Category Archives: The Evidentialism Files

Slow And Steady

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is recognized as the world’s oldest known living land animal. Born around 1832, Jonathan is at least 192 years old and resides on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. His exact birth year isn’t known, but he was fully grown when he arrived on the island in 1882, leading to estimates of his age.

Jonathan has become a symbol of longevity and resilience. Despite his age, he still enjoys a peaceful life, spending his days basking in the sun and eating a diet of fruit and vegetables. While his senses of sight and smell have diminished over time, Jonathan remains active, with a keen sense of hearing.

He lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor’s residence on Saint Helena, and has become the only celebrity and a tourist attraction for the tiny, remote island.

Lovely

Some factslaps about ladybugs:

  • A group of ladybugs is called a “loveliness”
  • Not all ladybugs are red: While most people associate ladybugs with their red shell and black spots, they can also be yellow, orange, brown, or even pink.
  • They are considered good luck: In many cultures, seeing a ladybug is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
  • Voracious predators: Ladybugs are beneficial to gardeners because they eat pests like aphids. A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
  • They secrete a toxic fluid: When threatened, ladybugs exude a foul-smelling fluid from their legs that can deter predators.
  • Ladybugs hibernate: During winter, ladybugs seek out warm places to hibernate in large groups, sometimes thousands at a time.
  • They aren’t bugs: Despite their name, ladybugs are not technically bugs. They belong to the beetle family, scientifically known as Coccinellidae.
  • There are over 5,000 species: Worldwide, there are over 5,000 species of ladybugs, with about 500 species in North America alone.
  • Their spots fade with age: A ladybug’s spots become lighter and less pronounced as it gets older, giving some older ladybugs a washed-out appearance.
  • Ladybugs are named after the Virgin Mary: The name “ladybug” is derived from “Our Lady’s bug,” referring to the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. The red color was associated with her cloak, and the seven spots represented her seven joys and seven sorrows.

The Stealth Tree

Two frogmouth birds

A few factslaps about frogmouth birds:

  • Masters of Camouflage: Frogmouths are experts at blending into their surroundings. Their mottled feathers resemble tree bark, which helps them avoid predators by making them nearly indistinguishable from branches.
  • Not Owls, But Close Relatives: Though often mistaken for owls due to their nocturnal habits and similar appearance, frogmouths belong to a different family called Podargidae. They are more closely related to nightjars.
  • Wide, Frog-like Mouths: Their name comes from their wide, flattened beaks, which resemble a frog’s mouth. This adaptation helps them catch insects in flight or snap up prey on the ground.
  • Diet: While some species focus on insects, larger frogmouths can catch small vertebrates, such as mice or frogs.
  • Daytime Masters of Stillness: During the day, frogmouths often adopt a motionless posture that makes them look like a broken branch. They even stretch their bodies and align themselves with the tree’s texture to enhance the effect.
  • Silent Hunters: Unlike owls, frogmouths don’t rely on acute hearing to catch prey. Instead, they use their sharp vision at night and snatch insects with their wide beaks.
  • Monogamous Birds: Frogmouths are generally monogamous and share parental duties. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, and after hatching, they continue to care for the young together.
  • Geographical Range: Frogmouths are found primarily in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, thriving in various habitats from forests to urban areas.
  • Call: Their vocalizations are quite soft and often sound like a low, humming noise or soft growls, very different from the hoots of owls.
  • Not Agile Flyers: While they are strong hunters, frogmouths are not particularly adept at flying. They tend to sit still and wait for prey to come near, using short bursts of flight when necessary.