more bugs and monsters and eyes and teeth

Chinese giant salamander (娃娃鱼) a.k.a ‘baby fish’ due to the sound they make that sounds like a baby crying.

The Chinese giant salamander is one of the largest salamanders and one of the largest amphibians in the world. It is fully aquatic and is endemic to rocky mountain streams and lakes in the Yangtze river basin of central China.

The Chinese giant salamander is considered to be a "living fossil". Although protected under Chinese laws, its population has faced severe declined over the last 70 years and is currently (2022) listed as threatened. There are evidence indicating that the Chinese giant salamander may be composed of at least five cryptic species, further compounding each individual species' endangerment.

some sea dragons from the deadlands, these are mostly found in tropical areas.

Mortiferous swoopalüng

Abnormal class, lives in open, tropical oceans. incredibly venomous, no cure whatsoever.

Snarling bilefang

Seafaring class, lives in rocky tidepools and reefs, venomous and toxic.

Electrifying ampjaw

Inktober day 9

MYSTERY CATERPILLAR OF THE AMAZON!

family Sphingidae, Manu Biological Station, Peru

Apparently, for years, the identity of this caterpillar has been a mystery. We may be very close to solving the mystery!

People have seen this large gorgeous caterpillar for ages, but have never been able to figure out what it grows/metamorphoses into... what species is it?

Entomologist Gwen Erdosh (Gwentomologist), currently the Volunteer Coordinator at the Manu Biological Station in Madre de Dios, Peru, has collected one, determined its host plant, and got it to pupate!

Luckily, I got to meet the larva before it pupated, and snap a few photos.

Hopefully, we will know soon, and the mystery will be solved!

THE MYSTERY HAS BEEN SOLVED!!!

The mystery caterpillar of the Amazon has been identified!

Gwen Erdosh has successfully raised the caterpillar, and it has fully metamorphosed.

We knew that it was a Sphinx Moth, family Sphingidae, but no on seemed to know what species it was.

This gorgeous caterpillar is the larva of Manduca neglecta!

photographs by Gwen Erdosh (Gwentomologist)

Have a look at some of the ID process on Inaturalist.

Febugary day 7!!

Peanut-headed Lanternfly (Fulgora laternaria) 🥜🪳

Sosxetra grata

Yes, this colorful furry creature is a moth! And one of the most stylish out of the cutworm moths and allies family (Noctuidae) - at least in my opinion!

Found in Latin America with sightings from Mexico all the way down to Rio Grande Do Sol

Previously thought to be monotypic (meaning its the only species in its genus) but some new research proposes a few species within its genus

Described by Francis Walker, hence the name Walker's Moth

Despite looking fuzzy, moth's wings are actually comprised of scales, and in this case, Walker's Moth's fur-like scales help with insulation to maintain temperature