Anatomy to You

Section through lower spinal cord, labelled with fluorescent markers

Lumbar (lower) spinal cord, sectioned and labelled using fluorescent markers. The markers attach to antibodies which are introduced by the researcher and designed to bind to specific proteins. This technique is called immunofluorescence. Here, green indicates markers for sensory neurons, red shows motor neurons and blue highlights rough endoplasmic reticulum – where most protein synthesis takes…

Iridescent scales on the wing of the sunset moth

The colour patterns on the wings of Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) are costructed from thousands of scales. The sunset moth, Chrysiridia rhipheus have unique, iridescent patches which are produced not by pigmentation, but by microscopic adaptations to the structure of the scales themselves. Each one is made up of multiple layers, held separated by randomly located…

#fossilfriday: Amber-encased spider’s head revealed

Although this image of a huntsman spider’s head looks modern, it represents the first clear view of a 49 million year-old fossil. Eusprassus crassipes remains encased in resin were scanned using X-ray computed tomography to reconstruct its anatomy in stunning detail for the first time. Researchers from the University of Manchester were able to conclusively described the…

CT scan of an African pangolin

Computed tomography (CT) scans of an African pangolin or scaly anteater. Pangolins are a unique family of mammal insectivores which are found in forests and desert in Africa and South-East Asia. They are covered in unique keratin scales, which make up 20% of their total weight. The largest species, the giant ground pangolin, can grow up to…

Scaly-foot gastropod produces iron ‘chainmail’ coat

Chrysomallon squamiferum is a gastropod (snail) recently described from deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. The characteristic plates on the soft body have earned it the name ‘scaly-foot’, but the most unusual thing about this creature is that the scales are coated in iron sulphide. This is likely produced by endosymbiotic bacteria living in the gut which…

Flamboyant cuttlefish Metasepia pfefferi can see polarised light and may use it as a secret language

No prizes for guessing how the flamboyant cuttlefish got its name, then! This delightful species actually has surprisingly poor colour vision – but they have got another brilliant visual trick up their many sleeves. Cuttlefish are able to see polarisation; the plane of incoming light. It is even possible that they use this ability, together with their…

Skull of a python: can snakes hear through their jaws?

The vertebrate ear tends to have three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. Snakes have greatly reduced outer and middle ears, yet with just the inner ear and one remaining part of the middle ear they are able to hear. The middle ear ossicle has become connected to the jaw, suggesting that vibrations of…

Butterfish (Pholis gunnellus) out of water?

These fabulous fish are found living happily along the sea shore and can be found among the rocks at low tides in north-west Europe. They are highly unusual in that when caught in low water they are still able to breathe using their gills! The characteristic spots along their back may act as ‘false eyes’ to…

Shark denticles, scanning electron microscope

Shark skin is covered in thousands of tiny, tooth-like scales called denticles. The shape of the denticles varies between different species, and can not only be used to identify modern animals, but can be adapted to provide greater protection, minimise drag or even allow the passage of bioluminescence (light-up sharks!). Image courtesy of Erin Dillon

Chiton radula (Chaetopleura articulata) capped with magnetite

Most molluscs (slugs, snails and many shellfish) use a radula to scrape algae and other food from the surface of rocks and shells. It’s a large, complex structure which resembles a giant alien tongue with many rows of teeth, and can be more than half the length of the whole animal! But chitons have an even more…

Developing lobster egg

Developing lobster egg, with eye and legs visible at the bottom left and right, respectively. Image courtesy of Tora Bardal and the Nikon Small World competition.