Saturday 29 January 2011

Sick Sentry!

One of the best examples of symbiosis in nature is from Indian jungles- that between the Chital (axis deer) and the Langur. While the chital graze, the langur act as sentry, warning them of approaching predators with alarm calls. The chital also feast on partially eaten fruits that the langurs, being very fussy eaters' drop to the ground. On the other hand, the chital keep a watch on ground predators such as pythons
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Friday 28 January 2011

Glassfish Dilemma!

Glassfish are freshwater and marine fish in the order Ambassidae, native to Asia and Oceania (freshwater) and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Several species are known to have transparent or semi-transparent bodies and hence get the name. Imagine going to school with all your organs showing! Glassfish are popular aquarium fish. The UK-based publication 'Practical Fishkeeping' has been campaigning since 1997 to stop the trade in these fish. 

yes, the glassfish has a transparent body!
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Hammerhead Honeymoon!


Hammerheads are so called because of the unusual structure of their heads, which extend laterally into hammer-like projections called 'Cephalofoils'. The positioning of the eyes hence, gives the hammerhead a binocular, 360 degrees vision. The populations of Hammerhead sharks have declines steeply in the recent years owing to shark finning. In March 2013, the hammerheads were added to Appendix 2 of CITES along with the Porbeagle and the Oceanic Whitetip, bringing the fishing and commerce of these species under regulation.
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The Tripod fish's part time job


The tripod fish gets its name from the manner in which its fins are arranged. This fish has poor eyesight. using its tripod like fins, it perches on the sea bed waiting for its prey. It uses its antennae-like fins to lure its prey, which it gulps down when at a striking distance. Along with the giant squid and the angler fish, the tripod fish is one of the permanent residents of the Abyssal zone of the oceans.
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Sonoran Symbiosis


The Sonoran Toad and the Tarantula share an extraordinary symbiotic relationship- the tarantula shares its burrow with the toad, which eats the ants that could be a threat to the spider's eggs. While the tarantula ensures that its eggs are protected this way, the toad gets a meal and a free stay!
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Lung Care

Lungfish are freshwater fish living in Africa, South America and Australia. They are known to have retained characteristics that are primitive to their group Osteichthyes, such as the ability to breathe air. All lungfish have two lungs, except the Australian Lungfish, that has just one. The lungs are homologous to those of tetrapods. These are divided into numerous air sacs to maximize the area for gas exchange unlike the vascularized gas bladders of other fish, which are simple sacs without any complex internal divisions.
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Friday 14 January 2011

Kite-flying and birds

Kites have done immense damage to avifauna in India. Bird deaths and injuries commonplace during 'Sankrant' or the kite-flying festival held in January each year. The use of glass-coated 'manjas' or threads used for flying kites has claimed thousands of bird lives. Even though activists have managed to bring down the use of these manjas through campaigns and demonstrations, the ordinary threads too pose a risk of entanglement and death by starvation or injury. In Gujarat, where the festival is the most popular, the already endangered Gyps vultures face a grave threat from kite-flying and urgent impositions need to be made if the skies are to be made secure for our feathered friends.

Another one on the harmful effects of kites on avifauna
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Wednesday 5 January 2011

Traffic Trouble!


Unsustainable eco-tourism is becoming rampant in tiger reserves, particularly in Central India. It is not uncommon to see an entire row of jeeps harassing a tiger until the animal gets agitated. These vehicles compete with one another for a better view of the animal, and are often driven rashly, increasing the chances of accidents (a tigress in one of these parks has already lost a cub to a speeding vehicle). It wouldn't be wrong to conclude that tourism, at least in these areas has been causing more harm than benefit of late.
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