{"id":820,"date":"2025-10-20T10:23:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T10:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/?p=820"},"modified":"2025-10-26T19:01:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T19:01:41","slug":"real-life-sea-monsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/2025\/10\/20\/real-life-sea-monsters\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Life Sea Monsters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entering Phase 2 I&#8217;ve decided to pursue the research of sea monsters even further than I have before. This is mostly to expand my knowledge and understanding of the topic beofre diving into my own game ideas and what I want to create! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5fb07882 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Goblin Shark is the type of real-life creature I picture when thinking about what a real-life sea monster is. It is the type of creature that looks almost Alien, having to adapt to the unusual life conditions found in the deep ocean. These creatures have strange adaptations to survive, eat, and reproduce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-wp-embed is-provider-ocean-conservancy wp-block-embed-ocean-conservancy\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"LHym4UEVhN\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oceanconservancy.org\/blog\/2024\/02\/08\/all-about-goblin-sharks\/\">All About Goblin Sharks<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;All About Goblin Sharks&#8221; &#8212; Ocean Conservancy\" src=\"https:\/\/oceanconservancy.org\/blog\/2024\/02\/08\/all-about-goblin-sharks\/embed\/#?secret=wNQ2z3HqTs#?secret=LHym4UEVhN\" data-secret=\"LHym4UEVhN\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to the extreme conditions, not much is known about these peculiar creatures. Despite this, our growing interest in the sea floor has led scientists to press on and learn as much as possible about these unique animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Goblin Shark&#8217;s most interesting feature is easily its jaw, which can launch forward to swallow its prey whole. Along with this feature, it also has an extremely long nose, which is how the Goblin shark &#8216;sees&#8217;. In the deep darkness of the deep sea, there isn&#8217;t much to see. As such, the Goblin Shark has adapted to have a nose full of electroreceptors. This is a common trait among all sharks; however, the Goblin shark is an extreme case, even detecting the heartbeats of nearby prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/600-grey-goblin.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-823\" style=\"width:515px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-10-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-841\" style=\"width:259px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-10-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-10-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-10-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-10.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Anglerfish is one of the most fascinating creatures in the deep sea. Its most famous feature is the glowing lure that hangs above its head, used to attract prey in complete darkness. This lure is actually a modified spine that holds bioluminescent bacteria, which create a soft light. In the dark depths of the ocean, where sunlight cannot reach, this glow acts like a trap for smaller fish and crustaceans. When they swim too close, the Anglerfish opens its large mouth and swallows them whole with its sharp, pointed teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-13.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-846\" style=\"width:419px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-13.png 781w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-13-300x154.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-13-768x394.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Anglerfish\u2019s strange appearance and eerie glow have often been compared to legends of sea monsters told by sailors. Its enormous jaws, long fins, and ghostly light make it look like something from an old myth rather than a real animal. Drifting silently through the water, it waits patiently for its prey, just as the sea monsters of stories were said to wait for ships to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Anglerfish shows how real animals can seem more mysterious than anything imagined. Every part of its body is designed for survival in the deep sea, from its light-producing lure to its expandable stomach. It is a perfect example of how life adapts to even the most extreme environments, proving that the ocean still holds many wonders that seem almost unreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/Strawberry-Squid.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-849\" style=\"width:516px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cock-eyed Squid is one of the most unusual creatures in the ocean. Its name comes from its mismatched eyes, which are entirely different in size and shape. One eye is large and bright yellow, while the other is much smaller and darker. This odd design might seem strange, but it serves a clear purpose. The larger eye faces upwards to detect faint light from above, while the smaller eye looks down into the darkness below. This allows the Cock-eyed Squid to see both the dim glow of the surface and the dark world beneath it at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living in the twilight zone of the ocean, where light begins to fade, the Cock-eyed Squid has had to adapt in unique ways. Its body is partly transparent, helping it blend into the surrounding water to avoid predators. It can also produce its own light using bioluminescent organs, which it uses to disguise its silhouette when seen from below. This trick, called counter-illumination, is common among deep-sea animals and helps the squid stay hidden in plain sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-15-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-850\" style=\"width:389px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-15-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-15-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-15-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/image-15.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cock-eyed Squid&#8217;s strange appearance makes it look almost like a creature from another world. Its rolling eyes, ghost-like body, and glowing light have led many to compare it to something from science fiction. However, these features are all perfectly adapted to its environment. In the deep sea, where visibility is limited and danger is constant, being odd is often the key to survival. The Cock-eyed Squid is a perfect example of how evolution creates solutions that seem bizarre to us, yet make perfect sense in the depths of the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Encyclopaedia Britannica Editors (2025) <em>Anglerfish (Lophiiformes)<\/em>. <em>Encyclopaedia Britannica<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/anglerfish?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/anglerfish<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Encyclopaedia Britannica Editors (2025) <em>Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)<\/em>. <em>Encyclopaedia Britannica<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/goblin-shark?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/goblin-shark<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MarineBio Conservation Society (n.d.) <em>Goblin sharks, Mitsukurina owstoni<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinebio.org\/species\/goblin-sharks\/mitsukurina-owstoni\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.marinebio.org\/species\/goblin-sharks\/mitsukurina-owstoni\/<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michaud, S. (2017) \u2018Asymmetric vision in cockeyed squid\u2019, <em>Optics &amp; Photonics News<\/em>, February 2017. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optica-opn.org\/home\/newsroom\/2017\/february\/asymmetric_vision_in_cockeyed_squid\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.optica-opn.org\/home\/newsroom\/2017\/february\/asymmetric_vision_in_cockeyed_squid\/<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National Geographic Society (n.d.) \u2018Anglerfish: facts and photos\u2019, <em>National Geographic<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/fish\/facts\/anglerfish?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/fish\/facts\/anglerfish<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smithsonian Magazine (n.d.) \u2018Why this squid has one giant and one tiny eye\u2019, <em>Smithsonian Magazine<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/why-squid-has-one-giant-and-one-tiny-eye-180962150\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/why-squid-has-one-giant-and-one-tiny-eye-180962150\/<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thomas, K.N., Robison, B.H. and Johnsen, S. (2017) \u2018Two eyes for two purposes: in situ evidence for asymmetric vision in the cockeyed squids <em>Histioteuthis heteropsis<\/em> and <em>Stigmatoteuthis dofleini<\/em>\u2019, <em>Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences<\/em>, 372(1724). doi: 10.1098\/rstb.2016.0069.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.) <em>Goblin sharks<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/story\/goblin-sharks?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/story\/goblin-sharks<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (n.d.) <em>Creature Feature: Anglerfish<\/em>. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whoi.edu\/ocean-learning-hub\/ocean-facts\/anglerfish\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.whoi.edu\/ocean-learning-hub\/ocean-facts\/anglerfish\/<\/a> (Accessed: 20 October 2025).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Entering Phase 2 I&#8217;ve decided to pursue the research of sea monsters even further than I have before. This is mostly to expand my knowledge and understanding of the topic beofre diving into my own game ideas and what I want to create! The Goblin Shark is the type of real-life creature I picture when [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-phase-2","category-year-3-25-26"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":870,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions\/870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}