Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 08 June 2014Sunday Tasmanian Devil http://i.imgur.com/daUrz7S.gif As comical as it is, the familiar Looney Tunes portrayal of a Tasmanian devil as a seething, snarling, insatiable lunatic is, at times, not all that far from the truth. Tasmanian devils have a notoriously cantankerous disposition and will fly into a maniacal rage when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. Early European settlers dubbed it a "devil" after witnessing such displays, which include teeth-baring, lunging, and an array of spine-chilling guttural growls. These famously feisty mammals have a coat of coarse brown or black fur and a stocky profile that gives them the appearance of a baby bear. Most have a white stripe or patch on their chest and light spots on their sides or rear end. They have long front legs and shorter rear legs, giving them a lumbering, piglike gait. The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 30 inches (76 centimeters) in length and weighing up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms), although its size will vary widely depending on its specific range and the availability of food. Its oversize head houses sharp teeth and strong, muscular jaws that can deliver, pound for pound, one of the most powerful bites of any mammal. Devils are solitary and nocturnal, spending their days alone in hollow logs, caves, or burrows, and emerging at night to feed. They use their long whiskers and excellent sense of smell and sight to avoid predators and locate prey and carrion. They'll eat pretty much anything they can get their teeth on, and when they do find food, they are voracious, consuming everything—including hair, organs, and bones. Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now indigenous only to the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculate that their extinction on the mainland is attributable to the introduction of Asian dogs, or dingoes. Efforts in the late 1800s to eradicate Tasmanian devils, which farmers erroneously believed were killing livestock (although they were known to take poultry), were nearly successful. In 1941, the government made devils a protected species, and their numbers have grown steadily since. Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), this rapidly spreading condition is a rare contagious cancer that causes large lumps to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it hard for it to eat. The animal eventually starves to death. Animal health experts are sequestering populations where the disease has not yet appeared and are focusing on captive breeding programs to save the species from extinction. Because of the outbreak, the Australian government has listed Tasmanian devils as vulnerable. http://i.imgur.com/WHQZswz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HfPcPC9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KfiRDEn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CBxuR3a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iiBj6ca.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3zxQNZa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LTaTtpI.jpg Lovely but rare creatures... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 09 June 2014Monday Anemone Stinkhorn The anemone stinkhorn is a common and widespread basidiomycete fungus recognizable for its foul odour of carrion and its sea anemone shape when mature. It is often found growing in gardens, on mulch and grassy areas. Anemone stinkhorns are short-lived and rise from gelatinous, dirty-white egg-like sacs up to 30mm in diameter, which upon maturity produce a sticky spore-bearing substance with a foul smell that attracts flies. The flies ingest and trample the spores, distributing them further afield, providing a means of starting new fungi colonies. The hollow stem of the fruiting body can reach 100mm, or can be ground-hugging. There are between 6 and 9 pairs of 'arms'. This fairly common fungus is widely distributed in Australia from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and eastern Victoria and Tasmania. It is also found across the islands of the Pacific Ocean. From its natural habitat it appears to have travelled to other parts of the world in garden or soil products; it was recorded growing on soil transported from Australia in a glasshouse in Kew Gardens (London) in 1829, and later in California in North America. http://www.realmonst...stinkhorns.html http://i.imgur.com/S4wHaUT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f3CMwdL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGhxdt8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k2p2aPK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NojNQ9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YobATej.jpg Don't get too close to them. http://i.imgur.com/ghW8awo.gif http://i.imgur.com/S9TZAzj.gif :o Has anyone ever got up close, sniffed it and fainted? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 10 June 2014Tuesday OCTOPUSES Octopuses or Octopi? The Octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda. They are invertebrates most closely related to squid and cuttlefish. There are over 200 species of octopuses and they inhabit all of the world's oceans. They prefer shallower waters, especially rocky coasts or coral reefs. Octopuses have no internal bone structure or external shell and so can fit into extremely small cracks and crevices. The only hard part of their bodies is a parrot-like beak located at the bottom of their head, between their eight arms. The octopus is a skilled ambush predator and uses many of its hunting tactics for its own defense. The octopus can squirt a cloud of ink to hide behind, confusing both enemies and prey as to its actual whereabouts. The ink also includes a substance that dulls an attacker's sense of smell. Octopuses prefer to run and hide rather than fight and can shoot concentrated streams of water through their mantle and jet-propel themselves to a quick getaway. They can reach speeds of 25 mph when they do this, but only for very short periods of time. The more preferred way an octopus avoids being eaten is by not being seen. Octopuses have specialized skin cells that change their coloring to perfectly match their surroundings. They can appear to change their skin's texture as well. The octopus is very intelligent. Scientific experiments have proven they can learn and possess both long-term and short-term memory. Octopuses can negotiate mazes, solve puzzles, distinguish between shapes and patterns and imitate observed behavior. They are notoriously clever at escaping containment and fishermen have found octopuses breaking into the crab holds of their boats to get a meal. In deference to their intelligence, some countries require the octopus be anesthetized before scientists can conduct surgery on them. For all their innovation, intelligence and abilities, octopuses don't live very long. The Common Octopus lives about 2 years, the Giant Pacific Octopus may live for 5 years. Scientists believe the octopus is like the salmon and releases an endocrine secretion that genetically programs them for death after mating. The male usually dies a few months after sending spermatophores down one arm onto the female's mantle cavity. The female lives long enough to lay her eggs and protect them through hatching. She does not eat during this time. She spends her days guarding the 40,000 or so eggs (depending on species), gently blowing water currents over them so the developing fetuses get enough oxygen. The female will live long enough to see her young hatch, but as they rise to the upper waters of the sea to start their lives, she will die. http://i.imgur.com/Cx0v1TW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AWnllqk.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YXnyUHL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wjsbNPD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kBVhXNl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IV7Vawf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K1uYwJp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mTpW4ld.jpg I saw one up close - it was amazing. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 The Trapdoor spider: The taxonomy of trapdoor spiders is currently not well understood in the United States and many species of the common genus Ummidia remain undescribed. Ummidia is distributed across the southern United States.Bothriocyrtum californicum is the common trapdoor spider of the Pacific Coast. The strange genus Cyclocosmiaincludes seven species, found in Florida, Eastern Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mexico to Guatemala,China, Thailand and Canada. The discontinuous distribution is indicative of a basal genus that was affected bycontinental drift. http://cdn.gifstache.com/2013/8/23/1419872450_186957996.gif That poor bug got the shock of his life..! Incredible to watch though! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 11 June 2014Wednesday Maned Wolf What’s in a name? For this unique animal, it is a wolf in name only. It is however a canid, and therefore related to the wolf. Maned wolves are more closely related to the forest fox and the bush dog (canid species from South America). Despite this relationship, the maned wolf is the only species in its genus. It has a very different appearance than the wolves we are used to seeing, and more closely resembles a fox than a wolf. The maned wolf is a South American native whose range extends from the Amazon basin rain forest in Brazil to the dry shrub forests of Paraguay and northern Argentina. They inhabit grasslands, savannah, swampy areas and dry shrub forests. They prefer to live in small patches of forest interspersed with open country. The maned wolf also differs from true North American wolves in diet and temperament. These gentle and very timid wolves are solitary by nature. Only during the breeding season would you generally see more than one at a time. The maned wolf is omnivorous, eating a combination of fruits, vegetables and meat. It often preys on small birds, rodents and frogs, and favors fruits such as bananas, apples and avocados. http://i.imgur.com/V4EzSTc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KPfgK1y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oD4Zyip.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wMJb5wW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/q1IZtxr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EbUXDCa.jpg Absolutely gorgeous! And the pic of them in a close-up hug..! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :| Just amazing! :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 13 June 2014Friday Peacock Mantis Shrimp A relative of shrimp and lobsters, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the more interesting species in the animal kingdom. It is multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. This ferocious crustacean has club-like appendages that fold under its body, similar to a praying mantis. The legs act like a spring to attack its prey. What is amazing about this creature is that its clubs strike at 50 miles per hour in milliseconds. One strike is 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. It can punch 50,000 times between molts without damaging its clubs. The punch of a mantis shrimp is so strong that it can break through the shells of its prey and even thick glass. Such power is created by a special, saddlelike hinge-joint in these legs, which acts like a spring. Its large, mobile, compound eyes have sophisticated stereoscopic and color vision. It is able to see ten times more color than human beings, including ultraviolet light. The shrimp use this exceptional eyesight to detect both predators and prey. The Peacock Mantis Shrimp lives in the crevices of coral or rocks on sandy or shelly ocean bottoms. They are very protective of their territory and exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders. http://i.imgur.com/ZW683wz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qKbV3sK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tKHl2DR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/REP9lF1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N8XvN9T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R2hHk6E.jpg That's a cool and colourful looking little fella 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 13 June 2014Friday Peacock Mantis Shrimp A relative of shrimp and lobsters, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the more interesting species in the animal kingdom. It is multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. This ferocious crustacean has club-like appendages that fold under its body, similar to a praying mantis. The legs act like a spring to attack its prey. What is amazing about this creature is that its clubs strike at 50 miles per hour in milliseconds. One strike is 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. It can punch 50,000 times between molts without damaging its clubs. The punch of a mantis shrimp is so strong that it can break through the shells of its prey and even thick glass. Such power is created by a special, saddlelike hinge-joint in these legs, which acts like a spring. Its large, mobile, compound eyes have sophisticated stereoscopic and color vision. It is able to see ten times more color than human beings, including ultraviolet light. The shrimp use this exceptional eyesight to detect both predators and prey. The Peacock Mantis Shrimp lives in the crevices of coral or rocks on sandy or shelly ocean bottoms. They are very protective of their territory and exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders. http://i.imgur.com/ZW683wz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qKbV3sK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tKHl2DR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/REP9lF1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N8XvN9T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R2hHk6E.jpg http://youtu.be/DtNAqK_V-lg Good golly! That's just so colorful! :ebert: :ebert: :ebert: :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 13 June 2014Friday Peacock Mantis Shrimp A relative of shrimp and lobsters, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the more interesting species in the animal kingdom. It is multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. This ferocious crustacean has club-like appendages that fold under its body, similar to a praying mantis. The legs act like a spring to attack its prey. What is amazing about this creature is that its clubs strike at 50 miles per hour in milliseconds. One strike is 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. It can punch 50,000 times between molts without damaging its clubs. The punch of a mantis shrimp is so strong that it can break through the shells of its prey and even thick glass. Such power is created by a special, saddlelike hinge-joint in these legs, which acts like a spring. Its large, mobile, compound eyes have sophisticated stereoscopic and color vision. It is able to see ten times more color than human beings, including ultraviolet light. The shrimp use this exceptional eyesight to detect both predators and prey. The Peacock Mantis Shrimp lives in the crevices of coral or rocks on sandy or shelly ocean bottoms. They are very protective of their territory and exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders. http://i.imgur.com/ZW683wz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qKbV3sK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tKHl2DR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/REP9lF1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N8XvN9T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R2hHk6E.jpg http://youtu.be/DtNAqK_V-lgYes, very colorful and quite beautiful. However, with that set of skills, I'm thankful they are small and underwater and not the size of squirrels and living in the woods. :o 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 13 June 2014Friday Peacock Mantis Shrimp A relative of shrimp and lobsters, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the more interesting species in the animal kingdom. It is multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. This ferocious crustacean has club-like appendages that fold under its body, similar to a praying mantis. The legs act like a spring to attack its prey. What is amazing about this creature is that its clubs strike at 50 miles per hour in milliseconds. One strike is 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. It can punch 50,000 times between molts without damaging its clubs. The punch of a mantis shrimp is so strong that it can break through the shells of its prey and even thick glass. Such power is created by a special, saddlelike hinge-joint in these legs, which acts like a spring. Its large, mobile, compound eyes have sophisticated stereoscopic and color vision. It is able to see ten times more color than human beings, including ultraviolet light. The shrimp use this exceptional eyesight to detect both predators and prey. The Peacock Mantis Shrimp lives in the crevices of coral or rocks on sandy or shelly ocean bottoms. They are very protective of their territory and exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders. http://i.imgur.com/ZW683wz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qKbV3sK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tKHl2DR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/REP9lF1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N8XvN9T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R2hHk6E.jpg http://youtu.be/DtNAqK_V-lgYes, very colorful and quite beautiful. However, with that set of skills, I'm thankful they are small and underwater and not the size of squirrels and living in the woods. :o Imagine a squirrel in those colors - that would be incredible! :D 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 I forgot to include this with yesterday's entry. http://i.imgur.com/vNn85Uf.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 14 June 2014Saturday Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago. Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status. http://i.imgur.com/boSpytB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/stxrRKa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P4xLlHD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PtsooxY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iW9waTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8PcCHZu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dTSQXf6.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 14 June 2014Saturday Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago. Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status. http://i.imgur.com/boSpytB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/stxrRKa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P4xLlHD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PtsooxY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iW9waTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8PcCHZu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dTSQXf6.jpg Amazing! :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 14 June 2014Saturday Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago. Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status. http://i.imgur.com/boSpytB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/stxrRKa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P4xLlHD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PtsooxY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iW9waTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8PcCHZu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dTSQXf6.jpg Amazing! :ebert: Though I've got to add that the situation these poor fellas have found themselves in is rather sad... :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 14 June 2014Saturday Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago. Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status. http://i.imgur.com/boSpytB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/stxrRKa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P4xLlHD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PtsooxY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iW9waTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8PcCHZu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dTSQXf6.jpgScary mean looking (apart from the last one ) but cool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 15 June 2014Sunday Wolverine The wolverine is a powerful animal that resembles a small bear, but is actually the largest member of the weasel family. These tough animals are solitary, and they need a lot of room to roam. Individual wolverines may travel 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a day in search of food. Because of these habitat requirements, wolverines frequent remote boreal forests, taiga, and tundra in the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and North America. Wolverines eat a bit of vegetarian fare, like plants and berries in the summer season, but this does not make up a major part of their diet—they are tenacious predators with a taste for meat. Wolverines easily dispatch smaller prey, such as rabbits and rodents, but may even attack animals many times their size, such as caribou, if the prey appears to be weak or injured. These opportunistic eaters also feed on carrion—the corpses of larger mammals, such as elk, deer, and caribou. Such finds sustain them in winter when other prey may be thinner on the ground, though they have also been known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating mammals. Wolverines sport heavy, attractive fur that once made them a prime trapper's target in North America. Their fur was used to line parkas, though this practice is far less common today and the animals are protected in many areas. http://i.imgur.com/vJwsGYi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d7wLbr5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BTDzpkN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8Dhhpus.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0mwXnru.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5iEKkEB.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 14 June 2014Saturday Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago. Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status. http://i.imgur.com/boSpytB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/stxrRKa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P4xLlHD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PtsooxY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iW9waTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8PcCHZu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dTSQXf6.jpgI like the pictures. He's quite proud of himself... He can stick his tongue out! He can open his mouth very wide! He kills and eats very large things! I imagine he'd also make a very poor house pet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 15 June 2014Sunday Wolverine The wolverine is a powerful animal that resembles a small bear, but is actually the largest member of the weasel family. These tough animals are solitary, and they need a lot of room to roam. Individual wolverines may travel 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a day in search of food. Because of these habitat requirements, wolverines frequent remote boreal forests, taiga, and tundra in the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and North America. Wolverines eat a bit of vegetarian fare, like plants and berries in the summer season, but this does not make up a major part of their diet—they are tenacious predators with a taste for meat. Wolverines easily dispatch smaller prey, such as rabbits and rodents, but may even attack animals many times their size, such as caribou, if the prey appears to be weak or injured. These opportunistic eaters also feed on carrion—the corpses of larger mammals, such as elk, deer, and caribou. Such finds sustain them in winter when other prey may be thinner on the ground, though they have also been known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating mammals. Wolverines sport heavy, attractive fur that once made them a prime trapper's target in North America. Their fur was used to line parkas, though this practice is far less common today and the animals are protected in many areas. http://i.imgur.com/vJwsGYi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d7wLbr5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BTDzpkN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8Dhhpus.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0mwXnru.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5iEKkEB.jpgScary teeth. Beautiful animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I forgot to include this with yesterday's entry. http://i.imgur.com/vNn85Uf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/79kMAGs.png http://i.imgur.com/uQfOUFw.png http://i.imgur.com/PEKkSle.png http://i.imgur.com/NSfQ5sE.png http://i.imgur.com/93bx61E.png http://i.imgur.com/af30dKo.png 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 15 June 2014Sunday Wolverine The wolverine is a powerful animal that resembles a small bear, but is actually the largest member of the weasel family. These tough animals are solitary, and they need a lot of room to roam. Individual wolverines may travel 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a day in search of food. Because of these habitat requirements, wolverines frequent remote boreal forests, taiga, and tundra in the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and North America. Wolverines eat a bit of vegetarian fare, like plants and berries in the summer season, but this does not make up a major part of their diet—they are tenacious predators with a taste for meat. Wolverines easily dispatch smaller prey, such as rabbits and rodents, but may even attack animals many times their size, such as caribou, if the prey appears to be weak or injured. These opportunistic eaters also feed on carrion—the corpses of larger mammals, such as elk, deer, and caribou. Such finds sustain them in winter when other prey may be thinner on the ground, though they have also been known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating mammals. Wolverines sport heavy, attractive fur that once made them a prime trapper's target in North America. Their fur was used to line parkas, though this practice is far less common today and the animals are protected in many areas. http://i.imgur.com/vJwsGYi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d7wLbr5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BTDzpkN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8Dhhpus.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0mwXnru.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5iEKkEB.jpgHe's the best there is at what he does 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 I forgot to include this with yesterday's entry. http://i.imgur.com/vNn85Uf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/79kMAGs.png http://i.imgur.com/uQfOUFw.png http://i.imgur.com/PEKkSle.png http://i.imgur.com/NSfQ5sE.png http://i.imgur.com/93bx61E.png http://i.imgur.com/af30dKo.png :o :7up: :d13: Trying to make my entries look dull? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 16 June 2014Monday Giant Anteater Anteaters are edentate animals—they have no teeth. But their long tongues are more than sufficient to lap up the 35,000 ants and termites they swallow whole each day. The anteater uses its sharp claws to tear an opening into an anthill and put its long snout and efficient tongue to work. But it has to eat quickly, flicking its tongue up to 160 times per minute. Ants fight back with painful stings, so an anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound. Anteaters never destroy a nest, preferring to return and feed again in the future. Anteaters are found in Central and South America, where they prefer tropical forests and grasslands. There are four different species which vary greatly in size. The silky anteater is the size of a squirrel, while the giant anteater can reach 7 feet (2.1 meters) long from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail. Some anteaters, the tamandua and the silky anteater, ply their trade in the trees. They travel from branch to branch in search of tasty insects. Anteaters are not aggressive, but they can be fierce. A cornered anteater will rear up on its hind legs, using its tail for balance, and lash out with dangerous claws. The giant anteater's claws are some four inches (ten centimeters) long, and the animal can fight off even a puma or jaguar. http://i.imgur.com/m8EQH2t.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QDTpkCQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tbdCBl1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/h5enrTd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PqjbRkl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3yNdk1a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rxGzSaf.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I forgot to include this with yesterday's entry. http://i.imgur.com/vNn85Uf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/79kMAGs.png http://i.imgur.com/uQfOUFw.png http://i.imgur.com/PEKkSle.png http://i.imgur.com/NSfQ5sE.png http://i.imgur.com/93bx61E.png http://i.imgur.com/af30dKo.png :o :7up: :d13: Trying to make my entries look dull? No way your entries are dull! It's just that these "pages" have been making the rounds of many metal sites... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 17 June 2014Tuesday This thread needs more colour. . . Toucans There are about 40 different kinds of toucans. They vary in size from about 7 inches to a little over two feet. They have short and thick necks. Toucans are distinguished by large, colorful, yet lightweight bills. The color of the bill may be black, blue, brown, green, red, white, yellow or a combination of colors. The bright colors of the bill help to attract a mate. Toucans also have a narrow, feather-like tongue. They can be noisy birds, with their calls sounding harsh and raspy. Toucans are found in South and Central America in the canopy layer of the rainforest. When they sleep, they turn their heads around and tuck their bills under their wings and tail. As a weapon, the bill is a bit more show than substance. It is a honeycomb of bone that actually contains a lot of air. While its size may deter predators, it is of little use in combating them. But the toucan's bill is useful as a feeding tool. The birds use them to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support their weight, and also to skin their pickings. In addition to fruit, toucans also eat insects and, sometimes, young birds, eggs, or lizards. Toucans live in small flocks of about six birds. Their bright colors actually provide good camouflage in the dappled light of the rain forest canopy. However, the birds commonly keep up a racket of vocalization, which suggests that they are not trying to remain hidden. Toucans nest in tree holes. They usually have two to four eggs each year, which both parents care for. Young toucans do not have a large bill at birth—it grows as they develop and does not become full-sized for several months. These iconic birds are very popular pets, and many are captured to supply demand for this trade. They are also familiar commercial mascots known for hawking stout, cereal, and other products. Indigenous peoples regard the bird with a more sacred eye; they are traditionally seen as conduits between the worlds of the living and the spirits. http://i.imgur.com/CZBIJ1t.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KV6Durb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HybzCW6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YAog5dt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8padAA1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jm9IF2h.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jl0emkv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FIpEm5M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EH9pfLW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jj26CIb.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 17 June 2014Tuesday This thread needs more colour. . . Toucans There are about 40 different kinds of toucans. They vary in size from about 7 inches to a little over two feet. They have short and thick necks. Toucans are distinguished by large, colorful, yet lightweight bills. The color of the bill may be black, blue, brown, green, red, white, yellow or a combination of colors. The bright colors of the bill help to attract a mate. Toucans also have a narrow, feather-like tongue. They can be noisy birds, with their calls sounding harsh and raspy. Toucans are found in South and Central America in the canopy layer of the rainforest. When they sleep, they turn their heads around and tuck their bills under their wings and tail. As a weapon, the bill is a bit more show than substance. It is a honeycomb of bone that actually contains a lot of air. While its size may deter predators, it is of little use in combating them. But the toucan's bill is useful as a feeding tool. The birds use them to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support their weight, and also to skin their pickings. In addition to fruit, toucans also eat insects and, sometimes, young birds, eggs, or lizards. Toucans live in small flocks of about six birds. Their bright colors actually provide good camouflage in the dappled light of the rain forest canopy. However, the birds commonly keep up a racket of vocalization, which suggests that they are not trying to remain hidden. Toucans nest in tree holes. They usually have two to four eggs each year, which both parents care for. Young toucans do not have a large bill at birth—it grows as they develop and does not become full-sized for several months. These iconic birds are very popular pets, and many are captured to supply demand for this trade. They are also familiar commercial mascots known for hawking stout, cereal, and other products. Indigenous peoples regard the bird with a more sacred eye; they are traditionally seen as conduits between the worlds of the living and the spirits. http://i.imgur.com/CZBIJ1t.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KV6Durb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HybzCW6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YAog5dt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8padAA1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jm9IF2h.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jl0emkv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FIpEm5M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EH9pfLW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jj26CIb.jpgOh yeah, Tucans are so cool!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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