Cannibalism, Flamboyant Divas and Knockouts

A cynic might say that my recent videos have moved in a sensationalist direction: Cannibalism, a flamboyant diva, and a knock out via a fart (!).

And to this I say: So what? If you actually watch thee videos you will see interesting footage of spider reproductive behavior, of a rare cephalopod changing skin color in an instant, and of the locomotion of sea cucumbers, large echinoderms related to sea stars and sea urchins. If there is a catchy title leading a netizen to consume a piece of shallow entertainment, that’s bad. But if a catchy title leads the netizen to watch something educational and insightful, that’s a win for both the viewer as well as for the science communicator who has widened his reach. The purpose doesn’t generally justify the means, but an interesting piece of biology to communicate justifies a catchy title and thumbnail.

Cannibalism

Below is a video of how my sweety and I would have a dinner if we were spiders: She might end up cannibalizing me. That is not uncommon in spiders. Why? How does that make sense evolutionarily? Learn about it here:

 

Diva

In this video my very flamboyant friend Angelo takes on the cephalopod which even has “flamboyant” in its name: the flamboyant cuttlefish. That video was asking to be made. The flamboyant cuttlefish, Metasepia pfefferi, is an amazing animal, with a skin outfitted with tiny circular muscles which it can contract to change its skin color and pattern. Here you go: you already learned something. Learn more here:

 

Sea Cucumber Fart Knockout

I am dead serious: I did not stage this, nor do I think this would be possible to stage. One sea cucumber grazes on another sea cucumber, thinking it’s some squishy part of the reef. Sea cucumber one touches the butthole of sea cucumber two, the latter sea cucumber gets annoyed and rips a gigantic water plus sand fart. The offending sea cucumber gets knocked backwards. See the aktschn here: