x1yyz Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 The great curassow (Crax rubra) is so named for its conspicuous size of almost a metre tall. I had heard of curassows but never knew they were so big! They don't appear that tall in those photos, at least not to me. No, but it did say they were a meter tall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 22 October 2016Saturday Bush Dog The bush dog is a rare, little known and unusual canid. It has a rather squat body and is said to look more like a mustelid (the family of badgers and otters) than a member of the dog family. It is adapted to a semi-aquatic life amongst the forest, and has short legs, a short, bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and ears, and webbed feet. The evolutionary relationships of this unusual canid have yet to be resolved, but research has shown that it is likely to have diverged from the sister-taxon group of maned wolves (Chrysodon) three million years ago. Very little is known of the behaviour of this elusive and rare species, as it has proven very difficult to find and observe in the wild. Much of what is known of this species is the result of study of captive populations and anecdotal reports of observations in the wild. The bush dog tends to be active in the day, and is associated with water, with most observations of wild individuals being close to or in water courses. At night they retire to a den, which may be an abandoned armadillo nest or inside a fallen tree trunk. Bush dogs live in social groups of up to 12 members. They are most often seen hunting in parties of at least two individuals, typically for large rodents including paca and agouti. In more open areas, however, it seems that bush dogs hunt alone and take small rodents, teju lizards, snakes and ground-nesting birds. There are reports that by hunting in packs, bush dogs are able to tackle prey much larger than themselves, including capybara. Bush dogs live in extended family groups. One alpha female produces offspring; the oestrus cycle is suppressed in other females of the group. Gestation takes up to 67 days, after which a litter of one to six pups is produced, though the average litter size is 3 pups. The pups are suckled by their mother for around eight weeks. Non-breeding members of the group guard, carry and clean the pups and males bring food to the female in the den. The young reach sexual maturity at one year of age. Average life-span is thought to be around ten years. The bush dog is rare throughout its range, and is found from Panama and northern South America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina, and west to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZfHzhzE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/P5UtKxN.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/tsQMu7u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KWDVg2H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nP2vbkz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VREmN9y.png http://i.imgur.com/rlyy88O.png THE ELUSIVE BUSH DOG They do look like little otter-dogs :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 22 October 2016Saturday Bush Dog The bush dog is a rare, little known and unusual canid. It has a rather squat body and is said to look more like a mustelid (the family of badgers and otters) than a member of the dog family. It is adapted to a semi-aquatic life amongst the forest, and has short legs, a short, bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and ears, and webbed feet. The evolutionary relationships of this unusual canid have yet to be resolved, but research has shown that it is likely to have diverged from the sister-taxon group of maned wolves (Chrysodon) three million years ago. Very little is known of the behaviour of this elusive and rare species, as it has proven very difficult to find and observe in the wild. Much of what is known of this species is the result of study of captive populations and anecdotal reports of observations in the wild. The bush dog tends to be active in the day, and is associated with water, with most observations of wild individuals being close to or in water courses. At night they retire to a den, which may be an abandoned armadillo nest or inside a fallen tree trunk. Bush dogs live in social groups of up to 12 members. They are most often seen hunting in parties of at least two individuals, typically for large rodents including paca and agouti. In more open areas, however, it seems that bush dogs hunt alone and take small rodents, teju lizards, snakes and ground-nesting birds. There are reports that by hunting in packs, bush dogs are able to tackle prey much larger than themselves, including capybara. Bush dogs live in extended family groups. One alpha female produces offspring; the oestrus cycle is suppressed in other females of the group. Gestation takes up to 67 days, after which a litter of one to six pups is produced, though the average litter size is 3 pups. The pups are suckled by their mother for around eight weeks. Non-breeding members of the group guard, carry and clean the pups and males bring food to the female in the den. The young reach sexual maturity at one year of age. Average life-span is thought to be around ten years. The bush dog is rare throughout its range, and is found from Panama and northern South America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina, and west to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. http://i.imgur.com/ZfHzhzE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/P5UtKxN.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/tsQMu7u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KWDVg2H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nP2vbkz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VREmN9y.png http://i.imgur.com/rlyy88O.png THE ELUSIVE BUSH DOG The look kinda cute! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 24 October 2016Monday Calamites Calamites were a genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million years ago). Calamites had a well-defined node-internode architecture similar to modern horsetails, and its branches and leaves emerged in whorls from these nodes. Its upright stems were woody and connected by an underground runner; however, the central part of the stem was hollow, and fossils of Calamites are commonly preserved as casts of this hollow central portion. Calamites grew to 20 metres (about 66 feet) tall, standing mostly along the sandy banks of rivers, and had the ability to sprout vigorously from underground rhizomes when the upper portions of the plant were damaged. The remains of Calamites and other treelike plants from the Carboniferous Period were transformed into the coal used as a source of energy today. They had upward-slanted slender branches, arranged around a bamboo-like trunk in rows spaced several feet apart and had conifer-like needles arranged around the ends of the branches. The leaves were needle-shaped and grew in whorls around the trunk. There were up to 25 leaves per whorl. Because the trunk was hollow and slender it wasn't very strong; and the plant had a tendency to fall over easily if it was not supported by neighbouring plants or by accumulated sediments. Calamites could reproduce both by spores, which were stored in small sacs and organized into cones, as well as by the massive underground rhizomes. These underground rhizomes allowed the plant to produce clones of itself. It is the only tree of this period which is known to have had the ability to produce a clone. http://i.imgur.com/kSa26uv.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4QzKCHP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uxF2oHt.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OSLZRkd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/106vcJv.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jHS84Dk.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/C1FC2dk.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Ka4uxIX.png?1 * * This has to be one of the most yawn-inducing videos I've ever posted in this thread. I barely made it past the three minute mark, and I'm interested in paleobotany. http://i.imgur.com/Ls4G9Za.png 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 24 October 2016Monday Calamites Calamites were a genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million years ago). Calamites had a well-defined node-internode architecture similar to modern horsetails, and its branches and leaves emerged in whorls from these nodes. Its upright stems were woody and connected by an underground runner; however, the central part of the stem was hollow, and fossils of Calamites are commonly preserved as casts of this hollow central portion. Calamites grew to 20 metres (about 66 feet) tall, standing mostly along the sandy banks of rivers, and had the ability to sprout vigorously from underground rhizomes when the upper portions of the plant were damaged. The remains of Calamites and other treelike plants from the Carboniferous Period were transformed into the coal used as a source of energy today. They had upward-slanted slender branches, arranged around a bamboo-like trunk in rows spaced several feet apart and had conifer-like needles arranged around the ends of the branches. The leaves were needle-shaped and grew in whorls around the trunk. There were up to 25 leaves per whorl. Because the trunk was hollow and slender it wasn't very strong; and the plant had a tendency to fall over easily if it was not supported by neighbouring plants or by accumulated sediments. Calamites could reproduce both by spores, which were stored in small sacs and organized into cones, as well as by the massive underground rhizomes. These underground rhizomes allowed the plant to produce clones of itself. It is the only tree of this period which is known to have had the ability to produce a clone. http://i.imgur.com/kSa26uv.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4QzKCHP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uxF2oHt.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OSLZRkd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/106vcJv.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jHS84Dk.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/C1FC2dk.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Ka4uxIX.png?1 * * This has to be one of the most yawn-inducing videos I've ever posted in this thread. I barely made it past the three minute mark, and I'm interested in paleobotany. http://i.imgur.com/Ls4G9Za.png They look a bit like pine trees! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 24 October 2016Monday Calamites Calamites were a genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million years ago). Calamites had a well-defined node-internode architecture similar to modern horsetails, and its branches and leaves emerged in whorls from these nodes. Its upright stems were woody and connected by an underground runner; however, the central part of the stem was hollow, and fossils of Calamites are commonly preserved as casts of this hollow central portion. Calamites grew to 20 metres (about 66 feet) tall, standing mostly along the sandy banks of rivers, and had the ability to sprout vigorously from underground rhizomes when the upper portions of the plant were damaged. The remains of Calamites and other treelike plants from the Carboniferous Period were transformed into the coal used as a source of energy today. They had upward-slanted slender branches, arranged around a bamboo-like trunk in rows spaced several feet apart and had conifer-like needles arranged around the ends of the branches. The leaves were needle-shaped and grew in whorls around the trunk. There were up to 25 leaves per whorl. Because the trunk was hollow and slender it wasn't very strong; and the plant had a tendency to fall over easily if it was not supported by neighbouring plants or by accumulated sediments. Calamites could reproduce both by spores, which were stored in small sacs and organized into cones, as well as by the massive underground rhizomes. These underground rhizomes allowed the plant to produce clones of itself. It is the only tree of this period which is known to have had the ability to produce a clone. http://i.imgur.com/kSa26uv.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4QzKCHP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uxF2oHt.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OSLZRkd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/106vcJv.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jHS84Dk.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/C1FC2dk.jpg?1 That's a very cool looking plant! http://i.imgur.com/Ka4uxIX.png?1 * * This has to be one of the most yawn-inducing videos I've ever posted in this thread. I barely made it past the three minute mark, and I'm interested in paleobotany. http://i.imgur.com/Ls4G9Za.png I only made it to 2:30, and the image throughout that period was blurry! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share Posted October 24, 2016 24 October 2016Monday Calamites Calamites were a genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million years ago). Calamites had a well-defined node-internode architecture similar to modern horsetails, and its branches and leaves emerged in whorls from these nodes. Its upright stems were woody and connected by an underground runner; however, the central part of the stem was hollow, and fossils of Calamites are commonly preserved as casts of this hollow central portion. Calamites grew to 20 metres (about 66 feet) tall, standing mostly along the sandy banks of rivers, and had the ability to sprout vigorously from underground rhizomes when the upper portions of the plant were damaged. The remains of Calamites and other treelike plants from the Carboniferous Period were transformed into the coal used as a source of energy today. They had upward-slanted slender branches, arranged around a bamboo-like trunk in rows spaced several feet apart and had conifer-like needles arranged around the ends of the branches. The leaves were needle-shaped and grew in whorls around the trunk. There were up to 25 leaves per whorl. Because the trunk was hollow and slender it wasn't very strong; and the plant had a tendency to fall over easily if it was not supported by neighbouring plants or by accumulated sediments. Calamites could reproduce both by spores, which were stored in small sacs and organized into cones, as well as by the massive underground rhizomes. These underground rhizomes allowed the plant to produce clones of itself. It is the only tree of this period which is known to have had the ability to produce a clone. http://i.imgur.com/kSa26uv.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4QzKCHP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uxF2oHt.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OSLZRkd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/106vcJv.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jHS84Dk.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/C1FC2dk.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/Ka4uxIX.png?1 * * This has to be one of the most yawn-inducing videos I've ever posted in this thread. I barely made it past the three minute mark, and I'm interested in paleobotany. http://i.imgur.com/Ls4G9Za.png They look a bit like pine trees! :) It's the love child of a pine tree and a bamboo. :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share Posted October 24, 2016 24 October 2016Monday Calamites Calamites were a genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million years ago). Calamites had a well-defined node-internode architecture similar to modern horsetails, and its branches and leaves emerged in whorls from these nodes. Its upright stems were woody and connected by an underground runner; however, the central part of the stem was hollow, and fossils of Calamites are commonly preserved as casts of this hollow central portion. Calamites grew to 20 metres (about 66 feet) tall, standing mostly along the sandy banks of rivers, and had the ability to sprout vigorously from underground rhizomes when the upper portions of the plant were damaged. The remains of Calamites and other treelike plants from the Carboniferous Period were transformed into the coal used as a source of energy today. They had upward-slanted slender branches, arranged around a bamboo-like trunk in rows spaced several feet apart and had conifer-like needles arranged around the ends of the branches. The leaves were needle-shaped and grew in whorls around the trunk. There were up to 25 leaves per whorl. Because the trunk was hollow and slender it wasn't very strong; and the plant had a tendency to fall over easily if it was not supported by neighbouring plants or by accumulated sediments. Calamites could reproduce both by spores, which were stored in small sacs and organized into cones, as well as by the massive underground rhizomes. These underground rhizomes allowed the plant to produce clones of itself. It is the only tree of this period which is known to have had the ability to produce a clone. http://i.imgur.com/kSa26uv.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4QzKCHP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uxF2oHt.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OSLZRkd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/106vcJv.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jHS84Dk.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/C1FC2dk.jpg?1 That's a very cool looking plant! http://i.imgur.com/Ka4uxIX.png?1 * * This has to be one of the most yawn-inducing videos I've ever posted in this thread. I barely made it past the three minute mark, and I'm interested in paleobotany. http://i.imgur.com/Ls4G9Za.png I only made it to 2:30, and the image throughout that period was blurry! That's the only video regarding Calamites I could find. It's hard to believe YouTube isn't littered with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share Posted October 24, 2016 25 October 2016Tuesday Javan Trogon With their colourful plumage and typical posture, the trogons are a highly distinctive group of birds. The Javan trogon is an extremely attractive species that stands out from most other Asian trogons by not being predominantly red in colour. Trogons display remarkable aerial agility and are even capable of hovering for brief periods, a skill the Javan trogon employs to pluck fruits and insects off foliage and branches. Returning to its perch, food is swallowed whole, regurgitating seeds once the nutritious flesh has been digested. Medium to large insects, such as caterpillars and beetles, and various fruits form the bulk of the diet, but the Javan trogon may also eat small vertebrates, such as lizards and frogs, using its powerful bill to kill prey. Very little is known about the breeding biology of the Javan trogon, but it is suspected to breed between April and December at the outset of the wet season in West Java. Nests are constructed in old woodpecker holes or cavities are excavated within arboreal termite nests or rotten tree trunks. A clutch of one or two eggs is laid and, in common with other trogons, the eggs are incubated by both parents. The parents also cooperate in the care of the young chicks, which become independent several weeks after fledging. Endemic to West Java, Indonesia, the Javan trogon has an extremely small range, and is effectively restricted to what little montane forest remains on the island. It has only been recorded at three locations in the last 60 years, although it may be found at a number of other sites that have not yet been surveyed. http://i.imgur.com/RncucXe.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/CMCYYUi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GIbSnrO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YZUax9e.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OCxTavP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/SUhdbru.png?1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 25 October 2016Tuesday Javan Trogon With their colourful plumage and typical posture, the trogons are a highly distinctive group of birds. The Javan trogon is an extremely attractive species that stands out from most other Asian trogons by not being predominantly red in colour. Trogons display remarkable aerial agility and are even capable of hovering for brief periods, a skill the Javan trogon employs to pluck fruits and insects off foliage and branches. Returning to its perch, food is swallowed whole, regurgitating seeds once the nutritious flesh has been digested. Medium to large insects, such as caterpillars and beetles, and various fruits form the bulk of the diet, but the Javan trogon may also eat small vertebrates, such as lizards and frogs, using its powerful bill to kill prey. Very little is known about the breeding biology of the Javan trogon, but it is suspected to breed between April and December at the outset of the wet season in West Java. Nests are constructed in old woodpecker holes or cavities are excavated within arboreal termite nests or rotten tree trunks. A clutch of one or two eggs is laid and, in common with other trogons, the eggs are incubated by both parents. The parents also cooperate in the care of the young chicks, which become independent several weeks after fledging. Endemic to West Java, Indonesia, the Javan trogon has an extremely small range, and is effectively restricted to what little montane forest remains on the island. It has only been recorded at three locations in the last 60 years, although it may be found at a number of other sites that have not yet been surveyed. http://i.imgur.com/RncucXe.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/CMCYYUi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GIbSnrO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YZUax9e.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OCxTavP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/SUhdbru.png?1 It's very pretty, but also looks like it was made with all the leftover bits of different crayons :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 26 October 2016Wednesday Sagalla Caecilian First described as recently as 2005, the Sagalla caecilian belongs to a highly unusual group of amphibians characterised by an elongated, limbless, externally segmented body, closely resembling that of a snake or a large earthworm. However, unlike earthworms, caecilians possess a prominent mouth, nostrils, and, uniquely amongst vertebrates, a pair of retractable tentacles, one on each side of the head, between the eye and nostril. The skin is smooth, but toughened with keratin, and sometimes has fish-like scales in its folds. The Sagalla caecilian spends its life underground, using the strong, bony head to burrow through the soil; it feeds mainly on earthworms and termites, as well as other soil invertebrates. Prey is located using the acute sense of smell, aided by the tentacles, which may detect both chemical and tactile signals. The caecilian may lie in wait or actively hunt prey, which is seized in the strong jaws, and held fast by the inwardly curving teeth. The Sagalla caecilian may itself fall prey to snakes, birds and driver ants, although its skin possesses poison glands which may make it unpalatable to many predators. Little is known about courtship behaviour in caecilians, but fertilisation is internal, the male transferring sperm directly to the female. In this species, the female then digs an underground chamber, into which around five eggs are laid. The eggs are guarded by the female, and hatch into miniature versions of the adults, with no larval stage. The Sagalla caecilian is likely to show an extraordinary form of maternal care, in which the hatchlings feed on the outer layer of the female’s skin, which becomes modified, turning pale, and contains high levels of fat and other nutrients. The young even possess specialised teeth with which to take advantage of this peculiar food source. The Sagalla caecilian is known only from a small area on Sagalla Hill in southeast Kenya. It has been found above elevations of 1,000 metres, and is believed to be restricted to an area of just 29 square kilometres, with this mountain block isolated from other similar habitats by the arid Tsavo plains. This caecilian is thought to have originally been a montane forest species, but much of this habitat has been replaced by shambas (smallholder farms), where the Sagalla caecilian is now commonly found in dark, moist soil beneath banana plants or under decomposing vegetation, particularly near streams. http://i.imgur.com/rJAzgcJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/K3ziX3W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CwfYlb4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1f8fuYe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ImLsdVE.png?2 SAVING THE SAGALLA CAECILIAN 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 27 October 2016Thursday Giant Sunbird Found only on São Tomé, an island situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa, this large sunbird is noted for its remarkable bill which, like other sunbirds, is long and curved and well adapted for probing flowers and bark for food. The giant sunbird has matt black plumage, embellished with a deep blue and purple iridescence, and a long, graduated tail with whitish tips. The giant sunbird has a more varied diet than most other sunbirds, feeding not only on nectar, but also on invertebrates. It feeds by hovering in front of flowers, like a hummingbird but with slower wingbeats, and also pierces the base of flowers to obtain the rich, sugary nectar. While creeping along branches, the giant sunbird probes bark, moss and lichen with its long bill, searching for invertebrate prey. Sunbirds, known for being aggressive and territorial, usually construct nests of fine moss and cobwebs suspended from twigs and branches. Nests of the giant sunbird have been found in late December and early January. The giant sunbird inhabits primary forest, where it is found from the understorey to the canopy. Lowland primary forest holds the majority of giant sunbird populations, but giant sunbirds may also be found in montane forest at elevations up to at least 2,000 metres. Historically, large expanses of lowland and mid-altitude forest in São Tomé were cleared for cocoa and coffee plantations. Since a crash in cocoa prices, many former plantations have now reverted into secondary forest, but less than 30 percent of the island remains covered in primary forest. Further loss or alteration of the island’s primary forest is the single most significant threat facing the giant sunbird. http://i.imgur.com/c9qpif3.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4r8bT9I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/h8HCeWo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kQqXnrN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1zvvMx7.jpg?1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 27 October 2016Thursday Giant Sunbird Found only on São Tomé, an island situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa, this large sunbird is noted for its remarkable bill which, like other sunbirds, is long and curved and well adapted for probing flowers and bark for food. The giant sunbird has matt black plumage, embellished with a deep blue and purple iridescence, and a long, graduated tail with whitish tips. The giant sunbird has a more varied diet than most other sunbirds, feeding not only on nectar, but also on invertebrates. It feeds by hovering in front of flowers, like a hummingbird but with slower wingbeats, and also pierces the base of flowers to obtain the rich, sugary nectar. While creeping along branches, the giant sunbird probes bark, moss and lichen with its long bill, searching for invertebrate prey. Sunbirds, known for being aggressive and territorial, usually construct nests of fine moss and cobwebs suspended from twigs and branches. Nests of the giant sunbird have been found in late December and early January. The giant sunbird inhabits primary forest, where it is found from the understorey to the canopy. Lowland primary forest holds the majority of giant sunbird populations, but giant sunbirds may also be found in montane forest at elevations up to at least 2,000 metres. Historically, large expanses of lowland and mid-altitude forest in São Tomé were cleared for cocoa and coffee plantations. Since a crash in cocoa prices, many former plantations have now reverted into secondary forest, but less than 30 percent of the island remains covered in primary forest. Further loss or alteration of the island’s primary forest is the single most significant threat facing the giant sunbird. http://i.imgur.com/c9qpif3.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4r8bT9I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/h8HCeWo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kQqXnrN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1zvvMx7.jpg?1 That curved beak is really cool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 28 October 2016Friday King Brown Snake Considered to be Australia’s most common and widespread venomous snake, the king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) is a stocky species with a broad head, large eyes, and a rounded muzzle. The king brown snake, also known as the mulga snake because of the mulga grassland habitat which this snake frequently inhabits, has two grooved fangs in the front of its mouth, and some smaller, solid teeth further back. This species is highly venomous, and is thought to be the cause of the greatest number of venomous bites in Australia, although these are rarely fatal. The king brown snake may be active by day or night, depending on the climate, and is known to feed on frogs, birds, small mammals and even other reptiles, including lizards. When threatened, the king brown snake tends to flatten its neck, spreading it into a hood-like shape, before raising its body into an arch and striking rapidly. The venom produced by this species is extremely toxic, causing lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and mild paralysis in humans. Until relatively recently, it was thought that all large Pseudechis species were live-bearing snakes, but most, including the king brown snake, have since been found to be oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. The female king brown snake has been recorded to lay between 4 and 19 eggs per clutch. While no information is available on incubation periods in the wild, clutches of king brown snake eggs laid in captivity have been known to incubate for between 85 and 88 days at higher temperatures, and for shorter periods at lower temperatures. The king brown snake is widespread in Australia, being found across most of the mainland except for the extreme south and the east coast. A highly adaptable species, the king brown snake is able to occupy an incredibly wide range of habitats, from tropical rainforests to savannah and deserts. http://i.imgur.com/TRfkUFU.jpg http://i.imgur.com/uweiUvq.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/onph1ZS.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/Moaa8gW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mcbXR0y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CAKI0tV.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/wgTiGRR.png?1 http://www.abc.net.a...ad-trip/7947086 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 29 October 2016Saturday Coral Tree (Erythrina senegalensis) A medium-sized tree native to West Africa, the coral tree's name comes from the stunning bright red colour of its flowers, which appear on the tree in profusion when it is still without leaves. These flowers stand out starkly against the deeply fissured bark, and present quite a show in the wooded grassland which is its natural habitat. Because the bark is covered in large, sharp spines, the tree is planted for hedging. Only a very determined intruder would try to pass through a hedge made of this tree – and a stupid one, too, because a good coral tree hedge is impenetrable. It is a common tree in villages, planted for its medicinal uses and beauty, as well as for hedging. The flowers appear in large groups at the end of the branches, when the tree is leafless (in the first half of the dry season). The flowers are bright red and 4-5 cm long. Reproduction is by seed, but farmers also propagate the tree by taking cuttings. The corky bark enables the tree to withstand the fires which regularly pass over the West African savannah. The coral tree has a large number of traditional uses in West Africa. The bark and roots are used against stomach disorders and as a general tonic, and the bark and leaves are used for dressing wounds. The wood is used for making knife handles, and the seeds are made into necklaces and used as game counters, despite being poisonous. There are no known threats to the coral tree, which is quite widespread and widely planted, though the extensive use of its bark for medicine often causes trees to be almost stripped of their bark. http://i.imgur.com/6nHjZpQ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/PQa3gxc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TMmMO2i.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/zvRKlAp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hxYZDyZ.jpg Herbarium specimen: http://i.imgur.com/Ut6a2Xv.jpg ERYTHRINA SENEGALENSIS: A PHOTO GUIDE IUCN RED LIST USEFUL TROPICAL PLANTS: ERYTHRINA SENEGALENSIS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 31, 2016 Author Share Posted October 31, 2016 31 October 2016Monday Halloween Special http://i.imgur.com/iQUQXnH.png?1 Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) Mandrake (genus Mandragora), is a genus of six species of hallucinogenic plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to the Mediterranean region and the Himalayas. The plants are particularly noted for their potent roots, which somewhat resemble the human form and have a long history of use in religious and superstitious practices. Mandrake plants generally have a short stem bearing a tuft of ovate leaves, often arranged in a basal rosette. The flowers are solitary with a bell-shaped corolla of five petals; they range from purple to yellow-green in colour. The fruit is a fleshy orange-coloured berry. The plants are characterized by a long thick taproot that is often forked. All parts of the plants contain tropane alkaloids and are considered poisonous. The best-known species, M. officinarum, has long been known for its poisonous properties. In ancient times it was used as a narcotic and an aphrodisiac, and it was also believed to have certain magical powers. Its root was thought to be in the power of dark earth spirits. It was believed that the mandrake could be safely uprooted only in the moonlight, after appropriate prayer and ritual, by a black dog attached to the plant by a cord. Human hands were not to come in contact with the plant. In medieval times it was thought that as the mandrake was pulled from the ground, it uttered a shriek that killed or drove mad those who did not block their ears against it. After the plant had been freed from the earth, it could be used for beneficent purposes, such as healing, inducing love, facilitating pregnancy, and providing soothing sleep. Mandrake is still used occasionally in homeopathic and folk medicine and has applications in modern witchcraft and occult practices. http://i.imgur.com/XWL7SqF.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/eJ49Wnr.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/lsXDvWE.jpg?1 Berries: http://i.imgur.com/UghZj00.jpg Root: http://i.imgur.com/qVq4rXl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Hmz8qbx.jpg?1 THE HISTORY AND USES OF THE MAGICAL MANDRAKE http://i.imgur.com/miUTzIx.png?1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share Posted November 3, 2016 04 November 2016Friday Titicaca Water Frog The Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus) is the largest truly aquatic frog in the world. It has a broad, flattened head with a round snout and large eyes. The most distinctive feature of the Titicaca water frog is the extremely loose skin which hangs from its neck, legs and stomach, giving it a rather ugly appearance. It has well developed, long hind limbs and webbed digits on the hind feet. The diet of the Titicaca water frog is mainly composed of amphipods, snails, insects, tadpoles and fish. The multiple-folded, capillary-rich skin of the Titicaca water frog is a unique adaptation that enables it to remain underwater without needing to surface for air. It possesses greatly reduced lungs, which are rarely used except when there is too little oxygen in the water or on the rare occasions when the frog is on land. When in poorly oxygenated water this species performs a movement to pass more water over the folds in its skin, allowing more oxygen to diffuse into the blood. Another adaptation to its high-altitude habitat is its high red blood cell count and the small size of its red blood cells, which help the blood to deliver oxygen to the body tissues and remove carbon dioxide more efficiently. The Titicaca water frog is endemic to Lake Titicaca, which lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca is a cold, oxygen-saturated lake at an elevation of around 3,810 metres. The surface temperature of the lake ranges between 11 and 17 degrees Celsius and the bottom temperature is a constant 10 degrees Celsius. The Titicaca water frog usually prefers the shallower areas of the lake, where it shelters among the reed beds. It is also found in the small ponds and rivers in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca, as well as on the rock ledges at the edges of the water. The Titicaca water frog is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. One of the biggest threats to the Titicaca water frog is overcollection for human consumption. The frog is collected and transported to nearby markets, where it is blended with other ingredients to create a juice which is thought by local people to cure many ailments. http://i.imgur.com/8QxjWme.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ra1JbdX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5kFuA92.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CxSsSZw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9EMdYGo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RdKx9x1.png 10,000 TITICACA WATER FROGS FOUND DEAD IN PERU 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 25 October 2016Tuesday Javan Trogon With their colourful plumage and typical posture, the trogons are a highly distinctive group of birds. The Javan trogon is an extremely attractive species that stands out from most other Asian trogons by not being predominantly red in colour. Trogons display remarkable aerial agility and are even capable of hovering for brief periods, a skill the Javan trogon employs to pluck fruits and insects off foliage and branches. Returning to its perch, food is swallowed whole, regurgitating seeds once the nutritious flesh has been digested. Medium to large insects, such as caterpillars and beetles, and various fruits form the bulk of the diet, but the Javan trogon may also eat small vertebrates, such as lizards and frogs, using its powerful bill to kill prey. Very little is known about the breeding biology of the Javan trogon, but it is suspected to breed between April and December at the outset of the wet season in West Java. Nests are constructed in old woodpecker holes or cavities are excavated within arboreal termite nests or rotten tree trunks. A clutch of one or two eggs is laid and, in common with other trogons, the eggs are incubated by both parents. The parents also cooperate in the care of the young chicks, which become independent several weeks after fledging. Endemic to West Java, Indonesia, the Javan trogon has an extremely small range, and is effectively restricted to what little montane forest remains on the island. It has only been recorded at three locations in the last 60 years, although it may be found at a number of other sites that have not yet been surveyed. http://i.imgur.com/RncucXe.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/CMCYYUi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GIbSnrO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YZUax9e.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OCxTavP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/SUhdbru.png?1 Beautiful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 26 October 2016Wednesday Sagalla Caecilian First described as recently as 2005, the Sagalla caecilian belongs to a highly unusual group of amphibians characterised by an elongated, limbless, externally segmented body, closely resembling that of a snake or a large earthworm. However, unlike earthworms, caecilians possess a prominent mouth, nostrils, and, uniquely amongst vertebrates, a pair of retractable tentacles, one on each side of the head, between the eye and nostril. The skin is smooth, but toughened with keratin, and sometimes has fish-like scales in its folds. The Sagalla caecilian spends its life underground, using the strong, bony head to burrow through the soil; it feeds mainly on earthworms and termites, as well as other soil invertebrates. Prey is located using the acute sense of smell, aided by the tentacles, which may detect both chemical and tactile signals. The caecilian may lie in wait or actively hunt prey, which is seized in the strong jaws, and held fast by the inwardly curving teeth. The Sagalla caecilian may itself fall prey to snakes, birds and driver ants, although its skin possesses poison glands which may make it unpalatable to many predators. Little is known about courtship behaviour in caecilians, but fertilisation is internal, the male transferring sperm directly to the female. In this species, the female then digs an underground chamber, into which around five eggs are laid. The eggs are guarded by the female, and hatch into miniature versions of the adults, with no larval stage. The Sagalla caecilian is likely to show an extraordinary form of maternal care, in which the hatchlings feed on the outer layer of the female’s skin, which becomes modified, turning pale, and contains high levels of fat and other nutrients. The young even possess specialised teeth with which to take advantage of this peculiar food source. The Sagalla caecilian is known only from a small area on Sagalla Hill in southeast Kenya. It has been found above elevations of 1,000 metres, and is believed to be restricted to an area of just 29 square kilometres, with this mountain block isolated from other similar habitats by the arid Tsavo plains. This caecilian is thought to have originally been a montane forest species, but much of this habitat has been replaced by shambas (smallholder farms), where the Sagalla caecilian is now commonly found in dark, moist soil beneath banana plants or under decomposing vegetation, particularly near streams. http://i.imgur.com/rJAzgcJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/K3ziX3W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CwfYlb4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1f8fuYe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ImLsdVE.png?2 SAVING THE SAGALLA CAECILIAN 28 October 2016Friday King Brown Snake Considered to be Australia’s most common and widespread venomous snake, the king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) is a stocky species with a broad head, large eyes, and a rounded muzzle. The king brown snake, also known as the mulga snake because of the mulga grassland habitat which this snake frequently inhabits, has two grooved fangs in the front of its mouth, and some smaller, solid teeth further back. This species is highly venomous, and is thought to be the cause of the greatest number of venomous bites in Australia, although these are rarely fatal. The king brown snake may be active by day or night, depending on the climate, and is known to feed on frogs, birds, small mammals and even other reptiles, including lizards. When threatened, the king brown snake tends to flatten its neck, spreading it into a hood-like shape, before raising its body into an arch and striking rapidly. The venom produced by this species is extremely toxic, causing lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and mild paralysis in humans. Until relatively recently, it was thought that all large Pseudechis species were live-bearing snakes, but most, including the king brown snake, have since been found to be oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. The female king brown snake has been recorded to lay between 4 and 19 eggs per clutch. While no information is available on incubation periods in the wild, clutches of king brown snake eggs laid in captivity have been known to incubate for between 85 and 88 days at higher temperatures, and for shorter periods at lower temperatures. The king brown snake is widespread in Australia, being found across most of the mainland except for the extreme south and the east coast. A highly adaptable species, the king brown snake is able to occupy an incredibly wide range of habitats, from tropical rainforests to savannah and deserts. http://i.imgur.com/TRfkUFU.jpg http://i.imgur.com/uweiUvq.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/onph1ZS.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/Moaa8gW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mcbXR0y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CAKI0tV.jpg Range: http://i.imgur.com/wgTiGRR.png?1 http://www.abc.net.a...ad-trip/7947086 They're nice... from a distance. Especially the big one. *hides* 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 27 October 2016Thursday Giant Sunbird Found only on São Tomé, an island situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa, this large sunbird is noted for its remarkable bill which, like other sunbirds, is long and curved and well adapted for probing flowers and bark for food. The giant sunbird has matt black plumage, embellished with a deep blue and purple iridescence, and a long, graduated tail with whitish tips. The giant sunbird has a more varied diet than most other sunbirds, feeding not only on nectar, but also on invertebrates. It feeds by hovering in front of flowers, like a hummingbird but with slower wingbeats, and also pierces the base of flowers to obtain the rich, sugary nectar. While creeping along branches, the giant sunbird probes bark, moss and lichen with its long bill, searching for invertebrate prey. Sunbirds, known for being aggressive and territorial, usually construct nests of fine moss and cobwebs suspended from twigs and branches. Nests of the giant sunbird have been found in late December and early January. The giant sunbird inhabits primary forest, where it is found from the understorey to the canopy. Lowland primary forest holds the majority of giant sunbird populations, but giant sunbirds may also be found in montane forest at elevations up to at least 2,000 metres. Historically, large expanses of lowland and mid-altitude forest in São Tomé were cleared for cocoa and coffee plantations. Since a crash in cocoa prices, many former plantations have now reverted into secondary forest, but less than 30 percent of the island remains covered in primary forest. Further loss or alteration of the island’s primary forest is the single most significant threat facing the giant sunbird. http://i.imgur.com/c9qpif3.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/4r8bT9I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/h8HCeWo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kQqXnrN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1zvvMx7.jpg?1 Pretty. Nice beak too. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 29 October 2016Saturday Coral Tree (Erythrina senegalensis) A medium-sized tree native to West Africa, the coral tree's name comes from the stunning bright red colour of its flowers, which appear on the tree in profusion when it is still without leaves. These flowers stand out starkly against the deeply fissured bark, and present quite a show in the wooded grassland which is its natural habitat. Because the bark is covered in large, sharp spines, the tree is planted for hedging. Only a very determined intruder would try to pass through a hedge made of this tree – and a stupid one, too, because a good coral tree hedge is impenetrable. It is a common tree in villages, planted for its medicinal uses and beauty, as well as for hedging. The flowers appear in large groups at the end of the branches, when the tree is leafless (in the first half of the dry season). The flowers are bright red and 4-5 cm long. Reproduction is by seed, but farmers also propagate the tree by taking cuttings. The corky bark enables the tree to withstand the fires which regularly pass over the West African savannah. The coral tree has a large number of traditional uses in West Africa. The bark and roots are used against stomach disorders and as a general tonic, and the bark and leaves are used for dressing wounds. The wood is used for making knife handles, and the seeds are made into necklaces and used as game counters, despite being poisonous. There are no known threats to the coral tree, which is quite widespread and widely planted, though the extensive use of its bark for medicine often causes trees to be almost stripped of their bark. http://i.imgur.com/6nHjZpQ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/PQa3gxc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TMmMO2i.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/zvRKlAp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hxYZDyZ.jpg Herbarium specimen: http://i.imgur.com/Ut6a2Xv.jpg ERYTHRINA SENEGALENSIS: A PHOTO GUIDE IUCN RED LIST USEFUL TROPICAL PLANTS: ERYTHRINA SENEGALENSIS Pretty color. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 31 October 2016Monday Halloween Special http://i.imgur.com/iQUQXnH.png?1 Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) Mandrake (genus Mandragora), is a genus of six species of hallucinogenic plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to the Mediterranean region and the Himalayas. The plants are particularly noted for their potent roots, which somewhat resemble the human form and have a long history of use in religious and superstitious practices. Mandrake plants generally have a short stem bearing a tuft of ovate leaves, often arranged in a basal rosette. The flowers are solitary with a bell-shaped corolla of five petals; they range from purple to yellow-green in colour. The fruit is a fleshy orange-coloured berry. The plants are characterized by a long thick taproot that is often forked. All parts of the plants contain tropane alkaloids and are considered poisonous. The best-known species, M. officinarum, has long been known for its poisonous properties. In ancient times it was used as a narcotic and an aphrodisiac, and it was also believed to have certain magical powers. Its root was thought to be in the power of dark earth spirits. It was believed that the mandrake could be safely uprooted only in the moonlight, after appropriate prayer and ritual, by a black dog attached to the plant by a cord. Human hands were not to come in contact with the plant. In medieval times it was thought that as the mandrake was pulled from the ground, it uttered a shriek that killed or drove mad those who did not block their ears against it. After the plant had been freed from the earth, it could be used for beneficent purposes, such as healing, inducing love, facilitating pregnancy, and providing soothing sleep. Mandrake is still used occasionally in homeopathic and folk medicine and has applications in modern witchcraft and occult practices. http://i.imgur.com/XWL7SqF.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/eJ49Wnr.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/lsXDvWE.jpg?1 Berries: http://i.imgur.com/UghZj00.jpg Root: http://i.imgur.com/qVq4rXl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Hmz8qbx.jpg?1 THE HISTORY AND USES OF THE MAGICAL MANDRAKE http://i.imgur.com/miUTzIx.png?1 So that's what a mandrake is...! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 31 October 2016Monday Halloween Special http://i.imgur.com/iQUQXnH.png?1 Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) Mandrake (genus Mandragora), is a genus of six species of hallucinogenic plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to the Mediterranean region and the Himalayas. The plants are particularly noted for their potent roots, which somewhat resemble the human form and have a long history of use in religious and superstitious practices. Mandrake plants generally have a short stem bearing a tuft of ovate leaves, often arranged in a basal rosette. The flowers are solitary with a bell-shaped corolla of five petals; they range from purple to yellow-green in colour. The fruit is a fleshy orange-coloured berry. The plants are characterized by a long thick taproot that is often forked. All parts of the plants contain tropane alkaloids and are considered poisonous. The best-known species, M. officinarum, has long been known for its poisonous properties. In ancient times it was used as a narcotic and an aphrodisiac, and it was also believed to have certain magical powers. Its root was thought to be in the power of dark earth spirits. It was believed that the mandrake could be safely uprooted only in the moonlight, after appropriate prayer and ritual, by a black dog attached to the plant by a cord. Human hands were not to come in contact with the plant. In medieval times it was thought that as the mandrake was pulled from the ground, it uttered a shriek that killed or drove mad those who did not block their ears against it. After the plant had been freed from the earth, it could be used for beneficent purposes, such as healing, inducing love, facilitating pregnancy, and providing soothing sleep. Mandrake is still used occasionally in homeopathic and folk medicine and has applications in modern witchcraft and occult practices. http://i.imgur.com/XWL7SqF.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/eJ49Wnr.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/lsXDvWE.jpg?1 Berries: http://i.imgur.com/UghZj00.jpg Root: http://i.imgur.com/qVq4rXl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Hmz8qbx.jpg?1 THE HISTORY AND USES OF THE MAGICAL MANDRAKE http://i.imgur.com/miUTzIx.png?1 So that's what a mandrake is...! :D I tried growing mandrake once, but the plants didn't survive long enough to bloom. :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 05 November 2016Saturday Pygmy Three-toed Sloth With only a small population confined to a single tiny island off the coast of Panama, the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) is the most endangered of all sloths. As its name suggests, this recently discovered species is a dwarf compared with its mainland relatives. In addition to its small size, the pygmy three-toed sloth is characterised by usually blotchy, pale grey-brown fur and a tan-coloured face with a distinctive dark band across the forehead, from which long, shaggy hair hangs over the face, giving a hooded appearance. Sloths have an unusual means of camouflage to avoid predation; their outer fur is often coated in algae, giving the animal a greenish tint that helps hide them in their forest habitat. Three-toed sloths (Bradypus) can be distinguished from their distant relatives, the two-toed sloths (Choloepus), by the three digits on their forelimbs, blunter muzzle, and simpler, peg-like teeth. Very little is known about the biology of the pygmy three-toed sloth, although much can be inferred from what is known about three-toed sloths generally. Three-toed sloths are arboreal folivores that eat the leaves of a variety of trees. This is an energy-poor diet, and these animals have a very low metabolic rate. Their main defences are camouflage, stealth and stillness, whereby they avoid predation largely by avoiding detection. However, should they be attacked, sloths also have a remarkable capacity to survive due to their tough hides, tenacious grips and extraordinary ability to heal from grievous wounds. The pygmy three-toed sloth has an extremely restricted range on one very small island, Escudo de Veraguas. Although the island is uninhabited, fishermen, farmers, lobster divers and local people are all seasonal visitors, and are thought to hunt the sloths illegally. The growing tourism industry is also a potential threat to the species, by degrading its habitat. http://i.imgur.com/BQFI7wY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/YjRQqKv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MfzcaT5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NV6x97U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mCvhadf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/hwDWPPn.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/6NQBzp0.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 05 November 2016Saturday Pygmy Three-toed Sloth With only a small population confined to a single tiny island off the coast of Panama, the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) is the most endangered of all sloths. As its name suggests, this recently discovered species is a dwarf compared with its mainland relatives. In addition to its small size, the pygmy three-toed sloth is characterised by usually blotchy, pale grey-brown fur and a tan-coloured face with a distinctive dark band across the forehead, from which long, shaggy hair hangs over the face, giving a hooded appearance. Sloths have an unusual means of camouflage to avoid predation; their outer fur is often coated in algae, giving the animal a greenish tint that helps hide them in their forest habitat. Three-toed sloths (Bradypus) can be distinguished from their distant relatives, the two-toed sloths (Choloepus), by the three digits on their forelimbs, blunter muzzle, and simpler, peg-like teeth. Very little is known about the biology of the pygmy three-toed sloth, although much can be inferred from what is known about three-toed sloths generally. Three-toed sloths are arboreal folivores that eat the leaves of a variety of trees. This is an energy-poor diet, and these animals have a very low metabolic rate. Their main defences are camouflage, stealth and stillness, whereby they avoid predation largely by avoiding detection. However, should they be attacked, sloths also have a remarkable capacity to survive due to their tough hides, tenacious grips and extraordinary ability to heal from grievous wounds. The pygmy three-toed sloth has an extremely restricted range on one very small island, Escudo de Veraguas. Although the island is uninhabited, fishermen, farmers, lobster divers and local people are all seasonal visitors, and are thought to hunt the sloths illegally. The growing tourism industry is also a potential threat to the species, by degrading its habitat. http://i.imgur.com/BQFI7wY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/YjRQqKv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MfzcaT5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NV6x97U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mCvhadf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/hwDWPPn.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/6NQBzp0.jpg A third sloth species?! Yay! They are so cute. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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