Weedy Seadragon

Image: John Turnbull
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

If only more dragons were as calm and peaceful as the Weedy Seadragon... I wouldn't have to go out almost every month to save some stupid maiden from the fearsome claws and stinking breath of the cantankerous beasts. Do you know how much Dragonbane armour costs these days? It's ridiculous!

Jeweled Top Snail

Image: Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory
Calliostoma annulatum

Him: "I couldn't afford a diamond ring so I tied a snail to a bit of string instead."

Her: "It's BEAUTIFUL!"

Earthstar

Image: Tatiana Bulyonkova
Fringed Earthstar (Geastrum fimbriatum)

It sounds like a cult, 1950's sci-fi show, but it looks more like a prop from a cult, 1950's sci-fi show!

Coelacanth

It's the world's most famous living fossil! Or is it? A living fossil, I mean. Because the Coalacanth is so ridiculously famous that whatever it is, it's probably the most famous one.

Three Years!!!

Real Monstrosities is three years old today! Three long, monstrous years...

Once again and as ever, a great, big THANK YOU to all you lovely readers, commenters and everyone who's had nice things to say. You're all so sweet I want to eat you AAAAALLL up!

MuhahahahahhaaAAAAAA!

Beetle Fly

Image: Charles Lam

Ah, biology... the most undisciplined discipline in science. Whenever you have a rule, there's always something to break it!

Indian Rock Agama

Image: J. M. Garg

I thought it would be nice to take a look at a couple of lizards! How can you not when they're so gloriously, unabashedly red?

Leafy Seadragon

Image: Pierre METIVIER
Phycodurus eques

It may be difficult to believe when you see them on the catwalk strutting their overly abundant stuff, but the Leafy Seadragon is actually a master of camouflage!

Pink Puffball Sponge

Image: Min Sheng Khoo
Oceanapia sagittaria

I had no idea something like this existed. It's an underground sponge!

Elephant Snail

Image: Nuytsia@Tas
Scutus antipodes

Snails are famous for carrying their house around with them on their back. Turns out some of them travel light...

Spaghetti Worms and Spaghettier Worms

Image: Ken-ichi Ueda

It's a worm with a face like a million worms! Sometimes dreams really do come true.

MOARfish!

Need more Oarfish!

Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Image: Mindoconexion.com

When Justin Beiber goes crazy and has repeated cosmetic surgery to turn himself into a floppy-haired black man with a long beard, he'll look just like this.

Bushveld Rain Frog

Image: CapeSnakes
Breviceps adspersus

Yeah! Go on, inflate yourself! That's your answer to everything!