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The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus Megaptera.
The adult humpback whale is generally 14–15 m (46–49 ft), though longer lengths of 16–17 m (52–56 ft) have been recorded. Females are usually 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) longer than males.
The species can reach body masses of 40 metric tons (44 short tons). Calves are born at around 4.3 m (14 ft) long with a weight of 680 kg (1,500 lb).
The body is bulky with a thin rostrum and proportionally long flippers, each around one-third of its body length.[15][16] It has a short dorsal fin that varies from nearly non-existent to somewhat long and curved.
As a rorqual, the humpback has grooves between the tip of the lower jaw and the navel. They are relatively few in number in this species, ranging from 14–35. The mouth is lined with baleen plates, which number 270-400 for both sides.
Unique among large whales, humpbacks have bumps or tubercles on the head and front edge of the flippers; the tail fluke has a jagged trailing edge.
The tubercles on the head are 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) thick at the base and poke up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in). They are mostly hollow in the center, often containing at least one fragile hair that erupts 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) from the skin and is 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) thick. The tubercles develop early in the womb and may have a sensory function as they are rich in nerves.
The dorsal or upper-side of the animal is generally black; the ventral or underside has various levels of black and white coloration. Whales in the southern hemisphere tend to have more white pigmentation. The flippers can vary from all-white to white only on the undersurface.
The varying color patterns and scars on the tail flukes distinguish individual animals. The end of the genital slit of the female is marked by a round feature, known as the hemispherical lobe, which visually distinguishes males and females.
This image was taken from the breakwater at Honningsvag Harbour in Norway
While Buckeyes have new broods through most of the year, only the Autumn brood can exhibit seasonal polyphenism,
also known as polyphenic pigmentation, which is adaptive for insect species that undergo multiple matings each year, and in the Buckeye, this results in distinctly eye catching rose colored ventral wings! Known as a 'rosa morph', their color variation is an Autumn delight!
Different pigmentation patterns provide appropriate camouflage throughout the seasons, as well as alter heat retention as temperatures change. The Summer version of the Common Buckeye has light yellowish ventral wings and is called the 'linea morph'...
This rare, 9-month old male white lion was photographed in the Timbavati Game Reserve, adjoining Kruger National Park in South Africa. During our visit to South Africa last summer (2019), there were only three white lions known to exist in the wild. We were privileged to see two of them.
Flickr EXPLORE 5/12/2020 - Thank You!
The butterfly is visible within the chrysalis and will emerge within a day. The shed skin of the caterpillar can still be seen at the top of the chrysalis.
"Just before the monarchs emerge, their black, orange, and white wing patterns are visible through the pupa covering. This is not because the pupa becomes transparent; it is because the pigmentation on the scales only develops at the very end of the pupa stage. " from the University of Minnesota, monarchlab.org/biology-and-research/biology-and-natural-h...
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Monarch_Chrysalis-0493-sc01
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All ten extant salamander families are grouped together under the order Urodela. Salamander diversity is highest in eastern North America, especially in the Appalachian Mountains; most species are found in the Holarctic realm, with some species present in the Neotropical realm.
Salamanders rarely have more than four toes on their front legs and five on their rear legs, but some species have fewer digits and others lack hind limbs. Their permeable skin usually makes them reliant on habitats in or near water or other cool, damp places. Some salamander species are fully aquatic throughout their lives, some take to the water intermittently, and others are entirely terrestrial as adults.
This group of amphibians is capable of regenerating lost limbs as well as other damaged parts of their bodies. Researchers hope to reverse engineer the regenerative processes for potential human medical applications, such as brain and spinal cord injury treatment or preventing harmful scarring during heart surgery recovery.
Members of the family Salamandridae are mostly known as newts and lack the costal grooves along the sides of their bodies typical of other groups. The skin of some species contains the powerful poison tetrodotoxin; these salamanders tend to be slow-moving and have bright warning coloration to advertise their toxicity. Salamanders typically lay eggs in water and have aquatic larvae, but great variation occurs in their life cycles. Some species in harsh environments reproduce while still in the larval state.
The skin lacks scales and is moist and smooth to the touch, except in newts of the Salamandridae, which may have velvety or warty skin, wet to the touch. The skin may be drab or brightly colored, exhibiting various patterns of stripes, bars, spots, blotches, or dots. Male newts become dramatically colored during the breeding season. Cave species dwelling in darkness lack pigmentation and have a translucent pink or pearlescent appearance.
Salamanders range in size from the minute salamanders, with a total length of 27 mm (1+1⁄8 in), including the tail, to the Chinese giant salamander which reaches 1.8 m (6 ft) and weighs up to 65 kg (145 lb). Most, however, are between 10 and 20 cm (4 and 8 in) in length.
A pristine specimen of a freshly expired Dragonfly, upon which I almost stepped on while walking on a local trail, was meticulously picked up and carried home for this examination of its anatomic features through macro and ultra-macro photography with emphasis placed on capturing the details of the insect’s fascinating compound eyes even though this specimen lost its pigmentation during the course of this photo shoot that spanned several days.
regular viewers will know that I have been raising some albino frogspawn through tadpolehood and now to metamorphosis - and guess what, there has been a progressive pigmentation so that the froglets look indistinguishable from normal ones to me, at least. Interestingly many of the tadpoles had severely kinked tails but they seem to have gone on to produce healthy enough froglets. I can't raise the little critters any further, so I guess that's the experiment over. As with much science, the experiment has raised more questions than it has answered, but at least we know that albino spawn doesn't necessarily mean albino froglets!
Leuzismus (von altgr. λευκός leukós „weiß“) ist eine Defekt-Mutation bei Tieren, die dazu führt, dass das Fell weiß und die darunterliegende Haut rosa sind, da die Haut keine Melanozyten (farbstoffbildende Zellen) enthält. Im Gegensatz dazu sind beim Albinismus die Zellen zwar vorhanden, aber unfähig, den Farbstoff Melanin zu bilden. Die meisten Formen der Scheckung sind auf abgeschwächte Formen des Leuzismus zurückzuführen.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuzismus
Leucism is a wide variety of conditions which result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—which causes white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but not the eyes. It is occasionally spelled leukism.
'Leucism' is often used to describe the phenotype that results from defects in pigment cell differentiation and/or migration from the neural crest to skin, hair, or feathers during development. This results in either the entire surface (if all pigment cells fail to develop) or patches of body surface (if only a subset are defective) having a lack of cells that can make pigment.
Since all pigment cell-types differentiate from the same multipotent precursor cell-type, leucism can cause the reduction in all types of pigment. This is in contrast to albinism, for which leucism is often mistaken. Albinism results in the reduction of melanin production only, though the melanocyte (or melanophore) is still present. Thus in species that have other pigment cell-types, for example xanthophores, albinos are not entirely white, but instead display a pale yellow colour.
More common than a complete absence of pigment cells is localized or incomplete hypopigmentation, resulting in irregular patches of white on an animal that otherwise has normal colouring and patterning. This partial leucism is known as a "pied" or "piebald" effect; and the ratio of white to normal-coloured skin can vary considerably not only between generations, but between different offspring from the same parents, and even between members of the same litter.
This album's name is dedicated to my favourite game of all time Elder Scrolls Online and race of all time, The Argonians (reptile humanoids). There's a story for you to read below about some of them towards the bottom.
What does Ku Vastei mean? Read below
By Lights-the-Way, Mystic of the Mages Guild
It is hard to describe the culture of my people. Often my tongue stumbles as I try to explain, but it is my hope that ink and quill will give me time enough to gather my thoughts. And perhaps, though such writing, I will finally connect the parts of me that now feel so divided; my homeland of Murkmire and my new life within the Mages Guild.
These journals are to become my ku-vastei. And, as I write that, I can think of no better topic to begin with.
Ku-vastei roughly translates to "the catalyst of needed change," though such a direct translation in no way does justice to the original meaning. Another translation could be "that which creates the needed pathway for change to occur" or even "the spark which ignites the flame which must come into being."
Perhaps a more direct analysis should be first presented. Ku-vastei is a noun, a thing or person. Vastei directly translates to change, an important part of my culture. Ku is harder to speak of. It is that which leads to change, though not that which creates change. An important role, as stagnation is a fate worse than death.
Take a boulder which sits atop a cliff, teetering in place. It must fall eventually. The ku-vastei does not push the boulder off the cliff; rather, it picks the pebble which holds the rock in place. And so it falls, not by a push, but by a pathway cleared.
Ku-vastei is revered, just as change itself is revered, for to look back at what was means to stumble as you move forward. Sometimes, a little push in the right direction is all someone needs to remember such wisdom. Other times, they may need to be shoved.
-------------------------------------
The Gee-Rusleel Tribe
by Emmanubeth Hurrent, the Wayfarers' Society of Wayrest
I've had the privilege to speak to two different Miredancer elders now, and I've learned a great deal from both of these conversations. The "Gee-Rusleel," as they call themselves, are among the most introspective Argonians I've met in my travels. They also tend to be the most pleasant. For all their reclusiveness and wariness, I've never met a people more willing to share a meal or a game of Shells and Stones. They are skilled crafters, with a particular knack for working with Hist amber and egg shells. They are also peerless navigators, guiding their flat-bottom boats effortlessly through the swamp, master weavers, and skilled cartographers.
The most defining characteristic of the Miredancer tribe, however, is piety. This deep reverence for the Hist has earned them the right to name a "Sap-Speaker" for countless generations.
According to the elders I spoke with, the Sap-Speaker is the Hist's direct intermediary. (This is, of course, subject to debate. Many tribes boast unique methods of communion with the Hist. But as far as I have seen, the Miredancers make the most compelling case for the methods they use.) Sap-Speakers often go into seclusion for days or even weeks on end, venturing either down into the roots or high into the canopy of leaves in the uppermost branches. Here, they commune with the Hist. Indeed, the word that one of the elders used was "journey."
These journeys into the Hist tax the Sap-Speakers, but are thoroughly private affairs. After days by themselves, the Sap-Speakers emerge to hide away with old books, scrolls, and tablets. I asked after the purpose of these periods of seclusion, and this is what the elders told me. "The Sap-Speaker enters the embrace of the Hist to learn from the great tree," one elder said. "While in close contact with the roots and branches, the Sap-Speaker receives visions and other forms of communication that neither you nor I would understand."
The other elder continued. "Even the Sap-Speaker finds some of what is shown to be mystifying and confusing. I have heard that a Sap-Speaker is treated to ancient metaphors, arcane secrets, and visions that make little sense to creatures so far removed from sap and pulp." Apparently, the second period of seclusion allows the Sap-Speaker time to reflect on what he or she was shown, as well as time to consult with the ancient writings of Sap-Speakers who came before. After a suitable period of study and reflection, the Sap-Speaker emerges to reveal the Hist's will to the tribe.
I attempted to get more information about what happens while the Sap-Speaker meditates among the roots or branches, but I'm not sure the elders knew much more. They did tell me that the only nourishment the Sap-Speaker receives during these periods of seclusion is provided by the Hist itself in the form of sap, leaves, and the otherwise forbidden fruit of the tree.
There is a price to pay for the gift of Hist communion, however. Ingesting large quantities of Hist sap is a dangerous affair, even for Argonians. Sap-Speakers routinely suffer the effects of sap-poisoning, including "gold tongue" (permanent change of mouth pigmentation to a golden hue), unbidden hallucinations, "bark-scale" (thickening and darkening of surface scales), and other maladies they were reticent to talk about. The current Sap-Speaker, Thumarz, was in seclusion during my visit to the tribal village. I hope to meet him someday. If he's half as wise as the elders I interacted with, I'd no doubt learn a great deal from him.
Despite their deeply religious nature, the Miredancers also seem to have an obsession with games of all types. They are particularly fond of the games Nine-Shells and Shells and Stones, as well as sports such as the popular "teeba-hatsei" (also known as "hip and tail ball.") In addition to lovingly explaining their own games, they wanted to know everything I could tell them about the games we play back in Wayrest. I must admit, their enthusiasm was quite infectious! And I found it highly amusing to watch them try to re-create Deceiver's Bones from the vague description I provided.
The Miredancers are also inveterate gamblers, but they often forget to collect their winnings. Unlike the games of men and mer, Miredancer competitions appear to be completely devoid of malice or injured pride. Victory and defeat seem more like afterthoughts than objectives, due in no small part to their phlegmatic disposition. As in most things, their focus is strictly on the moment—the now. It pains me to leave their village, but I still have many more tribes to study. I doubt any of them will be as fascinating or as friendly as the Miredancers.
["the tribe is not currently in the game but in the world of the game"]
The adult humpback whale is generally 14–15 m (46–49 ft) long, though individuals up to 16–17 m (52–56 ft) long have been recorded. Females are usually 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) longer than males.
The species can reach body masses of 40 metric tons (44 short tons). Calves are born at around 4.3 m (14 ft) long with a mass of 680 kg (1,500 lb)] The species has a bulky body with a thin rostrum and proportionally long flippers, each around one-third of its body length.[14][15] It has a short dorsal fin that varies from nearly nonexistent to somewhat long and curved.
Like other rorquals, the humpback has grooves between the tip of the lower jaw and the navel. The grooves are relatively few in number in this species, ranging from 14 to 35. The upper jaw is lined with baleen plates, which number 540–800 in total and are black in color.
The dorsal or upper side of the animal is generally black; the ventral or underside has various levels of black and white coloration. Whales in the southern hemisphere tend to have more white pigmentation. The flippers can vary from all-white to white only on the undersurface. Some individuals may be all white, notably Migaloo who is a true albino. The varying color patterns and scars on the tail flukes distinguish individual animals.[
The end of the genital slit of the female is marked by a round feature, known as the hemispherical lobe, which visually distinguishes males and females.
Unique among large whales, humpbacks have bumps or tubercles on the head and front edge of the flippers; the tail fluke has a jagged trailing edge. The tubercles on the head are 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) thick at the base and protrude up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in).
They are mostly hollow in the center, often containing at least one fragile hair that erupts 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) from the skin and is 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) thick. The tubercles develop early in gestation and may have a sensory function, as they are rich in nerves. Sensory nerve cells in the skin are adapted to withstand the high water pressure of diving.
In one study, a humpback whale brain measured 22.4 cm (8.8 in) long and 18 cm (7.1 in) wide at the tips of the temporal lobes, and weighed around 4.6 kg (10 lb). The humpback's brain has a complexity similar to that of the brains of smaller whales and dolphins.
The structure of the eye indicates that eyesight is relatively poor, being only able to see silhouettes over long distances and finer details relatively close. Computer models of the middle ear suggest that the humpback can hear at frequencies between 15 Hz and 3 kHz "when stimulated at the tympanic membrane", and between 200 Hz and 9 kHz "if stimulated at the thinner region of the tympanic bone adjacent to the tympanic membrane". These ranges are consistent with their vocalization ranges.
As in all cetaceans, the respiratory tract of the humpback whale is connected to the blowholes and not to the mouth, although the species appears to be able to unlock the epiglottis and larynx and move them towards the oral cavity, allowing humpbacks to blow bubbles from their mouths. The vocal folds of the humpback are more horizontally positioned than those of land mammals which allows them to produce underwater calls. These calls are amplified by a laryngeal sac.
This image was taken in Reykjavik, Iceland
Eristalis tenax, the common drone fly, is a common, migratory, cosmopolitan species of hover fly. It is the most widely distributed syrphid species in the world, and is known from all regions except the Antarctic...Eristalis tenax is a large, stocky bee mimic. The eyes are marbled in black. Males have hovering displays. The average wing length is 9.75–13 mm and their average wingspan is 15 mm.
The exact appearance of the drone fly can vary considerably. The abdomen can vary in color from dark brown to orange. Pigmentation has an important role in the control of body temperature; the black areas down the center of the drone-flies abdomen may absorb solar radiation and so warm the dorsal blood vessel, which is right underneath
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus Megaptera.
The adult humpback whale is generally 14–15 m (46–49 ft), though longer lengths of 16–17 m (52–56 ft) have been recorded. Females are usually 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) longer than males.
The species can reach body masses of 40 metric tons (44 short tons). Calves are born at around 4.3 m (14 ft) long with a weight of 680 kg (1,500 lb).
The body is bulky with a thin rostrum and proportionally long flippers, each around one-third of its body length.[15][16] It has a short dorsal fin that varies from nearly non-existent to somewhat long and curved.
As a rorqual, the humpback has grooves between the tip of the lower jaw and the navel. They are relatively few in number in this species, ranging from 14–35. The mouth is lined with baleen plates, which number 270-400 for both sides.
Unique among large whales, humpbacks have bumps or tubercles on the head and front edge of the flippers; the tail fluke has a jagged trailing edge.
The tubercles on the head are 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) thick at the base and poke up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in). They are mostly hollow in the center, often containing at least one fragile hair that erupts 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) from the skin and is 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) thick. The tubercles develop early in the womb and may have a sensory function as they are rich in nerves.
The dorsal or upper-side of the animal is generally black; the ventral or underside has various levels of black and white coloration. Whales in the southern hemisphere tend to have more white pigmentation. The flippers can vary from all-white to white only on the undersurface.
The varying color patterns and scars on the tail flukes distinguish individual animals. The end of the genital slit of the female is marked by a round feature, known as the hemispherical lobe, which visually distinguishes males and females.
This image was taken on a whale watching trip from Isafjordur in Western Iceland
Many Buckeyes I encounter have no discernible blue pigmentation in their wings, but this one had just enough blue to stand out from the crowd...I've seen photos of some that have large areas of blue...I'd love to find one of those!
Found : At Lozerheide in a shallow ditch where there was still water and rotting leaves.
This one has lateral spots...
Leucism /ˈljuːkɪzəm/ is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin.
Leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin.
We can just about count on seeing a Rough Green Snake on any hike here, but this one had a curious slight difference that caught my eye...a bit of blue coloration on the sides of it's eye! I have no idea whether it's a pigmentation anomaly or an injury...?
Petit canard noir et blanc que l'on rencontre uniquement lors de la migration . La pigmentation de ses plumes noires fait en sorte qu'elles réagissent de façons particulières à la lumière affichant ainsi différentes couleurs. Il faut donc attendre le bon angle pour libérer le trésor !!!
Small black and white duck that occur only during migration. The pigmentation of its black feathers makes them react in particular ways to light thus displaying different colors. So you have to wait for the right angle to release the treasure !!!
The Bromeliaceae family comprises over 50 genera and nearly 4,000 species. All are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, with the exception of a single species, Pitcairnia feliciana, discovered in Africa in 1937. Ornamental bromeliads represent a segment of economic importance for countries linked to the flower and ornamental plant market.
Family: Bromeliaceae
Scientific name: Ananas lucidus
Common name: Curauá - Ornamental Pineapple, Garden's Pineapple
Life Cycle: Perennial.
Origin: Brazil.
Size: It reaches 1.20 meters in height.
Ananas lucidus is a native plant, not endemic to Brazil, also distributed in other tropical countries in the American continent. In Brazil, it occurs in the North (Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Roraima), Northeast (Bahia, Ceará) and Southeast (São Paulo) regions.
It is a very rustic bromeliad, with very ornamental foliage and fruit. Due to its hardiness, the Garden's pineapple is widely used to delimit areas or flower beds that should not be invaded by people or animals. It can be planted alone, in compositions, in groups or as a border.
The inflorescence formed by an about 4 cm long and 3 cm broad spike, of hermaphrodite flowers surrounded by pink bracts; the spike carries on top a thick rosette of leaves which later on is surrounded by several smaller ones. The flowers have long petals ( about 15 mm and 3 mm broad), of a white colour at the base, and violet blue on the apex.
Adult plants flower spontaneously, at any time of the year; fruits usually appear about six months after the flowers bloom. The fruit has about 5 cm of diameter and 6-8 cm of height when ripe takes on a reddish color. Very fibrous, is not edible and usually contains few seeds, at times none. Its purpose is for ornamental use only.
They must be grown in bright places, with sunbathing for at least 4 hours a day. Ornamental pineapple appreciates temperatures above 15°C. Sunlight helps to produce the pink pigmentation in the leaves.
Very resistant, the Ornamental pineapple withstands the coldest months well, as long as it is protected from icy winds and frost. The plant grows all year round. However, during the Winter, development takes place at a slower pace, requiring less watering and fertilization only every eight weeks.
The plant has also other employments besides the ornamental one, it is in fact cultivated, since remote times, by the natives for getting fibres from the leaves as they are particularly flexible, resistant, and long lasting, utilized for fabricating ropes, tissues and several handicrafts.
In the recent years, this fibre has been utilized also in industrial applications, and a further increment is expected, in particular in the automotive industry for the production of bio-degradable materials in place of the fibreglass, as it is almost doubly resistant of same, to be employed in the internal cars’ fittings.
On Explore: January 26, 2023
Eristalis tenax, the common drone fly, is a common, migratory, cosmopolitan species of hover fly It is the most widely distributed syrphid species in the world, and is known from all regions except the Antarctic. It has been introduced into North America and is widely established. It can be found in gardens and fields in Europe and Australia. It has also been found in the Himalayas..Eristalis tenax is a large, stocky bee mimic. The eyes are marbled in black. Males have hovering displays. The average wing length is 9.75–13 mm and their average wingspan is 15 mm.
The exact appearance of the drone fly can vary considerably.The abdomen can vary in color from dark brown to orange. Pigmentation has an important role in the control of body temperature; the black areas down the center of the drone-flies abdomen may absorb solar radiation and so warm the dorsal blood vessel, which is right underneath
The Flickr Lounge ~ Weekly Theme #19 (Flora & Fauna)
The southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a hornbill found in southern Africa. Yellow-billed hornbills feed mainly on the ground, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. This hornbill species is a common and widespread resident of dry thornveldt and broad-leafed woodlands. They can often be seen along roads and water courses.
It is a medium-sized bird, 48–60 centimetres (19–24 in) in length, 132–242 grams (0.291–0.534 lb) in weight and is characterized by a long yellow and down-curved beak. This beak is huge in comparison to its body and can account for up 1/6th of the entire body length. Male beaks are on average 90 mm long while female beaks are an average of 74 mm. Males are generally bigger than females but there is overlap between the sexes. The size difference of the beak is a fairly reliable way of differentiating sex in wild hornbills.
The casque that characterizes all hornbills is of a very modest size in the southern yellow-billed hornbill. It is small, but it covers almost the entire length of the beak in males (less so in females), and may give the impression that they do not actually have a casque. As in all hornbills, the size of the beak actually intrudes on the frontal vision of the bird and the first two neck vertebrae are fused together.
Also, like most other hornbills, they possess a long tail, long eyelashes, stubby legs and stubby toes. The front three toes are fused together near the base.
They have white belly, grey neck, and black back plumage with abundant white spots and stripes. The neck has gray spots and the chest is lightly striated with black. Southern yellow-billed hornbills have no plumage pigmentation save for melanin, which can only produce shades of black and white. The eyes are usually yellow, though brown has also been seen. The skin around the eyes and in the malar stripe is pinkish. The related eastern yellow-billed hornbill from north-eastern Africa has blackish skin around the eyes.
They have been known to live for up to 20 years in captivity, though their longevity in the wilds remains unknown.
Hornbills have a unique look, so many cultures give them an important place in their beliefs. Some indigenous tribes revere hornbills as sacred beings that must not be harmed. Others will hunt them for food, to use them in the confection of traditional medicine or to use them in rituals.
Dikhololo
Brits Rural Area
Northwest Province
South Africa
#macromondays #wrinkled
I decided to share this image for the upcoming #macromondays theme called #wrinkled
It shows some Muffin tins which can be very useful in the kitchen.
What do we know about wrinkles ? In short - Wrinkles are folds, ridges, or creases in the skin or on fabric.
Following description refers to wrinkles in fabric...
Wrinkles are creases, folds, or ridges that typically appear on the skin as a result of aging, repeated facial expressions, or other external factors. Here’s a more detailed description of wrinkles:
Causes of Wrinkles:
Aging: As we age, our skin naturally loses its elasticity and becomes thinner and drier, leading to the formation of wrinkles.
Facial Movements and Expressions: Repeated facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, and squinting can cause lines and creases in the skin.
Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, which are essential for maintaining skin’s structure and elasticity.
Smoking: Nicotine in cigarettes narrows blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin, impairing blood flow and reducing the skin's ability to repair itself.
Dehydration: Lack of adequate moisture can make the skin appear more wrinkled and dry.
Genetics: Hereditary factors can influence the timing and extent of wrinkle formation.
Environmental Factors: Pollution and exposure to toxins can accelerate skin aging and contribute to the formation of wrinkles.
Diet and Lifestyle: Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and high levels of stress can negatively impact skin health and contribute to the development of wrinkles.
Types of Wrinkles:
Fine Lines: These are small, shallow lines that often first appear around the eyes (crow’s feet) and mouth.
Deep Furrows: These are more pronounced lines and folds that can develop on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the nose and mouth.
Prevention and Treatment:
Sun Protection: Wearing sunscreen, hats, and protective clothing can help prevent UV-induced skin damage.
Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking can contribute to healthier skin.
Skincare Products: Using moisturizers, retinoids, and other anti-aging products can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Medical Treatments: Procedures such as chemical peels, laser therapy, Botox injections, and dermal fillers can effectively reduce or eliminate wrinkles.
Hydration: Keeping the skin well-hydrated can help maintain its elasticity and reduce the formation of wrinkles.
Visual Characteristics:
Texture: Wrinkled skin often feels less smooth and may have a more uneven texture.
Appearance: Wrinkles can appear as fine lines or deeper creases, often more noticeable in areas of frequent movement, such as around the eyes, mouth, and on the forehead.
Color: The skin around wrinkles can sometimes appear darker or lighter due to changes in pigmentation.
Understanding the factors contributing to wrinkles and adopting preventive measures can help maintain healthier, more youthful-looking skin.
Description of wrinkles i nfabric
ChatGPT
Wrinkles in fabric refer to the creases, folds, or ridges that form on cloth materials due to various factors. Here's a detailed description of wrinkles in fabric:
Causes of Wrinkles in Fabric:
Compression: When fabric is pressed or folded tightly for a period of time, it can develop wrinkles. This often happens during storage or packing.
Moisture: Exposure to moisture can cause fibers to swell and then contract unevenly as they dry, leading to wrinkling.
Heat: Excessive heat from washing or drying can alter the shape of fabric fibers, causing them to shrink or expand irregularly, resulting in wrinkles.
Movement: Continuous movement and friction, such as wearing or handling the fabric, can create wrinkles, especially in areas of frequent bending like elbows and knees.
Fabric Type: Different fabrics have varying tendencies to wrinkle. Natural fibers like cotton and linen wrinkle more easily than synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon.
Types of Wrinkles in Fabric:
Sharp Creases: These are well-defined, linear folds that typically occur from precise folding or pressing.
Surface Wrinkles: These are less defined, small, and shallow creases that spread across the surface of the fabric.
Deep Folds: These are pronounced, deeper lines that form when fabric is heavily compressed or bent for a longer period.
Prevention and Treatment:
Proper Storage: Store fabrics by hanging them or folding them loosely to avoid excessive pressure that can cause wrinkles.
Ironing: Using an iron on the appropriate heat setting can help remove wrinkles by flattening the fabric fibers.
Steaming: A garment steamer can effectively remove wrinkles by relaxing the fibers using steam.
Fabric Softeners: Adding fabric softeners during washing can reduce the tendency of fabric to wrinkle.
Proper Washing and Drying: Following care instructions, such as washing on a gentle cycle and promptly removing clothes from the dryer, can help prevent wrinkles.
Anti-Wrinkle Sprays: These products can be sprayed onto fabric to help smooth out wrinkles without the need for ironing.
Visual Characteristics:
Texture: Wrinkled fabric has an uneven, bumpy texture compared to the smooth surface of unwrinkled fabric.
Appearance: Wrinkles can appear as lines, creases, or folds, varying in depth and length depending on the cause and type of fabric.
Shading: Wrinkles can create shadows or highlights on the fabric, making the wrinkled areas appear darker or lighter than the surrounding material.
Examples of Common Situations Leading to Wrinkles:
Packing Luggage: Clothes packed tightly in a suitcase often come out wrinkled.
Sitting for Long Periods: Fabric can wrinkle in areas of stress, such as the knees or elbows, after sitting or bending for a long time.
Laundry Practices: Leaving clothes in the washing machine or dryer after the cycle has finished can lead to wrinkling.
By understanding the factors that contribute to fabric wrinkles and adopting proper care techniques, you can maintain a neater and more presentable appearance for your textiles and garments.
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I've never seen leucism (lack of pigmentation) on this species before. I've seen in a few other species though. There was another sibling just like it too. I find it interesting because I have never ever seen leucism in more than one bird at a time. The parents nearby had their common slate-gray plumage intact. Anyhow, I thought this was cool to see and share.
According to Google, The squirrel could be an albino, which means it is lacking entirely the pigment that produces eye and coat colour, but is more likely a white morph. In white morphs, a partial loss of pigmentation known as leucism causes pale or patchy colouration of the fur, but does not affect the eyes, which remain black. The eyes of the albino squirrel, on the other hand, are red or pink.
Whenever there is a large blue butterfly in or from South or Central America, some immediately say it's a blue morpho. While this is correct, it isn't just a single species. There are about 30 species of Morpho butterflies (and about 150 subspecies). All of them aren't blue though.
This one - a Peleides blue morpho (Morpho peleides) - is really blue though. Not seeing it? Well that's actually a strategy. The ventral side is shimmering in the most wonderful metallic blue and the idea is that when a bird spots this eye-catching blue colour and tries to catch it, they land, fold up the wings and mister Bird looking for something blue suddenly can't find it anymore.
Interestingly, the blue colour is not achieved by pigmentation of the wings. Instead this happens because of iridescence through structural coloration. The scales reflect light in different layers and the resulting interference effects which of course vary with the angle your eye is seeing them from - leading to the magnificient shimmering effect.
Here is a shot of one with its wings open, showing you how blue they are: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52042598269/
And here is a short clip of a male and female trying to hook up for mating which shows the shimmer quite nicely: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52680739456/
Also, do zoom in on this one to see the almost fabric-like structure of the wings.
@Chattbir Zoo, Chandigarh
"Panthera Tigris"
...approx 2 yrs old...
White Bengal tigers are fully grown at 2 - 3 years of age. Male White Bengal tigers reach weights of 200 - 230 kilograms and up to three metres in length. The female White Bengal tigers weigh 130 - 170 kilograms and measure up to 2.5 metres long. White Bengal tigers have stripes all over their body. Their stripes are like fingerprints, no two are the same. The stripes are not only in the tigers fur, but are a pigmentation of the skin.
We now reach the high point of the boat trip and Rio Lagartos's "unique selling point" -- the further reaches of the lagoon, where there are flamingos. February is a little too early for nesting in this population. But courtship has started. It consists of stretching the neck and head upwards by males to impress (females are the same colour but smaller than males). A brief display of the contrasting colours of outstretched wings is also offered.
The local Mayans paint the town pink in celebration of the flamingos, but the Caribbean species is, as can be seen, not pink, but a rich scarlet in colour. Pink or red, the pigmentation comes from their consumption of large quantities of brine shrimp in these highly saline waters. They also eat the algae on which the shrimp feed. Both organisms are rich in beta-carotene, the compound which gives carrots their colour. Take the beta-carotene from their diet, and flamingos become white.
Caribbean flamingos breed on several Caribbean islands, in northern South America, on the Yucatan Peninsula and in Florida.
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Kubaflamingo