Caracal
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Green Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina)
…a species of arboreal ant found in Asia and Australia. They make nests in trees made of leaves stitched together using the silk produced by their larvae.
Weaver ants may be red or green. In Malaysia they are sometimes mis-called “fire ants” because a colloquial name in Malay is semut api; another name is kerengga (real fire ants are in a different genus, Solenopsis). The larvae and pupae are collected and processed into bird food, fish bait and in the production of traditional medicines in Thailand and Indonesia…
(read more: Wikipedia)
(via eximago)
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Meet the bush dog of South America.
Since that (albeit deceptive) picture of the maned wolf is going around, I thought I would post this. This little buddy is actually the closest living relative of the maned wolf. Of course, their both the only living members of their respective genera so they aren’t that closely related, but given their evolutionary isolation it’s as close as one can get for a living relative. So, let’s take a moment to revel in the irony that this stubby little cutie is a cousin of that leggy maned wolf.
Bush dogs are diurnal hunters, preferring wet savannas and forests. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, they typically hunt in pack of 10-12 individuals and communicate through whines. Their favorite prey is the paca, a large rodent.
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Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake. Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour).
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Celeste River is a river in Tenorio Volcano National Park of Costa Rica. It is notable for its distinctive turquoise coloration, a phenomenon caused by a chemical reaction between sulfur and calcium carbonate.
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Discoveries from the Foja Mountains of Indonesian New Guinea…
Undescribed frog: The Foja Mountains appear to be one of the richest sites for frogs in the Asia-Pacific region. More than 20 new species of frogs were found. (Image: Stephen Richards)
(read more: EyePod)
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The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world’s most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures.
During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Male colors tend to be more vibrant.
(Source: ddeiwos)
