Landlocked Mermaid

In a blog slot later than usual, it is time for Marine Creature of the Month! This one was inspired by an episode from the O series of Qi , Ocean, where I honestly would have scored all the points. One of the questions was about this particular creature and I knew the answer (if you ignore the fact I refered to it by its Pokémon counterpart!). Naturally, I wanted to learn more about this weird and wonderful creature, so without further waffle, here we are! Sunfish, Mola Mola Photo from Apex Predators Kingdom: Animalia Class: Actinopterygii Conservation Status: VU (Vulnerable) Found: Across the globe Diet: Jellyfish, small fish, larvae, squid Weight: Between 247 - 1,000kg (545 - 2,205lbs) Size: Up to 3.2m (10.5ft) Habitat: Tropical, temperate waters; pelagic water. Can I just start by saying, isn't nature wonderful?! Look at that shape! This fish does not look like it could possibly exist, let alone function and survive, yet here it is. One of...

Angler Fish Photo from Creatures of the World Wikia Kingdom: Animalia Class: Actinopterygii Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU) Found: Worldwide Diet: Carnivorous Weight: Up to 45kg (100lbs) Size: 20cm (8") to 1m (3') Habitat: Some species are pelagic, some are benthic. Everyone knows of the iconic angler fish. Big, gaping mouth full of spiky teeth and a dangling blob of light hovering just in front of its face, illuminating all that terror. There is more to this fish, seemingly made of nightmares. Did you know that there are two types of angler fish species? The image which comes to mind is that of the ones which live deep under the sea, near the sea bed. These are the benthic species, which are compressed dorsoventrally (face to tail) making them short and squat with an upturned mouth. But there are also palegic species, which live much closer to the surface. These are compressed laterally (at the sides) making them long and thin. Both type...