The Coolest Animals on the Planet.

Not really sure where to post this, hope this is OK here.

I thought it would be cool to start a thread on the world's most awesome animals.
Here's one of my favorite wild animals, the Ratel.

And as far as top of the food chain predators go, there aren't too many better than the Ratel or Honey Badger, though it is not of the same family of the American or European Badger but rather a sub species of the Badger family.
These little blokes are fearless, confident, smart and bloody tough.

Taking on Cobra's.



Link

The honey badger also has a reputation for killing animals by attacking the scrotum; the victim then bleeds to death. It is alleged that the ratel has, through its attacks, castrated various mammal species, including humans. This behaviour has been reported by several African tribes. However, fully documented first-hand reports are difficult to come by. This may be one of several aspects of the honey badger's behaviour which has been exaggerated.
Various reports state that honey badgers have attacked animals as large as sheep, horses, buffaloes, wildebeest and waterbuck. On one occasion an observer saw seven lions abandon the wildebeest kill that they were eating, when three honey badgers approached. The badgers then took their share of the carcase.

Ouch!!

It is likely that for the most part, honey badgers and big cats have a healthy respect for each other and keep their distance.

Big cats are known to have killed Ratel's but they have also been known to leave a kill when approached by the little buggers too. It may be that the pain of keeping them at bay or killing them is just not worth it.

Link

The ratel is also known as the Honey Badger which comes from its famous relationship with the Honeyguide bird. When the guide locates a bee hive, it seeks out the Ratel, calls to it and flies off in the direction of the hive. The ratel follows and is then guided to the hive site, which it quickly breaks into using its strong claws. The ratel has tough skin and does not seem affected by the stinging bees. Both the ratel and the honeyguide benefit in the spoils of honey, larvae and wax. Without the guide, the ratel would probably only stumble upon such a treat on a rare occasions, and without the ratel the guide would not have the strength required to open the hive.

and it wouldnt be worthy of ATS without it's very own conspiracy angle. Badgers are really NWO assasins.

Link

Rumors have been spreading in the Iraqi port city of Basra that giant, man-eating badgers have begun to stalk the city at night. Many believe that British military forces stationed in the area released the creatures. A spokesman for the British forces said this: “We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.”

Link

They also have to battle the Iraqi rumour mill, as locals are quick to blame them for almost any calamity that befalls the area – including an apparent plague of vicious badgers with long claws and powerful jaws.
British army spokesman Major David Gell said the animals were thought to be a kind of honey badger – melivora capensis – which can be fierce but are not usually dangerous to humans unless provoked.

Some more info on the Ratel.


Link

The Ratel has a heavy build, a broad head, blunt muzzle with strong jaws, small eyes, and ears that are not visible. Legs are short with forelimbs that are well developed and equipped with claws that reach 4 cm (1.5 inches) in length. In size and build it looks similar to the Eurasian Badger but its color is different - black with a silver gray mantle from the top of head over the back. There is a white stripe which separates the mantle from the darker body area. Length ranges from 60 - 102 cm (23.6 - 40 inches) from nose to base of tail. The tail can be from 16 - 30 cm (6.2 - 11.8 inches). Shoulder height 23 to 30 cm (9 - 11.8 inches). Weight range is 5.5 to 14 kg (12 to 31 lbs)

Being an aggressive animal, which will defend itself, the Honey Badger has few predators. It's thick, rubbery skin provides a fair amount of protection from bites but lions and leopards do occasionally kill them.

So post up some information on your favorite awesome wild animals preferably with some links, vids, articles etc.

Cheers mojo.

I hate to be obvious.. but seriously...



Nothing else.

reply to post by DeadFlagBlues


Yep your right that was obvious. And.......?

I think Badgers are cool. And they wouldnt back down from a Tiger if they were cornered either.

reply to post by mojo4sale


As in an obvious answer given in response to "coolest animal ever," considering even most 3 year olds would probably say the same thing as I did. It was a joke on myself, so no need to lose your #. Dumb.

Not to take anything from your animal or anything. I think all badgers, wolverines, mongoose, etc... Are all extremely cool. They're completely oblivious to size and strength. Sparrows are the same way.. That's why i got them tattooed on my hips. I'm all about that anti "might makes right" instinct. I think it would do us a lot of good as humans (and as I do already) to adhere to that same mentality. At least to an extent.

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
reply to post by mojo4sale

 

As in an obvious answer given in response to "coolest animal ever," considering even most 3 year olds would probably say the same thing as I did.

Maybe. My 2 year old said Penguin.

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
so no need to lose your #. Dumb.

I havent lost my hash key? What? Dumb. Huh?

The And.... in my post was because all you did was post a short clip yet in the OP i asked,
"So post up some information on your favorite awesome wild animals preferably with some links, vids, articles etc. "

I was hoping for more than just a quick clip of a tiger rolling around in the snow with two short sentences that added nothing. I was sort of hoping for some educational stuff from members, i like learning new things.

Big Cats are cool, so how about digging up some info on them and adding it. Thats all.



Thanks anyway. mojo.

Good Thread Idea Mojo.
My fav animal, is my Native American Spirit animal, as such because I dream of them often, and was told by an Ojibway elder.

THE ARCTIC WOLF
No wolf should ever be like this...




Run Wild and free....



en.wikipedia.org...

The Beaver


I find the beaver to be one of the most facinating animals. Though small in stature and not a predator, the beaver is very important to all other wildlife. The Beaver is born with knowledge to build dams and hold back water, creating beautiful ponds for fish, fowl and turtles. I suppose it is he who actually taught man the importance of damming water and not letting it all run back to the ocean. In times of draught, the mightiest of animals will be in need of the water that the Beaver naturally finds important to conserve and man is no different. Even today in areas where countys have not built dams to conserve water, entire citys run out of water.


The Beaver mates for life in their 3rd year and begins raising a family. Both parents help raise the kits ( usually 1 to 4) born in the spring. Oddly when the beaver population becomes more than the land will provide for they automatically start declining in numbers so as to not overpopulate.


Beavers have often been thought a nuisance because it does not matter to them if you planted a $300.00 Japanese Maple, if they want to cut it down, they will simply cut it down. Beavers in times past have been trapped into near extinction in some ares for their pelts. I am amazed that this skillull creature can pile a bunch of sticks and mud up so perfectly that he can easily hold back 4 or 5 feet of water. In some areas they will actually cause flooding of roadways and have to be removed from the area. Gotta love them Beavers.

[edit on 4-11-2007 by Voyager1]

Thanks AD and Voyager1.

@ Voyager1, it makes you wonder what other things we would have learnt from studying other creatures. Hunting tactics from the SuperPredators, building dams from the beavers?, mating habits from rabbits.

@ AD, Wolves are beautiful animals. What was the name of that Jack London? book, i remember reading it as a kid, it was a great story.

Thought you might like this one AD.

Vampyroteuthis (Vampire Squid)



Wikipedia

The Vampire Squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. "vampire squid from hell") is a small, deep-sea cirrate cephalopod found throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

The Vampire Squid is an extreme example of a deep-sea cephalopod, thought to reside at aphotic (lightless) depths from 600-900 metres (2,000-3,000 feet) or more. Within this region of the world's oceans is a discrete habitat known as the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Within the OMZ oxygen saturation is too low to support aerobic metabolism in most higher organisms. Nonetheless, the Vampire Squid is able to live and breathe normally in the OMZ at oxygen saturations as low as 3%; a feat no other cephalopod—and few other animals—can claim.

The highly sensitive eyes of deepwater denizens are able to distinguish the silhouettes of other animals moving overhead. To combat this, the vampire squid generates its own bluish light (bioluminescence) in a strategy called counterillumination: The light diffuses the animal's silhouette, effectively "cloaking" its presence from the watchful eyes below. Its own large eyes detect even the faintest of gleams. A pair of photoreceptors are located on top of its head, perhaps alerting the animal to movements above.
Like many deep-sea cephalopods, Vampire Squid lack ink sacs. If threatened, instead of ink, a sticky cloud of bioluminescent mucus containing innumerable orbs of blue light is ejected from the arm tips. This luminous barrage, which may last nearly 10 minutes, is presumably meant to daze would-be predators and allow the Vampire Squid to disappear into the blackness without the need to swim far.

National Geographic video of the Vampire Squid, great footage.

www.thecephalopodpage.org...

The vampire squid has much in common with both squids and octopuses but it was placed in its own Order, the Vampyromorpha, based on the presence of sensory filaments. These filaments are believed to be used for finding food in the dark deep sea

Vampyroteuthis infernalis is named for its jet-black skin (although their color varies from black to red to purple and seems to depend on the light conditions), the caped appearance of the webbing between the arms, and eyes that appear red under some light conditions (the eyes appear blue when viewed from a submersible). William Beebe (1926) described V. infernalis as "a very small but terrible octopus, black as night with ivory white jaws and blood red eyes".

Related links.
Link

Link

Thanks again for the great posts guy's.

mojo

reply to post by AccessDenied


Agreeeeed. I love wolves. I've been trying to get a wolf pup for a year now.

You can't trust those online sights with all the interbreeding and the false % rates of "sled dogs" and the like.

I have tons of favs, but the first two, being local, I've been interested in the most now. As I can observe them and take pictures first hand.

The Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds of over 322 km/h (200 mph)

Porcupine

Contrary to popular belief, porcupines are not capable of throwing their quills, but they detach very easily and will remain embedded in an attacker.

Quills are still capable of penetrating animals and humans even after death.

Armadillo

There are approximately 10 extant genera and around 20 extant species of armadillo, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armor. Their average length is about 75 centimeters (30 in), including tail; the Giant Armadillo reaches roughly 90 cm (3 ft), while the Pink Fairy Armadillos are diminutive species with an overall length of 12–15 cm (4–5 in). All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of environments. In the United States

Sugar Glider

The most distinctive features of its anatomy, however, are the twin skin membranes called patagia which extend from the fifth finger of the forelimb back to the first toe of the hind foot.

Although its aerial adaptation looks rather clumsy in comparison to the highly specialised limbs of birds and bats, the Sugar Glider can glide for a surprisingly long distance — flights have been measured at over 50 metres (55 yd) — and steer effectively by curving one patagium or the other. It uses its hind legs to thrust powerfully away from a tree, and when about 3 metres (3 yd) from the destination tree trunk, brings its hind legs up close to the body and swoops upwards to make contact with all four limbs together.

Information Source: Wikipedia


[edit on 5-11-2007 by dreamingawake]

[edit on 5-11-2007 by dreamingawake]

IMO the penguin is the most awsome animal off all time! I don't know why so I won't post anything to support my views, but they rock. Im also partial to the Hedgehog.

@ dreaming awake, peregrine falcons are awesome birds, we get them here too. I remember seeing a pair diving through flocks of budgies in the Northern Territory. Amazing.


Not sure that this animal can be classed as cool, but it could easily be classed as one of the most freaky looking. Introducing the Aye-aye. Maybe its not us that are descended from aliens.



wikipedia

The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a strepsirrhine native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth with a long, thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate, and is characterized by its unique method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws holes in the wood and inserts its elongated middle finger to pull the grubs out.

Much like other primates, it possesses opposable thumbs, but both the hallux and the fingers are long and thin, and appear to be in a curved position somewhat similar to that of a fairy-tale witch when the muscles are relaxed.[clarify] The middle finger can be up to three times longer than the other.

For giving you "the bird" no doubt.

Like many other prosimians, the female Aye-aye is dominant to the male. The Aye-aye is not monogamous by any means, and often competes with each other for mates. Males are very aggressive in this regard, and sometimes even pull other males off a female during sex. Outside of mating, males and females interact only occasionally, usually while foraging.

Does anyone else find that bit funny or is it just me.

roflmao

The Aye-aye is an endangered species not only because its habitat is being destroyed, but also due to native superstition. Besides being a general nuisance in villages, ancient Malagasy legend said that the Aye-aye was a symbol of death.....snip.....

The Aye-aye is often viewed as a harbinger of evil and killed on sight. Others believe that should one point its long middle finger at you, you were condemned to death. Some say the appearance of an Aye-aye in a village predicts the death of a villager, and the only way to prevent this is to kill the Aye-aye. The Sakalava people go so far as to claim Aye-ayes sneak into houses through the thatched roofs and murder the sleeping occupants by using their middle finger to puncture the victim's aorta.

Pictures and movies of the Aye-aye

related link

And a short video of a baby one born at the Bristol Zoo.



mojo

I think it was a Tom Clancy novel that I first learned of the Goblin Shark or as he Japanese call it ---Tenguzame.

It's a pretty cool predator of the deep.






Goblin Shark

It's a very rare shark found mostly around Japan.

Badgers are great when they are turned into fur hats. I also like wolves when they are turned into nice winter coats...as far as large cats go....they make excellent carpets.

Well this isn't an animal but I think this is a really cool insect, the stick insect.

IMO, dogs are the coolest animals on the planet. Dogs are man's best friends - how can they not be cool

...And the panther is really cool too...

Thats one freaky lookin' shark x-phile.

Stari that stick insect reminds me of the Praying Mantis which we get in the Northern Territory. Wiki.

As a lover of all reptiles, particularly snakes i had to add my favorites.
This was the first snake i ever had as a pet. The Carpet Snake. I grew up on a National Park north west of Alice Springs, my grandfather was the park ranger. We came across a Carpet Python that was halfway through swallowing a wallaby. It was to dangerous to try to move it at the time (not for us but for the snake). And as there were tourists about i had to stay close by and keep an eye on it. It eventually regurgitated the wallaby and injured itself in the process so we took it back to the homestead and my grandfather let me keep it until it was well enough to go back. Beautiful creatures.

Habitat:
The carpet python lives in a habitat range from the wet tropics to near arid desert.
Hunting:
it is a crepuscular and nocturnal hunter with its prey consisting of mammals, birds and some reptiles

www.reptilia.org

The smallest carpet python is the Jungle Carpet, which is typically between 140 cm and 200 cm (4' 6" to 6' 6"). Southwestern Carpets generally reach lengths of 170 cm to 190 cm (5' 6" to 6' 3"), and Coastal carpets between 180 and 250cm (6' to 8') . However, Coastal carpets have been known to reach lengths of 14 feet. Hatchling carpets of the three species listed above have a total length of approximately 42 cm.

Carpet pythons typically live to be between 20 and 30 years old in captivity.

Linky

Imagine, just as he is disturbing from a long lazy day our python's curiosity is aroused. Slowly, he flicks his tongue into the air and carries the scent molecules he picked up back into his mouth and up into the Jacobsons organ... Instantly, he is on full alert. A possum is nearby.
Now excited, our friend creeps along his branch in the direction of the scent. He freezes. The infa-red heat detector pits on the front of his face and in deep cavities along the side of his jaw (they are more specifically located in the rostral and labial scales) pick up a warm outline; it's the possum. Now in a state of extreme excitement and with his instincts in overdrive, he creeps, creeps, slowly along the branch - testing the air all the while to keep tabs on the movements in direction and intensity of scent molecules.
The possum (unaware of the impending danger) turns by chance to face the snake, giving him a perfect chance to make his move. He gathers his body forwards silently, into a series of S-shaped coils - ready to pounce.
One last look at the warm blooded animal to calibrate his strike.... and BANG! He lunges out and sinks well over 100 long, needle-sharp, recurved teeth into his prey; simultaneously engulfing it in a series of strong, muscular coils. The animal is constricted in short order.
Then, all that is left is to slowly but surely walk the elasticated jaws over the food item until nothing is left to see. The python takes up his position in the trees... invisible once again, if somewhat plumper than before.

reply to post by Stari


Insects are just as much animals as you are. They breathe oxygen, they have brains, stomachs, hearts, they have animal cellular structure...what else did you think they were? All life on Earth is either animal, plant, fungus or microbe.

Introducing the Aye-aye. Maybe its not us that are descended from aliens

Madagascar is one messed up place.... I realize its isolation is responsible for the wacky wildlife there...but damn...sometimes it's easier to assume an alien zooship crashed there....

Technically an insect, but I would have to vote for the praying mantis.

I once got the chance to see up close and personal the lightning speed of these amazing creatures when I walked outside to find a mantis munching away on a lunch of bee. Delicious, no doubt. Unfortunately the bee had a friend who then started pestering Mr. Mantis. Unfortunate for the bee...

At first the mantis simply swiped at the intruder while it continued it's meal, but after a few passes the mantis snatched it out of air faster than I could blink and began munching on it as well. Then, clutching a bee in each claw, it turned and looked at me as if to remind that it was rude to stare at someone while they were eating.

Nature's Perfect Predators: Praying Mantis