catbearexpress:

Blonde raccoon

thunderstruck9:

Damián González (Cuban b. 1967), Islote en la niebla [Islet in the fog], 2009. Oil on canvas, 150.2 x 100.3 cm.


labelleabeille:

Fungus molds photographed by Valeriya Zvereva

(Source: freeyork.org)


archaicwonder:

Assyrian Magic Lamashtu Plaque, 8th-7th Century BC

This dark brown diorite magical plaque is finely carved in high raised relief on both sides with protective scenes concerning disease and healing. It contains the upper half of the original plaque with a drilled suspension hole.

Front: the female bringer of disease, Lamashtu, is shown standing in the nude with the head of a roaring lion and donkey ears. She is preserved from the stomach up. She holds two double-headed snakes in each of her raised hands as she suckles dogs at her naked breasts. Above her are images of a sick bedridden man and a bowl. A lit lamp and a tall vase are on her right and left sides.

Back: a procession of seven demons with human bodies and animal heads moves to the right. At the head of the line, a lion-headed demon holds a knife in his raised right hand, approaching an altar with a bird. He grasps the bird’s feet in its left hand, and is about to sacrifice it. In the sky are symbols of four Assyrian astral divinities including (from left to right): Sin (crescent moon), Pleiades (seven dots), Ishtar (eight-pointed star on disc) and Ashur (winged sun disc), the state god of Assyria.

This rare magical plaque was used to ward off Lamashtu and the diseases she brought. A similar example can be found in the collection of the Louvre Museum.


indefenseofplants:

I introduce to you the wild world of the genus Ceropegia. Distant relatives of milkweeds, these strange vines are native to parts of Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Though quite varied, the floral morphology functions as a pollinator trap. Lured in by the scent, unsuspecting flies become trapped down inside the flower by downward pointing hairs. After sufficient time to guarantee pollinia have been attached, the hairs wither and the flies are free to fall into the same trap on another plant.

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Photo Credits: -Merce- (http://bit.ly/ZykAfg), Martin Heigan (http://bit.ly/1rRlVbR), David Midgley (http://bit.ly/1vCsRcW), Jayesh Patil (http://bit.ly/1oGC2Ef), epiforums (http://bit.ly/1nSTLNX), to.wi (https://www.flickr.com/photos/w-tommerdich/7223411120)


libutron:

Mossy moth - Mpanjaka pastor

This striking moth is scientifically called Mpanjaka pastor (Erebidae), a species endemic to central Madagascar with amazing adaptations to the rainforest environment, filled with mosses and lichens. The scales of this moth have grown in length. Of particular note are the “hair extensions” at the head and on the sides which trail down to the ground and serve to break up the outline and camouflage the moth while it is sleeping during the day. 

References: [1]

Photo credits: ©Paul Bertner | Locality: Andasibe National Park, Madagascar (2013) | [Top] - [Bottom]


(Source: faithbeforefear)

(Source: skookumthesamoyed)


gonatistagrisea:

Cephalotes varians, otherwise known as the door head ant or turtle ant, is a species of ant that uses its bizarre head morphology to form plugs in the holes it inhabits.

(Source: antwiki.org)