interesting creatures

This was making its way around the internet about a month or so ago and I bookmarked it to share with others. However, as time went by, I completely forgot about it but now that I've found it in my old email - here it is. An octopus was recently discovered using a coconut shell in some interesting ways. From National Geographic, "An octopus would dig up the two halves of a coconut shell, then use them as protective shielding when stopping in exposed areas or when resting in sediment."








There is another video and additional information on the National Geographic web site. Fascinating stuff. In another, not quite as interesting instance, an octopus became attached to a Mr. Potato Head.

Oh, on our recent trip to the southwest we discovered the "kissing bug" - luckily we didn't discover it first hand. These bugs are part of the assassin beetle family. Similar to mosquitoes they bite the skin (usually around the lips while the human is sleeping) while simultaneously injecting an anesthetic and an anti-coagulant. The bugs then poop and the poop usually enters the wound. This transmits a parasite to the victim.

The world is an amazing and scary place my friends.