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Panther Chameleon
The panther chameleon (''Furcifer pardalis'') is a species of chameleon found in the eastern and northern parts of Madagascar in a tropical forest biome. Additionally, it has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius, as well as the state of Florida within the United States. Taxonomy The panther chameleon was first described by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1829. Its generic name (''Furcifer'') is derived from the Latin root ''furci'' meaning "forked" and refers to the shape of the animal's feet. The specific name ''pardalis'' refers to the animals' markings, as it is Latin for "leopard" or "spotted like a panther". The English word chameleon (also chamaeleon) derives from Latin ''chamaeleō'', a borrowing of the Ancient Greek χαμαιλέων (''khamailéōn''), a compound of χαμαί (''khamaí'') "on the ground" and λέων (''léōn'') "lion". The Greek word is a calque translating the Akkadian ''nēš qaqqari'', "ground lion". This lends to the common Eng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Georges Cuvier
Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, baron Cuvier (23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier (; ), was a French natural history, naturalist and zoology, zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in natural sciences research in the early 19th century and was instrumental in establishing the fields of comparative anatomy and paleontology through his work in comparing living animals with fossils. Cuvier's work is considered the foundation of vertebrate paleontology, and he expanded Linnaean taxonomy by grouping classes into phylum, phyla and incorporating both fossils and living species into the classification. Cuvier is also known for establishing extinction as a fact—at the time, extinction was considered by many of Cuvier's contemporaries to be merely controversial speculation. In his ''Essay on the Theory of the Earth'' (1813) Cuvier proposed that now-extinct species had been wiped out by periodic catastr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akkadian Language
Akkadian ( ; )John Huehnergard & Christopher Woods, "Akkadian and Eblaite", ''The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages''. Ed. Roger D. Woodard (2004, Cambridge) Pages 218–280 was an East Semitic language that is attested in ancient Mesopotamia ( Akkad, Assyria, Isin, Larsa, Babylonia and perhaps Dilmun) from the mid- third millennium BC until its gradual replacement in common use by Old Aramaic among Assyrians and Babylonians from the 8th century BC. Akkadian, which is the earliest documented Semitic language, is named after the city of Akkad, a major centre of Mesopotamian civilization during the Akkadian Empire (–2154 BC). It was written using the cuneiform script, originally used for Sumerian, but also used to write multiple languages in the region including Eblaite, Hurrian, Elamite, Old Persian and Hittite. The influence of Sumerian on Akkadian went beyond just the cuneiform script; owing to their close proximity, a lengthy span of con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Projectile Use By Living Systems
Although projectiles are commonly used in human conflict, projectile use by organisms other than humans is relatively rare. However, some organisms are capable of using various different types of projectiles for defense or predation. Animals Liquid projectiles Most projectiles used by terrestrial animals are liquids. Among invertebrates there are a number of examples. Velvet worms can squirt out a slimy adhesive fluid from glands on the sides of their head, and use it to trap their prey. The spitting spiders '' Scytodes'' can spit a venomous sticky fluid that traps its victims and also poisons them. The bombardier beetle is unusual by using a violent exothermic chemical reaction to launch a boiling noxious chemical spray in a rapid burst of pulses from special glands in its abdomen, accompanied with a popping sound. The '' Anthia'' (oogpister beetle) will fire formic acid at attackers, probably extracting the formic acid from the ants that it eats. The devil-rider stick i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tongue
The tongue is a Muscle, muscular organ (anatomy), organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for chewing and swallowing as part of the digestive system, digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste buds housed in numerous lingual papillae. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva and is richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. The tongue also serves as a natural means of cleaning the teeth. A major function of the tongue is to enable speech in humans and animal communication, vocalization in other animals. The human tongue is divided into two parts, an oral cavity, oral part at the front and a pharynx, pharyngeal part at the back. The left and right sides are also separated along most of its length by a vertical section of connective tissue, fibrous tissue (the lingual septum) that results in a groove, the median sulcus, on the tongue's surface. There are two groups of glossal muscles. The f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dactyly
In biology, dactyly is the arrangement of digits (fingers and toes) on the hands, feet, or sometimes wings of a tetrapod animal. The term is derived from the Greek word () meaning "finger." Sometimes the suffix "-dactylia" is used. The derived adjectives end with "-dactyl" or "-dactylous." As a normal feature Pentadactyly Pentadactyly (from Greek "five") is the condition of having five digits on each limb. It is traditionally believed that all living tetrapods are descended from an ancestor with a pentadactyl limb, although many species have now lost or transformed some or all of their digits by the process of evolution. However, this viewpoint was challenged by Stephen Jay Gould in his 1991 essay "Eight (or Fewer) Little Piggies," where he pointed out polydactyly in early tetrapods and described the specializations of digit reduction. Despite the individual variations listed below, the relationship is to the original five-digit model. In reptiles, the limbs are pentad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tamatave
Toamasina (), meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French Tamatave or in the past as Port aux prunes, is the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and largest city Antananarivo. In 2018 Toamasina had a population of 325,857. History Under French rule, Toamasina was the seat of several foreign consuls, as well as of numerous French officials, and was the chief port for the capital and the interior. Imports consisted principally of piece-goods, farinaceous foods, and iron and steel goods; main exports were gold dust, raffia, hides, caoutchouc (natural rubber) and live animals. Communication with Europe was maintained by steamers of the Messageries Maritimes and the Havraise companies, and also with Mauritius, and thence to Sri Lanka, by the British Union-Castle Line. During the colonial period, owing to the character of the soil and the f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maroantsetra
Maroantsetra , formerly Louisbourg, is a market town and domestic seaport in Analanjirofo Region, Madagascar, at the northern end of the Bay of Antongil. In 2018, Maroantsetra counted 42,529 people. Even though it is a small city, Maroantsetra played an important role in the Betsimisaraka history as the unification of this tribe by Ratsimilaho started there. Throughout the eighteenth century, Maroantsetra also actively participated in the piracy and the attack led collectively by the Betsimisarakas against the islands of Comoros and some east African countries. History Maurice Benyovszky arrived in Maroantsetra in February 1774. He established a colony here, which was named Louisbourg. A hospital was built as well as a quarantine post on Nosy Mangabe island just off the coast. Geography and climate Maroantsetra is a coastal town in northeastern Madagascar, approximately by air northeast of Antananarivo Antananarivo (Malagasy language, Malagasy: ; French language, Fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sambava
Sambava is a city and commune (commune urbaine; ) at the east coast of northern Madagascar. It is the capital of Sambava District and Sava Region. The population of the commune was 84,039 in as of the 2018 commune census. Infrastructure Sambava is located on Route Nationale 5a Ambilobe - Antalaha. It is also the starting point of the National road 3b to Andapa. It has a local, regional airport. In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The town provides access to hospital services to its citizens. Economy Farming and raising livestock provides employment for 45% and 0.5% of the working population. The most important crop is vanilla, while other important products are coconut and rice. Industry and services provide employment for 0.5% and 53.5% of the population, respectively. Additionally fishing employs 0.5% of the population. Sambava disposes of white, sandy beaches with several hotels. The Marojejy National ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antsiranana
Antsiranana ( ), named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city in the far north of Madagascar. Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region. It had an estimated population of 115,015 in 2013. History At the beginning of the 16th century, a Portuguese squadron of 13 ships crisscrossed the Indian Ocean; One of these ships went adrift, and its captain, Diogo Dias, was therefore the first European to discover the island on August 10, 1500, which he named Isle of Saint Lawrence. In February 1506, Admiral Fernão Soares recognized the place and so Antomabokala, former capital of Ankarana, acquired its name of Diego Suarez (Diogo Soares, in Portuguese), which comes from the junction of the first name of the captain and the surname of the Admiral. In 1635, the bay was mentioned for the first time under this name by the French pilot Berthelot, author of an oriental map of Africa and Madagascar. In 1824, the bay was explored by the English hydrographer Owen, then in 1833, Captain Bigeault, com ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ambilobe
Ambilobe which means "Where there are many plantations" is an urban municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ambilobe, which is a part of Diana Region. The town is the capital of Ambilobe district, and according to 2018 census the population was approximately 62,346. Geography It is situated at the Mahavavy River and the Route Nationale 6 at its junction with the Route Nationale 5a to the Sava region. In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The town provides access to hospital services to its citizens. Farming and raising livestock provides employment for 40% and 35% of the working population. The most important crop is sugarcane, while other important products are cotton, rice and tomato. Industry and services provide employment for 13% and 2% of the population, respectively. Additionally fishing employs 10% of the population. Airport The town is served by an airport known as the Ambilobe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ambanja
Ambanja is a city and commune in northern Madagascar. According to 2018 census the population of Ambanja was 60,321. Geography Ambanja is located on the northern berth of the Sambirano River and is crossed by the Route Nationale 6 (Antsiranana - Mahajanga and Antananarivo). It is located at a road distance of 1 200 km north of Antananarivo and 237 km south-west of Antsiranana. The town belongs to the district of Ambanja, which is a part of Diana Region. It is served by the local Ampampamena Airport and small, local, maritime harbour at Ankify that is the gate to the islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba Education In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The town has a permanent court and hospital. There is a technical & professional Lycee in Ambanja, and a school of agriculture. The French international school is École Primaire Française d'Ambanja a.k.a. École primaire française Charles-Baudelaire.< ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ankify
Ankify is a peninsula located in the region of Diana in northern Madagascar. It is located at and faces the Nosy Be and Nosy Komba Nosy Komba (; ), also known as Nosy Ambariovato, is a small island in Madagascar, situated between the island of Nosy Be and the northwestern coast of the main island of Madagascar. Roughly circular, it rises sharply towards a plateau and the su ... islands. A small harbor allows boardings to these destinations. The village of Doany is located at its northernmost point, which is bordered by a small coral reef. References Islands of Madagascar Populated places in Diana Region {{DianaMG-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
