Oceans 4Ever

Hello, O4E readers! It’s not Halloween, but it IS time again for freaky fish. This our first Freaky Fish Friday in more than half a year, so we want to warm things up for 2010. Are you ready?

Today’s du jour is (drumroll, please)…the GOBLIN SHARK! This is one incredible creature that definitely does NOT like the limelight. Let’s jam it up with some important facts about this amazingly freaky shark (in your face, JAWS!):

• This shark is a deep water-dwelling shark, often found out and about at night at the bottom of an abyss – usually around 900 feet to as far down as 4100+ feet. Rarely ever is one spotted in shallow waters.
• The biggest one found to-date was about 12.5 feet long and 463 pounds.
• The Goblin shark has been found off the coast of Guyana (Atlantic) as well as off the coasts of Japan, Austrailia and New Zealand (Pacific), in the Indian ocean and even off the California coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Few Goblin sharks have ever been caught, making a sighting, much less an encounter, a rare event.

But here is the rare event - a video featuring an up-close encounter with a Goblin shark. I know it’s in Japanese, but don’t worry if you don’t understand it – you won’t want to miss these chompers in action (in your face again, JAWS)! What do you think?

Have a great weekend!

~Alexa

Hi, ocean lovers, it’s been awhile!

After an involuntary break from posting, we’re back, and celebrating the quintessential gateway-to-summer weekend by freaking you – and ourselves – out.

Meet the awesomely freaky Dragon Moray eel – aka enchelycore pardalis. This one is mugging for the camera of Hawaii diver Steve Frisbie, owner of Wanna Dive Kona.

Fairly rare in his Hawaiian neck of the ocean, the Dragon Moray is mainly found in the Indo-Pacific (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions).

This eel grows to about three feet long, and hunts for fish by night. And the horns? They’re nasal tubes, or really long nostrils. Next time you complain about the shape of your own nose, think twice before doing so!

Have a great weekend!

Disclaimer: if you can’t sleep tonight, it’s not our fault.

OK, we may not agree with #2, but the species spokesfish for this video was kind of…ugly.

The good news? You are having a better hair and skin day than all of them!

Check out this freaky fish fest and tell us which one gets your vote.

EEEWW!!