Stomatopod Art

[Gonodactylus]

I thought that some of you might enjoy this mola that depicts a Lysiosquillina from the Atlantic coast of Panama. For those of you who are not familiar with molas, they are made by the Cuna Indians of the San Blas Islands and are typically worn by women as part of a blouse. Each panel is made my sewing together overlapping pieces of cloth with a cut out design.

Roy

 

[biomekanic]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

BTW, went to Monterey Aquarium over the holiday and looked over the copy of Debilius's Crustacea they had for sale, maybe the stomatopod section should have a warning label on it, I knew what that first picture was, but my 10 year old niece didn't... dodged the bullet on that one. (I figure some things should be explained by her parents). I particularly like the alternate theory on dinosaur extinction. While I'm wandering off topic, I checked on stomatopod fossils, the price has shot up with the increased instability in the Middle East, the ones I found were all in the $150 range.

 

[MantisDude]

is that a Nazi Mantis? he looks like he is sporting a swastika

 

[mike219b]

Swastikas are common stylistic and symbolic forms that were used in art around the world well before the NAZI party took it as their symbol.

 

[biomekanic]

If you look at the direction of the arms of the swastika in the picture, you'll see that they are pointing the opposite of the symbolt the Nazi's used. IIRC, the reversed swastika was chosen, traditionally the swastika was a symbol of good luck and fortune, by reversing it, it was supposed to bring bad luck and harm to their enemies.

 

[andgott]

Wow. That is cool. I have a large collection of panamanian molas that I bought when I was down there, but alas, no Stomatopods...

 

[ak-dave]

If you look at the direction of the arms of the swastika in the picture, you'll see that they are pointing the opposite of the symbolt the Nazi's used. IIRC, the reversed swastika was chosen, traditionally the swastika was a symbol of good luck and fortune, by reversing it, it was supposed to bring bad luck and harm to their enemies.

Here is the "Straight Dope" on the swastika.