WTF Shed Aquarium Edition

I suppose I could have looked at the sign in front of these fish things, but I didn't. They look a bit like a cross between an anime cartoon, a lizard a fish and an eel. Anybody what to through a little help my way. What are these creatures?

Wow, That Looks Fun!

These dudes were totally soaring. It reminds me of a book I read when I was a kid "The Black Pearl." I think there were some kinds of rays in that one.

More Awesomeness

Sometimes I even amaze myself with these sweet sweet animal photographs. Rock.

P.S. There is definitely some reason he is sticking his huge schnoz into the gravel. But I'm not sure what it is....

Bad Photos, Bad Fish

I couldn't get very good shots of the invasive Asian Snakehead fish because it would not stop moving! This fish was brought to North America from Asia as food but has escaped into the wild. It is voracious. This is from a 2004 Washington Post article:

If it is released in a pond or lake in this area, experts say, the snakehead is instantly at the top of the food chain: It can grow as large as 47 inches long and weigh 15 pounds. The fish can clean out a pond of native fish, officials said, and it also eats insects -- probably including this year's expected bumper crop of cicadas.

The most frightening thing about the Asian Snakehead? It can survive out of water, slithering from one lake to the next in its unstoppable march across this fair continent!!!!

Mirror Fish

It would be confusing to be these fish. No?

Hello Turtles

Whenever I post a series of photos I took at a Zoo of aquarium, I always worry that I am copping out. After all, someone else has gone out and found the animals for me, all I need to do is show up and take their pictures. The sense of adventure is greatly minimized.

To make up for this I redouble my efforts to take truly world-class portraits of my animal subjects. This turtle picture, for example, represents one of the finest turtle pics I have yet taken. The creatures in the picture were so pleased they asked for a print to hang in their den.

Moray Eel

This beefy chap was the star of the party at the Aquarium. I had to muscle my way past a bunch of Japanese tourists just to take a picture of him. Mostly he just waved around in the current, with his head sticking out of his cave/home. I thought his teeth would be more fierce looking.

UPDATE: Now that it's not as provocative to say, I think he looks like Eliot Spitzer.

Yes, It's That Big

Notice how much closer Jeany is to the camera in this shot than this snapping turtle. Now notice how ginormous the turtle is compared to Jeany. This is a snapper from Lake Michigan. When I moved to Illinois I had hoped that the Great Lakes would yield exciting new opportunities to take animal pictures, but there have been a few problems. The major issue is is winter. The second and more disheartening obstacle is that Lake Michigan has been woefully polluted and man has brought in so many invasive species that it really isn't the dynamic ecosystem I had hoped it would be. Still, it is good to see that a turtle this huge can thrive in the lake.

The Least Scary Fish Ever

One thing thats really strange about some fishe is how scary they can be. Fortunately, many of them are beautiful and totally not-scary. This fish, for example, comes from Australia and is fundamentally cute and generally unscary.

A dream about swimming in the ocean at night and meeting up with this fish? I call that a good dream!

Life of the Jelly

I met a man who once swam off the coast of Florida when the air temperature and the water temperature were exactly the same. He said is felt surreal be unable to exactly figure out where one ended and the other began. He almost had trouble deciding where his body ended and the atmosphere began. Is this the life of a Jelly?

Reflection of the Gator

One of natures perfect predators this Gator (or croc?) waits patiently for his next meal. Notice the reflection in the water, an illusion that gives the animal a two-headed appearance.

P.S. If you can find the second hidden gator in this picture, drop a comment!

I really gotta start bringing a notebook

Longterm fans of this website might remember a similar picture I took of another turtle at a different zoo/aquarium. I assure you this picture is better. One thing I do need to remember is to start bringing a notebook to zoos to write down the different types of animals I photograph. Next time!