Eukaryota is the taxonomic domain of plants, animals, mushrooms, and many microbes. It is characterized by cells containing a nucleus as well as a variety of other organelles. I find it amazing how these complex organisms have evolved in so many different ways, and how they all work together to create the ecosystems necessary for life.
As I learn more about these different organisms I write about them here. I hope it sparks your curiosity and helps you better understand the creatures around you.
Snake Fangs and Venom
There are so many snake species in the world today. Surprisingly few are harmfully venomous (you can learn more about that here). Venom is really toxic saliva mainly made up of proteins and enzymes. Different species of snake will have venom specialized for their preferred prey. That venom can be categorized into four types: Proteolytic…
Balancing Your Impact
You may have heard people say that climate change isn’t that big of a deal; in fact, the climate is constantly changing. The last part of this is true. Over many millions of years, the climate does change, sometimes drastically. There are a few differences, though, between today’s change and the ones billions of years…
How to tell if a snake is venomous
Out of 3,971 snake species in the world today, only 600 are venomous. To make this number even smaller, only 200 species around the world are considered potentially dangerous to humans and most of our animals companions. The suborder Serpentes is divided into two infraorders, the smaller group, Scolecophidia, describes 5 families of snakes, with…
When Snakes Rattle
There are two genera of pit vipers (Crotalinae) with rattles – genus Crotalus, with 51 species, and Sistrurus, with only three species. And they can all be found in the New World (North and South America). Most of the Rattlesnakes that you’d think of come from the genus Crotalus. It includes Western and Eastern Diamond-Backs…
Genus Heterodon
Hognose snakes are endemic to North America and can be easily identified by their turned up rostral scale. The rostral scale is the scale right on the tip maxilla (upper jaw). in Hognose snakes people often call it their nose, though their nostrils are actually a bit behind the rostral scale. These snakes are terrestrial…
Are your opinions of snakes really yours?
Many people have a fear or disgust of snakes, but why? It’s scary not knowing where a potentially dangerous animal might be hiding. All of a sudden you hear a rattling tail, or something slithers away faster than you can think! When I bring up the idea of snakes in a conversation, the quick response…
Cephalopods
The name cephalopods come from the Greek root words for head and foot. Cephalopods are an advanced form of mollusk (snails, slugs, clams etc). Though many mollusks live in shell, moving around with their single foot, Cephalopods have evolved their one foot into the numerous tentacles that make them so unique. They are also known…
How animals change color
Animals have evolved to change colors for a variety of reasons. Mammals will change completely from brown to white during the changing seasons. The pineal gland (a part of the brain) detects the changing season and sends hormones to gradually change colors through seasonal shedding or molting. As they shed their fur or feathers, the…