Entry tags:
Daily Zoo Animal: #14, Eastern Cottontail

Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridianus
Every zoo has animals that come in from the surrounding city or countryside. They aren't caged, they simply take advantage of the protection and resources (food, water, shelter) that a zoo provides. At San Francisco Zoo I noticed the gulls; at Honolulu it was black-crowned night-herons. Zoos worldwide have rats and mice, house sparrows and starlings, pigeons and mallards. At Franklin Park Zoo there are cottontails. The native rabbit of the east coast of North America can be seen furtively chewing clover in a yard in front of an exhibit building, or lounging under the knotweed, much more confident than a country rabbit that worries about dogs and other troubles.
The eastern cottontail was featured in the 365 urban species project.
On this day in 365 urban species: cucumbertree.
no subject
I pretty much only remember this story because I love cheetahs. I only wish I would have been visiting the zoo to see them in action going after the squirrels and rabbits. Would have been exciting to see the cheetahs running at close to top speeds in person and all.
no subject
There is also a feral population of Five-lined Palm Squirrels. Rumour has it that if you can catch one of the squirrels it's yours. I've found the squeak of an Audubon Bird Caller really gets their attention.
no subject
no subject
Lots of bees :(
no subject
no subject
His story got posted to scans_daily.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
"Laser"-Eyed Jackelope?
crystals in the tapetum lucidum
Including this bit: Why do different animals' eyes appear different colors at night? One source explains that the perceived color is due to the exact configuration of the riboflavin (or guanine?) crystals that make up the tapetum lucidum, and that the reflection shifts the frequency of the reflected light towards the yellow-green, where animal eyes are most sensitive.