C3POLab
@c3polab.bsky.social
Comparative Cognition and Communication Lab at the University of South Alabama. Studying dolphins, dogs, apes, hermit crabs, and any other fascinating animal someone brings to us! Director: Heidi Lyn @heidilynphd@bsky.social
Jacanas, or Jesus Birds, say no to traditional gender roles!
These birds are polyandrous, meaning one female has multiple males partners. While the female leaves to hook up with more mates, males stay home to protect the chicks🐣
#birds #birdfacts #scicomm #animalbehavior #science #animalfacts
These birds are polyandrous, meaning one female has multiple males partners. While the female leaves to hook up with more mates, males stay home to protect the chicks🐣
#birds #birdfacts #scicomm #animalbehavior #science #animalfacts
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Jacanas, or Jesus Birds, say no to traditional gender roles!
These birds are polyandrous, meaning one female has multiple males partners. While the female leaves to hook up with more mates, males stay home to protect the chicks🐣
#birds #birdfacts #scicomm #animalbehavior #science #animalfacts
These birds are polyandrous, meaning one female has multiple males partners. While the female leaves to hook up with more mates, males stay home to protect the chicks🐣
#birds #birdfacts #scicomm #animalbehavior #science #animalfacts
Charlotte's Web movie adaptation left out that Charlotte was actually a cannibal😅🕷️
Females in many spider species, including barn spiders, eat their reproductive partners after doing the deed👀
#spider #insect #cannibal #scarystories
#halloween #scaryanimals #scicomm #animalbehavior #science
Females in many spider species, including barn spiders, eat their reproductive partners after doing the deed👀
#spider #insect #cannibal #scarystories
#halloween #scaryanimals #scicomm #animalbehavior #science
November 1, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Charlotte's Web movie adaptation left out that Charlotte was actually a cannibal😅🕷️
Females in many spider species, including barn spiders, eat their reproductive partners after doing the deed👀
#spider #insect #cannibal #scarystories
#halloween #scaryanimals #scicomm #animalbehavior #science
Females in many spider species, including barn spiders, eat their reproductive partners after doing the deed👀
#spider #insect #cannibal #scarystories
#halloween #scaryanimals #scicomm #animalbehavior #science
The scariest thing about Komodo dragons isn’t their size or their serrated teeth… it’s the possibility of getting sepsis if you’ve been bitten😳😅
#komododragon #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #science #animalbehavior #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #scary #lizards
#komododragon #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #science #animalbehavior #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #scary #lizards
October 30, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The scariest thing about Komodo dragons isn’t their size or their serrated teeth… it’s the possibility of getting sepsis if you’ve been bitten😳😅
#komododragon #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #science #animalbehavior #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #scary #lizards
#komododragon #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #science #animalbehavior #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #scary #lizards
What’s both the grossest AND most delicious thing about bees? … Honey!🍯🐝
#bees #insects #honey #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #animalbehavior #beeware #beevomit
#bees #insects #honey #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #animalbehavior #beeware #beevomit
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 PM
What’s both the grossest AND most delicious thing about bees? … Honey!🍯🐝
#bees #insects #honey #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #animalbehavior #beeware #beevomit
#bees #insects #honey #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #animalbehavior #beeware #beevomit
Tarantula wasps’ reproduction tactic is an all-around creepfest 🫣🕷️
What’s scares you the most about tarantula wasps??👀
#wasps #tarantulas #scaryanimals #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #insects #tarantulawasp #animalbehavior #animalstories #creepyanimals #scarystorytime
What’s scares you the most about tarantula wasps??👀
#wasps #tarantulas #scaryanimals #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #insects #tarantulawasp #animalbehavior #animalstories #creepyanimals #scarystorytime
October 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Tarantula wasps’ reproduction tactic is an all-around creepfest 🫣🕷️
What’s scares you the most about tarantula wasps??👀
#wasps #tarantulas #scaryanimals #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #insects #tarantulawasp #animalbehavior #animalstories #creepyanimals #scarystorytime
What’s scares you the most about tarantula wasps??👀
#wasps #tarantulas #scaryanimals #storytime #halloween #halloweenstory #insects #tarantulawasp #animalbehavior #animalstories #creepyanimals #scarystorytime
Horned lizards have the scariest defense mechanism in the animal kingdom😳🩸
Happy Halloween Week! Stay tuned for more scary animal stories😈
Do you have any scary animal stories?
#hornedlizard #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #animalbehavior #lizards
Happy Halloween Week! Stay tuned for more scary animal stories😈
Do you have any scary animal stories?
#hornedlizard #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #animalbehavior #lizards
October 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Horned lizards have the scariest defense mechanism in the animal kingdom😳🩸
Happy Halloween Week! Stay tuned for more scary animal stories😈
Do you have any scary animal stories?
#hornedlizard #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #animalbehavior #lizards
Happy Halloween Week! Stay tuned for more scary animal stories😈
Do you have any scary animal stories?
#hornedlizard #scicomm #halloweenstory #halloween #animalstories #scaryanimals #science #animalbehavior #lizards
Cordyceps—the fungus featured in The Last of Us—is actually real😱 and oh so spooky!🍄
Shout out to @blackforager.bsky.social for knowing all the fungi facts and keeping us safe😂
What’s your favorite spooky animal (or fungi)?
#cordyceps #thelastofus #fungi #zombieantfungus #scicomm
Shout out to @blackforager.bsky.social for knowing all the fungi facts and keeping us safe😂
What’s your favorite spooky animal (or fungi)?
#cordyceps #thelastofus #fungi #zombieantfungus #scicomm
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Cordyceps—the fungus featured in The Last of Us—is actually real😱 and oh so spooky!🍄
Shout out to @blackforager.bsky.social for knowing all the fungi facts and keeping us safe😂
What’s your favorite spooky animal (or fungi)?
#cordyceps #thelastofus #fungi #zombieantfungus #scicomm
Shout out to @blackforager.bsky.social for knowing all the fungi facts and keeping us safe😂
What’s your favorite spooky animal (or fungi)?
#cordyceps #thelastofus #fungi #zombieantfungus #scicomm
It's almost time! ⌛ C3PO's annual Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser is coming back to the UCOMM parking lot on October 14, 2025 🎃 🍂🥳 We'll be there every day from 11am-5pm through Halloween‼️
Come out and support USA's undergraduate research! 🔬 🧬
#pumpkinpatch #fundraiser #undergraduateresearch #autumn
Come out and support USA's undergraduate research! 🔬 🧬
#pumpkinpatch #fundraiser #undergraduateresearch #autumn
October 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
It's almost time! ⌛ C3PO's annual Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser is coming back to the UCOMM parking lot on October 14, 2025 🎃 🍂🥳 We'll be there every day from 11am-5pm through Halloween‼️
Come out and support USA's undergraduate research! 🔬 🧬
#pumpkinpatch #fundraiser #undergraduateresearch #autumn
Come out and support USA's undergraduate research! 🔬 🧬
#pumpkinpatch #fundraiser #undergraduateresearch #autumn
There’s a reason that scientists at primate conferences rarely bring up homosexual behavior.👇
That’s because it’s not shocking to them at all — it’s expected. 🌈🦧 In the wild and captivity, same-sex behavior is just a normal part of primate life.
#queeranimals #lgbtq #primates #academicconference
That’s because it’s not shocking to them at all — it’s expected. 🌈🦧 In the wild and captivity, same-sex behavior is just a normal part of primate life.
#queeranimals #lgbtq #primates #academicconference
September 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
There’s a reason that scientists at primate conferences rarely bring up homosexual behavior.👇
That’s because it’s not shocking to them at all — it’s expected. 🌈🦧 In the wild and captivity, same-sex behavior is just a normal part of primate life.
#queeranimals #lgbtq #primates #academicconference
That’s because it’s not shocking to them at all — it’s expected. 🌈🦧 In the wild and captivity, same-sex behavior is just a normal part of primate life.
#queeranimals #lgbtq #primates #academicconference
September 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
What kind of animals do you want to learn about? Let us know! 😊💜
September 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
What kind of animals do you want to learn about? Let us know! 😊💜
September 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Are 94% of giraffes gay? Probably not 🤷♀️
BUT a lot of of males DO engage in same-sex mounting and “necking.” 🦒
BUT a lot of of males DO engage in same-sex mounting and “necking.” 🦒
August 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Are 94% of giraffes gay? Probably not 🤷♀️
BUT a lot of of males DO engage in same-sex mounting and “necking.” 🦒
BUT a lot of of males DO engage in same-sex mounting and “necking.” 🦒
Bed bug s*x = stab wounds and infections AKA literal nightmare fuel
#bedbugs #scicomm #queeranimals #gayscience
#bedbugs #scicomm #queeranimals #gayscience
August 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Bed bug s*x = stab wounds and infections AKA literal nightmare fuel
#bedbugs #scicomm #queeranimals #gayscience
#bedbugs #scicomm #queeranimals #gayscience
🐠🦁 Fish in drag. Lionesses with manes. Lizards faking it.
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
August 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM
🐠🦁 Fish in drag. Lionesses with manes. Lizards faking it.
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
🐠🦁 Fish in drag. Lionesses with manes. Lizards faking it.
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
August 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
🐠🦁 Fish in drag. Lionesses with manes. Lizards faking it.
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
Animals have been bending the rules of gender and expression long before humans showed up. 🌈
Follow for more Queer Animals content! 💜
#Intersex #scicomm #lgbtq #QueerAnimals #c3polab
Nature doesn’t follow the rules of gender you learned in kindergarten.
Cows, birds, lobsters - even whales - can be born intersex. And they have been for a long time!
Intersex is natural. Queerness is everywhere. 🐋🌈
#QueerAnimals #Intersex #SciComm #LGBTQ #IntersexAwareness #LGBTQSCience
Cows, birds, lobsters - even whales - can be born intersex. And they have been for a long time!
Intersex is natural. Queerness is everywhere. 🐋🌈
#QueerAnimals #Intersex #SciComm #LGBTQ #IntersexAwareness #LGBTQSCience
August 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Nature doesn’t follow the rules of gender you learned in kindergarten.
Cows, birds, lobsters - even whales - can be born intersex. And they have been for a long time!
Intersex is natural. Queerness is everywhere. 🐋🌈
#QueerAnimals #Intersex #SciComm #LGBTQ #IntersexAwareness #LGBTQSCience
Cows, birds, lobsters - even whales - can be born intersex. And they have been for a long time!
Intersex is natural. Queerness is everywhere. 🐋🌈
#QueerAnimals #Intersex #SciComm #LGBTQ #IntersexAwareness #LGBTQSCience
Jonathan the tortoise is 193 and might be the oldest queer icon alive.
He spent years mating with “Frederica” until vets found out that “she” was actually Frederick!
P.S. He had female options… he just liked Fred better.
Follow for more queer animals stories!
#queeranimals #scicomm #lgbtscience
He spent years mating with “Frederica” until vets found out that “she” was actually Frederick!
P.S. He had female options… he just liked Fred better.
Follow for more queer animals stories!
#queeranimals #scicomm #lgbtscience
July 31, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Jonathan the tortoise is 193 and might be the oldest queer icon alive.
He spent years mating with “Frederica” until vets found out that “she” was actually Frederick!
P.S. He had female options… he just liked Fred better.
Follow for more queer animals stories!
#queeranimals #scicomm #lgbtscience
He spent years mating with “Frederica” until vets found out that “she” was actually Frederick!
P.S. He had female options… he just liked Fred better.
Follow for more queer animals stories!
#queeranimals #scicomm #lgbtscience
The way animals determine biological sex? Straight-up weird AF 🦎🐠
From temperature-dependent turtles to fish that switch genders like it’s no big deal, nature’s got queerness coded into the DNA of life itself. 🌈✨ #QueerAnimals #NatureIsQueer #SciCom #QueerScience
part 1👇
From temperature-dependent turtles to fish that switch genders like it’s no big deal, nature’s got queerness coded into the DNA of life itself. 🌈✨ #QueerAnimals #NatureIsQueer #SciCom #QueerScience
part 1👇
July 25, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The way animals determine biological sex? Straight-up weird AF 🦎🐠
From temperature-dependent turtles to fish that switch genders like it’s no big deal, nature’s got queerness coded into the DNA of life itself. 🌈✨ #QueerAnimals #NatureIsQueer #SciCom #QueerScience
part 1👇
From temperature-dependent turtles to fish that switch genders like it’s no big deal, nature’s got queerness coded into the DNA of life itself. 🌈✨ #QueerAnimals #NatureIsQueer #SciCom #QueerScience
part 1👇
🌈 Think there are only 2 sexes ruled by X & Y chromosomes? Think again 👉 nature LOVES to get weird!
From haplodiploid bees where brothers have no dads, to salamanders cloning females, sex determination is way more than XX or XY.
#Scicom #QueerAnimals #morethan2sexes #lgbt #queerscience
From haplodiploid bees where brothers have no dads, to salamanders cloning females, sex determination is way more than XX or XY.
#Scicom #QueerAnimals #morethan2sexes #lgbt #queerscience
July 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
🌈 Think there are only 2 sexes ruled by X & Y chromosomes? Think again 👉 nature LOVES to get weird!
From haplodiploid bees where brothers have no dads, to salamanders cloning females, sex determination is way more than XX or XY.
#Scicom #QueerAnimals #morethan2sexes #lgbt #queerscience
From haplodiploid bees where brothers have no dads, to salamanders cloning females, sex determination is way more than XX or XY.
#Scicom #QueerAnimals #morethan2sexes #lgbt #queerscience
Did you know up to 8% of rams are gay due to biological factors?? 🐏💕Studies show their brain structure and hormones differ from “straight” rams. Nature’s spectrum is real and wild! 🌈
Let us know if there are any queer animals you want us to talk about 😊🦄
#queeranimals #queerscience #scicom
Let us know if there are any queer animals you want us to talk about 😊🦄
#queeranimals #queerscience #scicom
July 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Did you know up to 8% of rams are gay due to biological factors?? 🐏💕Studies show their brain structure and hormones differ from “straight” rams. Nature’s spectrum is real and wild! 🌈
Let us know if there are any queer animals you want us to talk about 😊🦄
#queeranimals #queerscience #scicom
Let us know if there are any queer animals you want us to talk about 😊🦄
#queeranimals #queerscience #scicom
Disney got it wrong! 🐠❌ In real life, Nemo’s dad would’ve become his mom.
That’s right — the largest male clownfish changes sex when the female dies. It’s called sequential hermaphroditism.
Follow for more queer animal facts! 🦄
#queerscience #scicomm #queeranimals #lgbt #pride
That’s right — the largest male clownfish changes sex when the female dies. It’s called sequential hermaphroditism.
Follow for more queer animal facts! 🦄
#queerscience #scicomm #queeranimals #lgbt #pride
July 3, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Disney got it wrong! 🐠❌ In real life, Nemo’s dad would’ve become his mom.
That’s right — the largest male clownfish changes sex when the female dies. It’s called sequential hermaphroditism.
Follow for more queer animal facts! 🦄
#queerscience #scicomm #queeranimals #lgbt #pride
That’s right — the largest male clownfish changes sex when the female dies. It’s called sequential hermaphroditism.
Follow for more queer animal facts! 🦄
#queerscience #scicomm #queeranimals #lgbt #pride
Did you know Dolphins celebrate? Dr. Heidi Lyn’s research reveals how dolphins express joy through “victory squeals.” Discover how understanding animal happiness can help build better partnerships with all creatures #AnimalJoy #AnimalBehavior #twcf #scicom
www.southalabama.edu/departments/...
www.southalabama.edu/departments/...
July 2, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Did you know Dolphins celebrate? Dr. Heidi Lyn’s research reveals how dolphins express joy through “victory squeals.” Discover how understanding animal happiness can help build better partnerships with all creatures #AnimalJoy #AnimalBehavior #twcf #scicom
www.southalabama.edu/departments/...
www.southalabama.edu/departments/...
Aristotle and Hemingway were completely WRONG about hyenas — they aren’t scavengers OR hermaphrodites.
What do we know? Females run their societies, choose their mates, and their clitorises look a lot like penises. 😂
Plus, they may be able to choose what sperm gets to survive. 👀
#queeranimals
What do we know? Females run their societies, choose their mates, and their clitorises look a lot like penises. 😂
Plus, they may be able to choose what sperm gets to survive. 👀
#queeranimals
June 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Aristotle and Hemingway were completely WRONG about hyenas — they aren’t scavengers OR hermaphrodites.
What do we know? Females run their societies, choose their mates, and their clitorises look a lot like penises. 😂
Plus, they may be able to choose what sperm gets to survive. 👀
#queeranimals
What do we know? Females run their societies, choose their mates, and their clitorises look a lot like penises. 😂
Plus, they may be able to choose what sperm gets to survive. 👀
#queeranimals
🐧 In 1913, scientists misgendered penguins—they assumed only females sat on eggs.
Surprise! 👉 Males nest too.
Fast forward to 2019, where two female penguins hatched a chick at SEA LIFE London—and staff didn’t assign it a gender. 💜
Why label someone before they waddle? 🐣🌈 #QueerAnimals
Surprise! 👉 Males nest too.
Fast forward to 2019, where two female penguins hatched a chick at SEA LIFE London—and staff didn’t assign it a gender. 💜
Why label someone before they waddle? 🐣🌈 #QueerAnimals
June 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM
🐧 In 1913, scientists misgendered penguins—they assumed only females sat on eggs.
Surprise! 👉 Males nest too.
Fast forward to 2019, where two female penguins hatched a chick at SEA LIFE London—and staff didn’t assign it a gender. 💜
Why label someone before they waddle? 🐣🌈 #QueerAnimals
Surprise! 👉 Males nest too.
Fast forward to 2019, where two female penguins hatched a chick at SEA LIFE London—and staff didn’t assign it a gender. 💜
Why label someone before they waddle? 🐣🌈 #QueerAnimals