Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Doubting Didymus · 04-11-2003, 12:20 AM

Oh! How could I have forgotten?

These things are called velvet worms. Are they an arthropod or a nematode? These bastards are a taxonomists nightmare: incredibly difficult to classify, they have been the subject of debate for some time.

Given that it obviously MUST have diverged from something a mere 4500 years ago, it should be easy to agree on a kind for it, right?

From here. See the bottom of that page for journal articles and links.

Mediancat · 04-11-2003, 06:38 AM

I'm surprised no one's pointed to this critter yet:

-- the raccoon dog.

Rob aka Mediancat

Viti · 05-31-2003, 07:20 PM

bumping for a lurker I suspect needs it and Mediancat I didn't know such a thing existed. That is so cool, I want one!

Juiblex...I want an Easter bilbie thing too...it's adorable

Mediancat · 05-31-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyShea
bumping for a lurker I suspect needs it and Mediancat I didn't know such a thing existed. That is so cool, I want one!

Juiblex...I want an Easter bilbie thing too...it's adorable

I got most of my information (though not the picture) about the raccoon dog from Lioncrusher's Domain -- a neat site about all the carnivores of the world.

The mustelid section is severely incomplete, but the rest of it is a lot of fun to look through. In addition to the raccoon dog, you can learn about the fossa -- a relative of the civet native to Madagascar which resembles and acts a bit like a cat, and the jaguarundi, a Central-South American feline which looks as much like an otter as it does like its relatives.

jaguarundi

fossa

Incidentally, I wouldn't mind a raccoon dog myself . . .

Rob aka Mediancat

Celsus · 05-31-2003, 10:49 PM

Oolon got a fossa in earlier on actually... My favourite carnivore, so the more pictures the merrier!

Joel

Viti · 05-31-2003, 11:06 PM

I would love to put these photos together into a slide show and get a creationist to debate them....hmmm...would that be an interesting discussion for a live public forum for my local Humanist organization?

Celsus · 05-31-2003, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyShea
I would love to put these photos together into a slide show and get a creationist to debate them....hmmm...would that be an interesting discussion for a live public forum for my local Humanist organization?

I see a lot of the pictures don't work anymore, shame really. If you are going to do this, let me know, I have more suggestions. Maybe some bats (a mere quarter of all mammal species are bats)?

Joel

Viti · 06-01-2003, 12:43 PM

Well, hopefully I can find other pictures...thank Zeus for Google's Image search!

What are your ideas...maybe I'll do it anyway for fun and link to a Powerpoint and send emails to all the Creationists sites to identify the kinds

NonHomogenized · 06-01-2003, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Celsus
an interesting tidbit about Antechinus:The antechinus, a mouse-like tree dwelling marsupial from Australia, concentrates on sex to the exclusion of all else. Once spring comes, the males mate for 12 hours at a time and their marathon orgies can involve as many as 16 partners. These tiny Casanovas have such one track minds they even forget to eat, drink or sleep. Such passion takes its toll. They become thin, their hair starts to fall out and they fall to the ground exhausted. The only activity the males take time out for is to fight among themselves. Within two weeks all the males are dead, leaving the females to bring up the next generation.

I've had weeks like that.

(couldn't resist

)

Anyhoo, great thread. I will now go and compulsively search for cool things to contribute

God Fearing Atheist · 06-01-2003, 11:58 PM

Pat.

Male-kind, or female-kind?

-GFA

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04-11-2003, 12:20 AM	#141
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	Oh! How could I have forgotten? These things are called velvet worms. Are they an arthropod or a nematode? These bastards are a taxonomists nightmare: incredibly difficult to classify, they have been the subject of debate for some time. Given that it obviously MUST have diverged from something a mere 4500 years ago, it should be easy to agree on a kind for it, right? From here. See the bottom of that page for journal articles and links.

04-11-2003, 06:38 AM	#142
Mediancat Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baltimore County, MD Posts: 19,644	I'm surprised no one's pointed to this critter yet: -- the raccoon dog. Rob aka Mediancat

05-31-2003, 07:20 PM	#143
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	bumping for a lurker I suspect needs it and Mediancat I didn't know such a thing existed. That is so cool, I want one! Juiblex...I want an Easter bilbie thing too...it's adorable

05-31-2003, 10:49 PM	#145
Celsus Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,875	Oolon got a fossa in earlier on actually... My favourite carnivore, so the more pictures the merrier! Joel

05-31-2003, 11:06 PM	#146
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I would love to put these photos together into a slide show and get a creationist to debate them....hmmm...would that be an interesting discussion for a live public forum for my local Humanist organization?

06-01-2003, 12:43 PM	#148
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Well, hopefully I can find other pictures...thank Zeus for Google's Image search! What are your ideas...maybe I'll do it anyway for fun and link to a Powerpoint and send emails to all the Creationists sites to identify the kinds

06-01-2003, 11:58 PM	#150
God Fearing Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Massachusetts, USA -- Let's Go Red Sox! Posts: 1,500	Pat. Male-kind, or female-kind? -GFA

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