Walking Frog Fish

I realize we haven't gotten to the fish section yet, however I thought this was a very interesting looking fish that could raise some possible evolutionary questions. Plus it just looks cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcN4nfcletU&feature=related

Giant Isopod Video

I posted the giant isopods eating Doritos on my FB profile page, and my brother-in-law wanted to get in on the act. He writes, "My own link to Bathynomus giganteus (or giant isopods)." Impressive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeOSXtBCY30

Other comments on FB:

I can hear my wife screaming already. Good night, those are huge.

Hmm. Wonder how they'd be boiled and dipped in butter... :D

Yikes!! Funny how their going for the bag of Doritos!
In Taiwan they are boiled and served with rice!

Earthworm Sex

We just talked about earthworm mating behavior on Monday in Zoology. Here's an impressive video of worms getting it on.

http://www.mcb.arizona.edu/wardlab/matingvid.html

Darwin and Change (Over Time)

I couldn't resist posting this one sent to me by another Zoology student...

Comic Strips on Evolution

Here's a link to more comic strips. This one is on evolution.

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2009/02/evolution-of-darwinian-evolution.html

Lizards Show Evolution in Action

We just talked about evolution as a change in population dynamics a few articles ago with nematodes and pesticides. Here is a GREAT video illustrating this point once again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoeIIZFApF4

Those lizards that have retained a juvenile behavioral trait of shaking off their ant attackers and skidatilling out of there will survive and reproduce, unlike their buddies that remain statuesque, hoping to camouflage themselves and hide from the ants, (which obviously turns out to be a bad strategy!)

Anyone know how to spell skidatilling?

More on the Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Hey,
I noticed the gorgeous picture of the peacock mantis shrimp posted on the blog and wanted to find out a little bit more about them. This website gives a brief overview of their behavior for anyone considering keeping one in their aquarium. They are not related to shrimp or the praying mantis, but are named Mantis Shrimp because of similar appearance and hunting behavior to the shrimp and praying mantis.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msubpestmshrimp/a/aa110498.htm

My favorite informational tid-bit was this:

There are two hunting categories, the "spearers" and the "smashers". The "spearers" use their spear-like claw to silently stab soft tissued prey. The "smashers" use their forceful, club-like claw to hit, crack open or pulverize harder bodied prey. It is interesting that the power of the "smashers" appendage can produce a blow close to the power of a .22 caliber bullet and are notoriously known as "thumb splitters". It is rumored that because of the tremendous strength these animals have, they can crack aquarium glass. From a story about how a pet Mantis Shrimp broke 1/4 inch aquarium glass, that was posted in The Daily Mirror (a British Newspaper) on Friday, April 10, 1998, page 11, this documentation leads us to believe that this is possible.

Then there is a link from that website to a brief story of "Tyson" breaking the aquarium class.

Here's another website you can purchase them at ($43.99!!), along with a warning of their aquarium breaking capabilities:

http://www.paradisepetshop.net/en/peacock-mantis-shrimp.html