ID challenge

[Dylan8i]

so heres a challenge for all you ID nuts out there. the photo isn't technically great, but it shows the organism well.
hints: i took this photo last weekend, it is an adult, and yes i know what it is.





guess away :-)
it may not be hard for some people as the are fairly famous where i took the pic, but i had never seen them before.

[paulnj]

That is one freaky looking thingy. My guess is a cave dwelling isopod of sorts.

[Dylan8i]

close, kind of. but nope. it is a VERY specialized invertebrate.

[Dylan8i]

anyone looking for this or should i tell you?

[paulnj]

Give it a day or two because weekends are slow usually.

[Speed]

Baby Horseshoe Crab?

[terryger]

i would have to say it is like a deer with no eyes.

NOIDEER!

[Speed]

i would have to say it is like a deer with no eyes.

NOIDEER!

Dude, that is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-D

[mjs1973]

It's a very interesing looking creature, but I have no idea what it is.

[Dylan8i]

i'll tell the answer tomorrow, so if you want to guess go for it, its an incredably interestign creature with one of the strangest life cycles i know of.

[SpeedingSphere]

I believe it is a Triops Cancriformis. One of those grow your own prehistoric pet things. Correct?

I remember learning about them in school. Its summer though. I could be wrong.

[Dylan8i]

had to look up the scientific name :-)

yes it is, its common name is a tadpole shrimp, this one was wild though.

they are so unique, they live in pot holes ( depressions in slickrock) that fill up with water for a few days after heavy rains. the eggs that are in the soil then hatch and they grow into adults in a few days, breed and die before the pools dry up. the eggs are laid in the soil at the bottom of the pools and are blown around by wind. the eggs can survive up to 90% dehydration and a few years before they hatch.

we also saw 3 species of fairy shrimp, 2 of clam shrimp and a few other pot hole specific species. it was an incredable trip (my boss took us to do some research on them in Arches NP) :-)

[paulnj]

Who's job was it to bring the cocktail sauce :lol:

[Dylan8i]

well we had a gallon of it, but as we were canoing up the colorado and across it, a golden eagle came down and stole my hat, so while i was trying to get my hat back a river dolphin jmped in teh boat and stole it.


just noticed this is the featured photo, yea for me :-)

[paulnj]

Oh so you're a wise guy too huh?


great!!

Yes, I chose your image! It is worthy on scientific value alone and is a nice ID image to boot.

[terryger]

well we had a gallon of it, but as we were canoing up the colorado and across it, a golden eagle came down and stole my hat, so while i was trying to get my hat back a river dolphin jmped in teh boat and stole it.

wait a minute... you expect us to believe you were paddling up the colorade in a canoe????????

[Dylan8i]

well thanks paul, the part i don't like about it is the left side glare, but i'm not sure how to eliminate it

[paulnj]

Maybe try a CP filter . That glare seems to be coming in around the shadow of the camera above it ?

[Dylan8i]

oh yeah, i should know that.... whenever i shoot with my canon s1 is i always foret about things like filters cause it can't take them (saving for a dslr). i just ordered a replacement nikon n2000 on ebay though to replace my broken one, so i can start shooting with it again, assuming it is in as good of shape as it should be. and a new lens ! nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 af d it looks like in the pictures.

[Speed]

oh yeah, i should know that.... whenever i shoot with my canon s1 is i always foret about things like filters cause it can't take them (saving for a dslr). i just ordered a replacement nikon n2000 on ebay though to replace my broken one, so i can start shooting with it again, assuming it is in as good of shape as it should be. and a new lens ! nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 af d it looks like in the pictures.

Sweet lens!!!!!

[Dylan8i]

yeah we did, only for about 400-500 meters though. it was better because on the way back home we jsut jumped in with out life jackets and floated back to the car. was nice after being in the 130+ heat of the canyons

[AmberC]

Wow! That thing is so strange looking! I've never seen anything like it! Very cool

Amber