#kermadec islands

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Sacred kingfisher

Good choice!

Have you seen the sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onDec 13, 2024

[drhoz]

#2809 - Scutellastra kermadecensis - Giant Kermadec Limpet

AKA Patella (Scutellastra) kermadecensis, Patella (Scutellastra) pilsbryi and Patella kermadecensis.

An enormous limpet (possibly the world's largest) found only on the rocky shores of the volcanic Rangitāhua Archipelago (also known as the Kermadec Islands), 800-1000km NW of New Zealand. The islands are recognised by the World Wildlife Fund as a distinct ecoregion, the Kermadec Islands subtropical moist forests, and are home to 113 native species of vascular plants, of which 23 are endemic, 52 mosses, and 89 lichens and fungi. Unfortunately 152 human-introduced species of plants have also become established on the islands, and goats, cats, and rats were a disaster. At least they've now killed all the goats, and are working on doing the same with the rats and cats.

The limpets live in great profusion from the lowest intertidal to the upper subtidal, gorging themselves on algae with few competitors to worry about, apart from other limpets. That may be why the younger, smaller limpets are usually found riding around on the shells of the big ones. The smaller ones also tend to be male, and switch sexes as they grow, so sticking as close as possible to a mate may also be a factor. As one paper put it -

We found that the available rock space did not influence the size at which an individual transitioned from being a piggy to being rock-attached. Furthermore, larger rock-attached limpets were more likely to have piggies, they had more piggies, and the piggies were larger.

A fossil found in the Oligocene Isolated Hill Limestone of Mason River, Marlborough, indicates the limpets used to be more widespread, and the Kermadecs are their last stronghold.

Otago Museum, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand

[gumnut-logic]

Best wishes for the festive season to everyone.

So many thanks to all of you for supporting my crazy writing and art this year. I know I've produced less fic and may have recently left Alex Sweetapple under a building, but there would be nothing without you guys ::hugs you all tight::

Above is a piccy of Metrosideros kermadecensis or the Kermadec pōhutukawa. You may have seen me mentioning 'pokey trees' in my fics. Well, this it the flower of the pokey tree on Tracy Island. It is closely related to the New Zealand Christmas Tree and mainly differs with having smaller leaves and flowering year round. You can find the Wikipedia entry here. It is also the dominant tree on Raoul Island.

The reason the Tracys call them 'pokey trees' is because neither Alan nor I can remember how to spell or say 'pōhutukawa'. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

But anyway, have a Christmas flower (that flowers all year round) and I hope you all have a lovely day, week, and coming year, full of Tracys and Thunderbirds and fun <3

Nutty

(who has to get dressed and do the adulting thing now)

[galentaliel]

oohh myyy... randomly came across this on plex tv... a trip to Kermadecs! (omg that boat's pointed straight at Tracy Is.) ;D

...why Gordon loves the Kermadecs... <3

...omg Raoul Is. is increhhhdibly gorgeous...

(link to online vid of this in comments...)

[yeltsinsstar]

Live: 'Do not stay at home' - Tsunami warning calls for evacuation after third earthquake hits

Live: Waves, sea surges hit as people evacuate after 8.1 earthquake, tsunami threat

People in parts of the east coast of the North Island must move immediately to high ground, says National Emergency Management Agency, after

[merelygifted]

New Zealand earthquake: Tsunami warning downgraded after 8.1-magnitude quake in Kermadec Islands - CNN

[gumnut-logic]

That volcano, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, that exploded a couple of days ago is fascinating.

[gumnut-logic]

Whales songs indicate where they’ve been — where they were born

Humpbacks swap songs at remote group of islands in the South Pacific.