Uncharismatic Fauna

Jack || he/they || ecologist-in-training

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Hey you! Yes, you! Do you live in a place where there are animals, creatures, beasts, and/or critters*? If you answered yes, then you need to take some pictures and send them right here (submit) or here (ask), to be shared this Saturday! It's quick, its easy, and it's free; why wait?

*may also include birbs, sneks, creepy crawlies, and otherwise unidentifiable fauna

**Submissions must feature at least 1 living animal. Please no conventional pets (cats, dogs, rabbits etc.); insects, amphibians, and reptiles are a-ok.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Hey you! Yes, you! Do you live in a place where there are animals, creatures, beasts, and/or critters*? If you answered yes, then you need to take some pictures and send them right here (submit) or here (ask), to be shared this Saturday! It's quick, its easy, and it's free; why wait?

*may also include birbs, sneks, creepy crawlies, and otherwise unidentifiable fauna

**Submissions must feature at least 1 living animal. Please no conventional pets (cats, dogs, rabbits etc.); insects, amphibians, and reptiles are a-ok.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Feeling blue? The Carpathian blue slug can sympathise. Juveniles are a bland yellowish brown, but once they reach their adult size they turn blue- often navy or violet. It's currently unclear why they are so brightly colored, as they are not toxic to predators.

(Image: A Carpathian blue slug () by Vladimír Motyčka)

[onenicebugperday]

Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, Laelapidae

Found worldwide, the varroa mite is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony.

The mites have flattened, curved bodies that allow them to attach to adult bees between the abdominal segments, though they will also feed on larvae. They feed primarily on honey bee fat body tissue and not hemolymph, weakening the bee and potentially acting as a vector for harmful viruses.

Photos 1-4 (on the head of a bee pupa) by gillessanmartin, 5 by mohawkalex, 6 by dti88, 7 by mmmmbugs, 8 by georgiebug, and 9-10 (male mite - all others are female) by gillessanmartin

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

If you're as blind as a blind shark, you can see just fine! Blind sharks have fully functioning eyes, and instead gets its name from its habit of retracting its eyeballs into its skull and shuting its thick lower eyelids when removed from the water. This species is actually notoriously hardy, and can survive up to 18 hours exposed to the air!

(Image: A blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi) by Erik Schlögl)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Can you guess which animal goes 'ribbit ribbit'? If you guessed the sea robin, you're correct! Fish in the family Triglidae are known for making a deep croaking sound, which sounds much like a frog; they can also produce barks, grunts, and growls. The sound is produced by a special muscle that drums against the swim bladder, and is believed to be an alarm call alerting others in the area of danger.

(Image: A striped sea robin (Prionotus evolans) by Robert Michelson

Check out these links to hear some of the sounds of sea robins:

Sea Robin | Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Take Off with the Flying Gurnard

The flying gurnard, also known as the helmet gurnard or the Atlantic flying gurnard (Dactyloperus volitans) is a species of bottom-dwelling fish found along the tropical coasts of the Atlantic ocean, typically from Brazil to the northern United States on the western side, and from Angola to the English Channel on the eastern side. They are also commonly spotted throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Helmet gurnards prefer warm waters. They generally stay close to muddy or sandy ocean flats, although they may occasionally be seen among rocks or kelp forests.

Flying gurnards are named for their peculiar swimming motion; rather than propelling themselves with their tails, they have large wing-like pectoral fins to glide through the water when startled. When foraging, D. volitans also uses its folded up 'wings' to 'walk' along the ocean floor. They feed primarily on small fish, crustaceans and other small invertebrates found in the sand. Although they are covered in spines and thick, sheath-like scales, helmet gurnards are prey for a large variety of larger fish such as groupers, wrasse, and sharks, as well as sea birds; however, in addition to providing a quick getaway, their broad, colorful fins can make them appear bigger than they really are, startling potential predators.

On average, D. volitans reaches 50 cm (20 in) in length and 1.8 kg (4.0 lb). They are rather plain colored at first glance, usually brown or olive with light and dark spots that allow them to blend seamlessly into the ocean floor. Their most dazzling feature are their pectoral fins, which sport bright blue phosphorescent spots and a blue lining around the edge.

Flying gurnards have two spawning periods; one from May to August and another from November to February. During the spawning periods, both males and females release their respective reproductive materials (sperm and eggs) into the water, where they combine and fertilize. After hatching, the larvae will spend several months being carried by the currents before they settle down onto the ocean floor. Juveniles can reach maturity between 1-2 years old, and can live to be at least 4-5 years old in the wild, although their true lifespan has yet to be confirmed.

Conservation status: D. volitans is considered Least Concern by the IUCN. They are occasionally caught as by-catch in fishing nets.

Photos

Beck Mannjan

Thomas Menut

Stergios Vasillis

[todaysbird]

the bateleur eagle is a medium-sized eagle, closely related to the ‘snake eagles’, found in sub-saharan africa. they are endangered, having experienced sharp population declines due to habitat loss, accidental poisoning, intentional shooting and pesticide use. they are known to be aggressive in many contexts, but easy to disturb from their nests. they reach maturity at 7-8 years of age, which is later than most other birds of prey. adults are overall black, with bright red facial skin, while juveniles are brown. bateleurs have a unique appearance due to their large head and small legs, which seem disproportionate to the rest of their bodies.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Found this snapping turtle in the middle of the street on my way home from work! Fortunately was able to safely move it to the side it seemed to be heading towards (and not get snapped in the process! though not for lack of trying on the little guy’s part). (Just want to clarify that I have an educational and work background that includes wildlife handling, and all appropriate safety precautions were taken.)

I’ve had to move a snapper or two off the road in my time- it’s always a very...fun...challenge lmao

also, *waves in fellow wildlife biologist*!!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

My cat was CONVINCED something was behind my drawers, but I couldn’t find anything and she gave up. 3 hours later she was digging in something else and utterly ignoring me (rare for her). *I* finally fished this guy out in the glass and she sat there next to it with her arm stretched out, purring, pleased as punch as if SHE was the one who caught it (he was released outside unharmed and my intentions of going to bed at a responsible-adult time went with him)

I'm sure he appreciates your sacrifice lol

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Box turtle at work! Little dude was very comfy on the warm road

He does indeed look very comfy!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

A butterfly and a praying mantis I saw while doing chores outside

The duality of bug: beautiful painting or deadly stick

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Wet caterpillar.

Wow, I've never seen a caterpillar like that before! So cool!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

I’m told this thing is a Chukar, and he pretended very studiously to be dirt while we looked at him.

Mmmm looks like a pile o' dirt to me

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Littol catopilla :)

Jus a littl guy :)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Could’ve gotten a better pic but I was in a car lol

Baby Sandhill

omg that's so exciting! and I see mama strutting her stuff there too!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Laughing gulls <3

(also uh tried to submit this as a post to you and it just posted straight to my blog instead of getting submitted, I think so sending it here instead. in case tumblr weirdness meant you didn't get it? but if you did get it feel free to ignore this ask)

Laughing gulls! those guys always crack me up XD