Deep Sea Jumbo Dumbo and new species pictures by National Geographic

A newfound creature nicknamed "Dumbo" (pictured) may look like it's all ears but the protrusions are actually fins that help propel the animal through the darkness 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) under the sea.

Found at depths of up to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), this bizarre orange fish, called Neocyema, is only the fifth specimen of the species ever captured and the first seen on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists said in November 2009.

This see-through sea cucumber, dubbed Enypniastes (pictured), was spotted at depths of about 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) during a 2009 expedition in the northern Gulf of Mexico, scientists say.

What looks like an ancient gold treasure is actually a tiny copepod (shown magnified). The crustacean was among 680 copepod specimens most new to science that were collected during a 2009 expedition in the Atlantic abyss.

CoML expeditions found nine species of gelatinous Dumbos on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, including this Grimpoteuthis discoveryi, also called the cute Dumbo, scientists said in November 2009.

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Fancy rabbits at Rabbit Festa

Owners display their rabbit in fancy dress during a rabbit fashion contest at the Rabbit Festa in Yokohama city in Kanagawa prefecture, suburban Tokyo.

Owner display the rabbit in fancy dress and dark goggle.

Source - China View , Getty images

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Dalmatian gives birth to 12

Hua Hua, an 18-month-old female Dalmatian, feeds her 12 newborn babies in Chengbei logistics market in Foshan, South China's Guangdong province on Nov 2, 2009. The mother gave birth on Sep 25, 2009, and many community members asked about adopting the cubs, the dog owner Guo said.

Via - China Daily

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Weird and cute turtles

Mata mata (binomial name Chelus fimbriatus)

Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

Long-neck Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)

Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Spotlight Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera, formerly Trionyx spiniferus)

Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera, formerly Trionyx spiniferus)

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)

Argentine Snake-necked Turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera)

Cantor's giant soft-shelled turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)

Big-headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all living sea turtles

Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)

Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone nigra)

Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the superorder Chelonia), characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon that is not monophyletic.

The order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago, making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards and snakes. About 300 species are alive today, and some are highly endangered.

Like other reptiles, turtles are ectotherms - varying their internal temperature according to the ambient environment, commonly called cold-blooded. Anomalistically, leatherback sea turtle have higher body temperature than surrounding water since their high metabolic rate. Like other amniotes (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. The largest turtles are aquatic. [Wikipedia]

"The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!" Surah Al Israa’ : Ayat 44

"Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. " Surah Aali Imraan : Ayat 191

Weird and cute turtles pictures

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Lovely animals family portraits

Indian Elephant family

Chipmunks family

Penguin family

Lemur family

Horse family

Cheetah family

Polar bear family

Snow white goose

Swan family

Cat family

Lion family

Rabbit family

Monkey family

Sea otter family

Cow family

Lovely animals family portraits

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Kingbird on the back of red-tailed hawk

A brave kingbird hopped onto the back of a huge red-tailed hawk and pecked at its head in a bid to defend its young.

Although small, the species can become very aggressive in the breeding season, especially when larger predators come calling.

This one easily saw off the hawk that ventured too close to its nest. After jumping onto its back, it dug its tiny talons into its opponent's feathers and drilled at its skull relentlessly.

The two birds soared through the skies, with the kingbird clinging on despite the hawk's valiant attempts to shrug it off.

The stunning attack lasted a few minutes until the predator gave up and soared away shrieking.

The amazing moment was captured by amateur photographer Michael Parrish at a nature reserve at Elwood near Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Via - Dailymail.co.uk

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