Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Mystery Sign

A living creature is behind this paw-like pattern, a shadow thrown through water. What do you think is going on here?

(Your answers will be posted later today, along with a picture of the culprit.)

Voila! Hey thanks for playing! Most you were in the right place; a shadow cast by a water strider, in family Gerridae. Bugguide.net says there are 46 species in 8 genera in North America. (This one was larger than the one making the shadow above because the smaller ones were quite hard to photograph.)  They use their shorter forelegs for grabbing prey trapped by surface tension. Longer middle and hind legs ride that surface tension.

mthew

14 responses to “Mystery Sign”

  1. Kathleen

    My vote is for the shadow cast by a Gerridae?

    😊

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Yes, see above for more details.

      Reply
  2. Deborah Allen

    Have to guess: water-strider.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Yup!

      Reply
  3. Nic Flood

    water strider!

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Correct!

      Reply
  4. Doris Karnila

    Water stridder?

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Yes indeed!

      Reply
  5. Gubbinal

    I am baffled. I have not tried to look them up, but I cannot think of any animal–mammal or amphibian– who could have such circular prints. But it’s been fun to think about it.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Thank you for thinking about it. Educational fun is the best. See above for more details.

      Reply
  6. Elise Leduc

    Looks like the shadows produced from the depressions made in the surface of the water where a water strider’s feet touch the water.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Yes!

      Reply
  7. Jose Conde

    Hi Matthew. A constellation of Jellyfish floating on surface? I realize you may have posted the answer but I have not looked yet.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      As a matter of fact, I’ve seen a few jellyfish in the harbor, at Bush Terminal Park, but the water there casts no shadows. This pool was much shallower: freshwater, actually I suspect it comes out of a pipe! at the native plant garden at the NYBG.

      Reply

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