Ever wonder why the slow moving sloth has a slightly greenish hue? Ever consider the sloth at all? Well, perhaps not. Location, location, location, is the mantra for many of us in our macro world, but it is also true for the small world of algae.
Blue green algae is a term used to describe any of a large, heterogeneous group of prokaryotic, principally photosynthetic organisms. These little oxygenic (oxygen-producing) fellows appeared about 2,000,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 years ago and are given credit for greatly increasing the oxygen content of the atmosphere, making possible the development of aerobic (oxygen-using) organisms.
But all this heavy breathing aside, we go back to sloths and the wonder of making do where you are. The sloth's body and shaggy coat, or pelage, provides a comfy habitat to two types of wee blue-green algae along with various other invertebrates. The hairs that make up the sloth's coat have grooves that help foster algal growth.
And, while Kermit the Frog says, "it's not easy being green," it couldn't be further from the truth for this slow-moving tree dweller. The blue-green algae gives the sloth a natural greenish camouflage, an arrangement that is certainly win-win.
Friday 10 September 2004
Thursday 2 September 2004
Saturday 28 August 2004
Saturday 3 July 2004
Saturday 15 May 2004
Saturday 24 April 2004
Wednesday 21 April 2004
Saturday 13 March 2004
Tuesday 3 February 2004
Sunday 4 January 2004
Monday 20 October 2003
Monday 13 October 2003
Thursday 2 October 2003
Tuesday 23 September 2003
Tuesday 9 September 2003
OH, SHE'S A BEAUTY :: CASTLE PEAK NORTH OF GOLDBRIDGE
Thursday 4 September 2003
Friday 4 July 2003
Thursday 15 May 2003
Friday 9 May 2003
Friday 2 May 2003
Thursday 24 April 2003
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)