Antievolution.org :: Antievolution.org Discussion Board The Critic's Resource on Antievolution

Antievolution.org Discussion Board > From the Panda's Thumb > After the Bar Closes... > Has the Mystery of Life's Origin Been Solved?

Pages: (4) < 1 2 3 [4] >

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 18 2006,18:08    Quote (Louis @ Dec. 15 2006,18:35) I've always wanted to keep a green tree python from juvenile. However I understand that they are a relatively difficult terrarium species, and I am a relative neophyte in the herpetological universe. Sorry I missed this before . . . . The thing about tree pythons is that they are, um, not terribly friendly.  In fact, they are vicious little spawns from ####.  I recommend them to people who are thinking about keeping arboreal *vipers* and want to know if they are ready for it. Tree pythons (1) can hang on with their tails and strike out REALLY FAR, (2) make their living by catching birds on the wing, so they're REALLY FAST, and (3) need to pierce the bird feathers and hang on tight, so they have REALLY LONG TEETH. There may be one out there somewhere that is placid and friendly towards humans. If so, I've never met it.  Every time I've ever gotten close to one, I ended up getting poked full of holes.  Yikes.   And yes, they are kinda delicate as far as heat and humidity requirements.  They're really susceptible to respiratory infections, and giving them shots is, uh, no fun at all. So . . .  my recommendation is that you have lots of care experience before trying them, and that you forget about ever ever under any circumstances interacting with it in any nonhostile way.  It will undoubtedly try to nail you at every opportunity. Now, all the ones I interacted with were wildcaughts, so maybe one raised from a captive-bred youngling would have a better attitude as it got older.  But the wildcaught juvies I've seen were all just as belligerent as the adults. Unfortunate, since they are gorgeous snakes. -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 18 2006,18:12    Quote (Flint @ Dec. 18 2006,14:01) A quick reading shows that there's still plenty of debate as to exactly which details matter, but that research continues. All is not lost, but little has been found either. In a nutshell, the problem isn't that we have NO idea how life could have begun, but we have LOTS --- and no way as yet of knowing which are right (or if indeed all are wrong and the right one is something we haven't even thought of yet). So at this point in research, we've barely begun to be able to rule things OUT, much less look at details of what's ruled IN. -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 18 2006,18:17    It should also be pointed out that abiogenesis is a very young science -- it didn't really begin until the Urey-Miller experiments in the 50's, then languished for several decades, and didn't get any serious funding until just a few years ago when NASA (bless their hearts) managed to convince Congress that origin-of-life research is somehow a part of space exploration. -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

Louis Posts: 6436 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 19 2006,03:43    Lenny, Thnaks for your comments on green tree pythons. Pretty much as I had read elsewhere. I agree that it's a pity that these things are so tricky as terrarium pets for all the reasons mentioned. I love royal pythons, I had a royal as my first snake and even though he was wild caught (which I didn't know when I bought him, live and learn) and a bit troublesome at first, he was a great pet. So I guess it's back to them! Also the trade in captive bred royals is much better now, obviously meaning I can get a healthier, less stressed snake, better for all concerned. One piece of info I have heard (and sort of found to be true....ish! ) about royals that I would love to confirm is that they get stressed if given too much space in a terrarium. It sounds like baloney to me, but my royal was happier in a medium sized terrarium than a large one. And when I say happier you know what I mean, less using Louis as a pincushion, more eating mice! Have you ever heard anything like this? Louis -------------- Bye.

Ved Posts: 398 Joined: Oct. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 19 2006,10:48    While you guys are on the topic of tree snakes, I just wanted to say that ever since I discovered flying snakes I've had a whole new appreciation for evolution and what trees have enabled to happen to creatures that moved into them- including our ancestors. The trees provided stepping stones into the vertical where a creature as seemingly un-flightworthy as a snake can first take advantage of being able to parachute, and then take it to the point of actually being able to truly glide (farther than it falls). Sadly this is the kind of stuff that people like afdave have absolutely no interest in.

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 19 2006,18:32    Quote (Louis @ Dec. 19 2006,03:43) One piece of info I have heard (and sort of found to be true....ish! ) about royals that I would love to confirm is that they get stressed if given too much space in a terrarium. It sounds like baloney to me, but my royal was happier in a medium sized terrarium than a large one. And when I say happier you know what I mean, less using Louis as a pincushion, more eating mice! Have you ever heard anything like this? It's actually not that unusual for smaller snakes, and particularly in very young ones.  In the wild, snakes are on the menu for lots of larger predators -- indeed, one of their primary predators are birds of prey, against which they have virtually no defense.  So, many snakes get EXTREMELY stressed when they are in large open areas -- it leaves them very exposed to aerial predators, and they don't like it at all.  Snakes always feel much safer in cozy closed-in areas where predators have a hard time finding them.  Even in large open areas like deserts, you'll not often find snakes out in the open -- they're usually curled up in a rock pile or under a scrub bush or something. So the trick is to make sure they have a secure hidey-hole or hidebox where they can feel nice and safe, and can then venture out into the open areas (usually at night) as they wish. BTW, for the American herpers out there, "royal python" is the name that people across the Pond call _Python regius_, which is known in the US as the "ball python" because of its habit of curling itself into a tight ball when frightened. -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 19 2006,18:45    Quote (Ved @ Dec. 19 2006,10:48) While you guys are on the topic of tree snakes, I just wanted to say that ever since I discovered flying snakes I've had a whole new appreciation for evolution and what trees have enabled to happen to creatures that moved into them- including our ancestors. The trees provided stepping stones into the vertical where a creature as seemingly un-flightworthy as a snake can first take advantage of being able to parachute, and then take it to the point of actually being able to truly glide (farther than it falls). Sadly this is the kind of stuff that people like afdave have absolutely no interest in. You would like this website: http://www.flyingsnake.org In the "publications" section, you may even notice this, by someone you know     : Notes on the Biology and Captive Care of the Flying Snakes (Chrysopelea). By Lenny Flank, Jr. Reptile and Amphibians Hobbyist magazine, July 1999, pages 28-32. Captive care, focusing on C. ornata. Back in 1999, Jake Socha and I were, as far as we could tell, the only people in the US who kept captive flying snakes.  I used mine in the educational talks I was doing at the time for school classes, scout troops, etc. As for people like AFDave, you're right.  The creationuts like to loudly and endlessly blither on and on about how wondrous God's Creation is and all that, but in actuality they are all utterly totally pig-ignorant about the natural world.  Most don't know a prokaryote from a pachyderm.  And most don't care.  (shrug) -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

Ved Posts: 398 Joined: Oct. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 20 2006,11:21    Quote You would like this website: Heh, very cool. That was the site I had stumbled on that actually had video of the snakes moving through the air. They say a picture is worth a thousand words... I think a video is worth a million. I remember one particular vid where a snake quickly flipped around so that it flew back towards the building it was released from, I guess to try to evade recapture. Obviously it was very nimble and very much in control of it's glide. Hmm, if I'd have paid more attention to the references at the time I probably would have recognised you. Cool, man. Small world.

"Rev Dr" Lenny Flank Posts: 2560 Joined: Feb. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 20 2006,18:31    Quote (Ved @ Dec. 20 2006,11:21) I remember one particular vid where a snake quickly flipped around so that it flew back towards the building it was released from, I guess to try to evade recapture. Obviously it was very nimble and very much in control of it's glide. I'd guess that having a long thin body is advantageous for steering, since each body section can be moved independently to adjust the glide pattern. There are also flying frogs, which use webbing between their toes to catch air and glide.  With four independent steering surfaces, I'd guess they are pretty good steer-ers too (I've never seen one, though). The so-called "flying geckos" don't actually fly -- they use their flaps of skin for camouflage. -------------- Editor, Red and Black Publishers www.RedandBlackPublishers.com

Steviepinhead Posts: 532 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 20 2006,19:15    Quote ("Rev Dr" Lenny Flank @ Dec. 20 2006,18:31) Lenny: Quote The so-called "flying geckos" don't actually fly -- they use their flaps of skin for camouflage. Dang!  And just when I was starting to think that that old "What good is half a wing?" argument really had something going for it...

ScaryFacts Posts: 337 Joined: Aug. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 26 2006,19:32    Those videos are impressive, they just need one more bad-ass mofo:

The Ghost of Paley Posts: 1703 Joined: Oct. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Dec. 27 2006,16:44    Ppppplllltttt! Give me a good grizzly anytime! Even if they are known to dump fights* when the bribe is tasty enough. *Don't worry, no one gets injured - I wouldn't link to an animal getting hurt. It's just funny to watch a cougar chase a bear three times its size...... -------------- Dey can't 'andle my riddim.

The Ghost of Paley Posts: 1703 Joined: Oct. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Jan. 03 2007,14:48    I checked out an organic chemistry textbook and have been looking over it when I've had the opportunity. Pretty good stuff, although it doesn't cover some issues as deeply as I'd like. Does anyone recommend any particular organic chem websites? -------------- Dey can't 'andle my riddim.

Dr.GH Posts: 2333 Joined: May 2002 (Permalink) Posted: Jan. 03 2007,17:50    Re: Scaly Friends The most dumb lucky snake experience I ever had was in southern Yucatan.  I was walking along and saw three men with machetes drawn surrounding a bush.  I walked up and asked if there was a snake in the bush.  (I was in the town of Bacalar, and I was expecting three gringa herpetologists to visit.  I had met them in Ticul and we had had some fun.  I was a herp turned anthro guy).  The locals said yes, there was a deadly snake in the bush.  Locals always say that all snakes are deadly, so I discounted their warning. I saw a bit of it and its head.  I took my hat and waved it in front of the snake, and when it struck at my hat I grabbed the little cutie.   It was a ferdelance about 3 feet long (a young'n). I kept it for 3 or 4 days, but the chicas never showed up.  Luck can only last so long. -------------- "Science is the horse that pulls the cart of philosophy." L. Susskind, 2004 "SMOLIN VS. SUSSKIND: THE ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE"

Dr.GH Posts: 2333 Joined: May 2002 (Permalink) Posted: Jan. 03 2007,18:05    Re: Big Kitty I worked on a mountain lion tagging/tracking project in Orange County Ca.  We were training two puppies as lion dogs.  On their first time to run with the three adults (two dogs and their mam) the pack gave up the chase except for the puppies.  They worked another hour and treed the cat!   We had been so ticked off that these two stupid puppies were still running until we heard them switch to a "cat in the tree" yip.  The adults picked up their ears and tore off.  We only had radio collars on the two dogs, so it really helped find the tree et al. -------------- "Science is the horse that pulls the cart of philosophy." L. Susskind, 2004 "SMOLIN VS. SUSSKIND: THE ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE"

Louis Posts: 6436 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Jan. 04 2007,02:25    That's one thing I do envy you Americans and Australians etc. Decent wildlife. Oh sure we in the UK have beautiful and stunning fauna and flora, but the most dangerous thing we'll ever come across is a mildly irritated badger. Although there was this one time that I was stalking a squirrel with a flick knife..... Naaahhh sorry. Mountain lions' got me beat! Louis -------------- Bye.

Steviepinhead Posts: 532 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Jan. 04 2007,15:02    Talk about a pinhead! I managed to read all of Dr GH's mountain lion post--probably twice through--and still overlook the "mountain" in mountain lion both times ("ya can bring the lion to the mountain, but ya can't...). I definitely worked out that it was an amusing post about the precocity of the lion-dog pups-in-training, but I spent a fair amount (of what passes in pinheads for) mental effort trying to figure out if there was some major sprawling big-game park in Orange County that I had managed to never hear about... Yeesh!

Pages: (4) < 1 2 3 [4] >

Track this topic	Email this topic	Print this topic

© 2002-2009 Antievolution.org Powered by Ikonboard 3.0.2a © 2001 Ikonboard