Earlier this year, scientists wrapped up a massive, ten-year survey of aquatic life. This survey revealed a large number of new species. As anyone who visits here regularly knows, quite a few of them are not on the attractive side. We start with one that confused the researchers so much on what to call it, that they finally settled on the simple squidworm:
Next up is Venus flytrap anemone. Unlike its counterparts on land, it has stinging tentacles which it uses to trap its prey.
Now, we have a jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei, which has an interesting way of defending from predators. When attacked, the jellyfish lights up to attract a larger creature to eat its attacker.
Today we also have a sea slug, Phyllidia ocellata. As you might guess from the coloration, this guy's poisonous, and probably not a good meal for anyone passing by.
To wrap up the day, here's a newly hatched anglerfish. At this stage in his life, all he can really do is drift around with the plankton.
That wraps up this todays installment from the census. There's plenty more where they came from, and I can probably stretch a few more posts out of it for you.
Pictures courtesy of National Geographic.
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3 comments:
Sooo interesting! NOT ugly at all! Thanks for the cute overload! :-D
It's one of those "eye of the beholder" things. Don't worry, I agree.
Did you know that juvenile male anglerfish is just waiting to latch onto a female with his jaws,
(the females are thousandfold times larger), where he will become partially absorbed, sharing her bloodstream for nutriment and basically living his life as a parasitic spermbank ????
you can read a bit here, and maybe find some images of this unique symbiosis to expand the anglerfish page.
Best wishes everyone! Herbie.
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