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The ghost fish has been captured on video for the first time
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A living, swimming ghost fish has been seen live for the first time ever. The fish, part of the family Aphyonidae, was caught on camera during an ongoing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) exploration by the ship Okeanos Explorer. The exploration centers on the deep ocean at Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, a protected area spanning 95,216 square miles (246,608 square kilometers) east of the Philippines. The secretive fish was swimming along a ridge 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) down, according to NOAA. The animal is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long, with translucent, scale-less skin and eerie, colorless eyes. No fish in the family Aphyonidae has ever been seen alive before. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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5008 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
World's rarest bird
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The northern bald ibis ( Geronticus eremita) was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the Syrian desert near Palmyra in 2002. Habitat disturbance and hunting are the main drivers behind the bird's decline in its Middle Eastern habitat. This glossy black ibis ranges in size from 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 inches) glossy black ibis, has an unfeathered red face and head, and a long, curved red bill. It breeds colonially on coastal or mountain cliff ledges, where it typically lays two to three eggs in a stick nest, and feeds on lizards, insects, and other small animals. According to a Turkish legend, the northern bald ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the ark, as a symbol of fertility. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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4359 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
Ever seen an albino turtle? Check this out
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This rare albino green sea turtle just hatched on a beach in Queensland, Australia. Albinism is the congenital absence of any pigmentation or coloration in a person, animal or plant, resulting in white hair and pink eyes in mammals. Unfortunately, albinism can reduce the survivability of an animal, and the same can be said about this baby turtle. For example, it has been suggested that albino alligators have an average survival span of only 24 hours due to the lack of protection from UV and their lack of camouflage to avoid predators. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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16117 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
This incredible bird has a horn growing from its head
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Meet the cassowary. These are flightless birds native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. There are three extant species. The most common of these, the southern cassowary, is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird, smaller only than the ostrich and emu. All three species have horn-like but soft and spongy crests called casques on their heads, up to 18 cm (7 inches), which serves several purposes. The most interesting being that the wedge-shaped casque may have evolved to protect the head of this animal by deflecting falling fruit, since cassowaries spend a lot of time under trees where seeds the size of golfballs or larger fall from heights of up to 30 metres! ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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25448 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
World's rarest rabbit rediscovered
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In the Tian Shan Mountains of China, researchers have spotted the elusive Ili Pika, an adorable creature which hasn’t been seen in two decades. The so-called "magic bunny" measures about eight inches long and is a distant relative of the rabbit. It has eluded research teams for decades, sneaking in and out of cliffs. Around the time of its discovery, back in 1983, the species numbered around 2900. Now, their numbers are down to less than a thousand, most likely due to human activity and climate change. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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11499 |
duddy |
8 years ago |
This strange disease turns one's skin into bone
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Known an fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive, or FOB for short, this disease can suddenly turn a person’s tissues and muscles into bone, thereby permanently immobilizing parts of the bodies. Joints such as elbows or ankles may become frozen in place; jaw motion can be impeded and the rib cage fixed, making eating or even breathing difficult. Currently, no cure exists to combat this rare condition.
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Biology Forums Blog |
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7995 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
What has a bushy tail and a taste for blood?
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You guessed it! The tufted ground squirrel ( Rheithrosciurus macrotis), also known as the vampire squirrel. Check out what may be the first video of the remarkable and rare animal. This species of squirrel is twice the size of most tree squirrels, reputedly has a taste for blood, and has the bushiest tail of any mammal compared with its body size with its tail being 30 percent larger than its body. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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8501 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
A rare albino whale sighting
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Migaloo is a rare albino humpback whale found near the coastlines of Queensland, Australia. Adult humpbacks range in length from 12-16 metres (39-52 feet) and weigh approximately 36000 kilograms (79,000 lb). For more information on Migaloo, visit http://migaloo.com.au/.
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Biology Forums Blog |
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2239 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
World's rarest mushroom
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A star-shaped mushroom, called the Devil’s Cigar ( Chorioactis geaster) is one of the world’s rarest fungi. These fungi had been detected only in central Texas, two remote locations in Japan, and most recently in the mountains of Nara. The Devil’s Cigar is a dark brown cigar-shaped capsule that transforms into a tan-coloured star when it splits open to release its spores. It is also one of only a few known fungi that produce a distinct whistle sound when releasing its spores. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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1845 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
What looks like a water but is as hard as a rock?
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A crystal known as the watermelon tourmaline! Tourmalines are the most colorful of all gemstones. They occurs in all colors, but pink, red, green, blue and multicolored are its most well-known gem colors. Scientifically, tourmaline is not a single mineral, but a group of minerals related in their physical and chemical properties. The mineral Elbaite is the member of the Tourmaline group that is responsible for almost all the gem varieties. Three other members of the group - Schorl, Dravite and Liddicoatite, are seldom used as gemstones. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
0 |
11886 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
If you thought being left-handed was odd, read this
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A rare condition, known as situs inversus, is when a person has their major organs mirrored from their normal positions. So, for example, the heart would be on the right side of the body, or the liver and gall bladder are on the left side. It is a congenital condition (meaning it's tied to your genetics) that affects 1 in 20,000 people - including Spanish-born singer Enrique Iglesias. Situs inversus is generally an autosomal recessive genetic condition, although it can be X-linked or found in identical "mirror image" twins. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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25472 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
Ever seen a black flamingo?
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On the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, you might be lucky to find a black flamingo. Normal flamingoes are born white and grey, and turn their iconic shade of pinky orange around the age of two, as a result of the high carotenoid content of the algae and crustaceans that they eat. Experts believe that this individual (and potentially the other bird spotted in Israel) has a genetic condition that causes it to overproduce melanin, changing its feathers to black.
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Biology Forums Blog |
0 |
21776 |
duddy |
9 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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Biology Forums Blog |
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16915 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
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Biology Forums Blog |
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10757 |
duddy |
9 years ago |
Weirdest looking monkey you'll ever see
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This is a snub-nosed monkey. They are found in Asia, with a range covering southern China as well as the northern parts of Vietnam and Myanmar. These monkey get their name - you guessed it - from the short stump of a nose on their round face, with nostrils arranged forward. They have relatively multicolored and long fur, particularly at the shoulders and backs. They grow to a length of 51 to 83 cm with a tail of 55 to 97 cm.
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Biology Forums Blog |
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2332 |
duddy |
10 years ago |
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