Beautiful Animals

I had one of these common cuties hanging out with me on a garden job. As I was yanking up weeds, he was showing interest in the dislodged bugs.

Catbird

I've seen white ones but never blue.

Lovely, littlek. Boids is wonderful.

Some studies have been conducted that reveal that lionesses prefer black-maned lions. I don't know how conclusive the studies are. Here's a black-maned lion:





Poison-dart frog:

Roberta
I found out the name of that butterfly (below). Regarding petting wild animals, in all seriousness, I don't agree with doing that. It is not safe for humans and it is not safe for the wild animals to get used to humans. So, I do discourage the wildlife I find in my yard from trying to become friendly.
I do agree with you about petting them in a controlled environment.

Western tiger swallowtail



Kelly McAllister photo
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
http://wdfw.wa.gov/gallery2/main.php

Glad you agree about the petting, TTH. And thanks mucho for finding the name of the butterfly. It's beautiful, especially next to those purple flowers.

Feather star:





Sea slug:

Magnolia warbler:





San Isidro owl (Ecuador):

Pygmy seahorse:





Pygmy goose:

Roberta
These pictures are great. I have seen animals I didn't know existed before.

I had 5 of these in my back yard playing. They were on the tree and chasing each other's tail, going around in circles. They were going so fast (like a merry-go-round) that they made me dizzy just watching them
I didn't have time to grab the camera though

Gray squirrel


http://wdfw.wa.gov/gallery2/main.php

TTH, On the subject of petting wild animals, I had the opportunity while in South Africa to pet a cheetah. We had to sign a release if anything happened, but I did take that opportunity - once in my life - to pet a wild animal. Have a picture someplace to "prove" it.

Oh, I would love to see the picture if you find it, no need to "prove it" though.

C.I. I can understand entirely your taking advantage of that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not crazy about the idea of wild animals getting too close or friendly with humans. But how could you resist? Now a great memory.

I've been looking for the ultimate photo of a cheetah running full out. I think I may have finally found it.





Not the ultimate peregrine falcon in midswoop, but not bad either:

Roberta
Gorgeous cheetah picture. I agree with you about wild animals getting friendly with humans. I had the opportunity though to hold a baby lion.
My printer needs a new cartridge so I can't scan pictures to my computer until I get one, but will post the picture if it is okay with you.

Cougar

Photo by Rich Beausoleil
http://wdfw.wa.gov/gallery2/main.php

TTH, I looked for the pix, but couldn't find it. It used to be in my old computer that my son destroyed by trying to load some new software. He now has his own computer. I also looked in my South Africa picture album, but it was not there. I must have removed it for some reason; I'm sure it wasn't thrown out!

As for the running cheetah picture Roberta posted, that is very unusual and beautiful, because even on safaris in Africa, they usually sit around the shade - even in the early morning and late evening hours. That's a very good shot.

TTH, I'm assuming that the lion cub in question was a captive animal. Whole other kettle of fish. I'd love to see the picture. No hurry. Thanks for the dazzling puma.

C.I. Most cats expend tremendous energy in the hunt and conserve energy when they're not hunting. This is especially true for cheetahs. Those phenomenol sprints of theirs raise their body temperatures to dangerously high levels and increase their heart rates substantially.

Leopards spend their days in trees. Lions, lolling on the savanna. Bengal tigers lie in water holes to beat the heat. No cat would run around unnecessarily. So if you saw cheetahs sitting around, that's exactly what they're supposed to be doing--except when they're hunting.


Leopard in a tree:





Lion lolling:





Tiger cooling off:

Hawaiian butterfly fish:





Red belly piranha:

cicerone imposter
I hope you find the picture (not to post it) but to look at it once in a while. I do that with my pictures. I take them out every so often (only one album out of many) and just look and rememer. That cheetah picture is one of the best I have ever seen. You actually explained why (saying it is an unusual
picture)

Roberta
I think you found the "ultimate photo" imo. Yes, your assumption is correct about the baby lion. The proceeds (I had to pay for the photo) are used to help with expenses for the lion. That baby lion looked very well taken care and healthy also, otherwise I would not have paid to have a picture taken.

The leopard looks so relaxed

Uh, I don't know what a puma is Roberta. Is it another name for cougar?

I have this blue-eyed lemur which I allow to live in the house with me. Why?

Well, because he eats the crumbs which fall off the table and I like watching him scampering away from my massive work boots as I walk across the kitchen toward the coffee pot. He usually scurries underneath the lip of the cupboards where he is safe because even if I try to kick him, my foot only makes it so far before getting hung up between the bottom of the cupboard and the floor. By placing himself against the wall the lemur barely feels the graze of my boot.

Most days he hides behind one of my plants when I enter the kitchen. I honestly believe he thinks I don't see him. He feels safe behind the plant.

He was just there a few minutes ago....




One of these days I am going to casually walk into the kitchen, whistling softly, and as I walk by his hiding spot.... bam! I will snare him quicker than the naked eye can follow and before he can even whimper in protest I will pop him in my mouth and bite down with tremendous force. A quick swallow and the blue-eyed lemur will be no more.

I'll let you know when I eat him.

TTH, A puma, cougar, and mountain lion are three names for the same animal. There's also a Florida panther, which is a slightly different version of the species.

Gus, uh huh.