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Mysterious Marine Animal Pictures have been circulating on the internet, leaving scientists and the public puzzled about what these creatures could be. Some of the most notable pictures include the “Deepstaria enigmatica,” a translucent jellyfish-like creature with a unique bell shape, and the “Glaucus atlanticus,” also known as the blue dragon, a small sea slug that feeds on venomous prey. Other pictures include unidentified sea creatures with strange shapes and colors. While some of these pictures may be hoaxes or misidentifications, they highlight the vast diversity of marine life and the need for continued exploration and study of the world’s oceans.
Wildlife
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The giant oarfish is a creature of enigma, particularly if you prefer enigmas featuring bloated, enormous sea serpents that can reach 56 feet (17 meters) in length and weigh 600 pounds (270 kilograms). Oarfish made headlines for washing up on several shores in October 2013, which was alarming if you believe in the folklore that claims that the beaching of bony fish foretells earthquakes.
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A lot of the mystery surrounding giant squid is due to their size. For squid that can grow more than 40 feet (12 meters) in length and weigh a ton, it’s eerie that they are rarely seen (the first live recording of one came in 2006). But the giant squid lives deep down, so they’re hard to spot.
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A quick lesson on octopus versus squid: Squid usually have an inner shell (called a pen) and two feeding tentacles along with eight arms, while octopuses don’t have a pen or feeding tentacles, but do have eight arms. The giant Pacific octopus has its own shadowy stories: With pigment in its skin that changes colors and textures to match its surroundings, this intelligent marine animal can hide its roughly 16-foot (5-meter) body a lot better than you’d think.
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Sleeper sharks are so named because they were thought to hang out at the bottom of the ocean, lazily feeding on flounder and octopus. But it turns out that these sharks had a trick up their sleeve: They actually move quite easily through the water, and now are thought to be greedy hunters. Not so hard to do when their mouths can suction food in like vacuums, after which they can use their little rows of teeth like a food processor to chop up the chosen prey. The one in this photograph was thought to stretch 30 feet (12 meters). Its bulky body is smushing a bait cage in this pic.
Image courtesy Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
The blob sculpin is a fish whose name sounds like the odd neighbor on a lousy sitcom. But ol’ blob is actually a lot more furtive than the guy next door. Resembling a gelatinous ghost, it’s about 2 feet (0.6 meters) long and rarely spotted. But when you do see it, you’ll find that it indeed has the unfortunate globular features that portend its name.
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Sea cucumbers may seem more commonplace than bizarre and scary sea creatures, but keep in mind that this seemingly innocuous creature can grow to about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long by feeding on algae and the like. It can also shoot out its internal organs from its anus as a defense mechanism (but don’t worry, they regenerate them!).
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For seafood lovers, the idea of a crab with a 15-inch body diameter and a leg span of 15 feet is incredibly appealing. The Japanese spider crab, the largest species of crab and a delicacy, is highly sought after due to its rarity, despite living for 100 years. Their rough shells blend into the rocky ocean beds, making them difficult to find, and their colonies are decreasing in number.
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At first glance, the ocean sunfish, also known as the mola or mola mola, may seem like an ordinary fish. However, these fish can grow to be nearly 14 feet tall and weigh up to 5,000 pounds. One of the most fascinating things about the mola is that they start out as tiny eggs and grow 60 million times to reach their full size.
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Sea dragons, including the leafy and weedy varieties, are strikingly beautiful with their ornate and delicate features. Male sea dragons receive the female’s fertilized eggs on their tails and carry the babies until they hatch.
Photo courtesy Kainita used under Creative Commons CC By 2.0 license.
The frilled shark, a prehistoric species of shark with razor-sharp teeth, still inhabits waters around 3,000 feet deep. While it may not be a cross between a shark and a snake, its unique appearance and ancient origins make it a fascinating creature.
Image courtesy NOAA Fisheries
The nautilus, with its hard, chambered shell, is one of the oldest creatures on the planet and the oldest living representative of a group of shellfish that lived over 400 million years ago. It predates dinosaurs and still inhabits the oceans today.
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The sawfish, with its distinctive saw-like snout, is not only a formidable predator but also has the ability to detect electric fields from prey, even in murky waters. Its unique appearance and hunting abilities make it a fascinating creature.
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Goblins are typically viewed as sly and mischievous creatures. However, the goblin shark takes it to a whole new level as it preys on its victims. Its upper jaw can drop down and thrust out like a spring-loaded trap, making it a terrifying predator. You can witness this in action by watching a video on Discovery. The shark’s mouth also likely has suction, making it even deadlier.
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Scientists discovered orcas with smaller white eye patches and rounder heads. Initially, they believed them to be a genetic anomaly. However, in 2013, they began to wonder if there were more of these orcas. Upon researching an older skeleton, they found that these whales might be a new subspecies of killer whale, like types A, B, and C. To identify the different types, check out the poster from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. The orca pictured here is believed to be a type A.
В© David Wrobel/Visuals Unlimited/Corbis
The giant isopod is a crustacean that resembles a flatter pill bug on steroids. Although it has four mouths, it can go for years without food because the pickings are slim for these bottom dwellers. When there’s plenty of food around, they gorge themselves.
Personnel of NOAA Ship PISCES
The giant hatchetfish is a small creature that measures about 5 inches (11 centimeters) long, but its bioluminescent organs give it a mysterious appearance. The glowing insides confuse predators that prey on dark shapes in the water.
В© Charles Mazel,/Visuals Unlimited/Corbis
Aequorea victoria is an animal that contains luminescent proteins that have been cloned. Scientists use its green fluorescent protein (GFP) to identify when proteins are made and where they go in various organisms. Although jellyfish are known for their bioluminescence, scientists still don’t know when they naturally glow or flash at each other without human stimulation.
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The box jellyfish is known for its terrifying venom that can kill humans before they reach the shore. Despite being feared, this invertebrate is still a mystery to scientists. Unlike other jellyfish, the box jellyfish can move quickly and has an advanced vision system that remains unexplained.
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Contrary to popular belief, lobsters are not immortal. They do die, but they do not experience senility or osteoporosis. Even in their old age, they continue to grow and reproduce. Lobsters can grow to be massive, with the largest ever recorded weighing 44 pounds (20 kilograms). However, scientists still cannot determine their age accurately, as their molting process involves shedding most of their hard parts. Therefore, the mystery of how old lobsters can get remains unsolved.
FAQ
1. What are mysterious marine animal pictures?
Mysterious marine animal pictures are images of unidentified sea creatures that have been captured by cameras or observed by divers. These pictures often go viral on social media and spark debates among marine biologists and ocean enthusiasts about the identity of the animals in question.
2. Where are these pictures usually taken?
Mysterious marine animal pictures are taken all over the world, from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the shallows of the Caribbean Sea. Some of the most famous sightings have occurred in the waters off the coast of Japan, where giant squids and other strange creatures have been spotted.
3. Why are these pictures important?
Mysterious marine animal pictures are important because they help to expand our understanding of the ocean and the creatures that live within it. By capturing images of previously unidentified animals, we can learn more about their behavior, habitat, and potential impact on the marine ecosystem.
4. How do experts identify these animals?
Identifying mysterious marine animals can be a difficult task, as many of the creatures that appear in these pictures are not well-known to scientists. Experts typically rely on a combination of visual cues, such as the shape and color of the animal, as well as its behavior and habitat, to determine its species.
5. Have any of these animals been identified?
Yes, many mysterious marine animals have been identified over the years. For example, in 2018, a strange-looking creature that washed up on a beach in Texas was identified as a fangtooth snake-eel. Similarly, a creature that was dubbed the “Montauk Monster” after it washed up on a beach in New York was later identified as a raccoon.
6. What do these pictures tell us about the ocean?
Mysterious marine animal pictures tell us that there is still much to be discovered in the ocean. Despite centuries of exploration, there are still many creatures that remain unknown to us. By studying these pictures and identifying the animals in them, we can gain a better understanding of the complex ecosystem that exists beneath the waves.
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