Your_Lion Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 23 June 2014Monday Flying Snakes The image of airborne snakes may seem like the stuff of nightmares (or a certain Hollywood movie), but in the jungles of South and Southeast Asia it is reality. Flying snake is a misnomer, since, barring a strong updraft, these animals can’t actually gain altitude. They’re gliders, using the speed of free fall and contortions of their bodies to catch the air and generate lift. There are five recognized species of flying snake, found from western India to the Indonesian archipelago. Knowledge of their behavior in the wild is limited, but they are thought to be highly arboreal, rarely descending from the canopy. The smallest species reach about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length and the largest grow to 4 feet (1.2 meters). Their diets are variable depending on their range, but they are known to eat rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, and bats. They are mildly venomous snakes, but their tiny, fixed rear fangs make them harmless to humans. Scientists don’t know how often or exactly why flying snakes fly, but it’s likely they use their aerobatics to escape predators, to move from tree to tree without having to descend to the forest floor, and possibly even to hunt prey. http://i.imgur.com/8G6s6Dl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yYnNC90.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TUD0a5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YjWTksN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RMLdMMa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XhT7avp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JPtS1BG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9AmjBG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oKlp5H1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eltpa0P.gif Flying Snakes? Awesome! Indiana Jones' worst nightmare 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 nice bugs. suggestion if i may? ignore it as you wish ;) spoiler the images of each post so this thread isn't hell to scroll through / load :o No spoilers yet -maybe Wednesday. The special 100 Days of Flora and Fauna entry is coming up tomorrow, and I don't want the necessity of having to click a lot of spoilers (all the photos won't be grouped together) to ruin the flow of the post. I was going to ask if anyone else was annoyed with all the scrolling, but I see Your_Lion already liked your post. It must be such a nightmare on the index finger. :eyeroll: :P What about excessive load times? I haven't noticed it. Has anyone else? Your_Lion? Babycat? CygnusGal? I'd put them all in the same spoiler per post rather than separate, the idea is to make things more convenient http://images.sodahead.com/polls/000904949/SmilingFrog_answer_2_xlarge.jpeg just loaded up the previous page (on a library computer). it took exactly 6.18 seconds to load, then scrolling down the entire page (using middle click + cursor to the bottom of the browser) caused a little bit of lag and took about 3 seconds... That's nearly 10 seconds just to check the latest post! We need to savior the precious time we have here on a planet earth, not wasting a single moment. Normally, all the photos are grouped together, so placing them all in one spoiler wouldn't be a problem. It's just that tomorrow many of the photos will each be accompanied by commentary, so unless I put almost the entire post in a single spoiler, it will look something like this: pic(s) in spoiler text pic(s) in spoiler text pic(s) in spoiler etc. I'll figure something out. . . nevermind. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Whinging aside, spoilers start Wednesday, if not sooner. I didn't realise loading/scrolling was such a problem. Apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 21 June 2014Saturday Dingoes The dingo is legendary as Australia's wild dog, though it also occurs in Southeast Asia. The Australian animals may be descendents of Asian dingoes that were introduced to the continent some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. These golden or reddish-colored canids may live alone (especially young males) or in packs of up to ten animals. They roam great distances and communicate with wolf-like howls. Dingo hunting is opportunistic. Animals hunt alone or in cooperative packs. They pursue small game such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and lizards. These dogs will eat fruits and plants as well. They also scavenge from humans, particularly in their Asian range. Dingoes breed only once a year. Females typically give birth to about five pups, which are not independent until six to eight months of age. In packs, a dominant breeding female will kill the offspring of other females. Australia is home to so many of these animals that they are generally considered pests. A famous "dingo fence" has been erected to protect grazing lands for the continent's herds of sheep. It is likely that more dingoes live in Australia today than when Europeans first arrived. Though dingoes are numerous, their pure genetic strain is gradually being compromised. They can and do interbreed with domestic dogs to produce hybrid animals. Studies suggest that more than a third of southeastern Australia's dingoes are hybrids. http://i.imgur.com/Tieo7vr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vPulxdz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pr4BF6B.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gfEorTg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QV9iLcK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5AvxUOB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FQ2fV2s.jpg They're lovely! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 22 June 2014Sunday Madagascar Hissing Cockroach This insect looks—and sounds—like anything but a run-of-the-mill roach. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are one of many fascinating animal species to hail from the island of Madagascar. These cockroaches are shiny brown and oval-shaped, with no wings and a single pair of antennae. Males sport large horns, which give them an unusual and impressive appearance. Males use their horns in aggressive encounters reminiscent of battles between horned or antlered mammals. Rivals ram one another with their horns (or abdomens) and during the fight often unleash the amazing hisses that give the animal its name. Winning roaches hiss more than losers, so the sounds may be used to help determine a roach hierarchy. Hissing is also part of the cockroach's mating ritual, and can be used as an effective alarm cry. Most insects that make noise do so by rubbing their body parts together or by employing vibrating membranes. Madagascar hissing cockroaches, however, exhale air through their breathing holes. This audible use of the respiratory system is far more common in vertebrates. Like 99 percent of all cockroach species, Madagascar hissing cockroaches are not pests and do not inhabit human dwellings. These insects live on forest floors, where they hide amidst leaf litter, logs, and other detritus. At night, they become more active and scavenge for meals, feeding primarily on fruit or plant materials. The Madagascar hissing cockroach even begins its life in an unusual manner. Females create a cocoon-like egg case called an ootheca and carry their eggs (and neonatal nymphs) inside their bodies. They then bear living young—as many as 60 nymph roaches. http://i.imgur.com/E1aqUxR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YX4NuF8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/osC41sW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FlZ6k5c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XsYf56t.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DXx0GvP.jpg They can be yours for only $3.00 each. Sweet deal. http://youtu.be/RZ6kZOqKy_0 Crikey - they're big ones! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 nice bugs. suggestion if i may? ignore it as you wish ;) spoiler the images of each post so this thread isn't hell to scroll through / load :o No spoilers yet -maybe Wednesday. The special 100 Days of Flora and Fauna entry is coming up tomorrow, and I don't want the necessity of having to click a lot of spoilers (all the photos won't be grouped together) to ruin the flow of the post. I was going to ask if anyone else was annoyed with all the scrolling, but I see Your_Lion already liked your post. It must be such a nightmare on the index finger. :eyeroll: :P What about excessive load times? I haven't noticed it. Has anyone else? Your_Lion? Babycat? CygnusGal?I was just having trouble on the last couple of pages with a certain Really-long-post...I think I mentioned it on the page before last, for some reason it kept causing my browser to crash before it could finish loading it all...then the page turn happened, and things were fine again...and then the Really-long-post got re-quoted on to that page, and back to browser crashing...other than that, I've had no problemoes Not had any problems on my end of it - no browser crashing. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 23 June 2014Monday Flying Snakes The image of airborne snakes may seem like the stuff of nightmares (or a certain Hollywood movie), but in the jungles of South and Southeast Asia it is reality. Flying snake is a misnomer, since, barring a strong updraft, these animals can’t actually gain altitude. They’re gliders, using the speed of free fall and contortions of their bodies to catch the air and generate lift. There are five recognized species of flying snake, found from western India to the Indonesian archipelago. Knowledge of their behavior in the wild is limited, but they are thought to be highly arboreal, rarely descending from the canopy. The smallest species reach about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length and the largest grow to 4 feet (1.2 meters). Their diets are variable depending on their range, but they are known to eat rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, and bats. They are mildly venomous snakes, but their tiny, fixed rear fangs make them harmless to humans. Scientists don’t know how often or exactly why flying snakes fly, but it’s likely they use their aerobatics to escape predators, to move from tree to tree without having to descend to the forest floor, and possibly even to hunt prey. http://i.imgur.com/8G6s6Dl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yYnNC90.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TUD0a5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YjWTksN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RMLdMMa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XhT7avp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JPtS1BG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9AmjBG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oKlp5H1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eltpa0P.gif Wheeeeeeeeee! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I'll figure something out. . . nevermind. ;) http://youtu.be/uDCQOu_rt9s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 24 June 2014Tuesday THE NOT SO SPECIAL 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA EDITION This was intended to be a "what have we learned / best of" entry, but that was such a ponderous thing to do that I gave up. Just another entry today. Andean Condor Andean condors are massive birds, among the largest in the world that are able to fly. Because they are so heavy (up to 33 pounds/15 kilograms), even their enormous 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan needs some help to keep them aloft. For that reason, these birds prefer to live in windy areas where they can glide on air currents with little effort. Andean condors are found in mountainous regions, as their name suggests, but also live near coasts replete with ocean breezes and even deserts that feature strong thermal air currents. Condors are vultures, so they keep their sharp eyes peeled for the carrion that makes up most of their diet. They prefer to feast on large animals, wild or domestic, and in picking the carcasses, they perform an important function as a natural clean-up crew. Along the coasts, condors will feed on dead marine animals like seals or fish. These birds do not have sharp predator's claws, but they will raid birds' nests for eggs or even young hatchlings. These long-lived birds have survived over 75 years in captivity, but they reproduce slowly. A mating pair produces only a single offspring every other year, and both parents must care for their young for a full year. The Andean condor is considered endangered, but is in far better shape than its California cousin. Perhaps a few thousand South American birds survive, and reintroduction programs are working to supplement that number. http://i.imgur.com/St8ao6i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bc0d6YH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RF5g9zJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/evY4z4k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BU2jB1i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gFXXYxE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TvXLYdD.jpg That last one looks like the world's ugliest chicken. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 24 June 2014Tuesday THE NOT SO SPECIAL 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA EDITION This was intended to be a "what have we learned / best of" entry, but that was such a ponderous thing to do that I gave up. Just another entry today. Andean Condor Andean condors are massive birds, among the largest in the world that are able to fly. Because they are so heavy (up to 33 pounds/15 kilograms), even their enormous 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan needs some help to keep them aloft. For that reason, these birds prefer to live in windy areas where they can glide on air currents with little effort. Andean condors are found in mountainous regions, as their name suggests, but also live near coasts replete with ocean breezes and even deserts that feature strong thermal air currents. Condors are vultures, so they keep their sharp eyes peeled for the carrion that makes up most of their diet. They prefer to feast on large animals, wild or domestic, and in picking the carcasses, they perform an important function as a natural clean-up crew. Along the coasts, condors will feed on dead marine animals like seals or fish. These birds do not have sharp predator's claws, but they will raid birds' nests for eggs or even young hatchlings. These long-lived birds have survived over 75 years in captivity, but they reproduce slowly. A mating pair produces only a single offspring every other year, and both parents must care for their young for a full year. The Andean condor is considered endangered, but is in far better shape than its California cousin. Perhaps a few thousand South American birds survive, and reintroduction programs are working to supplement that number. http://i.imgur.com/St8ao6i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bc0d6YH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RF5g9zJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/evY4z4k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BU2jB1i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gFXXYxE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TvXLYdD.jpg That last one looks like the world's ugliest chicken. *woot!* 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA!!! :ebert: :cheers:That is quite an ugly bird...but I like the facial expression on the first photo. It's like it's saying "Yeah? What're you lookin' at?" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 25 June 2014Wednesday Lionfish Pretty much everything about the venomous lionfish—its red-and-white zebra stripes, long, showy pectoral fins, and generally cantankerous demeanor—says, "Don't touch!" The venom of the lionfish, delivered via an array of up to 18 needle-like dorsal fins, is purely defensive. It relies on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, mainly fish and shrimp. A sting from a lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal. Lionfish, also called turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish, are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific, although they've found their way to warm ocean habitats worldwide. The largest of lionfish can grow to about 15 inches (0.4 meters) in length, but the average is closer to 1 foot (0.3 meters). Lionfish are popular in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the aquarium trade. Their population numbers are healthy and their distribution is growing, causing some concerned in the United States, where some feel the success of this non-indigenous species presents human and environmental dangers. Did you know? A lionfish will often spread its feathery pectoral fins and herd small fish into a confined space where it can more easily swallow them. http://i.imgur.com/gJbNh3h.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IFeg8jl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hXQ0GEv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2q4WEgB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WGkCo7X.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YV9z2tg.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 nice bugs. suggestion if i may? ignore it as you wish ;) spoiler the images of each post so this thread isn't hell to scroll through / load :o No spoilers yet -maybe Wednesday. The special 100 Days of Flora and Fauna entry is coming up tomorrow, and I don't want the necessity of having to click a lot of spoilers (all the photos won't be grouped together) to ruin the flow of the post. I was going to ask if anyone else was annoyed with all the scrolling, but I see Your_Lion already liked your post. It must be such a nightmare on the index finger. :eyeroll: :P What about excessive load times? I haven't noticed it. Has anyone else? Your_Lion? Babycat? CygnusGal?Your current format is fine by me. Fortunately, my thumb is ambulatory. I'm still playing catch up (having been on vacation for a week) but I have no problem scrolling pages of beautiful images. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 24 June 2014Tuesday THE NOT SO SPECIAL 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA EDITION This was intended to be a "what have we learned / best of" entry, but that was such a ponderous thing to do that I gave up. Just another entry today. Andean Condor Andean condors are massive birds, among the largest in the world that are able to fly. Because they are so heavy (up to 33 pounds/15 kilograms), even their enormous 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan needs some help to keep them aloft. For that reason, these birds prefer to live in windy areas where they can glide on air currents with little effort. Andean condors are found in mountainous regions, as their name suggests, but also live near coasts replete with ocean breezes and even deserts that feature strong thermal air currents. Condors are vultures, so they keep their sharp eyes peeled for the carrion that makes up most of their diet. They prefer to feast on large animals, wild or domestic, and in picking the carcasses, they perform an important function as a natural clean-up crew. Along the coasts, condors will feed on dead marine animals like seals or fish. These birds do not have sharp predator's claws, but they will raid birds' nests for eggs or even young hatchlings. These long-lived birds have survived over 75 years in captivity, but they reproduce slowly. A mating pair produces only a single offspring every other year, and both parents must care for their young for a full year. The Andean condor is considered endangered, but is in far better shape than its California cousin. Perhaps a few thousand South American birds survive, and reintroduction programs are working to supplement that number. http://i.imgur.com/St8ao6i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bc0d6YH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RF5g9zJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/evY4z4k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BU2jB1i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gFXXYxE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TvXLYdD.jpg That last one looks like the world's ugliest chicken. *woot!* 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA!!! :ebert: :cheers:That is quite an ugly bird...but I like the facial exp<b></b>ression on the first photo. It's like it's saying "Yeah? What're you lookin' at?"100 days! :yay: A truly herculean effort, SWS. Kudos! I love this thread. Educational material on TRF! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 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.jpgPretty bird. (Who's a pretty bird? You're a pretty bird!) Although, I now have an inexplicable craving for a bowl of Fruit Loops. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 nice bugs. suggestion if i may? ignore it as you wish ;) spoiler the images of each post so this thread isn't hell to scroll through / load :o No spoilers yet -maybe Wednesday. The special 100 Days of Flora and Fauna entry is coming up tomorrow, and I don't want the necessity of having to click a lot of spoilers (all the photos won't be grouped together) to ruin the flow of the post. I was going to ask if anyone else was annoyed with all the scrolling, but I see Your_Lion already liked your post. It must be such a nightmare on the index finger. :eyeroll: :P What about excessive load times? I haven't noticed it. Has anyone else? Your_Lion? Babycat? CygnusGal?Your current format is fine by me. Fortunately, my thumb is ambulatory. I'm still playing catch up (having been on vacation for a week) but I have no problem scrolling pages of beautiful images. :) You're too kind. :) I think I'll alternate between posting pics normally and placing them in spoilers. That way the pages won't look so barren when scrolling through them, and loading times should still be tolerable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 24 June 2014Tuesday THE NOT SO SPECIAL 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA EDITION This was intended to be a "what have we learned / best of" entry, but that was such a ponderous thing to do that I gave up. Just another entry today. Andean Condor Andean condors are massive birds, among the largest in the world that are able to fly. Because they are so heavy (up to 33 pounds/15 kilograms), even their enormous 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan needs some help to keep them aloft. For that reason, these birds prefer to live in windy areas where they can glide on air currents with little effort. Andean condors are found in mountainous regions, as their name suggests, but also live near coasts replete with ocean breezes and even deserts that feature strong thermal air currents. Condors are vultures, so they keep their sharp eyes peeled for the carrion that makes up most of their diet. They prefer to feast on large animals, wild or domestic, and in picking the carcasses, they perform an important function as a natural clean-up crew. Along the coasts, condors will feed on dead marine animals like seals or fish. These birds do not have sharp predator's claws, but they will raid birds' nests for eggs or even young hatchlings. These long-lived birds have survived over 75 years in captivity, but they reproduce slowly. A mating pair produces only a single offspring every other year, and both parents must care for their young for a full year. The Andean condor is considered endangered, but is in far better shape than its California cousin. Perhaps a few thousand South American birds survive, and reintroduction programs are working to supplement that number. http://i.imgur.com/St8ao6i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bc0d6YH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RF5g9zJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/evY4z4k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BU2jB1i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gFXXYxE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TvXLYdD.jpg That last one looks like the world's ugliest chicken. *woot!* 100 DAYS OF FLORA AND FAUNA!!! :ebert: :cheers:That is quite an ugly bird...but I like the facial expression on the first photo. It's like it's saying "Yeah? What're you lookin' at?"100 days! :yay: A truly herculean effort, SWS. Kudos! I love this thread. Educational material on TRF! :) Thanks YL and CG. :hi: :banana: I've learned a few things myself along the way. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 25 June 2014Wednesday Lionfish Pretty much everything about the venomous lionfish—its red-and-white zebra stripes, long, showy pectoral fins, and generally cantankerous demeanor—says, "Don't touch!" The venom of the lionfish, delivered via an array of up to 18 needle-like dorsal fins, is purely defensive. It relies on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, mainly fish and shrimp. A sting from a lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal. Lionfish, also called turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish, are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific, although they've found their way to warm ocean habitats worldwide. The largest of lionfish can grow to about 15 inches (0.4 meters) in length, but the average is closer to 1 foot (0.3 meters). Lionfish are popular in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the aquarium trade. Their population numbers are healthy and their distribution is growing, causing some concerned in the United States, where some feel the success of this non-indigenous species presents human and environmental dangers. Did you know? A lionfish will often spread its feathery pectoral fins and herd small fish into a confined space where it can more easily swallow them. http://i.imgur.com/gJbNh3h.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IFeg8jl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hXQ0GEv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2q4WEgB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WGkCo7X.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YV9z2tg.jpg That's my kind of fish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 26 June 2014Thursday Bobcat Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal, so they are rarely spotted by humans. Although they are seldom seen, they roam throughout much of North America and adapt well to such diverse habitats as forests, swamps, deserts, and even suburban areas. Bobcats, sometimes called wildcats, are roughly twice as big as the average housecat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears similar to those of their larger relative, the Canada lynx. Most bobcats are brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail. The cat is named for its tail, which appears to be cut or "bobbed." Fierce hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves, but usually eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game. The bobcat hunts by stealth, but delivers a deathblow with a leaping pounce that can cover 10 feet (3 meters). Bobcats are solitary animals. Females choose a secluded den to raise a litter of one to six young kittens, which will remain with their mother for 9 to 12 months. During this time they will learn to hunt before setting out on their own. In some areas, bobcats are still trapped for their soft, spotted fur. North American populations are believed to be quite large, with perhaps as many as one million cats in the United States alone. http://i.imgur.com/G0nxmbv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/sHLrINn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MUrFF2a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ze3Fzmz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a76ZHFf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jO7Jeuc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5pBbVdK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cP1aMYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HGpLaSZ.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 26 June 2014Thursday Bobcat Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal, so they are rarely spotted by humans. Although they are seldom seen, they roam throughout much of North America and adapt well to such diverse habitats as forests, swamps, deserts, and even suburban areas. Bobcats, sometimes called wildcats, are roughly twice as big as the average housecat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears similar to those of their larger relative, the Canada lynx. Most bobcats are brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail. The cat is named for its tail, which appears to be cut or "bobbed." Fierce hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves, but usually eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game. The bobcat hunts by stealth, but delivers a deathblow with a leaping pounce that can cover 10 feet (3 meters). Bobcats are solitary animals. Females choose a secluded den to raise a litter of one to six young kittens, which will remain with their mother for 9 to 12 months. During this time they will learn to hunt before setting out on their own. In some areas, bobcats are still trapped for their soft, spotted fur. North American populations are believed to be quite large, with perhaps as many as one million cats in the United States alone. http://i.imgur.com/G0nxmbv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/sHLrINn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MUrFF2a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ze3Fzmz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a76ZHFf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jO7Jeuc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5pBbVdK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cP1aMYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HGpLaSZ.jpg Aw...looks a bit like my cat, only bigger...and not as lazy, I imagine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Bobcat named Bobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 26 June 2014Thursday Bobcat Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal, so they are rarely spotted by humans. Although they are seldom seen, they roam throughout much of North America and adapt well to such diverse habitats as forests, swamps, deserts, and even suburban areas. Bobcats, sometimes called wildcats, are roughly twice as big as the average housecat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears similar to those of their larger relative, the Canada lynx. Most bobcats are brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail. The cat is named for its tail, which appears to be cut or "bobbed." Fierce hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves, but usually eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game. The bobcat hunts by stealth, but delivers a deathblow with a leaping pounce that can cover 10 feet (3 meters). Bobcats are solitary animals. Females choose a secluded den to raise a litter of one to six young kittens, which will remain with their mother for 9 to 12 months. During this time they will learn to hunt before setting out on their own. In some areas, bobcats are still trapped for their soft, spotted fur. North American populations are believed to be quite large, with perhaps as many as one million cats in the United States alone. http://i.imgur.com/G0nxmbv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/sHLrINn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MUrFF2a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ze3Fzmz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a76ZHFf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jO7Jeuc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5pBbVdK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cP1aMYd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HGpLaSZ.jpg Beautiful. The little ones are crazy cute. I think a cat that large would seriously upset the dog's world. YL. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 27 June 2014Friday Armadillos Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. The familiar nine-banded armadillo is the only species that includes the United States in its range. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long (15-centimeter-long), salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long), dark-brown giant armadillos. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring. Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations. Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically, up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occasional carrion meal. Population numbers of nearly all species are threatened by habitat loss and over-hunting. Many cultures in the Americas consume armadillo flesh, which is said to resemble pork in its flavor and texture. Currently, only the nine-band population is expanding, and some species, including the pink fairy, are threatened. http://i.imgur.com/wlEx6RR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nqE6Up6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7fbVt0c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/86gAc66.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d5Y5afN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BPFt707.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/utq0nXO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8WDcfvn.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QENnSfY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZwAG47V.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 27 June 2014Friday Armadillos Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. The familiar nine-banded armadillo is the only species that includes the United States in its range. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long (15-centimeter-long), salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long), dark-brown giant armadillos. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring. Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations. Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically, up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occasional carrion meal. Population numbers of nearly all species are threatened by habitat loss and over-hunting. Many cultures in the Americas consume armadillo flesh, which is said to resemble pork in its flavor and texture. Currently, only the nine-band population is expanding, and some species, including the pink fairy, are threatened. http://i.imgur.com/wlEx6RR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nqE6Up6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7fbVt0c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/86gAc66.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d5Y5afN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BPFt707.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/utq0nXO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8WDcfvn.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QENnSfY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZwAG47V.jpg Funny looking. Never seen a baby one before...they're pretty cute 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 27 June 2014Friday Armadillos Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. The familiar nine-banded armadillo is the only species that includes the United States in its range. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long (15-centimeter-long), salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long), dark-brown giant armadillos. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring. Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations. Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically, up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occasional carrion meal. Population numbers of nearly all species are threatened by habitat loss and over-hunting. Many cultures in the Americas consume armadillo flesh, which is said to resemble pork in its flavor and texture. Currently, only the nine-band population is expanding, and some species, including the pink fairy, are threatened. http://i.imgur.com/wlEx6RR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nqE6Up6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7fbVt0c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/86gAc66.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/d5Y5afN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BPFt707.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/utq0nXO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8WDcfvn.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QENnSfY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZwAG47V.jpg Fascinating creatures and kinda funny lookin'. I've only seen them roadside. :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 28 June 2014Saturday Frilled Lizard Undoubtedly, one of the quirkiest sights in nature is the gangly retreat of an Australian frilled lizard. When this unique creature feels threatened, it rises on its hind legs, opens its yellow-colored mouth, unfurls the colorful, pleated skin flap that encircles its head, and hisses. If an attacker is unintimidated by these antics, the lizard simply turns tail, mouth and frill open, and bolts, legs splaying left and right. It continues its deliberate run without stopping or looking back until it reaches the safety of a tree. Frilled lizards, or "frillnecks," are members of the dragon lizard family that live in the tropical and warm temperate forests and savanna woodlands of northern Australia. They spend most of their lives in the trees, but descend occasionally to feed on ants and small lizards. Other menu items include spiders, cicadas, termites, and small mammals. They vary in color and size from region to region. On average, the larger adults reach about 3 feet (0.9 meters) from head to tail and weigh up to 1.1 pounds (0.5 kilograms). Their main predators are birds of prey, larger lizards, snakes, dingoes and feral cats. They are currently not threatened or protected, but habitat reduction and predation in some areas, particularly by feral cats, is affecting their populations. Females lay 8 to 23 tiny eggs in an underground nest, and hatchlings emerge fully independent and capable of hunting and utilizing their frill. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown, but specimens in captivity have lived 20 years. http://i.imgur.com/y0uLqUT.jpg http://i.imgur.com/wx5FK6K.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0YmAA0m.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/81GHgC9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1AqoyoG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OMdpi8i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cihmnVh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EnxTcnE.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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