RE: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
The possums in my area are all ringtails, however one of my friends is looking after an orphaned brushtail. They're very cute when young, but like most Australian wildlife will make good use of their claws when older. He also has a juvenile wombat, and the family resemblance between possums, wombats and kangaroos is quite noticeable when they are young. As they mature the head changes shape, but when young they are quite similar. Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia -Original Message- From: Christian Skofteland [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 23 June 2003 11:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, species. For Virginia opossum: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, (sub-phylum: Vertebrata), Class: Mamalia, Order: Marsupalia, Family: Didelphidae, Genus: Didelphis, species: virginiana. For Brushtail possum: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, (sub-phylum: Vertebrata), Class: Mamalia, Order: Marsupalia, Family: Phalangeridae, Genus: Trichosurus, species: vulpecula. The opossums in your yard in California are Virginia opossums that were introduced there. They are not native, but quite happy to terrorize the countryside. Christian Skofteland [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Keith Whaley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 3:36 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Are the 'possums I see in my backyard, here in So. Calif., also Virginia 'possums? No, seriously! Christian wrote: [. . .] To be clear: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana - N. America) is a different species from Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula - Australia). They are in the same order of mammals: marsupalia, but different families. Incidentally, there are several species of possums in Australia, and at least three species of opossum in North and South America (only one in North America). How's it parse out? My book says Mammalia are classes of Vertebrates, which is one of the sub-phyla of Chordata, which in turn belongs to the sub-kingdom of Metazoa, kingdom of animals. Where does species fit? That's what I was trying to say before, but didn't know how to split up the classification. Interesting to know opposums are not just one species. Never knew that. keith It's true that in North America, i.e.: the United States, some people, in a regional dialect, call it a 'possum, but they are refering to the Virginia opossum which is its correct common name. Just like some people call raccoons, 'coons, etc, etc. Christian --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.488 / Virus Database: 287 - Release Date: 5/06/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.488 / Virus Database: 287 - Release Date: 5/06/2003
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
I'm with him too. Best OT post so far. A shutter speed of 1/2000 or greater should be sufficient. Jostein wrote: Hey, Dan! I'm with you. We should make some buttons and T-shirts. Jostein - Original Message - From: Daniel J. Matyola [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 7:02 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) STOP PLATE TECTONICS! Back in 1970, I had a geology professor who, at that time, was not convinced of plate tectonics.
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
All I know about opossums is that they're ugly son of a bitches and they're good to eat. The correct plural is sons of bitches. I team teach a course with a colleague of mine, and I always remind students of this before they fill out the course evaluations. 8^) Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. I find it amazing that both raccoons and opossums (neither of which are native to north america) have done so will on this continent. As many of these critters as you say, it's hard to believe that they're not from 'round these parts. But the further north you go, the more evident it becomes when you study these animals that they are not made for north american winters. You can see very ugly signs of frostbite and remnants of harsh winters all over them (ears, tails, and extremities in particular)... or maybe I'm just getting too damn close g. Armadillos are a distant third in the successful migration to N.A. category... but it seems like more and more of them are making their way thru the south east. I was totally amazed at how many of these I saw on the highway while driving from GA to LA about a month ago.
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre --
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. IIRC that woud have been Gondwanaland (sp). I knew studying geology would be helpful sometime Bill
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre Back in 1970, I had a geology professor who, at that time, was not convinced of plate tectonics. Bill
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Actually, the theory I like is: The earth was once a moon of Jupiter that got hit by a giant nickel iron meteor which smashed into the core of that moon raising the temperature to the point where meteor melted. The collision knocked the earth out of its orbit around Jupiter and it finally stabilized in its present orbit. Since the planet is now much larger than it was before the collision the surface broke up and the land masses are spread out farther apart than before. Also since the mass of the planet is more than twice what it was prior to collision the gravity is also more than it was back then. The increased gravity broke the backs of all the dinosaurs causing them to become extinct. The lower gravity was the reason the dinosaurs could be large. Then about 50-100 thousand years ago, a giant spaceship parked in orbit around the earth. There was a mutiny and all the crew was stranded down here and are out ancestors. Strangely, I find the above no more unbelievable than I do plate tectonics or genesis. Points to anyone who can name the books these theories came from. Ciao, Graywolf http://pages.prodigy.net/graywolfphoto - Original Message - From: Andre Langevin [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre --
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Oh for goodness sake! There is good solid evidence in support of plate tectonics. The edges of the plates we can get at have the same rock formation, minerals and fossils as the matching ones now very far away. Do you believe that mountain ranges were pushed up? Look at the folded ones. You can see irrefutable evidence that they were. Why is the surface of the earth rising in places and falling in others? Mountains still growing upwards? Land still sinking? Because the crust of the earth is floating about on a molten sea. This makes the inhabitants of San Francisco very nervous. In other words, Plate Tectonics is science. Genesis is a chapter in a very silly story-book. I'm not going to go on with this. Don ___ Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 - Original Message - From: T Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:01 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Actually, the theory I like is: The earth was once a moon of Jupiter that got hit by a giant nickel iron meteor which smashed into the core of that moon raising the temperature to the point where meteor melted. The collision knocked the earth out of its orbit around Jupiter and it finally stabilized in its present orbit. Since the planet is now much larger than it was before the collision the surface broke up and the land masses are spread out farther apart than before. Also since the mass of the planet is more than twice what it was prior to collision the gravity is also more than it was back then. The increased gravity broke the backs of all the dinosaurs causing them to become extinct. The lower gravity was the reason the dinosaurs could be large. Then about 50-100 thousand years ago, a giant spaceship parked in orbit around the earth. There was a mutiny and all the crew was stranded down here and are out ancestors. Strangely, I find the above no more unbelievable than I do plate tectonics or genesis. Points to anyone who can name the books these theories came from. Ciao, Graywolf http://pages.prodigy.net/graywolfphoto - Original Message - From: Andre Langevin [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre --
Re: (o)possums
As the church told us and it couldn't be wrong because it was spreading God's word, the earth was initially flat. Than some prankster made it round, apparently with no other purpose than pissing off the inquisition and making the kangaroos stand upside down. The foldings are inevitable when you try to wrap a plane sheet on a round shaped body - try wrapping a ball with a sheet of paper and see what happens. cheers, caveman Dr E D F Williams wrote: Oh for goodness sake! There is good solid evidence in support of plate tectonics. The edges of the plates we can get at have the same rock formation, minerals and fossils as the matching ones now very far away. Do you believe that mountain ranges were pushed up? Look at the folded ones. You can see irrefutable evidence that they were. Why is the surface of the earth rising in places and falling in others? Mountains still growing upwards? Land still sinking? Because the crust of the earth is floating about on a molten sea. This makes the inhabitants of San Francisco very nervous. In other words, Plate Tectonics is science. Genesis is a chapter in a very silly story-book. I'm not going to go on with this. Don ___ Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 - Original Message - From: T Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:01 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Actually, the theory I like is: The earth was once a moon of Jupiter that got hit by a giant nickel iron meteor which smashed into the core of that moon raising the temperature to the point where meteor melted. The collision knocked the earth out of its orbit around Jupiter and it finally stabilized in its present orbit. Since the planet is now much larger than it was before the collision the surface broke up and the land masses are spread out farther apart than before. Also since the mass of the planet is more than twice what it was prior to collision the gravity is also more than it was back then. The increased gravity broke the backs of all the dinosaurs causing them to become extinct. The lower gravity was the reason the dinosaurs could be large. Then about 50-100 thousand years ago, a giant spaceship parked in orbit around the earth. There was a mutiny and all the crew was stranded down here and are out ancestors. Strangely, I find the above no more unbelievable than I do plate tectonics or genesis. Points to anyone who can name the books these theories came from. Ciao, Graywolf http://pages.prodigy.net/graywolfphoto - Original Message - From: Andre Langevin [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre --
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Not to mention that South America and Africa, and Africa and Madagascar fit together like a jigsaw. IIRC, the theory is that eventually Los Angeles will be a neighboring city of Anchorage. Bill - Original Message - From: Dr E D F Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 12:02 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Oh for goodness sake! There is good solid evidence in support of plate tectonics. The edges of the plates we can get at have the same rock formation, minerals and fossils as the matching ones now very far away. Do you believe that mountain ranges were pushed up? Look at the folded ones. You can see irrefutable evidence that they were. Why is the surface of the earth rising in places and falling in others? Mountains still growing upwards? Land still sinking? Because the crust of the earth is floating about on a molten sea. This makes the inhabitants of San Francisco very nervous. In other words, Plate Tectonics is science. Genesis is a chapter in a very silly story-book. I'm not going to go on with this. Don ___ Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 - Original Message - From: T Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:01 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Actually, the theory I like is: The earth was once a moon of Jupiter that got hit by a giant nickel iron meteor which smashed into the core of that moon raising the temperature to the point where meteor melted. The collision knocked the earth out of its orbit around Jupiter and it finally stabilized in its present orbit. Since the planet is now much larger than it was before the collision the surface broke up and the land masses are spread out farther apart than before. Also since the mass of the planet is more than twice what it was prior to collision the gravity is also more than it was back then. The increased gravity broke the backs of all the dinosaurs causing them to become extinct. The lower gravity was the reason the dinosaurs could be large. Then about 50-100 thousand years ago, a giant spaceship parked in orbit around the earth. There was a mutiny and all the crew was stranded down here and are out ancestors. Strangely, I find the above no more unbelievable than I do plate tectonics or genesis. Points to anyone who can name the books these theories came from. Ciao, Graywolf http://pages.prodigy.net/graywolfphoto - Original Message - From: Andre Langevin [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian I met only one person who did not believe in plate tectonics. I don't think it is a question of believing. It is simply the best theory available, as with Bering Straight migration as the main source of migrants. As an inside, there was an Argentinian paleontologist who said he could prove that man appeared first in Argentina but could never show his bony proofs. In that case it was a question of believing... Andre --
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
In other words, Plate Tectonics is science. Genesis is a chapter in a very silly story-book. I'm not going to go on with this. Don Genesis, I'd rather say, is myth of origin in a very popular moralistic book. Science has its own myth of origin, the Big Bang, constantly evolving though... which make it more interesting. Other myths of origin (in some amazonian cultures at least) are also evolving. Andre --
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
STOP PLATE TECTONICS! Back in 1970, I had a geology professor who, at that time, was not convinced of plate tectonics.
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Don't hold to that belief too strongly, Christian. Most of the time, back when writers respected English language roots, they spelled opossum like 'possum, because the o was dropped in speech. That's called an 'aphesis.' Look it up. Both are the same creature. Some folks spell him differently, depending on where they came from! smile keith whaley Christian Skofteland wrote: - Original Message - From: Anthony Farr [EMAIL PROTECTED] BTW are American opossums marsupials? The possums of Oceania definitely are. regards, Anthony Farr Yep. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum). note that it is opossum with an o unlike the Aussie possum (no o). The Virginia opossum is a true marsupial with a well developed pouch. It is the only North American marsupial. There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. When this happened, S. American mammals (mostly marsupials) headed north and N. American mammals (mostly placentals) headed south. In the end, the placental mammals faired much better in both regions so there are fewer marsupial in the Americas. (If you believe in that sort of thing, what with plate tectonics, evolution, etc) Christian
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
I've seen pictures of opossums, and they look different enough to Aussie possums to have prompted my original question regards, Anthony Farr - Original Message - From: Keith Whaley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Don't hold to that belief too strongly, Christian. Most of the time, back when writers respected English language roots, they spelled opossum like 'possum, because the o was dropped in speech. That's called an 'aphesis.' Look it up. Both are the same creature. Some folks spell him differently, depending on where they came from! smile keith whaley
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
All I know about opossums is that they're ugly son of a bitches and they're good to eat. Paul Keith Whaley wrote: Are the 'possums I see in my backyard, here in So. Calif., also Virginia 'possums? No, seriously! Christian wrote: [. . .] To be clear: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana - N. America) is a different species from Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula - Australia). They are in the same order of mammals: marsupalia, but different families. Incidentally, there are several species of possums in Australia, and at least three species of opossum in North and South America (only one in North America). How's it parse out? My book says Mammalia are classes of Vertebrates, which is one of the sub-phyla of Chordata, which in turn belongs to the sub-kingdom of Metazoa, kingdom of animals. Where does species fit? That's what I was trying to say before, but didn't know how to split up the classification. Interesting to know opposums are not just one species. Never knew that. keith It's true that in North America, i.e.: the United States, some people, in a regional dialect, call it a 'possum, but they are refering to the Virginia opossum which is its correct common name. Just like some people call raccoons, 'coons, etc, etc. Christian
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
Hey Bill, That Gondwanaland thing always stumped me (doesn`t take much). If all the continents were on one side of the Earth, they`re trying to tell me that on the other side it was only water? There had to be other continents that subducted on the other side, no? Just trying to figure it out. Steve Larson Redondo Beach, California - Original Message - From: Bill Owens [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 7:36 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) There are several in South America, which at one point, was attached to Australia and floating free in the Pacific ocean until they separated and S. America joined N. America via Central America. IIRC that woud have been Gondwanaland (sp). I knew studying geology would be helpful sometime Bill
Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition)
I had a geology professor in 1976 that said we would be able to predict earthquakes in about 10 years. Hehe. Steve Larson Redondo Beach, California - Original Message - From: Daniel J. Matyola [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:02 AM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) STOP PLATE TECTONICS! Back in 1970, I had a geology professor who, at that time, was not convinced of plate tectonics.
