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Sunday 30 June 2013

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!

Friday 28 June 2013

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!"

Wednesday 26 June 2013

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!

Sunday 23 June 2013

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.

Saturday 22 June 2013

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!

Friday 21 June 2013

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!

Wednesday 19 June 2013

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?

Sunday 16 June 2013

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!

Friday 14 June 2013

Pink Puffball Sponge

Image: Min Sheng Khoo
Oceanapia sagittaria
I had no idea something like this existed. It's an underground sponge!

Wednesday 12 June 2013

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...

Sunday 9 June 2013

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.

Friday 7 June 2013

Wednesday 5 June 2013

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.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Bushveld Rain Frog

Image: CapeSnakes
Breviceps adspersus
Yeah! Go on, inflate yourself! That's your answer to everything!