In the News: Beautiful Biodiversity

Fig.1. Psychrolutes marcidus, otherwise known as the blobfish
 (Credit: Kinskarije via Flickr)

The blobfish, seductive monkeys, and sea snakes are only some of the unusual museum specimens in the news this week. Read to learn about how to catalog and protect these amazing (if not quite beautiful) animals:

• From Florida to Berlin, museums are pooling resources to put high quality images of specimens online. These efforts have the potential to change how the natural world is studied: “Museum Specimens Find New Life Online,” New York Times (19 October 2015) 

• This rare snake, now at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, is only one of many tropical species moving north: “Rare Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake Washes Ashore In Southern California,” NPR (19 October 2015)

• Museum specimens and living monkeys gave new insight into monkey seduction techniques and the trade-offs involved: “Seductive Bass Tones Enough To Seal The Deal In Some Monkey Species,” New York Times (22 October 2015)

• This misunderstood fish is one of the Australian Museum’s most celebrated specimens and highlights the need to protect animals, whether or not they have aesthetic value: “Behold the Blobfish,” Smithsonian Magazine (22 October 2015)

• A thorough examination of the beloved Stegosaurus named Sophie at the Natural History Museum in London reveals new clues about the dinosaur’s life and death: “Life, Sex, and Death For Dinosaurs,” PLOS Paleo (14 October 2015)