Step back, I'm doing science!

Welcome to my science blog. It is mostly a general science blog that consists almost entirely of reblogs, however I will occasionally post original content about what may pique my interest at the moment. I occasionally make posts that aren't really science-related so if you don't want to see that, feel free to Tumblr savior the tags #personal or #not science.

[noaasanctuaries]

These opalescent nudibranchs seem unfazed that the rust-colored bryozoan they are crawling over is an invasive species that’s taken up residence in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 

Watersipora subtorquata is a filter-feeding invertebrate that grows on hard surfaces like rocks, pier pilings, and ship hulls. It’s a problem along the West Coast, where it can harm native invertebrate species by smothering them or outcompeting them for space. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary researchers continue to study Watersipora to understand how it is impacting the health of the sanctuary.  

(Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA) 

[Image description: Two opalescent nudibranchs crawling over a red invasive bryozoan.]

[mad-as-a-marine-biologist]

Please stop what you are doing and look at these baby Lionfish! 

Remember:-

Lionfish in Atlantic = invasive = problem.

Lionfish in Pacific = native = not a problem.

—-

📷s by Steven Kovacs

Original article

[noaasanctuaries]

Say hello to the Hawaiian squirrelfish! 🐿️🐠

Known as ‘ala‘ihi in Hawaiian, these bright fish are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning they’re found nowhere else in the world. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument have an exceptionally high rate of endemism. In some parts of the monument, over 50% of the population might only be found in this region! 

(Photo: James Watt/NOAA) 

[Image description: A school of bright red and white striped fish.]

[biomedicalephemera]

Abyssinian Wolf - Canis simensis

Despite appearing more coyote or fox-like, and previously being thought to be anything from jackal to domestic dog mutation, molecular genetics now place the “Abyssinian wolf” (now commonly known as the Ethiopian Wolf) much closer to grey wolves than any other canid. They are the most critically endangered canine species that is still extant in the wild. 

In addition to being incredibly rare, Abyssinian wolves have a fairly distinct lineage from the grey wolves, and are highly specialized for their niche in the Ethiopian ecosystem. Their teeth are spaced significantly farther apart than other canids, to more effectively catch and eat small-to-medium-sized rodents. Each individual hunts by itself during the day, but they still retain the pack dynamic that many other carnivores have, at least while resting.

Interestingly, though once widespread, no known tribes use the Abyssinian wolf within their folklore, though Ethiopia now views the species as a national pride. This is in sharp contrast to the grey wolf, which is widely used in Native American and First Nations folklore, and many other sacred canid species.

Abyssinian Birds and Mammals, from paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, 1926.

[lovingexotics]

Patagonian Mara Dolichotis patagonum Source: Here

[montereybayaquarium]

Skeleton shrimp—aka caprellid amphipods—are abundant amuse bouches for countless critters. 

But caprellids are also carne connoisseurs, catching and crunching passing plankton with claws sharp and surgical. If you’re a diminutive ocean traveler, best not to have a bone to pick with skeleton shrimp…

[currentsinbiology]

Alligators gobble rocks to stay underwater longer

Alligators dine on many strange delicacies: sharks, kumquats, and stones. Scientists have long thought that, like birds, gators swallow stones to help them digest their tough-to-process meals, or accidentally ingest them in the chaos of consuming a live, thrashing dinner. But a new study supports another use for a belly full of rocks—as a way to boost bottom time on dives.

Crocodylians—which include alligators, crocodiles, and caimans—spend most of their time in the water, stalking prey and escaping from predators. Anything they can do to maximize their time below the surface is an advantage, and some experts wondered whether rocks might also serve this purpose.

[anudibranchaday]

The Dendronotus lacteus is a nudibranch similar to the Dendronotus frondosus - so similar, in fact, that it was believed to be the same species until scientists did DNA testing in 2015! This sea slug grows to be about 4cm long, and lives in the North Atlantic (around Ireland and Sweden).

Photo Source

[montereybayaquarium]

NUDIBRANCH

N ever U nderestimate D edication to being I n the B uff R egularly and A ll the time N ever not nudibranchs C ombined are many many dozens of species  H appy birthday suit you beautiful sea slugs your naked gills are showing !

[typhlonectes]

Purple anemone (Heteractis magnifica) and resident Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in East Timor.

photograph by Nick Hobgood | Wikimedia CC

[iaccidentallyallthephysics]

So of all the Seasonal People management decided to keep for the toy department...they decided to keep the guy who legit told a Guest that the most complicated board game we sell...is Dos...

Fucking Dos....

It plays almost exactly like Uno for fucks sake...

[montereybayaquarium]

A friendly Wednesday reminder from our anemonefish fam to just keep swimming!

Gorgeous 📷by visitor Juliana!

[kalkydri]

Ivory-billed woodpeckers, Campephilus principalis at the Natural History Museum, London

[americasgreatoutdoors]

So much cute in one photo – three little black-footed ferrets playing! One of the most endangered mammals in North America, black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but by the 20th century, they were believed to be extinct twice. In 1981, a small population of the species was rediscovered in Meeteetse, Wyoming. Scientists captured some of these ferrets, and they became the foundation for a successful captive breeding and reintroduction program that continues today at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado. Photo by Becky Hutchens, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Blackwater rivers, like the Suwannee River in Florida, carry waters so laden with organic material that they’re dyed a deep, dark brown. For the Suwannee, most of this material comes from the rich peat deposits of the Okefenokee Swamp that lies upstream. As vegetation in the swamp decays, tannins from the plants dissolve into the water, giving it its distinctive color, which the river maintains along its full 400-kilometer journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The dark waters of the river act as a tracer, revealing how the fresh river water mixes with the ocean in the enhanced-color satellite image above. It’s amazing to see how far the river’s influence spreads before delicate wisps of color pierce the darkness. (Image credit: U.S. Geological Survey; via NASA Earth Observatory)

[oddarticulations]

RoboRoo! A large male kangaroo I’m working on has metal plates and screws in both of his forearms! I do not know whether these were to correct breaks or a deformity

[pacificremains]

ROBO ROO

[noaasanctuaries]

Each year, the coral colonies of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary take part in mass spawning events, releasing gametes that can drift on the current, settle elsewhere, and start new coral colonies. These spawning events can be a spectacular sight to see! 

Other marine creatures, like this brittle star also partake in the festivities by stealing away some gametes to eat. Since there are billions of these tiny gametes cascading underwater during this annual event, this sneaky brittle star gets a pass 😎. 

(Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA) 

[Image description: Arms of a red brittle star poking out of a coral and wrapped around tiny eggs.]