Bug Cuisine

The good folks over at Time.com are doing their part to help with global food shortages. But theirs is an uphill battle, as they are promoting the eating of insects and their kin as opposed to cows and pigs. Check out this video if you want to see cricket pasta, filleted water bug, and battered scorpion.

Thanks for the article, Michelle. You've ruined my appetite.

Pygmy Hogs

I'm really pushing the boundaries of ugly on this one, but pigs are pigs, and they are always welcome here.

What? Pigs? Yes, you're looking at the world's smallest and rarest wild pig on the planet. The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) weighs in at most 20 lbs, and only reaches 10-12 inches high. They were once thought to be extinct, but convervation efforts and captive breeding programs have allowed this diminutive pig to be rereleased into the wild of northern India.

Only sixteen of them now roam free (semi-free--they are still within a larger enclosure), so let's wish them the best of luck. Hopefully the mini boars and mini sows will be feeling the love over these next few years. Perhaps the officials at the Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary will be playing some Barry White over the sanctuary grounds come breeding time.

Thanks for the link, Ida.

Photo source: BBC News

Hairy Frogfish

Can anybody give me some clarity on what kind of frogfish this is? The photographer describes it as a hair frogfish from Lembeh, Indonesia, but other photos of hairy frogfish reveal fish that don't appear to be aflame (or sherbet flavored).

Photo source: CW Ye via Uglorable

Gynandromroph Moth

You're looking at an incredibly rare gynandromorph moth (great rock band name!). This Antheraea frithi moth has a female left half and a male right half, as shown in the pattern of its wings. This is so rare, that the Natural History Museum of London, where this moth is located, has only 200 such specimens among their 9 million butterflies and moths.

This moth isn't ugly at all. In fact, I can think of several 70s rock and roll artists who are very jealous of this moth.

Thanks for the link, Asa.

Photo source: The Great Beyond

Clawed Frogs

Scientists have recently gained insight into the claws found on several species of Artholeptidae frogs of Central Africa. These claws are found on the toes of the hind feet, and are now known to be defensive claws.

But these claws are unique in the animal world.

Unlike most other claws, these claws are raw bone, meaning that they lack the usual keratin sheath. Next, these claws reside beneath the skin of the toe, with no opening for them. That means that when the claws are extended, they must cut their way through the skin.

It's unknown how these claws retract, how long it takes, or if the frog completely heals, though it is assumed that they do. It is also unknown whether or not Marvel Comics is going to sue the frogs for copyright infringement against Wolverine.

Thanks for the link, Mary.

Photo source: Not Exactly Rocket Science

Flashing

Elizabeth sent me an article on 24 bizarre creatures of the deep. Here is but one photo from this cornucopia of ugly.

Behold the luminous eye of the Dana Octopus Squid (sounds either like some hybrid beast or a character on Spongebob Square Pants). These cephalopods are the fifth largest of the sea, and are known for the blinding flashes of light they emit as they attack their prey. These flashes of light are believed to cause confusion in the prey, and to illuminate them to facilitate the capture.

The flashes may also aid in courtship. All of you young bucks out there looking for romance may want to take a cue from this squid. Start flashing the ladies who catch your fancy.

I Don't Want to Grow Up

Since 1899 when these creatures were first discovered, the y-larvae has been a mystery. No one knew their adult form, or where they came from.

Scientists knew they were a crustacean, but not much more. So scientists collected a sample of more than 40 species of y-larvae (y for mystery, cue theme music). Next, they subjected this sample of y-larvae to a maturation hormone to see what they'd turn into. And guess what they found. No, not politicians:

The creatures metamorphosized into a juvenile form, dubbed "ypsigons," unexpectedly shedding their exoskeletons to become wriggling, eyeless, limbless creatures that resemble parasitic crustaceans . . . The fact that ypsigons are vastly different and far simpler than y-larvae might help explain why the adult versions of these creatures have escaped detection for so long. These are so simple compared with y-larvae that they even lack digestive tracts and nervous systems.

The working theory is that these ypsigons are essential components to any healthy reef, since they are found in every ocean from pole to pole. Though they have yet to figure out the adult form, knowing the juvenile form is a great start.

I can only imagine that y-larvae are loathe to grow up. You can't have much in the way of aspirations when you know that you'll become a wiggling, limbless, eyeless creature sans nervous and digestive systems. I see a Pixar movie in the making here: the tale of a y-larvae who wants to stay a kid.

Thanks for the article, Ida.

Photo source: Hoeg et al, BMC Biology via LiveScience.com

2008 World's Ugliest Dog Contest

It's that time of year again. Time for the world famous World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.

This fair has brought you the likes of Sam and Ellwood. This year brings you a whole new batch of ugly pooches. Here are just a few (picked at random). Be sure to vote!

Thanks for the article, Ida.

Squiggy












Myster












Peewee












Grovie