Dinosaurs

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus), 2 males having an intense discussion, family Icteridae, order Passeriformes, Mesa, AZ, USA

Kiang Equus kiang

Bombarding you with more white starling baby because they’re too cute. This time with their sibling for contrast. Biting, begging, perching.

their (live!) young gestate for. wait for it. eight to eighteen (??) YEARS. can have up to 10 at a time. good grief.

longest lifespan of any vertebrate, up to five hundred years

toxic flesh

has giant eyes but is usually blind because of a weird little crustacean that's evolved to live on and eat their eyes. this doesn't seem to bother them much.

lives in deep cold water and has the lowest swim speed and tail-beat frequency for its size across all fish species. just generally lives life in extreme slow motion

largest genome of any shark

eats everything including moose and polar bears

May I humble request some cute ringneck snakes? Maybe a fun fact or two?

Oh yes, one of my fav snakes!!!

Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus), family Colubridae, found throughout much of the US, far SE Canada, and much of Mexico

14 subspecies

Fossorial (burrowing) and nocturnal.

Found in a variety of habitats with ample ground cover.

Often encountered in leaf litter or under rocks and logs.

Known for flashing the bright colors on their underside to deter predation.

They are believed to be abundant throughout their range, but there is little data on their populations and habits.

Feed mainly on slugs, earthworms, small reptiles and amphibians.

Rear-fanged, and very mildly venomous, with a venom that acts on cold blooded prey (the venom does not affect humans).

Oviparous (egg-laying).

Sometimes found in dens of up to 100 individuals (though usually in much smaller groups).

Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis), family Colubridae, Mexico

photograph by Bruno Sanchez Perez

Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis), family Colubridae, Northern CA, USA

photographs by Bob Ferguson

Southern California or San Bernardino Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus modestus), family Colubridae, Southern CA, USA

photograph by Berkeley Martineau

Northwestern Ringneck Snake (D. p. occidentalis)

photo: Joel Sauder - Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game

San Diego Ringneck Snake (D. p. similis)

photographs by californiaherps.com

Prairie Ringneck Snakes (D. p. arnyi) in Oklahoma

Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii), family Colubridae, Berks County, PA, USA

photograph by Adrian Bara-Popa

Southern Ringneck Snake (D. p. punctatus), GA, USA

Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), in a breeding aggregation after emerging from their winter den, family Colubridae, Manitoba, Canada

Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix), family Colubridae, Manitoba, Canada

Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis), family Colubridae, Manitoba, Canada

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