Compound Setae of a Sea Spider: An Adaptation for Grooming
Category: Vertebrates
The barred owl (Strix varia), a common large owl in North America, is known for its unique dark eyes—a rarity among owls. Though they look adorable and harmless, resembling fluffy bowling pins perched on trees, they are fierce predators. Thanks to serrated structures on their soft feathers, they fly almost silently, as I’ve observed firsthand. They are like silent reapers, a nightmare for small vertebrates. Remarkably, owls can even prey on other owls; the barred owl, for example, preys on the endangered spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), and competes for habitat and food.. To protect the spotted owl, some conservation projects have begun culling barred owls.
