beetle battle armor

i saw this post a while ago - i think over spring break actually, but haven't had a chance to blog about it. it's pretty amazing, flipping through the slides to think about the evolutionary process that these beetles must have gone through to develop the armor and the horns that they have.

just look at this... that is a massive weapon - it's got to be a quarter of the size of the rest of its body length. and it just doesn't look like something that would be pleasant to deal with. it kinda reminds me of the jaws of life actually, but in reverse.

i really hope that those pincers don't come together, that just can't be right. i guess it could be used to pick up things and move them along (and not only for crushing other insects, but considering how big the insect is... those aren't small pincers by any means).

for some reason this reminds me a a dump truck if it was designed by people who were tripping on something. obviously the color is just out of this world. add to that the odd dump truck like shape and the giant horn (maybe for mating prowess) and finally the fur. that's just a funny mix of characteristics.

btw i like how i didn't really bother to read the information about the beetles, instead just made up my own conclusions based on silly observations. i guess this is what it would be like trying to teach a little kid about science. they just fill in all the details with their imagination. good times.

[via nyt science]