Natural History

A shell collection specializing in marine snails that are themselves collectors of shells, rocks, and other debris from their environment. Popularly known as "assemblage artists of the deep"

Marine animals that come in a great variety of shapes and proportions, unencumbered by gravity. They are nature's mechanical marvels.

The largest and most primitive mermaid species in the museum's collection is affectionately known as "The Zymoglyphic Mermaid" and has become somewhat of a spokesmodel for the museum, Its sinuous body and delightful smile grace the museum shop's drinkware, clocks, and clothing. For more information see here

Spinybirds are small, shy, flightless birds that have evolved a unique cactus-like means of defense against the nocturnal predations of the leatherwings.

The mountains of the region produce dense jungles on the windward side of the islands, leaving very little moisture for the leeward side and resulting in deserts. These harsher conditions require some remarkable adaptations for survival. The pond-headed cactus is a plant species that originated in the ocean as a member of the kelp family and has evolved to become a land based species. It carries within it a little bit of the sea.

The root worm is often found on the forest floor. Its resemblance to an old root causes it to get stepped on and bumped frequently, resulting in a rather irritable disposition.

The House Fungus grows natively in the denser tropical forests, and looks for all the world like it is made of plastic and an old orange peel. It is in fact a colorful fungus found in the Zymoglyphic region which is commonly grown there as a house plant. The spiky head fills at certain times of the year with a hallucinogenic gas that is highly prized by the native inhabitants. This particular specimen has already made its atmospheric contribution and collapsed into a stupor.

The Happy Fish (Piscatonius delitus) can be found clinging to rocky bottoms in fast-moving waters. Its rough exterior camouflages it well; it might be confused with a random selection of seaweed. Its happy demeanor is thought to be due to its lack of internal organs. Its watery environment just passes right through it.

The Leatherwing is a silent, nocturnal creature adapted for long flights from the sea through the jungle.

Left: Scaly Eyeball Plant (Ophthalmophytos lepidus)
Right: Convoluted Eyeball Plant (Ophthalmophytos tortuosa)

Naturalists peering too deeply into the undergrowth may find themselves being observed in return by the "eyes of the forest". They are the scaly eyeball plant and the convoluted eyeball plant. During the Rust Age, these plants were revered for their oracular qualities, in the belief that they could see into the unknown.