For a long time when I thought of the violet snail a cold chill would run down my spine. I first learned about it after moving to a… Read more “The harrowing life of the violet snail”
This sea slug is like a cross between a dinosaur, a jellyfish, and a watermelon
This post originally appeared at DeepSeaNews.com and has been moved here with improved formatting. I am awkward, and for that reason, I’ve decided the sea slug Melibe… Read more “This sea slug is like a cross between a dinosaur, a jellyfish, and a watermelon”
The most beautiful animal you’ve never seen
When I first saw a sea sapphire I thought I was hallucinating. The day had been anything but normal, but this part will always stand out. I’d… Read more “The most beautiful animal you’ve never seen”
Six Reasons the Blanket Octopus is My New Favorite Stunning Sea Creature
Given the internet’s obsession with both large cephalopods and bizarre animals, you’d think blanket octopuses would be all over it by now. I mean, a two-meter-long octopus… Read more “Six Reasons the Blanket Octopus is My New Favorite Stunning Sea Creature”
This may be the ocean’s most horrifying monster (and you’ve probably never heard of it)
When I first learned about rhizocephalan barnacles I lost my appetite. I was taking a parasitology course, and even though I’d developed a thick skin, something about… Read more “This may be the ocean’s most horrifying monster (and you’ve probably never heard of it)”
Meet Phylliroe: the sea slug that looks and swims like a fish
This article first appeared at Deep Sea News Biologists have a habit of naming things after cool animals. Cars named after comb jellies, internet passwords after giant squid.… Read more “Meet Phylliroe: the sea slug that looks and swims like a fish”
Ripping yourself out from the inside: The story of a starfish’s birth (and yours, too)
Baby starfish are actually magical ocean fairies called bipinnaria that swim whimsically through the sea: Yes, this wee young thing is a starfish, though it looks nothing… Read more “Ripping yourself out from the inside: The story of a starfish’s birth (and yours, too)”
How do jellyfish perceive the world?
This post is part of a new series on my recent paper: “Evolution and development of scyphozoan jellyfish.” I try really hard to make my research accessible,… Read more “How do jellyfish perceive the world?”
Invertebrate development in glass
Talk about a career path: making glass models of invertebrate development! There hasn’t been anyone since the Blaschka father-son duo that do it quite this well. And… Read more “Invertebrate development in glass”
A Guide for Aquarists: Using Chemicals to Grow Jellyfish in Captivity
Hi all! Some of you may have read my post on a simple chemical method for inducing metamorphosis in a broad diversity of jelly species. In that post… Read more “A Guide for Aquarists: Using Chemicals to Grow Jellyfish in Captivity”
The Helm Lab Blog 