the Paleo-naturalist

Paleobiologist, evolutinoary biologist, and ecologist

[earthandanimals]

A little cool on a hot day, or a story about a Wolverine by Nikolai Zinoviev

[earthandanimals]

A little cool on a hot day, or a story about a Wolverine by Nikolai Zinoviev

[earthandanimals]

A little cool on a hot day, or a story about a Wolverine by Nikolai Zinoviev

[earthandanimals]

A little cool on a hot day, or a story about a Wolverine by Nikolai Zinoviev

[fossilprep]

Some articulated Liberty ribs have been uncovered! Adding these to the queue of things to prep.

Photo courtesy of Denver Fowler.

[fossilprep]

Some articulated Liberty ribs have been uncovered! Adding these to the queue of things to prep.

Photo courtesy of Denver Fowler.

[fossilprep]

Some articulated Liberty ribs have been uncovered! Adding these to the queue of things to prep.

Photo courtesy of Denver Fowler.

[fossilprep]

Some articulated Liberty ribs have been uncovered! Adding these to the queue of things to prep.

Photo courtesy of Denver Fowler.

[fossilprep]

Inside this jacket is the first troodontid coracoid from North America.

Due to its status as a research specimen that will be described, I cannot post the final product yet.

[fossilprep]

Inside this jacket is the first troodontid coracoid from North America.

Due to its status as a research specimen that will be described, I cannot post the final product yet.

[fossilprep]

Inside this jacket is the first troodontid coracoid from North America.

Due to its status as a research specimen that will be described, I cannot post the final product yet.

[fossilprep]

Inside this jacket is the first troodontid coracoid from North America.

Due to its status as a research specimen that will be described, I cannot post the final product yet.

[fossilprep]

Inside this jacket is the first troodontid coracoid from North America.

Due to its status as a research specimen that will be described, I cannot post the final product yet.

[bunjywunjy]

Re spiders, do they not get the same illness that humans get when cannibalizing the same species?

nah. in all honesty, almost every single species of spier out there commits cannibalism on a semi-regular basis! they see another spider of the same species and they just get SO hungry.

[bunjywunjy]

Re spiders, do they not get the same illness that humans get when cannibalizing the same species?

nah. in all honesty, almost every single species of spier out there commits cannibalism on a semi-regular basis! they see another spider of the same species and they just get SO hungry.

[bunjywunjy]

Re spiders, do they not get the same illness that humans get when cannibalizing the same species?

nah. in all honesty, almost every single species of spier out there commits cannibalism on a semi-regular basis! they see another spider of the same species and they just get SO hungry.

[bunjywunjy]

Are spiders cannibals?

Like do some spiders eat other spiders for lunch?

sure do! allow me to introduce you to Portia, an entire genus of spindly cannibalistic jumping spiders!

portia spiders of all species specialize in hunting other species of spider (...including each other...) and their most dangerous weapon is their brains!

these spiders can adjust their hunting strategies on the fly depending on what type of prey they're hunting, and are capable of some nightmarishly complex behaviors.

portias of various species have been documented enticing female web-weaving spiders into striking distance by mimicking the courting behavior of the male of the same species, drawing hunting spiders out of their holes by mimicking the vibrations of a moth in distress with their legs, and just straight-up distracting other jumping spiders and pouncing them from behind!

basically, if you're a spider, to you the entire portia genus looks like a terrifying mix of Mike Myers and Jigsaw.

(be very glad you aren't a spider.)