CygnusGal Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 08 June 2014Sunday Tasmanian Devil http://i.imgur.com/daUrz7S.gif As comical as it is, the familiar Looney Tunes portrayal of a Tasmanian devil as a seething, snarling, insatiable lunatic is, at times, not all that far from the truth. Tasmanian devils have a notoriously cantankerous disposition and will fly into a maniacal rage when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. Early European settlers dubbed it a "devil" after witnessing such displays, which include teeth-baring, lunging, and an array of spine-chilling guttural growls. These famously feisty mammals have a coat of coarse brown or black fur and a stocky profile that gives them the appearance of a baby bear. Most have a white stripe or patch on their chest and light spots on their sides or rear end. They have long front legs and shorter rear legs, giving them a lumbering, piglike gait. The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 30 inches (76 centimeters) in length and weighing up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms), although its size will vary widely depending on its specific range and the availability of food. Its oversize head houses sharp teeth and strong, muscular jaws that can deliver, pound for pound, one of the most powerful bites of any mammal. Devils are solitary and nocturnal, spending their days alone in hollow logs, caves, or burrows, and emerging at night to feed. They use their long whiskers and excellent sense of smell and sight to avoid predators and locate prey and carrion. They'll eat pretty much anything they can get their teeth on, and when they do find food, they are voracious, consuming everything—including hair, organs, and bones. Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now indigenous only to the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculate that their extinction on the mainland is attributable to the introduction of Asian dogs, or dingoes. Efforts in the late 1800s to eradicate Tasmanian devils, which farmers erroneously believed were killing livestock (although they were known to take poultry), were nearly successful. In 1941, the government made devils a protected species, and their numbers have grown steadily since. Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), this rapidly spreading condition is a rare contagious cancer that causes large lumps to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it hard for it to eat. The animal eventually starves to death. Animal health experts are sequestering populations where the disease has not yet appeared and are focusing on captive breeding programs to save the species from extinction. Because of the outbreak, the Australian government has listed Tasmanian devils as vulnerable. http://i.imgur.com/WHQZswz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HfPcPC9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KfiRDEn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CBxuR3a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iiBj6ca.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3zxQNZa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LTaTtpI.jpgKinda cute until he opens his mouth. I think I prefer the Warner Brothers version. Much funnier. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 08 June 2014Sunday Tasmanian Devil http://i.imgur.com/daUrz7S.gif As comical as it is, the familiar Looney Tunes portrayal of a Tasmanian devil as a seething, snarling, insatiable lunatic is, at times, not all that far from the truth. Tasmanian devils have a notoriously cantankerous disposition and will fly into a maniacal rage when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. Early European settlers dubbed it a "devil" after witnessing such displays, which include teeth-baring, lunging, and an array of spine-chilling guttural growls. These famously feisty mammals have a coat of coarse brown or black fur and a stocky profile that gives them the appearance of a baby bear. Most have a white stripe or patch on their chest and light spots on their sides or rear end. They have long front legs and shorter rear legs, giving them a lumbering, piglike gait. The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 30 inches (76 centimeters) in length and weighing up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms), although its size will vary widely depending on its specific range and the availability of food. Its oversize head houses sharp teeth and strong, muscular jaws that can deliver, pound for pound, one of the most powerful bites of any mammal. Devils are solitary and nocturnal, spending their days alone in hollow logs, caves, or burrows, and emerging at night to feed. They use their long whiskers and excellent sense of smell and sight to avoid predators and locate prey and carrion. They'll eat pretty much anything they can get their teeth on, and when they do find food, they are voracious, consuming everything—including hair, organs, and bones. Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now indigenous only to the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculate that their extinction on the mainland is attributable to the introduction of Asian dogs, or dingoes. Efforts in the late 1800s to eradicate Tasmanian devils, which farmers erroneously believed were killing livestock (although they were known to take poultry), were nearly successful. In 1941, the government made devils a protected species, and their numbers have grown steadily since. Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), this rapidly spreading condition is a rare contagious cancer that causes large lumps to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it hard for it to eat. The animal eventually starves to death. Animal health experts are sequestering populations where the disease has not yet appeared and are focusing on captive breeding programs to save the species from extinction. Because of the outbreak, the Australian government has listed Tasmanian devils as vulnerable. http://i.imgur.com/WHQZswz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HfPcPC9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KfiRDEn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CBxuR3a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iiBj6ca.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3zxQNZa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LTaTtpI.jpgThat last paragraph is so sad :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 09 June 2014Monday Anemone Stinkhorn The anemone stinkhorn is a common and widespread basidiomycete fungus recognizable for its foul odour of carrion and its sea anemone shape when mature. It is often found growing in gardens, on mulch and grassy areas. Anemone stinkhorns are short-lived and rise from gelatinous, dirty-white egg-like sacs up to 30mm in diameter, which upon maturity produce a sticky spore-bearing substance with a foul smell that attracts flies. The flies ingest and trample the spores, distributing them further afield, providing a means of starting new fungi colonies. The hollow stem of the fruiting body can reach 100mm, or can be ground-hugging. There are between 6 and 9 pairs of 'arms'. This fairly common fungus is widely distributed in Australia from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and eastern Victoria and Tasmania. It is also found across the islands of the Pacific Ocean. From its natural habitat it appears to have travelled to other parts of the world in garden or soil products; it was recorded growing on soil transported from Australia in a glasshouse in Kew Gardens (London) in 1829, and later in California in North America. http://www.realmonst...stinkhorns.html http://i.imgur.com/S4wHaUT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f3CMwdL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGhxdt8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k2p2aPK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NojNQ9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YobATej.jpg Don't get too close to them. http://i.imgur.com/ghW8awo.gif http://i.imgur.com/S9TZAzj.gif :o 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 09 June 2014Monday Anemone Stinkhorn The anemone stinkhorn is a common and widespread basidiomycete fungus recognizable for its foul odour of carrion and its sea anemone shape when mature. It is often found growing in gardens, on mulch and grassy areas. Anemone stinkhorns are short-lived and rise from gelatinous, dirty-white egg-like sacs up to 30mm in diameter, which upon maturity produce a sticky spore-bearing substance with a foul smell that attracts flies. The flies ingest and trample the spores, distributing them further afield, providing a means of starting new fungi colonies. The hollow stem of the fruiting body can reach 100mm, or can be ground-hugging. There are between 6 and 9 pairs of 'arms'. This fairly common fungus is widely distributed in Australia from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and eastern Victoria and Tasmania. It is also found across the islands of the Pacific Ocean. From its natural habitat it appears to have travelled to other parts of the world in garden or soil products; it was recorded growing on soil transported from Australia in a glasshouse in Kew Gardens (London) in 1829, and later in California in North America. http://www.realmonst...stinkhorns.html http://i.imgur.com/S4wHaUT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f3CMwdL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGhxdt8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k2p2aPK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NojNQ9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YobATej.jpg Don't get too close to them. http://i.imgur.com/ghW8awo.gif http://i.imgur.com/S9TZAzj.gif :oWell, that's rather wretched looking. :o. Interesting, but still wretched. I've seen that documentary in the spoiler. It doesn't end well... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 09 June 2014Monday Anemone Stinkhorn The anemone stinkhorn is a common and widespread basidiomycete fungus recognizable for its foul odour of carrion and its sea anemone shape when mature. It is often found growing in gardens, on mulch and grassy areas. Anemone stinkhorns are short-lived and rise from gelatinous, dirty-white egg-like sacs up to 30mm in diameter, which upon maturity produce a sticky spore-bearing substance with a foul smell that attracts flies. The flies ingest and trample the spores, distributing them further afield, providing a means of starting new fungi colonies. The hollow stem of the fruiting body can reach 100mm, or can be ground-hugging. There are between 6 and 9 pairs of 'arms'. This fairly common fungus is widely distributed in Australia from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and eastern Victoria and Tasmania. It is also found across the islands of the Pacific Ocean. From its natural habitat it appears to have travelled to other parts of the world in garden or soil products; it was recorded growing on soil transported from Australia in a glasshouse in Kew Gardens (London) in 1829, and later in California in North America. http://www.realmonst...stinkhorns.html http://i.imgur.com/S4wHaUT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/f3CMwdL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGhxdt8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k2p2aPK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NojNQ9z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YobATej.jpg Don't get too close to them. http://i.imgur.com/ghW8awo.gif http://i.imgur.com/S9TZAzj.gif :o*woot* some Flora http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/happy/happy0005.gifThat's some cool looking fungi, with all the pink bits...I was actually going to comment that it looked like something from an Alien movie, but you beat me to it ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 10 June 2014Tuesday OCTOPUSES Octopuses or Octopi? The Octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda. They are invertebrates most closely related to squid and cuttlefish. There are over 200 species of octopuses and they inhabit all of the world's oceans. They prefer shallower waters, especially rocky coasts or coral reefs. Octopuses have no internal bone structure or external shell and so can fit into extremely small cracks and crevices. The only hard part of their bodies is a parrot-like beak located at the bottom of their head, between their eight arms. The octopus is a skilled ambush predator and uses many of its hunting tactics for its own defense. The octopus can squirt a cloud of ink to hide behind, confusing both enemies and prey as to its actual whereabouts. The ink also includes a substance that dulls an attacker's sense of smell. Octopuses prefer to run and hide rather than fight and can shoot concentrated streams of water through their mantle and jet-propel themselves to a quick getaway. They can reach speeds of 25 mph when they do this, but only for very short periods of time. The more preferred way an octopus avoids being eaten is by not being seen. Octopuses have specialized skin cells that change their coloring to perfectly match their surroundings. They can appear to change their skin's texture as well. The octopus is very intelligent. Scientific experiments have proven they can learn and possess both long-term and short-term memory. Octopuses can negotiate mazes, solve puzzles, distinguish between shapes and patterns and imitate observed behavior. They are notoriously clever at escaping containment and fishermen have found octopuses breaking into the crab holds of their boats to get a meal. In deference to their intelligence, some countries require the octopus be anesthetized before scientists can conduct surgery on them. For all their innovation, intelligence and abilities, octopuses don't live very long. The Common Octopus lives about 2 years, the Giant Pacific Octopus may live for 5 years. Scientists believe the octopus is like the salmon and releases an endocrine secretion that genetically programs them for death after mating. The male usually dies a few months after sending spermatophores down one arm onto the female's mantle cavity. The female lives long enough to lay her eggs and protect them through hatching. She does not eat during this time. She spends her days guarding the 40,000 or so eggs (depending on species), gently blowing water currents over them so the developing fetuses get enough oxygen. The female will live long enough to see her young hatch, but as they rise to the upper waters of the sea to start their lives, she will die. http://i.imgur.com/Cx0v1TW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AWnllqk.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YXnyUHL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wjsbNPD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kBVhXNl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IV7Vawf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K1uYwJp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mTpW4ld.jpg 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 The Trapdoor spider: The taxonomy of trapdoor spiders is currently not well understood in the United States and many species of the common genus Ummidia remain undescribed. Ummidia is distributed across the southern United States.Bothriocyrtum californicum is the common trapdoor spider of the Pacific Coast. The strange genus Cyclocosmiaincludes seven species, found in Florida, Eastern Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mexico to Guatemala,China, Thailand and Canada. The discontinuous distribution is indicative of a basal genus that was affected bycontinental drift. http://cdn.gifstache.com/2013/8/23/1419872450_186957996.gif 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 10 June 2014Tuesday OCTOPUSES Octopuses or Octopi? The Octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda. They are invertebrates most closely related to squid and cuttlefish. There are over 200 species of octopuses and they inhabit all of the world's oceans. They prefer shallower waters, especially rocky coasts or coral reefs. Octopuses have no internal bone structure or external shell and so can fit into extremely small cracks and crevices. The only hard part of their bodies is a parrot-like beak located at the bottom of their head, between their eight arms. The octopus is a skilled ambush predator and uses many of its hunting tactics for its own defense. The octopus can squirt a cloud of ink to hide behind, confusing both enemies and prey as to its actual whereabouts. The ink also includes a substance that dulls an attacker's sense of smell. Octopuses prefer to run and hide rather than fight and can shoot concentrated streams of water through their mantle and jet-propel themselves to a quick getaway. They can reach speeds of 25 mph when they do this, but only for very short periods of time. The more preferred way an octopus avoids being eaten is by not being seen. Octopuses have specialized skin cells that change their coloring to perfectly match their surroundings. They can appear to change their skin's texture as well. The octopus is very intelligent. Scientific experiments have proven they can learn and possess both long-term and short-term memory. Octopuses can negotiate mazes, solve puzzles, distinguish between shapes and patterns and imitate observed behavior. They are notoriously clever at escaping containment and fishermen have found octopuses breaking into the crab holds of their boats to get a meal. In deference to their intelligence, some countries require the octopus be anesthetized before scientists can conduct surgery on them. For all their innovation, intelligence and abilities, octopuses don't live very long. The Common Octopus lives about 2 years, the Giant Pacific Octopus may live for 5 years. Scientists believe the octopus is like the salmon and releases an endocrine secretion that genetically programs them for death after mating. The male usually dies a few months after sending spermatophores down one arm onto the female's mantle cavity. The female lives long enough to lay her eggs and protect them through hatching. She does not eat during this time. She spends her days guarding the 40,000 or so eggs (depending on species), gently blowing water currents over them so the developing fetuses get enough oxygen. The female will live long enough to see her young hatch, but as they rise to the upper waters of the sea to start their lives, she will die. http://i.imgur.com/Cx0v1TW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AWnllqk.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YXnyUHL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wjsbNPD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kBVhXNl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IV7Vawf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K1uYwJp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mTpW4ld.jpgLove Octopuses. Didn't know they came in such bright colours. * This like is not obligatory ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 The Trapdoor spider: The taxonomy of trapdoor spiders is currently not well understood in the United States and many species of the common genus Ummidia remain undescribed. Ummidia is distributed across the southern United States.Bothriocyrtum californicum is the common trapdoor spider of the Pacific Coast. The strange genus Cyclocosmiaincludes seven species, found in Florida, Eastern Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mexico to Guatemala,China, Thailand and Canada. The discontinuous distribution is indicative of a basal genus that was affected bycontinental drift. http://cdn.gifstache.com/2013/8/23/1419872450_186957996.gifwoah...nice gif :ebert: the bug didn't see that coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 11 June 2014Wednesday Maned Wolf What’s in a name? For this unique animal, it is a wolf in name only. It is however a canid, and therefore related to the wolf. Maned wolves are more closely related to the forest fox and the bush dog (canid species from South America). Despite this relationship, the maned wolf is the only species in its genus. It has a very different appearance than the wolves we are used to seeing, and more closely resembles a fox than a wolf. The maned wolf is a South American native whose range extends from the Amazon basin rain forest in Brazil to the dry shrub forests of Paraguay and northern Argentina. They inhabit grasslands, savannah, swampy areas and dry shrub forests. They prefer to live in small patches of forest interspersed with open country. The maned wolf also differs from true North American wolves in diet and temperament. These gentle and very timid wolves are solitary by nature. Only during the breeding season would you generally see more than one at a time. The maned wolf is omnivorous, eating a combination of fruits, vegetables and meat. It often preys on small birds, rodents and frogs, and favors fruits such as bananas, apples and avocados. http://i.imgur.com/V4EzSTc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KPfgK1y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oD4Zyip.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wMJb5wW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/q1IZtxr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EbUXDCa.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 10 June 2014Tuesday OCTOPUSES Octopuses or Octopi? The Octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda. They are invertebrates most closely related to squid and cuttlefish. There are over 200 species of octopuses and they inhabit all of the world's oceans. They prefer shallower waters, especially rocky coasts or coral reefs. Octopuses have no internal bone structure or external shell and so can fit into extremely small cracks and crevices. The only hard part of their bodies is a parrot-like beak located at the bottom of their head, between their eight arms. The octopus is a skilled ambush predator and uses many of its hunting tactics for its own defense. The octopus can squirt a cloud of ink to hide behind, confusing both enemies and prey as to its actual whereabouts. The ink also includes a substance that dulls an attacker's sense of smell. Octopuses prefer to run and hide rather than fight and can shoot concentrated streams of water through their mantle and jet-propel themselves to a quick getaway. They can reach speeds of 25 mph when they do this, but only for very short periods of time. The more preferred way an octopus avoids being eaten is by not being seen. Octopuses have specialized skin cells that change their coloring to perfectly match their surroundings. They can appear to change their skin's texture as well. The octopus is very intelligent. Scientific experiments have proven they can learn and possess both long-term and short-term memory. Octopuses can negotiate mazes, solve puzzles, distinguish between shapes and patterns and imitate observed behavior. They are notoriously clever at escaping containment and fishermen have found octopuses breaking into the crab holds of their boats to get a meal. In deference to their intelligence, some countries require the octopus be anesthetized before scientists can conduct surgery on them. For all their innovation, intelligence and abilities, octopuses don't live very long. The Common Octopus lives about 2 years, the Giant Pacific Octopus may live for 5 years. Scientists believe the octopus is like the salmon and releases an endocrine secretion that genetically programs them for death after mating. The male usually dies a few months after sending spermatophores down one arm onto the female's mantle cavity. The female lives long enough to lay her eggs and protect them through hatching. She does not eat during this time. She spends her days guarding the 40,000 or so eggs (depending on species), gently blowing water currents over them so the developing fetuses get enough oxygen. The female will live long enough to see her young hatch, but as they rise to the upper waters of the sea to start their lives, she will die. http://i.imgur.com/Cx0v1TW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AWnllqk.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YXnyUHL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wjsbNPD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kBVhXNl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IV7Vawf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K1uYwJp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mTpW4ld.jpgBeautiful and fascinating creatures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 The Trapdoor spider: The taxonomy of trapdoor spiders is currently not well understood in the United States and many species of the common genus Ummidia remain undescribed. Ummidia is distributed across the southern United States.Bothriocyrtum californicum is the common trapdoor spider of the Pacific Coast. The strange genus Cyclocosmiaincludes seven species, found in Florida, Eastern Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mexico to Guatemala,China, Thailand and Canada. The discontinuous distribution is indicative of a basal genus that was affected bycontinental drift. http://cdn.gifstache.com/2013/8/23/1419872450_186957996.gifwoah...nice gif :ebert: the bug didn't see that comingThat is a great gif. :ebert: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 11 June 2014Wednesday Maned Wolf What’s in a name? For this unique animal, it is a wolf in name only. It is however a canid, and therefore related to the wolf. Maned wolves are more closely related to the forest fox and the bush dog (canid species from South America). Despite this relationship, the maned wolf is the only species in its genus. It has a very different appearance than the wolves we are used to seeing, and more closely resembles a fox than a wolf. The maned wolf is a South American native whose range extends from the Amazon basin rain forest in Brazil to the dry shrub forests of Paraguay and northern Argentina. They inhabit grasslands, savannah, swampy areas and dry shrub forests. They prefer to live in small patches of forest interspersed with open country. The maned wolf also differs from true North American wolves in diet and temperament. These gentle and very timid wolves are solitary by nature. Only during the breeding season would you generally see more than one at a time. The maned wolf is omnivorous, eating a combination of fruits, vegetables and meat. It often preys on small birds, rodents and frogs, and favors fruits such as bananas, apples and avocados. http://i.imgur.com/V4EzSTc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KPfgK1y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oD4Zyip.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wMJb5wW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/q1IZtxr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EbUXDCa.jpgBeautiful animal. ...the maned wolf is the only species in its genus. That's very interesting. A party of one. They get a whole genus to themselves. Kinda lonely, I'd think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 11 June 2014Wednesday Maned Wolf What’s in a name? For this unique animal, it is a wolf in name only. It is however a canid, and therefore related to the wolf. Maned wolves are more closely related to the forest fox and the bush dog (canid species from South America). Despite this relationship, the maned wolf is the only species in its genus. It has a very different appearance than the wolves we are used to seeing, and more closely resembles a fox than a wolf. The maned wolf is a South American native whose range extends from the Amazon basin rain forest in Brazil to the dry shrub forests of Paraguay and northern Argentina. They inhabit grasslands, savannah, swampy areas and dry shrub forests. They prefer to live in small patches of forest interspersed with open country. The maned wolf also differs from true North American wolves in diet and temperament. These gentle and very timid wolves are solitary by nature. Only during the breeding season would you generally see more than one at a time. The maned wolf is omnivorous, eating a combination of fruits, vegetables and meat. It often preys on small birds, rodents and frogs, and favors fruits such as bananas, apples and avocados. http://i.imgur.com/V4EzSTc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KPfgK1y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oD4Zyip.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wMJb5wW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/q1IZtxr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EbUXDCa.jpgLooks friendly and playful :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :| 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|awesome :haz:http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1134898/dracula-o.gif 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|awesome :haz:http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1134898/dracula-o.gif http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmyBPBfWiRw/UGhUuv6lPOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/duS74YQ-D9I/s200/landaubl.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|awesome :haz:http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1134898/dracula-o.gif http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmyBPBfWiRw/UGhUuv6lPOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/duS74YQ-D9I/s200/landaubl.jpgPull the string! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|Not so friendly, not so playful. Eeek! :o Edited June 13, 2014 by CygnusGal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|Not so friendly, not so playful. Eeek! :o Some cute bats for you: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/28/article-0-0F494B7A00000578-183_634x349.jpg :) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|awesome :haz:http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1134898/dracula-o.gif http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmyBPBfWiRw/UGhUuv6lPOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/duS74YQ-D9I/s200/landaubl.jpgPull the string! http://youtu.be/L7Dw60SVXQ4 You must have known that was coming. Edited June 13, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Well, Substance, after the vampire bats you HAVE to talk about the harlequin mantis shrimp. The metalest beast to ever roam the earth (pardon, the sea). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 12 June 2014Thursday Vampire Bats Bats are the only mammals that can fly, but vampire bats have an even more interesting distinction—they are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. These notorious bats sleep during the day in total darkness, suspended upside down from the roofs of caves. They typically gather in colonies of about 100 animals, but sometimes live in groups of 1,000 or more. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows. During the darkest part of the night, common vampire bats emerge to hunt. Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They don't remove enough blood to harm their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease. Vampire bats strike their victims from the ground. They land near their prey and approach it on all fours. The bats have few teeth because of their liquid diet, but those they have are razor sharp. Each bat has a heat sensor on its nose that points it toward a spot where warm blood is flowing just beneath its victim's skin. After putting the bite on an animal, the vampire bat laps up the flowing blood with its tongue. Its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The common vampire bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South America. http://i.imgur.com/jmYgKeu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6LPqcu6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AURF5b5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OTzDMnB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/22JmW0Q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/6uRlP2x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CJ1R7u9.jpg :|Not so friendly, not so playful. Eeek! :o Some cute bats for you: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/28/article-0-0F494B7A00000578-183_634x349.jpg :) Awww... Now that is cute. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 07 June 2014Saturday As promised, something cute and fuzzy. Koalas Though often called the koala "bear," this cuddly animal is not a bear at all; it is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. After giving birth, a female koala carries her baby in her pouch for about six months. When the infant emerges, it rides on its mother's back or clings to her belly, accompanying her everywhere until it is about a year old. Koalas live in eastern Australia, where the eucalyptus trees they love are most plentiful. In fact, they rarely leave these trees, and their sharp claws and opposable digits easily keep them aloft. During the day they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours. When not asleep a koala feeds on eucalyptus leaves, especially at night. Koalas do not drink much water and they get most of their moisture from these leaves. Each animal eats a tremendous amount for its size—about two and a half pounds (one kilogram) of leaves a day. Koalas even store snacks of leaves in pouches in their cheeks. A special digestive system—a long gut—allows koalas to break down the tough eucalyptus leaves and remain unharmed by their poison. Koalas eat so many of these leaves that they take on a distinctive odor from their oil, reminiscent of cough drops. These plump, fuzzy mammals were widely hunted during the 1920s and 1930s, and their populations plunged. Helped by reintroduction, they have reappeared over much of their former range, but their populations are smaller and scattered. Koalas need a lot of space—about a hundred trees per animal—a pressing problem as Australia's woodlands continue to shrink. http://i.imgur.com/IWWmkYW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5Nuiwu7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wMO63a0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lAQ4sQQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ULXK7w3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b5ixWOM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jHt9nTq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MR1CqlJ.jpg Cuddly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share Posted June 14, 2014 (edited) 13 June 2014Friday Peacock Mantis Shrimp A relative of shrimp and lobsters, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the more interesting species in the animal kingdom. It is multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. This ferocious crustacean has club-like appendages that fold under its body, similar to a praying mantis. The legs act like a spring to attack its prey. What is amazing about this creature is that its clubs strike at 50 miles per hour in milliseconds. One strike is 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. It can punch 50,000 times between molts without damaging its clubs. The punch of a mantis shrimp is so strong that it can break through the shells of its prey and even thick glass. Such power is created by a special, saddlelike hinge-joint in these legs, which acts like a spring. Its large, mobile, compound eyes have sophisticated stereoscopic and color vision. It is able to see ten times more color than human beings, including ultraviolet light. The shrimp use this exceptional eyesight to detect both predators and prey. The Peacock Mantis Shrimp lives in the crevices of coral or rocks on sandy or shelly ocean bottoms. They are very protective of their territory and exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders. http://i.imgur.com/ZW683wz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qKbV3sK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tKHl2DR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/REP9lF1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N8XvN9T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R2hHk6E.jpg http://youtu.be/DtNAqK_V-lg Edited June 14, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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