Etsu Yoshida Create Your Badge
Hello :] my name is Shiida.
I cried for the 1st time in year 1991.
Im a year older every 25th February.
Currently studying in UCSI University doing my degree in Biotechnology.
And i've chosen "Deep Sea Creatures" as my theme especially fishes.
C:
-TEEHEE-
Have you seen this EXTREMELY VERY weird looking fish before? (O___O)------|>
I bet most of you all have not seen this kind of fish because it’s VERY VERY VERY rare to be found. But why is it so? Now, the question “why” will be answered shortly. Let me introduce this very special fish first.
It is called the Blobfish and scientifically known as Psychrolutes marcidus. It is a deep sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. Blobfish is without a doubt in one of the ugliest fish you can find in the ocean which it resembles a large nose in between two eyes and almost seem to be frowning! I think it has a human like features though.
Well, one of the reason why is it very rare to be found is because it is inhabiting at extreme depths off of the coasts of Tasmania and Australia. The Blobfish is said to be found at a depth of around 800 meters which would make life impossible for most fish as at that depth, the pressure is roughly eighty times more than at sea level. For this reason, the Blobfish is rarely seen by the human eye.
The body of a blobfish is made up almost entirely of a gelatinous material that has a density just less than water and that is one of the factor which gives it it’s weird shape and mushy face. This keeps the Blobfish from sinking as the density of the goo is less than that of the sea where they are found. Besides, the ability to withstand the high pressure of these depths is also caused by it gelatinous body. It can float right above the sea floor without using much energy. Blobfish uses its gas bladder to keep the buoyancy.
Eeew? >___<
Since the Blobfish comprises of a gelatinous substance, it actually has no muscles at all and they just float in the same spot most of the time waiting for its meal to come. Instead of hunting for food, blobfish will just wait for its meal to come near it. More like a “lazy” nature of the fish. Scientific research has explained that the main diet of the Blob fish is that of sea urchins and mollusks. Blobfish is a fish which is not extremely active and in fact, most of the food that they eat simply floats right by them as said earlier.
I would really like to see this blobfish in real due to its uniqueness. Unfortunately, it said to be almost extinct by now. L The blobfish are often accidentally caught by fisherman that bottom trawling with nets. However, once caught, you can’t even eat the blobfish because it is inedible and if taken out of water, the blobfish will die after a short while and its gelatinous body will dry out as well as shrivel no longer resembling the typical way people think of blobfish with its almost human looking face. Sadly, I bet most of the fisherman will just throw them away.
I myself have not seen any and did not think there is any existing until I saw a documentary video regarding this type of fish.
Instead of calling it the transparent headed fish, it actually has a name calledBarreleyefish or scientifically known asMacropinna microstoma.These fish is called barreleye due to theirbarrel-shaped, tubulareyeswhich are generally directed upwards to detect the presence of available prey.
The fish was discovered in 1939 which was a very long time ago but was not observed and identified in detail because it was hard to understand the transparent nature of this fish. Apparently, the researchers fromMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)have made a successful achievement regarding the transparent nature of Barreleye fish. Further reading on the latest finding regarding barreleye isHERE.
Now, be amazed by this miracle see-through Barrelfish.
One of the most bizzare looking creatures in the deep sea is the Gulper eel. Gulper eel is also called as Pelican eel or the Umbrella mouth. It is scientifically known as Eurypharynx pelecanoides. This strange looking creature has a big snout that can reach a size of 2 to 6 feet and it is inhabiting in the depth ranging between 500 to 6000 feet below in the deep sea into the Aphotic zone where very few creatures can live in this particular zone such as the vampire squid.
Unlike many other deep sea creatures, it has very small eyes. It is believed that the eyes evolved to detect faint traces of light rather than form images. It seems to be an eel with a big pelican shaped mouth. However, be aware, this gulper eel has big jaws and can consume bigger fishes than its own body size due to its special mouth that is loosely hinged.
If it can open its mouth wide enough to eat bigger fishes, then it must have a special stomach. In fact, it does have a special stomach that can stretch itself to fit for the bigger fishes as its meal and that is how it got its another name called the Umbrella Mouth Gulper Eel. They are said to be appeared everywhere over the world.
Furthermore, the gulper eel uses its long tail for movement and at the end of the tail is tipped with a light-producing organ. Like other deep sea creatures, the gulper eel uses its photophore that is located at its end of the tail for survival factor. Through a process known as bioluminescence, the photophore glows pink and can give off occasional red flashes. However, it is not used for hunting but instead for luring preys.
Moreover, this gulper eel uses its mouth which can be opened widely to swim into a large groups of shrimp or other crustaceans and scooping them up as it goes. Besides feeding on shrimps, it is also known to feed on cephalopods and other small invertebrates.
Enjoy this video on Gulper Eel ;D
RAAHHAAHA-
VAMPIRE SQUID
1:58 AM
One and only cephalopod that lives in the depth ranging from1800 to 3500 feet below the sea is the vampire squid. It is one of the deep sea creatures that exist and has actually caught my interest in it especially with its name, vampire squid. I was wondering why is this squid called a vampire squid? Is it because it sucks blood? Is it because it has fangs? Is it because it is pale as Edward Cullen??! Hehh.. No offense eh. =P
Enjoy ;D
Well, after making some research on this odd vampire-ish looking squid, the name, vampire squid is given for its jet-black skin, the “vampire” caped appearance of the webbing between the arms and eyes that scarily appear red under some light conditions. Very vampire-ish eh? ;D Generally, their colour varies from black to red to purple and seems to depend more on the light conditions while the eyes appear blue when viewed from submersible. Despite this horrific description on its appearance, the vampire squid is rather a small animal and most often hangs motionless in the water column with only little movements. So, do not worry. It will not suck your blood and turn you into a vampire. *vampire grins*
Anyways, scientists call this creature as Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Although it has much in common with both squids and octopuses but it was placed in its own order, the Vampyromorpha, based on the presence of sensory filaments. These filaments are believed to be used for searching food in the dark deep sea where the vampire squids will deploy its filaments one at a time, drifting for several moments after deployment. Once a prey animal makes contact with the filament, the vampire squid swims in a sweeping arc to the point where contact was made in trying to catch the prey.
Watch this for a clearer description of vampire squid
And this is a vampire baby
(-_-")
-TEEHEE-
OARFISH
1:28 AM - Sunday, January 23, 2011
Another fish that has caught my interest is the Oarfish a.k.a Ribbon fish or The King of Herrings. The Oarfish is scientifically recognized as Regalecus Glesne. The size range of this fish is from 10-50 feet in length and is said to be found in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic. Oarfish has an extremely long ribbon-like body and that is why it is sometime called as ribbon fish.
Generally, it lives 3 000 feet below in the deep blue sea. Apparently, it can be found on the surface of the ocean most probably to find its food. It is the longest bony fish in the world that have been documented to 41 feet in length. On the other hand, the Oarfish is the subject of ancient mariner folklore, generating many tales about the attacks by sea serpents. Here's a video on Oarfish. Enjoy (:
The Oarfish has a metallic blue silver coloration with black lines and blotches along the sides. The dorsal fin is amazingly long with up to 400 rays which run the entire length of the body. The first 10 to 15 rays are elongated and bright red in colour while the head has a concave feature with a small mouth that has no teeth. The skin of oarfish is scaleless.
It swims by an amiiform mode, undulating its long dorsal fin through the water while holding the body straight. The Oarfish feeds on plankton, brine shrimp, small fish, jellyfish, squid and other zooplankton. It is not of commercial interest because the meat is gelatinous and generally inedible. One thing for sure is that the Oarfish is said to be abundant enough not to be labeled as endangered species.
Instead of fishes emitting light from their photophore, there is a tiny squid which uses the same bioluminescence method in survival. The Firefly Squid, also called Sparkling Enope Squid is a small squid which is about 3 inches whose light show put all others to shame. This is because the light glowing from this tiny creature is amazingly beautiful especially when there are many of them together.
Millions of squids come together to fertilize and to drop their eggs in the Toyama Bay in Japan for their reproduction once a year which is around March to June. Besides reproducing, the big reunion of these squids is a one big light show which attracts thousands of tourists.
This firefly squid has hundreds of bioluminescent photophores that cover the body which gives a blue light. It can make different light show patterns with the photophores to communicate with others, to distract a predator or even lure prey such as little fishes. It is scientifically known as Watasenia scintillans and it belongs to the class of Cephalopoda. Just as the name given to this squid, it is related to the firefly which gives out the same light as bioluminescence. This firefly squid can be found in the Western Pacific ocean where it can live on depths of 600 to 1200 feet.
The eyes of afirefly squid have 3 pigments along with a double layered retina back in their eye. This helps the firefly squid to distinguish ambient light and bioluminescence light. This way they can see if the light is produced by other firefly squids or by predators. A big difference between other squids is that it's believed that the firefly squid is the only one with color vision.
Once the firefly squids have reached their one year life-cycle, they die and wash up on the shore. This event is very important for other sea creatures and sea birds that enjoy eating the dead bodies of the firefly squid.
Firefly squid can be seen starting from 0:09. Enjoy (:
LANTERNFISH
3:27 PM - Saturday, January 15, 2011
As we already know from the previous posts, deep water fishes that live in the darker region of the oceans rely on light for survival. They emit light from the special light-producing organs that are found on their body which is the photophore. Another example besides the anglerfish and the viperfish with this property is the lanternfish. It is scientifically known as Symbolophorus barnardi. The lanternfish produces bioluminescene from its photophore just like the fireflies or even the green light stick. They all use the same chemical reaction in producing bioluminescence.
Body parts of a lantern fish
Lanternfish has large eyes with large lenses and pupils as well as highly sensitive retinas for the best vision as it is an important sense for it especially in the deep below the sea.Lanternfish does not have a scary ferocious look like those anglerfish and the fangtooth. Besides, most of the lanternfishes are small in size measuring only from 2cm to 15cm in length. Moreover, it has 250 to 300 species known.
Large eyes (O__O)
Normally, lanternfish will migrate to the surface to feed themselves during the night and back under the deep sea once again during the day. This is because huge quantities of tiny plankton rise to the surface of the ocean at night and by retreating to the depths during the day may also reduce exposure to the risky of predation from larger species. However, lanternfish has other ways in finding for food. It will control the intensity and frequency of its flashing lights where many smaller organisms suck as krill and copepods are attracted to and unwittingly offer themselves as a meal. Besides finding for food, the flashes of lights from its photophore can be used for recognition and warning purposes.
I would want this fish to be my sleeping night light.
Hmm...included lanternfish in my latest wishlist. :D
-TEEHEE-
VIPERFISH
3:24 PM
An amazing predator, the Viperfish also known as Chauliodus sloani, combines both speed and strength to kill its preys within a few seconds just like a real viper. Most obvious of its characteristics is its bulldog-like mouth. Viperfish has long teeth that stick out of its mouth and they can even grow close to its eyes looking very ferocious. It normally exists in greenish colour on the above, the sides with metallic gloss and blackish below. There are several longitudinal rows of small luminescent spots on the ventral surface, running from throat to tail as well as several more such spots on each side of the head and many tiny unpigmented dots scattered over the trunk.
Like the anglerfish, viperfish also has one long dorsal spine with a photophore that emits light from a process of bioluminescence. Like other deep sea creatures, viperfish uses these photophores to get their food. Viperfish can only grow up to 30cm in length and a lot of other bigger creatures could eat this fish in one bite by its greatest predators, dolphins and sharks who live in the shallow water zone. Interestingly, these fishes look very scary and fierce even though they are small in size but aren’t so ferocious as they seem to be.
Are you ready to face the ferocious Viperfish??
Yes?...
No?...
Here it is...
Here's an animation of viperfish I found. Do watch its speed in hunting for food. (:
Do you want this as a pet fish?
I do.
TEEHEE~
ANGLERFISH
9:49 PM - Thursday, January 13, 2011
Nope. Its not fangtooth's brother. :P
WOW? o.O
This next sea creature called the Anglerfish has caught my attention especially with its method of mating. This is because anglerfish has a very unique way of reproducing which I would want you guys to watch a video at the end of this post.
Scientifically, anglerfish is called Melanocetus johnsoni. It can be found deep near the Atlantic oceans. A variety of 200 different species of anglerfish exist and most of them live in the lonely, lightless bottom of the sea. Also the fish itself has a part on its body that some of us may consider that seems like an antenna with bioluminescence. Basically, this specific fish uses it as a lure in order to catch smaller fish. They have a wide mouth that helps them swallow their food.
It is quite possibly the ugliest animal on the planet. Generally dark gray to dark brown in colour, they have huge heads and enormous crescent-shaped mouths filled with sharp, translucent teeth. Most however are significantly smaller, often less than a foot.
Their most distinctive feature, worn only by females, is a piece of dorsal spine that protrudes above their mouths like a fishing pole. Tipped with a lure of luminous flesh this built-in rod baits prey close enough to be snatched. Their mouths are so big and their bodies so pliable, they can actually swallow prey up to twice their own size.
This video below will show you on how does an anglerfish reproduce. Strange yet amazing way to reproduce. Enjoy! C:
Remember this scene in "Finding Nemo" ? Thats an anglerfish! ;D
FANGTOOTH
1:28 PM
:] Please watch the video below before proceeding.
What was that video all about huh?...
Well, remember the narrator mentioned “Fangtooth” in the video earlier? A scary little fish which I think it could actually chew us up with its sharp long teeth although it is small in size. Somehow I find it an amazing little sea creature and I’ve decided to “promote” about it. ;D
Anyways, the fish is called Fangtooth, also known scientifically as Anoplogaster cornuta. Basically, this deep sea creature haunts the deep waters of many of the world’s oceans. The fangtooth gets its name from its rather extraordinary looking teeth, which are actually the largest teeth of any fish in the ocean when taken in proportion to body size!
(Via Andrew Sullivan. A Fangtooth fish is displayed at the Natural History Museum’s new exhibition ‘The Deep’, on May 26, 2010 in London, England. By Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.)
Although the fangtooth may look like a true monster, it is actually a small fish, reaching a maximum length of only 16cm. It has a short, deep body and with a large head and mouth. The head contains numerous mucous cavities separated by serrated ridges. These cavities are covered over with thin skin. The body of this fish is covered with small, prickly scales, and its color varies from black to dark brown. It has very small eyes that are set high on the head. Due to its poor eyesight, many researchers think the fangtooth hunts by a process known as chemoreception, where it essentially must bump into something edible as it searches the dark waters.
The fangtooth is found throughout the world in temperate and tropical ocean regions including the waters off the coast of Australia. It is one of the deepest living fish species yet discovered. These fish are commonly seen between 600 and 6,500 feet, but have been observed as deep as 16,000 feet. The pressure at these great depths is intense and the water temperature is near freezing. The fangtooth is stronger than other deep water species.
So guys, do not worry. We can still have fun at the beach as this terrifying Fangtooth lives deep below the sea. ^-^
Before I end this post, does this fangtooth fish look like a vampire or a sabretooth to you?
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