Talk:Museum of Jurassic Technology
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It seems that this "museum" exhibits generally "freaky" stuff; but frankly, I'm very sceptical as to the factual accuracy. Just take the stink ant exhibit:
- The scientific name of this "stink ant" is Megaponera foetens or, more commonly, Pachycondyla analis . They can't even get their spelling right on the museum website!
- It is highly improbable that these ants can "cry", not having any vocal chords. They can produce sounds audible by humans by rubbing body parts together (like e.g. crickets can; this is called stridulation), but cry they don't.
- There is abundant information about this species of ants available online, but I couldn't find any mention of the fungus story except on pages obviously copying the info given on the museum page.
- While Tomentella is indeed a large genus of fungi, I couldn't find any mention whatsoever of this parasitic behavior with respect to ants.
Good overview of the ant at [1]. Lupo 10:25, 18 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- Yes, a reaction like that is exactly what the museum seems to be designed to create. It's frustrating, ain't it. Crazy (but amazing) place. I was so unnerved when I visited it - it's so mostly wrong, but not all wrong. JesseW 09:07, 12 Nov 2004 (UTC)
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- Actually, the first section of Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder concludes with the discovery that that pheonomenon is indeed true. Maybe not the crying or the genus and species, but the whole thing about the ant inhaling a spore then climbing a blade of grass and the spore turning into a spike is actually true. There's a picture of it in the book. Crazy place.
- Drewcifer3000 21:54, 31 December 2006 (UTC)
- Actually, the first section of Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder concludes with the discovery that that pheonomenon is indeed true. Maybe not the crying or the genus and species, but the whole thing about the ant inhaling a spore then climbing a blade of grass and the spore turning into a spike is actually true. There's a picture of it in the book. Crazy place.
