Lonesome George Dead

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Staff at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador say Lonesome George, a giant tortoise believed to be the last of its subspecies, has died. Scientists estimate he was about 100 years old. Lonesome George, a giant tortoise, was believed to be the last of his subspecies. With no offspring and no known individuals from his subspecies left, Lonesome George became known as the rarest creature in the world. For decades, environmentalists unsuccessfully tried to get the Pinta Island tortoise to reproduce with females from a similar subspecies on the Galapagos Islands. Park officials said the tortoise was found dead in his corral by his keeper.
LINK: The presurfer

Ancient Tree With Biblical Roots?

With a giant trunk and boughs towering 60 feet high, a gnarled sycamore near Jericho's main square has long been touted as the very tree that the hated tax collector climbed to get a glimpse of Jesus. LINK: Youtube

Awesome Little British Crane Tranforms Into Giant

ENGLAND (Northwestern Europe) The amazing "SPIDER" crane, it fits in your backpocket and you can lift your car with it. LINK

INDIAN GIANT SQUIRREL

Whoever gave the Indian Giant Squirrel its name was not joking. It makes the European and North American squirrel look like dormice in comparison. This is no ordinary squirrel – secretive and shy, it is indeed a giant among its kind… Known also as the Malabar Giant Squirrel, Ratufa indica is easily distinguishable from its smaller relatives, having a very conspicuous color scheme which can be either two or three-toned. The head and body of this gorgeous looking animal is up to sixteen inches in length, compared to the ten of the Eastern Gray found in the US.” w/ photos. LINK, Via: Youtube



The Indian giant squirrel is an upper-canopy dwelling species. It is endemic to deciduous, mixed deciduous and moist evergreen forests of Peninsular India, reaching as far North as Satpura ranges in Central India.

THE CROUCHING SCULPTURE

“Anthony Gormley’s latest mammoth sculpture, Exposure which is to be unveiled formally in September, has opinion divided. Nothing particularly new there, you might say. Yet Exposure, weighing in at 60 tons, 85 feet in height and poised rather delicately in a crouching position is causing something of a ruckus in the Netherlands, where it has been assembled.” w/ photos. LINK

Wave Rock

Wave Rock is an unusual landform in southwestern Australia. It looks like a giant wave of water that is about to crash. This feature was caused by the erosion of soft rock below the harder top. It measures 14 meters high and 110 meters long.

Link, Via: The Presurfer | Photo by Flickr user tostao meravigliao used under Creative Commons license, Via: Neatorama

Giant Salamanders

(YouTube link)

Giant salamanders can grow up to five feet long! Flood control programs in Japan are threatening their spawning grounds, so scientists have developed innovative ways to help the salamanders get upstream. -Via: Unique Daily, Via: Neatorama

7 (Thankfully) Extinct Giant Versions of Modern Animals

Giants once roamed the earth, meaning many species of animals that are familiar to us have enormous extinct ancestors. Cracked looks at seven of them, some of which have been previously featured individually at Neatorama. Take a look at Argentavis magnificens.

As if answering the dare to make us feel more inadequate, the world gave us Argentavis magnificens, the largest flying bird in recorded history. These beasts possessed a wingspan between 19- and 26-feet, and a wing area of 75-feet, which you may notice is only slightly smaller than a Lear Jet. In addition to its staggering size and 240-pound weight, the bird is believed to have swallowed prey as large as cattle in one fell swoop.

Link, -Via: Gorilla Mask, Via: Neatorama

Giant Otters Up Close

Otters are fascinating species and the giant otter is no exception. These endangered critters are in serious danger of extinction, but veterinarian Lucy Spelman and other scientists are working to protect them. The process of rescuing these adorable animals is detailed on the Adventures in Climate Change website.

Link, Via: Discovery News Image by Lucy Spelman, Via: Neatorama

First Footage of Giant Stingray

Manta rays are one of the most intelligent creatures in the ocean and, at up to seven metres long, one of the largest. Yet despite their size and curious nature, almost nothing is known about their lives. LINK: Youtube

It is one of the rarest creatures of the ocean’s deep, and it has been caught on film for the first time ever. The species, smalleye stingray, is the largest of all stingray species, and is seen off the coast of Mozambique.

Via: news, Via: Neatorama

GIANT SNAKE PICTURES: Alien Species Invading U.S.?

The world's heaviest snake, the green anaconda is one of nine huge alien snake species that may wreak havoc if they take hold in the United States, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report released this week. (Read full story: "Alien Giant Snakes Threaten to Invade Up to 1/3 of U.S.")

The giant snake (pictured in the Peruvian Amazon) can reach lengths of 23 feet (7 meters) and weigh in at 550 pounds (227 kilograms). The olive-green reptiles would flourish in the Florida Peninsula and in southern Texas, regions that have climates similar to the anaconda's native South American habitat, the study authors say. LINK

(Another) Giant Robot Built In Japan

So, um, is this Japan’s economic stimulus plan? Lots of giant robot statues? If so, awesome. And since this is giant robot number 2, it must be working! This, of course, is Gigantor. You know, the original Iron Man? LINK



But anyway, back to the statue. It’s a life size version of the famous robot, which isn’t quite as big as a Gundam, but it’s still not something you’d want to piss off: LINK



Gigantor measures in at 18 meters tall, and 50 ton robot statue will be officially unveiled October 4th. LINK

Giant piranha found in Devon River

A giant piranha – the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world – has been found in a Devon river, the Environment Agency said today.

The fish, of a species more accustomed to the Amazon river basin, was discovered in the river Torridge by Environment Agency workers conducting a wildlife survey. Eddie Stevens, one of the three-man monitoring team, said they were left open-mouthed by their discovery.

At a length of 36cm (14in), the red-bellied piranha was a giant of its kind – more than eight inches longer than an average specimen. The team first spotted its tail sticking out of an undercut bank on the far side of the river. LINK

Urban Street Art: Giant Building Mural: Poland

According to Swiatecki, a Polish painter, graphic designer and urban activist, this giant building mural took 9 people, 350 cans of 80 liter acrylic paint, and 3 months and 7 days to complete. Very impressive! LINK

One Heck of a Giant Stingray

A stingray weighing close to 900 pounds? This 6.6-ft.-wide giant stingray was caught, measured and released in Thailand this week, part of a National Geographic scientific expedition to search for giant fish. It may well be the largest known freshwater fish in the world.

Freshwater giant stingrays are among the largest of the approximately 200 species of rays. They are found in just a few rivers in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

LINK, Via: Neatorama

Super Giant Mega Snowball

Try to throw this huge snowball :) ! LINK, Via: Youtube

Giant, Sandcrabs To Be Displayed in Britain

This disturbing thing that sort of resembles a rolly polly is set to go on display in England for the first time ever. These rare Isopods live deep in the ocean in extremely cold temperatures, but for some reason, fishermen in the Atlantic discovered 9 of them in their lobster nets. They’re ugly, but sure are interesting to learn about.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Seriously Weird And Endangered Species

I’ve seen some weird animals online, but Webecoist always manages to find new oddities that still blow my mind. The one above is a giant coconut crab. I wonder if they taste any good.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Wow see the Giant Guitar bike!!!!!

It doesn't make sweet music, but it might just break a world record - a giant bike in the shape of a guitar has been out and about in Germany. LINK

The Giant Stingray

“A British angler has caught a rare giant freshwater stingray - possibly the largest freshwater fish species in the world - during a visit to Thailand’s remote rivers.” LINK