Planet Earth - Blog Posts
Black-devil anglerfish
Melanoncetus johnsoni
The Black-devil anglerfish is a skilled predator that lurks in the darkness. It uses a bioluminescent organ, a top its head, to lure unsuspecting prey into its jaws. Even though these fish are terrifying to look at, they are about the size of a grape fruit. To save energy, they remain immobile in the water, yet they can detect even the slightest vibrations. Since finding a mate is hard at this depth, male fish will attach themselves to a female and slowly dissolve into her tissue; so she is able to use the sperm the male provides at any time. In addition, this is the fish that tried to eat Marlin and Dory in “Finding Nemo.”
Photo credit: https://underthevastblueseas.tumblr.com/post/40882487364/this-female-black-devil-anglerfish-with-her-flabby
https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/574631233709001328/
Googly-eyed glass squid
Teuthowenia pellucida
The Googly eyed squid is a rare oddity that is found in the southern hemisphere. It has a large, spherical head that is filled with water and teeny, tiny tentacles that help propel it through the water. If it comes across a predator, it deflates its head and draws its tentacles into its cavity. On the other hand, it may also fill the cavity with water to increase its size, and intimidate the predator. If all fails, it will ink and try to escape through the darkness. Furthermore, baby squids can be found at the surface (0-600m); then slowly migrate downwards as they mature into adults (1600-2500m).
Photo credit: http://animaladay.blogspot.com/2011/07/googly-eyed-glass-squid.html
https://faunafabula.tumblr.com/post/5999675353/googly-eyed-glass-squid-teuthowenia-pellucida
Jewel Squid
Histioteuthis heteropsis
The Jewel Squid is covered in color-changing photophores that resemble sparkling gem stones. They also have a light-red coloration and are about 20 cm in length. They display a unique behavioral adaptation called diel migration. During the day, they stay at depths around 400-1200 m, and then surface during night (0-400m). This behavioral pattern is designed maximize feeding at night, and avoid predators during the day. The primary predator of the Jewel Squid is the Sperm Whale.
Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/722827808920240115/
https://twitter.com/theoctonation/status/1168516522270253056
Pink Helmet
Aglantha digitale
The Pink Helmet is a mini hydromedusa that comes in a variety of vibrant colors. The tiny jelly is only 4 cm in size and is found towards the surface of the ocean. The purple and blue hues we see in its bell are caused by a phenomenon known as iridescence, when light strikes the jelly’s thin tissue at different angles (similar to what we see in a soap bubbles). It also has orange pigmentation near its mouth; this pigmentation helps attract prey and mask luminescence. Furthermore, females tend to be more colorful than males.
Photo credit: https://biolum.eemb.ucsb.edu/organism/pictures/aglantha.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/186899453255850798/
Piglet Squid
Helicocranchia pfefferi
The Piglet Squid is a very small and delicate, transparent squid. It is found at depths between 400 to 1000 m. It has an unique siphon that is used for jet propulsion and it resembles a pig muzzle. The young piglet squids tend to live close to the surface, and steadily migrates downward as they grow. This behavior is called ontogenetic migration.
Photo credit: http://photo.cctv.com/2019/07/23/PHOAKMEBh8xJRaHXEUIGx8kE190723.xml
https://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/banded-piglet-squid/
Glass Octopus
Vitreledonella richardi
The Glass Octopus spend its entire life in the midwater section of the ocean and found at depths between 200m to 2000m. Even though it has no protection from predators, it achieves perfect transparency. The only part of the Glass Octopus that is visible is its digestive gland. However, the digestive gland is placed vertically to minimize detection. In addition, I find this octopus to be super cute!
Photo credit: https://www.mynumer.com/forums/topic/499/invisible-animals/view/post_id/859
Black- eyed squid
Gonatus onyx
The Black-eyed Squid is roughly over one foot (35 am) and is found at depths as deep as 2500m. The female Black-eyed Squid works fiercely to protect her babies, by carrying around a patch of egg for six to nine months. When the eggs hatch, 2000 to 3000 babies are released into the ocean. However, this makes her vulnerable to predators.
Photocredit: http://tolweb.org/Gonatus+onyx/19769
Blacksnout Seasnail
Paralipparis copei copei
The Blacksnout Seasnail may not look like a snail, but it does have a slimy, gelatinous substance that covers its body. It can be found at depths between 200 m to 1692 m, and adults grow up to be 17 cm in size (approximately 6.5 in). It also has an elongated body that resembles an eel. Furthermore, it can be seen rolling itself in a loop; this behavior is a defensive posture that makes it appear like a jelly. In the darkness, predators tend to avoid the Blacksnout Seasnail because its often mistaken as a hunter due to its appearance and behavior.
Giant Bell Jelly
Scrippsia pacifica
The Giant Belly Jelly has 256 tentacles attached to a gelatinous bell-shaped base. Like most cnidarians, the Giant Belly Jelly uses specialized stinging cells called nematocysts to catch its prey. When fish and other prey swim into its tentacles, the sensory projection on the cnidocyte (cell that holds the nematocysts) is activated. Then the nematocysts and barb are released, hitting the vulnerable prey and releasing a toxin into the prey’s body. The Giant Bell Jelly is found at 400 m in the ocean. It is related to the jellyfish, but it is categorized as a Hydrozoa (similar to the Portuguese- man-o-war)
https://vimeo.com/42551565
Photo Credit: https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/467107792572034837/
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-bio1-1/chapter/phylum-cnidaria/
Cockatoo Squid
Galiteuthis phyllura
The Cockatoo squid is a highly-specialized oddity of the deep ocean and found at depths between 300 to 1400 m. It is completely transparent, except for its eyes. It also has bioluminescent photophores that are directed downward: this makes it difficult for deep sea predators to see the Cockatoo Squid. It was named after the Cockatoo because it holds its tentacles above its head, resembling the bird. The Cockatoo squid can also get fairly large with adults reaching lengths of 2.7 meters (over 6 ft.)
Photocredit: https://www.americanscientist.org/article/at-home-in-the-dark
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28710516347382519/
Vampire Squid
Vampyroteuthis infernalis
Even though the Vampire Squid is named after a notorious monster, this gentle creature does not live up to its name. It is only a foot long and occupies depths between 650m to 1500m in the deep ocean. Unlike other squids, it has reduced musculature and collects particles in the water column. However, it is capable of huge bursts of speeds. It uses bioluminescence to confuse both predators.
Photo credit: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/vampire-squid-hell
Sea Angel
Cliopsis krohni
The Sea Angel is a tiny snail that is only 4 cm in length and found at depths as deep as 1500 m. Even though it is small, it is a viscous predator. It hunts other midwater snails using a structure called a radula. Unlike other snails, the Sea Angel’s mouth is located on top of its head. It also uses swimming “wings” to propel through the water.
Photo Source: http://seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Cliopsis-krohni-a.html
Spookfish
Winteria telescopa
The Spookfish’s eyes act as a telescope and are designed to maximize light in the deep ocean. Its eyes contain rod cells that help distinguish between ambient light and bioluminescent light. This adaptation helps avoid predators and catch prey.
Picture Credit: https://www.natureplprints.com/deep-sea/deep-sea-fish-winteria-telescopa-15230734.html
Pacific Viperfish
Chauliodus macouni
The Pacific Viperfish looks intimidating with its sharp, pointy teeth and large jaws. However, its body is small and elongated. It can be found at depths ranging from 250m to 4390m. The Pacific Viperfish long teeth are an unique adaptation designed to keep prey trapped, but it is dangerously close to its eyes. There have been instances when they have caught prey that are too large to swallow and it dies along with its last meal. The Pacific Viper also has photophores along its body and a light organ near its dorsal fin. These organs exhibit bioluminescence and help with attracting pray: as well as, communicating with mates and confuse predators. It is one of the most ferocious predators of the deep ocean.
Photo credit: https://www.science-rumors.com/top-20-pacific-viperfish-facts-to-know-what-this-creature-is/
https://goldfisho.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-viperfish/
Predatory Copepod
Paraeuchaeta barbata
Copepods are a type of zooplankton or tiny creature that feeds larger animals in the ocean such as, fish. They are crustaceans that have two long antennas and a sensory eye called an ocelli, which can only sense light. This copepod is located between 200m to 1500 m in the deep ocean. You may notice the copepod is red in color. The color is an adaptation that makes it difficult for predators to see the copepod because red wave lengths do not penetrate this depth (mostly blue and indigo light). Even though this creature tiny, it is a vital food source for many animals in the abyssal zone of the ocean.
Photo credit: http://www.arcodiv.org/watercolumn/copepod/Paraeuchaeta_barbata_large.html
Glowing sucker octopus
Stauroteuthis syrtensis
The Glowing Sucker Octopus can be found at 2500 m in the deep ocean. This unique creature has two fins that look similar to elephant ears. They move elegantly through the water by moving these fins and contracting their mantle. Evidence of this creature has only been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo credit: https://octolab.tv/species/glowing-sucker-octopus/
https://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/glowing-sucker-octopus/
Carl Sagan - Solğun Mavi nöqtə.
Bu nöqtəyə bir də baxın,ora evimizdir.O bizik.Sevdiyimiz və tanıdığımız,adını eşitdiyimiz,yaşayan və ölmüş hərkəs ordadır.Bütün sevincimizin və kədərimizin cəmi,minlərcə bir-birini yalanlayan din,ideologiya və iqtisadi doktrin,insanlıq tarixi boyunca yaşayan hər ovçu və toplayıcı,hər qəhrəman və qorxaq,hər mədəniyyət qurucusu və dağıdıcısı ,hər kral və əkinci,hər aşiq çütlük,hər ana və ata,ümid dolu uşaq,ixtiraçı,kəşfiyyatçı ,əxlaq müəllimi,rüşvətxor siyasətçi,hər superstar,hər ulu öndər,hər müqəddəs və günahkar onun üzərində,bir günəş şüasının üzərində asılı olan o toz zərrəsindədir. Kainatın sonsuzluğu qarşısında dünya çox kiçik bir səhnədir.Bütün o general və imperatorlar tərəfindən axıdılan qan göllərini düşünün,qazandıqları zəfərlərlə bir toz dənəsinin bir anlıq ağası oldular.O zərrənin bir küncündə oturanların başqa bir küncündən gələn və özlərinə bənzəyən başqaları tərəfindən uğradıqları bitməz,tükənməz əziyyətləri düşünün,birbirlərini öldürmək üçün nə qədər də həvəsli idilər,bir birlərindən necə də nifrət edirdilər. Təkəbbürümüz,özümüzə verdiyimiz önəm,kainatda xüsusi yerimiz olduğu haqda olan düşüncəmiz,hamısı bu solğun ışıq nöqtəsi tərəfindən yox edilir.Planetimiz kainatın qaranlığında yalnız bir toz zərrəsidir.Bu möhtəşəm boşluq içində bizi bizdən xilas edəcək heçkim yoxdur. Dünya,üzərində həyat olduğunu bildiyimiz tək planetdir.Ən azından yaxın gələcəkdə gedəbiləcəyimiz başqa yer yoxdur.Ziyarət edəbilərik,amma hələki orda həyat qura bilmərik.Bəyənsəniz də bəyənməsəniz də hələki dünya sığınabiləcəyimiz tək yerdir. Astronomiyanın insanı daha təvazökar olmağa məcbur edən və şəxsiyyət qazandıran bir təcrübə olduğu deyilir.Bəlkə də insanın təkəbbürünün nə qədər mənasız olduğunu bundan daha yaxşı göstərən bir şəkil yoxdur.Məncə birbirimizə daha yaxşı davranma öhdəliyimizi vurğulayır və bu mavi nöqtəyə,evimizə.
Time Travel - Imposters claiming to be associated with time travel by impersonating people are actually almost exclusively the type of situation that has related to planet Earth historically the whole time since the flood
72 F today. It’s beautiful. I felt the need to be barefoot and sit in the grass. I hate being barefoot, but today I needed to ground myself. It feels right. Being outside has always been a joy to me, no matter the weather. I am so glad to live in this beautiful world.
Happy Earth Day! Please enjoy this tiny frog I found while wondering around outside earlier this evening.
Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia
© Tom Noske
