The Pterois

The pterois, more commonly known as a lionfish or zebrafish, are a fairly common species of fish whose native residence is in the Indian and Pacific oceans.  Easily recognized by its unique pattern, it is commonly kept as an aquarium pet in many households.  The lionfish is actually venomous, which is an uncommon trait for fish in the eastern Atlantic.  While their venom is rarely fatal to healthy adults, it has been known to kill small children and the elderly.  However, they are not aggressive, and most incidents occur when a diver accidentally steps on or grabs one.  If prepared correctly, the lionfish is edible, and is quite common as a food in many cultures.  Lionfish can live up to fifteen years old and have a relatively simple mating ritual compared to some other species of fish.  Females release egg sacs containing about fifteen thousand eggs, which the males then fertilize as they swim by.  The lionfish has quite a diverse diet, feeding mainly on small fish, invertebrates, and mollusks.  The lionfish have very few natural predators, mainly due to its venomous fins and scary colors.  However, animals like the moray eel, bluespotted cornetfish, and large groupers are brave enough to feast on the lionfish,    However, due to many people keeping them as pets, they have recently been released into the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and are quickly becoming an invasive species, mainly due to their lack of predators.  If left unchecked, the lionfish can pose a threat to the diversity of reefs on the eastern coast.  Some groups have attempted to train sharks to eat lionfish in an effort to control their population, with little to no success.  Because lionfish can reproduce monthly, their populations are extremely difficult to control, thus they have rapidly spiraled out of control within the last decade.  Lionfish are extremely popular in aquariums, as they are easy to obtain and pretty to look at,  They are considered a very easy option for people who want to start a salt-water fish tank, because they are extremely low maintenance and are easy to take care of and feed.  

The Cuttlefish

The cuttlefish is an absolutely adorable sea creature who resides in tropical and temperate waters, mainly along the coasts of East and South Asia, Western Europe, and the Mediterranean, as well as all coasts of Africa and Australia.  They are primarily shallow water dwellers, although

they have been known to live up to deaths of 2,000 feet.  Cuttlefish are a part of the mollusk family, which makes them related to animals like the squid and octopus.  Proportionally, they have the largest brain to body ratios of all invertebrates.  This makes them some of the most intelligent invertebrates on the planet, but granted, they really don’t have very much competition.   

Cuttlefish eat pretty much anything small enough to fit in their mouths, even if it occasionally means another cuttlefish.  However, their diet is primarily crabs, shrimp, fish, and worms.  The cuttlefish uses its impressive array of suction cups to latch onto its prey, quickly devouring it.  Most creatures don’t have a chance to even see the catalyst of their demise approaching, as the cuttlefish has one of the most advanced camouflaging mechanisms in the animal kingdom.  They have the capability to change their color, texture, and in some cases, even body temperature.  This is incredible, as it has been proven that the cuttlefish cannot actually see color itself, so the mechanism involved in its camouflage remains unknown.  Because of its camouflaging capabilities, the cuttlefish is able to easily lie in wait for its prey, as well as escape predators with relative ease, as it can also eject ink at will.  

Like most mollusks, the cuttlefish has a set of extremely advanced eyes.  While it cannot see color, it can detect the polarization of light, which helps it to determine contrast.  The eyes of the cuttlefish can move independently of each other, allowing it to see in almost any direction.  During the development cycle of the cuttlefish, the eye is developed first which means that the cuttlefish can actually observe the outside world from its egg and, when it is born, begin to immediately hunt prey that was seen while in the egg.