Jungle Echoes

photographs by Michael Kurz

looking. at you

photograph by Michael Sammut

Large-eyed Box-Owlet, Exmouth WA

Barnacle goose/Branta leucopsis/vitkindad gås. Mariehamn, Åland (25 May 2026).

photograph by Ben Lucking

Sherwood and Hatchard describe the life history of a bilaterally gynandromorphic regal jumper in fascinating detail here, including some behavioral trials -- though near-perfectly split into male and female halves, overall this captive-bred regal exhibited more male-typical behaviors, though without much interest in courtship, and lived a two-year lifespan more expected from a female.

there are parts of your future self in you waiting emerge but you have to become unrecognizable slime first

Image source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/253922778

ブロンズトキ（Glossy Ibis）

Also known as the glorious velvet ant, this tiny ambling squeaker has confused scientists with her fashion choices. At first it was believed that she was mimicking the fruits of the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), which are also common around her stomping grounds. Turns out that she's been wearing white millions years before the plant arrived on its landmass. Now it is believed that her white fuzz simply helps her keep cool— which isn't as exciting of an answer but still an interesting look into how organisms adapt to living in the desert.

*skitters past you*

Photo by Roy Anderson

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Just solid creature design

This species is honestly gorgeous! go take a look yourself