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Post by Himmapaan on Jul 31, 2010 17:45:08 GMT
Someone ought to make a model of a wheelbug. ;D Insect figures are too rare upon the whole.
I'm envious of the creatures so many of you get to see. Here in this grotty part of inner London where I live, the most exotic things one finds are swifts and the occasional kestrel (extremely rare sight, but one landed on my balcony railing once for a few seconds; it made my day entirely ;D).
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Post by Radman on Aug 3, 2010 16:53:18 GMT
Here are some snaps of the juvenile form of the 5-lined skink I showed on the first page of this thread. This is a large one, probably 8 inches in length or more, that will shortly morph into the adult form. He showed up on my patio and I fed him a grasshopper, so he warily posed for me i.e., he didn't totally run away, perhaps still being hungry, and allowing me to get these pix.. Anyone remember the scene from the original b/w King Kong, where the Tyrannosaur appears and lashes its tail in a figure 8 pattern? Well, these skinks do that a LOT, and it really is quite striking, given their coloring. I can't imagine WHY they do this, however, as it is quite eyecatching, and would serve to alert prey or predators of their presence. Since they're juveniles, it's not likely a sexual advertisement either, like the male anole's throat-pouch inflation (note to self: get some pix of that). Anybody? Regardless, here are the pictures: There's the grasshopper.   Full belly. I had to change batteries on the camera so I got no shots of the grasshopper legs sticking out of its throat.   The patterns and coloring on this species are truly amazing! ;D |
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Post by Radman on Aug 4, 2010 12:29:09 GMT
There is a woodrat nesting in my BBQ grill. Turds everywhere. It has a cover, so I guess it's a safe place from rain, predators, etc. even though I use it 2-3 times a week, plus the awful smell of old char. There are two entrance holes for air which are plenty big for a fist-sized rodent, which I assume is how it gets in and out. No pix 4 now, when I pull the grill out it scampers into the bushes. Maybe next time.
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Post by Radman on Aug 4, 2010 20:10:28 GMT
Well, my wife took the kids and left me.  [Dramatic Pause] Unfortunateley Fortunately, she's just visiting her abundant Irish relatives In Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I have to stay here and work on a grant application.  Hey it's a joke. I'm just keeding! |
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Post by Himmapaan on Aug 4, 2010 20:19:04 GMT
Shocking. You're quite overrun by wildlife altogether, clearly.  |
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Post by paleoferroequine on Aug 4, 2010 20:39:42 GMT
Here are some snaps of the juvenile form of the 5-lined skink I showed on the first page of this thread. This is a large one, probably 8 inches in length or more, that will shortly morph into the adult form. He showed up on my patio and I fed him a grasshopper, so he warily posed for me i.e., he didn't totally run away, perhaps still being hungry, and allowing me to get these pix.. Anyone remember the scene from the original b/w King Kong, where the Tyrannosaur appears and lashes its tail in a figure 8 pattern? Well, these skinks do that a LOT, and it really is quite striking, given their coloring. I can't imagine WHY they do this, however, as it is quite eyecatching, and would serve to alert prey or predators of their presence. Since they're juveniles, it's not likely a sexual advertisement either, like the male anole's throat-pouch inflation (note to self: get some pix of that). Anybody? If I were to guess, I would say it's a distraction to a predator and if I'm not mistaken the tails will break off on these, so that movement would increase the odds that the tail would be grabbed. Maybe? |
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Post by Radman on Aug 4, 2010 20:55:19 GMT
Well, it's not all Hams and Plaques, here, unfortunately. I have two dime-sized welts on my leg from chigger bites; I don't know how the resident critters can stand it - the itch is driving me to distraction. |
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Post by Radman on Aug 4, 2010 21:09:16 GMT
Here are some snaps of the juvenile form of the 5-lined skink I showed on the first page of this thread. This is a large one, probably 8 inches in length or more, that will shortly morph into the adult form. He showed up on my patio and I fed him a grasshopper, so he warily posed for me i.e., he didn't totally run away, perhaps still being hungry, and allowing me to get these pix.. Anyone remember the scene from the original b/w King Kong, where the Tyrannosaur appears and lashes its tail in a figure 8 pattern? Well, these skinks do that a LOT, and it really is quite striking, given their coloring. I can't imagine WHY they do this, however, as it is quite eyecatching, and would serve to alert prey or predators of their presence. Since they're juveniles, it's not likely a sexual advertisement either, like the male anole's throat-pouch inflation (note to self: get some pix of that). Anybody? If I were to guess, I would say it's a distraction to a predator and if I'm not mistaken the tails will break off on these, so that movement would increase the odds that the tail would be grabbed. Maybe? Yeah, still it's weird, they do this all the time. Why advertise? It's quite fascinating |
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Post by Himmapaan on Aug 4, 2010 21:28:33 GMT
Perhaps it's an instinctive behavioural 'tick'? Well, it's not all Hams and Plaques, here, unfortunately. I have two dime-sized welts on my leg from chigger bites; I don't know how the resident critters can stand it - the itch is driving me to distraction. Hehe, of course. I meant overrun in the complete sense; with the good and the bad. Where does the expression 'It's not all hams and plaques' come from? |
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Post by paleoferroequine on Aug 4, 2010 22:14:25 GMT
Perhaps it's an instinctive behavioural 'tick'? Well, it's not all Hams and Plaques, here, unfortunately. I have two dime-sized welts on my leg from chigger bites; I don't know how the resident critters can stand it - the itch is driving me to distraction. Hehe, of course. I meant overrun in the complete sense; with the good and the bad. Where does the expression 'It's not all hams and plaques' come from? Not positive, but I think from the "Simpsons". |
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Post by Radman on Aug 5, 2010 0:15:28 GMT
Perhaps it's an instinctive behavioural 'tick'? Hehe, of course. I meant overrun in the complete sense; with the good and the bad. Where does the expression 'It's not all hams and plaques' come from? Not positive, but I think from the "Simpsons". Yes, good Lord, I'll leave it up to some Simpson's nerd to to get the exact quote and episode correct, but it is credit from "The Simpsons" where Homer wins an award for doing nothing special, then gets called out for it later... ;D |
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Post by roselaar on Aug 5, 2010 15:58:17 GMT
Caught a viper with a towel last week. It was the only way I could get it out in the open and take pictures of it. It wasn't harmed of course, and neither was I fortunately.
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Post by Radman on Aug 5, 2010 17:14:18 GMT
Caught a viper with a towel last week. It was the only way I could get it out in the open and take pictures of it. It wasn't harmed of course, and neither was I fortunately. I'd love to see pictures. I guess St .Patrick only banished the serpents from Ireland, not all of the isles? |
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Post by roselaar on Aug 5, 2010 18:54:35 GMT
Caught a viper with a towel last week. It was the only way I could get it out in the open and take pictures of it. It wasn't harmed of course, and neither was I fortunately. I'd love to see pictures. I guess St .Patrick only banished the serpents from Ireland, not all of the isles? I'd love to see them too. I didn't make them myself, I left that part for other people of my group and now I'm waiting for them to upload them. |
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Post by Radman on Aug 5, 2010 21:39:33 GMT
Being as it's now late summer in the Western Hemisphere, I should probably change the name of this thread to something less temporal.... Any suggestions?
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Post by Radman on Aug 6, 2010 3:57:47 GMT
Giant millipede. Narceus americanus  |
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Post by roselaar on Aug 6, 2010 11:23:26 GMT
Here's a nice one for you (no offense!). And yes, that's my hand with Hyla Arborea on it. ;D  |
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Post by Radman on Aug 6, 2010 19:28:16 GMT
Nice photo, roselaar! Cute frog, nasty finger.  Meanwhile , here is Bufo americanus . This particular specimen has a great life (for a toad). Hide in the thick liriope all day, come out at night and feast on all the beetles and moths that literally fall down right in front of you after being dazed by the porch light. 'Course there's that pesky garter snake that comes by now and then... Also, thanks to Hajime for that awesome picture of the snake eating a toad, probably one of this guy's cousins. |
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Post by Radman on Aug 6, 2010 20:40:14 GMT
Augh!
The number of the beast!
Yes, I do love me some Bruce Dickinson.
N.B.: this post was made when the number of page-views reached 666, for those of you that were wondering...
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Post by roselaar on Aug 7, 2010 18:08:39 GMT
And here's the viper I caught, brought out in the open for natural display without harm having come to me or the animal:  Animals are cool. People who hurt them are not... |
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