We have a super tautonym: 𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥, the nominate subspecies! It occupies most of the European breeding range & represents the classic form described by Linnaeus in 1758, linking modern pops to the origins of zoological nomenclature
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: Waarneming.nl

𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥 is a compact, streaked brown bird built for life in grasslands. It forages on seeds and insects, relying on camouflage rather than flight to avoid predators. During migration, however, it journeys all the way across the Mediterranean!
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: baldcoot

It’s #TautonymTuesday! Meet 𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑥, the 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐢𝐥. This small, ground‑dwelling galliform bird breeds across Europe & W Asia and migrates to Africa for winter. It’s one of the few truly long‑distance migratory gamebirds.
#TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: christoph_moning

Biological Armors–Evolution, Materials, and Bioinspiration Karly E Cohen , Cassandra M Donatelli , Andrew K Schulz , Julia B Teeple , Theodore Stankowich , E W Misty Paig-Tran Integrative and Comparative Biology, Volume 65, Issue 6, December 2025, Pages 1649–1666, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaf074

ICB
"#Bioinspired designs informed by natural armor have led to innovations in impact-resistant materials, flexible ceramics, and modular protective systems."

#Biological Armors–Evolution, Materials, and #Bioinspiration
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
@karlycohen.bsky.social et al

Fig. 2. Comparative osteoderm morphology of fossil and extant armadillos, highlighting the structural conservation of body armor across evolutionary time. (A) Extant screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus) with inset showing a close-up of its osteoderms. (B) Fossil Glyptodon sp. osteoderm, exhibiting a rosette-like pattern characteristic of glyptodonts. (C–D) Fossil osteoderms of Glyptotherium floridanum, showing variation in surface texture and overall shape. (E–I) Fossil osteoderms of Holmesina floridanus, demonstrating rectangular morphology and diverse surface ornamentation. The arrangement showcases the remarkable continuity in osteoderm shape and function from extinct armored xenarthrans to their modern relatives. Fossil specimens were donated for scanning by T. Stankowich. Chaetophractus vellerosus specimen was donated to M. Paig-Tran from the Orange County Zoo and Scott Weldy, DVM.

Methods used to study these systems—CT scanning, histology, finite element analysis, & mechanical testing—directly influence how the biological principles of armor are defined and understood.
@karlycohen.bsky.social
@cmdonatelli.bsky.social
@schulzscience.bsky.social et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Fig. 4 Micro to Macro Case Study. (A) Photo of Bathyagonus alascansus. (B) Micro-CT scan of B. alascansus. (C) Single scale (see blue highlighted region in B, E) showing hexagonal shape. (D) Idealized hexagonal models tessellated for 3D printing. (E) Three scales in a single row showing overlap (see dotted box in B). (F) Histology of overlapping scales (see white box in E). (G) Side profile of our idealized CAD models (D) showing overlap profile. The top and bottom (light gray) are perfect hexagons, and the middle (darker grays) is interpolated between them. (H) Force required to bend differently shaped models with a 30% overlap profile. Models were tested in three-point bending on a material testing system. Max load (N) was extracted from the data and plotted. (I) Model of shape, orientation, and overlap plotted on a log-log scale. MF is a dimensionless metric ((d + Overlap%)/L) where d is the distance between the tile border and bending axis and L is the length of the tile border (see inset). The unitless metric can be measured on models of all shapes from triangle to octagon. Using that metric, plus the coefficients resulting from the logarithmic fit in the figure, we can estimate the force required to bend models not physically tested in this study.

This ICB paper #Biological #Armors – #Evolution, Materials, and #Bioinspiration
by
@karlycohen.bsky.social
@cmdonatelli.bsky.social
@schulzscience.bsky.social
@tedstankowich.bsky.social
et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
has incredible figures
like fig 4's Micro to Macro Case Study

And we have a super #tautonym: 𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠, the nominate subspecies. It occupies much of western and central Europe and is noted for its relatively large size and dense fur, traits that help it thrive in cooler, temperate climates.
#TautonymTuesday #TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Chris P.

𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 is famous for its complex burrows, or setts, which can be occupied by generations of #badgers over decades. Mostly nocturnal, it feeds on earthworms, insects, fruits, and small vertebrates, adjusting its diet seasonally.
#TautonymTuesday #TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Carolyn Legg

a badger is standing in a field with robert e. fuller wildlife films written on the bottom ALT: a badger is standing in a field with robert e. fuller wildlife films written on the bottom

It’s #TautonymTuesday! Meet 𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠, the European #badger. This powerful mustelid ranges across much of Europe and W Asia, With a bold black‑and‑white facial stripes and stocky build, it's a strong digger and adaptable omnivore living in woodlands and farmlands.
#TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics

Why aren't mammals as colorful as reptiles, birds or fish? Many mammals have fur the color of brown and black. Why don't they have more exotic colors, like purple and neon pink?

Talking mammal coloration!
Why aren't mammals as colorful as reptiles, birds or fish? www.livescience.com/animals/why-...

Last week, a production team came to CSU Long Beach to film a sit-down interview for a documentary on wildlife living in Los Angeles. Hopefully, they got some good material, and the plan is to go out and film some skunks in the field later this spring!

This species ranges from the Caribbean through N Brazil, favoring bays, river mouths, and muddy or sandy bottoms. As a benthic feeder on small crustaceans and worms, it plays a key role in energy transfer between invertebrate communities and larger predatory fishes.
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics

𝑆. 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟 reaches about 12–18 cm, with a slender, silvery body and a noticeable mental barbel under the chin. Like other croakers, it produces sound using specialized sonic muscles and the swim bladder to communicate in turbid estuarine waters.
#TautonymTuesday #TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics

#TautonymTuesday is back! Meet 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟, the little croaker, a small sciaenid fish found along the Atlantic coasts of S America. It inhabits shallow coastal waters and estuaries, where it schools in soft‑bottom habitats rich in invertebrate prey.
#TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics

Territoriality, sociality and male weaponry shape horn investment in female bovids Female weaponry remains underexplored across animal taxa. We analyzed socio-ecological predictors of female horn presence and size within the mammalian fam

New paper out with Nicole Lopez showing that predation risk, male horn size, and female territoriality drive the evolution of and investment into female horns!
"Territoriality, sociality and male weaponry shape horn investment in female bovids": academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...

Animal defenses with Dr. @tedstankowich.bsky.social.

Get into it:

alieward.com/ologies/zooh...

Zoohoplology (ANIMAL DEFENSES) with Dr. Ted Stankowich — alie ward Barbs. Spurs. Stinks. Scutes. Shrieks. Fashion. Drama. Animal behaviorist, evolutionary biologist, Cal State Long Beach professor, and your new favorite Zoohoplologist, Dr. Ted Stankowich, divulges ab...

Barbs. Spurs. Stinks. Scutes. Shrieks. Fashion. Drama.

Zoohoplology (ANIMAL DEFENSES) w/ *the* Dr. @tedstankowich.bsky.social has armadillos, skunks, pangolins, horned lizards, wombats, coyotes, kit foxes, poodles, porcupines, tigers, deer & the will to survive.

www.alieward.com/ologies/zooh...

My @ologies.bsky.social episode on animal defenses is out now!

Zoohoplology (ANIMAL DEFENSES) with Ted Stankowich

Take a listen to this awesome episode on animal defenses with @tedstankowich.bsky.social on @ologies.bsky.social with @alieward.bsky.social !!! I’ve had the pleasure of following Ted and meeting him in person and he is extremely knowledgeable! 🦨🦨🦨

Once named 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎, 𝐶. 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎 is Critically Endangered after severe overhunting & habitat loss. Small wild colonies survive in remote Andean rocky slopes, where they remain important herbivores in fragile alpine ecosystems.
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: Animalia.bio

𝐶. 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎 is stockier with a shorter tail & thicker neck compared to its long-tailed cousin. These social #rodents live in colonies & communicate with a range of chirps & barks. Their ultra-dense fur requires special dust baths to stay clean.
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: masaigallery

It’s #TautonymTuesday! Meet 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎, the short-tailed #chinchilla. Native to the high #Andes , this species is built for cold mountains—with the densest of any land mammal, compact bodies, and strong hind legs for navigating rocky slopes.
#TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Britannica

Let's go, Buffalo!

Why do skunks stink? - Brains On! Science podcast for kids Skunks can stink, no doubt about it. But that stink is actually a superpower! Join Molly and co-host Diya as they find out how these critters use their smell to scare away enemies, what the smell is m...

Check out this great episode of the kids' podcast Brains On! where I talk about skunks! My parts are at 2:00 and 20:45. omny.fm/shows/brains...

This viper's #venom is highly potent, selected to immobilize prey quickly in harsh environments where energy #conservation is critical. Despite its fearsome reputation, bites to humans are rare due to its secretive lifestyle.
#TautonymTuesday #TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Philip Kahn

𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠 is perfectly adapted to #desert life. It uses sidewinding locomotion to move efficiently across scorching sand, reducing heat exposure. Its cryptic coloration allows it to ambush prey like #rodents and #lizards.
#TautonymTuesday #TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Intesar Salih

It’s #TautonymTuesday! 𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠, the Saharan horned #viper, thrives in N African deserts, where its horn-like scales help break up its outline against the sand. It can bury itself, exposing only its eyes—perfect for ambushing prey.
#TaxonomyTuesday #Systematics Photo: Holger Krisp

It’s #TautonymTuesday! Meet 𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑎, the stone loach. This small benthic #fish inhabits cool, fast-flowing streams across Europe and western Asia. They live on the bottom, often partly buried. A classic tautonym in freshwater ichthyology! #Systematics #TaxonomyTuesday Photo: Holger Krisp

And 𝐺𝑙𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠 has a 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐘𝐌!
𝐺𝑙𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠 is the nominate subspecies, found from the Madeira and Canary Islands across southern Europe to western Turkey. It can live over 9 years in the wild, an unusually long lifespan for a small #rodent!
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: Youbadou

𝐺𝑙𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠 is a chunky #dormouse with gray fur, large eyes, and a bushy tail. It’s an agile climber, feeding on nuts, fruits, and occasionally #insects. True to its name, it was once considered a delicacy in ancient #Rome, hence “edible dormouse”!
#TautonymTuesday #Systematics Photo: Pasztilla