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somuchpingle.bsky.social
Mike Pingleton
@somuchpingle.bsky.social
11K followers 850 following 2.5K posts
Naturalist, Author, Peru wildlife guide, all photos mine 📷 Panasonic G9🪲 Host of the So Much Pingle herpetology podcast 🐸 Co-author of "The Field Herping Guide" 📗 Co-creator of HerpMapper (herpmapper.org) 🦎 Herpetofauna blogger at fieldherping.org 🐢
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somuchpingle.bsky.social
Mike Pingleton @somuchpingle.bsky.social · Nov 8
Welcome everyone, and thanks for following - let's build community, let's heal, and not give up. My agenda? 20k photos just sitting on my hard drive is a waste, so I'm gonna share 'em out - mostly nature pix, esp. amphibians and reptiles, but other subjects too. I'm glad you're here.
A middle-aged man (me) sitting at a table in a small restaurant in Hong Kong. Hunched over because I am very tired, I am holding my cup of morning coffee in front of me. I am wearing a blue shirt, my hair is short and graying, and I have a mustache and goatee. The worn table is painted a neon green, and behind me are other customers having breakfast.
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
caudatejake.bsky.social
The Berry Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus gulolineatus) is only known to occur in ten cave systems in the Appalachian karst region of the ridge and valley in eastern Tennessee where it primarily lives as a stygobitic neotene.
November 18, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
Happy I had the chance to visit the flagship Rodrigue Studios in NOLA, home of artist George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue #Dog… also #cows LOL
More photos down thread!
#DogsInArt #HSS2025
photo of a spinning Red/Yellow/Blue Dog sculpture (turned to red) with a smaller cow sculpture painted yellow with black legs, red hooves, and a Blue Dog on side photo of a Cow Parade cow painted with a tux decorated with Blue Dogs photo of a Cow Parade cow painted like a cowboy (yellow hat, red boots) decorated with Blue Dog faces
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
dptbirder.bsky.social
Now that migration and work has slowed down. I’m moving back into my photo editing era 💅

Gonna try and commit to pushing out more photos

I have a back log of 349 photos I’ve “liked” which indicate it’s passed my quality check for edits…

Here we go!

Belted Kingfisher con fishhhhh

📷🌿🐟🪶
Belted kingfisher flying to left backlit with fish
November 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
langurlover.bsky.social
#Paleontology 👀🐍
'Weird' new species of ancient fossil snake discovered in southern England
An extinct snake has slithered its way out of obscurity over four decades after its discovery. The newly described species of reptile, Paradoxophidion richardoweni, is offering new clues in the search...
phys.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
drandrewthaler.bsky.social
50 years ago, today, a whale exploded on an Oregon beach. 20 years later, before social media or video sharing sights or smartphones, it would become the first viral Internet video.

We sent it to each other in the mail.

The History of Exploding Whales Is the History of the Internet Itself
The History of Exploding Whales Is the History of the Internet Itself
My first whale video came in the form of a VHS tape mailed to me by a stranger from the internet.
www.vice.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
andreapeterson.bsky.social
Anemones during low tide at one of the most beautiful spots on the Washington peninsula, Ruby Beach

#TidesOutTuesday #WestCoast #GiantGreenAnemone #Invertebrates #MarineLife #Cnidarians #Nematocysts #Photography #RockinTuesday #PNW
A cluster of giant green anemones at low tide with sand and rocks visible just under the water, and a large rock protruding from the water on the right hand side of the image. Two of the anemones are light in color, but one is larger than the others and is more green than the others.
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
somuchpingle.bsky.social
Henry "Buster" Brown served from Okinawa through occupied Japan. He was in the Civilian Conservation Corps before the war, making him a natural fit as a SeaBee ("Construction Battalion"). My grandfather's experience as a SeaBee gave him a life-long career in civil construction. #VeteransDay
Vintage sepia-toned portrait photo of a man in uniform with hat, neck tie, and a coat with several medals pinned to it.
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
phdcomics.com
What report?
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
apsciencebylyn.bsky.social
Look at him 🖤
#EmotionalSupportSpood
The miniscule black jumping spider roaming the great sand dunes of Human Hand The creature in the palm of Bug's hand, he's barely longer than 3 handprint ridges
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
mikemelton.bsky.social
A fun encounter with a Yellow-flecked Glassfrog (Sachatamia albomaculata) last night at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica

#frogs #amphibians #nature
A small translucent green frog with speckled skin and marbled yellow eyes sits on a glossy green leaf against a black background.
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
somuchpingle.bsky.social
Dr. Alex Krohn @krohnzone.bsky.social and I had a fascinating discussion with Dr. Alexandra Martin - @alliemartin.bsky.social, co-author on a paper with astounding data supporting the idea that some anole species are able to breathe underwater, in a novel way. www.somuchpingle.com #herps #lizards 🌿
Episode 121: Herp Science Sunday: Bubble-breathing Anoles - So Much Pingle
I'm so happy to produce another Herp Science Sunday segment with Dr. Alex Krohn! In this episode we talk with Dr. Alexandra Martin, one of the co-authors of a brand new paper, which lays out some asto...
www.somuchpingle.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
somuchpingle.bsky.social
Giant land snail, Peruvian Amazon. The shell is about the size of a tennis ball.
Angled down image of a large snail, crawling across the leaf litter on the forest floor, from left to right. The snail's body is a pale yellowish-brown, and the shell is a mixture of colors, from light reddish brown to yellowish brown to beige.
November 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Happy Sunday! 🦛 💙

Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!

📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo collage shows four hippo statuettes made of Egytian blue faience, a ceramic material made of ground quartz. Their bright-blue shiny bodies are decorated in black with depictions of Nile river plants such as water weed and lotus flowers. This decoration depicts their marsh habitat as well as having various layers of symbolism associated with regeneration. For example lotus flowers open in the morning and close at night, symbolising rebirth. Blue faience hippos have been found in Middle Kingdom tombs of high ranking officials. It’s thought they were placed in the tombs to aid the rebirth of the deceased. Hippo top left - Walking hippo shown in profile facing right. Height 11.5 cm, Length 21 cm. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Top right - Roaring hippo (looks like the hippo is smiling), seated, with head at left and turned inwards to front. Height 7.5 cm, length 12.5 cm. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. Bottom left - Standing hippo in profile facing right. This hippo is part of the Met Museum’s collections and is popularly known as ‘William’. Height 11.2 cm, Length 20 cm Bottom Right - Reclining hippo with head on the right, facing front, and tilted down. Egyptian Museum, Cairo
November 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
cornellwriter.bsky.social
Aw thank you! This story will forever be special to me.
It can also be read here if you missed it: psychopomp.com/fantasy/octo...
atlanta-gamer.bsky.social Bill Wood @atlanta-gamer.bsky.social · 9d
A really intriguing take on time travel from @cornellwriter.bsky.social in Year's Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction Vol 2. Once Upon a Time at the Oakmont isn't like anything I can think of. A winner. @ourmankoto.bsky.social #booksky
November 9, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
saimihanma.bsky.social
A lot of my mutuals are following this person and probably aren't aware of the AI use.
anoxicart.bsky.social anoxicart🍤 @anoxicart.bsky.social · 9d
PSA if you care about your support going to art that is influenced by AI
Jim Musil on Reddit: "I've never hidden the fact that I use AI as a part of building my references, but I don't copy them verbatim. The process I use is the same I would use if painting from a photo. I feel it's the same amount of work to paint from photos as it is to paint from a digital mock up or AI."
November 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
menestune.bsky.social
The first turtle hatchling I ever saw. Now I volunteer to protect their nests. Thinking about her leaving her egg in the sand and heading into the infinite ocean makes my heart implode. On her own. Where does she go? How does she know anything? 🦑 #turtle #babyanimals #endangeredspecies #love #herps
November 8, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
karenlmasters.bsky.social
My local food bank got so many donations this week they are asking for no more food (just help sorting it out) until they are through the backlog. We shouldn’t need this but it warms my heart it happened.
November 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
menestune.bsky.social
My lovely wife has her first art show at an awesome arts themed cafe... Long overdue. #art #watercolor #cafe #PNW #photography #love #hawaii #Seattle #wildlife #Maui
Watercolor art of Hawaiian wildlife on a cafe wall Different angle and additional art in the highly angled shot. More of my lovely wife's watercolors. Hard to see with the reflection... the two that are vertical on the right are a cardinal and an octopus.
November 8, 2025 at 1:57 AM
somuchpingle.bsky.social
I'm a little achy, feverish and listless from a Covid vax, so I'm just processing photos tonight. For #FrogFriday here's an African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis), observed in SE Free State, South Africa. Note the upturned eyes, perfect for laying in shallow water. #herps #frogs #NaturePhotography 🌿
Angled-down image of a frog lying in shallow, muddy water. The frog's color is a very dark blackish-brown with small streaks of a lighter brown. All four limbs are partially submerged. The eyes are tiny, and are located up on the top of the head.
November 8, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
wildwallacephoto.bsky.social
A terrestrial adult Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) crossing a road last night
November 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
redpilljunkie.bsky.social
Things are getting scary financial wise. Haven't had a commission in months & old former clients who promised me they were going to call me 'real soon' are ghosting me

I've never had a client reaching out from Bsky, but I'll try once again: please visit absurdbydesign.com to check my illustrations
'The Star' card in the Ufology Tarot, designed by Miguel Romero (absurdbydesign.com) Black and white portrait of a Yorkshire Terrier, drawn by Miguel Romero (absurdbydesign.com) Personal commission in which the client requested to be portrayed surrounded by aliens from actual close encounter cases, drawn by Miguel Romero (absurdbydesign.com) Personal commission of a family portrayed like The Jetsons from Hanna-Barbera, drawn by Miguel Romero (absurdbydesign.com)
November 7, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
rdvines.bsky.social
👇👇👇👇
Read this, most excellent.

#ETTD
glynmoody.bsky.social Glyn Moody @glynmoody.bsky.social · 11d
The Simulation Is Collapsing - www.techdirt.com/2025/11/06/t... "Hold the center. Walk the wire. Build the alternatives. Sustain the organizing. Maintain your humanity. Choose love over fear. Choose clarity over despair. Choose sustained resistance over accommodation masquerading as wisdom."
The Simulation Is Collapsing
Tuesday, Republicans got crushed in elections across New Jersey, Virginia, and New York. Not close races. Not razor-thin margins. Massive defeats in states they’d convinced themselves were winnable…
www.techdirt.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
dieworkwear.bsky.social
Grok tweets: "Yes, the USSR's founding ideology under Lenin and Stalin explicitly aimed for world revolution to achieve global communism, as outlined in Marxist-Leninist doctrine. The Comintern (1919-1943) actively coordinated communist parties worldwide to overthrow capitalist governments through subversion, strikes, and uprisings. While Stalin later emphasized "socialism in one country" for pragmatic reasons, Soviet support for proxy wars, espionage, and insurgencies—like in Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba—continued exporting revolution until the end. Coexistence rhetoric masked this expansionist drive." Ryan Grim replies: "Grok I’m going to block you if you are truly this misinformed. This is communism 101. The whole debate between Stalin and Trotsky was over this question and Stalin won. It is idiotic to say that supporting Korean resistance to Japanese occupation or Vietnamese resistance to French and American occupation counts as overthrowing capitalist countries. Check your training for bias because these assertions are absurd. (Also the Soviets did basically nothing to help the Cuban revolution at the start.) This is your last chance to dodge a block."
November 7, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
bobfry.bsky.social
Are you looking for some fine fox/fossil art? Them look no further. @mariastrutz.bsky.social can meet all your needs.
mariastrutz.bsky.social Maria Strutz @mariastrutz.bsky.social · 10d
An autumnal fox wandering through a rosehip thicket.
Painted with black tea, rosehip ink and watercolours.
Also: Spot the micraster echinoid 🤍
#FoxFriday 🦊🐾🌖 #FossilFriday
a fox wandering from right to left slightly at a diagonal and looking back at the viewer, surrounded by rosehips, a fossilized heart shaped sea urchin, Micraster, in front of the fox on their left. Linedrawing, watercolours, rosehip ink, black and white, shades of buff and orange brown red. Maria Strutz
November 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Mike Pingleton
frwildflowers.bsky.social
Pulsatilla nuttalliana, our Prairie Pasqueflower, blooming off the Buttonrock Reservoir Trail #nativeplants

#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to May 7 🌿
Faintly bluish white flowers with numerous yellow anthers
November 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM