The Banded Alder Borer, scientifically known as Rosalia funebris, is native to the Pacific Northwest. These insects feed on Alder, Ash, and other hardwood trees, and they are sometimes attracted to fresh paint. Art and fact by Kirsten Sheehy,  Twitter @1010sheehy   [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Oregon State University Plant Clinic. (n.d.). The Banded Alder…

The freckled hawkfish, also known as Paracirrhites forsteri, belongs to the Cirrhitidae family. It is the most abundant type of hawkfish found in the Red Sea, which is the saltiest and warmest sea on Earth. Hawkfish primarily feed on small fish and invertebrates living among coral. Art by Darien Satterfield, Instagram & Twitter & Tiktok…

In peacock spiders, to initiate reproduction, male spiders perform a mating dance for the females, wiggling around and displaying vibrant colors on their bodies during the dance. In response, females either mate with the males as a sign of approval or consume them as a form of rejection. Art and fact by CocoFu, Instagram @cocofufufufu…

The opossum, the only marsupial in the United States, often has thirteen nipples. It has so many because it can give birth to up to twenty young at once, and only those that receive milk survive. Art and fact by Kirsten Sheehy,  Twitter @1010sheehy   [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Marable, A.D., & Smith, M.D….

Phoridae is a family that contains insects, commonly known as coffin flies. They are referred to as ‘coffin flies’ due to their abundance in decaying corpses. Phorid flies are characteristically hump-backed in appearance and are known to run instead of fly. Art and fact by Allen Chew, Instagram & Twitter @toldentops [Image and text edited…

The Pacific Hagfish is often referred to as the slimiest fish in the sea due to its slime pores that produce copious amounts of colorless slime. This slime serves as a defense mechanism against predators by clogging up their gills, aiding the hagfish in evading threats. Art and fact by @Squidtoons [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues]…

Rhinecanthus verrucosus, also known as triggerfish, are durophagous, which means that they eat hard shelled and tough prey like snails or clams. To accommodate this diet, they possess extremely strong jaws with very large muscles relative to other fish. Art and fact by Darien Satterfield, Instagram & Twitter & TikTok @DiverDarien  [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues]…

Tabanidae is a family that contains insects commonly known as horse flies, deer flies, or gadflies. Tabanids are large and conspicuous insects. While the males are mostly harmless, females have piercing mouthparts that they use to draw blood. Art and fact by Allen Chew, Instagram & Twitter @toldentops [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Chainey, J.E….

Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode. It can survive extreme cold weather at -80°C by entering a state of suspended metabolism called cryptobiosis. A similar mechanism to survive extreme cold weather is used by a newly discovered species found in the Siberian Permafrost. Art and fact by Wenzhe Li, Instagram @dustybutkindofnice [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference:…

Check out this fun fact about the octopus!