observations

yellowsub

So I've spent some time doing the whole blue planet thing and observing various creature habits, their location and traits this is to put forward a better understanding of these beasts and denote their strengths and weaknesses.

firstly the smaller fish, boomerangs, peepers, airsacs and garyfish.

these guys use the same tactic in different directions. They will burst into a rush in a single direction and turn last minute to avoid you. This often results in predators crashing into surfaces allowing time for the smaller prey to flee.

These smaller fish can also be seen diving around certain corals presumably in an attempt to avoid detection and for the safety provided from acidic mushrooms.

Breeding habits for these fish seem to reflect they're position within the food chain positioning multiple breeding partners to ensure continuation of the species

It should also be noted that these fish although very timid are very curious and as such can easily be lured by static motion of any foreign object.

these fish need minimal requirements for cultivation being only safety from predators and food.

These magnificent creatures fall within the filter category feeding mainly on microscopic plankton and mushroom spores.

Specific to the airsac species is an enhanced gills physiology allowing this creature to filter water more effectively and harnessing the natural salts for nutrition and preservation of it's enlarged float bladders.

It may also be noted the strange resemblance of the airsack to the floater species both in base physiology and continued pigment although closer examination is required.

stay tuned for the next episode as we study the various creatures of the deep on this mysterious planet

please reply with your favourite specimen and I will endeavour to observe and analyse it.

yellowsub

Staying within the shallows for the time being we can acknowledge the various adaptations of species that live here and their individual habits.

one keen specimen to observe is the Crash. This symbiotic pairing between flora and fauna is one that is both beautiful and disturbing.

to start let me inform that the Crash fish is actually a herbivore and none aggressive however it is very misunderstood. The fish is a cousin of the airsac species but its diet consists of sediment and so falls under the category of a bottom feeder and not a filter feeder.

the fish is actually similar in physiology to that of the earth based puffer fish and the large spine protrusions down its dorsal line are only there for defence from the near by predators.

Unfortunately for these fish they are visually impaired with both eyes on a frontal face they are ill equip to acknowledge any approaching predators hunting from the rear. As an evolutionary resolve the Crash has developed the habit of diving in and out of various flora for cover and in attempt to coat its thick skin and spines with the deterring acidic mushroom spores.

As these creatures mature and grow their skin becomes less resilient to the acidic coating and as such they turn to the crash plant for cover.

The crash plant seeds react with the salt in the water to produce a burning heat. The fish will devour the seeds of this plant to store its powdered spores at the base of its spines similar to that of a poison sac.

The plant has evolved to use this as a means of distribution for its seeds. The crash plant will open its leaves upon approach of nearby large fish. The crash fish will approach in attempt to provide protection to it's self. The plant will then close the leaves around the fish to provide cover and trap the fish inside. This is often the state that we observe.

This crash symbiosis then remains in a near stasis as the plant feeds the fish more and more seeds until the fish swells and bloats. The spores start to burn the neurons within the fishes brain stem causing it to remain in a constant state of rage until eventually either the fish dies and the plant then devours it or a nearby predator or subsequent threat to the plant is detected. The plant then opens it's leaves and releases the trapped and enraged fish.

the fish now free of confinement starts to swell with the reaction of the spores within as such it will rise to the surface rapidly however the fish will attempt to attack any perceived threat due to it's enraged state.

Sadly this fish bursts shortly after, releasing spores from the ingested seeds to settle on the ocean bed to encourage future plant growth.

This cycle is however poetic as the future generations of crash fish often feed upon these spores before they can begin to grow.

due to their extremely timid nature it is incredibly difficult to observe these creatures in any other state however it is theorised that their young live within coral growth and often near the acidic mushrooms to which they feed upon in infantile state. It is also hypothesised that it is this early diet later combined with the crash powder or seed spores that causes this rapid transition into the aggressive state we often see.

sadly it is very difficult to prove these theories given the obvious and explosive nature of this fish after its conjunction with the crash plant.

that's all I've got time for today but please leave a comment on your favourite fish and I will endeavour to observe it. Or just wait and I'll get around to it eventually.

Jamezorg

What a great post I love that you're staying with the shallows and moving down. I ersonally grew up with Blue Planet, the game Endless Ocean, Finding Nemo still stands as my favourite Pixar film, and now Subnautica. I wanted to make a post like this but I hadn't the time nor the patience to observe these creatures in the way you have. Bravo good sir, bravo!

Oh, and following the theme of "staying in the shallows" and "smallest to biggest", I recommend the Rabbit Ray next, one of my favourite creatures! And sometimes touch on Flora like they did in Blue Planet. "The clownfish hide in what's known as an anemone. Anemones are dangerous and have long strands that blah blah blah, so on so on..." - David Attenbrough