Gina & Christa | Fascinary Games
@fascinarygames.bsky.social
Sisters making feminist, 🏳️🌈-centered, and accessible games and goods inspired by the natural world. Portland, OR. 🐌 Mate: The Party Game for Feral Naturalists. Animal mating science meets party game fun. http://fascinarygames.com/mate
Because of their curiosity, bold questions, and groundbreaking research, our understanding of animal behavior, anatomy, and evolution is forever changed. Their work reminds us that #science isn’t neutral; it’s deeply political, deeply personal, and deeply needed for creating a better world. #🏳️⚧️
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
🏳️⚧️ Dr. Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman studies how animals communicate. Their lab studies how bushcrickets perform duets to woo each other while avoiding predators. Beyond animal behavior, Rajaraman also advocates powerfully for trans and queer equity and inclusion in science.
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
🏳️⚧️ Dr. Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman studies how animals communicate. Their lab studies how bushcrickets perform duets to woo each other while avoiding predators. Beyond animal behavior, Rajaraman also advocates powerfully for trans and queer equity and inclusion in science.
🏳️⚧️ Dr. Joan Roughgarden is an evolutionary biologist whose work (including her brilliant book Evolution’s Rainbow) challenges how we understand sex, gender, and cooperation in nature. Roughgarden has documented myriad species with same-sex behavior, intersex traits, and diverse gender expressions.
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
🏳️⚧️ Dr. Joan Roughgarden is an evolutionary biologist whose work (including her brilliant book Evolution’s Rainbow) challenges how we understand sex, gender, and cooperation in nature. Roughgarden has documented myriad species with same-sex behavior, intersex traits, and diverse gender expressions.
5. Phalotris shawnella: Even the undead would swipe left.
October 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
5. Phalotris shawnella: Even the undead would swipe left.
4. Elusive microtegu: With that between its legs, no wonder it’s elusive.
October 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
4. Elusive microtegu: With that between its legs, no wonder it’s elusive.
3. Rhadinaea nuchalis: A chilling sight.
October 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
3. Rhadinaea nuchalis: A chilling sight.
2. Nosy Hara leaf chameleon: It’s the size of a matchstick and has a literal ghost for a dong.
October 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
2. Nosy Hara leaf chameleon: It’s the size of a matchstick and has a literal ghost for a dong.
P.S. If you live in a city where this org operates, have your local immigrant rights hotline saved in your phone so you can report activity ASAP!
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
P.S. If you live in a city where this org operates, have your local immigrant rights hotline saved in your phone so you can report activity ASAP!
All communities deserve dignity, safety, and connection.
The original Portland protest frog Seth Todd put it best:
“I don’t like seeing my neighbors, my community members, my family being kidnapped, essentially, and being disappeared without due process.”
The original Portland protest frog Seth Todd put it best:
“I don’t like seeing my neighbors, my community members, my family being kidnapped, essentially, and being disappeared without due process.”
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
All communities deserve dignity, safety, and connection.
The original Portland protest frog Seth Todd put it best:
“I don’t like seeing my neighbors, my community members, my family being kidnapped, essentially, and being disappeared without due process.”
The original Portland protest frog Seth Todd put it best:
“I don’t like seeing my neighbors, my community members, my family being kidnapped, essentially, and being disappeared without due process.”
“They don’t know about borders or visas or passports… this is just their habitat and these populations need to reconnect.”
— Anny Peralta, scientist on the project
And whether it’s frogs or people, borders shouldn’t break families apart.
— Anny Peralta, scientist on the project
And whether it’s frogs or people, borders shouldn’t break families apart.
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
“They don’t know about borders or visas or passports… this is just their habitat and these populations need to reconnect.”
— Anny Peralta, scientist on the project
And whether it’s frogs or people, borders shouldn’t break families apart.
— Anny Peralta, scientist on the project
And whether it’s frogs or people, borders shouldn’t break families apart.
Other males often join in too, clinging to the same female in what can only be described as a frog mosh pit.
As of 2025, over 100 adult red-legged frogs have been spotted in Southern California — a real conservation win.
As of 2025, over 100 adult red-legged frogs have been spotted in Southern California — a real conservation win.
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Other males often join in too, clinging to the same female in what can only be described as a frog mosh pit.
As of 2025, over 100 adult red-legged frogs have been spotted in Southern California — a real conservation win.
As of 2025, over 100 adult red-legged frogs have been spotted in Southern California — a real conservation win.
Here’s what that looks like:
Male frogs go underwater and call for females, only surfacing to breathe.
When a female’s into it, she approaches — and he tightly hugs her (sometimes for hours!) until she releases her eggs for him to fertilize.
Male frogs go underwater and call for females, only surfacing to breathe.
When a female’s into it, she approaches — and he tightly hugs her (sometimes for hours!) until she releases her eggs for him to fertilize.
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Here’s what that looks like:
Male frogs go underwater and call for females, only surfacing to breathe.
When a female’s into it, she approaches — and he tightly hugs her (sometimes for hours!) until she releases her eggs for him to fertilize.
Male frogs go underwater and call for females, only surfacing to breathe.
When a female’s into it, she approaches — and he tightly hugs her (sometimes for hours!) until she releases her eggs for him to fertilize.
In 2020, scientists carried two coolers of red-legged frog eggs from Mexico to Southern California after the U.S. population had sharply declined.
Once those eggs hatched and mating season hit, they hoped nature would take it from there.
Once those eggs hatched and mating season hit, they hoped nature would take it from there.
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
In 2020, scientists carried two coolers of red-legged frog eggs from Mexico to Southern California after the U.S. population had sharply declined.
Once those eggs hatched and mating season hit, they hoped nature would take it from there.
Once those eggs hatched and mating season hit, they hoped nature would take it from there.
Celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth by learning more about the work of these brilliant scientists!
Dr. Brennan: english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Dr. Tang-Martinez: theconversation.com/data-should-...
Dr. Brennan: english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Dr. Tang-Martinez: theconversation.com/data-should-...
September 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth by learning more about the work of these brilliant scientists!
Dr. Brennan: english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Dr. Tang-Martinez: theconversation.com/data-should-...
Dr. Brennan: english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Dr. Tang-Martinez: theconversation.com/data-should-...
🇻🇪 Dr. Zuleyma Tang-Martínez is a trailblazer in animal social behavior. In addition to studying why some animals leave their group, she’s challenged the old “males are promiscuous, females are coy” theory in animal behavior, showing that reality (and the actual data) is far more complex.
September 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
🇻🇪 Dr. Zuleyma Tang-Martínez is a trailblazer in animal social behavior. In addition to studying why some animals leave their group, she’s challenged the old “males are promiscuous, females are coy” theory in animal behavior, showing that reality (and the actual data) is far more complex.
🇨🇴 Dr. Patty Brennan was the first scientist to show that female ducks have unique variations in their reproductive anatomy, and that their bodies co-evolved in fascinating ways alongside males. She is also a strong advocate for the importance of curiosity-driven science.
September 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
🇨🇴 Dr. Patty Brennan was the first scientist to show that female ducks have unique variations in their reproductive anatomy, and that their bodies co-evolved in fascinating ways alongside males. She is also a strong advocate for the importance of curiosity-driven science.
Yes, duck mating is wild. And it’s also a window into how power and adaptation work in the natural world, and why we need to look for the whole story. That's exactly why we made a party game about animal mating behavior and anatomy!
#indiegame #feminism #biology #animals
#indiegame #feminism #biology #animals
September 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Yes, duck mating is wild. And it’s also a window into how power and adaptation work in the natural world, and why we need to look for the whole story. That's exactly why we made a party game about animal mating behavior and anatomy!
#indiegame #feminism #biology #animals
#indiegame #feminism #biology #animals
Dr. Brennan’s work highlights this “evolutionary arms race” between female and male mating behavior and anatomy. It pushes back on outdated ideas that females are passively reacting to males. Instead, it shows what’s really happening: a dynamic, ongoing game of co-evolution.
September 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Dr. Brennan’s work highlights this “evolutionary arms race” between female and male mating behavior and anatomy. It pushes back on outdated ideas that females are passively reacting to males. Instead, it shows what’s really happening: a dynamic, ongoing game of co-evolution.
Female ducks have incredibly fascinating anatomy. They’ve evolved complex, spiraled vaginal tracts—with twists and dead ends—that can block sperm from unwanted mates. In fact, research shows they control paternity over 95% of the time!
September 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Female ducks have incredibly fascinating anatomy. They’ve evolved complex, spiraled vaginal tracts—with twists and dead ends—that can block sperm from unwanted mates. In fact, research shows they control paternity over 95% of the time!
What still often gets missed is the female side of the story. No surprise: many people are obsessed with male anatomy and control. While duck dongs have racked up search engine clout, duck vaginas have been largely ignored. (Except for a curious outlier in Montana. We see you.)
September 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
What still often gets missed is the female side of the story. No surprise: many people are obsessed with male anatomy and control. While duck dongs have racked up search engine clout, duck vaginas have been largely ignored. (Except for a curious outlier in Montana. We see you.)