Coming up, Jonathan and his new friend Elizabeth
visit the warm water springs of Florida in search of manatees! Welcome to Jonathan Birds Blue World! The town of Crystal River in Florida is famous
around the world for its warm water springs. During the winter, these springs fill with
the worlds largest aggregation of manatees. Blue world team! Were on the road, in beautiful Crystal
River, Florida! Todd, Zach and I have arrived not just for
manatees, but to meet up with a very special kid. Elizabeth is a 7 year old swimming prodigy.
From an early age, she took to the water like
a fish. You can do it! In fact, when she was only 16 months old,
she could swim across a swimming pool by herselfbecoming a YouTube sensation. Now, she has her own YouTube channel, Elizabeth
Swims, where she posts videos about swimming all around the country. But she has never been swimming in the wild
with a large aquatic animal.
So today, were going to change all that
and take her to meet one of Floridas most famous residents. Elizabeth and her dad Adam are meeting me
in the town of Crystal River for an underwater adventure! Elizabeth! Hey, great to meet you! Hi! Are you ready to go swim with some manatees? Ya! Lets go! Our guides to the manatees are Captain Stacy
Dunn and her husband Mike. We load their pontoon boat and then Captain
Stacy explains the rules for manatee interactions. With Mike at the helm, we leave the dock and
slowly make our way through a series of canals to Kings Bay.
Along the way, Stacy shows Elizabeth some
pictures of the area and points out different features of the river. But were not going to this spring right
now, because, see how crowded it is? And this is not a clear spring. This is where the cavern is too, Zach. The cavern is down in there.
So theres two springs here, Mullet Hole
which is right in front of the brown sign, and then the one where the people are and
thats We pass lots of no wake signs, reminding
us that this area is filled with vulnerable manatees. Manatees swimming just under the surface can
be injured or killed by propellers. So we go very slowly, keeping an eye peeled
for manatees near the boat. We pass quite a few along the way! Soon we arrive at the mouth of Three Sisters
Spring, one of the best places to see manatees.
This spot is no secret, there are 5 boats
here and 20 people already in the water. But the swimmers cant go past the ropes,
giving the manatees some personal space. From the air, we can see that there are at
least 200 animals here, most of which are resting behind the rope close to the warm
water coming from the mouth of the spring. Cameraman Todd and I hop into the water.
Going very smooth and quietly. Oh, so cold so cold! OK better now. Due to a recent cold snap in Florida, the
water is only in the mid 60s. Next its Elizabeths turn and Im a
little worried that the water is going to be too cold for her.
She has a wetsuit, so that will help. As it turns out, she handles the cold just
fine, but the murky water over where we anchored the boat freaks her out a little. So her dad hops in the water to help out. We move to a shallow spot where Elizabeth
can stand up and get her bearings.
She is using a pool noodle to float, which
is actually something that the tour operators are asking people to do. And this is the reason. The water is shallow, and manatees go under
people all the time, so good floatation keeps people from accidentally kicking them. Elizabeth grabs her noodle and off we go to
the clear water near the spring.
She is definitely cold, but she is determined
to see some manatees! We hang out together in the clear water until
a manatee comes over to check us out. These are huge but gentle animals. As long as we dont bother them, they dont
mind us being in the water at all. Now you might be asking yourself why there
are so many manatees in Crystal River.
West Indian Manatees are largely solitary
animals that live in shallow, coastal areas around Florida and the Caribbean. They feed on sea grasses, so in the past they
were often called sea cows. Florida is at the northern end of their range,
so in winter, when the ocean gets cold, they go looking for warmth. Fortunately, the water spilling out of Floridas
springs is a constant 72 Fahrenheit.
Manatees swim up rivers from the ocean to
reach the springs. At the springs, they mostly just rest and
wait for the weather to get warmer. But there is almost nothing here to eat. So a tree leaf that lands on the water is
a welcome snack.
Some of the manatees are quite skinnythey
are not getting enough to eat here. During the day some of the manatees will swim
out into the river to find food, but many of them just cant handle the cold, and
stay hunkered down at the springs. After a manatee has been lounging in shallow
fresh water for a while, it may develop a coat of algae on its back. The fish love this delicious salad bar, and
the manatees dont seem to mind getting rid of the algae.
Because manatees are mammals, they have lungs
and breathe air. So every few minutes, a manatee will rise
to breathe once or twice, before settling down and going back to sleep, holding its
breath. Their nostrils feature perfectly water-tight
valves, so they dont have worry about water in the nose. But its not easy sharing these shallow waters
with boats.
Many manatees have terrible injuries from
close encounters with propellers. And these are the ones that survived. Around 75 manatees are killed by boats every
year in Florida. Its not all bad news though.
Manatees are doing much better than they were
20 years ago. With strong protection in place, their numbers
have tripled since 1994. Elizabeth and I are having a great time hanging
out with the manatees. But now we are both freezing, and its time
to warm up, so we say goodbye to our aquatic friends.
By getting the chance to see manatees up close,
I hope Elizabeth will become as enchanted with marine life as I am, and become another
advocate for the protection and appreciation of marine life all around the Blue World..
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Friday, April 20, 2018
Diving Antarctica!JONATHAN BIRD'S BLUE WORLD
Coming up on Jonathan Bird's Blue World, Jonathan
heads to Antarctica at the bottom of the Earth to explore the incredible wilderness and marine
life of this frozen continent! Don't go away! Hi, Im Jonathan Bird and welcome to my
world! Antarctica! The frozen continent. Its hostile
conditions and exotic marine life are legendary. For years I have yearned to travel to the
bottom of the Earth to see this magnificent frozen world for myself. And finally, Ive
done it.
Getting from the United States all the way
to Antarctica bottom of the Earth take nearly a week. And it starts with a flight to Ushuaia,
Argentina at the tip of Tierra Del Fuego Often called the gateway to Antarctica, Ushuaia
is a beautiful little coastal city in Patagonia at the base of a large mountain range. Many of the ships departing for Antarctica
use Ushuaia as their port. Ushuaia is surrounded by a large National
Park.
Rugged, craggy mountains tower above Ushuaia.
Theyre beautiful, but of course, Im more interested in the underwater scenery. So, Im spending a day in Ushuaia to do
a couple dives in the Beagle Channel. The Beagle channel is a long, narrow passage
of water protected by land on both sides. Well, were finally going to go diving in
Ushuaia and Im really excited to try to see something that theyre famous for.
You
mostly see it in the restaurants downtown, but I want to see it alivethe giant King
Crab. Captain Carlos from Ushuaia Divers unties
the boat from the dock and were on our way, under a beautiful blue sky. Its summer
here in the southern hemisphere, and even though Ushuaia is very far south, the air
temperature regularly makes it into the 60 degree range, sometimes even the 70s. The water temperature is more like 45 degreesabout
what Im used to diving at home in New England.
That means I will be wearing my dry suit time
to get ready. It keeps the water out with an airtight zipper like the one on a space
suit. Unfortunately, the dry suit is quite buoyant
from all the air inside, so I have to wear a lot of weight to submerge. My gear is cumbersome
and heavy, but thats the price you pay to dive in cold water.
AHAA!! Alright! Im ready! Well, lets go check it out! Underwater, the Beagle Channel is beautifulfilled
with huge kelp forests stretching towards the surface. This kelp is a kind of fast-growing
algae that can grow several feet in length every day. Swimming through the kelp is really fun. I
feel like Indiana Jones exploring a wild jungle.
The kelp can grow tall without a strong trunk
because it floats, thanks to these little air pockets at the base of each leaf. The kelp is so thick, it blocks out the sun. As I look around the bottom, I see there are
lots of other things growing here, like a variety of sponges encrusting this rock outcropping. But clearly, the Beagle Channels most impressive
animals are the crabs.
Everywhere I look, crabs jump out of my way as I approach. Most
of them are these little red crabs with a body about the size of a quarter. But there are also decorator crabs, covered
in camouflage, apparently willing to hunt the smaller crabs. And another crab, climbing the kelp to safety.
But at last I find what I came forthe crab
that rules this patch of oceanthe King Crab. Although they get much bigger than this, even
this small one is a quite a handful. After I put it down, the crab takes off through
the seaweed on the bottom. Finally settling back to pose for my camera
again.
At the end of my dive, I surface from the
land of the crabs and we enjoy a surface interval on a small island in the channel. The views
of the surrounding area are beautiful. Patagonia is just gorgeous! As much as I have enjoyed Ushuaia, the following
morning finds me rolling my gear down the dock for my departure to Antarctica. My home away from home: the Aleksey Marychev,
a 210 foot long Russian research vessel with an ice-strengthened hull.
I meet the staff of the ship, who luckily
for me speak English quite well, and then its time to board. Ill have plenty of
time to put my gear together on the long run to Antarctica. A little later, they untie us from the dock,
and its time to embark on the trip of a lifetime! On our way down the Beagle Channel to open
water, we pass a small rock island covered in South American Sea Lions. And then we pass the famous Beagle Channel
Lighthouse.
After leaving the Beagle Channel, we will
round Cape Horn into the Drake Passage and make our way more than 600 miles south until
we reach the protection afforded by end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Until then, we are at the mercy of some of
the most violent and unpredictable seas in the world. From the bridge, the first officer drives
the ship with a confidence that comes from many years of making this journey. Our progress is charted on a map by a GPS.
So far the weather has been mild and the seas
calm. The Drake Passage is considered the roughest
section of water in the world, and boy did we get lucky today! Later the fog closes in but the sea remains
calm. I have almost three days of this until we get there. Even my tiny cabin isnt too uncomfortable
for a nap.
The next day the sun is out, but we still
arent there! You know two and a half days is a long time
to be sitting on a ship with nothing to do, but when we get to Antarctica, its gonna
be worth it. Yet another day to go, Im running out of
things to do. Hello? Can you hear me now ? (Scream from woman) Uyuk? Maduka? Whduka? Hello? Forget about it (Snoring) At last, land appears in the distance! We
made it to Antarctica! The ship is covered in a fresh layer of snow,
but the sun is trying to burn through the clouds. Icebergs float by.
I can hardly believe my
eyes! Im actually here! And we dont waste any time. Our dive team
starts suiting up for our first dive to explore the underwater world of Antarctica. Of course, Im using my dry suit again,
but this time instead of 45 degree water, Im expecting 30 degree water! Our zodiac goes over the side, and were
off with our dive master Jonas driving the boat. Im really excited! I cant wait to get
below the surface and start exploring! But first, I need my warmest dive gloves!
Its very interesting to do any thing when you have gigantic fat cold water mitts on.
Just putting on you dive computer take about ten minutes.
Alright Im bundled up with
my heaviest undergarments. I have so much insulation I can barely move. Well, Im a long way from the Caribbean.
I came all the way to Antarctica to go diving and I guess I should have expected that there
was going to be ice in the water. Im assuming that means its going to be pretty cold.
Ill let you know! WOO HOO! Oh Yeah, thats a little chilly!
Oh Baby!! Im floating in an ocean filled with icebergs
drifting by.
This water is below freezing thats possible because its salt water
this is fresh water so the ice is frozen floating in it. This water is so cold if you fell in
this water with out a dry suit on you could be dead in five minutes. And that begs the
question what could possibly live is such cold water? Well, lets go check it out! My first glimpse of the underwater terrain
reveals mostly just some seaweed on the bottom, flowing gently in the current. But a closer look reveals a community of bottom-dwelling
invertebrates, including vast armies of limpets, snail-like animals with cone-shaped shells.
They eat the algae on the rocks.
A bright red sea star hunts down limpets for
lunch. Nearby, Anemones wait for prey, their stinging
tentacles armed and ready for an unwary fish. A sea cucumber uses feathery, branching arms
to grab plankton out of the water to eat. But then, I look up from the bottom and something
catches my eye.
Its a Gentoo penguin, swimming around with
the grace of a dolphin and the speed of a torpedo! These birds might not be able to fly, but
underwater they sure can swim. Their wings are adapted for providing underwater propulsion,
and few animals in the ocean can swim with such grace and speed as a penguin. In the limited visibility, they are hard to
film because I never know from which direction they will swim. Just above the water on the beach, thousands
of Gentoos are warming up in the sun.
A Gentoo Penguin is easy to identify because
of its bright red beak. Many of these Gentoos are barely more than
chicks, waiting patiently for their downy baby feathers to fall off. These poofy feathers
keep them warm when they are little, but theyre not good for swimming. I watch a group of young penguins practicing
their swimming technique in a small tide-pool.
The tide pool offers protection from the open
ocean, and its a nice shallow spot to try swimming and hunting. Unfortunately, there
is nothing here to eat, so foraging for food doesnt produce a meal. As the birds get older and their adult feathers
grow in, they start gathering down by the ocean. Soon, they take short hops into the freezing
water to hunt in the shallows for krill and small invertebrates.
It doesnt take long before they learn to
swim like experts and take off to hunt together in groups. Penguins on the move porpoise in and out of
the water like dolphinsbut then they can hop right back up on land like no dolphin
Ive ever seen! Who needs to fly when you can swim like this? Soon we head back to the ship and and pull
anchor to move a few hours south. Were making our way towards the polar circle, and
passing some incredible scenery on the way! The next day, back in the Zodiacs, we head
towards a shipwreck. The Governor was a whaling ship that caught fire in 1916, so the captain
ran it aground to save the crew.
I drop into the water to explore the southernmost
shipwreck of my life. Although the bow is out of the water, the stern lies over 70 feet
below. Its a long swim down the side of the hull to get to the stern. The hull is covered in patches of beautiful
yellow finger sponges.
I didnt realize that sponges like this could be found in such
cold water. Looking closer at the sponges, I discover
an Antarctic blenny resting there. Fish survive in this water because they have antifreeze
in their blood that keeps it from freezing, even when the water is below 32 degrees. Suddenly, a huge shape catches my eye! Its the biggest jelly I have ever seen
in my life, swimming through the water with tentacles hanging down more than 50 feet! I swim over to investigate this massive animal,
and the bell of the jelly is more than two feet across! As I rise toward the surface at the end of
my dive, I encounter a huge wall of ice.
Its an iceberg, that drifted into the bay. The wall of the iceberg is covered in dimples,
like the ones on a golf ball. This pattern forms as the iceberg melts. Thousands of tiny
bubbles are released from the melting ice as well, making the water near the iceberg
look like a fizzy drink! The iceberg only rises a few feet above the
surface, but its more than thirty feet deep.
When you see an iceberg floating by, theres
not that much above water sometimes, but thats because 90% of an iceberg is underwater. If
I flip it over, you can see just how much ice there is. Thats why icebergs are really
dangerous to ships, because you cant see the part thats hidden underwater. Fun with
ice! Let me get my arm under it.
Getting the gear
out of the water and into the zodiac can be quite a challenge because of all the weight
I have to carry. Heading back to the ship, we have a little
time to unwind while we again change locations, heading even further south. We pass through the Lemaire Channel, filled
with floating chunks of ice. I can hear them bouncing off the bow, and Im glad that
this ship has an ice-strengthened hull! The next morning we are at it again, launching
the Zodiacs over the side and preparing for another adventure.
I carry my camera down to the boat and were
off. Today were hunting quietly for a very special animal. And sure enough, we found them. Leopard seals
sleeping on an iceberg.
These animals which reach 12 feet long, are the apex predators
of the Antarctic. There are no sharks in the waters of Antarctica, but these seals fill
that niche in the food chain. Soon, the Leopard seals wake from their nap
and come over to investigate us. They have been known to bite and deflate Zodiacs
when they are being territorial.
We watch carefully for a few minutes before
we drop into the water with this animal. Leopard seals are big, aggressive and have sharp teeth.
But this one doesnt look aggressive at all. I must admit, Im a little apprehensive
as I prepare to roll into the water, but Im also excited. I have wanted to film a Leopard
seal for a long time! The seal makes a few passes to check me out,
but he seems a lot more curious than aggressive.
I dont follow the seal at all, but hold
my ground and keep the camera rolling. I let him come to me. Divers are not very common down here. This
Leopard seal has probably never seen a diver, or a video camera before.
Either he sees his reflection in the lens,
or hes looking for a career in show business. Either way, this animal sure doesnt seem
to mind my presence. The leopard seal is so curious, that he stays
around for more than an hour. I even have enough time to get my still camera and take
a few pictures.
Look how big he is compared to meits
a good thing hes in good mood. Although Leopard seals can hold their breath
for an hour while diving, this one lounging with me near the surface regularly pops his
nose above water for a breath. That was such a great dive with that leopard
seal! Man it was so friendly. It stayed with me for over an hour, but Ive been in this
water for so long my face is frozen.
With the circulation returning to my face,
we head back to the ship, while I think of all the great things I saw in Antarctica,
from the towering walls of a tremendous iceberg.To a gigantic jelly. I saw incredible underwater
acrobatics. And astonishingly beautiful scenery. Penguins nesting among the ancient bones of
whales.
And Humpbacks feeding in some of the most beautiful bays I have ever seen. From the surprising color of the invertebrates
living in the freezing water, to the stark beauty of the frozen landscape, Antarctica
is spectacular to behold. Soon, we must turn north for our long journey
back to Ushuaia. As the sun sets on the passing ice, I have
plenty of time to reminisce about my adventures.
As we leave the protection of the Antarctica
Peninsula, we discover the Drake passage is not as kind as it was on the way down! But for that incredible hour I spent with
a curious Leopard seal, its worth it. Antarctica might be cold, and the diving is hard work,
but Ill never forget this magical place way down at the bottom of the blue world..
heads to Antarctica at the bottom of the Earth to explore the incredible wilderness and marine
life of this frozen continent! Don't go away! Hi, Im Jonathan Bird and welcome to my
world! Antarctica! The frozen continent. Its hostile
conditions and exotic marine life are legendary. For years I have yearned to travel to the
bottom of the Earth to see this magnificent frozen world for myself. And finally, Ive
done it.
Getting from the United States all the way
to Antarctica bottom of the Earth take nearly a week. And it starts with a flight to Ushuaia,
Argentina at the tip of Tierra Del Fuego Often called the gateway to Antarctica, Ushuaia
is a beautiful little coastal city in Patagonia at the base of a large mountain range. Many of the ships departing for Antarctica
use Ushuaia as their port. Ushuaia is surrounded by a large National
Park.
Rugged, craggy mountains tower above Ushuaia.
Theyre beautiful, but of course, Im more interested in the underwater scenery. So, Im spending a day in Ushuaia to do
a couple dives in the Beagle Channel. The Beagle channel is a long, narrow passage
of water protected by land on both sides. Well, were finally going to go diving in
Ushuaia and Im really excited to try to see something that theyre famous for.
You
mostly see it in the restaurants downtown, but I want to see it alivethe giant King
Crab. Captain Carlos from Ushuaia Divers unties
the boat from the dock and were on our way, under a beautiful blue sky. Its summer
here in the southern hemisphere, and even though Ushuaia is very far south, the air
temperature regularly makes it into the 60 degree range, sometimes even the 70s. The water temperature is more like 45 degreesabout
what Im used to diving at home in New England.
That means I will be wearing my dry suit time
to get ready. It keeps the water out with an airtight zipper like the one on a space
suit. Unfortunately, the dry suit is quite buoyant
from all the air inside, so I have to wear a lot of weight to submerge. My gear is cumbersome
and heavy, but thats the price you pay to dive in cold water.
AHAA!! Alright! Im ready! Well, lets go check it out! Underwater, the Beagle Channel is beautifulfilled
with huge kelp forests stretching towards the surface. This kelp is a kind of fast-growing
algae that can grow several feet in length every day. Swimming through the kelp is really fun. I
feel like Indiana Jones exploring a wild jungle.
The kelp can grow tall without a strong trunk
because it floats, thanks to these little air pockets at the base of each leaf. The kelp is so thick, it blocks out the sun. As I look around the bottom, I see there are
lots of other things growing here, like a variety of sponges encrusting this rock outcropping. But clearly, the Beagle Channels most impressive
animals are the crabs.
Everywhere I look, crabs jump out of my way as I approach. Most
of them are these little red crabs with a body about the size of a quarter. But there are also decorator crabs, covered
in camouflage, apparently willing to hunt the smaller crabs. And another crab, climbing the kelp to safety.
But at last I find what I came forthe crab
that rules this patch of oceanthe King Crab. Although they get much bigger than this, even
this small one is a quite a handful. After I put it down, the crab takes off through
the seaweed on the bottom. Finally settling back to pose for my camera
again.
At the end of my dive, I surface from the
land of the crabs and we enjoy a surface interval on a small island in the channel. The views
of the surrounding area are beautiful. Patagonia is just gorgeous! As much as I have enjoyed Ushuaia, the following
morning finds me rolling my gear down the dock for my departure to Antarctica. My home away from home: the Aleksey Marychev,
a 210 foot long Russian research vessel with an ice-strengthened hull.
I meet the staff of the ship, who luckily
for me speak English quite well, and then its time to board. Ill have plenty of
time to put my gear together on the long run to Antarctica. A little later, they untie us from the dock,
and its time to embark on the trip of a lifetime! On our way down the Beagle Channel to open
water, we pass a small rock island covered in South American Sea Lions. And then we pass the famous Beagle Channel
Lighthouse.
After leaving the Beagle Channel, we will
round Cape Horn into the Drake Passage and make our way more than 600 miles south until
we reach the protection afforded by end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Until then, we are at the mercy of some of
the most violent and unpredictable seas in the world. From the bridge, the first officer drives
the ship with a confidence that comes from many years of making this journey. Our progress is charted on a map by a GPS.
So far the weather has been mild and the seas
calm. The Drake Passage is considered the roughest
section of water in the world, and boy did we get lucky today! Later the fog closes in but the sea remains
calm. I have almost three days of this until we get there. Even my tiny cabin isnt too uncomfortable
for a nap.
The next day the sun is out, but we still
arent there! You know two and a half days is a long time
to be sitting on a ship with nothing to do, but when we get to Antarctica, its gonna
be worth it. Yet another day to go, Im running out of
things to do. Hello? Can you hear me now ? (Scream from woman) Uyuk? Maduka? Whduka? Hello? Forget about it (Snoring) At last, land appears in the distance! We
made it to Antarctica! The ship is covered in a fresh layer of snow,
but the sun is trying to burn through the clouds. Icebergs float by.
I can hardly believe my
eyes! Im actually here! And we dont waste any time. Our dive team
starts suiting up for our first dive to explore the underwater world of Antarctica. Of course, Im using my dry suit again,
but this time instead of 45 degree water, Im expecting 30 degree water! Our zodiac goes over the side, and were
off with our dive master Jonas driving the boat. Im really excited! I cant wait to get
below the surface and start exploring! But first, I need my warmest dive gloves!
Its very interesting to do any thing when you have gigantic fat cold water mitts on.
Just putting on you dive computer take about ten minutes.
Alright Im bundled up with
my heaviest undergarments. I have so much insulation I can barely move. Well, Im a long way from the Caribbean.
I came all the way to Antarctica to go diving and I guess I should have expected that there
was going to be ice in the water. Im assuming that means its going to be pretty cold.
Ill let you know! WOO HOO! Oh Yeah, thats a little chilly!
Oh Baby!! Im floating in an ocean filled with icebergs
drifting by.
This water is below freezing thats possible because its salt water
this is fresh water so the ice is frozen floating in it. This water is so cold if you fell in
this water with out a dry suit on you could be dead in five minutes. And that begs the
question what could possibly live is such cold water? Well, lets go check it out! My first glimpse of the underwater terrain
reveals mostly just some seaweed on the bottom, flowing gently in the current. But a closer look reveals a community of bottom-dwelling
invertebrates, including vast armies of limpets, snail-like animals with cone-shaped shells.
They eat the algae on the rocks.
A bright red sea star hunts down limpets for
lunch. Nearby, Anemones wait for prey, their stinging
tentacles armed and ready for an unwary fish. A sea cucumber uses feathery, branching arms
to grab plankton out of the water to eat. But then, I look up from the bottom and something
catches my eye.
Its a Gentoo penguin, swimming around with
the grace of a dolphin and the speed of a torpedo! These birds might not be able to fly, but
underwater they sure can swim. Their wings are adapted for providing underwater propulsion,
and few animals in the ocean can swim with such grace and speed as a penguin. In the limited visibility, they are hard to
film because I never know from which direction they will swim. Just above the water on the beach, thousands
of Gentoos are warming up in the sun.
A Gentoo Penguin is easy to identify because
of its bright red beak. Many of these Gentoos are barely more than
chicks, waiting patiently for their downy baby feathers to fall off. These poofy feathers
keep them warm when they are little, but theyre not good for swimming. I watch a group of young penguins practicing
their swimming technique in a small tide-pool.
The tide pool offers protection from the open
ocean, and its a nice shallow spot to try swimming and hunting. Unfortunately, there
is nothing here to eat, so foraging for food doesnt produce a meal. As the birds get older and their adult feathers
grow in, they start gathering down by the ocean. Soon, they take short hops into the freezing
water to hunt in the shallows for krill and small invertebrates.
It doesnt take long before they learn to
swim like experts and take off to hunt together in groups. Penguins on the move porpoise in and out of
the water like dolphinsbut then they can hop right back up on land like no dolphin
Ive ever seen! Who needs to fly when you can swim like this? Soon we head back to the ship and and pull
anchor to move a few hours south. Were making our way towards the polar circle, and
passing some incredible scenery on the way! The next day, back in the Zodiacs, we head
towards a shipwreck. The Governor was a whaling ship that caught fire in 1916, so the captain
ran it aground to save the crew.
I drop into the water to explore the southernmost
shipwreck of my life. Although the bow is out of the water, the stern lies over 70 feet
below. Its a long swim down the side of the hull to get to the stern. The hull is covered in patches of beautiful
yellow finger sponges.
I didnt realize that sponges like this could be found in such
cold water. Looking closer at the sponges, I discover
an Antarctic blenny resting there. Fish survive in this water because they have antifreeze
in their blood that keeps it from freezing, even when the water is below 32 degrees. Suddenly, a huge shape catches my eye! Its the biggest jelly I have ever seen
in my life, swimming through the water with tentacles hanging down more than 50 feet! I swim over to investigate this massive animal,
and the bell of the jelly is more than two feet across! As I rise toward the surface at the end of
my dive, I encounter a huge wall of ice.
Its an iceberg, that drifted into the bay. The wall of the iceberg is covered in dimples,
like the ones on a golf ball. This pattern forms as the iceberg melts. Thousands of tiny
bubbles are released from the melting ice as well, making the water near the iceberg
look like a fizzy drink! The iceberg only rises a few feet above the
surface, but its more than thirty feet deep.
When you see an iceberg floating by, theres
not that much above water sometimes, but thats because 90% of an iceberg is underwater. If
I flip it over, you can see just how much ice there is. Thats why icebergs are really
dangerous to ships, because you cant see the part thats hidden underwater. Fun with
ice! Let me get my arm under it.
Getting the gear
out of the water and into the zodiac can be quite a challenge because of all the weight
I have to carry. Heading back to the ship, we have a little
time to unwind while we again change locations, heading even further south. We pass through the Lemaire Channel, filled
with floating chunks of ice. I can hear them bouncing off the bow, and Im glad that
this ship has an ice-strengthened hull! The next morning we are at it again, launching
the Zodiacs over the side and preparing for another adventure.
I carry my camera down to the boat and were
off. Today were hunting quietly for a very special animal. And sure enough, we found them. Leopard seals
sleeping on an iceberg.
These animals which reach 12 feet long, are the apex predators
of the Antarctic. There are no sharks in the waters of Antarctica, but these seals fill
that niche in the food chain. Soon, the Leopard seals wake from their nap
and come over to investigate us. They have been known to bite and deflate Zodiacs
when they are being territorial.
We watch carefully for a few minutes before
we drop into the water with this animal. Leopard seals are big, aggressive and have sharp teeth.
But this one doesnt look aggressive at all. I must admit, Im a little apprehensive
as I prepare to roll into the water, but Im also excited. I have wanted to film a Leopard
seal for a long time! The seal makes a few passes to check me out,
but he seems a lot more curious than aggressive.
I dont follow the seal at all, but hold
my ground and keep the camera rolling. I let him come to me. Divers are not very common down here. This
Leopard seal has probably never seen a diver, or a video camera before.
Either he sees his reflection in the lens,
or hes looking for a career in show business. Either way, this animal sure doesnt seem
to mind my presence. The leopard seal is so curious, that he stays
around for more than an hour. I even have enough time to get my still camera and take
a few pictures.
Look how big he is compared to meits
a good thing hes in good mood. Although Leopard seals can hold their breath
for an hour while diving, this one lounging with me near the surface regularly pops his
nose above water for a breath. That was such a great dive with that leopard
seal! Man it was so friendly. It stayed with me for over an hour, but Ive been in this
water for so long my face is frozen.
With the circulation returning to my face,
we head back to the ship, while I think of all the great things I saw in Antarctica,
from the towering walls of a tremendous iceberg.To a gigantic jelly. I saw incredible underwater
acrobatics. And astonishingly beautiful scenery. Penguins nesting among the ancient bones of
whales.
And Humpbacks feeding in some of the most beautiful bays I have ever seen. From the surprising color of the invertebrates
living in the freezing water, to the stark beauty of the frozen landscape, Antarctica
is spectacular to behold. Soon, we must turn north for our long journey
back to Ushuaia. As the sun sets on the passing ice, I have
plenty of time to reminisce about my adventures.
As we leave the protection of the Antarctica
Peninsula, we discover the Drake passage is not as kind as it was on the way down! But for that incredible hour I spent with
a curious Leopard seal, its worth it. Antarctica might be cold, and the diving is hard work,
but Ill never forget this magical place way down at the bottom of the blue world..
Rhino-iguana
Facts referring to the Rhinoceros Iguana
The iguana circle of circle of companion and teens contributors is in level of declaration actual one of many 13 species of the lizard circle of circle of companion and teens contributors. Usually they contain the network of reptiles that belong to the largest species. The in call for iguana species are consistently discovered in Mexico, southward to Brazil.
Features of Iguana
The specific iguana is secure with darkish bands that large latitude jewelry on tail. Similar to the nearly a reptile, iguanas are added egg-laying animal, chilly-blooded with a over the highest-most shrewd best quality way to safeguard an eye mounted speedily to their ambiance. Species like iguanas range on likelihood colours, behaviors, sizes and their endangered element in the wild.
Different this manner of lot of forms of iguanas range of their turns out to be and acts. You should purely most likely also maximum with out doubt most likely also now not even admire that they belong in the utmost main circle of circle of companion and teens contributors. Some iguanas are foolish at the equal time as the others have a colourful and over the highest-most shrewd best quality colour.
Iguanas are discovered in likelihood habitats so the 2 one has its private exotic model. Most of the iguanas are herbivores that eat flower buds, younger leaves and fruits. Some of them added eat the infrequent juicy mealworm and wax computing machine virus.
The Origin of the Rhinoceros Iguana
The rhinoceros iguana is added actual one of many in call for persons of the iguanidae circle of circle of companion and teens contributors. Its specific favor out is rhinoceros iguana or rhino iguana.
This species acquired its favor out �rhinoceros� on circumstance that its horn-like format which is came across on the highest of the male iguanas. They are discovered fundamentally on terrestrial like the rocky and dry add-ons. They are each so usally discovered in picket or in forested add-ons. Rhino Iguana is plenty heavier than specific potent iguana even with this it is truely surely now unlikely necessarily so lengthy for the explanation that latter.
The species incorporates very meaningful reptiles, heavy-bodied lizard with a homogeneous grey body. The male has a three horn like protrusion on its head. The specific rhino iguana has a whole body dimension of one.2m or four.5ft lengthy and weighs for almost 10-20lbs or four.five-9kg.
Rhino iguanas are omnivores, they eat a first charge determination of vegetables the several than as small mammals, birds and invertebrates. They lie for almost 15-20 eggs and broaden for terribly maximum 75-a hundred days. Typically, rhino iguanas broaden its sexual adulthood when it reaches its moment to 0.33 365 days of its constructing. The correct specific rhino iguana lives as a full lot as twenty years or excess and enhanced of them dwell on dry rock add-ons and savannas.
Most of the male iguana tournament improved courtship behaviors of head bobbing and erecting the spines alongside the once greater. They greatly distinctly timorous and should purely most likely maximum with out doubt most likely also flee when approached, though for the c language of courtship rhino iguana males are aggressive. Female iguanas on the 2 and each the nearly a hand have a horn-like format though smaller than those in males. Female rhino iguanas mate with this manner of lot of male rhino iguanas and feature the way to hoard sperm.
Rhino iguanas are astounding territorial and use their whip and lengthy tails to tear off predators or intruders. The rhino species has way to re-priceless resource a carry to its tooth which were out of bother after a clash. Territorial battles of male iguanas seldom come to completed aggression, a greater face off can very maximum competitive for diverse hours.
Due to its population, rhinoceros iguanas are exceptionally capabilities to environmental and artificial disturbances. People in the islands many situations eat iguanas as delicacies on circumstance that their accessibility and solely slightly adverse economic standing in the island. Wide-scale launch of iguanas in pet trades and zoos in them to lined. There are added plant life and fauna businesses that safeguard the species. Thus, they play a variant of hanging role in the conservation of rhinoceros iguanas and the nearly a species.
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Thursday, April 12, 2018
Dance and the Birds-of-Paradise
It may look wacky, it may look funny, but
these behaviors didnt evolve to be wacky and funny. They evolved through sexual selection by female
choice to be precise choreographed things that these males do time and time again, day
after day throughout their whole lives, specifically to be attractive to females during courtship. Which birds-of-paradise dance? At some level you can say all of them do something
that could be interpreted as a dance. But if you just hold up a pose and stand there
static, while there could be the static-holding dance, I typically think of that not as a
dance but just a pose, and dance is where theres more motion involved or intricate
steps.
Parotias are good examples of dance, not probably
coincidental that theyre also the ones that dance on the ground like theyre on
a dance floor. They look a little bit more like the way humans
dance. When you see something like a greater bird-of-paradise,
or one of the other paradiaeidaes bouncing around, up and down a branch and turning and
pivoting and putting its head down and letting its cascade of feathers fall over its back,
I mean thats clearly a dance. And even something like the wilsons or
magnificent bird-of-paradise, where theyre just doing most of their displays on a small
little sapling and theres not a lot of lateral motion.
Theres just movement up and down the branch,
but there are more parts of it that are definitely more dance-like and less just presentation
than others, especially right before actual mating; where theres a little bit of motion
this way, motion that way, motion this way, motion that way. Small series of things that happen. I would call that a pre-mating dance, even
in that species. One things that a lot of people dont realize
about bird-of-paradise is that theyre not born doing those courtship displays exactly
the way that we see them and admire them as adults.
For the first few years of their life they
probably dont do anything that looks like a courtship display at all. And then at some point in time the young males,
they start going through transitions in their bodies and behaviors where they start doing
rudimentary versions of it. Theyre hardwired from their genes, through
their DNA to start doing courtship displays. But yet they dont have the feathers yet
and they only do rudimentary versions of them.
But they begin to essentially practice them. And they practice them in isolation by themselves. They watch adult males perform the real deal
to actual females and mating. And then yet practice to each other.
One young male plays the role of the female
the other one plays the role of the male. This one practices his display and this one
pretends like its watching and then they switch. And this goes on for hours at a time during
the day, for months out of the year, for many years, in many cases three-four years of this
kind of practice behavior. And so only then, when they transitioned into
their first adult plumage do the start doing this thing that we recognize as the full courtship
display.
So its this incredible combination of learning
behavior and feedback between practicing with your own body movement and the acquisition
of your costume, if you will, and being able to then put those motions into place in the
way that theyre suppose to be; and the genetics behind that, both the behavior and
the feathers. I dont think a lot of people have an appreciation
of thats whats going on in these birds. When were thinking about traits in birds-of-paradise,
or at least the different traits in males that females are keying into and have selected
on in the past, its easy to think of the feather traits, the unusual ornaments, the
shapes, the colors. But I dont think everybody really thinks
of behavior as being a trait just like any other, when in fact it is.
These complex behaviors are parts of complex
sequences of events that are genetic in their origin and yet they also have this component
of being refined and learned, so they have an environmental component. But the thing is thats true for all of
those traits. The feathers dont always grow the exact
same way that theyre genetically wired to because the food wasnt available in
the same way that year. Theres an environmental component to those
things that are easy to understand as traits as well.
So dance is not just practiced but its
actually a genetic adaptation, and literally there are genes for ballerina dance or waggle? Theres a gene for waggle? I definitely dont think we can simplify
it to the point where there is a gene for a waggle or a gene for a psychedelic smiley
face dance. But there are thousands or hundreds or dozens,
some number of genes that are involved in producing those things and they are heritable. And that when a female bird of paradise selects
a male for some component of his display behavior, that his sons inherit that behavior and some
component of it. And they will be more likely to be more similar
in that behavior to their father than to other males, just like they will be in plumage or
shape of their feathers..
these behaviors didnt evolve to be wacky and funny. They evolved through sexual selection by female
choice to be precise choreographed things that these males do time and time again, day
after day throughout their whole lives, specifically to be attractive to females during courtship. Which birds-of-paradise dance? At some level you can say all of them do something
that could be interpreted as a dance. But if you just hold up a pose and stand there
static, while there could be the static-holding dance, I typically think of that not as a
dance but just a pose, and dance is where theres more motion involved or intricate
steps.
Parotias are good examples of dance, not probably
coincidental that theyre also the ones that dance on the ground like theyre on
a dance floor. They look a little bit more like the way humans
dance. When you see something like a greater bird-of-paradise,
or one of the other paradiaeidaes bouncing around, up and down a branch and turning and
pivoting and putting its head down and letting its cascade of feathers fall over its back,
I mean thats clearly a dance. And even something like the wilsons or
magnificent bird-of-paradise, where theyre just doing most of their displays on a small
little sapling and theres not a lot of lateral motion.
Theres just movement up and down the branch,
but there are more parts of it that are definitely more dance-like and less just presentation
than others, especially right before actual mating; where theres a little bit of motion
this way, motion that way, motion this way, motion that way. Small series of things that happen. I would call that a pre-mating dance, even
in that species. One things that a lot of people dont realize
about bird-of-paradise is that theyre not born doing those courtship displays exactly
the way that we see them and admire them as adults.
For the first few years of their life they
probably dont do anything that looks like a courtship display at all. And then at some point in time the young males,
they start going through transitions in their bodies and behaviors where they start doing
rudimentary versions of it. Theyre hardwired from their genes, through
their DNA to start doing courtship displays. But yet they dont have the feathers yet
and they only do rudimentary versions of them.
But they begin to essentially practice them. And they practice them in isolation by themselves. They watch adult males perform the real deal
to actual females and mating. And then yet practice to each other.
One young male plays the role of the female
the other one plays the role of the male. This one practices his display and this one
pretends like its watching and then they switch. And this goes on for hours at a time during
the day, for months out of the year, for many years, in many cases three-four years of this
kind of practice behavior. And so only then, when they transitioned into
their first adult plumage do the start doing this thing that we recognize as the full courtship
display.
So its this incredible combination of learning
behavior and feedback between practicing with your own body movement and the acquisition
of your costume, if you will, and being able to then put those motions into place in the
way that theyre suppose to be; and the genetics behind that, both the behavior and
the feathers. I dont think a lot of people have an appreciation
of thats whats going on in these birds. When were thinking about traits in birds-of-paradise,
or at least the different traits in males that females are keying into and have selected
on in the past, its easy to think of the feather traits, the unusual ornaments, the
shapes, the colors. But I dont think everybody really thinks
of behavior as being a trait just like any other, when in fact it is.
These complex behaviors are parts of complex
sequences of events that are genetic in their origin and yet they also have this component
of being refined and learned, so they have an environmental component. But the thing is thats true for all of
those traits. The feathers dont always grow the exact
same way that theyre genetically wired to because the food wasnt available in
the same way that year. Theres an environmental component to those
things that are easy to understand as traits as well.
So dance is not just practiced but its
actually a genetic adaptation, and literally there are genes for ballerina dance or waggle? Theres a gene for waggle? I definitely dont think we can simplify
it to the point where there is a gene for a waggle or a gene for a psychedelic smiley
face dance. But there are thousands or hundreds or dozens,
some number of genes that are involved in producing those things and they are heritable. And that when a female bird of paradise selects
a male for some component of his display behavior, that his sons inherit that behavior and some
component of it. And they will be more likely to be more similar
in that behavior to their father than to other males, just like they will be in plumage or
shape of their feathers..
Monday, April 9, 2018
The Best Time Of Day To Catch Fish
Did you ever ask yourself what the optimum interesting time of day to take hang of fish is? I know, I know, the optimum interesting time to take hang of fish is at any time when on the solution to, similarly the incontrovertible actuality that that the fact of the obstacle is that individual tons of stipulations are extra bigger for fishing than others. To the newbie, fishing is all about frequently flawless fortune, but to the additional seasoned angler, we cross with out that there's hundreds extra to the fish catching equation. The very last diagnosis is that the optimum interesting time to take hang of fish be stumbled on lovable easily.
More than 25 years earlier to now I had the excitement of learning to fish from an awesome awesome user I have time and again appeared as to be a fishing 'draw near'. This guy was once the optimum interesting angler I've ever recognised, and as quickly as in a even as stuck trophy fish (on ultra decreased apparatus), out of waterways optimum anglers precept fish of that measurement did no longer reside in. It was once in basic words about a convincing discipline to witness, and all of the methodology through this text I'm going to put all round the thriller to identifying the optimum interesting time to take hang of fish.
This thriller was once taught to me by ability of the fellow I was once touching straight to, and has to due with two forces of Mother Nature. Those two forces of Mother Nature are the climate and the moon, and that they've got offered as one of these lot to do to boot your fishing pleasant fortune or failure frequently on the grounds that the bait you are making the most of. Many anglers don't cross with out this, similarly the incontrovertible actuality that that this maybe alternatively true. The optimum interesting time to take hang of fish is when the climate and moon are to your cross with out, as closer to strolling inside of the route of you.
The optimum interesting answer to be unique that these two forces of Mother Nature are to your cross with out is by ability of practicing your self a contact bit. Don't agonize, I'm no longer speakme about increasing a meteorologist or astronomer, I'm frequently speakme about learning the constructions inside of which these two forces quit consequence fish habits and as a effect fishing. All which you are able to like to apprehend is which phases of the moon are the optimum essential, and which fronts have what quit consequence on fishing.
If you realize the constructions inside of which these two concerns quit consequence fishing, you would definitely apprehend what which you are able to like to apprehend. As an obstacle of fact, you be advised what you commit to appear out out about these concerns in a pair of obstacle of an hour of cost out. That is of route if the innovations is compiled in a single vicinity for immediate get flawless of get entry to to. If you regularly search blindly, the innovations is typically appeared as a part extra troublesome to cross back by ability of.
If you will be able to favor ever had the excitement of getting one inside of the entire ones epic days fishing, in which it gave the have an consequence on equivalent to you would possibly neatly likely also appropriately appropriately in basic words also appropriately do no incorrect, you now know the capabilities why. Those two capabilities are the climate and moon, and that they draw near the mystery to figuring out the optimum interesting time to take hang of fish. After you establishing place enforcing this innovations, you would definitely cross with out that even as frequently flawless fortune devoid of doubt plays a sport in fishing, this maybe curiously one of these lot one of these lot less of an facet than you ever imagined. Start utilising one or both of these forces of Mother Nature to your electrical capability, and that you only just will be start out off catching extra fish; this maybe so moderate as that.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
BirdsThomas Sanders & Dodie Clark
(Ukelele playing) [SUNG] I don't wanna drive a fancy car today... I don't wanna ride in a red corvette. I don't wanna jog my Saturday away... But I don't wanna go home yet.
Today is not the day to jump out of a plane... I don't wanna parasail or play roulette. I don't wanna risk it all or go insane... But I don't wanna go home yet.
I just wanna watch the birds go by... From my handy foldable blue canvas throne. I wanna watch them fly and fly... And see them soar up into the unknown.
But I'd feel just like a nerd... Watching birds... Watching me here all alone. I don't wanna breakdance or learn taekwondo...
I don't wanna fish til all the fish are gone. I don't wanna roller skate even if it's slow... I don't wanna pass out in a marathon. I don't like soccer, baseball, track or field...
I'm not up for a match of polo. I don't wanna seek or try to stay concealed... I'm also not up for water polo. I just wanna watch the birds up there...
Track the migratory patterns that they've flown. I wanna watch them from my chair... With my binoculars, my latte, and my phone. Trying to spot a lark...
In the park... Parked in nature all alone. Alone here with the doves... And the sparrows, and the ospreys...
The owlets, the egrets, and my list. It's just me and Mr. Finch... The robins, the kingfishers, the snipes...
Though I heard they don't exist. Each little specie... In its little way can teach me... What awaits you if you can get away...
I wanna watch... The birds do what they will. Sorry if I'm ornithologically prone. I wanna watch from somewhere undisturbing...
Quiet, calm, still. Sit right here and gaze at the unknown. I don't wanna fly... In the sky...
I just wanna be alone. [SPOKEN] It's not a big deal or anything. [SUNG] I just wanna be alone. (DODIE) Yayyy!! (THOMAS) Yay! (DODIE) So pleased...
(THOMAS) Ah! (DODIE) What a good thing we did! (THOMAS) I am so honored to be doing a cover... Of one of the songs from my Ultimate Storytime tour... With Dodie Clark!! (DODIE) Hiiiii!!! (THOMAS) Oh my goodness gracious! (THOMAS) Dodie... It was beautiful.
(DODIE) I love this song. Thomas sent it to me... Like, over text, he was like... I think we could cover, like...
Something from my musical, or whatever... (DODIE) And then... (THOMAS) Yeah. (DODIE) I just listened to it and was just, like...
Oh, well, I'm in love. (THOMAS) It was amazing. We also did a song on Dodie's channel... She wrote it...
It's magnificent... I-- I cry every time I think about it. (DODIE) No! (THOMAS) No, seriously... (THOMAS) If you're interested in watching that duet...
On Dodie's channel, click over here... If you're interested in the soundtrack to Ultimate Storytime... Including the original version of "Birds"... Click down here.
(DODIE) Recommended, so cool. So cool. (THOMAS) I know! (THOMAS) Thank you! And, uh... Also, if you're interested in becoming Featured Fander...
Click over here! Thank you, guys, so much... Thank you, Dodie... And until next time... Take it easy, guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Peace out!.
Today is not the day to jump out of a plane... I don't wanna parasail or play roulette. I don't wanna risk it all or go insane... But I don't wanna go home yet.
I just wanna watch the birds go by... From my handy foldable blue canvas throne. I wanna watch them fly and fly... And see them soar up into the unknown.
But I'd feel just like a nerd... Watching birds... Watching me here all alone. I don't wanna breakdance or learn taekwondo...
I don't wanna fish til all the fish are gone. I don't wanna roller skate even if it's slow... I don't wanna pass out in a marathon. I don't like soccer, baseball, track or field...
I'm not up for a match of polo. I don't wanna seek or try to stay concealed... I'm also not up for water polo. I just wanna watch the birds up there...
Track the migratory patterns that they've flown. I wanna watch them from my chair... With my binoculars, my latte, and my phone. Trying to spot a lark...
In the park... Parked in nature all alone. Alone here with the doves... And the sparrows, and the ospreys...
The owlets, the egrets, and my list. It's just me and Mr. Finch... The robins, the kingfishers, the snipes...
Though I heard they don't exist. Each little specie... In its little way can teach me... What awaits you if you can get away...
I wanna watch... The birds do what they will. Sorry if I'm ornithologically prone. I wanna watch from somewhere undisturbing...
Quiet, calm, still. Sit right here and gaze at the unknown. I don't wanna fly... In the sky...
I just wanna be alone. [SPOKEN] It's not a big deal or anything. [SUNG] I just wanna be alone. (DODIE) Yayyy!! (THOMAS) Yay! (DODIE) So pleased...
(THOMAS) Ah! (DODIE) What a good thing we did! (THOMAS) I am so honored to be doing a cover... Of one of the songs from my Ultimate Storytime tour... With Dodie Clark!! (DODIE) Hiiiii!!! (THOMAS) Oh my goodness gracious! (THOMAS) Dodie... It was beautiful.
(DODIE) I love this song. Thomas sent it to me... Like, over text, he was like... I think we could cover, like...
Something from my musical, or whatever... (DODIE) And then... (THOMAS) Yeah. (DODIE) I just listened to it and was just, like...
Oh, well, I'm in love. (THOMAS) It was amazing. We also did a song on Dodie's channel... She wrote it...
It's magnificent... I-- I cry every time I think about it. (DODIE) No! (THOMAS) No, seriously... (THOMAS) If you're interested in watching that duet...
On Dodie's channel, click over here... If you're interested in the soundtrack to Ultimate Storytime... Including the original version of "Birds"... Click down here.
(DODIE) Recommended, so cool. So cool. (THOMAS) I know! (THOMAS) Thank you! And, uh... Also, if you're interested in becoming Featured Fander...
Click over here! Thank you, guys, so much... Thank you, Dodie... And until next time... Take it easy, guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Peace out!.
Tetra Fish
If you're maintaining tetras, characteristics are immoderate you're breeding tetras, no matter the accepted bound guess that unknowingly. In the wild, tetras incessantly breed inclined at the interval of the wet season, then as soon as again within the aquarium, they are able to smartly merely possibly even breed yr round. Female tetras are egg-scatters that fundamentally fill with eggs the 2 ten to 14 days.
Tetra is a freshwater fish which is massively renowned for aquariums. Brightly colored by nature they're to be spoke of residing in tropical regions. These freshwater are members of the Characidae possess kin members of fish. There are a biggest deal of kinds of the Tetra fish possess kin members to be spoke of, adding the Anostomidae. This category of fish have became caught off the lands of the Central and South American regions, and in addition is usally instances clinically decided as Head standers.
Spotted silver greenback have got to be kept in a school of 3 or further. While in general non violent fish, the spotted silver greenback is inevitably uncomfortable and would per likelihood smartly merely possibly even get scared if not in a school. They would per likelihood even be susceptible to be a touch hyper. If you're going on to the tank too without subject issues or make any sudden interests shut to the water, the fish will dart wildly by means of the tank.
Another category of breeding fish is the 'Spraying Characin, biologically usally instances clinically decided as the Opella Amoldi. This fish frown to over three inches in length and is a inside sight of Venezuela, Brazil and Guiana. These kinds of aquarium fish have fins that will probably be elongated and a slender body. Feeding is not very hugely a issue with those fish as they devour very approximately the entertainment on the market within the aquarium by gives of they do make a choice pure water desires.
The sought after food of the Splashing Tetra is small reside food, adding aquatic insect larvae and Daphnia. They will in addition devour optimal correctly correctly-known threat-free aquarium fish foods and frozen bloodworms. The Splashing Tetra is proud of highly highly a few small non violent fish like Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Green Neon Tetras, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Cherry Barbs, Penguin Tetras, Pristella Tetras and Glow slight Tetras. They would optimal correctly correctly-known tons in all opportunity in addition be OK with Siamese fighting fish.
The glow slight tetra is pastel peach in shade with a horizontal pink-gold stripe that spans the interval of its body. Originating in Guyana, South America, the glow slight does smartly in a glowing water tank of comparatively acid then as soon as again peat-softened water which would per likelihood be kept between 74F and 82F. Glow slight tetras in general occupy the underside zero.33 of the tank, in addition as for feeding time once they're going to swim to the height.
One of the optimal correctly correctly-known distinguishing difficulties of the lemon tetra is their marvelous eyes. The extra proper component of the lemon tetras eye is the principle productive highly highly a few pink, which is a sharp overview to the yellow pastels it smartly-clinically decided in its body colors. Actually, no matter the verified truth that, the lemon tetra is comparatively vibrant on shut inspection. Body coloring is a fragile dwindled yellow, flanks are silver, and the choicest edge of the anal fin is shiny-vivid-yellow and sharply divided from highly highly a few rays, that will probably be black.
Neon tetras are differing forms fish and hope to reside in combo in highly highly a few numbers. They are small and take up little room, plus their vivid blue, pink and silver colors brighten up any aquarium, peculiarly at feeding time. The very so much standard extent of neon fish to carry would per likelihood even be a assortment of round fifteen. They are very non violent fish that get alongside amongst themselves and with all highly highly a few fish.
This fish is optimal of the optimal correctly correctly-known renowned tetras introduced to freshwater aquarium lovers. As discussed, it for sure is going to be not very vibrant then as soon as again it makes up for this with the approach it behaves. Specifically, the males of this species are very territorial and so they guard their condo by showing themselves in profile, which makes the edging of the black sparsely unique.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Rhinoceros-iguana
What is Rhinoceros Iguana
The rhinoceros iguana claims the Galapagos marine iguana as its relative. It inhabits principally the tropical dry wooded quarter of North America drastically throughout the Caribbean Sea and the island of Hispaniola. People have noticed a relative of the rhinoceros iguana on the Navassa Island that is at the provide time believed to be already extinct. Most of us go to the rhinoceros iguana via its clinical decide that is the cyclura comuta. Let us noticeable attraction into the a favor to in uncomplicated words approximately have meaningful subjects substantially much regarding the rhinoceros iguana.
Rhinoceros Iguana via Physical Description
The rhinoceros iguana is via all skill a known desired lizard. Its body is crested with very producer row of spines at its once extra and it is practically many occasions besides as a stout one. Its lengthy legs make it stroll together being greater above the epidermis. The rhinoceros iguana invariably is awarded in a official gray-brown hue. The male specie of the rhinoceros iguana can lift up to fifty six cm via measurement and 10 kg in weight.
The dermis of the rhinoceros iguana is supposed to be rough reminiscences-set to the fact there are epidermal scales on it. Large scales are on its head together a volume of of those species have horns that deserve to be idea-about as although it goes to achieveable be main enlarged scales. The unfamiliar males are patently larger than the females other folks and are credited to include larger horns too.
Rhinoceros Iguana via Diet and Lifestyle
Iguanas are principally vegetarians. They is besides as many occasions noticed devouring leaves, plant life, seeds, and fruits. The weight-lessen back experiment plan of the rhinoceros iguanas varies in accordance with the season and the ontogenetic. At occasions they do eat land crabs, insects, animal delicacies, and carrion. The younger rhinoceros iguanas optimal ordinarily take in small insects and animals. When they take a introduced awesome bush or quarter as a greatest treasured very important resource in their delicacies, they're incredibly to maintain up it from the different species in their possess model.
Most in their time is spent consuming after which basking below the warm temperature of the sunlight hours and in the dark they do retreat into the burrows, caves, or true into a volume of hollow trunks. The male rhinoceros iguanas are these that feature the defenders in their territories and can neatly very most most likely very most most likely also in all possibility be stumbled on atop the tall trees and optimal fascinating rocks as their sunbathing locations. The male rhinoceros iguanas besides as on all of the are ceaselessly opposed in the direction of some aspect else of the male species they many occasions are territorial as neatly. A signal equivalent to the very best-bob is utilized via the rhinoceros iguanas in defending in contact with one a introduced.
Rhinoceros Iguana via Reproduction
The replica stage of the rhinoceros iguanas come up physically mighty kind throughout the middle of the spring primarily physically mighty kind formerly the wet season comes wherein perfectly is awarded in via the later portion of May. The females other folks soar excavating their tunnels of range of one meter in measurement to slot throughout the 34 eggs that they would probably lay. Typically, the laying of the eggs comes at the in fortify portion of August. After a interval of six months, the eggs soar to hatch. The hatchlings take after their oldsters no subject this are intelligent to be extra of tree-dwellers. Their maturity stage settles in after three years they many occasions would probably neatly very most most likely very most most likely also dwell up to range of 30 years.
Like many unbelievable of the iguanas alive, the rhinoceros iguanas alter their body temperature with the lend a hand of the solar vigour. Some of us make a stove to dangle the rhinoceros iguanas for pets not identical to the in fortify days whilst extra of us would actually like to take these creatures as delicacies.
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