Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Python vs tiger


This is real (so I believe) fight between young bengal tiger and probably reticulated python (Python reticulatus). The python is at least 6-7 m (this mean about 20 feet, but in the article is said to be 25 or 30 feet, that mean near 10 m, but on other hand I've seen pictures of 8 m python and it seem somewhat bigger). The result is apparently draw. Here is an explanation what exactly happen and how this movie is filmed by Frank Buck (November, 1932).

Source: Modernmechanix

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

The world's largest rat

The Gambian Pouch Rat is the largest rat in the world according many sources. The true is that it is rather the biggest rat-like creature, because the nutria is double in size and that rat is not true rat. He can grow up to 3 or 4 kg. The creature on the picture is may be him smaller cousin - the Emin's rat, I am don't sure. Here we have also funny video where we can see how smart they can be.


Source: Altpet

Largest aircraft


The world's largest aircraft is Antonov An-225 Mriya. Maximum gross weight 640 tonnes. Lenght 84 m and wingspan 88.4 m.

Little Mammoth's Mother


Mainly for Russian speakers. Old good Russian animated cartoon. There really were good artists years ago.

Bear Power


The Grizzly bear is really very strong. The bear was only playing with the man, but if they fight the man would not have a chance. I am look forward for real fight man vs bear.

Tiger VS Crocodile


Tiger VS Crocodile
It is small part but is likely winner to be the tiger.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

'How to' sites

I found this list of 'How to' web sites. For me is very curious and I believe that it will give some entertainment for everyone.

Source: Makeofuse

Friday, March 07, 2008

Fastest animal


Apparently the fastest animal is the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). In the movie we can see a scientist proving it. The falcon is diving steeply at speed of 389 km/h (242 m/h).

Source: Wikipedia, National Geographic

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Unusual Horned Beetle


Photo E. Greene
The name of this male unusual stag-horned beetle could be Proagoderus rangifer (or Onthophagus rangifer), which is species in Tribe Onthophagini, Subfamily Scarabaeinae, Family Scarabaeidae. It is about 11 mm length. Closely relative beetles can be found in Europe as well, but dark coloured.

Source: Douglas J. Emlen - Division of Biological Sciences UM, Whyfiles

What is an Ekranoplan


An ekranoplan (Russian: экранопла́н, literally "screen plane") is a vehicle resembling an aircraft but which operates solely on the principle of ground effect. Ground effect vehicles (GEV) fly above any flat surface, with the height above ground dependent upon the size of the vehicle. Ekranoplan design was conceived by Soviet engineer Rostislav Alexeev.

During the Cold War, ekranoplans were sighted for years on the Caspian Sea as huge, fast-moving objects. The name Caspian Sea Monster was given by US intelligence operatives who had spotted the huge vehicle, which looked like an airplane with the outer halves of the wings removed. After the end of the Cold War, the "monster" was revealed to be one of several Soviet military designs meant to fly only a few meters above water, saving energy and staying below enemy radar.

The ekranoplan has a lifting power of 1,000 tonnes, among the largest ever achieved. The KM, as the Caspian Sea Monster was known in the top secret Soviet military development program, was over 100 m long (330 ft), weighed 540 tonnes fully loaded, and could travel over 400 km/h (250 mi/h), mere meters above the surface of the water.

(The video is documentary in Russian)

Source: Wikipedia

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Thylacine - video records


The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. Native to Australia and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the 20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped back), and also known as the Tasmanian Wolf. The seven film clips above comprise near all of the motion picture footage known to exist of living Thylacines. The last known specimen died in Hobart Zoo 1936. I want to believe that there are still surviving Thylacines in some remote place.

Source:Wikipedia

Saturday, September 01, 2007

The Largest Beetle - part III

The Goliath beetles (Goliathus) are among the largest beetles. In my opinion only 2 or 3 specieses are heavier or larger. There are a lot of claims that Goliathus goliatus, Goliathus orientalis or Goliathus regius are the heaviest beetles or even insects with weight up to 100 gr (3.5 oz), but it is very unlikely, according to University of Florida a large living Goliathus goliatus of approximately 10 cm total length was recently reported to weigh 42 grams (C. Campbell, pers. comm.). The same extrapolation of data would produce a figure of about 45 grams for a living 11 cm Goliathus, that mean 3 or 4 grams fewer than the largest reported Megasoma actaeon – 13.5 cm. On the photo Goliathus regius on men arm.

Source: Wikipedia, Extreme Science, University of Florida, Natural Worlds
See more: The Largest Beetle - part I, The Largest Beetle - part II

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Biggest carnivorous fish ever

The megalodon (Carcharodon megalodon) was a giant prehistoric shark that probably lived between about 16 to 1.6 million years ago. It is the biggest known carnivorous fish to have ever lived. The maximum size of this creature has been calculated to be at 15.9 m (52.1 feet) long and the body mass of about 48 tonnes.

The teeth are similar to great white shark teeth but are much larger and can measure up to more than 17.78 cm (7 inch) long in slant. This one on the photo above is not so big.

Source: Wikipedia

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Dryest place on the Earth

The Atacama Desert receives on an average less than .004 in /.01 cm of rainfall per year, some parts of this desert have not received rainfall for over 400 years.

Hottest place on the Earth

Image Courtesy : www.spiegel.de A NASA satellite recorded surface temperatures in the Lut desert of Iran as high as 71ºC (159ºF), 2005, the hottest temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Largest White Shark

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) caught in a set-net in Seven Star Lake, Hualien County, Taiwan, on May 14, 1997. Gross weight of this animal was 2500 kilograms and total length is estimated at 6.7 to 7.0 metres. Source of information is Victor Lin (Victor Lin pers. comm.). Possibly the largest great white shark ever recorded.

Source: Mollet

Amazing 747-400 Landing


Insane 747-400 Landing
The airport is Princess Juliana, which is located on Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Goshawk hunting


Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) chasing different animals. One of the most fearsome birds. Spectacular agility in fly. Here another very good video of Goshawk chasing hare. Here Goshawk call at nest.

Albino animals - part II

Partial albino chimpanzee (or bonobo ?)

Albino Gorilla, the famous Snow Flake.

Albino macaque.

Albino hedgehog.

Albino Bactrian Camel.

Albino (or may be not) wolf.

Albino whale.

Albino kangaroo, I'm not sure for the species.

See more: Albino animals - part I

God Save the Queen - Mic Conway


I found this while browsing youtube. God Save the Queen by Mic Conway's Whoopee Band (1990). Nice ukulele performance.
Lyrics (I think the original is Sex Pistols'):

"God Save The Queen"

God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bomb

God save the queen
She ain't no human being
There is no future
In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want
Don't be told what you need
There's no future, no future,
No future for you

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
'Cause tourists are money
And our figurehead
Is not what she seems

Oh God save history
God save your mad parade
Oh Lord God have mercy
All crimes are paid

When there's no future
How can there be sin
We're the flowers in the dustbin
We're the poison in your human machine
We're the future, your future

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
We mean it man
And there is no future
In England's dreaming

No future, no future,
No future for you
No future, no future,
No future for me

No future, no future,
No future for you
No future, no future
For you

See more: Mic Conway