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Substancewithoutstyle's Slightly Frivolous Flora and Fauna Photo Gallery

HomesickAlien

By HomesickAlien,
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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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28 January 2015

Wednesday

 

 

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.

 

 

Amazing feathers...such a great pattern

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16 March 2014 Sunday   The Titan Arum Amorphophallus titanum   http://i.imgur.com/sAtk90F.png http://i.imgur.com/q69WGSs.png http://i.imgur.com/nRM9UdN.png http://i.imgur.com/jRegam3.png

HomesickAlien
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02 May 2015 Saturday     Madagascar Leaf-Nosed Snake   This bizarre-looking snake is an arboreal species endemic to Madagascar. As their name implies, leaf-nosed snakes have bizarre nasal appendage

HomesickAlien
HomesickAlien

18 June 2014 Wednesday     Alligator Snapping Turtle       The prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and among the largest in the world. Wi

HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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29 January 2015

Thursday

 

 

Sea Cucumbers

 

Sea cucumbers are shaped like a cucumber or sausage, and are related to the starfish and the sea urchin. There are more than 500 species, found in shallow and deep waters throughout the world. Depending on species, sea cucumbers range in length from about one inch to six feet (2.5 to 180 cm).

 

Sea cucumbers are usually black, brown, or olive green. They have bumpy, leathery skin, embedded with bony particles. Some-sea cucumbers have tiny tube feet along the length of their body (tube feet are hollow, muscular projections that are used in locomotion). Those species that lack tube feet creep about the sea floor by muscular movements of the body. Some sea cucumbers hide in grassy beds and others burrow in mud and sand. At one end of the body is a mouth surrounded by 10 to 30 food-gathering tentacles. The sea cucumber feeds on tiny marine animals and other organic matter.

 

When disturbed by an enemy such as a fish or a crab, the sea cucumber will often eject long, sticky threads from its body to entangle its enemy. Some species of sea cucumbers will, at such times, violently contract their bodies and cast out a large part of their internal organs. The internal organs contain a toxin that is deadly to fish and other marine animals (but not to humans). These organs grow back in about six weeks.

 

The sea cucumber is considered a food delicacy and is commonly used in soups in Asia. It is usually dried and then sold in markets, where it is known as trepang and also as beche-de-mer.

 

 

 

Edited by substancewithoutstyle
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Babycat

Babycat

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29 January 2015

Thursday

 

 

Sea Cucumbers

 

Sea cucumbers are shaped like a cucumber or sausage, and are related to the starfish and the sea urchin. There are more than 500 species, found in shallow and deep waters throughout the world. Depending on species, sea cucumbers range in length from about one inch to six feet (2.5 to 180 cm).

 

Sea cucumbers are usually black, brown, or olive green. They have bumpy, leathery skin, embedded with bony particles. Some-sea cucumbers have tiny tube feet along the length of their body (tube feet are hollow, muscular projections that are used in locomotion). Those species that lack tube feet creep about the sea floor by muscular movements of the body. Some sea cucumbers hide in grassy beds and others burrow in mud and sand. At one end of the body is a mouth surrounded by 10 to 30 food-gathering tentacles. The sea cucumber feeds on tiny marine animals and other organic matter.

 

When disturbed by an enemy such as a fish or a crab, the sea cucumber will often eject long, sticky threads from its body to entangle its enemy. Some species of sea cucumbers will, at such times, violently contract their bodies and cast out a large part of their internal organs. The internal organs contain a toxin that is deadly to fish and other marine animals (but not to humans). These organs grow back in about six weeks.

 

The sea cucumber is considered a food delicacy and is commonly used in soups in Asia. It is usually dried and then sold in markets, where it is known as trepang and also as beche-de-mer.

 

 

 

Ewwwwww! The innards! :o

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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29 January 2015

Thursday

 

 

Sea Cucumbers

 

Sea cucumbers are shaped like a cucumber or sausage, and are related to the starfish and the sea urchin. There are more than 500 species, found in shallow and deep waters throughout the world. Depending on species, sea cucumbers range in length from about one inch to six feet (2.5 to 180 cm).

 

Sea cucumbers are usually black, brown, or olive green. They have bumpy, leathery skin, embedded with bony particles. Some-sea cucumbers have tiny tube feet along the length of their body (tube feet are hollow, muscular projections that are used in locomotion). Those species that lack tube feet creep about the sea floor by muscular movements of the body. Some sea cucumbers hide in grassy beds and others burrow in mud and sand. At one end of the body is a mouth surrounded by 10 to 30 food-gathering tentacles. The sea cucumber feeds on tiny marine animals and other organic matter.

 

When disturbed by an enemy such as a fish or a crab, the sea cucumber will often eject long, sticky threads from its body to entangle its enemy. Some species of sea cucumbers will, at such times, violently contract their bodies and cast out a large part of their internal organs. The internal organs contain a toxin that is deadly to fish and other marine animals (but not to humans). These organs grow back in about six weeks.

 

The sea cucumber is considered a food delicacy and is commonly used in soups in Asia. It is usually dried and then sold in markets, where it is known as trepang and also as beche-de-mer.

 

 

 

mmm, cucumbers...you even get noodles inside them, too

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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30 January 2015

 

FLORA FRIDAY

 

 

Pelican Flower

 

(Aristolochia gigantea 'brasiliensis')

 

There are around 120 species of Aristolochia from the tropics and subtropics, most of which are woody vines or herbaceous perennials.

 

The extraordinary Aristolochia gigantea, or pelican flower, was named in 1788 by Olof Swartz (1760-1818), and has one of the largest flowers of any New World species and deserves its name ‘gigantea’ (large flower). Each enormous flower lasts for two days. On the first day it is in the female phase, attracting flies by its foul smell, similar to that of rotting meat. The flies are trapped by the downward facing hairs in the pouch of the flower to ensure pollination. On the next day, the flower changes to the male phase and pollen is deposited on the pollinators, the odour disappears, the hairs wither and the insects are released.

 

Aristolochia gigantea is a robust evergreen vine, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in greenhouses. Extracts of the whole plant are used by traditional healers in Colombia to treat snake bites. It is also used as an antibiotic.

 

The pelican flower is native to Brazil, Colombia and Panama, often found in forests and thickets near streams.

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

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29 January 2015

Thursday

 

 

Sea Cucumbers

 

Sea cucumbers are shaped like a cucumber or sausage, and are related to the starfish and the sea urchin. There are more than 500 species, found in shallow and deep waters throughout the world. Depending on species, sea cucumbers range in length from about one inch to six feet (2.5 to 180 cm).

 

Sea cucumbers are usually black, brown, or olive green. They have bumpy, leathery skin, embedded with bony particles. Some-sea cucumbers have tiny tube feet along the length of their body (tube feet are hollow, muscular projections that are used in locomotion). Those species that lack tube feet creep about the sea floor by muscular movements of the body. Some sea cucumbers hide in grassy beds and others burrow in mud and sand. At one end of the body is a mouth surrounded by 10 to 30 food-gathering tentacles. The sea cucumber feeds on tiny marine animals and other organic matter.

 

When disturbed by an enemy such as a fish or a crab, the sea cucumber will often eject long, sticky threads from its body to entangle its enemy. Some species of sea cucumbers will, at such times, violently contract their bodies and cast out a large part of their internal organs. The internal organs contain a toxin that is deadly to fish and other marine animals (but not to humans). These organs grow back in about six weeks.

 

The sea cucumber is considered a food delicacy and is commonly used in soups in Asia. It is usually dried and then sold in markets, where it is known as trepang and also as beche-de-mer.

 

 

 

mmm, cucumbers...you even get noodles inside them, too

 

:o

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Babycat

Babycat

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30 January 2015

 

FLORA FRIDAY

 

 

Pelican Flower

 

(Aristolochia gigantea 'brasiliensis')

 

There are around 120 species of Aristolochia from the tropics and subtropics, most of which are woody vines or herbaceous perennials.

 

The extraordinary Aristolochia gigantea, or pelican flower, was named in 1788 by Olof Swartz (1760-1818), and has one of the largest flowers of any New World species and deserves its name ‘gigantea’ (large flower). Each enormous flower lasts for two days. On the first day it is in the female phase, attracting flies by its foul smell, similar to that of rotting meat. The flies are trapped by the downward facing hairs in the pouch of the flower to ensure pollination. On the next day, the flower changes to the male phase and pollen is deposited on the pollinators, the odour disappears, the hairs wither and the insects are released.

 

Aristolochia gigantea is a robust evergreen vine, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in greenhouses. Extracts of the whole plant are used by traditional healers in Colombia to treat snake bites. It is also used as an antibiotic.

 

The pelican flower is native to Brazil, Colombia and Panama, often found in forests and thickets near streams.

 

 

 

That's... An unusual kind of plant.

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

Posted
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30 January 2015

 

FLORA FRIDAY

 

 

Pelican Flower

 

(Aristolochia gigantea 'brasiliensis')

 

There are around 120 species of Aristolochia from the tropics and subtropics, most of which are woody vines or herbaceous perennials.

 

The extraordinary Aristolochia gigantea, or pelican flower, was named in 1788 by Olof Swartz (1760-1818), and has one of the largest flowers of any New World species and deserves its name ‘gigantea’ (large flower). Each enormous flower lasts for two days. On the first day it is in the female phase, attracting flies by its foul smell, similar to that of rotting meat. The flies are trapped by the downward facing hairs in the pouch of the flower to ensure pollination. On the next day, the flower changes to the male phase and pollen is deposited on the pollinators, the odour disappears, the hairs wither and the insects are released.

 

Aristolochia gigantea is a robust evergreen vine, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in greenhouses. Extracts of the whole plant are used by traditional healers in Colombia to treat snake bites. It is also used as an antibiotic.

 

The pelican flower is native to Brazil, Colombia and Panama, often found in forests and thickets near streams.

 

 

Wow, that's a massive flower. And very wrinkly, for a two day old.

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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31 January 2015

 

Paleontology Saturday

 

 

Ceratosaurus

 

Carnivorous and bipedal, the Ceratosaurus was a relatively small theropod dinosaur. It was in existence in the latter part of the Jurassic period; this was the border of the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian ages. The approximate time of its presence on the earth was 155 to 145 million years ago. The length of the Ceratosaurus was about 18 to 20 feet, and its weight is estimated at 0.6 to 1 ton. Although these proportions are not meagre by themselves, when juxtaposed with other theropods, seem small. Ceratosaurids like the Allosaurus weighed as much as 3 tons.

 

The Ceratosaurus had two projections on the nasal bone and smaller projections on the lacrimal bones. These horns were once believed to be attacking structures used for killing its prey or protecting itself from larger predators, but based on studies of other crested dinosaurs, it is now believed that the horns were only decorative items, probably used to attract mates.

 

The habitat of the Ceratosaurus consisted of marshes, swamps and rivers, where it probably hunted smaller dinosaurs and other vertebrates, although some paleontologists believe that it only ate smaller aquatic organisms or scavenged fallen animals.

 

The Ceratosaurus was an important carnivore of the late Jurassic period. Although some scientists posit that it may not have hunted larger animals, its appearance was the harbinger of larger theropods of the Cretaceous period like the Spinosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus.

 

 

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Babycat

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31 January 2015

 

Paleontology Saturday

 

 

Ceratosaurus

 

Carnivorous and bipedal, the Ceratosaurus was a relatively small theropod dinosaur. It was in existence in the latter part of the Jurassic period; this was the border of the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian ages. The approximate time of its presence on the earth was 155 to 145 million years ago. The length of the Ceratosaurus was about 18 to 20 feet, and its weight is estimated at 0.6 to 1 ton. Although these proportions are not meagre by themselves, when juxtaposed with other theropods, seem small. Ceratosaurids like the Allosaurus weighed as much as 3 tons.

 

The Ceratosaurus had two projections on the nasal bone and smaller projections on the lacrimal bones. These horns were once believed to be attacking structures used for killing its prey or protecting itself from larger predators, but based on studies of other crested dinosaurs, it is now believed that the horns were only decorative items, probably used to attract mates.

 

The habitat of the Ceratosaurus consisted of marshes, swamps and rivers, where it probably hunted smaller dinosaurs and other vertebrates, although some paleontologists believe that it only ate smaller aquatic organisms or scavenged fallen animals.

 

The Ceratosaurus was an important carnivore of the late Jurassic period. Although some scientists posit that it may not have hunted larger animals, its appearance was the harbinger of larger theropods of the Cretaceous period like the Spinosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus.

 

 

Impressive, though holy moly, those teeth! :o

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

Posted
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31 January 2015

 

Paleontology Saturday

 

 

Ceratosaurus

 

Carnivorous and bipedal, the Ceratosaurus was a relatively small theropod dinosaur. It was in existence in the latter part of the Jurassic period; this was the border of the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian ages. The approximate time of its presence on the earth was 155 to 145 million years ago. The length of the Ceratosaurus was about 18 to 20 feet, and its weight is estimated at 0.6 to 1 ton. Although these proportions are not meagre by themselves, when juxtaposed with other theropods, seem small. Ceratosaurids like the Allosaurus weighed as much as 3 tons.

 

The Ceratosaurus had two projections on the nasal bone and smaller projections on the lacrimal bones. These horns were once believed to be attacking structures used for killing its prey or protecting itself from larger predators, but based on studies of other crested dinosaurs, it is now believed that the horns were only decorative items, probably used to attract mates.

 

The habitat of the Ceratosaurus consisted of marshes, swamps and rivers, where it probably hunted smaller dinosaurs and other vertebrates, although some paleontologists believe that it only ate smaller aquatic organisms or scavenged fallen animals.

 

The Ceratosaurus was an important carnivore of the late Jurassic period. Although some scientists posit that it may not have hunted larger animals, its appearance was the harbinger of larger theropods of the Cretaceous period like the Spinosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus.

 

 

Cool! :cool: And I love the skeleton

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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01 February 2015

Sunday

 

 

Gharial

 

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the largest crocodilians (a group that also includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans) with the narrowest snout of any species. The common name comes from the bulbous nasal appendage of the adult male, which resembles an Indian pot called a 'ghara'. The difference in the physical appearance between the sexes is unique to this species of crocodilian and is accentuated by the larger size of the male. Furthermore, unlike other crocodilians, the gharial has relatively weak legs and when fully grown is unable to raise its body above the ground on land.

 

The distinctive narrow snout of the gharial is a superb adaptation for catching prey underwater. By providing very little resistance to water, it enables the gharial to whip its head sideways through the water to snatch fish with its small, razor-sharp teeth. Although adults feed primarily on fish, juvenile gharials sustain themselves on a vast array of invertebrates.

 

Adult females, which reach maturity and become sexually receptive at around ten years old, are defended in harems by individual males. Although its precise function is poorly understood, it is thought that the male’s bulbous ghara may be a visual sex indicator, sound resonator or bubbling device utilised during courtship. Nesting occurs during the dry season when the females drag themselves onto dry land to excavate holes into which around 40 large eggs are buried. The eggs are naturally incubated in the nest hole but the female remains near the nest to guard it from predators such as pigs, jackals, lizards and mongooses. After around 70 days when the hatchlings are ready to emerge, they call out from inside the eggs, alerting the mother to dig the eggs out of the nest hole. While the gharial does not display the crocodilian habit of transporting hatchlings in its jaws, the young stay with their mother for several weeks to several months.

 

Historically, the gharial was found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar but is now extinct in most of these countries. The remaining gharial populations are restricted to India and Nepal and are highly fragmented.

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

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01 February 2015

Sunday

 

 

Gharial

 

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the largest crocodilians (a group that also includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans) with the narrowest snout of any species. The common name comes from the bulbous nasal appendage of the adult male, which resembles an Indian pot called a 'ghara'. The difference in the physical appearance between the sexes is unique to this species of crocodilian and is accentuated by the larger size of the male. Furthermore, unlike other crocodilians, the gharial has relatively weak legs and when fully grown is unable to raise its body above the ground on land.

 

The distinctive narrow snout of the gharial is a superb adaptation for catching prey underwater. By providing very little resistance to water, it enables the gharial to whip its head sideways through the water to snatch fish with its small, razor-sharp teeth. Although adults feed primarily on fish, juvenile gharials sustain themselves on a vast array of invertebrates.

 

Adult females, which reach maturity and become sexually receptive at around ten years old, are defended in harems by individual males. Although its precise function is poorly understood, it is thought that the male’s bulbous ghara may be a visual sex indicator, sound resonator or bubbling device utilised during courtship. Nesting occurs during the dry season when the females drag themselves onto dry land to excavate holes into which around 40 large eggs are buried. The eggs are naturally incubated in the nest hole but the female remains near the nest to guard it from predators such as pigs, jackals, lizards and mongooses. After around 70 days when the hatchlings are ready to emerge, they call out from inside the eggs, alerting the mother to dig the eggs out of the nest hole. While the gharial does not display the crocodilian habit of transporting hatchlings in its jaws, the young stay with their mother for several weeks to several months.

 

Historically, the gharial was found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar but is now extinct in most of these countries. The remaining gharial populations are restricted to India and Nepal and are highly fragmented.

 

 

I've not heard of this particular creature, but he is quite impressive.
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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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02 February 2015

Monday

 

 

Woodchuck

 

The woodchuck (Marmota monax), also known as the groundhog or whistle pig, is one of the largest members of the squirrel family and is closely related to other North American marmots. Historically, woodchucks were less common than they are today. As forests were cleared for farms, pastures, and orchards, settlers provided suitable habitat and the woodchuck population expanded. Today, this highly adaptable mammal commonly inhabits farm fields, idle lands, and suburban neighborhoods.

 

Woodchucks dig burrows, which they use to bear and raise young and escape from predators. Dens are typically located in open fields, meadows, pastures, fencerows, and woodland edges. In suburban areas, woodchucks commonly burrow under barns, sheds, and porches. Often woodchucks will take up residence under stone walls, woodpiles, or porches, using several auxiliary dens for shelter. The burrows dug by woodchucks are 8 to 66 feet long and 2 to 5 feet deep.

 

Woodchucks are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, weed shoots, clover, alfalfa, and soybeans. They will also consume garden vegetables such as cabbage, beans, peas, and carrots, as well as fruits such as apples, cherries, and pears. Woodchucks prefer early morning and evening hours for feeding because they depend on dew and plant moisture for their water intake.

 

Woodchucks often can be observed basking in the summer sun during the warmest hours of the day. They climb well and often sleep on fence posts, stone walls, large rocks, fallen logs, and grassy areas, all of which are close to their burrow entrance. Even feeding woodchucks normally do not travel farther than 50 yards from their dens.

 

Woodchucks hibernate during the winter, beginning with the first heavy frosts, which usually occur in October. They emerge from hibernation during late February or March when mating season begins. After a 30-day gestation period, young are born in April or early May. Litters average three to four young, and by mid-June or early July the young leave their home burrows and establish their own territories, usually moving into old, abandoned dens. The average life span of woodchucks is four to five years.

 

 

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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01 February 2015

Sunday

 

 

Gharial

 

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the largest crocodilians (a group that also includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans) with the narrowest snout of any species. The common name comes from the bulbous nasal appendage of the adult male, which resembles an Indian pot called a 'ghara'. The difference in the physical appearance between the sexes is unique to this species of crocodilian and is accentuated by the larger size of the male. Furthermore, unlike other crocodilians, the gharial has relatively weak legs and when fully grown is unable to raise its body above the ground on land.

 

The distinctive narrow snout of the gharial is a superb adaptation for catching prey underwater. By providing very little resistance to water, it enables the gharial to whip its head sideways through the water to snatch fish with its small, razor-sharp teeth. Although adults feed primarily on fish, juvenile gharials sustain themselves on a vast array of invertebrates.

 

Adult females, which reach maturity and become sexually receptive at around ten years old, are defended in harems by individual males. Although its precise function is poorly understood, it is thought that the male’s bulbous ghara may be a visual sex indicator, sound resonator or bubbling device utilised during courtship. Nesting occurs during the dry season when the females drag themselves onto dry land to excavate holes into which around 40 large eggs are buried. The eggs are naturally incubated in the nest hole but the female remains near the nest to guard it from predators such as pigs, jackals, lizards and mongooses. After around 70 days when the hatchlings are ready to emerge, they call out from inside the eggs, alerting the mother to dig the eggs out of the nest hole. While the gharial does not display the crocodilian habit of transporting hatchlings in its jaws, the young stay with their mother for several weeks to several months.

 

Historically, the gharial was found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar but is now extinct in most of these countries. The remaining gharial populations are restricted to India and Nepal and are highly fragmented.

 

 

 

That's an impressive set of teeth :scared:

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Your_Lion

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02 February 2015

Monday

 

 

Woodchuck

 

The woodchuck (Marmota monax), also known as the groundhog or whistle pig, is one of the largest members of the squirrel family and is closely related to other North American marmots. Historically, woodchucks were less common than they are today. As forests were cleared for farms, pastures, and orchards, settlers provided suitable habitat and the woodchuck population expanded. Today, this highly adaptable mammal commonly inhabits farm fields, idle lands, and suburban neighborhoods.

 

Woodchucks dig burrows, which they use to bear and raise young and escape from predators. Dens are typically located in open fields, meadows, pastures, fencerows, and woodland edges. In suburban areas, woodchucks commonly burrow under barns, sheds, and porches. Often woodchucks will take up residence under stone walls, woodpiles, or porches, using several auxiliary dens for shelter. The burrows dug by woodchucks are 8 to 66 feet long and 2 to 5 feet deep.

 

Woodchucks are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, weed shoots, clover, alfalfa, and soybeans. They will also consume garden vegetables such as cabbage, beans, peas, and carrots, as well as fruits such as apples, cherries, and pears. Woodchucks prefer early morning and evening hours for feeding because they depend on dew and plant moisture for their water intake.

 

Woodchucks often can be observed basking in the summer sun during the warmest hours of the day. They climb well and often sleep on fence posts, stone walls, large rocks, fallen logs, and grassy areas, all of which are close to their burrow entrance. Even feeding woodchucks normally do not travel farther than 50 yards from their dens.

 

Woodchucks hibernate during the winter, beginning with the first heavy frosts, which usually occur in October. They emerge from hibernation during late February or March when mating season begins. After a 30-day gestation period, young are born in April or early May. Litters average three to four young, and by mid-June or early July the young leave their home burrows and establish their own territories, usually moving into old, abandoned dens. The average life span of woodchucks is four to five years.

 

 

Cute fella.

I wonder what the volume of wood would be that this guy could chuck (if he went in for that sort of thing)

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Babycat

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02 February 2015

Monday

 

 

Woodchuck

 

The woodchuck (Marmota monax), also known as the groundhog or whistle pig, is one of the largest members of the squirrel family and is closely related to other North American marmots. Historically, woodchucks were less common than they are today. As forests were cleared for farms, pastures, and orchards, settlers provided suitable habitat and the woodchuck population expanded. Today, this highly adaptable mammal commonly inhabits farm fields, idle lands, and suburban neighborhoods.

 

Woodchucks dig burrows, which they use to bear and raise young and escape from predators. Dens are typically located in open fields, meadows, pastures, fencerows, and woodland edges. In suburban areas, woodchucks commonly burrow under barns, sheds, and porches. Often woodchucks will take up residence under stone walls, woodpiles, or porches, using several auxiliary dens for shelter. The burrows dug by woodchucks are 8 to 66 feet long and 2 to 5 feet deep.

 

Woodchucks are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, weed shoots, clover, alfalfa, and soybeans. They will also consume garden vegetables such as cabbage, beans, peas, and carrots, as well as fruits such as apples, cherries, and pears. Woodchucks prefer early morning and evening hours for feeding because they depend on dew and plant moisture for their water intake.

 

Woodchucks often can be observed basking in the summer sun during the warmest hours of the day. They climb well and often sleep on fence posts, stone walls, large rocks, fallen logs, and grassy areas, all of which are close to their burrow entrance. Even feeding woodchucks normally do not travel farther than 50 yards from their dens.

 

Woodchucks hibernate during the winter, beginning with the first heavy frosts, which usually occur in October. They emerge from hibernation during late February or March when mating season begins. After a 30-day gestation period, young are born in April or early May. Litters average three to four young, and by mid-June or early July the young leave their home burrows and establish their own territories, usually moving into old, abandoned dens. The average life span of woodchucks is four to five years.

 

 

 

That's the cutest lil creature I've ever seen! :heart:

And those adorable babies on their parent's back! :wub:

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

Posted
  • Author
Posted

03 February 2015

Tuesday

 

 

Great Hornbill

 

The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It is found in South and Southeast Asia. Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity.

 

Buceros bicornis is found in mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. There are breeding residents in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, they and several other hornbill species live in the Western Ghats mountain range and forests in both the northeastern and southern regions. They are known to inhabit elevations of 600 to 2000 m.

 

The primary food of the great hornbill is fruit. It will also eat insects, lizards, snakes and small mammals. Like other birds, they likely play a part in "gardening" the rainforest by eating fruit and then dispersing the seeds of the fruit across the rainforest in their dung.

 

Great hornbills are arboreal and live mainly in wet, tall, evergreen forests. Old-growth trees that extend beyond the height of the canopy are preferred for nesting. The height of the tree and the presence of a natural cavity large enough to hold a female and her eggs are more important than the type of tree. The same nesting site is used year after year if possible.

 

After finding a hole in the tree that is large enough, the female uses both her own feces and her mate's to cover the entrance from the inside, thus confining herself inside. She makes a small slit through which the male provides food. In captivity, B. bicornis may use soft fruits such as bananas in addition to feces to cover the hole. While inside the hole, the female lays and then incubates on average two eggs. The male provides fruits from trees in the genus Beilschmiedia, which are widely available during the breeding season; she receives no nutrients other than this. The incubation period usually lasts between 38 and 40 days. Protected within the tree, the female completes a full molt which renders her flightless for a period of time.

 

After the chicks hatch, the female remains confined in the tree for around five weeks, when she emerges to help the male gather food for the growing young. The young re-seal themselves within the cavity after the female leaves. For the next two weeks, both parents provide food for the young. After the young emerge, the parents continue to feed them until they reach roughly 15 weeks of age, at which point they are considered independent.

 

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-Hornbill_zpsmiyja7rt.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-perfet_zpsmysqnafs.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSC_3611bb_zpslaosxvcg.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great_Hornbill_10_zpsihzyigzb.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-fly1_zpswaawvgsl.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_in_flight_by_madinkaclairec-d4h1hfr_zpsob4mx259.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-hornbill-at-nest-hole_zpskmm29k3g.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great20Hornbill20feeding20nest-L_zpsibfwkwdy.jpg

 

Range:

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_range_zps5pu8npff.jpg

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Babycat

Babycat

Posted
Posted

03 February 2015

Tuesday

 

 

Great Hornbill

 

The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It is found in South and Southeast Asia. Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity.

 

Buceros bicornis is found in mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. There are breeding residents in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, they and several other hornbill species live in the Western Ghats mountain range and forests in both the northeastern and southern regions. They are known to inhabit elevations of 600 to 2000 m.

 

The primary food of the great hornbill is fruit. It will also eat insects, lizards, snakes and small mammals. Like other birds, they likely play a part in "gardening" the rainforest by eating fruit and then dispersing the seeds of the fruit across the rainforest in their dung.

 

Great hornbills are arboreal and live mainly in wet, tall, evergreen forests. Old-growth trees that extend beyond the height of the canopy are preferred for nesting. The height of the tree and the presence of a natural cavity large enough to hold a female and her eggs are more important than the type of tree. The same nesting site is used year after year if possible.

 

After finding a hole in the tree that is large enough, the female uses both her own feces and her mate's to cover the entrance from the inside, thus confining herself inside. She makes a small slit through which the male provides food. In captivity, B. bicornis may use soft fruits such as bananas in addition to feces to cover the hole. While inside the hole, the female lays and then incubates on average two eggs. The male provides fruits from trees in the genus Beilschmiedia, which are widely available during the breeding season; she receives no nutrients other than this. The incubation period usually lasts between 38 and 40 days. Protected within the tree, the female completes a full molt which renders her flightless for a period of time.

 

After the chicks hatch, the female remains confined in the tree for around five weeks, when she emerges to help the male gather food for the growing young. The young re-seal themselves within the cavity after the female leaves. For the next two weeks, both parents provide food for the young. After the young emerge, the parents continue to feed them until they reach roughly 15 weeks of age, at which point they are considered independent.

 

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-Hornbill_zpsmiyja7rt.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-perfet_zpsmysqnafs.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSC_3611bb_zpslaosxvcg.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great_Hornbill_10_zpsihzyigzb.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-fly1_zpswaawvgsl.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_in_flight_by_madinkaclairec-d4h1hfr_zpsob4mx259.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-hornbill-at-nest-hole_zpskmm29k3g.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great20Hornbill20feeding20nest-L_zpsibfwkwdy.jpg

 

Range:

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_range_zps5pu8npff.jpg

 

Good golly - what a beauty! :ebert:

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

Posted
  • Author
Posted

04 February 2015

Wednesday

 

 

Ground Pangolin

 

The unusual ground pangolin belongs to a group of eight armour-plated species, (the order Pholidota), distinguished from other mammals by their protective layer of horny scales. The ground pangolin’s strong forelegs bear long, robust claws, capable of digging in the ground and tearing apart ant and termite nests. A specialist in eating ants and termites, the toothless ground pangolin possesses many other adaptations for this diet including a long, conical tongue used to lap up prey; an acute sense of smell to locate its food; and thick eyelids to protect its eyes from ant bites.

 

Found in eastern and southern Africa, the ground pangolin is a solitary and nocturnal animal, although in winter it will often venture out in the late afternoon. It normally walks slowly with its head swaying from side to side and its tail dragging along the ground, although it is also capable of running and walking on two legs. When searching for food it frequently walks on its hindlegs, sniffing continually for prey with its nose close to the ground and its forelegs and tail touching the ground occasionally for balance. When an ant or termite nest is located, the ground pangolin uses its front claws to break open a hole into which it inserts its long tongue and feeds on the ants within. The tongue can extend an incredible 10 to 15 centimetres beyond the pangolin’s lips, and is retracted into a pouch in the throat when not in use. It also digs shallow holes in the ground, carefully moving the soil as its tongue flicks in and out of the ant nest’s passages. Any sand that is swallowed along with the ants helps to grind the soft food in the pangolin’s muscular stomach.

 

While capable of digging their own burrows, ground pangolins prefer to live in burrows dug by anteaters or spring hares where they sleep curled up. While scales do not provide good insulation or protection from external parasites, they are an effective shield against scratches from sharp rocks in the walls of a burrow, or against a predator. The ground pangolin’s mating season is thought to be from late summer to early autumn, with birthing in winter after a gestation period of around 139 days. Females give birth to one young per year which they carry clinging to their back.

 

While the ground pangolin is widespread and in some parts common, in other areas, such as South Africa and Malawi, it is rare and threatened, believed to be largely due to hunting. The unique scales that have evolved to protect the ground pangolin from predators are now contributing to its decline, as its scales are used in some areas in love charms, and there is a belief in east Africa that burning the scales keeps lions away.

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

Posted
Posted

04 February 2015

Wednesday

 

 

Ground Pangolin

 

The unusual ground pangolin belongs to a group of eight armour-plated species, (the order Pholidota), distinguished from other mammals by their protective layer of horny scales. The ground pangolin’s strong forelegs bear long, robust claws, capable of digging in the ground and tearing apart ant and termite nests. A specialist in eating ants and termites, the toothless ground pangolin possesses many other adaptations for this diet including a long, conical tongue used to lap up prey; an acute sense of smell to locate its food; and thick eyelids to protect its eyes from ant bites.

 

Found in eastern and southern Africa, the ground pangolin is a solitary and nocturnal animal, although in winter it will often venture out in the late afternoon. It normally walks slowly with its head swaying from side to side and its tail dragging along the ground, although it is also capable of running and walking on two legs. When searching for food it frequently walks on its hindlegs, sniffing continually for prey with its nose close to the ground and its forelegs and tail touching the ground occasionally for balance. When an ant or termite nest is located, the ground pangolin uses its front claws to break open a hole into which it inserts its long tongue and feeds on the ants within. The tongue can extend an incredible 10 to 15 centimetres beyond the pangolin’s lips, and is retracted into a pouch in the throat when not in use. It also digs shallow holes in the ground, carefully moving the soil as its tongue flicks in and out of the ant nest’s passages. Any sand that is swallowed along with the ants helps to grind the soft food in the pangolin’s muscular stomach.

 

While capable of digging their own burrows, ground pangolins prefer to live in burrows dug by anteaters or spring hares where they sleep curled up. While scales do not provide good insulation or protection from external parasites, they are an effective shield against scratches from sharp rocks in the walls of a burrow, or against a predator. The ground pangolin’s mating season is thought to be from late summer to early autumn, with birthing in winter after a gestation period of around 139 days. Females give birth to one young per year which they carry clinging to their back.

 

While the ground pangolin is widespread and in some parts common, in other areas, such as South Africa and Malawi, it is rare and threatened, believed to be largely due to hunting. The unique scales that have evolved to protect the ground pangolin from predators are now contributing to its decline, as its scales are used in some areas in love charms, and there is a belief in east Africa that burning the scales keeps lions away.

 

 

 

Has that creature got boobs? :o

:P

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

Posted
Posted

03 February 2015

Tuesday

 

 

Great Hornbill

 

The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It is found in South and Southeast Asia. Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity.

 

Buceros bicornis is found in mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. There are breeding residents in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, they and several other hornbill species live in the Western Ghats mountain range and forests in both the northeastern and southern regions. They are known to inhabit elevations of 600 to 2000 m.

 

The primary food of the great hornbill is fruit. It will also eat insects, lizards, snakes and small mammals. Like other birds, they likely play a part in "gardening" the rainforest by eating fruit and then dispersing the seeds of the fruit across the rainforest in their dung.

 

Great hornbills are arboreal and live mainly in wet, tall, evergreen forests. Old-growth trees that extend beyond the height of the canopy are preferred for nesting. The height of the tree and the presence of a natural cavity large enough to hold a female and her eggs are more important than the type of tree. The same nesting site is used year after year if possible.

 

After finding a hole in the tree that is large enough, the female uses both her own feces and her mate's to cover the entrance from the inside, thus confining herself inside. She makes a small slit through which the male provides food. In captivity, B. bicornis may use soft fruits such as bananas in addition to feces to cover the hole. While inside the hole, the female lays and then incubates on average two eggs. The male provides fruits from trees in the genus Beilschmiedia, which are widely available during the breeding season; she receives no nutrients other than this. The incubation period usually lasts between 38 and 40 days. Protected within the tree, the female completes a full molt which renders her flightless for a period of time.

 

After the chicks hatch, the female remains confined in the tree for around five weeks, when she emerges to help the male gather food for the growing young. The young re-seal themselves within the cavity after the female leaves. For the next two weeks, both parents provide food for the young. After the young emerge, the parents continue to feed them until they reach roughly 15 weeks of age, at which point they are considered independent.

 

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-Hornbill_zpsmiyja7rt.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-perfet_zpsmysqnafs.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/DSC_3611bb_zpslaosxvcg.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great_Hornbill_10_zpsihzyigzb.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great-hornbill-fly1_zpswaawvgsl.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_in_flight_by_madinkaclairec-d4h1hfr_zpsob4mx259.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great-hornbill-at-nest-hole_zpskmm29k3g.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Great20Hornbill20feeding20nest-L_zpsibfwkwdy.jpg

 

Range:

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/great_hornbill_range_zps5pu8npff.jpg

That's an amazing beak!!! :cool:

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

Posted
Posted

04 February 2015

Wednesday

 

 

Ground Pangolin

 

The unusual ground pangolin belongs to a group of eight armour-plated species, (the order Pholidota), distinguished from other mammals by their protective layer of horny scales. The ground pangolin’s strong forelegs bear long, robust claws, capable of digging in the ground and tearing apart ant and termite nests. A specialist in eating ants and termites, the toothless ground pangolin possesses many other adaptations for this diet including a long, conical tongue used to lap up prey; an acute sense of smell to locate its food; and thick eyelids to protect its eyes from ant bites.

 

Found in eastern and southern Africa, the ground pangolin is a solitary and nocturnal animal, although in winter it will often venture out in the late afternoon. It normally walks slowly with its head swaying from side to side and its tail dragging along the ground, although it is also capable of running and walking on two legs. When searching for food it frequently walks on its hindlegs, sniffing continually for prey with its nose close to the ground and its forelegs and tail touching the ground occasionally for balance. When an ant or termite nest is located, the ground pangolin uses its front claws to break open a hole into which it inserts its long tongue and feeds on the ants within. The tongue can extend an incredible 10 to 15 centimetres beyond the pangolin’s lips, and is retracted into a pouch in the throat when not in use. It also digs shallow holes in the ground, carefully moving the soil as its tongue flicks in and out of the ant nest’s passages. Any sand that is swallowed along with the ants helps to grind the soft food in the pangolin’s muscular stomach.

 

While capable of digging their own burrows, ground pangolins prefer to live in burrows dug by anteaters or spring hares where they sleep curled up. While scales do not provide good insulation or protection from external parasites, they are an effective shield against scratches from sharp rocks in the walls of a burrow, or against a predator. The ground pangolin’s mating season is thought to be from late summer to early autumn, with birthing in winter after a gestation period of around 139 days. Females give birth to one young per year which they carry clinging to their back.

 

While the ground pangolin is widespread and in some parts common, in other areas, such as South Africa and Malawi, it is rare and threatened, believed to be largely due to hunting. The unique scales that have evolved to protect the ground pangolin from predators are now contributing to its decline, as its scales are used in some areas in love charms, and there is a belief in east Africa that burning the scales keeps lions away.

 

 

A fancy set of armour-plating.

I can't shake the image of him curling into a ball and doing Sonic's dash attack

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

Posted
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Posted

05 February 2015

Thursday

 

 

Lemur Leaf Frog

 

A highly threatened amphibian from Central America, the lemur leaf frog (Hylomantis lemur) has a remarkable ability to change colour depending on whether it is active or resting. When resting during the day, the slender lemur leaf frog is mostly bright green, speckled with small brown dots. Its hands, feet and flanks are yellow and its underparts are white. A thick black line surrounds each large, pale, pearly eye. The vertical pupils indicate the lemur leaf frog’s nocturnal lifestyle. When active during the night, the upperparts of the lemur leaf frog turn brown, thus providing excellent camouflage. Its eyes also turn dark grey.

 

The lemur leaf frog is mainly nocturnal, spending its resting hours curled up on leaves, perfectly camouflaged. At nightfall, its bright green colouration darkens to brown and the lemur leaf frog becomes active. An arboreal species, the lemur leaf frog walks around low vegetation in a deliberate, hand-over-hand manner. The diet of the lemur leaf frog in the wild is not known, but is assumed to consist primarily of small invertebrates.

 

Breeding reportedly takes place during the rainy season, and the male lemur leaf frog produces a short clicking call to advertise to females. Like all leaf frogs, the lemur leaf frog lays between 15 and 30 eggs on leaves overhanging water. However, while many leaf frogs then wrap the leaf around the cluster of eggs, the lemur leaf frog does not. About a week after the eggs have been a laid, the tadpoles hatch and drop into the water below. It then takes a further 90 to 150 days for the tadpole to develop into the adult frog. The higher the temperature of the water, the more rapid the growth and development of the tadpole will be.

 

Unusually for a frog, this diminutive species is able to bask in sunlight for prolonged periods of time without drying out. It is thought this is due to a specific pigment in the frog's skin, ‘pterorhodin’, which reflects the heat off its surface. This enables the frog to stay cool while its skin stays hot.

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

Posted
Posted

05 February 2015

Thursday

 

 

Lemur Leaf Frog

 

A highly threatened amphibian from Central America, the lemur leaf frog (Hylomantis lemur) has a remarkable ability to change colour depending on whether it is active or resting. When resting during the day, the slender lemur leaf frog is mostly bright green, speckled with small brown dots. Its hands, feet and flanks are yellow and its underparts are white. A thick black line surrounds each large, pale, pearly eye. The vertical pupils indicate the lemur leaf frog’s nocturnal lifestyle. When active during the night, the upperparts of the lemur leaf frog turn brown, thus providing excellent camouflage. Its eyes also turn dark grey.

 

The lemur leaf frog is mainly nocturnal, spending its resting hours curled up on leaves, perfectly camouflaged. At nightfall, its bright green colouration darkens to brown and the lemur leaf frog becomes active. An arboreal species, the lemur leaf frog walks around low vegetation in a deliberate, hand-over-hand manner. The diet of the lemur leaf frog in the wild is not known, but is assumed to consist primarily of small invertebrates.

 

Breeding reportedly takes place during the rainy season, and the male lemur leaf frog produces a short clicking call to advertise to females. Like all leaf frogs, the lemur leaf frog lays between 15 and 30 eggs on leaves overhanging water. However, while many leaf frogs then wrap the leaf around the cluster of eggs, the lemur leaf frog does not. About a week after the eggs have been a laid, the tadpoles hatch and drop into the water below. It then takes a further 90 to 150 days for the tadpole to develop into the adult frog. The higher the temperature of the water, the more rapid the growth and development of the tadpole will be.

 

Unusually for a frog, this diminutive species is able to bask in sunlight for prolonged periods of time without drying out. It is thought this is due to a specific pigment in the frog's skin, ‘pterorhodin’, which reflects the heat off its surface. This enables the frog to stay cool while its skin stays hot.

 

 

 

He's a beautiful lil fella. :)

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