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Interesting stories about animals
To sum up the year and remember what happened in the world of interesting wildlife.
Giant mysterious eyes: the mysterious discovery on the beach in Florida
The most unexpected finding in 2012 became a huge eye that was thrown on the coast of Florida in October. The Internet community has become immediately lively debate, who also belongs to this mysterious eyes.
A few days later, the Commission for the Protection of Wildlife announced that the eye belongs to the sword-fish.
The smallest frog in the world
The world's smallest frog reaches the size of no more than 7-8 mm. The representative of the type of Paedophryne amauensis set a record - it reaches a length - only 7, 7 millimeters.
On the discovery of a new type of record size, scientists reported in January 2012, although the frog was discovered by researchers in the tropical forests in the south of Papua New Guinea, a couple of years ago.
Scientists believe that the frog is dimensioned to eat tiny invertebrates, such as mites, which are ignored by larger predators. Thus, it has taken its niche in the food chain and feels fine.
Who has the memory, but no brain: the most mysterious creature planet
Slime mold were probably the muses for the creators of the sci-fi film "Drop» (The Blob) in 1958, as well as many other Hollywood movies, but scientists have suggested that these simple organisms that do not have a brain, actually have a memory. < br />
During experiments with slime mold Physarum polycephalum species, scientists from the University of Sydney have noticed that these organisms avoid returning to the same place where they have already visited. Researchers began to suspect that these movements simply uses a special form of spatial memory.
"Slime mold leave a trail of mucus, which then they can detect and thus" learn "the places where they were," - said the biologist Chris Reid (Chris Reid).
Scientists have also suggested that Physarum can recognize and respond to the traces left by other types of slime mold.
Reid said that the primitive organisms can use their spatial memory to solve the same problems faced by today our brains. This is the beginning of the evolution of memory.
Previous studies have shown that slime molds can also wander through the maze and anticipate periodically occurring events.
Riddle cat chimera
In August 2012 a cat named Venus became a real hit of the season, hitting all of his unusual appearance. This three-year cat tortoiseshell coloring gained millions of views on YouTube and even "has got" your page in Facebook
One half of muzzle cat is black, the other - red. Moreover, Venus is also different eyes - one yellow and one blue. Scientists do not know why she got such a strange appearance, but there are suggestions that this cat - a chimera.
Chimera - an organism that gets in the embryonic stage of development genes of his brother or sister in the womb. Two embryos are merged into one, as a result, the light appears one animal, but with certain genetic characteristics, such as the strange coloring wool.
White whale: unusual color of animals
In April 2012, off the coast of Russia was seen strange albino killer whale that has puzzled scientists. Animal immediately got the nickname - Iceberg. In length it reaches about 7 meters.
Earlier in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in 2000 and 2008, scientists have seen a white killer whale, but the albinos of this kind are so rare that scientists have concluded that if they saw the same animal - Iceberg, only at a younger age.
Researchers also believe that Berg may not be true albino, since his stomach were seen dark spots. To know for sure, you need to see the color of his eyes. If they are pink and have no pigmentation, so Iceberg really an albino.
Among killer whales sometimes there are individuals suffering from the disease Chediak-Higashi. This rare disease affects the immune and nervous systems and affects the color. However, the majority of animals suffering from this disease do not survive to adulthood, and the iceberg, according to the researchers, for nearly 16 years.
5) The animal with the largest number of legs: millipedes champion
The owner of the large number of feet lives in California. This unique arthropod - centipede, which reaches a length of no more than 3 centimeters. Surprisingly, at such a rate the body in her 750 feet!
First centipede species Illacme plenipes scientists discovered in 1928, but they did not manage it carefully examine, as an animal, scientists believe, and disappeared for a long time it was thought to be extinct.
Such a large number of feet from being developed from living underground. Centipede comfortable to touch and move your feet in the ground and climb the rocks underground.
6) Trionychia unique urinary system
In October 2012, scientists reported that they found very strange property in the animal: Trionychia kind Pelodiscus sinensis is able to urinate ... through the mouth. Scientists already knew that Trionychia have a mouth-like structures on the gills. Researchers initially thought that they help animals breathe underwater, but it turned out that this is not so.
Scientists have also found that the turtles are carriers of special gene that helps produce a special protein that is responsible for the production of urine. This gene is associated with the body like the mouth, rather than the kidney.
These reptiles are found in brackish water, so adaptation to to urinate through the mouth, very handy. If the turtle peed in the usual way, she needed to drink more water, so as not to suffer from dehydration.
Rare lion with a mane: the secret of unusual animals?
Females lions are known to not have a mane, but among them there are very masculine representative. For example, in Africa has recently been seen strange female lion with a mane like a male.
These unusual lionesses-cheat noticed in the area of Mombo in Okavango Delta, Botswana. In this area, the animals may have unusual genetic feature that gives so unusual for a lioness looks, say scientists.
As it turned out, the female with a mane can not produce offspring, but very well adapted to the wild. Because of the presence mane they are perceived as male, and appearance deters from Pride hyenas and some aggressive males.
Strange fish with genitals on his head
Genitals, it appears, may be ... on the head. At least one species of fish from Vietnam boasts just such location of vital organs.
Fish species Phallostethus cuulong reaches a length of about 2, 5 centimeters and has a very standard for fish transparent body. She lives in the Mekong River basin in Vietnam. This habitat over the past couple of decades has changed dramatically, but the fish have shown tremendous vitality and well adapted to the new conditions.
Fish family Phallostethidae belong to the group of fishes, the males fertilize the eggs that females inside their bodies. As you know, most of the female fish spawn, which is then fertilized by the males in the external environment.
Many male fish family Phallostethidae have physical characteristics that allow them to fertilize the eggs inside the female body, which is why the form Phallostethus cuulong has genitals on his head - for maximum comfort during mating.
Females lay eggs of vipers, which is quite rare among mammals.
Source: asaratov.livejournal.com
Giant mysterious eyes: the mysterious discovery on the beach in Florida
The most unexpected finding in 2012 became a huge eye that was thrown on the coast of Florida in October. The Internet community has become immediately lively debate, who also belongs to this mysterious eyes.
A few days later, the Commission for the Protection of Wildlife announced that the eye belongs to the sword-fish.
The smallest frog in the world
The world's smallest frog reaches the size of no more than 7-8 mm. The representative of the type of Paedophryne amauensis set a record - it reaches a length - only 7, 7 millimeters.
On the discovery of a new type of record size, scientists reported in January 2012, although the frog was discovered by researchers in the tropical forests in the south of Papua New Guinea, a couple of years ago.
Scientists believe that the frog is dimensioned to eat tiny invertebrates, such as mites, which are ignored by larger predators. Thus, it has taken its niche in the food chain and feels fine.
Who has the memory, but no brain: the most mysterious creature planet
Slime mold were probably the muses for the creators of the sci-fi film "Drop» (The Blob) in 1958, as well as many other Hollywood movies, but scientists have suggested that these simple organisms that do not have a brain, actually have a memory. < br />
During experiments with slime mold Physarum polycephalum species, scientists from the University of Sydney have noticed that these organisms avoid returning to the same place where they have already visited. Researchers began to suspect that these movements simply uses a special form of spatial memory.
"Slime mold leave a trail of mucus, which then they can detect and thus" learn "the places where they were," - said the biologist Chris Reid (Chris Reid).
Scientists have also suggested that Physarum can recognize and respond to the traces left by other types of slime mold.
Reid said that the primitive organisms can use their spatial memory to solve the same problems faced by today our brains. This is the beginning of the evolution of memory.
Previous studies have shown that slime molds can also wander through the maze and anticipate periodically occurring events.
Riddle cat chimera
In August 2012 a cat named Venus became a real hit of the season, hitting all of his unusual appearance. This three-year cat tortoiseshell coloring gained millions of views on YouTube and even "has got" your page in Facebook
One half of muzzle cat is black, the other - red. Moreover, Venus is also different eyes - one yellow and one blue. Scientists do not know why she got such a strange appearance, but there are suggestions that this cat - a chimera.
Chimera - an organism that gets in the embryonic stage of development genes of his brother or sister in the womb. Two embryos are merged into one, as a result, the light appears one animal, but with certain genetic characteristics, such as the strange coloring wool.
White whale: unusual color of animals
In April 2012, off the coast of Russia was seen strange albino killer whale that has puzzled scientists. Animal immediately got the nickname - Iceberg. In length it reaches about 7 meters.
Earlier in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in 2000 and 2008, scientists have seen a white killer whale, but the albinos of this kind are so rare that scientists have concluded that if they saw the same animal - Iceberg, only at a younger age.
Researchers also believe that Berg may not be true albino, since his stomach were seen dark spots. To know for sure, you need to see the color of his eyes. If they are pink and have no pigmentation, so Iceberg really an albino.
Among killer whales sometimes there are individuals suffering from the disease Chediak-Higashi. This rare disease affects the immune and nervous systems and affects the color. However, the majority of animals suffering from this disease do not survive to adulthood, and the iceberg, according to the researchers, for nearly 16 years.
5) The animal with the largest number of legs: millipedes champion
The owner of the large number of feet lives in California. This unique arthropod - centipede, which reaches a length of no more than 3 centimeters. Surprisingly, at such a rate the body in her 750 feet!
First centipede species Illacme plenipes scientists discovered in 1928, but they did not manage it carefully examine, as an animal, scientists believe, and disappeared for a long time it was thought to be extinct.
Such a large number of feet from being developed from living underground. Centipede comfortable to touch and move your feet in the ground and climb the rocks underground.
6) Trionychia unique urinary system
In October 2012, scientists reported that they found very strange property in the animal: Trionychia kind Pelodiscus sinensis is able to urinate ... through the mouth. Scientists already knew that Trionychia have a mouth-like structures on the gills. Researchers initially thought that they help animals breathe underwater, but it turned out that this is not so.
Scientists have also found that the turtles are carriers of special gene that helps produce a special protein that is responsible for the production of urine. This gene is associated with the body like the mouth, rather than the kidney.
These reptiles are found in brackish water, so adaptation to to urinate through the mouth, very handy. If the turtle peed in the usual way, she needed to drink more water, so as not to suffer from dehydration.
Rare lion with a mane: the secret of unusual animals?
Females lions are known to not have a mane, but among them there are very masculine representative. For example, in Africa has recently been seen strange female lion with a mane like a male.
These unusual lionesses-cheat noticed in the area of Mombo in Okavango Delta, Botswana. In this area, the animals may have unusual genetic feature that gives so unusual for a lioness looks, say scientists.
As it turned out, the female with a mane can not produce offspring, but very well adapted to the wild. Because of the presence mane they are perceived as male, and appearance deters from Pride hyenas and some aggressive males.
Strange fish with genitals on his head
Genitals, it appears, may be ... on the head. At least one species of fish from Vietnam boasts just such location of vital organs.
Fish species Phallostethus cuulong reaches a length of about 2, 5 centimeters and has a very standard for fish transparent body. She lives in the Mekong River basin in Vietnam. This habitat over the past couple of decades has changed dramatically, but the fish have shown tremendous vitality and well adapted to the new conditions.
Fish family Phallostethidae belong to the group of fishes, the males fertilize the eggs that females inside their bodies. As you know, most of the female fish spawn, which is then fertilized by the males in the external environment.
Many male fish family Phallostethidae have physical characteristics that allow them to fertilize the eggs inside the female body, which is why the form Phallostethus cuulong has genitals on his head - for maximum comfort during mating.
Females lay eggs of vipers, which is quite rare among mammals.
Source: asaratov.livejournal.com
