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• Post #4320087

  Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum), is a tiny African owl, barely 19-21 cm long, featuring false black "eyes" on the back of its head to trick predators. Active during the day (diurnal), it uses these fake eyes to appear as if it is always watching, even while feeding. Known for a powerful whistling call, which they sometimes use to imitate larger birds of prey to scare away threats. Picture: Ebird, Andrew Spencer #weird #beautiful #birds #nature

• Post #4320086

  Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou mexicanus), also known as the Mexican tree porcupine. It is a small, nocturnal, arboreal rodent found in Central America, known for its "hairy" appearance that hides over 30,000 sharp quills. They are solitary and often return to the exact same hiding spot, making their hiding places dirty. To mark their territory, males have been observed engaging in "anal dragging," rubbing their posterior along the ground or branches....

• Post #4320085

  Elaeomyxa cerifera is a rare, highly iridescent slime mold (myxomycete) known for its "disco ball" appearance, found in damp forests of Australia, this tiny organism is neither plant nor animal nor true fungus, but a protist. During its feeding stage (the plasmodium), it behaves like a giant, pulsating amoeba, it hunts and moves. Similar to other slime molds, this organism displays intelligent behavior despite having no brain or nervous system. It can find the shortest route t...

• Post #4320084

  The Imbabura tree frog (Boana picturata) is a species of frog found in western Colombia, northwestern Ecuador. They are often described as looking like they are from outer space due to their intense, large, black-streaked blue-grey eyes and unusual skin texture. They hide and sleep inside bromeliads—plants that hold small pockets of water. #weird #frogs #nature

• Post #4320083

  The whistling heron (Syrigma sibilatrix) is a medium-sized, often terrestrial heron of South America. Unlike most herons that are strictly tied to wetlands, the Whistling Heron is a dryland heron. In courtship, pairs will fly back and forth and glide in tight circles, are fiercely solitary nesters. They choose a single mature tree (like an exotic eucalyptus) to build their nest in total isolation. #weird #birds #nature

• Post #4320082

  Callirhipid cedar beetle (genus Callirhipis), insect known for its antennae. Although being strange, they are little-known wood-boring insects best known for their extreme sexual dimorphism, exceptionally long larval life, and males sporting extravagant, "leaf-rake" antennae used to sniff out distant females. They are widespread tropical insects. Their antennae serve multi-purposes, while used to scent females, they can fold them up entirely to protect the delicate structures...

• Post #4320081

  Goniobranchus reticulatus aka the Reticulated Nudibranch is a species of colorful sea slug found in tropical Indo-West Pacific region. To avoid self-fertilization, mating nudibranchs engage in a delicate dance where they exchange both sperm and a calcareous "love dart." They build a toxic shield by feeding on toxic sponges, they also don't have an external shell and rely on their colorful patterns and recycled toxins. #weird #seaslugs #nature

• Post #4320080

  Eurhinus magnificus, the jewel weevil, is a species of weevil native to Central America. Its paint is an illusion, it does not get its color from pigments, its exoskeleton is covered in microscopic scales that refract and reflect light, much like a prism. Picture: Flickr, Andreas Kay #weevil #nature #weird

• Post #4320079

  Yellow Stagshorn (Calocera viscosa) In the United Kingdom, it has the recommended English name of yellow stagshorn, in North America it is variously called coral jelly fungus, jelly staghorn, yellow false coral, yellow tuning fork etc. Masquerades as coral but it is really a jelly fungus. It is a saprotrophic fungus, meaning it feeds on dead and rotting organic matter. Grows on decaying conifer wood (like pine and spruce), it is non-toxic, but still has no culinary value. #weird #fungi #natur...

• Post #4320078

  African Reed Frogs (genus Hyperolius) are highly adaptable, vibrantly colored tree frogs found across sub-Saharan Africa. The African Reed Frog is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania etc. These frogs are almost constantly perched on reeds or other vegetation, hence the name, Reed Frog. This is the only species of frog that can change their sex from female to male when there is not enough males in the population. Known for their melodic sounds. #weird #frogs #unique #nature

• Post #4320077

  Agami Heron (Agamia agami) is a highly reclusive bird native to Central and South America. It has a color-changing face, during courtship, the facial skin and lores of both males and females turn an intense, vibrant red. The Agami Heron is highly secretive bird, it rarely wades into open water unlike most herons. These birds produce odd vocalizations, which sometimes sounds like snoring. #weird #birds #nature

• Post #4320076

  Shag Carpet caterpillar (Prothysana felderi) is a highly distinct larva found in the Neotropical rainforests from Mexico to Ecuador. It exhibits fake egg deflection camouflage, this caterpillar has the thick patch of white, pillowy setae (hairs) right on its back., which makes it look like it has parasitized which is a defensive mimicry tactic protecting from predators. It also glows under UV light. #weird #caterpillars #nature

• Post #4320075

  Hibiscus Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) or Cotton Harlequin Bug, is a sap-sucking insect native to Australia and the Pacific Islands. They are a true bug but behave like beetles, Their thorax features an enlarged plate (the scutellum) that stretches completely over their abdomen, concealing their wings while at rest. The males and females of this species show extreme gender color differences. When threatened, they use special scent glands to emit a foul-smelling liquid to deter preda...

• Post #4320074

  Usumbara Peacock Tree Frog (Leptopelis vermiculatus), native only to Tanzania’s "sky island" forests. This species changes color as it ages by starting with green with black specks, then transform into a mottled brown color. They have massive alien eyes, which help them hunt insects at night. They have a cooling system in the form of moisture suits, where they create a special wax-like slime that coats their skin, that's like sleeping bag to trap moisture inside their b...

• Post #4320073

  The Eight-Spotted Crab Spider (Platythomisus octomaculatus) is a rare, vibrant arachnid native to Southeast Asia. There is great disparity in the sizes of female and male of this species with females growing to 1 inch while male to just 4mm, has seven big black dots on its back. The eighth spot is hidden under its belly. It walks like a crab, sideways. It hides on yellow flowers, like the yellow hibiscus. Its bright colors confuse bugs and helps it in hunting. #weird #spiders #nature

• Post #4320072

  Stinging flannel moth caterpillar, often called the puss caterpillar or "tree asps," their luxurious "fur" is a disguise. Beneath the hair lie hollow, venom-filled spines that break off and embed into the skin on contact. These caterpillars have seven pairs of prolegs ( 14 legs in extra) unlike other insects which have 6 legs. The adults of this after cocooning have completely nonfuctional mouthparts and live for a week to mate. Picture: Pinterest #weird #i...

• Post #4320071

  Greater Leaf-Folding Frog (Afrixalus fornasini) is a species of frog native to #Africa. It folds leaves into tiny, glued-together "tubes" to protect its eggs. They also don't drop eggs into water like other frogs but lay eggs about 1 meter high on plant leaves. When at rest, the frog tucks its legs tight against its body. he stripes on its legs line up perfectly with the stripes on its body to hide its shape. This trick is called coincident disruptive coloration, confu...

• Post #4320070

  Luna Moth (Actias luna) is famous for its bright green wings and long tails, but its strangest trait is that adult moths lack mouths and digestive systems entirely. Also known as American moon moth, they use their spinning tails for bat jamming, they survive entirely on energy saved from caterpillar stage & adult moths die in 6 to 7 days, spending their fleeting lives exclusively mating. Caterpillars of the Luna moth can deter predators by regurgitating a foul-tasting, noxious liquid. Ma...

• Post #4320069

  The Long-winged Derbid Planthopper (Proutista sp.) is a tiny, delicate true bug. It is known for its "V for victory" stance, holding its long wings upright. The nymphs and adults live completely different lives. The nymphs hide under decaying organic matter feed on fungi, adults emerging to live in the canopy feed on sap from leaves of coconut palms etc. They are difficult to be found by predators as they show a natural gravity defying inversion where adults frequently congre...

• Post #4320068

  Emerald Starling (Lamprotornis iris) is a small bird native to west Africa. It is also known as the iris glossy starling. Its feathers display a rainbow color illusion, as the feathers have a metallic, gemstone-like shine, not caused by typical pigments but created by the arrangement of the feathers, which refract light like a prism. Male & female species are identical. #birds #nature

• Post #1842181

  Macropinna microstoma is a species of fish that lives at a depth of about 600 metres (2,000 ft) to 800 metres (2,600 ft). It features a fully transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, revealing its brain and internal organs. It is the only animal known to have its eyes entirely under the skin inside its skull. It is a wait-and-see hunter, is found in the deep, temperate-to-subarctic North Pacific Ocean, specifically from the Bering Sea to Japan and down to Baja California, Mexico. #weird #se...

• Post #1842180

  The posts here get updated every 5 to 6 days. It could change as I might update with multiple posts in one go and then not update for an indefinite time. People may not believe it & even though I post here out of only interest in nature & species, it takes a LONG time to first go through species in nature that is beautiful, unique and then research its traits and then decide which one qualifies to be included in posts which interests others.

• Post #1842179

  The white-lipped tree frog (Sandyrana infrafrenata), being the largest tree frog in world, is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Other common names include the New Guinea treefrog, giant tree frog, and Australian giant treefrog. Known for its distinctive white lower lip stripe and surprisingly loud, dog-like barking call. Their mating call sounds like a loud "wark, wark" they can also emit a cat-like meow when threatened or di...

• Post #1842178

  The White-necked Rockfowl , also known as the White-necked Picathartes, is a rare, vulnerable passerine bird found in rocky, high-altitude rainforests of West Africa (Guinea to Ghana). It has a vulture like head, they are mud-nest sculptors, they return to sleep on their nests even when they are not breeding. They have a evil breeding behavior where they have been known to destroy the eggs or kill the chicks of other pairs to reduce competition. Picture: ebird. Dubi Shapiro #weird #nature #bird...

• Post #1831940

  Monkey Moth (Eupterote sp., Eupterotidae), Yunnan, China. They are large, hairy moths within the Eupterotidae family, often found in Asia and Africa. They possess strongly pectinate (comb-like) antennae and lack a proboscis (mouthparts for feeding). Picture: Flickr, Itchydogimages #weird #moths #nature

• Post #1570557

  Spun Glass Slug Moth caterpillar ( (Isochaetes beutenmuelleri) is a near-transparent larva native to North America, known for its translucent body covered in fluid-filled, glass-like stinging spines. It is also a rarely seen larva. The "glass" spines are deciduous, meaning they fall off at the slightest disturbance to confuse or deter predators. Picture: Mathewbeziat. Inaturalist #weird #caterpillars #moths #nature

• Post #1141034

  Coprinopsis pulchricaerulea, often affectionately referred to as the "Frosty Blue" mushroom. This truffle-like species grows on dead wood on the forest floor. It was discovered in Australia as recent as 2012. Despite its intense blue color, it does not contain blue pigment. #weird #fungi #nature

• Post #1039011

  Wart-headed bug and the dragon-headed bug (Phrictus quinquepartitus), a species of planthopper found in Central and South America. This insect has a hollow, wart-covered snout that acts as a false head. It uses this structure for protection & potentially to look like a dangerous object, though it does not emit light, despite being a lanternfly family member. It reveals bright yellow false eyes located on its hind wings, when threatened. Their mating involves drumming behavior, tapping t...

• Post #879196

  Cinnamon Tree Frog (Nyctixalus pictus) also known as painted Indonesian treefrog among other names, is a species of frog found in Malay Peninsula, the Philippines etc. Their unique call sounds like peep, mistaken for the sound of an insect. These frogs can change color from hour to hour, with juveniles being the brightest. When threatend, they can play dead. Tadpoles have their eyes on top of their heads to look upwards, and they drop from their tree hole nests into the water. #weird #frogs #a...

• Post #879195

  Man-faced stink bug (Catacanthus incarnatus) is a shield bug from Southeast Asia etc., famous for a pattern on its back that eerily resembles a human face, the markings are meant as human face mimicry to distract predators, they congregate in huge numbers, if the human mimicry does not scare the predators away, they emit a strong, pungent odor from glands on their thorax. #weird #insects #bugs #nature