Anyone know what kind of ray this is? Why does it look like it has legs? Why is it looking at me?
Thanks for the photo, Pkelias!
UPDATE: Bats has identified this beastie as a clearnose skate. Thank you bats!
Jun 4, 2007
Er...Um...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Russian
Spanish
13 comments:
I think the "legs" might be ovaries. And it's looking at you because it doesn't like you. It's wanted in 12 systems.
(...or maybe testicles. And it isn't really looking at you, those are the nostrils)
Actually, most rays have those leg-like pelvic fins, and they even use them like legs, to walk along the sandy bottom. Next time you go to an aquarium, watch the rays move around. When they're doing that leg walking, you'll see them make little tracks out behind them.
I don't know what kind of ray this is, though. I think it's too young to be able to really tell.
I don't know if this was identified over at Cute Overload as to species, but this same dude appeared there a couple of weeks ago. The "legs" are claspers that are used in mating; the male sticks one into the female's vent (I guess it must be a sperm-delivering thing).
Considering the pastel tinctures, this is quite a nancy-boy male...
Update: This is not a nancy-boy ray. It's most likely a clearnose skate. (I cribbed notes from a C.O. ichthyologist):
http://www.aqua.org/animals_clearnoseskate.html
Dead skate like this used to be dried, mounted and sold as mermaids or devils. They were nicknamed Jenny Hanivers, and they do look uncanny.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Haniver
Wow, that is amazing, those Jenny Hanivers. Creepy.
I saw this on Cuteoverload and my first impression of this creature was not that of cuteness...
It really does look like a happy lil' thing in the midst of a joyful JUMP.
Hey anony, I looked at that Jenny_Haniver link. That's interesting stuff. I've seen some amazing work done by "rogue taxidermist" that owe more than a little to those early fish-swindles.
Now, who thinks that was a Russian water tenticle
It's a rare Exhibitionist Ray, of the species Dassmyazz Streakeri. Found only at the finest and most exclusive nude beaches in the tropics. Can be lured to the hand with bait, booze, and generous amounts of sunscreen.
;-)
--TwoDragons
Thank you Denita, for the species ID. These are rare indeed. Blessedly rare.
This is on cuteoverload.com also you know!
Post a Comment