thylacine-dreams:

New 3D images of Tasmanian tigers reveal evolutionary secrets

“Melbourne researchers have used Tasmanian tiger specimens more than a century old to create new 3D digital models, unlocking mysteries of the marsupial’s development before it was hunted to extinction.

Researchers say it’s the first time a series of wholly-preserved specimens of an extinct species has been digitally scanned, creating a unique timeline of early development from joeys aged just a few days old to fully-grown juveniles.

Eleven specimens from across Australia and overseas were scanned to create 3D models of the skeletons and internal organs of Tasmanian tiger joeys.

The images have revealed how at birth, the species displayed the typical marsupial characteristic of overly strong forelimbs to crawl from the mother’s birth canal into her pouch, but by five weeks of age their hind legs developed to look more like a dingo.”

Via ABC News.

reapersun:

reminder series: bleak yet comforting thoughts.

i specifically chose animals that are (or believed to be) extinct due to human influence: thylacine, great auk, baiji, west african black rhino, golden toad, dodo, passenger pigeon, and quagga. there are many other species i could have included. the plants are also based on extinct species, but i found much less information about extinct plants, unfortunately.

the text doesn’t necessarily relate to each animal or their extinction. it’s all basically the same idea: let’s all be nice to each other, because today, the universe is vast and incomprehensible, we are all suffering, we are all going to die, and we’re all in this together. for today.

i’m busy for a couple weeks with conventions, but after that i’m considering a companion series with ancient extinct animals, so feel free to send me your favorites :)

galleytrot:

“Lie close,” Laura said,
Pricking up her golden head:
“We must not look at goblin men,
We must not buy their fruits:
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?”

A wolf goes for a walk in the woods and meets a dog for the first time

svrgebinder:

drugar-mechok:

thespectacularspider-girl:

crunkellove:

the-girl-who-laughed:

nocrimeinthewasteland:

IN THE FIFTH GIF HE PATS THE CUPS WITH HIS LITTLE PAWS TO MAKE SURE IT’S IN. BRB, DYING.

ARE YOU KIDDING? LOOK AT THE 7TH GIF HOW HE JUST HANDS THE CUPS TO THE PERSON AND IS LIKE, “HERE HUMAN, YOUR FEEBLE TASK FOR ME IS COMPLETE. NOW LEAVE US BE.”

THEY’RE SO CUTE, OMG. I CAN’T.

THE GREATEST THING ON THE INTERNET SINCE THE LAST TIME OTTERS WERE IN A THING ON THE INTERNET.

Reblogging purely for the last one

@jupiterjames

cisnowflake:

semi-sweetsouthernbelle:

Thank you for your service pup.

I’m not crying

wildwoodlynx:

nocturnalvisionary:

artisansoulleader:

livesickdieill:

miamisugarxo:

sterlingsea:

midnightwillowwolf:

scalestails:

fighting-for-animals:

How dog breeders have “improved” breeds over the past 100 years. 

1. The basset hound never used to sit so low. The dog has suffered changes to his rear leg structure, has excessive skin, vertebrae problems, droopy eyes that are prone to ectropion and entropion, and excessively large ears. 
2. The bull terrier used to be an athletic dog, but over the years his snout was mutated to be oversized and bending downwards, leading to respiratory issues. Many bull terriers have supernumerary teeth and are compulsive tail chasers and air biters owing to brain deformities. 
3. The boxer now has a much shorter face with an extremely short snout. The hindquarters are also lower. Like all brachycephalic dogs, the boxer has difficulty controlling his temperature in hot weather, meaning they are prone to overheating and collapsing in the summer. The boxer also has one of the highest cancer rates among dog breeds and many modern day boxers suffer from seizures. 
4. The english bulldog has evolved into a creature that suffers from almost every known disease. A kennel club survey conducted in 2004 found that they die on average at only 6 years and 4 months old. They cannot mate without human intervention, and cannot give birth naturally due to their giant heads. There is no such thing as a truly healthy bulldog. 
5. The dachshund, at one time, used to have functional legs and necks for their size. Their backs and legs have gotten longer, chest jutted forward, and legs have shrunk to such proportions that there is barely any clearance between their chest and the floor. Obese dachshunds usually have to actually drag their bellies across the ground. Their risk for intervertebral disc disease - which can result in paralysis - is extremely high. They are also prone to achrondoplastic related pathologies, progressive retinal apathy, and problems with their legs and joints. 
6. Pugs are the most inbred breed of dog in existence - an investigation carried out found that amongst the 10,000 pugs found in the UK are so inbred, the gene pool consists of the equivalent of only 50 individuals.  They are extremely brachycephalic, and suffer severely from all the associated problems - the folds in their face frequently get infected, they struggle to breathe (making snoring/snorting/huffing noises even without moving), they have high blood pressure, low oxygenation, often collapse and die in the summer or if allowed to overheat, dentition problems due to their skulls being so curled in, and perhaps most shocking - their double curled tail is actually a genetic defect, and in its most serious forms leads to paralysis and many dogs needed a wheelchair or being euthanised if this progresses. These dogs are usually culled if they fail to produce this ‘attractive’ trait. 

Healthy puppies that do not succumb to these ridiculous modern day breed standards are usually culled. One very heartbreaking example is the rhodesian ridgeback. The ridge is actually a genetic deformity - a mild form of spinal bifida - and puppies born without this ridge are healthy - but since the ridge is their namesake, healthy puppies are normally culled at birth and only those with noticeable ridges are bred from, thus passing the disability down to future dogs. Below is a ridgeback alongside a healthy, ridgeless dog.

3 to 4 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full…. people are choosing to buy from breeders or shops instead of offering them a home. 

Homeless animals outnumber homeless people by 5:1. 

Only 1 in 10 dogs will ever find a permanent home. 

25 PER CENT OF DOGS THAT ENTER SHELTERS ARE PUREBREEDS. 

Please consider adopting a homeless dog. Please don’t encourage breeding these animals when there are so many being killed every year. Breeding is a profit, not “just” a hobby, and even if you think your breeder is reputable, they are still churning out puppies into a world where pets are seen as disposable. 

This post is EXTREMELY important and I want all of you to read it.

NEVER buy a dog. Adoption should be your only option.

THIS. EVERYTHING IN THIS POST IS GOLD. YOU FUCKERS READ UP

Do not buy a dog from a breeder. A dog is not the living equivalent of a designer bag. Adopt a dog. Stop supporting the business of genetic mutilation for aesthetic.

I don’t care if this isn’t my blog aesthetic, you shouldn’t either. Please please PLEASE ADOPT!!!!! IF YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEW PUPPY THAT YOU “BOUGHT” I WILL FUCKING PUNCH YOU!

Adoption is seriously the best. Plus foster if you can.

I am truly horrified. And the fact that pugs are super inbred does not surprise me, you can see it in their faces :O

I tried to pass this up but I just I can’t. Breeding is not inherently bad. Ignorance is bad. Having no KNOWLEDGE is bad. Someone adopting a puppy from a shelter with no information or knowledge or education about dogs or dog training is just as harmful as someone who buys from a breeder with the same lack of knowledge.

You know who depends on breeders? Service dogs. Service dogs bred and raised to HELP people who NEED it. So go on and punch me in my fucking face for researching for TWO YEARS in the right breeder and BREED for my disability. Go on and punch me in the face for spending the next FOUR years making sure she’s trained right and healthy and actively helping OTHER people find their right dog for them be in adoption or breeding.

Breeding is NOT the problem. Ignorance is. Lack of activism is. You really want to battle this shit??? Get fucking involved. Join the AKC and the breed clubs, push for more strict breeding regulations, push for healthier codes, push for the codes that decide what the dog breed standard is changes. Make a fucking difference in the community instead of standing back and judging because you know what DOESNT end up in shelters? Dogs from reputable breeders. from breeders who spend their every dime to keep their dogs safe and healthy and that they do not breed until they know these puppies have homes and if they DONT they keep them.

Are there problems in dog shows and the AKC?? Hell yes. But standing on the side lines complaining won’t DO anything. You don’t like the breed guidelines? HELP CHANGE THEM. Because dog shows and SERVICE DOGS and breeders aren’t going anywhere but helping change how they are raised or judged in dog shows CAN change.

Also to think that adopting has no issues is ignorant as well. ANYONE can adopt a dog. You know how many irresponsible people just adopt dogs? How many horrible shelters out there are there? How many people adopt then just send them back? How many get a dog with no knowledge or a puppy then just stick the dog outside?

There is no one solution fits all- actually there is! It’s called spreading knowledge (like the OP post of breed standards) but also getting INVOLVED. voting, being apart of the community, pushing people to learn and if they want to adopt to help make sure they are ready and if they want to get one from a breeder to find one who does it correctly.

Knowledge is the solution. Not shaming someone who buys from a breeder.

Me and my bred-SERVICE DOG thank you.

^ That’s important!! Buying a bred dog isn’t inherently “bad”, I don’t think that was the intended vibe of the original post.

For a lot of people, buying a certain breed is the best way to purchase a dog whose temperament etc. will be best suited to their lifestyle and often, dogs purchased directly from a good breeder will never see the inside of a shelter.

I think the point is not to buy designer breeds, and to be aware of the history and current standing of the breed you’re looking into. If the dog you’re interested in suffers from one of the atrocious aesthetic deformities, reconsider, or look around for those blessed breeders that are trying to revive the historical founders of the breed by introducing other breeds to their stock to try and breed out this laundry list of problems. A good breeder should always be striving for a healthier, sounder dog with no health issues - not just to meet the AKC’s ridiculous standards.

The message here is to do your research, and ask your prospective breeders a million questions. Some of the harmful mutations aren’t as glaring as flat faces and short legs, like the flopped ears of the scottish fold cat or a pug’s curled tail. -shakes everyone- Yes, please, for the love of all things adopt a shelter dog if you are able - especially the older dogs, and not just the cute floppy puppies. But breeders aren’t necessarily the problem, its the backyard breeders, the one-time “oh our dog is so cute and so lovely wouldn’t it be fun for the kids to see puppies growing up!” owners, and the asshole guys who are so insecure in their manliness that they can’t neuter their dogs that are the problem.

rate-my-reptile:

Keepping it Litt in the Swamps of the Danklord Lichlord

aryeia:

he give the smol kiss