Large Bee Fly

The Large Bee Fly (Bombylius major) is a bee mimic, squat and very hairy, 14 to 18 mm in length and a wingspan around 24 mm. Adults feed by means of their very long proboscises on the nectar of many species of flower. The species is widely distributed throughout the whole northern hemisphere and in North Africa, and is very well known.

Wood Scorpion

Forest scorpion or wood scorpion, is a scorpion native to southeastern Australia. It is typically around 25-40 mm long. The Australian Wood Scorpion's venom is not considered dangerous to humans.

Only spice to come from coniferous trees

A juniper berry is the female seed cone produced by the various species of junipers. It is not a true berry but a cone with unusually fleshy and merged scales, which give it a berry-like appearance. The cones from a handful of species, especially Juniperus communis, are used as a spice, particularly in European cuisine, and also give gin its distinguishing flavour. According to one FAO document, juniper berries are the only spice derived from conifers, though tar and inner bark (used as a sweetener by Apache cuisines) from pine trees is sometimes considered a spice as well.The flavour profile of young, green berries is dominated by pinene; as they mature this piney, resinous backdrop is joined by what McGee describes as "green-fresh" and citrus notes. The outer scales of the berries are relatively flavourless, so the berries are almost always at least lightly crushed before being used as a spice. They are used both fresh and dried, but their flavour and odour is at their strongest immediately after harvest and decline during drying and storage.

150 years to reach maturity

Organ Pipe Cactus species has several narrow stems that rise vertically, growing from a single short trunk just above the ground level. These stems are about 6 inches (15 cm) thick and grow to a height of 16 feet (5 m), however it has been known to reach 23 to 26 feet (7 to 8 m). These stems rarely branch but rather grow annually from the tip of the last growth. The mature plant can reach a width of 12 feet (3.7 m). Each stem has 12 to 19 1/3 inch (.85 cm) high ribs that bear dark brown to black spines that turn gray as it matures. It takes 150 years to reach maturity. The older plants produce three-inch (8 cm) funnel-shaped white flowers annually which are open at night and close by the morning and have a purple or pink tint to them. These usually grow during April, May, and June. The organ pipe cactus is usually pollinated by bats. The plant also produces fruit about the size of a tennis ball. Beneath the fruit's spined exterior is red flesh that supposedly tastes like watermelon. This fruit has traditionally been harvested by the Seris, who call the plant ool, and is used as a medicine

Stinkpot turtles release a musky smell

Stinkpots are a black, grey or brown turtle with a highly domed shell. They grow to approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in length. They have long necks and rather short legs. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their significantly longer tails. Their heads are vaguely triangular in shape, with a pointed snout and sharp beak, and yellow-green striping from the tip of their nose to their neck. Algae often grows on their carapace. Musk turtles are almost entirely aquatic, spending the vast majority of their time in shallow, heavily vegetated waters of slow moving creeks, or in ponds. They typically only venture onto land when the female lays her eggs, or in some rare cases, to bask.
Their common names are derived from the scent glands located just under the rear of their shell, which allows them to release a foul musky odor to deter predation.

Over 1000 individual flowers around its mid axis

Banksia spinulosa was introduced into cultivation in the United Kingdom in 1788 by Joseph Banks who supplied seed to Kew, Cambridge Botanic Gardens and Woburn Abbey among others; var. collina followed in 1800 and var. cunninghamii in 1822. It has proven a highly ornamental and bird-attracting plant in cultivation. In general, all forms prefer sandy, well-drained soils with sunny aspect, though some local forms hailing from Wianamatta shales may tolerate heavier soils. It is resistant to dieback, like most eastern banksias. As it grows naturally on acid soils, Banksia spinulosa is particularly sensitive to iron deficiency. Known as chlorosis, it manifests as yellowing of new leaves with preservation of green veins, and occurs when the plant is grown in soils of higher pH. This can also happen where soil contains quantities of cement, either as landfill or building foundations, and can be treated with iron chelate or sulfate.Regular pruning is important to give the plant an attractive habit and prevent it from becoming leggy. It has over 1000 flowers around its mid axis

Bird that swims for 2 hours after hacthing

The Black-necked Stilt is a locally abundant shorebird of American wetlands and coastlines. Adults have long pink legs and a long thin black bill. They are white below and have black wings and backs. The tail is white with some grey banding. A continuous area of black extends from the back along the hindneck to the head. There, it forms a cap covering the entire head from the top to just below eye-level, with the exception of the areas surrounding the bill and a small white spot above the eye. Males have a greenish gloss to the back and wings, particularly in the breeding season. The Black-necked Stilt forages by probing and gleaning primarily in mudflats and lakeshores, but also in very shallow waters near shores; it seeks out a range of aquatic invertebrates – mainly crustaceans and other arthropods, and mollusks – and small fish, tadpoles and very rarely plant seedsBlack-necked Stilt (pictured) appears to be dressed in a tuxedo, and the chicks can swim competently two hours after hatching.

California Clapper Rail - Rarely flies but can swim

California Clapper Rail, a chicken-sized bird that rarely flies, has chicks that can swim when they are just two hours old. Like other subspecies of Clapper Rail, this form has a long, downward curving bill and is grayish brown with a pale chestnut breast and conspicuous whitish rump patch. The population levels of the California Clapper Rail are precariously low due to destruction of its coastal and estuarine marshland habitat by prior land development and shoreline fill. It has year-long, circadian activity and is most vocal nocturnally and crepuscularly. The California Clapper Rail forages at the upper end of marshes, along the ecotone between mudflat and higher vegetated zones, and in tidal sloughs. Mussels, clams, arthropods, snails, worms and small fish are its preferred foods, which it retrieves by probing and scavenging the surface while walking. The bird will only forage on mudflats or very shallow water where there is taller plant material nearby to provide protection at high tide. At such high tides it may also prey upon mice, and has been known to scavenge dead fish.

Rocking slug

The color of the black slug is generally black, but the colouration is very variable and this slug
can even be white. The general trend is for a darker pigmentation the farther north the species
is found. The classification of brown-coloured and rust-coloured "black" slugs is somewhat
disputed; the brown variation is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Arion rufus
(Red Slug). Young specimens of black slug do have a brown colour, which is later lost if and
when the slug changes color to the mature state.The slug covers itself in a thick foul-tasting mucus which serves as both protection against
predators as well as a measure to keep moist. It is somewhat difficult to wash off.The black
slug is mainly nocturnal and avoids exposure to sunlight. It is omnivorous, eating carrion,
fungi, and vegetation (living and decaying). The slug prefers moist conditions, such as lawns,
making it an unwelcome sight for homeowners. This moist environment is essential for the
terrestrial locomotion of the slug to function.The mucus of the slug is highly distasteful to many animals. However, this slug does have
some natural predators, including the hedgehog, badger, shrew, mole, mouse, frog, toad,
snake, carnivorous beetle, and some birds. When picked up or touched, the black slug will
contract to a hemispherical shape and begin to rock from side to side. This defensive
behaviour confuses predators, and is unique in the Arionidae family

Mouse that gives birth to 40-60 offspring in a year

Breeding nests are spherical constructions woven from grass or other plant material. A nest is approximately 13 centimeters in diameter and lined with a more downy material of fibrous plants. A nest may have one or more entrances near its base. Most commonly, the nest is built on the ground in a protected area such as within a shrub or beside a fallen tree; however, the mouse will occasionally place the nest aboveground within a shrub. It is not uncommon for a female to have ten to fourteen litters per annum, with a typical litter size of two to six individuals; however, litters of up to nine offspring can occur. Thus an annual production of forty to sixty young per female is normal. The Western Harvest Mouse is nocturnal, with particularly intense activity on very dark nights. This mouse is particularly resourceful, making use of the ground runways of other rodents. It is also a very agile climber. Its primary food source is seeds, but springtime dining is augmented with new plant growth. In June, July and August the mouse is known to consume certain insects, especially grasshoppers and caterpillars. Again resourceful, the Western harvest mouse stores seeds and other foodstuffs in underground vaults. Its many predators include the fox, weasel, coyote, hawk, snake and owl species.

Eagle that barks and screams

Bateleur is a common resident species of the open savanna country in Sub-Saharan Africa. It nests in trees, laying a single egg which is incubated by the female for 42 to 43 days, with a further 90 to 125 days until fledging. Bateleurs pair for life, and will use the same nest for a number of years. Unpaired birds, presumably from a previous clutch, will sometimes help at the nest.An immature domestic BaleteurThe Bateleur is a colourful species with a very short tail (ecaudatus is Latin for tailless) which makes it unmistakable in flight. The adult male is 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in) long with a 175 cm (5.75 ft) wingspan. He has black plumage except for the chestnut mantle and tail, grey shoulders, and red facial skin, bill and legs.The female is similar to the male except that she has grey rather than black secondary flight feathers. Immature birds are brown with white dappling and have greenish facial skin. It takes them seven or eight years to reach full maturity.The eagle hunts over a territory of 250 square miles a day. The prey of this raptor is mostly birds, including pigeons and sandgrouse, and also small mammals; it also takes carrion.The Bateleur is generally silent, but on occasions it produces a variety of barks and screams."Bateleur" is French for "tight-rope walker". This name describes the bird’s characteristic habit of tipping the ends of its wings when flying, as if catching its balance.In some countries, the Bateleur is occasionally known as the "Conifer Eagle" or even "Pine Eagle", since its feathers somewhat resemble a conifer cone when it fluffs itself up.

Bird that attacks known predators

The Puerto Rican Spindalis are usually found in pairs but may travel in small flocks. These birds
also engage in a behavior called mobbing. This is when a flock of birds, from one or more
species, attack a known predator, usually to defend their eggs or hatchlings. Such behavior
has been observed being directed against the Puerto Rican Boa by immature Puerto Rican
Spindalis. The Puerto Rican Spindalis exhibits sexual dimorphism with males being brightly
colored and females being dully colored. Males are green colored above with an orange neck
and chest. They have a black head with two white stripes running across it, with one above
and one below the eyes. The tail and wings are gray to black with small white stripes at the
tips. In contrast, the female is a dull olive-green color with slightly noticeable white stripes. It
is widely distributed throughout the island and is an important part of the Puerto Rican
ecosystem because of its help in seed dispersal and plant reproduction. The Puerto Rican
Spindalis is also the national of the United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Bat ray in large numbers, while more recently it is mostly taken by oyster growers who mistakenly believe it feeds on their oysters

Bat ray in large numbers, while more recently it is mostly taken by oyster growers who mistakenly believe it feeds on their oysters. Bat rays feed on mollusks, crustaceans and small fish on the seabed, using their winglike pectoral fins to move sand and expose prey animals. They may also dig trenches up to 20 cm deep to expose buried prey, such as clams. Bat ray teeth are flat and pavementlike, forming tightly-packed rows that are used for crushing and grinding prey--the crushed shells are ejected and the flesh consumed. As with all elasmobranchs, these teeth fall out and are replaced continuously.While the bat ray, like other stingrays, has a venomous spine in its tail (near the base), it is not considered dangerous and uses the spine only when attacked or frightened. Currently, the bat ray is fished commercially in Mexico but not the United States. However, it is sometimes fished for sport for its fighting characteristics.

The plant that catches frog, rat and lizards

Nepenthes rajah is an insectivorous pitcher plant species of the monotypic Nepenthaceae
family. It is endemic to Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in Sabah,
Malaysian Borneo. N. rajah grows exclusively on serpentine substrates, particularly in areas of
seeping ground water, where the soil is loose and permanently moist. Nepenthes rajah, the
most famous of all pitcher plants, produces traps up to 40 cm in height and has been known to
catch prey as large as rats, frogs and lizards. MYTH- Another myth surrounding this species is that it occasionally catches small monkeys
and other large animals in its pitchers. Such tales have persisted for a very long time, but can
probably be explained as rodents being mistaken for other species. It is interesting to note
that one common name for Nepenthes plants is 'Monkey Cups'. The name refers to the fact
that monkeys have been observed drinking rainwater from these plants. Thus, in a sense, this
mythology may have some basis in fact.

Dancing clownfish

Clownfish perform an elaborate dance with an anemone before taking up residence, gently touching its tentacles with different parts of their bodies until they are acclimated to their host. A layer of mucus on the clownfish's skin makes it immune to the fish-eating anemone's lethal sting. In exchange for safety from predators and food scraps, the clownfish drives off intruders and preens its host, removing parasites.There are 28 known species of anemonefish, most of which live in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the western Pacific. They are not found in the Caribbean, Mediterranean or Atlantic Ocean.Bright orange with three distinctive white bars, clown anemonefish are among the most recognizable of all reef-dwellers. They reach about 4.3 inches (11 centimeters) in length, and are named for the multicolored sea anemone in which they make their homes.Surprisingly, all clownfish are born male. They have the ability to switch their sex, but will do so only to become the dominant female of a group. The change is irreversible.

Largest freshwater turtle - Dinosaur of the turtle world

The prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and among the largest in the world. With its spiked shell, beak-like jaws, and thick, scaled tail, this species is often referred to as the "dinosaur of the turtle world."
Found almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States, alligator snappers can live to be 50 to 100 years old. Males average 26 inches (66 centimeters) in shell length and weigh about 175 pounds (79.4 kilograms), although they have been known to exceed 220 pounds (100 kilograms). The much smaller females top out at around 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms).
Alligator snappers spend most of their lives in water, the exception being when females trudge about 160 feet (50 meters) inland to nest. They can stay submerged for 40 to 50 minutes before surfacing for air.
The alligator snapper employs a unique natural lure in its hunting technique. Its tongue sports a bright-red, worm-shaped piece of flesh that, when displayed by a motionless turtle on a river bottom, draws curious fish or frogs close enough to be snatched.
Adult snappers have no natural predators other than humans, who capture them for their meat and shells, and to sell in the exotic animal trade. A severe reduction in population due to unregulated harvesting and habitat loss has led states to protect them throughout most of their range, and they are listed as a threatened species.

Type: Reptile

Diet: Carnivore

Average lifespan in captivity: 20 to 70 years

Size: 26 in (66 cm)

Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)

Large bony and fiercest creature of the sea

Xiphactinus was one of the largest bony fish of the Late Cretaceous and is considered one of the fiercest creatures in the sea. A powerful tail and winglike pectoral fins shot the 17-foot-long (5-meter-long) monster through the surface waters of the ocean. Unlucky fish and unsuspecting seabirds were snared inside Xiphactinus's upturned jaw, which was lined with giant, fanglike teeth, giving it an expression akin to that of a bulldog.A 13-foot-long (4-meter-long) Xiphactinus could open its jaw wide enough to swallow six-foot-long (two-meter-long) fish whole, but it itself was occasionally prey to the shark Cretoxyrhina.Xiphactinus trolled an ancient ocean called the Western Interior Seaway, which covered much of central North America during the Cretaceous. Though long extinct, if alive today the bony fish would look like a giant, fanged tarpon.
Type: PrehistoricDiet: CarnivoreSize: Length, Up to 17 ft (5 m)A Xiphactinus on display at a museum in Kansas has a complete, well-preserved fish inside it. Scientists believe the struggling prey ruptured an organ of its captor as it was swallowed, killing the larger fish.

Most venomous snake on the earth

It seems unfairly menacing that a snake that can literally "stand up" and look a full-grown person in the eye would also be among the most venomous on the planet, but that describes the famous king cobra.
King cobras can reach 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes. When confronted, they can raise up to one-third of their bodies straight off the ground and still move forward to attack. They will also flare out their iconic hoods and emit a bone-chilling hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog.
Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce (seven milliliters)—is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans whenever possible, but they are fiercely aggressive when cornered.
King cobras live mainly in the rain forests and plains of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, and their coloring can vary greatly from region to region. They are comfortable in the trees, on land, and in water, feeding mainly on other snakes, venomous and nonvenomous. They will also eat lizards, eggs, and small mammals.
They are the only snakes in the world that build nests for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until the hatchlings emerge.
King cobras may be best known as the species of choice for the snake charmers of South Asia. Although cobras can hear, they are actually deaf to ambient noises, sensing ground vibrations instead. The charmer's flute entices the cobra by its shape and movement, not by the music it emits.Type: ReptileDiet: CarnivoreAverage lifespan in the wild: 20 yearsSize: 13 ft (4 m)Weight: Up to 20 lbs (9 kg)Group name: QuiverDid you know? Synthetic cobra venom is used in pain relievers and arthritis medication.Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m)

Whales Had Legs - STUDY

Whales Had Legs, Wiggled Hips, Study Says a study.

An early whale had large back legs, a tail like a dog's, and a hip-wiggling swimming style, according to a new fossil study. The discovery helps pinpoint the advent of "modern" whale flukes to between 38 and 40 million years ago, scientists say. Flukes are the two wide, flat triangular lobes on a whale's back end and are made of skin and connective tissue, with bones in the middle. Scientists have known whales evolved from semiaquatic, four-footed creatures with long, thin tails to today's fully aquatic mammals with fluked tails, no back legs, and flippers instead of front legs. (Related story: Whales Evolved From Tiny Deerlike Mammals, Study Says [December 19, 2007].)
But it was previously unknown when the tail flukes first arose in the whale family tree.
"What's interesting about this animal is that it had these back legs that it used to push itself through the water," said study author Mark D. Uhen, a paleontologist from the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
"This animal didn't have flukes, but the ones just a little bit younger [geologically] did. So we can really narrow that time frame now."

The Most beautiful butterfly

Monarch butterflies are known for the incredible mass migration that brings millions of them to California and Mexico each winter. North American monarchs are the only butterflies that make such a massive journey—up to 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers). The insects must begin this journey each fall ahead of cold weather, which will kill them if they tarry too long.
Monarch butterflies begin life as eggs and hatch as larvae that eat their eggshells and, subsequently, the milkweed plants on which they were placed. (Monarchs are dependent on milkweed plants, which larvae eat nearly exclusively.)
Fattening larvae become juicy, colorful caterpillars, then create a hard protective case around themselves as they enter the pupa stage. They emerge as beautifully colored, black-orange-and-white adults. The colorful pattern makes monarchs easy to identify—and that's the idea. The distinctive pattern warns predators that the insects are foul tasting and poisonous.
Butterflies that emerge from chrysalides (pupa state) in late summer and early fall are different from those that do so during the longer days and warmer weather of summer. These monarchs are born to fly, and know because of the changing weather that they must prepare for their lengthy journey.
Only monarchs born in late summer or early fall make the migration, and they make only one round trip. By the time next year's winter migration begins, several summer generations will have lived and died and it will be last year's migrators' great grandchildren that make the trip. Yet somehow these new generations know the way, and follow the same routes their ancestors took—sometimes even returning to the same tree.
Many scientists are concerned about the eastern population of monarchs, which summer east of the Rocky Mountains. This group is occurring in ever smaller numbers, and its survival may be threatened by a series of natural disasters in the Mexican wintering grounds, as well as by reduced acreage of milkweed plants in their summer home.

Dragonflies - Strange Love

Dragonflies Strange Love Grab, shake, bite, puncture, punch—that's just the courtship ritual of these dazzling aerobats.You may have seen their antics on a languid summer day: Somewhere on the reedy fringes of a pond, a male dasher dragonfly pursuing a female, like two hyphens of lightning. Or a tiger-striped spiketail diving, twirling, flashing its gossamer wings, then in a blink, meeting a mate to ascend together into the ether. Or a linked pair of brilliant green darners hovering as one over the dark water, the male towing the female, darting forward, then back, then straight up with the kind of aerial agility of which we masters of the helicopter can only dream. From a distance, dragonfly rituals of courtship and sex look harmless, even romantic. But a close look at their mating game reveals a harsher tale of sexual harassment and conflict. Take the jewelwing Calopteryx splendens. Some males dispense with courtship altogether and just snatch unwary females while they're warming in the sun—even immature ones, shimmer-fresh after emergence from their larval youth. Others, called "stealers," attack and split mating pairs by ramming, pulling, and biting them; still others, "water lurkers," grab a female in the midst of egg laying so they can have their way with her, even if she drowns in the process. Females, for their part, attempt to escape this boorish behavior by flipping, zigzagging, spiraling upward or downward, submerging in water, fleeing at high speed, or fighting back, sometimes murderously.

Ladybug - Farmer's friend

Many people are fond of ladybugs because of their colorful, spotted appearance. But farmers love them for their appetite. Most ladybugs voraciously consume plant-eating insects, such as aphids, and in doing so they help to protect crops. Ladybugs lay hundreds of eggs in the colonies of aphids and other plant-eating pests. When they hatch, the ladybug larvae immediately begin to feed. By the end of its three-to-six-week life, a ladybug may eat some 5,000 aphids.Ladybugs are also called lady beetles or, in Europe, ladybird beetles. There are about 5,000 different species of these insects, and not all of them have the same appetites. A few ladybugs prey not on plant-eaters but on plants. The Mexican bean beetle and the squash beetle are destructive pests that prey upon the crops mentioned in their names.Ladybugs appear as half-spheres, tiny, spotted, round or oval-shaped domes. They have short legs and antennae.Their distinctive spots and attractive colors are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste. Their coloring is likely a reminder to any animals that have tried to eat their kind before: "I taste awful." A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete the unappetizing substance to protect itself.

Ghost crabs

Ghost crabs, also called sand crabs, are common shore crabs in many
countries. In the south eastern United States, Ocypode quadrata is frequently seen
scurrying along beaches between sunset and dawn.These crabs are called ghosts because of their ability to disappear from sight almost
instantly, scuttling at speeds up to 10 miles per hour, while making sharp directional
changes. These creatures have two black eyes, with sharp 360° vision which they use to
see flying insects and catch them in mid air. The ghost crab, however, cannot see directly
up, so it must burrow into the ground to prevent birds from catching it.The ghost crab tunnels down four feet into the ground at a 45° angle, creating 1-2 inch wide
holes, which speckle the beach. At dusk, these crabs will sprint to the ocean in order to
obtain oxygen from the water which washes over their gills, and in June, females will release
their eggs into the ocean. Ghost crabs hibernate during the winter, holding their breath for
six months, by storing oxygen in sacs near the gills. They can also have a natural filter
system which gathers oxygen from the air, enough to survive for one year without entering
into water.

Bombardier beetle defense mechanism

A Bombardier beetle produces and stores two reactant chemical compounds, hydroquinone
and hydrogen-peroxide in separate reservoirs in the rear tip of its abdomen. When
threatened, the beetle contracts muscles that force the two reactants through valved tubes
into a mixing chamber containing water and a mixture of catalytic enzymes. When combined,
the reactants undergo a violent exothermic chemical reaction raising the temperature to near
the boiling point of water. The corresponding pressure buildup forces the entrance valves
from the reactant storage chambers to close thus protecting the beetles internal organs.
The boiling, foul-smelling liquid partially becomes a gas (flash evaporation) and is expelled
through a outlet valve into the atmosphere with a loud popping sound. The flow of reactants
into the reaction chamber and subsequent ejection to the atmosphere occurs cyclically at at
a rate of about 500 times per second and with the total pulsation period lasting for only a
fraction of a second.These reactions release free oxygen and generate enough heat to bring the mixture to the
boiling point and vaporize about a fifth of it. Under pressure of the released gasses the valve
is forced closed, and the chemicals are expelled explosively through openings at the tip of
the abdomen. Each time it does this it shoots about 70 times very rapidly. The damage
caused can be fatal to attacking insects and small creatures and is painful to human skin.

Mosquito that spreads dengue fever Chikungunya and yellow fever

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever,
Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases as well. The mosquito can be
recognized by white markings on legs and a marking of the form of a lyre on the thorax. Although it may feed at any time, the mosquito bites humans only between a few hours after
dawn until an hour or so after sunset. The mosquito's preferred breeding areas are in areas of stagnant water, such as flower
vases, uncovered barrels, buckets, and discarded tires, but the most dangerous areas are
wet shower floors and toilet tanks, as they allow the mosquitos to breed right in the
residence. Research has shown that certain chemicals emanating from bacteria in water
containers stimulate the female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. They are particularly motivated
to lay eggs in water containers that have just the right amounts of specific fatty acids
associated with bacteria involved in the degradation of leaves and other organic matter in
water. The chemicals associated with the microbial stew are far more stimulating to
discerning female mosquitoes than plain water, for example, or filtered water in which the
bacteria once lived

Jumping spiders

Jumping spiders capture their prey by jumping on it from several inches away, and they may jump from twig to twig or leaf to leaf. They can jump many times their body length. They can carry out complex maneuvers such as detours around obstacles in order to reach their prey. Their eyesight is much better than the other spiders and most, if not all, insects. Most other spiders will only eat prey that they have captured live because they are unable to see dead prey (some long-legged sac spiders and anyphaenid sac spiders are exceptions as they recognize insect eggs as food) but jumping spiders will eat flies that have been killed for them. One jumping spider (Evarcha culicivora) is even known to only capture mosquitos full of blood, using their eyesight and smell.

Sheep that can jump over 2 m from a stand-still

Barbary Sheep can jump over 2 m from a stand-still. Barbary Sheep stand 80 to 100 cm (30 to 40 inches) tall at the shoulder and weigh 40 to 140 kg (90 to 310 lb). They are a sandy-brown color, darkening with age, with a slightly lighter underbelly and a darker line on the back. Upperparts and outer legs are uniform reddish-brown or grayish-brown. There is some shaggy hair on the throat (extending down to the chest in males) and a sparse "mane". Their horns have a triangular cross section. The horns curve outwards, backwards then inwards, and reach up to 50 cm (20 inches). The horns are smooth, but wrinkled at the base. Scientists say that the horns can grow to be about six inches long. Barbary Sheep are found in arid mountainous areas of the Sahara where they graze and browse all available plants -- grass, bushes, lichen and acacia. They obtain all their moisture from food, but if water is available they drink and wallow in it. Barbary Sheep are crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon, resting in the heat of the day. They are very agile and can jump over two metres from a stand-still. Barbary Sheep are usually solitary, and freeze in the presence of danger. Their main predators in North Africa are leopards and caracals.

World's largest alligator

Black Caiman is both the world's largest alligator and the Amazon Basin's largest predator. The black caiman has a bony ridge over red eyes, and black, scaly skin. The skin coloration helps with camouflage during its nocturnal hunts, but may also help absorb heat. The black caiman can grow to 5 m (16.5 ft) long, making it the largest member of the Alligator family and the largest predator in the Amazon basin. The largest reported black caiman, measuring 7.7 meters (25.2 ft) and weighing 1,310 kg (2,870 lb), was shot in Acre, Brazil in 1965 and, which if accurate, would count as the largest crocodilian recorded besides saltwater crocodiles. They eat fish, including piranhas, catfish, and other animals, including birds, turtles, and land-dwelling animals like the capybara and deer when they come to the water to get a drink. Larger specimens can take tapirs, and sometimes anacondas and jaguars. Conversely, jaguars may prey on caimans and these two large predators are each likely to avoid large adults of the other species. Their teeth are designed to grab but not rip, so they swallow their food whole after drowning it. Immature specimens eat crustaceans and insects. Their main predator is humans, who hunt them for leather or meat. In return, black caimans are known to catch and eat humans as well.

Bird which traps itself

Female Wrinkled Hornbills build nests in treeholes, then plaster over the holes, trapping themselves inside for months. The Wrinkled Hornbill is around 70 cm long, and has a very large bill that is fused to the skull. It has mainly black plumage, a blue eye-ring, and a broadly white or rufous-tipped tail. The male and female have different head and bill patterns. Males have bright yellow feathers on the auriculars, cheeks, throat, neck-sides and chest, but these areas are black in the female, except for the blue throat. The bill of the male is yellow with a red base and casque, and a brownish basal half of the lower mandible. The bill and casque of the female is almost entirely yellow. They use holes found in trees for nests, and the female will plaster over the entrance with mud and droppings, leaving a nesting mother and her chicks only a small hole, too small for them to exit. They are fed exclusively by the male, who regurgitates food for them. After several months, when the chicks are ready, the female will break out of her nest.

Goanna oil

Goanna oil was sold amongst early European settlers of Australia as a panacea much like snake oil was in the Old West. Like most native fauna, goannas are rather wary of human intrusions into their habitat, and will most likely run away (into the scrub, up a tree, or into the water, depending on the species). A goanna is a rather swift mover, and when pressed will sprint short distances on its hind legs. The diet of goannas varies greatly depending on the species and the habitat. Prey can include all manner of small animals; insects, lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, eggs. Meals are often eaten whole, and thus the size of their meal may depend on the size of the animal itself. Many of the small species feed mostly on insects, with some being small lizard specialists. Many of the medium to large species will feed on whatever prey items they can catch.

Largest European tortoise

The Marginated Tortoise is the largest European tortoise, reaching a weight of up to 5 kg (11 pounds) and a length of 35 cm (14 inches). Its shell is oblong and has a notable thickness around the middle of the body. The posterior end of the shell has a saw-like formation, flanged outward like a bell. The carapace of adult specimens is almost completely black, with yellow highlights. The ventral shell is lighter coloured and has pairs of triangular markings with the points facing the rear of the animal. The front sides of the limbs are covered with large scales. In old female specimens, the rear flaps of the underside of the plastron are somewhat moveable. The tail is notable for a lengthwise marking and for an undivided carapace over the tail. Males have a longer tail, which is thicker at the base than the females. Their underside is more strongly indented. Males are also often larger than the females. The females lay their hard-shelled spherical eggs in the soil in May and June. Early in the morning, Marginated Tortoises bask in the sun to raise their body temperature, and then search for food. After feeding, the tortoises return to their shelters in the hot midday hours, leaving them again in the late afternoon.

Spider spinning gold-colored webs

Long-jawed orb weaver family of spiders spins gold-colored webs. The long-jawed orb weavers or long jawed spiders (family Tetragnathidae) are elongated spiders with long legs and chelicerae.
The spiders are orb web weavers, weaving small orb webs with an open hub and few, wide-set radii and spirals. The webs have no signal line and no retreat. Some species are often found in long vegetation near water.
The genus Nephila, or golden silk orb-weavers, named after the golden tint of their silk, has been separated into its own family.

Giant isopods

Giant isopods, which live in the depths of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, can grow up to 45 cm long. Although generalist scavengers, these isopods are mostly carnivorous and feed on dead whales, fish, and squid; they may also be active predators of slow-moving prey such as sea cucumbers, sponges, radiolarians, nematodes and other zoobenthos, and perhaps even live fish. They are known to attack trawl catches. The young isopods emerge from the marsupium as miniatures of the adults, known as manca. This is not a larval stage: the manca are fully developed, lacking only the last pair of pereopods.

Fish with no apparent sexual dimorphism

Pineconefish have no apparent sexual dimorphism. Pinecone fishes are small and unusual beryciform marine fish of the family Monocentridae. The family contains just four species in two genera, one of which is monotypic. Their distribution is limited to tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Pinecone fishes are popular subjects of public aquaria, but are both expensive and considered a challenge for the hobbyist to maintain. These fish are aptly named; their rounded, compressed bodies are completely covered (with the exception of the caudal peduncle) with very large, strong platelike scales called scutes which are fortified with prominent ridges.The first dorsal fin is composed of 4-7 strong, disunited spines which vary in length; the second dorsal fin and anal fin are small, spineless and rounded, situated far back of the convex head. The pelvic fin possesses one large erectile spine which can lock into place. The pectoral fins are somewhat elongate and the caudal fin is truncate.Coloration is typically a yellow to orange, the scales dramatically outlined in black. The eyes are relatively large, and the mouth oblique and subterminal. On either side of the lower jaw there is a bioluminescent organ called a photophore: a pale light is produced by symbiotic bacteria within the organ, and the colour of the light varies with ambient light levels—orange by day and blue-green at night.

Excellent climber - Alpine Ibex

Alpine Ibex being an excellent climber, its habitat is the rocky region along the snowline above alpine forests of the European Alps. They tend to occupy steep, rough terrain at elevations of 6,500–15,000 feet (2,000–4,600 m).Both male and female ibexes have large, backwards-curving horns although those of the male are substantially larger and can grow to an impressive length of up to 1 m. These horns are used to defend themselves from predators such as wolves, lynxes, bears and foxes. Ibexes are strictly herbivorous and survive on a diet of grass, moss, flowers, leaves and twigs. If leaves and shoots are out of reach, Ibexes often stand on their rear legs to reach this food. They eat during late afternoon and evening hours, descending at this time from the high steep cliffs and into the lower alpine meadows below. The rest of the day is spent in the higher altitude of the cliffs and hills.

Gelechiid moths

The Gelechiid moths, are a family of Lepidoptera (moths). These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larvae of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plants, sometimes causing galls.There are about 650 North American species.

The Komodo dragon

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is a species of lizard that inhabits the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, [3] A member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 ft) and weighing around 70 kilograms (150 lb). Komodo dragons were discovered by Western scientists in 1910.Komodo dragons also possess virulent bacteria in their saliva, of which more than 28 Gram-negative and 29 Gram-positive strains have been isolated.if an initial bite does not kill the prey animal and it escapes, it will commonly succumb within a week to the resulting infection. There is no specific antidote to the bite of a Komodo dragon, but it can usually be treated by sterilizing the wounded area and giving the patient large doses of antibiotics. If not treated promptly, gangrene can quickly develop around the bite, which may require amputation of the affected area.

The largest land-living arthropod in the world

The Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) is the largest land-living arthropod in the world. It is a highly apomorphic hermit crab and is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its strong pincers in order to eat the contents.It is also called the robber crab or palm thief, because some Coconut Crabs are rumored to steal shiny items such as pots and silverware from houses and tents.Coconut Crabs cannot swim and even small specimens will drown in water. They use a special organ called a branchiostegal lung to breathe. This organ can be interpreted as a developmental stage between gills and lungs, and is one of the most significant adaptations of the Coconut Crab to its habitat. Coconut Crabs live on the land, the aesthetascs on their antennae differ significantly from those of other crabs and look more like the smelling organs of insects, called sensilia.The smell of rotting meat, bananas, and coconuts, all potential food sources, catch their attention especially.Coconut Crabs live alone in underground burrows and rock crevices, depending on the local terrain. They dig their own burrows in sand or loose soil. During the day, the animal stays hidden, to protect itself from predators and reduce water loss from heat.The Coconut Crab is admired for its strength, and it is said[who?] that villagers use this animal to guard their coconut plantations. The Coconut Crab, especially if it is not yet fully grown, is also sold as a pet, for example in Tokyo. The cage must be strong enough that the animal cannot use its powerful claws to escape. Should a Coconut Crab pinch a person, this is not only painful but the frightened crab will usually hold fast.Adult Coconut Crabs have few natural predators, and significant numbers are eaten only by people. The adults have poor eyesight, and detect enemies based on ground vibration.

Swallowtail butterfly

The Anise Swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon, is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America. Both the upper and lower sides of its wings are black, but the upper wing has a broad yellow stripe across it, which gives the butterfly an overall yellow appearance. There are striking blue spots on the rear edge of the rear wing, and the characteristic tails of the swallowtails. Its wingspan is 7-9 cm.The caterpillar is green, with dark bands spotted with yellow. Its major food plants are members of the carrot family, Apiaceae, (including fennel), and also some members of the citrus family.

The horse chestnut leaf miner

The horse chestnut leaf miner moth grows up to 5 mm long and has shiny, bright brown forewings with thin black and white stripes. Its larvae are leaf miners on the Common Horse-chestnut, causing significant damage to the appearance of the trees.The larva digs its way into the leaves of the tree, damaging the leaves and stunting growth. Infected leaves are covered in small brown patches which spread rapidly across the entire tree, giving an autumnal appearance (these patches are similar to damage caused by the fungus , but can be distinguished by their more regular size and shape). Eventually the leaves die and drop off; when new ones grow they are again infected. This cycle can repeat itself several times in one season.The moth is able to live at temperatures as low as -23 °C, although it thrives in warmer climates, where it can achieve as many as six generations a year. Its natural enemies are parasitic wasps, but there are few of the required species in Europe, meaning there is next to no natural control.

Plant grows almost everywhere in the world that does not have frost

Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In many parts of the world, such as Mexico and Zimbabwe, the blooming of this tree is welcomed as a sign of spring.The species are shrubs to large trees ranging in size from 2 to 30 m tall.

Sidewinding unique to caenophidian snakes

Sidewinding is a type of locomotion unique to caenophidian snakes, used to move across loose or slippery substrates. It is most often used by the Saharan horned viper, Cerastes cerastes, and the sidewinder rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, to move across loose desert sands, but it is also used by Homalopsine snakes in Southeast Asia to move across tidal mud flats. Any number of caenophidian snakes can be induced to sidewind on artificial smooth surfaces, though difficulty in getting them to do so and their proficiency at it vary greatly.In the resultant movement, the snake's body is always in static (as opposed to sliding) contact when touching the ground. The head seems to be "thrown" forward, and the body follows, being lifted from the prior position and moved forward to lay on the ground ahead of where it was originally. Meanwhile, the head is being thrown forward again. In this way, the snake slowly progresses at an angle, leaving a series of mostly straight, J-shaped tracks. Because the snake's body is in static contact with the ground, imprints of the belly scales can be seen in the tracks, and each track is almost exactly as long as the snake.Crude animated line-drawing shows the locomotor pattern of sidewinding. The light brown areas are the tracks left behind, and also indicate where the body of the snake touched the ground.

Australian Green Tree Frog

The Australian Green Tree Frog, simply Green Tree Frog in Australia, White's Tree Frog, or Dumpy Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea) is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in New Zealand and the United States. The Green Tree Frog is larger than most Australian frogs, reaching 10 centimetres (4 inches) in length. The average lifespan of the frog in captivity, about sixteen years, is long in comparison with most frogs. Green Tree Frogs are docile and well suited to living near human dwellings. They are often found on windows or inside houses, eating insects drawn by the light.Due to its physical and behavioural traits, the Green Tree Frog has become one of the most recognisable frogs in its region, and is a popular exotic pet throughout the world. The skin secretions of the frog have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may prove useful in pharmaceutical preparations.

The Casque of the Tarictic Hornbill is hollow

The Casque of the Tarictic Hornbill is hollow and made of keratin. Penelopides is the genus of relatively small, primarily frugivorous hornbills found in forests of the Philippines and the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Their common name, tarictic hornbills, is an onomatopoetic reference to the main call of several of them. They have a ridged plate-like structure on the base of their mandible. All are sexually dimorphic, with males of all except the Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill being whitish-buff and black, while females of all except the Mindoro Tarictic Hornbill are primarily black.

The most colorful tree in the world

Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant from the Fabaceae family, noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. Often grown as an ornamental tree and given the name Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant, it is also known as Krishnachura, Gulmohar, Peacock Flower, Flame of the Forest, Malinche, and Tabachine, and one of several named the Flame tree.The tree's vivid red/vermilion/orange/yellow flowers and bright green foliage make it an exceptionally striking sight. The flowers are large, with four spreading scarlet or orange-red petals up to 8 cm long, and a fifth upright petal called the standard, which is slightly larger and spotted with yellow and white.

The lion's mane jellyfish

The lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) is the largest known species of jellyfish. Its range is confined to cold, boreal waters of the Arctic, northern Atlantic and northern Pacific Oceans, seldom found farther south than 42°N latitude. Similar jellyfish (which may be the same species) are known from the seas off Australia and New Zealand. The Arctic Lion's mane jellyfish is one of the longest known animals; the largest recorded specimen had a bell (body) with a diameter of 2.3 m (7 feet 6 inches) and the tentacles reached 36.5 m (120 feet). It was found washed up on the shore of Massachusetts Bay in 1870. This specimen was longer than a blue whale, which is commonly considered to be the longest animal in the world.the lion's mane jellyfish is well known to divers for its painful, but seldom fatal stings; they are toxic and can cause severe burns. Most encounters cause only temporary pain and localized redness.Although capable of attaining a bell diameter of 2.5 m (8 feet), these jellyfish are highly variable in size; those found in lower latitudes are much smaller than their far northern counterparts with bells about 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter. The tentacles of larger specimens may trail as long as 30 m (100 feet) or more. These extremely sticky tentacles are grouped into eight clusters, each cluster containing 65-150 tentacles, arranged in a series of rows.

The Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar Pigeon is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird on small uninhabited islands in Indonesia and the Nicobar Islands. This is a large, heavy pigeon at 40cm in length. It is mainly metallic green with green and copper hackles on the neck. The head and upper neck, flight feathers and breast are dark grey. The tail is very short and pure white. There is a black knob on the base of the bill, and the strong legs are dark red. This is not a very vocal species, but possesses a low pitched repetitive call.The Nicobar Pigeon roams in flocks from island to island, including inhabited sites, seeking its food of seeds, fruit and some invertebrates, and is attracted to areas where grain is available; usually, it sleeps on offshore islets where no predators occur and spends the day in areas with better food availability. Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general. Peculiarly, groups tend to fly in columns or single file, not in a loose flock as most other pigeons do; the white tail seems to serve as a sort of "taillight" when crossing water at dawn or dusk.

Short-horned Lizards

Short-horned Lizards are flat-bodied, squat lizards with short spines crowning the head. They have a snub-nosed profile and short legs. The trunk is fringed by one row of pointed scales, while the belly scales are smooth. The color is gray, yellowish, or reddish-brown, and there are two rows of large dark spots on the back. When threatened or aggressive, their colors become more intense.Short-horned Lizards are "sit-and-wait" predators. They feed primarily on ants, but will also take an occasional grasshopper or beetle. Often, they can be found sitting in the vicinity of ant nests or trails. They are most active during midday and burrow at night. They rely extensively on camouflage to avoid predators.