carrion

[jinian]

"Arguably the nastiest thing ever found": a pack of giant carnivorous dinosaurs! I like how they're not just meat-eaters, they are meat-lovers. I guess I know what kind of pizza to buy them.

Insect fact: Burying beetles, such as Nicrophorus americanus, not only pair-bond to the extent that they can recognize another individual beetle but cooperate to rear their small brood, which is amazing nurturing behavior. The larvae can survive on the small mammal carcass the parents bury and disinfect (!) for them, but they grow more quickly if their food is prechewed by their mother, so she does that when she can. The father usually guards the brood but will take over for mom if she is killed. We saw video; the larvae beg their mother for food just like baby birds. Wow.

Comments

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

"Would have been a snack"

Also the "just like baby birds" deal, thank you for that image.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

you know, i can always count on you for interesting links that make me want to throw up. ;)

[cheesepuppet.livejournal.com]

....but cooperate to rear their small brood, which is amazing nurturing behavior.

I'm sure if they'd attached a tiny little microphone to the camera you would have heard the less nurturing stuff like, "For GOD'S SAKE, can't you kids get ANYTHING yourself? I sit down for FIVE FREAKING MINUTES and you're screaming for food!"

[hattifattener]

Carcass weight is critical to successful reproduction

But of course.

[firecat]

The first time I read Mapusaurus roseae I thought it said "Munchasaurus"