Sawfish

Sawfish are cartilaginous fish that belong to the order Rhinopristiformes, a group of rays containing families that amusingly appear to have been named according to items found in a luthier’s workshop. They share their order with guitarfishes, wedgefishes and banjo rays, all of which are benthic, marine predators with flattened bodies. They are sometimes known as carpenter sharks.

Bizarrely, the sawfish is equipped with a greatly elongated rostrum studded with a lethal set of outwards-facing ‘teeth’. Sawfish are generally found in shallow waters below 10m in depth, and like to diet on fish, crustaceans and mollusks. They are also among the largest of fish species, reaching at least 7 and half meters long.

Their strange shape, enormous size and preference for shallow, inshore waters have, somewhat unsurprisingly, garnered the curiosity and admiration of humans for thousands of years. Sadly the 5 species of sawfish are classified as either criticallyendangered or endangered due to being hunted for their fins, teeth or saw, as well as habitat destruction. They are protected by law in both Australia and the USA, which means it’s illegal to catch, collect, buy or sell any part of a sawfish with heavy fines for those that break the rules.

Interesting Sawfish Facts

1. Sawfish are equipped with a versatile weapon

The famous rostrum of the sawfish is primarily used to incapacitate and capture prey. It can be swept sideways like a sword to injure or kill, and is also used to pin unfortunate fish to the sea floor so they can be eaten head-first, a feeding strategy thought to disable any defensive spines their quarry might possess.

2. Their ‘saw’ contains between 14-37 denticles on each side

The sharp ‘teeth’ are not actually teeth in a traditional sense, and are called denticles – which are highly specialized scales. It’s common for the denticle count to be different on each side, and if they lose a one, it does not grow back again.

3. The rostrum is a multi-purpose survival tool

Packed into the rostrum of every sawfish are thousands of tiny organs called electroreceptors, which are able to pick up the tiny electrical currents produced by living organisms. Using this sixth sense to help them acquire their target from up to 40 centimeters away, sawfish swipe their lethal saw through the water to strike their prey with deadly accuracy.

4. When danger threatens, sawfish aren’t afraid to fight back

Sawfish have been observed in the wild using their rostrums to fend off large predators. The teeth lining the sides of the rostrum are extremely sharp, and although sawfish are placid towards divers, people are regularly injured while attempting to catch them for profit.

5. Sawfish are rays, not sharks- but saw-sharks exist too!

Both sawfish (order Rhinopristiformes) and saw-sharks (order Pristiophoriformes) are equipped with remarkably similar toothed rostrums, and use them to locate and capture prey in very similar ways. At first glance, sawfish and saw-sharks appear to be closely related, but in reality, they are distant cousins and only share a taxonomic Class.

6. They give birth to live young

Like many chondrichthyan species, sawfish eggs develop and hatch inside the body of their mother, resulting in live birth. This reproductive strategy is called ovoviviparity, and allows sawfish to avoid leaving their developing eggs in the open where they are at risk of predation.

7. Unlike most marine fish, sawfish can adapt to varying levels of salinity

Sawfish are capable of travelling freely between oceanic, estuarine and freshwater habitats. Some sawfish species have more affinity towards fresh water than others- the large tooth sawfish spends a great deal of time in lakes and rivers, and even gives birth there.

8. Sawfish can clone themselves

Occasionally, in the absence of any male individuals, female small tooth sawfish give birth to male offspring that are genetically identical to themselves; these cloned individuals are thought to account for around 3% of the population. This process is known as facultative parthenogenesis, and is thought to be a survival tactic that allows isolated females to establish new populations.

9. Fishing nets pose a huge danger to sawfish

The shape of their rostrum, as well as the behavior of sweeping it sideways defensively or while hunting, puts sawfish at extreme risk of entanglement in fishing nets. Of particular danger are passive nets that are left unattended, and also old, discarded ‘ghost’ nets.

10. Their value to humans makes them a target for poachers

Sawfish are one of the many chondrichthyan species relentlessly hunted for shark fin soup, and their rostrum is highly valued in traditional medicine. This is a big problem for sawfish populations- their value increases as their numbers dwindle, causing a feedback loop that leads to even more poaching.

11. Sawfish have had strong cultural significance for thousands of years

Beliefs surrounding sawfish vary greatly throughout the world, but they are commonly regarded as symbols of strength, protection and natural balance. European sailors feared the sawfish; they wrongly believed them to be highly dangerous and capable of sinking ships with their fearsome saws.

SOURCE: FACTANIMAL.COM

South Carolina State Flower: Yellow Jasmine

Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) became our official state flower in March 14,1924. Because it is native to our state, it is also called Carolina jessamine. Other names include trumpet vine, evening trumpet flower, and both yellow jasmine and Carolina Jasmine. (Jessamine and jasmine are two variations of the same word, and both are acceptable and accurate names for this plant. Here we refer to it as jessamine since that is how it is spelled in Joint Resolution No. 534, which established the flower as an emblem of South Carolina nearly a century ago.)

Jessamine is an evergreen vine that climbs trees, fences, and latticework all over our state. It blooms in very late winter or early spring, offering the first hope of warm weather to come! This flower loves sun and can grow quite fast given plenty of space and moist, well-drained soil.

When the US Mint decided to release quarters for each of the states, it was decided that Yellow Jessamine would appear on South Carolina’s quarter, along with the palmetto tree and the Carolina Wren (our state bird).

Important* – Although jessamine’s delicate, funnel-shaped blossoms are beautiful and fragrant, these flowers are poisonous! Touching them can produce an allergic reaction, and eating them can be fatal. Be careful not to mistake them with flowers such as honeysuckle, which contain a sweet and unharmful nectar.

SOURCE: SCIWAY.NET

Unsolved Mysteries Series

I found this series on the Parade website.  It describes 50 still (as of the published date of the article) unsolved mysteries.  Each month we’ll look at one or two.

From: Parade.com:

Get ready to have the hair on the back of your neck stand up when you read this round-up of the strangest unsolved mysteries of our time. Beware: Some of these unsolved mysteries contain graphic violent content and should be read with discretion.

50 Strangest Unsolved Mysteries

  1. The Body on Somerton Beach

In December 1948, a body was found on Somerton Beach in Adelaide, Australia. The body was a man who was dressed impeccably in a suit with polished shoes and his head was slumped against a wall. Authorities thought the cause of death was heart failure or more likely poisoning but, no trace of poison was found in the autopsy.

There wasn’t a wallet or any type of identification on the man and all the tags from his clothing were cut out. The fingerprints that the authorities took of him were also unidentifiable. They even put a photo of the body in the newspapers and still, no one could identify who the man was. Four months later after the body was found, detectives found a hidden pocket that was sewn on the inside of his trousers. Inside the pocket was a rolled-up piece of paper from a rare book called the Rubáiyát. The piece of paper had the words “Tamám Shud” on it which means “it has ended.” After months of looking for the exact book, authorities decide to bury the Somerton Man without identification. Although a cast was taken of the bust and he was embalmed to preserve him.

Eight months later, a man walked into the police station. He claimed that just after the body was found, he found a copy of the Rubáiyát in the back of his car that he kept parked near Somerton Beach. He thought nothing of it until he read about the search in a newspaper article. Sure enough, the book had a part of the final page that was torn and it matched the piece of paper that was found in the Somerton Man’s trousers. Inside the book were a phone number and some sort of strange code.

The phone number led the authorities to a woman named Jessica Thompson who lived nearby. During her interview, she was very evasive and even claimed she was going to faint when she saw the bust of the Somerton Man but denied knowing him. However, she said she did sell the book to a man named Alfred Boxall. Unfortunately, Alfred Boxall was still very much alive at the time and still had the copy of the Rubáiyát that Jessica had sold him. The code that was found ended up being even more unhelpful and as of today, it has still yet to be cracked.

To this day, the man on Somerton Beach has yet to be identified.

SOURCE: PARADE.COM

SOLVED?

From: sciencetimes.com:

Many theories circulated suggested that the individual known as Somerton Man was either a Cold War spy or a betrayed lover.

However, a researcher claims to have solved the puzzle after more than 70 years. According to Professor Derek Abbott of the University of Adelaide, Somerton Man was Carl Webb. Furthermore, he was an electrical engineer from Melbourne, not a Russian agent.

Together with American genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick, Abbott conducted her research. The two examined DNA evidence from hairs found in a plaster cast that detectives had created of the man’s face more than 50 years prior.

Fitzpatrick explained that she and Abbott began their search for Abbott’s relative by building his family tree, starting with a match in a DNA database (a so-called DNA-cousin to Somerton guy). They continued this process until they located Abbott’s relative.

At the time, the family tree included roughly 4,000 people. They calculated that Webb was born in 1905, but according to Abbott, he was eventually recognized “as a person with no death record.”

Abbott added that they had proof that the Melbourne guy’s wife went to South Australia and that he split from her, so it’s possible he came to find her.

Fitzpatrick said the finding solved the decades-long mystery. This has been one of the most intriguing cases in Australia’s history, and identifying the man as Webb will also unravel the mysteries surrounding his death.

How Did the Somerton Man Died?

After examining the Somerton man, the physician concluded that the guy had passed away from heart failure sometime after two in the morning. However, the physician did not think that the heart failure was a natural cause. He concluded that the mystery guy had been poisoned with a toxin that was both fast-acting and fast-disappearing, making it impossible to find the source.

For his part, Professor Abbott thinks that some of the case’s most peculiar elements might not be as weird as they first seem. He doesn’t think the Somerton Man was poisoned, for example.

According to him, pathologists in the Victorian age were trained that if there were no apparent reason for the death, they would often recommend a poison. He noted that there was no evidence of poisoning, so it would not be accurate to conclude that it was the case.

He added that the man’s spleen was three times larger than it should have been during the autopsy. The doctor surmised that the man may have died from cancer, bacterial or viral infections, or positional asphyxia, among other possible causes of death.

SOURCE: SCIENCETIMES.COM

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Some dogs are easy-going companions. Others are natural-born workers, always ready for action. Then there’s the Catahoula Leopard Dog—a breed with a personality as bold as its name. Get ready to uncover what makes this breed one of the most intriguing in the canine world.

Louisiana Recognizes It as the Official State Dog

Declared Louisiana’s official state dog in 1979, the Catahoula Leopard Dog has deep historical roots in the region. This breed is used for hunting and herding, and it showcases impressive intelligence and resilience. Its official recognition reflects its significance in Louisiana’s culture, particularly in rural and working communities.

Catahoula means “sacred lake” in the Choctaw language, referencing the Catahoula Parish in Louisiana. This name highlights the breed’s connection to indigenous history and the swampy landscapes where it thrived. Some historical accounts suggest the breed was originally called the Catahoula Cur.

Eyes Can Be a Striking Mix of Colors

Heterochromia, a rare genetic trait, often occurs in Catahoulas and creates one-of-a-kind eye colors. Some have “glass eyes” that appear blue or white. Others display amber, green, or a mix in one eye. These variations enhance their mysterious, piercing gaze, making them even more captivating.

One Of the Most Unique Coat Patterns

Swirls and brindle stripes combine to make this breed instantly recognizable. In addition, the Catahoula Leopard Dog’s coat can display blue, red, black, or chocolate merle patterns. Because of this, no two Catahoulas look identical, making their appearance as distinctive as a fingerprint.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog’s Coat Is Water-Resistant

The Catahoula Leopard Dog’s coat is not only striking but also functional. Their short, dense fur helps repel water, allowing them to move through wet environments comfortably. This characteristic is especially beneficial in the wet and muddy terrains they are often found working in.

The American Kennel Club Does Not Recognize It

Despite its long history and working capabilities, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has not officially recognized the breed. Instead, organizations like the United Kennel Club and the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas (NALC) uphold breed standards.

Requires A Job to Stay Happy

A daily routine with problem-solving exercises keeps the Catahoula Leopard Dog engaged and reinforces its instincts. The breed may become restless and destructive without this mental and physical stimulation. High-energy tasks like agility courses or herding trials are essential to prevent boredom.

What Shall We Make today?

Today’s entry in the No-Bake Goodies Month is Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter, melted*

1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full sheet graham crackers)*

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup + 2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter, divided

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Set aside.

Mix the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and confectioners’ sugar together in a medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup of peanut butter, then press evenly into prepared baking pan.

Melt remaining 2 Tablespoons of peanut butter with the chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stove. Stir until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer.

Chill in the refrigerator until completely firm, at least 2 hours. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve chilled. Setting them out for a few hours at room temperature for serving is OK.

Cover leftover bars tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

ENJOY!

Troop Beverly Hills

Today is Shelley Long’s birthday (born in 1949) and this is one of my favorite movies: Troop Beverly Hills.  I found this article on the Mental Floss website.

From: mentalfloss.com:

1. THE FILM WAS PARTLY BASED ON THE LIFE OF ITS PRODUCER.

Ava Ostern Fries, wife of veteran producer Charles W. Fries, became the Brownie leader of her seven-year-old daughter’s Beverly Hills troop. When it rained on their first camping trip, they really went to the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they roasted marshmallows in front of the fireplaces. After her stories became a hit at dinner parties, Ava was implored to write her stories down.

2. DISNEY WANTED BETTE MIDLER TO PLAY PHYLLIS.

Ava Ostern Fries turned down Disney’s offer to make her movie because they wanted Bette Midler for the lead, and Fries didn’t think she was right for it.

3. CARLA GUGINO LIED ABOUT HER AGE IN ORDER TO PLAY CHICA.

Carla Gugino was 16 years old when she auditioned for Troop Beverly Hills. She lied and said she was 14. She finally admitted the truth to director Jeff Kanew three weeks into production, knowing it was too late for her role to be recast. “I thought for sure he was gonna be like, ‘No big deal,'” Gugino recounted. “But he was like, ‘Gasp! I would’ve never hired you if I knew you were 16.'”

The film was a turning point for Gugino: “I got emancipated that year, so I was a legal adult,” Gugino told The A.V. Club. “So I didn’t have to have a chaperone on set, and it was the first time that I made enough money that I could say, ‘I’m going to fully support myself as an actor.’ So that was the moment I really felt like a real actor.”

4. IT WAS TORI SPELLING’S FIRST FILM ROLE.

Tori Spelling, who played Jamie in the film, had appeared in a handful of television series, including Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. One year after Troop Beverly Hills was released, she was cast as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210.

5. IT WAS THE FIRST FILM IN 30 YEARS TO SHOOT INSIDE BEVERLY HILLS CITY HALL.

Filming inside of Beverly Hills City Hall had been forbidden for 30 years. Until this movie.

6. “COOKIE TIME” ISN’T WHERE IT USED TO BE.

The Giorgio boutique at 295 North Rodeo Drive is now a Louis Vuitton storefront.

7. THE WRITER OF “COOKIE TIME” MADE A CAMEO.

Actress/songwriter Hilary Shepard was the sales associate who sold Phyllis a dress missing a bead.

8. THE TITLE SEQUENCE WAS MADE BY THE CREATOR OF REN & STIMPY.

Creator John Kricfalusi said working on Troop Beverly Hills was a big opportunity. “It’s the first time I ever got a chance to animate and design a sexy girl,” he said. “It was completely taboo to draw women who were good looking because it would set a bad example for young girls.”

Joining Kricfalusi were Jon McClenahan (later an animator on Animaniacs), Jim Smith (who later worked with Kricfalusi on Ren & Stimpy), Mike Kazaleh (Camp Candy, The Simpsons), Kent Butterworth (The Smurfs, He-Man), and Eric Stefani (character layout artist for The Simpsons, co-founder of No Doubt, and brother of Gwen Stefani).

9. THERE ARE CONTINUITY ERRORS IN THE TITLE SEQUENCE.

At around the 2:15 mark, a troop member simply disappears with no explanation. Some of the actors’ names also didn’t fully appear on movie screens, because Kricfalusi placed them too close to the edges. “If [the studio] noticed, they didn’t care,” opening title supervisor Bill Kroyer said. “That’s a job that I hardly remember getting notes on. That’s the strangest thing. That whole production, it was rushed to get it done, and they really liked the look of the art. It’s all hand-inked and everything—it looks great. I think they were just so excited about that so the little things about the staging or composition, they just didn’t mention it.”

10. THERE WAS A 77 SUNSET STRIP EASTER EGG.

Edd Byrnes (who played Ross Coleman) appeared on the Swiss army knife’s comb on purpose. Byrnes portrayed Kookie in the detective drama 77 Sunset Strip (1958-1964), a character who combed his hair so often a novelty song called “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” was written.

11. THE GIRL SCOUTS REFUSED TO ENDORSE THE PICTURE.

They withheld approval because they didn’t like the way some Scouts were portrayed in the script.

12. IT WAS VELDA’S LAST FILM ROLE.

Betty Thomas retired from acting following Troop Beverly Hills to focus on directing for film and television. Among her more than two dozen credits are Private Parts, Doctor Dolittle, I Spy, and The Brady Bunch Movie (featuring Shelley Long).

13. JENNY LEWIS BECAME A ROCK STAR.

Jenny Lewis, who played Hannah, co-founded the band Rilo Kiley along with fellow child actor Blake Sennett (Salute Your Shorts, Boy Meets World) and later became a solo musician. In 2015, she acknowledged Troop Beverly Hills in her music video for “She’s Not Me.”

14. LEWIS KEPT ONE ITEM FROM THE SET.

“I have the hat that Kellie Martin’s character [Emily Coleman] wore,” Lewis claimed. “It’s a little white hat with a pink flower, but I don’t know why I still have it.”

15. PEOPLE KEEP MIXING HANNAH UP WITH TIFFANY.

Lewis said that people still confuse her with Emily Schulman, who played Tiffany Honigman in the movie (and Harriet Brindle on Small Wonder). “My entire life growing up, everyone thought I was this girl who was on Small Wonder, Emily Schulman,” Lewis told Rolling Stone Australia. “Not the case. And then I put out this video (“She’s Not Me”) and someone on Twitter was like, ‘Oh, were you on Small Wonder?’ Oh, drat! Still happening!”

SOURCE: MENTALFLOSS.COM

South Carolina State Animal: White-Tailed Deer

Since yet another state has the white-tailed deer as their State Animal, I found an article about a different type of white-tailed deer—the piebald.

From: eastwesthunt.com:

Among the most often seen and identifiable animals in North America, whitetail deer are among them; some of them stand out because of a startling genetic abnormality called piebaltism. Unlike normal deer, piebald whitetail deer have a marbled or speckled look from their unusual blend of brown and white fur. A genetic mutation influencing pigment causes this unusual tint and occasionally results in physical defects.

Piebald deer have captivated scholars, sportsmen, and nature lovers all around despite their difficulties. Some societies even view them as lucky symbols. Including their genetics, rarity, health issues, and importance in nature, this page covers all you need to know about piebald white-tailed deer.

A piebald whitetail deer is a deer having clearly brown and white fur patches. Piebalds have uneven white patches all over their bodies unlike typical whitetail deer, who have a full brown coat with a white underbelly. A genetic mutation influencing melanin production, the pigment in skin, hair, and eye color causes this disorder.

FeaturePiebald DeerAlbino Deer
Fur ColorBrown and white patchesCompletely white
Eye ColorNormal (brown or black)Pink or red
Nose ColorNormal (black or brown)Pink
Hoof ColorNormal (black or brown)Pink or white
PigmentationPartial pigmentationNo pigmentation at all

How rare are piebald whitetail deer?

Extreme rare are piebald whitetail deer. Piebaldism is exhibited by less than 2% of all the whitetail deer population. Genetic elements do, however, cause some locations to have a somewhat higher incidence.

Why are they so rare?

Piebald deer are rare mostly since the genetic mutation causing their pigmentation is recessive. This implies:

A fawn must inherit the piebald gene from both parent deer.

Just a tiny fraction of fawns will be born piebald even if both parents carry the trait.

Should just one parent have the gene, the fawn will have normal coloration but may pass the trait on to next generations.

Piebald deer are so scarce in nature and a wonderful sight for those who enjoy wildlife only.

What causes whitetail deer piebaldism?

A hereditary abnormality known as piebaldism causes white fur patches by influencing melanin synthesis. Along with affecting fur pigment, this mutation can cause physical abnormalities.

Physical Exceptions Related to Piebaldism

Many piebald deer are born with other health issues including:

Twisted or shortened legs make mobility harder.

Curved spine (scoliosis) causes postural problems

Affecting feeding and survival, overbite or underbite.

Abnormalities of internal organs cause problems in health.

While not all piebald deer have these problems, the mutation raises their likelihood of physical difficulties.

Piebald Deer’s Significance in Nature and Human Culture

More than just a rare sight in the wild, piebald deer are very important in both natural environments and human civilization.

Native American Folklore: Piebald Deer

Piebald deer are holy animals according to some Native American tribes. They are supposed to provide blessings, protection, and spiritual messages as well as luck. In some customs, killing a piebald deer is thought of as bad luck.

Do Piebald Deer suffer from any survival disadvantages?

Unfortunately, piebald deer’s distinctive color makes them more easily seen by predators including:

Wolves

Coyotes

Bobcats

Humans

Normal brown-colored deer mix in the wild and make it more difficult for predators to find them. But the white patches of piebald deer stand out and raise their vulnerability to attack or hunting.

Identification of a Piebald Whitetail Deer

Look for these characteristics if you search the wild for a piebald deer:

Randomly dispersed white and brown coat patches.

Normal-colored eyes—unlike albino deer, which have pink or red eyes.

Potentially physical anomalies including a bent spine or shortened legs.

A deer with arresting white markings that contrasts with its surroundings.

Should you ever stumble across a piebald deer in the wild, you should count yourself lucky as finding one is unusual and intriguing.

Conclusion

Piebald whitetails deer are among the most fascinating and unusual animals on Earth. Different from other deer, their unusual white-and- brown hue originates from a genetic abnormality. Although they are lovely, they are more easily seen to predators and often have health issues.

Piebald deer are rare, yet they nonetheless draw the interest of academics, hunters, and other wildlife aficionados. Some societies even see them as enigmatic luck symbols. Whether you are lucky enough to come across one in the wild or just find their genes intriguing, these deer remain an amazing example of the diversity present in nature.

SOURCE: EASTWESTHUNT.COM

What Shall We Make Today?

Today’s entry is a no-bake Cookie Bite recipe!

Ingredients

½ cup salted butter room temperature

½ cup brown sugar, packed

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Start by heat-treating the flour. Add the flour to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Stir the flour to distribute the heat and microwave for another 60 seconds. Stir again, and let cool. This step is important to kill any bacteria in the flour and make the cookie dough safe to eat. Alternatively, you can spread the flour on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, just be careful it does not become brown.

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or stand mixer to beat the room-temperature butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract on high speed until smooth and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).

Add the flour to the bowl and mix gently on low speed until the flour is just incorporated into the dough. The dough may be soft (not thick), but that’s okay.

Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the mini chocolate chips into the dough until evenly distributed.

Use a 1-inch cookie scoop to scoop the dough into bite-sized balls. Roll each ball in your hands to give it a smooth, round shape, then place it on a tray lined with parchment paper.

For best results, refrigerate the cookie dough bites for 30-60 minutes so they can firm up. This is optional; you can enjoy the bites right away if you prefer. Enjoy!