#*infodumps*

[ningauinerd]

I've been doing a lot of volunteer fieldwork with these guys recently so I thought I might as well do an infodump about them here.

The pygmy bluetongue skink (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is one of the most unique and unusual members of the Tiliqua genus, which includes the true bluetongues as well as the sleepy lizard/shingleback. However, the pygmy bluetongue actually lacks the blue tongue the group is named after, having a pink tongue instead! As its scientific name suggests, it is quite a range restricted species, being found only in open grasslands north of Adelaide, South Australia, as far north as Peterborough. Historically they ranged more extensively across the Adelaide Plains, as far south as Marion, but due to the destruction of suitable habitat they now occur no further south than Kapunda.

While most bluetongues are notable for their large size amongst skinks, with several species regularly exceeding 30 cm in length, the pygmy bluey lives up to its name by measuring a measly average of 9 cm long from snout to vent. This is actually still a fair size compared to the average skink, but it's miniscule by bluetongue standards. Even more notable than their size however are their habits, for they are the only species of lizard that is specialised to live exclusively in old spider burrows! The burrows of both trapdoor and wolf spiders are used, but trapdoor burrows are preferred in most instances.

Pygmy bluetongues spend the majority of their lives within these spider burrows, leaving only to defecate, seek out mates and disperse. The average length of time a lizard spends in a particular burrow is highly dependant on the individual - some are sedentary and spend many years within a single burrow, while others will move around fairly frequently. As well as places to shelter and raise their young (they have parental care, it's very cute), pygmy bluetongues also use the burrows as ambush sites, waiting at the top for suitable prey, usually a mid-sized arthropod, to stray close enough for them to quickly dart out and drag them into the depths.

but here's the ambusher

The chief natural predators of pygmy bluetongues are raptors and brown snakes, and sheltering in the burrow is the main defence against both of these threats. Their burrows are often wide enough for a brown snake to enter, but not wide enough for them to open their mouths in - this means all the brown snake usually gets by pursuing a sheltering pygmy is an angry lizard attacking its face, forcing it to retreat.

The lazy lifestyle of the burrow-stealing pygmy bluetongues is certainly unique, and also explains why they have been such an elusive species since they were first discovered by Western scientists in the 1860s. Rarely seen or collected, their habit of inhabiting spider burrows remained undiscovered for the longest time, and by the 1960s they had become so hard to find that they were believed to be extinct. That was until, in 1992, a pygmy bluetongue was found inside the stomach of a roadkill brown snake by amateur herpetologist Graham Armstrong, confirming their status as a Lazarus of the lizard world.

The historic rediscovery of the pygmy bluetongue (Image credit: Graham Armstrong)

Our previous assumptions of extinction were fortunately premature, but the pygmy bluetongue skink is in serious trouble nonetheless. While they are able to live in a variety of different grassland types, both native and exotic, the extensive modification of their entire distribution through cereal cropping and urbanisation has led to their populations becoming very small and fragmented, giving them a ranking of Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Almost all of these populations are on private land (often grazed by sheep), which makes protecting and/or studying them particularly difficult and complex.

However, when it comes to future threats to the species, climate change is easily the most worrying. As Australia becomes ever hotter and drier, their small remaining distribution is likely to become largely unsuitable, threatening the existence of the entire species. To combat this, researchers are currently investigating the viability of translocating populations further south to areas with cooler climates, providing a safeguard if they do indeed disappear from their remaining natural distribution.

But how do you study a lizard that lives exclusively in small spider holes? Well, if you want to catch them, there's only one tool for the job - the humble fishing rod. Not any special fishing rod either, just a regular rod with a poor mealworm shoddily tied to the end. Using this, you can engage in a tug of war with the lizards until, if they aren't being too difficult, you're able to pull them completely out of their burrow and catch them to perform the necessary measurements and processing. David Attenborough kindly demonstrates this technique in Life in Cold Blood, although in his case the lizard was steadfast in remaining in the burrow!

the sacred tool of the mighty lizard fishermen

returned to their abode

Two additional Fun Pygmy Facts: Fun Pygmy Fact #1 - The closest living relative of the pygmy bluetongue is the sleepy lizard!

cousins!

Fun Pygmy Fact #2 - Wooden artificial burrows purpose-made for pygmy blueys have proven effective, and the lizards inhabiting them even tend to be in better body condition than those in natural burrows!

#australian wildife #wildlife #reptile #lizard #skink #tiliqua #bluetongue #animal facts #herpetology #natural history #fieldwork #infodumps #my stuff

[robynsreign]

Me and my reasons on why Sonic from Sonic Prime is not too out of character for him!!

I feel like I should start by saying absolutely no hate to people who don't like Prime Sonic. I 100% understand why someone might not like him as a character and I do lightly touch on that!

Also I would appreciate it if when you state your opinion on the matter you do it in a civil way so we can all have a normal conversation on it. I will delete comments that seem too attack based or are just hating on this subject.

Aside from that feel free to tell me how you feel about the matter!!

I feel like Sonic's character in prime is not necessarily the worst or out of character for him. I actually really like this version of sonic due to his character flaws! I find it to be a fun and different way of writing him in his earlier stages of character development.

First we should approach the negatives before we approach the positives; Sonic is very immature compared to his previous iterations. He is impulsive, not the best at truly working in a team, and can be annoying at times.

These characteristics get in the way of his ability to problem solve and act in a way other iterations do but these aren't too far off from other versions of Sonic.

This can 100% make him an unappealing and sometimes frustrating character. I know I've watched some scenes in the show and hated his responses to some situations.

Although Sonic does have some positives! He's still loyal to his friends, tries his best to listen past his impulsive nature, and is overall still as loving as ever.

There are plenty of Sonic timelines where he is the one that messed up. Was it this bad? Not always but it's not rare for him.

Idw sonic for example allowed Metal Sonic to live his life the way he wanted which immediately backfired, same with the Mr Tinker situation.

Sonic has a consistent characteristic in which he trusts too much and wants others to have the chance to change. Any mistake he makes is due to him trying to help others.

While Sonic from Prime's situation is much different he still was trying to help others. Prime wasn't just a simple mistake Prime was a big mistake but that's not weird for his character.

Sonic from prime still puts effort into helping so many people but at times that could be a flaw. This want to help others often backfires as he doesn't fully trust his friends to be safe and handle the situation which can make him seem overbearing; This is consistent with him tho. He has always been the self sacrificing type Sonic frontiers is a good example of that.

Throughout all of Sonic frontiers he is hurting himself to help others.

Most sonic iterations want to help others so desperately they don't think about the consequences whether that causes hurt to themselves or others.

Although many iterations of Sonic trusts their friends abilities and skills they can all still be scared for what can happen.

Sonic from Prime makes mistakes that are undeniable, I mean he destroyed the entire universe but he's still got those positive traits that can sometimes even out the negative.

I feel like judging his character at this current point of the show is very harsh given how much as a character he is potentially set up to change.

At this point in the show it really depends on if the writers want him to approach those issues or not.

#sonic prime #sonic the hedgehog #sonic the hedghog fanart #sonic au #character analysis #sega #sonic idw #sonic comics #sonic idw comics #sonic frontiers #infodump #infodumps #please hear me out #character analysis is my favorite #I LOVE TALKING ABOUT STUFF LIKE THIS #character essay

[nr1flapjackfan]

"I would like to toast all of you. Really. I know that I'm the butt of your jokes and that's just my cross to bear as the patriarch of our little family...

[ Death imagery warning; TDPA: The Devil in Me spoiler warning. ]

Mark and Jamie, the two of you do the work of a team of ten.

and Kate, despite our bickering, you are the heart of this show. You keep people interested.

And finally to our newest recruit, Erin. We would be lost without you. Who else could we trust to remember every little detail?

Thank you all...for your hard work.

Cheers."

#supermassive games #the devil in me #the dark pictures anthology #charlie lonnit #charles lonnit #erin keenan #jamie tiergan #kate wilder #katherine wilder #mark nestor #infodumps

[screwnames-ihatenames]

I remember your post that was like all the lords in black represent a body part? I don't really think so. It really only applies to blinky and nibbly. But they all do represent a want?(which obviously is am important thing in the musicals but yeah)

Something, something, blinky is a want for knowledge. he gives Alice the "knowledge" of what's happening at Deb's party because of how badly she wants it.

Nibbly is a passionate hunger and want. He always hungers, and it is a physical representation of hunger. The honey queen competition is quite literally about who is the hungriest.

Tinky is a want to change things? Maybe? I need to watch all the nightmare times but that feels right. Ted wants to fix things with Jenny.

Uh and Pokotho gave me a hard time buuuut: a want to express yourself. Freedom. That kind of stuff. I know it feels wrong because his shtick is quite literally removing a persons free will. But think about what the apotheosis is: a promise of freedom. In Let It Out, Hive?Paul talks about how freeing it is to talk about how he feels (about musicals?) So yeah. I think Pokotho is a want for self expression (which makes the theatre kid aspect of him honestly make more sense.)

And I don't know exactly what Wiggly's thing is. I think he might also be a want to be adored? A want to be worshipped, but he also seems to be tied to anger. But yeah now that I think about it he's probably a want to be adored, because like. The entirety of Black Friday. He wants people to want him. Linda becomes the prophet because she wants to be adored. People want tickle me wiggly because they want their kids to love them.

LOVE THIS

#asks #love my moots #tinker the dragon #infodumps #I don’t really have a reaction but absolutely LOVE THIS

[horrificinformation]

𓆩♡𓆪 . . . masterlist . . .

𓆩♰𓆪 . . . reviews . . . eden lake

𓆩♰𓆪 . . . infodumps . . .

paraphilias

𓆩♰𓆪 . . . original content . . .

nothing as of yet....

𓆩♰𓆪 . . . fanfictional content . . .

smile dog headcanons

#masterlist #reviews #infodumps #original content #fanfictional content

[femboi-rayne]

Can we get a youtube channel run by a bunch of neurodivergent people or one neurodivergent person that just posts hour - multiple hour long infodumps?

I need deep dives into the history of paper plates! Information that will likely never serve me, but will make me happy and give me something to listen to when I have nothing to do!

#or if that's already a thing please link it #autism #actually autistic #adhd #infodumps #youtube

[150i34]

Autistic Stede headcanon, where his hyperfixation is botany and during the Field Day he infodumps on Ed and Luscious.

Lusious, who's heard a lot of Stede's monologues already, is not impressed. Ed, on the other hand, tries to play it cool, but is actually really fascinated and in awe of Stede's knowledge.

Bonus: Most of Stede's books are on botany. There are also some albums and Ed loves listening to Stede talk and describe different plants to him.

#our Flag Means Death #autistic stede bonnet #infodumps #botany

[notabled-noodle]

OOH REPTILES!!! I’m currently in a little Galapagos ditch so lemme tell ya bout the Galapagos Iguana, sometimes called The Galapagos Dragon. Typically very dark grey or black, they have a strictly herbivorous diet and they live on the furthest decayed island that is habitable!! They can spend up to 15 minutes(I think) under water to graze on their primary food source(a type of sea grass I think), and then they come up to prevent from stiffening due to the waters temperatures rather than due to a need for air. AND they’re freaking gorgeous.

The idea of water dragons living on a volcanic island slowly descending into the sea is just such a cool concept and essentially I think that if myths came to life they’d be on the Galápagos Islands.

ooh!!

that’s amazing! both as an animal and as a metaphor… beautiful!

#asks #infodumps

[ningauinerd]

The lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura), less degradingly known as the yallara by the Wangkangurru people, is one of Australia's many many obscure recently extinct mammals. It was last seen alive by western observers in 1931, although based on First Nations knowledge (and a skull found under an eagle's nest) it appears to certainly have survived at least into the 1960s.

(Image credit: Oldfield Thomas’ Catalogue of the Monotremes and Marsupials in the British Museum)

The yallara was smaller and less colourful than the living greater bilby (M. lagotis), hence its description of as the "lesser" of the two species, but what it lacked in stature it made up for in ferocity. Unlike its larger cousin, the yallara was reportedly very aggressive and feisty, with Hedley Finlayson (one of the few scientists to observe the species in life, and the last) writing that they: "...completely belied their delicate appearance by proving themselves fierce and intractable, and repulsed the most tactful attempts to handle them by repeated savage snapping bites and harsh hissing sounds, and one member of the party, who was persistent in his intentions, received a gash in the hand three quarters of an inch long from the canines of a male."

Although few observations of the species were made in life and much of their ecology remains a mystery, they may also have been more carnivorous than the living greater bilby. Investigations of stomach contents found large quantities of skin and fur from rodents, with only limited seeds and no insect fragments having been ingested. However, this information only comes from a small sample of individuals, so whether or not the yallara was the most predatory of all modern bandicoots will likely remain uncertain. They also differed in behaviour from greater bilbies by always blocking the entrance to their burrow after entering.

The species was only observed by Europeans in the harsh deserts of north-eastern South Australia and the south-east of the Northern Territory, but testimony from Aboriginal peoples indicates it also extended further west into the Great Sandy and Gibson Deserts of Western Australia. Being reported as common when last observed by Finlayson in the 1930s, its decline and extinction appears to have occurred entirely unobserved by western eyes, but it is likely that they were a victim of the usual troubles - invasive species and changing fire regimes.

#we were robbed of feisty bilbies #australian wildlife #wildlife #mammals #marsupials #bilby #lesser bilby #extinct #recently extinct #extinct species #extinction #animal facts #mammalogy #natural history #infodumps #my stuff

[nr1flapjackfan]

Rainmaker - Misty Monsoon - Gif Set 1 - Opening Cutscene

Gif set 1 - Pre-fight / Opening Cutscene | Gif set 2 - Fight / Cheats | Gif set 3 - Post-fight / Ending Cutscene [Mercy]

[ Please credit if used, thank you ]

#toontown corporate clash #toontown #toonblr #rainmaker #misty monsoon #gif set #gifs #infodumps #ttcc

[screwnames-ihatenames]

SO BASICALLY I LIKE GHOSTS. A LOT. SO HERES SOME INFO ABOUT WENDIGOS.

1 - They’re mostly found in Canada, since they’re only found in colder weather.

2 - It usually has to have snow. Like, a lot of snow. That’s how cold it has to be.

3 - I’m a bit rusty on this part, I kinda forgot, but I’m pretty sure Wedigos are people who are other people who were with them and died in the cold?? Eh.. I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t exactly remember. But they did die in the cold area they were in. And they specifically eat meat. Only.

OOO I’ve been meaning to find out some more stuff about wendigos so this is some nice knowledge!

#infodumps #asks #amat3ured1t0r

[plaguedocboi]

I have an interview at the Maine Oceanarium today and the guy emailed me JUST NOW and was like Hey can you put together a short presentation on an animal of your choice. My interview is in like 3 hours

#like yes I will be more than happy to infodump about a snail or something but way to leave it to the last minute

[cookie-nom-nom]

Their entire relationship

#tears of the kingdom #legend of zelda #zelda #totk zelda #link #totk link #zelink #totk spoilers #tbh creature #autism hc #autism creature #I am both #Get you a man who will sit and look pretty while you explain ancient civilizations to him #Exposition? No I see only an infodumping queen #something to nom on #Because ppl are (rightfully) clowning on me: image is weird bc I made it on laptop but it changed spacing on phone #So I took a photo of my laptop screen #^^ technologically incompetent

[alizarin-ooh]

in idle nighttime moments last week i signed up for NaNoWriMo. i'd been thinking about a Bad Novel Idea for a while, throwing songs on a vibes playlist, weighing unnerving isolated mountain settings and seasons, blah blah - it's getting dark earlier and my work is possibly evaporating and hey, let's just gooo. let's pretend i'm a writer again!

but right now i kind of want to throw it out the window and write fanfic of a fanfic that i read that kind of messed me up and i can't stop thinking about it. thinking things like "this is airbnb's fault somehow, this whole thing, i know it" and "oh man that character should get therapy now she has the time, i want her to find really good therapy" and "they start an investigative podcast? maybe!"

i guess the good news is i still have two weeks to talk myself down

#infodumps #wanna see my id? not ALL of it obviously you can't see it all at once but #i'm not a writer but my aliases all are #realizing that i actually started this tumblr as a place to ramble about campnano the ONE time i finished it #so this post is retro

[snsnsuo]

rise is always fun to rewatch for me because of its attention to design details. these screenshots are from the bug busters episode. look at his battle shell: we see in these shots that it's designed to be flexible and not constraining for his movement

if you ever held a mango cut like this, you'll get the idea of how donnie's battle shell works

#i put a screenshot of my old tweet on my personal account but it got too much attention #seems like people find it useful so im putting it here too #i kept the caption as it was in the orig tweet #maybe one day i infodump about fleo's arm mechanics cos im a cybernerd... maybe #rottmnt