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PECULIAR ANIMALS

Jeanne Therese S. Miranda

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Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus

eques) T

There are only two species of

sea dragons in the world.

These rare members of theseahorse family are found in

the waters of southern and

western Australia. The leafy

sea dragons green and yellowleaf-like fins provide perfect

camo amid the seaweeds and

grasses where they live. Like

the seahorse, the male sea

dragon carries the eggs (but on

a "brood patch" located on the

tail instead of in a stomach

pouch). "Leafies" can grow up

to 13 inches long.

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Sea AngelWe wouldn't be surprised to

find that sea angels are in the

same family as, say, themythological Sirens. They're

called angels, but are actually

a predatory sea snail. This

particular specimen,Platybrachium antarcticum,

"flies through the deep

Antarctic waters hunting the

shelled pteropods (another

type of snail) on which itfeeds," according to the

Marine Census of Life.

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Pink Sea-Through

FantasiaIts name makes it sound

like a piece of sexy

lingerie, but don't be

fooled: The pink see-

through fantasia is a sea

cucumber, found about a

mile and a half deep in

the Celebes Sea in the

western Pacific (east ofBorneo).

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Dumbo OctopusDumbo octopus is a type

of octopus named after

Walt Disney's famous

character Dumbo the

elephant because of the

ear-like fins. Dumbo

octopus has soft, head-

shaped body with 8

arms. They are connected

with each other via thinflaps of the skin. Two

ear-like fins are

positioned on both sides

of the "head".

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BLANKET OCTOPUSThe membrane attached

to some arms of the

blanket octopus serves

as a defense mechanismbecause it expands to

distract predators and

can be shed if necessary.

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Blue DragonsAlso known as Glaucus

atlanticus. The animals floatupside down at the surface

of the sea, keeping afloat by

swallowing air which is

stored in their stomachs.Their diet is mainly made up

of hydrozoans including the

Portuguese Man o War -

they even eat the stings. As

well as getting nourishment

from the stings, they use

them for their own defence.

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Mexican SALAMANDERAlso known as Axolotl. The

axolotl is known for its wide

head and face; stubby,underdeveloped legs with

long, slim, digits; slimy tail;

and external gill stalks that

look like plumage. It is a

type of amphibian that

reaches adulthood without

undergoing metamorphosis,

retaining its juvenile

characteristicssuch as itsgillsand thus staying in its

larval form throughout its

life.

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Pacific Barreleye Fish

Barreleyes get their namefrom their large, barrel

shaped eyes which are

topped by huge green lenses.

These are inside a round,

transparent, fluid-filledhead. This barreleye inhabits

depths of around 600 metres

(2,000 ft) to 800 metres

(2,600 ft), where thedarkness approaches

absolute black.

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Sea PigsAlso known as Scotoplanes,

but earned their nicknames

because of their little legs

and plump, pinkishappearance. However, the

'legs', arranged in a circular

row around the its base, are

actually elongated feetwhich are used to push food

into their mouths. Sea pigs

feed on organic particles

which they extract from

deep sea mud and studies

have shown a particular

taste for food that has

freshly fallen from the

ocean's surface.

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Peculiar Doriopsilla

(Doriopsilla peculiaris)It is known to occur in the

waters of southern

Australia. This species is

yellow to pale pink in

colour and generally has

small white patchescovering the upper surface.

The rhinophores and gills

are generally a little bit

dark in colour than themantle. This species is

known to feed on sponges

and it is generally only

seen at night.