biodiversesv

[biodiversesv]

i love flash drives theyre like small animals to me. like minnows

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Results from the #paleostream! Tameryraptor, Ianthasaurus, Yinostius and Nemegtosaurus.

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Yeah, I see a lot of shark positivity posts on my dash these days and I really appreciate that. But I think something is being left out of the message so I’m just gonna say that:

YES, Sharks are not bloodthirsty monsters. They only do what they do because they are instinctively driven to do so.

NO, sharks are not your friends. They are not sea-puppies, gentle babies, or whatever BS anthropomorphic “cute” term you want to use to describe them.

YES, you are more likely to be killed by falling coconuts and any number of improbable circumstances than you are to be killed by a shark attack,

NO, sharks are not “harmless”. They are apex predators of their habitats and deserve to be treated with the same respect that you would give to a wild lion, bear, or wolf. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO ATTACK YOU DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY WON’T. ACCIDENTS CAN ALWAYS HAPPEN, AND A SHARK’S PATIENCE IS NOT LIMITLESS.

YES, you should take every precaution to prevent a shark from “test-biting” you.

NO, a test-bite is not just a harmless consequence of shark curiosity. A TEST-BITE CAN KILL YOU. Just because sharks generally release people after the first nip and don’t make any effort to eat them does not mean that the bite is somehow any less deadly. You will bleed out in the water if the wound is bad enough.

YES, sharks are endangered and unfairly demonised and worthy of our support.

NO, that does not mean that anthropomorphising them and spreading false information is okay. 

Please support sharks, but please, for the love of god, give them the respect they deserve when you do so. YOU ARE NOT HELPING THEM BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SWIM RIGHT INTO THEIR JAWS.

[biodiversesv]

Skull Index Community Discord Server

Come join the official Skull Index Community server! We have an active and welcoming 18+ community of hobbyists, industry professionals, and academics. The server has several channels for specimen showcasing, advice or identification, and professional development. We also host monthly giveaways and plan to host even more community events in 2025. If you'd like to get involved with the project this is one of the best ways to connect with our staff!

[biodiversesv]

pssst the Monterey Bay Aquarium workers are unionizing and you can show your support 👇

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I had a bit of an autism moment in the @biodiversesv discord (everyone go check it out, its great in there!) and I thought I would share here

Thinking about how there is no actual definition of what a wolf is. Because like, obviously, when you talk about wolves, most people think of the grey wolf and subsequent subspecies. But the red wolf is also discussed as a wolf despite not being a grey wolf subspecies (taxonomic designation of the red wolf is still up to slight debate, but more times then not they are described as being closely related but distinct from the grey wolf. Some still describe them as a hybridization of the grey wolf and coyotes, but other times they are seen as a separate species that has had recent interbreeding with coyotes)

The red wolf (Canis rufus) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus) are both still wolves, but are only in the same genus (Canis) which is most often associated with wolves but also includes all other canines, like coyotes (Canis latrans) and the golden jackal (Canis aureus). They are seperste from other canids, which include animals outside of the genus Canis but within the family Canidae, such as the red and grey fox (Vulpes vulpes and Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

This also goes into how a species is not clearly defined either. The most common definition of species is "a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding." Furthermore, people will say that the offspring of the interbreeding pair must have the possibility of being fertile; this is what separates donkeys and horses as different species since, despite being able to interbreed, a mule cannot be fertile. A coyote and wolf, however, are able to interbreed and create fertile offspring, which would push the two into one species given the working definition. And yet, the two are still put as two different species within the same genus

[biodiversesv]

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the pied-billed grebe is a small, stocky waterbird found throughout both north & south america, dwelling primarily in ponds and marshy habitats. their dark brown coloration allows them to often blend in to the reeds in their habitats. unlike many other waterbirds, they do not have webbed feet; however, they do have ‘lobes’ that extend off the side of the feet and help them paddle. they rarely fly; when threatened, they will often dive below water. they are known to be shy and reclusive in nature. baby grebes do not swim well, but stay afloat by being carried on both parents’ backs. sometimes, parents will even dive underwater with the chicks on their backs. they mainly feed on invertebrates and crustaceans; their sharp beaks allow them to easily extract meat from the shells of crayfish and other prey.

[biodiversesv]

During my internship, I saw another strange fellow. If you like the neck flexibility of the European wryneck you sure gonna love the Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). This bird is in the heron family (Ardeidae) but loves to shrink itself. But be warned ! They know where your eyes are and can launch their neck and beak real fast ! One tried to attack me while I was checking its ring and I was lucky to be just 10 cm too far. Despite this vicious attack I love this funny bird and he was quite easy to untangle and to ring. With colleagues, we nicknamed it the "Accordion of death"

[biodiversesv]

pica-pau do campo!

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I loved this post just because all the comments flipped between sincere appreciation and mockery of the birds

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Just found out there's a group on inaturalist dedicated to showcasing the silliest observations

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Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) male, family Phasianidae, order Galliformes, fling across the river at Pasir Ris Park, Singapore

photographs by Philip Chua

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Lanternfly (Pyrops spinolae), family Fulgoridae, Thailand

photograph by Nick Volpe

[biodiversesv]

Where are all the readers, bookworms, and inkdrinkers at???

If you find yourself to be one of these wonderful people…

Then consider this an invitation to…

The Ravenous Reader’s Retreat!

My partner and I cordially invite you to the Grand Opening of the Ravenous Readers Retreat Discord Server!!

In this magic library, you scholars and literary enthusiasts may discuss, dissect and analyze books, comics, manga and other forms of literature to your hearts content.

With countless halls dedicated to varying genres and topics, you'll always be able to find something to read!

We offer such fun features as...

- A Bi-Weekly Book Club meeting! wherein we will read a book to the Auditorium voted on by you wonderful people and discuss it together

- Movie Nights! Where we as a group watch a movie or series based upon books

- The Display Case! Where we display a book every month that we feel deserves more attention

- Dedicated area for writers to discuss ideas and topics!

…and more to come!

Come on down and apply for a library card today! Countless worlds and stories await you. <3

We eagerly await your application! 🧙‍♂️ 🔮 💖

Sincerely, the Grand Archivists

Join here:

[biodiversesv]