Danimals

I study ecology and conservation and I love weird little guys!

[peanutseagle]

tea time with the bestie

[shymagnolia]

so I got into grad school today with my shitty 2.8 gpa and the moral of the story is reblog those good luck posts for the love of god

[shymagnolia]

okay so i just got my dream job??? a week after applying to it?? and now i’m thinking….maybe this is the good luck post

[flagellant]

…..not even six hours later i got an offer of a well paying full time long-term job with free room and board in queens in nyc, allowing me independence and a way to escape an abusive situation and an unhealthy environment

likes charge reblogs cast, folks, this is the good luck post

[literally-just-moss]

I love banana slugs!! I could talk about slugs and snails all day, everyday

[creachiergh]

let's slime on mama

[indoraptorgirlwind]

[literally-just-moss]

The unken reflex is a posture that toxic amphibians will take to show off their bright colors. It’s their way of saying “stay back! I’m dangerous!”

In California, the California Newt (Taricha torosa) will do the unken reflex to show off their bright orange bellies. These newts produce tetrodotoxin.

[literally-just-moss]

If I put a white pigeon in the bottom right, I win

[bayouette]

I have a folder called Time is a Flat Circle in which I collect evidence of humanity. Here is most of them.

[bayouette]

Here's some more.

[aninconvenientduck]

Some days, man hasn’t changed, and I weep in sorrow.

Others man has not changed, and I weep harder still.

[gaysie]

do u think omegaverse acknowledges covid-19 and the generation of people who permanently lost their sense of smell like how are they all scenting each other now is the omegaverse economy in shambles

[gayagendaofficial]

actually pheromone sensing works differently from normal olfaction, since humans in our world don’t have a functioning vomeronasal organ (VNO), we don’t have any data on how covid-19 would affect a functioning VNO in omegaverse AUs

[gaysie]

Actually there is evidence that covid probably would affect the VNO and it stands to reason would accordingly impair its function. Briefly:

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid, can only infect cells expressing a certain protein called ACE2

ACE2 is expressed widely in nasal cavity epithelial cells but not in olfactory sensory neurons. 

Seo et al. (2021) studied potential nasal targets for SARS-CoV-2 using golden hamsters as a model organism (commonly used as a proxy for humans in virology studies)

They found ACE2 expression in the main olfactory bulb epithelium (MOE, your “normal” nose organ) as well as the vomeronasal organ (VNO)

Several cell types in the VNO were able to be infected and they also found significant inflammatory activity (macrophage activation, apoptotic cells, etc) 

The specifics of how covid actually causes dysosmia are not known for sure but epithelial damage by local inflammatory immune responses likely plays a role, especially because sensory neurons themselves are not affected (Bilinska, & Butowt, 2020). Therefore I would suggest a potential similar effect of VNO dysfunction as we see in the main olfactory bulb

From Seo et al.: “Considering the function of the VNO, infection and subsequent pathologic changes may affect the behavior of Syrian hamsters”

If it stands to reason that omegaverse individuals have functioning VNOs similar to members of the animal kingdom, then it is more than reasonable to conclude that covid may cause them to lose not only their main olfactory function, but also their VNO function as well

 References: (1) (2)

In conclusion the omegaverse economy IS in shambles.

[mahalidael]

OP this is very well-written but im still hung up on how you came onstage dressed as a clown only to tear off the costume and reveal yourself as a biologist

[literally-just-moss]

Spotted skunks do handstands when trapped or startled! Here’s a skunk I drew 🦨

[literally-just-moss]

Porcelain crabs aren’t actually crabs! They’re another one of those freaks who has achieved the ideal body shape and gone through carcinization (becoming crab-like)!! All hail the crab!

[literally-just-moss]

Caught some strange guys over the weekend! This is a deer mouse. PSA!!! Be very careful handling some little guys because there may be possibilities of them carrying hantavirus!

[literally-just-moss]

Moss’s guide to catching a little guy (safely and without traps):

1. Spot a guy, probably running around in a little field or perhaps in an underbrush.

2. Slowly and quietly get as close to the guy as possible.

3. Lunge for the guy like a volleyball player going for an out of bounds ball.

4. Lightly and gently (very important!) flatten the guy with the palm of your hand against the ground.

5. Grab the scruff, or the loose skin on their back of their neck, gently and firmly with two or three fingers.

6. Take a picture with the guy, then place him back on the ground.

To all wondering, scruffing is the safest way to hold a rodent for both you and them! It’s the technique often used by researchers!

[literally-just-moss]

I love flat-tailed geckos and their freaky little faces and weird shaped bodies. Also, if a flat-tailed gecko feels threatened while its resting, it will lift its head and scream.

[literally-just-moss]

My all-time favorite snail move is when a baby ends up on an adult’s shell. They’re literally piggybacking.

[literally-just-moss]

what is your all time favorite predator? and prey animal?

Idk if I have any absolute favorites, but I have some I think are funny. For predators, I think archer fish are pretty funny because, like, wdym a fish learned how to nerf its prey? For prey, I have an unwavering obsession with beavers.

Also, I’m scared of seagulls because I had to fist fight one for my food once and I lost.

[literally-just-moss]

I love shrews because they’re such strange little guys. They have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any vertebrate and some species can even be toxic. Anyway, give it up for these weird little guys!

Also, shoutout to anyone else that loves rodents and other strange little guys. Let’s be friends.