For the final crustacean of May and the “really not a crab” prompt for #InsertAnInvert2024 I have opted for a far more common (and frankly less terrifying) little creature than the suggested species (that even our crustacean expert called “absolute abominations”). This little cutie on the other hand, is a freshwater water flea. Daphnia longispina is a planktonic crustacean of the 🧵1/n
For the #InsertAnInvert2024 prompt “not long, not limbless” the truly ornate Elvis worm! In 2020, scientists discovered 4 types of scale worms, with shimmering lavender, blue, & orange exoskeletons, which looked like they were wearing sequined jumpsuits like Elvis Presley! They named these worms Elvis worms. These species in the genus Peinaleopolynoe are called P. goffrediae, P. mineoi, P. orphanae, and P. elvisi. 🧵1/n
This week the #InsertAnInvert2024 prompt is crawler, about shellfish who can drag themselves over surface like the spectacularly coloured lined chitons (Tonicella lineata), beautiful, tiny marine mollusc of the North Pacific. I don’t usually make reduction prints but I think I might otherwise loose my mind trying to capture the complex patterns. Each 5 cm long animal has zigzag purple or black lines on 8 valves 🧵1/n