Bizarre Toxic Sea Apple on Display

ThisistheWestCountry ^ | Tuesday 24th January 2012

[nickcarraway]

[RJS1950]

Looks more like a moldy cantaloupe.

[Library Lady]

Or a turnip decorated for Mardi Gras.

[mkmensinger]

It does look like something in the back of the fridge you forgot about.

[taildragger]

Or Barney Frank bloviating on the House Floor...

[ghost of nixon]

Or Barney Frank bloviating on the House Floor...

LOL...although I'm guessing the sea apple has more normal sexual practices...

[Flycatcher]

“Echinoderms like the sea apples are thought to be most closely related to the early vertebrates so in some ways they’re actually our distant evolutionary ancestors!”

Oh, really?

Echinoderms are exclusively marine invertebrates, so how in the world are they "closely related" to early vertebrates?

Sheesh...

[Interesting Times]

In addition to their toxicity, the sea apples also possess the ability to expel their internal organs to distract predators.

I bet Ron Paul can do that.

[The Shrew]

In addition to their toxicity, the sea apples also possess the ability to expel their internal organs to distract predators.

I bet Ron Paul can do that.

He does like to vent his spleen occasionally. Does that count?

TS

[NavyCanDo]

We have many toxic animals in our 250 gallon reef aquarium, some that will send you to the emergency room if you come in contact with them, Our Foxface Rabbittfish for one. Other things will give painful sting or burn. My wife has several scars from when cleaning the tank carelessly. We have a Black Sea Cucumber that when threatened can expel toxins that affect other occupants of the aquarium.

[I see my hands]

If sea apples are so toxic then why do they live in igloos?

[Boogieman]

Obviously, the science reporter is a bit challenged when it comes to understanding science. I think what he meant is, of all living inverterbrates, they think echinoderms are the most closely related to the early vertebrates. Of course, if that’s true, it means they could be our very, very, very distant cousins, not our distant evolutionary ancestors.

[Flycatcher]

Perhaps.

But either way, it's symptomatic of an intrinsic laziness (and/or sloppiness) in science reporting today. To be honest, I trust NOTHING that is printed in any natural science journal.

Except, of course, if the subject is anthropogenic global warming. They're always right about that.

_snort!

[Amberdawn]

Wilson?

[Vince Ferrer]

“In addition to their toxicity, the sea apples also possess the ability to expel their internal organs to distract predators.

That would certainly do it for me.

[MarkL]

I'm convinced that Harry Harrison based his "Deathworld" series of books on Australia... No matter where you go, or what you do, something will kill you there.

Go swimming? Watch out for the toxic box jellyfish, and there's a good chance you'll accidentally run into the little, tiny, itty bitty Irukandji jellyfish, which is nearly transparent and less than 1" in size. But they'll both kill you. Try to hug the bottom, well, you'll die there too when you get too close to a blue ringed octopus. And then your corpse will be ripped to shreds by a great white shark.

If you venture on land, you'll want to avoid the snakes... I believe that 7 of the world's 10 most venomous snakes call Australia home. So you'll want to stay in your yard... Watch out for the Bulldog and Jack Jumper Ants... They can kill you too... Want to stay in the big city? One of the world's most venomous (and most aggressive) spiders is the Sydney Funnel Web Spider... Yeah, they'll kill you too!

Mark

[Brandybux]

In addition to their toxicity, the sea apples also possess the ability to expel their internal organs to distract predators.

That does it. I've seen Reid and Pelosi do this countless times during press conferences. That and the obvious resemblance of that picture to both of them PROVES that the bit about evolutionary ancestors is correct.

[bgill]

Which is which???

[hinckley buzzard]

“In addition to their toxicity, the sea apples also possess the ability to expel their internal organs to distract predators.

Well, that is certainly special.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

“Cocoon: The Next Generation”?

“Blue Men Group”?

Michael Moore in sea-drag?