#halloween critters

[critter-of-the-day]

23rd of October 2024: Advhena magnifica

Today we’re staying underwater and going even deeper, this time looking at a deep-sea coral, Advhena magnifica, who doesn’t officially have a common name, but in the media coverage surrounding them was often termed the “E.T. sponge” or “E.T. coral” [1].

They were initially discovered in 2016, one being recovered just east of the Marianas’ Trench at a depth of over 2 km. Their main body is actually just around 14 cm in diameter, but they sit on top of a long peduncle (essentially a long stalk-like extension) [2]. They are a type of glass sponge, named such because their skeleton is made of silica particles. The specific microstructures of their skeleton were also necessary to determine they were a new species [1].

In 2017 researchers went down again and this time took video of what they termed “Forest of the Weird”, which included Advhena magnifica as well, showing them all oriented in the direction of the current. They also found groups of dead Advhena magnifica which they attributed to likely be because of a water-borne pathogen [3].

They are a monotypic genus at the moment, meaning they’re the only species in the genus. Advhena derives from the latin for alien, while magnifica comes from magnificent, thus essentially calling them magnificent aliens [2].

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [Image] 

[rawraminirawr]

Floofy cuteness

[strawlessandbraless]

Skeleton Panda Sea Tunicate Appreciation Post!!! 💀 🐼 🌊

Clavelina ossipandae, the skeleton panda sea tunicate is a species of colonial ascidian, also known as sea tunicates, a group of sessile, marine filter-feeding invertebrates. Just some funky little guys!

First discovered near Kume Island in Japan by local divers, pictures of the animal attracted media attention in 2017. But they weren't given their formal taxonomic description until 2024

Love to sea it 🌊

[amberluvsbugs]

Tricks & Treats

Made this in celebration of the spooky month for work, I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween!! Be sure to keep an eye out for tricks :D

Speedpaint

Process is down below

[whizpurr]

[lilybug-02]

Devil Bread, have you tried to scare Mummy Bread?

Devil Bread enjoyed that WAY more than they thought they would.

[strawberry-s0ap]

@/heartnosekid stimtober

day 1: halloween / autumn nostalgia!

x x x / x x x / x x x

[pokimoko]

It's Ace Week again and that means it's time for even more silly little artworks of silly little critters. (Here are their friends from 2021 and 2022) ✨Stay amazing, aces✨

[cat-cosplay]

The Caturday herald of the Spooky Season.

[shilohsylvanian]

x

[critter-of-the-day]

22nd of October 2024: Eastern Grass Shrimp

On this fine October day, may I introduce you to the Eastern Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), also known as the Ghost Shrimp, which I feel justifies them in this Halloween Critter line-up. They are thusly named because of their translucent skin, allowing you to see their bright green intestines and the female’s eggs, if she’s carrying them [1].

They only live for around a year at a time, having an annual breeding cycle and dying after reproduction [1]. Hatching happens around April, with the vast majority of juveniles having matured by the time autumn rolls around. They’re omnivorous, mostly feeding on algae, but also eating insects, other plants, and various detritus (dead organic particles) floating around [2].

They are usually 2-3 cm long, 5 at the very most [2]. They are found in freshwaters, most often lakes around the Eastern Central United States. They have also been introduced to bodies of water as far West as Arizona, California and Baja California [3], but appear not to be doing much ecological damage or anything [1].

Despite being a freshwater species, they can tolerate a bit of saltiness in their water, though it gets increasingly hard for them to reproduce and go about their regular life cycle [4]. Similarly, they can also endure the heavy metals associated with coal combustion, but their oxygen consumption goes up significantly by 51%, suggesting survival becomes a lot more strenuous [5]. Overall as a species they are considered to be of Least Concern though, just in case you were worried [3].

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [Image]

[sylvanianfamilieslove]

[yaalien]

Halloween costumes

[aloinky]

I wish you a Happy Halloween!! 🎃💀👻🧡💜🖤✨

[thehorrormoviechick]

Horror Movies: Behind The Scenes

[lilybug-02]

I have a yearly tradition where every October I change my Bread mascot. At first it was just a costume change, but now it’s evolved into something much more exciting!

Just like last year, the chosen character will be able to answer more asks than usual and participate in the fabled “Tumblr Trick-or-Treat Ask Game” on Halloween Night 🕷️😈🦇 basically you’ll just send an ask and get digital candy 🖤🤎

Uhh don't mind Devil Bread planning the winner's downfall 👀😅