Madness is everywhere - embrace it

Color charts of undifferentiated (top) and specialized (bottom) plumage of different warbler species from Charles Keeler's Evolution of the colors of North American land birds (1893).

Act like Megalochelys atlas and smile, because it’s Fossil Friday! One of the largest known land turtles, scientists think this massive reptile could reach heights of 5.9 ft (1.8 m)—tall enough to look a grown human in the eye. This specimen’s shell measures some 7.4 ft (2.3 m) long and in life, it may have weighed more than 2,000 lbs (907 kg). Megalochelys lived during the Late Pliocene about 2 million years ago. The fossil on display in the Museum’s Hall of Vertebrate Origins was found in 1922 in Chandigarh, India.   You can spot this giant, and more, at the Museum! Plan your visit.

Photo: © AMNH 

The Coastline’s Best Dressed Houses - the stripes helped 18th century fishermen see their storage sheds through the fog.

Costa Nova, Portugal

'The Flying Dragon' by George Shaw.

Taken from 'The Naturalist's Miscellany.'

Published 1789. Printed for Nodder & Co.

Museums Victoria.

Bouquet (1793 - 1842) by Henriëtte Geertruida Knip.

Pencil and watercolour.

Rijksmuseum.

Bow before Z. rex! 🦐 Better known as the emperor shrimp (Zenopontonia rex), this tiny crustacean can be found throughout tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific. Notice its colorful “throne?” This species is a hitchhiker that can most often be found riding on the backs of marine organisms like sea cucumbers and nudibranchs! Thanks to this living arrangement, the shrimp is able to move from location to location with ease and can more effectively avoid predators. What’s in it for the nudibranchs and sea cucumbers? Scientists think the emperor shrimp might “clean” its hosts by removing harmful parasites, but this has yet to be determined.

Gem-Set Scent Bottle Pendant • c. 1820–1860 ✨

An exquisite nineteenth-century scent bottle pendant adorned with richly engraved goldwork and vibrant gemstones. A beautiful fusion of luxury, craftsmanship, and personal adornment.