November12011

Alligator Gar

North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Osteicthyes // photo source

The Alligator Gar can live to be over 50 years old, but the average lifespan in the wild is closer to 20 years. Unusually for a fish, it can survive out of water for up to two hours.

September122011

Glass Frog

South America // Conservation Status Unknown // Anura // image source

Fun Fact: The transparent skin of glass frogs makes it hard for predators to spot them.

July232011

Horsehead Grasshopper

South America // Conservation Status Unknown // Arthropoda // image source

Fun Fact: Female horsehead grasshoppers are twice as large as the males. (Check out the “image source” link - they have a bunch of great pictures of these bizarre bugs!)

July12011

Hangingfly

North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Arthropoda // image source

Fun Fact: They are called hangingflies because they often hang from surfaces by their front legs. The scorpion-tail-like appendage is actually the male reproductive organ.

June262011

Spotted Garden Eel

Indian & Pacific Oceans // Conservation Status Unknown // Bony Fish // image source

Fun Fact: Garden eels feed on passing plankton. It is very rare for one to completely leave its burrow.

June212011

Grassland Whiptail Lizard

Southwest North America // Conservation Status Unknown // Squamata // image source

Fun Fact: Like many whiptail lizards, the grassland whiptail is an all-female species. After engaging in “pseudocopulation” with other females, they lay unfertilized eggs which hatch into exact clones of the mother.

June162011

Spiny Bush Viper

Central Africa // Conservation Status Unknown // Squamata // image source

Fun Fact: There is no antivenom for a spiny bush viper bite. However, they live in remote areas, so humans are rarely bitten.

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