Posted on 11/22/2009 1:29:00 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The creatures living in the depths of the ocean are as weird and outlandish as the creations in a Dr. Seuss book: tentacled transparent sea cucumbers, primitive "dumbos" that flap ear-like fins, and tubeworms that feed on oil deposits.
A report released Sunday recorded 17,650 species living below 656 feet, the point where sunlight ceases. The findings were the latest update on a 10-year census of marine life.
"Parts of the deep sea that we assumed were homogenous are actually quite complex," said Robert S. Carney, an oceanographer at Louisiana State University and a lead researcher on the deep seas.
Thousands of marine species eke out an existence in the ocean's pitch-black depths by feeding on the snowlike decaying matter that cascades down—even sunken whale bones. Oil and methane also are an energy source for the bottom-dwellers, the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
For me it was the nephews when they were growing up. I’m in total agreement with you.
:’)
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