#(except most of them have the genus and species switched)

[arthropodliker]

okay fuck it time to list my ocs and their pronouns

Moth people

Atlas Attacus — he/him

Cecropia Hyalophora — she/her

Hylas Cephonodes — he/him, maybe they/them

Io Automeris — she/they, prefers she/her

Luna Actias — she/her

Styx Acherontia — any pronouns

Saturnia Pavonia — he/him

Thysbe Hemaris — he/him

Others I guess

Fiore (my vampiresona) — he/they, no preference but typically uses he/him

[forestkodama]

You might be hearing noise about the eminent emergence in the United States of Brood X cicadas in 2021.  “So what?” you may ask. “Cicadas are found everywhere.  How else would the trees scream?”

Cicadas are found globally, you’re right!  Their sing their head-splitting songs every summer in both hemispheres.  But those are annual cicadas.  Brood X is part of a uniquely eastern North American species group known as periodic cicadas.  They belong to the entirely appropriately named genus Magicicada. Unlike annual cicadas, who stay underground as nymphs for a year or two before emerging as adults to scream their butts off, mate, and die, Magicicadas stay underground for 13 or 17 years.  They are some of the longest-lived insects!

The easiest way to differentiate periodic cicadas from annual cicadas is 1) geography - are you not in Eastern North America? then it’s not a periodic cicada - and 2) eyes - Magicicadas are black-bodied with ominous red eyes, while all other cicadas in Eastern North America have green and brownish eyes.

Periodic cicadas are already wild - I mean, living underground for 13? 17? years???  A PRIME NUMBER??? IN MY NATURE????? - but their species complexes are a confusing jumble of specific epithets that are befitting the orgies they have when they emerge as adults.

See, when periodic cicadas emerge as adults, they don’t just pop out every few hectares like annual cicadas, creating a gentle chorus of song to accompany the graceful sway of the meadow grass; period cicadas emerge EN MASS, millions per hectare, at least one adult cicada per square meter.  They form dense aggregations in the trees after crawling out of the ground, molting, and then starting to scream.  The males are doing the singing with their butts: The first section of their abdomen has a pair of vibrating structures of ridged membranes called tymbals and the rest of the abdomen is hollow and amplifies the song.  Females do not have tymbals, so they cannot scream.  Both sexes have hearing organs on their abdomen called tympana (which I have totally never confused for the tymbal and grossly embarrassed myself in front of other entomologists, nope, never) to find (or avoid) the songs of the males.

Cicada songs are unique to the species, which is useful, because multiple species can emerge in a given year.  Millions and millions of bugs popping out of the ground, all screaming, and the only way to figure out who is mate with is the specific way the butt vibrates.  Sounds like a challenge. These mass emergences are called broods or year-class (designated by Roman numerals), and this is where the real craziness comes in.

There are three species groups in Magicicada that have distinct endings to the specific epithet (-decim, -cassini and -decula), and each groups has a least two members. We know of seven species, four with a 13-year life cycle, and three with a 17-year life cycle.  Each species is more closely related to other members of its own species group (the distinct endings of the names) than to others with the same life cycle (13 vs 17).  In other words, the 17-year Magicicada septendecim is more closely related to the 13-year Magicicada neotredecim than it is the 17-year Magicicada tredecassini!  How the FUCK did that evolve??

Remember, cicada may live for a long time as nymphs, snug underground, sucking on tree roots, but the adults only live for a season: Scream, fly, fuck, die (not a bad life, tbh).  The year you emerge, that is the year you mate.  What weird selection pressures and epigenetic carry-overs can make a subset of a population suddenly switch from 13 years as a nymph to 17, or vice versa???  You can’t just be off by a year, emerging early or late, because that screws up the benefits of primes.  Because of how bizarre the situation is - I mean, prime numbers, honestly - it’s generally assumed that Magicicadas neatly avoided predation as a selection pressure by utilizing that prime-number system: Predators have a pretty difficult time synchronizing to a weirdo cycle like that.  Predators do take advantage of the mass emergences, because, fuck yeah, abundant protein.  (This includes humans too:  Take off the wings, legs, and heads, batter-dip, and fry.  There are cookbooks for them!) But that doesn’t explain the shifts back and forth from 13 to 17.  Most entomologists that specialize in cicadas think it is likely climate-driven, which is a bit ambiguous, but ecology is fucking hard and nailing down any one or few of the multitude of environmental variables that drive anything is a fundamental challenge of the science (she says from experience >_>).

Now, given there are only so many species and there is a distinct cycle to their emergence, we can predict who comes out when.  There are 12 broods of 17-year cicadas (with five year-classes containing no cicadas), and 3 broods of 13-year cicadas (with ten empty year-classes).  Most of the year-classes contain a mixture of 13- or 17-year species, with a couple exceptions. Brood VII contains only one 17-year species and 13-year Brood XXII has all but one of the 13-year species.  This means that we can also get overlaps!  In 2024, Brood XIII (17-year cicadas) and Brood XIX (13-year cicadas) will be emerging together!

Brood X, coming out this year, is a big fucking brood.  Some broods are small, isolated to state-sized or smaller regions.  But not Brood X.  Here is the map of their emergence.  Solid symbols are certain records; hollow are suspect historical records.

(Map taken from the excellent magicicada.org.)

Billions of bugs!  THE TREES ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF SCREAMING! A fuck-fest of vibrations! Birds and cicada killer wasps and squirrels and snakes and frogs and people feasting on the screaming fruits of trees!

And then....

Silence.

For the next brood that should come out in 2022, Brood XI, was last seen in 1954. Brood XI was a small 17-year brood, isolated to southern New England, and the only study that has looked at the Brood XI extinction suggests that it was driven by climatic shifts as opposed to the only obvious anthropogenic influence to affect cicadas (deforestation and fragmentation), but the timing is weird and coincides with other major insect population declines for the area.  Brood XI is one of two broods to go extinct (the other is Brood XXI from the Florida panhandle).  Pour one out to remember what we have lost.

So, my fellow USAians, I give you something that is uniquely American.  Something we can take pride in.  Something found no where else in the world.  Something that truly makes our continent great.  Embrace them.  Love them.  Our backyards hold unique wonders.

[nabesthetics]

Draconids: Saltwater Dwellers

Description and status in the modern era

Southern High Lindwurm

Danger level: 2.5-3 Elemental affinity: Lightning Intelligence: Sapient Status: Isolated

The only surviving subspecies of sapient water-dwelling lindwurms, Southern High lindwurms are natural inhabitants of cold seas south of the main continent. Formerly encountered in the Strait of Seals, they were pushed further south by human activity, now mainly residing in both deep and shallow waters of the Frozen sea. They build their dens in natural and dragon-made caverns, with underwater entrances in the cliffsides of islands and the continent.

Physiology: Cold-blooded, omnivorous lindwurms covered with thick non-scaled skin. Most are neutral colored in blue/green-ish range, with dark stripes and/or spots; “emerald” morphs haven’t been seen in a few centuries; “ice” morphs are exceptionally rare and appear to be sterile. An average adult reaches 13 ft. in length, with some individuals glowing up to 15 ft. Ice morphs tend to be smaller, up to 10 ft. in length. No observable sexual dimorphism. Theorized average lifespan of ~150 years.

Behavior: Southern lindwurms avoid contact with humans; it is unclear whether they cannot shapeshift at all or simply prefer to remain isolated. Not aggressive, and quite social among their own, they live in communities of 7-10 individuals; rivalries between communities are rare. During winters, entrances to the dens are sealed as lindwurms hibernate for 3-4 months.

Combat: Most possess natural affinity to lightning spells, releasing the charge when biting their prey or opponent, often wrapping their long bodies around the target in the process in attempt to immobilize and/or strangle them. Spellcasters use more powerful electric spells and telekinesis. Ice morphs appear to have stronger magical abilities, though true to their name, they tend to use water and ice magic instead. Generally, lindwurms prefer to flee rather than fight, unless the den or their kin are threatened.

Shoreline High Dragon

Danger level: 4 Elemental affinity: Water Intelligence: Sapient Status: Integrated

Originating from shallow areas of Sea of Persephia, most shoreline high dragons have abandoned their original lifestyle and spread throughout the continent, blending into human society. Now they are most commonly encountered among ship crews; there is a myth of a pirate crew consisting entirely of shoreline high dragons, but actual existence of such a ship is debated.

Physiology: Warm-blooded omnivores covered in short coarse sleek fur. Most often soft green or brown; unusual colorations like “golden” or “midnight” ones used to be rare due to being targeted by predators and humans, but are becoming more common. No distinct marks aside from a light stripe on the edge of their crests and wing membrane. Relatively small dragons, generally up to 9 ft in length, with males being slightly larger. Average lifespan: 230 years.

The distinct 10 antennae are used for detecting magical and life energy currents in both air and water. Their loss makes the dragon disoriented and susceptible to illnesses, though exceptional regeneration abilities of the species allows them fully recover the antennae in about two weeks.  

Behavior: In nature, shoreline dragons would travel along sea coasts and nest in river deltas in pairs or small groups. The nomadic habits made them feel at home aboard human ships. Highly energetic, empathic and most often extroverted, shoreline dragons are one of the few draconid species that fit into human communities without trouble. However, tight bonds with humans often end with a heartbreak due to the dragons’ longer lifespan, and older individuals tend to become more quiet and reclusive over time. For the same reason, these dragons tend to form close relationships with each other – it is uncommon for a shoreline shapeshifter to work alone among humans.

Combat: Shoreline dragons aren’t naturally aggressive, but they are quite easily provoked. If fighting side-to-side with humans, they stick to the same tactics; however, in a life-threatening situation their strategy switches to overwhelming magical force. The shoreline high dragons’ magical affinity is significantly strong and versatile: their instinctual magic revolves around water element, but most of them advance their skillset with other offensive elemental spells and magic schools.

Cloud Chaser

Danger level: 3 Elemental affinity: Air/Lightning Intelligence: Beast Status: Isolated/extinct

Formerly one of the more plentiful species of lesser dragons soaring over the seas in areas with semi-tropical and tropical climate, cloud chasers were exterminated and pushed from the continent during the Dragon Conflict. It is unknown whether they are completely extinct or still reside in territories that humans haven’t reached yet. 

Physiology: Cold-blooded obligatory carnivores covered with small matte scales, sporting a wide variety of color depending on the region, characterized by light areas on long, thin webbed wings. Males’ wings were significantly darker on the outer side. Albino specimens were surprisingly common and didn’t fare much worse than the rest of their kin. Size of an adult individual varied between 15 and 25 feet in length depending on the bloodline. Average natural lifespan is unknown due to high mortality rate, but there is a legend about a cloud chaser that breached 300 years old before being hunted down.

Behavior: Cloud chasers nested on cliffsides, residing in the same territory with a mate and offspring. During the breeding season dragons flew to islands to mate, after which the females returned to their territory with a different male every year. Cloud chasers flew far from the shores to hunt large sea birds, fish and humans, when the latter began contesting the dragons by fishing. Being highly territorial, Cloud chasers would attack boats and ships that moved towards their nesting site, and became a serious threat to vessels in the Emerald sea. Resilience to heights allowed these dragons to soar over most clouds, granting them their name.

Combat: Fast and agile flyers, cloud chasers attacked smaller opponents or prey by diving from the sky, grabbing their targets and lifting them up to drop them onto cliffs or into water from high altitude. They primarily used magic to fly rather than fight, aside from a single trait that made this species especially dangerous during and shortly after thunderstorms. Cloud chasers took to the sky, actively seeking out a lightning hit; absorbing most of the electric power, the dragons could use it over the next few days to unleash devastating elemental attacks onto larger prey — or ships.

Genus: Carved Sea Serpents

A.k.a. “Sea Harvesters”

Danger level: 4 Elemental affinity: None (?) Intelligence: Beast Status: Active, uncovered

Several species of similar physiology and behavior, carved sea serpents are rarely considered draconids outside of expert circles. It is the magical traits of their bodies that prove their belonging in the Dragon Class. Unlike with most draconids, existence of carved sea serpents is a known fact, although they are still surrounded by an array of sailor tales and legends.

Appearance of these beasts in the waters of Salty Sea is very recent; their presence beyond the Strait of Seals used to be anecdotal at best, but the sightings – and attacks – became more frequent over the past few decades, for reasons yet unknown.

Physiology: Cold-blooded obligatory carnivores covered with small scales with almost sandpaper-like surface, and mineral formations that grow and spread throughout the creature’s life, starting at the neck and tip of the tail. Shape and color of the mineral varies from species to species, ranging from rough gray to agate-like rock. Black, gray, brown and teal are the most common hide colors. Legends often mention albino Harvesters or individuals covered with precious crystals, but those claims haven’t met any proper proof so far. Species of carved sea serpents range from 30 to 50 feet as old adults; legendary 100 feet-long individuals haven’t been sighted since the Dragon Conflict. Average lifespan unknown but is theorized to be above 500 years.

Behavior: Despite their uncovered status, behavior of these beasts isn’t well-studied. Carved serpents were never seen in couples or groups, and judging by scars present on most individuals they are highly aggressive towards each other. With primal magic allowing them to breathe underwater and withstand tremendous pressure, they remain in deep waters most of the time, and it’s likely that their young never ascend to the surface until they reach specific age.

There are debates around reasons why the carved serpents come up to the surface, and attack ships when they do, considering that their usual prey consists of animals much larger than humans; some of the incidents suggest that the creatures are provoked by magic use and artifacts. Adjusting ship courses and equipping them with specifically crafted harpoons has reduced the number of attacks, but reports of serpent sightings closer to the shores are concerning.

Combat: Harvesters do not appear* to possess any elemental magic attacks, instead relying on their brute force. However, the said force is enough to grant them a high danger rating, as larger specimens are capable of sinking a large ship in minutes by ramming the hull or crushing both wood and metal with their jaws.

*The creatures are most often seen during severe storms, but it isn’t known if they are simply attracted by the unrest on the surface, or actually affect the weather in any way.

Great Sea Dragon

Danger level: 4-5 Elemental affinity: Water Intelligence: Unknown Status: Active

Common figures in myths, great sea dragons do not actually appear in the internal continent seas. Their sole existence is debated even within dragonhunting circles. Ancient records claim that they did reside in the local waters once, but left by themselves during the Dragon Conflict, and now remain in the Great ocean, acting as one of the reasons humanity hasn’t been able to cross it.

Physiology: Described as serpents visually similar to many land dragons, these creatures are claimed to never stop growing, with ancient, mythical variants reaching 150 ft. long and higher due to their unknown but immensely long lifespan. They are covered in orange, red or blue scales and sport signature fins on their heads and tails.

Behavior: Unknown; old records mention sea dragon attacks on ships and even seaside cities – a sea serpent is claimed to be responsible for one of the early disastrous cataclysms in Ancient Vesuvia – but every story is accompanied with nuances that make the attacks seem to be revenge or retaliation to endangering the serpent or its young. However, if the theory of them destroying ships in the Great ocean is true, then the dragons became much more aggressive since their leave of the continent.

Combat: Great sea dragons are described to have immense destructive magical abilities revolving around controlling the waters around them, raising massive waves and creating maelstroms. Younger individuals that haven’t reached that level of magical prowess would use scalding steam as their elemental breath. Physically, they could crush boats by wrapping their long bodies around the vessel and constricting it.

[polaristranslations]

The Fourth Box

   ■   ■

There's a psychological phenomenon known as the Capgras delusion.

It's when, one day, a person feels that their family member or friend has been switched out for an impostor—of course, this wasn't Lupin III, so there's no way that person's friend was switched out for someone else, but for whatever reason, they couldn't help but feel that way.

Even though they look the same on the outside, they seem different.

Even though they speak in the same way, they sound different.

Even though it's the same atmosphere, they feel different—that's the Capgras delusion.

If that's the case, then I, this Kurokami Medaka may have always—or perhaps, from the very beginning—felt that way towards my brother, Kurokami Maguro. Is this person really my brother? Is it really true that this person is my brother? That's how I felt.

Although, according to Zenkichi, my brother and I resemble each other.

"If you really hate Maguro-san, Medaka-chan, then I would think that's due to hating others that are similar to you. You probably don't want to recognize it, but personally the differences between you two are paper-thin. There's just barely a difference."

Just barely.

Well, rather than not wanting to recognize this opinion of Zenkichi's, it was more like I didn't recognize it at all, but the words "just barely", and those words only, seemed to be surprisingly fitting towards us siblings.

I didn't know about paper-thin, though.

Perhaps if that paper was twofold.

First off, I felt that my brother's existence was just barely on the edge, and secondly, the relationship between my brother and I was just barely on the edge—well, this was a story about after the collapse of Kumagawa Misogi's Student Council, after everything ended on that summer break, but I left my parents' home.

I left my parents' home, and I became independent.

Without taking a penny of the allowance provided by the Kurokami family, I began living independently—one of the big reasons that I entered Hakoniwa Academy was that, as a special scholarship student, I would be exempt from tuition fees.

What?

What did you say, Torai Kudaki?

You're saying that someone like me would be exempt from tuition fees in most schools?

Haha, it's an honor to be overestimated like that.

But that isn't true at all—because I was a bit of a problem child.

I was a problem child in both elementary school and in middle school—even if you took away the fact that I was a scholarship student, it's hard to believe that there would be any school to take me in but Hakoniwa Academy.

After all, Hakoniwa Academy's Class 13 is that sort of class.

That's what I think, anyway.

Incidentally, my brother had also been in Hakoniwa Academy's Class 13—just from that, you'll be able to find more similarities between my brother and I, but the bizarre aspect of my brother was that he quit that Class 13 partway through.

In other words, he dropped out.

And now, he works as the manager of the old school building.

If you think about it, it's quite the unreasonable life—there's no thought or consistency behind it. And if you add the fact that he worked as the Hakobune Middle School Student Council Executive Committee's secretary in his middle school days, then it really starts making no sense at all.

I don't really have any, you know?

Things that "make no sense at all", that is.

It seemed that they've been playing around again recently, but the intimate combination of Kumagawa Misogi and Kurokami Maguro was, from my point of view, something of a nightmare—no, not just to me, but to anyone who looked, it was something of a nightmare.

It might not click to anyone who only knows the present combination of my thornless brother and Kumagawa who's been mellowed out thanks to Tachiarai-senpai, but the combination of the past was something that was shocking and feared by the entire student body of Hakobune Middle School.

Well, at this point in time, I knew nothing of President Kumagawa or Secretary Maguro—but, well, it seemed quite appropriate to make my brother into the Secretary. As a magician who wields the magic known as analysis, my brother had been appointed with the role of record-keeper—however, I would only learn this after the fact, but this appointment had not actually been made by Kumagawa himself.

Kumagawa himself wasn't the kind of person to put the right person in the right place.

It was something I could tell from him appointing me as Treasurer.

Since, according to Zenkichi, I didn't have the disposition to be Treasurer at all—that's why, when I became the Student Council President at Hakoniwa Academy, I approached Kikaijima Mogana, a professional, for the Treasurer position.

Ah, I know.

Why don't I mention this, while I'm at it?

This isn't about Kikaijima Mogana, but about Akune Kouki—the relationship between Akune Kouki and Kurokami Maguro. The Hakobune Middle School's 66th Generation Student Council Executive Committee's Secretary, Kurokami Maguro, and the Hakoniwa Academy's 98th Generation Student Council Executive Committee's Secretary, Akune Kouki.

In terms of their personalities, it seemed they didn't mesh very well.

To be clear.

I'll get into the specifics later, but in the end, the number of people that my brother could "get along with" in terms of general values was surprisingly limited—even though he has such good manners and is always smiling, I guess everyone still feels something from him.

"That person," Akune Kouki had said.

Oh, this was something he said just the other day.

"Maguro-san doesn't seem to have any conception of good or evil—it might be natural for him as an analyst, but it seems like he only feels what he sees as he sees it. How should I put it? Perhaps I should say, he doesn't associate ideas with other ideas. For example, he may look at the sky and see that it's blue, but he won't think of it as pretty. Something like that. There's no doubt that he's not a bad person, but he's absolutely not a good person either—rather than good or evil, it's like he doesn't know right or wrong. That's the kind of person I think he is—and I imagine he's been like that in the past, as well."

Indeed.

As expected, he has an exceptional way of putting things—though that may be usual for him.

Of course, his way of looking at my brother wasn't exactly the same as mine, and if anything, I had some objections to his words from where I stood, but because he didn't know good or evil—because he had no conception of good or evil—perhaps that was why he was a good match for Kumagawa Misogi, who ruined both the good and the evil at the same time.

Although, that could also apply to Miyakonojou Oudo.

In the end, it seemed my brother could only get along with guys like those.

In other words—for me.

For a person like Kurokami Medaka, it seemed my brother wouldn't be able to get along with her for the rest of their lives.

   ■   ■

The Student Council office that my brother took me to was empty.

It seemed that the members wouldn't show up here on a regular basis after school—that was yet another difference between here and Hakoniwa Academy's Student Council. At this point, if I were to enumerate all the differences between Hakobune Middle School's Student Council and Hakoniwa Academy's Student Council, there would be no end to it.

It was harder to find the points they had in common.

Even though they both held the name of Student Council, perhaps it was better to think of them as completely different beings—in terms of animals, it would be as if their appearances were similar, but the genus or species was completely different.

There were animals that intentionally camouflaged themselves to look like other animals, though—with that in mind, I could come up with a new theory. The organization with Kumagawa Misogi at its summit was not a Student Council Executive Committee, but an organization that had simply camouflaged itself as such—well, that seemed more like something to come from President Kumagawa, but regardless of what was the truth, it was the same either way.

It was all in the past, anyway.

It wasn't as if anything would change if we tried to figure out the truth—although if there was something that would change, even the tiniest something that would change, I'm still not sure I would spare the effort to do so.

At any rate, there was no one in the Student Council office after school.

I'd been so sure that President Kumagawa would be there, so it felt a bit anticlimactic. I'd come expecting that it would be a conversation between President Kumagawa, my brother, and me—no, rather than anticlimactic, you could say I felt a sense of danger.

Just think about it.

It was just me and my brother in an otherwise empty room, you know?

I definitely felt a sense of danger at something like this—I wasn't the type of person to run from a battle, but a situation like this was something that made me want to run away.

But, I couldn't run away.

And I couldn't let my brother escape, either.

I had to ask.

"Why?"

I said.

Keeping my feelings in check—bracing myself, trying not to be conscious of the fact that the other person was family.

"Why are you doing something like being a member of the Student Council, onii-sama?"

"Why are you doing something like being a member of the Student Council, onii-sama?"

My brother repeated my words in an affected manner.

And he took his seat at a desk to the right, most likely the desk of the Secretary position.

"What a strange thing to ask, Medaka-chan."

"It isn't that strange. As your sister, I'm simply worried about my brother."

This was a big lie.

If anything, what I was worried about was Hakobune Middle School, in which my brother worked as a member of the Student Council. Yes, to be clear, at this point in time, I was more cautious about my own brother than of Kumagawa Misogi, commonly referred to as "the Minus that crawls from chaos".

I was cautious.

And I regarded him as dangerous.

Just between us, I've seen a lot of people up close, produced by my brother's analysis and gone astray—in terms of having caused people to go astray, I couldn't exactly speak ill of others, but in the case of my brother, it was worse because he caused people to go astray intentionally.

How should I put this—you've heard of the story "Yam Gruel", right?

It's a story about feeding as much yam gruel as possible to a person who likes yam gruel—in terms of ideas, what my brother is doing is fundamentally similar. How should I put it? It's like giving humans a disproportionate amount of power—I'm not sure if this is an appropriate comparison, but what do you think would happen if you used a time machine to go back a thousand years ago and gave the people there cell phones?

It's hard to predict what would happen, right?

It would certainly improve their level of civilization, but it's easy to realize that it won't be just good things that happen—there would definitely be things that are lost or broken. Progressing in one bound without following the proper order would surely cause a distortion somewhere.

My brother is a person that does things like that.

He ends up doing things like that.

That must be why he was employed as the supervisor of the Flask Plan—but, because he was nothing but that sort of person, I suppose I could praise my brother a bit for not getting swallowed up by the Flask Plan itself.

However, three years ago.

When I was in middle school, I didn't have the leeway to think those thoughts.

I didn't have a shred of the feelings of wanting to praise my brother—not a sliver. If anything, I held nothing but hostility towards him. Well... I'd like you to think that it was a difficult age for me.

As for the rest.

It would be my unreasonable... My excessive faith in my brother. Although it might sound a bit unnatural to suddenly bring up the word faith at this stage—but my feelings were such that I knew that he would not tremble in the slightest even if I went at him seriously, even if I hit him seriously.

Facing him with all his might.

That was what the sister thought was the correct way to handle her brother—and even now, I still do think that to some extent. Compared to his middle school days, my brother has mellowed out a bit, but some discretion is still necessary in regards to him.

"Worried, huh? Ah, I understand, Medaka-chan. You're always worried about your dearly beloved brother, aren't you?—but that's why what you're asking is so strange. After all, aren't you going to become a member of this very Student Council, too? I've heard from Kumagawa-kun."

"...I wouldn't have agreed to that invitation if I had known in advance that you were a member, onii-sama."

No.

Had I even agreed to his words in the first place?

Even if I had nodded along, had I truly agreed?

To be honest, it felt like it had gradually moved along in that direction until things were suddenly decided... Ultimately, it may seem as if I had decided it by myself, but how was it really?

"Onii-sama, were you also invited by President Kumagawa?"

"Mm, how should I explain it—how far should I explain it?"

"Well, right now, Medaka-chan, there are things that you should know and things that you shouldn't. For the sake of your future."

"Those are words that don't seem very like you—isn't it your principle to draw out 100% of your target's power?"

"I'm saying that there's information that could be bothersome in drawing out 100% of that power. For example, just because a baby has good muscles, you wouldn't start feeding it protein, right?"

"So am I a baby to you, onii-sama?"

"That wasn't what I was trying to say... You shouldn't snap at me like that. Although, if you want, you're free to bite at me for real."

In that way, my brother dodged the question.

This time wasn't particularly special. My conversations with my brother usually went like this—he would treat me like a kid, and he wouldn't respond to me decently.

That sort of behavior.

That brother of mine probably never once thought about how much it hurt me.

"Well, if you don't like that comparison, then I'll take it back. But with that, just know that I don't necessarily think that you joining the Student Council is a good thing, Medaka-chan."

That was what my brother said.

His expression was the usual grin.

Well, even if I said it was the usual, it might not get across to you—but at any rate, he did not sound particularly serious.

"If it's true that you wouldn't have joined the Student Council Executive Committee if you'd known that I was a part of it, then I really should have publicized that information—instead of hiding it."

"So you did hide it. I thought it was weird that I didn't know about something like that."

"Well, Medaka-chan, you don't have much interest in others, so even if I didn't hide it, I figure you wouldn't have known about it anyway."

"I don't have much interest in others? Don't say something so stupid. I was born to be of use to other people, to strangers."

"You're saying something pretty incredible, huh."

Ahaha, laughed my brother.

It was as if my words didn't reach him at all.

I can more or less understand my brother's state of mind as I am now, but at the time, it was nothing but aggravating. Why was it so hard to understand each other despite being siblings? Why were we so incompatible? That was what I thought.

Perhaps that was a part of my idealism.

That siblings should understand each other.

That they should be able to get along.

Because my mind was rooted in such thinking, when it didn't match the world, I felt a sense of discrepancy—I was living by carrying that sort of imaginary stress on my shoulders, so I can understand now why Zenkichi was worried about me.

Thinking about it, I do regret it.

If only I had realized three years ago.

If so, at the very least, I wouldn't have accepted President Kumagawa's invitation to become the Treasurer of Hakobune Middle School's Student Council Executive Committee.

"In that case, I was born to show love towards my little sister."

My brother laughed.

Though rather than laughing, it seemed more like he was ridiculing me.

"Medaka-chan. For you, how much does the world encompass?"

"Huh?"

I was bewildered at the sudden question.

Although, it was rare that I wasn't bewildered when it came to talking with my brother.

"What do you mean by that? The world?"

"Yes, the world. When you hear the phrase 'the world', Medaka-chan, where do you think that is? When you say the phrase 'the world', how many meters is the radius you're referring to?"

"......"

I couldn't figure out the intention behind his question.

It was probably some sort of psychology test, so it was probably something I could answer with whatever came to mind, but I could only assume that such things varied from time to time.

"...I don't really see a meaning to trying to perceive the range of the world, but if I have to answer, wouldn't the world refer to everything in this world? Basically—the greatest range possible. That's what I perceive as the world."

"As I expected. Since you are greedy, after all."

"Greedy?"

Yet another awful word.

Even for a lack of restraint around family members, it was pretty terrible.

"What about me is greedy?"

"Ultimately, the world is limited to the range which you can affect—so when you imagine everything in this world, that's no different from saying that you want to make everything in this world yours."

In my eyes, you're no different from a Great Demon Lord scheming for world domination, said my brother.

A Great Demon Lord, he said.

For lack of a better word, that was awful.

That was what I thought, but I learned afterwards that he was simply likening me to an RPG or some other game. It was an apt metaphor for my brother, whose hobby—or perhaps doctrine—was to raise the level of game characters to level 99, so to speak, but since I didn't have that level of knowledge about games, I didn't realize it.

"If we take it there, then Kumagawa-kun is different. He's the complete opposite of you, Medaka-chan."

"How is it different? The way he thinks, and the way I think?"

My state of mind wasn't exactly calm anymore, but I still wanted to hear my brother's opinion on the matter.

Kumagawa Misogi.

That unidentifiable, quite the unidentifiable boy. How had my brother analyzed him?—that was what I'd come to ask in the first place.

"Medaka-chan. If you're trying to conquer the world."

Without putting on airs, without trying to sound meaningful.

My brother spoke casually.

"Kumagawa-kun—wants to destroy the world."

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

The Bromacker Fossil Project Part VII: Eudibamus cursoris, the Original Two-legged Runner

Holotype specimen of Eudibamus cursoris, the most complete bolosaurid reptile known. Photo by the author, 2013.

Stuart Sumida discovered some small bones in the Bromacker quarry in 1993, the same year that the holotype skeleton of Diadectes absitus was found. Dave Berman told me that when Stuart showed them to him, he couldn’t see anything because they were so small. Upon closer examination, Dave, Stuart, and Thomas Martens identified them as those of the captorhinomorph reptile Thuringothyris mahlendorffae. Thomas’ wife Stefani, whose maiden name is Mahlendorff, discovered the first specimen in the Bromacker in 1982, and Thomas and a colleague named it in her honor in a 1991 publication.

The fossil was exposed in several pieces of rock, which Thomas shipped to Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) along with the large block of rock containing Diadectes. I didn’t prepare the specimen until several years later, as other projects, including the Diadectes, overshadowed it. Once I began working on it, though, Dave and I realized that it was not Thuringothyris. Indeed, we had no idea what type of animal it was, and our puzzlement grew as I exposed more of it. The identity wasn’t revealed until I had uncovered some very unusual, tiny teeth, which under the high magnification of the preparation microscope appeared to have a bulbous cusp towering over a basin. They looked vaguely familiar to me, but because I couldn’t immediately put a name on them, I rushed to get Dave from his office. Once Dave saw the teeth, he realized that the specimen was a new genus and species in the rare, enigmatic reptile group Bolosauridae.

Tiny teeth of a bolosaurid reptile, Bolosaurus striatus, in lateral (side; left) and occlusal (chewing surface; right) views. The specimen is in the CMNH Vertebrate Paleontology collection. Photos by Spencer Lucas (Research Associate, CMNH).

Until the discovery of Eudibamus cursoris, bolosaurids were represented in the fossil record by two genera, Bolosaurus and Belebey, which were based mainly on poorly preserved skull and fragmentary jaw fossils from Texas and Russia, respectively. Even though bolosaurids had been known since 1878, their relationship to other reptiles was not well understood. The nearly complete anatomy of Eudibamus allowed our team to determine that bolosaurids are the oldest member of the ancient group of reptiles called Parareptilia. This group has no living relatives, except possibly for turtles, a hypothesis that is highly debated by scientists.

Closeup of front and hind legs of Eudibamus. The hind leg, folded upon itself, is considerably longer than the front leg. Photo by the author, 2013.

When our study of the fossil began, we realized that Eudibamus was very different than other reptiles from that time. Proportions of the limbs and positions of the articulation surfaces on the upper and lower hind leg bones indicated that, in terms of posture, Eudibamus resembled a bow-legged human with a bad back instead of a typical sprawling reptile on four legs. It could stand and locomote on its hind legs in an upright posture (bipedal) with its legs held close together and in the same plane (parasagittal).

Dave was in constant phone communication with team member Dr. Robert Reisz (Professor, University of Toronto at Mississauga). One day Robert called Dave to ask if all the tail had been exposed, because he learned that modern lizards that are able to run bipedally have a long tail to help maintain their balance. The specimen was in Dave’s office and he immediately uncovered more of the tail and then let me finish the task. The tail was indeed very long and extended close to the edge of the block, which I had previously reduced in size. Additionally, we determined that the third, fourth, and fifth toes of the hind foot also were greatly elongated through lengthening of some of the individual toe bones, and that the first and second toes were extremely shortened by the reduction in size of individual toe bones. We hypothesized that when Eudibamus ran bipedally, it would rise on its toes, so that only the tips of the third, fourth, and fifth toes would contact the ground.

Drawing of the hind leg of Eudibamus cursoris (left) and the roughly contemporaneous reptile Captorhinus (right). Leg drawings are scaled to the same torso length of the whole animal. Illustrations of the animals are not to scale. Hind leg drawings are modified from Berman et al., 2000 and animal illustrations are from Wikimedia Commons.

Eudibamus occurred at least 60 million years before other bipedal, parasagittally-running reptiles appeared in the fossil record. This is reflected in its scientific name, which is derived from the Greek “eu,” meaning original or primitive, and “dibamos,” meaning on two legs. “Cursoris” is Latin, meaning runner. Examples of other reptiles using this locomotion mode are the dinosaurs Allosaurus fragilis and Tyrannosaurus rex, which you can view in CMNH’s Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition.

So, what was the advantage of being able to run bipedally instead of running on all four legs? Lengthening the hind leg and foot would greatly increase stride length, especially if only the tips of the toes contacted the ground, which is an efficient way to increase speed. Eliminating arm to ground contact while running removes forelimbs from the path of the long-striding hind legs. The bulbous teeth and jaw structure of Eudibamusindicate that it was herbivorous. It seems likely, then, that Eudibamus used its ability to sprint to avoid becoming a tasty meal for a pursuing predator.

Peter Mildner (exhibit preparator at the Museum der Natur, Gotha) made a surprise visit to the Bromacker one afternoon to show us a model of Eudibamus cursoris he’d made. This image shows the model in the present day Bromacker quarry, part of the region it inhabited 290 million years ago. Photo by the author, 2006.

One of our laments is that a fossil trackway preserving Eudibamus walking quadrupedally and then switching to a bipedal gait has yet to be found.

Next time you are at CMNH, make sure you see the cast of the fossil skeleton and a model of Eudibamus that are exhibited in the Fossil Frontiers display case in CMNH’s Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition. Stay tuned for my next post, which will feature the herbivorous mammal-like reptile Martensius bromackerensis.

For those of you who would like to learn more about Eudibamus, here is a link to the 2000 Science publication in which it was described: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/290/5493/969.

Amy Henrici is Collection Manager in the Section of Vertebrate Paleontology at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum employees are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.

[springfieldleather]

Gator, Croc or Caimain? | Identifying Crocodilian Leather

If you’re anything like me, you might have trouble when it comes to identifying an alligator...or was it a crocodile? These water-loving reptiles look strikingly similar and can be tough to name. While it may take careful consideration to distinguish between them when they’re alive, they can be even tougher to ID in leather form.

That is why we spent this week diving into the world of crocodilians and unearthing the secrets behind recognizing their leather. 

Wild Distinguishment 

We get nerdy about live crocodilians 

First, let’s get the obvious part out of the way. Being that crocodiles, alligators and caiman are all reptiles, they all share distinct reptilian features like scaly, armored skin and long, low bodies with tails that are great for the amphibian lifestyle.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s chat about the classification of crocodiles, alligators and caimans. To start, they are all part of the same Order: crocodilia. While they may look the same, they are different enough to be split into two families: Alligatoridae and Crocodyloidea. Caimans and alligators belong to the same family, though they are split into different subfamilies that are very similar to their common names. For that reason, alligators and caiman are often grouped together when discussing physical traits - just like we’re going to do in this post. Their leather is pretty different, but we’ll get to that part later.

So we’re still going the science route, but this part is less stuffy. Do you know how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? A lot of folks will jump to head shape. Crocodiles tend to have a thinner jaw, while alligators (and caimans) have a wide jaw. While this test is a fairly safe bet when discussing American crocodilians, it doesn’t apply to them all. There are crocodiles and alligators with both head shapes. 

Some folks will note size, as caimans tend to be smaller than both alligators and crocodiles. It’s important to note that size is not necessarily indicative of genus or species as crocodiles and alligators are not born gigantic. So, just like head shape, this rule doesn’t apply across the board and should not be the lone factor in identifying crocodilians.

The best way to tell the difference is by looking at two things: the setup of the jaw and little bumps called Integumentary Sense Organs or ISOs. 

The way alligatoridae’s jaws are setup has a smoother look. These guys sport an overbite, much like us. It makes only their top row of teeth visible when their mouths are closed and gives them a look akin to a smirk. Crocodiles have a bite that rests their teeth right on top of each other so that both rows of teeth are visible with a closed mouth. As a result, their mouths look jagged and more dangerous than smooth-jawed alligatoridaes. While this difference is perhaps the easiest to spot, it’s not at all helpful when talking about leather because teeth are removed during the tanning process. 

A caiman shows off its overbite. Doesn’t it look like a cheeky smile? 

The final distinguishing feature is the location of ISOs, little sensory-detecting bumps that make crocodilians truly formidable opponents. These ISOs make heavily armored crocodilians more sensitive to movement and touch than human fingertips. While all crocodilians have ISOs, only crocodiles (and the nearly extinct gharial) have them all over their bodies. Alligatoridae just have them on their faces. ISOs are absent from the top of the head of all crocodilians. These bumps can be tough to see after tanning, but pronounced ISOs are easy to spot.  

See the little black dots on this croc? Those are ISOs! Image via Vanderbilt.edu

Leather Differences 

Now that you know about the wild side of things, let’s get to the material

So, you know the basic way to spot the difference between alligatoridae and crocodyloidea, but what’s the situation with leather? From here on out, we’re switching to street names and we’ll stop grouping caiman and alligators together.

Why? Well, it may surprise you to learn that when it comes to leather, alligator and crocodile are very similar. It turns out those alligatoridae family members are not as similar to each other once they’re tanned. 

These wee little things are crocodile, though many SLC staffers ID’d them as caiman at first. IDing was tough because ISOs were not easily spotted either. We used some of the tips below and had some help from the tannery. 

 All of these animals are pretty darn similar after they’re tanned, but there are three key factors that will help you ID your leather. 

ISOs

No, this leather doesn’t have acne

We talked about ISOs earlier in this post. These little bumps, that sometimes look like blackheads, are found on all three of the reptiles in question, but only crocodiles have them all over. While some tanning practices can render ISOs virtually invisible, some tanners keep this distinguishing feature in tact as a sign of authenticity. You can still find ISOs on alligators and caiman that have their facial features left in tact. 

Notice the darker, pimple-like marks on this alligator piece. Those are ISOs. This section is  the side of the alligator’s head - think of it as a cheek. They can be tough to see, but are notably missing from the rest of the skin.

ISOs aren’t always around when you’re trying to identify leather, but if you can spot them all over, you know you’re rocking with a crocodile. 

Pliability

With great softness comes a great price tag

You can rank our crocodilian friends based on value that is determined by one major factor: workability. When it comes to leather, ISOs aside, crocodiles and alligators are actually more similar to each other than caiman. This is not because of size, but because of their rigidity or hand. 

The back and belly of an alligator. Notice how this leather doesn’t lay as flat as a lot of the caiman we have pictured. It’s due to the softness and size of these pieces. 

Caimans have calcium rivets in their scales making their fibers denser and more rigid. That rigidity causes caiman leather to be a bit tougher to work with. While the degree of rigidity is partially determined by tannage, caiman spinal scales  will pretty much always be tougher than those found on alligators and crocodiles. For that reason, caiman will often sport a much lower price point.  

Crocodile is in the middle of this heirarchy as it is more pliable and easier to work with than caiman, but not as soft as alligator. Crocodile leather will be priced pretty similarly to alligator for this reason. 

Of course, that puts alligator at the top of the list with the most workable skin and the highest ticket price. Alligator is also easier to tan, so you may find that they have a more consistent color and finish.

Caiman Complexion

Something we’ve noticed

We gathered just about every iteration of caiman we could find in our warehouse. From full skins to tails large and small. We even found some spines! While it may be tough to spot, nearly every piece of caiman here has a different hand to it. 

One thing we noticed when working with caiman is that it’s easily identified due to some mysterious little markings on their scales. They may be tougher to spot on the belly, but they’re visible on just about every surface of a caiman except for their sides. 

Notice the pore-like dots on these scales? Not the dark marks, but the small groupings of holes. They almost look like feathers plucked out of a bird or a bad skin day. This is a feature we noticed on all of the caiman pieces we had and couldn’t find them on any crocodile or alligator. Unfortunately, we’re not aware of any scientific jargon associated with these marks, so we’ll just refer to it as complexion. 

In Short

A quick recap for those in a rush

A crocodile spine

If you want to know what leather you’re dealing with look for ISOs, check price and pliability, and check your leather’s complexion. If you’re lucky enough to come across a tannery sticker, the work’s been done for you! 

The truth is, IDing this leather can be tough, even when you have each kind in front of you. But, with a little practice it’ll all come together. 

If you’re interested in learning more about crocodilian leather, be sure to use the links provided throughout this article.

If you want to purchase some crocodilian skins from us, please visit our website or visit us in-store where our selection is wider. If you have any additional crocodilian leather facts or questions, please use the Inbox button at the top of this page or send Kevin an email by filling out the form on our website.

[lovemychinchilla]

Should You Get a Chinchilla Or a Mouse?

If you want a small, furry, cuddly pet then chinchillas and mice make good choices. But is one better, or does it come down to personal preference?

Should you get a chinchilla or a mouse? We believe that chinchillas make the better pets as their fur is softer, they live longer and they smell less. However, you might prefer mice as they're smaller and arguably cuter. To decide, spend time around each in a pet shop, at a breeder, or at a friend's house and come to your own conclusions. Both require adequate care, so neither is 'easier' to look after; neither is 'low-maintenance', but both can give you years of companionship.

Our guide details every difference between chinchillas and mice, from how they behave to how you care for them. We'll also make recommendations on what you can do if you can't decide between them.

Are Chinchillas Better Than Mice?

We firmly believe that chinchillas make better pets than mice—but of course we'd say that. What really makes the difference is which pet is better for you, because what you want in a pet might be different to what we think makes a good pet. So, for example, we value the long-term companionship that chinchillas—which can live to ripe old ages—provide. But you might not want the responsibility of looking after a pet for so long.

To help you decide, the guide below is divided into lots of sections. We've looked at every aspect of caring for a chinchilla or a mouse, from which is easier to look after and which is more expensive, to which prefer human company and handling. By the end, you should know which pet you prefer.

What's The Difference Between a Chinchilla And a Mouse?

Mice and chinchillas aren't the same species. They aren't even in the same family.

Mice are in the family Muridae, a very large family that contains dozens and dozens of different species which can be found on every continent bar Antarctica. The house mouse, Mus musculus, is a part of this family; the subfamily Gerbillinae is, too, which contains gerbils. The Muridae family is part of the order Rodentia, or in English, rodents. The pet mouse is a domesticated version of the Mus musculus.

There are only two species of chinchilla, the long-tailed and the short-tailed. They are in the family Chinchillidae, which is unique to South America. They are closely related to several other animals, including viscachas, chinchilla rats and, more distantly, guinea pigs.

A species, if you didn't know, is defined by what it can successfully breed with. Animals in the same species can breed with one another and produce viable, fertile offspring that will produce further generations. Animals in the same genus (small grouping) may be able to mate, although the offspring is likely to be infertile. Animals that are only a part of the same family are anatomically or biologically unable to reproduce. Chinchillas and mice fall into this latter category as they are only distantly related.

Given that they aren't close cousins, mice and chinchillas look completely different. Mice are much smaller than chinchillas, have much shorter fur, have less fluffy tails and big bulging eyes.

Are Mice Or Chinchillas Easier to Care For?

There's no such thing as a low-maintenance pet. There are pets that don't require walks, and pets that don't require constant vet visits; but the idea that you can keep a pet in a cage and not pay attention to it for days on end is a myth. This applies to both chinchillas and mice. Whichever you get, you will need to:

Clean its cage every night. This is known as spot cleaning, and it's essential. You swap out damp bedding/fleece and replace it with fresh, sweep up any discarded hay or poop, and wipe down anything that needs to be wiped down. This stops bacteria and cage-smell from building up.

Spend time with it or around it. Animals go stir-crazy if left in cages without any stimulation. Cage accessories help, but spending time with you helps, too.

Take it to the vet for a checkup at least once a year, and any time it displays signs of ill health. While they're small, both chinchillas and mice can show signs that they're in pain or severely stressed—they can suffer. This means they need medical care when sick or hurt.

Supply it with food and refresh its water bottle occasionally.

Switch out toys for new ones occasionally. This stops your pet from getting bored with its toys. Rodents also love to gnaw, so things in their cage like hides and wheels get damaged and need replacements sometimes.

Allow it some outside-the-cage time occasionally. Again, this stops your pet from getting stressed. Some owners let their pets out of their cages once a day, others once a week; some time is essential.

If you don't feel like you can provide this level of care, then we don't recommend getting either a chinchilla or a mouse. A plant which only needs watering and occasional fertilizer would be a better choice.

Which is better? Neither, as both require attentive care.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Live Longer?

Chinchillas live much longer than mice. You might see this as either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

The average chinchilla's lifespan is around ten years. This is extraordinarily long for a rodent, as rodents normally have very short lives. They make up for it by having lots of offspring, and having litters several times a year. But chinchillas are the exception: not only do they live a long time, but they typically have only one kit (baby) per litter, and only two or three litters per year. The longest-lived chinchilla ever—which featured in the Guinness Book of World Records—reached an incredible 29 years, an age unheard of for a rodent of any kind.

Mice, on the other hand, live for only between one and two years on average. The oldest mouse ever (Fritzy) only reached seven years old, and it's highly unlikely that your pet mouse would reach such an advanced age.

But which you prefer, here, is up to you. You might want a pet that gives you companionship for many years, through thick and thin, and who you can raise as part of your family. If so, a chinchilla is a good choice. Or, you may feel that you don't want the responsibility of looking after a pet for so long; maybe you have to move house frequently, you don't have a steady job, or you just know you'll get bored of owning a pet before long. If so, a mouse would be a better choice (although if you aren't intent on being a careful owner, we don't recommend any pet).

Which is better? It depends on your perspective, but we think the long-term companionship a chinchilla provides is best.

Are Mice Or Chinchillas Cheaper to Keep?

Chinchillas and mice cost roughly the same amount to keep—at least at first.

The similarity of their cost is because of the similarity of their care. Both chinchillas and mice require cages to live in, cheap food to eat and water to drink, occasional vet checkups, cage accessories and cleaning supplies, and toys. As such, the cost of caring for one isn't really any more than the other.

Where chinchillas and mice do differ is that chinchillas are more difficult to find. Mice can be found in any pet shop across the western world, while chinchillas are considered exotic. While we don't recommend buying pets from a pet store for a variety of reasons, almost everybody does, and mice are cheaper if you do. You can find chinchillas available for free adoption for shelters, however, which would cut out this cost.

One cost you can't avoid, however, is the cost of keeping a chinchilla for such a long time. Mice only live a year or two, so you'll only have to pay for yours for a year or two. You may decide to get another afterwards, but if you find that having pets puts too much pressure on your wallet, you don't have to. Chinchillas, on the other hand, can live for a decade or more; you'll have to pay for yours throughout that time, or if you can't, surrender it to a shelter. So, while chinchillas aren't more expensive on a day to day basis, they do cost more since they live longer.

Which is better? It's cheaper to care for a mouse for its average lifespan than it is to care for a chinchilla for its average lifespan.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Smell More?

One way in which chinchillas are distinctly better than mice is their odor.

Mice have the typical rodent smell that you're likely already familiar with. It's a stale, musky smell that's instantly recognizable. They smell a little like pee. While you get used to the smell over time, and you can stop it from getting obnoxiously bad by cleaning your pet's cage regularly, all mice smell like this anyway. All you can do is make the smell less obvious.

Chinchillas, while they are rodents, don't smell like other rodents. They are much cleaner, much more hygienic, and so smell much less. Here's why:

Chinchillas don't pee as frequently as other rodents. Because they come from a dry habitat, they conserve water by peeing much less. Plus most chinchillas litter train themselves, in a sense, by peeing in one corner of the cage to avoid getting it in their fur.

Chinchillas take regular dust baths to keep their fur clean. This stops grease, bacteria, fungus or anything else that might smell from building up in their fur.

Chinchillas don't produce as much dander as other pets. Their fur is so thick that their dander—skin flakes—can't escape.

Chinchillas produce solid poops, not sticky, smelly ones. The sloppier poop is, the smellier it is, and because chinchillas conserve water their excrement is very dry.

That's not to say that chinchillas don't produce any smells at all. They smell faintly like a rodent, but mice, rats, hamsters and others are notoriously strong-smelling—and chinchillas don't stink up the place anywhere near as much. The main smell you'll notice is the hay you feed your chin, which is actually quite pleasant, as pet smells go.

Which is better? Chinchillas, and by a mile, too.

Do Mice Or Chinchillas Have Softer Fur?

Chinchillas have much, much softer fur than mice. If you want a small cuddly pet, chinchillas win that category hands-down.

Chins have long, dense fur. It's not shiny and lustrous like after you use a nice shampoo; rather, it's dense, fluffy and soft, almost like an expensive makeup brush. Mice have short fur that, while not unpleasant to stroke and touch, isn't anywhere near as nice as that of a chinchilla.

The reason chinchillas have such thick fur is that they come from a cold place. They come from the Andes Mountains, a range that spans the entire west coast of South America. They live high up in the mountains, and to shield themselves from the harsh wind and cold winters, they evolved thicker and thicker fur. The chinchillas that live higher up in the mountains—short-tailed chinchillas—have thicker fur than their lowlands and coastal cousins, who don't need to keep as warm.

What makes chinchilla fur so special is that despite being so luxurious, you hardly need to lift a finger to keep it clean. Your chinchilla will do it for you. Chins groom themselves and each other frequently, hardly even get infestations like fleas or lice, and don't need to bathe in water. All you need to do is give your chinchilla dust baths once a week. You provide your chinchilla with a bowl with about an inch of special mineral dust in it, and your pet will roll around in it: no scrubbing, no shampoo, no effort. This dust simulates the volcanic dust your chin would roll around in in the wild.

Believe it or not, but this is enough to keep your chinchilla's coat perfectly clean. The dust acts like talc, wicking up dampness and grease, and sticking to the fur to provide freshness and softness until the next bath.

Which is better? Chinchillas.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Handle Better?

While they do have softer fur, that doesn't mean you can squeeze, cuddle and play with your chinchilla around the clock.

Both chinchillas and mice are skittish, sensitive and delicate creatures. All rodents are. Chinchillas have particularly delicate ribcages, not because they have floating ribs as many assume, but because a large proportion of each rib is made of cartilage. Cartilage is much bendier and less rigid than bone, which means the ribs can easily be squashed against organs, or worse still, broken completely. Mice, for their part, are small and can easily be killed when cuddled and squeezed too hard.

You can teach both pets to submit to handling, but neither will ever enjoy it in the sense that you enjoy it. Remember, in the wild, there's no reason an animal might want to pick up a mouse or a chinchilla other than to eat it; it therefore takes a long time for either pet to learn to trust you. Once they do, they might run around on your shoulders, sit on the palm of your hand, or simply sit near you in your company. But neither will ever want to be held and cuddled like some kind of living teddy bear.

This is one of the main reasons why we don't recommend chinchillas as pets for kids. Children love to cuddle their pets, but don't know their own strength, and can easily hurt pet chinchillas.

Which is better? Neither.

Which Is Better, Mice Or Chinchillas?

We believe that chinchillas make the better pet, although we're admittedly biased. We think that a chinchilla's soft fur, its long lifespan and its hygienic nature make it the ideal pet, not just the better of these two options.

That being said you may not feel the same. As such, we recommend spending time around both mice and chinchillas. Whether that means observing or even handling them at a pet shop, talking to a local breeder, or spending time with a friend who owns one of these pets, being around both mice and chinchillas will tell you which you prefer. You might prefer how small and cute a mouse is, and that's something you can only really appreciate when you're around one. Or, you might like how soft and dense the chinchilla's coat is, which is, again, something that's better to experience than read about. So, come to your own decision and pick whichever is best for you.

Extra Credit: Can a Chinchilla Live With a Mouse?

You can't keep a mouse in the same cage as a chinchilla. Or, more accurately, you can—but they'll fight tooth and nail, and your chinchilla will eventually kill your mouse. Chinchillas don't like mice and mice don't like chinchillas, in any sense.

Why Can't Chinchillas Live With Mice?

The reason why chinchillas and mice can't live together is that they view each other as competition. They will fight over food and space.

This is ingrained in both species. Since people rarely try and house chinchillas with other species, it hasn't been documented often, but what has is competition between chinchillas. Chins can fight even if they've bonded to one another, and they fight over space (hides and platforms) or food (hay racks, food bowls and water bottles). It stands to reason that your chinchilla, if it would fight with another chinchilla over these things, would also fight with a mouse over them. And while you can bond chinchillas with one another, you can't bond a chinchilla with a mouse.

What you can do is keep your chinchilla and mouse in separate cages. This shouldn't be a problem, so long as the cages aren't kept close together.

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

#chinchillas #chinchillafaqs

[zenosanalytic]

Building Braazh: Peoples: Gaans

Overview

Gaahins, or sometimes Gaans(Ludicrocuta crocuta), both shortenings of the formal Taalsh Gahnuimarain(Modern Informal Taalsh sing: Gaahan, pl: Gaahain), are warm-blooded, omnivorous(leaning carnivore), digitigrade, varipedal Hyaenids. Gaahin is not technically correct grammarways, but rather a punning onomatopoeic transformation of Gaahan, meant to more closely resemble the distinctive laugh- or cough-like quality of their speech and emotive vocalizations. Their average body temperature is 40 C(104 F). They are well known for their matriarchal and competitive Dominance-based socializing, “Banding” instinct, unique attitudes towards “property”, dying, and the dead, their native talent for magic dealing with death(Morturgy) and the dead(Necrurgy and Necromancy), their physical affinity for transmogrification/bioalchemy, their ability to eat and digest nearly any animal tissue even after mortification, their size and love of Bigness, their gregariousness, and their high rates of poliphobia(fear of cities). Gaahins can be found throughout Braazh though they prefer warmer climes and open spaces, and in all manner of employment, though they prefer pastoral and physical labor. The oldest Gaahins known have been in their 60s though, given their attitude to undeath and skill with the Mortuthaumic Arts, this scarcely slows them down.

Appearance and Physiology

Gaahins display significant sexual dimorphism, with males typically being ⅔ the size of females. On average, adult female Gaahain are between 230cm(7ft 6in) and 250cm(8ft 2in) tall, and weigh between 115kg(254lbs) and 175kg(286lbs). Males run between 153cm(5ft) and 167cm(5ft 6in) in height and 60kg(132lbs) and 85kg(187lbs). Female Gaahain also put on, build, and maintain muscle more easily than males. The lower bodies of Gaahain are generally long and lean, with the exception of their thighs and hips which are two of their primary fat-deposits. Gaahain torsos are more v-shaped, with wide shoulders and broad chests and backs, and a narrow gut. This is a secondary sexual characteristic in Gaahain females, and as such their upper torso will grow even wider with the onset of physical maturity. The hips of Gaahain females will also widen, giving them, when standing bipedally, a distinctive hour-glass silhouette. While bodytypes vary, on average the gut acts as a secondary fat-deposit, and narrow-yet-paunchy bellies are a stereotypical feature of their depiction in popular art.

Gaahain can move both bipedally and quadrupedally, as situation dictates. Gaahain arms are quite long, displaying a wingspan-to-height ratio of between 1.5 and 1.7, and their hands, fingers, and arms are quite broad and muscular. Their torsos are relatively long for bipeds, about one third the length of their bodies, and their legs relatively short. When hand-walking, Gaahain do not take the flat-backed posture common to quadrupeds, instead maintaining a shallow angle, growing shallower the higher their rate of motion. Gaahain can sprint quiet fast in this way, and display remarkable agility in motion. The eponymous Gaan-gloves, large and sturdy leather gloves with thickly padded and textured digits, are a common accessory that facilitate this travel. Their lungs and heart are quite large for their body, allowing them to maintain high-speeds for long periods of time; something which, in the past, made them prized messengers and couriers, and still makes them valuable in outdoor, wide-ranging employment today. For longer distance or less pressing travel, or when they must use their arms and hands for something else, Gaahins will switch to bipedal locomotion. Their bipedal gait has a particular spring and bounce to it, turning to a full-on skip at a sprint and, while they can run on two legs, few prefer it. Gaahins, left to preference, will often take advantage of their height, arm length, and prodigious upper-bodies to do stationary work while sitting at “low”(by their standards) tables, their legs folded comfortable before or beneath them. In cities which favor a more thorough-going bipedalism in their architecture and design, it is common to see Gaahain standing bipedal when at work, ceilings-permitting. Relatively few Gaahain choose a high-density urban life, however, usually taking work on the edges of towns and cities, or in low-density areas within them, when they live in cities. This love of open spaces also makes them, historically, strong advocates for civic parks.

Gaahain are covered in a short, sparse fur which tapers out at the hands and feet. This fur is multi-leveled; split between a very fine underfur, and a middle-length, stout, bristle-layer. These two levels can have quite different coloring, lending a striking “frosted” look. Some will display a mane along the top of the head and down the neck and spine. This fur displays a wide variety of colors and patterns, which are often a good clue to the Gaahin’s origins and age, to those aware of fashion. Base colors run from greyish blue, through pale teals and yellows, on to auburns, clay-reds, and browns. Composite and mottled coats exist. Spots and stripes are common, as is darker fur at the extremities and face. Fur coloring -through dyes, bioalchemy, and Cosmetic Transmog- is common, as is styling.

The Gaahain snout is shorter, blunter, and wider than that of their crocrutid cousins and their jaws, while robust in comparison to most Peoples, relatively weaker and less muscular than that their wild relatives. Their canines are also small for their size though they are still dangerous in a close, unarmored fight. Gaahain premolars and molars remain robust, though, and can gnaw and grind bone easily(Gaahain cuisines can be a tad too Textural for others, as a result). Their faces are wide, their foreheads tall, and their ears large, rounded, and mobile. Gaahain helmets, like those of Elves, often include low domes for the ears to be folded back into. Gaahain sight is generally quiet good, though their visual and color acuity are weakened by adaptations for low-light vision, and their sense of smell respectable, though not first rate. Their ability to detect sweet tastes, and vegetal chemistry in general, is rather weak though, like Aarkhs, they have particular affinities for certain plants, such as the genus Nepeta. Their brains are larger, in absolute terms, than those of humans, though in about the same proportion relative to their bodies. Gaahain vocal chords have a prodigious range and their voices display a commensurate variety. However, the depth of the vocal chords, robustness of the throat, and wideness&length of the mouth gives their voices a multi-level resonance, and slight huskiness or raspiness, regardless of pitch. For whatever reason, other mammals find this particular cadence rather enthralling and compelling, and can sometimes find themselves following Gaahain commands before they realize it, and without really knowing why. The same qualities mean they can be quite loud when they want to be. While particular in effect, these natural vocal qualities do prove beneficial to Gaahain who study Weirding.

Social Behavior

Gaahain are social animals; gregarious, promiscuous, competitive, cooperative, communal, and xenophilic. Like all species they display these qualities in unique and particular ways and, for the sake of summary, the most important of these particularities can be described as “Banding”, “Dominance”, and “Competition”. These, and those in quotes to follow, are scholarly terms only.

Banding begins from the moment a Gaahin can move reliably under their own power and perceive the world. On their own accord, they will seek out non-related peers and attempt to situate themselves(and organize those chosen) into a Band, with which(or perhaps more accurately, through which) they will interact with the world, together, as a unit. They live together, move together, play together, Compete together, politick together, fight together, and work together if possible. Groups of between 12 and 20 individuals, are common; less than this minimum of intimates typically leads to anxiety, more than this maximum will typically lead to conflict, but both less and more are seen in some cultures. The Band and the instinct behind it form the basis of Gaahain sociability, though how cultures channel and shape them differ; Gaahain without a Band will feel lonely, vulnerable, and extremely stressed(similar to isolated Humans). Bandmates do not need to be Gaahins; it is entirely instinctive, and Gaahain toddlers will Band with any peer who responds appropriately to their approaches. At younger ages Banding tends to be more mutable and fluid as youths experiment, build relationships, and work out their particularly social needs and preferred positions, but as puberty approaches Bands will grow more concrete. Banding is an intense emotional experience and core to Gaahain identity; it would be a mistake to think of Bands as mere social alliances or associations. Their emotional intensity, it would be fair, to compare to Romance in some other Peoples, though one should not take this analogy too far; Banding is its own, unique, emotional experience.

At the center of every Band is a “Core” of 3 to 5 most-Dominant individuals, the “Dames”, and “Dominance” defines the relationships of all Bandmates to each other. This “Dominance” is multiform. The ability to form coalitions, to convince or manipulate others, to influence events, to provide opportunities, to assess situations and form successful responses, to plan successfully, to manage others and help them achieve their goals and, most importantly, to protect and promote one’s Band and Bandmates; all these and much else can(or not) establish it. So, too, can courage, risk-taking, empathy, lineage, beauty, and sheer physical size and skill. “The Capacity to Inspire, Succeed, and Make Things Happen” would be one accurate summary, and an appropriately vague one as Dominance is a basic emotion, culturally-influenced and influencing, and personally-interpreted as both an intimate and social experience. Gaahain Dominance is not a one-for-one translation of Status as defined by other Peoples: wealth, fame, social position, and authority can be irrelevant regarding Dominance(particularly Band-Dominance). Three things, roughly, define a Band: 1)the chemistry of the Dames; 2)the personal relationships which constitute the Band and 3)the belief in the Dames’ ability, as a unit, to lead and provide, which forms the foundation of those relationships and is reinforced by them. Outside challenges to Band-Dominance typically receive a severe, and united, response.

Gaahain conceive of “Competition” in a unique way. Competition, for Gaahain, is never something in-itself; it is also always a social act establishing, moderating, and reinforcing relationships(within Bands, between Bands, within larger social frameworks, even sexual relationships between individuals). As with Bands and Dominance, while Competition is socially moderated it is not a social construction, but rather a cognitive and emotional reality. To defeat another is to become Dominant over them, carrying with it an emotional need to protect, provide, advise, and support them(and to receive support, adulation, and deference in kind); meaning, in the Gaahain mind, Competitive Aggression -the desire for victory and Dominance- is seen as altruistic. To lose or to concede without Competition is to be Dominated, carrying with it an emotional need to back the Dominant, to see them succeed and be honored, to follow their lead and adore them, and also to receive their patronage and support. To struggle inconclusively with another trading victories and defeats, or to recognize virtues from afar and desire to aid its success with one’s own skills, is to find an Ally and Partner, an individual of equal Dominance to share the burdens and fruits of position with. As such resentment at losing, in itself, is an emotion alien to Gaahain; to lose is simply to gain a powerful patron to admire. Dominance, Submission, and Alliance all carry particular, instinctive, moral-emotional meanings for Gaahain -similar to the Human concept of “fairness” and “justice” and just as influential and mutable- and failures to live up to the obligations of them can lead to tension and conflict. Gaahain hold very concrete ideas of what Dominance deserves, and what is demanded of it. Gaahain who feel they are being mistreated, or that their Dames are being insulted, will not be shy about making their displeasure known. A disgruntled community of agitating, preternaturally peremptory, spontaneously regimenting, physically large and aggressive feliform necrurgists, tied together by intensely emotional and nigh-unbreakably personal bonds, is exactly as disruptive as it sounds.

Gaahain tend to be(but are not universally) matriarchal and matrilineal. The common traits of matriarchy -inclusivity, communal decision making, conciliar institutions- remain, but are expressed, as with the emotional and social life of Gaahain in general, through Dominance, Competition, and Bands. Councils tend to the Representative rather than Complete, with Dames speaking for their Bands or communities. Patronage is often a matter-of-course in Gaahain politics, but without the exploitation and extreme self-aggrandizement which leads it so often to corruption among other Peoples. Formal, civic competitions will often determine political positions and relations as much as social ones. Dames, as the word implies, are traditionally female-identifying individuals(henceforth, females), and females are traditionally associated with Dominance and the qualities that establish it(however those are defined by a particular society). This is not to say it is common for male-identifying individuals(henceforth, males) to be barred from positions of prominence, or from economic life, or from government council. Formal and legal restrictions of any kind are rare and males, as community members, have the same right to be heard as anyone; as Bandmates, the same emotional importance to and claim upon the attention and support of their Dames as anyone else. But, the idea of males being Dominant over females is frequently considered bizarre and unnatural. Dominance relationships between males are common, but seen as something separate from the wider web of Dominance. It is common to see Dominance-pursuing behavior and Competitive aggression in males be discouraged by social censure; “unattractive” is one common description. Even among more gender-egalitarian Gaahain(for instance, those of the Blind Coast and Inner Passage) this mindset remains persistent even after its institutional expressions have faded, with males being associated with Passivity, Submissiveness, Worldliness, a particular Soft and Slim Beauty, and Sexuality in the popular imagination.

“Worldliness” here perhaps needs explanation. While it is common for female Gaahain to remain within(or firmly attached to, though Away) their natal communities throughout their lifetimes, it is common for male Gaahain to leave them, to travel or to join other nearby communities. This instinctive wanderlust, and the disruption it might cause if a person of significant Dominance were to leave, is often cited as justification for their exclusion from wider Dominance. Given that Gaahain communities and societies expand through precisely this mechanism, by particularly Dominant Dames taking their allied Bands or Clans(another common Gaahain social unit. Basically, 12-20 Allied Bands) and breaking away to form their own polity when population grows too dense, this researcher chooses to view such claims skeptically. Male itinerancy is also seen in their Hyena cousins and their forebears, and it is believed to be the common evolutionary solution for genetic diversity and incest-prevention throughout their taxonomic Family. Given that Hyaenids, the Gaahins as much as the rest, also tend to be rather matter-of-fact, casual, and promiscuous sexually(at least, during their Season. This will be discussed below), it is easy to see how this particular instinct would prove evolutionarily beneficial.

Gaahins very often display a particular form of agoraphobia called “poliphobia”, or fear of cities. They do not fear open space or crowds, in fact Gaans typically find being in a group comforting and open spaces invigorating. Gaahain are specifically distressed by closed in spaces with few and narrow exists; by towering, looming, sheer(difficult to climb), view-blocking structures; by spaces and situations which restrict motion and the ability to see your immediate and distant surroundings. As this describes many cities built to the preferences of other Peoples, Gaahain understandably find those cities distressing to be in. Crowds can also become distressing to some when they press closely, restricting mobility, and lack cohesion or purpose. For instance, the pedestrian traffic through a particularly business intersection during rush-hour can be overwhelming and stressful where a concert crowd would not, though the latter would be far louder and more compact.

Gaahain view property as fundamentally communal; owned equally by the Band and to be, at the very least, shared liberally within society. Urban Gaahins, by necessity, tend to have a firmer grasp of property and its utility as a concept, but even they tend to be communitarian about who “owns” it and share liberally, even if they also take firm measure to prevent theft, track possession, and thwart loss. But even among them radical communitarian attitudes persist, nor can the historical association of property-rejection with Gaahanan political-philosophers and historians be denied(for instance Provisionism: the argument that the natural world provides everything everyone could need, and thus laying claims to specific parts of reality, and fusing one’s identity with them to do so, is mere mystical, particularist nonsense. But Gaahainan contributions to philosophy are too large for this essay to do justice). This, combined with the prevalence of Gaahain nomads and herders, has led to a reputation for thieving among certain quarters which they would say is undeserved. First, being a nomad doesn’t make one a thief so much as a convenient scapegoat for theft by parties keen both to take what isn’t theirs and foment animosity. Second, Gaahain tend to conceive of geography, physical and otherwise, in terms of Territories, and they would never take anything from a Territory which wasn’t theirs to exploit without reaching an understanding with those who claim that Territory, or issuing and resolving a formal challenge over the object or resource in question. And, while they may have had a need for something and picked up an instance of it which was readily available, it is not as if they intended to keep it to themselves; they will share what they have with those who ask for it, and others are free to take what is left lying around just as they are. And, besides, they are Big; if one is so careless with what one claims that one cannot catch and halt an 8-foot-tall Hyaenid from taking it, then one probably didn’t care much for having it to begin with.

Reproduction and Sexual Anatomy and Behavior

Gaahain possess the standard mammalian kit. ⅓ are born with an external spined penis and a scrotum containing the testes external to the main body, for heat regulation. This penis remains sheathed while flaccid, possesses no baculum, and is relatively quite large and textured when erect being sized to the anatomy of their much larger counterparts and the product of intense selective sexual-competition. ⅔ are born with an internal uterus and ova, connected by a cervix to a vagina and external organs(labia, clitoris, ect). The Gaahain clitoris sits superior to the vaginal opening, is quite large and, on arousal, engorges growing in size and length. There is nothing physical about this anatomy which prevents congress with other Peoples, though some small consideration may need to be given to size. Intersex individuals, of course, exist. Gaahain sex-ratios are responsive, however. In times of containment or retraction more males will be born(less mouths to feed, and spreads the lineage); in times of prosperity and expansion, more females(higher birth-rates and more Dames to establish more Bands to strike more associations to exploit more plentiful resources and opportunities).

Gaahain are seasonal, becoming sexually interested and receptive during the cooler and/or wetter months of the year. They are promiscuous and(generally) display no, or very little, sexual jealousy, or for that matter much sexual interest outside of estrus(though culture has its say here, and individuals differ). They will frequently have many sexual partners during their Seasons, more so over their lifetimes, and they tend not to see it as a significant or especially intimate event. While sexual play and reproductive relationships are common among Bandmates, they are not required to be so by most Gaans. Basic attraction and trust, along with proper comportment, seem to be the deciding factor, though the Gaahin are certainly not adverse to seduction(though Gaahain seduction, for obvious reasons, looks quite unique). Gaahain attitudes towards sex can be frank, casual, and easygoing. For most Gaahain, nothing more than attraction, benevolent regard, a desire for physical pleasure, and mutual interest is required, emotionally, for sex. Species is no bar to sexual interest for Gaahain who display a robust and thorough-going xenophilia almost rivaling that of Humans. Gaahain sex tends to be as matter-of-fact(and sometimes as open) as their attitudes regarding it. It tends to be quick, loud, and vigorous, though one cannot deny Gaans have historically displayed a certain seasonal enthusiasm for the foreplay common among other Peoples(and sometimes, a not so seasonal enthusiasm) when interacting with them.

Gaans gestate their young internally and give live birth, like most mammals. As is common in hyenas, they have remarkably short pregnancies; about 150 days. Hybridization with Gaahain is naturally quite difficult, however their physical affinity for Transmog and bioalchemy allows for(relatively) simple technical workarounds.

Development

Gaahain typically give birth to between one and three children. Like Cephalids(though for much different reasons) Gaahain display partible parentage; each child will have their mother’s genes, and a mixture of the genes of her reproductive partners. Gaahain are born small, with soft, sparse brown fur, and their eyes open. They display Competitive Aggression from birth. Their physical capacities develop quickly; they can eat solid foods within 9 months, will have grown in a set of juvenile teeth within a 18, and display mature(for the most part) physical dexterity within three years, when mothers will typically end nursing. Gaahain “toddlers” may be small, but they don’t do much “toddling”. By three years, able to move around reliably on their own and mostly feed themselves, they will being playing at adult behaviors.

Given the Banding instinct rearing is, by necessity, a communal affair, but parental relationships remain important to development. As said before, childhood Bands are often unstable, and children will share the Band-affiliation of their parents along with their protection and Dominance, usually the Mother, until maturity. Child-Father relationships are also important, if usually for more nebulous reasons of emotional fulfillment, identity, and education. How this communal rearing is arranged, the strength of this connection to the natal band, and the autonomy of children vary by culture. In general, however, Gaahain childrearing tends to have a light touch.

Gaahain puberty begins around their 9th year, with estrus cycles typically beginning in their 12th. The development of secondary sexual characteristics will begin with puberty. Beuterused Gaahins do not display the prominent breasts common to Humans, Aarkhs, and Ogres. Rather, the widening of their shoulders and chests and hips, the thickening muscles of their arms, thighs, hips, abs, and buttocks, and lengthening of their canines and manes signal oncoming sexual maturity. While in season their vaginal lips and clitoris will swell slightly, and their normal pheromones will become mildly aphrodisiacal to encourage interest. The bepenised will experience during puberty an enlarging and descending of the testes and scrotum, an enlarging of the penis and sheath, a lightening of their ventral fur, a darkening of their dorsal(and sometimes facial) fur, and a lengthening of the limbs. While in season their genitality will swell moreso, both as display and in response to sperm production. Of course, with the easy availability of Transmog and bioalchemy, personal preference and Fashion can have their say on these matter.

[annamationvk]

Pseudo Script

Since we have two days left we have switched to my moon idea

The moon is actually a hidden alien spaceship that is controling humanity The original ship was the meteorite that crashed into the newly formed earth billions of years ago and got stuck in its orbit because it was too damaged to keep flying. Over time, rocks collected on the ship and formed a thick layer that made it look like a natural satelite, aka the moon. From then on these Aliens had a say in everything that happened on earth. They were the ones to create the very first life on earth, making them our ancestors, They caused the dinosaurs to go extinct, not with a comet but with a weapon! A projectile that hit the earth and caused a chain reaction. This is also the reason why we haven't found the actual meteorite but find impact craters from that period with strange elements in them! These Aliens also have directly influenced humanity by filling in the missing link in human development. The alien actvity reached its peak during the space race in 19.. when the two most powerful countries on earth were both trying to reach the moon before the other one. They were sending their ambassadors from Earth to report on humanities situation. Especially after the two world wars! Evon now we are being followed by our extraterrestrial ancestors. Snapchat is a database for faces, Instagram and Facebook are ways to observe the different lifestyles and trends on earth, and Apps like Pokemon go are worldwide trends that take over for short periods of time and then vanish! Almost like a signal sent to scan earth and get us to act in a specific way!

Proof: Moonlanding was obviously fake Two elements on earth that cant be found anywhere on earth except for crater impact sites Satelite announcements within four days of eachother without knowing of the others announcement Dinosaurs dying for seemingly no reason/no proof of meteors Missing link in human evolution Earth having all the conditions to seemingly be the only planet to host life in the universe! That chance is way too small to be chance! Space race happening after two world wars medieval ages causing a deliberate loss of knowledge! (possible discovery that was covered up) Moon controls tide -> Moon causes natural desasters by sending out signals via satelite

Intro: Narrator: Our Moon has been our companion for billions of years. Ever since a smaller planet crashed into our young earth, 4.5 billion years ago, We have been orbited by the natural satelite. But is it really natural? Or does our small neighbour harbour a deep dark secret. Welcome to Uncovered Secrets! Where we explain the mysteries of our vast universe (Intro plays) Narrator: 4.5 Billion years ago, a massive object collided with our Planet and the debris formed what we know as the Moon. But what exactly was this mysterious object that caused our Earth to gain a satelite? (Experts name) of (society of whatever) believes to have the answer. Expert: You see, it wasn't a planet that collided with Earth! Nor was it debris that was pulled into orbit to form the Moon. It was a ship! An extraterrestrial Vessel from an already developed planet that had some sort of malfunction and was damaged even further when it hit our still forming planet. It was pulled into orbit and as time passed, a thick shell of rocks and other material that had broken off in result collected around the ship, hiding it from view and creating our Moon. Narrator: But how does the moons hidden core affect Earths history? Did it lie dormant, with the ships inhabitants long dead from the crash, or does humanity have its roots burried deep underneath the moons rocky surface. Expert: This species that came into our solar system by accident, most certaintly surrvived the formation of what we know as the moon and most likely had a strong influence in this happening! The Moon has a rather weak gravitational pull, but there is one! We believe that it may be the ship that created this gravity in order to attract debris and protect themselves from further damage. And this would only be possible if something had survived. Narrator: So how exactly has our planet been influenced by our lively neighbour? We asked the head scientist (NAme) of the (institution of blah) what parts of our history are a little different from what we expected. Scientist: Well, One theory is that these Beings played a large role in the formation of life on earth. The chances of life developing on a planet are dependent on so many factors such as atmosphere, temperature, gravity levels, water, planet techtonics and so many more. The chances of life developing are so incredibly small that it seems nearly impossible. So impossible that ot could even be possible that earth is the only planet to have life on it. And yet scientists are still baffled as to how earth suceeded in hosting life. We suggest that this already existing life, hidden in the core of the moon helped create a new form of life. After all they had 1 billion years time between the arrival and the first traces of life on earth.

Narrator: But these alien creators did not only influence life on earth. They also caused death and destruction.

Scientists: The extinction of the dinosaurs was most likely not caused by a meteorite crashing, but rater by a weapon, fired at earth with the intention of causing a chainreaction of death. There are two specific elements that do not occur naturally on earth and can help us find the answer. Iridium and Osmium. Both elements belong to the platinum family, yet are completely unique elements, they are the two densest materials on earth, can function as catalysts and most importantly, are almost exclusively found at the site of impact craters. Iridium was even one of the main causes for the original Alvarez hypothesis, the theory that a meteor caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. But it was no meteor that did this. As the dinosaurs became more evolved and developed, our friends at the moon base grew more nervous that these massive creatures could pose a threat. And so they developed a weapon, using iridium and osmium as the catalyst. The weapon caused a disruption in the atmosphere and made it impossible for these massive creatures to survive! Meanwhile the smaller mammals were completely unharmed. They would be part of a bigger plan. Narrator: And so a new era was ushered in. An era in which mammals grew and evolved into smarter and better forms. Until Finally the first humans began to walk the earth. But there has always been a gap in our evolution line. The so called missing link. The evolutionary step between the genus Pan and Homo that allowed us to develop sepperately from our primate ancestors. Scientist: The first actual contact between the life on earth and the moon is believed to be said missing link. The extraterrestrial species that visited took back specimen and bred them, mixing them with alien dna and creating a new evolutionary line. This is also the reason why it is so hard to pinpoint the exact time that this split happened.

Expert: Aliens have of course been walking amongst us, hiding just beyond our sight and influencing our decisions. All this influence came together during the infamous space race in 1957. The two greatest powers on earth, shortly after two world wars, trying to get to the moon using human technology? It's just a little too well timed. The people sent weren't regular humans, they were sending undercover Aliens back to the Moon base to report on earths inside status. Naturally each group wanted to be the ones to report first and so the rivalry between the US and USSR reached a peak. The cold war was merely a dangerous cover for a friendly rivalry between extraterrestrial investigators. Area 51 was created to, as most humans correctly suspected, test technology sent from the base. Surrounding residents often claimed to hear boomign sounds. But this was merely the bang of air suddenly rushing into an empty spot after somethng had been teleported between the two places. Of course NASA is aware of the Moons secret and was created to cover up the situation as to not alarm humanity. The moon landing was faked with several pieces of evidence. Narrator explains how moonlanding is fake. Expert: This isnt the first time an organization covered up something. The massive loss of knowledge that happened durign the so called dark age, was caused on purpose. Humanity was developing technology at an alarming rate and people were questioning alot of things that could have lead to the moons secret being revealed. But now we believe that throughout the past 60 years, they have been dropping hints and little jokes that we have picked up on. Not a confirmation or announcement of their existence, but a little teaser. Narrator explains numbers Narrator explains the rest

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

The Bromacker Fossil Project Part III: Fossil Preparation

Most of the important fossil discoveries from the Bromacker quarry, located in the Thuringian Forest, central Germany, were shipped to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) for scientific preparation. Between 1993 and 2005 I was the principal preparator of Bromacker fossils.

At CMNH the arrival of a field season’s worth of fossil crates was highly anticipated by Curator Dr. Dave Berman and myself. I’d be often notified of the crate’s early morning delivery by either a grinning security guard or shipping and receiving personnel upon my arrival at the museum. Later that day it would take a team of able-bodied staff from various departments to move the crate from the loading dock to the basement preparation lab, and to lift the plaster and burlap encased block from the crate onto a table.

My work area in the basement preparation lab. The table in the center is my main work table and is a made from a dentist chair. The blue cabinet with a hose extending from it is a dust collector, and the microscope (seen at the end of the hose) is mounted on an articulated arm to make it easier to maneuver over a block. Photo by the author, 2007.

The first step of the preparation process involved opening the block; that is, removing the top of the jacket. I’d use a cast cutter, the same tool doctors use to remove a cast protecting a person’s broken bone, to cut through the top perimeter of the plaster jacket. If all went well, the top would easily lift off the block. But if the top of the jacket stuck to the block or wedged in an undercut, I’d have to cut it into smaller pieces to remove it.

The block collected in the 2006 field season with its top removed. Exposed bone can be seen left of center. The blue tool resting on the surface of the block is a cast cutter.

Blocks from the Bromacker quarry typically have numerous cracks coursing through them, which must be stabilized before preparation begins. The product Carbowax works well for filling cracks, because, unlike plaster, it doesn’t shrink when it solidifies. Carbowax comes as a powder, which I’d melt it in a double boiler. Before pouring the hot wax into a crack, I’d heat the surrounding rock with a heat gun so that the wax could penetrate additional cracks not visible from the surface. I’d typically repeat this process numerous times during the preparation process.

Using a heat gun to heat the rock before pouring wax into a crack. I’d have to carefully watch the direction I aimed the heat gun so that strands of burlap sticking out of the plaster jacket wouldn’t catch fire. Photo by Norman Wuerthele, 2007.

Spooning hot Carbowax into a crack. The spoon was heated beforehand so that the wax wouldn’t solidify on it. It was a delicate balance between getting the spoon hot enough so the wax stayed melted but not so hot that the spoon handle burned my hand. Photo by Norman Wuerthele, 2007.

Once the block was stabilized, I began removing rock to expose the fossil. Where thick rock covered the fossil - and it sometimes was more than six inches - I’d use a small hammer and chisel to chip away chunks of rock. As I’d get closer to the fossil, I’d switch to an airscribe, which can be likened to a miniature pneumatic jack hammer. Although fossilized bone from the Bromacker was softer than the surrounding rock, the airscribe would flake the rock from the fossilized bone, leaving behind a thin veneer of rock that I’d remove using a pin vise. I’d also use the pin vise to scrape rock from bone in tight and/or delicate areas, such as teeth. All this work was performed while looking through a microscope.

Pictured are the tools that I’d use the most when preparing Bromacker fossils. From bottom left to upper right: small hammer and chisel, three pin vises that hold a rod of tungsten carbide of varying thickness and ground to different shaped tips, and two airscribes. Photo by the author, 2007.

In the block pictured in this post, I could see some tips of some vertebral spines (these are the bumps that you feel down the midline of your back) poking from the rock surface, so I began exposing them first. Because I was working on an articulated specimen (one bone connected to the next bone), I exposed it from front to the rear by simply following one bone to the next bone.

The skeleton emerging from the rock—vertebrae, ribs, and the right upper arm bone (humerus) are visible. Notice also the tips of vertebral spines leading away from the exposed portion of the skeleton. The lines in the rock were made by the airscribe. The white substance along cracks is Carbowax. Photo by the author, 2007.

Closeup view of the right foreleg and ribs. Horizontal cracks underneath the fossil made preparation difficult, because they formed gaps underlying the bone. I had to build a dam (upper left) to contain the hot wax so that the wax would penetrate the horizontal crack underlying the bone, instead of running all over the block. Photo by the author, 2007.

More of the fossil skeleton is exposed, including the torso, the right foreleg, part of the left foreleg, and most of the left hind leg. Photo by the author, 2007.

Parts of the hind legs and tail were collected separate from the block, because rock pieces containing them inadvertently had been tossed on the dump pile. This occurred before the specimen had been discovered, and the bone in these pieces was covered by mud and dirt. Instead of gluing them back in the block before preparation, I prepared them individually at a table under the microscope, as it made for easier viewing. Once all the fossil had been exposed and prepared, I removed excess rock to make the block smaller and lighter weight.

My work on the block has been completed, except for adding some plaster bandages to the end where I had removed excess rock to make the block smaller and lighter. Photo by the author, 2007.

Dave Berman and I later transported to block to a colleague’s lab at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada, where the lab staff and students completed detailed preparation and scientific illustrations of the specimen. This specimen along with several others were recently described as a new genus and species, Martensius bromackerensis, in a paper published in the Annals of Carnegie Museum. This ancient creature will be the topic of a future post. To whet your appetite, here is a link to the news release announcing the publication.

Amy Henrici is Collection Manager in the Section of Vertebrate Paleontology at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum employees are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.

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Should You Get a Chinchilla Or a Mouse?

If you want a small, furry, cuddly pet then chinchillas and mice make good choices. But is one better, or does it come down to personal preference?

Should you get a chinchilla or a mouse? We believe that chinchillas make the better pets as their fur is softer, they live longer and they smell less. However, you might prefer mice as they're smaller and arguably cuter. To decide, spend time around each in a pet shop, at a breeder, or at a friend's house and come to your own conclusions. Both require adequate care, so neither is 'easier' to look after; neither is 'low-maintenance', but both can give you years of companionship.

Our guide details every difference between chinchillas and mice, from how they behave to how you care for them. We'll also make recommendations on what you can do if you can't decide between them.

Are Chinchillas Better Than Mice?

We firmly believe that chinchillas make better pets than mice—but of course we'd say that. What really makes the difference is which pet is better for you, because what you want in a pet might be different to what we think makes a good pet. So, for example, we value the long-term companionship that chinchillas—which can live to ripe old ages—provide. But you might not want the responsibility of looking after a pet for so long.

To help you decide, the guide below is divided into lots of sections. We've looked at every aspect of caring for a chinchilla or a mouse, from which is easier to look after and which is more expensive, to which prefer human company and handling. By the end, you should know which pet you prefer.

What's The Difference Between a Chinchilla And a Mouse?

[caption id="attachment_3189" align="alignright" width="275"] This is a mouse...[/caption]

Mice and chinchillas aren't the same species. They aren't even in the same family.

Mice are in the family Muridae, a very large family that contains dozens and dozens of different species which can be found on every continent bar Antarctica. The house mouse, Mus musculus, is a part of this family; the subfamily Gerbillinae is, too, which contains gerbils. The Muridae family is part of the order Rodentia, or in English, rodents. The pet mouse is a domesticated version of the Mus musculus.

There are only two species of chinchilla, the long-tailed and the short-tailed. They are in the family Chinchillidae, which is unique to South America. They are closely related to several other animals, including viscachas, chinchilla rats and, more distantly, guinea pigs.

A species, if you didn't know, is defined by what it can successfully breed with. Animals in the same species can breed with one another and produce viable, fertile offspring that will produce further generations. Animals in the same genus (small grouping) may be able to mate, although the offspring is likely to be infertile. Animals that are only a part of the same family are anatomically or biologically unable to reproduce. Chinchillas and mice fall into this latter category as they are only distantly related.

Given that they aren't close cousins, mice and chinchillas look completely different. Mice are much smaller than chinchillas, have much shorter fur, have less fluffy tails and big bulging eyes.

Are Mice Or Chinchillas Easier to Care For?

[caption id="attachment_675" align="alignright" width="300"] ...And this is a chinchilla![/caption]

There's no such thing as a low-maintenance pet. There are pets that don't require walks, and pets that don't require constant vet visits; but the idea that you can keep a pet in a cage and not pay attention to it for days on end is a myth. This applies to both chinchillas and mice. Whichever you get, you will need to:

Clean its cage every night. This is known as spot cleaning, and it's essential. You swap out damp bedding/fleece and replace it with fresh, sweep up any discarded hay or poop, and wipe down anything that needs to be wiped down. This stops bacteria and cage-smell from building up.

Spend time with it or around it. Animals go stir-crazy if left in cages without any stimulation. Cage accessories help, but spending time with you helps, too.

Take it to the vet for a checkup at least once a year, and any time it displays signs of ill health. While they're small, both chinchillas and mice can show signs that they're in pain or severely stressed—they can suffer. This means they need medical care when sick or hurt.

Supply it with food and refresh its water bottle occasionally.

Switch out toys for new ones occasionally. This stops your pet from getting bored with its toys. Rodents also love to gnaw, so things in their cage like hides and wheels get damaged and need replacements sometimes.

Allow it some outside-the-cage time occasionally. Again, this stops your pet from getting stressed. Some owners let their pets out of their cages once a day, others once a week; some time is essential.

If you don't feel like you can provide this level of care, then we don't recommend getting either a chinchilla or a mouse. A plant which only needs watering and occasional fertilizer would be a better choice.

Which is better? Neither, as both require attentive care.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Live Longer?

Chinchillas live much longer than mice. You might see this as either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

The average chinchilla's lifespan is around ten years. This is extraordinarily long for a rodent, as rodents normally have very short lives. They make up for it by having lots of offspring, and having litters several times a year. But chinchillas are the exception: not only do they live a long time, but they typically have only one kit (baby) per litter, and only two or three litters per year. The longest-lived chinchilla ever—which featured in the Guinness Book of World Records—reached an incredible 29 years, an age unheard of for a rodent of any kind.

Mice, on the other hand, live for only between one and two years on average. The oldest mouse ever (Fritzy) only reached seven years old, and it's highly unlikely that your pet mouse would reach such an advanced age.

But which you prefer, here, is up to you. You might want a pet that gives you companionship for many years, through thick and thin, and who you can raise as part of your family. If so, a chinchilla is a good choice. Or, you may feel that you don't want the responsibility of looking after a pet for so long; maybe you have to move house frequently, you don't have a steady job, or you just know you'll get bored of owning a pet before long. If so, a mouse would be a better choice (although if you aren't intent on being a careful owner, we don't recommend any pet).

Which is better? It depends on your perspective, but we think the long-term companionship a chinchilla provides is best.

Are Mice Or Chinchillas Cheaper to Keep?

Chinchillas and mice cost roughly the same amount to keep—at least at first.

The similarity of their cost is because of the similarity of their care. Both chinchillas and mice require cages to live in, cheap food to eat and water to drink, occasional vet checkups, cage accessories and cleaning supplies, and toys. As such, the cost of caring for one isn't really any more than the other.

Where chinchillas and mice do differ is that chinchillas are more difficult to find. Mice can be found in any pet shop across the western world, while chinchillas are considered exotic. While we don't recommend buying pets from a pet store for a variety of reasons, almost everybody does, and mice are cheaper if you do. You can find chinchillas available for free adoption for shelters, however, which would cut out this cost.

One cost you can't avoid, however, is the cost of keeping a chinchilla for such a long time. Mice only live a year or two, so you'll only have to pay for yours for a year or two. You may decide to get another afterwards, but if you find that having pets puts too much pressure on your wallet, you don't have to. Chinchillas, on the other hand, can live for a decade or more; you'll have to pay for yours throughout that time, or if you can't, surrender it to a shelter. So, while chinchillas aren't more expensive on a day to day basis, they do cost more since they live longer.

Which is better? It's cheaper to care for a mouse for its average lifespan than it is to care for a chinchilla for its average lifespan.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Smell More?

[caption id="attachment_613" align="alignright" width="300"] A chinchilla taking a dust bath.[/caption]

One way in which chinchillas are distinctly better than mice is their odor.

Mice have the typical rodent smell that you're likely already familiar with. It's a stale, musky smell that's instantly recognizable. They smell a little like pee. While you get used to the smell over time, and you can stop it from getting obnoxiously bad by cleaning your pet's cage regularly, all mice smell like this anyway. All you can do is make the smell less obvious.

Chinchillas, while they are rodents, don't smell like other rodents. They are much cleaner, much more hygienic, and so smell much less. Here's why:

Chinchillas don't pee as frequently as other rodents. Because they come from a dry habitat, they conserve water by peeing much less. Plus most chinchillas litter train themselves, in a sense, by peeing in one corner of the cage to avoid getting it in their fur.

Chinchillas take regular dust baths to keep their fur clean. This stops grease, bacteria, fungus or anything else that might smell from building up in their fur.

Chinchillas don't produce as much dander as other pets. Their fur is so thick that their dander—skin flakes—can't escape.

Chinchillas produce solid poops, not sticky, smelly ones. The sloppier poop is, the smellier it is, and because chinchillas conserve water their excrement is very dry.

That's not to say that chinchillas don't produce any smells at all. They smell faintly like a rodent, but mice, rats, hamsters and others are notoriously strong-smelling—and chinchillas don't stink up the place anywhere near as much. The main smell you'll notice is the hay you feed your chin, which is actually quite pleasant, as pet smells go.

Which is better? Chinchillas, and by a mile, too.

Do Mice Or Chinchillas Have Softer Fur?

Chinchillas have much, much softer fur than mice. If you want a small cuddly pet, chinchillas win that category hands-down.

Chins have long, dense fur. It's not shiny and lustrous like after you use a nice shampoo; rather, it's dense, fluffy and soft, almost like an expensive makeup brush. Mice have short fur that, while not unpleasant to stroke and touch, isn't anywhere near as nice as that of a chinchilla.

The reason chinchillas have such thick fur is that they come from a cold place. They come from the Andes Mountains, a range that spans the entire west coast of South America. They live high up in the mountains, and to shield themselves from the harsh wind and cold winters, they evolved thicker and thicker fur. The chinchillas that live higher up in the mountains—short-tailed chinchillas—have thicker fur than their lowlands and coastal cousins, who don't need to keep as warm.

What makes chinchilla fur so special is that despite being so luxurious, you hardly need to lift a finger to keep it clean. Your chinchilla will do it for you. Chins groom themselves and each other frequently, hardly even get infestations like fleas or lice, and don't need to bathe in water. All you need to do is give your chinchilla dust baths once a week. You provide your chinchilla with a bowl with about an inch of special mineral dust in it, and your pet will roll around in it: no scrubbing, no shampoo, no effort. This dust simulates the volcanic dust your chin would roll around in in the wild.

Believe it or not, but this is enough to keep your chinchilla's coat perfectly clean. The dust acts like talc, wicking up dampness and grease, and sticking to the fur to provide freshness and softness until the next bath.

Which is better? Chinchillas.

Do Chinchillas Or Mice Handle Better?

While they do have softer fur, that doesn't mean you can squeeze, cuddle and play with your chinchilla around the clock.

Both chinchillas and mice are skittish, sensitive and delicate creatures. All rodents are. Chinchillas have particularly delicate ribcages, not because they have floating ribs as many assume, but because a large proportion of each rib is made of cartilage. Cartilage is much bendier and less rigid than bone, which means the ribs can easily be squashed against organs, or worse still, broken completely. Mice, for their part, are small and can easily be killed when cuddled and squeezed too hard.

You can teach both pets to submit to handling, but neither will ever enjoy it in the sense that you enjoy it. Remember, in the wild, there's no reason an animal might want to pick up a mouse or a chinchilla other than to eat it; it therefore takes a long time for either pet to learn to trust you. Once they do, they might run around on your shoulders, sit on the palm of your hand, or simply sit near you in your company. But neither will ever want to be held and cuddled like some kind of living teddy bear.

This is one of the main reasons why we don't recommend chinchillas as pets for kids. Children love to cuddle their pets, but don't know their own strength, and can easily hurt pet chinchillas.

Which is better? Neither.

Which Is Better, Mice Or Chinchillas?

We believe that chinchillas make the better pet, although we're admittedly biased. We think that a chinchilla's soft fur, its long lifespan and its hygienic nature make it the ideal pet, not just the better of these two options.

That being said you may not feel the same. As such, we recommend spending time around both mice and chinchillas. Whether that means observing or even handling them at a pet shop, talking to a local breeder, or spending time with a friend who owns one of these pets, being around both mice and chinchillas will tell you which you prefer. You might prefer how small and cute a mouse is, and that's something you can only really appreciate when you're around one. Or, you might like how soft and dense the chinchilla's coat is, which is, again, something that's better to experience than read about. So, come to your own decision and pick whichever is best for you.

Extra Credit: Can a Chinchilla Live With a Mouse?

You can't keep a mouse in the same cage as a chinchilla. Or, more accurately, you can—but they'll fight tooth and nail, and your chinchilla will eventually kill your mouse. Chinchillas don't like mice and mice don't like chinchillas, in any sense.

Why Can't Chinchillas Live With Mice?

[caption id="attachment_365" align="alignright" width="300"] Chinchillas can live with other chinchillas, but they can't live with other species.[/caption]

The reason why chinchillas and mice can't live together is that they view each other as competition. They will fight over food and space.

This is ingrained in both species. Since people rarely try and house chinchillas with other species, it hasn't been documented often, but what has is competition between chinchillas. Chins can fight even if they've bonded to one another, and they fight over space (hides and platforms) or food (hay racks, food bowls and water bottles). It stands to reason that your chinchilla, if it would fight with another chinchilla over these things, would also fight with a mouse over them. And while you can bond chinchillas with one another, you can't bond a chinchilla with a mouse.

What you can do is keep your chinchilla and mouse in separate cages. This shouldn't be a problem, so long as the cages aren't kept close together.

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

[ays_quiz id='9']

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