While it's true in a cladistic sense that birds are reptiles, it's rarely actually useful to get on people's cases for using the word "reptile" in a way which excludes birds; the colloquial definitions of words often differ from their scientific ones, and you know what they meant, so don't be a cock.

Eoin Fagan Nessie sighting from the web cam new Nessie sighting was made on the afternoon of July 9 by Eoin Fagan, who spied unusual moving objects submerging on the Visit Inverness Loch Ness webcam at Shoreland Lodges. Commenting on the sighting, which was made at 3.26pm, the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register said: “He said that one large singular object emerged from the water of…

he finally has a name: Mwanamfalme! I have always thought he acts so much like a spoiled little prince that I decided it would be a fitting title. Here is a video of him today… he is always very camera shy

One was just found in Maine & is currently being cared for. Baby porcupines, called porcupettes, weigh 1 lb (450 g) at birth & were around 10 inches (25 cm) long. Its width is 4-5 inches (10-13 cm). They have 10,000 soft quills at birth, hardening within an hour. Soft quills protect the mother when giving birth. Their quills are hollow, making them extremely lightweight. Their quills grow at about 1-2 mm per day; you can literally see them change from week to week. Its tail is 3 inches long (7-8 cm). They can climb within hours of birth; despite being tiny, their claws are fully developed. They are one of the mammals that can climb trees with such heavy armor. Their tail acts like a climbing anchor. Albino porcupettes are adorable. They have pink noses, pink ears, & pink feet. Porcupines have orange teeth. The orange comes from iron, which strengthens enamel.

Adult porcupines have 30,000 quills covering their back, sides, tail, outer legs & the top of their head. They have njo0ne on their belly, face, the inside of their legs, or under their tail. These areas have soft fur, because otherwise quills would interfere with walking, climbing, nursing, grooming & flexibility. Quills detach when touched. They are modified hairs made of the protein keratin, the same protein in human fingernails & hairs, & also what makes up rhino horn & bird feathers. The quills are 1-4 inches long (2.5-10 cm). Their barbs are microscopic & backward-facing. If you're unlucky enough to ever get one in your skin, it is extremely painful, sharper than a sewing needle & worse than stepping on a nail; it is like a hypodermic needle that refuses to come out & is often described as being stabbed by dozens of fishhooks at once.

The pain increases over time because the quills pull themselves deeper. Removal must be slow, controlled, & straight out, never twisted. Every movement drives them deeper. Quills are non-lethal but memorable. Predators learn fast—one encounter translates into lifelong avoidance. This is why porcupines can afford to be slow, heavy, & tree-climbing herbivores. Porcupines are excellent swimmers. Their hollow quills act like natural flotation devices. In the winter, quills trap warm air, giving them insulation.

my favorite animal OAT is crows/ravens. their intelligence is just so interesting- anyways ive been thinking about this for a while. the smartest animals that always get talked about- humans, dolphins, dogs, chimps, parrots, ravens, bees- they're all social. The main exception is octopi.

It's so interesting to me that octopi have the insane intelligence they do, because they don't need it for the complexity of a social group; they're incredibly solitary