Monotreme Tuesday

[xraytheenforcer]

I believe this creature is a fitting addition to my journal. 

Comments

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

A pangolin? (If I'm right, it's only because a friend recently named her canal boat The Pangolin.)

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

Oooh, those are good animals, too. I'll have to remember that for next time!

Pangolins are not monotremes (egg-laying mammals), however. Our prickly friend is an echidna, aka spiny anteater.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

I knew I should have searched the web first. I always confuse pangolins and echidnas. I see so much of both of them, you know.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

Anteaters run wild in Carroll Gardens?! Gods, I need to move nabes!

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

No aardvarks, though.

[arya.livejournal.com]

Actually, that should be echidnae.

Today's anal retention brought to you by Arya! (No, I really can't stop myself...)

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

You may well be right, but my OED says nothing, and the several online sources I checked said 'echidnas'. According to the OED, the world is from modern latin, but is in turn taken from modern Greek.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

Um, make that word, not world.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

aha! The nerdebate is ON! :D

(for the record, I get into this fight with our copy editor every month. It's a ritual, and I fear she'd feel neglected if I let off for an issue.)

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

I once made the mistake of correcting a senior banker's use of data to express singular datum repeatedly in a long report. Took me awhile to realize he was right, given the relative power relationship.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

I just LOLed at that. I had this exact argument not two weeks ago. Happily (for my pride), the power imbalance was not so stark.

This was about the time you decided to become a novelist, isn't it?

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

Nah, this was when I was just starting out as a banker after my first failed attempt at being a writer. Naturally my first job was ghosting the unit's stragtegic plan.

[tenalpia.livejournal.com]

damn - I thought it was an echidna! and I thought it was Wednesday :p lj is confusing me no end today!

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

see my above reply. 'Tis an echidna!

[icemannorth.livejournal.com]

Due to some strange phenomenon known as 'timezones', believe it or not, I actually believe Martha posted this on Tuesday...

[icemannorth.livejournal.com]

Unless the "7:50 AM" in the timestamp is New York time. If that's the case then I blame Pod for this obvious error...

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

Aw...who the hell cares what day it is, anyway? :p

[tenalpia.livejournal.com]

phew all is well with the world again :D

[philsphilms.livejournal.com]

I bow to our echidna overlord.

the Hypnotoad is displeased

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

Re: the Hypnotoad is displeased

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

Then, so are we all!

Re: the Hypnotoad is displeased

[philsphilms.livejournal.com]

but Hypnotoad told me to bow!

Re: the Hypnotoad is displeased

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

Your puny excuse will disappear along with you!

Re: the Hypnotoad is displeased

[philsphilms.livejournal.com]

but...
I was only obaying the magnificent orders of HYPNOTOAD!

[d-arte.livejournal.com]

for some reason, I always get the urge to hug echnidas when I see (pictures of) them.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

*hug*

[ildrinn.livejournal.com]

I like echidnas. When I was very small I wanted a pet one; they were my favourite animals from Life on Earth. Therefore, I approve of this post.

I also know, having just read a book featuring echidnas, that "monotreme" means "one hole" ie. they poo out of the same hole they lay eggs with.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

Hahaha you are a font of knowledge about odd Australian mammals.

I wonder what we call a human who apparently has an ass where their mouth is?

[eefster.livejournal.com]

Halirectally confused?

[isis-newton.livejournal.com]

So, do some animals have different holes for laying eggs and pooing then? Seems a bit redundant to me. *frowns* Because chickens definitely use the same one... must start a quest to find out. But not right at this moment as I have homework to finish and am NOT really on the internet at all.

[ildrinn.livejournal.com]

Well, this is a special case because it's the only type of mammal* that lays eggs, and differs from other mammals who have separate front and rear entrances. It would probably have been clearer if I'd said "the same hole for pooing and shagging", which would then exclude birds, reptiles etc...

*ie. monotremes are, not echidnas, though their only other monotreme companion is the platypus, so it's almost an exclusive claim.

So, what's the big deal?

[bassmike.livejournal.com]

Grumpypus is displeased.



Then again, grumpypus is always displeased.

Re: So, what's the big deal?

[misunderstruck.livejournal.com]

Cheer up Grupmypus!

Re: So, what's the big deal?

[misunderstruck.livejournal.com]

[lonerhino.livejournal.com]

Many years ago when Ser Camaris graced our board far more frequently, he delighted my boys with an account of how much trouble the echidna living under his "mum-in-laws" house caused.

Monotremes are so wonderfully bizarre:).

[lonerhino.livejournal.com]

My father used the word "gismanchee" (sp?) to describe someone who had an anus where his head should be.

I don't know whether he originated the term, but he is the only person I have ever heard use it.

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

That is a great word! Thank you (and thanks to your dad).