Back to Meister's bizarre mirapinnid fish..... Alex, you were dead on with your reference to siphonophores. According to Rick Feeney, one of our fish guys, a number of juvenile fish have long trailing appendages with pigmented or bioluminescent organs that mimic siphonophores. They use them for disguise and/or to attract small crustaceans for food. As the fish grow they drop or re-absorb the appendages. Apparently the mirapinnids keep their appendages if undisturbed but they usually break off during collection.
Leslie

Never before photographed, possibly undescribed species...
Started by meister, Nov 23 2004 08:36 AM
22 replies to this topic
#21
Posted 16 December 2004 - 12:09 PM
#22
Posted 16 December 2004 - 12:37 PM
This is one of the larval fish with bizarre siphonophore-like appendages.....
http://www.mnh.si.ed...al-cavebass.htm
L
http://www.mnh.si.ed...al-cavebass.htm
L
#23
Posted 27 December 2004 - 09:28 PM
That first fish is awsome, very very interesting amazing the likeness it has with my mother in law :shock:
