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Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the garden, the natural world pulls another fast one on us. The picture above is a snail infected with a parasitic flatworm that goes under the (rather menacing) name the green-banded broodsac.  Found mostly in Central and Eastern Europe, its binomial scientific name is Leucochloridium paradoxum which translated means “strange little white-green creature”.  Isn’t that just the understatement of the decade?

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Some might be inclined to exchange paradoxum with nauseosum (nausea inducing) because although it looks strange in a photo, you should see this creature in… motion.  So, if you are even remotely squeamish by nature, don’t read on. And certainly, don’t play this video (definitely not narrated by David Attenborough). Don’t say you weren’t warned…

He searched online  and came across a website, leaving a message on the local "Swarm Hotline". The person who returned the call was Mandy, who quickly turned up and resolved the situation.  Maxwell captured some amazing footage so asked Mandy if, next swarm season, he could shoot a little documentary.  You don’t need to guess Mandy’s answer as this  charming short is the result.

I love the insight that this video gives swarm chasing, as Mandy calls it (and a great play on words it is too).  You will learn the things that need to be done to relocate a hive – and how it can get a little tricky depending on where the bees rock up.  If you have doubts about the importance of making sure that bees end up on the right place, then seven little words from Mandy should suffice: “Without the bees, there is no us.”

Watch the short documentary below.

Sploot? Splooting? Splooted? You may have come across the word in one or more of its forms while goggling at a picture of a very flat looking dog or squirrel. Although it’s quite probably self-explanatory, we thought a short diversionary interlude to look into the word, the action and its mammalian manifestation might allow for a little procrastinatory pleasure. So, put off the more important things you  must do today and delve with us into this fascinating phenomenon. Perhaps you could even attempt a languid sploot yourself as you read on…

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Or perhaps not (disclaimer #1). First, the action.  Merriam-Webster added "sploot" to its dictionary in 2022, defining it as a slang term for the pose in which an animal lies flat on its belly with its hind legs stretched out behind it.  That much is obvious, but why do animals sploot?  The rather silly looking pose is in fact a very sensible solution to the issue of overheating.

From these photographs you could easily imagine that the animal kingdom had suddenly been enveloped in its own zombie apocalypse.  Yet these pictures do not feature the Squawking Dead. Thanks to high speed photography, these pictures capture the nictitating membrane in action. It is also known as the third eyelid, haw and the inner eyelid. It is drawn across the eye to protect and moisturize it while retaining visibility.

This short ten minute film by the British Council provides as much information about the life cycle of the newt as anyone really needs unless they wish to become a herpetologist – the scientific term for someone who studies reptiles and amphibians professionally.  Even though it was made in 1942 (during World War II no less), I don’t think you will find a more accurate and succinct description of the life cycle of this charming amphibian.

It focuses on the Smooth Newt and with some great photography for its time, looks at the process from conception to the point when the tiny but fully-formed newt leaves the pond for land, where it will stay for three years until ready to reproduce itself.  Watch this wonderful short film below.

 
Out of the over 4,000 species of frogs on Planet Earth, around a third of them are considered to be at threat of extinction. Here, Guy Fenton takes us on a journey, exploring why frogs are so vital to our ecosystems.  Fenton also covers how frogs are helping scientists to create new innovations in the medical field.  Told from a non-scientific perspective, this short video speaks volumes about the importance of our amphibian friends.

One reason (apart from any species has a right to survive without forced extinction because of our actions) can be seen as purely selfish.  The frogs of this world may well turn out to be incredibly important to the future of our species.  So, conserving them in the wild so we can continue to learn from them is something that we should make every attempt to ensure.

Scientists, for example, are studying frog skins to see how the cells can be turned into new antibiotics.  As most of our current antibiotics are now becoming useless because of antibiotic resistance, these new ones are vital – urgent even.  More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics – could frogs hold the secret to a new group of antibiotics?

Have a look at this video – it’s very short and you will (most likely) learn something.

The seahorse has been known to us for thousands of years: the ancient Romans created beautiful mosaics celebrating their shape and grace. Yet a number of species escaped our attention until the 1970s – and then it took till the twenty first century to name six of the seven previously hidden kinds. Why did they elude us for so long? Firstly their size – they are tiny. Yet it is their amazing camouflage which really allowed them to remain concealed for so long.

When you think of porcupines, you might imagine a spiky little creature having a good old waddle across the forest floor, bristling with quills and grumpy charm. But did you know that some porcupines are expert climbers who spend most of their lives in the treetops? Meet the Coendou genus — a group of tree-dwelling porcupines that swing through the forests of Central and South America like prickly little acrobats.  Did I mention that they’re cute, too?

The Paraguaian hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou spinosus) ranges across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

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It’s perfectly understandable, in this day and age, when starting a family is put off for a year or two.  After all, parenthood is best coped with when planned. However, when the “decision” to become a first time mom is put off by decades, then friends and family stop asking when it’s ever going to happen.  This must surely have been the case with the an endangered giant tortoise who had become a mother at an estimated 100 years old.

Mommy – yes that is her name – is, to be completely accurate, a Western Santa Cruz Galápagos tortoise.  She was taken from her island at some point in the past (no one is sure when) but she has called Philadelphia Zoo home for 90 odd years.  Arriving in 1932, she is believed to be around a century old and even though her species stay capable of producing young way into their long, long lives, Mommy has never before produced any viable offspring.  

We've been waiting for this... forever.  Finally we can have fully-formed conversations with our non-human owners!  The guesswork is over!

London, England– April 1, 2025: At last, the long-standing dream of talking to our pets takes a step toward reality! Today, relaxAI, the advanced AI assistant platform, unveiled a groundbreaking experimental feature - PetTalk - designed to translate pet vocalizations into human language in real time. Even more astonishing, it allows humans to respond back in their pets’ native "tongue."  Our days of trying to communicate (but gettingi it badly wrong) are finally at an end.  And it's all down to technology.  You can try it by following this link.  Simply change to "pet mode" when you get there and you can start communicating!

Harnessing deep learning, speech pattern recognition, and a proprietary natural language model trained on thousands of pet audio samples, PetTalk aims to bridge the communication gap between humans and their furry companions.  Now your granny doesn't need to scratch her head when wondering what ails fluffy.  Fluffy can tell her (although it isn't always guaranteed that granny will like what she hears, of course).

According to Mark Boost, CEO of relaxAI, the inspiration came from users who wanted to build deeper emotional connections—not just with AI, but with their pets.

“PetTalk is a fun yet technically ambitious step toward pushing the limits of human-AI communication,” said Boost. “We’ve been collaborating with academic researchers and animal behavior experts to make the impossible… well, just a little less impossible.”

The feature was developed in partnership with Dr. Emily Petrichor, Professor of Animal-Human Communication at the University of Ashwood, whose pioneering research into animal vocalization patterns provided critical insights for the training data.

Dr. Petrichor explains: “There are clear acoustic patterns in animal sounds that suggest intent or emotion. While we’re still far from full interspecies dialogue, machine learning allows us to ‘guess’ what your dog or cat might be trying to express. Whether it’s accurate or not—well, that’s up to the pet.”

Though PetTalk is not (yet) certified for scientific or veterinary use, early testers have reported amusing results—from a Labrador requesting “longer belly rubs” to a cat insisting on “a private litter box with better ambiance.”

Taking care of horses is not the easiest assignment for those that look after the equine stars, but it is a job that should be taken very seriously to ensure that horses have the best quality of life.

Horses that are well-groomed always look like they are the best-cared horses in the yard, and learning how to get into a routine for grooming an equine is essentially important if you want to be hands on with a horse.

Hiring a professional groom can typically be expensive, meaning that being able to groom a horse yourself is an excellent alternative to cut your outgoings. But, what are some of the most important factors to take into account when grooming a horse?

Why Groom a Horse?

Keeping a horse well-groomed is vitally important to making sure that your equine is healthy and happy. Having a shiny and gleaming coast is a sign of health and all owners of horses will want their equines to look as though they are well looked after.

However, there are also important factors that should be considered when it comes to grooming a horse. For example, it improved a horse’s health as brushing can stimulate blood flow to the skin and help spread natural oils.

Removing dirt and other items from the coat also reduces the risk of skin diseases, as wet and dirty hair are prone to bacterial growth. Meanwhile, grooming a horse also ensures that you’re able to monitor your equine, ensuring that you can quickly notice anything that looks strange and assessing whether you need medical assistance.

Owners will also need to maintain hoof care, as constant grooming reduces the risk of conditions such as thrush. Furthermore, there are also positives that come with grooming and riding, as a healthy grooming lifestyle will ensure that horses are comfortable to ride, as tacking up a dirty horse can lead to shaving due to equipment which may cause issues and discomfort for a horse.

So when you are ready to bet on the 2025 Kentucky Derby with TwinSpires imagine all the work and investment that was put into taking care of each racehorse.

When Should You Groom A Horse?

Horses should be groomed before every ride. This ensures that everything is fine with the equine, and maintains that they will be able to move freely without any lingering issue.

Pre-grooming before a ride also ensures that there is limited risk of chafing when working out, as this could be very uncomfortable for a horse when equipment is rubbing up against their skin.

Checks should always be made to horses before sitting on it, and also when you get off the horse. Daily grooming is also completed to make sure that there is nothing amiss with the equine every day.

While this may not be practical for every owner, it is still encouraged to put your mind at ease. Despite horses that wear blankets reducing the amount that they get dirty, owners should still groom these equines just as they would the horses without a blanket. This is vitally important as horses with blankets on could have rain scald if they are wet or muddy.

General Grooming Tips

Grooming your horse can be straightforward if you have a good relationship with the equine.

Firstly, you must ensure that the horse is secure, as if the equine is moving around and wiggling, it will be harder to complete the grooming process. You should then clean the horses’ hooves, this should always be the first step on your daily grooming schedule.

Lift their leg and then remove all the debris from their foot. If they are wearing a horseshoe, you should pick inside to remove any pebbles and big pieces of dirt. Next, you should currycomb your horse. This piece of equipment is used to bring dirt to the surface of the skin, which you can then pick up or brush off to ensure that they are clean.

After completing the combing, you can get straight into adding some shine to your horse. A soft body brush can be used to add the shine, while this will also help remove any finer pieces of dirt that you may have missed in the last step. Long and broad strokes are required, while shorter strokes may be preferred for more delicate areas such as the legs.

When you get to the tail, a wide-toothed comb or brush could be the preferred option. You should untangle the hair using your fingers, before moving onto using the comb or brush.

Work on small sections at a time, and gently hold the root end of the hair. It is important to stand to the side of a horse when combing or brushing the tail, which ensures that you will be nowhere near the dangerous kicking zone. After the grooming process is complete, you can hop aboard your horse and go for a stroll.

The gecko is an extraordinary lizard, a triumph of both adaptation and diversity.  Out of the 5,600 species of lizard on the planet, over 1,500 belong to the gecko infraorder called Gekkota.  So, what is so interesting about a line of lizards which is, apparently, so ubiquitous?  Here are 20 interesting facts about the gecko, as well as some amazing pictures of species that you may not have come across before.

Geckos can vary greatly in length.  The smallest (Jaragua sphaero) is tiny, just under two centimeters in length.  However, some species can grow up to 60 centimeters.  The largest ever discovered, the Kawekaweau from New Zealand, is sadly now extinct.

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1. Gold Dust Day Gecko - Phelsuma laticauda laticauda
2. Common Leopard Gecko - Eublepharis macularius

The tropical zone of planet Earth contains many wonderful species which have adapted over time to their environment.  The Jaçana (the c is pronounced like the one in façade) consists of eight species; all are found within the tropical zone and all in possession of something quite special which equips them take best advantage of their habitat.  At home in shallow lakes with lots of vegetation, the Jaçana has evolved enormous feet and claws.  They are, literally, the big foot of the bird world.  Once seen, never forgotten.

The vegetation which floats upon many shallow lakes in the world’s tropical zone contains a veritable smorgasbord for any bird able to reach them.  Most are home to a huge variety of insects and other invertebrates.  Yet the vegetation which houses this feast is what disables access to it.  Now, if only a bird could walk on the vegetation without submerging it (and itself) with the weight, all this food would be theirs for the taking.  Enter the Jaçana.

First things first – and you have probably already guessed this. The earthstar is a type of fungus – but not exactly like the ones you are used to seeing in a grocery store (that might cause panic). Although they – there are around 50 species - may have had their common name for untold generations, their scientific name was given to them in the nineteenth century by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries. The name was Geastrum – a name which derives for the Greek words for (you’ve guessed this too) “earth” and “star”. This perfectly describes the fungus – hey seem as if they belong in a (possibly twisted) fairytale rather than on the forest floor.

Three guesses how the giraffe weevil gets its name. Unsurprisingly, this extraordinary looking Madagascan creature gets the name from its stupendously long neck.  It is three times longer in the male than the female of the species (Trachelophorus giraffa). As such it is sexually dimorphic – the male’s neck is used for aggressive combat.

When it comes to mating, it is certainly the male of the species which is more deadly.  The giraffe weevil has evolved its extended neck to fight for the right to a nearby female (which will patiently await the outcome of the fight and even occasionally act as a kind of referee before procreating with the winner). They show no aggression towards other species, neither hunting nor eating other animals. It is rare for males to kill each other in this struggle.

 

Gaining more money can dramatically improve the quality of life, create greater financial security, and help realize future ambitions. You can employ various techniques to increase your income - be it paying off debts, saving up for big purchases - or simply having extra funds available for other uses. This post examines some doable strategies, such as expanding your job responsibilities or tapping passive sources of revenue generation. Live dealer games can be a legitimate way of earning income, see popular options at any casino online available in Iceland with many casino games.

Enhancing Your Skill Set

Expanding your skill set is one of the best ways to increase your income. In today's highly competitive job market, lifelong learning is imperative. Gaining new certificates or abilities may increase marketability to companies and open doors to higher-paying jobs.

Consider enrolling in graduate degrees or professional certifications related to your industry, such as webinars, seminars, and online courses. They provide an effective way of expanding your knowledge base without needing full-time classes; they also keep you abreast of technological advancements and industry trends, making you more employable for new career opportunities. If you want to try your skills in casino slots, our analysis of online casinos is concentrated on high quality games with free spins.

Negotiate Your Salary

One of the best ways to increase your income is by negotiating your salary. Many workers need more pay because they need to inquire. Therefore, it is crucial that when starting a new job or receiving performance reviews, they openly discuss their wage expectations.

Make sure you ask for a competitive rate by researching typical compensation for your profession and sector. Highlight your accomplishments, background, and special abilities to bolster your proposal. Remember, other advantages could be negotiated, such as bonuses, flexible work schedules, or chances for professional advancement - salaries alone cannot be discussed!

Explore Freelancing

Leveraging your abilities and knowledge, freelancing offers a versatile means of earning additional revenue. Clients looking for writing, graphic design, programming, and consulting skills connect through platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, providing you with a way to supplement a full-time employment income through flexible freelancing work arrangements.

Build an impressive portfolio to establish yourself as a freelancer and solicit endorsements from pleased customers. Setting reasonable prices while producing high-quality work on schedule will help secure more clients and build your professional brand.

Start a Side Business

Launching a side business may be a powerful way to increase your income. From starting an internet store or coaching clients online to selling handcrafted goods directly from home - making money can come from just about anywhere!

Select a niche market and develop a business plan outlining your objectives, target audience, and promotional techniques. Use digital platforms and social media channels like Instagram to reach potential clients - this may significantly boost your income or become full-time employment over time! Taking these steps may prove extremely fruitful, but it will take effort and perseverance to realize success.

Invest in the Stock Market

Investment in stocks can be an effective long-term way of building wealth. While investing can involve some risk, there may also be significant potential rewards. To start with stock investing, familiarize yourself with its basics before consulting a financial counselor about creating a diverse investment portfolio.

An investment portfolio consisting of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds may help mitigate risk while increasing the chances of profitable outcomes. Review and adjust it periodically depending on your financial goals and market trends to achieve maximum profit over time. Taking care in selecting investments may yield substantial income gains with time and dedication to investing.

Utilize Passive Income Streams

Your passive income streams may provide an easy and hassle-free means of earning revenue - including real estate rental income, investment earnings, creative work royalties, and revenue from internet ventures such as affiliate marketing or blogging.

Rental homes and other real estate investments can generate a steady passive income stream. While initial funding and ongoing management may be required, the long-term returns can be substantial. Monetizing YouTube channels or blogs through sponsored content may also result in passive revenues.

Leverage Technology

Technology can help increase both potential revenue and productivity. Leverage software and tools that facilitate work organization, time management, and increased productivity - such as QuickBooks for invoicing/bookkeeping ease or project management tools like Trello/Asana for project tracking/deadlines management.

Automation can also play an essential role in increasing your income. Repetitive work may be automated to save time for more worthwhile pursuits like skill development and strategic planning. One effective solution to save time in outreach initiatives is using email marketing automation solutions so that you can focus on concluding transactions and earning money.

Conclusion

Growing your revenue requires utilizing technology, cultivating a powerful personal brand, and augmenting talents and income streams. Applying these suggestions could increase earning potential and financial security while strengthening your and your loved ones' earning power and economic security. A successful profession necessitates continual learning, efficient networking, and time management - this way, ensuring a prosperous future and optimizing income can become a reality with diligent preparation and dedication.

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Finding ways to increase your income is crucial in today's fast-paced, cutthroat world. Various tactics are available to raise your income regardless of your experience or stage in work; this article covers several methods to expand your earning power, such as skill enhancement and making intelligent investing decisions. To earn and have fun, consider reading sweet bonanza review Australia at https://sweet-bonanza-slot.net/australia/ to learn about the slot game.

Explore Multiple Income Streams

Dependency on one source of income can be risky. By diversifying your sources of revenue and increasing earnings overall, you may increase earnings and reach financial stability more easily. This may involve investing in real estate, freelancing, or starting a side business. To find additional income streams, you can also read a review about golden crown casino online slots.

Make the most of your expertise and experience to supplement your income by freelancing for clients looking for graphic design, writing, programming, or any number of other skills using platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. Starting a side company like an internet store, consulting service, or blog may prove lucrative.

Real estate investments offer an additional source of income. While property appreciation could result in substantial gains over time, rental properties provide consistent passive income streams. Before making any decisions or investments in real estate, it's vitally important to educate oneself on this industry and gain a complete understanding of it first.

Invest in Your Education and Skills

Investing in your education and skill set can be one of the best ways to boost your income. The labor market is constantly shifting, making continued study essential. Adding new certifications or abilities may increase employability and create new employment prospects.

Higher education can open the doors to promotions and higher-paying jobs, with professional qualifications like a master's degree or other professional qualification being particularly fruitful in doing so. Staying current on emerging trends and innovations within your sector may also be made more accessible through participation in webinars, workshops, and industry conferences or upskilling through online tutorials and courses, which provide flexible learning alternatives with convenient learning solutions at your speed.

Negotiate Your Salary

Learning to negotiate compensation is one essential skill that could significantly increase your wages. Too many avoid discussions out of fear of confrontation or rejection; however, money may be left on the table by failing to engage in negotiation. Be confident when communicating your wage expectations when attending performance reviews or job interviews.

To set reasonable expectations, research industry and positional averages. When making your case for higher pay, emphasize your accomplishments, qualifications, and experience as evidence of why this amount should be your desired compensation if a company declines your request for increased vacation time, flexible work schedules, or opportunities for professional growth.

Leverage Technology and Automation

By becoming more productive through technology and automation, your earning potential can increase significantly. Utilizing various software programs and applications may improve productivity, efficiently manage time, and simplify chores; financial software like QuickBooks can streamline bookkeeping and invoicing, while project management tools like Asana and Trello allow you to keep an eye on activities while meeting deadlines.

Automation can also play a massive role in increasing your income. Routine work may be automated to free up time for more worthwhile pursuits such as skill development or strategic planning; for instance, email marketing automation solutions can save time for outreach initiatives so you can focus on completing transactions and making money instead.

Network and Build Relationships

Establishing and expanding a professional network is integral to career advancement and income maximization. Networking may lead to new business ventures, alliances, or joint ventures. To expand your circle and meet like-minded individuals quickly, join online forums, attend industry events, or join professional organizations.

Striking relationships with peers, mentors, and prominent figures in your field can bring invaluable perspectives, counsel, and prospects. Please don't be shy to seek mentorship from experienced experts so they can assist with your career development. Building an impressive network also makes you more visible within the industry - making it easier for clients or employers to locate you!

Focus on Personal Branding

Personal branding is integral to professional success and income maximization in today's digital environment. Your brand encapsulates how the world perceives you, from online and off, including professional image, beliefs, experiences, skill set, and competitive edge. Personal solid brands may set themselves apart while opening lucrative opportunities.

Develop your professional online profile using platforms like LinkedIn. Ensure you frequently update it with information on your experiences, abilities, and accomplishments. To establish yourself as an authority in your profession, engage with your network via regular interactions such as debates and by posting industry-related material - this can lead to consulting assignments, speaking engagements, or employment offers!

Conclusion

For maximum revenue maximization, various strategies are necessary. From using technology to diversify income streams to investing in education and skills development, you need a comprehensive plan in place to optimize revenue. By employing these tactics, you can expand your earning capacity and achieve economic stability. Networking, constant learning, and efficient time management are necessary elements of professional success - use them wisely in order to secure a wealthier future and maximize your profits through intelligent preparation and perseverance.

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The Sweat Bee

Schmidt describes the sting of the Sweat Bee as “Light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm.” Sweat bees are a large family of bees and they are hugely attracted to humans. Specifically, it is the salt in our sweat that they like.

Spiders have been studied for centuries.  In Middle English the name for spider was coppe and they built coppewebs, a word still retained in the language as cobweb. Yet despite our familiarity with these enigmatic air-breathing arthropods, scientists are still discovering new facts about them – and not necessarily about newly discovered species either.  Here are ten amazing recently discovered facts about spiders.

10. Electrostatic Webs that Suck in Prey
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In 2013 students at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that the web of the garden spider (or common cross spider) is attracted to charged objects. When a charged object is held next to a garden spider web, its threads arc towards each other. Many insects produce a charge when flying – the honeybee, for example, can generate a charge of up to 200 volts as it moves its wings.  So, if one gets close to a web, the threads arc, effectively sucking the hapless creature in to the web.

Love them or hate them, there is more to the snail than meets the eye. Here, with some amazing photography, is a look at the humble snail in all its mucus covered glory. Whether regarded as pet, pest or tasty treat, they are everywhere.

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Snails that live on land have been around for quite a while, around six hundred million years which puts our species a little to shame. Although there are many more species of snails that live in water, it is the land snail that most people know well. Many shudder at the thought of the sliminess of the creature, others have nightmares about them. However, there are many aspects of snail life that will surprise. Seen up close, too, the shells of these gastropods are often things of exquisite beauty.