🐙 Daily Cephalopod Fact: 🐙

I thought this feisty little critter was an isopod until I got a closer look. This is a carrion beetle larva, and, as their name suggests, adults and larvae of this insect eat dead animals, maggots that live in carrion, and/or other types of decaying organic matter. I have no idea where this one came from, since there were no dead animals nearby or compost. Perhaps an insectivorous bird dropped it, or maybe this particular species likes chicken manure (there was a chicken tractor nearby vroom vroom). Putting this next part below the cut because it's a little gross. Proceed with caution:

This carrion beetle child seemed somewhat hungry, as it was nibbling at some dead skin around my finger nail. It tickled a bit and reminded me of the shrimp they sometimes have at aquariums that will nibble at your fingers. Yes that's a thing.

unidentified Silphidae larva Northeastern Pennsylvania, US

phys.org

New clam species discovered in South Africa's kelp forest

A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western c

A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western coast of South Africa. The research, led by Paul Valentich-Scott from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, along with collaborators from the University of Cape Town, Sea Change Trust, Stellenbosch University, and the University of Colorado Boulder, offers a curious glimpse into the habitats, symbiotic relationships, and taxonomy of these interesting creatures.

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I mean, I’m compelled to share for the image alone

but if you’d like to read the full article: X

Digital illustration of an indigenous man with two braids wearing a jean jacket. There's text that reads, 'Columbus didn't discover anything.'

I just discovered the blanket octopus. Would you do a fact on them if not already done? 👀

Sure friend! I am a daily fish fact account only, but I simply couldn't not say something about the magnificent blanket octopus :)

Here is a blanket octopus female! How do I know that? Simple: the males of the species only reach about 2 and a half centimeters, while the females can be as large as two meters long! The species is named after this gorgeous lady's webs that connect to her arms.

"Blanket octopus" refers to four different species actually! And they're all immune to the extremely venomous Portuguese man o' war, young females and males will in fact rip out a dangerous and venomous tentacle from these animals to defend themselves! It is extremely interesting and exciting what kinds of things octopuses are capable of :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhekuli_Biya