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What you see is a myosin protein dragging an endorphin along a filament to the inner part of the brain’s parietal cortex which creates happiness. Happiness. You’re looking at happiness.

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Fuck ya

A snake shedding its skin.

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SPINELESS SUNDAY

-Classification-

Common Name: Common Octopus

Scientific Name: Octopus vulgaris

                                               Kingdom: Animalia

                                                Phylum: Mollusca

                                              Class: Cephalopoda

                                                 Order: Octopoda

                                              Family: Octopodidae

                                                 Genus: Octopus

                                              Species: O. vulgaris

-General Info-

Size: Vary roughly around 12 - 36 inches (30.48 - 91.44 centimeters).

Weight: 6.6 - 22 pounds (2.99 - 9.98 kilograms).

Lifespan (Wild): Averaging 1 - 2 years.

Classification: Octopuses are classified as Invertebrates.

Diet: Octopuses are carnivorous creatures. As predators hunting at dusk, the Octopus feeds on a variety of organisms ranging from other mollusks like bivalves (clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels), gastropods (snails and slugs), and crabs. Common Octopuses camouflage themselves into nearby substrate, rocks, or other surfaces where they can wait for their prey. Once an organism approaches, they Octopus will jump out from hiding and paralyze the inattentive organism with their poison containing a nerve poison. Finally, the Octopus will pull in their victim with their long arms towards their doom. However, there potentially can be an extra step if the prey is shelled. When this occurs, the Octopus will drill a hole into the shell of the creature and then slurp up any contents of food they can from within it.

Group: Octopuses are solitary creatures, therefore they do not have groups.

-Habitat and Lifestyle-

Distribution: The Common Octopus can be found in any ocean across the globe. They can be found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters.

Habitat: They tend to live in coastal areas as well as the upper portion of the continental shelf. Common Octopuses prefer areas no deeper than 656.17 feet (200 meters) while also being shallow and rocky.

Behavior: The Common Octopus is nocturnal. Octopuses have an incredible gift when it comes to their survival and predatory instincts. Camouflage is one of the best attributes that these mollusks possess simply because it can help them hide from a predator or stake out for prey. Besides acting out of aggression, it has been theorized that the Octopuses also use their camouflage ability as a display in order to attract females to mate. Octopuses are also known for their incredible intelligence. Experiments involving mazes and problem solving have shown that the Octopuses may have a memory system in which they can store short-term and long-term memory. For any of you psychologists out there, there have been experiments that show evidence of Common Octopuses taking part in observational learning (the act of learning through observing others behaviors).

Reproduction and Life Cycle: In the early Spring, both male and female Octopuses will travel closer to shore to help raise their chances of finding a mate. During this time, females are often immature. After a male finally wins the heart of a female, he will sit by her or even mount her and insert his hectocotylus (modified arm which holds rows of sperm) into her mantle cavity (central cavity with many functions for mollusks). The relationship between males and females is polygynandrous (two or more males have an exclusive relationship with two or more females). Once the female matures and is able to fend off the galloping males, she will go and find a spot to hide her eggs away from any disturbances. During the roughly 4 - 5 months of egg development, the mother will not eat and will wait beside the eggs cleaning and caring for them. After hatching the last of their embryos, the female will die due to starvation and losing a third of her weight prior to laying the eggs. Males will die as well because they only live just a few months after mating. Once hatched, the paralarvae will feed on zooplankton until they fall to the seabed to begin development.

Number of Eggs Laid: Ranges from 100,000 - 500,000 eggs.

Fun Fact: Young Common Octopuses will increase their weight by 5% each day due to an incredibly effective system which turns their food into body mass.

-Role in the Ecosystem and Endangerment-

Ecosystem Roles: Not a lot is documented regarding how an Octopus affects their ecosystem. But, one can assume they help maintain the population of certain species that they may eat and may also serve as prey for larger organisms like sharks.

Conservation Status: As Common Octopuses are solitary creatures and spread throughout the globe, it makes it hard to determine whether or not they are endangered. However, professionals do not think that they are under any threats as of right now.

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Animal of the Day Schedule:

For those of you interested in my “Animal of the Day” posts like my Green Sea Turtle or the Barn Owl posts, have no fear! I don’t plan on posting each and every day of the week. Instead, I will be posting TWO or THREE days out of each week; I did two last week and am thinking three for this week. Also, for every post that I make, if you have any questions regarding the animals, my sources, or even just questions about me then please feel free to message me, comment on the post, or ask the question on my blog! You can also let me know if there’s a specific animal you’d love for me to do and I will most definitely find a day where it belongs:)

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Spring Red Fox by © LeeAnn McLaneGoetz

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WINGED WEDNESDAY

-Classification-

Common Name: Barn Owl

Aliases: Common Barn Owl, Golden Owl, White Owl

Scientific Name: Tyto alba

                                                  Kingdom: Animalia

                                                  Phylum: Chordata

                                                       Class: Aves

                                                   Order: Strigiformes                                          

                                                    Family: Tytonidae

                                                       Genus: Tyto

                                                      Species: T.alba

                 -General Info-

Size (in length): Adults can reach up to 13 - 15 inches (33 - 39 centimeters).

Weight: Adult Barn Owls can range from 7.9 - 25.0 ounces (224 - 710 grams).

Wingspan: Typical wingspans are 31 - 37 inches (80 - 95 centimeters), with a full range of 27 - 41 inches (68 - 105 centimeters).

Gender Differences: For the most part, males are found to have less spots on their undersides and appear to have paler colors in comparison to the females. During mating, the males have more unsteady and higher pitched screeches whereas the females are lower and sharp. Also, females are slightly larger in size and can weigh up to 1 pound more than the males. Males tend to have white throats whereas females tend to have brown ones.

Lifespan (Wild): On average, Barn Owls live for about 4 years although this can vary by region.

Diet: Studies have shown that when the area of the Owl is moist with mild temperatures, their diet will consist almost entirely of small mammals. However, in an area of hot, dry, and arid climate the diet adapts and this results in a greater variety of a creatures as long as they are somewhat abundant. Owls can and will prey on insects, lizards, bats, and birds. However, the Barn Owl goes against the biggest of bird behaviors and does not eat worms, even when they are overly abundant.

Group: A group of Owls is called a Parliament.

 -Habitat & Lifestyle-

Reproduction: When it comes to relationships and mating, these Owls rely on monogamy (one to one relationship). In most cases, the partners will stay together until they die. Breeding only once every year, these Owls can produce a small handful of broods, usually only one but these numbers vary. At the young age of one, these birds begin to breed. Although they only breed once a year, they can however breed at any given time throughout the year.

Number of Eggs per Nest: The number of eggs can range from 2 - 18 eggs.

Hatch Timing: Roughly 24 - 35 days.

Distribution: Barn Owls are the most far-reaching landbird in the world; occupying every continent except for Antarctica. They are known to be sedentary, meaning they live in the same location for a very long time. Favoring biomes such as grasslands and farmlands; typically they’ll be found at altitudes below 6,600 feet (2,000 meters) but can be found at altitudes as high as 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) in the tropics. Setting up shop in cavities, trees, and buildings (usually barns and things of this nature) is their ideal scenario.

Behavior: Barn Owls take to the skies for their nightly hunts, soaring above their prey. A wide, spacious amount of land is ideal for them as it allows for easier tracking. Oddly enough, the Barn Owls use auditory hints when they hunt more than visual cues, this is because they have extraordinary hearing adaptations which make it easier for them to hunt at night.

-Role in the Ecosystem and Endangerment-

Ecosystem Roles: Across the many lands and skies the Barn Owls occupy, they all vary whether it be by regional differences or evolution. However, they’re roles in their ecosystems are all relatively the same. As hunters, Barn Owls help maintain the rodent and small mammal populations while also providing food for other creatures. They also act as a host for many parasites.

Conservation Status: Barn Owls are not as at risk as other animals when it comes to man-induced harm. They are only considered endangered in the state of Michigan in the United States of America. In most other places they are only slightly decreasing in population due to longer snow exposure and less buildings to nest in due to improved modern architecture.

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TESTUDINE TUESDAY

-Classification-

Common Name: Green Sea Turtle

Aliases: Green Turtle, Black Sea Turtle, Pacific Green Turtle

Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas

                                                   Kingdom: Animalia

                                                    Phylum: Chordata

                                                       Class: Reptilia

                                                     Order: Testudines

                                                  Suborder: Cryptodira

                                                  Clade: Americhelydia

                                                   Family: Cheloniidae

                                                      Genus: Chelonia

                                                     Species: C.mydas

-General Info-

Size: Adults can reach up to 5 feet long (1.5 meters).

Weight: Adults can weigh up to 150 - 419 pounds (68 - 190 kilograms).

Carapace Length (Shell): Adults on average have a shell length between 31 - 44 inches (78 - 112 centimeters).

Gender Differences: Males have a slightly longer tail and are overall larger than females in size. Males also have longer claws on their front flippers. However, both do have paddle-like flippers which aid in their swimming. 

Lifespan (Wild): Green Sea Turtles that reach maturity can live for roughly 80 years.

Diet: Juvenile Green Sea Turtles are initially carnivorous (diet consists mainly or exclusively of meat) eating things like mollusks (snails and clams), sponges, algae, and even fish eggs. As they’re maturing, they’ll incorporate plants into their diet and are considered omnivorous (diet consists of both meats and plants). Once they’re fully-grown adults, most of them are herbivores and have cut out meat in their diets due to their serrated jaw (saw-like) which helps them chew plant life like various sea grasses and algae.

Group: A group of Sea Turtles is called a bale.

                                          -Habitat and Lifestyle-

Life Cycle: Almost everyone knows that Sea Turtles hatch from eggs that are laid on beaches in Southeast Asia, India, western Pacific islands, and Central America. One of the most dangerous events in a Sea Turtle’s life happens as soon as they hatch. As they attempt to flee into the ocean they may be attacked by predators like birds and crabs; a big percentage of hatchlings won’t make it to the water. Juveniles who did make it to the water spend anywhere from 3 - 5 years in the deep ocean. After their years of exploration, the juveniles will find shallow watered areas to call home for the rest of their days. Sadly, estimations say that only about 1% of Sea turtle hatchlings will make it to sexual maturity which occurs after about 20 - 50 years. Finally, once mating occurs the female will breach the ocean’s surface past the high tide line of the beach to lay her eggs. She then returns back to the sea. 

Breeding: Mating occurs every 2 - 4 years.

Gender Deciding Factors: Nests in areas above 30 degrees Celsius tend to favor female hatchlings whereas areas below 30 degrees Celsius tend to favor male hatchlings. Egg positioning also plays a role in whether a hatchling may be male or female. If the egg is more towards the center of the nest then it has a higher chance of resulting in a female hatchling due to the center being warmer.

Number of Eggs per Nest: Each nest will contain about 110 eggs.

Number of Nests per Season: On average, a female Sea Turtle can create 2 - 8 nests in a single season.

Habitats: Generally, Green Sea Turtles stay near island and continental coastlines. Depending on their stage in life, Green Sea Turtles can be found in many different types of environments. Younger juveniles can be found in the open ocean as they spend years swimming around before they settle down. Older juveniles and mature adults will find permanent residence in areas that are more shallow like coral reefs, seagrass beds near shore, and salt marshes. These areas are generally good spots for protecting the turtles. Globally, you can find Sea Turtles in warm tropical waters to subtropical waters. 

                  -Role in the Ecosystem and Endangerment-

Ecosystem Roles: In the varying areas Sea Turtles can be found, they have a strikingly powerful role to play in each. For instance, on the beaches where their eggs lay cracked and empty, key nutrients are given to the ecosystem through the eggshells. For the turtles located in the seagrass beds, they feed on the seagrass and in doing so they improve the health and development of the seagrass; this in turn results in a suitable habitat and place for feeding for various species of fish and crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, barnacles, crayfish, etc). 

Conservation Status: Green Sea Turtles are listed as Endangered whereas some subpopulations in the Mediterranean are listed as Critically Endangered. Some human-caused threats include being hunted, poached, and having their eggs collected. Whereas accidental threats like boats, pollution, habitat destruction, and fishing nets are reducing the population as well. 

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Lynx by Friedhelm Peters

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Let’s Go For A Hike

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Let’s Go For A Hike

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Siberian Tiger by Anne-Marie Kalus

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Beautiful by Nicholas Seddon

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Matterhorn, Switzerland 2014

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