President Joe Biden is planning to declare Ukraine an official U.S. military operation, the Aug. 24 Wall Street Journal reports, making it a separate command with its own general. Should Biden do that, it would put the Ukraine operation on par with the U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What mammal has a snout, lays eggs, and is covered in spikes?
The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)! The Australian critter is a monotreme, like the platypus. While its spikes aren’t venomous, they still prove to be an effective defense mechanism. When threatened, the echidna curls up in hopes of deterring a foe from further pursuit. Its beak is handy for breaking open termite mounds and its sticky tongue helps it gobble up the bounty.
Like other carnivorous plants, the pitcher plant (Nepenthes rajah) traps insects for a meal. But what sets this species apart from the more famous Venus flytrap?
It also occasionally snares vertebrates, including small mammals and lizards! Its sizable pitcher, a modified leaf, can contain up to 1 liter (33.8 ounces) of fluid, which is often enough to drown small critters that happen to fall in. Powerful digestive acids are then released to help the plant break down and absorb its prey. Insects are attracted to the pitcher plant because of its scent, while small animals such as shrews or geckos may mistakenly seek a drink or shelter in the pitcher.
Photo: JeremiahsCPs, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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