#tropical rainforest mammals

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Talented Tenrecs

The lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) is a member of the extraordinarily Tenrecidae family, which is found exclusively on Madagascar. This particular species resides on the east side of the island, in tropical rainforests. Their range can also overlap with their cousins the highland streaked tenrec, which inhabits both rainforests and savannas.

This species is quite small, ranging from only 140-172 mm (5.5- 6.8 in) in length and weighing 280 g (9.9 oz) at maximum. Despite their stature, they are hard to overlook as their coloration-- black with a bright yellow or orange crest and stripes-- can be quite striking. In many ways H. semispinosis resembles shrews and hedgehogs; the body-shape is round, with an elongated snout and large claws for digging. Like hedgehogs, the lownald tenrec also sports large quills along the length of its body as a means of protection. However, tenrecs are not at all related to hedgehogs and the resemblence is entirely due to convergent evolution.

In addition to acting as an impenetrable defence, the lowland tenrec's spines are also used for communication. When rubbed together the quills create a high-pitched sound that members of a group use to alert each other and warns away potential predators like snakes, fossas, mongooses, and civets. This species is the only known mammal to use this method of communication, which is more commonly found in insects and snakes.

H. semispinosis can be found either on their own or living in groups of up to 25, all of whom reside in underground burrows. Individuals spend most of their time foraging for their primary food source, worms, and is active both during the day and at night. However, during the winter months of June and July they may enter a state of hibernation known as torpor, during which they decrease their heart rates and metabolism.

Reproduction occurs during the rainy season, from November to May, though in ideal conditions the lowland streaked tenrec can breed year-round. Reproductively active males will spar one another for access to females, though females will also resist mating if they aren't receptive to the male. Pregnancy lasts about 58 days, after which the mother gives birth to an average of 6 young. The babies take less than a month to wean, and become fully mature at only 40 days old. On average, individuals can live about 30 months in captivity.

Conservation status: Within their range, the lowland tenrec is highly abundant and has a stable population, so is rated Least Concern by the IUCN.

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Photos

Harald Schütz

Desire Darling

#lowland streaked tenrec #Afrosoricida #Tenrecidae #streaked tenrecs #tenrecs #mammals #tropical fauna #tropical mammals #tropical rainforests #tropical rainforest mammals #islands #island mammals #africa #east africa #madagascar #animal facts #biology #zoology

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A Sumatran elephant wanders the lowland tropical rainforests of Indonesia's East Aceh province.

Photograph by Regina Safri

#regina safri #photographer #elephant #animal #mammal #wildlife #sumatran elephant #east aceh province #indonesia #tropical rainforests #nature

[chrismilliganphoto]

Sloths are relatively common on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, but they can be very difficult to spot as they are exquisitely blended in with their rainforest environments. Sloths culture green-tinted lichen and algal species to grow in their fur to aid in this camouflage. If you're lucky, and very patient, you may see them lower down a tree for a more complete portrait than the usual ball of fluff at the top of a tree. @sloth_sloth_daily @visit_costarica @manuelantoniopark @costaricaexperts #sloth #slow #brownthroatedsloth #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wild #nature #animal #mammals #rainforest #jungle #tropical #neotropical #costarica #CR #puravida #manuelantonio #quepos #puntarenas #savetherainforest #conservation #chrismilliganphoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CpuJeHjOdlJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#sloth #slow #brownthroatedsloth #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wild #nature #animal #mammals #rainforest #jungle #tropical #neotropical #costarica #cr #puravida #manuelantonio #quepos #puntarenas #savetherainforest #conservation #chrismilliganphoto

[ztzexplorer]

My students and I got to see a pineapple farm and - by coincidence - Costa Rica’s uniquely colored coyotes. June.12.22 @eftours #costarica #costarica🇨🇷 #eftours #wildlife #coyotes #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #animals #animal #mammal #tropical #rainforest #hiking #hikingadventure #backpacker #wilderness #adventure #adventuretravel #outdoors #outdoor #outdoorphotography #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #traveladventures #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer (at Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfwN_ZRuMwC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#costarica #costarica🇨🇷 #eftours #wildlife #coyotes #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #animals #animal #mammal #tropical #rainforest #hiking #hikingadventure #backpacker #wilderness #adventure #adventuretravel #outdoors #outdoor #outdoorphotography #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #traveladventures #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer

[sixteenseveredhands]

The Colugo: these mammals are able to glide through the air using a fur-covered membrane that stretches across their bodies; as a baby, a colugo that has not yet learned how to glide on its own must cling to its mother's belly instead

These critters are often referred to as "flying lemurs," though they aren't actual lemurs. Genetic studies have indicated that they are among the closest living relatives of primates, occupying a sister group.

Colugos are native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, where they are traditionally divided into two extant species: the Philippine flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans), which resides in the Southern Philippines, and the Sunda flying lemur (Galeopterus variegatus), which can be found in parts of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The fur-covered membrane that stretches across the colugo's body is known as a patagium; a similar membrane can be found in other gliding mammals (e.g. flying squirrels, sugar gliders, mahogany gliders, etc.) but the patagium of the colugo is uniquely extensive, surrounding almost all of the animal's body margin and stretching even between the tail and hind legs.

When they are not actively gliding, female colugos often pull their tails up against their bellies, effectively curling the patagium into a pouch in which they can carry/protect their young. When gliding, however, the mother must fully extend her patagium, meaning that she has to unfold the pouch and allow the baby to curl itself around her torso (and hold on tight) befor she can begin gliding.

Colugos have a more extensive patagium (and therefore possess more "wing space") compared to other gliding mammals, which enables them to glide much further. There is at least one documented case in which a Sunda colugo was observed gliding across a distance of 145 meters -- nearly the length of three Olympic-sized swimming pools. Another study also indicates that this species is able to glide a total distance of 1,342 meters per night (and can climb a total of 320 meters up into the trees in order to do this).

These critters also have extremely strong claws, and the soles of their feet are able to mimic suction-cups to help them maintain a tight grip on tree trunks and branches. Colugos are most active at night, and they are strictly herbivorous, feeding only on young tree leaves.

I don't normally feature mammals on my blog, but this one in particular seemed too heartbreakingly adorable and too weird for me to ignore. I mean, look -- it's like a tiny dinosaur wrapped in a Snuggie!

Sources & More Info:

Science News: On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops

Animal Diversity Web: Galeopterus variegates (the Sunda flying lemur)

BioMed Central Journal of Biology: Colugos -- obscure mammals glide into the evolutionary limelight

World Wildlife Fund: Flying Lemurs

National Geographic: Why do flying lemurs glide?

Encyclopedia Britannica: Flying Lemur

Animal Diversity Web: Cynocephalus volans (the Philippine flying lemur)

#animals #nature is weird #science #biology #zoology #flying lemurs #gliding mammals #cute #weird animals #sunda #nature #colugo #these #guys #probably #give #the #very #best #hugs

[amnhnyc]

👻Boo! Say “hi” to the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas). 🦇This critter’s name is a nod to the pale color of its fur. The Australian species lives in a range of habitats such as rainforests, tropical savannas, mangroves, and woodlands. It has a varied diet, preying on reptiles, large insects, small mammals, birds, and frogs. When on the hunt, the carnivore swoops down from above, wraps its meal in its wings, and then bites down on the head and neck. Photo: S J Bennett, CC BY 2.0, flickr #AnimalFacts #bats #dyk #GhostBat #nature #SpookySeason https://www.instagram.com/p/CkUPQPXrP8b/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#animalfacts #bats #dyk #ghostbat #nature #spookyseason

[crevicedwelling]

Hey! This might be a kind of stupid (or insensitive) question but I was wondering about mosquitos. I’m actually pretty chill with most insects but they bite, spread diseases and a whole host of other things. I know there are a lot of scientists working right now to reduce mosquito fertility rates which I’m broadly supportive of, but I’m not sure what the unintended consequences are. Like….. would we as a species be okay if mosquitos were eradicated?

it’s entirely a valid question, and a point I hear raised a lot. the answer depends on on how far-reaching your question was intended to be:

an important thing to understand is that there are over 3500 species of mosquito, and of those, only 88 are known to transmit diseases to humans, with about 200 more that potentially could become human disease vectors (Yee et al.) most mosquitoes drink nectar—both males and females—but females typically (but not in all species/forms) require a blood meal from mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or even other arthropods and invertebrates.

if all mosquitoes were “eradicated,” there would undoubtedly be some very bad effects on the environment, although in the utmost selfish view I’m not fully sure how long they’d take to affect humans.

many plants are pollinated by small flies (like cacao! you can thank biting midges for all your chocolate) and certainly some only by mosquitoes. mosquito pollinated plants likely include many in tropical rainforests, where mutualisms between tiny, unusual species are very common, and oddly enough in the Arctic, where soggy summers create a whole lot of mosquitoes.

likewise mosquitoes are likely an important part of the diets of many bats, birds, spiders, dragonflies, other flies, and fish that might eat the larvae, among many others (including mosquitoes that eat other mosquitoes as larvae, like the beautiful Toxorhynchites). the negative effect on these animals in turn could affect their predators, or all the other ecosystem. if all mosquitoes disappeared, there would probably be significant upheaval across global environments, although I don’t know enough to say exactly what the end result would be. making all mosquitoes go extinct would be a very bad idea though, so it’s a good thing humans have no reason or capability to do that.

but people probably don’t have the 3,000 other mosquitoes in mind when they’re trying to control the flies, it’s that 88 to 300-ish bunch that bite humans and transmit diseases. first off, any genetic/sterility control method that targets non-native mosquitoes is most likely to have only good effects. non-native mosquitoes are reduced, people are bitten less. good on both counts. (it’s still possible certain things might be upset, such as if native species have adapted to use non-native mosquitoes, or if the non-native ones were outcompeting some even worse species. don’t know enough to say.) In many places, this is precisely what’s happening, with Aedes being sterilized, modified, or infected with bacteria that cause some reduction in offspring where it is invasive.

as for eradicating mosquitoes in their native range… it gets a bit tricky. I’m not enough of an ecologist or mosquito biologist to give a clear answer here. I also don’t know if there’s consideration of using control methods like you mentioned on species in their native range.

your question was about making mosquitoes go extinct, though, so I’ll focus on that.

would losing a few species of mosquito that are particularly dangerous to humans result in ecological upheaval? I don’t know. ecology is vastly complicated and when people make big decisions involving pests, we can often make problems way worse, like all the times a predator was introduced and started killing off things we didn’t think they would (this has happened with mosquito control, by the way). extinction only goes one way. I’d say in a hypothetical situation where I could just *poof* away an entire mosquito species, I probably wouldn’t do it. we just don’t know enough about the world yet to make decisions like that.

that’s not to say there aren’t ecologically and human-friendly ways to solve the issue of mosquito-borne disease—reduction of manmade breeding pools, careful biological control, targeted, safe pesticides—and maybe in some cases, sterilization or genetic control are part of the solution. but if it comes down to extinction or not, we’d better consider things very carefully before swatting at entire species without knowing what might happen after.

some of the links to the articles I used to research a bit for this post. read them if you'd like, they're fascinating!

#mosquito #bugs #ecology

[evolutionsvoid]

When it comes to living in the wilds, there is wisdom in being unseen. When you home is filled with hungry predators, staying hidden is an obvious strategy. You can't kill what you can't see! Or maybe you can...actually, you probably can. Eh, you get what I am getting at! Camouflage is one of the greatest skills one can have when trying to survive out in the wild, that and picking times and locations that have low predator activity to spend your waking hours in. Staying out of sight is a totally legit way to avoid predation, but on the opposite side of the spectrum is another totally valid strategy! Being noticed and standing out may seem like a dumb idea, but what if there is more to your bright colors? Often, flashy animals are poisonous ones, and their markings serve as a warning: "Eat me and you'll regret it." It is an effective way to ward off predators, as they eventually learn that those colors mean discomfort or even death. In fact, it is so potent of a defense, that some species have learned to mimic said patterns without being poisonous! They know foes stay away from these markings without a second thought, so copying the look can offer the same protection! So there is an option in staying completely out of sight, while another useful trick is standing out boldly. For the Veiled Assassin Frog, they see value in both.

The Veiled Assassin Frog lives in tropical rainforests, making its home in the lower branches that hang above the floor. While the word "frog" makes you think of a hopping creature, the Veiled Assassin has changed its mode of locomotion to more of a climbing crawling sort. The only leaps they do is to cover vast distances between branches, launching their bodies and grabbing hold of limbs with sticky hands. When clambering about, they do give the impression of bipedal movement, which they can do in limited fashion. The hunched gait does make folk thing of a ne'er do well, slinking through the shadows. At first glance, you may believe that they have committed fully to the concept of camouflage and hiding, wearing a sort of covering that helps them blend into the jungle around them. I would advise readers to take a closer look, though, as there is more to this story than simple moss and greens. 

If one were to remove this dripping, clinging cloak, they would see a vibrant body of bright greens and imposing blacks. A color combination that certainly gives the impression of poison! And to that you would be correct! The secretions on the wet skin of a Veiled Assassin are highly poisonous, attacking the nervous system. The results are muscle contractions, convulsions, your body betraying you in every way, until it eventually leads to death. Yowzas! That is some potent poison! Why would the Veiled Assassin hide its body if it carried such a deadly weapon? Well, that is because their camouflage isn't for predators, but instead for prey. Being bright flashy and the star of the scene is good for scaring away would-be attackers, but you got to eat too. How do you plan on catching prey if everyone can see you a mile away? For this, the Veiled Assassin has come up with a handy tool to help their odds. While there are plenty of greens and cover to find in the jungle, this frog has chosen to rely on a substance it can produce itself: skin.

Indeed, what you are seeing cloaking the body of a Veiled Assassin is a clumpy wet sheet of shed skin. Lots of creatures do it all the time, sloughing off old skin and scales to get a newer, cleaner layer. Some animals discard it entirely, while some choose to eat it to regain some lost nutrients, but this frog sees another option. The shed skin is dull and dark, a sad drab copy of their bright flesh. By hanging this over their frame, they hide their colors with it. This is helpful when they want to hide from prey, which is typically small mammals, insects, birds and other amphibians. They stalk the branches looking for food, climbing slowly and silently. When they spot prey, they get their sticky mitts ready. Some may attack from above, while others lunge from the shadows, extending a poison-coated hand to nab their quarry. If the animal is small enough, they will engulf them completely with their webbed fingers, and let them struggle in this poison cage. Typically, the poison seeps into eyes, nose, mouth and other absorbent membranes, eventually leading to death. For large prey, they have two different approaches. If they are in the position to target the head of a big meal, they will use their hands to swallow up the head of the target and try to introduce poison that way. Hopefully, by the time the victim is able to realize the situation and break free, they will have taken in a lethal dose of toxin and it is merely a matter of time. On that same note, the Veiled Assassin may flare its hands open to reveal a fan-like configuration, complete with razor edged webbing. With claws on the tips of its digits, it swings its fanned hands at prey and seeks to slice them open. While the claws themselves are not venomous, the poison soaking their body can easily seep into the wounds it creates. Then, once again, it merely waits for the poison to kick in and for the victim to succumb. 

If that is what they use their camouflage for, then what is the purpose of their bright colors? Why, it is for the predators that came looking for a snack! In their concealed state, it is easy for a carnivore to mistake them for another tempting meal, as their colors are masked. When a threat presents itself, the Veiled Assassin will be quick to show that it doesn't belong on the menu! The cloak of skin is slung off, revealing its warning colors. Often, said skin sheet is thrown at the predators themselves, temporarily disorienting them and causing them to flinch at the attack. The Veiled Assassin will then quickly flee, finding someplace safe to hide while it preps another sloughed layer of skin. To go with this shocking reveal, is their large tympanum that has eye-like markings on it. Makes it even more startling! If the foe is persistent, the fan hands come out and the agile amphibian seeks to slash and poison them. Folks compare this fighting style to sort of a dance, which has inspired some real dance styles in the locals. The fan-hands are used in full form, and even their sharp spines can be thrown into the mix, trying to thrust these poison-tipped needles into foes.

This shed skin layer is also helpful during the egg-laying season, as the males of this species will carry the female's eggs beneath this cloak. The wet nature of it prevents the eggs from drying out, and also masks them from predators. This time of year is when the male population of this species is extra testy, so be mindful of your surroundings when trekking through the jungle at this time. Though honestly, you should be wary 100% of the time you are making your way through a rainforest or any habitat for that matter. Sometimes danger is what you cannot see, while other times it is something that you can. The Veiled Assassin is very much a believer in both!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------

"Veiled Assassin Frog"

Been gone for a minute for work, but now I am back. Unfortunately, my poor timing with posting caused me to not finish uploading all the Arimakki pics in February. As a result, I will still be posting the rest here in time, but I am going to sprinkle in some other entries for flavor. Here ya go: assassin frog!

#frog #amphibian #monster #creature #art #drawing

[willtheweaver]

A writer’s guide to forests: from the poles to the tropics, part 8

We’ve made it to the tropics. I hope you enjoyed this, and found it useful in your writing.

Tropical rainforest

Probably the most recognizable of forest environment, and among the most threatened.

Location-Latin America, Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and the Pacific islands in between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Many forests have been felled or heavily altered by human activity.

Climate-Subtropical to tropical, with conditions being wet year round. Rain does not fall all the time, with a defined rainy and dry season. (What’s the difference? Rainy season has rain almost daily while in the dry season you will have to make do with high humidity and morning fog) At higher elevations, nights are cooler, though still well above freezing, and mist and rain are more common(this is why mountainous RF are called cloud forests)

Plant life- This is a tree dominated environment. The understory and forest floor are dark, unless trees have recently fallen. Many small plants are arboreal, nestled in the upper branches of trees. Vines and other climbers use larger plants as scaffolding. In areas of poor soil, tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.) and bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) get much needed nutrients from animal sources.

Animal life- Rainforests are the most biodiverse environments on Earth. Insects are everywhere, as are the animals that eat them. Birds and primates can be found from the canopy to the forest floor. The moist conditions make for an ideal habitat for frogs and toads. Apex predators are the big cats-think jaguars, tigers and leopards. Some species of herbivores can be quite large; Africa is home to gorillas and forest elephants, while the island of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java support rhinos and orangutans (though the further of these species is uncertain)Waterways are home to all sorts of fish(there are more species in the Amazon river than in the Atlantic Ocean), and larger animals, such as otters, crocodilians, and even river dolphins. Isolated islands have far fewer mammal species, with bats being the only ones, but hardy insects, reptiles, and birds making up the majority of the biomass. Deforestation and the introduction of invasive species have caused the extinction of many animal species, with island forests being the hardest hit.

How the forest affects the story- When one thinks of societies in the tropics, it usually is through the lens of western stereotypes designed to shock audiences and give ‘civilization’ something to conquer. Avoid this at all cost! There is more to the forest. Before the Spanish conquest, the Amazon was home to cities, and the agricultural societies of New Guinea are believed to be contemporaries with the farmers of Mesopotamia.

Grain does not do well in the tropics, so farming will be based around plants such as açaí, coconuts, taro, breadfruit, bananas, and manioc. These can be supplemented by hunting and fishing, but long term storage will have to be addressed. High humidity is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, so organic material will have to be kept dry so they don’t rot. The concentration of microorganisms also means that good hygiene is needed to avoid disease.

Settlement will always cause disruption, and the extent of your character’s activities can have a big impact on the forest, and your story. And remember, the activity of a small village will be different to that of large scale logging. Management, use, and abuse of the rainforest can be a driving factor in the plot. How will your characters react? Is the threat from outside or from within? The destruction of the rainforest is one of the main factors, along with unmitigated greenhouse gas emissions that is causing the current climate crisis. Can your characters do better? Or will you create a cautionary tale that shows us the grim future we are currently barreling towards? (That choice, my dear writers, is completely up to you)

#writing #creative writing #writing guide #writing inspiration #writing prompts #writer #writers #writer on tumblr #writeblr

[animal-of-the-day]

Could you do the Kinkajou if you haven't yet? They're super cute!!!

Animal of the day: Kinkajou!

The kinkajou is a mammal that lives in tropical rainforests. It is the only member of the genus Potos.

They can grow up to 30 inches (76 cm) long. Their hearing is so sharp they can hear a snake moving! They have a prehensile tail for balance, holding onto branches, and even to snuggle with while sleeping.

Kinkajous are important pollinators, travelling from flower to flower to eat the nectar and transferring pollen between them.

#animal facts #animals #fact of the day #kinkajou #mammal

[alphynix]

Gliding has convergently evolved multiple times within mammals, from the Jurassic-aged haramiyids and volaticotheres to numerous species of modern marsupials, rodents, and colugos.

And yet despite the huge diversity of gliding mammals, and their particular prevalence in tropical forests, there's an entire continent famous for its rainforests that's somehow completely lacking any modern examples: South America.

It's not clear why the gliding lifestyle never took off in South America, but the continent is surprisingly devoid of any other gliding vertebrates, too. The only exceptions are a few species of flying frogs in the northwestern tropical forests around Colombia.

But back in the early Eocene, about 53-50 million years ago, there was at least one South American gliding mammal. Some fossil limb bones found in the Itaboraí Formation in southeastern Brazil look very much like those of a gliding mammal – long and thin, with a locking elbow joint, knees adapted for jumping, and flexible ankles typical of tree-climbers.

These remains haven't been given a new scientific name, however, because there's a good chance they belong to an already-described species. Fossils from Itaboraí are found disarticulated, broken, and with bones of multiple different species jumbled together, so most fossil mammals named from the site have been based on their more easily distinguishable teeth and jaw fragments.

The problem is matching those teeth with these bones.

Currently the best identity guess based on size is Gaylordia macrocynodonta. This mammal would have been around 30cm long (1'), about the size of a modern rat, and had distinctive large canine teeth. It used to be classified as a marsupial related to opossums, but more recent studies have found it to have actually been a marsupialiform metatherian instead, much more closely related to Pucadelphys and sparassodonts than to any modern true marsupials.

Gaylordia's crushing molars suggest it was carnivorous, able to crunch through bones or hard-shelled invertebrate prey. This would be a very unusual diet for a gliding mammal, since most other mammalian gliders are herbivores or omnivores – the only other known predatory examples were the volaticotheres over 110 million years earlier.

———

Nix Illustration | Tumblr | Twitter | Patreon

#science illustration #paleontology #paleoart #palaeoblr #gaylordia #maybe #marsupialiformes #metatheria #mammal #glider #art #falling with style

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Beautiful Boto

Also known as the Amazon river dophin or the pink river dolphin, the boto (Inia geoffrensis) is a species of toothed whale native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. Because they reside mainly in rivers, lakes and mangroves, the boto occupies a large range; nearly 7 million square kilometers (435 thousand square miles). Despite being related to whales and dolphins, I. geoffrensis cannot tolerate saltwater and is only found in freshwater.

The Amazon river dolphin is the largest of the four river dolphin species, weighing in at 98-185 kg (215-407 lbs) and measuring 1 to 2.5 m (4-8 ft) in length. Males are larger than females, and are a bright pink to the females’ dull grey. A significant part of the length comes from the dolphin’s distinctive long snout, which is used to hunt for crustaceans and small fish. The boto’s body is designed to be highly flexible, which comes in handy when navigating through flooded forests. One adaptation in particular that makes I. geoffrensis stand out is the unfused neck vertebrae, which allows them to bend at up to a 90-degree angle. Botos also use echolocation to navigate murky river waters. which is enhanced by the large melon on their foreheads.

Breeding for the pink river dophin occurs between May and June, during the rainy season when flooding is at its peak. Males will fight for access to females, and will also perform courtship displays that involve carrying a number of objects-- like branches, fish, or even live turtles-- and slapping them into the water. Successful pregnancies last 11 months, and after giving birth mothers raise their young in the slow-moving waters of flooded forests. Weaning takes about a year, although mother-child pairs will often stay together for much longer. The average lifespan of the boto can be anywhere from 10 to 26 years, as they have no natural predators.

Outside the mating season, I. geoffrensis is a solitary creature. It’s rare to see groups of more than three at a time, and do not heavily defend set territories. However, they are very curious and have been known to readily approach canoes or play with debris in the water. Individuals have also been seen hunting fish in loose cooperation with other species like giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis). The bota is crepuscular, active mainly at dawn or dusk, and generally stay close to the surface of the water. Deep dives are rare, as they can only hold their breath for 110 seconds.

Conservation status: Hunting pressure and pollution, as well as dam building and deforestation, are major threats to the amazon river dolphin, which has been classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Conservation efforts are being made, but the species is difficult to keep or breed in captivity so most work is being done in the wild.

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Photos

Sylvain Cordier

Kevin Schafer

#amazon river dolphin #boto #cetacea #Iniidae #river dolphins #dolphins #toothed whales #mammals #rivers #river mammals #wetlands #wetland mammals #tropical rainforests #tropical rainforest mammals #freshwater fauna #freshwater mammals #south america #central south america #Amazon Rainforest #animal facts #biology #zoology

[sitting-on-me-bum]

The green ringtail possum is chonky

Meet the green ringtail possum (Pseudochirops archeri), a hefty species found in only one place in the world: a tiny pocket of tropical rainforest in north-eastern Queensland.

Image credit: Ray Wilson / Alamy Stock Photo

#ray wilson #photographer #alamy stock photo #green ringtail possum #possum #animal #mammal #pseudochirops archeri #tropical rainforest #queensland #australia #australian geographic

[chrismilliganphoto]

A fearsome roar can be heard in the jungle before the sun comes up, and in response to every thunderclap. The source is the Howler Monkey, found across Costa Rica, and one of the loudest animals in the world. Rustling through the canopy they can be a challenge to photograph, but this one came close for a better look. @monkeys_of_world @howlermagazine @recorriendocostarica @rainforest_chronicles #monkey #howlermonkey #howl #roar #simian #mammal #nature #wild #wildlife #wildlifephotography #conservation #rainforest #tropical #jungle #neotropical #centralamerica #forest #costarica #CR #puravida #savetherainforest #green #noise #loud #noisy #chrismilliganphoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CeCkqCgPCOw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#monkey #howlermonkey #howl #roar #simian #mammal #nature #wild #wildlife #wildlifephotography #conservation #rainforest #tropical #jungle #neotropical #centralamerica #forest #costarica #cr #puravida #savetherainforest #green #noise #loud #noisy #chrismilliganphoto

[ztzexplorer]

How amazing to see a sloth in the wild! We saw several on this trip. This one was hanging out -no pun intended😜 - near the end of our zip line. June.12.22 @eftours #costarica #costarica🇨🇷 #eftours #wildlife #sloth #sloths #slothsofinstagram #animals #animal #mammal #tropical #rainforest #forest #hiking #hikingadventure #backpacker #wilderness #adventure #adventuretravel #outdoors #outdoor #outdoorphotography #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #traveladventures #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer (at Sarapiquí, Heredia, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfrDagLuEoW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#costarica #costarica🇨🇷 #eftours #wildlife #sloth #sloths #slothsofinstagram #animals #animal #mammal #tropical #rainforest #forest #hiking #hikingadventure #backpacker #wilderness #adventure #adventuretravel #outdoors #outdoor #outdoorphotography #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #traveladventures #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Say the asteroid never hit. How long do you think it would be until the dinosauria fauna evolved into something different? I want to know so I can be as scientifically accurate as possible with this one novel I'm writing

I mean, I think they would have continuously evolved just like birds did. In fact, birds would have probably evolved somewhat similarly, though with competition from other birdie dinosaurs and some small pterosaurs. There's not a lot of research on exactly how much the asteroid affected in terms of long term damage or alterations to the ecosystem - we know there was an impact winter for a while after the initial worldwide wildfires, but it's unclear whether or not the subsequent dramatic climatic shifts of the Paleocene would have still happened or not. So I think you could use the rough outline of the Cenozoic as it happened in our world as a baseline if you want, since it seems the Asteroid did not cause these climatic changes. It did, however, have a huge affect on plants - forests that were evenly mixed conifers and flowering plants became flowering plant dominated. Eventually, this would lead to the dominance and spread of grasslands. So if no asteroid, there's no Latin America - style rainforests; and there's probably fewer grasslands (though grasses had evolved by the end Cretaceous, so they may have still arose when the climates dried in the Oligocene and Miocene). The ice would have definitely grown over Antarctica in that time, leading to the first glaciation; eventually, the second one over the North Poll would occur, leading to what we know as the Ice Age.

Probably. Again, everything is extremely interconnected, butterfly flapping wings type shit, but the majority of evidence indicates this explanation at this time.

So, you'd need the dinosaur clades that existed in the Maastrichtian - too many to list, but you got titanosaurs, coelurosaurs (inclusive), abelisaurs, ankylosaurs, ceratopsians, and ornithopods aplenty - adapting to:

rapidly warming world (with possible spread of flowering plants, or at least an increase?)

peak warming 10 million years after the not-asteroid (56 mya) and a world covered in tropical forests (with some arid locals as well)

A stable, warm world for a long time in the Eocene

Shift to drying ecosystems at the end of the Eocene with major climatic implications that cause a minor mass extinction at the end of the epoch

the first glaciation and growth of ice over Antarctica and subsequent lowering of sea levels and drying of continents

the subsequent growth and takeover of c4 grasses

the second glaciation & start of the cycle we know as the "ice age"

so...

dinosaurs might have gotten smaller on average, or forests were still very spacious across the world during the PETM, maybe it wasn't nearly as forested because dinosaurs forced them that way - but it did get warm even for mesozoic dinosaurs during that time. It would have had an effect.

dinosaurs then adapting to a drier world and a world with ice in Antarctica - lots of dinosaurs lived in Antarctica in the mesozoic (well, they do today too!), that is a major extinction waiting to happen in that part of the world, possibly worldwide. It probably happened to the mammals that lived there in our timeline.

then dinosaurs reacting to **grass.**

then dinosaurs dealing with the ice age.

So you have to account for that whole timeline and build changes on one another through all of that turmoil.

the cenozoic is a fun time.

#sorry I research the cenozoic you got a lot more of an answer than you probably wanted #spec evo #dinosaurs #paleontology #evolution #paleontologist ama