Great BIG Nature

7 days ago

Looking like a 'mad professor', Marabou storks probably have the worst hairdo's in the entire animal kingdom. And this photo pretty much proves that theory!
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Photo: Josef Gelernter ... See MoreSee Less

Great BIG Nature

1 week ago

The Brahmin Moth before and after metamorphosis.
Also known as the owl moth, since they are nocturnal, are found in the north of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, and Japan.
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Great BIG Nature

1 week ago

We realize this is not a scientific comparison, but its still interesting all the same.
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Great BIG Nature

4 weeks ago

Feather of a hummingbird!
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Great BIG Nature

4 weeks ago

The real name of this frog is the Blunt-headed Burrowing frog, but we prefer to call it 'Jabba the Hut'. This giant, chubby appearance is due to a self-defense technique in which it inflates itself with air in order to look more formidable when in danger. And as the name suggests, this species spends most of its life living underground. But as soon as the rainy season comes, it emerges in large numbers to breed “explosively” in temporary bodies of water.
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Great BIG Nature

4 weeks ago

Look closely... this is a Stonefish, the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific, and if you hapen to step on one... prepare for intense pain and agony!

Here are the toxic affects in stonefish venom: (Yikes!)
•hyaluronidase that promotes spreading of the venom;
•cardiovascular toxins, including cardioleputin, that are mediated by muscarinic receptors and adrenoreceptors, and which cause bradycardia;
•neuromuscular toxins that cause massive release of acetylcholine and lead to depolarizing neuromuscular blockade;
•trachynilysin, which forms nonselective membrane pores that contribute to the neuromuscular blockage;
•stonustoxin, which produces depolarizing paralysis of the diaphragm, and is also a potent hemolytic and edema-forming toxin, and an inducer of hypotension, counteracting the activity of noradrenalin;
•neoverrucotoxin that has similar activity to stonustoxin;
•verrucotoxin that blocks calcium channels and affects myocardial K+(ATP) channels, inducing hypotension. It also has hemolytic action ... See MoreSee Less

Great BIG Nature

4 weeks ago

The Kangaroo Island echidna is surely among the world’s most bizarre creatures. It’s covered in sharp, hollow hairs that look like porcupine quills, has an anteater-like tongue and no teeth, and is among the few mammal species that lay eggs. Strangest of all, though, may be echidnas’ mating rituals. When breeding season rolls around, the females release pheromones that attract usually-solitary males from miles around. The males form a line called a “love train” and dutifully follow the female on days-long hikes. When the female decides she’s ready, she lies down and relaxes while the males dig a circular trench around her, then attempt to shove each other out of the ring like tiny sumo wrestlers.
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Photo: Douglas Gimesy ... See MoreSee Less

Great BIG Nature

1 month ago

Golden Plover chicks are covered in downy feathers that mimic actual moss to blend in with their surroundings. This is especially helpful since they nest on the ground amongst lichens, moss, grass, and leaves. Helps keep them safe from predators!
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Great BIG Nature

1 month ago

An Atlantic goliath grouper - 800 lbs (362 kg) and about the size of a refrigerator - calmly swims through a swirling school of scads off the coast of Florida. See the full BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition gallery: bit.ly/3MxwVHD
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Photo: Tom Shlesinger ... See MoreSee Less

Great BIG Nature

1 month ago

This is what pollen looks like on the eye of a fly!
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Great BIG Nature

1 month ago

On June 21, 2022, a near complete, mummified baby woolly mammoth was found in the Yukon, Klondike gold fields within Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Traditional Territory. Miners uncovered the frozen woolly mammoth while excavating through the permafrost. Elders named the mammoth calf 'Nun cho ga', meaning “big baby animal” in the Hän language.
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