Greater Sirens (Siren lacertina) are long eel-like aquatic salamanders, with large external gills.
They are found in bodies of freshwater with muddy substrata in the SE United States, from Ea. VA south through the state of Florida. Sirens are carnivorous, eating a wide variety of small aquatic vertebrates and larger aquatic invertebrates. They have only a pair of small front legs (no back legs), and may grow to a length of up to ~38 in (96.5 cm).
Though they do not possess teeth, they may deliver a painful and bloody bite with the sharp bone ridges in their mouths. They are also capable of vocalizing, emitting clicks and faint barks. Sirens are capable of becoming dormant underground for long periods, in cocoons made of mucous secreted from the skin, during times of drought (up to 1 year in good conditions).
A
‘dumbo’ octopus seen during Alvin Dive 4853 over the weekend at about
2,222 meters depth.
The location was Beryl Seamount at 8° 23.5’N; 104°
40.74.W, west of the East Pacific Rise axis. Photo is a still from the
WHOI-MISO GoPro camera. Alvin pilot was Pat Hickey, observers were
Dennis Geist and Craig Lundstrom.
Sea Things in a New Light Jevin Surjadi, National Geographic Your Shot
Backlit octopus eggs look like a clutch of delicate, painted capsules in this image captured by Jevin Surjadi. But according to the Your Shot photographer, it was no easy shot. “Even with the dive master’s help [holding] the back strobe, which pointed mostly at the wrong angle, there was still the current that [moved] the eggs left and right,” he says. “Luckily, in the split-second window of opportunity when it was not overexposed on one side nor underexposed on the other, this shot was captured.” Taken near Jakarta, Indonesia
With 3 hearts, a beak like a parrot, venom like a snake and ink like a pen - the Octopus makes for a suitable friend. #lindbladexpeditions #natgeo #meettheocean #podcast #scuba #diving #octopus #falklands #ocean #education #conservation
