HomesickAlien Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 17 August 2014Sunday Ocelot The ocelot is a small cat from the New World. It ranges from the very southern region of Texas to northern Argentina in South America. Ocelots are active primarily at night, especially at dawn and dusk, and are very secretive. They may be more active in daytime on rainy or cloudy days. Ocelots prefer to live in areas with thick vegetation, such as dense chaparral or tropical rain forests. During the day, they sleep hidden among bushes, on a tree branch, or inside a hollow tree. Without many places to hide, ocelots cannot survive. If trees and bushes are cut down in an area where ocelots live, the cats leave. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements. Ocelots prey mainly on small rodents but are also known to eat birds, snakes, iguanas and other lizards, baby peccaries, young deer, rabbits, and even fish and crabs. They may look for potential food while strolling about or may sit and wait for prey to appear. If the carcass can't be eaten in one feeding, the cat covers it and returns the next night to finish its meal. Ocelots spend most of their time on the ground but are strong swimmers. Although they are predators, ocelots are often harassed by groups of potential prey animals such as monkeys or birds. Larger cats such as mountain lions and jaguars may share ocelot habitat, but each cat targets different prey. Still, ocelots may become prey to the larger cats, as well as to boa constrictors, anacondas, and harpy eagles. Ocelots' fine fur has made them the target of countless hunters, and in many areas they are quite rare, including Texas, where they are endangered. Ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they are found. http://i.imgur.com/Ay6ODnH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/STYVPKP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nN0CZCy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RD6F9Ol.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R3mkd59.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ilecB42.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LrtULiB.jpg Range:http://i.imgur.com/78bf5Rn.png 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Oh my, that ocelot kitten is ADORABLE. I've heard keepers at sanctuaries say that ocelots tend to spray people quite often, so beware if they turn their bums towards you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 17 August 2014Sunday Ocelot The ocelot is a small cat from the New World. It ranges from the very southern region of Texas to northern Argentina in South America. Ocelots are active primarily at night, especially at dawn and dusk, and are very secretive. They may be more active in daytime on rainy or cloudy days. Ocelots prefer to live in areas with thick vegetation, such as dense chaparral or tropical rain forests. During the day, they sleep hidden among bushes, on a tree branch, or inside a hollow tree. Without many places to hide, ocelots cannot survive. If trees and bushes are cut down in an area where ocelots live, the cats leave. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements. Ocelots prey mainly on small rodents but are also known to eat birds, snakes, iguanas and other lizards, baby peccaries, young deer, rabbits, and even fish and crabs. They may look for potential food while strolling about or may sit and wait for prey to appear. If the carcass can't be eaten in one feeding, the cat covers it and returns the next night to finish its meal. Ocelots spend most of their time on the ground but are strong swimmers. Although they are predators, ocelots are often harassed by groups of potential prey animals such as monkeys or birds. Larger cats such as mountain lions and jaguars may share ocelot habitat, but each cat targets different prey. Still, ocelots may become prey to the larger cats, as well as to boa constrictors, anacondas, and harpy eagles. Ocelots' fine fur has made them the target of countless hunters, and in many areas they are quite rare, including Texas, where they are endangered. Ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they are found. http://i.imgur.com/Ay6ODnH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/STYVPKP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nN0CZCy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RD6F9Ol.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R3mkd59.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ilecB42.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LrtULiB.jpg Range:http://i.imgur.com/78bf5Rn.png Such a cutie :)Them hunters should leave well alone :tsk: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 17 August 2014Sunday Ocelot The ocelot is a small cat from the New World. It ranges from the very southern region of Texas to northern Argentina in South America. Ocelots are active primarily at night, especially at dawn and dusk, and are very secretive. They may be more active in daytime on rainy or cloudy days. Ocelots prefer to live in areas with thick vegetation, such as dense chaparral or tropical rain forests. During the day, they sleep hidden among bushes, on a tree branch, or inside a hollow tree. Without many places to hide, ocelots cannot survive. If trees and bushes are cut down in an area where ocelots live, the cats leave. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements. Ocelots prey mainly on small rodents but are also known to eat birds, snakes, iguanas and other lizards, baby peccaries, young deer, rabbits, and even fish and crabs. They may look for potential food while strolling about or may sit and wait for prey to appear. If the carcass can't be eaten in one feeding, the cat covers it and returns the next night to finish its meal. Ocelots spend most of their time on the ground but are strong swimmers. Although they are predators, ocelots are often harassed by groups of potential prey animals such as monkeys or birds. Larger cats such as mountain lions and jaguars may share ocelot habitat, but each cat targets different prey. Still, ocelots may become prey to the larger cats, as well as to boa constrictors, anacondas, and harpy eagles. Ocelots' fine fur has made them the target of countless hunters, and in many areas they are quite rare, including Texas, where they are endangered. Ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they are found. http://i.imgur.com/Ay6ODnH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/STYVPKP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nN0CZCy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RD6F9Ol.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R3mkd59.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ilecB42.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LrtULiB.jpg Range:http://i.imgur.com/78bf5Rn.png Such a cutie :)Them hunters should leave well alone :tsk: YES, definitely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 18 August 2014Monday Burmese Python Burmese pythons, with their beautifully patterned skin, rapid growth rate, and generally docile disposition, may be best known as the large snake of choice among reptile owners. Unfortunately, these potentially huge constrictors are often poorly cared for and are frequently released into the wild. Attacks on handlers, sometimes deadly, are not uncommon. Native to the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes on Earth. They are capable of reaching 23 feet (7 meters) or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) with a girth as big as a telephone pole. When young, they will spend much of their time in the trees. However, as they mature and their size and weight make tree climbing unwieldy, they transition to mainly ground-dwelling. They are also excellent swimmers, and can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air. Burmese pythons are carnivores, surviving primarily on small mammals and birds. They have poor eyesight, and stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along the jaws. They kill by constriction, grasping a victim with their sharp teeth, coiling their bodies around the animal, and squeezing until it suffocates. They have stretchy ligaments in their jaws that allow them to swallow all their food whole. Despite being a problem as an introduced species in Florida, habitat depletion, continued demand for Burmese pythons in the pet trade, and hunting for their skins and flesh have landed these graceful giants on the threatened species list. http://i.imgur.com/wB5XRdB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/S4Rf6sv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVoAg6I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILU1AdW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k3cQ5Xc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gob6B0p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZCiKXsk.jpg Albino:http://i.imgur.com/52O7g9R.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Rz0CVTN.gif 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 18 August 2014Monday Burmese Python Burmese pythons, with their beautifully patterned skin, rapid growth rate, and generally docile disposition, may be best known as the large snake of choice among reptile owners. Unfortunately, these potentially huge constrictors are often poorly cared for and are frequently released into the wild. Attacks on handlers, sometimes deadly, are not uncommon. Native to the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes on Earth. They are capable of reaching 23 feet (7 meters) or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) with a girth as big as a telephone pole. When young, they will spend much of their time in the trees. However, as they mature and their size and weight make tree climbing unwieldy, they transition to mainly ground-dwelling. They are also excellent swimmers, and can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air. Burmese pythons are carnivores, surviving primarily on small mammals and birds. They have poor eyesight, and stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along the jaws. They kill by constriction, grasping a victim with their sharp teeth, coiling their bodies around the animal, and squeezing until it suffocates. They have stretchy ligaments in their jaws that allow them to swallow all their food whole. Despite being a problem as an introduced species in Florida, habitat depletion, continued demand for Burmese pythons in the pet trade, and hunting for their skins and flesh have landed these graceful giants on the threatened species list. http://i.imgur.com/wB5XRdB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/S4Rf6sv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVoAg6I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILU1AdW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k3cQ5Xc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gob6B0p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZCiKXsk.jpg Albino:http://i.imgur.com/52O7g9R.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Rz0CVTN.gif Great pattern! But I agree with Indiana Jones on the subject of snakes...especially that massive one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) 19 August 2014TuesdayRed-winged Blackbird One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. In the North, their early arrival and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring. They eat mainly insects in the summer and seeds, including corn and wheat, in the winter. Sometimes they feed by probing at the bases of aquatic plants with their slender bills, prying them open to get at insects hidden inside. In fall and winter they eat weedy seeds such as ragweed and cocklebur, as well as native sunflowers and waste grains. Red-winged Blackbirds spend the breeding season in wet places like fresh or saltwater marshes and rice paddies. You may also find them breeding in drier places like sedge meadows, alfalfa fields, and fallow fields. Occasionally, Red-winged Blackbirds nest in wooded areas along waterways. In fall and winter, they congregate in agricultural fields, feedlots, pastures, and grassland. Red-winged Blackbirds build their nests low among vertical shoots of marsh vegetation, shrubs, or trees. Females choose the nest site with some input from the male. Typically, she puts the nest near the ground (or water surface in a marsh), in dense, grass-like vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, sedges, and Phragmites in wetlands; goldenrod, blackberry, or willow and alder trees in uplands; and wheat, barley, alfalfa, and rice plants. http://i.imgur.com/7lOIHh4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0myuG3I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WBKSI7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txgRUeQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tl81nwP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qSMWz3A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BuHrXcT.jpg Edited August 20, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 What a lovely bird! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 What a lovely bird! My neighbour has a pond, and they hang around my area all the time. They're one of my favourite birds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 19 August 2014TuesdayRed-winged Blackbird One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. In the North, their early arrival and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring. They eat mainly insects in the summer and seeds, including corn and wheat, in the winter. Sometimes they feed by probing at the bases of aquatic plants with their slender bills, prying them open to get at insects hidden inside. In fall and winter they eat weedy seeds such as ragweed and cocklebur, as well as native sunflowers and waste grains. Red-winged Blackbirds spend the breeding season in wet places like fresh or saltwater marshes and rice paddies. You may also find them breeding in drier places like sedge meadows, alfalfa fields, and fallow fields. Occasionally, Red-winged Blackbirds nest in wooded areas along waterways. In fall and winter, they congregate in agricultural fields, feedlots, pastures, and grassland. Red-winged Blackbirds build their nests low among vertical shoots of marsh vegetation, shrubs, or trees. Females choose the nest site with some input from the male. Typically, she puts the nest near the ground (or water surface in a marsh), in dense, grass-like vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, sedges, and Phragmites in wetlands; goldenrod, blackberry, or willow and alder trees in uplands; and wheat, barley, alfalfa, and rice plants. http://i.imgur.com/7lOIHh4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0myuG3I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WBKSI7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txgRUeQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tl81nwP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qSMWz3A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BuHrXcT.jpg Wow! Those are bright red! Never seen markings like that on a blackbird before 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 20 August 2014Wednesday Golden Lion Tamarin Lion tamarins are small monkeys native to Brazil that take their name from their impressive manes—thick rings of hair reminiscent of Africa's great cats. The golden lion tamarin may be the most beautiful of the four lion tamarin species. Its abundant golden hair frames a charismatic black face and covers its small body and tail. The golden lion tamarin lives in family social groups of two to eight individuals – typically, a breeding pair, one or two generations of offspring, and possibly other relatives. A group’s territory averages about 100 acres, which they actively defend through vocalizations, scent marking, territory patrols and ritualized group encounters. Golden lions live primarily in the trees, occupying the sub-canopy, often remaining 5 to 20 feet above the ground. They prefer a humid, closed canopy forest with many vines, which provide protection from aerial predators and easy arboreal pathways. Bromeliads and other epiphytes act as important water sources and as host to many insects and small vertebrates that are important tamarin foods. Retiring at dusk, they use tree cavities as sleeping quarters and protection against predators. Before leaving the safety of their night quarters, long-call vocalizations are given to re-establish their territorial boundaries and to warn possible intruders of their presence. During the morning hours, the family spends much of its time searching for and eating ripe fruits. To conserve energy, the group rests during the warmer mid-day hours and will engage in mutual grooming bouts, after which they concentrate their foraging efforts on insects and small vertebrates before travelling to one of their sleeping sites. Hawks, eagles and other raptors, cats, weasels and large snakes are the chief natural predators of golden lion tamarins. However, habitat loss, as a result of agricultural activities and human population expansion, is the main threat to tamarins and many other species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Of the less than 8% of original forest that remains, only 3% is suitable for golden lion tamarins. http://i.imgur.com/uo4leQp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/twbyxW4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mwaQq0N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSplu22.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yX1doTh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TBs4Qmy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pm5gtme.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 20 August 2014Wednesday Golden Lion Tamarin Lion tamarins are small monkeys native to Brazil that take their name from their impressive manes—thick rings of hair reminiscent of Africa's great cats. The golden lion tamarin may be the most beautiful of the four lion tamarin species. Its abundant golden hair frames a charismatic black face and covers its small body and tail. The golden lion tamarin lives in family social groups of two to eight individuals – typically, a breeding pair, one or two generations of offspring, and possibly other relatives. A group’s territory averages about 100 acres, which they actively defend through vocalizations, scent marking, territory patrols and ritualized group encounters. Golden lions live primarily in the trees, occupying the sub-canopy, often remaining 5 to 20 feet above the ground. They prefer a humid, closed canopy forest with many vines, which provide protection from aerial predators and easy arboreal pathways. Bromeliads and other epiphytes act as important water sources and as host to many insects and small vertebrates that are important tamarin foods. Retiring at dusk, they use tree cavities as sleeping quarters and protection against predators. Before leaving the safety of their night quarters, long-call vocalizations are given to re-establish their territorial boundaries and to warn possible intruders of their presence. During the morning hours, the family spends much of its time searching for and eating ripe fruits. To conserve energy, the group rests during the warmer mid-day hours and will engage in mutual grooming bouts, after which they concentrate their foraging efforts on insects and small vertebrates before travelling to one of their sleeping sites. Hawks, eagles and other raptors, cats, weasels and large snakes are the chief natural predators of golden lion tamarins. However, habitat loss, as a result of agricultural activities and human population expansion, is the main threat to tamarins and many other species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Of the less than 8% of original forest that remains, only 3% is suitable for golden lion tamarins. http://i.imgur.com/uo4leQp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/twbyxW4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mwaQq0N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSplu22.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yX1doTh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TBs4Qmy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pm5gtme.jpgVery cute. I can see why they call them "Lion" with the thick mane of hair. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 21 August 2014Thursday Common Iguana Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet (2 meters) long and weighing about 11 pounds (5 kilograms). They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly. In fact, most captive iguanas die within the first year, and many are either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups. The green iguana’s extensive range comprises the rain forests of northern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. They spend most of their lives in the canopy, descending only infrequently to mate, lay eggs, or change trees. Primarily herbivores, iguanas are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below. They are also tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet (12 meters) and survive. Iguanas' stout build gives them a clumsy look, but they are fast and agile on land. They have strong jaws with razor-sharp teeth and sharp tails, which make up half their body length and can be used as whips to drive off predators. They can also detach their tails if caught and will grow another without permanent damage. http://i.imgur.com/U5jESmq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3n4VJ7s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/neF7C2O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OnTp7iw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/L8CV2RB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yjOyk5s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdCPo2G.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Iguanas are so cool, like little dinosaurs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 21 August 2014Thursday Common Iguana Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet (2 meters) long and weighing about 11 pounds (5 kilograms). They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly. In fact, most captive iguanas die within the first year, and many are either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups. The green iguana’s extensive range comprises the rain forests of northern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. They spend most of their lives in the canopy, descending only infrequently to mate, lay eggs, or change trees. Primarily herbivores, iguanas are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below. They are also tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet (12 meters) and survive. Iguanas' stout build gives them a clumsy look, but they are fast and agile on land. They have strong jaws with razor-sharp teeth and sharp tails, which make up half their body length and can be used as whips to drive off predators. They can also detach their tails if caught and will grow another without permanent damage. http://i.imgur.com/U5jESmq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3n4VJ7s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/neF7C2O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OnTp7iw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/L8CV2RB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yjOyk5s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdCPo2G.jpgCool looking creatures. That last one looks to be enjoying itself 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 17 August 2014Sunday Ocelot The ocelot is a small cat from the New World. It ranges from the very southern region of Texas to northern Argentina in South America. Ocelots are active primarily at night, especially at dawn and dusk, and are very secretive. They may be more active in daytime on rainy or cloudy days. Ocelots prefer to live in areas with thick vegetation, such as dense chaparral or tropical rain forests. During the day, they sleep hidden among bushes, on a tree branch, or inside a hollow tree. Without many places to hide, ocelots cannot survive. If trees and bushes are cut down in an area where ocelots live, the cats leave. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements. Ocelots prey mainly on small rodents but are also known to eat birds, snakes, iguanas and other lizards, baby peccaries, young deer, rabbits, and even fish and crabs. They may look for potential food while strolling about or may sit and wait for prey to appear. If the carcass can't be eaten in one feeding, the cat covers it and returns the next night to finish its meal. Ocelots spend most of their time on the ground but are strong swimmers. Although they are predators, ocelots are often harassed by groups of potential prey animals such as monkeys or birds. Larger cats such as mountain lions and jaguars may share ocelot habitat, but each cat targets different prey. Still, ocelots may become prey to the larger cats, as well as to boa constrictors, anacondas, and harpy eagles. Ocelots' fine fur has made them the target of countless hunters, and in many areas they are quite rare, including Texas, where they are endangered. Ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they are found. http://i.imgur.com/Ay6ODnH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/STYVPKP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nN0CZCy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RD6F9Ol.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/R3mkd59.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ilecB42.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LrtULiB.jpg Range:http://i.imgur.com/78bf5Rn.png Magnificent big cat, :ebert: , but omg! That baby! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 18 August 2014Monday Burmese Python Burmese pythons, with their beautifully patterned skin, rapid growth rate, and generally docile disposition, may be best known as the large snake of choice among reptile owners. Unfortunately, these potentially huge constrictors are often poorly cared for and are frequently released into the wild. Attacks on handlers, sometimes deadly, are not uncommon. Native to the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes on Earth. They are capable of reaching 23 feet (7 meters) or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) with a girth as big as a telephone pole. When young, they will spend much of their time in the trees. However, as they mature and their size and weight make tree climbing unwieldy, they transition to mainly ground-dwelling. They are also excellent swimmers, and can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air. Burmese pythons are carnivores, surviving primarily on small mammals and birds. They have poor eyesight, and stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along the jaws. They kill by constriction, grasping a victim with their sharp teeth, coiling their bodies around the animal, and squeezing until it suffocates. They have stretchy ligaments in their jaws that allow them to swallow all their food whole. Despite being a problem as an introduced species in Florida, habitat depletion, continued demand for Burmese pythons in the pet trade, and hunting for their skins and flesh have landed these graceful giants on the threatened species list. http://i.imgur.com/wB5XRdB.jpg http://i.imgur.com/S4Rf6sv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kVoAg6I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ILU1AdW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/k3cQ5Xc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gob6B0p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZCiKXsk.jpg Albino:http://i.imgur.com/52O7g9R.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Rz0CVTN.gif Holy heck on a corkscrew! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 19 August 2014TuesdayRed-winged Blackbird One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. In the North, their early arrival and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring. They eat mainly insects in the summer and seeds, including corn and wheat, in the winter. Sometimes they feed by probing at the bases of aquatic plants with their slender bills, prying them open to get at insects hidden inside. In fall and winter they eat weedy seeds such as ragweed and cocklebur, as well as native sunflowers and waste grains. Red-winged Blackbirds spend the breeding season in wet places like fresh or saltwater marshes and rice paddies. You may also find them breeding in drier places like sedge meadows, alfalfa fields, and fallow fields. Occasionally, Red-winged Blackbirds nest in wooded areas along waterways. In fall and winter, they congregate in agricultural fields, feedlots, pastures, and grassland. Red-winged Blackbirds build their nests low among vertical shoots of marsh vegetation, shrubs, or trees. Females choose the nest site with some input from the male. Typically, she puts the nest near the ground (or water surface in a marsh), in dense, grass-like vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, sedges, and Phragmites in wetlands; goldenrod, blackberry, or willow and alder trees in uplands; and wheat, barley, alfalfa, and rice plants. http://i.imgur.com/7lOIHh4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0myuG3I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WBKSI7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/txgRUeQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tl81nwP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qSMWz3A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BuHrXcT.jpg What a beautiful bird - love the red bits! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 20 August 2014Wednesday Golden Lion Tamarin Lion tamarins are small monkeys native to Brazil that take their name from their impressive manes—thick rings of hair reminiscent of Africa's great cats. The golden lion tamarin may be the most beautiful of the four lion tamarin species. Its abundant golden hair frames a charismatic black face and covers its small body and tail. The golden lion tamarin lives in family social groups of two to eight individuals – typically, a breeding pair, one or two generations of offspring, and possibly other relatives. A group’s territory averages about 100 acres, which they actively defend through vocalizations, scent marking, territory patrols and ritualized group encounters. Golden lions live primarily in the trees, occupying the sub-canopy, often remaining 5 to 20 feet above the ground. They prefer a humid, closed canopy forest with many vines, which provide protection from aerial predators and easy arboreal pathways. Bromeliads and other epiphytes act as important water sources and as host to many insects and small vertebrates that are important tamarin foods. Retiring at dusk, they use tree cavities as sleeping quarters and protection against predators. Before leaving the safety of their night quarters, long-call vocalizations are given to re-establish their territorial boundaries and to warn possible intruders of their presence. During the morning hours, the family spends much of its time searching for and eating ripe fruits. To conserve energy, the group rests during the warmer mid-day hours and will engage in mutual grooming bouts, after which they concentrate their foraging efforts on insects and small vertebrates before travelling to one of their sleeping sites. Hawks, eagles and other raptors, cats, weasels and large snakes are the chief natural predators of golden lion tamarins. However, habitat loss, as a result of agricultural activities and human population expansion, is the main threat to tamarins and many other species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Of the less than 8% of original forest that remains, only 3% is suitable for golden lion tamarins. http://i.imgur.com/uo4leQp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/twbyxW4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mwaQq0N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aSplu22.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yX1doTh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TBs4Qmy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pm5gtme.jpg Great creatures! :ebert: And those babies! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 21 August 2014Thursday Common Iguana Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet (2 meters) long and weighing about 11 pounds (5 kilograms). They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly. In fact, most captive iguanas die within the first year, and many are either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups. The green iguana’s extensive range comprises the rain forests of northern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. They spend most of their lives in the canopy, descending only infrequently to mate, lay eggs, or change trees. Primarily herbivores, iguanas are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below. They are also tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet (12 meters) and survive. Iguanas' stout build gives them a clumsy look, but they are fast and agile on land. They have strong jaws with razor-sharp teeth and sharp tails, which make up half their body length and can be used as whips to drive off predators. They can also detach their tails if caught and will grow another without permanent damage. http://i.imgur.com/U5jESmq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3n4VJ7s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/neF7C2O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OnTp7iw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/L8CV2RB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yjOyk5s.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdCPo2G.jpg Iguanas are amazing! :ebert: I'm surprised it doesn't hurt when their tails fall off! :o And that last pic - he looked like he was smiling! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 22 August 2014Friday Atlantic Puffin Atlantic puffins have penguin-like coloring but they sport a colorful beak that has led some to dub them the "sea parrot". The beak fades to a drab gray during the winter and blooms with color again in the spring—suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates. These birds live most of their lives at sea, resting on the waves when not swimming. They are excellent swimmers that use their wings to stroke underwater with a flying motion. They steer with rudderlike webbed feet and can dive to depths of 200 feet (61 meters), though they usually stay underwater for only 20 or 30 seconds. Puffins typically hunt small fish like herring or sand eels. Atlantic puffins land on North Atlantic seacoasts and islands to form breeding colonies each spring and summer. Iceland is the breeding home of perhaps 60 percent of the world's Atlantic puffins. The birds often select precipitous, rocky cliff tops to build their nests, which they line with feathers or grass. Females lay a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating it. When a chick hatches, its parents take turns feeding it by carrying small fish back to the nest in their relatively spacious bills. Puffin couples often reunite at the same burrow site each year. It is unclear how these birds navigate back to their home grounds. They may use visual reference points, smells, sounds, the Earth's magnetic fields—or perhaps even the stars. http://i.imgur.com/g4Ikihk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FUY07ZL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xWTj3P4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7xbNTmj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UwaH5pC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ThFXepV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WB0Uuc9.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Out of all the puffin photos I've seen before, this was the first time I've seen a chick! Thanks for posting it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 (edited) 23 August 2014 Paleontology Saturday Dimetrodon Dimetrodon is mistaken for a dinosaur more often than any other prehistoric reptile—but the fact is that this creature lived tens of millions of years before the first dinosaurs had even evolved. It flourished during the Permian period, living between 280–265 million years ago. Although it looked superficially like a dinosaur, Dimetrodon was actually a type of prehistoric reptile known as a synapsid pelycosaur. The pelycosaurs were themselves more closely related to the therapsids, or "mammal-like reptiles," than to the archosaurs from which dinosaurs evolved—which means that, technically speaking, Dimetrodon was closer to being a mammal than it was to being a dinosaur. Dimetrodon was a dominant carnivore, the largest one of the Permian period. Its diet could have included freshwater sharks, amphibians, as well as smaller synapsids. The dental arsenal of Dimetrodon included sharp canines in the front of its snout, ideal for digging into quivering, freshly killed prey, and shearing teeth in the back for grinding up tough muscle and bits of bone. The most distinctive feature of Dimetrodon was this pelycosaur's giant sail, the like of which wasn't seen again until the late Cretaceous Spinosaurus. Since this slow-moving reptile almost certainly had a cold-blooded metabolism, it may have evolved this sail as a temperature-regulation device, using it to soak up valuable sunlight during the daytime and dissipate excess heat at night. One of the primary features that distinguished true dinosaurs from the archosaurs, pelcyosaurs and therapsids that preceded them was the upright orientation of their limbs. That's why we can be sure that Dimetrodon wasn't a dinosaur: this reptile walked with an ambling, splay-footed, crocodilian gait, rather than the vertical posture of comparably sized quadrupedal dinosaurs. http://i.imgur.com/ZhUgy8W.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5YAZoER.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Kx88U1r.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZgrfOSv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/G3ZeTHQ.jpg Not a dinosaur, and apparently not a reptile: Edited August 24, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 That's the cutest, fluffiest looking puffin chick I've ever seen! And I've never heard of a Dimetrodon before. Those teeth! :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 22 August 2014Friday Atlantic Puffin Atlantic puffins have penguin-like coloring but they sport a colorful beak that has led some to dub them the "sea parrot". The beak fades to a drab gray during the winter and blooms with color again in the spring—suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates. These birds live most of their lives at sea, resting on the waves when not swimming. They are excellent swimmers that use their wings to stroke underwater with a flying motion. They steer with rudderlike webbed feet and can dive to depths of 200 feet (61 meters), though they usually stay underwater for only 20 or 30 seconds. Puffins typically hunt small fish like herring or sand eels. Atlantic puffins land on North Atlantic seacoasts and islands to form breeding colonies each spring and summer. Iceland is the breeding home of perhaps 60 percent of the world's Atlantic puffins. The birds often select precipitous, rocky cliff tops to build their nests, which they line with feathers or grass. Females lay a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating it. When a chick hatches, its parents take turns feeding it by carrying small fish back to the nest in their relatively spacious bills. Puffin couples often reunite at the same burrow site each year. It is unclear how these birds navigate back to their home grounds. They may use visual reference points, smells, sounds, the Earth's magnetic fields—or perhaps even the stars. http://i.imgur.com/g4Ikihk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FUY07ZL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xWTj3P4.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7xbNTmj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UwaH5pC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ThFXepV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WB0Uuc9.jpgFantastic looking bird 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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