View allAll Photos Tagged pigmentation
Fox squirrels on an Autumn day at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor - Wednesday October 25th, 2023. So much going on. There were a large number of juvenile squirrels making their way in the world, including a few cavity nests with little ones poking out. But the best part was a Leucistic fox squirrel who appears to be mostly white. This little juvenile is on the Law Quad (on the west side near the flagpole). A leucistic squirrel has a condition that leads to a partial loss of pigmentation. The distinction between leucistic squirrels and albino squirrels is typically in the eyes. If they have dark eyes and are white or mostly white or off-white, they have leucism. I have not seen a squirrel like this in a long time. A banner day! Wishing you joy, health, and peace wherever you are.
Leucistic squirrels
lack pigmentation and the
colors of autumn.
#SquirrelHaiku
Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, within Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Making up for a lack of pigmentation with the most flamboyant homes out there.
TIME FOR CRAB
Lo-Finder: Good Vibes Crustacean
More photos in the album.
A not so great shot of a globular springtail roaming about a leaf, after a shower of rain, in the garden of the croft we rented near Glenuig. It didn't wan to stay still, and then disappeared, so this is the best shot I got. I'd love to know which species this might be (Sminthurus viridis, thanks Eddie), as I don't think I've seen this one before.
So here we have three colour morphs; The classic male on top, with his blue throat and dark mottled back, the red female underneath in her breeding colours, and the cool dude on the right is a rather bizarre frog which has a genetic mutation causing a disruption of normal pigmentation and giving it large black eyes. Many pigmentation defects are not compatible with life, or leave the animal exposed to predation, but in this case the individual seemed to be thriving.
All Rana temporaria, the common frog.
When I look into the glass, I see someone else
I hardly recognize this face I wear
When I stare into her eyes, I see no one there
Lately I'm not feeling like myself
The mystery that no one knows
Where does love go when it goes?
Waking up is harder than it seems
Wandering through these empty rooms of dusty books and quiet dreams
Pictures on the mantle, speak your name, softly like forgotten tunes, just outside the sound of pain
Darkness for cover
church in ruin
there's nothing left to feel
Goodbye lover, this is your doing
a heart against the wheel
Lera Lynn
These are some of the common frog tadpoles (Rana temporaria) that I have raised from the albino spawn found in February. They are close to metamorphosis, and show some interesting points: First, the pigmentation is almost normal, having developed shortly after hatching (see below for what they looked like!) - I think they may be slightly lighter than usual, but not so you would notice. Secondly, almost all of them show a kink in the tail - either to the left or right, suggesting pleiotropy or linkage of some kind to the albinism allele. All of which suggests a classic 'founder effect' scenario but also reminds me how a harmful but recessive allele can persist in a population despite the deleterious consequences. I'll try to raise the froglets for a month or two, to see how they go.
Light coming from the rightside
Test : to see what is the best method to get more details of the pigmentation of the skin with less prominently setae visible.
"Being black is not a matter of pigmentation, being black is a reflection of mental attitude"
- Steven Biko
April 16, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.
Seen at the entrance to the park
.
Leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—which causes white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. It is occasionally spelled leukism. Unlike albinism, it can cause a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin.
An unusual melanistic Barn Owl. Melanistic means an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation of an organism, resulting from the presence of melanin. It is the opposite of albino, which occurs due to lack of melanin. This bird is captive bred.
Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photograph is greatly appreciated and encouraging! But please do not use this image without permission.
I thought I may have been on another continent when this beauty came scratching through the underbrush. This aberration is not albinism but a lack of normal pigmentation .... kinda interesting to see though.
Light coming from the leftside
Test : to see what is the best method to get more details of the pigmentation of the skin with less prominently setae visible.
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"]
Leucism is somewhat common - many people have seen leucistic animals, such as a squirrel or a distant bird, even if they didn't realise it at the time.
Albinism, on the other hand, is relatively rare.
The distinction is not crystal clear - biologists apparently continue to debate what the definitions of these conditions should actually be - but generally albinism is considered to be where a creature is completely incapable of forming pigment (such as melanin in humans) due to a genetic condition.
Leucism, on the other hand, covers basically every other case of missing pigmentation, which can include partially dysfunctional pigment-generating cells - as in this example - or arguably even non-genetic factors entirely (e.g. permanently bleached areas of skin due to chemical or sun exposure).
Leucism is more common in captive-breed animals because it tends to be a disadvantage in survival and mate attraction, but in captivity natural selection is eliminated.
Hopahh... Let's see what I can find up there.
The head shield or veil is not as pronounced as in Plocamopherus but the six branched papillae are much longer when extended. There are four branched papillae down each side of the body and a slight ridge between them denotes the mantle edge. The body ranges in colour from pale yellow-orange to a deep orange red. The branched papillae have translucent white stalks with some scattered opaque white pigmentation, and the pointed branches are bright orange or orange-red. There are scattered white specks on the body. Unlike Plocamopherus the papillae do not have a terminal sphere. This species, which can grow to 25 mm in length, probably feeds on bryozoans. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
🆔 Deep-blue Flowerpiercer - Diglossa glauca
©️ Naun Amable Silva
🌎 Moyobamba, Peru
📅 December 2020
📷 Canon 1D Mark II - Canon 600mm
f/ 5.6 - 1/250 - iso 6400
blue coloured birds that really catch our eye. But did you know these birds aren't truly blue in colour? They don't produce a blue pigmentation to create that colour as the other colours are created, instead it is to do with the formation of the feathers and that results in them reflecting only the sun's blue wavelength of light so that is the only colour we see when we look at them.
Still, we don't think this fact makes them any less stunning and this guy with his large golden eye really is a winner.
Do you know why they are called flowerpiercers?
Well the name pretty much explains it but they used their hooked bill which is too short and thick to reach down the tube of many flowers to reach their nectar. Instead they pierce a hole in the base of the flower which allows them to "steal" the nectar. "Steal" because this method bypasses the pollen which the flower wants the birds to transport and for which it produces nectar as a lure to attract the hummingbirds.
Leucism is an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals and birds, such as this House Finch, that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring and is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin...
This is my very first Leucistic bird and finally got to see it yesterday! It has been showing up in Eva's yard recently...the wind chill was in the teens and all the birds and I felt like icicles, but it was glorious to be out in the sun after a week of rain and overcast!
A member of the cardinal family, the Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is just about as vibrant a bird as they come. It is as though a stitch of the sky has fallen and flutters through our trees, seeking out ways to return. Fittingly, these beautiful birds prefer to sing from the very highest perches that they can find. They also share another thing in common with the sky: neither is ACTUALLY blue. Indigo bunting feathers have no blue pigmentation. Instead, their feathers refract shorter wavelengthed blue light in the same way that air particles scatter it. But if you hold up an indigo bunting feather and light it from behind, you'll see that it actually contains dark brown pigmentation!
This was taken at the end of the day, very low light.
The piebald coloring is due to a genetic abnormality that leads to a lack of pigmentation in patches around the body. Piebaldism is a recessive trait; therefore, both parents must carry the recessive gene for there to be a chance that they will produce a piebald fawn. All of which makes this condition extremely rare, affecting less than two percent of the white-tailed deer population.
White is maybe the most rigorous and psychological color, it seems to purify the surfaces, it’s a color that makes the vacuum merge. The empty spaces have slight contrasts of shape as a value.
I like to deal with this non-pigmentation because it is process is a ramification of many harmonic elements that allude to a perfect informality. These pictures may seem incongruous because they are elegant and messy at the same time. They are contemporary, I took familiar objects like: “Burger King” glasses, crumbled pills, glasses of plastic or packs, which I photographed in high key. This kind of illumination, in which high and white tones are predominant, spreads positivity and freshness, which is another element of contrast towards the mess of the scenery, that often has a dirty tablecloth, like someone suddenly left the meal. The position of elements is never random, but it is necessary to highlight the constituent structure: pieces of silverware, pills, bottles, remains of food or dry branches are often put close to each other on levels, like there was a narrative correlation more or less narrow between each other. There is no human presence, but it is re-invoked through the representation of objects, where plasticity alternates with flatness, creating at the same time tension and melancholy.
I am a master hunter
I cured my skin
Now nothing gets in
Not nothing, no matter how hard it tries
~ L. Marling
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"]
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"]
I believe the blue one may be a true axanthic specimen! I originally thought it might just be in-shed, but the more I looked at it the more convinced I was that this snake was actually just missing yellow pigmentation in the skin. What an exciting find!
New York
Purple-Leafed Oxalis, Shamrock,,, have it for the first year, did the picture just yesterday - the leaves are more beautiful than the flower.
The leaves are deep purple-black around the outer margin, with the inner portion maroon-purple. The presence of purple pigmentation is common in oxalis leaves.
Flowers are an inch long, white, five-petaled trumpets in a loose terminal cluster that tend to flop about. This species is native to Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay and seems to have been cultivated in this country since the 1930s. There is no known record of where the purple-leafed form came from.
This beautiful robin has a condition named "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. HMM!
The tiger has a muscular body with powerful forelimbs, a large head and a tail that is about half the length of its body. Its pelage is dense and heavy, and colouration varies between shades of orange and brown with white ventral areas and distinctive vertical black stripes; the patterns of which are unique in each individual. Stripes are likely advantageous for camouflage in vegetation such as long grass with strong vertical patterns of light and shade. The tiger is one of only a few striped cat species; it is not known why spotted patterns and rosettes are the more common camouflage pattern among felids. The orange colour may also aid in camouflage as the tiger's prey are dichromats, and thus may perceive the cat as green and blended in with the vegetation.
A tiger's coat pattern is still visible when it is shaved. This is not due to skin pigmentation, but to the stubble and hair follicles embedded in the skin. It has a mane-like heavy growth of fur around the neck and jaws and long whiskers, especially in males. The pupils are circular with yellow irises. The small, rounded ears have a prominent white spot on the back, surrounded by black. These spots are thought to play an important role in intraspecific communication.
The tiger's skull is similar to a lion's skull, with the frontal region usually less depressed or flattened, and a slightly longer postorbital region. The lion skull shows broader nasal openings. Due to the variation in skull sizes of the two species, the structure of the lower jaw is a reliable indicator for their identification. The tiger has fairly stout teeth; its somewhat curved canines are the longest among living felids with a crown height of up to 90 mm (3.5 in)
A blackbird with reduced pigmentation in its feathers, resulting in patches or areas of white or pale coloration, rather than the typical black plumage. This condition, known as leucism, is a genetic mutation that affects melanin production, the pigment responsible for dark colours
The White Spirit by Daniel Arrhakis (2016)
Work made for the challenge :
* Nature Protection Challenge - November 2016 - LINK HERE
Vertebrate Wildlife Species Have Declined By Half Over Last 40 Years but the problem is even more dramatic.
There have been five mass extinction events in Earth's history. In the worst one, 250 million years ago, 96 percent of marine species and 70 percent of land species died off. It took millions of years to recover.
Nowadays, many scientists are predicting that we're on track for a sixth mass extinction.
A rare apparition, the White Tiger (Panthera tigris) is a pigmentation variant of the Bengal tiger. Very rare in Nature, their coloration is dependent on a defective, recessive gene that is passed on from their parents.
Over the past couple of centuries the White Tiger has become even rarer in the wild due to trophy hunting or capture for the exotic pet trade, there has been no recorded sightings of these elusive predators for the past 50 years.
It is very rare and currently exists only in human care. Of the six tiger subspecies that still survive in the wild, all of them are endangered and classified as "Critically Endangered" or "Endangered".
All the Panthera genus are in dangerous of extinction !
This photo was taken in the Zoo of Lisbon, his name is Cristal.
The Zoo of Lisbon is one of 300 in the European Endangered Species Program, whose members focus on breeding to reintroduce species back into the wild.
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A composition made with two real images from the Zoo Of Lisbon, background modified to make more natural and unfenced.
Thank you dear friends for your always kind visit, nice comments and invitations, my best regards to all of you ! : )
Climate change has drastically impacted the world we live in. From geography to biodiversity, every bit of it is experiencing rapid and alarming changes. According to a study published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a group of researchers has found that male dragonflies and damselflies are displaying pigmentation changes on their wings as a survival strategy against extreme climate change. The study also reports, change in rainfall pattern and increase or decrease in temperature are directly affecting breeding areas of these insects.
(taken from - www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/c... )
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Xanthoria elegans is commonly known as the elegant sunburst lichen. Like all lichens, it is formed by fungi associated with an alga. This species grows on rocks and is recognized by its bright orange or red pigmentation with a circular distribution. It was one of the first lichens to be used for the rock-face dating through lichenometry. Many Xanthoria species growing in areas with intense UV radiation contain more carotenoids than those grown in more shaded areas.( Moledo beach, Portugal)
Xanthoria elegans é vulgarmente conhecido como o líquen-solar-elegante. Como todos os líquens, ele é formado por um fungo associado a uma alga. Esta espécie desenvolve-se nas rochas e é reconhecida pela sua pigmentação vermelha ou laranja forte que se distribui em círculo. Foi um dos primeiros líquenes a ser usado para a datação de paredes rochosas através da liquenometria. Muitas espécies Xanthoria que crescem em áreas com radiação UV intensa contêm mais carotenóides do que as que se desenvolvem em áreas mais sombrias. (Praia de Moledo, Portugal)