Readers’ wildlife photos

We have fishes, underwater invertebrates, and one birdie today. The underwater photographs come from reader Peter Klaver, whose notes are indented (readers with marine expertise might identify the squid and the last fish). Here are some photos and links to video clips of underwater wildlife I saw while on a scuba diving trip off the […]

Readers’ wildlife photos

Reader Carl Sufit sent us some nice underwater photos, and I hope we’ll have more from him and others in the future. His notes are indented: After reading your notes from Hawaii, with various underwater images, I felt it was time to send you some of mine. Underwater photography is even harder than surface photography, […]

Readers’ wildlife photos (and videos)

Peter Klaver sent us something we don’t see here often: underwater photographs—and there are some videos as well. Peter’s captions and notes are indented. Included below are 5 full sized scuba diving photos and 5 smaller preview pictures of movie clips. With each preview picture connected to a video, I’ve provided the url of the […]

The bizarre anglerfish: first video of their equally bizarre mating

You’ve surely heard of the bizarre anglerfish. There are actually many such species in the order Lophiiformes, but the most famous are the deep-sea species with fearsome teeth who attract their prey with a luminescent lure. (All anglerfish are carnivorous.) Here’s a picture of ten such species from Wikipedia: Their huge mouths and distendable stomachs […]

Readers’ wildlife photos

We have some New Zealand pictures from reader Michael Hannah, whose notes are indented. Hannah is an associate professor of paleontology and evolution at the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Numbers 1 – 6 were all taken at Pukaha Mt Bruce sanctuary–  I know you visited there on your […]

Poor Nemo!

by Matthew Cobb Here’s a gorgeous photo of clownfish, which just won the photographer, Qin Ling of Canada, an award in the Behaviour category at the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition (click to enlarge) – you can see all the winners here. Ling’s photo is entitled ‘Your home and my home’. Look closely at […]

The oldest living vertebrates? Greenland sharks could live 300-500 years

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), a little known species, rivals the white shark in size. According to Wikipedia, individuals can be as long as 7.3 m (24 ft) and weigh more than 1,400 kg (3,100 lb). Here’s what they look like:  They are mostly fish-eaters, swim slowly for a shark, and live in the area below:  They have poisonous flesh, laced with […]

A day at the Aquarium

by Greg Mayer My Okinawa correspondents spent Boxing Day at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, and sent me a bunch of pictures. The aquarium is a sprawling complex on the coast in northwestern Okinawa, and includes large areas of gardens and park land, and a recreation of traditional Okinawan homes and buildings, as well as the […]

Religion contributes to science

How else could we fully understand this species? (From imgur): Happy Easter! h/t: Hempenstein

Readers’ wildlife photos, now with moar biology

We have two more photos from reader Stephen Barnard in Idaho, who appears to still be alive despite his ownership of a new, high-powered sports car. His customary pair of eagles, Desi and Lucy, have returned as well, and appear ready to make more eaglets. Yet another Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) in flight: The bald eagles (Haliaeetus […]