Friday, October 3, 2014

A Fish Story For Freaky Friday...!

Now I bet that all of you are wondering what kind of freaky fish story can qualify for today. Well, here it is...and I think you'll find it is kinda freaky!

I reckon that most of us just take it for granted that fish have to have water to live in, right? It seems that isn't always the case. Another case where Mother Nature has thrown us all a curve.

Killifish Overcome Their Watery Limitations

No matter how many abilities fish have, there’s still one universal rule: They’re stuck in the water. The mangrove killifish has found a way around even this immutable requirement, though. It can live inside of rotting trees and branches on land for months—it’s called “logpacking.” This is a fish that lives in trees. When pools dry up or the water recedes, mangrove killifish will jam into old trees, hollow coconuts, discarded coffee cans, or just under the leaf litter. As long as it’s kept moist, the killifish can survive like this for 66 days.

While other fish, like the lungfish, can survive without water for longer, they have to go into a dormant state, a kind of fish hibernation. Killifish maintain a normal metabolic state, so that as soon as the water hits, they jump up and take off. The secret is that their skin acts like an extra set of lungs to take in air and maintain salt levels. They are some of the most amphibious of all the amphibious fish . . . and they’re hermaphrodites. So while they’re living in a log waiting for the tide to come back, they can self-fertilize to pass the time.

Sounds to me like Mother Nature has kinda outdone herself this time. Of course, I say that every time I find an article like this one!

Coffee out on the patio today. It's supposed to cool off a bit, but we'll see!

7 comments:

Chickenmom said...

Have heard about the lungfish, but not the other one! Cloudy and cool at 55 here, but should be sunny later.

linda m said...

This is a new fish for me. Sounds like Mother Nature out did herself with this one. It is raining here, cool, and we are expecting it to get down to around 37 tonight. Crazy weather! Have a great weekend.

texasann said...

Bubba -
Fish in trees? That IS freaky! Last thing I want to see if I'm ready to relax with a good book under a tree... but then, I don't think we have any Killifish in the oaks and pines around me. Maybe I'm safe.
You really did good with this one!
Big hugs -

Sixbears said...

Did you ever think that the creator might have had a few drinks while on the job?

Coffee by the woodstove this morning. Frosty out there -maybe two cups of coffee before attempting the day.

JO said...

Good post, I know about the lungfish and recently saw the fish that can walk on land but not this one. To bad they didn't have a picture.

55 here this morning loving it, later it will be in the 90's but that's OK the humidity is all but gone.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
Always something new on the menu, right?

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Linda M...
Right you are about the crazy weather. I'm looking forward to some cooling off here, but we never know anymore.

Thanks for stopping by today!



Hey Sis...
I think this guy is found mostly around the Mangroves areas. Don't need him in my neighborhood.

I appreciate you coming over!



Hey Sixbears...
He does seem to have a strange sense of humor sometimes.

Thanks for the visit this morning!



Hey Jo...
You can find some video of this one over at YouTube. Strange little creature, but very colorful!

Thanks for dropping in, sweetie!

Bob Mc said...

There is also the walking catfish; maybe the one JO mentioned. They can strike out over land traveling from one pond to another.