World's Oldest Animal with a Skeleton

Up until recently it has been generally accepted that animals with skeletons did not appear on earth until the Cambrian period, which began approximately 542 million years ago. However, researchers have recently discovered fossilized remains of creatures in Australia that challenge that notion.

The impression in this sandstone bed in southern Australia is that of Coronacollina acula, an animal that lived between 550 and 560 million years ago on what was once a shallow seafloor. The animal looked roughly like a thimble and had four needlelike arms to support its body, each up to 14.5 inches long.

It is likely that Coronacollina acula was a stationary animal that fed by filtering nutrients from the seawater, much like a modern sponge. If the research holds true, Coronacollina acula represents the earliest known animal with a hard skeleton.

If you’re a fan of the prehistoric, check out The Jungle Store’s selection of dinosaur gifts!

Via MSNBC. Read more!

The Sinai Agama – Blue Lizard

Though brown in color and relatively inconspicuous throughout much of the year, male Sinai Agamas show their true colors each breeding season by turning a striking shade of bright blue.

Photo: Ester Inbar

Sinai Agamas are lizards native to arid climates throughout much of the Middle East. They are diurnal carnivores, spending their days hunting for small insects, spiders, and occasionally plants. Mature males undergo their annual color change during the summer, at which time they become very territorial; females retain their normal color during this time, but gain brownish-red spots.

Photo: Lior Golgher

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Waterbears - World's Toughest Animals?

They may not be the biggest, fastest or cutest animals, but waterbears may just be the toughest residents on our planet. They can survive temperatures ranging from 300 degrees to -459 degrees Fahrenheit, live for nearly a decade without water; and even survive being exposed to the vacuum of outer space! It’s not surprising then that waterbears can be found virtually everywhere on earth, from 13,000 feet below the surface of the ocean to some of the highest Himalayan peaks.

Although there are well over 1,000 species of waterbears, they aren’t animals you’ll be able to see too easily. Most are less than one millimeter long, and are actually kind of cute for what they are. The name “waterbear” comes from the way these eight-legged creatures amble along with a gait that resembles that of a bear. Their scientific name, Tardigrada, literally means “slow walker”.

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Clownfish and Sea Anemones - A Working Relationship

Clownfish are a prized addition to most any collector’s aquarium, as their bright colors are quite beautiful. However, in the wilds of the open ocean these small fish have little in the way of natural defenses, and there are plenty of hungry predators that would love to have them for lunch. What’s a clownfish to do? Find a much bigger best friend!

Photo: Nick Hobgood

Clownfish share a symbiotic mutual relationship with sea anemones, predatory animals closely related to corals and jellyfish. The sea anemone inhabits coral reefs and uses its stinging tentacles to paralyze prey and enemy alike. If prey, the anemone will use its tentacles to maneuver the meal to the center of its body where the mouth is located. Using fast-acting toxins for both offense and defense makes the anemone seem rather a self-sufficient creature, yet it harbors, even welcomes, the small tropical clownfish to take up residence among its tentacles. The clownfish not only gets a wonderful living defense system from the anemone, but also an occasional meal from the scraps of fish the anemone fails to ingest. This relationship works both ways as the anemone will snack on any scraps the clownfish drops as well. The clownfish holds up its end of the bargain by acting as a housekeeper and sentry. It feeds on old fish bits and algae and drives away polyp eating fish like the Butterfly fish. The action of the clownfish also stirs up fresh water currents and moves them over the sedentary anemone.

So, how does the anemone know not to sting? There are a few different theories. One is that the anemone doesn't know, but that the mucus coating of the clownfish protects it from the anemone's toxins. This is possible because clownfish that have had this mucus wiped off of them have been stung and killed by their previous hosts. Another theory states that the chemical content of the mucus coating prevents the anemone from recognizing the clownfish as a food source, and therefore the anemone fails to react to the little fish's presence. The rationale behind this theory comes from the fact that not all anemones will host clownfish, only certain species. Read more!

Meet the Iguana

Popular as exotic pets the world over, iguanas are perhaps as abundant now in introduced environments as they are in their native ranges.

There are only two species of iguana; the Lesser Antillean iguana and the green iguana. Green iguanas are by far the more common of the two, though they come in many colors other than green. These large lizards have a native range that stretches from southern Mexico through most of South America. However, in recent centuries they have become established in the wild as far north as Florida and Texas due to pet owners unlawfully releasing them. Green iguanas can survive in any humid environment above 79 degrees, and former pets often thrive under the right conditions.

Most green iguanas grow to a total length of about 5 feet. They are herbivores and must eat a specific mixture of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables to remain healthy. Iguanas are primarily diurnal, which means they are active during the day, and have eyesight that can detect ultraviolet rays; important for finding the warmest place to sun themselves and regulate body temperature. Read more!

T-Rex Had Quite a Bite

As imposing as Tyrannosaurus Rex must have looked, some scientists have contended for years that it was likely a scavenger, not possessing the bite force to be an effective predator.

Photo: Christophe Hendrickx

However, new research is suggesting that this might not have been the case. According to National Geographic News, scientists have digitized T-Rex skulls and reconstructed them virtually to discover their true potential bite force, and the results have been surprising.  With the size of T-Rex’s jaw muscles, scientists estimate it could have generated over 12,000lbs of force at its back teeth; more than ten times the power of an alligator! If this is true, it would mean T-Rex possessed the strongest bite of any known land animal in history and most likely hunted for whatever it wanted! Read more!

Okapi - The Giraffe's Cousin

With its striking stripes, the okapi may seem to resemble a type of zebra. However, this African mammal is actually a member of the giraffe family, and is the giraffe’s closest living relative.

Okapis are native to the rainforests of Central Africa near the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite their small range, okapis are not considered endangered and have an estimated worldwide population of 10,000-20,000.

Okapis have a similar body shape to giraffes but have a much shorter neck. They have zebra-like stripes on their legs and lower body, and reddish-black fur on their backs. Due to their rainforest habitat, this fur is oily to repel water. Okapis usually measure six to eight feet long and weigh between 440 and 660lb.

Like giraffes, okapis have long and sticky tongues to help strip the leaves and buds they eat from trees, as well as wash their eyes and ears. Keeping eyes and ears clean is important to the okapi, as it must always listen and watch for its main natural predator, the leopard. Read more!

Backyard Nature - The Bluebird

One of the most welcome sights for any gardener in North America is the presence of a bluebird. Bluebirds are very effective pest controllers due to their voracious appetite for insects, and thus many homeowners build specialized nest boxes to attract them.

Eastern bluebird

Bluebirds are members of the thrush family, and all three species are native only to North America. The most common species is the eastern bluebird, which can be found throughout the United States and much of Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. The western bluebird is primarily found west of the Rockies in a range that stretches from Canada to Mexico. The third species, the mountain bluebird, usually lives at elevations above 5000 feet throughout the entire western half of the continent. In areas where species overlap, the mountain bluebird usually dominates the territory.

Though all species are named for their blue plumage, there are coloration differences that make the different species easy to identify. Eastern bluebirds have orange throats, whereas western bluebirds have either blue or grey throats for males and females respectively. Male mountain bluebirds are a darker shade of blue than other species and lack orange coloring anywhere on their bodies.

Mountain bluebird

All species of bluebirds are usually migratory; however some remain as year-round residents in more temperate climates. Bluebirds prefer to live in semi-open country such as meadows or woodlands with clearings nearby. The need for nearby open ground is due to their hunting habits, as they prefer to hover above the ground or swoop down from perches to catch insects. Bluebirds will often supplement their diets with fruits and berries as well.

Natural bluebird nesting habitats are cavities in trees. However, by the mid-twentieth century bluebird populations had sharply declined due to competition from introduced nonnative birds such as house sparrows and common starlings. House sparrows in particular are known to invade bluebird nests frequently, with the bluebirds and their nestlings often driven away or killed. Luckily, volunteer groups have worked hard over the last 30 years to build specialized nest boxes to help the population of these beneficial native birds recover.

If you’re a fan of our feathered friends, The Jungle Store carries a huge variety of bird gifts and plush toys! Read more!

That Stings!

No one likes the idea of being stung by a bee, wasp, hornet, or any other insect for that matter, but in reality the thought of getting stung is usually worse than the pain. Unless you’re the type who gets allergic reactions, stings from sweat bees or even yellowjackets aren’t that terribly bad.

However, there are a few insects you really do want to steer clear of, and some live closer than you think. Entomologist Justin O. Schmidt published a paper in 1990 known as the Schmidt Sting Pain Index that rates the stings of 78 species of insects on a scale of 0-4, 0 being completely ineffective against humans and 4 describing excruciating, debilitating pain. He also describes in vivid detail the experience of being stung by these insects. So if you’re wondering what bugs to really avoid this spring and summer, here are the top 3 most painful stings you can get.

3. The Paper Wasp

Photo: Joaquim Alves Gaspar

These common wasps rate a 3.0 on the Schmidt Index. He describes their sting as being “Caustic and burning….Like spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on a paper cut.” Ouch! There are over 300 species of paper wasps worldwide, with 22 species in North America alone. These wasps can be identified by their grey or brown honeycomb nests, which appear paper-like. Unlike yellowjackets and hornets, paper wasps are not known to be aggressive and will only attack if they feel threatened. Due to the potency of their sting, this is a very good thing!

2. The Tarantula Hawk

With a two inch-long body and 1/3 inch stinger, this giant wasp certainly lives up to its ominous-sounding name. Tarantula hawks are distributed worldwide and are common in the southwestern United States. As you can probably guess, they are named as such because they hunt the massive, hairy spiders we know as tarantulas; and their bite is as bad as their bark. Rating a 4.0 on the Schmidt Index, their sting is said to be “Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped in your bubble bath.” Luckily, the pain is said to only last about three minutes, and stings are rare unless provoked.

1. The Bullet Ant

Photo: Hans Hillewaert

The insect that tops the pain scale isn’t large, doesn’t fly, and looks relatively harmless; it isn’t. Also known as conga ants, bullet ants have the most painful sting of any insect on the planet, rating a 4+ on the Schmidt Index and described as “…waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours…Like fire-walking over flaming charcoal with a 3-inch rusty nail in your heel.” The bullet ant is distributed throughout forests of Central and South America. Its wrath can luckily be easily avoided simply by not attempting to handle it! Read more!

Colorful Royal Flycatchers

With Mardi Gras Season in full swing, there are plenty of parades and celebrations going on throughout the world. One group of birds that would fit right in are known as royal flycatchers.

Royal flycatchers are a group of four species of birds native to Central and South America. They can be easily recognized by the large, colorful crests on their heads. Usually these crests lay flat, but they are quite spectacular when displayed.

As the name suggests, royal flycatchers are insectivores that eat a wide variety of dragonflies and other flying insects. Most are currently threatened or endangered due to habitat loss.  Read more!