Margaret River Region, WA, Australia.

Photo Credit: Michael Pelka | Australian Geographic

(Source: australiangeographic.com.au)

A horse in Queensland’s Darling Downs has been confirmed positive for Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), and the property has been quarantined by Biosecurity QLD. The horse was euthanised on May 11 after becoming ill - another horse with similar symptoms was euthanised 5 days earlier.

The horse was originally tested (negatively) for Hendra, but further testing found it positive for ABLV; it is the first case of a horse being diagnosed with the virus, though international cases of horses with the similar rabies virus are well known. 20 other horses on the property are being tested during quarantine. Theoretically, horse to human transmission could occur. 

ABVL is carried by bats and flying foxes in Australia. There have been only 3 cases of humans with the virus, though unfortunately all 3 passed away.

All people who were in contact with the horse are being interviewed to determine their need for preventative treatment, which involves 4 courses of rabies vaccine and a rabies immunoglobulin injection.

The Chief Health Officer advises that simply patting an infected horse is not considered exposure.

This is also a reminder to seek health advice immediately if you have been bitten or scratched by a bat or flying fox in Australia.

Photo Credits: | 1 | 2 |

(Source: queenslandcountrylife.com.au)

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Canada

Photo Credit: Todd Mintz | National Geographic

(Source: National Geographic)

seizurecube:

Hold on a minute

Brachiosaurus = dinosaurs

Sauropod = dinosaurs

but

Brachiopod = lamp shells ?????

Really creative nomenclature guys. Brachiopod means ‘arm foot’. They don’t even have feet idiots

Technically true. But look at it this way.

So, brachio is obvious - there is the brachial valve, which contains the brachia (“arms”), used for filtering and feeding. Simple enough.

Now look at the pedicle, and the pedicle valve. This is the pod (“foot”). It’s not the conventional idea of the foot, even considering the foot of mollusks, but it’s still used to attach the brachiopod to the substrate.

Now, not all brachiopods attach to substrate via the pedicle; the genera Crania and Lacazella, for example, don’t have a pedicle at all. These simply attach their pedicle valves to the substrate instead.

Bonus fun fact: The name “lamp shells” is so given because one class, Terebratulida looks a bit like pottery oil-lamps. 

astronomy-to-zoology:

i-spose:

astronomy-to-zoology:

Pom-pom Anemone (Liponema brevicornis)

Also known as the tentacle shedding anemone, the pom-pom anemone is a species of sea anemone found in deep water in the north east Pacific. Like other anemones the pom-pom anemone is a carnivore and will attempt to eat any small animals unfortunate enough to swim into its tentacles. Pom-pom anemones are also fed on by sea spiders who steal tentacles from it. Although it usually lives a sessile lifestyle, the pom-pom anemone does not attach its self to a substrate and it can roll itself up like a rug and drift with the current like a tumbleweed, stopping when it reaches a solid object. 

Phylogeny

Animalia-Cnidaria-Anthozoa-Hexacorallia-Actiniaria-Nyantheae-Thenaria-Liponematidae-Liponema-brevicornis

Image Source(s)

Does it think? Does it feel? 

Does it Love?

No, Yes, Yes!

How do you keep yourself motivated?

A good friend asked me this today. I hope he doesn’t mind me putting this online; as I told him, this tumblr keeps me excited about what I’m doing, and I’ve always been better at writing my thoughts than saying them.

It’s a ridiculously common problem, and the bad news is that what works for me won’t work for everyone. But let me tell you anyway.

Read More

A wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) takes flight in the ranges of the Snowy Mountains, Australia. With a wingspan of up to 2.27m (7’5”), and a length of up to 1.06m (3’6”), the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey.

Photo Credit: Mark Scott | Australian Geographic

foxylox:

So, I keep thinking, what if I made the wrong choice? What  if I’m not meant to be a Zoologist? I was better at Biology, and I’d love to be a vet. Looking at things on a microscopic level makes sense to me, and that’s the kinda stuff I want to do. But, animals are my passion. Ugh, I don’t even know anymore.

Talk to a student adviser in your Zoology department, maybe? You can express your interest in microscopic work and they may be able to suggest to you some research work available that would involve aspects on a microscopic level. Plus it will be a lead in to any future work or your own research you can conduct. That could potentially be a healthy mix of your interests.

Science is awesome, pass it on

(Source: knowledgethroughscience, via tachypomp)

Sled dogs in Igloolik, Canada.

Photo Credit: Michelle Valberg | National Geographic

(Source: National Geographic)

seizurecube:

For (Animal) Science!: seizurecube: Hold on a minuteBrachiosaurus = dinosaursSauropod =…

sheerdarwinism:

seizurecube:

Hold on a minute

Brachiosaurus = dinosaurs

Sauropod = dinosaurs

but

Brachiopod = lamp shells ?????

Really creative nomenclature guys. Brachiopod means ‘arm foot’. They don’t even have feet idiots

Technically true. But look at it this way.

So, brachio is…

Thanks for the information, but my main point was that ‘Brachiopod’ makes it sound like a kind of dinosaur, so whoever named it done goofed. This wasn’t meant to be a serious post.

I don’t understand jokes. I was just excited for science.

rhamphotheca:

Good News:  Wolverine in United States May Get Protection Under Endangered Species Act

by Douglas Main

Currently, fewer than 300 wolverines reside in the continental United States, according to various estimates. In February, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the animal as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, which would help protect the animal and its dwindling habitat. A total of 25 environmental groups from the West have called on the agency to go through with this decision, which will come soon after the agency’s deadline for accepting public comments on the proposed decision on May 6, according to The Spokesman Review…

(read more: Live Science)                 (photo: Mark Packila, WCS)

This is definitely a small step in the right direction if the wolverine does get ‘endangered’ status.

For anyone paying attention, this is a great follow up to my post about Montana and restraining orders against Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which I posted last December.

deanon:

the profound things that happen when you leave writing tutors alone with magnetic words

(via tachypomp)