tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72914058113019252212024-02-22T08:23:30.552-06:00Domain of the C-RexConnor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-45056339408355102732013-10-28T18:01:00.000-05:002013-10-28T18:01:19.664-05:00Luck of the Raptor FootEver felt that luck seems to be few and far between for you? Do you have a fancy for dinosaurs, particular those of the Dromaeosauridae family? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then do I have something for you. If you answered no to those questions, well, sit there and act like you're paying attention. Recently I had a great conversation with Stacy Trenary at The Dinosaur Store in Cocoa Beach Florida, and he showed me a wacky little contraption he's got going on Kickstarter. It's called the "Lucky Raptor Foot" (alluding to the Lucky Rabbit Foot of course) - a quirky little keychain with a hopefully-luck-bringing raptor foot on the end.<div>
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As Stacy says on his page on Kickstarter, the idea is to better inform the public about how these raptors actually looked and behaved. Depending on how much you decide to donate, you can get not only one of these awesome raptor feet to call your own, but various authentic fossils (some that Stacy has actually found himself right here in Florida). There's only 14 days left before the Lucky Raptor Foot has to reach its goal, so lets make it happen. For the good of the general public, all of you dromaeosaur enthusiasts out there, and all that is lucky feet.<div>
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Of course I can only say so much, so here's the link to his page. Be sure to read the information and see what's in store for this unique and awesome little doo-dad:</div>
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/659340148/the-lucky-raptor-foot-dinosaur-keychain">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/659340148/the-lucky-raptor-foot-dinosaur-keychain</a></div>
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And if you happen to be in the Cocoa Beach area, definitely swing by The Dinosaur Store if you get the chance. You can't miss it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-79648446953966348042013-09-25T17:43:00.001-05:002013-09-25T22:16:58.840-05:00Toadhead Agamas; The Boundary of Bizarre <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/A7/A73094C7-DFAF-4820-A896-3A77DADF49EF/Presentation.Large/Close-up-of-Arabian-toad-headed-agama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/A7/A73094C7-DFAF-4820-A896-3A77DADF49EF/Presentation.Large/Close-up-of-Arabian-toad-headed-agama.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...?</td></tr>
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The family of reptiles creates a balance of colour, diversity, and oddity with every species. For many of them, beauty and weirdness go hand and hand, and you get animals like the Panther Chameleon- with their vibrant neon colours and bizarre bodily adaptations. But for a few reptiles, nature ran clean out of ideas and resorted to scrapping up some old ideas for a Sci-Fy story that were abandoned because they were far too absurd. Thus, the Toadhead Agamas were brought out into existence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/1D/1DC97150-59FA-4BEB-A104-34A1BA8E0090/Presentation.Large/Arabian-toad-headed-agama-standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/1D/1DC97150-59FA-4BEB-A104-34A1BA8E0090/Presentation.Large/Arabian-toad-headed-agama-standing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They got the "Try to make yourself look like a caricature of a regular lizard"<br />
aspect of life down.</td></tr>
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With their rounded snouts, freaky alien eyes, and stocky builds, there is no being in the known universe that would label these lizards as ordinary. Toadhead agamas belong to the genus <i>Phrynocephalus</i>, which contains over 40 different species all belonging to the Agamid family. They range across the Middle East with many species scattered across Afghanistan. Being a fairly understudied, not much is known about their ecology.<br />
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Toadheads dwell mostly on rocks and sandy outcrops. They possess large scales across along their giant alien eyeballs that prevent sand from getting in. Their body scales vary in colour, usually in the range of a light beige to a mottled red. They are however able to change the body colour to match their surroundings (almost entirely unlike the Chameleon which primarily changes it's colour according to it's mood). Toadheads also have no external ear openings on their head and broad connected teeth inside their mouth. Golly, how could the wacky little toadhead agamas get any weirder? If only they had spiky pink somethings that shot out from the sides of their mouth.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Phrynocephalus_mystaceus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Phrynocephalus_mystaceus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*womanly shriek of terror*</td></tr>
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As it seems, they do indeed have spiky pink somethings that shoot out from the sides of their mouths. These spiky pink somethings are called labial flaps - flaps of skin that extent out from the upper jaw and overlap the lower. When threatened, the lizard will blare open its mouth to display the labial flaps and hiss. The positive upshot of this is that their entire head looks like a petunia that grew an angry face. Only one species of toadhead possesses this trait, and it known as the Secret Toadhead Agama (Phrynocephalus mystaceus). The flaps are most often used against rival lizards and also as a defense mechanism. Useful this is, because generally the last thing any predator expects from a small lizard is for it's face to quite suddenly explode into a flurry of pink.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0411/1268.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0411/1268.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh knock it off you little freak.</td></tr>
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Another slightly less exiting and much less pink behavior of the toadheads is their ability to curve their tails in different directions. They do this to make themselves look bigger and somehow more frightening, but also just to get around faster. In times when there is too much heat radiating off the sand for them to feel comfortable, the toadhead will use it's tail as a prop and balance high on their legs. The tip of a toadhead tail is rounded and looks like it's been dipped in black ink. When the tail is curved, a bold stripe pattern is sometimes displayed going from their tails up to their torso. One of the other less-than-ordinary behaviors of the toadheads is their tendency to vibrate their body fast enough that they bury themselves in the sand, in a similar way that stingrays do. Except it involves 99.9% less water and 100% less sharks.<br />
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Toadhead agamas are known for having some of the most comical and ridiculous behaviors of any reptile. For a lizard that sees turning it's face into a flower as a terrifying threat display, it comes as no surprise that they are so pugnacious. You could learn a thing or two from these guys as well. If ever you feel stressed or threatened by an adversary, just expand your spiky pink labial flaps and hiss your brains out. Try curling your tail in weird swirly directions too. And if all else fails, wiggle around in a side-to-side motion until you've submerged yourself into the earth. You might just disturb them into submission.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildarabia.com/wp-content/themes/wildarabia/images/img-reptile-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.wildarabia.com/wp-content/themes/wildarabia/images/img-reptile-56.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amount of smugness in that face is beyond measure. Photo by Damien Egan.</td></tr>
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Sources:</div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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www.arkive.org</div>
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www.anapsid.org</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-47017698980422657172013-09-19T18:45:00.001-05:002013-09-19T18:45:41.145-05:00Those Prosperous Procyonids Part Tre: The Confusing BassarisksYou can call it a cacomistle and you'd be right but call it a ringtail and you're wrong. You get a vice versa situation here too.<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Squaw-ringtail-28073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Squaw-ringtail-28073.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b>What a looker. </b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 4.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>©</b></span><b> Robert Body</b></div>
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The first sentence of this post is quite the confusing conundrum, and as such, you can even find books today that show<b> </b>a "ring-tailed cat" (we'll call it the bassarisk to avoid confusion and so we sound smarter than our friends) such as the one above and declare it synonymous with the cacomistle. And as such, you'll find a picture of a cacomistle declaring <i>it</i> synonymous with the bassarisk.</div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Bassariscus_sumichrasti_geo.jpg/800px-Bassariscus_sumichrasti_geo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Bassariscus_sumichrasti_geo.jpg/800px-Bassariscus_sumichrasti_geo.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b>And this is the cacomistle (<i>Bassariscus sumichrasti</i>). Public domain image.</b></div>
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So what's the difference? Well for the most part it falls within their range. </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Cacomistle_area.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Cacomistle_area.png" width="200" /></a></div>
The cacomistle's range is shown here at the right. In case you don't know your countries, if you're in southern Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, or the northern tip of Panama, then you've seen a cacomistle. If you find yourself handling one (probably not a good idea if you're in the wild), you'll notice that cacomistles lack retractable claws. Its ears also come to a point and it has a relatively faded tail compared to its northern cousin the bassarisk (I'd like to note here that bassarisk is technically meant to give a common name to both cacomistle and "ring-tailed cat" as the genus they belong to is <i>Bassariscus</i>, but it makes our purpose here easier to explain).<br />
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<a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AA/AAEDFA46-180A-4047-B5AC-6ACAD6C06456/Presentation.Large/cacomistle-showing-teeth-captive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AA/AAEDFA46-180A-4047-B5AC-6ACAD6C06456/Presentation.Large/cacomistle-showing-teeth-captive.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<b>Progressive Commercial Guy says "Gimme one".</b></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Ring-tailed_Cat_area.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Ring-tailed_Cat_area.png" width="320" /> </a></div>
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And now we come to the range of the ringtai- I mean bassarisk (<i>Bassariscus astutus</i>). The bassarisk is smaller than its southern cousin, obtaining lengths of 33in (tail included) compared to a cacomistle's 39in (this is an American blog and if you want cm then you gotta find an online calculator like I had to to get these lengths). They only overlap in parts of Southern Mexico. Otherwise the bassarisk is found in the rest of the country as well as invading into the US and being found in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. An impressive list of states for an animal coming from the South, mayhaps being beaten only by nine-banded armadillos in a range for a mammal (no racist jokes here). </div>
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<a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/F1/F17341E4-7EE9-4F22-80F4-D66D2FD400DA/Presentation.Large/Ringtails-in-dead-tree-stump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/F1/F17341E4-7EE9-4F22-80F4-D66D2FD400DA/Presentation.Large/Ringtails-in-dead-tree-stump.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div>
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<b>The bassarisks won't stand for racism.</b></div>
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Now we've come to the part of the post where you get the lucky chance to learn some pretty neat facts. If you don't think the following are neat, then get off this blog. </div>
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<a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/90/90E42768-29AC-4D4B-BCA1-1F4BFAEC6596/Presentation.Large/Ringtail-hiding-in-rock-crevace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/90/90E42768-29AC-4D4B-BCA1-1F4BFAEC6596/Presentation.Large/Ringtail-hiding-in-rock-crevace.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<b>Fact one: bassarisks are 85% cookie dough, allowing them to squeeze into tight spaces. This also gives them their cuteness.</b></div>
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The bassarisk is one of the most agile mammals on Earth, with an ankle joint that can rotate over 180 degrees (up there with margays hanging by their paws and tarsiers turning their head in a half circle) and an (obvious) extremely long tail that provides good balance. Like something straight out of <i>The</i> <i>Matrix</i>, they can ricochet off walls to get to a higher point, and they can perform cartwheels and climb up cracks using stemming.</div>
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Both cacomistles and "ring-tailed cats" (they're also called ringtails, but there's also a majority of animals called that, if you don't believe me do a cursory search on Wikipedia for "ringtail") can and have been kept as pets, and the latter were used to keep mice away from miners' cabins back during the Gold Rush days. Up with genets and fennec foxes, I think a bassarisk is on my hopeful list for pets. Cacomistles and bassarisks often inhabit old buildings and deserted Native American ruins, probably using them for shelter as our common household cat does with boxes. That's all I got. Next we leave the banded tailed procyonids behind and we cover some South Americans.</div>
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<a href="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs11/i/2006/204/a/6/Cacomistle_by_TheFireTigress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs11/i/2006/204/a/6/Cacomistle_by_TheFireTigress.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
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<b>If he could wave, this baby cacomistle would be waving bye. </b><b> </b><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">©</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">TheFireTigress on DeviantART.</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sources:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">en.wikipedia.org</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">www.desertmuseum.org</span></div>
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<b> </b> </div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-70966959377838372242013-07-19T14:37:00.000-05:002013-07-19T14:37:58.797-05:00Parrotfish: The Pretty Fish with Dirty Secrets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/48/48A4C908-15DE-42AE-ACBF-9C02F37FFA2E/Presentation.Large/Common-parrotfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/48/48A4C908-15DE-42AE-ACBF-9C02F37FFA2E/Presentation.Large/Common-parrotfish.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeez they look like a sad beauty pageant kick-off.</td></tr>
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Parrotfish are often recognized as one of the most beautiful groups of fish in the ocean. Many species hold striking colours that dazzle and amaze, and make other less-colourful species of reef fish look like garbage. Little do many know that the parrotfish possesses an array of dark, dirty secrets behind it's trying-too-hard-to-be-pretty visage. Much like the common emotionally-confused teenage girl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Parrotfish_turquoisse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Parrotfish_turquoisse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are you hiding...</td></tr>
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There are many different types of parrot fish, some with bizarre shapes and patterns and others that look like a melted clown. Roughly ninety species to be exact, belonging to the family Scaridae. However it's thought that parrotfish may actually be a subfamily of wrasses (which would make wrasses very sad). They can also be found inhabiting the subtropical shallows across the globe. While they mainly dwell in shallow reefs and rocky coves, parrotfish have been observed inhabiting harbors and marinas in schools to pluck out algae and small rocks to feed on. As you may have already guessed, the parrotfish looks almost indistinguishable from the parrot bird. Parrot birds were greatly offended by the comparison.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funtimebirdy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/parrot_head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://funtimebirdy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/parrot_head.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a picture of a one.</td></tr>
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One of the most characteristic features about the parrotfish is it's freakishly fused teeth, which form a sort of "beak" for crushing rocks and breaking coral polyps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp6pRMyE4ti2ZIZ4Jw3fy-o_pFr7X42lqHsHuXiLJfPe9FjM6B71U81sDvvTtIX3wcuVvEctvN8qrdv6gOqbeHJ-NmPbBrIoHzCtVWnrpvRyceroWoFldBGGoJ5YbwX7QksEcCuc5k3s/s1600/HEEEEEEE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp6pRMyE4ti2ZIZ4Jw3fy-o_pFr7X42lqHsHuXiLJfPe9FjM6B71U81sDvvTtIX3wcuVvEctvN8qrdv6gOqbeHJ-NmPbBrIoHzCtVWnrpvRyceroWoFldBGGoJ5YbwX7QksEcCuc5k3s/s400/HEEEEEEE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait that's not the right image.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AB/AB477D21-9694-4168-8DC6-035315A30002/Presentation.Large/Ember-parrotfish-teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AB/AB477D21-9694-4168-8DC6-035315A30002/Presentation.Large/Ember-parrotfish-teeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's more like it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They have evolved this feature because all the parrotfish really eats is algae and rocks. Because of that, parrotfish play a major role in preventing algae overgrowth in the reefs they live on. Too much algae could inhibit the coral to grow. Thus the parrotfish gracefully scrapes the edible algae off of rocky surfaces, which contributes to the process of marine bioerosion. Parrotfish also have a set of specialized teeth located in their throats called pharyngeal teeth, that are used for grinding rocks and coral skeletons.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Images/23250/bmuricpharyn_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Images/23250/bmuricpharyn_big.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A set of pharyngeal teeth from a Bumphead parrotfish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The reason for these teeth is because the parrotfish feeds off of the succulent coral polyps that live inside of coral skeletons. More specifically the algae growing inside the polyps. After the algae is digested, the unwanted rock material is then pulverized and jettisoned out the fish's butt. As a fine sand.<br />
<br />
To better understand this process, imagine yourself eating a sandwich made of rocks. But in the middle of these rocks was a delicious layer of ham. So you grind up and eat the entire sandwich. Then you go to the bathroom and simply- actually I don't think this is really helping.<br />
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This sand however plays an important role in the formation of beaches and islands. It becomes kicked up and grouped together in large masses. Over time it mixes with other ocean sediments, creating large formations and shorelines. Think about that next time you book a summer vacation.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://paradise.docastaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/White-Sand-Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://paradise.docastaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/White-Sand-Beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know what you're thinking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Most species of parrotfish are naturally-born hermaphrodites. They are born female, and as they age develop into males. These are called the initial (female) and terminal (male) phases. Parrotfish in the initial phase are usually much more dull-coloured than those in the terminal phase. There are exceptions to this, however. For example, some female Mediterranean parrotfish don't change sex at all. The Stoplight parrotfish can be born either male or female. Those who are born directly as males often will have the colour patterns of the initial phase.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Stoplight-parrotfish-initial-phase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Stoplight-parrotfish-initial-phase.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a Stoplight parrotfish in it's boring less-flashy initial stage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg/800px-Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg/800px-Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is a picture of one in it's terminal phase.<br />Can you imagine if people did this too?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Remember, the next time you book a tropical island getaway, think of the parrotfish. Because it just crapped out that massive lump of half-digested sand that you call a beach paradise. You should be thanking them for their hard work.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.spongepedia.org/images/thumb/8/89/Primitive_Patrick.JPG/180px-Primitive_Patrick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://en.spongepedia.org/images/thumb/8/89/Primitive_Patrick.JPG/180px-Primitive_Patrick.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh will you get out of here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Sources:<br />
en.wikipedia.org<br />
www.seafocus.com<br />
www.coexploration.org<br />
www.sheddaquarium.orgAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-70024288091716271232013-07-19T03:38:00.002-05:002013-07-19T03:38:29.627-05:00Oh Yeah, This Still Exists...Welp, I know I've been neglecting you guys, starving you of posts and the crude humour, not-so scientific insights, and somewhat sensible ramblings, but I hope that this one makes up for it.<br />
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Recently, blogwriters Brenden Hall (who did the last posts on Burpee) and Ray Sabb (the one who writes about movies) stayed here in Illinois for a few days (well, Brenden stayed for 11), of which many adventures were taken. Here is the adventure most relevant to this blog: the Burpee Museum, again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqv7jams1D_ScHIypwiC9noV8aWJG0dYNQvx3u1lT0TmSiKcDcxN2sGOpyRtDZsfW_98ldr8njt5ZJ4UdJFbDoV_iKmfTq6utOIBtAqoO62AUj0zKfL8T7ymTWihe3afadrnMrHmrbNk/s1600/burpee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqv7jams1D_ScHIypwiC9noV8aWJG0dYNQvx3u1lT0TmSiKcDcxN2sGOpyRtDZsfW_98ldr8njt5ZJ4UdJFbDoV_iKmfTq6utOIBtAqoO62AUj0zKfL8T7ymTWihe3afadrnMrHmrbNk/s400/burpee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>*heavenly music plays*</b></div>
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Those who know me from both online and in real life know that I praise this museum a lot. And I think they stepped that level of praise up more with their new exhibit: <b><u>Homer's Odyssey.</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OoCDes8_DjTOZEfPXazC4WKmbopeMYsZk3L9RbyvZdI6zrJKJq2ACNyWFNZ2RvJVBg-WQB9YgUTnzZwNy9171g4FITbDAF0kY3wdL8OPdvMggZ57XhQjyicUTAN1eZrU_wk-IwAmGRU/s1600/q1054467.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OoCDes8_DjTOZEfPXazC4WKmbopeMYsZk3L9RbyvZdI6zrJKJq2ACNyWFNZ2RvJVBg-WQB9YgUTnzZwNy9171g4FITbDAF0kY3wdL8OPdvMggZ57XhQjyicUTAN1eZrU_wk-IwAmGRU/s400/q1054467.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Wait, wrong Odyssey.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENglk8pNxr05m6z2VylyZvWroJymJoFOmcPT_uqFpuJh2QFqmlv2AWCK2XrX1Mu0IsSO6o5uFzrhAfL34F99bWOGBI1m0RPKCfegiuzMi8uILKxkqrU9xNaXw1CAtlE0CFhZxH4JMyw/s1600/911238.2.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENglk8pNxr05m6z2VylyZvWroJymJoFOmcPT_uqFpuJh2QFqmlv2AWCK2XrX1Mu0IsSO6o5uFzrhAfL34F99bWOGBI1m0RPKCfegiuzMi8uILKxkqrU9xNaXw1CAtlE0CFhZxH4JMyw/s400/911238.2.3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Nope, that's not it either.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf2IaAV1Po0VkAZECEWI8SoV1FDCtDO2WBIL3S9lcTFfqxhQ_BT1aTlDfOElT_RXpI374rYoOHGIuDBwP-D3fTcJ6tNhByNccVYqbyaZlRxFgSlgsJCO0G6XkafG5qXeHNozkMF1EY7Q/s1600/942930_10151576166963705_557510104_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf2IaAV1Po0VkAZECEWI8SoV1FDCtDO2WBIL3S9lcTFfqxhQ_BT1aTlDfOElT_RXpI374rYoOHGIuDBwP-D3fTcJ6tNhByNccVYqbyaZlRxFgSlgsJCO0G6XkafG5qXeHNozkMF1EY7Q/s400/942930_10151576166963705_557510104_n.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>That's better.</b></div>
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Homer, the juvenile <i>Triceratops</i>, was found in 2005, where three years of rigorous work went into unearthing more remains and preparing those remains. Last year, he went through even more cycles of preparation before being shipped to Canada for mounting. Finally, his brand new exhibit officially (I say officially as Homer's skull as been on display for a while, just not as an actual exhibit) opened on June 29, and luckily, we got to see it the next day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNxOhUQoeHo2ni1jCnHJowLNNr8YgNNKkNk-XZQcGj_-2XzcLal0pKju215KwP_Bp9TXWSn2MvAaviXl4Lu_h5HHYjNEQGQxkVOZRpR4OQqmD8WyAWRHrc6YNqpvHGjmaJA_rK77Mhp0/s1600/DSC_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNxOhUQoeHo2ni1jCnHJowLNNr8YgNNKkNk-XZQcGj_-2XzcLal0pKju215KwP_Bp9TXWSn2MvAaviXl4Lu_h5HHYjNEQGQxkVOZRpR4OQqmD8WyAWRHrc6YNqpvHGjmaJA_rK77Mhp0/s400/DSC_0756.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Homer in the front, Pachycephalosaurus in the back. Also that humanoid thing is Brenden.</b></div>
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It might be because it's taken long (well lengthwise, not "museum time"-wise), the fact that I love Homer, the fact he's our Rockford <i>Triceratops</i>, etc, etc, but this is honestly probably my favourite exhibit. From the amount of specimens held within to the Mike Skrepnick paintings and finally seeing Homer with a body, it's astonishing. There's not much more words I can use to describe it, so I'll let the pictures (mostly) do the talking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXhK8Id641hyphenhyphenCuchaPnRYTgglZOSH0ePhUFISgioFLUmLI2pmJwFPEixvkrCwqmabt_5pruDvnrnlX4ejh3cdlhMt5fLvWOs6gHg2_yMv_qJslCXztFEizK09ilQkjh_2Y1N5cYPMr-c/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXhK8Id641hyphenhyphenCuchaPnRYTgglZOSH0ePhUFISgioFLUmLI2pmJwFPEixvkrCwqmabt_5pruDvnrnlX4ejh3cdlhMt5fLvWOs6gHg2_yMv_qJslCXztFEizK09ilQkjh_2Y1N5cYPMr-c/s400/DSC_0758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Phylogeny wall 1 (<i>Chasmosaurus</i> at right)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMnSHjxiyDL7kI5CBoX1RiOI7-fIT4t3OHSfGJNBMbAmQb6RPPL05j2ri5v7336pZGUafLBw9tBTPEIGd51ON3QlIOFiHA9Z7OuPHLeFS6JVCJ9ucRzLqR125BoaXiYsqqAJqLNSox_I/s1600/DSC_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMnSHjxiyDL7kI5CBoX1RiOI7-fIT4t3OHSfGJNBMbAmQb6RPPL05j2ri5v7336pZGUafLBw9tBTPEIGd51ON3QlIOFiHA9Z7OuPHLeFS6JVCJ9ucRzLqR125BoaXiYsqqAJqLNSox_I/s400/DSC_0759.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Phylogeny wall 2 (<i>Zuniceratops</i> bottom)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BpmH8HVk8xohbL5C63ffAZk04CazuFHFxdGuO6icAUyItqxFB-kZo676CKQR_TC5TSbp-RJAxl9MKqc8kU9TDaFvU_IwGRwA6U6VR5oX3rpHza7zCnAaiglM4Z6D07pdsGi4vmcCDow/s1600/DSC_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BpmH8HVk8xohbL5C63ffAZk04CazuFHFxdGuO6icAUyItqxFB-kZo676CKQR_TC5TSbp-RJAxl9MKqc8kU9TDaFvU_IwGRwA6U6VR5oX3rpHza7zCnAaiglM4Z6D07pdsGi4vmcCDow/s400/DSC_0760.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Phlyogeny wall 3</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN6RvgS_mUEbafl6BzX0iiXKESDhvHIlHFHvFutyShCJNWiOu3OMze5J_sTKBjQqRRInZDZHEGMlS9xzbNklCJYhgi1mzIqpgKVXJrMYHxue7b4r5jVa7hGhd2INI7oXrAfmEE9nbBmw/s1600/DSC_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN6RvgS_mUEbafl6BzX0iiXKESDhvHIlHFHvFutyShCJNWiOu3OMze5J_sTKBjQqRRInZDZHEGMlS9xzbNklCJYhgi1mzIqpgKVXJrMYHxue7b4r5jVa7hGhd2INI7oXrAfmEE9nbBmw/s400/DSC_0761.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTBL5H40nH_QpnFjFBbaJXVT-abxN5dNTlBlhsrtq5AAzJsUywEkOGY01gZC5d-JHqYydwm_kPfKwDd08gj5S_83MN3uHU5NYN_zWDzEC5Y2AI4vPeHn6NqdXEb-RMgvHI7IaMs2wq04/s1600/DSC_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTBL5H40nH_QpnFjFBbaJXVT-abxN5dNTlBlhsrtq5AAzJsUywEkOGY01gZC5d-JHqYydwm_kPfKwDd08gj5S_83MN3uHU5NYN_zWDzEC5Y2AI4vPeHn6NqdXEb-RMgvHI7IaMs2wq04/s400/DSC_0767.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeHkQVsm0kuXe5BiBd3MtiJB7p49Mb9JmIablXxjLRP_tequHMrh_cc2xyRfT74Pr-Rl9AApfNXBYhdWSj7KgY5Dz8EdwaB-rxkmA5NuXHbbQo7TPs4kpz6_V-p3W1mVd3zMyPl1PWLM/s1600/DSC_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeHkQVsm0kuXe5BiBd3MtiJB7p49Mb9JmIablXxjLRP_tequHMrh_cc2xyRfT74Pr-Rl9AApfNXBYhdWSj7KgY5Dz8EdwaB-rxkmA5NuXHbbQo7TPs4kpz6_V-p3W1mVd3zMyPl1PWLM/s400/DSC_0769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmqTutG8QUFEVEX3gIShRrtdt5loNhJegECZcR7-uYcnM6a8qr0bDbKpQpiqpN4wJI5_Hr8ggdUw1SwJoKbmbocMFXszV9Q-sNw26VItg2kMw-uYEery6fckUiHubFS4qUzaus0YDipc/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmqTutG8QUFEVEX3gIShRrtdt5loNhJegECZcR7-uYcnM6a8qr0bDbKpQpiqpN4wJI5_Hr8ggdUw1SwJoKbmbocMFXszV9Q-sNw26VItg2kMw-uYEery6fckUiHubFS4qUzaus0YDipc/s400/DSC_0770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The adult skull at far right was Homer's replacement during his time in Canada. Much happier to see it in proper use next to Homer's skull</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyvnsRMmN_ekuwFxLfHvKJkufCwDapBGTFjIc5rZJyYbN88d-8c9R2ZFrtVeYq00XT2VyaqEQulUvYxVb1GOLdZVH_iuik_VSKt_q5bko72sUhqK3PVrTANifocD30pYxSayFYOmzCec/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyvnsRMmN_ekuwFxLfHvKJkufCwDapBGTFjIc5rZJyYbN88d-8c9R2ZFrtVeYq00XT2VyaqEQulUvYxVb1GOLdZVH_iuik_VSKt_q5bko72sUhqK3PVrTANifocD30pYxSayFYOmzCec/s400/DSC_0772.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>That <i>Pachycephalosaurus</i> has no idea the paintings aren't real, unless there's a <i>Night at the Museum</i> scenario going on.</b></div>
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<b>"Ernie" the <i>Stangerochampsa</i>, the most adorable crocodilian ever.</b></div>
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<b>Have you ever wondered what a <i>Triceratops </i>butt looked like? Three pictures just satisfied you.</b></div>
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And then finally, some more random Burpee shots.</div>
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<b>There's a Ray. </b></div>
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That's it now. Go home. I might post more. Go.</div>
Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-9516039699250449122013-05-18T15:19:00.001-05:002013-05-18T15:19:22.049-05:00Epilogue; The Forgotten Museum Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92N2oT0YUMH1CSCcTCm6UeDXxd_zypFAySOKyOczW2rSwPczgRX8sQNdhD2iU8Oj-MANcPcMnwRdpD1JqfpE2hNWcsJLn8Q85aTyRtL4V_BCtJaRx2FqboKwuujgfPg_cePm2cLC0fHQ/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92N2oT0YUMH1CSCcTCm6UeDXxd_zypFAySOKyOczW2rSwPczgRX8sQNdhD2iU8Oj-MANcPcMnwRdpD1JqfpE2hNWcsJLn8Q85aTyRtL4V_BCtJaRx2FqboKwuujgfPg_cePm2cLC0fHQ/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Want to see more pictures from the museum? You don't? Well too bad! The point of this post is just so the other one didn't get overloaded with<i> too </i>many pictures. Most of the images here are from the North American section and the lower floor of the museum that led up to the lecture hall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvG178LP5BUv8qo8JlLdm2rXaMLTmt2jcLBNIMEHNgp6USpm6Uko-hnxgue0Zoqit8sKwcd6AsCYlAEfU90Qok3VysYsebfiDg6PQSk4npzfw8zhQxRwPG8-AnG6Py3ljqm5QVH7yKVc/s1600/100_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvG178LP5BUv8qo8JlLdm2rXaMLTmt2jcLBNIMEHNgp6USpm6Uko-hnxgue0Zoqit8sKwcd6AsCYlAEfU90Qok3VysYsebfiDg6PQSk4npzfw8zhQxRwPG8-AnG6Py3ljqm5QVH7yKVc/s400/100_0822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6ABPj_t4hhtJ-dbxfI-kgKj27b6-TOLJJ18J5G01FiqI87iyDP4i_0MyH9IUA_a4NdVP1c36yS8PfZ8SelXboRXNAXXkG8A5cWikfGfI0tETIRq9q9sPhzjIkwADWycLQfTvqPERGSc/s1600/100_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6ABPj_t4hhtJ-dbxfI-kgKj27b6-TOLJJ18J5G01FiqI87iyDP4i_0MyH9IUA_a4NdVP1c36yS8PfZ8SelXboRXNAXXkG8A5cWikfGfI0tETIRq9q9sPhzjIkwADWycLQfTvqPERGSc/s400/100_0823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diabloceratops. Unarguably the coolest ceratopsian to have ever existed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXx3KEqIxqeF1Ow0feQr9i12JSMHBQ3B-QzJYF9kfYVWz1eCUXLUAQERkZ_bMI7r9xe4km27O7NQJeSa2b1lWnQYDvXA9AfQQsG_2rhQ0NAj2mVHVO2lqPKL4t_OJDuMfMgcgN1K4HvOQ/s1600/100_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXx3KEqIxqeF1Ow0feQr9i12JSMHBQ3B-QzJYF9kfYVWz1eCUXLUAQERkZ_bMI7r9xe4km27O7NQJeSa2b1lWnQYDvXA9AfQQsG_2rhQ0NAj2mVHVO2lqPKL4t_OJDuMfMgcgN1K4HvOQ/s400/100_0828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ankylosaurus parts. My camera decided to capture my reflection more<br />than the fossils.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLs8zvZq1FSSekRoiwJ_BSNHB0Ve0GBBZBbi1RdD3y-qWaBwgMbtzqpD2-l6hJO2tRGi5UA5jAYB0cvDX7YuNqDrBog_8RIcoPHX-_nvT3niOaXDr26-yq-DLm7CNoWL6ZjVHDBzHtxY/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLs8zvZq1FSSekRoiwJ_BSNHB0Ve0GBBZBbi1RdD3y-qWaBwgMbtzqpD2-l6hJO2tRGi5UA5jAYB0cvDX7YuNqDrBog_8RIcoPHX-_nvT3niOaXDr26-yq-DLm7CNoWL6ZjVHDBzHtxY/s400/IMG_2284.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menacing beasts these Champsosaurus are.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZme_KgR7eARhxL-5XOwQc6CCuAr1g6Daa38yL2OPK-OZKbtEfPJDPzLeG6xJX7d9xD19lcJWdXqSgwc7cKUGwJE-kP0myviDEC0XaLHO4Vk3bSWsbvl8vF4kQ1QGDRh34GWtVfvTMNu8/s1600/100_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZme_KgR7eARhxL-5XOwQc6CCuAr1g6Daa38yL2OPK-OZKbtEfPJDPzLeG6xJX7d9xD19lcJWdXqSgwc7cKUGwJE-kP0myviDEC0XaLHO4Vk3bSWsbvl8vF4kQ1QGDRh34GWtVfvTMNu8/s400/100_0831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ernie the Hell Creek Alligatoroid. So adorable that they had to give him a name.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo2YHJe094kRzKi3jdkTMou1EjeM6lmquSEBxE4vGDvcHsurI08RLSdnrMr0EofuP5dXrY_7W-kzBwjqeoD0d4xWA9Sjv-gcJVG5QiMiIzINFUi33gSpqlCRXYRq3GI3OKtIkcfHQNac/s1600/100_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo2YHJe094kRzKi3jdkTMou1EjeM6lmquSEBxE4vGDvcHsurI08RLSdnrMr0EofuP5dXrY_7W-kzBwjqeoD0d4xWA9Sjv-gcJVG5QiMiIzINFUi33gSpqlCRXYRq3GI3OKtIkcfHQNac/s400/100_0843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mali Uromastyx, one of my personal favorite reptiles. Uromastyx always remind me of little hermits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFL8QMQZSvtjs339imUNCY_quZMQ5sQlOzyyTcNTvA2gWcLNEhx_lz9uIG4fhYiowsdz89dYbezZbI4gp3BYsdkU3bpPCSThUjpP5mj5cmsMC_tT1-SalaUNhg2eR7CW5ZLAzLI6q0uc/s1600/100_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFL8QMQZSvtjs339imUNCY_quZMQ5sQlOzyyTcNTvA2gWcLNEhx_lz9uIG4fhYiowsdz89dYbezZbI4gp3BYsdkU3bpPCSThUjpP5mj5cmsMC_tT1-SalaUNhg2eR7CW5ZLAzLI6q0uc/s400/100_0849.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An American Crocodile skeleton on the top floor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBoPCjhF6f7I5VkzJwOdPTB6aCsGz8VfyAn8Tvluvj1nzNNzOUZu8vIKjmPLqpP7WhDC8l1YyE7A08qim9xUmuBCyOVhK-bk7Bl45NBkIw68f3ki9Jmj7dNj84ygkMto7JNdfmgS065c/s1600/100_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBoPCjhF6f7I5VkzJwOdPTB6aCsGz8VfyAn8Tvluvj1nzNNzOUZu8vIKjmPLqpP7WhDC8l1YyE7A08qim9xUmuBCyOVhK-bk7Bl45NBkIw68f3ki9Jmj7dNj84ygkMto7JNdfmgS065c/s400/100_0850.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't a joke, it's actually called a Big Brown Bat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi392h8y4FEv8f1oN_QYYtX13lANzTK7XCtzwGKjuunWzFt9KMuHvbMIpPAhaYpulWJBlO9yxQZ3O04T0u7I7i1CYGE60qMV0kvCib5aUHQ1hSZbVeyNlXDCih9LWg3sWuuxXDjvY7HGRI/s1600/100_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi392h8y4FEv8f1oN_QYYtX13lANzTK7XCtzwGKjuunWzFt9KMuHvbMIpPAhaYpulWJBlO9yxQZ3O04T0u7I7i1CYGE60qMV0kvCib5aUHQ1hSZbVeyNlXDCih9LWg3sWuuxXDjvY7HGRI/s400/100_0851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver skulls are pretty nightmaric.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo5Lm66sv-_YjRScczlrt3ZN_YjwNCwctFMPiI23atE414n3Bt2L-hJKhweBNeL5n98XIM1eJILaqwHFIBiSmF8dPwkupVv6TNy3LWbOHjO9AudCLbFR8zWbldLVnDo1t87z2rTX0O8o/s1600/100_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo5Lm66sv-_YjRScczlrt3ZN_YjwNCwctFMPiI23atE414n3Bt2L-hJKhweBNeL5n98XIM1eJILaqwHFIBiSmF8dPwkupVv6TNy3LWbOHjO9AudCLbFR8zWbldLVnDo1t87z2rTX0O8o/s400/100_0802.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic Mr. Fox Snake.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzAaNLW3HVe0DYPGW6mEyzEDLkDzwCeazGMT0_feR0j6vvi2_AnsLiTW34y0RkMjWVeouAz9vfHFe90LbEDPxBVVu4ls7ElLaW-ytgi2_-ZFWrFn7cVPvkFQBvthgpjUDg86n5szP-Wc/s1600/100_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzAaNLW3HVe0DYPGW6mEyzEDLkDzwCeazGMT0_feR0j6vvi2_AnsLiTW34y0RkMjWVeouAz9vfHFe90LbEDPxBVVu4ls7ElLaW-ytgi2_-ZFWrFn7cVPvkFQBvthgpjUDg86n5szP-Wc/s400/100_0801.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_kZe32dRgOiqqMIM-EGJAqz312UcHYndKiJ6NTopwCUZY0psamiFAn7mxoP1nNHCavNQDgd21gw9mFDKFi1Nk2jbC5xlHiqmCAfOe2VF8JOZ5FvmmFMLy9apfsplphNmhENyP7aVmj4/s1600/100_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_kZe32dRgOiqqMIM-EGJAqz312UcHYndKiJ6NTopwCUZY0psamiFAn7mxoP1nNHCavNQDgd21gw9mFDKFi1Nk2jbC5xlHiqmCAfOe2VF8JOZ5FvmmFMLy9apfsplphNmhENyP7aVmj4/s400/100_0847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are some funny lookin' cats.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX-LKQM-PSoktQ6ZByM5bzR0teLWAewR-PUVNts4O-GPLJOLVP9lz1dtMNHqMd_MGh2rKMvNvXTDS9m8-48Dzyx-E1zYoqvjWnyYxXyFJiDwWaECLi6Vl6AAqpen8ezQ5sGSqem0TnWc/s1600/100_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX-LKQM-PSoktQ6ZByM5bzR0teLWAewR-PUVNts4O-GPLJOLVP9lz1dtMNHqMd_MGh2rKMvNvXTDS9m8-48Dzyx-E1zYoqvjWnyYxXyFJiDwWaECLi6Vl6AAqpen8ezQ5sGSqem0TnWc/s400/100_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHsufRapVqQ24W_KigS9yWPYOo9P3qVg7JIkQhIPAhlTgtGmauE_iZX9VTOBMJuAMU-NpRrF1DrWnBMXhDGzTzEgNOXsgcR0AsK3jGFLqEGkukq32jJQnYq5_7EDDhJTQybi7z5Sgyko/s1600/100_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHsufRapVqQ24W_KigS9yWPYOo9P3qVg7JIkQhIPAhlTgtGmauE_iZX9VTOBMJuAMU-NpRrF1DrWnBMXhDGzTzEgNOXsgcR0AsK3jGFLqEGkukq32jJQnYq5_7EDDhJTQybi7z5Sgyko/s400/100_0797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snazzy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xtJ2LiwicBTxb971bqDYmtlBZ5UpSmXR_ICa6rfx9BhZkWLbjBFZBLYpEfB7_3XR0nQPmrUQ4OUFPZqTwOc-VGEgB5LbkQoLAAkysXcZ5A509p7mUkOD8Aa4vV7H9HWVTapyJpae1Ks/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xtJ2LiwicBTxb971bqDYmtlBZ5UpSmXR_ICa6rfx9BhZkWLbjBFZBLYpEfB7_3XR0nQPmrUQ4OUFPZqTwOc-VGEgB5LbkQoLAAkysXcZ5A509p7mUkOD8Aa4vV7H9HWVTapyJpae1Ks/s400/IMG_2290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought a bunch of Kaiyodo dinosaur figures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oh4SP5S1MKy7_4kXMVBTDFX9RYbcOvPyuRr69wK-AVlqMcr660fe3hxJfHKLKiF-LGJzUd7T9smI-SxaA-1pG6mtzb5iI9isCfvCE47q903sxXk5fj7FHNnqkyBVclyCUUb4Z0LsVIY/s1600/100_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oh4SP5S1MKy7_4kXMVBTDFX9RYbcOvPyuRr69wK-AVlqMcr660fe3hxJfHKLKiF-LGJzUd7T9smI-SxaA-1pG6mtzb5iI9isCfvCE47q903sxXk5fj7FHNnqkyBVclyCUUb4Z0LsVIY/s320/100_0820.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of fish (Diplomystus?) from the Green River formation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DGyEU5IrSCb9GFM4spwwtB6guaIbqa9eROujc3xhUEEuxQNohlOlKRkxmNmKBJXOXpfRSRrw8Bffx_hZGN5l2mHwmIlRK7GI7oUPb8W6ch8-XAehKPSSAy7tVA3xI5c2wwVFnk3WXBo/s1600/100_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DGyEU5IrSCb9GFM4spwwtB6guaIbqa9eROujc3xhUEEuxQNohlOlKRkxmNmKBJXOXpfRSRrw8Bffx_hZGN5l2mHwmIlRK7GI7oUPb8W6ch8-XAehKPSSAy7tVA3xI5c2wwVFnk3WXBo/s400/100_0821.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amphiplaga.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXebvtIb-qUaF0cETlcLn1xhTC1kTCBI86-v6ZSZeN3npwTfm8BW4eLnP3FoUiA4LsC-ZZBq4bwIWNXmIspmfWUcrA4A1WY-n25kt1TZy4MCQYoJIuVNGuvtHXOE_PVPAlktooHGN9VHE/s1600/100_0819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXebvtIb-qUaF0cETlcLn1xhTC1kTCBI86-v6ZSZeN3npwTfm8BW4eLnP3FoUiA4LsC-ZZBq4bwIWNXmIspmfWUcrA4A1WY-n25kt1TZy4MCQYoJIuVNGuvtHXOE_PVPAlktooHGN9VHE/s400/100_0819.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Ordovician Sea display on the way out.<br />It actually had some really nice caustic lighting effects.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-74046146625167495542013-05-18T15:17:00.000-05:002013-05-18T15:17:51.558-05:00The Marvelous Misadventures of Two Paleofreaks<div style="text-align: center;">
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Don't you hate it when your family or friends (provided you have friends) want to tell you all about their vacation and meticulously show you every last picture? It's like, jeez, no one cares about what you did on your trip. Anyway here's a post on a trip had by your two favorite writers for this blog, Connor and Brenden (that's me). It took some crazy plans, some last-minuet tickets, and a spirit of adventure to have us two meet up.</div>
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So what the heck am I getting at?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Paleofest</span></div>
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The 2013 edition</div>
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Our adventure begins in a hobbit hole<i>. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat. It was a hobbit hole, and that means</i>- GAH wait, wrong scroll.</div>
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OUR adventure begins with a museum; the Burpee Museum of Natural History of Rockford, Illinois. It wasn't a very large museum, nor was it much renown. But it was just enough to be lovable, and held some of the most outstanding displays I've yet lay eyes on. From sparkly geodes on the second floor, to a giant Imperial Mammoth that stood right where you first walk in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q9CKkZ61QW-LamhzjXZxduWKJqljvwnf_idyIRabI4funFIONl0B-TBPwHf3FiA122VJtI2Nm5cK5hgl0OwZdvSvIr3QJWZpcuBasF9ebXxOOkbhBlIAAjMVlCABLtN_evO7tPn-tJc/s1600/100_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q9CKkZ61QW-LamhzjXZxduWKJqljvwnf_idyIRabI4funFIONl0B-TBPwHf3FiA122VJtI2Nm5cK5hgl0OwZdvSvIr3QJWZpcuBasF9ebXxOOkbhBlIAAjMVlCABLtN_evO7tPn-tJc/s400/100_0762.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met up right under that giant mammoth with a traditional Water Tribe arm-clasp handshake.</td></tr>
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One plane ride from Florida and a good 4 hours of sleep later (in which I daringly plunged into the freezing cold of Illinois), and a 45-minuet's worth drive for Connor, we met up at Brupee. It was the 15th annual Paleofest, a friendly congregating of paleontologists, paleoartists, and paleonerds (Just like you!). Walking into the museum, one of the first exhibitions was an awesome carboniferous forest display. Considering that the entire thing fit into one tall room, it was pretty neat how much detail was applied to it. Even the lights were lowered, allowing for that sort of eerie vibe you'd expect from a primordial forest. On top of that, every few minuets there would be a "thunderstorm". The lights would dim and you'd hear the sounds of rain falling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPdQuMSP_eYv92ZStaXp_oiXMMn8WurbCMdn4qfIafso2IfUvjEcVe4cBBhRrb-uHL9JLiP-Tc2ekcTrqDSm34T85Fi18NmJ4vTCnwucubEXDrTuy44ZwuTWQxu_qOzyi3soTE4aqyRQ/s1600/100_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPdQuMSP_eYv92ZStaXp_oiXMMn8WurbCMdn4qfIafso2IfUvjEcVe4cBBhRrb-uHL9JLiP-Tc2ekcTrqDSm34T85Fi18NmJ4vTCnwucubEXDrTuy44ZwuTWQxu_qOzyi3soTE4aqyRQ/s400/100_0768.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The longer you looked at it, the more little things you'd start to notice.<br />
Of course this picture doesn't capture much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyYiSZkknaciFWhVhJ_1MJZAFNuzeLo6xsBz1-m7M1do6muBDG0tSaNscGaN8dzsqiqi3VktH0yrl9SoX4HGqgJPntb7yMiqZlWTTfgiZMzkBTMbEhcvq4N1vs7gc2zknlhLqJwzBi3M/s1600/100_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyYiSZkknaciFWhVhJ_1MJZAFNuzeLo6xsBz1-m7M1do6muBDG0tSaNscGaN8dzsqiqi3VktH0yrl9SoX4HGqgJPntb7yMiqZlWTTfgiZMzkBTMbEhcvq4N1vs7gc2zknlhLqJwzBi3M/s400/100_0767.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes you are very beautiful too, Mr. Eryops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq5HTXM52UIOm2taGt8jVZW2HLhtojlwh4HK6lUCeyGftEpYPkYgOPmi1rC2AL3KoO-iVBaZwOkobfCs78XfvE8bL6RtVN4QxSfW0uLZjyJhRzlHioJh1R9oGVTPhP8sdY0d1hDrDV_Y/s1600/100_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq5HTXM52UIOm2taGt8jVZW2HLhtojlwh4HK6lUCeyGftEpYPkYgOPmi1rC2AL3KoO-iVBaZwOkobfCs78XfvE8bL6RtVN4QxSfW0uLZjyJhRzlHioJh1R9oGVTPhP8sdY0d1hDrDV_Y/s400/100_0769.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you imagine this thing popping up out of a log right in front of you? Sheesh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23J9cTkW7LTEJOmqG9YWKfVIIAMyZ_lg-aFy31ticcNxqmc242OmjhZAwbw_iVvdaCmyUyCjHwEzi7mdzdGKilEVhFC462O7THVm5EVNovPZl6JW52NPfQCI4TA1umh0NrFozr7O-pJs/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23J9cTkW7LTEJOmqG9YWKfVIIAMyZ_lg-aFy31ticcNxqmc242OmjhZAwbw_iVvdaCmyUyCjHwEzi7mdzdGKilEVhFC462O7THVm5EVNovPZl6JW52NPfQCI4TA1umh0NrFozr7O-pJs/s400/IMG_2283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Surrounding the forest were also a series of smaller displays. Skulls, models, Morrison fossils, and behind the forest was a really cool aquatic diorama. I lack any (decent) pictures of it, but it contained a little ecosystem of Paleozoic crawdads and crinoids.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dMMjt0zDAOQVTm85umBsHR2ZRCv8AVjgRO-ygL5mmkf2BBfjigsD2BNldD1hICFEX3BUmlCNGIi5glrerSK2PeNWKAZiV_KMxC3UTplH20BwN-TDi-0l34lc0EysygIex96XMKExZH0/s1600/100_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dMMjt0zDAOQVTm85umBsHR2ZRCv8AVjgRO-ygL5mmkf2BBfjigsD2BNldD1hICFEX3BUmlCNGIi5glrerSK2PeNWKAZiV_KMxC3UTplH20BwN-TDi-0l34lc0EysygIex96XMKExZH0/s400/100_0770.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory allosaurus skull.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih_UowEVSZyBbMO7iT9knUnOI3lXlQIMGJoVI5tvP60H3D8eUiVuxCVTP2LaPI94rBJYUrNZMBhOZSM6nu4IfUfyJrvFqAgWDIXU1yiJ2AaaSorHYBPrZmJWergE93bIxbejnn0NhsZc/s1600/100_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih_UowEVSZyBbMO7iT9knUnOI3lXlQIMGJoVI5tvP60H3D8eUiVuxCVTP2LaPI94rBJYUrNZMBhOZSM6nu4IfUfyJrvFqAgWDIXU1yiJ2AaaSorHYBPrZmJWergE93bIxbejnn0NhsZc/s400/100_0771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a fish. It's a tank.<br />
I don't even know how to label this thing, it's Dunkleosteus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Forward we trekked, across the high mountains and through the freezing winters (which was all really just a hallway). We then arrived at the room of Jane, the fabled juvenile Tyrannosaurus. The entire exhibit was titled <i>Jane; The Diary of a Dinosaur</i>, and took place in a large room with all sorts of tyrannosaurus-related things.<br />
<br />
Brace yourself.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdGWTbvde7zfxsbX3xswx_O2FL78D1yyjtZCqMlzhf5rC0H8fHO4JO15lF-BQaSULh412COCjlIcV7bEFyqnOjoWFnogaF1sODaqOWmh1Pl5dW36tcqxLu2jRDeOxoW0y-UfY8bYAiac/s1600/100_0842-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdGWTbvde7zfxsbX3xswx_O2FL78D1yyjtZCqMlzhf5rC0H8fHO4JO15lF-BQaSULh412COCjlIcV7bEFyqnOjoWFnogaF1sODaqOWmh1Pl5dW36tcqxLu2jRDeOxoW0y-UfY8bYAiac/s400/100_0842-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane is basically the Holy Grail of the town of Rockford.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0PS3591BD2XECcnWzAq4glx5CvN8B2JHeXmh8hU2Q7uK_XbrQ32q0uvwxZEfOGUR3PCLxzDnodEzyeuMeIuP1bamdpjQn9UxA-HQoBTpGG6K3DCA4wOKGIYDQsies7jueYIOKr8A2Wo/s1600/100_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0PS3591BD2XECcnWzAq4glx5CvN8B2JHeXmh8hU2Q7uK_XbrQ32q0uvwxZEfOGUR3PCLxzDnodEzyeuMeIuP1bamdpjQn9UxA-HQoBTpGG6K3DCA4wOKGIYDQsies7jueYIOKr8A2Wo/s400/100_0775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPinnDKGt13z5MgtW3YyVJgxv54SUjdEOIlAYheQYJHVApMtfUdFInOknsJ7viSccZqowCZonQc0b_bCrHge9IpY-vnnUCWuSiAXAKz5OD28Yv_NMj17FIJLQugsZnlufRnoLWFZ-IH-A/s1600/100_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPinnDKGt13z5MgtW3YyVJgxv54SUjdEOIlAYheQYJHVApMtfUdFInOknsJ7viSccZqowCZonQc0b_bCrHge9IpY-vnnUCWuSiAXAKz5OD28Yv_NMj17FIJLQugsZnlufRnoLWFZ-IH-A/s400/100_0776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N-cBhFC3nj4Csk8J1TNoz_9TKLL-9EmVOYXkU0JDoN045qv8Tcv4vyDCazpvIVWfevt8b-6J5HsT2ir3m5LBqlLRh9zVMTXgL8AHqVVXElKJwd9xMFXxQloE3U-3vCfiRfxGEb7QYP0/s1600/100_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N-cBhFC3nj4Csk8J1TNoz_9TKLL-9EmVOYXkU0JDoN045qv8Tcv4vyDCazpvIVWfevt8b-6J5HsT2ir3m5LBqlLRh9zVMTXgL8AHqVVXElKJwd9xMFXxQloE3U-3vCfiRfxGEb7QYP0/s400/100_0774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes I get it, "Diary of Jane" is a song. Ha ha ha shut up already.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg471nSPugTLWZUBuK1I9_Unl9jVM8ArwKBThCvtHlsUTrkplsWf630g7KTd4mCTPAXEOihywLonruncc0Ci1i1hRBmIxZ3gAtz-lOunNAVtZZpTO1gtjnRrCQhgLCyAbM8JAWsm2SSFjk/s1600/100_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg471nSPugTLWZUBuK1I9_Unl9jVM8ArwKBThCvtHlsUTrkplsWf630g7KTd4mCTPAXEOihywLonruncc0Ci1i1hRBmIxZ3gAtz-lOunNAVtZZpTO1gtjnRrCQhgLCyAbM8JAWsm2SSFjk/s400/100_0786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqnFEJAPGW9pR1ATibGnUaoNrLZX_lRKtpE0Oy7xllaXBs8V5NjwqZ9X-ahI7ZNuNHBkkW96jZx-s5rq9_uAce9sbCbPWvyqA16F4YBakAzZBbOPxsAqBvpxnAriePM_tpBJuN-cQhhA/s1600/100_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqnFEJAPGW9pR1ATibGnUaoNrLZX_lRKtpE0Oy7xllaXBs8V5NjwqZ9X-ahI7ZNuNHBkkW96jZx-s5rq9_uAce9sbCbPWvyqA16F4YBakAzZBbOPxsAqBvpxnAriePM_tpBJuN-cQhhA/s400/100_0778.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler Keillor's outstanding restoration of Jane. Legend has it that he slayed the<br />
beast himself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5V-Gg0jtsfDTL0C4LqK2HJ5po5fQBxA4an8YsrCW5AHfeLDYyX7fc8Y0kVENV9SH8vwASCRRZq68lOenr7stB-tDDL2nLdxMtGqVwXSrnz9WNXFjJwK4pT-2y6Zl8CnOr5LPpi0yS_w/s1600/100_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5V-Gg0jtsfDTL0C4LqK2HJ5po5fQBxA4an8YsrCW5AHfeLDYyX7fc8Y0kVENV9SH8vwASCRRZq68lOenr7stB-tDDL2nLdxMtGqVwXSrnz9WNXFjJwK4pT-2y6Zl8CnOr5LPpi0yS_w/s400/100_0816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look hard in the background, and you can catch a glimpse of a majestic Connor, curiously<br />
observing it's environment. It was startled at the sight of my camera and proceeded<br />
to prance away, faceplanting into a wall shortly after.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Our adventure then took to the second floor, to the Geoscience displays. Not much time was spent up here, but it held a fantastic assortment of geodes and minerals of all sorts. Along with that, you could look down at the lower floor and throw rocks at people. They never expect an attack from above.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(I'm only kidding of course, you should never throw rocks at people. It is messy, mean, and probably illegal in some countries.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WBf6CimZzPVIGz9WXW3_SSiC3BBG4abpQAcMgLAyD7VCymPBfomCSac1Jh3I3Cu098hW_YxJpltfEPyz0V-ZeZzNyxCc_-7p-XfyN10t68kIVn3Kbw78teIlnwMs7PVomYjA9nJQ_hc/s1600/100_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WBf6CimZzPVIGz9WXW3_SSiC3BBG4abpQAcMgLAyD7VCymPBfomCSac1Jh3I3Cu098hW_YxJpltfEPyz0V-ZeZzNyxCc_-7p-XfyN10t68kIVn3Kbw78teIlnwMs7PVomYjA9nJQ_hc/s400/100_0795.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Pn6AgtQouPHgOvpJB3vds2nqsXgJAY1JLBvnW1slD6tQMvlNLo4Od1wv6SiRG093h0Jsx4oIUFvTTJmgsZfiEAuERR_60PydS8Rjai9xIf53l5fVqYfyaEZEjORz-9V7SP7jMrIs3Y/s1600/100_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Pn6AgtQouPHgOvpJB3vds2nqsXgJAY1JLBvnW1slD6tQMvlNLo4Od1wv6SiRG093h0Jsx4oIUFvTTJmgsZfiEAuERR_60PydS8Rjai9xIf53l5fVqYfyaEZEjORz-9V7SP7jMrIs3Y/s400/100_0794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fluorite can do anything. Even make your teeth sparkly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb9iNUDmN8VQoIm73dobG_yKmGU4S1ImkatO-qpPjP7i-WpEMgF0UWdpQ7cigY_qHMLvpNcqmqK1vrxSE9lXnDb97fqkqWfGfD2KZCFdrMLCLh5h1LoEGsu_wgSxSqKKNlF9RjpuzMRE/s1600/100_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb9iNUDmN8VQoIm73dobG_yKmGU4S1ImkatO-qpPjP7i-WpEMgF0UWdpQ7cigY_qHMLvpNcqmqK1vrxSE9lXnDb97fqkqWfGfD2KZCFdrMLCLh5h1LoEGsu_wgSxSqKKNlF9RjpuzMRE/s400/100_0793.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Pterygotus have </span></span>evolved to flight. NO ONE IS SAFE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q1f06Hnh5Gw3fXq4aeCnHF_9CviKosWtZsi7NeBHvyT7mcg2NBwCfyBgBqdg0bZv40HnuTmeLJg7mAbTIj6s4I6UJ-87UhvOgPsWxtiLlODJsKXKuvzDwfHFVLqINfhGCu0dnGaEes4/s1600/100_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q1f06Hnh5Gw3fXq4aeCnHF_9CviKosWtZsi7NeBHvyT7mcg2NBwCfyBgBqdg0bZv40HnuTmeLJg7mAbTIj6s4I6UJ-87UhvOgPsWxtiLlODJsKXKuvzDwfHFVLqINfhGCu0dnGaEes4/s400/100_0815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t8749P-C7vjFfd5QqvwSYZEJEu3J27H8M9YcbNnjwHdz_-LkmKaV0OAg-y-74g6tmbLPEW_YcH3t3Skvs3OYbS6G0lbGZUkj6n5Uey8b1ZOvPDCwNcEkrKnu7JZKrJiwohQ0UFAH3u4/s1600/100_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t8749P-C7vjFfd5QqvwSYZEJEu3J27H8M9YcbNnjwHdz_-LkmKaV0OAg-y-74g6tmbLPEW_YcH3t3Skvs3OYbS6G0lbGZUkj6n5Uey8b1ZOvPDCwNcEkrKnu7JZKrJiwohQ0UFAH3u4/s400/100_0814.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learn something new every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Now we move to the top floor, which primarily focuses on North American wildlife and early man. It even touched on some Native American culture that I found really interesting. Toward the front of the room was a larger section that held some live (and dead) animals, and a bit of interactive media. Fittingly it was titled "Windows to the Wilderness" (funny because it was right next to a giant window).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwpueKLzN0GJzNIhbNh2w67h8yTSmBSoRhkcIDqzIaV3NI4Ay6YXEoV8xnaedY8C8zL4S0V6SwnxT_iBdQ08AcJ_xKNCH2V16RkujlLjXGnbila1l_VpiifMOANSVNGxvgkIUjBY6_cI/s1600/100_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwpueKLzN0GJzNIhbNh2w67h8yTSmBSoRhkcIDqzIaV3NI4Ay6YXEoV8xnaedY8C8zL4S0V6SwnxT_iBdQ08AcJ_xKNCH2V16RkujlLjXGnbila1l_VpiifMOANSVNGxvgkIUjBY6_cI/s400/100_0811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ey sis', check this squirrel I just killed out."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This array of archaic arrowheads and hunting tools was just awesome.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzHxmdG2kqOVak00S248tmAlw9r8kkTZi5A2dDlaQwlv0uy1hwCnHtXBOXEV1s4LLSd-yY_0Ah-2Nzw2gFcR0oYK_SgSwKPm5V50u6oER8LGNMj12gjaBuUM8o3WuZ45v7M4Pjp6F2iQ/s1600/100_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzHxmdG2kqOVak00S248tmAlw9r8kkTZi5A2dDlaQwlv0uy1hwCnHtXBOXEV1s4LLSd-yY_0Ah-2Nzw2gFcR0oYK_SgSwKPm5V50u6oER8LGNMj12gjaBuUM8o3WuZ45v7M4Pjp6F2iQ/s400/100_0799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A western fox snake, one of the local ratsnakes found in Illinois.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVfE4ooqpB4U4P3IgJR4AMnvZeOzWsBwvDwzTu2l2hTMDMoZR5Y5aprnDzm_ucnRORd7vl7l3bjVpGydOGx-vVoa-JWQbVo_qwpTY1MEclkjC0fgaRVrG8zwq3IsFdDQtFsgodYanbB8/s1600/100_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVfE4ooqpB4U4P3IgJR4AMnvZeOzWsBwvDwzTu2l2hTMDMoZR5Y5aprnDzm_ucnRORd7vl7l3bjVpGydOGx-vVoa-JWQbVo_qwpTY1MEclkjC0fgaRVrG8zwq3IsFdDQtFsgodYanbB8/s400/100_0805.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redear sunfish and a bass.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICAH1bknOvcj5gryCcowmOc4VRGfBEGt7mNtlnDeY1EFBMPPSe12sEcfgzNYSvL4X7ZuVM-CzgCdjFAetv8w4kPzRXQNk9KgLFyvqzJgfnvB6OVl8l97sk1x8R6CPti-EgjBgTOpEotE/s1600/100_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICAH1bknOvcj5gryCcowmOc4VRGfBEGt7mNtlnDeY1EFBMPPSe12sEcfgzNYSvL4X7ZuVM-CzgCdjFAetv8w4kPzRXQNk9KgLFyvqzJgfnvB6OVl8l97sk1x8R6CPti-EgjBgTOpEotE/s400/100_0806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belted Kingfisher.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What more is there to be said about this picture other than that we are professional idiots.</td></tr>
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Alright now the moment you've all been waiting for; the lectures. Unfortunately because there were a lot more than usual (over 30 to be exact), the talks were all shorter than in previous years. About 20 minuets for each speaker. We walked in on Nathan Carroll of the Montana State University's discussion on Champanian and Maastrichtian Pterosaur diversity. Following Nathan's lecture came some other fantastic talks, all focusing on Late Cretaceous morphology (after all, the symposium was titled, "Changes in the Late Cretaceous Biosphere). One that I thought particularly stood out was Michael J. Everhard of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History's lecture on Mosasaurs. Michael really emphasized (and this I never quite realized beforehand) just how massive the beasts got over time, primarily towards the Campanian and Maastrichtian stages. Another point brought up was their generally short reign, as mosasaurs were only around for a good 35 million years.<br />
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After the lectures wrapped up, we got a few signatures (Thomas Holtz signed my copy of The Hobbit. Just thought I should put that out there), had a great conversation with Tyler Keillor at the mixer, bought some things in the gift shop (when you see two teenagers critically evaluating the dinosaur toys in a museum gift shop, you know they mean business), went out for dinner, traveled back to hotel, ruthlessly beat eachother up with pillows, embarked on an adventure, went night night, then remembered that there was a second day.<br />
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The lectures on the second day brought some more familiar names. Scott Sampson, Thomas Holtz, Philip Currie, Steve Brusatte, and several more. Dr. Holtz brought up some fantastic points on the "childhood" stages of tyrannosaurids. In his lecture, he made mention of how the juvenile stages of tyrannosaurs were generally long, around ten years or so, and how the younger animals played a different niche in the environment than the adults. The little guys holding the rank of primary mid-sized predators. And just to put the icing on the primordial cake, Dr. Holtz gave Connor and I a shout-out at the very end of his lecture (we joked how amazing it was that he didn't need to file a restraining order on us). Now we can die happy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Dr. Holtz's opening slides.</td></tr>
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With the rest of the lectures coming to a close, it marked the end of, for a lack of better words, one hell of an awesome weekend. The directors and event organizers did a brilliant job of setting up everything, we had some great discussions with the Gods of paleontology, and perhaps best of all, I got to meet up with a close friend of mine for the first time in person. That isn't always so easy being that we each hail from different states. But I can honestly say that actually meeting eye-to-eye for the first time was one of the coolest things we've pulled off.<br />
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For you fellow paleofreaks out there, if you ever do get the chance, don't miss out on the next Paleofest. Grab a buddy, hop on a plane, and get your butt down/up there. If it's dinosaurs, fossils, auctions and adventure you seek, Paleofest is nothing short of it. And ah, for those of you coming from the south, do bring a jacket.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Burpee Museum Facebook page. If you find us, you'll receive a virtual kiss on the cheek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wqu8i5mRnR6OH5Z0iu-ewNZVMp-HB7CMfXcFLr65PGzyi7KoQIAA7jwWvdfxX2KRKzfGHQZorMeFS7V5aa0xrfitVfT1efAP2aZvT4PVjDkjRNCn0mjFxJOTbE5bJ3z5Qs9Ug2RBb7A/s1600/100_08588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wqu8i5mRnR6OH5Z0iu-ewNZVMp-HB7CMfXcFLr65PGzyi7KoQIAA7jwWvdfxX2KRKzfGHQZorMeFS7V5aa0xrfitVfT1efAP2aZvT4PVjDkjRNCn0mjFxJOTbE5bJ3z5Qs9Ug2RBb7A/s640/100_08588.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty bro.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-86493263018417421962013-04-29T20:20:00.000-05:002013-04-29T20:20:13.054-05:00Media Review #3: Jurassic Park 3D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>April 29, 2013,</i><br />
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This is the last Jurassic Park movie, I swear. Don't eat me. How can I not review this movie after seeing it over my spring break a week ago. It's a classic movie both in terms of science and in general. If anything deserves attention during it's re-release it's this movie.<br />
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Also that Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello are 33 and 29.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ariana grew up into Jenna Bush-Hager and Joe grew up into Seth Green</td></tr>
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The movie is the same thing story and editing wise as the original. Theres no extended scenes, new scores or extra CGI like one would expect in something like a Star Wars Re-release. The only things that were changed was the Resolution, the sound quality, and the removal of some of those glaring production gaffes like the hand on the raptor hip in the kitchen, the camera crew caught on film and the wire attached to the flipping jeep. <br />
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What was best that was new was the quality of the 3D in fact. I likely have a positive opinion of the 3D because it's Jurassic Park and I didn't have a lot of high hopes for it given it's status of post converted 3D since what you see on film happened over 20 years ago. Despite this, the 3D didn't look like a pop up book (ex: Clash of the Titans). It looked like it was filmed natively. It really struck me during all the scenes with dinosaurs. it made them look 10x more real. Even the stuff with the humans looked real, hairs actually stuck out as opposed to looking flat. <br />
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Yeah, not much piss to take from it since Jurassic Park was a pretty great movie. I'll find some movie with an annoying religious undertone for the next one so I can try to be funny again. Otherwise I have to act mature and write a "serious" review.<br />
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You'll just have to enjoy this video I think is really a sneaky Jeep advertisement taking place during the Vancouver Riots after a soccer game.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tj4jIpygAMw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I post it because I can. Suck it, Connor.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672328790337042619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-47116694520569228272013-04-29T19:00:00.000-05:002013-04-29T19:00:01.792-05:00The Lethargic, Blind, Poisonous, Ravenous Greenland Sleeper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgvRjm4FZvFt3QLtQ2qI0tMDoCuB20F3YHXwxHjFegXQxzQD27BFo4abw1GqyWR-DgoLxA5VlZLX4TdxtsChlMowonY6km0AJzrqXGIE19QIGTMHmwJEizvaIY5ZYRXLFqGudC-xS3n4/s1600/greenland-shark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgvRjm4FZvFt3QLtQ2qI0tMDoCuB20F3YHXwxHjFegXQxzQD27BFo4abw1GqyWR-DgoLxA5VlZLX4TdxtsChlMowonY6km0AJzrqXGIE19QIGTMHmwJEizvaIY5ZYRXLFqGudC-xS3n4/s400/greenland-shark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Bad Joke Sleeper Shark is the new meme.</b></div>
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That smiling blubber torpedo up there isn't some hastily photoshopped seal or missile with a face. No, my friends, that is the amiable Greenland sleeper shark, the laziest shark in the world. Known by many names, such as the Greenland shark, gurry shark, ground shark, and the Inuit <i style="font-weight: bold;">Eqalussuaq</i>, this species of sleeper is the great white shark of the Arctic, often longer but slightly lighter. Reaching a total of 24ft long and 3100lb is roughly the length of nineteen cocker spaniels and the weight of 442 pomeranians. Just so you get a grip on the size:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYTVVn0Y_khDnL22CsTvEl71uRzFnvGPsHJGpjrCqXclRTwzB4maLVTsPUgo383XTc95M_3ho7WSZR_SOhad-ZeiW8Ens9XF_kfXgDmXLLde65SN9HA6-wTxIgf-7E6pWNBwmW9UDt80/s1600/SHARK+GREENLAND+%28Somniosus+microcephalus+biggest+fish+in+the+world+ever+caught+record+big+huge+fishes+massive+records+largest+IGFA+monster+fishing+ocean+sea+giant+images+lb+pound+caught+pictures+island+canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYTVVn0Y_khDnL22CsTvEl71uRzFnvGPsHJGpjrCqXclRTwzB4maLVTsPUgo383XTc95M_3ho7WSZR_SOhad-ZeiW8Ens9XF_kfXgDmXLLde65SN9HA6-wTxIgf-7E6pWNBwmW9UDt80/s400/SHARK+GREENLAND+%28Somniosus+microcephalus+biggest+fish+in+the+world+ever+caught+record+big+huge+fishes+massive+records+largest+IGFA+monster+fishing+ocean+sea+giant+images+lb+pound+caught+pictures+island+canada.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>You see the kid looking in its mouth? That is the look of a kid who has been to Vietnam to back and just doesn't give a crap.</b></div>
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And now we delve into more facts. The Greenland sleeper is surely the northernmost species of sharks, cruising along at a speed demon rate of 0.34m per second, which translates to about... 0.765mph. In fact, the Greenland sleeper is so slow, it has to sneak up on seals in their sleep. Meanwhile, great whites are out there ramming into seals and launching themselves out of the water at more than 40mph. All in all, the Greenland sleeper is the ocean's stoner, the reason being that unlike the salmon shark, they cannot regulate their own body temperature. But still, oceanic druggie.</div>
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<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61054000/jpg/_61054129_hai2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61054000/jpg/_61054129_hai2.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b>These colours, man...</b></div>
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Do you want to know just how chill this slow-moving, giant, Arctic shark is? Say hello to<b> </b><i>Ommatokoita elongata</i>:</div>
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What is this, besides what looks like a facehugger from <i>Alien</i> had it been made in the 50s. Its a copepod (Plankton from <i>Spongebob Squarepants</i> is one too) with a fondness for parasitism. The female copepod attaches onto the eyes of Greenland sleepers and their relative, the Pacific sleeper; the main reason being (besides nightmares) that sharks' skin is covered in denticles, making it tough to get a grip. The copepod grazes on the surface of the cornea, slowly ebbing away at it, slowly blinding it. Luckily for the shark, it barely needs its eyes anyways, and while not benefited from the relationship, is pretty much unharmed. Just try not to think of these copepods attaching to your eyes (they won't anyways, but it sounds like a totally rad B-movie plot).</div>
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<b>*cue woman scream*</b></div>
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So we've covered how slow they are and how chill they are, but what does a Greenland shark eat? Well, they have a hankerin' for mostly fish. Skates, eels, lumpfish, wolffish, flounders, sculpins, capelin, herring, and chars, even other sharks, make up the bulk of its diet. And yet, much like the similarly-sized great whites and tiger sharks, it adds a little zest to its diet with some pretty big animals. Not only seals, but porpoises, caribou, horses, and <i><b>polar bears</b></i>. For a shark that can't even break 2mph, it sure can hunt down some prey. Of course, some of this could be carrion, but its jaw-dropping to think of. And they do it all with a set of chompers like this.</div>
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<a href="http://www.geerg.ca/images/gshark_dentition3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://www.geerg.ca/images/gshark_dentition3.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><b>WHY IS IT SMILING?!?!?</b></i></div>
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<i><b> </b></i> </div>
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And while you may be thinking of going out and spearing a Greenland shark to avenge all the cute little caribou, the fluffy bears, and pretty horses killed by it and then eating its corpse, you may want to slow down there, buster. Greenland sleeper flesh is poisonous. Unusually high concentrations of urea (its in your urine, stop giggling) and trimethylamine oxide, a protein stabiliser for the shark. The effect of eating its fresh flesh (no rhyme intended) is symptoms similar to extreme drunkenness and intoxication; sled dogs that eat it can't even stand for a while. The flesh has to be boiled in several changes of water, or go through periods of drying and fermentation for months. The end result is a Greenlandic/Icelandic delicacy, known as <i>hakarl</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Hakarl_near_Bjarnah%C3%B6fn_in_Iceland.JPG/800px-Hakarl_near_Bjarnah%C3%B6fn_in_Iceland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Hakarl_near_Bjarnah%C3%B6fn_in_Iceland.JPG/800px-Hakarl_near_Bjarnah%C3%B6fn_in_Iceland.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><b>Bon apetit.</b></i> </div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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dailyparasite.blogspot.com<b> </b><i> </i></div>
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www.bbc.co.uk<i></i></div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-29261876639291584652013-04-21T11:27:00.003-05:002013-04-21T11:27:33.902-05:00Salmon Sharks: Because Who Needs What You Learned About Sharks Anyways?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hkNvI2hi4HOuqZwhefxMPgk_z-e7zFg_HyvA_nqDOoBPN590qT4oJ2UnOo-ApJva5fikRukfGoeZZcpDJfOinHK_5PvO23T1pM1G6lfpWLmNRi0ZZr7a-2F4jsvSg4N1usj8I58S8bw/s1600/Salmon-shark-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hkNvI2hi4HOuqZwhefxMPgk_z-e7zFg_HyvA_nqDOoBPN590qT4oJ2UnOo-ApJva5fikRukfGoeZZcpDJfOinHK_5PvO23T1pM1G6lfpWLmNRi0ZZr7a-2F4jsvSg4N1usj8I58S8bw/s400/Salmon-shark-.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>"Boo!"</b></div>
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I wish I had an excuse for being absent for long. I wish I could say I spent the last month bravely battling sea monsters on a cargo ship Europe-bound in the Atlantic. But sadly, sea monsters don't exist and I have no excuse then. However, we are going to the sea for today's blogpost. That shark above, which looks like one of those "realistically-drawn" cartoon characters that isn't realistic looking at all, goes by the name of the...</div>
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<b><u>SALMON SHARK</u></b></div>
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(dun dun dun)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0oPFSwTZNvYXpmnUwn9QfC6MnzftWWI8HoGyY0bPzIu4CmjetjuabifugqTRojiaO_oKxKq67cJdtwslYJxZRGZGxhpQmn1AUhXCl5rp9uTPSARnRZroG1v7YZQgT2sk5jVCuJpbSxo/s1600/woman-screaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0oPFSwTZNvYXpmnUwn9QfC6MnzftWWI8HoGyY0bPzIu4CmjetjuabifugqTRojiaO_oKxKq67cJdtwslYJxZRGZGxhpQmn1AUhXCl5rp9uTPSARnRZroG1v7YZQgT2sk5jVCuJpbSxo/s1600/woman-screaming.jpg" /></a></div>
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Alright, alright, it's not the most terrifying shark ever. Maybe that honour belongs to a mako or a tiger shark or a bull shark or a great white. But as an Internet Samaritan, I can tell you some neataroony stuff on them, and I promise to never use "neataroony" again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrqV1329KJx5KGEOuco9WedssvVd9GZgMB6miMgomBNJwNLq3-r1o6tSsUADJG8BjY0jKAq4lrXq1pOIKT-6GWhxauStUywtGtu14LYWpXcXGHs8sUwKvnDeLwVhCSJf0up3QYA43T1U/s1600/ss6_sanderson2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrqV1329KJx5KGEOuco9WedssvVd9GZgMB6miMgomBNJwNLq3-r1o6tSsUADJG8BjY0jKAq4lrXq1pOIKT-6GWhxauStUywtGtu14LYWpXcXGHs8sUwKvnDeLwVhCSJf0up3QYA43T1U/s400/ss6_sanderson2004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Radical? Maybe I should stop using ridiculous adjectives.</b></div>
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Its practically first grade biology: all fish are cold-blooded, just like reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. They're so stupid that they're not even endothermic. Bunch of losers, that's what they are. The salmon shark missed out on your 1st grade Biology class however and decided it didn't need to be ectothermic (look at me, throwing around big terms like I'm at Harvard). Why's that?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3LVNbUGiLxt_AUSSmzZk7ChEweVP3WtI8ZFzioq1Y9Ug9OZ_7bpFEZ_SB1d9teI1-8jfQcqv8L06r1u7o7SzWscfLPB6UDr0fJIyK1D6TIP829u4SIpg2jfwswRZMuvZixhylESkGX8/s1600/salmonshark_largemap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3LVNbUGiLxt_AUSSmzZk7ChEweVP3WtI8ZFzioq1Y9Ug9OZ_7bpFEZ_SB1d9teI1-8jfQcqv8L06r1u7o7SzWscfLPB6UDr0fJIyK1D6TIP829u4SIpg2jfwswRZMuvZixhylESkGX8/s400/salmonshark_largemap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Because they live off the waters of frickin' Alaska.</b></div>
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Yes, the salmon shark lives in Alaskan waters, one of the few sharks to brave the cold (not as cold-adapted as the massive Greenland sleeper). Similar to great whites and makos, it is facultatively "warm-blooded" and in waters of 36 degrees F, its body temperate can be 61 degrees F. Pretty crazy. This feat is thanks to retia mirabilia, represented below in this fabulous dolphin model.</div>
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For those who might struggle reading it (remember to click the image), the hatching represents retia mirabilia. RM, as we'll call it for short, is a network of veins and arteries adjacent to each other, and is Latin for "wonderful nets". RM pretty much is in charge of how ions are exchanged in the blood stream, and are found in birds with webbed feet (in penguins' flippers and nasal passages too), many mammals, and several fish species, the salmon shark being one of those. It can be found in swim bladders of fish as well as muscular regions, the latter of which helps maintain body temperature. Its some pretty neat stuff. We were even thought to have RM once. We were promptly let down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr2mOlDIBKvLqo9NCIUwD912ulQ2IgylqVJjyl6n6rJnU-1F92jcEy3o4DMYh-7WIWusMem0NijEO3hKcETv8mbRRfZd890XGL_rtuXmpMzZOMME9pb8JeKpohx5NhyphenhyphenvX_uJvA7hAcg/s1600/hipster-hotties-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr2mOlDIBKvLqo9NCIUwD912ulQ2IgylqVJjyl6n6rJnU-1F92jcEy3o4DMYh-7WIWusMem0NijEO3hKcETv8mbRRfZd890XGL_rtuXmpMzZOMME9pb8JeKpohx5NhyphenhyphenvX_uJvA7hAcg/s400/hipster-hotties-0.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<b>"They're too mainstream anyways."</b></div>
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Some other cursory information on salmon sharks in case your life ever depends on it. They can reach 10ft long with anecdotes of 14-footers, and can weigh up to 990lbs. They are nearly as swift as their mako cousins, reaching speeds of 50mph. They are named for eating salmon, but also dine on halibut, herring, sablefish, and squid. Got it? Got it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE29CIUaxPxbnQ5dAkyOOq5NyHZGcvUV4ZLbTd2yRAcMF_iMQjg1IE6DOxHYmWxnU-vf4pMOYz6oUJ2ziU19hYWkivQFTwiAM_KedHoZ6TUZIPc5mExYmN6IcHKDYBrV-zC-W8W4uQhcI/s1600/salmonsharkteethnoaa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE29CIUaxPxbnQ5dAkyOOq5NyHZGcvUV4ZLbTd2yRAcMF_iMQjg1IE6DOxHYmWxnU-vf4pMOYz6oUJ2ziU19hYWkivQFTwiAM_KedHoZ6TUZIPc5mExYmN6IcHKDYBrV-zC-W8W4uQhcI/s400/salmonsharkteethnoaa.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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www.topp.org</div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-23107029058076837602013-03-25T13:39:00.000-05:002013-08-05T23:34:35.401-05:00The Wonderful Dart Frogs of Suriname, Peru, Columbia, and Costa Rica+<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgge1rOiSLybbpiTRJ8Pdt6D-IvMxywA8143w6A4Vp6ec-AA043HK8krHuNXO-C1Rw_LJj9bP8XYAKDsp4mHs3G1WfOCfVK4WL_xILX2-95EhzpLuuE1PqcW32-o0zmPT9qv_8_NnqVE/s1600/Dart+Frog+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgge1rOiSLybbpiTRJ8Pdt6D-IvMxywA8143w6A4Vp6ec-AA043HK8krHuNXO-C1Rw_LJj9bP8XYAKDsp4mHs3G1WfOCfVK4WL_xILX2-95EhzpLuuE1PqcW32-o0zmPT9qv_8_NnqVE/s400/Dart+Frog+Banner+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">When you can look this flamboyant, camouflage is unnecessary.</span></h3>
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Charming as their colours are vivid, the poison dart frogs of South America have proved to be some of the most beautiful and iconic symbols of the South American rain forests. These dazzling little amphibians sport such colour as a warning signal to predators. In the wild, bright colour often means "Put me in your mouth and you die". On top of that, they have earned the "dart" part of their name from the way some species have been used by some of the native people. Dipping the head of an arrow into the lifeless body of a frog, and using the toxin for hunting (brutal, I know) was a common practice. But what makes the frogs so unique is their incredible regional diversity. In this post, we'll cover some of the most renown species (and a few of the author's personal favorites, I should mention).<br />
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Also, you're reading the first post by one of the new writers named Brenden. If I don't get enough views for this post, Connor and Ray get to take turns beating me with a morning star.<br />
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We'll begin with the charismatic <i>Dendrobates tinctorius</i>:</div>
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The tinctorius darts, or "tincs" as they've been dubbed in the hobby, are one of the larger species of darts and perhaps the most recognizable. These guys range throughout areas of Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, and Brazil. They're easily characterized by a generally bulky body, "hunched" back, and large toe pads (primarily on the males). But what makes the tincs really special is how varied they are between location. One of the most notable examples is the formerly-named Dendrobates "azureus".</div>
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Now, the Azureus have an interesting backstory. Back when they were first discovered in the 1960's, they were classified as their own species. Later, they turned out to be nothing more than a blue morph of the more-common D.tinctorius. They however are exclusive to scattered parts of the Suriname savannas. In recent year's, they have also become some of the staples of the captive frog-keeping community. That neon-blue visage has brought a large number of people into the hobby (fun fact; the author of this post has actually owned a pair of them).<br />
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Moving on, we have the <i>Phyllobates terribilis</i>:</div>
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The Phyllobates genus contains some of the largest species of dart frog, the largest being P.terribilis. These hopping vats of toxin hail from the Pacific coast of Columbia. The Terribilis is sometimes called the Golden Dart Frog (not to be confused with the critically-endangered Panamanian Golden Frog), although this species has a few different colour morphs from different localities. </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Phyllobates_terribilis_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Phyllobates_terribilis_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Mint Green is the most common found in captivity, holding a solid milky-green hue. </div>
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<a href="http://www.frogforum.net/members/john-albums-phyllobates-terribilis-2011-onwards-picture16177-phyllobates-terribilis-orange-golden-poison-frog-orange-race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.frogforum.net/members/john-albums-phyllobates-terribilis-2011-onwards-picture16177-phyllobates-terribilis-orange-golden-poison-frog-orange-race.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Orange is less common than the Mint, and slightly smaller.</div>
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While many members of the Phyllobates genus vary in wild toxicity, P.terribilis has been called the absolute most toxic. A single frog is capable of killing roughly 10 adult men with just one milligram of it's skin toxin. The skin of the frog produces an alkaloid, a fatally-powerful batrachotoxin which shuts down nerves and leaves muscles limp and dead. Because of this less-than-desirable taste, they have very few natural predators. Anything that chows down on this frog is as good as dead (excluding the Liophis epinephelus, which usually only takes on smaller frogs<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Please keep these frogs away from small children that like to stick things in their mouths.</span></span></div>
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Next in line is the <i>Dendrobates auratus</i>:</div>
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D.auratus is a generally Central American species, ranging from Nicaragua and Costa Rica to as far as northern Colombia. However in 1932, the species was introduced in Hawaii. The population ended up gaining their own colour morph, and took fairly well in their island home. Auratus are mostly characterized by having a black or deep bronze tone with asymetrical bright metallic green bands. However this species possesses a great deal of regional diversity in comparison with other dart frogs (if I were to chronicle each different subspecies for each different locality, this post would be very long). Some of the Panamanian species range from vibrant blues to reticulated brown patterns. Auratus are also of the least-concern for protection, being as distributed as they are.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of several blue subspecies. </span></td></tr>
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Now that I've saved the best for last (in the most non-biased way possible), the <i>Ranitomeya</i>:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shield your eyes, there's too much pretty-ness.</span></td></tr>
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The frogs of the Ranitomeya genus are smaller, lighter-built, and hold incredibly high-contrasting colours. Personally, I think they kind of look like paintballs with legs. Or a frog that's been crudely painted by a two-year old. Species of Ranitomeya are greatly distributed around the lowland areas of the Amazon basin, around the northern parts of Peru, and even as far as French Guiana. They're characterized by having a second finger much longer than the first. That and having several different near-metallic colours, many with chain-like patterns across their legs. Ranitomeya darts are often called the "thumbnail" frogs, being that they don't grow to be much larger than half an inch.</div>
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Here are a few species that, personally, I think are just downright gorgeous:</div>
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<i>Ranitomeya imitator</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.frogforum.net/members/john-albums-ranitomeya-imitator-varadero-jeberos-formerly-dendrobates-imitator-picture7939-imitating-dart-frog-dendrobates-imitator-ranitomeya-imitator-varadero-race-understory-enterprises-line-sometimes-referred-jeberos-race-male-transporting-tadpole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.frogforum.net/members/john-albums-ranitomeya-imitator-varadero-jeberos-formerly-dendrobates-imitator-picture7939-imitating-dart-frog-dendrobates-imitator-ranitomeya-imitator-varadero-race-understory-enterprises-line-sometimes-referred-jeberos-race-male-transporting-tadpole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Imitators have, in the past ten years, become increasingly sought after in the reptile-keeping community. For good reason, too. The frogs have bright, almost electric-looking reticulated patterns across their legs. They've been given the name "imitator" for the fact that they've evolved to mimic other species of thumbnail frogs in appearance (hence the common name, 'the mimic dart frog'). Imitators come in several different patterns from their own localities, most having these reticulated legs patterns. Imitators are found abundantly in northern Peru.</div>
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<i>Ranitomeya fantastica</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Named like that for good reason.<br /><br />Good lord that's a flamboyant frog. Fantastica occur throughout the lowlands and highlands of north and central Peru. They're ranked as "near threatened", not <i>'</i>quite' a threatened species but at risk of soon becoming one. This frog tends to spend more time in leaves and bushes than other Ranitomeya species, having a more arboreal behavior. In captivity they're known to be fairly shy, even once well established. Never the less do they make a "fantastic" (yuk it up) vivarium addition for an experienced hobbyist. You might also have noticed that the frog pictured above looks very similar to the R.imitator. That is because the imitator has evolved a nasty habit of playing "copy-cat."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ranitomeya benedicta</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/98/98163066-65F1-4F83-9C4A-B0EDC66A1F7D/Presentation.Large/Blessed-poison-frog-from-the-population-found-near-Shucushuyacu-in-Peru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/98/98163066-65F1-4F83-9C4A-B0EDC66A1F7D/Presentation.Large/Blessed-poison-frog-from-the-population-found-near-Shucushuyacu-in-Peru.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Make a spiderman reference, and you WILL BE trampled by an angry hippopotamus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's like someone cracked open a blue and a red glowstick and dripped it over this frog. The Benedicta darts come from the lowland regions of Peru, in an area between the Rio Huallaga and Rio Ucayali rivers known as the Pampas del Sacramento Plain. While they spend most of their lives being arboreal, Benedicta will come to the ground to reproduce. They lay their clutches of eggs in the leaf litter, which are then transported to bromeliad plants (common behavior in most dart frogs) once they hatch into tadpoles. Unfortunately, they have been ranked as a 'vulnerable' species. Meaning they are at a serious risk of becoming endangered. This is mostly caused by deforestation (go figure), and illegal importing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">With each different species and locality having their own unique colours and behaviors, these pretty little critters have sparked a great deal of study in the past few years. As a former dart-frog owner, I will say that they also make for an incredibly rewarding vivarium addition. It's like having a sliver of rainforest in a glass tank, with these charming little gem-like frogs hopping about. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The analogy has been made a thousand times over, but dart frogs truly are a living gemstone of the forest.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Next time, we discuss Paleofest 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">D.tinctorius cobalt - brianstropicals.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Azureus - Luis Louro</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">P.terribilis "gold" - Jorn Kohler</span><br />
<em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">P.terribilis "orange" - John P. Clare</span></em></div>
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<em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">D.auratus - Thomas Ostrowski</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Ranitomeya Poster" - Jason Brown</span></em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> and the Swedish Dendrobatid Society</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 16px;">R.imitator - John P. Clare</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 16px;">R.fantastica - Understoryenterprises.com</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">R.benedicta - Frank Steinmann</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">D.tinctorius (last picture) - Patrick O'Brien</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">No pictures belong to the author. Try your best to ignore the annoying white highlighting.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><u>Sources:</u></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">http://amphibiaweb.org</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">saurian.net</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">http://www.dendrobates.org</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">http://www.understoryenterprises.com</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777311730192538639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-44402621869170012912013-03-24T20:38:00.000-05:002013-03-24T20:38:44.441-05:00Media Review #2: Jurassic Park 4 and Feathers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>March 24, 2013, </i><br />
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Yes, this isn't a legitimate review. I plan to do one in #3, however everyone who has their own blog and a keyboard has been posting their responses to the tweet by newly christened Jurassic Park 4 Director Colin Trevvorow stating that Jurassic Park 4 will not go out of it's way to add feathers onto the dinosaurs in order to make them more scientifically accurate. <i></i><br />
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<i>I really don't mind though. </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let me finish first, Internet. </td></tr>
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First off, I should explain, Recently Mr. Trevvorow Tweeted that the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park 4 would <i>not </i>be feathered. This rubbed a few paleontologists such as Thomas Holtz and Dino fans the like the wrong way. In response, Dr. Holtz wasn't totally happy about the news, stating on Facebook that <i>"<span class="userContent">Jurassic Park has become a faded, irrelevant franchise. Let it go. You can do NEW stories with proper dinosaurs".</span> </i><span class="userContent">Now before I continue I have to make clear I have huge amounts of respect for Dr Holtz; I was very disappointed that I couldn't get to meet him this year in Rockford, IL for Paleofest and get that signature in his book I've been wanting however I can't say I agree with his statement or a lot of other peoples assessments to be honest. </span><span class="userContent">Theres reasons for this though and not just blind "fanboyism".</span><br />
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<i><b><span class="userContent">Why can't they just change them to be feathered?! </span></b></i><br />
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<span class="userContent">Lets remember back to that last sequel Jurassic Park had. Jurassic Park 3 had around 12 extinct Archosaurs in the movie. Most of those that had appeared in the first 2 (T-rex, Pteranodon, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Compsognathus, Velociraptor and Parasaurolophus), save for the Stegos and Compies which had basically cameos, were drastically different than previous incarnations. They changed the designs as if they were rebooting but made the movie like a normal sequel. This was agitating to say the least because there was no explanation whatsoever as to why they were different. They don't make up any nice plot twist to tell you why; they're just like that. This is some really lazy movie making right here however this is basically what is expected of JP4 in regards to feathers. It needs an explanation otherwise we start traveling down the road JP3 took. Which leads to the next question. </span><br />
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The other thing is, Trevvorow is about as hardcore of a fan of the original as possible. Universal picked him for that utmost of all. I can only assume, but what I can gather is that he wants to make something just like the movie he loved as a kid. It's what Universal and Spielberg thought was good enough to give him the job. Would I enjoy Jurassic Park with dinosaurs sporting intimidating plumage? Yes of course, however that's not very easy with Jurassic Park given the avenues they can venture down, and really I can live with the dinosaurs we have now. Especially because they're mutants; "Theme park monsters" as Alan Grant put it. They aren't the real animals. They're animals tailored in a laboratory by Wu and Hammond to cater to the perception of what people thought dinosaurs looked like during the 90s. <br />
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Hope is not lost though. While JP4 may not have attractive looking filaments fluttering through the frame there is the Walking with Dinosaurs 3D movie slated for December which has more chance and reason to use feathers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672328790337042619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-80498698730480599152013-03-24T13:54:00.000-05:002013-03-24T13:54:50.447-05:00The Giraffe-Rhino-Musk Deer-Hippo Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCcpfdHuqo5wO0j1INDGsxfw6PWAqtrzNCb-xvCBmHPtB520ypfFegIlIRRhtOyZD6e_bp7_rotagqSVBs6aGfbdSKbQh4TAqVuz4uK7_VlLa5h1D0mi2KT6VHNx0-zt7UTi34IDK3Vs/s1600/Uinttather_DB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCcpfdHuqo5wO0j1INDGsxfw6PWAqtrzNCb-xvCBmHPtB520ypfFegIlIRRhtOyZD6e_bp7_rotagqSVBs6aGfbdSKbQh4TAqVuz4uK7_VlLa5h1D0mi2KT6VHNx0-zt7UTi34IDK3Vs/s400/Uinttather_DB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Trivia question: what combines the characteristics of a giraffe, a musk deer, a rhino, and a hippo? Give up? It's the dinoceratans.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk4-C6oU0RFN7lYv-5O00Y388SxEVjVEsxjY-NLeiyar6OVxg0ycL-ePlZJfDCNkrqFnIl0wxN3NBzvQg_NaMqO6RyG7Qe_YdKOrYjHH70PWkNP3rAFkKEvNhqs-hCgzEoDt9P0RnKlg/s1600/Uintatheriids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk4-C6oU0RFN7lYv-5O00Y388SxEVjVEsxjY-NLeiyar6OVxg0ycL-ePlZJfDCNkrqFnIl0wxN3NBzvQg_NaMqO6RyG7Qe_YdKOrYjHH70PWkNP3rAFkKEvNhqs-hCgzEoDt9P0RnKlg/s400/Uintatheriids.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The order Dinocerata includes only one family (similar to Tubulidenta aka the aardvark) known as the uintatheriids, the namebearer for said family shown in the first picture of this post. We'll review <i>Uintatherium</i> and its relatives below.<br />
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<b>-<u>Basal U</u></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">intatheriines</u>:<br />
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<li><i>Prodinoceras</i>, upper left, is the earliest known and basalmost of the known uintatheriid dinoceratans. It contains one known species, <i>P. martyr</i>, from the Late Paleocene of Mongolia and China. At approx. 9.5ft long, it was a rather large animal, and had the characteristic fangs that other members of the subfamily would share.</li>
<li><i>Probathyopsis</i>, below <i>Prodinoceras</i> is another basal uintathere and the latter's sister genus. It too is from the Late Paleocene, but is located in Wyoming and Colorado, containing <i>P. harrisorum, P. praecursor, </i>and<i> P. lysitensis</i>. Several have considered separating this and its sister genus into a new family within Dinocerata, which would be known as Prodinoceratidae.</li>
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<b><u>-Advanced Uintatheriines:</u></b></div>
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<li><i>Tetheopsis</i>, top middle, is one of the three "classic" uintatheres, with six ossicones (which I've alluded to in a giraffe post) and large fangs, which our two basal uintatheriines had as well. Its two species are <i>T. speirianus </i>(formerly in invalid genus <i>Loxolophodon</i>) and <i>T. ingens</i>, named by famous rivals Cope and Marsh, respectively. </li>
<li><i>Bathyopsis</i> is one of the earlier of the advanced uintatheriines, which only had a pair of small ossicones on the snout. Like almost all dinoceratans, it is known from the US, specifically Colorado and Wyoming, containing <i>B. fissidens</i>.</li>
<li><i>Eobasileus</i> is another of the classic uintatheres, and possessed the biggest ossicones and canines. At 13ft long and 8000lbs in weight, it is also the biggest uintathere. At least three genera are synonymous with this one, including the aforementioned <i>Loxolophodon. </i>It contains only one species, <i>E. cornutus</i>, found in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Obviously they were very boring in real estate choices.</li>
<li><i>Uintatherium</i>, the classic uintathere and the one that gives the entire family its name. Dinosaurs are the infamous factour in the equally infamous Bone Wars, but in fact, uintatheres, especially <i>Uintatherium,</i> played a major focal point as well, with the genus being described my big-bearded Marsh himself. There is only one genus, <i>U. anceps</i>, which was more widespread, located in California, Utah, Texas, and Wyoming, existing alongside <i>Eobasileus</i> in two states. Its canines were 12in long, aka pants-crappingly big.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IcFyGLDi3E6q-CiXwmMqbXYDSLuW11MDre3i__hdWQVvrD6d5HPK-qEI3FdIeX4enurObM9-BipFEvaXkFcdipBegzYs0lIT93NR6VrGAuJpenk4WCAqodl6OYG3O4AFBpoj-GOAohg/s1600/Gobiatherium_by_Pristichampsus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IcFyGLDi3E6q-CiXwmMqbXYDSLuW11MDre3i__hdWQVvrD6d5HPK-qEI3FdIeX4enurObM9-BipFEvaXkFcdipBegzYs0lIT93NR6VrGAuJpenk4WCAqodl6OYG3O4AFBpoj-GOAohg/s400/Gobiatherium_by_Pristichampsus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>And then things really get wacky...</b></div>
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Enter <i>Gobiatherium</i>, the advanced uintatheriid from Mongolia and China. Notice how instead of ossicones, it has a globular snout (how much it slopes and its exact appearance up to debate), how narrow and long its skull is, and how, surprise, there are no fangs. What in heck is it? For now we consider it a gobiatheriine uintatheriid. But many consider it to be its own family, Gobiatheriidae (remember the "a" after "Gobi"). For now in technical terms it "heck if we know".</div>
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The small-brained dinoceratans lasted until the Mid Eocene, where they promptly died off. Their weak teeth, adapted to a diet of leaves, couldn't save them and were eventually replaced by the previously covered brontotheres. But there's so much more we don't know. Where did they come from? What specifically are they related to? Why are they so ugly? Only time can tell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfYs9o1eZyiCS6ZOEs1Rwmo_n4lrUQYRqlcj231XSG-pNfTZlwNOLlgGeBVyeAJ31AKB2UxxE2ke6t7P4zF3IWl2vGXg6gn233bur_KNRlW9xHluj0AwNZPIEymxpxx6D1-Xy0o9tZO4/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfYs9o1eZyiCS6ZOEs1Rwmo_n4lrUQYRqlcj231XSG-pNfTZlwNOLlgGeBVyeAJ31AKB2UxxE2ke6t7P4zF3IWl2vGXg6gn233bur_KNRlW9xHluj0AwNZPIEymxpxx6D1-Xy0o9tZO4/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Seriously, look at that.</b></div>
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<b>Uintatherium -</b> Dmitry Bogdanov</div>
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<b>Dinoceratan Diversity -</b> Yours truly, aka Connor Ross</div>
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<b>Gobiatherium -</b> Tim Morris (you might be reading this from the FB page, so hi, Tim)</div>
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<b>Uintatherium...again -</b> Nobu Tamura</div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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paleodb.org</div>
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<i>The Dinosaur Heresies</i>, by Robert Bakker</div>
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<i>National Geographic Prehistoric Mammals</i>, by Alan Turner</div>
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<i>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures - Mammals</i>, by R. J. G. Savage</div>
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Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-47284017669347370692013-03-16T08:43:00.001-05:002013-03-16T08:43:34.418-05:00Media Review #1: Jurassic Park 3: Insert Subtitle <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">March 16th, 2013</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Congratulations. You're reading the first Media Review for C-rex.
Put in layman's terms, these are basically articles for me to whine and
complain about negative contributions media has and will put forth while blowing the victory bugle for
all the good things I like so long as I can somehow relate it to
Dinosaurs/Froggies/Biological science. Hopefully I can make one of these every weekend. Depends on my motivation. Otherwise Connor puts me back
into that hole in the wall.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It actually has two bathrooms and a home entertainment center</td></tr>
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So lets start things off with a negative one and by negative I mean <i>"lets just go ahead and cut out the middle man as we slam our heads against a wall for 92 minutes"</i> one.</div>
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Jurassic Park 3 starts off 4 years after the San Diego incident from The Lost World: Jurassic Park. We start with Eric Kirby and his mother's boyfriend on a para-sailing tour of Isla Sorna, because nothing is more testament to good parenting then letting your 12 year old son go to a deserted dinosaur island in the open ocean with nobody but mommy's boyfriend and a pair of shady Costa Ricans to para-sail over an Island marred with stories of death. The scene gets all whimsical for all of about 20 seconds before the boat zooms into some scary fog and suddenly everyone on the boat just dies. No dinosaurs, mosasaurs, wizards or anything. Just gone. Nothing bot a spit of blood and a torn sail. Mommy's boyfriend detaches them from the boat as it thuds against some rocks as they glide into Isla Sorna. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey Anthony was a close 2nd.</td></tr>
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We cut to 8 weeks later I suppose as Alan Grant is teaching Ellie's oldest son the proper way of how to plan out action scenes for dinosaur movies. Ellie comes out and makes Jack Horner Reference #1 in the movie about how her editor wants to get rid of the Jack Horner quote and how he thinks he's a paleontologist. Later, after being snubbed by Ellie's Macaw, over coffee Alan tells Ellie all about the discoveries made with Raptors, telling her that raptors were smarter then they had thought back on Isla Nublar (the first island). That they had sophisticated language for hunting in packs. After strolling down memory lane we see Ellie give Grant a nice farewell into the next scene where Dr. Grant is performing Jack Horner reference #2.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm not saying your name until you admit Triceratops and Torosaurus are separate taxa."</td></tr>
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While at a lecture hall where he's basically saying that "we're only able to make an educated guess right now but I'm positive that Raptors could talk to each other and coordinate their pack hunting; meaning if they weren't wiped out they would have become the dominant species on earth". (Not) Surprisingly people start walking out on his lecture, which is a painfully obvious reference to Jack Horner and how people treat the theories he tends to take part in (Horned Pachycephalosaurs, Scavenger Rex, Toroceratops, etc). So after the moderator has to prod the audience awake, everyone wants to ask him about Jurassic Park and the San Diego incident. He turns them down and only one person has a question he wants to answer; dismissing the animals on the island as theme park monsters, which I coincidentally agree with though I blame people other then Hammond. Finally when a 20 something asks him if he wouldn't go to Isla Sorna if he had the chance (Make note of this statement he makes for later) He says "No force on heaven or earth will get me on that island".</div>
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We cut away to see the hardcore bad ass mercenaries Nash, Cooper, and Udesky, who kill a broken down Cessna. Don't get used to them actively blowing things up. This is the only time you actually see them do anything whatsoever that isn't them dieing or them running away. Afterwards we cut away to Montana to meet <strike>the adult Timmy</strike> Billy Brennan, hitting on a no name. Grant is taken by <strike>Timmy</strike> Billy to a tent where he shows him a Veloci-whistle that has a super important use in the end (<i>I'm a sarcastic jerk</i>).</div>
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Mr Kirby approaches them in the tent and offers to take them out for a drink and to listen to his business offer with his wife who are TOTALLY rich. This is where the quote from earlier comes into play. Remember when Grant says <i>"No force on heaven or earth will get me on that island"</i>? Well I guess that is meant to be literal. No force can get him on the island but a blank check will get him 200 feet over it. So Alan gets that money signs look in his eyes like he did in the first one, because that adventure worked out so well the last time a rich man approached him with the promise of funding a dig for his joining him on an island full of dinosaurs.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWCiXduV_Jk/UTwwXWTPmsI/AAAAAAAAAEU/keqy16kvIRM/s1600/Grant.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWCiXduV_Jk/UTwwXWTPmsI/AAAAAAAAAEU/keqy16kvIRM/s320/Grant.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured above: Wall Street Pox</td></tr>
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They fly to Sorna, <strike>Timmy</strike> Billy and Alan have some witty banter before Alan decides to take a nap, in which he has a nap-mare of a Velociraptor (That which's design he's never seen before) talks to him. Saying "Alan" which would scare any man. Actually however it's <strike>Timmy </strike>Billy. Billy is waking him up for one of the few other whimsy moments in the movie. They fly over some dinosaurs and Alan for a fleeting minute thinks this scene is supposed to be fun. When in actually they try to land on a runway to which Alan protests. Before getting knocked out by Cooper. He wakes up on the floor of the plane to the sound of World's Best mother screaming into the forest like a lunatic. The movie then decides not to waste any time and has the Spinosaurus not only kill Cooper but disable the plane with it's being there and causing it to crash. Resulting in it destroyer it.</div>
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From here on the story degrades into just action scene after action scene. I'll go ahead and condense the plot while still not missing anything important: </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">They run away from the wreckage after it kills Nash and into the path of a T-rex who chases them back the way they cam towards the Spino who kills the rex before they dig through the wreckage and enjoy human filler until they reach the cloning station where they see how the dinosaurs were made and are attacked by Raptors in an ok scene. They run away outside and the Raptors chase them through a herd and forest, resulting in Udesky being killed by the Raptors. Alan is cornered all scary like before Eric pulls some immense deus ex machina and saves Alan. The separated characters have a sleep over in their hiding spots before setting out the next morning to the coast. More and more conversation until Eric hears the satellite phone ringing and starts screaming, to which the parents hear. Turns out the phone is somehow audible to people outside the spinosaurus. The spino finds them and chases them before smashing through the enormous metal fence, only to be stopped by a thatched roof. They climb down the stairs after Alan berates <strike>Timmy </strike>Billy for doing something bad. They walk along a cat walk and realize it's a Pteranodon cage as they're attacked. Resulting in <strike>Timmy </strike>Billy Dieing. They hop on a boat, see some herbivores being all pretty for 15 seconds before rummaging through mounds of Spinosaurus shit, finding the phone just in time for a random Ceratosaurus to make a cameo appearance and then disappear; never to be mentioned or seen again. The spinosaurus attacks the boat as Alan calls Ellie who gets her husband to send the military. They scare off the Spinosaurus with fire. They're near the beach when the Raptors surround them, recover their eggs and just leave. Then the military arrives and saves them with Timmy Billy actually alive the whole time sitting in a helicopter somehow. The end.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">That's the entire plot. I'm positive you could fit it on a stack of napkins from McDonalds. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgQaSNcAv2A/UUJ5Ds2sQuI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3DldJEXm7DY/s1600/Jurassic+Park+3+Script.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgQaSNcAv2A/UUJ5Ds2sQuI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3DldJEXm7DY/s400/Jurassic+Park+3+Script.png" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The script wasn't finished when filming started. This is likely accurate.. </td></tr>
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Don't get me wrong, I wish JPIII was a good movie as it had makings to be one given the premise. The problem was that this movie wasn't executed properly and it underperformed; it was a disappointment. I won't go as far as to call TLW a master piece; but it was loads better then Jurassic Park III. JP3 just didn't deliver in a lot of categories. The Jungle set they filmed in always had just a dark overcast going the entire time, the jungle was incredibly fake looking (Considering it was in fact fake), The film has this haze over the frame as if they smeared a little Vaseline on the lens before filming, Theres a few minutes of set up at the beginning which is to just get them to the island so that dinosaurs can destroy all the set pieces. There was no poetic justice, nor any attempt at having actually interesting plot development. Just chase scene after chase scene after chase scene. </div>
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I can only hope Jurassic Park 4 can do a better job. I'm cautiously optimistic about it considering they have the writer for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Stan Winston Studios is likely to make the puppetry assets again and a new Director, Colin Trevorrow, has been hired to helm the new movie. (Usually when Spielberg picks a greenhorn he has good reason). We can only hope and see that the movie isn't as much of a disappointment.</div>
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<br />(This was abnormally long for what will be normal. I just had a lot to say about JP3.)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672328790337042619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-4576948662919122102013-03-11T03:24:00.003-05:002013-03-11T16:25:41.952-05:00TPP Part Dos: You Meddling Coatimundis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y8pN5yOZamWlEE6wwn1KZ3oUL3VxSfpxO3N1pWDRtpk-h_aTA_35pWKStcqxvptHjT-S6V7df1Wq44nRcVYAa5Ej6o1F5WwpDioDifYeylmux6kB3GkOh2qVmYGNZ5AanCoL9wPQk-s/s1600/Procyonids.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y8pN5yOZamWlEE6wwn1KZ3oUL3VxSfpxO3N1pWDRtpk-h_aTA_35pWKStcqxvptHjT-S6V7df1Wq44nRcVYAa5Ej6o1F5WwpDioDifYeylmux6kB3GkOh2qVmYGNZ5AanCoL9wPQk-s/s400/Procyonids.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Procyon</i> has been struck down so now we move on to the crackoons, the snookum bears, the gatosolos, the loveable, adorable, inquisitive coatimundis. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc3kh6koBalcidDc4EXl2UY-R_dUaAEsJyiBbW-QBpGuSosvg9vrinDQdk6VQutP8BaDexmms3JD4r6aoKm783a3TQYKWv986kXOIMFtE52rNEotXCVozj-xp6DjpjI8irjtbAJ5A-EQ/s1600/adorable-coatimundi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc3kh6koBalcidDc4EXl2UY-R_dUaAEsJyiBbW-QBpGuSosvg9vrinDQdk6VQutP8BaDexmms3JD4r6aoKm783a3TQYKWv986kXOIMFtE52rNEotXCVozj-xp6DjpjI8irjtbAJ5A-EQ/s400/adorable-coatimundi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What, me worry?</b></div>
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They're some of the most curious of the family, and the most curious-looking. Also curious is their taxonomy, as the term "coatimundi" or "coati" applies to two genera, <i>Nasua</i> (top middle in family ensemble), and <i>Nasuella</i> (directly below). According to genetics, the latter should be lumped with the former, but for the purpose of this post, we'll stay with the traditional pair of genera. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>NASUA</u></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaqftNARck0r3j1Rf8x0DeQ_-H-I9pZ1fOOFmPWpqmsucwO6xC5oFr8f7eG78pklTsem1lk-ES-8bfVzZ6Q9z0TrH-SculJCPVNjYXjDKAvlQPiG98lqYNLEm7leBAj-IL7yTfors0rg/s1600/Coatis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaqftNARck0r3j1Rf8x0DeQ_-H-I9pZ1fOOFmPWpqmsucwO6xC5oFr8f7eG78pklTsem1lk-ES-8bfVzZ6Q9z0TrH-SculJCPVNjYXjDKAvlQPiG98lqYNLEm7leBAj-IL7yTfors0rg/s400/Coatis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's start off with the classic coatis: the ring-tailed coati on the left and the white-nosed coati on the right. They're pretty easy to recognize and share all coatimundi traits: long, skinny, banded tail, long snout, small ears, brownish fur, etc.</div>
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<b><u>RING-TAILED COATI (<i>Nasua nasua):</i></u></b></div>
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Also known as the South American coati (generally the most common name, but the author learned of it as the ring-tailed coati), this procyonid is one of the most famous of the genera, despite the fact many people have never heard of them. Also they have a particularly impressive yawn and have been called the Brazilian aardvarks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8vfNLVzOBmn9KIjCFzBCoLDr2d8Pw44RE85h3KVqQ3pRo1IWZf5KO-vEE3i_SSFavw6tWBH73L984GFiKqdi0uIW9RYeLhzqEK-GheGKWzIWkQ02l15SfhvL_Eu9-j65yTMpntyEE-A/s1600/South-American-coati-yawning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8vfNLVzOBmn9KIjCFzBCoLDr2d8Pw44RE85h3KVqQ3pRo1IWZf5KO-vEE3i_SSFavw6tWBH73L984GFiKqdi0uIW9RYeLhzqEK-GheGKWzIWkQ02l15SfhvL_Eu9-j65yTMpntyEE-A/s400/South-American-coati-yawning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>If you keeping making that face, it'll freeze like that.</b></div>
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Female ring-tailed coatimundis are probably the most social of all procyonids, forming large bands numbering up to 30 individuals. Males are generally solitary, and were actually considered a different species, called the coatimundi. Oh science, you were so silly back in the day. Like all coatis and generally procyonids, they are semi-arboreal, almost like giant squirrels, being able to reverse their ankles and descends trees headfirst. Unlike raccoons, they are completely diurnal.</div>
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<b><u>WHITE-NOSED COATI (<i>Nasua narica</i>):</u></b></div>
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Known by such names as the tejon, pizote, and antoon, the white-nosed coatimundi is about as famous as its South American counterpart. It is identified by its largely white snout, which luckily the ring-tailed coati lacks or otherwise this subfamily would be an entire screwup of names.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdg05Y70tqSzLqBXZox3SeOKiAmcWlnPAODbXCI-3_T2NMDUknQKSSiyjWImNTb21X6bOp4tNGjLBW8SvJgO77hBk4SXis9JTrqJRLMC-d1h4AULhQ9nOkfPXzQBJOemrETgfPcX5aJ8/s1600/white-nosed-coati-climbing-in-tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdg05Y70tqSzLqBXZox3SeOKiAmcWlnPAODbXCI-3_T2NMDUknQKSSiyjWImNTb21X6bOp4tNGjLBW8SvJgO77hBk4SXis9JTrqJRLMC-d1h4AULhQ9nOkfPXzQBJOemrETgfPcX5aJ8/s400/white-nosed-coati-climbing-in-tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>"I have a ringed tail too. Checkmate atheists."</b></div>
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Most of their range covers Mexico and Central America, but they are also naturally found in Arizona, New Mexico, and extreme northern Colombia. They can also be seen in Florida, where a breeding population seems to have descended from escaped captives. There is also a noticeable subspecies on Cozumel Island, where we met a yellow-tailed raccoon in the last post. It has been noted as a separate species in the past and some think it to have been introduced by the Mayans.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN9Nn6Li7sHkmZcCbxRqsBS1CmeV56ayzSCPOTz_9_9eRiYGVzkdmemV7vqK6yf-_K4IDzHGvg44vBjPU69m3i_XF9xQB5k2s32EJFPa02CFfd_AgCqTqutkdl1DwAlN1iHb35Rk_3Ck/s1600/6622969489_5e24a987b5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN9Nn6Li7sHkmZcCbxRqsBS1CmeV56ayzSCPOTz_9_9eRiYGVzkdmemV7vqK6yf-_K4IDzHGvg44vBjPU69m3i_XF9xQB5k2s32EJFPa02CFfd_AgCqTqutkdl1DwAlN1iHb35Rk_3Ck/s400/6622969489_5e24a987b5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>First the end of the world and then introduced coatis. What will the Mayans think of next?</b></div>
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They are slightly less social than the South American coatimundi, living in female groups up to 20 in number. Like raccoons, they regularly raid campsites and trashcans where humans have encroached on their living area. As I've mentioned before, this is due to their inquisitiveness: coatis are <i>all</i> curiousity.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>NASUELLA</u></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_qsTkrSJ-HXUzav9WbT5P168bsYx8KcQfuf0rj30OtYdl-4AcCyXPWMRYtiGS9p2VW59rZdnrInj8npo1pqP32Fzb-Zr_a1xfM2l4XvN5iL8r1A8Va4RgqDdcH7acrnGmpjjvtCtC0/s1600/Mountain+coati.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_qsTkrSJ-HXUzav9WbT5P168bsYx8KcQfuf0rj30OtYdl-4AcCyXPWMRYtiGS9p2VW59rZdnrInj8npo1pqP32Fzb-Zr_a1xfM2l4XvN5iL8r1A8Va4RgqDdcH7acrnGmpjjvtCtC0/s400/Mountain+coati.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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While members of <i>Nasua</i> look like adorable raccoons with aardvark noses, the members of <i>Nasuella</i> look like some unholy combination of a shrew, rat, and dachshund. They're rarely seen and not much info can be given. We do know that they are smaller than regular coatis, the eastern mountain coati (right) was thought to be a subspecies of the western until 2009, and that true to their common names, they live in the mountains of South America, primarily the Andes. </div>
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*checks notes*</div>
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Yup, that's it. Next time, we move to another ringtail of the US.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div>
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<b>-------------------------------------------------------------</b></div>
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<b>Alred E. Neuman coati - </b>Proper credit cannot be given because of a loophole with that picture linking back to me but it is not the author's</div>
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<b>Cozumel coati - </b>Fickr user wynjym</div>
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<b>"Ensemble" pictures - </b>pictures used do not belong to author</div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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www.carnivoreconservation.org</div>
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<i>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals of the World</i> by Tom Jackson<br />
<i>Wild Animals of the World</i> by William Bridges<br />
<i>Book of the Animal Kingdom</i> by Arnoldo Mondadori<br />
<i>Encyclopedia of Mammals</i> by Dr. David MacDonald</div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-41608963710173717082013-03-08T17:14:00.001-06:002013-03-08T17:14:55.426-06:00The Prosperous Procyonids, Part Uno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aQjTBvMptNNhxvEL-11GTT43QNn6WJJb36dwN8P6LKL9WF3qtPz1DahOhwQetgrxqWNEZG-xfQldpoHzyHn1E_UX7NK86D3M0izTn4FiStGElviXZEloXL7U5W5Hkb2cwizWCPoTJlU/s1600/Procyonids.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aQjTBvMptNNhxvEL-11GTT43QNn6WJJb36dwN8P6LKL9WF3qtPz1DahOhwQetgrxqWNEZG-xfQldpoHzyHn1E_UX7NK86D3M0izTn4FiStGElviXZEloXL7U5W5Hkb2cwizWCPoTJlU/s400/Procyonids.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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What do the six animals above have in common? Besides suffering from a crippling case of the adorables. Hint: they're all procyonids. Raccoons are perhaps the most famous of the family (kinkajous come in at second) and therefore are the ones we'll cover first. But in a flashback to yesterday's post, what <i>is</i> a procyonid?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnfa4-SqIedEkOCAETQ_2-qxVDKR0Jh9zuQzvQaCtvbMpJj3Dj0E9xbc9N6CtIW5LGgDGyfGyfGpPQnohPUrs4uD7zd_WZ1LI6UL6VUKW5J68lo1Q98TA1zIZJOpbLlJpojW-9_vHFMI/s1600/Raccoon-dog-side-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnfa4-SqIedEkOCAETQ_2-qxVDKR0Jh9zuQzvQaCtvbMpJj3Dj0E9xbc9N6CtIW5LGgDGyfGyfGpPQnohPUrs4uD7zd_WZ1LI6UL6VUKW5J68lo1Q98TA1zIZJOpbLlJpojW-9_vHFMI/s400/Raccoon-dog-side-view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>This is not a procyonid. It's a raccoon dog.</b></div>
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Procyonids are carnivorans (like Darren Naish, a share a longing for people to refer to them as "carnivorans" instead of "carnivores") that are closest to weasels, skunks, and red pandas in relationship. All are united with bears, seals and dogs in Caniformia, the "dog-like" carnivorans. Most are nocturnal, and most have banded tails. They are native to the New World and have been since they evolved 20 million years ago. There are six genera, though one is tentative and might be a species of another. Let's chronicle the genera now.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">----<u>PROCYON</u>----</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQugwD0XRv4yZOulQOg52X3gnm1s5-klSop2_VJ10ZA6vBfTCDO5NzduHiaOmIlv-WD-7YU0nu46bPszK-PkbBtWlGSkChsuxjTcKpnvdYQpyORFnuG4tFWrNAApPkNz7A0Whe0TlPlSs/s1600/Raccoons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQugwD0XRv4yZOulQOg52X3gnm1s5-klSop2_VJ10ZA6vBfTCDO5NzduHiaOmIlv-WD-7YU0nu46bPszK-PkbBtWlGSkChsuxjTcKpnvdYQpyORFnuG4tFWrNAApPkNz7A0Whe0TlPlSs/s400/Raccoons.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Procyon</i> is the most famous and widespread of the procyonid genera, with three generally accepted species, though it has been considered that seven actually exist. Of these, only <i>P. lotor </i>and<i> P. cancrivorus</i> are widespread and "non-insular", if you will. They can be distinguished by their highly manipulative hands, "bandit mask" facial markings and banded tails.</div>
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<b><u>COMMON RACCOON (<i>Procyon lotor</i>):</u></b></div>
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As one can well imagine by its name, the common raccoon is the most famous of all raccoons (and was also once lumped into <i>Ursus</i> by Linnaeus), and is probably the one you'll always see on a cartoon or any show to be exact. It is also the one associated with washing food. Interestingly enough, this behaviour has never been recorded in the wild, only taking apart their food but never dousing it; proving that they are not nature's neat freaks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2HxfEQW4v_90T_r2rYQEQH4e77Mwwn3dl3OnlFWds_7YnZOIduDFE_uadZZNbBHSVWAvB0IbIpIZ8gRHFo5J95upWxQjN0dbYiuof9LwcKxGH00u8FXAdPMRYq95FswGsMHf6M2K4CI/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2HxfEQW4v_90T_r2rYQEQH4e77Mwwn3dl3OnlFWds_7YnZOIduDFE_uadZZNbBHSVWAvB0IbIpIZ8gRHFo5J95upWxQjN0dbYiuof9LwcKxGH00u8FXAdPMRYq95FswGsMHf6M2K4CI/s320/images+%25281%2529.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>"No one understands me."</b></div>
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Found in every contiguous state of the US, all but four of the Canadian provinces, several islands, Mexico, and Central America, the common raccoon is the most abundant of the genus and all procyonids. They have also been introduced to several European countries, Japan, and the Near East. There are nineteen subspecies, but luckily we'll only feature a few. These are the four sometimes considered to be separate species.</div>
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<ul>
<li>The Guadeloupe raccoon, shown at right, is known as <i>Procyon lotor minor</i>. It shows insular dwarfism, much smaller than the mainland raccoon subspecies. It is found on the Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre Islands and is endangered.</li>
<li>The Tres Marias raccoon, <i>Procyon lotor insularis</i>, is found on the two main of islands of Islas Marias. The average length is 33in, slightly larger than mainland raccoons. It is distinguished by its pale coat and angular skull.</li>
<li>The Bahamian raccoon, <i>Procyon lotor maynardi</i> is another endangered raccoon subspecies, endemic to the New Providence Island. It is most similar to the Guadeloupe and Florida Keys subspecies, perhaps providing evidence for the idea that these are just introduced mainland raccoons.</li>
<li>The Barbados raccoon, <i>Procyon lotor gloveralleni</i> was an extinct subspecies found only in the Barbados, of course. It too was smaller than most mainland raccoons and bore resemblance to the Guadeloupe raccoon.</li>
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<b><u>CRAB-EATING RACCOON (<i>Procyon cancrivorus</i>):</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4z-N7RK3weyLG7vqR0tj_uY6NBm5boFMls1nvhJqsMnLLbVzLSf4-k6sA9Z_XCmy7uqR0NESUbHkYVZo-Pj2EfmUYPnt-yO4Q7Wb44kmkhlKQzVyZRLWqANYgucgXBjUarSVVMhWgxg/s1600/800px-Procyon_cancrivorus_3,_Costa_Rica.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4z-N7RK3weyLG7vqR0tj_uY6NBm5boFMls1nvhJqsMnLLbVzLSf4-k6sA9Z_XCmy7uqR0NESUbHkYVZo-Pj2EfmUYPnt-yO4Q7Wb44kmkhlKQzVyZRLWqANYgucgXBjUarSVVMhWgxg/s400/800px-Procyon_cancrivorus_3,_Costa_Rica.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The crab-eating raccoon, also known as the <i style="font-weight: bold;">mapache</i>, is just one of the many animals that shares the "crab-eating" adjective in his name (including the frog, the fox, the mongoose, the macaque, and the rat), and like all of them, it invariably eats more than crabs, also dining on fish, worms, frogs, turtle eggs, seeds, and fruits. It is much more lithe and ultimately rangier looker than its northern cousin and is found in every country in South America, including Trinidad and Tobago. It was once in its own genus <i>Euprocyon</i>. The crab-eating raccoon is one of nature's troopers, being able to survive riverine forests, rainforests, and even scrubland. Unlike its northern cousin, it is only nocturnal (common raccoons are diurnal to a degree); in parts of Costa Rica its range overlaps with the common raccoon and it also shares ranges with the Guadaloupe raccoon, having been introduced to the island.</div>
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<b><u>COZUMEL RACCOON (<i>Procyon pygmaeus</i>):</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrzfLHH1rkUYT23mLWKeoYhSjCTLzMNgsQGXmVZLEV56mWLIQo1iTCjwcb3ezDYlbYdjGNlnLYgQNhGAjPCRsrYy_9LKIJHgjfDuM43WoQAFSMHfuZBGRgC7W5TDnBA_m79NIIxFElk4/s1600/Pygmy-raccoon-portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrzfLHH1rkUYT23mLWKeoYhSjCTLzMNgsQGXmVZLEV56mWLIQo1iTCjwcb3ezDYlbYdjGNlnLYgQNhGAjPCRsrYy_9LKIJHgjfDuM43WoQAFSMHfuZBGRgC7W5TDnBA_m79NIIxFElk4/s400/Pygmy-raccoon-portrait.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Cozumel raccoon, also known as the dwarf raccoon or pygmy raccoon is the smallest of all raccoons and one of the smallest procyonids, clocking in only at 9lbs at the most (45% lighter than the closest average mainland raccoon subspecies). Perhaps the title of "crab-eating raccoon" would better belong to them, as approximately 50% of their diet consists of the amiable crustaceans. Like all procyonids, it is omnivorous, dining on seeds, fruits, reptiles, insects, and other meaty tidbits. Unlike the common raccoon and more similar to the crab-eating raccoon, its tail is a buff yellowish in colour, with darker brown bands. Endemic to Cozumel Island, they are critically endangered.</div>
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Well that's it for now. I leave you with the raccoon shuffle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAu4pTDROvlK7p7woiFjc7zgGrkuK0q0q8HD-IwMNxypICw7XPMsUWinZFaKVgxylj-DRUC-FtL-9tDCF3Sx5kIZtWwobq7oix_vVW2cr9sD20Sq8XV9rYdp7lQagsvszAgjkYysBl2Y/s1600/Scan0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAu4pTDROvlK7p7woiFjc7zgGrkuK0q0q8HD-IwMNxypICw7XPMsUWinZFaKVgxylj-DRUC-FtL-9tDCF3Sx5kIZtWwobq7oix_vVW2cr9sD20Sq8XV9rYdp7lQagsvszAgjkYysBl2Y/s400/Scan0046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Guadeloupe raccoons - </b>Wikipedia user Line1<br />
<b>Crab-eating raccoon - </b>Steven G. Johnson<br />
<b>"Raccoon shuffle" - </b>Bergamo Cattaneo<br />
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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www.carnivoreconservation.org</div>
<div>
<i>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals of the World</i> by Tom Jackson<br />
<i>Wild Animals of the World</i> by William Bridges<br />
<i>Book of the Animal Kingdom</i> by Arnoldo Mondadori<br />
<i>Encyclopedia of Mammals</i> by Dr. David MacDonald</div>
Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-9727979799380172892013-03-07T10:48:00.004-06:002013-03-07T15:17:26.655-06:00Jaguarundis: Pygmy Pumas of Avatar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmuouQFtyqZuF-uGoRdUY0IS6pr7VhiWVq9zkcYcEbziuRgZxgA4nIkB_aruBBf4MUw7nEzos7xoVvsQ2o2IKiNJBxuJX6_6rPMjyx71jiXzfWG0eb6R_BSp-TbXXwfmGcAQoCFkbdrg/s1600/Puma+jaguarundi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmuouQFtyqZuF-uGoRdUY0IS6pr7VhiWVq9zkcYcEbziuRgZxgA4nIkB_aruBBf4MUw7nEzos7xoVvsQ2o2IKiNJBxuJX6_6rPMjyx71jiXzfWG0eb6R_BSp-TbXXwfmGcAQoCFkbdrg/s400/Puma+jaguarundi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The resemblance is shocking.</b></div>
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The jaguarundi, seen above to the right, is a case of a show coincidentally landing something right without knowledge. In the <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> episode "Tales of Ba Sing Se" (yes, the episode that induced everyone's feels), Momo is chased by a group of pygmy pumas, which bare a shocking resemblance to the jaguarundi, though based on mountain lions (the pygmies do have a more compact body similar to the latter). So what exactly <i>is</i> a jaguarundi?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz27GuTEnnMVxb49NBTVQ8ET6dI_KfS8nTeaeUPc3A7PFRFpaMhDkOXdmlM6VHVHHSbiG8lsBNz5E-MTz7ZlNG40hCPpybpQB7FQftbDVY95uwCg_KC9hfAWUBD8OAhLV5o-tQkVwqhKk/s1600/Jaguarundi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz27GuTEnnMVxb49NBTVQ8ET6dI_KfS8nTeaeUPc3A7PFRFpaMhDkOXdmlM6VHVHHSbiG8lsBNz5E-MTz7ZlNG40hCPpybpQB7FQftbDVY95uwCg_KC9hfAWUBD8OAhLV5o-tQkVwqhKk/s400/Jaguarundi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>No, it's not allergic to sunlight.</b></div>
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At first glance, these mammals resemble a large mustelid, something similar to the tayra of South America. Though as I've spoiled and you've probably guessed by now, jaguarundis are cats. Specifically, they're pumas. Well technically, they're close relatives. Both belong to the genus <i>Puma</i>, with the jaguarundi representing <i>Puma yagouaroundi</i>. The resemblance is mostly best seen from an upfront view, like the one in the comparison photo. These cats, similar to their cousins, have also had a complicated taxonomic history, being called <i>Felis yagouaroundi, F. unicolor</i> (gray phase)<i>, F. eyra </i>(red phase)<i>, F. cacomitli, F. apache, F. fossata, F. panamensis</i> and <i>Herpailurus yagouraoundi</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmPUys4tyUdGUyi0wprc8QAK0CJ3vHEl7w-3hl-oukVs4PIeWmIgwi_q2kVs0XhZLqzeZv3jXzZ9GDB4lOjyUk3-XvY6_rbzkAMHF7kHCKznnIunJMHyPL2OmITq9l4eO4inJTOZVzdA/s1600/Jaguarundi-feeding-on-green-acouchi-prey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmPUys4tyUdGUyi0wprc8QAK0CJ3vHEl7w-3hl-oukVs4PIeWmIgwi_q2kVs0XhZLqzeZv3jXzZ9GDB4lOjyUk3-XvY6_rbzkAMHF7kHCKznnIunJMHyPL2OmITq9l4eO4inJTOZVzdA/s400/Jaguarundi-feeding-on-green-acouchi-prey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWOdNunU0z-AFEr_2IqRUdmh210nl3Yng2AIKtjOKT_Bzg5dvcCX4hVSoy9nYh1m71QShZcFF3nJphIUObsnHvvyOk2ZXAtJQjz150wnPUGCFOq6Do5LV1aDu3tvdbnE0Uv0VUyVCZLo/s1600/jaguarundi_distribution.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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So, info on jaguarundis. These "little cats" (scientifically known as felines, though this also causes confusion since many people refer to all cats as felines) are slightly larger than the common housecat, from to 36-54in long, though the tail constitutes a good majority of that length. They're one of the several felids to be found in both South America and North America.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwkWt7mY1s-p4IcSoDW8bTkizYogmRuol2YezGsc2fc1XfcVJ95K6AYnO3qPWY_1u8Hp6Ud0zoPJOdewGY42p2Z9M6beqfBG2rKv13wkL1e_9WfAdrsEcJFe7GG4ehX-Iiu35sTjuuds/s1600/Cat+ranges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwkWt7mY1s-p4IcSoDW8bTkizYogmRuol2YezGsc2fc1XfcVJ95K6AYnO3qPWY_1u8Hp6Ud0zoPJOdewGY42p2Z9M6beqfBG2rKv13wkL1e_9WfAdrsEcJFe7GG4ehX-Iiu35sTjuuds/s400/Cat+ranges.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WXxxyGjpTPHb1RPhJbUG-IMrPHW_xbM4qDvhj2jt_ngewrHFl31I2NoGXhjx5pzgHV6FW5Ih8nc4XlsXPpqavzueu-neQiCDgMNkpe3O9MAEG_KVFDAb8BaTwKBn6CBI30LtLMIBjhU/s1600/jaguarundi_distribution.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Just like their more distant ocelot and jaguar relatives, the jaguarundi has been found in both the US and Mexico but sadly might be extinct in its US range, similar to the Texas ocelot and the Arizona jaguar, who might have faced similar fates. The picture below shows the jaguarundi's possible existing range in Texas, so even if it does still exist in said state, it would be rare to say the least. They also might have been introduced to Florida.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWOdNunU0z-AFEr_2IqRUdmh210nl3Yng2AIKtjOKT_Bzg5dvcCX4hVSoy9nYh1m71QShZcFF3nJphIUObsnHvvyOk2ZXAtJQjz150wnPUGCFOq6Do5LV1aDu3tvdbnE0Uv0VUyVCZLo/s1600/jaguarundi_distribution.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWOdNunU0z-AFEr_2IqRUdmh210nl3Yng2AIKtjOKT_Bzg5dvcCX4hVSoy9nYh1m71QShZcFF3nJphIUObsnHvvyOk2ZXAtJQjz150wnPUGCFOq6Do5LV1aDu3tvdbnE0Uv0VUyVCZLo/s320/jaguarundi_distribution.png" width="312" /></a></div>
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To add on to their bizarre appearance, jaguarundis are also bizarre in habits. They are rather gregarious yet solitary (an oxymoron), and produce a wide range of vocalisations unlike any other cat, including whistles, purrs, yaps, and bird-like chirping. They can hunt comfortably on land and readily scale trees, similar to the larger cougars, and reports of them swimming well exist too. They feast on rodents, reptiles, birds, rabbits, opossums, and fish. Taking on comparatively large prey, climbing trees, swimming, vocalising in strange rhythms; they're as if someone combined a puma and a jaguar into a weasel's body. Of course, convergent evolution shows us that several other cats have adopted similar forms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vsc0Nem1tfI4dMa9_u-JHFr04CtQWS8WvrZhjrkWoKIuKRKhJokadiSUoquOWu3HiZfcR6V3akXAx548WmkM34Sk_RWiUzmva077LDPhIPhRD5qB6Uyl1CFPFwZU-Kg3GU3Zofzjy-g/s1600/Cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vsc0Nem1tfI4dMa9_u-JHFr04CtQWS8WvrZhjrkWoKIuKRKhJokadiSUoquOWu3HiZfcR6V3akXAx548WmkM34Sk_RWiUzmva077LDPhIPhRD5qB6Uyl1CFPFwZU-Kg3GU3Zofzjy-g/s400/Cats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jaguarundis: they've had a complicated history, they've been split due to colour, they climb trees, swim, and make strange sounds, they're the most famous of the weasel-like cats (as I call them), and it turns out they're almost the exact same as the pygmy puma on Avatar. They're so strange and so underrated at the same time. Now go out and tell everyone you know about them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKja4EnJNS-UjfhoNRxfGKzjjfzJGRyK5uuZukIv7p9xUfgcUf1mPWIruCviNX2bE3VzNp-EmRQrYBAimOd1gmgsSGc_79J4NEvGRc5KhjCvJy_fXgTujfTBm5f82P1US_1nhayN5rTY/s1600/Pygmy_pumas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKja4EnJNS-UjfhoNRxfGKzjjfzJGRyK5uuZukIv7p9xUfgcUf1mPWIruCviNX2bE3VzNp-EmRQrYBAimOd1gmgsSGc_79J4NEvGRc5KhjCvJy_fXgTujfTBm5f82P1US_1nhayN5rTY/s400/Pygmy_pumas.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Or else they'll kill your lemur or something.</b></div>
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<b>First jaguarundi photo - </b>Alena Houskova</div>
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<b>Jaguarundi in tree - </b>Bruno Damiani</div>
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<b>Jaguarundi eating agouti - </b>Nick Gordon</div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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www.tpwd.state.tx.us</div>
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news.mongabay.com (photos)</div>
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www.arkive.org</div>
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www.nhptv.org</div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-35419677549402323892013-03-07T00:39:00.001-06:002013-03-07T00:39:58.127-06:00It's a Deer! It's a Rhino! No, it's a Brontothere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPZjH24UU7QBkNZ1WXPJgjfcPE4TY-34RNVepgbXMuBaCxsiNW-2BMHE0_jce7nfolmvThFDL_uIuwPQYQzzifsIucTrd6FCoNCy5GD6RZQT8aaKHxYr3qPQRqjlaLHoIoshiF3CWim0/s1600/Scan0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPZjH24UU7QBkNZ1WXPJgjfcPE4TY-34RNVepgbXMuBaCxsiNW-2BMHE0_jce7nfolmvThFDL_uIuwPQYQzzifsIucTrd6FCoNCy5GD6RZQT8aaKHxYr3qPQRqjlaLHoIoshiF3CWim0/s400/Scan0042.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<b>Explosions, running... By golly, it's a Michael Bay movie!</b></div>
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They aren't rhinoceroses. They aren't freak deer on steroids. They're not a pronghorn or one of the synthetoceratids. No, they're brontotheres. They were what happened when the Eocene said, "You want your ceratopsians back? Well here they are!", followed by a cackling laugh. And in the geologically short 22 million year timeframe they inhabited, they proved to be one of the most fruitful families to have existed, with more than 40 genera currently described.</div>
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Brontotheres, once called titanotheres, got off to a humble start with the little guy at left. <i>Eotitanops</i>, standing only 18in, looks like something that'd be adored by girls worldwide due to how odd and "derpy" looking it is if was alive today. This isn't even fair how ridiculous it is. It's like someone crossed a donkey and a tapir. Anyways on to the real info. <i>Eotitanops</i> lived from the Early-Mid Eocene in North America and Asia, the Asian forms surviving the latest. This stocky little creature was a small browsing creature, rather similar to contemporary <i>Hyracotherium</i>. Also similar to its contemporary, it had four toes on the front feet and three toes on the hind feet. These feet would remain the staple of all brontotheres to come, no matter how big they got. And big they did get. But more on that later.</div>
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<i>Sphenocoelus</i>, shown at right under a synonymous name, represents a good specimen of the intermediate form between <i>Eotitanops</i> and later brontotheres. At 4ft tall at the withers, it was more than twice as tall as its ancestor above, weighing in the area of 234lbs. It almost resembled a small hornless rhinoceros, suited for cropping leaves as the rest of its family would until their extinction. Restricted to Wyoming and Utah, it didn't enjoy a huge range like its ancestor did. Also similar in appearance was <i>Palaeosyops</i>, a much larger beast the size of a cow. It too was found primarily in Wyoming, as many brontotheres seem to be.</div>
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Here there be monsters. <i>Megacerops</i> is the big daddy of brontotheres, the epitome, the zenith of the family. Recently, six genera have been sunk into <i>Megacerops</i>, and different species show different horn structure. <i>M. coloradensis, </i>shown at left had the classic Y-shaped horn. Or maybe it's a boomerang. Or a slingshot. Another species, formerly known as<i> Brontops, </i>had the splitting horn that quickly ended in two ball-shaped knobs. At 8.5ft tall at the shoulder, 4 tons, 16ft long, and with a 3ft skull, it was the largest of the family; a giant as big as an Asian elephant. </div>
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Another of the giant brontotheres to have occurred near the end of their reign was the Asian <i>Embolotherium</i>, only slightly smaller than its North American relative above. It seems to have been the only brontothere to have appeared in a documentary, shown in <i>Walking with Beasts, </i>also covered in <i>Primeval</i> when a herd escaped into modern times. Unlike many other species, there is no clear known sexual dimorphism in both species of <i>Embolotherium</i> (<i>E. andrewsi</i>, shown at right is distinguished by the heart-shaped end of the horn, <i>E. grangeri</i> had a more spoon-like end), contrary to the individuals presented in <i>WWB</i>. Due to the extremely large nasal cavities, some have suggested that the horn actually supported a nasal sac used for communication. Now that'd be something to see.</div>
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From small humble <i>Eotitanops</i> to giant <i>Megacerops</i>, brontotheres enjoyed a rich culmination in the Eocene. Alas their dentition was poor, constricting them to feed on leaves. When the grasslands of the Oligocene began replacing the forests of the Eocene, the brontotheres were surely doomed. They have been cursed throughout history was being dumb, clumsy, and slow-witted when in reality they would have been majestic beautiful creatures to observe in the wild. They've only been immortalized in media several times, a real shame. Here's to hoping some will remember the brontotheres in a brighter light.</div>
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<b>Megacerops fleeing from volcano</b> - Rod Ruth</div>
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<b>Eotitanops </b>- Dmitry Bodganov</div>
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<b>Sphenocoelus</b> - Roman Yevseyev</div>
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<b>Megacerops pair</b> - Dmitry Bodganov</div>
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<b>Embolotherium</b> - Steve Kirk</div>
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<b>Family ensemble - </b>Frederik Spindler</div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
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en.wikipedia.org</div>
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research.amnh.org</div>
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whiteriverweebly.com</div>
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<i>Funk & Wagnalls World of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals</i></div>
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<i>Prehistoric Times </i>Issue 98</div>
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<i>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures</i></div>
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<i>National Geographic Prehistoric Animals</i></div>
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Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-28721638366373648632013-03-06T15:50:00.001-06:002013-03-06T17:45:09.927-06:00Those Intrepid TrionychinesApologies for the long delay, with Paleofest and several other events, I've been rather busy and unable to update (hence, I need to stop making promises). When we left off, we were covering softshell turtles, and now we move on to the trionychine softshell turtles.<br />
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<b>It's genetics.</b></div>
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Due to the entirely enormous subfamily of trionychines, which is primarily Asian, I decided to separate this post not by genera but by location.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Asia:</span></u></b></div>
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(in order, except for the Yangtze softshell, which is at the upper right due to convenience, expand to see them... larger)</div>
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<li><i>Amyda cartilaginea</i>, the only surviving member of <i>Amyda</i> could be called the nominate Asian softshell, considering its common name is actually the Asiatic softshell turtle (though it is also called the black-rayed softshell) and it is found in fifteen countries. </li>
<li><i>Chitra chitra</i>, the Asian narrow-headed softshell, is a critically endangered but beautiful turtle found in Indonesia and Thailand. The narrow-headed softshell is rather huge, attaining carapace (upper shell) lengths of 5ft.</li>
<li><i>Chitra indica</i>, as indicated by its name, is known as the Indian narrow-headed softshell, and as also obvious, is found in India (as well as Pakistan).</li>
<li><i>Chitra vanijki,</i> is found only in Myanmar, known as the Burmese narrow-headed softshell (rather redundant by now). Its conservation status is unknown.</li>
<li><i>Dogania subplana</i>, is another of one the many Asian softshell species. Commonly known as the Malayan softshell, this rather common turtle is also rather small, only reaching 14in in carapace length (in comparison, Snappy, the site's unofficial snapping turtle mascot, is only a few years old and has a 7in carapace). It is a monotypic species that lives in upland bodies of water.</li>
<li><i>Nilssonia formosa</i>, the Burmese peacock softshell, becomes the harbinger of the many <i>Nilssonia </i>species ahead (two "s's", not "l's" or "n's", mistakes I have already made in typing the genus name twice). As the name suggests, it is found in Burma.</li>
<li><i>Nilssonia gangetica, </i>is an exquisitely patterned (with five eyespots on its carapace) creature known as the Indian softshell. Though its species name refers to the Ganges River, it is also found in the Indus and Mahanadi Rivers. </li>
<li><i>Nilssonia hurum</i>, the Indian peacock softshell, found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, is a moderate-sized turtle, about 2ft in length on average.</li>
<li><i>Nilssonia leithii, </i>the Leith's softshell turtle, is found in the Bhavani, Godavari, and the Moyar Rivers in peninsular India.</li>
<li><i>Nilssonia nigricans</i>, is (FINALLY) the last of the <i>Nilssonia</i> genus, called the black softshell turtle. Sadly, this handsome beast is extinct in the wild, originally native to the Brahmaputra (fun fact: the 7th river mentioned so far) but now only found in a manmade pond in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Known to locals as the <b>mazari</b>, the black softshell, of which there are 300 left, cannot be taken from the pond, even for conservation issues. The Mazar Committee, the caretakers of the turtles, believe them to be descendants of the sinners turned into turtles by a saint in the 13th century. Interesting tale, but disappointingly it probably won't save the species.</li>
<li><i>Palea steindachneri</i> (organising this by location might have been a worse idea) is referred to as the wattle-necked softshell turtle. Like the black softshell and the Asian narrow-headed softshell, it is endangered as well, endemic to the Indochina region, but also introduced to Hawaii and Mauritius. Similar to the Malayan softshell, it is monotypic.</li>
<li><i>Pelochelys cantorii, </i>the Cantor's giant softshell is aptly named, because this species is, well, giant. The largest individuals are an enormous 6ft long (<i>Stupendemys</i>, the largest turtle in history, is 12ft in comparison) but are still rather ridiculous looking, appearing almost as roadkill splattered on the road. An ambush predator, it spends 95% of its life buried under mud, silt, and sand. It too is endangered.</li>
<li><i>Pelodiscus sinensis, </i>the Chinese softshell turtle, is probably the most common of its genus, one which we'll thankfully never see after we're done with Asia. Only a foot long, it is not to be confused with<i> Amyda cartilaginea</i>, as both are called the Asiatic softshell turtle. It is commonly agreed to be natively found in China, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam, but its native range is hard to determine due to being used for food and tonics. It has been introduced to five other Asian countries, as well as Guam, Hawaii, California, and Virginia. Quite the traveler. </li>
<li><i>Pelodiscus axenaria</i>, the Hunan softshell turtle is found only in, you guessed it, the Hunan Province of China. Its conservation status is unknown.</li>
<li><i>Pelodiscus parviformis, </i>the lesser Chinese softshell, is apparently lesser than the Chinese because it is only found in China. What a sentence of Chinese proportions.</li>
<li><i>Pelodiscus maacki, </i>the northern Chinese softshell, is found in China, Russia, and Korea, overlapping parts of its range with the Chinese. </li>
<li><i>Rafetus euphracticus</i>, is thankfully the 2nd to last turtle to cover here. Endangered, the Euphrates softshell is found only in the famed Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, on which Mesopotamia was settled. It reaches 3ft long.</li>
<li><i>Rafetus swinhoei,</i> the Yangtze giant softshell, also called Swinhoe's softshell turtle, is a rather large turtle (39in) that lives up to Spock's famous phrase "live long and prosper". Critically endangered, a fertile female from the Changsha Zoo will hopefully mate with the only known male in Chinese, whom are <b><u>80 and 100 years old</u></b> respectively. With their low metabolisms, ability to fast, long lifespans, and long spans of fertility, its no wonder turtles and tortoises were able to survive the K-Pg. Some suggest a third species, the Hoan Kiem turtle, of which only one living individual is known.</li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Australasia:</u></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<li><i>Pelochelys bibroni, </i>common name being the New Guinea giant softshell turtle, is found in Papua New Guinea and West Papua. It is the 2nd largest of the <i>Pelochelys</i> genus, being surpassed only by the Cantor's giant softshell of Asia. It is shown at right.</li>
<li><i>Pelochelys signifera, </i>is known as the Northern New Guinea softshell, also found on both parts of the New Guinea island. Considering <i>P. cantorii </i>is the largest and <i>P. bibroni</i> is the 2nd largest, this is the 3rd largest and smallest, and also means I've run out of facts (distracting dance incoming).<b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Africa:</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqr9Zn9cMcmE-t4srWoo2Ni8FdLgOZtUWiUkWi16SKBlBaJs2oljd3_99bwTOnT0OCrDWZBk6oe4k1FRRW9P9ouxRU3jTBm6lJYVEFS3liVcuo3jDHVe8uw3c4lK5WxWPnssPQLk6oqk/s1600/800px-African-Softshell-Turtle-Eating---Alexander-river---Israel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqr9Zn9cMcmE-t4srWoo2Ni8FdLgOZtUWiUkWi16SKBlBaJs2oljd3_99bwTOnT0OCrDWZBk6oe4k1FRRW9P9ouxRU3jTBm6lJYVEFS3liVcuo3jDHVe8uw3c4lK5WxWPnssPQLk6oqk/s320/800px-African-Softshell-Turtle-Eating---Alexander-river---Israel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><i>Trionyx triunguis</i> is the only trionychine found in Africa, usually referred to as the Nile softshell turtle. The only living member of the once large <i>Trionyx</i> genus, it is the fifth African softshell I mentioned in the last post. It can also be found in the Near East.</li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>North America:</u></b></span></div>
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<li><i>Apalone ferox</i>, the Florida softshell turtle is a widely known pet turtle found namely in Florida as well as Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. It is one of the fastest turtles on land. Nearly 30in long, they are the largest of the genus.</li>
<li><i>Apalone mutica</i>, the smooth softshell turtle is the smallest of the genus but the one I remember most, after seeing one getting extremely pissed after being caught on a fishing line. It is the only softshell without ridges in the nostrils.</li>
<li><i>Apalone spinifera, </i>the spiny softshell is named for the spine-like projections on the leading edge of the carapace. It has the widest range of the genus, being found not only through much of the US, but also in Ontario, Quebec, and several Mexican states. It has been described and redescribed dozens of times.</li>
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Sometime in the future (as I cannot make promises), we'll move on to unique turtles, including the big-headed turtle.</div>
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Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-31356869422975268732013-02-27T15:36:00.002-06:002013-02-27T15:37:06.166-06:00Big Guys With Soft Hearts... er... Shells...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKzgZT9Zq91tDjXPrgF1Wv1fex3XuevCAWM-gU1gBoS3IMnVhG3qnEvTIAWCpXgZ_sjaVgj7SVNqxR2tQtLsyZyoQlQhohmisscByVAtLbP54gjW3toI-x8OCUCutRGY6yoOK5zRrdXY/s1600/3367418378_87c8ea48ec_z+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKzgZT9Zq91tDjXPrgF1Wv1fex3XuevCAWM-gU1gBoS3IMnVhG3qnEvTIAWCpXgZ_sjaVgj7SVNqxR2tQtLsyZyoQlQhohmisscByVAtLbP54gjW3toI-x8OCUCutRGY6yoOK5zRrdXY/s400/3367418378_87c8ea48ec_z+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Hey look, the rare Asian whattheheckisthat.</b></div>
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Ever since my uncle caught one on a fishing hook, effectively pissing it off, I'll always remember softshell turtles as some of the oddest-looking turtles in existence. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA_rOEll0pAtZUx_luHsbye64UAXjeE_NRDX4rxGnhAuPMQ9mm5Dz3RMm3_5roZPSQFBh337OQ4gzh7B_Q9oFJFT8CoGGu4OtVmG_SegghIxjbrx4YsnEZWoTZ39ebeRQsI0MTvRUhko/s1600/Eastern_Spiny_Softshell_Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA_rOEll0pAtZUx_luHsbye64UAXjeE_NRDX4rxGnhAuPMQ9mm5Dz3RMm3_5roZPSQFBh337OQ4gzh7B_Q9oFJFT8CoGGu4OtVmG_SegghIxjbrx4YsnEZWoTZ39ebeRQsI0MTvRUhko/s400/Eastern_Spiny_Softshell_Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>"Evolution screwed me over."</b></div>
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All softshell turtles belong to huge family Trionychidae, and we'll be splitting this post into the two subfamilies: Cyclanorbinae and Trionychinae.</div>
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<b>----------------------<u><span style="font-size: large;">Cyclanorbinae</span></u></b><b>----------------------</b></div>
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Cyclanorbines constitute the smaller subfamily of softshells, with only three genera classified under it: <i>Cyclanorbis, Lissemys, </i>and <i>Cycloderma.</i> Though cyclanorbines is rather fun to say, they are more commonly referred to as the flapshell turtles due to the flaps of the skin at the hind end of the shell. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNmUkiA8G0KeGnlD5ovP9P5B-6By_L3uCRRm4Ato-pFf8eVxKwwmkg4Eh0bSUAfU8XI2gx_XmZM_932ARnl0xNITQdfTts9IKg1kR-a5yau2eIcyBHxBy4IpGPos-52JwDUkr_Y89log/s1600/Lissemys_punctata5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNmUkiA8G0KeGnlD5ovP9P5B-6By_L3uCRRm4Ato-pFf8eVxKwwmkg4Eh0bSUAfU8XI2gx_XmZM_932ARnl0xNITQdfTts9IKg1kR-a5yau2eIcyBHxBy4IpGPos-52JwDUkr_Y89log/s400/Lissemys_punctata5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li><i><b>Cyclanorbis</b></i></li>
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<li><i>C. senegalensis,</i> the Senegal flapshell is the most common of the genus, found in 15 different African countries, appropriately including Senegal. It reaches a length of 35cm.</li>
<li><i>C. elegans</i>, the Nubian flagshell is less common, found in seven African countries, also appropriately in the Nubian region of the Nile.</li>
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<li><b><i>Cycloderma</i></b></li>
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<li><i>C. aubryi, </i>the Aubry's flapshell turtle is one of the five species of softshells in Africa, including the two above. It is found mainly in the broad Congo region and is often sold commercially as bushmeat.</li>
<li><i>C. frenatum</i>, the Zambezi flapshell turtle (alternatively the Zambezi softshell terrapin) is aptly found in mainly the Zambezi basin. Like all softshells, they are mostly carnivores. Zambezi flapshells dig nests similar to that of a crocodile's. They commonly reach 20in and 30lb.</li>
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<li><b><i>Lissemys</i></b></li>
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<li><i>L. punctuata,</i> the Indian flapshell turtle is not only restricted to India but is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It also been introduced to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is probably the most well-known and most researched of the flapshells.</li>
<li><i>L. scutata</i> is more commonly known as the Burmese flapshell turtle. Also found in Thailand and possibly China, some believe it to be a subspecies of the Indian flapshell turtle.</li>
<li><i>L. ceylonensis</i>, the Sri Lankan flapshell. Not much info is available.</li>
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Tomorrow we cover the trionychines, a much larger subfamily.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZI0SMgvxeTylrNaIvmsLZPqzJbPCFrqgFntsr89C1IpedAffuYt_WEAkpscE9ICevCLMjZYEuFUXUcSMWSuXWgCHtf8vXPKjulHtOnso3hrzHMfnP5kacMqrMKFYXjqGckAXNcNdm5c/s1600/Flapshell_1_resized_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZI0SMgvxeTylrNaIvmsLZPqzJbPCFrqgFntsr89C1IpedAffuYt_WEAkpscE9ICevCLMjZYEuFUXUcSMWSuXWgCHtf8vXPKjulHtOnso3hrzHMfnP5kacMqrMKFYXjqGckAXNcNdm5c/s400/Flapshell_1_resized_small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>A Zambezi flapshell screaming how he'd rather be a snapping turtle.</b></div>
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<i>None of the images belong to the author.</i></div>
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Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-33659404667576709602013-02-25T18:33:00.002-06:002013-02-25T18:37:37.688-06:00Occupy Facebook: I Am the 99%<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Domain-of-the-C-Rex/543309825701842">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Domain-of-the-C-Rex/543309825701842</a><br />
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Yes, the blog has invaded Facebook now. More likes please.Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-71311087575045877192013-02-25T17:43:00.002-06:002013-02-25T17:43:42.177-06:00The Adorable Australian Pig-Nosed Flippered Freshwater Turtle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfjrNkIDvMkct3gLmqypB59unxeRXdyNwcOHMUnRLQ6x4N6UgcIrFaE66nv-WkRNPacfPyUsCVXEEdVbV5y_1URtHy9L_Czh18HofFZWdgGZfr2F2ngobDZC2vlUxYMw1qRMMfsSPPWo/s1600/pig-nosed-turtle_img01-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfjrNkIDvMkct3gLmqypB59unxeRXdyNwcOHMUnRLQ6x4N6UgcIrFaE66nv-WkRNPacfPyUsCVXEEdVbV5y_1URtHy9L_Czh18HofFZWdgGZfr2F2ngobDZC2vlUxYMw1qRMMfsSPPWo/s400/pig-nosed-turtle_img01-l.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's Day 2 of "Turtlemania" and that brings us to this little charmer right here: the pig-nosed turtle. It's also known as the Fly River turtle, but I think my title beats all of them: the adorable Australian pig-nosed flippered freshwater turtle. This turtle, <i>Carettochelys insculpta</i>, is the sole living member of the family Carettochelyidae, though several extinct members are known.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfswd-ZG0q9pKmB6BQSlrAu8j_erTdamuOr61CQd955t1l3BWE5p3y8tCVywvIJ0dYs5t0dWJ1a4fRCMfmL1lP8zNTdi5FgkylTqz6zDd7suLOGl3LVW7PN4xVb1Agat-qGHsNQ56uUo/s1600/Pig-nosed+Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfswd-ZG0q9pKmB6BQSlrAu8j_erTdamuOr61CQd955t1l3BWE5p3y8tCVywvIJ0dYs5t0dWJ1a4fRCMfmL1lP8zNTdi5FgkylTqz6zDd7suLOGl3LVW7PN4xVb1Agat-qGHsNQ56uUo/s400/Pig-nosed+Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>"Aww," says the human.</b></div>
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<b>"My entire family is dead," says the turtle.</b></div>
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<b>"Oh."</b></div>
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If you haven't deduced it by the images shown above, the pig-nosed turtle is truly bizarre. It combines characteristics of softshell, sea, and other freshwater turtles into some conglomerate superturtle. As made obvious by the name, the snout is pig-like and tubular, resembling the noses of the softshell turtles. They are also the only freshwater turtle to possess flippers, as like sea turtles. And the shell is similar to other freshwater turtles. They also have a permanent baby frown with a touch of smugness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWDSmQmbi3y9yURmR2JLIfBimdXtEDC2gw0Aant9IuliaBZsPdIunEtf0Zep6exeZHzW8ZuYAjB087RFzSSSxyBb0yh0VpgSs8vZBEgOmnfTPrgWbAbPOhq4kBF9Awn9narGfIZtB2Aw/s1600/iloveu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWDSmQmbi3y9yURmR2JLIfBimdXtEDC2gw0Aant9IuliaBZsPdIunEtf0Zep6exeZHzW8ZuYAjB087RFzSSSxyBb0yh0VpgSs8vZBEgOmnfTPrgWbAbPOhq4kBF9Awn9narGfIZtB2Aw/s400/iloveu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These goofy-looking turtles are found in Australia and New Guinea and are omnivorous, feeding on figs, leaves, and invertebrates. Just like snapping turtles, they are rather common in their range but have shown a decline in recent years. Below is a blurry clue for what's next.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrIt6Kfq6Z5hjjieCbRa5YY3BEkXqermkIsxU0YtA_mmOjtr02MODu5WeBbBjzkd6jX2WPA1PM5wJHmBz-SnZg2SlegdjNYNpKyAQOTvWweEnPdJ8CB4YSdssaOLbnjks8OEthtpbVqA/s1600/3367418378_87c8ea48ec_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrIt6Kfq6Z5hjjieCbRa5YY3BEkXqermkIsxU0YtA_mmOjtr02MODu5WeBbBjzkd6jX2WPA1PM5wJHmBz-SnZg2SlegdjNYNpKyAQOTvWweEnPdJ8CB4YSdssaOLbnjks8OEthtpbVqA/s320/3367418378_87c8ea48ec_z.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
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<br />Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-38439450700161591202013-02-24T18:39:00.001-06:002013-02-24T18:39:22.937-06:00Snapping Turtles: Nature's Way of Saying Screw Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUKnGV2ASEqwJ94w-cReV4GFtoohoHi-ZkJLLjXjSOhkZULIwUvtQZAyPnQuwyrG9sOMnkoJm1v5Zcfghm4R2oJJSN80wmgZUmcTnOS5Ww22GBJy-DehyphenhyphenUD-Jw_4UeJ8reYuO3wrnX6M/s1600/110_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUKnGV2ASEqwJ94w-cReV4GFtoohoHi-ZkJLLjXjSOhkZULIwUvtQZAyPnQuwyrG9sOMnkoJm1v5Zcfghm4R2oJJSN80wmgZUmcTnOS5Ww22GBJy-DehyphenhyphenUD-Jw_4UeJ8reYuO3wrnX6M/s400/110_1364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Perhaps this is just coming from being the passionate owner of one, but turtles are another animal that always have a special spot in my heart (well technically my brain). They're such odd animals, and I hope to chronicle them over the next few days. And what's a better way to start than snapping turtles, my own seen above?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVHeZX6S2qVCQlICdaNn3gEbBPsIboW2_-aDQZmjW14aLVf14DMp3B8pzTHA11GVlypRvcocXbFuHTUjo-Aoqp-X6-_hyphenhyphenxvdaGMQHNlXzWE3SxozcwNS6feE_TDJYmLdlBb0VmrKasbE/s1600/1005121755+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVHeZX6S2qVCQlICdaNn3gEbBPsIboW2_-aDQZmjW14aLVf14DMp3B8pzTHA11GVlypRvcocXbFuHTUjo-Aoqp-X6-_hyphenhyphenxvdaGMQHNlXzWE3SxozcwNS6feE_TDJYmLdlBb0VmrKasbE/s400/1005121755+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Those who have been familiar with this blog for some time now might recognise the photo above: it's an alligator snapping turtle photo I captured at Serpent Safari in Gurnee. Alligator snapping turtles are one of the two main kinds of "snappers". Alligator snapping turtles are the largest of the modern genera, bigger than even the Arrau turtle of South America. Found primarily in the Southeast US, they can also be found in parts of the Midwest. These huge turtles (some reaching 250lbs) are opportunistic carnivores, taking many species of animals, alive or dead. Fish, molluscs, carrion, and amphibians forms the majority of their diet, but they also prey on rodents, other reptiles, worms, and even some aquatic plants. They're even tough enough to devour the babies of the largest reptile in the US: the American alligator. And toughness brings us to our next turtle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmINhEGehbpbXlRNBceHvc7Yk709GOm7w5Q8CZZngHoHucQ9jX_yDj_pPhYECOgb4uSxi5ejaME-blVIust-M0cYjoz9Jtomy1ALtxjpzAwXr6sbLpafFni8grdh9n1Uum12LnFcCWFnw/s1600/Common_Snapping_Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmINhEGehbpbXlRNBceHvc7Yk709GOm7w5Q8CZZngHoHucQ9jX_yDj_pPhYECOgb4uSxi5ejaME-blVIust-M0cYjoz9Jtomy1ALtxjpzAwXr6sbLpafFni8grdh9n1Uum12LnFcCWFnw/s400/Common_Snapping_Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Common snapping turtles have no conception of size whatsoever. Lions will often back down from elephants and giraffes, wolves sometimes won't approach moose, and even crocodiles often don't attack the biggest prey. Common "snappers" on the other hand, go after anything. What they lack in size (weighing "only" 35lbs on average) they make up for in ferocity, often launching themselves and snapping at any opponent, often in a rhythmic repeat. My own often tries to snap at me during feeding time. As the name suggests, they are widespread across the US. Not even Central and South America are safe from the scourge, each having their own species of "snapper".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcTSSshuRvbP3lHVMblbF4mRBDjNd4TLv1mUlbgLEwDV_OYosfYD6NYbednahvmJUg7mfbAiBya_wrQ7OKCqBW_HGncjduo6kNtiQDCbbrLmkCdH-jvuUOrnq9sIA70PctLsCHd9Rckg/s1600/Kayentachelys_NT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcTSSshuRvbP3lHVMblbF4mRBDjNd4TLv1mUlbgLEwDV_OYosfYD6NYbednahvmJUg7mfbAiBya_wrQ7OKCqBW_HGncjduo6kNtiQDCbbrLmkCdH-jvuUOrnq9sIA70PctLsCHd9Rckg/s400/Kayentachelys_NT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And we know not even prehistoric times were safe from snapping turtles. Hell Creek had these (now just picture a <i>T. rex</i> with its toes caught in a snapper's mouth), alligator snapping turtles have been around since the Miocene, and the Kayenta Formation had its own version in the form of the above <i>Kayentachelys. </i>Next up are the pig-nosed turtles.</div>
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<i>The last two photos do not belong to the author; only the first two do. </i></div>
Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-79183186664239701832013-02-23T11:47:00.000-06:002013-02-23T11:47:00.304-06:00The Oddball Giraffes and Their Odder Ancestors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-H-4xtHOUeoteWEooVZKM7haJcyVnPhvR3YILMFJgKXbAni_gOXD2VTXl2hPASJZgQ1qyJGtF-P1G4TpPyjr4CRfabNfgEI3EXuW00jwjSb7nl2NxF5M7pWfy7KXvqhcxYd2NiJe6NY/s1600/474px-Giraffe_Mikumi_National_Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-H-4xtHOUeoteWEooVZKM7haJcyVnPhvR3YILMFJgKXbAni_gOXD2VTXl2hPASJZgQ1qyJGtF-P1G4TpPyjr4CRfabNfgEI3EXuW00jwjSb7nl2NxF5M7pWfy7KXvqhcxYd2NiJe6NY/s400/474px-Giraffe_Mikumi_National_Park.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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Giraffes. These ungulates are among the most awkward of the world's collection of hoofed animals. They're immediately distinguishable by the infamously long neck and legs and spotted pattern. Perhaps it is their peculiar appearance that make them so common. Odds are the nearest zoo to you, especially if you're in the US, has at least a couple. Many people are completely unaware that different zoos actually have different subspecies of giraffe. In fact, there are nine subspecies of giraffe, distinguished by the coat pattern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYYojVnJTkghfcforCCNuQ-nsglPOU-BZiNqUuhQGZWeXe1EfCR_1yEhl0-FMaaLEZ0Eqq7ZP8PBVgNA2AHB5IBhEvueBmXC3DZ4Cu5tqGwwsWNW_Er02Fgumwj-JjjjVGq4ZPpCLjNk/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYYojVnJTkghfcforCCNuQ-nsglPOU-BZiNqUuhQGZWeXe1EfCR_1yEhl0-FMaaLEZ0Eqq7ZP8PBVgNA2AHB5IBhEvueBmXC3DZ4Cu5tqGwwsWNW_Er02Fgumwj-JjjjVGq4ZPpCLjNk/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From left to right:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89fC6sBqzRdldf7W6Qf0RG9Y7ZRTIft_l1DBARR0ZTt16BKJcV57s54oxGcsNvWMzpDjhENGchXuxqorFDQVYetzkYnRas-boVWWurBtS0mcJz5-LGiEohktrIItaE8tBZnSql-L4OvU/s1600/ImageCache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89fC6sBqzRdldf7W6Qf0RG9Y7ZRTIft_l1DBARR0ZTt16BKJcV57s54oxGcsNvWMzpDjhENGchXuxqorFDQVYetzkYnRas-boVWWurBtS0mcJz5-LGiEohktrIItaE8tBZnSql-L4OvU/s400/ImageCache.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li><b>Masai giraffe,</b> <i>Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi</i>, also less commonly called the Kilimanjaro giraffe is the tallest of all subspecies, males reaching 20ft tall, with several alleged reports of 22ft individuals. Thirteen feet alone is made up from the legs and neck. These giraffes are found in Kenya and Tanzania and are the third most common giraffe in captivity, with 100 individuals.</li>
<li><b>Rothschild's giraffe, </b><i>G. c. rothschildi</i>, or the Baringo/Ugandan giraffe, is named after Lord Walter Rothschild. They reach the same heights as Masai giraffes and are found only in Kenya and Uganda as well as new country South Sudan. These giraffes, in addition to their spots, can be determined by having five ossicones, the horn-like projections on the giraffe's head (these are not true horns, like the chousingha mentioned in the last post). Only 700 exist in the wild (giraffes being endangered is not often thought of), but they are the 2nd most common in captivity, with 450 Rothschild's giraffes being exhibited.</li>
<li><b>Kordofan giraffe, </b><i>G. c. antiquorum</i>, is found in Chad, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire is a much better, catchier name). There has been confusion between this subspecies and the West African giraffe, especially when all of the alleged latter kept in zoos turned out to be the former. Sixty-five captive individuals can be found, all in Europe.</li>
<li><b>Angolan giraffe, </b><i>G. c. angolensis</i>, located in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia, is also called the Namibian giraffe. Despite being the most numerous of all giraffes, with 20,000 in the wild, only a minor fraction (1/1000th) of that number is kept in captivity.</li>
<li><b>West African giraffe, </b><i>G. c. peralta</i>, or the Nigerian giraffe, can be seen in Senegal, Niger, Benin, Mali, and Nigeria. Their numbers have decreased since World War I, with only 220 individuals in the wild. All of the Kordofan giraffes in captivity were once thought to be this subspecies.</li>
<li><b>Thornicroft's giraffe, </b><i>G. c. thornicrofti</i>, or the Rhodesian giraffe, is exclusive to Zambia. Named after Harry Scott Thornicroft, only 1,500 individuals remain, with none in captivity.</li>
<li><b>Reticulated giraffe, </b><i>G. c. reticulata</i>, found in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, also called the Somalian giraffe is arguably one of the most famous giraffe subspecies. Their closely packed polygonal spots are extremely iconic. These giraffes were studied by Darwin to explain their extraneously long necks. Reticulated giraffes readily interbreed with other subspecies, and have been observed chewing on bones from gazelle carcases. They are the commonest giraffes in captivity, with over 450 individuals.</li>
<li><b>South African giraffe</b>, <i>G. c. giraffa</i>, located in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and extreme eastern Botswana. Their rounded/blotched spots often run down to their hooves. Approximately 45 can be found in zoos.</li>
<li><b>Nubian giraffe, </b><i>G. c. camelopardalis</i>, the nominate subspecies of giraffe found in South Sudan and Ethiopia. It is the most endangered giraffe in the world, with an approximate number of only 250 remaining in the wild. They are also rare in captivity, with a herd of 14 being found only at the Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Ua5ivPNesHfRPNbGAogDHB9B7UfS1BTkCQmgxaFlBNnV9nlHNc0CuxUwICRvVsvRvhlXgQjPxXqk7PkLNaqVin0JVmuaw4S-rH2MhY-oIexup60T0mPqkPpz9uI3BpKsT2XdLlYjmc/s1600/800px-Giraffe_koure_niger_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Ua5ivPNesHfRPNbGAogDHB9B7UfS1BTkCQmgxaFlBNnV9nlHNc0CuxUwICRvVsvRvhlXgQjPxXqk7PkLNaqVin0JVmuaw4S-rH2MhY-oIexup60T0mPqkPpz9uI3BpKsT2XdLlYjmc/s400/800px-Giraffe_koure_niger_2006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>A West African giraffe doing a photoshoot.</b></div>
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To add on to that extremely extensive list, a 2007 study suggests that six subspecies (reticulated, Rothschild's, West African, Thornicroft's, Masai, and Angolan) may actually be separate species altogether. Yikes. Speaking of separate species, there is actually another giraffid that I hope you all know. It's the okapi.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH7JreVO_zOdHWNHG56OBbe899eVOijakde79DVgpzf-8o9n-mEBdsiTBsemKrwRTlW5kaBFOsapNWGP9Kui0HW4wijiNBbj8zGyrsdzwNGMI7eQvsKqACMRiNLZFubes8u9kv-eYN24/s1600/Okapi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH7JreVO_zOdHWNHG56OBbe899eVOijakde79DVgpzf-8o9n-mEBdsiTBsemKrwRTlW5kaBFOsapNWGP9Kui0HW4wijiNBbj8zGyrsdzwNGMI7eQvsKqACMRiNLZFubes8u9kv-eYN24/s400/Okapi2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The zebra-donkey-antelope thing.</b></div>
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Okapis, found only in the Ituri rainforest of the DRC, most resemble the primitive giraffids that came before actual giraffes. "Only" 6ft tall, they are a third of the height of the tallest Masai individuals. It is relatively unknown to the general public today, as it has been to both them and the scientific world for centuries, formally described only in 1901. If not looking curious enough, okapis have tongues equally as long as a giraffe's, enabling them to clean their nostrils and even their ears. Only males possess ossicones. And as I said literally four sentences ago, it resembled most primitive giraffids.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy7bdVGLcywpNKhJ7Cd-tRfME0NPlH1u1QqJAxH3fjZBv6MqQdmD6uXuCmdT54HEtgxGn9NBpYChX2zsAYPpi3NEsfERHCky18Np44dJ-YYObw4WzhRVQ9aCj71ernMmvVpSTh4cDbD0/s1600/giraffes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy7bdVGLcywpNKhJ7Cd-tRfME0NPlH1u1QqJAxH3fjZBv6MqQdmD6uXuCmdT54HEtgxGn9NBpYChX2zsAYPpi3NEsfERHCky18Np44dJ-YYObw4WzhRVQ9aCj71ernMmvVpSTh4cDbD0/s400/giraffes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>And then there were those that it didn't look like at all. Restored by Mark Hallett; scanned and edited from book.</b></div>
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Much like antilocaprids, some giraffes experimented with their "horns" and size (click the image to make the difference more noticeable). From left to right:</div>
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<li><b>Prolibytherium</b>, <i>Prolibytherium magnieri</i>, technically a climacoceratid (still in Giraffoidea) was found in Egypt and Libya in the Early Miocene. Resembling a deer as all of the above do, each leaf-shaped ossicone was 14in wide, making an "antlerspan" of nearly 2.5ft. It was small, 6ft long and 5ft tall.</li>
<li><b>Sivatherium, </b><i>Sivatherium maurusium</i>, an African giraffid with widespread, forward pointing, studded ossicones. Approximately 7ft tall, it may have lived as recently as 8,000ya, as rock paintings from the Sahara resemble this creature. </li>
<li><b>Sivatherium,</b> <i>Sivatherium giganteum</i>, the Asian species of <i>Sivatherium</i>, with widespread backwards ossicones. It was proportionally stockier than <i>S. maurusium, </i>but at 7ft 4in, was slightly taller. It is unknown if it lived as long as the latter.</li>
<li><b>Climacoceras,</b> <i>Climacoceras gentryi,</i> an East African giraffid with "thorny" crescent-shaped ossicones. It was 5ft tall, and can be distinguished from <i>C. africanus</i> by the ossicones: <i>C. africanus</i> "horns" were similar to plant stems.</li>
<li><b>Giraffokeryx</b>, <i>Giraffokeryx punnjabiensis</i>, resembles the okapi most of all out of this list, but with four ossicones. It is the most widespread of the giraffids picture, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite its superficial resemblance to the okapi, it is more closely related to the sivatherines.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKz2fdA2uxmczUy6fwgMG9Hnu9o2_6aALKhqmLr0b44oM5VcyfbzvRRaJDn1O_P7gMWPRjr-7t9apA-ln5F38b0-msmJuiYMpEi0GRFv10ImDBY9NLjMUhTtpDNC-B2vc6CfvNaOex-c/s1600/downsized_0223131133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKz2fdA2uxmczUy6fwgMG9Hnu9o2_6aALKhqmLr0b44oM5VcyfbzvRRaJDn1O_P7gMWPRjr-7t9apA-ln5F38b0-msmJuiYMpEi0GRFv10ImDBY9NLjMUhTtpDNC-B2vc6CfvNaOex-c/s320/downsized_0223131133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then there was also <i>Bramatherium perimense,</i> shown to the left from a crappy cellphone photo (considering my scanner didn't want to work right as I needed to scan this) of a David Peters illustration (yes, <i>the </i>David Peters, before the insane theory-era). As you might be able to tell, it had three ossicones, two that split from the back and were probably adjoined by skin, then one huge central one that forked like a deer's antler. It's probable that these would be highly effective in battle, especially considering that they couldn't duel it out like modern giraffes today (by the process of necking, where they slam their heads into their opponent's neck or body). Other giraffids, such as <i>Samotherium, Palaeotragus, </i>and<i> Helladotherium, </i>looked closer to the okapi.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCgfMNzh2c6lJNKpZT9tNAOioKmPJnIob4nxy5OvPOy1xCBdEc0jzPdbHxBW3lK9DBPDZkqCE10IyUV-Nh2UERosdyIMsvtJYdlhQsc6H6lUhRciNun8bVK-IOdzWkCmap9Ek2hc3vDg/s1600/345ea93a2e3bf77f.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCgfMNzh2c6lJNKpZT9tNAOioKmPJnIob4nxy5OvPOy1xCBdEc0jzPdbHxBW3lK9DBPDZkqCE10IyUV-Nh2UERosdyIMsvtJYdlhQsc6H6lUhRciNun8bVK-IOdzWkCmap9Ek2hc3vDg/s400/345ea93a2e3bf77f.png" width="372" /></a></div>
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<b>A giant joins the field.</b></div>
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It seems like many things, giraffes were larger in prehistory, and <i>Giraffa jumae</i> is the nonliving example. Found from Malawi to Chad and possibly Turkey, it was probably both taller and heavier than the modern giraffe.</div>
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From mutant moose to odd antelope forms, from giants to pygmies, the giraffes have been around for 27 million years. Their iconic appearance and general friendliness makes them popular with people around the world and makes sure they are well in demand in captivity. Let's hope it stays that way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G_Z7E6dcLP0lEz600xz8VXl2H_sl9p6X-e8M0z0PbggkafAL0RNtHfU205zK30lLCUiJn9argY3EJzj_tir4jPXDPgTVGM8udb6xY2beGv2sepNGIh2GKPLQzDNjT5U88N1xIoQI5EA/s1600/giraffe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G_Z7E6dcLP0lEz600xz8VXl2H_sl9p6X-e8M0z0PbggkafAL0RNtHfU205zK30lLCUiJn9argY3EJzj_tir4jPXDPgTVGM8udb6xY2beGv2sepNGIh2GKPLQzDNjT5U88N1xIoQI5EA/s400/giraffe2.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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<b>Behold the amazing giraffe tongue as you leave.</b></div>
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<i>None of the pictures provided belong to the author, except of the </i>Bramatherium <i>and the prehistoric ensemble, none of which were illustrated by the author.</i></div>
Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291405811301925221.post-71648661222311530132013-02-22T18:29:00.001-06:002013-02-23T11:50:56.696-06:00The Amazing Antilocaprid ArtiodactylsTime to learn another not-so-dark secret about me: I am entirely fascinated by the antilocaprids, better known as pronghorns. In the past, this family was rather huge, but sadly they are only survived by one species and five subspecies today: <i>Antilocapra americana</i>, the pronghorn antelope. Technically, the "surname" antelope is misleading, as pronghorns are not true antelope, a somewhat miscellaneous group in Bovidae. As mentioned earlier, there are five subspecies that are usually accepted (from O'Gara and Yoakum, 2004):<br />
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<li>The Sonoran pronghorn, <i>A. a. sonoriensis</i>, native to Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. This pronghorn is endangered, estimated with 300 individuals left, a considerable boost from 2002 when there were only 14, but not much to be desired.</li>
<li>The peninsular pronghorn, <i>A. a. peninsularis</i> (they were not creative with names), also known as the Baja California pronghorn, for it (shockingly) being found in that narrow stretch of land. This subspecies is also sadly endangered, with ~200 left.</li>
<li>The Mexican pronghorn, <i>A. a. mexicana</i> is in addition to being found south of the border, can be found in the US as well. While under the IUCN, it falls under 'Conservation Dependent' it is luckily at lower risk and a gleam of hope for the species.</li>
<li>The Oregon pronghorn, <i>A. a. oregona</i>, found in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California. This subspecies was actually first noted by Lewis and Clark (several Spanish explorers mentioned other subspecies prior, but these reports never made it much in the scientific world). They are almost indistinguishable genetically from other subspecies, probably hinting it as evolving recently if it indeed a separate subspecies.</li>
<li>The American pronghorn, <i>A. a. americana</i>, wielding a misleading name as all pronghorns are American and they always have been American ever since they first evolved. As with the Oregon pronghorn, their status as a separate subspecies is debated, but for this post, will remain separate.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMJmXA1jcF9TZlMsktzy5h0KgJKGfZK-tJxYQ2-MbeEPCoyWJ00Y1aNV4p_4Zivoz-5Fd7LfFFCBeD9a0KXb3IVIK_AFeUxioh924I4cwwMR-8mQGaIEUKXedB23-BTqY3ppYc-piB4I/s1600/42018-004-16DDA0C4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMJmXA1jcF9TZlMsktzy5h0KgJKGfZK-tJxYQ2-MbeEPCoyWJ00Y1aNV4p_4Zivoz-5Fd7LfFFCBeD9a0KXb3IVIK_AFeUxioh924I4cwwMR-8mQGaIEUKXedB23-BTqY3ppYc-piB4I/s400/42018-004-16DDA0C4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The males are rather dashing.</b></div>
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And while these ungulates are rather odd compared to North America's cast of deer, bison, muskoxen, and peccaries today, the prehistoric forms actually delve into deeper vats of bizarreness. This is mainly due to their horns. Modern pronghorns have hatchet-shaped horns with prongs (the name suddenly makes complete sense). Prehistoric forms, probably as a result of a bet from a neighboring frat house, decided to go much more stranger with their horns and like people in the 80's, experimented with many different types. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF6OntorMgwsME8RXLq__byfqBrKn0Ad2a2FtTUJ2bLHkR53TZg_ar6_xJg4dk-RaQprmlg_hUKhf3OkUfwWh1Pho-r74IF7Zlg2lpkEygLc4IfeCLSTCiAeTqteuZKKFD6abxaLBRzc/s1600/Scan0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF6OntorMgwsME8RXLq__byfqBrKn0Ad2a2FtTUJ2bLHkR53TZg_ar6_xJg4dk-RaQprmlg_hUKhf3OkUfwWh1Pho-r74IF7Zlg2lpkEygLc4IfeCLSTCiAeTqteuZKKFD6abxaLBRzc/s400/Scan0035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Illingoceros</i>, shown above, was one such pronghorn. Its horns resembled more of a modern markhor than they do their relatives today. Slightly larger than modern pronghorns, it completely lacked the characteristic hatchet horns. A cursory glance would almost lead one to believe it was a goat of some kind, or a fantastical unicorn. Shown below is <i>Hayoceros,</i> about the same size as <i>Illingoceros, </i>but with different headgear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm00-B1hxbVLVHpthdecbbKr7n2F3HoECiCBRYek-csmRDfU9YRxWj4wAz4moa-vF9T7w_5rh98tol03WRvKWiSlPWXCZSQPXOFYqJ7xK0cN6weWdjeSe9Mi5dEP8z6AsDWmSchJpFxI/s1600/Scan0035+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm00-B1hxbVLVHpthdecbbKr7n2F3HoECiCBRYek-csmRDfU9YRxWj4wAz4moa-vF9T7w_5rh98tol03WRvKWiSlPWXCZSQPXOFYqJ7xK0cN6weWdjeSe9Mi5dEP8z6AsDWmSchJpFxI/s400/Scan0035+-+Copy.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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Its horns more resemble the classic hatchet shape than the latter, but taking it to an extreme: two rather long horns jutting skyward, and a second pair with two prongs each jutting forward. The only ungulate today to naturally possess four horns is the Indian chousingha, or appropriately, the four-horned antelope. Would be a bad day for any predator who was stupid enough to corner this beast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUXLdVXD1Yfh76HBA_Qg_lUuTvslxAJoyvxQC74jLDkur_5eyyHiIoEo1msYsAAgdd-7qnEKLVXW7jhnIBKTRTyNpmbUh3rVkbbeFE96s7qU4zaa0_JlIJgoYRBNLDRGY7GCXJ6rP7co/s1600/Merycodus_osborni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUXLdVXD1Yfh76HBA_Qg_lUuTvslxAJoyvxQC74jLDkur_5eyyHiIoEo1msYsAAgdd-7qnEKLVXW7jhnIBKTRTyNpmbUh3rVkbbeFE96s7qU4zaa0_JlIJgoYRBNLDRGY7GCXJ6rP7co/s400/Merycodus_osborni.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Above is <i>Ramoceros</i>, a small pronghorn relative that almost resembled a deer, especially from the perspective of the left one above. Also not much info on this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM9dMG1ovNtwSCzsSvz1G37ef6LQwUHTyVqnJxgsY7A9NmtrW5Xcxa9NspWm1KuKmiXZDsFj2c4KVUk7HmUJxFTmDTiRRHZPFTfaetmL_uqOSWBQlhktinThXQo8oZpNBUy1R-BuTqYo/s1600/Antilocaprid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM9dMG1ovNtwSCzsSvz1G37ef6LQwUHTyVqnJxgsY7A9NmtrW5Xcxa9NspWm1KuKmiXZDsFj2c4KVUk7HmUJxFTmDTiRRHZPFTfaetmL_uqOSWBQlhktinThXQo8oZpNBUy1R-BuTqYo/s400/Antilocaprid.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>
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<i>Aaaaaannnnndddd.......</i>another one with barely any information on it. This antilocaprid, named <i>Stockoceros</i> also resembled a deer in some aspects.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BeT47k-u33-F4lR02AZoSd7bfWs_xDmh6buTtkoW29RxyJE10JS3Y-O7bZIc6YBxfeaqQ7w1tr-rrswvMcnQjPp2KTTII1pWE_BQuCXxhBkaGf1Lu9PIA1tmACj_JbyFEbQE8zcqInY/s1600/648px-Capromeryx_minor_p1350725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BeT47k-u33-F4lR02AZoSd7bfWs_xDmh6buTtkoW29RxyJE10JS3Y-O7bZIc6YBxfeaqQ7w1tr-rrswvMcnQjPp2KTTII1pWE_BQuCXxhBkaGf1Lu9PIA1tmACj_JbyFEbQE8zcqInY/s320/648px-Capromeryx_minor_p1350725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, pronghorns also experimented with size, like "pachyderms", moas, lizards, and other famous prehistoric creatures. <i>Capromeryx</i> was the ultimate byproduct of this, standing 2ft at the withers, almost half the height of modern-day pronghorns. It was extremely widespread, found in Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, and three Mexican states. Obviously it was doing something right.</div>
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From twisted horns to forked horns and hatchet horns and pygmies, the pronghorns have enjoyed a successful history for nearly 25 million years. But as touched on early, our only representative of this amazing family is dying out. Let's try and save it. Long live the antilocaprids.</div>
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<i>None of the pictures provided belong to the author, except for the </i>Illingoceros <i>and</i> Hayoceros<i>, which were not illustrated by the author.</i></div>
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Connor Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03450265662280954136noreply@blogger.com2