Spear Point Leaf Tail Gecko
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Antonio Rodríguez Arduengo Uroplatus ebenaui Demons get such a bad rap these days. And... all other days, I suppose. But look at this cutie! Surely he wouldn't hurt a fly! Image: Alextelford Hmm? Oh. Turns out he would eat a fly. OK. Image: Frank Vassen But I bet he does it in the cutest way possible! The flies last thoughts would be something like, "This is actually kind of adorable. It's way better than getting eaten by a spider." Image: Frank Vassen The Spear Point Leaf Tail Gecko is a member of the genus Uroplatus, the same as the Satanic Leaf ..read more
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Clinging Jellyfish
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: WoRMS Editorial Board Gonionemus vertens Jellyfish are known to be inveterate drifters. They love nothing more than to hang out in the water column, the careful fluttering and pulsing of their bell all but powerless in the face of a mild current. But what if a jellyfish doesn't want to do that? What if they find a nice plot of ocean, verdant with plant life, the water a particularly delightful shade of blue, and they just want to settle down for a while? One tiny Hydrozoan has the answer. Image: WoRMS Editorial Board The Clinging Jellyfish reaches a mere 2.5 cm (1 in ..read more
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Striated Frogfish
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Silke Baron Antennarius striatus Pac-Man was always such a harmless soul, lost in the labyrinth of his own mind, chased by ghostly memories of his past and finding succour in a trail of psychoactive dots and the occasional fruit. He always seemed so happy. Or at least preoccupied. He was never the same after the werewolf attack. He's so grumpy now. And he's completely abandoned vegetarianism... Image: Jens Petersen Striated Frogfish, also known as Hairy Frogfish, are aptly named. They're Striated because they're stripy and they're Hairy because they go around in a ye ..read more
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Aspidistra
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: scott.zona Aspidistras are famous for their ability to withstand and even flourish under the kind of neglect that would usually end in the crinkly, brown-leafed death of most plants. But that's no excuse for neglecting their absolutely amazing flowers! Image: fuzzyjay Aspidistras have been suffering multiple levels of neglect for centuries. The first member of the genus Aspidistra was named and described in 1822. After that, people seemed to lose interest for some 150 years. That's why people thought there were only about ten species. It wasn't until the 1970s and 8 ..read more
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Toxodera
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Toxodera are mimics of the living and the dead! Toxodera is a small genus containing a handful of Southeast Asian mantids, some or all of which are sometimes called Dragon Mantises. Aaaaand that's about all I know... Video: Exo Factory Except for the fact that they look truly stunning! Video: Exotic Inverts Collection They're obviously masters of camouflage, whether they use leafy leg accessories and swaying motion to hide among the leaves, or twiggy textures and rigid stillness to hide in the branches. Leaves be green or leaves be brown Toxodera will not frown. Leaves be brown or ..read more
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Nightmare Catcher
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Frank Vassen A Nightmare Catcher flitters through the rainforests of Bolivia, sticky net in hand. Some say she feeds on nightmares, her gut so full of concentrated horror that the mere sight of her causes night terrors. Others say that's silly, and she probably eats moths. Still others say, "Yeah, that's what I meant. I actually have a terrible phobia of moths." The IUCN's List of Threatened Species lists the Nightmare Catcher as 'Be Concerned. Be Very Concerned ..read more
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Blunt-headed Burrowing Frog
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Khunpolrattachana Glyphoglossus molossus Now that is a face. Or... most of one, at least. Image: Khunpolrattachana Is it just me or is there something strangely cat-like about that profile? An excessively fat cat, granted, but still. Image: Thomas Brown The Blunt-headed Burrowing Frog, or Truncate-snouted Burrowing Frog, or Balloon Frog, belongs to the family Microhylidae, the Narrow-mouthed Frogs. Certainly, some of their relatives look pretty strange with their pointy heads and tiny mouths but they're no Blunt-headed Burrowing Frog. This guy is one of a k ..read more
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Sea Spiders: Paddling and Plummeting
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Sea Spiders aren't really spiders. They aren't even arachnids. In fact, they're barely more than legs. Not even the daddiest, longleggiest of Daddy Longlegs can out-leg a Sea Spider. Sea Spiders are marine arthropods found all over the world where they use their toothy snouts to suck out the juices of sea anemones or else tear worms and other slow-moving, soft-bodied prey to bite-sized chunks. Shallow water species can be as small as a single millimetre (0.04 in) long. while those in the peaceful chill of the deep sea and Arctic waters can really stretch their legs and attain legspans of ov ..read more
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Fanfin Angler
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation Caulophryne jordani SPOTTED: Reclusive Fanfin Angler and her latest beau step out for a romantic lure-lit dinner. She doesn't appear pleased. Then again, Fanfin Anglers never appear pleased. That's just the nature of their face. These Deep Sea Anglerfish reside in depths of up to 1,500 metres (4,950 ft). Their tiny eyes are almost useless for spotting prey and their near spherical, 20 cm (8 in) long body is hardly built for a merry chase. But that toothy, scowling maw must be fed! Good thing the Fanfin Angler lets her prey do the work for her ..read more
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In the Pink
Real Monstrosities
by Anonymous
3y ago
Image: Bernard DUPONT Sometimes... Image: Bernard DUPONT You get struck... Image: Bernard DUPONT By just how pink... Image: Bernard DUPONT Corals can be... Image: Bernard DUPONT And all you can think... Image: Bernard DUPONT Is pink ..read more
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