Monday, April 26, 2010

10 UNBELIEVABLE SEA SLUGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED

Sea slugs, more formally known as nudibranch, are some of the most beautiful and colourful creatures on earth. Here are only a few of the hundreds of species of nudibranch that adorn our oceans.

1. The Glaucus atlanticus



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The blue ocean slug (known by various names including blue lizard and blue dragon) is a specie of medium-sized (about five to eight centimeters in length) nudibranch. It has an awkward appearance and looks as if it could be a creature out of a sci-fi movie with its appendages, anatomical structure and flat blue and silver body. This nudibranch is pelagic, and is distributed throughout the world's oceans, in temperate and tropical waters. Regions include the east and south coast of South Africa, European waters and Mozambique.

This species floats upside down on the surface tension of the ocean.
The blue ocean slug can feed on a variety of larger predators, such as the Portugese Man-O-War, the Blue Sea Star and the By-The-Wind-Sailor, because of its immunity to their venom. When feeding upon these cnidarians it transfers its prey's stinging cells into its own cerata (or appendages) and then utilizes them for its own defence. It is also a hermaphrodite which means that it has both male and female reproductive organs. The cerata (tenticle-like appendages) are used in respiration, defense and digestion.

More photos of the blue ocean slug:


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2. The
Nembrotha kubaryana


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The Nembrotha kubaryana, also known as the variable neon slug, is a species of colorful sea slug that can reach a total length of more than 120 mm. It is a large dark-bodied nudibranch which have green stripes running down the length of the body or green raised spots. The foot and head are a vivid red-orange. Nembrotha kubaryana uses the toxins in its prey to defend itself against predators. It stores their victim's toxins in its tissues and then releases them in a slimy defensive mucus when alarmed (via).


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3. The Cyerce nigricans

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Also known as the Sacoglossan sea slug – it is one of the 'icon' species of the Great Barrier Reef – often being used in tourist posters and brochures. As with many brightly coloured sea slugs this species produces distasteful secretions that are easily cast through the cerata (appendages) when the animal is disturbed.


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4. The Chromodoris annae



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This colourful group of species is characterized by black longitudinal lines, bluish backgrounds and orange borders. They inhabit the waters of the tropical western Pacific.


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5. The Elysia crispata



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The lettuce sea slug or Elysia crispata is a herbivore (that feeds of algae) that reaches up to 5 cm in length. They are native across the Caribbean. The lettuce sea slug is not a true nudibranch, as it is often referred, but a ’sacoglossan sea slug’. Sacoglossans feed by sucking out the chlorophyll contents of algae, and then incorporate that chlorophyll into their own tissues. Thus the slugs themselves become 'solar powered' (via).

More photos of the lettuce sea slug:


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6. The Phyllidia ocellata


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Phyllidia ocellata is a species of sea slug that can measure up to 60 mm in length. This nudibranch has a yellow body with a dorsum covered in yellow or white tubercules. Its bright coloration is a perfect example of 'warning' coloration that advises wandering predators to stay away because they give off noxious chemicals if disturbed or eaten. They feed by secreting digestive enzymes into sponges afterwards they suck the partially digested tissue into their gut.


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7. The Hypselodoris apolegma


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This odd colored sea slug is found in the Western Pacific. They are a pinkinsh-purple color and they have a white border on their mantle. Their rhinophore clubs (appendages) are an orange-yellow color that is a startling juxtaposition with the rest of their bodies.


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8. The Chelidonura Varians


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The hammerhead nudibranch or Chelidonura Varians is also referred to as the ‘prince of darkness’ of the nudibranch world with its black colour and neon markings around its mantle.


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9. The Janolus barbarensis


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10. The Glossodoris atromarginata


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BRUSSELS' VERY CREEPY CEILING...

A ceiling that will give you the creeps


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This ceiling that is found at the Royal Palace in Brussels, resembles a kind of enigmatic shimmering moss-covered green world. This incredible ceiling art, known as Heaven of Delight, was created by the controversial Belgian artist Jan Fabre. The ceiling was left blank until 2002, when Fabre was commissioned to finish it. Fabre and his assistants used 1.6 million Buprestidae or Jewel beetles to create the masterpiece. Jewel beetles are known for their luminous colour. Assistants were assigned to various parts of the artwork and each artist contributed to the overall impression and harmony of the work.


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via killerdirectory

See Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo CONTROVERSIAL CEILING ARTWORK

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A LOOK AT GERMANY'S FAKE SUPERMARKET

Germany's fake supermarket is a reality check for many people.
A one-of-its-kind superficial supermarket in Hamburg, Germany, uses articles such as inflatable blocks of cheese and plastic money, to teach job skills to the long-termed unemployed. The trainees have to partake in a fourty-hours-per-week training session for up to six months. During this time they will be introduced to the supermarket world and will be assisted by proffesionals such as social workers and group leaders. The trainees will spent their days sorting 'fake' stock, operating fork-lifts, taking orders and pushing around packed shopping carts.

Unfortuanteley, it seems like the uneager trainees are just as fraudulent as their surroundings. The minority states that partaking in the training is better than sitting at home, but the rest seems to be much more content living of their monthly unemployment benefit than working. Since October of 2009, only 14 participants have moved on to work in the warehouse industry and so far none has recieved jobs in the retail trade. However, it should be kept in mind that the supermarket simulation is only in its early days and a proper success rate can only be determined after at least two years.


Inflatable blocks of cheese


An example of fake packages of seafood

Some goods are real, but there are also empty or fake packages.
via spiegel

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

THE WORLD'S LARGEST BIG CAT


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Hercules, a 900-pound-heavy, 6-feet-tall and 12-feet-long liger holds the Guinness World Record for the largest cat. Born from a lion father and tiger mother, Hercules the liger (tiger & lion cross) is an impressive creature who got the best genes from both parents. Hercules is able to run at speeds of up to 50 mph and eat up to a 100 pounds of food in one sitting. Despite his gigantic size, Hercules' caretakers at the Freestyle Music Park in Myrtle Beach, Southern California, states that he is very tame.

The pictures below may lead you to believe that they are taken in London, but the series of photographs were taken not far from Hercules' home in SC. The aim of the pictures was to portray Hercules against famous landmarks – such as the Londen bus and Abbey Road – in order for viewers to experience the hugeness of this magnificent creature.


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THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ANCIENT CREMATION GHAT


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Where do you go to achieve ultimate nirvana in the afterlive?

The ancient Indian City, Manikrarnika Ghat in Varnassi is a sacred hub that is a home for many mythological stories and emotional beliefs. Manikrarnika Ghat (or river bank) is a final destination for many, as it is a holy place for bodies to be cremated. According to the Hindu mythology, if a person is cremated in the Manikarnika Ghat, he/she gets instant nirvana or liberation from the cycle of births and rebirths. The city of Varnassi that is said to be more than 5000 years old is in itself one of the most famous cremation grounds in the world.

Manikarnika Ghat is overflowing with funeral pyres, priests and shops selling necessities for cremation like ghee, wood, offerings and clothes. The sacred cremation process is performed by a sect of people called “Dom.” The city of Varanassi is characterized by its narrow by-lanes, roadside shops and umpteen Hindu temples. The city has nearly a hundred ghats – some are used for bathing purposes but most are used for cremation. Seeing bodies being cremated so publicly has always exerted a great fascination for visitors to the city, but photography is strictly taboo; even having a camera visible may be constructed as intent, and provoke hostility.

via Hotnezz


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Thursday, April 1, 2010

METEORA'S BEAUTIFUL ROCK TOWER MONASTERIES


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Meteora (that means ‘in the clouds’) is an area in Central Greece that is known for it’s magnificent monasteries that is situated on the summit of rock towers. The monasteries is an excellent site to see while hiking among the peaks, for this reason it attracts up to one million tourists a the year. In Medieval times it is said that the monks accessed the monasteries with the use of ropes, today, visitors reach the monasteries by way of bridges and steps carved out of the rock.

The largest of the five still existing monasteries is Metamorphosis. This spiritual haven looks down on the world at a height of 2 000 ft. It features a series of frescoes depicting the cruel deaths of various martyrs. The sacristy features shelves with large amounts of skulls and bones on display. It also has a cellar that makes one wonder what the monks were up to back then.


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THE PHILLIPINES' BIG-EYED, BOLD-TAILED MARVELS

These adorable little big-eyed, bold-tailed critters are unique primates we no little about...


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The Phillipines is home to a unique primate -
the Philippine Tarsier or Tarsius syrichta. The Tarsier is one of the smallest primate species in the world and is also the only primate with a bold tail, however it is their massive cartoon-like eyes that are their most 'eye-catching' feature. The eye sockets surpass the size of brain and the stomach of the tarsier. It's uniquely large eyes, are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest eyes on any mammel.

Other features include an elongated middle-finger and extra-long ankle bones, that enables them to easily leap between the bamboo branches and trees where they life. Unfortuately the Philippine Tarsier is now facing threats of extinction due to the diminishing of its natural forest habitat. Scientists believe that the specie of Tarsier is up to 45 million years old.



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