The emergence of rare axolotl morphs is a result of us tweaking nature. Image credit: Courtney Bailey/Goldfisj Axolotls have fascinated the international public ever since they were first brought to Paris from Mexico in 1864. Europeans across the continent began breeding these salamanders, marking the beginning of an extensive pet trade in the animals, which …
When it went viral, many commenters couldn’t believe it was a real plant. It was. In March 2019, images of a plant dubbed ‘penis flytrap’ went viral. The name was a play on words that evokes the plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), the name of which could, in turn, be an oblique reference to it’s …
The ghostly giant is an extremely rare sight and now we have excellent footage to help us learn about it. Out of the darkness of the ocean’s midnight zone, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) spots a billowing crimson curtain. When the submersible moves in for a closer …
It might give the impression of being a tardy little fellow, but then, all of a sudden… it turns out to be hardy. Image credits: Richard Herrmann / Adriane Honerbrink The sarcastic fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi) has a rather curious name, with an attitude to match. This creepy little fish can scare off animals much larger …
This Hot-Tempered Sea Fish Has a Wider Mouth Than Body Read More »
Ladies and gentlemen, the award for best invertebrate mimicry goes to Hemeroplanes triptolemus for its masterful impersonation of a venomous snake! Photo: Andreas Kay Native to the rainforests of the Amazon, the snake mimic caterpillar turns into a rather unimpressive moth in the family Sphingidae, but in its larval stage it incorporates an astonishing survival …
When Threatened, This Caterpillar Takes On the Appearance of a Venomous Snake Read More »
Although lava domes are pretty common, symmetrical ones are extremely rare. The chances are you haven’t seen one yet – until now. The Mauna Ulu eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii With lasted a whopping 1,774 days, that is, almost five years. At the time, it was Kilauea’s longest running eruption and produced about 460 …
Rare Dramatic Photo Captures 65-Foot-Tall Lava Dome in Hawaii Read More »
A massive, human-sized leaf has been on display at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, Brazil, for decades, becoming a kind of local attraction. However, the complete identity of the tree it belongs to has remained a mystery – until now. More than 35 years after being seen for the first time, …
Amazonian Tree With Human-Sized Leaves Is First Described by Scientists Read More »
Imagine walking in the forest a coming across a white wig in the middle of the road. When you touch it, however, it turns out it’s not a wig. Meet the rare and unique “hair ice”. Photo: wanderflechten Hair ice is a type of ice that forms on dead wood and takes the shape of …
This Rare ‘Hair Ice’ Forms on Dead Wood and Now Scientists Know How Read More »
The extremely rare agate rock was recently found in the Soledade region in Brazil. The fact that it resembles Cookie Monster just further adds to its rarity. Mike Bowers from California who specialises in such rocks – and appears to own this one – said the object was recovered in November 2020 and could be …
Incredibly Rare Agate Rock Looks Exactly Like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street Read More »
When flowers look like flowers, we mostly appreciate their presence, but sometimes they can trick us. Especially when they take on the form of other creatures of Nature, a white dove, a dancing girl, even a naked man… Here are some of weirdest-looking flowers on earth that resemble something (or somebody) else. Naked-man orchid (Orchzis …
The Strangest Flowers in the World That Look Like Something Else Read More »
