Your_Lion Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 26 October 2015 Death Cap Mushroom No mushroom is worthier of fear than the terribly poisonous Death Cap (Amanita phalloides). This single, widespread species of mushroom is solely responsible for the majority of fatal and otherwise serious mushroom poisoning cases worldwide. Indeed, one might argue that the Death Cap's notorious, relatively frequent victimization of Homo sapiens is far and away the best explanation (or rationalization) for the widespread fear of edible wild mushrooms. Although native to Europe, the Death Cap has been introduced to North America, South Africa, and Australia, with oak trees imported from Europe. All parts of the fungus are deadly, and it should never be eaten. The cap is typically yellowish to olivaceous green, sometimes paling almost to white, usually with darker streaks radiating outwards. It is convex at first, but becomes flattened as it ages, and may develop a sickly sweet smell. The gills underneath the cap are white, and the white stem has a distinct ring, although this may become damaged or lost. The base of the stem bulges into a 'bulb', which is covered by a white sheath known as a volva . The death cap grows either singly or in groups, and typically occurs between July and October in Europe and North America, and from March to July in South Africa and Australia. The symptoms are slow to show themselves and often do not appear until 10-16 hours (or even longer) after eating. The first symptoms are stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. These may continue for a day or two, after which there is typically an easing of symptoms and apparent recovery. The "recovery" period may last for 2 or 3 days. Then the terminal phase of 3-5 days starts, with the recurrence of stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea - accompanied by jaundice. Without effective, early medical intervention, coma and death occur between one and two weeks after eating the mushroom. Death is caused by liver failure, often accompanied by kidney failure. There is no specific antidote for cases of poisoning, and treatment may require liver transplantation. http://i.imgur.com/drkEKL3.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5vTyYtj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tSVnZj8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YLRz8Gu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ANSO3fy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Vcjuxwa.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/rbcanfF.jpg How to Identify a Death Cap Mushroom Another Hazard for Migrants in Europe: Poisonous Mushrooms Yikes! Staying clear of those 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 27 October 2015Tuesday American Bittern The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a stocky wading bird best known for the male’s unique, loud, guttural call which has led to it being given a number of nicknames, including ‘thunder pumper’, ‘water belcher’ and ‘mire-drum’. This call, most frequently heard at dusk during the spring mating season, is produced from a specialised oesophagus (food pipe) and has a particularly powerful ‘booming’ quality. The American bittern is cryptically-coloured, which aids its ‘stand and wait’ hunting behaviour – like most bitterns this species is often observed standing motionless in tall emergent vegetation, with the bill held horizontal and the eyes focused downwards to spot prey. American bitterns consume insects, crayfish, and small fish. Its primary foraging strategy is ‘stealth hunting’, whereby it remains motionless in a camouflaged area, and then strikes with the bill. It typically inhabits freshwater wetlands. When breeding, it prefers ephemeral wetlands and marshlands, but will also forage along shorelines and in wet meadows, often showing a preference for areas with much open water and plant cover. Pair bonding begins in early April as the American bittern arrives at its breeding grounds. Males reach the breeding grounds first and begin defending a territory. Egg-laying typically occurs in May and June. Multiple nests are frequently found in a single territory, which suggests that male American bitterns are polygamous. A single clutch of two to seven eggs is laid and incubated for about four weeks. The female feeds the nestlings through repeated regurgitation for one to two weeks, until the nestlings are able to leave the nest. The mother continues to feed the young after they leave the nest, but the role of the male is unknown. The American bittern is distributed widely across North and Central America. In the summer months it is found as far north as Alaska, and in Newfoundland and the Canadian Provinces, to central British Columbia. In the winter, the American bittern migrates as far south as Central America and the northern Caribbean islands. http://i.imgur.com/oOAQYSL.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7lb4XIl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FzPMPVP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/t2WYsrp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CvnprKu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tMAWtlv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/n7ZjWeU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mfSuHQG.jpg AMERICAN BITTERN SONGS AND CALLSLove the long necks, and the striped patterning on their fronts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 29 October 2015 Witches Butter Witches butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a cosmopolitan jelly fungus broadly distributed in temperate regions of the world. It appears from May through November throughout most of North America, Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of Asia. Often found on rotting hardwood, it is shiny, bright yellow-orange, lobed and convoluted, with an appearance somewhat like the surface of the brain (a gelatinous mass) once fully developed. It typically appears after a heavy rainfall. Most jelly fungi are edible. They have no odor and are flavourless, adding a distinctive texture to many dishes (soups mostly). It is reported in China that jelly fungi are thought to improve circulation and breathing. In addition, chemicals found in certain species of jelly fungus are thought to have a blood thinning effect. According to Eastern European legend, the occurrence of this fungus on wooden house entrances (gates or doors) was thought to indicate that the house was under the spell of a witch. To counteract this spell, the fungus had to be punctured to allow the ‘evil juices’ inside the fungus to leak out. http://i.imgur.com/LKbtNiz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xxrMJMv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZqeuMPI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/p2tk0DW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AZm6g0V.jpgIt does look quite tasty...even if it isn't 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 29 October 2015 Witches Butter Witches butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a cosmopolitan jelly fungus broadly distributed in temperate regions of the world. It appears from May through November throughout most of North America, Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of Asia. Often found on rotting hardwood, it is shiny, bright yellow-orange, lobed and convoluted, with an appearance somewhat like the surface of the brain (a gelatinous mass) once fully developed. It typically appears after a heavy rainfall. Most jelly fungi are edible. They have no odor and are flavourless, adding a distinctive texture to many dishes (soups mostly). It is reported in China that jelly fungi are thought to improve circulation and breathing. In addition, chemicals found in certain species of jelly fungus are thought to have a blood thinning effect. According to Eastern European legend, the occurrence of this fungus on wooden house entrances (gates or doors) was thought to indicate that the house was under the spell of a witch. To counteract this spell, the fungus had to be punctured to allow the ‘evil juices’ inside the fungus to leak out. http://i.imgur.com/LKbtNiz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xxrMJMv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZqeuMPI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/p2tk0DW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AZm6g0V.jpg Pretty color, but I'm not certain I'd like to eat it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 29 October 2015 Witches Butter Witches butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a cosmopolitan jelly fungus broadly distributed in temperate regions of the world. It appears from May through November throughout most of North America, Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of Asia. Often found on rotting hardwood, it is shiny, bright yellow-orange, lobed and convoluted, with an appearance somewhat like the surface of the brain (a gelatinous mass) once fully developed. It typically appears after a heavy rainfall. Most jelly fungi are edible. They have no odor and are flavourless, adding a distinctive texture to many dishes (soups mostly). It is reported in China that jelly fungi are thought to improve circulation and breathing. In addition, chemicals found in certain species of jelly fungus are thought to have a blood thinning effect. According to Eastern European legend, the occurrence of this fungus on wooden house entrances (gates or doors) was thought to indicate that the house was under the spell of a witch. To counteract this spell, the fungus had to be punctured to allow the ‘evil juices’ inside the fungus to leak out. http://i.imgur.com/LKbtNiz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xxrMJMv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZqeuMPI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/p2tk0DW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/AZm6g0V.jpg Pretty color, but I'm not certain I'd like to eat it. I'm certain I'd like to not eat it ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share Posted October 30, 2015 30 October 2015 Oriental Darter The Oriental Darter is a large, dark waterbird with a very long, slender neck, a long tail and a thin, straight bill. Highly adapted to swimming and diving, the darter typically swims low in the water with only its long, snake-like neck and head exposed, giving this species its alternative name of ‘snakebird’ . The darter usually feeds by diving around floating weeds or in standing water, typically with a depth of around 0.9 to 1.7 metres. It generally hunts in the early morning, late morning and afternoon, feeding mainly on small fish in the Cyprinidae family. Other prey species include cichlid fish (Cichlidae species), insects, snakes, tadpoles and crustaceans. A skilled diver, the darter swims underwater and spears prey with its bill, before using the bill to hold or pick apart the prey, which it then throws into the air and swallows. After eating, it typically sits on stumps or dead trees up to 30 metres in height and holds its wings open to dry them. Breeding in the darter usually occurs between May and August. Although usually solitary, this species breeds in small colonies, often alongside other waterbirds such as herons. It constructs a loose, unlined stick nest in a tree, usually close to water, with colonies building around five nests per tree on average. The darter usually lays three or four eggs, which are pale greenish-blue. The Oriental Darter is found across Asia, from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, east through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and south through Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. In the past, this species was fairly widespread in Thailand. However, current evidence suggests that there is little or no breeding activity of this species there and that it has become extremely rare. http://i.imgur.com/P2xzs4o.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Is5JEZi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZGlvoPQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CeyhQ23.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xmervFb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7gokpzM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zDKvbDl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NMoUFKY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uekNMME.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0A4oh4h.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 30 October 2015 Oriental Darter The Oriental Darter is a large, dark waterbird with a very long, slender neck, a long tail and a thin, straight bill. Highly adapted to swimming and diving, the darter typically swims low in the water with only its long, snake-like neck and head exposed, giving this species its alternative name of ‘snakebird’ . The darter usually feeds by diving around floating weeds or in standing water, typically with a depth of around 0.9 to 1.7 metres. It generally hunts in the early morning, late morning and afternoon, feeding mainly on small fish in the Cyprinidae family. Other prey species include cichlid fish (Cichlidae species), insects, snakes, tadpoles and crustaceans. A skilled diver, the darter swims underwater and spears prey with its bill, before using the bill to hold or pick apart the prey, which it then throws into the air and swallows. After eating, it typically sits on stumps or dead trees up to 30 metres in height and holds its wings open to dry them. Breeding in the darter usually occurs between May and August. Although usually solitary, this species breeds in small colonies, often alongside other waterbirds such as herons. It constructs a loose, unlined stick nest in a tree, usually close to water, with colonies building around five nests per tree on average. The darter usually lays three or four eggs, which are pale greenish-blue. The Oriental Darter is found across Asia, from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, east through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and south through Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. In the past, this species was fairly widespread in Thailand. However, current evidence suggests that there is little or no breeding activity of this species there and that it has become extremely rare. http://i.imgur.com/P2xzs4o.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Is5JEZi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZGlvoPQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CeyhQ23.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xmervFb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7gokpzM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zDKvbDl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NMoUFKY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uekNMME.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0A4oh4h.jpgWhat a beautiful bird. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That One Guy Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Whatever this is, it's great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share Posted October 30, 2015 Whatever this is, it's great! The return of the thread that everyone no one has been anxiously awaiting. http://i.imgur.com/7SxocVB.gif http://i.imgur.com/o3UGRUO.gif http://i.imgur.com/yFKk1mV.gif 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 The return of the thread that everyone no one has been anxiously awaiting. http://i.imgur.com/7SxocVB.gif http://i.imgur.com/o3UGRUO.gif http://i.imgur.com/yFKk1mV.gif Nope. Not at all. Spend a little less time posting in this (shitty :outtahere: ) thread and a little more time posting in TOST/TOBT and I'll be one happy camper. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 30 October 2015 Oriental Darter The Oriental Darter is a large, dark waterbird with a very long, slender neck, a long tail and a thin, straight bill. Highly adapted to swimming and diving, the darter typically swims low in the water with only its long, snake-like neck and head exposed, giving this species its alternative name of ‘snakebird’ . The darter usually feeds by diving around floating weeds or in standing water, typically with a depth of around 0.9 to 1.7 metres. It generally hunts in the early morning, late morning and afternoon, feeding mainly on small fish in the Cyprinidae family. Other prey species include cichlid fish (Cichlidae species), insects, snakes, tadpoles and crustaceans. A skilled diver, the darter swims underwater and spears prey with its bill, before using the bill to hold or pick apart the prey, which it then throws into the air and swallows. After eating, it typically sits on stumps or dead trees up to 30 metres in height and holds its wings open to dry them. Breeding in the darter usually occurs between May and August. Although usually solitary, this species breeds in small colonies, often alongside other waterbirds such as herons. It constructs a loose, unlined stick nest in a tree, usually close to water, with colonies building around five nests per tree on average. The darter usually lays three or four eggs, which are pale greenish-blue. The Oriental Darter is found across Asia, from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, east through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and south through Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. In the past, this species was fairly widespread in Thailand. However, current evidence suggests that there is little or no breeding activity of this species there and that it has become extremely rare. http://i.imgur.com/P2xzs4o.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Is5JEZi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZGlvoPQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CeyhQ23.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xmervFb.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7gokpzM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/zDKvbDl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NMoUFKY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/uekNMME.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/0A4oh4h.jpgWow! That is a long neck! Love the picture in flight. And you've got your crazy rabbit avatar back :ebert: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 31 October 2015 Black Lemur Endemic to Madagascar, black lemurs live in groups of between 2-15 individuals, with adult males and females in equal numbers, together with their offspring. The activities and movements of the group are dictated by the dominant female, and group relationships are maintained by grunts, contact calls and grooming. Home ranges extend for five to six hectares and there is considerable overlap with the ranges of neighbouring groups. This primate, like other lemurs, exhibits an activity pattern that is virtually unique amongst primates and rarely encountered amongst other arboreal mammals. They have activity bursts which may occur during the day and the night, though most activity occurs in the early morning and late afternoon. This activity pattern is called cathemeral, meaning ‘all hours’, contrasting with the usual distinction between nocturnal and diurnal. Foraging is concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the canopy, where this lemur feeds on fruit, flowers, leaves, fungi and occasionally invertebrates like millipedes. This primate plays an extremely important role in seed dispersal through the forests because it has such a high amount of fruit in its diet. In the dry season nectar becomes an important part of its diet as well. During the day it forages in the understory of the canopy where it is more protected from predatory birds such as hawks, and at night is able to feed in the upper level. The breeding season is seasonal and births occur after a gestation period of 120 - 129 days. One offspring is usual, though twins are fairly common. The young cling to their mother’s belly for three weeks and will only move to suckle. After three weeks the young are heavier and ride on the mother’s back, and at 5 - 6 months of age they are fully weaned. http://i.imgur.com/REu5W2r.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7FG7ZM1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HmNLmoM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1LO02bN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OouzDfz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XI3qSHL.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x1yyz Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 http://i.imgur.com/XI3qSHL.jpg I love this photo! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 31 October 2015 Black Lemur Endemic to Madagascar, black lemurs live in groups of between 2-15 individuals, with adult males and females in equal numbers, together with their offspring. The activities and movements of the group are dictated by the dominant female, and group relationships are maintained by grunts, contact calls and grooming. Home ranges extend for five to six hectares and there is considerable overlap with the ranges of neighbouring groups. This primate, like other lemurs, exhibits an activity pattern that is virtually unique amongst primates and rarely encountered amongst other arboreal mammals. They have activity bursts which may occur during the day and the night, though most activity occurs in the early morning and late afternoon. This activity pattern is called cathemeral, meaning ‘all hours’, contrasting with the usual distinction between nocturnal and diurnal. Foraging is concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the canopy, where this lemur feeds on fruit, flowers, leaves, fungi and occasionally invertebrates like millipedes. This primate plays an extremely important role in seed dispersal through the forests because it has such a high amount of fruit in its diet. In the dry season nectar becomes an important part of its diet as well. During the day it forages in the understory of the canopy where it is more protected from predatory birds such as hawks, and at night is able to feed in the upper level. The breeding season is seasonal and births occur after a gestation period of 120 - 129 days. One offspring is usual, though twins are fairly common. The young cling to their mother’s belly for three weeks and will only move to suckle. After three weeks the young are heavier and ride on the mother’s back, and at 5 - 6 months of age they are fully weaned. http://i.imgur.com/REu5W2r.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7FG7ZM1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HmNLmoM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1LO02bN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OouzDfz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XI3qSHL.jpgAw, now there's a face with a whole lot of character 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 31 October 2015 Black Lemur Endemic to Madagascar, black lemurs live in groups of between 2-15 individuals, with adult males and females in equal numbers, together with their offspring. The activities and movements of the group are dictated by the dominant female, and group relationships are maintained by grunts, contact calls and grooming. Home ranges extend for five to six hectares and there is considerable overlap with the ranges of neighbouring groups. This primate, like other lemurs, exhibits an activity pattern that is virtually unique amongst primates and rarely encountered amongst other arboreal mammals. They have activity bursts which may occur during the day and the night, though most activity occurs in the early morning and late afternoon. This activity pattern is called cathemeral, meaning ‘all hours’, contrasting with the usual distinction between nocturnal and diurnal. Foraging is concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the canopy, where this lemur feeds on fruit, flowers, leaves, fungi and occasionally invertebrates like millipedes. This primate plays an extremely important role in seed dispersal through the forests because it has such a high amount of fruit in its diet. In the dry season nectar becomes an important part of its diet as well. During the day it forages in the understory of the canopy where it is more protected from predatory birds such as hawks, and at night is able to feed in the upper level. The breeding season is seasonal and births occur after a gestation period of 120 - 129 days. One offspring is usual, though twins are fairly common. The young cling to their mother’s belly for three weeks and will only move to suckle. After three weeks the young are heavier and ride on the mother’s back, and at 5 - 6 months of age they are fully weaned. http://i.imgur.com/REu5W2r.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7FG7ZM1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HmNLmoM.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1LO02bN.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OouzDfz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XI3qSHL.jpgWhat a beautiful species. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 http://i.imgur.com/XI3qSHL.jpg I love this photo! So do I - what a beautiful baby! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 01 November 2015 Ili Pika For more than 20 years, the Ili pika (Ochotona iliensis), a type of tiny, mountain-dwelling mammal with a teddy bear face, had eluded scientists in the Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China. People have seen the furry critter only a handful of times since it was discovered by accident in 1983. In fact, people have spotted only 29 live individuals, and little is known about the animal's ecology and behavior. Then, in summer 2014, researchers rediscovered the pika. Weidong Li, the species' original discoverer and a scientist at the Xinjiang Institute for Ecology and Geography, had gathered a group of volunteers in the Tianshan Mountains for some pika searching. At noon one day, as they were setting up camera traps, the team spotted their prize. "They found it hiding behind a rock, and they realized they had found the pika. They were very excited," said Tatsuya Shin, a naturalist in China who works with the pika's discoverers. In 1983, the Chinese government sent Li to the mountainous Xinjiang Province to study natural resources and infectious diseases. As Li explored a valley by Jilimalale Mountain, he saw a small, gray head sticking out from a crack in the rock. As he edged closer, Li got a look at its whole body. The animal was about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, with large ears and several small brown spots in its gray fur. Li wasn't familiar with the species, nor were nearby herdsmen. Li caught a specimen and sent it to a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who said he believed the pika was a new species. Although Li couldn't find any more pikas on a second trip to the area in December 1983, a third trip in 1985 was more successful, and the additional specimens allowed academy researchers to confirm that the Ili pika was new to science. Like other species of pika found in North America, the Ili pika lives at high elevations—between 9,200 and 13,450 feet (2,800 to 4,100 meters)—and subsists mainly on grasses, herbs, and other mountain plants. Like other high-dwelling creatures, the pika is sensitive to changes in its environment. A 1990s estimate put its population at about 2,000 individuals, and it's believed to be decreasing in number, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Grazing pressure from livestock and air pollution have likely contributed to the decline in the Ili pika, which IUCN lists as vulnerable to extinction. China considers the species endangered. http://i.imgur.com/2vuJpp9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RsNRbec.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r4Z6AaW.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 01 November 2015 Ili Pika For more than 20 years, the Ili pika (Ochotona iliensis), a type of tiny, mountain-dwelling mammal with a teddy bear face, had eluded scientists in the Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China. People have seen the furry critter only a handful of times since it was discovered by accident in 1983. In fact, people have spotted only 29 live individuals, and little is known about the animal's ecology and behavior. Then, in summer 2014, researchers rediscovered the pika. Weidong Li, the species' original discoverer and a scientist at the Xinjiang Institute for Ecology and Geography, had gathered a group of volunteers in the Tianshan Mountains for some pika searching. At noon one day, as they were setting up camera traps, the team spotted their prize. "They found it hiding behind a rock, and they realized they had found the pika. They were very excited," said Tatsuya Shin, a naturalist in China who works with the pika's discoverers. In 1983, the Chinese government sent Li to the mountainous Xinjiang Province to study natural resources and infectious diseases. As Li explored a valley by Jilimalale Mountain, he saw a small, gray head sticking out from a crack in the rock. As he edged closer, Li got a look at its whole body. The animal was about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, with large ears and several small brown spots in its gray fur. Li wasn't familiar with the species, nor were nearby herdsmen. Li caught a specimen and sent it to a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who said he believed the pika was a new species. Although Li couldn't find any more pikas on a second trip to the area in December 1983, a third trip in 1985 was more successful, and the additional specimens allowed academy researchers to confirm that the Ili pika was new to science. Like other species of pika found in North America, the Ili pika lives at high elevations—between 9,200 and 13,450 feet (2,800 to 4,100 meters)—and subsists mainly on grasses, herbs, and other mountain plants. Like other high-dwelling creatures, the pika is sensitive to changes in its environment. A 1990s estimate put its population at about 2,000 individuals, and it's believed to be decreasing in number, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Grazing pressure from livestock and air pollution have likely contributed to the decline in the Ili pika, which IUCN lists as vulnerable to extinction. China considers the species endangered. http://i.imgur.com/2vuJpp9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RsNRbec.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r4Z6AaW.jpg He's beautiful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 03 November 2015 Vampire Crab Vampire crabs, so named because of their glowing yellow eyes, have become popular as pets, but the origin of these spooky-looking crustaceans has been cloaked in mystery, until now. Researchers have traced the freshwater crabs back to their wild source on the Indonesian island of Java. "These crabs are kind of special because they've been around in the pet trade for ten years, but no one knew where they came from," said study co-author and professional aquarist Christian Lukhaup of Waiblingen, Germany. These crabs' blazing eyes and spectacular colors explain their attraction to aquarists. Measuring less than two inches long, the tiny semi-terrestrial freshwater crustaceans are confined to a single watershed on the island of Java, making them particularly vulnerable to collectors. Lukhaup hopes that in the future commercial breeding will help prevent wild populations from being wiped out by the vampire crab craze. http://i.imgur.com/HI3IcUk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FMpIdje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kJkfpXS.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DAX000P.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mBzUEpB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QVKYEDL.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 04 November 2015 Cocoa Tree (Theobroma cacao) The cocoa tree is the source of one of the world's most delicious and familiar products... chocolate. Cocoa is native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana). It has also been introduced as a crop plant into many tropical African and Asian countries. Cocoa is a spindly, evergreen tree 5 to 8 m tall; in its natural habitat, cocoa grows in the understory of evergreen tropical rainforests. It often grows in clumps along river banks, where the roots may be flooded for long periods of the year. Cocoa grows at low elevations, usually below 300 metres above sea level, in areas with 1,000 to 3,000 mm rainfall per year. The fruit is an egg-shaped red to brown berry (commonly referred to as a 'cocoa pod'), 15 to 25 cm long, with a more or less knobbly surface and lines from top to bottom. The 'pod' contains 30 to 40 seeds, each of which is surrounded by a bitter-sweet white pulp. In the wild the seeds are dispersed and eaten by different mammals like agoutis and monkeys. When the seeds are dried and fermented in the sun they are brownish red, and known as cocoa beans. The edible properties of Theobroma cacao were discovered over 2,000 years ago by the indigenous people of Central America living deep in the tropical rainforests. The Aztecs and Maya peoples had many ways of making food and drink from cocoa seeds (commonly referred to as 'cocoa beans'). They also used the beans as money, for example exchanging one turkey for 100 beans, or one slave for 200 beans. Chocolate was seen in Mexico by Christopher Columbus in August 1502. It is said that he came across a large canoe loaded with some small beans that looked to him like goat droppings, and that he paid them little attention. However, once Spanish explorers discovered its decadent delights in the 1520s, they brought cocoa beans home, sweetened the water-based recipe and spread this delicacy throughout Europe. By the middle of the 17th century sweetened hot chocolate was very popular throughout Europe, especially among the elite. The ingredients for chocolate – cocoa powder and cocoa butter (solids) – are prepared from fermented and roasted cocoa seeds. A typical bar of milk chocolate contains around 15% cocoa liquor and 20% cocoa powder. The distinctive flavour of chocolate develops during the fermentation process. http://i.imgur.com/RFyf160.png http://i.imgur.com/nTGNpBD.jpg Seedling: http://i.imgur.com/j0vfTiI.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/KXqIdp0.jpg Pods: http://i.imgur.com/0AvggyM.jpg Opened pods revealing cocoa 'beans': http://i.imgur.com/EOzeO6k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ahon80E.png Cocoa production areas: http://i.imgur.com/ujSr47S.png Postage stamp: http://i.imgur.com/gmapgTS.jpg *********************** http://i.imgur.com/itLn4hl.png 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 03 November 2015 Vampire Crab Vampire crabs, so named because of their glowing yellow eyes, have become popular as pets, but the origin of these spooky-looking crustaceans has been cloaked in mystery, until now. Researchers have traced the freshwater crabs back to their wild source on the Indonesian island of Java. "These crabs are kind of special because they've been around in the pet trade for ten years, but no one knew where they came from," said study co-author and professional aquarist Christian Lukhaup of Waiblingen, Germany. These crabs' blazing eyes and spectacular colors explain their attraction to aquarists. Measuring less than two inches long, the tiny semi-terrestrial freshwater crustaceans are confined to a single watershed on the island of Java, making them particularly vulnerable to collectors. Lukhaup hopes that in the future commercial breeding will help prevent wild populations from being wiped out by the vampire crab craze. http://i.imgur.com/HI3IcUk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FMpIdje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kJkfpXS.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DAX000P.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mBzUEpB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QVKYEDL.jpgHe's certainly a rather colorful lil dude..! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 04 November 2015 Cocoa Tree (Theobroma cacao) The cocoa tree is the source of one of the world's most delicious and familiar products... chocolate. Cocoa is native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana). It has also been introduced as a crop plant into many tropical African and Asian countries. Cocoa is a spindly, evergreen tree 5 to 8 m tall; in its natural habitat, cocoa grows in the understory of evergreen tropical rainforests. It often grows in clumps along river banks, where the roots may be flooded for long periods of the year. Cocoa grows at low elevations, usually below 300 metres above sea level, in areas with 1,000 to 3,000 mm rainfall per year. The fruit is an egg-shaped red to brown berry (commonly referred to as a 'cocoa pod'), 15 to 25 cm long, with a more or less knobbly surface and lines from top to bottom. The 'pod' contains 30 to 40 seeds, each of which is surrounded by a bitter-sweet white pulp. In the wild the seeds are dispersed and eaten by different mammals like agoutis and monkeys. When the seeds are dried and fermented in the sun they are brownish red, and known as cocoa beans. The edible properties of Theobroma cacao were discovered over 2,000 years ago by the indigenous people of Central America living deep in the tropical rainforests. The Aztecs and Maya peoples had many ways of making food and drink from cocoa seeds (commonly referred to as 'cocoa beans'). They also used the beans as money, for example exchanging one turkey for 100 beans, or one slave for 200 beans. Chocolate was seen in Mexico by Christopher Columbus in August 1502. It is said that he came across a large canoe loaded with some small beans that looked to him like goat droppings, and that he paid them little attention. However, once Spanish explorers discovered its decadent delights in the 1520s, they brought cocoa beans home, sweetened the water-based recipe and spread this delicacy throughout Europe. By the middle of the 17th century sweetened hot chocolate was very popular throughout Europe, especially among the elite. The ingredients for chocolate – cocoa powder and cocoa butter (solids) – are prepared from fermented and roasted cocoa seeds. A typical bar of milk chocolate contains around 15% cocoa liquor and 20% cocoa powder. The distinctive flavour of chocolate develops during the fermentation process. http://i.imgur.com/RFyf160.png http://i.imgur.com/nTGNpBD.jpg Seedling: http://i.imgur.com/j0vfTiI.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/KXqIdp0.jpg Pods: http://i.imgur.com/0AvggyM.jpg Opened pods revealing cocoa 'beans': http://i.imgur.com/EOzeO6k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ahon80E.png Cocoa production areas: http://i.imgur.com/ujSr47S.png Postage stamp: http://i.imgur.com/gmapgTS.jpg *********************** http://i.imgur.com/itLn4hl.png Chocolate.....! Nom..! :drool: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 01 November 2015 Ili Pika For more than 20 years, the Ili pika (Ochotona iliensis), a type of tiny, mountain-dwelling mammal with a teddy bear face, had eluded scientists in the Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China. People have seen the furry critter only a handful of times since it was discovered by accident in 1983. In fact, people have spotted only 29 live individuals, and little is known about the animal's ecology and behavior. Then, in summer 2014, researchers rediscovered the pika. Weidong Li, the species' original discoverer and a scientist at the Xinjiang Institute for Ecology and Geography, had gathered a group of volunteers in the Tianshan Mountains for some pika searching. At noon one day, as they were setting up camera traps, the team spotted their prize. "They found it hiding behind a rock, and they realized they had found the pika. They were very excited," said Tatsuya Shin, a naturalist in China who works with the pika's discoverers. In 1983, the Chinese government sent Li to the mountainous Xinjiang Province to study natural resources and infectious diseases. As Li explored a valley by Jilimalale Mountain, he saw a small, gray head sticking out from a crack in the rock. As he edged closer, Li got a look at its whole body. The animal was about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, with large ears and several small brown spots in its gray fur. Li wasn't familiar with the species, nor were nearby herdsmen. Li caught a specimen and sent it to a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who said he believed the pika was a new species. Although Li couldn't find any more pikas on a second trip to the area in December 1983, a third trip in 1985 was more successful, and the additional specimens allowed academy researchers to confirm that the Ili pika was new to science. Like other species of pika found in North America, the Ili pika lives at high elevations—between 9,200 and 13,450 feet (2,800 to 4,100 meters)—and subsists mainly on grasses, herbs, and other mountain plants. Like other high-dwelling creatures, the pika is sensitive to changes in its environment. A 1990s estimate put its population at about 2,000 individuals, and it's believed to be decreasing in number, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Grazing pressure from livestock and air pollution have likely contributed to the decline in the Ili pika, which IUCN lists as vulnerable to extinction. China considers the species endangered. http://i.imgur.com/2vuJpp9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RsNRbec.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/r4Z6AaW.jpg Aw, that's a cutie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 03 November 2015 Vampire Crab Vampire crabs, so named because of their glowing yellow eyes, have become popular as pets, but the origin of these spooky-looking crustaceans has been cloaked in mystery, until now. Researchers have traced the freshwater crabs back to their wild source on the Indonesian island of Java. "These crabs are kind of special because they've been around in the pet trade for ten years, but no one knew where they came from," said study co-author and professional aquarist Christian Lukhaup of Waiblingen, Germany. These crabs' blazing eyes and spectacular colors explain their attraction to aquarists. Measuring less than two inches long, the tiny semi-terrestrial freshwater crustaceans are confined to a single watershed on the island of Java, making them particularly vulnerable to collectors. Lukhaup hopes that in the future commercial breeding will help prevent wild populations from being wiped out by the vampire crab craze. http://i.imgur.com/HI3IcUk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/FMpIdje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kJkfpXS.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DAX000P.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mBzUEpB.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QVKYEDL.jpg What amazing colours 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 04 November 2015 Cocoa Tree (Theobroma cacao) The cocoa tree is the source of one of the world's most delicious and familiar products... chocolate. Cocoa is native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana). It has also been introduced as a crop plant into many tropical African and Asian countries. Cocoa is a spindly, evergreen tree 5 to 8 m tall; in its natural habitat, cocoa grows in the understory of evergreen tropical rainforests. It often grows in clumps along river banks, where the roots may be flooded for long periods of the year. Cocoa grows at low elevations, usually below 300 metres above sea level, in areas with 1,000 to 3,000 mm rainfall per year. The fruit is an egg-shaped red to brown berry (commonly referred to as a 'cocoa pod'), 15 to 25 cm long, with a more or less knobbly surface and lines from top to bottom. The 'pod' contains 30 to 40 seeds, each of which is surrounded by a bitter-sweet white pulp. In the wild the seeds are dispersed and eaten by different mammals like agoutis and monkeys. When the seeds are dried and fermented in the sun they are brownish red, and known as cocoa beans. The edible properties of Theobroma cacao were discovered over 2,000 years ago by the indigenous people of Central America living deep in the tropical rainforests. The Aztecs and Maya peoples had many ways of making food and drink from cocoa seeds (commonly referred to as 'cocoa beans'). They also used the beans as money, for example exchanging one turkey for 100 beans, or one slave for 200 beans. Chocolate was seen in Mexico by Christopher Columbus in August 1502. It is said that he came across a large canoe loaded with some small beans that looked to him like goat droppings, and that he paid them little attention. However, once Spanish explorers discovered its decadent delights in the 1520s, they brought cocoa beans home, sweetened the water-based recipe and spread this delicacy throughout Europe. By the middle of the 17th century sweetened hot chocolate was very popular throughout Europe, especially among the elite. The ingredients for chocolate – cocoa powder and cocoa butter (solids) – are prepared from fermented and roasted cocoa seeds. A typical bar of milk chocolate contains around 15% cocoa liquor and 20% cocoa powder. The distinctive flavour of chocolate develops during the fermentation process. http://i.imgur.com/RFyf160.png http://i.imgur.com/nTGNpBD.jpg Seedling: http://i.imgur.com/j0vfTiI.jpg Flowers: http://i.imgur.com/KXqIdp0.jpg Pods: http://i.imgur.com/0AvggyM.jpg Opened pods revealing cocoa 'beans': http://i.imgur.com/EOzeO6k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ahon80E.png Cocoa production areas: http://i.imgur.com/ujSr47S.png Postage stamp: http://i.imgur.com/gmapgTS.jpg *********************** http://i.imgur.com/itLn4hl.pngmmm...just imagine having your own chocolate plant :drool: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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