In some respects, spherical nests make sense, but it also seems that it would be hard to escape if a predator got in there. I wonder if, as a result, weaverbirds are more flighty than birds that can escape off of a nest.
Penguin
Turns out you can use the same technique for bats in mid-flight to get penguins in mid-swim.
Cardinal
I’ve been told that, have you colour vision, this photo is rather striking.
Tortoise
They look a lot different when they’re not covered with a layer of dust.
Pelican
You know how dinosaurs in movies are green and scaley?
Yeah. That’s probably wrong.
Leaf Cutter Ants
Sometimes it takes teamwork.
Insect
I have no idea if those weird bumps on the back of his head are bonus eyes, but I kinda hope they are.
Grackle
The birds are less impressed when the bed knob makes everything fly because they can do that on their own.
Butterfly
Butterflies have yet to invent napkins.
Seal
I find it fascinating that every mammal that adapts to ocean life decides that necks aren’t worth the trouble. The same is true for most aquatic reptiles, though turtles just sort of tuck their necks away instead of losing them altogether.
Yet, sea monsters in ancient books and maps are almost all neck.
Maybe that’s why they died out.
Sign
In information security, this is an example of what we call “discretionary access control”.
Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki)
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Jaguar tongue!
Insect
Sometimes you spend all day following a path and then, once you finally get where you’re going you realize there’s nothing there and you have to turn around and try again.
Insects call this “climbing grass”.
Humans call this “doing I.T.”
Fly
This fly really wants you think it’s a bee. Their strategy works because of the following logic:
1) When being pursued by a predator of little brain, they see the yellow and black stripes and think “OMG! It’s a bee! Better leave it alone!”
2) When being pursued by a predator of rather much brain, they see the yellow and black stripes and think “Hmm, it looks like a bee. But I know that some flies look like bees. Better look that up. OK, it looks like flies don’t stick pollen to their legs like bees do, but maybe it’s a bee that just started it’s day’s work. Flies also have larger eyes and smaller antenna than bees, but that’s only useful if there’s a bee to compare against. Oh! Bees have wings that overlap but flies have wings that stick out. So it’s probably a fly. To be safe though, I should compare it to other bees. Where can I find other bees?”
3) Then, when the predator of rather much brain is look up “bees” on Google Maps, the fly can get away.
Bee
When you pet them, bees purr. Sure, it sounds like buzzing because they are so much smaller than cats, but it’s really purring.
Be careful though. If you pet them too much, they can bite.
Butterfly
Suddenly realized that he forgot to file his taxes.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Sometimes I wonder how many alligators died before they realized that their nostrils should be higher than the water.
Tortoise
I got really concerned while I was there because the water was rising faster than the tortoises were moving. It wasn’t until I got home that I remembered that, though they don’t do it often, tortoises are perfectly able to swim.
Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Ostriches, for some reason, are unable to fly.