The fish that can survive for months in a tree

The Daily Mail ^ | 10/18/07 | DAVID DERBYSHIRE

[gridlock]

It's one of the golden rules of the natural world – birds live in trees, fish live in water.

The trouble is, no one bothered to tell the mangrove killifish.

Scientists have discovered that it spends several months of every year out of the water and living inside trees.

Hidden away inside rotten branches and trunks, the remarkable creatures temporarily alter their biological makeup so they can breathe air.

Biologists studying the killifish say they astonished it can cope for so long out of its natural habitat.

The discovery, along with its ability to breed without a mate, must make the mangrove killifish, Rivulus marmoratus Poey, one of the oddest fish known to man.

(snip)

[gridlock]

Fish in a tree?

How can that be?

[gridlock]

[Kevmo]

Dr. Seuss
Is being let loose

[madvlad]

Aren’t you glad that pigs can’t fly?!

MV

[Scythian]

I think with a little therapy we can get this little guy to start acting like a real fish. He’s probably all messed up from the Fish Public School system that was taken over by the liberal fish.

[alarm rider]

I saw a fish walking across a road once in Florida, and no I was totally sober. Really.

[Badeye]

Gee, if a fish can climb a tree, perhaps they need a bicycle for free!

(Gloria Steinem, White Courtesy phone, Gloria Steinem, White Courtesy Phone....)

[Red Badger]

I like my fish in the water,
Climbing trees, they hadn’t aughter.....

[N. Theknow]

That would be the Walking Catfish.

Click here for link to video of walking catfish

[Lurker]

Biologists studying the killifish say they astonished it can cope for so long out of its natural habitat.

Apparently this is their natural habitat.

These 'biologists' should have their degrees revoked.

L

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Mangroves themselves are impressive. They can grow in salt water, and their dense root structures can lead to land growth.

[alarm rider]

Yep! That’s the critter we saw, it was very obvious it was a fish, but still a bit strange, well truthfully, it was very strange.

[dblshot]

Rivulus Marmoratus Poey
Sounds like it’s from a Zeuss story

If a fish could wish
for what would a fish wish?
Green eggs and Ham Sandwich
On a dry a dish?

[DirtyPigpen]

“Biologists studying the killifish say they astonished it can cope for so long out of its natural habitat.”

Apparently, trees seem to be it’s natural habitat.

[Cobra64]

Avid fisherman refuses to cut line...

[Red Badger]

What is that smell upon the breeze?
It must be fish are climbing trees!
I cannot wait to see the sight,
Of Elephants in ordered flight!...........

[MrB]

I guess this proves evolution... /sarc

[Red Badger]

Where was that boat? Gulf Coast? If so, I saw it or one just like it.......

[Delta 21]

Thats NO Ficus.

[gridlock]

Kind of reminds me of Mile Marker 39.5 on the New Jersey Turnpike.