Some fig wasps have zinc plated ovipositors. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/a12957/foun...
Knowing that it is possible to have these genetic traits makes me feel that humans are even more delicate than first thought.
[deleted]
Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
21–30 of 71 posts
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#22> never before seen in insects
Is this surprising, considering that an estimated 86% of species on Earth and 91% of ocean species remain unidentified?
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/jou...
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#23[deleted]
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#24Another interesting animal, an iron snail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaly-foot_snail
It does weekly cook-offs with its snail buddies.
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#25I like how their experiment was literally pitting ants against each other.
I can't help empathizing with animals in such a situation. It must be like getting teleported into an otherwise empty room with a tiger in it. (Turns out that humans with chainmail fare a lot better than those without!)
Even wearing chain mail I doubt you'd have a chance much higher than zero against a full grown tiger.
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#26I wonder if these ants are immune to the effects of diatomaceous earth. Supposedly, DE pokes holes in the waxy coating over their exoskeleton and the ants die of the resulting dehydration.
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#27> never before seen in insects Is this surprising, considering that an estimated 86% of species on Earth and 91% of ocean species remain unidentified? https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/jou...
It's still a completely new thing. something can be surprising just because it's undiscovered previously, despite our knowledge that there's more out there to be discovered
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#28Some fig wasps have zinc plated ovipositors. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/a12957/foun...
Knowing that it is possible to have these genetic traits makes me feel that humans are even more delicate than first thought.
Conversely, reading about such animals, my first thought is "can we please sequence their DNA already"?
That's one critical reason for being very upset about us extincting countless species, even those that do not play any significant role in keeping the planet habitable - losing all these genes means losing pages from a book that contains ready-made biotech, and information that helps to explain how things came to be (which helps explain why it works).
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can't help empathizing with animals in such a situation. It must be like getting teleported into an otherwise empty room with a tiger in it. (Turns out that humans with chainmail fare a lot better than those without!)
Even wearing chain mail I doubt you'd have a chance much higher than zero against a full grown tiger.
I think the tiger would easily crush your neck, even if their teeth couldn't pierce the mail. I'd give better odds to a knight wearing a lot of plate armor. Still not very good odds though.
Re: Leaf-cutter ants have rocky crystal armor, never before seen in insects
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can't help empathizing with animals in such a situation. It must be like getting teleported into an otherwise empty room with a tiger in it. (Turns out that humans with chainmail fare a lot better than those without!)
Even wearing chain mail I doubt you'd have a chance much higher than zero against a full grown tiger.
I don't know, properly made chainmail suit is bite and scratchproof. Might be able to wrestle the tiger into submission. Though the weight of the tiger is going to be a VERY HUGE issue. Give me a spear and I'll be willing though.