Your_Lion Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 17 July 2014Thursday Blue-footed Booby B :P :P BIES Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet (24 meters). Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water's surface. All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word "bobo." The term means "stupid," which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment. http://i.imgur.com/RtFzdLw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5e6Kyq2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSZUUmD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSPBNzO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LiFQlVb.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/baRFPIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/563LHWm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rTXA2fZ.jpg Phwoah! :drool: Nice Boobies 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 17 July 2014Thursday Blue-footed Booby B :P :P BIES Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet (24 meters). Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water's surface. All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word "bobo." The term means "stupid," which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment. http://i.imgur.com/RtFzdLw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5e6Kyq2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSZUUmD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSPBNzO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LiFQlVb.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/baRFPIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/563LHWm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rTXA2fZ.jpg Lovely looking bird - and cute baby! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 17 July 2014Thursday Blue-footed Booby B :P :P BIES Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet (24 meters). Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water's surface. All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word "bobo." The term means "stupid," which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment. http://i.imgur.com/RtFzdLw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5e6Kyq2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSZUUmD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSPBNzO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LiFQlVb.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/baRFPIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/563LHWm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rTXA2fZ.jpg Phwoah! :drool: Nice Boobies 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 18 July 2014Friday Basilisk The green basilisk lizard is also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk; but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard. Abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama, green basilisks spend much of their time in the trees and are never far from a body of water. When threatened, they can drop from a tree into the water and sprint, upright, about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per second across the surface. To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed. They can move along the surface like this for 15 feet (4.5 meters) or more. When gravity eventually does take over, the basilisk resorts to its excellent swimming skills to continue its flight. Part of the iguana family, green basilisks grow to about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, including their long, whip-like tail. Males have distinctive, high crests on their heads and backs, which they use to impress females. Green basilisks are omnivores, surviving on a diet of plant material, insects, fruit, and small vertebrates. They are common throughout their range and have no special status, but abundant natural predators like snakes and birds keep these amazing lizards on their toes. http://i.imgur.com/CtLQjJH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mm4RXOg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CPiXw6L.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oluJbri.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HR28UyP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gkm2lVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yQAML0A.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 18 July 2014Friday Basilisk The green basilisk lizard is also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk; but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard. Abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama, green basilisks spend much of their time in the trees and are never far from a body of water. When threatened, they can drop from a tree into the water and sprint, upright, about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per second across the surface. To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed. They can move along the surface like this for 15 feet (4.5 meters) or more. When gravity eventually does take over, the basilisk resorts to its excellent swimming skills to continue its flight. Part of the iguana family, green basilisks grow to about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, including their long, whip-like tail. Males have distinctive, high crests on their heads and backs, which they use to impress females. Green basilisks are omnivores, surviving on a diet of plant material, insects, fruit, and small vertebrates. They are common throughout their range and have no special status, but abundant natural predators like snakes and birds keep these amazing lizards on their toes. http://i.imgur.com/CtLQjJH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mm4RXOg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CPiXw6L.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oluJbri.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HR28UyP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gkm2lVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yQAML0A.jpg What a beautiful coloring! :)Also, when I saw the name, I immediately thought of Harry Potter and the Basilisk - speaking in snake-tongue. Come to think of it, I might be wrong, there... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 18 July 2014Friday Basilisk The green basilisk lizard is also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk; but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard. Abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama, green basilisks spend much of their time in the trees and are never far from a body of water. When threatened, they can drop from a tree into the water and sprint, upright, about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per second across the surface. To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed. They can move along the surface like this for 15 feet (4.5 meters) or more. When gravity eventually does take over, the basilisk resorts to its excellent swimming skills to continue its flight. Part of the iguana family, green basilisks grow to about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, including their long, whip-like tail. Males have distinctive, high crests on their heads and backs, which they use to impress females. Green basilisks are omnivores, surviving on a diet of plant material, insects, fruit, and small vertebrates. They are common throughout their range and have no special status, but abundant natural predators like snakes and birds keep these amazing lizards on their toes. http://i.imgur.com/CtLQjJH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mm4RXOg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CPiXw6L.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oluJbri.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HR28UyP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gkm2lVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yQAML0A.jpg Awesome! Like a mini-dinosaur...and they look so funny running across the water 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 18 July 2014Friday Basilisk The green basilisk lizard is also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk; but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard. Abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama, green basilisks spend much of their time in the trees and are never far from a body of water. When threatened, they can drop from a tree into the water and sprint, upright, about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per second across the surface. To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed. They can move along the surface like this for 15 feet (4.5 meters) or more. When gravity eventually does take over, the basilisk resorts to its excellent swimming skills to continue its flight. Part of the iguana family, green basilisks grow to about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, including their long, whip-like tail. Males have distinctive, high crests on their heads and backs, which they use to impress females. Green basilisks are omnivores, surviving on a diet of plant material, insects, fruit, and small vertebrates. They are common throughout their range and have no special status, but abundant natural predators like snakes and birds keep these amazing lizards on their toes. http://i.imgur.com/CtLQjJH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mm4RXOg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CPiXw6L.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oluJbri.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HR28UyP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gkm2lVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yQAML0A.jpg Oooo..pretty. Beautiful green. :) I love the name...it's very majestic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 18 July 2014Friday Basilisk The green basilisk lizard is also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk; but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard. Abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama, green basilisks spend much of their time in the trees and are never far from a body of water. When threatened, they can drop from a tree into the water and sprint, upright, about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per second across the surface. To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed. They can move along the surface like this for 15 feet (4.5 meters) or more. When gravity eventually does take over, the basilisk resorts to its excellent swimming skills to continue its flight. Part of the iguana family, green basilisks grow to about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, including their long, whip-like tail. Males have distinctive, high crests on their heads and backs, which they use to impress females. Green basilisks are omnivores, surviving on a diet of plant material, insects, fruit, and small vertebrates. They are common throughout their range and have no special status, but abundant natural predators like snakes and birds keep these amazing lizards on their toes. http://i.imgur.com/CtLQjJH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mm4RXOg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CPiXw6L.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oluJbri.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HR28UyP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gkm2lVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yQAML0A.jpg Awesome! Like a mini-dinosaur...and they look so funny running across the water I couldn't find this yesterday. http://i.imgur.com/Mh1CV4S.gif 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 19 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Triceratops With its rock-hard horns, shieldlike head plate, and massive torso, Triceratops horridus—"three-horned face"—must have been an intimidating presence in the late Cretaceous period. But this giant was an herbivore, preying only on the vegetation of western North America. Fossil evidence shows that Triceratops was about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed 4 to 6 tons. Stout limbs supported Triceratops's girth, but it was unlikely the dinosaur could move very quickly. Like a modern-day rhinoceros, Triceratops probably spent much of its time grazing on plant matter. It used its beaklike mouth and powerful jaws lined with rows of sharp cheek teeth to shred and grind cycads, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation. Triceratops's head was its most imposing feature. It measured 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) across and was ornamented with impressive horns and a head plate. It used its horns—a short one above its mouth and two long ones above its eyes—to charge predators, such as T. rex. They likely were also used in mating rituals. Behind its horns was a 6-foot-wide (1.8-meter-wide) head frill made of bone. Scientists aren't sure what purpose the frill served. It may have protected the dinosaur's neck from predators. Like a peacock's splayed plumage, it may have attracted mates in mating rituals. It may have acted as a radiator, helping Triceratops regulate its body temperature. This ceratopsian, or horned dinosaur, was one of the last dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period. It lived just before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. http://i.imgur.com/o6Z1PmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/i6aXOx4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/S1HlN2U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4qqAaTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txAiydd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9GZ3iqr.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 19 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Triceratops With its rock-hard horns, shieldlike head plate, and massive torso, Triceratops horridus—"three-horned face"—must have been an intimidating presence in the late Cretaceous period. But this giant was an herbivore, preying only on the vegetation of western North America. Fossil evidence shows that Triceratops was about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed 4 to 6 tons. Stout limbs supported Triceratops's girth, but it was unlikely the dinosaur could move very quickly. Like a modern-day rhinoceros, Triceratops probably spent much of its time grazing on plant matter. It used its beaklike mouth and powerful jaws lined with rows of sharp cheek teeth to shred and grind cycads, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation. Triceratops's head was its most imposing feature. It measured 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) across and was ornamented with impressive horns and a head plate. It used its horns—a short one above its mouth and two long ones above its eyes—to charge predators, such as T. rex. They likely were also used in mating rituals. Behind its horns was a 6-foot-wide (1.8-meter-wide) head frill made of bone. Scientists aren't sure what purpose the frill served. It may have protected the dinosaur's neck from predators. Like a peacock's splayed plumage, it may have attracted mates in mating rituals. It may have acted as a radiator, helping Triceratops regulate its body temperature. This ceratopsian, or horned dinosaur, was one of the last dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period. It lived just before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. http://i.imgur.com/o6Z1PmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/i6aXOx4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/S1HlN2U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4qqAaTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txAiydd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9GZ3iqr.jpg Amazing pics! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 19 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Triceratops With its rock-hard horns, shieldlike head plate, and massive torso, Triceratops horridus—"three-horned face"—must have been an intimidating presence in the late Cretaceous period. But this giant was an herbivore, preying only on the vegetation of western North America. Fossil evidence shows that Triceratops was about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed 4 to 6 tons. Stout limbs supported Triceratops's girth, but it was unlikely the dinosaur could move very quickly. Like a modern-day rhinoceros, Triceratops probably spent much of its time grazing on plant matter. It used its beaklike mouth and powerful jaws lined with rows of sharp cheek teeth to shred and grind cycads, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation. Triceratops's head was its most imposing feature. It measured 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) across and was ornamented with impressive horns and a head plate. It used its horns—a short one above its mouth and two long ones above its eyes—to charge predators, such as T. rex. They likely were also used in mating rituals. Behind its horns was a 6-foot-wide (1.8-meter-wide) head frill made of bone. Scientists aren't sure what purpose the frill served. It may have protected the dinosaur's neck from predators. Like a peacock's splayed plumage, it may have attracted mates in mating rituals. It may have acted as a radiator, helping Triceratops regulate its body temperature. This ceratopsian, or horned dinosaur, was one of the last dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period. It lived just before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. http://i.imgur.com/o6Z1PmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/i6aXOx4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/S1HlN2U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4qqAaTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txAiydd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9GZ3iqr.jpg Awesome dinosaur!Animal rights protesters are still angry with Spielberg (for real) for "killing" one and posing happily with the bodyhttp://cdn3.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article30426458.ece/b18f1/ALTERNATES/h342/spielberg.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 20 July 2014Sunday Howler Monkey http://www.naturesongs.com/howler2.wav Howlers are New World monkeys found in tropical Central and South America. They are aptly named for their cacophonous cries. When a number of howlers let loose their lungs in concert, often at dawn or dusk, the din can be heard up to three miles (five kilometers) away. Male monkeys have large throats and specialized, shell-like vocal chambers that help to turn up the volume on their distinctive call. The noise sends a clear message to other monkeys: This territory is already occupied by a troop. These vocal primates are the biggest of all the New World monkeys. Unlike Old World monkeys, howlers and other New World species have wide, side-opening nostrils and no pads on their rumps. Howlers also boast a prehensile tail. They can use this tail as an extra arm to grip or even hang from branches—no Old World monkeys have such a tail. A gripping tail is particularly helpful to howler monkeys because they rarely descend to the ground. They prefer to stay aloft, munching on the leaves that make up most of their diet. Howler monkeys have beards and long, thick hair which may be black, brown, or red. The red howler species is the most common, but it is often targeted by hunters eager for bushmeat. Other species of howler monkey may be critically endangered over sections of their range http://i.imgur.com/vwzBDQ7.jpg http://i.imgur.com/q446nTW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JronQqe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4yMJutF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oVawvwK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zkehXLW.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 19 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Triceratops With its rock-hard horns, shieldlike head plate, and massive torso, Triceratops horridus—"three-horned face"—must have been an intimidating presence in the late Cretaceous period. But this giant was an herbivore, preying only on the vegetation of western North America. Fossil evidence shows that Triceratops was about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed 4 to 6 tons. Stout limbs supported Triceratops's girth, but it was unlikely the dinosaur could move very quickly. Like a modern-day rhinoceros, Triceratops probably spent much of its time grazing on plant matter. It used its beaklike mouth and powerful jaws lined with rows of sharp cheek teeth to shred and grind cycads, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation. Triceratops's head was its most imposing feature. It measured 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) across and was ornamented with impressive horns and a head plate. It used its horns—a short one above its mouth and two long ones above its eyes—to charge predators, such as T. rex. They likely were also used in mating rituals. Behind its horns was a 6-foot-wide (1.8-meter-wide) head frill made of bone. Scientists aren't sure what purpose the frill served. It may have protected the dinosaur's neck from predators. Like a peacock's splayed plumage, it may have attracted mates in mating rituals. It may have acted as a radiator, helping Triceratops regulate its body temperature. This ceratopsian, or horned dinosaur, was one of the last dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period. It lived just before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. http://i.imgur.com/o6Z1PmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/i6aXOx4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/S1HlN2U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4qqAaTA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txAiydd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9GZ3iqr.jpg Oh yeah, triceratops are my favourite dinosaurs ever. You shoulda posted the cover of Alice in Chains, also! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 21 July 2014Monday Black Bear Black bears are North America's most familiar and common bears. They typically live in forests and are excellent tree climbers, but are also found in mountains and swamps. Despite their name, black bears can be blue-gray or blue-black, brown, cinnamon, or even (very rarely) white. Black bears are very opportunistic eaters. Most of their diet consists of grasses, roots, berries, and insects. They will also eat fish and mammals—including carrion—and easily develop a taste for human foods and garbage. Bears who become habituated to human food at campsites, cabins, or rural homes can become dangerous and are often killed—thus the frequent reminder: Please don't feed the bears! Solitary animals, black bears roam large territories, though they do not protect them from other bears. Males might wander a 15- to 80-square-mile (39- to 207-square-kilometer) home range. When winter arrives, black bears spend the season dormant in their dens, feeding on body fat they have built up by eating ravenously all summer and fall. They make their dens in caves, burrows, brush piles, or other sheltered spots—sometimes even in tree holes high above the ground. Black bears den for various lengths of time governed by the diverse climates in which they live, from Canada to northern Mexico. http://i.imgur.com/HfxXx9v.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KAebgWI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ue7EVWi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iWqA1Rb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FUdsigJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eT4QZIR.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 20 July 2014Sunday Howler Monkey http://www.naturesongs.com/howler2.wav Howlers are New World monkeys found in tropical Central and South America. They are aptly named for their cacophonous cries. When a number of howlers let loose their lungs in concert, often at dawn or dusk, the din can be heard up to three miles (five kilometers) away. Male monkeys have large throats and specialized, shell-like vocal chambers that help to turn up the volume on their distinctive call. The noise sends a clear message to other monkeys: This territory is already occupied by a troop. These vocal primates are the biggest of all the New World monkeys. Unlike Old World monkeys, howlers and other New World species have wide, side-opening nostrils and no pads on their rumps. Howlers also boast a prehensile tail. They can use this tail as an extra arm to grip or even hang from branches—no Old World monkeys have such a tail. A gripping tail is particularly helpful to howler monkeys because they rarely descend to the ground. They prefer to stay aloft, munching on the leaves that make up most of their diet. Howler monkeys have beards and long, thick hair which may be black, brown, or red. The red howler species is the most common, but it is often targeted by hunters eager for bushmeat. Other species of howler monkey may be critically endangered over sections of their range http://i.imgur.com/vwzBDQ7.jpg http://i.imgur.com/q446nTW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JronQqe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4yMJutF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oVawvwK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zkehXLW.jpg Monkey's always have a look of great personality about them...and that baby is cute 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 21 July 2014Monday Black Bear Black bears are North America's most familiar and common bears. They typically live in forests and are excellent tree climbers, but are also found in mountains and swamps. Despite their name, black bears can be blue-gray or blue-black, brown, cinnamon, or even (very rarely) white. Black bears are very opportunistic eaters. Most of their diet consists of grasses, roots, berries, and insects. They will also eat fish and mammals—including carrion—and easily develop a taste for human foods and garbage. Bears who become habituated to human food at campsites, cabins, or rural homes can become dangerous and are often killed—thus the frequent reminder: Please don't feed the bears! Solitary animals, black bears roam large territories, though they do not protect them from other bears. Males might wander a 15- to 80-square-mile (39- to 207-square-kilometer) home range. When winter arrives, black bears spend the season dormant in their dens, feeding on body fat they have built up by eating ravenously all summer and fall. They make their dens in caves, burrows, brush piles, or other sheltered spots—sometimes even in tree holes high above the ground. Black bears den for various lengths of time governed by the diverse climates in which they live, from Canada to northern Mexico. http://i.imgur.com/HfxXx9v.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KAebgWI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ue7EVWi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iWqA1Rb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FUdsigJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/eT4QZIR.jpg what a great mix of moods. From the majestic beast, to the lazy bear...via the epic facepalm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 22 July 2014Tuesday Pileated Woodpecker Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the common woodpeckers found in most of North America. These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests. Pileated woodpeckers forage for their favorite meal, carpenter ants, by digging large, rectangular holes in trees. These holes can be so large that they weaken smaller trees or even cause them to break in half. Other birds are often attracted to these large openings, eager to access any exposed insects. Pileated woodpeckers do not discriminate between coniferous and deciduous trees—as long as they yield the ants and beetle larvae that make up much of the birds' diet. Woodpeckers sometimes access these morsels by peeling long strips of bark from the tree, but they also forage on the ground and supplement their diet with fruits and nuts. The birds typically choose large, older trees for nesting and usually inhabit a tree hole. In eastern North America, pileated woodpeckers declined as their forest habitats were systematically logged in the 19th and 20th centuries. In recent decades, many forests have regenerated, and woodpecker species have enjoyed corresponding growth. The birds have proven to be adaptable to changing forest conditions http://i.imgur.com/dj0sCq2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JUhbUvA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVFEn5S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2NUahqm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ymNyG93.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4JIrQon.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GZUKKjc.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 22 July 2014Tuesday Pileated Woodpecker Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the common woodpeckers found in most of North America. These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests. Pileated woodpeckers forage for their favorite meal, carpenter ants, by digging large, rectangular holes in trees. These holes can be so large that they weaken smaller trees or even cause them to break in half. Other birds are often attracted to these large openings, eager to access any exposed insects. Pileated woodpeckers do not discriminate between coniferous and deciduous trees—as long as they yield the ants and beetle larvae that make up much of the birds' diet. Woodpeckers sometimes access these morsels by peeling long strips of bark from the tree, but they also forage on the ground and supplement their diet with fruits and nuts. The birds typically choose large, older trees for nesting and usually inhabit a tree hole. In eastern North America, pileated woodpeckers declined as their forest habitats were systematically logged in the 19th and 20th centuries. In recent decades, many forests have regenerated, and woodpecker species have enjoyed corresponding growth. The birds have proven to be adaptable to changing forest conditions http://i.imgur.com/dj0sCq2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JUhbUvA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVFEn5S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2NUahqm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ymNyG93.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4JIrQon.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GZUKKjc.jpg Wow! What an amazing red crest! Fantastic looking bird 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 23 July 2014Wednesday Black Mamba Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake. Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour). Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths, and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike. Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent. http://i.imgur.com/kWAh8kO.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FytlMNf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/McyWNT5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/razKaIk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iGKNBfv.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 23 July 2014Wednesday Black Mamba Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake. Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour). Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths, and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike. Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent. http://i.imgur.com/kWAh8kO.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FytlMNf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/McyWNT5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/razKaIk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iGKNBfv.jpg ooo dangerous...you can see an evil look in it's eye 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 24 July 2014Thursday Cicada Cicadas are probably best known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be amplified by multitudes of insects into an overpowering hum. Males produce this species-specific noise with vibrating membranes on their abdomens. The sounds vary widely and some species are more musical than others. Though cicada noises may sound alike to humans, the insects use different calls to express alarm or attract mates. Cicadas are also famous for their penchant for disappearing entirely for many years, only to reappear in force at a regular interval. There are some 3,000 cicada species, but only some share this behavior (the 17-year cicada is an example). Others are called annuals because, although individuals have multi-year lifecycles, some adults appear every year. The dog day cicada, for example, emerges each year in mid-summer. When young cicada nymphs hatch from their eggs, they dig themselves into the ground to suck the liquids of plant roots. They spend several early life stages in these underground burrows before surfacing as adults. The process varies in length but often takes a number of years. Periodical cicadas do not create destructive plagues, as some locusts do, though tens or hundreds of thousands of insects may crowd into a single acre. Large swarms can overwhelm and damage young trees by feeding and laying eggs, but older trees usually escape without serious damage. http://i.imgur.com/1hN15lw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0dRNLBU.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WvID1S9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ncFUo2T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9532mA3.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 24 July 2014Thursday Cicada Cicadas are probably best known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be amplified by multitudes of insects into an overpowering hum. Males produce this species-specific noise with vibrating membranes on their abdomens. The sounds vary widely and some species are more musical than others. Though cicada noises may sound alike to humans, the insects use different calls to express alarm or attract mates. Cicadas are also famous for their penchant for disappearing entirely for many years, only to reappear in force at a regular interval. There are some 3,000 cicada species, but only some share this behavior (the 17-year cicada is an example). Others are called annuals because, although individuals have multi-year lifecycles, some adults appear every year. The dog day cicada, for example, emerges each year in mid-summer. When young cicada nymphs hatch from their eggs, they dig themselves into the ground to suck the liquids of plant roots. They spend several early life stages in these underground burrows before surfacing as adults. The process varies in length but often takes a number of years. Periodical cicadas do not create destructive plagues, as some locusts do, though tens or hundreds of thousands of insects may crowd into a single acre. Large swarms can overwhelm and damage young trees by feeding and laying eggs, but older trees usually escape without serious damage. http://i.imgur.com/1hN15lw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0dRNLBU.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WvID1S9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ncFUo2T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9532mA3.jpg youch! That's quite a large bug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 25 July 2014Friday Mudpuppy Mudpuppies, also called waterdogs, are one of only a few salamanders that make noise. They get their name from the somewhat embellished notion that their squeaky vocalizations sound like a dog's bark. Among the largest of the salamanders, mudpuppies can exceed 16 inches (41 centimeters) in length, although the average is more like 11 inches (28 centimeters). Their range runs from southern central Canada, through the midwestern United States, east to North Carolina and south to Georgia and Mississippi. Mudpuppies live on the bottoms of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, and never leave the water. They hide themselves in vegetation and under rocks and logs, emerging at night to feed on whatever prey they can catch, including crayfish, worms, and snails. Mudpuppies are easily distinguishable by their bushy, red external gills, which they grow as larva and never lose. They have flat heads, wide tails, stubby legs, and feet with four distinct toes. Their bodies are gray or brownish-gray with blue-black spots. Mudpuppies are common throughout their range and have no special conservation status. However, habitat loss and pollution is putting pressure on some local populations. http://i.imgur.com/wsA7sf7.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1popBA5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kmje66m.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r7OaZ3I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gjAYlaL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/g3a6LJY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/39Pd7ng.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 25 July 2014Friday Mudpuppy Mudpuppies, also called waterdogs, are one of only a few salamanders that make noise. They get their name from the somewhat embellished notion that their squeaky vocalizations sound like a dog's bark. Among the largest of the salamanders, mudpuppies can exceed 16 inches (41 centimeters) in length, although the average is more like 11 inches (28 centimeters). Their range runs from southern central Canada, through the midwestern United States, east to North Carolina and south to Georgia and Mississippi. Mudpuppies live on the bottoms of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, and never leave the water. They hide themselves in vegetation and under rocks and logs, emerging at night to feed on whatever prey they can catch, including crayfish, worms, and snails. Mudpuppies are easily distinguishable by their bushy, red external gills, which they grow as larva and never lose. They have flat heads, wide tails, stubby legs, and feet with four distinct toes. Their bodies are gray or brownish-gray with blue-black spots. Mudpuppies are common throughout their range and have no special conservation status. However, habitat loss and pollution is putting pressure on some local populations. http://i.imgur.com/wsA7sf7.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1popBA5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kmje66m.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r7OaZ3I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gjAYlaL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/g3a6LJY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/39Pd7ng.jpg Fancy red gills. With the exception of those, this fella looks like he'd be hard to spot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 26 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Velociraptor Recent research suggests that Velociraptor mongoliensis was a feathered dinosaur. A forelimb fossil discovered in Mongolia showed quill knobs like those found in many modern birds. These telltale features are evidence of where ligaments attached flight feathers to bone and are considered proof that Velociraptor sported a fine feathery coat. The dinosaur's plumage may have been used for mating or other visual displays, similar to how modern birds use their colorful feathers, or to help regulate body temperature. The feathers might also have helped females protect their eggs. Velociraptor highlights many of the numerous similarities between dinosaurs and birds, which go far beyond the skin-deep appearance of feathers. Like birds, Velociraptor had hollow bones, tended nests of eggs, and probably behaved in similar ways. Velociraptor was probably one of the more intelligent dinosaurs, because it had a large brain proportionate to its body size. It was formidable on land and, as the name suggests, almost certainly covered ground quickly. Moving upright on two legs, they may have been able to reach speeds of 24 miles an hour (39 kilometers an hour). When they caught up to prey, these predators likely brought them down quickly with a long, 3.5-inch (9-centimeter) retractable claw on each foot and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Velociraptor is known to have preyed on herbivores such as Protoceratops. One famous fossil immortalized the two species locked in an ancient duel to the death. http://i.imgur.com/MUV1Xhg.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cJAKWqD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/C6NLvBV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Qlskvxe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gYnoPMJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EKxycX9.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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