• Found: Arthur the Pygmy Puff!

    he does exist!

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  •  Looks like that little pup didn't get the memo!


    © Evando F. Lopes


    © Fabricio V. Costa
    Habitat:breeds in tropical South America from Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay
    Status: Least Concern

    Obviously the White-headed Marsh Tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala) is completely unrelated to the Bald Eagle, but that doesn't stop me from wishing it was a miniature version of one. I love how it's so petite - and adult growing 2.7 cm long and weighs 15 g and yet has the same dramatic appearance as the majestic eagle...er, kinda.

    The photos above are all of males, females are too boring to show off (you know, with the typical brown feathers and no style). You can find these birds hanging out in marshy savannahs, reedbeds and the edges of mangrove swamps.


     



    image source: zh-yue.wikipedia.org
    Habitat: Costa Rica
    Status: Not Listed

    For some reason this little bug really made me go 'Awwwww...!'. I think it was because 1. it looks just like a heart-shaped leaf and 2. because if you look at it's tiny face I think you'll agree with me that it has a certain friendly expression.

    This is a False Eye Lantern Bug (Odontoptera carrenoi)who, I'm assuming, has no problem blending in with his surroundings. No way I'd spot this guy in the middle of a jungle! But I wish I could... then he could be my little leafy friend forevers!


    Murex pecten Lightfood, 1786 - Filippine 



     
    © Rod

     
    image source: http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
    Habitat: Indo-Pacific distribution
      Status: Not listed

    Here's the first installment of what I like to call: Ze Shell Showcase. Snails really don't get enough credit for the spectacular designs they employ to create their will-travel homes. The first one I've chosen to give the spotlight to is the Venus Comb Murex (Murex pecten) which looks exactly what I would imagine a mermaid using to comb her hair with. Gotta get that 'do just right, after all!

    The Venus Comb is a large species of predatory sea snail that has a wicked shell. It's decked out in over one hundred spines, which provide protection for the snail and, in addition, prevent it from sinking into soft sandy mud. Like other murex snails, this ferocious little fella likes to eat other mollusks. These shells reach a length between 10 and 15 cm in length.

    What do you think? Is this the start of something shell-shockingly great?


     

    Shake ya shimmy 


     
     
    image source: seaotter.com
    Habitat: West Coast of North America from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico
    Status: No Conservation Concerns

    I'm having a difficult time choosing which version of this nudibranch I like better. The red really attracts me at first, but then the orange seems rather appealing... These nudibranchs, Limacia cockerelli, come in two color forms (as shown).

    According to the Sea Slug Forum (love this site!): The northern form [red] has white tubercles down the middle of the dorsum. In specimens from south of Point Conception [orange] these tubercles are slightly longer and tipped with orange. Intermediate forms occur in central and northern California.

    Eh, the decision is too hard. I like them both equally :)


    male greater earless lizard 3, "mr. suspicious" -- Cophosaurus texanus 
    © G V
      
     

     
    image source: reptilist.com
    Habitat: southwestern United States
    Status: Least Concern

      But yes, there are rainbows involved. The Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) knows how to woo the ladies. During mating season, which is in the spring, the males will have incredibly striking colors come out on their skin - reds, blues, greens, and yellows all pop from this dashing reptile. Even females (not pictured) get a little more colorful, changing from their usual basic tan to having hues of pinks and oranges line their flanks.

    If you take a look at the belly of the male, shown above, you can see that its tail almost resembles that of a zebra (see it now?). No, that doesn't happen only during mating season. That's a permanent feature of this crafty little lizard. When it feels like it's in danger, it will raise and wag its tail signaling to the approaching predator that: "Hey, I see you over there lickin' your chops. Lemme just tell ya, that if you want a piece of this you're going to have to invest a huge amount of energy... trying to CATCH ME!" Yes. That's exactly what the lizard would say. Usually after hearing that, the rather lazy predator will then retort, "Hmph. I can find something tastier without that much work. L8ter." (My predator happens to be a teenage skater boy in this case).

     Right... so how bout them lizards?!


    © Andrey Sochivko
    © Alexy
    Habitat: Malaysia, unsure of where else 
    Status: Not Listed 

    This curious little bug is a member of the Tetrigoidea family that includes grouse locusts, pygmy grasshoppers, groundhoppers, and pygmy locusts. I'm not exactly sure what this fellow is - some sort of grasshopper/locust obviously mimicking a seed or dead leaf. The caption under the first photo pointed out that it was a Dolatettix sp. So I guess that's helpful?

    All I know is that it looks just like a miniature insect replica of a Spartan helmet. Am I right or am I right?

    If you have more info on this creature, please post what you know in the comments! Thanks!

    © Ultraone


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