One Less Worm

What's this? Good news? Yes. It turns out that thanks to a variety of eradication efforts, time, materials, and education, Guinea worm infections are at an all-time low (assuming President Carter can be believed...)

This parasitic worm is being drawn out of a child's foot by a clinic worker in Savelugu, Ghana. Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis) infections are nasty deals, caused by imbibing small water fleas that are in turn infected with worm larvae. When the flea-born larvae enter the human body, they grow, sometimes to a length of three feet. When they finally emerge into the big, blue world, it is through a festering blister on the person's skin.

Thanks to all those workers who have fought this parasite. I'm sure a purist out there will say that the Guinea worm plays a vital part in some section of the African ecology, but that's little consolation to children such as this one. The world can do with one less parasitic worm.

Photo source: AP Photo/Olivier Asselin via Yahoo!

Hermione the Cane Toad

Say hello to Hermione, Kelly's pet cane toad. I didn't know cane toads were kept as pets, given their toxic nature. But now that I think of it, why not. Everything else poisonous or venomous, from giant centipedes to cobras, make for pets, so why not cane toads. Just please, please, Kelly. Don't release Hermione into the waterways of Northern California. We're having enough trouble getting rid of pike. The last thing we need is an Australian South American import.

Thanks for the cane toad, Kelly. I'm sure she's nice and happy (despite that sour glare).

UPDATE: Kelly informs me that Hermione once had a male companion. One guess as to what his name might have been. Might have been, because Ron is with us no more. Perhaps it is Hermione's loneliness that makes her a bit curmudgeonly...or Umbridgey.

Vacuum Feeder

You're looking into the indistinct and colorful face of a scorpion fish. There are all sorts of scorpion fish, ranging from the lethal stone fish to the lion fish you see in some saltwater aquariums. All have venomous spines and employ ambush tactics to catch their prey. Some use a variety of tassels, warts, and even algal and hydroid growths to camouflage themselves.

They suck their prey (crustaceans, cephalopods, and other fish) into their mouth by snapping their jaws open so suddenly that they create a vacuum. The gulp takes around 15 milliseconds. My wife accuses me of feeding in a similar manner.

Thanks for the photo, Amaury.

Spider in Ant's Chitin

Dark Roasted Blend posted a fantastic series of spider photos not too long back. If you want to stare jumping spiders in the face, then you must read it (those iridescent orbs are hypnotic).

But what really fascinated me were the species of salticidae (jumping) spiders that look like ants. Don't believe me? Then count the eyes and legs and tell me those aren't spiders. Mimicry at its finest, people. The proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. Or, the spider in ant's chitin.

Thanks for the photos, Ida.








































(image credit: Opo Terser)


































(images credit: Hannes Mitchell)

Night Scene at the Feeder

What's more quaint than a patio eave festooned with decorative hummingbird feeders? I've always wanted one, and now I want one even more.

Turns out that hummingbirds aren't the only winged creatures who show up to dine on the nectar. Down in Tucson, AZ, US, especially when agaves aren't blooming as much, nectivorous bats take their turn sipping at the feeders.

Photo source: The Firefly Forest

















T. Beth Kinsey of The Firefly Forest reports that two varieties of bats show up at her feeders: the lesser long-nosed bat (there they go again, adding lesser to the name) and the Mexican long-tongued bat. You can see both varieties below (in order).



















































The bats all seem to get along for the most part (it's hard to stay in a fighting mood when you're drinking nectar), but not always. Some turf wars do break out, though no one gets hurt. The bats access the nectar in different ways. Since they can't hover, some do sipping fly-bys and then circle around for more. Others just lie down in the tray and sip away (I share a lot in common with this latter group).

Animals go where the food is. You leave out cat food, and every stray in the area will show up (including raccoons, possums, etc.). Leave out pizza, and I'll show up. You leave out blood, and you'll get vampires. Leave out nectar, and you just might have to keep your doors open for both the day and the night crowds. And the only tips either will leave you come in the form of droppings.

Poison Control

When you get the word 'horrible' officially attached to your name, you join the illustrious ranks of the likes of Hagar the Horrible and Dr. Horrible. But I don't think the Horrible Elbow Crab (Daldorfia horrida) is impressed (horrible elbow?).

These crustaceans are found all over the Pacific and Indian oceans. But don't be so quick to eat one, you Crab Feed goers, put away the warm butter and garlic. People have been poisoned by ingesting these crabs.

Sometimes, just sometimes, outward appearances can reflect what's inside. I don't want to be eaten, so here's a carapace, a pair of pincers, and a whole lotta spines to prove it. Still don't believe me? Go ahead, take a bite. Enjoy calling poison control.

You've got to respect an animal that can back up its bark.

Thanks for the article, Susannah.

Photo source: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore via National Geographic

Sleepy Lizard

Anyone know what kind of lizard this is? Looks like an iguana, maybe one of the marine varieties of the Galapagos Islands. It's got some impressive knobbage going on, with the knobs on the top of the head and the goiters/sacs for jowls. Whatever it is, it looks content. Let sleeping lizards lie, especially when they look like dinosaurs.

Thanks for the photo, Jeroen van Weeren.

Down Came the Rain

See what happens when you leave your sink alone for too long? Spiders clamber inside and start reenacting classic nursery rhymes.

Why is it that anything man-made that gets abandoned gets overrun by spiders? Webs show up, and spiders soon lurk in every nook and cranny. I can't think of any other creepy crawly who makes his presence known as quickly and readily as our web weaving neighbors. I guess the webs are a good thing, if for no other reason than for alerting us to their presence. It's the ones that don't weave webs that you can't trust (jumping spiders excluded).

Thanks for the photos, Denise.