Bichos Raros

La Naturaleza es increible, hay muchas formas de animales, desde los animales bonitos que aparecen en imagenes como focas, Koalas, tigres, mariposas. Pero existen tambien una grna cantidad de animales raros y que considerariamos de apariencia fea, que pocas veces aparecen en imagenes en revistas y documentales. Hoy encontre un Blog de animales feos "Ugly Overload" Visitenlo y vean animales realmente raros. Para muestra un boton: La pagina esta en Ingles, seguro que muchos lo comprenden y los que no hagan caso al dicho : "Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras"

In Full Swing

My arachnophobia: back in full swing. I've got a question for you spider experts. I know that spiders drain their insectoid meals dry, leaving only a husk wrapped up in webbing (typically). What happens when the spider feeds on a vertebrate? Do they similarly just drain the victim dry, leaving--in this case--only a scaley husk? Do I want to know the answer?

Though these Australian reptiles are endangered, I'm going to try to get some for my house. They eat ants and termites. They are also very mild tempered. Could you ask for a better pet? Thanks for the photo, Jade.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Debunker Needed STAT

No. No. No, no, no, no, no.

If ever I needed one of you to be a debunker, I need you now. TELL ME this isn't real. I can't live in a world that spawns crustaceans like these.

Ida, I can't thank you for this. You may have ruined my home planet for me.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Bad Omen

Kat sent me this article of an aye aye that was born in a zoo in Bristol, UK. This is a very rare occurrence, and is a happy event. These little lemurs have been hunted to near extinction on their native Madagascar. It seems the locals on that island see them as a bad omen. Come on locals. Stop with the hunting. The only precautions you have to take are not to feed them after midnight, and never, ever get them wet. Photo source: SF Gate

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Exterior Decorator

Theodosia sent along this little crustacean. Behold the hard-to-behold decorator crab. I've encountered their ilk while scuba diving in Monterey Bay. They are really, really hard to spot (but I am incredibly observant). I think of all the crustaceans, I am most like the decorator crab (sheesh, this blog has me doing some weird introspection). I would love to sneak around the office unnoticed, a monitor strapped to my back, 20lbs / 88 brightness paper and fax confirmations glued to my limbs, my head concealed by expired printer cartridges, paperclips, and highlighters. But if that wish came true, there would probably be some office equivalent of the angler fish, camouflaged to look like a vending machine and dangling a pastry-shaped lure in its maw. Photo source: Scuba Equipment USA

Monday, January 14, 2008

Dimorphism

It never ceases to amaze me how things come together on this blog. No sooner had Jade forwarded me these photos, than Aubrey asks for some tarantula photos to undo the horror of the house centipede. Well Aubrey, once again, Jade aims to please. You'll recall a while back that I posted on his beloved Antillies Pink Toe tarantula. Here he is again, but this time with a perfect counter example of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism? (be sure not to say that out loud) That's when one sex of a species has different physical characteristics from the other. Think of the male peacock's tail feathers as compared to the drab female. That same difference appears between the sexes of this particular spider (Avicularia versicolor). The first image is that of Jade's male. Note the pretty sheen and colors. The second shot is of his recently-matured female. Note the lack of color. (I'm sure she makes up for the disparity with a sweet spirit.) Thanks for sharing, Jade. Thanks Aubrey, for proving that the cosmos are aligning in favor of the un-cute critters of the world.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Sinister Therapy

It seems from prior posts that many of you have had less than pleasant encounters with the house centipede. Perhaps it was out of a sinister impulse that Jade sent this photo along, to drive the blade a bit deeper. He likes this one because you can see the beast's eyes. Or, perhaps Jade thought it would be therapeutic, that another safe encounter with this critter will lessen the fear, dull the pain, and expose those frightening experiences to the light of day. Whatever the case is, thanks Jade.Labels: Insects and Friends, Vermi