This week I have another marine invertebrate from the Dead Zoo decant project for you to have a go at identifying. Any idea what this is?
As ever you can put your questions, observations and suggestions in the comments below. Have fun!
Friday mystery object #394
Zygoma 
Well, that takes the biscuit! Possibly a Dutch connection there?
Lying down to gaze at the stars one always needs a cushion to feed those baby thoughts-even in the Caribbean?
I love it! Looks like a New Mexico sheriff’s star badge fashioned from a beaded lizard skin (gila monster will do if you can’t get hold of a beaded lizard there).
Sheriff’s star starfish will actually be the first words into the Google search bar as I once more go down the rabbit hole.
…I’m also thinking about how to make one of these as a biscuit 🍪.
Six lumps to a side? From down under?
Is this the entire organism? Or just a piece of it?
It’s missing an outer layer, but it’s otherwise it’s pretty complete.
Biscuit or cushion, that seems to be the question. You can always put me down for a biscuit.
Of the 36 misheard tarsiers, all “worthy of praise”*, the southern*er was my favourite.
…Well, it’s probably in the Goniasteridae family at least – a family of 98 similar genera! Possibly even more than those similar-looking crabs from last time. 😅
*Latin meanings – I think – I need a Latin/Greek taxonomy meanings website so I don’t have to use a girls’ baby names website! ☺️
Marine biologists suggest the name of their genus actually means ‘inestimable’ in Latin.
…Still not 100% convinced I have ID’ed it yet.
It’s some echina critter methinks.
Wouldn’t look out of place atop a Christmas tree!