Limacina helicina is a Species of Small Swimming Predatory Sea Snail. (15 Pics)

Limacina helicina is a species of small swimming predatory sea snail in the family Limacinidae, which belong to the group commonly known as sea butterflies (Thecosomata).[7][8]

Limacina helicina is a keystone species of mesozooplankton in Arctic pelagic ecosystems.[9][10][11]

The first written record of this species was by Friderich Martens from Spitsbergen in 1675.[12][13] Limacina helicina was also observed during an 1773 expedition to the Arctic led by Constantine John Phipps on the ships HMS Racehorse and on HMS Carcass and the species was described one year later, in 1774.[1]

Limacina helicina is the type species of the genus Limacina.[14]

In contrast to the traditional view, it was shown in 2010 that the distribution of this species is not bipolar; Arctic and Antarctic individuals belong to two genetically distinct species: Limacina helicina in the Arctic, and Limacina antarctica in the Antarctic.Limacina helicina has been recognised as a species complex comprising two sub-species and at least five forms.[15] In addition, the taxonomic category “forma” has been applied to designate at least three morphotypes of Limacina helicina helicina (acuta, helicina and pacifica) and two morphotypes of Limacina helicina antarctica (antarctica and rangi).[15] It is also known as Limacina helicina rangii (d'Orbigny, 1835).[16] These forms typically have different geographical ranges, but it remains unclear as to whether forms represent morphological responses to different environmental conditions or are indeed taxonomically distinct, and if the latter, their level of taxonomic separation.

from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limacina_helicina

Cheetah,The fastest Animal in the World (14 Pics)

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large feline (family Felidae, subfamily Felinae) inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah can run faster than any other land animal— as fast as 112 to 120 km/h (70 to 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds. This cat is also notable for modifications in the species' paws. It is one of the few felids with semi-retractable claws.The cheetah's chest is deep and its waist is narrow. The coarse, short fur of the cheetah is tan with round black spots measuring from 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.2 in) across, affording it some camouflage while hunting. There are no spots on its white underside, but the tail has spots, which merge to form four to six dark rings at the end. The tail usually ends in a bushy white tuft. The cheetah has a small head with high-set eyes. Black "tear marks" running from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth keep sunlight out of its eyes and aid in hunting and seeing long distances. Its thin and fragile body make it well-suited to short bursts of high speed, but not to long-distance running.

Agility, rather than raw speed, accounts for much of the cheetah's ability to catch prey. Cheetahs can accelerate four times as fast as a human (thanks to greater muscle power) and can slow down by 14 kilometers per hour in one stride. They can hunt successfully in dense forests.

The adult cheetah weighs from 21 to 72 kg (46 to 159 lb). Its total head-and-body length is from 110 to 150 cm (43 to 59 in), while the tail can measure 60 to 84 cm (24 to 33 in) in length. Cheetahs are 66 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in) tall at the shoulder. Males tend to be slightly larger than females and have slightly bigger heads, but there is not a great variation in cheetah sizes and it is difficult to tell males and females apart by appearance alone.

From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetah

Scorpions like a food. A weird "Delicatessen" (45 Pics)

With its sharp claws and venomous tail, the scorpion usually elicits feelings of fear, not hunger. While it may not seem like the most appetizing creature, scorpions are, in fact, edible. While North America is home to several species of scorpion, the large arachnid is rarely eaten in the U.S., other than as a novelty sweet encased in hard candy or chocolate. In China, scorpions are eaten, but not for shock value. They can be fried, roasted, grilled on a stick, and can even be eaten live. If you're new to scorpion eating, start with scorpions prepared at a restaurant or purchased roasted and bagged or canned from an Asian market.

Instructions

1

Eat roasted scorpions from a bag or can whole, right out of the package, using your fingers, chopsticks or a fork.

2

Use chopsticks to eat whole pan-fried or stir-fried scorpions. Scorpions can be found on some Asian restaurant menus, as well as in restaurants that specialize in unusual food. These scorpions are usually cooked live - the heat makes the venom harmless.

3

Bite skewered, grilled scorpions right off of the stick, or pull them off with your hand and pop them into your mouth.

4

Find a restaurant that serves live scorpion, if you can. One way to serve them is dunked in wine with chopsticks with the stinger clipped off. Don't try live scorpion at home. Although most North American scorpions are not lethal to humans, handling them can be tricky.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_8275864_eat-scorpion.html

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