FuzzyMerkin Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 And you thought you'd seen it all... The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a strepsirrhine native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth with a long, thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate, and is characterized by its unique method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws holes in the wood and inserts its elongated middle finger to pull the grubs out. Musk deer are artiodactyls of the genus Moschus, the only genus of family Moschidae. They are more primitive than the cervids, or true deer, in not having antlers or facial glands, in having only a single pair of teats, and in possessing a gall bladder, a caudal gland, a pair of tusk-like teeth and—of particular economic importance to humans—a musk gland. The Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) is a small North American mole found in eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States. It is the only member of the tribe Condylurini and the genus Condylura. It lives in wet lowland areas and eats small invertebrates, aquatic insects, worms and molluscs. It is a good swimmer and can forage along the bottoms of streams and ponds. Like other moles, this animal digs shallow surface tunnels for foraging; often, these tunnels exit underwater. It is active day and night and remains active in winter, when it has been observed tunnelling through the snow and swimming in ice-covered streams. Little is known about the social behavior of the species, but it is suspected that it is colonial. Quote
FuzzyMerkin Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 The Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta) is a crustacean discovered in 2005 in the South Pacific Ocean. This decapod, which is approximately 15 cm long, is notable for the quantity of silky blond setae (resembling fur) covering its pereiopods (thoracic legs, including claws). Its discoverers dubbed it the "yeti lobster" or "yeti crab" . The ‘hairy’ pincers contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature may use to detoxify poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the hydrothermal vents where it lives. Alternatively, it may feed on the bacteria, although it is thought to be a general carnivore. Its diet also consists of green algae and small shrimp. The blobfish (Fathead, Psychrolutes marcidus) is a fish that inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Due to the inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans. Blobfish are found at depths where the pressure is several dozens of times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders inefficient. To remain buoyant, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. The relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front of it. The Axolotl may not a common pet, but it is very unique. The axolotl is a type of salamander, native to Mexico. It’s scientific name is Ambystoma mexicanum. The common pet or laboratory Axolotl refers exclusively to A. mexicanum, although in Mexico the term Axolotl is used in reference to several species of Ambystoma, and is considered an edible food source! The Axolotl is neotenic, meaning that it doesn’t routinely undergo metamorphosis from the larval to adult form, as happens with most other salamanders. Instead, the larval form (with gills) becomes sexually mature and reproduces, maintaining a strictly aquatic life style. Under some circumstances, the Axolotl can undergo metamorphosis into a terrestrial from, although this can be stressful on the animal. Quote
FuzzyMerkin Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 The dumbo octopus, also known as the "Grimpoteuthis", is a benthic mollusc found on the ocean floor at depths of 300-400 meters. Dumbo octopuses, which can grow to up to 20 centimeters, are soft-bodied or semi- gelatinous octopuses with a pair of fins located on their mantle and webbing between their arms. Grimpoteuthis swim by moving their fins, pulsing their webbed arms, pushing water through their funnel for jet propulsion, or all three at once. They can swim up off the bottom and hover a bit just above the seafloor looking for snails, worms, and other food. The hagfishes are renowned for their ability to produce vast quantities of slime when provoked. The aim of my research is to describe and understand the mechanical properties of hagfish slime in terms of its molecular structure, as well as its functional significance for the animal. Quote
the ocean Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 The Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta) is a crustacean discovered in 2005 in the South Pacific Ocean. This decapod, which is approximately 15 cm long, is notable for the quantity of silky blond setae (resembling fur) covering its pereiopods (thoracic legs, including claws). Its discoverers dubbed it the "yeti lobster" or "yeti crab" . The ‘hairy’ pincers contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature may use to detoxify poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the hydrothermal vents where it lives. Alternatively, it may feed on the bacteria, although it is thought to be a general carnivore. Its diet also consists of green algae and small shrimp. ugh I thought I had erased this one from my mind long ago. I remember seeing the story about it a couple of years ago when they discovered it. I posted it on a thread about "your favorite seafood" or something like that on another board back then. Quote
FuzzyMerkin Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 Platypus, I know its cuter than it is ugly, but it is weird. "The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a poison capable of causing severe pain to humans". It is Australian and lives in burrows, and is an egg-laying mammal... what the heck?! I always thought they were kind funny animals....and now it turns out they're poisonous??? What's the world coming to... ugh I thought I had erased this one from my mind long ago. I remember seeing the story about it a couple of years ago when they discovered it. I posted it on a thread about "your favorite seafood" or something like that on another board back then. I like those. They look like they're wearing some kind of furry gloves - to which I can relate given that my hands are cold most of the time. I saw an Axolotl in an aquarium some years ago - that creature was right spooky! When we walked up to the aquarium, it spied us and came crawling over from the other end of the container to stare at us with its bulging eyes...that strange smile doesn't help either.... Creepy! Quote
dragster Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 I don't think any animals are ugly. I totally concur!! :) Quote
FuzzyMerkin Posted March 4, 2008 Author Posted March 4, 2008 I don't think any animals are ugly. I totally concur!! :) True...though that blobfish looks a lot like my old maths teacher... Quote
Black Dawg Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) When I used to pull these up on my line as a youngster, I remember these looking even uglier than the picture. Toadfish or Oyster Cracker http://www.ctfisherman.com/data/96toadfish-med.jpg Edited March 4, 2008 by Black Dawg Quote
LadyRaven Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 What about lampreys? Those things are disgusting!!! Quote
Chicken Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 The blobfish (Fathead, Psychrolutes marcidus) is a fish that inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Due to the inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans. Blobfish are found at depths where the pressure is several dozens of times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders inefficient. To remain buoyant, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. The relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front of it. The dumbo octopus, also known as the "Grimpoteuthis", is a benthic mollusc found on the ocean floor at depths of 300-400 meters. Dumbo octopuses, which can grow to up to 20 centimeters, are soft-bodied or semi- gelatinous octopuses with a pair of fins located on their mantle and webbing between their arms. Grimpoteuthis swim by moving their fins, pulsing their webbed arms, pushing water through their funnel for jet propulsion, or all three at once. They can swim up off the bottom and hover a bit just above the seafloor looking for snails, worms, and other food. Teeheeheeheeheee! Well, they've cheered me up. I've never seen either of those strange creatures before. Awesome. Quote
Electrophile Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 The blobfish looks depressed. Maybe he needs some Prozac. Quote
spats Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 I find that i can find beauty in all animals. It's amazing that some of these creatures exist. They should be protected. Quote
Electrophile Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 You can find beauty in all animals, but your list of shit the women you want to date must conform to is wordier than the Constitution. Quote
Mattmc1973 Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 You can find beauty in all animals, but your list of shit the women you want to date must conform to is wordier than the Constitution. The irony is staggering Quote
SunChild Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 God is cruel. He may end up on Springer. Just think, this is probably some other blobfish's true love... Quote
PJ Slocum Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Just think, this is probably some other blobfish's true love... That's a face only a mother could love Quote
PJ Slocum Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Anglerfish are disgusting. but it looks so darn friendly Quote
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