483
Behold: Pufferfish Bones (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 years ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[-] jadero@mander.xyz 50 points 2 years ago

Are you serious? They really have what amounts to an exoskeleton? Or maybe it's more accurate to call it a whole-body rib cage?

Just searched and found this fun article. Not really a skeleton but a collection of really stiff hairs or feathers (loosely: the genes are the same ones responsible for "other skin appendages" in vertebrates).

[-] powerofm@lemmy.ca 23 points 2 years ago

Looks like it's fake. This research paper shows a more normal skeleton, though they do apparently lack ribs and a pelvis.

[-] girl@lemm.ee 16 points 2 years ago

I think it’s just inaccurately labeled as a skeleton. These appear to be skin spikes. https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(19)30185-3.pdf

[-] jadero@mander.xyz 2 points 2 years ago

Interesting. That page says "few vertebrae", but the image makes it look to me like a full set.

On the other hand, if I found an animal with no ribs and pelvis and only the rudimentary limbs typically found in fish, I'd tend to say that the skeleton was missing. Or at least, ahem, skeletal.

Thanks. My first impression was that there was some funny business, but then I found what I thought was a decent article.

[-] CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

So you're saying all my skin tags are just puffer fish thorns?!

Amazing.....

[-] danc4498@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Do they scare away predators also?

[-] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Only if you inflate yourself.

[-] DigitalNirvana@lemm.ee 37 points 2 years ago

It’s made of caltrops!

[-] moistclump@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago

I wonder if you can go like

[-] 1847953620@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

gotta find the hidden button

[-] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Permanently deleted

[-] Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Naturally sourced caltrops

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago

Nature is so brilliant!

[-] burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 years ago

Is this what people mean when they say they are “big boned”

[-] Aviandelight@mander.xyz 7 points 2 years ago

Hahaha a living bucky ball. I didn't know I needed to see this.

[-] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Seeing this first thing in the morning like

[-] Damaskox@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago

Today I learned that they have bones around their tummy!

this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
483 points (97.4% liked)

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