Angler Fish

The angler fish, more commonly known for its role as that fish that Marlin and Dory ran into that one time in that one movie, is a fish that lives deep in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.  One of the most recognizable features of the angler fish is the light on it's head, hence the name angler.  This light is an amazing example of adaptation, as its bio-luminescence is what makes it the extremely efficient hunter that it is.  The angler fish will eat pretty much anything that is unfortunate enough to be lured into its gaping maw, and its diet includes, but is not limited to, small fish, eels, shrimp, and even sometimes other angler fish (they aren't the brightest creatures).  These fish are very sensitive, and they often feel that they are judged for their teeth, but the truth of the matter is that it can be extremely difficult to find a licensed orthodontist thousands of feet deep in the ocean.  So be sure if you ever meet an angler fish, don't mention the teeth, or it will probably bite you.  Angler fish range from just a few inches in size to nearly two feet in the deeper parts of the ocean.  The angler fish uses the light on its head to lure prey, and when the unfortunate fish swims too close, the jaws of the angler fish snap shut, instantly killing the poor fish who only wanted to look at the pretty light.  Angler fish have a beautiful mating ritual, which usually ends with the male being consumed by the female in an almost Shakespearean act of love.  The female then lays hundreds of eggs, most of which do not live to hatch as the mother eats some of them sometimes, because parenting.  Some people fish for angler fish in the ocean waters, and their tail is even considered a delicacy in some Asian countries such as South Korea or Japan.  This dish is said to be similar to lobster tail, and is actually very expensive due to the difficulty of successfully catching a fish that deep in the ocean.  To conclude, angler fish are not as mean as they appear, and only want to make friends because they have a hard time doing so.  As any angler fish would tell you, its what is on the inside that counts.

Killer Whales (Orca)

The orca is a species of killer whale that can be found in almost any environment, ranging from the frigid waters of the arctic to the tropical seas. Killer whales have an average lifespan of almost fifty years, which is impressively long for a marine mammal. The orca is a carnivore, feeding on a wide variety of animals including small fish, seals, and even other whales depending on the circumstance.  There have even been cases documented where a pack of killer whales would hunt and kill fully grown blue whales, which are usually over sixty feet long.  Usually, they pose no threat to humans, although there have been some cases of the animals injuring their captors in theme parks such as SeaWorld.  They are highly social creatures, as they travel in groups and families tend to stay together.  Killer whales are usually found in packs (or pods) of somewhere between 6-40 whales. Because they are mammals, they have to surface to breathe, expelling air through their blowhole.  Orca can hold their breath for about twelve minutes, although under normal circumstances they usually only stay under for around five or six minutes.  They are very intelligent creatures, and have been observed to actively teach their young skills that will be helpful for survival.  For example, mothers have been observed to push their young onto the land, allowing the young whale to find its own way back into the ocean, while the mother watches from a distance. Different pods of orca have their own languages and dialects to communicate with each other, which is mostly in the form of clicks.  They can also be trained relatively easy, which is why they are a common show at marine-based theme parks.  The killer whale is an endangered species due to a loss of habitat as well as the illegal hunting and killing of the species.

I will leave you today with a video of someone who is stuck in a kayak, surrounded by killer whales. Personally, I would be terrified to be in her situation, but to each their own I guess.