biomimicry

Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta with leg bone of giraffe

Green woodpecker Picus viridis anting for parasite removal

Greater Spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major seeking food.  Using its beak to pry under areas of bark, the woodpecker looks for small insects.

Digestive system of bird using domestic chicken, in diagram format, with close up of gizzard

Car crushed by a fallen pine tree.  Illustration shows secondary crushing forces in nature.

Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis fighting, using his horns to charge at a mating rival.

Flik flak spider Cabrennus rechenbergi facing us. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Flik flak spider cartwheel diagram,  showing Cabrennus rechenbergi and its unusual movement. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

DNA showing unravelling strands.  Pen and ink diagram.

Animal cell which is dissected to show key organelles and the nucleus.  Pen and ink diagram. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Dissecting microscope diagram.  Pen and ink line drawing. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Compound microscope illustration.  Line diagram Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)    

Tabby Cat Felis catus looking at the viewer and sitting on grass. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus with a kneeling Dromedary Camelus dromedarius. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Electric eel Electrophorus electricus; complete animal and longditudinal cross section showing the three electric organs; namely Sach’s, Hunter’s and Main organ. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Electric eel Electrophorus electricus; complete animal and longditudinal cross section showing the three electric organs; namely Sach’s, Hunter’s and Main organ. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Pangolin Manis javanica on a log with background foliage, searching for ant nests to destroy and eat. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Waterloo International Station diagram showing how the roof echoes the curve of a pangolin Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

European lobster Homarus gammarus with eye detail showing curved lens Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

European lobster Homarus gammarus Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)  

Common or Peleides blue morpho butterfly Morpho peleides with colour top wash.  Butterfly is on a leaf with magnified detail of the structure of the wing scales.  These ridges cause iridescence.  Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books).

Reef Manta ray Manta alfredi showing two animals swimming with mouths open, filter-feeding. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Arapaima with scales Arapaima gigas Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Arapaima gigas fish showiung its distinctive scales and “etched” head Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)