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Sunday, April 6, 2014

New Golden Age for Pterosaurs, Flying Reptiles of the Dinosaur Era

Pterosaurs were the most magnificent fliers of all time. With wings of skin stretched over bone, they soared over the heads of dinosaurs below.

Their ranks included fuzzy little flappers the size of a bat and enormous soaring species with 33-foot (10-meter) wingspans that stood on the ground as tall as a giraffe.
Pterosaurs
Paleontologists have known about the existence of pterosaurs since the early days of fossil investigation, but researchers are just now getting to know these extinct fliers.

The reptiles are also gaining more attention from the general public. Pterosaurs are often put on exhibit as the "also rans" of the Mesozoic era, presented as window dressing in a world ruled by other, more famous creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex. But this weekend they will fly into the spotlight in the new American Museum of Natural History exhibit "Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs."

Source: Here
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Friday, April 4, 2014

22 million years later, hummingbird evolution still soaring

BERKELEY, Calif., April 4 (UPI) -- A new exhaustive family tree of hummingbirds -- published today in the journal Current Biology -- reveals the remarkable 22-million year evolutionary journey from a single common ancestor to today's assemblage of 338 different species.
It's the story of a tiny bird which begins in Europe 22 million years ago. After making its way to Asia and North America, and the delicate creature suddenly and rapidly flourishes in South America -- its family radiating out into 140 new species amongst the varied terrain and thin air of modern-day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Source: Here
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Sharks sense prey in surprising ways during pioneering study

 (Phys.org) —A team of scientists have unmasked the intricacies of how sharks hunt prey—from the first whiff to the final chomp —in a new study about shark senses that was supported by the National Science Foundation and published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE.
sharkssensep
The study, led by scientists from the University of South Florida, Mote Marine Laboratory and Boston University, is the first to show how vision, touch, smell and other senses combine to guide a detailed series of animal behaviors from start to finish. Results show that sharks with different lifestyles may favor different senses, and they can sometimes switch when their preferred senses are blocked. That's hopeful news for sharks trying to find food in changing and sometimes degraded environments.

"This is undoubtedly the most comprehensive multi-sensory study on any shark, skate or ray," said Philip Motta, a USF biology professor and internationally-recognized shark expert who co-authored this study.

Source: Here
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Weddell Seals

Weddell seals have an average life span of up to 30 years, they spend most of their time below the ice of Antarctica. 





They are well-known for their approachable and docile nature. Their only predators are the orcas or killer whales, and the larger species of leopard seals.

Check here for more information.
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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Top dog costumes for 2013 Part III

princess dog costume
Do you like to embarrass your dog in October? We're here to help - Wayfair.comhas announced the 10 most popular dog costumes for 2013. Click through the slideshow for the results. No. 1 Princess, for the dog who spends the day drooling all over the sofa throw pillows.
minion dog costume
No. 2 Minion, for the dog who agrees to dog costume changes with enthusiastic obedience.
dinosaur dog costume
No. 3 Dinosaur, for the dog who is the least ferocious-looking animal on the planet.
Gangster dog costume
No. 4 Gangster, for the dog who wants to wear bowties and little hats but has no intention of guarding the house or going after the family's enemies. 
Ewok dog costume
No. 5 Ewok, for the dog whose own cute, fuzzy ears are just not cute enough.
clown dog costume
No. 6 Clown, for the dog who loves shiny things
hippo dog costume
No. 7 Hippo, for the dog who was almost eaten by a hippo, but escaped at the last minute.
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Famous Canadian Actor Ryan Gosling Skypes with Pooch

The Canadian hunk, Ryan Gosling admits Skyping with his dog "George," whenever they are apart.



Gosling stated that he almost went anywhere with his dog, who now prefers to stay more comfortably at home. Gosling now contacts Eva Mendes (present girlfriend or fiancĂ©e) through Skype to keep in touch with his dog, so as not to miss him too much.

Have you considered monitoring your pet through Skype? 



Read here for full details.
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Billions Of Rasberry Crazy Ants To Invade Southern Texas, Species Is ‘More Powerful’ Than Fire Ants

Houston is bracing for an incursion by billions of hairy, six-legged intruders. The Rasberry crazy ant, egged on by warmer weather, is expected to emerge from its winter hibernation and overrun the southern Texas city, and 20 other counties surrounding it, within the next few weeks.
Ants
The Rasberry crazy ant, named for the exterminator Tom Rasberry who discovered the ants in 2002, are originally from South America but are thought to have arrived in the U.S. aboard cargo ships in the 1930s. CBS Houston reports that the ants are known for their erratic behavior and their penchant for getting into and ruining electrical equipment.

They’re also more destructive and harder to manage than their cousins, the fire ants. The crazy ant has been known to fight and kill fire ants, even outpacing them when it comes to collecting food.

Source: Here
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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Top dog costumes for 2013 Part II

ghost buster dog costume
No. 8 Ghost Buster, for the dog who can't stop wishing it was the '80s again.
Lobster dog costume
No. 9 Lobster, an appropriate punishment for the dog who ate someone's fancy dinner off the counter last week.
yoda dog costume
No. 10 Yoda, for the dog who has no idea how grammar works. Click through the slideshow for more amazing dog costumes that we just can't resist.

hip doggie duck hoodie costume 
No. 11 This is called a "hip doggie duck hoodie costume," and that's really all the explanation it needs.
dog costume
No. 12 That's right, this is a dog dressed up as another dog. Which leaves open the possibility of a dog dressed up as a dog, dressed up as another dog. The possibilities are endless.
pirate wench dog costume
No. 13 There are several sexy dog costumes available this year. Pirate wench, for instance.
Barktoria's Secret dog costume
No. 14 Barktoria's Secret, anyone?

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Leaking Fish Tank in One of Disney's Restaurants Soaked Nearby Diners

March 17 - a fish tank leaking in the middle of the T-Rex Café dining room in Disney, Orlando left diners soggy and astonished.

Photo from Kate Wallace

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the diners, and no injuries stated err... seen from the fishes. Thanks to their alert staff who responded well on the crisis.
Though some diners immediately went out, and some looked for other venues to enjoy their dinner, still others went nearby the tank to get a good shot of the incident for us to see.

All questions about the incident were referred to corporate headquarters. Read here for full details.
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Why the zebra has stripes

Where did the zebra get his stripes? Or rather, why?

This has been studied over the years, with various theories proposed: to confuse predators, provide camouflage, regulate body temperature, aid in social interaction and to repel insects, according to National Geographic. The two that have had the best results in studies over the years are repelling insects and confusing predators.
zebra
A scientific team headed by Tim Caro, a wildlife biologist at the University of California-Davis, mapped the range of zebras as well as horses and asses, noting striping on their bodies. This was compared to the five hypotheses about the purpose of zebra stripes using variables such as predator ranges, wooded areas, temperatures and distribution of biting flies. The best overlap was with biting flies.

Source: Here
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