#naturenerd
What the heck is a LIVERWORT? 💚 It’s not moss, although they look similar and are closely related!
Bryophytes are a group of land plants, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These tiny plants are non-vascular, which means that they absorb water and nutrients from the air through their surface. They also reproduce by spores instead of seeds.
Mosses and liverworts can look very similar from afar, but when you look up close, there are some key differences to look for. There are two types of liverworts: thalloid or leafy - thalloid looks quite distinct but leafy liverworts are easily confused as moss.
💚 Moss leaves usually have a midrib, while leafy liverworts do not
💚 Moss leaves grow spirally around the stem in more than three rows, while leafy liverworts usually have leaves in three rows flattened against the stem
💚 Moss leaves are typically unlobed, while liverworts can have up to six lobes on a ‘leaf’
There are other ways to identify between masses and liverworts, but these are some to get you started! Happy exploring 🤩💚
#moss #liverwort #nature #naturalist #getoutside #forestfloor #naturenerd
Watch as I uncover a megalodon tooth that I found completely in a block of clay!
. . .
#megalodon #sharktooth #fossils #miocene #lucky #luckyfind #asfound #beachcombing #sharkteeth #megatooth #shark #sharkweek #beachfind #paleontology #naturenerd #otodus #beachtreasure #fossildig #fossilhunt #fossilcollection #sharktoothhunting
Armadillos have huge… ya know!
Don’t let this little guy fool ya, he’s packin heat! He’s a three-banded armadillo, the only species of armadillo that can roll itself into a perfect, predator-proof ball. But that’s just the beginning of what makes this armored oddball fascinating.
I get hands-on with one of nature’s strangest creatures and learn some truly unexpected facts, like which animal has the highest body-to-wiener ratio (spoiler: it’s actually not the armadillo, but it’s close). We break down the anatomy, the behavior, and the surprisingly flexible armor of this little tank on legs.
Fun Armadillo Facts:
• Only the three-banded armadillo can roll into a full ball
• Their armor isn’t rock-hard—it’s flexible, making it harder for predators to bite through
• They don’t burrow, unlike most other armadillo species
• Their tongue is longer than you think (and they aren’t afraid to use it)
• Despite their squat shape, they can run up to 30 miles per hour (though some argue it’s 3 to 5—either way, it’s hilarious to watch)
• That tail is not just decoration. It locks into place when they’re curled up
• When threatened, they hide their face… right in their own business (yes, really)
#Armadillo #ThreeBandedArmadillo #WeirdAnimals #AnimalEncounter #ZanesWorld #WildlifeFacts #NatureIsWeird #AnimalLovers #AnimalVideo #AnimalFun #StrangeButTrue #DidYouKnow #EducationalContent #WildlifeEducation #FunAnimalFacts #MeetTheAnimals #CuteButWeird #ArmorUp #AnimalBehavior #NatureNerd
These tiny creatures can survive the most extreme conditions on earth and in space!
This is a water, bear, also known as, a moss piglet or tardigrade.
They are plump and have eight legs, each tipped with 4 to 8 claws. Although they are cute, they are indestructible! They can survive extreme heat, cold, radiation, pressure, etc,
They love water, so often found in moss. But they can withstand being dried out by entering a state called cryptobiosis, where they can survive for about 30 years in dormancy!
Thank you @paka for keeping me warm on this winter moss adventure! 💚🌿 And thank you @moss_party_time for finding & filming tardigrades under the microscope 🔬!
#moss #waterbear #tardigrade #naturenerd #naturalist #forest
See you later👋
I do love that feeling of getting lost in the moment. How about you? 📸✨
#photographylife #naturenerd #omsystem
This little creature is a common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha).
You can easily guess its gender by looking at these cute antennae : males have seven « leaves » whereas females have only six.
Native to Europe the life cycle of these beetles typically lasts from 3 to 5 years 📆
Adult females lay their eggs in the soil, where they hatch. Then the larvae develop underground for several years ! Primarily feeding on plant roots. They then undergo metamorphosis into nymphs, and finally the adults emerge from the ground in spring to reproduce. 🌱🪲
Common cockchafers can be found in various habitats such as grassy areas, gardens, meadows, and forests.
While they can cause some damage to crops due to larval feeding on roots, they also have ecological significance.
The adults aid in leaf decomposition by feeding on them, thus contributing to the health of ecosystems. 🍂
Additionally, the larvae play a beneficial role by creating tunnels in the soil, promoting soil aeration and fertility. ✨
#entomology #cockchafer #insects #ecology #wildlife #invertebrates #bugs #insectguru #macrofreaks #invert_macro #insectagram #naturenerd #naturalist #beetle #insects_of_our_world #insectofinstagram
🌲 How to grow "Metasequoia" a living fossil tree in the aquarium with Supertramp.Y (小红书) 🇨🇳
These small trees have developed from a few small shoots. Surprisingly, they grow completely under water and seem to feel at home there.
The Metasequoia, or Dawn/Chinese Redwood, is a "living fossil" — once thought extinct and only known from fossils until it was rediscovered in China in 1941!
It’s one of the few deciduous conifers, shedding its needles every fall.
Fast-growing, majestic, and ancient — it connects us to a prehistoric world.
#NatureFacts #Metasequoia
#DawnRedwood #LivingFossil
#TreeLovers #BotanyFun
#GreenHeritage #AncientTrees
#NatureNerd #ForestMagic
#Aquascaping #Aquariums
#Aquarium #Aquascape
#Fishkeeping #Fishtank
This puffin says hi.
It’s May, folks ! And you know what that means?
Yep, May beetles are making their grand entrance! These bugs, also known as cockchafers spend most of their lives underground as larvae, feeding on plant roots and they emerge as adults in spring or early summer ! 🪲
Their lifespan ranges from a few weeks to a few months, during which they feed on leaves and flowers.
So keep your eyes peeled, it’s the perfect time to observe them! 🕵🏻♂️
Cockchafers play a vital role in ecosystems as prey for birds and other predators, and their larvae are preyed upon by animals like moles.
There are various species worldwide, each with slightly different habits and habitats. However, some populations have declined due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, which could have significant impacts on ecosystems where they play a crucial role. 🌱
#entomology #cockchafer #insects #wildlife #invertebrates #bugs #insectguru #macrofreaks #invert_macro #insectagram #naturenerd #snagnation #beetle #insect_on_my_finger #insectofinstagram
Expanding the pokedex 🪲
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•
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#BeetleTok
#JungleFinds
#LaosWildlife
#BugLife
#InsectLovers
#MacroMagic
#RainforestVibes
#WildlifeReel
#NatureDiscovery
#CreatureFeature
#ExploreNature
#JungleCrawl
#RareBug
#EntomologyLove
#BeetleBeauty
#NatureNerd
#MicroSafari
#HiddenWorlds
#WildEncounters
#UntamedNature
#ForestCreatures
#InsectReel
#NatureIsWeird
#BugsOfInstagram
#ReelNature
#BackyardBiologist
#BiodiversityBuzz
#LaosJungle
#TinyWorldExplorers
For all the nature nerds out there, who stop to smell the moss, high-five tree trunks and take way too many identical photos of a mushroom – we see you, we appreciate you. Keep on naturing 🌿
If you’re a long-time nature nerd, what advice would you give for someone wanting to start naturing?
Let us know in the comments to be in to win a 1974 Conservation Week poster, designed by Hundertwasser!
#AlwaysBeNaturing #naturenerd
🐿 Squirrels eating all the bird seed?
💸 Costing you a fortune to feed all the neighbourhood squirrels?
🌶 Try this trick!
Make your own Spicy Bird Seed Mix:
1. Fill bucket with bird seed
2. Add cayenne pepper powder, a good amount!
3. Mix well.
4. Add a splash or two of water to make sure the powder sticks to the seed (Do NOT use oil)
5. Add to bird feeder (carefully so the pepper powder doesn't drift into your eyes...) 😵
6. Don't rub your eyes 🥴
7. Warn children not to eat this...🥵
Try this and let me know if it works for you!
😡 Before things get heated...
👌 It is confirmed that it is not a bother to birds and, in fact, contains many vitamins for their benefit (Vit A, C, B-complex, potassium, iron and calcium)!
🌶 Hot peppers contain a compound called capsaicin.
🐿 In mammals, capsaicin interacts with a receptor protein and evokes sensations of burning and pain.
🔬 Cornell @cornellbirds Scientists found that when birds consume capsaicin, the capsaicin does not bind to this receptor protein. Therefore, it does not cause any pain.
🤯 Avian TRPV1 (VR1) receptors are distinct from mammalian receptors and lack the functional binding site that capsaicin uses to activate them.
🫶 Several species of birds and wild peppers have evolved a mutually beneficial relationship, in which the birds consume the pepper’s fruits and then disperse the seeds.
👍 Capsaicin-treated bird food has been on the market for over 15 years, and its anecdotal track record is remarkably unblemished.
📚 Information above Found in: "The Joy of Bird Feeding" by Jim Carpenter, CEO and founder of Wild Birds Unlimited
If you made it this far, you should probably follow @outdoorswithriver 😉 if you want. no pressure.
#birds #birdseed #Birder #feedthebirds #outdooreducation #naturenerd #squirrelproblems #outdoortips
