Frilled Shark

Latin Name: Chlamydoselachus anguineus

The Frilled Shark is one of the strangest sharks in the world. Reaching up to 2 meters in length, this shark is known as a "living fossil" since they are a prehistoric species that has changed very little over millions of years. It has a single dorsal fin and has an almost eel-like appearance. Their name comes from the six pairs of "frilly" gill slits near their jaw, forming something like a collar. Frilled Sharks can be found in several places in waters up to 1,280 meters below the surface where they are specially adapted for. These places include the waters near Eastern United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Japan. Even though some Frilled Sharks can even be found near the surface of the ocean, encounters with humans are incredibly rare. Their diet consists mostly of squids, other sharks, and bony fishes, and it is thought that they swiftly and aggressively attack their prey when it is injured or exhausted from spawning. While their bite is still deadly, scientists have observed that their bite is not as strong as the conventionally built sharks that we are most commonly associated with.

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

For More Info, Check These Websites:

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=1485

http://dsc.discovery.com/sharks/frill-shark.html

http://www.deepseamonsters.com/component/content/article/59-frilled-shark.html

Pistol Shrimp

Latin Name: Alpheus glaber

The Pistol Shrimp is a rather interesting creature. Ranging from half an inch to two inches long, they each have one or sometimes two oversized claws. What is fasinating about this shrimp is that when it snaps its huge claw shut, it forces out a powerful jet of bubbles that travels at an incredible rate of 60mph, and when these bubbles implode, they release a bright flash of light. Not only that, immense heat is released upon impact, and the temperature inside the bubbles reach over 5,000 degrees Kelvin, momentarily reaching the temperature of the sun. With this deadly attack, the Pistol Shrimp can easily stun prey like small fish, crabs, and other shrimps. These shrimps are also known as one of the loudest creatures on Earth; Its claw's snapping sound can reach up to 218 decibels; a human eardrum ruptures only at 150. The Pistol Shrimp also has a symbiotic relationship with species of the Goby fish. Since the Pistol Shrimp has poor vision, a Goby fish will warn it if danger is approaching by suddenly breaking contact from their antennae. In return, the shrimp builds a burrow for the Goby fish to live in. So far, Scientists have discovered over 500 species of Pistol Shrimps.

Alpheus glaber

For More Info, Check These Websites:
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/biology/news-1-shrimp-you-wouldnt-want-meet-dark-alley
http://piratefx.hubpages.com/hub/pistol-shrimp

The Candiru Catfish

Latin Name: Vandellia cirrhosa

The Candiru Catfish is perhaps one of the most deadly fishes in the world. They populate the Amazon River in Brazil and are feared by many people. This is not due to their size; on the contrary, most are 2 inches long. However, its small size and its translucency is what makes it dangerous. The Candiru is a deadly parasite with the nickname of "the vampire fish of Brazil". It is a smooth, slimy, eel-like fish with very sharp teeth. It preys on bigger fish by swimming in their gill cavities and latches onto an artery to feed on the blood of its prey. Once inside, it is difficult to take out due to its protruding spines. These catfishes are attracted to urine, which has caused incidents in the past where groups of these parasites had swam right into the penis or the vagina of the humans who were urinating in the river. This causes immense pain to the victims and removing the Candirus from such a tight spot often ends up in surgery.

Vandellia cirrhosa

There is also another type of Candiru Catfish known as the Candiru Asu (Latin name: Cetopsis candiru). This species of Candiru is also a deadly parasite known throughout Brazil. It has circular mouth filled with sharp teeth to bite through the flesh of bigger prey, leaving a wound that looks similar to that of a bullet hole. The Candiru Asu then proceeds to eats the prey from the inside out. Once a few of these Candirus have entered the body, chances of survival are extremely low since these fishes greatly damage internal organs. Human corpses have been discovered in the Amazon River filled with about 100 of these parasites inside. Scientists have concluded that the victims might have been alive or incapacitated when they were attacked.

Cetopsis candiru

For More Info, Visit These Websites
http://bassfishing-gurus.com/river-monster-candiru-asu.php
http://news.worldwild.org/the-vampire-fish-between-reality-and-myth/
http://animal.discovery.com/fish/river-monsters/candiru-catfish/

Malaysian Exploding Ant

Latin Name: Camponotus saundersi

The Malaysian Ant is a species of black and orange ants that are known for its rather explosive self-defense mechanism. Found on the forest floor of the country of Malaysia, the Malaysian Ant has the ability to self-explode when threatened. While this seems odd, these ants follow a rigorous rule where protecting the colony is its number one priority. In an instance when a predator attacks the colony, groups of these ants will march right up to the enemy. Once they are in range, they contract their abdomen, which causes its venom-filled glands to rupture, spraying deadly poison at the threat. These ants die in the process, but the venom is deadly enough to take down the predator.

Camponotus saundersi

For More Info,Visit These Websites:
http://termitesandants.blogspot.com/2011/10/camponotus-saundersi.html
http://www.wild-facts.com/tag/exploding-ant/

The Northern Shrike

Latin Name: Lanius excubitor 

The Northern Shrike is a songbird found in the tall trees and shrubs of the taiga and tundra of the Northern United States and Southern Canada. With the length of 9 inches and a wingspan of up to 13 inches, the Shrike can be distinguished by its grey back and its black mask. It is a predatory bird that feeds on insects, small mammals, small birds, and even reptiles. What is unique about this creature is its feeding style. After catching its prey with its beak or claws, it often impales the prey on thorns or barbed wire and tear away any wings, spines, or stingers with its beak. This bloody ritual is what gave the Shrike the nickname "the Butcher Bird". After impaling its prey, the Shrike either eats it immediately or leave it behind to eat later.

Lanius excubitor

For More Info, Visit These Websites:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_shrike/id
http://mudfooted.com/unique-feeding-impaling-bird-shrike/

Vampire Squid

Latin Name: Vampyroteuthis infernalis

The first animal of this blog, the vampire squid is a deep-sea squid that lives in the ocean as deep as 3,500 feet below the surface. Quite a strange creature, it shares similarities of that of both a squid and an octopus. Its primary mean of movement are the large fins on its head that flap to move. Living so deep underwater, its body is quite gelatinous. For defense, it draws its cirri-covered arms over itself like a shield that surrounds the body. Since it lacks ink sacs, it can spray a cloud of bio-luminescent mucus from the tips of its arms. Its diet consists of mostly copepods, cnidarians, and other small invertebrate, using its hard beak to break the shells of its prey.

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

For More Info, Visit These Websites:
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=179
http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/vampy.php
http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/vampire-squid.html

Welcome!

This is my first blog, which will be used to inform others about the unique, cool, and just plain weird animals of planet Earth. This blog will consist of animals that people have never heard of with amazing abilities. From the six-legged insects of the jungle to the monsters of the deep, this blog will keep you posted on all the crazy animals that scientists have discovered.