Things that change how I feel about swimming in the ocean.

[rubato]

And this one was local! Right here! It's one thing when it's off in some exotic tropical reef.













I mean geez, holy crap, these things make sharks look like harmless utility maximizers no worse than the Koch bothers!

yrs,
rubato

[wesw]

I believe those are all deep water fish

[rubato]

I believe those are all deep water fish

No.

yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

This one is deep ocean: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... s-science/





This one is deep ocean: http://kellydowney.hubpages.com/hub/TOP ... -THE-WORLD



This one is rivers and lakes, African: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish

[wesw]

oh that s a wolf fish, I thought it was a Patagonian toothfish at first glance, aka Chilean sea bass.

my mistake

[Gob]

[MajGenl.Meade]

Bluebottle!

and

[Guinevere]

Why not make fun of unattractive fat men for a change, Meade? Or does that cut too close to the bone?

Seriously, give it a rest. It's not funny. It's not clever. It's mostly ignorant and mean.

[MajGenl.Meade]

OK - here's something else that would change how I feel about swimming in the ocean (aside from not wanting to inflict my own carcass on the vision of others):

[Guinevere]

Whoosh.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I never got the hang of reading past the first paragraph...

[Lord Jim]

I believe those are all deep water fish

No.

yrs,
rubato

In fact from BSG's post we can see that all the fish you posted pictures of are in fact deep ocean dwellers except for one that lives in rivers and lakes in Africa...

So this statement:

this one was local! Right here!

Would be what we call "wrong"...

Unless 1900 feet deep is your idea of "right here"...

[rubato]

This handsome little creature [ 9cm ] was captured by video in the Monterey Bay just a short hop from our house.

The deepest reaches of the ocean contain some of earth's most incredible creatures. They're also some of the most bizarre.

On Nov. 17, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Senior Scientist Bruce Robison and his team filmed an elusive "black seadevil" anglerfish 1,900 feet deep in the Monterey Canyon. To appreciate the magnitude of their find, it helps to know that anglerfish have been filmed only half a dozen times — ever.

"This is the first time we've captured this fish on video in its habitat," Robinson said. "Anglerfish, like this Melanocetus, are among the most rarely seen of all deep-sea fishes."

And a nightmare-inducing vision they are. Females, like the one seen here, have a "fishing pole" on their heads that lures in prey with a light on the tip. They have tiny eyes and can't see well in the pitch black of Monterey Canyon so they rely more on feelers on their bodies to sense their environment. Anglerfish can also swallow prey larger than themselves because their stomaches are highly flexible murder balloons.

Before you suggest setting Monterey Bay on fire, keep in mind that this anglerfish is only about nine centimeters long (whew).

In our immediate locality. Right here. Our ocean backyard.

And the freshwater fish is not by any stretch of the imagination a "deep water fish" hence the accuracy of my response.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

And this one was local! Right here! It's one thing when it's off in some exotic tropical reef.

Harmless, its prey includes crustaceans and small fish, the largest are only a few inches long.




Feeds mostly on crustaceans and small fishes, grows to 2 foot long, some species of dolphins and sharks are known to prey upon viperfish



Its a freshwater fish distributed throughout much of Africa, so not likely to be found in the ocean. An important food and income source for locals. It's diet is small fish and crustaceans, so hardly dangerous to you.

I mean geez, holy crap, these things make sharks look like harmless utility maximizers no worse than the Koch bothers!

yrs,
rubato

Daft comparison, these things are no threat to humans, sharks are.

[oldr_n_wsr]

There are more things to be afraisd of in the ocean then these things.
You're more likely to get stung by a jellyfish.

Swim if you want to. Chances are nothing will happen to you other then getting sand in places you don't want to.

[rubato]

Yet another recent local sighting. Quite the handsome fellow too:

MBARI featured image

Flapjack octopus
This flapjack octopus in the genus Opisthoteuthis was photographed 330 meters (about 1,080 feet) below the surface in Monterey Bay. Flapjack octopus can swim by moving their fins, pulsing their webbed arms, pushing water through their funnel for jet propulsion, or all three at once. They often swim up off the bottom and hover a bit just above the seafloor, looking for small crustaceans, worms, and other food. MBARI researchers are working with aquarists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to learn more about flapjack octopuses.

I get the feeling that marine biologists think about food a lot.


yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

A fish can be deepwater and also local, as proven by the fact that the fish was brought up by marine biologists in Monterey.

And I would think it's not difficult to detect the facetious nature of rubato's posts in this thread - unless, of course, one is so blinded by acrimonious feelings as to lose all sense.


I suppose I can possibly understand the pig piling on in threads where rubato has interjected his opinions in a manner one finds objectionable; but how do you excuse going to his threads - started by him - and pig piling there? Can't y'all just not visit his threads?



There are many creepy-looking critters in the ocean, deep and shallow. Whether or not they pose actual physical danger to humans is not relevant to whether they creep people out, wherever they exist. Sometimes a creepy-looking snaggle-toothed fish is just that.

[Long Run]

OK - here's something else that would change how I feel about swimming in the ocean (aside from not wanting to inflict my own carcass on the vision of others):

First rule when you find yourself in a hole . . . blame it on Republicans (this is a Rubato thread after all).

[rubato]

The point, which I am glad to see was apparent to at least one reader, was to share in the wonder and beauty of the natural world. Endless variety, all of it a source of inspiration to ask "why is it like that"? "How does that design work"

An opportunity to engage in a different way on a different level, too.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Looks like a novelty condom.