Christmas Photo Puzzle 2023

[Mo Hassan]

I forgot about the quiz; but surely if there are 12 pairs involving constellations then the theme is The Zodiac!

I thought so at first, but several of the constellations like Draco aren't in the zodiac (but they are in a Zoo-diac )

 

[Chlidonias]

I thought so at first, but several of the constellations like Draco aren't in the zodiac (but they are in a Zoo-diac )

Komodo Dragon would fit Virgo (for example).

I suspect @Tetzoo Quizzer is correct and the Zodiac is the theme - it just needs to be worked out how each fits the signs.

 

[gentle lemur]

I forgot about the quiz; but surely if there are 12 pairs involving constellations then the theme is The Zodiac!

Well done!

Komodo Dragon would fit Virgo (for example).
I suspect @Tetzoo Quizzer is correct and the Zodiac is the theme - it just needs to be worked out how each fits the signs.

Absolutely right. Aquarius, Cancer, Libra, Virgo and the other one are awaiting solutions - and I admit to thinking laterally (in other words, cheating slightly) to make Libra fit in. Image G shows a mangrove rivulus (mangrove killifish) and is a reversed version of a photo that I posted in our Gallery.

 

[Gavialis]

Absolutely right. Aquarius, Cancer, Libra, Virgo and the other one are awaiting solutions - and I admit to thinking laterally (in other words, cheating slightly) to make Libra fit in. Image G shows a mangrove rivulus (mangrove killifish) and is a reversed version of a photo that I posted in our Gallery.

I wonder whether the cobra and arowana (Scleropages is the Greek for 'hard leaves', which could refer to the arowana's distinctive scales) could pass for Libra and the aforementioned Sally Lightfoot crab for Cancer? Similarly, the buffy fish owl may fit in for Pisces?

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Thanks to all those on whose efforts I (hopefully) have built. My suggestions are as follows
Aries E9 - rams
Taurus K10 - taurus!
Gemini F12 - twin offspring pictured
Cancer B7 - the wobbegong scientific name referring to stretched lobes eg tumours?
Leo I8 - lion
Virgo G11 - both species exhibit parthenogenesis
Libra D5 - as above
Scorpio C3 - scorpion
Sagittarius J6 - archer
Capricorn A2 - as above
Aquarius H1 - sandgrouse transport water in their breast feathers, mudskippers in their gill covers
Pisces L4

So what to post for L?

A problem mysterious,
I’ll choose Asterias.
Hope I’m right, I’ll wish
Star “fish”, that’s not a fish!

(I couldn’t get Jellyfish to rhyme!)

 

[gentle lemur]

@Tetzoo Quizzer has paired the creatures properly (in other words in the same way that I did). My explanation for the Cancer pairing is quite simple, the sea otter is eating the crab and the wobbegong, like many other bottom-dwelling sharks and rays, eats crabs and other invertebrates from the sea floor. As I said before, the Libra pairing is stretching the poit a little, but I tried to pick the scaliest creatures and I hoped the shed skin of the king cobra would give a tiny clue.

Aries Ram
9 Lonk (domestic sheep breed from the Forest of Bowland)
E Ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Taurus Bull
10 African bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus
K Sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus

Gemini Twins
12 Great argus chicks, Argusianus argus
F Tropheus duboisi babies

Cancer Crab
7 Crab & sea otter (a large crab, but I have no idea of species)
B Spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus

Leo Lion
8 Lion tailed macaque, Macaca silenus
I Lionfish, Pterois volitans

Virgo Virgin
11 Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis
G Mangrove killi, Kryptolebias marmoratus

Libra Balance/Scales
5 King cobra, with shed skin, Ophiophagus hannah
D Asian arowana, Scleropages formosus

Scorpius Scorpion
3 Scorpion fly, Panorpa communis
C Scorpionfish, Rhinopias eschmeyeri

Sagittarius Archer
6 Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius
J Archerfish, Toxotes jaculatrix

Capricornus Goat
2 Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus
A Bicolour goatfish, Parupeneus barberinoides

Aquarius Water bearer
1 Pallas' sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus H Pearse's mudskipper, Periophthalmus novemradiatus

Pisces Fish
4 Buffy fish owl, Ketupa ketupu
L Choose & explain

Congratulations to @Tetzoo Quizzer of course, and to everyone else who sorted out some of the clues. However a tie-breaker about a starfish seems dubious, although I like the rhyme. Can anyone suggest a proper fish for L? I tried to compose one about a red herring (not a proper fish either, but it seemed appropriate) however I couldn't find a rhyme

The bad news is that I have had the start of an idea for an Easter puzzle, which I hope will be a little simpler. You have been warned

 

[Prochilodus246]

I might be clutching onto straws here, however I've given it a shot:

A fish relating to Pisces,
A species not of the high seas
One rhyming with star
The fish surley must be a gar

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

What about a remora?

Looking up at night
Little sparkles of light.
Our forebears saw patterns…
Next to Cetus, the Whale
Lay Pisces, the Fish.

Back in the Ocean…
On the belly of Balaena
A creature much leaner
Remora it’s name
Hitch-hiking it’s game.

 

[gentle lemur]

Smoked mackerel is nice,
I cook it with rice
In my recipe
For kedgeree

However I'd sooner
Pan fry fresh tuna.