General Discussion

In honor of Nature flight (posted during Greenskeeper Gathering) and to celebrate my 1000th shiny star forum post, I am curious to see what everyone's favorite "unusual" animal is. So in other words, not the usual "cat vs dog" or favorite domestic animal approach, I'd like to see maybe your secondary favorite animal. What's your favorite sea creature or rainforest animal? Maybe some insects or types of birds? I'd love to see some articles or gifs showcasing your favorite unusual animal(s). -Edit: Wow It's been a whole year! Happy Greenskeeper everyone! Thanks for sharing all of these beautiful, amazing creatures here. It is so relaxing to go through the read and learn about these awesome animals and see everybody's passion for nature. [center][IMG]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s146/ItsPaw/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o4_400_zpsnarxvv6o.png[/IMG][/center] [img]https://33.media.tumblr.com/5bc7630b5e7aa11e75b4511109764346/tumblr_inline_n1bokaIQUS1rg560j.gif[/img] My favorite animals are oceanic rays, and more specifically the manta ray! They are very often misunderstood, and right now they are being overfished to the point where they are vulnerable to being endangered animals because their skins are used as clothing materials and their gill rakers are used in medicine. [img]http://36.media.tumblr.com/daaf524000eb1bfca79f0e1ef211e094/tumblr_n1gsy0WlyI1rd7b5io1_500.jpg[/img] Mantas [b]DO NOT HAVE STINGERS! [/b]They cannot sting you unlike the more dangerous species of rays, they are completely harmless and friendly to humans. Some species of "giant" mantas can be over 25 feet long. [img]http://33.media.tumblr.com/05e7cd8d4ba0d0e9fdb1687fb9e7cf80/tumblr_ne80vmcHpp1qdm5ago1_500.gif[/img] From [url=https://vimeo.com/103354004]this video[/url] [img]http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lznn99fHRQ1qdkwilo1_500.gif[/img] Mantas are very friendly and curious towards humans. Some mantas have even learned to recognize humans by their eyes, because they would interact with divers when they could see their eyes, and would swim away when they put their helmets on. [img]https://40.media.tumblr.com/0b2b43a9ceab8d82a9d426b59fb76a53/tumblr_mwlxrln0n61slrdw1o1_500.jpg[/img] From [url=http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com/]this website[/url] There are many beautiful creatures out there that deserve our attention! I'd love to see some of your favorites. [img]https://41.media.tumblr.com/c6a2b03cb9b49446d3a03e60df9eb73e/tumblr_mss1lgvKxr1r2rgtao1_1280.jpg[/img] By [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/rorymoore/]Rory Moore[/url] This is my 1000th post so I thought I'd make it fun! Also, I've never made a thread in this forum haha. Please feel free to share! Good luck with finals! [img]https://41.media.tumblr.com/9a9702b72286aef36d1133bde82023a6/tumblr_mvliu2bths1rpu8e5o1_500.png[/img] [img]https://38.media.tumblr.com/15f758bab088f808db370e401fbb44dc/tumblr_mkfwrd2CPz1r6zwjco1_400.gif[/img]

@Kell Mantas are flipping adorable. I love scorpions, and pretty much all creepy crawlies up to and including spiders. Favorite insect though is definitely the Orchid Mantis. They're just so pretty and adorkable. I know I've talked about a lot of my favorite odd animals in other threads before, so why not something different. Specifically, a favorite birb. [img]http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/25/25DCD286-F742-4E36-81A6-EC08882AD7C9/Presentation.Large/Common-snipe-walking-on-frosy-ground.jpg[/img] Ladies and gents, I give you the legendary Snipe in its full glory. I wish more people knew about these guys, they're awesome and totally not made up.

@Lesley Oh my goodness, I remember seeing one at an aquarium with a shore birds exhibit and it was the cutest thing.

SPIDERS! I adore spiders. I couldn't explain why, but they've always been my fuzzy eight-legged bros (hell, there's a photo of me at six months old sitting in my crib with a huntsman perched on my shoulder). I always have at least a dozen of them, both in terrariums for breeding and loose around my house for pest control. Absolutely fascinating critters, much smarter than you'd expect for an invertebrate, and just so cute.

I won't post any pictures to avoid triggering any arachnophobes. ^^;

A [i]jaguarundi[/i]. [img]http://bigcatrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jaguarundi1.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/64/6463/Y1MH100Z/posters/thomas-marent-jaguarundi-head-felis-yagouaroundi-belize.jpg[/img]

Siberian Musk Deer
Cloud Rats
Poodle Moths (if they're real)

@Nequam I really like spiders too! I've never kept one as a pet though. I'd love to see one of your terrariums if you want to PM a picture. @IgnoredGal Wow that's a great one, I've actually never seen that animal before, now I have to look into it. @MythGriffin24 *-* [img]http://40.media.tumblr.com/f0289f90b81e0b4e60262e413179aa32/tumblr_mmelakwGCF1qzv4afo1_500.jpg[/img]

@Kell:

I WANT IT TO BE REAL BECAUSE I WANT TO WALK ONE ON A LEASH. XD

@Kell

I may or may not have a Snipe shifter OC who in his human form is a young man with a passion for game hunting so he's a literal Snipe hunter yeah I'm not very clever but it seemed funny at the time I thought of him.