Marshal Hedin
@mhedin.bsky.social
devoted to the study & understanding of biodiversity, and public sharing of biodiversity knowledge and beauty. a "curator" of biological collections, and of the planet. Dad, Univ Prof
Enjoy a very large number of snow geese
Volume up
Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
Volume up
Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
November 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Enjoy a very large number of snow geese
Volume up
Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
Volume up
Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Cave life's not all bad for olms. They live *exceptionally* long lives for an amphibian (100 yrs!), possibly arising from the fact that they have no natural predators & have been known not to move for up to 7 years.
Just tiny pink dragons guarding their tiny water-filled caves for a century. 🐉💧
Just tiny pink dragons guarding their tiny water-filled caves for a century. 🐉💧
One blind, aquatic salamander may have sat mostly still for seven years
Olms may live for about century and appear to spend their time moving sparingly.
www.sciencenews.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Cave life's not all bad for olms. They live *exceptionally* long lives for an amphibian (100 yrs!), possibly arising from the fact that they have no natural predators & have been known not to move for up to 7 years.
Just tiny pink dragons guarding their tiny water-filled caves for a century. 🐉💧
Just tiny pink dragons guarding their tiny water-filled caves for a century. 🐉💧
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Olms (Proteus anguinus) look like you took an axolotl & stretched them out. 'Dachshund axolotls', if you will.
They're a cave-dwelling salamander that live deep under the Alps of Central Europe. When floods flushed them out to streams, they were described as 'baby dragons'.
And they lack eyes...
They're a cave-dwelling salamander that live deep under the Alps of Central Europe. When floods flushed them out to streams, they were described as 'baby dragons'.
And they lack eyes...
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Olms (Proteus anguinus) look like you took an axolotl & stretched them out. 'Dachshund axolotls', if you will.
They're a cave-dwelling salamander that live deep under the Alps of Central Europe. When floods flushed them out to streams, they were described as 'baby dragons'.
And they lack eyes...
They're a cave-dwelling salamander that live deep under the Alps of Central Europe. When floods flushed them out to streams, they were described as 'baby dragons'.
And they lack eyes...
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Also featuring the incredible @mhedin.bsky.social and Kefyn Catley!
A love letter to #spiders and everything they do for us, referencing a 2023 ZooKeys study by @mhedin.bsky.social and @forthespiders.bsky.social where they described 10 new cave spider species!
eu.knoxnews.com/story/life/2...
eu.knoxnews.com/story/life/2...
Wait, don’t kill that spider! They protect us from disease
When you see a spider in your house, stop and think before you kill it. Spiders do more good for humans than harm.
eu.knoxnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Also featuring the incredible @mhedin.bsky.social and Kefyn Catley!
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Blind cave spiders~
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
November 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Blind cave spiders~
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Spooky clouds this evening
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Spooky clouds this evening
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
In honor of #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, our Museums will offer free admission to all visitors from 3 - 5pm this Friday, November 21. Free tickets will be available at any on-site museum ticketing desk.
The #NHMLAC is proud to offer this general admission benefit at both @nhm.org and @tarpits.org.
The #NHMLAC is proud to offer this general admission benefit at both @nhm.org and @tarpits.org.
November 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
In honor of #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, our Museums will offer free admission to all visitors from 3 - 5pm this Friday, November 21. Free tickets will be available at any on-site museum ticketing desk.
The #NHMLAC is proud to offer this general admission benefit at both @nhm.org and @tarpits.org.
The #NHMLAC is proud to offer this general admission benefit at both @nhm.org and @tarpits.org.
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
A taxonomic revision published in our Zoological Journal in 2017 completely upended this belief, revealing the silky anteater (she who looks like an evil popcorn kernel) is actually 7 species! Read more in the paper here: buff.ly/WsIJz4y 2/2
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A taxonomic revision published in our Zoological Journal in 2017 completely upended this belief, revealing the silky anteater (she who looks like an evil popcorn kernel) is actually 7 species! Read more in the paper here: buff.ly/WsIJz4y 2/2
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
PhyloWeaver – Interactive phylogenetic tree editor
Edit and visualize phylogenetic trees directly in your browser. PhyloWeaver lets you interactively rearrange tree topologies and export high-quality figures for publications and presentations.
yawak.jp
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
A migration corridor that allows jaguars and ocelots to cross into the U.S. is the latest border wall construction zone.
Border wall opponents rally as Trump closes a 27-mile gap across a remote Arizona valley
A migration corridor that allows jaguars and ocelots to cross into the U.S. is the latest border wall construction zone.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A migration corridor that allows jaguars and ocelots to cross into the U.S. is the latest border wall construction zone.
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
🕷️ Meet Rodrigo Monjaraz Ruedas (Assistant Curator, Entomology). Area of expertise? Arachnids.
Be sure to drop in to our seasonal #SpiderPavilion to see some of our favorite living specimens up close now through November 30!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIC...
Be sure to drop in to our seasonal #SpiderPavilion to see some of our favorite living specimens up close now through November 30!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIC...
Spider Scientist Breaks Down Why Spiders are Amazing
YouTube video by Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM)
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
🕷️ Meet Rodrigo Monjaraz Ruedas (Assistant Curator, Entomology). Area of expertise? Arachnids.
Be sure to drop in to our seasonal #SpiderPavilion to see some of our favorite living specimens up close now through November 30!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIC...
Be sure to drop in to our seasonal #SpiderPavilion to see some of our favorite living specimens up close now through November 30!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIC...
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
The fight has come to NC, and it just hit close to home. Our daughter teaches in Durham public schools and she said almost all of the Latinx kids are not in school today. ICE is targeting everyone who "looks Hispanic", citizen or not. I am even more angry today-kids need to go to school!
November 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The fight has come to NC, and it just hit close to home. Our daughter teaches in Durham public schools and she said almost all of the Latinx kids are not in school today. ICE is targeting everyone who "looks Hispanic", citizen or not. I am even more angry today-kids need to go to school!
something tells me that this bee-fly is showing off ....
the sugar candy stamens are also cool
the sugar candy stamens are also cool
November 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
something tells me that this bee-fly is showing off ....
the sugar candy stamens are also cool
the sugar candy stamens are also cool
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
November 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Super useful tips & tricks for insect specimen imaging from @andrewjohnston.bsky.social! He shares how to build an affordable focus stacking system on your own.
Handy guide available here:
www.insectid.org/post/focus-s...
#ECN2025 📸 🪲
Handy guide available here:
www.insectid.org/post/focus-s...
#ECN2025 📸 🪲
November 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Super useful tips & tricks for insect specimen imaging from @andrewjohnston.bsky.social! He shares how to build an affordable focus stacking system on your own.
Handy guide available here:
www.insectid.org/post/focus-s...
#ECN2025 📸 🪲
Handy guide available here:
www.insectid.org/post/focus-s...
#ECN2025 📸 🪲
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
It's almost the weekend! 🥳
If you're looking for something for you and/or your kids to do, I've recently re-uploaded my arthropod coloring guide 🎨
Please feel free to share, print, and [definitely] have fun with it!!!
drive.google.com/file/d/1V59i...
If you're looking for something for you and/or your kids to do, I've recently re-uploaded my arthropod coloring guide 🎨
Please feel free to share, print, and [definitely] have fun with it!!!
drive.google.com/file/d/1V59i...
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
It's almost the weekend! 🥳
If you're looking for something for you and/or your kids to do, I've recently re-uploaded my arthropod coloring guide 🎨
Please feel free to share, print, and [definitely] have fun with it!!!
drive.google.com/file/d/1V59i...
If you're looking for something for you and/or your kids to do, I've recently re-uploaded my arthropod coloring guide 🎨
Please feel free to share, print, and [definitely] have fun with it!!!
drive.google.com/file/d/1V59i...
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
New #OpenAccess research in #RESSystematicEnt
Alone no more — Integrative #taxonomy of New Zealand odd-clawed #spiders challenges the monotypy of #Pianoa and #Gradungula (#Araneae: #Gradungulidae)
doi.org/10.1111/syen.70006
#IntegrativeTaxonomy
@gkergoat.bsky.social @wileyeco.bsky.social
Alone no more — Integrative #taxonomy of New Zealand odd-clawed #spiders challenges the monotypy of #Pianoa and #Gradungula (#Araneae: #Gradungulidae)
doi.org/10.1111/syen.70006
#IntegrativeTaxonomy
@gkergoat.bsky.social @wileyeco.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM
New #OpenAccess research in #RESSystematicEnt
Alone no more — Integrative #taxonomy of New Zealand odd-clawed #spiders challenges the monotypy of #Pianoa and #Gradungula (#Araneae: #Gradungulidae)
doi.org/10.1111/syen.70006
#IntegrativeTaxonomy
@gkergoat.bsky.social @wileyeco.bsky.social
Alone no more — Integrative #taxonomy of New Zealand odd-clawed #spiders challenges the monotypy of #Pianoa and #Gradungula (#Araneae: #Gradungulidae)
doi.org/10.1111/syen.70006
#IntegrativeTaxonomy
@gkergoat.bsky.social @wileyeco.bsky.social
Where the red fern grows
Tonight's pastel sunset in southeast Oklahoma. #photography
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Where the red fern grows
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
We found oyster spiders today during my oyster lab field trip for my Invertebrate Zoology class! These are marine spiders! They have special setae (hairs) that trap air and let them live underwater. #invertebrates #spider
November 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
We found oyster spiders today during my oyster lab field trip for my Invertebrate Zoology class! These are marine spiders! They have special setae (hairs) that trap air and let them live underwater. #invertebrates #spider
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Ever wanted to get the lowdown on natural history museums? Interested in how they're shaped from behind the scenes? Or how they in turn shape scientific understanding?
Then join Jack Ashby's talk exploring both the scientific and social relevance of these fascinating institutions
🎟️ from £9.38
Then join Jack Ashby's talk exploring both the scientific and social relevance of these fascinating institutions
🎟️ from £9.38
Nature’s Memory | Behind the Scenes at the World’s Natural History Museums
Get an insider guide to the secrets of natural history museums, as we consider how they shape our society and relationship with nature.
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Ever wanted to get the lowdown on natural history museums? Interested in how they're shaped from behind the scenes? Or how they in turn shape scientific understanding?
Then join Jack Ashby's talk exploring both the scientific and social relevance of these fascinating institutions
🎟️ from £9.38
Then join Jack Ashby's talk exploring both the scientific and social relevance of these fascinating institutions
🎟️ from £9.38
Reposted by Marshal Hedin
Habronattus borealis male, from Pomquet Beach, NS
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Habronattus borealis male, from Pomquet Beach, NS
A bunch of undescribed spider species enjoying the moisture at Burdell!
Mt Burdell 2, Marin County, CA
🗺38.1499, -122.5932 🧭133° ⛰1562 ft
https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/15819
🗺38.1499, -122.5932 🧭133° ⛰1562 ft
https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/15819
November 5, 2025 at 11:48 PM
A bunch of undescribed spider species enjoying the moisture at Burdell!