vespidae apologist

The skull of a two-toed sloth.

Sharp fangs are not exclusive to predators. These animals, like their armored relatives (Cingulata), have teeth that grow continuously and lack enamel; by grinding against each other, they become pointed. The tannins in the leaves they feed on make them turn almost black.

Oh, and they also have impressive claws…

Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis), “colts”, family Gruidae, order Gruiformes, Sarasota, FL, USA

Crane chicks are referred to as “colts”.

Sandhill Cranes breed in the far north of North America, and overwinter in the southern US and northern Mexico.

There are small separate southerly breeding populations in Mississippi, Florida, and Cuba.

A Red Fox, still shedding his coat, was stalking voles in a mountain meadow.