Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawai'i, the site of Kilauea, the constantly erupting volcano
Our Dragon
My pet Bearded Dragon (large lizard) is packing his lunch, a large cricket, atop his head. (Click picture to expand). However, he is preoccupied with his usual pastime - watching cartoons on television. Honestly, he sits in his tank and stare transfixed at the TV and, if someone turns off the cartoons, he kicks up a fuss, jumping and slamming his feet and body against the glass. Go figure. Unfortunately, bearded dragons tend to be cannibalistic. The larger ones consider the smaller a good fare for a repast. In short, they will eat them. Thus, as a whole, they are not social creatures, being loners foraging for their individual selves. It would take a two hundred pound cricket to make a meal for one, The above sidewalk chalk art is but one of twenty-five fabulous drawings exhibited on list25.com (see link at the end of this text). Click on the picture to open the full enlarged photograph in a separate window. Other fabulous exhibits are also available at the site covering history, people and politics, the bizarre, art and literature, geography and travel, and miscellaneous.List25 compiles lesser-known
|
Bearded Dragon
Pogona is a genus of reptiles containing eight lizard species, which are often known by the common name bearded dragons. The name "bearded dragon" refers to the "beard" of the lizard, the underside of the throat which turns black if they are stressed or see a potential rival. They are adept climbers, spending time on branches and in bushes and near human habitation. Pogona species bask on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons. They are found throughout much of Australia in a wide range of habitats such as deserts, shrublands and Eucalyptus woodlands.
Several species of this genus, especially the central bearded dragon, are often kept as pets or exhibited in zoos due to their hardy nature and easy care in comparison to other exotic reptiles. Part of the Lizard family, their characteristics include broad, triangular heads and flattened bodies with spiny scales arranged in rows and clusters. These are found on the throat, which can be expanded when threatened, and at the back of the head. These scales are used to scare off predators intriguing information on a variety of subjects. List25 was started by Syed Balkhi and David Pegg in 2011. The main purpose of this site is to be educational while entertaining at the same time. It's 25 because we don't like top 10 lists. Posted by Mary Reyes on June 14, 2012. Link to the site and more pictures Click Here
|
THE KOMODO DRAGON
Of course, you could opt for one of these for a pet. These large beasties are also meat eaters - any meat they can find.
Their unusually large size has been attributed to island gigantism, since no other carnivorous animals fill the niche on the islands where they live. However, recent research suggests the large size of Komodo dragons may be better understood as representative of a relict population of very large varanid lizards that once lived across Indonesia and Australia, most of which, along with other megafauna, died out after the Pleistocene. Fossils very similar to V. komodoensis have been found in Australia dating to greater than 3.8 million years ago, and its body size remained stable on Flores, one of the handful of Indonesian islands where it is currently found, over the last 900,000 years, "a time marked by major faunal turnovers,extinction of the island's megafauna, and the arrival of early hominids by 880 ka [kiloannums]." As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in which they live.an average adult male will weigh 79 to 91kg (174 to 201 lb) and measure 2.59 m (8.5 ft), while an average female will weigh 68 to 73 kg (150 to 161 lb) and measure 2.29 m (7.5 ft). The largest verified wild specimen was 3.13 m (10.3 ft) long and weighed 166 kg (366 lb), including undigested food. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. It has been claimed that they have a venomous bite; there are two glands in the lower jaw which secrete several toxic proteins. The biological significance of these proteins is disputed, but the glands have been shown to secrete an anticoagulant. Komodo dragon group behaviour in hunting is exceptional in the reptile world. The diet of big Komodo dragons mainly consists of deer, though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans in the area of West ManggaraiRegency where they live in Indonesia. |