Substancewithoutstyle's Slightly Frivolous Flora and Fauna Photo Gallery

[Babycat]

9 March 2016

Wednesday

 

Yet another bird, but today I heard red-winged blackbirds for the first time this year.

 

 

Red-winged Blackbird

 

The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is one of the most familiar of all North American birds, where it is known by many for the male’s unmistakable plumage and is thought of as a harbinger of spring. This species displays marked sexual dimorphism, the male red-winged blackbird being glossy black with conspicuous red and yellow shoulder patches.

 

A gregarious species, the red-winged blackbird nests in crowded groups, low among vertical shoots of marsh vegetation, shrubs, or trees. It is a polygamous species, the male mating with several females that nest inside its territory. In some populations, 90 percent of territorial males have more than one female nesting on their territories.

 

Prior to breeding, male red-winged blackbirds do everything they can to get noticed, sitting on high perches and singing all day. Males may also chase after females with the shoulder feathers erected. Typically five or more females, sometimes up to 15, may crowd their nests into any one male’s territory. Females build cup-shaped nests by winding stringy plant material around several close, upright stems and weaving them into a platform of coarse, wet vegetation. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid, and are incubated by the female for 11 to 13 days. The male may help the female to feed the hatchlings while they are still in the nest, as well as for up to two weeks after they have fledged.

 

The red-winged blackbird gathers into roosts throughout the year. During the summer months it congregates around the wetlands where it breeds, but during the winter it may share roosts with other birds, in groups that range in number from a few individuals to several million. Each morning the roosts spread out, travelling as far as 50 miles to feed, then re-forming at night. The red-winged blackbird eats seeds in the winter, including corn and wheat, and mainly insects in the summer.

 

http://i.imgur.com/QTXsuUe.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/ek4v4c2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tTiqWMz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/a0GVNN6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/T2lTVUM.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/57YRvLU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YJxJqXk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SOyqJWe.jpg

 

Stunning bird, love her shoulders! And the cutest baby ever - well, its beak, from what I could see of it...! :P ( )

Edited March 9, 2016 by Babycat

[HomesickAlien]

10 March 2016

Thursday

 

I see hordes of these birds in the local parking lots.

 

 

Ring-billed Gull

 

This is the common and familiar “sea­gull” across much of North America. Comfortable around humans, they frequent parking lots, garbage dumps, beaches, and fields, sometimes by the hundreds. These are the gulls you're most likely to see far away from coastal areas—in fact, most Ring-billed Gulls nest in the interior of the continent, near freshwater.

 

Able to thrive on almost any available source of nutrition, Ring-billed Gulls eat mostly fish, insects, earthworms, rodents, grain, and garbage. Common fish prey include alewife, smelt, nine-spined stickleback, and yellow perch; insect meals feature primarily beetles, flies, dragonflies, and bugs. In the western U.S., many Ring-billed Gull populations find most of their food on farm fields. In addition to their more common fare, Ring-billed Gulls have been known to eat dates, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries, as well as French fries and other food discarded—or left unguarded—by people.

 

Ring-billed Gulls are strong, graceful flyers. They can race along at more than 40 miles per hour, and they're adept at snatching food from the air. You may see these birds hovering, soaring, or poised and stationary in the wind. Adults play by repeatedly dropping objects, then swooping to catch them—perhaps honing their hunting moves. These gulls use a wide variety of foraging methods: walking around on land; stamping their feet in shallow water to uncover small invertebrates; skimming shallow water for small fish; nabbing insects out of the air. They steal food from other birds, hunt for small rodents, and scavenge along beaches, parks, and garbage dumps.

 

Ring-billed gulls nest in colonies numbering from 20 to tens of thousands of pairs. They build their nests on the ground near freshwater, usually on low, sparsely vegetated terrain. They may nest on sandbars, rocky beaches, driftwood, bare rock, concrete, or soil. They often choose sites near or underneath low plants to hide them from aerial predators. Nest sites tend to be used for multiple seasons, by new or returning pairs. The male and female cooperate in constructing the nest—a scrape in the ground lined with twigs, sticks, grasses, leaves, lichens, or mosses. Some nests are minimalist affairs with almost no lining.

 

After nearly succumbing to hunting and habitat loss, Ring-billed Gull populations have been increasing since 1966, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. They can be found throughout the year in the U.S. and Canada. Humans have generally helped Ring-billed Gulls by providing extra foods, including introduced fish, and grain exposed on farm fields, as well as discarded food and refuse. The Ring-billed Gull continues to extend its breeding range—likely fueled in part by the edible garbage available at open landfills.

 

http://i.imgur.com/QJiUrKY.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/60y4qzL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Pq2Xjmw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WsX4gaZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EgVYmWO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cK4Dc9w.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KlzUZbn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N5RkLmt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/zrF2FYE.jpg

[x1yyz]

Interesting that they are so common! I don't recall seeing ring-billed gulls here in the SF Bay Area and I would have thought I'd remember a bird with such a distinct bill. We also have several other species of gulls here including the California and herring gulls. The trouble with gull species is many are so similar to one another, gulls change plumage between life stages and possibly between seasons as well, and then they go and hybridize on us!

[Babycat]

I swear there's billions of those birds.... :o

[HomesickAlien]

12 March 2016

Saturday

 

 

Sacred Lotus

 

(Nelumbo nucifera)

 

An aquatic perennial with large showy flowers, the sacred lotus has long been considered a close relative of water lilies. However, lotus flowers differ markedly from those of water lilies, most notably through the obconical (ice-cream cone-shaped) receptacle in the centre, into which numerous free carpels are sunken. Recent molecular research has shown that the closest living relatives of the sacred lotus are the plane trees (Platanus spp., Platanaceae) and members of the protea family (Proteaceae). Their isolated phylogenetic position indicates that both Nelumbo and Platanus may be living fossils (the only survivors of an ancient and formerly much more diverse group).

 

The sacred lotus is an aquatic plant with rhizomes (often mistakenly called 'roots') that grow in the mud at the bottom of shallow ponds, lakes, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields. Its large, peltate (with the leaf-stalk attaching to the centre, rather than the edge) leaves rise above the water surface on 1 to 2 m long petioles. The strikingly water-repellent leaf surface has inspired the term 'lotus effect'. This term describes the leaves' self-cleaning capacity which is a result of dirt particles being picked up by water droplets due to a complex nanostructure of the leaf surface, which minimises adhesion.

 

The sacred lotus has deep religious meaning to Hindus and Buddhists, to whom the lotus flower symbolises beauty, purity and divinity. In Hinduism the sacred lotus represents the sun, and is associated with mother goddesses as a symbol of fertility.

 

Nelumbo nucifera has been in cultivation in China for more than 3,000 years, and has been grown not only for its cultural and ornamental value, but also for medicinal uses and for its edible ‘seeds’ and rhizomes. In China, Japan and India, for example, the rhizomes are roasted, pickled, candied, or sliced and fried as chips. A paste made from the nutlets is used as a filling in ‘mooncakes’, traditional Chinese pastries. The young leaves, leaf stalks and flowers are eaten as vegetables in India.

 

In the wild, the sacred lotus occurs in warm-temperate to tropical regions of Asia (Iran to China, Japan and New Guinea) and northeast Australia.

 

http://i.imgur.com/VAX2FnB.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/2vKO5VN.png

http://i.imgur.com/jsEykav.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iyiTDoK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/a7FlQ6q.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/RKS133O.jpg?1

 

Sacred lotus in Japanese wetland:

 

http://i.imgur.com/DnYOvQ1.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/LRnJs3M.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ppVd4Ay.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/fVuJZmX.jpg

[HomesickAlien]

16 March 2016

Wednesday

 

 

Second Anniversary Edition

 

http://i.imgur.com/KgJVaXJ.gif

 

On the occasion of the second anniversary of this thread, I'd like to thank my six known readers:

 

Babycat: rarely misses a post. :cheers:

 

Your_Lion: currently AWOL from this thread. :cheers:

 

CygnusGal: here at the beginning, but still pops in when she has the time. Hope she's doing well. :hi: http://i.imgur.com/Yg1gGv2.gif

 

x1yyz: always an insightful comment. :) :cheers: http://i.imgur.com/5y1DRJp.gif

 

Tombstone Mountain: claims he reads this thread on a regular basis, but only makes his presence known on rare occasion. :P :cheers:

 

Lastly, Mr. Not, whose constant e̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ harassment resulted in the formation of this thread. ;) :cheers:

 

 

****************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Tuatara

 

An unusual and unique reptile found only in New Zealand, the tuatara has been dubbed a ‘living fossil’ as it is the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that flourished during the time of the dinosaurs. The name of this group, Rhynchocephalia, means ‘beak heads’, referring to the overhanging upper jaw of these species. The tuatara is a medium-sized reptile and superficially resembles a lizard in appearance; unlike lizards, the tuatara has unusual dentition, with a single row of teeth in the lower jaw which fits into a groove between two rows of teeth in the upper jaw.

 

A further unusual feature of the tuatara is that it possesses a ‘third eye’, also known as a parietal or pineal eye, which is located centrally on top of the head, beneath the skin. This ‘eye’ has a lens and retina, but its exact function is unclear. It is sensitive to light but is not thought to form images, instead potentially being involved in regulating the tuatara’s exposure to the sun.

 

Until recently, the tuatara has generally been considered to comprise two separate species, the common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) and the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), with the Brothers Island tuatara being slightly smaller. However, the taxonomy of the tuatara is debated and more recently some scientists have considered it to be a single species.

 

The tuatara lives in burrows, either digging one itself or sharing the burrow of a nesting seabird. A nocturnal species, the tuatara emerges from its burrow at night to feed, but it may also come out to bask in the sun during the day.

 

A ‘sit and wait’ predator, the tuatara generally waits for prey to approach, and it hunts mainly by sight. Its diet includes a variety of small animals, particularly invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, and other large insects. It also eats spiders, snails, worms and small lizards, and will even take the eggs and chicks of seabirds, as well as occasional adult birds and some carrion.

 

The tuatara mates in the summer, between January and March. At this time, males become territorial and will attempt to warn off intruders by inflating their bodies and raising their crests. Aggressive encounters may also involve head shaking, opening and closing the mouth, and sometimes chasing and biting.

 

The female tuatara does not lay her eggs until the spring, from October to December. At this time, the female chooses a suitable nesting site, typically in an open, sunny area on a warm, north-facing slope, and digs a shallow hole. Up to 18 or 19 oval, soft-shelled eggs are laid, and the female then back-fills the hole and may cover it with leaves and grass. The tuatara’s eggs hatch after 11 to 16 months, one of the longest incubation periods known for any reptile. The newly hatched tuatara are active by day for the first two months of life, only later starting to burrow and becoming nocturnal.

 

Tuatara grow slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 9 to 13 years old. Growth may continue for many more years, and the tuatara can potentially live to over 60 years, or possibly even to over 100. As well as developing slowly, the tuatara also reproduces very slowly, and females are thought to lay eggs only once every four years on average.

 

http://i.imgur.com/G5bcK04.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ISltMbi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/KEkE8ey.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qq67YFN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GrOOcE0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhaMOCv.jpg

 

Newly hatched tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/zAhXbAx.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XS2u11z.jpg

 

Current range of tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/rB1XGyq.jpg

The loss of the tuatara from mainland New Zealand is thought to have been caused by habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats.

[x1yyz]

16 March 2016

Wednesday

 

 

Second Anniversary Edition

 

http://i.imgur.com/KgJVaXJ.gif

 

On the occasion of the second anniversary of this thread, I'd like to thank my six known readers:

 

Babycat: rarely misses a post. :cheers:

 

Your_Lion: currently AWOL from this thread. :cheers:

 

CygnusGal: here at the beginning, but still pops in when she has the time. Hope she's doing well. :hi: http://i.imgur.com/Yg1gGv2.gif

 

x1yyz: always an insightful comment. :) :cheers: http://i.imgur.com/5y1DRJp.gif

 

Tombstone Mountain: claims he reads this thread on a regular basis, but only makes his presence known on rare occasion. :P :cheers:

 

Lastly, Mr. Not, whose constant e̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ harassment resulted in the formation of this thread. ;) :cheers:

 

 

****************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Tuatara

 

An unusual and unique reptile found only in New Zealand, the tuatara has been dubbed a ‘living fossil’ as it is the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that flourished during the time of the dinosaurs. The name of this group, Rhynchocephalia, means ‘beak heads’, referring to the overhanging upper jaw of these species. The tuatara is a medium-sized reptile and superficially resembles a lizard in appearance; unlike lizards, the tuatara has unusual dentition, with a single row of teeth in the lower jaw which fits into a groove between two rows of teeth in the upper jaw.

 

A further unusual feature of the tuatara is that it possesses a ‘third eye’, also known as a parietal or pineal eye, which is located centrally on top of the head, beneath the skin. This ‘eye’ has a lens and retina, but its exact function is unclear. It is sensitive to light but is not thought to form images, instead potentially being involved in regulating the tuatara’s exposure to the sun.

 

Until recently, the tuatara has generally been considered to comprise two separate species, the common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) and the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), with the Brothers Island tuatara being slightly smaller. However, the taxonomy of the tuatara is debated and more recently some scientists have considered it to be a single species.

 

The tuatara lives in burrows, either digging one itself or sharing the burrow of a nesting seabird. A nocturnal species, the tuatara emerges from its burrow at night to feed, but it may also come out to bask in the sun during the day.

 

A ‘sit and wait’ predator, the tuatara generally waits for prey to approach, and it hunts mainly by sight. Its diet includes a variety of small animals, particularly invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, and other large insects. It also eats spiders, snails, worms and small lizards, and will even take the eggs and chicks of seabirds, as well as occasional adult birds and some carrion.

 

The tuatara mates in the summer, between January and March. At this time, males become territorial and will attempt to warn off intruders by inflating their bodies and raising their crests. Aggressive encounters may also involve head shaking, opening and closing the mouth, and sometimes chasing and biting.

 

The female tuatara does not lay her eggs until the spring, from October to December. At this time, the female chooses a suitable nesting site, typically in an open, sunny area on a warm, north-facing slope, and digs a shallow hole. Up to 18 or 19 oval, soft-shelled eggs are laid, and the female then back-fills the hole and may cover it with leaves and grass. The tuatara’s eggs hatch after 11 to 16 months, one of the longest incubation periods known for any reptile. The newly hatched tuatara are active by day for the first two months of life, only later starting to burrow and becoming nocturnal.

 

Tuatara grow slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 9 to 13 years old. Growth may continue for many more years, and the tuatara can potentially live to over 60 years, or possibly even to over 100. As well as developing slowly, the tuatara also reproduces very slowly, and females are thought to lay eggs only once every four years on average.

 

http://i.imgur.com/G5bcK04.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ISltMbi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/KEkE8ey.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qq67YFN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GrOOcE0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhaMOCv.jpg

 

Newly hatched tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/zAhXbAx.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XS2u11z.jpg

 

Current range of tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/rB1XGyq.jpg

The loss of the tuatara from mainland New Zealand is thought to have been caused by habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats.

 

And thank YOU for so many fun and interesting posts! Please keep 'em coming! (Except for the spiders. It's okay to not post anymore spiders ;) )

[Babycat]

16 March 2016

Wednesday

 

 

Second Anniversary Edition

 

http://i.imgur.com/KgJVaXJ.gif

 

On the occasion of the second anniversary of this thread, I'd like to thank my six known readers:

 

Babycat: rarely misses a post. :cheers:

 

Your_Lion: currently AWOL from this thread. :cheers:

 

CygnusGal: here at the beginning, but still pops in when she has the time. Hope she's doing well. :hi: http://i.imgur.com/Yg1gGv2.gif

 

x1yyz: always an insightful comment. :) :cheers: http://i.imgur.com/5y1DRJp.gif

 

Tombstone Mountain: claims he reads this thread on a regular basis, but only makes his presence known on rare occasion. :P :cheers:

 

Lastly, Mr. Not, whose constant e̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ harassment resulted in the formation of this thread. ;) :cheers:

 

 

****************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Tuatara

 

An unusual and unique reptile found only in New Zealand, the tuatara has been dubbed a ‘living fossil’ as it is the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that flourished during the time of the dinosaurs. The name of this group, Rhynchocephalia, means ‘beak heads’, referring to the overhanging upper jaw of these species. The tuatara is a medium-sized reptile and superficially resembles a lizard in appearance; unlike lizards, the tuatara has unusual dentition, with a single row of teeth in the lower jaw which fits into a groove between two rows of teeth in the upper jaw.

 

A further unusual feature of the tuatara is that it possesses a ‘third eye’, also known as a parietal or pineal eye, which is located centrally on top of the head, beneath the skin. This ‘eye’ has a lens and retina, but its exact function is unclear. It is sensitive to light but is not thought to form images, instead potentially being involved in regulating the tuatara’s exposure to the sun.

 

Until recently, the tuatara has generally been considered to comprise two separate species, the common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) and the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), with the Brothers Island tuatara being slightly smaller. However, the taxonomy of the tuatara is debated and more recently some scientists have considered it to be a single species.

 

The tuatara lives in burrows, either digging one itself or sharing the burrow of a nesting seabird. A nocturnal species, the tuatara emerges from its burrow at night to feed, but it may also come out to bask in the sun during the day.

 

A ‘sit and wait’ predator, the tuatara generally waits for prey to approach, and it hunts mainly by sight. Its diet includes a variety of small animals, particularly invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, and other large insects. It also eats spiders, snails, worms and small lizards, and will even take the eggs and chicks of seabirds, as well as occasional adult birds and some carrion.

 

The tuatara mates in the summer, between January and March. At this time, males become territorial and will attempt to warn off intruders by inflating their bodies and raising their crests. Aggressive encounters may also involve head shaking, opening and closing the mouth, and sometimes chasing and biting.

 

The female tuatara does not lay her eggs until the spring, from October to December. At this time, the female chooses a suitable nesting site, typically in an open, sunny area on a warm, north-facing slope, and digs a shallow hole. Up to 18 or 19 oval, soft-shelled eggs are laid, and the female then back-fills the hole and may cover it with leaves and grass. The tuatara’s eggs hatch after 11 to 16 months, one of the longest incubation periods known for any reptile. The newly hatched tuatara are active by day for the first two months of life, only later starting to burrow and becoming nocturnal.

 

Tuatara grow slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 9 to 13 years old. Growth may continue for many more years, and the tuatara can potentially live to over 60 years, or possibly even to over 100. As well as developing slowly, the tuatara also reproduces very slowly, and females are thought to lay eggs only once every four years on average.

 

http://i.imgur.com/G5bcK04.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ISltMbi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/KEkE8ey.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qq67YFN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GrOOcE0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhaMOCv.jpg

 

Newly hatched tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/zAhXbAx.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XS2u11z.jpg

 

Current range of tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/rB1XGyq.jpg

The loss of the tuatara from mainland New Zealand is thought to have been caused by habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats.

 

And thank you for starting up this awesome thread! :ebert: :ebert: :ebert: :ebert: :ebert:

[HomesickAlien]

16 March 2016

Wednesday

 

 

Second Anniversary Edition

 

http://i.imgur.com/KgJVaXJ.gif

 

On the occasion of the second anniversary of this thread, I'd like to thank my six known readers:

 

Babycat: rarely misses a post. :cheers:

 

Your_Lion: currently AWOL from this thread. :cheers:

 

CygnusGal: here at the beginning, but still pops in when she has the time. Hope she's doing well. :hi: http://i.imgur.com/Yg1gGv2.gif

 

x1yyz: always an insightful comment. :) :cheers: http://i.imgur.com/5y1DRJp.gif

 

Tombstone Mountain: claims he reads this thread on a regular basis, but only makes his presence known on rare occasion. :P :cheers:

 

Lastly, Mr. Not, whose constant e̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ harassment resulted in the formation of this thread. ;) :cheers:

 

 

****************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Tuatara

 

An unusual and unique reptile found only in New Zealand, the tuatara has been dubbed a ‘living fossil’ as it is the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that flourished during the time of the dinosaurs. The name of this group, Rhynchocephalia, means ‘beak heads’, referring to the overhanging upper jaw of these species. The tuatara is a medium-sized reptile and superficially resembles a lizard in appearance; unlike lizards, the tuatara has unusual dentition, with a single row of teeth in the lower jaw which fits into a groove between two rows of teeth in the upper jaw.

 

A further unusual feature of the tuatara is that it possesses a ‘third eye’, also known as a parietal or pineal eye, which is located centrally on top of the head, beneath the skin. This ‘eye’ has a lens and retina, but its exact function is unclear. It is sensitive to light but is not thought to form images, instead potentially being involved in regulating the tuatara’s exposure to the sun.

 

Until recently, the tuatara has generally been considered to comprise two separate species, the common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) and the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), with the Brothers Island tuatara being slightly smaller. However, the taxonomy of the tuatara is debated and more recently some scientists have considered it to be a single species.

 

The tuatara lives in burrows, either digging one itself or sharing the burrow of a nesting seabird. A nocturnal species, the tuatara emerges from its burrow at night to feed, but it may also come out to bask in the sun during the day.

 

A ‘sit and wait’ predator, the tuatara generally waits for prey to approach, and it hunts mainly by sight. Its diet includes a variety of small animals, particularly invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, and other large insects. It also eats spiders, snails, worms and small lizards, and will even take the eggs and chicks of seabirds, as well as occasional adult birds and some carrion.

 

The tuatara mates in the summer, between January and March. At this time, males become territorial and will attempt to warn off intruders by inflating their bodies and raising their crests. Aggressive encounters may also involve head shaking, opening and closing the mouth, and sometimes chasing and biting.

 

The female tuatara does not lay her eggs until the spring, from October to December. At this time, the female chooses a suitable nesting site, typically in an open, sunny area on a warm, north-facing slope, and digs a shallow hole. Up to 18 or 19 oval, soft-shelled eggs are laid, and the female then back-fills the hole and may cover it with leaves and grass. The tuatara’s eggs hatch after 11 to 16 months, one of the longest incubation periods known for any reptile. The newly hatched tuatara are active by day for the first two months of life, only later starting to burrow and becoming nocturnal.

 

Tuatara grow slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 9 to 13 years old. Growth may continue for many more years, and the tuatara can potentially live to over 60 years, or possibly even to over 100. As well as developing slowly, the tuatara also reproduces very slowly, and females are thought to lay eggs only once every four years on average.

 

http://i.imgur.com/G5bcK04.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ISltMbi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/KEkE8ey.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qq67YFN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GrOOcE0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhaMOCv.jpg

 

Newly hatched tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/zAhXbAx.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XS2u11z.jpg

 

Current range of tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/rB1XGyq.jpg

The loss of the tuatara from mainland New Zealand is thought to have been caused by habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats.

 

And thank YOU for so many fun and interesting posts! Please keep 'em coming! (Except for the spiders. It's okay to not post anymore spiders ;) )

 

No love for spiders?

 

http://i.imgur.com/tM0wJgk.gif

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, that was lame, but you may see an entry for Maratus volans in the near future.

[Babycat]

16 March 2016

Wednesday

 

 

Second Anniversary Edition

 

http://i.imgur.com/KgJVaXJ.gif

 

On the occasion of the second anniversary of this thread, I'd like to thank my six known readers:

 

Babycat: rarely misses a post. :cheers:

 

Your_Lion: currently AWOL from this thread. :cheers:

 

CygnusGal: here at the beginning, but still pops in when she has the time. Hope she's doing well. :hi: http://i.imgur.com/Yg1gGv2.gif

 

x1yyz: always an insightful comment. :) :cheers: http://i.imgur.com/5y1DRJp.gif

 

Tombstone Mountain: claims he reads this thread on a regular basis, but only makes his presence known on rare occasion. :P :cheers:

 

Lastly, Mr. Not, whose constant e̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ harassment resulted in the formation of this thread. ;) :cheers:

 

 

****************************************************************************************

 

 

 

Tuatara

 

An unusual and unique reptile found only in New Zealand, the tuatara has been dubbed a ‘living fossil’ as it is the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that flourished during the time of the dinosaurs. The name of this group, Rhynchocephalia, means ‘beak heads’, referring to the overhanging upper jaw of these species. The tuatara is a medium-sized reptile and superficially resembles a lizard in appearance; unlike lizards, the tuatara has unusual dentition, with a single row of teeth in the lower jaw which fits into a groove between two rows of teeth in the upper jaw.

 

A further unusual feature of the tuatara is that it possesses a ‘third eye’, also known as a parietal or pineal eye, which is located centrally on top of the head, beneath the skin. This ‘eye’ has a lens and retina, but its exact function is unclear. It is sensitive to light but is not thought to form images, instead potentially being involved in regulating the tuatara’s exposure to the sun.

 

Until recently, the tuatara has generally been considered to comprise two separate species, the common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) and the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), with the Brothers Island tuatara being slightly smaller. However, the taxonomy of the tuatara is debated and more recently some scientists have considered it to be a single species.

 

The tuatara lives in burrows, either digging one itself or sharing the burrow of a nesting seabird. A nocturnal species, the tuatara emerges from its burrow at night to feed, but it may also come out to bask in the sun during the day.

 

A ‘sit and wait’ predator, the tuatara generally waits for prey to approach, and it hunts mainly by sight. Its diet includes a variety of small animals, particularly invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, and other large insects. It also eats spiders, snails, worms and small lizards, and will even take the eggs and chicks of seabirds, as well as occasional adult birds and some carrion.

 

The tuatara mates in the summer, between January and March. At this time, males become territorial and will attempt to warn off intruders by inflating their bodies and raising their crests. Aggressive encounters may also involve head shaking, opening and closing the mouth, and sometimes chasing and biting.

 

The female tuatara does not lay her eggs until the spring, from October to December. At this time, the female chooses a suitable nesting site, typically in an open, sunny area on a warm, north-facing slope, and digs a shallow hole. Up to 18 or 19 oval, soft-shelled eggs are laid, and the female then back-fills the hole and may cover it with leaves and grass. The tuatara’s eggs hatch after 11 to 16 months, one of the longest incubation periods known for any reptile. The newly hatched tuatara are active by day for the first two months of life, only later starting to burrow and becoming nocturnal.

 

Tuatara grow slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 9 to 13 years old. Growth may continue for many more years, and the tuatara can potentially live to over 60 years, or possibly even to over 100. As well as developing slowly, the tuatara also reproduces very slowly, and females are thought to lay eggs only once every four years on average.

 

http://i.imgur.com/G5bcK04.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ISltMbi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/KEkE8ey.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qq67YFN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GrOOcE0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhaMOCv.jpg

 

Newly hatched tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/zAhXbAx.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XS2u11z.jpg

 

Current range of tuatara:

http://i.imgur.com/rB1XGyq.jpg

The loss of the tuatara from mainland New Zealand is thought to have been caused by habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats.

 

And thank YOU for so many fun and interesting posts! Please keep 'em coming! (Except for the spiders. It's okay to not post anymore spiders ;) )

 

No love for spiders?

 

http://i.imgur.com/tM0wJgk.gif

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, that was lame, but you may see an entry for Maratus volans in the near future.

 

Actually, that one's pretty cool! :ebert:

[HomesickAlien]

18 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Peacock Spider

 

Maratus volans, sometimes called the peacock spider or gliding spider, is a species of jumping spider. Although tiny (4-5 mm), male spiders have an iridescent colouring of red, green and blue.

 

Octavius Pickard-Cambridge, who is credited with the first formal biological description and hence is noted as the person assigning it its binomial name (he originally named it Salticus volans; its name was changed to Maratus volans by Marek Zabka in 1991), wrote in his first description of it that "it is difficult to describe adequately the great beauty of the colouring of this spider". The red, blue and black coloured males have flap-like extensions of the abdomen with white hairs that can be folded down. They are used for display during mating.

 

M. volans is confined to specific parts of Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania).

 

http://i.imgur.com/Px7amjI.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/okLk9sJ.jpg

Female on left, male on right.

 

http://i.imgur.com/fU6Bvva.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/oUbdNow.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hYmQVtj.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/1QIBOG5.jpg

 

Peacock Spider T-shirt

[x1yyz]

18 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Peacock Spider

 

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/5/51/Grumpy-cat-nope.jpg

[HomesickAlien]

18 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Peacock Spider

 

 

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/5/51/Grumpy-cat-nope.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/YsE86f2.gif

[Babycat]

18 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Peacock Spider

 

Maratus volans, sometimes called the peacock spider or gliding spider, is a species of jumping spider. Although tiny (4-5 mm), male spiders have an iridescent colouring of red, green and blue.

 

Octavius Pickard-Cambridge, who is credited with the first formal biological description and hence is noted as the person assigning it its binomial name (he originally named it Salticus volans; its name was changed to Maratus volans by Marek Zabka in 1991), wrote in his first description of it that "it is difficult to describe adequately the great beauty of the colouring of this spider". The red, blue and black coloured males have flap-like extensions of the abdomen with white hairs that can be folded down. They are used for display during mating.

 

M. volans is confined to specific parts of Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania).

 

http://i.imgur.com/Px7amjI.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/okLk9sJ.jpg

Female on left, male on right.

 

http://i.imgur.com/fU6Bvva.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/oUbdNow.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hYmQVtj.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/1QIBOG5.jpg

 

Peacock Spider T-shirt

 

Even though spiders scare me silly, this one is beautiful and has incredible colors.

[HomesickAlien]

20 March 2016

Sunday

 

 

Squidworm

 

Teuthidodrilus, or the squidworm, is a recently discovered species of marine polychaete worm. In 2007, marine biologists discovered this interesting sea worm in the western part of the Celebes Sea, at a depth of about 6,000 ft near the Philippines.

 

The squidworm is measured to be nearly four inches long, quite sizable for a marine worm. It is named for its head that looks like it’s covered in squid-like tentacles. This worm has an abundance of various appendages, some of which are even longer than its body. Eight arms are used for breathing, and two long, coiled appendages are used for feeding. Six pairs of sensory organs emerge from its head to provide the squidworm with the ability to taste and smell, and propulsion paddles are present down the length of its body to allow for upright swimming.

 

The worm uses its two coiled appendages on its head to feed on plankton in the ocean water. It does not seem to be a predator, as it has only been noted to eat plankton and sinking particles of microscopic plants and animals. Multiple sets of observations have reported a profusion of this worm in the Celebes Sea, suggesting that it is quite common.

 

The squidworm lives in a sort of in-between area of the ocean, making it subject to conditions that are not typically the first choice of marine worms. It does not exist near the light-filled surface of the water, nor does it inhabit the dark, rocky seafloor.

 

http://i.imgur.com/sNGer5F.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/1TCA0b4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ifAKC8S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hap8KKk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HR84unK.gif

 

http://rsbl.royalsoc.../rsbl.2010.0923

[Babycat]

20 March 2016

Sunday

 

 

Squidworm

 

Teuthidodrilus, or the squidworm, is a recently discovered species of marine polychaete worm. In 2007, marine biologists discovered this interesting sea worm in the western part of the Celebes Sea, at a depth of about 6,000 ft near the Philippines.

 

The squidworm is measured to be nearly four inches long, quite sizable for a marine worm. It is named for its head that looks like it’s covered in squid-like tentacles. This worm has an abundance of various appendages, some of which are even longer than its body. Eight arms are used for breathing, and two long, coiled appendages are used for feeding. Six pairs of sensory organs emerge from its head to provide the squidworm with the ability to taste and smell, and propulsion paddles are present down the length of its body to allow for upright swimming.

 

The worm uses its two coiled appendages on its head to feed on plankton in the ocean water. It does not seem to be a predator, as it has only been noted to eat plankton and sinking particles of microscopic plants and animals. Multiple sets of observations have reported a profusion of this worm in the Celebes Sea, suggesting that it is quite common.

 

The squidworm lives in a sort of in-between area of the ocean, making it subject to conditions that are not typically the first choice of marine worms. It does not exist near the light-filled surface of the water, nor does it inhabit the dark, rocky seafloor.

 

http://i.imgur.com/sNGer5F.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/1TCA0b4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ifAKC8S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hap8KKk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HR84unK.gif

 

http://rsbl.royalsoc.../rsbl.2010.0923

 

What an unusual species - never knew they existed, but just as fascinating.

[HomesickAlien]

Just a reminder:

 

Now including natural phenomena...

 

22 March 2016

Tuesday

 

Fire Rainbows

 

“Fire Rainbows” are not associated with fire, and aren't rainbows, but are so called because of their brilliant pastel colors and flame like appearance. Technically they are known as a circumhorizontal arc - an ice halo formed by hexagonal, plate-shaped ice crystals in high level cirrus clouds. The halo is so large that the arc appears parallel to the horizon, hence the name.

 

Brightly colored circumhorizontal arcs occur mostly during the summer and between particular latitudes. When the sun is very high in the sky, sunlight entering flat, hexagon shaped ice crystals gets split into individual colors just like in a prism. The conditions required to form a “fire rainbow” is very precise – the sun has to be at an elevation of 58° or greater, there must be high altitude cirrus clouds with plate-shaped ice crystals, and sunlight has to enter the ice crystals at a specific angle. This is why the circumhorizontal arc is such a rare phenomenon.

 

The position of the observer is also important. Circumhorizontal arcs cannot be seen in locations north of 55°N or south of 55°S. Likewise, there are only certain times of the year when they are visible. For example, in London the sun is only high enough for 140 hours between mid-May and late July, while in Los Angeles, the sun is higher than 58 degrees for 670 hours between late March and late September.

 

http://i.imgur.com/y8Q3Fww.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/FEHa8Kf.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/IDU2Owb.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/x3XG5vZ.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Egf5pko.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/LRFiRXg.jpg

[Babycat]

Just a reminder:

 

Now including natural phenomena...

 

22 March 2016

Tuesday

 

Fire Rainbows

 

“Fire Rainbows” are not associated with fire, and aren't rainbows, but are so called because of their brilliant pastel colors and flame like appearance. Technically they are known as a circumhorizontal arc - an ice halo formed by hexagonal, plate-shaped ice crystals in high level cirrus clouds. The halo is so large that the arc appears parallel to the horizon, hence the name.

 

Brightly colored circumhorizontal arcs occur mostly during the summer and between particular latitudes. When the sun is very high in the sky, sunlight entering flat, hexagon shaped ice crystals gets split into individual colors just like in a prism. The conditions required to form a “fire rainbow” is very precise – the sun has to be at an elevation of 58° or greater, there must be high altitude cirrus clouds with plate-shaped ice crystals, and sunlight has to enter the ice crystals at a specific angle. This is why the circumhorizontal arc is such a rare phenomenon.

 

The position of the observer is also important. Circumhorizontal arcs cannot be seen in locations north of 55°N or south of 55°S. Likewise, there are only certain times of the year when they are visible. For example, in London the sun is only high enough for 140 hours between mid-May and late July, while in Los Angeles, the sun is higher than 58 degrees for 670 hours between late March and late September.

 

http://i.imgur.com/y8Q3Fww.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/FEHa8Kf.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/IDU2Owb.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/x3XG5vZ.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Egf5pko.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/LRFiRXg.jpg

 

Ooooooo! That is absolutely beautiful! :D

[x1yyz]

Just a reminder:

 

Now including natural phenomena...

 

22 March 2016

Tuesday

 

Fire Rainbows

 

“Fire Rainbows” are not associated with fire, and aren't rainbows, but are so called because of their brilliant pastel colors and flame like appearance. Technically they are known as a circumhorizontal arc - an ice halo formed by hexagonal, plate-shaped ice crystals in high level cirrus clouds. The halo is so large that the arc appears parallel to the horizon, hence the name.

 

Brightly colored circumhorizontal arcs occur mostly during the summer and between particular latitudes. When the sun is very high in the sky, sunlight entering flat, hexagon shaped ice crystals gets split into individual colors just like in a prism. The conditions required to form a “fire rainbow” is very precise – the sun has to be at an elevation of 58° or greater, there must be high altitude cirrus clouds with plate-shaped ice crystals, and sunlight has to enter the ice crystals at a specific angle. This is why the circumhorizontal arc is such a rare phenomenon.

 

The position of the observer is also important. Circumhorizontal arcs cannot be seen in locations north of 55°N or south of 55°S. Likewise, there are only certain times of the year when they are visible. For example, in London the sun is only high enough for 140 hours between mid-May and late July, while in Los Angeles, the sun is higher than 58 degrees for 670 hours between late March and late September.

 

http://i.imgur.com/y8Q3Fww.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/FEHa8Kf.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/IDU2Owb.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/x3XG5vZ.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Egf5pko.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/LRFiRXg.jpg

 

So pretty! And infinitely better than spiders! :outtahere:

[HomesickAlien]

25 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Vanilla

 

Vanilla is one of the most popular flavours in the world and was first used by the Aztecs in Mexico to flavour cocoa.

 

The vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) grows wild in tropical forests and belongs to one of the oldest and largest groups of flowering plants – the orchids (Orchidaceae). Of all the orchids, the vanillas (members of the Vanilla genus) are the only ones that produce an agriculturally valuable crop, and 95% of the world’s traded vanilla pods are derived from just one species – V. planifolia.

 

After pollination, vanilla pods develop over four weeks and are then harvested, dried and cured to produce the distinctive flavour we know and love. The pods may be used whole, or split, and the tiny seeds scraped out to infuse cream and custard-based sauces.

 

Vanilla planifolia is a tropical vine, which can reach a length of over 30 m. It has thick, fleshy stems and greenish flowers that open early in the morning and are pollinated by bees. The flowers have only a slight scent, with no element of the vanilla flavour or aroma. Once pollinated, the ovaries swell and develop into fruits called ‘pods’ similar to long, thin runner beans over a period of four weeks. The pods contain thousands of tiny black seeds.

 

The cured fruits (‘pods’) of the vanilla vine are the source of one of the world’s most popular flavourings and are a valuable commodity. The earliest documented use of vanilla refers to its use in a drink made from cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao) by the Aztecs. Vanilla was subsequently introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century and to Madagascar by the French in the 19th century. Today, most of the world’s vanilla is produced in Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoro Islands.

 

The mature, unripe fruits have no flavour when they are harvested. The aroma and flavour of vanilla are released when the fruit is dried and cured by steaming and fermentation. The finest quality vanilla pods turn dark brown and accumulate a frosting of glucose and vanillin on the surface during fermentation.

 

Vanillin was first synthesised in 1874 from a compound extracted from pine bark, and then in 1891 from a different compound extracted from cloves, and is widely used as a synthetic substitute for natural vanilla. The 'vanilla essence' commonly used today is synthesised from wood pulp as a by-product of paper-making and from coal-tar (toluene). However, the characteristic aroma and flavour of natural vanilla comprises a cocktail of over 200 different molecules.

 

http://i.imgur.com/7mLoi91.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/bAnCKyi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/Jx8EUbZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EE2ul9a.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/gPNZHNO.jpg

 

Commercially grown vanilla:

http://i.imgur.com/hikf8Ys.jpg

 

Vanilla pods drying in Madagascar:

http://i.imgur.com/GHzUkUg.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/QyI6nnc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w2b1nQg.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/ZhlKJVD.jpg

[x1yyz]

25 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Vanilla

 

Vanilla is one of the most popular flavours in the world and was first used by the Aztecs in Mexico to flavour cocoa.

 

The vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) grows wild in tropical forests and belongs to one of the oldest and largest groups of flowering plants – the orchids (Orchidaceae). Of all the orchids, the vanillas (members of the Vanilla genus) are the only ones that produce an agriculturally valuable crop, and 95% of the world’s traded vanilla pods are derived from just one species – V. planifolia.

 

After pollination, vanilla pods develop over four weeks and are then harvested, dried and cured to produce the distinctive flavour we know and love. The pods may be used whole, or split, and the tiny seeds scraped out to infuse cream and custard-based sauces.

 

Vanilla planifolia is a tropical vine, which can reach a length of over 30 m. It has thick, fleshy stems and greenish flowers that open early in the morning and are pollinated by bees. The flowers have only a slight scent, with no element of the vanilla flavour or aroma. Once pollinated, the ovaries swell and develop into fruits called ‘pods’ similar to long, thin runner beans over a period of four weeks. The pods contain thousands of tiny black seeds.

 

The cured fruits (‘pods’) of the vanilla vine are the source of one of the world’s most popular flavourings and are a valuable commodity. The earliest documented use of vanilla refers to its use in a drink made from cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao) by the Aztecs. Vanilla was subsequently introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century and to Madagascar by the French in the 19th century. Today, most of the world’s vanilla is produced in Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoro Islands.

 

The mature, unripe fruits have no flavour when they are harvested. The aroma and flavour of vanilla are released when the fruit is dried and cured by steaming and fermentation. The finest quality vanilla pods turn dark brown and accumulate a frosting of glucose and vanillin on the surface during fermentation.

 

Vanillin was first synthesised in 1874 from a compound extracted from pine bark, and then in 1891 from a different compound extracted from cloves, and is widely used as a synthetic substitute for natural vanilla. The 'vanilla essence' commonly used today is synthesised from wood pulp as a by-product of paper-making and from coal-tar (toluene). However, the characteristic aroma and flavour of natural vanilla comprises a cocktail of over 200 different molecules.

 

http://i.imgur.com/7mLoi91.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/bAnCKyi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/Jx8EUbZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EE2ul9a.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/gPNZHNO.jpg

 

Commercially grown vanilla:

http://i.imgur.com/hikf8Ys.jpg

 

Vanilla pods drying in Madagascar:

http://i.imgur.com/GHzUkUg.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/QyI6nnc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w2b1nQg.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/ZhlKJVD.jpg

 

Mmmmm, vanilla.

[Babycat]

25 March 2016

Friday

 

 

Vanilla

 

Vanilla is one of the most popular flavours in the world and was first used by the Aztecs in Mexico to flavour cocoa.

 

The vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) grows wild in tropical forests and belongs to one of the oldest and largest groups of flowering plants – the orchids (Orchidaceae). Of all the orchids, the vanillas (members of the Vanilla genus) are the only ones that produce an agriculturally valuable crop, and 95% of the world’s traded vanilla pods are derived from just one species – V. planifolia.

 

After pollination, vanilla pods develop over four weeks and are then harvested, dried and cured to produce the distinctive flavour we know and love. The pods may be used whole, or split, and the tiny seeds scraped out to infuse cream and custard-based sauces.

 

Vanilla planifolia is a tropical vine, which can reach a length of over 30 m. It has thick, fleshy stems and greenish flowers that open early in the morning and are pollinated by bees. The flowers have only a slight scent, with no element of the vanilla flavour or aroma. Once pollinated, the ovaries swell and develop into fruits called ‘pods’ similar to long, thin runner beans over a period of four weeks. The pods contain thousands of tiny black seeds.

 

The cured fruits (‘pods’) of the vanilla vine are the source of one of the world’s most popular flavourings and are a valuable commodity. The earliest documented use of vanilla refers to its use in a drink made from cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao) by the Aztecs. Vanilla was subsequently introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century and to Madagascar by the French in the 19th century. Today, most of the world’s vanilla is produced in Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoro Islands.

 

The mature, unripe fruits have no flavour when they are harvested. The aroma and flavour of vanilla are released when the fruit is dried and cured by steaming and fermentation. The finest quality vanilla pods turn dark brown and accumulate a frosting of glucose and vanillin on the surface during fermentation.

 

Vanillin was first synthesised in 1874 from a compound extracted from pine bark, and then in 1891 from a different compound extracted from cloves, and is widely used as a synthetic substitute for natural vanilla. The 'vanilla essence' commonly used today is synthesised from wood pulp as a by-product of paper-making and from coal-tar (toluene). However, the characteristic aroma and flavour of natural vanilla comprises a cocktail of over 200 different molecules.

 

http://i.imgur.com/7mLoi91.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/bAnCKyi.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/Jx8EUbZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EE2ul9a.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/gPNZHNO.jpg

 

Commercially grown vanilla:

http://i.imgur.com/hikf8Ys.jpg

 

Vanilla pods drying in Madagascar:

http://i.imgur.com/GHzUkUg.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/QyI6nnc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w2b1nQg.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/ZhlKJVD.jpg

 

I can just smell that vanilla now..... :drool:

[HomesickAlien]

This thread lives...

 

http://youtu.be/G2baKK0lRCg

[HomesickAlien]

06 May 2016

Friday

 

 

Saguaro Cactus

 

 

(Carnegiea gigantea)

 

Carnegiea gigantea was named in honour of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). A true giant of the cactus family, it has become a part of film history as the iconic cactus featured in many Western films. In Arizona, where its blossom is the official state flower, these giant cacti form entire forests. Their appearance is so spectacular and unique that an entire national park has been dedicated to them, the Saguaro National Park.

 

The Sonoran Desert is the only place where the saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea, occurs naturally. This unique habitat, which is home to many other characteristic plants and animals, is shared by the United States (Arizona, California) and Mexico (Baja California, Sonora). The saguaro cactus ranges north to the edge of the Hualapai Mountains in Arizona and along the Colorado River in south-eastern California.

 

The saguaro is a tall, tree-like cactus. It is columnar in form, the stem and branches tall and thin, like pillars, and grows up to 40 ft tall. The ribbed stem (trunk) can reach a diameter of more than 2 feet. It is the largest columnar cactus native to the United States but is extremely slowly-growing, reaching only 1 inch tall after two years. It flowers once it has reached about 30–35 years of age and a height of about 6 feet. The first branches, which grow out from the sides of the stem, only appear after it has reached a height of 12 feet and an age of 50–70 years.

 

The white flowers appear just below the top of the stem between April and June. They open during the night and are primarily pollinated by bats that feed on the abundant nectar. However, they do remain open for some time in the morning when other animals, such as bees and birds (doves), visit the flowers and further aid in pollination.

 

Saguaro fruits are highly prized among Native Americans. The fruits have a juicy, red flesh with lots of tiny, black, nutty-tasting seeds (up to 2,000 per fruit). They were a staple food of the Tohono O’odham (formerly known as the Papago) and Pima Indians and were either eaten fresh or turned into juice, syrup, jam, wine (for the rain-making ceremony) or vinegar. The seeds are used as chicken food or ground into a flour to prepare a cake.

 

Although not considered endangered, the saguaro cactus is protected under the Arizona Native Plant Law. Illegal collecting of plants is a concern around cities, but the most significant impact on their populations is posed by urban development.

 

http://i.imgur.com/p6nxnV7.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/dwMXMD6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eUf3KN7.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/eBoWSjZ.jpg

 

Seedlings and young plants:

 

http://i.imgur.com/2gxpg6p.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/LMB3F9i.jpg

 

Fruit:

 

http://i.imgur.com/vXnjsiN.jpg

 

Range:

 

http://i.imgur.com/5PJPy1D.png?1

 

[x1yyz]

06 May 2016

Friday

 

 

Saguaro Cactus

 

 

(Carnegiea gigantea)

 

Carnegiea gigantea was named in honour of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). A true giant of the cactus family, it has become a part of film history as the iconic cactus featured in many Western films. In Arizona, where its blossom is the official state flower, these giant cacti form entire forests. Their appearance is so spectacular and unique that an entire national park has been dedicated to them, the Saguaro National Park.

 

The Sonoran Desert is the only place where the saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea, occurs naturally. This unique habitat, which is home to many other characteristic plants and animals, is shared by the United States (Arizona, California) and Mexico (Baja California, Sonora). The saguaro cactus ranges north to the edge of the Hualapai Mountains in Arizona and along the Colorado River in south-eastern California.

 

The saguaro is a tall, tree-like cactus. It is columnar in form, the stem and branches tall and thin, like pillars, and grows up to 40 ft tall. The ribbed stem (trunk) can reach a diameter of more than 2 feet. It is the largest columnar cactus native to the United States but is extremely slowly-growing, reaching only 1 inch tall after two years. It flowers once it has reached about 30–35 years of age and a height of about 6 feet. The first branches, which grow out from the sides of the stem, only appear after it has reached a height of 12 feet and an age of 50–70 years.

 

The white flowers appear just below the top of the stem between April and June. They open during the night and are primarily pollinated by bats that feed on the abundant nectar. However, they do remain open for some time in the morning when other animals, such as bees and birds (doves), visit the flowers and further aid in pollination.

 

Saguaro fruits are highly prized among Native Americans. The fruits have a juicy, red flesh with lots of tiny, black, nutty-tasting seeds (up to 2,000 per fruit). They were a staple food of the Tohono O’odham (formerly known as the Papago) and Pima Indians and were either eaten fresh or turned into juice, syrup, jam, wine (for the rain-making ceremony) or vinegar. The seeds are used as chicken food or ground into a flour to prepare a cake.

 

Although not considered endangered, the saguaro cactus is protected under the Arizona Native Plant Law. Illegal collecting of plants is a concern around cities, but the most significant impact on their populations is posed by urban development.

 

http://i.imgur.com/p6nxnV7.jpg?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/dwMXMD6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eUf3KN7.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/eBoWSjZ.jpg

 

Seedlings and young plants:

 

http://i.imgur.com/2gxpg6p.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/LMB3F9i.jpg

 

Fruit:

 

http://i.imgur.com/vXnjsiN.jpg

 

Range:

 

http://i.imgur.com/5PJPy1D.png?1

 

 

I never knew they were so slow-growing.

 

And shouldn't this thread now be called HomesickAlien's Slightly Frivolous Flora and Fauna Photo Gallery ;)