As ushe, when Brinke G. writes in with an image,e the email title always becomes the title of the posting. This time, the Cal Academy inspired him with the head-only Elephantulus pilicaudus.
A HEAD. WITH FEET. THAT’S IT.
February 9, 2012 By
As ushe, when Brinke G. writes in with an image,e the email title always becomes the title of the posting. This time, the Cal Academy inspired him with the head-only Elephantulus pilicaudus.
it’s so cute, it looks “smart” somehow!
It’s the tiny, but looong nose, and whiskers!
Makes me think the little bean looks smart too!
SqUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
OMGPoneeees!!!!!11111!!!!!!……………………..
(etc.)
GAH due to my exuberant use of the VowelsRUs software, I have been
*detained* ……
(sits in corner, pouting immaturely)
Artichoke?
Not that he told ME of !!! *giggle*
No, actually, that sounds good. Lemme get some dip for it.
As the saying goes: if the shrew sits, share it.
*snerk*
A Haiku:
Elephantulus
Tiny mouse extendo schnoz
pilicaudus
Come on! Its first name is ELEPHANTULUS??? You must be kidding me, or the guys that give official scientific names to redonkulous creatures have the greatest sense of humor in the entire universe
Scientists get oddly playful when it comes to naming things and have their little jokes. The best one ever is the name for the common raccoon: Procyon lotor, which translates as “before dog, the washer”. Think about it. And of course, there is the louse Strigiphilus garylarsoni named after cartoonist Gary Larson. Mr. Larson considers it a singular honor. A current favorite right now is Vampyroteuthis infernalis, which is “vampire squid from Hell” popular due to its appearance in several recdent books about deep sea creatures. Contrary to its name, it is assumed to be an inoffensive little beastie.
NLO, now my knowledge has expanded – or my brain has exploded. Or both. Thanks!
I recently heard that some newly-found bird? insect? was named after Beyonce.
Scaptia beyonceae, first observed in the same year Beyonce was born, sitting in a collection until officially described the second week of January of this year. A small Austrailian horse fly, it’s “‘pretty bootylicious’ with its golden backside.” Seemingly very rare as of 2010, one individual claims to have been bitten by what the locals call the “gold bum fly”.
I’m guessing it has to do with it’s long nosicle…
Actually, this little guy is the elephant’s closest living relative!
I’d like a shot at taming that shrew
And a tail. There’s a significant tail there.
Yep, I was thinking the same thing, me.
Ah, the Karoo Rock elephant shrew.
Show-off!
WHAT ABOUT THE SCHNOZZ?
We all live in a yellow submarine….
And it has a Tailio!! Mustn’t forget the tailio.
Oh, and a nosicle. And it’s adorabobble.
Let’s not forget the BEF. And the adorabuhl smile!
After reading these comments, all I can hear in my head is my granddaughter singing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (Knees and Toes.) Ya’ll are welcome for today’s earworm.
Great, competing earworms! Between you and kar, I can’t hear my radio anymore!
“BEF” good one R.
He needs teeny little boots for the winter.
Needs a teeny pair of wire rimmed glasses to complete the picture.
And a proper tweed vest with a pocket watch, which he always forgets to wind, so more often than not, he’s late for tea.
ABSOLUTELY agree with you BOTH, to the elebentieth degree!!!!
I have to assume that some of this little critter’s internal organs must be located in it’s skull. There is simply no room for them in that tiny body!
Yes, but where does the head leave off the the body begin?
I meant “where does the head leave off and the body begin.” It’s been a long day.
I am surprised the little thing can even hold its head up with the weight of its scientific name – longer and bigger than he is.
Physicists must love this little beastie.
It looks like a mouse drawn by a 3 or 4 year old
Ha! I LOVE EXTENDO SCHNOZZ!! How can he eat with such a teensy mouf?
How can it walk on those prosh spindly legs????
They’re sooo teeny tiny! I wanna nibble them.
It jumps! sprooooinggggg
Bet he bounces real nice. Bounce bounce bounce.
*slight but delighted giggle*
Are we quite sure that is not a beak?
nice “point”, there….so to speak …
I love Elephant Shrews SOHARD!
I’m not going to let NormallyLurksOnly have all the taxonomic fun.
A HEAD WITH FINS, THAT’S IT! Ladies and gents, I give you Mola mola, the (enormous) fish so nice, they named it twice.
Apparently, there was research recently published that these guys like to show up where seabirds are hanging around, and show off their delicious parasites. “Hey, Albatross! You look like an annelid man to me! You want an annelid? I got the hookup!”
Nota bene: Not actually a very cute animal, but their fry look like a crayon drawing of the sun made by a four-year-old. That counts for something, doesn’t it?
YES! I thought of the mola mola, also also!! They are truly awesome. But not in the same cuteness class as this tiny dude.
That is HYOOOJ!
OMLG it reminds me of these felt pens we had back in school
the white cat was the eraser
Oh em squee! Elephant shrew! My wife and I have daft in-jokes about these creatures all the time, and they’re my absolute favourite!! Yay!
fresh ball of nutmeg, complete with a string to hang it by