Hot Licks: The World’s 10 Most Amazing Anteaters
October 11, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series & Animals & Habitats & Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Anteaters, while outwardly bizarre looking, are prime examples of Nature’s creatures evolving over millions of years to best utilize a distinct source of nutrition. In fact, these 10 “termite terminators” have perfected the art of ant-eating to such a fine degree they can eat little else, which isn’t a bad thing at all considering ants form up to 25% of Earth’s total animal biomass.
Giant Anteater
(images via: CrocRoger, RWP Zoo and ART.com)
Giant Anteaters aren’t really “giant” though they’re by far the largest of the four main species of the suborder Vermilingua (Latin for “worm tongue”). Native to South and Central America, the Giant Anteater’s body is about the size of an average German Shepherd dog – add in its long, bushy tail and you’re looking at a total length of up to 7 feet or 2.1 meters.
Toothless but possessed of wickedly sharp claws on its front feet, Giant Anteaters can consume roughly 30,000 ants and/or termites daily by slurping them up with its sticky 2ft (61cm) long tongue. They have few natural predators but are vulnerable to cougars, jaguars… and transport trucks.
(image via: Ocean Beach Bulletin)
Giant Anteaters bear one offspring at a time and the babies look much like the adults but in miniature. A baby Giant Anteater will spend most of its first year clinging to its mother’s back, presumably flicking up any stray ants she happens to miss.
Silky Anteater
(images via: Olympic Animal Sanctuary, Minden Pictures and NatGeo and ART.com)
The Silky or Pygmy Anteater is also found in South and Central America but in more heavily forested areas compared to its Giant cousin. It’s also much smaller, weighing less than a pound and only growing up to 17.7 inches (about 450mm) in length.
(images via: Kvitters and Cheezburger Network)
The nocturnally active Silky Anteater is rarely seen, though zoologists do not consider it to be a threatened species. THat may change as the more isolated and impenetrable reaches of the upper Amazon become, er, less isolated and more penetrable.
(image via: The Field Museum Library)
If the image above appears somewhat odd, consider that it’s taken from a hand-colored lantern slide dating back to 1928 when the Crane Pacific Expedition was exploring the forests and offshore islands of Panama. Not the “Two-Toed” Anteater’s partially prehensile tail coiled around the tree branch, allowing it to rear up to an upright defensive position.
Northern Tamandua
(images via: Arenas Delmar, Arkive and Focus on Nature Tours)
The Northern Tamandua can be found from southern Mexico down to the Pacific coastal forests of Ecuador and Peru.
(image via: Reptile Forums UK)
With its long and sticky tongue, complete lack of teeth and a mainly hairless prehensile tail, the Northern Tamandua is perfectly adapted for living in jungle forests teeming with ants and other insects.
(images via: Fiona Reid and Qwiki)
A smallish creature that can grow up to 50 inches (130cm) long including its tail, the Northern Tamandua has off-white to pale yellow fur with a contrasting “sweater vest” patch of deep black – it’s the Mister Rogers of anteaters!
Southern Tamandua
(images via: Alapi973, Arkive, The Nature Animals and Holy Cuteness)
The Southern Tamandua, also known as the Collared Anteater or Lesser Anteater, is found over a wide range of South America including the whole of Brazil. Like most other anteaters it has no teeth, but is equipped with sharp claws that make short work of ant and termite nests it sniffs out in rainforest trees. The Southern Tamandua will supplement its diet with bees on occasion. Bees, my God.
(image via: Living With Anteaters)
Lately it seems anteaters like the Southern Tamandua have appeared on the radar of hipsters looking for exotic pets. Perhaps they haven’t heard that anteaters like these are able to spray an exceptionally foul-smelling mist from their anal glands. Besides that, does Whole Foods even stock Purina Anteater Chow?
Giant Armadillo
(images via: The Existence of Our Natural Environment)
The Giant Armadillo may not be a pure, classic, capital-A “Anteater” as such, though the major portion of its diet consists of ants, grubs, and especially termites whose nests it digs deep into with tough, dedicated claws. Weighing up to 70 pounds (over 30kg), the Giant Armadillo is the largest member of the Armadillo family and though its range covers much of South America, it’s considered to be a vulnerable species.
(image via: Bush Warriors)
So you think Giant Armadillos are obscure? Don’t tell this guy, he just might “obscure” you into next week. Seriously though, you’ve really gotta dig (pun intended) Giant Armadillos to devote this much time, money, skin & pain.
(images via: Animal Wildlife and All About Wildlife)
The Los Ocarros zoo park in Villavicencio, Colombia, features Giant Armadillos and acts as an educational resource for those interested in preserving this unusual creature. Humans are its only predators and although the Giant Armadillo is an insectivore for the most part, ranchers consider it a pest.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
(images via: FactZoo, Convivial Crafter and DeviantArt/LobaFeroz)
The Pink Fairy Armadillo doesn’t look like your average armadillo… or most anything else for that matter. This smallest of the armadillos is just 3.5 to 4.5 inches (90–115 mm) long, and spends most of its time underground “swimming” through loose, sandy soil.
(images via: JasonCross, The Odd Critter and Cafe Press)
The Pink Fairy Armadillo is unusual for armadillos in that its armored back plates aren’t attached to its bones along its length; only at the back end. Speaking of which, this curious creature’s posterior is also armor-plated and acts as sort of a “plug” when danger threatens and the creature dives head-first into its burrow.
(image via: Nick Baker)
So little is known about the Pink Fairy Armadillo’s lifestyle, reproduction rate and population count, the IUCN has given up trying to pinpoint its vulnerability status preferring to go with “Data Deficient”. The fact that the creatures only live in a small area of central Argentina, however, raises concerns for its future in the face of incremental habitat loss to human development.
Aardvark
(images via: ZooBorns)
The Aardvark’s name, which means “Earth Pig”, is one of the few derived from the Afrikaans language of South Africa. With their pig snouts, mule ears and pink wrinkly skin, aardvarks can seem shockingly ugly to some. Maybe some cute baby aardvark pics will change that impression… nope, not one bit, and in fact it might have made it even worse.
(images via: Zookeeper’s Journal, Crepture and YellowMagpie)
Found only in Sub-Saharan Africa, aardvarks eat termites almost exclusively leading to their being considered “formicivores”. On occasion they will eat vegetation for its water content but only the so-called “Aardvark Cucumber” will do – which is a good thing for the Aardvark Cucumber as this odd, underground-fruiting plant depends on aardvarks to spread its seeds.
(image via: Africa-Alive)
Aardvark skin is naturally a pale, yellowish-gray hue but their wrinkled hide quickly takes on the tint of the soil in their stomping grounds. You might not want to look like Pigpen from Charlie Brown but such an acquired camouflage may help aardvarks blend into their surroundings and avoid some of Africa’s more fearsome large predators.
Numbat
(images via: Ferrebeekeeper and Art for Conservation)
The Numbat or Banded Anteater is a day-active marsupial termite-eater that was once relatively common throughout Australia. Some zoologists have speculated Numbats may have an ancestral relationship with the extinct Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, as both species feature an unusual pattern of contrasting stripes across their lower back and rump.
(images via: Bing Day Photo and Convict Creations)
The introduction of cats, foxes and dogs led to a sharp reduction in the number of Numbats: by the 1970s less than 1,000 remained. Since then, efforts to reduce the number of foxes in particular have helped the Numbat population bounce back to around 3,000 but it is still listed as an endangered species. One reason zoologists think Numbats were able to hold out in two very small, isolated areas is that both locations feature a large number of downed hollow trees – the better to hide oneself in, methinks.
(images via: Stewart MacDonald, Ferrebeekeeper and Perth Zoo)
Numbats have evolved a long, sticky tongue that helps them eat ants and termites but their digging claws are no match for rock-hard termite mounds. They get around this deficiency by digging into the softer soil around the mounds, intercepting termite tunnels (and the termites within).
Echidna
(images via: Eucalypt Habitat, Random Nonsense and Behind the Voice Actors)
The Echidna, or Spiny Anteater, is a monotreme – along with its fellow monotreme the Platypus, the Echidna is the only mammal that lays eggs instead of bearing live young. Native to Australia and New Guinea, the name “Echidna” is derived from Greek mythology in which Echidna is described as the “Mother of all Monsters”. Take one look at an Echidna and you’ll be hard-pressed to disagree.
(images via: Donna Flannery and Digishrine)
The Echidna has made the leap into pop culture, surprising for a creature that looks like it wouldn’t leap if you shot 10,000 volts through it. “Knuckles the Echidna” first appeared in 1994, in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, as a rival for Sonic. Knuckles doesn’t look much like an actual Echidna, however, which was likely intentional and probably for the best.
(image via: London Lakes 2002)
There are four recognized species of Echidna, with the Short-Beaked Echidna subsisting entirely on ants and termites. Their strategy in case of attack by predators is to curl up into a ball, thus exposing their pointy spines. One trivia note about Echidnas: the male has a four-headed penis. After that, there’s really not much one can say, amiright?
Pangolin
(images via: Linoob, Pixdaus/Popolov and Henceblog)
The Pangolin or Scaly Anteater is an odd-looking creature… come to think of it, are any of the aforementioned anteaters NOT odd-looking? But back to the Pangolin. This scaled mammal can be found from Southeast Asia west to the Atlantic Ocean coast of Africa, split among seven different species.
(images via: Biodiversity Explorer and Defenders of Wildlife)
While not “threatened” in the statistical sense of the term, IUCN has noted a “great decline” in many formerly abundant pangolin populations as a result of strong demand (mainly from China) for pangolin meat used for food and parts used in traditional medicines.
Pangolins can grow up to 40 inches (100cm) long and their front claws are so long they have to walk on their knuckles. They use these claws to tear open ant nests and termite mounds, after which the toothless creatures employ a tongue up to 16 inches (40cm) long and just 1/4 inch (0.5cm) wide to lap up their prime nutritional resource. Pangolin scales are made of keratin – the same substance hair and fingernails are made of – and are razor-sharp at their trailing edges to discourage persistent predators.
(image via: Maison)
Previously of interest only to zoologists, anteaters have hit it off with a new, internet-savvy generation thanks to a notorious 2008 meme. Several variations of an image of an anteater reared up in a natural “come at me bro” defensive posture, most overlaid with text reading “F U, I’m An Anteater”, symbolized the backlash against the perceived flood of cute dog and (especially) cat pics captioned with LOLspeak. The more you know!
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Seven Feel Good Now Approaches
June 13, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
1. Listen to music. It lowers your body’s level of cortisol (the stress hormone), reduces anxiety, and can even improve your memory. Whether you love Mozart, Alicia Keys, or Lady Gaga, it’s all good. Are you pregnant? One recent study found that lullabies and nature sounds were the best choices for helping moms-to-be relax.
2. Warm up. The comfort of feeling warm and cozy is a terrific stress-reducer. The doctors at the international Mandometer Clinics, which specialize in treating eating disorders, use warm rooms and blankets to help anorexic women curb their anxiety after meals. Take advantage of spring’s lingering chill by taking a hot shower and wrapping yourself in a fluffy robe afterward. Savor a cup of green tea or get a hot stone massage. If it’s a nice day, put on your sunscreen, grab a book and find a sunny spot.
3. Have a peanut butter sandwich. When you’re fixing your kids’ lunches, aren’t you tempted to make your old favorite for yourself? Go ahead. The protein in peanut butter naturally boosts your level of serotonin, the hormone that regulates moods, sleep, and behavior. Stick with an all-natural variety (you don’t need the saturated oil and preservatives in other brands), have it on whole-grain bread and skip the sugar-loaded jelly. You’re indulging your inner child, and who’s more joyful than a five-year-old?
4. Get a friend fix. A well-known study from the University of Illinois found that the happiest people are the ones with strong bonds to friends and family. (As if you need a bunch of psychologists to tell you that girlfriend-time is fun!) A lot of us don’t make it a priority to connect with our friends regularly. Get into the habit of reaching out to a friend at least once a week, or more often if you can. Send a text, call or get together for a drink after work. And you can never have too many girls’ nights out.
5. Bring nature into your life. Getting in touch with the earth is a time-honored stress reliever, and spring, when nature comes back to life, is a fabulous time to start. Have breakfast on the porch or in the backyard and watch the birds gathering material for their nests. Pick a tree in your neighborhood and look at it daily to see buds turn into leaves.
6. Write it down. For her book, Gore asked women to keep a journal of the best moments in their day. This mindfulness will get you into the habit of noticing the good times as they happen. “Focusing on the moments of flow and happiness in our daily lives instead of focusing on what went wrong just has a refreshing effect,” Gore says. “We notice the natural joy more easily, and we remind ourselves, and sometimes even begin to relearn, what we want to be spending our time doing. “ Buy a notebook and keep it on your nightstand so you can write just before bed. Your entries don’t have to be long; a few lines are plenty.
7. Get out of your rut. Many women Gore spoke to found that they were happiest doing something that took them out of their day-to-day routine: working on an art project, going on a hike, playing with the kids during a time when they didn’t have to rush off to school or sports. Shake up your schedule: Go for a walk at lunch hour instead of eating at your desk. If you spend your nights in front of the TV, turn it off and reach for your journal, a book, or a paintbrush.
In short: Don’t wait for joy to come to you—go out and grab it with both hands!
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22189/98056-seven-foolproof-feel-good-strategies#ixzz1PAPIe6NP
Beth
Kid’s Chorus Sings at Oscar
February 22, 2011 by admin · View Comments
They haven’t been nominated for anything, but the fifth-grade chorus members at Graniteville, Staten Island’s P.S. 22 are Oscar winners.
The chorus will perform at the 74th Academy Awards show, having been informed of the honor by co-host Anne Hathaway, who came to the group’s December concert to announce the news in person.
The kids are already YouTube sensations, racking up more than 27 million views to videos posted by their choirmaster, Gregg Breinberg. The chorus has performed at the White House, and Beyonce and Stevie Nicks are among its fans.
Breinberg leads his troupe of 10-year-olds through exuberant covers of songs from Eminem, Alicia Keys and indie faves the Freelance Whales.
“It’s an emotional experience, it’s a passionate experience,” Breinberg, himself a force of nature whose energy matches that of his pupils, told The Wall Street Journal. “There is a certain sound that you get by not singing properly, and I look for that sound. That’s a sound that I love.”
The 65-member chorus will sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” the 1939 Oscar winner for Best Song, as well as another piece.
The invitation to sing on a broadcast watched by millions is multiple dreams come true — if a trip to Los Angeles to appear on TV weren’t exciting enough, many of the kids have never been on an airplane before.
“I was really happy because I never thought it would really happen,” chorus member Aisha Okeowo told the Journal. “I wanted to be an actor when I grew up, and I didn’t know it was going to be that fast.”
The Academy Awards will be broadcast at 8 p.m. EST Feb. 27 on ABC.
Beth
14 Ways to Elicit Trust
November 16, 2010 by admin · View Comments
According to the “experts”—sociologists, psychologists, economists, political scientists—trust is based on expectation. To the degree you believe you can expect a certain response from someone, you trust him. To the degree you believe he will reciprocate at some point in the future in some (often undefined) way, you trust him. Of course, past experience—with the person in question or with others—will affect that confidence, but in the here and now, certain behaviors and visual cues can also influence if and how much you trust someone:
1. Familiarity. The more contact you have with someone, the more information you collect about him or her. The more information you have, the more confident you can be in your expectations.
2. Resemblance. If someone looks, dresses, or acts like you, you’re more likely to believe his or her actions and reactions will be similar to your own. A 2002 study at a Canadian university showed that people are more likely to trust someone whose facial features resemble theirs.
3. Consistency. The more someone behaves with consistency, the better you’re able to establish patterns and form expectations.
4. Punctuality. If someone is regularly on time, it not only signals consistency, but also general conscientiousness toward other people.
5. Flexibility. Social-exchange theorists have found that people are more likely to trust someone who does not try to explicitly negotiate or force a binding agreement. (Think of the last car salesman you encountered.)
6. Discretion. The ability to keep a secret and exercise tact will always inspire trust.
7. Transparency. The flip side of discretion is transparency. We want someone to keep our secrets, but not her own. Self-disclosure builds trust.
8. Competence. In the workplace, nothing inspires trust more than getting the job done right.
9. Engagement. Trust is based on an understood reciprocity. If someone does not even appear to invest in you, he likely doesn’t have much to lose in betraying you.
10. Face Time. Part of engaging is an effort to make “face time.” A recent study showed that people in the workplace are more likely to trust team members with whom they interact in person more than those they work with via email or videoconference.
11. Facial hair. Another recent study in the Journal of Marketing Communications found that consumers trust pitchmen with beards more than those without. There are limits, however, to the beard-trustworthiness theory. Graphic designer Matt McInerney was only halfway kidding when he made a graphic spectrum of “The Trustworthiness of Beards.”
12. Eye contact (but not too much). This is perhaps the biggest behavioral indicator of trustworthiness. But the quality of the eye contact, observes psychologist Elaine Ducharme, also matters. Is it steely or warm? Too much eye contact can be unnerving.
13. Handshake (not too firm, not too soft). Any businessperson can tell you the importance of a firm handshake in building confidence. However, like eye contact, there is a middle ground. Too firm suggests aggression; too soft suggests passivity.
14. Posture. No one trusts a slouch. A straight back projects an image of strength and confidence.
Of course, while these behaviors and visual cues might inspire trust, they don’t guarantee trustworthiness. As Ducharme wryly reminds, many psychopaths maintain excellent eye contact.
Beth
Brush Your Beak: 10 Amazing Birds With Teeth
September 28, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series, Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Do birds have teeth? Ask any biologist and the answer will be “absolutely not!”, but “absolute” is a relative term and when one stretches the definitions of what makes a bird or a tooth, birds with teeth aren’t absolutely impossible anymore.
Greylag Goose Grazes Grasses
(images via: Digital Nature Photography and Mike Milo’s Journal)
The Greylag Goose is very common in Europe and western Asia though most people haven’t seen one up close. If they did, they might back away, and quickly. This is no “silly goose”, at least not if those rows of teeth along its upper and lower jaws mean anything. It’s close relative, the Canada Goose, shares the Greylag’s disconcertingly un-birdlike choppers. If you thought a goose’s bark was worse than its bite, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
(images via: Darrell Gallant and Mark David)
Tooth-like serrations called Tomia run along the outside edges of the Greylag’s beak, top and bottom, and help it neatly clip the shoots and grasses that make up the major portion of its meals.
Domestic Goose’s Devilish Grin
(images via: The Nature of Framingham and GooseGoddessS)
Domestic Geese may be white but they’ve sure got a bite; being closely related to the Greylag Goose they share their progenitor’s toothless – but tooth-like – dentition. Just imagine the glint off these pearly… yellows?… when a gaggle of domestic geese swagger into the barnyard. You talkin’ to me??
(image via: Indiana Public Media)
Making like a snake isn’t going to improve the above goose’s popularity much… guess he’ll have to just grin and bear it. Looks like he’s doing exactly that.
Not Your Average Baby Teeth
(images via: Conservation Report and Kintired)
Awww, cute cuddly baby birds! Hear them go “cheep cheep cheep”. Gently touch their warm, soft, downy feathers. Watch them open their tiny mouths wide and… Oh. My. Gawd!! No need to adjust your screen, there’s nothing wrong with this picture… well, not visually but certainly viscerally. Many species of birds have, to a greater or lesser degree, spiky tooth-like rearward-facing spines in their mouths that ensure what goes in won’t get out. Take another look at the above images – I ensure they’ll be in your dreams tonight.
Penguins Use Tongue Fu
(images via: Allan Hansen and ChrisRay64)
Penguins are chock full of amazing evolutionary adaptations that enable them to perform as efficient fish-catching, meal-processing machines that turn speed-eating into a lifestyle. You’d think that snatching fish in mid-swim would be a challenge without a mouthful of teeth to do the snatching with, but penguins have a trick up their natty sleeves… or in their mouths, to be exact.
(images via: PenguinScience and New Zealand Penguins)
The Adelie penguin above is showing off its spine-covered tongue (left) and similarly bristly upper palate (right). The spines function much as teeth would, holding captured fish securely as the penguin prepares to swallow it. The spines are raked backwards just in case any red herrings decide they want to make a break for it. Oh, and if you’re wondering how penguins kiss, the answer is… very carefully.
Toucan Chew
(image via: Liography)
“It’s hard to soar with eagles when you’re surrounded by turkeys…” Or Toucans, for that matter. It’s hard to take toucans seriously – between their ridiculously enlarged beaks and an unfortunate association with Froot Loops breakfast cereal its a wonder they haven’t been laughed out of the rainforest by now. Then there’s this guy, who stands his ground with a hint of a grin… a sinister smile that appears to reveal a brace of bodacious bird bicuspids! We’re unsure whether flashing faux dentition works to intimidate predators but one thing’s for certain: when Toucan Sam channels Yosemite Sam, any fur-bearin’ varmints in the area had best take notice!
Take A Seat, Tooth-billed Catbird
(image via: Oiseaux.net)
The Tooth-billed Catbird is a type of Bowerbird found in the forests of Queensland in northeastern Australia. There are several different species of catbirds but only the Tooth-billed Catbird has a tooth-like bill… and a seriously badass name to go with it.
(images via: Brooklyn Arts Council, Amazon.com and BB the Renegade)
The tooth-like appearance of the Tooth-billed Catbird’s bill really puts it in the catbird seat… wait a minute, what the heck is a “catbird seat”?? Derived from a folk expression originating in the American South, to be in the catbird seat means being in an enviable or advantageous position. Depending upon who you want to believe, the expression was popularized either by humorist James Thurber in his 1942 short story “The Catbird Seat”, or by the legendary late baseball broadcaster Red Barber who often used it when describing situations in which the batter had run the count to 3 balls and no strikes. The more you know!
Breakout The Egg Teeth
(images via: Backyard Chickens, Della Micah and Honolulu Zoo)
When the going gets tough, the tough get… an egg tooth? Yes indeed, birds have evolved egg teeth (an Egg Tooth, actually) on the end of the beak to assist about-to-be-born baby birds in breaking through their eggshells from the inside. Once they’re out, however, the egg tooth either quickly falls off or is reabsorbed. Though known as an egg “tooth”, the actual structure is more like that of a horn or a bone spur.
(images via: Gravityx9 and Ugly Overload)
All birds (except Kiwis) are born with egg teeth and the protuberance is also common to other egg-laying animals including snakes, crocodiles, turtles, certain types of frogs and -wait for it – spiders!
Prehistoric Toothed Birds
(images via: Life In The Fast Lane, Dalje and EMC/Maricopa)
Birds had teeth through much of their history, from the very ancient Archaeopteryx up to the relatively recent Pelagornithidae. These pseudotooth birds, looked a lot like modern seabirds with two major differences: most species were much larger and all had jagged, bony protrusions of their upper and lower jawbones that gave them a decidedly sinister appearance. It’s thought that these tooth-like projections helped the birds grasp slippery fish and squid, but that begs the question: if today’s seabirds also eat these foods, why lose these useful pseudoteeth?
(images via: IO9 and Coolislandsong24)
The last toothed birds died out early in the Pleistocene Epoch around 2.5 million years ago, possibly their specialized lifestyles rendered them vulnerable to severe environmental changes resulting from changing ocean currents and the advent of recurring ice ages. Their huge size may have also contributed to their demise, as some of these toothed birds really pushed the envelope when it came to practical limitations of the size vs flight equation. The extinct toothed bird Pelagornis Chilensis above, for example, had an estimated wingspan of 5.2 meters (17 feet) while the wingspans of other toothed seabirds approached 9 meters (30 feet)!
Fighting, Biting Warbirds
(images via: Spitcrazy, Tomahawks.us and Amazon.com)
Though the term “warbird” can denote most any retired military aircraft, what comes to mind to most folks are the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters flown with great distinction by the Flying Tigers in World War II. Now these birds had teeth… and were more than happy to use them.
(images via: Wikipedia and WW2Total)
As iconic as the sharkmouth P-40 may be, the actual history of the motif isn’t what most would expect. The first fighter pilots to paint their P-40s in this fashion were not Americans, but British – from RAF 112 Squadron, flying Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks against Rommel’s Afrika Corps out of Egyptian bases in the summer of 1941. That isn’t the end of the story, either. The pilots from 112 Squadron got their inspiration from seeing Messerschmitt Bf-110 fighter-bombers from the Luftwaffe’s Zerstorergeschwader 76 “Haifisch” (shark) Group, formed in the spring of 1940.
Cartoon Birds & Mouthy Mascots
(image via: Sodahead)
Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Heckle & Jeckle and more… these classic cartoon character birds were embodied by their creators with a wide variety of exaggerated expressions including some very expressive, toothy grins.
(images via: Upcoming Discs, Dinosaur.org, Railbirds and JohnKStuff)
No one (until now, at least) really questioned why these animated avians had teeth, let alone now you see ‘em, now you don’t choppers – and there’s a very good reason: pointing it out to someone like Duckman might just get you a “What the HELL you starin’ at?!!” in return.
(images via: Seahawks Central, Tom McMahon and HD Wallpapers)
From pro sports to beer leagues to school teams, birds have always been popular mascots but the recent trend is to make them look as fierce as possible. Even historic mascots and logos have gotten buff: check out the helmet logos of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, for example.
(images via: Chris Creamer, Fiveprime, Sportslogos.net and Sportslogos.net)
Sometimes though, a frown just ain’t enough; baring teeth bestows a much greater degree of ferocity on even the most timid of songbirds. The logos above all feature toothy birds who add some bite to their beaks… just beak cause, that’s why.
(image via: Morriscourse)
Can’t handle the tooth? Saying fangs with faint praise? Think canines belong on canines and ONLY canines? Fair enough, but just remember: birds with teeth really aren’t impossible, just implausible. Or, just maybe… inci-dental.
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Broccoli Juice to the Rescue
June 22, 2010 by admin · View Comments
Conventional sunscreens used in the same experiments were essentially ineffective.
The ointment was made from extracts of three-day-old broccoli sprouts rich in protective compounds called sulphoraphanes. Unlike a normal sunscreen, it does not absorb UV light to prevent it entering the skin. Instead, it works inside the body by boosting the production of enzymes that protect cells against UV damage and the risk of skin cancer.
Protection is said to last for several days.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, first tested the ointment on genetically engineered hairless mice before carrying out tests on six human volunteers, three men and three women aged between 28 and 53.
The results were reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report’s lead author, Prof Paul Talalay, said the treatment could decrease the “long-term risk of developing cancer”.
Beth
Signs of Life: 7 New Animals to Emerge This Spring
April 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Of Interest, Reptilix, Webspinners, Fried Mush, BBC, Neat-O-Rama, Flickr)
As the weather changes from cold to pleasantly warm, familiar animals reemerge from their winter retreats while new species are uncovered worldwide. From color-changing frogs and amphibious insects to big-toothed leeches and strangely endowed lizards, a week’s worth of new animals has been discovered in recent months, leading to much intrigue.
“Leeches!” of the Big-Toothed Variety
(Images via: Wired, Tree Hugger, National Geographic, PLos One)
Thank goodness the “Stand By Me” kids weren’t searching for a dead body in the Peruvian Amazon, where a new species of big-toothed leeches was recently discovered, specifically in the nose of a young girl. While only reaching 3 inches in length, Tyrannobdella rex (i.e. the “tyrant leech king”) is referred to as the T-rex of leeches because of its surprisingly large teeth, which are used to suck blood from the noses, eyes, urethras, rectums and other orifices of mammals. As detailed in a new study in the April 14th version of PLos One, researchers were surprised by not only Tyrannobdella rex’s teeth but the leech’s genitalia, which are relatively small when compared to other leech species that rapidly reproduce. In good news, the T. Rex leeches and their big teeth may be used for future medical purposes, specifically to develop anticoagulants that stop blood clotting.
Giant Monitor Lizards: Like and Unlike Komodo Dragons
(Image via: Joseph Brown on National Geographic)
Speaking of a recently discovered species with strange genitalia, there’s the Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard or Varanus bitatawa. As detailed in the journal Biology Letters, this giant, secretive lizard was captured in the Philippines, where it’s been hiding high up in the trees for years. Weighing as much as 22 pounds and matching many humans in length at 6 feet, the monitor lizard is also a vegetarian – but that’s not the biggest surprise at all. Apparently Varanus bitatawa has a split, doubled-edged penis, which is certainly unique to this form of lizard species. According to researchers, this giant lizard is closely related to the Komodo dragon, that is besides its genitalia and eating habits.
Blind Worm Snakes: Rich History, New Family
(Images via: Reptile Forums UK, Flickr, Field Photography, Utah Herps)
The giant monitor lizard is not the only new reptile to be recently discovered and examined in Biology Letters; scientists have recognized a new family of wormlike, blind snakes that have likely been around since the formation of the island of Madagascar, which occurred roughly 94 million years ago. Through analysis of different blind snake genes, scientists were able to determine that the “new” family of blind snakes arose shortly after Madagascar broke from what is now India. Amazingly, blind snakes exist on every continent except Antarctica, thanks to continental drifting. Reaching up to one foot in length, blind snakes look and act like worms. While both burrow under the surface, blind snakes are different from worms in that they have backbones and scales, and send more chills down the spine.
Giant Isopod: A Rarely Seen Deep-Sea Monster
(Images via: Driftline, Zoology FNS Uniba)
(Images via: Calle, Flickr, Flickr)
Speaking of terrifying, a rarely seen giant isopod called Bathynomus giganteus was recently pulled to shore during a deep-sea submarine expedition. Related to shrimps and crabs, this freakish-looking crustacean looks like it could have been cast as the oversized villain in a low-budget, horror movie from the fifties. Actually found in the deep, cold waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Bathynomus giganteus is known for scavenging the carcasses of dead whales, fish and squid. According to some researchers, these strange isopods may get their massive figures from colder water temperatures that promote larger cell sizes. Whatever the cause, keep this creature out of sight, that is unless it is on a dinner plate.
Oxygen-Free Animals: Similar to the Jellyfish
(Images via: Roberto Danovero on National Geographic)
What Bathynomus giganteus is to the deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, complex organisms that resemble tiny jellyfish and live without oxygen are to the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers recently discovered three new species of multicellular organisms that are less than a millimeter wide, microscopic and capable of surviving long-term without oxygen. As detailed in the journal BMC Biology, these animals apparently have modified mitochondria that allow it to convert nutrients into energy without the need of oxygen. Prior to this discovery, scientists previously thought that only viruses and single-cell microbes could live without oxygen. They now stand corrected.
Amphibious Caterpillars: Versatile on Land and Underwater
(Images via: Jet Lib, Science Mag, LA Times)
Just as the aforementioned multicellular organisms amaze with their abilities to live underwater without oxygen, so do 14 new caterpillar species. Distinct to the fast-moving streams of Hawaii, these caterpillars from the Hyposmocoma species are truly the first amphibious insects. Capable of living on both land and underwater, these amphibious caterpillars spend most of their time in cocoon-like, hardened silk cases that were originally believed to act like underwater oxygen tanks but actually do not serve in this manner. Some researchers propose that these amphibious caterpillars are able to breathe through their skin, which could explain why they are only found in fast-moving streams. Anyways, these caterpillars will seal themselves in their cases prior to becoming moths, and emerge as their new beings when their homes float to the top of the water.
Color-Changing Frogs: From Dangerous to Delicious?
(Images via: Maxi Sciences, Mongabay)
Speaking of amphibians, a new frog species called Oreophryne ezra has stunned researchers with its ability to change from a black and yellow polka-dotted youngster to a bright orange adult. Found in southeastern Papua New Guinea, this color-changing frog has researchers wondering why it would look like a poison-dart frog in its youth but lose this potential advantage against predators in adulthood. Apparently, there is much more to learn about frogs besides these compounding color changes. Researchers have recorded Argentine horned frog tadpoles screaming when in distress, marking what is believed to be the first instance of vertebrate larvae using sound to communicate underwater. It turns out that not all frogs are as simple as Kermit.
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Animal Native Tongues: Decoding 5 Cool Languages
April 4, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Doctor Spiller, Travel Blog, Science Junkies, Powerful and Awesome, Ugly Overload, Rhoney Pots, Aintree Hospitals)
Just because animals are unable to talk like you and me doesn’t mean that they are unable to communicate with each other. In the case of giggling hyenas, growling dogs, squeaking catfish, singing woolly bats and beeping honeybees, certain sounds and actions are rich in meaning and symbolic of complex animal communication systems.
Giggling Hyenas: Laughing With You, Not At You
(Images via: MSU, Daily Mail, How Stuff Works, Flickr)
If you ever see a hyena laughing at you, don’t take personal offense. According to recent research in the journal BMC Ecology, the giggling that comes from spotted hyenas is used to convey information about age, dominance and identity. More specifically, the pitch of hyena giggles details age while note variations describe dominance and subordination. Such hyena giggles are typically heard during contests for food and are a good way for these animals to establish some sort of order rather than a free-for-all, feed-all.
More to a Dog Growl Than What Meets the Ear
(Images via: Hub Pages, Ask Dryin’, Flickr, Pet Partners Dog Training, K9 Corner)
According to a recent study, specific meanings are embedded in different types of dog growls, which are used by canines to convey important cues to each other. After recording three types of dog growls (one from a friendly dog looking to play tug-of-war, another from a concerned dog threatened by a stranger, and yet another from a protective dog guarding food) and then playing these sounds from a hidden speaker, researchers were surprised by the reactions of a dog approaching a bone. When hearing the friendly and threatened dog growls, the inquisitive dog stopped for a bit to listen to the growls and then continued in the pursuit of the bone. However, when hearing the protective growl, the dog jumped back from the bone, apparently getting the message to leave the food alone and suggesting a hidden meaning behind dog growls. Two things that especially surprised the researchers were how similar the threatened and protective dog growls were in sound but how different the approaching dog’s reaction was to these two types of growls.
The Squeaking Catfish Says: Give Me That Filet-O-Fish
(Images via: Daily Mail, Info Wave Media, Madgeburger Joe, Aces)
If you find yourself fishing this spring and pulling a squeaking catfish out of the water, chances are the fish may feel threatened (and rightfully so with a hook in its lip). According to a recent study in the journal BMC Biology, catfish communicate to each other by rubbing the spines of their pectoral fins into shoulder grooves, thus making a squeaking sound. Typically, the catfish squeaking sounds are used to warn other catfish of potential predatory threats in their areas and to communicate when competing, presumably for food or a mate. What especially surprised the researchers is that both young and old catfish squeak to communicate, with the squeaking sounds growing in intensity and length as the catfish age. Based on this finding, researchers have determined that catfish squeaking is a much more complex communication system than what it’s been credited for in the past.
Clear-Winged Woolly Bat Signals
(Images via: Budak, Ecology Asia, Flickr, Animal Pictures Archive)
A recent study in the Royal Society Biology Letters declared that the highest pitched calls in nature come from the clear-winged woolly bat, which can reach initial frequency ranges of 235-250 kilohertz (approximately 120 times higher than those of human female singers) and move from higher to lower notes at a frequency range of up to 170 kilohertz (compared to less than 2 kilohertz for a human singer). While the audio abilities of the clear-winged woolly bat are certainly impressive, what do they mean? Apparently, these bats emit a series of echoing calls that help relay information about the size and location of prey to other bats. Amazingly, the bats increase the frequency of their calls as they got closer to the prey, with the researchers suggesting that there are different bat calls to distinguish from insects, spiders, leaves, twigs and other potential sources of food.
Honeybee Stop Signs: The Headbutt and Beep Beeps
(Image via: Neurophilosophy)
Honeybees are known for doing a waggle dance (see above image) to communicate with each other about fruitful feeding sites near their hives. However, when trouble is looming at a feeding site, the bees will alter their communication by headbutting and beeping at each other, according to a recent study in the journal Current Biology. In the past researchers thought that bees could only deliver excited messages; however, this viewpoint changed during a study in which the bees reacted to simulated attacks by predatory crab spiders. By apparently butting heads and beeping, the bees were able to warn each other to avoid the dangerous feeding site, with these bee signals essentially acting as a stop sign and demonstrating the first ever inhibitory or negative message from bees.
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How to Field Cruelty
March 30, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
Last week, a good friend of mine really laid into me. She had been harboring resentment toward me for a long time. I had no clue! Suddenly, she started detailing all of my flaws and faults, like a long grocery list.
At first, I wasn’t hurt. I thought obviously she is working through her own stuff. This isn’t just about me. But after we parted that day, the pain set in. Almost as I was in a car accident - I didn’t feel the pain at first but the next day, I couldn’t move my head.
Her words were toxic and painful. And they had sunk in deeper than I thought. I had to think of some way to cope.
First, I took a step back. I looked at it, from a distance. Why did her words hurts so badly? What did it remind me of? What chord did it strike? I wrote about it in my journal and found myself remembering all sorts of things I had forgotten about.
Then, I did some repair work. I let myself feel crappy for a few days. I talked to a trusted friend of mine and vented. In short, I took care of myself.
Of course, I had evaluate my friendship with this person: was she “toxic” as they say? Or did we stand a chance of remaining friends?
When I felt a little more in control, we talked. I’d like to say she was apologetic, but she wasn’t. This time, though, I felt better prepared.
Those words of hers still hurt. But on some strange level, they feel like some guide - a guide leading to me some pain that has been hindering me anyway.
Beth
Embracing a bad day, it’s not easy but there’s always a way.
June 28, 2009 by admin · View Comments
Many of us “fear fear itself.” So when we’re having a bad day, we seem to perpetuate it by resisting it or worrying that we won’t be able to change it. We all like control; its important for us to know that if something is going wrong, we can fix it. But some days, unfortunately, bad can’t be fixed.
Or is it unfortunate? Are bad days really that bad?
The way you handle a trying time is a spiritual calibrator, monitoring your inner mettle. If you melt down because your car breaks down or a cashier treats you rudely, than chances are, you have some work to do.
So the next time you wake up and the day ahead of you seems dark and your mood seems darker, take a deep breath and treat yourself kindly. Watch yourself from a distance when a trigger comes your way. Don’t try to force a good mood. That will only frustrate. Allow your bad mood and your bad day to go its own unmerry way.
Often, when we allow a bad state of mind to just be, we realize that we’re in pain and need to face up to that, whether that means a good cry or a scream or writing in your journal or talking to a friend.
Resistance can actually exacerbate a bad mood and a bad day. Life is often beyond our control. And certainly a bad day can bring up our constant need to “fix it.” But what if its just not fixable? Can you live with that? Better yet, can you embrace what is uncontrollable in your life?
Can you let go and let a bad day lead the way?
Beth
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