Picture of the Day: World’s Ugliest Animal

Give it up for the ugliest animal in the world – the blobfish.

The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus), a species that lives at great depths and is rarely seen has been voted the world's ugliest animal.

The Ugly Animal Preservation Society hoped to raise awareness about endangered animals by electing a new, aesthetically-challenged mascot. With 200 species becoming extinct every day, the aesthetically challenged animals needed more help because of their unappealing appearance. 

More than 3000 ballots were cast in an online competition out of which the blobfish earned 795 votes.

The blobfish lives off the coast of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Fishers often accidentally capture it in their nets, diminishing the size of the blobfish population.  Scientists now fear the blobfish could become an endangered species.

The kakapo, the axolotl, the Titicaca water frog and the proboscis monkey were also in contention for the world's ugliest animal.

In my opinion, the best or should I say the ugliest animal won!

Picture of the Day: Trees With Ears

Ever heard the saying that the walls have ears? Perhaps the correct thing to say should be “the trees have ears” according to these pictures. The ‘ear’ shown in the picture is the fungus Auricularia auricula-judae. It is also known as Jelly Ear, Wood Ear, Jew’s Ear and other common names. The species was first described in 1753.

The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown coloration; it grows upon wood, especially elder. Its specific epithet (auricula-judae) is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree; the common name "Judas's ear" eventually became "Jew's ear", while today "jelly ear" and other names are sometimes used. The fungus can be found throughout the year in temperate regions worldwide, where it grows upon both dead and living wood.

In the West, A. auricula-judae was used in folk medicine as recently as the 19th century for complaints including sore throats, sore eyes and jaundice. Today, the fungus is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that A. auricula-judae has antitumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.

Picture of the Day: Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree

Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the rainbow eucalyptus, Mindanao gum, or rainbow gum.

Looking at the tree, you would think an artist took a paint brush and went to work on the bark of the tree but that is not the case. The rainbow eucalyptus tree gets its coloring naturally

The unique multi-coloured bark is the most distinctive feature of the tree. The trees shed patches of bark at different times throughout the year, revealing a bright green layer.

The inner bark then darkens and matures into shades of blue, orange and maroon.

It is cultivated as an ornamental tree for planting in tropical and subtropical climate in gardens and parks.