(Devon)ian

Juvenile bivalve mollusc, Lima sp. (10x). Dr. Greg Rouse, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 

Anyways, behold: stuff we know. because. radioactivity. isotopes. And other stuff that I don’t feel like explaining. 

INOCERAMUS “Strong pot” Early Jurassic-Late Cretaceous, 189-66 million years ago

This genus of extinct bivalve clam flourished throughout the age of the dinosaurs. Calcite deposits would’ve given its shell a pearly appearance, and considering it could grow to over five feet in diameter, that’s a lot of shell!

As June is pride month I thought I’d post some animals that colourations match LGBT pride flags to celebrate evolution’s rainbow in my own nerdy science way.

Previous flags here: Lesbian | Gay |

Mwanza flat-headed Rock Agama (Agama mwanzae)

Endemic throughout Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya, the male’s bright colouration of pink, red and blue mean that these lizards are also commonly called the spider-man agama.

Thunderbolt Crayfish (Cherax pulcher)

The thunderbolt crayfish is a proprietary variant bred from two different species from the Cherax genus resulting in the bright blue, pink and purple colouration, which make them popular pets. Species in the Cherax genera are found typically in Australia and New Guinea.

Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)

Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, these birds are considered the (unofficial) national bird of Kenya. 

Flower Beetles (Smaragdesthes africana oertzeni)

Smaragdesthes africana are a common beetle species found throughout the  afrotropical region, more commonly known as flower beetles due to the range of various shades of iridescence throughout subspecies. The subspecies oertzeni is a strikingly purple, blue and pink colour.

Superb Leafwing (Fountainea nessus)

These striking butterflies occur in the eastern Andes (from Colombia to Bolivia) with the males forewings baring these bright pink-purple bands overlaid with a bright blue sheen. The underside of their wings are patterned brown in order for them to cryptically resemble their surrounding environment such as tree trunks and leaf litter. 

Blue Lace Agate. 2018. Personal Collection.