Ok, Bassman and I saw this big old boy on a night dive at Three Tree. He is one of the larger Rat Fish that I have seen.
He looks like he lost or injured an eye ...perhaps in a battle of some sort? Disease or parasites? I was thinking of posting his eye on the Eye ID Thread, but figured that was an unfair advantage! :rr:
He was more relaxed about being around us than the Rat Fish typically are. Mature perhaps? Or perhaps he couldn't see us as well?
Anybody else seen him? I bet he's been around a season or two. How about a NWDiveclub name for him?
I really like "Cyclops," but I think we should name him "The Reverend" after the gentleman who discovered him! Next person to photograph "The Reverend" at 3TN gets a free one-day dive sherpa duty, including a back massage, from Bassman!
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
Sounder wrote:AND remember the game... the next person who photographs this particular ratfish wins a day with Bassman as your personal dive sherpa.
I note with wonder and amazement the fact that BASSMAN's services are being "volunteered" by someone other than himself....most curious!
How doesthat work....exactly?
John...you have to remember that Sounder thinks he is the volunteer coordinator for the club. He volunteers me for stuff all the time. I usually end up smacking him around later.
rjarnold wrote:You'll have to find a female name because it doesn't have an intromittent organ on its head...meaning it's female =)
An introwho organ? Huh? Can you say that on a family friendly dive forum? Fish have "organs" on their heads? Or is it only ratfish? I KNEW I shouldn't have been absent when they taught that in school... Dad's very pathetic birds and bees lecture did NOT cover ratfish!
Haha - here's a picture of the male. Notice the little thing sticking out at the top of its head. This is only for ratfish. Scientists believe it is used to grasp the female during courtship, but I don't believe it's ever been seen.
rjarnold wrote:Haha - here's a picture of the male. Notice the little thing sticking out at the top of its head. This is only for ratfish. Scientists believe it is used to grasp the female during courtship, but I don't believe it's ever been seen.
Do you mean the light colored patch on the bridge of it's nose / forehead kind of? That's about all I can see "sticking out"... and it sure doesn't look like it could "grasp" anything!?
As far as family friendly :-) we've had some folks go overboard with photos posted that would be frowned on at work by some people's bosses... haven't had any complaints about fish biology or invert reproduction yet, and we have LOTS of talk about that here! :-)
Tom - it actually can extend out almost like a jointed finger. It's hard to describe! If anyone can manage to find a photo or a link of a photo showing it extended, it would be MUCH more clear.
Still, like rjarnold said, no one, as far as I know, understands how it really works! Whenever you happen to see one extended you will understand once again that the good Lord has a sense of humor!
- John
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”
When I was looking for photos (google images, "ratfish") there was a drawing of one that was extended. I didn't use it since it wasn't a 'real' photo though, and I can't look it up right now because I'm on dial-up But just do a search and look for the pencil drawn one...think it's on the 2nd page of images.
Sounder wrote:AND remember the game... the next person who photographs this particular ratfish wins a day with Bassman as your personal dive sherpa.
I note with wonder and amazement the fact that BASSMAN's services are being "volunteered" by someone other than himself....most curious!
How doesthat work....exactly?
John...you have to remember that Sounder thinks he is the volunteer coordinator for the club. He volunteers me for stuff all the time. I usually end up smacking him around later.
Hey, I'm just trying to create a fun little game to give someone a fun little prize. The fact that I volunteered "Tickle-Me-Bassman (Keith can explain)" to carry all the gear for someone isn't my fault. I LOVE these games!
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
My back can barely carry my own gear much less than anyone elses.
and as for the Back massage, "Tickle me, Not!" ...I don't think so!
Elmo wont go there!
Sadly, this is a true phenomenon. It started after King 5 was interviewing Rawlings during our infamous snow-dive, and I said (with my hood already on so I was accidently speaking louder than usual) "Hey, where's my crotch strap?!"
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
He volunteers me for stuff all the time. I usually end up smacking him around later. 
Fish have "organs" on their heads? 
Or is it only ratfish? I KNEW I shouldn't have been absent when they taught that in school... Dad's very pathetic birds and bees lecture did NOT cover ratfish! 
But just do a search and look for the pencil drawn one...think it's on the 2nd page of images.
Hey, at least I didn't name MY crotch-strap after YOU!!! 
now that it's out there...
