Strobilus for Cycad, a gymnosperm (naked seed) plant that looks like a pinecone. Cycads are ancient plants bearing some resemblance to palms and tree ferns but not related. Dinosaurs ate them. These run about $20K apiece and are chipped against theft. This is a male plant and that yellow stuff is pollen embedded in starch. The plant releases pheremones and attracts a beetle. The beetle eats the pollen and takes some to the female plant with him. Voila' pollination. #docent #class #lazoo #glaza #strobilus #cycad #livingfossils #gymnosperm #©lauraquick #photojourney #losangeles #california #week2 #discovery #planybiology #dinosaursatethese #plantsarenotmything https://www.instagram.com/p/B3jbE_Nnca9/?igshid=11sndd70tc4n

Day 5/100 of #100daysofedgespecies: Hispaniolan Solenodon. The Hispaniolan Solenodon is endemic to the island of Hispaniola. It is pretty unique as it’s one of only a few venomous mammals. It produces venomous saliva that it injects into its prey through specialized grooves in its incisors. It is also one of the last representatives of an ancient lineage of shrew-like mammals that lived with dinosaurs! This species is currently Endangered due to the introduction of predatory mammals from European colonization, along with habitat degradation. 🌱 Learn more about EDGE species @zsledgeofexistence. . . . . . #the100dayproject #100dayproject #solenodon #hispaniolansolenodon #hispaniola #edgespecies #endangeredanimals #rarespecies #uniquespecies #livingfossils #endemicspecies #venomousmammals #smallmammals #100daychallenge #artchallenges #dailyartpractice #animalillustration #dailydoodles #procreateart #animalsketch #sketcheveryday #sciart #wildlifedrawing #wildwhimsywoolies https://www.instagram.com/wildwhimsywoolies/p/BwzzGN3AaXh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xrzwepzabk5h

Chambered nautilus have primitive eyes and a whole lot of tentacles. #livingfossils #nautilus #neaqtentacles #oceananimals #newenglandaquarium #boston #massachusetts #lastdayofvacation #blue (at New England Aquarium)

Staying in line with my last post about the horseshoe crabs, I wanted to share my favorite capture of one, that has quite the “bedazzled” shell! Low tide at Skaket Beach in Orleans, MA, on Cape Cod, provides some of the best tide pools to explore! #livingfossils #biggerthanmyfoot #justpassingthrough #symbiosis #horseshoecrab #skaketbeach #mynewengland #wildlife #wildlifepictures #wildlifepics #wildlifepage #wildgrammers #wildplanet #savetogether #saveourwildlife #igswildlife #earthoffline #canonwildlifephotography #animalcaptures #animalove #animalartists #wewilltravelagain #travelfromhome #virtualtravel #creativecontentbuilders #femalephotographersnetwork #julieannbloniaszphotography #propetpix (at Skaket Beach Orleans Ma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CI7beOYAYJh/?igshid=125rlinw9k7sm

Fun fact: Horseshoe Crabs have blue blood! Read below about how valuable their blood is and how you can help keep these #livingfossils from becoming just fossils. #conservation #horseshoecrabs #savethelivingfossils #Repost @mysticaquarium with @make_repost ・・・ The blood of the horseshoe crab has incredible properties that help to ensure that injectable drugs and vaccines, including those for COVID-19, are safe for use. With the world-wide need for this new vaccine, there is growing concern that the demand for horseshoe crab blood will further jeopardize their dwindling population. Combined with other threats, the horseshoe crab is left in a very precarious situation. Mystic Aquarium is taking an active role in the conservation and aquaculture of horseshoe crabs. You can help this Countdown to Christmas with your $8 donation. Find the link in the @mysticaquarium bio. (at Springfield, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CI7A_UkA6Jw/?igshid=h7pxpef4agux

The living fossil #livingfossils #ginkgobiloba #himalay #range #altitudeclub #exotic #plants #gymnosperms #ginkgoales (at GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development)

Baby it's a wild world #livingfossils #dinogarden #prescottpark (at Prescott Park Gardens)

#livingfossils #wikipedia #ginkgos (at The Vault)