Mrindigo wrote:
You've seen them in the flesh? I'd love to get up close to one
Those tentacle things look highly sensitive. I suppose they're like physical eyes so to speak, maybe.

Naked Mole Rat

"Hi. I'm the naked mole rat, and even I think WTF?! when I look in the mirror! "



"This is my reaction when I pass a mirror and catch a glimpse of myself "

irrepressible wrote:
I have while mowing the lawn, they don't seem to like the vibrations. I think you're right that they are similar to eyes. They have really poor eyesight to where they're almost blind. Suppose you don't need eyes when you live underground most of your life.

Botos! They're fresh water dolphins of the Amazon river, and noted for their specialized morphology and unique pink-gray pigmentation. Unlike their cousins, they don't have fused neck vertebra, which allows them to turn their neck for 180 degree rotations.



Nerpa seal: What makes this seal cool is the fact that it's exclusively found only in Russia's Lake Baikal. It lives it's whole life in fresh water, and is the only known fresh water seal on the planet.



Lake Baikal is pretty interesting in itself too. It's the deepest known fresh water lake on the planet. It's boasts 20% of the world's liquid fresh water, and has about 1,500 unique forms life found nowhere else. It has a bunch of hydrothermal vents that support life similar to the deep ocean trenches as well. It's also just plain beautiful.

irrepressible wrote:
Molerats are kinda cool. They live life similar to ants, in that they have a queen and infertile workers and soldiers. They are creepy looking though, like something out of a radioactive zone. Then again, a lot of specialized creatures are kind of creepy.

Mrindigo wrote:
I had no idea this Dolphin existed! Quite odd looking with its pink skin. And that rotating neck is interesting

The abundance of life on this planet staggers me when I think about it.

irrepressible wrote:
They are odd looking, and fascinating at the same time. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm guessing they developed a neck like that for increased maneuverability. I've been told that it's not the creatures of the river a person needs to worry about there. It's the river currents and the submerged obstructions like fallen trees that you do. I'm guessing they have the bulbous head for increased echolocation, and the flexible neck to zip between the trees. The water seems real murky in the larger parts of the river, so they'd need it.

It staggers me too, Irre! I love zoology, so it was a pleasant surprise to see you create this thread.

Here's another, the Sumatran Wooly Rhino. They inhabit the dense rainforest of Sumatra, and are unique. They're the smallest of the living Rhinos, and are covered in thin brown hair. Unfortunately they're critically endangered, thanks to poaching.

In my case indy, it's not that I love zoology, more a case that I've just realised how fascinating it is, or remembered, or just paid attention to it
My mind tends to wander I'm not sure if it's mild ADD or just pure laziness

It's amazing how creatures have adapted to their environment, and have developed specialisations. Nature isn't dumb

Poor Rhino People can be so devestating for the planet. We have the capacity to live in harmony with nature, but often we choose not to. Actually that's unfair, it's more that the people who run the world have created the situations, through money, power, etc. That's for another thread though.

Angler Fish



This fish is absolutely fascinating, and fearsome looking.
And has a bizarre mating way

irrepressible wrote:
Maybe your frame of mind is shifting in a new direction? Minds are dynamic like river beds, and constantly change. I agree it really is amazing when their adaptations are really reflected upon.

I agree that humans have a rather large impact on the other creatures here. Not all of it can be attributed to the average person like you said.

The angler fish is cool. You're right, their mating habits are strange, but make sense when you factor in the vastness of the abyssal zone. If he didn't attach himself to her, and basically turn into a parasite, they may not ever have the chance to breed again. Awesome selection, Irre!

I'm frightened of spiders and fascinated by them at the same time. I don't mind them if they're small but the big ones (anything over the size of say a 50p, legs included) freak me out. I'm a hero though and never kill them, it's glass and paper time if I find one in my space. I let them go in our garage, house spiders will just find a way back in anyway.

Here is my favourite spider of all, the peacock jumping spider, they're strange/cool and very pretty:




I quite like jumping spiders, I think they have cute 'faces' and they're pretty smart, although the bigger ones still freak me out of course.

Edit to add, the 10 weird spiders link mentions them, I just got the courage to read it

@ Merla

What a brilliant spider I'm pretty scared of spiders but that one isn't scary at all

House spider make me break out in a sweat. I still catch them and let them out but it's a bit of an ordeal

I like jumping spiders too. I put my finger in front of them a few inches away from their face and move it left and right and watch the spider following my movements

Thanks for the vid

What do peeps think of this critter then? The Banana Slug...



Mandy

@ irrie & merla: I like jumping spiders too! Especially the little black & white ones you get in the garden - Zebra spiders, I think they're called.

Mandy

'Swarms Of Killer Spiders' Invade Village.

uk.news.yahoo.com/two-dead-spiders-invad...llage-010236259.html

Might be a new species!

Probably just a sensationalist news story though

Mrindigo wrote:
Nope! There's another... In Finland, lake Saimaa has it's own species of seal, unique to the place... There's only about 300 of them in total, so we're talking about quite rare animal. (I have never seen one)



Wiki link...

Saimaa rigned seal Wiki

Flying Squirrels FTW!



They can't really fly though, but they still look extremely cool

quietgirl wrote:
Yeah Zebra Jumping Spiders they're called



There was one in the bathroom the other day. I like the way they move, they're very agile and errr...jumpy I kind of went near it and it jumped at me "aye aye pal, you starting trouble? Come on then!"

Thanks mart

What are they? Whatever they are they're nice and colourful. I like them