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New Marine Species, Dragonfish Eats Lanternfish
An anonymous reader writes "A new species of dragonfish has been discovered which adds to the Earth's biological census of around 28,000 distinct vertebrates. Found by Dr. Tracey Sutton, a fish ecologist at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Ft. Pierce, Fla, the dragonfish's home is the Bear Seamount region off New England-- surprisingly one of the most thoroughly studied marine regions on the planet since it is nearby Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. This rare fish apparently escaped previous discovery because it has some survival disadvantages: it is the size of a hotdog, eats lanternfish using a fleshy lure like a fishing pole, and individualizes that same predatory lure to catch its mate. What apparently the dragonfish has to improve its survival chances are a camouflaging glow (bioluminescence) when seen by lanternfish from below against the sun's glare-- and real big teeth."
Being hotdog-sized has done wonders for hotdogs. Everywhere I look I see many wieners of all varieties. Although what evolutionary pressure leads to the divergence between the number of hotdogs and buns alludes me.
Bah. The new sexual vampire fish are way cooler.
We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
"...it has some survival disadvantages: it is the size of a hotdog, eats lanternfish using a fleshy lure like a fishing pole..."
I don't see how you conclude these are disadvantages. I actually think the 'fleshy lure like fishing pole' is a quite interesting adaptation to help them survive and catch prey.
I also find it interesting that a great deal of 'alien' creatures used in books/movies are no more (and often far less) interesting than some of the bizare creatures you can find on Earth.
aren't the only species to use a "fleshy lure like a fishing pole" to attract mates
Still no reports on what the sawfish eats.
"when life gets complicated, I like to take a nap in a tree and wait for dinner" - Hobbes.
Somebody forgot to watch the deep dark water scene in finding Nemo. Just ask any clown fish. They've seen these...
Hmmm.... Sounds like some scientist just wanted to become popular. Sounds like a spoof to me, smilar to the "Franken-Fish" thing I saw in my Sunday newspaper last year" If any of you have heard about that.. Keith
I wonder if this fish is related to the wallet angler?!
...if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come nae further! For death awaits you all, with nasty, big, pointy teeth!
- Dragonfish Eats Lanternfish
- Lanternfish Eats Plankton
- Plankton Eats Paper
- Paper Wraps Rock
- Rock Smashes Dragonfish
Just thought everyone whould know. That is all."Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."
How many Lanternfish have you caught today?
I wish NASA would switch to Ocean research. Man the resources in there could solve so many riddles and problems. I think Ocean Exploration should replace reality TV. Convert the Nuclear Subs into ocean observatories. I'd bet what goes on down there is WAY more soap opera captivating than a robot on Mars. I think there should be schools of semi-automated fish wandering around as live instructional tools for classrooms. Heck, make a robot to explore an ant's nest. Let kids in school control them and learn.. ..plus the cure to everything is the life on earth. Nasty earthlings destroying all the species. BAD HUMANS!!