Breathing in Biology

Texas A&M University biology and animal science graduate obsessed with all things science and a particular passion for conservation, ecology, and biodiversity. Have any questions or comments? Let me know!

[breathinginbiology]

The Graham’s fishhook cactus (Mammillaria grahamii) is the most common fishhook cactus in Arizona. The red fruits shown follow bright pink flowers.

[breathinginbiology]

Grimpoteuthis, more commonly known as the Dumbo Octopus, is the deepest living of all octopus species, spending its time at depths of 3,000 to 7,000 meters below sea level. 

(source)

[breathinginbiology]

The Long Net Stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) is a stinkhorn mushroom that grows a lacy skirt or indusium, which hangs down beneath the cap. It is edible and is considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Asia.

[pacificrim-archive]

[rocketmermaid]

Giant isopods are so cool but what’s with the sexy funk music

[hussainthemvp]

most sexual motherfucker in the ocean. 

[typhlonectes]

Indigo Milkcap (Lactarius indigo)

Compared to other colors found in nature, true blues are pretty rare—but the indigo milk cap has just that! This vibrant mushroom gets it color from a pigment that is a derivative of guaiazulene, a dark blue crystalline hydrocarbon. You would think that its blueness is a marker for toxicity, but the mushroom is actually edible—although its color fades to a grayish hue when it’s cooked.

photograph by Dan Molter

via: American Museum of Natural History

[breathinginbiology]

Spirogyra is a genus of filamentous green algae that is named for its helical arrangement of chloroplast.

[cool-critters]

Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)

The Andean condor is a South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It has a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle.t is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases.

photo credits: Eric Kilby, Pedro Szekely, Michael Gäbler

[justlittlefrogthings]

Time For My Daily Push Umps Hurghhhgghhh Aaaafhhhh

[currentsinbiology]

New Photos of Extremely Unusual Mushrooms and Other Fungi by Steve Axford

[great-and-small]

Long-tailed grass lizards can use their impressive tail as a counter balance, allowing them to stand on their hind legs while they look around. This little guy was such a good sport to demonstrate for me!

[dailyotter]

Look, I Have TWO Sea Urchins!

Via the California Coast

[spaceexp]

Greatest picture ever taken of earth by a human made device.

via reddit

[breathinginbiology]

Hydnora africana, a native to southern Africa, is parasitic on the roots of members of the Euphorbiaceae family. The plant grows underground, except for a fleshy flower that emerges above ground and emits an odor of feces to attract its natural pollinators, dung beetles and carrion beetles. The flowers act as temporary traps, retaining the beetles that enter long enough for them to pick up pollen.

[breathinginbiology]

Our work location last month: Fossil Creek in Arizona.

[cool-critters]

Hopkin’s Rose nudibranch (Okenia rosacea)

The Hopkin’s Rose nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. These pink sea slugs are characterized by numerous long papillae on their back, tapering into a round tip. This pink color is produced by the xanthophyllic pigment hopkinsiaxanthin, most likely obtained through feeding on the cheilostomatous bryozoan.

photo credits: Jerry Kirkhart , Robin Agarwal

[looking-at-the-universe]

Jupiter’s northern hemisphere

[sixpenceee]

Time-lapse of a rain storm. This is located in a lake in Carinthia, Austria called “Millstättersee”. Video taken by Peter Maier. More interesting posts here: sixpenceee.com/tagged/world

[seldo]

I never noticed before the way a rainstorm depletes the cloud it comes from.

[srkile]

Did someone turn on the shower?

[cyriloneous]

Nature takes a piss anywhere. Nature dgaf.