#Southern Two-Toed Sloth

[daily-xenarthra-posting]

Linnaeus's Two-Toed Sloth, unknown photographer, (source)

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Mammalia - Pilosa

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Our next and last order of xenarthrans is Pilosa, the “anteaters” and “sloths”. Pilosa comprises the families Cyclopedidae (“Silky Anteater”), Myrmecophagidae (“Giant Anteater” and “tamanduas”), Bradypodidae (“three-toed sloths”), and Choloepodidae (“two-toed sloths”).

Pilosa is derived from the Latin word for “hairy”, and refers to these animals’ characteristic bushy, wiry fur. Most living pilosans are arboreal or semi-arboreal (the only exception being the Giant Anteater [Myrmecophaga tridactyla]), with long, strong claws for gripping tree branches, defending from predators, and/or digging up insects. Pilosans have thick necks and forelimbs adapted for gripping, climbing, and/or digging. Their eyesight is poor, but they have a good sense of smell which they use to find food.

Anteaters use a long, sticky tongue to lap up termites, ants, and other insects. As they have no teeth, they press their tongues against the roof of their mouth to smash the insects for swallowing. Their stomachs, similar to a bird's gizzard, have hardened folds to crush food, assisted by ingested sand and soil. They cannot produce stomach acid of their own, but digest using their prey’s own formic acid. Giant Anteaters walk on their front knuckles, similar to gorillas and chimpanzees, to protect their long, sharp claws from scraping on the ground, while tamanduas walk on the sides of their clenched forefeet when walking on the ground.

Two-toed sloths are omnivorous, with a diverse diet of insects, carrion, fruits, leaves, and small lizards. Three-toed sloths, on the other hand, are almost entirely herbivorous. Most living sloths mainly eat the leaves of Cecropia trees. They have made many adaptations for arboreal browsing. Leaves, their main food source, provide very little energy or nutrients, and do not digest easily, so sloths have large, slow-acting, multi-chambered stomachs in which symbiotic bacteria break down the tough leaves. Their digestive process can take a month or more to complete. Sloths are adapted for a life spent entirely in the trees. While they sometimes sit on top of branches, they usually eat, sleep, and even give birth hanging from branches. They sometimes remain hanging from branches even after death. Their limbs are adapted for hanging and grasping, not for supporting their weight, and they have very little muscle mass. Sloths descend about once a week to urinate and defecate on the ground. They cannot walk on the ground, but must drag themselves when needed. However, they are capable of swimming quite well, as are other pilosans.

Pilosans are generally solitary, though females tend to tolerate each other’s presence more than males. They come together only for mating, sometimes spending a courtship period of several days together. They give birth to one baby, once or twice a year (sometimes longer for sloths as their slow movement can make it hard to locate mates). Young pilosans are born with a full coat of fur. The young will ride on the back or belly of its parents until weaned, or are left in a nest or on a branch while the mother forages.

The biogeographic origins of Pilosa are still unclear, but they can be traced back in South America as far as the early Paleogene (about 60 million years ago). Anteaters and sloths diverged around 55 MYA, between the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. Both the Giant Anteater and the Southern Tamandua are well represented in the fossil record of the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene.

Propaganda under the cut:

The Silky Anteater’s (Cyclopes didactylus) (image 4) feet are highly modified for climbing. Its hind feet nearly encircle a branch while clinging, while it has a large third claw on each front foot. It also has a semi-prehensile tail to increase its grip on tree branches.

The Silky Anteater usually dwells in Silk Cotton Trees (genus Ceiba), curled up in a ball sleeping during the day. Because of its resemblance to the fluffy seed pod fibers of these trees, it can use the trees as camouflage and avoid attacks of predators such as hawks and Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja).

The largest living pilosan is the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) (image 1), which is on average 182 to 217 cm (6 to 7 feet) in length, with weights of 27 to 50 kg (60 to 110 lb).

The Giant Anteater is the most terrestrial of the living anteater species. Specialization for life on the ground appears to be a new trait in anteater evolution, an adaptation to the expansion of open savanna habitats in South America, and the abundance of native colonial insects, such as termites, that provided a larger potential food source.

The Giant Anteater has poor eyesight, but a powerful sense of smell: 40 times that of a human.

When Giant Anteaters need to rest, they carve a shallow cavity in the ground. They then sleep with their bushy tail draped over their body like a blanket, both to keep warm and to camouflage from predators. Sometimes, they will sleep splayed out in order to sunbathe.

Male Giant Anteaters are territorial and will challenge each other by approaching and circling each other while uttering a "harrr" noise. This can escalate into chasing and actual fighting. Combat includes wrestling, slashing with the claws, and bellowing.

Giant Anteaters are not typically aggressive, choosing to run from danger. But when they need to fight, they can rear up and use their front claws defensively. The front claws of the Giant Anteater are formidable weapons, capable of potentially killing a jaguar. At least three humans have been killed by defensive Giant Anteaters.

Southern Tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) (see gif above) are used as pest control, specifically for termites and ants, by Indigenous peoples, who sometimes bring the tamanduas into their homes to take care of these insects.

Southern Tamanduas avoid eating ant and beetle species that have strong chemical defenses.

The most famous extinct sloth is the elephant-sized Giant Ground Sloth, Megatherium americanum, but there were a wide diversity of not just smaller ground sloths, but also semi-aquatic sloths like Thalassocnus and large, omnivorous sloths like Mylodon. Today, only the slow-moving, arboreal tree sloths remain, showing that the best way to survive extinction (for a sloth) is to take to the trees, and be as inedible as possible.

The two living groups of tree sloths are from different, distantly related families, and are thought to have evolved their morphology via parallel evolution from separate terrestrial ancestors.

The shaggy coat of sloths has grooved hair that is host to symbiotic green algae which camouflage the animal in the trees and provide it nutrients. The algae also nourish sloth moths, some species of which exist solely on sloths. Sloths benefit from their relationship with moths because the moths are responsible for fertilizing the algae on the sloth.

Sloths are unusual among mammals in not having seven cervical vertebrae. Two-toed sloths have five to seven, while three-toed sloths have eight or nine. (The other mammals not having seven are manatees, with six.)

Sloths can hold their breath underwater for up to 40 minutes. They do this by reducing their already slow metabolism even further and slowing their heart rate to less than a third of normal.

Individual sloths tend to spend the bulk of their time feeding on a single tree. By burying their dung near the trunk of that tree, they also help fertilize it. Their symbiotic moths also lay their eggs in their dung at the base of the tree; the caterpillars eat the dung and then fly up to the sloth as adult moths.

Sloths are victims of animal trafficking where they are sold as exotic pets. However, they make very poor pets, as they have such specialized ecology.

The critically endangered Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) is found exclusively on Isla Escudo de Veraguas.

The Maned Sloth (Bradypus torquatus) is one of the only sloths which show any form of sexual dimorphism, with their mane of black hair being larger and darker in males than in females.

The Pale-throated Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) is occasionally known as the “Ai”, due to its bird-like whistle described as an "ai-ai" sound.

The Southern Maned Sloth (Bradypus crinitus) is described as having a head that looks like a coconut, with its species name crinitus (meaning “hairy”) even being a reference to its coconut-like head.

Female Brown-throated Sloths (Bradypus variegatus) (image 2) are known to emit a loud, shrill scream during the mating season to attract males. Their cry is reported to sound like that of a woman screaming.

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus) is the largest living sloths species, growing to lengths of approximately 53 to 89 cm (1.9 to 2.9 ft), and weighing approximately 4 to 11 kg (9 to 24 lb).

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) (image 3) have actually been seen walking on their palms and soles, rather than dragging themselves across the ground like other sloths.

Sloths are not entirely defenseless, and can slash a predator with their long claws or bite with their sharp canines if threatened.

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Fossil Friday: Eremotherium

Eremotherium, the Wandering Ground Sloth or Pan-American Ground Sloth, lived in southern North America, Central America and northern South America from the Pliocene Epoch about 5 Ma to possibly the early Holocene Epoch (the current epoch we are in).

It was discovered in Skidway, Georgia in 1823 by fossil collectors J.P. Scriven ad Joseph C. Habersham, described by Joseph Leidy in 1855, and mistaken for Megatherium until 1948 when Franz Spillmann recognized it for a new genus and named it Eremotherium.

Because the rocks it is found in are so young, it was very difficult to find any information on formations. A lot are just unconsolidated sediments that haven't been buried long enough to be properly turned into rock yet. Wild to think about. Old enough to fossilize bone but not old enough to make a rock. One of the biggest localities for finding Eremotherium is in Florida in a karst site (limestone that has undergone dissolution producing a rugged landscape of sinkholes, ridges, and fissures) filled with unconsolidated clay where an old Pleistocene lake used to be.

Eremotherium lived alongside very familiar animals like Trachemy platymarginata, a pond turtle,

Holmesina floridanus, a giant armadillo,

Tapirus lundeliusi, a tapir,

Chelydra, a snapping turtle,

Erethizon poyeri, a porcupine,

and Amplibuteo concordus, an eagle,

as well as many other animals including an alligator species in Florida. In Brazil, it was living with more unfamiliar animals such as Toxodon platensis,

Glytotherium,

Panochthus,

as well as a few armadillos.

Eremotherium is part of the class Mammalia, the clade Eutheria, the superorder Xenarthra, the order Pliosa, the clade Megatheria, the family Megatheriidae and the subfamily Megatheriinae. There are two species of Eremotherium, E. eomigrans and E. laurillardi.

It's closest living relative is the Three-toed Sloth.

Eremotherium was 20 ft (6m) long, about 6.6 ft (2m) tall on all fours and 13 ft (4m) tall when rearing. The most recent estimates have it weighing in at 6, 931 lbs. (3,144 kg).

It's skull measured 25.6 in (65cm) in length and was close to 13 in (33cm) wide at the zygomatic arches (bones that go from the temples, around the eye socket toward the upper jaw bone). It had a shortened nasal bone (nose) giving it a sort of truncated cone appearance and it had small, shallow eye sockets that sat slightly lower than its relatives. The teeth of Eremotherium are large, rectangular when viewed occlusally, and have a unique v-shaped valley in lateral view. Both species had 5 upper and 4 lower teeth in each side of the jaw, with upper and lower crowns interlocking along the V-shaped valleys into what was likely a shearing surface for processing leaves and small branches 

The vertebrae were massively built but also compressed anterior-posteriorly giving it a shortened look overall especially in the tail.

They have very robust limb bones to carry their immense weight. look at these beefy bones!

The two species had a different number of digits on their hands with E. eomigrans having five digits and E. laurillardi having only three.

Eremotherium primarily moved on all fours with its feet turned inward, its weight resting on the outer phalanges. This all suggests it was pretty slow. Shocker, a slow sloth? Who would have guessed? It's hands were not properly shaped for digging as once thought due to its large claws but the fingers had limited mobility that would have made this endeavor impossible. However, it was able to rear on its hind legs and pull branches down with its hands. This, along with its teeth and the animals it lived alongside suggests it lived in mixed woodland forests and ate a wide variety of foliage.

There have been a number of sites with multiple individuals that have led to debates about whether they lived in family groups or not. Modern sloths are solitary but that doesn't necessarily rule out group living. Some scientists think that the bone beds were filled with individuals who died at different times in the same place, others think they died at the same time and lived in herds. It's hard to say.

Thanks for tuning this week! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and make sure to tune in Monday to learn more about large igneous provinces. Fossilize you later!

[antiqueanimals]

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol. 11, Mammals II. Illustration by Edward Bierly. 1972.

1.) Pale-throated sloth (Bradypus tridactylus)

2.) Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)

3.) Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

4.) Silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus)

5.) Giant anteater (Cyclopes didactylus)

[reggiemess]

Hey, nobody asked so here’s my top 10 fucked up mammal skulls I want to see future squidman paleontologists try to figure out

10. Two-toed sloths A classic fucked up mammal skull. They’re not really the wildest things out there but the black fangs are a great touch.

9. Elephants You can tell just from looking at elephants they’re gonna have some weird shit going on with all that soft tissue, so it’s no surprise their skulls are, indeed, some weird shit.

8. Domestic dogs Okay so for the most part dog skulls are pretty straight forward, even the ones that are outright body horror. No real surprises in them. They’re only here because I think it would be really funny to see future squidman paleontologists try to figure out how they’re all related.

7. Pink fairy armadillo Hahaha look at it, it looks like a lil cartoon skull

6. Masked shrew It looks like a little xenomorph it’s adorable.

5. Capybaras Not exactly difficult to reconstruct but they’re huge and lumpy lol.

4. Manatees idk they’re just weird man.

3. Male hammerhead bats A lot of the time fucked up skulls look like that because there’s a lot of soft tissue on them which, once you get used to how fucked up skulls work makes this one seem extra fucked up just by not fitting that pattern.

2. Dwarf sperm whales Heheheheh dude’s head looks like a fuckin toilet bowl

1. Ganges river dolphin What the fuck.

Sources: https://www.catawiki.com/l/16767285-southern-two-toed-sloth-unau-complete-skull-choloepus-didactylus-10-x-7-x-7-5-cm https://www.reddit.com/r/bonecollecting/comments/don1ql/a_canine_skull_collection_credit_rcouch_uk_2019/ http://216.69.159.4/products/3946/pink-fairy-armadillo-skull.htm https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmnszoology/10060889935/ https://www.deviantart.com/bluescuriosities/art/Capybara-Skull-522562693 https://boneclones.com/product/manatee-skull-BC-046 https://www.catawiki.com/l/21956669-hammer-headed-fruit-bat-skull-hypsignathus-monstrosus-7cm https://otlibrary.com/dwarf-sperm-whale/ https://www.naturepl.com/stock-photo-ganges-river-dolphin-nature-image00534229.html

[wikimediaspecials]

Maned three-toed sloth and the southern two-toed sloth

source

[hxneyandespressx]

little red string of fate

vi - storge 

Aaron Hotchner could be found sound asleep in his king-sized bed. Half the blanket was off the bed and one of the pillows was on the floor. The early morning rays created a soft golden filter on his skin. With his eyes closed, hair sprung all over the place, the older Hotchner looked young and innocent, like he didn’t have a care in the world. 

Agile footsteps could be heard from down the hall. The sound got louder as the person in question approached the bedroom door. The door creaked as it slowly opened and a young child entered the room. The young boy ran up to the bed and jumped onto his father, disturbing his peaceful sleep.

“Daddy! Today is the day!” Jack said. Aaron rubbed his face to get rid of the Sandman’s golden dust. 

“Yeah. It is, buddy. Ready to spend the day with fun?” Aaron asked his son. Jack nodded gleefully. The little boy slid off the bed and grabbed his father’s large hand, tugging him in an attempt to get a head start on the day. Aaron chuckled at his son’s enthusiasm and slowly crawled out of bed. He picked his six-year-old son, Jack making airplane sounds, and speed-walked to the bathroom to get ready. 

Both the Hotchners got ready, ate breakfast, and head for the apartment complex garage. Aaron strapped Jack into his car seat, closed the door, and got into the driver seat. He put in the address for a zoo in Washington, DC. 

“Ready, kiddo?” Aaron asked as he looked at the rearview mirror to see Jack. The little boy smiled and nodded his head in excitement. Aaron smiled softly and proceeded to start their journey. Driving for an hour, the Hotchners have arrived at their destination. The Small Mammal House. 

Aaron got Jack out of the car and they both head toward the entrance to start their father-son day. The brunet man picked up a paper-made map and opened it while taking a seat at a bench. Jack peered over his father’s hairy arm, trying to understand the map. The boy pointed his finger at a random exhibit.

“You want to see the Southern two-toed sloths first?” Aaron asked his son. Jack nodded in agreement. Smiling for a brief second, the brunette folded and carefully put the map in his back jean pocket. Taking his son’s hand, Aaron led the way to the sloth exhibit. Once arrived, Jack broke the hold his father had on his hand and walked briskly toward the sloths. 

“Wow.” Jack stared at the slow movements of the sloths. Aaron stood a little behind his son, trusting Jack that he wouldn’t runoff. Jack tugged on his father’s arm to read the palate that held information about sloths. Aaron read off the long paragraph to Jack, who’s soaking up the new information like a sponge. Getting bored with the sloths, Jack told his father he wanted to see something else. 

“Where do you want to go next, bud?” Aaron asked his son.

“Skunks.” Jack said. Aaron blinked at his son in astonishment. 

“You… want to see the skunks?” Aaron asked. The little blonde boy nodded his head “yes”, establishing their next destination. 

“Alright then.” Aaron picked up his son and made his way over to the skunk exhibit. Once they arrived, Jack squealed in happiness as he saw the skunks roaming around their secured environment. As he placed the young boy on the ground, Aaron thought for himself about why Jack liked skunks. Why does he like skunks now? What is it about them? The brunette man shook his head in acceptance that his little man liked skunks.

Jack watched the skunks playing around their home. Then, all of a sudden, one of the skunks got spooked by the other and sprayed its repulsive scent. The young blonde boy laughed at the scene while everyone else covered their noses from the stench. Covering his nose from the accident, Aaron picked his son up and walked out of the exhibit. He did not want to wash Jack after the skunk incident. 

“Daddy. The skunk farted.” Jack said while giggling. 

“Yes, it did. Now, I hope you don’t stink too bad.” Both Aaron and Jack laughed at the little mishap of the day. For the rest of their day together, both the Hotchners went around to the different exhibits. There were a plethora of mammals: Black-footed ferrets, Dwarf mongooses, Screaming hairy armadillos, to name a few. As a break, both the Hotchner boys went to their favorite diner in the city. They sent some time there before heading back to the miniature zoo that belonged to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. 

Both the Hotchners arrived at the red panda exhibit. Jack ran up to the exhibit and placed his hands against the glass window. The young blonde boy stared in awe at the furry creature, who was sleeping on the large tree branch. 

“That’s you when you’re sleeping, Jack.” Aaron said. Jack gasped and made an attempt at an angry face. The brunet man chuckled at his son’s actions and both watched the second red panda in the enclosure playing with its toys. 

It was nearing evening and Jack Hotchner yawned, signifying he got tired from exploring the different animals. 

“You tired, Jack?” Aaron asked. The young blonde nodded his head tiredly. The brunet man picked up his son, carrying him in his arms. Jack snuggled his face into his father’s neck, letting his warmth comfort him. Aaron smiled at his tired son. 

“Buddy, you mean the whole wide world to me.”

taglist: @queer-rambling / @voidreid / @homosexualyearning / @babey-jj / @ssaemxlyprentxss / @pumpkin-goob / @iconicc / @drinkingcroissants / @abbyprentiss / @lizziechase / @purelyprentiss / @heavenlydevil / @haleymalaffey

[therealvagabird]

The Days of Clay - Pt. 2: Beasts, Peoples, and Class Concepts

Part 2 of my paleo/neolithic RPG setting concept. Here are the concept overviews for the more “living” aspects of the world.

You can read the full setting rundown all at once on my WordPress.

Feel free to a leave a comment, and share!

Saurians

Found throughout the tropical and otherwise hot regions of the world, from searing deserts to sweltering jungles, saurians are a common form of fauna across the equatorial continents. Though most saurians are quite similar to all other animals – skittish, of varying size, and uninclined to hunt humans save under ideal circumstances – the great Thunder Lizards are well feared, and stories of them are known the world over in tales of dragons and other great wyrms. Saurians are cold blooded and include such species as the tyrannosaur, the carnotaur, velociraptor, and oviraptor as prominent therosaurs. There are also the mighty thagosaurs, the ceratops, brachiosaurs, and diplodosaurs as among the grandest of the Thunder Lizards. The hunting of these beasts outstrips even the danger of hunting Great Mammals like the mammoth, though that has not stopped some of the most fearsome warrior-tribes from attempting and succeeded at such feats. Tales of the taming of Thunder Lizards are also common, though even less substantiated. Not that factuality matter more than a good story to most shamans and their listeners.

Ape-Men

Ape-Men comprise all those varieties of bipedal or mostly-bipedal humanoid creatures who straddle the line between ape or monkey and man. Those who live in areas where there are no ape-men to be found might think that the distinction between an ape-man and a monkey, or an ape-man and a rather blunt and hairy person might be indistinguishable. Those who have ever seen an ape-man know the uncanny appearance by which those creatures can be identified. Though some believe that the ape-men are just as intelligent as humans, they have no language, no writing, and use but the most primitive of technologies. Some are quite small, while larger breeds can also be found, even in high altitudes and frigid environs. Most ape-men tend to cluster in basic den formations, and though they will not craft tools or shelters, they are sometimes smart enough to set up basic lean-tos, making use of existing caves or other helpful geography, and may pick up and utilize bones and rocks as basic weapons and the like. Though not very violent by nature, ape-men tend to compete for similar habitats as humans, and so often come into conflict with them. Ape-men clans who have lost great numbers to humans before tend to avoid all future confrontations even generations later.

Lizardmen

Similar to ape-men, lizardmen are the various breeds of bipedal, dexterous lizards who can sometimes be found in the territories of other saurian species. Little is known about how they differ from other scaled creatures save for their intelligence. Like ape-men, despite not having any known language or culture, the lizardmen have shown some ability to use tools, and tend to cluster in social groupings. Many of these dens are found in places most humans know as “Shatterlands” – angular rock formations common in deserts and some jungles, which various lizardmen of different species seem to all gravitate towards as ideal homesteads, even displacing other saurians in the process. Lizardmen range from the great crocolids and saurids to the more diminutive skinks and kobolds. They are uncommon outside of their usual ranges, and some say they are even dying off little by little.

Great Mammals

Found throughout the world, though most of all within the great tundra of northern lands like Batyr, Siral’ik, or Dziil, there are those creatures known as the Great Mammals. Also known as Great Beasts or Great Hairy Ones, these are the mammalian creatures who nonetheless rival the largest saurians in size and power. Mammoths, shellbacks, giant sloths, sabercats, dire wolves and dire bears – these are a source of both great danger and great plenty to those tribes who share their lands. Some Great Mammals may be found in southern reaches, such as with the giant ape-kin, or the elephants, giraffes, and the like which wander the savannahs of Noba Rugna. It is uncommon for saurians and Great Mammals to share habitats, though the bloodletting when the two come into contact can be significant and godlike.

Great Coldbloods

Separate from the saurians, Great Coldbloods is a catch-all term for creatures such as the giant snakes, colossal toads, and other creatures which do not share the same general markers of “true saurians” like the therosaurs, brachiosaurs, or ceratops. Though the distinction is rather vague, it is important to tribal peoples who live in southern lands, as Great Coldbloods tend to not be as aggressive and predatory as saurians – they are no less dangerous, but they prefer to stick to their well-defined hunting and ambushing grounds. Some Great Coldbloods are significant enough to take on and fell saurians in their own right, and command just as much fear as any other terrifying predator.

Great Shellhides

Perhaps the broadest category by which the human tribes of the world define the largest types of various animals, Great Shellhides comprise all those cold-blooded, hard-skinned, and boneless creatures which crawl beneath the earth. Though most “bugs” are insignificant things perhaps defined by powerful poisons to compensate for their size at the deadliest, Great Shellhides are monstrosities able to go claw-to-claw against other Thunder Beasts and Great Fauna. Hellspinners, elephant beetles, stoneborers, sand-devils – though some can be quite docile despite their size, most pose significant threats to any humans who dare to trifle with them. Within the seas there are also the giant crabs, temple clams, and devil-lobsters, among others. Though most hunters would not dare attempt to assault any Great Shellhide due to their impervious armor and the terrible ways they are capable of killing, the promise of tender blue-meat and a rich supply of chitin for crafting means that to many, the risk is worth the reward.

Leviathans

Encompassing all those beings which make sailors quail at the mere mention of their names, there are the seabound leviathans. Leviathans are not a single species, nor even a clade, but rather a term for any aquatic monster which is defined by its immense size. Whales are often considered leviathans, along with the great sharks such as the megalodon. More terrible are the leviasaurs – mosasaurs and ichthyosaurs and the like. Kraken, or the god-squids, are another class much feared by all who know of them, as well as the sea-serpents and dragon-turtles. Despite their fearsome reputation, most leviathans pose no great threat to humans, confined as they are to the abyssal sea. It is more common for even the bravest of seafaring tribes to meet their end by exposure or storms than by the direct attack of a leviathan, though that is seldom comforting to most sailors. The hunting of leviathans is considered by many to be the penultimate feat of prowess – to slay something as large and terrible as a Thunder Lizard, yet within their own element.

Giants

Sometimes conflated with ape-men, giants are among the rarest of all the near-human species. Defined as massive humanoids, tending to display blunted manlike features and standing anywhere from over two to five times the height of an adult human. Giants are usually found in reclusive dens, or solo, in the wilder areas of wherever humans might be found. The very largest are confined to the north and far east, in the most remote reaches of lands like Fjallgarth and Siral’ik. Little is known of giants, save for their prodigious size, ferocity when challenged, and rather hideous appearances. Much like ape-men, lizardmen, or parcies, they seem to have no higher culture, yet maintain a level of intelligence above most base animals. They may use fallen trees or great stones as makeshift tools, and some have even been said to herd Great Mammals, though it is unknown if there are any truth to these stories, or if the giants merely hunt such beasts. Most giants prefer to avoid humans when they can, unless in a desperate or vengeful position, as it is a common feat of strength for warriors of the northern lands to seek out and slay giants when they can.

Parcies

Pronounced “park-ees” and often referred to as “little folk”, “sprites”, “gremlins”, and numerous other regional names. Parcies are a strange class of creatures believed to be offshoots of humans or ape-men. Though there are many different breeds of parcie, they are often defined by short stature, and intelligence somewhere between humans and beasts. Humans born with conditions such as dwarfism may be confused with or referred to as parcies, but it is known to most who have encountered the little folk that they comprise their own group of species altogether. Most parcies are shrouded in mystery, living far away from humans, and maybe engaging in clandestine theft if they need to. Kidnappings, misfortunes, and other ills are sometimes attributed to parcies, though good luck and positive happenstances may also be called the work of parcies. While most are reclusive and nonviolent, they have been known to attack humans if threatened. Taking inspiration from certain parcie stories, some humans have even “tamed” parcies as servants or pets when they can. Notable breeds of parcies include brownies, gremlins, tomtens, dzedka, memegwesi, memegwaans, and nimerigar, A singular parcie can also be called a parca.

Humans:

Wisewalkers

Most humans throughout the world are of the breed known as “wisewalkers”. Though there are just the most minimal of differences between the different human subtypes – beyond even more tertiary traits such as skin color, cultural inclinations, or habitat – some distinct traits can be identified. Wisewalkers tend towards being the least hirsute of the human breeds, and the most inventive. The grander settlements of human make have oft been the work of wisewalkers, and the technologies they have pioneered are impressive. Though not so strong or swift as their cousins, the mental acuity of the wisewalker breeds has seen them become the most prolific of all humans.

Hobblehands

Smaller than wisewalkers, hobblehands are known for their great agility and cleverness. Though they are not quite as inventive as their larger cousins, they are quick learners and were the first creators of many basic tools that the wisewalkers would later improve. Standing about three to four feet tall on average, hobblehands are named for their dexterous skills, making for great ambush-hunters and adept crafters of small implements. They tend towards darker or ruddy skin tones depending on region, with curly hair, and round-featured faces that some have said look halfway between an adult and a child – though not in the same way an adolescent’s does. Hobblehands can be distinguished from dwarves or parcies by their proportions, looking rather like full-grown humans of a smaller size. Most hobblehands tend to live within their own tribal communities, and though they are not often leaders of mixed societies, they are much appreciated as crafters by the wisewalker shamans.

Neanders

Large, muscled, and brutish in appearance, the neaders are the human breed most known as warriors and hunters. Stereotypes of their low intellects and blunt affect obscure a significant truth, however – that the neanders are just as sharp and clever as any human strain. Most often found in the north, neanders stand about the same height as wisewalkers, though tend to hunch and have an overall more apelike physique. Besides these differences in build, they are the closest to the wisewalkers in terms of overall appearance. They possess greater strength than wisewalkers, and significant stamina. However, though they have displayed no less cleverness than their cousins, they seem to lack a certain degree of inventive spark. Neander tribes – perhaps due to their skill at hunting – tend to eschew higher technologies if they feel they have no need of them. Sometimes battling their wisewalker neighbors, many neander tribes have been brought into the fold of larger wisewalker gatherings for their might and skill.

Wildlings

A class of humans who straddle the line between true humans and ape-men, wildlings far exceed the strength of the neanders and the agility of the hobblehands – yet unlike those two sub-species, they are marked by a noticeable lack of higher cleverness. Though still capable of tool crafting and the basics of human civilization, wildlings are not very inventive, and prone towards blunt solutions even when it might not be in their best interests. They prefer the wilds from which they take their name, eschewing large gatherings in favor of tight-knit tribes. The most physically adept of all humankind, they tend to be feared and mocked by their cousins, though like the neanders they may be contracted as formidable warriors. As they are so skilled at survival, most wildlings are content in their primitive ways, wanting for nothing more than the bounty their own two hands can bring them. They are often hunched and quite hairy, with apelike visages, though otherwise human in appearance. Their most common roaming grounds are in the southern grasslands and forests, though they may also be found anywhere in the deep wilds that they have staked out for hunting and foraging, from the frozen north to the burning south.

Class Concepts:

Magic is nonexistent in the known world, but that does not mean that mysticism and superstition are absent. Neither does it mean that these belief systems are without merit or use. Shamans, witch doctors, prophets – these are individuals who act as storytellers, leaders, and the glue which holds entire tribes and even emerging states together. Many possess skills of great importance, not bound to one cultural context, such as knowledge of herbs and natural substances, knowledge of crafting and building, or an uncanny memory for the behaviors of animals or the patterns in the weather. For some, belief is a powerful force in and of itself, with warriors and magicians able to work themselves into states of mania which help them endure beyond typical limits. A human can only do so much with their body, even at the strongest, but knowledge and faith are what set humanity apart from the other beasts.

Warrior

A versatile hunter of both men and beasts, able to specialize in various types of weaponry and combat-craft. Warriors, depending on tribal background or personal preference, may choose to focus heavily in certain talents, or diversify for the sake of adaptation. In some places, like the city-states of Sakha, warriors are free to spend more time mastering the arts of combat, given that they do not have to worry as much about base survival. Wilder types may not be as refined in their martial talents, but know the arts of hunting and foraging, or even translate knowledge of poisons and clever crafts into effective fighting supplements.

Shaman

The cornerstone of most tribes is the clan shaman – the priest, the healer, and the storyteller. Shamans, much like warriors, are as varied as the flowers of the field, or the birds of the sky. They blend concrete knowledge and skills with a flair for the dramatic, able to command great respect for their wisdom. Shaman may specialize in many fields, such as healing, inspiring their allies, lore of the wilds, and afflicting their foes with terror or poisons. Some shaman may hold combat knowledge, but for the most part these figures are noted for the stories they tell and the knowledge they keep rather than any outstanding physical abilities. Memorized lore of humans, beasts, plants, seasons, and more can all be utilized by a shaman in order to achieve their ends, whether that be leading their flock to prosperity, or leading their enemies to their doom. Though many think the skills of the shaman to be magic, most of the time trained wisdom and a perceptive nature is just as good.

Skinchanger

One art renowned and feared across the wide world is that of the skinchanger. Shamans who specialize in channeling the spirits of beasts, skinchangers may hone a number of abilities based upon their chosen spirit-animals. Skinchanging requires two physical components – a hide, and a mask. These shamans undergo extensive training in their youths to assume the mind of a given beast, studying their quarry for months and even years so as to learn what it is to be that animal. Then, they must slay that given beast and take its hide, as well as craft a mask from its remains. By donning these, the skinchanger enters a unique mania granting them the power of that beast. Though no real change comes over the individual, they are not to be trifled with. The pelt of a bear or a saurian is still a great armor, and when the person wearing it is bearing a set of claw-gloves and has worked themselves into a frenzy, even great warriors can succumb to terror. Other skinchangers may pursue less “direct” approaches, such as by donning armor made from the carapaces of creatures like the Hellspinners, stalking the high treetops, besides others. Skinchangers learn much by studying their given animals – of which they may have several, should they choose to carry several costumes – such as techniques for climbing, digging, using poisons, foraging, and hunting.

Berserker

Similar to the skinchanger is the berserker, who trains themself to enter a blood-frenzy during battle so as to shrug off injuries which would incapacitate other humans. Berserkers are defined by their great martial skill, and the means by which they enter their blood-frenzy. Some channel simple rage, while others call upon totem spirits or other shades to empower their bodies, and some make use of more literal bloodlust or even strange herbal concoctions. These warriors tend towards a very direct style of combat, favoring brute strength over more diverse or subtle means, yet berserkers tend to also be noted for the various skills they accrue in training their blood-frenzy. Berserkers may be quite knowledgeable in techniques of survival, or hunting, or herbalism as dependent on their backgrounds. For one to rely on strength alone is not enough, however mighty, and so berserkers tend to hide greater wisdom than meets the eye.

Boxer

Somewhere between a healer and a fighter, boxers are set apart from more typical warriors by their deep and intimate knowledge of the human body. Boxers are fighters who have received a degree of training as bonesetters, spiritual healers, or even chirurgeons. A boxer may in combat leverage this knowledge to target their enemy’s pressure points or vital organs, while out of combat they may apply the same techniques to their allies to alleviate pains or fix physical ailments. Boxers pay for their very specialized skillset by struggling in circumstances outside their training. They do not fare well against beasts lest they have knowledge of their anatomy and are not as able as dedicated healers to treat diverse illnesses. They do not do well in armor and may only competently use a set number of specific weapons. Still, the arts of the boxer are much respected by those who know of their reputations.

Beastmaster

The taming of wild animals is not an uncommon calling among certain tribes. Many warriors may hew closer to the path of the hunter, appreciating the company of a loyal hound or boar. Certain shamans may keep birds or other noble creatures as pets, believing them to grant good fortune, or training them to perform useful tasks. Skinchangers go a step further, and attempt to emulate and become as beasts. Beastmasters focus first and foremost on breaking the wills or otherwise earning the trust of wild animals of all stripes, allying themselves to the might of nature. These individuals are much more skilled at taming a larger variety of creatures than a typical hunter might, though even when they choose to simply use a dependable hunting-wolf, it is likely that their wolves will be better trained, and they will be able to command more of them at once. Some beastmasters end up taming great and fearsome beasts like saurians, great mammals, shellhides, and the like. They may even use such massive creatures as mounts. Others could specialize in directing much greater groups of smaller beasts. This could range from a small pack of hunting dogs, to entire swarms of vermin. If a beastmaster is able to safely forage and care for something like a wasps’ nest or a rodent warren-queen, they may even tame a whole horde of tiny pets.

Crafter

Creating things such as tools and shelter is a must-know skill for any human in the wide world, but for some it is more than a simple necessity. Some pursue the knowledge of material things the same way shamans pursue stories, or beastmasters and skinchangers pursue animal lore. Crafters specialize in creating items of exceptional make and identifying the uses of various materials. Bone, stone, wood, hide – even rare metals such as copper – all of these can be put to a multitude of uses by crafters, such as the making of weapons, tools, talismans, and more. Other crafters may specialize in larger projects, such as masonry, forestry, or boatbuilding. The downside is that crafters do not often make for good warriors or hunters and cannot be expected to do much more in combat than level their tools against the foe – though those tools are bound to be of exceptional make. Yet many bands of tribals do well to have one or more dedicated crafters among them, as just as they can put rare materials to good use, they are also quite adept at dismantling things. This can range from skinning a beast to chiseling a hole in the weak portion of a stone-brick fort. Likewise, groups with crafters always tend to accrue more loot, as crafters are skilled at pulling every last thing that could be of use from a fallen beast or a resource-rich area.

[quickwitter]

LINNAEUS'S TWO-TOED SLOTH Choloepus didactylus ©Laura Quick Linnaeus's two-toed sloth, also known as the southern two-toed sloth, unau, or Linne's two-toed sloth is a species of sloth from South America, found in Venezuela, the Guyanas, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil north of the Amazon River. There is now evidence suggesting the species' range expands into Bolivia. #linnaeustwotoedsloth #choloepusdidactylus #sloth #2-toed #©lauraquick #lazoo #losangelesphotographer #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #losangeleszoo #awake #onhiswayforanap #unau #southamerica https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yyyM8HkQH/?igshid=l3favirefr9n

[the-last-outpost]

Southern Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus) at Kansas City Zoo for #internationalslothday @kansascityzoo #kczoo #kansascityzoo #sloth #sloths #slothsofinstagram #slothsquad https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQKPvdAX5k/?utm_medium=tumblr

[primortravel]

New Post has been published on https://primortravel.com/latin-america-10-ways-solotravelpricingtracker-solo-trekker/

Latin America 10 Ways-SoloTravelPricingTracker | Solo Trekker

Latin America 10 Ways-SoloTravelPricingTracker: Spotlight on Latin America: After more than a year of lowdown, summer 2021 has been off to a rocky restart as COVID-19 restrictions constantly change.  However, top solo travel deals for single travelers for 2021-2022 are at unheard of lows. With Latin America relatively “nearby”, check out the three easy steps below to access 140+ top solo travel deals-Latin America.  Since no single supplement deals are always limited in number, book as far ahead as possible.

Follow the three easy steps below for no to low single supplements or solo-priced rooms/cabins using our free SoloTravelPricingTracker.

Go to the drop down menu, and select “LATAM”.

(For more information on their wide variety of trips, connect with UnCruise Adventures using our free search tool, the SoloTravelPricingTracker.net.)

Day 2-3 From San José, you will be off to La Fortuna.

You have lots of choices: You can start by relaxing in a local hot springs. Alternatively, you can begin with going whitewater rafting. If you want to really get your heart pumping, you can have an adventure rappelling down a waterfall!

You can hike around the famous Arenal Volcano’s base. Monkeys may greet you as you make your way.  To cool off,  you can swim in the nearby waterfalls.

Other ideas?  Go for a bike tour. Explore a wildlife refuge. Go for a horseback ride. Learn how to paddleboard.

Bird watchers and nature lovers will enjoy seeing the three hundred and fifty different local species. You may even see a sloth high overhead in the treetops. At ground level, you may spot really large lizards!

Day 4-5 From La Fortuna, you are off to Monteverde.

The day will start with a bike ride along the banks of Lake Arenal. You will have a boat trip and van to Monteverde. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is cool even in the summer. Like Indiana Jones, you will cross suspension bridges high over the forest below.

For an exciting add-on, try out ziplining. You will get a true “birds’ eye view” from the tree tops!

For a real change of pace, you can visit the local Butterfly Garden.  It has thirty different types of butterfly so have your camera ready!

Fellow coffee lovers will enjoy the tour of the Monteverde Coffee Plantation. You will learn how your morning coffee makes the long journey home to you. Then it will be time to enjoy some samples of really fresh coffee!

Day 6-7 You will leave Monteverde and head to-Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.

Day 8 After a final swim or surfing adventure at Malpais, you will head back to San José.

You will arrive in time for dinner and to see local nightlife.

Day 9 Your Costa Rica vacation for singles adventure travel packages comes to an end as you head home.

Costa Rica Two Ways: Ecotour Deals for Solo Travelers: Insight Travels:

BE SURE TO SAY SOLO TREKKER 4 U SENT YOU FOR SPECIAL SAVINGS!

Solo Travel Destination-Costa Rica a Top Eco Tour and Adventure: Sample Tour:

Costa Rica is a full pageant of color. Rain forests combine with endless white, sandy beachy. Butterflies and frogs buzz by waiting for you to focus your telephoto lens. Once you get off the beaten path in Costa Rica’s national parks, you will see both endangered and other species from large cats to noisy macaws. There are lots of adventurous, active options from hiking to diving or more leisurely birding and whale watching.

San Jose:

Day 1:

The capital of Costa Rica has much to see and do. San Jose has many museums to prowl through. My personal favorite was the Museo de Oro (Museum of Gold). It has many exhibits that date back to the time before Columbus. Fashionistas will also be glad to see its gift shop. It has great fashion jewelry in gold based on the ancient items in the museum. Earrings and necklace replicas make special gifts to remind you of your trip.

Savegre:

Days 2-4:

Bird lovers get ready to be entranced!  Humming birds will hover starting at breakfast. You will find more than 170 species.  Sunrise is the best time to view Costa Rica’s colorful birds. If you have good luck, you may get a selfie with a new “friend”!

Hike the Quetzales National Park.  This 12,350 acre park has 14 eco-systems and 3 forest zones! It has both natural water sources and highland forests.

See the division between North and South America which occurs at the Continental Divide.

Spy on multiple local bird species in flight or nesting.

Relish awe inspiring views between the Central Volcanic Cordillera and the Talamanca Mountains. They are near by to both the southern and central Pacific coasts. (To the east is the Caribbean Sea.)

Behind is the tallest peak in Costa Rica known as Chirripó.

  Uvita:

Day 4-7:

Kayaking: Hatillo Mangrove Forest

Costa Rica has one of the world’s richest eco-diversity venues. Its mangrove swamps, filled with birds.  Species of birds range from the royal tern, brown pelican, little blue pelican and the bare-throated tiger-heron. Mammals include the exotic white-nosed coati, two and three-toed Sloth and the white-faced capuchin monkey. In addition, six crab species lumber through the forests. Also at home are massive boa constrictors and vibrant green lizards.

Hiking the Corcovado National Park

Founded in 1975, the Corcovado National Park has both ocean (2,400 hectares) and rainforest (54,539 hectares) sectors. It is a top venue for tourists from around world. It is rich with many species: 6,000  of which are lurking insects, 116 amphibians, 140 mammals and most popular? 400 bird species! The Corcovado National Park has 6 eco-systems. It serves as home for colorful scarlet macaws, tapirs and awesome poison dart frogs, leering crocodiles, fierce pumas and jaguars.

The Costa Rican Pacific Coast is home to the Caño Island Biological Reserve. Pristine beaches surround the island which is protected by a reef. As a result, it is perfect for snorkelling or diving. Year round you can see depths of up to 65 feet! You will see a wide range of species from whales, dolphins, manta rays, turtles and colorful tropical fish.

DAY 7 End of Tour

  Peru Solo Trekker 4 U Insights:

Machu Picchu is one of  the world’s most famous sights. For global tourists, Machu Picchu is the ultimate draw to stroll slowly leisurely through an ancient monument while enjoying modern conveniences. For an active holiday, it is an ideal spot for outdoor sports and hiking. You can choose either or a mix of both styles that fit your budget and interests.

As a result, Peru is a top solo travel destination as a standalone trip. However, it is also well located to combine a trip to Peru with a visit to its neighboring countries of  Chile to the south or Ecuador to the north.

  Peru Solo Travel Beyond Machu Picchu-Other Key Sights Not to Miss:

Peru’s Amazon:  Iquitos is a common launch point for Peru’s Amazon. You can choose an adventure tour going on an expedition with a small boat and crew. I did this in another part of the Amazon. With just fifteen new friends, we were able to make our way into remote areas not possible for larger boats. There is a real thrill to making your way through the rain forest with your guide cutting a path ahead of you. Another plus is that it is more likely that you can see wildlife in their native habitat by going “off the grid”! The Amazon region covers two-thirds of Peru’s territory.  It is a haven for wildlife viewing up close and personal! The sloth and monkeys high above the canopy are most often photographed. However, I fell in  love with the capybaras. These gentle giants can reach 120 pounds. They love to lounge in the natural pools that are throughout the Amazon. They are perfect for an exotic selfie!

However, if you would like a luxury 5-star river cruise, there are many great deals with no single supplements. A good choice would be combining Machu Picchu with the Amazon.

Solo Travel Deal for Peru: OAT Travel Sample Tour:

OAT Travel has 30 years’ experience in the travel industry and guarantees that groups will be no larger than sixteen people. Better yet: they have no single supplement* on land tours! It is not just the typical large tour model but a really unique, high-end tour at affordable prices. (Do book early while there is space available for solos to avoid paying a single supplement!)

Real Affordable Peru

 Lima • Sacred Valley • Machu Picchu • Cuzco

Explore Peru from storied Machu Picchu to the heights of Cuzco. See llamas making their way through the Andes and watch as local artisans create their handiwork. Sample top local cuisine and learn more about the ancient Inca empire.

Solo travel deal for Peru:

Lima:

DAY 1 Fly to Lima, Peru.

DAY 2 Arrive in Peru’s capital, Lima, and explore the Miraflores district.

DAY 3 See the sites of Lima’s old city before moving on to ancient Incan times.

Solo travel deal for Peru:

Sacred Valley:

DAY 4 Arrive in the heights of Cuzco and start your adventure in the Sacred Valley. Cuzco, once the Incan capital is is one of the highest points in the region at 11,000+ feet. This is a good way to take it easy and get use to the height. It actually dwarfs Machu Picchu which stands at a mere height of 7,874 feet! Luckily, the Internet is filled with tips on adjusting and avoiding or overcoming altitude sickness. Pisac, also located in the Sacred Valley, is largely known for its handicraft, open-air markets.

Solo travel deal for Peru:

Whitewater rafting adventure:

DAY 5 Time for an adventure: go whitewater rafting in the Urubamba River. This has always been one of my favorites for solos or families. It is an adventure for both novices and experts. Before viewing the ruins of Ollantaytambo, you will meet a local family for lunch, and have the chance to try local dishes.  Ask about the piranha! I was really shocked to find that they make very tasty appetizers.

DAY 6 Make your way by train ride through the Sacred Valley and explore fabled Machu Picchu. While Machu Picchu is one of the world’s most famous ancient sights, it was only discovered recently in 1911.

DAY 7 Continue through Machu Picchu and exploring the Sacred Valley and back to Cuzco. Ask about whether there are still horse trails to make your way through the Sacred Valley. For other options, you can join an active day tour for more hiking, biking and ziplining. For a really breath-taking view, join a ziplining adventure at the top of the canopy.

Solo travel deal for Peru:

Cuzco:

DAY 8 While you discover Cuzco, you will have free time to explore independently.

Solo travel deal for Peru:

Village life:

DAY 9 Visit Izcuchaca for archaeological ruins and trekking. Follow-up seeing daily life in the village of Chinchero.

DAY 10 Before heading home, you can see Oropesa, Tipon, Sacsayhuaman & Kenkoe. Located south of Cuzco, they boast more Incan ruins and history to view.

DAY 11  Time to fly back home!

  Other Great Tour/Cruise Operators for LATAM -SoloTravelPricingTracker

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#Backpacking #SoloTravel #SoloTraveling #Solotrekker #Travel #Traveling

[billy-on-a-walk]

Great Horned Owl

Size: 1.5-2 feet tall; 3-5 pounds

Range: All of continental North America and much of South America

Status: Least Concern

Great Horned Owls are natural foster parents. A single female in captivity has been known to play surrogate to more than a hundred owlets in her lifetime. In the wild these birds are just as nurturing, with females keeping constant tabs on their young. When it comes to territoriality, however, tenderness turns to ferocity. Couples will fend off neighbors through hooting contests, and even set upon them with fistfuls of talons.

Mexican Spotted Owl

Size: 18 inches tall; 1 pound

Range: From Mexico north through Arizona and New Mexico to Utah and Colorado

Status: Near Threatened

Of the three Spotted Owl subspecies, the Mexican is the rarest one in the U.S. Highly localized within its wide range, it seeks out cool, shady canyons, often in areas surrounded by the hot, dry slopes of desert mountains. It doesn’t breed every year; when it does it prefers spacious tree hollows in old-growth trees. If such sites aren’t available, the bird will adopt secondhand nests of other birds or occupy shallow caves in canyon cliffs.

Barn Owl

Size: Up to 15 inches tall; 1 pound

Range: The world’s most cosmopolitan owl, nests on six continents but avoids the northernmost reaches of North America, Europe, and Asia

Status: Least Concern

The constellation of spots that spreads across the Barn Owl’s head and décolletage are not just ornamental: The more spots a female has, the more resistant she seems to be to parasites, and the more attractive she is to males. A seemingly supernatural ability to pinpoint noises and spot prey in low-light and even blackout conditions, coupled with near-soundless flight, makes these owls the perfect night stalkers.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Size: 23-29 inches tall; 3-9 pounds

Range: Europe and Asia

Status: Least Concern

No bird is safe from the Eurasian Eagle-Owl—not even its kin. The mighty strigiform goes after Tawny and Snowy owls, as well as such larger birds as Gray Herons. On China’s alpine meadows, the eagle-owl and the Upland Buzzard hunt the same voles and beady-eyed pikas. The buzzards conduct their business by day; the owls take over after dusk. With its 6.5-foot wingspan, it’s also been known to hunt foxes and fawns.

Flammulated Owl 

Size: 6 inches tall; 2 ounces, though females are 50 percent heavier when breeding

Range: Common in summer from southwestern Canada through the western U.S. to Mexico; winter range in Mexico is poorly known

Status: Least Concern

The Flammulated Owl’s husky voice doesn’t quite fit its pint-sized body. It can slow down its vocal vibrations by slackening the layers of skin around its throat, creating a low-pitched hoot. In spring and summer the owl idles in western mountains, feasting on insects. It was once thought not to migrate, but its insectivorous habits and recent studies showing that it’s unable to go into torpor, or mini hibernation, confirm that it travels south in winter.

Eastern Screech-Owl

Size: 6-10 inches tall; less than half a pound

Range: East of the Rocky Mountains, U.S. to northeastern Mexico

Status: Least Concern

The Eastern Screech-Owl can thrive in the most chaotic urban environments. It is one of the few raptors to live in New York City, including in Central Park, in the middle of Manhattan, where the species was reintroduced. To coexist so closely with civilization, the screech-owl has learned to skim off songbirds at feeders and squat in human-created crannies. Still, the street-smart bird remains secretive, stymying ornithologists eager to learn more about it.

Spectacled Owl

Size: 18 inches tall; 1-2 pounds

Range: Mexico and Central America to the northern two-thirds of South America

Status: Least Concern

The Spectacled Owl has little to fear from predators, since it roosts in the canopies of rainforests and gallery woods, where assailants are few. It eats almost anything; during one lurid encounter in Panama, one slaughtered a three-toed sloth, then feasted on its mangled body. The bird is aptly named for the bandit-like mask around its eyes—black spectacles on a fleecy white head for the young, white frames on a dark head for adults.

Long-eared Owl

Size: 15 inches tall; half a pound

Range: North America, Europe, Asia, and locally in North Africa, with some wintering south to Mexico and southern China

Status: Least Concern

The Long-eared Owl is a frequent target for other birds of prey, including Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls. When facing a formidable threat, it has a few tricks up its wing. It might pull in its plumage and stand up straight, elongating its body to look more imposing. The small owl may also sway side to side, feign an injury, or flop around its nest while screeching owlish imprecations.

source

[thornedroscs]

The youngest of four and the certified baby of the family, Sydnee wasn’t spared much of the slack that this position typically affords. Instead, it seemed that she was always in constant competition with her older sister, Dianna. The pair differed drastically in both personality and interests. Sydnee tended to take more after her free spirited and loving mother while Dianna was much more serious and focused like their Judge father. 

Though she is quite aware of the inheritance and its restrictions, the blonde is in no rush at this time to get married or even receive the money. Loving and full of compassion, she chose a career that was less glamorous and lucrative - a social worker for Child Protective Services. Though she doesn’t make as much as Dianna, she finds her job incredibly fulfilling and she wants to make her own way in life without the assistance of her family. It’s an opportunity to escape from Dianna’s shadow, as well. It takes her off of the playing field entirely.

Though charming and lovely, she has been less than lucky in love and is the last of the Neill-Ross children to be coupled up. Asked at every family event about her love life, she’s constructed the perfect lover that she pretends to have in her life. It has all worked well up until this point - until Dianna and her damned engagement and the entirety of her family expecting Mr. Perfect to be her wedding date. Sydnee may have to go against her morals to save face. 

Basic Information

Full Name: sydnee camryn neill-ross.

Nickname(s): syd

Age: twenty-five.

Date of Birth: july 22, 1994.

Hometown: new bern, nc.

Current Location: new bern, nc.

Ethnicity: caucasian.

Nationality: european.

Gender: cis-female.

Pronouns: she/her.

Orientation: heterosexual / heteroromantic.

Religion: protestant.

Political Affiliation: democrat, leans left.

Occupation: social worker for child protective services.

Living Arrangements: studio apartment.

Language(s) Spoken: english.

Accent: slight southern accent.

Physical Appearance

Face Claim: halston sage.

Hair Colour: blonde

Eye Colour: hazel

Height: 5′3″

Weight: 130 lb.

Build: slender.

Tattoos: none.

Piercings: two in each ear, helix to the right.

Clothing Style: stylish and feminine.

Usual Expression: smile or look of focus.

Health

Physical Ailments: farsightedness.

Neurological Conditions: generalized anxiety disorder.

Allergies: seasonal, mild.

Sleeping Habits: she tries to ensure that she keeps herself on a perfectly healthy sleep schedule, but work makes this incredibly difficult.

Eating Habits: loves to eat, indulges in more stress eating than she thinks she should.

Exercise Habits: kickboxing, yoga, cardio.

Emotional Stability: 8. tends to let her emotions get the best of her.

Sociability: loves being around others and is the type of person who will always be there should someone need her. but alone time to be with her thoughts and recharge is necessary.

Body Temperature: warm-natured.

Addictions: starbucks,

Drug Use: occasional marijuana.

Alcohol Use: socially.

Personality

Label: the girl next door.

Positive Traits: sweet, perceptive, nurturing, ingenious, compassionate.

Negative Traits: anxious, sentimental, overly independent, envious, worrisome.

Goals/Desires: to live happily, to actually fall in love.

Fears: failure, ending up alone, spiders, winged insects.

Hobbies: reading, beauty/glam, playing the piano, singing.

Habits: twirling her hair around her fingers, chewing gum, doodling.

Favourites

Weather: spring and summer, bright and cheerful weather. christmas time with gentle snow.

Colour: lavender.

Music: pop, classical, songwriter, taylor swift always.

Movies: rom-coms, dramas.

Sport: hockey, gymnastics.

Beverage: strawberry lemonade.

Food: chipotle anything.

Animal: three toed sloths.

Family

Father: vincent neill, 68. county judge.

Mother: sabrina ross, 67.  chef.

Sibling(s): tristan neill-ross, 36. bartender.                 trevor neill-ross, 36. police officer.                 dianna neill, 30. human rights attorney.

Children: none.

Pet(s): two chihuahuas named primrose and rue.

Family’s Financial Status: upper class.

Extra

Zodiac Sign: cancer 

Hogwarts House: ravenclaw.

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Southern Two-Toed Sloth Tote Bag https://ift.tt/2KkFoBa

[letscoolpromeuniverse]

Southern Two-Toed Sloth Tote Bag https://ift.tt/2KkFoBa

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Walking Guide to Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina is well known for its top tier schools and medical advancements. At the same time the city is undergoing a modern rejuvenation with plenty of cultural and culinary attractions to enjoy and explore. With the main downtown district of Raleigh only a 20 minute walk from its furthest point this is one of the most walkable cities we have visited in all our travels.

Walking Map to Downtown Raleigh

Top Attractions in Raleigh, North Carolina

Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts

The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts houses several venues of varying sizes with a range of theatrical and musical productions throughout the year. Check their calendar to catch a show while you are staying in Raleigh.

Pope House Museum

If you are visiting Raleigh over the weekend, do not miss out on a tour of the Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope house museum. This home of the only African-American to run for mayor of a Southern capital during the Jim Crow Era provides an interesting look into the life of this intriguing man. Guided tours run on Saturdays from 10AM to 2PM on the top of the hour.

Moore Square

Making your way into the heart of the downtown district is Moore Square, which was part of the original plans for the city in 1792. The park is currently closed for construction and is anticipated to reopen early 2019.

City of Raleigh Museum

In the COR Museum you will find a set of rotating exhibits about the history and people of Raleigh. During our visit there was a exhibit on political cartoonist and local resident, Dwane Powell, along with a look into the impact of war with interviews from Raleigh-area veterans.

North Carolina State Capitol

Take a self guided tour through the North Carolina State Capitol, the former home of the entire state government and now just the governors offices. At your own pace see the old House of Representatives and Senate Chambers and several other rooms restored to their 1850s usage.

North Carolina Museum of History

At the North Carolina Museum of History get an in depth and interactive view into the thousands of years of history on this land. From prehistoric stone tools, through the civil war and all the way up to the Vietnam war and today, this free museum gives you a complete view of North Carolina.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Just next door is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Learn all about the plants, animals and natural phenomena that have been present across North Carolina throughout history. Make sure not to miss the chance to view a two-toed sloth in a room full of tropical butterflies.

The North Carolina Executive Mansion

The Executive Mansion is more than just the home of the NC governor, it is also a beautiful work of architecture. They offer tours of the mansion Wednesday and Thursdays only with reservations required a minimum of two weeks in advance.

North Carolina Museum of Art

The North Carolina Museum of Art is located west of downtown and does require a car ride over. It houses a collection of works ranging from Ancient Egyptian to contemporary American art. On a beautiful sunny day there is a great opportunity to walk around the vast grounds of The Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park connecting art, nature and people.

from Walking Guide to Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina