View allAll Photos Tagged CAPABLE
Photograph (C) copyright 2009 Ivan Safyan Abrams. All rights reserved.
took this photo with a Nikon D700. Nice camera, very capable. But it has a design defect regarding some simple parts.
Here's my "peeling grip" story. My D700 is 9 months old, bought in the US (my permanent home) and delivered there when I was home last winter. I live and work full-time outside the US.
For 8 months, the rubber grips were fine. Then all of a sudden, 2 of them lifted off the camera and now are loose over about 3/4 of their area. They'll stick back down if I press on them, but that lasts only for a couple of hours.
I wrote to Nikon USA, told them I couldn't send the camera in for warranty repair because I'm overseas and the cost of shipping would be $350 per DHL. I requested that Nikon simply send me replacement grips (which have the double-sided adhesive attached) and I'd do the replacement.
Nikon's response: spend the money and ship the camera to Melville NY. They wrote that it's not possible for Nikon to send the grip panels to me under any circumstances.
My response is simple: they're nuts.
My next response? Other companies make nice cameras too, even though 40+ years of Nikon use is hard to forget. I'll learn to live without my Nikons over time.
But it's also hard to believe that a company is so inflexible, and cares so little for its customers. That sort of corporate behavior is what led to the bankruptcy of the US auto industry; it's remarkable that Nikon has chosen that sorry example as its role model.
We were watching lions mating, when this special moment adds that “X-factor” to an ordinary image. Lions are capable of mating up to 40 times (almost every 20 minutes) daily. (KrugerNational Park, RSA).
I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
The S.S. Helios is a Phoenix class starship capable of charging great amounts of energy from nearby stars. Also capable of starcore harvest, it is one of the most enduring types of smaller vessels in the galaxy.
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Fun note on it's beginnings:
Back when we lived on the West Coast, we met one of our favorite space builders (Tardis Blue/Nick Trotta [Who is also tagged in this photo})
For awhile we've sought to osmosis some of his awesome starship building powers. For years nothing ever came of it, but finally this last month we were able to create our first Trotta-Try. In this instance mimicry is our sincerest form of flattery, and we hope it pleases the master.
I think one of the myths that long exposures like this are capable of telling is that a place that was loud or dramatic or dynamic or tempestuous was instead calm and quiet and soothing. I like doing long exposure work quite a bit for a variety of reasons, but I admit sometimes that it bugs me just a little that the roar of the ocean and pounding of the surf are made to appear as if they were never present at all. A scene that looks calm and peaceful was anything but those things. But all photos (or photographers) tell stories. Everything we make could be (or perhaps should be) viewed as a form of fiction... or at the least of narrative. To some degree they all document something, but at the same time I think we tend to believe a bit too readily in what is presented to our eyes. In this image's case I like that the softness of a surf that was anything but placid is balanced by the rough and rugged volcanic rock. You may not be able to see the ocean's bluster in this image but you get a glimpse of its teeth at least.
Hasselblad Flexbody
Kodak Ektar 100 (started out in color, became b&w later)
The capable hands of 68013 propels 1H27 1113 Kidderminster to London Marylebone away from Birmingham Moor Street on a grey rainy Sunday.
Instagram I Web I Phoenix-RPC
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye VAW-120 165828 US Navy 655 Greyhawks
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft
Photo taken at EAA Airventure Wittman Regional Airport Oshkosh Wisconsin USA July 2022
BAI_9003
DOPPIO RIFLESSO
Non tutte le conchiglie producono delle perle, ma possiamo dire che un grande numero di bivalve sono capaci di produrre delle perle di più o meno buona qualità. Anche le cozze che vengono coltivate per finire nei piatti possono produrre delle perle gialle, minuscole, come anche le grosse tridacne dei mari tropicali sono capaci di produrre delle "biglie" senza grande interesse estetico.
La più conosciuta bivalva che produce delle perle la Pinctada fucata (chiamata anche akoya) alla quale si devono le tradizionali perle bianche del Giappone. Questa conchiglia si incontra nelle acque temperate e fresche dell’Asia (Giappone, Cina, Corea).
Una bivalva d’acqua dolce di piccole dimensioni, di coltura molto facile in Asia, Hyriopsis schegeli, permette oggi ai giapponesi, ma anche e soprattutto ai cinesi, d’invadere il mercato di piccole perle a basso prezzo che vanno dal bianco crema al rosa, passando dal giallo dorato.
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DOUBLE REFLECTION
Not all shells produce pearls, but we can say that a large number of clams are capable of producing pearls of more or less good quality. Even the mussels that are grown to finish in the dishes can produce tiny yellow pearls, as well as the large clams of tropical seas are capable of producing "marbles" without great aesthetic interest.
The best known bivalve that produces pearls is the Pinctada fucata (also called akoya) which is responsible for the traditional white pearls of Japan. This shell is encountered in the temperate and cool waters of Asia (Japan, China, Korea).
A small freshwater bivalve, very easy to cultivate in Asia, Hyriopsis schegeli, today allows the Japanese, but also and above all the Chinese, to invade the market of small low-priced pearls ranging from creamy white to pink , passing from golden yellow.
CANON EOS 6D Mark II con ob. CANON EF 100 mm f./2,8 L Macro IS USM
== Dixie Corner ==
by Ron Pinkerton
If you know the name “Dixie Inn,” this may be of interest to you.
Legions of desert photographers (including me) have done their part to memorialize the shell of a tiny restaurant west of Barstow. The name Dixie Inn remains neatly stenciled on three sides.
It's a curious little block structure, isolated on a diagonal orientation to the road. It sits, perhaps, under the watchful eye of its older sibling--a ruined gas station and market fifty yards away.
I've always thought there was a story there. This is that story:
A hundred years ago, nine miles west of Barstow, the [dirt] road that ran between Barstow and Hinkley had a pair of sharp turns with a rail crossing in between.
The jog in the road formed a crossroads, and forced traffic to slow down. It was an ideal location for a service station.
E.M. Kinslow was omnipresent in Hinkley and Barstow affairs at that time: rancher, school board member, building contractor, president of the Hinkley Chamber of Commerce, and general man-about-town.
In addition, by 1929 he and his son were operating the Dixie Service Station at that corner, where they pumped gas and sold glasses of orange juice.
In July of that year, they added a grocery department to the business. For the grand opening, sugar was a nickel a pound; peanut butter, twenty cents; ice cream was free.
The dirt highway was well-groomed and freshly oiled, promising a good turnout from Barstow.
Kinslow's promotion and a great location made the Dixie Service Station and Grocery a landmark in the community. The location was known as Dixie Corner.
But Kinslow was a restless businessman, and by 1932 the property had been sold for the first of several times.
About the time of World War II, it was purchased by James and Jessie McCormick.
In 1948, they built the Dixie Inn across the road from the service station. The best press coverage the cafe ever earned was a description of a surprise party held there for the McCormicks' own son.
History notes that spaghetti was served, followed by cake and ice cream.
The Inn was not destined to be the same kind of money-maker as the service station, and by 1950, they were leasing it to Bill Radcliff and his wife, who offered a menu that featured chicken, steak, and hamburgers.
It's not clear how long the restaurant survived, but given the diminutive size of the building, even with a husband-and-wife team doing the work, it wasn't capable of providing much of a living for the operator.
The service station and grocery fared better until the mid-1960's. At that time, the highway was rerouted to eliminate the sharp turns and railroad crossing.
The Dixie Corner had been erased, and with it, the steady stream of customers for the service station. The McCormicks continued to live in the house on the property until the mid-1970's.
There, Mrs. McCormick frequently hosted dinners for the Hinkley Women's Club. History notes that spaghetti was always served. It is not known if cake and ice cream followed.
* * *
EPILOGUE
Today, the Inn still stands at its peculiar angle.
The road that once separated it from the service station has vanished entirely. The service station/grocery suffers from decades of entropy, and will likely not be with us much longer.
Sadly, little traffic passes by to notice.
Look away, Dixie Land.
The Martial Eagle is fantastic bird of prey and what a machine when it is in the air. I filmed this at the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
They are the largest of the African eagles and incredibly powerful, capable of knocking an adult man off his feet. They reputedly have enough power in one foot to break a man's arm.
Size: Weighs ±6.5 Kg Wingspan of up to 2.6 metres.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
The TG-17 is a futuristic inter-atmospherical attack shuttle. Capable of speeds nearly 5,600 kilometers per hour, this ship is well-equipped to serve in both gravity and non-gravity venues.
The dual cockpit is armed with two Xeon 532-D cannons, while the fuselage is protected by twin AED (automatic electric detection) lasers, capable of firepower equivalent to that of six .50 caliber machine guns.
The craft can be loaded with an additional payload for special missions or for attack mode.
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Too late for SHIPtember... I know. With this MOC, I really wanted to up my quality of building and photography as much as possible. Hopefully I accomplished something like that with this ship. Not sure what MOC will be next...
Lots of stuff has been happening in life recently. I am just grateful to come here once in a while and share some creativity with this wonderful community.
A basic demon capable of being summoned and bound to the world of reality at will by any Agent. Equipped with a heavy axe-and-blade combination and wings of fire.
A quick combination model of Skull Grinder and Ikir. I obtained both models earlier today in a meet up with Evan (Maethorneth). Might upload some of our shenanigans later, but for now enjoy this quick little MOC!
Peace out. See you later!
🇫🇷 Autant ils se déplacent sur terre avec lourdeur, autant ils font preuve d'aisance dans l'eau. Quand celle-ci est profonde, ils sont capables de nager véritablement. Taciturne et territorial, il ferait plusieurs centaines de victimes humaines par an lors d'attaques dans l'eau. L'hippopotame est -de loin- le plus dangereux des herbivores. Territorial, il défend son espace coûte que coûte. L'hippopotame amphibie mesure de 2,70 m à 4,50 m - 5 m de long plus (dont une queue d'une cinquantaine de cm) pour une hauteur de 1,50 m de hauteur au garrot et un poids de 1,4 à 3 tonnes.L’ adulte n'a pas d'autre prédateur que l'humain. Les jeunes, en revanche, sont la proie de lions, de hyènes et de crocodiles. L'hippopotame nain est la proie du léopard, du python de Seba et des crocodiles.
🇬🇧 As heavy as they are on land, they are equally at ease in water. When the water is deep, they can actually swim. Taciturn and territorial, the hippopotamus is said to claim several hundred human victims a year when attacked in the water. The hippopotamus is by far the most dangerous herbivore. Territorial, it defends its territory at all costs. The amphibious hippopotamus measures between 2.70 m and 4.50 m - 5 m plus in length (including a tail of around fifty cm) - with a height of 1.50 m at the withers and a weight of 1.4 to 3 tonnes.Adults have no predators other than humans. The young, on the other hand, are preyed upon by lions, hyenas and crocodiles. The pygmy hippopotamus is preyed upon by leopards, Seba pythons and crocodiles.
🇩🇪 So schwerfällig sie sich an Land bewegen, so leichtfüßig sind sie im Wasser. Wenn das Wasser tief ist, können sie sogar richtig schwimmen. Es ist wortkarg und territorial, und bei Angriffen im Wasser fallen ihm jährlich mehrere hundert Menschen zum Opfer. Das Nilpferd ist bei weitem der gefährlichste Pflanzenfresser. Es ist territorial und verteidigt seinen Lebensraum, koste es, was es wolle. Das amphibische Flusspferd ist 2,70 m bis 4,50 m lang - 5 m plus (mit einem Schwanz von etwa 50 cm), hat eine Widerristhöhe von 1,50 m und wiegt 1,4 bis 3 Tonnen.Die erwachsenen Tiere haben außer dem Menschen keine anderen Raubtiere. Die Jungtiere hingegen werden von Löwen, Hyänen und Krokodilen gefressen. Das Zwergflusspferd wird von Leoparden, Seba-Pythons und Krokodilen erbeutet.
🇪🇸 Tan pesados como en tierra, se sienten igual de cómodos en el agua. Cuando el agua es profunda, pueden nadar. Taciturno y territorial, se dice que el hipopótamo se cobra varios cientos de víctimas humanas al año cuando es atacado en el agua. El hipopótamo es, con diferencia, el herbívoro más peligroso. Territorial, defiende su territorio a toda costa. El hipopótamo anfibio mide entre 2,70 m y 4,50 m - más de 5 m de longitud (incluida una cola de unos cincuenta cm) - con una altura de 1,50 m a la cruz y un peso de 1,4 a 3 toneladas.Los adultos no tienen más depredadores que el hombre. Las crías, en cambio, son presa de leones, hienas y cocodrilos. El hipopótamo pigmeo es presa de leopardos, pitones Seba y cocodrilos.
🇮🇹 Per quanto pesanti sulla terraferma, sono altrettanto a loro agio in acqua. Quando l'acqua è profonda, possono anche nuotare. Taciturno e territoriale, si dice che l'ippopotamo faccia diverse centinaia di vittime umane all'anno quando viene attaccato in acqua. L'ippopotamo è di gran lunga l'erbivoro più pericoloso. Territoriale, difende il suo territorio a tutti i costi. L'ippopotamo anfibio misura tra i 2,70 m e i 4,50 m - più di 5 m di lunghezza (compresa una coda di circa 50 cm) - con un'altezza di 1,50 m al garrese e un peso compreso tra 1,4 e 3 tonnellate.Gli adulti non hanno altri predatori oltre all'uomo. I piccoli, invece, sono predati da leoni, iene e coccodrilli. L'ippopotamo pigmeo è predato da leopardi, pitoni di Seba e coccodrilli.
wiser and capable of better judgment when we are asleep than when we are awake :-)
Erich Fromm
HBM!!
butterfly, Pipevine swallowtail, j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, Raleigh, north carolina
Le héron cendré est capable de rester de longues minutes sans bouger une paupière. Ceci se prête bien à essayer une pose longue.
The heron is able to stay long minutes without moving an eyelid. This lends itself well to try a long exposure.
Der Reiher ist in der Lage, lange Minuten bleiben, ohne sich zu bewegen zucken. Dies eignet sich gut für eine lange Pause zu versuchen.
La garza es capaz de permanecer largos minutos sin mover un párpado. Esto se presta muy bien para tratar de una larga pausa.
La ardeo povas resti longe minutojn senmove palpebro. Ĉi pruntas bone provi longa paŭzo.
L'airone è in grado di rimanere lunghi minuti senza muovere ciglio. Questo si presta bene a provare una lunga pausa.
A garça-real é capaz de ficar longos minutos sem mover uma pálpebra. Este presta-se bem para tentar uma longa pausa.
Good day to all. Thank you for your visits and comments.
Guten Tag an alle. Vielen Dank für Ihre Besuche und Kommentare.
Buenos días a todos. Gracias por sus visitas y comentarios.
Bonan tagon al cxiuj. Dankon pro viaj vizitoj kaj komentoj.
Buona giornata a tutti. Grazie per le vostre visite e commenti.
Bom dia para todos. Obrigado por suas visitas e comentários.
The first fighter sized ship capable of tackling larger targets, the F09 was the only fighter capable of being equipped with both torpedoes and heavy armor. Although it was a sluggish ship, it's tough plating made sure it got back safe from it's missions.
www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Olog/Stargazer/stargazer_3.jpg <--Back
www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=354172 <-- Gallery when public
This and the previous fighter were built yesterday, and both are named after flowers.. odd.
Le Cygne noir est un oiseau répandu, capable de vivre dans presque tous les milieux humides. Lors de la saison de nidification, on le trouve surtout sur les grands lacs peu profonds, ou à proximité. Le reste de l'année, il fréquente aussi de petits étangs stagnants isolés, des baies abritées ou des lagunes côtières saumâtres. Le Cygne noir est nomade et doté d'un vol puissant. Il peut aisément survoler les terres et sait faire étape sur les lacs ou les zones de culture inondées. Toutefois, là où la nourriture et les sites de nidification sont abondants, le Cygne noir se montre casanier. Comptant parmi les oiseaux aquatiques pourvus des meilleurs capacités d'adaptation, le Cygne noir recherche d'ordinaire des plans d'eau peu profonds où sa morphologie lui permet de se nourrir commodément.
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The Black Swan is a widespread bird, able to live in almost any wetland. During the nesting season, it is found mainly on or near large shallow lakes. The rest of the year, it also frequents small isolated stagnant ponds, sheltered bays or brackish coastal lagoons. The Black Swan is nomadic and has a powerful flight. It can easily fly over land and knows how to step on lakes or flooded farming areas. However, where food and nesting sites are abundant, the Black Swan is homebody. As one of the most adaptable waterbirds, the Black Swan usually looks for shallow water bodies where its morphology allows it to feed comfortably.
Historically I’ve never been good with words in a creative sense. Consequently I have a huge respect for those who are capable of painting a picture in your mind, of what is in their mind, via the words they write on a page. This is something I’ve never been good at, and subsequently when it comes to describing what certain scenes mean to me in words, I always feel I come up short.
In any case though, I can say that I find scenes like this harrowing, as I can’t help but feel a sense of sorrow and pitty for the tree, and a sense of trepidation for us as the onlookers. Trees form part of the lungs of our planet, and though this may or may not depict any direct result of our effect on the planet, I feel like it is a good reminder to myself to try and do what I can to minimise my personal effect on the world around me, and where possible leave it in a better state than it was found in.
Mamiya RB67
Fuji Pro400H (mono converted in post)
Apparently, even The Avengers were capable of the dreaded ‘newbie’ effect. Scott had only been on the job, sorta, for two days now, granted a Special Provisional Trainee Part Time Membership into the world’s mightiest clubhouse.
The hazing and jokes had begun right away, with Hawkeye making wise remarks about needed his super vision to see Scott’s ‘antman.’ Penis jokes being his go-to humour. Black Widow asked (continuing the trend) if he could grow certain parts of his anatomy, while Falcon was still pissy about getting ‘pwned by a noob,’ whatever THAT meant.
Scott’s first assignment had come in a flurry of alarms and sirens, during his lunchbreak. His ‘office’ was equipped with the latest in Stark Tech (including a wink-wink note about ‘private’ browsing being A-ok) and an impressive array of warning systems, all designed to keep the team hooked into current events and threats.
And at 12.05, all those systems had gone off. At once. The alerts all seemed concentrated in one area of Downtown and since he was still unsure of the protocol regarding first responders, Scott went out into the common room to see who was on the job.
Right away, all the other team members started to harangue poor Scott, asking why the hell he was not already on his way to the emergency, while throwing out a list of all the much more important things THEY had to do.
So Scott went. In the van. With that jingling siren.
On arriving, after spending the best part of 25 minutes explaining to a helpful patrolman that he WAS in fact an Avenger (almost) and not just some weirdo in an old motorcycle suit (without a motorcycle), Scott finally began to get the details.
Something was happening around the corner, something involving a vicious beast with claws and fangs, and the fury of at least 3 raging Suns. Or so the patrolman said
.
This frankly sounded like bullshit. But Scott figured it must be something crazy, or every alarm would not have gone off in HQ. And being prepared was never a bad thing.
Psyching himself up with a few sweet ninja-like moves, Scott decided to come out punching, and hit the Grow button on his suit, zapping up to a good 7 meters (because Scott, unlike most Americans, was willing to embrace the Metric system) tall.
He walked boldly around the corner, ready for anything at all.
Expect for a cat. In a tree.
Scott fancied he could hear the giggling going on at HQ, even from here.
World’s Mightiest Dicks, more like.
(obviously this pic is AFTER said kitten jumps down from the tree)
I. Love. This. Doll. Beautiful articulation and capable of way more model-like poses. Gorgeous face and hair. And the fahion is perfection. Elyse stole it from Roxy.
So glad I ordered her!
An extremely capable pair of engines preferred on yard jobs nationwide (which rarely catch these assignments on the R&N) wait for the first inbound train to arrive at North Reading Yard on a late winter evening. RBMN 2010 and 2011 were built as SOU 5139 and 5184, respectively, as evidenced by the illuminated walkway lights on the long hood.
We tried to get as close as we can until the perfect cone vanished and replaced by deep ravines and huge jagged rock outcrops. Its ironic that such majestic beauty is actually capable of wreaking so much violence.
Nikon D40 (Tabaco City CBMS Training, April 2008).
The Space Shuttle Enterprise (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) was the first Space Shuttle orbiter. It was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform test flights in the atmosphere. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of spaceflight. On September 17, 1976 the first full scale prototype was completed.
Very, very well hidden down one of those side-alleyway things next to houses which split with two garages at the end.
Unfortunately, this is long past its best; it has been stood here since 2002. Its current owner acquired it only a year earlier, and 6 Granadas in this spec remain.
This must have been quite a capable tow car in its day.
Gathering wood - Atlas Mountains, Morocco.
Did you know donkeys have excellent memory? They are capable of remembering a place they have been to or other donkeys they met 25 years ago!
This is one of my favourite photos taken in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco during in a cold, late Autumn - after the early snows higher up, had melted quite a bit and as a result leaving lots of older, drier branches broken & fallen by the weight of the snow, now free for collection.
Firewood for cooking and providing heat in these mountain homes is still an essential part of life in many rural parts of the Atlas and a lot of the wood collection is done by older men.
Here we see two men with two laden donkeys with firewood, each taking turn to tell old stories, descending back to their village below.
The Middle Atlas is an important water catchment for the coastal plains and important for biodiversity. It is home to the majority of the world's population of Barbary macaque.
Flora in the mountains include the Atlas cedar, evergreen oak and many semi-evergreen oaks such as the Algerian oak.
The Middle Atlas is completely in Morocco and is the northernmost of its three main Atlas ranges.
The range lies north of the High Atlas, separated by the Moulouya and Oum Er-Rbia rivers, and south of the Rif mountains, separated by the Sebou River. To the west are the main coastal plains of Morocco with many of the major cities and, to the east, the high barren plateau that lies between the Saharan and Tell Atlas. The high point of the range is the jbel Bou Naceur (3340m).
Doug Harrop Photography • June 23, 1993
A trio of capable SD40-2s lug Union Pacific's APOA container train through a steady 1% grade at Clifside, Nevada, eight miles below the 5,994 ft. summit at Silver Zone.
A grade in the upper part of the photo tells the tale of a temporary route WP constructed to open the railroad to service early, prior to the completion of nearby Arnold Loop. The current route is below the temp, and Interstate 80 is below that.
Orbis Energy is the premier location for ambitious companies looking to harness the massive opportunities in offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies unfolding in the southern North Sea.
Providing not only first class office accommodation, meeting rooms and conference facilities, OrbisEnergy also offers tenants, visitors and investors access to an unrivalled offshore renewables business network.
The Ness Point wind turbine in Lowestoft has been aptly named “Gulliver” afte the hero of Jonathan Swift’s novel Gulliver’s Travels by local residents in a poll before its erection and is capable of producing a whopping 2.75MW of electricity. That level of electricity production is enough to supply over 1500 homes and will save in excess of 6000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
The Ness Point Wind Turbine was completed in January 2005 and is situated on UK’s most Easterly point, Ness Point.
We should be born old,
And arrive wise,
To be capable of deciding our worldly fate,
To comprehend from the prime crux what ways begin
And only the wish to walk to feel reckless.
Then should we become younger, and younger, walking,
Mature and strong to arrive
At creation’s gate,
To pass through it and in love entering adolescents,
To be children at our sons’ birth.
Either way, they would then be older than us,
They would teach us to speak, rock us to sleep.
We would disappear even more, becoming even smaller,
Like a grape, like a pea, like a grain of wheat…
The clouds were looking capable of producing a banger sunset on this particular evening but had burned off before any such thing happened. Fortunately, the post-sunset glow was gorgeous and provided just enough color to help balance everything out.
Pano made up of 6 single frames in portrait orientation. I was pretty close to this barn, but because I was shooting ultra-wide (16mm), I ended up stopping down to f/16 and found it unnecessary to focus stack.
Adults are capable of jumping many times their height and length, giving the group their common name, but they are best known for their plant-sucking nymphs which encase themselves in foam in springtime.
can be called truly intelligent :-)
― Christopher Isherwood
HPPT!!
rose, 'Double Delight', little theater rose garden, Raleigh, north carolina
Mandel Explorer One was the First Interstellar Fully Autonomic Self Contained System Capable of Major Self-Repairs was sent on a Mission to Explore the Universe and Forward all Data back to Mission Central’s data collection points Alpha, Charlie and Delta. It was Launched Five Hundred Years Ago on St. Patrick's Day and has performed its Mission flawlessly to date. The Data it has collected has launched several other Ships to other Quadrants of Space. Manned Space Travel is still in very early stages of development. Several New Techniques and Theories look promising using Star Gates for short distances which will be eventually be replaced by onboard Space Folding Generators.
Check out My Website www.rickwillis-photos.com
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Happy Caturday!
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h (50 to 80 mph) with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being 93 and 98 km/h (58 and 61 mph), and as such has several adaptations for speed, including a light build, long thin legs and a long tail.
The cheetah lives in three main social groups, females and their cubs, male "coalitions" and solitary males. While females lead a nomadic life searching for prey in large home ranges, males are more sedentary and may instead establish much smaller territories in areas with plentiful prey and access to females.
The cheetah is active mainly during the day, with peaks during dawn and dusk. It feeds on small- to medium-sized prey, mostly weighing under 40 kg (88 lb), and prefers medium-sized ungulates such as impala, springbok and Thomson's gazelles. The cheetah typically stalks its prey to within 60–70 m (200–230 ft), charges towards it, trips it during the chase and bites its throat to suffocate it to death. -
The cheetah occurs in a variety of habitats such as savannahs in the Serengeti, arid mountain ranges in the Sahara and hilly desert terrain in Iran. The cheetah is threatened by several factors such as habitat loss, conflict with humans, poaching and high susceptibility to diseases. In 2016, the global cheetah population was estimated at around 7,100 individuals in the wild; it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. – Wikipedia
What happens when you are in the right place at the right time. (With a modest, but capable, camera: Pentax Optio 33L)
A Buzzard like this is quite capable of killing rabbits and birds up to the size of a wood pigeons
Sounds like and looks like a genuine 'alpha' predator
Impressive stuff!
Then you discover it's prefered diet is carrion and earthworms (Carrion being the decaying flesh of a dead animal)
Funny how the facts can sometimes take a little of the 'gloss' off things!
Thanks for looking, comments and faves. Much appreciated!
A pair of Amtrak AEM7 Juice Boxes roll an eastbound long distance train through Perryman on the Northeast Corridor on a November afternoon in 1993.
The squat little electrics had been zooming up and down the Mid-Atlantic region for over a decade after replacing the iconic PRR GG1 motor and have established themselves as capable motive power albeit not as classy as the GG1 fleet.
Sometimes unexpected circumstances become gratifyng experiences. Regardless of our transitory subjective perception, we are still capable of bypassing current vicissitudes to embrace the moment.
Thank you for taking the moment to observe.
Visit me at : www.fabphotolight.com
“To be more childlike, you don't have to give up being an adult. The fully integrated person is capable of being both an adult and a child simultaneously. Recapture the childlike feelings of wide-eyed excitement, spontaneous appreciation, cutting loose, and being full of awe and wonder at this magnificent universe.”
- Wayne Dye
Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0hFZPvanMs
SPRING WALTZ - Frédéric Chopin
Always watchful; always kind
you are forever on my mind
in my heart and in my soul
you light my life and make me whole
so many times I fell down broken
you picked me up and soothed my wounds
imparted wisdom; kind words spoken
gave me love and sisterly bond
in this life we may be fragile
by this world we get worn down
on this earth our feet may ache
from all the miles that tarnish our crown
you are a Princess and so am I
but we try to keep us humble
we give out love and light to share
we try to never grumble
but we are human too and bleed
esteem gets cut to ribbons
yet in our hearts sown seeds of love
give us hope and keep us giving
whoever tries to bring us down
we smile at them and leave
one day we hope they'll turn around
and see the path they set and grieve
and we will open up our arms
to welcome them as friends
because we grow like precious flowers
our souls still flourish in stormy rains
never will we let floods drive us out
never will they drown us
we keep each other safe; afloat
and let our love surround us
all are welcome; all are loved
but some close eyes against it
yet one day the ethereal light above
will open their hearts; will let them find us
for now, my Sister, you and I
drift in and out on ebbs and flowing constant tides
that break but always return safely to the shore
a loving heart leaves a window open
or better still, an open door.
- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author
Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission
Important to know: Iguanas are capable of severely injuring people, other animals and themselves when their body language signals are not recognized. Most iguanas clearly sign that trouble is ahead. They nod their head and wave their dewlap side to side. The dewlap is a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of an animal, such as a cow.
Iguanas use their dewlap to communicate. First, an extended dewlap can simply be a greeting, away to say hello to another creature during mating but most generally as a territorial sign. Second, it can be a form of protection. A threatened iguana may extend its dewlap to intimidate a predator into thinking it is much larger than it is. Third, an extended dewlap may be a sign that the iguana is trying to adjust its temperature. An extended dewlap on an iguana basking in the sun is quite normal. It may be catching more sun to warm up or a breeze to cool off. So it's important to see "the big picture" when reading Iguana body language.
Parts of an iguana... www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Up3IVbC...
Biscayne Park, FL
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus; /ˈtʃiːtə/) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h (50 to 80 mph), and as such has several adaptations for speed, including a light build, long thin legs and a long tail. Cheetahs typically reach 67–94 cm (26–37 in) at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 1.1 and 1.5 m (3.6 and 4.9 ft). Adults typically weigh between 20 and 65 kg (44 and 143 lb). Its head is small, rounded, and has a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks. The coat is typically tawny to creamy white or pale buff and is mostly covered with evenly spaced, solid black spots. Four subspecies are recognised.
More gregarious than many other cats, the cheetah has three main social groups—females and their cubs, male 'coalitions' and solitary males. While females lead a nomadic life searching for prey in large home ranges, males are more sedentary and may instead establish much smaller territories in areas with plentiful prey and access to females. The cheetah is active mainly during the day and hunting is the major activity, with peaks during dawn and dusk. It feeds on small- to medium-sized prey weighing mostly below 40 kg (88 lb), and prefers medium-sized ungulates such as impala, springbok and Thomson's gazelles. The cheetah will typically stalk its prey to within 60–70 m (200–230 ft), charge towards it, trip it during the chase and bite its throat to suffocate it to death. Breeding occurs throughout the year; after a gestation of nearly three months a litter of typically three to five cubs is born; cheetah cubs are highly vulnerable to predation by other large carnivores such as hyenas and lions. Weaning happens at around four months, and cubs are independent by around 20 months of age.
The cheetah occurs in a variety of habitats such as savannahs in the Serengeti, arid mountain ranges in the Sahara and hilly desert terrain in Iran. The cheetah is threatened by habitat loss, conflict with humans and poaching. Earlier ranging throughout most of Sub Saharan Africa and extending eastward into the Middle East up to the Indian subcontinent, the cheetah is now distributed in mainly small, fragmented populations in central Iran and southern, eastern and northwestern Africa. In 2016, the global cheetah population was estimated at around 7,100 individuals in the wild; it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In the past, cheetahs used to be tamed and trained for hunting ungulates. They have been widely depicted in art, literature, advertising, and animation.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest and most powerful feline in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Mexico across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Apart from a known and possibly breeding population in Arizona (southeast of Tucson), the cat has largely been extirpated from the United States since the early 1900s.
This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it is usually larger and of sturdier build and its behavioral and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the tiger. While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open terrain. It is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming. The jaguar is a largely solitary, stalk-and-ambush predator, and is opportunistic in prey selection. It is also an apex and keystone predator, playing an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating the populations of prey species. The jaguar has an exceptionally powerful bite, even relative to the other big cats.[3] This allows it to pierce the shells of armoured reptiles[4] and to employ an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the skull of prey between the ears to deliver a fatal bite to the brain.[5]
The jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation. While international trade in jaguars or their parts is prohibited, the cat is still regularly killed by humans, particularly in conflicts with ranchers and farmers in South America. Although reduced, its range remains large; given its historical distribution, the jaguar has featured prominently in the mythology of numerous indigenous American cultures, including that of the Maya and Aztec.
Etymology
A jaguar at the Milwaukee County Zoological GardensThe word jaguar is pronounced /ˈdʒæɡwɑr/ or, in British English, /ˈdʒæɡjuː.ər/. It comes to English from one of the Tupi-Guarani languages, presumably the Amazonian trade language Tupinambá, via Portuguese jaguar.[6] The Tupian word, yaguara "beast", sometimes translated as "dog",[7][8] is used for any carnivorous mammal.[9] The specific word for jaguar is yaguareté, with the suffix -eté meaning "real" or "true".[6][9][10]
The first component of its taxonomic designation, Panthera, is Latin, from the Greek word for leopard, πάνθηρ, the type species for the genus. This has been said to derive from the παν- "all" and θήρ from θηρευτής "predator", meaning "predator of all" (animals), though this may be a folk etymology[11]—it may instead be ultimately of Sanskrit origin, from pundarikam, the Sanskrit word for "tiger".[12]
Onca is the Portuguese onça, with the cedilla dropped for typographical reasons, found in English as ounce for the Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia. It derives from the Latin lyncea lynx, with the letter L confused with the definite article (Italian lonza, Old French l'once).[13]
In many Central and South American countries, the cat is referred to as el tigre ("the tiger")
Taxonomy
The jaguar, Panthera onca, is the only extant New World member of the Panthera genus. DNA evidence shows that the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, and clouded leopard share a common ancestor and that this group is between six and ten million years old;[14] the fossil record points to the emergence of Panthera just two to 3.8 million years ago.[14][15] Phylogenetic studies generally have shown that the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is basal to this group.[14][16][17][18] The position of the remaining species varies between studies and is effectively unresolved.
Based on morphological evidence, British zoologist Reginald Pocock concluded that the jaguar is most closely related to the leopard.[18] However, DNA evidence is inconclusive and the position of the jaguar relative to the other species varies between studies.[14][16][17][18] Fossils of extinct Panthera species, such as the European Jaguar (Panthera gombaszoegensis) and the American Lion (Panthera atrox), show characteristics of both the lion and the jaguar.[18] Analysis of jaguar mitochondrial DNA has dated the species lineage to between 280,000 and 510,000 years ago, later than suggested by fossil records.[19Geographical variation
While numerous subspecies of the jaguar have been recognized, recent research suggests just three. Geographical barriers, such as the Amazon river, limit gene flow within the species.The last taxonomic delineation of the jaguar subspecies was performed by Pocock in 1939. Based on geographic origins and skull morphology, he recognized eight subspecies. However, he did not have access to sufficient specimens to critically evaluate all subspecies, and he expressed doubt about the status of several. Later consideration of his work suggested only three subspecies should be recognized.[20]
Recent studies have also failed to find evidence for well defined subspecies, and are no longer recognized.[21] Larson (1997) studied the morphological variation in the jaguar and showed that there is clinal north–south variation, but also that the differentiation within the supposed subspecies is larger than that between them and thus does not warrant subspecies subdivision.[22] A genetic study by Eizirik and coworkers in 2001 confirmed the absence of a clear geographical subspecies structure, although they found that major geographical barriers such as the Amazon River limited the exchange of genes between the different populations.[19] A subsequent, more detailed, study confirmed the predicted population structure within the Colombian jaguars.[23]
Pocock's subspecies divisions are still regularly listed in general descriptions of the cat.[24] Seymour grouped these in three subspecies.[20]
Panthera onca onca: Venezuela through the Amazon, including
P. onca peruviana (Peruvian Jaguar): Coastal Peru
P. onca hernandesii (Mexican Jaguar): Western Mexico – including
P. onca centralis (Central American Jaguar): El Salvador to Colombia
P. onca arizonensis (Arizonan Jaguar): Southern Arizona to Sonora, Mexico
P. onca veraecrucis: Central Texas to Southeastern Mexico
P. onca goldmani (Goldman's Jaguar): Yucatán Peninsula to Belize and Guatemala
P. onca palustris (the largest subspecies, weighing more than 135 kg or 300 lb):[25] The Pantanal regions of Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, along the Paraguay River into Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Physical characteristics
The jaguar is a compact and well-muscled animal. There are significant variations in size and weight: weights are normally in the range of 56–96 kilograms (124–211 lb). Larger males have been recorded at 160 kilograms (350 lb)[26] (roughly matching a tigress or lioness), and smaller ones have extremely low weights of 36 kilograms (80 lb). Females are typically 10–20% smaller than males. The length of the cat varies from 1.62–1.83 metres (5.3–6 ft), and its tail may add a further 75 centimeters (30 in). It stands about 67–76 centimeters (27–30 in) tall at the shoulders.[27]
The head of the jaguar is robust and the jaw extremely powerful. The size of jaguars tends to increase the farther south they are located.
Jaguar skull and jawboneFurther variations in size have been observed across regions and habitats, with size tending to increase from the north to south. A study of the jaguar in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve on the Mexican Pacific coast, showed ranges of just 30–50 kilograms (66–110 lb), about the size of the cougar.[28] By contrast, a study of the Jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal region found average weights of 100 kilograms (220 lb) and weights of 300 lb or more are not uncommon in old males.[29] Forest jaguars are frequently darker and considerably smaller than those found in open areas (the Pantanal is an open wetland basin), possibly due to the smaller numbers of large herbivorous prey in forest areas.[30]
A short and stocky limb structure makes the jaguar adept at climbing, crawling and swimming.[27] The head is robust and the jaw extremely powerful. The jaguar has the strongest bite of all felids capable of biting down with 2000 lbs of force twice the strength of a lion, and the second strongest of all mammals after the spotted hyena; this strength is an adaptation that allows the jaguar to pierce turtle shells.[4] A comparative study of bite force adjusted for body size ranked it as the top felid, alongside the clouded leopard and ahead of the lion and tiger.[31] It has been reported that "an individual jaguar can drag a 360 kg (800 lb) bull 8 m (25 ft) in its jaws and pulverize the heaviest bones".[32] The jaguar hunts wild animals weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 lb) in dense jungle, and its short and sturdy physique is thus an adaptation to its prey and environment.
A melanistic jaguar. Melanism is the result of a dominant allele but remains relatively rare in jaguars.The base coat of the jaguar is generally a tawny yellow, but can range to reddish-brown and black. The cat is covered in rosettes for camouflage in its jungle habitat. The spots vary over individual coats and between individual Jaguars: rosettes may include one or several dots, and the shape of the dots varies. The spots on the head and neck are generally solid, as are those on the tail, where they may merge to form a band. The underbelly, throat and outer surface of the legs and lower flanks are white.[27]
A condition known as melanism occurs in the species. The melanistic form is less common than the spotted form (it occurs at about six percent of the population)[33] of jaguars and is the result of a dominant allele.[34] Jaguars with melanism appear entirely black, although their spots are still visible on close examination. Melanistic Jaguars are informally known as black panthers, but do not form a separate species. Rare albino individuals, sometimes called white panthers, also occur among jaguars, as with the other big cats.[30]
While the jaguar closely resembles the leopard, it is sturdier and heavier, and the two animals can be distinguished by their rosettes: the rosettes on a jaguar's coat are larger, fewer in number, usually darker, and have thicker lines and small spots in the middle that the leopard lacks. Jaguars also have rounder heads and shorter, stockier limbs compared to leopards.[35
[edit] Reproduction and life cycle
Jaguar females reach sexual maturity at about two years of age, and males at three or four. The cat is believed to mate throughout the year in the wild, although births may increase when prey is plentiful.[36] Research on captive male jaguars supports the year-round mating hypothesis, with no seasonal variation in semen traits and ejaculatory quality; low reproductive success has also been observed in captivity.[37] Female estrous is 6–17 days out of a full 37-day cycle, and females will advertise fertility with urinary scent marks and increased vocalization.[36] Both sexes will range more widely than usual during courtship.
Mother about to pick up a cub by the neckMating pairs separate after the act, and females provide all parenting. The gestation period lasts 93–105 days; females give birth to up to four cubs, and most commonly to two. The mother will not tolerate the presence of males after the birth of cubs, given a risk of infanticide; this behaviour is also found in the tiger.[38]
The young are born blind, gaining sight after two weeks. Cubs are weaned at three months but remain in the birth den for six months before leaving to accompany their mother on hunts.[39] They will continue in their mother's company for one to two years before leaving to establish a territory for themselves. Young males are at first nomadic, jostling with their older counterparts until they succeed in claiming a territory. Typical lifespan in the wild is estimated at around 12–15 years; in captivity, the jaguar lives up to 23 years, placing it among the longest-lived cats.[29]
Social activity
Like most cats, the jaguar is solitary outside mother-cub groups. Adults generally meet only to court and mate (though limited non-courting socialization has been observed anecdotally[38]) and carve out large territories for themselves. Female territories, which range from 25 to 40 square kilometers in size, may overlap, but the animals generally avoid one another. Male ranges cover roughly twice as much area, varying in size with the availability of game and space, and do not overlap.[38][40] The jaguar uses scrape marks, urine, and feces to mark its territory.[41]
Like the other big cats, the jaguar is capable of roaring (the male more powerfully) and does so to warn territorial and mating competitors away; intensive bouts of counter-calling between individuals have been observed in the wild.[42] Their roar often resembles a repetitive cough, and they may also vocalize mews and grunts.[29] Mating fights between males occur, but are rare, and aggression avoidance behaviour has been observed in the wild.[41] When it occurs, conflict is typically over territory: a male's range may encompass that of two or three females, and he will not tolerate intrusions by other adult males.[38]
The jaguar is often described as nocturnal, but is more specifically crepuscular (peak activity around dawn and dusk). Both sexes hunt, but males travel further each day than females, befitting their larger territories. The jaguar may hunt during the day if game is available and is a relatively energetic feline, spending as much as 50–60% of its time active.[30] The jaguar's elusive nature and the inaccessibility of much of its preferred habitat make it a difficult animal to sight, let alone study.
Hunting and diet
Illustration of a jaguar battling a boa constrictor
Illustration of a jaguar killing a tapirLike all cats, the jaguar is an obligate carnivore, feeding only on meat. It is an opportunistic hunter and its diet encompasses 87 species.[30] The jaguar prefers large prey and will take adult caiman, deer, capybara, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, foxes, and sometimes even anacondas . However, the cat will eat any small species that can be caught, including frogs, mice, birds, fish, sloths, monkeys, and turtles; a study conducted in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, for example, revealed that jaguars there had a diet that consisted primarily of armadillos and pacas.[41] Some jaguars will also take domestic livestock, including adult cattle and horses.[43]
The jaguar has an exceptionally powerful bite, even relative to the other big cats. It is an adaptation that allows it to pierce the shells of armoured reptiles.While the jaguar employs the deep-throat bite-and-suffocation technique typical among Panthera, it prefers a killing method unique amongst cats: it pierces directly through the temporal bones of the skull between the ears of prey (especially the Capybara) with its canine teeth, piercing the brain.[44] This may be an adaptation to "cracking open" turtle shells; following the late Pleistocene extinctions, armoured reptiles such as turtles would have formed an abundant prey base for the jaguar.[30][42] The skull bite is employed with mammals in particular; with reptiles such as caiman, the jaguar may leap on to the back of the prey and sever the cervical vertebrae, immobilizing the target. While capable of cracking turtle shells, the jaguar may simply reach into the shell and scoop out the flesh.[38] With prey such as smaller dogs, a paw swipe to the skull may be sufficient in killing it.
The jaguar is a stalk-and-ambush rather than a chase predator. The cat will walk slowly down forest paths, listening for and stalking prey before rushing or ambushing. The jaguar attacks from cover and usually from a target's blind spot with a quick pounce; the species' ambushing abilities are considered nearly peerless in the animal kingdom by both indigenous people and field researchers, and are probably a product of its role as an apex predator in several different environments. The ambush may include leaping into water after prey, as a jaguar is quite capable of carrying a large kill while swimming; its strength is such that carcasses as large as a heifer can be hauled up a tree to avoid flood levels.[38]
On killing prey, the jaguar will drag the carcass to a thicket or other secluded spot. It begins eating at the neck and chest, rather than the midsection. The heart and lungs are consumed, followed by the shoulders.[38] The daily food requirement of a 34 kilogram animal, at the extreme low end of the species' weight range, has been estimated at 1.4 kilograms.[45] For captive animals in the 50–60 kilogram range, more than 2 kilograms of meat daily is recommended.[46] In the wild, consumption is naturally more erratic; wild cats expend considerable energy in the capture and kill of prey, and may consume up to 25 kilograms of meat at one feeding, followed by periods of famine.[47] Unlike all other species in the Panthera genus, jaguars very rarely attack humans. Most of the scant cases where jaguars turn to taking a human show that the animal is either old with damaged teeth or is wounded.[48] Sometimes, if scared, jaguars in captivity may lash out at zookeepers.[49]
[edit] Ecology
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The jaguar has been attested in the fossil record for two million years[24] and it has been an American cat since crossing the Bering Land Bridge during the Pleistocene epoch; the immediate ancestor of modern animals is Panthera onca augusta, which was larger than the contemporary cat.[23] Its present range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America, including much of Amazonian Brazil.[50] The countries included in this range are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (particularly on the Osa Peninsula), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States and Venezuela. The jaguar is now extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay.[2] It occurs in the 400 km² Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, the 5,300 km² Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, the approximately 15,000 km² Manú National Park in Peru, the approximately 26,000 km² Xingu National Park in Brazil, and numerous other reserves throughout its range.
The jaguar can range across a variety of forested and open habitat, but is strongly associated with presence of water.The inclusion of the United States in the list is based on occasional sightings in the southwest, particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In the early 1900s, the jaguar's range extended as far north as the Grand Canyon, and as far west as Southern California.[45] The jaguar is a protected species in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, which has stopped the shooting of the animal for its pelt. In 2004, wildlife officials in Arizona photographed and documented jaguars in the southern part of the state. For any permanent population to thrive, protection from killing, an adequate prey base, and connectivity with Mexican populations are essential.[51] On February 25, 2009 a 118 lb Jaguar was caught, radio-collared and released in an area southwest of Tucson, Arizona; this is farther north than had previously been expected and represents a sign that there may be a permanent breeding population of Jaguars within southern Arizona. It was later confirmed that the animal is indeed the same male individual (known as 'Macho B') that was photographed in 2004 and is now the oldest known Jaguar in the wild (approximately 15 years old.)[52] On Monday March 2, 2009, Macho B, which is the only jaguar spotted in the U.S. in more than a decade, was recaptured and euthanized after he was found to be suffering from kidney failure.[53]
Completion of the United States–Mexico barrier as currently proposed will reduce the viability of any population currently residing in the United States, by reducing gene flow with Mexican populations, and prevent any further northward expansion for the species.[54]
The historic range of the species included much of the southern half of the United States, and in the south extended much farther to cover most of the South American continent. In total, its northern range has receded 1,000 kilometers southward and its southern range 2,000 km northward. Ice age fossils of the jaguar, dated between 40,000 and 11,500 years ago, have been discovered in the United States, including some at an important site as far north as Missouri. Fossil evidence shows jaguars of up to 190 kg (420 lb), much larger than the contemporary average for the animal.[55]
The habitat of the cat includes the rain forests of South and Central America, open, seasonally flooded wetlands, and dry grassland terrain. Of these habitats, the jaguar much prefers dense forest;[30] the cat has lost range most rapidly in regions of drier habitat, such as the Argentinian pampas, the arid grasslands of Mexico, and the southwestern United States.[2] The cat will range across tropical, subtropical, and dry deciduous forests (including, historically, oak forests in the United States). The jaguar is strongly associated with water and it often prefers to live by rivers, swamps, and in dense rainforest with thick cover for stalking prey. Jaguars have been found at elevations as high as 3,800 m, but they typically avoid montane forest and are not found in the high plateau of central Mexico or in the Andes.[30]
Substantial evidence exists that there is also a colony of non-native melanistic leopards or jaguars inhabiting the rainforests around Sydney, Australia. A local report compiled statements from over 450 individuals recounting their stories of sighting large black cats in the area and confidential NSW Government documents regarding the matter proved wildlife authorities were so concerned about the big cats and the danger to humans, they commissioned an expert to catch it. The three-day hunt later failed, but ecologist Johannes J. Bauer warned: "Difficult as it seems to accept, the most likely explanation is the presence of a large, feline predator. In this area, [it is] most likely a leopard, less likely a jaguar."[56]
Ecological role
The adult jaguar is an apex predator, meaning that it exists at the top of its food chain and is not preyed on in the wild. The jaguar has also been termed a keystone species, as it is assumed, through controlling the population levels of prey such as herbivorous and granivorous mammals, apex felids maintain the structural integrity of forest systems.[28][57] However, accurately determining what effect species like the jaguar have on ecosystems is difficult, because data must be compared from regions where the species is absent as well as its current habitats, while controlling for the effects of human activity. It is accepted that mid-sized prey species undergo population increases in the absence of the keystone predators and it has been hypothesized that this has cascading negative effects.[58] However, field work has shown this may be natural variability and that the population increases may not be sustained. Thus, the keystone predator hypothesis is not favoured by all scientists.[59]
The jaguar also has an effect on other predators. The jaguar and the cougar, the next largest feline of the Americas, are often sympatric (related species sharing overlapping territory) and have often been studied in conjunction. Where sympatric with the jaguar, the cougar is smaller than normal and is smaller than the local jaguars. The jaguar tends to take larger prey and the cougar smaller, reducing the latter's size.[60] This situation may be advantageous to the cougar. Its broader prey niche, including its ability to take smaller prey, may give it an advantage over the jaguar in human-altered landscapes;[28] while both are classified as near-threatened species, the cougar has a significantly larger current distribution.
[edit] Conservation status
Jaguar populations are rapidly declining. The animal is considered Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,[2] meaning it may be threatened with extinction in the near future. The loss of parts of its range, including its virtual elimination from its historic northern areas and the increasing fragmentation of the remaining range, have contributed to this status. The 1960s saw particularly significant declines, with more than 15,000 jaguar skins brought out of the Brazilian Amazon yearly; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of 1973 brought about a sharp decline in the pelt trade.[61] Detailed work performed under the auspices of the Wildlife Conservation Society reveal that the animal has lost 37% of its historic range, with its status unknown in an additional 18%. More encouragingly, the probability of long-term survival was considered high in 70% of its remaining range, particularly in the Amazon basin and the adjoining Gran Chaco and Pantanal.[50]
The major risks to the jaguar include deforestation across its habitat, increasing competition for food with human beings,[2] poaching, hurricanes in northern parts of its range, and the behaviour of ranchers who will often kill the cat where it preys on livestock. When adapted to the prey, the jaguar has been shown to take cattle as a large portion of its diet; while land clearance for grazing is a problem for the species, the jaguar population may have increased when cattle were first introduced to South America as the animals took advantage of the new prey base. This willingness to take livestock has induced ranch owners to hire full-time jaguar hunters, and the cat is often shot on sight.[29]
The Pantanal, Brazil, seen here in flood condition, is a critical jaguar range area.The jaguar is regulated as an Appendix I species under CITES: all international trade in jaguars or their parts is prohibited. All hunting of jaguars is prohibited in Argentina, Belize, Colombia, French Guiana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, the United States (where it is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act), Uruguay and Venezuela. Hunting of jaguars is restricted to "problem animals" in Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru, while trophy hunting is still permitted in Bolivia. The species has no legal protection in Ecuador or Guyana.[24]
Current conservation efforts often focus on educating ranch owners and promoting ecotourism.[62] The jaguar is generally defined as an umbrella species — a species whose home range and habitat requirements are sufficiently broad that, if protected, numerous other species of smaller range will also be protected.[63] Umbrella species serve as "mobile links" at the landscape scale, in the jaguar's case through predation. Conservation organizations may thus focus on providing viable, connected habitat for the jaguar, with the knowledge that other species will also benefit.[62]
Given the inaccessibility of much of the species' range—particularly the central Amazon—estimating jaguar numbers is difficult. Researchers typically focus on particular bioregions, and thus species-wide analysis is scant. In 1991, 600–1,000 (the highest total) were estimated to be living in Belize. A year earlier, 125–180 jaguars were estimated to be living in Mexico's 4,000 square kilometer (2400 mi²) Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, with another 350 in the state of Chiapas. The adjoining Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, with an area measuring 15,000 square kilometers (9,000 mi²), may have 465–550 animals.[64] Work employing GPS–telemetry in 2003 and 2004 found densities of only six to seven jaguars per 100 square kilometers in the critical Pantanal region, compared with 10 to 11 using traditional methods; this suggests that widely used sampling methods may inflate the actual numbers of cats.[65]
On 7 January 2008 United States Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall approved a decision by the George W. Bush Administration to abandon jaguar recovery as a federal goal under the Endangered Species Act. Some critics of the decision said that the jaguar is being sacrificed for the government's new border fence, which is to be built along many of the cat's typical crossings between the United States and Mexico.[66]
In the past, conservation of jaguars sometimes occurred through the protection of jaguar "hotspots". These hotspots were described as Jaguar Conservation Units, and were large areas populated by about 50 jaguars. However, some researchers recently determined that, in order to maintain a robust sharing of the jaguar gene pool necessary for maintaining the species, it is important that the jaguars be interconnected. To effect this, a new project, the Paseo del Jaguar, as been established to connect the jaguar hotspots.[67]
Fonte-Wikipedia.
Vespula vulgaris is a eusocial vespid that builds its tan paper nest in or on a structure capable of supporting it. A founding queen searches for a hollow tree, wall cavity, rock crevice, or even a mammal-made hole to build a nest. One colony cycle lasts for about 6–11 months and each colony cycle produces around 3000–8000 larvae.
The extraordinary adaptation skills of V. vulgaris enable it to live in a wide range of habitats, from very humid areas to artificial environments such as gardens and human structures. This species, along with other wasp species such as V. germanica, has impacted the ecosystem, especially those in New Zealand and Australia, where they were imported by humans, and frequently cause damage to fruit crops and endanger humans.
Adult workers of V. vulgaris measure about 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) from head to tip of abdomen, and weigh 84.1 ± 19.0 mg, whereas the queen is about 20 mm (0.8 in) long. It has aposematic colors of black and yellow; yellow pronotal bands which are almost parallel to each other and black dots and rings on its abdomen. The queens and workers appear very similar to Vespula germanica, except when they are seen head on, as the V. vulgaris face lacks the three black dots of V. germanica. Instead, each has only one black mark on its clypeus, which is usually anchor or dagger-shaped. This applies to queens and workers only. In addition, identification of this species may be difficult because the black mark on its clypeus can sometimes appear broken, making it again look similar to V. germanica. It is prudent to use multiple identifying characteristics and if in any doubt to consult experts.
Still more difficult to distinguish between species are the males. Almost undetectable with the naked eye, the only confident identification of V. vulgaris males is to seek the distinct aedeagus tip shapes and lateral processes of their genitalia.
Photo taken through Glass!
Lion
Of all the great cats, the lion has always held a supreme place in man's esteem and imagination. The lion has always been honored by man, crediting the regal beast with attributes he prizes most; nobility, courage, loyalty, combative skills and sexual prowess. This attribution applies to both sexes, for a lioness is a creature of sinuous beauty ,but the full-grown male, whose magnificent mane ranging in color from a rich golden brown to a deep blackish-brown, mark him as the veritable monarch of the plains. The legacy of the lion, King of Beasts, as the model throughout history is demonstrated by its appearance among the earliest drawings made by humans over 15,000 years ago.
Zoological name: Panthera leo
Species: Of the known sub-species of lion there seems to be an agreement on 2 as far as genetics go - Pantherinae Panthera leo leo - the African lion, and Pantherinae Panthera leo persica - the Asian lion. Regardless of the area of Africa a lion is found in today, their DNA analysis has shown them to be the same, whereas there is a difference between African and Asian. As of the time of this writing, the Barbary lion has never been tested and compared to these results, and may in fact be a third and distinct lion sub-specie.
Presence on the planet: The lion was once found from northern Africa through southwest Asia (extinct in most countries within past 150 years), west into Europe (extinct 2000 years ago) and east into India (relict population in Gir Forest only). Today, the majority of Africa’s lions can be found in east and southern Africa, with a small number in west Africa. Most of the lions today exist inside protected areas. No accurate number of how many lions exist in the wild has been reported, but guesstimates are between 30,000-100,000.
Habitat: Lion prides are often found in the open plains, but are known from nearly all habitats except deep desert and rainforest. Lions climb trees to rest and cool off, or sometimes to escape stampedes. During the day, lions rest by water holes or salt licks, but at night these places are usually reserved for hunting.
Physical appearance: Males range from 172 to 250 cm in body length, females from 158 to 192 cm. Tail length varies between 60 and 100 cm in length. Females are 45 to 68 kilograms lighter than the average-size male, but have an equal muscle mass. Males weigh between 150 and 260 kg while females weigh between 122 and 182 kg.Lions have a broad face, rounded ears, and a relatively short neck. Male lions have a mane, which varies in color. It usually is a silverish-grey or a yellowish-red. The darker the mane the older the lion. Captive lions are known to have longer and fuller manes than wild lions. The underside of males is a buff color, while the females' underside is whitish in color. Both sexes have sharp retractable claws on each paw and powerful shoulders, which they use to bring down their prey. Hinge-like jaws containing 5 centimeter canines also aid the lion in hunting and catching their prey.
Diet: Lions are very opportunistic eaters, and will take almost any prey ranging from small rodents to young rhinos, hippos and elephants. The majority of its prey, however, is medium to large ungulates, most notably zebra, wildebeest, impala, warthog, hartebeest and waterbuck. They will stay away from adult rhinos, hippos, elephants and even giraffes. The females do most of the hunting, and the male will come and join the females after the kill is made. The females will make way for the males and allow him to eat his fill first. Males will participate on a hunt when it is a particularly large prey item - like a water buffalo - where his size and strength is required to bring down such a large animal (although enough females can do it successfully on their own). Males must also hunt during their bachelor stages, when there are no females to take care of them.
Reproduction & Offspring: Lions will reproduce any time of the year, and all females of reproductive maturity will breed at the same time. This allows them to give birth in synchrony with each other, thereby sharing the suckling responsibilities. Any lactating female in a pride will suckle any cub that belongs to the pride. Lions give birth to 1-6 cubs after a gestation of 110 days. The cubs are born blind and helpless, and weigh approximately 2-4 pounds. Cub mortality is very high in lions, and less than half will survive their first year. Young males will leave their pride between 2-4 years if they can get away with staying that long, but sometimes they are forced out as early as 13-20 months. Females remain with their natal pride most of the time, although some will disperse and form new prides. While male lions are physically capable of reproducing at 30 months and females at 24 months, they do not generally successfully reproduce until pride membership has been firmly established.
Conservation status: Lions are generally considered problem animals whose existence is at odds with human settlements and cattle culture. Their scavenging behavior makes them highly susceptible to poisoned carcasses put out to eliminate predators. Where the wild prey is migratory, lions will predate on captive stock during the lean season, thus making the nuisance animals and easy targets for humans to eliminate.
Windlight: ColeMarie's Windlight Set: Cloudy Day (sunset)
i made a youtube video comparing PBR items in Alchemy Beta (PBR capable viewer) and Firestorm (currently nonPBR viewer) just to see the differences.
my youtube video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTG5L51WH9M
If you make it over there, let me know what you think.
Firestorm is working on adding PBR. If you want to join their beta testing group to test their pbr viewer, go to their website and click the link to join their beta group in SL.
Alchemy beta does not have all the whistles and bells of Firestorm. For example, no area search which as a hunter, I really like. However, it does have some other advantages. PBR is one. That's very cool. Frame rate is faster. and you can do alt shift C for cinema mode for pictures and videos and the UI and huds disappear. Nice!
However, I know where things are in Firestorm so I'm very comfy with it.
The coolest thing about PBR: realtime reflections so you can have mirrors.
plein écran - full screen - Vollbild - pantalla completa
🇫🇷 Le grand koudou est un mammifère herbivore de la famille des bovidés vivant dans la savane arborée africaine.il est capable de franchir des obstacles de 2,50 m de haut et échappe aisément aux prédateurs. Sur terrain plat, c’est une autre histoire ! Sa course, gauche et lente, en fait une proie facile.Le grand koudou possède de grandes oreilles qui lui permettent de bien entendre, une crête de poils sur le dos ainsi qu’une robe striée de 6 à 10 raies verticales blanches. Le mâle se différencie de la femelle par une frange de poils partant du cou jusqu’au poitrail et par la présence de grandes cornes spiralées de 1,20 à 1,80 mètre.
🇬🇧 The greater kudu is a herbivorous mammal of the bovid family that lives in the African tree savannah. It can leap over obstacles 2.50 m high and easily evades predators. On flat ground, however, it's a different story! The greater kudu has large ears that enable it to hear clearly, a crest of hair on its back and a coat streaked with 6 to 10 vertical white stripes. The male can be distinguished from the female by a fringe of hair running from the neck to the chest and by the presence of large spiral horns measuring 1.20 to 1.80 metres.
🇩🇪 Der Große Kudu ist ein pflanzenfressendes Säugetier aus der Familie der Bovidae, das in der afrikanischen Baumsavanne lebt.Er kann bis zu 2,50 m hohe Hindernisse überwinden und entkommt Raubtieren mühelos. Auf ebenem Gelände sieht das schon anders aus! Der Große Kudu hat große Ohren, mit denen er gut hören kann, einen Haarkamm auf dem Rücken und ein Fell, das mit 6 bis 10 weißen, vertikalen Streifen durchzogen ist. Das Männchen unterscheidet sich vom Weibchen durch einen Haarkranz, der sich vom Hals bis zur Brust zieht, und durch die großen, spiralförmigen Hörner, die 1,20 bis 1,80 Meter lang sind.
🇪🇸 El gran kudú es un mamífero herbívoro de la familia de los bóvidos que vive en la sabana arbórea africana. Puede saltar obstáculos de 2,50 m de altura y esquivar fácilmente a los depredadores. En terreno llano, sin embargo, la cosa cambia. El gran kudú tiene grandes orejas que le permiten oír con claridad, una cresta de pelo en el lomo y un pelaje con entre 6 y 10 rayas blancas verticales. El macho se distingue de la hembra por una franja de pelo que va del cuello al pecho y por la presencia de grandes cuernos en espiral de 1,20 a 1,80 metros.
This ship is uniquely capable of creating separations in spacetime and opening rifts in the fabric of the universe through which it can travel great distances in an instant.
Loads of thanks to Pete & Mike for being my capable lighting assistants!! Pete spun the domes for me whilst Mike lit up the walls a little more with an LED torch. I was hoping that the light from the domes would light up the walls but it wasn't quite enough.
It's a single long exposure, but with a piece of black card in front of the lens whilst Pete & Mike were moving places & getting set up. Even at dusk, had to contend with joggers/walkers using the tunnel, who gave us odd looks, lol!