princesscockroach:

Gasteracantha cancriformis!

I’m really enjoying my visit in Florida so far! 

Very cool documentary about life inside a leaf cutter ant colony!

I rocked one of these bow ties at the geology banquet. Every scientist needs a good bow tie.

astronomy-to-zoology:

Lamprima adolphinae

…is a species of stag beetle that is native to the island of New Guinea in Indonesia. L.adolphinae ranges greatly in color and individuals can sport green, gold, brown, and blue coloration. Despite their ‘menacing’ appearance L.adolphinae are not carnivorous and feed mostly on tree sap and rotting fruits. Male L.adolphinae sport two large mandibles which are used for fighting other males. These fights will usually be over mating rights but may also be over food. Like other stag beetles L.adolphinae larvae are deposited into rotting wood where they will develop until they pupate.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Arthropoda-Insecta-Coleoptera-Lucanidae-Lamprima-adolphinae

Image Source(s)

(via rhamphotheca)

kimberellasuglystepsister:

I am rather surprised that I have never blogged any images of Kimberella. 

(via scientificillustration)

Beecher Bed trilobite at gem and mineral show

http://www.fossilmall.com/fossil-shows/tucson/TucsonFossilShow.htm

Anomalocaris fossil, Burgess Shale

http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/science/burgess-shale/03-fossils.php

500 million year old arthropod found

http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/27/17119273-500-million-year-old-sea-creature-unearthed

paleoillustration:

Jaekelopterus rhenaniae catching a Ventastega curonica

and Chasmataspis laurencii 

by Guillermo Navalón Ferná.

1- “A dramatic scene in the Middle Devonian where you can see the huge pterygoid eurypterid Jaekelopterus rhenaniia (2,5- 3 m) hunting the tetrapodomorph fish Ventastega curonica. This reconstruction is highly hypothetical and is mostly based on its relative Pterygotus, much better known. In contrast to another eurypterids, Jaekelopterus lived in fresh water and some scientists think that it was able to walk on land. Done for an university investigation about arthropod evolution.”

2- “Chasmataspis laurencii from the Ordovician in Unites States. Thought to be in its discovery a young specimen of a eurypterid, now we know that it is a representative species of a “sister” order of eurypterid and xiphosurans, much more related with eurypterids than xiphosurans. 

The long metasome is thought to be used as a stabilizer in its brief incursions to the surface.

Done for an university arthropod-evolution investigation in about two hours of hard work.”

(via rhamphotheca)

Beach Wolf Spider on the Kansas River. Spotted it during a field trip. I think it’s a female because the pedipalps aren’t swollen. It’s body length is about 2cm but with it’s leg span it’s about 5-6cm.