Doedicurus The Giant Prehistoric Armadillo

Doedicurus was an enormous ancestor of the modern armadillo which wandered the pampas and savannas of South America during the Pleistocene epoch. It disappeared from the fossil record about 10,000 years ago along with many other large Ice Age animals. While climate change made have played a factor in its extinction, its likely that human hunters, too, helped precipitate its demise. Doedicurus Overview Name: Doedicurus (Greek for pestle tail); pronounced DAY-dih-CURE-us Habitat: Swamps of South America Historical Epoch: Pleistocene-Modern (2 million-10,000 years ago) Size and Weight: About 13 feet long and one ton Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Large, thick shell; long tail with club and spikes on end About Doedicurus Doedicurus was a member of the Glyptodont family, a megafauna mammal  of the Pleistocene epoch.  It lived at the same time and in the same place as many other enormous Ice Age mammals and birds, including giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, and huge flightless carnivorous birds sometimes nicknamed terror birds. While most glyptodonts towering, flightless, carnivorous â€Å"terror birds.† For a relatively brief period, it also shared its habitat with early human beings. Most glyptodonts have been found in South America, but some fossilized remains have been found in the southern United States, from Arizona through the Carolinas. This slow-moving vegetarian was about the size of a small car, was covered by a large, domed, armored shell with an additional smaller dome in front. It also possessed a clubbed, spiked tail similar to those of the ankylosaur and stegosaur dinosaurs that preceded it by tens of millions of years. Researchers suggest that the spiked tails may have been used to attack other males when competing for the attention of females. Some experts believe Doedicurus also had a short, prehensile snout, similar to an elephants trunk, but solid evidence for this is lacking. The carapace (hard upper shell) was anchored to the animals pelvis, but it was not connected to the shoulder. Some paleontologists hypothesize that the smaller front dome may have played a similar role to a camels hump, storing fat for the dry season. It may also have helped protect the animal from predators. DNA Evidence Shows a Connection to Modern Armadillos All Glyptodont species are part of a mammal group called Xenarthra. This group includes a number of modern species including tree sloths and anteaters, as well as several extinct species such as Pampatheres (similar to armadillos) and ground sloths. Until recently, however, the exact relationship between Doedicurus and other members of the Xenarthra group was unclear. Recently, scientists were able to extract fragments of DNA from the fossilized carapace of a 12,000-year-old Doedicurus discovered in South America. Their intent was to establish once and for all the place of Doedicurus and its fellow glyptodonts on the armadillo family tree. Their conclusion: Glyptodonts were, in fact, a distinct Pleistocene sub-family of armadillos, and the closest living relative of these thousand-pound behemoths is the Dwarf Pink Fairy Armadillo of Argentina, which only measures a few inches across. Researchers believe that Glyptodonts and their modern cousins evolved from the same 35 million-year-old common ancestor, a creature that weighed only about 13 pounds. The huge Glyptodonts split off as a group very quickly, while the modern armadillo did not appear until about 30 million years later. According to one theory, the Doedicuruss unarticulated back was an important factor in its extraordinary growth.

The World And Its Economic Systems Essay - 2422 Words

PAPER The world and its economic systems been to, at an ever increasing rate. Over thousands of years civilization have developed the means to master resources, such as, land, water and even the heavens. Agriculture allowed the human race to no longer rely on migrant herds of animals, but to settle and look to the ground beneath them for a continued supply of basic needs. Dale and Carter argue, â€Å"both civilization and the enjoyment of civilization rest on the surplus production by those who supply the necessities of life† (1955, p. 9). Once that point in the creation of a society is reached, others are able to veer away from the trade agriculture, specializing in other pursuits valuable to a community. Early examples of this scenario playing to its actors benefits include the Mesopotamians and Egyptians. Farming, specifically a surplus of food, allowed for humans to focus on other pursuits that would further advance the progress of a given community. With the growth in avai lable pursuits, Ellen Wood believes â€Å"an [evolution] of the division of labor †¦ accompanied by technological improvements in the instruments of production† allows for commercial development within a society to take place (1999, p. 5-6). Growth will continue to compound on itself, bar no external interferences - such as drought, famine, plague. With growth came trade of goods. People were placed in a situation in which, as profit-maximizing beings, needed to now exchange their own specific productShow MoreRelatedThe Political And Economic System Of The World2338 Words   |  10 PagesIn the wake of WWII, peace was the main goal sought out by the entirety of the world. However as the twentieth century hit its halfway mark, the conflicting ideals of two countries dragged the world into a tense struggle for power and international identity yet again. 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Youre...Gay free essay sample

Around this planet we call ‘Earth’ one can find all sorts of women roaming about the streets. Females are classified under all sorts of things, whether it is through their beliefs, lifestyle, or even physical characteristics. So why is it that the lesbians of the human race are only classified as these wannabe-men who mow their lawns twice a week and own a cat or two (or three or four or five†¦)? To most people, telling whether or not a girl is a lesbian seems as easy as deciding if the cafeteria is using real potatoes in their tater tots. But, if it is really that simple, then why do the actual lesbians have a terrible time debating over if the lovely maiden across the way plays for their team? Having a better idea of the different classifications will help get people away from the classic butch stereotype and give them a wider range of knowledge on the subject (Which could more than likely create some fresh stereotypes, but what can one truly expect from this worl d?). We will write a custom essay sample on YoureGay? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lipstick Lesbians. And no, these girls are not known as such just for wearing lipstick. Also known as femmes, these female homosexuals are the more womanly side of the lesbian community. They typically wear dresses and skirts, have long hair, and like doing their make-up. One may even catch them shopping designer labels and going out for a non-fat latte on occasion. And while to the untrained eye this girl may appear to be heterosexual, she is in fact, a lesbian, however initially shocking the idea may be. Unfortunately for lesbians who fall under this category, heterosexual men still tend to go after them, even when they are eventually told by their prospect that she is not interested; and not just in him, but males in general. And yet, because of their girly and demure appearance, most straight males still believe that they can achieve the impossible and â€Å"change† this girl by supposedly â€Å"blowing her mind† with â€Å"passionate† intercourse. And yet, that is far from the truth. Despite their looks, many femmes are actually rather independent and strong women. Remarks like â€Å"you just haven’t met the right man yet† most definitely won’t fly. And unless you’re looking for a slap to the face or potential injuries below the belt, it’s not recommended to say â€Å"you’re too pretty to be gay.† Butch Lesbians. We have now proceeded to the total opposite end of the lesbian spectrum, and the one that is more commonly known by others. Butches, also called dykes, are the more masculine female gays. They wear flannels and other plaid prints; they don’t lay a finger on cosmetics; and good luck trying to squeeze one into a bra. You may be able to get their assistance in fixing your car and they just might be up for a sports-related activity. Whatever the case, these lesbians are considered the more dominant role in lesbian relationships, mainly for their display of manly traits as opposed to more feminine ones. Often by heterosexuals, they are mistaken for boys, or when found out to be females, are believed to be either transgender or transsexual. However, these women are just presenting the gender they identify with, and for some, it’s just easier to be shown in a more masculine light. Regrettably for other females, this stereotype of lesbians generally prevents gi rls from wanting to display a more boyish side for fear that they will be assumed to be homosexual in some way. Studs. To put it plainly, they are lesbians who are caught up in the middle of the stereotypes. Studs are that sort of femme-butch hybrid, where they’re not exactly girly, but they’re not particularly manly either. They are generally thought of as the â€Å"pretty boys† of the lesbian population, where their boyish looks have a bit of feminine charm (think Justin Bieber – but without the cheesy pop tunes of adolescent infatuation). These girls may wear the flannels, but also some make-up; they may have big cars, but have no clue how to fix them; and they may play sports, but they’re not necessarily crazy about them. Lesbians who are studs, like butches, are also often mistaken for boys, but usually thought to be younger in age than they really are, once again affirming the â€Å"pretty boy† standpoint (again – think Justin Bieber). Hasbians. Your â€Å"ex-lesbians† – females who had once identified as lesbians, but now partake in heterosexual activities. There are a few different cases when it comes to hasbians. A hasbian could be a woman who is a lesbian, but has actually chosen to pursue a heterosexual lifestyle due to any number of reasons, ranging from religious to family-related, or somewhere in between. Another type of hasbian is a female who thought she was lesbian or experimented with dating other girls and identified as gay, when in fact, she never really was lesbian, but was indeed straight. These types of â€Å"lesbians† are not well-liked in not just the lesbian community, but by those who are LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual, Queer) in general. It’s mainly because these girls give those who are actually lesbian or bisexual a not-so-great view of homosexuality with the adults and heterosexuals in our society, since they make it out to be something t o take lightly because it comes off as a phase. Bisexuals. Our half-lesbian, half-straight girls. Bisexuals are attracted to both genders (not to be confused with pansexuals, where the basis of their attraction is not on gender at all), and it’s not just women who can identify as bi, but men also. The bisexuals of the universal population are actually a lot more discriminated against (almost as much as transgender/transsexual people) because they don’t just receive prejudice from straight people, but even others who identify as LGBTQ. By most, it is not even believed that bisexuality exists, and this begins with high school teenage girls. Homosexuality has been getting a bit â€Å"trendy† because things that are considered unpopular in our society are actually becoming popular. Not only that, but it’s becoming a big part of our culture as well. Other than that, women know that some men find it attractive when two females are together. So, we have teen girls tossing around labels and claiming bisexualit y to get attention and lust from boys at the drop of a hat, even though they are in no way bisexual. And let’s not forget that, in general, on certain levels females are a bit more intellectual than males. They are more observant, more likely to ask questions, and are more curious about what is going on around them. This is a contributing factor to it as well, because some girls like the idea of how a feminine couple looks or because they have thought about other women in the same way they would think about men. But, even then, it’s not always the case that they are bisexual or lesbian, but in fact, merely interested in trying something new. When you get past the silly stereotypes (like being vegetarian softball players), as well as the legitimate ones, what it gets down to, the very base of lesbianism, is women being attracted to and having feelings for other women. In even more simple terms: love, one of the most human emotions out there. Despite all the categories and attributes, characteristics and traits, that’s what it gets down to. We can put labels on it and psychoanalyze it all we want, but†¦at the end of the day? It’s just about people loving who they want to love.

PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS Essays - Dielectrics, Polyolefins

PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS Michael Mann Mr. Moran Argumentative Paper 4/14/2017 PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS In the present day, most products are entirely or partially made of plastic. This broad usage of plastic material affirms the universal nature and popularity of it as a building material. Plastic offers a wide variety of expedient goods at relatively low prices. However, the use of plastic is not good for the environment and health purposes. It plays a crucial role to augment the pollution, and because of its adverse effects, it is necessary to control the excessive usage of such harmful material. Many substitutes can be used to miti gate the regular exposure to plastic made objects. Paper, cloth bags, card board and glass are a few alternatives, and can be utilized to conserve the energy and control the pollution level. Plastic can be define d as the polymeric material that Alexander Parkes invented in 1855. Initially named " Parkesine " but later was renamed as celluloid. Till then plastic went through a long journey and eventually, Leo Baekeland's invention of Pheno lics in 1909 brought a not eworthy shift in the usage of plastic . At that time, adverse effects of plastic were unknown to its inventors. After t he creation of Phenolic , a new age of plastic emerged , and that altered the mechanical aspects. This shift in trend was greatly celebrated, and plastic became acceptable as the future building material. The chemical structure of plastic elaborates the excessive use of environmentally unfriendly ingredients. ( Meikle , 1995) Fundamentally, most fabrics are comprised of carbon, polymers, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Plastic is cheap, enduring, sturdy and tends to be created in bulk . These charact eristics and plastics enduring nature make it hard to dispose of. In present day, the marketplace of the United States has a significant share of plastic made products that are distributed in different products classification. The following pie chart demonstrates the ratio of various sources of plastic that is in use throughout the United States. Figure 2's pie chart is showing the disposal rate for plastic products in the United States of America. Figure 1: the products made of plastic in The United States Figure 2: Plastic Waste disposal in the US T here is approximately thirty different types of plastics that consumer use daily . Some of them are acknowledged as safe pla stics, and some are known as toxic . The safe plastic or better known as BPA free is recognized as terephthalate and polyethylene that is usually referred as PET as well. This kind of substance is employed to make the clear bottles that can be easily see n in every shop and supermarket. I nitially it was considered safe to use and recycle these PET bottles, but the recent research depi cts substantial traces of DEHP (Knight, 2012) . F urther more, there are two types of polyethylene that are known as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), and the left over is exploited as fiber fills. This texture fills sued in the pillows, jackets and other fabric lining and sleeping bags. Moreover, this type o f substances is suitable for making carpets and furniture's upholstery. Other usages are the rattan weave ou tside furniture and various sorts of dustbin and toys. The other type is Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) which is used to make regular s hopping bags and plastic wraps. S tationary, pots, kitchen accessories, jewelry, footwear, and bottles are a few examples of products that are manufactured with plastic. This excessive use of plastic, in turn, increases the da mages that can be caused by plastic . The e nvironment, human health, economy, marine life, plants, and animals are affected by the usage of plastic material. Plastic is a complicated substance and has a few chemicals in its structure that make it hard to dissolve and therefore impose a dangerous situation to all the environmental factors. The factories that produce plastic and related materials emit a considerable amount of harmful gasses as well as carbon dioxide. D ischarge o f various gasses significant ly impact global warming and affect the habits of different species within that polluted environment . Furthermore, the fumes