Play Bit-o-Critter, round 24

So here's the next round of Bit-o-Critter.  I'd like a full common name, scientific name gets bonus points.

We still don't have an answer on Round 23b, the wrasse-like fish.  Here's a hint, you have to think about where I'm from (Australia).  That and the photo is enough to get you to species.

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 23a

Well the last BoC was a double header and the first one went off quickly.  Miriam got it right first time - a pycnogonid or sea spider.

That just leaves the fish in 23b.  It might take you some searching to get it right, but there's enough info there for a full species ID.  Good luck!

Play Bit-o-Critter Round 23

OK folks, double header this time, and you can only guess at one of them, so make your choice carefully...

23a - general group will do

23b - full scientific name if you please

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 22

Well I really have to hand it to juliebug.  I was sure I would have stumped you guys on that last one, but no!  Julie nailed it - it was a sea pig, a bizarre deep sea holothurian, a sort of sea cucumber.  These pallid little blobs inch their way across the abyssal depths, eking out an existence on the snow of detritus raining gently down from above.  Great job Julie, truly impressive.

Play Bit-o-Critter, round 22

OK folks, try this one on for size.  A common name will do, this time around. Post your best guesses in the comments section, the winner gets bragging rights and the undying admiration of their fellow readers.

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 21

We have a new face in the BoC winners circle this week.  Sarah F. correctly identified the critter from round 21 as a stargazer.  That's a pretty impressive effort, because I didn't give you much to go on.  If you've never met one before, stargazers are bottom-dwelling fish that are the consummate lie-in-wait predator.  And when I say bottom-dwelling, I mean IN the bottom.  Usually all you can see is the grumpy looking eyes and mouth, both of which have migrated to the top of the head over evolutionary time, because they bury the rest in sand for camouflage.  They are not related to flounder or other flatfishes, though, which becomes abundantly clear if one ever leaves the sand to hit a passing bait or fishing lure; no, they are a beefy bulldog of a fish.  The other important difference from flatfishes is that the eyes and mouth are truly on the top of the stargazer's head, whereas the eyes of flounder have both migrated to one side of the head (this process can be seen during development) and the mouth remains terminal.

Nice job Sarah!

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 20

Juliebug identified the round 20 Bit-o-critter as the green turtle Chelonia mydas.  With that, she takes a commanding lead in the BoC stakes.  Will no-one challenge her supremacy?  Ya gotta be in it to win it folks...

Play Bit-o-Critter, Round 21

This one doesnt have enough detail for species level ID, but I'll take a common name or any of several suitable scientific names.  Y'know, if you think you've got the goods...

Play Bit-o-critter, round 20

OK folks, I need a complete scientific name for this critter:

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 19

Juliebug correctly identified the round 19 bit-o-critter as a remora, Remora remora.  These bizarre fish use a modified first dorsal fin as a sort of sucker to hold onto other species, usually bigger things like turtles, sharks and whales.  Its actually not much of a sucker, more of a friction pad, but thats another topic for another day.  Congrats Julie!  Photo by Rene Gallo

Play Bit-o-critter, round 19

See if you can identify this critter, based on the bit given below.  The winner gets bragging rights and a warm inner glow.

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 18

Nobody guessed at BoC round 18 on the blog, although one colleague got it right on Friend Feed.  It was the eye and proboscis of a stromb, which is a big family of marine gastropod snails.  They are related to cone snails, but can always be distinguished by a ntoch on the margin of their shell that allows them to poke out the eyes and look around.  They have very engaging, almost comical eyes, but they probably don't see the world as we do.  The particular one I chose was a spider shell, which you often see for sale in tourist shops (and shouldn't buy, naturally)

Play Bit-o-critter, round 18

This one's a little harder; but I think you guys are up to the challenge...

The solution to Bit-o-Critter round 17

Juliebug nutted out that the critter in round 17 was a hyperiid amphipod.  Hyperiids are freaky looking things, like the sort of thing H.R. Giger might have used for inspiration for the creature from Alien.  Julie also uncovered some stories about swarming hyperiids, predatory hyperiids and parasitic hyperiids.  Check it out