The Thylacine has been extinct since 1936 but has averaged about 50 unconfirmed sighting a year since.
Category: Animals
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The Wolpertinger
The Wolpertinger (Crisensus bavaricus) (also called “Wolperdinger“, “Poontinger” or “Woiperdinger“) is a fictional animal said to inhabit the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. It has a body comprised from various animal parts — generally wings, antlers, and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or a horned squirrel.
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Fossil Auction
Somewhat disappointingly I can’t even afford a Triceratops vertebrae, but if anyone’s feeling generous any of the following will suffice:
I think as expensive fossils go having a fossil pig has got to be a little rubbish, especially when you can buy a Titanothere for half the price which sounds way cooler (even if it’s actually just a big tapir).
Also: what the fuck now? Approaching the length of the contemporary Blue Whale, only with 7″ teeth!?
(via Boing Boing)
40% of all mammal species are rodents.
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Dog + Dog + Dog
A very cool mythical creatures Venn diagram:
This has also made me realise that with a bit of creative pronounciation Cockatrice might actually be the greatest ever Didn’t Even Know Her.
(via kottke)
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Salamanders Rock
Which makes this news a little sad:
New survey work suggests that fewer than 1,200 Mexican axolotls remain in its last stronghold, the Xochimilco area of central Mexico.
Just in case you weren’t sure whether salamanders actually rock:
Axolotl look freakin awesome
(and retain this larval appearance throughout their lives)
They’re pretty shit-hot at regeneration[1]:
After amputation, the epidermis migrates to cover the stump in less than 12 hours, forming a structure called the apical epidermal cap…Motor neurons, muscle, and blood vessels grow with the regenerated limb, and reestablish the connections that were present prior to amputation. The time that this entire process takes varies according to the age of the animal, ranging from about a month to around three months in the adult and then the limb becomes fully functional.
Ōsanshōuo or Japanese Giant Salamander are frickin huge
And are pretty much living fossils. The Chinese Giant Salamander is even bigger but unfortunately both are critically endangered due to habitat loss, over-collection, and in the acse of the Chinese Giant Salamander it’s used in traditional Chinese medicine and considered something of a delicacy.
Finally…
- As any good medieval bestiary will tell you Salamanders are impervious to flame, even Aristotle believed that the salamander, ‘not only walks through the fire, but puts it out in doing so.’ (not actually true)
- And as a result of the misconception, when asbestos was discovered it was thought to be the wool of the salamander – Pope Alexander III had a tunic made from it (as did Prester John, but he’s made up)
[1] The wikipedia entry is worth reading just for the bit about children regrowing fingertips which reminds me of the man who regrew his finger using magic powder