White-nose syndrome

Caver photographer in 2006 February took a shot of bats some 40 miles west of Albany, New York who all had an unusual white substance on their muzzles. The photographer also noticed some dead bats. The following winter irregular behavior of the bats, bats with white noses and the dead bats in the caves all came to the attention of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists.

The biologist noted that this was due to white nose syndrome and documented it on January 2007. Hundreds of thousands of hibernating birds have died. The biologist, agencies, and the organizations all over the country are still trying to find a solution to this unknown mystery.

Many have found sick and dead bats in unprecedented number in and around the caves and mines. During hibernacula the bats move to the cold parts. They fly during the day and in the cold winter weather if the prey for them is not available they start to exhibit some uncharacteristic behavior.

Despite of the research to find the source of this unknown mystery the solution remains unknown. The recent identification of the cold loving fungus could be a first step for the answer.

Whipper Parakeet

Whipper the Mutant Parakeet has become famous in his home country of New Zealand, and now his popularity is spilling over into the rest of the world. Whipper's long, curly feathers, short flightless wings, and apparent blindness are the result of a a genetic mutation known to parakeet breeders as the "feather duster" mutation. After being placed with, and rejected by its mother, its owner took personal care of Whipper. This early separation from its own species may have resulted in its unique vocal sounds, and later reintroduction to other budgerigars caused normal calls to be more evident.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish are floating animals that eat the fishes in the sea. Only a few species of jellyfish can be seen in fresh water. They are soft bodied animals that have long, stinging, and poisonous tentacles that are used to catch the fish. Jellyfish is made up of 98% of water.

There are many types of jellyfish and the size of the jelly fish also ranges from a few inches to the lion mane. Some jellyfish have the ability to glow in the dark.

The deadliest jellyfishes that can even kill a man are box jelly, Irukandji jelly, etc.

The life cycle of the jelly fish is quite dissimilar from the others.

The egg and the sperm are released in to the water by the adults and they meet in the water.

Then the Planula larva develops. It is a free swimming state.

Then it develops into a Polyp which settles on a hard surface and anchors itself and grows fully in the winter season.

Then the polyp hydroid colony forms which is linked by the feeding tubes. During the spring season the polyps bud off the tiny jellyfish.

Which grows into an adult having hood, oral arms, mouth and tentacles?

The body of the jellyfish comprises of six basic parts:

1. Epidermis to protect the inner organs
2. Gastrodermis – the inner layer
3. Mesoglea – the area between the epidermis and gastrodermis
4. Gastrovascular cavity – functions as a gullet, stomach and intestine.
5. Orifice – functions as a mouth and anus
6. Tentacles

Eurasian Lynx

Eurasian Lynx is called as Lynx Lynx. it is a intermediate size wild cat. Lynx cats are native to the forest regions in Europe and Siberia. Lynx are highly predators.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Lynx
Species: L. lynx
Binomial name: Lynx lynx

Description

The Eurasian lynx is the biggest wild cat of all the lynxes. Their length is 81 to 129 cm and weights about 18 kg sometimes the male can up to 30kg. The Lynx grey to reddish color black spots. They have long legs and large feet which allows them to travel in deep snow. Lynx are shy cats. They can run quickly only for a short distance. The normal life span of the Eurasian Lynx is 20 years.