Eisenia fetida or Amicabiliter vermis

Image licensed under Creative Commons by Sparrows' friend

Eisenia fetida or Amicabiliter vermis: Literally smelly (fetid) composter (worm) or social worm (from the Latin - the second name is suggested only).  Species of worm capable of social behavior and group decisions.  Atypical of assumed worm behavior demonstrated by this little animal.

FOM: Earthworms form herds and make group decisions - BBC NEWS

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Loriciferan

Image is in the public domain because it was created by NASA.  Fair use of image is also claimed for reference purposes.

Loriciferan: Of or relating to the newly discovered terran lifeforms capable of living completely without dependence on Oxygen.  Instead they appear to be dependent on sulphide respiration.

FOM: First Oxygen Free Animals Found , First Animals Found That Live Without Oxygen and Loricifera

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ECM (Extracellular matrix)

Image licensed under Creative Commons by organ_printer

ECM (Extracellular matrix): If you or any of your loved ones are missing any ears, digits or other body parts, you MUST see the Morley Safer/60 Minutes report on this precious biological material from Sunday, December 13, 2009. We were astounded. And most of it is due to the ECM - a basic material found in almost all living animals/organisms. The source for some of the ECM in this story? Waste pig bladders. (No, not a football...).


Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/6EPpNp


FOM: Growing Body Parts (CBS 60 Minutes) and ECM (Extracellular matrix). See also: Tissue differentiation









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Animal Cafe

Image licensed under Creative Commons by LollypopFarm

Animal Cafe: Not a new term - but one that should be catching on (we hope). A cafe or other place of business where one can find the soothing touch of therapy animals at a minimal charge or fee.

Bit.ly link for this post: http://bit.ly/ZaoKB

Reference(s): Therapeutic Benefits of the Human-Animal Bond, Stress buster bunnies in Japan ,Pet Therapy: Recovering With Four-Legged Friends Requires Less Pain Medication and Therapy Animal.

Updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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