Arachnologists (spider scientists) are studying how color impacts spider behavior. Male Coloration Colorful markings paired with a flashy dance might tell a female jumping spider that a male is the right species, and ready to mate. Colors give females subtle information and only males in
Voracious Visual Predators For visual predators, bright colors in prey often warn of danger
The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Environmental Archaeology Program received a nearly $800,000 National Science Foundation grant to curate some of its most delicate specimens and vital data, documenting 14,000 years of biodiversity in vulnerable regions around the Caribbean. Environmental a
damaged material and digitize handwritten specimen labels and other information in danger
Lutjanus jocu This snapper earned its name from the long canine teeth that show even when its mouth is closed. They are sturdy almond-shaped fish that are usually olive-green on top, fading to coppery pale underneath, and they have a distinct white triangular bar under their eyes. These nocturnal
Danger to Humans Although they are commercially fished, the dog snapper has been
Parascyllium variolatum These long, tubular sharks have small fins and asymmetrical tail fins, and short, rounded snouts. They are anywhere from dark to light brown with white spots, dark and light blotches, and dark saddles, but they all have a dark collar with dense white spots–hence the neckl
Danger to Humans Due to its small size and feeding habits, the necklace carpetshark
Rostroraja texana This skate has a rounded diamond-shaped pectoral disc, with a pointed snout that has translucent patches on either side of it. There are distinct dark eye spots with light outlines on its pectoral fins, but otherwise it is a dark brown on top, and white underneath. It is harm
Danger to Humans The roundel skate is harmless to humans.
The migration of mature female tiger sharks during late summer and fall to the main Hawaiian Islands, presumably to give birth, could provide insight into attacks in that area, according to a University of Florida scientist. In a new seven-year study, researchers from the Florida Museum of Na
Life on Earth Unique dove species is the dodo of the Caribbean and in similar danger
Chiloscyllium plagiosum These small carpet sharks are nocturnal reef-dwellers. They are very elongated and narrow, with lobed fins and rounded snouts, and only grow to between 24 and 37 inches long. They are brown, with darker brown bands, and are scattered with white and black spots. Because of
Danger to Humans Bamboo sharks are harmless to humans, spending much of their lives
Fontitrygon margarita This smaller, oval-shaped stingray has a pointed snout, and a round, pearl-like tubercular thorn in the very top center of the stingray’s disc. Its tail is slightly longer than its body, thick at the base and whip-like at the end, with one long, serrated venomous spine about
Danger to Humans The daisy stingray is considered harmless to humans.
Paragaleus pectoralis This small shark has a slender body, long snout, and large oval eyes. The fins are somewhat small except for the elongated, pointed pectoral fins, and it has an asymmetric caudal (tail) fin. This specialized feeder preys mostly on cephalopods like squid and octopus, but will
Danger to Humans There have been no documented attacks on humans by the Atlantic
Narcine bancroftii Like the name suggests, this is one of the rays that can create an electric shock from 14 to 37 volts, from specialized organs that run along their bodies. These small rays have a circular pectoral disc, with a stout tail that as two small dorsal fins and a triangular caudal (t
Danger to Humans Lesser electric rays have been know to knock humans down with their
