seen from Singapore
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xxx
AO3 bewitchedx
Fandom(s): drarry, draco/harry, harry/draco
Fics in progress:
shortfix:
1,2,3 he's yours
longfix:
Okay I have a few ideas Im going to list them in a separate post because. god ive never actually finished a longfic and Im still figuring things out idea debt
Fics completed:
Microfics:
260512 book rating T
260518 ball rating G
260525 bond rating G
260610 survive rating G
260610 tremble rating M
xxx
Salutations, this is Galen again.
Since many of you've already seen a lot of my artistic work for the reserve over these past few weeks, I figured I'd just make the latest post myself.
The Anolis carolinus, A.K.A. the green anole, is a small lizard that ranges from 13 to 20 centimeters/5 to 8 inches long. They are insectivorous, and will just about any sort of beetle, roach, cricket, or worm they come across.
They have adhesive toe pads and clawed toes that help them climb to their hiding places, like the forest canopy. Even though they share a lot of traits with true chameleons, American anoles are not classified as such due to their location. True chameleons are found in Africa, Asia, and Europe, while this kind of anole is only found in North America.
What an interesting reptile.
I've been feeling so much better lately that Scientist let me go back to my den. Tall patches of clover have started growing everywhere, so I went on a trek to find any ones that have four leaves. While I haven't found any yet, here's what I did find out!
In the fields closest to my pond, there are two main species that I could see: white clover, with the tall white flowers; and the Lesser Hop Trefoil, with the small yellow flowers.
White clover, or Trifolium repens, is native to Europe and central Asia but not to the Americas. It is able to spread so far and quickly wherever it's planted due to its vast underground system of creeping stems called "stolons". The rooting ability of the stolons helps white clover come back every spring even when the main seeding part of the plant. White clover is also frequently used for anything from hay for livestock to erosion control in certain parts of North America.
Lesser Hop Trefoil, or Trifolium dubium, has a similar range to white clover. Its leaves are small and arranged three to stem, thus the specific name "trefoil". It can grow in dry and hot areas, and many insect pollinators and herbivores like it when fields have a variety of clover. Several small birds, mammals, and reptiles use it for cover and nesting.
In fact, many animals use both kinds of clover as a source of food. Even humans can eat its flowers, stems, and leaves as long as they're boiled for maximum digestibility. Some human cultures have medical uses for these kinds of clover.
I'm glad to be back outside! Chelys, out!
Salutations! Galen, here.
Since today's the day that makes leap years special, I thought I'd share some quick facts about an animal that leaps.
This is a picture of a kind of Meadow Katydid I found late last summer. These members of the Tettigoniidae family get their colloquial name from the sound they make: "Kay-tee-did(-did)", which can reach up to 20 KHz in volume. They are nocturnal, so their daytime roosting pose tricks predators into thinking they're leaves or dead, which explains how I found this one.
Like their Orthoptera Order relative the grasshopper, they have ears on their legs and can jump distances up to 20 times their body length.
Enjoy this extra day of the year.
Hi, everyone!
Chelys has been sick in bed since the last post, and Scientist says it's because she stayed outside for too long the other day. Chelys has been super frustrated with not being able to go outside in the cold with me and the other endothermic ("warm-blooded") residents, so I thought this would help cheer her up!
Since certain animals like reptiles and fish are ectothermic ("cold-blooded"), they can't regulate their own body heat that well compared to mammals or birds. This can be great in very hot weather, where endothermic creatures like me could risk overheating. But, being an ectotherm can be a big issue during the colder season.
Different ectotherms have different ways to survive really cold winter days. Some of Chelys' distant turtle relatives have found a way to stay warm without ever leaving their habitat. River cooters and several other kinds of turtles take a long underwater nap called "brumation": the cold-blooded version of hibernation! Thanks to water's high heat specificity, the bottom of a river, pond, or even ocean will be nowhere near as cold as the surface, so animals can keep their bodies safe at the bottom during harsh weather conditions.
Even though most of us may not sleep through the winter, it's still very important to give our bodies the help they need to make it through certain kinds of weather. If that means bundling up and staying inside as much as you can during this time of year, then do it! We all have different adaptations necessary to survive different things. We can always find new ways to play that include everyone, no matter what environments our bodies were built for.
---Fellowh
It's been so cold lately that Scientist moved most of the reptilian residents into the reserve's heated information center. I want to go outside so badly! But Scientist made Elder Dylomor in charge of making sure I stay indoors. She won't let me have even one minute to myself!
But, today, I heard knocking outside the center's windows. I ran outside when Elder Dylomor wasn't looking, and found a red-bellied woodpecker! Despite having red heads and necks, red-bellied woodpeckers actually get their name from the light pink or red on their bellies seen when they're hanging upside down.
Their tongues are super sticky and have cool barbs on them, so they can eat just about anything that's stuck in small crevices, including insects, nuts, frogs, and small bird eggs. Red-bellied woodpeckers not only peck to find living food inside the wood but also the food they stored for winter. Elder Dylomor caught and dragged me inside before I could see what this woodpecker was up to, so who knows what this one was doing.
I have a little bit of a runny nose now, but no regrets!
---Chelys, out!
Happy new year! May whatever 2024 brings to your metaphorical ecosystem be as varied and integral as native beach grass.
Whether its Ammophila breviligulata (American beach grass) or Ammophila arenaria (European beach grass), both kinds have interconnecting roots that help sand dunes keep their shape along the eastern North American, northern African, western Asian, and temperate European coastlines. Stable dunes prevent coastal erosion by mitigating the amount of sand that is taken by the sea. Sand dunes also act as barriers against coastal flooding and storms, and provide resources for a wide range of wildlife, from small mammals to migrating birds.
And without native beach grass, sand dunes would be a lot less effective at protecting beaches across the world.
We visited a beach recently and observing the ecosystem reminded me that everyone needs a safety net to hold them together. Having a trusted community or resource to fall back on in times of need will help everyone be happy and healthy. May everyone find their version of beach grass this year!
---Fellowh
