Creepy Animals

…they're really interesting.

Aug 1 2011

Honeypot Ant

Honeypot Ant filled with liquid food.

Gluttony.

 

Two Honeypot Ants in habitat.

Greed.

 

Honeypot Ant in underground colony.

Sloth.

The Honeypot Ant is the perfect metaphor for how to survive in the post-consumer world: save and spend when needed. Just two easy steps.

1. SAVE

When food is abundant, the honeypot ant gets it’s nom on courtesy of other worker ants that feed it till it’s nearly bursting at the seams. The ant converts the food into a sweet liquid-y substance which is stored within the swollen abdomen. In this state the ant can balloon to the size of a grape, unable to move much within the colony walls.

2. SPEND WHEN NEEDED

When food is scarce, the honeypot ants regurgitate their stored nectar to feed their nest mates. According to Wikipedia, ‘in certain places, they are eaten by people as sweets and are considered a delicacy.’ Who’s hungry now?

Special thanks to dear reader Marcie for sending us this little treat. “Sloth” photo by Greg Hume.

7Comments
Mar 29 2011

Animal Anomaly: Hexapus

six-legged octopus

This 'pus ain't no octo.

We love it when cephalopods get creepy. This six-legged octopus — a so-called Hexapus — lives at the Blackpool Sea Life Centre in England. It’s the only Hexapus known to man!

Though it’s technically a mutant and isn’t heavily armed, it gets by just as well as the eight-legged variety. Suckers.

1Comment
Oct 18 2010

Creature of the Deep: Japanese Spider Crab

Man holding largest Spider Crab in the world.

It would look even better next to a bowl of melted butter.

Crabs are some of the most delectable creatures the ocean has to offer. And just in time to ruin your day, we bring you the Japanese Spider Crab – the creepiest and largest of edible crustacean treats.

These behemoth crabs feed on shellfish and animal carcasses on the sea floor in deep waters near Japan. They are considered a culinary delicacy. Mmm…detritus never tasted so good.

Also to note is that Japanese Spider Crabs can grow to over 12 feet and may live up to 100 years. The terrifyingly tasty morsel in the photo above isn’t even all that big. This crab below was featured in Popular Science in 1920 and measures 12 feet claw to claw:

Biggest spider crab in museum.

Holy crab! Look at those meaty legs!

7Comments
May 14 2010

Geoduck

Geoduck held by woman.

Nice manicure.

Oyster and clams are nature’s original finger food. Jam it open, pocket the jewels and slurp down the goodness. And nature, being the good stewardess she is, sometimes asks you if you want to supersize that. Of course, nature is also a prankster, because next thing you know, you get handed a geoduck and the bivalve is eating you.

The Geoduck, pronounced “gooey duck”, can grow up to three feet long and outlive the most persistent of humans. This strange and delicious animal also possesses a disproportionate amount of cultural cachet. It not only stars in a clam-themed thriller, it is also the sports mascot of Evergreen university. It’s like the Justin Bieber of clams, just a mop top away from trending everyday on Twitter.

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