Weird Creatures From the Deep
A massive census of the oceans has turned up a trove of strange marine wildlife, from jellyfish to octopuses to anemones
- By Jess Righthand
- Smithsonian.com, August 06, 2010
(Dr. Julian Finn, Museum Victoria)
Food can be scarce in the deep waters off Australia. To clutch its prey, this dragonfish uses sharp rows of teeth that cover even parts of its tongue. The fish is one of thousands of species documented by the Census of Marine Life, a ten-year project that is nearing completion. Across its 25 study sites on all seven continents, the Census has found that fish account for an average of 12 percent of all underwater life. Although waters off Australia's tropical northern coast share many species with the Indo-West Pacific, scientists have found that Australia's more temperate—and isolated—southern waters host species that are found nowhere else. Up to 90 percent of the species are endemic, more than in any other region studied by the Census. However, scientists estimate that only around 10 percent of Australia’s marine species are known today.
Comments (13)
Wow! Weird and viciously crazy. I wonder if the paranas have kindshipped with them?
Posted by Molly on September 24,2011 | 07:33 AM
want more news on the wonders of the earth and space like this!!! thanx to u all...
Posted by robin on March 29,2011 | 03:11 AM
I was an Associate many years ago and enjoyed the view into the world the magazine offered. Today, with the availability of the Internet the exoerience is greatly enhanced with the digital expansion of the many wonders of earth and space. Magazines cannot present all the new knowledge becoming available, although the magazine is a treasure. Keep up the excellent work!
Posted by Lawrence Jones on January 19,2011 | 09:48 PM
Presumably you put one picture on every page to maximise exposure to advertising when clearly scrolling down though the images would have been much friendlier. It means you are more interested in selling than informing. It also means I only spent enough time on this site to register my complaint and then left, so defeating your object.
Posted by not a customer on December 2,2010 | 11:25 AM
THIS IS A REALLY COOL FISH
Posted by JOSE R. on October 20,2010 | 01:00 PM
Holy Mole!
Posted by Kent on October 12,2010 | 11:23 AM
This earth is such an amazing place! We all need to learn as much as possible about it and do our very best to preserve it. Thanks to the Smithsonian and all of it's scientists, researchers, photographers and behind the scenes people that try to educate us.
Posted by L Anderson on September 18,2010 | 12:21 PM
how can u say that
Posted by vikas on September 18,2010 | 11:56 AM
the pic those not look real !
Posted by Carlos Guillermo on September 8,2010 | 01:03 PM
Give more details.
Posted by Ismayel Noreus on September 7,2010 | 06:03 PM
Amazing how many species we discover from our Ocean, yet we can see out in space to the Big Bang. Earth is fascinating.
Posted by Paul Dymon on August 30,2010 | 10:57 AM
That is a mean looking fish!
Posted by Dennis Green on August 27,2010 | 03:28 PM
thanks fer bringing such creatures to light for the sake of ordinay yet curious people.pl try to give detail information
Posted by digambar gadgil on August 20,2010 | 10:25 AM