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Regal ringneck snake
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This is the regal ringneck snake ( Diadophis punctatus regalis), a subspecies of ringneck snake endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Unlike other subspecies of ringneck snakes, the regal ringneck is almost exclusively ophiophagous, meaning that it has a diet that consists almost entirely of other snakes. They have a weak venom that serves to immobilize their small prey, but is harmless to humans.
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15386 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Proboscis monkey nose
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Meet the proboscis monkey ( Nasalis larvatus), a monkey only found in Borneo Island, Asia. The proboscis monkey is one of the largest monkeys native to Asia. It's very easily identified (for obvious reasons). The species has very pronounced sexual dimorphism, with the male being much larger than the female. Males also have much larger noses (the individual pictured is a male), but the noses of females are still very pronounced. The bigger the nose a male proboscis monkey has, the bulkier he will be — increasing his chances of attracting a large harem. Both sexes have bulging stomachs that give them the impression of having a pot belly. The proboscis monkey is assessed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listed in Appen ...
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4 |
17586 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Underwater world
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Near the town of Tragöß in Styria, Austria you can find this stunning lake known as Grüner See (Green Lake). Named Green Lake for its amazingly clear emerald green water it’s mostly the result of seasonal snowmelt from the surrounding Hochschwab Mountains and forests. During winter months the lake is only 1-2m deep with the rest of the area used as a county park, however as spring arrives the lake grows in size from all the melting snow reaching at its peak around mid-May 12m deep in places. Not surprisingly the waters are a little chilly at 6-7oC, although it remains popular among divers during the peak months who love to pose on the underwater bench and visit the flooded green meadows. ...
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13460 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Compact Planetary Systems
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A new study from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) estimates that our galaxy contains at least 100 billion planets. The team made their estimate while analysing planets orbiting a star called Kepler-32 - planets that are representative, they say, of the vast majority in the galaxy and thus serve as a perfect case study for understanding how most planets form.
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10658 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Breast milk - a pool of bacteria
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Breast milk contains more than 700 species of bacteria! Spanish researchers have traced the bacterial microbiota map in breast milk. The study has revealed a larger microbial diversity than originally thought (more than 700 species) and that it changes over the period of lactation, with the weight of the mother & by delivery method of the baby (c-section versus. vaginal). To create this microbiome (the identification of the set of bacteria contained within breast milk) scientists used a technique based on massive DNA sequencing. Thanks to their study, additional pre- and postnatal variables influencing the micriobial richness of milk can now be determined. ...
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10440 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
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9339 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Camel spiders!
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Solifuges are a variety of arachnids found in deserts. While they are called Camel Spiders, they belong to a different order from true spiders. It may appear terrifying. However, it seems the internet blows its fear factor out of proportion. After a few photos circulated around the internet, outlandish claims about their astounding physical abilities and voracious appetite for human flesh arose. No. They cannot run at 30 mph. (They do run at 10 mph, which is still incredibly fast.) They cannot kill humans, although they have a painful, albeit non-venomous bite. They can only grow to about 6 inches. They do not subsist on a diet of camel stomachs. Solifuges are content with eating insects, small reptiles, birds and rodents. ...
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10738 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
A rolling stone gathers no moss
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This guy brings new meaning to the phrase “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” The Venezuela Pebble Toad is a strange creature. It is typically found in mountainous regions, with many slopes and inclines. The toad is only about the size of a fingertip. As such, it is vulnerable to attacks from even a spider, like a tarantula. The Pebble Toad has an ingenious defence mechanism. When faced with a danger, it tucks its limbs and head under its body and tenses its muscles. Forming a ball shape, it begins to roll down whatever slope it happens to be on. This allows it to evade whatever predator may be pursuing it. Since they are so tiny and their muscles are so rigid, they take no damage from the bouncing and rolling. The Pebble Toad was featured in t ...
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8575 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
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9824 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
Could you break through this bulletproof glass?
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Bulletproof glass manufacturer 3M Security Glass placed this advertisement at a bus stop. There's apparently $3 million in cash inside there, behind their bulletproof glass. If you can break it, it's yours. Here's how bulletproof glass works...At first glance, bullet-resistant glass looks identical to an ordinary pane of glass, but that's where the similarities end. An ordinary piece of glass shatters when struck by a single bullet. Bullet resistant glass is designed to withstand one or several rounds of bullets depending on the thickness of the glass and the weapon being fired at it. So, what gives bullet-resistant glass the ability to stop bullets? Different manufacturers make different variations of bullet-resistant glass, but it is basic ...
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8132 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
The white shark kayak
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This photograph of a great white shark following a kayak is probably one of the most iconic and popular shark images of all time. Every time it pops up, it unsurprisingly garners a lot of accusations of being fake, or edited.
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6582 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
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5977 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |
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5153 |
bio_man |
11 years ago |