SONIC HEDGEHOG

Sonic Hedgehog is a signaling protein that, when in excess, can cause widening and sometimes duplication of facial features (Hu and Helms, 1999).

What are the odds that a Cretaceous two-headed reptile would be born, fossiled, and then unearthed?

SUCCULENTS #2

My adventures in becoming a plant lady have led me to the genus Lithops.  Their compact little bodies hoard water and display a variety of colors and patterns like stones.  Every year, the plants exchange their leaves, and it's fascinating to watch the new leaf pair drain the life out of the old pair and grow.  These plants are adapted for dry, southern Africa, and therefore their natural rhythms should be considered when caring for them.  The major mistake seems to be overwatering.  I found several very informative websites about Lithops care (1,2,3), and used them to create a visual aid for Lithops watering.

Photos of my Lithops after the break.

NATURAL HISTORY MINI-MUSEUM

My school got rid of its Natural History Museum a few decades ago, which is just too bad.  A few friends and I share an affinity for collecting/growing/photographing plant and animal specimens, and have plans to resurrect the museum on a portable scale.  It would be constructed of transparent plastic sheets so that the specimens can be admired from multiple directions.  

SUCCULENTS #1

A month ago, I thought of having a terrarium party.  It would be a small gathering of people exchanging plants and assembling terrariums.  To increase my stock of plants, I began gathering succulent cuttings and they took over my brain.  Everywhere I go now I'm scanning for my next "sampling" opportunity.  Below is a portion of my succulent journal, where I've been collecting ID and growth information.  In a couple months, these plants will be ready to party.

TRIASSIC LOVE

* Fossils of the "mammal-like" reptile, Cynognathus crateronotus, have been found in both South America and Africa (Abdala and Ribiero, 2010).  

** Marble texture from Mayang.

HEY BURTONI

Made this mask for the lab Secret Santa.  Couldn't resist having some fun with it first.

PALLID STURGEON (JUVENILE)

PALLID STURGEON (JUVENILE) 

Scaphirrhyncus albus

watercolor, acrylic, ink, gel pen, pencil; 28 x 6 cm

I want to build up a scientific illustration portfolio, in hopes that some day a museum or lab will let me draw for them.  A friend kindly lent me this specimen, which was embedded in PMMA.  You da best.