY.jpg covered in babies too cute :) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 02 August 2014 Paleontology Saturday Diatryma Diatryma is a genus of large flightless birds that lived from the late Paleocene epoch to the middle Eocene epoch, between about 56 million and 45 million years ago. Fossils of these birds have been found in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. Diatryma was about 6½ feet (2 meters) tall, and had a huge beak with a hooked top, and powerful legs. It is not certain what type of feathers it had, but it is thought that it may have had hair-like feathers similar to modern ostriches. After the extinction of the dinosaurs, large ground-dwelling carnivorous birds, such as Diatryma, filled the role left vacant by the flesh-eating theropod dinosaurs. The gigantic head, short powerful neck, and functionless forelimbs of Diatryma are all reminiscent of a small Tyrannosaurus rex, which suggests that it had a similar lifestyle and diet. Most paleontologists agree that Diatryma was a fierce carnivore preying on the contemporary mammals, especially young, sick and old individuals. It probably hunted in packs or was an ambush hunter; it may not have been particularly agile, since the areas in which it lived were covered with dense forests. http://i.imgur.com/DIG89Sz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OQjolVi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FsuZEDB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUjuRic.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Yz3wV0w.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SR7e2jL.jpg Oooo...like a bird...that would want to eat me. Did Spielberg kill one of those on safari too? ;) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 01 August 2014Friday Opossum There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States. http://i.imgur.com/ZDjE7BE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TyH4Oa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/sISFDnv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ml01JWH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3qJHcI6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2wBjUxY.jpg That's a cool set of pics! All those babies! So they really do hang upside down (see one of the Ice Age movies) :P And those teeth! :oand they're friendly with cats. :) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 03 August 2014Sunday Moray Eel The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. They are found in both deep and shallow waters in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although moray eels can be found in cooler waters occasionally, they tend to remain in the crevices deep in the ocean rather than venturing into shore. The largest populations of moray eels are found around tropical coral reefs. There are around 200 different species that can range in size from just 10cm long to nearly 2 meters in length. Despite their varying size and colour all moray eels are fairly similar in appearance with an elongated body, slightly flattened towards the tail. Moray eels also have large eyes, and mouths which contain large teeth. The moray eel is a relatively secretive animal, spending much of its time hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. By spending the majority of their time hiding, moray eels are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes. The moray eel is often one of the most dominant predators within its environment, but moray eels are hunted by some other animals including other large fish like grouper and barracuda, as well as humans for food. http://i.imgur.com/ueIsFbE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WOBKaz5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/M7Rq3Dh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FeAt7Lc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cc5mRUh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUr9DTd.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 31 July 2014Thursday Spectacled Bear The diminutive spectacled bear makes its home in the dense Andean jungles of South America, and it has the distinction of being the continent’s only bear. Spectacled bears, also called Andean bears, are among the smallest members of the family Ursidae. Males, which are significantly larger than females, grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and weigh up to 340 pounds (154 kilograms). Females rarely weigh more than 180 pounds (82 kilograms). Intensely shy bears, they prefer the lush, isolated cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes, climbing as high as 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). They will descend to search for food though, and have been seen in widely differing habitats, from rain forests, to steppe lands, to coastal deserts. Spectacled bears are generally nocturnal and are primarily vegetarian, harvesting fruit, berries, cacti, and honey. Highly agile climbers, they have been known to sit in a tree for days on a platform made of broken branches, waiting for fruit to ripen. They have extremely strong jaws and wide, flat molars to chew tough vegetation such as tree bark and orchid bulbs. Occasionally they will supplement their diet with meat, taking small rodents, birds, insects, and even small cows, making them the largest carnivores in South America. Population data are sketchy, but some estimates suggest fewer than 3,000 spectacled bears may remain in the wild today. Their numbers suffer primarily from destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. Poachers also hunt them for their meat and body parts, and farmers kill them as agricultural pests. They are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. http://i.imgur.com/wAC91Ty.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Tf1ADTG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0VfuINU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FkcFlNu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8MRcFkM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eODjbKY.jpg He's certainly beautiful. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 03 August 2014Sunday Moray Eel The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. They are found in both deep and shallow waters in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although moray eels can be found in cooler waters occasionally, they tend to remain in the crevices deep in the ocean rather than venturing into shore. The largest populations of moray eels are found around tropical coral reefs. There are around 200 different species that can range in size from just 10cm long to nearly 2 meters in length. Despite their varying size and colour all moray eels are fairly similar in appearance with an elongated body, slightly flattened towards the tail. Moray eels also have large eyes, and mouths which contain large teeth. The moray eel is a relatively secretive animal, spending much of its time hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. By spending the majority of their time hiding, moray eels are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes. The moray eel is often one of the most dominant predators within its environment, but moray eels are hunted by some other animals including other large fish like grouper and barracuda, as well as humans for food. http://i.imgur.com/ueIsFbE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WOBKaz5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/M7Rq3Dh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FeAt7Lc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cc5mRUh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUr9DTd.jpg What sharp teeth he has! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 02 August 2014 Paleontology Saturday Diatryma Diatryma is a genus of large flightless birds that lived from the late Paleocene epoch to the middle Eocene epoch, between about 56 million and 45 million years ago. Fossils of these birds have been found in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. Diatryma was about 6½ feet (2 meters) tall, and had a huge beak with a hooked top, and powerful legs. It is not certain what type of feathers it had, but it is thought that it may have had hair-like feathers similar to modern ostriches. After the extinction of the dinosaurs, large ground-dwelling carnivorous birds, such as Diatryma, filled the role left vacant by the flesh-eating theropod dinosaurs. The gigantic head, short powerful neck, and functionless forelimbs of Diatryma are all reminiscent of a small Tyrannosaurus rex, which suggests that it had a similar lifestyle and diet. Most paleontologists agree that Diatryma was a fierce carnivore preying on the contemporary mammals, especially young, sick and old individuals. It probably hunted in packs or was an ambush hunter; it may not have been particularly agile, since the areas in which it lived were covered with dense forests. http://i.imgur.com/DIG89Sz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OQjolVi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FsuZEDB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUjuRic.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Yz3wV0w.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SR7e2jL.jpg Quite magnificent! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 29 July 2014Tuesday Hippopotamus Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the "river horse." Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun. Hippos are graceful in water, good swimmers, and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. However, they are often large enough to simply walk or stand on the lake floor, or lie in the shallows. Their eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged. Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against germs. At sunset, hippopotamuses leave the water and travel overland to graze. They may travel 6 miles (10 kilometers) in a night, along single-file pathways, to consume some 80 pounds (35 kilograms) of grass. Considering their enormous size, a hippo's food intake is relatively low. If threatened on land hippos may run for the water—they can match a human's speed for short distances. Hippos once had a broader distribution but now live in eastern central and southern sub-Saharan Africa, where their populations are in decline. http://i.imgur.com/xrVFv14.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tlDRLtw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVeN91x.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2T0QUGN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9exgqA0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DJLbjVv.jpg An amazing creature. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 03 August 2014Sunday Moray Eel The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. They are found in both deep and shallow waters in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although moray eels can be found in cooler waters occasionally, they tend to remain in the crevices deep in the ocean rather than venturing into shore. The largest populations of moray eels are found around tropical coral reefs. There are around 200 different species that can range in size from just 10cm long to nearly 2 meters in length. Despite their varying size and colour all moray eels are fairly similar in appearance with an elongated body, slightly flattened towards the tail. Moray eels also have large eyes, and mouths which contain large teeth. The moray eel is a relatively secretive animal, spending much of its time hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. By spending the majority of their time hiding, moray eels are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes. The moray eel is often one of the most dominant predators within its environment, but moray eels are hunted by some other animals including other large fish like grouper and barracuda, as well as humans for food. http://i.imgur.com/ueIsFbE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WOBKaz5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/M7Rq3Dh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FeAt7Lc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cc5mRUh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUr9DTd.jpgCool! Great colours on the blue and yellow ones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 04 August 2014Monday Hedgehog There are some 15 species of hedgehog in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs have also been introduced into nontraditional ranges such as New Zealand. The hedgehog was named because of its peculiar foraging methods. These animals root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of the small creatures that compose the bulk of their diet—insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As a hedgehog picks its way through the hedges it emits piglike grunts—thus, the hedgehog. Some people consider hedgehogs useful pets because they prey on many common garden pests. While on the hunt, they rely upon their senses of hearing and smell because their eyesight is weak. Hedgehogs have a coat of stiff, sharp spines. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators. They usually sleep in this position during the day and awaken to search for food at night. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates. In deserts, they sleep through heat and drought in a similar process called aestivation. They remain active all year in more temperate locations. http://i.imgur.com/w24icCb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rWOFM0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/e3PsdM7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CtiOuIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/c6sqtUZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b6Vhkzq.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 04 August 2014Monday Hedgehog There are some 15 species of hedgehog in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs have also been introduced into nontraditional ranges such as New Zealand. The hedgehog was named because of its peculiar foraging methods. These animals root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of the small creatures that compose the bulk of their diet—insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As a hedgehog picks its way through the hedges it emits piglike grunts—thus, the hedgehog. Some people consider hedgehogs useful pets because they prey on many common garden pests. While on the hunt, they rely upon their senses of hearing and smell because their eyesight is weak. Hedgehogs have a coat of stiff, sharp spines. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators. They usually sleep in this position during the day and awaken to search for food at night. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates. In deserts, they sleep through heat and drought in a similar process called aestivation. They remain active all year in more temperate locations. http://i.imgur.com/w24icCb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rWOFM0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/e3PsdM7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CtiOuIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/c6sqtUZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b6Vhkzq.jpg marshmallows crazy cute 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 04 August 2014Monday Hedgehog There are some 15 species of hedgehog in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs have also been introduced into nontraditional ranges such as New Zealand. The hedgehog was named because of its peculiar foraging methods. These animals root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of the small creatures that compose the bulk of their diet—insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As a hedgehog picks its way through the hedges it emits piglike grunts—thus, the hedgehog. Some people consider hedgehogs useful pets because they prey on many common garden pests. While on the hunt, they rely upon their senses of hearing and smell because their eyesight is weak. Hedgehogs have a coat of stiff, sharp spines. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators. They usually sleep in this position during the day and awaken to search for food at night. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates. In deserts, they sleep through heat and drought in a similar process called aestivation. They remain active all year in more temperate locations. http://i.imgur.com/w24icCb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rWOFM0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/e3PsdM7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CtiOuIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/c6sqtUZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b6Vhkzq.jpg Very cute. We get a lot of Hedgehogs round where I live 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 05 August 2014Tuesday Pufferfish Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually. http://i.imgur.com/IdqZSuR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IAu1AAl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LR97USf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nlWOrjh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iXLL33a.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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