Bioddities

Photo credit SOLENT

Heaviest species of extant insect 

Endemic to New Zealand and an example of island gigantism

Most specimens live on small islands around the main landmass having been exterminated by non-native mammals

Photo credit www.strangeandwonderfulthings.com

Relative to the pineapple native to Chile

Has turquoise and orange flowers. 

The plant is relatively hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. 

The word "puya" is derived from the Mapuche Indian word meaning "point."

Popular among gardeners of exotic plants

Photo credit: Me

A medium-sized mammal whose closest relatives are elephants and manatees 

Characteristics similar to elephants include tusk-like incisors and testes that remain in the body cavity

Live in groups of 10-80 individuals with sentries that will sound alarm calls if predators approach

Due to poor thermoregulation, hyraxes like to cluster together to keep warm 

Can be found in Israel and are not considered kosher. Proverbs 30:26 notes them as being wise animals.

Largest terrestrial arthropod. The legspan can reach up to 3 feet. 

Uses giant claws to crack open coconuts

Juveniles must use gastropod shells like hermit crabs to protect themselves until their exoskeletons harden

Also called the robber crab due to their tendency to steal and hide shiny objects

Considered a delicacy where it is naturally found

Photo credit George Grall

A common salamander on the East Coast of the United States

Photosynthetic algae live within the salamander cells

Symbiosis where single-celled organisms live within other cells is rarely found in vertebrate animals. Vertebrates have adaptive immune systems programmed to destroy foreign objects. 

The algae provides oxygen and carbohydrates to the salamander cells giving them a boost in growth rate

The salamander cells provide carbon dioxide to the algae

Photo credit http://stonecirclesandnature.wordpress.com/

A small deer with two subspecies living in China and Korea

Males have long tusks (5.5 cm - 8 cm/ 2.1 in - 3.2 in) that grow from the upper jaw. The tusks in females are smaller. 

The fangs are loosely held in their sockets and can be controlled by facial muscles. They are pulled back while the deer eats and thrust forward during confrontations. 

Also called vampire deer. 

Photo credit http://thegutsygourmet.net/

A type of slipper lobster found off the coast of Australia

Has no claws and feeds on algae and small crustaceans buried in sand

Subject to small scale fishery and eaten widely in Australia around fisheries

Photo credit National Pictures

Primarily eats a fat and protein rich plant substance called Beltian bodies

Acacia trees produce Beltian bodies at the tip of their leaflets as part of a symbiotic relationship with guardian ant colonies

Spiders must "hunt" their food by avoiding ants protecting the tree

Young spiders resemble ants in appearance and possibly chemical signature allowing for easier access to Beltian bodies

Spiders do not eat the ants, but will occasionally steal their larvae

Photo credit Darlyne A. Murawski

Spends winters in Southeast Asia and breeds by mountain lakes on the Tibetan Plateau

Migrates over the Himalayas and has been seen flying over Mt. Everest (8,848 meters or 29,029 ft) making it the highest flying bird

Adaptations to the low oxygen levels at high elevations include an increased number of blood vessels, hemoglobin with higher affinity to oxygen, more mitochondria per cell, and the ability to hyperventilate without passing out 

Photo credit Bernard Gagnon

Includes six species of trees native to Madagascar, one to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one to Australia

Can live thousands of years

Does not produce growth rings making dating difficult

The swollen trunk can store up to 120,000 L (32,000 gallons) of water for times of drought

Multiple parts are consumed by humans: 1) the leaves are eaten as a vegetable, 2) the fruit is eaten directly or as candy, cream of tartar, or a cheese-like flavoring, 3) the seeds are roasted, used as soup thickener, or provide vegetable oil, and 4) the pulp provides a citrus flavor that has been used in Japan's Baobab Pepsi

Photo credit Indraneil Das

An endangered toad that has splotches of green, red, and purple skin for camouflage 

Its existence had been documented in the 1920s by Johann Gottfried Hallier, but the toad was not seen again until a June 2011 expedition led by Dr. Indraneil Das

The exact location of its habitat will not be revealed to safeguard it from poachers working in the exotic pet trade

Photo credit BBC

A mammal found in Madagascar

Has quills on its back that can completely flip forward into the face of a predator

The only mammal to create sound through rubbing together two body parts (stridulation)

Not closely related to hedgehogs. Their quills are an example of convergent evolution. 

Photo credit Tiggrx

Common name for a large family of flies that feed on nectar and pollen

Mimics bees with a golden, fuzzy coat. This mimicry is thought to deter predators that may falsely believe the bee fly has a stinger. 

Females flick their eggs toward the larvae of other insects, including real bees. After hatching, the bee fly larvae consumes its neighbors.

Called "beewhals" in parts of East Anglia due to their long facial appendage

Photo credit http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/dodder.htm

Genus of 100-170 species of parasitic plants

Exists as a vine with leaves reduced to scales

Plants are yellow, orange, or red as they have low levels of chlorophyll and depend on the host for food

Can infect multiple plants simultaneously and consequently serve as a disease vector

It is illegal to import dodder seeds in many countries 

Photo credit R Vrijenhoek

Carnivorous sponge that lives on the bottom of the ocean

The inflatable balls are covered in hook-shaped spicules that stick like velcro to medium-sized crustaceans 

A small portion of the prey is slowly digested and absorbed into the sponge

Photo credit http://www.gorinkan.org/journey/wnj/az1205.html

A toad found in the Guyana Highlands of Venezuela 

Camouflaged against dark dirt on hillsides it inhabits

When predators strike (usually large spiders), the toad will curl into a ball and roll down the hill like a pebble

This defense mechanism is also seen in the North American Salamander, an example of convergent evolution

Photo credit http://www.eversostrange.com/category/plants/

Grape-like fruits grow directly on the trunk

Jams, tarts, strong wines, and liquors are made from the fruits

Fruits begin to ferment within days of picking and are not readily available beyond areas of cultivation

The fruits contain anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds

Widely used in the art of bonsai