Coast.ology

07/15/2026

OH MY! WHAT A BIG CLAW YOU HAVE! 🦀 In fiddler crabs, a single large claw is present only in males. The first reason is obvious, duking it out with other males. The second reason is somewhat related. Females. When a female who is ready to mate is in the area, the males wave their claw in synchrony. The females are usually attracted to males who, of course have the largest claw, AND the one who gets an extra wave or two in! Go figure! He’s cute AND charismatic! Another reason is protection from predators. You would think that this big, sexy claw just makes them stand out! Instead, waving it away from the body draws attention to the claw, and away from the body (I’ll leave the mating jokes aside here 😂). When a predator like a bird grabs the claw, it detaches allowing the crab to escape, and the claw regenerates later.

07/09/2026

Here’s what you didn’t learn on Disney’s Finding Nemo! Clownfish, who come in a variety of colors, not just the traditional orange and white, are all born as males. When two fish pair up, as is often the situation, the largest of the two fish transforms into a female. This transformation is irreversible. The pair then produce offspring. If something happens to the female, like in Finding Nemo, the next largest male becomes the female. This means Nemo’s dad would now become the female!

07/02/2026

A PLANT THAT EATS ANIMALS?!? This amazing plant, commonly called the trumpet pitcher, eats animals! The hood, or leafy covering of the plant lures nectar seeking animals to the entrance. Once they enter the top of the pitcher (modified leaves) the animal encounters a slippery, waxy coating, along with downward pointing hairs that make it impossible to climb to safety. The “pitcher” itself contains a mixture of water, digestive enzymes, and bacteria that digest and allow the plant to absorb nutrients from its prey. This carnivorous plant, along with others such as the Venus Flytrap (endemic to coastal NC) grow in nutrient-poor soil and supplement with the bodies of animals. You can see this plant growing next to the pond at the entrance of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores along with many other locations.

05/30/2026

Baby praying mantis. They hatch in spring/early summer after overwintering.

05/29/2026

Check out this bumble bee taking a nap on the zinnia! 🐝🌸

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Coast.ology!

05/06/2026

Look at the size difference between this Great Egret and Snowy Egret! The easiest way to tell the difference between these two birds, other than size, is their beaks and feet. Great Egrets have yellow beaks and black feet. Snowy Egrets have black beaks and yellow feet. The Snowy Egret also has long, wispy feathers on its head. This snowy is a little muddy due to the tide, but they were yellow!

02/16/2026

02/15/2026

One touch, it closes it’s leaves, touch it again and it flops to the ground.