If there's one bird I do NOT want to meet face to face its the Cassowary. Dang bird is one reason why Australia is dangerous, its known to attack humans, and unlike other birds.. this one can kill.
Random Fun Facts about Animals
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Caecilians are crazy cool and one of the least-studied groups of vertebrates on the planet just because they're so rare. They're the third, little-known family of amphibians in addition to frogs/toads and salamanders, and they're crazy hard to find because they live underground exclusively in tropical climates. One of the professor's at my university was a leading expert on them but I never got the chance to handle a specimen myself.
Cooooooool. I had never heard of caecilians until seeing this vid. Worm-looking amphibians that give birth to live young? Super fascinating. I was thinking it was some sort of tadpole-stage frog but pretty cool to know about a whole other species. looks up why they're called caecilians
The name caecilian derives from the Latin word caecus, meaning "blind", referring to the small or sometimes nonexistent eyes. The name dates back to the taxonomic name of the first species described by Carl Linnaeus, which he named Caecilia tentaculata.
Interesting!
@Katzztar:If there's one bird I do NOT want to meet face to face its the Cassowary. Dang bird is one reason why Australia is dangerous, its known to attack humans, and unlike other birds.. this one can kill.
I loved this episode :D But my fav one is where Coyote
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If there's one bird I do NOT want to meet face to face its the Cassowary. Dang bird is one reason why Australia is dangerous, its known to attack humans, and unlike other birds.. this one can kill.
They are also one of nature's best beat-boxers.
Sounds like something straight out of Jurassic Park.
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@le:
They are also one of nature's best beat-boxers.
Sounds like something straight out of Jurassic Park.
Well that makes it even more clear why Coyote called them living dinosaurs.
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A Rhino's horn is actually an extension of it's own skin.
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A Rhino's horn is actually an extension of it's own skin.
REally? I always thought it was made of keratin, same stuff that makes up our nails, huh
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REally? I always thought it was made of keratin, same stuff that makes up our nails, huh
I hope this can help.
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REally? I always thought it was made of keratin, same stuff that makes up our nails, huh
This is correct. Keratin is also found in less concentrated amounts in the skin too, though.
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Only fishes and amphibians do not have keratin in their skins, I guess.
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Owls are basically flying cats.
There's a similarity in the eyes of certain breeds of owls and domestic cats. And of course both have exceptional night vision in common.
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They're both solitary stealth predators.
Given the chance both species will hunt similar kinds of prey.
Some owls even have feathers that look an awful lot like cat ears!
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Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they share an aloof charisma.
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I will subscribe wholeheartedly to this theory.
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I will subscribe wholeheartedly to this theory.
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As the AP forums resident flying cat, I agree.
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As the resident owl, I can confirm that I often have cat-like tendencies.
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I love cats and owls, so the more I think about it, the more it just feels right.
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Are all skunks just super cute and playful or what?
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Turtles are basically swimming cats. They hunt similar prey (fish, rodents, birds, bugs), play with their food, and even ask to have their shells scratched (if you have a particularly social turtle).
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Are all skunks just super cute and playful or what?
Yeah, skunks just get a bad rap for having an odd secret weapon, they're alot like dogs.
I see your skunk and raise you an otter. How's that for cute and playful? Disclaimer, incoming cuteness, watch at your own discretion.
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An otter being playful.
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Otters are as badass as they are adorable.
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Their natural enemy is the butterfly. No really, it's true. Butterflies are also no friend to turtles either apparently.
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I knew butterflies were assholes! :O
But thanks for the vids :D I watched all. I mean, the otters' vocalisations and rock playing were adorable, but everyone knew otters were cute. I'm much more pleased to find out that a universally despised creature like the skunk is actually a rather pleasant and endearing animal.
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Turtles are basically swimming cats. They hunt similar prey (fish, rodents, birds, bugs), play with their food, and even ask to have their shells scratched (if you have a particularly social turtle).
Turtles like having their underbellies (plastron) brushed. Mainly because the nerve endings that reach up to under the carapace. Plus it helps them shed old scutes.
…..fine, I admit that I just wanted an excuse to post this cute picture.
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I knew butterflies were assholes! :O
But thanks for the vids :D I watched all. I mean, the otters' vocalisations and rock playing were adorable, but everyone knew otters were cute. I'm much more pleased to find out that a universally despised creature like the skunk is actually a rather pleasant and endearing animal.
This was my thinking too. But yeah, skunks are curious little goofs who are normally pretty chill because most animals know not to mess with them (aposematic coloring). They only get a bad reputation because dogs and people can stress them out. But they're super cute!
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This was my thinking too. But yeah, skunks are curious little goofs who are normally pretty chill because most animals know not to mess with them (aposematic coloring). They only get a bad reputation because dogs and people can stress them out. But they're super cute!
:O Eeeek even wild baby skunks act the same way?! So cuuuuute.
They're definitely goofs. Whenever I see one around my house they do run around pretty derpily late at night and I always get a kick out of watching them. They walk around somewhat aimlessly while all the raccoons and rabbits that I see have this set pattern about the way they move.
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@le:
Turtles like having their underbellies (plastron) brushed. Mainly because the nerve endings that reach up to under the carapace. Plus it helps them shed old scutes.
…..fine, I admit that I just wanted an excuse to post this cute picture.
Is that really what a turtle looks like when it's happy? Or is that the turtle's version of a silent blood-curdling shriek of terror?
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Lil cat bebes are basically small cats.
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I blame Bambi for making me think skunks are too cute. This video cinched it.
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I blame Bambi for making me think skunks are too cute. This video cinched it.
Aaaaaaaaah XD they were all like sneef sneef squeak squeak run run
That's it, skunks are my new favourite thing.
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Finally, I find a use for my creepy knowledge of animal mating habits. Rather, I'm gonna share a link to humon comics, a person who makes cute one page comics about weird animal mating and birth facts. Don't go to her deviant art, ever. Here is an imgur link that is worksafe.
One universal fact I find from these is based on a childhood memory; ever see an old lady on TV say "homosexuality isn't natural cause animals don't do that?" Well that's bunk. The bonobo chimpaneze alone disproves it.
Meanwhile, if you don't want to check that link I'll just share one fact: ants can't have fathers. Queens always give birth to females unless their eggs aren't fertilized, in which case they become males.
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Meanwhile, if you don't want to check that link I'll just share one fact: ants can't have fathers. Queens always give birth to females unless their eggs aren't fertilized, in which case they become males.
This is actually true of bees and (I think) termites as well. Because scientists have found no true examples of altruism in nature, it's thought that this system of haplodiploidy (one set of chromosomes for male and two for females) helps to increase the genetic relatedness of insects within a colony, thereby giving them greater incentive to help care for young.
Relatedness is actually a really good framework to view evolutionary fitness through. For instance, in many species of squirrels the females will stay closer to home while the males go off looking for a different group of females to mate with. When signaling that a predator is near, it puts the signaller at more risk by drawing more attention to themself while helping everyone else. Female squirrels will almost always signal danger to help out their sisters and family, while males, especially young ones in new territory, will signal danger much less often.
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I knew butterflies were assholes! :O
But thanks for the vids :D I watched all. I mean, the otters' vocalisations and rock playing were adorable, but everyone knew otters were cute. I'm much more pleased to find out that a universally despised creature like the skunk is actually a rather pleasant and endearing animal.
Otters just have this way about them you know? They can really brighten up a day.
How do you feel about weasels? They have a similar overblown negative public image skunks have.
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That isn't to say their reputation is totally without merit though.
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Mustelids are mostly cute but will also fuck you up. Their jaws are unique: most mammals have their jaw bones kept in place by muscles, but mandibular condyle of mustelids actually snaps into place and functions as a tight hinge, even without anything besides the bone. It gives them a stronger anchor and much more powerful bite force.
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Yep, in the Brave Wilderness video Coyote Peterson says the short tailed weasel has a bite force of 150 lbs (68 kg) per square inch. I just found Femme's point very interesting, people do tend to fixate on the worst attributes of certain animals and exaggerate them. Villainizing said animal in the process.
That said, I would like to lend a better visual aid to your point Jabberwok.
We also see rabbits don't believe in being good samaritans.
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Oh hey there, what's in her- gets blown away by cuteness
I love this thread~
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Otters just have this way about them you know? They can really brighten up a day.
How do you feel about weasels? They have a similar overblown negative public image skunks have.
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That isn't to say their reputation is totally without merit though.
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smoothly adds videos to her collection :ninja:
Weasels are pretty cute, sorta like a tube-shaped mammal that I desire to grasp and walk around with. Too bad they're batshit insane and if I saw one in the wild I'd have to fear for my life D:
I think I'd fall for the crazy-bouncing-on-crack distraction like the rabbit and I'd get taken out while I stare in amazement. Honestly, who could possibly not watch that?
They're pretty hyper though, and kind of the reason I'm not too much into ferrets as pets either, cuz I just want my pet to calm the fuck down and enjoy my pets, dammit!
But as an elongated attack animal they're pretty badass. I feel like someone should create a character that fights with a pack of whimsical weasels. o_o
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Whaaaaaaat :o
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If anyone's interested, Planet Earth is back with new episodes and hot damn are they gorgeous.
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Did you know that baby sloths need to cuddle something during the first few months of their lives or else they may refuse to eat to the point of literally starving to death? If their mother isn't around, a teddy or plush can work as an effective substitute for a snuggle buddy.
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effective substitute for a snuggle buddy.
Sounds like something to add to my resume :ninja:
People probably already know this but turtles are total bros:
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Burrowing owls tend to live alongside burrowing animals, such as prairie dogs. They may even feel inclined to rescue their neighbors from predators. When this happens Steven Tyler must drop whatever he's doing and narrate what's going on.
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Burrowing owls tend to live alongside burrowing animals, such as prairie dogs. They may even feel inclined to rescue their neighbors from predators. When this happens Steven Tyler must drop whatever he's doing and narrate what's going on.
Omg Steven Tyler narrating nature docs is just what I was missing in life lmao.
This thread has become so good the past few days. I can live here now.
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If anyone's interested, Planet Earth is back with new episodes and hot damn are they gorgeous.
HANS ZIMMER! Planet Earth 2, right? Where you watching it?
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I came across it a few days ago and have been watching a bunch ever since! It's on BBC America here so I'm not sure what you get it on.
Snow leopards are so preeeeeetty
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Ohhhhh. I don't have cable so I guess I'll try online.
I was watching the first series the other day on a family member's super high quality tv and it was gloriousss
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There are a fair number of clips on YouTube, if nothing else. Like this one!
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Get up offa that thing!
And scratch till you feel better!
Get up offa that thing!
And scratch!HEUH!
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Komodo dragons are the ultimate evolved form of monitor lizard. As their name implies, they are dragon type monitor lizards. Their lack of wings and usage of the skill dig to make burrows to live in suggests they are also ground types. They are venomous, so they're poison types too.
[hide]Komodo dragons make use of their signature move poison fang in the first video. One even takes the time to slide around in mud, further suggesting they are indeed ground types. We also see how incredibly apathetic water buffaloes can be. I also like the music towards the end of this video, very dragony. Because this video demonstrates how komodo dragons hunt, it gets abit graphic towards the end. It's brief though.
No violence in this one beyond one dragon giving another a light tail slap. The video measures how strong their bite can be too. I just like this one because the komodo dragons remind me of a feral cat colony.
Komodo dragons can be quite ferocious and cannot truly be domesticated. However, if you capture one, are nice to them, and impress them by winning enough gym badges, it's possible to befriend them. Doing so is not advisable for anyone below the level of elite four mastery however.
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This last video showcases behavioral enrichment, it's basically an exercise designed to keep animals in captivity healthy physically and mentally.
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According to completely accurate laws of the world, Poison-Ground type Komodo Dragons are vulnerable to water types, like ducks, ice types, like penguins, psychic types, like chimpanzees, and strangely ground types, like other Komodo dragons.
It's too bad they aren't dragons, cuz that would improve their chances significantly, but it would also make them 4x as weak to penguins, and that's just pathetic.
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With all due respect, if you believe that you underestimate the mighty penguin. There's no shame in losing to one. Especially if they have the doting parent stat bonus.
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If you recognize the voice of the narrator in this video, that's because it's none other than Jane Lynch![/hide]
They must learn to be fearless warriors at a young age as a rite of passage into adulthood.
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They're also basically living torpedoes!
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Komodo Dragons also have really, really bad breath.
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So a giraffe live cam exists.