• From Larva to Livin' Large

    Check out the incredible larval transformations of your favorite sea creatures!

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    27 lb Monster Lobster CAUGHT!


    Meet Rocky, the 27 lb lobster that makes all other lobsters look shrimpy! Typically, lobsters at the pound comes in a small range of sizes; from 1 lb (for those with small appetites), to 2, 3, and if you're feeling like a real high roller (complete with a huge stomach) you might opt for the 4.5 lber which usually sells for around $100.

    So, you can imagine what price this guy would have fetched! Luckily, Rocky was saved from the cooking pot! He was released back into the ocean to continue growing into the beast that he truly is.


    Long live Rocky!

     


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    New Week NudiL Hypselodoris maritima

    image source: bouphonia.blogspot.com


     Habitat: found in the Western Pacific Ocean from New Caledonia to Japan
    Status: Not Listed
     
    Lovingggg the colors on this nudibranch! Even though these creatures only reach lengths of around 20 mm, those vivid blues, oranges, blacks and whites greatly make up for the lack of mass. I'm also a fan of how sometimes they're seen having a leopard-esque pattern to having a more zebra inspired design.
     
    Thanks Hypselodoris maritima for showing us your beauty!


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    And Here's a Pineapplefish, Mon.




    image source: fishindex.blogspot.com
    Habitat: native to coastal waters off Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia  
    Status: Not Listed

    Ahhhh I'm seriously craving some pineapple after looking at dozens of Pinapplefish (Cleidopus gloriamaris) photos!! Also known as the knightfish or the coat-of-mail fish because of the armor-like scales that cover its body, the Pineapplefish might have many great qualities however swimming isn't one of them. That rigid armor paired with tiny fins make it more of a floater than a swimmer. For that reason, you can find these fish under rocky ledges or in caves during the day. 

    Oddly enough, a small group of Pineapplefish have been documented hanging out in Fly Point Halifax Park Aquatic Preserve, New South Wales under the same ledge for at least 7 years, and another group under a different ledge for 3 years. So, if you ever want to find a Pineapplefish, at least you know where to look!



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    All Ears on the Sparkling Violetear

    © Ann Erler


     

    © Luke Seitz

    Habitat:widespread in highlands of northern and western South America
    Status: Least Concern

    This glittering gem of a bird is the Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans), a gorgeous hummingbird that just so happens to be the most common species of hummingbird in its range. Free viewings of Sparkling Violetears for all!! 

    Obviously the bird gets its name from those purple poofs where its ears should be. However, don't let their colorful appearance mislead you - these guys are quite aggressive and prefer to lead a solitary existence. They declare their territory by singing; with birds singing for most of the day and sub-groups even developing their own special calls. 

    Even though they don't have the best manners, avid bird watchers aren't so easily deterred. People travel far and wide to catch a glimpse of this sparkling Latin American jewel.


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    Ya... I'm Going to Need More Petting. NOW.

    He's lucky he has those miniature folded ears of cuteness...


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    The 'Rabbit' Antelope of Africa: Klipspringer

     image source: edgeoftheplank.com

     image source: worldisround.com

    Babies! 
     
    image source: czs.org

    Habitat: Africa
    Status: Least Concern 

    Hopping around on African rocky kopjes are relatively small (reaching around 22 inches at the shoulder) antelope called Klipspringers (Oreotragus oreotragus). The word Klipspringer literally means 'rock jumper' in Afrikaans/Dutch and coloquially the creatures are even called mvundla, from Xhosa "umvundla", meaning "rabbit".

    This antelope species is absolutely adorable with its huge eyes! I'm also quite fond of them because they also have a special characteristic that makes it unique in the animal kingdom. While all hoofed animals walk "on the tips of their toes," Klipspringers are the only ones to touch the ground with the very tips of their vertically rising hooves. Using a human analogy here, we can say that Klipspringers are much like dancers that dance on their toe nails rather than the tips of their toes.

    Take a look at the Klipspringer's incredible posture here:



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    Queen of Manicures: Linda's Treefrog


     image source: anfibiosecuador.blogspot.com

     © visualphotos.com

    © Minden Pictures / SuperStock
    Habitat: Colombia and Ecuador  
    Status: Vulnerable

    It is absolutely impossible to find time to get a manicure/pedicure these days. I'll plan on getting one and then the time mysteriously disappears somehow. This is why I envy Linda's Treefrog (Hyloscirtus lindae) - not only can she can find a place to even GET a mani/pedi in the upper humid montane forest of Colombia and Ecuador (howwww?!?!?) but she also has the time to do so.

    This also makes me question the lady that she was named after - this so called Linda - was she the queen of manicures/pedicures or something? So much so that she had a frog that embodied her constantly stylish fingernail ideal? Curse you Linda. Curse you and your perpetually pink nails.


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