Order carnivora contains the Aardwolf and the Eurasian Otter, but it does not contain the White Tailed Squirrel or any type of small, adorable mouse.

The largest member of order carnivora is the Southern Elephant Seal, which is larger than a Polar Bear (the Polar Bear is the largest land creature in order carnivora). That means it is also bigger than a Grizzly Bear. And, of course, a Bengal Tiger. Can you believe that a seal is bigger than a bear? Fantastic! What a big, fat seal!

The smallest member of order carnivora is the Least Weasel.

The Least Weasel is the most dapper and chivalrous of all the placental mammals. The Least Weasel "is rarely more than 23 centimeters (9 in) long."

Facts about the Least Weasel from the National Audobon Society Field Guide to Mammals:

Description: A tiny weasel.
Brown above, white below.
Tail very short, brown.
Feet white.
All white in winter in north.

Scat: similar to that of larger weasels but smaller.
Tracks: similar to those of larger weasels but much smaller.
Straddle: 1.25 inches to 1.75 inches; leaps occasionally 2 feet.

Facts about the Least Weasel from Wikipedia:

In Britain the Least Weasel is known simply as the Weasel.

Least Weasels have an even greater reputation for ferocity than other weasels.

Traditional Inuit lore held the Least Weasel in great respect because of its pugnacious nature.

If anyone asks you which weasel is the best weasel, please don't hesitate. Least Weasel!

All images from Wikipedia.

Too much Grape Drink!

Dr. Mike Edwards, an English teacher at Meoncross School in Stubbington, Hampshire, first saw "Pete" the squirrel outside his classroom and was surprised at the critter's strange-colored fur. "When you look up close, it's an all-over coat, not in patches like you'd expect if it had been paint. It's an absolute mystery," he said.

Thanks to Slog tipper Keith.

...should a coconut crab pinch you and hold fast, according to the Micronesians of the Line Islands:

It may be interesting to know that in such a dilemma a gentle titillation of the under soft parts of the body with any light material will cause the crab to loose its hold.

You are welcome.

Hey guys. I'm sure you remember Sunday's New Favorite Bird, this fucking woodpecker:

Turns out, that woodpecker is kind of a conceited jerk. So today I have a new New Favorite Bird! Find out what it is after the jump...

There is a fucking WOODPECKER eating snacks outside my bedroom window!

New. Favorite. Bird.

...long underwear.

Winter has been canceled.

The National Weather Service has canceled a winter storm warning for the Seattle area.

Forecasters say a winter storm is tracking farther north and only an inch or two of slushy snow is possible Friday night on hilltops in the Puget Sound lowlands.

Pic by M4st3r-X via flickr.

KIRO shares a report on the mystery piano found deep in the Cape Cod woods:

The Baldwin piano, which had a matching bench, was set up as if someone was about to sit down and play, reported WCVB-TV in Boston. Despite efforts by police to locate its owner, or at least explain how it came to be in a conservation area, police Monday said no one has contacted them....The piano is so heavy that it took more than a half-dozen men to load it onto a truck. Because the piano had not been damaged, it could not have been pushed out of a vehicle, police said. Someone took great care to place it in the conservation area in superb condition. Police said they have no idea how long it had been in the woods.

If littering one bag of fast-food garbage makes a Native American cry a single tear, ditching a whole honking piano will likely result in several dozen Native Americans committing suicide.

Pigs in boots are cute. And white tigers befriending chimps are adorable... but a sad baby penguin getting cheered up with a goofy looking stuffed toy? The best thing I've ever seen in my entire life.*

Via dailymail.com:

A baby penguin which had to be separated from its family after a greedy sibling continually ate all its food has found companionship - with this stuffed toy.

The penguin - called Pingu - began to lose weight and appeared weak after its bigger relative regularly helped himself to all the fish on offer.

Concerned keepers were forced to remove Pingu from the enclosure, but at just three-weeks-old the penguin was in desperate need of company.

Staff bought a £3.99 toy penguin from the zoo shop which acts as a surrogate sibling to the chuffed chick - who cuddles up to its new friend all day.

And trust me, you really do want to click over to the dailymail.com for pictures of the little guy and his new BFF.

All together now: Awwww!!!

(Thanks, Nipper.)

^{*Statement only valid for the next five minutes.}

And a mouse biting a viper to death:

And a heron using a rabbit for a purse:

(Courtesy of those freaks at the Telegraph.)

And playing hooky from work? You should go to the Arboretum. It looks like this right now:

This photo was taken on Saturday, but today the sunshine will make the trees look even better. We wouldn't suggest that you take a flask of brandy because that would be illegal.

Photo by MaxineToo on Flickr.