Leftovers from Evolution

I was thinking about the Kakapo (a flightless parrot) today like we all do from time to time and it reminded me about all the leftovers from evolution and how confusing they can be for some people to understand how or why they came about.

How come a bird lost the ability to fly?

How could that benifit it in terms or evolution?

Well the Kakapo found itself on an island without predators, so rather than eat a little bit then fly away to a perch the Kakapo really tucked in to a meal knowing it wasn't in any danger of having to fly away at the spur of the moment. The birds that ate more couldn't fly but had more energy and were naturally selected for.

Our bodies have several, here are a few :

1. The Appendix a sac that other animals have which helps them handle a really high plant diet.
2. Goose Bumps which used to be used for raising hair follacles, ever make a cat mad or watch a bird in the sun?
3. Wisdom Teeth were used for mashing up lots of veggies.

None of these things are essential for living and can be removed without slowing you down at all.

What you need to remember is that there is no pressure against these vestigal features forcing them to disappear.

For example goose bumps certainly don't help us in anyway but more importantly they don't hurt us in any way.

Pink Insects In New Orleans

These pink Katydids were first written about in 1878

Paris Hilton recently put in an order for hundreds of these litte guys

to be placed in her back yard...she says, "Entomology is hot."

Via Zooilogix

The Amazing Evolution of Whales

It's amazing but whales evolved from something similar to a deer!

This mammals ancestors were once a fish in the ocean

then a land mammal until eventually they returned to the ocean!

All Babies Like A Teddy Bear

A new born baby orphan sifaka was just born in France.

Her name "Tahina" means "to be protected" so she found herself a little teddy bear to cuddle.

Even Hamtsters Eat Their Brocoli And Love It!

Click on the link to watch the video

...he really gets excited halfway through you can tell by his legs.

Blowing Air Bubble Rings

This is an air bubble ring!

This looks like fun...I can't even make an air bubble ring, let alone play with it!

Click on something for the video

Amazing Disappearing Octopus

Octopuses can change the color and texture of their skin and this is the amazing result.

(umm maybe octopi? or octopodes?)



Click on the video link

Big and Small

We are looking at interesting animals in different biomes around the world here are two, so...

...What Biomes are these?

This is an ablino pygmy marmoset

This is Shelobs web