Monday, September 6, 2010

'Four-legged' fish goes for a walk along ocean floor

Perhaps he had just got tired of swimming.

For this odd-looking fish looks like he's just decided to head out for an evening stroll along the ocean floor.

But while it looks like he has sprouted legs, this angler fish's limbs are just the fins he uses to balance himself on the sea bed.

The fish rests on the ocean floor as he prepares to make a dart for any passing prey he has lured towards him using the protrusion above his mouth.

Faye Archell, or the Centre of Applied Zoologym said: 'Many species of Angler Fish are what are known as ambush predators. Their fins have adapted as limb like structures to allow them to remain stationary on the sea bed while causing minimal disturbance to the substrate and remaining totally camouflaged. 

'They then use a protrusion on their heads, just above their mouths, that they use as a lure to catch their prey'.

Most of these species live in the great depths of the oceans, but some are found in shallower, tropical environments

The stunning picture was taken by scientists using cutting-edge technology to explore waters off Indonesia.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1306421/Four-legged-fish-goes-walk-ocean-floor-stunning-photos-taken-deep-sea-dive.html#ixzz0yhPCHdvq

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