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Breathing in Biology

@breathinginbiology / breathinginbiology.tumblr.com

Texas A&M University biology and animal science graduate obsessed with all things science and a particular passion for conservation, ecology, and biodiversity. Have any questions or comments? Let me know!
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The Graham’s fishhook cactus (Mammillaria grahamii) is the most common fishhook cactus in Arizona. The red fruits shown follow bright pink flowers.

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The Long Net Stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) is a stinkhorn mushroom that grows a lacy skirt or indusium, which hangs down beneath the cap. It is edible and is considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Asia.

Source: giphy.com
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typhlonectes

Indigo Milkcap (Lactarius indigo)

Compared to other colors found in nature, true blues are pretty rare—but the indigo milk cap has just that! This vibrant mushroom gets it color from a pigment that is a derivative of guaiazulene, a dark blue crystalline hydrocarbon. You would think that its blueness is a marker for toxicity, but the mushroom is actually edible—although its color fades to a grayish hue when it’s cooked.

photograph by Dan Molter

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Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)

The Andean condor is a South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It has a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle.t is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases.

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Long-tailed grass lizards can use their impressive tail as a counter balance, allowing them to stand on their hind legs while they look around. This little guy was such a good sport to demonstrate for me!

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Hydnora africana, a native to southern Africa, is parasitic on the roots of members of the Euphorbiaceae family. The plant grows underground, except for a fleshy flower that emerges above ground and emits an odor of feces to attract its natural pollinators, dung beetles and carrion beetles. The flowers act as temporary traps, retaining the beetles that enter long enough for them to pick up pollen.

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Hopkin’s Rose nudibranch (Okenia rosacea)

The Hopkin’s Rose nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. These pink sea slugs are characterized by numerous long papillae on their back, tapering into a round tip. This pink color is produced by the xanthophyllic pigment hopkinsiaxanthin, most likely obtained through feeding on the cheilostomatous bryozoan.

photo credits: Jerry Kirkhart , Robin Agarwal

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