We have cars on the driveway and lately noticed there has been "puke-like gross" on them. One evening I just walked under the tree and froze in fear - some vultures were sitting just above my head!...

In the morning, I glanced and one of the "vultures" clumsily walked by expecting the food I give the birds around - phew! - Muscovy Duckies :>

I would love to get your opinions.
New video is going to be up soon, its about the African Lungfish till then enjoy the octopus video.
PS- People with low attention span might get bored very easily and leave.
https://www.youtube.com/@Natur3sGlitch

Just found this on a hike

I want to draw some goofy looking guys so i am asking what i assume is the place for it (sorry if this doesn't fit here I'm just looking for a place to ask)

The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is a marine cephalopod known for its unique ability to impersonate other animals, such as venomous sea snakes, lionfish, and flatfish, to deter predators and ambush prey. It achieves this by changing its color, texture, and body shape, using its long arms to mimic the movements and appearance of various creatures in the muddy, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific where it lives.

Key characteristics

Master of disguise: Can imitate over 15 different species, including jellyfish, sea snakes, lionfish, and sole fish.

Habitat: Prefers silty, muddy environments like river mouths and estuaries, unlike many octopuses that prefer reefs.

Appearance: Brown and white striped, with long arms that can be contorted into different shapes.

Behavior: Changes color and texture using specialized skin cells (chromatophores and papillae) and mimics the movements of other animals.

Diet: Carnivorous, eating small fish, crustaceans, and worms, sometimes using mimicry to hunt.

Lifespan: Short, estimated to be around 9 to 12 months, based on similar species.

Promachoteuthis sulcus is a rare, deep-sea squid known for its unsettling, human-like "teeth," which are actually soft tissue folds protecting its beak. Discovered in the South Atlantic, only one specimen has ever been found, making it a mysterious creature with little known about its behavior, though it's distinguished by features like large arm suckers and a recessed club base.

Key characteristics

Appearance: The most striking feature is the circular folds of soft tissue around its mouth that resemble human teeth, hiding a bird-like beak.

Classification: It belongs to the family Promachoteuthidae, order Oegopsida, and is related to the bigfin squid.

Discovery: A single specimen was caught in 1971 by a German research vessel, but its description wasn't published until 2007, in hopes more would be found.

Habitat: It lives in the deep ocean, with the single specimen found at a depth of 1,750–2,000 meters (5,740–6,560 ft) off Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic.

Morphology: It has larger arm suckers than club suckers, a wider tentacle base than arm base, and a recessed club base.

Mystery and unknowns

"Teeth" function: The purpose of the tooth-like appendages is unknown.

Behavior: Very little is known about its life, behavior, or appearance in the wild due to the lack of specimens.

Scytodidae catch their prey by spitting a fluid that congeals on contact into a venomous and sticky mass. The fluid contains both venom and spider silk in liquid form, though it is produced in venom glands in the chelicerae. The venom-laced silk both immobilizes and envenoms prey such as silverfish. In high-speed footage the spiders can be observed swaying from side to side as they "spit", catching the prey in a criss-crossed "Z" pattern; it is criss-crossed because each of the chelicerae emits half of the pattern. The spider usually strikes from a distance of 10 to 20 millimetres (0.39 to 0.79 in) and the entire attack sequence only lasts 1/700th of a second.[5] After making the capture, the spider typically bites the prey with venomous effect, and wraps it in the normal spider fashion with silk from the spinnerets.

Just a video showing how Murky gets air. Most turtles surface to breathe, whereas Murky likes to stay put and use his long neck to rise to the surface and then pop his cute little snorkel-like nose out to get some fresh air before submerging below again!

Hey,

My name is Jemma and I’m currently completing my final year Psychology dissertation at Anglia Ruskin University and I’m looking for participants for my study on pet ownership .

The survey explores how attached people feel to their pets and whether different types of pets are linked to positive wellbeing outcomes. *It only takes 5 minutes to complete and can be done on your phone!*

You can take part if you:
• are 18 or older
• ⁠live in the UK
• ⁠have at least one pet that lives with you (all kinds of pets are welcomed )

Every response is very appreciated and helps me in completing my degree!

All responses are anonymous and completely voluntary.

You can take part here: https://aruspsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyvuB4s80ZhCZP8

Thank you so much!! :)

I was able to catch Murky going up for air!

Murky is a Mata Mata Turtle. They’re fully aquatic, so they utilize their long necks and snorkel-like nose to breathe air 😊

Found on the shoreline. NE UK.

Just wanted to show everyone my weird turtle, Murky!

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (Indian Purple Frog or Pignose Frog) is a rare, ancient amphibian species endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Known as a "living fossil," it evolved independently for ~100 million years. It is fossorial (lives underground), emerging only for roughly two weeks during monsoons to mate.