The Blobfish

Okay, you’ve probably seen this little guy before, but I just couldn’t consider my “Bizarre” collection complete without adding him. This is the Blobfish. He was voted the ugliest animal in the world. Poor guy.

Blobfish look like they do because they live so deep in the ocean (2,000-4,000 feet deep) where the water pressure is up to 120 times greater than it is at sea level. That pressure would explode the bones of normal creatures.

Found near Australia and Tasmania, the Blobfish (or Psychrolutes Marcidus as it’s more formally called) have practically no muscles. Their bodies are like gelatinous masses. They don’t have swim bladders that help most fish stay afloat either, but luckily, their bodies are less dense than the water, so they’re good. They just float near the bottom of the ocean all day eating whatever is unlucky enough to float or swim by their mouths.

They’re very rare, and I wouldn’t recommend trying to swim down to the bone-crushing depths to try to see one. Just be content looking at pictures online.

Love

This rose is from a rose bush I planted over twenty years ago. Still blooming. Still beautiful.

‪#‎quote‬ ‪#‎quotes‬ ‪#‎love‬ ‪#‎poetry‬ ‪#‎rose‬ ‪#‎roses‬ ‪#‎flower‬ ‪#‎flowers‬ ‪#‎nature‬‪#‎beautiful‬ ‪#‎darkness‬

A Quote about the Brokenness Inside Us All

Everybody is broken in some way, and this can affect how they act and relate to others. Don’t focus on that. Try to see beyond the brokenness to the beauty inside.

Foxfire Fungus

 If you’re ever walking alone in the woods at night, and you see something that looks like fairy lights or will o’ the wisps, don’t get too excited. Unfortunately, you probably haven’t passed over into a fantasy world full of elves and adventure. Most likely, what you’re seeing is just regular ol’ foxfire fungus.

Even though it’s sometimes called fairy fire, it has nothing to do with tiny, beautiful, flying people. Foxfire fungus is the common name for many fungi that glow in the dark. It’s usually found on rotting wood and emits a blue-green glow using the same chemical reaction that occurs in lightning bugs (fireflies). Normally, it’s pretty dim, but if you’re really lucky, you might see some that’s bright enough to use as a natural reading light.

There are from thirty to forty types of foxfire fungi in the world, and reference to them goes as far back as Aristotle in 382 B.C. They can also be seen in many books, movies, and TV shows from Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn to TV’s Psych.

Even though, seeing foxfire isn’t an indication that you’ve been transported to a mystical land, it can certainly make you feel like you have. Just don’t go too “Alice in Wonderland” and decide to eat some of it; it will make you very sick.

 

 

Sea Pigs

You’ve probably never before seen these strange slug-like creatures called sea pigs, but they are actually very abundant all over the world, especially in the northern Atlantic Ocean, eastern Pacific Ocean and in central and south America. These sea pigs, also called sea cucumbers or scotoplanes, live on the deep sea floor around 3.7 miles under the ocean surface. They tread water using their tube-like feet, of which they have from five to seven, and shove food into their mouths with their tentacles. They usually have around ten of these. Their name is most likely connected to their fat, gelatinous body.  

These unusual creatures travel in groups. The larger the group, the smaller the sea pigs, and the smaller the groups, the larger the sea pigs. A very sociable species, they make up the majority of the deep-sea population.

A Truly Anti-Social Tree

 

This is the Sandbox tree. Its trunk is covered in strong pointed spikes that come in varying degrees of size depending on the tree. It’s also sometimes called “Monkey-no-Climb” because, well, obviously, it would be inadvisable for a monkey to climb it. You might also hear it referred to as the Dynamite tree. This name is derived from the fact that its seeds are enclosed in pumpkin-like capsules (the fruit) that explode loudly shooting the seeds with enough force to injure anyone or anything foolish enough to be standing too close. (And by “too close” I mean less than 100 yards away.)

While the fruit of this tree is reportedly tasty, its seeds, if eaten, will make you very sick. If all of that weren’t enough, this tree also comes with poisonous sap that is used by some natives of Central and South America, where this tree can be found, to incapacitate fish and even some mammals.    

I really don’t see how the Sandbox tree could be any clearer in its desire to be left alone. It seems to me that the wisest course of action would be to accede to its wishes and leave it be.  

The Mary River Turtle

This is the Mary River Turtle. They’re called that because they live in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. They’re great lovers of sunbathing, and because of their large feet, they’re incredibly fast swimmers. They have barbels under their chins that they use as feelers when searching for food along the riverbank. They also have long tails, webbed hands and feet with claws, and get this, when they’re underwater, they can breathe through their butts! Well, actually, they have gill-like structures on their bottoms called bursae. Because of these, they’re sometimes known as “bum-breathers.”

This adorable turtle is probably the largest freshwater turtle, but unfortunately, it’s endangered. They used to be such popular pets that thousands of them were sold and separated from others of their kind. As a result, not as many baby Mary River Turtles were born.

Not all have opted for the punk rock hair style that the one in the top picture sports. Some prefer buzz cuts, and some like to go bald, but whether they choose an algae hairstyle or the simple smoothness of their bare heads, you have to admit they are all pretty cute.

The Monkey Orchid

I know it may be hard to believe, but this is actually a flower, not a monkey. Really! 🙂 It’s called a “Monkey Orchid” or more scientifically “Dracula Simia.” And yes, the name Dracula comes from the infamous Count. It’s called this because of the two long spurs that resemble teeth.

This monkey orchid grows mostly in high elevations of the Ecuadorian forest. They can also be seen in the forests of Peru and Columbia, in high elevations, of course. If you’re ever lucky enough to get near one, take a big sniff. Apparently, it smells like a ripe orange and is quite pleasant. 

The Bleeding Tree

This is the Dragon’s Blood tree. The Dragon’s Blood tree “bleeds” when it is cut. Well, not really, but it’s red sap certainly looks like blood. People throughout history have used this unusual sap, or dragon’s blood, for many things ranging from dyes and medicines to glue, breath fresheners and alchemy.

 

The tree is rare and can be found on some small islands in the Indian Ocean, particularly on Socotra Island. The inhabitants there use the dragon’s blood sort of as a panacea to cure many and most medical problems.

But even without the benefits of it’s unique “blood,” this tree would still be a beautiful addition to any landscape.