Show us the weirdos!

ra_teo · July 6, 2025, 6:50am

Have you ever seen a weird animal?
Leucistic maybe? Or… something else?

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/295424733
I used to think that these sea stars only have 5 legs instead of 6… now I’m rethinking my affirmation.

What are your weirdos? Curious to see your replies.

spiphany · July 6, 2025, 8:03am

These projects might be relevant:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/amazing-aberrants
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/weirdwildwonders

eyekosaeder · July 6, 2025, 9:06am

Starfish (along with most other echinoderms as far as I’m aware) indeed show pentameral symmetry, usually, so at least multiples of 5. I don’t know what mechanisms cause individuals to differ from this (probably mutations or “faulty” regeneration), but I’ve also seen essentially 4 armed “squarefish” in the past.

The two most unusual organisms I’ve seen are:

This Campanula persicifolia that also differed from the standard symmetry of this species in a really cool way. (Interestingly only the topmost blossom on each stem was affected).
This Graphocephala fennahi with the posterior half of the body being completely black.

oksanaetal · July 6, 2025, 2:27pm

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254217874
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254730683

wildwestnature · July 6, 2025, 4:48pm

Coneflowers https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/125547486

Molting Cardinal https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/170352821

papernautilus · July 6, 2025, 5:17pm

But not always. Here’s a Heliaster cumingi with 28 arms.

(https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/195891)

songbird82894 · July 6, 2025, 5:59pm

I once saw a bald male Northern Cardinal but I couldn’t take a photo of him because he flew away.

je9h · July 6, 2025, 7:10pm

The Campanula persicifolia shows an example of a peloric flower.

jasonhernandez74 · July 6, 2025, 9:22pm

It’s called pelorism. I see @je9h said it before I could.

wyatt16481 · July 6, 2025, 10:51pm

Why is the tail so long…

oksanaetal · July 7, 2025, 2:00pm

All the better to sting you with!

wyatt16481 · July 7, 2025, 2:42pm

Nooooo!!! :((((((

anfra1969 · July 9, 2025, 11:57am

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/283980122

When I saw it, it immediately kept my eye -for what reason?
True, i never had seen it before because it is very uncommon in my region, but however said to be not uncommon in the eastern part of Europe.
But there is something else. It is called seven-star because it has seven petals.
Most flowers have petal numbers matching the mathematical fibonacci series or -if sepals count too (Orchids and Lilies) a fibonacci number times two.
But the number seven matches neither the first nor the second condition.
How comes?
Is it a neophyte from the stars that was simply overlooked ?

ra_teo · July 9, 2025, 12:04pm

How cool!
I got to see one myself someday!

giannamaria · July 9, 2025, 1:41pm

Audible Gasp: BLOÖDCHEËP!

In all seriousness, I don’t know if I’ve seen such a dramatic molt on a cardinal before.

ra_teo · July 9, 2025, 1:43pm

That cardinal thought of a total outfit change

ra_teo · July 9, 2025, 2:10pm

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/296505233
This thing I found a few mins ago looks so weird, like a baby dragon of some sort! (Even though adults are rather cute)

tjeales · July 10, 2025, 4:52am

I found a Dragon Springtail and I really want to find more https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/165114440

shreedave · July 10, 2025, 9:08am

I still don’t know what this is. Its identified to Kingdom Animalia. Observation here.

tjeales · July 10, 2025, 10:03am

Mantis ootheca?