I hate plants, but seagrasses are awesome
I hate plants, but seagrasses are awesome avatar

By , on January 10th, 2012 5 comments   Evolution, New Research   , , , , , ,  

I seem to develop these weird, unfounded hatreds of various things. For example: I hate blue dinnerware. Not every shade of blue dinnerware (I LOVE prussian blue glassware), but I severely dislike those particular gray-blue shades reminiscent of country Americana. I can’t explain it–the mere sight of plates like these makes me angry. I would . . . → Read More: I hate plants, but seagrasses are awesome

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Of eyes and sex in lizardfishes
Of eyes and sex in lizardfishes avatar

By , on October 20th, 2010 5 comments   Adaptations, Biology, Evolution, Fish, Mating & Reproduction, Organisms, Paleobiology   , , , , , ,  

145 million years ago, in the Cretaceous, the air was warm and the seas were high and rum flowed freely. On land, mammals were oppressed under dinosaur Republican rule. Massive reptiles and ammonites, long since extinct, dominated the oceans. Under the reign of these giants, the lizardfishes were mere fledglings. Today, the 256 known lizardfishes . . . → Read More: Of eyes and sex in lizardfishes

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If Molluscs Could Communicate What Would They Say?
If Molluscs Could Communicate What Would They Say? avatar

By , on September 6th, 2010 2 comments   Adaptations, Cephalopods, Ecology, Evolution, Mating & Reproduction, Organisms   , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  

Why don’t animal’s use wheels in locomotion? Why aren’t blue whales bigger? Why are there no freshwater starfish? Why are there no tree dwelling cephalopods? Why can’t my dog make a decent cocktail? These are the kinds of questions that intrigue me. Apparently I am not alone. Geerat Vermeij’s new paper “Sound reasons for silence: . . . → Read More: If Molluscs Could Communicate What Would They Say?

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The Fish That Walks on Stilts
The Fish That Walks on Stilts avatar

By , on August 26th, 2010 4 comments   Adaptations, Fish, Organisms   , , , , , , , ,  

One of the denizens of the deep is the 30cm long tripod fish, Bathypterois grallator. This unusual fish is typically found anywhere between 1-5km deep in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and western Indian, although future exploration wil likely reveal that is global. First described over a century ago in 1886, the common name comes . . . → Read More: The Fish That Walks on Stilts

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70’s Porn Staches and the Female Fish Who Love Them
70’s Porn Staches and the Female Fish Who Love Them avatar

By , on July 11th, 2010 5 comments   Adaptations, Biology, Fish, Mating & Reproduction, New Research   , , , , , , , ,  

From Schlupp, I., Riesch, R., Tobler, M., Plath, M., Parzefall, J., & Schartl, M. (2010) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Straight men let’s face it. We will do anything if we think females will find it attractive. No matter how ludicrous, expensive, or time-consuming it may be, we will do it. The rise of mullets . . . → Read More: 70’s Porn Staches and the Female Fish Who Love Them

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