Babycat Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 12 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Yes, dinosaurs are extinct, unless you're a crackpot who thinks sauropods still roam the swamps of Cameroon (although that would be cool). Tyrannosaurus rex http://www.livescien...-rex-facts.html Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived. Everything about this ferocious predator, from its thick, heavy skull to its 4-foot-long (1.2-meter-long) jaw, was designed for maximum bone-crushing action. Fossil evidence shows that Tyrannosaurus was about 40 feet (12 meters) long and about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall. Its strong thighs and long, powerful tail helped it move quickly, and its massive 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) skull could bore into prey. T. rex's serrated, conical teeth were most likely used to pierce and grip flesh, which it then ripped away with its brawny neck muscles. Its two-fingered forearms could probably seize prey, but they were too short to reach its mouth. Scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite. Fossils of T. rex prey, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, suggest T. rex crushed and broke bones as it ate, and broken bones have been found in its dung. Scientists theorize that unlike carnivores of today, T. rexes did not hunt in packs but rather were solo hunters. There is a debate as to whether the dinosaur relied solely on live prey or would it feast on already-dead food as well. Tyrannosaurus rex lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period. It became extinct about 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. http://i.imgur.com/YJlAIIl.png http://i.imgur.com/UxoOcQR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WQnmWOW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4pjeFQx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UPg3fGu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UQn6sEU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eeb7I0M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xh75NXe.jpg Big fellas..! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 13 July 2014Sunday Sea Dragons Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst. Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy and weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafies are generally brown to yellow in body color with spectacular olive-tinted appendages. Weedies have less flamboyant projections and are usually reddish in color with yellow spots. Sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water, but they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed. Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches (35 centimeters), while the slightly larger weedies can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) long. Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. They are, however, frequently taken by divers seeking to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened. http://i.imgur.com/rBDZ8KP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cCTiWWL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7mSzAyV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DLiOHl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BX9s5Be.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yCB1HM6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Fx370YT.png Aren't they pretty? :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 13 July 2014Sunday Sea Dragons Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst. Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy and weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafies are generally brown to yellow in body color with spectacular olive-tinted appendages. Weedies have less flamboyant projections and are usually reddish in color with yellow spots. Sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water, but they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed. Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches (35 centimeters), while the slightly larger weedies can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) long. Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. They are, however, frequently taken by divers seeking to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened. http://i.imgur.com/rBDZ8KP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cCTiWWL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7mSzAyV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DLiOHl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BX9s5Be.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yCB1HM6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Fx370YT.png Very fancy looking and unique. Great 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 12 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Yes, dinosaurs are extinct, unless you're a crackpot who thinks sauropods still roam the swamps of Cameroon (although that would be cool). Tyrannosaurus rex http://www.livescien...-rex-facts.html Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived. Everything about this ferocious predator, from its thick, heavy skull to its 4-foot-long (1.2-meter-long) jaw, was designed for maximum bone-crushing action. Fossil evidence shows that Tyrannosaurus was about 40 feet (12 meters) long and about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall. Its strong thighs and long, powerful tail helped it move quickly, and its massive 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) skull could bore into prey. T. rex's serrated, conical teeth were most likely used to pierce and grip flesh, which it then ripped away with its brawny neck muscles. Its two-fingered forearms could probably seize prey, but they were too short to reach its mouth. Scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite. Fossils of T. rex prey, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, suggest T. rex crushed and broke bones as it ate, and broken bones have been found in its dung. Scientists theorize that unlike carnivores of today, T. rexes did not hunt in packs but rather were solo hunters. There is a debate as to whether the dinosaur relied solely on live prey or would it feast on already-dead food as well. Tyrannosaurus rex lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period. It became extinct about 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. http://i.imgur.com/YJlAIIl.png http://i.imgur.com/UxoOcQR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WQnmWOW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4pjeFQx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UPg3fGu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UQn6sEU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eeb7I0M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xh75NXe.jpg Oooo...paleontology Saturdays. Will this be a regular feature? :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 13 July 2014Sunday Sea Dragons Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst. Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy and weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafies are generally brown to yellow in body color with spectacular olive-tinted appendages. Weedies have less flamboyant projections and are usually reddish in color with yellow spots. Sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water, but they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed. Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches (35 centimeters), while the slightly larger weedies can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) long. Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. They are, however, frequently taken by divers seeking to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened. http://i.imgur.com/rBDZ8KP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cCTiWWL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7mSzAyV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DLiOHl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BX9s5Be.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yCB1HM6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Fx370YT.png Bizarre creature. Beautiful. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 12 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Yes, dinosaurs are extinct, unless you're a crackpot who thinks sauropods still roam the swamps of Cameroon (although that would be cool). Tyrannosaurus rex http://www.livescien...-rex-facts.html Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived. Everything about this ferocious predator, from its thick, heavy skull to its 4-foot-long (1.2-meter-long) jaw, was designed for maximum bone-crushing action. Fossil evidence shows that Tyrannosaurus was about 40 feet (12 meters) long and about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall. Its strong thighs and long, powerful tail helped it move quickly, and its massive 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) skull could bore into prey. T. rex's serrated, conical teeth were most likely used to pierce and grip flesh, which it then ripped away with its brawny neck muscles. Its two-fingered forearms could probably seize prey, but they were too short to reach its mouth. Scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite. Fossils of T. rex prey, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, suggest T. rex crushed and broke bones as it ate, and broken bones have been found in its dung. Scientists theorize that unlike carnivores of today, T. rexes did not hunt in packs but rather were solo hunters. There is a debate as to whether the dinosaur relied solely on live prey or would it feast on already-dead food as well. Tyrannosaurus rex lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period. It became extinct about 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. http://i.imgur.com/YJlAIIl.png http://i.imgur.com/UxoOcQR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WQnmWOW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4pjeFQx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UPg3fGu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UQn6sEU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eeb7I0M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xh75NXe.jpg Oooo...paleontology Saturdays. Will this be a regular feature? :ebert: It will be if I remember to do it. It may be a little early for me, but the memory is the first thing to go. . . :codger: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 14 July 2014Monday Mongoose Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops. Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose, these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts. Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book. In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/UDeotM6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mxsLfvx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lmM3Ohv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OZmmtLv.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/DLo0b8T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5UGpQ5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tiUFkUG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0i4K3Gg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9xc5qVA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7QPxoid.gif 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 14 July 2014Monday Mongoose Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops. Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose, these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts. Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book. In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/UDeotM6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mxsLfvx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lmM3Ohv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OZmmtLv.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/DLo0b8T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5UGpQ5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tiUFkUG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0i4K3Gg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9xc5qVA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7QPxoid.gif Aren't these the bold, brave creatures who out-stare snakes? :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 14 July 2014Monday Mongoose Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops. Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose, these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts. Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book. In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/UDeotM6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mxsLfvx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lmM3Ohv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OZmmtLv.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/DLo0b8T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5UGpQ5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tiUFkUG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0i4K3Gg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9xc5qVA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7QPxoid.gif Scary eyes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 12 July 2014 Paleontology Saturday Yes, dinosaurs are extinct, unless you're a crackpot who thinks sauropods still roam the swamps of Cameroon (although that would be cool). Tyrannosaurus rex http://www.livescien...-rex-facts.html Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived. Everything about this ferocious predator, from its thick, heavy skull to its 4-foot-long (1.2-meter-long) jaw, was designed for maximum bone-crushing action. Fossil evidence shows that Tyrannosaurus was about 40 feet (12 meters) long and about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall. Its strong thighs and long, powerful tail helped it move quickly, and its massive 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) skull could bore into prey. T. rex's serrated, conical teeth were most likely used to pierce and grip flesh, which it then ripped away with its brawny neck muscles. Its two-fingered forearms could probably seize prey, but they were too short to reach its mouth. Scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite. Fossils of T. rex prey, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, suggest T. rex crushed and broke bones as it ate, and broken bones have been found in its dung. Scientists theorize that unlike carnivores of today, T. rexes did not hunt in packs but rather were solo hunters. There is a debate as to whether the dinosaur relied solely on live prey or would it feast on already-dead food as well. Tyrannosaurus rex lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period. It became extinct about 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. http://i.imgur.com/YJlAIIl.png http://i.imgur.com/UxoOcQR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/WQnmWOW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4pjeFQx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UPg3fGu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UQn6sEU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eeb7I0M.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xh75NXe.jpg Oooo...paleontology Saturdays. Will this be a regular feature? :ebert: It will be if I remember to do it. It may be a little early for me, but the memory is the first thing to go. . . :codger: I know the feeling :codger: :sigh: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 14 July 2014Monday Mongoose Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops. Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose, these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts. Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book. In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/UDeotM6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mxsLfvx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lmM3Ohv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OZmmtLv.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/DLo0b8T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5UGpQ5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tiUFkUG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0i4K3Gg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9xc5qVA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7QPxoid.gif Rikki Tikki!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 14 July 2014Monday Mongoose Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops. Ranging in size from the 7-inch-long (18-centimeter-long) dwarf mongoose to the 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) Egyptian mongoose, these sleek mammals have long bodies with short legs and tapered snouts. Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object. Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional Rikki-tikki-tavi, based on an ancient fable and included in The Jungle Book. In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to several islands in Hawaii and the West Indies in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/UDeotM6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mxsLfvx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lmM3Ohv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OZmmtLv.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/DLo0b8T.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5UGpQ5A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tiUFkUG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0i4K3Gg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9xc5qVA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7QPxoid.gif Fantastic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 15 July 2014Tuesday Sea Anemones The ornately colored sea anemone is named after the equally flashy terrestrial anemone flower. A close relative of coral and jellyfish, anemones are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles. Their bodies are composed of an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, a cylindrical body, and an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are triggered by the slightest touch, firing a harpoon-like filament into their victim and injecting a paralyzing neurotoxin. The helpless prey is then guided into the mouth by the tentacles. There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s oceans at various depths, although the largest and most varied occur in coastal tropical waters. They run the full spectrum of colors and can be as small as half an inch (1.25 centimeters) or as large as 6 feet (1.8 meters) across. Some anemones, like their coral cousins, establish symbiotic relationships with green algae. In exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the algae's photosynthesis. They form another, more famous symbiotic alliance with clownfish, which are protected by a mucus layer that makes them immune to the anemone's sting. Clownfish live within the anemone’s tentacles, getting protection from predators, and the anemone snacks on the scraps from the clownfish’s meals. http://i.imgur.com/uaTGu9Z.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ATpfJgO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jJMprMP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GLGxDiW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IPhq8DM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1aKSwnc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FhSo2p5.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 15 July 2014Tuesday Sea Anemones The ornately colored sea anemone is named after the equally flashy terrestrial anemone flower. A close relative of coral and jellyfish, anemones are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles. Their bodies are composed of an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, a cylindrical body, and an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are triggered by the slightest touch, firing a harpoon-like filament into their victim and injecting a paralyzing neurotoxin. The helpless prey is then guided into the mouth by the tentacles. There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s oceans at various depths, although the largest and most varied occur in coastal tropical waters. They run the full spectrum of colors and can be as small as half an inch (1.25 centimeters) or as large as 6 feet (1.8 meters) across. Some anemones, like their coral cousins, establish symbiotic relationships with green algae. In exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the algae's photosynthesis. They form another, more famous symbiotic alliance with clownfish, which are protected by a mucus layer that makes them immune to the anemone's sting. Clownfish live within the anemone’s tentacles, getting protection from predators, and the anemone snacks on the scraps from the clownfish’s meals. http://i.imgur.com/uaTGu9Z.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ATpfJgO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jJMprMP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GLGxDiW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IPhq8DM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1aKSwnc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FhSo2p5.jpg Wow! Awesome looking...and such variety 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 16 July 2014Wednesday Halictid Bees Shiny metallic bees :haz: Sweat bees, also referred to as halictid bees, (Halictidae) are so named for their habit of landing on people and licking the perspiration from the skin in order to obtain the salt. Bees in this family are common throughout North America, with over 1,000 species occurring in North and Central America. Bees in this family are small to medium sized, ranging from 4 to 10 mm. They generally are black or brownish colored; however, there are species of sweat bees that are bright metallic green and some that have brassy yellow or red markings. Males tend to have yellow faces. Sweat bees build nests in clay soil, sandy banks, and cavities in weeds or shrubs. http://i.imgur.com/Z9LM2Ms.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrZ0z7S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pIE11EG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y618dC8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MDODD6q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Oxi7xgN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cqmP91X.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 16 July 2014Wednesday Halictid Bees Shiny metallic bees :haz: Sweat bees, also referred to as halictid bees, (Halictidae) are so named for their habit of landing on people and licking the perspiration from the skin in order to obtain the salt. Bees in this family are common throughout North America, with over 1,000 species occurring in North and Central America. Bees in this family are small to medium sized, ranging from 4 to 10 mm. They generally are black or brownish colored; however, there are species of sweat bees that are bright metallic green and some that have brassy yellow or red markings. Males tend to have yellow faces. Sweat bees build nests in clay soil, sandy banks, and cavities in weeds or shrubs. http://i.imgur.com/Z9LM2Ms.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrZ0z7S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pIE11EG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y618dC8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MDODD6q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Oxi7xgN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cqmP91X.jpg I can definitively state that these things hurt like hell when they sting/bite. Ouch! Dreadful creatures. Pretty green though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 16 July 2014Wednesday Halictid Bees Shiny metallic bees :haz: Sweat bees, also referred to as halictid bees, (Halictidae) are so named for their habit of landing on people and licking the perspiration from the skin in order to obtain the salt. Bees in this family are common throughout North America, with over 1,000 species occurring in North and Central America. Bees in this family are small to medium sized, ranging from 4 to 10 mm. They generally are black or brownish colored; however, there are species of sweat bees that are bright metallic green and some that have brassy yellow or red markings. Males tend to have yellow faces. Sweat bees build nests in clay soil, sandy banks, and cavities in weeds or shrubs. http://i.imgur.com/Z9LM2Ms.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrZ0z7S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pIE11EG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y618dC8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MDODD6q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Oxi7xgN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cqmP91X.jpg Quite vivid greens and blues. I'm only used to seeing bees in yellow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 17 July 2014Thursday Blue-footed Booby B :P :P BIES Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet (24 meters). Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water's surface. All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word "bobo." The term means "stupid," which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment. http://i.imgur.com/RtFzdLw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5e6Kyq2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSZUUmD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSPBNzO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LiFQlVb.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/baRFPIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/563LHWm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rTXA2fZ.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx_rush Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Check this flower out! Its from my neighbors garden. I got to look at it up close, absolutely amazing flower 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Check this flower out! Its from my neighbors garden. I got to look at it up close, absolutely amazing flower Passion flowers are cool. I tried growing them myself once, but it's too cold where I live for them to survive the winter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 15 July 2014Tuesday Sea Anemones The ornately colored sea anemone is named after the equally flashy terrestrial anemone flower. A close relative of coral and jellyfish, anemones are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles. Their bodies are composed of an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, a cylindrical body, and an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are triggered by the slightest touch, firing a harpoon-like filament into their victim and injecting a paralyzing neurotoxin. The helpless prey is then guided into the mouth by the tentacles. There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s oceans at various depths, although the largest and most varied occur in coastal tropical waters. They run the full spectrum of colors and can be as small as half an inch (1.25 centimeters) or as large as 6 feet (1.8 meters) across. Some anemones, like their coral cousins, establish symbiotic relationships with green algae. In exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the algae's photosynthesis. They form another, more famous symbiotic alliance with clownfish, which are protected by a mucus layer that makes them immune to the anemone's sting. Clownfish live within the anemone’s tentacles, getting protection from predators, and the anemone snacks on the scraps from the clownfish’s meals. http://i.imgur.com/uaTGu9Z.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ATpfJgO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jJMprMP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GLGxDiW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IPhq8DM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1aKSwnc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FhSo2p5.jpg I found Nemo! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 16 July 2014Wednesday Halictid Bees Shiny metallic bees :haz: Sweat bees, also referred to as halictid bees, (Halictidae) are so named for their habit of landing on people and licking the perspiration from the skin in order to obtain the salt. Bees in this family are common throughout North America, with over 1,000 species occurring in North and Central America. Bees in this family are small to medium sized, ranging from 4 to 10 mm. They generally are black or brownish colored; however, there are species of sweat bees that are bright metallic green and some that have brassy yellow or red markings. Males tend to have yellow faces. Sweat bees build nests in clay soil, sandy banks, and cavities in weeds or shrubs. http://i.imgur.com/Z9LM2Ms.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrZ0z7S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pIE11EG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y618dC8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MDODD6q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Oxi7xgN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cqmP91X.jpg Pretty green color. Never seen one of these before. All I ever see are those with white bottoms. And stripy bits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Check this flower out! Its from my neighbors garden. I got to look at it up close, absolutely amazing flower I don't know what that is, but it sure is beautiful! :) Hey - what happened to the pic?! :o Edited July 18, 2014 by Babycat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Anemones are surely pretty, but what about Holothurias? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 17 July 2014Thursday Blue-footed Booby B :P :P BIES Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet (24 meters). Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water's surface. All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word "bobo." The term means "stupid," which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment. http://i.imgur.com/RtFzdLw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5e6Kyq2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSZUUmD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WSPBNzO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LiFQlVb.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/baRFPIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/563LHWm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rTXA2fZ.jpg Fabulous feet! :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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