CygnusGal Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 05 August 2014Tuesday Pufferfish Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually. http://i.imgur.com/IdqZSuR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IAu1AAl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LR97USf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nlWOrjh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iXLL33a.jpgWow. That is very...puffy :o. Kinda cute too and it looks like it fries well. ;) (Homer looks over the menu.)Homer: There's got to be something I haven't tried. Huh? Hey, hey, what's this? Fugu!Akira: (Gasps.) It is a blowfish, sir. But I should warn you that one-Homer: Come on, pal. Fugu me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 05 August 2014Tuesday Pufferfish Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually. http://i.imgur.com/IdqZSuR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IAu1AAl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LR97USf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nlWOrjh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iXLL33a.jpgWow! What amazingly odd looking fish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir Don't forget the adorableness that is a baby tapir: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01431/Tapir_1431170i.jpg (I can't believe I just started reading this thread. A little late to the party :( ) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir Don't forget the adorableness that is a baby tapir: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01431/Tapir_1431170i.jpg (I can't believe I just started reading this thread. A little late to the party :( ) Cool pic. :) It's never too late to join the party. :cheers: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir Don't forget the adorableness that is a baby tapir: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01431/Tapir_1431170i.jpg (I can't believe I just started reading this thread. A little late to the party :( )I think its the best thread on TRF. SWS does a yeoman's job, I learn a lot, the comments are great and the pictures are invariably cute or utterly terrifying. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir Now there's a unique profile 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 07 August 2014Thursday Nile Crocodile The Nile crocodile has a somewhat deserved reputation as a vicious man-eater. The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent. And its virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc. Africa's largest crocodilian, these primordial brutes reach a maximum size of about 20 feet (6 meters) and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds (730 kilograms). Average sizes, though, are more in the range of 16 feet (5 meters) and 500 pounds (225 kilograms). They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. The diet of the Nile crocodile is mainly fish, but it will attack almost anything unfortunate enough to cross its path, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. It will also scavenge carrion, and can eat up to half its body weight at a feeding. One unusual characteristic of this fearsome predator is its caring nature as a parent. Where most reptiles lay their eggs and move on, mother and father Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch, and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge. http://i.imgur.com/8TCNykv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/AsuytDj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AtjPtZx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DxUcxW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QELckyE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lle73IH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jeCdtJP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HdAktB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILptQ3c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lqvitZv.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Nice! I'm fascinated with skeletal anatomy but I've never seen a fully articulated crocodilian skeleton before. http://www.surfcoastnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/croc-baby-with-adult.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Nice! I'm fascinated with skeletal anatomy but I've never seen a fully articulated crocodilian skeleton before. http://www.surfcoastnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/croc-baby-with-adult.jpg http://youtu.be/kmiK7cIx-pU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 07 August 2014Thursday Nile Crocodile The Nile crocodile has a somewhat deserved reputation as a vicious man-eater. The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent. And its virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc. Africa's largest crocodilian, these primordial brutes reach a maximum size of about 20 feet (6 meters) and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds (730 kilograms). Average sizes, though, are more in the range of 16 feet (5 meters) and 500 pounds (225 kilograms). They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. The diet of the Nile crocodile is mainly fish, but it will attack almost anything unfortunate enough to cross its path, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. It will also scavenge carrion, and can eat up to half its body weight at a feeding. One unusual characteristic of this fearsome predator is its caring nature as a parent. Where most reptiles lay their eggs and move on, mother and father Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch, and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge. http://i.imgur.com/8TCNykv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/AsuytDj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AtjPtZx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DxUcxW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QELckyE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lle73IH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jeCdtJP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HdAktB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILptQ3c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lqvitZv.jpg It's actually quite beautiful. Though if I saw one sitting on a river bank, I would give it a very wide berth. I really the rhyme to its name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 07 August 2014Thursday Nile Crocodile The Nile crocodile has a somewhat deserved reputation as a vicious man-eater. The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent. And its virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc. Africa's largest crocodilian, these primordial brutes reach a maximum size of about 20 feet (6 meters) and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds (730 kilograms). Average sizes, though, are more in the range of 16 feet (5 meters) and 500 pounds (225 kilograms). They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. The diet of the Nile crocodile is mainly fish, but it will attack almost anything unfortunate enough to cross its path, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. It will also scavenge carrion, and can eat up to half its body weight at a feeding. One unusual characteristic of this fearsome predator is its caring nature as a parent. Where most reptiles lay their eggs and move on, mother and father Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch, and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge. http://i.imgur.com/8TCNykv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/AsuytDj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AtjPtZx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DxUcxW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QELckyE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lle73IH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jeCdtJP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HdAktB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILptQ3c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lqvitZv.jpg I'd leave well enough alone. Although, they do look quite happy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 08 August 2014FridayAfrican Wild Dog The African wild dog, also called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. African wild dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female has a litter of 2 to 20 pups, which are cared for by the entire pack. These dogs are very social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill members. Social interactions are common, and the dogs communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations. African wild dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals. Larger packs were more common before the dogs became endangered. Packs hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and birds. As human settlements expand, the dogs have sometimes developed a taste for livestock, though significant damage is rare. Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their domestic animals. African hunting dogs are endangered. They are faced with shrinking room to roam in their African home. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals. http://i.imgur.com/Kv6Wo1N.jpg http://i.imgur.com/e17FdbY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DJg5BCi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8XUf3PO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pgmKelN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cx3Ixlg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4SKln0i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pyQQkLC.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 04 August 2014Monday Hedgehog There are some 15 species of hedgehog in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs have also been introduced into nontraditional ranges such as New Zealand. The hedgehog was named because of its peculiar foraging methods. These animals root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of the small creatures that compose the bulk of their diet—insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As a hedgehog picks its way through the hedges it emits piglike grunts—thus, the hedgehog. Some people consider hedgehogs useful pets because they prey on many common garden pests. While on the hunt, they rely upon their senses of hearing and smell because their eyesight is weak. Hedgehogs have a coat of stiff, sharp spines. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators. They usually sleep in this position during the day and awaken to search for food at night. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates. In deserts, they sleep through heat and drought in a similar process called aestivation. They remain active all year in more temperate locations. http://i.imgur.com/w24icCb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rWOFM0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/e3PsdM7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CtiOuIQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/c6sqtUZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b6Vhkzq.jpg That baby one is adorable! Talking of which, some years back, I saved an adult one from being run over: it had not long woken up and it was in the middle of a street, going round and round in circles, clearly disorientated. I picked him up and carried him all the way over to a small hill in the grass and put him in there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 05 August 2014Tuesday Pufferfish Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually. http://i.imgur.com/IdqZSuR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IAu1AAl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LR97USf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nlWOrjh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iXLL33a.jpg Amazing looking fish, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to be a customer, let alone a highly trained chef... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 06 August 2014Wednesday Tapirs Tapirs look something like pigs with trunks, but they are actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. This eclectic lineage is an ancient one—and so is the tapir itself. These animals have changed little over tens of millions of years. Tapirs have a short prehensile trunk, which is really an extended nose and upper lip. They use this trunk to grab branches and clean them of leaves or to help pluck tasty fruit. Tapirs feed each morning and evening. During these hours they follow tunnel-like paths, worn through the heavy brush by many a tapir footstep, to reach water holes and lush feeding grounds. As they roam and defecate they deposit the seeds they have consumed and promote future plant growth. Though they appear densely built, tapirs are at home in the water and often submerge to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove ticks from their thick hides. New World tapirs generally live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. A notable exception is the mountain (or woolly) tapir, which lives high in the Andes Mountains. Woolly tapirs, named for their warm and protective coat, are the smallest of all tapirs. All four tapir species are endangered or threatened, largely due to hunting and habitat loss. http://i.imgur.com/ekxn2bH.jpgMalayan Tapir http://i.imgur.com/jc0H8Qd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pryCtxy.jpgMountain Tapir http://i.imgur.com/isoeh9K.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/AdI4s3L.jpgBaird's Tapir http://i.imgur.com/x2yJakU.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/iLHWwgL.jpgLowland Tapir http://i.imgur.com/RMfqap8.jpgMalayan Tapir He's beautiful. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 07 August 2014Thursday Nile Crocodile The Nile crocodile has a somewhat deserved reputation as a vicious man-eater. The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent. And its virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc. Africa's largest crocodilian, these primordial brutes reach a maximum size of about 20 feet (6 meters) and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds (730 kilograms). Average sizes, though, are more in the range of 16 feet (5 meters) and 500 pounds (225 kilograms). They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. The diet of the Nile crocodile is mainly fish, but it will attack almost anything unfortunate enough to cross its path, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. It will also scavenge carrion, and can eat up to half its body weight at a feeding. One unusual characteristic of this fearsome predator is its caring nature as a parent. Where most reptiles lay their eggs and move on, mother and father Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch, and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge. http://i.imgur.com/8TCNykv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/AsuytDj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AtjPtZx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0DxUcxW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QELckyE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lle73IH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jeCdtJP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8HdAktB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILptQ3c.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lqvitZv.jpg He's a big one! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Nice! I'm fascinated with skeletal anatomy but I've never seen a fully articulated crocodilian skeleton before. http://www.surfcoastnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/croc-baby-with-adult.jpg Aw! He's an adorable baby! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I have to say, that I learn a lot from substancewithoutstyle's thread - I get to know new species. The pics are amazing, the creatures are magnificent, the wordings are very much informative, and this is the best thread ever. Thank you for starting it.:ebert: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 08 August 2014FridayAfrican Wild Dog The African wild dog, also called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. African wild dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female has a litter of 2 to 20 pups, which are cared for by the entire pack. These dogs are very social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill members. Social interactions are common, and the dogs communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations. African wild dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals. Larger packs were more common before the dogs became endangered. Packs hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and birds. As human settlements expand, the dogs have sometimes developed a taste for livestock, though significant damage is rare. Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their domestic animals. African hunting dogs are endangered. They are faced with shrinking room to roam in their African home. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals. http://i.imgur.com/Kv6Wo1N.jpg http://i.imgur.com/e17FdbY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DJg5BCi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8XUf3PO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pgmKelN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cx3Ixlg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4SKln0i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pyQQkLC.jpgWhat massive ears...and that's an awesome looking pattern on the fur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 08 August 2014FridayAfrican Wild Dog The African wild dog, also called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. African wild dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female has a litter of 2 to 20 pups, which are cared for by the entire pack. These dogs are very social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill members. Social interactions are common, and the dogs communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations. African wild dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals. Larger packs were more common before the dogs became endangered. Packs hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and birds. As human settlements expand, the dogs have sometimes developed a taste for livestock, though significant damage is rare. Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their domestic animals. African hunting dogs are endangered. They are faced with shrinking room to roam in their African home. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals. http://i.imgur.com/Kv6Wo1N.jpg http://i.imgur.com/e17FdbY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DJg5BCi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8XUf3PO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pgmKelN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cx3Ixlg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4SKln0i.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pyQQkLC.jpgWhat massive ears...and that's an awesome looking pattern on the fur They really are gorgeous animals. And, sadly, endangered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 09 August 2014Saturday Fire-bellied Toad From above, the oriental fire-bellied toad seems fairly nondescript—a green toad with black spots blending nicely with the verdant colors of its habitat. It’s not until it perceives a threat that this flashy amphibian reveals its true colors. Oriental fire-bellied toads secrete toxins from their skin, and they want potential predators to know it. When threatened, they rise up on their front legs and arch their back, sometimes even flipping themselves over completely, to reveal the bright red-and-black coloration of their underside. This behavior, known as the unken reflex, warns predators, “Eat me, and you might croak.” One of the most common amphibians in its primary range, oriental fire-bellied toads thrive in northeastern China, Korea, southern Japan, and southern parts of Russia. They are highly aquatic and usually found in slow-moving streams and ponds. When out of water, they stick to the region’s coniferous and broadleaved forests. They hibernate from late September to May, sheltering in rotting logs, leaf piles, and occasionally at the bottom of streams. Tadpoles survive on algae, fungi, and plants, while the adults eat a variety of invertebrates, including worms, insects, and mollusks. Oriental fire-bellies are popular in the pet trade, but they are common throughout their range and have no special conservation status. http://i.imgur.com/nvP9eBq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/wb5GElS.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aAvLwzf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0vi6d7C.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GTZP5Cq.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 09 August 2014Saturday Fire-bellied Toad From above, the oriental fire-bellied toad seems fairly nondescript—a green toad with black spots blending nicely with the verdant colors of its habitat. It’s not until it perceives a threat that this flashy amphibian reveals its true colors. Oriental fire-bellied toads secrete toxins from their skin, and they want potential predators to know it. When threatened, they rise up on their front legs and arch their back, sometimes even flipping themselves over completely, to reveal the bright red-and-black coloration of their underside. This behavior, known as the unken reflex, warns predators, “Eat me, and you might croak.” One of the most common amphibians in its primary range, oriental fire-bellied toads thrive in northeastern China, Korea, southern Japan, and southern parts of Russia. They are highly aquatic and usually found in slow-moving streams and ponds. When out of water, they stick to the region’s coniferous and broadleaved forests. They hibernate from late September to May, sheltering in rotting logs, leaf piles, and occasionally at the bottom of streams. Tadpoles survive on algae, fungi, and plants, while the adults eat a variety of invertebrates, including worms, insects, and mollusks. Oriental fire-bellies are popular in the pet trade, but they are common throughout their range and have no special conservation status. http://i.imgur.com/nvP9eBq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/wb5GElS.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aAvLwzf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0vi6d7C.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/GTZP5Cq.jpgGreat vivid colours...and another fantastic pattern 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 10 August 2014Sunday Giant Clam The giant clam gets only one chance to find a nice home. Once it fastens itself to a spot on a reef, there it sits for the rest of its life. These bottom-dwelling behemoths are the largest mollusks on Earth, capable of reaching 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weighing more than 500 pounds (227 kg). They live in the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Giant clams achieve their enormous proportions by consuming the sugars and proteins produced by the billions of algae that live in their tissues. In exchange, they offer the algae a safe home and regular access to sunlight for photosynthesis, basking by day below the water's surface with their fluted shells open and their multi-colored mantles exposed. They also use a siphon to draw in water to filter and consume passing plankton. Giant clams have a wildly undeserved reputation as man-eaters, with South Pacific legends describing clams that lie in wait to trap unsuspecting swimmers or swallow them whole. No account of a human death by giant clam has ever been substantiated, and scientists say its adductor muscles, used to close the shell, move far too slowly to take a swimmer by surprise. Even the largest specimen would simply retreat into its shell rather than attempt to sample human prey. http://i.imgur.com/Aes8Yx4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/BYyiujM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1wNOz8N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NQ17AuT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Rgkt4th.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Qko71G3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/T7G4UUy.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 10 August 2014Sunday Giant Clam The giant clam gets only one chance to find a nice home. Once it fastens itself to a spot on a reef, there it sits for the rest of its life. These bottom-dwelling behemoths are the largest mollusks on Earth, capable of reaching 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weighing more than 500 pounds (227 kg). They live in the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Giant clams achieve their enormous proportions by consuming the sugars and proteins produced by the billions of algae that live in their tissues. In exchange, they offer the algae a safe home and regular access to sunlight for photosynthesis, basking by day below the water's surface with their fluted shells open and their multi-colored mantles exposed. They also use a siphon to draw in water to filter and consume passing plankton. Giant clams have a wildly undeserved reputation as man-eaters, with South Pacific legends describing clams that lie in wait to trap unsuspecting swimmers or swallow them whole. No account of a human death by giant clam has ever been substantiated, and scientists say its adductor muscles, used to close the shell, move far too slowly to take a swimmer by surprise. Even the largest specimen would simply retreat into its shell rather than attempt to sample human prey. http://i.imgur.com/Aes8Yx4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/BYyiujM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1wNOz8N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NQ17AuT.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Rgkt4th.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Qko71G3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/T7G4UUy.jpgI didn't know they came in such great colours. Very unique looking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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