Tag: animals

• Get up close with a jaguarundi, the otter cat

  

  The jaguarundi is a small cat species native to Central and South America, extending from Argentina to the southern United States. It has a narrow head, a slender body, and a long tail.

  The wild cat grows up to 2.3 feet and weighs as much as 20 pounds, roughly double the size of a domestic cat. They also purr and chatter like birds.

  It stands on stubby legs, which keeps it close to the ground as it walks across various habitats, including forests, grasslands, and swamps.

  The diurnal cat hunts birds, reptiles, and even fish during the day and rests at night. In fact, Central American natives used to employ them to contain splurging rodent populations around villages.

  The jaguarundi’s “otter-like” features

  It’s no surprise that the jaguarundi is sometimes called the otter cat. Its small flattened head, round ears, forward-facing eyes, tiny snout, elongated tail, and solid coat give it the appearance of a weasel.

  Like otters, Jaguarundis are deft swimmers and climbers, and their coats are typically brown or black, although some reports indicate sightings of red pelage.

  Some people think jaguarundi resemble mini-pumas, as they are, in fact, related to the genus Puma.

  The reclusive and elusive cat sits on the endangered list of species — studies suggest that the United States wants to reintroduce them. The last recorded sighting of Jaguarundis was in Brownsville, Texas, in 1986.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 26, 2023

  Animals

  animals, cats, jaguarundi, South America

• The stealthy ghost crab

  

  The ghost crab is about as big as your hand but as fast as lightning. 

  The eight-legged little creature moves across sandy beaches at 100 body lengths per second, up to 10 miles per hour. That’s blazing-fast compared to the size of a human and a cheetah, who achieve speeds of 11 and 20 body lengths per second, respectively.

  The camouflage king of the sand

  Now you see me, now you don’t.

  The ghost crab typically burrows deep holes in the sand and reemerges late in the day. They can even adjust their pale colors to match the distinct hues of the grains of sand. So you’d be lucky to spot one of these near-invisible creatures. And if you do, be prepared for it to dash away as soon as it gets a glimpse of you.

  But within those stalky eyes, which can also operate like self-cleaning windshield wipers and cute little faces are teeth that growl at predators when threatened. The ghost crab is the first example of an animal that uses its stomach to communicate. 

  Meanwhile, the crabs survive off insects, small clams, and other sand crabs. 

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  October 20, 2022

  Animals

  animals, beach, ghost crab, Ocean

• The Potoo bird may be the scariest bird you’ve ever seen

  

  The Potoo bird, or Ghost bird from Central and South America, gives off a startling expression.

  The strange-looking bird possesses a hooked snake-like bill with a massive gape the animal uses to swallow moths and other insects.

  But even more freaky are their yellow googly eyes that glow up at night. Potoo birds control pupil dilation to optimize incoming light, making them keen nocturnal insectivores.

  The ghost bird’s incredible use of camoflauge

  The potoo bird enjoys excellent camouflage, making it easy to perch upon a tree branch or fence and remain undiscovered and undisturbed during the day.

  In addition to looking like a goofy muppet — after all, they look more like frogs than owls, the latter to which they’re unrelated — the bird may be best known for its sound, projecting a creepy melancholic song.

  These crazy looking creatures are awkward enough to star in their very own horror movie.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  September 8, 2022

  Animals

  animals, Potoo bird, South America

• The satanic leaf-tailed gecko wears nature in disguise

  

  The satanic leaf-tailed gecko (uroplatus phantasticusis) wears many disguises.

  It has superior camouflage — special skin that evolved to look like plants — and can also scare away predators by opening its bright red mouth and hiss like a cat.

  

  These geckos can even shed their tail to deceive predators, not to mention they lick their corneas to keep them moist and free of dirt. Like most geckos, satanic leaf-tailed geckos lack eyelids and can’t blink.

  But gook luck finding one of those awesomely named critters. Most satanic leaf-tailed geckos live in the rainforests in the central-east part of Madagascar, an island off the African continent.

  

  The lizard typically rests during the day, using its varying shades of brown and flat tail to blend in with the leaves. Talk about benefiting from natural selection!

  After exploiting its camo all day to avoid the mouths of birds and snakes, it goes hunting at night in search of crickets, moths, cockroaches, and snails.

  

  Wells Baum

  August 10, 2022

  Animals

  africa, animals, gecko, lizard, Nature

• The life-saving wildlife crossings at Canada’s Banff National Park

  

  Banff National Park, Canada, is home to a series of bridges and tunnels created for wildlife, commonly known as the Banff Wildlife Crossings. These car-free pathways are quickly becoming a conservation inspiration across the world.

  The overpass structures, implemented by Parks Canada 26 years ago, were designed to reduce the number of animal-vehicle collisions on the Trans-Canada Highway.

  Look at how the passageway’s uninterrupted greenery has helped over 200,000 animals get on with the business of living.

  Crossings designed to protect wildlife

  These animal-specific routes have been a major rewilding success in the area.

  There are now seven overpasses and 41 wildlife underpasses that stretch from Banff National Park to the British Columbia border. The wildlife tunnels contain sand traps that make it easier to identify the footprints of any animal, including bears, beavers, cougars, foxes, sheep, and even toads.

  The structures, combined with highway fencing to keep animals off the road, have decreased collisions in the area by more than 80% — nearly 99% for elk and deer!

  

  

  Wells Baum

  August 3, 2022

  Animals, Travel

  animals, Canada, national parks, Nature

• The Patagonian mara is a strange and speedy rodent

  

  The Patagonian mara of Argentina may be one of the most appealing animals on the planet.

  The world’s fourth largest rodent looks like a mashup of a small deer with the long ears and short tail of a rabbit. Along with being a large rodent — they can grow up to 2.5 feet long — the Patagonian mara has powerful, elongated hind legs that allow the animals to escape would-be predators.

  A rodent on the run

  The mara can sprint at nearly 25 mph, bouncing six feet into the air on all fours. The species is typically on the go, traveling with its monogamous mate across hundreds of forest acres to dig up (look at those strong claws) and munch on plants and fruits.

  But these diurnal animals also like to hop around and socialize in their daily communities. They even enjoy a sunbathing now and again.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  August 1, 2022

  Animals

  animals, Argentina, Nature, Patagonian mara

• The beautiful and secretive Agami Heron

  

  The Agami Heron might be one of the most beautiful birds in the world. It’s undoubtedly one of the most unseen.

  The reclusive bird resides in the wetland habitats of Central America, stretching south to Peru and Brazil.

  One would think its elaborate plumage and a silvery splash of neck plumes would make it easy to spot. Brazilians nicknamed it “Soco beija-flor” or “hummingbird heronin” for a reason.

  But the medium-sized bird also has short legs and incredible stillness, making it hard to find in the humid tropical lowlands.

  Highly secretive and shy bird

  The Agami Heron’s quiet nature — the animal is known to wait for hours for the perfect catch using its dagger-like bill — makes it challenging to identify in and under backwater vegetation where it lurks.

  This secretive and shy tropical bird is also known as the Chestnut-bellied Heron and is the only member of the genus Agamia.

  

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  July 15, 2022

  Animals, Nature

  animals, birds, heron, Nature

• How the Jesus Christ Lizard runs on water

  

  You’ve got to see it to believe it. The Emerald Basilisk Lizard, also known as the Jesus Christ Lizard, can run on water like Jesus.

  That’s right — this little green dragon has elongated toes with specialized skin that unfold like umbrellas, allowing the creature to scurry across the water on its hind legs and escape would-be predators.

  Meet the Jesus Christ Lizard #funny pic.twitter.com/bTi2oZKAnp

  — Smiley Animal Planet (@Cheer_up_Pics) November 22, 2015

  So fast it can run on the surface of water

  In reality, these reptiles sprint on self-made air bubbles, which, combined with their upward body motion and counterweight tail, help thrust them above water to avoid sinking. They can run 5 feet in 1 second. But they don’t mind taking the occasional swim either.

  But good luck finding one — the obscure Jesus Christ lizard lives in the rainforests of Central America, primarily Southern Mexico, Costa Rica, and Northern Colombia. They average a foot in length and can weight up to a pound.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  June 23, 2022

  Animals

  animals, lizard, Nature

• The bone-crushing bearded vulture

  

  The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is the only known animal that lives on an 80-90% diet of bones. That’s right — this intimidating-looking bird specializes in feeding on bone marrow.

  The Bearded Vulture is a bone eater and bone crusher

  This bird of prey is so desperate for bone that it’ll fly a dead carcass as high as 500 feet into the sky and release it over rocks to break the bones into more edible pieces. The vulture eats the smaller bones by simply swallowing them hole.

  The rock sites where the bearded vulture devours the larger broken bones are called ossuaries. This great scavenger ensures nothing in nature goes to waste; it even snacks on lizards and turtles.

  The bearded vulture can grow up to four feet tall with a nine-foot wingspan. When soaring in the high mountains of southern Europe, Africa, or Tibet, it looks like a flying dragon.

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  May 7, 2022

  Animals

  animals, bird of prey, birds, vultures

• Draco volans: The flying dragon lizard

  

  Draco Volans are real-life flying lizards from Southeast Asia.

  These mini-flying creatures, not to be confused with the Spider-Man agama, have developed the ability to glide up to 26 feet, often from one tree to another, over thousands of years.

  Draco Volans’ wings are made of its ribs, not true limbs

  Draco Volans use skin flaps on their elongated ribs to open and retract on demand, giving them the impression of small dragons with colorful wings.

  But they don’t actually “fly” and breathe fire like the fingered-winged dragons in a science fiction movie; the rib expansion doesn’t even help the lizards’ breathing. In reality, the modified ribs help the Draco Volans float off trees and parachute to other branches to avoid predators. 

  Don’t get your hopes up about finding one as a pet. Draco Volans are nearly impossible to catch, as are most lizards.

  

  

  

  

  Wells Baum

  April 27, 2022

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Draco volans, dragons, Indonesia

• Pink sea urchins have self-sharpening teeth

  

  Pink sea urchins house five teeth, each supported by a separate jaw in a circular arrangement at the center of their spiked spherical bodies.

  But researchers at Northwestern have discovered that the teeth of pink sea urchins are specially equipped to self-sharpen themselves.

  The tooth enamel breaks off regularly to sustain precision, like a knife sharpening upon a blade.

  

  “The material on the outer layer of the tooth exhibits a complex behavior of plasticity and damage that regulates ‘controlled’ chipping of the tooth to maintain its sharpness,” said Northwestern University Professor Horacio Espinosa.

  The sea urchins continue to grow teeth throughout life, helping the sea urchins ward off predators.

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 7, 2022

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Nature, Ocean, sea urchin

• The African Dung Beetle navigates Earth using the stars

  

  Not sure what’s more amazing about the African dung beetle, one that it rolls immaculate balls out of other animals’ dung or that it navigates from home to manure piles and back via celestial cues.

  “These clever insects use the polarized light of the moon to navigate in a straight line,” writes Popular Mechanics. “Their eyes cannot see individual stars but a group of stars together, like the Milky Way, is dense enough to create a luminous line for them to follow.”

  

  No stars, no problem! When the sun gets blocked or is directly overhead, the beetle uses its antennae to perceive wind signals. This way it can roll across the desert without getting lost.

  But entomologist and photographer Piotr (Peter) Naskrecki of the Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique believes the Kheper subaeneus beetles are more interesting for what they do for mother Earth. 

  Few animals are as important to the African savanna ecosystem as the dung beetles and without their thankless toil the entire ecosystem would soon collapse, covered in a thick layer of waste. 

  Piotr Naskrecki

  Keep in mind that the gathered feces, which the palm-sized creature rolls into big balls, often weigh more than the beetle itself.

  

  

  Wells Baum

  January 1, 2022

  Animals, Nature

  africa, African Dung Beetle, animals, Nature, Peter Naskrecki