![]() Photo by Morgan Bennett-Smith.īasically an urchin. Or giant spiky balls, covered in eyes? Either way, creepy. As a whole, these all sort of function as one collective “eye”. While they lack “normal” eyes, new research suggests sea urchins are covered in photosensitive cells, from their tube feet to the tips of their spines. That giant eye-like thing in the middle of their body (pictured above)? Ya, that’s its anus. Here’s a creepy fact – sea urchins don’t really have eyes, at all. Mozaik contributor Michele Manson has a great article on tips for CFWA, here. If you’re willing to risk it, these fish can be great subjects for close focus wide angle (CFWA), with a good wide angle lens. ![]() They won’t do major damage to you, but when one of these big fellas comes up out of nowhere and nips you on the leg, it is quite a painful fright! The reason for this is usually related to nesting season – during these periods, females lay their eggs in nests over flat, sandy areas, and “vigorously defend them.” I would say that’s an understatement. But, as many tropical divers can attest to – their aggressive behavior is legendary. Like the cone snail, I don’t think these fish look scary they’re actually a very pretty fish, in my opinion. The Titan Triggerfish.Īnother addition to this list more for practical reasons. ![]() If you find a live cone snail on a dive, they’re not too difficult to photograph with a good macro lens and a strobe or two. The more venomous ones go after fish and larger prey, the others are more interested in worms and small polychaetes.Ĭone snail venom is also a frequent target of scientific research – especially for pharmaceutical applications. Usually the way to get a general idea if it’s possibly a dangerous species of cone snail is by the width of the aperture, or opening, of the shell. Just be careful picking up those big pretty shells. Cute, right?īut, don’t worry too much, there’s some 900 species of cone snails, and only a few can do real damage to you. It’s like a tiny little hypodermic needle, for snails. Why? Because this unassuming little gastropod features a specialized, harpoon-like feeding apparatus that envenomates and paralyzes its prey. Nothing scary about this one, unless you’re scared of snails or French cuisine, right? The Cone Snail.Īh, the humble cone snail. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments! 15. So, without further ado, here’s Mozaik’s list of the top 15 spooky underwater creatures, with tips to photograph them if possible – some you might see on a dive, others hail from the deep sea alone. In general, we could make a list exclusively featuring deep sea creatures, because frankly deep sea stuff is just freaky in general, but that isn’t as relatable. That being said, it’s the Halloween season…and us divers know that there are some residents of the deep that are a little spookier-looking than others. If you’re reading our blog, chances are pretty good that you’re not scared of the ocean, nor the animals that call it home.Īnd, you shouldn’t be! Hollywood has done a great job making millions of people afraid of the ocean’s fauna, most commonly sharks – starting with Jaws, but continuing with new (terrible) shark-related horror flicks every year.
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