One Big Buffet

The maw below is that of a cookie cutter shark. These nasties cruise up to a large fish or a marine mammal, latch on with their suction-enabled mouths, dig in with their teeth, and then spin. At the end of their spin they have taken out a cookie-shaped bite out of their prey. They then swim on, leaving the wounded animal wondering what just happened to it.

One theory proposes that the cookie cutter shark poses as a smaller fish (thanks to its light-colored underbelly), waits for a large fish to attack, and then turns the tables on its would-be attacker by attacking it instead. Gutsy little fish, isn't it?

These sharks have even been known to take bites out of the sonar equipment of submarines. Now that is ambitious. I don't know what I think about this creature. Most predators kill their prey and gobble them down. This one just takes bites and moves on. The ocean is one big buffet to it. Not a bad life to live, on the whole.

Thanks for the link, Rasmus!

Photo courtesy: amonline.net.au

Triple Take

I normally don't post on mis-shapen lumps of yellow coral. Unless, wait. I see it now. That is a fish! In fact, it is the frog fish. This fish might require more than a double take if you were to spot it while diving. A triple take might be needed. The first one to see its color; the second one to discover it is a camoflauged fish; and the third to discern that it is an ugly fishie that uses its pectoral fins like limbs.

These slow-moving ambush predators also sometimes come equipped with the dangly lures that anglerfish have. That must be an upgrade this particular specimen didn't sign up for.

Photo courtesy: www.ramseydoran.com

Freakish Armies

The lynx spider is being considered a key player in a new phase of pest management. It turns out that these large green spiders like to do their very effective insect hunting on low shrubs and herbaceous plants. This means that some of our farmers might soon be employing freakish armies of these beasts in an effort to fight off pests.

I can't imagine anything more frightening. Ghengis Kahn and Alexander the Great would be so proud.

Thanks for the photo, Photo_Freak.

Instead of the Morgue

I have considered that if I ever caught my kids smoking that I would take them to a morgue and have them shown a smoker's lung - to scare the desire out of them. Instead, I think I'll show them this photo.

Photo courtesy: www.sina.com

Ego Killer

Yummy. Here is a nice crispy and long-dead bee that didn't survive its meeting with a venus fly rap. I must say, that has got to be an ego killer. Of all the many ways an insect can die - to be caught by a plant and eaten? A plant? True, they are one of the fastest plants on the planet, but still.

And why do venus flytraps dine on bugs? I would have chosen to ambush nice western bacon cheeseburgers or pepperoni pizzas instead.

Thanks for the photo, Jonathan.

Watch Your Back

Put the phone down, Mr. Walrus. There is no plastic surgeon, dentist, barber, or opthalmologist alive that can help you.

I can only imagine that it is no easy task to train a walrus to hold a phone to his ear. But I wonder at how smart it is. Look at his blood-shot and bulging eyes. He just might be at the break point. Watch your back, Mr. Trainer.

Photo courtesy: Yahoo!

With Pride

I'll admit to being proud of these photos. Not that they are of high quality, mind you. I know they're not. I just feel that warm fuzzy glow of having contributed to society. The web has two new photos of warthogs thanks to me. You're welcome.

Take a look at the mane on the second one. He is wearing it with pride. Thanks, San Francisco Zoo, for housing these uglies.

Eons and Eons

This coelathan was caught off the shores of Kenya in 2001. It's in the news now because some fossils have been found that show that other ancient fish, that hint at the first animals to walk on land, have been found in the fossil record a full 20 millions years earlier than previous specimens. Yay. Abominable animals have been around for eons and eons. Thanks for the affirmation.

Photo courtesy: Yahoo!