#646: Red Fody

I always feel it's cheating a little bit to use an animal that can be alphabetised based on an adjective, but I missed this fellow for "F" and I need more Rs, so here he is.

The Red Fody is a small weaver bird native to Madagascar. His range encompasses much of the island and he is at home in forest clearings, grasslands and cultivated areas - where he has become a serious pest on rice crops. His diet consists mainly of seeds, nectar and insects. During breeding season he replaces his olive-green plumage with a vibrant orange or red and forms a monogamous partnership. He weaves a somewhat primitive nest  from grass strips, with a side entrance tunnel near the top. His mate then lines it. The pair are able to raise two broods in a season.

Art Clean-out: Make an offer

I have a large amount of Art Cards in my collection and it it time to add a few to your collections, so  if you wish to own an original piece of my miniature art, pop along to the blog and look for the "Available" tag (currently tagged back to N).

Then comment underneath (or email me if you prefer) with the price you are willing to pay. All offers will be considered, but I reserve the right to decline. These cards are generally sold for $10 each. Some I will let go for much less, others I am more attached to.

Declining will not necessarily be due to low offering price - I would also like to spread my art out between as many people as possible, so if you request a lot of cards (or all the best ones), you may find some declined.

If an offer has already been made but not yet declined or accepted, please DO NOT outbid the original offerer. This is NOT an auction. Wait and see if I accept it. If it is declined, then you can make your own offer.

Payment is via Paypal or bank deposit (NZers only), cash may be accepted in special circumstances (such as I know you personally). Payment must be received before cards will be posted. Postage will be an additional extra of $2.50 international, $0.80c NZ. Combined shipping for up to 7 cards. Any more than that and you may find some are declined!

I am not accepting Art Card trades at this time. Sorry.

Please note that whilst most of these cards do measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches, some are over-sized. If you make an offer on an over-sized card, I'll let you know and you can withdraw the offer if you like (or I can trim the card, but will lose some of the image).

The Rules:
 * Once your offer has been accepted, payment must be made within 3 days via one of the aforementioned methods. After that period, the card will become available again.
* Please do not outbid previous offers. Watch and wait to see if it is accepted.
* If you request more than 5 cards, some offers may be declined.
* When I accept your offer, I will confirm the card is still available (and double-check if it is over-sized) and send you payment details.
* I reserve the right to decline your offer.
* Once payment has been made and address given, the card will be posted to you within 3 days.
* Buyer must pay shipping, combined is available, will be advised of price at time of offer confirmation.
* Cards will be signed and dated on the front, slipped into plastic sleeves (unless oversized) and packaged with card for postage. The back will be signed, dated and give the animal's species.

#645: Red-bellied Lemur

One of the lesser-known Lemur species, the Red-bellied Lemur inhabits the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. Troops consist of monogamous pairs and up to ten individuals. His main diet is fruit, supplemented by leaves, flowers and nectar. He is an important agent in seed dispersal. Like all lemur species, he is threatened by hunting and deforestation, but his large range means he is still only classified as "vulnerable", unlike his more specialist relatives.

(This picture is really old, I do intend to upgrade it)

#644: Ray

The Rays are a superorder of cartilaginous fish. They are characterised by their flattened bodies, wing-like pectoral fins and ventrally-located gills. Well-camouflaged, the Ray spends much of her time on the sea floor.  This particular speciman is a Stingray, and can be recognised by the barbed stinger on his tail. This is used in self-defense to deliver a painful venom to the attacker. Death is rare, with Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, being one of the few fatalities. Her diet consists of small sea creatures such as fish, snails, crustaceans and clams. After mating, the sperm can be stored until conditions are right - two captive female Stingrays gave birth two years after they were last with a male - and the infants develop inside the mother's womb.

#643: Raven

Raven is the name given to several large members of the Corvid Family, mostly represented by the Common Raven. She has a cosmopolitan distribution, occuring across North America and Europe. Intelligent and resourceful, she is a generalist feeder. Juvenile Ravens form small flocks, during which the male will begin to court a female, although they do not pair-bond for 2-3 years. Once bonded, they form a life-long monogamous partnership. Ravens can live a long time, over 40 years in captivity, sometimes over 20 in the wild. They are capable of problem-solving, imitation and insight, making them one of the most intelligent non-primates in the world.

#642: Rattlesnake

The Rattlesnakes are venomous reptiles native to the Americas. She is named for her rattle: a structure formed of interlocking segments of keratin. By contracting her muscles, she can cause these structures to vibrate against each other, the sound amplified by their hollow interior. This acts as a warning system to predators that might disturb her as she rests. Although her bite can cause swelling, pain, hermorrhaging and heart failture, Rattlesnakes only attack if provoked - and many more Rattlesnakes die by human hands than humans by a Rattlesnake's fangs (about 5 of the latter per year).

#641: Rat

Rats are medium-sized rodents, most commonly represented by the Rattus Genus. This fellow, the Black Rat, is one of the most known. Along with his cousin the Brown Rat, he has colonised much of the world. These "true" Rats are generalists and scavengers, happy to co-exist with humans and taking advantage of our wasteful habits. Both originated in Asia, but migrated with humans, stowing away on ships and inside cargo. Where the two species co-habit, it is the Brown Rat that generally dominates. The Black prefers warmer climates and leads a more arboreal existence. Both are invasive species and have caused massive damage to biodiversity on islands upon which they have been introduced.