01. Mammals: cat embryo (felis silvestris forma catus)
Macro cut

Microphotography of a cat embryo at 2 weeks gestation. The brain (upper right) and the eye (black, upper center) are visible, with the spinal cord running along the back to the tail (left side). The limbs have started to form (center and lower right), and the remains of the umbilical cord can be seen at center just above the tail (red). Internal organs can be seen under the front limbs (center).

At this stage of development the heart and liver would be forming. A cat embryo takes 63-68 days to gestate. Magnification: x10.

02. Insects: vespidae: vesp (vespa crabro)
Electron microscopy

The European hornet is the largest of the European wasps. The head has two antennae, branching to left and right from between the two compound eyes. The biting jaws (mandibles) are below the eyes. The six legs and the wings are attached to the thorax, the part of the body behind the head. There are two pairs of wings, but they are joined together and look like a single pair of wings. Colored scanning electron micrograph, Magnification: x6, x10, x40, x44 and x60.

03. Protista: radiolarian (spumellaria, nasselaria)
Electron microscopy

The picture shows the shell of a radiolarian. Radiolarian are single-celled protozoan that are found in marine plankton. This radiolarian has a silicate skeleton with pores through which pseudopodia (false feet, not seen) of protoplasm project.

As the animal floats in ocean currents, the pseudopodia trap food particles on which the radiolarian feeds. Colored scanning electron micrograph, Magnification x200 , x360, x330, x630, x200 and x1100.

04. Zoology, butterfly, shanty
Electron microscopy

Scales from the wing of a peacock butterfly, Inachisio in different magnifications. These scales have an intricate design and overlap like the tiles on the roof of a building. They allow heat and light to enter, and also help to prevent warmth from escaping from the butterfly. They may also be highly colored. Colored Scanning Electron Micrograph, Magnification x260, x900, x10.000 and x20.000.

05. Zoology: echinoderm: sea urchin (echinoidea)
Electron microscopy

The multiform spines of the sea urchin are needle shaped pieces of the skeleton which are held to the deeper laying skeletal plate by muscles and ligaments. They are highly developed and are used as sensors and for propulsion, burying, protection, the creation of currents, as well as for boring into rocks.

Visible here is an area in which one of the spines was broken off some time ago. The structure will be built up again within a few days. Colored scanning electron micrograph, Magnification x140 and x260.

06. Zoology: mollusca: Sepia, cephalopod (cephalopoda)
Electron microscopy

Seen here are various details from the bone (cuttlebone) of a sepia. The chambers are formed from calcium carbonate (CaCO3). By means of an exchange between gas and water, the weight and thereby the up and downward pressure is regulated (hydrostatic function).

These ten-armed squids (eight arms and two tentacles) live near the sea floor and possess a ink bag from which they release a cloud of ink when threatened. Colored scanning electron micrograph, Magnification x120, x170 and x1000.

07. Insects: silverfish (lepisma saccharina)
Electron microscopy

seen from the front. This common household pest is a member of the primitive bristletails (Thysanura). The head with sensory hairs, mouthparts, and long antennae of this insect are seen. It has three pairs of walking legs. Silverfish are extremely fast-moving insects covered in silvery scales, and hence their name. Adults are about 1 centimeter long, with tapering body and three bristles at the rear. Colored Scanning Electron Micrograph, Magnification: x16, x500 and x500.