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The Toxic Skin and Fungi Defense
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Harlequin frogs, a group of brightly colored, small-sized amphibians found in the rainforests of Central and South America, have a unique and intriguing relationship with fungi, particularly in the context of combating the devastating infectious disease known as chytridiomycosis. These frogs are known for their striking coloration, which serves as a warning signal to potential predators due to their toxic skin secretions. What makes their connection to fungi fascinating is that many species of Harlequin frogs rely on specialized skin bacteria that produce potent antifungal compounds. In the face of the deadly chytrid fungus ( Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which has decimated amphibian populations worldwide, these frogs' skin microbiota, p ...
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5677 |
bio_man |
6 months ago |
Poison dart frog
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The poison dart frog is the common name given to the most poisonous animals on Earth. Native to Central and South America, these species of frogs (family: Dendrobatidae) produce several lethal toxins that are capable of killing a human or other large animal with just 2 micrograms (μg). In other words, one drop of their venom could be powerful enough to kill 8000 people. The most toxic of poison dart frog species is Phyllobates terribilis. Unlike snakes, dart frogs do not synthesize their poisons, but sequester the chemicals they consume from arthropod prey, such as ants, centipedes and mites. This is why in captivity, they produce far less poison than wild frogs due to their change in diet. What makes these frogs immune to their own poison i ...
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1500 |
bio_man |
5 years ago |
What color is a toucan's skull?
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Well, obviously it's white, but take a look at its bill! The attractive 7.5-inch-long bill is possessed by both male and female toucans. Interestingly, they use them during a mating ritual, pitching fruit to one another, but has very limited use as an excavation tool. Toucans make their nests in tree hollows found in rain forest regions of Southern Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean region to which they are native. ...
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1097 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
World's deadliest tree
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The manchineel tree ( Hippomane mancinella) has taken the title of world’s most dangerous tree. This evergreen grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, and is native to tropical southern North America and northern South America. It has reddish-greyish bark, small greenish-yellow flowers, and shiny green leaves ranging in size from 5 to 10 cm (2–4 inches) long. All parts of the tree contain strong toxins, some unidentified. The leaves and fruit of the tree superficially resemble an apple tree, however one bite of the tree’s fruit can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, or death due to an acetylcholine inhibitor known as physostigmine found in the fruit. In addition, its milky white sap contains phorbol and other skin irritants, producing s ...
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4242 |
duddy |
7 years ago |
Slow down!
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This semi-circular bridge in Uruguay, known as the Laguna Garzón bridge, was designed to force drivers to slow down and enjoy the panoramic views of this amazing landscape. The concrete structure consist of two semi-circular bridges, joined at either end to create a ring, and was built to replace a raft crossing between the cities of Rocha and Maldonado. The bridge also has a pair of pedestrian walkways.
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4111 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
Piranhas, meet your match
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Shown above are vampire fish caught in Corona Falls, Guyana. Also called payara by locals, these Amazon Basin predators feed on other fish, especially piranhas, which they impale on their long fangs.
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6538 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
A precious gift from mother nature
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One of the driest places on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile - has become covered in a carpet of flowers, thanks to a year of extreme rainfall brought on by El Niño. El Niño is the abnormal warming of waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean around the equator.
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5392 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
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32660 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
This newly discovered bat has one LONG tongue
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The researchers found the bizarre tube-lipped nectar bat ( Anoura fistulata) - the first record of this species in the park. Described in Ecuador just a decade ago and known from only three records. It has the longest tongue in relation to its size of any mammal - stretching 8.5 cm to reach into the deepest flowers. PS: I added the picture of Dorian (villain from The Mask) below it simply because it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the picture. ...
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22336 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
A miniature wildcat
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The KodKod ( Leopardus guigna) is the smallest wildcat - it's even smaller than domestic cats. It lives primarily in central and southern Chile and marginally in adjoining areas of Argentina. Check out the video below for more information on this cute creature: ...
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2019 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
Walking sushi
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While this may look like sushi, it's actually Argentina's pink fairy armadillo. This rarely seen animal has silky white hair and a pinkish carapace; it ranges in size from 3.3 to 4.6 inches (84 to 117 millimeters) long, making it one of the smallest species of armadillos. The animal is also nocturnal and has the ability to bury itself in lightning speed given its long claws, which are an astonishing one-sixth the length of the body. ...
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16883 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
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12944 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
This predatory worm found in Peru glows in the dark
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This glowing worm is the larvae of a species of click beetles, which belong to the family Eliteredae. Click beetles typically make a clicking motion to quickly escape predators. Of the 10,000 beetles identified, only 200 are bioluminescent. It is hypothesized that the beetle larvae glow green to lure prey such as ants and stick insets. When presented with these insects, the worms readily devoured them. While most beetles dine on flowers and other plant-matter, their larvae are mostly predatory. The insects wait with jaws open, and as soon as an ant or a termite flies in, their jaws clamp shut. Source: http://www.livescience.com/48790-photos-peruvian-glow-worm.html ...
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6128 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
And the most stylish bird award goes to...
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Meet the Buffy Helmetcrest and White-bearded Helmetcrest, two new species of hummingbirds found in Colombia and Venezuela. Looks like someone's had a run-in with too much styling product...
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4008 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
An interesting little animal
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The pygmy anteater from Central and South America is about the size of a large squirrel. It's the smallest, and most mysterious anteater in the world.
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3054 |
duddy |
9 years ago |