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| Dragonfish, photo by Lelik, flickr creative commons |
1. Leafy dragonfish—be sure to invite at least a few of these. They coordinate well with princess or knight-in-shining-armor costumes.
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| Giant Tubeworm photo by Subarcticmike flickr creative commons |
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| Hatchetfish photo by NOAA public domain image |
2. Giant tube worms–what party would be complete without these ooey, gooey creatures whose plumes brim with blood?
3. Hatchetfish—named for their hatchet-shaped bodies, these deep sea dwellers search for prey with their upward-facing eyes, so just be sure your smaller guests don’t swim above them! These also glow, but their light organs point downward. For a light show, encourage them to swim near the ceiling.
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| Hagfish photo by NOAA public domain |
4. Hagfish—this slimy, gruesome creature fits right in with ghosts, witches, and ogres known to frequent Halloween activities. Just try not to watch her eat—she bores into her prey then eats them up from the inside! Ewwww!
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| Firefly Squid photo courtesy of Dante Fenolio www.anotheca.com |
5. Firefly squid—these slimy beauties are covered with thousands of photophores. They can flash them all at once or in an endless variety of patterns to confuse predators, attract mates, and lure prey. They migrate toward the surface where they pounce on small fish with their powerful tentacles. I’d love to see these babies!
What fun things do you like to do for Halloween? Who are your favorite monsters?
