5 things it’s hard to believe actually exist

Today I am thrilled to have my very funny daughter Bee guest posting for me again, writing about her favourite sea creatures!

5 things it’s hard to believe actually exist – by Bee Richards

One of my Favourite Things is under the sea creatures. Simply because most of them look like aliens and are definitely a way cooler example of evolution than humans. I admire them. If there was some kind of octopus worshipping cult I would probably join it. I became a vegetarian after I held a newborn lobster (in a little pot) and then a few days later ate a whole crab and felt really guilty. That experience pretty much scarred me for life. I even made my Mum adopt a marine turtle on my behalf to make up for the ripping apart a dead crab thing.

Anyway, I’m going to show you some of the most fascinating creatures that reside at the bottom of the big blue…

1) Bobtail Squid

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Now that’s a chemical reaction and a half. Look:

"bobtail squid"

How pretty is that? And it produces its own light. Imagine having that on your CV. They are also knows as “dumpling squid” or “stubby squid” which is adorable.

2) Turritopsis nutricula – the immortal jellyfish

"immortal jellyfish"

That’s right, it’s immortal. Through cell development it can actually change itself back into a baby jellyfish before it dies. Makes humans seem pretty useless to be honest.

3) Gulper Eel

This Eel lives at the bottom of the ocean and has an elastic stomach so that it can swallow fish and other creatures bigger than itself. It would probably win any “Man vs. Food” type challenge out there.

"Gulper eel"

 

4) Sea Anemone

Look like plants, are in fact animals. They prey on other animals, have a digestive system and a nervous system, but they look like something that would grow on an undiscovered planet in a sci-fi film. Creepy but cool.

"sea anemone"

5) Dory

Dory

Just keep swimming…

This post was produced in association with Ladbrokes and their new octopus based slot game – I’m not sure any of these under the sea creatures will be able to play it, what with having no thumbs or anywhere to put their change or anything, but thank you Ladbrokes!

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17 Comments

  1. 24 January, 2013 / 9:30 am

    Love it – and will definitely be showing my sea-creature-mad son this one.

    • 24 January, 2013 / 12:01 pm

      Thank you! Funnily enough, Bee sent it to me while I was sat in Covent Garden yesterday/// #justsaying ;-)

  2. 24 January, 2013 / 9:47 am

    Unless these creatures are a necessary part of the food chain then their only purpose is to reproduce; pretty useless in essence eh? Mind you that wouldn’t really apply to the immortal jellyfish, because if they were immortal and reproduced then we’d be knee deep in jellyfish by now. Perhaps the jellyfish’s purpose is to annoy the human race that chooses to swim in the Meditterannean?

    • 24 January, 2013 / 12:01 pm

      Perhaps that’s it Steve, perhaps their whole purpose in life is to annoy you with their purposelessness!

      • 24 January, 2013 / 5:51 pm

        Well apparently being stung by one hurts like b*g*e*y.

  3. auntiejanola
    24 January, 2013 / 9:58 am

    Yuck, the Eel is disguisting! On a side note, you guys are very talented writers’ family! :)

    • 24 January, 2013 / 12:00 pm

      Thank you! Without wanting to sound like too proud a mummy, (which I am), I did really enjoy it and thought Bee wrote it really well :-)

  4. knittymummy
    24 January, 2013 / 11:18 am

    Have you seen a sea mouse? Its a kind of worm and its insane!

    • 24 January, 2013 / 12:00 pm

      No! That sounds bonkers, I’m going to have to go and look that up now…

  5. 24 January, 2013 / 11:52 am

    I thought this was a really cute, well-written and funny post, and I hate to be a party-pooper, but I have to confess I was a little disappointed when I saw the sponsor was Ladbrokes. I am always entertained at how you can squeeze in the most random references in your sponsored posts, but I do feel that gambling shouldn’t be promoted, and I feel even more uncomfortable when it’s being promoted through the work of a child. I know I must sound so fussy and old-lady-ish, and I was very close to just going away quietly and minding my own business… but I’ve been reading your blog for ages and I just felt I had to say something and stand up for my beliefs. Please don’t see this as an attack on you in any way! Just wanted to express my thoughts…

    • 24 January, 2013 / 11:59 am

      That’s alright, I’m not offended – I’m glad you said something as it’s important to know what people think. To be honest I did think twice about it, and I wrote it knowing that it might cause a reaction, but I thought about it like this:

      Bee is 18 in a few months, and was happy to write the post for me knowing who it was sponsored by.

      I would, and have, posted about other potentially difficult subjects, such as the time I went to see a show and had cocktails with Midori.Alcohol gets mentioned quite a lot in my blog.

      I don’t actually have a problem myself with sensible gambling, and actually have an online WIlliam Hill account!

      That was my reasoning anyway, although I totally understand that not everyone thinks the same about things, and apologise if I caused any offence.

      I hope you’ll keep reading!

      Jo

      • 24 January, 2013 / 12:22 pm

        Oh I will definitely keep reading — I’m not OMG SO OFFENDED, just voicing my concerns as a reader of your blog. I’m pretty slack, and porn, alcohol and drugs don’t offend me, but for some reason gambling upsets me somewhat. I think it may be because of the massive hypocrisy of the Australian government, who pay lip service to providing help for gambling addicts, but pocket all the money that the same addicts are losing. Anyway… no hard feelings and thank you for your answer :)

  6. 24 January, 2013 / 10:10 pm

    I loved reading that – Bee’s a clever young lady.

  7. 25 January, 2013 / 5:10 pm

    What a great post, Bee is a great writer. I’m a huge fan of the immortal jellyfish – it does make us all look a bit pathetic in comparison!

    Have you come across the sea creature Axolotl? It’s possibly the cutest creature of the deep :)

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