Frogfish

Frogfish are some of the most bizarre looking fish in the ocean. They are a type of angler fish with amazing adaptations for camouflage. Their bodies are oddly shaped and they can change colors to blend in with their environment. Most frogfish mimic corals, sponges, seaweed, or rocks. This camouflage keeps predators from identifying them as food, and it keeps their food from identifying them as predators.

Frogfish spend most of their lives scooting along the bottom of the ocean. They lie motionless, resting on specially modified fins that act almost like legs.

Like most angler fish, frogfish have a very clever method of hunting prey. Instead of going out to find their food, they bring their food to them. Frogfish have a small growth on their heads that looks like a small worm or fish. They dangle this lure in front of their mouth, tricking other fish into thinking it is food.

The fish come close, thinking they will eat an easy meal. Instead they become the meal for the frogfish.


Frogfish are found in oceans throughout the world, and they take on a staggering variety of shapes and colors.

Manta Rays

Manta rays are the largest member of the ray family, growing up to 25 feet across. While most fish swim, rays fly gracefully through the water by flapping the edges of their fins like wings. Rays are actually relatives of sharks.

Manta rays are a favorite among divers because they are so large and beautiful, but also very gentle. They are said to often become curious about divers and interact with them. They have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any of the shark family. They are also sometimes found in groups or even large schools.

Manta rays are sometimes referred to as devil rays because of the hornlike projections around their mouths. These are actually used to funnel food into their gaping mouths. They feed exclusively on plankton, which they scoop into their mouths as they glide along the currents. Manta rays swim slowly, often doing loops and dives as they seek out plankton.

With their huge wingspan, one often wonders if they could fly. In some ways, they do. Rays have been observed leaping completely out of the water for short periods of time. Naturally gravity takes its toll but they get some considerable air time before plunging back under the waves.

If you want to see a giant manta ray in person, you can find one swimming along with 3 whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium. I got to watch this graceful giant up close on my recent visit there.

Puffer Fish

Puffer fish have a very unique defense mechanism. They are able to swallow water to inflate their bodies like balloons. Most fish will eat anything that will fit into their mouth, and avoid anything bigger than themselves. By puffing up like this, a puffer fish quickly jumps to a much bigger size, and becomes inedible to most fish.

A puffer fish spends most of its time deflated. In this state, it is much more streamlined and can swim unhindered in search of food. When it puffs up, it moves extremely slowly. I used to catch puffer fish by startling them into puffing up. This made them suddenly almost immobile. I could then easily pick the little ball up with my hands.

If I caught them in a net before they managed to puff up with water, they would fill up with air. This turned them into little living balloons. I would put them on the surface and they would float down the beach until they relaxed and deflated.

Puffer fish come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Most can easily fit into the palm of your hand, but some grow as big as a person. Some species are decorated with beautiful colors as well.

Mandarin Goby

One of my favorite fish in the whole ocean is the Mandarin Goby. Its lifestyle and behavior are much like any other goby, but its colors are absolutely stunning.

These vibrant and flashy fish can be found as the centerpiece of many saltwater aquariums. They are heavily sought after because of their beautiful display.

Flying Fish

Flying fish are some of the most amazing organisms in the ocean, and believe me there are lots of amazing creatures in the sea. Flying fish have a very unique defense mechanism for escaping predators. They have found that the best way to avoid other fish in the water is to get out of the water. As their name suggests, flying fish can actually leap out of the water and fly short distances.

Flying fish have very specialized pectoral fins (the fins on their sides) which can actually function as wings. While underwater, they fold the fins close to their bodies so they can swim just like normal fish. When a flying fish feels threatened, it will take a running start and jump out of the water.
Some flying fish have been clocked to fly for over 45 seconds, but most flights are relatively short. Like all fish, flying fish still breathe through gills, and must return to water before they run out of oxygen. Still, that quick flight is plenty of time to escape most predators. As far as most fish are concerned, if their prey leaves the water, it is out of reach.

Sharks

Sharks are the most effective and deadly predators in the oceans of our world. Sharks are perfectly designed aquatic killing machines. There are over 360 known species of sharks, ranging from the tiny dogfish to the massive whale shark.

The bodies of sharks are perfectly designed for quick and decisive strikes. They are streamlined for speed and power in swimming. A shark's skin is covered in tiny teeth which face forward, causing a layer of turbulence around their bodies and making them even more streamlined. The high tech racing suits worn by many swimmers in the Olympics were designed to mimic a shark's skin.

Most sharks are colored to help them disappear into the water. They are a dull gray and darker on top to blend into the deep waters when looking down at them. Their undersides are light, blending in with the light water above.

Sharks have heightened sense organs to help them find prey. These sense organs are packed into their snouts. This causes their noses to be very sensitive. Sharks can often be warded off by a sharp blow to the nose, which causes them great pain. They can smell even a drop of blood in the water for miles, which is why you should never swim when you are bleeding. When sharks smell blood, they often go into a frenzy, lashing wildly at anything that moves. Sharks also have electric receptors and can sense the tiny electric fields emitted by living things. When an animal panics or is afraid, their electrical signals increase and sharks can sense it. This is why it is said that sharks can sense fear. In a way, they can. They can read the heightened electrical activity in terrified prey, and it makes them more likely to attack.

Sharks have massive jaws that actually unhinge to allow them to take huge bites. When a shark bites, its eyes actually sink back in their head to protect them from thrashing enemies and their sharp claws or fins. Their strong jaws are lined with rows of thousands of razor sharp teeth which continually fall out and are replaced.

Man has always feared sharks, but they actually don't normally hunt humans. A shark prefers oily, fatty fish and seals for a meal. Sharks also tend to feed on weak or injured sea creatures. They rarely bother attacking healthy animals unless they are very hungry. Sharks are attracted to blood, splashing, and fear. Each of these things tells a shark that the animal is hurt, and will be an easy meal. If you ever see a shark, stay calm and relax. It will usually just check you out, then leave you alone.
Most shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity. Humans surfing in wetsuits look very similar to seals, which are some of their favorite prey. In the entire world, there are an average of only about 50 shark attacks each year. Only about 5 of these are fatal. On the other hand, there are an average of 520,000 murders worldwide each year. We are over 100,000 times more likely to be killed by a human attack than a shark attack, and we go out in human infested areas each day. So don't let sharks scare you out of the water.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are some of the most graceful and majestic animals in the ocean. They glide through the water effortlessly, flapping their arms like wings. Sea turtles can be found throughout the oceans of the world, from coral reefs to open waters.

Sea turtles have a very unusual life cycle for a marine organism. They spend nearly their whole lives in the ocean but come out onto land to lay their eggs. Sea turtles somehow remember where they are born and will migrate hundreds of miles to return to the exact place they hatched to give birth to the next generation.

A female sea turtle will crawl out onto the beach and dig a hole where she deposits hundreds of eggs which look just like pingpong balls. After incubating in the warm sand, they will all dig their way out of the sand, erupting out of the ground. They make a mad dash towards the waves, running from the many predators that see them as an easy snack.

Baby sea turtles are instinctively attracted to light. The moon naturally points them towards the waves where they will be safe. They will also follow any other light that seems brighter than the moon, including houses and street lamps. This is why many seaside areas are asked to turn thier lights off at night during breeding season. Most species of sea turtles are endangered, but humans are working hard to protect these majestic animals.