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The Ungodly Creatures Thread
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Whoa, I wanted to know more about this thing, it's even stranger than I thought...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua
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I just can't imagine the kinds of things that live deep in the ocean, miles and miles and miles below the level humans can currently reach. I TRY to imagine, and I just...can't.
It's so damn dark, and there's so much pressure, and it's so damn cold, and there is just so much space down there for something to live in. The ocean averages over 2 miles in depth. Some points go as far as 6 or 7 miles in depth.
::edit::
by "levels humans can reach," I mean comfortably/extensively. I know we have reached the bottom of the Marianas Trench, but we haven't really explored it, for instance.
It's so damn dark, and there's so much pressure, and it's so damn cold, and there is just so much space down there for something to live in. The ocean averages over 2 miles in depth. Some points go as far as 6 or 7 miles in depth.
::edit::
by "levels humans can reach," I mean comfortably/extensively. I know we have reached the bottom of the Marianas Trench, but we haven't really explored it, for instance.
Not to mention the deep sea gigantism phenomenon. There are probably huge creatures down there we haven't discovered yet, such as the giant squid that was once considered a myth. So not only do we have no clue what else is down there, but chances are it's physically massive, which is just freaky to consider.
That water bug reminds me of the Surinam Toad.
During each arc, the female releases 3-10 eggs, which get embedded in the skin on her back by the male's movements. After implantation the eggs sink into the skin and form pockets over a period of several days, eventually taking on the appearance of an irregular honeycomb. The larvae develop through the tadpole stage inside these pockets, eventually emerging from the mother's back as fully developed toads.
And hatching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
During each arc, the female releases 3-10 eggs, which get embedded in the skin on her back by the male's movements. After implantation the eggs sink into the skin and form pockets over a period of several days, eventually taking on the appearance of an irregular honeycomb. The larvae develop through the tadpole stage inside these pockets, eventually emerging from the mother's back as fully developed toads.
And hatching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
Retro said:
That water bug reminds me of the Surinam Toad.
During each arc, the female releases 3-10 eggs, which get embedded in the skin on her back by the male's movements. After implantation the eggs sink into the skin and form pockets over a period of several days, eventually taking on the appearance of an irregular honeycomb. The larvae develop through the tadpole stage inside these pockets, eventually emerging from the mother's back as fully developed toads.
And hatching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
During each arc, the female releases 3-10 eggs, which get embedded in the skin on her back by the male's movements. After implantation the eggs sink into the skin and form pockets over a period of several days, eventually taking on the appearance of an irregular honeycomb. The larvae develop through the tadpole stage inside these pockets, eventually emerging from the mother's back as fully developed toads.
And hatching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
The internet needs to get over its "FUCK THE OCEAN" stupidity. These are beautiful and wondrous creatures. 
Cuttlefish are pretty amazing masters of camo too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ujRgSRYE9A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjycOCyUZ1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XLObuvEryg
Some male cuttlefish will even "morph" themselves to look like females by changing color and making their tentacles looks smaller, so they can slip in and mate with real females while the bigger males are busy fighting.
Cuttlefish are pretty amazing masters of camo too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ujRgSRYE9A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjycOCyUZ1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XLObuvEryg
Some male cuttlefish will even "morph" themselves to look like females by changing color and making their tentacles looks smaller, so they can slip in and mate with real females while the bigger males are busy fighting.
This video provides a little explanation. Octopus section starts around the one-minute mark. The video includes the other video I posted and lots more awesome camouflages.
Another animal that is pretty interesting as far as mimicry goes is the freshwater mussel. The female needs to attract a fish in order to inject her fertilized egg into the fish's mouth. So, using unfertilized eggs and mucus, she creates a lure. Some pics:
The first and last are lures imitating small fish and the middle is a lure of a crayfish. And the mussel can make the lure move as if it were injured. All of this without a brain.
Another animal that is pretty interesting as far as mimicry goes is the freshwater mussel. The female needs to attract a fish in order to inject her fertilized egg into the fish's mouth. So, using unfertilized eggs and mucus, she creates a lure. Some pics:
The first and last are lures imitating small fish and the middle is a lure of a crayfish. And the mussel can make the lure move as if it were injured. All of this without a brain.
Oh, and how could I forget the zombie-eyed snails and the crazy, suicidal ants that climb up to the top of grass and try to get eaten. (In truth, both creatures are infected with a mind-controlling parasite.)
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