install theme
1000drawings: by Faye Bradley
elegantbuffalo: Parallel Evolution: when similar characterisitcs arise in closely related organisms Most people who have studied even a little evolutionary biology are aware of the marvelous diversity of the Lake Victoria cichlids. These fish have radiated to fill nearly all available niches in the lake. Over only a few million years, 300 species were developed from one ancestral populations.What you may not know is that there are cichlids in Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, too, and all originated from similar ancestral populations. What’s more, the cichlids in each of the three lakes have evolved to fill nearly the exact same niches. The correspondence in ecology and morphology between the fish of the three lakes is the most spectacular example of parallel evolution that I’ve seen. Take a look at this figure, where the fish on the left come from Lake Tanganyika and the ones on the right are from Lake Malawi. kewl.
Anonymous:
why is it good that they make that list? :(
Me:

Their population would remain the same whether on the list or not- being listed as endangered provides crucial protection needed for them to maintain sustainable populations!

It’s just a precautionary step to ensure these ancient predators remain in our oceans like they should.

I mean, it does suck that their populations aren’t as high as they should be.. But at least now they’re protected by law, and in conservation that’s always good! :3

GREAT WHITES MAKE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST I AM SO HAPPY RN

Anonymous:
How tall are you?
Me:

That’s a um, profound question.
Hahaha, I’m 5 feet and.. 1 inch..? About that.
It looks like a weird worm, doesn’t it? Mmm, better look a little closer. There are scales on that little thing! Funny thing is, we’ve probably all seen one of these and assumed it was an everyday earth worm. As one of the world’s most widely distributed snake, The Brahminy Blind Snake’s (Ramphotyphlops braminus) origins trace back Southeastern Asia.. They might also be the world’s most harmless snake. Easily handled, you can opt to leave them alone or pick them up to show others! Just be careful not to hurt them, since they’re little and can be delicate. If you are picking one up, one way to tell it’s not an earthworm is they have tongues like other snakes. Another way is that earthworms have segmented bodies, but blindsnakes are smooth all around! Those little tongues are used for locating their meals- the eggs, larvae, and pupae of ants and termites! So, they’re really beneficial for house owners! Since they burrow through soil and leaflitter, it’s easy to assume they came from the soil of imported plants. That’s why they’re also known as the “Flower Pot Snake!” A parthogenetic species like the Desert Grassland Whiptail, all species identified thusfar have been female. That means they reproduce asexually, and all individuals are genetic copies of their mothers. Up to eight offspring can be produced, whether from eggs or live bearings! Photo by Hankplank
Diaphonized snake specimen. When a specimen in diaphonized, it is reduced to its skeletal frame and stained for added bone visibility. It is ideal for scientific or student study of the bone structure of various animals. Photo credit: Igor Munhoz
mcsprankles: moreanimalia: lilsharko: The Northern White Rhino is a very rare rhino. Out of the total population, only 4 remain in the wild.  Their horns have been removed and they are given an armed escort to protect them from poachers. … I wonder how much the armed escort actually impedes the rhinos life? According to what I read, they don’t impede at all. They just follow the rhino around. The rhinos and the guards have become buds, which is how the guards are able to stand so close without dying a horrible trampled death.
Found this spider in my backyard- any ideas as to what it is? I’m thinking catfaced spider, but I really don’t know.. Input?
earthhour: (source)
ichthyologist: A Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas. These things give me nightmares about crashlanding at sea. These things are like locusts. fast. cannibalistic. Impossibly strong.  They move in shoals of up to 1,200 individuals. They swim at speeds of up to 24 kilometres per hour (15 mph/13 kn). They undergo vertical migration, coming close to the surface at night. They hunt cooperatively. they weigh up to 100 pounds. their tentacles are covered in these This is what one looks like when its pissed off: I want to re-iterate this : these things weigh 100lbs. This is one annoyed squid.Where are its one thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine friends?Behind you. BECAUSE THEY HUNT CO-OPERATIVELY IN PACKS  they gonna rip your face off

Oh man I was gonna blog but this weekend has transformed into a weekend of reading.

Currently indulging myself with How to Kill a Mocking Bird. Then, I’ll be picking up some John Green novels, and Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Just saved a juvenile Yellow Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) from being stepped on c:

Relocated him into a grassy area free from harms way. Feeling inspired to learn about ‘em, so I should have a post up by tomorrow!

our-lips-locked: Caribbean Reef Shark by getawayhs2 on Flickr. /insert hardy laugh here
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