Vampire Flying Frogs

Look out Kermit...

From The Age:

Australian Museum biologist Jodi Rowley found the mysterious frog while exploring an uncharted mountainous region of southern Vietnam.
The distinctive moniker comes from the fact that the tadpole of the species carries unique, Dracula-like fangs. No one knows yet what the fangs are for. ''As far as I know, a tadpole like this hasn't been seen before anywhere,'' Dr Rowley said. ''I didn't notice anything strange about the tadpoles at all, until I looked at them under the microscope and saw these hard, black fangs.''
The fangs, described as ''keratinised hooks'', may possibly be used for hunting or eating. They could also be used as anchor points to help the tadpoles grip the sides of the small ponds in the holes of tree trunks where the frogs breed and live.
Surviving tadpoles grow into adult vampire flying frogs, which seem to spend most of their lives in trees. They sport unusual amounts of webbing between their digits, allowing them to glide from branch to branch in search of food.
Several adult frogs were found in the forests of the Langbian Plateau by Dr Rowley and a team of students between 2008 and 2010.

Kawaii!

From Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan....

Yes, it is real.

No it is not a cute anime creation.

It's a Siberian Flying Squirrel.
It feeds on seeds, nuts, buds and berries, and makes nests in holes in trees.

No you can't have one.

Entrepreneurial crocodile - not socialist at all

Park rangers have been moved to lament the loss of the work ethic of the average Australian crocodile.

As reported by APP:

“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have nabbed a lazy crocodile intent on nicking the catch of the day from fishermen on Cape York. The four-metre croc had started venturing onto the banks of the Mungkun River at Pormpuraaw in search of a free fish lunch.”

Good heavens... crocodiles attempting to eat things in their own habitat... who'd have thought it?

“Environment Minister Kate Jones said the croc had also been trying to pinch fish from fishing lines,” the report states.

...in rivers inhabited by his species for millions of years.

The loss of Bjelke-Petersen's control over the state after 1987 has clearly eroded his reptilian conservative morals among its wildlife.

From Afghanistan - and it's not about the war

One of the world's rarest birds - not seen for 139 years and documented only twice either side of that span - has been found in Afghanistan, and its breeding grounds are being protected by Afghan authorities (such as they are)

As reported in The Age newspaper:

"The khaki-coloured bird was first discovered in India in 1867, but it was not seen again until 2006, when one was spotted near a sewage works in Thailand.

Afghanistan's Environmental Protection Agency has now added the warbler to its protected species list, established last year. Mustafa Zahir, the agency's director-general, said: ''It is not true that our country is full of only bad stories. This bird, after so many years, has been discovered here. Everyone thought it was extinct.'' "

Don't be adding the Taliban to that list, fellas.

Taiga Tiger

A Siberian tiger viewed from behind. Note the "eyes" on the back of its ears, to ward off being snuck up on. Can't be many creatures that would try it.

Found this in one of three articles written by Patrick Evans for the The Japan Times Sunday feature... collectively part travelogue, part wildlife, part conservation tale about the Siberian tiger and life in Eastern Russia. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100214x1.html

Picture of the day

Tony Dimmock of Melbourne took this shot at Lake Mungo, site of some of the oldest Aboriginal remains found in Australia.

This shot was the Epson Australian Landscape Photography Competition Winner in 2007.

Eyes in the back of your helmet

Here's an interesting article about the increasing population and urban habits of this blog's namesake, the Australian magpie:

According to Dr Graeme Hamilton from Birds Australia:

"If their populations increase in urban areas there will be greater competition among those birds for territory and breeding sites and they will become more agitated and more aggressive and they will see humans as a greater threat during breeding season," he said.
"So yes, I guess a likely result of increased populations is that we will see greater aggressiveness and more swoops. It's most unfortunate."
Jim Metcher, from the union representing postal workers, says the warning is concerning, given posties are already a target during magpie breeding season
"I've had to advise posties not to perform work and risk their health and safety during some significant periods of magpie attacks," he said..
"Posties draw eyes on the back of their helmets, it seems to avoid the magpie attacking the back of the helmet whilst the posties are on their motorcycles and moving along the footpath."

The rest of the article from February is here .