#oddlyexoticalphabet

I is for Irukandji . Tiny. Transparent. Terrifying. . Well terrifying to some. Super potent stinger cells (nematocysts?), but you can neutralize them with vinegar. All this and only a few cm long! . #inktober #inktober2016 #cnidarian #boxjellyfish #irukandji #jellyfish #marinelife #weebeastie #oddlyexoticalphabet

G is for Giant Water Bug. . Best nickname ever: "Toe biter." Also unusual bc Dad carries eggs around on his back (yeah even though he's an insect) and protects them can't remember if he protects larvae too though. . #inktober #inktober2016 #giant #water #bug #giantwaterbug #oddlyexoticalphabet #micronpen #insect #animaldiversity

F is for Flapjack Octopus . And this wee beastie made all the marine biologists go "squee!" (Well, OK, maybe not all. But there are several "flapjack devilfish" - aka Umbrella octopus - species, one of which is Opisthoteuthis adorabilis - so someone besides me goes "squee!" ☺️ ) . #inktober #inktober2016 #octopus #oddlyexoticalphabet #flapjackoctopus #Opisthotethis #marine #ocean #deepocean

E is for Eastern Mouse Spider . I found myself feeling quite tender towards these beasties as I looked at photos and started drawing them. Such wee eyes! Such silly huge mandible-things! (Nope, I don't have the terminology sorted yet.) They are quite black but some have blue abdomens, almost charming. Also, spiders have no eardrums but perceive sound with their leg hairs. So nifty! . Also, a bit different style here, because my new pens are so juicy I couldn't get the textures I might've with the older, drier pen. . #inktober #inktober2016 #micronpen #easternmousespider #spider #oddlyexoticalphabet

D is for Diamondback Soil Centipede . #oddlyexoticalphabet #centipede #dirt #arthropod

C is for Common Wood Nymph. . This is not the nymph you're looking for. . #inktober2016 #inktober #OddlyExoticAlphabet #butterfly #micronpen

B is for Blobfish. . These strange beasties have a tendency to sag toward shapelessness when removed from their high-pressure deep water habitat. . Thanks to @heidikbock and MB for the suggestion! . #blobfish #OddlyExoticAlphabet #inktober #inktober2016 #fish

A is for Assassin Bug. . So many many kinds of insects on our glorious planet! Something like 73% of all species - so diverse and weird and wonderful! My Oddly Exotic Alphabet will not have that percentage or we'd have no vertebrates but fishes! And we'd miss out on other wicked cool invertebrates too. . Original is in this mini blank leather-bound book with lovely thick absorbent not ideal for ink but oh well paper. . #inktober #inktober2016 #assassinbug #insect #insecta #wheelbug #OddlyExoticAlphabet