Not in the Wild, Thanks

I would love to see a tremoctopus in the wild. Of course, if I saw one floating over head I would assume it was some sort of netherworld creature come to claim my soul.

Or, if I had my head on straight, I would know that she had deployed her webbing to defend herself against a predator. Maybe a shark. Maybe I don't want to see one in the wild.

Photo source: UWPRESS.com
















Photo source: UWPRESS.com

Ugly & Equilibrium

Callandrea, no doubt having grown weary of my centipede posts, decided to take matters into her own hands by taking this photo of a donkey at the zoo. Thank you, Callandrea. You have successfully diluted the centipede post concetration on this blog.

Unfortunately, you have also increased the concentration of equines-with-grass-in-their-teeth posts. See? The universe always strives for equilibrium. Laws of thermonuclear dynamics and stuff, I think.

A Touching Monkey Moment

I've been very hard on baboons. So, when I came across this fantastic photo, I thought I might post it as a means of reconciliation. I won't comment on the mother's nose or the close-set eyes, or the fact that baboons in general are obnoxious. I'll just leave these two to their slumber.

Thanks for the photo, Lance.

Photo courtesy: Lance Leopold

Ugly Encounters

Silena emailed me to highlight some of the differences (such as weight and neck length) between the alligator snapping turtle and the common snapping turtle. And she should know - check out this beast she encountered near her house a couple of years back.

The turtle had come up to lay eggs and got tired enough in the process to rest by the roadside and let Silena take some photos.

Now I'm wondering where that egg nest is. I could use a few guard snapping turtles around my yard to keep bandits away.

Bonus Post - Meet Bugsy

In an eerie bit of synchronicity, Meg saw my hornbill post and forwarded to me a link of some art she had done recently featuring a hornbill.

Everybody say hello to Bugsy. Meg's really captured the essence of the hornbill, hasn't she?

Thanks for the art, Meg. You've got some talent!

Devil Bird

David encountered this evil pelican in Jacksonville, Florida, on a pier off of Neptune Beach. He was being chased by Satan's bird whenever he tried to walk by.

Be careful, David. We already know that pelicans have recently turned to eating other birds - who knows if humans are next? I don't want one of my readers to be the unlucky one to find out.

Thanks for the photo, David.

Another Punk African Animal

Andrea sent me this Fox News article, about a killer African frog that is wreaking havoc in a Golden Gate Park pond in San Francisco. City officials have been combating the frogs since 2003, but the amphibians continue to eat their way through turtles and fish, and have even turned to eating each other.

Couple of points here: 1) Why is everything from Africa scarier and nastier than their North American or European counterparts? 2) This reminds me of one of my favorite Simpson's episodes, in which the Springfield authorities are trying to rid themselves of the Bolivian Tree Lizard. San Francisco will most likely have to import silverback gorillas to eradicate the frog, if the episode is properly played out. Then the bitter San Francisco winters will kill off the gorillas ... oh, wait ...

Thanks for the article, Andrea.

Fond Memories

Paul sent in this photo of a crawdad (crayfish to you hoity-toity types), and it brought back many fond childhood memories. I can't count the number of summer days I spent in the creek by my house, catching these, getting pinched by them, and then setting them loose again.

This photo, sickeningly enough, also made me salivate. I've eaten my share of them, and they are tasty - provided you catch them from clean enough water.

BTW, if you ever get the urge to scuba dive in the American River in Sacramento, like I have, don't bother. You'll be greeted by nothing more than aluminum cans and rank upon rank of crawdads. But then, if you're planning a Cajun meal...

Thanks for the photo, Paul.