Cool Organisms

. The little fungi in the genus Mycena come in an array of lush, technicolor shades: blood red, turquoise blue, rosy pink, and even bioluminescent green. Biologists are still trying to determine why these fungi are so colorful, which makes them both mysterious and lovely.

. This little guy looks like something cooked up in an illicit genetic-engineering lab, but he's all natural.

. These weevils have colorful, geometric patterns, and with macrophotography, you can see the bright scales responsible for this. This reminds me of butterfly wings.

. Very, very disturbing...and yet, fascinating. Makes you glad you aren't a fish.

. The Common Jezebel is found throughout India. As a caterpillar, it feeds on mistletoe (Loranthus sp.) and concentrates the plant's toxins in its body. Adult Common Jezebels are brightly colored to advertise their toxic nature, and thus, like the North American Monarch butterfy, use their beauty not to attract other organisms, but to warn them away.

. This Victorians would have hated this one. This member of the genus Phallus is named for what it looks like. This species of "stinkhorn" fungus attracts flies and other small insects to disperse its spores, and the lacy "skirt" makes a wonderful landing pad (or perhaps stairway) for visitors.

. The Blue-legged Centipede ranges from Mexico down through South America. It can be all blue or have a dark body with blue legs. Either way, it is an attractive arthropod and has attracted the attention of the pet trade.