New Bingo: Evolutionary Wonders - We have a WINNER!

[Ketta]

Here are today's picks:

8. Crossbill
16. Magnolia Tree

Crossbills are birds that are specialists at feeding on the cones, or rather the seeds they contain, of conifer trees. There are five well-known species that each specialize in feeding on different cones. As their name implies, their bills are 'crossed', in that the top bill crosses over the bottom. They feed by inserting their bill in between the scales of a cone and 'twist', using a sideways motion of their mandibles that few other species can perform. Interestingly, the top of the bill crosses either to the left or the right, and no one quite knows yet what causes a bird to be 'right' or 'left' billed. When you think about it, it's amazing how this particular trait evolved!



Magnolia trees are one the oldest flowering plants alive today. They are almost a 'missing link' between conifers and other non-flowering groups of plants and those that do bear flowers. It is believed that magnolias evolved their flowers to be pollinated by beetles, which were probably fairly large. The 'petals' (which aren't true petals) are large and sturdy, and the other parts of the flowers are relatively large as well. The petals of a magnolia are actually called tepals in the scientific world, and are some of the largest flower parts of any plants. Magnolia are sometimes referred to as living fossils, and several years ago a single seed was found at an archaeological dig several years ago, in an ancient grain storage. It was sprouted and is alive and thriving today, but is the only one of it's kind, a true living fossil.

I couldn't find any freebie cross stitch patterns of a magnolia, but here's a lovely picture of a saucer magnolia blossom:

[destructiveernie]

one more for me makes 2!

[rcperryls]

one more for me makes 2 too! Keep those birds coming. I have a lot of them on my list.
Magnolias are beautiful. Even though this isn't Georgia, we have a lot of Magnolia trees in Charleston and when they bloom it is so pretty.

Carole

[mechie]

One for me!

There's actually a large magnolia tree at a house around the corner from us. Whenever I go walking with my 3-year-old she loves picking up the fallen leaves from it.

mechie

[socialsue]

I have 3 in total .....

socialsue

[kell]

None for me today.

[rcperryls]

Georgia is peach trees. Magnolias are either Alabama's or Mississippi's state tree. Sorry bout that. I have to double check on that.

Carole

[Ketta]

Lol rcperryls, I didn't even notice your mistake until you pointed it out... though I was wondering about the connection to Geogia!

Today's picks are some fun ones:

20. Psuedo Eyes
23. The acacia, the ant, and the elephant

Psuedo eyes, or false eyes, are used by many animals, usually to surprise, scare, or trick predators. Many moths have large eye spots on their lower wings to scare birds or larger insects that would otherwise eat them. A lot of different fish species, both small and large, have eye spots near their tail. Predatory fish don't want their prey to see them, so when they see those false eyes, they try to get at the other end of the fish, which also has eyes (real ones!). They often end up trying for less tricky prey. Caterpillars often have false eyes that resemble a snake's eyes or those of a larger insect, which tricks birds into thinking 'this is not the caterpillar you're looking for'. The jury is still out on exactly why eye spots on insects, from butterflies to praying mantis, work, as some believe they don't necessarily mimic a certain predator, but false eyes do work.

The relationship between the acacia tree, ants, and elephants is unusual, but makes sense when you think about it. Acacia trees are the only species of tree with any sort of foothold in the African savannah, and not surprisingly, one of the favourite foods of elephants who travel the plains. Elephants don't just eat the leaves of the acacia though, they tend to uproot the whole tree while eating leaves, younger branches, and even the roots. This is a good thing, sometimes, for if the acacia takes over an area of savannah, there is less grassland for the millions of antelope, wildebeast, etc. Acacia trees are very thorny, but obviously this defense isn't enough for the acacia when it comes to elephants. So, they developed a relationship with some very tiny ants. When a certain species of ant makes an acacia tree its home, that tree develops larger, swollen and hollow thorns for the ants to use as shelter and exudes a rich sappy substance from the tips of its leaves for the ants to eat. In return, the ants fiercely defend the tree from ANY intruders. Birds, other insects, and anything else that wants to eat the tree are bitten voraciously. Even elephants will leave a tree alone that is defended by these ants, because the ants know just where the soft bits are to bite.

I *love* studying relationships like this... it kinda blows my mind to try and imagine the evolutionary trail that brought plants and animals together like this.

Good luck everyone!

[rcperryls]

none today for me.

Magnolia is the state tree for Mississippi.

Carole

[tiffstitch]

I got both today! My first 2 so far.

[kellyJune]

This is the first time I have had a chance to check! I have 3 total so far!!! I love learning about the different wonders!!! Thank you so much!! My hubby and I planted a magnolia tree early this summer. I had no idea of its history and significance. I have even more respect for the beautiful tree!!!

Kelly

[kell]

Another one for me today, taking me to 2...

[mechie]

None for me today, so I'm still at 1.

mechie

[Ketta]

Here are today's picks:

15. Corpse Flower
27. Pronghorn

Corpse flowers (there are several different species, as well as species that are similar to corpse flowers) are usually large, very smelly plants that usually consist of an underground 'corm' or root-like structure. It flowers irregularly, maybe twice a year, maybe once every three years. Once blooming has finished, usually a single leaf will grow and photosynthesize just enough to generate food for the corm to survive until the next blooming, and to produce seeds. They are pollinated by flies, and to attract them, they reek of the smell of rotting flesh. Even the flower is designed to mimic this; usually a sickly pinkish green colour and covered in coarse 'hairs'. Flies absolutely love them, and to ensure the flies are covered in pollen, they're become trapped for about a day inside the corpse flowers (not that the flies mind). One of the largest 'stinky flowers' is the arum, which develops a flower that grows nearly 10 feet tall. Following is a picture of the more typical corpse flower:



The pronghorn is the only true antelope in the Americas. It is a remnant of a long-ago past when North America was more like the plains of Africa. A cat very similar to the cheetah preyed on pronghorn, and as a result, they are one of the fastest land animals (the fastest in the Americas). Last spring, I went on a week-long trip with a biology class to eastern Oregon, where we saw a lot of these. They are a threatened species, as they are migratory, and their migratory routes are becoming more and more cut every year. Currently their biggest threats are natural gas frackers, and there is a lot being done to try and keep the pronghorn's migratory routes open. While on the trip, we 'raced' pronghorn several times. They're very skittish, and even seeing them from 1/4 mile away was lucky, and they almost always ran. They easily kept up with us as we drove 60+ mph!!! And they were in fields of grass, sage, and small trees... we were on blacktop or dirt roads. Why do I consider them an evolutionary wonder? Well, mainly they are a leftover of a relationship between predator and prey, which often evolve alongside each other or 'coevolve'. Only the fastest cheetahs could catch a pronghorn, and only the fastest pronghorn could outrun a cheetah. But now, even though the cheetahs are gone, the pronghorn remain incredibly fast and agile.


(photo by Bob Gress)

[rcperryls]

I love reading your information. I would love it even more if I had picked one of them.
none for me today. stuck at 2.

Carole

[mechie]

None for me either, so I still have just the 1.

mechie

[tiffstitch]

I love reading your information. I would love it even more if I had picked one of them.
none for me today. stuck at 2.

Carole

Ditto!

[Ketta]

Blame my husband!!!! He's been drawing the numbers...

[kellyJune]

One more!! I am up to four!!

KellyJune [color]

[kell]

None for me today. Still on 2...