Close up of an American Basketflower (Centaurea americana) at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center, Houston, TX, USA. Like other members of the family Asteraceae (including sunflowers, daisies, and dandelions), the basketflower is not a single flower, but an inflorescence (many small flowers together in one structure).
(via: Houston Audubon)
A Raccoon (Procyon lotor) naps in its lair at Edith L. Moore Nature Center in Houston, TX, USA.
(photo: Teri Zambon) (via: Houston Ausubon)
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) has a lazy day, outside of Churchill, ONT, Canada.
(video: Oneworldoneocean)
Via fauna
The Belfast Zoo Welcomes Baby Capybaras
by OurAmazingPlanet staff
Two little bundles of joy born recently at the Belfast Zoo actually belong to the world’s largest rodent species. Twin capybara babies, named Gus and Jacques, were born to parents Charlie and Lola on April 3.
“It’s definitely an exciting time and I am sure that zoo visitors will enjoy visiting our new arrivals, Gus and Jacques,” said zoo manager Mark Challis.
Capybaras are native to South America. Their scientific name (Hydrochoerus) means “water hog,” and although they are technically from the rodent family, this name relates to the fact that capybaras are semi-aquatic animals and love the water. In fact, capybaras have webbed feet and can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time, to hide from predators.
(via: OurAmazingPlanet) (photo: Belfast Zoo)
A Nepal Central Zoo employee carries a tranquillised leopard, found hiding in a building near the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu. Picture: Sanjog Manandhar/AFP/GettyImages
About me
Today I woke up with the urge to scribble some autobiographic trivia, so here it goes. I am a woman, in my thirties, brunette, green-eyed, short and plump. I have a daughter. I am a biologist, animal physiologist to be precise, and my interests within my general field are reproduction, behavior, and conservation. I am an ailurophile, herpetophile, and general zoophile, passionately so, to the point of eccentricity and beyond. I am a rabid bibliophile, a book leech rather than a bookworm, for the latter come and go, while I am extremely difficult to pry off. I am drawn to science-fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novels. I am something of a chocoholic, adore mint, keep a vegetarian diet. I write poetry and babble uncontrollably. I am Lighter than fluff and wimpier than sap, but constantly venture from my comfort zone into the maw of Darkness. I can touch my nose with my big toes. I love classical music and tribal dance. I enjoy sarcasm and maple syrup. I am the human of two Cats, rescues, a black lord and a calico queen. I am prone to grouchiness and melancholy, attention-seeking and solitude, emotional drama and meditative silence. I love deeply, rage like a thunderstorm, weep profusely, smile blindingly, adore giving hugs, listen devoutly, and will gladly share a cup of tea anytime you want. And you may call me Cindy.
![all creatures [great and small]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/avatar_827f13ebf9f5_30.gif){kind=avatar}
