While many species of crab are known by their red rust hues, this new crab, which was discovered in the Philippine island of Palawan, stands out with its unusually bright purple shell. It has been named the Insulamon Palawanese.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Despite their unusual appearance, the rare "pink" elephants, which are officially known as white elephants, are not a distinct species to grey elephants nor are they albinos.
The animals are treasured in Buddhist countries where their appearance is said to bring good fortune and can herald political change.
The animals are treasured in Buddhist countries where their appearance is said to bring good fortune and can herald political change.
Pink Elephants
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot in which over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth.
Madagascar
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Japanese macaque, historically known as saru ("monkey"), but now known as Nihonzaru (Nihon "Japan" + saru) to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan.
It is also sometimes known as the snow monkey from the fact that it lives in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year—no primate, with the exception of humans, is more northern-living, nor lives in a colder climate.
It is also sometimes known as the snow monkey from the fact that it lives in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year—no primate, with the exception of humans, is more northern-living, nor lives in a colder climate.
Chillin' Out
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
The once in a lifetime snap was taken by photographer Marac Andrev Kolodzinski who spent two hours waiting in freezing cold weather at Whipsnade Zoo, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, to capture the divine moment.
Marac, 49, from Herefordshire, has been taking photos for over 20 years but this is the first time he has captured an otter who appears to be praying.
Marac, 49, from Herefordshire, has been taking photos for over 20 years but this is the first time he has captured an otter who appears to be praying.
Dear God, Please Send Me A Fish
An article in the journal Human Genetics from 2008, indicates that blue eyes are the result of a single gene mutation that occurred between 6000 and 10000 years ago. The article was written by a cellular molecular biologist, Hans Eiberg.
"A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes," Eiberg said.
The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.
"A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes," Eiberg said.
The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.
As Blue As The Sea
The leopard, Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its range of distribution has decreased radically because of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in sub-Saharan Africa
Leopards are agile and stealthy predators. Although smaller than other members of the Panthera genus, they are able to take large prey due to their massive skulls that facilitate powerful jaw muscles.
Leopards are agile and stealthy predators. Although smaller than other members of the Panthera genus, they are able to take large prey due to their massive skulls that facilitate powerful jaw muscles.
The Leopard
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment.
Gotham City
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts center in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957.
Utzon received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor, in 2003. The Pritzker Prize citation stated:
“ There is no doubt that the Sydney Opera House is his masterpiece. It is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world – a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country and continent.
Utzon received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor, in 2003. The Pritzker Prize citation stated:
“ There is no doubt that the Sydney Opera House is his masterpiece. It is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world – a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country and continent.
Sidney Opera House At Dusk
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Despite their name, black bears show a great deal of color variation. Individual coat colors can range from white, blond, cinnamon, or light brown to dark chocolate brown or to jet black, with many intermediate variations existing. Bluish tinged black bears occur along a portion of coastal Alaska and British Columbia. White to cream colored black bears occur in coastal islands and the adjacent mainland of south-western British Columbia.
White Black Bear
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the superorder Chelonia), characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon that is not monophyletic.
I'm 150 Years Old
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Mürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. At an elevation of 5,413 ft. above sea level, Mürren is unreachable by public road. Tourism is popular through the summer and winter; the village features a view of the three towering mountains: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Mürren has a population of just 450, but has 2,000 hotel beds.
Restaurant With A Fantastic View
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Altai Mountains are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. The Altai Mountains are known as the original locus of the speakers of Turkic as well as other members of the proposed Altaic language group.
The name, in Mongolian Alytau or Altai, means Al (gold), tau (mount); in Mongolian Алтайн нуруу Altain nuruu, the "Mountains of Gold".
The name, in Mongolian Alytau or Altai, means Al (gold), tau (mount); in Mongolian Алтайн нуруу Altain nuruu, the "Mountains of Gold".
Mountains Of Gold
Sunday, February 12, 2012
A massive double-barrelled sunspot that has doubled in size in the past few days could now send a series of solar flares towards Earth, which, according to SpaceWeather.com, could send out ‘beta-gamma’ magnetic energy in what is known as an M-class flare.
Though M-class flares aren’t nearly as dangerous as X-class flares, which affect satellites and electrical grids as well as lasting radiation storms, people could still notice minor inconveniences such as radio disturbances.
M-class flares can also cause the aurora borealis to erupt in dazzling light shows.
Though M-class flares aren’t nearly as dangerous as X-class flares, which affect satellites and electrical grids as well as lasting radiation storms, people could still notice minor inconveniences such as radio disturbances.
M-class flares can also cause the aurora borealis to erupt in dazzling light shows.
Sunspots
Lake Louise is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Improvement District No. 9 Banff (Banff National Park). It is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and the wife of John Campbell, the 9th Duke of Argyll, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883. The province of Alberta is also named for Princess Louise.
Lake Louise
Saturday, February 11, 2012
When Japan was hit by both an earthquake and tsunami in quick succession in March of 2011, the images of devastation gripped the world. Now, after 11 months of tireless rebuilding, these pictures reveal the amazing progress made since those tragic events.
Photographers returned to the scenes of desolation to take these stunning shots that capture the way in which the areas most severely affected have changed.
Photographers returned to the scenes of desolation to take these stunning shots that capture the way in which the areas most severely affected have changed.
