tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27682464065208095672012-01-29T14:06:34.248-05:00The blog of Marine Miscellany. A venue for those enthusiastically interested in, to the point of geekdom even, the weird and wonderful world of marine invertebrates.Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.comBlogger481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-20247255431508530142012-01-15T14:38:00.009-05:002012-01-15T17:49:06.703-05:00

I had no idea it had been almost a year since my last post! Utterly shameful. I don't really know what happened- maybe I was stuck in a space-time continuum, or sucked through a black hole or even a worm hole. Speaking of worm holes, did you hear the joke about the polychaete and the sipunculid who walked into a bar? Me neither, but if you can come up with one I will send you this homemade milk

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-89474917665747489882011-02-12T15:22:00.010-05:002011-11-29T15:04:10.860-05:00

Congratulations to Ben and Carrie for guessing the mouth part (Aristotle's lantern) of a sea biscuit (specifically Clypeaster rosaceus). Here is another photo showing the teeth of the mouth structure.photo copyright 2011 by Heather StokerThis Aristotle's lantern came from a sea biscuit that was (sadly) crushed when it was pulled up in a dredge offshore North Carolina. I don't have a picture of

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-85458402151841199012011-01-25T12:59:00.006-05:002011-01-25T13:53:17.848-05:00

Today's item from the glass cabinet is a very cool thing.photo copyright 2011 by Heather StokerThe item is about 1.5 inches (about 3.8 cm) from left to right point. There appears to be a specific type of symmetry characteristic of a particular group of critters- Hmmm? Hmmm? Maybe you need about 5 minutes to think about it (hint hint). If you can tell me what animal it belonged to AND what

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-11409323777338015102010-12-18T14:05:00.011-05:002010-12-18T16:04:22.830-05:00

Steve, here is your requested limerick about barnacles. Also, if you want more on barnacles go to "That's Gross but Cool" post about the barnacles' amazing penis (October 8, 2009) and the latest "Inverta-bits" post has a few dirty photos of goose barnacles.Here it is- hope you like it:CirripediaA barnacle's a crustacean- who knew it?Darwin did- but Linnaeus- he blew it.What about it's hard shell?

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-48782497740606710072010-10-21T16:28:00.012-04:002010-10-21T19:37:21.579-04:00

Congratulations, Steve! You are the proud new owner of some invert "art" for guessing horse shoe crab on the last "From the Glass Cabinet". Those pointy bits were the spines on its opisthosoma (back portion including floppy part of carapace). Here is a photo of the lovely little Limulus polyphemus sans telson (pointy tail).Photo copyright 2010 by Heather StokerHere is the newest addition to the

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-36830618192105395482010-09-10T10:02:00.006-04:002010-11-04T16:26:59.429-04:00

Today's item from the glass cabinet would be too easy to guess if I showed the whole thing. I will give a hint, however. I lied about the behavior of this animal in one of my "That's gross but cool" posts.photo copyright 2010 by Heather StokerThe first correct guesser will receive an iron-on picture of Spike, a pink postcard with the anemone anus limerick, and a pooping sea urchin (Spike again)

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-86174399856535923522010-07-05T15:13:00.012-04:002010-11-04T16:25:53.397-04:00

So much has happened since the last "Tank Diaries" post. I have come to the sad realization that I am NOT a very good aquarist as the turnover in the tank has been pretty high. It's stressful, frankly, trying to keep animals alive that live in water. (I am really good at keeping algae healthy though.)Comparatively, the cat (Twinky) and dog (Judy) are pretty low maintenance. They seem to have a

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-8493319750521077532010-06-04T17:17:00.011-04:002010-06-04T18:58:30.498-04:00

Oh My Ostracod! No it's not invertebrate porn (the next logical step after invertebrate limericks- which everyone knows IS the gateway poetry to lewd graphic crustacean photo spreads). It's Lepas anatifera- or the common goose barnacle, the slightly creepy cousin of your standard stalkless barnacle. photo copyright 2010 Heather Stokerphoto copyright 2010 Heather StokerThese big boys- some with

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-627495982217191992010-03-18T13:52:00.005-04:002010-03-18T14:26:08.967-04:00

Sorry for the delay in getting your invertebrate limericks out, Jason R.! For your long wait, I give you not just one of the requested limericks about Symbions but two! And because I was so mentally exhausted coming up with these, instead of a third limerick about the slipper lobster (scyllarid) as you asked, I wrote you an aquatic animal alphabet anecdote to lighten my mood after my brain

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-41210485691294284092010-02-19T14:23:00.009-05:002010-02-20T08:41:07.134-05:00

Yo 405 wants to know: What adaptations do slipper lobsters have? And what do they eat? Are they scavengers?Good questions Yo! For those of you not familiar with the slipper lobster here are a few illustrations from The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Atlantic:As you can clearly see their main adaptation is super cuteness! They knew that if they evolved to be adorable that humans

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-7261041334087964762010-02-02T19:54:00.006-05:002010-02-03T20:29:54.494-05:00

Jason R. guessed correctly that the object from the glass cabinet was the raptorial claw from a Mantis shrimp, or Stomatopod. Maybe it wasn't fair to ask the Family without a few more identifying features. Here are a couple of pictures of the dead, crusty animal the claw came from which was actually from a molt (shedded exoskeleton) from the former Squilly- see long ago Tank Diary- he was awesome

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-40683973430015564492010-01-31T16:53:00.003-05:002010-01-31T17:14:49.020-05:00

Time for some guessing! What is this item from the glass cabinet?photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerAs usual, the winner will receive a haiku or limerick (my personal favorite) about the invertebrate of their choosing. But you must be specific (like "tentacle of a cuttlefish" but NOT like "some part of a squooshy marine thingy") and if your name happens to be Kevin Z., who guesses most

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-23474251596500636612010-01-27T21:33:00.009-05:002010-01-27T22:17:13.366-05:00

Meet "The Menace", the newest member of the salt water tank. photo copyright 2010 by Heather Stoker Oh, he looks innocent enough but he's really not. He stays hunkered down in his corner of the tank most of the day, appearing to be contemplating life, but the second I turn my back he does something like this:photo copyright 2010 by Heather StokerPoor Jerry! The Menace had him squeezed so tight

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-8335898904504950922010-01-03T00:13:00.007-05:002010-01-04T09:40:06.495-05:00

I thought the best way to bring in the new year was to share with you a few limericks I wrote about the anuses (ani?) of some of our invertebrate friends. But before I do, here is an up close and personal look at the anus of Spike, one of the sea urchins in my tank. (Sorry, Spike!)photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerThe flower shape is comprised of four genital plates with gonopores (holes in

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-21111329192902541032009-11-19T07:16:00.005-05:002010-01-03T09:32:54.101-05:00

Starfish doing sit ups. photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerStarfish walking on "tip toes".photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerThe fold-over.photo copyright 2009 by Heather Stoker

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-6648069180075634622009-11-16T07:18:00.009-05:002009-11-16T17:15:59.060-05:00

Here is my foot and a big, delicious piece of sea pork.Sea pork is a colony of animals- clusters of zooids encased in a yummy gelatinous matrix. You should try slicing one up and making some sea pork cutlets in, perhaps, some sausage gravy with a side salad of sea pansies. (Disclaimer: No- don't do that.) I do not think you should eat sea pork (or sea pansies, for that matter) unless you are

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-67656489378470698192009-11-13T19:06:00.012-05:002009-11-13T23:36:23.889-05:00

Here is Limerick #1 for the illustrious snapping shrimp.He looks like a peanut-sized lobsterA miniature decapod mobsterHis pistol claw poisedTo pop off a loud noiseand scare away mean arthropodstersThe snapping or pistol shrimp have one very big claw that makes a REALLY loud pop when it is closed. It can scare away predators and stun prey. It is not, however, the snapping together of the pincers

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-82791162101432157982009-11-12T21:28:00.006-05:002009-11-12T22:17:12.126-05:00

The results are in from the Porky experiment. The question was "Will Porky 'wear' non-organic items?" and here is the answer:photo copyright 2009 by Heather Stokerphoto copyright 2009 by Heather StokerJerry was very intrigued with the storm trooper helmet, too- but who wouldn't be?photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerAnd here is just a funny picture of Jerry hugging his dinner.photo copyright

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-43919523441985958662009-11-08T20:45:00.006-05:002009-11-08T21:49:59.062-05:00

I am afraid it is a case of unrequited love. Here is Jerry hugging Chapeau (or perhaps trying to put him in a choke hold?).photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerHang in there Jerry- maybe one day Chapeau will be yours.So this week I am starting a little experiment with Porky. I have been putting new small shells in the tank and usually within a few days he is "wearing" them (holding them on with

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-89523247589862868052009-11-07T15:46:00.009-05:002009-11-07T16:20:06.142-05:00

Jason R. guessed this item from the glass cabinet as an abdominal segment from the molted carapace of Panulirus argus, the Carribean spiny lobster. Here is the item next to a smaller P. argus molt.photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerHere is another photo of the molt- you can see how even the eyeballs shed a very thin exoskelton.photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerHere I must make a confession

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-3042368893726458912009-11-04T21:22:00.008-05:002009-11-04T22:39:06.747-05:00

J. Rogers guessed the two invertebrates on and in the moon snail shell. ON the shell was a colonial hydroid called "snail fur" or Hydractinia echinata. You don't see the tiny, living polyps extended in the picture, but the colony's spiky sort of exoskeleton covering the shell. The animal IN the shell was a flat-clawed hermit crab, Pagurus pollicarus.For his winning guesses, J. will be receiving a

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-77881396432932471462009-11-02T20:34:00.005-05:002009-11-04T22:47:50.902-05:00

This is a new category. Basically, all the weird bits that don't go under any of the other categories.So, I like to write down certain scientific terms that I come across that I've either never heard before or that I think are funny. They are just words that bring a little joy to my day, and hopefully to yours, too. Here's a few that I'm going to run all together in a little inverta-word

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-45781536284572173042009-10-31T21:48:00.009-04:002010-01-03T09:27:06.034-05:00

OOOOOOOOOO! SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOKY! What could be shooting little chocolate sprinkles up through a hole on the beach? Don't eat them- it's a trick! Those delicious looking treats are POOOOOOOOOOOP! photo and video copyright 2008 by Heather StokerThere's a GHOOOOOOOOST shrimp down in the scary dark hole and these are its little fecal pellets. You might be saying "Why should we believe it's a ghost

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-86311133252632021012009-10-29T23:18:00.014-04:002009-10-30T09:26:41.156-04:00

There is a lot of pigishness going on lately in the tank. Let's start off with another still frame video- this is about 60 pictures taken over a couple minutes. Incidentally, I accused Spike of stealing. In this clip, Porky already has a piece of shrimp he's eating (though you can't see it- already under him, at his mouth) and Spike was trying to work his piece down to his mouth when Porky

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-59365232487058124232009-10-28T19:30:00.009-04:002009-10-28T21:11:22.484-04:00

Tomorrow- more adventures from the tank! Spike and Jerry get caught stealing!

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-87452311595130287082009-10-27T09:35:00.007-04:002009-10-27T10:06:18.653-04:00

Et voici la coquille de la semaine- la patelle.photo copyright 2009 by Heather Stoker Pourquoi en français? Because (ou, parce que!) this is a French limpet. Much more exciting than an American limpet because I got to go to France and I found it on a French beach (la plage de Trestrignel in Perros Guirec) and French limpets are bigger than any limpet I ever found here, in America, the country

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-57912471518533528212009-10-24T15:41:00.006-04:002010-01-02T19:15:22.359-05:00

What it be? (ALREADY ANSWERED!)This one is probably a little too easy, but that's okay. It's the weekend and everyone's brain needs a rest. This week's winner can pick the invertebrate and one word (it can even be a bad word!) that has to be incorporated into the Limerick (or other style poem).Here is a little stop animation of my starfish. This was back when Squilly, the mantis shrimp, was

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-4457211255951334412009-10-22T23:15:00.005-04:002010-01-02T19:11:27.523-05:00

Today’s gross but cool entry was going to be about how some sea hares have penises on the sides of their heads AND vaginas (in around the usual location) and, because they are simultaneous hermaphrodites, can form mating chains. So if you had 5 sea hares mating it would go (from front to back) girl, boy/girl, boy/girl, boy/girl, boy. In humans this mating technique might be somewhat shocking and

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-44882185115877282392009-10-20T22:56:00.002-04:002009-10-20T23:24:37.371-04:00

Kevin Z. chose the tube anemone, or Cerianthid, for this Limerick's subject. The Cerianthid is not a true anemone (different taxonomic order) but a perfectly lovely invertebrate none-the-less. However, this animal, for some reason, did not prove to be a good Limerick muse. By the time I was finished with this poem, I really wished I had not run out of wine two nights ago. Anyway, here it is,

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-8969601522508485482009-10-19T20:10:00.013-04:002009-10-20T08:41:35.610-04:00

It's time for an update on Jerry and Chapeau. Here is a photo of Chapeau. Though he is still not interested in Jerry he is doing fine. By the way, see the small circle of short tentacles in the middle of Chapeau's, um, "face"? Those are surrounding Chapeau's mouth. But guess what? It's also his anus! Cnidarians (anemones, corals, jellyfish, hydroids, etal.) have only one hole! Aren't you glad you

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-7994099400667652082009-10-19T09:14:00.005-04:002010-01-02T19:17:52.846-05:00

Hmmm... Qu'est-ce que c'est? (ALREADY ANSWERED)Tis only as big as a wee pea (the kind that come in the silver can not the big nasty bright green peas that you used to get in the school cafeteria). Good luck!

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-38875739074293726922009-10-17T19:56:00.003-04:002009-10-17T20:16:22.298-04:00

Well today it is actually the un-invertebrate limerick. This is the only time I will write one about a bony thing, but a promise is a promise and JD, one of the winners who guessed an item from the glass cabinet really loves the belted sandfish, Serranus subligarius, and since she is such an awesome biologist and a very groovy person in general, I will honor her wish of a fish limerick.First I

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-10788111103328959032009-10-16T18:38:00.004-04:002009-10-16T23:12:34.364-04:00

Genevieve wants to know how long a blue crab would live if we didn't interrupt its life by eating it. Good question. Blue crabs only live around 3 to 5 years. They can reach a carapace width (spine tip to spine tip on shell) of around 8 inches (females smaller than males). There are always exceptions to the rule of course.For example, in the Cape Fear River there is a blue crab that is around 20

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-1419827612180305472009-10-14T22:05:00.014-04:002011-12-08T18:40:11.857-05:00

Here is a photo I took of a blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, giving birth:photo copyright 2008 by Heather StokerI'm just kidding!!! It's really a blue crab cloning itself through asexual budding. Just kidding again! Did I make anybody go "What the &*#$@%!!!". Blue crabs are strictly into copulation (sexual reproduction only). And they do not pop out ginormous babies (female carries millions of

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-26783922900031945542009-10-12T21:27:00.015-04:002009-10-27T10:21:56.465-04:00

This is the sacrificial clam. More precisely, a Lady-in-Waiting Venus clam, Chione intapurpurea. See its lovely, ruffley mantle?photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerThis is Porky. He has very strong tube feet. He loves the clam.photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerThis is the starfish. He is going to eat the clam.photo copyright 2009 by Heather StokerHere I will insert a Haiku for the starfish:

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-13140743399205204962009-10-11T16:18:00.014-04:002009-10-11T16:46:18.437-04:00

Congratulations to Jason R., who guessed the most recent item from the glass cabinet: octocoral skeleton, frond oyster and jewel box (leafy). Jason asked that I compose a Limerick in honor of the just passed Cephalopod Awareness Days. I am quite partial to cuttlefish, so here is a Limerick dedicated to them.The cuttlefish flashed a “Good morning!”Hectocotylus waving fair warningHer tentacles

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-6179157182817087992009-10-11T09:38:00.011-04:002009-10-11T10:31:20.984-04:00

This beauty is the Hawk-wing Conch, officially, Strombus raninus. photos copyright 2009 by Heather StokerThis particular one, around 3” high (tip to tip), was an empty shell I found wedged in some rocks in Key West, Florida. This shell is a lesser representation of another Hawk-wing that was responsible for the only moment in my life that I experienced utter joy followed by utter disappointment

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-73322686712472070242009-10-09T16:33:00.008-04:002010-01-02T19:18:30.948-05:00

Here is this week's item from my collection of crunchy, hard, dead things: (ALREADY ANSWERED)The first person to tell me the common names of the three animals whose remains are shown here will get a custom aquatic animal alphabet anecdote (see "Something for the Kids" post about Marvin the Morose Mollusk).The only limitations are that it must be about a marine invertebrate. I'm not in the mood

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-75635916548698060332009-10-08T23:25:00.001-04:002009-10-08T23:29:17.041-04:00

For those of you who have a penis, imagine for a moment that it is ten times the length of your body. Your first reaction might be “That would be awesome!” But after you’ve had time to calm down and give the idea a little more thought you would realize you’d have no place to put your ridiculously long penis and no person to… uh… put it in (sorry). You’d have to drag it everywhere and nobody

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-79356218743092414082009-10-07T11:19:00.009-04:002009-10-11T19:10:02.279-04:00

Cliff actually chose a Limerick and wants one about sea cucumbers. So here it is- hope you enjoy it!Ode to Holothuria mexicanaThere was a cucumber well hungWho went by the name Donkey Dunginto bioturbationand gut expellationConcombres de mer are such fun!To see a photo of the Donkey Dung sea cucumber from the Marine Species Identification Portal go to: http://species-identification.org/

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-67091884829868072009-10-06T17:47:00.007-04:002009-10-08T11:12:46.566-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS! We have TWO winners. The first guess came from Cliff who thought this little tube was made by some sort of worm. Yes! And since the second guesser, JD, guessed correctly that it was an ice cream cone worm (Cistenides gouldii), then she too is a winner! Plus, I'm really in the mood to write some funny poems.Some more information on C. gouldii. As JD mentioned, they build their

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-18624381371510696812009-10-04T19:43:00.007-04:002010-01-02T19:19:16.844-05:00

Well, it is long past due- another item from the glass cabinet. This particular thing is really cool because of how it was made and who it was made by. So get to guessing and the offer of a custom Haiku still stands. And to promote more guessing, if you are not partial to Haikus I will gladly compose a limerick or other rhyming verse about the critter of your choosing. (ALREADY ANSWERED) photos

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-72558006064377113142009-10-01T18:39:00.021-04:002009-10-02T17:37:43.159-04:00

(Note: This entry will irritate anyone who doesn’t like sagas or long-windedness and hard-core biologists who are antianthropomorphizinating [new word- don’t look for it in your dictionary- it means against the act of saying things about animals like “Jerry LOVES how he looks in his striped shell” or “Spike is JEALOUS of Porky's ability to make shell faces” and then, and here’s the new part,

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-51110388832640983022009-09-22T08:37:00.006-04:002010-01-02T19:19:49.951-05:00

I still don't have any guesses on the mystery picture I posted way back when. I am truly shocked that the enticement of a custom invertebrate Haiku has not elicited more (or any!) guesses on the item from my glass cabinet. So here is the photo one more time and a second one to give you a hint about who "the thing to be guessed" belonged to. (ALREADY ANSWERED)photo copyright 2009 by Heather

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-9961311789660861752009-09-20T09:22:00.005-04:002009-10-02T17:11:58.562-04:00

One of my many followers (ok, I have three- and one is my husband) wants to know something and here is what they wanna know: Cliff asks: Why does the anemone reside on a living creature? Most anemones depicted on scientific shows are attached to rocks?Cliff is referring to a picture I posted of my anemone, Chapeau, living on top of the beautiful calico box crab, Tank* (Ostracod rest her soul).

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-17646478723333608282009-09-16T21:53:00.005-04:002009-10-02T17:12:40.363-04:00

Warning: this post may not be suitable for those individuals with a sensitive nature.So... As I mentioned earlier, I was going to talk to you about things coming out of anuses. This would definitely fall under the category of Gross, but how could it be cool? Oh, it is. Just imagine, say, you're taking a hike in the woods and all of a sudden a cougar jumps out at you. You forget all the cougar

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-90901996815949514982009-09-16T07:20:00.006-04:002009-10-08T12:02:10.717-04:00

SPECIAL MORNING FEATURE! A little something for the kids...Melvin the Mollusk moved madly and morosely through the mud. Why was Melvin so miserable when most mollusks were mischievous and merry? Well… on Monday, Melvin met a malevolent man who made Melvin miss his meeting with marvelous Muriel the Mollusk by mashing Melvin into the mushy mud. Muriel misbelieved that Melvin meant to miss the

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768246406520809567.post-85302000121468701582009-09-14T17:47:00.011-04:002009-10-27T10:37:29.446-04:00

In honor or the blog title “Aristotles Lantern”, the beautifully “designed” apparatus by which Echinoideans (urchins) feed, I present to you the first, in a series of haikus written by yours truly.Before the haiku I wanted you to think about something my dad once said, "Who wouldn't like an animal whose asshole is on top of its head!" You're right, Dad, and thanks.Urchinspines slowly

Heather Robertson Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382041617300701975noreply@blogger.com2