This is the last article in the 4-part mini series, "Built for...", to access the other 3 articles click on the links above this.
Out of millions of animals, 3 are selected based on their outstanding ability to stun, decapitate and absolute demolish their victims, leaving them in shreds. These are the ultimate animals, the top of the food chain, even being in their presence is a mistake. This is Built for Kill.
This is the third article in the 4-part mini series, "Built for...", to access the other 3 articles click on the links above this.
Out of millions of animals, 3 are selected based on their outstanding ability to run, swim or fly in a world of speed that we humans are unfamiliar with, speeds that require the use of slow motion cameras to capture them in all their glory. This is Built for Speed.
Peregrine Falcon
Now this may be the fastest animal on the planet, but it ranks third. Why you ask? Because it gets so much of an advantage. It is only able to reach the speed of 325km/h when it is diving from the air. Repeat: ONLY WHEN IT IS DIVING FROM THE AIR. Anyone could do that if we were to dive from the air as well, but perhaps only once....
In fact, when it is in level flight, it can only fly at about 88km/h. And even though it is still an amazing feat, it is nothing that makes you go "OMG". In fact, the Mantis Shrimp's punch is just as fast as that.
But here are some videos of it.
The falcon has special adaptations in its nostrils which allow it to breathe at such tremendous speed. Each nostril contains a rod and two fins behind it. As air rushes past the nostrils, the flow is broken up and slowed by the rods and fins which enable the falcon to breathe normally without being overwhelmed by the force at which air enters its nostrils. Moreover, the eyes of the peregrine falcon are designed so that the falcon has a clear view of its prey throughout the dive. Each eye is equipped with an nictitating membrane which protects it from dust and other debris in the air and an additional secretory gland to prevent drying up of the cornea. The dark markings around its eyes also reduce glare, improving visual contrast. The animal is also incredibly streamlined. Its also small and light to improve its speed.
Don't get me wrong, these birds are incredible and majestic creatures and are just simply beautiful, and man can only envy its gift of flight, but it just does not cut it to beat the next on our list.
Cheetah
The Cheetah is the world's fastest land animal and lands itself second on our list. It can run at speeds of up to 120km/h, but not for long, tiring out after 500m. It has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds.
Virtually every part of its body is adapted in some way to help it run faster. Special paw pads and semi-retractable claws provide great traction. Large nostrils and lungs provide quick air intake; a large liver, heart and adrenals also facilitate a rapid physical response. A long, fluid, greyhound-like body is streamlined over light bones. Small collarbones and vertical shoulder blades help lengthen the stride. The tail acts as a rudder for quick turning as well.
Just a video of the cheetah showing off its speed, but there's a anticlimax at the end. :(
Here are some awesome photos of the cheetah:
Summary:
Sailfish
This is the animal that wins this little competition. Why? Because it can swim at 110km/h. Underwater. That is unbelievable. It swims so quickly in the environment that has the most resistance and friction. But how?
Well first of all, it probably has the most streamlined shape of all of today's 3 animals. And you probably may notice its very sharp beak, well like jet planes, they possess these because it cuts through the water and makes the sailfish move extremely quickly.
Their sails which attract hoards of their prey, which are fish, will retract when they swim so as to minimise friction as the sailfish swims through the water at top speed.
This is the second article in the 4-part mini series, "Built for...", to access the other 3 articles click on the links above this.
Out of millions of animals, 3 are selected based on their outstanding ability to camouflage, to blend in, and sometimes to seem to disappear completely. This is Built for Camouflage.
Leafy Seadragon
The first animal is the Leafy Seadragon. It is type of seahorse that lives in Southern Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body.
These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The lobes of skin that grow on the leafy seadragon gives it the appearance of seaweed. It is able to maintain the illusion when swimming, appearing to move through the water like a piece of floating seaweed.
Dead Leaf Butterfly
If you thought that was spectacular, watch this.
This amazing animal is called the dead leaf butterfly. And I am sure you can see that is spectacular. With wings closed, it closely resembles a dry leaf with dark veins and is a spectacular example of camouflage. Its name is also derived from its appearance, as it REALLY closely resembles a dead leaf.
Just look at the detail of the "leaf" that the butterfly has
adapted to form!!!
Chameleon
These animals of course win this race for the best camouflaged animal. It can change from pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise and purple in an instant. And further more, it can change which areas turn what colour, so it can create patterns with its colours as well.
Chameleons have specialized cells, chromatophores, which contain pigments in their cytoplasm, in three layers below their transparent outer skin:
The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively.
Below these is a second layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores; these contain guanine, appearing blue or white.
The deepest layer of cells, melanophores, contain the dark pigment melanin, controlling how much light is reflected.
Dispersion of the pigment granules in the chromatophores sets the intensity of each color. When the pigment is equally distributed in a chromatophore, the whole cell is intensively colored. When the pigment is located only in the centre of the cell, the cell appears mainly transparent. Chromatophores can rapidly relocate their particles of pigment, thereby influencing the animal's color. Chromatophores change because the cells get a message from the brain.
Scientists think that Chameleon changes colour not for camouflage but to express their mood, reflect or absorb heat. That is why, they may seem to be very colourful and doing the opposite of camouflaging.
Not really difficult to spot right?
But, if they were to be able to use it for camouflage, and control each individual cell to match the surroundings, how awesome would that be??? Just the very thought of it, allows the chameleon to deserve the number 1 spot. That and this awesome video. Note: the video has probably the weirdest music I've heard. Ever.
For the next 4 weeks, I will start my "Built for..." series, with 3 animals featured each week. These 3 animals are selected based on their outstanding ability to attract, camouflage, move quickly and kill. They are ranked based on my personal opinions on what has the most spectacular adaptations. Click on the banner above to view the other articles!
Out of millions of animals, 3 are selected based on their outstanding ability to attract a mate whether its through croaking, through scent or just through plain old looks. This is Built for Attraction.
Peacocks
1. During the breeding season, peacocks choose special places to perform their courtship dance and they tend to return to the same location year after year. Other males may be doing the same thing close by and peahens will window-shop-the peacock with the best display wins.
2. When a peahen comes close enough, the peacock turns his back and brings his train erect, displaying the underlying tail feathers and his dark wings, which he flutters rapidly, From this angle, the brilliant colours of the display feathers can't be seen-the bird is predominantly grey and brown. The peacock steps from side to side and sometimes moves forward or backward a few steps. 3. When the peahen comes closer still, the peacock backs up towards her, and when she avoids him, he turns, revealing all his colour and holding his wings still. He then drops the great fan down on top of the female. It quivers, making a rustling sound. 4. The peahen may mate with the peacock, or she may simply walk away or stand still, whereupon the male starts over, turning his back again and resuming the rapid fluttering of his wings. The peacock can hold his fan of display feathers up for a very long time. 5. For reasons that are not well understood, peahens tend to mate with peacocks with the most eye-spots.
Angler Fish
Yup... That scary guy from Nemo...
Seriously, these fish have the coolest mating ritual.
Anglerfish, a deep sea fish named for the spiny appendage on its head that it uses as bait to "fish" its prey, has an unusual mating habit. As it spends its time in the bottom of the ocean, finding a mate is a problem - but the species solved this evolutionary challenge beautifully.
At first, scientists were perplexed because they've never caught a male anglerfish. Also, all female anglerfish have a lump on their body that looks like a parasite. Only later did scientists discover that the lump is the remain of the male fish.
The tiny male anglerfish are born without any digestive system, so once they hatch, they have to find a female quickly. When a male finds a female, he quickly bites her body and releases an enzyme that digests his skin and her body to fuse the two in an eternal embrace. The male then wastes away, becoming nothing but a lump on the female anglerfish's body!
When the female is ready to spawn, her "male appendage" is there, ready to release sperms to fertilize her egg.
