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A Mysterious Predator, Endemic to Madagascar.

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Greetings. Cryptoprocta ferox, known as the fossa, is a mysterious mammal that has challenged scientists ever since it was first described back in 1833. The largest mammalian predator on the island of Madagascar, the fossa has physical characteristics that are reminiscent of some species of felines, but the species is not related to cats at all.  Often described as looking similar to a small cougar, fossas are somewhat of a mystery, from taxonomic and evolutionary standpoints. Fossil evidence shows that the species' ancestors appeared on Madagascar approximately 20 million years ago, during the Miocene. An extinct species, Cryptoprocta spelea, which was twice as large as the modern fossa, disappeared around the year 1400. Genetic research has suggested that the species is related to veverrids, and not related to cats, dogs, or other similar mammals, despite their outward appearance.  The species is widespread across Madagascar, although in relatively low numbers, which makes t...
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A Reptile That Escaped Extinction.

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Greetings. The Blue Iguana is a reptile native to the island of Grand Cayman. Once critically endangered, the species numbered only 15 wild individuals in 2003, but thanks to the herculean efforts of conservationists, the species' population has rebounded to a more healthy and sustainable status.  A herbivorous reptile, Cyclura lewisi feeds on plants, fruits, and flowers. Adults have no natural enemies, with the only threat posed by human activities like habitat destruction. Young blue iguanas are occasionally preyed on by cats and dogs brought to the island by settlers. Blue iguanas are a prime example of island gigantism, being totally isolated on the island for the past tens of thousands of years, allowing for the species' substantially larger body dimensions. Adults reach lengths of 1.8 meters with weights of 16 kilograms commonly reported. Blue iguanas prefer rocky habitats, open, sunny, and free of forested areas. Armed with powerful limbs and clawed digits, the animals ...
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35%. An Arthropod's Atmospheric Garden Spot.

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Greetings. The Carboniferous Period lasted from about 359.2 to 299 million years ago. During the Carboniferous, atmospheric oxygen levels attained a peak of around 35%, significantly higher than the current 21% oxygen level, with this high concentration occurring towards the end of the Carboniferous, approximately 300 million years ago.  The high oxygen levels during the Carboniferous were largely the direct result of the vast planetwide growth of swamp forests which absorbed copious amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, releasing a surplus of oxygen into the atmosphere. The high oxygen levels contributed to the large size of insects and other arthropods during this period, as higher oxygen levels facilitate larger body dimensions.  In addition to having the ideal conditions for the formation of coal, several major biological, geological, and climatic events occurred during this time. One of the greatest evolutionary innovations in the history of complex life on the planet oc...
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