Nature Hub

  From - Earth Unreal, Edited by - Amal Udawatta, Mud Monster (Maasai Mara Kenya 2015) - As the winner of the Mammals Category in the esteemed European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition of 2017, the legendary Mud Monster etched its name into the annals of triumph. Unveiling a spectacle rarely witnessed or captured, the Mud Monster materialized—a lioness bedecked in a cloak of obsidian mud that enshrouded her entirety, leaving only her luminescent golden eyes ablaze with an otherworldly radiance. It was a sight that had eluded the lenses of explorers and the gaze of avid photographers alike, an ephemeral marvel that defied convention. Born from a primal struggle between a formidable pride of lions and a colossal buffalo, fate guided their tumultuous path into the clutches of a treacherous quagmire. Within this muddy arena, the Mud Monster emerged, an embodiment of regality embellished with the hues of the earth, captivating all who beheld her presence. However, capturing...

  From Earth Unreal The jewel caterpillar is a remarkable creature that belongs to the family of moths called Dalceridae. It is covered in brightly-colored, translucent spines that makes it look like a cute little pile of gummy candies. These spines are actually made of a gelatinous substance that can easily break off when touched. This may help the caterpillar escape from predators by leaving behind a sticky mess. The jewel caterpillar is also slightly toxic, which may deter some animals from eating it. The jewel caterpillar can be found in Mexico, Costa Rica and some Caribbean islands, where it feeds on various plants. When it is ready to pupate, it sheds its spines and transforms into a fuzzy orange moth. The adult moth is not as brightly colored as the caterpillar, but it is still a beautiful creature. The moth has a wingspan of about 1 inch and is typically found in the rainforest canopy. The jewel caterpillar is a fascinating creature that is sure to capture the attention of...

From -Earth Unreal, Edited ,by - Vinuri Randhula Silva , The male   jaw fish's mouth becomes a nursery of sorts, as hundreds of eggs provided by the female after mating are cradled within. Each egg a tiny pearl within the male's protective jaws, he becomes their guardian, tending to them with utmost care. Gently fanning them with his gills to ensure they receive sufficient oxygen and maintain the perfect temperature, the male jaw   fish becomes a devoted parent, never straying far from his precious cargo, protecting them until they hatch. This behavior, known as mouth breeding or oral incubation, allows the female jaw fish to devote her energy and resources to other important tasks, such as finding food and constructing her own burrow. Meanwhile, the male's constant attention and protection increases the eggs' chances of survival and ultimately helps ensure the continuation of their species. So the next time you see a male jaw fish with a mouth full of eggs, take ...

 From Wikipedia, By - Vinuri Randhula Silva, The  Venus flytrap sea anemone  ( Actinoscyphia aurelia ) is a large  sea anemone  that superficially resembles a  Venus flytrap . It closes its tentacles to capture prey or to protect itself. It is a deep ocean species. This sea anemone is found in muddy situations at  bathyal  depths in deep water canyons in the Gulf of Mexico. It has also been observed at several sites in the upwelling region off the coast of West Africa as well as the American Samoan region of the  Pacific , but is uncommon elsewhere. During deep water research off Cap Blanc,  Mauritania , at depths between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 ft), the Venus flytrap sea anemone and the irregular sea urchin  Pourtalesia miranda  were found to  dominate  the  benthic  community.  

  From - MBARI (  (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), Eddited by Viniri Randhula Silva, Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute recently solved the half-century-old mystery of a fish with tubular eyes and a transparent head. Ever since the “barreleye” fish  Macropinna microstoma  was first described in 1939, marine biologists have known that it’s tubular eyes are very good at collecting light. However, the eyes were believed to be fixed in place and seemed to provide only a “tunnel-vision” view of whatever was directly above the fish’s head. A new paper by Bruce Robison and Kim Reisenbichler shows that these unusual eyes can rotate within a transparent shield that covers the fish’s head. This allows the barreleye to peer up at potential prey or focus forward to see what it is eating. Deep-sea fish have adapted to their pitch-black environment in a variety of amazing ways. Several species of deep-water fishes in the family Opisthoproctida...

  From  - Eath Unreal, Edited by - Vinuri Randhula Silva, Indian giant squirrels  or  Malabar giant squirrels   (Ratufa indica ) are large multi-coloured tree squirrel species endemic to forests and woodlands in India. They are herbivorous squirrels that are active during the day and reside mainly in trees. Photo credit –  Kaushik Vijayan These attractive technicoloured creatures can measure up to one metre (3 feet) long from head to tail, with a head–and–body length of 25–50 cm (10 in – 1 ft 8 in), a tail that is approximately the same or somewhat longer, and weigh around 2 kg (4 lbs), rarely up to 3k (6.6 lbs). Not only for their size, but what’s spectacular about the Malabar giant squirrels is there vividly coloured fur with two or three tones of colours–namely whitish, creamy-beige, buff, tan, rust, reddish-maroon, brown, a dark seal brown or black. Combined together, t...

  By -Vinuri Randhula Silva, The reef stonefish ( Synanceia verrucosa ) or  just  stonefish , is a species of  venomous , marine  ray-finned fish , a stonefish belonging to the  subfamily   Synanceiinae  which is  classified  as being within the  family   Scorpaenidae , the scorpion fishes and their relatives. It is the most widespread species of stonefish, mostly found in shallow waters of the  Red Sea  and the  Indo-Pacific .  It is the deadliest fish in the sea, with highly effective venom which can be lethal to humans Reef stonefish are usually brown or grey, and may have areas of yellow, orange, or red.  The  dorsal fin  contains between 12 and 14 spines and 5 and 7 soft rays while the  anal fin  has 3 spines and 5 or 6 soft rays.  The dorsal spines are of equal length with a thicker sheath of skin containing the venom glands at their base. The skin has no scales ...

 By Vinuri Randhula Silva, The Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whip scorpion  (Damon variegatus)  was described by C. L. Koch in 1850. These whip scorpions are are native to Africa, found in Kenya and Tanzania. They are often found living communally in large numbers under flat stones, near ponds, and in rock-strewn cattle pastures. Other common names they are known by are Giant Tailless Whip scorpion, African Whip Spider, Tailless Whip Scorpion, and Whip Spider.  The  Damon variegatus  are not on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species. The Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whip scorpions are one of the largest of the tailless whip scorpions. They can reach up to 8" across with extended legs. They have a flattened carapace and abdomen and eight long legs, two that are elongated and act as feelers as they explore at night. Adults can be fed crickets, and other large insects. Whip scorpions are not known to be big eaters. Depending on how quickly they eat, feeding once a we...