Australian Fauna - Tumblr Posts
https://bioone.org/journals/annales-zoologici/volume-73/issue-1/00034541ANZ2023.73.1.010/A-Dung-Beetle-Impostor--Revision-of-the-Australian-Weevil/10.3161/00034541ANZ2023.73.1.010.short
Only just learned for the first time in my life that Australia has dung *weevils* and it was only just noticed that some species roll dung balls like a scarab however I also have to acknowledge the species they were studying is called Tentegia stupida
In which I achieve a lifelong dream, of sitting on the seafloor with a bunch of giant Australian cuttlefish
This morning I checked a major bucket list item off the list: hanging out w/Giant Australian Cuttlefish. They're super focused on mating, and are shockingly chill about people hanging around. I'd heard this was true, but whew, it was wild to experience firsthand.
It's a rare thing for an animal to reliably be found at a certain place & certain time. So often "lifer" animals depend on luck to seen. With these cuttlefish, so far it's been like clockwork. Late May-August, go to Whyalla in winter, and there they are, resplendent and numerous.
Good news:they're reliable + stunning. Bad news: Whyalla is a friggen hike from Philly & the water is a bit chilly (58 degrees F today). If you want to swim with them, you better get a thick wetsuit on and maybe be a bit cold (I was honestly too excited to be cold).
Seeing mating behavior up close was so completely amazing. The males perform dominance displays where they roll black bars across their body directly at another male. It's mind-blowing to see in person. They generally do it with the half of their body facing the other male.
How about Maratus rainbowi? (a silly lookin type of peacock spider ^^)
The silly guy from Webbed! Magnificent. I'll be doing the poll on Maratus spendens, because Maratus rainbowi seems to be an inactive taxon. I've included a picture of a female, just for fun.
