Refreshing nature photos

[Thunderbird]

 

 

 

 

[freeztar]

What I find interesting is that all of these photos share common elements, namely mountains and conifers.

 

To buck the norm, I present the following:

 

 

 

[Thunderbird]

 

I like this one, Might just get out the paints.

[Moontanman]

Great pics guys!

[Thunderbird]

 

 

 

[Thunderbird]

;) Aquariums of great beauty - linkinn.com

 

 

 

[Thunderbird]

Tuatara's relatives were the beak headed reptiles (Rhinocephalia). These spread all around the world 200 million years ago, but died out 100 million years ago. Only Tuatara survived to become a "living fossil".

 

Tuatara (Sphenodon) is often used by zoologists as an example of about as basic a reptile as they can find. "The diapsid reptile Sphenodon is the most unspecialised living amniote." The evolution of both reptiles and birds can be described starting from tuatara anatomy. This does NOT mean tuatara is the common precursor, just that comparative anatomical diagrams of reptiles and birds can start conveniently with this animal.

 

The evolution diagrams showing a Sphenodon type of primitive reptile changing into a bird are the work of Svend Palm. Click on the picture to reach his fascinating web site dealing in considerable detail with evolution of reptiles and birds and the origin of flight.