#tagged; the nebula of stars

[markscherz]

Meet the seven new frog species we just named after iconic Star Trek captains!

Artwork by A. Petzold, CC BY-ND 4.0

At the right time of year along rushing streams in the humid rainforests that stretch the length of Madagascar's eastern and northern mountain ridges, otherworldly trills of piercing whistles can be heard.

Are they birds? Insects? Communicator beeps? Tricorder noises?

No, they're little treefrogs!

Boophis janewayae. Photo by M. Vences, CC BY-SA 4.0

Until recently, we thought all of the populations of these little brown frogs across the island were one widespread species, Boophis marojezensis, described in 1994. But genetics in the early 2000s and 2010s showed that there were several species here, not just one.

Now my colleagues and I have shown that they are in fact eight separate species, each with unique calls!

These whistling sounds reminded us so much of Star Trek sound effects that we decided to name the seven new species after Star Trek captains: Boophis kirki, B. picardi, B. janewayae, B. siskoi, B. pikei, B. archeri, and B. burnhamae.

Photos of all new species described by Vences et al. 2024. CC BY-SA 4.0

I subtly and not-so-subtly built some Star Trek references into the paper, but probably the best one is this one:

'Finding these frogs sometimes requires considerable trekking; pursuing strange new calls, to seek out new frogs in new forests; boldly going where no herpetologist has gone before.'

— Vences et al. 2024

There’s a real sense of scientific discovery and exploration here, which we think is in the spirit of Star Trek.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that there are at least two Trekkies amongst the authors (including yours truly). As fans of Star Trek, we are also just pleased to dedicate these new species to the characters who have inspired and entertained us over the decades.

On a personal note, this marks a milestone for me, as it means I have now described over 100 frog species! I am very pleased that the 100th is Captain Janeway's Bright-eyed Frog, Boophis janewayae (if you count them in order of appearance in the paper)—she is probably my favourite captain, and I really love Star Trek: Voyager.

You can read more about the discovery of these new species on my website! You can also read the Open Access paper published in Vertebrate Zoology here.

[milocelium]

sketchbook entry No.5

[s7arcr0sser]

I'm probably not gonna post for a while, I'm not gone, I'm just, y'know, working on stuff

In the meantime

Has anyone done this already?

[eleonorpiteira]

Celestacean I painted for Hit Point Press 🐋

[dovelywind]

ꕥ| Peter Quill & Gamora — AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

I love you, more than anything.

[soni-dragon]

“How much trouble could I get into just for asking a few questions?”

(believe me, darling, the stars were made for falling…)

[ID: A drawing of Crowley from Good Omens. He has long hair and sits bent over with his black wings pointed upward. Within his wings are stars, and behind him is a ring of colors which resembles a nebula. /End ID]

[chowmoon2]

Uhhh,Here is a random tier list on which Kirby final bosses are actually "gods" (spoilers:None of them lmao)

[phantastragoria]

That one shot in the Vol. 3 trailer.

[desigyall]

how can you not see that you are pretty? when you’re a cluster of starburst, an explosion of nebulas. there are constellations that knot your arteries together, you’re beyond pretty, you’re the greatest creation with a unique fingerprint that could never be replicated.

[fulcrum-art-fox]

“I’m fine. I just need a drink. And guns. And an arm.” That’d be in order of priority, I presume

[nebulathunderwave]

Lianfang-zun and Zewu-jun's secret little tea party under the cherry blossom trees! And a romantic moment together on the swing of love 🌸

[mai-komagata]

Snw literally has an episode where a character ships two same sex characters together even though they aren’t together in a story and goes into a nebula to rewrite the story to make her ship explicit and then proceeds to live forever with Debra. Curious.

[salubriousbean]

What's In A Name?

Where I, the salubrious bean, talk about why I gave an original character their name.

Episode 1: Star Nubo & the Nebula Company

Well lads, lasses, others, boths, neithers, and everyone else out there, this one's pretty simple. "Nubo" means "cloud" in Esperanto, and Jedi Knight Star Nubo commands Nebula Company. Nebula = basically a Star Cloud.

✨✨✨✨✨

[astrodances]

"I'm so happy that we found each other."

If you haven’t read WizardoftheRainbow’s weblena fic, What You'll Find In The Night, please do. This wonderful story resonated with my soul on many very personal levels, not the least of which was the astronomical aspect of it, which spurred me on to draw this post-fic picture as a tribute, which turned out to be one of my most favorite things I’ve ever drawn. Really wanted to capture the splendor and happiness of the night sky, as the stellar jewel box the fic mentions, and of the love between these two love birds.

Anyway, the fic is fantastic, it’s cozy, it’s perfect. 💜✨

P.S. If you want to also listen to a perfect weblena (and also dellumbra) song, I recommend “Satellite” by Lena (yes, that’s really the artist’s name!). I listened to it soooo many times while drawing this!

Drawing without title + alternate shadowy-title versions below the cut!

[emeraldshy98]

Why not post all of them at the same time?

Anyways, EsterSpace, PockySwatch, and BakeSol kids

Names are Nebula WereDragon Cookie, Samuel Watch, and idk what to name the last kid but I have either Solaris or Solarinyan

Anywho, enjoy them lol

[mistylakeee]

After seeing guardians of the galaxy volume 3 I can now say with confidence that the guardians are the crows of the mcu. Gamora is giving mean Inej. Gamora ily i hope you’re thriving sweetie🥹