Beautiful Animals

Hey CI. What do you mean they are used as signs?

Oh! Ok. When you said that you can't imagine the thought that went through my head!

They also have three dimensional ones on the roads of Tunisia to discourage littering. Some are quite big.

Are these little critters special for some reason? Curious as to why they'd use them on signs about littering.

Actually, the one's in Tunia are called the "desert fox." They look the same with long ears like jerboa. I'm not even sure they're in the same family.

Arella Mae, No problem posting the video here. My computer doesn't do well with videos, but I recognize the animal thanks to Rosborne (thanks, kid). Jerboas are rodents, kinda like mice with extended long hind legs designed for hopping--a good and efficient means of locomotion in the desert. There are several different kinds of jerboas, some with long ears, some with short ones.

Thanks, c.i., for clearing up the "used as signs" comment. I think Arella Mae and I had the same horrified mental image.

I don't know why jerboas are used in images for signs, Arella Mae. Maybe cuz they're cute as the dickens.

Here's one with short ears:

Oops, our posts crossed, c.i.

Jerboas are rodents. Fennecs are foxes. Very different.

A number of desert mammals have big ears. The ears are not so much for hearing. They're a form of air-conditioning. They help to keep the animals cool.

How cute!!!!! CI is that a Finney Fox?

It's a fennec, the smallest of all the foxes.

I want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jerboa's and Fennec Foxes are not closely related (even though they both have big ears). Jerboa's are rodents and Fennec's are canines.

We have several photographers submitting great wildlife pictures to our local papers online wildlife gallery, but Tom is the master at the action shots such as these.

Green Heron


Peregrin Falcon


American Kestrel

Thanks, mesquite. Truly wonderful shots. The heron gave me pause. Where are its legs, I said to myself. I bit of googling revealed that green herons have short legs.

Does Tom fly in a hot-air balloon? He appears to be at the same level as the birds. Amazing stuff.

Thanks for the link. Don't be surprised if I use a few shots from there.

Giraffe herd:





Eastern box turtle:

Roberta, I am pretty sure that Tom stays planted on terra firma. Not sure if the Peregrine shot was from high ground or just an illusion by the bird banking. The gallery now has over 1000 wildlife photos. I was tempted to post the one of a fly getting it's back rubbed, but opted to go with the link. :wink:

Some migrating nectar feeding Long-nosed bats that took advantage of these hummingbird feeders while on their way south.

I am taking down all my hummingbird feeders

Spectacular shots, mesquite. I especially like the first one with the second bat in the background. On the link you sent, I spotted two flies looking like they're mating. Is that the back rub you're referring to? Thought about posting that too. :wink:

That would be the one. Clicking on the thumbnail brings up the full size picture along with any captions and comments by others. The caption was Wow... there's a lucky gal getting a back rub! If you click on the submitters or commenter's name it takes you to their profile page with other photos submitted by that person.

Red-tailed Hawk and chick nesting in a Saguaro. Photo by Andrea Vatne.