Deep Sea headless chicken monster (Enypniastes eximia) - Did You Know About This Creatures...?

    

           Enypniastes is a deep-water sea cucumber genus. It is monotypic, with just one species, Enypniastes eximia, representing it. The species has been called the headless chicken fish, the headless chicken monster, and the Spanish dancer due to its unusual look. It is also known as the swimming sea cucumber and the pink see-through fantasia by others.

Species in this genus have evolved webbed swimming fin-like appendages on the front and rear of their bodies, allowing them to swim up off the sea bottom and go up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) into the water column. This is supposed to aid the animals in moving to new food areas and avoiding predators.

Description

   The size of a sea cucumber varies from 11 to 25 cm (4.3 to 9.8 in). Its most distinguishing trait is its color, which varies according to size: young enypniastes are brilliant pink, while bigger ones are more reddish-brown. It is also semi-transparent, with its intestine visible through its body, Particularly after feeding. The body of the enypniastes is spherical and bulbous, with bifurcated tentacles and a broad anterior sail. They are also bioluminescent.

(Image © - animalworld.com)

Distribution and habitat

  Enypniastes are mostly found in the ocean's benthic zone. They may be found all over the world in a variety of habitats. They spend most of their time in the water column, only coming to the seafloor to feed.

The first observation of E. eximia in the southern ocean happened in October 2018, when a team from Australia's Department of Environment and Energy captured a picture of it on a camera positioned in seas near East Antarctica.

(Image © - animalworld.com)

Feeding

The enypniastes Mostly feed on benthic silt. Their tentacles are used to push food into their mouths. They feed swiftly and only remain on the seafloor for around 64 seconds. Because it is more than enough time to eat Completely, the enypniastes Feed episodically.

(Image © - Wikipedia)

Movement

The enypniastes moves in a variety of ways. The first is that their anterior veil moves in a rowing motion. The second characteristic is that when there is a current, the creature will utilize its tentacles to draw itself down the current. They also move with their tentacles in a pushing manner.

(Image © - animalworld.com)

Source: Wikipedia 

 

10 Amazing Beetle Looking Like Jewelry - Most Beautiful Creation Of Nature

      When insects come to mind we most often picture the grotesque and nasty little invaders that break into our homes or torment us when we want a little peace. But when it comes to beetles specifically, we start to picture cute little guys with beautiful coloration and patterns, in general, these colors and patterns help them fool predators or blend in with their surroundings but some species have it at another level that might fool us humans as well, making it hard for us to believe they are actually living creatures. From the ones that looked like metals from outer space to the ones that look as if gold droplets stayed with us as we were looking at 10 Beetles that looked like jewelry.

10. Rosemary beetle (Chrysolina Americana)

Native and common to southern Europe, North Africa, the near east, and the Middle East, the Rosemary beetle is a very colorful species with metallic green and purple longitudinal stripes on the elytra. As the name suggests, this species feeds on various aromatic flowering plants, mainly Rosemary, lavender, and thyme. Although it is susceptible to some pesticides, it is usually recommended that home growers pick off beetles by hand or shake them off onto a sheet of paper to remove them if the plant affected by them is intended for culinary purposes. Otherwise, they do not present a major problem to the host plants, and the damage is barely noticeable.

9. Jewel beetles (Buprestidae)

  Native to Japan and Korea where it is typically found in woods or forests during summer under the strong sunshine, the jewel beetle is truly fascinating to look at with its resplendent metallic coloration since this insect has iridescent elytra that glow lengthwise with different colors depending upon the light angle one cannot be sure exactly which color it is, therefore, it gave rise to the expression tamamushi-iro or tamamushi color in reference, to a convoluted statement that can be interpreted in more ways than one. because of their striking iridescence also this jewel beetle was used as an ornament in ancient Japanese times.

8. Golden target beetle (Ischnocodia annulus)

   Native to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador the golden target beetle is Absolutely stunning with its alternating black and gold rings on the carapace. such brilliant coloration makes this species appear as if it is made of plated gold. as a tortoise beetle itself this little creature can find shelter under its carapace if they are not in flight.

7. Steel blue ladybird (Halmus chalybeus)

 If you think these tiny little things are steel balls you are wrong, native to Australia the steel blue ladybird is truly spectacular with its rounded appearance of iridescent blue-green coloration. as a predator of other insects, this species was introduced to New Zealand in 1899, and 1905 to control black scale and bluegum scale on citrus trees where it is now common in northern regions.

6. Jewel bugs (Scutelleridae)

  Distributed all over Indochina, the jewel bonds are closely related to stink bugs as they may also produce an offensive odor when disturbed. despite the resemblance to Beatles Jewel bugs are hemipterans true bugs, which means they have mouths that suck rather than beetles with mouths that chump we're making this species an exception to be on this list seeing how they are often brilliantly colored Exhibiting a wide range of iridescent metallic hues that change with the view angle.

5. Imperial tortoise beetle (Stolas imperialism)

  Found in Brazil the imperial tortoise beetle looks like a piece of jewelry that is out of this world. With brilliant metallic blue and golden patterns on its carapace, this species will Truly leave you in all regarding how creative nature can get when it comes to beauty.

4. Snowdon beetle (Chrysolina cerealis)

  Present in most Eurasian countries, the Snowden beetle is arguably one of the most beautiful beetles found in Europe. About the size of a Ladybird, what this tiny thyme-eating creature lacks in stature, it makes up for in dazzling color. Its wing cases Are striped with iridescent bands of red, gold, green and blue, so it's easy to see why it's called the rainbow leaf beetle. In the UK, this living gem is classified as endangered and despite their species being monitored, there hasn't really been a decline in population numbers per se, It might just be that this species was always rare.

3. Purple Jewel Beetle (Smagdethnes Africana oertzeni)

  Originating from tropical Africa, the purple jewel beetle is a very variable, always brightly metallic-colored species from the sub-family of the Rose beetles. They are easy to breed, highly fertile and the development is relatively fast. While they do look like gorgeous little pieces of living jewelry, they are actually quite the little pests in Africa, where they can cause major damage to fruit trees by eating all the flowers and fruits.

2. Rainbow Stag Beetle (Phalacrognathus muelleri)

 Found in northern Queensland Australia and New Guinea. The rainbow stag beetle is not Exactly how you would imagine if the word stag beetle was to be mentioned. Depending on the angle and lighting by which you view these beetles they appear to change color and Truly do seem to shine with all the colors of the rainbow, with these colors looking more like Metallica paint that the sorts of colors you would expect to find on a stag beetle. despite of the fact that they are not aggressive and have a fairly long life of up to 2 years, a lot of people keep these guys as pets just so that they can constantly admire their beauty. 

1. Golden Jewel Scarab (Chrysina resplendent)

 Mainly found in the Americas, the golden jewel scarab is just too beautiful to believe your eyes at first glance. Like the name suggests, the structure of this tiny creature and its armor uniquely manipulates the way the light is reflected so that it looks like pure gold. Because of its resemblance to the precious metal gold, this species is highly prized by collectors. After all the brilliant golden color does not fade even when the creature dies.

Wonderful 10 animals that have the world records.

 

From a Great Dane that reached more than 7 feet tall to a slam-dunking bunny with great basketball abilities, there's quite a list of animals who have broken world records, either for having exceptional physical attributes or doing unusual hobbies like riding bicycles or jumping rope.

Guinness World Records, which bills itself as the authority on world records, tracks not just human feats but also those of animals ranging from household pets like cats and dogs to wild species like crocodiles and pandas.

Continue reading to discover about 10 animals that have won or currently hold world records.

1. Zeus, a Great Dane, was the tallest dog ever, at 7 feet 4 inches when standing on his hind legs.

   Zeus, a Great Dane, holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest dog. Zeus passed away in 2014, at the age of five. His record-breaking height — 7 feet, 4 inches while standing on his hind legs — has yet to be broken as of 2022.

In 2011, Zeus set the world record.

2. Jonathan, a tortoise that is 187 years old, is currently the oldest known living land animal.

(Image © - seychellesnewsagency.com)

   The tortoise Jonathan has seen it all. Jonathan will reach 190 years old this year, according to Guinness World Records, making him the oldest-known land animal still living.

According to Guinness World Records, he was born in 1832 and has seen two World Wars, the construction of the Eiffel Tower, and the first powered flight.

3. Blosom, the tallest cow in the world, measured more than 6 feet tall.

(Image © - guinnessworldrecords.com)

      Blosom reached 74.8 inches tall, or 6.23 feet. Blosom, who belonged to Patricia Meads-Hanson of Orangeville, Illinois, died in May 2015 at the age of 13, according to Guinness World Records.

Blosom established the world record in May 2014.

4. Poncho Via, a longhorn with huge horns, set two world records: it has the widest horn spread on a live steer and the largest horn on a living steer.

(Image © - wamu.org)

         Poncho Via, a Texas longhorn from Alabama, with enormous horns that measure 10 feet, and 7.4 inches in length. According to Guinness World Records, it is wider than a concert grand piano by more than twice as much.

The greatest horn spread on a live steer and the widest horn on a living steer were both records that Poncho Via the longhorn broke in May 2019.

5. Franchesca, a bunny, is the world record holder for having the longest fur on a rabbit.

(Image © - insider.com)

    Betty Chu's rabbit Franchesca in Morgan Hill, California, has fur that reaches 14.37 inches in length. According to Guinness World Records, Franchesca is an English Angora rabbit who is often misidentified as a Pekingese dog.🫢

Franchesca achieved the record in 2014.

6. Lou is a three-year-old black and tan coonhound. She currently holds the world record for the longest dog ears.

(Image © - guinnessworldrecords.com)

   Lou is a three-year-old black and tan coonhound. She's a cute, sassy, and now record-breaking dog.

Paige Olsen, her owner, fell in love at first sight (USA). She couldn't say no to adopting her!

Paige has always made fun of Lou's "extravagantly long" ears.

However, it wasn't until she was stranded during the pandemic that she decided to take measurements.

7. The first twin pandas to be born to a captivity-based mother and a wild father were named He He and Mei Mei.

(Image © - guinnessworldrecords.com)

   Panda twins He He and Mei Mei were the first panda twins born on July 28 at the Hetaoping Wilderness Training Base in Suchuan Province, China, between a captive mother and a wild father. The name "He He" means "Harmony," while the name "Mei Mei" means "Beautiful."

According to Guinness World Records, the pandas were also the tiniest placental mammal newborns relative to adults, which means they had a record-breaking size disparity when they were born compared to the size of a full-grown giant panda.

8. Bini, a bunny, set a record for the most basketball slam dunks in one minute.😍

(Image © - guinnessworldrecords.com)

   The Guinness World Record for the most basketball slam dunks made by a rabbit in a minute is achieved by Bini, a bunny. In the allotted 60 seconds, the Holland Lop breed rabbit made seven dunks.

In 2016, Bini established a new record.

9. The biggest crocodile in captivity, Cassius, is more than 17 feet long and is the size of two ping-pong tables placed end to end.👀

(Image © - www.greenislandresort.com.au)

      According to Guinness World Records, Cassius, a crocodile housed at an Australian wildlife park on the Great Barrier Reef, is the biggest crocodile kept in captivity. Cassius is the length of two ping pong tables placed end to end, at 17 feet, 11 inches.

In 2011, Cassius surpassed all other giant live captivity crocodiles.

10. With more than 695 million views in March 2018, Maymo the Lemon Beagle rose to the top place as the most-watched animal on YouTube.😮

(Image © - youtube.com/c/maymo)

      Maymo starts on the aptly titled Maymo YouTube channel. According to Guinness World Records, Maymo and his dog brother Potpie's videos have had more than 695 million views as of March 2018.

In March 2018, Maymo the Lemon Beagle overtook all other animals as the most watched on YouTube.

The World's Strangest, Beautiful, and Most Exotic Animals! - The Amazing animals

                Have you ever encountered a strange and unique animal that you've never seen before, but that impresses your attention?

   I took the time to compile a list of those creatures, along with information and a summary of their characteristics. I am a great animal lover, and whether the animal is exotic or a domestic pet, I adore it. I think that every animal has a function on our planet and that we can learn a lot from them.

So many people are removing animals out of their natural habitats and utilizing them for their wishes and ambitions. That practice does not sit well with me. It's heartbreaking when animals are separated from the only life they know. I just hope that one day people will realize that such creatures are only designed to live in the wild.

I hope you appreciate my list; this is a list I prepared for fun, and I hope those of you who read it enjoy it; please leave a comment at the bottom if you do.

1. Bush Viper (Atheris)

      Atheris is a genus of venomous vipers only found in tropical Subsaharan Africa, excluding southern Africa. Confined in rainforest areas, many members have isolated and fragmented distributions. In an interesting example of convergent evolution, they show many similarities to the arboreal pit vipers of Asia and South America. Ten species are currently recognized.

▶ Fact 

• Arboreal behavior.
• Rainforest apart from human activities.
• Mating occurs between September and November, with live young born between March and April.
• Female vipers are larger than male vipers.
• They feed on birds, mammals, and reptiles.
• The Young are born with venom and must provide for themselves.
• Their growth is indefinite, but as they age, their growth decreases.
• Most vipers live between 10 and 20 years.

This is a video of a Bush viper that I discovered online when researching the snake. It's a short movie, but you can see the bush viper's markings and watch him in action. This is a lovely snake with distinct colors and traits.

2." Zoe" Rare White Zebra

(Image © - Flickr/Bill Adams)

   Zoe, like other Zebras, enjoys playing and is a herding animal; she likes to be in a group and is highly social. On the farm where she was grown, she has a family of Zebras. She is a nice Zebra that enjoys playing with her younger sister. Zoe was really angry when her mother wouldn't allow her to approach her younger sister. Because she was in a separate pasture, the evenings would be lonely. Even though they could see one another, these creatures are very sociable. Except for her night vision, Zoe has other health issues that have not yet shown themselves. She seems to be in good health considering the health issues that her unusual disease may cause.

▶ Fact

• She is not albino; she suffers from an uncommon illness known as "Amelanosis."
• There are just two previously documented examples of this syndrome in Zebra, both of which occurred in captivity.
• Zoe was born on September 16, 1998, and now resides on a farm.
• She's exceedingly uncommon
• Extremely social
• She lives on a property known as Three Ring Ranch.
• Her diet is completely vegetarian.
• She is prone to sunburns.

3. Panda Ant

(Image © - National Geographic)

   Although it is known as the Panda Ant, it is really a kind of wasp. Females lack wings, giving them the appearance of ants. These Wasp species vary from the others in that they lack queens, workers, and drones.

They have a painful stringer.

4. The Sea Robin (Triglidae)

    Isn't he stunning with his distinct hues and fins? This fish is a bottom dweller from the deep seas. When fishing for these fish, anglers often use Mackeral since the fish seem to prefer this bate. When captured, they make a peculiar frog sound. And if you are injected with the minor toxicity of these gorgeous fish, you will experience little agony for a few days.

▶ Facts

• Is a bottom-feeding Scorpaeniform fish from the Trigliidae family.
• They reside at a depth of around 660 feet in the ocean.
• The length ranges from 12 to 16 inches.
• They have sharp spines on their gill pads that may inject a minor toxin.

5. The Blue sea slug (Glaucus Atlanticus)

(Image © - americanoceans.org)

    Similar to other marine animals, both sexes share the same reproductive organs. They both generate egg strings after mating. These species mate with their ventral side facing, as opposed to other nudibranchs who mate with their right sides facing.

These sea swallows float to the surface because of their gas-filled stomachs, while the Blue dragons float backward due to where their gas sac is located.
If given the opportunity, these animals would turn to cannibalism. These will consume the most poisonous nematocysts in order to store them for later use. On its body's feather-like fins, specialized sacs are where the venom is stored. The sting might be more lethal and potent if the venom is more concentrated.

▶ Fact 

• This is a sea species of sea slug.
• Also has a tight relationship with Glaucus marginatus
• consumes other pelagic marine animals as food
• When touching these organisms, they have a highly severe sting that is embedded in the cnidarian's own flesh.
• up to 3 cm in length as it grows
• lives in tropical seas with warm water
• because of its eating habits, and cannot be maintained in captivity.

6. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

  These species are more at risk from us than we are from them. There are only 200–300 breeding adults left in the world, and because of the population decline—which has reached 96%—the Indian government granted protection for these animals under the wildlife protection ACT in 1972.

Males reach sexual maturity at the age of 13, and they hiss and buzz during mating.

By elevating their nose, females signal to males that they are ready for mating. December and January are often the months when animals mate. They lay their eggs in March and April. during India's dry season. In a hole that is 20 to 24 inches deep, females often deposit 20 to 30 eggs. These eggs are ready to hatch with the aid of their mother after 71 to 93 days of incubation.

However, while they are still small, the mother must protect the young from predators like the male Gharials. The young will be raised with assistance from other females.

▶Fact 

• Due to persistent long-term reductions and rapid recent decreases, this species is classified as critically endangered.
• one of the three native crocodilians in India
• It is longer than other crocodilians in existence.
• Although the tallest adult ever recorded was 20 feet, the typical adult height is 11 to 15 feet.
• They live inside rivers.
• Because their jaws are too tiny for bigger food, they eat fish and frogs.

7. The Camel Spider (Solifugae)

(Image © - Townsquare.media)

      Animals belonging to the order Solifugae are classified as Arachnids. They go by many names, including sun spiders, camel spiders, wind scorpions, and solifuges. In around 153 genera, the order has more than 1,000 recognized species. A Solifugid has two tagmata on its body, similar to a spider, with an opisthosoma (abdomen) behind the prosoma (that is, in effect, a combined head and thorax). The prosoma has two chelicerae at the front, which are often quite big in most species. The chelicerae function as jaws and, in many species, as stridulatory organs. Solifugids don't have a third tagma that creates a "tail," in contrast to scorpions. The majority of Solifugae species are opportunistic feeders that graze on tiny animals and ground-dwelling arthropods in arid areas. The length of the legs for the biggest species is 12–15 cm (5–6 in). The size, speed, and little threat that Solifugae poses to humans are all exaggerated in a variety of urban tales.

▶ Fact 

• The camel eats carnivorous food.
• In the wild, the typical lifetime is less than a year.
• The typical size is around 6 inches long.
• Despite being unpleasant, their bite is not fatal to humans.
• The maximum speed of ten miles per hour
• They are animals that live in the desert.
• They belong to the solpugid family but are not spiders.

8. The Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)

(Image © - i.pinimg.com)

     Researchers are constantly learning about this critter and how these crabs integrate into our ecology. So yet, researchers have only had the opportunity to study one Yetti Crab. There isn't much information about yeti crabs yet, but researchers do know that they live near hydrothermal vents on the Pacific-Atlantic Ridge.

In the future, researchers seek to learn more about these crabs.

▶ Fact 

• In 2005, it was found in the south Pacific Ocean.
• Has severely decreased eyes that lack pigment and are thought to be blind.
• It measures around 5.9 inches in length.
• Kiwa Hirsuta is another name for it.
• Living at depths of up to 7,200 feet of water
• A distant cousin of the hermit crab
• Underwater near rocks live near lava rocks

9. Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncates)

(Image © - media.wired.com)

▶ Fact

• It's a nocturnal animal.
• When afraid, he possesses the capacity to dig a hole and bury himself entirely in it in a matter of seconds.
• He is about 3.5 and 4.5 inches long, not including his tail.
• eats ants and ant larvae as food
• This armadillo is a sand swimmer, therefore it spends much of its time underground.
• As of 1996, this species was considered to be endangered.

10. The Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

(Image © - sciencenews.org)

   People who are local to the area where these animals dwell think that they are a sign of bad luck, therefore when they spot one of the Aye-Ayes, they immediately kill it. This is why these animals are endangered.

These creatures are primates, which include humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. These animals seldom, if ever, come down from the trees where they reside in the rainforest. The trees they inhabit provide them with nourishment. Mostly the inside insects. To locate their prey, they utilize a long, slender index finger and their keen hearing.

During the day, they rest in a leaf and branch nest that resembles a ball. and go on nighttime food hunts.

▶ Fact

• It exclusively exists in Madagascar, which is its sole known home.
• It is the biggest nocturnal primate in the world.
• threatened species
• A 20-year lifetime is an average.
• around 4 pounds
• 14 to 17 in (36 to 43 cm) for the head and body; 22 to 24 in for the tail (56 to 61 cm)
• This animal is omnivorous.

Source: discover.hubpages.com

Top 10 Most Beautiful Butterflies You've Never Seen...!

Well. Let's see about the 10 most beautiful butterflies we all know.

1. Zebra Longwing Butterfly

(Image © - inaturalist.org)

            This species may be found from South and Central America to southern Florida and Texas in the United States.

The zebra longwing butterfly is black with pale yellow zebra-like stripes, as the name suggests. They have a wing span of 7.2-10 cm and the underside of the wings is significantly lighter in color than the top.

Longwing Zebra Butterflies have an odd diet that consists entirely of pollen, making their body skin toxic to predators.

2. Ulysses Butterfly

(Image © - butterflyidentification.com)

       

The Ulysses Butterfly is a big butterfly with a 14 cm wingspan (5.5 in). Their wings feature a lovely blue top side and a black and brown underside.

These lovely butterflies can be found in the tropical rainforests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

3. Peacock Pansy

(Image © - wallpaperflare.com)

Cambodia and South Asia are home to peacock pansy. The top surface of the wings is orange-yellow with brown borders, prominent eyespots, and coastal lines. Adults have 5.4-6.2 cm wingspan (2.1-2.4 in).

The underside of the peacock pansy's wings varies with the seasons, which is an interesting feature. During the dry season, they are mostly brown, but during the rainy season, they develop extra eyespots and lines.

4. Emerald Sowtailwall

(Image © - flickr.com/Frans Sellies)

         This is without a doubt one of the most amazing butterflies on the planet. The emerald swallowtail, which is native to Asia, has a wingspan of 8-10 cm (3.1-3.9 in) and a dark green to black coloring with emerald green metallic streaks.

The emerald swallowtail butterfly's underside is black with orange, white, and blue patches along the borders of the hindwings.

This species may be found in Burma, Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia (Nias and Simeulue Islands), and the Philippines (Palawan, Balabac, Basilan, Cuyo, Busuanga, and Dumaran).

5. Monarch butterfly

(Image © - nationalgeographic.com)

        The upper side of the monarch butterfly's wings, which are orange with black veins and white dots, distinguishes it. The bottom seems to be quite similar, although it is browner in hue rather than orange.

They have a wingspan of 8.9-10.2 cm (3.5-4 in) and a flying speed of 9 km/h (5.5 mph).

The monarch butterfly could be found throughout the Americas from southern Canada to northern South America. Bermuda, the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Cuba, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia, the Azores and Madeira in Portugal, the Canary Islands in Spain, Gibraltar, the Philippines, and North Africa are also home to this species.

6. Eighty-Eight Butterfly

(Image © - web.stanford.edu)

      The eighty-eight butterfly is a species endemic to Central and South America's cold damp tropical woods. It gets its name from the outlines of the number "88" on the underside of the wings.

The top side is dark brown with a bluish-green metallic stripe on the forewings.

7. Sunset Moth

(Image © - pinterest.com)

       This moth, which is native to Madagascar, is classified as a butterfly. It may be found across the island, with the best time to see it between March and August.

They have a 7-9 cm (2.8-3.5 in) wingspan but may expand to 11 cm (4.3 in). Its tail and bright wings are similar to those of swallowtail butterflies. That's why it's often mistaken for a butterfly.

Sunset moths are black with red, blue, and green patterns.

8. Glasswinged Butterfly

(Image © - butterflyidentification.com)

       This butterfly is famous for its transparent wings, which aid in camouflage in nature. It is most typically found in Central and Northern South American tropical rainforests.

The wings may seem tiny, yet they can carry up to 40 times their own weight. So it's a lot stronger than it seems.

9. Goliath Birdwing Butterfly

(Image © - pixels.com)

      The Goliath birdwing butterfly is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. It is located in New Guinea and has the world's second-biggest biggest wingspan, measuring up to 28 cm (11 in).

Males and females have distinct appearances. Males have black, green, and yellow wings, while females have dark brown wings with yellow spots on the hindwings.

10. Forest Giant Owl Butterfly

(Image © - flickr.com/Reiner Götzinger)

           The owl butterfly is identified by large eyespots on the wings that are like owl eyes. They are large butterflies with wingspans of up to 20 cm.

They can be found in rainforests and secondary woods in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Source: www.christineabroad.com