Category: Animal Kingdom

Rare Lizard with Dinosaur Ties

Baby Tuatara

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A hatchling of a rare reptile with lineage dating back to the dinosaur age has been found in the wild on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in about 200 years, a wildlife official said Thursday.

The baby tuatara was discovered by staff during routine maintenance work at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in the capital, Wellington, conservation manager Raewyn Empson said.

“We are all absolutely thrilled with this discovery,” Empson said. “It means we have successfully re-established a breeding population back on the mainland, which is a massive breakthrough for New Zealand conservation.”

Transparent Fish Head

Holy crap – that is some crazy stuff right there!  Can you believe your eyes?  This fish, known as Barrel Eyes was thought to have tunnel vision, as it seemed that the eyes were pointing directly forward and didn’t seem to move.  Wait up a second… 90 years ago this awesome Macropinna microstoma was studied, but now, we know something more.

His eyes are actually right there infront of you – see them, the glowing green orbs in his transparent dome!  Watch this short video to hear more about it!

Here are a few really nice shots too.  It is just astonishing to see how this world encourages adaptation.

Santa, can you bring me a Horny Toad?

I guess the US won’t let me import this from Australia. Something about their diet. This decision makes me sad. The Horny Toad (aka Thorny Devil) is the only lizard of it genus, which I would guess is a lonely way to live. Talk about the sound of inevitability. Anyways, I think the US should let me have one. I think they should also give me the proper cage to make it impossible for the ants (300-600 a day, one at a time, 45 per minute) to ever get out.

Take a look at this guy, he is super sick!

Horny Toad

Thorny Devil

I think I should move to Australia.

Kevin Oskow

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