Category: Invertebrates
Mosquitos are a family of small flies (the name "Mosquito" literally means "Small Fly" in Spanish) that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They are known primarily by the females of most species who use their proboscises to suck blood and nourish their eggs. While the saliva left behind from a mosquito bite can lead to an annoying rash, they do not take enough blood to harm the host, and the bite is harmless in and of itself. However, as a mosquito flies from host to host it can pass diseases like chikungunya, dengue, filariasis, malaria, West Nile virus, yellow fever, and Zika fever, making the mosquito no "small fly" as a major disease vector.
Cephalopods: Masterminds of the Ocean.
Octopi, cuttlefish, and squids - all cephalopods - have been observed engaging in amazing feats of intelligence (perhaps unsurprising, as cuttlefish and octopuses have the highest brain-to-body mass of all invertebrates). Their suction-cup covered arms are dexterous, and octopuses have been observed putting them to use throwing rocks, opening screw-top jars, even picking up and gathering coconut shells to build fortresses for themselves. Squids, for their part, have been observed hunting cooperatively and are able to communicate with one another via color changes, patterns, and flashing to one another - sometimes using different sides of their bodies to broadcast different signals to multiple squids! Just how smart are they? As they are typically elusive and so very different from humans, we aren’t sure yet - but we do know the question is not “Are they intelligent?” but “How intelligent are they?”
Learn more >>
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
