x1yyz 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. The different colors come from the different species of zooxanthellae algae living in their tissues. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 11 August 2014Monday Giraffe Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch (53-centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. http://i.imgur.com/9TK9fKA.jpg http://i.imgur.com/368Ecvm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/POHONOX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z01o00g.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jMVeIUm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ex5xpa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AaJBTBn.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 11 August 2014Monday Giraffe Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch (53-centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. http://i.imgur.com/9TK9fKA.jpg http://i.imgur.com/368Ecvm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/POHONOX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z01o00g.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jMVeIUm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ex5xpa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AaJBTBn.jpgYou've got to love that neck!!! A lot of character in the face, too. They always look friendly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 12 August 2014Tuesday Flamingos There are 6 species of flamingo found in warm, watery regions on several continents. They favor environments like estuaries and saline or alkaline lakes. Considering their appearance, flamingos are surprisingly fluid swimmers, but really thrive on the extensive mud flats where they breed and feed. Their bent bills allow them to feed on small organisms—plankton, tiny fish, fly larvae, and the like. In muddy flats or shallow water, they use their long legs and webbed feet to stir up the bottom. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads, and suck up both mud and water to access the tasty morsels within. A flamingo's beak has a filterlike structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is expelled. Shrimplike crustaceans are responsible for the flamingo's pink color. The birds pale in captivity unless their diet is supplemented. Flamingos live and feed in groups called flocks or colonies. They find safety in numbers, which helps to protect individual birds from predators while their heads are down in the mud. Flamingos also breed while gathered in groups. Once mating is complete, a pair takes turns incubating their single egg. Young flamingos are born gray and white and do not turn pink for two years. In years when wetlands and pools are dry and food scarce, flamingos may not breed. NOTE: This isn't the Journal of Ornithology, so I didn't bother labeling each species pictured below. :P http://i.imgur.com/vu4ZqiB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cNaLkqD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZYfpG7G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OwBtKVH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUimfaQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/39zbi5K.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/l8oDERq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3A6stv2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KMG8NCo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YX82y7v.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pgi3pHc.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I never realized flamingoes had such a large distribution! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 12 August 2014Tuesday Flamingos There are 6 species of flamingo found in warm, watery regions on several continents. They favor environments like estuaries and saline or alkaline lakes. Considering their appearance, flamingos are surprisingly fluid swimmers, but really thrive on the extensive mud flats where they breed and feed. Their bent bills allow them to feed on small organisms—plankton, tiny fish, fly larvae, and the like. In muddy flats or shallow water, they use their long legs and webbed feet to stir up the bottom. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads, and suck up both mud and water to access the tasty morsels within. A flamingo's beak has a filterlike structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is expelled. Shrimplike crustaceans are responsible for the flamingo's pink color. The birds pale in captivity unless their diet is supplemented. Flamingos live and feed in groups called flocks or colonies. They find safety in numbers, which helps to protect individual birds from predators while their heads are down in the mud. Flamingos also breed while gathered in groups. Once mating is complete, a pair takes turns incubating their single egg. Young flamingos are born gray and white and do not turn pink for two years. In years when wetlands and pools are dry and food scarce, flamingos may not breed. NOTE: This isn't the Journal of Ornithology, so I didn't bother labeling each species pictured below. :P http://i.imgur.com/vu4ZqiB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cNaLkqD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZYfpG7G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OwBtKVH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUimfaQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/39zbi5K.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/l8oDERq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3A6stv2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KMG8NCo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YX82y7v.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pgi3pHc.jpg What a fantastically quirky looking bird! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 13 August 2014Wednesday Giant Slug The giant slug is an invasive, terrestrial gastropod. Some other common names include “tiger slug” and “great grey slug”. Recognizable by its black spots and yellowish-gray body coloration, this slug can reach lengths of 100 mm or greater. This gastropod’s native geographic distribution is in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, although it has been introduced as a troublesome pest to North America, New Zealand, South America, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. These slugs are constricted to living in places where they can have easy access to water, since they have poor ability to retain water and will easily dry out during the day. This need for moisture is partially why slugs are nocturnal. The amount of dampness in an area determines the time able to be spent breeding and feeding, since water is necessary to form mucus for movement and eating. Also known as the “greenhouse slug", this invader is a generalist that has wreaked havoc on horticultural plants worldwide . This gastropod eats fresh and rotting plants, more specifically tubers, fruits, leaves, roots, bulb flowers, ornamental plants, and perennial herbs. http://i.imgur.com/fATVx6X.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kS7WXSK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8fgmfAO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qp52LjY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZyNwYth.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 (edited) 13 August 2014Wednesday Giant Slug The giant slug is an invasive, terrestrial gastropod. Some other common names include “tiger slug” and “great grey slug”. Recognizable by its black spots and yellowish-gray body coloration, this slug can reach lengths of 100 mm or greater. This gastropod’s native geographic distribution is in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, although it has been introduced as a troublesome pest to North America, New Zealand, South America, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. These slugs are constricted to living in places where they can have easy access to water, since they have poor ability to retain water and will easily dry out during the day. This need for moisture is partially why slugs are nocturnal. The amount of dampness in an area determines the time able to be spent breeding and feeding, since water is necessary to form mucus for movement and eating. Also known as the “greenhouse slug", this invader is a generalist that has wreaked havoc on horticultural plants worldwide . This gastropod eats fresh and rotting plants, more specifically tubers, fruits, leaves, roots, bulb flowers, ornamental plants, and perennial herbs. http://i.imgur.com/fATVx6X.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kS7WXSK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8fgmfAO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qp52LjY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZyNwYth.jpgHoly sh1t! That's a massive slug next to that hand! Wouldn't want to find one of them that size Edited August 14, 2014 by Your_Lion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 14 August 2014Thursday Common Loon Named for their clumsy, awkward appearance when walking on land, common loons are migratory birds which breed in forested lakes and large ponds in northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland. They winter all along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as in Europe and Iceland. Their unusual cries, which vary from wails to tremolos to yodels, are distinct to individuals and can be heard at great distances. Loon cries are most prevalent during breeding season as pairs aggressively defend their territories. Loons have striking red eyes, black heads and necks, and white striping, checkering, and spotting on their backs. They grow up to three feet (91 centimeters) in length and weigh up to 12 pounds (5 kilograms), feeding largely on fish and invertebrates. They nest lakeside and incubate their eggs for 27 to 30 days. Hatchlings leave the nest on their first day and are able to fly in about 11 weeks. There are many Native American legends about common loons. And to this day the Inuit legally hunt over 4,500 a year for subsistence. Loon populations are currently stable, but a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution. http://i.imgur.com/OZaLhP9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jGSfIAw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BXAazgR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ssKodAL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BULy33r.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OKujqXb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/x93k6iI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGS54Dr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/31kses5.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 (edited) Double post! Edited August 15, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 14 August 2014Thursday Common Loon Named for their clumsy, awkward appearance when walking on land, common loons are migratory birds which breed in forested lakes and large ponds in northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland. They winter all along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as in Europe and Iceland. Their unusual cries, which vary from wails to tremolos to yodels, are distinct to individuals and can be heard at great distances. Loon cries are most prevalent during breeding season as pairs aggressively defend their territories. Loons have striking red eyes, black heads and necks, and white striping, checkering, and spotting on their backs. They grow up to three feet (91 centimeters) in length and weigh up to 12 pounds (5 kilograms), feeding largely on fish and invertebrates. They nest lakeside and incubate their eggs for 27 to 30 days. Hatchlings leave the nest on their first day and are able to fly in about 11 weeks. There are many Native American legends about common loons. And to this day the Inuit legally hunt over 4,500 a year for subsistence. Loon populations are currently stable, but a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution. http://i.imgur.com/OZaLhP9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jGSfIAw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BXAazgR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ssKodAL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BULy33r.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OKujqXb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/x93k6iI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGS54Dr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/31kses5.jpg Great name ....scary red eyes! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 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 What beautiful colors! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 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 That's just awesome! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 11 August 2014Monday Giraffe Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch (53-centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. http://i.imgur.com/9TK9fKA.jpg http://i.imgur.com/368Ecvm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/POHONOX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z01o00g.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jMVeIUm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ex5xpa1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AaJBTBn.jpg Magnificent! :ebert: And such a cute youngster! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 12 August 2014Tuesday Flamingos There are 6 species of flamingo found in warm, watery regions on several continents. They favor environments like estuaries and saline or alkaline lakes. Considering their appearance, flamingos are surprisingly fluid swimmers, but really thrive on the extensive mud flats where they breed and feed. Their bent bills allow them to feed on small organisms—plankton, tiny fish, fly larvae, and the like. In muddy flats or shallow water, they use their long legs and webbed feet to stir up the bottom. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads, and suck up both mud and water to access the tasty morsels within. A flamingo's beak has a filterlike structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is expelled. Shrimplike crustaceans are responsible for the flamingo's pink color. The birds pale in captivity unless their diet is supplemented. Flamingos live and feed in groups called flocks or colonies. They find safety in numbers, which helps to protect individual birds from predators while their heads are down in the mud. Flamingos also breed while gathered in groups. Once mating is complete, a pair takes turns incubating their single egg. Young flamingos are born gray and white and do not turn pink for two years. In years when wetlands and pools are dry and food scarce, flamingos may not breed. NOTE: This isn't the Journal of Ornithology, so I didn't bother labeling each species pictured below. :P http://i.imgur.com/vu4ZqiB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cNaLkqD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZYfpG7G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OwBtKVH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lUimfaQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/39zbi5K.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/l8oDERq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3A6stv2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KMG8NCo.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YX82y7v.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pgi3pHc.jpg Beautiful bird - and what a cute baby! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 13 August 2014Wednesday Giant Slug The giant slug is an invasive, terrestrial gastropod. Some other common names include “tiger slug” and “great grey slug”. Recognizable by its black spots and yellowish-gray body coloration, this slug can reach lengths of 100 mm or greater. This gastropod’s native geographic distribution is in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, although it has been introduced as a troublesome pest to North America, New Zealand, South America, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. These slugs are constricted to living in places where they can have easy access to water, since they have poor ability to retain water and will easily dry out during the day. This need for moisture is partially why slugs are nocturnal. The amount of dampness in an area determines the time able to be spent breeding and feeding, since water is necessary to form mucus for movement and eating. Also known as the “greenhouse slug", this invader is a generalist that has wreaked havoc on horticultural plants worldwide . This gastropod eats fresh and rotting plants, more specifically tubers, fruits, leaves, roots, bulb flowers, ornamental plants, and perennial herbs. http://i.imgur.com/fATVx6X.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kS7WXSK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8fgmfAO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qp52LjY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZyNwYth.jpg Eeeeeeeek!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 14 August 2014Thursday Common Loon Named for their clumsy, awkward appearance when walking on land, common loons are migratory birds which breed in forested lakes and large ponds in northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland. They winter all along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as in Europe and Iceland. Their unusual cries, which vary from wails to tremolos to yodels, are distinct to individuals and can be heard at great distances. Loon cries are most prevalent during breeding season as pairs aggressively defend their territories. Loons have striking red eyes, black heads and necks, and white striping, checkering, and spotting on their backs. They grow up to three feet (91 centimeters) in length and weigh up to 12 pounds (5 kilograms), feeding largely on fish and invertebrates. They nest lakeside and incubate their eggs for 27 to 30 days. Hatchlings leave the nest on their first day and are able to fly in about 11 weeks. There are many Native American legends about common loons. And to this day the Inuit legally hunt over 4,500 a year for subsistence. Loon populations are currently stable, but a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution. http://i.imgur.com/OZaLhP9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jGSfIAw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BXAazgR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ssKodAL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BULy33r.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OKujqXb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/x93k6iI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lGS54Dr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/31kses5.jpg Lovely black and white pattern! :) Adorable baby! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 15 August 2014Friday Fireflies Fireflies are familiar, but few realize that these insects are actually beetles, nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae. Most fireflies are winged, which distinguishes them from other luminescent insects of the same family, commonly known as glowworms. There are about 2,000 firefly species. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off. Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory. http://i.imgur.com/YWKe5R0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rLEfluA.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/AYaRnde.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UP4fCg9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OWsCATb.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 15 August 2014Friday Fireflies Fireflies are familiar, but few realize that these insects are actually beetles, nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae. Most fireflies are winged, which distinguishes them from other luminescent insects of the same family, commonly known as glowworms. There are about 2,000 firefly species. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off. Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory. http://i.imgur.com/YWKe5R0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rLEfluA.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/AYaRnde.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UP4fCg9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OWsCATb.jpg I've seen fireflies a couple times while back East (we don't have them here in California) but never up close. I didn't know what they looked like. Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 16 August 2014Saturday Galapagos Tortoise It is possible, though perhaps unlikely, that among the remaining giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands, there exists an old-timer that was a hatchling at the time of Charles Darwin's famous visit in 1835. Giant tortoises are the longest-lived of all vertebrates, averaging over 100 years. The oldest on record lived to be 152. They are also the world's largest tortoises, with some specimens exceeding 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and reaching 550 pounds (250 kilograms). There are now only 11 types of giant tortoises left in the Galápagos, down from 15 when Darwin arrived. Hunted as food by pirates, whalers, and merchantmen during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, more than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been killed off. Nonnative species such as feral pigs, dogs, cats, rats, goats, and cattle are a continuing threat to their food supply and eggs. Today, only about 15,000 remain. The tortoises are now listed as endangered and have been strictly protected by the Ecuadorian government since 1970. Captive breeding efforts by the Charles Darwin Research Station are also having positive effects. Galápagos tortoises lead an uncomplicated life, grazing on grass, leaves, and cactus, basking in the sun, and napping nearly 16 hours per day. A slow metabolism and large internal stores of water mean they can survive up to a year without eating or drinking. http://i.imgur.com/CCuhssy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/HWOyxcv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fdsmhZl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3gPjW0A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSq9oO4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/69KFghX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z6u2RM4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zpQMbhd.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 15 August 2014Friday Fireflies Fireflies are familiar, but few realize that these insects are actually beetles, nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae. Most fireflies are winged, which distinguishes them from other luminescent insects of the same family, commonly known as glowworms. There are about 2,000 firefly species. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off. Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory. http://i.imgur.com/YWKe5R0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rLEfluA.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/AYaRnde.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UP4fCg9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OWsCATb.jpgNow, that's one cool looking fly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 16 August 2014Saturday Galapagos Tortoise It is possible, though perhaps unlikely, that among the remaining giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands, there exists an old-timer that was a hatchling at the time of Charles Darwin's famous visit in 1835. Giant tortoises are the longest-lived of all vertebrates, averaging over 100 years. The oldest on record lived to be 152. They are also the world's largest tortoises, with some specimens exceeding 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and reaching 550 pounds (250 kilograms). There are now only 11 types of giant tortoises left in the Galápagos, down from 15 when Darwin arrived. Hunted as food by pirates, whalers, and merchantmen during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, more than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been killed off. Nonnative species such as feral pigs, dogs, cats, rats, goats, and cattle are a continuing threat to their food supply and eggs. Today, only about 15,000 remain. The tortoises are now listed as endangered and have been strictly protected by the Ecuadorian government since 1970. Captive breeding efforts by the Charles Darwin Research Station are also having positive effects. Galápagos tortoises lead an uncomplicated life, grazing on grass, leaves, and cactus, basking in the sun, and napping nearly 16 hours per day. A slow metabolism and large internal stores of water mean they can survive up to a year without eating or drinking. http://i.imgur.com/CCuhssy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/HWOyxcv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fdsmhZl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3gPjW0A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSq9oO4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/69KFghX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z6u2RM4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zpQMbhd.jpgThey look so ancient and wise.....and all of a sudden I want watermelon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 In profile they look like grumpy old men :codger: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 15 August 2014Friday Fireflies Fireflies are familiar, but few realize that these insects are actually beetles, nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae. Most fireflies are winged, which distinguishes them from other luminescent insects of the same family, commonly known as glowworms. There are about 2,000 firefly species. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off. Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory. http://i.imgur.com/YWKe5R0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rLEfluA.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/AYaRnde.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UP4fCg9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OWsCATb.jpg I've never seen a firefly - nice and bright! And their bottoms really do glow! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 16 August 2014Saturday Galapagos Tortoise It is possible, though perhaps unlikely, that among the remaining giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands, there exists an old-timer that was a hatchling at the time of Charles Darwin's famous visit in 1835. Giant tortoises are the longest-lived of all vertebrates, averaging over 100 years. The oldest on record lived to be 152. They are also the world's largest tortoises, with some specimens exceeding 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and reaching 550 pounds (250 kilograms). There are now only 11 types of giant tortoises left in the Galápagos, down from 15 when Darwin arrived. Hunted as food by pirates, whalers, and merchantmen during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, more than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been killed off. Nonnative species such as feral pigs, dogs, cats, rats, goats, and cattle are a continuing threat to their food supply and eggs. Today, only about 15,000 remain. The tortoises are now listed as endangered and have been strictly protected by the Ecuadorian government since 1970. Captive breeding efforts by the Charles Darwin Research Station are also having positive effects. Galápagos tortoises lead an uncomplicated life, grazing on grass, leaves, and cactus, basking in the sun, and napping nearly 16 hours per day. A slow metabolism and large internal stores of water mean they can survive up to a year without eating or drinking. http://i.imgur.com/CCuhssy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/HWOyxcv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fdsmhZl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3gPjW0A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSq9oO4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/69KFghX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z6u2RM4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zpQMbhd.jpg How magnificent! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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