Most Likely To
A quick guide to the standouts of the National Museum of Natural History's "Ocean Hall Class of 2008"
- By Anika Gupta
- Smithsonian magazine, September 2008, Subscribe
In the Ocean Hall some 100 sea creatures reside preserved in glass jars. Each specimen has its own unique traits, and together the collection represents the vast diversity of sea life. Here is a quick guide to the standouts of the "Ocean Hall Class of 2008."
Most Likely to Get Ahead
The monkfish, whose head makes up 75 percent of its body.
Most Likely to Stick it to the Man
Cone shells. These mollusks inject their unsuspecting prey with a fast-acting poison.
Best Accessorized
The Johnson's black anglerfish, which lures prey into its mouth with a small phosphorescent light that dangles from its forehead.
Most Likely to Go Places
The purple bubble raft snail, which drifts on a dinghy of self-created bubbles.
Most Down and Dirty
Acorn worms, which burrow in sand, sediment and mud. Some are as long as eight feet.
Most Likely to Star in a Horror Movie
The giant sea spider, whose long mouthpart sucks the tissue out of its invertebrate prey.
Best Holiday Spirit
The Christmas tree worm, which extends pine-tree-like plumes to eat and breathe.
Most Colorful Character
Flatworms. These sluglike invertebrates come in a host of brilliant hues and patterns.
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Comments (1)
What fun! I'd love to have the author come visit the Sea Creatures in Glass exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History -- open free to Smithsonian readers on the upcoming Smithsonian Museums Day -- and make up 'Most Likelys' for the amazingly realistic 19th c. models of octupus, anemones, jellies, sea squirts, sea slugs, etc. on display there. More at www.hmnh.harvard.edu.
Posted by Blue on August 27,2008 | 12:09 PM