sambiology's Favorites

This day felt a lot like "Saudi Arabia" to me -- my sister, niece, and I went to Judah's Thumb. Incredible area -- such cool organisms!!!
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/90830-trip-to-middle-east-wow

This observation is for the prey animals found in an owl pellet I dissected. The date and location is accurate for where/when the pellet was found. I've left it at Vertebrata for now as it certainly contains more than one prey animal this time. The observation for the owl pellet/owl is here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65913848

This pellet was huge! (last image) I found it in what seems to be two main pieces that were next to each other in the gravel. This one took much longer than the first pellet to go through and sort. It was also more difficult when it came to fully removing fur from the bones, so there are a few chunks that I simply couldn't clean off properly.

I've done my best to group most of the bones by what I think are related bones. Since this one had somewhere close to 280 different bones/bone fragments I didn't label them like the first pellet. Of course, I could be and most likely am incorrect about most of what they are so please correct me if you know.

Any help anyone can provide is greatly appreciated!

Water sample (freshwater) was taken on 07/10/2022 using a 10 micron dip net to enrich for microorganisms.
Water Temp. 28°C
Length: >800µm
Although from a different sample than the observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/125250373, I think this is the same species. Here I was able to conclude that this individual has three toes. The sample was taken at the same location.
All images are of the same individual (and her daughter).

1. Overview showing dorsal antenna
2. Rostrum showing eyes
3. Bendable spurs
4. Three toes
5. Trophi showing dental formula 2/2. Arrow is ~28 µm
6. Birth—I feel very privileged and in awe to have observed this
7. Gif of birth
8. Out of focus image of daughter’s and mother’s toes

Night walk along bank of Grapevine Lake while waiting for insects to come to a couple sheets I had set up.

All of my blacklighting observations from my second night in Grapevine:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-07-20&d2=2022-07-21&nelat=32.9498178780538&nelng=-97.05853848413507&place_id=any&swlat=32.94857994678893&swlng=-97.06420867399255&user_id=joemdo&field:Light%20Source=395-400%20nm%20LED

Observed while visiting Grapevine for an education conference (SREB 2022). I was invited by the National Geographic education team to give a presentation on using iNaturalist in the classroom and had a great time presenting and also learning from the Nat Geo team.

I mostly stuck to the area near the Gaylord Texan hotel as there were plenty of woods to explore and blacklight at. I did also go on an iNat marathon on Friday the 22nd when I met sambiology and he took me to two really great spots: Cross Timbers Park and Tandy Hills.
I also went to LLELA shortly after to round off the day.

Here's a link to all of my Dallas/Fort Worth observations from this trip: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-07-19&d2=2022-07-23&order_by=votes&place_id=any&user_id=joemdo

Freshwater aquatic insects in running creek. This insect was living in a tube with 5 prongs, connected by a web of mucus/silk which it used to catch particles in the water. I watch it actively eat the webbing and create new webbing. There were about 5 active ones on a rock, they were about 1cm tall.

I was very fortunate to notice these two under the sheets. After several photographs, they came out, separated, then came back together and faced off. This observation is for the male. The female is here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112221782