Zookeeper Gabe’s Animal Thread Vol 10.0

[650lb Sumo]

Biggest snake species in the world discovered in Amazon rainforest

Species was found during filming for National Geographic’s Disney+ series Pole to Pole with Will Smith

www.independent.co.uk

Scientists have discovered a previously undocumented species of giant anaconda in the Amazon, which they say can grow up to 24½' and weigh close to 1100lbs, making it the largest and heaviest snake yet known in the world.

Until now, four species of anacondas were known, with the largest one – the green anaconda – inhabiting tropical parts of South America such as the basins of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Esequibo rivers, as well as some smaller watersheds.

These anacondas, found in the rivers and wetlands of South America, are well known for their lightning speed and ability to squeeze the life out of prey by coiling around, asphyxiating them, and swallowing them whole.

A newly published decades-long study has now found that the green anaconda is genetically two different species.

Researchers working with the indigenous Waorani people

captured and studied several specimens of the newly named northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima) in the Bameno region of Baihuaeri Waorani Territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Scientists documented several anacondas belonging to the new species 'lurking in the shallows, lying in wait for prey' as they paddled canoes down the Amazonian river system.

"The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible – one female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 20½' long,” study co-author Bryan Fry, from the University of Queensland, said in a statement. “There are anecdotal reports from the Waorani people of other anacondas in the area measuring more than 24½' and weighing around 1100lbs,” Dr Fry said.

The new species, described in the journal Diversity, diverged from the previously known southern green anaconda about 10 million years ago, differing genetically from it by 5.5 per cent.

To put this in perspective, humans differ from chimpanzees by only about 2 per cent.

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

I was following some discussions about this on fb, some people way smarter than I am were saying they may have exaggerated the “new species” claims. Has something to do with the way they ran their dna results.

No clue, either way they are really amazing animals. I’ll try and upload a video of our female eating

 

[Natural Order]

Interesting story.....rare as hell to die from Gila Monster bite. I've always wanted one of these things as a pet.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/health/colorado-man-dies-gila-monster-lizard-bite/index.html

 

[helax]

Damn I always heard that bites were extremely painful but not fatal

 

[Natural Order]

Damn I always heard that bites were extremely painful but not fatal

Probably yoked on something which didn't respond well with lizard venom....

Weird ass creature. Like a Komodo Dragon fucked a Fat-Tailed Gecko!

 

[helax]

Probably yoked on something which didn't respond well with lizard venom....

Weird ass creature. Like a Komodo Dragon fucked a Fat-Tailed Gecko!

Probably trying to reenact a scene from Treasure of the Sierra Madre

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

I’ve also been following that story, super rare. I’m guessing he had some sort of underlying condition.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

Scientists announce discovery of 'very strange' 240 million-year-old 'Chinese dragon' fossil​

The animal is a 5-meter-long aquatic reptile from the Triassic period of China.

ByJon Haworth

LONDON -- Scientists in Scotland have revealed a remarkable discovery of a "very strange" 240 million-year-old "Chinese dragon" fossil.

The international team from National Museums Scotland revealed their discovery -- found in Guizhou Province in southern China -- of the Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, a 5-meter-long aquatic reptile from the Triassic period dating back an estimated 240 million years.

"With 32 separate neck vertebrae Dinocephalosaurus orientalis had an extraordinarily long neck that draws comparison with that of Tanystropheus hydroides, another strange marine reptile from the Middle Triassic of both Europe and China," scientists said announcing the discovery.

"Both reptiles were of similar size and have several features of the skull in common, including a fish-trap type of dentition," officials continued. "However, Dinocephalosaurus is unique in possessing many more vertebrae both in the neck and in the torso, giving the animal a much more snake-like appearance."

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis swimming alongside some prehistoric fish known as Saurichthys.
National Museums Scotland / Marlene Donelly

Scientists say the reptile was "clearly very well adapted to an oceanic lifestyle," as indicated by the flippered limbs and "exquisitely preserved" fishes in its stomach region.

"Despite superficial similarities, Dinocephalosaurus was not closely related to the famous long-necked plesiosaurs that only evolved around 40 million years later and which inspired the myth of the Loch Ness Monster."

The reptile was originally identified in 2003, but this most recent discovery of additional, more complete specimens has allowed scientists to depict the bizarre long-necked creature in full for the very first time.

"It is yet one more example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle palaeontologists, said Dr. Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland in the statement announcing the discovery. "We are certain that it will capture imaginations across the globe due to its striking appearance, reminiscent of the long and snake-like, mythical Chinese Dragon."

Researchers from Scotland, Germany, the United States and China studied the fossil over the course of ten years at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology in Beijing but made their announcement public on Friday.

"This has been an international effort. Working together with colleagues from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Europe, we used newly discovered specimens housed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to build on our existing knowledge of this animal," Professor Li Chun from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology said.
"Among all of the extraordinary finds we have made in the Triassic of Guizhou Province, Dinocephalosaurus probably stands out as the most remarkable."

The paper describing the animal has been published in full in the academic journal Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

"As an early-career researcher, it has been an incredible experience to contribute to these significant findings," said Dr. Stephan Spiekman, a postdoctoral researcher based at the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History. "We hope that our future research will help us understand more about the evolution of this group of animals, and particularly how the elongate neck functioned."

https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...e-240-million-year-chinese/story?id=107473094

 

[the ambush]

 

[650lb Sumo]

Killer whale v shark: Solo orca eats great white

A killer whale is captured on camera hunting and "eviscerating" a great white shark in less than two minutes.

www.bbc.co.uk

A solitary killer whale, or orca, has been filmed hunting and killing a great white shark in an 'astonishing' attack.

Scientists said it was 'unprecedented' and showed the exceptional predatory skills of killer whales.

Two orcas in particular off South Africa's coast have been observed before working together to hunt and kill sharks, including great whites.

"But this caught us off guard," said shark biologist Dr Alison Towner.

Dr Towner

Dr Towner, who is from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, has studied the animals for several years. She and her colleagues published a detailed and grisly account of their new observations in the African Journal of Marine Science.

In this newly reported attack, Starboard hunted on his own. Scientists described how the orca gripped the left pectoral fin of a 8'2" long juvenile shark and 'thrust forward several times before eventually eviscerating it'.

Marine mammal scientist Dr Luke Rendell from the University of St Andrews said it 'a really beautiful observation' of the behaviour.

Dr Rendell

"It's interesting that it's just one animal," he told BBC News, and how much skill it demonstrates in tackling the shark - ramming it in the side and grabbing the pectoral fin to keep away from those big, nasty jaws.

A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it's perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of orcas], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that."

 

[Natural Order]

Killer whale v shark: Solo orca eats great white

A killer whale is captured on camera hunting and "eviscerating" a great white shark in less than two minutes.

www.bbc.co.uk

A solitary killer whale, or orca, has been filmed hunting and killing a great white shark in an 'astonishing' attack.

Scientists said it was 'unprecedented' and showed the exceptional predatory skills of killer whales.

Two orcas in particular off South Africa's coast have been observed before working together to hunt and kill sharks, including great whites.

"But this caught us off guard," said shark biologist Dr Alison Towner.

Dr Towner

Dr Towner, who is from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, has studied the animals for several years. She and her colleagues published a detailed and grisly account of their new observations in the African Journal of Marine Science.

In this newly reported attack, Starboard hunted on his own. Scientists described how the orca gripped the left pectoral fin of a 8'2" long juvenile shark and 'thrust forward several times before eventually eviscerating it'.

Marine mammal scientist Dr Luke Rendell from the University of St Andrews said it 'a really beautiful observation' of the behaviour.

Dr Rendell

"It's interesting that it's just one animal," he told BBC News, and how much skill it demonstrates in tackling the shark - ramming it in the side and grabbing the pectoral fin to keep away from those big, nasty jaws.

A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it's perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of orcas], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that."

Isn't it also reported that they just primarily do this for the shark's liver?

 

[650lb Sumo]

Isn't it also reported that they just primarily do this for the shark's liver?

Yes.

The male killer whale killed the shark and consumed its liver - all in under two minutes.

Scientists first captured drone footage of two male orcas working together to hunt great white sharks in 2022.

The scientists then reported that the animals, nicknamed Port and Starboard because their dorsal fins are bent in opposite directions, 'exhibited a predilection for extracting and consuming the sharks' livers'.

 

[Scerpi]

When the Alpha's get out Alpha'd

 

[Ardaric]

 

[jefferz]

Australia has land leeches!

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

Australia has land leeches!

Most of SE Asia and Indonesia does! Crazy

 

[Gigacardio]

Killer whale v shark: Solo orca eats great white

A killer whale is captured on camera hunting and "eviscerating" a great white shark in less than two minutes.

www.bbc.co.uk

A solitary killer whale, or orca, has been filmed hunting and killing a great white shark in an 'astonishing' attack.

Scientists said it was 'unprecedented' and showed the exceptional predatory skills of killer whales.

Two orcas in particular off South Africa's coast have been observed before working together to hunt and kill sharks, including great whites.

"But this caught us off guard," said shark biologist Dr Alison Towner.

Dr Towner

Dr Towner, who is from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, has studied the animals for several years. She and her colleagues published a detailed and grisly account of their new observations in the African Journal of Marine Science.

In this newly reported attack, Starboard hunted on his own. Scientists described how the orca gripped the left pectoral fin of a 8'2" long juvenile shark and 'thrust forward several times before eventually eviscerating it'.

Marine mammal scientist Dr Luke Rendell from the University of St Andrews said it 'a really beautiful observation' of the behaviour.

Dr Rendell

"It's interesting that it's just one animal," he told BBC News, and how much skill it demonstrates in tackling the shark - ramming it in the side and grabbing the pectoral fin to keep away from those big, nasty jaws.

A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it's perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of orcas], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that."

I'm surprised the sharks can't just swim away from the Orca considering they're MUCH faster.

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

I'm surprised the sharks can't just swim away from the Orca considering they're MUCH faster.

Orcas and great whites both top out at about 35mph ish, orcas have much better stamina though.

 

[jefferz]

Killer whale v shark: Solo orca eats great white

A killer whale is captured on camera hunting and "eviscerating" a great white shark in less than two minutes.

www.bbc.co.uk

A solitary killer whale, or orca, has been filmed hunting and killing a great white shark in an 'astonishing' attack.

Scientists said it was 'unprecedented' and showed the exceptional predatory skills of killer whales.

Two orcas in particular off South Africa's coast have been observed before working together to hunt and kill sharks, including great whites.

"But this caught us off guard," said shark biologist Dr Alison Towner.

Dr Towner

Dr Towner, who is from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, has studied the animals for several years. She and her colleagues published a detailed and grisly account of their new observations in the African Journal of Marine Science.

In this newly reported attack, Starboard hunted on his own. Scientists described how the orca gripped the left pectoral fin of a 8'2" long juvenile shark and 'thrust forward several times before eventually eviscerating it'.

Marine mammal scientist Dr Luke Rendell from the University of St Andrews said it 'a really beautiful observation' of the behaviour.

Dr Rendell

"It's interesting that it's just one animal," he told BBC News, and how much skill it demonstrates in tackling the shark - ramming it in the side and grabbing the pectoral fin to keep away from those big, nasty jaws.

A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it's perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of orcas], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that."

Pilot Whales are the honey badgers of the ocean. There are tons of accounts of them fucking with orca's.

 

[650lb Sumo]

Apparently swifts can spend up to ten months airborne (the longest of any bird). They drink by catching raindrops or skimming over (fresh) water and grabbing some.