Blue Crab Animals

theanimalblog:

(via: twiztedrasberry)

Slow lorises (Nicticebus sp.) are cute, but there’s lots of reasons why they are not to be considered as pets.

1. The sudden pet trade demand for loris species has severely damaged wild populations
2. They are nocturnal animals, and unless kept in a specialised dark environment, they will be stressed and unhappy
3. They are primates with complex personalities and advanced needs
4. The seemingly docile nature is, in fact, a response to high stress.
5. They are one of only a few known venomous mammals. Oil from their elbows mixes with their saliva to make a venom

This loris is NOT having fun.

In case you’re wondering about other venomous mammals, check out the duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and the solenodon (Solenodon cubanus, S. paradoxus).

(via theanimalblog)

spartadog:

Happy birthday, Steve.

It makes me so sad to see that his message has pretty much fallen on deaf ears. Animals are still poached and sold on the black market, people still hate reptiles simply for the fact that they’re reptiles, and few understand that animals aren’t inherently deadly. 

Something tells me he would have been at the head of the fight against the python ban had he still been alive. And now that we need him most, he’s gone. Such a shame.

We miss you, Steve <3

Don’t diminish this man’s work. It’s always been a fight for what is right and will be for a long time, and Steve played an important role for the duration of his life - and now his family are continuing with his efforts. Save Sir Attenborough he’s perhaps the most influential nature documentary presenter and he’[s inspired many many people.

We just need to keep on carrying his message to people.

(via snakeeaters)

…and should be allowed to grow to their full of size of at least 10” snout-to-vent.

(via ichthyologist)

allcreatures:

A Whale-headed stork, a large African wading bird, in its enclosure at the Prague Zoo, Czech Republic.

Picture: EPA (via Animal pictures of the week: 20 January 2012 - Telegraph)

Shoebills are astounding! Probably my favourite bird.

Named Balaeniceps rex, the whale-headed king, they have primeval-looking foot-long beaks which snatch up amphibians, fish, small mammals, and even baby crocodiles. Five foot of stern-looking royalty, ready to take off with their 8-foot wingspan, the shoebill is a mighty bird that spends its time standing solitary over inaccessible African marshlands, poised over the waters ready to strike out at its prey.

Its closest relative, the Hammerkop, is said to be a bringer of storms and lightning, a vengeful harbinger of death. Together, they bridge the evolutionary gap between storks and pelicans.

rhamphotheca:

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

by Eric Palkovacs

Okapis are relatives of the giraffe, found only in the tropical forests of northeastern Zaire. They prefer altitudes between 500 and 1,000 m, although they may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests.  The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel/Soudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south.

The okapi has a form superficially resembling that of a horse. Average body length is 2.5 m, and average height at the shoulder is 1.5 m. The neck is relatively long in comparison to that of other ruminants, and the ears are large and flexible. The unique color pattern of the okapi allows it to disappear into the background of dense vegetation and rotting leaves where it lives. The most giraffe-like feature of the okapi is the long black tongue which is used for plucking buds, leaves, and branches from trees and shrubs as well as for grooming . In addition, the walking gait of the okapi closely resembles that of a giraffe. Both giraffe and okapi simultaneously step with the front and hind leg on the same side of the body rather than moving alternate legs on either side like other ungulates…

(read more: Animal Diversity Web)  

(photo: Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, Univ. of Michigan)

Here’s a fun word - ossicones. It’s the name for the skin-covered ‘horns’ on the heads of giraffes and okapis.

There used to be many members of Giraffidae, but most went extinct around the Ice Age.

rhamphotheca:

Looming Capybara, Venezuela, 1996  

“Emerging at dusk to hunt, a burrowing owl is no threat to a capybara, the world’s largest rodent. Resembling a cross between a guinea pig and a hippopotamus, the web-footed ‘water hog’ may grow to 140 pounds [64 kilograms] and stand knee-high to a man. Its mortal enemies include jaguars, caimans, and cowboys.”  

— From “The Orinoco: Into the Heart of Venezuela,” April 1998, National Geographic magazine 

(photo: Robert Caputo)

This photograph is amazing. I love both of these animals.

(via daydreamering)

curitas:

Tilt shift effect - elephants (by Lorenzo Baldini)

African elephant, Loxodonta africana. This giant herbivore can sometimes reach up to 13 feet in height - though in this photograph they look to be about 13 millimetres.

(via prevailing-deactivated20111217)

rhamphotheca:

iheartnudibranchs: Ceratosoma trilobatum by Doug Anderson

Nudibranches are glorious creatures!

Nudibranch means ‘naked gills’, although these animals are often referred to as sea slugs. The name ‘sea slug’ also covers several other unrelated invertebrates.

Sea slugs can sometimes be seen for sale in aquatic pet stores, but they are not good pets - aside from many species possessing a dangerous venom, they are all highly-developed predators, with each species having a specific diet such as anemones, sea sponges, aiptasia, etc. Sustainable amounts of these animals are difficult if not impossible to get in a home environment, so most captive nudibranches quickly die of starvation.

Something interesting about C. trilobatum and the rest of its genus is the dorsal horn (located on its back - not visible above), which acts as a distraction for predators. A predator is more likely to bite the prominent ‘horn’, which contains focussed amounts of the nudibranch’s toxin.

Resources: Sea Slug Forum, Wikipedia

(via dendroica)

wwf:

Salute Rhino Heroes on World Rhino Day

It’s Rhino Day on 22 September. 

This year, we’re saluting rhino heroes, the brave men and women who devote their lives to defending rhinos. Some of them lose their lives.

South Africa’s rhinos are still facing a poaching onslaught, caused by the illegal rhino horn trade driven by demand from Asia. Rhino poaching is often carried out by well-armed, international criminal syndicates using sophisticated technology. 

More than 280 rhinos have already been killed by poachers this year. 

The courageous effort of rhino heroes must be backed up at other levels. This includes making sure that those guilty of rhino crimes do not walk free on technicalities, and that punishment is commensurate with the crime. 

In South Africa, officials have begun to conduct more rigorous prosecutions and impose stricter sentences. WWF has called for a corresponding commitment by countries in Asia where illegal demand for rhino horn is driving poachers.

Learn more about World Rhino Day and support WWF’s to protect rhinos