FC Community
Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: duroz on July 18, 2012, 12:13:04 am
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Well here's proof that unicorns DO exist....you can't argue with these photos:
(Oh, I forgot to mention that they're Unicorn FISH?? Oops! ;D )
They are actually called "Whitemargin Unicornfish"
(http://i.imgur.com/r4IXf.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/QBPoO.jpg)
I've never heard of them before, and (obviously) had not seen pictures of them before either.
Very unusual looking, I thought.
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Those are odd looking fish! Where do they live?
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Well here's proof that unicorns DO exist....you can't argue with these photos:
(Oh, I forgot to mention that they're Unicorn FISH?? Oops! ;D )
They are actually called "Whitemargin Unicornfish"
(http://i.imgur.com/r4IXf.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/QBPoO.jpg)
I've never heard of them before, and (obviously) had not seen pictures of them before either.
Very unusual looking, I thought.
They are weird looking, but yet awesome looking at the same time.
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good one lol they are strange looking
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Those are awesome looking fish. :D
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Hey DUROZ, thanks for posting the pictures! Do you know what those unicorn tubes are used for? Disguise, smell, extra eye, mating?
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Unusual looking for sure. Enjoyed your post, lol.
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That is very interesting! I had no clue that that sort of fish existed, but there is SOOOOO much of the ocean that has yet to be explored.
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Those are odd looking fish! Where do they live?
They are found throughout the "Indo-Pacific" (a biogeographic region comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia.)
The scientific name is "Naso annulatus".....(makes sense with that "nose" :) )
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Hey DUROZ, thanks for posting the pictures! Do you know what those unicorn tubes are used for? Disguise, smell, extra eye, mating?
Here's what I was able to find out about these weird looking fishes:
(I don't think it's used for anything.....I believe it's just a "protuberance").
I could NOT find anything stating this "horn" had an actual purpose. I could only find what they DON'T use them for: for attacking their enemies or in self-defense. :fish:
There are 18 known "Naso" (unicornfish) species, only 8 of them have a protuberance. Four species have the "horn", in the other four it's rounded and bumplike.
This forehead ornamentation is not present in young fish but develops as the fish grows, and usually begins to develop when the fish is from 4 to 8 inches long, depending on the species.
In some species, this structure is found in both sexes. In others, only the male has the cranial embellishment, or it is much larger in males than in females.
As this potential obstruction grows, many of these fishes begin to exhibit a change in diet (feeding more on zooplankton than algae). Others continue to feed on algae as the “nose” grows, but they browse on larger macroalgae, that are easier to get their teeth around.
And the "whitemargin" unicornfish's name comes from: They have a tail fin that is black with a white "margin" around the edge.
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Unusual looking for sure. Enjoyed your post, lol.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! (It was sort of a "made you look" kind of thing, eh?)
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That is a weird looking fish u know where they live??
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That is a weird looking fish u know where they live??
Go back a few posts...I posted some info on them earlier.
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Interesting looking fish. Love to see animals that I haven't seen before, so thanks for sharing. :)
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Speaking of unicorns, did you know dragons exist too?!
the blue dragon sea slug! :thumbsup:
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way cool topic, duroz! :thumbsup: The pics/info on the unicornfish & blue dragon seaslug was so interesting, I never knew about either until this thread!!
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1662/40197425516977517956318.jpg)
(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/4977/e5a7cannedunicornmeat.jpg)
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Speaking of unicorns, did you know dragons exist too?!
the blue dragon sea slug! :thumbsup:
After I saw this, twol, I had to look this up, as I had never heard of them.
I was amazed - this thing is CRAZY looking and strangely beautiful!!
HERE'S :o what I found on these "sea monsters" on http://badas*animals.tumblr.com:
"This thing doesn’t just look cool, it is cool.
Even though it’s only 5-8 centimeters long, it preys upon the painfully venomous Portuguese Man o’ War.
It then takes the venom and stores it in its little fingery feathery things, to be delivered to some unlucky sucker at a later time of its choosing.
Since it can save up the venom, it delivers a worse sting than the Man o’ War itself, and being stung by a Portuguese Man o’ War is no joke.
It’s scientific name (Glaucus atlanticus) was taken from a Greek sea god, so that’s also pretty badas*.
Not bad for a slug.
WOW!!
A couple more "dragon" pics:
(http://i.imgur.com/PstDy.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/Jsdil.jpg)
Thanks for posting about this unusual creature, twol! :thumbsup:
I'm modifying the topic title so it now includes Dragons
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way cool topic, duroz! :thumbsup:
Thanks SherylsShado!! (bet you thought this thread was going to be about something completely different!)
The pics/info on the unicornfish & blue dragon seaslug was so interesting, I never knew about either until this thread!!
Nope, me either. ;D :thumbsup:
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1662/40197425516977517956318.jpg)
Not sure what the above pic is of.....
but I SHO was hungry after I saw this:
(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/4977/e5a7cannedunicornmeat.jpg)
:o ;D
BTW - I love your "grocery shopping mama kitty" avatar!
The next creature is one you'll REALLY like!
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OK, this one's JUST for SherylsShado:
:angel11: The Sea Angel :angel11:
The tiny, translucent Sea Angel is another sea-swimming slug, like the blue dragon.
Ran out of time to look up much info on this - I'll try to add it later!
(or maybe someone else might like to?)
Here's are some pics of the eerily BEAUTIFUL "angel":
(http://i.imgur.com/97GIP.jpg)
Changed the topic title again now so Angels are included too!
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I thought I would take up your offer "if someone else might like to" give some more info.
:star: "Sea angels previously known as one kind of pteropod, are a large group of small swimming sea slugs in six different families. These are pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs in the clade Gymnosomata within the larger clade Heterobranchia.
In this clade, the foot of the gastropod has developed into wing-like flapping appendages (parapodia) and their shells have been lost. These are both adaptations which suit their free-swimming oceanic lives. The adaptations also explain the common name sea angel and the scientific name of the order; from Greek gymnos meaning "naked" and soma meaning "body."
The other suborder of pteropods, Thecosomata, are superficially similar to sea angels but are not closely related. They have larger, broader parapodia, and most species retain a shell; they are commonly known as sea butterflies.
Sea angels are gelatinous, mostly transparent and very small, with the largest species (Clione limacina) reaching 5 cm. Clione limacina is a polar species; those found in warmer waters are far smaller. Some species of sea angel feed exclusively on sea butterflies; the angels have terminal mouths with the radula common to mollusks, and tentacles to grasp their prey, sometimes with suckers similar to cephalopods. Their "wings" allow sea angels to swim much faster than the larger (usually fused) wings of sea butterflies.
The animals are simultaneous hermaphrodites, and fertilization occurs internally. A gelatinous egg mass is released during spawning, and the eggs float freely until hatching. Their embryonic shells are lost within the first few days after hatching.
:star: Survival threats
The IPCC reports that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing acidification of the oceans, which could eliminate pteropods from the Southern Ocean and cause serious repercussions throughout the food chain.[6]
:star: In popular culture :fish:
** The Digimon MarineAngemon is based on the Sea Angel in appearance and name.
** Pokémon water-types Phione and Manaphy are based on the sea angel.
** The Skies of Arcadia monsters Ghastling, Graver, Lurker, and Ghrost resemble sea angels.[7]"
Wikipedia
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I thought I would take up your offer "if someone else might like to" give some more info.
Thanks jcribb! This was awesome of you!
:star: Survival threats
The IPCC reports that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing acidification of the oceans, which could eliminate pteropods from the Southern Ocean and cause serious repercussions throughout the food chain.[6]
While I'm not surprised, this isn't good to hear. :'(
They are just totally awesomely beautiful, though, aren't they?
Thanks again for posting all this info!! :) :thumbsup:
MANY creatures like this to view on http://www.realmonstrosities.com also
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I thought I would take up your offer "if someone else might like to" give some more info.
Thanks jcribb! This was awesome of you!
:star: Survival threats
The IPCC reports that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing acidification of the oceans, which could eliminate pteropods from the Southern Ocean and cause serious repercussions throughout the food chain.[6]
While I'm not surprised, this isn't good to hear. :'(
They are just totally awesomely beautiful, though, aren't they?
Thanks again for posting all this info!! :) :thumbsup:
MANY creatures like this to view on http://www.realmonstrosities.com also
You're welcome! I had fun looking it up. Your topic is really interesting (double-taking a look, too, lol) and a lot of us are really enjoying it! :)
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You're welcome! I had fun looking it up. Your topic is really interesting (double-taking a look, too, lol) and a lot of us are really enjoying it! :)
Glad to hear that we are having fun!
Why don't you post something on the MERMAIDS thread? (I removed most of my religious "fun-poking" comments)
I can't believe no-one is joining in that one......
:(
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You're welcome! I had fun looking it up. Your topic is really interesting (double-taking a look, too, lol) and a lot of us are really enjoying it! :)
Glad to hear that we are having fun!
Why don't you post something on the MERMAIDS thread? (I removed most of my religious "fun-poking" comments)
I can't believe no-one is joining in that one......
:(
Thanks! I'll check it out. I don't remember seeing it or I probably would have posted in there.
By the way, your posts are always interesting, colorful, and creative. I kept wondering how in the world you would get the pink glowing over the words. I finally just figured it out, lol, and tried it out in another thread when answering your post. So thanks for the idea of that!!
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Thanks! I'll check it out. I don't remember seeing it or I probably would have posted in there.
I'm posting a nonsense response to put it back at the top of the topic list!
By the way, your posts are always interesting, colorful, and creative. I kept wondering how in the world you would get the pink glowing over the words. I finally just figured it out, lol, and tried it out in another thread when answering your post. So thanks for the idea of that!!
Thanks for saying that!
I have a little too much fun (read WASTE A LOT OF TIME) doing pics and stuff..... :-[
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Thanks! I'll check it out. I don't remember seeing it or I probably would have posted in there.
I'm posting a nonsense response to put it back at the top of the topic list!
By the way, your posts are always interesting, colorful, and creative. I kept wondering how in the world you would get the pink glowing over the words. I finally just figured it out, lol, and tried it out in another thread when answering your post. So thanks for the idea of that!!
Thanks for saying that!
I have a little too much fun (read WASTE A LOT OF TIME) doing pics and stuff..... :-[
Lol, it just makes the posts more eye-catching and interesting! ;)
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Very nice thread, I'm really enjoying the pictures and information :). I feel like I've been losing brain cells since graduating high school and it's nice to learn again.
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Thanks for starting this thread duroz. Each picture is more awesome than the next. :)
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Here's another Sea Dwelling Beauty:
This is the Red Paper Lantern Jellyfish (Pandea rubra):
(http://i.imgur.com/OHop7.jpg)
They live in the more northerly parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Southern Ocean.
Around Japan, they've been found at impressive depths of 450 to 1000 metres (1,475 to 3,280 ft).
They reach around 10 or 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long, not including 15 to 30 tentacles, which can get several times longer.
Mostly water, Pandea rubra is so fragile, that once brought to the surface, it’s reduced to a tattered blob in a jar.
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Very nice thread, I'm really enjoying the pictures and information :). I feel like I've been losing brain cells since graduating high school and it's nice to learn again.
Thanks for starting this thread duroz. Each picture is more awesome than the next. :)
Thanks you guys! And you're so welcome! I'm glad people are enjoying this, and hopefully more people will add some other new "oddities" that we've never seen!
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Ok to the person who started this. Nice pics, I wish you would have put more information on those wierd looking fishes. I would like to know more about them.
Thank you for the pictures. :thumbsup:
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i feel like i am in science class again. the fish are really cool.
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Chris Angel mocked a unicorn on Robot Chicken, then the unicorn impaled him. ;)
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Well we all know that real unicorns do not exist. But these fish are pretty odd looking. They're are dragons, in the lizard family. And lets face it, angels do not exist either.
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Here's another Sea Dwelling Beauty:
This is the Red Paper Lantern Jellyfish (Pandea rubra):
(http://i.imgur.com/OHop7.jpg)
They live in the more northerly parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Southern Ocean.
Around Japan, they've been found at impressive depths of 450 to 1000 metres (1,475 to 3,280 ft).
They reach around 10 or 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long, not including 15 to 30 tentacles, which can get several times longer.
Mostly water, Pandea rubra is so fragile, that once brought to the surface, it’s reduced to a tattered blob in a jar.
Wow! That is creepingly amazing! It looks like it would light up, lol.
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I thought this one is amazing and pity the poor fish who get caught in its trap...
Venus Flytrap Sea Anemone
Image: Aquapix and Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE
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Those are odd looking fish! Where do they live?
They are found throughout the "Indo-Pacific" (a biogeographic region comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia.)
The scientific name is "Naso annulatus".....(makes sense with that "nose" :) )
Cool!
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Well we all know that real unicorns do not exist. But these fish are pretty odd looking. They're are dragons, in the lizard family. And lets face it, angels do not exist either.
Angels do exist. I felt one wrap their wings around me when I had a kitchen fire a couple Christmas' ago. :angel11:
Don't forget Sea Dragons, the sea horses that look like seaweed. :fish:
This is a fabulous thread. :thumbsup: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:
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well you got me I didn't believe in unicorns until now the other two I believe in, but that was awesome thank you I needed the smile! :thumbsup: :angel11: :female: :fish:
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Glad you liked the sea slug! I love this thread, we need more like it ;D
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Those are so strange. I once had a tree full of little moth/hummingbrd looking things. Looked it up and sure enough thats what they were. Never heard of them before.
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OK, this one's JUST for SherylsShado:
:angel11: The Sea Angel :angel11:
The tiny, translucent Sea Angel is another sea-swimming slug, like the blue dragon.
Yes, you'd be correct in betting that I thought this thread was going to be about something else... ;D You def made me think :o This has been one of the most interesting & fun threads FC's forum has seen in a LONG, LONG time. Thanks for that. And for the Sea Angel pics...I didn't know they existed either. I always thought all slugs were "icky-slimy-ugly". (I never would have thought beautiful slugs existed...LOL)
The pic on that jellyfish was also amazing. It's hard to believe that one is actually a living being, it looks like a decoration from Pier One. ;D
(http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/947/947939th46na8kzu.gif) (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)
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well that will make you look twice
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Unicorn Snake
A rare rhino rat snake (Rhynchophis boulengeri) emerges from its shell at ZSL London Zoo. This is the first time these so-called “green unicorns”, from the mountains of Vietnam, have been bred in a European Zoo. The Reptile House produced a clutch of eight snakes. They grow to a metre long.
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8711/22221020.jpg)
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I know there are a lot of weird animals in the wild..like the narwhal. It does have a real horn. Think about bulls too and I believe that there could be or could have been animals like the unicorn and other fantasy types creatures. I think if they exist we should just leave them live in peace
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Not quite as majestic as the fantasy versions, lol.
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I believe that people made it up over time.
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some human looking lips on them too :-X
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Thank you so much for this wonderful thread. I have learnt so much here! the photos and descriptions are fascinating! :notworthy:
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Why not at one time or another these did exist. We believed that on other planets at one time that life did not exist , ah then they found water. Doesn't water carry living microorganisms and are they not living creatures? :dontknow:
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where's the dragon and angel?
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where's the dragon and angel?
The first "dragon" (blue dragon sea slug) pic is on page one of the thread, more dragon pics on page two and the "sea angel" pics are on page two.
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some human looking lips on them too :-X
Indeed! I thought there was something kind of human looking about their faces in general.
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I think this little guy (gal?) is really kind of cute! It's so "happy-looking", it almost looks like it's smiling!
(http://i.imgur.com/dJxh0.jpg)
The Axolotl is a curious creature native to Mexico. It is a type of salamander that does not complete its development in the adult phase – it stays a larva and never grows up. Thus, the gills remain and the Axolotl is 100% aquatic, despite the small legs it has.
Adult Axolotls range in size from 15 cm (5.85 in) to 45 cm (17.5 in) long and have a wide variety of colors, including grey, shades of brown, yellow and red. They also have harlequin mixtures of colors and patterns. They look like very large tadpoles, with legs and prominent gills. Female axolotls have wider bodies than males, and males have swollen clocae (multi-purpose posterior opening). They use their external gills to extract oxygen from water, but can also gulp air from the surface, using buccal pumping - opening and closing the bottom part of the mouth.
The Axolotl's natural habitat has always been restricted to two lakes in Mexico: Lake Chalco and Lake Xochimilco. Lake Chalco was drained to prevent annual flooding, so the species has been confined to the Xochimilco lake district, which has become a series of canals, more than a real lake.
Their wild habitat has been shrinking in recent years, due to pollution and the introduction of carp and other non-indigenous fish into the lake. These fish feed on the axolotl young and on the eggs. The Xochimilco lake and its surrounding wetlands are used for the supply of water to Mexico City, and the city's increasing size is putting a strain on the species. There are as few as 700 to 1,200 individual Axolotls alive in the lake, located in six separate regions.
You may "recognize" the cartoon form of the Axolotl (from the Pokemon series) - “Mudkip”
(http://i.imgur.com/61IID.jpg)
*While looking for info on the Axolotl on different sites, I found out that people DO keep these cute little salamanders as pets.
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THIS ONE is as UGLY as the last one was CUTE:
(http://i.imgur.com/z8HfL.jpg)
Looking like aliens from another world, these scale worms (Polychaetes) inhabit the depths of around 3200 ft (1000 m) where it is pitch dark and the pressure is immense.
Their ability to survive in most extreme conditions, including both the freezing sub-zero temperatures of the sea floor and the almost 750 °F (400 °C) super-heated waters near the hydrothermal vents makes them capable of survival in basically any conditions found on Earth, which has truly fascinated the scientific community around the globe.
With size of approximately 1 in (2-3 cm), scale worms can turn their mouth inside-out in order to capture prey more effectively, contributing to their already alien-like appearance.
As the volcanic vents are also believed to exist on Europa, the sixth closest moon of the planet Jupiter, many scientists are hoping to find connection with potential life on other planets, meaning that these alien-looking worms actually might help in discovery of real-life extraterrestrial creatures.
(http://i.imgur.com/zKbmL.jpg)
Due to the complete lack of sunlight, the entire surrounding of these thermal vents produces energy from chemistry rather than photosynthesis, meaning that Polychaetes are hosts to symbiotic bacteria that provides them with nutrients.
Certain factors even indicate that the bacteria is what the worms rely on in order to survive.
Much is yet to be discovered about these scale worms. The fascinating ability to survive and the connection with alien species certainly has left many impatiently waiting for results of further research.
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Wow! Such differences between the Axolotl and the Deep Sea Scale Worm! Like you said, one's as ugly as the other is cute, lol.
The Worm is definitely alien looking, lol.. Maybe now we have figured out where the writers of alien movies get their inspiration from?
Pokemon's Mudkip being based on the Axolotl is really cute! He looks so friendly, lol.
Here's one I thought was weird:
"What big teeth!
Imagine living in the sea where it is permanently dark, cold, and food is hard to find. For many animals at depth, it may be weeks to months between meals. If you find something to eat, you have to hang on to it. This is why so many deep-sea fishes have lots of big teeth. This dragonfish, spotted off the coast of Australia, even has teeth on its tongue. They would be terrifying animals … if they weren’t the size of a banana."
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Wow! Such differences between the Axolotl and the Deep Sea Scale Worm! Like you said, one's as ugly as the other is cute, lol.
The Worm is definitely alien looking, lol.. Maybe now we have figured out where the writers of alien movies get their inspiration from?
Pokemon's Mudkip being based on the Axolotl is really cute! He looks so friendly, lol.
Here's one I thought was weird:
"What big teeth!
Imagine living in the sea where it is permanently dark, cold, and food is hard to find. For many animals at depth, it may be weeks to months between meals. If you find something to eat, you have to hang on to it. This is why so many deep-sea fishes have lots of big teeth. This dragonfish, spotted off the coast of Australia, even has teeth on its tongue. They would be terrifying animals … if they weren’t the size of a banana."
(http://www.fusioncash.net/forum.php?action=dlattach;topic=43403.0;attach=9434;image)
I saw a picture of that one somewhere too......but I didn't check it out, and didn't know it was called a Dragonfish.
Scary-looking teeth, indeed!!
I started a new topic - "Real Live Monsters......of the Sea," (and @ jcribb16 - I re-posted both of our "Monster" posts over there to start it off....)
I thought we could put all the ugly and scary-looking ones there, and put the cool-looking, or "pretty" or cute ones here.
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(http://i.imgur.com/mKegc.jpg)
Psychedelic frogfish
(Histiophryne psychedelica)
The psychedelic frogfish is a small creature, growing to just 6 inches long, and lives in the ocean near Bali and Indonesia.
It is endemic to Ambon island, and spends most of its time in shallow waters close to shore.
It gets the first part of its name from its skin, a beautiful swirling pattern of yellow, white and dark orange.
The psychedelic frogfish's skin is unique to each fish, just as our fingerprints are to us.
It is also unique among fish because of its flat face, which gives it the same depth perception as humans.
The psychedelic frogfish moves by walking on its pectoral fins over the seafloor, and has been observed using its fins to push off from the sea floor while at the same time shooting water through its gills to propel itself forward via jet propulsion. When doing so, the fish takes on a ball shape, and its behavior takes on that of a bouncing beach ball in the wind.
The psychedelic frogfish was first "discovered" in 1992, in a shipment of assorted fishes sent from Bali, Indonesia, to the Dallas World Aquarium. They were in "very poor condition", and they died that same month.
The specimens were preserved and sent to evolutionary biologist, Theodore Wells Pietsch, for identification, along with a photo of very poor quality.
However, after having been "fixed" and preserved in chemicals, their colors had faded, and their faces had lost their distinct shape.
As a result, when the fish were analyzed, they were misidentified.
The specimens were then preserved and placed on a shelf, and no one returned to them until their recent rediscovery in 2008.
I think these are really cool-looking!! I love their colorful swirly skin! It reminds me of some kind of glass, or something....I can't put my finger on what exactly, though. (I'll have to post back here if I find the inanimate object that the psychedelic frogfish reminds me of, or that it looks like).
I thought it was interesting to read that it was only recently "discovered" (as the psychedelic frogfish, that is).
Amazing.....makes one wonder how much is still waiting to be discovered.
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Hmm, interesting. Never seen them before. Quite unusual indeed. :)
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Cool photos.
Thanks for sharing these. I never knew....
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Wow! Such differences between the Axolotl and the Deep Sea Scale Worm! Like you said, one's as ugly as the other is cute, lol.
The Worm is definitely alien looking, lol.. Maybe now we have figured out where the writers of alien movies get their inspiration from?
Pokemon's Mudkip being based on the Axolotl is really cute! He looks so friendly, lol.
Here's one I thought was weird:
"What big teeth!
Imagine living in the sea where it is permanently dark, cold, and food is hard to find. For many animals at depth, it may be weeks to months between meals. If you find something to eat, you have to hang on to it. This is why so many deep-sea fishes have lots of big teeth. This dragonfish, spotted off the coast of Australia, even has teeth on its tongue. They would be terrifying animals … if they weren’t the size of a banana."
(http://www.fusioncash.net/forum.php?action=dlattach;topic=43403.0;attach=9434;image)
I saw a picture of that one somewhere too......but I didn't check it out, and didn't know it was called a Dragonfish.
Scary-looking teeth, indeed!!
I started a new topic - "Real Live Monsters......of the Sea," (and @ jcribb16 - I re-posted both of our "Monster" posts over there to start it off....)
I thought we could put all the ugly and scary-looking ones there, and put the cool-looking, or "pretty" or cute ones here.
Thanks for letting me know! I'll go check it out. :)
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(http://i.imgur.com/mKegc.jpg)
Psychedelic frogfish
(Histiophryne psychedelica)
The psychedelic frogfish is a small creature, growing to just 6 inches long, and lives in the ocean near Bali and Indonesia.
It is endemic to Ambon island, and spends most of its time in shallow waters close to shore.
It gets the first part of its name from its skin, a beautiful swirling pattern of yellow, white and dark orange.
The psychedelic frogfish's skin is unique to each fish, just as our fingerprints are to us.
It is also unique among fish because of its flat face, which gives it the same depth perception as humans.
The psychedelic frogfish moves by walking on its pectoral fins over the seafloor, and has been observed using its fins to push off from the sea floor while at the same time shooting water through its gills to propel itself forward via jet propulsion. When doing so, the fish takes on a ball shape, and its behavior takes on that of a bouncing beach ball in the wind.
The psychedelic frogfish was first "discovered" in 1992, in a shipment of assorted fishes sent from Bali, Indonesia, to the Dallas World Aquarium. They were in "very poor condition", and they died that same month.
The specimens were preserved and sent to evolutionary biologist, Theodore Wells Pietsch, for identification, along with a photo of very poor quality.
However, after having been "fixed" and preserved in chemicals, their colors had faded, and their faces had lost their distinct shape.
As a result, when the fish were analyzed, they were misidentified.
The specimens were then preserved and placed on a shelf, and no one returned to them until their recent rediscovery in 2008.
Only 6 inches long? Goodness - with all of the detail and colors on it, it sure seems it would be larger than that! It's really neat looking!
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oh the blue dragon sea slug is actually kinda cute, wonder if they can be kept as pets.
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unusual looking creatures
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That is not photoshop. Those fish are real and you will find new 'weird' or 'unusual' creatures that people are still discovering because there are so many species of life still to discover. Just last year I saw a fish that can actually walk on land when it wants to otherwise it's a regualr fish in the ocean.
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That is not photoshop.
? Not sure what you were getting at here.....
Those fish are real......
Yes they are ALL real.....that was the whole point of this thread, to share pics and info on unusual (REAL) creatures.
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I think this little guy (gal?) is really kind of cute! It's so "happy-looking", it almost looks like it's smiling!
(http://i.imgur.com/dJxh0.jpg)
The Axolotl is a curious creature native to Mexico. It is a type of salamander that does not complete its development in the adult phase – it stays a larva and never grows up. Thus, the gills remain and the Axolotl is 100% aquatic, despite the small legs it has.
Adult Axolotls range in size from 15 cm (5.85 in) to 45 cm (17.5 in) long and have a wide variety of colors, including grey, shades of brown, yellow and red. They also have harlequin mixtures of colors and patterns. They look like very large tadpoles, with legs and prominent gills. Female axolotls have wider bodies than males, and males have swollen clocae (multi-purpose posterior opening). They use their external gills to extract oxygen from water, but can also gulp air from the surface, using buccal pumping - opening and closing the bottom part of the mouth.
The Axolotl's natural habitat has always been restricted to two lakes in Mexico: Lake Chalco and Lake Xochimilco. Lake Chalco was drained to prevent annual flooding, so the species has been confined to the Xochimilco lake district, which has become a series of canals, more than a real lake.
Their wild habitat has been shrinking in recent years, due to pollution and the introduction of carp and other non-indigenous fish into the lake. These fish feed on the axolotl young and on the eggs. The Xochimilco lake and its surrounding wetlands are used for the supply of water to Mexico City, and the city's increasing size is putting a strain on the species. There are as few as 700 to 1,200 individual Axolotls alive in the lake, located in six separate regions.
You may "recognize" the cartoon form of the Axolotl (from the Pokemon series) - “Mudkip”
(http://i.imgur.com/61IID.jpg)
*While looking for info on the Axolotl on different sites, I found out that people DO keep these cute little salamanders as pets.
These little critters are too cute. I wish I could have some for pets.
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*While looking for info on the Axolotl on different sites, I found out that people DO keep these cute little salamanders as pets.
These little critters are too cute. I wish I could have some for pets.
I know!! They are SOOOO cute! They almost don't look real......
(I didn't think it WAS real, when I first saw a picture of one... I thought what the heck IS that - looks like someone made it, and posed it for the picture.)
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Wow..great pics. Those are some very interesting looking creatures.
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OK here's a weird one:
Two of these were in MY BACK YARD today....(? ? :o ?)
They weren't really big, but they weren't small either. Their heads were a really pretty color, like a blueish-purple.
After determining that I was NOT hallucinating and/or losing my mind, I did some searching on the internet to find out what the heck they were (it took a while too, as all I could do was put in descriptions of what they looked like!)
(http://i.imgur.com/HxGNj.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/MOLPf.jpg)
They didn't stick around very long, and after figuring out what they were, I assume that they were young ones, just
out exploring. (Out from WHERE, I have no idea.....no-one seems to know of anyone around here who owns any of these).
Does anyone know what these are??
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OK here's a weird one:
Two of these were in MY BACK YARD today....(? ? :o ?)
They weren't really big, but they weren't small either. Their heads were a really pretty color, like a blueish-purple.
After determining that I was NOT hallucinating and/or losing my mind, I did some searching on the internet to find out what the heck they were (it took a while too, as all I could do was put in descriptions of what they looked like!)
(http://i.imgur.com/HxGNj.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/MOLPf.jpg)
They didn't stick around very long, and after figuring out what they were, I assume that they were young ones, just
out exploring. (Out from WHERE, I have no idea.....no-one seems to know of anyone around here who owns any of these).
Does anyone know what these are??
I'm not really sure, but they are very similar to an ostrich. Maybe "children" roaming? It's really late but I would like to check more into this tomorrow (or rather, later today, Thursday, lol) with some of my bird books. I study birds and journal about them (as a hobby) and have some great books I can look through. Unless someone else figures them out first, I'll be back!!!
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OK here's a weird one:
Two of these were in MY BACK YARD today....(? ? :o ?)
They weren't really big, but they weren't small either. Their heads were a really pretty color, like a blueish-purple.
After determining that I was NOT hallucinating and/or losing my mind, I did some searching on the internet to find out what the heck they were (it took a while too, as all I could do was put in descriptions of what they looked like!)
(http://i.imgur.com/HxGNj.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/MOLPf.jpg)
They didn't stick around very long, and after figuring out what they were, I assume that they were young ones, just
out exploring. (Out from WHERE, I have no idea.....no-one seems to know of anyone around here who owns any of these).
Does anyone know what these are??
That's easy, they're emus, from Australia. We have some in the Rio Grande Zoo. Look up Steve Irwin - the Crock Hunter and the Australian Zoo. I've heard of ostrich farming, maybe they're raised for meat, eggs and feathers too. :wave:
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OK here's a weird one:
Two of these were in MY BACK YARD today....(? ? :o ?)
They weren't really big, but they weren't small either. Their heads were a really pretty color, like a blueish-purple.
After determining that I was NOT hallucinating and/or losing my mind, I did some searching on the internet to find out what the heck they were (it took a while too, as all I could do was put in descriptions of what they looked like!)
(http://i.imgur.com/HxGNj.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/MOLPf.jpg)
They didn't stick around very long, and after figuring out what they were, I assume that they were young ones, just
out exploring. (Out from WHERE, I have no idea.....no-one seems to know of anyone around here who owns any of these).
Does anyone know what these are??
That's easy, they're emus, from Australia. We have some in the Rio Grande Zoo. Look up Steve Irwin - the Crock Hunter and the Australian Zoo. I've heard of ostrich farming, maybe they're raised for meat, eggs and feathers too. :wave:
Great job! Aren't most, in the U.S., anyway, mainly raised on farms? Could those have gotten loose? It would just seem odd to see them out and about like that.
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i dont know about unicorns and dragons but i do believe in angels, those fish are great unusual creatures
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Leafy Sea Dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Weedy Sea Dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)
These are just SO cool-looking and beautiful!! Although I am totally against the idea of capturing one "as a pet", I can easily see what attracts people to them.
I remember someone mentioning to "not forget these" (the sea dragons) in an early post to this thread.....and so I (finally) did remember.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2aglwn6.jpg)
Leafy Sea Dragon
(http://i47.tinypic.com/oaus2h.jpg)
Weedy Sea Dragon
Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet, perfectly outfitted to blend in with seaweed and kelp formations.
Found in the waters off south and east Australia, leafy/weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish.
Leafy Sea Dragons grow to a length of about 14 inches, but the slightly larger Weedy Sea Dragon can grow up to 18 inches long.
Like sea horses, the males are responsible for childbearing, but instead of having a pouch, like sea horses, male sea dragons have a spongy "brood patch" on the underside of their tail. The females deposit their bright-pink eggs during mating, and the eggs are fertilized during the transfer from the female to the male. The males incubate and carry the eggs to term, and release baby sea dragons into the water in about four to six weeks.
Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. However, they have been taken so frequently by divers (as pets) that their numbers shrank critically, and in the early 1990s, the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species.
Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened.
Here are some more pics:
LEAFIES:
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2qa2q9x.jpg) (http://i45.tinypic.com/24fmb5w.jpg) (http://i48.tinypic.com/t6ozsh.jpg)
WEEDIES:
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2h2dyz5.jpg) (http://i49.tinypic.com/2e2mlvd.jpg) (http://i49.tinypic.com/ml2dzn.jpg)
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2ywtton.jpg)
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Those leafy and weedy sea dragons are really interesting and "pretty" in their own way. The first weedy sea dragon pic, at first, kind of looked similar to a sea horse. Neat pics!!
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Wow!!!! Your pics were great!