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Showing posts with label Biology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biology. Show all posts

Friday, January 8, 2016

Ninja lantern shark found hiding in the Pacific Ocean

A new species of sharks, named Ninja lantern shark was found hiding in the Pacific Ocean. Sharks with the Latin name 'Etmoterus Benchleyi' live in waters around 2,742 - 4,734 feet from the coast of Central America.

The new species has been discovered is called owes its name to a young cousin of Vicky Vasquez, one of the scientists that involved in the study of this new species. Research results published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation.
A "Jaws" inspired view of the newly identified lantern shark species Etmopterus benchleyi. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)
"Its general name, Ninja lantern shark, referring to the black sleek shark color as well as the fact that it has fewer photophores (the organs that emit light) than others lantern shark," said Vasquez to Mashable via e-mail.

Based on that, the scientists feel the unique characteristics would make this species is hidden like a ninja. "The unique name was proposed by my niece who was 8-14 years old," added Vasquez.
This map shows where researchers collected the first (holotype) and later (paratype) specimens of the newfound shark. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)
In contrast to other types of lantern shark, the Ninja lantern shark creating less of light - possibly as a form of camouflage. That is why this shark is referred to as ninja shark. Furthermore, Vasquez called the ninja lantern shark as "lost shark" that covered by the other sharks which is more popular as the Great White.
The jaws of an adult female Etmopterus benchleyi. It's likely that the top teeth are used for grasping and the bottom for cutting. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)
Since 2010, researchers have recently found some eight specimens of these sharks. To get more detailed information and answer their biological conditions, scientists must find a specimen more.

"If it is found more, we can explore new biological details of these sharks, such as 'how its maximum size?'. The largest specimens we found along 515 mm, and since it is spawn and we know that's adult female sharks," said Vasquez. "While we have not found adult male."
As for the scientific name of this species-Etmoterus Benchleyi-also has a unique story. The Benchleyi name is taken from the name of the author of Jaws, Peter Benchley.

"Although many people know the negative reaction to the film, but most do not realize that Benchley make something positive by creating Benchley Awards, which appreciate the people who contribute to marine conservation," said Vasquez.

According to Vasquez, the scientists in between 2000-2009 have discovered about 18 new species of Chondrichthyans (sharks and its relatives like stingray, shoes, and chimaeras) every year. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]
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Friday, January 1, 2016

Scientists successfully breeding the Goats with Spider's DNA

Researchers from the University of Wyoming, claims to have discovered how to breed the goats with Spider's DNA that can produce spider silk. Referring to Phys.org, these findings have contributed to medical purposes such as to create the artificial tendons and ligaments.

The man who contributed behind the invention is Randy Lewis, a professor of molecular biology at the university. Working together with other researchers, he managed to extract the spider silk genes and incorporate them into a goat to produce a (silk) protein in their milk. However, not all goats can be infiltrated with spider genes.
Goats that produce spider silk protein in their milk could enable researchers to collect large quantities of the silk. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Ud2mFS)
Evidently, only three of the seven goats that could produce silk protein in the experiments occours in 2010. In spite of that, from this discovery Lewis earned its reputation as a biology scientist; he managed to collect thousands of pounds of recombinant spider silk from goat milk that he bred.

The good news, the goat does not show odd behavior after the injection of spider's DNA. It still behaves like goats in general; eating grass and still can not be united with rain.

Currently the scientists have to do the same discourse of the alfalfa plants -- the plants are used as animal feed. These plants can reliably generate the amount of silk more than goats. This plant is believed to generate as much as 20% to 25% of protein, and is ideal to produce silk protein. Moreover, according to them, these plants spread in a wider places.

Spider silk has become an important component for medical and industrial purposes. As mentioned earlier, spider silk is usually used to create a artificial ligaments, fixing jaw, and sew the eye. Spider silk is also used in several other applications such as bullet-proof vests and car airbags. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PHYS.ORG]
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Friday, December 18, 2015

Rare, the flasher deep-sea squid

There are different with squid on this one. It has a bioluminescent glow like a 'spotlight' on the end of her arms, and something that looked like a shiny red lips when passing at close range with a Remotely Operate Vehicle (ROV) in deep ocean waters near Hawaii.

The action caught on camera attached to the ROV operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. According to a report made by the vessel Okeanos Explorer site, even the squid itself was tether in the ROV and could stay in there for a few minutes.
On Sept. 19, this 1- to 2-meter-long (3.3 to 6.6 feet) squid was captured on video by a remotely operated NOAA vehicle during the craft's descent to the seafloor. (Picture from: http://cbsn.ws/1M3snBE)
Although initially identified by scientists on the ship as whiplash squid, the cephalopods animal was actually a Dana octopus squid or Taningia danae. The size is the same as the whiplash squid, but did not have tentacles to eat that are common in other squid species.

The underwater video 'star' was estimated has a length of 1 to 2 meters. Having a wide and flexible fins out of the squid mantle. With its flap, the organ function of regulating the speed of species T.Danae or Dana Octopus in the water.

On the bottom side of coat seen protruding out something that resembles a red lips. But in fact the unit was functioning removing water from the mantle cavity located behind the animal's eyes and pushed in the opposite direction. This is explained by Scott France, a marine biologist and leader of the expedition along with NOAA, which is also the owner of the voice who gave the explanation in the video.

Although the Dana octopus does not have the tentacles, it had an excess of amazing lighting system called 'photophores'. About the size of a lemon, these photopores is the largest light-producing organs in the animal kingdom today," said Mike Vecchion, a zoologist at NOAA's National Systematics Laboratory at the Smithsonian Institution who is also the curator of cephalopods at the National Museum of Natural History, both located in Washington, DC as quoted from Live Science on Thursday, December 10, 2015.
According Vecchion, squid light beam toward the ROV can support another hypothesis that sea creatures use bioluminescence as a way to lure larger predators attack immediately. The Hohonu Moana expedition lasted from July 10 to September 30, 2015, to investigating the deep sea ecosystems, and take pictures and videos of underwater strange life - small, large, bright or dark - were there. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]
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Thursday, December 10, 2015

A rare species of Nautilus reappear after 30 years in hiding

Almost 30 years have passed since the last sighting of Allonautilus scrobiculatus when these creatures are swimming in front of the camera Peter Ward at the end of August 2015 ago, far below the sea of Papua New Guinea.
Nautilus pompilius (left) swimming next to a rare Allonautilus scrobiculatus (right) off of Ndrova Island in Papua New Guinea. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1PQiRpQ)
A rare species of nautilus, a marine mollusc, a distant relative of squid and cuttlefish, sometimes called a "living fossil" because of their appearance almost unchanged. They have inhabited the planet for 500 million years and survived two of largest mass extinctions, yet little is known about them.
A detailed shot reveals the fuzzy texturing of Allonautilus scrobiculatus as well as the visible spiral in its shell, and the pinhole eye and thin flexible tentacles emerging from the harder tentacle sheaths shared by other nautiloids as well. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1NyXew3)
Peter Ward, who is a biologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his colleague, Bruce Saunders first described the A. scrobiculatus in 1984. The shape of the shell looks heavier than the leaner shells from the other animals in the family Nautilidae. However, it seems they have evolved in a relatively new ways. "It was in over his head, what we think of as primitive," said Ward.
Gregory Barord releases two Allonautilus scrobiculatus with ultrasonic transmitters attached to the dorsal sides of their shells. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1NyXew3)
To finding them is a major challenge. To get a glimpse of the picture, Ward's team uses a special camera lowered deep at between 150m to 400m along with fish or chicken meat as bait. A. scrobiculatus can only survive within a narrow depth range, and only possible in some locations. Four of the creature has a radio transmitter attached to them so that the Ward's team can track their later.
Now some scientists and environment activists feared that their habitat may be under threat, ironically, by a company that bears their name. Nautilus Minerals, Toronto-based mining company, has been given permission by the government of Papua New Guinea to begin the mining of deep sea hydrothermal vents in the area. NGOs and environmental activist groups continue to campaign against the project. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | NATIONAL GEOGRAHIC | TELEGRAPH]\
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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The world's first known warm-blooded fish was found

Since elementary school, Our teachers always taught that birds and mammals are warm-blooded animals, whereas fish, reptiles, and amphibians are cold-blooded animals.

However, the findings published in the journal Science on Thursday, May 14, 2015 will change all. Nicholas Wagner, a biologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center has found the first known warm-blooded fish in the world, namely Opah (Lampris guttatus).
The Opah (Lampris guttatus). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1TCZxOP)
Warm-blooded animal is an animal that is able to regulate their body temperature by internal mechanisms. There is also the so-called cold-blooded animals whose the body temperature is always changing in accordance with their environment and adapt to temperature with the behavior.

Sharks and tuna are examples of cold-blooded animals. Two fish can dive in depth and cold temperatures, but in a certain period should be returned to the surface to protect the vital organs such as the heart.

In the study, Wagner and colleagues mark a number of opah that live off the coast of California. They track the movement of opah, reading body temperature, as well as the temperature and the depth of their moving place.

Wagner reveals the fact that the fish are sometimes called "moon fish" it has a stable body temperature. Their temperature is about 7-9 degrees Celsius higher than the environment. This fish type maintain its body temperature by moving constantly their chest fins.

"By being endoderm, opah do not need to move to the surface to simply warm their body and can remain at depth close to food sources," said Wagner, as quoted by Al-Jazeera America.

Opah is a pelagic fish that has an average weight of 90 kilograms. The fish body has the equivalent size of a car tire and oval. The fish types which was spending their life at a depth of 50-300 meters in the ocean to hunt squid. And the Opah grow to over 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and can weigh over 150 pounds (70 kg).

According to Owyn Snodgrass of NOAA, opah also can maintain the temperature due to the unique structure of the gills that allow blood to leave the organ warmed before it spread to the entire body. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCI-NEWS]
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Thursday, October 15, 2015

Seeing Maleo as the native Sulawesi endangered birds

Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo) is one of an endemic birds of Sulawesi Island. By the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Maleo included in the endangered category. Formerly, maleo can be found in almost all areas of Sulawesi Island. However, this time maleo only be found in several areas.

Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo).
(Picture from http://bit.ly/1VPbcyV)
One area where we can still be found maleo spawn is at ground nesting Libuun, Taima Village, District Bualemo, Banggai, Central Sulawesi. The location for this spawn since 2006 monitored by a nonprofit organization, the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTO).

The AlTO team worked shoulder to shoulder with the villager to overseeing the bird nesting ground and ensure that the Maleo adults can spawn without disturbance and their eggs remain safe from capture and maleo cheeper can hatch naturally without human intervention.

Maleo has a life story that is very unique. The pair of maleo adult known as the enduring couples (one of anti-polygamy creatures) and primarily live in the native forests of Sulawesi Island. However, when the female is ready to spawn, the maleo couples walk many kilometers to communal nesting site, which is usually located on the coast, or near the hot springs in the forest.

There, the maleo couples dug a big hole in the sand or soil for hours. Inside the hole, Maleo females lay one very large egg. Only one! As information, maleo has body size similar as a chicken, while their egg size six times bigger than chicken eggs.
Maleo couples photographed in their nesting ground, at Libuun, Taima village, Banggai, Central Sulawesi, which is managed by the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTO). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1MuxX5a)
After it lay eggs in the hole, the maleo couples bury the eggs with sand to a depth of over one meter. Then, they going back to the forest, while eggs are left to be heated by the sun or geothermal.

If not disturbed, after 60-80 days, the eggs hatch in the sand. Once hatched, the maleo cheeper digging up for 24-48 hours to inhaling fresh air. After resting for a few minutes, the maleo cheeper fly to the woods to live independently without the help of its parent.

Now, through public advocacy and awareness of the importance of maleo remain in their habitat, the maleo population numbers had dropped so drastically before AlTO came, but now increasing in very significant numbers.
Through several programs, the villagers also began to realize that the maleo bird actually was the priceless treasure they have. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS SAINS]
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Saturday, October 10, 2015

Hog nosed rat found in the virgin forest of Sulawesi

A team of scientists from Bogor Zoological Museum, Research Center for Biology Indonesian Institute of Sciences (Pusat Penelitian Biologi Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia/LIPI), Louisiana State University, and the Museum of Victoria reveal a new genus of mice, called hog nosed rat.
Hog nosed rat (Hyorhinomys stuempkei). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1MYfT1O)
The new genus found in the virgin forest at Tolitoli region, Sulawesi, which is rarely touched. Only one of two local rattan searcher reaching the territory. The findings provide knowledge about the spread of gophers that it can reach the area further north and higher than expected. The research result published in the Journal of Mammalogy on the October 2015 edition.

Anang Setiawan Achmadi, Jake Esselstyn, Kevin Rowe, and Heru Handika are conducting research expeditions to the jungle area of ​​Mount Dako when encountered genus rat was in 2012. The team set traps and bait-flops on a plateau in a forest at an altitude more than 1,500 meters. Trap-flops are common devices commonly used to collect wild rodents.
Hog nosed rat found in the virgin forest at Tolitoli region, Sulawesi. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1MYfT1O)
"Kevin who the first discovered these mice. He was screaming. We were still in the camp and heard immediately suspect something is shocking," said Anang. Once Kevin bring specimens to the camp, the whole team for joy. They immediately conduct a brief analysis and believes that the rats are trapped is a new species.

While doing the analysis in the laboratory, the team revealed that rats captured specimens are very distinctive and different from the other so that even deserve to be called a new genus.

Scientifically, this new rat species named 'Hyorhinomys stuempkei'. The genus name "Hyorhinomys" is taken from the word "hyro" which means "pig", "rhino" meaning "nose", and "mys" which means "mouse".

Meanwhile, the species name "Stuempkei" is taken from the pseudonym Gerolf Steiner, Harald Stuempke. He is the fiction author of The Snouter that tells the story of the rats exposed to radiation so that their nose became long.

As told to Kompas on Monday, October 5, 2015, Anang said, "a very prominent characteristic of these mice are nose like a pig nose." The animal was said to be like a pig nose because of its large, flat, and pink.

Another characteristic is the very long hair in the section near the urethra. "We have yet to find gophers have long urogenital hair, reaching 5 centimeters. We do not know what its function." Another unique characteristic of this new mouse is white incisors. Most mice have an orange incisors. Meanwhile, its ears big.

"In Australia, Hyorhinomys look more like Bilby rats, with large hind legs, big ears and long, as well as long and tapered muzzle," said Kevin. It is one of the hallmark characteristics of carnivores rodents that eat earthworms, beetle larvae and small insects.

This rat findings challenge the view of scientists about the spread of shrews in Sulawesi today. So far, only spread to shrews said central Sulawesi region and in the lowlands. Tolitoli region already too north. "To get there, there is a barrier that must be overcome. How this shrews get there, this is still a question," said Anang. Meanwhile, shrews until now found only at altitudes below 1,500 meters above sea level. Hog nosed rat was found at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level.

These findings add to the list of unique mice on Earth before. Previously, the presence of a number of mice revealed, the toothless rat (Paucidentomys vermidax) and Mamasa water rats (Waiomys mamasae).

Kevin said, "We're still amazed we could walk to the corners of the forest in Sulawesi and discovered several new species of mammals are very different from known species, or even genus though."
Anang said, the discovery of a new genus of the third within the last 5 years is evidence of the importance of forests and mountains on the island of Sulawesi. There are still many "buried treasure" diversity must be maintained. This shows the importance of conservation for the people of Indonesia. Do not let the biodiversity extinction before revealed and known benefits. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SAINS KOMPAS]
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Thursday, October 8, 2015

Glowing strange turtle found in the Solomon Islands

The oceanographer was accidentally discovered luminous sea turtles while they are researching and filming the lives of small sharks and coral plants in the Salomon islands, South Pacific.

The scientists succeeded in filming a Hawksbill sea turtle that emit red and green neon colors. The discovery was made last July by David Gruber of the University of the City of New York with the team. The new recording they announced to the public, on Monday, September 28, 2015 last.
Divers spotted a biofluorescent turtle swimming near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1VruE4x)
Gruber described the alien ship sea turtles like the first time he saw it. "He was so unbelievably beautiful," said Gruber told CNN on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. The turtle swam toward us when the team was focused to record coral. His arrival was so sudden and surprising our team, "he said.

In recent years, experts became interested in marine habitats biofluorescence, or creatures that absorb light and emit light it again with a different color.

"It's like a mystery novel," adds Gruber. "Starting from jellyfish, corals, and jellyfish and corals glow that made the breakthrough in marine biomedical field. The problem is, corals and jellyfish simply removing one color, while the turtle can be issued more than one color."

Fluorescence has helped provide a marker for scientists to see cells in the body and lead to groundbreaking research in the field of biofluorescence, Gruber explained.

Find reptiles that can emit light brings the question, why turtles could glow? What exactly is the chemical components contained therein.

It is the privilege biofluorescence. So far there are 200 species of sharks and fish were found to be able to process it. In some cases, the experts concluded, corals can perform this process because they absorb sunlight. But for fish and sharks, from where they get light and how it could not be ascertained.
"Fish and sharks are still a mystery to us. Now the sea turtles. This is an example of how the ocean still holds many secrets," Gruber laughter.

Hawksbill sea turtles are endangered species and threatened by climate change. In many areas, the only remaining thousands of females who actively reproducing.

"Their numbers are shrinking and now we are treated to a new fact that they can shine. For me, this is a sign that they are very important to be protected and understood before they become extinct," added Gruber. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | CNN]
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Saturday, October 3, 2015

5 types of fish often called as the 'Dragon fish'

Often many people call a dragon fish from its physical characteristics. The fish does have some distinctive characteristics of a dragon.

Here are 5 types of fish are often called dragon fish:

1. Palmas fish
Palmas fish, a fish included to the Family Polypteridae (Bichir), it means a lot finned fish. Palmas fish is called dragon fish because it is physically similar to the dragon in Chinese legend.
Palmas fish (tiger delhezi). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1QKniCr)
These fish include primitive fish and often referred to as "snake like fish". The spread of these fish are in West Africa. Palmas fish are predatory fish, Carnivora. Then the fish has the ability to take the air with an organ that has been modified in such a way to resemble the lungs, besides that it was able to creep on the ground by using a strong chest fins.

2. Axolotl
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a type of salamander who spent his life in the form of larvae. This unique exotic animals sometimes referred to as "Mexican Walking Fish" because it looks like a fish that has the hands and feet. However, Axolotl is not actually a kind of fish, but a type of salamander found in Mexico City. The body length of Axolotl can reach 30 cm, but the average size of only 15 cm.
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FCMN8w)
Their body color are black or brown and average more albino with pink. These funny animal has gills that are outside its body. Gills seems to be on the side of its head so that at first glance looks like a horn.

Eastern people often create a fantasy that is associated with the dragon legend, so they are often referred to as a dragon fish. Axolotl is one animal that has longevity, Axolotl can live up to 10-15 years and can grow up to 60 cm.

In fact, there were ever caught a giant Axolotl in the interior of Mexico that has a body length of up to 1.4 meters, the discovery was really shocking, but after carefully studied by experts that only abnormal rare situations (gigantism).

3. Arowana
Arowana including the "ancestor" fish families, ie fish families Osteoglasidae or "bony-tongue," because the base of the mouth in the form of bone that serves as the teeth. Arowana have various nicknames, such as: Ikan naga (Dragon Fish), Barramundi, Saratoga, PlaTapad, indolent, Siluk, Kayangan, Peyang, Tangkelese, Aruwana, or Arowana, depending on its place.
Arowana. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1YNMrSP)
The shape and appearance arowana is including a gorgeous and unique. Its body elongated, slender, and "stream line", with swimming movements are very graceful. Arowana in nature have a variety of colors such as green, silver, or red. At the lower lip there are two antennae that serve as a vibration sensor to determine the position of prey on the water surface.

In nature they swim near the water surface to hunt for prey. Arowana can accept all types of feed for carnivorous fish, but often they are so very fond of one type of feed only, and reject other types.

4. Arapaima 
These fish include close relatives with arowana, the Amazon arapaima which is sometimes regarded as the largest freshwater fish in the world. According to the initial description, this fish can grow up to 4.5 meters in length, but now, individuals are very big like this is rare and the average adult arapaima found that only 2 meter length.
Arapaima. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1KK8uCz)
The slow-moving predators and eat small fish, and anything that small could fit their mouth. An interesting feature of this fish is that they need the oxygen from the air, in order to survive. Arapaimas harmless to humans and are often hunted for their meat, unfortunately, they are very rare nowadays. Although arapaima seem to appear in the Miocene, but they get much older relatives, namely Osteoglossidae, and its origins can be traced back to the age of dinosaurs.

5. Oarfish
Oarfish include to the family Regalecidae which has four species. One of the species Regalecus Glesne, ever get into the Guinness Book of World Records since been found in living conditions with a body length of up to 11 meters (36 feet).
This fish has a single fin is red and includes fish loner. But when these fish are sick or dying, it looks like the loner does not want to die in loneliness. So it went up to the sea surface and survived there until the death. Perhaps to draw the attention of the sailors, or just want to look at the sun for the last time.

The sailors of the past may have seen this fish on the surface and perceive it as a sea monster. For example, in 1860, when a 5-meter long Oarfish beached in Bermuda, the residents immediately linked with the legendary sea monster. Some scientists believe that it is likely there an Oarfish whose size exceeds 11 meters, but until now no one has proved it. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ]
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Friday, October 2, 2015

Acquainted with one of the beautiful creatures of seabed

You must already know the name of sea horses, small animals that come from the ocean. But do you also recognize the name of pygmy sea horse or a Pygmy Seahorse? Yes, Pygmy Seahorse is real, and in Indonesia too, we can find it in some places, such as Bali, Sulawesi and Papua. Pygmy Seahorse and also has several types, one of which is Bargibanti pygmy seahorse.
Hippocampus bargibanti (these images were captured in North Sulawesi, Indonesia). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1OBKx45)
Hippocampus bargibanti, also known as a bargibanti sea horse or dwarf hippocampus, is the seahorse of the family Syngnathidae which can be found in the west central Pacific Ocean, including Indonesia.

Hippocampus bargibanti.  
(Picture from: http://bit.ly/1OBKx45)
A unique animals has a small size, typically less than 2 cm, and live attached to the sea fans (gorginians). There are two color variations are known, which is gray with red tubercles, and yellow with orange tubercles.

Similar to the sea fan coral where they lived, and camouflaged, in order to defend themselves from the predators. And because their camouflage also, the species is not found, until finally its host gorgonian examined in the laboratory. Large, rounded tubercles covering the body and in accordance with the color and shape of gorgonian coral polyps its host species, while the body according gorgonian stem.

But it is not known whether the individual can change colors if they change residence or not. Although the ability to change color according to their surroundings, there are seven species of sea horses, such as Hippocampus whitei.

Pregnant Hippocampus bargibanti. (Picture from:
http://bit.ly/1OBKx45)
The Pygmy seahorse characteristics together with other sea horses, including meat that has a head, body, very short snout, and a long tail that can be wrapped around the landlady. This Bargibanti is also one of the smallest species of sea horses in the world.

An adult Bargibanti, usually found in pairs or groups of pairs, even record that ever recorded on camera, is up to 28 pygmy seahorses on a single gorgonian, and may be monogamous. Their breeding occurs throughout the year. Females lay eggs in its mother's pouch in her pocket. They will be fertilized by the male, and incubated until birth with an average gestational age of two weeks. Even in one birth, the male expel the female parent from their children numbering 34 bargibantis.

Very little data are known about the amount of pygmy seahorses, population trends, distribution, or primary predator. Therefore seven pygmy seahorses has been classified by the IUCN as an undescribed species as a whole (data deficient/less data). This classification means that not enough is known about the population and their lifestyle to make judgments about their conservation status information.

Because their unique color is an interesting and unusual, these tiny sea horse is much sought after as ornamental fish. But all seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) Which is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and effective as of May 2004, restrict and regulate their international trade. Whereas in Australia, has been tighter regulation, the animals included in the Act Australian Wildlife Protection, so that now the necessary export licenses. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INDAH.COM]
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Thursday, October 1, 2015

The new species of venomous snakes found in Australia

Scientists have discovered a new species of venomous snakes in the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia. The newly discovered species is included in Acanthophis, a genus of highly venomous snakes commonly found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and on some islands of Indonesia.
Acanthophis cryptamydros, a new deathly snake species discovered in the Kimberley region of Western Australia uses its tail like a lure. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FoVmmU)
The snake is called 'Acanthophis cryptamydros,' which has a length of 60 cm and a diamond-shaped head. This is a typical predator species were silent and waited, constantly camouflaged until it can catch frogs, lizards or small mammals that pass in front of him.

Simon Maddock and his colleagues from the Natural History Museum and University College London identified Acanthophis cryptamydros while researching the genetic and ecological characteristics of snakes that live in Kimberley.
The Kimberley death adder’s diamond-shaped head has a distinctive scale formation. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FoVmmU)
The range of the species known stretching from in the Wotjulum region in the west to Kununurra in the east. This species is also found several offshore islands including Koolan, Bigge, Boongaree, Wulalam, and an unnamed island in the Gulf of Talbot.

"It is unclear how many species of these snakes in the wild. But they may be very rare," said Maddock. Based on the number of several new species were discovered in Kimberley recently, the species seems to be just one of many types of snakes that have not been identified in the western part of Australia. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE GUARDIAN]
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