Nature Identification Thread #9- Now Paying out Steem Basic Income Memberships to Participants
It's time for the weekly nature identification thread! Post pictures of plants, animals, rocks, or other cool stuff that you've photographed but can't identify, and I, along with anyone else who would like to help, will try and help you identify it. I'll be making some changes to it- most notably, I'll be using the SBD proceeds from this post to give out @steembasicincome memberships to people who post stuff to be identified or help me identify photos.
Uranophane, a radioactive calcium uranium silicate hydrate mineral that forms when other uranium minerals oxidize. Pictured are two different types of uranophane- type A are the weird yellow fibrous spheres, while type B are the fans of thick needles. Do not lick uranophane. [Image source]
Remember: The most important information you can give along with any photo to be identified is its geographical location. This narrows down the range of possibilities more than any other info you can provide.
Plants:
Along with the photo, add where you found it, the time of year, the approximate altitude, and any interesting scents or textures not caught in the photo.
Animals:
Along with the photo, add the location you found it, the time of year, the sounds it made, any interesting behaviors, and any other features not caught well in the photo.
Rocks:
Along with the photo, add the location you found it, a description of the terrain it was found in, whether it was attached to a rock outcrop or found loose on the ground or buried in the soil, a description of its texture (especially its grain size), and a description of its weight and density. Fossils are included in this category.
Fungi:
I will not be identifying mushrooms and fungi for the most part unless I can point to it and go "Yeah, that's poisonous." I will definitely not be identifying edible mushrooms. Mushrooms should really only be identified for foraging purposes in person and by an expert. If another contributor wishes to identify them, that's their call, but I encourage them to be similarly cautious. I might also identify a few fungi that are clearly not being looked at for the purposes of eating, but that'll be a case by case decision.
@snowyknight, @branbello, @motordrive, @yvesoler, and @xaydtrips earned @steembasicincome memberships for submitting to the last nature identification thread or helping identify submissions. Congrats!
Bibliography:
Here's a snake I saw while walking near the local library, in a city several miles east of Seattle around this time of year; can I just call it a garden snake or does it have a cooler name? It's pretty small as can be seen by the leaves in the picture
Thanks for these posts, super cool!
It's just a common garter snake! Cool little fellas- harmless, good for gardens. (Hence their alternate name that you already knew, the garden snake.)
I found these near the university of washington around seattle, they're very pretty and distinctive but I don't know the name or much else about them but once I learn I can probably easily identify in the future
That is a genuine stumper! I can say a few things, though- mainly, they appear to be an ornamental import and not a native species. In combination with their proximity to the university, that would tell me that someone, probably at the university, planted them deliberately, so if you're willing to take the time to investigate, you could probably find out what they are that way.
Ok, here is a rock/nature one. Found this on the side of a valley in Patagonia. 46 degrees south. Bedrock is volcanic here. But these things on the side of the valley, see photo, are pretty interesting. They look to me like springs but interested what you think @mountainwashere and followers.
Not supposed to be springs or spring-type deposits but... Thanks!
This is a stumper! They really do look like springs, don't they?
Agreed! Looks like springs and maybe travertine deposits?? Thanks!
Feel free to tag me in these whenever people need marine science related help with identifying.
Will do!
A strategy to bring many to the awareness of natures wonders. Nice work sir.
Thanks!
You are welcome.
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this is amazing. 😍
i remembered my days back in college when we're doing field research for our Botany class.
You had me at "Do not lick uranophane". Great post!
Thanks!
Thanks @mountainwashere - you are keeping exciting things going and like the photos and @steembasicincome - thanks again!