Lisa Whitenack, PhD
@whitenacklab.bsky.social
Biology professor & Director of Faculty Development at Allegheny College. Biomechanics, evolution, and paleobiology of sharks, snails, crabs, and more. She/her
Saw this beautiful nudibranch at Bird Rock, San Diego. No idea what species and iNaturalist tried to tell me it was an anemone. 🙄
Anyone on #Invertsky have an id for this beauty? 🧪
Anyone on #Invertsky have an id for this beauty? 🧪
November 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Saw this beautiful nudibranch at Bird Rock, San Diego. No idea what species and iNaturalist tried to tell me it was an anemone. 🙄
Anyone on #Invertsky have an id for this beauty? 🧪
Anyone on #Invertsky have an id for this beauty? 🧪
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Seeing this longhorn cowfish at the Birch Aquarium this week brought a smile to my face.
Like other boxfishes, they are fins-only swimmers because their scales fuse together, preventing the body from bending.
And they look like Zoolander
doing blue steel.
Ok carry on
Seeing this longhorn cowfish at the Birch Aquarium this week brought a smile to my face.
Like other boxfishes, they are fins-only swimmers because their scales fuse together, preventing the body from bending.
And they look like Zoolander
doing blue steel.
Ok carry on
November 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Seeing this longhorn cowfish at the Birch Aquarium this week brought a smile to my face.
Like other boxfishes, they are fins-only swimmers because their scales fuse together, preventing the body from bending.
And they look like Zoolander
doing blue steel.
Ok carry on
Seeing this longhorn cowfish at the Birch Aquarium this week brought a smile to my face.
Like other boxfishes, they are fins-only swimmers because their scales fuse together, preventing the body from bending.
And they look like Zoolander
doing blue steel.
Ok carry on
Busted out my reliable brain slug for Halloween 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Busted out my reliable brain slug for Halloween 🎃
This is yesterday’s postcard-perfect view from my office in our Center for Research and Teaching Excellence at Allegheny. I love the show that Mother Nature puts on in the autumn!
October 30, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is yesterday’s postcard-perfect view from my office in our Center for Research and Teaching Excellence at Allegheny. I love the show that Mother Nature puts on in the autumn!
It’s band-tober, which means that marching band is our entire life right now. Tonight was a small show (4 HS bands and 1 college band), but the closer had them all playing Sweet Caroline together.
Music brings such joy in a timeline where it is tough to find.
Music brings such joy in a timeline where it is tough to find.
October 5, 2025 at 12:48 AM
It’s band-tober, which means that marching band is our entire life right now. Tonight was a small show (4 HS bands and 1 college band), but the closer had them all playing Sweet Caroline together.
Music brings such joy in a timeline where it is tough to find.
Music brings such joy in a timeline where it is tough to find.
My comparative anatomy students had a blast learning with these @3danatomystudios.com shark skull models this week!
October 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
My comparative anatomy students had a blast learning with these @3danatomystudios.com shark skull models this week!
I do still have it!!
September 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I do still have it!!
Wow, it’s been a while since an afternoon of lab work has made me this stinky.
But I did manage to finally prep out a freeze dried snake and a barracuda head . Both have been sitting in my work freezer for 8 years, and before then were in Tom Frazetta’s freezer probably for decades.
But I did manage to finally prep out a freeze dried snake and a barracuda head . Both have been sitting in my work freezer for 8 years, and before then were in Tom Frazetta’s freezer probably for decades.
September 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Wow, it’s been a while since an afternoon of lab work has made me this stinky.
But I did manage to finally prep out a freeze dried snake and a barracuda head . Both have been sitting in my work freezer for 8 years, and before then were in Tom Frazetta’s freezer probably for decades.
But I did manage to finally prep out a freeze dried snake and a barracuda head . Both have been sitting in my work freezer for 8 years, and before then were in Tom Frazetta’s freezer probably for decades.
It’s nice to do something fun for a good cause among all of this <gestures at world>
Guest bartending at my local bar to raise $ for a local foundation that benefits our school district’s kids while also representing my kids’ marching band.
Our lights are 🎵 and our hats are music themed!
Guest bartending at my local bar to raise $ for a local foundation that benefits our school district’s kids while also representing my kids’ marching band.
Our lights are 🎵 and our hats are music themed!
September 14, 2025 at 2:37 AM
It’s nice to do something fun for a good cause among all of this <gestures at world>
Guest bartending at my local bar to raise $ for a local foundation that benefits our school district’s kids while also representing my kids’ marching band.
Our lights are 🎵 and our hats are music themed!
Guest bartending at my local bar to raise $ for a local foundation that benefits our school district’s kids while also representing my kids’ marching band.
Our lights are 🎵 and our hats are music themed!
Chaetognath translates to “bristle jaw”. Their jaws don’t share the same evolutionary history with our jaws. They’re made out of chitin, which is the same stuff insect bodies are made of (among other things).
The photo below is a super-closeup of the head and also shows where “bristle” came from
The photo below is a super-closeup of the head and also shows where “bristle” came from
September 4, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Chaetognath translates to “bristle jaw”. Their jaws don’t share the same evolutionary history with our jaws. They’re made out of chitin, which is the same stuff insect bodies are made of (among other things).
The photo below is a super-closeup of the head and also shows where “bristle” came from
The photo below is a super-closeup of the head and also shows where “bristle” came from
An entire slice of bread causes a brief carp feeding frenzy. 🍞
I helped a colleague catch some of these carp (for science) with bread and a basket net. I then wrestled the carp while she took cheek swabs for DNA. 🧬
Turns out carp slime makes you too smelly for Walmart and gets you kicked out. 🤷🏻♀️
I helped a colleague catch some of these carp (for science) with bread and a basket net. I then wrestled the carp while she took cheek swabs for DNA. 🧬
Turns out carp slime makes you too smelly for Walmart and gets you kicked out. 🤷🏻♀️
July 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
An entire slice of bread causes a brief carp feeding frenzy. 🍞
I helped a colleague catch some of these carp (for science) with bread and a basket net. I then wrestled the carp while she took cheek swabs for DNA. 🧬
Turns out carp slime makes you too smelly for Walmart and gets you kicked out. 🤷🏻♀️
I helped a colleague catch some of these carp (for science) with bread and a basket net. I then wrestled the carp while she took cheek swabs for DNA. 🧬
Turns out carp slime makes you too smelly for Walmart and gets you kicked out. 🤷🏻♀️
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Took my mom, sister, & her kids to the Linesville Spillway. It is known as “where the ducks walk on the fish”.
🦆
🐟 🐟
These greedy fish are common carp (Cyrpinius cardio). Many of them are as long as my arm. Tourists feed them bread and fish pellets.
Took my mom, sister, & her kids to the Linesville Spillway. It is known as “where the ducks walk on the fish”.
🦆
🐟 🐟
These greedy fish are common carp (Cyrpinius cardio). Many of them are as long as my arm. Tourists feed them bread and fish pellets.
July 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Took my mom, sister, & her kids to the Linesville Spillway. It is known as “where the ducks walk on the fish”.
🦆
🐟 🐟
These greedy fish are common carp (Cyrpinius cardio). Many of them are as long as my arm. Tourists feed them bread and fish pellets.
Took my mom, sister, & her kids to the Linesville Spillway. It is known as “where the ducks walk on the fish”.
🦆
🐟 🐟
These greedy fish are common carp (Cyrpinius cardio). Many of them are as long as my arm. Tourists feed them bread and fish pellets.
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
This is Monty, a peacock mantis shrimp.
Monty molted in May. They are now huge (my hand for scale).
Monty can see more colors than we can because they have more types of photoreceptors in their eyes. They can also sense UV.
This is Monty, a peacock mantis shrimp.
Monty molted in May. They are now huge (my hand for scale).
Monty can see more colors than we can because they have more types of photoreceptors in their eyes. They can also sense UV.
July 23, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
This is Monty, a peacock mantis shrimp.
Monty molted in May. They are now huge (my hand for scale).
Monty can see more colors than we can because they have more types of photoreceptors in their eyes. They can also sense UV.
This is Monty, a peacock mantis shrimp.
Monty molted in May. They are now huge (my hand for scale).
Monty can see more colors than we can because they have more types of photoreceptors in their eyes. They can also sense UV.
I spied the National Parks Service logo from the #JMIH2025 venue. Turns out there’s a nice little NPS visitor center in the lobby of the science museum across the street. Got my NPS passport stamp, enjoyed the center, and then took a few minutes to gaze at the mighty Mississippi.
July 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I spied the National Parks Service logo from the #JMIH2025 venue. Turns out there’s a nice little NPS visitor center in the lobby of the science museum across the street. Got my NPS passport stamp, enjoyed the center, and then took a few minutes to gaze at the mighty Mississippi.
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
This is Oz, aka Ozzy Bear, Dingus, Orange Demon. 🐱
I couldn’t figure out what was making this noise. Then I realized he was snoring. 😴
Happened to catch the moment this orange boi woke himself up with his own snore. 🙄
Ok, carry on
This is Oz, aka Ozzy Bear, Dingus, Orange Demon. 🐱
I couldn’t figure out what was making this noise. Then I realized he was snoring. 😴
Happened to catch the moment this orange boi woke himself up with his own snore. 🙄
Ok, carry on
June 18, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
This is Oz, aka Ozzy Bear, Dingus, Orange Demon. 🐱
I couldn’t figure out what was making this noise. Then I realized he was snoring. 😴
Happened to catch the moment this orange boi woke himself up with his own snore. 🙄
Ok, carry on
This is Oz, aka Ozzy Bear, Dingus, Orange Demon. 🐱
I couldn’t figure out what was making this noise. Then I realized he was snoring. 😴
Happened to catch the moment this orange boi woke himself up with his own snore. 🙄
Ok, carry on
Good evening from this cherry cownose ray! It’s been so fun being back in Sarasota, which I haven’t been to since we moved from FL 15 years ago
June 1, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Good evening from this cherry cownose ray! It’s been so fun being back in Sarasota, which I haven’t been to since we moved from FL 15 years ago
Had a blast as the mystery guest for my local Remake Learning Days event! Kids read Arlo Draws an Octopus, then we played 20 questions where they had to guess my job. Then it was time to touch shark jaws and visit with all of the community partners! The therapy dogs were the favorite 🤩
May 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Had a blast as the mystery guest for my local Remake Learning Days event! Kids read Arlo Draws an Octopus, then we played 20 questions where they had to guess my job. Then it was time to touch shark jaws and visit with all of the community partners! The therapy dogs were the favorite 🤩
Ha! Too late, Ozzy!!
April 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Ha! Too late, Ozzy!!
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Fred (aka Winifred, Freddie, Relaxed Fit, Fubastank) decided to be my dinner companion. She likes to listen to the bedtime reading that my youngest kiddo and partner fo together each night
I’m sure it was all wanting to be with me and not my dinner she wanted
Ok carry on
Fred (aka Winifred, Freddie, Relaxed Fit, Fubastank) decided to be my dinner companion. She likes to listen to the bedtime reading that my youngest kiddo and partner fo together each night
I’m sure it was all wanting to be with me and not my dinner she wanted
Ok carry on
April 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
Fred (aka Winifred, Freddie, Relaxed Fit, Fubastank) decided to be my dinner companion. She likes to listen to the bedtime reading that my youngest kiddo and partner fo together each night
I’m sure it was all wanting to be with me and not my dinner she wanted
Ok carry on
Fred (aka Winifred, Freddie, Relaxed Fit, Fubastank) decided to be my dinner companion. She likes to listen to the bedtime reading that my youngest kiddo and partner fo together each night
I’m sure it was all wanting to be with me and not my dinner she wanted
Ok carry on
These shark jaws were recovered from a fisher’s estate, where he took the jaws out of a few thousand sharks over his career. His family donated them for scientific work.
Today I’m pulling a bunch to send to a colleague for isotope work.
I’ve been bitten so many times this afternoon.
Today I’m pulling a bunch to send to a colleague for isotope work.
I’ve been bitten so many times this afternoon.
April 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
These shark jaws were recovered from a fisher’s estate, where he took the jaws out of a few thousand sharks over his career. His family donated them for scientific work.
Today I’m pulling a bunch to send to a colleague for isotope work.
I’ve been bitten so many times this afternoon.
Today I’m pulling a bunch to send to a colleague for isotope work.
I’ve been bitten so many times this afternoon.
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
My snuggly Ozzy Bear being adorable on this literally and metaphorically gloomy Friday afternoon.
May you have the equivalent of this to help ease some of the gloom for a bit.
Ok, carry on
My snuggly Ozzy Bear being adorable on this literally and metaphorically gloomy Friday afternoon.
May you have the equivalent of this to help ease some of the gloom for a bit.
Ok, carry on
March 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Doomscroll safety stop 🛑
My snuggly Ozzy Bear being adorable on this literally and metaphorically gloomy Friday afternoon.
May you have the equivalent of this to help ease some of the gloom for a bit.
Ok, carry on
My snuggly Ozzy Bear being adorable on this literally and metaphorically gloomy Friday afternoon.
May you have the equivalent of this to help ease some of the gloom for a bit.
Ok, carry on
Doom scroll safety stop 🛑
Or maybe bloom scroll?
Anyway, we’re into our first part of fake spring here in NW PA, and my snowdrops are blooming! This always makes me happy, because it means we’re starting to crawl away from winter.
Ok, carry on
Or maybe bloom scroll?
Anyway, we’re into our first part of fake spring here in NW PA, and my snowdrops are blooming! This always makes me happy, because it means we’re starting to crawl away from winter.
Ok, carry on
March 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Doom scroll safety stop 🛑
Or maybe bloom scroll?
Anyway, we’re into our first part of fake spring here in NW PA, and my snowdrops are blooming! This always makes me happy, because it means we’re starting to crawl away from winter.
Ok, carry on
Or maybe bloom scroll?
Anyway, we’re into our first part of fake spring here in NW PA, and my snowdrops are blooming! This always makes me happy, because it means we’re starting to crawl away from winter.
Ok, carry on
Doom scroll safety stop 🛑
I love how fuzzy this bee is. I took this a few summers ago, and I’m thinking about what seeds I want to start this month.
Ok, carry on
I love how fuzzy this bee is. I took this a few summers ago, and I’m thinking about what seeds I want to start this month.
Ok, carry on
March 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Doom scroll safety stop 🛑
I love how fuzzy this bee is. I took this a few summers ago, and I’m thinking about what seeds I want to start this month.
Ok, carry on
I love how fuzzy this bee is. I took this a few summers ago, and I’m thinking about what seeds I want to start this month.
Ok, carry on
Whelp, my “don’t buy new craft project stuff in 2025” resolution lasted until March. Saw this just-started piece at one of my favorite thrift stores for $7 and I snatched it up.
Do I know how to do this type of needlework? No. Do I have the right type of thread/yarn/floss? Also no.
Do I know how to do this type of needlework? No. Do I have the right type of thread/yarn/floss? Also no.
March 3, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Whelp, my “don’t buy new craft project stuff in 2025” resolution lasted until March. Saw this just-started piece at one of my favorite thrift stores for $7 and I snatched it up.
Do I know how to do this type of needlework? No. Do I have the right type of thread/yarn/floss? Also no.
Do I know how to do this type of needlework? No. Do I have the right type of thread/yarn/floss? Also no.
Looked up from my notebook and saw that the progress bar in Spotify became a lightsaber when a Star Wars track came on!
February 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Looked up from my notebook and saw that the progress bar in Spotify became a lightsaber when a Star Wars track came on!