New additions to the menagerie

[Cookiemonster]

That Snake is adorable!!!
That other thing, oh my Im going to have nightmares for weeks... good thing its not poisonous or dangerous- it sure looks it ...

[cherublace]

the snake is precious!!!

[Orchidzrule]

Count me in with the majority of the people responding to this thread. The brown snake is quite cute--fortunately, I do not have the phobia of snakes that seems so prevalent. However, the vinegaroon does scare me.

Cheers,

Rob

[pavel]

Cool! I an not familiar with vinegaroons..Where are they native to?

Ron, from what I've read, they're native to the tropics -- throughout Asia and SA. Not found in Australia or Europe, and only one introduced species in Africa.

Paul from reading this post...I am assuming that you are under 30, and single. I may be way off.

LOL. I am currently single but over 30 (So that puts me in the "venerable" geezer category for single males.)

[Gin]

Snake is cool, the other one interesting , if it doesn't bite or sting I like it .
Keep the info. coming ... Gin

[Piper]

Hey Pavel,

What does Peanut think about the vinagrunt? The tail doesn't sting? Are those claws pulled in close up front? Are those claws? What's it's habitat and defense? Is it safe because is looks like some scorpian critter in mimickery? Or does it have an adaptive defense? Is the vinegar scent like the formic acid of ants?

Enquiring wimps want to know!

McCurious

[pavel]

Hey Jules! Long time no see! Everything going well, I hope!

Vinnie's not taking up any of her space, so Peanut is graciously allowing him to set up shop. His tail is actually quite flexible though more like a willow switch than a true whip. No stinger capabiliities. The tail, as I understand it, is used to fling droplets of an acetic acid (vinegar) compound at any potential predators. He does have claws (what one of my students referred to as 'boxing gloves') but the actual pinchers are no where near the size or strength of a scorps. All in all a rather harmless critter. From what I've read, they seem to have very few natural predators -- might be do to the vinegar.

Pavel and Peanut

[Piper]

Hey there back, Pavel, Peanut, Vinnie, and cute snake! and all other critters overlooked in my haste...

Wow, what a crazy creature. I read up on vinagroons after your post. I read that the acetic acid can be toxic for exoskeletons. It would be a cool experiment to grab an exoskele after a molt and place it in a vinegar solotion the same acidic level as Vinnie's spray. pH should be easy enough to measure.

I read that Vinnie's spray is also a small percent octonic acid (aka caprylric acid) which is oily, but not necessarily toxic. I wonder if that gives the acetic acid more sticking power.

All is well with me, thanks, Pavel! Lots of new book progress, but while it consumes my days, the forward milestones seem to come soooooo slooowly. I'll make a book progress post in the next few days.

Today was eaten up with a funeral I had to pipe. Spent the afternoon with the family afterwards. Sad times, but if my presence offers comfort, it's hard to leave.

But, I'm very glad to hear the dragoness doesn't mind her new neighbors. Please be sure to tell her that even with ketchup, I taste pretty awful!

McVeryAfraid