From the Netherworld

Both Peer and Miss Cellania submitted this lump of a fish, and I thought it a fitting photo for Halloween. It does look ghost-like, or at least like some denizen of the Netherworld. I can't tell if it is more lump-of-lard or dough-dumpling in appearance. What ever it is, it doesn't look too happy.

Ioan helped me identify it as a Blob Sculpin. This fish is lumped (pardon the pun) in with other bathyal and abyssal fish. Abyssal - from the Netherworld indeed.

Pig PR

I know they say that pigs are very intelligent - even smarter than dogs and rats. But this pig sure isn't helping in the swine public relations department.

Thanks for the photo, Mat. I don't want to know where you encountered this particular specimen. I would rather enjoy my BLT in ignorance.

Cottonwoods Beware

"Hey, that's a huge bug! What is it?"
"That's a cottonwood borer beetle."
"Oh. What do they do?"
"That's a cottonwood borer beetle."
"Hmmm. What do they eat?"
"That's a cottonwood borer beetle."

I love it when animals are appropriately named. In case you didn't know, this is the cottonwood borer beetle. It is known for its large size and bold coloring. It's also very fuzzy (click on the image for detail), which isn't common among beetles.

Cottonwood trees beware! This bug will munch (check out those mandibles) on your leaf stems and new twigs. Then, the female will bore into your base and lay eggs inside you. Once those eggs hatch, the larvae are going to burrow even deeper into you, and take as long as two years to mature. They'll spend that first year eating your roots, and the second chewing their way to your heartwood. You'll have about a three-week respite while they pupate, but then they'll munch their way back out. It's hard being a kinda cottonwood tree.

Thanks for the photo, wolfdaddy74701. You found this in your backyard? I fear for your trees.

Ugly and Easy

The extatosoma tiaratum is also known as the spiny leaf insect, or Macleay's Spectre. You may call this one Pablo, since that is what his owner, Gregor, named him. If I encountered one of these, I'd probably scream and reach for the nearest can of Raid. Others, however, have found that these enormous bugs make for great pets. All they need is a terrarium, something to climb on, eucalyptus leaves, and some water.

I wish my kids were that low maintenance. That's the trade-off, though: ugly and easy, or cute and difficult.

Unique Technique

I can't get enough of the matamata turtle. This particular shot shows the grin, the tube nose, and those scaly danglies of this reptile so well.

These nocturnal hunters have a technique that is unique from other turtles. When they find something tasty - a crustacean, fish, frog, small mammal, or even a bird - they strike while opening their mouths and expanding their throats. This motion creates a vacuum which literally sucks their prey into their mouths.

Those snouts are flexible, like real snorkels. I almost wich I had one, too. It seems so handy. But I'll stick with the whole walking upright and opposable thumbs thing instead.

Thanks for the photo, Fons.

Too Delicious

Now look at this prize turkey! I should have saved this photo for my Thanksgiving post, but it is too delicious not to pass along now. This bird's head is so covered with wrinkles and waddles that you can't even catch a glimpse of the eyes or beak. I can't believe I'm looking forward to eating one of these.

Thanks for the photo, Steve. You just might have ruined poultry for me.

Parasites, Bloodletting, and Lawyers

When you think of leeches you think of blood sucking parasites, bloodletting, and some lawyers. But the truth is that most leeches aren't haemophagic - that is, most don't specialize in sucking blood. All leeches are carnivorous, and most of them are predacious. They dine on such delectables as worms, snails, insect larvae, and crustaceans.

I can't imagine being a young crawdad (for a number of reasons, but ...) cruising along the bottom of a creek, minding my own business when suddenly one of these looms overhead and starts knawing its way through my now-inadequate exoskeleton. I'll stick with the bloodletting, thanks.

Thanks for the photo, Jasper.

Wallowing in Hideousness

Given some of the comments lately, it would seem that many of you are fans of the naked mole rat, and rightfully so. This poor creature was whacked with several ugly sticks: it's a rodent, it's hairless, and it's subterranean.

Nicholas has blessed us with this shot of an entire tribe of them. These creatures spend their entire lives in darkness, yet here they are being forced to sleep in artificial light. Look at them, wallowing in shame at their own hideousness.

Or perhaps they are basking in it.