Monday, April 11, 2011

I is for Irony

Ever picked up a crayfish or lobster and had it flip its tail? Yep, it's trying to get away.

source
In the wild, they avoid predators by scooting backwards into some kind of small space. This escape behavior is so important, they (shrimp, lobsters, and crayfish) have a nice large muscle that evolved for just that purpose.

I'm sure you're familiar with it. But when you see it, it looks like this:

source

We eat the very thing the shrimp (and lobsters and crayfish) have evolved to avoid being eaten.  Talk about irony.

What's your favorite dish? Is there anything ironic about it?

16 comments:

  1. I didn't know you are a biologist too!

    My favorite dish is grilled kipper for breakfast. The irony is back home salted fish is poor man's diet (does that count as an irony?)

    Grandpa
    Life on The Farm

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  2. Funny stuff. Life is full of irony, and it always amuses me. Like when motherhood drives me to pull my hair out and I want some personal time sooo bad. Then I get time to myself and I miss my kids. Ay yi yi ....

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  3. Grandpa: Yep, I took an 18-year hiatus from writing to focus on biology.

    Her highness: My thoughts exactly.

    Pk: I'm the same way. In fact, I'll have a poem to that effect when we get to P...

    Andrea: thanks!

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  4. I'm sure nature is filled with irony. Shrimp is my favorite protein! I couldn't name a favorite dish, though.

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  5. I like tacos, but there's no irony. Just yummy.

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  6. I do love me some lobster. I grew up on the coast, and I miss it!

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  7. Brooke, I think this one takes the cake, though. :)

    Luana: Mmmm, tacos.

    Talli: The largest of the escape muscles. Claws are good too!

    Deirdra: Wow, thank you!!

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  8. what a fun post! glad to meet you through the a-z. i will be lurking around to see what other ironic meals you come up with. :)
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  9. What a clever post. I'm such a big fan of irony.

    Also, great blog!

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  10. Wow, I didn't know that! My favorite dish is anything pasta. I don't know if there's anything ironic, though....

    But a clever post!

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  11. I love seafood...all kinds (well, most kinds).

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  12. That is ironic isn't it? Thanks for teaching me something new today. :)

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  13. I love seafood more than any other food group...wait, is chocolate a food group? Is seafood?

    I eat a can of kippered herring everyday. I have frozen scallops, shrimp, crab lets, cod tongues and cheeks, and lots of salmon in my freezer.

    Loving your blog...I'm now a follower.

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  14. nutschell: thanks for stopping by!

    Matthew: Thank you!

    Becky: Nothing ironic there. Just yummy.

    Lynda: Me too.

    Kari: You're welcome. :)

    Kelly: Every day? wow! Thanks for the follow!

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