THE TITANIC SHIP

It was a British passenger ocean liner that collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean, on April 14, 1912 at 11:40 pm. The ship sank a few hours later at, about 2:20 am on April 15.  The sinking was about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The water temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Of the 2,208 people on board, 1,500 people died. The captain and the crew members elected to stay on board. Only about 705 people were rescued. Today, there are no longer, any living survivors left. 

It took 73 years to find the wreckage of the RMS Titanic on the ocean floor. It was found on September 1, 1985, lying about 12,500 feet underwater southeast of Newfoundland, in the North Atlantic. The cold, corrosive water is under saturated with calcium carbonate, which has caused the human bones to dissolve completely. The water pressure at this depth exceeds 6,000 pounds per square inch.

Figure 1. Model of the Titantic. The "circle" in the upper right- hand corner area is the Moon.

One of my son-in-laws, Clint, skillfully and patiently built the complicated model, via a purchased kit, and he graciously allowed me to photograph the end result. He and one of my grand-daughters also provided a nice background photograph (including the Moon and stars) the ship on that fateful night. 

Figure 2. Three "slices" of the interior view of the same model, in order to show you the "density" of the number of rooms in the ship.

EXAMPLES OF MADAGASCAR’S ANIMALS

 1. THE  MADAGASCAR FOSSA (pronounced fo-saw) 

This catlike animal is the largest mammalian carnivore living in Madagascar. Because of convergent evolution, it resembles a cat but it is NOT one. It is more closely related to civets and mongooses, and it is a top-predator (but not a man-eater). It has short legs, a long body, and a long tail (up to half of its body length). It weighs up 22 pounds, has sharp teeth, strong jaws, and retractable claws. It is an excellent climber and lives in trees. It hunts  by day or night and mainly preys upon lemurs, wild pigs, and small livestock. It is secretive and solitary. Attacks on humans by fossa are very rare. They live up to 10 years in the wild and 20 years in zoos. They are a “vulnerable species” because of human causes. The geologic time range of fossa is late Pleistocene to recent. 

  Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Order Carnivora

Family Eupleridae

Genus Cryptoprotcta

Type Species C. ferox

  Figure 1. The Madagascar fossa. Image via picryl.com

  [= public domain image].

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2. CAMELEON FUCIFER PARADALIS

Fucifer paradalis = “Panther Chamelon”

This chameleon is native to rainforests in lowlands in northeastern Madagascar, as well as to drier forests/savannahs in northwest Madagascar. The brightly colored males can be up to 21 inches long (male), whereas the females are 14 inches long. They all can have variable, vibrant rainbow colors (greens, blues, reds, oranges). They have independently rotating eyes with 180 degrees if vision. Their feet can grip branches, and their tail is prehensile. They are solitary and highly territorial. They are “ambush predators “with a ballistic projecting tongue, twice their body length. They live up to five years in captivity, but only about two years otherwise. Their total lifespan is about seven years. Their geologic time range is from mid Paleocene (about 60 million years ago), but molecular and phylogenetic studies suggest a much earlier occurrence.

  Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Reptilia

Order Squamata

Suborder Iguania

Family Chamaelonidae 

Genus Fucifer 

Type Species Chamaeleo bifidus

             Figure 2. The Madagascar chameleon Fucifer paradalis.

                  Image via picryl.com [= public domain image].

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3. THE “MADAGASCAR HISSING COCKROACH”

This is one of the largest (in size) species of cockroach living today. It can be up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length. It can live up to five years. This particular cockroach is native to Madagascar, where it lives in rotting logs or in rotting fruit. It dislikes being in direct sunlight. They can tolerate a wide range of temperature: from arctic to tropical. Males have horns on their head, and they are used for sparring. Some people have these insects as pets. Unlike most cockroaches, the “Madagascar hissing cockroach” are wingless and cannot fly. But, they are excellent climbers, even on vertical glass surfaces. They Some people keep them as pets. These insects definitely hiss (you can go online and find a recorded sound bite of their hiss--if you so desire to do so). 

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Clade (1 of them)

Class Insecta

Order Blattodea

Genus Gromphadorhina

Type Species G. portentosa

Ancestors of cockroaches (referred to as “roachoids”) apparently evolved about 320 million years ago during Carboniferous time. True modern cockroaches occurred about 140-120 million years ago, during Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous time. 

               Figure 1. A “hissing cockroach” from Madagascar.

                  Image via picryl.com [= public domain image].

EXAMPLES OF MADAGASCAR’S PLANTS

1. RED EUPHORBIA

This flower, which is native to Madagascar, is also known as the “crown of thorns.”  It grows on woody succulent shrubs, up to six feet tall (depending on the cultivare). It can also grow horizontally or vertically.

The flowers, which are tiny and grow in the central area of the flower, are surrounded by a pair of large petal-like bracts, which can be red, pink, or white. The sap of this plant is moderately poisonous to humans but is very toxic to horses, sheep, cats, and dogs.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Malpighiales

Family Euphorbiaceae

Genus Euphorbia

  Figure 1. Red Euphorbia milli. 

2. DARWIN’S ORCHID

This orchid is native to Madagascar. It is known as the “comet orchid” or the “Christmas orchid,” which has a large white flower that is star-shaped. It grows non-parasitically within branches of trees, which have long leaves. This plant is found in lowlands (below 500 feet elevation), near the east coast of Madagascar. It requires heavy rainfall (150 inches per year!), without a dry season; thus this plant grows continuously. 

Darwin predicated, based on his theory of evolution, that this flower would need a moth with a long proboscis in order to reach deep, down inside this plant in order to pollinate it. Later, his assumption was proven. See my previous post about the “Sphinx Caterpillar,” whose moth stage is a “key player” in the fertilization of this this flower.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades 3 of them

Order Asparagales

Family Orchidaceae

Genus Angraerum

Type Species A. sesquipedale

                      Figure 2. Darwin’s Orchid (image via picryl).

3. “THE BLACK ORCHID” 

Although this orchid appears to be black, true jet-black pigment does not exist in nature. These plants, however, have such a dense concentration of purple, red, or burgundy pigment that they appear pitch-black in certain lighting. “Black” orchids sell for up to $165 dollars per mature plant!

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Asparageles

Family Orchidaceae

Genus Angraecum

Type Species A. sesquipedale

Note: The term “black orchid” has been used for the name of the following: books, comics, movies, music, fragrances, as well as for many different flowers. 

                       Figure 3. The Black Orchid. Image via picryl.

MADAGASCAR: A LAND WITH A WILD” GEOLOGIC HISTORY” AND ASSOCIATED LIFEFORMS

MADAGASCAR: Part 1--Geologic History Summary 

  Part 2 = examples of flowers and Part 3 = examples of animals (will soon follow).

170 million years ago Madagascar was part of a giant landmass, comprised of Africa, South America, Africa, India, Antarctica, and Australia.

135 million years ago, Madagascar and India were still united but separate from the other landmasses mentioned above.

88 million years ago, Madagascar began to separate from India.

60 million years ago, Madagascar was finally and totally ISOLATED and has been ever since [note: Madagascar is about 78 percent the size of Texas].

The present-day geology of Madagascar is evidence of a complex history. The central and eastern parts of this land consist of metamorphic and igneous rocks, including Precambrian-age granite. In stark contrast, the western part consists of fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks ranging from Carboniferous to Tertiary-age rocks (e.g., Madagascar is well known for its Cretaceous ammonites). As a result of this complicated geologic history, the animals and plants that have lived in Madagascar have had significant time and opportunity to evolve into many new groups. 

Approximately 83 percent of its Madagascar’s flower species are not found elsewhere on Earth. Approximately 85 percent of Madagascar’s animal species are not found elsewhere on Earth. Also, Examples of some of these flowers and animals will be shown and briefly discussed in my next two upcoming posts. 

Figure 1. Google Earth satellite view of southern Africa (on the left) and Madagascar (on the right).

Figure 2. Google Earth satellite view of Madagascar.

THE MANTIS SHRIMP: AN UNUSUAL ANIMAL

These shrimps, typically 6 to 12 inches long, are fierce predators that live in shallow, sandy tropical waters, mainly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its front appendages are powerful weapons. This shrimp crushes its prey by using its claws that strike like a rifle bullet. The strike force can create a shock wave that can stun or even fill the prey (even if the strike is a narrow miss). They have four types of claws: spears, hatchets, smashers, and spikes.

This unusual shrimp can easily open crab bodies, snail shells, and oyster shells. The strike force of this shrimp can also crack aquarium glass! Please note: humans are frequently injured by strikes from mantis shrimp. 

Figure 1. Mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus. Image via the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.  

Mantis shrimps also have incredible eyesight. They have 16 types of color-receptive cones, whereas humans have only three cones (green, blue, and red) that are able to perceive color. Mantis shrimps can perceive wavelengths of light ranging from deep UV (300 nanno meters) to far-red (720 nm). They can also perceive polarized light. 

Predators that hunt mantis shrimps are: sharks, octopuses, tuna, large fish, cuttlefish, and squid.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Class Malacostraca

Order Stomatopoda

Genus Odontodactylus

Type Species O. scyllarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The oldest “stem group” that was apparently directly related to the future evolution of mantis shrimp was Carboniferous age. The earliest unambiguous group related to mantis shrimps is geologically younger (i.e. Triassic age).

     Reference

Wikipedia, 2016  

THE BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS

This octopus is only 5 to 8 inches long, but it has a deadly bite! There are four species of this octopus in genus Hapalochlaena, and all four have the venon. According to some sources, these octopods have some of the most potent venom of any animal. It is 1,200 times more toxic to humans than cyanide, and there is no known antidote. Death could occur within 20 minutes or within a few hours, depending if the venom was injected and how much venom was injected into your blood stream.

           Figure 1. A blue-ringed octopus. From Beesley et al., 1998, pp. 548, fig. 13.35

 This octopus has yellowish skin with characteristic blue and black rings that can change color when the animal is threatened. Normally, it has a bluish color. When provoked it becomes somewhat yellow = a serious warning! Fortunately, they spend most of their time in hiding. 

It lives in tide pools, among coral-reef structures in tropical waters in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as Australia to Japan.  DO NOT EVER pick one up because it is an extremely venomous species. There is no anti-venom. Their toxin (called tetrodotoxin)  can paralyze and even kill a human within minutes.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Mollusca

Class Cephalopoda

Order Octopoda

Family Octopodidae

Genus Hapalochlaena

Type Species H. lunulata

Fortunately, these cephalopods spend most of time hiding in crevices. They eat small crustaceans (e.g. crabs and shrimp), as well as small fish. The female can coat her eggs with this venom in order to deter predators. So, also, never eat the eggs of this octopus.

REFERENCE

Beesley, P.L., G.J.B., Ross, and A. Wells. (eds.). 1998. Part A: Fauna of Australia, Volume 5, 563 pp. [see pp. 548-549). 

THREE TROPICAL LEAFY PLANTS

 1. The first of these unusual leafy plants belongs to the “Zebra Plant,” also known as Aphelandra sp. (Figure 1).  It is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 2 m tall, with long (up to 50 cm), simple leaves (often having white veins).  There are several species and they are grown mainly as house plants. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Lamiales

Family Acanthaceae

Genus Aphelandra

Figure 1. "Zebra Plant"

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2. The second of these unusual leaves belongs to the “Prayer Plant,” also known as Maranta leuconeura (Figure 2). Their oval-shaped leaves are bright green and up to 12 cm long. They are tropical and native to South America and the West Indies. This plant spreads itself horizontally and can carpet and entire small area of the forest floor. 

This perennial plant has been highly cultivated to produce “arrowroot.” There are 40 to 50 species! During the day, the leaves of this plant are flat, but they fold-up at night (hence the common name “prayer plant.” Some of the species of this plant can be house plants in warm climates.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Zingiberales

Family Marantaceae

Genus Maranta

Figure 2. "Prayer Plant."

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3. The third of these unusual leaves belongs to genus Alocsia, also known as the “elephant ear” (Figure 3). It is native to tropical and subtropical southeast Asia and northeast Australia. There are 91 accepted species! Unfortunately, this name has been used for other plants, and that is one problem with the use of “common names” of plants. There are 91 accepted species. 

This tropical to subtopical perennial plant has many cultivares and hybrids. Its cordate leaves can be up to 35 inches long. They are typically gray, with white veins. Their flowers are usually hidden behind the leaves (which have undulating edges). This plant contains chemical irritants (i.e., do not ingest it).

Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Alismatales

Family Araceae

Genus Alocasia

Type Species A. cucullata

Figure 3. "Elephant Ear plant."