The Quirky Observations
I was reminded recently of
M. C. Escher’s amazing talent for morphing as his many variations of fish morphing into birds illustrate. Or steps that seem to be descending suddenly morph into steps ascending. That led to an
exploration of animals that really do morph, changing their bodies at will to attract prey or avoid predators, or in some it seems, just for the fun of it.
When I went to
this site, I admit I
was attracted to the nudibranchs because they have a naturally funny name, but while they come in an incredible variety of color combinations, as shown by the two examples pictured here, they only morph from birth to adulthood (as we all do) and cannot change their bodies at will as certain other creatures do. For that you will need to go to the quiz.
The Quirky Facts - This One Surprised Me
We are all familiar with caterpillars that become butterflies and tadpoles that become frogs, but did you know what ladybugs look like before they become ladybugs? According to the Mental Floss article quoted above, “For most species, after adult female ladybugs mate, they lay a clutch of tiny
yellow eggs right in the middle of an aphid colony, usually on the underside of a leaf. Eggs hatch in a week, revealing spiky black worm-like larvae that readily gobble up the aphids around them. When a larva is fully grown, it changes into a blob-like yellow pupa. Finally, the black, white and red (or sometimes yellow or orange) insect appears.” Wouldn’t it be neat if we all grew cuter as we aged?
The Quirky Quote
Aging is scary but fascinating, and great talent morphs in strange and often enlightening ways. ~ Bruce Springsteen
The Questions
- In what ways have you morphed as you have gone through life?
- How have you been transformed by experiences, relationships, national events, pursued interests?
- In nature, what transformations most please you? (winter to spring, summer to fall, caterpillars to butterflies, bulbs to blooms . . .?)
The Shameless Request
Now that WNW is an award-winning publication, we think even more people will be interested in it. Please share it, and if you represent an organization that would like a customized version, send me a note at
Kathy@WiserNow.com.
The Quiz
So far I’ve mentioned creatures that undergo dramatic changes as they mature, but some can change their bodies at will. Of the following examples, only one is one I made up. Can you guess which one? You can see dramatic pictures and videos of some of them under answers at the end of this document. Nature is amazing!
1. The Mutable Rain Frog can change its skin from smooth to spiny in seconds
2. The Immortal Jellyfish begins life as an egg, then enters a free-swimming larva stage. It next becomes a polyp on the ocean floor before morphing into a mature jellyfish. But unlike most other jellyfish, it can revert itself back into its polyp stage anytime it faces danger or old age.
3. The Golden Tortoise Beetle can change from a reddish orange to a metallic gold in reaction to its environment.
4. The Orchid Mantis can morph into a Venus Fly-trap-like flower/insect.
5. The squid-like Cuttlefish is a super-camouflager capable of mimicking whatever is beneath it by changing the colour, pattern and texture of its skin.
6. The Mimic Octopus can shape shift into a dozen other undersea creatures.
7. The critically endangered Mexican Axolotls is a sort of walking fish with a cute smile that looks like cartoon drawings of fish evolving from water to land. It’s included in this group because it can shapeshift by regenerating its arms.
