Honeycomb Cowfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The body plan of the honeycomb cowfish is unique This unique looking fish gets its name from the honeycomb pattern that covers its body, as well as its horns! The photo below showcases the hexagonal honeycomb pattern which is used for camouflage. If you notice in the […]
Graysby – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These fish have a distinct rounded-triangular pupil Graysbies are a type of grouper found in the western Atlantic Ocean. They are found throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Gulf of Mexico. Some report its presence as far south as Brazil. They can be found as far north […]
Artomyces – iNaturalist [G]uineafowl puffer is commonly harvested [in the marine trade] This photo of Artomyces was taken while on a hike in the Deam Wilderness in southern Indiana. The Deam Wilderness covers 12,472 acres, and it is managed by the Hoosier National Forest. I always love taking photos of the weirder parts of nature, […]
Guineafowl Puffer – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern [G]uineafowl puffer is commonly harvested [in the marine trade] Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District affords you the opportunity to quickly see many of the reef fish species of the Hawaiian Islands. This photo was taken on my wife’s birthday during her first-ever snorkeling trip. […]
Loggerhead Shrike – IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened A tomial tooth is not actually a tooth, but a sharp tooth-like projection located on the end of the bill You would never guess that this bird is nicknamed the “butcherbird”. Looks can be deceiving. The loggerhead shrike is a small bird measuring between eight and nine inches long […]
Plume Thistles – iNaturalist In a home garden many people would consider thistles to be a weed I took this photo during a hike on the east side of Eagle Creek Park. This is the side of the park that does not get as much traffic. I think this is because you do not have […]
Desert Christmas Cactus – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The fruits will stay on the stem until winter This photo of a desert Christmas cactus was taken while on a trip to Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas. This was a plant that I had never seen before, but I was immediately taken aback […]
Mason Wasps – BugGuide The abdomen is noted by three thin stripes The wasp pictured here is a pitted mason wasp. This is a solitary wasp that is found across the United States and southern Canada. It’s most common east of the Great Plains. Within the Euodynerus genus, it is the most common species. The […]
Spotted Scorpionfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern You can generally get very close because this fish trusts its camouflage Scorpionfish are masters of camouflage. They have numerous cirri covering their body (mainly head). Cirri are the fleshy appendages that are used for sensing and camouflage. This scorpionfish is facing to the right. The red eye in the top […]
Porkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern With the proper exposure and lighting, a photograph can reveal interesting details Porkfish is a funny name for a fish, especially for a fish that humans generally don’t eat. Porkfish are a member of the grunt family. Like other grunts, porkfish can grind their teeth to make a pig-like grunting […]