This Is A Metal Snail (Volcano Snail) That Lives On Underwater Volcano Vents In The Indian Ocean. Its

This is a metal snail (Volcano Snail) that lives on underwater volcano vents in the Indian Ocean. Its shell and scaly feet both are armoured with layers of iron, making it the only animal to incorporate iron sulfide into its skeleton.

Facultative parthenogenesis ability was discovered in crocodiles for the first time ever!

livescience.com

'Virgin birth' recorded in crocodile for 1st time ever

The American crocodile had been isolated in a reptile park enclosure for 16 years when she laid a clutch of eggs.

"The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) was taken into captivity in 2002 when she was 2 years old and placed in an enclosure at Parque Reptilandia in Costa Rica. She remained alone for the next 16 years. But in January 2018, a clutch of 14 eggs was found in the enclosure.

Virgin births, also known as facultative parthenogenesis (FP), is a type of asexual reproduction in species that would normally reproduce sexually. Scientists have documented it in birds, sharks, lizards and snakes in captivity, among other species. Until now, it had never been recorded among Crocodilia — the order that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials.

They also said the discovery of a virgin birth in a crocodile means FP has now been found in both birds, which descended from dinosaurs, and a crocodilian, suggesting a common evolutionary origin. Birds and crocodilians are the remaining representatives of archosaurs — the group that also included dinosaurs and pterosaurs.

"This new evidence offers tantalizing insights into the possible reproductive capabilities of extinct archosaurian relatives of crocodilians, notably the Pterosauria and Dinosauria," they wrote."

Snippet from Family Tree, chap. 3:

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Clearing his throat, Ulthane avoids your gaze and continues, “Supposin' that's what I deserve...”

The night is silent outside the tree, but inside, the silence is a thing of tangible, touchable substance, its own entity.

Underneath your knees, you feel the maker's heart beat several times before his words really settle inside your eardrums.

“...What?” you return, soft as a whisper but laced with incredulity that turns the question sharp.

The maker doesn't respond for a time, enough that you feel the need to give his neck a nudge to try and push the words out. After another moment however, he finally draws in a long, tired breath and releases it all at once, ruffling the hair on your head and filling your nose with the scent of rust. A brief glimpse between his parted lips reveals that there's blood still lingering on his teeth.

“Mayhaps," he sighs, "A little pain's no less than what I've got comin' to me... y'know?”

No. You don't know. And you don't like the sudden shadow hanging above his comely eyes, half-hidden beneath thick, furrowed brows, nor the dismal stare he's aiming at a spot just over your shoulder.

Slowing your hand to a stop on the corner of his lip, you let your forehead pucker, broadcasting your worry like a billboard lit up by the side of the road. “Ulthane, you're scaring me," you whisper.

He hasn't the wherewithal to keep hold of a despondent huff.

“Isn't that what monsters're s'posed to do?”

Finally a good fucking use for AI.

I've read "Old Timer" from @imagine-darksiders, at least 3 months ago. Young Eidard is still living rent free in my brain.

Thank you Ellie.