Toridacity Wildlife @toridacity-wildlifephotography - Tumblr Blog

Spring is upon us. The baby goats in my last post aren't the only baby animals in getting excited about! In the golden glow on the sunset on Utah Lake, millions of tiny angel hair threads are illuminated among the foliage. These have been left behind by thousands of tiny new spiderlings, who have been spreading out to find their new homes. In a practice called "ballooning", little spiders will produce a long string of silk which will be caught up in the breeze and carry the babies on the wind. This helps to more evenly distribute their population to avoid competition over resources as they grow. I swear, nature has thought of everything! . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #spring #springtime #babyanimals #arachnidsofinstagram #arthropod_perfection #arachnid #bioticcommunity #bugsarefriends #beautifulnature #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #ecosystemservices #environmentalstudies #landscape_lovers #landscape_captures #landscapephotography #landscape #natureloversofinstagram #naturephotography #nature_perfection #natureisart #nature_of_our_world #picturetokeep_nature #sunset_pics #sunsetlovers #sunsetphotography #sunsets_captures #wetlands #wetlandsconservation (at Utah Lake State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CML8i2Pg4Yg/?igshid=1sj7f95rjp1f

Spring babies!!! . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #babyanimals #baby #babygoats #babyfarmanimals #spring #springatthefarm #tpi #thanksgivingpoint #thankspoint #thanksgivingpointfarm #springtime #springbaby #farmanimals #animalsaddict #animalphotography #amazinganimals #animalsofinstagram #goat #goatsofinstagram #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #cute #cutenessoverload #adorable #adorableanimals #snuggle #fluffy #overrunwithanimals #littlebaby (at Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMLa4mKgVlw/?igshid=7zo2z3iu1wcq

Ardea herodias- Great Blue Heron One thing I love about wetland birdwatching, is the diversity of wadding, diving, dabbling, and shore birds. You find an incredible density of variety because each group is specially adapted to one specific niche of hunting/foraging in the water at different depths. Great blue herons, for example, have incredibly long legs for wading in waters deep enough that they are inaccessible to most other birds. This reduces the competition for their favorite foods which include fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and other aquatic critters. . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #heron #heronsofinstagram #greatblueheron #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #birdstagram #bird_brilliance #birds_captures #birdwatchingphotography #bird_watchers_daily #birdwatching #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #wetlands #wetlandsconservation #wadingbirds #wildlifephotographer #wildlifeconservation #elite_raptors #exclusive_wildlife #ecology #ornithologyphotography #ornithology #utahnature #utahconservation #utahstateparks #picturetokeep_nature #animalsaddict #sciencegirl (at Springville, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL14MjVgI33/?igshid=14h7wtc7tk46r

Rallus limicola- Virginia Rail Last year I had my first near encounter with a Virginia rail, but because of its elusive nature we never actually saw it. We could only recognize it by its distinctive call. It was even more exciting when we finally found this one because it was in the exact same location. Virginia rails are a stout bird with a squat body, built perfectly for plowing through dense marsh vegetation. They also have incredibly powerful little legs. In fact, they have a leg-muscle to wing-muscle ratio that is unlike most other birds. When threatened, they use these powerful legs to outrun and outmaneuver their predators. These guys definitely did not skip leg day. . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #virginiarail #birdphotography #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdstagram #bird_brilliance #birds_captures #birdwatchingphotography #bird_watchers_daily #birds #birdwatching #birdingphotography #birds_adored #nature #naturephotography #nature_perfection #nature_of_our_world #nature_brilliance #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeonearth #wildlifephotographer #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeconservation #wildlifephoto #exclusive_wildlife #elite_raptors #wetlands #wetlandsconservation #canon #canonusa #canonphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbCp9UgfEg/?igshid=1r16iicg42oj5

Have you ever tried to sneak up on a butterfly? It's not always easy is it? That's because they have some incredible eyes. Butterfly eyes are very different from ours. Called a compound eye, each one is composed of thousands of tiny little lenses. When their brains stitch all those images together they have an incredible range of view. Unlike our two lenses which can only focus on one small area at a time, the butterfly's compound eyes allow it to watch what's happening in almost every direction at once. This is important when you are part of every predators balanced breakfast. . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #thanksgivingpoint #thanksgivingpointbutterflybiosphere #thankspoint #butterflies #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #bugsofinstagram #bug #insectsofinstagram #insects_of_our_world #insects_macro #insect #insectphotography #insectlovers #entomology #compoundeyes #scienceteacher #sciencegirl #scienceeducation #stemgirls #stemeducation #stem #stemforkids #ladyscientist #wildlifephotographer #naturephotography #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #canonmacro https://www.instagram.com/p/CK1acp5g9f0/?igshid=tr6mrjv7mi8j

Protopterus annectens- West African Lungfish Am I weird for frequently standing in my living room and just staring at this fish with a strong sense of pride? Yeah... Don't answer that... 🤣 The first two images are of Cthulhu now, at about 20 inches long! I'm often stunned at how much personality he has. I did not expect a fish like this to be so personable. I know that to him I probably just the mysterious blurry thing that often shows up with food, but I find it endearing when he perks up and follows me when I walk by his tank. There have even been a few occasions recently when he allowed me to touch him for a short period and he didn't appear to mind. (Note: I don't recommend handling pet fish unless you absolutely need to, especially if they are large predators like Cthulhu. In most cases it is unpleasant and even detrimental for the fish. I have limited contact with Cthulhu to very brief periods when I needed to move him out of the way during deep cleaning, and on the rare occasion when I've been an impulsive dork and gently pet him during feeding. Do as I say and not as I do 🤣) The third image is of an intermediate period earlier this year. Though much smaller than now, he'd already grown alot. He'd also recently discovered the joy of algae wafers recently 🤣 The last two pictures are from the day he arrived. To help understand how massive he's become in the last year, note that the driftwood behind him in the first images is the exact same as the one he's hiding behind in his baby pictures. I swear I'm not feeding him steroids! Sorry lol I'm feeling weirdly nostalgic about this critter today 😅 . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #lungfish #africanlungfish #westafricanlungfish #weirdpets #exoticpets #environmentalstudies #overrunwithanimals #petstagram #petsofinstagram #pet #aquariumhobby #animalsaddict #amazinganimals #aquarium #swampwitchlife #fishboi #fishkeeping #fishtank #fishofinstagram #giantfish #livingfossil #monsterfishkeepers #monsterfish #animals #fish #petfish #nature #aquascape #freshwateraquarium #plantedtank https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0QQ19gUFO/?igshid=pg06koxxtdzw

Blue . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #thanksgivingpoint #thanksgivingpointbutterflybiosphere #thankspoint #butterflies #bluemorpho #blue #iridescent #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #insectsofinstagram #insects_of_our_world #insects_macro #insects #bugs #bugsofinstagram #macrophotography #macro #entomology #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #wildlifephotographer #wildlife #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeconservation #picturetokeep_nature #naturephotography #animalsaddict #animalphotography #arthropod_perfection (at Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKyfb3gg79p/?igshid=yyxpkwpzjyv1

Heliconius hecale- Tiger Longwing

I recently learned something quite poetic about the origin of the genus name Heliconius. It is a reference to Mount Helicon in Greek mythology. Mount Helicon was home to the muses, divine spirits who inspired the arts.

.

For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95

.

#tigerlongwing #heliconius #greekmythology #mythology #muse #entomology #butterflies #butterflybiosphere #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #thanksgivingpointbutterflybiosphere #thankspoint #thanksgivingpoint #insectsofinstagram #insects_of_our_world #insects_macro #insect #insects #insectphotography #insectlovers #bugs #bugsofinstagram #bugsarefriends #arthropod_perfection #arthropod #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #animalphotography #natgeoyourshot

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Victoria Brandt Flewallen (@toridactyl95)

#Instagram

Bombycilla cedrorum- Cedar Waxwing This is an incredibly social little bird. Cedar waxwings travel, forage, and live together as a flock. Their favorite food is berries, and when a cluster of berries is found at the end of a hard to reach twig they'll line up and pass berries down from one to the next until everyone has had the chance to eat. Is that not the cutest freaking thing you've ever heard?!?! 😍 Now we just need to figure out how to get people to work together like this 😂 . For more amazing science and nature content follow @toridactyl95 . . . . #cedarwaxwing #cedarwaxwings #waxwing #birdphotography #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdstagram #bird_brilliance #birdsofprey #birdlovers #birds_captures #birdwatchingphotography #bird_watchers_daily #birding #birds #birdwatching #birdingphotography #ornithologyphotography #ornithology #birdbrain #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeconservation #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotographer #wildlife_seekers #canon #canonusa #canonphotography #naturephotography #nature_perfection https://www.instagram.com/p/CKuQ05IA4GP/?igshid=261ybkj4migf

Do you remember catching moths and butterflies as a kid and getting 'dust' all over your fingers from wherever you touched them? That 'dust' was actually residue of tiny scales that cover the wings and body of members of lepidoptera. These unique scales aid in several different survival adaptations.

1. Color- Colored with both chemical and structural pigments, these scales form a mosaic that can help a butterfly/moth disappear with camouflage, signal a poisonous nature, and attract mates.

2. Insulation- There are different types of butterfly scales with very different shapes. Some of them are long filaments which may cover it's body giving it a fuzzy appearance (moths are often exceptionally fluffy). Some scientists have hypothesized that this was why they started developing scales in the first place.

3. Escape- This one goes back to the whole 'dust' thing. Butterfly scales are not firmly attached to their wings and bodies, and this is why it's impossible to handle them without some coming off. It's been found in some tests that butterflies/moths have higher survival rates the a other insects after encounters with spider webs. When they collide with the webbing, the scales form a barrier between the sticky web and the more vulnerable tissues. The stuck scales will detach and stay behind, allowing the butterfly to escape relatively unharmed. It's a similar concept to covering your hands with flour before kneading sticky bread dough.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Victoria Brandt Flewallen (@toridactyl95)

Caligo atreus- Yellow-edged Giant Owl

More fluffy butterflies with their little woolly scales! Something especially interesting about owl butterflies, they mostly feast on rotting fruit instead of flowers. These dudes are especially find of bananas, and can even be considered a pest problem on some banana plantations.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Toridacity Wildlife