HomesickAlien Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 21 January 2015Wednesday Great Spotted Kiwi The national symbol of New Zealand and its people, the kiwi is both a cultural icon and a biological oddity. The five kiwi species are unusual, pear-shaped, flightless birds that have evolved in the absence of any native mammals and therefore developed features that help it occupy a mammalian niche, to the extent that the bird has been referred to as an ‘honorary mammal’. The skin is tough and leathery, the feathers like hair, and the rudimentary, indistinct wings end in a cat-like claw. The kiwi is one of the few birds with a highly-developed sense of smell and the only bird in the world with external nostrils at the tip of its beak. Kiwis set out on their hunt for food about 30 minutes after sunset, in search of insects, snails, spiders, earthworms, crayfish, and fallen fruits and berries on which to feed. Prey is found by the birds tapping the ground with their beaks and sniffing the earth, followed by plunging their beaks deep into the soil, stabbing back and forth to catch underground quarry. Kiwis are strictly monogamous, usually pairing for at least two to three breeding seasons, sometimes for life. These birds are extremely territorial and, once mating pairs form, the nesting region is fiercely defended, usually by vocal displays but occasionally by physical battles. Within these territories kiwis may have up to 100 different excavated burrows and usually use a different one each day for shelter. However, unlike other kiwi species, the great spotted kiwi prefers dens to simple burrows, constructing tunnels several metres long and with more than one exit. Most breeding takes place in spring. The great spotted kiwi only produces one enormous egg per clutch, reaching up to 15% of the female’s body mass. The egg takes up so much space that the females cannot generally eat during the last few days before laying, so must accumulate a store of fat beforehand. The advantage is that this large, nutrient-rich egg produces fully-feathered young at an advanced stage of development, quickly able to take care of themselves. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-spotted-kiwi-foraging_zpsebb27b90.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Two-great-spotted-kiwis-foraging_zps5e0b4f87.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi_zps2f5a1432.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Apteryx_haastii_M_3Imagen_fija001_zps51e87dbb.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi2_zps42f3aba6.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwivhenegg_zps2de30763.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/png199001l_zps76dac1c1.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 21 January 2015Wednesday Great Spotted Kiwi The national symbol of New Zealand and its people, the kiwi is both a cultural icon and a biological oddity. The five kiwi species are unusual, pear-shaped, flightless birds that have evolved in the absence of any native mammals and therefore developed features that help it occupy a mammalian niche, to the extent that the bird has been referred to as an ‘honorary mammal’. The skin is tough and leathery, the feathers like hair, and the rudimentary, indistinct wings end in a cat-like claw. The kiwi is one of the few birds with a highly-developed sense of smell and the only bird in the world with external nostrils at the tip of its beak. Kiwis set out on their hunt for food about 30 minutes after sunset, in search of insects, snails, spiders, earthworms, crayfish, and fallen fruits and berries on which to feed. Prey is found by the birds tapping the ground with their beaks and sniffing the earth, followed by plunging their beaks deep into the soil, stabbing back and forth to catch underground quarry. Kiwis are strictly monogamous, usually pairing for at least two to three breeding seasons, sometimes for life. These birds are extremely territorial and, once mating pairs form, the nesting region is fiercely defended, usually by vocal displays but occasionally by physical battles. Within these territories kiwis may have up to 100 different excavated burrows and usually use a different one each day for shelter. However, unlike other kiwi species, the great spotted kiwi prefers dens to simple burrows, constructing tunnels several metres long and with more than one exit. Most breeding takes place in spring. The great spotted kiwi only produces one enormous egg per clutch, reaching up to 15% of the female’s body mass. The egg takes up so much space that the females cannot generally eat during the last few days before laying, so must accumulate a store of fat beforehand. The advantage is that this large, nutrient-rich egg produces fully-feathered young at an advanced stage of development, quickly able to take care of themselves. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-spotted-kiwi-foraging_zpsebb27b90.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Two-great-spotted-kiwis-foraging_zps5e0b4f87.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi_zps2f5a1432.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Apteryx_haastii_M_3Imagen_fija001_zps51e87dbb.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi2_zps42f3aba6.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwivhenegg_zps2de30763.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/png199001l_zps76dac1c1.jpgOddity is the right word. I've never heard of a bird like that before 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 21 January 2015Wednesday Great Spotted Kiwi The national symbol of New Zealand and its people, the kiwi is both a cultural icon and a biological oddity. The five kiwi species are unusual, pear-shaped, flightless birds that have evolved in the absence of any native mammals and therefore developed features that help it occupy a mammalian niche, to the extent that the bird has been referred to as an ‘honorary mammal’. The skin is tough and leathery, the feathers like hair, and the rudimentary, indistinct wings end in a cat-like claw. The kiwi is one of the few birds with a highly-developed sense of smell and the only bird in the world with external nostrils at the tip of its beak. Kiwis set out on their hunt for food about 30 minutes after sunset, in search of insects, snails, spiders, earthworms, crayfish, and fallen fruits and berries on which to feed. Prey is found by the birds tapping the ground with their beaks and sniffing the earth, followed by plunging their beaks deep into the soil, stabbing back and forth to catch underground quarry. Kiwis are strictly monogamous, usually pairing for at least two to three breeding seasons, sometimes for life. These birds are extremely territorial and, once mating pairs form, the nesting region is fiercely defended, usually by vocal displays but occasionally by physical battles. Within these territories kiwis may have up to 100 different excavated burrows and usually use a different one each day for shelter. However, unlike other kiwi species, the great spotted kiwi prefers dens to simple burrows, constructing tunnels several metres long and with more than one exit. Most breeding takes place in spring. The great spotted kiwi only produces one enormous egg per clutch, reaching up to 15% of the female’s body mass. The egg takes up so much space that the females cannot generally eat during the last few days before laying, so must accumulate a store of fat beforehand. The advantage is that this large, nutrient-rich egg produces fully-feathered young at an advanced stage of development, quickly able to take care of themselves. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-spotted-kiwi-foraging_zpsebb27b90.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Two-great-spotted-kiwis-foraging_zps5e0b4f87.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi_zps2f5a1432.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Apteryx_haastii_M_3Imagen_fija001_zps51e87dbb.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwi2_zps42f3aba6.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/kiwivhenegg_zps2de30763.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/png199001l_zps76dac1c1.jpgHe's a beautiful little bird! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) 22 January 2015Thursday Southern Cassowary Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are related to emus and found only in Australia and New Guinea. The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with red colouring at the nape. Two wattles of bare, red coloured skin hang down from the throat. Cassowaries have stout, powerful legs and long feet with 3 toes; the inner toe on each foot has a sharp claw that can reach up to 80 millimetres in length. The name cassowary comes from a Papuan name meaning ‘horned head’, referring to the helmet of tough skin borne on the crown of the head. This helmet (or casque) slopes backwards and is used to push through vegetation as the cassowary runs through the rainforest with its head down. It also reflects age and dominance. The sexes are similar in appearance, although females tend to be larger and heavier. Chicks are striped black and cream, fading to brown after around five months. The adult colouring and casque begin to develop between two and four years of age. Cassowaries are usually solitary, and males are subordinate to females if they meet. Females may lay several clutches of green eggs during the breeding season, which runs from June to October. These are laid directly onto the forest floor and the male then takes sole responsibility for their care. The male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, turning the eggs and only leaving his charges in order to drink. He cares for his offspring for up to 16 months, protecting them under his tail if threatened. Cassowaries fight by kicking out with their legs. They have a fearsome reputation, but their diet is composed almost entirely of fruit. These birds are important dispersers of a number of rainforest seeds, ranging far in search of fruiting trees. The southern cassowary is found in New Guinea as well as Queensland in north-eastern Australia. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-drumming_zpsb7awrddu.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Side-profile-of-adult-southern-cassowary-amongst-vegetation_zpsxp7avxvu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20close-up_zpsujqh80ul.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Cassoway_zpslwqzjim4.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-fruit_zps0r51ofi1.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20crossing_zpsuuhql2ww.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSCN6076_zpsk7btmhkq.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/2993499_orig_zpsp4xugrzh.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/ph_9434_32267_zpsoblxmifa.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary_chicks_VAZoo_zps5vqubjvm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/05-cassowary-eggs-580v_zpsbpood6tg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20egg_zpsja91ceks.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/tmp5122_thumb_thumb_zpsua2pxfzq.jpg Edited January 22, 2015 by substancewithoutstyle 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Cassowaries are gorgeous birds, so dinosaur-like! But, in the video, why was the guy with the camera walking closer to it? A cassowary can kill a person if it wants to! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 22 January 2015Thursday Southern Cassowary Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are related to emus and found only in Australia and New Guinea. The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with red colouring at the nape. Two wattles of bare, red coloured skin hang down from the throat. Cassowaries have stout, powerful legs and long feet with 3 toes; the inner toe on each foot has a sharp claw that can reach up to 80 millimetres in length. The name cassowary comes from a Papuan name meaning ‘horned head’, referring to the helmet of tough skin borne on the crown of the head. This helmet (or casque) slopes backwards and is used to push through vegetation as the cassowary runs through the rainforest with its head down. It also reflects age and dominance. The sexes are similar in appearance, although females tend to be larger and heavier. Chicks are striped black and cream, fading to brown after around five months. The adult colouring and casque begin to develop between two and four years of age. Cassowaries are usually solitary, and males are subordinate to females if they meet. Females may lay several clutches of green eggs during the breeding season, which runs from June to October. These are laid directly onto the forest floor and the male then takes sole responsibility for their care. The male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, turning the eggs and only leaving his charges in order to drink. He cares for his offspring for up to 16 months, protecting them under his tail if threatened. Cassowaries fight by kicking out with their legs. They have a fearsome reputation, but their diet is composed almost entirely of fruit. These birds are important dispersers of a number of rainforest seeds, ranging far in search of fruiting trees. The southern cassowary is found in New Guinea as well as Queensland in north-eastern Australia. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-drumming_zpsb7awrddu.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Side-profile-of-adult-southern-cassowary-amongst-vegetation_zpsxp7avxvu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20close-up_zpsujqh80ul.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Cassoway_zpslwqzjim4.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-fruit_zps0r51ofi1.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20crossing_zpsuuhql2ww.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSCN6076_zpsk7btmhkq.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/2993499_orig_zpsp4xugrzh.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/ph_9434_32267_zpsoblxmifa.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary_chicks_VAZoo_zps5vqubjvm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/05-cassowary-eggs-580v_zpsbpood6tg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20egg_zpsja91ceks.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/tmp5122_thumb_thumb_zpsua2pxfzq.jpg Fascinating bird :)Cute babies! Though are those signs for real? :o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 22 January 2015Thursday Southern Cassowary Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are related to emus and found only in Australia and New Guinea. The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with red colouring at the nape. Two wattles of bare, red coloured skin hang down from the throat. Cassowaries have stout, powerful legs and long feet with 3 toes; the inner toe on each foot has a sharp claw that can reach up to 80 millimetres in length. The name cassowary comes from a Papuan name meaning ‘horned head’, referring to the helmet of tough skin borne on the crown of the head. This helmet (or casque) slopes backwards and is used to push through vegetation as the cassowary runs through the rainforest with its head down. It also reflects age and dominance. The sexes are similar in appearance, although females tend to be larger and heavier. Chicks are striped black and cream, fading to brown after around five months. The adult colouring and casque begin to develop between two and four years of age. Cassowaries are usually solitary, and males are subordinate to females if they meet. Females may lay several clutches of green eggs during the breeding season, which runs from June to October. These are laid directly onto the forest floor and the male then takes sole responsibility for their care. The male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, turning the eggs and only leaving his charges in order to drink. He cares for his offspring for up to 16 months, protecting them under his tail if threatened. Cassowaries fight by kicking out with their legs. They have a fearsome reputation, but their diet is composed almost entirely of fruit. These birds are important dispersers of a number of rainforest seeds, ranging far in search of fruiting trees. The southern cassowary is found in New Guinea as well as Queensland in north-eastern Australia. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-drumming_zpsb7awrddu.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Side-profile-of-adult-southern-cassowary-amongst-vegetation_zpsxp7avxvu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20close-up_zpsujqh80ul.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Cassoway_zpslwqzjim4.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-fruit_zps0r51ofi1.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20crossing_zpsuuhql2ww.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSCN6076_zpsk7btmhkq.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/2993499_orig_zpsp4xugrzh.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/ph_9434_32267_zpsoblxmifa.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary_chicks_VAZoo_zps5vqubjvm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/05-cassowary-eggs-580v_zpsbpood6tg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20egg_zpsja91ceks.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/tmp5122_thumb_thumb_zpsua2pxfzq.jpg Incredible! I love all the different colours on the neck and face. That blue is amazing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 22 January 2015Thursday Southern Cassowary Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are related to emus and found only in Australia and New Guinea. The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with red colouring at the nape. Two wattles of bare, red coloured skin hang down from the throat. Cassowaries have stout, powerful legs and long feet with 3 toes; the inner toe on each foot has a sharp claw that can reach up to 80 millimetres in length. The name cassowary comes from a Papuan name meaning ‘horned head’, referring to the helmet of tough skin borne on the crown of the head. This helmet (or casque) slopes backwards and is used to push through vegetation as the cassowary runs through the rainforest with its head down. It also reflects age and dominance. The sexes are similar in appearance, although females tend to be larger and heavier. Chicks are striped black and cream, fading to brown after around five months. The adult colouring and casque begin to develop between two and four years of age. Cassowaries are usually solitary, and males are subordinate to females if they meet. Females may lay several clutches of green eggs during the breeding season, which runs from June to October. These are laid directly onto the forest floor and the male then takes sole responsibility for their care. The male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, turning the eggs and only leaving his charges in order to drink. He cares for his offspring for up to 16 months, protecting them under his tail if threatened. Cassowaries fight by kicking out with their legs. They have a fearsome reputation, but their diet is composed almost entirely of fruit. These birds are important dispersers of a number of rainforest seeds, ranging far in search of fruiting trees. The southern cassowary is found in New Guinea as well as Queensland in north-eastern Australia. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-drumming_zpsb7awrddu.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Side-profile-of-adult-southern-cassowary-amongst-vegetation_zpsxp7avxvu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20close-up_zpsujqh80ul.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Cassoway_zpslwqzjim4.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-fruit_zps0r51ofi1.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20crossing_zpsuuhql2ww.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSCN6076_zpsk7btmhkq.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/2993499_orig_zpsp4xugrzh.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/ph_9434_32267_zpsoblxmifa.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary_chicks_VAZoo_zps5vqubjvm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/05-cassowary-eggs-580v_zpsbpood6tg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20egg_zpsja91ceks.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/tmp5122_thumb_thumb_zpsua2pxfzq.jpg Fascinating bird :)Cute babies! Though are those signs for real? :o Pretty sure the signs are real: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cbd42ce9-7f08-4642-91de-f0469e8d9678_zpslcphkwgp.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Cassowaries are gorgeous birds, so dinosaur-like! But, in the video, why was the guy with the camera walking closer to it? A cassowary can kill a person if it wants to! http://youtu.be/YA58sS3x2Oo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 23 January 2015 FLORA FRIDAY Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri) Tacca is an unusual genus of evergreen tropical herbs, possessing nearly black flowers, conspicuous involucral bracts, and whisker-like filiform bracteoles. These reproductive structures resemble decaying organic material, and are thought to attract flies which facilitate pollination. Tacca chantrieri is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China, where it grows in the humid forests along streams, often on decayed organic material, up to about 1300 m of altitude. Plants are 50–100 cm tall, with tubers or creeping rhizomes and alternate, elliptic, entire leaves. In areas where T. chantrieri occurs, local inhabitants liken the appearance of the species to a flying bat, a sinister face, or a tiger with whiskers. The rhizome of T. chantrieri has been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including high blood pressure, burns, gastric ulcers, enteritis, and hepatitis. Tacca species have become increasingly popular in the horticultural trade because of their bizarre flowers. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Tacca_chantrieri_zpsvpjafdbp.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/37215012_zpsp2iszsow.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/39234930_zps2nu9njll.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/7793701524_214b7569e8_z_zpsqhv2lndw.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/223c20Tacca20Chantrieri20Black20Bat20Flower-L_zpsqmigwzs8.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/c5748b_zpsv8v8et9e.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 22 January 2015Thursday Southern Cassowary Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are related to emus and found only in Australia and New Guinea. The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with red colouring at the nape. Two wattles of bare, red coloured skin hang down from the throat. Cassowaries have stout, powerful legs and long feet with 3 toes; the inner toe on each foot has a sharp claw that can reach up to 80 millimetres in length. The name cassowary comes from a Papuan name meaning ‘horned head’, referring to the helmet of tough skin borne on the crown of the head. This helmet (or casque) slopes backwards and is used to push through vegetation as the cassowary runs through the rainforest with its head down. It also reflects age and dominance. The sexes are similar in appearance, although females tend to be larger and heavier. Chicks are striped black and cream, fading to brown after around five months. The adult colouring and casque begin to develop between two and four years of age. Cassowaries are usually solitary, and males are subordinate to females if they meet. Females may lay several clutches of green eggs during the breeding season, which runs from June to October. These are laid directly onto the forest floor and the male then takes sole responsibility for their care. The male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, turning the eggs and only leaving his charges in order to drink. He cares for his offspring for up to 16 months, protecting them under his tail if threatened. Cassowaries fight by kicking out with their legs. They have a fearsome reputation, but their diet is composed almost entirely of fruit. These birds are important dispersers of a number of rainforest seeds, ranging far in search of fruiting trees. The southern cassowary is found in New Guinea as well as Queensland in north-eastern Australia. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-drumming_zpsb7awrddu.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Side-profile-of-adult-southern-cassowary-amongst-vegetation_zpsxp7avxvu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20close-up_zpsujqh80ul.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Cassoway_zpslwqzjim4.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary-fruit_zps0r51ofi1.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20crossing_zpsuuhql2ww.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSCN6076_zpsk7btmhkq.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/2993499_orig_zpsp4xugrzh.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/ph_9434_32267_zpsoblxmifa.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary_chicks_VAZoo_zps5vqubjvm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/05-cassowary-eggs-580v_zpsbpood6tg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cassowary%20egg_zpsja91ceks.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/tmp5122_thumb_thumb_zpsua2pxfzq.jpg Fascinating bird :)Cute babies! Though are those signs for real? :o Pretty sure the signs are real: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/cbd42ce9-7f08-4642-91de-f0469e8d9678_zpslcphkwgp.jpg Awww.... :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 23 January 2015 FLORA FRIDAY Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri) Tacca is an unusual genus of evergreen tropical herbs, possessing nearly black flowers, conspicuous involucral bracts, and whisker-like filiform bracteoles. These reproductive structures resemble decaying organic material, and are thought to attract flies which facilitate pollination. Tacca chantrieri is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China, where it grows in the humid forests along streams, often on decayed organic material, up to about 1300 m of altitude. Plants are 50–100 cm tall, with tubers or creeping rhizomes and alternate, elliptic, entire leaves. In areas where T. chantrieri occurs, local inhabitants liken the appearance of the species to a flying bat, a sinister face, or a tiger with whiskers. The rhizome of T. chantrieri has been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including high blood pressure, burns, gastric ulcers, enteritis, and hepatitis. Tacca species have become increasingly popular in the horticultural trade because of their bizarre flowers. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Tacca_chantrieri_zpsvpjafdbp.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/37215012_zpsp2iszsow.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/39234930_zps2nu9njll.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/7793701524_214b7569e8_z_zpsqhv2lndw.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/223c20Tacca20Chantrieri20Black20Bat20Flower-L_zpsqmigwzs8.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/c5748b_zpsv8v8et9e.jpg That's absolutely incredible! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 23 January 2015 FLORA FRIDAY Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri) Tacca is an unusual genus of evergreen tropical herbs, possessing nearly black flowers, conspicuous involucral bracts, and whisker-like filiform bracteoles. These reproductive structures resemble decaying organic material, and are thought to attract flies which facilitate pollination. Tacca chantrieri is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China, where it grows in the humid forests along streams, often on decayed organic material, up to about 1300 m of altitude. Plants are 50–100 cm tall, with tubers or creeping rhizomes and alternate, elliptic, entire leaves. In areas where T. chantrieri occurs, local inhabitants liken the appearance of the species to a flying bat, a sinister face, or a tiger with whiskers. The rhizome of T. chantrieri has been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including high blood pressure, burns, gastric ulcers, enteritis, and hepatitis. Tacca species have become increasingly popular in the horticultural trade because of their bizarre flowers. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Tacca_chantrieri_zpsvpjafdbp.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/37215012_zpsp2iszsow.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/39234930_zps2nu9njll.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/7793701524_214b7569e8_z_zpsqhv2lndw.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/223c20Tacca20Chantrieri20Black20Bat20Flower-L_zpsqmigwzs8.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/c5748b_zpsv8v8et9e.jpgCool! Wouldn't look out of place in The Little Shop of Horrors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 25 January 2015Sunday Fishing Cat The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is another feline that contradicts the belief that cats dislike water, frequently entering the water to prey on fish, as its common name alludes. However, it has often been incorrectly credited with physical adaptations to these habits. While webbed feet have previously been noted as a characteristic of the fishing cat, the partial membrane between the toes is in fact no more developed than in other wild or domestic cats. As its name implies, the fishing cat predominantly preys on fish. Largely active at night, fishing cats are good swimmers and have been observed diving for fish, as well as scooping them out of the water with their paws. These cats will also prey on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, calves, goats, dogs, and will scavenge on carcasses of larger animals. Although capable of breeding all year round, birth peaks have been noted in March and May in north-eastern India. One to four kittens are born after a gestation period of 63 days. Young suckle until they are six months old and reach independence at ten months. In captivity, males have been recorded to aid in the rearing of young. Fishing cats live an average of 12 years, but have been known to live more than 15 years in captivity. The fishing cat is discontinuously distributed throughout southern and southeast Asia, found in northeastern India, the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal and India, and a few scattered areas in the rest of India, Bangladesh, Indus Valley Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in the Indonesian Islands of Sumatra and Java. A few reports in peninsular Malaysia have not established whether the fishing cat is resident. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/78b29e323bd11692_fishing_cat_zpsafcni6ih.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_Cat_Prionailurus_viverrinus_3_zpssmdnnb4t.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04_fhshing_cat_zpsg1y1glyk.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-swimming-in-river_zpsk6mk8cug.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-at-waters-edge_zpszeibi2qc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_cat_in_San_Diego_Zoo_zpsogogx1rg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat_zpsntm0x5ja.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat%202_zpskao1aphg.png 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 25 January 2015Sunday Fishing Cat The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is another feline that contradicts the belief that cats dislike water, frequently entering the water to prey on fish, as its common name alludes. However, it has often been incorrectly credited with physical adaptations to these habits. While webbed feet have previously been noted as a characteristic of the fishing cat, the partial membrane between the toes is in fact no more developed than in other wild or domestic cats. As its name implies, the fishing cat predominantly preys on fish. Largely active at night, fishing cats are good swimmers and have been observed diving for fish, as well as scooping them out of the water with their paws. These cats will also prey on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, calves, goats, dogs, and will scavenge on carcasses of larger animals. Although capable of breeding all year round, birth peaks have been noted in March and May in north-eastern India. One to four kittens are born after a gestation period of 63 days. Young suckle until they are six months old and reach independence at ten months. In captivity, males have been recorded to aid in the rearing of young. Fishing cats live an average of 12 years, but have been known to live more than 15 years in captivity. The fishing cat is discontinuously distributed throughout southern and southeast Asia, found in northeastern India, the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal and India, and a few scattered areas in the rest of India, Bangladesh, Indus Valley Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in the Indonesian Islands of Sumatra and Java. A few reports in peninsular Malaysia have not established whether the fishing cat is resident. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/78b29e323bd11692_fishing_cat_zpsafcni6ih.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_Cat_Prionailurus_viverrinus_3_zpssmdnnb4t.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04_fhshing_cat_zpsg1y1glyk.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-swimming-in-river_zpsk6mk8cug.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-at-waters-edge_zpszeibi2qc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_cat_in_San_Diego_Zoo_zpsogogx1rg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat_zpsntm0x5ja.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat%202_zpskao1aphg.png What a beautiful cat! And her baby! Though I'm not sure about the fishing... I can't even swim! ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) 26 January 2015Monday Mound-building Termites Termite mounds. They may look like just a big pile of well-structured dirt, but they are actually marvels of architecture and fill an unexpectedly important function in the ecosystems in which they appear. In fact, the areas around termite mounds can be some of the most biologically diverse in an entire habitat. Mound-building termites live in Africa, Australia and South America, and the mounds they create are enormous -- as big as 30 meters in diameter. Inside the mound is an extensive system of tunnels and conduits that serves as a ventilation system for the underground nest. In order to get good ventilation, the termites will construct several shafts leading down to the cellar located beneath the nest. The mound is built above the subterranean nest. The nest itself is a spheroidal structure consisting of numerous gallery chambers. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some, like Odontotermes termites build open chimneys or vent holes into their mounds, while others build completely enclosed mounds like Macrotermes. The Amitermes (Magnetic termites) mounds are created tall, thin, wedge-shaped, and are usually oriented north-south. For termites, they are home, kitchen, nursery, fortress against enemies, and they're built with heating and cooling systems in place. A city of termites requires a lot of food, and the mound has many storage chambers for wood, the insect’s primary food source. Termites also cultivate fungal gardens, located inside the main nest area. Termites eat this fungus which helps them extract nutrients from the wood they consume. Maintaining the fungal gardens takes precise temperature control, and the remarkable architecture of the mound keeps the temperature almost constant. And importantly, the mounds help to create a biologically diverse habitat that helps the survival of many species. When ants attack and many ants and termites die in their battles, the bodies provide nutrients for the soil around the mounds. In addition, the feces and food scraps of those animals that use the mounds as lookouts also add to building up nutrients in the surrounding soil. Additionally, the way termites build the mounds plays a role in helping the soil absorb rainwater. All this allows plant life to flourish and attracts animals. The cycle continues, and revolves around these castles of dirt and termite spit. They are of great value even as they erode over decades or even centuries into small hills. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/02-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsnmyn7dk0.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/06-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsj6hmvs6p.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpslzwqdqzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/11-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpscycxlzcr.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/07-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsspztzfy7.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/magnetic-termites-525255B225255D_zpsi5p8gfzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/term_hlavni_zpsxzkdxwln.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/termite20mounds_zpsxfcvpghj.jpg Edited January 26, 2015 by substancewithoutstyle 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 25 January 2015Sunday Fishing Cat The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is another feline that contradicts the belief that cats dislike water, frequently entering the water to prey on fish, as its common name alludes. However, it has often been incorrectly credited with physical adaptations to these habits. While webbed feet have previously been noted as a characteristic of the fishing cat, the partial membrane between the toes is in fact no more developed than in other wild or domestic cats. As its name implies, the fishing cat predominantly preys on fish. Largely active at night, fishing cats are good swimmers and have been observed diving for fish, as well as scooping them out of the water with their paws. These cats will also prey on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, calves, goats, dogs, and will scavenge on carcasses of larger animals. Although capable of breeding all year round, birth peaks have been noted in March and May in north-eastern India. One to four kittens are born after a gestation period of 63 days. Young suckle until they are six months old and reach independence at ten months. In captivity, males have been recorded to aid in the rearing of young. Fishing cats live an average of 12 years, but have been known to live more than 15 years in captivity. The fishing cat is discontinuously distributed throughout southern and southeast Asia, found in northeastern India, the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal and India, and a few scattered areas in the rest of India, Bangladesh, Indus Valley Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in the Indonesian Islands of Sumatra and Java. A few reports in peninsular Malaysia have not established whether the fishing cat is resident. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/78b29e323bd11692_fishing_cat_zpsafcni6ih.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_Cat_Prionailurus_viverrinus_3_zpssmdnnb4t.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04_fhshing_cat_zpsg1y1glyk.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-swimming-in-river_zpsk6mk8cug.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing-cat-at-waters-edge_zpszeibi2qc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Fishing_cat_in_San_Diego_Zoo_zpsogogx1rg.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat_zpsntm0x5ja.pnghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/fishing%20cat%202_zpskao1aphg.pngWhat a great kitty! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 26 January 2015Monday Mound-building Termites Termite mounds. They may look like just a big pile of well-structured dirt, but they are actually marvels of architecture and fill an unexpectedly important function in the ecosystems in which they appear. In fact, the areas around termite mounds can be some of the most biologically diverse in an entire habitat. Mound-building termites live in Africa, Australia and South America, and the mounds they create are enormous -- as big as 30 meters in diameter. Inside the mound is an extensive system of tunnels and conduits that serves as a ventilation system for the underground nest. In order to get good ventilation, the termites will construct several shafts leading down to the cellar located beneath the nest. The mound is built above the subterranean nest. The nest itself is a spheroidal structure consisting of numerous gallery chambers. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some, like Odontotermes termites build open chimneys or vent holes into their mounds, while others build completely enclosed mounds like Macrotermes. The Amitermes (Magnetic termites) mounds are created tall, thin, wedge-shaped, and are usually oriented north-south. For termites, they are home, kitchen, nursery, fortress against enemies, and they're built with heating and cooling systems in place. A city of termites requires a lot of food, and the mound has many storage chambers for wood, the insect’s primary food source. Termites also cultivate fungal gardens, located inside the main nest area. Termites eat this fungus which helps them extract nutrients from the wood they consume. Maintaining the fungal gardens takes precise temperature control, and the remarkable architecture of the mound keeps the temperature almost constant. And importantly, the mounds help to create a biologically diverse habitat that helps the survival of many species. When ants attack and many ants and termites die in their battles, the bodies provide nutrients for the soil around the mounds. In addition, the feces and food scraps of those animals that use the mounds as lookouts also add to building up nutrients in the surrounding soil. Additionally, the way termites build the mounds plays a role in helping the soil absorb rainwater. All this allows plant life to flourish and attracts animals. The cycle continues, and revolves around these castles of dirt and termite spit. They are of great value even as they erode over decades or even centuries into small hills. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/02-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsnmyn7dk0.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/06-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsj6hmvs6p.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpslzwqdqzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/11-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpscycxlzcr.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/07-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsspztzfy7.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/magnetic-termites-525255B225255D_zpsi5p8gfzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/term_hlavni_zpsxzkdxwln.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/termite20mounds_zpsxfcvpghj.jpg Wow! Impressive!!! :clap: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 26 January 2015Monday Mound-building Termites Termite mounds. They may look like just a big pile of well-structured dirt, but they are actually marvels of architecture and fill an unexpectedly important function in the ecosystems in which they appear. In fact, the areas around termite mounds can be some of the most biologically diverse in an entire habitat. Mound-building termites live in Africa, Australia and South America, and the mounds they create are enormous -- as big as 30 meters in diameter. Inside the mound is an extensive system of tunnels and conduits that serves as a ventilation system for the underground nest. In order to get good ventilation, the termites will construct several shafts leading down to the cellar located beneath the nest. The mound is built above the subterranean nest. The nest itself is a spheroidal structure consisting of numerous gallery chambers. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some, like Odontotermes termites build open chimneys or vent holes into their mounds, while others build completely enclosed mounds like Macrotermes. The Amitermes (Magnetic termites) mounds are created tall, thin, wedge-shaped, and are usually oriented north-south. For termites, they are home, kitchen, nursery, fortress against enemies, and they're built with heating and cooling systems in place. A city of termites requires a lot of food, and the mound has many storage chambers for wood, the insect’s primary food source. Termites also cultivate fungal gardens, located inside the main nest area. Termites eat this fungus which helps them extract nutrients from the wood they consume. Maintaining the fungal gardens takes precise temperature control, and the remarkable architecture of the mound keeps the temperature almost constant. And importantly, the mounds help to create a biologically diverse habitat that helps the survival of many species. When ants attack and many ants and termites die in their battles, the bodies provide nutrients for the soil around the mounds. In addition, the feces and food scraps of those animals that use the mounds as lookouts also add to building up nutrients in the surrounding soil. Additionally, the way termites build the mounds plays a role in helping the soil absorb rainwater. All this allows plant life to flourish and attracts animals. The cycle continues, and revolves around these castles of dirt and termite spit. They are of great value even as they erode over decades or even centuries into small hills. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/02-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsnmyn7dk0.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/06-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsj6hmvs6p.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/04-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpslzwqdqzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/11-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpscycxlzcr.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/07-termite-mound.jpg.650x0_q85_crop-smart_zpsspztzfy7.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/magnetic-termites-525255B225255D_zpsi5p8gfzp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/term_hlavni_zpsxzkdxwln.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/termite20mounds_zpsxfcvpghj.jpg Awesome! :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 27 January 2015Tuesday Numbat The numbat is a small carnivorous marsupial from Australia, and the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae. It is a specialised termite-eater and is easily recognised by its slender, graceful body and short, stiff hair which is reddish-brown with black and white stripes across its back and rump. Unlike most marsupials the numbat is active during the day, reflecting the behaviour patterns of termites, spending most of its active hours searching for food. It is the only marsupial that strictly feeds on social insects, and consumes 20,000 per day, the equivalent to ten percent of its body weight. The numbat walks with its nose to the ground, sniffing and turning over small pieces of wood in search of shallow underground termite galleries. On finding a gallery it squats on its hind legs and digs rapidly with its clawed forefeet, licking up the termites with its long, thin tongue. At night, numbats shelter in hollow logs that are too narrow for its predators, such as foxes, to enter. Should the numbat feel threatened, it turns its rump, which is extremely thick-skinned, to plug the hole and protect itself. It is a solitary animal for most of the year, occupying a home range of up to 370 acres, though in the summer before the breeding season a male will roam long distances outside its home range in search of a female. During the cooler months, a male and a female may share the same home range, but they are rarely seen together. The female gives birth to four young between January and May, which attach themselves to her four nipples, as she does not have a pouch like other marsupials. The numbat was once widespread in Australia, and at the time of European settlement it was found in southern semi-arid and arid Australia and across much of the southern half of Western Australia. The numbat’s populations have dramatically suffered from predation by introduced mammals such as the cat and red fox, and the clearing of the land for agriculture. The numbat is Western Australia’s mammal emblem, a status which gives it widespread recognition and may well have saved it from extinction. Conservation programs are also re-introducing the numbat to areas from which they have disappeared, and are radio-tracking individuals to monitor their fate. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-1_zpszrrgnunl.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-standing-on-hind-legs_zps7xkjsb1y.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbatsharonwormleaton_zpsuefitflp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbattongue_zpsfzfvbivu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbat-babies-2011-004_zpsr0vqfodm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/4859103-Numbat_road_sign-_Stirling_range-0_zpss8jjaakc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numrange_zpsnoe9e9d7.gif 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 27 January 2015Tuesday Numbat The numbat is a small carnivorous marsupial from Australia, and the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae. It is a specialised termite-eater and is easily recognised by its slender, graceful body and short, stiff hair which is reddish-brown with black and white stripes across its back and rump. Unlike most marsupials the numbat is active during the day, reflecting the behaviour patterns of termites, spending most of its active hours searching for food. It is the only marsupial that strictly feeds on social insects, and consumes 20,000 per day, the equivalent to ten percent of its body weight. The numbat walks with its nose to the ground, sniffing and turning over small pieces of wood in search of shallow underground termite galleries. On finding a gallery it squats on its hind legs and digs rapidly with its clawed forefeet, licking up the termites with its long, thin tongue. At night, numbats shelter in hollow logs that are too narrow for its predators, such as foxes, to enter. Should the numbat feel threatened, it turns its rump, which is extremely thick-skinned, to plug the hole and protect itself. It is a solitary animal for most of the year, occupying a home range of up to 370 acres, though in the summer before the breeding season a male will roam long distances outside its home range in search of a female. During the cooler months, a male and a female may share the same home range, but they are rarely seen together. The female gives birth to four young between January and May, which attach themselves to her four nipples, as she does not have a pouch like other marsupials. The numbat was once widespread in Australia, and at the time of European settlement it was found in southern semi-arid and arid Australia and across much of the southern half of Western Australia. The numbat’s populations have dramatically suffered from predation by introduced mammals such as the cat and red fox, and the clearing of the land for agriculture. The numbat is Western Australia’s mammal emblem, a status which gives it widespread recognition and may well have saved it from extinction. Conservation programs are also re-introducing the numbat to areas from which they have disappeared, and are radio-tracking individuals to monitor their fate. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-1_zpszrrgnunl.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-standing-on-hind-legs_zps7xkjsb1y.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbatsharonwormleaton_zpsuefitflp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbattongue_zpsfzfvbivu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbat-babies-2011-004_zpsr0vqfodm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/4859103-Numbat_road_sign-_Stirling_range-0_zpss8jjaakc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numrange_zpsnoe9e9d7.gif What a gorgeous lil fella! I love his stripes! And that baby! : 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 27 January 2015Tuesday Numbat The numbat is a small carnivorous marsupial from Australia, and the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae. It is a specialised termite-eater and is easily recognised by its slender, graceful body and short, stiff hair which is reddish-brown with black and white stripes across its back and rump. Unlike most marsupials the numbat is active during the day, reflecting the behaviour patterns of termites, spending most of its active hours searching for food. It is the only marsupial that strictly feeds on social insects, and consumes 20,000 per day, the equivalent to ten percent of its body weight. The numbat walks with its nose to the ground, sniffing and turning over small pieces of wood in search of shallow underground termite galleries. On finding a gallery it squats on its hind legs and digs rapidly with its clawed forefeet, licking up the termites with its long, thin tongue. At night, numbats shelter in hollow logs that are too narrow for its predators, such as foxes, to enter. Should the numbat feel threatened, it turns its rump, which is extremely thick-skinned, to plug the hole and protect itself. It is a solitary animal for most of the year, occupying a home range of up to 370 acres, though in the summer before the breeding season a male will roam long distances outside its home range in search of a female. During the cooler months, a male and a female may share the same home range, but they are rarely seen together. The female gives birth to four young between January and May, which attach themselves to her four nipples, as she does not have a pouch like other marsupials. The numbat was once widespread in Australia, and at the time of European settlement it was found in southern semi-arid and arid Australia and across much of the southern half of Western Australia. The numbat’s populations have dramatically suffered from predation by introduced mammals such as the cat and red fox, and the clearing of the land for agriculture. The numbat is Western Australia’s mammal emblem, a status which gives it widespread recognition and may well have saved it from extinction. Conservation programs are also re-introducing the numbat to areas from which they have disappeared, and are radio-tracking individuals to monitor their fate. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-1_zpszrrgnunl.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-standing-on-hind-legs_zps7xkjsb1y.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbatsharonwormleaton_zpsuefitflp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbattongue_zpsfzfvbivu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbat-babies-2011-004_zpsr0vqfodm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/4859103-Numbat_road_sign-_Stirling_range-0_zpss8jjaakc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numrange_zpsnoe9e9d7.gif What a gorgeous lil fella! I love his stripes! And that baby! : 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 28 January 2015Wednesday Vulturine Guineafowl Native to arid acacia scrub of E. Africa, vulturine guinea fowl are extraordinarily creepy game birds. These highly aggressive, sharp beaked ground stalkers hunt in groups, and unusually for a relative of chickens, capture and kill small mammals, although they also eat seeds and fruit. The vulturine guineafowl is a large (61–71 cm) bird with a round body and small head. It has a longer wings, neck, legs and tail than other guineafowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guineafowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long, bare neck and head.The sexes are similar, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male and with smaller tarsal spurs. Young birds are mainly grey-brown, with a duller blue breast and short hackles. The vulturine guineafowl is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds. This guineafowl is terrestrial, and will run rather than fly when alarmed. Despite the open habitat, it tends to keep to cover, and roosts in trees. It breeds in dry and open habitats with scattered bushes and trees, such as savannah or grassland. It usually lays 4-8 cream-coloured eggs in a well-hidden grass-lined scrape. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/guinea-fowl-wallpapers-8_zpsu0wrl2uw.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/_DSC4438_zpsyobg9hjy.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Vulturine_Guinea1_zpstleqmd8b.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/6914580475_d1495dee8b_z_zpshj7yfdoz.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Vulturine_Guineafowl_flapping_its_wings_zpsb2zubagz.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/guineafowl_zpsetdathmq.png Range: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/311_present_zpssylathpb.gif 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 28 January 2015Wednesday Vulturine Guineafowl Native to arid acacia scrub of E. Africa, vulturine guinea fowl are extraordinarily creepy game birds. These highly aggressive, sharp beaked ground stalkers hunt in groups, and unusually for a relative of chickens, capture and kill small mammals, although they also eat seeds and fruit. The vulturine guineafowl is a large (61–71 cm) bird with a round body and small head. It has a longer wings, neck, legs and tail than other guineafowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guineafowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long, bare neck and head.The sexes are similar, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male and with smaller tarsal spurs. Young birds are mainly grey-brown, with a duller blue breast and short hackles. The vulturine guineafowl is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds. This guineafowl is terrestrial, and will run rather than fly when alarmed. Despite the open habitat, it tends to keep to cover, and roosts in trees. It breeds in dry and open habitats with scattered bushes and trees, such as savannah or grassland. It usually lays 4-8 cream-coloured eggs in a well-hidden grass-lined scrape. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/guinea-fowl-wallpapers-8_zpsu0wrl2uw.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/_DSC4438_zpsyobg9hjy.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Vulturine_Guinea1_zpstleqmd8b.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/6914580475_d1495dee8b_z_zpshj7yfdoz.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Vulturine_Guineafowl_flapping_its_wings_zpsb2zubagz.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/guineafowl_zpsetdathmq.png Range: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/311_present_zpssylathpb.gif Wow..! :clap: :clap: :clap: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 27 January 2015Tuesday Numbat The numbat is a small carnivorous marsupial from Australia, and the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae. It is a specialised termite-eater and is easily recognised by its slender, graceful body and short, stiff hair which is reddish-brown with black and white stripes across its back and rump. Unlike most marsupials the numbat is active during the day, reflecting the behaviour patterns of termites, spending most of its active hours searching for food. It is the only marsupial that strictly feeds on social insects, and consumes 20,000 per day, the equivalent to ten percent of its body weight. The numbat walks with its nose to the ground, sniffing and turning over small pieces of wood in search of shallow underground termite galleries. On finding a gallery it squats on its hind legs and digs rapidly with its clawed forefeet, licking up the termites with its long, thin tongue. At night, numbats shelter in hollow logs that are too narrow for its predators, such as foxes, to enter. Should the numbat feel threatened, it turns its rump, which is extremely thick-skinned, to plug the hole and protect itself. It is a solitary animal for most of the year, occupying a home range of up to 370 acres, though in the summer before the breeding season a male will roam long distances outside its home range in search of a female. During the cooler months, a male and a female may share the same home range, but they are rarely seen together. The female gives birth to four young between January and May, which attach themselves to her four nipples, as she does not have a pouch like other marsupials. The numbat was once widespread in Australia, and at the time of European settlement it was found in southern semi-arid and arid Australia and across much of the southern half of Western Australia. The numbat’s populations have dramatically suffered from predation by introduced mammals such as the cat and red fox, and the clearing of the land for agriculture. The numbat is Western Australia’s mammal emblem, a status which gives it widespread recognition and may well have saved it from extinction. Conservation programs are also re-introducing the numbat to areas from which they have disappeared, and are radio-tracking individuals to monitor their fate. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-1_zpszrrgnunl.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Numbat-standing-on-hind-legs_zps7xkjsb1y.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbatsharonwormleaton_zpsuefitflp.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbattongue_zpsfzfvbivu.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numbat-babies-2011-004_zpsr0vqfodm.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/4859103-Numbat_road_sign-_Stirling_range-0_zpss8jjaakc.jpghttp://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/numrange_zpsnoe9e9d7.gifCute animal...even when doing a Gene Simmons impression 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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