Former King

In light of Elwood's new title as Ugliest Dog, I'm fielding a request from some of you to show off Sam's mug. This pooch was the title holder for several years. Alas, just as his fame was sweeping the world, he up and expired (R.I.P.).

Thankfully, as I have tried to demonstrate for 18 months now, there is no shortage of ugly in this world. If anything it grows with each passing day.

Photo soure: ILX

Fatal Flaw

Connie sent me a link to this article on Elwood, the newly crowned winner of the ugly dog contest in Petaluma, CA. I can't get enough of this Chinese crested / chihuahua mix. What's amazing is that the dog's breeder was going to euthanize him because he was too ugly. But Quigley, his proud owner, rescued him and has turned his once fatal flaw into fame. He even raked in a cool $1K for winning the coveted prize.

Thanks for the link, Connie. And thanks for your quick action, Quigley. The world has a bit more character because of you.

Photo source: Associated Press

Can't Ask for a Better Shot

I could stare at this photo for hours. This is one of my favorite birds. Check out this marabou stork's hair, beak, neck, and eyes. You couldn't ask for a better shot than this.

This particular bird abides in Duisburg, Germany -- far from its home in Africa. But I assume that its German keepers are doing a fine job of supplying it with carrion and other delectables.

I think it's high time that the creative minds over at Disney storyboard their next animated movie around a marabou stork hero. The story can revolve around the bird's unwillingness to stick his head inside a zebra corpse. That would draw kids to the box office like flies to...well, to carrion.

Thanks for letting me use your photo, Hennie. You've truly captured the beauty of this animal.

Photo source: Hennie van Heerden

Equinophilia

I love horses. I consider myself an equinophile. This photo has done two things for me: 1) it has further endeared horses to me, and 2) it has made me give up my dreams of becoming a dentist. Pretty much a net wash in my book.

Photo courtesy: Lance Leopold

What Do I Do?

No, that's not a coaster or an ash tray. You're looking at discophus guinetti. I've done some poking around, and I can't find out much on this species. Most of the websites that discuss this frog are in French, and Google's recommending that I go with dyscophus guinetti. What do I do? All I know is that this guy looks like something I would have made for my mom in ceramics class in middle school.

Thanks for the link, Rasmus

UPDATE: It looks like most of you agree that this is a tomato frog or false tomato frog. Thanks all.

Photo from: Batraciens.net

Contagious Yawning

I know yawning is a contagious activity, but this doesn't trigger anything in me except my fight-or-flight instinct.

Does anyone know what kind of monkey this is? His stylish hair and fangs should be a clue.

Photo source: Steve Evans

As You Requested

Photo source: Matt Reinbold
Lux recommended that I do a post on fluorescing scorpions. Being the dutiful blogger that I am, I scoured Flickr in search of some choice images. And I dug up some gems (with the gracious permission of the masterful photographer, Matt).

Check out these beauties. The upper scorpion is known as -- wait for it -- the Egyptian Death Stalker (leiurus quinquestriatus). It's got the most potent venom of any scorpion around. The second photo is of a pair of Arizon bark scorpions (centruroides sculpturatus). Enjoy -- and be grateful that we don't walk around in a world illuminated by only blacklights.

This last shot proves that even surly scorpions need a little bit of cuddlin'.

Photo source: Matt Reinbold

So Much Ahead of You

I assume this baby black vulture (that's 'buzzard' to most of us) is a bit tuffty and downy because it's a youngin'?

Oh, little vulture, you have so much ahead of you. No doubt mommy brought you tasty morsels of road kill and her own vomit. But soon you'll be wafting along the hot pockets of the sky in search of your own supply bloated corpses and erstwhile critters. Fly, little carrion-eater, fly.

Photo source: Vincent van Dam