Bugs and Critters

A Brandt's cormarant (Urile penicillatus) on a nest in La Jolla Cove, California, USA

Southern warthog Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii

Behold the magnificent Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra). Found in central and eastern parts of the Himalayas, this bird inhabits elevations of up to 14,107 ft (4,300 m). Males sport dazzling plumage and bright blue wattles, which they “show off” during elaborate courtship rituals. To attract potential mates, male Satyr Tragopans will spread their wings, nod their heads, rustle their feathers, vocalize, and inflate their wattles.

Can you spot the Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus)? This master of disguise lives in parts of Central and South America and roosts on high perches, motionless. It has large bright yellow eyes that you’d think would draw a predator’s attention, but the bird has a workaround: It can close its peepers while staying aware of its surroundings, thanks to slits in its eyelids! At dusk, the nocturnal critter begins to feast on large insects like moths.

I love researching bug facts that I use for my comic, but I loved this one so much that I wanted to talk more for about it.

This is the critically endangered Cuban Painted Snail!

They are beautiful and no two individuals are exactly the same. Each one has its own unique colors and patterns based on its diet. And I am gobsmacked at its beauty.

Like oh my gosh. This is real????

The shell colors vary depending on the diet of the snail, however they are not poisonous. Scientists suspect the varied colors are a defense mechanism to confuse predators.

They're critically endangered because people keep poaching them ☹️. Locals once collected them to make souvenirs without threatening their population, but the global black market demand by collectors and merchants has become a problem, making the species one of the rarest snail in the world. 🥺

this Arctosa got very wet from the rain, hid under a rock in an attempt to be less wet, and when i lifted said rock it just stood there with no idea what to do. an animal that constantly looks like it's about to start sobbing uncontrollably should not have to put up with all this. how much more pathetic could you be

" A mother polar bear rests peacefully among a blanket of purple flowers, taking a moment to relax as her curious little cubs bounce around her in playful joy. Like any loving parent, she watches over them with gentle care, while her energetic babies explore the world around them, savoring the carefree days of childhood in the Arctic. "

Jiminy Cricket! Meet the Pinocchio anole (Anolis proboscis). For decades, this rarely-seen species was thought to be extinct, until an individual was spotted crossing the road by a group of birdwatchers in 2005! Growing about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) long, this slow-moving lizard inhabits forests throughout parts of Ecuador, climbing trees to escape predators. Only males of this species sport long proboscises. Scientists think these fleshy appendages help them to attract mates.

Whooo... are... youuu? 🐛🫖 Meet the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta). This bulky critter specializes in eating the tobacco plant, which is loaded with the natural insecticide known as nicotine. So how does it manage? When it bites into a nicotine-laced leaf, the action triggers an increase in the gut enzymes that break down nicotine—allowing the caterpillar to continue feeding. “Nicotine” may make you think only of tobacco, but lots of plants contain varying amounts of this toxin. For instance, green peppers, green tomatoes, and even green potatoes contain nicotine, though in concentrations too low to have any effect. Nicotine affects the transmission of nerve impulses in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Guanaco Lama guanicoe