dougdimmadodo

[dougdimmadodo]

A Shelled Amoeba (Arcella vulgaris)

Family: Arcella Family (Arcellidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

The otherwise soft, squishy single-celled body of this common amoeba is enclosed in a concave brownish-yellow hemispherical shell known as a test, which is made up of chiton (the same material that forms the exoskeletons of insects) and protects it from both predators and adverse environmental conditions. Found in stagnant freshwater and damp soil throughout much of the world, a single hole in the shells of members of this species allows them to extend long, flexible "false feet" known as pseudopods out into their environment, which they use both to catch and ingest food (mainly algae and other smaller motile protists) and to drag themselves along surfaces, although when in water they are also capable of floating along by filling a bladder-like vacuole in their main cell body with gas. Like almost all single-celled organisms Arcella vulgaris reproduces asexually through binary fission (with a single adult cell dividing in two to produce "daughters". "Newborn" members of this species may initially lack shells, and if the shells of adults are too badly damaged they have been found to be capable of crawling out and surviving without protection for short periods as they grow a new one.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

Already included above, but a very cool little shell study: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Rufous-Tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda)

Family: Jacamar Family (Galbulidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Though somewhere between hummingbirds and kingfishers in appearance, jacamars like the Rufous-Tailed Jacamar are believed to be cousins of woodpeckers and have historically been placed alongside them in the order Piciformes, although more recent genetic evidence suggests that alongside their close relatives the puffbirds they may actually be distinct enough to warrant being reclassified as part of entirely new order, the Galbuliformes. Found mainly in forests and well-vegetated shrublands across northern South America and southern Central America, Rufous-Tailed Jacamars, like most members of their family, are agile insect-eaters that use their extremely long, narrow bills to catch small insects such as butterflies and wasps straight out of the air.

-----------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Dear friends ❤️🇵🇸

Thank you very much from my heart for your donation and support 🙏🏼

I want to say that I only have 700$ left to reach my short-term goal of 8000$. Please help me reach my goal today 🙏🏼😔. I ask those who can donate to donate so I can reach my short goal today Thank you very much ❤️🇵🇸🇵🇸

https://gofund.me/59e9578a

Donation Link Here:

[dougdimmadodo]

Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii)

Family: True Seal Family (Phocidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Distinguished from other Antarctic seals by its small size, large eyes and short muzzle, not much is known about the Ross Seal; while the closely related Weddell, Crabeater and Leopard Seals are relatively commonly sighted along Antarctica's coasts Ross Seals seem to be naturally rare and are exclusively found on or around pack ice (large, drifting masses of sea ice that are not connected to solid ground,) making observing them in the wild difficult. What is known is that members of this species feed mainly on soft-bodied fish and squids and likely breed in early December but are able to delay the development of their embryos until the early Antarctic winter (around March) in order to give birth in November when pack ice is most abundant; during and shortly after the pupping season females seem to rarely leave the safety of the ice, and as their young pups are unable to swim they rely heavily on the ice for safety during their early development. Even when not seen the presence of Ross Seals in an area may be determined by their elaborate and somewhat eerie calls, which are often produced underwater and are presumably used to locate mates and establish territories.

------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Family: Duck Family (Anatidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

This small, rotund species of duck is most often seen in oceans off the coast of eastern Eurasia and western North America (with smaller populations off North America's eastern coast,) but migrates inland during around April to breed and nest near cold, fast-moving rivers and streams. Pockets of air trapped in a Harlequin Duck's feathers provide insulation and make it extremely buoyant even by the standards of other ducks, allowing it to safely float on the surface of choppy water and quickly re-surface after diving for prey (feeding mostly on crustaceans and molluscs while at sea but taking aquatic insects as prey when in freshwater.) Like many waterfowl adults of this species are loosely monogamous and re-unite every year to mate, although its not uncommon for one or both partners to also seek out other mates after pairing and even "divorce" their partner upon finding a preferred mate. Female Harlequin Ducks (which are a dusty brown colour) build their nests along the banks of the fast-flowing streams they favour and typically incubate their eggs and raise their chicks alone, but on occasion the more flashily coloured males may also contribute to the early care of their young.

----------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

URGENT HELP🚨🚨🚨🍉🇵🇸

Hello,

How do you do ? I hop to be in a good condition.

This is my special campaign

We hope to help us by donating or sharing to others.

Every donation makes a different even if it a small.

As you know, the war began on October 7 and lasted ten months. During this period, we were unable to obtain food, drink, or treatment because we did not have money.

There is no source of income for the family at the present time, so we are unable to buy food, clean water, and medicine, especially after we are afflicted with the ongoing infectious diseases spread in the north like Hepatitis C disease.

Our house has been damaged a lot since the beginning of the war. We are from the north of Gaza and we are still in the north and have not displaced to the south. We displaced 10 times from place to another seeking to safety .

We hope for your help and support, even if only a little.🙏🙏

Vetted by Femme intifada on telegram.

Also, vetted by gazavetters on tumbler and my number is #60

My campaign was recently vetted by butterfly effect group on Instagram and my number is #964

This is the link if you would to read our story well 👇👇

https://gofund.me/4e896ac1

Thank you all

Fundraiser Link:

[dougdimmadodo]

Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)

Family: Cladonia Lichen Family (Cladoniaceae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Like all lichens each “individual” reindeer lichen is actually a colonial organism formed from members of at least two separate species; the main body of the lichen, the mycobiont, is a tough branching fungus that gives the lichen shape and stability, while the lichen’s greenish-blue colour come from colonies of one or more species of algae or bacteria which live on the mycobiont and produce nutrients through photosynthesis, transferring some of these nutrients to the fungus to sustain the whole colony. Found mainly on the ground in open habitats in and around the arctic circle, Reindeer Lichens are slow-growing but extremely hardy and able to remain active in much colder and darker conditions than many plants with which they coexist. This element of their biology makes them extremely ecologically important; many Arctic herbivores rely heavily or even exclusively on members of this species for food during the winter when many plants are dormant, and certain birds and small mammals may also use their branches to build or line their nests.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Common Atlantic Ribbon Worm (Tubulanus polymorphus)

Family: Tubulanus Family (Tubulanidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Like other ribbon worms, this brightly coloured marine worm has a relatively long but extremely thin unsegmented body, and is an active predator; after locating prey using a set of chemical-sensing pits on its head it extends a sticky, flexible, tube-like appendage known as a proboscis (although unlike the proboscises of some insects this structure is separate from their digestive system) from just above it mouth, ensnaring prey and injecting it with paralysing venom. After prey (mainly smaller marine invertebrates, especially other worms) has been subdued the proboscis either passes it into a simple mouth or, if its too large to be swallowed whole, secretes fluids that break food down externally to accommodate for the worm's lack of an ability to chew.

--------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Sweetsop (Annona squamosa)

Family: Sweetsop Family (Annonaceae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Growing as a large bush or small tree, the Sweetsop is native to tropical regions of Central and South America but is now grown in warm, humid regions worldwide for its large, scaly-looking fruits. Sweetsop fruits (also known as Sugar Apples) are sweet, aromatic and nutritious, and their flesh is said to resemble custard in both texture and taste. A closely related species, the Soursop (Annona muricata) produces similar-looking fruits, though as the name suggests while still considered pleasant-tasting by many the flesh of the latter is considerably more sour.

--------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #30 - Ghost Flower (Mohavea confertiflora)

Family: Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Native to the Mojave and Sonoran desert regions, the pale white flowers of this odd plant rely on small bees (especially sweat bees of the genus Xeralictus) but don't produce any nectar in order to attract their pollinators. Instead, they rely on two different forms forms of deceptive mimicry to get their attention; the overall shape and colour of the flowers are similar to those of the nectar-producing Sand Blazingstar (Mentzelia involucrata) with which it shares most of its range, and the spotted patterns on the inner surface of the petals are thought to mimic the markings on the abdomens of female Xeralictus bees in order to trick male bees into approaching them. Nectar production requires plants to use of some of their internal stores of sugar and water, so by relying on mimicry instead of nectar to attract its pollinators Ghost Flowers are able to spread their pollen and reproduce without wasting these nutrients.

------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

<- Previous (Tarantula Wolf Spider) l

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #29 - Tarantula Wolf Spider (Lycosa tarantula)

Family: Wolf Spider Family (Lycosidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Before the name "tarantula" became associated with the family of large, hairy spiders we know as tarantulas today it referred to this similar-looking but only distantly related southern European species, which is itself named after the town of Taranto, Italy, near which it is fairly common. Not unlike many true tarantulas Tarantula Wolf Spiders are solitary, nocturnal, ground-dwelling predators that spend the day sheltered in burrows and emerge at night to hunt, but unlike tarantulas and like other wolf spiders members of this species do not rely on ambushing or webbing to subdue prey and instead actively chase down smaller invertebrates. After constructing a burrow female Tarantula Wolf Spiders will often remain in the area around it for the rest of their lives, but males are nomadic and travel in search of females; after mating females carry their eggs in a silk sac on their abdomen, and continue to carry and protect their young for a short period after they have hatched.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

<- Previous (Horned Land Frog) l Next (Ghost Flower) ->

[dougdimmadodo]

Dear Supporter,

I hope this message finds you and your family in good health. My name is Eman Zaqout from Gaza. I am reaching you out to seek your urgent help in spreading the word about our fundraiser. I lost both my home and my job due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and we are facing catastrophic living conditions. 💔

I kindly ask you to visit my campaign. Your support, whether through donating or sharing, will help us reach more people who can make a difference. Thank you for your continued support for the Palestinian cause. Your dedication brings us closer to freedom. 🙏🕊

Note: Verified by several people as 90-ghost and aces-and-angels. ☑

Fundraiser Here:

[dougdimmadodo]

Emergency📢📣🚨

Help me and my family evacuate from Gaza 🍉🇵🇸How are you my🍉🍉 dear, I hope you are well, I am Hani Hamid from 😪😭Gaza, Palestine, I am talking to you with a sad heart about what happened to us, please read my story in the link on my personal page, if you are able to donate, this would be kind of you and I hope you share the link on your social media sitesIf you please , thank you 🙏🌹https://gofund.me/37d18e4dEmergency📢📣🚨

Help me and my family evacuate from Gaza 🍉🇵🇸

Fundraiser Here:

[dougdimmadodo]

‏Hello, can you please reblog or publish a post for my campaign? Due to the weakness of donations, they pass slowly as ice. I hope you can help me. A small amount like $10 will be more than useful to help me and my family. Thank you for everything💔🙏

‏Vetted Gaza Evacuation Fundrais‼️💔🍉🍉🍉

Farah is #310 on the Vetted Fundraisers List‼️

‏Right now, donated money is being used to help us survive this war. Food is very expensive and my family has to pay rent for the land that our tent is on. However, I want to save up enough money to evacuate my family to a safer place where we can rebuild our lives. I dream of returning to university to finish my computer science degree. I want to provide a better life for my family than is possible in Gaza. My family and I have many dreams we would like to fulfill after this war. We are grateful to everyone who donated and helps us during this time of suffering. Thank you for reading

‏https://gofund.me/73d4b003

Fundraiser Here:

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #28 - Horned Land Frog (Sphenophryne cornuta)

Family: Narrowmouth Frog Family (Microhylidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

As its name suggests the Horned Land Frog differs from almost all other amphibians in that it doesn't require a water source to breed; females of this species lay their eggs among damp leaf litter, and following external fertilization a male will guard the eggs until they hatch. Instead of beginning life as aquatic tadpoles young Horned Land Frogs hatch as tiny but otherwise fully-developed frogs complete with functional limbs and lungs, and for a short period following their hatching they will continue to be protected by their father (often riding on his back until they're large enough to fend for themselves.) Endemic to the island of New Guinea, Horned Land Frogs primarily inhabit rainforests (although they may also be found in other forest habitats and occasionally in urban areas) and are mainly active at night, spending the day sheltering beneath logs and rocks or buried under leaf litter.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

<-Previous (Royal Penguin)

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #27 - Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli)

Family: Penguin Family (Spheniscidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Named for their striking yellow crests which resemble crowns, Royal Penguins (not to be mistaken for the much larger Emperor Penguin or King Penguin) are found primarily on Macquarie Island (a small, largely rocky island between southern Aotearoa/New Zealand and northern Antarctica,) although they are also occasionally spotted on other neighbouring islands. Like most penguins Royal Penguins typically roost and nest in large, noisy colonies on rocky, well-vegetated beaches and leave the shore periodically to hunt for small fish, crustaceans and squids; members of this species rarely travel far from their colony when searching for prey, and as such several neighbouring colonies may coexist with limited competition for resources. Royal Penguins were historically extensively hunted for their blubber which was used to produce oil, but following the banning of penguin hunting on Macquarie in the late 1910's their populations have slowly recovered and are now believed to be stable.

----------------------------------------------------

<-Previous (Archimylacris) I Next (Horned Ground Frog) ->

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #26 - Archimylacris (Archimylacris spp.)

Family: Archimylacris Family (Archimylacridae)

Time Period: 315-299 Million Years Ago (Carboniferous)

Based on the overall anatomy of their exoskeletons and wings found as well-preserved fossils the members of the genus Archimylacris were most likely relatives of modern cockroaches, termites and mantises, and may have actually been early true cockroaches. The larger members of this genus could grow to be up to 9cm/3.5 inches in length (comparable in size to Megaloblatta longipennis, the largest living modern cockroach,) although most known remains likely came from individuals that were no longer than 3cm/1.9 inches. Besides their relatively large size Archimylacris species are remarkably anatomically similar to their modern relatives, with the exception of a long ovipositor (egg-laying extension of the abdomen) that is also seen in related "proto-cockroach" species and allows the fossilised remains of female individuals to be easily distinguished from those of males.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: Here

<-Previous (Pinnularia) I Next (Royal Penguin) ->