LAST UP: Alright, alright, alright the finale is the #13 Blue Glaucus vs the #4 Black Dragonfish #2021MMM
As you might guess from the scientific names of #13 Glaucus atlanticus and #4 Idiacanthus atlanticus tonight's battle is going to take place in.... The Atlantic. Specifcally about 1000 km south west from the Azores, at a depth of 1000m #2021MMM
The Blue Glaucus is a nudibranch, which is Greek for naked lung. They are a group of marine mollusks that are like snails that have lost their shells #2021MMM
As is typical for the species tonight's Glaucus is floating in the Atlantic, upside down. Their top is a dull grey but their underside is contains a vivid splendour of blues and whites which acts as countershading #2021MMM
Countershading is when something has coloration that makes it blend in from above and below (so the Glaucus looks blue when looked down upon into the ocean and light grey when looking up and seen against the sky) #2021MMM
Tonight's other contestant is adept at engaging with predators using unique visual abilities. Enter the DRAGON...Fish #2021MMM (gif of Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon)
The Blue Glaucus is only about 3" long and feeds normally at the surface, buoyed by an air bubble it keeps in its stomach (Lalli and Gilmer 1989) #2021MMM
However, as the lower-ranked seed, tonight's battle takes place far away from Glaucus' home turf - under a mile of water in the cold, dark, pressure-filled depths of the Atlantic #2021MMM
At the surface, the Glaucus is an effective predator hunting the clonal siphonophore the Portuguese Man o war (Bierie 1966). However, at this depth there are no deadly siphonophores to eat, there is nothing but darkness, and in that darkness lies danger. #2021MMM
The Black Dragonfish is hungry, and she is aware that prey is near. She swims in the inky cold void and turns this to her advantage, for you see, she is not without her capabilities #2021MMM
The Black Dragonfish has the ability to navigate the inky void by using its own personal spotlight (Koslow 1997). A row of bioluminescent photophores lines this fish's jaws and they provide a light to the Glaucus in this dark place when all other lights have gone out #2021MMM
The Glauccus swims towards the light, a beacon of hope in this sea of dispair. Yes, light, the surface. Home. #2021MMM
(H/T to @c_n_anderson for the LOTR reference which I somehow didn't come up with on my own!) #2021MMM
However, in reality the Glaucus is swimming towards the lurking fang-filled jaws of the dragonfish. #2021MMM
The Black Dragonfish strikes with complete surprise and slashes at the Glaucus' flaccid and soft skin #2021MMM
But... #2021MMM
Remember when I told you Glaucus eats really dangerous Man 'o Wars? Well Glacus too has a trick up its proverbial sleeves #2021MMM
The Glaucus has the ability to sequester the poison from Man o' Wars and incorporate it into their own bodies nyti.ms/3qHPZI7 #2021MMM
The Black Dragonfish, however, swallows the Glaucus whole. Slime in the Black Dragonfish's stomach protects it from the sequestered toxin released by the Glaucus in its death throes. #2021MMM
With a small burp and some indigestion, the Black Dragonfish starts to patrol for additional prey in the darkness of the depths #2021MMM
BLACK DRAGONFISH DEFEATS BLUE GLAUCUS!!!!! #2021MMM
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