Friday Cephalopod: Beautiful body plan
Category: Cephalopods • Organisms
Posted on: October 10, 2008 9:06 AM, by PZ Myers
Sepioteuthis australis
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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« Another review of the Origins conference | Main | On my way to Missouri »
Sepioteuthis australis
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Life Science
Comments
Posted by: Martin Christensen | October 10, 2008 9:17 AM
Is that a Squidmas ornament?
Posted by: Susan aka atxcats | October 10, 2008 9:42 AM
Oooh, Beauty!
If there is a god, s/he must be a Cephalopod!
Posted by: justawriter | October 10, 2008 9:59 AM
PZ,have you seen this story involving zebrafish embryos? I know it is a subject almost as dear to your heart as Squidmas.
Posted by: Fred Mounts | October 10, 2008 10:24 AM
More importantly, what are the ilk doing to prepare for Jesus's return as a shark?
click here
I hope he remembers that we're friends, not food.
Posted by: Glen Davidson | October 10, 2008 10:49 AM
Must be small, translucency and all. Icy blue, other than the yellow/brown.
I always have to wonder how differently these cephalopods appear five minutes after, in different places and under different conditions. Seems you can never really say, "this is what it looks like," considering the color-changing they do.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
http:
Posted by: Joel | October 10, 2008 11:03 AM
Jesus is back, and he's a shark.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/10/shark.virgin.birth.ap/index.html
Posted by: Moggie | October 10, 2008 11:10 AM
We're gonna need a bigger boat.
Posted by: Anomic Entropy | October 10, 2008 11:17 AM
Nice! I had to call my eight-year-old daughter over so we could ooh and aah over that beauty together. I foresee a day of bonding over books about cephalopods. :o)
Posted by: LisaJ | October 10, 2008 11:47 AM
Oh, that is beautiful!
Posted by: Lee Picton | October 10, 2008 11:49 AM
Until I recently became a regular reader (and aspiring ilk), I had no idea how beautiful these critters could be. Thanks for expanding my (squid) world.
Posted by: Trish | October 10, 2008 12:12 PM
Squidmas ornament! Brilliant! Want one please.
Posted by: Glen Davidson | October 10, 2008 12:24 PM
I wonder if we'll see Myers' "body plan" comment on an IDiot blog, commenting that "a plan implies a planner". Or are even they tired of that particular word-game?
Anyhow, this comment is intended to make it less likely.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: Tim | October 10, 2008 12:36 PM
Ok, while I still think that scorpions are about the sexiest creatures gracing the planet... that creature (the southern squid - sepioteuthis australis) was easily the most beautiful -- it's got to be utterly enchanting just to watch.
Who'm I kidding, it still wouldn't date me.
Posted by: BobC | October 10, 2008 1:22 PM
Some people in Mississippi who think Cephalopods were magically created are voting in a poll for teaching creationism in biology classrooms. This poll needs Pharyngulization.
From Tupelo, Mississippi:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Poll.aspx?ekfrm=282864
Should topics such as creationism or intelligent design be taught in
public schools alongside the theory of evolution? (related article)
Yes 86.58%
No 12.75%
Unsure 0.67%
298 responses
The correct answer, NO, is losing badly.
Related article: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=280120
Darwinists in denial? The Discovery Institute says a group of Darwinists who are opposing efforts by the Texas State Board of Education to allow evolution to be debated in the classroom are clinging to 19th century science in the 21st century.
Posted by: Ichthyic | October 10, 2008 2:23 PM
Or are even they tired of that particular word-game?
come now, Glen.
You KNOW they never tire of repeating the same inanity.
If they tired of it, they might start to actually question it.
can't have that.
Posted by: RAM | October 10, 2008 2:52 PM
Cephalopods: A World Guide by Mark Norman
I really have to go buy this book. Really beautiful pictures PZ is linking from that source.
Posted by: Annie | October 10, 2008 3:05 PM
Opalescent! Luminescent! Transcendent!
Thanks!
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | October 10, 2008 3:28 PM
Almost 20 posts and no one has asked if they can eat it yet. Must be some sort of record.
Gorgeous little critter.
Posted by: Cruithne | October 10, 2008 3:39 PM
After having a really shitty week (nine year relationship down the pan) I needed something extraordinary to make me feel a little better, thanks for the picture.
Posted by: Dr. Zoidberg | October 10, 2008 3:41 PM
Hooray, I'm beautiful!
Posted by: Jadehawk | October 10, 2008 3:57 PM
I admire its sense of style and color :-p
Posted by: Katkinkate | October 11, 2008 12:13 AM
Oooo, pretty!
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | October 11, 2008 12:59 AM
It is getting close to Newtontide after all.
For Glenn D @ #5: That's blue tinged flesh you're seeing there. Tis a translucent beast. :)
Posted by: Monado | October 11, 2008 1:21 AM
I think it's pre-adapted to be a Cephalopodmas ornament at the top of the tree.
Posted by: Rugosa | October 11, 2008 8:54 PM
Squidmas ornament, indeed. In blown glass.
Posted by: YoshiTigger | October 12, 2008 1:05 AM
Has PZ started designing shirts for http://shirt.woot.com/ ? Today's shirt, and October 4th's shirt are right up his alley.
Posted by: MrrKAT | October 12, 2008 8:01 AM
Exceptionally beautiful !