Chris Mah
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echinoblog.bsky.social
Chris Mah
@echinoblog.bsky.social
4.9K followers 790 following 3.1K posts
The "starfish guy"(but also a little about a lot of marine invertebrates, #echinoday #echinoderms. Kaiju, comics enthusiast. Marine scientist, taxonomist, deep-sea researcher. Statements/posts made here are my own & DO NOT REPRESENT HOST organizations
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echinoblog.bsky.social
Chris Mah @echinoblog.bsky.social · Nov 17
A recent account of my research in the NYT! by @megadarren.bsky.social ! #echinoday www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/s...
New Antarctic Starfish Are Doting Parents and Vicious Predators (Published 2023)
A close examination of a collection of starfish in the Smithsonian revealed even more starfish inside those starfish.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Chris Mah
daveyfwright.bsky.social
In an era marked by rapid climate change and biodiversity loss, it is imperative that we continue to invest in the unique value of natural history collections data

"Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections" 🧪
Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections - Nature Communications
Natural history collections hold over two billion specimens representing Earth’s biodiversity, but their scientific value depends on continued specimen collection and digitisation. This study demonstr...
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Reposted by Chris Mah
daverodland.bsky.social
#TrilobiteTuesday has crept up on us again in the dark, twilight waters of the Welsh Ordovician. This one is Trinucleus, a blind trilobite characterized by a pitted fringe along the anterior margin of the cephalon.
A small white piece of limestone with a smaller white trilobite cephalon. Label: "Trinucleus fimbriatus Vogdes Llandeilo Ordovician Llandrndod Wells, Radnot, Wales, UK" A close-up of Trinucleus, showing an enlarged and inflated glabella, no visible eyes (unusual for a trilobite), and the anterior margin forms a broad perforated fringe resembling a colander.
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
jeromeollier.bsky.social
Watch superstretchy bloodworms turn themselves inside out - @jack-tamisiea.bsky.social @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...
Watch superstretchy bloodworms turn themselves inside out
The marine worm’s unusually structured proboscis could inspire future soft-bodied robots
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
miriamgoldstein.bsky.social
let's take the CAR out of CARCINIZATION
derek.bike derek van vliet @derek.bike · 1d
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
November 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
beingjamielee.bsky.social
This, in one sentence summarizes why I love science. 😆
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🌊 Illustrations of the zoology of H.M. Indian Marine Surveying steamer Investigator
Calcutta: Printed and sold by the Superintendent of Government Printing, 1892-1909.

[Source]
Detailed black and white scientific illustration of four marine crustaceans: two crabs (Paralomis investigatoris and Paralomis indica) with spiny, textured bodies and extended legs; a spiny lobster (Munida comorina) with elongated antennae and segmented tail; and a small clawed lobster (Pylocheles miersi) shown from above with large front claws. Also included are detailed close-ups of shell segments and a leg joint. The drawing displays fine textures, anatomical features, and segmented limbs, typical of marine crustacean zoological studies from the late 19th century.
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
MICROCYPHUS ROSSEAUI from the Red Sea! One of the prettiest urchins I know of! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Bald-patch Urchin (Microcyphus rousseaui)
Bald-patch Urchin from Gotta Abu Ramada on November 25, 2024 at 06:11 PM by Ramiro Balado
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
*sigh* kids, don't throw your garbage in the ocean, because then hapless sea urchins like this Toxopneustes will use their "collector behavior" to attach to protect from bright lights! www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Flower Urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus)
Flower Urchin from Casa Escondida Anilao Resort & Dive Center, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines on November 15, 2019 at 09:28 AM by Albert Kang
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
OH. NICE. A CLOSE CLOSE UP of the SPINES on a sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus.A reminder that they are not "related to" sea urchins, they ARE SEA URCHINS! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Eccentric Sand Dollar (Dendraster excentricus)
Eccentric Sand Dollar from North Pacific Ocean, CA, US on February 22, 2025 at 03:17 PM by Tony Tong. 100x 250x Mag
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
Astropyga radiata from the Philippines! QUITE a dramatic photo for an urchin whose name means "round star ass"!! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Blue-spotted Urchin (Astropyga radiata)
Blue-spotted Urchin from Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines on August 23, 2024 at 11:25 AM by Dan Vaughan
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
NOM NOM! Prionocidaris baculosa feeding on these soft corals! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Prionocidaris baculosa
Prionocidaris baculosa from North Pacific Ocean, New Territories, HK on May 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM by Josy Lai
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
Huh. Never heard of this Toxopneustes before (assuming it is correctly identified). From French Polynesia. Its gorgeous ! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Toxopneustes maculatus
Toxopneustes maculatus from Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia on June 3, 2025 at 11:18 AM by David R
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
Shrimpies what live on FIRE URCHINS! Urchin is Asthenosoma varium.. spines are basically hypodermic needles! don't touch! www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Fire Urchin (Asthenosoma varium)
Fire Urchin from Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia on April 23, 2013 at 10:25 AM by caleidoskopable. observation is for the sea urchin where the shrimps are on - not for the shrimps
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
OH NEAT! A LIVING rotulid sand dollar- little spines and everything! Rotula deciesdigitatus from the African country of Benin on the Atlantic coast! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Rotula deciesdigitatus
Rotula deciesdigitatus from Atlantique Department, Benin on November 1, 2021 at 06:33 PM by Hans Hillewaert
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
oooo! Cool aggregation of the cidaroid Stylocidaris affinis in the Mediterranean! #echinoday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Red Lance Urchin (Stylocidaris affinis)
Red Lance Urchin from Grosseto, Toscana, IT on October 19, 2022 at 11:57 AM by simo argentariodivers. profondità 65 metri
www.inaturalist.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🐼 Copepodi parassiti dei pesci d'Italia (con XXI tavole).
Genova, R. Istituto Sordomuti, 1906..

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration depicting four detailed colored drawings of copepod parasites that infest Italian fish. Each copepod is shown from a dorsal view, with segmented bodies and distinct patterns of dark brown, reddish, and beige coloring. The top left figure is labeled "Pandarus bicolor," notable for its bicolored body pattern. The other three copepods exhibit varied anatomical features and coloration, with intricate body parts such as antennae and legs visible. The illustrations are framed on a cream background, with handwritten scientific names and gender symbols beneath. This 1906 plate focuses on marine parasitology, not related to the panda animal.
November 24, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
crabphotographer.bsky.social
One good arminid deserves another
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
vireosy.bsky.social
yeti crab

#art #sciart 🎨🦑🦀
Drawing of a yeti crab on a dark slate gray background. It is a white crustacean with long forearms covered in fine hairlike filaments, tinted somewhat teal as if seen from underwater.
November 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
brackenlab.bsky.social
*Megathura* for #MolluscMonday. Giant keyhole limpets are so wonderfully chonky! #MarineLife 🌊🦑
A giant keyhole limpet - a large gastropod mollusc - sits in a tide pool. Its black mantle extends around and on top of its shell. Like other members of the Fissurelidae, it has a pore (“keyhole”) at the apex of its shell that is used for waste excretion.
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
echinoblog.bsky.social
A delightful panoply of various Philippine gastropods including nudibranchs and etc. #molluscmonday #nudivember via @pacificklaus youtu.be/fvNvyjLM4Bc?...
Who Is NOT a (racing) Sea Slug? #marinebiology
YouTube video by Pacificklaus
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
maijasauna.bsky.social
Ah! It's Myusy!
#molluscmonday #nudivember
mondomascots.bsky.social Mondo Mascots @mondomascots.bsky.social · 5d
Myusy, a festive sea slug, is a mascot for the coastal town of Hayama, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Myusy supports beach cleanups and activities to protect the marine environment.
A blue, yellow, and white Sea slug mascot stands in front of some tents.
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
k-hermit.com
It’s said that these shrimp often show color variations depending on their host. For example, red individuals on red starfish 🦐
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
echinoblog.bsky.social
#molluscmonday #nudivember
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Chris Mah
k-hermit.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 AM
echinoblog.bsky.social
#molluscmonday
k-hermit.com でんか @k-hermit.com · 15d
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November 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM