A SIXTH SENSE. Few snakes can 'see' warm-blooded prey in the dark thanks to specialised ‘pit organs’ that sense heat from the bodies of their prey. Pitvipers have a ‘Loreal pit’ between the nostril and the eye on each side of the face while most pythons have ‘Labial pits’ on their lip scales. These organs allow the snakes to catch prey accurately even in the complete absence of light, and detect warm objects (including their predators) from several meters away. . . @InsideNatGeo @natgeoasia #Nat
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A SIXTH SENSE. Few snakes can 'see' warm-blooded prey in the dark thanks to specialised ‘pit organs’ that sense heat from the bodies of their prey. Pitvipers have a ‘Loreal pit’ between the nostril and the eye on each side of the face while most pythons have ‘Labial pits’ on their lip scales. These organs allow the snakes to catch prey accurately even in the complete absence of light, and detect warm objects (including their predators) from several meters away. . . @InsideNatGeo @natgeoasia #Nat
1.8K viewsOct 1, 2019
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650 viewsJan 4, 2022
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2.8K views7 months ago
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FLOUNDERS! The kids were out seine netting in their usual estuarine spot today and pulled up a flounder! These flatfish are masters of life on the bottom, but what makes them really cool is how they change as they grow. Baby flounders start off looking pretty normal, with an eye on each side of their head. But as they go through metamorphosis, one eye actually migrates to the other side—so both end up on the same side of their body! Which side depends on the species. Nature is pretty awesome! |
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FLOUNDERS! The kids were out seine netting in their usual estuarine spot today and pulled up a flounder! These flatfish are masters of life on the bottom, but what makes them really cool is how they change as they grow. Baby flounders start off looking pretty normal, with an eye on each side of their head. But as they go through metamorphosis, one eye actually migrates to the other side—so both end up on the same side of their body! Which side depends on the species. Nature is pretty awesome! |
1.9K viewsMar 2, 2025
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FRESHWATER LONGTOM. Found in coastal rivers of tropical Australia and New Guinea, the Freshwater Langtom or Freshwater Garfish (Strongylura krefftii) is a voracious predator of small fish and other aquatic creatures. Like other members of the broader Needlefish group, these guys also don't have stomachs. At some point in their evolution, they ditched that organ in favor of an acid-free approach to breaking down their meals! Such an interesting fish to encounter. | Ruchira Somaweera
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FRESHWATER LONGTOM. Found in coastal rivers of tropical Australia and New Guinea, the Freshwater Langtom or Freshwater Garfish (Strongylura krefftii) is a voracious predator of small fish and other aquatic creatures. Like other members of the broader Needlefish group, these guys also don't have stomachs. At some point in their evolution, they ditched that organ in favor of an acid-free approach to breaking down their meals! Such an interesting fish to encounter. | Ruchira Somaweera
1.5K viewsApr 29, 2024
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KIDS & PASSIONS. Just wrapped up an incredible adventure in Cambodia with the 2 older offsprings. We dove into a pilot study on the water snake harvest at Tonle Sap, south east Asia’s largest Lake, and I couldn’t be prouder of my little field assistants. They’ve been amazing—searching for animals, counting them, identifying species, helping snap photos, and more importantly genuinely sharing the passion for wildlife and exploration. When we travel with kids, we try to focus more on authentic, of
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KIDS & PASSIONS. Just wrapped up an incredible adventure in Cambodia with the 2 older offsprings. We dove into a pilot study on the water snake harvest at Tonle Sap, south east Asia’s largest Lake, and I couldn’t be prouder of my little field assistants. They’ve been amazing—searching for animals, counting them, identifying species, helping snap photos, and more importantly genuinely sharing the passion for wildlife and exploration. When we travel with kids, we try to focus more on authentic, of
24.7K viewsOct 8, 2024
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මෙගලඩොන් Megalodon 🦈 | මොකද උනේ? තවම ඉන්න පුලුවන්ද? | Dr Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild #megalodon | Ruchira Somaweera
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මෙගලඩොන් Megalodon 🦈 | මොකද උනේ? තවම ඉන්න පුලුවන්ද? | Dr Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild #megalodon | Ruchira Somaweera
164.4K views3 months ago
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SEA COWS. Ticked off a bucket list moment— swimming with manatees in the wild! Of the three species of manatees (commonly called ‘sea cows’) in the world, the West Indian manatee calls the Florida area home. Even though it’s off-season, with most of them out in the ocean, I was lucky enough to encounter six of these gentle giants early in the morning in a freshwater spring — and even better, having them all to ourselves! Recent cyclones have hit the area hard, destroying seagrass beds (their foo
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SEA COWS. Ticked off a bucket list moment— swimming with manatees in the wild! Of the three species of manatees (commonly called ‘sea cows’) in the world, the West Indian manatee calls the Florida area home. Even though it’s off-season, with most of them out in the ocean, I was lucky enough to encounter six of these gentle giants early in the morning in a freshwater spring — and even better, having them all to ourselves! Recent cyclones have hit the area hard, destroying seagrass beds (their foo
1K viewsSep 20, 2024
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ලෝකේ ලොකුම මාළු කවුද? Largest fish? 🐟🐠 | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild | Ruchira Somaweera
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ලෝකේ ලොකුම මාළු කවුද? Largest fish? 🐟🐠 | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild | Ruchira Somaweera
135.5K views5 months ago
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Another day out in the bush 🌿🌳 The kids explored, learned, and discovered the wonders of nature—best part, it’s free! Nothing beats letting curiosity lead the way. 🦋🌱✨ #KidsInNature #Family | Ruchira Somaweera
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Another day out in the bush 🌿🌳 The kids explored, learned, and discovered the wonders of nature—best part, it’s free! Nothing beats letting curiosity lead the way. 🦋🌱✨ #KidsInNature #Family | Ruchira Somaweera
4K views7 months ago
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To Naomi - Thanks for letting me chase snakes and sunsets around the world ❤️ | Ruchira Somaweera
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To Naomi - Thanks for letting me chase snakes and sunsets around the world ❤️ | Ruchira Somaweera
2K views10 months ago
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Anacondas – the world’s largest/ heaviest snakes! 🐍 Discover their species, wild facts, and a sneak peek at an exciting project in the making with my good old mate Freek Vonk. #rugoeswild #anaconda #snake | Ruchira Somaweera
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Anacondas – the world’s largest/ heaviest snakes! 🐍 Discover their species, wild facts, and a sneak peek at an exciting project in the making with my good old mate Freek Vonk. #rugoeswild #anaconda #snake | Ruchira Somaweera
368.7K views8 months ago
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Explorer Classroom | The World of Reptiles with Ruchira Somaweera
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Explorer Classroom | The World of Reptiles with Ruchira Somaweera
2.6K viewsJun 2, 2020
YouTubeNational Geographic Education
Explorer Classroom l The Fantastic World of Reptiles with Ru Somaweera
36:08
Explorer Classroom l The Fantastic World of Reptiles with Ru Somaweera
2K views11 months ago
YouTubeNational Geographic Education
While camping with the family near a misty lake, I woke to an extraordinary sound I’d never heard before. It turned out to be a male Musk Duck showing off in hopes of attracting a lady, with a call so loud and distinct it was impossible to miss. The Musk Duck (Bizura lobata) is fascinating—it’s the only living member of its genus. Males emit a strong musky odor and develop a larger lobe under their bill during breeding season. These ducks use a lek mating system, where males compete for attentio
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While camping with the family near a misty lake, I woke to an extraordinary sound I’d never heard before. It turned out to be a male Musk Duck showing off in hopes of attracting a lady, with a call so loud and distinct it was impossible to miss. The Musk Duck (Bizura lobata) is fascinating—it’s the only living member of its genus. Males emit a strong musky odor and develop a larger lobe under their bill during breeding season. These ducks use a lek mating system, where males compete for attentio
2.2K viewsDec 28, 2024
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Out in Pemberton with my #1 and #2 on a mission to find one of the weirdest fish on the planet—the ancient, jawless lamprey 🐟👀. And then… back at the motel, we turn on Animal Planet and who pops up on River Monsters with Jeremy Wade? 😂 | Ruchira Somaweera
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Out in Pemberton with my #1 and #2 on a mission to find one of the weirdest fish on the planet—the ancient, jawless lamprey 🐟👀. And then… back at the motel, we turn on Animal Planet and who pops up on River Monsters with Jeremy Wade? 😂 | Ruchira Somaweera
3.2K views6 months ago
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සිකනලා විෂද? Venomous skinks? 🦎‼️ #facts #wildlife #myths #education #RuGoesWild | Ruchira Somaweera
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සිකනලා විෂද? Venomous skinks? 🦎‼️ #facts #wildlife #myths #education #RuGoesWild | Ruchira Somaweera
625.1K views5 months ago
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IMMORTAL JELLYFISH: ලෝකයේ සියලු සතුන් අතර අමරණීය එකම එක සතා 🪼#jellyfish #facts #RuGoesWild | Ruchira Somaweera
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IMMORTAL JELLYFISH: ලෝකයේ සියලු සතුන් අතර අමරණීය එකම එක සතා 🪼#jellyfish #facts #RuGoesWild | Ruchira Somaweera
33.9K views7 months ago
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තාපය දකින සර්පයන් | Snake Senses | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
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තාපය දකින සර්පයන් | Snake Senses | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
30.8K views7 months ago
YouTubeDr Ru Somaweera
LARGEST PARASITE 🌿 On a 42 °C Christmas Day in Perth, here’s a bit of biology. The Western Australian Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) is the largest parasitic plant in the world. | Ruchira Somaweera
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LARGEST PARASITE 🌿 On a 42 °C Christmas Day in Perth, here’s a bit of biology. The Western Australian Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) is the largest parasitic plant in the world. | Ruchira Somaweera
19.6K views3 months ago
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විශේෂම උරගයා | Tuatara | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
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විශේෂම උරගයා | Tuatara | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
18.8K views10 months ago
YouTubeDr Ru Somaweera
ගවරා Gaur 🐂 | කවුද මෙයා? මෙයාට මොකද උනේ? | Dr Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild #gaur | Ruchira Somaweera
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ගවරා Gaur 🐂 | කවුද මෙයා? මෙයාට මොකද උනේ? | Dr Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild #gaur | Ruchira Somaweera
199.7K views4 months ago
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LONG NECKS. Waterways in urban and suburban Perth are home to a healthy population of South-west Long-necked Turtles (Chelodina oblonga). We see them regularly in our visits to wetlands and creeks. The necks of members of this genus are as along as or even longer than their shells. These ambush predators eat anything small enough to seize and swallow. They use the long neck to strike in snake-like manner and gape the mouth to suck in the prey. These two love birds swam pass me with zero concern.
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LONG NECKS. Waterways in urban and suburban Perth are home to a healthy population of South-west Long-necked Turtles (Chelodina oblonga). We see them regularly in our visits to wetlands and creeks. The necks of members of this genus are as along as or even longer than their shells. These ambush predators eat anything small enough to seize and swallow. They use the long neck to strike in snake-like manner and gape the mouth to suck in the prey. These two love birds swam pass me with zero concern.
14.9K viewsJan 4, 2021
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The beauty of one of my most favorite places on Earth, Komodo National Park of Indonesia, is being tarnished by the millions of plastics that get washed upon its beaches each year. These plastics comes from so may sources and locations, and get carried on to the islands by the currents, winds, tides and visitors alike. The sheer amount of plastic that continuously get washed on is so large, it makes manual removal and cleaning logistically impractical. Only by reducing use, especially the single
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The beauty of one of my most favorite places on Earth, Komodo National Park of Indonesia, is being tarnished by the millions of plastics that get washed upon its beaches each year. These plastics comes from so may sources and locations, and get carried on to the islands by the currents, winds, tides and visitors alike. The sheer amount of plastic that continuously get washed on is so large, it makes manual removal and cleaning logistically impractical. Only by reducing use, especially the single
645 viewsMay 22, 2023
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Full episode at: https://youtu.be/nQSvYTa7jtk?si=TNapGHTgMALudlHh #turtles #oceanlife #ocean | Ruchira Somaweera
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Full episode at: https://youtu.be/nQSvYTa7jtk?si=TNapGHTgMALudlHh #turtles #oceanlife #ocean | Ruchira Somaweera
3.3K views7 months ago
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මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් | Sea Turtles | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
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මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් | Sea Turtles | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
31.4K views8 months ago
YouTubeDr Ru Somaweera
මුහුදු කරවල්ලු | Sea Kraits | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
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මුහුදු කරවල්ලු | Sea Kraits | Dr. Ru Somaweera | #යංසත්තුබලන්න #rugoeswild
58.2K views11 months ago
YouTubeDr Ru Somaweera
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