Видео

A singing Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in Maryland. Filmed with Canon R6 and Canon EF 500mm L f/4 with Canon EF 2x III teleconverter. Audio recorded with Wildtronics ProMono 22" parabolic dish and Zoom F3.

An unknown ciliate undergoing binary fission. Binary fission is an asexual reproductive process common in protozoans, where a single cell copies itself and produces a daughter cell. There are several types of binary fission observed in ciliates, and the form shown here is a transverse fission.

Gastrotrichs (hairybacks) are a phylum of aquatic microscopic animals, although their exact relationship to other phyla remains unknown. It is believed that between 100,000 and 1,000,000 gastrotrichs can be found per square meter in appropriate benthic environments, but the phylum is poorly studied. In fact, researchers believe many gastrotrich species still await discovery/description. The gas...

_Thuricola_ is a genus of single-celled vase-shaped ciliated protozoans. Members of _Thuricola_ have elongated trumpet-like bodies that are housed within a vase-shaped structure called a lorica. The lorica contains a single valve that closes like a trap door when the trumpet-like body contracts. This valve can be seen in the video as a bright white diagonal line within the lorica. Although cont...

Euplotes is a single-celled ciliate that can be found in aquatic environments, soil, and moss. This particular cell was found inhabiting debris on the leaf of a plant in my freshwater aquarium. Euplotes have a highly ciliated oral region, and different dorsal and ventral polykinetids (essentially higher order groupings of cilia). The ventral polykinetids are called cirri and allow Euplotes to "...

Rotifers are microscopic animals that often form a significant component of the zooplankton population in aquatic environments. However, rotifers can also be found in terrestrial environments, such as in association with moss or lichen. Rotifers have a defined head, trunk, and foot. The head contains the corona, which is a pair of ciliated structures that generate strong vortices that suck in f...

A pair of mating North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) in North Carolina in February 2024.

A Red Wolf (Canis rufus) during a sunset rain shower in February 2024. As of February 2024, the US Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that there are roughly 21 wild Red Wolves remaining in the United States, making it the world's most endangered wolf species. About 260 individuals are in captivity, where efforts to maintain the species continue.

A Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) interacting over a field in Sangamon Co., Illinois (November 2023).

Two young Raccoons in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Aquarium

A Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) and a pair of Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) at Rye Harbor State Park, New Hampshire in August 2022.

Kenya Tree Coral (Capnella sp.) feeding in an aquarium.

An Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) in Boone Co., Missouri