Pictures: Strange Sea Species Found Off Greenland

[Ian David]

<snip>


New Shark Swimming off Greenland

Photograph courtesy Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

The Iceland catshark species, including this fish caught during the study period, is among several sharks recently found in Greenland waters for the first time.

The small shark has been found in other oceans at depths of between 2,645 to 4,625 feet (800 and 1,410 meters), where it feeds on fish, marine worms, and crustaceans such as lobster and crabs.

The recent discoveries of deep-dwelling species, such as the catshark, are probably due largely to an increase in deep-sea fishing around Greenland—and a resulting boom in odd, accidental catches—the survey team says.

Five of the 38 new-to-Greenland fish species are relatively shallow dwellers, though, and were likely lured into their new habitats by warming seas, the team says.

(Also see "New Species Pictures: Deep-Sea 'Jumbo Dumbo,' More.")

Published April 21, 2010




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"Swallower" From the Abyss

Photograph courtesy Henrik Carl, Natural History Museum of Denmark

Chiasmodon harteli belongs to a group of fishes known as swallowers because of their ability to swallow prey larger than themselves (pictured, a preserved specimen, its stomach apparently hyperextended). It's also among the 38 species never before seen off Greenland.

Hundreds of yards above Chiasmodon harteli's deep habitat, Greenland has been extensively fished for more than a century.

At these shallower depths, it's reasonable to assume that "any unknown species of fish occurring in today's catches are in fact new in the area," the study team writes.

(Related pictures: "Still Waters, the Global Fish Crisis.")

Published April 21, 2010



More:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/photogalleries/100421-new-fish-species-strange-greenland-pictures

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/rocketman528/status/12792448570

[eShirl]

1. the first pic looks like the "Spy vs Spy" guys from MAD magazine

:rofl:

k&r

[opihimoimoi]

2. The second one looks like Cheneys Love child.....damn....

[veganlush]

4. you're right! I knew it reminded me of something!..(MAD fan)n/t

[Orsino]

6. Made me think of some D&D deep gnomes.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T9n9y1_Lkfs/SW5g3x6_ILI/AAAAAAAAATY/oT2i8gtD2BQ/s400/Duergar-Mine-Captain.+cavotta%230

[asjr]

3. Is it not a small leather change purse?

[havocmom]

5. RE shark in first pic: Picture it with VERY pale skin

Mitch McConnell

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Soo...it's a rare species and we killed it?

[lazarus]

8. well, you know

you play to your strengths.