Zimmerman Blogs: Novatroll

piglet squid

•(z)merman• — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:43:44 +0000

The piglet squid live near the surface of
the oceans, between 100 m and 200 m
deep. Their average size is 100 mm.

It is its habit of swimming upside down
(compared to the way we are used to
seeing squids), which makes its tentacles
look like a crazy mop of hair.

These pictures were taken by a submersible
robot off the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.

Because of its deep water habitat, little is
known of its behaviour, although not
surprisingly, judging by its body shape, it
is known to be a sluggish swimmer.

heliococranchia

star-nosed mole

•(z)merman• — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:53:02 +0000

One of the most intriguing stars in the universe is right here on Earth: the eleven pairs of pink fleshy appendages ringing the snout of the star-nosed mole. From its appearance and location, one would think this star might be a supersensitive olfactory organ, helping the nearly blind mole negotiate its subterranean environment, or an extra hand for grasping prey or manipulating objects. Some researchers have hypothesized that the star detects electric fields, thus acting as a kind of antenna. But in reality, the star is an extraordinary touch organ with more than 25,000 minute sensory receptors, called Eimer’s organs, with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around.

The Eimer’s organs are arranged in a honeycombed pattern of tiny epidermal “domes,” each sensitive to the slightest touch. Although the star is less than half an inch across, its surface is supplied with more than 100,000 large nerve fibers. By comparison, the touch receptors in the human hand are equipped with only about 17,000 of these fibers. Imagine having six times the sensitivity of your entire hand concentrated in a single fingertip.

a star is born

blowing bubbles

mealybug

•(z)merman• — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:02:10 +0000

Mealybugs are an oval shaped, white, cottony looking insect that congregate in leaf crotches and stem joints. The damage is caused by sucking and the insect may carry and spread plant fungus and disease. You will observe pale foliage, leaf drop and stunted growth as this insect does its damage.

dictionary of botanic terminology

ring-tailed lemur

•(z)merman• — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:34:28 +0000

The Ring-tailed Lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs but uncommon among other primates. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together forming a lemur ball. The Ring-tailed Lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun. Like other lemurs, this species relies strongly on its sense of smell and marks its territory with scent glands. The males perform a unique scent marking behavior called spur marking and will participate in stink fights by impregnating their tail with their scent and wafting it at opponents.

Lemurs use their hands and feet to move nimbly through the trees, but cannot grip with their tails as some of their primate cousins do. Ring-tailed lemurs also spend a lot of time on the ground, which is unusual among lemur species. They forage for fruit, which makes up the greater part of their diet, but also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap.

Lemurs are found only on the African island of Madagascar and some tiny neighboring islands. Because of its geographic isolation, Madagascar is home to many amazing animals found nowhere else on Earth. Lemurs may have floated there eons ago on “rafts” of vegetation and evolved in isolation over countless centuries.

Ring-Tailed Lemur range

national geographic

rufous elephant shrew

•(z)merman• — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:05:57 +0000

Rufous elephant shrews are small mouse-like animals found on the plains, savannas and forest floors of east Africa. Their long mobile snouts can be moved around much like an elephant’s trunk in their endless search for ants, termites and worms. These shrews are escape specialists: they make a series of pathways away from their nests which they shoot down rapidly at the first signs of a predator.

bbc nature

elephant shrew

•(z)merman• — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:44:09 +0000

The elephant shrew which occurs only in Africa, is, according to the scientists actually not related to the shrew, but to a group of African mammals, which include elephants, sea cow, aardvarks and hyraxes, having shared a common ancestor with them about 100 million years ago. This is why they are also known as sengis.

puguhills

oriental

•(z)merman• — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:17:30 +0000

Cat Facts:

Breed Type: Man-made

Body Type: Slim bodied

Coat Type: Longhair and Shorthair

Size: Medium

Temperament: Highly active and needs lots of attention. talkative.Highly inquisitive and curious, and will be very inventive at getting at what they’re after. This cat will be a close companion. Likes to perch high. Likes to chose its own toys.

Colors: All, but not pointed.

Origins:

As a Siamese-derived breed the Oriental originated from crossing Siamese cats with American short hairs, Russian blues, Burmese and Abyssinians in England during the 1950s. Then in the 1960s the breed was perfected in America creating a Siamese looking cat with its svelte body style, head type and personality in a variety of colors.

After the oriental was accepted in 1977 by the CFA its popularity increased to being the fourth most popular breed by registration totals.

Breed Pros and Cons:

Pros

Has more than 300 color and pattern combinations
They are natural entertainers; full of enthusiasm and energy
Extremely people oriented and trusting

Cons

Can become distressed or depressed if left alone too often
Not for cat-lovers who want their cats seen but not heard
Usually bonds with only one preferred person

http://www.bestcatbreeds.com/breed/112

Oriental Shorthairs

•(z)merman• — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:21:53 +0000

Helmi’s site