bizarre creatures

Philautus maia

2008-07-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

Philautus maia was discovered from a museum specimen collected around 1860. This species from Sri Lanka is believed to now almost be extinct.

http://www.species.asu.edu/2008_species04.php

http://www.anorak.co.uk/strange-but-true/185212.html

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11395_3-6242314-5.html?tag=ne.gall.pg

Sea butterfly

2008-06-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_butterfly

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/zoo432/plankton/plmollusca/Molluscs.html

http://www.vattenkikaren.gu.se/fakta/arter/mollusca/opisthob/cliolima/cliolie.html

Tarantula hawk

2008-06-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Several species of the wasps known as "tarantula hawks" inhabit the desert lands of the southwest. They of course eat Tarantulas. Tarantula hawk stings are considered to be the most painful of any North American insect. Christopher Starr wrote an article entitled, "A Pain Scale for Bee, Wasp and Ant Stings." On a scale of one to four, Pepsis formosa was one of only two insects to rate a four. One researcher described the tarantula hawk’s sting this way: "To me, the pain is like an electric wand that hits you, inducing an immediate, excruciating pain that simply shuts down one’s ability to do anything, except, perhaps, scream. Mental discipline simply does not work in these situations.

http://www.desertusa.com/mag01/sep/papr/thawk.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk

http://www.nps.gov/archive/moja/mojaantw.htm

Bullet Ant

2008-06-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Named on account of its powerful and potent sting, which is said to be as painful as being shot with a bullet. The pain caused by this insect's sting is purported to be greater than that of any other Hymenopteran, and is ranked as the most painful according to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index. It is described as causing "waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours". It lives in trees and thus can and will fall on you to scare you away from its hive--the one you didn't know was there, because it's in a tree. Before it does this, it shrieks at you. This ant, you see, can shriek.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraponera

http://www.sasionline.org/antsfiles/pages/bullet/bulletbio.html

http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2008/01/the_schmidt_sting_pain_index.php

Bornean Clouded Leopard

2008-06-12T06:47:00.001-07:00

An entirely new species of cat, the Bornean Clouded Leopard.

http://laelaps.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/new-species-of-clouded-leopard-recognized/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornean_Clouded_Leopard

Giant Black Scorpion

2008-06-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

The currently known largest scorpion. Like it’s namesake, it can be found in India. It can reach to almost 1 ft in length and can weigh to as much as 57 grams.

buy one as a pet here
http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/inverts-for-sale.php

Po’ouli

2008-06-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

One of the rarest birds still alive, the po’ouli.
At last count, the known po’ouli population was six. And with time running out, experts are scrambling to find a way to save the species from extinction.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6630652/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po'o-uli

http://eastmauiwatershed.org/Birds/poul.htm

Amazonian Giant Centipede

2008-06-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Found in North and West South America, these can reach up to 13 inches in length. They are known to prey on bats, lizards, birds, and mice. Their venom can cause chills, fever, and sever swelling on humans but is unlikely to be fatal.

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=605

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra_gigantea

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8313878609430213933
( bat eating centipede )

Irukandji

2008-06-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

The Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) inhabits waters of Australia. This is a deadly jellyfish, which is only 2.5 centimeters (with bell and tentacles) in diameter, which makes it difficult to spot.
The Irukandji is believed to be the most venomous creature in the world

VIDEO: reactions to divers strung

http://www.irukandjijellyfish.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irukandji_jellyfish

Sea Raven

2008-05-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Hemitripterus_americanus.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_raven

http://www.thejump.net/id/sea-raven.htm

Capybara

2008-05-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Capybara is the largest living rodent in the world.Adult capybaras may grow to 130 centimetres (4.3 ft), and weigh up to 65 kg (140 lb).Though now extinct, there once existed larger capybaras that were eight times the size of modern capybaras (these rodents would have been larger than a grizzly bear)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Amazonia/Facts/capybarafacts.cfm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/594.shtml

Blue-ringed Octopus

2008-05-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball, but its venom is powerful enough to kill humans. There is no known antidote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ringed_octopus

http://www.earlham.edu/~sheedjo/blue-ringedoctopus.htm

http://www.didyouknow.cd/animals/octopus.htm

Mantis Shrimp

2008-05-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Called "sea grasshoppers" by ancient Assyrian , "prawn killers" in Australia and now sometimes referred to as "thumb splitters" by modern divers — because of the relative ease the creature has in mutilating small appendages — mantis shrimp sport powerful claws that they use to attack and kill prey by spearing, stunning or dismemberment. Mantis shrimp can break through aquarium glass with a single strike from this weapon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp

http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/04/21_shrimp.shtml

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-03/jf/feature/index.php

Harpy Eagle

2008-05-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

The largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas, the Harpy Eagle has a body length of 35 - 41 inches, a 6 1/2 -foot wingspan, and weighs 10 - 20 pounds. The female can be as much as twice as heavy as her mate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpy_Eagle

http://www.peregrinefund.org/explore_raptors/eagles/harpyeag.html

http://whozoo.org/Anlife99/coreybow/harpyeagle3.html

Chinese Paddlefish

2008-05-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

One of the largest freshwater fish, it is said that the Chinese Paddlefish can grow to 23 feet and weigh 1,100 pounds, but little research on a maximum size can be conducted today due to the species' scarcity. Due to overfishing, the Chinese Paddlefish is endangered now and quite possibly extinct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Paddlefish

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070726-china-fish.html

http://www.capachi.com/paddlefish.htm

Giant Armadillo

2008-05-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Armadillo

http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/armadillo.html

http://nature.ca/notebooks/english/giantarm.htm

Wolffish

2008-05-05T10:06:00.001-07:00

The wolf fish is the largest fish in the suborder of blennies. Blennies are long fish that are similar to eels in appearance that have been dated back as far as 50 million years by fossil discoveries.

http://www.ocean.udel.edu/mas/seafood/wolffish.html

http://www.essortment.com/all/wolffish_rzkk.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawolf_(fish)

Goliath Tigerfish

2008-05-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

" One of the most fearsome predators freshwater has ever known, the Tigerfish has a viscious reputation. These fish hunt in large packs, just as their South American counterparts, the Piranhas do. Prey consist primarily of other fish, but just about anything alive can fall prey to the Tigerfish. Like the Piranha, prey is eaten away bite by bite. Because they have razor sharp knife-like teeth, and extremely strong jaw muscles, they are among the few fish that can turn the tables on prey the same size or larger than themselves. There are unverified reports of attacks on humans."

more at : http://lordsofapathy.blogspot.com/2007/04/animal-spotlight-goliath-tigerfish.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/38981/GOLIATH-TIGER-FISH-SUPER-HUGE

Hairy Frogfish

2008-04-28T08:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.archive.org/details/HairyFrogFishGallopingAlong_613

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogfish

http://www.starfish.ch/frogfish/Behavior.html

Hoatzin

2008-04-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

http://montereybay.com/creagrus/hoatzin.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoatzin

http://www.rainforestconservation.org/data_sheets/birds/hoatzin.html

Rare White/Albino Moose

2008-04-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/stories/ktvbn-feb1108-albino_moose.b08ac946.html

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/12/03/4705360.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwUs8OvugKU

Goosefish

2008-04-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goosefish

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/og/goose/

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Lophius_americanus.htm

Smallest Fish

2008-04-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Scientists have discovered a fish living in forest swamps on the Indonesian island of Sumatra that is only 7.9 millimeters long.

The species of fish belongs to the carp family and is called Paedocypris progenetica . It is the world's smallest vertebrate or backboned animal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paedocypris

http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0126-smallest_fish.html

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2006/jan/news_7501.html

Weedy Seadragon

2008-04-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

"Weedy Sea Dragons grow to a mature length of about 18 inches (45 cm). They use camouflage as their primary defense, and are found along the southern reefs and sandy underwater areas of Australia. Though relatively common compared to Leafy Sea Dragons, Weedy Sea Dragons are also government protected, and subject to strict export controls.

Though they are similar in appearance to sea horses, Weedy Sea Dragons do not have prehensile (gripping) tails, but rather appear to use them for steering. The beautiful colors of this sea dragon are highlighted by the iridescent blue bands along the upper body."
-taken from
http://www.divegallery.com/Weedy_Sea_Dragon.htm

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/ptaeniolatus.htm

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=14267

Tiger Huntsman

2008-04-06T23:12:00.001-07:00

Its black markings gave it its name -- the tiger huntsman.
Alan Henderson has found what could be a new breed of huntsman spider, but it won't be confirmed as a new breed until it dies and is dissected by an expert.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21413191-24331,00.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/and-along-came-another-spider/2007/03/18/1174152881573.html

http://www.strangeark.com/blog/2007/03/possible-new-huntsman-spider.html

Leafy Sea Dragon

2008-04-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

The leafy sea dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish related to the seahorse.While not large by sea monster standards, they are very large for sea horses, growing at least 18 inches (45 cm). hey have become endangered through pollution and industrial runoff as well as collection by fascinated divers who are entranced by their unique appearance.

http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafy_sea_dragon

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=31

Sea Robins

2008-04-02T07:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.kooky.com.my/node/1125

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_robin

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Prionotus_carolinus.htm

Giant Snakehead

2008-03-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Being a high level predator means that the giant snakehead eats many other fishes, amphibians and even small birds, but is not preyed upon by many other species. The giant snakehead is considered gregarious, with the young often following their mother closely. There have been reports of protective mother giant snakehead attacking men who have disturbed the snakehead's school of juveniles.

The species has the ability to crawl onto land, where it can survive for up to four days.

The giant snakehead is found in Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and possibly Myanmar. This fish can reach a length of 7 feet.

In 2002 and 2003, three specimens were caught in Maryland, all believed to have been released pets. In 2003, a giant snakehead was caught in Rock River, Wisconsin. . Biologists were concerned that warmwater effluents could allow the tropical species to survive in the colder climate.

In 2008 , a specimenof C. micropeltes was caught by an angler while fishing for pike on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England. It is not clear if the species is breeding in the wild, or if this was an escaped captive specimen; a source within the Environment Agency was quoted as saying “The reaction was, 'Oh s***'. This is the ultimate invasive species — if it starts breeding here it's a disaster."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_snakehead

http://www.outdoorcentral.com/mc/pr/03/09/24c6.asp

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516092&in_page_id=1770

Giant Asian Hornet

2008-03-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Asian, or Japanese hornet is the largest and most fearsome hornet in the world. It can be as big as 45 mm long (that's almost 2 inches), and its stinger is over 6 mm in length (a quarter of an inch!). Wingspan is up to 3 inches.

The venom from this hornet contains an enzyme which will dissolve bone and tissue, and can be fatal if the person stung is small, or has an allergic reaction. More than 40 people are killed each year by stings from this hornet. Those who have been stung and lived have described its sting as excrutiatingly painful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/japanese/hornet.html

http://insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_insect_from_hell

Elephant Fish

2008-03-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.marinethemes.com/elephant.html

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/cmilii.htm

http://www.fishingmag.co.nz/surfcasting-elephantfish-head.htm

Giant sea creatures found in Antarctic search

2008-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Scientists who conducted the most comprehensive survey to date of New Zealand's Antarctic waters were surprised by the size of some specimens found, including jellyfish with 12-foot tentacles and 2-foot-wide starfish.

Large sea spiders, jellyfish with 12-foot tentacles, huge sea snails and starfish the size of big food platters were found during a 50-day voyage, marine scientist Don Robertson said.

Cold temperatures, a small number of predators, high levels of oxygen in the sea water and even longevity could explain the size of some specimens, said Robertson, a scientist with NIWA.

Robertson added that of the 30,000 specimens collected, hundreds might turn out to be new species.

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/86E8528C-91FB-4C86-B29E-B7013DF39249/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331313,00.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/21/antarctic.search.ap/index.html

the Antarctic cod

2008-03-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Scientists have discovered a fish that hibernates: the Antarctic cod.

It was already known that the Antarctic cod had special "antifreeze" in its veins that allows it to live in near-freezing waters.

It was known that the fish, which became isolated from its northern cousins 30 million years ago, lives in life's slow lane, with extremely slow rates of growth, metabolism and swimming activity.

Now scientists have discovered that it can slow even these processes down in winter by entering a dormant state while sitting on the bottom.

The fish throws a seasonal "switch" between a high gear in which it maximises feeding and growth in summer and a low one where it maximises the energy used during the long, Antarctic winter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/03/05/eacod105.xml

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/03/researchers-fin.html

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/autocodes/countries/antarctica/scientists-discover-hibernating-fish-first-time-$1209841.htm

Binturong

2008-03-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binturong

http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=94

http://www.hilozoo.com/animals/A_binturong.htm

Extremely Rare White Killer Whale

2008-03-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

Researchers working near Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Feb. 23 spotted a white killer whale, which they estimate was 25 to 30 feet long and weighed more than 10,000 pounds. This is only the third time in the past 15 years that such a whale has been seen in the area.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/white-killer-whale-spotted-off-alaska/20080307090209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080307-AP-whale-picture.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/03/07/white-killer-whale.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/07/white.killer.whale.ap/index.html

Hexapus

2008-03-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

English marine experts have laid their hands on an octopus that's missing two of its own: a six-limbed creature that they have dubbed 'hexapus.'

Ordinarily, octopodes have eight arms and legs. And should they lose one or more in an accident, they can grow the limbs back.
Which is what makes 'Henry' -- as staffers at Blackpool Sea Life Centre in northwest England have dubbed their find -- so unique.
His missing limbs stem from a birth defect.

"If you look closer between the legs, there's webbing that attaches each of the arms together," John Filmer of the Sea Life Centre told CNN Tuesday. "You'd assume if he'd lost one of his legs in an accident, there would be space for an arm to grow back.
"But there's no space for two extra legs to grow back. That's just how he is."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/03/04/octopus.uk/index.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080303/sc_afp/sciencebritainanimalhexapusoffbeat

http://www.physorg.com/news123773928.html

Sea Lamprey

2008-03-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a parasitic lampreyfound on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America , in the western Mediterranean Sea, and in the Great Lakes. It is brown or gray on its back and white or gray on the underside and can grow to be up to 90 cm (35.5 in) long. Sea lampreys prey on a wide variety of fish. The lamprey uses its suction-cup like mouth to attach itself to the skin of a fish and rasps away tissue with its sharp probing tongue and teeth. Secretions in the lamprey's mouth prevent the victim's blood from clotting. Victims typically die from blood loss or infection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lamprey

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/invert/lamprey.htm

http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biology/Harbour/SPECIES/SEALAMP/TITLE.HTM

Geoduck

2008-03-01T13:28:00.001-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck

http://www.olywa.net/cook/faq.htm

http://www.manandmollusc.net/geoduck.html

Shovel Nosed Guitarfish

2008-02-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

The VERY rare Shovel Nosed Guitarfish

read more about them here:

http://www.aquariumteam.com/creatures.htm

http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/R/Rhinobatos_productus.asp

http://www.timsaxon.co.uk/shovelnosedray.html

Giant Pangolin

2008-02-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

The adult Giant Pangolin has been known to reach a size of 140 cm (55.1 inches) and weigh as much as 33 kg (73 lbs.). These scaly creatures walk with most of their weight is on their columnar rear legs as it curls the front paws, walking on the outside of the wrists rather than the palms to protect the claws. By using its tail for balance, the Giant Pangolin will often walk upright as a biped.

Newborns cannot walk on their legs, but can move on their stomach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Pangolin#Physical_description

http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/pangolin

video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btkVS7uYNwM

Giant Sea Spider

2008-02-20T16:36:00.001-08:00

Giant Sea Spiders found, photos and video online! Scientists have discovered Giant Sea Spiders in Antarctic waters and have collected some, among other creatures.

The scientists were sure to film the fascinating sea creatures that were about a foot in length. They also captured other odd sea creatures.

Martin Riddle, the Australian scientist who led the underwater research says: "Gigantism is very common in Antarctic waters -- we have collected huge worms, giant crustaceans and sea spiders the size of dinner plates..."

-taken from http://www.postchronicle.com/news/science/article_212131385.shtml

check out a video of them on the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWEw9jUHYMc

Giant Freshwater Stringray

2008-02-20T07:39:00.001-08:00

http://www.underwatertimes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=507

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/hunt-for-the-mega-fish/149

cool video of giant saltwater stingray
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8807235055259100098

UPDATE on the gobi desert creature post

2008-02-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

After some research, It has come to my attention that this creature could be, or may be similar to, the Triops longicaudatus (commonly called longtail tadpole shimp.) The longtail tadpole shrimp is considered a living fossil because its basic morphology has changed little in the last 200 million years.

Triops longicaudatus is among the oldest animal species to still exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notostraca

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllopoda

View the original post here: http://bizarrecreatures.blogspot.com/2007/12/gobi-desert-creature.html

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

2008-02-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Snub-nosed_Monkey

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Rhinopithecus_roxellana/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/346.shtml

Golden Poison Frog

2008-02-13T22:52:00.001-08:00

Golden poison frog is currently considered the most poisonous vertebrate worldwide.

The Golden Poison Frog's alkaloid poison, one of a number of poisons common to dart frogs, prevents nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving the muscles in an inactive state of contraction. This can lead to heart failure or fibrillation . Alkaloid batrachotoxins can be stored by frogs for years after the frog is deprived of a food-based source, and such toxins do not readily deteriorate, even when transferred to another surface. Chickens and dogs have died from contact with a paper towel on which a frog had walked.

The average dose carried will vary between locations, and consequent local diet, but the average wild P. terribilis is generally estimated to contain about one milligram of poison, enough to kill about 10,000 mice. This estimate will vary in turn, but most agree that this dose is enough to kill between 10 and 20 humans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Poison_Frog

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllobates_terribilis.html

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/frogs/vivarium/golden.php

Cantor's turtle

2008-02-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

A 24-pound female Cantor’s giant turtle — known for its rubbery skin and jaws powerful enough to crush bone.

The species can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh more than 110 pounds.

"It has the fastest strike of any animal I've ever seen, including cobras",David Emmett, a CI biologist said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6662589.stm

http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=102340

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/extinct-soft-turtle-reappears-in-khmer-rouge-stronghold-449164.html

Mexican Axolotl

2008-02-05T07:36:00.001-08:00

http://www.axolotl.org/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/axolotl.html

http://www.zoo.wcc.govt.nz/animals/animals/reptiles/axolotl.html

Black Dragonfish

2008-01-29T15:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/iatlan.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/black-dragonfish?cat=technology

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=6970

lungfish

2008-01-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

Lungfish aren't that bizarre. Everyone knows they have the ability to breathe air. What is really bizarre is their estivation. Estivation is is a rare state of dormancy similar to hibernation, but during the months of the summer. Animals that estivate spend a summer inactive and insulated against heat to avoid the potentially harmful effects of the season (such as the increase in temperature or relative lack of water), or to avoid contact with other species with which they may otherwise be in competition, or for which they are prey.The lungfish estivates by burying itself in mud formed at the surface of a dried up lake. In this state, the lungfish can survive for many years.Lungfish can be extremely long-lived. The Queensland species lungfish at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been part of the permanent live collection since 1933.

Glass frogs

2008-01-21T15:16:00.001-08:00

the general background coloration of most glassfrogs is primarily lime green; the ventral skin of some members of this family is transparent. The internal viscera, including the heart, liver and digestive tract can be seen due to the translucency of the ventral skin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrolenidae

http://biodiversitynews.blogspot.com/2006/08/glassfrogs-of-yanayacu.html

http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-children.php?animal=Glass%20Frog

Mimic Octopus

2008-01-16T13:45:00.001-08:00

Not officially discovered until 1998, the Mimic octopus can change its texture, arm positioning, and movement, the mimic octopus is able to imitate around seventeen other animals, including lionfish, sea snakes, flatfish, and brittle stars.
Although all species of octopus have the ability to change the color and texture of their skin, and many species can blend in with the sea floor and look like rocks, the mimic octopus is the first octopus species ever observed to impersonate other animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimic_Octopus

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=260

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/09/0920_octopusmimic.html

Coconut crab

2008-01-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

The coconut crab is the largest land-living arthropod in the world. It is a derived hermit crab and is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its strong pincers in order to eat the contents. It is also called the robber crab or palm thief, because some coconut crabs are rumored to steal shiny items such as pots and silverware from houses and tents.

http://www.coconutcrab.co.uk/

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Birgus_latro/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab

this is NOT a snake!

2008-01-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

The 7-inch (18-centimeter) creature is not a serpent at all, but actually a completely new species of limbless lizard. The lizard is new to science and is an important discovery. It is not found anywhere else in the world but India.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070528-snake-lizard.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18919206/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepsophis_punctatus

Monster Pig

2008-01-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

is this real? find out all about it and the controversies surrounding it by clicking the links below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Pig

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8PBKB5G0&show_article=1&image=large

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3214709

Almiqui

2008-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

A farmer in Holguin province recently discovered an almiqui, a worm-eating, nocturnal creature recently believed to be extinct. The almiqui was last sighted in 1999 and before that in 1977. It's presence in eastern Cuba was first noted by naturalists in the 19th century and since then has been seen only a handful of times. The almiqui was a victim of development - - the deforestation of Cuba - - and the importation of alien species to the largest island in the Caribeann, especially dogs.

http://zaxy.wordpress.com/2006/08/01/extinct-almiqui-found-by-farmer/

http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/comments/almiqui/

http://homepage.mac.com/genedebs1/iblog/B145388589/C1774996060/E869776329/index.html

Granrojo

2008-01-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Granrojo or big red, Tiburonia granrojo, is a recently discovered jellyfish of the family Ulmaridae, the only member of its genus yet identified. It is one of the largest sea jellies and unusual in a number of ways.They grow to between 60 and 90 cm (2 to 3 feet) in diameter and have thick fleshy oral arms in place of the long tentacles found in most jellies.To date, only 23 members of the species have been found and only one, a small specimen (under 15 cm) has been retrieved for further study.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granrojo

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/report-18198.html

http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2003/nr03-matsumoto.html

Phasmatodea

2008-01-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

walking stick insects

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasmatodea

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/walkingstick.html

http://funkman.org/animal/insect/stickinsect.html

Colossal Squid

2008-01-01T09:53:00.001-08:00

The Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), sometimes called the Antarctic or Giant Cranch Squid, is believed to be the largest squid species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Squid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2910849.stm

http://www.tonmo.com/science/public/giantsquidfacts.php

Thaumatichthys axeli

2007-12-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

In the bituminous blackness of the deep sea, what an alluring sight to a fish must be the luminescent organ dangling from the toothy jaws of Thaumatichthys axeli, "Prince Axel's wonder-fish." The first specimen of this black, 18-inch bottom-dweller was trawled from a depth of 11,778 feet in the Atlantic by the Galathea expedition of 1950-52. The voyage's chronicler deemed the find "unquestionably the strangest catch of the Galathea expedition, and altogether one of the oddest creatures in the teeming variety of the fish world."

Sea Pig

2007-12-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

These creatures live on or just underneath the surface of the very bottom of the ocean, on the abyssal plain. Called "sea pigs", they are a type of sea cucumber, which is a member of the same phylum as starfish and sea urchins (Echinoderms). They look and act kind of like slugs do up here on land. They feed on the mud of the sea floor, benefiting from the organic materials that settle to the ocean bottom. Sea cucumbers, starfish and sea urchins can be found in all depths of the ocean. For reasons scientists don't yet understand, members of the phylum Echinodermata (like the sea pigs) are extremely successful down in the ocean depths.

http://www.extremescience.com/deepcreat4.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_pig

http://www.greengoblin.co.uk/blogger/2007/08/sea-pigs.htm

Saki monkey

2007-12-29T15:45:00.001-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saki_monkey

http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-518728/saki

Dracula Fish

2007-12-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelasfieldguides/ExoticsPayaraDraculaFish/DraculaIsAliveandLivingInVenezuela.html

http://www.payara-fishing.com/

Star-nosed mole

2007-12-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

With a mug like that, the star-nosed mole might seem to be in danger of scaring away all its food.� Luckily, these bizarre-looking creatures can detect a snack and gulp it down all under a quarter of a second.

"Most predators take times ranging from minutes to seconds to handle their prey," said Ken Catania of Vanderbilt University. "The only things I've found that come even close are some species of fish."

The secret to the mole's impressive foraging ability is the 22 appendages that ring its nose.� Nearly blind, the animal uses this sensitive, star-shaped flesh to feel around in its dark, underground environment.

This mysterious mole has moves that put the best magician to shame: The energetic burrower can detect small prey animals and gulp them down with a speed that is literally too fast for the human eye to follow.

for more on the star-nosed mole:

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/stories/starnosedmole.html

http://www.livescience.com/imageoftheday/siod_050207.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-nosed_Mole

Myzopoda schliemanni

2007-12-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Scientists have discovered a new species of bat that has large flat adhesive organs, or suckers, attached to its thumbs and hind feet. This is a remarkable find because the new bat belongs to a Family of bats endemic to Madagascar--and one that was previously considered to include only one rare species.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070105151427.htm

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/fm-nsb010407.php

http://www.livescience.com/animals/070105_suckerfooted_bat.html

Giant grenadier

2007-12-22T23:45:00.001-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_grenadier

Racoon Dogs

2007-12-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are native to Japan, southeastern Siberia and Manchuria. Average adult head and body length is about 65 cm (2 ft) and weight ranges from 4 to 10 kg (9 to 22 lb). Average litters consist of 5 pups. Longevity is 3–4 years in the wild and up to 11 years in captivity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon_Dog

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Nyctereutes_procyonoides.html

Giant Otter

2007-12-20T18:32:00.000-08:00

Giant otters may be as long as 2 metres (6 ft.) and weigh up to 30 kilos (70 lbs.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Otter

http://www.iwokrama.org/forest/animals/giantotter.htm

frilled shark

2007-12-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

it was only discovered in Japanese waters in the 19th century. On January 21, 2007 a specimen was found alive off the coast of Japan near the Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, southwest of Toyko. The shark was captured but, being in poor health, died shortly afterwards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_shark

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/photogalleries/frilled-shark/

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/01/rare-video-of-dying-frilled-shark/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK5L3kegYv0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X6GKcLkdRE

YETI CRAB

2007-12-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

The creature, dubbed the "yeti crab," is so unusual that a whole new family of animal had to be created to classify it. Its official name is Kiwa hirsuta, and even after a year of study scientists say there's still much about it they don't understand.

One mystery is the purpose of the fine, hairlike filaments that coat the crab's arms and legs. The fibers trap bacteria, which the crab may use as food. But some scientists think the germs may filter out the toxic minerals that spew from the deep-sea vents.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0309_060309_yeti_crab.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwa_hirsuta

http://www.mbari.org/news/homepage/2006/yeti-crab.html

Fangtooth

2007-12-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

FANGTOOTH

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangtooth

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/acornuta.htm

http://www.seasky.org/monsters/sea7a1p.html

pelican eel

2007-12-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

The pelican eel or Eurypharynx pelecanoides is a deep-sea fish rarely seen by humans, though the creatures are occasionally snagged in fishermen's nets.The pelican eel's most notable feature is its enormous mouth, much larger than its body. The mouth is loosely-hinged, and can be opened wide enough to swallow a fish much larger than itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella_Mouth_Gulper_Eel

http://www.seasky.org/monsters/sea7a1j.html

chimaeras

2007-12-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

This strange cartilaginous fish uses its long snout to scan over the sea floor for the electrical impulses of its prey that bury in the muddy sea floor, just like a metal detector. Like other chimaeras (such as ghost and elephant sharks), these animals lay horny egg cases in which their young are left to develop, potentially for up to one year. For defense, most chimaeras have a venomous spine located in front of the dorsal fin.

http://www.who-sucks.com/animals/real-life-sea-monsters-24-bizarre-creatures-of-the-deep

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimaera

Blobfish

2007-12-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a fish that inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Due to the inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans.

Blobfish are found at depths where the pressure is several dozens of times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders inefficient. To remain buoyant, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. The relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front of it.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/DeepSeaCreatures/2/ENZ-Resources/Standard/2/en

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/9891B6C0-58C8-4446-8FDF-6E60A6959D83/

Tripod fish

2007-12-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Long extensions of three of this deep sea fish's fins allow it to stand on the ocean bottom where it waits for small crustaceans to drift towards it. The three elongated fins of the tripod fish may extend to nearly one meter (3 ft 3 in) in length.

more info on the tripod fish here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripod_fish

http://www.fathom.com/course/10701050/session4.html

400 Year Old Clam Found -- Oldest Animal Ever

2007-12-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine living for four centuries? A team of scientists from Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences believe they have found an animal which did just that, a quahog clam, Arctica islandica, which was living and growing on the seabed in the cold waters off the north coast of Iceland for around 400 years- that is, until they killed it

Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings did they realize how old it had been — between 405 and 410 years old.

http://www.physorg.com/news112870855.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306076,00.html?=rss

Giant Salamander

2007-12-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

The Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) reaches up to 1.44 m (4 ft 9 in), feeds on fish and crustaceans, and can live for up to 80 years. The Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) can reach a length of 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in).

links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_salamander

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTrail/GiantSalamanders/

http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/museum/tring/highlights/detail.dsml?&beginIndex=1&&

Goblin Shark

2007-12-11T18:07:00.001-08:00

more info on the Goblin Shark can be found here:

http://www.greengoblin.com/internal/corner/shark.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070209-goblin-shark.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_shark

Ocean Sunfish

2007-12-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) or common mola is the heaviest bony fish in the world, with an average weight of 1,000 kilograms or about 2,200 lbs. It resembles a fish head without a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. Sunfish can be as tall as they are long, when their dorsal and anal fins are extended. Specimens up to 3.2 m (10.5 ft) in height have been recorded.

more ocean sunfish info here:

http://www.oceansunfish.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_sunfish

King of Herrings

2007-12-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

The rarely seen king of herrings is the world's longest bony fish and has been documented to 41 feet in length, with reports to 50 feet, and 600 pounds. Its head and body is silver with blue streaks, with blackish streaks and spots on the body. The Oarfish (as it is also known as) is a relatively obscure fish that is reported to move vertically through the water in a column and is found between 3,300 feet deep and the surface.

http://members.tripod.com/motomom/Oar_Fish1.jpg

Mekong giant catfish

2007-12-10T15:03:00.000-08:00

Attaining an unconfirmed length of 3m (9+ft), the Mekong giant catfish grows extremely quickly, reaching a mass of 150 to 200kg in only six years. The largest catch recorded in Thailand since record-keeping began in 1981, was a female measuring 2.7 m (roughly 9ft) in length and weighing 293 kg(646 lb). This specimen, caught in 2005, is widely recognized as the largest freshwater fish ever caught.

click out these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong_giant_catfish

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/photogalleries/giantcatfish/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/mekong-giant-catfish.html

Megatherium

2007-12-10T14:53:00.001-08:00

Megatherium ("Great Beast") was a genus of elephant -sized ground sloths that lived from 2 million to 8,000 years ago. It had lengths up to 6m (18ft) and could weight up to 3.8 tons.

more on the Megatherium:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/456.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatherium

Giant Isopod

2007-12-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

Giant Isopod

http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=574

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod

Bigfin Squid

2007-12-09T15:22:00.001-08:00

The bigfin squids are a group of rarely seen cephalopods with a very distinctive morphology.The family is known only from larval, paralarval, and juvenile specimens, but some authorities believe the adult creature has been seen: Several videos have been taken of animals nicknamed the "long-arm squids", which appear to have a similar morphology. Since none of the adult specimens have ever been captured or sampled, it remains uncertain if they are the same genus, or only distant relatives.

more bigfin squid links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfin_squid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1723595.stm

Basking Shark

2007-12-09T15:10:00.001-08:00

The Basking Shark is the second largest fish, after the whale shark. There are reports from Norway of three basking sharks over 12 m (the largest being 13.7 m/45 ft). It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder.

Like other large sharks, basking sharks are at risk of extinction due to a combination of low resilience and overfishing to supply the worldwide market for the shark's fins, flesh and organs.

other links:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingshark.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basking_shark

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=193

Japanese Spider Crab

2007-12-08T14:01:00.001-08:00

The Japanese Spider Crab is the largest living arthropod; fully grown it can reach a leg span of almost 4 m (13 ft), a body size of up to 37 cm(15 inches) and a weight of up to 20 kg (44 pounds). The crab's natural habitat is on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean (some 300–400 m deep) around Japan, where it feeds on dead animals and shellfish. It is believed to have a life expectancy of up to 100 years.

Because it is a particularly old species of crab, it is often referred to as a "living fossil".

for more info on the Japanese Spider Crab click on these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_spider_crab

http://www.vincelewis.net/spider.html

http://suvomitra.smugmug.com/gallery/1424173/4/19652329#19652329

the Giant Moa

2007-12-08T13:42:00.001-08:00

The Giant Moa were among the largest birds that ever lived, standing 3.6m (10 ft) tall and weighing 300 kg. The giant moa, along with other moa species, were wiped out by human colonists who hunted it for food. All taxa in this genus were extinct by 1500 in New Zealand, , although there is actually a nineteenth century report of hunters who claimed to have caught sight of some of these giant birds, but dared not venture to shoot them.

more Giant Moa links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Moa

http://dearkittybackup.blogspot.com/2005/06/new-zealand-how-giant-moa-bird-became.html

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E04E6DA1130E633A25750C1A9669D94689FD7CF

gobi desert creature

2007-12-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

what is this?
is it real?
i really don't know.
i found this and two other pictures of these creatures online last night. it was in a blog about someones travels. he didn't know what they were either. he found them "in a small pond smack in the middle of the Gobi Desert". bizarre.

if you wanna check out his blog go here
click on the link below and the pics/info are about halfway down the page.

http://danzanravjaa.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/index.html

Vampire Squid

2007-12-07T14:53:00.001-08:00

The Vampire Squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. "vampire squid from hell") is a small, deep-sea cirrate cephalopod. The Vampire Squid is an extreme example of a deep-sea cephalopod, thought to reside at aphotic (lightless) depths from 600-900 metres (2,000-3,000 feet) or more. Within this region of the world's oceans is a discrete habitat known as the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). In order to cope with life in the suffocating depths, vampire squid have developed several radical adaptations.

for more info on vampire squids check these websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_squid

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=179

Lonesome George

2007-12-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

The rarest animal in the world today is a giant tortoise which lives in the Galapagos Islands. There is only one Pinta Island tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni). It is a male known by his keepers as Lonesome George. George is estimated to be 60-90 years of age, and is in good health but when he dies the Pinta tortoises will be extinct.

for more on Lonesome George try these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesome_George

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/george.html

Megamouth shark

2007-12-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

The Megamouth shark is an extremely rare and unusual species of deepwater shark. Discovered in 1976, only a few have ever been seen and only three recordings of it are on film.

for more on the megamouth shark check out these links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megamouth_shark

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/Megamouth/megamouth.htm

Coelacanth

2007-12-06T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Coelacanth is 400 million year old "living fossil" was thought to have gone extinct 60 million years ago until one was caught in 1938 30 kilometers SW of East London, South Africa. Then another specimen was identified in Comoros (an island nation in the Indian Ocean) in 1952. In 1997, a different, second species was spotted by a couple in a market in Indonesia, but this Coelacanth was brown not blue like the others. Coelacanths are closely related to lungfish and are said to possibly be a "missing link" of sorts, due to their "proto legs".

for more on the Coelacanth check these sites out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth

http://www.dinofish.com

http://sacoast.uwc.ac.za/education/resources/fishyfacts/coelacanth.htm