Exciting! I am teaching about this very topic tomorrow morning. I guess I should read this paper tonight!

Finally, my student, Lea Hinsley, got these great photos of a Nemertean, aka ribbon worm. #Nemertea

Now we have the tube dwelling amphipod crustacean Cerapus sp. #amphipod

Here is a short video clip of the sea spider.

One of my favorite animals to find in the hydroids are Pycnogonids, aka, sea spiders. We had a real treat today because we found one carrying eggs. In sea spiders the males carry the eggs.

#invertebrates #pycnogonida

These are from a wild collection. I do run field trips for my lab, but the hydroids live a little too far away for us to visit during a lab period. (This is also a bit of a double dip for me because some of my students have a research project with one of the nudibranchs).

Next up a six armed brittle star! This one is in the process of regenerating half of its arms. Does anyone know the ID? I would love to figure out this one.

My research microscope needs repairs, so I am trying out some alternative methods for my photos. This isn't my best work, but I am having fun with it and these critters are too cool not to share.

What a pile! You should definitely keep adding to it.

The springtails are also quite interesting!

Some cool info about them here: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/franklinco/2...

I am think these are Paratheuma insulana and they feed on tiny springtails that also live on the oyster.

That does sound like a challenging one. I definitely prefer lectures with lots of fun images. Good luck!

Don't do it! What's the lecture?

Thank you!

Okay, I knew about the carcinoecium. But, I did know it evolved more than once! Convergent evolution is so cool!

Since sea hares are hermaphrodites this is also the ideal female body. This is the ideal body.

Fantastic photo! I love it!