Answer: Strophitus undulatus

None of the aspiring taxonomists answered correctly in February, but keep refining and you’ll get the next one!!

Answer: Whirligig Beetle Larva - order Coleoptera, family Gyrinidae, genus Gyrinus

Correct answers: Kayla L., Jessica F., Andrew C., Jennie S., Logan S.

Answer: Ampelisca abdita

Answer: Granulina hadria

Answer: Western Fanshell (Cyprogenia aberti)

Answer and winners TBA

Answer and winner(s), TBA…

Navicula radiosa is the correct answer!

Winners:

James S.
Nuria P.

Correct answer is black sandshell (Ligumia recta). This one was extra challenging! Sometimes mussels grow between a rock and a hard place. Despite its deformed appearance, it was alive and kicking and was relocated with its more aesthetically pleasing peers at one of our project sites.

Winner:
Dillon M.

The correct answer is Phascolion strombus or peanut worm.

Looks like this one stumped all of our contest entrants this month! Better luck next month!

The correct answer is Loligo opalescens or Opalescent squid.

Winner:

Lydia N.

The correct name of this critter is Benthalia natchitocheae although it changed fairly recently. It has also been known as Einfeldia natchitocheae and Chironomus natchitocheae.

Winners:

Jessica F.

Lindsey D.

Jill J.

Craig D.

Lampsilis fasciola (wavy-rayed lampmussel) is the correct answer!

Winner:

James S.

Eunotia tetraodon is the correct answer!

Winners:

James S.
Zachary L.
Sean S.
Stephen S.
Jessica F.

Drumroll… Congratulations to James S. for winning our year-long contest to guess all the Curious Critters! He wins a fun prize package and bragging rights as our UBER TAXONOMIST OF 2021!!!

Sternapsis affinis is the correct answer!

Winner:

James S.

Schizoporella unicornis or Single-Horn Bryozoan is the correct answer.

Looks like this one stumped all of our contest entrants this month! Better luck next month!

Lampsilis rafinesqueana or Neosho mucket is the correct answer!

Winners:

James S.
Allison S.

Phanocerus (genus)

Winners:

Matt G.

Pleustes (genus)

Winner:

James S.

Staurodesmus extensus. It is also known as a broad group of algae called Desmids. Synonym would be Arthrodesmus.

Winners:

James S.

Louise B.

Natalia F.

A juvenile Lampsilis cardium (Plain Pocketbook).

Winners:

Allison S.

Agriopoma texasianum or Texas Venus

Looks like this one stumped all of May’s contest entrants this month! Better luck next month!

Pluteus stage larvae of the sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus). Form is similar to that seen in the larvae of many echinoderms (urchins, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, and sea stars)

Winners:

James S.

Craig S.

Madalyn W.

Jessica F.

Marty S.

Clifton H.

Bill I.

Roger K.

Barbara O.

New Zealand Mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum).
All have been caught by a caddisfly and incorporated into its puparium.

Winners:

Sean S.

Allison S.

Bill S.

Lasmigona complanata (juvenile white heel splitter)
Winners:
Allison S.
Daelyn W.
Dillon M.
Michael O.

Bulbochaete cf quadrata
Winners:
Charles I.
James S.