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Showing posts with the label Antarctica

Hunchbacked shrimp

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This article was originally posted at Amazing Zoology . View original article at http://amzoo.in/w2bzo © Copyright Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Among the newely discovered 26 species of amphipods of genus Ephimera from Southern Ocean off Antarctica, one species stood out for its humped back. It was named Epimeria quasimodo and is about 2 inches long. It was named for Victor Hugo’s character, Quasimodo the hunchback, in reference to its somewhat humped back. Extraordinary morphological structures and colors, makes the genus Epimeria an icon of the Southern Ocean that includes both free-swimming predators and sessile filter feeders. The genus is abundant in the glacial waters circulating south of the Polar Front and their crested adornments are reminiscent of mythological dragons. Suggested Reading 1. D’Udekem d’Acoz C, Verheye ML. Epimeria of the Southern Ocean with notes on their relatives (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Eusiroidea). E . 2017;(359). doi: 10...

Leopard seal fell in love with this photographer!

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The Photographer [caption id="attachment_770" align="alignnone" width="794"] Paul Nicklen is a wildlife and nature photojournalist specializing in the Arctic and Antarctica with an emphasis on climate change.[/caption] The Assignment [caption id="attachment_771" align="alignnone" width="800"] Once he was assigned to Antarctica to photograph Leopard Seals.[/caption] Leopard seal [caption id="attachment_772" align="alignnone" width="794"] Leopard seal is an active predator and is the second largest seal in Antarctica. In Pauls own words “When you get in the water with a wild animal, you"re essentially giving yourself to that animal because, as humans, we"re quite helpless and vulnerable in the water. You"re at the seal"s mercy. You"re at the predator"s mercy.”[/caption] Biggest seal [caption id="attachment_773" align="alignnone" width="794...