Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 01 September 2014Monday Golden Eagle This powerful eagle is North America's largest bird of prey and the national bird of Mexico. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. They are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 150 miles (241 kilometers) per hour. Golden eagles use their speed and sharp talons to snatch up rabbits, marmots, and ground squirrels. They also eat carrion, reptiles, birds, fish, and smaller fare such as large insects. They have even been known to attack full grown deer. Ranchers once killed many of these birds for fear that they would prey on their livestock, but studies showed that the animal's impact was minimal. Today, golden eagles are protected by law. Golden eagle pairs maintain territories that may be as large as 60 square miles (155 square kilometers). They are monogamous and may remain with their mate for several years or possibly for life. Golden eagles nest in high places including cliffs, trees, or human structures such as telephone poles. They build huge nests to which they may return for several breeding years. Females lay from one to four eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. Typically, one or two young survive to fledge in about three months. These majestic birds range from Mexico through much of western North America as far north as Alaska; they also appear in the east but are uncommon. Golden eagles are also found in Asia, northern Africa, and Europe. http://i.imgur.com/Fj8yFaN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/VbdS6Fe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/J4mXZaK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/u03KsjO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2b735T0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BvilYEz.jpg Such majestic beauty! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 02 September 2014Tuesday Turkey Vulture The most widespread vulture in North America, the turkey vulture is locally called “buzzard” in many areas. A turkey vulture standing on the ground can, at a distance, resemble a wild turkey. It is unique among vultures in that it finds carrion by smell as well as by sight. The turkey vulture's distinctive slow, teetering flight style probably helps the bird soar at low altitudes, where it is best able to use its nose to find carrion. At other times they may soar high on thermals and form mixed flocks or kettles. On the ground they move with ungainly hops, where they are particularly noticeable along roadsides and at landfills. The most common time to see a turkey vulture is while driving, so look along the sides of highways and in the sky over open countryside. At night, they roost in trees, on rocks, and other high secluded spots. Turkey Vultures eat carrion, which they find largely by their excellent sense of smell. Mostly they eat mammals but are not above snacking on reptiles, other birds, amphibians, fish, and even invertebrates. They prefer freshly dead animals, but often have to wait for their meal to soften in order to pierce the skin. They are deft foragers, targeting the softest bits first and are even known to leave aside the scent glands of dead skunks. Turkey Vultures don’t build full nests. They may scrape out a spot in the soil or leaf litter, pull aside obstacles, or arrange scraps of vegetation or rotting wood. Once found, many of these nest sites may be used repeatedly for a decade or more. http://i.imgur.com/aVqsZoz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/EPitdAP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0s9bSEa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TQVD2kC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QAmKBHd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/x7IzA9X.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gBFNnQr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cG9azYb.jpg I've heard of a turkey and a vulture, but never a turkey vulture. That's a new one on me! :P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 03 September 2014Wednesday Purple Gallinule Purple Gallinules are brilliantly colored tropical waterbirds related to rails and coots. They can be found in swamps, lagoons, ponds and freshwater marshes, with reedbeds and dense floating vegetation, and also in flooded fields. This colorful bird is often seen walking on lily pads, supporting its weight on its very long toes, and may even sometimes be seen climbing up into low bushes in search of food. When walking or swimming, it constantly jerks its head and tail. Its flight is slow and weak, but this has not prevented individual birds from traveling far out of their normal range. They have turned up in California, southern Canada, Bermuda, and even South Africa. Their breeding habitat is warm swamps and marshes in the southeastern United States, and the tropical regions of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. This species is resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most American birds are migratory, wintering south to Argentina. http://i.imgur.com/NZZRRm6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/c6xDVFz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/N043OmR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9gGYRdG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/72dycl0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gQ7Etip.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y60x4Ss.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fetrywW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/b80S3vj.jpg That's stunning! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 04 September 2014Thursday Secretary Bird Secretary birds are distantly related to buzzards, vultures, harriers, and kites. But unlike their raptor cousins, secretary birds spend most of their time on the ground. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and are non-migratory (although they may follow food sources). Their range is from Senegal to Somalia and south to the Cape of Good Hope. These birds are also found at a variety of elevations, from the coastal plains to the highlands. Secretary birds prefer open grasslands and savannahs rather than forests and dense shrubbery, which may impede their cursorial existence. While the birds roost in the local Acacia trees at night, they spend much of the day on the ground, returning to roosting sites just before dark. Adults hunt in pairs and sometimes as loose familial flocks, stalking through the habitat with long strides. Prey consists of insects, small mammals, lizards, snakes, young birds, bird eggs, and sometimes dead animals killed in wildfires. Some secretary birds are kept on African farms to keep the snake population in check. Secretary birds have two distinct feeding strategies that are both executed on land. They can either catch prey by chasing it and striking with the bill, or stamping on prey until it is rendered stunned or unconscious enough to swallow. Studies of this latter strategy have helped reconstruct the possible feeding mechanisms employed by the dinosaur-like 'terror birds' of five million years ago. Secretary birds lay two to three oval, pale-green eggs over the course of two to three days. Nests are built at a height of 5–7 m (15–20 feet) in Acacia trees. Both the male and female visit the nest site for almost half a year before egg laying takes place. The nest is around 2.5 m (eight feet) wide and 30 cm (one foot) deep, and is constructed as a relatively flat basin of sticks and branches, lined with grass. Instead of building a new nest each year, they add a new layer of grass. http://i.imgur.com/yq57dzQ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nA6gkEA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QZb0vr1.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/hWd0BN6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/P2s9zfD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rGIw5E0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Vd9kOKW.jpg Those head crest feathers! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 05 September 2014 Flora Friday Close-up photos of flowers, with a bit of fauna for good measure. http://i.imgur.com/AQhAnZe.jpgGolden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) with lorikeet http://i.imgur.com/lLKln89.jpgPurple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia violacea) http://i.imgur.com/wINJibo.jpgWhitebeard (Agiortia pedicillata) with honeybee http://i.imgur.com/PI9UGDB.jpgPurple Bush Pea (Hovea acutifolia) -there's also a spider if you look closely http://i.imgur.com/4xztU8N.jpgGolden Everlasting with moth http://i.imgur.com/dRsENQI.jpgSilver Bush (Sophora tomentosa) with lynx spider http://i.imgur.com/L8cp6Kt.jpgNut Bush (Calothamnus quadrifidus) http://i.imgur.com/afZcaKx.jpgGrevillea tree with rainbow lorikeet http://i.imgur.com/YdsFA3K.jpgGolden Penda with tree frog Visually stunning! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 06 September 2014 Paleontology Saturday Pterosaurs Like their cousins the dinosaurs, pterosaurs stand out as one of evolution's great success stories. They first appeared during the Triassic period, 215 million years ago, and thrived for 150 million years before going extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period. Their endurance record is almost inconceivable compared with the span of humans, whose ancestors started walking upright less than four million years ago. Uncontested in the air, pterosaurs colonized all continents and evolved a vast array of shapes and sizes. Of more than 120 named species, the smallest pterosaur measured no bigger than a sparrow; the largest reached a wingspan of nearly 40 feet (12 meters), wider than an F-16 fighter. Scientists once imagined many ways that pterosaurs might move on land—including upside down in trees, like sloths, or hopping and running on two feet, like birds—but recently discovered fossil tracks suggest that pterosaurs walked on all fours, folding up their wings like an umbrella. The wing of the pterosaur was unique, a large membrane suspended from a hugely expanded fourth finger. Pterosaurs are largely regarded as the first vertebrates to achieve sustainable powered flight, although the largest relied mainly on the wind and gliding to stay in the air. Pterosaur bones were hollow, with walls as thin as playing cards. Like bird's bones, they were strengthened by internal struts. By comparing pterosaur and bird brain casts, scientists have determined that the creatures' brains were similar in certain ways—both had well developed regions for vision and balance, which are important in flying. Their eggs were soft-shelled, and only a few have been found so far. (Dinosaurs, by comparison, laid hard-shelled eggs.) By the time a pterosaur hatched, its wings were fully formed; it probably could have taken off shortly after it hatched. Though scientists once imagined pterosaurs caring for their young in nests, they now believe the young hatchlings were on their own from the start. http://i.imgur.com/GdRp5Tb.png http://i.imgur.com/JlKaQqH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ulNurg2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BJ10DM1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0m42De9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RXopwvz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7cE3wWF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4Mmxb2K.gif I saw one such creature in a Walking With Dinosaurs episode. This particular fella was the only one without a mate, and it flew itself ragged for miles and miles and miles. By the time he got to this area to find a mate, everyone else was spoken for, his cries went unheeded, and he got weak. In the end, after several hours, he got so worn out from crying and pining that he just expired where he lay. I ended up in floods of tears for this poor dude. He was so brave to get so far, and all for nothing. In fact, and this will sound stupid, but I'm in tears now just thinking about him. :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 07 September 2014Sunday Draco Lizard For the tiny Draco lizard, moving among the trees in the jungles of Southeast Asia is an essential task—for escaping danger, attracting mates, and finding meals. Scampering across the forest floor, where predators lurk, can be perilous. So over thousands of years, the Draco lizard has taken the ground out of the equation by adapting the capacity for flight. These so-called flying dragons have a set of elongated ribs, which they can extend and retract. Between these ribs are folds of skin that rest flat against the body when not in use, but act as wings when unfurled, allowing the Draco to catch the wind and glide. The lizards use their long, slender tails to steer themselves, and each sortie can carry them up to 30 feet (9 meters). Although Dracos usually avoid going to the ground, females still must descend to deposit eggs. The lizard uses her pointed snout to create a small hole in the ground, where she lays about five eggs and then covers the hole with dirt. She remains on the ground for about 24 hours, fiercely guarding the nest, and then returns to the trees and leaves the eggs to their fate. Flying dragons survive on a diet of almost exclusively ants and termites. The lizards are found in densely wooded areas in the Philippines and Borneo in the east, across Southeast Asia and into Southern India. They are abundant throughout their range and have no special conservation status. http://i.imgur.com/Jsc7ZbU.jpg http://i.imgur.com/e2W4hem.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XXpeDX3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K6A7IQr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NIdb8Sc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jm4tWNl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/i00G9fa.jpg He's beautiful! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 08 September 2014Monday Horned "Toad" The short-horned lizard is often referred to as a “horned toad” or “horny toad” because its squat, flattened shape and short, blunt snout give it a toad-ish look. There are over a dozen recognized species found in the deserts and semi-arid environments of North and Central America, from southern Canada to Guatemala. Species are distinguishable by the formidable crown of horns adorning their head and the numerous spines across their back. Their coloring can be yellowish, gray, or reddish-brown depending on the environment they inhabit, and, combined with their shape, affords them considerable camouflage on the surface. They feed primarily on ants, waiting for one to unsuspectingly crawl by before snapping it in and swallowing it whole. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders. Despite their spiky features, short-horned lizards are preyed upon by a number of creatures, including hawks, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Consequently, beyond their natural camouflage, they have adapted a pair of remarkable talents. In order to ward off hungry predators, short-horned lizards are capable of inflating their bodies up to twice their size, resembling a spiny balloon. And if this proves insufficient, some species employ one of the animal kingdom’s most bizarre defensive mechanisms: They shoot blood from their eyes. The ominous squirting blood emanates from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet (one meter). It’s meant to confuse would-be predators, but also contains a chemical that is noxious to dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Over recent decades short-horn lizard populations have been in decline throughout their range. Destruction of their native habitat, efforts to eradicate ants—their staple food—and the pet trade have all contributed to this. http://i.imgur.com/0ATV38M.jpg http://i.imgur.com/GvFOFEL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fpdx6uk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/B7MKZPx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5bLEq60.jpg eggs: http://i.imgur.com/akKk1uF.png Amazing little fella! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 08 September 2014Monday Horned "Toad" The short-horned lizard is often referred to as a “horned toad” or “horny toad” because its squat, flattened shape and short, blunt snout give it a toad-ish look. There are over a dozen recognized species found in the deserts and semi-arid environments of North and Central America, from southern Canada to Guatemala. Species are distinguishable by the formidable crown of horns adorning their head and the numerous spines across their back. Their coloring can be yellowish, gray, or reddish-brown depending on the environment they inhabit, and, combined with their shape, affords them considerable camouflage on the surface. They feed primarily on ants, waiting for one to unsuspectingly crawl by before snapping it in and swallowing it whole. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders. Despite their spiky features, short-horned lizards are preyed upon by a number of creatures, including hawks, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Consequently, beyond their natural camouflage, they have adapted a pair of remarkable talents. In order to ward off hungry predators, short-horned lizards are capable of inflating their bodies up to twice their size, resembling a spiny balloon. And if this proves insufficient, some species employ one of the animal kingdom’s most bizarre defensive mechanisms: They shoot blood from their eyes. The ominous squirting blood emanates from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet (one meter). It’s meant to confuse would-be predators, but also contains a chemical that is noxious to dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Over recent decades short-horn lizard populations have been in decline throughout their range. Destruction of their native habitat, efforts to eradicate ants—their staple food—and the pet trade have all contributed to this. http://i.imgur.com/0ATV38M.jpg http://i.imgur.com/GvFOFEL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fpdx6uk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/B7MKZPx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5bLEq60.jpg eggs: http://i.imgur.com/akKk1uF.pngLike a tiny cute dragon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) 09 September 2014Tuesday Butterflyfish Butterflyfish, with their amazing array of colors and patterns, are among the most common sites on reefs throughout the world. Although some species are dull-colored, most wear intricate patterns with striking backgrounds of blue, red, orange, or yellow. Many have dark bands across their eyes and round, eye-like dots on their flanks to confuse predators as to which end to strike and in which direction they're likely to flee. There are about 114 species of butterflyfish. They have thin, disk-shaped bodies that closely resemble their equally recognizable cousins, the angelfish. They spend their days tirelessly pecking at coral and rock formations with their long, thin snouts in search of coral polyps, worms, and other small invertebrates. Some butterflyfish species travel in small schools, although many are solitary until they find a partner, with whom they may mate for life. http://i.imgur.com/f4q2gHE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9uogbDJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JSbfeVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vZA3eH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RJT28gO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y41ecoR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uMwJtkF.jpg EDIT: Moorish Idol pic deleted. Edited September 10, 2014 by substancewithoutstyle 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 The Moorish idol is a butterflyfish? I didn't realize that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 The Moorish idol is a butterflyfish? I didn't realize that. This one? http://i.imgur.com/6vLqWTm.jpg It should be a picture of a butterflyfish of the genus Heniochus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heniochus Looking at the color pattern it could be a Moorish Idol: http://en.wikipedia....ki/Moorish_idol You're probably right. :cheers: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 10 September 2014Wednesday Mountain Lion This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a puma, cougar, and catamount. This big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests. Mountain lions like to prey on deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days. Mountain lions once roamed nearly all of the United States. They were prized by hunters and despised by farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock losses at their hands. Subsequently, by the dawn of the 20th century, mountain lions were eliminated from nearly all of their range in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.—though the endangered Florida panther survives. Today, whitetail deer populations have rebounded over much of the mountain lion's former range and a few animals have appeared in more eastern states such as Missouri and Arkansas. Some biologists believe that these big cats could eventually recolonize much of their Midwest and Eastern range—if humans allow them to do so. In most western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, populations are considered sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting. Mountain lions require a lot of room—only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile (78-square-kilometer) range. They are solitary and shy animals, seldom seen by humans. While they do occasionally attack people—usually children or solitary adults—statistics show that, on average, there are only four attacks and one human fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada. Mountain Lion Audio http://i.imgur.com/TwcFQPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zwcpWrX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdSMg19.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vjVne9p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLevRNJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aVL2ZH6.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 09 September 2014Tuesday Butterflyfish Butterflyfish, with their amazing array of colors and patterns, are among the most common sites on reefs throughout the world. Although some species are dull-colored, most wear intricate patterns with striking backgrounds of blue, red, orange, or yellow. Many have dark bands across their eyes and round, eye-like dots on their flanks to confuse predators as to which end to strike and in which direction they're likely to flee. There are about 114 species of butterflyfish. They have thin, disk-shaped bodies that closely resemble their equally recognizable cousins, the angelfish. They spend their days tirelessly pecking at coral and rock formations with their long, thin snouts in search of coral polyps, worms, and other small invertebrates. Some butterflyfish species travel in small schools, although many are solitary until they find a partner, with whom they may mate for life. http://i.imgur.com/f4q2gHE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9uogbDJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JSbfeVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vZA3eH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RJT28gO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y41ecoR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uMwJtkF.jpg EDIT: Moorish Idol pic deleted.Wow! Those are some amazing patterns! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 10 September 2014Wednesday Mountain Lion This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a puma, cougar, and catamount. This big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests. Mountain lions like to prey on deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days. Mountain lions once roamed nearly all of the United States. They were prized by hunters and despised by farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock losses at their hands. Subsequently, by the dawn of the 20th century, mountain lions were eliminated from nearly all of their range in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.—though the endangered Florida panther survives. Today, whitetail deer populations have rebounded over much of the mountain lion's former range and a few animals have appeared in more eastern states such as Missouri and Arkansas. Some biologists believe that these big cats could eventually recolonize much of their Midwest and Eastern range—if humans allow them to do so. In most western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, populations are considered sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting. Mountain lions require a lot of room—only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile (78-square-kilometer) range. They are solitary and shy animals, seldom seen by humans. While they do occasionally attack people—usually children or solitary adults—statistics show that, on average, there are only four attacks and one human fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada. Mountain Lion Audio http://i.imgur.com/TwcFQPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zwcpWrX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdSMg19.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vjVne9p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLevRNJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aVL2ZH6.jpgAw yeah!!!That's a great photo with the Lion leaping in the snow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 10 September 2014Wednesday Mountain Lion This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a puma, cougar, and catamount. This big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests. Mountain lions like to prey on deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days. Mountain lions once roamed nearly all of the United States. They were prized by hunters and despised by farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock losses at their hands. Subsequently, by the dawn of the 20th century, mountain lions were eliminated from nearly all of their range in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.—though the endangered Florida panther survives. Today, whitetail deer populations have rebounded over much of the mountain lion's former range and a few animals have appeared in more eastern states such as Missouri and Arkansas. Some biologists believe that these big cats could eventually recolonize much of their Midwest and Eastern range—if humans allow them to do so. In most western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, populations are considered sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting. Mountain lions require a lot of room—only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile (78-square-kilometer) range. They are solitary and shy animals, seldom seen by humans. While they do occasionally attack people—usually children or solitary adults—statistics show that, on average, there are only four attacks and one human fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada. Mountain Lion Audio http://i.imgur.com/TwcFQPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zwcpWrX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdSMg19.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vjVne9p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLevRNJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aVL2ZH6.jpg Gorgeous, gorgeous animals. I'd like to put a gun to the head of anyone who kills one for fun. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 The Moorish idol is a butterflyfish? I didn't realize that. This one? http://i.imgur.com/6vLqWTm.jpg It should be a picture of a butterflyfish of the genus Heniochus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heniochus Looking at the color pattern it could be a Moorish Idol: http://en.wikipedia....ki/Moorish_idol You're probably right. :cheers: Oops! The pennantfish/bannerfish and Moorish idols are really similar. I look for that elongated tubular snout for definitive ID. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 09 September 2014Tuesday Butterflyfish Butterflyfish, with their amazing array of colors and patterns, are among the most common sites on reefs throughout the world. Although some species are dull-colored, most wear intricate patterns with striking backgrounds of blue, red, orange, or yellow. Many have dark bands across their eyes and round, eye-like dots on their flanks to confuse predators as to which end to strike and in which direction they're likely to flee. There are about 114 species of butterflyfish. They have thin, disk-shaped bodies that closely resemble their equally recognizable cousins, the angelfish. They spend their days tirelessly pecking at coral and rock formations with their long, thin snouts in search of coral polyps, worms, and other small invertebrates. Some butterflyfish species travel in small schools, although many are solitary until they find a partner, with whom they may mate for life. http://i.imgur.com/f4q2gHE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9uogbDJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/JSbfeVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9vZA3eH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RJT28gO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y41ecoR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uMwJtkF.jpg EDIT: Moorish Idol pic deleted. They're beautiful! Though why did you delete the Moorish Idol pic? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 The Moorish idol is a butterflyfish? I didn't realize that. This one? http://i.imgur.com/6vLqWTm.jpg It should be a picture of a butterflyfish of the genus Heniochus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heniochus Looking at the color pattern it could be a Moorish Idol: http://en.wikipedia....ki/Moorish_idol You're probably right. :cheers: He's gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 10 September 2014Wednesday Mountain Lion This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a puma, cougar, and catamount. This big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests. Mountain lions like to prey on deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days. Mountain lions once roamed nearly all of the United States. They were prized by hunters and despised by farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock losses at their hands. Subsequently, by the dawn of the 20th century, mountain lions were eliminated from nearly all of their range in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.—though the endangered Florida panther survives. Today, whitetail deer populations have rebounded over much of the mountain lion's former range and a few animals have appeared in more eastern states such as Missouri and Arkansas. Some biologists believe that these big cats could eventually recolonize much of their Midwest and Eastern range—if humans allow them to do so. In most western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, populations are considered sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting. Mountain lions require a lot of room—only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile (78-square-kilometer) range. They are solitary and shy animals, seldom seen by humans. While they do occasionally attack people—usually children or solitary adults—statistics show that, on average, there are only four attacks and one human fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada. Mountain Lion Audio http://i.imgur.com/TwcFQPL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zwcpWrX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/IdSMg19.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vjVne9p.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QLevRNJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aVL2ZH6.jpg Truly beautiful creatures! I like the crouching and pouncing pics! :ebert:And those babies - I just wanna scoop them all up at once and cuddle them! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 12 September 2014Friday There's already an entry for the aye-aye, but that was months ago and there was no accompanying commentary. Aye-Aye Aye-ayes can be found only on the island of Madagascar. These rare animals may not look like primates at first glance, but they are related to chimpanzees, apes, and humans. Aye-ayes are dark brown or black and are distinguished by a bushy tail that is larger than their body. They also feature big eyes, slender fingers, and large, sensitive ears. Aye-ayes have pointed claws on all their fingers and toes except for their opposable big toes, which enable them to dangle from branches. Aye-ayes spend their lives in rain forest trees and avoid coming down to earth. They are nocturnal, and spend the day curled up in a ball-like nest of leaves and branches. The nests appear as closed spheres with single entry holes, situated in the forks of large trees. While perched aloft, the aye-aye taps on trees with its long middle finger and listens for wood-boring insect larvae moving under the bark. It employs the same middle finger to fish them out. The digit is also useful for scooping the flesh out of coconuts and other fruits that supplement the animal's insect diet. http://i.imgur.com/W8jdUoo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qN7fRlE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gQAqQ9U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uROJ8r8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Dgf1qTW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YgkyGLL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/anQEdtr.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 12 September 2014Friday There's already an entry for the aye-aye, but that was months ago and there was no accompanying commentary. Aye-Aye Aye-ayes can be found only on the island of Madagascar. These rare animals may not look like primates at first glance, but they are related to chimpanzees, apes, and humans. Aye-ayes are dark brown or black and are distinguished by a bushy tail that is larger than their body. They also feature big eyes, slender fingers, and large, sensitive ears. Aye-ayes have pointed claws on all their fingers and toes except for their opposable big toes, which enable them to dangle from branches. Aye-ayes spend their lives in rain forest trees and avoid coming down to earth. They are nocturnal, and spend the day curled up in a ball-like nest of leaves and branches. The nests appear as closed spheres with single entry holes, situated in the forks of large trees. While perched aloft, the aye-aye taps on trees with its long middle finger and listens for wood-boring insect larvae moving under the bark. It employs the same middle finger to fish them out. The digit is also useful for scooping the flesh out of coconuts and other fruits that supplement the animal's insect diet. http://i.imgur.com/W8jdUoo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qN7fRlE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gQAqQ9U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uROJ8r8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Dgf1qTW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YgkyGLL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/anQEdtr.jpg Beauty - and that gorgeous baby, too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 13 September 2014 Paleontology Saturday Smilodon Although Smilodon is referred to by most people as the saber-toothed tiger, this prehistoric mammal wasn't a true tiger at all, belonging instead to an ancient, long-extinct line of cat-like creatures known as "machairodonts". Smilodon was a large, muscular predator that may well have preyed on early humans, as well as the Woolly Mammoths and Giant Sloths of the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Why the enormous teeth? Certainly they were used in hunting, but opinions vary as to exactly how they were used. Some paleontologists have suggested that they were used to grab and hold onto prey. However, attacking a large herbivore this way could easily break the saber teeth, and saber teeth that were demonstrably broken during an animal's lifetime are rare in fossil deposits. A more plausible hypothesis suggests that saber teeth were used to deliver a fatal ripping wound to the belly or throat of a prey animal. Sabertooth carnivores may not have tried to grapple with prey. More likely, they delivered one crippling stab wound and then waited for the prey to die. Smilodon is a relatively recent sabertooth, from the Late Pleistocene. It went extinct about 10,000 years ago. Fossils have been found all over North America and Europe. Smilodon fossils from the La Brea tar pits include bones that show evidence of serious crushing or fracture injuries, or crippling arthritis and other degenerative diseases. Such problems would have been debilitating for the wounded animals. Yet many of these bones show extensive healing and regrowth, indicating that even crippled animals survived for some time after their injuries. http://i.imgur.com/s6eHAKZ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/BVQYZTI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r9ksRXZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fIyJbj9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q6Fe0lA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VOkePwz.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 12 September 2014Friday There's already an entry for the aye-aye, but that was months ago and there was no accompanying commentary. Aye-Aye Aye-ayes can be found only on the island of Madagascar. These rare animals may not look like primates at first glance, but they are related to chimpanzees, apes, and humans. Aye-ayes are dark brown or black and are distinguished by a bushy tail that is larger than their body. They also feature big eyes, slender fingers, and large, sensitive ears. Aye-ayes have pointed claws on all their fingers and toes except for their opposable big toes, which enable them to dangle from branches. Aye-ayes spend their lives in rain forest trees and avoid coming down to earth. They are nocturnal, and spend the day curled up in a ball-like nest of leaves and branches. The nests appear as closed spheres with single entry holes, situated in the forks of large trees. While perched aloft, the aye-aye taps on trees with its long middle finger and listens for wood-boring insect larvae moving under the bark. It employs the same middle finger to fish them out. The digit is also useful for scooping the flesh out of coconuts and other fruits that supplement the animal's insect diet. http://i.imgur.com/W8jdUoo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qN7fRlE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gQAqQ9U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uROJ8r8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Dgf1qTW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YgkyGLL.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/anQEdtr.jpgStill love the eyes. Looks like he can't believe what he's seen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) 13 September 2014 Paleontology Saturday Smilodon Although Smilodon is referred to by most people as the saber-toothed tiger, this prehistoric mammal wasn't a true tiger at all, belonging instead to an ancient, long-extinct line of cat-like creatures known as "machairodonts". Smilodon was a large, muscular predator that may well have preyed on early humans, as well as the Woolly Mammoths and Giant Sloths of the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Why the enormous teeth? Certainly they were used in hunting, but opinions vary as to exactly how they were used. Some paleontologists have suggested that they were used to grab and hold onto prey. However, attacking a large herbivore this way could easily break the saber teeth, and saber teeth that were demonstrably broken during an animal's lifetime are rare in fossil deposits. A more plausible hypothesis suggests that saber teeth were used to deliver a fatal ripping wound to the belly or throat of a prey animal. Sabertooth carnivores may not have tried to grapple with prey. More likely, they delivered one crippling stab wound and then waited for the prey to die. Smilodon is a relatively recent sabertooth, from the Late Pleistocene. It went extinct about 10,000 years ago. Fossils have been found all over North America and Europe. Smilodon fossils from the La Brea tar pits include bones that show evidence of serious crushing or fracture injuries, or crippling arthritis and other degenerative diseases. Such problems would have been debilitating for the wounded animals. Yet many of these bones show extensive healing and regrowth, indicating that even crippled animals survived for some time after their injuries. http://i.imgur.com/s6eHAKZ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/BVQYZTI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r9ksRXZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fIyJbj9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q6Fe0lA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VOkePwz.jpgAwesome looking big cat. I bet they could have done some serious damage with those teeth!!! Edited September 13, 2014 by Your_Lion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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