#underwater creature

[critter-of-the-day]

22nd of October 2024: Eastern Grass Shrimp

On this fine October day, may I introduce you to the Eastern Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), also known as the Ghost Shrimp, which I feel justifies them in this Halloween Critter line-up. They are thusly named because of their translucent skin, allowing you to see their bright green intestines and the female’s eggs, if she’s carrying them [1].

They only live for around a year at a time, having an annual breeding cycle and dying after reproduction [1]. Hatching happens around April, with the vast majority of juveniles having matured by the time autumn rolls around. They’re omnivorous, mostly feeding on algae, but also eating insects, other plants, and various detritus (dead organic particles) floating around [2].

They are usually 2-3 cm long, 5 at the very most [2]. They are found in freshwaters, most often lakes around the Eastern Central United States. They have also been introduced to bodies of water as far West as Arizona, California and Baja California [3], but appear not to be doing much ecological damage or anything [1].

Despite being a freshwater species, they can tolerate a bit of saltiness in their water, though it gets increasingly hard for them to reproduce and go about their regular life cycle [4]. Similarly, they can also endure the heavy metals associated with coal combustion, but their oxygen consumption goes up significantly by 51%, suggesting survival becomes a lot more strenuous [5]. Overall as a species they are considered to be of Least Concern though, just in case you were worried [3].

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [Image]

[heartnosekid]

the venus girdle (cestum veneris) | aquatilis_expedition on ig

[dinchenix]

seeking kelp 🌱🐟

[valhalhal]

This special boy was discovered 5 miles under the ocean and he looks like he's having the time of his life

[gidrosfera]

[snowdin-stims]

🪼 | source

[strawlessandbraless]

The Venus girdle (Cestum veneris) is a comb jelly in the family Cestidae. The colorless species are transparent when suspended in water, except for their iridescent rows of comb plates. In other words, they majestic as fuck. Love to sea it 🌊

[goryhorroor]

horror sub-genres: aquatic

[avengersmcmahon]

Sources: ♡ ,♡ ,♡

[nat-stimmy]

Cusk Eel (SOURCE)

[heartnosekid]

rainbow tripod fish larva (bathypterois grallator) | source

[lionfloss]

A Rare Encounter with the Elusive Giant Phantom Jellyfish Captures Its 33-Foot Billowing Limbs, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

[beautyunderthewaves]

David Clode

[crystallizsch]

okay hi so listen hear me out

sea snake is a bit too obvious (and too boring)

so i made him based on some kind of lionfish??? (bc something something venomous marine animal) also with a LOT of creative liberties i made with how the fish looks like

let’s also give his fins some rips and tears here and there bc what are the implications of that??? that’s for you 🫵 to decide

anyways chat i lowkey dont know what i was doing

i had no other thoughts but haha funny snake man i turn into fish

[maxyvert]

🌊🐠 Ocean 🐠🌊

Ko-fi - Inprnt - Patreon

Old vs new under the cut -