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2-15-13 Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula from Ron’s Arthropod Series

Filed under: ARTHROPODS, INVERTEBRATES — Leave a comment
February 15, 2013

TAXONOMY
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theraphosidae

Genus/species: Lasiodora parahybana

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Said to be the third largest spider in the world, this is a large-bodied tarantula with abdomen and legs covered with sensitive, long, and partially pink or salmon-colored hairs. Maximum size: body, 9-10 cm (3.5–4 in); leg span, 20-25 cm (8–10 in).

DISTRIBUTION/ HABITAT: Throughout northeastern Brazil on the tropical forest floor

DIET IN THE WILD: Lie and wait carnivore, eating large crawling insects and other invertebrates, small rodents, lizards, and frogs rarely seen eating birds like newly hatched chicks of ground-dwelling birds. Venom injected by chelicerae that liquefy the kill, which is then sucked in by the mouthparts.
Regardless of its name, the spider is rarely seen eating birds.

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REPRODUCTION: The male spins a small area of silk onto which he deposits his sperm. The sperm is then absorbed into the pedipalps, which during mating are inserted into the genital opening of the female, transferring the sperm, which remains viable. After insemination, the male makes a swift retreat as the much smaller males occasionally become a sacrifice to the female’s need to maintain the nutritional viability of a mother-to-be. The female lays up to 2000 fertilized eggs in a thick, silken sac which she guards fiercely. Young spiderlings are born about 3 weeks later. Voracious feeders, they grow quickly.

PREDATORS: Tarantulas have few enemies except the tarantula hawk wasps. Members of this wasp family use their sting to paralyze species specific tarantulas.

REMARKS: Like most tarantulas and some other spiders, if this spider loses one of its legs, it can regrow the lost appendage.
While not highly aggressive and bites are not fatal to humans (most tarantula bites are similar to a bee sting in toxicity), this big bruiser, because of its long fangs, can inflict a serious wound which one researcher defined as “capable of medically significant mechanical damage”! If pursued by a potential foe, the spider rubs its legs against its abdomen, throwing tiny, barbed hairs that become imbedded in the attacker. The barbs can cause significant irritation, especially if lodged in the eyes or nasal passages.
Venomous

Animal Attractions

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2-13-13 Emperor Scorpion from Ron’s Arthropod Series (Venomous)

Filed under: ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS, ARTHROPODS, INVERTEBRATES — Leave a comment
February 13, 2013

TAXONOMY
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Arachnida
Order Scorpiones,
Family Scorpanidae (Scorpions)

Genus/species: Pandinus imperator

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The largest scorpion known, (length to 20 cm (8 in); weight to 30 g (1 oz). Its black body bears large, blackish-red pincers with a granular appearance. The long tail, which arches back over the body, is tipped with a sharp curved stinger that delivers venom produced from a gland in the attached bulb.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: West Africa Tropical forest and open savanna where it hides under rocks, burrows beneath the soil, or cohabits termite mounds.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The largest scorpion known, (length to 20 cm (8 in); weight to 30 g (1 oz). Its black body bears large, blackish-red pincers with a granular appearance. The long tail, which arches back over the body, is tipped with a sharp curved stinger that delivers venom produced from a gland in the attached bulb.

DIET IN THE WILD: It preys upon ground-dwelling insects, spiders, and other invertebrates as well as an occasional baby lizard, snake, or mouse. These large scorpions rarely sting small prey; instead they grasp the prey in powerful pincers and tear it apart. The venom is reserved for larger prey or defense.

REPRODUCTION/DEVELOPMENT: During mating, the male finds a suitable spot where he deposits his sperm packet, called a spermatophore. He then engages the female in an elaborate mating dance above the spermatophore with the male holding up the pincers of the female with his own, and carefully maneuvering her over the spermatophore, which she draws up into her genital pore. The eggs are fertilized, and the female carries them internally. After a 7 to 9 month gestation period, she gives birth to between 9 to 32 live young. The newborn climb onto the mother’s back, protected from predators by her size and aggressive behavior. Until the young are capable of hunting on their own, the mother feeds them by killing insects which are left on the floor of the burrow or other enclosure where the young can climb down and feed in safety.

PREDATORS: Predators include birds, bats, small mammals, large spiders, centipedes, large lizards, and other scorpions. Life span: 5 to 8 years.

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REMARKS: Sensory hairs on the pincers and tail enable the scorpion to detect prey and danger through vibrations from the air and ground. Like all scorpions, it has poor eyesight (despite having 6 to 12 eyes), good hearing, a good sense of touch and is venomous.

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS

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2-12-13 Upside-down Jellyfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CNIDARIANS, INVERTEBRATES, JELLIES, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
February 12, 2013

TAXONOMY
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Rhizostomae
Family: Cassiopeidae

Genus/species: Cassiopea andromeda

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: To 30 cm (12 in) diameter, disc-shaped bell has elaborately fringed oral arms. Coloration is gray, brown or green with triangular white blotches surrounding the bell. Zooxanthellae are the responsible for the color

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Native to Indo-Pacific, but introduced in Caribbean, southern Florida, Hawaii. Upon shallow substrates, typically in calm sandy areas, often around mangroves. Intertidal to 10 m (33 ft).

DIET IN THE WILD: Consumes small marine animals after it paralyzes its prey with its mucous and nematocysts. Symbiotic algae in its tissues provide nutrition by photosynthesis, thus the upside down posture that allows algae, which live on the ventral surface, to receive maximum sunlight. The rhythmic pulsations create water flow that carries zooplankton over the tentacles to supplement the diet.

REPRODUCTION: Asexually (by budding) and sexually in the medusa form.

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REMARKS: The sting is relatively mild, but may create an irritating, itchy rash; especially sensitive individuals can experience vomiting and skeletal pain.

Mildly venonomus.

Reef Partners Cluster PR35

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2-11-13 Sea Nettle from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series (Venomous)

Filed under: CNIDARIANS, INVERTEBRATES, JELLIES, TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
February 11, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Semaeostomeae
Family: Pelagiidae

Genus/species: Chrysaora fuscescens

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The sea nettle is a giant, semitransparent jellyfish, with an amber-colored, swimming bell commonly as large as 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter, with some measuring more than a meter. In addition to four oral arms attached to the underside of the mouth, the sea nettle has 24 long tentacles around the perimeter of the bell that extend up to 4 m (13 ft).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Marine, found along the westcoast of North America from Mexico to British Columbia.

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivorous; feeds on zooplankton, small crustaceans, comb jellies, fish eggs and larvae. Sea nettles sting their prey with their tentacles, which have millions of microscopic stinging cells that inject toxins to stun or kill tiny animals. The main oral arms then transport food to the heart-shaped gastric pouches in the bell, where digestion occurs.

PREDATORS: In the medusa stage, sea nettles live from 2–6 mos, usually perishing in rough waters or being eaten by predators— ocean sunfish and leatherback turtles are two of the most prevalent jellyfish predators.

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REMARKS: Question: What has no heart, bones, eyes or brain, is made up of 95% water, and yet
is still a remarkably efficient ocean predator? (The jellyfish) Some jellies commute 1,000 m up and down in the water column daily! Sea nettle stings can result in extreme localized pain. Fortunately this jelly is not aggressive. The bell of this and other jellies is called a “medusa” because, with its long, fringing tentacles, it resembles the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa of Greek mythology.

Venomous

Plankton/Sea Drifters CC24

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2-7-13 Japanese Sea Nettle from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series (Venomous)

Filed under: CNIDARIANS, JELLIES, TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
February 7, 2013

TAXONOMY

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria (anemones, corals and jellyfish)

Classis: Scyphozoa
Order: Semaeostomeae
Familia: Pelagiidae

Genus/species: Chrysaora Pacifica

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: APPEARANCE: Bells can grow up to 12 inches across and tentacles can stretch 10 feet or more. Their bells are white with brown-to-orange stripes, containing up to 32 very long orange-red tentacles and four long lips. One of C. Pacifica’s most distinguishing characteristics can be found on their undersides, where they have 16 brown stripes and eight stomach pouches.

DISTRIBUTION/ HABITAT: Deep open waters of the northern Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea. Found at the ocean surface to 200 meters (650 feet) below the surface.

DIET IN THE WILD: Other jellies, small crustaceans called copepods, and small fishes.

REPRODUCTION and DEVELOPMENT: The life cycle made up of five stages. They go through a metamorphosis or change in shape as they grow.
1.lifecycle begins when males broadcast or release sperm into the water and the females catch the sperm to fertilize the eggs she has produced and is holding in her mouth.
2. The fertilized eggs remain attached to the mother’s oral arms and grow into a flat jelly bean-shaped planula.
3. The planula then grows into flower-shaped polyps and the mother releases them into the ocean.
4. The polyps attach to a solid surface and undergo asexual reproduction through which they make an exact copy of themselves without eggs and sperm. The polyp makes these identical animals by budding where the new polyp grows out of its side.
5.After the new polyp is fully formed, it is released into the ocean and starts to change shape, looking more like the adult nettle. The nettle develops a bell, arms and tentacles until it is a fully formed medusa or adult. (Shedd AQ).

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REMARKS: Like many jellies, Japanese sea nettles use stinging cells to defend themselves and stun their prey. While not especially poisonous, their stings can cause intense skin irritation and burning sensations in humans. Some people can have allergic reactions to their venom. If you see one in the water, stay away because there’s a good chance more of them are nearby. Japanese sea nettles travel in swarms, which increases your chance of being stung if you encounter one.

 Animal Attractions

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2-6-13 White-blotched River Stingray from Ron’s Tropical Freshwater Series

Filed under: FLOODED AMAZON — Leave a comment
February 6, 2013

TAXONOMY
Class: Potamotrygon henlei Elasmobranchii (Sharks and rays),
Order: Rajiformes (Skates and rays)
Family: Potamotrygonidae (River stingrays).

Genus/species: Potamotrygon leopoldi

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Width to 45 cm. Body greatly flattened and circular, composed principally of expanded pectoral fins. Tail is slender and longer than body, has venomous spine. Coloblack, white polka dots.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: South America: Tocantins River basin. Freshwater, able to tolerate only a narrow range of salinities.

DIET IN THE WILD: DIET: Mostly benthic hard-shelled invertebrates, such as clams, mussels, and crustaceans. Also worms, insect larvae, and small fishes. Like most rays, flat teeth are used to grip and crush prey that is sucked into the ventral mouth. Note periscoping eyes which protrude from sand when buried.

REPRODUCTION: Ovoviviparous. Like all in the family, fetuses developing in the mother’s uterus first feed on their yolk sacs, after which filaments develop from the uterine wall and carry nutrients and remove wastes from the fetuses until they are fully developed.

CONSERVATION STATUS: A rare, poorly known river ray, possibly endemic to river drainages in Brazil where freshwater habitat degradation is occurring. Although this attractive freshwater ray enters the ornamental fish trade, life history and population data are lacking.

REMARKS: River Stingrays (Family Potamotrygonidae) spend much of the time buried in sand or mud with only their relatively large eyes protruding. This family is the only group of rays adapted exclusively to freshwater and is found only in Neotropical river basins. Potent venomous spine, used defensively, makes this a dangerous species. Like all stingrays, sheds spine periodically as the individual grows.

Flooded Amazon

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2-4-13 California Scorpionfish from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series (Venomous)

Filed under: TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
February 4, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)

Genus/species: Scorpaena guttata

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Stocky, large mouth; large spiny head and large fan-shaped pectoral fin. Red to brown, pale mottled brown spots on body and fins. Length to 43 cm (17 inches).

DISTRIBUTION: Santa Cruz, California to the Gulf of California in tide pools to 183 m (600 ft), usually at depth less than 30 m (100 ft). Typically found in rocky areas of bays and along shore. Most active at night.

DIET IN THE WILD: Small crabs, also shrimp, octopuses and small fishes.

MORTALITY/LONGEVITY: Live to at least 21 years.

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REPRODUCTION: Migrate extensivelyduring summer in order to form large spawning aggregations. Mature at two years old. Fertilization is internal. Females produce eggs imbedded in gelatinous walls of hollow pear-shaped structures, which are transparent or green. The “balloons” float near the surface and the eggs hatch in around five days.

REMARKS: Spines are venomous.

Southern California Marine CC14

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1-31-12 Fuzzy Lionfish aka Shortfin Turkeyfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 31, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)

Genus/species: Dendrochirus brachypterus

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Body reddish with vague broad bars, paired fins with bars and median fins with small dark spots. Mid-dorsal spines shorter than body depth. Males have larger heads than females and their pectoral fins are longer, extending back to the middle of their caudal peduncle, while the female’s pectoral fins may only reach as far as the base of the caudal peduncle. Max. length to 7 inches.

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-West Pacific in mature reefs consisting of large aggregations of Acropora and other stony reef-building corals.

DIET IN THE WILD: Most active during dawn and dusk while feeding on small crustaceans.

REMARKS: Dorsal spines are venomous and the stings are similar to a bad wasp or bee sting. Treatment is to soak the affected area in hot water to denature the poison and call a physician.
Most active during dawn and dusk searching for food.

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Locomotion Cluster, Water Planet

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1-28-13 Marble Cone Snail from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, MOLLUSKS, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 28, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Conidae

Genus/species: Conus marmoreus

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Shell length to 10 cm or 4 inches. Flat, noduled spire. Reticulated pattern of black or dark brown with white patches overall.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Red Sea, Indo-Pacific in shallow water to 90 m or 300 ft in depth on coral reef platforms or lagoon pinnacles, as well as in sand, under rocks or sea grass.

DIET IN THE WILD: Molluscivore  A predator of predators; harpoons fishes, worms and other mollusks. Its “harpoon” is a single, specialized modified radula tooth equipped with a spearlike barbed tip. The barbed tooth has a groove through which the snail injects a neurotoxic peptide poison into its victim. The prey is paralyzed then the snail devours it.

Marble Cone Snail Conus marmoreus (Conidae)

REMARKS: Small cone snails pose little danger to humans beyond a beelike sting; however, large cone snails inject enough toxin to be deadly. About 30 human deaths have been attributed to cone snail envenomation
Research on cone snail peptide conotoxin toxins is an active field and has resulted in a new highly effective painkiller recently approved by the FDA that, unlike opium-derived medications, has a low risk of addiction.

Venoms Cluster PR26

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1-24-13 Fire Coral from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CNIDARIANS, CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — 2 Comments
January 24, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Anthomedusae
Family: Milleporidae

Genus/species: Millepora sp. 

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Colored brownish, greenish or
grayish, often with a yellow hue and light tips. Skeleton calcareous with diverse growth-forms from fine branching, to domes, encrusting, or sheet-like. May form extensive colonies to 2 m diameter.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Pantropical, shallow reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Microplankton; zooxanthellae also provide nutrition.

REPRODUCTION: Sexual reproduction, with both medusa and polyp
stages; asexual reproduction via budding. Note Anthozoan corals have only a polyp stage.

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CONSERVATION STATUS: All coral reef species are threatened due to global warming. 

REMARKS: Fire corals are important reef-building organisms, though they are not closely related to the most common group of reef-building hard corals (Scleractinians), which belong to an entirely different class (Anthozoa). Unlike octocorals or hexacorals, fire corals possess polyps so small they are almost microscopic. One type is armed with nematocysts for food-capture and defense; the other type are capable of sexual reproduction. Potent nematocysts are also used to clear the coral of organisms that might shade zooxanthellae and can inflict a painful, burning sting to humans, hence the common name. Fire corals can outcompete many other corals by growing large quickly. and dominating the available space.

Venoms Cluster

Fire Coral PR24

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