Category: Animals

• How the Mary River Turtle breathes for 72 hours underwater

  

  The Mary River Turtle is a remarkable creature for two main reasons.

  One, it possesses specialized glands on its bottom that allow it to stay underwater for 72 hours—yes, it breathes through its genitals. It does this by releasing oxygen bubbles through its cloaca, the hole (aka butt) it excretes waste through.

  Two, the animal sports an algae-infused mohawk. It uses the algae growing on its shell to camouflage itself from predators. The Mary River turtle is easily one of Australia’s largest turtles extending beyond 20 inches in carapace length.

  The turtle lives exclusively in Mary River streams in southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it’s listed as one of the world’s most vulnerable reptiles. The species is listed as endangered due to its limited home range and numerous threats posed by humans, such as pollution, habitat loss, poaching, and boat strikes.

  A number of organizations are working to protect the species, including the Australian Department of the Environment, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and the World Wildlife Fund.

  The Mary River turtle’s sighting is becoming increasingly rare, and it’s important to help the species survive for future generations to come.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  May 5, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Nature, turtle

• The Mwanza flat-headed rock agama aka Spider-Man agama

  

  The Mwanza Flat-Headed Rock Agama is a small lizard found primarily in the Mwanza Region of Tanzania.

  The male lizard, which has a flattened head, is also known as the Spider-Man agama because of its bright red and dark blue coloration and its ability to easily climb vertical surfaces.

  The Mwanza Flat-Headed Rock Agama grows to a maximum length of about 12 centimeters (5 inches). The short, rounded snout is a distinctive feature of this species and gives it a unique appearance among agamas.

  Although it is primarily diurnal (active during the day), the Mwanza Flat-Headed Rock Agama is also busy at night.

  An agile lizard, the Spider-Man agama can quickly run around and ascend up and over surfaces to chase insects, spiders, or worms. It can’t fly yet, though, like the Draco Volan lizard.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  April 29, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, lizard, Nature, spiderman

• The Tasmanian Giant Crab is the king of crabs

  

  Add the Tasmanian Giant Crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas) to one of the animals you’ll want to see in person one day.

  How big is the Tasmanian Giant Crab?

  Weighing up to 39 lbs with a shell length of up to 18 inches, the Tasmanian Giant Crab is the fifth largest crab species. Its wild geometry makes its asymmetric claws (one giant leg and one normal-sized one) appear more massive than its body — just look at it held by adult humans.

  The massive crab is noticeably bigger than most 2-year-olds, with the large black pincers looking like one from Edward Scissorhands. Not surprisingly, males try to outcompete each other using these sharp shears in addition to catching and crushing prey.

  Where to find the Tasmanian Giant Crab

  This monstrous “king” of crabs resides in the deep muddy ocean waters of Southern Australia, primarily at depths of 460–885 feet.

  Unfortunately, the crab is a prize catch among fishers, and it’s been fished in Tasmanian waters since 1992. At $88 per pound (let’s not forget about inflation), buying a whole Tasmanian King Crab could cost one a few hundred dollars.

  

  

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  April 14, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, australia, crabs, Featured, Nature

• Meet the Dracula Parrot, the most metal birds on the planet

  

  Thinking of parrots usually conjures up images of the brightly colored blue, red, and green creatures.

  But with the shape of a parrot and the dark beak of a vulture, Pesquet’s parrot, commonly known as the Dracula parrot, is one of the more unique-looking parrot species.

  The rare vulture-parrot hybrid found in New Guinea’s rainforests

  The vampiric-looking bird from the mountains of New Guinea looks bloodthirsty but snacks on a diet of figs. Its unusual goth-like appearance, a mishmash of black and red plumes, is also quite beautiful. Male Dracula parrots have an extra red dot behind the ears.

  Unfortunately, the Dracula Parrot’s mesmerizing feathers make it attractive to poachers. The bird has been listed on the endangered species list by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

  

  

  Wells Baum

  March 22, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, birds, Nature

• The beautiful yet feisty Lilac-breasted roller bird, Africa’s most colorful bird

  

  The plumage on the lilac-breasted roller bird is gorgeous. The creature sports eight different colors to give it the impression of a mesmerizing rainbow.

  Native to sub-Saharan Africa and the national bird of both Botswana and Kenya, the lilac bird is known to perch on treetops by the roadside so it can pounce on rodents and insects moving about on the ground.

  An aggressive little fluff—especially when intruders get too close to their nest—the African Lilac-breasted roller birds are also renowned for the rolling flight pattern that sees them dip and dive from high in the sky in torpedo-like motion.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  March 11, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  africa, birds, Nature

• The Fringed Leaf Frog

  

  The Fringed Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus) is one of the rarest amphibians in the world.

  The 3-inch creature lives a reclusive life up in the Amazon rainforest’s high canopies — it rarely visits the ground — in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

  

  The frog’s coloration, of course, is stunning — intermixing green, blue, and purple. It also can feature pale blue patches on its back.

  The myriad colors provide the frog with superb camouflage to conceal it from hunting monkeys. It also makes a soft, croaking sound.

  Like all rainforest species, the Fringed Leaf Frog faces the threat of habitat loss. So if you see one perched for a photo opportunity, remember to leave it be.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  February 18, 2021

  Animals

  brazil, Fringed Leaf Frog, frogs, Nature

• The elephant trunk snake

  

  The Elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus) is among the largest freshwater snakes in the world.

  This weird-looking snake has unique wrinkly scalation and a chunky body, resembling an elephant’s trunk. Its face also looks like a pug or seal.

  

  Given the snake’s aquatic nature, it’s often mistaken as an eel. But the elephant trunk snake rarely leaves the water. The creature mostly lives in the streams and lagoons in Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

  Non-venomous — it has a forked tongue — elephant trunk snakes make popular exotic pets.

  

  

  Wells Baum

  February 11, 2021

  Animals

  animals, elephant trunk snake, snakes

• The pink-eyed hover goby

  

  The pink-eyed hover goby (Bryaninops natans) is a fish with a see-through body and yellow organs. 

  No bigger than an inch, it’s so transparent you can even see its bones in its body. 

  The pink-eyed goby hovers above the tips of Acropora corals in shallow lagoon reefs of the Indo-Pacific area.  

  Here are few more images of the cool little fish.  

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  February 4, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, fish, Nature, Photography

• Cosmic caterpillar of the Pacific fruit piercing moth

  

  See the universe in the marvelous googly-eyed cosmic caterpillar of the Pacific fruit-piercing moth (Eudocima phalonia), and you’ll never be the same. This is mother nature’s best expression of art.

  While some caterpillars appear like snakes to avoid predators, the cosmic caterpillar screams, ‘eat the stars.’

  As dazzling as they are in the larva stage, looking like the cosmos, these caterpillars are a severe pest in their moth stage.

  As the adults burst out of their cocoons, they are known to destroy ripe fruit harvests across Hawaii, Australia, to India.

  Here are some more pics of the cosmic caterpillar’s advanced larva stage and its appearance as an adult moth. It does an incredible leaf mimic.

  

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 23, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animal, Caterpillar, Featured, India, Nature

• The flamboyant cuttlefish

  

  The cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) is a real master of color change. 

  The bioluminescent fish can modify their appearance and shape using flashing LCD-like bands to hypnotize prey before snatching it up. 

  A cuttlefish hypnotizes its prey to eat it pic.twitter.com/Q5yPxqDaoE

  — Diane Doniol-Valcroze (@ddoniolvalcroze) January 19, 2021

  That’s right — these fish use their strobing disco lights to psyche-out crabs and small fish!  

  Like the octopus, the cuttlefish have pigmented chromatophores in their skin, allowing them to camouflage with their surroundings. 

  Learn more about the cuttlefish in the video below. 

  Wells Baum

  January 20, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, cuttlefish, Nature, Ocean, octopus

• The Great Blue Turaco

  

  The beautiful Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is a bird from West and Central Africa’s tropical forests. 

  The birds weigh up to three pounds and grow up to 30 inches long, about a pheasant’s size. While not the most competent flyers, they are excellent climbers, spending most of their time hanging out in the trees.

  

  While the great blue turaco sings sweet melodies and snacks on fruit, leaves, and flowers, it’s most famous for its mix of vibrant colors. 

  With blue running across its head and upper breasts, the bird also flashes a black crest, a teal belly, and a red and tipped beak that gives it the impression of wearing lipstick. It also sports a stunning dark blue mohawk.  

  One of the most sought-after bird species by birders, the Great Blue Turaco is also widely regarded as a bird that brings good luck. 

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 15, 2021

  Animals

  africa, animals, birds, Great Blue Turaco, Nature

• The spectacular rainbow-colored Nicobar pigeon

  

  The Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) stands out from the crowd as the extinct Dodo’s closest living relative.

  Found in the coastal regions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands southeast of the Indian continent to the Solomon Islands and Palau, the Nicobar pigeon fashions the most beautiful metallic green colored plumage.

  With low repetitive calls, the Nicobar pigeon is quieter than your standard urban pigeon. It is also one of the largest pigeon species, stretching 16 inches in length.

  Unfortunately, the bird appears near extinction due to the demand for its gizzard stone used in jewelry. Gizzard stones help the bird break down hard foods like seeds and nuts. 

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 11, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  birds, India, Nature, pigeon