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Monday, October 20, 2008

Redback Spider - Snake-Eating Spider

Would you believe that there are spiders who can really kill Redback Spider - Snake-Eating Spidersnakes? Yes, not only eagles can catch snakes but spiders as well.


Just like this hapless snake became an Australian redback spider’s lunch last Monday, much to the chagrin of the receptionist who discovered the deadly spider and its prey in their office.


At 14 centimeters in length, the snake is significantly larger than the redback spider, but the deadly arachnid made the kill anyway. The receptionist thinks the snake got caught in the spider’s web Monday night. After receiving its deadly dose of spider poison, the snake was rolled up into a web of its own on Wednesday.


What is Redback Spider?


Redback Spider or Latrodectus mactans is a black widow spider and one of the most venomous spiders in the world. It's found throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the West Indies. It builds strong retreats close to the ground. However, it also spreads its web over plants. It always need some kind of a shelter and can often be seen in small crevices.


Other pictures of redback spider.

Redback Spider - Snake-Eating SpiderRedback Spider - Snake-Eating Spider



Video of a redback spiders.


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Philippine Eagle – The Most Powerful Birds In The World

Philippine Eagle – The Most Powerful Birds In The World
The Philippine Eagle also known as Monkey-eating eagle. Philippine Eagle – The Most Powerful Birds In The WorldThe Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines. It is considered one of the tallest, rarest, largest and most powerful birds in the world. Unfortunately, it is also one of the world's rarest and certainly among its most critical endangered vertebrate species.



The eagle is known to be geographically restricted to the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. Philippine eagles are monogamous and they bond for life. But contrary to claims that they opt to remain unpaired in the death of their mate, evidences from natural pairing techniques and data from all other raptors indicate that they take in new mates as replacement. Females reach sexual maturity at around five years and males, at seven.


The Philippine Eagle's head is adorned with long brown feathers. These feathers give it the appearance of a lion's mane, which in turn resembles the mythical gryphon. The back of the Philippine Eagle is brown, the underside white; the heavy legs are yellow with large, powerful claws; the prominent large, high-arched, deep bill is a bluish-gray, with blue-gray eyes.


The average female is about 1 meter (3.3 ft) long, weighs about 7 kg (15.5 lb), and has a wingspan of 2 meters (6.7 ft). This makes the Philippine Eagle the world's largest eagle, and has the largest wing surface area. The adult male is about 10-20% smaller and averages at about 5 kg (11 lbs). Life expectancy for a wild eagle is estimated to be around 30-60 years.


Pictures of Phillipine Eagle