Oct 11, 2009

Your Master, Atherix Ibis

Photo source: Fabrice Parais via Popular Science
Behold your new master. Behold his face and be afraid, behold his arms, outstretched to welcome his new subjects.

Or, look at the hind end of a watersnipe fly larvae (Atherix ibis). The presence of these tiny freshwater creatures are actually good indicators of overall water quality. They have nothing to do with world dominance -- yet.

Thanks for the photo, Ida.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So, are we drinking these things/ Somewhere out there is there a city water inspector counting the number of watersnipe fly larva per 8 oz glass of H2O? I am indeed afraid.

Anonymous said...

Water quality in lakes/ponds, not in potable water. They are more than big enough to be seen by the naked eye.

Anonymous said...

I'll take a look-see around for them next time I swim in the creek by my folks house.

And try not to swallow any water.

Anonymous said...

When Captain Kirk would mention the great philosophies of Aristotle, Cicero, and Orphanyx from Rygel 7, this is Orphanyx.

Jenny Reiswig said...

Amazing photo!

nihil said...

The way it's 'face' looks reminds me of Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas.

Anonymous said...

I was so freaked out when I saw this, I imagined it drilling into what little is left of my brain, and turning me into a zombie...make it go away....!

Jenny Reiswig said...

This image scored 15th place in Nikon's annual "Small World" microphotography competition.