What time is it?

Emoticon time!! =P

The Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) is a funny looking little guy native to freshwater streams, lagoons and rivers of Australia and New Guinea.

It is a really special specie not only because its snout resembles the one of a pig’s, but also because it is the only living member of the family Carettochelyidae.

The Pig-nosed Turtle is almost entirely aquatic. In fact, it is the best adapted fresh water turtle to an aquatic lifestyle. It has a leathery skin outside its shell, and flippers similar to those of sea turtles.

Fun Fact: The Pig-nosed Turtle is omnivorous, it eats pretty much anything. From different variety of plant, fruit and leaves to crustaceans, molluscs and insects. They even eats fish and the bodies of kangaroos, cattle and other animals. (if they happens to be in the area.)

Like a phantom with a floating cape, the Blanket Octopus is surely one mysterious creature.

There are 4 species of Blanket Octopus under the genus Tremoctopus. The name Blanket comes from the large transparent webs that connect the dorsal and the unusually long dorsolateral arms of the adult females. (the other arms are short and without webbing.)

This majestic lady can grow up to 2 meters long. Unlike other octopodes, she does not use ink as a defense mechanism. Instead, when threatened, she would uncurl her “blanket”, which spread out and billow in the water, greatly increasing her apparent size.

The male Blanket Octopus is not as lucky as his counterpart. You see, he never grows up. Male Blanket Octopus only grows up to a couple centimeters, that is almost 100 times smaller than the female.

Being that tiny, his only way of self defense is to rip off the poisonous stringers/tentacles of the Portuguese man o’ war and use the poison to his advantage.

Spring is here which means it’s the time to locate flowers under the rain =P

I have been following a friend’s daily blog of her live in Japan. Lately, most of her posts featured beautiful flowering trees. Sakuraaaa~ also known as the Japanese Cherry Blossom.

But people of Toronto, you can also enjoy the Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) thanks to a Japanese ambassador in 1959. Saruka trees are presented as an appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War.

For around a week in late April each year, flower blooms in High park welcoming the arrival of Spring.

It’s not the nicest weather but doesn’t the fog makes it more romantic?

Pink and fluffy =]

Sakura under rain.

almost seems like a dream =]

If you want to experience what I had, be hurry because it’s not going to last!

and finally…

Crew of the day.

Apologies for all the instagram lazy posts. Went to see the cherry blossom and had a family dinner on Sunday. Went to OCAD on Monday. Photo update soon. =P

This week’s plant update is not really an update… =/

In the past, some scientists believed in spontaneous generation. It is a theory about how life would systematically emerge from inanimate objects (abiogenesis), for example, that flies come from rotten meat. This is of course proven to be false in the latter days.

Back to my plants. This week a random plant pop up.

This container has not been moved and has been watered regularly for a pretty long time. I wonder what changed to cause it to grow now.

Or maybe plants really do come from earth =P

Today we have the Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). It is endemic to the island of Madagascar.

The Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko is a master of camouflage in the northern and central tropical forests of Madagascar. Although all Uroplatus geckos have flattened tails, only the ebenaui complex (U. phantasticus, U. ebenaui, and U. malama) have the leaf-like appearance. Even more so, the Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko have notches in their tails to further mimic a decaying leaf.

Happy Easter! Today’s fact is not really Easter related though.

2 years ago, National Geographic published something which may well be an example of evolution in action.

As you all know, most species of reptile are egg-laying. However, scientists discovered that the yellow-bellied three-toed skink (Saiphos equalis) of New South Wales might be abandoning  that method and replacing it with live birth.

As it turns out, skinks from along the warm coastal lowlands lay eggs to reproduce. While individuals of the same species living in the state’s higher, colder mountains are giving birth to live young.

Why is this happening you asked? Well, in a warm environment, the reptile lays egg because it reduce the taxing for the mother. However, in a harsher environment like the cold mountains, eggs are less likely to survive. So even though the mother skink forms eggs, she retains them inside her body until the very last stages of embryonic development. The shells of these eggs thin dramatically so that the embryos can breathe, until live babies are born covered with only thin membranes—all that remains of the shells.

I think Instagram is more trouble than it’s worth. At least for now it is. So I am going to uninstall…. For now. =/

Argh! My Google Market is busted!! Need Tech help >=/

Happy April Fools’ Day!

I am going to make it short today by showing you a video of Nature’s master of trickery- The Mimic Octopus of Indonesia (Thaumoctopus mimicus)

It has the power to change its form and colour to face different situations. Scientists have found out that it can mimic the form and behaviour of up to 15 (or more) different species.

It was Earth hour yesterday. Did you remember to turn off your lights? No? It’s ok because Earth hour is really just a gimmick. (Arrrgh! Richard is against the planet >=[ )

I mean, I know it comes from a good heart, but it’s really not a thing to celebrate. It is like telling a person that eats 10 cheese burger per day to eat 9 today and say “Yay! you’re healthier.”

I think a person’s everyday way of life is more important. You can’t be wasteful for a whole year, turns off the light for an hour and say you help save the planet.

I am guilty as well. Since I have been a city boy my whole life, I am pretty sure my carbon footprint is …well not that small. But at least try to save energy every day. (and that includes water, food and things you buy)

Why am I ranting about Earth hour? =/

Good day.