Show us the weirdos!

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.

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

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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:

  1. 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).
  2. This Graphocephala fennahi with the posterior half of the body being completely black.
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https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254217874
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254730683

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

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

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

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

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

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The Campanula persicifolia shows an example of a peloric flower.

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

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Why is the tail so long…

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All the better to sting you with!

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Nooooo!!! :((((((

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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 ?

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How cool!
I got to see one myself someday!

Audible Gasp: BLOÖDCHEËP!

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

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That cardinal thought of a total outfit change :joy:

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

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

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

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Mantis ootheca?

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