1. Other Tales of Tails Dolphin Fluke :
Flexible to catch water going up and down.
helps to lift the dolphin making it easier to breath
also used to kill fish
slapping -believed to be a signal of danger or upset

2. Flying Fish
The bottom cercal (lobe) is larger than the top so it can swim above the surface of the water when feeling threatened.
the large pectorals provide lift

3. Deep Sea Fish (Mesopelagic, Bathypelagic and Abyssopelagic)
The morphology of deep sea fish is adapted to:
the cold,
the dark,
high pressure
and scarce food.

4. Adaptations to Less Light
Many deep sea fish (mesopelagic) have adapted large eyes to capture what little light exists. Most often, this light is blue-green
Cryptic coloration in the deep:
Deep sea fish are often transparent, black, silvery and even red in color. The absence of red light at these depths keeps them concealed.

5. Bioluminescence Some fish produce light Light organs = photophores
possible functions: attract prey, attract mates, counter shading (dark on top light on the bottom), startle or confuse predators
Light organs = photophores
chemical reaction
symbiotic relationship with light producing bacteria

6. Coloration note:
some fish have special dark lining in their stomach that may serve to conceal light emitted from the light organs of engulfed prey
Some fish produce red light
to not be detected
to attract curious prey

7. Total Darkness
Bathypelagic and abyssopelagic fish have small or no eyes
Use other senses to detect prey

8. The Better to Eat You With
Deep Sea Fish have :
Long sharp teeth
Large mouth
Distensible stomach (it stretches)
Rattail (high in TMAO >TMA)

9. other Feeding Adaptations
Scarcity of food adaptations:
Conserve energy (slow or no movement)
Low metabolism (cold helps)
Feed on detritus and bacteria (marine snow)

10. “Under Pressure”
Pressure increases 1 atmosphere (atm) for each 10 m in depth.
The deep sea depth = 700 m - 10,000 m
Deep sea pressure = 70 atm -1,000 atm.

11. Adaptations to Pressure
Gelatinous Bones
Gelatinous Muscle and tissue
No large body cavities (that could collapse)

12. “Dancing in the Dark” i.e. Finding a Mate
Darkness and Vastness makes it difficult to find a mate
Adaptations:
Bioluminescence
Chemicals
Males attach to females

13. “You’re as Cold as Ice”
The temperature is cold enough to freeze fresh water (at the abyss)
Adaptations:
Slow metabolism
Minimal energy usage

14. Other Creatures of the Deep
Jellies –
no skeleton,
transparent
mostly made of water
use little energy
Squid (giant and colossal)
no skeleton (just a “pen”)
soft tissue