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Weird Natural History
PHOTO:
These captive bred normally patterned and hypomelanistic baby Kanyan sand boas will grow to less than 3 feet long, hardly anyone's idea of a "boa" or giant constrictor.
"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous."
----Aristotle
Visit here for the latest updates on weird natural history facts. Updated weekly (hopefully on Saturdays). QUESTIONS ON WEIRD NATURAL HISTORY ARE WELCOMED. SEE MY E-MAIL (radiata_5@fuse.net).
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Don't forget to check the "Gallery" for several pages of past photos and the "Facts Archive" for all the past facts (see "Facts Archive" link at bottom of page) since fall of 2007.
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December 15, 2011: The average person when thinking of a "boa" or "python" will think of a very large constrictor, or possibly even the boa constrictor, a medium sized snake growing to between 7 and 11 feet, with a record possibly near 18 feet long. However, there are numerous boas and pythons that are small and inoffensive, growing to 3 feet ot less. The rosy and rubber boas of our own western states are included here, as well as the Calabar ground python of Africa which defends itself by rolling into a ball so tight that it can be rolled on the ground. The sand boas are tiny chunky snakes of Africa and Europe, some barely reaching 2 feet long. The Solomon Island boas are in the 3-5 foot range and the Australian Children's python is a about 3 feet. The 3-5 foot African Ball python is featured in the book "Best Reptile Pets" by Jerry Walls as a good snake pet, second only to the corn snake. Certainly we need to learn a bit about a snake species before making a blanket decision on its habits or any alleged dangers associated with its presence.
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October 2, 2011: The toothpick fish, Indostomus species, is a 0.5 to 1 inch slow moving SE Asian fish that resembles a cross between a pipefish and a stickleback and is related to the latter. It feeds on small crustaceans and other zooplankton and lays up to 60 teardrop shaped green eggs which are attached to the inside of a cave by their pointy ends.
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June 21, 2011: The mudskippers are a group of fishes which spend most of their time on land in mangrove swamps. Much of their respiration takes place through their skins, although gill chambers and mouths are also used. The gills are used mostly to excrete ammonia. Some species are active predators on terrestrial insects, while others graze sand or mud for algae and small invertebrates. Mudskippers may see better above water than below and can hear airborne sounds. There are thought to be at least 40 species. They breed in burrows.
Info from "Brackish-Water Fishes" by Neale Monks, Editor and "Mudskippers: An Introduction for Aquarists" by Gianluca Polgar at www.wetwebmedia.com.
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November 18, 2010: Over the years, classification of North American ratsnakes has changed, as researchers have unearthed valid previous names and acquired range information on various subspecies. At one time, the Everglades ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni) found from Lake Okeechobee to near Miami Florida was chacterized by dark longitudinal lines against a reddish orange body, and a red tongue, orange eyes, and orange throat. Gradually habitat change has allowed other color varieties of E. obsoleta to interbreed with rossalleni, introducing the black tongue, yellow body, and white throat of the yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata). Even the yellow ratsnake itself is now known as Scotophis alleghaniensis, just a color phase of the eastern ratsnake, according to a recent publication of the Center for North American Herpetology.
Info from "In Search of Reptiles and Amphibians" by R.D. Bartlett and "Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians(Sixth Edition)"by the CNAH.
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August 19, 2010: The African and Malagasy dwarf leaf chameleons of the genera Rampholeon and Brookesia are tiny, often leaf litter dwelling members of the true chameleon group with very little ability to change color. Ironically, the false chameleons of the New World, genus Anolis, are much better color changers. More Rampholeon info at www.chameleonnews.com.
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July 9, 2010: Gordon Hempton, an acoustical ecologist, established a spot called "one square inch of silence" in the Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park a little over 5 years ago. He hopes to eventually preserve this spot, currently one of the quietest in the whole U.S., from manmade noise (in most parts of the U.S.-even national parks- a quiet period of even 15 minutes is rare). Info from the website onesquareinch.org and the book "One Square Inch of Silence" by Gordon Hempton.
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June 16, 2010: Nature is often used as an inspiration or model for human invention. Study of the reflective blue color of a morpho butterfly's top wing surfaces by MIT engineers has resulted in a nrew generation of low energy computer display screens. (Info from "Connect," the AZA magazine from April 2010).
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March 26, 2010: The discus fish (genus Symphysodon) is sometimes called the "king of aquarium fishes." It has a flat round body with a diameter as great as 8 inches. Wild discus tend to be colored in brown, green, blue, and/or red. They live in flooded forests with low pH and dissolved solids in Brazil and neighboring countries. An adult discus can easily bring over $100 in an aquarium shop. The newly hatched babies feed off the slime on the parents' sides for about 2 weeks before graduating to small crustaceans. (Info from personal observation and "Discus: A Reference Book" by Bernd Degen.)
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January 6, 2010: It has been suggested that there are as many as 21 different species and subspecies of giant tortoise that have historically inhabited the Galapagos and the islands of the Indian Ocean. Unlike much nartural history folklore, rumors of long lifespans (up to 200 years or more) seem to be true in the case of these ancient looking creatures. The remaining forms have survived capture for food, habitat change, and the introduction of domestic animals. The Aldabra tortoise lives on an island that is only a few meters above sea level, making predicted rising sea levels a newer threat.
Info from "The Sheltered Life" by Paul Chambers.
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October 29, 2009: Many snakes use intimidation in self defense, including puffing up the body, gaping, hood spreading, rattling, hissing, and vent popping. In the case of venomous snakes, this can be thought of as warning rather than just intimidation.
"A large part of the forms and colors that we find beautiful, including the blue sky, the green earth, and the plants that adorn it...would be just what they are if no eyes had ever beheld them.....To these we shall give only passing attention, while we concentrate on the beauty that never would have arisen in the absence of animals with vision." Quote from "Origins of Nature's Beauty" by Alexander F. Skutch.
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October 21, 2009: Some similar appearing groups of tropical butterflies mimick each other for defense. These include palatable "Batesian mimics" and poisonous "Mullerian mimics."
"A large part of the forms and colors that we find beautiful, including the blue sky, the green earth, and the plants that adorn it...would be just what they are if no eyes had ever beheld them.....To these we shall give only passing attention, while we concentrate on the beauty that never would have arisen in the absence of animals with vision." Quote from "Origins of Nature's Beauty" by Alexander F. Skutch.
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Sept. 14, 2009: "The vicinity of Cincinnati, in the Ohio River Valley of southwestern Ohio, including adjacent northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana, is among the most fossil-rich regions in North America, if not the entire world..........Cincinnatian fossils are displayed in museums all over the world."
Quote from "A Sea without Fish" by Meyer and Davis.
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