The Rock gets a species label

By Belou Quimby '19

Belou Quimby ’19 created this species label and affixed it to the fence that entrapped The Rock.

Belou Quimby ’19 used her imagination to create a species label and affixed it to the fence entrapping The Rock.
Belou Quimby ’19 used her imagination to create this species label and affixed it to the fence entrapping The Rock.

The Rock

Cornellius gravous

Native to the Palisades-Kepler State Park, The Rock was first sighted out of its natural habitat on Cornell College’s campus in 1889.

This species exhibits a variety of social behaviors, as it can be found letting students paint it a variety of different colors, swimming in Ink Pond on hot summer days, burrowing under the earth for years at a time, being on fire surrounded by other species, and performing a seemingly random migration to Coe and back.

The Rock feeds on sunlight and good company, and obtains its hydration via osmosis from morning dew, summer rains, and winter snows.

Population estimates of this species are unknown, though only one has been recorded since the establishment of the college. Conservation efforts are ongoing as we continue to learn more about this species.