erosboros:

Deer with Magpies (by paulafrenchp)

(via gentlemandeerlord)

plussokka:

lo

astronomy-to-zoology:

 Mata-Mata  (Chelus fimbriata)

is a freshwater turtle that is found in south america, primarily in the Amazon and other prominent rivers. also it is the sole species in it’s genus Chelus. this is probably do to it’s head which is fairly large, flattened and triangular and a horn on it’s snout accompanied with three barbels on it’s chin giving it the allusion of rotting leaves. size wise it can get up to 18in in full adulthood and weighs in at 33lb. they inhabit slow moving bodies of water such as stagnant pools and marshes. this allows for it’s hunting tactics to work it’s shell resembles fallen bark and it’s odd head looks like leaves, it lays motionless until potential prey goes by it then thrusts out its head and opens its large mouth as wide as it can creating a low pressure vacuum that draws the prey into its mouth where the prey is swallowed whole as the mata mata cannot chew due to its special mouth.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Chordata-Reptilia-Testudines-Pleurodira-Chelidae-Chelidinae-Chelus

(via cranki-chan)

elfhands:

odditiesoflife:

Devil’s Bridge

Kromlauer Park is a gothic style, 200-acre country park in the municipality of Kromlau in the Görlitz Gablenzgasse district in Germany. An incredible attraction of the park is the Rakotzbrücke, more popularly known as Devil’s Bridge.

The impressive arch bridge was built around 1860. During its construction, other peculiar rock formations were built on the lake and in the park. Devil’s Bridge is no longer open to the public to ensure its preservation. A unique feature of the bridge is that its reflection on the water’s surface creates a flawless circle, regardless of which side is being viewed.

i usually put this kind of thing on my reference blog but this makes me so happy so it’s going on the main

neil-gaiman:

odditiesoflife:

Mount Roraima

The incredible top of Mount Roraima, the 1.8 million year old sandstone plateau. It is also called Roraima Tepui or Cerro Roraima. The geological marvel is one of the oldest formations on Earth, a natural border between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana in South America. The mountain is part of Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Angel Falls is also part of this beautiful park. Roraima’s highest point is Maverick Rock at 2,810 meters (9,219 feet). For nature and landscape lovers, Mount Roraima is said to have some of the most fascinating hiking trails in the world.

Why are there no dinosaurs on this plateau? Have they read no fiction at all?

(via iheartar)

climateadaptation:

A puffer fish made this for his nice lady friend. A diver in Japan filmed this never before seen hatchery/nest. It measures about 6.5 feet across and consists of a circle with geometric spokes in the shape of ridges, sort of like the spokes on a wheel. 

Underwater cameras showed that the artist was a small puffer fish who, using only his flapping fin, tirelessly worked day and night to carve the circular ridges. The unlikely artist – best known in Japan as a delicacy, albeit a potentially poisonous one – even takes small shells, cracks them, and lines the inner grooves of his sculpture as if decorating his piece. Further observation revealed that this “mysterious circle” was not just there to make the ocean floor look pretty. Attracted by the grooves and ridges, female puffer fish would find their way along the dark seabed to the male puffer fish where they would mate and lay eggs in the center of the circle. In fact, the scientists observed that the more ridges the circle contained, the more likely it was that the female would mate with the male. The little sea shells weren’t just in vain either. The observers believe that they serve as vital nutrients to the eggs as they hatch, and to the newborns.

More pictures and full story at Spoon & Tamago.

Update: Click to see how climate change affects puffer fish.

(via susfishcious)

=JAMills

(Source: valentineclementine, via overachievious)

(Source: flaxbow, via kultasieppo)

the-star-stuff:

Translucent Creature Photos

1. Juvenile Cowfish. Photograph by Chris Newbert, Minden Pictures

2. Pelagic Octopus. Photograph by Chris Newbert, Minden Pictures

3. Sea Butterfly Snail. Photograph by Ingo Arndt, Minden Pictures

4. Hydromedusa in Antarctica.Photograph by Ingo Arndt, Minden Pictures

5. Jelly Larva. Photograph by Ingo Arndt, Minden Pictures

6. Larval Shrimp and Jellyfish. Photograph by Chris Newbert, Minden Pictures

7. Jellyfish, Antarctica. Photograph by Ingo Arndt, Minden Pictures

(via susfishcious)

taktophoto:

Libyan Desert Bashar Shglila

(via overachievious)

odditiesoflife:

Long Term Exposure of Mating Gold Fireflies

Japanese photographer Yuki Karo goes to various places around Maniwa and Okayama Prefectures in Japan and uses long exposure to capture some stunning shots of mating gold fireflies.

(via quasarden)