8 Fishy Facts – Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Marine Life
Here at Oyster Diving we are passionate about diving and exploring the natural beauty of the world’s magnificent oceans. Once you descend into the depths, it is so easy to forget everything else, leave your worries on the shore and marvel at the sights before you. It does not matter how many times you go diving, every time you will see something different. Once underwater, you’ll get to experience ocean discovery at a whole new level, literally. The underwater world is so incredibly peaceful and quiet. There is nothing quite like it. Aside from your own breathing, you cannot hear a sound. And then you see the fish. Over the years here at Oyster Diving we must have seen thousands of different fish species. That’s why we decided to write an article of our top 8 Fishy Facts, sharing some of the most unusual fish facts that you may not have known! Read on and enjoy.
Killer Fish
Most humans assume that sharks are the number one danger in the ocean. However, there are a couple of lesser known fish species which can be much more dangerous to humans and animals. For example, electric eels and electric rays have enough electricity to kill a horse. And the poison in one puffer fish alone is enough to kill 30 people. One of the scariest was The Goliath Tiger Fish which lives in rivers and is known to eat small crocodiles.
The Real Benjamin Button
Was it just me or was the Benjamin Button film a little…well…weird? If you thought it was an unusual idea for a story, think again as this heart wrenching story is real life for the so-called ‘immortal jellyfish’. This amazing jellyfish can turn itself back into a baby repeatedly in times of crisis. If the fish faces any kind of physical damage, starvation, or anything it regards as a crisis, it can transform all its existing cells into a younger state. Thus, this jellyfish has the potential to be immortal. Unfortunately, jellyfish are often prey to bigger fish. No matter how many times it can change age, it turns out the jellyfish can’t resurrect itself from the dead.
Hiding in the Mud
Although the African Lungfish live in freshwater and not the ocean, we thought they were worth a mention. These incredible fish can survive for years, even once their lake has dried up. To survive they enclose themselves in a mud tunnel, breathing air and waiting for the rains to return. If that’s not evolution as survival, then what is?
The Slimiest Fish in the World
Hagfish are widely considered some of the most disgusting animals on the planet. These eel-shaped creatures are not only some of the ugliest sea creatures but they are also the slimiest, producing enough slime in one minute to fill a bucket. To feed, the eel-shaped creatures use four pairs of thin sensory tentacles surrounding their mouths to find food, including carcasses of much larger animals. Once dinner is served, the hagfish completely forgets its table manners and buries itself face-first into its meal to bore a tunnel deep into the flesh of its poor victim.
The Pointed Sawfish
The sawfish is certainly an unusual sight to behold. The pointed sawfish is also known as the “knifetooth,” or “narrow” sawfish is one of the strangest-looking fish in the world. The saw itself is covered in tiny ampullary pores that allow the sawfish to pick up electrical fields produced by fish and other prey. When prey is located, the ‘saw’ is used to stun and impale the unlucky targets. In fact, some sawfish can create enough force to completely sever their prey.
The Parrotfish
Who knew that parrots lived under the sea? These fish, although stunning, are very unusual. Their diet consists primarily of algae that is extracted from chunks of coral. The coral is then pulverized by its grinding teeth. At the end of the grinding of coral, the fish excrete undigested coral. That means, they excrete sand. And that’s not just any sand but the white, pristine holiday-destination sand that you find yourself relaxing in on those gorgeous summer vacations. To add to the weirdness, their pajamas are even more unusual. Every night, parrotfish envelope themselves in a transparent cocoon made from mucous that is secreted from an organ on their head. Nothing like getting all tucked up and cosy at the end of a long day…
The Lion’s Man Jellyfish
The Lion’s Man Jellyfish is not often spotted. In fact, it is a pretty rare sight. However, from time to time, these jellyfish have been known to wash ashore. The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is incredible because it is one of the largest jellyfish in the world. Not only that but it is aesthetically stunning with its brightly coloured body.
The Dumbo Octopus
The Dumbo Octopus is one of the sweetest looking sea creatures we have come across. Noted for their fins, they tend to resemble Dumbo the elephant’s ears (from the famed Disney film ‘Dumbo’). The Dumbo octopus move by slowly flapping their ear-like fins, and they use their arms to steer. Due to living in the dark depths of the ocean, they are rarely seen and are probably not threatened by human activities.
Have you ever tried diving? Give us a call and book a diving experience with us. Take the plunge and try diving, you will always discover something new. Let us know in the comments below of any unusual fish you have come across in our oceans, we would love to hear from you!