Tim Cockerill

Zoologist, circus and sideshow performer, presenter, photographer, collector of curiosities. Flea circus and fire-eating a speciality.

[Evelyn @evelynrichards_]

Arachnophobes beware: spider season is here 🕷 big thanks to @DrTimCockerill for answering all my creepy crawly questions 🕸 https://t.co/ojn8d3zPeY via @MetroUK

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

I’m a strong believer that one of the best ways to learn about wildlife is to eat it. These are some of the edible plants we collected with the brilliant @cornishwildfood on a field trip with students this week. A… https://t.co/aI8CTRquap

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

I’m a strong believer that one of the best ways to learn about wildlife is to eat it. These are some of the edible plants we collected with the brilliant @cornishwildfood on a field trip with students this week. A… https://t.co/IvA0czv4XJ

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

We often overlook the diversity and beauty of microorganisms, yet their total mass on earth outweighs all animals and plants combined. Bacteria like these give us botulism, syphilis and bubonic plague, but also… https://t.co/tQmfaUAVVM

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

Draco lizards live in the rainforests of South Asia. When faced with danger they have an unusual means of escape – they jump from the trees and glide. Their elongated ribs support flaps… https://t.co/pHCmRJkSB2

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

The leaf insects (Phyliidae) show some of the most impressive camouflage in nature. As well as looking like leaves, they sway back and forth to mimic the movement of a leaf in the breeze.… https://t.co/GF5ocC412d

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

Just as humans are left- or right-handed, so elephants can be left- or right-tusked. Some also show a preference to curl their elongated nose in one particular direction when feeding,… https://t.co/olNrSSUJQv

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

The giraffe weevil Trachelophorus giraffa is so known because of its extraordinarily long neck. The male beetle uses his neck to fight with rivals and, if victorious, will mate with a… https://t.co/U2TZAYT2Af

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

The leaf chameleon Brookesia therezieni lives in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests. One of the world’s smallest chameleons, it would comfortably fit inside a matchbox. During the day it… https://t.co/gnOI1wpl1n

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

Phenomenally naive argument from @ProfRWinston on @BBCPM suggesting that species are only worth saving if they confer some benefit to humans. Do we ‘need’ orangutans and birdwing butterflies? @wwf_uk @WWF

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

I've been talking #FalseWidow spiders on @BBCRadioLondon tonight. Four schools unnecessarily closed. Brilliant response from @Buzz_dont_tweet to the huge overreaction https://t.co/AwOrgvZs1K

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@AileenFyfe @irmorus1 @musa_standrews How brilliant! Love that Victorian technology is entertaining the youth of today - we should market it as the iPhonograph and make a fortune...

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@BBCLondonNews @JasonRosam @BBCRadioLondon I hope I busted some spider myths on the show tonight. Here are a few more to put to bed https://t.co/YWxsowkITU #FalseWidow #FakeNews

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@wildheartgriff You're on the right track Matt! The closing of schools is an overreaction of monumental proportions based on tabloid sensationalism rather than any real risk. See buglife's response here https://t.co/AwOrgvZs1K

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@Fionamills1 @UniOfHull @RadioHumberside Great to chat spiders Fiona! Are you calling me a hairy eejit?

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@akazeeox @mattprince1969 @BritishSpiders Brilliant - I'm in Cornwall as we speak! I'll keep an eye out too. Thanks John.

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@melissasuzanneh Oh no! If there's sign of a bite it's most likely a mosquito or midge. Or, there's also a little-known but extremely common type of flower bug (Anthocoris spp.) whose bite can lead to those symptoms. Either way, definitely not a spider!

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@AirbusRed @BBCScienceNews Another name for the ogre-faced spider (Deinopis spp.) is the net-casting spider. It weaves an intricate web about the size of a postage stamp and sits in wait, holding one corner in each of its four front legs. #papuanewguinea #wildlife #photography

[Tim Cockerill @DrTimCockerill]

@Heather___Brown @BBCScienceNews I've heard of spiders living in ears but not buried in skin! Could it have been a tick? They bury their heads in when they feed.