Rare Vertebrate of the Week Vol. 2

This installment of RVOTW features one of the most rare and even controversial vertebrates on Earth.  Despite long standing reports of intense, idiosyncratic coloration and vocalization displays, this creature is intrinsically rare, and famously elusive.  The life history of this extremely charismatic megafauna is unique in many respects.  It lives essentially year-long in the arctic regions; experts suspect that only in this remote and intimidating climate can it complete it's life cycle with minimal interruptions.  Famously long-lived, it's thought to pair-bond for life.  However, it's also purported to live symbiotically with at least 2 other species.  It shares its arctic habitat with a related but more gracile and smaller form, which may out-number it on a ratio of dozens of even hundreds to 1.  However, these organisms live quite contently in a colony structure, and apparently assume much autonomy in the important tasks of the "hive" or "workshop," as it's known in this system.

Our vertebrate also lives mutualistically with a tundra-dwelling ungulate (known as caribou in North America).  Perhaps their most significant association comes during a highly seasonal migration which in most accounts--it must be said, quite unbelievably--takes these unlikely symbionts outside of the polar region and around the entire Earth.  The evidence points to this act as some form of dispersal, though not in the biological or reproductive sense.  The creature has been linked to the highly peculiar but also highly patterned leaving of a prized residue, often left around the coniferous trees and hearths of human beings.  Causal explanations are scarce--perhaps the creature seeks out both familiarity and warmth along its long and likely arduous migratory route.  It remains to be scientifically explained why it sets out on this journey in the first place.

The best hypothesis may come from the nature of the dispersal, and the peculiar form of symbiosis the creature seems to have with our own species, Homo sapiens.  As discussed above, the dispersal route does not seem to include any propagative function--in fact, the vertebrate remains very rare, with most experts agreeing that there may in fact only be 1 male left in the wild.  However, interdisciplinary efforts have yielded another viable, if shocking, hypothesis.  It may in fact be the case that this dispersal pattern and residue comprise not genetic but memetic reproduction--in essence, the spread of an idea.  There may be corroboration for this bold theory in the coincidence of both morphological and behavioral mimicry amongst H. sapiens leading to the annual migratory date.  Humans around the world will don this creature's bold colors, vocalizations, and assumed gregarious behaviors, and even more interestingly, mimic the creature's residue-leaving behavior.

Observation studies are perpetually ongoing, with a younger generation of citizen-scientists performing most field work in the hopes of proving the existence of this special creature.  However, we may already be able to make some helpful, if tentative conclusions on the matter.  Nature seems to operate on a "what works, works" basis, with little room for relationships that do not contribute to one's very own fitness.  Humans, however, in all their base desires and mortal considerations, have been shown to be a stark exception in terms of altruistic behavior.  The existing wide-ranging reports of another successful, active, and otherwise highly-evolved creature seem to add welcome company to our ranks.  It is a rare vertebrate indeed that can bring out the very best in an entire species, and a valuable relationship especially for our species, which can lose sight so easily of the best things that this world has to offer--a hearty laugh, a kind thought, and the company and love of our extended human family.

Merry Christmas!