California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica)
When disturbed, Aplysia californica secretes a purple dye from glands under its mantle (see photo, courtesy Genevieve Anderson). The purpose of the dye secretion is not fully understood. Some researchers have proposed that the dye acts as an 'inky' screen or decoy to deter predators.
What is a Rainshadow?
'Lost Worlds Vanished Lives' by David Attenborough
While at the Natural History Museum in London last weekend, I picked up a copy of Lost Worlds Vanished Lives, a four-part series on fossils and paleontology written and presented by Sir David Attenborough. This series, originally released in 1989 somehow slipped under the radar for me. I had not heard of it before and was happily surprised to discover the DVD (released in 2004) on the shelf at the museum gift shop—it's a rare thing to come across a natural history series by the BBC that I haven't seen before.
The series consists of four episodes:
- Episode 1: Magic in the Rocks
- Episode 2: Putting Flesh on Bone
- Episode 3: Dinosaur
- Episode 4: The Rare Glimpses
A Visit to the Natural History Museum, London
This weekend I visited the Natural History Museum in London, one of the world's top natural history museums and home to a vast collection of life science specimens important to scientific areas such as botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology.
The museum houses more than 70 million specimens collected over a period of four centuries. The huge sampling of fossil plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates at the museum document important periods throughout evolutionary history. Among the museums notable attractions are Dippy, a 105-foot replica Diplodocus carnegii skeleton located in the main entry hall of the museum and Architeuthis dux, a giant squid measuring 8.62m long.
The Natural History Museum is housed in the Romanesque-style Waterhouse building which opened in 1881. The original collections were moved there from the British Museum and the link between the two museums remained intact for many years after the Natural History Museum opened. In fact, it wasn't until the passing of the Museums and Galleries Act of 1992 that the Natural History Museum became truly independent of the British Museum.
In the past two decades or so, the museum has continued to grow. In 1986, it annexed the British Geological Survey's Geological Museum (located adjacent to the Natural History Museum). And in 2009, the new Darwin Centre is scheduled to open to the public. The new facility will hold the museums vast collection of preserved specimens and will also provide laboratory space for the museum's scientific staff.
The Natural History Museum offers a wealth of information at their website so you don't have to travel to London to enjoy the museum and learn more about natural history. The museum presents a daily program called Nature Live, which gives both visitors and online viewers the opportunity to learn about natural history from the scientists who know it best. The lectures are presented as live webcasts and are also recorded and archived on the museum's website (view list of past lectures). In addition to these lectures, you can find a range of articles about the latest research and events at the museum.
Find out more:
- The Science of Natural History
- Why Conserve Biodiversity?
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year
- Collections at the Museum
- Antarctic Conservation Blog
- The Oldest Fossil Insect in the World
Photos © Laura Klappenbach. Top: Entrance to the museum. Middle: Fossil frog (Rana pueyai), 8-6 million years old (Late Miocene), discovered in Teruel Spain. Bottom: Trilobite (Ogygiocaris) Ordovician, discovered in Builth Wales.
Darwin's Original Manuscripts Now Online
An extensive collection of Charles Darwin's private manuscripts is now available online. Previously, this collection of handwritten notes—penned by the naturalist who forever changed the way we would interpret the natural world—was only available to scholars at Cambridge University Library. Now Darwin's extensive writing can be viewed freely by the public.
The writings that are available online include the first draft of Darwin's theory of natural selection and the original notes from the voyage of the Beagle. The collection consists of over 20,000 items and 90,000 images.
In the 1940s, the Darwin family and the Pilgrim Trust (a charitable trust based in London) presented the manuscripts to the Cambridge University Library for preservation and study. In the decades that followed the manuscripts were organized into volumes and carefully preserved. In the 1990s, the writings were copied to microfilms. These images were later scanned and digitally enhanced to optimize contrast for online viewing. The images you can view online are not full-color reproductions of the originals.
Find out more:
- The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online
- Browse Darwin's Papers
- The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle
- On the Origin of Species
- The Descent of Man
Image: Portrait of Charles Darwin, painted by George Richmond.
Kingfisher Identification Tips
The Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a colorful bird that occurs throughout many parts of Europe. Their range extends northward as far as southern Scotland, the Baltic states, and southern Scandinavia. In these northern areas of their range, Kingfishers are summer visitors, since the species is particularly vulnerable to harsh winters. In more southerly regions throughout Europe and the British Isles, Kingfishers are year-round residents. In winter months when inland lakes and ponds freeze over, Kingfishers will often move to coastal waters and salt marshes.
Kingfishers inhabit a variety of freshwater habitats including ponds, streams, canals, wetlands, lakes. They rely on these habitats for food—their diet consists of small aquatic invertebrates, fish, and amphibians. When feeding, Kingfishers will often perch on a low branch or other vantage point above the water's surface. When they spot their prey, the Kingfisher dives into the water to capture their prey and often return to their perch to eat their prey.
Kingfishers have bright metallic turquoise wings and a vibrant streak of cobalt blue feathers running down their back. Kingfishers have a rusty orange-chestnut colored belly, bright-red legs, a white cheek patch, and a white chin. Male Kingfishers have black bills and females have black bills with a red base.
Kingfishers are shy birds so spotting them may be rather difficult. Despite their vibrant coloration, they can blend very well with their surroundings. Kingfishers are small birds with a wingspan of 24—26cm and a length of 16—17cm.
To construct a nest, Kingfishers burrow into a vertical bank or a cliff that overhangs the water. They line the tunnel leading to the nest with fish bones.
Top: Photo © Glen Huntly / iStockphoto. Bottom: Photo © Andrew Howe / iStockphoto.
Wildlife News Round-Up #53
In this issue of Wildlife News Round-Up, we find out how rooks are teaming up to solve problems, how the Bush Administration is under pressure to evaluate a backlog of candidate endangered species, and how humpback whale calves communicate with their mothers. There is also news of the rediscovery of the Beck's Petrel after a 79-year absence and of the surprisingly rapid evolution rate experienced by tuataras, a group of reptiles from New Zealand.
Study Reveals Significant Diversity Among Giraffes
A research team studying the genetic diversity of giraffes has shown that there may be more than just one species of giraffe. The team, lead by David M. Brown from the University of California, Los Angeles, examined the mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from wild giraffes from various populations throughout Africa.
The classification of giraffes into various species and subspecies has been the subject of ongoing debate for many decades. Previous schemes defined one or two species of giraffes with up to ten subspecies. The most widely accepted current classification scheme—the one that could well be overturned by the Brown team's findings—consists of a single species (Giraffa camelopardalis) and five subspecies (G. c. giraffa, G. c. reticulata, G. c. rothschildi, G. c. thorncrofti, and G. c. tippelskirchi).
Read more...Wildlife News Round-Up #52
In this issue of Wildlife News Round-Up, we learn of the discovery of a giant fossil frog in Madagascar and a giant elephant shrew in Tanzania. There is also news of a decline in India's wild tiger population and reports that invasive predators could be closing in on Antarctica's native species. On the more positive front, the Indonesian government is taking significant steps to deter the illegal trade of turtles within their country while the WWF sets up online resources to foster a reduction in bycatch.
Tufted Titmouse Identification Tips
The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a small, gray-plumed songbird, easily recognized for the crest of gray feathers atop its head, its big black eyes, black forehead, and its rust-colored flanks. They are quite common throughout the eastern part of North America, so if you're in that geographical region and want to catch a glimpse of a Tufted Titmouse, it may not be that difficult to find.
They are considered to be year-round residents throughout their range. Male and female titmice have similar plumage, which makes identification a little bit easier, and titmice can be tempted to backyard bird feeders, so you may not have to go far at all to see one.
Read more...