Friday 31 July 2015

Ladder Lichen

Image: Richard Droker
Cladonia verticillata
It's the very latest development in pixie architecture...

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Jelly and Tadpoles are a Bad Mix

Image: UAF
You can't be too picky about what you eat when you live in the Arctic. If you insist on residing amid such bitter cold and ice, you better be prepared for that layer of blubber that clings to everything you eat. Perhaps that's why most Comb Jellies stick to warm, tropical climes.

Sunday 26 July 2015

Harlequin Shrimp

Image: Carmel Vernia
Hymenocera picta
Wow, what a beauty!

Shame it's just a pretty veneer surrounding a dark heart of sadistic evil...

Friday 24 July 2015

Bird of Paradise Fly

Image: ron_n_beths pics
Oooooo!

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Ambon Scorpionfish

Image: Steve Childs
Pteroidichthys amboinensis
I think the word we're looking for is "eyebrows"...

Monday 20 July 2015

Sungazer

Image: Joachim S. Müller
Smaug giganteus
SPIKES!

Friday 17 July 2015

Rhinocochlis nasuta

Image: Bernard DUPONT
Look at this curly-wurly leaf! It looks just like...

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Slime Fan Worm

Image: John Turnbull
Myxicola infundibulum
I thought most worms were fans of slime?

Sunday 12 July 2015

Brazilian Wandering Spider

Image: Fernando Dagosta
Look that adorable, fuzzy spider asking for a hug! I'm gonna go give her a hug.

...

Ow! Ooooow! I am bit! I am bited! The pain. The indescribable pain! Someone tell the orphanage there'll be no Santa Claus this year.

Friday 10 July 2015

Thickclaw Porcelain Crab

Image: Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory
Because sometimes what you really need is one, massive claw.

Wednesday 8 July 2015

American Pelecinid Wasp

Image: Andreas Kay
Pelecinus polyturator
This is a wasp that simply doesn't know when to stop!

Sunday 5 July 2015

Australian Prowfish

Image: John Turnbull
A prow is the pointy, front end of a boat. It serves to cut through the water as the ship makes its way through the waves.

Australian Prowfish do look a bit like prows but they're most certainly not cutting the waves at full speed. They're far too lazy for that kind of thing and even if they tried, it turns out they'd have a tough time keeping to a straight line...

Friday 3 July 2015

Telescope Octopus

Amphitretus pelagicus
We are all in the abyss.

But some of us are looking at the bioluminescent anglerfish.

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Arabian Toad-headed Agama

Image: Tamsin Carlisle
Phrynocephalus arabicus
After focusing so much on the Secret Toadhead's weird face, I thought it would be nice to take another look at fun, toadhead tail!