Dr. Mike Kaufman

03/02/2025

Today’s birdwatching. It’s breeding season.

31/01/2025

Welcome Rocky to the HVC family.

19/01/2025

The spade-toothed whale (Mesoplodon traversii) is the world’s rarest whale species — and an evolutionary marvel.

Until now, almost nothing was known about it.

However, one was found beached in July at Taiari Mouth, New Zealand. The 16-foot male whale marked the first complete specimen suitable for scientific analysis.

Now, the first-ever has revealed fascinating insights about this elusive marine mammal. The week-long study uncovered unique traits, including nine stomach chambers filled with squid remnants and parasitic worms, shedding light on its diet and feeding behavior.

The dissection also uncovered evolutionary clues, such as vestigial teeth, hinting at ancestral traits once functional in earlier species. These tiny structures align with other vestigial features in whales, like their reduced pelvic bones, tracing their lineage back to land-dwelling ancestors.

By documenting its anatomy and ecological role, researchers aim to deepen understanding of this rare species.

Learn more: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/spade-toothed-whale-reveals-new-discoveries/

18/01/2025

My new assistant.

15/01/2025

Lovely feline family today.

10/01/2025

What breed cross is this sweet fella?

08/01/2025

If Lassie and Rin Tin Tin had a baby.

02/01/2025

Think twice before feeding a raw diet.

Another brand of raw pet food has been found to contain bird flu and has made at least five house cats presumably sick with the virus, health officials say.

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah.

22/12/2024

Food puzzle for an Elephant.

21/12/2024

21/12/2024

Good things come in little packages.

14/12/2024

Xena looking good for a 21 year old kittie.

06/12/2024

The Georgia Aquarium.

28/11/2024