Posts tagged colorful
Doris sumptuosa [now Hexabranchus sanguineus] - “Spanish Dancer”
The “Spanish Dancer” nudibranch is named for its flamboyant “skirts” that swish around like a flamenco dancer. Hexabranchus sanguineus is found around the world, wherever the water is warm enough.
The species was first described based on a specimen from the Red Sea, where its coloration is almost blood-red (hence the “sanguineus” - blood-like). However, the color can vary from red, to orange, to bright yellow (though pure yellow is quite rare).
These are some of the largest nudibranchs out there. Adults can reach up to 40 cm in length.
United States Exploring Expedition, under the command of Charles Wilkes: Atlas, Mollusca and Shells. Augustus A. Gould, 1856.
From a late 19th century promotional booklet by Chase & Sanborn, importers of tea and coffee.
Or perhaps I don’t have any Monarchs yet…
“Banded Red Butterfly” is an old common name of the Monarch Butterfly. It was also used for the Viceroy butterfly, but they have that one additional stripe on the bottom wings - what we have here is a Viceroy.
From a late 19th century promotional booklet by Chase & Sanborn, importers of tea and coffee.
Black Swallowtail butterfly on the bottom right.
From “Cabinet of Oriental Entomology” by J.O. Westwood, Esq.
Even though it’s titled “Oriental”, the insects are from India and the adjacent islands.
Land Snail Shells
Did you know that the science of studying gastropod shells is called conchology? Almost 90% of gastropod shells coil to the right. Oh, oh, and the color “Tyrian purple” (the purple that only emperors and royalty were allowed to - or could afford to - wear) comes from the Spiny dye-murex shell!
Shells are cool!
Dragonflies!
1. Cannacria batesii
2. Trithemis attenuata
3. Aethriamanta brevipennis
4. Untamo apicalis
5. Lyriothemis braueri
6. Deielia fasciata
7. Pseudoleon superbus
8. Nesoxenia cingulata
9. Anatya anomala
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 1890.
Nudibranch nudibranch nudibranch nudibranch!
Nudibranchs are all carnivores. Most of them (all of them, if in too dense an area) are cannibalistic. Some of these very cool/scary invertebrates even actively hunt down Portuguese Man o’ Wars for food…you know, the ones that have the second most painful sting of any sea creatures? Yeah, they eat those, and take the nematocysts that make up the tentacles for their own protection.
Proceedings of the General Meetings for Scientific Business of the Zoological Society of London. 1906.
Flying Fish.
Flying fish are of the family Exocoetidae. They’ve been a popular fish with naval forces since the time of Ancient Greece. The “Exocet” guided missile is named after the family, and the United States Navy has had three separate ships named USS Flying Fish.
The first USS Flying Fish was a schooner, which was purchased in 1838, and sold in 1842. It was used on one of the first major expeditions to explore the boundaries of Antarctica, and literally went all over the world.
In World War II, the USS Flying Fish was a Gato-class submarine actively used throughout the war, from the Battle of Midway to July 4, 1945. It sunk primarily Japanese cargo ships, and received 12 stars for battle during the war.
The most recent USS Flying Fish was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine commissioned in 1976 and struck in 1996. She was a short-hull Sturgeon and patrolled the East coast for the most part.
Madagascar fauna today. Well, they’ll all be southern hemisphere, at least. Mostly Madagascar.
Lepidoptera.
Faune Entomologique de Madagascar, Bourbon, et Maurice. Lépidoptères. Jean A. Boisduval, 1853.
Flying fish!
1. La Rondole
2. Le Muge volant
3. Le Pirabebe
4. Le Mesogastre, ou l’Adonis
Porte-feuille instructif et amusant pour la jeunesse. Frederich Bertuch, 1807.
Poissons Merveilleux!
1. L’Anguille tremblante
2. La Raye tremblante
3. La Chauve-Souris de Mer
4. La Taureau de Mer
5. Le Crapaud de Mer
Porte-feuille instructif et amusant pour la jeunesse.Frederich Bertuch, 1807.
Guys! Guys. I found this fantabulous kids book from 1807. It is gorgeous.
Poissons!
1. La Tonche doreé
2. L’Orphe
3. La Dorade chinoise
4. Le Bossu
Porte-feuille instructif et amusant pour la jeunesse. Frederich Bertuch, 1807.
Australian King Parrot.
Garnet Pitta.
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A blog for all biological and medical ephemera, from the age of Abraham through the era of medical quackery and cure-all nostrums. Featuring illustrations, history, and totally useless trivia from the diverse realms of nature and medicine.
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