Unicorns & jellies through snails & tortoises to dogs

Narwhal                                             London Review of Books image 

Whales tales aren’t over just yet.  Soon after my last post, I came upon this article about the narwhal (NAR-wall) -- a small, elusive Arctic whale a.k.a. the mythical unicorn of old.  Check out that tusk and you’ll immediately understand why.

It seems that besides prompting myths, the narwhal’s tusk (a tooth that grows out through the upper lip, twisting counter-clockwise) became a be-jeweled staff or a drinking horn among royalty in the middle ages.  (Best not to ask what happened to the narwhal itself.)   

https://www.lrb.co.uk/v41/n01/katherine-rundell/consider-the-narwhal?te=1&nl=cooking&emc=edit_ck_20190111

That ancient lore leads to another denizen of the deep: jellyfish -- regarded by some as ethereally beautiful and by others as rubbery stinging creatures to be feared and avoided.  How about eating them: any takers?  Would it be “thanks” or “no thanks” from other sea residents?  Till now, the assumption was that most other ocean animals took a pass on eating jellyfish.

                               NYTimes image

Only recently have scientists learned that contrary to those assumptions, jellies have a major place in the sea world food chain.  New analysis techniques have allowed discovery of numerous sea animals whose diet consists largely of jellyfish. “There’s a lot more to jellyfish than jelly,” one surprised scientist said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/science/jellyfish-predators-oceans.html?em_pos=medium&emc=edit_sc_20181002&nl=science-times&nl_art=0&nlid=20760274emc%3Dedit_sc_20181002&ref=headline&te=1

R.I.P. George

Then there’s the snail.  Once upon a time on earth, snails were prevalent; now -- as is the case with many animals -- their presence has diminished.  One variety native to the Hawaiian Island of Oahu became extinct on Jan. 1 with the death of “George,” the thumbnail-size 14-year old lone known survivor of the Achatinella apexfulva species.

George

His death coincided with the steady decline of land snails around the world.  At one time, for instance, 750 species were identified on the Hawaiian Islands.  Now more than half of those are extinct, with the “usual suspects” to blame: invasive predators, habitat destruction and the effects of climate change.    

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/science/snail-dead-george-species.html?em_pos=medium&emc=edit_sc_20190115&nl=science-times&nl_art=5&nlid=20760274emc%3Dedit_sc_20190115&ref=headline&te=1

Tempting tortoise shells 

Speaking of animal extinctions, consider the radiated tortoise (possibly for the first time, I know!) -- once numbering in the millions, but now looking extinction in the face within 20 years.  Their high-domed shells have star patterns that appeal to would-be pet owners all over; that fact was all wildlife poachers and smugglers needed to know.  They “collect” tortoises in the forest of southern Madagascar (the island off the southeast coast of Africa), then crate and ship them around the world.

                                                                                                  Dodo image

Two recent rescue operations freed thousands of the critically endangered tortoises hidden between steps in their illegal trafficking.  But they can’t return to the wild unless their safety is assured, so some 23,000 rescued tortoises must be cared for till then.

https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/thousands-radiated-tortoises-seized-madagascar

Pity the Pitties

The various campaigns to change how people regard “pit bulls” can’t claim victory yet.  Despite all the efforts to “rebrand” these dogs, whose reputation still prompts people to give them a wide berth and assume the worst, pit bulls are still feared -- as well as discriminated against.

The irony is that “pit bull” isn’t even a specific breed -- that umbrella label covers “a variety of purebred dogs as well as mixes that share characteristics but not DNA,” according to an APCA official.  And the tragedy is that “pit bulls have the greatest intake and euthanasia rate at shelters,” she adds.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/style/pit-bull-pibble.html

CCD: sad but real

Canine cognitive decline, or CCD, is the name for what can happen as pets grow older.  (The human equivalent is dementia.)  Although CCD comes with various signs -- soiling indoors, seeming anxious, changed sleep patterns, meowing or barking for no apparent reason -- those signs can also signal health problems.

A recent “Pets” feature asked “Does your dog have dementia?”  Happily, it includes numerous things pet parents can do manage symptoms.

https://tdn.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/could-your-dog-have-dementia-here-s-what-you-need/article_b209edaf-a41c-5742-a788-2011aa3b87b6.html

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