Long-horned Orb-weaver Spider (Macracantha arcuata), family Araneidae
As members of the orb-weaver family of spiders, these amazing creatures build the typical circular web of their cousins across pathways so you can walk into them in the dark. The purpose of the disproportionately long body horns however remains a mystery. This is one of the larger individuals I have come across; each horn is about 45mm in length.
by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr.
Pu’er, Yunnan, China
See more Chinese spiders and arachnids on my Flickr site HERE…..
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The icon star, Iconaster longimanus
… inhabits deep reef areas of the tropical west and central Indo-Pacific Ocean. Its range includes south eastern Arabia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, the South China Sea, Indonesia and northern and western Australia.
Most starfish have planktonic larvae that live and feed in the water column for several weeks. Iconaster longimanus produces large yolky eggs which develop directly into juvenile starfish without an intervening larval stage.
More about this species: Encyclopedia of Life
Image: OCEAN DEFENDER Hawaii via World Register of Marine Species
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SO YOU THINK HE’S CHEATING ON YOU?
NO, IT’S NOT THAT. I THINK HE’S UNSATISFIED IN THE RELATIONSHIP SO HE’S PUTTING HIMSELF IN SITUATIONS WHERE THAT SORT OF THING COULD HAPPEN. JUST KIND OF TESTING THE WATERS, YOU KNOW? I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF IT’S A CONSCIOUS MANEUVER. HE MIGHT HAVE CONVINCED HIMSELF IT’S ALL HARMLESS, FRIENDLY SOCIAL INTERACTION. IT’S NOT CHEATING BECAUSE HE DOESN’T INTEND TO CHEAT, BUT THAT’S STILL WHERE IT’S ALL HEADED, YOU UNDERSTAND?
I GUESS SO, YEAH.
IF I TRY TO CONFRONT HIM ABOUT IT HE’LL USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO MAYBE CROSS THE LINE, RIGHT? OR TO END THE RELATIONSHIP. HE’LL SAY I’M BEING JEALOUS, OR CONTROLLING, BUT I’VE TRIED TO BE MORE LOVING AND ATTENTIVE AND IT DOESN’T WORK. HE’S DISENGAGED, EMOTIONALLY, AND IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THINGS GO SOUTH. MY WINGS ARE TIED ON THIS ONE. I DON’T HAVE ANY VIABLE OPTIONS, BUT I DON’T WANT TO LOSE HIM, SO …
SO YOU WANT ME TO EAT THE GIRLS HE WORKS WITH.
YES. IF I DO ANYTHING IT WILL JUST TURN INTO ANOTHER FIGHT, WHICH I’M TRYING TO AVOID. IF THEY DON’T SHOW UP ON MONDAY … WELL, SHIT HAPPENS, RIGHT? AND MAYBE IT BUYS ME ENOUGH TIME TO REMIND HIM WE’RE IN LOVE.
YOU’RE GOING TO OWE ME BIG TIME. YOU KNOW THAT.
I KNOW, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, CHRISTINE. I MEAN IT. YOU’RE A GOOD FRIEND.
Freshwater Jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii)
Freshwater jellyfish can be found all over the world, appearing in still bodies of water such as reservoirs, lakes, ponds and quarries.They appear sporadically and may disappear from an area for a few years before returning. It is not uncommon for them to appear in areas where they haven’t been documented before.
The animal is actually classified as a Hydrozoan and differ from the ‘true jellyfishes’, the Scyphozoans, in that they have a muscular, shelf-like structure called a velum on the ventral surface, attached to the bell margin.
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European Porcupines More Formidable Than Expected
With needle-sharp quills, some longer than the average human forearm, porcupines sport one of nature’s most frightening defenses against predators. But a new study shows they can be fearsome killers as well. Researchers in Italy have found that the rodents can slay dogs, foxes, and even badgers. Scientists monitored crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) in Tuscany for about 18 months…
(read more: Science News/AAAS)
photograph by Ehrman Photographic
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Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.)
Blue-ringed octopuses are recognized as one of the world’s most venomous marine creatures. When provoked, its blue rings appear, warning the predator of its toxicity.
Its toxins cause total paralysis of the body, however, consciousness is maintained. The bite is small, often painless, but can cause death in several minutes.
Saspotato on Flickr
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Apache Jumping Spider (Phidippus apacheanus)
This adorable little spider is a colorful species of jumping spider found throughout North America. Like alot of jumping spiders they are not that big with adult males only growing up to 5mm long (females can get up to 10mm), they make up for this though by being able to jump up to two feet! This species is dimorphic and females are usually bigger and have a black stripe that runs up the middle of her abdomen. These spiders are mostly found in grasslands and other dry areas, where they lie in wait for any unwary insects to fall into jumping range.
Phylogeny
Animalia-Arthropoda-Arachnida-Araneae-Salticidae-Phidippus-apacheanus
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