The Gaping Maw of the Echinoderm

I think it's pretty lacy looking for a "maw". This starfish lives at the Butterfly Pavilion.

Beardtongue

The name "beardtongue" makes me think of someone who needs to brush their teeth after a bender. Pretty flower, though. We went to the Audubon society/Martin Marietta Nature preserve and caught tadpoles this weekend.

Talk to the Tail

This is Rowan's betta fish Rainbow, trying to avoid the camera.

Dancing Paper Dolls

It's a deviation of usual paper dolls. This origami model is one of Jeremy Shafer's. I think it's the first photograph of a model that I've folded. I felt the need to focus on the correct angle since many people don't recognize the forms without some direction.

It's Spring!

Rowan did an end-of-the-year Interest Project about fire-bellied toads. They're cute little critters, very communal and fairly vocal -- especially this time of the year. The males have an adorable "ooop - ooop - ooop" sort of bark. (When we first heard him, we thought some mechanical aquarium part had broken or needed oiling.) I'm sure if the toads were longer than two inches it would be more impressive. Apparently the lady toads find it impressive enough. We made recordings for everyone at school to listen to.

I took this photo for Rowan's display poster board. I think his new favorite biology term is "nuptial pads".

The male here is encouraging his lady to lay eggs in the water so he can then go and inseminate them. I consider it rated-G since there is no... well, since he's not ... um... never mind, I have young readers whose parents haven't signed waivers.

Continuing on, I think of this embrace as trying to squeeze the eggs out of her. It's actually one of the least risque of the nature's methods for making more nature. I wasn't too worried about the rest of the parental population at the elementary school being overly offended. You never know though.