Zoological Diary

Definitely not one of the beauties of the ocean but a really interesting animal none-the-less. To start off the wolf eel is not a true eel, it is a member of the wolf fish family. If you look closely you will see they have pectoral fins (the ones on the sides) and true eels lack these. They can grow up to a little over 7ft and weigh about 40lb. They are native to the Pacific Ocean, and are typically found in crevices, caves, or in some form of shelter. They have a strong set of teeth for crunching through the shells of crabs, sand dollars, and sea urchins.

Wolf eels are also attentive parents and they mate for life. Females will lay up to 10,000 eggs at a time. She will then wrap her body around the eggs, to shape them into a neat sphere. The male will then wrap his body around the female to protect them.

As juveniles wolf eels are brightly colored, and lack the strong molars adults have so they typically will stick to a diet of fish until they grow in those teeth.

A common problem biologists face in keeping these animals in captivity is making sure to keep giving them a crunchy diet. If wolf eels are not regularly given crunchy foods (crabs, sea urchins, etc.), it will affect their teeth.

Is it a bird or is it a flying baby octopus? Today Department of Awesome Natural Wonders is marveling at a hummingbird that appears to be part cephalopod. This tiny wonder is the Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae), native to the American Southwest and the Baja Peninsula. When it’s time for the male of this shiny species to pitch some woo at a female, they flare their violet facial feathers and dance about in mid-air in an elaborate courtship display. Their purple facial feathers suddenly look like an array of tiny tentacles.

“Spring is the time to nest for the Costa’s hummingbirds, before the desert gets too hot. Both males and females are looking for a partner, but it’s up to him to impress her. Though his back shimmers with green, it’s not until we get her point of view that we see his true splendor. He flexes the iridescent feathers of his mantle until they become a glowing mask of violet.”

Watch this clip from the upcoming PBS Speical ’Super Hummingbirds’ to watch the male Costa’s hummingbird showing off his finest moves:

Evolution at work!

Tasmanian devils are rapidly evolving resistance to a contagious cancer 

this is the bad dude